So here I am soaked to the bone and looking like Death itself. Literally. It’s not every day someone becomes a living vessel for the Shepard of the Damned. But you get used to her after a while, even if she is a bit of a bitch.

It’s hard to believe that only a few short weeks ago the biggest concern in my life was if I had enough lamp oil to get me through the winter. I used to just be Brother Gregory, scribe and steward of Nordrime Monastery. No different than a hundred other men of the cloth. That seems like a whole lifetime ago. That was before everything changed. Before I started meddling in the affairs of the void. It’s funny how different the world seems to me now that I’ve begun to seek the truth. The world is much more mysterious place to me now. And more dangerous…

It all began one night nearly a month ago when I chose that one book from the pile. Or did the book choose me? Either way, the result was I accidentally entered into a deal with a demon of silence and shadows. He called himself Tenebrotep, a self-proclaimed god and my first encounter with a vestige; a being with no body or soul that should not exist, and yet does. His powers of subtlety and subterfuge are unparalleled and once I sealed my first pact with him, so were my own. That fateful night was only the beginning. Ever since then I’ve been struggling just to keep it a secret; this Veritalignicon and the Vestiges contained within.

>>24903419
>since it has been several months now.
>several months
Hah, you're funny.

I guess you'll prompt when we need to make suggestions?
Also, I suggest you make a stat-sheet like list of beings we cant make pact with, what they grant us and what they expect us to pay them.

It turns out that I was already meant for bigger things even before I opened the cover of that book. The King had given a weird artifact from the far east to the Chaplain, and through him it became my duty to research its nature. It was obvious it was somehow connected to the very pact magic I had so recently been inducted into the practice of and that it might hold powerful secrets. But what those secrets may be has been difficult to uncover. And even if I did, who can I trust with them?

For now, the only one I’ve trusted about the artifact is Arnold. He’s another monk here at the monastery, but he has a secret of his own. See, he’s a Binder too, bound to the carnal Gourmander, and a member of the clandestine group known as the Order. I was wary of him at first but after a while I’ve come to trust him to some extent. But even he can’t know about the book. From what I’ve learned it’s a powerful and unique artifact and the Order has been searching for it for a long time.

Tenebrotep was the first vestige I called upon but there were many soon to follow. I made the mistake of trusting him too freely and nearly killed someone as a result. Since then I’ve saved his abilities only for when he’s really needed and turned to other names from the book for guidance and power. After the mess of nearly killing Rosemary, one of the girls from the village, I used the power of the twin serpent sisters Seno and Eno and their powers over life and death to save her life, though I got a nasty scar in the bargain. That was the night I discovered that Rosemary was a half-elf. Despite going our separate ways after that it wouldn’t long before our paths crossed again.

Experimenting with pact magic over the first week lead me to meet some new and friendlier faces than my first few bindings did. Xepoc, a time traveler from the distant future, gave me power over the flow of time which has been invaluable in my work. Kuzo remains somewhat of a mystery to me still as he never speaks a word and communicates only through hand gestures. Having the head of a bird doesn’t exactly ease negotiations either. Asam’ano Mora, or just Mora as I’ve come to know him, was actually a dwarf in life. He’s been one of my most useful companions, and with his mastery over stone and his extensive knowledge of mechanical workings I've constructed a secret workshop and a network of tunnels and secret passages throughout the castle.

During that same week I met the strange old man Baron Leonard. He claimed to be an old companion of my father’s before he died and had some very pointed questions for me. He knew more than he let on and I avoided him even after he confronted me with a Vestige’s Seal and offered it to me. When I told Arnold about it he sent word to the Order and they insisted we investigate. They even went so far as to instruct Arnold to teach me the art of binding, since Arnold did not know I already had some experience under my belt when he reported my induction into the order. They had given him a seal and a ritual for calling Acheron, a spirit from between the world of the living and the dead. Surviving a binding with her was to be my first task.

Acheron was less than easy to coax into a pact but eventually I got her to relent on the bargain of paying a life for her services by swearing to summon her again within three days time. Upon investigation of the manor where the Baron lived I ran into Rosemary again. Only this time she was trying to kill me instead of trying to save me. Turns out her eleven magic is a bit more potent than she let on. I was forced to disable her before moving about the house. In a secret passage in the basement Arnold and I found the Baron along with a prisoner in the form of another binder. We took care of the Baron with ease but the fiery Minotaur vestige proved to be less than grateful for the rescue. He was convinced that I was actually my father and apparently they had a score to settle. I was forced to fight and kill him to save my own life.

Interrogating the Baron turned up more informative than I would have believed. He told us that the Order was less than benevolent in their crusade to keep hold of hidden knowledge about binding and had been using it for years to control the political reins of the nation. Deeply disturbed by this, Arnold fled and I decided to spare the Baron and return later for more questions. But not without taking all of the Vestige Seals he had gathered over the years for his research.

Some experimentation with the Veritalignicon revealed that by breaking a seal upon it I can add the vestige bound to it to the contents of the book. In this way I met several new spirits to welcome into my service: The Quorim, strangely abstract angels of law that enforce pacts. Narcosis, the fiery minotaur with a lust for destruction. Red Jack, a dangerously insane man who delights in offering anything if you’re willing to gamble for it. Along with the addition of Acheron herself to the book, my list of allies had grown greatly in number. Seeking to know more about the artifact I returned to the Baron’s manor for more answers, but we were interrupted when company showed up.

The Inquisitor of Nordrime, sent by the King to the northern reaches of the Kingdom and to keep an eye on his latest side project at the monastery, was rekindling the local inquisition and searching for half-humans or worse. Somehow the Baron managed to keep him off while Rosemary and I hid away but the threat was made clear. That very night, after Rosemary walked me home, I received a letter from my half-brother, a half-elf who lived deep within the forest in a place no human had ever seen. His people’s spies had discovered that the inquisition had decided to weed them out once and for all and had discovered the location of their hidden sanctuary. I had no choice but to act.

Using Xepoc’s power I slipped out of town unnoticed by the guards, but not unnoticed by something else. The Hounds as REM, Xepoc’s remote A.I., called them are fearsome creatures that hunt those who lurk between seconds. Unable to use time control, I turned instead to Tenebrotep once again and I slipped into the local military camp. There I used his manipulative powers to selectively edit the Inquisitor’s and his head officer’s memories of any knowledge of their plan before hunting down records and the messenger bird calling for troop deployments.

This morning when I awoke things were a mess. The inquisitor isn’t sure why he had called the troops together but he knows something is amiss. He called upon me personally and told me he thinks that they have been infiltrated and were searching for the artifact. As a result, he has ordered me moved out of the castle to a location in town and that I have a guard posted on me at all times. Then he asked if I had any contact with witchcraft, which I denied. After escaping his questions I sought out Arnold but found his room trashed and searched and him missing. Perhaps the inquisitor already found him before he even met with me. Unsure of what to do then I went to the woods again to call upon Acheron both to settle a debt and to try to find Arnold. After a terse negotiation I gained the ability to see the souls of the living and the great web of relations which connects us all.

YES

Following the nebulous tendrils into the town I tracked the inquisitor and his entourage into the woods. After studying his connections I found a trace that Arnold must still be alive. With that assured I paid my debt to Acheron, swiftly ambushing the rangers and draining twenty years of life from the Inquisitor himself before disappearing into the river and into the safety of the dark woodlands North of the castle. And now, here I stand, looking upon my own twisted reflection in the dark waters of the river here beneath the moonlight and debating my next action. I know now that Arnold is still alive and somewhere within the walls of Nordrime, though not if he is out of danger just yet...

