You find yourself in a small, crummy apartment. This time, it isn't your own. You are John T. Colt, and right now you're listening to the complaints of Sean Braun. The young man adjusts the bandanna around his neck and takes a long drag off his cigarette before continuing.

"Like I said," he begins, "I've been trying to call you guys for weeks now. You guys arrest witches and other kinds of crap and get them help, right? So you should be able to do something about these mole-fleas."

"I assume you mean the Harvesters," your partner cuts in. As usual, her expression is blank, and you can't tell what's going on in her head. Every now and again, she puts her hand to her throat and runs a finger along it. Maybe she's still sore from earlier...

"Is that what you call em? Yeah, whatever, so you ought to be able to do something about em, right?"

"We're here to annihilate them. If we only knew where they were, Colt and I would have them wiped out by dusk."

The young man turns from your partner to you.

"That right? You're here to exterminate them?"

It's true you're here to wipe them out, but honestly, as long as they're gone it doesn't matter. How will you respond.

>We're here to kill them all
>We're going to kill whatever's making them
>We're here to drive them out
>We're going to capture them
>Something else.

>>25286635

>We're going to kill whatever's making them
And then

>We're going to capture them ((FOR SCIENCE!!))
And then

>We're here to kill them all

>>25286664
Find whatever is making them and kill them all.

>>25286635

We are here to end the threat. Every other detail is mutable.

Low turnout tonight. I'll give it 10 more minutes and then call it.

>>25286480
.We're here to kill them all, and whatever's making them.

So we're just going to go with kill whatever's producing them. That seems to be the consensus.

>>25286635
>We're going to kill whatever's making them

Bit late, but this has my vote.

>>25286635
"We're here to kill whatever's turning them out. It looks like those things can't survive long on their own anyway."

Sean looks at you, then puts his cigarette out.

"Okay, sounds legit to me. However, I only know about a couple of places that they pop up. Sorry I can't tell you more than that. Here, let me write them down."

After a few minutes, Sean has a list of locations jotted down on a notepad, along with the times they've shown up written next to them. You see that your next "appointment" is only a few hours away.

You thank Sean for his help and leave his apartment. Going by this list, you could go put some lead into some more Harvesters if you wanted, but you're not sure that would bring you any closer to discovering the source.

What do you do?

>Return to the crime scene
>Check out the locals on this list
>Investigate some of the "warehouses" around here
>Investigate an actual warehouse.
>something else.

>>25287386
>Check out the locals on this list

I'm not sure I understand the difference between the fourth and fifth choice.

>>25287423
This district is a nest of crime. It means brothels and drug kitchens.

>>25287386
Locals.

>>25287386
>Check out the locals on this list

Rolled 15

>>25287386
>>Check out the locals on this list
*locales

>>25287386
You decide to have a look at the location that Sean gave you. Looking at the address, you recognize it as a packing plant that shut down a few years ago, due to a scandal involving some workers of dubious age.

It takes a little bit, but you arrive at the plant. The broken windows, graffiti, and piles of broken timber and stone let you know that this place has seen a lot of activity. The building itself is about three stories high, and there's a large double door in the front of the building with several shutters in the back, presumably for loading and unloading trucks.

"If the Harvesters are coming from underground, a large and abandoned facility such as this would mask their comings and goings very easily. I hope we find many Harvesters within. Seeing you work has been enlightening," Artemis adjusts her muffler and stands aside as you approach the building.

Well, you need to get in there somehow, so you consider your options.

>Go through the front door
>Go through the shutters
>Ask Artemis to use her Witchcraft to scan
>Try to climb through a broken window
>Something else.

>>25287752
Thank you

Rolled 8

>>25287799
>Ask Artemis to use her Witchcraft to scan

if clear, use front doors, else shutters

>>25287799
>Go through the front door

It's shut down, so who's going to complain if we walk right in.

>>25287799
>Ask Artemis to use her Witchcraft to scan

>>25287799
You order Artemis to scan the area for anything out of the ordinary.

"Understood. Please, wait a moment."

