Your journey North to contact the Orc Tribes and hopefully convince them to fight the Phoenix Empire with the United Free Kingdoms has stared off in a fairly typical way for the Dawnchasers.

Craziness, Danger, Mass Property Damage, and Contact With Horribleness That Dwarfs Imagination.

You slowly made your way through the Northern Woods, where apparently some short-sighted Druids had turned the place into a deathtrap. You found their dwelling, and discovered that it had been dominated by a strange type of Ice. The Ice had also apparently changed the Druids into something else.

You also discovered in the basement, an Orc who was in the middle of a battle with one of the former druids. You helped him dispatch the once-human thing. The orc showed little gratitude, but was willing to show you the way to his tribe.

His name is Tisgut and he is a scout for the Red Wolf tribe. A tribe that dedicates themselves to crushing the threat the Ice poses to the other Orc Tribes. A tribe that the other Orcs turn to for rituals and judgement. A tribe that lives out past the Tundra, upon the Ice.

>>25875441
Also, I saw this mentioned upon the Quest General boards. Someone wants to do a synopsis of the quest. By all means, go ahead, and you can reach me at the email that's included in this post for any feedback you'd like.

Woo, lamia quest! Great way to spend a muggy sunday afternoon.
>>25875461
Oh, yeah, I was thinking about doing a summary. I guess I'll work on that.

Aww yeah Lamia quest, this sunday is awesome as hell.

>>25875688
I think I'm going to get snacks in this writing-lull. Also, what do you think of using piles of clocks to weaken citadel's influence long enough to break through their wall with high explosives?

>>25875732
I think clocks only really work with people. Citadel seems to work by disconnecting people from reality, clocks are pure mechanic and can't really be corrupted it seems. That or it's the rhythm of ticking or something equally babblish.


Also I got a burger so I'm good on snacks

>>25875441
Lightmare makes his way through the increasingly frigid woods. Tisgut says nothing, save for occasionally gesturing for Lea to adjust your path.

After a bit he holds up his hand. "Late. Make camp."

"It's not that late." Mage says looking at the sky. It's early evening, 4:30pm 5 tops. You've still got at least two more hours of solid sunlight.

"Reach plains during night. Crossing plains by night death. Wind, animals, and the *Orc Word* that we miss." He has pointed to his steel charm when he said that word.

There's little argument from the others as Lea pulls Lightmare to a stop and you begin to make camp.

You make a fire, and Mage puts together a simple travel stew. (He adds the meat base after he's taken out a portion for himself.

You empty the pot and fill all your bowls. Including one for your guest, and all sit down and start to eat. Tisgut bolts his food down quickly. Not a surprise, seeing as how long he was likely trapped in the Druid's cellar.

Then he looks up and looks around at everyone. Then he gets up and walks over to Tricia and grabs her bowl.

"Hey!" She says.

Tisgut says nothing but goes back to his seat and continues to eat. He has a rather calm look on his face, like he's just asked Tricia to pass the salt.

Tricia looks at you, fuming with anger.

>>25875859
Snatch it from him and start eating it.

>>25875732
That'd probably need a fuckton of clocks. More clocks than there are in the country. That's like trying to overload the Yangtze river with piss and doing it one bottle at a time or breaking into Fort Knox with a nail file.

oh joy dominance plays. When we can we should tell Tricia if he tries that again sting his hands with her bugs.

>>25875859
"You're gonna have to do something about it yourself. Individuality remember?"

>>25875879
no
Trica has to stand up herself. If we defend her, she will be seen as weak
Encourage her to defend herself

>>25875922
>>25875920
Seconding these

You guys think Orcs just go by a "If you want to do it, do it, if they have a problem with it, they'll stop you" sort of thing going on?

Its like Russians and their bluntness.

>>25875920
Add on. "Remember your strengths aren't his. Don't use his but yours. I don't paticularily care if he suffers from bugbites."

>>25875859
Interesting that he saw Tricia as the weakest/easiest target.

>>25876033
He won't after bug hell.

>>25876033
Mage is magic, Lea has proven she won't budge on certain things. Mari\Peri are probably the only other ones that look even remotely 'weak' but yeah Tricia is definately our least imposing member.

Until she strips her flesh from her bones and sets her hordes upon you.

>>25875859
"Just eat it anyway Tricia. If he wants to give up on table manners, you can too. You've certainly got more mouths."


If this isn't good, sorry, I just had to tackle a goddamn dog who ran away. Little shit thought it could get away from me.

>>25876078
Unless, you know, he flips the fuck out and tries to kill the apparently undead skeleton bug-woman, a not undeserved reaction

>>25876078
We decapitated that druid thing and we're fuckhuge compared to him.

>>25876120
On second thought, this guy has the best idea.

I want to see it happen

"You're gonna have to do something about it yourself. Individuality remember?" You say quietly. "Remember your strengths aren't his. Don't use his but yours. I don't paticularily care if he suffers from bugbites."

Tricia frowns and gets up. "You're sleeping alone until you make this up to me." He mutters. "HEY! PIGFACE!" She shouts and stomps over to Tisgut.

She whips out her hand, this time she's changed it into a large pincer and has it around Tisgut's throat.

She pulls the bowl of stew back out from the orc's hand. She withdraws her claw and gives him a warning snap. Then goes back to her new seat, which is not next to you and eats.

Tisgut looks up. Peri has drawn a blade, Mage has his staff glow and Lea just glares.

Tisgut shrugs and gets up and heads off into the woods.

"Uh...dId I go too far?" Tricia asks.

>>25876218
"No, no, you did fine. I'm sorry Trish, but it wouldn't have done anything if I interfered."

>>25876218
Honestly I'm not sure. I don't think so though. Maybe he is going to get something to contribute to the larder. Apparently his tribe is about working together as well as individual strengths. Pick on the weak yes. But don't damage the strong.

>>25876218
"The insult may have been a bit much, but really making me sleep alone?"

(captcha: scales hefaov)

>>25876218
"Not too much, no. Though it would have been humorous if you ate it out from under him. I think he's gone out to find food of his own. Maybe I should tail him, to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble?"

