He's pregnant with your baby?!?

Cursed drows

they will pay for this. PAY!

can we somehow pin-point his location or at least get some general direction using magic, spell or tech?

>>14615734
Oh no, don't tell me he's as powerful a caster as us.

If so, we need to develop magitek powered armor for our fight.

Aside from the tattooes on his right arm, the ones that were once your tattooes, He has a number of magical tattooes across his body that are presently invisible. You know of the tradition, but it isn't drow. The thick, winding lines trace along what the trogs refer to as the "Gen'si", or lifelines of the body. Meant to draw out magical power, the tattooes can also be used to cripple if their execution is incorrect. The art was said to have been lost, the inks extremely rare. He must have gotten tattooes over them.

These magical tattooes can have a variety of effects. The first and foremost being the increase of the body's durability, flexibility, and strength. The bones are the focus of tattooes for durability, nerves for flexibility, and muscles for strength. Other tattooes can draw upon ancient concepts for power, the most commonly used one being darkness. You recognize several of the angular signs as being ones of darkness, with subtle, fading lines along the knuckles and feet. The work would be magnificent, were it not so extensive. The kobold's flesh would likely appear as though it were painted over completely were the extraneous tattooes not in place. He has the beginnings of some strange magical markings on his face. As is natural, the tattooes radiate auras of divination, necromancy, and transmutation. Powerful magic, all of it. You'd need some time to dispel it, the divination tattooes are an extraneous bit you were told is often rigged to a quick suppressor that renders the tattooes non-magical as the spell's effect goes off. Such powerful stuff is unsettling to see on a living creature.

But what's more unnerving is what's in the soup that he's drinking.

IMO, letting those Drow prisoners go was retarded.
They would have never done something like this if the roles were reversed.

>Your detect magic spell works through the scrying sensor, and you make a frightening discovery.
what discovery? (aside from finding out that our clone is a drow slave)

>>14615830
>But what's more unnerving is what's in the soup that he's drinking.

Don't tell me ... kobold stew?

The soup radiates a magical aura far beyond that of the tattooes, one not of a school of magic, but of magic itself.

You see small specks of magical material swirling through it. You more the sensor closer to get a better look at what Tayn is putting into himself.

You get the feeling that you've seen it somewhere before. Then, it hits you: Ioun ore.

He's eating it.

>>14615830
>rigged to a quick suppressor that renders the tattooes non-magical as the spell's effect goes off
Wait, you mean that he can suppress the magic of the Gen'si tattoos so that they become unaffected by Dispel Magic spells?
Still, a Wand of Dispel Magic might be in order.

>>14615859

Well, it's not like you have detect kobold up, so it remains a possibility.

>>14615848
In the context of what those Drow are, and of the current international situation, I defend the choice to free the prisoners.
We needed them to send a message back to these Drow Feudalists, that we are a reasonable nation with which they can do business, and are willing to treat with them in a far less harsh manner than their former compatriots in the Drow Empire.
Also, those prisoners have seen first-hand that we are more than willing to wipe them out completely if they so much as dare to spit into our territory again.

>>14615868

Yep. Or, rather, they do become inactive for an instant as the spell goes off, but then stop being suppressed.

So if you timed it right, just as he punches you in the face, he'll just break your skull with his normal strength and not however much that gives him.

>>14615862
How much more time do we have left in this scrying?

After it ends, we should talk with our brother about the possible side-effects of eating ioun ore, and if feeding small quantities of it to our mages might be a new training regimen that we could work on.

>>14615905
I would much prefer to not even give him that chance, by filling him up with lead.

>>14615912

You have about half an hour left.

He finishes his meal, and heads to a room much like the one you saw him in before, filled with large wire-linked crystals and tilted alters with many symbol-like switches. He hits another of them, and arcane symbols rise up on the screen. He begins making motions with his hands, according to the instructions on the screen.

this quest seems like just what I need.

excuse me while I read through your archives and come back too late to suggest anything. I might also go get drunk.

>>14615963
Can we commit the symbols and the structure and design of the machine to memory?
We will need to inform Yuune about all of this, and prepare appropriate wards and defenses.

>>14615991

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14536122/

The symbols, you know. They're instructions to a specific spell.

Lesser Globe of Invulnerability.

>>14616059
>Lesser Globe of Invulnerability.
>4th Level Spell
Alright, so he's got an improved physical body and can also cast spells.
Just great.

>>14616059
If he casts it, and we observe how long the sphere is up for, then we can estimation of what his caster level is.

>>14615991

The machines?

Uhh, is you knew how to make them work, you would commit what you could. At present, they appear to store information using an unknown process. You can make out sparks within the crystals, but it strangely enough appears to be raw magical energy, aside from the display, which is an illusion spell.

>>14616102
That's good enough. Knowing that such things can be done is part of what we need to recreate the technology.
Now that we know that information can be stored in crystals with magical energy, and displayed via an illusion spell, we can put that up as a long-term project for our mages to work on.

You watch him make a violent motion with his hands after a few moments of deliberation, and a radiant globe appears around him for a moment before fading into near invisibility.

You time it, using your breathing cycles. One... Two... You count up to thirty.

Well, shit.

>>14616124
Not just recreate it; if we learn who else has equivalent technology, then we can begin to track down our double.

>>14616181
That should be caster level 5, if I'm counting right.

Well, shit.

You notice that your detect magic spell has difficulty penetration the sphere.

You see a large number of magical flickers in Tayn's body as the spell completes itself. He growls, and you see him exhale a fine cloud of dust.

He goes over another spell, Displacement. Something similar occurs.

Shortly thereafter, the vision of Tayn fades.

>>14616181
>>14616269
Is that 30 rounds or 30 seconds?
Because if it's rounds, we are fucked.

>>14616286
Okay, we need to talk with Yuune about what we saw, and the suggestion here >>14615912 about eating ore.

You tell Yuune of the discoveries, making a quick sketch of the strange machines you saw.

He recommends the following: "Signs of draconic influence. Do not combat directly. Wear down with intense defenses, bait attack spells. Train in firearms?"

The thirty breathing cycles means that number x six in seconds, by the way.

>>14616413
So that means that each breathing cycle is essentially a round.
Because it comes out to 30 x 6 seconds ÷ 6 seconds to a round = 30 rounds. With the Lesser Globe being up for 1 round per caster level, that means that he cast that spell with an effective caster level of 30.

"Eating Ioun ore? Sounds dangerous. Unknown how strong his body is, crystals could shred digestive track after being consumed."

"But what if it's a new way of using them?" You ask him, unfazed by the chance of death.

"Still unsure as to how he does this. Ioun ore should need to be 'trained' before being used. Assuming this is raw ore, how can it do this? A lot of unknown factors here, brother. I am unwilling to risk your life on it."

>>14616467
"Your suggestions are probably right. Until we can get a sample of this stew that he is consuming, we shouldn't risk any of our mages on it. Just keep it in mind as a possible future project, for now.
"As for defense, do we have a Wand of Dispel Magic? We could potentially keep his tattoos from coming into play by attempting to dispel them and causing them to power down.
"As for gun training, probably a good idea. Which reminds me, has your mage team been able to increase the size of the magazines on our lineguns to the 30 that I wanted? Any progress on the powder guns so far?"

>>14616510

"Your suggestions are probably right. Until we can get a sample of this stew that he is consuming, we shouldn't risk any of our mages on it. Just keep it in mind as a possible future project, for now." You say.

"Agreed. Could test on animals, to extrapolate effects."

"As for defense, do we have a Wand of Dispel Magic? We could potentially keep his tattoos from coming into play by attempting to dispel them and causing them to power down."

Yuune shakes his head, scribbling down a quick note. "You remember? Gen'si tattooes will only shut down while the dispel magic persists, which is for less than a second. Need a longer duration effect to shut down for a considerable amount of time."

You nod in agreement as you read the note. "True. As for gun training, probably a good idea. Which reminds me, has your mage team been able to increase the size of the magazines on our lineguns to the 30 that I wanted? Any progress on the powder guns so far?"

"Lineguns up to a five clip. Thirty rounds would be doable for a mounted weapon. Makes regular lineguns unwieldy at present." He puts his pen to his chin for a moment in thought. "Powder guns are here, just unpacked. Still deducing their fuel's composition."

He adds another note. "Handguns using a small clip below the top. Also, progress on a larger gun. Handheld, single shot, can project either a wide blast of small projectiles or a single one of larger size than the lineguns."

>>14616575
"For the tattoos, perhaps an Anti-Magic Field? It would put me at something of a disadvantage, without my right arm or any of my spells, but it would also negate Tayn's tattoos and any spellcasting abilities he might have, correct?
"Lineguns wouldn't work...but perhaps the powder guns would? If we could get performance equivalent to lineguns out of the powder weapons, and allow them to have a magazine capacity exceeding 5 bullets, it might work."

>>14616610

"For the tattoos, perhaps an Anti-Magic Field? It would put me at something of a disadvantage, without my right arm or any of my spells, but it would also negate Tayn's tattoos and any spellcasting abilities he might have, correct?" You say.

Yuune looks startled, but then writes: "Yes. You said he could just hit you with his fists, right? This reeks of a bad idea to me."

"Lineguns wouldn't work...but perhaps the powder guns would? If we could get performance equivalent to lineguns out of the powder weapons, and allow them to have a magazine capacity exceeding 5 bullets, it might work." You suggest.

