>>23262873
"Yep. Sorry about the trap, Ari."

>>23262873
yup.

ari, be more careful that wasn't the only snare I left behind.

lets go home lyra

>>23262873
"Yep, home sweet home."

>>23262873
"This is the Vale. I practically lived out in these woods since Dad died."

So...do we swing by home first, or make for the Bulwark?

>>23262873
"Were I an elf, this whole forest would be my origin."

>>23262873
"You bet I do."

Do we know just where the bulwark is? If we do, and it's closer than home, let's head for it, otherwise, visit home.

"You bet I do." You say, and untie the rope around Ari's ankle- or would it be wrist? "Sorry about the trap, Ari."
"That was yours?" Ariana asked, and you nod.
"That wasn't the only snare I left behind." You say. "Home sweet home. I practically lived out in these woods since Dad died."
"At least you always brought food back." Lyra said. "I don't know what me and mom would've done if you hadn't. Kalveer probably would've taken care of us."
"Were I an elf, this whole forest would be my origin." You say.
"The place is essentially singing." Kelaris said. "And I'm deaf to nature, most of the time."
"Let's go home first, and then try to find Bulwark." You say. You didn't quite know where the fortress was- you'd never seen it before- but you had a feeling it was in the northern parts of the Vale, the parts you hardly ever explored, and where you had found the sword in the first place. Home, however, was much closer.
>Field too long!

>>23263026

Time passed as you and the group took a game trail mostly south, and then you suddenly cut through some of the underbrush, making your way onto another game trail that didn't meander quite as much, and as time passed, you eventually saw the smokestack of Kalveer's forge. High up on one of the cliffs was your cabin, long abandoned, but it was still intact.
"This is Waymoor." Lyra said.
"... This is a village?" Kelaris asked, looking around. It was understandable- there were only a half dozen buildings, and they were hidden by the cliffs and bluffs that made up the pass to the Vale.
"So." Lyra said. "Should we head home first, or maybe talk to Kalveer?" She asked. "I doubt anybody else would be happy to see travelers like us walking through, least of all Helda." Lyra shivered, as you remembered the tough-as-nails hag who cared nothing for your parents, and you by association.

>>23263050
"I suppose we should talk to Kalveer first. Helda can't do anything about us being here."

>>23263050
"That sounds like a good plan. He'll be pleased to know we're both doing alright."

>>23263050
"Kalveer. I had asked him to look after the house."

>>23263050
"knowing my luck she's an informent for gabe..."

"so we'll take EVERYONE into town with us; stir them up with a spectacle etcetera..."

>>23263074
say this

"I suppose we should talk to Kalveer first." You say. "I had asked him to look after the house. And Helda can't do anything about us being here."
"She never got you with that broom, did she?" Lyra asked, and blanched.

The group made their way up the steep slant up to the bluff where Kalveer's forge and home stood, and there you saw him, working on something as usual. You didn't know if he ever actually *sold* anything he made when the traders came by, or if he was keeping it hoarded in his house for whatever reason. This time, it was a set of hinges he was working on, and with your Boon from Leez, you saw exactly how skilled he was- he was almost as skilled as Leez was... Maybe even moreso.
"Travelers." The gruff, balding man said, nodding to each of you in turn- until he noticed Lyra. And then you.
"Lyra? Abel?" He asked, and then laughed, pulling both of you close into a hug. "Hahahah, welcome back! Are these your friends? Taking after your father, it looks."

>>23263167
"They are. It's been a crazy few months, Kalveer."

>>23263167
"So I am. Learned a fair bit about him, too. We have an aunt in Skiitaris, it turns out, and a sister in Atlask. How have you been?"

>>23263167
"Yep, this is Astora, Ariana, Cass, Kelaris, Tannis and Thor."

>>23263167
"Good to see you Kalveer. How have things been whilst we were away?"

>>23263167
use all of these>>23263194
>>23263215
>>23263216
>>23263225

"They are." You say. "It's been a crazy few months, Kalveer."
"It looks it." He said.
"This is Astora, Ariana, Cass, Kelaris, Tannis, and Thor."
"Pleased to meet you." He said. "My name is Kalveer Ironson."
"How have things been whilst we were away?"
"No need to have this talk out here." He said, and chuckled. "Come inside, all of you, I'll put the kettle on."

Some time later, the nine of you were cramped in a large room, sitting around a simple wooden table, all of you using logs for seats- Kalveer was never one for carpentry.
"How have things been while we were gone?" Lyra asked.
Kalveer shrugged. "The same as it's always been. Less lively, with no fairhaired lasses throwing pinecones at me." He said, with a chuckle and glance to Lyra. He looked to your companions, and with a studied eye, you watched him note things about your friends- the intelligent look in Tannis' and Ariana's eyes, Cass and Thor's tails, and Astora's claw. "It seems that the old soldier who lived in the cabin to the west of town vanished around the time you two left, and nobody knows what happened to him. Then there's word of a war against those great brass warriors. But the town is quiet, as always, and you'd have heard about these things before we did. How about you? Tell me about your adventures, you two."

