Bertram Gillivers
Alchemical Formulae Known:
-Sunsphere, defensive weapon
-Dragon's Blood, offensive weapon
-Smokebomb, defensive/utility
-Shadowdust, utiliy
-Arms and Ammunition, Apprentice-level
-Medicine, Novitiate-level
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
-Pepperpot Blunderbuss
-Eagle Eyes, binocular/magnifying lenses
-Phosphorescent Glove/Firestarter
-Armor-plated Robe, Medium

Reputation:
>SELFLESS+
>POTENTIALLY UNTRUSTWORTHY
>PROBABLY A MURDERER

ALLIES/HENCHMEN
Sebastian- An imperial rifleman sworn as your personal bodyguard for the duration of the expedition. He has indicated his continued participation in guarding your back.
Fierna- A lithe, magically-gifted woman from beyond the Second Sun, a tear in space through which her race plans to conquer your world and exterminate your people. She believes a peace can be reached.
Dask'tchk- A small goblinoid, of what Fierna's people call the Trechlan. Reveres you and other humanoids as sort of god-figures, and has yet to prove himself useful, or even really trustworthy.
-Four sailors rescued from the island, originally crew of the expedition you accompanied there.

You have spent the evening engaged in lavish feasting and expositional discourse with Blackheed (check last thread for details). It is refreshing to partake of real Imperial food, and the conversation has been somewhat reassuring; you are reassured that you have allies here on the mainland, and you are similarly reassured that you have a dangerous and delicate private war of information to wage to make humanity aware of its dire situation without tipping off foreign agents within Imperial society, and to try and unite very disparate human cultures against a far more advanced and homogeneous elven society.

The dinner winds down as the expansive spread of food becomes a decimated landscape of bones and rinds. Gradually the survivors of the ship's crew drift away to the quarters arranged for them, and Dask climbs inside the remains of the suckling pig and goes to sleep amidst the juices and meats.
"I take my leave of you, goodsir Gillivers," Blackheed says. "I will speak with you again in the morning before your departure."
Fierna remains at the table, hair falling over her solid eye.

>What do?

>>12605613
The e-mail calls and I am summoned.
"I'd like to apologize again for now being able to get you back to the island... If Birand can survive on his own and with enough time, perhaps we can get your ship up and running again. I wonder if Blackheed has anything that could help with that."

You pick awkwardly at the dried remains of some kind of delicious tomato soup. Clearing your throat, you get Fierna to look at you for a moment.
"I'd like to apologize again for not being able to get you back to the island... If Birand can survive on his own and with enough time, perhaps we can get your ship up and running again. I wonder if Blackheed has anything that could help with that?"
Fierna shakes her head slowly.
"Blackheed is a spy and a studier of your culture. He does not have the necessary pieces of our technology lying around. I doubt your world is yet heavy enough with magical energy to allow the manufacture of the right components. I am stuck here for the time being, and Birand..." she stops, staring fixedly at some point on the table. "It is best not to concentrate on things we cannot fix."

Collapse forward onto the table, the last few days have been... busy.
"This isn't going to be very easy, is it?"

>>12605819
Hmmm. I wonder how close she was to Birand.
"What do you intend to do now while you remain here under Blackheed's protection?"

"What do you intend to do now while you remain here under Blackheed's protection?"
She gives a slight shrug.
"Hopefully I can be instrumental in information gathering, though without Blackheed's moderations, I doubt it," she runs a finger along one delicate tapered ear, smiling. "I will find some way to make myself useful," she says assertively, putting one fist in her open palm.
You collapse forward onto the table, shaking bowls and plates as you heave a sigh. You long for the peace and security of a quiet lab, surrounded by the bubbling of vials and the smell of dragon's powder.
"This isn't going to be easy, is it?"
"No," Fierna says honestly. "But we are here, and you and the others are aware of the threat. Already you know more than my people ever meant you to. Everything from here out is progress."

>>12605921
"I hope you don't consider this too bold or take offense but it's been in my mind. When looking at your eyes, I noticed one is rather unique. Is this your technology as well?"

>>12606022
>yeah, what's wrong with your face?
"I wish I were as optimistic as you. Imperial politics are already... interesting. Add in the difficulty of dealing with foreign nations... I think you may have the wrong man. Though I guess I'm all we've got, aren't I?"

>>12606022
>I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really hoping you guys would forget to ask so I could get in my daily trollface quota.
"I hope you don't consider this too bold or take offense but it's been in my mind. When looking at your eyes, I noticed one is rather unique. Is this your technology as well?"
Fierna brushes her hair aside, baring the solid blue orb. Other than the color, it seems normal enough.
"Indeed, I have been modified by our technology. Beyond the Rift, I was a pilot of civilian transports, and this modification made it easier for me to effectively pilot skyships." She reaches forward, pulling the Eagle Eyes off your head.
"...something like this, I would suspect," she says, pulling the goggles over her own face and giggling slightly. Her eyes are comically magnified, one a normal, curious sphere, the other a living sapphire. When magnified, you can see there are veins of different bluish shades running throughout it. If it is an organic machine, as she says, it is marvelously complex.

>>12606145
And that is why I was sure I would not forget, heh.
"Do all pilots undergo such modifications or is it simply a choice to make one more efficient at it?"

"Do all pilots undergo such modifications or is it simply a choice to make one more efficient at it?"
She removes the goggles, struggling as the strap catches on her ears.
"Nngh....No," she says, handing them back to you. "It is not required for anyone to be modified, but it is a fairly common procedure. After all, one wants to excel in one's chosen field, correct? You are familiar with the desire, I'm sure, we couldn't have a more skilled Alchemist with us."
You shrug somewhat glumly.
"I wish I were as optimistic as you. Imperial politics are already... interesting. Add in the difficulty of dealing with foreign nations... I think you may have the wrong man. Though I guess I'm all we've got, aren't I?"
Fierna pats your shoulder before refilling her goblet with wine.
"Who would be a better man, Gillivers? If anyone is going to be capable of duplicating our technology, even with our assistance, it's you. And you needn't shoulder every burden on your own. If you can bring a skillful diplomat into the fold, they can help in dealing with foreign powers."

>>12606268
"The problem will be finding one that will believe us and want to help us. When I left to go to that island I wasn't... Very popular in the courts."

Fuck yes Alchemy Quest.

ASK ABOUT THE EYE

>>12606399
fuck yeah alchemy quest!

calling it now
>well... they're beautiful eyes, nomatter what, or whose, they are.
or some dorky iteration

"The problem will be finding one that will believe us and want to help us. When I left to go to that island I wasn't... Very popular in the courts."
She tilts her head slightly.
"Yes, Blackheed seemed to be aware of your situation, but...what is it exactly? What did you do?"

>2 people participating. Sadface. Is Thursday a terrible night or what?

>>12606427
Sigh deeply. "My master was poisoned to death and I was used as the means to do that. His death was pinned on me and I was only saved due to a favor someone felt they owed me."

>suddenly people
What...almost creepily perfect timing

>>12606427
I've been pathetically anticipating this all week, maybe a bit too much

>>12606448
g'awww he really did care about him!

>>12606427
>Looks like some more showed up.
"I was framed for killing my master.
His drink was poisoned, and I was there at the wrong time, some enemy seeking to be rid of him, and use me as a scapegoat to escape detection.
Not that I wouldn't have done it myself at the time, if I had the chance."

"My master was poisoned to death and I was used as the means to do that. His death was pinned on me and I was only saved due to a favor someone felt they owed me."
Fierna covers her mouth with one hand daintily.
"Oh...oh my. I'm so sorry."
You shrug.
"My master and I....weren't close."

>Any more questions, or timeskip?
>>12606465
>I'm just glad people besides me are looking forward to it at all, but it's great that you're getting such a kick out of it. I aim to please.

>>12606514
Oh, I've definitely been looking forward to it. I wouldn't be staying up until 2-3 am as a result when this is on if I were not.

Hmm. "Do you have any idea how the planted agents are contacting the rest of your people? Or at least how long it might take to get a message back to them?"

