It was nice to be back home. Nicer still to show Alexander, and your father the proof of your victory over the Dramatae. Even better to see that Tricia and her father are on speaking terms again.

What wasn't so nice was discovering that the town's new blacksmith, a Phoenix Empire Ex-pat named Cai Wei Zhu wasn't as 'ex' as you thought. She tried to slip some slow acting poison to the group through you, you caught on, but that Phoenix Spy was amazingly slick, she thought up a lie, and she made it up quick.

Thankfully Peri spent a lifetime in the world of cloak and daggers and knew a cover bluff when she heard it. Cai had made a break for it, but Tricia has found her hide out, naturally located in the basement of the ruins of Bright Tower.

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Woo, time to watch Peri be a spy! It's so good to have specialist friends.

I wonder if we'll wind up doing one of those spotlight negotiations once we capture her.

If there are no secret exits to that tower, then it should be pretty easy to pen her in there.

>>25423728
she could have made a secret exit.

I mean, she had the timeframe to do so, and preparing your safehouse is only natural.

Well, let's see how peri wants to go about this. I assume we're surrounding the place.

>>25423892
At this point I wouldn't make any assumptions.

Goddamnit Echo, just as I feel I can't possibly stay up any longer... not far off 2am here

>>25423917
aw, but then how will I be surprised?
>>25423929
Don't worry, you'll sleep well after some difficult choices.

>>25423673
Let's not get overconfident in there, Sideways had maybe a couple of months to scope out and supply the place so be careful of any traps.

>>25423929
And I still have 20 papers I wanted to grade by last night.

We all have to make sacrifices.

>>25424015
I don't like asian spies with traps.

Fucking ninjas.

Unrelated to things currently going on, but I was wondering if we could look for another scientist, specifically one studying permaculture.

Might be able to help Toll with food.

As to our Phoenix-related problems...might want to study up on Chinese bluff and counter-bluff. They probably have quite a few spys around...

Goddamn it, I turn in for the night and you guys fall for such an obvious lie...

How trusting can you be of a person who has just handed you things covered in poison?

>>25424142
I don't know about a scientist, but that green paladin's specialty (other than shooting things) was the fields.

>>25424159
exactly trusting enough to come back later with a team of goons, I guess.

Excuse me, they prefer "accomplices"

>>25424159
Because this quest hasn't really had much paranoia. We haven't even reached 1 full Shadowrun yet, AFAIK.

>>25424253
Doesn't excuse that we believed her. She got her letter off.

>>25424159
I wasn't. From the start. I was in a distinct minority.
>>25424160
We need to send out warning messages. I said it last night and I'll say it again, it makes sense to remove the remaining Paladins from play. Without us, there's very little in the way of organization or authority to unite the Kingdom.

Without Ssen in particular the elves, sane lamias, and mer would never even contemplate helping repel and invasion. And all of them COULD in theory be a huge boon.

>>25424268
would it worry you to say I've never played a shadowrun game?

>>25424274
>remove paladins from play
Wait wait, what? We need them in play, they're key to organization and morale. I'm fine with warning messages, but jobs need to be done.

>>25423664

AWW YISS LAMIA QUEST

>>25424272
it wasn't an excuse, it was a gauge of how trusting we are.

trusting enough to take them in on the spot, but not trusting enough to bring in the goons. Exactly that trusting.

anyway, this is an issue of semantics, so I declare surrender.

>>25424309
It makes sense if you're planning an invasion.

Context. Learn it.

>>25424309
The Phoenix Empire well most likely want to assassinate them. Balles works with a lot of paper, for example. Isen is a target, as are Granny, the girls, and Mumei.

Maxine needs to be told of this, it'll definitely help to have the elves on equal footing.

>>25424274
No, what we want to be doing is re-establishing the paladins outside Citadel.

Not to mention, now that Citadel's influence is gone, *all* the remaining monsters have probably become sane, and I somehow doubt that most of them will find that particularly easy to deal with. We should find some way of calling them to a rallying point and helping them out.

>>25424406
>*all*
no, all the huge ones are still probably mad. but yes, we'll have a lot of monsters to work with.

Too bad we lost HIS, it would have been helpful in establishing new paladins. we need trade routes with white tree as soon as possible so we can have talks about paladin ceremony.

Alternatively, we need to find alternate paladin ceremony precedent in the holy books.

>>25424406
Actually, she'll have edited the letter. If we'd let it go, we wouldn't KNOW about Mumei, but could suspect. Now they'll know we know.

>>25424392
You head up towards the tower, suddenly Peri holds up her hand and makes you all stop. She points across the path. There's a tripwire.

She follows it, and looks up to see a small clay jug on a branch. She climbs the tree and takes it. She looks inside. "Metal shavings." She nods and looks at the jar. "I take it back. She isn't a pro. She's been trained by a pro and is following their instructions very very well, but I don't think she's that good on her own."

"She bluffed Ssen on her own." Mage says. "No offense."

"That was different, that was her placed in a scenario she was familiar with and knew the right response. I'm thinking about the poisoning attempt in the first place, as well as this." She gestures to the jar. "It's a sound alert trap, but you wouldn't do something this advanced out here. This is for urban pursuit and warning. In woods you set a block of wood to hit against a tree." She nods. "Might be why she was sent out here."

"You mean she wasn't here to look up Ssen?" Tricia asks.

"Sorry, Ssen. You aren't the most important person in the world. River's Crossing however, gets frequent hits from caravans and river traders. Perfect passive intel."

>>25424447
She was a figurehead, and clearly has been EXTREMELY tainted by the citadel. Hell, did we ever to remove what the Stagnate were doing to her?

>>25424479

"I'm not suprised. This wouldn't be the first time someone's underestimated me, and if we're lucky, not the last."

>>25424479
"So Peri, is she close? A sound trap isn't useful if no one is there to hear it." Speak this softly.

>>25424512
Dramatae, not stagnate (Swype's fault, although...).

>>25424479
Thinking ahead to interrogation, wasn't there some bit of Phoenixian lore which spoke of serpent's in a way suggesting that they "ate the eggs of birds" or kept people from their birdy equivalent of His Light? I suggest we play upon that by reminding/telling this girl that unless she proves useful to us, we can and will eat her soul.

A martyr fears not death, but damnation.

>>25424479
"You know, in retrospect, people tend to break down and confess when I confront them with their crimes and give 'em a good glare. A good bluff is a bit of a curveball."

"Anyway, I'm glad they don't care much about me. Hopefully reeling in one of their spies won't change that."

>>25424512
Gentlemen, I propose that Father Uriah be the new HIS.