Once more, Artemis' witchcraft fills the area with ghostly images. This time, you see a steady stream of Harvesters climbing out of the second floor windows before dropping to the ground. The images of the Harvesters are strange, though. They're distorted, and compared to the silvery blue of the rest of the phantoms, their images are nearly black. You ask Artemis if this color is significant.

"Interference, such as magical residue or psychic powers, can alter the hue of my scrying. It is...embarrassing for me to admit, but I have not used this magic enough to be sure of what a particular color means. I'm sorry."

Well, you have your information at least. There's more to Harvesters than it may first seem, and they're coming from the second floor.

>Go through the front door
>Go through the shutters
>Try to climb through a broken window
>Something else.

>>25288079
>Go through the shutters

We may be dealing with the warrior versions of the beasts, and if so we don't want to give them the opportunity to drop on us.

>>25288079
>>Something else.
magic knives to make a new entrance

>>25288133
Support

>>25288079
Silencer&Hollow. Fantastic

>Go through the shutters

This is a sneaking mission. The use of stealth is requires

>>25288079
You decide to head around to the back and go through the shutters, reasoning that you'll have more room to maneuver in the loading area if you have to.

As you go to enter, you notice a thick chain and padlock holding the shutter closed tight. You wish you had brought a pair of bolt cutters, but you wonder if you can't break the lock with your knife. It's supposed to be stronger than usual after all.

You take out the hunting knife Artemis gave you and hold it up to the lock. Alright, you're going to have to be very careful about how you do this if you want to keep quiet.

((First roll of 5d6+1 to cleanly break the lock))

Rolled 3, 2, 2, 3, 3 + 1 = 14

>>25288421

Rolled 2, 5, 4, 5, 3 + 1 = 20

>>25288421
Rolling.

>>25288584
You figure that, no matter how sharp this blade is, you still need to put some effort into cutting through a thick lock like this. Unfortunately, you'd momentarily forgotten who made this knife and what it was made from.

With just a modicum of effort, you slash straight through the lock and chains, and your knife cleaves through the shutter itself with relative ease, making a scraping noise as your momentum carries you halfway through the metal door.

Well, that's one way to pick a lock. You turn to your partner with a questioning look, but she looks rather proud of herself.

"Am I not sharp? I'm sure that, under your continued leadership, my soul shall grow even stronger."

You're not sure if you can handle a blade that sharp, and sheath the knife.

Still, with the shutter practically slashed open, you can explore the inside now. The building is just as dilapidated on the inside. All but the heaviest pieces of machinery have been stripped, likely by looters, and broken glass and the dirty mattresses of the homeless are scattered about. You can see stairs to your left, should you want to ascend.

What do you do?

>Explore the first level
>Explore the second level
>Examine the machinery
>Examine the mattresses
>something else.

>>25288786
>Examine the mattresses

The squatters may have left a diary or some other form of records. They may have clues as to when the creatures first appeared.

>>25288786
>Examine the machinery
There's always something stuck between the gears....in games

Rolled 4, 5, 6, 3, 6 + 1 = 25

>>25288786
>Examine the mattresses

>Examine the mattresses
When were they last used, are there any cans of food. Basically when long ago did these people leave.

On a side note, I finally managed to catch a quest running, I read the quest on recommendation in the archives. I really like it, one thing that's been nagging at me though, did you have 4 different witches planned out for each card? And how powerful of the lot is Artemis

>>25288786
You decide to take a look at the mattresses. Well, for one thing they all smell of some form of human excrement, though you are not eager to find out the exact ratio and type. There's definitely blood here, however, and lots of it. If Harvesters are coming through here, it's likely that whoever was squatting here was their first targets. You are concerned that you don't see any remains, and there are a few cans or plastic bags with rotted food and warm alcohol inside. Apparently, the Harvesters aren't interested in processed foodstuffs...

Aside from the blood and general grime, you don't see anything of note about the mattresses.


>Explore the first level
>Explore the second level
>Examine the machinery
>something else.

>>25289136
>Explore the second level

>>25289136
>Explore the second level

Let's see where these things are coming from.

>>25288998
Yeah, there were 4 witches planned. Artemis is a secret. The rest were certainly more conventionally crazy, though.