Unfortunately, I'm going to only be able to participate in this thread if it's still running in the next 4 hours.

Will be reading it eagerly of course at the soonest opportunity.

>>12606573
>if it's still running in the next 4 hours
You should know me better. I'll run until ~5:00 AM eastern or until everyone else falls asleep.

>>12606534
"Do you have any idea how the planted agents are contacting the rest of your people? Or at least how long it might take to get a message back to them?"
Fierna's ears twitch as she thinks for a moment.
"We have no quick way of transmitting messages across great distances. The agents within your society probably aren't in extremely regular contact with their superiors; stealth teams probably check up on them every so often. They may have their own skyships hidden away that they could use to personally deliver intelligence, however, in instances of great importance."

>Not gonna lie, I really hope that drawfag from last week returns with sweet-ass illustrations. Was that not, to use the parlance of our times, ballin?

>>12606514
I'm okay with timeskipping. I think any other questions we'd ask could be answered by a quick check in the archives.

>>12606633
Interesting. It is very much in our interests to capture any agents we can now it seems. I guess we can timeskip since I can't think of anything important at the moment and I rather not have us sit here forever with me asking questions that may be irrelevant. Which I could easily do.

as suggested in last thread, bang elf chick

Lady Stilton (Stenton?) is our current, and perhaps only, contact to the Court. She is our unofficial patron to the us getting that job on the expedition.
. . .
Remember to ask Blackheed about her political views, if he knows of her. Has she been approached by either side?

Ask more about the procedures of getting the implant, the airships, and her piloting skills.

"Is it invasive, or purely, uh, magical? Do they pluck out your eye and throw it away, or is that your old eye, modified? How many types of airships do you have? Can anyone fly a ship or are there specific talents or skills one must have?"

Ask a lot. We need to learn.

>>12606679
This. She's vulnerable right now, this is our best opportunity.

The drawfag will love it and give us awesome renditions.

>>12606679
>>12606720
Oh come on guys. Gillivers is a gentleman. At least that's how he has been for the past 11 threads. That would totally be improper for a man like that. If she succumbs to our awesomeness in general, then perhaps, but taking advantage of her is low. We have Elegy anyways. Once we find her again.

>>12606720
>>12606679
>yeah, good luck with that.

>>12606741
So... let her succumb.

Like now.

>>12606745
>>implying stonerdm's bloodquest smut wasn't top tier

"About your eye...er..is the procedure invasive, or purely, uh, magical? Do they pluck out your eye and throw it away, or is that your old eye, modified?"
Fierna gives you a somewhat condescending smile, as though these are the questions a child would ask.
"The process modifies existing flesh. This is my original eye. There are some military procedures that replace existing flesh with magical alloys, however. It's a bit extreme, and highly invasive, and those with the procedure are seen as our most dedicated protectors. It's a bit of a holdover from the past, though, as we haven't had serious need of a strong military for quite some time...until now."
"You keep talking about skyships. How many different kinds do you have?"
Her face brightens somewhat as she explains.
"There are a multitude of different types. The Falcon class vessels, like the one we piloted here, are small civilian class ships available to the public. There are also smaller and larger pleasure craft, and some truly massive transports that carry goods and persons across whole continents. I was a pilot of such a vessel, which is why my eye augmentation was so helpful. It let me synchronize with the workings of the ship, to keep track of its bearing, altitude, fuel, and the like almost as a subconscious effort. The military has access to sleeker, faster craft that burn fuel more recklessly and have powerful on-board weapons."

>>12606720
>>12606720
>>12606748
I like Elegy :(
at least wait until you meet her again to just absentmindedly screw somebody else.
>She's vulnerable right now, this is our best opportunity.
and man, that is so low and scummy. Sebastian would do that before Gill would.

anyway,
>>12606636
is right. I'd love to stay and see the both of the interact but if there's shit that needs to be done it should get done.

>>12606785
but information is great too!

>You are all pretty heavily divided, but I'll ask:
>Make a serious pass at Fierna?
>Y/N

>>12606838
No. She still views us as a primitive. Wait until we have done more impressive things if we ARE going to do it. I prefer Elegy anyways.

>>12606809
>implying Sebastian is scum

>>12606838
do the eye thing
>>12606424
and if she is grossed out by it just blame it on the wine.

>>12606838
This brings up a serious point,
Is he Bertram Gillivers, peaceful man of science, who is courteous and respectful to women.
Or Bertram Gillivers, man of SCIENCE!, alchemical formulae under one arm and a woman under the other.

>>12606838

Yes. At least lets her know we are interested.

Also Elf chick > Elegy. Deal with it :V

>>12606847
>>12606915
You guys forget the third option.
Both.

>>12606915
Childhood hushblade friend > elf we barely know.

>>12606848
>implying I implied Sebastian was scum
I just said that to point out how unlikely either of them would be to do that...

>>12606838
But I guess it isn't so unlikely after all?

what would Elegy think if she found out? Would she be pretty crushed? Or like,
>well.. I suppose all those years apart, he'd forget about me... I can't blame him...

>>12606754
If Stoner wishes too, he would, but for now, Fierna is not yet close enough emotionally, I should think.

>>12606785
Start taking notes.

"These... Augmentations, how visible are they? Can they function in our currently low wisp world? Can they hide it? How much benefit can they get? Does it make them super strong?" Frown, then offer hand. "Come to think of it, I need a baseline. How strong are you compared to the average citizen? Try squeezing my hand?"
Heh. There, I initiated some physical contact. Shippers or simply smutters can see how it goes from there.

Then bother her more about those ships since she is a pilot, and about the Daemon rifle thing.

"These... Augmentations, how visible are they? Can they function in our currently low wisp world? Can they hide it? How much benefit can they get? Does it make them super strong?" Your brow furrows with thought, then you extend your hand. "Come to think of it, I need a baseline. How strong are you compared to the average citizen? Try squeezing my hand?"
Fierna laughs musically. "So many questions, Gillivers." She extends her own slender hand, her fingers slipping between yours. She squeezes, and you are filled with a mix of warm feelings and guilty memories of Elegy. Her caress is light, what you would expect from a feminine human. She pulls away slowly, cocking her head.
"Is your curiosity satisfied? If one of our honor guard had tried that your fingers would be minced to paste. It takes quite a bit of energy to complete the progress, but once it is done very little further input is required, though the metabolism of the host body will speed up some."

>>12607055
I think we should time skip at this point. We could easily ask thousands of questions if we really wanted to but half of what we ask might be useless or not. We should work at getting shit done now.

>>12606955
First of all, the question is if Gill felt anything to her. Did he?
Second, whether or not he had those feelings, did it look like she has any? I didn't think the flashbacks suggests so, but they were from young Gil's PoV.
Third, did Gil have any other relationships in between then and now? Is he even still a virgin? :D

aaaawkwaaaaard

yeah, let's timeskip.

>>12607092
oh my god.

Unless something else is gonna happen, I think it's time skip time!

>>12607092
Gill kissed her in one flashback and she didn't resist or anything like that. So yes, I would say there was something there. I don't remember how young he was at the time but I don't think it was like 5 years.

>>12607116
I thought it was implied SHE kissed HIM.

he was 14.

>>12607086
If you say so. I'm naturally inquisitive and willing to roleplay these Q&A sessions, but I guess those will take very long.

Can we say we plumb the depth of her knowledge about every thing in interest to the differences between us, physically, culturally, technologically, and militarily, then remember if faced it such situations (planning or combat)?

>>12607116
Teens. 5 was when they were just playing hushblades. He kissed her after Fulgrim tried to get Gill to help kill an old man.
The old man that Lady Stelton was related to, and the reason she saved us from execution.
After that, it was the last time Gill saw Elegy.
So, its complicated.

And that's our recap for the day, class!

Fierna stands, leaving her half-filled wine glass on the table.
"I'm going to get some sleep. It's been a rough few days, as you've said." she stops, smiling kindly. "I know you'll do great things, Gillivers."
You nod silently as she strides out of the room without looking back, moving as gracefully as a phantom.

