You head to a large clearing towards the center of the camp with a small stone stage and altar. You sit with Algers in a massive group, along with a few of your fellows who have decided to tag along.

"Have you tried this kukgat stuff, Melane? It's delicious!" Tukon says, munching on a large, flat brown crisp.

"Ah yes, kukgat. The pig brine flavor is quite delectable." Algers says.

"Pig... Brine..." Tukon says, suddenly less enthusiastic. "I didn't know that was a... thing."

"This is Algers, Tukon." You say, introducing the two.

"A pleasure sir." Tukon says pleasantly.

"Certainly. And I assure you, our food is quite safe for human consumption." Algers says.

The ritual is headed by a ripouse with white paint across his body, like bones. "The Immortal Ancestors live on within us. You and I, we have their spirit with us." He says, pointing up to the sky. "Their record is written in the stars, as is the record of all things." He raises up his hands. "Here, I see the stars on earth, within all of us. We are one bright mass of stars, a constellation on this earth itself. We are making history for our people!" A chant goes up, old words that you recognize as Aldini. The song is of unity, and you recognize words from an ancient battle text.

"Most of our people were soldiers. Considered the best heavy infantry in the kingdom." Algers says to you quietly. "The chant is an adaptation of one the soldiers used to remember military maneuvers."

The ceremony goes for quite some time, the priest blessing several newly born ripouse children and healing the wounds of some of the hunters. He burns sacrificial urns depicting animals, containing their skin and bones, and leads another chant for the ancestors. It seems like an outdoor version of the services you attended, some seasonal like the priests of Obug and Gubo, the twin gods of Wind and Rain in the summer and spring, others like Ria's were always in attendance each part of the year.

Awww yeaaaah, Sorcerer quest. Also, you going going to be starting up Gargoyle quest too, OP?

In game, let's just keep up the small-talk until the ceremony starts.

Wouldn't it make some sense to wait for the other two quest threads to finish before you start yours? That way, you could get better results thanks to more participation from the quest-thread crowd.

>>14290858

(Natch. I just realized I was a half hour late and rushed in.)

The priest talks for a bit, talking in a very plain manner, like one might talk to a relative, about the necessities of honor and respect for all. He says not to confuse this with giving your foe an advantage, "Because the gnolls sure won't give us one," eliciting a grim chuckle from the crowd. He says that his tribe, the People of the Red Hills, would always take in and heal the wounded after a battle with their foes, even the gnolls. "After a while, even the anger and hatred of war became respect. Our soldiers were returned with only wounds they had received in battle, not having been partially eaten by the gnoll tribe there. Eventually, they stopped attacking us altogether, when the two of us took a stand against the Band of Cackling Doom."

"That's a group of human radicals. Hunt down gnolls and ripouse alike." Tukon says, disgust in his voice. "They tried to get me to join after... After I killed those ripouse, thinking they were gnolls. Their leader has a nose that didn't heal right, twisted off to the left."

"You've met their leader?" You ask him.

Tukon grins, a sliver of satisfaction in his eyes. "Who do you think broke it?"

"Their tribe, the Crooked Fang, did not survive. And thanks to the confederacy, we did." He gestures out to the crowd, a bit of the chalk dust markings on him drifting off in a fog. "My brother, Deathspeaker Mhergan, will now try to speak with the departed from that tribe."

>>14290873

Well, when do they finish, usually?

>>14290977
Keep watching in silence. Let's see what this Deathspeaker has to say.

I guess I'll just bump with friendly invitational messages when the quest threads get out.

In fact....

Come one, Come All! Don't be shy, we're just getting started here. Ever wondered what it would have been like if sorcerers ruled the world? Well, 300 years ago that was the case.

Endless mystery and intrigue, drama and adventure await Melane Kiried, descendant of the Shadow King of that civilization, the Great City Aldini. Delve through your ancestor's memories and live a double life, one as a young revolutionary trying to reveal a conspiracy in a society living in concert with dragons, and the other as the powerful orchestrator of the ancient city, capable of creating life with Spell and Will.

How did the city fall? What are the dragons planning? Perhaps the knowledge is buried in the past, or perhaps it's right under your nose.

Sorcerer Quest is live and full of potential waiting to be let loose!