Walk right into any tail jokes your teammates have been saving.

>>25876284
>But really, making me sleep alone?
Tricia's a harsh gal.

>>25876279
adding onto this, maybe we should have a bowl ready for him when he gets back with some food?

>>25876321
It seems to be that we've somehow ended up as the the proverbial pants wearer despite our inability to wear pants.

Getting sent to the couch and everything.

>>25876355
it's because you guys all booed me down when I suggested we get a pretty bow.

"No, no, you did fine. I'm sorry Trish, but it wouldn't have done anything if I interfered." You say. "The insult may have been a bit much. Maybe he is going to get something to contribute to the larder. Apparently his tribe is about working together as well as individual strengths. Pick on the weak yes. But don't damage the strong.

"Though it would have been humorous if you ate it out from under him. Maybe I should tail him, to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble?"

"When my swarm eats, my own stomach is still empty." Tricia says. "It just means they can lay more eggs and I have more to work with. I still get hungry."

Mage snickers a little at the 'tail' comment, but says nothing. He looks at Mari/Peri.

"Too easy." They say.

Tisgut returns after about ten minutes. He has a squirming rabbit in his hand. He grabs the mostly empty stew pot, pours a little clean water in it, and then snaps the rabbit's neck and tosses it into the pot.

Lea frowns. "Fur and all?"

"Best part." Tisgut says. He waits a little bit and then reaches into the boiling water and takes out the rabbit, plops it into his bowl and goes back to his seat where he eats the entire thing, using his knife and fork.

"I will never comment on your eating habits again, Ssen." Peri says.

>>25876425
"Best part, you say?"
Seriously consider this for a moment.

>>25876425
flick your tongue at Peri

>>25876425
"Tisgut, I'm confused. How does food work for your tribe? If a hunter brings back too much for him to eat on his own, what happens to the rest?"

I want to find out how the hell we can give tisgut food without him taking it from us. This might be the key.

>>25876453
Seconded.

>>25876453
>>25876517
But wouldn't it get caught in the teeth?

>>25876629
... we're a snake. Our teeth are really only there to inject poison and inflict damage. We swallow our food whole.

>>25876629
Rabbits are kinda small.

We don't even really need to chew

>>25876471
>>25876496

You flick your tongue out at Peri. "Tisgut, I'm confused. How does food work for your tribe? If a hunter brings back too much for him to eat on his own, what happens to the rest?"

Tisgut shrugs. "Hunters told how much to bring back, always enough for all orc to eat. Orc still hungry, orc get more, take from others, or get own." He shrugs. "Maybe get smashed face, maybe get lost and starve, maybe get more food." He shrugs. "Hunter did job."

"What happens if a hunter kills...I dunno...a moose that he can't carry back by himself?" Peri asks.

"Hunter carves what can, returns with what he can, then goes back. Sometimes wolves there. Then orcs eat wolf...or wolf eat orc." He nods. "Moose hard to kill. Usually don't kill moose for food. Skins, maybe...but moose hard to kill."

"Huh." Mage says. "So...what...you're going to just keep taking food from us if your hungry? Even if we feed you?"

Tisgut shakes head. "No. You strong. Tisgut not fight for food, hunt more, easier." He crunches the rabbit's skull between his teeth. "Most orc prefer simple way, fighting hard, sometimes lose food in fight, so orc go get more, or wait for next meal."

>>25876665
"What if the game is scarce, not enough for everyone to hunt down food by themselves?"

>>25876717
then they starve.

>>25876665
>moose hard to kill
Are these special moose, I wonder? I mean, we've crushed a moose or two in our time, I remember.

"Makes some sense, I suppose. Shame about those who get lost, as you say. I think we'll have to fill the pot a bit more next time, it'd be a shame if our guide was the one to wind up disappearing."

>>25876665
I see

"What if the game is scarce, not enough for everyone to hunt down food by themselves?" You ask.

"Then orcs starve. Some leave to go die or find food. Some kill other orcs for food. Some orcs raid other tribe. Then tribe war." He shrugs. "Red Wolf get food tribute. NEVER ask for more than need. Not. Thief." He says. "Much game on ice." He says. "Red Wolf bravest, take it, Red Wolf always have food. Often trade with Boar for *Orc word.* Use for barrier."

"I thought Orcs didn't trade?" Tricia asks. "They just took."

Tisgut shrugs. "Fool to fight. Boar has *orc word,* no need. Red Wolf has much food, much need for *orc word.* Trade is useful, simple. Fool orc fight and fight and fight. Good orc not fight when can do other way. Fight for need, or for Rights...or fun." He nods. "But that different fight."

>>25876856
"What does *orc word* mean?"

What would you trade for langauges? I wish to learn yours.

>>25876856
"I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, a little. Expect many more foolish questions from me in the future."

pause a moment
>>25876880
then thissun.

"What would you trade for langauges? I wish to learn yours." You say.

He shrugs and picks the fur out of his teeth. It looks like he enjoys this activity as much as eating. "Not teacher. Learn yourself. Not stopping."

You roll your eyes. "Fine. What does *orc word* mean?"

He hands you one of his belongings that he took from the Druid when he was leaving. It's a small water skin.

"Do NOT put near fire! Look ONE drop. Precious!" He snaps.

You carefully let one drop of the liquid within it to drop onto your palm. It's a thick black substance that smells to high heaven.

"Looks like tar." Tricia says.

>>25876987
Oil. Black gold.

Ask what they use it for.

>>25876856
"Makes sense. What sort of food can you hunt on the ice?"

>>25876987
"So... what's it do?"

Try to resist the urge to taste it.

>>25877021
Seconding this

>>25876987
"Smells worse than tar"

"So... what's it do?" You ask, tying not to taste it.

Tisgut throws you a spare cloth. And gestures you to wipe your hands. Then he points to the fire and motions you to throw.

You toss it in.

"WHOA!" Mage says as the cloth lights up in an instant and puts off a plume of foul smoke.