---------------------------------
BINDER QUEST XVI
---------------------------------
~~How to Play Binder Quest~~

Binder Quest is an interactive game of collective story telling.

To participate roll a d100 and post a course of action. A roll is not required for every suggestion, but the highest roll(s) will be given the most consideration in disagreements.

To roll dice, simply type dice+1d100 into the email field before you submit you post.

Please, be courteous to other players. Any suggestions drastically out of character will be ignored but otherwise anything is allowed. If you have any questions as to your abilities or something that may have been mentioned in a past thread please feel free to ask.
---------------------------------

>>24903891
Since helping Arnold looks like our immediate concern, you should remind us what exactly we learned last time.

> After studying his connections I found a trace that Arnold must still be alive.

And like I said here >>24903505 you should give us character "abilities" list

---------------------------------
A summary of the vestiges you currently have recorded within the confines of the Veritalignicon and their uses discovered thus far:

-Xepoc, the Harbinger of Eternity’s Repose
>A time traveller with mechanism that allow control over the passage of time
-Seno and Eno, the Dichotomous Serpent
>Twin sisters embodying natural death and new life granting mastery over the vitae of all creatures
-Tenebrotep, the Lurker in the Night
>A dark predatory lurker of the night with powers of manipulation of the memory
-Asam’Ano Mora, the Architect of Misery
>Dwarven architect of stone wonders able to shape it into constructs
-Kuzo, the Storm Warder
>An enigmatic creature who does not speak but has granted wings to you once
-Gourmander, the Hungering One
>An amorphous beast of gluttonous excess that can consume anything and shapeshift
-Quorim, the Stalwart Blade
>Abstract entites that embody and enforce the laws of the pact
-Narcosis, the Indomitable Force
>Bull-headed walking inferno who lusts for destruction
-Red Jack, the Gambit of Buffoons
>A madman who seems to be able to offer anything if you're willing to expose yourself to chaotic chance
-Acheron, the Stygian Judge
>Skeletal mistress of black waters who controls water and ice and the souls of mortals

Each of these being can be summoned simply by intoning the passages contained within the tome. All of these vestiges offer power in exchange for a price of their choosing, negotiated at the time of the pact making. Each of these beings also has a distinctive mark which manifests upon the pact maker for so long as they inhabit him.
---------------------------------

>>24903916
>I know now that Arnold is still alive and somewhere within the walls of Nordrime

Nodrime is the Monastery, right? And we still have Archon pact meaning we can't enter its grounds?

>>24904124
You should have told us the prices we already know they demand and what abilities they give. I seem to remember that each of them had different ability we could make a pact for and they all had different prices.

>Binder Quest is back

This day we are truly blessed.

You emerge undisturbed from the river within the shallow basin on the eastern side of the castle where you first summoned Acheron a few nights ago. There are no patrols here that you can see and you are hidden from view of the castle above by the steep slope. Your cloak and robe are muddy and wet but you're no worse for wear.

You have the protection of the cover of dark, your debt to the dead is repaid, you don't seem to have been followed, and you know Arnold is alive somewhere. The night is yours.

**Well done pact maker,** whispers the icy feminine voice of your vestige within your mind. **I had begun to fear you lacked the mettle to see the delivery of your payment. It would have been a shame to have to cut your life so short just after you've started to become so... interesting.**
You look down at your hands with grim reflection upon the act you have just committed. As payment for the power Acheron has granted you she was promised 20 years off of the lifespan of a sentient being and you have just drained away a piece of the soul of the local Inquistor to sate her appetite.

"You know I took no pleasure in the act Asch. As wicked as that man may be he does not deserve to be robbed of his years any more than another. I am much embittered by the thought of profiting by the misery of others."
**You are so unwise in the ways of this world, Animus. One only CAN profit at the expense of others. Look now. You have exactly what you need right there in your hands.**
Looking down you can see the wispy blue essence still dances about your fingers and there within them rests the silvery soul fragment of the Iquisitor with tiny blackened tendrils snaking away into the distance.

>>24904165
From what I remember:
Asam’Ano Mora, the Architect of Misery
>Anything we make we must imprint his dorfen sigil into it
Tenebrotep, the Lurker in the Night
>Mainly time where he controls our body
Seno and Eno, the Dichotomous Serpent
>I believe we need to kill as much as we heal
Xepoc, the Harbinger of Eternity’s Repose
>We have to 'pay back' time we slow down by speeding up time/missing some time, also has the danger of time wolves.

>>24904378
>Asam’Ano Mora, the Architect of Misery
>>Anything we make we must imprint his dorfen sigil into it

Oh right, the dworf was the broest of bros. The most easy pact ever.

>>24904378
Also what I remember from their personalities:
Asam'Ano Mora:
Pretty cool dude.
Tenebrotep:
A fucking asshole, not a bro as his name would imply
Seno and Eno:
Eh, can't remember.
Xepoc:
Cool time travelling dude.

>>24904426
I believe the main problem was his sigil was heretical, I believe.

File: 1368911169259.gif-(1021 KB, 288x162, M. Bison Yes!.gif)

1021 KB GIF

Binder Quest is back! Binder Quest is back! Praise Gd almighty, Binder Quest is back!

>>24904466
iirc, we could put it somewhere unseen, like if we made a chest, put it at the bottom.
Still, compared to others, his is the most easy one.

Sorting through the soul threads you once again locate the one which ties the Inquisitor to Arnold and follow its path off into the distance with your spectral sight. It snakes off up towards one of the high towers. The inquisitor's tower in fact, and the torture devices contained within flash into your memory. The dark color of the thread pulses ominously.

**I can sense him.**
"Who? Arnold?"
**No. Gourmander.**
You recall briefly that Vesitges, by their nature as entities of the void, can sense the presence of other void entities when they are nearby. This bodes well as you know that Gourmander is the chosen vestige of Arnold and that Arnold often serves as its vessel.

You remember just this morning when you went to warn Arnold, the only other Binder you know and one of the few who know that you are also one, about the Inquisitor's new witch hunt and found his room had been ransacked. If Arnold is in the tower he may have been captured by the Inquisitor and questioned. Or he may just be in hiding.

Either way, the monastery is hallowed ground and so long as you are bound to Acheron you are undead, a ghoul like corpse in form and function, and will not be able to enter those sanctified walls. Thankfully you were prudent enough to add a clause to your contract with Acheron to allow for early dismissal once your end of the bargain had been met. A price which rests right here in your very hands.

What you do now is uncertain, but whatever it is you will need to plan carefully. You just attacked the Inquisitor not two hours past and the whole town will likely be on alert for signs of intruders or people out past curfew, which you currently are.

>>24904623
Seems like we should dismiss Archon and make a pact with Tenebrotep for his sneaky, sneaky powers.

Xepoc could be useful too but those damned time wolves

>>24904689
>Tenebrotep
Last time we summoned him, we ended up almost murdering Rosemary, and needed to bind Seno/Eno to save her.

>>24904623
I think we should head toward the tunnel system we carved, dismiss Archon, and then sneak into the tower before the inquisitor returns.
Binding should be done in a last resort scenario, as the deals are barely ever fair.

