The drinks come quickly and go down even faster.

The Occuli soldiers also come in and keep buying you all rounds. They had lost friends to Donovan, or had family in Purple Sands. Lea keeps singing songs that get more and more bawdy and slurred as the night goes on.

You have memories of beating six Occuli soldiers at once in Tail/Arm wrestling.

Mage getting you all laughing by showing what a 'Ghoul courtship song' sounds like.

Peri being very happy to not see Rogers.

Mari getting a crash course in 'shameless flirting' from Peri.

You remember staggering back to the Occuli camp with the others, so drunk that you stumble over your own tail.

You get as much of you as you can on a cot and go to sleep.

You dream

The muscle man who laughed is dead. So is the Would-Be-Traitor. The boy and the girl are trying to keep that from happening to the smart girl, as they carry her away from the city. They don't know she's already dead.

They collapse onto the side of the road. The city behind them burns. The howls of the raiders...no...conquerors, fill the air.

"They lost." Comedy says. "That...how...how could they lose?"

"This is your fault!" Tragedy shouts at Rage. "Routed! How can the Lightbringers be routed?"

Rage says nothing. He just stares at the fires and hears the screaming and howling.

"Three of them are dead!" Comedy wails.

Peace holds up a hand. The other three go quiet.

The boy and the girl have left the dead body behind them, and now are hiding in the bushes. The girl is weeping, and the boy is trying to quiet her...in a few moments, they are kissing. In the next few, a bit more than that.

"This is acceptable." Peace says. "Locate new assets."

"Yes. Of course." "Excuse us for panicking without cause." Comedy and Tragedy say.

Rage keeps looking at the fallen city.

Peace looks at Rage. "This is not your fault. This is Our Fifth's fault. Come."

"Just...let me remain, for a moment." Rage says. "I was born here."

"Of course." Peace turns away.

The man in the changing neutral mask is sitting down. His head in his hands.

"This is partially my fault." He sighed. "I accept that. More people have died than would have at Purple Sands...but...but I had to try. I thought they'd just...I didn't know what I thought they'd do. I just felt so damn clever." He sighs. "It sounds like I'm giving you a confession...doesn't it?" He shakes his head. "Things are off the rails now...I think Donovan might have given you the key though. Something clicked on the array during his ranting." He shakes his head. "Not that it does you any good, if I can't even get a damn hint about it." He groans. "I'll try to figure it out, in the mean time...do what you do best, I suppose." He sighs. "I'm sorry...here, I've kept up too much of your time already."

The smell of leather and of oil. A hug that you return. "I love you, daughter. But this isn't the hard part, either."

You wake to a massive hangover...and most of the dream drifts away.

"Guhhh." Lea groans. "Turn off the sun."

"Don't talk." Mage whimpers.

"Why does the air feel so heavy?" Peri/Mari say.

"Guys...I actually think there's something going on outside." Tricia says.

You do hear sounds of activity from outside.

>>23710689
Get up, roll to not vomit, look out the window.

>>23710744
You drag the chamber pot over to your face, so you can express your stomach's discontent with your lifestyle. Then you slowly, very very slowly, slither to the edge of the tent and slightly lift the flap to see what's going on.

The Occuli are packing up to leave. In a hurry. You also see Julian, two heavily armed Occuli soldiers, and a Occuli mage marching towards the tent. He looks VERY unhappy.

>>23710689
Don't get up just yet ... ask Mage /what/ is happening if he can see. If it's really wroth it for us to get up and do something about it.

By the light it's most likely way to early for this crap.

>>23710794
Bah. Slowness ...

>>23710793
Oh boy get up, get ready as fast as we can ... and wake everyone else up too.

>>23710793
Ugh, what now?

welp something has gone wrong. Maybe the confession thing?

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>>23710793
Great. They hit buenos aires. Those BUG BASTARDS!

>>23710793
Roll down the window and ask what in the hell is going on.

>>23710830
"Ugh, what now?" You mutter. "Everyone! Up!" You say.

Everyone groans at you.

The flap is open wide and Julian strides in, he almost steps on your tail as he goes to Mage's bed and grabs the young man and pulls him upright, almost lifting him in the air.

"Did you know ANYTHING about this?!" He shouts.

"Wha-buh?" Mage says.

"Tell me ghoul! DID YOU KNOW?!" He yells.

"No! No...I don't know...unless I should...I don't know!" Mage's stomach churns. "I think I'm gonna throw up..."

Julian looks at the Occuli mage. She shakes her head. He drops Mage onto the ground, where he tries to get to a chamber pot...but only gets about 50% accuracy.

>>23710898
What happened?

What happened?

Also this might be a good idea for Ssen to remember fragments of her dreams. Because this is getting a bit much to pretend its a coincidence.

>>23710898
Julian, tell me what in the hell this is all about or your boots get it.

>>23710898
Which city was it this time?

>>23710898
"What's this about, Julian?"

>>23710949
"Julian, tell me what in the hell this is all about or your boots get it." You growl.

"There's been an attack." Julian says.

You're nodding. You know that there's been an attack. A bad one. "What city?" You mumble.

Julian looks at you on the ground. He raises an eyebrow and then shakes his head. "The Ghouls have formed all of their groups together, and marched on a city. They've taken it."

Mage is now up, and the others are finding the news more pressing than the pain. "How? There...there can't be a way for them to all get together, they'd eat each other...literally!" He pauses. "Am I using that word right?"

