Oh, hey. You're doing the second one today? Is this gonna be a daily quest? I can't hang around for long tonight.

>>16262126
Definetely not daily. I couldn't handle that.

You’re back, I see. Where were we? Ah yes. Akasha the Breaker has begun her journey. She left the Fallen City of Netalia in the company of the man called Carver, a sellsword from distant Pak’Nadi, and the serkesh girl Nitalah.

Strange lights swirl in the skies as she makes her way through the ruins of the Old City. The Eastern Gate lies far behind her now, lying amidst the remains of those it was meant to protect. The gravel crunches under her sandals as she follows the strange pair ahead of her. The stachels on her shoulder weigh heavy, and well they should be. Everything she owns, the remains of her life here are contained within. She keeps walking, the only thing in her world the road ahead. She dares not to look behind her, at the crumbling carcass of what she called home. Only three Kala Cities remain on the face of Maél.

Dartha, it’s gates closed for centuries, high above on the Bleeding Mountains to the south. Portia, ruling the lands around it with an iron hand, many leagues to the west. And Élatha, at eternal war with the wasteland around it, deep within the Mists to the north. Should she seek refuge in one of them, rejoin her people like she did once before? Maybe. Maybe not. This is not the time for her to decide. The Old City is not empty. She can feel it.

Her revelry is broken, the young girl tugging at her, the silver charms and bracelets on her ankles and wrists jingling from the movement. „Carver says we need to hurry. The Daeva draw near.” Nitalah leans closer, whispering. „I don’t think he knows how to get out of here. Do you?” Well, Akasha has worked out here before. The Gleaming Road leads straight out, but it may be blocked. The way through Hanging Gardens of Kirka may not be quite as short, but it has been cleared away. Which does she choose, you ask?

Dammit, anyone know how I could change the OP pic? The other thread 404-d just now.

>>16262179
Just by deleting and remaking.

>>16262196
ehhh.

rolled 46 = 46

>>16262160
The Gleaming Road. We can force our way out if need be.

>>16262148
Broquest quest, now Breaker Quest and later this evening Void Quest.

Give me a few minutes to catch up, im busy dealing with my Rien de visage.

rolled 33 = 33

>>16262160
Yeah, Gleaming roads. Its shorter and we have the means to take down whatevers blocking it

>>16262160
If she has some explosives on her person, The Gleaming Road. If not, the Gardens.

rolled 15 = 15

>>16262292
Derp. Dice.

rolled 36 = 36

>>16262160
We should not go through the gardens.
Seing what has become of it now would only be more traumatic.

Girl's always been the straightforward type. "Carver. We should take the Gleaming Road. It leads straight out of the city. There might be some obstacles, but I have the tools to clear them away." The man considers it seriously, then nods. "Very well then. Lead the way."

The Gleaming Road. A wonder in it's time, every brick of it containing a little of the essence of Netalia. Once, it shone with a thousand colours, reflecting the light that fell on it. Now, it is nothing but dark grey stone. The pillars that lined it are tilted, struggling to stay upright. Some manage to hold on still. Others have fallen. They litter the Road, and deny the three passage.

They scale the ones that are crushed, and circle around the whole ones. They march hard, the eary whispering on the wind driving them forward. The Daeva, whatever they are, have arrived.

The Road simply stops in front of them, buildings on both sides of it fallen in, a small hill of ruble and masonry. Akasha takes measure of it, seeing if she could take it down. She could try to make it avalanche down on the other side, or she could try to climb it. Maybe even crawl underneath, in the passages and doorways that remain open in the merged bulk of stores and homes.

>>16262467
>eary=eery
Anyway, definitely need some roles for this one.

rolled 42 = 42

>>16262467
See if scaling the roadblock is a possibility.

rolled 57 = 57

>>16262473
I think you mean eerie?

We should scale up and get a look at what's over the blockage and how bad it is.

rolled 66 = 66

>>16262467
Climb dat shit.