>>24904124
---------------------------------
A summary of the marks and common prices of vestiges you currently have:

-Xepoc, the Harbinger of Eternity’s Repose
>His mark is the gauntlet of the traveller which also grants you your powers
>He likes trivia and books and is often enough easily satisfied with rare and obscure texts though he often returns them in a poor state
-Seno and Eno, the Dichotomous Serpent
>Their mark is a coiled two-headed emerald serpent tatoo spanning from one hand to the other
>Their only price is that balance be maintained. For every wound restored one must be inflicted of equal severity.
-Tenebrotep, the Lurker in the Night
>His mark is to become faceless
>His price is often control of your body or simply to coinhabit for long periods of the night in exchange for his services
-Asam’Ano Mora, the Architect of Misery
>His mark is to have an arm transfigured into stone
>His price is that everything you craft must bear the mark of his craftsmanship and he must be allowed to make something
-Kuzo, the Storm Warder
>His mark is a crown of feathers for hair
>His price is not yet known, though his negotiations are very cryptic

{continued}

---------------------------------

>>24904727
>Last time we summoned him, we ended up almost murdering Rosemary, and needed to bind Seno/Eno to save her.

Not really. Last time we summoned we infiltrated the Inquisitor camp, removed his and his lieutenants memories, stole the evidence, maps and other documents. We also learned some disturbing things about ourself from our step-father (I think?). We managed to halt the operation to invade and kill the elves living in the woods, saving our half-brother.

I should know. I was pretty much the sole player during that game session. The session before it, people were dead-set on leaving everything behind and fleeing into the woods or doing blatant, forward attack on inquisitor.
I was so glad to be able to do this unhindered and consider this my best moment in any quest I participated in.

Anyway, Tenebrotep is a good pact choice, then thing that happen with Rosemary was due to our own foolishness and in no way Tnebroteps fault. We pretty much gave him free reign like an idiot.

>>24904886
---------------------------------

-Gourmander, the Hungering One
>His mark is not yet known
>His price is not yet known, though it is suspected to be related to his insatiable hunger
-Quorim, the Stalwart Blade
>Their mark is a pact blade that you must bear
>Their price is that you must serve to enforce pacts for them
-Narcosis, the Indomitable Force
>His mark is a pair of horns
>His price is that he be allowed to destroy something, such as burning a building to the ground
-Red Jack, the Gambit of Buffoons
>He does not have a mark as his gifts are decided but chance, but unlucky rolls may result in madness
>His price is equally random and often arbitrary such as five thousand gold pieces swindled from a gambler's hands or 60 teeth pulled from 60 different mouths or the innocence of a child.
-Acheron, the Stygian Judge
>Her mark is a skeletal head and a corpse-like body
>Her price is often payment in form of the life of a sentient being delivered before your pact expires or taken from you

---------------------------------

>>24904888
That said, we should do this >>24904821

Perhaps we shouldn't make any more moves tonight and wait till everything blows over? The fact that we can feel Gourmander means that Arnold should be okay

>>24904934
Except that if Arnold is being tortured for information, he knows about us being a Binder and could give it up.

>>24905021
Arnold may also be hiding, and using Gourmander to shapeshift as a mouse or somesuch.
And if he was restrained, he could probably shapeshift out of it, so I think it's safe to say he is alright.

>>24905021
He's being tortured while he's in Gourmander form?

Well, plausible. Also not impossible that someone else is Gourmander.
I'm just afraid that if we do not make a pact and go sneaking around, we might be caught or recognized.

Your gaze drifts down from the tower above to the cliffside below and with a little difficulty you spot the concealed entrance you crafted with the aid of Asam'ano Mora several nights past.

"Acheron," you say to yourself as the wind whips your sodden robes and cloak about you.
**Yes, love?**
"Thank you for you help but I think that will be all for tonight."
**As you wish,** she says as the soul shard in your hand winks out of existence. **Though I assure you the pleasure was all mine. Don't hesitate to call me up again sometime. I do so enjoy these evening jaunts with you.**
With a kick you feel your heart start to beat again and within moments you feel life pulsing through your veins and the the chill of the cold early evening late-autumn air on your damp clothing. You fall to your knees and see your own face, complete with a freshly healed scar marking your features, reflected in the river.

You rise and pull you cloak against you in a futile attempt to fight the cold as you wade back through the shallows to the underbrush below the eastern tower. With a precursory glance for watchful eyes you open the secret passage, guarded by the special counterweights of Mora's own design, and step into the darkened passage. Feeling your way through the dark up into the underbelly of the Monastery you wonder, where next you should go? Your absence may have been noted by now, especially since you had just promised the inquisitor this morning to receive an escort to new lodgings somewhere within the city. Of course, the inquisitor may not even have returned from his ranging after your little encounter in the woods. It may be best to deal with your own affairs now that you know Arnold is safe. But is he really?

>>24905149
>It may be best to deal with your own affairs now that you know Arnold is safe. But is he really?

He is... probably... hopefully. I think we should take a risk and try to be as inconspicuous as possible for now. Don't remember the part about escort and new lodgings, did we do something that will really attract attention?

[[Decision is currently split between head for the Inquisitor's tower and lay low for the night. Either reach consensus or roll a d% for each option and the higher roll decides.]]

Rolled 26

>>24905309
I think we should lay low.

If not, at least we should make a pact and do it through it so that we are not caught recognized.

>>24905217
[[The inquisitor believed that the secret of the artifact had been compromised by someone within the city and that there were traitors about and wanted to move you to a new location. He recommended a secure house in town where he could post guards at all times and assign you an escort.]]

Rolled 3

>>24905373
Were we due for that today? We should comply with the Inquisitor of course. Maybe start moving next morning.
Did we modify the new lodgings with Mora's powers yet?

Where exactly did we feel Arnold again? In the Inquisitors tower?

Hmm, maybe laying low isn't that good idea after all. Can we make up some excuse why we went there? Perhaps we have some information we learned about the artifact but have withheld it? Or maybe we could pretend to visit the Inquisitor for more information about the new lodgings.

You make your way through the dark passages back to your own room, passing through your secret workshop along the way. Here you chance lighting an oil lantern and find everything is still in order with the your notes and the Veritalignicon safe and secure. The artifact pedestal is empty but you recall you entrusted it to the inquisitor until you could be moved to the new secure location. You extinguish the light before making your way to the stone stairway leading up to your room on the first floor.

You touch the plate and feel the complex system of pulleys and counterweights slide silently into action revealing the secret passage hidden underneath your bed in your unlit quarters. You check cautiously and find the room vacant but you hesitate a moment and listen to the silence of the emptiness for a couple of seconds just to be sure. Satisfied, you walk out and close the passage leaving it completely hidden.

You look around your room for a dry set of robes and find one of the few you have left. If you keep ruining your robes like this pretty soon you'll have nothing to wear anymore. Perhaps you could get some new ones or have some of your frayed ones mended in the village by a seamstress. Perhaps Rosemary...

You hear a sniff and a snore from the doorway and you thoughts are jumbled as all the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as something bumps softly against it. There's something on the other side of the door. It's not uncommon for people to still be about the monastery at this hour but what could those sounds be?

>>24905373
What did we learn about the artifact again?

>>24905548
>the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as something bumps softly against it

To clarify. Did we jerk and bump into something because the sudden sound scared us or did we bump into something that shouldn't be there and we should totally check out what the hell it is.

If it is nothing, then try to listen to the sounds. Is our door locked? I don't remember if we build locks or not.

>>24905548
At some point the future, we should see if Rosemary will mend them. She won't talk to others about the sheer amount of ruined clothes we keep accumulating.

>>24905548
Cast a spell to repair your garments, no point in bothering the seamstress.

>>24905651
We can't do any magic, unfortunately.