>That night
You awaken suddenly in the darkened chamber, the cold sweat of inspiration dampening your brow. Quickly putting on a light, you scribble down several notes for yourself to find in the morning.

>Alchemical Advancement
>OFFENSE
>DEFENSE
>UTILITY
>As before, I will also accept votes to try and improve existing gadgetry you have.

>>12607156
I am too honestly but I don't think StonerDM wants to have multiple threads of exposition nor would other followers of the quest. Unless that happened in BloodQuest... Still haven't got the chance to read over those yet.

>>12607176
I vote we improve shadowdust. We're at the stages where stealth is key. We're likely going to need something longer lasting or works better in worst case situations.

>>12607178
>You totally should. Bloodquest was eons better than Alchemyquest, and I will never be able to get out from under its shadow. On the subject of exposition, laaaaarge chunks of whole BQ episodes were just the protagonist Helen talking to people, either the incredible short-lived sources of exposition or just team-building with her party.

>>12607176
I vote improve medicine. Could be necessary around when wartime.
That, or even better Shadowdust. We seem to like that.
>>12607178
If there's something Stonerbro loves, besides the herb, is multiple threads of expostition.

>>12607197
>>12607213
I stand corrected then. I shall not hesitate to ask questions to my hearts content in the future.

>>12607169
>Lady Stelton
aw man god damn it. I've been so busy I'm ALMOST fucking done the archives.

I drew a lot of crap from part 6, but I guess most of it will have to wait. Can I dump some stuff or should I just save it until I can put it all in one big image? I don't want to derail the thread or anything.

>>12607277
>>12607277
Dump it now, faggot.

>>12607277
>I say dump it, it'll give me a chance to grab a quick shower.
>On that note, I'm going to disappear for a little bit.

>Also: I'll probably set up a separate thread at some point and write out some notes on space elf culture written in the form of letters from Fierna to Gillivers. That will satisfy /tg/'s insatiable thirst for information without taking up too much threadspace on Thursdays and Fridays

>>12607308
Well this thread will be dead until you get back.

>>12607308
er, if you're sure then... a lot of it is pretty small.

Here is a concept of little Bertie for another, bigger picture. Originally I wanted to draw him and Elegy being Hushblades from way long ago but I didn't want to draw her before I knew what she really looks like.

>>12607431
I say she looks like Roll from Mega Man Legends.

>Shadowdust wins it

You awaken in the morning, feeling well-rested, and barely remembering your flash of inspiration. Going over the hastily scribbled notes, it all makes so much sense now. Rather than merely bending or obscuring the passage of light, you need a compound that effectively absorbs it. You smile as you notice transmutation formulae written into the margins.
>NEW FORMULA: IMPROVED SHADOWDUST
>YOU ARE NOW FULLY INVISIBLE IN SHADOWY AREAS
>YOU NOW APPEAR AS A DARK SHADOW IN WELL-LIT AREAS

Dask'tchk is standing outside your room. Someone, somehow, has gotten him into clean clothes, and he grins at you like a tiny toothy butler, following you like a puppy as you make your way to the main hall.
"Sleep well?" Sebastian says as you enter. He and the others are all present and dressed for travel, though Blackheed is absent.
"Sir, we were wondering..." one of the sailors you rescued from the island pipes up. "What...what would like us to do exactly?"

>>12607431
I'm really curious on your take of Fulgrim, heh.

>>12607623
"At this point, you'll be instrumental in showing I'm not insane when we try to explain to people what we've found out. Alone, people might ignore what I say. With all of you supporting me, people will still likely ignore it but there will be those that will listen."

>>12607431
>Adaw, Li'l Gill!
>In my head, adult Elegy looks like Cynthia from the pokemon platinum Elite Four, but that's just because my brain reappropriates everything it sees for my own creative needs.
>I mean, ADULT ELEGY ISN'T IN THIS QUEST.
>SHUT UP

>>12607623
"Honestly, I don't know. This is all quite sudden. We're some of the few men who know of this. You're all in this just as much as I am. We're here together."

>>12607471
I'd like to know for sure though.

here I guess is Fierna 2.0
hopefully this is less embarrassing but I doubt it. I'm just paranoid I've missed something else...

>>12607627
haha I've had a few ideas... something like Yensid, but, bald...

>>12607654
OH BOY

You look into the faces of the men, all of them looking for direction.
"This is all quite sudden. We're some of the few men who know of this. You're all in this just as much as I am. We're here together. At this point, you'll be instrumental in showing I'm not insane when we try to explain to people what we've found out. Alone, people might ignore what I say. With all of you supporting me, people will still likely ignore it but there will be those that will listen."
One of the sailors shakes his head doubtfully.
"I don't see that happening, Sire. More likely they'll think you just paid off a bunch of sailors to trump up your crazy story." he shrugs, "No disrespect, Eminence, but it sounds pretty crazy."

>>12607431
Drawfaggot, we love you. In a totally faggoty-fag way.

Ah, BloodQuest... Read that all up before I ever go to /tg/. :)
One of my reasons of actually daring to post in 4chan.

>>12607693
"Perhaps... But it might help us convince Lady Stelton of what we've seen. She pulled strings to get me onto that expedition so she likely knows people involved in it like the captain. That should lend more weight to your words since random sailors shouldn't be able to fake what you know about him."

Yes, I think we should contact Lady Stelton. I think she'll use us and potentially back stab us but she's the first person that popped into my mind as a potential ally.

>>12607719
Seconding these, both the conversation and action.

Also, wow, Fierna becomes sexy...

>>12607687
>Much less embarrassing. The only thing I can think to say is that the colored eye looks like it's a little bit too high on her face. I think. Other than that it looks great.

"Perhaps... But it might help us convince Lady Stelton of what we've seen. She pulled strings to get me onto that expedition so she likely knows people involved in it like the captain. That should lend more weight to your words since random sailors shouldn't be able to fake what you know about him."
"Unless they think you just handpicked sailors from your own expedition and coached them on your wild theories," Blackheed says, strolling into the hall. He smiles, nodding in greeting to everyone present. "However, I think Lady Stelton is a good bet. She's probably the noble on best terms with you, and she has considerable pull and resources at her disposal. In a week's time there is a masquerade, a fairly high-fashion affair at one of the larger noble estates in Hierotoria. I can send you in my stead, and no doubt Lady Stelton will be in attendance, as well as many other nobles of note. It seems the perfect way to reintroduce you to society. Your very own coming-out party," he titters somewhat foppishly. He's adopted more human mannerisms than he'd care to admit, or he was already like this, making him the perfect fit for the task.

>Is this a good plan? Attend the masquerade and try to contact Lady Stelton?

>>12607861
"Wouldn't it be more problematic if we go in your place? If we attempt to disguise ourselves, people may approach us thinking we are you. If we reveal who we are, it may alert other agents of our enemies that I've returned."

Or was the island we were sent to not publicly known?

"Wouldn't it be more problematic if we go in your place? If we attempt to disguise ourselves, people may approach us thinking we are you. If we reveal who we are, it may alert other agents of our enemies that I've returned."
Blackheed waves his hand dismissively.
"Nonsense; I'll catch backlash for sending someone in my place, but I can beg pardons with sugared excuses. As for your identity, few people know you by face. We can send you as one of my servants or confidants. Especially at a masquerade, even Stelton might not recognize you if you don't want her to."

oh my god, a party. yeeeeessss.

>>12607654
totally noted.

>>12607687
>Also, MOAR, and seconding a desire to see your take on Fulgrim.

>>12607905
"I'll need an excellent disguise then. If the person who framed me in the first place or their agents are there, they'd likely recognize my face. If it becomes known I'm an alchemist at the masquerade, things could fall apart rather rapidly."

Man, it'd be interesting if we saw the girl that got us to poison Fulgrim in the first place. But I think the party is a good idea then... I had thought contacting Lady Stelton to meet us elsewhere initially but this would be less suspicious if we're not seen. And we do have our new stealth improvement in the worst case scenario.