"What city did they hit?" Tricia asks. Her voice is filled with fear.

"Stone Hall." Julian sighs. "The City by the Shore has fallen...to the Ghouls. We march to retake it." He looks at you on the ground. "I can't order you to come with us, but I need every sword arm I can get for this."

>>23711055
So long as we have time to sober up, I think it's a pressing enough concern to become a priority.

We were meaning to go to them anyway. This just gives us more of a reason to.

Also ask this, if anyone knows it'd be a paladin lord. Is there a fifth humor? It'd be the confirmation we'd need to know our dreams aren't merely whimsy.

>>23711055
"I was going to demand to go with you, what about you guys?" as we turn to our party.

>>23711055
well, WE'RE most certainly going. I imagine most of our buds will too.

Though I'm sort of forgetting our original objectives at this point. Did we get to the citadel? Is this it?

>>23711108
Nope. I'm not sure Ssen even really has her own objectives in mind.

>>23711091
"I was going to demand to go with you," You say, looking up at your uncle's nostrils. "What about you guys?"

"Like you have to ask?" Tricia says. "Things come in threes, right? We need one more city to give us a title."

Julian makes a non-plussed sound in his throat. "We march in two hours."

"Wait..." You say. "Is there a Fifth Humor?"

"What?" He asks.

"A fifth Dramatae." You say.

"Why are you asking?" Julian says.

"Sort of." The magic user says. "There are some who feel that the vessel of the humors itself, is the fifth humor. The container effects the contents."

"Why does this matter?" Julian asks.

"No reason...yeah...two hours...gotcha." You say.

Julian leaves.

Lets get ready. Think we can buy a bow in two hours? An elven bow!

>>23711220
oh yeah, we're about to leave elftown, aren't we? If there's a time to get a good bow, this is it.

>>23711193
A few faces in cold water later, along with some strong drink that the Occuli 'claim' is coffee (You are so thankful for your poison resistance) you're all suited up and in the Wagon. Lea has the Nightmare all hooked up and ready to pull.

"This is not right." Mage says. "The Ghouls would never 'band together' and even then, they wouldn't take a city. Staying in one place is the exact opposite of everything that a Ghoul lives for and feels is right!"

"Maybe someone got ambitious and could talk?" Mari says. "Happened before with other raider groups."

"You control Ghouls by being the strongest, and bringing in the most food." Mage says. "Speeches aren't part of the Ghoul way of life."

>>23711179
yeah, but why did we leave home? what was our goal?

It was something along the lines of seeing the world, right? So we're not forgetting anything major?

>>23711263
"There's plenty of food in the city, especially a port city, filled with fish... and people."

>>23711263
A city is a lot of food. If I was the ghoul leader I'd feast then move on to the next.

>>23711278
Yup, pretty much.

>>23711220
Okay, you've got a new bow from First Wood, highest quality and elf make. One of Rogers' creations before his forge shut down (Which is now reopened.) You now have a +2 to bow shots.

Also your Father's sword is...somehow better now, a little sharper, a little lighter. Probably just you getting better with it, and not related to how you've taken confession and wore the mantle and circlet of a Paladin. +2 to sword attacks as well.

>>23711263
"It was the dramatae trying to create a challenge for the new lightbringers."
Time to sound crazy!

>>23711300
"A city is a lot of food. If I was the ghoul leader I'd feast then move on to the next." You suggest.

"Maybe...but attacking a city...well, it causes THIS to happen." Mage points at the marching Occuli. "Armies show up pissed."

>>23711370
What you remember of your dreams at this point: The masks of the Five Dramate/Humors. The burning city. Father's presence and words.

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>>23711370
"If they're confident enough they might just see it as delivery."

Cock burns are never fun captcha, what the even heck.

>>23711417
"If they're confident enough they might just see it as delivery." You say.

"Maybe...maybe they just finally snapped." Mage says. "Nearly every Ghoul falls into madness, eventually." He looks out as the scenery passes by as the wagon bumps along.

>>23711417
Oh um, before we say this and look like a tool, how does the ghoul thing work anyways, does eating things just make them stronger? If so what happens when they eat a buttload of soldiers?

>>23711451
"It's diablerie. The ghouls eats their victim, and then a ghoul mage performs a rite and they get powers. Eating a human gives a ghoul boosts across the board as they get bigger/stronger/faster, if it's something like a troll, or a harpy, or a lamia then things start to change. The more they eat, the more savage they get (Unless they're the leader, and that's a unique condition) until they're mindless berzerk eating machines." Mage explains. "Honestly...I don't know how bad it's going to be."

>>23711441
"You won't, your way too rational for that."

>>23711537
We'll find out when we get there. At least we know where the other staff probably is now.

>>23711557
"You won't, your way too rational for that." You say.

"If...if it does look like I'm going ghoul," Mage sighs. "And you guys try every single damn thing to fix me, after all of that...then I want you to put me down. Okay, Ssen?" He says. "But first, I mean...like every single Cups Guild healer in Grand Citadel. Okay?"

>>23711641
well, sure. That's what it'll come down to. But at this rate, you're more at risk of becoming a vegetable.

>>23711641
"I won't let you go ghoul, Mage. You have my word."

>>23711661
"Well, sure. That's what it'll come down to. But at this rate, you're more at risk of becoming a vegetable."