>>24905564
[[Very little is known about the artifact but thus far you are pretty sure:

-It was found in a far-eastern kingdom across the Hallowed Sea
-It has something to do with binding, though it is not a vestige seal
-It has five runes engraved upon it in the "language of the void"
-It is made by dwarven artisans according to Asam'Ano Mora
-It is a vesicle meant to contain something
-It is made of a special metal that no power on heaven or earth can penetrate
-It imprisons Sequitus, the creator of the binding arts as penance for dealing with darker denizens within the void, according to the Quorim who are bound to say no more

You have shared very little of this with anyone and have intentionally kept information in your research reports limited thus far]]

>>24905687
Ok, summon a magical beast to do it for us then.

>>24905631
[[To clarify, something bumped against the door. Not your neck. Your door is not locked and you have no lock on it. None of the doors on this floor of the monastery do.]]

>>24905861
Walk to the door and peak through the crack.

>>24905793
What have we told the Inquisitor already?

>>24905830
Basically, we are a normal, powerless human but we posses a magic book that lets us make pacts with the creatures of the void. The pacts have a cost, they range from simple as lending a book to very expensive like having to sacrifice a sentient being. They shouldn't be made willy nilly.
So no summoning or any other types of magic and abilities.

>>24905934
Well make a pact whatever it's called, this is not rocket science. We a wizard now!

>>24905934
Do we like him? If so tell him everything, it'll be helpful in the future.

>>24905970
We are no wizard, we barely even a warlock!

>>24905970
I don't think we know any creatures that could help us with mending the robes.
And no, making pacts doesn't turn us into wizards, they just give certain abilities.

>>24906008
And one of those abilities must be to cast Mending. And it's not like fixing our trousers needs human sacrifice so get to it already.

>>24906008
Maybe Seno and Eno, but we'd have to tear some garments or fabrics for BALANCE.

Come to think of it, does Seno and Eno only mend flesh?

You turn in the darkened room lit only by the moon and listen closely. You tip toe closer to the door and hold your breath as you hover an inch away from it listening in utter silence. You can just make out the sound of someone breathing softly on the other side of it and as you look down you can see a trace of the flickering light of a lamp casting a soft glow under the doorway blocked by a shadow over half of the door. You peek through the narrow crack on the side of the hinges and see a helmeted head resting against it. It seems as if someone is sleeping on the other side.

Perhaps it's a guard stationed to wait for your return in your absence. No doubt he'd be well aware that you weren't in the room when he was first posted. And is he waiting with news of your new lodgings? Or perhaps news of the attack on the inquisitor in the woods? Could he be here to detain you?

What do you do now? You could just go to sleep and deal with this in the morning. Or you could take advantage of the guard's drowsy state and confront him now. Or maybe you should leave the room altogether through the secret passage way.

>>24905934
>>24905988
[[The official report has essentially detailed that the runes, initially thought to be Dwarven, are in fact a different language entirely and share similarities with dozens of ancient languages though it is distinctly different from all of them. You have also mentioned the unusual nature of the metal it is composed of but have only speculated that it might be some yet unknown Dwarven alloy.

As for the inquisitor, the group has had mixed feelings about him and has mostly decided to try to stay in his good graces while not trusting him completely.]]

>>24906032
[[Seno and Eno have specified that they are nature spirits of balance but the extent of their abilities has yet to be explored.]]

>>24906036
Wake him up for company, tell him that you cannot sleep. Is he good looking?

>>24906036
Well shit. We can't go to sleep now.
FFFFFF, how long could he have been here, with Tenebroteps powers we could delve into his memories and modify them if needed but do we need to make a pact for this?

My suggestion would be to go back into the passage, get out somewhere else within the monastery and go back to our room normally. We can pretend that we were working deep into the night with some task that the Inquisitor assigned to us (he doesn't need to know that). If it turns out he looked for us in the library, we can tell him that we needed to move around the monastery and even go to the town to complete the task, went to the kitchen to grab food, were on the shitter, etc. so he had many opportunities to miss us.

>>24906122
Cut that shit out.

>>24906100
Eh, we might just as well try to gain his trust and tell everything.
>extent of their abilities has yet to be explored.
Let's fix this right away then! Tear up some quilts and try to get your pants mended.

>>24906128
>(he doesn't need to know that)

I tried to say: he doesn't need to know what we were working on specifically, we can hint that it is strictly confidential.

>>24906152
No we can't. We learned most of this information through the creatures of the void. No one knows we have this power and we're likely to be executed if anyone knows of this. Even Arnold doesn't know. We don't trust anyone with this info.
And no, we're not going to summon and make pacts just for such trivial, retarded shit.

>>24906133
What shit?

>>24906197
Why not? If it's trivial shit the payment is equally trivial, and it lets us safely experiment with the powers. I'd rather not leave our best summons fail us in the middle of a battle.

>>24906245
Mostly because we're trying not to attract attention to ourself and going away somewhere some several hours doing God knows what it a good way to attract it, especially since the town is on high alert.
But other than that, you're right. Seno and Eno don't demand much for their services.
Also, Seno and Eno are bad for battles, we're unlikely to use them for that purpose.

You move back silently from the door and back into the secret passage closing it quickly behind you. The gears are usually quiet but to you they sound deafening and for a moment you're sure you'll be overheard. But by the time you reach the workshop again you feel much more relaxed and calm once again. As you begin to form your alibi in your head you thoughtfully grab a few unimportant notes from your falsified report and secure them into you deep pockets. You turn to your passage ways and make for the kitchens. You're certain they'll be empty at this hour and though they're usually locked you can open them from the inside and slip into the residential halls unnoticed.

As you step out of the kitchen doors you can see the guard still asleep at the far end of the hall. You make your way quietly down the hall approaching as quietly as you can manage without looking like you're intentionally sneaking. You make it all the way to your door without the guard waking. He's a young man no older than yourself, if a little taller and more fit than a monk. His sandy blonde hair curls under his City Watch helmet and bobs up and down as he breathes in and out, bumping the door behind him. You stop in front of him and stand at the door deciding exactly what it is you intend to say to him after you wake him.

>>24906309
Let's try out quick summons then, what's the fastest?

>>24906349
'Hi, I couldn't sleep and could use some company to pass the time. Who are you?'
Act natural, don't let him get any funny ideas.

>>24906363
I don't remember how long summons take.

>>24906349
Tap him on the shoulder. Be ready in case he gets frightened and throws a punch or something.

>>24906349
Cough and see if he wakes up.

OP, how long will you be running today?

You clear you throat loudly. "Excuse me." You say to the sleeping man but he doesn't seem to wake. You bend down and pick up the lantern off of the floor and tap him on the shoulder. This seems to give him a bit of a stir and his eyes flutter open briefly before he looks up at you.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I must have dozed off." You offer him a hand and he stands up with your aid. "Ah. Are you Brother Gregory?"
"Indeed I am. How can I help you, sir?"
"The captain sent me to fetch you some hours ago. He said that something has happened and you are no longer safe here. You need to come see him at the Commander's Tent in the southern garrison immediately. You are to pack your things and I'm to escort you at once."

It seems that you're going to be brought to the military encampment just beyond the city walls. You don't appreciate the idea of being taken there, especially after you had just talked the inquisitor out of making such a move this morning in favor of a private house in the village. But, with the commotion of this evening this may have been an unavoidable conclusion.

>>24906520
[[Probably until 2:00 server time unless the thread maxes out early or I feel the narrative has reached a natural lull or climax for a breaking point.]]

>>24906547
Do we have any reason to trust the commander? Say that you need to just pack some things and you'll be right back, then escape through the secret door in your room.

>>24906547
We should follow along for now to avoid suspicion.

>>24906547
Welp. I guess we can't go against this. Pack our mundane things and go.