Tisgut nods. "Tool for ice. Use in barrier. Long line, always burning, need fuel, that best, also wood, dung, corpse, whatever can get." He shrugs.

"Wait...to protect your tribe and the other Orcs from what's out on the Ice...Red Wolf maintains a giant wall of fire?" Peri asks.

Tisgut nods. "Is one tool. Not ALWAYS lit. Just during Ice Raid."

"A. Giant. Wall. Of. Fire." Tricia says.

Tisgut nods. "Yes. What? Simple thing. Long hole, fill with stuff, light on fire...not hard."

"You made a giant wall of fire." Mage says.

"Not THAT big." Tisgut says.

"But it's still a giant wall of fire." Peri says.

"Yes. Why ask again and again?"

Lea looks at you and mouths 'Giant Wall of Fire?!'

>>25877210
"I expected no less from Mage, but really guys?"

>>25877210
"Seems like a good way to defend against ice creatures."

>>25877210
"Now that's the kind of thinking I can get behind. That's the..."
*tap your head*
"Kind of thing you were talking about earlier? I can see why people would come to your tribe with their problems."

I totally want to ask what their tribe thinks we should do about the empire problem. Once we meet their chief or whoever.

>>25877210
"We must have this technology."

>>25877210
These Orcs are our kind of people! Why bother wasting time and effort on architecture and crap like that, when you can just SET YOUR ENEMIES FIRE!

>>25877383
now now, don't play our hand. Besides, we're not obsessed with technology, we just send interesting samples back to the inventors who ARE obsessed with technology. Then we help traderoutes appear.

"I expected no less from Mage, but really guys? I mean it seems like a good way to defend against ice creatures." You say with a shrug.

"Of course the warped lamia brain loves the idea of a giant wall of fire." Tricia says.

You nod at Tisgut. "Now that's the kind of thinking I can get behind. That's the..." You tap your head. "Kind of thing you were talking about earlier? I can see why people would come to your tribe with their problems."

Tisgut smiles and nods. "Snake woman understands." He finishes his rabbit, tosses the bowl in the pile with the others and heads off.

"Hey!" Peri says. "We're not going to have any issues with you tonight, got it?"

Tisgut waves his hand. "Too skinny, too soft, too pink. Tisgut have standards." He walks off to sleep.

Lea blinks. "Not sure if I should feel relieved or insulted."

>>25877418
"He clearly has terrible taste."

>>25877210
"I like it!"

>>25877418
"I have no comment"

>>25877418
"If you're ever unsure how to take something, it's a compliment. I learned that from a very unwise man.

Anyhoo, I think this lamia is going to take first watch tonight. I'll be cold anyway, if Tricia makes good on her sinister plans."

"I have no comment, but if you're ever unsure how to take something, it's a compliment. I learned that from a very unwise man.

"Anyhoo, I think this lamia is going to take first watch tonight. I'll be cold anyway, if Tricia makes good on her sinister plans." You say.

Your watch is long and slow. The fire isn't warm enough, your modified armor isn't overly warm, and the warmth charms aren't great. All together they kinda work, but you still feel sluggish and miserable.

Also, these woods are very much alive with things. You hear animals and nature sounds, so your hand keeps drifting towards Beacon, for false alarms.

You're also a little concerned about how you found Soma here. You know you brought the Grand Seal Mirrors, but you thought you were quite certain about leaving Soma at the Lighthouse. Then is showed up in Wagon, and no one else acted like it was odd. Did one of the others bring it?

Either way, your watch continues.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 6

>>25877775

Rolled 4

>>25877775
Oh dear soma just appeared didn't it

Just... try not to fall asleep at watch.

Rolled 20

>>25877775
> Soma
well theres something to ask in the morning.

Rolled 1

>>25877820
welp, nat 20 on spotting roll

nice.

And I'm glad that roll didn't count hah.

>>25877820
Ssen 'Hawk-eyes' Patrick

>>25877853
A watch roll could be like a travel roll, determining a random encounter.

>>25877820
>nat 20
NICE
>>25877853
Oh jesus man so lucky that was the fourth roll.

>>25877853
>>25877868
thank god for that.

I think I get the purpose of the Rabbit Hairs now.

Its like chewing gum after you eat.

This Polishes the Teeth after eating.

or I'm completely wrong and to normal non-ork people it would be the equivalent of eating corn-on-the-cob with braces on.

>>25877919
we still have to consider carefully the furs.

We WERE just giving them to folk to make themselves warm.

>>25877919
>eating corn-on-the-cob with braces on.

Nneh

>>25877876
My own personal theory is that we've got quite good vision up close and medium range, but all the extra spectrums and bullshit make long range spotting difficult.

it seems to work pretty well so far.
>>25878103
I assume it's really bad?

>>25877820
That last snap wasn't a wolf.

You look and you see Tisgut walking towards you. "Sword. Now." He says quietly. "More fire."

You rouse the others and give Tisgut one of Peri's spare, non-magical blades. (She's using the pair of Empire Silence Blades she took from Cai and the Crystal Witch.)

You're all up and armed long before you see anything. Also, Tisgut has built up the fire with some logs, and a few drops of that black stuff. The smoke and smell are pretty bad for a minute, but the fire leaps to life quite quickly.

When the thing smashes into the camp, you're ready for it...but at the same time, you're not ready at all.

You were expecting something humanoid, or even reptilian like yourself would have been nice. This thing...is...not.

It's legs are more like long thin points, like tiny icicles, bent and kinked one way or another, you see a few snap off, and new ones jut out and pierce the ground. It's torso is a cylinder of black, frostbitten flesh, from it rip tendrils and legs of the clear Ice. You see little bulbous spheres emerge and sink within the black flesh, a green-yellow glow within them. You realize that those are its eyes.

At the top of the cylinder are heads, two orc, one human, one deer, worn like a demonic necklace, only you can see that the backs of their skulls are fused to the frostbitten flesh. Their eyes are frozen open and their lower jaws are missing, however, their red tongues are not as they hang freely.