"Didn't say it wouldn't work. Just too heavy at present due to ice being used as fuel. New fuel source would solve problem. Lineguns would still work antimagic field."

>>14616686
"What we need is something LIKE an Anti-Magic Field, close enough to fool the tattoos into deactivating, but not quite, to allow me to still use my spells.
"Maybe some kind of glamour field to counteract the divination tattoo?"

>>14616705

You pace a bit around his office. "What we need is something LIKE an Anti-Magic Field, close enough to fool the tattoos into deactivating, but not quite, to allow me to still use my spells.

"Maybe some kind of glamour field to counteract the divination tattoo?" You suggest.

Yuune ponders this for a moment before responding. "I would need a sample to see how it works. Improperly made, the spell would be ineffective. Simulating a spell? Never done it before. Don't see why it wouldn't be possible. Dispel magic being made continuous though, that would be quite different."

>>14616745
>Dispel magic being made continuous though, that would be quite different
"Could it be done? Would it need to be channeled?"

>>14616824

"Could it be done? Would it need to be channeled?" You ask, excited by the prospect.

"Doubtful. Extremely high amount of energy in one burst. Could 'strobe' the effect. Would doubtless be a short duration as well, perhaps only one breathing cycle."

"That might be enough in the right circumstance." You say.

>>14616883
"Then I think we should work on both spells. Go for the extended duration Dispel Magic spell first; from how you described it, it sounds like it would be easier to do rather than the fake Anti-Magic Field."

>>14616909

"Then I think we should work on both spells. Go for the extended duration Dispel Magic spell first; from how you described it, it sounds like it would be easier to do rather than the fake Anti-Magic Field." You say.

"Will work on specifications with more powerful spellcasters we have." Yuune slides you the note, pulling a huge gun out from underneath his desk with a small rod in place of the barrel.

"Yuune, there's no need for that. He's not here right now."

"Can't be sure." Yuune says aloud, his voice soft and quiet.

You pause at this. Yuune really only speaks when he's serious about something.

"He was studying. I think he's not planning on attacking anytime soon." You respond. "I'm sorry, I should have mentioned that."

Yuune looks unconvinced. "Be careful."

>>14616957
Does Yuune have anyone working on a spell or something that could be used to ward or otherwise protect us from any scrying or nightmare attacks from Tayne?

Otherwise, I believe it's time that we spoke with Mohuk to make sure that our food production will be sufficient with the extra food going towards the trogs.

By the way, what's their name? The tribe of trogs that we have an alliance with?

and dinner break for like 1 hour.

>>14617013
Underground farming will only get us so far. We need to secure surface space as well as territory underground. With the ability to use both, we can double our production capacity.
We may need to import specialists and engineers from some of the other surface races, however. Knowledge of surface agriculture and farming techniques, engineering and architecture to stand up to storms and temperature changes, fighting tactics and techniques in a battlefield that goes from brightly lit to completely dark.
All of these situations that we of the CCCP are not yet used to, must be conquered. The impending crises from the Trog Horde and our evil double does not give us the luxury of time to do things just by ourselves.

However, I admit that such a course of action would present a grave security threat. Our surface farms are currently hidden; if we were to bring in specialists there, the sensitive information regarding our surface holdings might be leaked to the other surface races.
Perhaps we could set up an experimental farming community near the Halflings of Fording Rest; we already have a trade presence there, and so we could acquire the knowledge we need without compromising our hidden farms.

>>14617180
We need to build up trade, too. By sending traders out amongst the surfacers and other subterranean races, we can learn how they perceive us, and better be able to hide our true strength from them.

>>14617014
VKO, you coming back?

>>14617875

That was a much fancier dinner than I thought. Sorry about that guys.

>>14618478
No problem.

Anyway, how's about that crop production report?

>>14618502

Gimme a sec. Assume your current stores are adequate though.

>>14618530
Current stores are fine, but we should still speak with Unuk and Mohuk about further utilizing our above-ground assets, and possibly hiring specialists to teach some of Mohuk's above-ground staff about the surface farming techniques.

More extensive utilization of our surface holdings would require a Senate hearing, I imagine.

>>14617013

Yuune does not have anything to protect you. Your best bet would be someone with dispel evil at the ready, but you have no powerful clerics.

The troglodyte tribe you negotiated with earlier is known as the Lhisnim V'raret ans Feremliss, or Death's Door Watchmen in their tongue.

>>Econarye. Frequency

Is... that a suggestion, capcha?

>>14618567
Given that we have few clerics at all, let alone powerful ones, I think we should prioritize the acquisition of divine magic items from the surface. Items such as Wands of Cure Light/Medium Wounds, and items to protect against Evil and perhaps scrying, to ward against threats like our double and the Feudalist Drow.

Mohuk is the man to see in this case. You know Unuk would eventually get to whatever you wanted to happen.

The kobold meets you at the docks once again, members of his hauling division unloading great bags and baskets of food.

He smiles at you. "Mynthar, good to see you. Anything to ask about?"

"How about planning for some more farms?" You ask him.

He shrugs. "Got plenty around here. Most of our land's been farmed that can be."

"What about raising some more exotic plants?" You say more than ask, pulling an apple from your robe.

"You mean..." He says in surprise, a look of confusion on his face.

>>14618567
Should we call the trogs the LVF, or the Watchmen?

Hey, VKO, would a Protection from Evil protect us from Tayn's nightmares?
Like, maybe if we either made it permanent, or built into an item, or created a circle with it?

>>14618647
"It'll have to be reviewed by the Senate, of course, but just because we control the area beneath the ground, doesn't mean we shouldn't think about...moving up, as it were."

>>14618649

Whatever you want to call them is fine.

Protection from evil protects against mental control. Nightmare isn't as much mental control as it is a mental attack. You would get a small boost to saving against it, but up against that -8...

>>14618661

"It'll have to be reviewed by the Senate, of course, but just because we control the area beneath the ground, doesn't mean we shouldn't think about...moving up, as it were." You take a bite out of the apple, and offer some to Mohuk.

He takes it, contemplatively. "Y'know, just because I'm from a farming family, most people think we'd rather just sit around and farm all day.

"Honestly, some days I've wished something would go wrong despite all my checking and rotations, but seldom is it anything." He looks over at you, an intense look on his face as he bites into the apple. He chews it for a while, before swallowing. "Well, it's not bad. I could live my life growing 'em instead of what we have right now. And in a place I've never been before."

He pats you on the shoulder. "Sure thing. I'd be a coward to turn something like this down."

>>14618726
"Excellent. I'll bring it up in the next Senate meeting, and have Unuk make the necessary preparations.
"At first, we'll try a small farm near the halfings, where we can learn the surfacer's agricultural practices, and refine them. Then we'll bring those improved techniques back to our main farms in secret."

>>14618726
Okay, if it's an attack, then here's my suggestion.
We have Unuk keep an eye out for a circlet of Mind Blank, or similar magic item.
Until then, we switch up our sleep schedule; looking at Tayn's training, I don't think he'll have much opportunity to cast the spell during the day.
So we sleep during the day, work during the night, and every few days we stay up consecutive days to keep from letting him attack us in our sleep.

Can we do this? Can it work?

>>14618755

"Excellent. I'll bring it up in the next Senate meeting, and have Unuk make the necessary preparations." You say, placing you arm on his shoulder as well.

"Alright. I can hardly wait!" He says, grinning.

"At first, we'll try a small farm near the halfings, where we can learn the surfacer's agricultural practices, and refine them. Then we'll bring those improved techniques back to our main farms in secret."

"Hmm, that would be best, yeah. Do I wear a disguise, or something while I'm up there?" He jokes.

"Naw, you don't want them to think we're too weird." You say, and Monuk laughs.

>>14618779

That could work. He could also go into a trance until you sleep, though. It would waste a lot of time on his end, potentially.

>>14618837
Time wasted on his end will make his masters unhappy. They will tell him to stop with the foolishness, and he will begin to hate them, as well. He will become an easier threat to deal with, if we can cut him away from his backers.

>>14618837
Alright, sounds like we've got a plan.
Let's fast forward time until we need to speak with Chief Klisszag again; I don't expect it to be a long conversation. And we can have Unuk be on the lookout for that mind blank circlet.

>>14618884

You head back down into the depths after a couple of days, with answers to the chief's queries.

He hisses as you enter, a strange greeting the trogs use with outsiders, instead of their musk. "Orange metal, what do your people say? Can these things be done?"

>>14618926
"Yes, Chief Klisszag. The food shipments will start in a day or so. As for the soldiers and weapons, we are currently getting a weapon shipment ready. It should be ready within a week or so. Will your tribe now stand with ours against all of our enemies?"

I don't know if we should tell them about the additional security that we're going to be putting on the lineguns we're shipping to the trogs. Probably safer if we don't say that it's meant for them specifically. If it works out, we might consider building such security measures into all of our weapons.

>>14618973

"Yes, Chief Klisszag. The food shipments will start in a day or so. As for the soldiers and weapons, we are currently getting a weapon shipment ready. It should be ready within a week or so. Will your tribe now stand with ours against all of our enemies?" You stand waiting for a while, as the chief's tail flicks to one side after a moment of silence, and he stands.

