With a groan and a stretch, you pull yourself off of the cheap metal folding chair and work your way around from behind the counter inside the cramped shack. The acoustic returns to its small corroded hanger on the wall, where you will no doubt retrieve it after your day off.

“Got any big plans for the weekend? Lotsa girls comin in for spring break…”

Using the glowing cherry barely protruding from the filter, you light up another red and shrug.

“No, that would be too much fun wouldn’t it? Blowing another paycheck on that damn rust bucket I take it?” The balding and very tanned man you’ve called boss for the last two years pokes his head out of the room and scowls.

You just grin in reply.

“Well, whatever. Get the fuck out of here, I’ve got a woman coming by.”

“Is she named blue ribbon?”

“Fuck you… Maybe.”

With a chuckle you lazily wave goodbye and catch the rolled up ball of cash your boss tosses at you. It feels light, business has been slow after all.

Well, you think to yourself, it will probably pick up with the flood of tourists coming in soon. Though even then, it’s not as though Key West is ever lacking in them.

The bells on the door jingle as the it closes on the shop, and you slip on your old ray ban aviators as the sunset greets you from over the crisp blue water. That sight alone is worth it, why you left everything behind to come down here.

Your aptly named rustbucket waits outside for you, maybe this chunk of cash will go into some bodywork. The old 1972 hemi cuda that you picked up a year ago and have since spent much of your time (and cash) on. When you started the project, you were a rank amateur of a mechanic. Now, you can rip the engine apart and slap it back together without a whole lot of thought. Which is good, because the tired old beast is hardly reliable.

Still, as soon as you turn that key and feel the rumble, hear that deep powerful chortle… You can’t help but rev it just to experience its glorious tune, one that ignites the primal instinct in man to harness a monster.

…Though these 30mph speed limits and bumper to bumper traffic don’t do it justice…

Which means that half an hour passes before you finally park on the street outside of your shitty, run down and barely standing “apartment.” Thankfully it has yet to be condemned, but some city workers looking disdainfully at it yesterday has you rightfully worried.

It may be in rough shape, but at least it’s roof keeps you dry, somewhat. If you lost this place, you’d have to live out of your car for a few weeks to afford another. Your landlord is a dying breed of those who are willing to work with someone, not too many would let you pay in fresh fish and a wrecked moped like you had last month.

Pushing open the cracked, cheap wooden door, you freeze in the doorway as the hot Florida weather leaves and is replaced by a frigid chill.

“Nice place you’ve got here.” The man with the mares leg trained on your chest chuckles as he takes a sip out of the bottle of cheap tequila you keep hidden under a floorboard. Your place is trashed, ripped to pieces as though someone were searching for something. His gold chains and rings flash slightly in the dim florescent light as the tough Cuban sets down the bottle.

“Marco…” You reply coldly. After four years, you hadn’t expected to ever see him again. Though perhaps you were lying to yourself, there had always been the muffled worry in the back of your mind, that one day they would find you.

You notice he isn’t alone, three other men crowded into your living room/kitchen. The tiny security six inside your waistband holster is severely outgunned by their short mossbergs. If you could grab the mini draco you keep in your trunk, maybe you’d stand a chance, but not caught like this. Though they might not expect you to brazenly draw down…

[ ] Dive behind the couch, draw your Ruger, and see how rusty your skills are

[ ] Jump back through the door, try to get to the Draco before they gun you down in the street

[ ] See if you can play it cool, they MIGHT not be here to kill you, after all

>>18288791
We have one pistol in our belt, they have four shotguns already pointed at us. Lets chat for a bit. Wait for them to let their guard down.

“You’re a pretty hard man to find, Last.” Marco muses, gesturing with his mares leg at one of your ragged chairs, “Sit.” He orders.

Making no sudden movements, and holding your hands up at your shoulders, you comply. You take notice of the goons moving in behind you, shotguns at the ready. At this range, they couldn’t possibly miss. If you had any intentions of trying to fight your way out of this, that opportunity has come and gone.

“How did you find me?”

“I’m not going to rat out my source, not while we’re still here, anyways.”

“Still here?”

You never had time to react, the sap knocks you square in the back of the head. The blow strong enough to render you unconscious before you even knew what hit you.

>maybe I picked a slow day/time?

[x] See if you can play it cool, they MIGHT not be here to kill you, after all.

Right now, this sounds like the reasonable thing to do.

When you finally come to, your head aching something fierce, you can taste salt on your lips and feel the spray on your face.

“I was beginning to wonder if you’d wake up before I killed you.” Marco says through a smoldering cigar and a scowl of absolute despise.

“Nice to see you too.”

“Don’t try to get cute with me kid, your dad isn’t here now.”
“Hmm? Did he set his dog on me after all these years? I thought maybe he’d finally given up.”

Marco grabs you by the jaw, forcing your gaze up to his own as he forcefully puts out the stogie right on your forehead. Gritting your teeth, you don’t give him the satisfaction of even a grunt of pain.

“You little fucking brat!” He smacks you across the face, his rings scraping across your skin, gouging bloody troughs.
“I’ll never understand you fucking Lativians and your fucking bullshit! Your father is the smartest god damn man I know, so why he wastes so much fucking time…” He trails off, shaking his head furiously, before grabbing the collar of your Hawaiian shirt and clocking you square in the nose with his right fist. With a thunk you fall back on the deck of the small boat, and one of the three goons shoves you back upright.

“You were listening that day, weren’t you?” You spit a wad of blood down onto the fiberglass.

Marco just keeps shaking his head, his fingers gripping the handle of the mares leg strapped to his thigh. You know he wants to use that, blow a nice chunk of skull and brains right out the back of your head. Well, he might do just that.

“I’ve worked for your father for twenty fucking years. I’ve been his right hand man for the last ten. So when he still wants to give everything to you…” Marco stops, holding up his hands in as though quitting.

>>18288879
I'm here, just eating.

Well, fuck.

So far, so good. Definitely a different feel from HLQ, and it's interesting.

“Doc says I’ve got to watch my stress, so you’ll excuse me if I don’t continue this conversation.” He nods to his men, who move in.

*Clack*

The padlock closes on the chains that the cronies wrapped around your chest and shoulders.

Fear isn’t something you are overly used to. You’ve always considered yourself a brave man.

But when you see that big anchor at the end of the chain…

When you remember what drowning felt like, in that pool when you were just a tyke…

“Shoot me.” You tell Marco, biting out the words.

Marco gives you one last look with that hard gaze you grew up around, and he turns his back.

Calloused hands grip you roughly under the shoulders and haul you to your feet, the two goons carrying you over to the side of the vessel. Though you put up a valiant effort to struggle free of the chains, your hands and feet are bound tight by cord.

“My father is going to wonder what happened to me!” You shout back at Marco, “He’ll never stop looking, you know that!”

“Which is why I’m going to pull up your body in a few days, make it look like a fishing accident.” Marco replies, “Goodbye, Last.”

At those final words, they toss you overboard, the anchor plunging in to the choppy sea only moments before you do.

>mares leg in case anyone was wondering

A final breath is all you are able to manage, before the water is past your head and you are dropping, dropping, dropping…

The heavy anchor is going to carry you all the way to the bottom, which out this far, is several hundred feet.

Already you can feel the pressure starting to effect you, though you try to equalize it, you are just sinking too fast. The pain in your head continues to increase, as does something else.

The burning sensation in your chest.

Your lungs are screaming for air.

Which is now probably a hundred feet above you.

A mind works frantically when under such amounts of stress, and yours is no exception. The chains refuse to give, the bonds to loosen, but still your brain races to find an answer.

Any answer.

You have your eyes clamped shut now as you struggle, as well as your jaw, as though you could force your lungs to run on co2.

What feels like an hour passes, though in reality it isn’t more than a minute or two.

The primal urge in the most basic part of your brain finally wins out, as you cough out a torrent of bubbles.

Lungs empty, brain ranting for oxygen, you can’t stop it.

You suck in seawater.

Why oh why did you do that?!

Your chest feels like its exploding, as does your head. You can only continue to try to breath, and only draw in more salt water as you do.

>>18288962
Bleargh. Drowning. I can sympathize some. Horrible way to go.

For several long moments, there is only fear and panic and pain.

But, this quickly begins to pass and is replaced by an almost calm, lazy acceptance.

You are going to die here.

Maybe it isn’t so bad, the pain is gone and now you feel alright enough.

There are worse ways to go, probably.

There are worse ways to…

“Die?”

Exactly, worse ways to die.

Wait wut.

“You are an interesting one, aren’t you…”

A voice, a faint voice.

A voice in your mind?

“Good good! Keep going!”

So is this just me going crazy? You wonder.

“Crazy? No I should think not. After all, mortal, I am very real.”

>>18288962
Game over, good quest guys.

not sure if hue... but so far it's good

So if it isn’t insanity…

“Keep going, you’ve almost got it!”

A death hallucination.

“Wrong.”

I’m unconscious in a hospital and this is all a dream.

“Fail.”

A valkyrie swooping down to take me to Valhalla.

“Maybe I should just let you drown!”

At those words is the precise instant you realize it.

The pain is gone, as is the feeling of blank calmness.

…And you are breathing, somehow.

“Hah, I was beginning to wonder if you would ever catch on.”

You open your eyes, and can clearly see that you are, in fact, still bound. Still tied to an anchor.

Still very much underwater.

“Ah, now you can see, can’t you? How you should be dead but are still very much alive? Well, sort of, at least.”

So…

“Yes, you died.”

But now…

“You’re alive, somewhat. Which brings me to this…”

The voice now loses its teasing tone and becomes much more harsh and serious.

“What would you do to live again?”

[ ] Anything

[ ] Nothing

[ ] Let’s talk contractual details

>>18288999
So... zombie time?

Do I have to do the whole brains thing? 'Cause after some thought, the idea doesn't really appeal to me, they don't seem like they'd taste good.

>>18289007
>[x] Let’s talk contractual details

Devil is in the details .