A fully loaded wagon awaits in the plush gardens of Blackheed's estate. He bows his head, gesturing towards it with a theatrical flourish.
"I'll need an excellent disguise," you say, following him, your entourage in tow.
"You're in luck," Blackheed says, "it's a masquerade. Once you reach my estate, give my servants this letter," he hands you an envelope. "It explains that you are to attend the gala in my stead, and that you will be utilizing my city apartments for the time being. I have little in the way of alchemical components there, but I've included demands for proper equipment in the letter. The servants will get you set up properly, and you can trust them."
Fierna stands cheerfully nearby, her ears wrapped back in a bonnet.
"I'll write to you, Gillivers," she says. "There is still much we can learn from one another."

>Time skip?

>>12607905
"Have either Lady or Lord Stenton been approached by either of your sides? Also, Lord Blackheed, I might have to ask you a boon." Grimace distastefully, and glance at the sailors/witnesses, "While they might just attempt to discredit us, if we ever get a breakthrough, someone might attempt to silence witnesses or threaten their kin. Can you shelter them in your estate, and later perhaps their families? My own estate is... Not considerable."

To the sailors, "I would prefer not to bet upon your lives or your kins', so if you choose to leave, I'll accept it. But please, at least vouch my words first to Lad Stenton."

>>12607997
How sweet. We have a pen pal.
I suppose we time skip. Although based on the amount of other people following this, perhaps you should call it soon unless you don't mind 2 or 3 people only.

>>12608007

Damnit, I just got here.

definitely timeskip, though.

>>12608007
wow, you want to call it already?

>>12608015
>>12608037
Nevermind. More people than I thought. It just seemed like there were so few people. Carry on!

"Have either Lady or Lord Stelton been approached by either of your sides? Also, Lord Blackheed, I might have to ask you a boon." You grimace distastefully, and glance at the sailors/witnesses, "While they might just attempt to discredit us, if we ever get a breakthrough, someone might attempt to silence witnesses or threaten their kin. Can you shelter them in your estate, and later perhaps their families? My own estate is... Not considerable."
Blackheed laughs, spreading his arms.
"But of course. And, no, Lady Stelton is unaware of the nature of the conflict brewing within the Imperium, though she is adept at managing the conflicts already present. And," he smiles roguishly, "there is no Lord Stelton. The raven never married, probably because prospectors feared for their lives and estates."

>I tend not to call it unless it's apparent that it's just me and one other dude. And even then I'll probably press on to a good stopping point.

>>12608064
The old man died?

>>12608064
Another vag added to the lineup.

>>12608064
Also, Daemon rifle Sebastian got! How do we recharge or replenish its ammo?

>>12608103
dude isn't she like 10-15 years older than he is.

Goddamn, guy stop trying to fuck everything you can.

>>12608104
Three problems I see with that.

First: We'd have to take it apart and study it.

Second: Our world has much lower magical energy than the world it came from.

Third: We'd theoretically have to construct a device to collect and compress the magical energy for the purpose of recharging the rifle.

Of course, if we could manage something like that, the uses would be numerous.

>>12608110
Someone's clearly never seen a milf before.

Hierotoria is a gleaming gem, an architectural broach in the Imperial cloak. Spires of stone and metal scrape the heavens, painstakingly assembled over decades. The city is dotted with lavish estates and somber government buildings. Blackheed's apartments are located in a four-tenant building near one of the middle-class artisan districts ringing the central hub of nobility. All four sailors are still with you, despite several of them mentioning their wives and families frequently.
Stepping through the door of the apartments while a servant unloads the cart, you are greeted by a maid and butler; one an aged man in archaic, if impeccable, dress, the other a girl no older than fifteen, her eyes clouded by blindness. The butler inclines his head.
"We were expecting Lord Blackheed, goodsir...eh...?" he opens his wrinkled eyes expectantly. You fumble for the envelope.
"Er, yes, of course. I am..."
>Pick a fake name

>>12608155
Alfonse DeVir.

Johnathan Taylor.

Generic, but beliveable.

>>12608165
Someone's been playing BG2 or had it in his mind recently. I'll go along with it though. I HATE making names.

Once we get situated here, give the men leave to visit their wives and shit for a while. We won't blame them if they don't return. But we hope the know how serious the situation is and how much we'll need their help.

>>12608165
voting for this. It's totally awesome and nobility-like.

Wait, we're supposed to be servants aren't we? I change my vote to Jonathan Taylor then. Way more generic.

> the other a girl no older than fifteen, her eyes clouded by blindness.
. . . You know what happens when /tg/ are faced with this kind of situation, right?
WEFIXIT! :D

>>12608178
Second. But tell them to keep it discreet.

For name, ask the butler to read first, then ask HIM what name ought to be good enough.

>>12608228
Yeah, research blindness fixes and correspond with Fierna about her eye for inspiration.

>Hey kids, just dropped in to tell you that you're now reading the butler's lines in my voice

"Er, yes, of course. I am Alfonse DeVir," you say, removing your hat and bowing.The butler returns the bow. "This is a letter from Lord Blackheed explaining everything.
"As you say, Lord DeVir," the butler says, taking the letter from you with weathered fingers. Opening it, he parses it with his wrinkled watery eyes.
"Oh my, going to the masquerade," he says with a smile. "I haven't known Lord Blackheed to miss one of those in quite some time, he must be either very ill or have taken quite a liking to you," he chuckles throatily. "Well, do make yourself at home, Lord DeVir. you have a few days yet before the masquerade. We have ample space for your retinue as well," he adds, smiling welcomingly at Sebastian and the sailors, and raising an eyebrow at Dask, who chomps his teeth audibly.
"W-welcome, sir," the maid says with a bow of her head, staring at a point past your left shoulder.

>>12608243

We should probably look behind us to see who she's looking at.

>>12608243
Talk to her in private when we get a chance. Ask about her blindness. WE WILL FIX HER!

>>12608265
She's blind, dumb ass.

>>12608265
She's blind.
"Hello little one. What are your names?" Referring to the butler and the girl of course.

You smile at the girl before remembering that she cannot see you.
"Hello little one. What are your names?"
"Lorelei, your Eminence," the girl says, eyes fixating on your jawline. You think you detect a trace of...annoyance? in her voice.
"Paxton Windthor, sire," the aged butler says with a nod. "At your service. I have served Lord Blackheed for almost all of his life."

>Anything doing? Or go-go gadget masquerade?

>>12608312
Find out the story on the girl from Paxton privately. That and just observe her in general. Is she able to perform her duties without problems despite the fact she's blind?

>mfw drawfag has abandoned us

Yeah, ask the butler about the girls' blindness. Act like a caring son of a bitch. AND TRY TO FIX HER EYES GOD DAMN IT!

>>12608312
well to be honest I think we should go look around and stuff, hell, what are you going to wear, I don't know, personally before we go into the masquerade and have shit figuratively hit the fan which might be best in the next thread(that is, if you don't want to do all that tonight but it's not even 12:30 here so of course that's up to you) we could see what his property is like just for... inquisitive purposes. Everyone snoops in the medicine cabinet at a party.

>>12608338
yeah, she's... intriguing.
One wonders what it is her duties could be....

>>12608349
yeah, they don't know you, you can be as nice as you want. Tip the butler and the girl very well.

After your things have been hauled in and put in their proper places, you pull Paxton aside.
"Lorelei..."
"Yes, Sire?" he says, his voice calming.
"She's blind?"
"Since birth, Sire. No one was sure why. Blackheed took an immediate interest in her. She was to be sent to one of the lye vats of some noble's laundry. They figured the lye couldn't damage her eyes, so.." he emphasizes with a shrug. "He hired her immediately, some three years ago I believe. She's learned every inch of the chambers since then, and does a remarkably competent job. And," he adds with a wink, "I'd watch how loudly you speak, goodsir. She has clouded eyes, but very sharp ears. And I don't think she took too kindly to being spoken to like a child," he murmurs, waggling his eyebrows emphatically. "But, of course, M'lord, it is not my place to impose."

>>12608392
so...... what is it exactly that she does?

>>12608392
"Point taken Paxton. Lorelei, would you please show me around the apartment?"

>>12608348
naw, I'm here.

>>12608424
yes, ask her yourself. At least she's pretty lucid.