>>25424576
actually I don't think we can do that.

I think, in fact, it was specifically the case that serpents were one of the only "righteous" ways to die, which garuntees another turn on the reincarnation wheel.

you are remembering it opposite-style.

>>25424512
Yeah, without Citadel's influence she's kind of a bitch.

An alternate paladin initiation would be nice, but you do have to bear in mind that you can't just let anybody become a paladin. Still, advertising the need for new paladins is something to think about. If we made clear that paladin initiates are not to be discriminated against based on race, then we might get lizardfolk/mer/whatever paladins coming out of the woodwork, which would help inflate the numbers.

>>25424479
"By the time this is over, I expect their priorities may have shifted. I certainly hope the Empire never considers me the most important person in the world."

>>25424584
>>25424479
now that I think of it, when WAS the last time someone's ever lied to us?

Nobody has the balls to lie to an angry half-ton paladin snake thing. Usually.

>>25424633

All of the noteworthy enemies that Ssen has faced off against have either been:

1.) Powerful, but inexperienced and stupid.

2.) Powerful, but had their hands tied due to narrative.

3.) Powerful and frighteningly smart, but acted on the intention of breaking Citadel.

In a sense, Citadel was hampering the Dramatae as much as it was helping them. Now we're facing an enemy whose power isn't so concentrated, and can draw upon centuries' worth of accumulated political maneuvering and wetwork.

>>25424607
Hmm... Right, right. I think now i recall that Mumei wanted us to kill her if need be because it kept her from returning -alive- to the PE. Nevermind my suggestion.

>>25424607
Really? I remember it the way he's saying it. They're all really scared of snakes and I think Mumei wanted us specifically to kill her so she wouldn't just reincarnate back into the Phoenix Empire.

>>25424633
We were 600lbs at the start and we've only gotten bigger.

Last length we got was like 17 feet according to 1d4chan but I[m certain we're larger than that now.

>>25424707
no, she said that if she died by hand or wind, she WOULDN'T get into the fire of rebirth, but by snake she would.

Unless fire of rebirth doesn't actually do what it sounds like it does.

>>25424707
>>25424706
>>25424607

Echo could you refresh our memory, maybe wait to do so until it becomes relevant? Hate to be a bother.

>>25424732
Huh. So anybody who dies from anything other than a snake bite is just shit out of luck?

>>25424800
I think there might be other ways of getting into the rebirth fire, but we haven't asked after them.

We really need all the information Ssen knows about the PE reiterated to us. I don't think anybody here remembers any of it.

>>25424738
Suicide means you do not reincarnate.

Death by snake gets you a good reincarnation, a total pass on any form of purgatory or repentance. Mostly because being consumed by a snake is seen as one of the most horrific deaths a bird can experience.

>>25424479
"So, a citybird is having a lark in the woods? Well, I'll defer to you, Pari. Lead on."

>>25424845
ah, okay. Sort of like a cosmic "sorry you died horribly" prize.

>>25424845
Damn. I don't see how we can threaten her with suicide.

>>25424845
We don't need to actually eat her right?

Bad Karma.

>>25424845
Well then we could, considering our horrifying nature, believably promise her that we'll give her the means to end her own life and force her to do so. (We'd be bluffing, of course) As a spy, she should know all about how no one can resist torture forever, simply long enough to hopefully be rescued. Rescue isn't coming and we have all the time in the world.

"By the time this is over, I expect their priorities may have shifted. I certainly hope the Empire never considers me the most important person in the world." You say quietly.

"Knowing our luck..." Mage mutters.

"So Peri, is she close? A sound trap isn't useful if no one is there to hear it." You continue.

Peri nods. She points. You can see the start of the ruins that was the castle that used to be here. This isn't near the tower though, the tower would be on the other 'side' of the castle. However, Peri points to the ground next to a small collapsed wall. You see a lot of 'scattered' brush and leaves, but it's obviously hiding something. Carefully, she approaches it and slowly pushes some of it aside. There's a ring pull and a stone door in the ground. It's an entrance to an old cellar.

"This probably connects to the cellar entrance at the tower." She whispers. "We charge in one, she bolts out the other."

"Pincer attack?" Lea asks.

Peri nods. "Who do you want where, Ssen? Moment we go inside, she'll know we're there. No chance she won't, if she's being this methodical."

>>25424951
Lamia heat vision time. Where is she in the tower? Any postural clues as to what she's doing currently?

>>25424925
Why do we need information out of her so pressingly? She's already told us the most important bit by... being a phoenix empire spy. The rest could be fabricated and is unreliable, even under torture.

I propose we get her in a dark room and use our auxillary senses along with yes/no questions to catch her in lies. Sort of like a fantasy polygraph.

>>25424988
We still have to take her out.

>>25424988
There is also....Uncle....

>>25424951
I say we set up an ambush here at the cellar entrance, then go in by ourselves through the tower, or maybe with Tricia.

We could pretend to be reminiscing about the tower when we "run into her", and she bolts straight into Mage, Lea, and Mari/Peri.

>>25425014
true enough.
>>25424951
"A pincer attack it is, then. Mage and Lea, go block off the tower exit. Go with them, Tricia, and try to find a third outlet if you can.

Peri, you'll come with me down into this entrance. I'd like to see how your style of hunt goes."

>>25424951
Ssen and Tricia should charge in the front door to flush her out. Sideways should already know who they are since they were from River's Crossing. Mage, Peri and Lea will ambush her from the cellar entrance.

>>25424988
Good cop bad cop with uncle Julian.

Since we can smell lies, it becomes doubly effective.

>>25425069
>>25425051
we could switch the party destinations I said, if you like.

I was just being bold and decisive. The specifics don't really matter here, the plan remains the same.

>>25425089
More like...Good cop who can melt your bones if you lie, Bad cop who beats the ever last piss out of you, then excecutes you

>>25425089
"I'll be back once you start taking things a little more seriously. Julian? Why don't you make our guest feel more at home?"

>>25425089
Interrogation: The most fucked up family bonding exercise ever!

>>25425089
We didn't smell that steaming pile of bullshit she served up last time. I know we always say we can smell lies but we've never actually done it.

>>25425180
wish such things like magic sight, infrared and such were automatic. You'd think they'd be afterall.

>>25425116
>much later
"JULIAN! When I told you to make her feel at home, I meant "make her feel at home"... not "break her hands". For fuck's sake?"

"Red Paladins, what the fuck? I mean, seriously. Anyway, wanna hear this great Leviathan joke I just heard?"

>>25425180
well, do you know how awkward it is to actually smell somebody for lies?

