Rolled 1

>>23665674
TAIL STRONK

Where did we leave off? The archive for the last thread ends mid-arm-wrestle.

Are we still mid-arm-wrestle?

Rolled 2

>>23665698
YOU DUMB BASTARD

>>23665698
>>23665712
let's leave off the rolling till he actually asks for it please?

Rolled 16

yes we're still midarm wrestle. We need 12 to win, she needs 14

Rolled 19

>>23665712

AUGGH!!!

Rolled 9

>>23665698
>>23665712
BOTH OF YOU, FUCKING KILL YOURSELVES. Thank god we already had a roll after the last post

>>23665745
now now, there's no need for that.

You've seen their luck.

They'll die soon anyway.

Rolled 3

yup he hasn't asked for a roll yet so none of these count

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You've gathered some friends. Mage, the nameless runaway magic user. He fled his family, a part of the group of cannibal bandits known as the Ghouls. He has a wand shackled to his right hand.

You also 'rescued' Persephone, the thief, from being part of a magical body-snatching ritual. (That she helped put together, unaware of its purpose.) You also rescued Mari Glenn, a 13-year old scholar who was also a part of said body-snatching ritual.

The problem is that the ritual went off, part way. So now Mari is trapped in Peri's body with her. They can't be removed without killing Mari and leaving Peri paraplegic.

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>>23665745
>Thank god we already had a roll after the last post
No we didn't. This was the last post.

Lamia tail: Turn out to be better for crushing than arm wrestling, and while you technically lose the match, you also technically crushed the minotaur hand

Lamia: Apologize for hand crushing

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You're in the town of Purple Sands, hoping to meet the members of the Mage Guild who might have insight on Mage and Peri/Mari's problems.

Also you are starting to have aspirations of becoming a Paladin, like your father. You just need a sponsor, a great deed, and another Paladin to vouch for you.

Currently though, you are dealing with Isen the Audacious, an annoying adventurer that seems to be on the same road you are, and his frined Tara. A minotaur girl. Both are very drunk, and despite the warning of the bandaged musician Lea, you rose to a challenge. So now Tara is in the middle of arm wrestling you.

>>23665853
I say that in the spirit of this, and considering the few high rolls we've had so far (and Tara's 3 in that post), we should win.

I mean, come on. Our tail bends steel and breaks entire people. The only way we could lose is dice shenanigans anyway.

>>23665950
see
>>23665905
for my predicted losepath

>>23665924
Right now the score is:
You: 36
Tara: 33

First to 50 wins.
Roll 1d20. I go by first post linked to THIS message.

Rolled 1

>>23665982
rollin

>>23666013
...I'm speechless

Rolled 6

>>23666013
the dice are not my friend

Rolled 9

>>23665982
Tail stronk.

>>23666013
Burn in hell.

Rolled 14

>>23666013
Tar grunts and twist hard. It's the first time you heard a crack coming from YOU. It's not pleasant.

Don't roll.

>>23666023
Stop. For the love of God and all that is holy and good in this world, stop rolling.

>>23666036
You: 37
Tara: 49

Roll 1d20, first post linked to this one.

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Rolled 11

yup Imma stop rolling. Also we haven't lost yet!

Rolled 13

>>23666056
Tail. Crush.

Rolled 6

>>23666056
let's see how this goes

Rolled 19

>>23666056
So we need 13+, or we lose. I don't want to lose.

Tara: 33+14 is 47 isn't it?

>>23666056
Pardon me I can't add Tara:47.

Rolled 2

>>23666074
Oh sweet jesus, you saved us you magnificent bastard

So we're neck and neck right now, but she wins as she goes next unless she is unlucky as me.

>>23666074
you magnificent asshole

>>23666144
No, we hit 50 with the first linked roll

>>23666140
The first linked post was >>23666069.

>>23666183
oh goddamnit now I can't trust anything

>>23666183
oh, he cheated the little bastard.

>>23666074

With a massive grunt and a surge of effort you twist your entire body into it and with a SLAM, the back of Tara's hand hits the table.

Your party breaks into cheers. Tricia and Mage run up and hug you. Peri is collecting money from an unhapy, but bemused, Isen.

Lea changes her tune to the classic 'Bullfighter's Melody' from that opera everyone knows parts of but have never seen.

Tara, looks pissed. "Cheater!" She snaps at you.
***

>>23666208
>Tara, looks pissed. "Cheater!" She snaps at you.
She's meta now.

>>23666208
she has no idea how right she is.

How do you cheat with arm wrestling? Beyond the obvious punching them in the face of course.

Rolled 16

>>23666208
explain to her how our tail works and pay her a drink it's milk

>>23666208
"I've completely pulped a man with my tail before. I didn't cheat anything."

>>23666208
>Cheater!
Well, I wasn't using my arms in an armwrestle, so yeah.

>>23666208
>"Cheater!"
Oh, she's on to us...

Seriously, guys it's rude to delete rolls.

Yeah, I just realized what happened AFTER I put the post up. I'll let it slide this time, but this happens again. I'll only count redaeth's crap rolls.

"How do you cheat at arm wrestling?" You ask.

"Tara, baby. Let's just go to bed." Isen says.

Tara shoves Isen away and pushes the table aside. "You dinnt tell me your a llama before..woudda did diffrent grip." Oh, she is really drunk. How much had she and Isen had before they came here?

"You think you can just slither in here and become evryones favorite monster girl?" She points to her face. "You know what I hadda do to be like this?!"

"Tara, honey. They don't need to kn-uff!" Isen his the ground as Tara gut punches him.

"Okay, Hiss-Bitch...you n me...righ now." Tara takes a fighting stance.
***

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>I leave for class for an hour and we already have a guy deleting rolls.
Oh come the fuck on gents.

>>23666409
Woah now this aint good. Do you think we could explain to her that she could easily beat us in a NORMAL arm wrestle?

Also, perhaps climb a tree or house or pole or something people with legs can't climb up. I don't want us to fight a drunken pit fighter, they're the type to fight dirty. No offense to the lady.

>>23666409
oh thanks, I feel real appreciated.

Alright we don't want to fight her. Arm-Wrestling is one thing, destroying the bar in a brawl is another. Tell her no. She is drunk and angry and you don't want to ruin the bar. If she really thinks you cheated you can arm wrestle again... when she is sober.

>>23666409
Tara, no.

Look, I'll buy your drinks tonight, how about that?

(hoping we can get her pass-out drunk)

Rolled 10

>>23666409
Nonlethal constriction.

Say, "If I bit you, you'd be dead by now."

Then hold her until she calms down.

>>23666409
If we can't talk her down maybe could subdue her by holding her with our tail?