[ ] Let’s talk contractual details

Hey, might as well try to gain some bonuses

Well, we're pretty much fucked and have to do whatever she wants if we want to keep not dying a horrible watery death.

>>18289007
contractual details.

You either can keep me alive without strain, or you can't in either case I'm likely to be the only dead guy to cross through here for quite some time.

With those given facts, and knowing that you need me just as much as I need you, let's get to negotiating.

>>18289007
[x] Nothing. She's in a position of power, and this seems like the worst option, but she wants us alive for some reason. Any reason. So let's be stubborn with her.

Also, glad to see you back in the saddle, Papa-N.

[] anything

>>18289007
>[x] Let’s talk contractual details.
Lets look through the fine print shall we?

“Well, that depends really on what we’re talking about here. I’m going to open up negotiations. Yes I want to live again, but first I want to know the price. Contractual details, lemme hear em.”

The voice is quiet after your speech, for several long seconds that seem to drag on and on.

“I go through all the trouble, use what little power I have left… And you want to talk contractual details?” She sounds frustrated.

You didn’t seem to notice before, but it most certainly is a female voice inside your head. The Freudians in your psych class would have a field day with that…

“Yep. Pretty much.” You shrug, which feels strange considering where you currently are.

“I’m beginning to regret my choice here, mortal…”

“Well you used up the last of your supposed power to bring me back right? So unless I’m mistaken, that puts me in a position of power…”

Water.

Terrible amounts of water flood into your lungs again, and you struggle madly in your bonds.

“Don’t mistake me for a fool… Ever again… I’ve waited far too long indeed, but what’s another hundred years for me to gather up enough to try on some other sap. I need a servant, not an ingrate.”

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!!! You shout in your mind, as it would be impossible for you to speak.

At once, you can breathe again, the water gone from your chest.

>>18289076
Oh god, I just realized something.

Is this witch, that seems to have power over the seas, Ra'lman? (probably spelt it wrong, but you know who I mean)

>>18289076

[] yeah, yeah, I get it, tell me what you want

nice to see you back, btw

>>18289126
I can feel the fishvore overtaking me.

It is a good feel.

>>18289126
Oh. OH. Were gonna get raped, aren't we Papa - N?

>>18289076
Wut nao, papa?

“A servant, eh? You need a servant?”

“As degrading as it is to have to rely on someone, in my current state, yes.”

You mull over the options you have at the moment. Option 1, die. Option 2, bow down and grovel (not your style). Option 3, find out more…

“I would tell you to go with option two, but your pride might make you take option one, so just this once I’ll humor you.”

The bonds around your hands and feet snap, and you rub at your wrists before feeling up the chains. You have to hand it to Marco’s boys, they didn’t half-ass the job. Even with your arms and legs free, you still can’t slip out.

“As you most certainly know by now, I am inside your mind, currently. Which from there makes it easy to guess that I am indeed not human, though I was once. You want contractual details? Fine, I’ll lay them out for you.”

It’s pretty difficult to continue this conversation, with no one to look at. Especially with the other party being a voice you can feel but can’t hear…

“You can serve me, carry out the tasks I give you… Or you can die, plain and simple, the way I know you like it.” The voice finishes.

Ah, a plain and simple woman, as if such a thing were even…

“Hurk!” You gasp as the chains tighten.

“I have little desire to remain on this sea floor any longer, so choose!”

[ ] Alright, alright, I give! I’ll do whatever you want!

[ ] It’s not like I want to be your servant, or anything…

[ ] I’ll take drowning again for 400.

[ ] It’s not like I want to be your servant, or anything…

>>18289172
[] Alright I give!
We can rebel later if we want to. What we want to do now is LIVE.

>>18289172

>[x] Alright, alright, I give! I’ll do whatever you want!

Because hey, they faster we get to walk up to the surface and say "Sup, Marco", the better.

>>18289172
[ ] I’ll take drowning again for 400.

>>18289172
[x] I'll take drowning again for 400.

[x] It’s not like I want to be your servant, or anything…

>>18289172
>[ ] It’s not like I want to be your servant, or anything…

I feel the HUE overtaking me.

>>18289145
>>18289140
>>18289126

Haha, sadly no. You won't see Ra'alman again until Eight's story or her cameo in the post-apoc monster girl quest.

>>18289214
Awwwww. Can she be her great grandmother or something?

>>18289214
Thank Christ.

So the choices are to be a doormat, tsundere, or try to call a possibly nonexistent bluff?

Meh, worse that happens is a badend. The title doesn't give me any confidence this will work, but HEY, why not?

[ ] I’ll take drowning again for 400.

IT'S ONLY HER TWIN SISTER RA'ELMAN

“F-fine! It’s not like I want to be your servant, or anything! Stupid mind woman…”

“…I have little time for jokes…”

Well, whatever. You just need her long enough to get back to the surface, if that is even possible. After that you can ditch her with pills or booze or something. It’s not like she can…

“Read your mind? Yes, I can.”

“Well shit.”

“Indeed. Your servitude to me starts now, so let’s put you to the test shall we?”

“And how are we going to do that, exactly?” You grumble, not liking her teasing tone.

“Simple, I need you to dig.”

“…Dig?”

“Indeed, dig. You see, mortal, there is something buried just under the sea floor, something I need.”

The chains suddenly snap off in pieces, dropping down around the anchor that was holding you in place.

“You see, there is a piece of me buried here. My mind, trapped under this sea for hundreds of years. The ship carrying my mind is right under your feet.”

[x] I’ll take drowning again for 400.

Hey, let's assert some independence here.

“So… You’re an alien?”

A sharp pain twinges in your skull.

“Are you daft!? I already said I was human once! You’re looking for an old Spanish ship, what’s left of it, anyways. Inside you’ll find a small box sealed with wax and covered in crosses. I need that box.”

Looking down, you see only sandy ocean floor, dotted with some rocks and a few sparse sponges and corals. A few yellowtail watch you, as does a grouper from beside the largest of several boulders.

[ ] “…There’s nothing here, though…”

[ ] “How am I supposed to dig up a ship?”

[ ] Start digging, though what good it will do is beyond you.

>>18289321
Start digging. Last thing we need is for her to do the Drownie thing again.

>>18289321
>[x] “How am I supposed to dig up a ship?”

[ ] “How am I supposed to dig up a ship?”

>>18289321
Start digging. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can find Marco and kick his ass.

>[ ] Start digging, though what good it will do is beyond you.

Let's not be stupid, we don't need the ship, just a bow inside of a ship with probably easy entry holes in it.

>SWQ on Saturday
>new quest by Papa-N on Sunday

But I need to sleep once in a while too.

[x] Start digging, though what good it will do is beyond you.
Might as well get it overwith, get to dry land and then to hunting the pigfuckers who tossed us in with that goddamn anchor.

>>18289321
[X] “How am I supposed to dig up a ship?”

huzzah

“So I just need to dig up a box, buried in the wreck of a Spanish ship, with nothing but my hands?”

“Yep.”

“Hooo-kay…” You shrug, which still feels strange.

Kicking your way down to the bottom, you plunge your hands into the sand and start to dig.

…Which doesn’t seem to be getting you anywhere.

Worse yet, every movement picks up sand and sediment and makes the water increasingly cloudy. After a few shovels of your hands, you can’t see shit cap’n.

“Hey, don’t mean to burst your bubble or anything, but this doesn’t appear to be working…”

“Well of course it won’t work if you do it like that! It hardly required the last of my powers to simply spark life anew. A weak and puny mortal isn’t going to be of much use to me, after all.”

You sit and try to process what she’s saying.

"Yes, I imbued you with a taste of power."

"A... Taste?"

"Just punch the sand already..."

First 1d20 determines your first try at your new power.

rolled 17 = 17

>>18289420
Oh boy i hope it's sugar

>>18289374
Were digging up a ship after a magical being brought us back from the dead. It doesn't matter how, we just need to do it.

rolled 1 = 1

>>18289420
rolling

rolled 20 = 20

Powers, it's always powers. Never training or knowledge. Just plot.

rolled 18 = 18

>>18289420
We have sand control powers!

>>18289435
And here comes the HUE HUE HUE, right on schedule too.

rolled 15 = 15

>>18289444
We did get a 20.
but then again.
Noko

>>18289450
Thus, it won't count. We're fucked.

>First 1d20 determines your first try at your new power.
just be grateful that I type slowly

>>18289456
But maybe, just maybe, 1 is not a critical fail as much as is one power that PapaN numbered

"Punch... The sand?"

"Right."

"Welp..."

You raise a fist up above your head, not quite sure what you are expecting. Certainly a punch won't do anything, not underwater where all your movements are slowed so much.

But, figuring its at least worth a shot, you punch the sand.

All at once, a torrent of seafloor explodes around your fist, which drives further and further down. Rocks and shellfish go flying, the white sand whipped up into a maelstrom.

Now you REALLY can't see anything.

"Oi oi! Too much you oaf!"

"Well excuse me, I should have known how hard to do it, what with all my background in being raised from the dead and given some kind of super strength!"

The voice must not see it fit to respond, because it doesn't.

With little else to do, you plunk yourself down next to the crater your fist created and wait. All that sand in the water is going to take a while to dissipate. Might give you a chance to ask her a question.

>Well /tg/, what do you want to ask her?

>>18289489
This is Papa - N, master troll. Trust me, were going to end up with the power of heart or something because of this roll

>>18289495
"So, you said something about a spanish ship... care to elaborate?"

>>18289495
What does she want to tell us about herself? It can't hurt to know more about someone we're going to be spending a lot of time with.

>>18289495
"Why me? Why now? Why not the one of others that Marco must of dumped here?"

>>18289503
Nah, I said I'd take the first roll. Good thing the 1 wasn't first though, otherwise...

>>18289518
We invoke chtullu right?

>>18289495
"So... magic, huh? Who are you anyway?"

>>18289531
Nah, it would have been fish vore.

>>18289495
Who are you?

"So you mind telling me why we're digging up a box with your mind in it? Or how that is even possible?"