"Indeed, Mynthar. The Watchmen at Death's Door will guide our foes to the afterlife alongside your soldiers." He extends his right hand, and you shake it, solidifying the deal.

>>14618991
Okay, I think the next timepoint is convincing the Senate that we should slowly expand our surface assets.
We can just get a blurb about how well the fail-safes on the lineguns work and how the Senate feels about them.

>>14619007

The fail-safes your people develop do not affect the barrel of the weapons. Instead, they target the propulsion, the ioun ore chamber that generates and refocuses the electrical energy used to make the bullet fly. Without it, the weapons are useless.

The group of six knows that your decision may prove difficult for your new allies to swallow, but they feel somewhat more secure about their investment.

>>14619134
Well, warning the trogs about the fail-safes would be a part of the regular training with them, I assume.
I don't think that anything needs to be said beyond "Here. This is the security fail-safe. Don't ever tamper with it, because it will cause the gun to explode. If your gun needs fixing, we send it back to the gun shops for repairs."

>>14619134
>may prove difficult to swallow
Hey, they're getting free guns and ammo. If they hadn't joined up with us, they'd only be on the receiving end of these guns anyway. I don't see what they're complaining about.

>>14619186

The decision to include the backups in their guns, I mean. If they ever find out they're different from yours.

You decide to attend one of the training classes for linegun use in the mean time. Any one you'd like to specialize in?

>>14619134
Okay, now, let's get to the next Senate meeting to discuss above-ground expansion.

Oh, VKO, setting question: do our kobolds have a racial and cultural affinity for traps like most other kobold races?

>>14619225
>Differences between ours and theirs
Well, the explosive runes thing sounds like something we should slowly introduce into all of our guns anyway; we're trying to make absolutely sure that our advanced technology doesn't fall into enemy hands, right?
So I say to introduce a plan to slowly introduce the fail-safe into all of our guns, with newly built guns getting them first, and older ones being retrofitted when time and money allows.

As for training, let's go with pistols and handguns. I have a feeling that Tayn will not be so accommodating as to let us fire at him with an SMG or rifle.

>>14619225
Sniping. Failing that, Close-quarters shooting.

>>14619229

Oh yes. Your own personal traps were like a work of art. Your underlings hated you after your injury, because you could no longer dig the pits or mine as well yourself, and would instead shout at them about improper digging techniques most of the time.

You must've been a pain to live with. Ah well, they should've known better. An 11' by 10' hole just doesn't have the same ring to it.

>>14619267

Your group decided on writing the message on the inside, so your scouts who speak drow will not accidentally set them off. The inside of the barrel where the break action allows the gun to be reloaded, that is.

>>14619337
>so your scouts who speak drow will not accidentally set them off
Actually, it also has the potential of being a weapon of last resort, for a scout to prevent his capture, to break open the breech of his gun and read the runes.
But yes, any soldiers that go with the trogs should have the fail-safed guns. Eventually, when all guns have that, it shouldn't be an issue.

>>14619374

Alright.

You use a couple of the stock guns in the mean time, as well as a prototype revolver that Rut invented and traded to your people for some of your plans. It has six shots, as opposed to the normal five shot clip. The linegun you get has a longer barrel and a scope, to enhance the range of its effectiveness.

You disguise yourself as a regular recruit, with tattooes you had yourself back when you were enlisted, making yourself look a bit more ruggedly handsome. You stand astride a number of other males, unfortunately, as your instructor comes around, a brownish green cap matching the rest of his outfit sits on his head, and he has a small green mount just on the outside of his left eye. He paces up and down the line, the cold stone of the barracks outdoor training area you notice has a few recruits squirming.

"Alright, you lot! This is rudimentary linegun training. I don't want any of you wasting my time. If you think you can shoot, step up and I'll evaluate you."

A few kobolds step forward. Do you join them?

>>14619455
Sure. We used to be in the Scouts; I doubt we've forgetten everything there is to firing a linegun.

>>14619455
Actually, why are we disguising ourselves, anyway? Is there a law against civilians training with lineguns?

>>14619473

They didn't have lineguns when you were a scout. Still, you've fired a handgun a few times. You step forward.

"Alright, alright. We've got some daredevils here. Name, age, and experience please." The instructor says, glaring down the line.

One at the far end of the line salutes. "Nuneril, 15. My father taught me to shoot."

"Your father was...?" The sergeant asks, waiting for Nuneril to complete the sentence.

"A soldier as well. Still serving on the home front." The young kobold answers.

"Very well, you may-" The sergeant says, but the kobold already has his gun up to his shoulder, and fires at a target on the wall, the bullet impacting with a loud CRACK and bouncing back, spinning away from the wall. There is a clear mark mostly on the bull's eye.

"-Fire at that target." The sergeant finishes after a moment. He shakes a finger at Nuneril. "I will consider advancing you, but you must learn discipline while you are here."

"With all due respect, sir, the drow aren't going to wait for our commander to say 'fire' to attack us." Nuneril says.

"Yes, but your comrade's life could well be in danger if you fire too early." The sergeant squints as he looks the boy over. "With that kind of independence, you'll never make it here."

"With that kind of independence, maybe he should become a scout." You say down the line, and some of the kobolds snicker at you. A few female kobolds watching from off to the side made you say it, you confess. This disguise makes you feel 20 years younger.

"Oh really? And just who is our resident expert on the scouts, then?" The sergeant says, his attention on you as he stalks over.

>>14619503

Because, clearly, undue attention might be focused on you if the soldiers knew who you were, subtracting it from those who really need it.

That, and because you will look sexier to girls. It is getting to be towards that time of the year.

>>14619556
"Name's Lu'uke."

If our father was a scout or in the military, include that, too. We need to get away with all of this snark *somehow*.

>>14619627

"Name's Lu'uke." You answer. "Age 19. I learned on my own."

"Oh, self taught, eh?" The sergeant says, his features getting an uncomfortable confidence in them that you don't like.

"Yessir. My father was a mage, as well as my mother." You say. "They didn't know how so I taught myself."

"Ohoh. They were scouts, or reinforcements?" He asks.

"Mother was a scout, father never entered the army." You say. The sergeant laughs.

"Oh, so you're a bit of a mama's boy then?" He says, causing some of the other kobolds to laugh a bit.

"If you're not going to evaluate my skill sir, I can just go home to be insulted." You say, grinning at the girls who are watching you.

"Fine, go right on ahead then." He gestures at the targets. "Any one, on my mark."

You take your rifle off your shoulder and bring it up to aim at the target, looking down the scope.

"Fire!" He shouts.

Your bullet sails, clipping the outside of the bull's eye, but a more than adequate shot.

Th instructor looks it over. "Well, for someone self-taught, that's not bad. Might need a bit of shutting up if you want to be a scout so badly, though." He continues on down the line.

After the evaluations are over, you are put on a short break. You and several of the others who stepped forward are to be put directly into professional training.

What would you like to do on break?

>>14619725
What to do...Who's here with us? Just the others who are going to be in professional training with us?
Any females to distract our attention?

>>14619763

The training groups weren't segregated by sex. Just not a lot of females in the army.

Your classmates are in the large, open stone auditorium, as well as some of the girls you saw earlier.

>>14619822
I'm for just talking with our classmates. I know we could go and get some tail, but with our sleep schedule as it is, and being under the constant threat of nightmares attacking us in our sleep, I think it more prudent to concentrate on gunnery practice.

>>14619878

You leave the females to stare at your swanky tail because you leave a trail of broken hearts in your wake. That's just how you do things, leaving an eternal mark on their minds that they will have even after they've settled down with some poor shmuck with a cooked smile who works in the mines. They'll think back and wonder what their life could've been like, if only Lu-uke had come and freed them from their dull normal life and led them off on romantic high adventure.

Instead, you hang out with the guys. Bros before hos, after all.

"So, I heard we get a retirement plan if we get injured." One of the kobolds says to the other.

"Yeah? Well what's in it?" The other asks, seeming a bit shaky aside from his gun hand.

"Well, you know. A few years vacation, about a hundred gold, maybe more if it's particularly bad." The first kobold says. "And, that's not including time in the hospital around those pretty nurses."

"Still, wouldn't getting shot hurt?" The second kobold asks.

"Depends on where, I guess. I've been told it's not that bad."

>>14620020
Is our prosthetic obvious? If so:
"Nah, getting shot fucking hurts like hell if its anything like a pneumatic hammer accident. Pretty nurses are nice, but I'd prefer to do my tail-chasing when I'm not high on painkillers, know what I mean?"

Otherwise:
"Yeah? A vacation sounds nice, but I'd rather not take chances on something *important* getting shot off, y'know?"
Indicate reproductive organs as something we would prefer to not have shot off.

>>14620071

You prosthetic could be obvious, if you want to change the disguise real quick. Right now, you look like a normal guy, but you did have the foresight to "wear" a glove on your right hand, in case you needed to reveal that your arm was prosthetic while getting intimate.

>>14620172
Nah, if that's the case, then let's go with the second option.

>>14620198

"Yeah? A vacation sounds nice, but I'd rather not take chances on something *important* getting shot off, y'know?" You interrupt, pointing down from the center of your chest.

The second kobold goes a bit pale and half-crosses his legs. "He's got a point. I'd rather not play roulette with my body and lose those."

The first kobold looks over at you, shaking his head. "C'mon, what's the likelihood of that even happening?"