>>25425205
Wait, isn't it supposed to be Good Cop Bad Cop?

Not Bad Cop Leviathan Cop. That falls under cruel and unusual punishment.

>>25425209
Awkward is better than dead. We had good reason to do it when we were questioning her last time and I do remember it being suggested.

"A pincer attack it is, then. Peri, take Mage and Lea, and block off this exit. You're the hunter, we'll be the bait.

Tricia, you'll come with me down the tower entrance."

There's nods, and you all split up.

You enter the tower. "One last sight of your birthplace before you go?" Tricia says, intentionally loudly.

You're on alert for them, so you easily see the tripwire, this one looks a little less 'alarm' and a little more 'trap' as judging by the runes on the jar that's hidden in an alcove, tied to the string.

Yeah, Sideways has covered her bases, but it's more like a kid following a very specific set of instructions. There's no real improvisation or adaptation.

It's pitch black down here, but it doesn't matter. You can see her body heat, and the glow of her dagger in the basement. She's behind a support, out of eyesight, slowly backing away towards the other exit.

>>25425249
Quickquick silent style, bite her and give her the black.

>>25425249
Prepare black poison and claws and quick quick over to her if we can't detect any more traps

>>25425233
>Bad cop Leviathan cop

Jesus Christ How Horrifying

>>25425205
>much, much later
"Julian... I swear, we need to talk about your strange sense of hospitality. The thumbscrews go on the LEFT, Julian. The LEFT."

"Feral child, you know. Raised by wolves. True story."

>>25425249
Loudly: Yep. That's strange, I smell the new blacksmith.

>>25425249
Pointedly slither around the tripwire. Or over it. If we can actually go over impediments in our path without touching them, I am unaware.

"Well, I've got a lot of memories here. The place is covered with little hiding spots, you know- I found all sorts of 'em."

Good tower talk. We don't really remember much about this place, I don't think.

>>25425311
Say it in phoenix tongue, it clearly scares her.

>>25425249
She's scared of you. Good. Now think dragony thoughts and intimidate her. Also point her out to Tricia to swarm with insects so she won't notice the ambush at the other end.

"Little bird, little bird. Did you know I was born here. Did you know I played here as a child? I know this place. I see all your traps. Little bird, little bird. I know where you are."

>>25425302
>>25425289

now now, she's slowly sneaking away and we are at walking pace.

we can easily close half a room of space before she makes a break for it, making our quick-quick attempt much easier.

>>25425335
>>25425311
Combine in phoenix tongue

>>25425302
Or "Strange, this place didn't used to smell like coals."

I'd also prefer to try and stop her before she gets out, because we forgot to mention she has an enchanted dagger.

>>25425327
aren't we trying to do that cool thing where we play like we aren't actually hunting her until out semi-cover is blown?

or do I misunderstand?

>>25425335
{Did you ever think whose nest this place once was, you delicious little nitwit?}

>>25425311

Second.

>>25425356
She knows we're here, this talk is to scare her. She's low enough so the noble tongue scares her and the PE people are already scared of snakes in general

>>25425338
Let's not hastily charge half a room to get at an opponent with a penchant for tripwires and traps.

>>25425335
This but add some creepiness to psyche her out.

"{Foolish little mockingbird copying the ssssongs of othersssss. Never ssssuspecting it had flown ssstraight into the ssserpents lair.}"

>>25425311

You know, I think I like this better.

>>25425350
>>25425327
tricia doesn't know phoenix tongue.

She would miss the subtleties of the dialogue.

>>25425416
We'll tell her later, the talk is for miss sideways

don't say it in phoenix tongue that will just give the game away.

>>25425451
yeah, why are you guys giving the game away?

we're not going to do that until she makes a break for it. THEN we give the game away.

>>25425451
She's backing away to the other exit, she knows we're here.

>>25425478
yes. but she doesn't know we're hunting her, or she would be running already.

A minor detail that means the difference between a chase scene and an ambush scene.

>>25425478
But she doesn't know for certain that WE know SHE'S there.

>>25425478
>>25425493
>>25425502
Spygames.

She knows, but doesn't know if we know she knows.

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>MFW reading thread yesterday via foolz from work and not being able to yell to arrest the spy/assasin when you still had her wrapped

>>25425528
Try being there and being one of the ones who trusted her.

It felt really bad.

>>25425515
>>25425502
>>25425493
Can't we wave Tricia to go to the far end of the exit Sideways is making for? Lock the place down?

>>25425515
And if she never knows we know she won't be expecting the ambush because we clearly don't know. Or so she thought.

"A lot of memories here. I was playing hide and seek with my sisters when Liam came... I think I was hiding somewhere in this direction. It was probably the reason I survived."

And then we slither towards the Spy's position.

>>25425548
>>25425528
I argued for the trusting of her.

I'll argue for the trusting of the next spy.

But next time, I'm going to do that arguing while we have peri right there, telling me why I'm dumb.

Learning and friendship!

>>25425577
Peri is to be with us every time we meet someone new.

For now and forever.

>>25425570
>>25425577
I say once we capture Sideways, we point out to her that we did suspect she was a spy, and chose to trust her anyway. The mistake was not ours for trusting, but hers for choosing to betray. The evidence of it? Well, by then she'll be the one in ropes with a blade at her throat.

{Little bird, little bird. Did you ever think whose nest this place once was, you delicious little nitwit?}

{Did you know I was born here. Did you know I played here as a child? I know this place. I see all your traps. Little bird, little bird. I know where you are.}

{Foolish little mockingbird copying the ssssongs of othersssss. Never ssssuspecting it had flown ssstraight into the ssserpents lair.}

You say-sing in the Phoenix Tongue.

Heartbeat excellerates, you smell sweat...and just a little urine.

Still she keeps heading towards the back exit, she's focused on you though, you can see her stance and face are looking straight at you.

Which is why she doesn't see Lea right behind her, and how she's able to put her lights out so easily.

"Got her!" Lea says.

>it turns out your safehouse is the childhood playground of your enemy
I don't have a single picture in my extensive collection to describe how terrible a feeling that must be.

>>25425683
Yay! Time for Lamia Child Quest: Guantanamo Edition.

>>25425699
Evidently pretty terrible.

>>25425683
I feel so much better now.

I told you all she would be terrified of us.

>>25425683
"She has an enchanted blade. Watch for it."

Peri shakes her head. "Wow, she was terrified. What exactly did you SAY to her Ssen?" She shakes her head. "Never mind. I don't want to know...can I see that?" She points at the trap jar you found at the entrance. "Light runes with sound...and a little blast stone inside. Flash bang." She nods. "We just caught a little chick, so to speak. A full grown bird is going to be a pain in our ass."