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>>23666409
Defusing the situation with beer is probably the best bet. If it does come to blows we are probably better off using a nonlethal constriction. Talk with patience though. Mr. Rogers it up and whatnot.

>>23666409
"I did too tell you I was a lamia, you just ignored me. You know what I had to do to not get murdered by an angry mob on the way here?"

>>23666409
>You know what I hadda do to be like this?!"
Suddenly those tiny scars make sense. She's had cosmetic surgery hasn't she?

Rolled 15

>>23666504
>>23666515
>>23666516

"Tara...Tara, no." You say backing up looking for something to climb up. So far, nothing. "Look, you'd probably beat me any day in normal arm wrestling...how about I buy you another drink, and we can do this again in the morning."

"S'not, fair." She mumbles. "Had to cut myself up, n look at you, pretty face already...still hurts you know!" She takes a wild swing at you.

>>23666678
oh, that makes sense. to make her look more human. Suddenly I feel sympathetic for her.

You know what. I think I'm going to start promoting the Paladin for Equality route. This just plain sucks.

Rolled 7

>>23666689
Dodging, fuck.

>>23666689
She hits you in the side. It's where your armor in the thickest, but by the Light, the girl hits like a battering ram!

>>23666689
I will never be able to pass for human Tara. Not even close. Cutting off my tail would mean I die. You can be the champion of the arena and be accepted as a half breed. I will never be able to be anything but what I am.

>>23666689
>>23666719
>>23666713
Yeah, I still say we run for it, and climb somewhere she can't.

No way we can deal with this nonlethally.

>>23666689
They don't care what my face is, all they see is the tail anyway. I still get rocks and food thrown at me, I know you know how it is.

We shouldn't be fighting each other.

>>23666749
Basically this. Mention the mob.

Rolled 10

>>23666719
Just, knock her out.

Rolled 10

>>23666769

Thirded. Failing that, rolling for constriction.

Rolled 3

>>23666739
>>23666749
>>23666769

Other people are moving tables and getting out of the way. Unfortunately it looks like the only thing you could climb up would be the support columns, and it'd probably be a bad idea for Tara to punch those.

"I will never be able to pass for human Tara. Not even close." You say, still dodging. "Cutting off my tail would mean I die. You can be the champion of the arena and be accepted as a half breed. I will never be able to be anything but what I am. They don't care what my face is, all they see is the tail anyway. I still get rocks and food thrown at me, I know you know how it is. I've faced down my share of mobs."

Tara takes a moment as your words wash over her.

Rolled 6

>>23666843

*crossing fingers*

Rolled 20

>>23666843
"Bastards!" She yells swiping wildly. Apparently she's in her own little world and didn't hear much of that speech. It's making it easier to dodge. "Think I like being a whore? Think I like having to look like a fucking slut? But it's never good enough for you, it's that or a monster, isn't it?" She takes another wild swing at you.

>>23666843
>>23666874
GO DIPLOMACY!

You misjudged her swing. It's a solid hit to the jaw, you're dazed and see stars.

Roll 1d6

Rolled 6

>>23666891
>nat 20
we be fucked

thats no lamia, that is a marilith

Rolled 4

we're going to lose aren't we. Its punishment

>>23666904

Rolled 4

>>23666904
Well shit

Rolled 4

>>23666904
ouch

Rolled 4

>>23666904

Rolled 1

>>23666913
>>23666916
>>23666917
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?

>>23666913
for what ? what did we do?

>>23666891
well, at least she's swinging wildly enough to not be doing fist of the north star shit on us.

Though, she's getting a critical wild swing, it looks like. Think if we just stay down when she hits us, she'll stop? I don't want to deal with the fallout of this place getting wrecked up if I can avoid it.

Rolled 1

the dice have spoken! ITS 4!!!!

Rolled 14

>>23666904

Constrict.

>>23666913
>>23666916
>>23666917
>>23666919
>4
>4
>4
>4
Oh my...

Rolled 2

>>23666919
>>23666917
>>23666916
>>23666913
WHAT WIZARD COULD HAVE DONE THIS?

>>23666909
Mariliths have six arms, and I didn't want to repost slowdraw's drawings of her.

>>23666913
You manage to stay upright, but your face is going to be one giant bruise tomorrow.

Your action.

>>23666952

THE DICE WIZZARD!

"It isn't 'wizard', it's WIZZARD!"

Rolled 16

>>23666962
HEAD-BUTT HER!

>>23666909
They have 6 arms.

Rolled 5

>>23666964

1 vote Constrict.

"I'll wait until you calm down and are more rational. You'll thank me later."

>>23666962
Tail bind.

Rolled 9

>>23666962
Just knock her out already

Rolled 3

Right she isn't listening, Think we can trip her up then sit on her? We should be able to immobilze her pretty easily considering how heavy a human sized Lamia is.

Rolled 1

>>23666962
Begin yelling "LIGHT DAMNIT TARA, HAVE YOU NOT LISTENED TO A WORD OF WHAT I'VE SAID?"

Rolling for volume

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>>23666952
I can think of one

>>23666997
I think we just went mute. This thread is fucking cursed

>>23666980
Can't argue with that.

>>23667020
with full force of lamia tail behind it, that would probably hurt like hell. Snakes strike fucking quick, and we're pretty heavy.

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>>23667015
>thread is cursed
I dunno, headbutt seems to be a viable option.

Especially since snakes could be, theoretically, really good at that. What with a history of propelling their heads at projectile speeds. I vote we go with that headbutt.

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>headbutt a minotaur

pic related

>>23666980
You head-butt her, thankfully you miss the horns. She wails in pain and staggers back, her hands going to her face, checking it.

When she's done, she looks up at you with red eyes and a weird distorted sound comes out of her nose and mouth, like she's trying to snort or breath out of holes that don't fit.

She cocks her arm and fist back and takes two steps towards you, and then Lea jumps in front of her.

She jabs her hand into points along her now open side.

Tara's arm spasms and then goes limp. The minotaur girl looks at Lea.

The bandaged girl jabs her again three times in the chest and then palm strikes her, right at the collar.

Tara topples over and lands with a crash.

Lea sighs. "Someone get her and Isen to a room, let them sleep it off."

She turns to you. "You alright? Sorry I couldn't do that sooner. There wasn't an opening in her flailing until then."

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Rolled 1

>>23667094
what could go wrong?

>>23667141
Stop. Rolling.

>>23667125
>you alright
CERTAINLY NOT, I just got punched in the head AND headbutted a minotaur lady or whatever. I am going to sit down and try not to pass out for a while.

>>23667125
"I.....That......Wow.."

>>23667125
"no problems, better late than never. now I'm going to need something for my face... and somewhere to lie down."