You continue to watch the swirling sediment, a hermit crab flying past you, caught in the rapid water.

"An interesting question indeed, and judging from how much free space there is in here, one that will take a lot of explanation to answer..."

"Oh come on, I'm not THAT stupid..."

"I'll keep it brief for now. I was flayed, to put it simply. Torn asunder in hopes that I would never be made whole again. To try to make that more possible, the pieces were scattered across the world. This ship would it have landed, was full of men ready to carry my mind far inland into what was then a new world, untouched by European hands..."

"So this happened a while ago?"

"A while ago in your perspective, yes. Though it certainly hasn't been a short captivity, trapped down here, a few hundred years is little to me."

You lay back on the sand, reach into your pocket, and pull out your cigs. Which are soaking wet and falling apart. Day ruined.

"Here, in this box, lies my mind. The weakest of the pieces. As soon as I get my soul back though..." She makes a delighted noise, as though reveling at the thought.

>>18289602
So if you've been trapped down here, do you know what's been happening elsewhere? History of the world and the progress of technology I mean.

>>18289618
Yeah, lets ask this.

>>18289602
What exactly do you intend to do once you are whole again, Gorge your self on chocolate-icecreme?

"So why me? I'm sure there have been others who've drowned around here."

"Hmm... Why you? I wonder..."

"Quit trying to be so mysterious, its annoying." You frown, though it appears the water is now beginning to clear.

"I'll admit, I needed someone strong, and you are the strongest to have come along, so I chose you."

You aren't exactly sure how to reply to that, but something is bothering you.

"How do you even speak... Talk... How do you know English?"

"I absorbed your information when I found you, that filled in a lot of gaps. Aside from that, I chanced small pieces of my remaining strength to peer into the minds of some of those that have crossed above this place. Gleaning information isn't difficult for me."

Once we're out of here, can we formally introduce ourselves?

>>18289647
So she needs us. We have leverage now, we should keep this in mind.

Wait if her mind is in a box... Then how is she in our head?

>>18289694
I don't know. Probably pic related

"So like...What exactly you are"

"Right... Well why do you..."

"Enough talk, mortal, the water is clearing."

She's right, it is clear enough now that you can see across the chasm your fist created.

The hole you punched, literally, is about ten feet in diameter and just as deep. Walking (which is slow underwater) over to the edge, you peer down inside of it.

Even from here you can see the old timbers, many rotted in half. Most still buried in the sand.

"Good... Yes, I can feel it now, it's close!" The voice sounds excited now, very excited.

"That board, there! Dig under that board!" She shouts loudly inside your mind, which drowns out any thoughts you had.

"All right, all right! Just quit yelling!" You bark, annoyed at the volume, if you can even call it that.

Swimming down into the hole, you pull yourself along with some of the timbers. Though the voice in your head couldn't point, somehow you know the one she meant. As you draw level with it, you reach out to start to dig.

"Wait. Before you reach in, you need to close your eyes."

"What? Why?"

"The crosses!" She says, and it almost feels like she's trying to draw your arm back.

"Crosses? You mean to tell me an immortal or whatever you are is weak to crosses?" You can't help but grin, "What are you, a vampire?"

"Its not the shape you dolt! Platinum, the crosses are made out of platinum. The metal is an anti-magic of sorts, normally too weak to affect me, but in my current state..."

>>18289765
Then lets get the crosses off the box.

>>18289694
its magic she aint gotta explain shit

"How does having my eyes closed make a difference?"

"It will make it easier for me to leave your mind, temporarily. I'll still keep you alive, but I can't risk direct contact through you."

So, rather than plunging your hand in to dig, you grab one of the old boards stuck in the sand and pull it out, figuring the xtra leverage might help. Its remarkably slow going, even with the board, and though you ask a few more questions, the voice seems gone.

The digging takes forever, it seems like for every scoop, two more fill its place.

That is, until, you hit something solid.

That must be it, you suppose. Reaching in to the hole you created, you feel along until your fingertips find something metallic. This you grab hold of, and with a sharp tug, free it from the mud.

The box is actually quite small, not even six inches across. You can see the crosses now, after you brush off the built up sediment. Shiny platinum crosses.

Without any guidance, you do the one thing you can think of...

[ ] Open the box

[ ] Set the box down and ask for instructions

[ ] Rip off the crosses

>>18289821
Rip the crosses off. It's not like we have a better option.

>[x] Rip off the crosses

This

>>18289835
Pretty much. Rip them off.

>>18289821
Rip off the crosses, platinum's insanely valuable yo, pocket that shit.

>>18289835
>>18289837
>>18289842
>>18289846
Watch touching the crosses kills are connection to her.

>>18289846
Smart, I second.

>nlyettr agreeably
>Captcha thirds

take your shirt or another peice of cloth, use it to rip off the crosses without touching them and then wrap them in it. place the wrapped crosses in your pocket and take the box to the surface.
then, place the wrapped crosses somewhere away from you(a few meters should suffice) and seek instructions.

>>18289883
Oh, better Idea, do this.

Err, didn;t we JUST look at the crosses?

>You can see the crosses now, after you brush off the built up sediment. Shiny platinum crosses.

should that be feel? or did we not listen to her and look?

>>18289900
she just wanted our eyes closed so she could temporarily leave i guess its easier that way

>>18289900
>"It will make it easier for me to leave your mind, temporarily. I'll still keep you alive, but I can't risk direct contact through you."

If I got this right, we only closed our eyes for a moment. She left while our eyes were closed. Once she left, we were free to look at the crosses-

Though it takes a bit of time, as the crosses are embedded, the wood is soft enough to allow you to rip them out one by one.

You wrap them inside your sock and pocket them. Hopefully just keeping them away from your skin won't affect the voice of the immortal, or whatever she even is.

"Are you coming back or..."

You grimace as something feels like it pries open your forehead and slips inside. Your brain suddenly feeling a lot more full.

"Ow." You comment dryly.

"You had better be careful with that platinum, in fact I don't even want you holding onto it really. Though having some currency might help, given how shamefully poor you are."

"I prefer to think of it as living spartan." You don't really like being called poor right to your face. Its not as though you couldn't have just as easily been exceptionally wealthy.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself. Even an immortal will tell you that in this world, money is power. Now, open it." The voice says hungrily, and you can almost imagine her like a kid pressed against a candy store window.

Figuring you've come this far, you open the box.

And nothing happens.

"Well that was underwhelming." You comment, just as it sounds like the voice is rocked by simultaneous orgasms.

"Oh, this is soo goood... Its been far too long, far too long..." The voice says pleasurably.

"So now what, you can think or something? How did you even contact me without your mind, if it was stuck in this box?"

"You think too small. Though this box can trap my mind, I can work around it, to a certain degree. But now, oh yes now, my powers..." She laughs, tone mirthless.

"Now I'm one step closer." She coos.

"Great, don't sound like an evil villain or anything, some maniacal laughter might be fitting."

"Hush yourself, fool. Now find us a way back to land, I have little desire to remain down here any longer."

"You say that..." You mutter, looking around. To be frank, you have no idea which direction shore is even in, though looking at the tides... You could follow them and hope they lead you back to land rather than out to sea.

"Can't you, you know, magic us up a boat, or something?"

"My powers aren't some kind of party trick."

"So no, I guess."

[ ] Try to walk back to shore along the bottom, safe from any prying eyes

[ ] Resurface and try to hitch a ride on any nearby boat

[ ] Climb an anchor chain and see if you can ride back to shore stealthily

Let's try to get a ride

[ ] Try to walk back to shore along the bottom, safe from any prying eyes

[ ] Try to walk back to shore along the bottom, safe from any prying eyes

Resurface and hail a boat. Fuck stealth, I've been dead for almost an hour now and need a fucking cigarette.

>>18290064
Walk back to shore. Marco is gonna get fucked up!

>>18290064
Another vote for walking. Will take a while, but if we keep our eyes peeled, might find some more neat shit. We could use some more liquid capital.

>>18290179
Long viewing distance underwater in Florida.

yeah walk back

Just looked up a platinum value calculator, 1 oz. of 80% pure platinum is worth 1,224.64, and that's by weight.

a fluid ounce of platinum, weighs 24 ounces, that's a pound and a third

given that an ounce is a rather small volume, we may have just earned a great deal on cash.

"Well, I don't really fancy running back into Marco yet I don't think... Hey, how bulletproof am I?"

"Idiot, how would I know that? Firearms were in their infancy when I was strewn about this world, and you're the first familiar I've ever been forced to chain, which was never something I wanted to do."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"You don't need to know, now get walking."

With a sigh, you do just that. Walking along the seafloor is slow going, but at least down here no one can see you. It gives you some time to evaluate just what you've gotten yourself into. Though the scope of it still remains far from your grasp, especially considering how she doesn't seem to be giving up too much information.

"Am I even going in the right direction?" You ask after a few hundred yards.

"Yes. You're instincts were correct to follow the tides, you knew the tide was going in at this time of day, you just didn't know that you knew that."

Well that small victory gives you something at least, to prove you aren't as stupid as she might think.

"This is going to take a while, you know. I still have some questions, things I'd like to know."

The voice sighs, loudly, as though exasperated with you like you were some kind of pesky dog.

"Questions, questions. You mortals and your insistent curiosity. You're almost as bad as Caesar, he never shut up."

[x] Climb an anchor chain and see if you can ride back to shore stealthily

>>18290218

the crosses are probably old, handmade works of art. made of platinum.

Yeah, we made a bit more then just it's weight in platinum.

Alternatively, we can keep them in case we ever get into a fight with a magical whatever somwhere down the line since they seem to be effective against magical dickery.

>>18290239
>You're instincts were

Your instincts were

>>18290239
"Wait, you knew Caesar? THE Julius Caesar? "
We must ask this.

>>18290239

ask her what her name is(or what names she used in the last several thousand years), how old she is, who she is, what she is, what can she do

>>18290284

That's kinda meta dude.

But I would like to hear what she has to say about caesar, since our character seems to be somewhat familiar with him already.