>>14620240
"You know what they say, the surest kill shot is the head"

>>14620240
Mynthar shrugs.
"Not too great, I'll admit. But, just personal preference; not something I'd like to bet on. Sure it's unlikely to happen, but there's no prosthetics for those, y'know."

>>14620278

You can't quite stifle your grin. "You know what they say, the surest kill shot is the head."

The first kobold groans. "Oh man, should've seen that coming."

The second one still seems shaken by the thought of getting shot in a very sensitive area. "Man, I'll just kill myself if I lose my stuff." He mutters.

"Name's Lamert. You're Lu'uke, right?" The first kobold says.

"Yep. What're you talking about a retirement plan for?" You ask him.

"Well, y'know, just briefing the new guy, Runkel." He says, a bit unconvincingly. "Figured it'd be a comforting thought."

"They don't have a replacement for... that... do they..." Runkel mutters.

>>14620334
"'Fraid not, Runkel. But hey, like Lamert said, it's unlikely to happen. Just stick to cover and you should be fine."

"Ah, don't sweat it, I was just poking fun at ya. Just make sure to get proper coverage and you should be fine. But, ideally, with the kind of weapons we have, we'll be able to shoot first."

>>14620357

"'Fraid not, Runkel. But hey, like Lamert said, it's unlikely to happen. Just stick to cover and you should be fine." You say, trying to sound positive.

"Uh huh, unlikely, still it could happen." Runkel mutters.

"Oh, C'mon! There's so much other body to hit, unless you're going to be sticking it down their crossbow sights I doubt there'll be a significant chance." Lamert says, exasperated.

"I was just poking fun at ya man, don't sweat it." You put your hand on Runkel's shoulder. "Just make sure to get proper coverage and you should be fine. Ideally, with the kind of weapons we have, we'll be able to shoot first."

"You don't get it." Runkel says, shrugging your hand off. "My whole family's unlucky, always has been. My father died in the first cave-in the mines had gotten in a year. He was the only one who died. My older brother choked on a cave fish bone in a piece of bread!" He puts his hands up to the sides of his head. "I just want to get out of this in one piece, and if not that way, then mostly in one piece and alive!"

>>14620468
"Oh, shit man. I had no idea, sorry."

>>14620468
"Shit man, you ever think about getting a luck stone made for ya by the mages? I heard they can infuse a stone with the right kind of magic to give you real, verifiable good luck."

>>14620499

"Oh, shit man. I had no idea, sorry." You say, honestly surprised.

"Fucking curse. Clerics we saw can't cure it, but it only happens once. My brother managed to live through his." He says, running his hand back along his head.

"Well, that's not so bad." Lamert says.

"It cut his vocal chords on the way down into one of his lungs, infected it. The doctors managed to remove the lung and save him, but now his voice is really hoarse." Runkel adds.

"Oh." Lamert says, hanging his head a bit.

"Oh man. I fucking hope my man parts don't get shot off. The one fucking thing I couldn't stand would be that." Runkel rambles a bit, before stopping suddenly. "You don't think... The curse can't hear me, right?"

>>14620524

"Shit man, you ever think about getting a luck stone made for ya by the mages? I heard they can infuse a stone with the right kind of magic to give you real, verifiable good luck." You suggest.

Runkel shakes his head. "Man, something from the mages? That'd cost a ton. It'd never get approved." He shakes his head. "It's a lot cheaper to just let me die, then clean it up afterwards, right?"

>>14620609
"I dunno, you might get lucky. They're a little standoffish, but occasionally take a liking to someone random for reasons that make sense to no-one. How do you think my parents met?"

>>14620609
"Hey, who knows? Maybe by some fluke it'll get approved. And hey, you can always say that it would an investment in a magic item. It's not like it's a one-shot deal, after all."

Man, I'm willing to get this guy's request approved, just out of amusement. Though it might set a bad precedent, about abuse of power and all.

>>14620641

"I dunno, you might get lucky. They're a little standoffish, but occasionally take a liking to someone random for reasons that make sense to no-one. How do you think my parents met?" You realize your poor choice of words as they leave your mouth.

"Yeah, me get lucky, sure." He groans, looking off down at the ground. "Maybe they'll just shoot me to save me some time."

>>14620665
"Hey, the curse only works once, right? So if your request gets denied, maybe it'll count."

>>14620663

"Hey, who knows? Maybe by some fluke it'll get approved. And hey, you can always say that it would an investment in a magic item. It's not like it's a one-shot deal, after all." You add.

"I guess. I'm not going to get my hopes up, though." Runkel answers.

>>14620674

"Hey, the curse only works once, right? So if your request gets denied, maybe it'll count." You say, elbowing him.

"I doubt it, but thanks for trying to cheer me up." He sighs. "Maybe I should carry around some painkillers so I can take 'em when I get hit. Assuming the painkillers don't get hit first, that is."

You notice your fellow classmates moving onward to the professional class, and head along with them. The range you enter on is much larger, and has numerous small battlements and stairs running throughout.

The lot of your group is spread out, but they stand awkwardly at attention as they wait for the instructor to get to the class.

>>14620716
Wait, take a look around. Get an idea of good places for cover.

>>14620716
I think we're just waiting for the instructor to arrive.

>>14620725

You look around, checking for good cover spots. You hear a murmur run through the crowd as the instructor and his assistants walk into the training area. The instructor is a light orangy-red tone, almost like the flesh of the Nimenish humans who visited here. He wears a bright green layered uniform, a baggy thing with an overcoat down to the mid thigh, four round-ended black conkles down the front, and pants that end just above the ankle with a bright white stripe down them. He has the decorations of a lieutenant in the main army, and you note that his right foot is a prosthetic that is a deep green color, the ankle of the same leg still being intact. The very tip of his tail seems to be missing a bit as well.

"You are not just any bunch of soldiers." He says, pacing in front of them, some you can see are paying more attention to his foot than to what he's saying. "You are members of the most elite fighting force in the underworld, sworn to protect the people of our fine city from the barbaric and cruel creatures that lie beyond its borders." He says, pulling out his pistol from the interior of his jacket, a pistol you notice has a clip. "The first thing you must learn is never to point your weapon at anyone unless you want to shoot them. The second thing you must learn is when to shoot."

He spins the gun around by its trigger guard on one finger. "And the third and final thing you will learn is to always hit what you are aiming at."

One of the man's assistants throws three small clay disks into the air. The lieutenant turns and fires on each of them, shattering them in mid-air. He turns back to the group with a steaming gun and smiles amidst the hail of clay. "I am Lieutenant Soth, and I will be you instructor. And if you want more of a show than that, I suggest you hit the theater for a stage show."

>>14620906
Alright, let's get cracking. We've got weapons training to go through, and we don't know how much time we have to do it in.

Soth's instructions are quick and concise. A number of large cooling units where the bullets are kept are wheeled out, one for every four people, and it is filled with row upon row of frozen ammunition. You learn first how to shoot with your handgun, which he refers to as a "side arm". Most of the recruits still have single shot weapons, so they look on yours with envy. You still reload a bullet each time they do, just to get the practice. Being ambidextrous to a degree, you try shooting with your left hand and find it to have a bit heavier kick when used in this way.

By the end of the first day, you are exhausted. You now know exactly what every part of your weapon does, and all the things that can go wrong. You saw Runkel take careful note of those. You cool off in a private bath back at your place. Will you sleep tonight, or stay awake?

>>14620941
We're tired, and since we're in the middle of training with guns, probably not a good time to be undergoing sleep deprivation.

Let's detach our right arm first, so we don't accidentally choke ourselves.
Then get some sleep. Snark off to Tayn, but don't let on that we scryed on him, or that we're going to be randomizing our sleep schedule in the future.

>>14620976

You reluctantly remove your right arm. If it's the choice of having to pull the sheets back over yourself after a few botched attempts or nearly being choked to death in a rather unusual way, you think you can stand being cold a bit longer.

You wake up, and are surprised to learn that you've been drafted into the scouts early, along with Rankel and Lamert. You are in the deep caves, investigating some stories of a dwarven incursion. You are point in your group, and have ceased with your pointless disguise, though the others still call you Lu'uke on accident every now and then.

You hear grumbling voices in dwarven from far off down the twisting black caverns. How will you proceed?

>>14621040
Well, for one, this isn't a dream again, is it?

Anyway, I understand that we are currently in a state of undeclared war with the dwarven nations. Is that right? And they are currently within our well-marked territory?

Move stealthily closer to investigate. Possibly set up an ambush.
And while getting back into the swing of being a Scout is nice and all, we'll probably want to go back to doing our REAL job after this patrol or two.

>>14621081

The dwarves are currently in a no-man's land. You advance into the corridor, spotting evidence of the dwarves' passing in a few careless scuffs made by metal boots on the stone. You and your group stop, debating what to do quietly as you and Lamert get into position.

"I can't take it anymore man!" Rinkel says, throwing his hat to the ground. "I'd better get it fucking over with! I can't keep living like this!"

Before you can stop him, he charges into the hallway, his linegun raised. You hear a whizzing sound of rope running past something as his ankle is caught on a tripwire, and a huge spinning blade rises up in front of Rinkel as he falls, his blood spraying the corridor as it saws him cleanly in half, and he screams all the while.