>>23667125
"Woah. I've had worse, I guess."

Rolled 4

>>23667125
Someone please drag me to a room after ~I~ pass out.

Rolled 6

>>23667125
... you aren't interested in travelling with us are you?

Then pass out.

>>23667125
do we know about monks?

>>23667157
"I...That...Wow..." You say.

Tricia and your friends are there with a cold, wet towel for your face. They're giving apologies about not having an opening, and how they didn't want to hurt Tara, and how Mage is useless with spells that aren't shooting things.

Lea shakes her head as she watches three men take Tara away with Isen. "She does this too damn often. She gets drunk, then loses at cards or something, and goes off like that. Normally Isen can reign her in, but..." She looks at you and shrugs. "I guess you set her off worse than usual."
***

I think I just brought up bad memories. I.. can understand why she got upset. Where did you learn to do that? With your barehands I mean. It was really impressive.

>>23667264
I might have set her off, but I don't think all that anger was about me. Just aimed at me.

>"Think I like being a whore? Think I like having to look like a fucking slut? But it's never good enough for you, it's that or a monster, isn't it?"

LOOK WHAT YOUR MONSTERGIRL WAIFUING HAS WROUGHT, /TG/

>>23667264
I just hope we'll be able to talk like normal people tomorrow, I'd hate to be on bad terms with her because of this

>>23667264
"Sorry. Not exactly the best way to make first impressions... Are you a bard?"

>>23667328
"I think I just brought up bad memories. I...I think I can understand why she got upset. She wasn't angry at me, just aimed at me." You sigh and then look at Lea. "Where did you learn to do that? With your bare hands, I mean. It was really impressive."

Lea shrugs. "From the hospital. The Cups Guild here has people from all over the kingdom. They say desert air is good for the health."

>>23667397

Wait for her to wake up, then apologize.

>>23667432
For what?

>>23667432
>waking up a drunk person
Harder than you might think!

>>23667397
"from... doctors? what kind of doctors are they? because the one in my village sure couldn't do that."

>>23667470
"For what?" You say. It's not tactful, but your head is lucky it isn't cracked open right now.

"I had...these lumps." She says. "They kept growing inside me and making me sick. The healers either cut them out or gave me potions for them. It worked." She shrugged. "But..." She gestured to her bandaged form. "The lepers look healthier than I am." She sighed. "Kyber was 'kind' enough to hire me. I learned all that fighting stuff to keep the drunks off of me. Apparently some sick people get turned on by a girl in bandages." She sighs.

"I think you should all get some rest. Also, don't get upset if Tara's still mad at you in the morning. That's just how she is." Lea sighs.

"You are going to bed, and you get it alone." Tricia says. "No arguments." She pulls you away.
***

If you aren't too attached to working here would you like to join us? We could use a medic and we're all fairly different.

Then ya lets head to sleep.

>>23667541
Um, OP, i don't think that was intended as a suggestion, but as a question to another poster.

>>23667596
mumble an "ok" and slither into bed.

>>23667652
worked out ok, we got an explanation for the bandages.

>>23667652
I assumed so. Also, Tricia's the medic. This was for your bruiser. If you had LOST the match, you'd have gotten Tara in your party. She's still a romance option though.

>>23667712
Pff, we can totally still buddy right the hell up with that minolady. We can always use two bruisers.

>>23667776
You'llll seeeee!

You mumble an okay and you slide back into bed.

You dream you have legs, and you're running across grass. Father picks you up and spins you. You dream you are small and your parents, your siblings, and you are all curled in a ball, sleeping through a cold snap. You dream of a hall filled with people in Father's shiniest armor. You dream of Tricia, Peri/Mari, Mage, Lea, Tara, and even Isen. You dream of nothing as your head throbs.

You're awoken by the sounds of screams from outside.

>>23667913
mumble "people are trying to sleep here, waht are they doing?"

>>23667913
"waht are you doing, stahp"

>>23667913
Welp, time to save the day! Lets go see what is up.

>>23667964
"People are trying to sleep here, waht are they doing?" You mumble.

Hands are shaking your shoulders. "Wake up! Ssen, wake up! We need to go, NOW!" It's Peri/Mari.

>>23667913
>>23667964
We should really get up and investigate in a quick manner, screams usually predicate bad stuff. We should generally prevent bad stuff.

>>23667995
"What's going on?"

>>23667995
"mgne? okay.. get up and follow her"

Also grab sword, bow and arrows.

>>23668044
and our tail. don't forget that, it's important

>>23668011
"What's going on?" You ask as you get up, grabbing your armor and weapons.

"Huge ass cloud of locus, and these crazy fuckers with spears along with them. A damn army of them!" Peri says.

"They're assaulting the walls. The city's panicking." Mari says. "They're not Ghouls."

"Mage is getting Tricia. Lea says that people last night heard us call her a wasp witch...they're going to see the locusts and flip the fuck out." Peri says.

"Lea says that we can get out of the city through the smuggler tunnels that criss cross the town. There's an entrance in the basement." Mari says.

>>23668186
You run downstairs. Lea is working on opening a metal door in the floor. Mage is helping her. Tricia has her hands over her ears.

"Loud, so loud...and angry. They don't want to listen...they can't listen...shutup shut up shut UP!" She wails.

>>23668221
>>23668186
I think it might be our job to incinerate a whole pile of locusts and shoot a whole pile of dudes with arrows. Or, if we're not fullpaladin, joining the refugees and making sure they're safe (retreating). Whichever.

>>23668221
>>23668257
oh, I forgot, do check in on tricia. She seems to be having a hard time with the swarm of ravenous locusts.

>>23668221
>"Loud, so loud...and angry. They don't want to listen...they can't listen...shutup shut up shut UP!" She wails.
Okay think. What kind of magic would it take to control a swarm that big? Is there a way to disrupt it?

>>23668303
It might be good to have her focus on something else, like the awkward morning where we shared a bed.

We might be able to embarrass her enough to distract her from the locusts, which I assume she can understand.

>>23668303
You put a hand on Tricia's shoulder. She's got tears running down her face. "They're in pain." She swallows. "All of them, ripping, tearing, they don't WANT this. Why? Why? Please, you are not where you want to...be...show me...show me..." Her head snaps up and her face distorts into a nasty sneer. "What is this?" Her voice now sounds almost completely alien with the amount of clicks and buzzes in it. "A pretender to the throne? We are not amused. You shall not stop Us. This throne is Ours!" Tricia convulses a little, her eyes roll up into her head, and then she drops to the floor.

>>23668452
Whelp, time to get the fuck out of here.

>>23668452
You carry that girl. You carry that girl this instant.

>>23668452
Get your knight on and carry that potential love interest out of there!