"Hold the fuck up, Caesar? As in Julius Caesar?"

"Yes, and?"

"You knew him? You're that old?!" You ask, quite shocked.

"Older even still, but yes I knew him. He took me along with him back to Rome, but that was before the height of my power. Even then, he only sought to use me as a tool, the arrogant fool."

You take time to snag an anchor off the bottom, and testing out your strength, you find you can swing it quite easily by the chain, even underwater. With a toss, you send it flying through the water for a good hundred yards before it careens back to the seafloor.

"So you're saying Caesar. THE Caesar. Was an idiot?"

"Well to be fair, he had a wicked intellect and an insatiable thirst for power of his own. It took me a while to realize that I was being used, I was much more naive back then."

"So what did you do about it? Escape?"

The voice giggles, but not in a pleasant way.

"Flee? No, mortal, I did not run."

"So what did you do?"

She seems to ponder the question for a moment, even as you leap over an old wrecked cigar boat with relative ease.

"Weakened the empire from the inside, seated foolish Emperors and bent the Empire to my own needs."

"And after that?"

"Hmm? When it finally lived out its usefulness, I brought about its fall."

Ask how tall Caesar was.

>>18290355
I like her, shes practical.

>>18290355
"So, wait wait wait. How i didn't hear about Little Girls destroying whole empires?"

>>18290355
We just freed something that manipulated an empire into the ashes. We may have just doomed the world. Fuck.

That gives you reason for pause. If she isn't bluffing, that certainly isn't some cheap magic trick.

"I already told you, mortal, my powers are no mere trick."

Looking longingly at the pack of cigarettes in your hand, you toss them aside. While she may have brought you back to life, it doesn't appear she's freed you of any addictions.

"So how did you even do something like that?" You wonder out loud.

"Men are such juvenile creatures. Dangle gold in front of them and they will slay each other to the last man to obtain it. Rome was bait enough in itself, all I had to do was orchestrate from the shadows."

"Like what? How even? I mean, it was huge!"

"As I said, I weakened it from the inside. The dawn of Christianity assisted, gave me another pawn on the board. Though I never expected it to become so... Well..." She trails off, and you don't expect her to continue on that track even if pressed.

>what ask?

>>18290436
So what exactly ARE you?

so she brought down the most powerful empire in history just to get back at a guy who used her.... guys we do not want to fuck with her or piss her off

>>18290436
Lets ask her name, or what we can call her. "Lady In My Head" Doesn't seem to be a good idea.

>>18290453
this would be nice to know

>>18290411
meh, let her have her fun. It's not like she can screw the world over much more then we can on our own.

>>18290436
"so, how old are you anyway?"

If she tells us that asking a lady her age is rude, tell her we don't give and fuck and want to know anyway.

>>18290411
Indeed. We need a plan.

How many other empires has she done this too?

>>18290470
Hear this plan:
Cham our way to unlimited power

>>18290479
im guessing all of them maybe ive just been playing too much mass effect but maybe were restarting a cycle

So she predates Rome. I'm thinking she may be of a Babylonian origin.

Ask her what name we should use to address her.

"So what are you, exactly?"

"Many things, though your language is so dull as to make it difficult to describe. I suppose for lack of a better word you may just think of me as a witch of sorts. Though perhaps I'm being too harsh, language itself may not be capable of such a description."

You scratch your head, thinking about it. If all of this is true, you may have unknowingly done something very, very bad. If she was willing to use an Empire for her own gains... What does that mean for you? The voice doesn't seem to have a response to those thoughts.

"Come to think of it, what can I even call you? I'm tired of thinking of you as "voice in my head" and all that."

"Hmm? A name? I've gone by many names, mortal. Though I suppose if you require something to refer to me as, you may call me The One Who Watches, or perhaps The Lady of the Grove, or perhaps..."

"I'm not calling you any of those things!"

"Feh. I suppose a mere "Master" might suffice."

You scowl.

"I'm not calling you that, either."

"Such disrespect! I'd drown you, if you had already lived out your worth. I suppose if I've no choice, you can refer to me as those whom you call the Celts did, as Caesar did."

"Which is?"

"Kiara."

>>18290541
"Such a cute name for such a destructive lady"

>>18290541
"OK Kiara, whats the plan then? What do you need me to do?"

What it is
> The Lady of the Grove
what i read
> The Lady of the Groove
what i thought
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAMt_XPvoQY

"Kiara..."

"Yes."

"I was expecting something more..."

"Sinister? You can call me The Bringer of Ruin, if you prefer."

"I like Kiara better, not as many syllables."

The witch replies with just a small grunt of acknowledgement.

"So, Kiara. Am I alive again, I mean, breathing down here and all..."

"You are neither dead nor alive, as I am." the witch says simply, as though that would quell all of your questions.

Great.

You think to yourself.

Just great. Here you are, at the bottom of the ocean, walking toward shore. You've somehow agreed to help an immortal witch who, according to her, has destroyed Empires. You aren't sure what Marco is going to do when he finds that your body is gone, but he sure isn't going to just sit there. Worse than everything, though, is the fact that you can't light up down here.

"So what's the plan, then? I mean after we get back to shore and whatnot?"

"I'm going to need time to gather information, but next I would prefer to pursue my soul."

Whether its the fact that you just don't want to know, or are simply too mentally exhausted to want to know more, you let the conversation peter off.

The ocean floor is beginning to slope up now, increasing quite rapidly. The water overhead growing nearer and nearer.

Soon you find yourself breaching the surface, stepping onto the beach, and looking a VERY alarmed old fisherman right in the eye.

>what do you say?

>>18290612

haha, oh wow my sides

>>18290654
Got a smoke?

>>18290654
"you wouldn't happen to have a cigarette and a light, would you?"

And, I'm off to sleep, hope to catch this in the archives sometime tomorrow.

>>18290654
Nice day for a stroll, eh?

Got a smoke?

>>18290654
...Riptides

>>18290654
"Got a light?"

"Crazy Weather, huh?"

"Wow, those are some riptides eh? Got a cig I can bum?"

The old man blinks rapidly, still unsure of what he just saw. You pick off some errant seaweed as you wait for a response.

"I... Don't smoke? Bad for you, you know." He finally replies.

Fucking health movements...

So along the beach you trudge, still cigarette-less, growing more and more irritable by the second.

"Maybe you should just quit?" Kiara says, a faint teasing tone to her voice.

"After today? Un-fucking-likely."

Thankfully Key West is bristling with stores, so you trek toward the line of buildings, muttering about "smoke free this, and against tobacco that..."

Finally you thrust a ten dollar bill into a clerk's hands, while he looks quite annoyed with you leaving a pool of water on the floor (and a small, flailing crab).

"Thanks." You mutter gruffly, before stepping back outside and scrambling the lighter out of your pocket, shoving two cigarettes into your mouth, and lighting both of them.

"How vulgar..." Kiara scoffs.

"I don't want to hear that from you." You scowl.

"We're wasting time, I need to find information."

"Great, well when you get some idea of where to go for information on finding hidden witch souls, you let me know. Until then, I'm going to enjoy my smoke."

A mother rushes her two kids past you hurriedly, looking back at you like you are some crazy guy talking to himself.

Oh wait.

"Spare a Square, Cowboy?"

>>18290768
We need to go home, and THEN talk to Kiara. Otherwise we look like a fucking crazy person

>>18290796
I'm not sure Home is a safe place

>>18290612
And now I'm going to be listening to Funk all night long...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xJWQPdG7jE&feature=related

Oh fuck WHERE'S MY CAR!?!

Those motherfuckers better not have touched my goddamn car!

"Information... Information..." Kiara thinks out loud. Well, out loud in your mind.

"You mean you, the Lady of the Groove and the immortal toppler of empires and all that jazz, don't even know where to start?" You can't help but laugh a bit.

"Shut up before I shut you up. I haven't set foot on land in half a millenia or more, I still don't know everything about the world today."

You just grunt in response, trying to find your bearings to head back home. Drawing attention to yourself isn't a good idea, though most would write you off as just another of the local crazies.

[ ] Head home. Your car and weapons are there, as well as a small bit of cash.

[ ] Head to a small dive bar, find somewhere you can sit down out of earshot

>head somewhere else?

>>18290803
A bar then? Won't look AS crazy their, people will just think we had WAAAY to much to drink.

>>18290828
>>18290810
>Groove
I'm completely okay with this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i46N2ZFPb0

Trying to think of a good quest title as well, so if you have an idea don't hesitate to post it

>>18290654

From the wiki:

Kiara is a female given name and is pronounced /kiˈɑrə/ kee-ar-ə.

It means "small, dark thing" in Swahili...

>>18290859
Dead Men Tell No Tales?

>>18290828
I don't think House it's safe but let's just check out from a distance
>>18290859
Zombies & Witches: The Quest

>>18290859

Wayward Witch? *shrug*

I like this quest, I'm imagining Hunter S. being followed around by a spindly teenage girl :3

>>18290768
wait if shes in our head can she feel the nicotine too? or say we get drunk will she?

>aldri withdrawn
yes captcha i just went to the store so no nicotine withdrawls huzzah!

>>18290828
Check house out first, if being watched, head to bar, if not watched, head inside, get guns and money, and then head to bar.

yeah id say quick in and out of the house then bar

>>18290901

Hehe

Zombie & Witch: Episode 2; Dude Where's my Car?

>>18290926

>>18290853
You know some parts of this song can be compared to this quest
more especifically

"Only the wind can blow the answer
And she cries to me when I'm asleep
She says you know that you can go much faster
I know that peoples' talk can be so cheap
Yeah yeah
I got this voodoo child inveined on me
I'm gonna use my power to ascend"

Walking proves to be slow going, so you hitch a ride in one of the numerous taxis and pay the driver to park you nearby your place, but far enough away to not be seen if anyone is still lurking there.

Though you're low on cash, you figure the platinum crosses are worth a pretty penny. Also, you aren't even sure if money will be an object when Kiara regains her full powers, whatever that will entail.

