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.
-Three sailors rescued from the island, originally crew of the expedition you accompanied there.

>>12694874
You forgot to add Casket to the things we know.

Other Figures of Note:
Lord Blackheed- An elven plant within the noble hierarchy. Has an appreciation for the finer aspects of human life but also a staunch loyalty to his own culture.
Hushblade- One of the sailors you rescued from the island was a Hushblade assigned to kill you, for reasons yet unknown.
Elegy/Requiem- A childhood friend of your that appears to have maneuvered herself into a position of relative influence in the noble community. She is also a Hushblade, fulfilling a lifelong dream of hers.

>>12694885
So I did.
Casket, Offensive Weapon (incendiary explosive)

I apologize.
FOR NOTHING.

OTHER other persons of note:
Lorelei- A blind teenage girl employed in Lord Blackheed's apartments in Hierotoria.
Paxton- The aged butler, also employed in Blackheed's apartments.

Someday everything will be in order and we can begin >_>

Gandalf! You're alive!

Other person of note:
Lady Stelton: Noble, arranged for Bertram's removal from prison.

>>12694919
>fine, geez, I'll make an archive this weekend.

The evening previous, you made reconnections with Lady Stelton, the fire-eyed noblewoman that you have had dealings with in the past. She has invited you to her estate this weekend, ostensibly for tea, but more probably to grill you for information on important developments, like why you're not currently an ocean away. You are sitting at your desk in the borrowed apartments of Lord Blackheed, going over your notes from last evening's scientific forays, when Paxton pokes his wrinkled head into your room.
"There is a particularly stunning young woman here to see you," he sniffs. "I...wouldn't keep that one waiting, sire. Though, of course, M'Lord, it is not my placeto impose."
Of course! Elegy! Your childhood friend murdered the Hushblade who was poised to kill you, and she said she would visit you today.

>What do?

>>12694951
>StonerDM's plan: make a bungling ass of myself every time I list the ever-growing list of equipment and personal contacts until AA decides to catalog it for me.
>Mission Status: SUCCESS

>>12694967
Make sure we're presentable and then go see our savior.

>>12694967
Answer the door, obviously.

>>12695020
>>12695023
You rise, making sure your coat is as unwrinkled as possible.
"She is in the parlor, sire," Paxton says, bowing his head as you pass by.
Elegy is wearing a dress of green satin, white lace blossoming from her neckline like flowers. She sits comfortably in one of the chairs littering the parlor, the air around her hazed somewhat by the cigarette in her mouth. She smokes with her whole hand, deep drags and smoke-ring exhales, a far cry from the thin clouds of smoke expelled by wafer-thin hawk-eyed noblewomen with dainty cigarette holders.
"Small world," she says without rising. "I have to say, I didn't expect to find you bumping shoulders with the partygoers once you received your Court Alchemist appointment. But then, I suppose you weren't really, were you, Alphonse?" She winks at you, taking another drag on the cigarette.

>>12695072
"I like to think it was a combination of bumping shoulders with people and contacting someone at the same time. Luckily, it also led me to you."

>>12695072
"I'm SO glad you're alive! We have so much to talk about! Where you were, how you became a hushblade, what happened with Fulgrim, where I've been...

What I've found out..."

"I'm lucky, you're probably the only person who will believe me when I tell you this..."

"I like to think it was a combination of bumping shoulders with people and contacting someone at the same time. Luckily, it also led me to you."
"Lucky you indeed," Elegy says. "If it wasn't for me you would've been dead on that balcony. I caught sight of that amateur lurking near the peak of the roof, and I hid near the wall, just over the railing."
"You mean you were just hanging from the balcony that whole time?"
She shrugs cockily.
"You do what the job requires."
"We have so much to talk about! Where you were, how you became a hushblade, what happened with Fulgrim, where I've been..."
"My story isn't nearly as exciting as it seems at first," she says, finishing the cigarette and setting the remainder on the edge of a table. "I was indentured as a servant in a noble's house. Lord Greer. It was no better or worse than the Academy, until I really started talking to his consort. As it turns out," she leans forward, lighting another cigarette and pointing at you with the burning tip for occasional emphasis, "she was actually his personal Hushblade. And his consort too, I suppose. But she's the one that really started teaching me. Giving me tips, telling me how to observe a whole room without moving my eyes," a pause, an exhalation of smoke. "Eventually an assassin...got past her, and came for Greer. I was serving him dinner at the time, and I just," she waved her hand across her throat, a thin snake of smoke trailing across her face, "...I just did what came naturally. After that Greer adopted me as his personal ward, having no children of his own. When he died, I started getting closer to Poulstet; his parties are a sort of neutral staging ground, the man doesn't get too deep into the backstabbing himself, but it's an excellent place to look for clients, and the food is remarkable."
"What about you? You said you were framed for Fulgrim's murder, but if that's not the truth you can tell me. It's not like I'd blame you for snuffing out that old raven."

>>12695198
"I am guilty of all but the deed. I would have killed him myself that night, had not someone else poisoned the drink I took to him."

>>12695198
"It is the truth. I think whoever sent that hushblade after me did it. After I found out my father died, I went to confront Fulgrim from hiding it from me and in my haste to see him, a servant girl asked me to bring him wine. As he died, conveniently someone else came into the room and Fulgrim accused me of his death."

>>12695198
Fulgrim... poisoned, by someone who knew that I would be more than willing to relieve an overworked servant of their burden of food, and likely to sound plausible as someone who might conduct a hamfisted assassination on my own. My reputation struck against me even before this wretched situation.