Lamert looks on in horror, a twang sounding as a crossbow bolt buries itself in his leg from behind. You make the corridor behind you into a blazing inferno, and dwarven screams ring out as you do so.

"Fuck man, they fucking is it, hah, haha." You hear Rinkel say, coughing heavily. The scent of blood hangs in the air, the circular saw is rusted to the spot.

(Back in 20, I mean 20 this time.)

>>14621178
Well, fuck. We didn't even get a chance to get Rinkel that luck stone, either.

Have Lamert take cover, and keep an eye on the hallway behind us.
As for Mynthar, advance forward and find the rest of the dwarves. Check Rinkel just to be sure.

>>14621220

You help Lamert into cover, and he begins dressing his wound.

You can see the lower half of Rinkel in front of the now heavily rusted circular saw. The legs and tail twitch slightly as you approach. His upper body is lying face down, a good half a foot away from the saw. He appears to be dragging himself along, a few inches at a time. He looks up at you, the color drained from his green scaled face as he grins.

"Fuck, you were right man. That didn't hurt half as much as getting shot. And they didn't get rid of my man-parts, hehehehe." He chuckles, blood gushing out from his throat.

"Well, what are we waiting for, man? Leave my nads here, and let's get those bastards."

You proceed down the corridor, dragging the half of your comrade with you. He continues to laugh intermittently, and his body leaks a surprisingly small amount of blood. The traps ahead of you lance out, scythes and sprays of spikes just whizzing past you. You hear Lamert scream from down the corridor "My leg! It's got my leg!", and a burst of gunfire, then nothing. Fearful of looking back, you seal up the passage with a wall of stone behind you after a short spell.

"Aw no, my body's in there, man. We have to go back." Rinkel says, sounding somewhat irritated.

You continue on, till you see the dwarves, arguing. "No, I like drow better!"

"I like kobolds better!"

"Drow are the best!"

"No, kobolds are!"

"Look!" The first one says, raising up his foot, where a black suede shoe rests. "Drow suede shoes. Comfiest thing you'll ever wear."

"Oh yeah? Well I bet they can't be hung form the ceiling and hit with a bat as good as a kobold can!" The second one says.

"The drow are elegant, noble, and smell nice." The first says.

"Well kobolds are crafty, and they have the tastier meat, especially after you tenderize it." The dwarf bites into a chunk of jerky.

You and the half-Rinkel take careful aim as they continue to argue, popping each dwarf's head like a rotten mushroom.

"Hah See who eats who now!" Rinkel giggles, dragging his body over towards theirs.

You hear a ferocious roar form down the corridor behind you, shaking the stonework.

"Alright! Time for so real action, eh?" Rinkel says, reloading his linegun with a twisted look on his face.

>>14621558
I swear, if this is another dream sequence...

Anyway, let's get this over with. Train guns back down the corridor, and wait for whatever's back there to come after us.

>>14621571

You are silent for a moment, the roaring continuing as you level your weapon at the dark passageway. A yowling cry comes as a great black panther stalks out of the depths, its shoulders spanning at least eight feet, and its eyes twin white mirrors, reflecting the little light in the area. It carries the body of Lamert in its mouth, singed as though ti was stuck in a great fire.

The half-kobold forgotten, it begins stalking towards you, its featureless eyes locked into yours.

RInkel screams as he fires on it, the bullets embedding themselves deep in the creature to no avail.

Your own attacks are equally useless, and it soon pounces at you. You try to use a spell, but just as you begin the final motion, you are pressed into the ground by thousands of pounds of weight, and you feel your shoulders begin to crack.

"Well, well, trying to sleep again, are we?" Tayn's voice resonates through your mind. "Can't have that." The panther's claws dig into your shoulders, and you feel your body quake in pain.

Will reconvene at around 15:00 tomorrow.

Damn dreams.

Why the hell didn't anyone suggest having someone watch over us while we sleep? Preferably our brother.

Dammit, getting to threads too late :(

>>14622112
Our brother can't cast spells, and these nightmares are mental attacks.
Nothing to say that when the spell hit, we could be woken up until the end of the spell except via a Dispel Evil.

Bump

"I was wondering hen you'd show up." You growl, the incredible weight of the creature starting to get to you.

"I was having some fun." The huge cat gestures with its head back to the fallen kobold. "Warm up, you might say."

He hasn't started killing you yet. What else do you say to him?

The great cat lets out a hiss as a linegun discharges, and not yours.

"Not to worry, boss, I got this overgrown-" Rinkel says, fumbling for an extra piece of ammo from his prone position before the cat swats him away like a toy, and turns back to you, its paw still on your shoulder.

Unfortunately, the rest of you is no longer attached to your right shoulder, and your scramble behind a nearby outcropping went unnoticed.

"Oh, how unsightly to leave bits of yourself lying around." Tayn says, swatting your arm as he does so, and you hear it clatter against the wall. "Come now. You've already lost. This nightmare will end in the same way as all the others."

You have caught your breath. Your arm seems weak, but you don't need it in perfect condition to cast a spell or fire a weapon.

What will you do?

You hear Rinkel fire off another shot, and the panther looks annoyed at this turn of events.

"Damnable insect. Why do you continue struggling with your wings removed?" He says, the panther opening its mouth ro reveal a huge cannon. It begins blasting over at Rinkel, shards of stone flying everywhere, and the powdered rock drifting upwards to create cover.

Tayn waits for a while, the cannon retracting into the cat's mouth. There is no more return fire. "Now then, Mynthar, it's time I got acquainted with your internal organs. Personally."

>>14625685
Fuck this shit. Shoot ourselves in the head if we can. Point-blank fireball if we can't.
I'm not giving this fucker the satisfaction.

>>14625809

You don't want to kill yourself, even knowing it's a dream. You could've keeled over dozens of times, just let them beat you. No. You're not giving up without a fight.

Besides, if you ever get in the talky mood with him again, you have some choice words you're still picking out.

>>14625825
Oh fine. You want to drag this out? Ricocheting Lightning. Right in his fucking face. Let's see how he likes that.

>>14625825
"Alright you half-baked sorry excuse for a kobold; you wanna play rough? Alright, let's play rough!"
Cast Lightning right in Tayn's eyes.

>>14625851

You take a look around the cavern. noting the angles of the walls. Of course, getting him to stand still is going to be-

You sigh, putting your gun away. It will be easy. Naturally.

You step out from your cover, a trail of blood leading down your shoulder. Tayn immediately notices, and begins stalking towards you. "So, decided to stop hiding? Then let us end this game of cat and mouse."

"I was always more of a dog person, myself." You say, a flash of white lightning springing from your fingertips.

Tayn agilely springs out of the way, but while he is still in mid-air, the bolt reflects itself off of the stone wall at an angle, catching him in the legs. He lets out a yowl of pain, the bolt impacting to your front right on the floor, a single spidery web of electricity nearly scoring into your foot as it bounces back up to the opposite wall, and down again into Tayn's face, the feline form spasming as it takes the full brunt of the spell.

"Unfortunately, you don't know everything about me." You say, walking over to where he smashed your arm, keeping your eyes on him all the while. "I don't do well in the role of prey, for example. The fear of death never did anything for me."

Tayn hisses, or perhaps his body does, as he tries to move it.

"Of course, you're not actually dead, and my arm isn't actually broken, so I think we should make the most out of this foolish contest and maybe," You pause, picking your battered and partially shredded arm up off the ground, "Find out a bit abut each other, perhaps?" You finish reattaching your arm, finding it no longer moves as it should. You sit down cross-legged opposite the beast.

>>14626013
Cast Bull's Strength and Mage Armor, just in case he feels like fighting some more.
"Now, you were a part of me. You were removed from me, then you were created via grafting and a Ring of Regeneration.
"That explains your existence, but it doesn't explain your hatred of me. Is it because I escaped, while you came into existence in servitude? I can only assume you have a master that you must serve; most sane evil overlords will not expend the resources to create an evil double to kill someone. Of course, that doesn't rule out the possibility of an insane lich or demi-lich, of course, who wants to see some drama to spice up their un-life.
"So, it comes down to the two fundamental philosophical questions: Who ARE you? And what do you want?"

>>14626069

You buff yourself up, though one really strong arm isn't going to do much against this beastie.

You turn into a blue dragon with odd colorations around the eyes, and some orange scales around one of your forelimbs.

"Now, you were a part of me. You were removed from me, then you were created via grafting and a Ring of Regeneration." You say to him. His silence lets you know you are correct in your assumption.

"That explains your existence, but it doesn't explain your hatred of me. Is it because I escaped, while you came into existence in servitude? I can only assume you have a master that you must serve; most sane evil overlords will not expend the resources to create an evil double to kill someone. Of course, that doesn't rule out the possibility of an insane lich or demi-lich who wants to see some drama to spice up their un-life." You ramble a bit, pacing in your four-legged form around the cavern.

"So, it comes down to the two fundamental philosophical questions: Who ARE you? And what do you want?"

The large panther is obviously in some degree of pain as it answers, haltingly. "I am Tayn. I exist because of you. I will be the end of you." The panther's claws spring out for a moment, but the body is clearly too spent to use them in standing. "And I hate you because of all the agony I have been kept in my whole life. If you hadn't existed, I would never have had to take on such agony."

The cat's white eys, streaked through with reddened veins, glare at you. "I want revenge for my life."

