Sup Echo, good to see ya.

As Mage has said, you've set a new benchmark of amazing/stupid things that your group has done. This time it was cross the Ice Sea on the Upper Tundra.

The Ice Sea is the realm of Nightmares. Horrible things made of dead flesh, ice, and a noxious ichor, and within in the thousands upon thousands of eyes of a lost civilization stare up at you, frozen.

Worst of all the things spoke to you. Told the story of how this came to be. There was a kingdom up here, ages ago, before even the days of the Tribes. These people, with three eyes and split jaws, were mighty, they tamed nature, build wonders, and turned the entire orc race into their slaves.

Then they decided to do even more. They turned their entire species, their civilization, into a God. (Or Land Spirit, depending on your definition of one or the other) The Three-Eyes ascended, and became the thing that dwells upon the Ice. Obviously something didn't go exactly to plan, for this deity is trapped up here, frozen.

And you and the other Dawnchasers decided to just run across it's land. THanks to judicious applications of fire, explosives, and a brillitite bullet, you managed to get the the Red Wolf camp alive.

The orc tribe of the Red Wolf lives out on one of the large islands that is locked within the Ice Sea. They have taken the duty to ensure that the creatures of the Three-Eyed Ice God remain on the Ice.

>>26013665
Your crazed ride left you exhausted to the point where your body and mind just shut down and went to sleep upon arrival at the camp. You wake in a tent on a cot. Your things are in a pile next to you. There's a note on them.

- - -
Checking out the camp. Thought we'd let you rest. Find us when you decide to move your overweight scaly ass. Love you.
- Tricia
- - -

Mmm...you kinda don't wanna leave though. It's nice and warm in the tent, and apparently it's custom for orcs to sleep with water skeins filled with hot water, and you've got three of them wrapped up in your coils. Outside it's cold, and miserable, and you can smell that the air is filled with that horrible smoke that comes from burning that black oil that the Orcs use so much. It's probably worse outside.

>>26013677
Time to gear up and get our ass out of bed.

>>26013677
>overweight scaly ass
So, I take it they had to carry us? I imagine that was hard.

Can we just... carry one of those water bottles tucked in somewhere? Strapped down under beacon?

>>26013677
>overweight scaly ass
Mutter something about not being fat...

Then grab our stuff and take a look around camp. Just wander for bit not looking for anyone or anything particular.

>>26013721
We're 20ft long and 800lbs

Probably got the orcs to do it.

Btw how big is the standard orc?

>>26013734
>something about not being fat
Yeah, we're probably skinny for our age and race. We're supposed to be eating like, villages. Or whole elk. From what I understand of pre-us nature books.

>>26013756
We might be okay considering we just eat more often smaller meals instead of giant hueg meals every so often.

>>26013677
Wow Tricia, she should know how sensitive Ssen is about her weight (when she decides to be)!

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>catch the thread at the very start

I went through 70 threads in about a week. Never before has anything had me so enthralled.

>>26013740
>Btw how big is the standard orc?
Male average is 5' 8" with a variance of up to six inches either way on average, outliers of course exist. It's pretty much all muscle though.

Female orcs are 6' on average with a 2 inch variance on average, with outliers. They're less muscular that males, but the majority have magical sensitivity if not full talent.

This is mostly the result of selective breeding by the Three-Eyes.

>>26013807
and humans?

>>26013780
yeah, we seem to be growing anyway. Good enough.

Also, now that the thread's chugging along, I'm getting to thinking. we saw the hawks raid the rats, and nobody gained anything from that exchange. We also saw a desperate man propose we take the rats only means of escape and leave ourselves, which would have killed a whole tribe to save like, seven people. Eight if you count peri/mari twice.

We can make a good argument that the raiding and slaving are acts of desperation from their situation, and is weakening the orcs as a whole. This might or might not inspire the orcs to raid less and work together more to kill northern gods, but I dunno.

Oh god I wonder if the others will get sick from magic-radiation from that brillitite bullet going off.
We should be fine, but still something to check for.

>>26013815
>and humans?
Mostly the standard you see today, save lower obesity levels, and magic talent is more rare. 1/1000, less in some areas, more in others. Bloodlines are NOT good indications, but it's a belief that persists.