>>14291214
And Gargoyle Quest? :V

(Ahem, anyway)

A thin, white-furred gnoll with reddish pink eyes walks up onto the stage, carrying a bag filled with clattering objects. He places them down on the altar, revealing them to be a gnoll skull and bones, bleached white. He ingests a poultice, and sits silently, his back to the crowd. He suddenly springs up, letting loose a garbled shriek, and his hand comes to rest on the skull, its jaw joined to it with rawhide. He raises it above his head, calling in an echoing, calmer voice. "Gaphrag, Gaphrag, Gaphrag."

There is a sound like a gasp, as the skull's jaw stretches wide. The ripouse cackles in glee, setting the almost confused seeming skull on the altar as he takes white sand, spreading it in a circle on the ground. "Ancestor here, here." He rambles, "Gnoll ancestor, soldier, not leader, but good soldier. Good man."

"Where am I?" The skull asks.

"Not worry, Gaphrag, soon have body for you, you can stand and tell us things from long past." The ripouse begins assembling the bones in a hyperactive mass of movement, putting a mostly whole gnoll skeleton on the bottom of the skull, bound with twine loops.

"Jackal, brother hunter, not betray clan." The ripouse mutters.

The skull responds, "I betrayed my clan. I saved that woman."

"Not betray clan. Become member of new clan. Tell us what you feel, what you saw. But not talk with just voice." He rubs his hands with a black soot, painting marks like brows and spots on the skull. He spits on his fingers, putting the pointer and middle finger in the skull's eyes. "Garouk, Kirkak, Mernakakakaka," He shouts, chanting the last part. The skeleton rises to its feet, and the crowd gasps, some going for their weapons.

The albino ripouse gasps, shaking his head at the crowd. "He not angry ancestor, he not hurt us. Tell them what you die doing, Gaphrag."

The skeleton wavers a bit where it stands. "I saved a ripouse woman."

The crowd murmurs amongst itself. You hear expressions of astonishment and doubt.

"Step in circle, Gaphrag." Mhergan says, and the skeleton step in. A wavering image of a gnoll appears over it, the eyes replaced by black pits and the body torn in places where the bones are missing, including the tail. Gaphrag is clad in a battered set of piecemeal leather armor.

"Anyone ask question to ancestor Gaphrag?" Mhergan asks, wringing his hands.

>>14291496
Who, what, where, why, and how?

"Why did you save her?" One of the soldiers near the front shouts, her voice carrying over the mostly silent crowd.

"She was with child. Their tribe had never killed any of our children or our pregnant women. Them coming towards her with a knife, it upset me." The eyeless image of the dead gnoll looks down at the ground, almost as though it was sad. "I knew she and her child did not deserve to die, even if they were the enemy."

The crowd talks amongst themselves. "You see, even enemies can become friends if courtesy is used." The priest says, gesturing over to the skeleton. "Who would have thought that a gnoll, one of the race who claims to hate us because we are weak, would save one of ours who was in need?"

"Next question." Mhergan half shouts, his right eye twitching.

Why was it such a bad thing to let her live?

>>14291767

You ask this question to Algers instead.

"The gnolls are... Not known for their mercy. While their cannibalistic habits are greatly exaggerated, they enslave and kill any they can get their hands on, especially of ours." He chuckles quietly. "The crowd isn't upset that he did, just... surprised."

>>14291670

You'll have to include some subjects in your questions. That is the second rule of journalism!

>>14291831
"I suppose it's hard to have a reputation as a noble people when your neighbors are mostly brutes who look indistinguishable to yours by other peoples."

>>14291882
Insert a 'nearly' between look and indistinguishable.

>>14291882
>>14291897

"I suppose it's hard to have a reputation as a noble people when your neighbors are mostly brutes who look nearly indistinguishable to yours by other peoples." You say to Algers.

He nods. "We tend to be smaller, not as strong. I've been told the curvature of the nose is different, as well as-" He pauses, interrupted by the crowd.

"Where is she now? This woman you saved?" A suspicious tone creeps into the voice of one of those asking.

"I do not know. I was killed by the group of humans-" The skeleton says.

"That's not good enough, how do we know he isn't lying?" One of them shouts.