>>24906593
We went through amazing lengths to keep our cover the past 25 threads, even when facing dangers higher than this by several magnitudes. We can't just abandon everything and flee. What you suggest, basically means revealing ourself as a an enemy and leaving the town forever.
No, we can't do that. We can trust the commander because they have no reason to suspect us. I think after our attack on the Inquisitor, they have become even more cautious and want to be sure that we are safe (which means we wont be able to move freely for a while). Hopefully, Arnold is safe and we can afford to lay low for a week or so till this all blows over.

>>24906663
To add to this, going with them may get us more information.

>>24906663
Wait what we are a spy?

>>24906702
No. But what we are doing (making pacts and such) is heresy of the highest order. We will certainly be tortured and executed if we are found out.

>>24906720
Ok got it!

"Alright, give me just a moment to pack my things," you say as you hand the lantern to the guard and step past him to the door. You open the door and though you feel the guard turning to follow you into the room you swiftly shut the door behind you before he can enter. You briefly consider making for the secret passage and fleeing but regain your composure once more and decide to go along for the ride for now.

You quickly pack your meager possessions: a few books, some ink, parchment, and quills, your one remaining good robe, and you don your still damp cloak and grab and light your own lantern. You make sure the secret passage with all of your dark secrets is obscured and are satisfied no one will ever find it unless you wish them to. Of course, you could always just remove the passage later with a little help from Mora. You look once more at this place that has been your home for your entire life before turning and setting off into the night.

With a nod to the guard he turns and beckons for you to follow him. As you reach the castle gates he points to your lantern. "You'd better extinguish that. Zarus knows who might be watching for us. We'll be meeting an armed escort at the city gates." You do as he says and follow him into the moonlit streets of the city. You can see several lanterns in the city below marking the passage of the night watch's men and women. As you descend down the path you look up into the night sky and see the laughing crescent high above.

By the time you look down to the streets again you're passing through the upper residential district. You turn as you hear the sound of dogs barking off in the distance and the guardsman stop to do the same. Out of the corner of your eye you catch a shadow drifting into a side alleyway somewhere behind you. You stop yourself from turning to look at it and instead look to the guardsman who doesn't seem to have noticed. He turns and begins walking again.

>>24906958
Be on guard.

>>24906958
Continue on, I can't imagine that the shadow is anything else but our ally. Although, it would be better if they don't do anything (like knocking the guard out, trying to "save" us)

>Binder quest is back
;_; I waited so long

Rolled 61

>>24906958
It might be friendly but if it's not it's best to stick with the guard, at least to avoid suspicion. I am worried about the dogs remembering our scent and the wet cloak.

You decide not to alert the guard to the presence of the shadow. You suspect the only ones who might be following you would be allies of your anyways. Perhaps Arnold has found you first. After all, you know the idea of elven ambushes is a farce that you yourself have perpetuated. Unless of course, Rosemary took your warning this morning about the inquisitor as a signal for aid. If that were the case and she thought you needed rescuing she would only complicate things further. And, sure enough, as you think this you catch sight of a shadowy figure darting across the rooftops above. You mutter a curse under your breath.

Thinking quickly you decide to try to warn your unwary cohort through subterfuge and hope they can take a hint. You realize that, as familiar as you are with the town watch from your gambling days you don't recognize this one so he must be new at this.
"It was thoughtful of the Inquisitor to send an escort," you say to the guard. "I've been looking forward to seeing him all day."
"Oh, I don't know anything about the Inquisitor, sir. Was Captain Ranta that sent me for you."
"Ah, of course, Ranta. Well, even better. He and I are old friends you know."
"So I've heard tell of. They say you owe half the men in the camp a debt and the other half owes you one."
"Oh, and what else do they say?"
"I... We really ought not speak. No need to draw attention to ourselves."
"Oh, don't worry. There are only friends to be found here and we are in no danger this night." At this you look up into the shadows of the rooftops towards the moon and raise your voice a bit. "I don't suspect we'll see any interference in our passing tonight."

The guard looks at you puzzled before turning and continuing towards the city gate with you on his heels.

>>24907610
[[Whoops, lost my trip somehow. This is still me.]]

>>24907610
Well, if that was an ally, then lets hope they took the hint. If they weren't... well.... keep on guard anyway.

Are you waiting for a suggestion?
Lets just get moving.

You reach the town gate unperturbed and meet up with a few familiar, if grim looking, faces among the city watch mounted on horseback along with two spare horses. They nod to you before raising their cloaks and beckoning for you to do the same.

"You know how to ride lad?" grunts one of men.
"I may have read about it once or twice. So, yes, in theory."

They help you up onto a horse and you adjust your pack and all extinguish their lanterns. They set off at a slow trot and you follow, a little uncomfortable on the back of such a large animal. But the path is easy and the slow pace provides little discomfort so you bear through the short ride to the camp. The fires are alight and men are all about as usual but none of the usual laughter and ruckus of the off-duty soldiers can be heard. It seems the watch towers are all manned and as you ride in you see all the men are on high alert. Your escort leads you to the command tent and beckons you to dismount.

"Reveal your face," says one of the two guardsmen posted at the entrance of the tent. You lower your hood and he pushes your head from side to side with his spear checking your ears before looking up to the lead man who nods back. They step aside and hold open the heavy flap to allow you passage and call within, "Captain. Brother Gregory here to see you, sir".

As you enter, an exhausted Ranta looks up from a large map spread out on a table in the center of the room. He waves he aide away before turning to you and beckoning you in. You see he is still in the muddied uniform he wore when he fell from his horse several hours ago when you ambushed him the woods. He seems exhausted and stands where he is on the other side of the table. Even knowing now he had something to do with your true father's death you still can't help but think of him as something of a father to you. "Damn it Gregory, you had me scared half to death. I sent for you hours ago. Where the hell have you been half the night?"

Truly it is a glorious day when Binder Quest once more graces us with its presence

We follow. If the shadow makes itself visible to us in a way that we can see or signal it without the guard noticing, we should wave it off, try to get it to stay in the shadows.

I know one of our tunnels exits in the town somewhere. We'll need to expand it to run to wherever we end up.

And to those saying Seno and Eno aren't combat vestiges, I'd like to point out that we haven't tried using their powers in reverse, draining health and bestowing wounds wih a touch and waiting until later to heal someone of an equal amount. Let ourselves get stabbed with a swird then grasp the attacker and heal ourselves while dealingthe same wound to our assailant. S/eno is a serpent of balance and that swings both ways.

>>24907952
"There is a little-used broom closet in the back of the library that runs close to a chimney from the kitchen. I settled there for some peace and quiet while pouring over a very old tome that I thought might shed some light on the task the Inquisitor gave me. Why? What has happened?"

>>24907952
"I'm sorry, Ranta, the Inquisitor had given me an important task some time before. I was trying to complete it, running after many loose leads I had found, deeply researching deep into the night. Only when sleep was taking over me, did I go back to my room and find the guard you had sent for me."
"What is the commotion? The guards look on edge"

Something like that. I'm not thinking properly, staying way up late for the return of this quest.

Rolled 80

>>24908020
>>24908043
That is technically our job, and if I remember we are kind of known for sneaking off to the kitchens.

>>24908115
Yeah, mixing lies with truths. That way our lies are more believable

"I'm sorry, Ranta. I was up late working in the library on some business for the Inquisitor. Work that no one is supposed to know about, so I was in one of my private study places. I'm afraid I can't say any more than that." You look around making a show of concern. "Everyone seems to be on edge around here. Did something happen? What is this all about?"