>>26013842
They do seem pretty down with trading, Might be able to trade a dead god for something.

Which reminds me, what do you think we can trade for learning orc language and how are we gonna note in in commands?

>>26013888
So Orcs are slightly shorter than humans on average but usually more built?

Gotcha

>>26013857
>magic-radiation from that brillitite
Weird thing about Brillitite. The magic pulses it gives off aren't that harmful to the human body. Humans aren't resistant to magic, but they can walk through a field of ambient magic-babble energy and not feel so much as a tingle.

It's Ssen that should be a bit more concerned...though she's been living with low to high levels of that stuff all her life. So you're probably fine.

>>26013895
I'd wager that if we kill the Black Figure on the ice, we'd have a bunch of requests to join our "tribe." I don't really see the orcs as having a concept of one person owing somebody else just for removing a problem. You came and killed the God because you were strong and nothing more.

>>26013888
so, somewhere between 5 and 6 feet.
Ssen: unconsciously stand a little taller when you're talking to orcs.
>>26013857
If magic radiation was a thing, we're all getting cancer.
>>26013895
if we're going to be trading, we need to use accurate terms. We don't kill them, we seal them.

>>26013930
>>26013943
Very true I suppose. Really gonna be hard to think this out, so it's gonna need to be on the backburner for the duration of this trip.

Also I think we stand taller than most normally

>>26013926
>It's Ssen that should be a bit more concerned...though she's been living with low to high levels of that stuff all her life. So you're probably fine.
Noted.

>>26013943
>If magic radiation was a thing, we're all getting cancer.
*Looks over at Lea*

So, get dressed and get out there.

I assume our armor is our warmest piece of clothing?
We should go out and kill, like, a bear. Wear it's pelt as a skirt at the lowest hem of our armor. It might help.

>>26013999
We got one of Mumei's old dresses turned into cold weather clothing for us.

We'll still be miserable but not freezing too much.

>>26013926
"'m not THAT heavy." You grumble as you get dressed and armored up. You think about slipping in one of the heated waterbags, but you can feel them getting colder by the second now that they're outside your coils.

You slither outside, and realize that the water bottles might not be necessary. The Red Wolf tribe is covered with fire pits and bonfires. It's mid-day now, but still they keep the flames stoked high and warm.

Tricia and the others must be baking, for you this is all but heaven. Even the ground is warm, the dirt long baked into a dry clay.

You slither through the camp and see orcs everywhere. Most of them are tending to the fires, feeding them logs, sod, dung, and anything else that will burn. Others are forging weapons and armor. You see a squad of Orcs going through combat drills and sparring. This is less a settlement and more of a war camp.

"AND I SAY YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!" You hear a familiar voice shout. "YOU SHOULD HAVE WARNED US!"

You slither up and find Tricia shouting at Tisgut. They're at a table, in the middle of a meal.

"We would have gladly done it, had you asked." Lea says. "You think we wouldn't?"

Tisgut nods. "Tisgut know orcs would not."

"Well, it's insulting, and what would have happened if it didn't work?" Peri snaps. "What if they ignored us? Don't you need it?"

Tisgut shrugs again.

"Oh, hey Sis." Mage says. "You want the long version or the short version?"

>>26014020
"Long"

>>26014020
"Which one includes breakfast?"

Overweight_snakes.jpg

>>26014045
Most of it is muscle! it weighs more than fat!

>>26014045
>"Which one includes breakfast?"
I'll second that.

"Am I going to like this by the way?"

"Which one includes breakfast?" You ask.

Mage points to a plate heaped with sizzling, half-bloody meat. Ohhh, you're going to like it hear. You dig in...with a knife and fork like Father taught you. You're a carnivore, not a savage.

"Am I going to like this by they way?" You ask, between bites.

"You know that chunk of Ice Tisgut carries with him? He slipped it into Wagon. When it's on the Ice, that thing serves as a beacon. Normally when an Orc wears it it's no problem, something about it being an old slave collar or something.

WE however turned into a giant glowing target. We wouldn't have had to deal with half of that crap that we did." Mage says as he tears into a tuber. "Tisgut says that it drew about 80% of the threat to us, letting the Rat's wagons get through easier. And naturally he has NO idea why we're upset about it."