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>>23668512

>>23668549
Guilty. But let's not derail this thread

>>23668512
"Got it!" Mage says as he and Lea open the doors.

"Come on!" Peri/Mari says.

You scoop up Tricia into your arms. "Got her."

"Isen and Tara are out defending the walls." Lea says. She frowns. "Maybe I should be with them?"

"You!" You all spin around. It's Kyber, he has a crossbow and it's pointed at Tricia. "This is her fau-" He stops mid sentence as Lea kicks him in the stomach and then does a barehanded chop to his neck.

"I quit asshole!" She looks at the rest of you. "So, we're escaping?"

>>23668452
For trying to "leave it open", you're really not giving us much of a choice but the childhood frenemy.

Get that door open and make with the princess carrying.

>>23668571
"I suppose so."

>>23668571
Compliment Lea on her mad chops, and then cheese it

>>23668571
We have a disabled noncombatant who's in danger of being lynched, but Isen and Tara could use some backup. I hate to say this, but our options are putting Tricia at more risk, leaving Isen and Tara to their fate, or splitting the party.

I hate all of those, but of them I'd put the highest value on getting Tricia out of this safely, and everyone else second.

I agree, With Tricia down we no longer have the option of heading towards the wall. Time to get her to a safe place and regroup there.

>>23668797
>>23668678
b-but combat and glory!

Oh well. We'll get her safe. Maybe we can get to the walls after that. an army attacking a place tends to take a bit.

>>23668678
You guys aren't the only ones using the smuggler tunnels to get to safety. A lot of women and children are running by you. A few men are organizing the evacuation, a few look at your group oddly, but with one of you carrying another, you look the same as the rest.

"MMph, stop...stop. Put me down." Tricia says. You stop in a larger room. It must be below a well because the room is dominated by a large cistern.

Tricia slowly gets to her feet and leans against a wall. She takes a few deep breaths. "I saw her...it...whatever she is. It's another Insect Druid that's doing this. A real Wasp Witch-Queen." She shakes her head. "She's crazy. She's been attacking desert nomad groups and turning them into her 'drones.' She plans to take all of Purple Sands, and make it her new 'hive.' She's out of her mind...I don't even think she's all human any more."

>>23668933
Do you know where she is?

>>23668892
It's not even an army. It's a few guys with spears and a swarm of locusts.

The thing I'm most worried about is the possibility that the locals will turn on our group, and that if our party is below-strength we may lose other people in defense besides Tricia.

They're the most dangerous kind of people: scared, angry, and too stupid to know who's on their side and who isn't.

>>23668933
Can we fight her without risking you becoming incapacitated again?

Because she sounds like she needs to die, and BEFORE she takes over a town is the best time to do it.

>>23669001
"Do you know where she is?" You ask.

Tricia nods. "It's going to be tough getting there. She has drones, and swarms." She shakes her head. "It's weird though...you can't DO this. You can't control a swarm that big, much less have people under mind control. Your brain would melt under the strain."

>>23669036
"Can we fight her without risking you becoming incapacitated again?" You ask.

Tricia nods. "Yeah, I...I think so. I wasn't expecting to touch another mind in that swarm. I got sucker punched. It wont happen again."

>>23669077
She probably has something that is boosting her. An artifact or something like that. Or her insanity is letting her reach past her limits.

Anyway we have no choice. You are the only one who knows about her and I don't think we can safely approach anyone without getting mobbed. They are blaming you right now.

Lets go put a stop to this.

>>23669077
Then we need to be prepared for her to pull a particularly dirty trick.

Is Tricia POSITIVE there's nothing she knows of that could do this?

>>23669215
>>23669115

She could have the support of other like-minded insect druids. Or others who are otherwise subjugated or mind-controlled in some way.

Or maybe she's not directly controlling all of them? Perhaps she's just using a trick to drive them berserk and lure them to the town while ignoring her.

>>23669143
"We have no choice. You're the only one who knows about her and I don't think we can safely approach anyone without getting mobbed." You say. "They are blaming you right now, and if they aren't they will soon."

"Lets go put a stop to this." You say.

Everyone else nods at you, united in purpose.

"Okay," Tricia says. "Peri, Lea. Do either of you know of a big oasis that's in the shadow of a cliff. It has an eagle carved above it?"

"That way." Lea points down a tunnel that's not being used by escapees. "We'll come out a ways away from the place. It's a hike though."

Mage shrugs. "We better get going then."

As you make your way down the curving tunnel as quickly as you can, Mari speaks up. "You know...this is weird."

"What?"

"Well, why didn't the Queen use these tunnels? They're not a big secret, the Purple Sand smugglers are legendary. If I had an army of mind controlled soldiers, I'd sneak them through here. Not to mention how pointless the cloud of Locus is. The Mage Council is based here. Who'd be dumb enough to attack it?" Mari says. "Also, why even bother with an attack at all? You can control minds, just go straight to that. Why bother with an army?"

>>23669396
Maybe she's planning on getting civilians to panic and flee through the tunnels, because she knows where they'll come out?

>>23669396
Well, Tricia did say she was insane.

>>23669396

Locusts could just be the bait. They seem to swarm regularly enough without any prodding from druids or any of the sort, might be easy enough to get a swarm going if you had enough time to study them and gather enough of them in one place.

Whoever is behind this swarm either wants to target the people fleeing the city, or is targeting something valuable inside the city. Insect Druid nudges the swarm to the city, provides a hell of a distraction while sending out millions of eyes that can crawl into all sorts of nooks and crannies.

>>23669437
Maybe if the populace is driven into a state of mind similar to the locusts it will be easier for her to control a mass of them?

>>23669437
"Maybe she's planning on getting civilians to panic and flee through the tunnels, because she knows where they'll come out?" You say.

Tricia shakes her head. "No. She doesn't care about the people who run. She just wants to take Purple Sands. She might have a way to keep the Mages neutralized, but I'm not sure."

"See? There's another thing. Also, say she takes over Purple Sands, then what?" Mari says. "You could convert all of Purple Sands into your army, but you couldn't DO anything with it. It's stuck out here in the desert. The people fleeing would call off the Coaches, and even if you could march the army over the highway, who would you attack with it? White Tree is too far, Stone Hall is too far, maybe there's a few small towns, but even then that doesn't make sense."

"Grand Citadel isn't too far, using the highway." Lea says.

"Grand Citadel's city watch alone is at least twice the population of Purple Sands, and the army is even bigger." Mari shakes her head. "None of this makes sense."

"Maybe she's just crazy." Mage says. "It can happen."

>>23669592

These people might not be after the city per se; perhaps the location itself is important for some sort of magic ritual or something along those lines. The Mage Council is based here, after all; maybe they had a good magic-related reason to stay here despite there being more habitable lands nearby.