"We need you somewhere safe and somewhere secret. There's been an attack. Something ambushed us in the woods today while we were out on a ranging. The Inquisitor barely escaped with his life but he's still in shock. We think he was attacked for this," Ranta walks back into the other room and carries a heavy lock box to the table. He looks to the entrance flap before he unlocks it and reveals the metal disc contained within, the artifact you entrusted to the Inquisitor this very morning. "The Inquisitor had this in his saddle bag when he was attacked. Whoever it was that attacked made directly for him and him alone. And what's worse, I've got reports of it being seen leaving the city gates. He's been lapsing in and out of consciousness but he told me that only you, Brother Arnold, the Chaplain, and himself knew what this thing is. Brother Gregory has been missing since last night and his room was ransacked when we went looking for him. The Chaplain says he knows nothing and actually pulled rank on me and the Inquisitor is in no state to talk. And I need some answers NOW. I need to know what we're dealing with because an inquisitor was nearly killed in MY city on MY watch by who the hell knows what. So what in the nine bloody hells is this thing Gregory?"

>>24908226
[[Apollogies, it is of course Brother Arnold that has been missing all day and who's room has been ransacked. Not you.]]

>>24908299
[[Aaaaand I really need to get back into the habit of checking my trip.]]

>>24908226
Give him barebones information. Admit that your research concerns it. Tell him that it is some kind of an ancient artifact and that the Inquisition (or whatever the central authority is) thinks that it holds some magical power.
We don't know more than that and are trying to find out what it is.

Also, ask about Arnold, genuinely concerned about his wellbeing.

>Man, there is some sense of satisfaction when learning about the fallout of our shenanigans and leaving everyone none the wiser that it was us.

>>24908226
"I'm sorry, but I can't say. I'm not being coy, but the Inquisitor brought it here specifically because NOBODY knows what it is. I was uncovered durig a crusade far to the east. It's not Elven or Dwarven, t can't be marked or scratched, and the markings aren't in any known language. Anywhere. That's my task. I've been researching it in the libraries. Nobody else is even supposed to know it exists. By order of the Emperor himself. Please, close the chest. We could all be executed right now. Me for trusting you with this and you for knowing. What did you say about Arnold? He's missing?

>>24908387
"A truth told with bad intent beats all lies you can invent."

>>24908418
I don't understand this sentence

You spend a moment acting as if in shock, though it isn't too difficult since you're somewhat shocked by Ranta's temper to begin with.

"I've been researching it for a while for the Chaplain and the Inquisitor. Apparently the order was passed down all the way from the King himself. It's some kind of ancient artifact from the far east across the sea and he seems to think it holds some kind of power. I wish I could tell you more but I really can't. That's what I've been trying to find out. All I know is the metal is stronger than anything I've ever seen and the markings written on it aren't any known language. And this thing is probably dangerous and all kinds of heretical and no one is supposed to even know it exists so can you please put it away, for both our sakes?"

Now it is Ranta's turn to be taken aback as you work yourself up into half a fervor and he closes the lid and replaces the lock.

"And what about Arnold? Where is he? What's happened to him?"

"I'm afraid I don't know any more than you do. We were actually trying to hunt him down in the forest when the attack happened. Someone reported seeing a heavy-set man wandering off in the early morning hours. When he was found to be missing the inquisitor said he was a person of interest and could not be allowed out of the city. He warned we may all be in peril if he were captured. But all we were able to find were a bunch of dead animals. And I mean a lot. We thought it might be poachers but they were all just left to rot. And all of them were half eaten by some kind of animal the likes of which I ain't never seen. There's dark things out in those woods I tell you. Now Gregory, the Inquisitor mentioned he'd already spoken to you about it, but how much did Arnold know about this... thing?"

>>24908667
>Now Gregory, the Inquisitor mentioned he'd already spoken to you about it, but how much did Arnold know about this... thing?
[I really don't remember. Did he know anything about it?]

"Practically nothing. Only that it was something to be researched"

>>24908667
"He knew nothing. Just that I asked him if he could fetch my supper for me while I worked."

>>24908746
[[Gregory had been using his contacts within the Order, a secret society of Binders that protects all knowledge of the art and keeps it hidden from mankind, to research the object. He reported that the Order didn't know anything of the artifact even though they are very interested in acquiring and cataloging artifacts of its sort. He's been somewhat out of sorts ever since he learned from Baron Leonard that the Order is less than benevolent in its intentions and hasn't really contributed much else to the research, mostly because you haven't revealed to him that you possess the Book of True Binds even though he knows you are a binder.]]

>>24908854
Alright. I guess we should keep quiet that he's with the Order.

>>24908667
Trying to think of something clever that marks Arnold as a potential victim, not a suspect. I'm coming up blank.


>>24908613
It means that telling the truth at the wrong time for selfish purposes can do more damage than every lie ever told in your life combined."

>>24908945
>It means that telling the truth at the wrong time for selfish purposes can do more damage than every lie ever told in your life combined."

Oh.
It's a quote. I thought you were suggesting that we say that in character, so I was double confused.

>>24908945
>Trying to think of something clever that marks Arnold as a potential victim, not a suspect. I'm coming up blank.

Well, he knew about the artifact. Ranta and the Inquisitor think that whoever is attacking them is after the artifact, so it is not unlikely that someone targeted Arnold to get the information about it.

>>24908996
Yes it's a quote. Can't remember who said it first. I quoted it as a warning not to let too much slip to Ranta. The truth is a dangerous and unpredictable weapon, best used sparingly.

>>24909023
Yes but only we know that he knew about it. Arnold wasn't officially involved as far as they know.

"He... didn't really know all that much other than the fact that the artifact existed at all. Which I guess is actually most of it. He and I were never really good friends so I kind of kept him at arm's reach on this. Besides, he was assigned as an aide to me more than anything and I do most of my work alone so..."

"I see. Well then perhaps we have less to worry about than I thought. Other than about Arnold himself, of course. But I doubt this was just a random attack. Someone must have known. Bah... I tire of these games of poor intel and political secrets. The inquisitor will just have to sort this out when he recovers."

"Indeed I shall," says a deep but hollow voice. Turning you both see the Inquisitor leaning against the support of a table near the door to the side room where Ranta had retrieved the box from. You don't have to pretend to be shocked this time as you see the withered old form of the Inquisitor, his dark complexion and hair turned pale and his imposing form a gaunt whisper of its former self. But his eyes burn with as much fire as ever.

"Inquisitor, what...?"

"No time for that now. Brother Gregory, it is good that you are safe. We will have much to discuss soon but not here and not tonight. You remember the proposal I made to you this morning? I want you to take this chest, 200 gold pieces from me, and carry it out. That is an order. You are to tell no one where you are going or what the purpose of this is, understood? No one must know the location of that item. In two weeks' time, when I have recovered enough, you and the contents of that chest will be returning with me to the captial city of Zaria. Is that understood?"

Whoa. Been years man, glad to see ya.

>>24909216
>You remember the proposal I made to you this morning?

[I don't remember. What was the proposal?]
Also, damn, I had hoped that he would die after our attack.

Anyway, I'm off to sleep. It's 6am, I stayed up late for this quest. Glad to see you back man, I hope you continue with this story instead of starting a new one. Don't forget to archive.

It seems like we've got another player or two who actually followed the quest back when it was running and know what's up. I hope you guys contribute till the thread is concluded.

>>24909341
[[After seeing Arnold's room ransacked in the Monastery the inquisitor proposed moving you and the artifact into the watch outpost or into a more discreet location in town where he could post you a personal guard and could have men keep watch over you night and day on routine patrols without attracting any extra attention.]]