"Point taken, Paxton," you say.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Sire," Paxton says with a wink.
You find Lorelei, carefully dusting a table, using her fingertips to feel out the surface.
"Er, Lorelei. It's G-...Lord DeVir," [my almost-typo is Gilliver's almost-slip-up!]
"Hello, sire," she says, her eyes looking at the tabletop, "what can I do for you?"
"Would you mind showing me around the apartments?"
"Of course, sire," she says. "Right this way."
With a practiced step, she maneuvers around furniture and walls. She brushes against you, however, and steps back, flushing slightly.
"My apologies, Eminence. P-please, follow me," she stammers, moving past you.

>Say anything? or just get the tour?

>>12608463
hmmm....

what type of hair does she have....

>>12608481
>Think, StonerDM, think.
Black hair past her shoulders, somewhat awkwardly cut with little bits missed here and there, but tied into a ponytail with a small bow of ribbon.

>>12608463
"It's no problem Lorelei." Then off with the tour! Hmm. We're going to have to keep our alchemical stuff hidden or tell them who we really are at some point it seems. I don't think we want Lorelei fooling around with our stuff due to her being blind and trying to clean things up.

>>12608508
oh. Well then.

nevermind.

>>12608516
"It's no problem, Lorelei," you say softly.
"R-right this way," she says with a nod.
The apartment is a fairly simple layout filled with high-quality furnishings. Your own chamber, Blackheed's room, has an extensive workdesk that seems like a good place to set up alchemical materials. The blind servant leads you into the guest quarters, where the four sailors seem to be making themselves at home. The kitchen is clean and spacious, nets of onions and other vegetables decorating the roomscape.
"Where's the cook?" you ask.
"I...I do the cooking, sire," Lorelei says, bowing her head reflexively.
Other than the bedchambers and kitchen, there is a pair of adjoining sitting rooms, also encompassing the entryway. They are littered with comfortable couches and chaises, and well-lit by wide windows in daylight, and ornate candelabras by night.
"I hope it is to your liking, sire. You remain our honored guest," Lorelei says, again with the bow of her head. You wonder if all this bowing is having an adverse effect on her neck.

[STRONGHOLD GAINED: NOBLE APARTMENTS]
[PROFILE: LOW]
[INFLUENCE: LOW]
[WEALTH: MIDDLING]

In the interim days before the masquerade, several basic alchemical instruments are delivered to the apartment, as per Blackheed's promise. You wave off inquiry from Paxton by saying that alchemy is something of a hobby of yours, and that you idolize the court alchemists who can make a living off such delicate and strenuous work. You burn your candles low into the night, trying to eke out any advantage from your basic materials.

>ALCHEMY UPGRADE GAINED
>OFFENSE
>DEFENSE
>UTILITY
>STAT INCREASE/EXISTING EQUIPMENT MODIFICATION

>>12608599
"They're much better than I'm used to. And please, stop the bowing after everything you say Lorelei."

Did the letter given to Paxton state who we are or that we're just servants here on his behalf?

>>12608619
I think we should make something new in the offensive category. Better to have another offensive option then wish we had one later on.

>>12608622
"They're much better than I'm used to. And please, stop the bowing after everything you say Lorelei."
"Of course, Sire," she says with a nod. She winces. "I am s-sorry."

>The letter seems to indicate that you are a youthful noble in Blackheed's favor, of little influence or consequence, that he has taken under his wing.

Wait. Holy shit. StonerDM?

I remember you.

I remember Bloodquest.

Be right back. I need to read the archives on every Alchemy Quest ever, then join in on it.

akdsljfalk

>>12608523
Huh, thought you were the drawfag and you just gotten an inspiration to draw...

For now, I do not think we have prosthetic eyes lying around, and we are not sure if it is the eyes, the nerves, or the visualization part of the brain. Create a set of scent and hearing enhancers instead. Dissect the ey-- I mean investigate the extent of the visual impairment later. :P

Send the sailors home, and as mentioned, tell them to keep it discreet.

>>12608648
Violinist.
I remember you as well.
Glad you finally found us.
Seriously, getting the BQ gang back together, this pretty much makes my night. I wish AA and BausBrofist could be on more often.

Don't worry, new folks, I love you too.

>>12608649
well, I am, but that isn't my reasoning...

>>12608599
listen, I'm sure this is just me being paranoid but...
be careful about the food she makes. Or at least, just... don't let your guard down.

>>12608312
So, Paxton knows Lord Blackheed, from a long time ago?

"When exactly is that? Did he offered you the job himself?" Curiosity about Blackheed's identity.

>>12608641
"Don't be sorry. I'm not mad. I just don't feel it is appropriate for you to bow after everything you say to me."

And with that I think I will leave. Waking up in 3 hours will be hell for work.

>>12608675
If you leave before the thread wraps up, you'd better post the stuff you have.

>Stuff happening at various points. First...
"When exactly is that? Did he offered you the job himself?"
Paxton folds his hands.
"Many years ago, goodsir. I was in service to Blackheed's parents, and I met the lad in his adolescence, when he first came to Hierotoria. He seemed jaded and disinterested in high society, but when I saw him again several years later, he was nothing but questions about everything around him.

>I think offense?
A few days after your arrival, you lift the Eagle Eyes from your head, breathing a heavy sigh. Before you sits a sphere of metal filigree and cut glass, carefully patterned to contain the pressurized wisp energy within, carefully distilled from the crucible you have been provided. You heft the sphere gently, watching the magical energy within glow softly. Pressurized energy like this should release quite a show when it shatters. The inner layering of dragon powder couldn't hurt.
"A Casket," you say, tossing the sphere carefully, smirking at the name.
>New formula: CASKET
>Incendiary explosive using pressurized wisp energy.

>Jumping to masquerade unless anyone thinks of something really important to happen in THE PAST

>>12608749
AlchemyQuest, fuck yeah!

>Incendiary explosive using pressurized wisp energy.
Double fuck yeah!

>>12608749
ONE SECOND, Can't we use that pressurized wisp technology to repower the Daemon rifle?

>>12608788
I imagine it's a little more complex than that.

>>12608788
>That's theoretically possible. However, you would have to deconstruct the rifle to try and find the mechanism that powers it, and there's no guarantee that Caskets would work as ammunition, or not blow you up.

You give the sailors leave to go to their families. Only one takes the offer; the rest have homes in the coastal cities to the south, far from here, and say jokingly that they were supposed to be away on an island at any rate. The departee promises to return in time to give testimony to Lady Stelton if you manage to arrange for a private meeting to explain the situation.

You fit the bronze mask to your face tentatively, a smiling harlequin face with eye cutouts and a single teardrop punched out for artistic accent.
"Impeccable, sire," Paxton says, buttoning your dress coat.
"Th-thank you," you say. Inwardly, you wonder when the butler will give you a moment of peace so you can fill your pockets with shadowdust, sunspheres, and other "tools" that could prove handy if things get ridiculous this evening.
After a few hours of primping and preparation, you are underway, alone, to the masquerade, in the home of one Lord Poulstet, a man of legendary wealth, weight, and influence. The estate, when the carriage pulls up, is a vast two-level stone affair; it must have cost a fortune given the scarce nature of inner city real estate. You are waved into the front door and into a mirrored marble hall, filled with masked partygoers and tables laid out with fine foods. Servants flit through the crowd offering drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

>What do? Seek out the host? Seek out Lady Stelton? Look for other promising nobles?

Hopefully this time I don't get us/our companions shot. I was PERFECTLY TACTICALLY SOUND until my knee-jerk reaction to being mind controlled came up.

Currently reading archives. And I saw AA a while back-I haven't seen BausBrofist in a while, though.

>>12608835
Oh man, Cleveland was your fault? You pissed a lot of people out. However,
everythingwentbetterthanexpected.jpg
So it's not that bad.

>>12608829
Take it slow, get a feel for the space, size up potential exits and the like, just in case things get hectic. Unlikely, but possible.
Then, seek out our 'benefactor'

I didn't mean using the Caskets specifically to power the rifle, but the concept and theory in conjunction with study of the rifle's mechanisms in an effort to construct a sort of "air pump" to compress wisp energy rather than air, and then filter it into the daemon rifle, or some sort of similar rifle of our own design.