"Hey, I've been varying my diet." Mage says. "I've been eating beans, and insects too!"

"Not helping your case about not having a warped brain, Mage." Tricia says.

>>23711696
"Hey!" Lea asks one of the Occuli you're travelling with. "Why doesn't the flotilla just shell the city?"

"They want to see if we can retake it without destroying it." The Occuli says. "That's plan B."

"See?" Mage says. "They'd blow up the city. None of this makes any sense, Ssen!"

"That happens so often to us now, I'm just staring to roll with it." Tricia says.

>>23711741
If something doesn't make sense, that means we don't have all the information we need to make sense of it.

I wonder if any of those ghoul leaders know WHY they came here. Our uncle is here for more thorough "confessions", for those folk who happen to be entirely terrible.

>>23711741
"I think there might be a third party behind all this."
We can draw from the dreams a little yeah?

>>23711777
"If something doesn't make sense, that means we don't have all the information we need to make sense of it." You say.

"Yeah, I guess." Tricia says.

"I wonder if any of those ghoul leaders know WHY they came here. Uncle is here for more thorough "confessions," so I think we'll learn something." You sigh.

"Ssen?" Peri says. "As part of your retinue, I'd like to readdress the part about our wages."

"Namely that we want some." Mari says.

>>23711830

...okay. Starting bids?

>>23711830
I don't think we've made any money have we?
How much do we have on us?

>>23711830
Then maybe you should get a job.

>>23711830
yeah, we're all going to be starving pretty soon if we keep doing only charity. We don't have access to the donation pan like a normal paladin. Does peri have any ideas on how to make the pay happen?

>>23711830
I thought this was more of an "adventuring party" than a "retinue".

>>23711906
My thoughts also.

>>23711741
... not exactly the best way to deal with it.

>>23711830
Wow. We sure missed a bounty on Donovan didn't we?

>>23711923
do you have a plan for figuring this shit out? Because capturing and interrogating the cannibaliest ghoul leader we can find might give us some leads.

>>23711940
Shit, lets talk to Julian about this.

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>>23711940
Oh god my jewishness is in pain.

Maybe we can ask julian if there was a bounty on donovan?

>>23711974

There probably was. Here's hoping we don't get screwed out of our money.

>>23711940
It's a good idea to check.
>>23711945
I dunno, our ghoul expert has no idea. Mostly the issue is becoming complacent and NOT looking for an explanation.

>>23711974
Be all like
"Hey Julian, was there a bounty on Donovan? We need the money to pay the mages for their research on separating Peri and Mari."

>>23711892
"Then maybe you should get a job." You snap.

"Paladins do receive a very generous stipend from the crown." Lea says.

"Okay," Tricia says, coming to the rescue. "Then you can have a chunk of that, hey Mage, what's 20 percent of nothing?"

"We're just pulling her tail." Peri/Mari say. "Beats thinking about how we're going to fight an entire army of savage cannibal raiders, with magic users, who are entrenched inside a city...that might be blown up."

"That does seem to be a bar that's a bit higher than usual." Mage says.

>>23712015
"But there's a whole army on this side too. We don't have to do everything ourselves this time."

>>23712057
"At least I hope we don't..."

>>23712072
>>23712057
well, we'll probably have to capture the ghoul leader. It's the kind of risky and stupid mission military commanders like the occuli can't take the chance on.

>>23712086
>we'll probably have to capture the ghoul leader

By that you mean kill because what's been said about the Ghouls so far ... doesn't seem like capture would do much good.

>>23712057
"But there's a whole army on this side too. We don't have to do everything ourselves this time."
You say. "At least I hope we don't..."

It's two days of traveling on the King's Road to get to Stone Hall. Turns out that, yes, there was a bounty on Donovan, a big one since you brought him in alive. Julian says that it'll be yours, plus a payment for 'services to the realm' for this. Until then, Occuli supplies are yours to use.

So yay, hard tack and rations for all...yipee.

You join up with two other squads of Occuli, lead by Paladin Bobbi and Paladin Avery. Avery is a dwarf. His people are bringing the siege engines.

Both of them want absolutely nothing to do with you. To the point that they leave the area, politely, when you come talk to Julian.

Their Occuli are less polite. Thankfully, your title, and Julian prevent it be from more than just glares and the occasional spitting in front of you or 'accidentally' stepping on your tail.

Finally, you reach the view of Stone Hall...it's worse than you imagined...but not as bad as you dreamed.

(Long post coming)

>>23712131
but the WHOLE DEAL with needing to find a ghoul leader is to figure out why they're in the city. How else would we figure it out? Maybe the mages? Ghoul migratory patterns?

>>23712195
I thought we were here for the other staff.

>>23712195
>Ghoul migratory patterns
I like this answer.

But no really, I have strong doubts we'll (or the Occuli) be able to get him to talk.

Plus ... what >>23712230 said main objective should stay on getting that other staff. We'll still be helping clearing out the city by doing this. Eh, I'll just wait on Echo before speculating anymore.

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>>23712230
that's another one of our objectives.

We gotta keep track of all this stuff! Maybe start a diary or ledger or something like that.

>>23712189
We should really explain the dreams to our companions. Preferably in a way that doesn't make us sound crazy.