>>24909216
Of course, sir., but... 200? That seems excessive. If a simple monk were to spend that kind of coin it would attract attention, wouldn't it? I think anonymity would be the best of shields."

Two weeks to prep for our move to the capital. Better than none, but not as much as I had hoped. We need to contact our brother, let him know so his messenger birds don't show up here.

>>24909419
A place in town might be good then, the guards could just wander past every now and then and nobody would find it suspicious because that's what town guards do.

We can hide in our tunnel network for twi weeks, search for Arnold, make contact with Rosemary, see if she or her uncle can help us when we move to the capital, I recall him having some pull there.

>>24909533
As long as we can link it to the tunnels.

>>24909575
I thought we built some tunnels to the town.

>>24909595
We did. We jus have to make sure that whatever building we end up living in has easy access to that branch.

"Of course sir. But... Isn't 200 a little excessive?"
"Not at all. Find somewhere meager where you won't be recognized, but suitable enough for your research. Don't pay for the lodgings all at once. Pay by the day. The rest will be used to to send for whatever resources you may need. Now be off with you. Send for me by messenger boy at the end of each week so I know you haven't been compromised. A different one each week. If I have need of you I will send the boy back. Now before you're off change into something besides those robes. Ranta, give him you civilian clothes. You won't be off duty for quite some time anyways. Once you're changed, run along and don't let me hear of your scarred face being seen anywhere in town."

You nod, then scoop the chest under your arm and Ranta hands you the key and the coins which you stow away in your pack. You step into the other room to change while listening to the conversation behind you.

[[continued]]

>>24909844

"I want every man on that hunt detained for questioning. I need to know everything about this phantom. Then double the guard. I don't care if everyone has to work night and day or if you have to start conscripting citizens. Whatever that thing was, it wasn't human but it walks among us in the twilight hours. No one is above suspicion. No man walks alone by night or day. I want an order given out that any information that leads to an arrest will be awarded handsomely. I don't care how many false leads we get. I want this specter found."

You look around the room but there's nothing of interest other than the cot that must have held the inquisitor until recently. You stow your robe in your pack along with the artifact and adjust your now loose fitting clothing, being much smaller than Ranta. As you return to the room the Inquisitor stops talking, looks you in the eye, and waves you off. Without another word you step out into the crisp night air. Your time as a corpse delayed your fatigue for quite some time but now you can feel your exhaustion catching up to you. It seems you horse has been reclaimed by the stable hand and you're left to walk into town. But where shall you go?

>>24909854
Baron Leonard. He's offered us help before. He can se us up in a rental property and have servants, or Rosemary, fetch supplies for us. This is a 'friends close, enemies closer, unknowns closest' situation.

>>24910059
Seems like a good idea, at least for now. While we may not be quite sure where the baron stands, it provides us with more access to Rosemary, who I don't think will sell us out.

To the nearest tunnel entrance. We can stash the artifact in our sanctum. Then we get some rest, or try to signal our shadow to meet us somewhere safe along the way.

>>24910138
The baron has offered us help and isn't directly connected to the Order or the Inquisition. He can help shield us from both if need be, or escape to the elves if everything blows up here, or if we go to the capital he can provide us with contacts and influence which we may need.

>>24910241
We don't entirely know the baron's motives, and we should trust no one. Find a cheap, out of the way place to stay for now and get to work discovering the purpose of this artifact.

>>24910291
[[Getting conflicting ideas now. Going to need some rolls to decide. Elsewise, majority says Baron. Nearest tunnel is, incidentally, also in the Baron's Manor.]]

>>24910329
I'd rather not have choice be selected by roll if it goes against majority, so I'll change it to go to the baron but not to trust him with any information, especially about the artifact.

You hike your pack up onto your shoulder once more, adjust your cloak, and walk straight out of the camp and off towards the road back towards town. Judging by the height of the moon it has been some five hours since sundown and most won't be up at this hour. You decide it would be best to enter town through the same gate your escort party passed through to avoid as many questions as possible. Sure enough, the four guards don't so much as look at you as you pass. You suspect they already have orders pertaining to your passage.

You quickly wind your way to the Baron's manor taking care to avoid the routine patrols which is a well practiced skill for you now. You're not sure how trustworthy the Baron is, him knowing far too much and revealing far too little and being an incredibly resourceful man, but he already knows about the artifact anyways. You're quite certain you can rely on him and his niece to keep your secrets since you are privy to a few of their own. Sure enough, there are lights on when you arrive and you barely reach the door before Rosemary opens it with a smile. "We've been expecting you."

Without pausing you march right into the foyer and hang your cloak upon the rack. "Oh have you? I don't recall sending word."
"Oh but you did, my good man," intones the all too cheery voice of the Baron and you turn to mark his presence at the top of the stairwell. Rosemary strides off to meet him and you follow behind without taking your sight off of the baron. You are reminded of some kind of predator looking down upon its prey though you can't quite place why. "Don't be so shy. As you said yourself 'there are only friends to be found here'. Now then, how is our good inquisitor faring? I hear he took a bit of a nasty spill from his horse."

>>24910376
[[The idea is that if enough people like an idea they are more likely to have the high roll. This encourages more diverse ideas since even an individual can dictate the course and we don't require consensus to proceed but majority rule still has the greater probability. But most people haven't been rolling this thread since I foolishly didn't put it in the OP so for the time being we'll use majority to decide.]]

[[Bump]]

>>24910579
-sigh wearily-
"It's good to see my message wasn't wasted. Excellent job slipping past, by the way. I'm very tired but I have an urgent mission at the moment. Two, really. I am to procure lodgings someplace where nobody will find me and hide until the Inquisitor heals. Then he's taking me to the capital. Secondly, I need to find Brother Arnold. He's missing, and I don't want the Order thinking I had anythig to do with it. I know he's still alive, and somewhere in town. Has he made contact with you? Or could the Order have sent someone to silence him?"

I can't explain the holes in the corpses, but since all these dead animals are showing signs of being eaten I think Arnold is probably innawoods.

>>24910579
The 'demon' which now haunts the woods has savaged him greatly, and he may recover in time, though he seems much diminished now. I, for the time being, am instructed to find anonymous lodgings and stay hidden until he heals and can return with me to the capital.

"He seems to be making a miraculous recovery. Though he might be starting to feel his age." You say with a dry tone."But enough gossip. I'm afraid I've come on business. I need someplace to stay where no one might discover me and you seem to be the man to know about town for this sort of thing."
"I've never been accused of such. That's how you know I'm the best."
"There's more. I need to find someone. You recall my companion?"
"I'm afraid I can't say that I do."
"A large fellow. Rogue member of the Order. Shapeshifter."
"Sounds likable enough. Unfortunately I'm not currently equipped for hunting down any more Binders. And they aren't easy to find unless they want to be found. Or if they're trying to find you. And besides, I should think you'd be more equipped to find him than I."
"As I said, I'm trying to lay low at the moment."
"Of course. You're welcome to stay the night until I can find you more suitable quarters in the city proper. I'll have Rosemary prepare a bed in the guest wing. As for tomorrow, I own enough ventures in town that I'm sure I could create a vacancy. Of course, this might prove costly to me and I may require compensation of a sort. Such as information. Or a favor. Or perhaps the real version of that artifact replica you gave me to study."

Well this is awkward, but I suppose he was going to catch on at some point.

>>24911259
"I don't suppose you would consider accepting coin as payment then?
If he refuses: sigh "Alright, I'm willing to work things out with you when the time comes."