"Can I be the first to ask the obvious question now?" Mage says. "Why would there be ANY reason for a Phoenix Empire spy to be HERE?"

Peri shrugs. "Would you like the list alphabetically or by severity?" She takes the dagger. "Huh, nice...mine now."

>>25425683
So Ssen is exaggerating all her s's when trying to be intimidating now?

I honestly don't know why we didn't do that from the start.

>>25425762
Good point.

>>25425683
Good. Now for prep time.

She's going to wake up blindfolded and tied up, stuffed in a -very- small box in a pitch dark room.

Not really, unless y'all think going full-on psychological warfare isn't too un-Paladin.

>>25425683
Okay, while that wasn't spygames at all, it was still pretty good.

Though maybe we layed it on a little thick, we're going to have to carry any spy we capture. Try not to make them piss themselves.

"Great work lea! You were out here like a shot, I'm impressed."

"I think I might have over-distracted that one a little, but it should be fine. Are the others behind you? We should get miss Cai Wei secured, and then decide what to do with her. Maybe have julian give his opinion, too."

>>25425765
"The dagger glows when someone speaks in the Noble Tongue {see?} Also I would like say the top 10 worst reason they would be spying here"

>>25425765
"The next step is to change the little chick's paper... she appears to have pissed herself. That's not going to be pleasant to be around while we're interrogating her.

>>25425765
Have mage check it for what the massive does and allows, it could easily slow tracking or worse.

>>25425765
"What, you like those daggers? Great, there goes my easy gift idea. I'll figure out some other way to thank you for your expertise, I suppose."

Try not to get that look on your face you get when you think of terrible plans.

>>25425830
Dagger, fuck you Swype!

>>25425768
We just don't want to be stereotypical

>>25425765
Maybe we should keep her tanq'd via regular doses of black venom so Mumei can be here as an adviser (Or we can take Cai Wei to her.)

>>25425886
Although in this case playing off the stereotype worked.

>>25425768
It works with PE people. As again, they're rather scared of snakes

>>25425768
honestly, it would have been bad for our image and we're embarrassed about a childhood speaking disability.

But we've played it up for jokes before. And sometimes it slips out in other places.

Things to tell her when she wakes up:

"When I was a child, I once swallowed a wolf whole. Of course, I'm a lot bigger now."

>>25425908
naw man, two doses is heart stopping. I imagine repeated doses would have just as lethal an effect. We might have to try old-fationed prisoner transport.

>>25425945
Eh, maybe later. I want to get peri and julian in on this, talk over some strategy.

>>25425818
No it doesn't you just can see the aura. You don't know what it does.

>>25425955
We should probably try kindness & general old-school PoW treatment (not that she is one). Apparently it works quite well, unlike torture.

>>25425765
"So, what are the chances there's something to find here, other than her? It would be too easy for important documents to just be lying around, wouldn't it?"

>>25426060
yeah. Old fashioned reasonable prisoner holding. In this case, probably tying her up, right? That's how you do it? medieval cuffs?

>>25426040
Oh.

Okay then.

>>25425830
>>25426040
Well then maybe mage should CAREFULLY check it first.

>>25426060
I'd sit her down in the back of the wagon and just talk to her. Because honestly, politics isn't our business anyway.

"The next step is to change the little chick's paper... she appears to have pissed herself. That's not going to be pleasant to be around while we're interrogating her." You say. "So, what are the chances there's something to find here, other than her? It would be too easy for important documents to just be lying around, wouldn't it?"

Peri's tying her up, properly, and shakes her head. "Not a chance. But if she's been following her training as strict as she has been, I know a few places to look that might have a few clues. Thought I bet she's probably burnt most of the sensitive stuff. Mage, you carry her."

"Okay." He says. "She's lighter than I thought she'd be." He puts the girl in a fireman's carry.

You all start to head back to River's Crossing.

"Ssen." Lea says. "Are you sure you want to talk to her?" She shifts around, looking uncomfortable. "Maybe...maybe we should leave this to Paladin Graves. He knows how to do this kind of thing, and...well...he's good at it."

>>25426087
Yeah, some rope would be good. And not a simple knot either, more like a full-body rope bondage setup. Something she can't wriggle out of.

>>25426087
>>25426060

Yeah, we should come across simultaneously as both reasonable when cooperated with and horrifically unforgiving when fucked with.

Basically treat her as a PoW and give her all the amenities, whilst making it clear to her that we will peel her like a fucking orange if she lies to us.

>>25426135
You are probably right. Pretty sure if she is newly trained then she doesn't know much. All we'd really want is to know where she is reporting to so we can follow the bread crumbs to a higher placed person. And Julian can do that.

>>25426135
"You don't sound comfortable with Julian's way of doing things. I'd rather do this in as civil a manner as possible."

"Besides, I literally scared the piss out of her. I'm pretty sure I have something of an advantage."

>>25426135
Well we know what Julian will do. Old school torture, and she might come back as a zombie corpse missing a hand. I vote no.

>>25426135
"We have the rare luxury of traveling with my uncle. I'll get him to help us make her talk, since I'm sure his experience is extensive, but that doesn't mean I can't help too."

"I hope."

we've pointedly not looked into WHAT julian does to get information out of people. We might want to check.

We'll try it my way first. I just need to find out what my way is, first.

>>25426135
She is clearly terrified of me, and we know how Julian would handle this. I would like to see if Mumei can help

>>25426193
Something like this, but maybe with a bit about how we wouldn't mind our uncle's input on the matter.

I mean, he's got experience. He's probably got non-torture methods too.

Alternatively... we could get peri in on this.

>>25426290
Why would we not get Peri in on this?

>>25426290
Fair point, but we take the lead.

>>25426290
How about not torturing people, we are a paladin. Julian only did it when he was part of Citadel's army. It's not even like it's that effective.

I think Julian might get a kick out of being good paladin for once.

>>25426355
>>25426356
Like I said, I'm sure julian's WHOLE bag of tricks isn't torture. he'll be helpful. Even as a simple bad-occuli to our good-snake.

>>25426395
I don't think we have a chance of being good snake. She's fucking terrified of us.

>>25426419
okay, we might need to contract out the good position to somebody.

peri?

I'm looking forward to the interrogation.

{You know, little bird? I never told you before, but we lamia can tasste dessssseption... and fear asss well. You tasssste like both.}

And then we flick her cheek with our tongue for good measure.

>>25426419
Scary-but-reasonable snake?

