>>13734638
“Indeed... Oh... Asha's fourth eldest has proved capable. Her training proceeds apace, and her talent doesn't seem as large as Asha's, but it's growing. Her second eldest... Successfully performed the mission we discussed, with assistance.”

“You sound like you don't approve.” you observe.

“Most perceptive. I believe her to be... careless. Perhaps terminally so, eventually.” Scinnari says with distaste. “She ended up succeeding rather than getting captured through sheer luck. At least, that is my opinion.” Scinnari adds demurely.

“Probably right. What do you suggest?” you ask, probing for her opinions on the matter. Her advice has proven satisfactory, and you've been letting her have her way on the subject in general.

“Move her to the second list, and allow Varra to be more... strict in her training.” Scinnari says with a smile.

“Varra will be pleased.” you agree. It goes without saying that the careless assassin won't. At all.

“Indeed. Further afield, though... Well, as I told you, a few of the key resistance members in Artursh have mysteriously disappeared. Debts, probably.” Scinnari says with a smile. Indeed. You consider them to owe you quite a bit, but giving you a targets to test an assassin on pays for much. “The sultan has finished his muster, and Janissaries march to Azar... I believe he has enlisted the aid of at least a few Blue dragons.”

THE BITCH MUST PAY!

We're gonna have to sabotage that whole operation now. Would've been FINE to just live and let live, but no. The asshole had to go and fuck with our bread and butter.

I recommend a catspaw here. The Red Baroness is going to have a vested interest in this, but that's too obvious.

Perhaps the blue with the torn wing?

>>13734646
“Indeed. I know one of them to be the one-winged crusader I saw.” you agree. In this you know more than she does, “The other two are a little older than her. I pity the poor Sultan's treasury.”

“And not his daughter?” Scinnari laughs. You smile, but do not answer.

“And to the north, I believe the Flaming Mountain burns low, and Rhasver may be occupied selecting a new king soon.” she replies.

“Yes, I saw that the other day.” you nod, “Any word on Exheln?” you ask.

“Beleaguered and battered, it seems. The drow raiders have the city terrified, and protection is the going commodity. Most of it insufficient, but they try what they can. The eastern passage has become less popular... Sadly, I suspect this to be of benefit to dear Seffestranias, but not immediately, and not a huge amount. Mostly just north and south of Exheln. Roads may surpass the sealanes in usage, soon.”

“Anything else?”

“Not off the top of my head... Raids from the north have grown some, but nothing reaching this far south. That is it. What's your pleasure, my lord?” she asks.

“I think... Dinner would be the first event.” you say, having had significant success in calming yourself. Something as wide-reaching as the Black's efforts can't possibly be targeted at you specifically, and you can't reasonably believe it to be personal.

[And fin. Sorry about missing this weekend, we're back and rolling. What do?]

I-i'm here for for Dragon Quest? For the first time in a month? And it's just starting? Today just became became great!

>>13734679
Personal or not, as >>13734677 put it "That's our bread and butter you're fucking with."

We pretty much HAVE to deal with the black now, else our income is going to dry up. All those years building up the port for naught.

Can't have that. Not one little bit.

I wonder if it'd be possible to get a set of eyes in Azar.

Perhaps their efforts are more than just climate control, if they're started up on some heavy industry it would be beneficial to know the nature of it.

After all using that artifact seemed to only be the first step in a large plan of some sort.

>>13734679
Jesus christ, how many hundreds of miles did that acid rain travel?

What about the timeskip? How long was it?

Also, we need to keep an eye on that army marching to Azar. It could require our intervention, and we sort of want that black gone now that he has cleared out our primary trade rival and started making a pest of himself.

>>13734679
I believe we should start doing buisness with one or more of the groups aimed against Azar. Not actively supporting them, mind you, just some regular trade. That will lead to them being strengthened in thier attempts on Azar. But its not like we're SUPPORING a war or anything, and nobody can blame us for some harmless trade with neighbors. Get my drift?

AFAIK, the reason we're upset is because we've been using the orb o' storms to control weather, keep typhoons away, let the warm and gentle rains come, guiding them in, if necessary.

Could we start guiding our warm 'n' gentle rains in from another source? I mean, it would prevent us from having to deal with blackie, and he's a proven badass...

I thought we were supposed to make babies with our devil?

Oh well get on that task soon, maybe after a discussion about it. First things first though, neutralize the acid. Dump huge amounts of lye into the water around Mza.

Yeah, lets guide the acid rains away towards other places and ships to eliminate competition.

>>13734906
That was more of an eventual thing we didn't put a date on.

I would venture a guess at 'soon'. Probably within the next dozen (or two) years or so assuming all goes to plan and we continue to grow at the rate we have been.

>>13734906
Our devil is currently in a powerplay with unknown intent. This is most probably the WORST time for that.

I wonder just how much a soul belonging to the binder is worth in the hells.

>>13734959
How much is the new plasma screen TV that fell off the truck worth?

>>13734927
What are you talking about?

>>13734959
A soul belonging to a tool of the binder is what I'm more interested in.

We could be seen as nothing more than a huge check at the end of a busy week.

>>13735014
Why would we be any more valuable because of the Binder influence? If anything we would be less so.

>>13734804
>Jesus christ, how many hundreds of miles did that acid rain travel?
Enough that we know Azar to now be producing more industrial waste than most major modern cities by an order of magnitude or two. That black has very, very big plans.

We should find a rather large and competent gang of druids and get it in their heads to deal with this. I doubt they realize what's causing it either, and considering the scale of what the black is cooking up I don't want to confront him personally.

In any case, now that we know what's causing the acid rain, adjust our weather control habits to bring fair weather from elsewhere and keep the acid rain away. Also, since the seas are apparently acidic enough to eat away at hulls, see that our merchanters in those general regions are given the option to purchase protective anti-acid enchantments from us (assuming that we can actually provide). Not that I think we're actually using a lot of merchants in those areas, since our trade is primarily northwards these days. Also see that our naval fleet is protected.

>>13734679
>Exheln
Have we ever heard of this city before?

>>13735013
Scinari has been rather busy behind our backs, and now her higher ups are in contact with her again and she hasn't been exactly forthcoming as to why, and what they are planning.

>>13734927
This is news to me. Last I heard she had just talked with her superiors in the hells, but no powerplays have been going on.

>>13735070
>Scinari has been rather busy behind our backs
WHEN? I'm not doubting it, but I've seen no mention of it.

>>13735084
>WHEN? I'm not doubting it, but I've seen no mention of it.
It's the unmentioned plots that you always need to be most wary of...

</paranoia>

Oh god I'm way too unsuspecting now

<paranoia>

>>13735070
>she hasn't been exactly forthcoming as to why, and what they are planning.
She was ordered not to tell, but still dropped 'easy' questions so that we could ask her about 'unrelated' things while we were talking about it, and those unrelated things just happened to deal with who her superiors were and such.

Now, it could be multiple levels deep, with her knowing we would eventually find out and preparing a "fall back" that allowed her to appear to be helping us while concealing the truth. But, really, if we're going that deep into it why even have her around? Just kill her and be done with it.

In short: Make some half-devil dragonets.

I'm one of the people who was voting to go ahead and have kids last thread, and this is ridiculous. It was like 6 to 0 to have them last thread, and now some people suddenly don't want to? Come on.

I guess it's just a question of different people being here right now, but there was an overwhelming majority saying YES last thread.

>>13735041
Freeport and Exheln were both interested in keeping Rhasver independent. Both relatively rich port-cities. They liked the idea of the major trade ports being allied and independent.

Naturally, they failed.

>>13735075
>>13734927
Depends on your defninition. Scinnari, as she has led you to believe, is valuable in the hells. Her superior is using her in a power-play, and her superiors' superior is using her superior, (and through her, Scinnari,) but that's the norm for devils. As far as you know, though, Scinnari is not personally orchestrating anything. (Being out of the hells far too much to be able to, you assume.)

>>13735041
>>13734890
If you want to confirm, burn another few months, and roll 1d100. (Not months-straight, obviously, but you have to wait to see the effects of your work.)