>>26014189
I thought we went in knowing we were going to be the Vanguards/Aggro-bait

We went in fully knowing it was a horrible horrible idea and probably going to be scary as fuck though, so whats the problem?

>>26014220
There's a difference between running out on the Ice first and having a giant flashing neon sign screaming come kill us. Oh also were not about said sign. Big difference and whole a lot of issues with it.

>>26014189
"Oh man, I want one. Do we still have Tisgut's?"

>>26014189
"...Yeah you prolly should have at least given us a heads up about that beforehand Tisgut. Its not like we would have said no to it."

>>26014189
"You know, I'm fine with a bit of a practical joke, but that would have been really good to know. All sorts of things we can do with a monster beacon and explosives."

>>26014189
Without saying anything, get up from the table and glare directly into Tisguts eyes.
"Did you expect us to survive?"

>>26014267
second

>>26014220
Not magically enhanced bait
>>26014189
"I'm less mad about being monster bait than I am about not having any warning whatsoever about being magically enhanced bait for things not explained to me. Telepathy has never been much fun and that singing monster was not fun in the slightest. Mage you get a good look at it that chuck of Ice?"

>>26014189
"Well, while that sounds unspeakably cruel to us, to him it was probably a test. A cruel test, but perhaps a necessary one here. They live on the edge of that place. He wanted to know if we were worth it.

But that's all a poor excuse. The sooner I have to stop thinking about orc culture, the better"

"Tisgut, I could kill most of the Red Wolf. It would prevant more orcs from threatening to call the Dark One and his Ice upon me and mine... tell me why I shouldn't."

>>26014189
"Next time you make us fight the majority, give us warning and first choice at supplies. There is a difference between knowing your going to be overwhelmed in battle with other tribe mates and be overwhelmed in battle and being a shield for your tribe mates."

>>26014300
seems a bit extreme, and we do need turns for cloudkill.

>>26014300
Pretty much what I'm thinking, this far out of the line to just slide as 'Orc culture'

>>26014320
We don't know what their traditions are. This could be a test for new tribes.

>>26014319
>>26014300
On second thought, lets do this.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't crush in my coils for putting me and all my friends and mate in danger without telling us"

>>26014319
So is putting a giant beacon upon allies who agreed to help you. Tisgut probably fully expected us to die.

>>26014300
please not this.

>>26014284
>>26014237
Would we really have known the difference if he didn't tell us?

I mean if you think of it in fucked up orc logic it makes sense.

We've proven we're strong

We've proven we're fearless

We can handle that shit compared to a bunch of rat tribe civvies, Right?

was probably the logic.

>>26014333
well, it's been claimed nobody's ever made a night trip over the ice before.

>>26014342
yeah i changed my mind after I posted that.

Threatening him personally seems better

>>26014344
>Would we really have known the difference if he didn't tell us?
The difference is we would have been able to plan a lot more around the idea we were going to be taking on far in away more than we would thought. Plus a beacon that calls monsters to it? And we have a ton of explosives weapons(Magic/non-magic options)? Yeah, there would have a world of difference in the planning.

>>26014189
"You get a pass. This time. Next time you put my Tribe at risk, you die."

"I am not the sort of thing that you fuck with."

>>26014189
"So that's what you meant by that other 'last resort'. Now what would possess you to do that, Tisgut?"

>>26014384
well, technically we're fine with being put at risk.

but TELL us first.

>>26014345
The exact details of the tradition are irrelevant. What is indisputable is that Tisgut did not give us the beacon to save the Rat Tribe. That'd be charity and Orcs don't do that.

>>26014387
I do agree with asking him why, but we shouldn't act insulted. The Orcs value strength, but they're also selfish. I will admit Tisgut could have given it to you just so he didn't have to have it.

>>26014333
>You know that chunk of Ice Tisgut carries with him? He slipped it into Wagon. When it's on the Ice, that thing serves as a beacon. Normally when an Orc wears it it's no problem, something about it being an old slave collar or something.

That line tells me right now. It's not a test or tradition.