>>14626162
"Unacceptable. Your answer only indicates WHAT you are; you have yet to answer the question of WHO you are.
"As for what you want, revenge for existing? No, if it had not been me, it would have been some other prisoner who lost a limb. Vengeance for being created should be directed at your masters who brought about your existence. So that answer, too, is unacceptable."

>>14626228
We should fire a volley of magic missiles into Tayn, progressing up to lightning bolts!
More pain for unacceptable answers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsUxnjMJm70

>>14626228

"Unacceptable. Your answer only indicates WHAT you are; you have yet to answer the question of WHO you are." You say, tutting him with a bulky claw as you walk around to his flank.

"As for what you want, revenge for existing? No, if it had not been me, it would have been some other prisoner who lost a limb. Vengeance for being created should be directed at your masters who brought about your existence. So that answer, too, is unacceptable." You look off into the distance for a moment, the rock cloud clearing.

"It was you." He says, growling. "They wanted you, and when they found out you'd escaped, they tortured me in your place, calling me by your name." He spins around to look at you as best he can. "Then they let me go, gave me training, gave me the chance to live without the pain if I kill you."

"I am your nemesis." He says, simply. "I hate them for all the pain they gave to me, but I hate you just as much for being the reason they did it to me."

>>14626290
Fire a volley of magic missiles into Tayn.
"Unacceptable! WHO ARE YOU?! Have you nothing to call your own? Are you nothing except in relation to me and what others label you? Have you nothing that is not provided for you, sanctioned and approved by others?
"How can you expected to be able to fight who you might have been, if you don't even have the faintest idea of WHO YOU ARE?!
"Now, answer the question! WHO ARE YOU?!"

>>14626328

"Unacceptable!" You fire a volley of magic missiles into him. "WHO ARE YOU?! Have you nothing to call your own? Are you nothing except in relation to me and what others label you? Have you nothing that is not provided for you, sanctioned and approved by others?" You pace around back to the front of him, wings folded tight across your back.

"How can you expected to be able to fight who you might have been, if you don't even have the faintest idea of WHO YOU ARE?! Now, answer the question! WHO ARE YOU?!"

Tayn laughs. "Oh come now, this is just embarrassing." He reaches up with a free paw, claws extended, and tears down the side of his neck, leaving long claw marks that ooze dark blood. "I could do more to myself, willingly."

"I am your nemesis. And for this and my existence, I will choke the life from your body." He hisses, his blood dripping down onto the floor as he raises his head.

>>14626388
"You really don't understand, do you?"
Cast Disintegrate on Tayn. Let's see how he handles 26d6 of energy damage.

>>14626457

"You really don't understand, do you?" You say, a thin green ray emanating from your forelimb and striking his body. Part of his chest is eaten away, before the ray stops.

"Only because, for someone in a position requiring a lot of talking, you have very limited communications abilities." Tayn grunts, putting a paw up to his chest, where bare flesh sits. He digs his claws into it. "Why don't you try asking real questions instead of repeating the same ones?"

>>14626519

"Real questions?" Ponder this for a bit, eyes narrowed at him. "Alright. Real questions. How about this: How on earth do you plan on succeeding?"

>>14626519
Mynthar looks at Tayn incredously.
"Are you really that stupid? If I ask who your masters are, or where you're located, would you give a truthful answer? You know that this is just a dream, so escape from any pain that I inflict on you is just a snap of your fingers away.
"I'm trying to understand who you are, to maybe see if any kind of reconciliation is possible between us, since we kind of share the same flesh.
"I mean, really. What use are any of these nightmare sessions except to annoy the both of us? We both know that escape from it will come in the morning, so there's no real incentive to tell each other anything of real strategic value."
Cast Lightning Bolt on Tayn again.

>>14626538

"Real questions?" You think on this for a bit, eyes narrowed at him. "Alright. Real questions. How about this: How on earth do you plan on succeeding?"

Tayn chuckles. "So, you want to know how you're going to die? To be honest, I don't know. If I did, it would certainly make things boring for you if I told you, wouldn't it?"

>>14626559

"Why bother chasing after me? After all, I had no input in your creation. You are a powerful beast, but that is all you are: a beast. You do not make your own choices, you do not direct your own life, and for that, you are weak. I hate to see weakness. I can help you transform that weakness into strength; that servitude into freedom. I can help you live. I want to help you live. You are borne of my flesh, and, as such, I am obligated to help you. So let me help you."

>>14626559
Cast Lightning on that smug fucker.
"See, this is exactly why I won't bother to ask real questions: you won't answer them, and there's no incentive for you to do so. I mean, you might be stupid enough to actually let slip important information, but if you're a copy of me, then I would hope that you're not that moronic.
"So really, why don't you just save us both the trouble, and either leave, or start exchanging some information of worth."

>>14626557
>>14626585
Combine these two?

>>14626585

"Why bother chasing after me? After all, I had no input in your creation. You are a powerful beast, but that is all you are: a beast. You do not make your own choices, you do not direct your own life, and for that, you are weak." You look off to one side. "I hate to see weakness. I can help you transform that weakness into strength; that servitude into freedom. I can help you live. I want to help you live. You are borne of my flesh, and, as such, I am obligated to help you. So let me help you."

"Why? Why would you help me?" Tayn hisses at you. "It's obvious you enjoy watching me suffer."

>>14626600
You mean first >>14626557 then >>14626585
it's a little late since we already walked into Tayn's little argumentative trap. He never intended to give us any useful information, and it would have been obvious to Mynthar, so I don't know why we even tried.

>>14626625

"I make you suffer because I know that is what you are most responsive to. If you want to have civil discourse, then let us. Now what do you think about me helping you?"

>>14626625
>It's obvious you enjoy watching me suffer.
"Enjoy? ENJOY?! Is that what you think this is, some kind of game about who can cause the other the most pain? Your existence represents a threat to the Crystal Cavern People and ALL that we have worked for these past 200 years! Why else would your masters have created you if not to attack us?
"I want to help you, because helping a kobold in need against the forces of this world set against our race is what we have been striving to do for the past 200 years! Because you were created from a part of me that was taken, and so to aid you is only natural.
"But you hound me, you attack me in my sleep, you present nothing but a hostile obstacle! How else am I to get you to LISTEN except through FORCE?!"

>>14626557

You look at Tayn incredously.
"Are you really that stupid? If I ask who your masters are, or where you're located, would you give a truthful answer? You know that this is just a dream, so escape from any pain that I inflict on you is just a snap of your fingers away.
"I'm trying to understand who you are, to maybe see if any kind of reconciliation is possible between us, since we kind of share the same flesh.
"I mean, really. What use are any of these nightmare sessions except to annoy the both of us? We both know that escape from it will come in the morning, so there's no real incentive to tell each other anything of real strategic value."

You fire off a lightning bolt from your hand at him, and it causes his bod to spasm, but he does not cry out.

"Yes, keep it up. Maybe at some point it'll compare to what I've endured before." Tayn glowers at you, his fur smoking. "But don't get your hopes up."

>>14626648

"I make you suffer because I know that is what you are most responsive to. If you want to have civil discourse, then let us. Now what do you think about me helping you?" You ask him.

"I don't trust you. I don't know why you would want to help me." He says, seeming more confused than anything.

>He says, seeming more confused than anything.
WE'VE GOT HIM ON THE ROPES

NOW SAY THIS "I want to help you, because helping a kobold in need against the forces of this world set against our race is what we have been striving to do for the past 200 years! Because you were created from a part of me that was taken, and so to aid you is only natural."

>>14626685
"You are a kobold, created from my right arm. You could be said to indirectly be a member of the CCCP.
"Also, if I help you leave your masters, that removes a threat aimed at us.
"Why WOULDN'T I want to help you? As for pain? I've had enough of it with the Rosenkraft's that this really isn't doing anything for me."

>>14626715
Second!

>>14626744

I vote that we not say this. We should undermine the trust he has in his masters, and insulting them is not the way to do it.

>>14626715

"I want to help you, because helping a kobold in need against the forces of this world set against our race is what we have been striving to do for the past 200 years! Because you were created from a part of me that was taken, and so to aid you is only natural." You say, looking down at him.

He seems caught off guard, his bloodshot eyes slowly opening and closing. "But I am something unnatural. How could you want to help me? It doesn't make sense. You're lying!" He starts to grow angry, and grimaces as though in pain.

>>14626799
"Unnatural? What does that have to do with anything? You were created from a kobold right arm, and you are kobold."

>>14626799

"Kobolds specialize in the unnatural. Kobolds specialize in aiding each other. Kobolds specialize in perseverance. To help you throw off the grip your masters have over you is the right thing to do. You are one of my people, and I want to help you. Let me."

>>14626827

"Unnatural? What does that have to do with anything? You were created from a kobold right arm, and you are kobold." You say, trying to understand what he means.

"That's what they told me. An abomination. I should never have been born, if you can call it that." He slams his right foreleg into the ground. "I still remember growing, realizing the right arm was the only real part of me. Why, why are they hurting me?" He surges up to his feet with phenomenal speed, smashing his head into a stone wall. "If I kill you, the pain, it'll stop, I just want to stop the pain!" He lets out a tortured yowl that echoes through the caves.