>>12608855
>Ah. This is also possible, but not at this point. The current saturation of wisp energy is such that it takes a considerable amount of energy/time to create a single Casket. Using the same principles to power an energy weapon would allow a few shots a day, at best.

>>12608865
Still, the study and practice of constructing such a device, as well as the construction of a wisp powered weapon of our own design, would provide invaluable experience.

>>12608900
>Energy Weapons: AlchemyQuest's version of the Blood wings

Speaking of the caskets, how about a grenade launcher intended to launch them specifically.

You move cautiously amid the guests, nodding politely to masked faces that slur drunken greetings. You are forced into a dance you don't know with a noblewoman who laughs good naturedly at your awkward steps before dismissing you with a wave and turning her attention to another. Throughout, you keep your eyes on the exits, all of which are double-guarded by halberd-bearing men, keeping the rabble out and watching the proceedings for any...hushed activities.
Poulstet himself is easy to locate, a positively rotund man in a crowd of hangers-on and sycophants. In a case of obvious self-deprecation, his masque is a gilded pig's face, leaving his mouth free to consume delicacies littering the party floor. You cannot locate Stelton; perhaps she has not yet arrived, or is lurking in some upper level or private chamber.

>What do?

lie low. Be nice, have fun, eat caviar, but don't attract Lady Stelton to you before you decide to.

>>12608919
Tell our men to keep an eye on the party. Go slinking about and investigate the more secluded areas.

>>12608919
>Note: when i said "party floor" I meant the expansive chamber you are in, not that people are literally eating off the floor. Though, on that note, the floor is polished tile that looks clean enough to eat off of. Not that anyone is eating off of it. Because they aren't.

>>12608934
>The invitation was for one. You are alone.

>>12608940
Well shit. Then hang around for a bit to see if anything happens, and if not, then sneak off to snoop around.

>>12608919
Go to the upper level? Do we know what mask she will have on?

>>12608865
Think self-charging magazines instead of numerous self-charging rifles that take more space and resource to build. Cannibalize the Daemon anyway. It is useless currently in our wisp-low mainland. The bonus to understanding and possibility to manufacture more are fascinating.

You wallflower on the sidelines a bit, sipping champagne and nibbling at various treats. You assume Lady Stelton will make a bit of an entrance, and you are not wrong.
She has two servants in tow, who open the doors for her as she billows in, a banshee in black. A narrow red domino mask, barely a mask at all, graces her upper face, but you recognize immediately the steely features that have occasionally held your life in their hands since your adolescence. For what it's worth, she seems to have aged remarkably well. She steps forcefully across the tile floor, moving towards Poulstet to make her introductions and compliments.

>Intercept her now, or later?

>>12608970
Don't rush things and don't seem too desperate. Come up at a reasonable time and be quiet about it, but don't look like we're sneaking. Introduce ourselves as Alphonse, but show her we're really us, and suggest we speak in private.

severe lack of visualization going on here

>Go to archive thread
>Six other quest threads archived
What the fuck. How am I supposed to compete with all this?
Also, thread's been archived. Feed me your votes to keep me young.

>>12608978

This. We don't want to go making a spectacle of ourself by taking her away from the party as soon as she goes in. We're hardly the most important person here, besides.

>>12608970
Wait for opportunity.

If not, barge in, and remind her of unfortunate meetings, one we are younger over a sleeping man's bed and with two blackbirds, one dead, one alive, the second while we are languishing in incarceration and she saves us from boredom with a trip to visit a private island resort (I hope this is norm for nobles).

Hope she is quick enough to recognize us before we finish those sentences...

Stelton approaches Poulstet, giving a shallow bow and a mere nod to his hangers-on. You have a patron of some obvious social influence, if she can be called a patron. She entrenches herself with her servants in the central group of nobles, attracting sycophants of her own like flies to honey.

"And who might you be, lad?" a masked man says, interrupting your observation. You turn to him, a bit of caviar'd cracker clinging to the mouth slot on your mask. He is a shrewd-looking bearded man with a mask portraying a long, sequined proboscis of a nose.
>Excuse yourself and go to Stelton, or chat up this guy?

>>12609028
>>12609028
Go with our fake name. Alphonse DeVir. Make small talk with him. Reveal little information. Fish for intel from him. Keep our eyes on Stelton.

Observe her out of the corner of your eye if you can but disguise yourself in this conversation with him. Don't look like a loner, be a bit hammy if you want to.

>>12609028

Talk to him, but cautiously. He could be a spy out to get us, or a source of information, and either way we can't ignore him.

He also might be out to waste our time so we'll miss our opportunity entirely, but that's just me metagaming, so ignore it.

> Create a set of scent and hearing enhancers instead.
Also, these aren't possible? We can personally use it to sneak about, overhear conversation, go over evidences through smell, or track someone by scent, then make a duplicate for Lorelei till we have the chance to take a look at her impairment and correct it.
Or is that twice Utility upgrades, one for hearing, one for smell?

"Alphonse DeVir," you say, brushing off a hand before extending it. He takes it and shakes it firmly, calling over a plain-looking woman with a gaudy peacock of a mask.
"Hiram Montred," he says. "My wife, Lady Montred." The pear-shaped woman curtsies politely. Your eyes dart over to Stelton, who has apparently just told a funny joke, or threatened to kill everyone around if they didn't laugh.
Montred proceeds to chat your ears off about a farming community he's been buying up in the north, where no one's been buying farmland, making it the perfect place to score big! You feign interest, glancing over at Stelton occasionally. Finally, she and Poultred, along with a handful of their followers, move towards the curving stairs to the upper level, apparently retiring for more private conversation or to smoke in some lavish noble's den.

>What do?

>>12609056
>certainly smacks of utility upgrades to me. Also that and the offense upgrade were the only suggestions, so I went with the first suggestion offered. Apologies to you if you felt ignored.

>>12609062
Excuse ourselves and hurry over. Go upstairs, cover ourselves in shadow, and eavesdrop on their conversation. We still don't know that we can fully trust this woman.

She did get us out of jail. but it was an odd circumstance. And it seems likely to me that she had something to do with our situation to begin with, and used us for her own ends.

And of course, it doesn't hurt to be extra cautious in a situation like this.

If the guards stop us, ask where the bathroom is. Or whatever they have.

Dammit, I come back to find that I've missed not just a tech upgrade, but TWO of them.

For what it's worth, I say we should either use our meager skill in medicine to craft some healing potions (or healing whatevers) for when we inevitably botch horribly and are looking Death in the face. Either that, or improve our general firearms skill before deconstructing the Daemon.

>>12609062
"Terribly sorry, I must cut this short at the moment. We must continue this conversation later though."
Pursue!

>>12609044
>>12609062

I'm going to have to vite for going up there - if she goes into more private company, we're going to look like an ass barging in. We've given her planty of breathing room, we should head up.

>>12609082
Shadowdusting is fine, but how long will it last?

Definitely shadow dust and listen in.

BUT BE CAREFUL NOT TO LOOK LIKE WE'RE A HUSHBLADE!

God damn, I just realized how effective shadowdust would be for that.

We definitely need to look into mass producing shadow dust for the use in the war if we can't prevent it.

>>12609087
>>12609089
>Follow
"Terribly sorry, I must cut this short at the moment. We must continue this conversation later though."
With a smile and a courteous nod, you leave, making your way through the crowd.
"Yes, er...of course!" Montred shouts after you. You ignore him.
You are almost spilled on, but you reach the stairway just as Stelton, Poultred and their groupies reach the top of the stairs. You see that they are moving towards the enclosure of an upper-level den, which will make eavesdropping impossible. Cursing under your breath, you take the stairs two at a time, trying to retain an air of sophistication and not of urgency.

>What do?

>>12609123
SHADOW DUST AND SNEAK IN SO WE CAN EAVES DROP

>>12609123
shadow dust!
do it now before they shut the door!!