"Because that woman is my mother." Mhergan says, coughing a bit. "I saw in vision where his body lay, I preserved his bones and asked his spirit to come back to this world."

A few of them seem taken aback, whispering.

"Where is your mother, to back up this claim?" One of them shouts.

"She die when I was born, right after naming me." Mhergan says, no pain in his voice. "When I am six years old, her spirit speaks to me, guides me. Now many more voices are here..." He says, seeming to drift off.

Some of the crowd does not seem convinced.

"Opportunity knocks." Algers says, grinning. "Just give me a minute," He slowly rises to his feet, his metal leg creaking once again. "Damn thing went to sleep for a minute or two."

Algers walks towards the front, lowering a spear or two from his path with one hand. He steps up to the altar, his fur shimmering white in the moonlight. "If you do not believe him, then give him a test." Algers says, patting the much skinnier ripouse on the shoulder. The crowd is quiet, out of confusion or respect, you're not sure which.

"Very well," Algers says, looking over at Mhergan. "I will test him."

Mhergan looks over at Algers, a grin on his face. "The ancestors... you remind me of the ancestors, great father. The spirits around you are glad."

"What are their names?" Algers asks, quietly and sternly.

Mhergan graps in the air, grabbing something tangible but invisible. He whispers to it, puts it to his ear. All is quiet for a moment before he speaks. "Sherma, Gherrig, Althoun, Clerag," He pauses. "Your wives."

Algers nods. "Those are the names of my wives. Why are they here?"

Mhergan shakes his head. "They are here because they guard your life from a danger that will come soon. To you and the sea-heart."

Alger's brow furrows. "What is this danger?"

Mhergan gasps in pain, his spindly right hand flying up into the air like it was pulled by a string. His fingers curl save one, and he points out into the crowd. "Because, death follows one here with us tonight! Great danger in the form of a shadow in the clouds, and men with icy hearts who seek a crown!"

The crowd gasps.

"Who here is this danger following?" Algers asks, looking back towards you.

What will you do?

It's time to man up. Stand. Say our peace.

"I am hunted by those in power of the human realms because I know a terrible secret. One that would shake the dragons from their high places, and have those below screaming for their blood."

>>14292371

You stand, looking out at the crowd as the crazed oracle's hand falls to point at you.

"I am hunted by those in power of the human realms because I know a terrible secret. One that would shake the dragons from their high places, and have those below screaming for their blood." You start, looking out to the crowd. "I have braved death, and am hunter by one the dragons have enslaved with magic we thought to be good." The crowd whispers amongst themselves. "I seek to free my people from this new oppression. Will any of you follow me?"

(back in 30)

One of the ripouse stands, her braided mane dotted with woven bone ornaments, her shoulders wide and dyed a virulent yellow and brilliant green, in a swirling design. She wears the leather armor accorded to a warrior, decorated with fetishes and metal trophies.

"You come bearing ill fortune, and ask us for help?" She growls, raising an eyebrow. "Do you not realize what you will do to this place, woman?"

Algers raises a hand over to the ripouse woman. "Give Melane a chance to explain herself, Yumea."

"Whom else would I go to? (x neighboring country)? The exact same problem exists there!"
carry this train for a while, then:
"No, I could think of only one group that I may have a glimmer of hope gaining help from, you, the people of the Ripouse Confederacy, whom are completely beyond the influence of those scaled manipulators."

"I know there are hundreds of years of mistrust between our people, but after having come here, I have seen your truth: that you are good, honest folk, with a vibrant culture, making a living in a hostile place. I ask only that those of you whom possess a burning sense of justice; Those of you who feel the need to see a great wrong righted; to aid my group - as equals."

>>14292992

You look over at Yumea with a nod to Algers.

""Whom else would I go to? The problem has spread to all the city states. None refused the dragon's help when they sought to liberate us from the Aldini army. Even Rhoska, a fair state that has traded with your peoples often, is not free from their corruption. A dragon named Heraldanvre was a former treasurer of Rhoska, and she now owns her own merchant's guild after having retired. Mighty Korvice, who while disliked, is respected, has a dragon named Tretnamuxad sitting in the senate! Should I try anything in the states, we would soon be naught but jailbirds or a smear upon the city steps."

"Your problems are yours, I say." Yumea says.