>>23712189
The walls have fallen, and the city is in ruins. The fires and smoke go up enough to block out the sky. The smell is horrible, and all the time you hear sounds of screaming, howling, and death.

The sea of escapees/refugees don't help either. Part of the Occuli has to be dedicated to keeping them from rioting. You stay far away from them.

The Paladins start with the siege weapons, and some scouts and probing attacks. You're being 'asked' to 'hold back.' It's a day of waiting and dealing with listening to the fighting and death continue on and on.

Finally, on day three of the siege you see Julian walking up to you. Alone. He looks sad.

"Ssen, we need to talk. Walk with me..." He winces and smiles. "You know what I mean."

>>23712347
"I know what you mean." Slither with him.

>>23712347
>continuous screaming
>days after the attack if not longer
oh man, this is a real siege

>>23712347
Smile.

"No offense taken."

>>23712379
It's a siege on an occupying force of cannibals.

It must be the worst.

>>23712372
"I know what you mean." You say.

"Those other two are fools, they've been coddled by easy victories and simple battles. Worse, they refuse to give the order to shell the city." He sighs. "I think that might be the only solution.

"They're making more of them." Julian says. "They have this mage. She is sitting at the hand of the leader of this force. They drag people before her, and she touches her staff to them and...then they start to feed like the others.

"The Mage also has place a protective shell around the Conclave building where they hold 'court.' We cannot shoot it with out engines or mages." He shakes his head. "The Paladins think that killing this woman is the solution to our problem. Her and the leader. I don't disagree, it would be the first step in the right direction, but their plan..." He swallows.

"A full frontal assault, with the Paladins detaching to hunt down and kill the mage girl and the leader." He looks at you. "They specifically asked that you have the 'honor' of being in the Vanguard. You know what that means, yes?"

>>23712545
>with out engines or mages."
with our* engines or mages

>>23712545
Sneaking through a horde of ravening ghouls is suicide. And I and my group aren't exactly the type to belnd in the first place so that reduces the slim chances of dressing up as Ghoul and managing it anyway.

>>23712545
"They hope that either I kill their leader and this mage or die along the way ... fantastic.

"And you know I'll must likely say yes to this stupid idea, right?"

First ones to attack, and in this case the first ones to fall most likely. You did point out that my favored weapon is a bow right?

>>23712545
It means I go in front and get shot first.
Have you tried talking to Mage? He might know something about the magic the woman is using.

>>23712545
The way you say "honor" gives me the general impression, yes. So do they expect me to be killed, or do they really care HOW I die so long as I do it?

>>23712613
"They hope that either I kill their leader and this mage or die along the way ... fantastic." You say. "And you know I'll must likely say yes to this stupid idea, right?"

"But it will be a Paladin giving the order...one who could be present at Grand Citadel." He sighs.

"The problem is that we have no way to access the city, and even then our army is too thin to cover the entire city." He says.

A medic for the refugees rudely bumps into you as he walks by with a basket of supplies. Julian gives him a nasty look, but the guy in the hooded Cups Healer robe just mumbles a 'Sorry' and keeps walking.

"Ungrateful fool." Julian sighs. "So paranoid that he didn't take off his plague mask."

There's a small piece of paper in your hand.

- - The shitty part of Donovan's rant. Noone has scales. - - is written on it.

"So, I want you and your friends to ride to Grand Citadel." Julian continues. "You will tell them what you have seen and convince them to shell the city. I'll take the blame for this. It's my idea. Do you have any questions?"

>>23712712
"I'm not sure they would listen, and check on Donovan, just got this little message from that doctor."

>>23712712
What happens if they say no? And why do you think the ghouls attacked in force like this? Do we even know the name of this leader?

>>23712712
"If they're turning people so easily then there's no time for that, by the time they move this city will begin moving to the next, after devouring your forces."
"We're going in Julian."

>>23712712
>- - The shitty part of Donovan's rant. Noone has scales. - -
Hmm...

>"And out of all the beings out there...all the species...a lamia wants to be a Paladin." He shakes his head. "There's a whole city of lizard folk who live in Stone Hall, more like they live under it, they slave day in and day out working the sewers. They shovel all of the shit that Citadel pours out of that place, and they do it with a smile. You want to know why? Because that's what Citadel does. It makes you a hole, and then it grinds you down so you can fit inside it."
We should go through the sewers again?

>>23712712
"What makes you think I can pull something like that off?

"It's not like the other two paladins have shown much ... grace and hospitality. I can't imagine the Grand Citadel will be much better, sadly.

"Also, you might want to check on Donovan if he's here with us." Show him that note.

>>23712805
sewers... ooo good idea.

>>23712795
Depends on how large this city is. It might be awhile yet before they move and the forces outside would be very well dug in by then. As well as having ship support to help them in the field.

Well one would think at least.

>>23712712

"They may ask, but they cannot force us. It is still our choice, as you pointed out to us earlier."

"I doubt aid would come, if just out of sheer prejudice against me, and things sound dire already with the mage multiplying their numbers."

"Instead of a frontal assault, we shall find another way inside. Perhaps the sewers would provide an entrance for a small band such as mine."

>>23712811
"What makes you think I can pull something like that off? It's not like the other two paladins have shown much ... grace and hospitality. I can't imagine the Grand Citadel will be much better, sadly." You say.

"Also, you might want to check on Donovan if he's here with us."

"He's headed towards Grand Citadel with a few of my men. Why do you ask?"