"You aren't going to destroy the world, are you?" You groan.

"Hardly. I live here as well, don't I? No, I have specific prey and the world is not it."

You'd keep asking more, but you're almost in sight of your apartment.

Slowly you peer around the corner of a building, eying the place up. Though it doesn't appear anyone is there, the lights off and the door left open, you can't be sure.

"There isn't anyone there." Kiara confirms, as though its something you should have known.

Well, that ability of hers might come in handy.

"Quit referring to me in such a way, whelp." She causes a sharp pang in your head.

Despite that, there's one thing you care to check on more than whatever Marco's goons left behind in your house, or what they stole if anything.

"Oh? You're worried about that old piece of trash? You know its well within my power now to just trick our way into something new."

"Trash? My car is hardly TRASH! You just can't appreciate it's beauty, you were stuck in an ancient underwater shipwreck."

"You weren't alive when it was made."

"Touche, but I still love my car."

>>18290926

I don't just like it, I love it.

What's our age again?

>>18288949
How would it have gone if we went for the Draco?

The "might not want to kill you" was pretty misleading when we didn't know much. Pistol was an obvious death.

Hope this isn't too linear.

>>18291027
Would have gotten shot full of holes and dumped in the water, I think.

"Oh baby, daddy was so scared they would have messed with you..." You run your hand along the hood, loving the feel despite needing some serious levels of bodywork.

"This is pathetic..."

"Shut up, you. Its our ride, and you're just going to have to deal with it."

"Whatever, I don't even care. Just find somewhere I can get the information I need."

You ignore Kiara for the time being as you unlock the car and hop in. Sure enough, Marco's goons didn't loot it. Your Draco is still concealed in the side panel, it's wire folding stock closed just like you left it.

"Oh that's a relief is it? You can punch a crater in the ocean floor and you're relieved to have that... Thing?"

"Until I find out how bulletproof I am, not that I want to find out, I don't plan on getting close enough to have to rely on punching people." You frown as you check the magazine, which is still capped full of rounds.

"Such a brutish thing... You men and your weapons, knowing nothing of elegance."

"Quit talking down to me, this thing might keep us alive you know. Now, where should we go?"

Kiara sighs, loudly. You aren't even sure how that's possible, but she does it. With such strength, it seems, that it causes you to sigh along with her. You don't like that, not one bit.

"I already told you, I don't know where to go for information."

"Well I sure as shit don't have any ideas on where to look something like this up!"

Both of you, or rather just you and her in your mind, sit there in your hot car. It seems neither of you know where to turn to find information about the whereabouts of a long dead-ish witch's soul.

You might be able to figure something out, if you can just come up with the right question...

>so what do you ask?

>>18291069
>>18291027

Pretty much this. You would have already been dead when they dropped your body to the bottom, and would have missed out on the (brief) conversation with Marco.

>>18290998
>>18290991

Yayeveryonelikesthethingiposted!.jpg

>>18290946

24 I believe?

>>18291092
"So who exactly 'flayed' you?"

>>18291092

Are you looking for a person, location or object?

>>18291092
sort of off topic but apparently our father is a mafia boss yes? so is the draco semi or full auto

>>18291092
"Do you know the name of the ship the box was on?"

>>18290998
>>18291108

Yep, 24

>>18291092
What time period were your memories split up in?
Were they all placed in similar boxes?
What was the group that split them up?

What name did those who imprisoned you know you by? And did they have a name for themselves? The inquisition perhaps?

>>18291113
Seconded

and in the box, was it actually her brain or part of her "mind"?

>>18288732
insert nobody expects the inquisition pun here

>>18291113
>1st question right on the money
>further evidence /tg/ is the smartest board

"Well it might help if I knew who chopped you into bits and scattered those chunks around, you know?"

Kiara thinks for a moment, or at least that's how you perceive it.

"I already mentioned Christianity, didn't I?"

"You did."

"Well I admit, that was one force I hadn't expected, and faith it seems is stronger in some then even greed. You've heard of the crusades, haven't you?"

You mess with the shift knob idly, and nod.

"Well, despite what you've been told, those didn't just happen for religious reasons. No, the church was searching for something, specifically, me."

"You? Why were they after you?"

"A radical witch with the power to topple empires? Hmm, I wonder? You idiot, don't you think that some would find my powers enticing? I already told you Caesar himself was trying to manipulate me for his own gains."

"Right, but how does the church fit in to that?"

"Well they were after me for a plethora of reasons. I was, and still am, an affront to their faith. My power would have easily seated themselves as the dominant force in the world, which happened anyways, and they didn't want any other group taking advantage of them."

"So they started the crusades just to find you? Couldn't you have, I dunno, just wiped them all out? Massive tsunami or something?"

"Its difficult to manifest my abilities in such a way, to that kind of scale. I may be immortal, and quite powerful, but something like that would have taken a great deal of magic, and I was already weakened at the time."

"Weakened?"

>>18291272
>Christianity
>Her memories are probably hidden in relics
Well this just got interesting, Relic Hunter quest is a go?
Breaking into the Vatican? Tracking down shrines? Sounds like fun.

>>18291272
yay i'm smart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JkIs37a2JE&feature=related

It's groove time

>>18291307
We're going to become Indiana Jones, except with Mafia ties, a spirit in our head, and more automatic weapons than the third reich.

"Despite what you might think, I'm not entirely malicious. I spent a great deal of time staving off plagues and the like, which is quite draining work. Much easier to cause them. The land was also quite starved of magic at the time, only complicating matters."

"So the church came to hunt you down... And succeeded?"

"Eventually, yes." Kiara affirms, "Though it took quite a while, and I fended off many an attack, eventually I was taken. About the 1300's I believe."

You stick the keys in the ignition, but don't turn them, still listening.

"So that's when they split you up?"

"Well, not quite. For a long time they just held me as best they could, though I did my best to lash out. You're familiar with the Black Death, yes?"

You chew on the end of the cigarette a bit, thinking about exactly what she's implying.

"Eventually they found a way, their secretive order, the arm of their witch hunters. They would translate to something like "The Bleeding Sword" in your language, an order that was founded to hunt down those like myself."

This makes you raise your eyebrow, quite surprised.

"So there are more like you?"

"None quite like me, no. Young girls and some boys with a blessed gift of magic, most on a very minute scale. Slain, even still today."

"The sword guys are still around?"

"Very much so, I believe anyways. Likely hidden well within whatever structure the church has nowadays, unbeknownst to those except at the highest levels."

"...You're telling me the Pope knows about a secret order or something that hunts and kills witches?"

"Indeed."

>>18291365
So we're helping a genocidal witch.
Wonderful.
Likelihood she will try and take revenge once she regains all her memories?

>>18291365
Ask if the church uses magic as well, or if they rely more on their 'anti-magic' platinum crosses.

>>18291365
>Kiara Caused the Black Death.
Welp. Its confirmed. We may end up killing the world by having released her.

>inb4 our father is a witch hunter

Woot, new Papa-N quest!

>>18291307
I was just thinking this.
Relic Hunter quest, now starring Indiana jones and the many crusades against a witch in our newly refurbished head.

Damn, now I'm picturing her sitting in a sofa in our head, in some nice old English-style appartment room sipping wine.

>>18290355
>>little girl bringing about end of the roman fucking empire, writing off everything.

Pretty stupid choice Papa.

>>18290541
>Master, implying it's male instead of

How about asking what will happen to the protagonist when we get her her soul, or whatever other goals?

Once the witch finds out we are an heir to an empire, even a small criminal one, I am willing to bet she will want us to control it.

Mafia Boss Quest here we come!

"Oh, so this should all be a walk in the park then!" You shake your head, aggravated.

"What makes you even think we stand a chance? I'm just one dude, in an old car, with a cheaply converted and highly illegal automatic rifle."

"Precisely, they won't be expecting you."

"Oh, yeah, that makes me feel a WHOLE lot more confident." You groan, sinking down into the worn leather seat and again wondering just what the fuck you've gotten yourself into.

"Why should I even help you at this point? You aren't going to unleash some kind of hell virus if you ever get back together, are you?"

"Of course not! Enough chatter, think of somewhere to go for information!" Kiara hounds you.

Oh yeah, that certainly quells any suspicions you had.

>Where do you start looking? Beat up some priests for info? A library? The internet?

>>18291418
What a Tweest!

Could these witch hunters detect that you are freeing yourself? Also how far spread are they? Worlwide? Europe only? Americas? China? I can't imagine its easy to keep track of the 6 billion people around.

Also could these fledgling witches be gathered and used? Using the fact that an order of blood thirsty catholics are hunting you is a powerful incentive to trust the guy with the voice in his head.

>>18291418
damn beat me to it

>>18291435
Internet. Perfect for this kind of thing.

>>18291429
>Implying I'm going to spoil the really fun thread I have planned where you find out more

Not in the first one, but rest assured I'm not just writing all of that off

I don't feel our character is the inquisitive type as much as someone more invested in their own interest, I.e., cars and guns. If this witch is as smart and powerful as she says she is she probably will be reluctant to tip her hand to a pawn like us this early in the game.

Let's go sell this platinum and get working on the car, maybe get a shiny new gun and some drugs(because we deserve it, right?) If this girl wants to tell us more she will when she's ready.

>>18291435
Get the platinum valued at a pawnshop perhaps? Or a goldsmiths?

>>18291435
If there is something weird in the world, than that thing is in the internet.

>>18291481
id say goldsmiths or something a pawnshop would just low ball us hard

As far as information the only thing I can think of is going to the university and tracking down a history professor. We could explain it that we are a history buff and are very interested in the various witch hunts and orders that the Catholic Church went about.

>>18291435
Library for a quick check for any books mentioning Kiara, then internet. Search for stuff about Kiara first, then have a look at any conspiracy theories online about the church. B&E at the local church can wait, we're in no particular hurry to alert them to our presence, and neither is Kiara.

>>18291435
To the internet!
In particular look up theories about the church, and buyers for Genuine platinum Spanish crosses.