>>25426470
Peri is gonna be on the interrogation team regardless.
>>25426488
Not likely.

>>25426488
Reasonable went out the window when we started singing while hunting for her.

Somebody else needs to be the good cop.

"We do have the rare luxury of traveling with my uncle. I'll get him to help us make her talk, since I'm sure his experience is extensive, but that doesn't mean I can't help too." You say. "Anyway, you don't sound comfortable with Julian's way of doing things. I'd rather do this in as civil a manner as possible.

"Besides, I literally scared the piss out of her. I'm pretty sure I have something of an advantage.

"I hope."

"Me too." Lea says.

Once you reach the village and find Julian, it isn't long before you, he, and Lea are in Alexander's cleared out tool shed. Julian has tied her to a chair. A small window is the only light in the room.

For some reason the only thing Julian has brought in with him is a piece of blank paper.

After a while Sideways rouses herself from Lea's hit. She looks around, struggles with her ropes a bit. Looks at the two of you, then looks around the room. She narrows her eyes.

{Cai Wei Zhu, His Gloriousness' Kingfishers, May His Order Last Forever.} She says calmly.

Julian looks at you for a translation.

>>25426527

"No, your name is Sideways. Everything you do goes that way, so that's your name now."

>>25426527
"Her name, what I assume is her organization, and a salute. The kingfishers?"

>you he and lea

Do you mean Peri?

>>25426527
Why Lea? Also give uncle a direct translation

repeat word for word. Precision is important when dealing with spies.

>>25426527
>julian with blank paper
I am truly interested in his techniques.

"So, I suppose it would be too much to ask the real reason you're out here? It can't be easy, can it?'

>>25426558
Looks like we're gonna be bad cop.

>>25426527
"She's a spy, Julian. The "Glorious Kingfishers". Possibly noteworthy."

"You know, Cai Wei, I've never been fond of this sort of thing. Politics and subterfuge aren't my domain. But when you tried to poison the people I care about, you crossed into my domain. You may not realize it yet, but that will remain the single greatest misfortune in your life."

"If you cooperate, I can promise that you will be well-treated. If you don't... well, you can fill in that part."

"What do you say?"

Not that I expect her to cooperate, I'd just be curious what she does with the offer. It gives us more of a place to start than just her name and affiliation.

>>25426527
Uh, Peri did check she hasn't got a cyanide tooth equivalent, right? I know suicide is against their religion but the way she said that makes me feel uneasy.

>>25426558
This.

>>25426660
We're probably her suicide pill. Death by snake = guaranteed good reincarnation. be on guard for her trying to goad us

>>25426660
She was situated in here. Not likely that high a profile a location, nor is she that high up.

She likely doesn't have orders to self-terminate or the means to do so when captured

>>25426652
I'd be okay with this if we were going "good cop", but in any event maybe getting uncomfortably close to her would be a plan as well? We scare her, so being close physically and making her uncomfortable should throw her off her spy game.

>>25426652
I like thissun. Gives a good explanation of why she is in a bad situation without being crass.

"She's a spy, Julian. The "Glorious Kingfishers". Possibly noteworthy.

"You know, Cai Wei, I've never been fond of this sort of thing. Politics and subterfuge aren't my domain. But when you tried to poison the people I care about, you crossed into my domain. You may not realize it yet, but that will remain the single greatest misfortune in your life.

"If you cooperate, I can promise that you will be well-treated. If you don't... well, you can fill in that part.

"What do you say?"

{Cai Wei Zhu, His Gloriousness' Kingfishers, May His Order Last Forever.} She repeats.

"Same thing?" Julian asks.

You nod.

"Please roll up her trousers to just below her knee." Julian says.

He looks at Lea. "I find that things like knives and screws and other things like that are crude." He nods. "There's no real need for those things. They cause pain, but they damage the body, and so on. Also, there's the whole talk about pain's use in interrogation." He nods. "I agree, but I have to admit...it has its uses. You just have to be aware of how to get the most out of it, with the least amount of damage."

He gently takes the piece of paper, crisp and new, against the back of Cai's leg. "And like so..." He slides the paper's edge across her flesh.

Cai's neck muscles tense.

He pulls the paper away, and there's not a drop of blood on it. "See? Minimal damage."

>>25427080
Paper cuts... The monster

>>25427080
>infinite papercutworks
Oh god julian you are a master of torture I am wincing so hard right now.

>>25427080
I have no words...as long as the bastard doesn't bring out the lemons the spy may no die from it

oh dear god thats wonderful.

and horrible.

>>25427080
I'm sorry echo but i really can't take paper cuts as a serious interrogation technique.

>>25427117
>>25427120

Not even a cut. No blood, whatsoever.

>>25427080
I'm scared now

>>25427144
how about a thousand of them?

>>25427144
have you ever been cut by fucking paper? By how much it stings? Its like the Chinese water torture. A drop of water may not seem like much, but it can ware a person down

>>25427144
You know that space between your toes...

>>25427186
didn't they do this once on jackass? One of the movies? Grown mean crying like children. -shudder-

"Do you have anything to say?" Julian asks.

{Cai Wei Zhu, His Gloriousness' Kingfishers, May His Order Last Forever.} She repeats.

"Very well." He sighs. "Lea please firmly hold her head. Ssen, hold her left eyelid open." He holds the piece of paper at Cai's eye level. "I have little patience and a large crowd of refugees."

>>25427080
Stare at Julian in horror.

>>25427213
I......I think this may actually make me sick

>>25427213
Fuck echo why!

>>25427213
do it
>>25427231
don't do this. We always knew he dealt in torture.

>>25427144

It's more like applying sensations to areas where there are known bundles of nerves to feel it, I'm guessing.

Kind of like kidney stones.

>>25427213
Join lea in a look of horror.

Julian please don't go through with this.

We should maybe say something.

>>25427213
Isn't that a bit much?

File: 1371180333949.gif-(2.92 MB, 315x200, 1366942204396.gif)

2.92 MB GIF

>>25427213

>>25427231
>>25427239
>>25427241
Eye horror on the other hand is very effective at making people sweat.

>Julian folds the paper into a triangle
>flicks it into her eye

>"TOUCHDOWN!!!"

>>25427165
In all honesty, he's right. Paper cuts hurt, but probably not enough to make an effective torture method. After a while you would tune it out.

I've repeatedly lanced myself in the fingers and thumb to acquire blood samples for testing. It hurts at first but it becomes ignorable after a while. Please note, that this involves a metal shard a mm or so across lancing into your flesh a few mm deep so as to draw a few micro litres of blood. Hurts far more than a paper cut does and I've done it to myself all afternoon.