Though I had more cause to kill him than ever before, at the time. His actions saw me sit idle and ignorant while my father was tried and killed. In retrospect, I still cannot decide if he was merely embittered and hateful, or somehow trying, in a twisted fashion, to make me strong.

I suppose it doesn't really matter, now.

"Fulgrim... poisoned, by someone who knew that I would be more than willing to relieve an overworked servant of their burden of food, and likely to sound plausible as someone who might conduct a hamfisted assassination on my own. My reputation struck against me even before this wretched situation.

Though I had more cause to kill him than ever before, at the time. His actions saw me sit idle and ignorant while my father was tried and killed. In retrospect, I still cannot decide if he was merely embittered and hateful, or somehow trying, in a twisted fashion, to make me strong."
"I'd guess the latter, but that's just me," Elegy says casually. Then, catching herself, she softens. "I'm...I'm sorry about your father." She stares at the floor. "I guess it's the way of the world. Sooner or later everything you care about disappears." She takes a drag, smiling and waving a hand at you. "Oh, I don't mean you, Gill. Somehow I knew I'd always run into you again. I just..." she shrugs, "I don't know what I mean. Don't pay me any mind. Tell me about your expedition, that sounds like a real topic of conversation."

>>12695327
"It was a long trip across the sea to uncharted islands. Of course, almost immediately we came across unknown plants and creatures on the island. We began setting up a place for shelter, trying to get help from what we thought were natives to the island but things soon went to hell. There were invaders on that island. More advanced than anything we have and they're preparing to attack us. Most of the crew were butchered, and we only survived since some of the invaders are trying to settle this peacefully."

Too lazy to do a longer summary. I assume we're talking in a low voice now.

>>12695327
Sad smile.

"A suspicious man, Elegy, might suspect that you were cleverly wringing information from me for your own purposes. And I suspect that I will need to become a great deal more suspicious before this is through. But I will gamble on hope, this time at least.

The expedition started out much as one might expect, but took a sharp turn for the surreal and terrifying. It appears that the arcane energies needed for alchemy are leaking into our world through a single rift, located in the area we sailed to explore. Through that rift is, apparently, a civilization of people with terrible weapons and terrible intentions towards us; there will be war with them, soon, and we- all humans, that is- will need to prepare. I am astonished even now that I made it home, but my task is a large one that will likely get me killed, labeled mad, or both."

>>12695423
>I like what this man says

You smile sadly.
"A suspicious man, Elegy, might suspect that you were cleverly wringing information from me for your own purposes. And I suspect that I will need to become a great deal more suspicious before this is through. But I will gamble on hope, this time at least."
Elegy looks mildly concerned, though her face seems incapable of expressing real sadness or fear.
"It was a long trip across the sea to uncharted islands. Of course, almost immediately we came across unknown plants and creatures on the island. We began setting up a place for shelter, trying to get help from what we thought were natives to the island but things took a sharp turn for the surreal and terrifying. It appears that the arcane energies needed for alchemy are leaking into our world through a single rift, located in the area we sailed to explore. Through that rift is, apparently, a civilization of people with terrible weapons and terrible intentions towards us; there will be war with them, soon, and we- all humans, that is- will need to prepare. I am astonished even now that I made it home, but my task is a large one that will likely get me killed, labeled mad, or both."
There is a silence, broken only by the hissing combustion of tobacco, as Elegy watches you, trying perhaps to catch some kind of secret truth in your face.
"You're serious?" she asks, almost whispering. "I mean, this really happened? How did you get back to the Imperium?"

>>12695464
Agreed. I can see when I am bested in making up dialogue.

>>12695476
>Oh man, StonerDM, did you just dovetail those two explanations together flawlessly?
>I sure did, StonerDM
>STONERDM HAS HIGH-FIVED HIMSELF
>SELF HIGH-FIVES +1

>>12695476
"I have no reason to lie to you Elegy. I wish I was lying to you. While the majority of their civilization is preparing for war, there are some within it that want to try to solve things more peacefully. Two of them helped us get off the island and are hoping we can prepare our world for the attack and stop us from being conquered."

>>12695476
"Some of their people don't support our wholesale slaughter, and are hoping to somehow work towards a peace. So luck, really, and a ship that flies through the air.

"I have no reason to lie to you Elegy. I wish I was lying to you. While the majority of their civilization is preparing for war, there are some within it that want to try to solve things more peacefully. Two of them helped us get off the island and are hoping we can prepare our world for the attack and stop us from being conquered."
She observes the grim severity on your face and shakes her head wonderingly.
"Abyss...shouldn't you be making a case to the High House right now? The Emperor needs to know about this, everyone needs to know about this. Even the Confederacy, as wont as people in Hierotoria are to curse them every breath." She raises her cigarette, affecting a pompous accent.
"May their airships come down on their heads!"

>>12695584
"It's complicated. Firstly, getting access to the High House won't be easy with my current status. Secondly, not everyone will believe me thanks to Fulgrim. Thirdly, these invaders have agents in our empire. If I move too openly, it might cause the invasion to occur before we can prepare and unify everyone."

>>12695584
Laugh bitterly. "What would that accomplish, Elegy? I would be disregarded as a madman until far too late to matter- at best, another expedition might be sent to the islands to die and thereby inform the others that we know of their plans, hastening the invasion. Vindication in the ruins of our world holds no appeal for me.

No, nothing really gets done in this nation except by playing their stupid, worthless political games. My best chance at this is to get a real player to believe me, and have that person do the work of convincing others of the threat, or at least preparing behind the scenes. And my choices for players are rather slim."