>>18291499
>Implying Professor wouldn't be in on the conspiracy.
This is not a good idea. The 'Net can get us the same info with less risk of exposure.

>>18291488
>>18291509
Conspiracy theorist sites, look for mentions of "The Bleeding Sword"

>>18291534
yeah, I mean, SOME conspiracy nuts gotta have the truth right?

Well, despite that bit of sarcasm, it's probably still our best option right now. Although I would like to see the priest option for the HUEHUE factor of it.

>>18291532
If they're that competent and wide-spread, they're probably going to keep tabs on people googling conspiracies about the church as well, especially ones which are far too close to the truth.

>>18291555
If nothing else, its to get some basic information from groups that have already done research.

Even if they are wrong, if we can follow up some of their sources we may be able to find the group.

>>18291563
Oh i find it hard.
I'm pretty sure they just ignore that kinda of people

>>18291092
Either it's a full sized rifle with a sixteen inch barrel minimum and 26 (or is it 28) inches overall, that weapon is a registered (and stored improperly) SBR or he's carrying an illegal firearm. Just saying.

>>18291365
What the fuck? 1300s? A spanish ship off the coast of florida wouldn't be from the 1300s when Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492.

>>18291567
Yeah, was more of a lash out to conspiracy nuts than to you, tbh.

Still supporting teh internet.

"Right, well. Rest assured, if I find out you are plotting the Apocalypse, I'm playing the hero card and shooting myself in the head." You tell Kiara.

"Fair enough, mortal. It seems you've come up with a plan."

"That I have. If there's one place you can go for obscure as fuck information with little to go on, I know just where it is."

...

Kiara seems... Less than impressed by your choice.

"Why are we HERE?" She asks, and you can imagine her looking around, frustrated.

The small internet cafe certainly doesn't appear like the kind of place one would go to on their search to find the soul of a witch.

"Trust me, this thing called the internet? It has pretty much everything."

"Oh I can tell, it appears you've spent a lot of time on it. Some of these memories are quite interesting, a bit lonely, were you?"

"You don't need to be shuffling through that part of my brain!!!"

Your outburst draws quite a few looks from the other patrons.

"Voices in my head, CIA watching me and all of that." You shrug.

The other people at the cafe just nod, and you can tell each of them is just chalking it up to the location. Lots of "flavorful" locals in Key West.

Now, where to begin...

You sit staring at the blank screen. You hadn't though this far ahead.

"So how are we going to find a box with your soul in it, exactly? I mean, what am I looking for?"

"A box?" Kiara giggles softly, "No, mortal. No mere BOX could contain my soul."

"Ooo-kay. So again, what am I looking for here?"

"It would have to be quite an imposing structure, and likely one that would have changed over the ages. My soul would have deteriorated any place that it sat for too long, its highly corrosive, in a sense."

"Right..."

Well, lets start with what we KNOW about this chick.

She says a lot about herself, but she could be a liar. Or self-aggrandizing. I sincerely doubt she was behind the fall of Rome or the rise of Christianity. She probably encouraged them, but isn't solely responsible for them.

And how do we know she's that old anyway? Because she told us? We know she's at least as old as the ship, and is powerful enough to save us from drowning and give us a megaton punch (which we should be thankful for) and that the church had dedicated witch-hunters back in the day (hence her brain being lock in a box and shipped to Hispaniola).

When we research this witch we should be careful not to dig deep enough to upset the Malleus Malificarum in case they're still kicking, and find corroborating evidence for her claims.

>>18291589
Dude we just discovered that a little girl caused the black death.
Everything in history is a lie

>>18291589
CONSPIRACY

>>18291589
Yeah, its not exactly legal, at all in fact. Its a draco with a folding stock, which would be a legal SBR in FL. Only it's been converted to be f/a, so yeah...

The church didn't rip her up until the 1400's. One of the early Spanish vessels shortly after Columbus was carrying her mind.

>>18291589
It's already mentioned it's illegal. Btw OP, it's illegal under federal law. So FBI/ATF could get involved.

Also, calling BS no government would find out about these witches, and only the Catholic Church would know.

>"Voices in my head, CIA watching me and all of that." You shrug.
I love you Papa-N

>>18291589
She already said she wasn't immediately killed and shipped off. She was held for a long long time.

>>18291609
Has been around a long time, has changed over the ages...Most major cities fit this bill. We need more info to go on. Rome is a likely candidate though.

"I"ll take drowning for 400" and the choice before really would have been better. I mean--this guy is a bit too subservient to a seriously fucked up and dangerous being.

>>18291611
Kiara is pretty sure they're still around, though more hidden
>>18291609
This sounds like a church. Do we have to blow the thing up to free her soul, or will a nifty ritual do the trick without alerting a lot of people we don't want to deal with?

Look for buildings with lots of platinum engravings. Problably a cathedral or church since they seem holy symbols were part of which trapped her. Proabably built around the 1500-1600s since she mentioned gunpowder

>>18291674
yeah, was thinking of a church too. But which one? something that has to get renovated a lot or so.

>>18291662
She wouldn't have let us die, and just would have taken over by force. This way, we at least have some autonomy.

>MFW everyone wants to get on the internet and noone wants to get guns and drugs and drive around looking for danger

:<

Srsly u guize, we got supahpowerz, money to blow and a fast car, let's go to vegas!

Because.. there's artifacts there.

Yes. Artifacts. MANY, in fact.

>>18291609
Why do I suddenly have the feeling her soul is in the goddamn Statue of Liberty?

>so much good dialogue
>I want to address it all!
But I'll get back to writing, more information will surface, I assure you.


"So lets see here..."

You quickly type in "Witch soul locations" into duckduckgo.

Sure enough, that wasn't overly helpful...

"Yeah this is going to be more difficult than I had anticipated..."

Several hours into the search, and a pack worth of smokes later, you've found...

"Nothing..." You groan, sitting back in the chair.

"Not nothing, names. We've found names. And places..." Kiara says quietly.

Oh yeah, places of giant structures that could potentially contain a witch's soul, and a few names.

David McGruff, a professor of some kind at a small university in Alabama. A tidbit alluded to him being a scholar dedicated to ancient church history. Apparently interested in the Spanish Inquisition, and a leading expert according to a site with a layout from 1997.

Some conspiracy nut with the username "fuckwomen" who is quite sure there are death squads rounding up and killing people off, man.

Father Kenzington, well, ex-father you suppose. Excommunicated from the church after a controversial article on the crusades.

"Boy, these are some great leads... What's next, ancient aliens?"

As far as places, there are more than you can count. Old abandoned churches, secretive military bases, blown out nuclear reactors... Too many to list.

>>18291729
To recent. Were looking for something 500 to 400 years old, that has been either in construction for a long time or constantly renovated.

>>18291662
Agreed.

How about we focus on Kapernieks' priorities?

First, buy a pre-paid cell phone. Call dads' personal phone #, tell him that they tried to kill you but did a half-ass job. Depending on whether he believes or will do anything, report it to the police.

"Super strength" isn't *too* useful, but then it's best for it's more utilitarian uses.

Sell crosses off of auction site, use that money to have a gunsmith make platinum bullets. Get gloves for handling said ammo.

Guys, you know where it's hidden.
St. Petes Basilica

>>18291695
How old is notre damne?

>>18291762
That was one of my first thoughts, but how often has it been renovated? When did it start and finish construction? These are the main questions.

>>18291695
My guess is something central and important. I think (my knowledge of religious history is pretty poor) that catholicism was the main/only christian group around the time Kiara got caught, so my guess is something in Rome.

I think we need more information before we decide on what to do though. We can't go around randomly blowing up old churches.

Knowing people I can imagine that the church will have indoctrinated witches to hunt heretic and pagan witches. I suggest we chase down taht history professor first, then the excommunicated preist afterwords. But first we need a break. Let go grab a drink somewhere.

>Father Kenzington
seems to be the most solid lead, after that the history professor.

And for those that want to go off on adventure, don't forget she can stop us in our tracks with surges of pain etc.

>>18291750
Actually, why not also get a new phone, plus some cheap earphone-microphones or a earset? It doesnt even need service. It"ll make us look like we're talking on the phone whenever instead of ourselves.

>>18291611

Who burned the witches?
>http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=4005

"Well, we certainly will have to narrow it all down, won't we?" Kiara muses.

You can't help but feel she's quite relaxed about all of this.

"I'm attentive, I assure you. I am also enjoying being free of the ocean depths, so excuse me if I seem a bit distant."

"Well I'm glad you can be so relaxed." You groan, resting your head on your arms, feeling quite tired.

You think it best to track down one of these leads, probably, though where to start is beyond you. At the same time, the though has crossed your mind to call your Dad and let him know what went down with Marco. Though you have little desire to ever speak with him again.

"Daddy issues? Dohoho..." She mocks you.

"Shut up. I have every right to never want to see or speak to that man again damn it."

"Whatever, its beneath my concern. We need to find out more, lets track down one of these people." Kiara presses.

"Fine, whatever. Which nut case do you want to try first?"

[ ] Ex-clergyman

[ ] Professor

[ ] Online conspiracy nut

[X] Ex-clergyman

>>18291762
This looked more promising to me

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-santa-croce-in-gerusalemme

It's old, it's been repeatedly rennovated (without having been sacked, etc.) and it's in Rome.

>>18291820
The men who just tried to kill you work for your dad. Calling him is a pretty damn good and convenient choice. Seconding using a pre-paid cellphone so we won't be tracked as easily.

Let's go with whoever is closest. Barring that, online guy since we just need to talk to him online.

[x] Ex-clergyman

>>18291820
Conspiracy nut would be the easiest probably. Lets do them first

>>18291820
[X] Ex-clergyman

>>18291820
Conspiracy nut first, then clergy man when we have more info.

>>18291847
Good Find.

>24 years old
>beach bum
>awesome car
>guns
>don't give a fuck attitude
>die, get superpowers, and a couple thousand dollars in platinum
>suddenly become (possibly) evil witch's bitch boy

No fucking way man, I'M the one with the body here, and there are drugs out there I haven't taken yet and women I haven't fucked yet and my car is being held together with duct tape, this shit can WAIT.