>>23669592
Maybe she wants a base. If Grand Citadel is the only nearby city, and Sands is surrounded by desert, it'd be hard to attack without an organized force.

>>23669592
If she has an objective, it must be here or close by.

>>23669666
"These people, or person, might not be after the city per se; perhaps the location itself is important for some sort of magic ritual or something along those lines. The Mage Council is based here, after all; maybe they had a good magic-related reason to stay here despite there being more habitable lands nearby." You suggest.

"Maybe she wants a base. If Grand Citadel is the only nearby city, and Sands is surrounded by desert, it'd be hard to attack without an organized force." You say.

Mari nods and looks at you, very impressed. "Maybe...but there's still something weird about this to me."

"Look, it doesn't matter why. It matters that we put a knife in it, now." Peri says.

"I hope everyone's okay on the wall." Lea says.

"A week ago I was only worried about my uncle eating my leg...my how things have changed." Mage says.

You have to take a water break twice, but you all emerge from the end of the tunnel just after sunset. Lea points towards a cliff face, and Peri takes out a spyglass from her belt. "Yeah...yeah I see it. There's five guys standing guard, and...what the hell?" He hands you the spyglass to take a look.

There's an army of people in front of the Oasis. Men and women, they're all dressed in desert gear. Apparently this oasis is a well-know caravan stop, since it's fed from a spring that hasn't dried up in Ages.

They're just sitting there, on the sand. Knees raised to their chest, arms wrapped around their knees. They aren't asleep...it looks like they're all watching something in the distance. Fascinated by it.

You pass on the spyglass to the others. Tricia shrugs at you.

"Any ideas on how we're going to get past them, boss?" Peri asks.
***

>>23669817

See what they're watching. Might be a lead.

>>23669877
It looks like nothing...maybe a sand dune. Or the horizon, or the back of the head of the person sitting in front of them. You have no idea, it looks like they're all gazing out into space.

>>23669950

Investigate further. Send someone out in that direction. But only one person. Have most of the others sneak to the Queen.

>>23669950
You are all hidden in the desert equivalent of a duck blind. Also there's about 40 feet and a sand dune between you and the entranced army. The army's about 100ish people and they stand..or sit...between you and the oasis. The way they're looking is perpendicular to your location and gaze.

>>23669950
Well, hell, maybe we should reposition? Gain some elevation and use the spyglass to observe our surroundings in greater detail?

There HAS to be a reason for this, and I suspect whatever that reason turns out to be is going to be a primary target.

>>23669983
Who?

>>23669950

They're probably hypnotized or something. They may be waiting for orders or for some sort of signal.

Is there any cover that our group can utilize to get past them? Can Tricia grab a nearby beetle or something to fly about and scout for us without getting detected?

>>23669817
Are they looking at the oasis? Could we sneak behind them all?

>>23670022
Furthering on from sneaking behind them, is there anything we can camouflage ourselves with? How far out of our way would we have to go to move out of sight and loop around to the oasis from a different direction?

>>23670000

Tricia if their being held by the queen witch would you be able to feel that presence on them?

>>23670019
>>23670022
In order,

No. Once you clear the sand dune, there's nothing but the people, although the guards by the oasis probably have no night vision thanks to the fire.

Yes, Tricia can try.

No they are not, they're staring off into the desert.

Yes. But it would take a while, and every moment you spend is another moment that Purple Sands is being attacked.

I'm going out to dinner. I'll be back in a few hours.

>>23670150
As a lamia, it should be relatively easy for us to move quickly while lying prone.
Could we snake across the desert real quick past their line of sight?

>staring off into space

What if THEY are helping to control the locusts?

>>23670283
So what, we have a network of mind-drones?
This should turn out well.

>>23670283
It would explain the scale of the attack, as well as their odd behavior.

>>23670150
>multiple hours to eat a meal

I'm not complaining about the quest or anything, but are you eating an ENTIRE ELK?

>>23670458
Or maybe he chews his food?

>>23670553
that might explain like, half hour meals. He must be travelling pretty far or meeting with people in addition to eating.

>>23670458

I believe that

>>23670150

> Going out to dinner

Implies needing to drive somewhere, wait in line for food, then sitting down somewhere, eating, and driving back.

>>23670646
Most likely, I just wanted to poke fun is all.

Anyhow, what are we gonna do about these oasis guys and the guys back at town? We need to protect both the refugees AND the town.

I say we investigate these guys real quick, disturb them or whatever. If they're bug zombies, killem so the refugees are safe and rush back to town. If not, apologize, introduce them and the refugees, and rush back to town. Sound right?

>>23670150
check with Mage for if he has anything besides making stuff go boom.

sneak up on the guards from behind the staring masses.

>>23669817
Avoid these guys, go get them wizards.

"Okay," You take a deep breath. "Tricia, see if you can call a friend to go examine those people, see if they're hostages or part of this or what."

"Peri/Mari, go see if these people are looking at anything over there. And if there's a short cut around them."

"Lea, start going the long way around their backs." You point. "See if we can't creep up on those guards."

"Mage, do you have any spells that can get us closer?" You ask.

The other girls creep off, Tricia goes to meditate so she can call a friend without the Queen noticing.

Mage bites his lip and then snaps his fingers. "You know...maybe. It's a Ghoul hunting spell, it keeps movement silent. Don't even disturb the ground. They use it to set up ambushes. I don't know if it'll work in the desert though, and I've never done it with more than just me and Uncle, or whomever was holding my leash."

>>23672335
"Hey, uhh." Mage looks around to make sure that the other girls are busy. "Ssen, do you mind if I tell you something, I mean...before we might all die?" He whispers.

>>23672412
"What is it, Mage?"

>>23672412
"Sure."
Are we big enough for him to sit on the tail as we zoom around and keep it silent?

File: 1363228145193.png-(28 KB, 232x254, This takes me back.png)

28 KB PNG

>>23672335
>Ghoul hunting spell
Awesome, go for it.

>>23672412
>before we might all die?
Yes, quickly.

>>23670283
>>23670311
>>23670412

>What if THEY are helping to control the locusts?
This is so obvious now.

Is there any real way to confirm this without just trying to kill a bunch? Also how would we go about doing that if it is the solution? They outnumber us by quite a bit.

"What is it, Mage?"

He takes a deep breath. "Look...in my family it's considered romantic if you..." He shakes his head. "You don't want to know. Ugh. Look, you are...incredible. You changed my life, saved my life, the moment you shot my Uncle in the neck. You're astoundingly pretty, and...and these past few days have been the happiest of my life. I'd love to stay and travel with you forever." He says. "I mean, you, and Tricia, and Peri/Mari, and Lea if she's staying with us." He exhales. "Okay. I'm done. Let's get to work on that stalking spell." He says, turning away from you.