>>13734918
>>13734906
My impression was 'soon', but I thought I'd better avoid it without the explicit command.

>>13735125
She's a devil, lying is her business!

She's more than capable of letting out enough (potentially wrong) information to keep our trust.

Ideally we should do something to see where her trusts lies, maybe something that would get her into some trouble with the hells were it to be discovered.

She's not going to look away and start whistling when we catch her up to something, there'll always be a perfect explanation and a little ego stroking to keep us on track.

Breeding is out of the question until this is cleared up.

>>13735156
Eh, I think we should get to know her better first. Sure, we've been doing her for almost ?two decades? now but we hardly know anything about her. Even evil devils have hobbies, likes, and things that they enjoy doing. Find out some of those and do them together, see if we can get her to open up some rather than the confrontational relationship we have so far.

>>13735173
>Breeding is out of the question until this is cleared up.
BROTIP: She's always going to be a devil, that's never going to be "cleared up."

Why is breeding out of the question? Dragons have kids all the time, for less reason than we have now. Sometimes even for no reason at all.

>>13735184
>Red Dragon
>Erinyes
>Dating

>wtfamireading.jpg

HER HOBBIES INCLUDE TORTURE, RAPE AND THE TRADE OF MORTAL SOULS YOU STUPID FUCK

>>13735165
>Scinnari, as she has led you to believe, is valuable in the hells.
Wat? And we didn't have her elaborate? Probe into this more.

Also, confirming baby-devil-momma. Let's have "the talk" and bust out our dragon mojo.

>>13735199
We're evil too, that's fine.

I'm just cautious as breeding with us has been a goal of hers for some time, and I don't know what she can do with that. Also our kids may or may not also be slaves to the binder, and while we can keep her at bay they may not be so strong willed.

The thing I'd like cleared up, is whether she has plans for us that we wouldn't exactly be fond of, and if she has the upper hand to make them happen or not.

>>13735223
I think at best she wants kids in order to cement her own position within our power structure.

At worst, she's Morrigan from Dragon Age and will run off with them to do devil stuff to their souls that will come back to bite us.

>>13735204
Uh. Sure. And other things too. Devils have other likes beyond ALL EVIL ALL THE TIME, though I imagine they are often related to things they do regularly in pursuit of their duties. Like a corrupter in a king's court would be well versed in courtly dances and could enjoy just dancing, period. Things like that.

>>13735247
>>13735223

Effectually. I agree. We can't move on until we have more information. And preferably a contingency plan.

>>13735247
The Pact Primeval is pretty specific in that she can't touch our soul unless we give it over willingly... horrible baby experimentation or not. Erinyes are also extremely protective of their own children.

rolled 60 = 60

>>13735125
>In short: Make some half-devil dragonets.
Half-dragon devilets. Red dragon eggs are four feet long, and while Scinnari might be able to get that /d/ it's more likely that she'd pop a scaly devil that breathes fire and likes shinies.

>>13735199
The strongest recommendation against breeding with Scinnari is, to me, that her children would probably be somewhat less disposable than most because she wouldn't like it if we offed them. Whereas if we got a harem and started breeding lizardmen and humans and elves and kobolds and what have you, we could squish those kids whenever they got too uppity because their other parent's desires would be effectively irrelevant.

There are a couple other points- would they inherit Binderness? Be subject to mental influence? Would Scinnari secretly bear twins and sell the spare to some other devil as part of a convoluted plot? Could she use our children to control our mind? The paranoia is endless!

But I'm mostly neutral on the issue. Positive on the topic of harems, though! If we're letting Scinnari have a kid then we should also build one, and put her in charge of it.

>>13735165
>If you want to confirm, burn another few months, and roll 1d100.
Rollan with the understanding that we will probably have other plans for those few months as well, being hashed out now/drawn from the last timeskip and meant to run in parallel.

>>13735223
>The thing I'd like cleared up, is whether she has plans for us that we wouldn't exactly be fond of, and if she has the upper hand to make them happen or not.

Wow, you don't ask much, do you? I'm pretty sure we will never know the answer to this. Ever. It's half the appeal of Scinnari that she's smart, cunning, and dangerous. And even if we somehow have completely tamed a devil (hah!) she is still bound by the laws of the hells.

Basically, you are asking for a confirmation that we will never have. You might as well just say you are against ever having kids with her.

>>13735262
>Erinyes are also extremely protective of their own children.

That's the problem. We need to worry about us right now, not open up more variables.

I am however open to suggestion, and if there is a reasonable excuse for us to have kids RIGHT NOW then I'm gladly willing to hear it.

rolled 49 = 49

>>13735165
rolling

also voting for devil sexings

>>13735308
>also voting for devil sexings
I'm pretty sure that the vote is unanimous on the topic of devil sexings. The question here is if we allow said sexings to bear fruit. Or, in this case, horribly evil children.

Just have the kids already. There are two people here screaming NO NO NO NO, while there were at least 5+ last thread saying yes and 3+ this one.

I am against impregnating her now?
How the fuck did that even come up now?

We have a Black to deal with and you guys want to play Sims suddenly?

Put it off for later

>>13735293
I may very well be against it, however taming her is not the issue.

It's fine that she is what she is, however if doing something has a good chance of killing us I'd like to examine it more closely. If you could state why your desire for having these kids is so important perhaps I could better understand why you are so adamant about the whole thing.

What I hope to accomplish is reviewing farther data as to what her designs are, and what her superiors are up to. hard? yes. Expensive? Most likely. Impossible? I should think not. Truly if all else failed and we should prove incapable of spying into the hells or buying the information through someone else we could always chat up our resident god who spends time in our head. The Binder has been strangely quiet lately.

>>13735270
Well, to figure out wether or not our progeny will be influenceable by the binder we'd need to do a bit of research. Have we looked into the matter of the Binder lately?

>>13735336
Numbers are irrelevant.
State your reasons.

>>13735383
We've wasted a quantity of money hiring scholars and adventurers to do so for us; they've mostly turned up fuck-all, rather surprising for the ruler of a supposedly world-spanning empire.

The easiest way to find this out is to put forth some bait and see if the Binder bites. Have a disposable child, make sure that the Binder knows about them somehow, and then regularly check if they're being subjected to mental influence using our vast cosmic powers. It's not a totally foolproof method, but it'd probably show faster results than the current methods we're using.

If you've got a better way to look into the Binder, I would be glad to hear it and support you in using it.

>>13735356
We don't have a black to deal with because we don't want to screw with a 500 year old dragon who is not bothering us.

Impregnating the devil is fine, and it's in fact one of the lower-risk activities we could perform. It doesn't even compare to letting her have the keys to our treasure stockpile or free reign with our minions and plans. If you guys are so paranoid we need to be locking more than just locking her chastity belt.

I would like to have babies at some point. But not yet.
I don't feel that our power is secure enough for that just yet. Give it another decade or two.

>>13735415
We could always give her a call.

She doesn't seem to be in too much of a hurry with all that corruption business. See what's up?

>>13735395
Numbers are actually all that is relevant. Welcome to the democracy of quest threads, where the fastest posted and most supported plan wins every time!

+1 for little devils running around

>>13735447
Numbers are irrelevant.
State your reasons.

>>13735433
True. Hell, unless we actively think she'd jump on the chance to hit us with serious mental whammy, I don't even see much reason not to. It'd be a lot like talking to the Spinel- hostile but with potentially useful advice.

Vote +1 in favor of that, then.

>>13735418
>We don't have a black to deal with because we don't want to screw with a 500 year old dragon who is not bothering us.
Not bother us?
Then what do you call the interference in our trade empire, and the acid rain currently falling upon our kingdom?

>>13735470
I call it a byproduct of us pulling rainclouds from everywhere in the world without regard for what is in them. He didn't do that shit on purpose, what are you, dense?