You hold up your hand where the paper was...there's nothing there. You look over your shoulder, there's no sign at all of the medic.

Alright that is a pretty clear sign. Ask about the cities sewers.

>>23712878
"Well, I did have."
This
>>23712795
Then
>>23712850
There are Lizardmen in the sewers, they might not have fallen yet.

>>23712915
a note.

>>23712878
>You hold up your hand where the paper was...there's nothing there.

Sigh ... Do what >>23712915 suggest. Bloody gods or whatever playing with people like that.


Do what >>23712915 suggest. Though I do question this :

>>23712850
You pause for a moment. "Instead of a frontal assault, we shall find another way inside. Perhaps the sewers would provide an entrance for a small band such as mine."

"The sewers? Scouting reports said that those had all been sealed off." Julian then pauses as he looks at you, specifically your tail. "Sealed off! Oh! I just let those two idiots tell me it was the Ghouls!"

He turns to you excited. "Ssen, there's a tribe of lizard-people who live in the sewers and catacombs of the city. They've been there for years. They must have sealed off their tunnels when the city fell!" He's starting to pace. "We'd be able to get inside, and with a surgical strike we can...but no, even if we break that point there's still all that ground and so many more ghouls left...unless..." He looks at Ssen.

"Ssen, I think your father...I once called him a coward for turning down the ruby." He touches his medallion. "I will apologize when I meet him again." He nods. "Ssen, I don't want you to use the sewers to invade the city."

>>23712961
>Do what >>23712915 suggest. Though I do question this :

That wasn't supposed me there anymore ... I ... whatever.

>>23712968
Then what?

>>23712968
You don't? So what are we doing?

>>23712968
"I want you to go down there, and find the liz...the people that are down there. I need you to get a representative back up here with you to me...I want you to ask them to fight." Julian says.

>>23713002
There must be a reason why they haven't helped before now. Tell me of the Lizards of the Sewers please Julian I must know before I go talk to them.

>>23713002
"Now I just need a way in."

>>23713002
>>23713039
I think they're zombie apocalypsing HARD down there. they're in the "barricade up so THEY can't get in" right now stage. They might even be panicking and turning on each other by now.

Soon, some old lady lizardman is going to open the door for the ghouls for some stupid, insane reason.

>>23713039
Maybe because they arent soldiers and don't want to be eaten?

>>23713039
"There must be a reason why they haven't helped before now. Tell me of the Lizards of the Sewers, please Julian, I must know before I go talk to them." You say.

"They must be scared." Julian says. "They could survive the shelling...they did before. That's how Citadel took Stone Hall the first time. We found them in the rubble, waiting." He says. "As of now, they can't even get close enough to smell fresh air without a guard escort. I mean, before...this..." He pauses. "I'm going to have to call in a few favors, but...this is their city, if they are willing to fight for it. I will ensure that it is given to them. Full citizenship to all of them, and a seat in the Open Council to their leader." He nods. "Tell them that I promise them that."

>>23713140
"I should go now then."

>>23713140
If you can promise that I will see what I can do. We just need a way to get to them.

"I can get that Ssen. There will be protests, and I will most likely lose my position in First Wood, and most of my Occuli command...but if it saves Stone Hall, then I would say that it's worth it." He looks at you. "Anyway, too many have been called 'monsters' for too long. The only monsters I've been seeing have human faces."

>>23713174
"If you can promise that I will see what I can do. We just need a way to get to them." You say.

"I think...I think I know. Gather your people, and meet me at the King's Road a mile west from here."

He's asking you to go away from Stone Hall?

>>23713205
wut?

>>23713205
Most likely a water entrance, an aqueduct or natural waterway. Makes sense as a city takes a lot of fresh water.

That or its where the waste comes out.

Anyway letys gather our friends. We have a race to convince to help.

>>23713235
Sounds about right.

>>23713243
Fuck yeah, diplomacy!

>>23713235
The five/six of you stare at the drainage pond that's in front of you. It smells of pond scum and horse piss.

"The rainwater pools here so it doesn't flood the King's Road." Julian says. "But if you look..." He points at a small stone circle. "You see that it's connected to Stone Hall's sewers."

"Why are we always going into tunnels?" Tricia asks.

"Are we sure that it connects?" Mari asks. "It doesn't just dump us out into somewhere else out of the way, or out of a cliff?"

"There was a report of a lizardman being arrested here." Julian says. "It was a while ago, but Liam Patrick filed it clearly." He says with a smile.

"It's a narrow fit." Lea says. "Very narrow."

If you all went one at a time, you could squeeze through...it would NOT be pleasant though. You would have the easiest time, at least.

"Ssen, this is my only plan." Julian says. "If not, Stone Hall will have to be destroyed. Do you...if you want to try to ride for Grand Citadel, then you have my blessing and fastest horses. But...I will not see my niece be sent to her certain death by way of a fool's plan." He looks at the small tunnel. A bubble burps up from the greenish water. "Although, I admit that this plan has me wearing the motley as well."

We've gone through this once before. We'll be fine. Admittedly it was on our way out of a city.

>>23713402
"I'll go first then."
Is it too small to use a sword? Would we want to get a dagger to use while in the tunnel?

>>23713431
"We've gone through this once before. We'll be fine. Admittedly it was on our way out of a city." You say.