>>25289136
>Examine the machinery

>>25289136
Second level

Caught the quest!

>>25289136
You head up to the second level, gingerly stepping up the rusty stairs.

Whatever purpose this particular section held, it is totally barren now. The staircase leads up to an empty platform overlooking the shipping room floor. Its metal surface is deeply scratched, and you see small pieces of broken chitin scattered about. The platform branches off, connecting to two hallways, one to the east and one to the west. The sunlight coming from the outside doesn't reach this far, and you can't see more than a few feet down either hallway.

You return your attention to where you're standing. There are a few drops of that viscous brown preservative leading toward the hallway in the east, and the bits of chitin seem to concentrate toward the west hallway.

What do you do?

>Head east
>Head west
>Head back down
>Head up to the third level
>Ask Artemis' opinion
>Something else

>>25289440
Ask Artemis' opinion

>>25289466
Aye. When hunting, ask the hunting witch.

>>25289440
>Ask Artemis' opinion
Hunting witch for hunting help

>>25289440
>Head west

So whatever needs the nutrients is in the east, and the resting area is to the west. Can't have these things attacking our back.

>>25289440
You ask your partner her opinion on how to proceed. She crosses her arms and tilts her head.

"Insects molt, do they not? Then we should follow the crumbs of their shells. They are likely heading off somewhere to grow. If we are lucky, we can catch them while their shells are soft and delicate. Then we shall cut them to ribbons."

You ask her what she intends to do if they aren't as vulnerable as she claims.

"You are here for that, aren't you? You won't lose to any beast."

>Head east
>Head west
>Head back down
>Head up to the third level
>Something else

>>25289717
Follow the shells

>>25289717
>Head west
Her reasoning is sound.

>>25289736
Ate.

>>25289769
Aye.

I just noticed I missed the last thread, so I was reading the archives, and someone was asking about a grimdark magical girl story.
I think what you're talking about is actually called "Sailor Nothing" instead. First hit on google.

>>25289717
Do as the lady says.

>"You are here for that, aren't you? You won't lose to any beast."
Your getting a real present one day.

>>25289717
Artemis made a good argument, so you decide to follow her advice. You bring out your flashlight and sidearm, then proceed down the hallway.

There are dozens of doors, each leading to their own small offices. Looks like this was where all the paper-pushers gathered. You peak your head into one room and shine your light inside. The mottled brown carapace of the Harvesters lies inside, split in half along the back. You see a trail of fresh slime trail from the empty shell all the way out of the room and down to the end of the hall. Looks like these Harvesters are using these room to molt in relative safety.

What do you do?

>Follow the trail down to the hallway
>Check out a few more rooms
>Inspect the shell closer
>Turn back
>Something else

>>25289214
Cmon, worldbuilding. How were they crazy?

>>25289959
Follow the trail.

>>25289959
>Check out a few more rooms

Let's see what's in them.

>>25289969
One of them could not tell the difference between reality and their fantasies. Had fully immersive hallucinations all the time which placed everyone into particular roles and parts. You would have had to communicate to them in a way that fulfilled Colt's role in their stories.

>>25289959
>Check out a few more rooms
May find something neat

>>25290136
That...would have been quite interesting to do.

>>25290136
That's interesting....

Are Silencers like army guys? As they rank up they get more witches as opposed to stars Doubler choker

>>25290268
It is a one on one affair to my understanding.

>>25289959
You decide to check out a few more rooms. For the most part, the layout is the same. Windowless, empty room with an equally empty discarded Harvester shell. After three or four of these, you feel like it would be best to decide on a new course of action, but as you open the final door, you hear a bubbling.

You slowly open the door and peer inside. The Harvester shell is violently thrashing about. You ready your pistol and shine your light on the creature. A soft green form rises out of the Harvester. It's vaguely humanoid, with two arms and two legs. Instead of a hard carapace, it is instead covered with a soft, yet clearly sectioned, green skin. Thick bunches of antennae cover its head, and its hands and feet each posses three fingers and toes each--though they all end in wickedly sharp claws.