>>23263167
"DAMMIT, you knew about that too?!??! I have been wunning into people all over the Continent that I'm either related to or owed a favor by; and I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT... it's nice to see you again kalveer, have you seen gabriel recently? I really really really need to kill him..."

>>23263317
"You should read the pastebin."

>>23263317
"Believe it or not, the Forged you speak of are the result of that old soldier. We've been trying to stop him this entire time."

>>23263317
"Do you want the whole story or just a quick run-down?"

>>23263317
left her to catch up with Lyra
and just traveled around met some amazing people (squeeze Astors hand ) and well fell into the job of trying to save the world.

>>23263317
"After I left town I headed south and found Ariana then met up with Lyra in Sardin. Kept travelling further south, crossed the swamps and met Cass, made our way to Garamon then to Amberway. Then we all took a boat to Atlask, found my half-sister and traveled there for a bit. Another boat back north, but the ship was wrecked this time then went East to Skiitara. Met another relative there, then headed to Bastion then back here."

"Believe it or not, the Forged you speak of are the result of that old soldier." you say. "We've been trying to stop him this entire time."
He was quiet as you spun your tale, telling him about finding the blade, and then Gabriel chasing you across the world as you and Ariana ran, until you collected friends and companions until Gabriel finally gave up, and brought forth the Forged.
"You really *are* taking after your father." Kalveer said, with a sage nod. "Then why would you come all the way north again?"
"We're looking for an old fortress. Bulwark." Astora said, and Kalveer nodded.
"In the Vale, right?" He asked. "Give me a second."

He got to his feet, and with a harrumph, pulled open several cabinets, until bringing up an old, dusty, handscrawled scroll.

"Da' was obsessed with the place. Sure there was treasure in it" Kalveer said. "He made this map for me when he couldn't get the strength to enter the Vale again, but I never got the chance to check it."

You rolled it open, and you saw a map of the Vale, complete with the sparse game trail here and there, and in the very northern bit, you saw a hastily scrawled circle. Notes covered the edges of the map, some asking about traps, others about 'translating', and at the very bottom, you saw notes on someone trying and failing to translate the alien, twisted runes into english. It was perfect guidance to Bulwark, you saw.

"This will be very helpful. Thank you."

>>23263521
"Thank you, this makes it much easier for me.

How's everyone doing here? Helda still hate everything?"

>>23263521
"This is perfect. Wow. Thanks, Kalveer."

We're a bit low on ammo, let's ask if he minds us borrowing his forge.

>>23263521
"Tragically, he wouldn't have been able to use the scroll even had he found it. Only those of my mother's bloodline can.
This will make things a breeze though, I can't think you enough."

Incidentally, have we told Lyra what Magenta told us about Mom?

>>23263597
I don't think so. We pretty much talked to Magenta, then teleported here.

"This will be very helpful." You say. "Thank you, this makes it much easier. I can't thank you enough."
"Hmph." He said, and waved his arm. "Just make sure to visit more. I've been stuck with Helda for company. *Helda*."
"She still hate everything?" You ask.
Kalveer sagely nods, and Lyra puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Lyra said. "Nobody should have to suffer that. Not even Gabriel. Or Sky, I guess she's called now."

>>23263675
"oh yeah, and Gabriel, or Sky, is fucking with reality. It's really rather annoying."

>>23263675
"Thanks, Kalveer. Take care of yourself."

>>23263675
"Do you mind if I use your forge before we set off?"

>>23263675
I trust the house hasn't burned down?

because I am in need of a place to keep everyone for the night...

How did you meet my parents?

"Thanks, Kalveer." you say. "Do you mind if I use your forge before we set off?"
"Oh, no, go ahead." He said.
"And I trust the house hasn't burned down?" You ask, and he chuckled. "Because I need a place to keep everyone for the night."
"I've made sure to sweep it when I get bored, so it should be fine. If you need any spare beds, you'll have to carry them up yourself, though." He said.

>>23263828
Let's use that forge, make some ammo, and look at the projects he's made, see if there's anything interesting in there.

Rolled 95

>>23263828
"Thank you."

Let's make a bit of ammo.

>>23263850
With that roll? Let's make as much as we can reasonably carry.

>>23263828
Thankyou klaveer, it's been great to see you again.

Feel free to come around later in the evening and you can join us for dinner.

"Thank you." You say.
"It's no problem." He said, and chuckled. "You two are the closest thing I have to a niece and nephew, after all."
"I'll go use that forge." You say, and he nodded. Apparently he didn't find it strange that you knew how to use it, despite your relative ignorance just a few months ago.
You make your way out of the forge, and get to work, using the rest of your gunpowder materials to make another half dozen shells and slugs for your Sanctis Carbine, as you've taken to calling it. During the end, Kalveer came out to see what you were doing, and he raised an eyebrow.
"How did you meet my parents?" you ask, while carefully tapping the cartridges into shape.
"... It was a long, long story. I was traveling in Garamon, at the time, and they'd blown into town, chased by a pack of ravenous undead- a special sort, ones that were smart enough to pretend to be people. They'd thought I was one of 'em, but eventually we fought them off, and soon after, they found out Amelia was pregnant. Asked where to settle down, an' I said 'hey, come to my home village'."