>>13735383
>65
Some. You've found little more, though you have determined that out of the bound, about half are recorded destroyed or killed. The crystal has explained Binding as 'drawing on the planes' to fuel with it, and Scinnari has found out for you that there is a /very/ low opinion held of the Binder in the hells, she thinks because of the Binder's propensity to withhold, destroy, or trap the souls of her minions, or to offer them effective immortality otherwise. (In the style of timeless imprisonment, or lichdom, nothing particularly innovative except with who she could do it to.). The Crystal has been singularly unhelpful, but has led you to believe that your children would be Bound, or similarly influenced. It would not state for certain, though. Some research suggests that a Bound is trapped under Rhasver's flaming mountain, the volcano their capital is near, but that is unconfirmed and seems a bard's tale, rather than truth. Certainly nothing to confirm it.

>>13735308
>>13735270
Noted.

>>13735488
Even if we are at fault, I believe it's in character to grudge the black for it.

>>13735498
If we could personally check in on this rumor, it could prove to be a rather large deal if true. It certainly wouldn't take too much effort to get in the general area, and between our sneakiness pocketbook and general standing in the community I'm sure we could work some way of getting down there and poking around.

+1 for more info on the Binder and the bound. But this would have to be something we do ourselves.

>>13735498
>The Crystal has been singularly unhelpful, but has led you to believe that your children would be Bound, or similarly influenced.
Well, then.

Unless we can somehow do something to stop our children from having the Binder whisper in their ear from the very day that they are spawned, I daresay that we should avoid proceeding with reproduction at the moment. I know that the Spinel's a lying chunk of rock, but why risk it before we can take precautions? I don't want a child who is raised to secretly loathe us and exalt their dark mistress.

>>13735498
>The Crystal has been singularly unhelpful, but has led you to believe that your children would be Bound, or similarly influenced. It would not state for certain, though.

Yeah, so, we have no idea what the deal is until we have them. Crystal lies like shit anyway. Probably just trying to scare us.

>>13735551
Backing this opinion as I have delusions of a grand battle between us and the Binder towards quest end. It shall be glorious, and kids can come with our happily ever after.

>>13735551
We should be pretty capable of determining it right off the bat seeing as we are holy fuck magical and all. I have a sneaking suspicion that an epic enchantment would be easy to pick up.

>>13735578
Against this. Kids now, waiting is stupid and pointless. They will never be useful if we wait aeons to have them.

>>13735578
Glad I'm not the only one who hasn't forgot our BBEG, people got too complacent with playing house.

On the topic of the Binder, I think we should try to make contact, she can see everything we do anyhow so what can it hurt?

>>13735612
Why would they be useful now? Care to explain?

>>13735578
I absolutely HATE when everything 'nice' happens in epilogues. Stop that. You're being not only generic, but painfully so. Our reward is going to be a sentence in a paragraph after everything is over? Fuck THAT.

>>13735627
You cannot possibly be retarded enough to fail to see how having half-devil half-dragon children cohorts would be beneficial to us in our rise to power.

Or so I hope.

>>13735663
It would be too risky as they could easily be a tool in our demise RIGHT NOW

Also it would take some focus away from our character, and make the potential for "playing house" even greater.

>>13735619
Haven't forgotten her, just fucking dislike the the entire principle behind her. Woo, ancient mysterious magical ghost that can kill you with a thought if you don't do what she says.

Choo-choo. Does she follow the party around too and have eyes that change colors with her mood? Those are a must for the character that keeps the story on the proper path!

>>13735663
LOL NO U RETARD

Sure is assumptions in here

>>13735675
Highly doubtful. As in, we have no reason to think that other than paranoia.

>>13735627
Half dragons are stronger than humans and can do many things they cannot.

Half devils are stronger than humans, and can do things they cannot.

Minions we can train to be loyal are useful.

Strong, talented minions are more useful.

Minions that cannot grow as strong as we are naturally are good.

Minions with parents that are fairly loyal are good.

These all apply to half-dragon devil children, if they are not bound and are properly treated and trained.

Save us WD!

The waifu/no waifu war is back in action.

Debate has gone on long enough, I'm declaring the Ayes to have it, partially because I don't want to spend half the thread waiting on a verdict, and partially because it will be fun. (For me. I'm not going to guarantee anything for you.) Invoking Rule #00 (I'm always right. Even when I'm wrong. Unless I say I'm not, in which case I'm still right.) and all that.

We're going to be burning a few months doing >>13735308
>>13735270

, so what else should we pursue in that time? Chart us a course of action.

>>13735717
>Minions we can train to be loyal are useful.
If the Binder can influence them, this is not only off the table but entirely the opposite of what we'd actually get. Having a half-dragon/half-devil utterly integrated into our operations turn on us could be devastating, in thirty or fifty years.

So let's figure out a way to shield our kids from the Binder, THEN have them, instead of having them and then only attacking the problem after it stabs us in the eye.

>>13735758
Eh, I guess I'm out.

T'was a good quest WD, thanks for the fun!

I'll probably follow any others you take up after this one is over.

>>13735758
>I believe we should start doing buisness with one or more of the groups aimed against Azar. Not actively supporting them, mind you, just some regular trade. That will lead to them being strengthened in thier attempts on Azar. But its not like we're SUPPORING a war or anything, and nobody can blame us for some harmless trade with neighbors. Get my drift?

This. Definetly this.

>>13735775
Yeah, we should find a way to sheild them first before actually HAVING them.

>>13735792
If you're the type to leave as soon as your own opinions are overturned, then we don't really need you anyway.

>>13735830
Nice burn, shame you didn't get doubles.

>>13735688
I have been told that I should be quiet by another poster. I retract this post since I didn't know the whole story. Back to the archives for me before posting again.

>>13735792
Taking your ball and going home, huh?

I for one support your decision WD. Should be hella fun.

>>13735775
>>13735820
Is it possible to create a magical Faraday cage type of setup, that can block out telepathic and mental suggestions (that isn't just a big anti-magic field)? Such a setup would be useful to have for the nursery, as well as for a negotiation chamber.

>>13735758
Well, apparently we need to figure out a way to protect our children from the mental influence of the Binder, with our time limit being Scinnari's gestation period. Do some serious research, make a mind shielding magic item or something and implant it in them within minutes of birth.

Aside from that. See if we can unfuck our weather, and invest in minor acid protection enchantments for our ships that might be encountering it. If we can't stop the acid rain entirely, see about creating an artifact which would shield the entirety of Mza from its effects, or which would purify any water falling on the place- we need to keep our rep as having good weather; that's one of our greatest advantages in building up trade.

Keep trade building. If Exheln's hold on the sea trade is falling, try to pick up the slack- if nothing else, we might be able to get independent merchants who used to use that route to migrate to Mza and base from here, bringing their money and incomes with them.

Have we started a secret police yet? If not, do it. Make sure that it's flavored in a pro-Lord-Prestor fashion, call it the Sorcerer's Eyes or something that can be romanticized and spun positively (bards writing songs about our bold agents bringing us information which lets us smite the enemies of Mza come to mind) while still feeding us tons of information.

>>13735890
Epic magic, bro. Goes right through anything but other epic magic.

>>13735884
Waifu fags bug me. Wish we hadn't picked up so many, they seem to have chased off many of our old regulars.

If things go downhill I'll probably follow suite.

>>13735907
We've had the Waifu Wars before, as well as the Samefag Slaughter and Retard Revival. I've been here since thread two, and I think you're just being pissy about not getting your way.

>>13735945
Just feels bad to get shouted down from something you helped build over something you don't understand and the people yearning for won't explain.

>>13735907
Oh boy, it's frost giant quest all over again.

>>13735994
Don't think I caught that one.
What happened?

There are many reasons to move up the date you gave Scinnari; aggregation of knowledge, particularly that pertaining to the Binder, fulfillment of her wishes, and other, both more practical and more personal reasons. Her eagerness at your... permissions is flattering, too, though you do make efforts to keep in mind that it is quite possibly all faked. But there are, however, limits to what paranoia you can practically support. At some point you have to draw a line, and the devil who has been with you for nigh two decades seems the obvious choice for a mate, at least in the immediate.


>60

Manipulation of weather is something you have practiced for long enough that it has become almost a second nature. You no longer have to check in on the storms you brew each day, nor to reinforce weather patterns you concoct. Once a month has been all you've needed for a while, and while it takes significant effort and experimentation to devise a new weather pattern you can maintain, it's neither impossible nor baffling as it was when you first began to meddle with the weather.