The beast turns to you, its face a familiar form at first. It's human eyes are solid black, but the rest of it seemed fairly normal at first. However, in a moment, it lets out a hideous scream accompanied with clicking and whirring. It's jaw distends and separates into two mandibles, and the brown preservative leaks from its mouth.

You have to act!

((roll 7d6 to snapfire or roll 8d6 to yank Artemis and yourself to safety))

Rolled 3, 6, 1, 2, 5, 3, 3 = 23

>>25290435
snapshot

Rolled 6, 2, 6, 2, 5, 2, 6 = 29

>>25290435
Hmmm... Ima go for snapfire.

Rolled 5, 1, 2, 5, 1, 3, 1 = 18

>>25290435
Open fire.

Rolled 5, 3, 4, 6, 6, 1, 4, 2 = 31

>>25290435
Find better position just in case

>>25290478
First roll, so taking this, which hits.

First roll of 4d6+2 does damage.

Rolled 5, 1, 2, 6 + 2 = 16

>>25290559

Rolled 1, 5, 6, 2 + 2 = 16

>>25290559
Rolling.

Rolled 4, 3, 6, 3 + 2 = 18

>>25290559

Rolled 1, 1, 3, 2 + 2 = 9

>>25290559

Rolan

Rolled 4, 1, 6, 6, 1, 4, 6, 5, 6, 3 = 42

>>25290571
Good show
>>25290435
You open fire, sending several rounds into the creature's form. Without the protection of its exoskeleton, the shots tear straight through its flesh, taking huge chunks of the jelly-like brown meat with it. The cryptid stumbles over, hurt, but not yet out of the fight. Though its body and claws have yet to harden, it takes its chance. With another crackling scream it jumps toward you, its arms and legs both outstretched.

((You are being attacked. First Six Dice is the attack Roll, Last 4 Dice is Damage, should it hit))

>>25290684
Looks like it's going down.

>>25290781
>>25290788
I was attacking you guys. You don't have to roll for this. It missed, by the way

It's using Control's roll.

>>25290684
>>25290684
Though you would have been able to dodge this level of attack without issue, your position between Artemis and the Cryptid means that if you dodge, your partner would be hit in your place. You brace yourself, knowing that all you can do is roll with this punch, but at the last moment, a silvery blade rushes forward to knock the Cryptid aside. Several more blades whirl around you, and you hear Artemis whispering the words of power under her breath.

The last of its life expended on the futile attack, the Cryptid does not rise again, and its breaths grow short and ragged. You check behind you to see if there are any newcomers to the fray, but everything seems secure. Just to be safe, however, you drag Artemis inside the room and shut the door.

Now that you're inside the room, you take a breath and reassess the situation. What do you do?

>Praise your partner
>Inspect the dying Cryptid closely
>Inspect the Cryptid from afar
>Leave the room and retreat from this area for now
>Something else

>>25290841
>Inspect the dying Cryptid closely

While praising her. Check to see what exactly it was trying to turn into before we killed it. Also check it for organs and see if it has something resembling a stomach like the harvesters.

>>25290841
>Praise your partner
Damn good work

>>25290841
Can we praise her then inspect the cryptid?

>>25290841
>Praise your partner

>>25291045
Yes, there's enough time if you keep it very brief.

>>25291083
I vote that.

>>25291083
"Good job" should suffice.

>>25290841
You give your partner a pat on the head and tell her that she performed well, then return to business. You crouch down next to the gasping Cryptid and take a closer look at it. The "skin" is actually an exoskeleton, as you thought. It never had a chance to solidify, and you can still see the grease from the slime on its exterior. The light-less eyes of the Cryptid flick rapidly around the room, but don't seem to focus on any one thing. You suppose you wouldn't fair much better in this predicament. You don't have time to do a full autopsy, not that you are qualified, but the insides of this thing look about the same. Seems like they have the same preservative too. You're not sure what to make of all this...

Eventually, the Cryptid expires, leaving you with one dead monster and a much shorter one breathing down your neck.

What do you do?

>resume your search
>leave the area
>head down the hallway
>something else

>>25291429
>resume your search

Follow the shells and find more of these things. Then once we're sure they're down head to the area where the preservative trail leads.