>>23263971
"Yeah, that sounds like my father. I wonder why never told us any of this."

>>23263971
"That sounds a lot like them, from what I've learned since I left."

>>23263971
Did we use some of his materials? Give him a few silver if we did.

Also move a few spare beds to the cabin if we're going to spend the night there.

"Yeah, that sounds like my father." You say. "I wonder why they never told us any of this."
"Because your father said you'd need to come into your own." He said. "He didn't want you to emulate him, or to want to be like him. He wanted you to take your own path. That's why you never heard any of it. I was supposed to tell you about his adventures after he died, but... you were too young, back then, and now it sounds like you know most of it. You should have an aunt in Skiitara, and maybe a half-sibling here or there."
He chuckled. "Your father didn't want Amelia to know, but he's certain he sowed a few wild oats here or there

>>23264092
"There's at least one. We've got a half-sister in Atlask."

>>23264092
"Hah. We met our Aunt, and as it happens, the half-sister rules a city in Atlask."

>>23264092
"I met a half-sister in Atlask, she's one of the rulers there now. I've also heard tell he had an entire prowl of maenad following him at one point - wouldn't be surprised if there was some shared blood there.
Aunt Brina's a nice woman, though rather stern."

"I met a half-sister in Atlask, she's one of the rulers there, now." You say.
"Glad to hear it!" Kalveer said. "That man always had a thing for princesses. The more damsel and the more distress they're in, the better."
"I've also heard tell he had an entire prowl of maenad following him at one point - wouldn't be surprised if there was some shared blood there."
"Oh, no, that was another adventure." He said, and chuckled. "We'd been decided as the targets of one of their hunts. Barely made it out alive. If he'd been caught, he would've been killed."
"Aunt Brina's a nice woman, though rather stern."
"I never met her, though your father always sent letters to and fro." He responded.

>>23264206
"That's what she told us as well."

"It's good to be back."

Rolled 89

>>23264206
"That's all that I've met, but there may be more."

"My mother's life seems to have been just as interesting, if in a subtle way. The mermaids treated me well, because of her."

Make some chisels/files/rasps to work on Astora later.

"That's all that I've met, but there may be more." You say. "My mother's life seems to have been just as interesting, if in a subtle way."
"We never learned anything about her. Her first memories were on some island somewhere, but nobody ever recognized her. We kept looking for years, though." Kalveer said, and sighed. "It's too late, I assume."

You get to work on making some chisels and files, and he chuckled, assisting you with making the tools.
"So, the girl with the stone arm? Is that what all of these are for?"
You nod.
"So, you two..."
He gave you a sly grin.
"Good luck with 'er." He said. "Don't lose her like you did the ones in Berbrook."

>>23264320
"I don't think that's going to be a problem. I'd have to really screw up to lose her."

>>23264320
"I'm only half following in my father's foot steps with her, she's pretty much the Witch equivalent of a Princess, but she sets any distress she gets into on fire. Lovely girl, I'm not planning on losing her, going to ask her to marry me after the world is saved, don't tell her yet though."

>>23264320
"No, no, I'm not planning on it. Thank you, Kalveer."

Go find the group.

>>23264320
"I will be taking her hand."

>>23264320

she truly is a magnificent woman, i don't plan on losing her or any of my friends.

>>23264320
Grin at him, "What makes you think it's like that? For all you know I'm just helping a friend and getting some nice tools for free in the process.

You're entirely correct of course, but still."

>>23264320
"So you're not gonna ask how I very nearly caught up with you in your own trade after only a few months?"

"No, no, I'm not planning on it." You say.
"So you're not gonna ask how I very nearly caught up with you in your own trade after only a few months?"
"It's an elf boon, of course." He said, and nodded to where you were finishing up the last tool. "Leez had that same tic with her hands, where she spins the mallet."
You look down, and he was right- apparently you got some of Leez's habits. "Thank you, Kalveer."
He nodded, and gave you a grin, going back to the hinges.

For your part, you make your way to Lyra and the rest of your group, who were waiting outside, Lyra with a bed on her shoulders.
"Hey, Abel, you grab the other one." She said, nodding down to the second bed. You heave it into the air, and all of you make your way up the even steeper hill to the tallest, highest bluff in the village, where your cabin sat.

"Home sweet home." Lyra said, as you look at the ramshackle cabin. One of your earliest memories was your father and Kalveer putting the thing together, moving out of the smith's house, when Lyra was still a giggling, chortling baby.
Lyra kicked the door in, and stepped in, setting down the bed, and you follow, the rest of the group looking about.
"This place is rather small." Astora said, looking around.

>>23264579
"But it's cozy and it's home. I've missed this place."

>>23264579
"Everything in this village is small."

>>23264579
"Do you kick every door in, Lyra?"

>>23264579

i prefer the term 'cozy'

>>23264579
"Don't be talkin' shit about the family cabin."

>>23264579
"It's downright tiny, but I love it."

>>23264579
"It's home."