"Do you not wish for peace with the Mandrans? These creatures keep that peace from you." You say. "They are in a position to stop those who would hunt you, like the men who killed the gnoll on that stage." You pause, realizing something. "Sir gnoll," That felt strange to say, you think. "Was there a man riding a dragon amongst that group who slew you?"

The gnoll thinks for a moment, transparent and bony hand going to their respective chins in unison. "Yes. A white one whose breath froze flesh and bone solid as ice."

"You see? Those monsters are not your allies. He could have saved this man, who died performing a noble act worthy of any of you."

One of the larger ripouse stands up. "Gnolls are not noble. A gnoll attacked my mother, raping her, and years later, I was born." He is covered in small scars, and has a large stone club with obsidian shards embedded in the sides.

"I am sorry." You say. "Sir gnoll, have you ever attacked and... forced yourself on a ripouse?"

The skeleton creaks as it answers. "No."

"Not all of them are evil." You say. "The same with the dragons. But many are the minds of the men and women claimed by those who undergo the rite. This gnoll might have been a friend had the right people been in office, to stop the Band of Cackling Doom from committing their genocide against you."

"No, I could think of only one group that I may have a glimmer of hope gaining help from." You gesture out to the crowd. "You, the people of the Ripouse Confederacy, whom are completely beyond the influence of those scaled manipulators."

"I know there are hundreds of years of mistrust between our people, but after having come here, I have seen your truth: that you are good, honest folk, with a vibrant culture, making a living in a hostile place. I ask only that those of you whom possess a burning sense of justice; Those of you who feel the need to see a great wrong righted; to aid my group - as equals."

4chan crashed for me, so bumping, will be a bit longer typing all that next one up again.

Damn. We are GOOD.

Cagrazod stands up next to you clenching his fist. "Yes, my Lady Kiried is one on the side of justice and honor. When she told me of her goals, I knew my uncle Novon would surely ally with such a cause, and swore my allegiance."

"Who is your uncle, stranger?" The larger male ripouse asks.

"Ah, yes. You may not know of him, sir...?" Cagrazod says, gesturing over to the man in a friendly manner.

"Rejek. Not a sir, as I am not a knight." The ripouse answers, flexing an arm as he sets his club over one shoulder.

"Rejek. My uncle, Novon Rethara, is a man who lives by honor, truth, and justice. It is not surprising to me that you ahve not heard of him. But," He pauses, spreading his considerable wingspan for dramatic effect, "Perhaps you have heard of his alter ego, the champion of justice, the Iron Falcon?"

>have visions of a marteaux superhero clad as a mexican wrestler
Glorious.

From the sound of the crowd, you gather that they have. "He and I have met few times, but I strive to live my life under the same vows as him. To right wrongs, protect those who need it, and see that justice is done for all peoples, great and small. I roamed these plains with my stony brethren, and I ran into some of your tribes in my travels. I was moved by the honor I saw from you. But when I met Lady Kiried, and she told me of her goals, I felt a great passion burning in my heart." He retracts his wings, his eyes glowing brightly. "This, revealing this travesty in the Mandran city states, was a cause that would benefit all peoples, even mine in the marteau fortress Cyclos. This is a crusade for justice, for freedom, for protecting all, not just the Mandran people. Can some of you feel the flame of righteousness burning in your breast? It is a calling to aid us now, to stop this twisted bond from ever being used again!"

You nod. "Not all dragons use the bond for evil. But those who do render the humans bound to them slaves, like the gnolls do to your people now. But it is a betrayal that my people do not know about, for the slaves are more like puppets to be controlled by their master. I wish to show them the truth I have known all along about the dragons, the truths I have seen in my time with your people. If you are there with me when we tear down their curtain of lies, surely they will see the honor in you as well, and that you cannot let such injustice continue. Help me not for the future of my people, but for the future of our peoples."

The gathering is silent for a time. You hear some talk with one another.

"She is not duplicitous." You hear a familiar voice say. Turning, you can see Jethar, with his daughter and a male ripouse carrying a bow, glaring at one of the members of the gathering. "She has come here earnestly seeking our help. She has no games to play with us."

"What would you know of her intent? You can't even see her face!" The ripouse says, standing. "Your mind is going along with your eyesight."