"It's complicated. Firstly, getting access to the High House won't be easy with my current status. Secondly, not everyone will believe me thanks to Fulgrim. Thirdly, these invaders have agents in our empire. If I move too openly, it might cause the invasion to occur before we can prepare and unify everyone."
"Sounds like a delicate operation," Elegy says, setting the cigarette on the edge of the table, where it continues to burn, a thin trunk of ash suspended over the edge. She leans forward, eyes sparkling.
"I can be delicate, when the need suits me," she reaches into the lace frills on her chest, flashing the polished steel of a throwing knife before whisking it away from whence it came with a sleight of hand.
"You seem like you're doing pretty well for yourself, Gill, saving the world, apartments in Hierotoria. I don't suppose you're in the market for a Hushblade." She leans back, smiling cockily as she drums her fingers on one armrest of the chair.

>>12695629
>I'm so sorry, I didn't see that or I would have put some stuff in the previous post.

>>12695648
"Do I really need to ask?"
"Or do you, for that matter?"

>>12695648
"Tell me I'm doing well for myself when I'm not being suspected for murder and still far from doing anything to save people... But yes. I wouldn't even think of refusing your help."

>>12695648
"I should warn you, Elegy, that there's not a lot to be said for working for me. I'll probably be dead by the end of this one way or another. All I've really got on my side is a desperate hope that I can somehow save the world. Do you get paid in desperate hopes?"

"Do I really need to ask?" You say, then, "Do you, for that matter?"
Elegy brightens up like a child, leaping up from the chair and throwing her arms around you. She presses her cheek against yours, painting an imaginary picture with one hand. You are distracted by the scent of some kind of perfume.
"Oh, Gill, this is going to be so much fun!" suddenly, from seemingly nowhere, the knife from her bosum is in her outstretched hand. "Let's see them try to touch you now."
"Let's...not," you say. "I should warn you, Elegy, that there's not a lot to be said for working for me. I'll probably be dead by the end of this one way or another. All I've really got on my side is a desperate hope that I can somehow save the world. Do you get paid in desperate hopes?"
"No, but I take favors. I'll open a tab for you."

>Sorry, I got distracted by the new Electric Wizard release. Had to hit them Privateer Harbors post-haste

>>12695652
There will be other posts, I suppose.

>>12695778
Laugh. She's hugging you and it is good.

"By the end of this I'll owe you half the kingdom and my firstborn child if we do things that way. But it's still good to have you with me.

Do you want to talk over lunch?"

(alter the mentioned meal as time-appropriate, not sure when exactly it is)

>>12695778
"Joy. So my reward if I do manage to save the world and survive is paying off debts to my childhood friend?"
In a joking manner.

Ask her if she's into threesomes.

>>12695837
>okay, I lol'd

>>12695842
I'm serious.

"So my reward if I do manage to save the world and survive is paying off debts to my childhood friend?" You chuckle. "By the end of this I'll owe you half the kingdom and my firstborn child if we do things that way. But it's still good to have you with me."
"It's...good to be with you," Elegy says, her eyes scant centimeters away from yours.
"Do you want to talk over lunch?" you ask, eyes darting to the window to reaffirm the time. It's definitely daylight.
"Mister Gillivers, are you trying to court me?" Elegy asks jokingly.

>>12695876
>>12695837
>I...I don't know if I should do this

>>12695889
I personally don't think you should.

>>12695889
They're both adults. Besides, Gil is a virgin. She probably isn't. ASK THE QUESTION! AND THEN ANSWER IT, SINCE YOU WRITE ALL OF THIS!

>>12695900
Just... No. You're going to make Gil sound like the creeper I know in real life who has no idea how to talk to girls.

>>12695876
Let's just try for a...twosome and we'll gradually bring her around to the idea, baby steps folks, baby steps, especially when the plan is to sleep with a professional killer.

>>12695900
>>12695889
While you have a point, it's rather out of character for Gill.
Granted, we ARE the character, but still, its inconsistent.

>>12695884
I would say yes, we are trying to court her, I mean, why the damn hell not.

Stoner, the guys trolling, we seem to still have some dicks around who have realized they can't get quests reported anymore so now they just troll them into the ground, ignore the shit suggestions.

>>12695953
Indeed. Might as well try to pick off from where we left off all those years ago before she was shipped off, right?

>>12695884
Anyway, to answer her question...

"Not sure. Let me know when I am, and if it's working."

>>12695967
No, no, no. You never come off as indecisive like that to a woman. Especially not to a woman you want to get inches deep with. We need to seem in control but aloof. "Maaaaybe." something like that.

>>12695967
>>12695980
Not indecisive, comfortable and joking.

>>12695889

DO IT

Ask her. She's an assassin living in the big city. I bet she's a sexual wildcat.

>>12696024
Just because she's an assassin, doesn't mean she's a sexual wild cat. Asking that is likely to be insulting rather than being useful in any way. We have no reason to suspect this could go well other than wild assumptions. Plus it's way too out of character.

>>12696041
It wouldn't be out of character if we asked it enough, and we gotta start some where!

>>12696061
Fucking hell it's eat the gold all over again with you, isn't it?

>>12696099
Eat the gold?

>>12696105
A long while ago, when DORF QUEST was active, an annoying little bugger spammed for beardbeard to "eat some gold" for five threads. It culminated in him avatarfagging and finally gnome granting his wish in exchange for sexual favors with a succubus

>>12696105

I got no clue, but we are an alchemist...

New Objective: transmute gold, eat it

Bloody hell, guys, are we seriously arguing over if we should say something that... urgh. Don't mention threesomes, or anything directly sexual.