>>25427213
"Just give us a statement girl, can't you see he's a professional?"

>>25427277
I laughed

>>25427213

Do it. He's psyching her out.

>>25427213
"Are you really going to..."

>>25427282
If I was less lazy, I would link you some studies about the difference in pain experienced in the exact same stimuli depending on whether it was viewed as intentional harm or not.

But I am lazy.

>>25427080
"I can tell that hurt you, Sideways."

{And you know why? Because I can sssmell it. I can tasssste your fear, I can tasssste your pain. You don't have to put on a ssstrong face for me, sssspy. I could even ssssmell it when you pissssed yourself back in the tower.}

{You fear me, little bird, and rightfully sssso. Because I am poissson incarnate... and a paper cut is a sssweet, sssweet mersssy compared to my wrath.}

"Please answer the question I asked when we first met: why are you in River's Crossing."

Bonus points for tongue-flicking during the phoenix-tongue portion.

>>25427315
a single drop of clear on the spot where she recieved the paper cut would punctuate this perfectely.

>>25427315
We need this

>>25427249
We may be able to butt in with something along the lines of >>25427315

Because fuck having one "good paladin". We have one who's perfectly willing to papercut your eyeball, and one who can threaten worse but wants to give you a chance to speak.

I'd be terrified enough to talk.

>>25427315
So now we've got bad cop and absolutely fucking terrifying cop.

Our stone is clear, not red.

We should go with
>>25427315
But we should be ready to quick quick the paper away if it looks like Julian will actually follow through with it.

>>25427283
Cai just stares at the piece of paper in Julian's hand. She looks at you and Lea.

Lea slightly shakes her head no.

"Lea." He says. "In this room, I am a senior Paladin, and you are an Occuli. I gave you an order."

Lea, slowly, slightly shaking, firmly grips Cai's hear and tilts it back.

"I can tell that hurt you, Sideways." You say.

{And you know why? Because I can sssmell it. I can tasssste your fear, I can tasssste your pain. You don't have to put on a ssstrong face for me, sssspy. I could even ssssmell it when you pissssed yourself back in the tower.}

You flick your tongue out so that it lightly touches her chin. She tries to recoil at the touch of it.

{You fear me, little bird, and rightfully sssso. Because I am poissson incarnate...and a paper cut is a sssweet, sssweet mersssy compared to my wrath.}

"Please answer the question I asked when we first met: why are you in River's Crossing?" You hiss, a drop of poison dripping from your fangs.

"Please...don't let them." She whispers to Lea.

She just shakes her head.

"Recon orders." She gasps.

>>25427360
Given that we aren't actually planning on following through with those threats, it could work fine. I think it's probably the only way we're actually going to get anything out of her, and momentary terror is more lenient than prolonged torture.

>>25427360
And we're preventing Julian from cutting her eyeball by capitalizing on a fear she already has of us.

I think it's a fair trade. Spares her the pain and gives her a way out. Certainly seems better than simply holding her eye open while Julian goes to town.

>>25427370
>inb4 [-50 LEA POINTS]

Oh man, we're totally being a dragon today.

>>25427409
We are saving this spy from being tortured. Being a dragon would be killing her and sending her bits back to PE with a note to try harder next time.

>>25427370
I think this is the darkest thing we've ever done.

>>25427446
watching tragedy melt was probably the darkest actually. In the end its just words.

>>25427370
Time for a sudden change of tone.

"See? That wasn't so hard. Julian, please give her some space. Lea, if you would be so kind as to release her hair... maybe find us some tea."

"Regardless of what you may think, I'm no monster. If you cooperate, you might even be surprised at my hospitality. But I think you may also realize now that I do not take threats against my loved ones or the Kingdom I serve lightly."

"Please clarify: what is the exact purpose of your recon mission here? What will your reports be used for?"

>>25427464
Oh yeah, I forgot about that.

...time for radical self examination.

>>25427409
Talk with her later. Mention how we are glad that sideways did not call our bluff.

>>25427370
"See? Now we have a dialogue going on, was that so bad? Go on, tell your story. Now that we're talking, we can be much more reasonable. Did you find anything interesting, on your mission?"

After we get her talking about less important things, we can move onto more important "who sent you, where do they live" questions.

>>25427464
I remember us using the clear on Tradgedy in honor of Robin's last wish, but then wussing out and ending it early.

>>25427480
>>25427496
yes.

Immediate gearshift to niceguy mode. You cooperate, things go well for you. That's how it works.

>>25427497
>ending it early
What do you mean? We literally waited until his entire body had melted. That is as far as the poison would have gone, since the mask protected his face/head.

We waited until the end.

>>25427480
Also, I think a chat with Julian about ordering around Occuli of OUR order would not be amiss, assuming he wasn't doing it primarily for show.

Same goes for Lea. I'd hate to leave her thinking that we were on board with further torture. Maybe a quick gesture of relief towards her?

>>25427514
Good plan. Leviathan plan.

Throw her off balance by pulling a complete 180.

>>25427557
We can explain things later. Saving a chick from torture is worth going into ssscary mode.

>>25427464
Yeah but Tragedy was like, the biggest dick. That, and we promised Robin we would. It was justice.

"See? That wasn't so hard. Julian, please give her some space." You say. "Now that we're talking we can be much more reasonable."

Julian steps back.

"Regardless of what you may think, I'm no monster. If you cooperate, you might even be surprised at my hospitality. But I think you may also realize now that I do not take threats against my loved ones or the Kingdom I serve lightly."

"Please clarify: what is the exact purpose of your recon mission here? What will your reports be used for?"

You smile at her and it just seems to distress her more. She's hyperventilating and crying.

"Speak." Julian says.

Cai shakes her head, tears running down her face. "I don't know. Ryoushi Ting Shou takes what we see and write, and tells us nothing. I swear!" She sobs. "Please...please don't eat me. I was just told to tell what I saw."

>>25427585
But I'd still give some clear indication to Lea that we were as uncomfortable with the physical torture NOW rather than let her stew over it.

Because we owe her as much.

>>25427604
>Torture
>Justice

Maybe if you're a red.

>>25427613
"Why did you try to poison us?"

>>25427613
What have you reported?

Where can I find Ryoushi Ting Shou or the one who you report to?

I will also need a copy of your ciphers.

>>25427652
Rookie mistake. We frightened her because we are a snake who can sing. She wanted us dead because we frightened her.

>>25427613
"Pray tell, what, exactly, did you see?

Be *very* specific."