"Not to mention that those tunnels were made for people to travel in." Lea says. She sighs and starts to unwrap her bandages. Julian does a double take, but to his credit, nothing more.

>>23713402
As much as I hate this, what needs to be done must be done.

>>23713448

"I'll go first then." You slither through the pipe.

The good news is that it opens up after 100 yards, into an actual tiled sewer that's large enough to stand in. Channels in the floor pull the waters this way and that. The tiles are faded and worn, but a few still show the designs of whatever civilization built these great waterways, before the Citadel swallowed it up.

The bad news is that it absolutely reeks.

>>23713559
Sewer missions! I hate sewer missions! There's always a sewer mission!

>>23713559
The rest of the group makes their way into the old sewers, Tricia's used to foul smells, MAge even worse. Lea and Peri/Meri have shoved bits of Lea's bandages up their nostrils to mitigate some of the stink.

"You need some?" Mari asks in a nasal voice.

>>23713448
We can put Mari/Peri second in line, her crossbow skills would be perfect. Also, there should be bugs aplenty for Tricia to work with.

Lea might make a good point. She practically IS a weapon.

Alright lets start heading towards the city. Be wary of any surprises but don't attack unless attacked. First impressions and all that

>>23713594
I'll cope. Let's just get this over with as quickly as possible.

>>23713608
>>23713594
lamia: attempt not to realize you can also taste the stink

>>23713594

Don't think it would help much. You know how snakes smell things by tasting the air? Yeah...

>>23713594
With a single tear.
"I can smell with my tongue..."

I can... taste how it smells.

>>23713608
"I'll cope. Let's just get this over with as quickly as possible." You say, trying to to think about how you can slightly taste the stink as well.

Mari turns to look at the tile designs. "These are...Second Age...okay...give me a second." She traces her hand over the tiles. "This one means...water...this one means water but they added this other sign. That means that this one could be going to the ocean, and this one...water...city...city...water...ah! Got it!" She points at a tile. "This means creature, and following those little tiles to here...should get us...yes, okay! Creature Water and that is...there" She claps her hands. "Okay, unless I'm wrong, I think we can follow the tiles to where the Lizard people live."

"You think?" Peri asks.

"Provided that nothing's moved since the Second Age." Mari says with a grin.

"We have a compass." Peri says. "We went west, we go east. If we follow that rule, we're golden. It's safer."

"It'll take us longer, with all the doubling back though. These tunnels will twist like hell." Mari says.

"We could follow the fresh water streams." Lea says. "That has to go to the city, and it's the fastest."

"If you don't mind swimming and holding your breath." Peri says.

"Also, it could bypass the lizards...the signs said that the Second Agers forced them to drink from a separate source." Mari says.

>>23713776
"Lead the way Mari"

We'll try the tile route first. Lea in front, Mari second, Mage next, Us in the back.

>>23713820
"Lead the way Mari" You say.

Roll 5d20.

>>23713776
"We'll mark the turns we take with something, lead the way Mari."

Rolled 12, 1, 15, 4, 3 = 35

>>23713839

Rolled 13, 5, 20, 20, 19 = 77

hopefully my rolls improve here

Rolled 16, 15, 11, 4, 18 = 64

>>23713839

Rolled 15, 16, 5, 10, 10 = 56

>>23713847
why couldn't you have waited a second or two WHY!

>>23713847
>>23713850
*shakes fist* TG DICE!!!

>>23713776
"Creature water" may find us something old and foul down here, but unless we want to swim the whole way and risk getting caught in an underground stream with no air pockets I see no alternative.

You know, other than blundering about. Just going in a cardinal direction would be fine if we were just trying to go in a cardinal direction, but the tiles could be a lead on the folks we're trying to find.

Rolled 3, 7, 13, 11, 13 = 47

>>23713850
Does OP take the first roll or what?

*sniff* I had two 20s and a 19

yup first roll, tg dice love when ops do this. Maximum Tears

>>23713845
Can we atleast have done this?
>>23713845

>>23713847
You guys aren't as jinxed as you think. High rolls told me how BAD things got to you.

You follow Mari as she leads you one way and back another. Every so often she stops to examine the tiles, then she has you go back they way you came for a bit. Still you're headed SOMEWHERE...and you've walked down a slope or three, so you're heading downward, and East-ish...so good signs.

Lea holds up a hand for silence. You all freeze.

"We just passed this place ten minutes ago!" A voice snaps. "That's the tile I broke!"

"All these tiles are broken!" A voice says back.

You hear a collection of grunts and hisses. "QUIET!" The second voice says. "You'll eat when we find them! You go back, YOU get eaten. That was Ester's command, enforced by the Fell King himself."

"Don't invoke the Princess' name to me asshole. I'm not the one who got us lost!"

Mage has gone pale, he's shaking his head and mouthing the word 'No' over and over again.

>>23714001
Can we identify how many different voices there were?

>>23714001
looks like we found some ghouls.

mage stealth us, and lets kill em, us and lea in front, everyone else slinging spells/insects/bolts etc.

also ahaha this seems to happen every time I roll badly

Right, we need to attack them. The fewer ghouls around the better. We can ask why it bothers Mage afterwords.

>>23714027
Peri holds up her hand and creeps forward, and uses a small mirror to look around a corner. She creeps back. She holds up her hand showing all five fingers. Then she points to the thumb and points at Mage.