>>16262473
Oh wow. That's some serious derp. I'll down what coffe I have left and be back in five.

She sets down her satchels and ties the Sledge to her back. "I'll take a look at it from up top, shouldn't take long." With that, she's off, pitting herself against the treacherous structure. Handholds fall out as she climbs, stones the size of her head shaking loose in her wake. She's scaled worse before, though, and manages skitter up in less than a minute. Besides the occasional weakspot, the blockade is solid and stable, the buildings making it up intertwined just right to keep it standing.

As she reaches the top, the smell of spoiled milk mixed with sweet orchids hits her. She crouches down immediately, recongizing it. Greasemen. Three of the creatures stands in the street bellow her, sniffing blindly at the air. A shell of chipped stone and dust hides the black ooze making up their body. Mindless beasts, the byproducts of the War.

She might be able to take them. She saw other Breakers smash one before. A good blow from her Sledge should be enough. But if they catch her...

rolled 20 = 20

>>16262763
Would her companions be able to scale the wall and aid her against these things?

rolled 43 = 43

>>16262763

We motion Carver quietly to comeup here.
We need his sword arm.

>>16262797
Carver definetely could. It would probably be a little too much for Nitalah.

rolled 53 = 53

>>16262908
Could she piggyback on either him or Akasha?

>>16262931
We get her after we smash these things.
She'd only be in the way.

rolled 50 = 50

>>16262942
I doubt her protector would leave her alone, now that the DEMONS are closing in.

>>16262954
Good point. But can he piggyback and fight at the same time?

>>16262931
Not without risking a fall. You can try, it just takes a fairly good roll.

rolled 59 = 59

>>16262991
Well, if the chances for mashed Nitalah are fairly high, it seems like they'll have to take the underground route.

rolled 27 = 27

>>16262110
We have seeds, maybe we can use one or two to shake the rocks and make them fall onto the Greasemen.

rolled 89 = 89

>>16263056
I read through Brain's post more carefully and it should be fine to get her up by rope, have Carver follow and leave her on top while the grown-ups handle matters.

rolled 11 = 11

>>16263086
Sounds fine to me.

>FUCK, LOST MY POST, MS WORD HERE I COME
No sense in taking risks. She stalks back to the other side of the rubble, gesturing for Carver to get the rope from her satchel. He catches on quick, and throws her one of it's ends, climbing it with surprising grace when she finishes attaching it to a pillar jutting out from the chaos bellow. The child clings to him the whole way, holding the two satchels in her hand, strangely relaxed. He exchanges a few quick words with her in her native tongue, then, satisfied, turns to the creatures. After a moment, he says "I'll take the two on the right. You can handle the one on the left, can't you?" "Of course." She sounds more certain than she feels, and undoes the straps holding the Sledge in place.

The two of them charge when Carver signals, this side almost a gentle slope in contrast to what she had to climb. The girl slams her weapon into the monster, cracking it's shell, revealing the oily sludge underneath. It's body stretches, then snaps back, it's counterswing barely missing. She panics for a moment, but the basics thaught by old man Okrek come back in an instant. One foot in front. Dig in the heels. Twist the whole body behind the strike.

The Sledge almost slices through the Greaseman, the black gunk parting from the blow. It shivers and dissolves into ichor, loosing all semblance of life. Turning, Akasha sees something strange. The man in the red cloak does not swing his weapon against the creatures. He cuts his own forearm, then flings the blood from his cupped hand towards the two circling monsters. A few hissed words, and the ooze around the crimson stains starts to boil. They scream wordlessly, evaporating in moments.

Carver quickyl bandages the wound. "The gift of my people. One learns much of it over a century." He smiles. "The Kala have their own magic, do they not?"

rolled 66 = 66

>>16263342
No time to think about what has just happened. She needs to get the child,her rope and get out of the city.

rolled 100 = 100

Let's get out of here. We can remark on his blood magic later. And what kind of magic do the Kala people do? Does akasha now any?