Are there any loose floorboards or bricks that Dad or Mum might have hidden things in/under?

"But it's cozy, and it's home." You say, and relax, leaning back on one of the creaking seats you made several years back, as Lyra started lighting the candles here and there.
"Do you have to kick every door in, Lyra?"
"My hands were full!" Lyra called back.

"Well, at least I won't get lost." Astora said, then sidled up next to you on the wooden bench, where the creaking became squealing. You and her just sat for a time, while Lyra set things up- and then something occured to you.

You suddenly spring up, and make your way toward the creakiest, loosest floorboard in the cabin, and lift it-

And you were right. Inside were two bottles- one a glass phial, unlabeled, full of something blue, and the other was a large jug, half emptied, smelling of alcohol.
"What's that?" Astora asked, over the noise of Lyra starting up the oven.

>>23264715
"Dad's booze stash, I guess. Want to test some?"

>>23264715

the good stuff.

>>23264715
"I don't know, something blue, and something alcoholic."

Open up the glass phial, give it a sniff.

>>23264715
It's dad leaving us something to celebrate with.

To you guys, My family.

>>23264715
"Something booze and something I don't know. Lyra, any idea what this blue stuff is?"

"I don't know." you say. "Something blue, and something alcoholic."
You smell the glass phial, and the smell of strong mint comes to you, and your arm twinges- whatever is inside contains Magic.

"I think I'll know what this is, if I have a sip." Astora said, and twisted it open. She took a light sip, then grinned. "It's Kee's favorite. Vodka, a Kalid drink, but it seems he spiced it."
She pulled it closed, and gave it back to you.
"I'll have lunch done here soon." Lyra called. "The water spoiled some of our rations, but I borrowed some from Kalveer."
"Hey, can I see your room?" Astora asked.

>>23264835
"Oh no, I haven't cleaned it up in months!"

Pour out tow half shots of mana tea and offer it to Astora and ourselves

>>23264835

i can't remember how i left it, equal chance of if either being clean or a giant mess.

sure let's go!

>>23264835
"Sure" take her by the hand and lead her there.

No funny business though, this place is too small for that. Everyone will hear everything.

>>23264835
"Sure thing Tori, not much in there. Maybe a few pelts, a pile of arrows.

Want to try a sip of the blue thing? It's magic!"

>>23264835
"Yeah, go ahead."

>>23264878
Not to mention that this house isn't fireproof.

>>23264835
"Just remember the place is made out of wood..."

>>23264835
What time is it? Wasn't it getting dark when we left the ship?

>>23264924
>right, whoops. Correction- Lyra should be saying dinner.

"I can't remember how I left it." You say. "Equal chance of it being either clean, or a giant mess. Just... remember, the place is made out of wood."
"I know." She said.

You and her went to your room, and inside, it was... actually clean, for once. Surprisingly. All of your carved bits on the shelves, a chest with a few keepsakes, and an old dagger that Kalveer walked you through making, back when you wanted to be a smith for a time.
"Wow, this is... really cozy." She said, stretching, walking past the shelves. "You carve *all* of these?"

>>23264972
"Yeah, when I wasn't hunting and foraging, I didn't have much else to do."

>>23264972
"Yeah, most of them. This is many years work."

Pull down a few of the better ones to show her.
Subtly push the naked lady ones to the back.

>>23264972

pretty much, i had very few hobbies.

>i like the idea of us making carvings for notable occurrences in our life.
>including one for the the girls from Berbrook,

>>23264972
There isn't much to do in a little village, so I had to fill time somehow.

>>23264972
"Yeah, where do you think I got the practice for carving your arm? I made pretty much everything in here including the shelves and chest, or at least helped with it. You can tell that some of the older pieces are really bad, but I got better.

I made some files and chisels earlier, shall we get to work on carving arm? I have a lot more room to work with now."

>>23264972
"Speaking of carving...there's a lot more space to work on now."

"Yeah, when I wasn't hunting and foraging." You say, readjusting the few carved bits so that the more... lewd ones were hidden in the back.
"Wow, look at this one." Astora asked, leaning to the side and showing you your largest, best work- it was a painted, enameled, wolf skull. You remember spending weeks on it, and when a trader saw it, you almost got three silver coins for it- which was a fortune, at the time.
"Speaking of carving... there's a lot more space to work on now."
"There is." She said, and looked at it- then sighed. "This is going to hurt, probably. I'm not used to my shoulder and upper arm being like this, so I won't be as used to the pain."

>>23265119
"If you'd prefer, I can just grind down that portion, make it a bit smoother."

>>23265119
"Do you want me to do the arm now? Then the shoulder when we're not so pressed for time?"

"Any idea what this blue stuff is by the way?"

>>23265119

will it stay like this or slowly creep back down to your hand?

>>23265119
"Well, if it starts to hurt too much, we can leave it till later."

>>23265119
"I'll do my best to be gentle, and if you ever want me to stop or not to something just say so."

Get Astora sitting in our lap, give her a massage to relax her, and get started, be gentle on the new stone and take our time.

>>23265119
well we can work out the design first then you can drink half the vodka and I can carve it then.