>>14626856

"Kobolds specialize in the unnatural. Kobolds specialize in aiding each other. Kobolds specialize in perseverance. To help you throw off the grip your masters have over you is the right thing to do. You are one of my people, and I want to help you. Let me." You say, walking closer to him.

The panther form melts into that of a much smaller kobold, the one you recognize from your vision, slamming his head into the wall as he clutches at his chest. "If I kill you, the pain will stop. That's all I need to do." You notice a deep blue glow emanating from a scar in his back that looks more surgical than from any sort of injury. "Please, let me kill you. I'm sorry, I can't take it..."

>>14626951
"Have you ever, you know, gotten that surgical implant on your back looked at? Or seen it for yourself? Are you sure that this compulsion to kill me isn't the result of a control device implanted into you by your masters while you were gestating?"

>>14626951

"Kobold magic is powerful. I am powerful. Our mages can help you with your implants and tattoos. We can make the pain stop. Your masters will never do that for you, even if you do kill me. You are too powerful for them to let go. Let me help you!"

>>14627003
It might be better to go with "Our science and magic is powerful". We ARE an advanced people, after all.

>>14626951

"Pain? You, born of my severed arm, think you can talk to me OF PAIN?"

Lean in, speak more softly.

"You know as well as I do what I suffered as Rosenkraft's hands. You think I don't know suffering? I've been to Hell and back, and I didn't break. Hell, I barely bent. If you want to wallow in your misery and do tricks for your master, fine; but know that I will be DAMNED before I see a part of me roll over and beg, while I know it could stand up and defy."

>>14626973
>>14627003

"Have you ever, you know, gotten that surgical implant on your back looked at? Or seen it for yourself? Are you sure that this compulsion to kill me isn't the result of a control device implanted into you by your masters while you were gestating?"

"I didn't gestate. I grew, for hours, on a cold stone floor." Tayn pants, the pain seeming to lessen. "I don't know what it is, but when I think about helping you-" He stops, panting and doubling over in pain.

"Kobold magic and science is powerful. I am powerful. Our mages can help you with your implants and tattoos. We can make the pain stop. Your masters will never do that for you, even if you do kill me. You are too powerful for them to let go. Let me help you!" You say, walking towards him, back in your regular form. Your right arm is healed, your body whole again.

Tayn begins reaching around at his back, grasping for the scar, trying to pull at it with his claws. "Please, just get it out! Everything burns! The sounds, feelings, that awful stench! I'll do anything! Take it out!" He shouts, trying to stand but slipping on the ground as his body shakes.

>>14627106
"This isn't real. I can't help you like this. I need to go and get you, but in order for me to do that, you must tell me where you are. If you do, I promise that I will liberate you personally."

>>14627106
Well, we're not an surgeon-mage, so we don't exactly have the right spell list for this kind of work. Not to mention, this is only a dream.
Well, might as well try.
Try casting Magic Weapon or Keen Edge on a knife, then cut open where the implant is located. Then cast a Disintegrate on it; maybe there will be some feedback from the nightmare spell into the control device.

>>14627132

"This isn't real. I can't help you like this. I need to go and get you, but in order for me to do that, you must tell me where you are. If you do, I promise that I will liberate you personally." You remain calm, Tayn thrashing in pain as he tries to speak.

"Deep... Caves below..." He lies still for a second, seemingly losing consciousness. He slams a hand into his chest, and he begins writhing again. "Below Monak's River, northern bend. This place, trapped. She won't be back for three weeks."

"Hurry, please. Can't keep my mind like this forever-" Tayn says, just as the dream ends.

(And hour break.)

>>14627191
I admit, I am surprised. I never expected the carrot to work so well.

Gentle-bolds, I believe we have commando raid to organize.

So... fuck yeah?
Was this supposed to happen, VKO?

A tricky situation.

On the one hand, if he is telling the truth this is out single best oppertunity to turn one of our greatest enemies into an ally, or at least no longer have him be out for out blood.

But this is a dream. We cannot afford to assume that this is not a trap. We can't afford to let this oppertunity pass, but if we go now and it turns out to be a trap he will have tricked us into sacrificing valuable preparation time, as well as meeting him on his home turf.

If we do this, we need to bring an army and have a plan to take him out: either because it is a trap, or because the device in his back forces him to fight.

While we're there, we might as well sabotage strategic resources and kill any important people we see.

>>14627271
Yes, we will need to prepare for this mission properly.
All the latest weapons, grenades, maybe even heavy NAJA support.

While I have your attention, in what direction should we take the Crystal Cave People's military aesthetic towards?
Keep in mind that we are likely to begin equipping our soldiers with gasmasks or possibly magical trinkets to protect them from noxious gases, due to our alliance with the Watchmen.
Then there's the potential for powered armor: we already have ioun fiber musculature systems; if we can miniaturize the system further, we could apply it to full plate and give our soldiers magitek powered armor. And of course, then there's teh guns.

>>14627654
For some reason, I'm seeing a fantasy version of a Broadside Battlesuit piloted by a kobold, two massive lineguns on the shoulders, and twin black powder gatling canons mounted on the arms.

And I'm liking it.

>>14627724
Well, this is one way I could see it working. Fully enclosed powered armor with heavy weapons.

But including the gas masks, we could go for a Jin-Roh or Helghast look.

BUMPING LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER

*cough* bump *cough*

VKO come back! Please? Also would one of you kind anons archive this? I would myself but my net is being an absolute bastard tonight.

>>14628283

Don't worry, I'm sure OP will deliver.

Wait, I'm OP. WHY THE FUCK AM I NOT DELIVERING

(Also: Archived it yesterday)

>>14628283
WTF?
Some goddamn idiot already archived this session but under the title "RPS Army Suggestions".

>>14627211

I don't know, is this what you wanted to happen?

If so, the answer is yes.

So, what is thine plan?

>>14628386
Shit man, all I do is jump into quest threads like Monk Quest and Drunken Mage Quest to make shit as awesome as I can.
Speaking of which, I say we gather the meanest, baddest motherfuckers we can and go rescue our soon to be BRRRRRRROTHER.

>>14628359

What the fuck?

Alright, that was way earlier than when I tried to.

If you are that asshole who misarchived this, I hope your shitty rock paper scissors wargame burns in the pits of hell.

>>14628386
Plan: Wake up.
Go and talk to Yuune. See if we should bring this before the Senate, or try to get a commando team ready by ourselves.
We need to know where this Monak's River is located.

>>14628425

You wake up, feeling oddly refreshed, even though the spell was successful in penetrating your mind. You reattach your arm, feeling the muscle re-awaken as you do so. After some light meditation, you head off to see Yuune.

Your brother greets you at the door, inviting you inside with a gesture.

"I know where Tayn is. The kobold who wanted to kill me." You say to him.

You can tell Yuune is intrigued at your use of the past tense.

"He may still want to. But he gave me a position, and I have learned a few more things about him." You add.

You tell Yuune about your dream, and Yuune seems ponderous.

"Trap?" He writes.

"It could be. Still, something tells me he's being somewhat truthful. And if we act quickly, they can't have a good amount of time to set up. Should I go in front of the council?"

Yuune shakes his head. "Senate would never approve this. If you're serious, I can call in a couple of favors. Monak's river would be about four day's journey to the west/northwest."

>>14628570
"Alright then. Let's get ready. It looks like I'll have to cut my time in training a little short. I'll make sure that there's enough projects to keep everyone else busy.
"We'll need a surgeon-mage, for sure, and the equipment for some field surgery, if there really is a magical control device. We may need some scrolls of Dispel Magic, too.
"How quickly can you get us ready? I'll rubberstamp any requisitions you need to make."

>>14628423
This is the guy who misarchived this, my apologies.
I had the two threads open in adjacent tabs. No malice was meant and I deeply apologize.

>>14628423
Alright, I sent an email to Lord Licorice to have the tags, titles, and details changed.

>>14628752

I didn't think it was on purpose. Thanks, bro.

>>14628656

"Alright then. Let's get ready. It looks like I'll have to cut my time in training a little short. I'll make sure that there's enough projects to keep everyone else busy."

Yuune nods, gesturing back to a large file marked "Projects".

"We'll need a surgeon-mage, for sure, and the equipment for some field surgery, if there really is a magical control device. We may need some scrolls of Dispel Magic, too."

Yuune points to your arm. You realize who he's referring to instantly. "Dalak? Hmm." You recall your interaction with him earlier. "I may well need him."

"How quickly can you get us ready? I'll rubberstamp any requisitions you need to make."

Yuune writes a short note. "Should be set by 8. You sure about this?"

"I may not get another shot if I wait." You say to him.

>>14628766
Alright, while Yuune is getting everything ready, let's go to Dalak.
We're going to need him if this entire hare-brained scheme is going to work.

>>14615734
I only posted the version of this picture I coloured once ever. about a year ago...

Teach your familiar Manipulate Form

Yuune gives you a short list.

"6 NAJA Tanks armed w/ heavy linecannons
24 elite scouts
4 person medical team
Whatever Dalak asks for."

You nod as you look over the list, and head in to see Dalak.

Dalak greets you as you come in. "Mynthar." He says, pushing a seat over to you. "What can I help you with?"

>>14628860

Oh, well I think it's pretty boss! Someone posted it a lot more recently once again. Is it OK if I use it for this?

>>14628866

A. You're a sorcerer. No familiar.
B. This isn't a Forgotten Realms game. The countries here actually act like countries.