>>18291820
Online Guy. Less likely to be in on the whole thing, and if push comes to shove, he won't be missed...
Possible Buildings that could be home to Kiara's soul in Rome, with dates they were built.

Santa Maria della Consolazione (1506)
Santa Maria di Loreto (1507)
Santa Maria in Porta Paradisi (rebuilt in 1523)
San Gregorio della Divina Pietà or San Gregorio a Ponte Quattro Capi (ante 1403)
Sant'Onofrio al Gianicolo (1439)
San Giacomo degli Spagnoli or Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore (1450)
Santa Maria della Pace (1482)
Sant'Agostino (1483)
San Pietro in Montorio (1500)
Santa Barbara dei Librai (1306)
Santa Maria dell'Anima (after 1350) (This one seems the most likely, since its name literally means "Our Lady of the Soul"

>>18291873
Actually, change my vote to what
>>18291856
said

[x] Professor
and BTW how are we gonna get to these places?

>>18291882
This. The witch can wait since she's fine with relaxing.

Calling dad should be the first thing we do.

Both the clergy and the professor could have ties to the witch-hunters so going after them carries a bit of risk. Still I think the professor would have the msot information and be the least suspicious. Someone who actively studies history is sure to get visitors like us who are curious about the periods he is an expert in.

Well you figure it might be easiest to start with the conspiracy nut, as he lists his phone number right underneath a the "ancient aliens" section. Which only makes you doubt this choice further, but you'll hit up the ex-clergyman as soon as you're done here since he's closer than the professor.

It was pretty easy to find out someone's location these days, and you found that Mark Kenzington lives in St. Augustine, which is a drive but certainly closer than 'bama.

Its pretty convenient that the cafe also sells cheap tracphones, one of which you buy. You aren't exactly a cell-phone kind of dude.

"Quite an interesting piece of technology..." Kiara muses, as though giving it a look.

After activating the device, your fingers hover over the buttons.

You could call your dad, let him know what happened with Marco. At the same time, you wouldn't care too much if he ever found out. There's a reason you left home all those years ago.

Or you could just dial up this nut and hope he doesn't just want to talk nonsense.

>your choice

>>18291885
Little more on Our Lady of the Soul: Started construction in mid 1300's. Re-built in 1500. Was once a German seminary (Something that would have required modifications.)
The court yard also has some old architecture in it.

Talking to the ONLINE guy is the easiest choice.

Hell, we can just email and IM the other guys too instead of driving all the way there.Considering what we're dealing with, better to be safe and smart.

>>18291995
Call the Nut first, then Dad.

>>18291995
Call dad. If he knows, he can act on the fact some of his goons tried to kill his damn son and make it look like a fishing accident.

>>18291995
call nut first, do dad afterwards.

>>18291995
"Hey Daddio, guess what our good friend Marco tried to do to me?"

While the online dude is an option, there is the chance that his number is a fake, due him being a conspiracy nut. Getting rather quick revenge on Marco will produce immediate results.

Wait a tick, did not the witch say she could read the minds of those who passed on? If she can then it would be a good Idea to pick one experts who have died recently and have her pick their brains

>>18291995

Call dad. Even if you don't like em familys still family.

>>18292049
Emailing or instant messaging the three (if possible) is the most convenient and less compromising choice.

>>18292049
The result of that would be a gang war in the middle of Florida. We don't want that. We want to remain low-key for the moment, and calling a hit on someone isn't the way to do that.

>>18291995
Father first. Revenge on the guys who dumped us in the ocean is worth dealing with our bastard of a father for a few minutes.

Any more specifics Kiara can give us on the type of structure which would be needed to house her soul would be helpful to narrow down the possibilities that we already have.

>>18292057
probably only from those that die around her.

>>18292086
This assumes Marco isn't part of the same gang and not a cell.

And, low key? Without moving out, it"ll become evident we're still alive. The longer we wait to take action (call police or dad), the worse it is for us.

>>18292130
You just killed your bosses son. You obviously aren't working for him anymore. Or our dad wanted us wacked, which means calling him now would be awkward for all involved. Either way, we don't want to get Marco wacked by Daddy. We want to do it ourselves.

You don't feel like talking to your father. Not now, and perhaps not ever again. You really don't like him, and maybe if he were to actually believe you had died, he would quit trying to pull you back.

Despite that, you punch in the number. It only rings once before its picked up.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"...Hi."

"LAST!?! My boy!!!!???" Your father roars with jubilation, and banters off in Russian a bit.

"Yeah..."

"Oh son, I thought you'd done something stupid and gotten yourself killed! It's been three years since we last talked, you can't keep your old dad waiting like that! You know I have a stress related heart condition!"

"Yeah, funny about that actually. Marco tried to kill me, dad."

There is a long pause from the other end of the phone, and when your dad speaks again, his friendly demeanor is absent.

"You had better know what you're implying, boy." He says gruffly, pressing the phone to his face. "Marco's been my right hand man for a long time, and you're accusing him of treachery."

"I'm pretty sure knocking me out and tossing me into the ocean chained to an anchor is murderous intent...."

Your father sighs, and you hear the clink of glass as he pours himself a drink.

"That's a pretty heavy thing to call me up about, after all this time. You'd better not be lying to me, or I'll kill you myself."

"I'm not lying. You sent Marco out to find me, right?"

"I did." He affirms.

"Well he did, but I'm fairly certain this was his way of trying to get me out of the picture. I'm pretty sure he wants the family... "business", dad."

>>18292165
he didn't intend on the boss ever finding out, he wanted to inherit the crime imperium, so yes, he's still working for our dad.

>>18292179
OH HELL YES, ITS TIME WE GET INVOLVED IN EX-KGB MAFIA WARS

>>18292165
The way they were speaking implied they still like your dad as boss, they just disapprove of his choice of successor (You). Taking you out secretly means that you can no longer be his successor, and Marco probably gets it instead.

>>18292223
Ahh. Thanks, that explains it.

Your aging father sighs, heavily, and you hear him pouring more booze.

"Well I can't say I've been without my suspicions. Marco was a great asset, its only natural he thought he would take my place, especially after you ran off." The old man takes a drink.

"He never did understand my concept of family, though. I do wish you'd come home, son."

Despite yourself, everything that old man put you through... The life you ran away from. When you're talking with the old bastard himself you just don't have the heart to tell him that will never fucking happen.

"I can't, dad. Kind of involved in something where I'm at..."

"Involved? You mean? Oh my boy, this whole time I thought you had gone clean! But no, you're setting up franchises! Tell me where its at! What's your scope? Do you own the city, yet? Oh son I am proud."

"I-its not like that... Hey, are you even listening to me?!"

"My boy's all grown up, wanted to prove he didn't just need to inherit what I made for him. Oh son, I'm so happy."

"..."

"I'll take care of Marco, and I'll keep him alive in case you want to do it yourself... Well, whatever it is you're up to, if you ever need anything, anything at all, don't.... Don't hesitate to give me a call" Your old man sounds like he's starting to choke up.

"Thanks... Dad..."

>>18292301
Our old man... is a blind donkey.

>>18292301
Man, that was almost heartbreaking. And I vote for killing Marco ourselves with a FALCON PUNCH!

>>18292301

>Dad sounds like a sweet old guy and not like the old bastard we seem to think he is.

>>18292346
It's probably just typical father-son stuff. Dad may be overbearing or didn't want to inherit his trade, so he moved away.

>>18292301
Onto the conspiracy nut next. Hopefully he'll actually have some useful info for us

You hang up, unsure of your feels at the moment.

"He seems nice." Kiara comments.

"He's the same man who put a pistol in my hand and made me shoot a traitor when I was fifteen. His group pedals the worst kind of drugs using the worst kinds of people... He isn't as nice as he sounds." This you think, without saying it out loud, not exactly the kind of thing you want to broadcast.

You light up another cig, rubbing your temple and wondering if it would have been better to just play dead.

"Are you going to call..."

"I'll call, I'll call... Just give me a minute." You sigh and lean your head against the wall.

You glance back at the computer screen, at that cooky website and its splash page about FEMA death camps. Boy is this guy going to be fun to talk to...

>>18292361
There probably will be, but hidden among tinfoil hats and cries of "REPTILIANS DID 9/11!"

Hes a sweet old man who probably routinely has Marcus kill people. Apparently we ddin't want to step into that mess so we went clean. I like it. Hang up and call the nut.

>>18292369
And my feelings of affection just died. On to the Nut.

>New Papa-N stuff
oh man, I picked such a good time to start browsing /tg/ again.

still tossing my hat in for "Witches are bitches: the quest"

After a few moments rest, you pick the phone back up and dial the number from the webpage. It rings for half a ring.

"Are you on a secure connection!?" The voice on the other end shouts quickly.

"Am I what?"

"Oh shit man, you can't be calling me on some government tapped phone! The fuck man!? They are already backtracking the call, are there helicopters around you? Or are you one of THEM?"

"I'm uh... Just a dude with a witch in his head."

The line goes silent, and you almost think he hung up.

"Noh mah gawd... When did it happen? Can you pick up radio waves as well? What does she have to say about reptillians?!"

"Nothing." Kiara says, a hint of disgust present.

"Not a thing. I'm looking for some information."

The conspiracy nut chortles into the mic.

"Well no shit, man, why else would you call me man? Everyone's looking for information, but the government covers it all up. You see, reptilians did 9/11, and see FEMA doesn't..."

"Can I just tell you what I'm looking for?" You plead, about ready to just hang up and call it a loss.

"Shit man, why didn't you just say so? Let me guess, you want to know more about the feminist conspiracy right?"

"I... What? No! Witch, in my head, I need to find her soul."

"Oh. Well now THAT is interesting..."

>>18292448
This guy has to be a permanent character. The comic relief value is simply too high not to be.

>>18292448
>feminist conspiracy
Is this guy Kenji?