>>25427613
Eat you? I don't eat people, Light no. Lea, get her a blanket and some hot tea. Here, let me get you out of those ropes and you can tell me all about it...

remember to watch for lies. We should be able to tell through both heartbeat and scent when she does.

>>25427613
"Settle, settle, you won't be eaten. That's not how we do things."

"Tell me- how does the poison factor into your mission? Where did your supply of the stuff come from?"

I hope that by tracking the poison, we can find more spies. She won't know where her commander is, but she will know where she gets her supplies. right?

>>25427624
At the end of the day justice is just a word. Defined so as to in part legitimise vengeance. Whether personal vengeance, or societal vengeance upon one that society views has wronged it by breaking the arbitrary rules enforced by that society.

>>25427685
No, don't confirm or deny we will eat her. Inform her that we did eat a wolf before when we were younger and smaller. Her uncertainty may give us more information

>>25427685
I support a blanket and a kettle of tea.

Untying her, well, maybe just the arms. Until we move her.

>>25427613
Hand on her shoulder, and try to taste for deception.

"That makes sense. This isn't exactly a glory posting, and your uninspired clinging to standard protocols certainly suggests you were never highly placed."

"Thank you for cooperating thus far. If you'll excuse me, I think I need to have a chat with my colleagues here."

Then we should tell Julian quietly to remain backed-off unless she tries something stupid, and Lea that she doesn't need to follow orders of a Paladin who is not in her Order when they conflict with OUR Order's values.

I want to see her reaction when she sees us give Tricia a kiss.

>>25427613
>>25427690
yes. Remember to watch for lies. She's panicking right now, which might make it more difficult because of all the fear-smell, but we can try it.

>>25427613
Gonna also ask to check for lies

>>25427613
"Why did you try and poison me?"

"What have you reported?" You ask.

She shakes her head. "Nothing. Just...just merchant movements and your presence. I swear. Nothing happens here."

"Where can I find Ryoushi Ting Shou or the one who you report to?" You ask.

She shakes her head. "I do not know. The Kingfisher never tells his flock where he roosts."

"I will also need a copy of your ciphers." You say.

"No. I can't. I won't." She shakes her head.

"Tell me- how does the poison factor into your mission? Where did your supply of the stuff come from?"

She shakes her head again. "Please, please, I can't. They are my clutch, I cannot." She sobs. "We tell each other as little as possible. Just for this purpose. I swear, I swear!"

Julian just tilts the piece of paper so that it hits the light in the shed. She quivers. "Please. {Kingfishers are of silence and secrets...I cannot...or I would just as well throw myself into your jaws now!}

how much of a gambit would it be to guarantee her protection if she fesses up?

we might as well take this chance to ask her what she thinks of nobility in her land.

god I wish mumei was here.

>>25427616
We tell her as soon as we can. Which is not now. We got the spy talking without torture by using the threat of it instead, let's not ruin it by risking letting a hint drop that we were bluffing.

>>25427786
I say we go lenient. It is very true that spies don't tell each other much, but she IS hiding some things from us.

We should offer her protection as a prisoner of a paladin. We've done it to worse assholes before, and this one actually might help us.

>>25427786
Clutch? Was she raised to be a spy from birth?

Such is life in Phoenix, I guess. We'll put that on our list of things to fix.

>>25427786
Would you rather I bite you? One of my poisons will melt your bones. Your skeleton will soften until I can easily swallow you. Another will melt your flesh. It smokes a bit when it does and the smell it quite pleasant to me. But others have told me it is less so. The third will make you unable to move anything but your eyes. You will not even be able to scream.

>>25427786
Paladin custody time. We take her to Stone Hall.

>>25427833
Let's not.

I agree with >>25427828

>>25427832
You mean break?

>>25427786
{You needn't worry about the kingfishers. You are in the hands of the serpent now- you can talk as you will, and you'll live as long as I wish it.}

Which is entirely true. We just happen to wish her to live the rest of her natural life.

>>25427832
>>25427869
now you're just arguing semantics

>>25427786
"Then for now, I think that will be enough. Everything you're telling me makes perfect sense, spy-wise. But I hope you understand my current dilemma. You see, I'm not going to eat you, and as Caligo Clarus I can't in good conscience turn you over to the office-supply nightmare over here, I can't simply let you go, and I can't spend too much more time lingering around here watching your every move."

"No, I'm afraid you'll have to come along with us to Stone Hall. Maybe along the way you'll start to see the big picture. I have this tendency to win people over once they get to know me."

>>25427870
I like this

>>25427786
That's enough. We put her in a cage and bring her with us to Stone Hall.

Also, I doubt if there's going to be a reply for Sideways, but if it does happen, I want Alexander warned of it and for him to send it to Stone Hall

>>25427883
>>25427870
>whynotboth.jpg

File: 1371182699653.jpg-(9 KB, 208x208, whynotboth.jpg)

9 KB JPG

>>25427910
Looking for this?

>>25427869
Well, yes. Break it to replace it with something better.

>>25427870
Surely she is in the "coils" of the serpent? I mean, we have hands, but most snakes don't.

>>25427883
I feel like that last sentence is a bit much, but otherwise that's a good closer.

>>25427932
yes. coils.

guys we aren't going to win this one over through the power of friendship. I bet from her words she was raised since birth. She is scared now but give her time she will recover and her loyalty will be to the kingfishers.

>>25427932
The only one who gets to be in the coils of the serpent is Tricia.

And the last sentence is kind of true, you know. Except the Dramatae and those who are particularly Citadel-washed, who HASN'T eventually figured out that we're a fundamentally decent person?

>>25427961
Mumei might change things

>>25427961
>>25427974
see. she'll still be our enemy.

But with luck, she'll be our FRENEMY.

>>25427961
Which is why we keep her with us for now. Either she comes over to our side, or she goes back to being a potential threat and we'd need to deal with her later anyway.

"Then for now, I think that will be enough. Everything you're telling me makes perfect sense, spy-wise. But I hope you understand my current dilemma. You see, I'm not going to eat you, and as Caligo Clarus I can't in good conscience turn you over to my nightmare of an Uncle, over here. I can't simply let you go, and I can't spend too much more time lingering around here watching your every move."

"No, I'm afraid you'll have to come along with us to Stone Hall. Maybe along the way you'll start to see the big picture. I have this tendency to win people over once they get to know me."

{You also needn't worry about the kingfishers. You are in the hands of the serpent now- you can talk as you will, and you'll live as long as I wish it.} You say.