While significant effort, though, it proves profitable. Northern rains aren't quite as warm, but you can hook them south, then east, which skims over Freeport, incidentally marginally lessening their weather there, as far as you can get. Drizzle isn't terribly damaging, but it should prove only to reinforce Mza's reputation, and making a major rival more unpleasant can only help you. It's easier than you thought, too, as you can gain feedback from Cygnis, when you chat with her. You've taken to doing that monthly, something Scinnari now fully supports. She seems eager to repeat your performance with Azdukashen.

>She seems eager to repeat your performance with Azdukashen.

I am excite!

>>13736003
Started as a troll/fetish quest. 4channer teleported into the body of a femal frost giant.
A very good DM took the whole thing over by the second thread and it turned into some kind of sim city quest where the players modernised a medieval village. Adventures are had and suddenly somebody gets the bright idea that the PC should start fucking somebody.
During the hight of the dickgirl spam threads.
Quester meltdown. I think a sizeable portion of the players left over that. The whole love aspect was never mentioned again.

>>13736048
I dont think it's really necessary to do to her what we did to her brother. It's not like she is much of a threat to us, after all. I think being in the good graces of a Gold might be a good thing just incase shit hits the fan. Not that that's ever going to happen. Also, if our offspring look like they might be controlable by the Binder, we may need to put them down. An unpleasent fact, but one Scinarri needs to be aware of.

>>13736090
Sounds to me like you are being overly dramatic about all this. We've had much worse arguments than this before. Hell, we've had arguments so bad that the arguments THEMSELVES drove people away. That was truly DQ's blackest day.

I'm really not seeing your problem here other than a metric load of butthurt. I wasn't for either side, at least not immediately, but I for one accept the decision. It will probably lead to pain, but at least it will probably be fun pain.

>>13736090
That aspect was categorically shut down, and we got on with the running of our city and bring about a Green Industrial Revolution.

>>13736013
Now that we are siring an offspring, should we make it public, or keep it hidden? What political considerations will it have?
We could conceivably create alliances sealed with marriages, which may be interesting.

>>13736179
Agreed with both points.

Cygnis is already mentally unstable and probably highly emotionally dependent on us. We don't need to kill her.

And make Scinnari fully aware of the dark possibilities. Tell her we don't want that to happen, but it could. We're currently looking into it. If it does, drastic measures may need to be taken.

>>13736209
My problem wasn't so much the decision.
But that things like this have popped up before, and that the people requesting it seem to have increased in number (or samefagging capacity). It just seems to me things are heading in a bad direction and this is a quest I've had a good deal of fun with, so maybe I care more than I should. I'll stick things out tonight and see how it all plays out but if it's going in a disagreeable direction I'll probably accept the lose and jump ship too.

>>13736209
Meh, it's not that I care that much. I'm usually asleep during the time DQ is posted and only read the archives. It simply sucked during FQs run, so if this quest has survived the usual drama several times, I'm sure it'll continue to do so.
I probably missed it because I usually only read Writer-dudes posts.

>>13736179
Agreed.
Scinnari needs to be made aware that the child may be used against us both, and precautions will need to be taken until we can confirm what influence, if any, the Binder has over the child and if it can be broken.

>>13736226
>That aspect was categorically shut down, and we got on with the running of our city and bring about a Green Industrial Revolution.

I've got to admit, I left 4 or 5 threads later. Couldn't trust SubDM not to fuck up again.

>>13736303
Then I'm glad you did.
And it won't be much of a loss if you leave this one, too.

>>13736253
You're just being petulant, and one of the very few who is continuing to drag this out despite your assertions to the contrary and everyone else having dropped it. Let it ride, don't be an aspie and quit because things didn't go your way on a choice.

>>13736378
>greentexted
Check
>saged
Check
>my face when
Implied

>>13736226
>Now that we are siring an offspring, should we make it public, or keep it hidden? What political considerations will it have?
>We could conceivably create alliances sealed with marriages, which may be interesting.
We can't admit that a half-dragon devil is our child while we're pretending to be an elven sorcerer with an elven sorceress wife. If our child learns to shapeshift and maintains the sort of facade that we do, we'll be able to claim it openly; otherwise no. Marrying it off is likely out of the question unless our true nature comes out, since its children certainly wouldn't look terribly elven either.

I wonder how fast our child would age. Hmm. Dragons take a century to reach "adult", and I've no idea what the pace is for devils, but regardless I'd expect at least fifty years of childhood.

>>13736390
Autism troll FULL POWER!

Oh hey, Dragon Quest fuck ye-

Oh wait, what's going?

Not this shit again..

>>13736090
Egads. Haet. Let's not do that, shall we? Whatever happens.
####################

>previous thread, 90
>>13736013
A minor influx of trade rerouting from Exheln's passage, both on Mza and your piece of Angevis, goes towards acid-proofing your navy and trade ships under your control. Relations with Seffestranias must regrettably be strengthened, but it only allows you more resources in her city, which you put to good use. Your agents seem to have her entire network of spies and informers neatly identified, cataloged, and, in some cases, securely suborned. So too does your reach in other cities bordering your territory, as your trade increases.

Asha's children grow less rapidly than you'd like, but prove malleable in the hands you have assembled. Asha proves extremely helpful in this, having been established as a matriarch, of sorts, over your cult and her brood. Indeed, with the loyalty and dependence you have engendered, you find that most of the children seem to think you their father, not to mention lord. Unexpected, but hardly something you object to at the moment.

Scinnari has, you've noticed, gained a penchant for spending money. Not solely, but she seems interested in making your lair as luxurious as possible. When questioned, she explained it as desiring to sample some of the other pleasures of the Prime; in her words, "Malbolge is a layer of decay and disease, entropy and swamp. Such surroundings engender an appreciation for... variety." While you aren't thrilled with losing any money, you're gaining enough that it's only a minor cost, and getting your castle and lair redecorated, tapestries and worshipful iconography, well... Both are extremely satisfying. Your castle, in particular, ends up quite lavish. Her expenditures do trail off as she seems to finish, though, and you do agree that it is much more pleasant place for all the money spent- A pittance, compared to your total hoard, and much more noticeable in this form.

>>13736404
We can include a shapeshift pendant or some other item which will change the baby's form when in public.

Keeping it cooped up in the palace is a sure-fire way for it to attempt to sneak out and ruin our plans.

>>13736369
I think you're barking up the wrong tree.

>>13736438

#############################

Scinnari grows rounder very slowly, almost five months before anything is noticeable. She seems extremely happy with herself, and seems to suffer none of the chaos that mortals are prone to, you are told. (Asha is hardly a broad or normal sample,). Not terribly alarming, considering that eggs would gestate for over two years normally, but it makes you moderately worried, considering that they are not pure. Scinnari assures you that it is nothing to worry about, though, that she would inform you if it was, and it certainly isn't yet. You decide to bow to her superior knowledge on the subject.

>18
In the meantime, the rest of the world stays in motion. Seffestrania, you are upset to find out, succeeds in annexing Beren's nearest neighbors on the far side of the mountains, despite your efforts to prevent it. She proves so capable in executing, and presumably in planning the campaign, in fact, that your fairly worried about her having detected some of your efforts. Still, she doesn't call you on it, so your best option seems to be to quietly bury loose ends and pretend it never happened. You send a ruby-red cloak and a minor note of congratulations on her success, and she seems to accept it without question or challenge, so you consider yourself safe.

Spies on the local end are also productive. The dwarves believe they have struck admantium, but are investing in magical assistance to pursue it; as far as you can tell, the vein runs too deep, getting uncomfortably close to where the primary volcano of Mza isn't totally dead. Scinnari's toy seems competent and loyal, or at least intelligent enough not to betray her, and has kept control of Mza's underworld, ruling with an iron fist, and the restraint not to bring it down frequently. Proceeds have boosted your income nicely.

rolled 32 = 32

Here is what I think would be the best plan of attack:
1 Contact the blue, perhaps offer mercantile support (nothing traceable to us)
2 Meet with some druid circles to explain the acid rain, hopefully get the black some new enemies
3 If contacting the blue went well, get the paladins in contact with the blue's army (don't tell them it's lead by a blue naturally)

All of these actions are low risk solutions to the problem of the black.