>>23714034
A quick dope slap by Tricia brings Mage back to speed. He casts the stalking spell to silence your approach. Tricia calls up a huge cloud of flies. Mari loads her crossbow, and Peri draws one blade. Lea takes point and coruches to her leaping style. They're right around the corner.

Surprise round is yours.

>>23714062
Nod, instruct Mari to shoot the mage, everyone else needs to grab a target, we'll be the first to go through.

Rolled 20

Right . Nothing to do but launch the attack. Rolling for arrow to the throat of the toughest looking one

>>23714133
Not our mage of course, I thought she was saying they had one or something.

>>23714146
Well, you are on a roll.

Rolled 20

>>23714147
I agree

>>23714146
>>23714156
wut

File: 1363417110924.jpg-(114 KB, 515x403, 1344455105686.jpg)

114 KB JPG

>>23714156

>>23714133
Your group rounds the corner and jumps the Ghouls. There's one in robes with a morning star, three with metal claws strapped to their hands, and one with a crossbow.

You shooting, stab/whip, or going for constrict?

>>23714156
Jesus, the arrow goes through one and lodges in another's eye.

We're the best. Around. Nothing's ever gonna keep us down.

Mari on the Mage, Lea on the xbow, Mage and us on the claws.

>>23714166
I say hit the robed bastard with that 20.

>>23714146
You got it. I'm gonna be nice and let you have the crit.

Roll 1d6 to see who'se eye you put out.

Rolled 5

>>23714166
>>23714186

File: 1363417307821.gif-(498 KB, 262x200, 1327303813454.gif)

498 KB GIF

>>23714156
>>23714146

Rolled 3

>>23714186
right rolling

Rolled 9, 17 = 26

>>23714197
The guy with the crossbow, the one who was certain that the group was lost doesn't even see the arrow. There's just a THUNK, and he drops.

Mage and Mari fire at the ghoul mage.

>>23714209
Seems like Mari drew blood for the second time.

Rolled 6

>>23714209
Mari misses, Mage doesn't. The ghoul scream in pain and staggers back into her goon squad.

Tricia covers them with her flies.

>>23714146
>>23714156
WITCH!

Rolled 3, 2 = 5

>>23714237
(Right, reverse that. That was Mari's hit. Same outcome.)

Sadly the ghouls either beat the flies back or jump clear.

Lea and Peri charge in, gunning for the mage.

Rolled 6

>>23714253
That bitch is a spry one, must have eaten a gymnast or two.

Roll for initiative. I'm rolling for the ghouls (goon squad as one unit)

Rolled 2

>>23714266
1d10 right?

Rolled 6, 1, 10, 7, 1, 5 = 30

>>23714266

Rolled 10

rollin

>>23714277
Crap

>>23714284
You really are a witch.

Rolled 13, 7, 11, 16, 2, 9 = 58

>>23714281
Mage shoots at the mage. He's trying an ice spike this time, for variety.

Mari steps back and lets Peri take two swipes at the mage.

The goon squad charge you, clawing and slashing.

Rolled 7

>>23714311
Mage hits, and one of the goons hurts Peri.

The ghoul mage chants and puts a glowing hand on her face. Her body cracks and groans as her teeth and jaw extend. Apparently this girl liked her gator.

Lea tries to see if she can collect some gator teeth.

Rolled 2

>>23714339
Nope.

Your go. Sword is +2, tail whip/constrict is regular, bow is +2. You are in bow range of everyone. Goal is 13 or over.

Rolled 2

>>23714355
Bow to Peri's unengaged or mage.

>>23714355
cant we do both sword and tailwhip? If I remember Lea trained us for that.

Rolled 6 + 2

Need to get rid of these mooks. Swrod the closest. My luck is probably going to run out though

>>23714367
Well fuck, I just wait for redaeth to roll now.

>>23714372
Hey yeah, cant we do a tail attack as a simultaneous action?

Rolled 6

>>23714372
rolling for a tailwhip as well then

one more six and the devil has cursed me Gotta stop rolling

Rolled 3

>>23714386
Yes. You can't do it to the same target. You have to pick two targets to attack at once. And yes, I'll let you re-do for that move.

Rolled 14, 14 = 28

>>23714395
Arrow to the mage, tail wrap closest

>>23714401
All these doubles...

Rolled 1, 5 = 6

>>23714395
Alright then, I say we pick the mage and the closest mook

>>23714412
>>23714374
>>23714389
I AM CURSED, CURSED I SAY

Rolled 11

>>23714401
Sword actually, You can't do arrows, but I'll let it slide.

Lea's training has paid off in spades. You twist your body in at least three concious places and with Father's blade gator-face's neck is ripped open. Your tail slices through the air and cracks against the back of the thug who was bothering Peri's neck. There's a nasty CRACK and you feel your tail draw away wet with blood.

Tricia charges into the fray with her sickle.

Two down I think. Maybe 3.

>>23714432
Forgot to add her +2 bonus. She slits one guy's chest open.

There's one guy left...he's savage, half-animal, and his body is damaged from years of diablerie misuse...wrap-squeeze-crack.

Is it sick that the crack sound now makes you kinda hungry?

"Okay," Tricia says. "Give me a bit to fix Peri/Mari up." She starts to treat her wound. "Five minutes."

Gotta learn to do it with ranged now, imagine firing arrows into mooks and when one gets too close we hook our tail around their foot and fling them into a wall.