Don't. Move more slowly, with something like >>12696011 >>12695967 >>12695980.

>There is entirely too much controversy surrounding this, so I'm going to skip it.
>Also, this album is awesome, get it and smoke to it, all of you.

"Not sure. Let me know when I am, and if it's working."
"I might," Elegy says. "But unfortunately, I cannot stay. Poulstet is having a small salon this afternoon, and I was hoping to put in an appearance. Don't worry," she adds, "This won't be a professional meeting. But I shouldn't drop out of the social scene the second you arrive in town. It will raise...questions." She traces a finger along the trimming of your cloak. "I'll come back tomorrow? You can tell me more about these invaders of yours. Maybe I can even meet one."

>>12696197
Ask her exactly what her deal is with that old dude.

in b4 elegy is elf invader spy

>>John rephoffi
eh? sorry captcha, never heard of him. should definitely be the next alias we use though

>>12696214
See
>>12695198

>>12696214
see
>>12695198

>>12696214
And why she was avoiding out eyes when she realized who we were. She was actively avoiding looking at us at all, which seems a little odd to me. Didn't even glance at us.

>>12696245
>>12696249
>Dude.

>>12696245
>>12696249
>>12696263
I read it. She seemed to gloss over it. Looking for more depth.

>>12696197
"It's a date," only half jokingly.

Time to figure out who that hushblade was hired by. Ask her for any leads we should follow before she goes.

Also, alchemy time. We have until the weekend to prepare.

>>12696263

>>12695778
>>12695778
>>12695778
>>"No, but I take favors. I'll open a tab for you."
>>favors
>>She's basically telling us to sex her, guys

Also inquire if the hushblade she killed had anything on him that might be a clue on to who he works for. I doubt we'll be that lucky but who knows.

>>12695837
You know pic related is both how we would sound and how it would end up.

"The other night...why were you avoiding my eyes?"
"Did I hurt your feelings?" Elegy asks, somewhat sarcastically. "I couldn't very well have been gawking at you in front of everyone, according to you, you were a newcomer from the south, where I have never been, at least as far as anyone there knows. Not to say I haven't had a bit of business here and there in the hinterlands," she says, looking at her perfect fingernails.
"The Hushblade, the one you killed...did he have anything on him? Anything that might point to who hired him?"
Elegy shakes her head. "He was an amateur and a pushover, but he wasn't an idiot. A Hushblade knows better than to walk around with incriminating letters, signets, things of that nature. Many Hushblades with prominent public aliases will do their business in masks."

>>12696376
>I lol'd muchly

>>12696399
"Hurt feelings? No. But you appeared to actively ignore me, and that's a sign of it's own to the right eyes."

>>12696399
"So where ought I look if I'm to find a clue as to who hired him?"

>>12696460
Don't say this at all.

As she leaves, ask after her, "So did you dream of me?"

>>12696491
Or better yet, don't be so specific. Just be like, "Sleep well." with a smirk.

>>12696497
It's NOON.

>>12696497
>>12696491
Don't say either of these.

>>12696491
This makes us sound like a lovesick puppy.

>>12696497
This makes us sound like an asshole.

>>12696507
>I lol'd.

Night errybody!

"So where ought I look if I'm to find a clue as to who hired him?"
"I don't know. Try to find people that hated Fulgrim, and see if any of them hate you as well. That's if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, one person hated Fulgrim, and another person entirely wants you dead for some reason or another. I can try to put a few feelers out for you, but I do my best to keep a low profile."

>>12696575
"Thanks. See you tomorrow. And I'll see about introducing you to one of my friends."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow. And I'll see about introducing you to one of my friends."
"See you tomorrow," she says with a smile, then turns towards the door. You wrestle with yourself inwardly, and finally blurt out when her hand is on the knob.
"Did you dream of me?"
She turns back to you, her face a sort of sad half-smile.
"For years and years," she says before exiting.

>anything else on the schedule for today, or just tinkering?

>>12696626
Part of me thinks we should invest more time with the staff in this place. If they listen in on the wrong convo, things could be bad. Need to make sure we can win them on our side in the worst case scenario.

Right. Send a letter back to Blackheed that someone might be aware of them and they should be careful. The hushblade had time to run around on his own so who knows if he got in contact with someone.

>And Elegy gets an exit of her own.

>>12696665
Yeah, this is a good idea on all counts.

>>12696665

A good point, that hushblade did know about Blackheed and Fierna. Should probably let them know about that. Also might be a good idea to find some sort of invisible ink to use for secret messages since it's possible someone might try and intercept any letters we send. Have some inconsequential banter in regular ink on the front, real message hidden on the back.

>She turns back to you, her face a sort of sad half-smile.
>"For years and years," she says before exiting.
I can't help but think that this is has an unspoken "before finally giving up" after it. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but... I'm not feeling 100% about trusting Elegy.

Ah, well. Nothing to do about it, really; it would be foolish to cast away one of our only potential contacts here over some sneaking suspicion.

Spend some time tinkering today, I suppose. We might get more messages/callers as follow-up to our appearance at the party yesterday; that would be lucky.

>>12696699
Ohshi- Maybe that's something we need to invent when we make a breakthrough. Secret ink if it doesn't exist or a superior one.

>>12696710
I have similar feelings you have but we either distrust her openly or trust her. I figure we're better off trusting her at this point. If she betrays us... Not much we can do but I rather take that risk than potentially push her away by being distrustful.