Above them all is...you have no idea WHAT kind of species THAT thing is, but it has three empty eye sockets, sideways mandibles, and a long tongue. The tongue is a black thing, long and covered in long little dendrites, it goes along, licks the heads it collects.

"WHAT. IS. THAT?!" Tricia screams as she staggers backwards.

"Dead." Tisgut says.

There's a ripping sound and slowly, two long, arms, made of ice containing that green-yelowish fluid, rip out from the sides of the flesh mass.

You get a free attack.

>>25878260
Kill it kill it kill it

WHO'S IDEA WAS IT TO COME NORTH?

>>25878260
CHOP THAT BITCH IN HALF

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>>25878260
slash off one of the primary arms with beacon. Hopefully that will take longer to grow back.

"Where in the myriad darkness are you supposed to stab this thing?"

>>25878260
Oh god the Ice uses Thing

Right lets do two attacks. Tail whip at on of its load bearing legs and beacon at its center mass.

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>>25878339
Oh yes, we could probably tangle it up good, given how many legs it has. How many sharp, sharp legs.

Though, for the beacon thing, I still say try to remove mass from the main core. You can never fail with removing parts from the zombie.

>>25878339
Seconding

I'm scared to what would have happened if we didn't roll a 20.

Mage totally gonna be MVP if everything here hates fire.

We should probably have fire on second thought, but that's second thought.

So let's use fire if swords don't work.

>>25878260
You know something lets use Beacon on this one. We can impress onto Tisgut the strength of the Light.

>>25878339
You swipe your tail, barbs out at the leg things, as you thrust Beacon at the center of mass.

2d20 +1 to each

Rolled 11, 6 = 17

>>25878504

Rolled 17, 16 = 33

>25878504
We're the ice-slayer!

Rolled 1, 8 = 9

>>25878504

Rolled 2, 4 = 6

>>25878504
Okay, let's see how this goes. I wonder where we're supposed to stab zombie things.

>>25878531
damn

>>25878531
>>25878530
looks like tail strike is flubbed. Beacon might work.

>>25878541
>>25878552
I think that counts as a 2, 9 because of the modifier, so maybe we don't fail that horribly.

Rolled 2, 9, 19 = 30

>>25878530
You swing your tail at the ice things and it smashes into the mass of legs...and you watch in awe as they all but instantly regrow without losing a fraction of balance.

Beacon, however pierces into the mass of flesh. You see steam rising from the would, and black blood pours out of the hole for an instant, before it freezes solid, making it look like a spike's growing out of the thing.

Tricia summons a swarm of wasps from her sleeves. They don't do anything but hang around her. She's got her eyes close and is chanting.

Mage has a hand on her shoulder and is chanting as well. Apparently they're doing something.

Mari is pouring lamp oil over her bolts.

Lea sticks her bandaged hands into the fire and then leaps at the creature with a quick double jab. (Lea will take 1 wound every two rounds, unless a crit fail. This will last for four rounds, then she'll have to get fresh wraps and ignite them again.)

Tisgut pours his black stuff over his sword, and charges at the Ice Thing, running THROUGH the fire, igniting his blade and he swings at the thing.

Rolled 5, 4, 2, 1, 10, 1 = 23

>>25878719
Lea's punches don't seem to do anything, but Tisgut's blade cuts into the ice arms, spraying that green-yellow ichor everywhere, and the once-three-eyed atrophied skull screams in pain.

And you hear other screams answer it...they're coming from within it's mound-of-flesh torso.

Surprise roll over, roll for initiative.

1d10

>>25878719
God damn Tisgut is a badass.

That fucking 19.

Lea however is an idiot

Rolled 1

>>25878759
Time for initiative.

Rolled 7

>>25878759

>>25878787
God fucking damn it what have you done

>>25878787
anon...

>>25878818
>>25878841
And here I thought today would be a good day..

>>25878719
>Tricia summons a swarm of wasps from her sleeves. They don't do anything but hang around her.
Go wasp army! Sting that ice cube to death!

Rolled 9

>>25878759

so we roll a 7 instead of a 9... oh well.

Rolled 4 + 1

>>25878812
Tisgut is a simple person. He knows what to do, light a sword on fire, and then hack away at the thing until it stops moving or he dies. He smashes into that thing with all the fury of the Red Wolf.

>>25878944
His blade bites into dead flesh, harmlessly.

Your turn.

> firehands lea

I.

What.

Well I guess if she saw Tisgut do that shit.

I forget, is magical songs a thing in this world? I remember Lea subbing Bard at one point

>>25878944
Alright we need to aim for living flesh...

pierce with Beacon.

>>25878979
Seconding

>>25878954
Get behind the thing, stab it, and using the spear shove it directly into the fire.

SHOVE! SHOVE AND BULLRUSH!

>>25878979
I agree, we spear with Beacon

>>25878998
...

(I want to see what Tricia and Mage come up with first.)

>>25878998
Yes.

>>25879013
>>25878985
>>25878979

A straight jab with Beacon, hopefully to either rip open something vital, or to get it nearer to the fire.

"Lea, why would you do something so STUPID?!" You shout.

"Working on new technique!" She says.

1d20 +2

>>25879017
it might take two turns to stab and then shove.

>>25878998
If Tricia and Mage weren't planning something already I'd second this thought.

Fuck it, We're all about breaking plans with even more stupid plans.

Rolled 15

>>25879070
"Why do all your techniques look so PAINF-oh"

Rolled 16

>>25879070

Rolled 5 + 2

>>25879070
Redemption attempt.

>>25879119
I'm putting away my dice then....

Rolled 11

>>25879070

>>25879093
I don't get it.

Does lea have no feeling in the rest of her body due to what cups did?

>>25879137
We all have our failures, anon. It wasn't a critical fail or a trio of low rolls, so it's okay.

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>>25879147
no, Lea has... er... Sensibilities.

Also damn you google images for giving me garbage.

>>25879170
I rolled that one on initiative.