"I'll do my best to be gentle." You say. "And if you ever want me to stop, just say so. I can just grind it down at first, make it a bit smoother."
"Okay." She said, and you settled her down into your lap. Taking her arm in your hand, you carefully, slowly started filing and smoothing her arm. Every now and then, she hissed and squeezed your leg, but you took things slowly enough that she didn't pull away or twitch.
You only got the upper and lower arms smoothed by the time Lyra called out that dinner was done, and you two made their way to the table.
"It's fish!" Tannis said, with a grin.
"I didn't even have to clean them." Lyra added. "Kalveer already had them cleaned."

>>23265251
"That's pretty nice of Kalveer."

>>23265251
"So, are we all enjoying Waymoor?"

>>23265251
"That it is Tannis, I'm glad we could get some for you.

Kalveer's a wonderful man. I wonder when he met Leez, it seems like half the people we meet already knew each other."

"That's pretty nice of Kalveer." You say.
"Back after you went out to the forge, he took a liking to Tannis." Lyra said.
"So, are we all enjoying Waymoor?"
"It's balanced." Kelaris said, but didn't explain more than that.
"I want to try flying tomorrow." Ariana said. "This place looks like it'll be really fun to fly in."
"It's like a... very small sanctuary, kind of. Except warmer." Astora said.
Tannis just stuffed fish into her mouth.

Thor and Cass, meanwhile, were whispering to one another in a low voice- at least until Cass stuffed some fish into Thor's mouth. "Hm? Oh, right, yes. I like it here. It's calm. And a lot wetter than further south, so I like it." Cass said.

Then Thor mumbled through his food, and said something about how Cass should learn to adapt.

>>23265353
Let a hand stray and wander up and down Tori's new arm.

"We'll be heading off tomorrow, sadly. Enjoy the quiet and the beds while you still can."

>>23265353
"Yeah, it's...peaceful."

>>23265353

Cass has generally been more at home in wetter environments.

it may be best to set our first thing in the morning, to try and avoid Helda. she never liked us so she probably wouldn't want to see us anyway.

"Yeah, it's... peaceful." You say. "We'll be heading off tomorrow, sadly. Enjoy the quiet and beds while you still can. It may be best to set out first thing in the morning, to try and avoid Helda. She never liked us."
"Yeah, let's set out early." Lyra said, and stretched.

Eventually, dinner was over, and you went back to your bedroom.
It wasn't long until Astora followed, before changing into a thin silken slip, and then showing you her arm.
"Let's get back to carving, okay?" She asked, and gave you a kiss. "Then we'll... have a little fun. Not too much, though."

The next morning came much, much too early, Astora's scale-carved arm still there, the spikes on her shoulder filed down so that she could move it about without accidentally stabbing someone, though you broke your tools before you could finish them completely.

Astora stirred, before straddling you and giving you another kiss.

"Well, let's go find the fortress." She said, stretching. "I don't suppose this cabin has a bath, does it?"
You shake your head, and she sighed, before changing back to her travel clothes.
Outside of the cabin, everyone else was already ready, Lyra tossing you some bread.
"Still have the map, Abel?" She asked.

>>23265615
"Yep, somewhere in my bag or pocket no doubt. Shall we get going?"

>>23265615
"Yup. I know where we're going. We should probably be off, no sense in waiting."

>>23265615
"I haven't even had any time to lose it yet!"

>Astora's spikes break metal tools.
What is she made of? Adamantiums?

>>23265615
"Yup, right here." pull it out.

>>23265677
Tempered obsidian I would guess.

>Well, it *looks* like obsidian polished to a mirror sheen, but it's smooth and sharp as fuck. It doesn't chip, but it does grind, though it's hard on your tools.

"Yep. I know where we're going. We should probably be off, no sense in waiting." You say, looking back to the group- and you see a crotchety old woman making her way down the hill.

Lyra notices her too, and does the thing Lyra's only ever done to one person before.

She bolts, running.
Everyone else quickly follows suit, and you make your way into the vale proper.

Hours pass as you walk through the forest, an eye on the map, when suddenly Kelaris twisted.
"There are wolves, somewhere near." He said. "Can you hear them?"

You look where Kelaris was, and you see them. All three of them. The wolves who'd stolen your food, months ago!
Also, a litter of yipping wolf pups surrounding them.

>>23265615
If we have any carved fish, grab one for Tannis.

>>23265799
"That's the bastards that stole my food on the day I found the sword."

>>23265799
"I recognize these wolves. Bastards stole my [elk/deer/whatever it was]."

>>23265799
They almost starved me out of here. We should go before I'm tempted to make them into my next few meals and clothes.

>>23265799
"Same pests who stole my food months ago, that's how I stumbled onto the ruin with the sword.

I see they didn't take my suggestion to go choke on it."

Rolled 97

>>23265799
look them in the eyes and howl the howl of one who was wronged;

a howl forgiveness also...we hold a boon from an elf born of wolves and wild fire do we not?

>>23265799
"Fucking shitbeasts is what they are. Stole my food and now look at the pests. They're breeding!"