>>12696710
my take on it:
>ronery years were sad and ronery

Also don't go out of our way to show the elves to anyone. Even Elegy, if she pushes it then introduce her to Dask :V

You pen a letter to Blackheed, detailing the potential threat while trying to remain as vague as possible about specific details. Paxton informs you that it will be sent out the following morning.

>Invest more time with the staff.
Do this? If so, talk to Paxton? Talk to Lorelei? Talk to one of your other allies?

>>12696729
Pretty much my thoughts exactly, yeah. It's what I was trying to express in >>12695423, together with a little bit of hopefully guilting her if she's actually working against us. Who knows if that'll pan out.

She's sad because long-distance relationships suck, especially when we can't return her non-existent calls.

>>12696729

Just going to third the somewhat distrust of Elegy feeling going on here. Not 100% why really.

>>12696746
Yah, do it. Surely we've enough time in the day to hit up each a bit?

oh my god I didn't even know it was going on tonight, I missed it yesterday and now... SHIT

I'm so glad I didn't miss it all. Reading up...

>>12696746
If we do have to pick one... I think Paxton or Lorelei. They're the ones who don't know what's really going on and part of me is paranoid Lorelei is listening in on our conversations.

>>12696785
>It's you!

yaaaay

>>12696785
>There was no AQ yesterday. Don't worry. Also you should really email me so I can start keeping you up to date on when I'm running and such.

>>12696788
I want to talk to Lorelei after developing super-smell gel. It would drastically change the tone of our interactions with her if we gave her a sensory booster.

>>12696769

Oh wait, probably because anyone who works as a hushblade is probably going to be on the sketchy side. Factor in the the whole lifelong dream of being a hushblade thing, who grows up wanting to be a killer?

Just seems like the type of person I wouldn't trust at all.

>>12696805
Then how about Paxton? Might be able to get some ideas on how to better deal with Lorelei from him too.

>Both
>Lorelei first because whatever

After delivering the letter to Paxton, you search the hallways and mostly-empty rooms for the blind maid.
When you find her, she is trying to clean one of the spare bedrooms, but is being actively tormented by Dask. The miscreant has apparently realized that Lorelei cannot see him, and that she is trying to organize this room, so he is constantly dragging chairs into her path and rearranging the items on the desk and unmaking the bed. She seems a mix between frustrated and depressed, while Dask seems like he's having more fun than a child up past bedtime.

>>12696812
All it takes is dehumanizing your enemies for it to seem like a great thing to do.

>>12696812
So harsh on the girl. In theory, her becoming a hushblade would of resulted in a better life than she had before, if I remember things that were said in flashbacks. Not impossible to imagine why she would want to do that. The killing aspect... Yeah, I guess that might be a little excessive but it's alright. She was the slightly odd girl that liked us back then. It's still possible that exists, heh.

>>12696829
I'm torn between just scolding him and stopping it...

...and with tossing a Sunsphere into the room.

>>12696847
>tossing a Sunsphere
inb4 you somehow blind yourself again.

>>12696853
Well we wouldn't be blinding her at least. Just Dask.

Would it make a big mess for her? If so, let's not.

>>12696829
Definitely scold Dask and help the poor girl out. At the very least, this will help teach him to listen to us if he has to serve as our homonculus.

>>12696853

Yeah, we really ought to whip up some shades to wear to prevent this kind of thing.

>>12696829
Whatever the hell we do, we should make it clear that in the future, she outranks Dask and should have him locked up or something if he tries this kind of bullshit.

>>12696868
Yeah... As the person who has blinded us two times with sunspheres, getting the googles to do something might be useful.

>>12696868
>invisible ink
>shades
>we still haven't used our medical skill to make a wound-treater
>we could improve our medical/firearms skill level too
>but gil could have badass sunglasses in all the future pics
>yes shades

>>12696883
Then someone could make a Gil "Deal with it" picture?

>>12696883
>badass sunglasses you say

>>12696873
Make him a leash or something? Something she can use to catch him. Or a bell collar. Yeah.

"Dask!" you say commandingly. The goblin turns to look at you, grinning widely. He warbles some strange phrase, spreading his arms as though to show you what he's done. Lorelei jumps at your words, obviously startled.
"Oh, s-sire," she says timidly. "I didn't hear you come in."
"ooooooh, shishyish," Dask says in a mocking coo.

>>12696916
With at least 3 bells so that he couldn't muffle the sound. Then we give him a jester cap too. He's a homonculus designed to humor us, we can say.

>>12696945
"You were obviously occupied with other things. Dask. Stop bothering Lorelei and allow her to work."

>>12696945
"I'm sorry to have startled you. Let me get this miscreant out of your hair. I think if I gave him a collar with bells on it, we might not have this issue in the future. You'd be able to give him a good smack without effort, I'd imagine."

"Other than this, are things going well?"

StonerDM got baked, thread over.

>>12697049
>Still here. Keep all your pants on.

>>12697057
>the people in THIS thread, in THIS game
>keep their pants on in any way
hahaha.

"You were obviously occupied with other things. Dask. Stop bothering Lorelei and allow her to work."
Dask cannot understand your words, but he hears the scolding tone in your voice. Looking around, he tilts his head, seemingly confused that his actions have not brought him praise. You glare at him, and he slowly creeps out of the room, ears pressed back against his head.
"I'm sorry to have startled you. I think if I gave him a collar with bells on it, we might not have this issue in the future. You'd be able to give him a good smack without effort, I'd imagine."
Lorelei smiles. "Oh, I wouldn't want to hurt him by accident."
"Other than the little miscreant, are things going well?"
She takes a moment to find a chair and sits.
"Yes, very well. Paxton and I always joke that it's much better when Blackheed is at the country estate, but in truth, it's nice to have something to do around here. Paxton does a lot of reading in Blackheed's library, but..." she lets out a laugh, almost a whisper, and a rolling shrug of her shoulders.