>>25879202
You shouldn't compare lashing to burns

I mean I guess theres that melting candles onto a bare body thing but still.

its an entirely different kind of pain

Its like comparing blunt force trauma and internal bleeding to Deep Cuts and Throwing Salt in an Open Wound

different kinds of pains.

then again Echo can roll with whatever he wants

source:being an actual M

>>25879100
Your piercing attack rips into the Ice Thing's deadflesh, you rip it out and expose a large chunk of what's inside, and you really wish you hadn't. There's Ice underneath the deadflesh and inside the ice are three or four of those three-eyed heads. These have more flesh on them and their eyes are not rotted away.

They shriek, their mandibles and lower jaws all opening at once.

- - LET THERE BE I! LET THERE BE US! LET THERE BE ME! WE ARE THAT IS! WE ARE ALL! - -

You hear these words shriek in your mind.

>>25879294
Sorry, to go mid-combat, but after these messages, we'll be right back.

>>25879324
that's fine, deal with your emergency. I had to literally sprint off in the early part of the thread myself.

Ignoring the obvious bad taste, would injecting this bugger with clear and/or white be of any help?

Cus this thing is begging to be bitten

>>25879293
huh, didn't know that. Still, it's the working theory I'm going to be running on, since I can make fun of lea for it later.

>>25879294
stab it some more

>>25879294
Rude!

>>25879364
We can't make fun of Lea for that. You've seen the discussions that happen when Echo is writing/away that involve our sex life.

>>25879361
>Biting the thing
No pls. I do not wish for assimilation.

>>25879361
I hadn't considered that a bite would even do anything to this thing. You think it might?
>>25879294
I'm confused at what this thing even is. It seems to be some kind of solipsistic collective of frozen dead. Or... maybe they're not dead yet, on the inside?

>>25879361
> Us willingly biting this thing

I mean

Claws man.

Or spitting it at it.

I would think due to being horrified at it at first theres no fucking way we want to even risk tasting that thing.

>>25879399
What about spitting then?
>>25879408
I'm not sure, the bones might not be giving it any real rigidity but the ice might have a fun time reacting with the clear.
>>25879418
We got beacon and clang out I think, can't use claws.

Although spikes

>>25879398
Eh, we still could. All it would do is invite her to make fun of us back. Which is all in good fun.

>>25879393
It IS pretty rude. Though, we did sort of start stabbing it on sight because it's some freaky shit.

Next one, we should say "Stay there and don't come any closer if you don't want to fight us". That way, when it jumps us anyhow, we can be certifiably sure they are very rude.

>>25879418
>no way we want to even risk tasting that thing
When you say it like that, you make me want to taste that thing.

>>25879486
Considering our tongue, we already have tasted it.

>>25879418
You missed the biggest issue.

The risk of ice coming into contact with the roots of Ssen's teeth.

>>25879520
oh god

>>25879520
>vulnerable to ice type pokemon
>has never experience icecream headaches or cold teeth before due to lack of refridgeration

Oh god it would be devastating.
>>25879519
Perhaps. I think we're not getting much on the tongue up north, chilly tongues and all.

>>25879444
I recall training quick-sheath or at least quick-unsheath but We probably can go straight into Sheathe -> Claw -> Spit -> Attack anyway.

>>25879519
Poking it with the tips of our tongues isn't the same as letting our tongue simmer in while we sink our teeth into whatever disgusting rotten flesh this thing abomination feels like.

Jesus Christ even thinking about how this must smell is horrifying.

>>25879559
I think it's more that we aren't in the mood unless we find something really warm

>>25879535
She'd be incapacitated for the rest of the fight, and insist on going back and thinking of another plan instead.

Rolled 11

We should spit at the thing. Can't we make explosive spit?

>>25879601
>>25879612
Revised plan: quick sheath and introduce our icey friend to the wonders of chemical brews of death.

>>25879627
it's not explosive, it's just a chlorine compound, we think.

It just exploded earlier because whoopsie-doodles, chemistry happened with the concentrated corpse methane.

>>25879627
I doubt there's enough methane in the thing to react to cloud kill explosively.

Also it occurs to me that we're fighting a monster made of corpses. We need to egg Trisha about this

Rolled 4

Also, I'm not sure why there was surpise that Orcs had trade. They're Objectivist-alikes, of course they have a market and trade.

>>25879675
You know what, that's entirely true. Monster. Made of corpses. Right here. It could only be more perfect if it was a sphere.

>>25879675
>>25879704

Do you guys want to be metaphorically couch'd for even longer?

Then again Ssen does sound like the person who'd take the mindset of "We've already gone too far, lets keep going and find out what happens!"

Speaking of which, whatever happened to crossing over and shoving the abomination-thing into the bonfire?

>>25879697
I'm just trying to figure out how to do trade without making it seem like some kind of charity.

Also, what we could trade them in exchange for military support. Or how to convince them that it's a rights struggle against the phoenix empire, which it kind of is. Though, to be fair, I don't know much about the phoenix. It's almost all second hand reports from a lady who lived there and some of its' spies.

>>25879770
wanna do that next?

Rolled 5

>>25879788

I doubt the Orcs would be much interested in Solidarity. A better appeal would be to their self-interest. Our kingdoms are not interested in expansion right now, and we could make a contract not to expand into Orc territory in the future.

On the other hand, the Pheonix Empire is demonstrably expansionary, and will probably try to conquer the Orcs eventually. It strikes me as a univeralistic empire that feels the need to bring the wonders of taxation to everyone.

So play it as proactive defense against an encroaching state and it could work.

>>25879852
yeah, that's true. They WILL probably expand into orclands, and orcs probably hate even the idea of taxes.

We, on the other hand, will simply offer trade and immigration. Which some would say is more insidious.

>>25879852
Well we have the mirrors. If we sealed away the Ice spirit the Ork tribes would prolly follow us out of gratitude.

Also calling it now Soma is possessed by Peace.

>>25879852
We can also give them some sort of trade agreements with both our kingdom and with the Elves. They would likely be down for the agricultural goods we can provide in exchange for stuff like hides, exotic meats and magic babble stuff. Maybe easier immigration rights.