>>23265799
"Aww, they stole my food once and I nearly died, but they're too cute to be mad at."

"Same pests who stole my food months ago." You say. "That's how I stumbled onto the ruin with the sword. I see they didn't take my suggestion to go choke on it."
You shoot them a glare.
"And now look at the pests. They're breeding!"
"That's mean." Astora said. "They're adorable. Like... little Kevs."

She knelt down toward it, and the three wolves instantly growled-

and your Boon spoke to you. They were warning Astora to get away, that it didn't matter if Astora's pack was bigger and stronger than they, they would fight for their children and would win, no matter the cost.

>>23265908
"Huh, Leez's boon is letting me understand them. I'd back off if I were you, hon."

Rolled 99

>>23265908
to the wolves
"then take your children or be destroyed"

>>23265908
"I'd back off, Tori. They'll go straight for your neck."

>>23265908
"I don't think they like you, Tori. They're trying to protect their offspring."

Speaking of which... Give Tori a hug. And try to growl back at the Wolves to indicate the same thing.

>>23265908
"Astora, give them space.

They are not familiars, they are wild animals and will take your presence as a threat to their children. They will fight you even if they have to die doing so."

>>23265908
"Don't, Tori. These are wild animals, not familiars. Let's just move on."

>>23265936
Dude, what?

>>23265908
Tell 'em she would've just incinerated them if she wanted them dead.

"I don't think they like you, Tori." You say. "They're wild animals, not familiars. They're just trying to protect their offspring."
"Oh! right." She said, and got to her feet again, backing away deliberately.

One of the wolves barked at her as they trotted off, and you didn't catch anything- except that it called Tori a bitch.

Some time later, you were walking, less and less familiar with your surroundings as things went on, and then suddenly Kelaris grabbed your wrist.

You'd almost walked into a pit. A very, very familiar pit.

This is where you'd found your sword.

>>23266008
"That's the pit where I found the sword."

>>23266008
"Whelp, into the abyss. Again."

Jump down.

>>23266008

thanks Kelaris, i almost fell in that hole... again.

>>23266008
"Looks like we've retraced my steps entirely. Down there is where I found the sword."

"Think we should have a look?"

"Looks like we've retraced my steps entirely." you say. "Down there is where I found the sword. Think we should have a look?"

"... Might as well." Thor said, and as his legs bulged, he stepped into the pit, slamming into the ground. "It's pretty dark down here!" He called, as Cass leapt down as well. You, and the rest of the group, made your way down. Astora used her Gift of Sight to create light, and you could see the mural, as well as the moss-covered bricks on the walls and floor, going deeper into the ground. The group walked for some time, and eventually you came upon a large, circular room, with a raised dais. This is exactly where you'd found your sword.

>>23266146
Have a look at the mural for any details we missed.

Also look for anything we might have missed before.

>>23266146
"It was right there."
Start looking around for side passages or doors or something.

>>23266146
>summon hammer, smack dias
"right here, my life got complicated, and terrifying, and amazing; right here...I'm not sure if I should be destroying this place or contemplating a monument..."

"It was right there." You say, and examine the mural some more. It hadn't changed at all, and it was just as faded in the light as it was in the dark. You start to look for side passages, but there were only two. One you could see light out of- your way out of the pit, as you recall, and the other passage was entirely buried by rubble.

"Right here." you say, slamming the hammer down on the dais. "My life got complicated, and terrifying, and amazing. Right here... I'm not sure if I should be destroying this place or contemplating a monument."

"... Maybe both." Thor said. "Have Astora blow the place up, put a monument in the remains."
"I looks like somebody already tried to blow it up." Cass said.

Rolled 11

>>23266271
they didn't try hard enough...

we have the compulsion of craft from veeze right? let's examine the stones here for HIDDEN PASSAGES and MAGIC BULLSHIT

if we find nothing then we continue to BULWARK

>>23266271
"Yeah, but that'd take work and we're in a hurry.

Take a look around people, I might have missed something the first time I was here."

Take a look around, see if there's anything interesting or hidden.

>>23266271
Couldn't hurt to inspect the other passage more closely, see if there is anyway to clear it.

Roll for perception!

search up for some merjic

>>23266271
"Let's get out of here."

"Yeah, but that'd take work, and we're in a hurry." You say. "Take a look around, people, I might have missed something the first time I was here."
"Right." Ariana said, and started digging through rubble, as everyone started looking for anything out of the ordinary. You inspect the other passage more clearly, and move a few of the stones, before sighing. It'd take much too long and take too much work to open the passage up again.
"Anything interesting, or hidden?" You ask.

"I found a florin." Astora said, holding it up- the brass disk was exactly like the one you'd seen in Sanctuary, complete with the markings, and she pocketed it.
"Nothing over here." Cass said.
"Let's get out of here, then." You say, and you all file out of the final passage, and continue going north.

And finally, you see it. A great, half-collapsed structure, mostly gone, covered in vines, roots, moss, everything. It smells of must and rotted paper, and you're not even inside of it yet. There was a small spring to the side of it, pouring into a burbling brook, but other than that, there was nothing of note. On the outside, at least.