>>23672548
Wait for a five count to compose ourselves, then hug him from behind:

"Thank you for the sentament. I...don't know how to reciprocate properly, but lets...talk a bit more about this after we all survive, ok?"

>>23672548
"Uh, right."
Let a guy eat you and kill some of his family. So romantic.

>>23672646
You pause for a moment and then you hug Mage from behind. He goes rigid from being startled.

"Thank you for the sentiment. I...don't know how to reciprocate properly, but lets...talk a bit more about this after we all survive, ok?"

"Uhh, yeah. Okay." He says. "Umm...okay. I think I got it working." The bronze ball in his staff is giving off faint wisps of blue light. "You need to be holding the staff for it to work." He says, holding it out for you to take.

"Launching my friend." Tricia says quietly as she comes up and blows on the small scarab in her hand. It flaps off and flies into the mass of people. It flaps in front of one of them, the person doesn't react. It lands on his face. Still no reaction. It actually crawls on top of his open eyeball.

No reaction. Tricia calls the scarab back.

"Okay, there's no one home. I don't know anyone who can not react to a bug on the eyeball...not even me." Tricia says.

>>23672806
>>23672646
Yeah, yeah, it's touching and all, but this is a terrible time to talk about terrible flesh eating customs.

I'm all for it later though.

>>23672806
ya.

>>23672808
alright lets get started. the gaurds are the real problem. We need to sneak up on them and take them out without a protracted battle.

>>23672808
"Freaky. Let's go then."

>>23672808
uh... I don't think you needed to do that.

Well, we should go and see about waking them. If they won't be woken, warn the refugee train about them. I don't think we can, in right morals DO anything to them without a wizard or clerical consultation on their state.

So, we should probably go back and defend town along with the wizards and clerics.

>>23672854
the reason we are here is to end the threat. Going back defeats that purpose. As long as we don't injure these guys and take out the Queen we should be good.

Theres also a fact that they blame Tricia for this.

>>23672808
You see a flash of light from the mountain wall on the other side of the army. It's Lea signaling with a mirror. She's made it across the back way. It'll take a while for her to reach the oasis from her position but she's made it past the army.

"Psst!" It's Peri/Mari. "I think there's someone else standing out there." She points in the direction the people are staring. "They're way way far off though. We didn't want to get closer, but there's someone wearing a robe standing in the middle of the desert about half a mile down that way. I think he's wearing a mask or something. Hard to get details. So, we have a plan yet?"

>>23672886
oh, sorry, I'm a bit confused then. Continue forward if this is going to stop that army.

>>23672889
Oh man this might be our guy. Do you think stopping him will free the rest? How would we go about that even?

In a completely not related string of questioning, Would constriction work if a man was made of bugs? Or are there too many cracks to escape from?

We need to find the queen. These guys are obviously the drones.... however I think as long as we keep low we can move through them to the Oasis. Use them as cover to get closer.

Does Peri think she can take out that mask guy? Or should we send someone with her?

>>23672889
Tricia nods her head, she's listening to the scarab. "Okay, I don't know what Peri/Mari's mystery man is doing, but this guy says that the Queen is inside a cave that's inside the mountain. You can swim inside, by diving down into the water there." She points at the pool that's the center of the Oasis.

>>23672998
hmm, alright scratch that theory. Maybe hes a shaman investigating like we are. Leave him be then.

>>23672998
Oh! And the bug hasn't been tampered by the opposing queen? Is there any way to check that?

Either way, I say we spring the trap. Whether it's a trap for us or for the queen is of only moderate consequence.

>>23673026
what trap?

Sneak attack the guards and take them out of the equation before they can raise the alarm. If its even possible for the others to be snapped out of their trance it would be best not to find out.

With the guards down that should give us a clear shot at the oasis.

IF we were to deal with the mass of drones sitting here I suggest the following.
Physically touching them doesn't seem to bring them out of it. I propose we bind as many of them as possible then start knocking people unconscious. The reason being that the others might realise if the mental connection with one of their brethren was lost. and wake up to fight us. Just an idea.

>>23672998
"Alright then, lets sneak up on those guards and slaughter em, then get the queen bitch."

>>23673041
I doubt we have enough rope, or time to bind a hundred people

>>23673053
Hence it being an "IF" option.

>>23673035
well, if the queen is there, and we're attacking her, we've trapped her.

If she's not there and has messed with the bug to GET us there, it's us who has fallen into whatever theoretical trap she's planned.

Is there a flaw in my reasoning?

Right, if we are going to take out the gaurds we need to do it quickly as possible.

The best bet would be to use Mage's spell to get close then let loose lots of arrows and Mage's spells. That will be the signal for Lea to attack them from behind. Tricia is going to be nigh useless here unless there are scorpions around. But she can assist us anyway.

Peri\Mari should try to keep low and go for backstabs.

If we want to be audacious we can go so we're right in front of the mob and Peri\Mari can hide in them and wait for them to rush through it. Would mean they'll be slowed down and vulnerable. The bad idea with this would be of course the mob waking up or being commanded to attack us

>>23673041
>>23673051

"Alright then, let's sneak up on those guards and slaughter them, then get the queen bitch." You say.

"Oh, I like that plan." Tricia says. Peri nods and signals Lea to get into position.

"Well...I can use the stalking spell to work for all of us...but..." He gives you a grin. "You'll have to give us all a ride to make it work. Is that okay with you?"

>>23673138
sounds good. it'll be a first though so I don't know if I'll be particulary fast.

>>23673138
I might demand a back/tail rub after this but sure. Hop on the snake train.

>>23673138
>>23673147
only on the stipulation that if this turns out to just look rediculous and get us all caught, it's mage's fault and we get to pin the blame on him when we are humorously retelling this story.

You look at Mage's grinning face for a moment before speaking. "Only on the stipulation that if this turns out to just look rediculous and get us all caught, it's mage's fault and we get to pin the blame on him when we are humorously retelling this story." You say. "And I might demand a back/tail rub after this. Hop on the snake train."

The three others climb onto you, it's not the most comfortable feeling in the world. You shift a lot, and now every shift bumps one of their positions. It doesn't help that Tricia's feet are cold as hell, Mage's staff keeps poking your side, and Peri/Mari is gripping just a touch too tightly. Also you're sure that you are the most ridiculous looking thing out here.

Thankfully, Mage's spell does look to be working. Your movement across the ground doesn't disturb the sand at all. Slowly you make your way across the ground.

Roll 1d10

Rolled 10

>>23673504

>>23673540
bless you

>>23673540
You get to the other side without a peep, not even the guards at the Oasis notice you.