The ripouse holding the bow lets loose a vicious growl. Jethar holds out a hand towards him. "Care to wager on that?"

"I know you're blind, even if you won't admit it. The last thing I bought from you, I gave you black instead of red beads." He laughs. "You may make fine earrings, but you're no judge of character."

"Oh, I knew." Jethar says, grinning as he grabs the ripouse by the ear. "I thought you were coming back with more money. This is the one, right?"

The ripouse yelps as Jethar roughly unhooks it from his ear.

"I was blind, but thanks to her generosity and that of her band, I no longer must go without the light." He says, sniffing the ear piece and cringing. "You should bathe more often." He sneers. "You smell as bad as you did when I let you rip me off."

The group laughs coldly at the would-be thief, and a few near him stand, looking over to you.

"I can speak for my sisters when I say your cause seems just." Yumea says, shaking her head a bit. "I have grown to hate most humans I have met, but you have met my hatred with understanding and a story of injustice no one should have to suffer. Me and my four sisters would join you, if you would have us." She says, bringing her right hand up to her left shoulder. Four other ripouse stand behind her, most about her size, and do the same.

Let's let them stew for a bit. Also, thank Cagrazod for his input.

"Any of you with a good arm or useful skill I will be glad to have join us."

"I can speak only for myself." Rejek says, looking down at the congregation. "And I do not speak with pretty words like this woman and the marteau. I talk as I feel. And I feel that this is a disgrace to our people." This is met with a loud reaction. He clears his throat with a half-bark, and the crowd silences somewhat. "Because I am standing, and I will go with her. I, who has been beaten all my life, called a bastard, a gnoll-spawn, among other things." He glances back at a few particular ripouse as he says this. "I, who no tribe will let have allegiance, and walked here alone, should stand here to represent you and your so-called honor, and yet only a handful of what you consider 'real' men do so with me!" He shouts this last part. "You consider yourselves so much better than I, but in the end I, who have been beaten with your ideals since I was young, must now rise to hold them up while the rest of you sit." He bares his teeth at them. "If I am to be their best impression of a man from the ripouse confederacy, let none stand."

About thirty ripouse men stand.

A rather spindly ripouse stands, wearing a pair of glasses. "I happened to hear of your band- Oh, excuse me. I am Reff Microd, a humble clerk." He bows to you, his long arms sweeping the ground. "I wish to help, but I am afraid I have never been one for combat, so I'm not sure how much good I would be."

"Your skills with money would be appreciated." You say.

His eyes light up. "Oh, thank you, ma'am." He bows again, somehow even deeper than last time.

Some stand, as a result of either your or Cagrazod's speech.

"Shall I go by more wagons, Melane?" Tukon whispers. "Looks like a count of about fifty so far."

"Get provisions as well. They need to eat more than I and my fellows." Cagrazod says, in a half whisper.

"Your families will be safe, if you feel you want to join in her travels. I shall make sure of it." Algers says, calm, yet full of conviction.

A number more stand, some hugging their spouses or children.

"Make that about sixty five." Tukon says before jogging off.

"Sixty eight." Jethar says, smirking.

His daughter Shahira jumps up. "You helped father, and now it's our turn to help you! Besides, you'll need clothing and food, and Legraz and I can handle that while dad immortalizes the trip!"

"That was supposed to be a surprise..." Jethar grumbles.

Would you like to say anything else?

Make sure to thank the congregation from the bottom of our heart.

Also, give Algers a big hug.

>>14293793

"Thank you, kind people." You say, inclining your head respectfully. "You have been most courteous, especially considering my interruption of your ceremonies."

Some of them laugh. One near you stands up, clasping you on the shoulder. Cagrazod twitches a bit at this, nervous.

"It is not offensive. You are a friend of the patriarch. My grandfather allowed you to speak, and such a thing is important to our community." He pauses, looking back at Algers. "With his permission, myself and the other honor guard will go with you as well."

The crowd murmurs amongst themselves.

"Very well, Paima." Algers says, despite some objections. "I didn't think you could stand to sit in that hole for as long as I."

"I am afraid not, grandfather." He says, smiling.

"You living ones." The gnoll skeleton says suddenly, in a voice not its own. "Known that the stars shine brightly in your future. Soon, the stars will be touched and moved, changed." The light leaves its eyes, the phantasmal gnoll disappears, and the skeleton goes limp.