>>12697069
>IN THIS COUNTRY!
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsyfH0uOn3A
>Endless Nicholson

>>12697092
"But?"

>>12697092
We should give her something to do that's more exciting than cleaning.

>>12697092
Hmm. This encounter tells us we need to spend more time with Dask at some point. Gotta make him understand us a little better if possible. Maybe make him actually useful.

>>12697123
see
>>12697099

>>12697126
>>Maybe make him actually useful.

We could train him to attack things on command.

>>12697137
And invent a way to conveniently carry him with us.

>>12697147
Then start a fad, and make millions capturing goblins and churning out storage containers for them.

>>12697092
"Surely you have friends?"

GUYS, we should make her our alchemy apprentice.

>>12697126
>>12697137
>>12697147
>>12697163

>ALCHEMON QUEST

>>12697172
I would imagine that's hard. I believe there is a visual component to being a successful alchemist. At best, I imagine she could do only parts of alchemy.

>>12697202
It could be awesome though.

"Surely you have friends?" you prompt her, trying to get more information about her. Her smile is almost painful as she shakes her head slightly.
"Most of the people in this town are either nobles or the servants of nobles. The servants tend to spend time at the pubs, and...I never liked the atmosphere. Too noisy, too smoky, too...dangerous. I spend time with Paxton, and I have a few friends outside, but mostly my life is...this," she says, waving a duster around for emphasis and giggling softly.

>>12697254
A giggle? That seems odd.

>>12697254
"Mostly this? What else do you do in your spare time then?"

>>12697296
"Mostly this? What else do you do in your spare time then?"
Loreilei's face flushes softly, and she pauses for a moment.
"I...er, that is...I play the piano," she murmurs. You remember seeing the piano in the parlor of the apartment, but had thought it was merely Blackheed's, or more likely decorative.
"I'm no good, I just try to...sound things out."

>>12697369
"Would you mind playing something for me? Even if it's just sounding things out? I'm not proud to admit it but I'm terrible at making music but I enjoy listening to it."

>>12697369
"Who says that you're no good? Playing by ear is a gift. Would you mind playing me a song?"

>>12697421
This one is better than mine, use it. (Just swap one of the "but"s in the last sentence for another conjunction please.)

>>12697441
Gah, yeah way too many uses of but in that sentence. Apologies. More tired than I thought.

"Would you mind playing something for me? Even if it's just sounding things out? I'm not proud to admit it but I'm terrible at making music, although I enjoy listening to it."
"Oh, er...I suppose I could."
You stand aside as she feels her way past you, shuffling into the main parlor.You stand a distance away as she slides onto the bench in front of the keyboard, dragging her fingers along the keys, her eyes wide and searching uselessly. Tongue clenched in her teeth, she frowns in concentration, trying to find the right place to start.
When she begins, it is fumbling and awkward, a strained plinking of tones that seem to have little to do with one another. Lorelei looks horrified, fingers skittering madly across the keyboard. Gradually, from the atonal experimentation, a melody develops, simple and unadorned. She is not an expert, but seems to have a budding natural talent despite her obvious handicap.
"It's quite something," comes the voice at your ear. Turning, you see Paxton smile. "I'm sorry, sire, I did not mean to startle you." behind you, Lorelei continues playing, trying to add a rudimentary harmony to her melody line.

>>12697619
"Indeed. Despite her saying she isn't very good, she seems to have a natural talent for it. How long has she played for?"

>>12697619
Keep listening.

If she can develop a rhythm without ever seeing notes, perhaps she can develop alchemic advances without ever seeing the ingredients!

>>12697635
As awesome as it would be to have our own apprentice, I think it'd be irresponsible to let her do something so dangerous. There are just certain things she cannot do period so unless Paxton is helping her, she's run a pretty substantial risk of explosions in the face.

"Indeed," you whisper to the butler. "Despite her saying she isn't very good, she seems to have a natural talent for it. How long has she played for?"
"Oh, it must be several years now since she first sat down and just started picking out random notes."
Lorelei's harmonies meander around the keyboard, simple, childish, yet entertaining. Her left hand does too much harmony and not enough rhythmic accompaniment, and her choice of melody is very basic, but you can't help but smile. She eventually peters off to a sort of stopping point, sitting at the bench and staring sightlessly at the keys.
"So...that's that," she mumbles.

>>12697676
Clap. The kind of clap that isn't humoring or overblown, but conveys sincere appreciation.

>>12697676
"So it seems Lord Blackheed employs a liar in his service."
With a slight laugh I suppose.
"Lorelei, for just sounding things out on your own, that was far beyond no good. You're far more skilled than you give yourself credit."

After clapping, this, but remove the qualifier:
>>12697701
"So it seems Lord Blackheed employs a liar in his service."
With a slight laugh I suppose.
"Lorelei, that was far beyond 'no good'. You're more skilled than you give yourself credit."

Your clap pierces the silence, and causes Lorelei to flinch.
"It seems Lord Blackheed employs a liar in his service," you say, your applause softening and then ceasing. "You're far more skilled than you give yourself credit."
Lorelei stands from the bench, fretting nervously.
"I...well...thank you, sire," she bows her head before flitting out of the room.
"Stage fright," Paxton says with a knowing smile. "Don't take it the wrong way, your encouragement means a great deal to her."