In fact, you can see that they're not even doing much guarding. At the moment they're looking AT the pool of water, two of the five men are on their hands and knees scooping water into their mouths.

Lea signals that she's in Position.

Just for clarification. This is a very rough diagram of your position. This is against a mostly sheer, cliff wall. The top of the cliff is about 60 feet above you.

You three-------------Oasis and Guards----------------Lea

It's your ambush to spring how you want.

>>23673608
I would have us and Mage open fire on the guards who are standing, it'll take a second for the guys by the lake to get up and draw weapons.

Everyone off the Lamia.

Peri\Meri should creep around the edges of the fight once it starts looking for attacks of opportunity. Us and Mage should start off with a ranged assault of bow and magic. Tricia should look for scorpions to sting them with.

>>23673662
yup

>>23673608
well, we should certainly dismount before we get started. I don't think the snaketrain was made for battle.

Since both us and peri are quiet, as she is a thief and we are a magical snake, we can probably get the jump on those three guards. Are they standing close enough together for one person to attack two? If so, that'll work out fine. If not, we may need to get a third, less sneaky person to come with us to make sure all three go down simultaneous and quiet. Maybe mage, he's probably all creepy and stalkerish from his years of being a creepy manstalker.

>>23673676
And Lea should attack once they are distracted by us. Use the arrows and magic as a signal to start.

>>23673676
pretty much this.
Peri sneak around and backstab one once the fight starts.
us and mage light up one of the standing ones
Tricia get scorpions or bash stuff with her mace.
Lea attack them from behind once their attention is on us.

>>23673676
>>23673662

You gesture for Peri to move up, she nods and starts to slowly creep along the wall.

"Think you can find some scorpions?" You whisper to Tricia.

"I'll try, there's only a few beings here who aren't free or I can break free." She closes her eyes and starts her meditation.

You notch an arrow and motion for Mage to aim too. "Pick one of the guys that are standing."

He nods and aims his staff.

Roll 1d20 +5

Rolled 14 + 5

>>23673808

Rolled 2, 14, 3 = 19

>>23673818
A solid hit right between the shoulder blades. The man drops down to the ground.

Mage shoots a fireball.

Peri jumps out from the shadows and tries a double slash at the other remaining guard.

Rolled 9

>>23673856
Mage's bolt flies high.

Peri misses with her follow up slash, but her initial slash is enough to slice the guys' neck open and he drops.

Lea runs into the clearing and does a flying kick at the guy Mage missed.

Aid them with our arrows.

Rolled 2, 1, 2 = 5

>>23673887
She misses.

Rolled 14

>>23673908
The standing guard tries to claw at Peri.

One of the guards just continues to slurp water.

The other guard who was drinking is trying to stand.

>>23673908
Oh, whos attack might that be?

>>23673908
Are these guys even fighting back?

The guard misses Peri.

>>23673905
Call who you're shooting and roll 1d20

>>23673950
We had the surprise round.

Rolled 9

>>23673957
the one trying to stand

Rolled 11

>>23673957
pop the guy starting to stand

Rolled 6

>>23673957
guy getting up from the water

Rolled 20, 5, 19, 6 = 50

>>23673963
Miss

Mage shoots at the one attacking Peri. Peri also responds to the one attacking her.

Lea tries to punch the man trying to stand in the side of his head.

Rolled 19

>>23673957
ya the guy trying to stand. though we won't hit him with these rolls hah. Mage should aim at the guy still drinking. Everyone else dogpile the standing guy.

Rolled 3

>>23673992
Mage just blew that guy's head clean off his shoulders.

Peri's first swipe misses, having there be no more target, but she spins around and stabs the guy who was still drinking, and an easy target.

Lea missed.

Rolled 14

>>23674016
The guard is trying to claw Lea.

>>23674032
He misses.

Your move.

Rolled 18

>>23674040
shoot the one that tried to claw Lea

Rolled 1

>>23674098
same here

>>23674165

Man am I glad >>23674098 rolled first.

>>23674098
It's a hit. The man drops. "That's the last of them." Peri says.

Mari looks at what just happened, and turns around to vomit.

"First kill jitters." Lea says. "Poor girl."

"Where where you Tricia?" Mage asks.

Tricia opens one eye. "Calling my friend. I got one of them to answer me. Is he not here?" She looks around and fumes. "I want this bitch's head." She growls.

"His Light guide us." Lea gasps. "Tricia, come look at this!"

Tricia comes up and gapes. "No...no...that's not right! Ssen! You need to see this!"

You slide up. The guards aren't quite men...not any more. Their hands are now closer to claws, pointed and covered with chiton plates. Their eyes are now pure black and look like they're partially segmented. The hair on their faces are twitching.

Tricia is digging around one of their pockets. "No, no...please don't tell me..." She takes out a small bamboo vial. She opens it and sticks a finger into it. It's covered with a red gunk, she tastes it for a second. Then instantly spits. "Oh His Light provide us safety from the depths of the Darkness." She gasps.

"What?" Peri asks, wiping her mouth.

"That's Royal Jelly from the Underside Wasp." She shakes her head. "Oh, we're in trouble. Those people? They aren't in a trance or controlling something or anything like that. They're pupating!"

Rolled 8

>>23674293
"Would killing the Queen stop the process? or are all these people already gone?"

>>23674293
How do we stop it?

>>23674293
"The Underside Wasp is this horrible little creature that burrows into necrotic flesh to lay its eggs. It's honey is one of the more nasty poisons, probably one of the few things that can make you sick Ssen." Mari says.

"Kid's right, and the royal jelly that's extracted from the queen...it can do that." Tricia shakes her head and then slaps it. "Come sunrise, those people are going to give birth to a LOT worse than just a locust swarm. Oh no. THAT'S why the attack on the walls. You get a bunch of dead bodies, and all the fighter in one place." She shakes her head and then her eyes go wide. "And that's how she's doing it. Insect Druids are never, ever, supposed to eat royal jelly. Ever. It warps our connection to the natural world."

"How?" Mage asks.

"There's always supposed to be a barrier between your mind, and the swarm's mind. That's why I can only talk to bugs. A wasp witch who takes enough royal jelly loses that barrier, she can literally overpower and become the swarm's mind. But if you do that, your brain fries, you lose your mind, go berzerk, and then the local nobility calls a Paladin or sellsword to put your crazy ass down!" She shakes her head. "A wasp witch on Underside Wasp Jelly...holy fuck."

>>23674293
...that's why she's hitting Sands. It's isolated enough to give her time to convert the city before moving to the next target.

Assuming that the jelly is causing a transformation, that is.

>>23674406
>>23674439
poison I bet.