>>13736481
Perhaps we should increase investment in magical reinforcements and to bleed off the active portion of the volcano down alternative channels?
The last thing we want is the volcano going active and threatening our hoard.

>>13736438
Lets be sure to keep tabs on her spending.

>>13736535
I assumed that as a dragon having his hoard spent we required receipts for everything, and neatly catalogued them with the rest of our myriad documentation detailing hoard expenditures.

Perhaps while wearing glasses and tapping away at a giant tape-calculator with our claws.

That said, we probably should make sure all the money was spent where it was said to be.

>93

The Sultan's forces finally engage the undead of Azar- Outnumbered significantly, as is usual when facing the animated dead, but with the usual advantages. Divine power, magic, and so on. Sadly, the amount of greater undead leading the forces has a pronounced effect; the fighting is bloody and expensive. You even being cutting on your profits, minimizing how much your merchants are gouging Tashz for in the interests of their success.

The Sultan takes note of this, as it happens, and you receive a flowery letter thanking your for your assistance, however minor, against this abomination, and with hints that further assistance will be remembered and rewarded. You are also invited to a reception the Sultan will be holding in a few months, which you suspect will be his ceremonial handing-off of the palace to his eldest grand-son, Asha's half-brother. Considering that the Sultan is verging on eighty years old, but still entirely rational and resembling a fit fifty year old, you suppose it isn't quite as long overdue as it might otherwise be. Still, Scinnari seems pleased at the invitation, when you inform her, and eager to attend. She does concede that she will in all probability be rounder then, though, and that may make a problem if it's the first time Lord Prestor's wife is seen to be pregnant.

>>13736752

On the subject of the war, though, the sultan's troops push the undead back through the desert, approaching the gap in the coastal ranges that leads to the coastal regions, and Azar. Despite their experience in fighting in the desert, the Janissaries seem at a massive disadvantage, limited by heat, water, and mortal stamina. The undead seem either immune to sunlight, in the case of the liches and skeletons, or capable of evading it, as vampiric lieutenants have been key to the undead's command structure. The efforts of the blue dragons have been a major balancing factor, though, and they grind forward without halt. Still, though, they hope for easier and faster progress once they leave the desert behind them.

The relic-states of Angevis have proven surprisingly fertile ground for your cult to take root in; the near god-like status of the ancient Angevis himself have left the populace oddly open to cults, both of personality, such as the one you nurture as Lord Prestor, and of the more religious bent, as your lizardmen have been slowly spreading. They have also proven remarkably well-accepted; their barbaric reputation has been turned on it's head, for the most part, no doubt due to their draconic blood; the ones that have migrated to the mainland have gained acceptance as cunning, if reptilian and strange, and surprisingly civil in most cases. Perhaps cold blood lends itself to calm, who knows. Suffice to say, both cults have taken root, better than you could have expected, though not quite as well as you could have hoped. Better still, though, they've drawn very little attention to themselves, beyond the obligatory raised eyebrow.

>that may make a problem if it's the first time Lord Prestor's wife is seen to be pregnant.

Why? Don't married couples do that whole "have children" thing quite often? Not saying it's wrong, but don't understand and am probably missing something obvious.

>>13736481
>dwarves
>adamantium
OH FUCK

>>13736752
As much as I hate to cut into our profits, we may need to cut it even finer to assist the Sultan against Azar. Undead nations, generally, do not buy products and therefore make bad customers.
Though to prevent the black from knowing about our indirect assistance, we might want to set up some shell trading companies to funnel resources through.

I'm unsure as to how to resolve the problem with Scinnari being pregnant; whether we should use an illusion spell to hide it, or use a magic item to make the baby appear elven when it is born so that it will not engender suspicion.

>>13736835
I think it's due to the fact that the children will be red dragon/devil crossbreeds and might need to be kept hidden.

On an unrelated note, what draconic deities are there in this setting (that we know of) besides Bahamut and Tiamat?

>>13736835
It's not so much her being pregnant, as people will ask about the baby in the future, I think.

>>13736835
Letting everyone know about the pregnancy will make people want to see babies. And the babies will manifestly not be elves.

>>13736903
>>13736897
No reason to bring the baby out in public, assassins and all could be our excuse. And having illusion magic hide a pregnant woman's bump could prove dangerous to the child's health in ballrooms or dances.

Really, we can just have our private life be very private. Wizards and sorcerers are known for being very secretive, and we already are pretty secretive about our powers and such.

>>13736438
>Egads. Haet. Let's not do that, shall we? Whatever happens.

Oh God.
I was there.
Holding the line against rabid fetish waifu fags. I must have written entire essay how that idea was stupid.

But you know, it was not just because of the shipping. But because the characters just did not match... like AT ALL
... not to mention that the main character, even physically being a female, was male (mind transported from modern world, New York) and it just did not sit right with me and many of the regulars.
I don't mind relations that make sense. I'm particularly indifferent if we impregnate Scinnary, I just think now is not yet the time.

>>13736835
I think it's the pregnant out of nowhere thing.

With how competent they have shown them selves to be, perhaps now would be a good time to surport them more overtly such as:
1 Even less gouging (or none at all),
2 A few convenient pirate raids,
3 Mercenary companies who work for less than they should (we pay the rest).

Do people like these ideas

>>13736954
No to the pirates and mercs. They are notorious for going to the highest bidder, and the black could well just pay them to get them to tell him who funded them.

>>13736584
>>13736535
Noted. She seems to be being legitimate in her accounting.

>>13736835
Actually.... Yeah. Your right. I for some reason was functioning under the interpretation that we didn't want to let on that she was pregnant, and that if we attended, she would suddenly be shown to be half way done. I think I misinterpreted something in the chat. (IRC Highway, Channel #dragonquest, for those of you wondering.)

>>13735890
Meant to get back to you faster. Yeah, we already have similar mindblank-type things set up. Theoretically, nothing except Epic magic should be able to get through that. (Though I am trying my best to only reflect reasonably, not actually mirror exactly system mechanics.)

>>13736987
We pretty much own a lot of pirates. Wouldn't even have to pay them; Mza's navy is basically a small core of actual naval troops surrounded by a swarm of pirates who we've gotten to work for us by whatever means are conveniently available.

>>13736917
>>13736908
Ah. I see.

We don't have to show them, though. Honestly our children are going to need to interact with society anyway if they are going to develop properly from a social standpoint. We're just going to have to rely on powerful illusion magic or just say "lol magic did it, ain't gotta explain shit"

>>13736903
I second this, because that just got me curious. What draconic gods ARE there in this setting?

>>13736954
I'm okay with the less gouging.
Pirate raids should be okay since we own the pirates, but I don't know if that's going to do any good.

I'll have to say no to the mercenaries; too much chance for the black to simply buy them off.

>>13737014
That might explain some features, too, if they end up only moderately infernal/draconic.

Also, I kind of love the idea of creating mary-sue bait. Remember, it's our duty as a father to make sure he/she doesn't end up full of bullshit. We can do this.

>>13736954
>>13736987
Obviously we need to find the local equivalent of the Black Company. Smart mercs are honorable; whos' going to hire you if you have a history of treachery?(Unless they're desperate. And desperate doesn't make good pay + reasonable tasks very likely.)

I think Pic Related (with more devilish traits than this, obviously, like some horns or burning eyes or greyish skin) is probably the MOST normal looking we can expect.

In short, we're going to have to magic this shit up regardless, might as well let her have fun and take her to the ball.

What if the undead city in question were to be hit with a sudden and unexpected really big cat 5 hurricane cloud we do this given enough prep time.

>>13737113
Wouldn't the fact we are closely linked with the pirates be a point against using them? We overall don't want the black to know we ever did shit against it. But if everyone is for it then I'll back down. It just seems risky.

>>13737200
Erm, my impression was that we'd be using the pirates against other people who might cause Tashz problems, so as to free up their money and energy for use in their war. Nothing directly against the black at all- because seriously, pirates vs. vampires would be a joke of a contest. Like giving away ships.