>>12697774
"I'm glad. Based on what she said, it doesn't sound like the two of you do much when these apartments are empty. Is she as lonely as I suspect she is?"

>NEW ADVANCE: BRAILLE!

It could happen.

I wonder if she knows how to use echolocation. I suspect she doesn't, though, based on what's been written.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation

"I'm glad. Based on what she said, it doesn't sound like the two of you do much when these apartments are empty. Is she as lonely as I suspect she is?"
Paxton nods slowly, looking at the empty piano seat.
"Yes, I'm afraid much of Hierotoria's recreation is the servants of the wealthy lubricating their dreary lives with alcohol, something Lorelei, thank Lassivar, never took a liking to herself. She has music, and a few friends, mostly those that have taken pity on her. She goes out with them a few times a month, but beyond that she simply keeps the place tidy. Every so often, less often now than when she was younger, she'll ask me something about one thing or another, something I've been reading perhaps, and we'll while an afternoon away talking about...well, about anything really." He smiles, his eyes crinkling up pleasantly.

>>12697810
Seconding.

I'm seeing our SELFLESS+ and wondering just how we'll be turning it into SELFLESS++ in the process of wanting to help this girl.

>>12697893
Let's have him show us the library and what he enjoys reading.

>>12697893
"Have she been taken out beyond the city before? Out into the wilderness by anyone? If not, I wonder what kind of experience that would be for someone with sharpened hearing."

>>12697947
Probably scary as FUCK.

"There's bears out here that can eat you--big things with teeth and claws--don't worry, you can usually see them coming before they get close."

>>12697966
Not necessarily. Just the sounds of the wilderness would be an entirely new experience for her if so. The various small animals, birds, etc. Obviously you don't say something like that about bears but just the general sounds of nature could be interesting if she's never had that experience.

StoenrDM?

"Would you mind showing me Blackheed's library?"
"Of course, Eminence. Right this way," Paxton leads you to a fairly small, cozy room near the rear of the apartments, walls lined with shelves and shelves of books.
"Lord Blackheed has collected mostly books on Imperial history, as well as several volumes on the Confederacy, the War of Fathers and Sons, and the like. He's quite the student of history, for an ephemeral playboy, if you don't take offense to my saying so, sire."
"Er, of course not," you say. "About Lorelei...has she been taken out beyond the city before, out into the wilderness by anyone? I wonder what kind of experience that would be for someone with sharpened hearing."
"Ehm...not to my knowledge, sire, though she certainly may have at some point." Paxton offers.

>>12698040
"What do you do now in your spare time Paxton? Lorelei mentioned you read but I imagine you've must of gone through numerous books in this library. Still tackling parts of it?"

>>12698040
"Which are your favorite books?"

Afterward, I say we do some alchemy.

>>12698057
>>12698065
"What do you do now in your spare time Paxton? Lorelei mentioned you read but I imagine you've must of gone through numerous books in this library. Still tackling parts of it?"
Paxton nods, hands clasped behind his back as he gazes at the shelves.
"Oh, there are still plenty of books left for me to read, and I've been known to visit the theater when funds allow. Right now I'm reading about the founding of the Imperium, of Lassivar the Great.
"Which books are your favorites?"
"Oh, a silly question. How could I choose?" Walking over, he traces a bony finger down the spine of a large leather-bound tome.
"The War of Fathers and Sons...I suppose this would have to be my favorite. My grandfather was in the war...one of the sons, you know. I could never get him to tell me stories about it, and when I was old enough for such things he was gone. Makes me wish I had grandchildren of my own, not that I would have any particularly interesting stories to tell." He chuckles, patting the book once more before returning to your side. "Is there...anything else you wanted, sire?"

>Alchemy? or what?

>>12698100
Alchemy time.

>>12698100
Alchemy time.

>>12698100
Dammit now I want to learn about the War of Fathers and Sons, but I bet that'll take too much time and we're already moving pretty slowly. Plus, we can't exactly ask since we probably ought to know this kind of thing just by living in the Imperium.

>Alchemy time

You burn the midnight oil, furiously decanting. You are on the brink of something, but...what? What spark is needed to reveal alchemy's secrets to you?
That spark, as it turns out, is disappointment. Elegy does not show up tomorrow for breakfast, or for lunch. Paxton assures you repeatedly that he has heard nothing to suggest that she is coming or that she won't be coming, and seems terribly sorry about all this. Furious, you retreat to your chambers before you pace a furrow in the parlor, throwing yourself into your research with abandon. Finally, the silver lining in a day of worry and fret, you hiss out a breath through your nostrils as you look down at your completed...

>OFFENSE
>DEFENSE
>UTILITY

>>12698138
>Finally, the silver lining in a day of worry and fret, you hiss out a breath through your nostrils as you look down at your completed...
Improved Firearms skill.

>>12698130
>The War of Fathers and Sons was a brutal conflict between the Imperium and the Confederacy of Coin and Steel, fought over the course of two generations of soldiers on either side, hence the name.It was sparked, depending on who you ask, by the Imperium's refusal to move troops from the borders of Confederate land, an obvious goading tactic spurred by military alchemical advancements, or by the recklessly aggressive posturing of Confederate diplomats, making unrealistic demands to try and goad the Imperium into war with its newly-developed clockwork munitions. Either way, it ended in the uneasy truce that persists to this day, though there are still lands between the Confederacy and the Imperium that are hotly contested, and whose residents can lay equal claim to either culture, having passed hands several times before.

>>12698156
Do you mean arms and ammunition? If so, I'll support that or medical skills.