>>25879910
we'd have to couch it in terms of trade. We help you get rid of the nasty Ice spirit and you help us deal with the army of Pheonix.

>>25879910
>>25879938
>soma possessed by peace
Oh jeez soma why you so scary you were our dad's sword

It couldn't be possessed by dear old dad, could it? Or perhaps possessed by some party with an agenda OTHER than screwing us over. Like... maybe we'll need a flaming sword to stab the ice heart core thing we find later.

Rolled 2

>>25879910
>>25879938

I'm very wary of this ice spirit. I'm not sure we could seal it away as easily as you are making it out to be.

I don't think we should make sealing the ice spirit a condition for them helping us if we can possibly avoid it.


Thought for the day:

To be GOVERNED is to be kept in sight, inspected, spied upon, directed, legislated at, numbered, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right, nor the wisdom, nor the virtue to do so.... To be GOVERNED is to be at every operation, at every transaction, noted, registered, enrolled, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under the pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be placed under contribution, trained, ransomed, exploited, monopolized, extorted, squeezed, mystified, robbed; then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, despised, harassed, tracked, abused, clubbed, disarmed, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and, to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality

>>25880004
Peace was shown making a deal with the Pheonix and the Fifth. Which means she's free from Citadel.

Something is stoppibg us from purifying Soma.

That something is Peaces soul.

The Old One said that Peaces body lacked a soul.

I say we show the dragon Soma when we get back to Bronze Peak.

>>25880077
We might not have to back. Old One is in the north.

>>25880123
We'll probably meet up with him eventually

>>25880123
you know I really hope he's just yanking a vein of gold from somewhere out in the orc wastes. And that gold vein is not literally directly under the orcs.

>>25880077
Eh, I don't remember anything stopping us from purifying it, other than not taking the time to visit a blacksmith.

Rolled 14, 10, 16, 7 = 47

Trica and Mage finish their chanting and Tricia's wasp swarm...you aren't sure if their wings turn to fire, if their bodies burst into flame, or that flame surrounds them. Either way Tricia is commanding a swarm of Fire Wasps. She sends them at the Ice Thing.

Mage just finished his spell to make the wasps fiery.

Mari shoots a flaming crossbow bolt at the Ice Thing.

Lea does another flaming fist double strike, her fists are slightly singed.

>>25879852
Just get one of the orc clans down south, tell them that if they agree to beat the shit out of PE for us, they can live in the desert and get out of this frozen hellhole.

>>25880188
I think they're ancestral enemies with the ettins somehow. If the kingfisher wasn't fucking with us.

But how? Considering they're seperated by a whole citadel kingdom.

Rolled 3

>>25880178
The flaming wasps swarm around the Ice Thing, forcing it to use one of its claws to try and bat them away.

Mari misses.

Lea's strike hits the exposed ice and you see a solid crack and a mass of steam.

The Ice Thing's other claw swipes at Tisgut, since he and Lea are in the way of you and Orcs are a higher threat, always, to these things.

>>25880213
Always a higher threat?

Lets disprove that

>>25880178
> Mage has had fire enchantment this entire time and he didn't tell us

aaaaaaaaaaa

We shove now?

>>25880077
I get the feeling that Peace sort of *is* Citadel, in a way. It would explain why she had never felt pain before.

Wait, wait wait wait, Citadel, Phoenix and the Fifth... I'm betting it was a prophetic dream. I'm betting that Phoenix is going to have to make a deal to tap into Citadel to use that soulcrafting magic. The Fifth would be perfectly happy to help because it gives him an opportunity to screw us over, and Citadel gets to devour more souls.

Fucking gods. When can we start killing them?

>>25880240
Use full body weight to force the thing into the fire and springboard off?

>>25880213
Get between the thing and the forest. Opposite side from the fire.

Then proceed to herd/shove it right into the fire.

>>25880213
What the hell is this thing and why aren't we biting the FUCK out of it?

Rolled 14 + 1

>>25880213
The thing misses as Tisgut ducks out of the way with ease and counters with a strike of his own.

Rolled 12

>>25880277
Tisgut is a badass.

>>25880272
its mostly ice

>>25880277
Tisgut slices the blade right through the deadflesh, causing the green-yellow ichor to pour and hiss upon the ground. It turns to a semi-frozen slush the moment it hits air.

Your turn.

>>25880289
I want to keep him.

Also don't fucking roll when it isn't needed

Rolled 3

>>25880310
Lets get stabby with Beacon.

>>25880310
Can we try to tackle the thing into the fire and springboard off out of the flames?

>>25880289
>>25880318
nah, he's probably a chief or something. Also, Kind of a dick.

>>25880339
he's a scout.

>>25880310
Into the fire with the monster! We've got a ranseur, it has secondary points, it's ideal for shoving zombies into things.

Well, the only thing more ideal would be a pitchfork.

>>25880310
Organize everyone to try and force it into the fire.

Double strike.

Also, if Peace is in Soma...does that mean there is a soul in Beacon?

>>25880251
something like that yeah

>>25880368
Tackling it is seeming like the idea some of us are shooting for.

We're like 800lbs and we got good acceleration, good amount of force.

HOW MUCH DO WE WEIGH? I VOTE SLITHER ON TOP OF IT AND SIT THERE WHILST STABBING IT.

Or something like that, aren't we like 800lbs?

>>25880310
Beacon impaler attack!

>>25880402
Might not want to stay on it that much.

>>25880402
way too cold. Like the opposite of a hot rock.

But using that weight is a good idea, see
>>25880398

BEACON IMPALE TACKLE

Eight hundred pounds of coil propelled force!

oh god snakes can spring-jump.

We so need to do this with beacon prepared to lunge like lightning.

>>25880446
If we're gonna impale, we ought to sheath clang for the time being for the best application of force

>>25880338
>>25880350
>>25880368
"PUSH IT INTO THE FIRE!" You yell and you ram at the thing with Beacon and smash at it with your tail.