Half dragon/half devil?

Potential plan:

We need better intel on what's going on down there. I don't want to risk Scinnari teleporting in to check it out, even invisible, (And certainly not with our daughter/son/twins, that's just- No!), but we ought to drop by the sultan's armies incognito, when they bring Azar in sight.

Second, we should offer more active support of the Sultan. He's inviting us to his sons' birthday bash, we're obviously awesome. Let's stay that way. Gives us an outlook on the blues, and a foothold on (in) the southern continent. Good stuff.

Three, we want big dark and dangerous to get the boot. Undead don't buy anything, and having a (relatively) close massive-permanent mind-blank thing is as bad as it can get.

Antyhing I'm missing here?

And thirdly, another picture that could be a dragon/demon hybrid yet still at least be humanoid.

Seriously though, it's entirely possible she pops out a dragon with demon features too. Maybe less so than a humanoid with dragon and demon features, but still possible.

>>13737268
I don't know about that. Vampires have a terribly hard time over water, you know.

>>13737305
It might take longer, but be less dangerous for us, if we pay some adventuring groups to do some recon for us.
Make adventurers work for US for a change.

>Why hey there Scinnari, something you wanted to talk to me abou...

>>13737351
Confirm and if so, roll. Give me an idea of what price-range you're shooting for here, too.

>>13737313
>>13737290
>>13737140
Out of these three, I'd say that the last is my favorite, but the middle one is very close simply because it has claws. I dislike the strict human-dragon variation on the first one. But that's just my opinion, man.

>>13737305
As with above, Confirm/deny.

Similarly, confirm/deny whether you desire to attend the reception in Tashzmir, and whether or not you're trying to hide Scinnari's gained weight.

>>13737145
Indeed. Storm Of Vengeance, the spell the Orb of Storms can ostensibly cast once a month, is probably along those lines, but infused with some serious hail and acid damage. It can be done.

>>13737448
Confirming that's me. I blame Captcha.

>>13737305
I am inclined to stay largely out of the fighting entirely. Some economic support we can give, but I don't want to bring our person within fifty miles of Azar until that black is dead and the war's over.

Some economic support or piracy in favor of Tashz, I can back. Enough that we're not an ally, but we're definitely supporting their campaign against the undead.

Continue our various other plots while this is ongoing. Strengthen spies, keep training more spies and assassins, secret police, build up our navy and army in size and professionalism, etc. etc.

And sure, go to a ball with Scinnari, why not. Though the concept that we've secretly got a huge number of potential heirs to Tashz worshiping us as a god/patriarch while we casually go to the current ruler's parties is hilarious to me.

>>13737051
Well, aside from Bahamut and Tiamat, I assume there's Io, but its not like he actually does anything. Or DOES he?

>>13737448
Don't openly lead armies to help him, but I would say support wouldn't be amiss. Confirmed.

Take Scinnari to the ball, and no point in hiding our kid. Also confirmed.

I would say we shouldn't encourage adventurers as a general rule, especially ones who fight against dragons. So I vote against that one.

Other stuff I am neutral on.

>>13737491
I agree. Anti-Dragon adventurers are a big no-no. Anti-Undead, on the other hand...

Also, do we still have that dragonslaying sword? Want to keep tabs on that thing.

>>13736903
>>13737051
>>13737480
Meant to answer earlier, Tiamat and Bahamut are the primary ones. I'd say that I'm willing to include the rest of the ones from here, provided they're considered to be more 'demi gods', rather than actual full gods. (Or until one significantly conflicts with something going on. Note: I don't know a hell of a lot about them, I'm just have no real reason to say no at the moment.)

rolled 80 = 80

>>13737448
Roll for adventurers. Anti-Undead only, no anti-dragons.

Economic support only, no military support.

Take Scinnari and don't bother hiding it.

rolled 51 = 51

>>13737546
Second roll.

>>13737546
Flaunt it.

Seriuosly. We're a crazy-powerful sorcerer, she's a mage of similar power, and sorcerers are prone to such crazy-strange bloodlines. Unless our child is a full-on dragon, we can probably explain away anything with that and Magical Experiments, or something.

rolled 50 = 50

>>13737546
Adventurer price range of about...500 gold, with bonuses for actual recon of the city, tactical and strategic dispositions of the undead army, and identification of high priority targets.

Mid-priced adventurers.

You post a bounty on first hand information on Azar, several hundred gold "Plus considerations". Not personally, of course, but you do so through one of your merchant fronts. Interest is explainable as a merchant's hunt for markets, and such a reward is not terribly unlikely coming from them. Several agree to answer you call, a few haggling for support or additional assistance, only the least of which you concede to.

Those that answer are not terribly reliable, you suspect, as Azar has gained a reputation for tremendous danger. The sane aren't heading there, and you aren't offering enough to attract the skilled. You're left with the fanatical, and the probability approach; throw enough adventurers at the problem, and at the very least, it's likely to change.

Sure enough, it does. A few of the more fanatical ones do, indeed come back; a party who's driving force was a rather dead-set half-elf, a druid, you believe, returns after a few weeks, several members fewer. Their report is not terribly clear, but enlightening none the less: A massive excavation effort, thousands of animated dead digging through rock and earth, mining downwards. Similarly, the bay of Azar has been sealed, turning it into a very coastal lake, and the shores into a very stagnant swamp.

>>13737834
That's problematic, what could the black be excavating?
Minerals to fuel an industrial powerhouse?
Or some kind of artifact?

>>13737879
I don't think we need to find out in order to know that we won't like it.

Motion to speak with the Sultan at the ball and bring up the possibility of our hitting Azar with a hurricane at a convenient time for his army, considerations to be offered for doing so highly negotiable.

>>13737834

The furnaces, they describe, seem to be being fed with sulfur and other strange compounds; their columns of smoke can be seen for miles, until they ascend into vast cloud formations over head. The druid was most upset at this, presumably the source of the acidic rain. He did note, however, that the jungle seemed to be rapidly growing up to the edge of the swamp, and even encouraged.

Despite no lack of options, it seems that the most disturbing point of all is the druids adamant claim that the jungle growing and the swamp being created are unnatural. Wrong. An aberration, something the natural world abhors. He doesn't seem educated enough to articulate just why this is, but he seems convinced there's something outside and evil at work upon the region. Additionally, they mentioned being hunted by strange 'dark elves', he said, correcting to 'twisted' and 'evil' but not 'drow' upon prompting. The Black's cult, you presume, though don't see fit to inform the adventurers.

You pay them somewhat reluctantly. You don't like encouraging adventurers, and aren't terribly impressed with this party's report, but they are regrettably necessary, and you suppose it could have been much less informative. You make some subtle efforts to pass the information along to the sultan's commander, and are at least pleased to see the adventurers take it upon themselves to pursue the undead to the end. Truly, the reanimated seem to be good only in uniting the world against themselves, it seems...

Uh, is it just me or does this seem like the sort of plot that will end with the black saying things like "NOW I AM YOUR NEW GOD" or "WITNESS AS I KILL AN ENTIRE CONTINENT, AND THEN RESURRECT IT".

Stopping this may be more important than we have been treating it.

>>13737983
If the world can't handle one 500 year old black dragon (not even that old or powerful, by dragon standards, and blacks are pussy colors compared to reds... over an entire age category behind by default!) then we are seriously way more powerful than we have been playing ourselves as. With our current resources we could conquer the world, in that case.

I'm just waiting for the other humanoid-shoe to drop. Surely there are some Legendary Heroes of Destiny on the way to slay him with that army even now.

We of course need to plot their demise afterward.

>>13737983
Look, if the world can't handle one evil megalomaniac with a cult and some ridiculous amounts of arcane power at his disposal, then it's not nearly as dangerous as we've been thinking it and we might as well declare ourselves king of everything now. If we throw a few chips in on the side of the forces of let's-not-all-die, that should be more than enough of a contribution from us.