"I do not know any myself. But now is not the time for it." He bows his head. "Of course. We are to hurry." Akasha races up the slope, passing by the child waiting there, and quickly retieves her rope. With it secure, they make their way along the rest of the Road.

The minutes pass by as they march, and Nitalah slows, her steps getting more and more pained. Finally, Carver stops to inspect her feet. She is barefoot, and the rough stones have scratched and nicked her soles. The man curses, tearing strips out of his cloak, tieing them around her feet. "She'll need some rest soon. We should stop there." He points at a square with a strange, oddly shaped statue in the middle, not recognizable as anything. The girl freezes as she sees it.

It is the Breaker's Memorial. It is not a thing of beauty. No artist dreamt it up. It's proportions are botched, the edges rough. No Mason was allowed to touch it. It is not sanctified by any Priest. It was not meant for the gods. It is a memento, to the thousands of Breakers who lived and died in this city. And even though Netalia has fallen, it still stands.

It is the most wonderful sight Akasha has seen. She wants to cry, wants to laughs, wants to shout in defiance at the baleful stars above. But she stays silent. She is Kala, and they are not ones to open themselves with strangers around. She simply walks up to the Memorial, and lights a single candle by it's base.

(cont.)

>>16263970
The girl stays there, one hand against the warped stone, watching the candle burn down. The man quietly stands behind her, waiting patiently until she is finished. She gets on her feet with a sigh, and turns toward Carver. "Where to now?" he says. "I scouted ahead. There are too many Greaseman on the road, swarming towards the city." The edge of the wilderness outside seems so close. But she'll need to find another way out. Through the Burial Grounds, silent and somber? The old Guardian's Square, abandoned for centuries? Or trough the Beggar Grove, unchecked since the unlucky who lived in it died from the plagues?

rolled 28 = 28

>>16263988
I guess the chances to find any potential survivers are equally low for all three choices?

If that's the case, I'd say she should try her luck with the old Guardian's Square.

>>16263970
The Guardian's Square. No reason to trample on the places of the dead.

rolled 82 = 82

>>16264071
forgot how to roll.

The dead should rest, and the spirits of the lost are not to be disturbed, she knows that well. "Guardian's Square. It should be the safest." Nitalah is steadier on her feet now, and Carver nods approvingly. They head off, leaving the lone light flicker by the Memorial.

The Square is is larger than she remembered, lined by the barracks of the Guardians. They trained here, in arms and law and strategy. They were never tried like the other cities Guardians have been. There was no war to wage, no conflict beyond a few rowdy men causing a disturbance. And now, they're gone. Struck down in the blink of an eye, by a foe that no armour or steel could hold at bay.

The quiet is broken by a harsh voice, like a swarm of bloated flies buzzing. "I can smell you little Slaver. I can taste your stench." The child goes still, and the man draws his sword in a single fluid move. A figure of iron and darkness steps out of the shadows of the Name Pillars surrounding the Square, mishappen legs creaking as it makes it's way towards them. Piercing eyes of blue flame gaze with blind malevolance at the world from a twisted face of a monster. Carver shunts the child behind him. "Leave, Daeva, and you shall come to no harm." It's laughter is the sizzling of a burning corpse. "A Slaver, a Tainted, and a Kala. I see naught that should scare me, little man."

The girl's hands tighten around the Sledge. Should she run? Should she fight?

rolled 52 = 52

>>16264346
She has no knowledge of these things. As much as she dislikes it, she will have to trust Caver's judgment what they should do.

rolled 35 = 35

>>16264346
Run from it, make sure the girl is safe

rolled 94 = 94

>>16264079
If we flee, the Daeva will chase us and kill us, or worse. It's obvious enough. We should get ready to fight.

rolled 20 = 20

>>16264482
It seems to be after the girl. So we should make sure the girl doesn't get kidnapped or hurt. We don't know what it does, it might be able to split itself into clones or something

rolled 80 = 80

>>16264346
Seconding that we follow Carver's lead.