>>25291429
>resume your search

>>25291429
>resume your search

>>25291429
You head back to your search, going room by room through the hallway. It's slow going, and you spend a lot of your time making sure that each Harvester you find is either empty, or truly dead. Sometimes, you see where the molting has gone wrong, and left a twisted, half-formed corpse in the shell.

You close another door and step back into the hallway, when your eyes catch the gleam of dozens of glowing, orange eyes. A familiar clicking reaches your ears, and you ready your weapon. Looks like your little firefight drew some attention after all. You're not going to head down any further this way without a fight. Of course, you could always back off for now and see if they let you escape, or maybe see if Artemis has a trick or two up her sleeve.

What do you do?

>Go for the attack
>Fall back
>Sic your witch on them
>Something else

>>25291429

You there OP?

>>25291894
Sorry, I keep getting interrupted by life.

>>25291886
>Go for the attack

Artemis as backup on murdering these chumps of course.

>>25291886
>Set trap (magical or otherwise)
>Lure them into it
>Finish them while they are hopefully stuck

>>25291886
>Go for the attack

We save Artemis for the inevitable queen.

Any others, or are we down to just these few?

>>25292005

What if there are no queens and they work like cryisalids in xcom? They steal heads and work their way from head larva to harvester to something bigger.

>>25291990
If Artemis can quickly lay down some nasty blade traps for them I'd change from >>25291979 to it.

>>25292125
That's possible for Artemis. She can do that with some time to prepare

>>25292115
Im lurking for the most part, the consensus of the few are what I would choose

File: 1370579207586.jpg-(4 KB, 204x153, Gumshoe.jpg)

4 KB JPG

>>25290136
>>25289969
>>25289214
I already cracked this code a while ago.

Red, Green, Hunter, Death.

Hearts is Red, Diamonds is Green, Clubs is Death, and Spades was of course Hunter.

Pal.

>>25292115
I believe a few are caught up in the excrement slinging that is going down at the Hollow Quest thread.

>>25292326
Ahh. Hmm. Would it be a good idea to break now and continue later in the week when there's less traffic? I feel bad advancing with less than half of the usual audience, which isn't big to begin with.

>>25292351

Archive it, then?

>>25292351
Can we finish this encounter first? Not the entire thing, just this fight.

>>25292351
We could at maybe finish up the next action or so then be prepared for next thread

>>25292383
Alright, we'll do this encounter and then call it. Gonna need some consensus to move, though. Artemis can set a trap, for those who asked, but she also has other methods, like her Arrow. However, you could also try to cut through them with your Lawgiver handcannon

>>25292417
Draw them into a trap/killzone. They aren't all that clever so it should be pretty easy to make them walk onto a large blade trap and make them easy pickings for us to shoot them.

>>25292417
I suggest we use the Lawgiver since we've already lost the element of surprise.

>>25292417
As a newcomer, I am going to have to say we retreat, possibly laying traps if possible. I think we should try to retreat though. If you remember, these big bugs saved that one guy's life, so they arent totally evil.

We'll count that as "lay a trap" Let's get moving

>>25291886
You tell Artemis of your plan to lay a trap for the Cryptids.

"I understand. However, I will need time to fully recite my verse. I need forty-five, no, twenty seconds. I can do it in twenty seconds. I know you can handle them on your own until then."

Artemis stands aside and kneels on the ground. She brings her hands together, as if in prayer, and begins to chant.

"________________________."

This is the most you've heart from her, so this must be serious magic. You need to slow these cryptids down to buy her time, so you draw your Lawgiver. This should knock them clean off their feet, and hopefully cause the rest to hesitate.

You bring the massive firearm up and take aim.

((Roll 6d6+1 to fire Lawgiver and buy Artemis time. First roll counts))

Rolled 2, 3, 5, 4, 4, 4 + 1 = 23

>>25292590
We... we are the law.

Rolled 5, 6, 3, 2, 5, 5 + 1 = 27

>>25292590
Rolling.

>>25292619
Hit. Roll another 7d6 for damage. Lawgiver's a big gun

Rolled 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4 = 21

>>25292655

Rolled 1, 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1 = 12

>>25292655
I wonder how many holes we can make.