The important thing here is that we get credit for providing what intel we can, and are able to extract some lasting concessions and profit from our aid in this endeavor. The eventual victory of the anti-black-dragon forces is pretty much assured; it's only a question of how many of them die first and who amongst those who live ends up on top when it's all blown over.

>>13737983
Yeah. Magical nuke options?

Regardless, I think that our economic support and sending magical message to the Sultan that we will fuck up his undead SHIT right before they attack should make this work out fine.

>>13738067
A major hurricane is the primary one at our disposal. That should break open the pay, collapse the excavations, destroy most of those works that they've been up to, probably bury or kill most of the black's forces.

It might also get traced back to us, as we're known as the primary epic sorcerer who influences the weather globally, as far as I know. Certainly we haven't butted up against anyone else who got pissy that we were stealing their storms. So when we use it, we'd better be sure that the Sultan is ready to exploit the opening.

>>13738205
We should consider whether this would damage the Sultan's forces, making one major enemy is quite enough I feel. Warning ahead of time would be nice, but the black would likely be able to intercept the message.

>>13738205
Erm, break open the BAY. Ruining that nice swamp that the black has built. Fuck him and his swamp, really.

Even if the Sultan fucks up and doesn't win in the follow-up, a good hurricane should set the black back by weeks or months, depending upon what he's doing. We'd need to prepare for his counter against us, though. We don't really have anything that can take a black that size.

>>13738225
How? We just use magical telepathy. Safe, secure, smart.

I'm actually going to take an unpopular stance here, and suggest that we actually ENCOURAGE some dragon-slaying adventurer parties to go after blackie.
With his undead army, he's shown that he's not stupid, and so shouldn't go down like a chump.
So what'll most likely happen is that lots of adventurers will get killed, especially of the type we want dead, and the one group that does succeed, we'll have identified for us so that we can target them for assassination.

>>13738301
Why not 'hire' Cibach Azal?

Writing back by messenger, you politely thank the Sultan for his invitation, and promise attendance. Invitation to witness the transmission of the sultanate, and a place from which to observe the Blues, the hub of the continent of Tashz. You could hardly resist. Scinnari seems to be looking forward to the idea, despite now having a sizable bulge to her stomach, albeit one that could be written off as weight, if erinyes could gain such excess weight.

The Sultan's armies persist, and eventually bring the battle to the plains of Azar itself, and the final stretch of the Northern Road. Battle is fierce, with the mages of Tashz, along with many hired out of Morinth, playing a significant role in countering the creations of the black. Brutal fighting, by all accounts, and regrettably under the blacks' protective spells, so you cannot watch it without being present. You are present for some of it, incognito, but most of it you allow to run it's course on it's own. While spectacular, and you certainly wouldn't say no to watching one of the Blues, it's not terribly important, as long as they keep going forward.

#########################

Advancement slows to a crawl, as the Black seems to be buying time. All water in the vicinity has become thoroughly polluted and unpalatable, or in some cases, actively poisonous, seeping into the ground, burning skin, and tainting wounds. A veritable corrupted hellscape awaits the army, something Scinnari comments that wouldn't be out of place in Malbolge. Not only that, but as they finally enter the jungle, the region lives up to the druids' claims. Gigantic beasts, monstrous creatures, and other abominations sweep out, harrying the army at all hours, and apparently assisting the undead. Again, the Blues hired to support the sultans army prove to be quite capable, if not, perhaps, worth the ludicrous sums promised to them, and the army is held together throughout it.

>>13738319
Perhaps we should hire some druid-adventurers via shell companies to assist the Sultan's army supply lines?
Sounds like they will need it, if all local food and water sources are contaminated.

>>13738319
Where is the storm that fucks up the undead, breaks the swamp, and destroys the jungles? WTF?

>>13738369
seconded

I thought we were going to do magic to him

>>13738319
Where is our hurricane, WD?

We called for a hurricane to fuck up the black's construction endeavors and give an opening that the Sultan's guys could exploit. We were supposed to get Tashz' favor and international acclaim out of it. It was supposed to be awesome.

>>13738319
Weren't we supposed to use a Storm of Vengence or a Cat 5 Hurricane to flood the pit with mud and bury half his undead force while destroying lots of the jungle that is (apparently) raping the troops? This was supposed to be our alpha-strike that let the Sultan and blues mop up and get us valuable trade deals and coveted international standing and recognition.

Sigh.

We can't do the hurricane now guys, it would rape the Sultan's troops too. Try to think of some emergency plan we can deploy now that we have no plan to use anymore.

Maybe we could, like... I don't know.

>>13738446
I got nothing.

>>13738446
>>13738483
Maybe we can wish really really hard to go back in time so that faux pas didn't happen?

Your storm arrives a few days later, and gives the army some reprieve. Thunder, lightning, and winds fit to rip a dragon from the sky. You're certain that if that Black is in Azar, he's landlocked for the duration. Even on the edges of the hurricane, the Blues seem to be grounded, unwilling to risk flight in such a titanic storm. The sealed-off bay that you flung the storm across is almost eradicated- You're certain the only reason it's preserved is magic. That said, Black dragon's dislike of salt water is infamous, and you are certain that particularly with how stagnant they like their water, Black will be having inconvenienced for quite a while.

The army, meanwhile, pending a note you had Scinnari deliver, digs in and savors the rest- the warped and twisted inhabitants have been driven to ground, or at least left anything but eager to fight in such weather. She's awestruck when she returns, too, telling you of lightning ripping across the sky so fast and so frequently the humans couldn't tell where one bolt ended and another began, of torrential rains, waves larger than some warships, and storm banks larger and darker than anything she's ever seen. You really feel that you've outdone yourself, this time. Her other news, though, is less pleasant.

>>13738505
"Planar presences? You're certain?" you verify. Unecessary, you assume, but it gives you time to think.

"Upon my life, lord. Something... primal and chaotic seems to have been drawn across, infused into the jungle. That's where the monstrosities have come from, that's what the druid reported. I'm certain." she says. The worry is evident in her eyes; even if it isn't actual abyssal work, it's still chaos, inherently opposed to the abyss.

"I see. Could you determine a source?" you ask.

"None. It seemed to... permeate the forest. Everything but the road. Vast. Inherent. Utterly vile."

"And do you have any ideas as how to remove it?"

"No... I do believe that the black is responsible, though. It seem reasonable, and they do have a reputation as..."

"As the cruelest and most petty of dragon kind... Well, second only to whites, I suppose." you add for her absently. "Intriguing..."

>>13738500
It looks like it might have worked.

Incidentally, on the subject of half-dragons, does anyone know where to look up what sort of form they would take? 1-25, non dragon parent, but with reptilian features, 26-50 basically dragon born, or something? I can work without, but I am interested in what already exists.

I can hardly believe this.
Is Good and adventurers so incompetent or stupid, that they need Evil to protect this world for them?

>>13738551

in 3.5 at least, the half-dragon is a template applied to other creatures. So you'd determine the devil type or whatever, and then add dragon features and stats/as appropriate.

Devils are somewhat complex in that they have a weird kind of hierarchy where their form changes as they graduate through the ranks however (erinyes being something of an exception), so there's some wiggle room I think. I know less about devils.

>>13738551
Dragonborn are a different thing altogether. Just take half of the "base" parent and stick on about 50% dragon details. Slittled eyes, scales of varying degrees, but enough to provide an armor bonus (such as having one's arms naturally possess gauntlets of steel-hard scales), small claws on otherwise normal hands, fire breath, wings, that kind of thing. Generally they are "Similar enough to empathize with." for the player, at least.

It's almost entirely left up to the person creating the character, very little is specified. Most half dragons I have ever seen in any literature were human enough to be judged on their own merits with the draconic features being very prominent but ultimately a complement (though a defining one) to their natural features.

>>13738608
>>13738593
Thank you. I'm half-tempted to write up a small chart for what degree of dragon v humanoid we get here, but I'm not sure whether such randomization would be positive.

Anyway, it is getting moderately late, and replies seem to be slowing significantly. Should we try and resume on Wednesday?