>>23266535
"Let's fan out and look for an entrance. Be careful though, the map referenced traps, so we have no idea what we're heading into here."

>>23266535
"I think this is the place. Careful where you tread- there might be traps."

>>23266535
Taste the springwater.

"I think this is the place." You say. "Let's fan out and look for an entrance. Be careful, though. The map referenced traps, so we have no idea what we're heading into here."
"This place is old." Kelaris siad. "Kale would know exactly how old, but... it's older than all of Skiitara."

You and the group carefully circled around the fortress, and eventually found two large, wooden gates, closed and barred shut, but it wasn't important- there was a large hole in one of the collapsed parts that you could use to enter, which you do, careful about traps. The inside was just as ancient on the outside, remeniscent of Vigil but with more dust, and with rotted, fallen doorways here and there through the hall. Now and then you find great ink arrows pointing toward the hole or the previous arrow- someone's way of making sure they didn't get lost here- and you're all but coughing on the dust.

"Anyone find anything?" You ask.
"I don't see anything." Cass said.
"Just dust. And moss." Astora responded.
"No traps, I don't think." Lyra said, in the front of the group, shield at the ready.

>>23266867
"Damn, it's all dust and rot. Let's find the the main library or archives. It'll probably be in an easily identifiable chest like in Vigil. Hopefully."

>>23266867
"No traps is a good thing."

Are there any writings around that we can read?

Head off the arrowed path a little way, see if there's anything interesting.

>>23266867
How about we actually consult the map Kalveer gave us?

>>23266992
That's an idea.

We're just looking for the scroll, right? Anything else we find is just a bonus?

"Damn, it's all dust and rot." You say. "But no traps is a good thing."
You pull open the map and read the margins, looking for some of the notes, any of them that would be helpful. Most of it was useless- about how to get there, 'notes to self' that babbled on about trap paranoia... but then you find something useful. "Must remember there are nothing near arrows. Arrows mean I've been there."

You take a look at the backward arrows your path has been tracing... and then you suddenly turn, off the arrowed path.

And the next room had a large, bulky chest, locked, but seriously large, a small hole in the ceiling shining light into it.

"... Think there's anything good in it?" Tannis asked.

>>23267061
"Possibly, we're not on the path any more, there might be traps. Take it carefully and slow, poke things from a distance before stepping on them."

>>23267061
"What else could be in a giant locked chest?"

Is there a keyhole? Check all the sides for holes in it. Pick it up with Lyra and check the bottom.

>>23267061
"That's probably where the scroll is. If there's traps anywhere in this place, it's here. Be careful."

>>23267061
"Tannis, look at it. A singular chest, in a lone room, with a beam of light illuminating it?"

"Tannis, look at it. A singular chest, in a lone room, with a beam of light illuminating it?" You say. "What else would be in a giant locked chest? If there's traps anywhere in this place, it's here. Be careful."
You creep closer, taking a stick and poking the floors and walls with them, making your way up to the chest- and now you saw how truly large it was. You couldn't even lift it, even with Lyra's inhuman strength.

Tannis creeps up. "Let me." She said, grinning, as a claw slid out of her hand. She stuck it into the keyhole- you remember her doing the same at her cabin, down at atlask- and with a twist, the chest clicked open.

What was inside wasn't a scroll.

Instead... it was a tablet, graven with the runes you're quickly becoming familiar with. When you started to read it, you don't hear anybody say anything, you don't see any spirits, nothing abnormal happens... except for a sudden Presence there.
You start to read it, and it is a Spell like the others, but you're not sure what it means. Something about raw destruction, and unshakable power. The Spell, whole, is merely a single word, but says it brings forth a great cost.

>>23267212
It's Void in spell form, isn't it?

I think we should lock this one back up.

Who's scroll are we meant to be finding here?

>>23267212
Keep reading. No way we're using something that "brings forth a great cost" without knowing more about it.

>>23267212
Keep reading that shit.

"Just says massive destruction."

>>23267212
Well, let's abscond. We've got what we came for.

>>23267212
Keep reading. This seems powerful, but bad to use.

>>23267212
"Massive power and destruction... horrible cost. Sounds almost familiar."

You read deeper, trying to understand what the tablet is speaking of, but the most you can gather is a simple explanation that 'A magus has many tiny fires within him', and that the spell... hardens the fire, into raw force. A stone, made of starstuff, falling from the heavens...
You shake your head.
"Just says massive destruction." You say.
"This is it? It isn't a scroll, though." Astora said.
"This is it." You say.

>Cyan's Spell requires one tenacity point to use.

>>23267301
"Let's go then."
Not sure if we should take it with us or not.

>>23267301
"Orbital bombardment it seems."

"Bit of a shame, I was hoping to have a nice chat with Cyan."

>>23267301
We should explore more. It's a nice place, and we might find more things with that script we keep seeing on them. It'd be good to have enough to start translating.

>>23267389
Actually on that, can we get a closer look at that florin? I'm going to kick myself if it turns out to be something like the power core.

"Bit of a shame." You say. "I was hoping to have a nice chat with Cyan."
"That comes later." A voice said, and then the Presence was gone.