"Sorry, I'm afraid I've grown a bit attached to it. How about payment in coin?"
He sighs with obvious disappointment. "I suppose coin will cover the costs though it's so much less... interesting. How long will you need to stay?"
"For two weeks time. After that I'll be travelling to the capital with the Inquisitor."

"The capital...?" says Rosemary barely more than a whisper behind you but audible enough for both of you to hear.
"Yes, girl, that's what he said. What of it?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Well then don't interrupt. And why don't you go set up a bed for a guest?"
She nods slightly before briefly locking eyes with you but turns to leave.
"Now then, boy. What business do you have in the capital?"

>>24911259
The real one is irreplacable. I may agree to let you study it, when I am present. I have some more mundane secrets I could see fit to share with you. And a few Vestiges you haven't seen me bind yet. But that is for tomorrow. For now, I am not being the least bit figurative when I say that I feel like Death warmed over.

>>24911648
The King himself has taken an interest in the matter. The inquisitor means to see that he speaks to me personally on the matter. Surely THATwill pique your interest.

Ohohoho. It seems Rosemary doesn't like the sound of us leaving.

>>24911912
She'll probably point out that it's "dangerous" or something but yeah.

>>24912046
Or maybe she wants to come with. Bright lights, big city. Awfully enticing for a country girl.

Your thoughts trailing away with Rosemary for a moment and the promise you made to her just last night, you snap back to the conversation at hand.
"It's this artifact. The king sent it here for me to look into but they think all of the recent commotion is related to it and they want to transport it back to the capital and me with it to continue my research. I'd be more than happy to let you study it while I am here but wherever it goes I must go with it."

"The capital is a dangerous place, boy. I should know. I barely made it out of there myself. And probably wouldn't have if not for your father. It's a den of vipers wearing silks and jewelry. They all have their eye out for an easy meal. And if any of them find out who you really are, who your father was, you'll be one enticing dish."
You recall that your father, Tarrant, and Leonard grew up together in the capital both being of noble birth and the Baron mentioning something about your father once having a claim to the throne before he threw it away.
"You'll likely be caged up in that fortress of a palace at all hours. Or the academy. But one prison is as good as another. And I'm sure one of your talents will have no trouble getting into trouble. But aside from all that, at least you'll be eating like a king every night. Now then, about the artifact. Can I see it?"

>>24912181
Allow him to see it but only if it never leaves our sight.

>>24912255
Agreed

Refresh my memory. What promise did we make to Rosemary?

>>24912560
IIRC, we promised that if we ever got out of this podunk town we'd take her with us.

>>24912619
How are we going to get her out if we're going with the inquisitor?

"Of course," you say, retrieving the lock box from your pack. "So long as it stays within my sight." You grab the key and open the box to reveal the silver object within.

"Oh my. Here, may I?" he says, holding out his hands. You hand the disc to him and he studies it carefully. "The runes are the same but the material... It's unlike everything I've ever seen. This must be adamantine." He taps on it and listens. "Still hollow. Maybe. But this one is much finer craftsmanship. I can't even see the gap between the two halves. It's like one solid piece. The runes are even clearer somehow with even less depth to the engraving. What kind of tools were used to make such a piece? And the angel and the dragon are carved in such detail and with such clarity and... I... I wonder why, that face seems so familiar." He holds the disc in his hand with the angel side up as stares at it with intense scrutiny."I think I need to do some research..."
"Leonard..."

He stops mid stride before realizing he has started walking towards his lab with the disc in hand. "Oh, yes, of course. Silly me." He paces back and returns it. "I just need to cross reference a few texts. Maybe there's more to this item than it would appear. I hope you don't mind showing yourself to your room. It's down that hall and the third one of the left past the washroom." And without another word he marches off in a hustle towards his studies.

You turn and look down the indicated hallway. You can see the light of your bedroom casting its glow upon the darkened hallway. You walk up to it and stand in the doorway watching Rosemary finish turning down the bed. Without turning to look at you she stands up and says, "So are you going?"

>>24912682
[[Why am I so bad at this trip fagging thing?]]

[[Bump]]

>>24912682
I don't have much choice. My options are limited. Go to the capital, run away and be hunted down like a dog. Not much choice at all. But I have an advantage. The Order doesn't know how much I know about them. And the Inquisition thinks me a useful but harmless scholar. I can use their underestimations. Neither knows what I can do. Even I barely know what I can do. So my helplessness, the one thin they think they can count on, is an illusion. It'll be dangerous, but I think I can play them against eah other, garner what information I can from both. Master this Binding thing. And hopefully distract the King from his war with the elves. If I can get him to turn against the Order, it'll take years for him to resolve. Maybe decades. Think the elves could use the rest?

>>24912676
Convince the Inquisitor that travelling under armed guard invites attacks. Have the 'demon' make some runs at armed patrols and convoys. Then we tell him. We'll leave two days after he takes a fake 'brother gregory' under armed guard to the capital. We pose as a young married couple and travel in anonymity while the Inquisitor clears the road ahead.

File: 1368941225650.png-(114 KB, 269x352, tumblr_mj3iqr58Ff1r02dwco(...).png)

114 KB PNG

>>24913068
You're pretty good.

>>24913125
When I'm bad I'm even better.

>>24913021
Fuck it. We've alresdy committed treason (talking to our brother, Rosemary, and Leonard), Heresy (Binding), assault and battery on an inquisitor. Might as well go all in and start a civil-cold-war. Can't get much worse!

"I have little choice. Either I follow the Inquisitor or I start running now and never stop."
"You mean we start running."
"Of course. Or we go to the capital."
"Both of us? In the captial? Won't it be dangerous?"
"Most certainly. But I'll have the advantage. The Order thinks me a humble initiate with a little talent but I know far more about them than they suspect. And the Inquisition thinks me an even more humble scholar who happens to be useful. Neither of them knows what I can really do. I hardly even know what I can do. And I can use that against them. Use them against each other."
Rosemary seems to be taking this all in and sits down on the bed in contemplative thought. You approach and sit down beside her, taking her hand.
"Think of the opportunity. I can learn all I need to from the order and then set the Inquisition against them. If I can set them onto each other that could bring the war to halt all together."
"But how will we... How will I follow you?"
"Maybe you won't have to. Perhaps I can convince the inquisitor to let me travel alone, without an escort... He seems to think anonymity is a more prudent decision than a constant guard here in the city. Perhaps I can show him how right he is. He wants to find a monster here and I can give him one."
"So you're to become a true monster then? Is that the price you must pay for our freedom, Gregory?"
You start trying to assure her that you won't have to hurt anyone but as you think about it you're not so sure that's true. Acheron is a very difficult being to handle. Before you can think of what to say she interrupts you.
"I always wanted to travel. To see the world outside. But what of my father? And uncle? What will become of them? And why am I so full of doubts now when my heart's desire is finally within reach?"

[[And with that I think we'll call it an early night on Binder Quest XVI. Pretty happy with the turn out considering the lack of forewarning and the long break even if things slowed down quite a bit near the end. Hopefully we'll pick up a few more by next weekend. Until then, good night everyone and as always thanks for playing!]]

>>24913850
Thanks for running. It's greatto have you back.

[[And archived:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Binder%20Quest

To be continued next weekend! Unless of course I feel like running a session in the middle of the week... We shall just have to wait and see.]]

>>24913986

If you're going to do a thread in middle of the week, you should find a way to notify us. Twitter is a good platform for that, a lot of quest authors use it for that purpose.

>>24913986 Glad to have you back, see you next week.