>>12609123

Get close enough to ask her for her time when she has a moment, then pull back and wait.

>>12609136
>>12609134
>Note: in well-lit areas Shadowdust will make you appear like a large black moving shadow. Are you sure you want to do this?
>Fair warning

>>12609154
No, don't. If we can't look legit, just wait for another opportunity, and make some more contacts.

Also, I'm wondering how this is an improvement over the previous type of shadowdust.

>>12609158
Shadowdust obscured your form, giving you a sort of cover and making you harder to see in low light.
Imp. Shadowdust makes you fully invisible in shadowy/low-lit settings.
Protip: you don't get full invisopowder without putting some more upgrades into it.

>>12609154
Fuck. No shadows in the room they're going into huh?

If there are shadows where they're going, hurry into the room with the group and then hide in the shadow and apply shadowdust.

If we can't do that, then whatever.

>>12609154
really? a box seat in a masquerade ball where people go to chat, drink and smoke isn't going to be at least a bit shady or have dimmed lighting? :(

can we sneak in behind everyone else and go unnoticed? is there ANYTHING we can do?

Just walk in like it's fine. Or don't. Acting like a hushblade and trying to hide will get us stabbed. (And thrown out of party, too.)

If we can't shadow dust in, just walk in with the group like we're supposed to be there.

>>12609199
>>12609205
what's the worst that could happen? she catches you? Then you won't hear what they were going to say without you there. Worst cast scenario. Nobody else knows you so, would they risk being a dick to you if you know her personally?

You finger the shadowdust in your pocket nervously, but decide against it in these brightly lit chambers. Instead you catch up to the rear of the giggling ladies following Poulstet into the chamber. Nodding at those who look at you, you pass without contest into the den. Looking up at the lavish chandelier, you are glad you didn't try to sneak in through a crowd and apply shadowdust somewhere within.
"You were saying, Poulstet?" Stelton says, her dress spilling over the cushions of a couch as she reclines. The turgid Poulstet produces a four-hosed hookah from a glass cabinet.
"Ah, perfect!" he says, his pig-snout wiggling convincingly. "Yes, of course. So there we are, all ahorse, six hours into a boar hunt, when Lord Gavinscher starts to complain about sore feet. Sore feet! On horseback! It was simply abominable!" As he talks, he fills the top of the hookah with some sort of sticky leaf. You chuckle halfheartedly along with everyone else.
"Now then, we'll just...hello, what's this?" Poulstet says, blank pig-mask eyes looking in your direction. He belly-laughs, passing a coal and matches to another masked man and approaching you. "It seems we have a bit of an interloper. Well, then, bold sir, you are welcome to join, but you must introduce yourself. I don't recall seeing you before, mask or no, and I make it a habit to know everyone!" the gathered crowd giggles at this. "So, goodsir, grace us with your name, but not your face!" he wags a sausage finger at you. "that is strictly against the rules of the evening!"

>>12609244
Introduce ourselves. Be hammy.

oh man oh man. This is getting to be soo much fun. :D

>>12609254
disguise your voice too.

>>12609254
This, and play up the interloper comment a bit in our response.

>>12609254
>>12609258
>>12609263
and if Stelton doesn't catch on, let it lie for a bit. If she does, you can tell the group about your exotic vacation.

>>12609268
Oh hell yeah. We could tell everything that happened, completely deadpan but with just enough of the feel that it is the most far fetched story we can imagine. Would get points for telling an amusing story, and maybe we could get them discussing what should be done in such a hilariously absurd situation.

Go with Alphonse, and while making small talk, drop little verbal clues to Stelton.

Also, get her high and drunk so we can FUCK DAT MILF.

>>12609288
>REPUTATION: STORY TELLING CHAMPION :D

>actually this might hurt us in the long run :(

>>12609254
>>12609258
>>12609263
>>12609268
"Alphonse DeVir, goodsir Poulstet," you say, removing your wide-brimmed hat and bowing with egregious flourish. You put a bit of a high-class twinge on your words, trying to mimic the way you've heard foppish nobles talk.
"DeVir, eh? I've not heard of you, goodsir, bold scoundrel. How come you to be here?"
"Lord Blackheed craves your pardon, and sends me to intrude in his stead. I think you'll find me sufficiently roguish," you say, maintaining your theatrical bow. Poulstet laughs uproariously, clapping his hands.
"Oh, marvelous, simply marvelous. It's not like Blackheed to miss a party, but then he sends such a character in his place! We may have to just invite you next time and skip the formalities." the gathered crowd laughs.

<continued>

>>12609292

Welp, guess let's just make this fuck everythingquest
...not that I disagree

>>12609292
Nah. As we're not pursuing the banging of Fierna, I'm fine with waiting until our deadly waifu shows up again.

>>12609292
>Also, get her high and drunk
Yes! We'll be able to get some informa-

>so we can FUCK DAT MILF
...god damn it not again

>>12609300
We'll bang all three of them in a sexy game of Four Square.

>>12609308

This can be the only solution.

>>12609308
Or better yet, Connect Four.

>>12609314
I win!

Where? I don't see.

Here, between the sheets.

Goddamnit I love these guys.

Okay, so, I'm saying fuck the archives, I want to get in on this.

Laugh, interlope-put on an air of the harlequin we're made out to be. Make ourselves a notable character in their mind. We've already been revealed-that way, if it comes down to it, not only do we have contacts, but these people can "Attest to our character and presence." in the event of someone getting murdered at a masquerade.

...Wait, what's this about a deadly waifu? Someone explain.

Also, if possible, deflect any mind-altering substances with lighthearted humor. "Now, it wouldn't do to have *me* inebriated! Then I couldn't play the Harlequin to your clown, eh?"

"You are not from Hierotoria, then?" Poulstet asks, taking a hose as it is passed to him and pulling out a lungful of thick smoke. He puffs out perfect rings as he awaits your answer.
"No, sir, Blackheed means to show me a bit of the real noble high life, I should think," you say, feigning embarrassment.
"Well marvelous! Marvelous! He certainly sent you to the right place. You simply must meet Lady Stelton, a good woman to be on good terms with, I should think!"
Stelton betrays no hint that she knows who you are, smiling and nodding from behind her domino mask before puffing a cloud of smoke in your direction.
"And here's Lady Trestiere, Lord and Lady Inklens," Poulstet says, going around the room and pointing with the meat-nubs on the end of his hand. "Lord Pillorist, the Ladies Belvetrist, their consort Elias, Lady Desdemoen, and of course, on my personal invitation, the gem of the ball, the incomparable Elegy," his fingers waggle for emphasis as he gestures at the black-dressed woman, upper half of her face obscured by a featureless mask of porcelain. Her dress is cut low and sleeveless, tantalizing flesh bared to the smoky room. She smiles at you, inclining her head and showing just a glint of white teeth.

It is a smile you have never been able to forget.

>LAWL, that's all for tonight. Vote my ass up cause I'm a glorious bastard, I'll see you all tomorrow evening. Expect an email, maybe even one about starting early

>>12609329
When we were a kid, we were friends with a girl name Elegy who said she would be our Hushblade (assassin) when we grew up. We haven't seen her for years.

>>12609331
SON OF A BITCH!

>>12609331
You magnificent bastard

>>12609331
>>WHATATWIST.jpg
>>End thread
>>DAMMIT STONERDM

>>12609331

Son of a bitch

>>12609331
>>and of course, on my personal invitation, the gem of the ball, the incomparable Elegy," his fingers waggle for emphasis as he gestures at the black-dressed woman, upper half of her face obscured by a featureless mask of porcelain. Her dress is cut low and sleeveless, tantalizing flesh bared to the smoky room. She smiles at you, inclining her head and showing just a glint of white teeth.

A high class woman? She's probably forgotten all about us, then.

>>12609331
Also, there (and here) is my email, shoot me a message and I'll send you information about when I'm running, and links to the threads so you don't have to troll the front page looking.
Plus, I'll know you love me, and isn't that enough of a reason?