After the community disperses, Algers walks over to you.

"Thank you." You say. "I had not hoped for so many."

"I must thank you, my lady." Algers says, smiling. "You got me out of that cave in more ways than one."

You embrace him, and he jumps a bit, seeming confused. But then, he embraces you. His grip is strong, and his body is quite warm. "I am glad to see someone with his heart lives now." Algers whispers.

"And I am glad to have met you as myself."

Gotta make it an early night, VKO. Excellent session. Thread archived.

>>14293956

"And I am glad to have met you as myself." You say.

He pulls back, looking at you and smiling. "I am honored my lady. My master would be proud of you. In fact, I see a bit of resemblance from an image of him I saw once, from when he was young."

You giggle. "He always seemed so serious. He must have been scowling in the picture."

"On the contrary, it was his wedding painting." Algers says, sighing happily. "He was with his wife, and they were both smiling. She was very dear to him."

"She must have been beautiful." You say, looking off to the ground, remembering Alkenin's hazy thoughts of his wife.

"Indeed. She was not as kind as you, however." Algers says, sniffling a bit. "Excuse me. That was unwelcome."

"I'll just take that as a compliment to myself."

>>14294039

"I'll just take that as a compliment to myself." You say, drifting away after giving Algers a quick hug.

"It was intended so." Algers says. He puts his hands behind his back. "We should dine again before you leave. More formally, or at least as formally as we do."

You grin. "I'd like that."

"My grandson Paima and the honor guard will come as well. You can meet him outside of his disguises." Algers says, suddenly grasping his metal leg at about knee level.

"Agh. Oh what is he doing now?" Algers says, wincing.

"What is it?" You ask, concerned.

"Oh, just something that happens every once in a while when Kresis decides to get in a fight or something." He pauses, the pain leaving his face. "Please do not concern yourself, my lady. It is merely pain, discomforting perhaps but not dangerous." He smiles, then his face twists as his metal leg gives out.

The other ripouse rush to his aid, but he waves them away. He pauses, looking at his leg after he repositions it from a sitting position. He stares at it, trying to make the leg move, but it is unresponsive. "Well, I'm not feeling a horrible burning pain." He says, snapping his fingers in a burst of fire. "So he just got his leg broken again. You think for 324, he'd act his age and stop getting into fights."

"Are you alright, Grand Father?" One of the ripouse asks.

Algers nods. "I am fine. My counterpart just seems to have damaged himself somewhat." His metal toes move. "Ah, there we are." He stands. "Please don't worry, I will make a suitably horrified scream if my leg starts to burn me alive. Until then, just assume it's a momentary malfunction."

They disperse after a bit, still looking concerned.

"I am going to catch it for that, my lady." Algers says, flexing his leg to make sure it's in working order.

"Are you sure you and he are alright?" You ask.

"Yes. The good thing about him, despite breaking his leg so often, he's become quite good at remaking it. Down to five seconds when I last saw him." Algers says, testing his ankle once more for good measure.

"When was that?" You ask.

"About seventy years ago." Algers turns to look at the stars and moon. "Maybe you should drop in on him, my lady. The lizardmen are no friends of Mandral either. His tribe is a bit of a mish-mash of some different kinds, and many of his children. He was never fond of Alkenin, but he respected him eventually."

"I'll consider it. I know very little of him." You respond.

"You should find out more. You may learn a thing or two about judging entire groups, like the way you judge the dragons." Algers says.

"Are you saying I'm wrong about them? That they're not enslaving people?" You feel a bit angry at this.

Algers looks over his shoulder at you. "There are two sides to every story. Good and evil. Light and dark." He looks down at his leg. "Hot and cold. Kresis turned out to be a much bigger man than I thought he was, when it came down to it." He bows his head to you. "I did not mean to imply that you were wrong about that dragon who enslaved your lover, but there may be others who are different. Something to dwell on. Goodnight, Lady Kiried." Algers says, a bit of glowing flame drifting about his head as he walks away, leaving you to the cold night air.

Alright, that's it for now. I think I'll take anon's suggestion and try and start it on Monday when the other quests get out.

Until then, look to the horizon, and see the stories etched in the sky.