>>14628875
"I'm sorry that I have to be abrupt with you, Dalak, but time is of the essence.
"I've confirmed that, yes, someone has used my former right arm and a Ring of Regeneration to create a clone of me. That clone was hell-bent on killing me, but I've been able to tease out of him that he might actually be under the control of some kind of magical control device implanted in him.
"I've offered him sanctuary and to have the thing removed. In exchange, he told me where he's currently being held.
"Dalak, you're the best prostheticist and surgeon we have; I...no, WE, need your expertise if we're going to free Tayn from his masters."

>>14628914

"I'm sorry that I have to be abrupt with you, Dalak, but time is of the essence." You push the stool back under the table.

"I've confirmed that, yes, someone has used my former right arm and a Ring of Regeneration to create a clone of me. That clone was hell-bent on killing me, but I've been able to tease out of him that he might actually be under the control of some kind of magical control device implanted in him." Dalak looks off to one side as you continue.

You look him square in the face as you continue. "I've offered him sanctuary and to have the thing removed. In exchange, he told me where he's currently being held.

"Dalak, you're the best prostheticist and surgeon we have; I...no, WE, need your expertise if we're going to free Tayn from his masters." You say, putting your hand down on his table.

"Tayn? That's his name then?" Dalak says, putting his fist to his chin. "Very well. Though I think Felixhia needs to come as well."

"This isn't a vacation." You say.

"No, he has something he's been wanting to test."

You hear the sound of Ioun powered tools from the back room.

>>14629052
"What is it? As it is, we will likely be leaving around 8 tonight."

I'm curious; what is it? Portable ioun-powered surgical theater?

>>14629083

Dalak gestures for you to follow him around the back. A large expanse of cave is there, with a great number of posts with large tarps placed on them.

"Felixhia, how's it coming?"

The younger of the two brothers pokes his head out of the pile of wrappings. "S'alright." He says, glaring at you.

"It's alright. We're not angry at each other any more." Dalak says, looking over at you. You recall that Felixhia isn't exactly the best at social interactions. He bit you when you first met for getting too close to Dalak. But, it has been a decade since then. From what you've heard, he's a much better teacher than a conversationalist.

He disappears back into the pile of tarps, casting them off one at a time.

What you see before you is a suit of black armor, standing roughly seven feet in height, with a semi-articulated set of legs and arms. The chest of it is wide, like a barrel, and there is a collar of twisted muscles with a large set of mounts. Felixhia gestures over to Dalak, who walks over and begins explaining it.

"Good use of 15,000 in research funds, right? This is the StalArmen, mark 1." He pats it on an arm, and you see a lengthy tail furl out from behind. "No need to worry about it being lost either. No one but a kobold could fit in it, and no one but Felixhia can pilot it." He unfurls the three fingers on the suit, and the thumb, demonstrating the articulation. "We wanted to do this a while ago as thanks, but to be honest it's fairly expensive and hard to train for, as I suspected. So, small strike forces would be all that is possible." He helps Felixhia don a cloth cap, and Felixhia removes his outer layer of clothing to reveal a copper-studded black bodysuit, with padding along it. He puts on a pair of thick black spider leather gloves and climbs in the top.

"That, and as you can see, she's a huge hassle." Dalak says, handing a huge, kobold-like metal helmet up to the suited Felixhia. The great fingers of the suit close around the side of the helmet, and place it on, the clamps on the underside of the helmet interlocking, and securing over his face, a pair of reinforced glass eyes over his.

"I'd suggest you give it a test run, but to be honest, this is only his second test."

"Don't need no tests." Felixhia's voice echoes out of the suit. "She runs fine." The suit stands up to its full height with the sound of crackling ioun ore, and walks over to a row of weaponry on the wall that is sized for the suit, with numerous mechanical augmentations on them.

>>14628895
>>14628895
It wasn't my original art, I just coloured it so I don't see why not.

>>14629313
"How loud is it when fully operational? What's its range of motion? How thick is the armor, and how much punishment do you think it could handle?
"If it won't slow us down or be so loud as to give away our approach, this could be just what we need to crack open the defenses surrounding Tayn."

"How resistant to magic is it? It could be useful if things go south before we successfully get out."

>>14629354

You are the first to fire off a flurry of questions. "How loud is it when fully operational? What's its range of motion? How thick is the armor, and how much punishment do you think it could handle?

"If it won't slow us down or be so loud as to give away our approach, this could be just what we need to crack open the defenses surrounding Tayn." You say.

Felixhia glares over at you through the armor. "Not the stealthiest. Can be quiet. Silence spell."

"Range of motion." He rotates each arm in a full circle, and stretches out each leg, like a martial artist. The tail seems to sway organically with the armor. "Good as yours. My legs up in main body." He walks forward as fast as a normal kobold. "Not slow. Faster speeds possible with flat terrain."

"How resistant to magic is it? It could be useful if things go south before we successfully get out." You ask.

"Could not stud with ioun stones to increase resistance. Somewhat of a flaw. It's tough enough to handle it." Felixhia answers. "Aside from that, oil of make whole on a dispenser in the backpack. Should last through a few hits."

"Armor is thicker than standard full plate. Not duralumin, unfortunately. Too expensive. Steel." He clangs a hand up against his chest. "Steel more receptive to color anyway."

"As for punishment, can protect fairly well." He says, grabbing a greatsword from the weapon stock that he wields in one hand. He strikes it against himself, and it leaves only the barest of scratches. "If it fails, I can use collapsible armor."

>>14629352

Oh, OK. Your coloring was really nice, by the way.

"What will happen if it malfunctions? We can't leave it behind in enemy territory."

>>14629500
"Sounds good. I'll make sure that we bring along some scrolls of Fireball, and one or two of Disintegrate. I doubt we'll need to leave it behind, but we can't take the chance of any of our advanced technology falling into enemy hands."

>>14629515
>>14629539

"What will happen if it malfunctions? We can't leave it behind in enemy territory." You say in response to his display.

Felixhia's face is not visible to you right now, but you're fairly sure he's caught off-guard.

"I'll make sure that we bring along some scrolls of Fireball, and one or two of Disintegrate. I doubt we'll need to leave it behind, but we can't take the chance of any of our advanced technology falling into enemy hands."

"They can't use it. Only reacts to me." Felixhia says, pointing at himself with a large clawed thumb.

"They could disassemble it and find out how it works." You say. "If they did that, we'd lose a lot more than just the suit."

"Hrm." Felixhia says, putting his hand up to his chin. You notice that the head of the suit has a number of holes in the face mask, probably to allow him to breathe. "Shrink item? Would not want to leave behind or destroy. Prototype first original invention in some time."

>>14629611
"Alright. I'll see if Yuune has any scrolls of Shrink Item prepared. You're right, it would be a shame to lose such a valuable prototype. But remember, our scientific and magitechnological security comes first."

We'll get all three scroll types readied: Fireball, Disintegrate, and Shrink Item.
The only other thing is to get the guns we need prepared: I assume that Yuune is handling that.

>>14629632
Oh, and food, mounts, miscellaneous supplies, bedding, and all of the myriad different things that we will need on an 8-day round-trip journey and commando assault on a fortified compound.

>>14629632

"Alright. I'll see if Yuune has any scrolls of Shrink Item prepared. You're right, it would be a shame to lose such a valuable prototype. But remember, our scientific and magitechnological security comes first." You say.

"Will not fall. Too much yet to make. Next, I need to make this for its original purpose." Felixhia says. "Brain pack hard to develop though. Can make no mistakes."

He picks up a small pebble from the ground, testing the capabilities of the armor's hands.

>>14629723

You arrange for the rest of the stuff. Prior to NAJA, your group used giant cave lizards as mounts. You prepare a few of those, and aside from the carts, you are ready to go.

>>14629767
Alright, do we have a cover story in place?
Have the Senate been given make-work to keep them busy for the next week?

If everything's ready, let's go!

>>14629831
Maybe say we're going on an exploration mission?
Or, maybe just that we're taking a vacation?

You know what, the vacation idea sounds pretty good. Let's go with that.

>>14629831

You're off for an emergency training camp for these recruits. They don't know how to use NAJA, you see. Dalak and Felixhia are coming along to attend to the NAJA.

Your group assembles at the dock, leaving quickly on a small ship that curls out past the patrols, who just so happen to be off duty.

The journey through the underground river is long, with a number of obstacles rearing up in your path, with your captain, a grizzled fisherman, weaving around them expertly. You finally reach the spot indicated by Tayn, the massive black curved metal of some kind of huge object marking clearly where he had indicated his location.

Dalak looks over at it with confusion. "What is that monstrosity?"

"Whatever it is, from this moment forward, it is the property of the CCCP." You say, your arms crossed as you put a foot on the end of the ship's bow. "Crystal Cavern Army, prepare to move out!"

And that's all for this week. Sorry about them absences, gaiz. This week apparently was supposed to be much busier for me than I wagered.

Next time on Saturday, the storming of this mysterious black vessel!

>>14629954
Alright, let's send in 4 teams of 2 scouts to check out this thing and look for any entrances. Have them watch out for magical defenses.

>>14629984
Alright, see you next week VKO!

Haha! Yes! I got my kobold powered armor!
Thanks, VKO. Now we can really put the hurt on the other races.