>I have to admit, I have no idea who the character you're referring to is.
Gah, meant to say Carver the other day not Cutter. Carver the sell sword.

Not one to back down, is she now?

She raises her weapon, ready to fight, her hands trembling only slightly. The air distorts as the Daeva chuckles. "I know you, don't I, Breaker girl? Oh yes, I have dined upon your mother's ashes, not so long ago." A tongue as long as a man is tall flicks out for a moment. "She was... exquisite." Akasha screams, flinging a handful of Seeds against the monster, her face a mask of rage. It is amused -but only until the Seeds bite into it's arm as it tries to bat them away.

With a roar it charges, only for Carver to step forward, his blood splashing on the ground in a line. The Daeva rebounds off of it, like it was a solid wall, and slashes at the air with one of it's six clawed hands in frustration. Two Breaker's Apples explode on it's chest, and it has had enough. It was a god once, in ages long lost, and it will not suffer such insolence.

A single word, and the man collapses in a heap on the ground. A flick of it's wrist, and the girl slams against a Pillar. Nothing left between it and the child backing away. That is, until Nitalah screams a strange name. A hot wind rushes through the Square, gathering dust into the form of a towering giant. It slams both fists down, forcing the monster to hold it back with all of it's strength.

Akasha stands up, her knees shaking. She can't get close to it. She'll die, she's certain. Her explosives did not harm it. What could she do? Her hand is on the Pillar by her side, supporting her weight. She stares at it, an idea forming.

(cont.)

I'm going to finish things up for tonight with the next post. I am having the migraine of my life, and forming a coherent sentence is getting nigh-impossible. I'd like to ask someone to archive, and I promise that the next quest on saturday will be on time and speedy.

>>16264811
Wait, which day was Bodysnatcher quest?

rolled 83 = 83

>>16264811
>Archive
Done.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/16259402

>>16264886
Wednesdays, lately.

>Bodysnatcher quest moves to Wednesday
>1 week later Void quest moves to Wednesday

It's like I'm really watching these on TV!

>>16264986
Void Quest's schedule is rather erratic since Ved has started university again.

>>16264783
Akasha limps over to the Pillar closest to the monster, and touches it lightly with her fingertips, feeling the stone. Then, she steps back, and the Sledge swings. By all means, the Pillar should've shrugged it off, should've stayed whole for generations to come. Instead, a single clean crack runs through it, and only a stump is left standing, the rest toppling with alarming speed on top of the abomination. The Daeva falls down as if Olpash, the god of Smiths himself struck it with his hammer.

The girl staggers, dust settling everywhere as the giant simply dissolves. She is simply hauled off as Carver slings the child on his shoulder and pull Akasha behind him by the arm. Even streets away, they can head the scream. "I will come back for you, and I will hunt you down! All of you! ALL OF YOU!" Then, they are free, the city giving way to the forest.

She frowns. She is sure there was more to it. They couldn't have gotten that far so soon. But the bed she lies in now is soft, and the fire crackling near relaxes her. It can wait. She'll figure things out after she rests.

What? Oh no, it was not the last she saw of that monster. But that story is not for tonight. Next time, friend. Next time.

>>16265006
Well, thanks for the surprise quest, good night and best of luck with your migraine.

I doubt you're still here, brain, but I'm incredibly tempted to record myself reading this story, since it's so damned enjoyable.
The narrator's voice i'd imagine is a slow gravelly southern accent. Carver and Nitallah's accents are enunciated but i'd imagine their accents to have a slight 'eastern' or Indian tinge. I'm just not sure what accents the Kala have, considering the hard K sound appears a lot, but Okrek said 'lass', which makes me want to use an Irish or a scottish accent for them.

Anyone else has any ideas?