"Let's go, then." You say. "We've got what we came for."
"Should we take it with us?" Lyra asked.
"I doubt me, Cass, and you could even lift the thing." Thor said, looking down at the massive, dense tablet.
For the next few hours, you look here and there, stepping off of the ink arrows as you try to mentally map the place, but other than an ancient, rusty set of armor that Lyra and Cass both gushed over, there was nothing else of note, save a few more florin that you pocketed.

>>23267453
"Looks like we've got a choice now. We need to decide how we're going to get to Sky's base and what we're going to do once we get there."

"We can go over the mountains and attack from behind or use the water-spell to appear right infront of the place."

>>23267453
Investigate the florin.

Is the spring out the front large enough for us to travel with?

Tap out "Abel was here, Sky's a butt." in some stonework, in that code that Cyan and Gabriel sent us messages with.

>>23267453
"That's the last scroll I know of. We need to figure out how to get to Sky's base, now."

First things first. You investigate the florin, examining it closely, trying to read the runes on the edges, but they weren't part of a Spell, making it impossible for you to understand anything about it. It seemed that your heritage only gave you limited understanding of the language.
"Looks like we've got a choice, now." You say. "We need to decide how we're going to get to Sky's base, and what we're going to do once we get there. We can go over the mountains and attack from behind, or use the water spell to appear right in front of the place."
"... She likely knows we're coming regardless." Kelaris said. "A surprise attack from behind only works properly if it's a surprise."
"More of a surprise is if we went there fast." Lyra said. "See how *she* likes it."

>>23267673
"Do you think we're ready for that? There's going to be a lot of Forged, and whatever else she's had time to make."

>>23267673
>Can we get that map again?
Pull out the map

"How about we shortcut through to Celesthem and then trek up the last of the way on foot, or with horses."

"It's not swamps!"

>>23267673
"Sounds like a plan then. We're going to have to take Dirae out first though, I hope she's there instead of being off somewhere else."

File: 1361316966274.png-(488 KB, 1028x1028, Region 10 Complete.png)

488 KB PNG

>The map is in the synopsis, and has been for some time, but pic related anyway.

"How about we shortcut through to Celesthem and then trek up the last of the way on foot, or with horses." you say. "It's not swamps!"
"Thank the thirteen hells." Astora said. "I don't like swamps."
"That would work. It would be quick enough, and we won't be appearing on their doorstep." Kelaris said.

Thor thought about it. "But all of the Free Cities have been under attack. What if Celesthem was taken? It might be smarter to appear right on their doorstep behind their defensive lines."

File: 1361317009922.png-(575 KB, 1028x1028, West's Map of Region Ten.png)

575 KB PNG

>>23267816
>Whoops, wrong map!

>>23267816
>The first map was in there, but not the one with the base location.

"If the city has been taken, and we can take out a few of sky's forces before she recalls them, then that's less that we have to fight at once."

>>23267816
"How about a compromise? Appear along the river halfway between Woodley and her base. We can retreat if we run into any forces and hopefully she won't see it coming."

>>23267816
Then let's go straight there.

"How about a compromise?" You ask, and roll open your map, pointing out Sky's base of operations.

"We appear along the river, halfway between woodley and her base. We can retreat if we run into any forces, and hopefully she won't see it coming."
"Kale knows that area." Kelaris said. "I'll be able to make certain we didn't get lost."
"... That seems a good idea." Ariana said. "Far enough that we're safe, close enough to be able to walk in a short amount of time. Anyone have any better ideas?"
"Nope." Lyra said, cracking her fingers- her intact ones, of course.

Astora didn't respond, looking down at one of your carvings- apparently she'd nicked it without you noticing. It was one of your earliest ones, when you were first starting, when your father had lent you a knife. A rough wolf. When she saw you looking, she gave you a grin and dropped it into her pocket.

"Well, I think we know where we're going now." Cass said. "Abel, it might be time to start chanting."

>>23268174
"I'll get right to it."

>>23268174
Start chanting, chanty time.

>>23268174
Alright, no running off, or your bound to get left behind.

>>23268174
"I'll have run out of voice soon enough."

>>23268228
and with a smile to astroa: "Theif"

>>23268174
"You could have just asked for me to make you one, Tori."

"I'll have run out of voice soon enough." You say, and "And you could have just asked for me to make you one, Tori."
"I like this one." She said, by way of response, and gave you a kiss on the cheek. "It's a little rough, but it has heart."
You nod, and then you chant.
And chant.
and chant.

And once again, you were devoured by a whirlpool of water, and evertwisting maw.

Crawling out of the river, you finally gasp for air, and realize one good thing about the Spell- after you use it, you'll have plenty of fresh water to drink. After taking a breath, you look to the sky. Around you was grass, and trees, and behind you was the rushing river.
"Yes, Kale knows this place." Kelaris said. "Based on the map, Sky's base should be that way." He said, and pointed toward the closest, highest peak on the mountains.

Upriver.
That way lies your final destination.

>End of thread!

>>23268368
Thanks for running, Exa!