"You can't take her with you, Ssen." Julian says. "She needs to be taken to Grand...oh...huh." Julian frowns then he nods. "Fine, but she doesn't leave my sight. I'm the most senior Red, and the only Red Paladin. She's my responsibility." He smiles at her, and then carefully folds his piece of paper and puts in in a pocket. He pats it gently. "I promise that I won't do anything without you here...I'd never deprive my niece of a meal."

>>25427961
Until we set her up on a surprise date with Mage. Because he hasn't had enough crazy romantic partners yet (though honestly, after HIS and Maxine, a foreign spy is practically tame).

>>25427972
I'm not disagreeing with it -- I just think we shouldn't say it. I feel like telling her up front that she's going to end up siding with us might be counter-productive.

>>25428000
(Obviously I'm a little late, and we did say it after all, but I think my reasoning was sound.)

>>25428000
Just slither away. Don't even dignify that with a response.

>>25428000
I guess torture time is over then, smile for Uncle I guess.

A thought: If the citadel is no longer influencing the world enough to fuck with our dice, who else can we curse aside from the /tg/ dice?

>>25428000
"Glad you'll be on guard. Let's get her back to the caravan, then, we've got refugees to move."

Then, when julian departs with her

"Lea, is it normal to have a terrifying uncle? I'd like to have something normal."

>>25428059
fate.
Oh.

Oh wait.

huh.

>>25428059
Phoenix Empire spymasters switching our dice for rigged-to-fail ones.

>>25428059
Isen keeps stealing all our luck. He is clearly too audacious.

>>25428090
Works for me.

>>25428021
You and Lea leave the shed.

Lea exhales and shakes her head when you get out of earshot. "NEVER let me be alone with your uncle again." She shudders. "Thank His Light she's still terrified of you and those threats worked." She smiles at you. "Those were empty threats, right? I assume you don't really want to eat her. Correct?"

Hey guys. Remember that guy who hates us and wants to lead a military force to protect/take back his home?

We could use that. I say we add him to whatever military we eventually train up.

>>25428078
This.

>>25428000
"Uncle, you know people-meat upsets my stomach... that was a joke, little kingfisher. I don't eat people. I need to keep my girlish figure."

"Lea, would you mind letting the others know about our guest? I'd like to prepare for her transport. Maybe a space in the wagon, if we could all still find a way to be relatively comfortable."

>>25428090
SPIES SAPPIN MAH DICE!

>>25428059
land spirits

are the 5th and dragon of shadow lbablablala still kicking?

>>25428059

Fifth, of course. Bastard is still lurking in the wings.

>>25428116
Use these jokes >>25428124

then,
"Lea, I tried eating a live wolf once when I was a child. My instincts just kind of took over. It makes me sick just thinking about it. I probably couldn't eat a person if my life depended on it."

>>25428116
"Of course I don't eat people. I will, however, threaten to eat people if it saves an eyeball or two."

"In a manner completely unrelated to whether I wanted to eat her, I think I'll get some lunch, I'm famished."

Dodge, dodge, dodge the question of whether or not we wanted to eat her. Because we never would, even if we wanted to.

>>25428116
*flick tongue* "I'm supposed to be a paladin remember!"

>>25428127
THE DICE ARE A SPY!

THE TREES ARE ALL SPIES!

THE SPY IS A DOUBLE-AGENT!

>>25428116
"Bleh. No I wouldn't eat her. I'm on a strict non-sentient diet."

>>25428163
nah, those jokes aren't properly timed any more. And lea already knows about the wolf thing, remember the confession? No need to drag out that dead horse.

>>25428116
I would NEVER cheat on Tricia.

I have no regrets

"Lea, you know I need to keep my girlish figure, and human meat disagrees with my stomach." You smile at her. "In all seriousness Lea, I ate a live wolf once when I was a child. My instincts just kind of took over. It makes me sick just thinking about it. I probably couldn't eat a person if my life depended on it."

Lea sighs. "This is the start of it all over again, isn't it? We just have to keep on winning."

>>25428189
"Besides, human flesh tastes HORRIBLE."

>>25428189
Maybe that's why Paladins don't fear death. It means they can stop.

>>25428116
Grimace.

"The idea doesn't really hold much appeal. Only ever ate a wolf before, and that was shockingly unpleasant when all was said and done."

Its going to be even harder. Remember part of Citadel's magic was a small group succeeding in destroying the darkness. When we broke that we broke our safety net.

>>25428189
"But... but...

My day off.

Whhyyyyyyy"

>>25428189
The price for losing is just too high to pay.

>>25428189
"If we have to win, we have to win. Nowhere in the book does it say we can't try to make them win as well, though.

Do you think the downtrodden masses are weary of their iron cage, yet? They might enjoy some time flying on their own."

Ryan's manifestos:

SUDDENLY BECOME WAY IMPORTANT.

>>25428189
"We'll find a way to stop winning without everything falling apart, eventually. We have to."

>>25428229
hahahaha. we just have to find the rebellion.

>>25428189
"Look on the bright side Lea, you have the option to die of old age, I don't unless I personally pop out a kid."

>>25428215
we also gained ourselves a bit of time.

Let's build a new safety net. One made of economics, military support, and alliance.

>>25428241
Ssen:

Be a paladin literally forever. Because of some stupid vows you took when you were a teenager.

Do you guys think we could get any personel in Stone Hall for counter intelligence?

is granny still gonna be holed up now that the dramatae are gone? It'd be nice to have a strong guardian for Stone Hall

>>25428264
granny's already known to the nobles of stone hall, she was in the last meeting.

She'll stay holed up in living style though, because that's just comfortable.

"We'll find a way to stop winning without everything falling apart, eventually. We have to." You say. "But if we have to win, we have to win. Nowhere in the book does it say we can't try to make them win as well, though.

"Do you think the downtrodden masses are weary of their iron cage, yet? They might enjoy some time flying on their own."

Lea nods. "Maybe, but they're across the sea in the Empire, and we're here. Let's not put the wagon in front of the carnivore horse with the flaming mane."

>>25428279
After these messages, we'll be right back.

>>25428279
because it'll eat everyone in the cart, and then catch the cart of fire

>>25428279
It was just a thought. I wonder how hard it'd be to get Ryan's Manifesto printed over in the Pheonix Empire.

>>25428285
ah, wonderful, see you soon echo. I needed a stretch.

>>25428289
We should really consider giving nightmare some sort of being-less-evil training.

>>25428279
"We should get ready to move. Let the rest of our group know, I'll see what's holding up Julian and the spy."

>>25428293
I'm pretty sure being a well over half ton snake lady does wonders for negotiating publications.

We just got our bluff-revenge

She bluffed us, and we bluffed her right back.