>>13738551
Template. That means take whatever the "other" parent is and then apply dragon features as you feel proper. Some might get away with just wings, horns, and some light scales. Others might go all the way for a tail, claws, enough scales to cover over 40% of their body, horns, and pointed teeth. But it would still be recognizable as a hybrid of dragon and X. The dragon features would never take over so much that you couldn't tell what the other parent was, just as the dragon features would never be so minimal as to be mistaken for something else.

>>13738642
I would be okay with that.

>>13738509
At this point, I think we've played our hand. We've done what we could to aid the assault, almost certainly set back the black's plans at least a bit. I am not willing to stick our nose further into this situation lest it be bitten off. Observe things as closely as is reasonable; Scinnari or we can do high-flying invisible scouting to get a general sense of things even in the anti-scry field, for example. But for the most part just let things proceed onward.

We could pass on a warning about the extraplanar influences if we think the Sultan might be able to deal with it; I see no gain and much risk in handling it ourselves.

Basically, let's let this plot thread be resolved by someone else and move on.

>>13738642
Why not just give us something appropriate like a normal humanoid half-dragon? What advantage would randomizing give?

>>13738661
>>13738675
It's about eleven, so I'm tempted to call it a night. (Wimpy, I know, but I'm way behind on sleep. It's probably been apparent in my writing.)

If you wish to turn your attention to something else, what would be your next item? (Things for me to work on next thread, or to cover in an OP.)

>>13738509
We will need to send a warning to the Sultan and his army about the planar presences.

Also, what about the various Good deity-aligned churches and temples? What are they doing? Or are they hoping to have the Sultan bear the brunt of all the fighting?

Actually, it wouldn't necessarily be a half dragon. You'd either take a red dragon and apply the fiendish template to it. Alternatively, you could take an erinyes (since they can breed true) and apply the half dragon template to it. In that case, it'd always be female. In fact, the best way of handling it would be to make it so that gender determines what it is. A female child would be a half dragon erinyes, and a male child would be a fiendish red dragon.

>>13738695
Research what could be in that forest. I mislike it.

Otherwise uh, how about getting Scinnari to teach us to dance in preparation for the upcoming formal party? It has been almost 20 years since we last danced at one, and we weren't great even then. We don't want to embarrass ourselves in the royal court of Tashz.

>>13738717
That's a really slick idea. I support this.

>>13738717
and yes, this means that any male child would eventually grow to completely outclass us in power.

>>13738723
She'd probably enjoy that.

I'm tempted to ask Asha to brief us on court politics, but that might be risky. Don't really want to remind her of who she used to be, I shouldn't think.

And find something suitably worthwhile to bring to the princes' coronation. Don't want to be the one to show up with a crappy gift.

>>13738754
Bullshit.

+4 LA, and our forte is spellcasting.

That kid would not only be behind in age but also vastly behind in his magical abilities.

>>13738754
That template is strictly smalltime compared to natural red dragon statistics and capabilities, not to mention a huge hit to magical power with the +4 level adjustment. The LA alone will mean our children will never equal us.

>>13738769
Dragons don't gain levels like adventurers do. They gain power with age. The LA only matters if you're trying to gain character classes. In case you haven't noticed, this is more story oriented than game mechanics oriented. A fiendish dragon of the same or nearly the same age as another, otherwise identical dragon would enjoy significant advantages.

the problem I have with scinnari giving birth to a fiendish red dragon is that it basically means she has to pass out an egg and/or a live dragon. I know its magic and all, but the reason the half dragon template exists is so that the creatures natural biological processes continue. the dragon seed is able to alter outcomes but not cause wholly new processes to occur.

A half-dragon Erinyes seems most likely. Erinyes always breed female unless there's a male pleasure devil equivalent.

whoops, I meant the half-fiend template, not the fiendish.

>>13738717
>Alternatively, you could take an erinyes (since they can breed true) and apply the half dragon template to it. In that case, it'd always be female.
My impression was that erinyes were not gender-restricted any more than the angels that they nominally were before falling are.

>>13738769
It would inherit our boosted spellcasting abilities, augment them with infernal prowess, and would only be a century younger than us; eventually draconic age categories grow significantly wider than a single century. LA doesn't matter when advancement is based upon simple time lived.

>>13738695
Keep an eye on the war but as a nonparticiant.

If we haven't yet developed a way to block the Binder from magically influencing our offspring, come up with one so that we don't have to kill it.

See if we can boost our military's size and skill somewhat more. We're building a modest empire here by conquering those mainland cities, and an empire's strength is built upon its armies (and navies). Exceptional training, discipline, and passion for the nation (and Lord Prestor, always) are important characteristics that we should cultivate.

If we don't have secret police yet as discussed previously, we need to see about getting them.

Aside from that, all the usual stuff should proceed onward. Seek advantage in trade and politics, continually grow our wealth, train and monitor our assassins and other growing minions, chat with Cygnis so that she still loves us, etc. etc.

>My impression was that erinyes were not gender-restricted any more than the angels that they nominally were before falling are.
I think the erinyes are actually all female, brachnia too.

>If we haven't yet developed a way to block the Binder from magically influencing our offspring, come up with one so that we don't have to kill it.
Second.

>See if we can boost our military's size and skill somewhat more. We're building a modest empire here by conquering those mainland cities, and an empire's strength is built upon its armies (and navies). Exceptional training, discipline, and passion for the nation (and Lord Prestor, always) are important characteristics that we should cultivate.
Also seconding.

>If we don't have secret police yet as discussed previously, we need to see about getting them.
Clearly. We must have complete secret police coverage.

>Aside from that, all the usual stuff should proceed onward. Seek advantage in trade and politics, continually grow our wealth, train and monitor our assassins and other growing minions, chat with Cygnis so that she still loves us, etc. etc.
Especially try to leverage the fact that we just fucked some shit UP with that hurricane into an even more powerful reputation, and let traders see that we are awesome to trade with due to weather always being fair.

Finally, our bardic campaign. How has that been going?

Alright. I think I'm either going to randomize it significantly, or go with the erinyes/humanoid devlish base. (Barring outside intervention. No, no, don't respond, just let that hang ominously in the air for a bit... There, okay, now you can reply.)

Alternately, I might just go with whatever I feel like adding to the game. I don't know.


Go ahead and email me if you have ideas, suggestions, requests, or half-dragon pictures to volunteer. See you all on Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday. I'll try not to miss them this time.

Oh, and give me a pair of rolls to work off of next time. Guidelines, and all that. One regarding us, and one to see how the war progresses, I think.

rolled 50, 8 = 58

>>13738891

rolled 46, 73 = 119

>>13738891
Rolls!

Oh, and before the thread dies I would just like to point out that Scinnari's 'nesting' behaviour buying tapestries and homemaking in our cave makes me giggle like a schoolgirl. Get it? A winged, feathered humanoid who might or might not deliver our child in an egg 'nesting'?

Oh god, I need sleep.

Do dragons care for their offspring?

I mean, we're hardly normal, but will WE care for our offspring? Because I think it would be a shame to kill our offspring for any reason short of "They're attacking us.".

But I'm sentimental, and like the idea of having daughters ands sons. Plus, I believe there is a very special place in the hells for kinslayers, and I think even with Taimat looking out for us, we might not want to end up there.

>>13739060
The overwhelming majority of dragons take obsessive care over their young. It's rather unavoidable, since they have many natural predators (adventurers) and they take such a long time to raise. There may be exceptions, but those that are have very poor success rates.

>>13739098
> The overwhelming majority of dragons take obsessive care over their young.

Reds, whites, and blacks generally don't. Their young are left to fend for themselves, often the clutch is laid, hidden, and then abandoned even before they hatch.

Blues and greens, on the other hand, are extremely obsessive parents.

>>13738988
If it's an egg, then I think Scinnari might be in a bit of trouble. Red dragon eggs are 4 feet long.

Actual it depends i think their is a hierarchy when two templets mix like half fiend or half dragon to determine the base race (think it is in savage species). so either we will end up with half dragon erinyes or half fiendish red dragons. I don't quite remember but i remember the dragon part was the base.

A question could it be possible for the binder to reincarnate herself as our child?

>>13739869
oh more pictures

missed it again, damn
just wanted to add this...