Roll 2d20 +1

You need four successful attacks to get it into the fire.

Rolled 9

>>25880469

Rolled 8, 6 = 14

>>25880469
I was wondering how you'd deal with that. I was thinking a multi-turn shove attempt or something.

Rolled 3, 11 + 1 = 15

>>25880469
Lets ride

Rolled 15, 13 = 28

>>25880469

Rolled 18

>>25880469

Rolled 7, 4 + 1 = 12

>>25880402
I really, really don't want to sit on anything that looks like it was inspired by Carpenter's The Thing.

Anyway. Lets do this.

Rolled 2, 9 = 11

>>25880469

>>25880486
Dice going away again

Am I the only one wondering how our fire is big enough to scratch a creature this big, ice or no?

Rolled 7

>>25880488
Two successes, huzzah

Rolled 1, 14, 5, 12, 3 = 35

>>25880488
You smash your tail into the deadflesh, and then Smash beacon and clang into the thing with a quick one-two. Ice legs snap and break, and then reform as the thing staggers backwards, towards the fire.

Tricia continues to try and focus her swarm of fire insects to harry the Ice Thing.

Mage shoots fireballs at it.

Mari shoots another flaming bolt.

Lea does another flaming double strike.

>>25880612
>crit fail on tricia
Poor poor girl.

>>25880612
poor Tricia. She crtifails her bugs ALL the damn time.

Mage succeeds. Hes such a good mage.

whoosh, Mari misses. You'd think she wasn't the crack shot she was introduced as

Lea gets another hit in as well

>>25880666
she's using flaming wasps. I'm surprised it worked until now.

>>25880693
I'd say it was karma for kicking us out of bed all the time, but honestly we deserve more than not.
>capatcha: deserving xcipsse
I hate this thing sometimes yaknow?

Rolled 2 + 1

>>25880612
"Ah! Ahhhh...shit." Tricia winces as her fire wasps burst into fire...for real. "Well...worked for a little while." You see her wincing and holding her side. That must have been a chunk of her self that just went up.

Mage's blast hits and the Ice Thing staggers back some more, more smoke coming from it.

Lea's last flaming strike is all that's needed and the thing topples into the fire.

There's a hissing and a cracking noise as the creature writhes in the flames. You see the deadflesh and the orc and human trophy skulls burst into flame and wither or just fall off. The top head's tongue whips around wildly.

The fire is extinguished, but the Ice Thing pulls itself back up, growing more spindly legs and using its arms. That ichor is oozing off of it, and the inner skulls are now slightly exposed, their faces now open to the night air.

"SING EXULTATIONS AT OUR SIDE! FOR OURS IS THE WILL OF PERFECTION! WE CAST OURSELVES AS GREATER! OURS WAS PERFECTION SO PERFECTION WE OBTAINED! WE ARE OUR OWN GOD! WE ARE GOD! WE ARE GREATER! WE ARE ALL!" The heads shriek and yell. It's all a mass of sound really, but you're able to pick those phrases out.

"WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?!" Tricia screams. Covering her ears.

"Nothing." Tisgut says and resumes his attack, aiming for the faces.

>>25880682
I like to think Tricia will always underperform when we have a guest party member. The Extra Party Slot being filled messes with her groove

Only EO3 players that used wildings will get this

>>25880809
Sadly, he made a mistake, without the deadflesh and it's ice-shell, the thing is much more agile.

Your turn

Pin it in the fire with Beacon. Roast it alive.

>>25880809
Do we still have good lightning now that the fire is out?

>>25880832
I sorta wanna ready ourselves to Parry and get into a deadlock into it but I dunno if thats a viable option.

I think Impaling it with beacon is a good choice.

Rolled 13

>>25880842
The fire is out

>>25880832
Clear coated tail spikes to the face?

>>25880809
>Well...worked for a little while
That was amazing by itself. Flaming wasps was a terrible idea. And not Dawnchaser terrible but actual terrible.

Rolled 14

>>25880832
Stabby times with beacon pls.

>>25880809
Impale and pin it to the hot embers of the fire.

Then we need to start in just hitting it with our shield until it stops moving while it's pinned.

Rolled 4, 18 = 22

>>25880886
This.

Couch our lance, coil up, strike with full force. 800lbs leaping lance charge.

>>25880857
>Do we still have good lightning now that the fire is out?
Lea's fists, Tisgut's sword, and Beacon's glowing. You've got light enough to work with.

>>25880886
Shield-Bashing is always a good idea.

>>25880874
Flaming Wasps might sound full retard but consider this: Exploding Suicide Wasps

>>25880926
Hows Lea's self-fire wounds?

>>25880929
>but consider this
That is also full retard no matter how cool it is.

>>25880886
>>25880914
>>25880926

So you're going with a Beacon-Clang combo.

2d20 +1

>>25880809
Do as the Orc does, face stabby time.

Rolled 15, 2 + 1 = 18

>>25880977
Tally Ho motherfuckers.

Rolled 15, 3 = 18

>>25880977
Strike!

Rolled 13, 1 = 14

>>25880977
Rolling

Rolled 17, 9 = 26

>>25880977

Rolled 19, 5 = 24

>>25880977
Fuck it

>>25880958
Bees already suicide when they stick their stinger in so its not really farfetched

You're just adding in an exploding part.

I know there are beetles that are capable of shooting literal fire out of them like a cannon so in fantasy land this cannot be too farfetched

>>25880996
>>25880997
>>25880998
Pls
l
s

>>25880977
so beacon works.... clang doesn't.

Rolled 16

>>25880998

Well, shit, at least we still got a hit in.

>>25880998
>>25880997
>>25880996
I think the PE spies are drunk or something

"Hey mage any chance you could set our weapons on fire like you did the wasps?"

>>25880997
>>25880998
>>25880996
So we succeed in impaling him to the ground.

We've failed in beating him to death with clang. Which is fine. We're going to keep going until it works.

Rolled 20, 15, 6, 12, 16 = 69

>>25880997
Beacon stabs one of the faces, but it dodges out of the way of your follow up.