1. Cure for Lorelei's type of blindness
2. Wound healing potion/ointment/etc
3. Improved general weapon/medical skills
4. Armor-plated robes, heavy
5. Pepperpot blunderbuss

Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. I may have to roll.

>>12698181
I think before we consider trying to cure her blindness, we get more info on that kind of tech from Fierna. We only have a basic understanding of it. Besides, I honestly think we should focus our discoveries on things that will help us long term in our mission. While I want to help the girl where we can, I don't see a cure for blindness being a huge thing to help us in this fight.

StonerDM, if we take apart the Daemon, can we remake it into a Little Daemon pistol?

>Also, we're about to wrap up, so if draw-fig is still around, and he, I don't know, maybe wanted to post some awesome art, I wouldn't be upset.

>I'm just sayin'

>>12698198
Same question, but can we do it without taking apart the rifle?

>>12698198
I'm doubtful that you have a thorough enough understanding of foreign weapons engineering to accomplish this.

>>12698202
Would improving our Arms and Ammunition level let us do so?

>>12698205
Improving your Arms and Ammunition will allow you to more quickly and easily develop new types of ammunition for firearms, as well as improving your skill with them. It will not give you information you do not already have access to. Perhaps Blackheed or Fierna could be of some service, though it was mentioned that neither are soldiers or technicians.

Much as I'd like to improve our combat prowess, perhaps the song today would inspire us to make a covert listening device based on similar materials resonating at the same frequency? So that we could bug a room and listen in with its matching piece. Seems like it would be useful in our cloak-and-dagger political maneuvering.

(Later improvements could make it one-way, improve the range, etc)

Doable, StonerDM?

>>12698228
This is beyond your technological capability. Not even the elves have developed a system of long-range transmitting of information. Perhaps such things could be possible after you have increased your understanding of fundamental alchemy.

>>12698223
>more quickly and easily develop new types of ammunition for firearms
EXPLOSIVE BULLETS, based off of our Casket's general principles, yes.
>as well as improving your skill with them
AND we'd be a better shot? Damn.

I take it the medical one would improve our ability to be a doctor and treat wounds, but would it also help us with making new advances?

>>12698238
>increased your understanding of fundamental alchemy
How do we do that?

>>12698223
So we could get multiple upgrades if we spent a future standard advancement session making ammunition? Or do we get a new ammo type with this?

>>12698238
So first we need to invent the tuning fork. Shit, this could take a while.

What about a concealed weapons. Like small ring or sleeve guns and such. Or even a silent weapon, like a small crossbow or bolt thrower?

>>12698223
Right, but we have the Daemon. Can't we reverse-engineer it if our A&A skill is high enough? Or do we need something else to reverse-engineer it? I don't see us getting useful technical notes any time soon, though we should write and request that whatever is available be sent.

>>12698270
>implying bugging devices are just like tuning forks

Seriously, guys, what?

Also, reach a consensus, we're running out of time for the evening.

>>12698273
possible
>>12698258
I would say you probably get an ammo type, but you know, whatever
>>12698246
Yes, that is how medicine advancements work

>>12698273
Crossbows actually make a pretty good amount of noise. So would a compressed air bolt thrower.

Still supporting increasing fire arms or medical skills. Whichever gets more support I am fine with.

>>12698281
Elven technology is based on a world that has a far readier supply of magical energy, and so its technology is not only difficult to reverse engineer, its effectiveness is drastically decreased in this realm.

>>12698285
>>I would say you probably get an ammo type, but you know, whatever
Alright then. A&A skill upgrade, or medical skill upgrade. I'm good with either.

>>12698295
But Fierna was commenting on our amazingly quick reverse engineering capability...

>>12698293 here.
If it comes down to deadlock due to me fence-sitting, I will lean more towards fire arms. I just find the idea of our frustrations with Elegy causing us to make better guns/ammo amusing.

>Arms and Ammunition
You heft the Pepperpot, looking at it while you palm the small metal capsule in your other hand. If you've done your calculations properly, this should act as an effective incendiary round, though not as powerful as a Casket.
>Incendiary ammunition developed
>Arms and Ammunition skill up
>journeyman level

Another day passes with no sign or sound of Elegy, and the weekend approaches, and with it, your meeting with Lady Stelton. You were confident when she invited you at the party, but the passage of time has given rise to distrust and doubt, and you awaken with a lump in your stomach.

>Wrapping up. Hope you guys enjoyed it, though i felt this session was pretty underwhelming. Things will be more interesting next week. I'll be running Thursday and Friday again, and I'll send out an email if anything crazy happens.
>Stay classy
>Thread's been archived, if, you know, voting is something you're into

As for some ammo type possibilities:
Explosive rounds (based on Casket, kind of)
Acid rounds (based on Dragon's Breath, kind of)--could eat away at even elven armor after striking
Invisible bullets (based on Shadowdust and I have no clue why we'd want these)

>>12698319
No Elegy eh? I wonder if something happened to her. Mayhaps it's something we need to look into. Perhaps hit up that noble she was hanging out with and see if he's doing anything bad to her.

good thread stonerdm

>>12698319
With all the shooting we've done so far, this fits Gilliver nicely. It's like... all the practical experience we had running around shooting things (and sniping from/at airships too) made us not suck at it or something.

Unlike medical stuff, which we have done not any of to my recollection, and would not make sense for us to really have improved ourselves at.

Euh.

Would have suggested:
- Utility: Hearing/Smell Augments (Hushblade/Lorelei/Personal)
- Dismantling current Daemon: Bonus Wisp technology understanding & base for producing more