Usually, these medicines are a poison that kills bugs but not humans, or kills bugs HARDER than humans.

>>23674475
Then we burn these bodies now, deny her whatever they're filled with.
.

>>23674475
"So is there any way to save these people, or do we just burn them to cinders?"

Rolled 17

>>23674508
ouch, practical but ouch.

We need to get to the Queen now. As we are the Lamia who can actually swim underwater for a while I think its up to us to actually kill her. They are to deal with the bodies if it isn't possible to save them. If there is no mind controlling these bugs they will wreck havoc anyway with all the dead from the attack. They need to die before they can spread.

"Would killing the Queen stop the process? Or are all these people already gone?" You ask.

"Okay, okay...let me think." Tricia says. "Even with the power boost from the jelly, it's going to be hard to control THIS many wasps." She shakes her head. "Yeah...yeah these people are all dead. Crack them open and you'll see they're filled with larvae."

Mari nods. "She has to be using magic, Underside Wasps don't live in these kind of temperatures. It's too hot or too cold."

"Right...right, so that means she's also the hive mind pushing them...yeah. Yeah, we kill the Queen and this swarm, and the locusts and the drones should all stop. I hope." Tricia nods. "How in His Light did an Underside Wasp Witch get all the way out here?"

"Forget that, we need to help the people at Purple Sands first." Lea says. She points at the water. "Who's going in first?"

Rolled 9

I will.

(Pretty sure Lamia's like snakes can swim)

>>23674556
I can swim pretty well and can hold my breath a long time. I can check ahead and guide everyone else to air pockets as we go through.

>>23674556
How far is it to the Queen Tricia? Do I need to pull you guys behind me?

>>23674617
"I can swim pretty well and can hold my breath a long time. I can check ahead and guide everyone else to air pockets as we go through." You say, and you dive in.

It's a few feet down to a tunnel, the tunnel goes for a few feet and then rises up to where it opens into a large grotto inside the mountain, there's a glow coming from further inside and the sound of a woman chanting.

You figure that, if you let the others grab onto your tail and let you pull them, humiliating as that is, you can get everyone into here.

>>23674694
If you go one at a time, that is.

>>23674694
Have them hold hands, then we can drag them without compromising tail strength.

>>23674708
do it, and quickly, who knows what the hell she is doing in there with that chanting.

>>23674737
Or shit, do we have a rope? Thats like Adventurer 101, then they just have to pull and go faster.

>>23674694
We must be a vehicle or something. Alright lets do it

>>23674772
we're just SO MUCH MORE CAPABLE at water'n'sand than those leg folks

Don't worry, we'll feel stupid if we need to make a longjump, or swing from branch to branch.

>>23674772
There is no brakes on the snaketrain.

Lamia OP, will you consider a way to notify us of when you are running a thread? A twitter or something?

I hope I am not stirring up a shitstorm.

>>23674772
You come back and explain what you see. The others are quick to agree. "I'll go last." Lea says. "These shouldn't get wet." She says, gesturing at her bandages. She sighs. "Please try not to be too disgusted when you see me."

"Emotional growth later, stop giant herd of zombie wasps now!" Tricia says as she jumps into the water and grabs your tail.

You ferry the other three through as quickly as you can, Mage's staff gives him a little difficulty, but you pull though. You emerge on the Oasis, and you get to see Lea outside of her bandages.

It's bad. Really really bad. Her skin is a mess of old scars, nasty looking and puckered. There's also lots of blotchy patches of skin, dark purple, sickly yellow, and dull green. She's horrible looking, no amount of makeup or clothing could make Lea look pretty. She's still dressed in her simple robes, with leather gauntlets, greaves, and a wide strap of leather across her chest. Apparently she wore those under her bandages. "I know it doesn't look like enough armor." She says. "But I need the freedom for my style, and..." She sniffs. "I'm sorry. I'm wasting time."

>>23675002
That's okay. None of us are 'normal.'

Now, lets go!

>>23675002
"We can talk about how little I mind your appearance later, zombie wasp!"

>>23675002
after the queen is dead we should check with Tricia and see if she can do anything to help out Lea with her skin troubles.

"Not like any of us are normal." and emphasize it by giving a little swish of your tail and flick of your tongue.

>>23675002
Hug her. No words. Just hug.

There is much more to us than what we look like. We should know.

>>23675116
No time for hugs! Hugs later!

>>23675002
smile a little. "You're stronger then you look, you know that? Most couldn't go through what you did and still have the capacity to live, let alone fight as you do." motion towards the water. "Come on. We have a druid to stop."

>>23675124
Hugs only takes a second.

>>23675124
Alright anon, promise me that we will vote for hugs when we are safe.

>>23675002


I'm a giant snake-lady that can crush an Ox, Tricia talks to insects for a living, Mage probably has an extended family that eats people for fun, and Peri/Mari... are actually pretty normal, once you start addressing them as distinct people.

Don't worry about your looks. You're amongst friends here.

>>23675116
>>23675071

You slide up out of the water and hug her.

"There is much more to us than what we look like. We should know. Not one of us are 'normal.' Now, lets go! Zombie wasps await." You say as you get back into the water, wiggling your tail a little.

Lea smiles, honestly. "You know, my father trained Tara, trained all the best fighters in Purple Sands. He said she was as thick as a brick and half as observant. But she was right...you really are pretty Ssen. But it's not because of your face."

She jumps in and holds on.

The others are shaking themselves dry when you and Lea arrive. They all look at Lea for a moment, a 'huh' look on their face, and then go back to readying their weapons.

You notice that on Lea's back there's an arrangement of her skin legions and scars that almost form a pattern when she flexes, just right. A grey nine pointed star against a black circle with a small white dot in the center.

Tricia looks around, like she's trying to hear something.

The five of you creep forward, deeper into the grotto, closer towards the chanting.

(I've got a long post up next, that's probably multiple parts, so heads up)

>>23675071
>>23675085
>>23675099
>>23675116
>>23675124
>>23675132
>>23675153
>>23675169
>>23675222
scared recluse girl makes me think of Hanako from Katawa Shoujo.

Oh god, the feels!

>>23675228
>Sign of the paladin order

Where is my RonPaulFear.jpg when I need it?

>>23675228
>holy symbol scars
Ah shit, she's secretly an incredible badass.

Probably has been in prison. And in 'nam.

>>23675277
Are you sure she is not a secret operative?

Otherwise, I imagine the doctors are all badasses who can just as easily take on an army as reset a sprain.

Rolled 7

symbols, symbols everywhere.

>>23675306
Actually Im pretty sure its a Sign of Fate sorta deal. We've been seeing the symbol everywhere. Hell Mage has it on his shackle now from when he tasted our flesh.