Tricia's going for a scorpion stinger and jabs at one of the faces.

Mage keeps shooting fireballs.

Mari takes another heated shot.

Lea does her last flaming double strike.

>>25881009
These insects are part of her body and it damages her when they die and they are hard to replace. You do not want to make suicide attacks with them for fun.

>>25881115
Stop letting the team down, Mari.

>>25881115
>Tricia got a nat 20
Good girl

>>25881115
very nice, all successes

well accept poor Mari

Rolled 3

>>25881149
Not mari though, sadly.

Rolled 5, 5 = 10

>>25881115
Tricia's stinger rams right through one of the face's third eye, then with a grun she rips the head out of the ice-slush-ichor and throws it aside. It bursts into black flame and then into a pile of ashes in almost an instant.

Mage nails the thing again.

"Can't see in this light!" Mari swears. She swaps to Peri.

Lea's last two punches are right in one of the thing's remaining faces. The thing is sizzling and has a broken left mandible.

Lea's bandages are also sizzling and she tosses her bandages away and waves her very red hands. "Okay, next time special...but it works."

The thing makes two swipes, one with each claw. One at Tisgut, one at You. The heads keep on shrieking and yelling. It's just repeating the same nonsense they were spouting earlier.

Rolled 10 + 1

>>25881221
You and Tisgut easily move out of the way of the clumsy strikes.

Tisgut makes another swipe.

>>25881240
The ice claw blocks.

Your turn. Beacon is at 4 charges.

>>25881253
Can we flurry with beacon, using both hands?

>>25881221
>>25881240
We've moved onto the stage of the fight where it is on the ground and just won't die, so we're stabbing it over and over and it won't stop screaming. Standard procedure for fighting abominations.

>>25881253
>>25881262
lets try.

>>25881253
Are four charges enough to give us a bit more light to work with?

>>25881279
It really feels like extreme violence is the only solution here.

Rolled 12

>>25881253
How many charges does beacon need again?

Stabby with Beacon is my vote for the attack.

>>25881240
I'm uncertain if we should beacon-flash or beacon-charge everyone to finish this thing off when we get there.

Lets keep whacking at it until it drops in the meantime.

>>25881262
yeah. Let's put the clang away for now, and just... spear it over and over.

>>25881308
5
>>25881312
I kinda want to charge up everyone and see if our orc buddy gets a buff.

>>25881317
>>25881298
>>25881279
>>25881262

A double handed crazed multi-stab with Beacon.

2d20 +1

>>25881332
probably not. Only those who accept Ssen as a Guiding Light seem to benefit from Beacon.

Rolled 7, 6 + 1 = 14

>>25881373
STAB STAB STAB!

Rolled 18, 12 + 1 = 31

>>25881373

Rolled 12, 17 = 29

>>25881373

Rolled 18, 14 = 32

>>25881373

Rolled 18, 14 = 32

>>25881373
rolling

Rolled 7, 19 = 26

>>25881373
Spear!

>>25881397
>>25881405
Successes here.
>>25881388
Fuck my dice

Rolled 3, 19 = 22

>>25881373

Stabbing with two-hands is a thing? Trying it out with broomsticks makes it feel painful to do.

Rolled 3, 8 = 11

>>25881373
This thing is really too loud

>>25881431
Broomsticks are tiny as fuck compared to any decent spear

>>25881431
yes, two handed spear fighting is a thing. Have an exhibition fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzJis7VvORY

>>25881481
We're probably closer to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8RWLxlzTiM

>>25881529
Well, we'll probably go up against the other one one day. Phoenixes and all.

>>25881652
Not!Asia is going to be annoying for us not!europeans in what is pretty much not!america

>>25881397
You pierce both remaining faces, one after another. They stop shrieking, and the ice legs collapse and the ichor mass turns into a liquid and splashes all over the ground. The last two heads burst into flame and then ash. Beacon's glow slowly fades away, and Tisgut sniffs the air. Then extinguishes his blade.

"Gone." He says. "Deadflesh armor...new trick." He shakes his head. "Bad sign." He nods. "Tiny one. Slip past. Hard to find. Fought well, all of you. Know Orcs that run. No shame. Stay, fight, good...foolish...but good." He yawns. "Make new fire, leave in morning. Sleep." He starts walks off as if this was nothing.

Everyone just looks at you.

"Okay, I am now all for that plan where we DON'T go out to the Ice." Mage says. "I mean, really really for it."

"Stupid, stupid, stupid..." Tricia mutters as she grabs some salt pork and shoves it down her robes. "Set them on fire! Great idea...ugh, next time just stick with the hybrid...fuck that stung."

"Have to keep a watch on the shoulder." Lea mutters as she re-wraps her hands in wet bandages. "It's all about rapid fire power-strikes."

"Sorry." Mari says. "Next time I'll stick to trying to figure out how the damn things move."

>>25881683
"Hey Tricia, that was a monster, right?"

>>25881704
Seconding

Rolled 9, 8 = 17

>>25881704
[x] This

>>25881683
Don't worry about it Mari. I've had fights were I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Though knowing how it moves would help.

>>25881683
Coil around Tricia.

"Are you all right?"

>>25881683
"Hey, it was first contact! Next time things will go smoother I'm sure."

>>25881683
Give the biggest shit eating you grin.
Wait until your teammates look confused.
"Monsters made of corpses."

>>25881715
>>25881704
Combination of this I guess

>>25881724
yes. When tricia gets mad at us for bringing up corpse monsters, interrupt her with questions about her safety. It will confuse her long enough to get her to not be mad about the monster thing.

>>25881752
We could also lift her purse for our rightfully earned gold.

Now that the fight is over can we ask makge this?
>>25881031

Or at least about an enchantment?

>>25881776
Might not be fun mixing magics.

>>25881704
Only option.

>>25881724
Better start taking better care of our girl, after the Tisgut fiasco.

>>25881860
well, I am a bit worried about her wasp-less-ness injury. Whatever that is.

>>25881860
Tisgut seems to get none of us are to be fucked with now.