Rolled 3, 1, 4, 4, 2, 4, 2 = 20

>>25292655

File: 1370580590535.jpg-(677 KB, 1856x1940, Artemis copy.jpg)

677 KB JPG

>>25292501

Can't stick around due to sleep, but wanted to drop something off as a thanks for running the threads.

Looking forward to the next thread.

>>25292660
Solid

>>25292590
You are almost thrown backward from the force of Lawgiver, but your skills and good instincts allow you to brace just in time. The horrendously oversized rounds punch large holes through several of the cryptids at a time. You keep firing, attempting to bring down as many as you can. Eventually, the Cryptids are climbing over their own fallen to reach you.

You turn to your partner and ask her if she's ready yet. She shakes her head without interrupting her verse.

They're going to get within striking range very quickly. What do you do?

>Close the distance
>Keep firing
>Move back with Artemis
>Something Else

>>25292724
Very nice. Thanks!

>>25292772
>Close the distance

Time to put that knife to good use.

>>25292772
Close the distance, I wish to hit them with our sw... knife.

>>25292772
>Keep firing

Don't engage things that can only do melee in melee unless we have to. Sure they're clumsy and we can knife them easily, but it's a risk.

Keep on firing, if we have Sparky with us use that, it sprays ammo pretty well and ought to keep them back.

>>25292772
>Move back while providing cover fire

>>25292724
That's real good work anon

>>25292772
HIT THEM WITH OUR SWORD

>>25292800
dammit you beat me to it

Any reason we can't do both? After all a normal hand gun isn't going to have much kick.

>>25292772
Alright, we're going in close. Roll 7d6 to slash with your slashy knife

Rolled 1, 4, 5, 6, 4, 2, 5 = 27

>>25292873
Rolling.

Rolled 6, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2, 6 = 25

>>25292873
Our knife -IS- the slashiest.

>>25292890
That is a definite hit.

Just like with the shutters before, you'll be dealing 5d6+1 damage. First roll gets it

Rolled 3, 4, 2, 4, 6 + 1 = 20

>>25292918
All of the Slash, none of the Cash.

>>25292931
Your knife cuts through their shells like they were paper. The brown fluid sprays from their wounds, then immediately congeals around the gash. They respond in kind with their own claws, but you lop them off at the wrist and ankle when they come. You're certainly doing less damage here, but by staying this close, they've turned all their attention to you. Maybe they're bad at prioritizing targets...

In any case, you hear Artemis' chanting grow louder and louder, and her tone grows more urgent. You kick a cryptid away and jump back, checking once more with your partner. She gives you an affirmative nod.

"Whenever you are ready, Colt. Preparations are complete."

Looks like she's ready

>Give the signal
>Keep fighting normally
>Something else

>>25293009
>>Give the signal

Let's do this.

>>25293009
>Give the signal

We're getting nowhere cutting them.

>>25293009
>Give the signal
NOW!

>>25293009
"Then I will annihilate the enemy."

Her eyes glow like blood red coals in their sockets, and she places both of her hands on the ground. She arches her back and in a single howl of magic power, she unleashes her spell.

Hundreds of spears erupt from the ground in front of you, skewering the cryptids. Those which aren't immediately impaled are torn to bits by the chaotic, wave of weaponry, which rolls along the entire length of the hallway. The spears hold the cryptids up for a few seconds, allowing their bodies to slide down slowly on the shaft, before Artemis collapses and her spears disappear along with her focus.

You bend over to check on your partner, who is struggling for breath. It looks like the Cryptids ahead have been taken care of, clearing the way for your advance....


And that's where we'll call it for today. As always, tell me what I did wrong so I can do it better. Hopefully we'll get our whole crowd back next time so we can finish this.

>>25293142
I've got nothing. How you handle the combat is fine, and the exploration has been made better than it was before.

>>25293281
Then the Archive's up and I'm open for any other questions and stuff

>>25293401
Can we be super secret quest runner best friends?

Also, what do you think of maybe making more npcs to explore? Silencer teams and all that.

Just putting this out here in case you check up later and see it. For me the best part of any game or story is the fun characters you can play around with is all. I would like to see more of that.