>>18292448
Oh my sides...

.... its the leaning tower of pisa...
her soul is casing a rift to form under its leaning side, its been under constant repair for the last 500-600 years
built in the 1170's to the 1270s

>>18292481
Hell yes. This guy is too good not to keep around.

>>18292481
>YFW any long-running agenda/group is infact a conspiracy, depending on definition.

Before we make these calls, one thing to think about.

One thing we should be wary of are traps, in specific, what evidence do we have that the ex-clergyman is actually excommunicated, and not a plant for anyone who might try to look him up? If there's a massive conspiracy going on, then we really should be careful about who we talk to, they would almost certainly have some traps set up.

>>18292448
Is that you Kenji?

>>18292488
CLOSE! It's about a hundred or so years to old. Still a possibility though.

>>18292498
>mfw

>>18292502
This is why it's best to keep a cover on and avoid phone calls, let alone face to face. Email/IM is ideal

You tell the guy everything relevant to what he needs to know, including the bit about the Order of the Bleeding Sword. He frantically is egging you on for more info and loudly typing at the same time.

"Man, you've gotten yourself into some real shit, you know that? The church man, see, they are in with the government now you know? I've been saying it all along man, they are tracking people down, and those people disappear man. They call it a kidnapping or an accident, but man, these people get carried off quietly in the night."

"Cool, but I'm trying to find a location. I'd love to hear more after that maybe."

Another pause.

"Well man, I've got to do some digging ya know? Talk to some people, see what I can dig up. This your number? Can I call you back?"

"Yeah, as soon as you find anything out." You say eagerly, maybe this guy really can help you.

"Great, will do man. In the meantime, you might want to get a lead lined helmet and wear that. I'm pretty sure they can track magic now, ever since the capture of Nazi scientists in the 40's."

"Right... I'll do that..."

"Gnarly. I'll call you back when I find something, shouldn't take more than a day or so, I know some people, man."

You end the call, feeling a bit more optimistic than when the conversation had begun.

"I have my doubts, but we shall see." Kiara says, sounding quite bemused.

>>18292511
buildings can be re-purposed after construction.
and the church had a long strong reach at the time.

>>18292525
>email/IM

Hahaha, yeah, no. I'm no netsec professional but the vast bulk of email is plaintext and IM... just no. If they want you, and you're using the internet, they'll get you. Unless you're tinfoil-hat about everything and only use TOR with services that have at the bare minimum SSL encryption. And even that's worthless against fun tricks like MitM attacks.

GF is hounding me to go get food, and I'm pretty starved. I'll pick this up in a bit but I can answer questions and whatnot from my phone. As soon as I'm home I'll continue in earnest and I can go pretty late if /tg/ wants.

I'll probably run thread 2 tomorrow around 5 as well.

>>18292557
>Lead Helmets
Oh, god, this guy is too much.

>>18292572
Considering how long, and how, even then it was from a slip up they sacked LulzSec after hacking so many corporations and government agencies? Some small trolling through the net to ask questions (without saying you have a fucking witch inside you) won't set off any flags.

thoughts so far? I loved HLQ but it feels sooo good to break away from the 40k universe.

anything you want elaborated on while I'm out?

>>18292752
How old is Kiara anyway? Is she like a human that has ascended to godhood?

>>18292668
True. Though without knowing the whole picture to that, it may've been intentionally done like that to draw them out. I dunno, I have the feeling that it just wasn't that big of a priority. The NSA has some stupendously (if poorly managed) powerful resources, I get the feeling that they just weren't that big of a threat to bring everything to bear on them.

I could just be talking out of my ass though, I haven't done a great deal of research on the specifics.

It's 1:30 in the morning here and I need to sleep, try not to get us killed guys. Awesome as always Papa-N.

>>18292752

I love this quest. Just a question, did you get inspiration from The Darkness. Well with the theme of mafia son getting magical powers and all.

>>18292764

Her birth date is around 2000bc, though even she doesn't know it precisely.

she has unlocked immortality with her power, and is one of the most powerful magic users in her lifetime

>>18292752
Only thought is that this seals your credibility in my mind as a good writer. Not only are you evocative, but flexible when it comes to settings, etc.

If only I could find a women with those traits.

>>18292752
I love it. Completely different style from HLQ so far, but that's not a bad thing. I get the feeling this is gonna be a bit more gritty than the "fuck the babe, kill the badguy, party with booze and bear leaves".

>>18292572
You *can* encrypt emails, it's just that nobody bothers.
Unless the CIA are already actively intercepting ALL your connections during first contact, they won't be able to see anything except that you talked to each other.
Phones on the other hand, especially cellphones, are bugged to hell and back.

>>18292780
One guy in NYC fucked up and ended up an FBI informant.

But come on. We're talking about hacking Fox.com, leaking Linkedh passwords, names of 73,000 X-Factor contestants, logs of 3100 Automatic Teller Machine transactions in the UK, hacking the PBS website, Sony, multiple game studios, mediafire, Infragard (FBI affiliate), senate.gov, CIA.gov etc.

Considering we'd just be asking questions about religious stuff that may be controversial, we wouldn't be setting off any false flags unless we go HEY I HAVE A WITCH IN MY HEAD

>>18292752
I don't think I've been following any of your other quests, but I am enjoying this one.

Information on any more powers that Kiara may be able to grant us would be useful

>>18292752
I'm trying to work out who she is, since she said Celt it's going to be spelled in English as Ciara much of the time and pronounced key-rah rather than the italian C-R-uh.

Ciara is Irish for dark or black so we have a start there. I somehow doubt she's that closely tied to Saint Ciara or Cera but it's possible. Given Irish Goddesses associated with black you tend to think of the Morrigan, so that's a possibility but not really conclusive.

Lady of the Grove I don't have much of an idea, it's not really easy to narrow down from that as everywhere has a goddess with a sacred grove. But if we keep on the Celtic track and look for grove related stuff around Caesar we hit on Nematona which feels kinda iffy and not fitting with what we know of her, except that she became Nemain, spirit of the frenzied havoc of War, also an aspect of the Morrigan.

I have no clue what to do with "The One Who Watches" but everything seems to point towards us having the Morrigan shacked up in our skull.

What if we chose the Draco?

What if we told her we'd go with "I"ll take drowning for 400!"

HOLY SHIT, I AM LATE?!?!?
>reads thread
HOLY FUUUUUUUUU- I MISSED IT!!!!

>Inb4 we finish resurrecting Mab.

Wtf is HLQ?

What if Last was actually "into" being the slave to a girl?

>>18293021
HLQ = Heretical Love Quest
Papa-N's last quest

rolled 95 = 95

>>18293021
Heretical Love Quest. It was glorious! It was hysterical! It was full of fish vore!

>>18293094
Oh the fishvore. And the tentacles. And the fishvore tentacles.

>>18292970

nah I'm continuing in a bit after food, don't worry.

This is a lot of fun to write thus far, I'm excited to continue.

draco=dead and dumped to sea

drowning = getting forcibly convinced via mind powers, for a bit at least

>>18293157
I hope the others won't be so railroady as the beginning was (which apparently all end the same way)

>>18293167
It worked out in our favor, actually. Coming back from the dead after being riddled full of holes is a lot harder to explain than simply being tossed overboard.

>>18293167

well draco option wouldn't have garnered talking with Marco.

Had to railroad a bit to make it so you would meet Kiara, but beyond that there won't be any I hope.

Trying to run this more open then HLQ and its worked wonderfully so far

>>18293157
WEWT!!! Lemmie go get my booze, it's looking to be a long night for the return of Papa!

>>18293205

also this, you would still be full of holes and have to hide them

>>18293021
It'd be "Mistress" instead of "Kiara", and Last would more eagerly oblige by what she says. That's it.

>>18293236
I was mainly thinking along these lines:

"So. Marco. Last just called and said you tried to kill him."
"WHAT?! HOW?!"
"I see. So he wa-"
"No seriously, how?! I riddled him with holes! I made fucking sure he was dead and then tossed him over the side of a boat off the three mile line!"
"...son, you got some 'splaining to do..."

Whereas this way we can brush it off as "Eh, Marco always picked the dumb ones to help him out, especially if he was coming to kill me, your son. They did a really sloppy job on the chains. I got out of them before I went too deep."

>>18293303

yep pretty much, way easier to slip chains than seal up bullet holes

>>18293367
Goto hospital, become rapper

So like, her voice is that of a 13 year old girl, a 17 year old girl, a 22 year old girl or a 30 year old woman?
This is REALLY important

>>18293574

She stopped aging at 17, upon obtaining immortality. Also meant she was thought of as a Goddess by the celts, which is how Caesar found her.

>>18293574
holy crap, i didn't even think about that.... A drink for this anon!

>>18293599
Was I at all close in
>>18292955
or am I heading down the wrong track?

>>18293626

you were pretty much spot on actually, and more info will emerge. she spent a long time with the celts who gave her the name.

>>18293700
My overly detailed knowledge of Irish mythology caused by an obsessive nature and growing up with more fairy tale, folklore and mythology books that you can shake a stick at has finally paid off.

>that feel when gf doesn't get that I'm ready to leave the diner

continuing soon, do I need to make a new thread? chant doesn't show post count

>>18293803
We're on Page 9 with just over 340 posts. I'd say a new thread would probably be the best choice.

Along with an archiving of this one.

>>18293821
archive is up

>>18293853

is it? what did they name it?

>>18293879
Zombie and Witch quest?

>>18293879
Zombie&Witch Quest

Hah, I like it

>>18293893
ZWQ it is then? A round of Oilers for those that are around for the naming of this new quest~

>>18293963
Cheer cheer, may we have adventures, stay in our quasi state of aliveness and somehow seduce a 4000 year old witch.

ok nearly back home

>>18293991
Hey, the only thing that matters is that she looks like a 17 year old girl.

>>18294178
I await thee with a full bottle of rum!

>>18294230
And my axe!
or at least, My Interest!

barracuuuddaaa

>>18294423