>>23714432
that went better then expected, I was expecting just a trip or enough to break an arm from the tailslap.

>>23714451
Just instincts at work. Men saliviate at the smell of roasting food. Not too different. Still a good idea never to indulge. Unless its deer or something.

Rest up then lets continue on

Oh I forgot to say loot! Maybe Lea would like the claws and Mari a stronger xbow then her collapsable one.

>>23714451
>>23714468
...can we unhinge our jaw?
SOMEONE CALL PAPA-N

Also Mage might get something off the woman.

>>23714452
At down time ask Lea to train you.

Mage is pacing back and forth. He shakes his head and sighs. "Well, it's not like I didn't know I had brothers and sisters.

"Still, I hope it's not that sister...but if she's smart enough to send people down here looking..." He frowns, he looks at you. "I...I had a sister. I have a lot of sisters, but there was one who hated the ghoul life like me. We were close...very close..." He looks up at the disgust on your face. "Yeah...I know it's sick. But having a family member take a girl's maidenhead is considered a form of safe-sex by them." He shudders at the memory. "It's worse when your father is sitting there watching you...making jokes."

>>23714451
That's fine. We all need to be on our feet.

And it's not really a problem to feel hungry. We're a born huntress, and no amount of paladin training will eliminate that.

>>23714482
Like he needs more ideas.

>>23714490
If we find her, will you know it?

>>23714482
if we do we'd probably nap for a week digesting.

>>23714490
I hope its not your sister either. What would cause her to change her mind if it is her though?

Would news of your death do it?

>>23714490
Mage digs through gator-face's clothes. "I always promised...I promised her that we would escape. Then I got sent to my Uncle." He pulls out a small piece of paper and unfolds it. He frowns, but not deeply. "Okay, good news is that I think we have a map...bad news is that the Ghouls know where they are."

>>23714514
"We need to hurry then, as soon as Tricia is done tending to Peri/Mari we move."

>>23714514
Well with that we'll have better luck convincing them to help fight. Bad news is we need to hurry.

>>23714521
"We need to hurry then, as soon as Tricia is done tending to Peri/Mari we move." You say.

Mage nods.

"Let me see that." Mari says. She looks at the map confused for a moment. Then she turns it upside down. "Ah, that explains it...okay...yeah! We're close. Come on."

You all follow Mari's instructions as quickly as you can. The map is good, and Mari's tile hint shortcuts save you even more time. You arrive at what has to be the door to the Lizard people's undercity. It's a huge iron door with the images of lizard people in shackles carved into it. They are reverently looking up at a humanoid figure with a glowing halo. Behold, the art of the Second Age civilizations. Meri would later tell you that the carved words along the frame read "OBEDIENCE SERVICE. DUTY." repeated over and over again.

The bad news is that the Ghouls have found the place, and have a force of twenty plus trying to breach the doors.

The good news is that there's a force fighting them at the doors, keeping them from entering. There's a good chunk of lizard people and they look like decent fighters to have held out so long, and by the dead ghouls you see.

The worst news...is that you recognize two of the defenders as well.

"YAHOOO!" Tara screams as she smashes her huge iron club into a ghoul's head.

"That is so incredibly sexy, baby!" Isen the Audacious says as he blocks a blow.

You all pause.

"I saw we wait long enough for the ghouls to eat them." Tricia says.

>>23714593
"No, they'll be useful, lets get a surprise attack from behind."

>>23714593
Why? I like Tara.

YO! TARA!

>>23714593


"HEY! I Like Tara and we owe both of them for pulling our asses out of the fire at Purple Sands, and kind of turning us into heroes."

>>23714609
Yeah, Tara's nice enough. Isen can get bent.

Surprise is a good thing, though.

>>23714607
[spoilers] Okay, I must sleep, and I have some bad news. I work all day tomorrow, so I wont be free to quest until around 7pm PST. So there will be a hiatus of Lamia Child Quest. Please archive this, and I hope to see you all when I return. And a special thanks to my beloved regulars, I'm looking at you redaeth, love you man, and your cursed dice rolls. Night! [/spoiler]

Right, lets do this as stealthily as possible. Which means just us and Mari for now. Hopefully they'll concentrate on those in front of them and won't notice thsoe behind dropping. Lea should see about getting closer and Tricia should try to see what bugs there are and if nothing should join Lea. Mage should prepare a larger spell for when they do notice us.

Targets should be any obvious mages, or stronger fighters.

>>23714629
night, was an excellent thread as per usual

>>23714629
Good night, hope your job doesn't suck.

>>23714654
Actually, I'm a librarian. So, not that much. Night.

>>23714629
archive done, excellent thread as always

>>23714663
Sounds awesome actually.

>>23714663
Oh? Where, pray tell?

well, damn. I was hoping for more lamia quest to calm me down after dark souls. FUCK ANOR LONDO BY THE WAY.

>>23714593
I can't say I wasn't expecting something like this.
I'm starting to like Isen just because he seem to be the wrong man at the right place of this quest.

>>23714629
>>23714637
damn I hate working nights. Hust wanted to say Ive been following the whole time and posting when work and classes allow. If you don't mind Echo, I may try to collect these as a single tale an post it when we feel it is all done. I wont change a thing excluding the interaspeech stuff between posters. All I need is your ok and and extra conditions you have.