>>12609350
Nah, she schlicks every night imagining what we've become. TOO BAD WE'RE A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!

wanted to wait until she arrived on the scene to post this. I like her! I think she may be one of my favorite characters so far.

great thread StonerDM :D
oh maaaaaaaaaan I knew the ending would be all, "oh shit cliff hanger"

>>12609292
>>12609314
>>12609312
>>12609308
here, you creeps, this is for you.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=AlchemyQuest

3 votes and counting let's do this!

>>12609359
>>12609359
>>12609359
I hope all of you vote this up tonight.
best thread evar

>>12609356
It may have been bad before, but with THAT image...

creepers gonna creep

>>12609354
>>12609110

And to think, I was going to go "HMM WELL WE'RE NOT A HUSHBLADE I WONDER WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT?", but decided against it since if we pushed it too far StonerDM would probably kill her.

>>12609356
I've got a boner.

>>12609300
Remind me. How do we know our "deadly waifu" hasn't found someone else after all this time?

>>12609354
D:

>>12609363
let them, they'll never get their way anyway, they'll just wish and pray and have blueballs forever.

>>12609364
wouldn't it be crazy if she were there to kill Stelton?

>>12609368
We don't. Also, odds just got more likely that she did.

>>12609375
Bloodquest would seem to prove you wrong.

>>12609375
Wouldn't it be crazier if she were ordered to kill Alphonse DeVir?

oh come on, she's a Hushblade, she can be anything or anyone. Give her some credit!

>>12609380
well of course that isn't a real person.
But man, if she was out to kill Gill after he returned, NOT dead, from the island, would she choose her hushblade career over him?
DRAMA

>>12609378
...I... I haven't read that yet :(

>>12607431
>>12609368

Look at this face. Do you think you can replace this face in 8 short years?

>>12609380
Impossible, there hasn't been enough time--we made the name up!

Err, on Elegy, are we even sure she became a hushblade?

>>12609384
But we had the note of a hushblade danger when we were ON the island...

>>12609398
>>HUSHBLADES, HUSHBLADES EVERYWHERE.jpg

>>12609391

If we're in character, we only have a slight suspicion.

Iff we're metagaming assholes (We are) then yes, she totally is.

>>12609391
We don't know squat, and with stonerdm getting his trollface on we won't know until next thread.

>>12609386
Ah... Yes? 8 years is a long time, plenty of time to change. To meet people.

>>12609405
you say that like she couldn'tve carved out a reputation for herself somehow in the meantime without having "met" some other guy.

>>12609412
Reputation or not, she still could have met someone. Someone real, and there, instead of a far off memory.

>>12609412
Maybe not "met" but but the very act of carving out a niche for herself in this kind of society would necessitate meeting and dealing with many people. And while it's not guaranteed, it's likely that she has "met" someone. Or at the very least taken a casual over or two over the years. Especially give her looks.

We're only at three votes what the FUUUUUUCK

>>12609428
yeah, possibly. Probably.
But after she realizes it's you, after this schmoozing crap is over you'll totally meet her behind the party in a hallway, and it'll be all awkward and scary for a minute, like "oh shit how did they know I was here at this party?!" and she's all got a knife and stuff, and then, sudden sexy making-up-for-lost-time as a one-night-stand thing! I would totally be ok with this.

god damn it you fuckers have got me on the bandwagon too, now

>>12609412
As basically a servant, and a rather cute one if Gil remembers correctly, in this kind of corrupt and probably decadent Court?

Without a powerful patron, her wish to become a Hushblade will certainly entail seduction and those kind of 'work'. If I remember correctly, I think she knows this as a young teen and probably is willing to do it to reach the position.

Problem is, if she is willing to set her probably hard-worked position and reputation for a childhood sweetheart?

. . . I am happy we brought our arsenal.

>>12609455
>>. . . I am happy we brought our arsenal.

WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY FUCKING MOUTH

>>12609448

It's not like we haven't had our share of that sort of thing (Unless we haven't, I don't think the flashbacks covered that), As long as she isn't married to a noble or something, we've got a chance.

>>12609464
OH GOD WE'RE A VIRGIN

>>12609464
I don't think we have. We seem to have taken solace in alchemy rather than any female companions.

>>12609470

We're a COURT ALCHEMIST

...virgin

Just... Keep the emphasis on all the flashy shit we've made. We're a scientist, we can get away with it.

>>12609464
How odd, the noble who was married to Elegy died in a horrible firebombing. Witnesses reported only a shadowy figure at the scene.

>>12609464
And Fierna will make a lovely rebound.

Well that settles it.

Fuck invisibility powder.

Fuck grenades.

Fuck laser guns.

Fuck air ships.

Next invention is a Fuck Bot.

>>12609486
When we have at least 2 gorgeous (and dangerous) women interested in us whom we can pursue?

>>12609486

Then we'll just look like a creepy alchemy nerd dude who you were best friends with a long time ago but you met him and he's really wierd and not like you remember him at all.

We can even play it off as waiting for the right person (her) and have it be all romantic, unless we bang the snooty elf chick.

>>12609490
It will make us rich, and then we can have ALL the women. Especially when all the men are too busy with the sex bots.

Heh, I just had a thought.

What if that maid with the poison wine was Elegy in disguise and Gul never picked up on it...

>>12609486
GENTLEMEN need no sex bots.

>>12609499

Oh crap.

excuse me while I collect my mind from the walls and furniture.

>>12609461
so we're going to fight her?

>>12609479
>>12609476
>>12609470
>>12609464
I really, really hate to say this but... do I even have to say it?

>>12609485
Honestly, don't you Fierna shippers realize how bad an idea that is? The woman is from another dimension, a different species, and her people a re planning to invade our world.

What part of this dosn't scream "Tragic Ending" to you?

>>12609510

Yes.

>>12609510
WELL YOU HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING OTHERWISE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

>>12609510
Well, I'm a bit slow, so...

>>12609519
>>12609516
>>12609522

...

there isn't even the slightest odds that Elegy doesn't recognize him.
Man, they have to hook up. They just gotta.

>>12609515
. . . Because it's StonerDM? :D

In retrospect, whether or not Elegy is 'experienced', would Bertram Gillivers care about that? If the girl in question does not, a gentleman should not. Unless it is about her honor, then Gil can be steamed about the first guy who did it, but not on Elegy herself.

Besides, if you can angle it as pupil and teacher thing, Elegy might be interested to share...

. . .

Now that your brains have all flopped down from your braincase to muck and roll about in the gutter... Let's go back to business: What do Bertram do to make Lady Stenton recognize us?

Do we paraphrase my idea here as a what a foppish young noble would say?
>>12609018

>>12609554
We act bold and remove our mask.

>>12609554

That sounds pretty good, but add lots of flowery prose.

Can they at least kiss, then, :(

>>12609554
Only Stelton would get the exotic vacation spin, which is perfect. Not even Elegy would get it. ...Probably.

>>12609560
you never do this at a masquerade until you are too drunk to keep it on.

>>12609554
It's not about Gull accepting Elegy if she's "experienced" in any way. It's about Elegy still being interested in Gull after having 8 years of experiences.

>>12609570

Well, the way I see it, either we get an awesome assassin childhood friend, or we fight an awesome assassin childhood friend for the good of the human race. Either one would be awesome.

Calling it now: StonerDm is going to throw us another curveball tomorrow.

>>12609590
Curveball: Elegy is not a Hushblade, but just a simpering courtesan. Those rather hard qualities she has as a child (whimsical, rash, but at the same time a bit jaded) are now overblown, turning her into a naggy, greedy young woman, catty and petulant when not indulged.

. . . Shit. I've depressed myself now.

>>12609691
even worse: she pretends she's an imporant hushblade to impress Gill, just because she's terrified that he might think of her as just some common party whore... even if it does turn out to be true.

>>12609721
>>12609691

damnit

I hope he doesn't read the archives, because you guys are going to get us Brody-level sad end.

And then we'll have to bang the elf. And nobody wants things to come to that.

>>12609454
this I think is the most realistic if poorly worded outcome right now and I desperately want it to happen.

I think everyone else is gone, now, though.

>>12609691
>>12609721
I have only this to say:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.