I'm not certain how we should approach this.

We need to make a veiled threat, as to show the red wolves we're not pushovers

But we can't make it so heavy to give them a reason to throw us out on the ice.

>>26014406
Tisgut is the one responsible and he is only a scout.

They'd prob let him die.

>>26014418
> only a scout.

We still don't know how high/low scout is on the totem poll in orc culture.

>>26014398
It might be for outsiders. He might not trust us. He might feel that it was our decision to go out onto the ice and as such we would have to suffer the consequences of that decision.

"Vengeance will come when you least expect it, in the manner most humorous to me."

Engage prankwar.

>>26014300
No no no no no

>>26014384
Yes.

>>26014433
>He might feel that it was our decision to go out onto the ice
Considering he was the that suggested in the first place?

>>26014384
This works.

>>26014394
We put OURSELVES at risk. That's the difference.

>>26014189
Also, this might be an opportune time to debrief on what everyone remembers about the Thing on the Ice, because we might have been the only one to see it for what it truly was.

Guys, the Orcs respect STRENGH... not words. Not inaction. Just plain overwhelming strength.

Doing nothing is the worst thing we can do.

>>26014455
So roll for wrap?

I'm down for it.

>>26014455
Ding ding ding. We can't just let this 'pass'

>>26014455
But overreacting will leave him confused and aggressive against us.

Course we could just throw it at him. "Take back your shit."

>>26014455
I dunno, we showed plenty of strength murderizing those monsters. If that was the case, they'd be respecting us now already.

You slide over to Tisgut and glare into his eyes. "Did you expect us to survive?"

He shrugs. "Maybe. Thought Snake Tribe would.
If not, unfortunate."

You scowl at him "It isn't like we would have said no. You know, I'm fine with a bit of a practical joke, but that would have been really good to know. All sorts of things we can do with a monster beacon and explosives." You say. "But you still put my friends and mate in danger. You get a pass. This time. Next time you put my Tribe at risk, you die.

"I am not the sort of thing that you fuck with." You say. "But why? I thought you didn't do Charity?"

"Purpose to keep Rat Tribe safe." Tisgut says. "Not charity. Purpose."

"Hmph." You say. "Next time you make us fight the majority, give us warning and first choice at supplies. There is a difference between knowing your going to be overwhelmed in battle with other tribe mates and be overwhelmed in battle and being a shield for your tribe mates."

He nods. You don't see respect, just understanding. He's done nothing wrong. He had to get over the ice and keep the Rats safe...thus he did what he did. He's unsure why you're upset, but your arguments are sound...even though goods are precious, and Orcs having it would be better than others. But he doesn't want to be killed, and he thinks you may have the strength to do so. So he accepts your argument, but he has NOTHING to apologize for.

>>26014455
We already drew 80% of the heat for them AT NIGHT, which is something Orcs apparently don't do because it's suicidal.

The fact that we survived more or less intact outweighs anything we could reasonably do at the moment, and lends weight to our words.

>>26014470
Tricia kinda "overacted" on him the other time and he walked it off like a champ and ate a rabbit with the fur (best part)

>>26014490
Wrap him
"I SAID am I fucking clear"

>>26014470
That would do nothing. My earlier suggestion was to try and break through his worldview. Shatter his 'If I can do it and it helps me I will.' POV.

>>26014490
And that's fair enough.

We're angry because he was stupid about not telling us.

>>26014513
Then why didn't you say so?

your post alone looked like you were jumping the shark.

>>26014511
We do that, we're just reinforcing his twisted world view.

Stand down, we've got bigger fish to fry.

>>26014511
We've made our point.

And if he does something this stupid again, we pop his head off like a champagne cork. But at this point, a wrap serves no purpose. It'd be kind of like spanking a child who doesn't understand what they've done wrong.

>>26014511
now now, no need for that quite yet. he DID nod. I suggest something more along the lines of

"Take care not to do it again. Actions like that render you weak. If things had gone differently, you would have lost friends meaninglessly, and then they would have set upon the rat tribe."

>>26014542
>>26014554
He might try to pull something again if he thinks we won't actually do anything with our strenght.

>>26014569
We're more subtle then that though.

We can make things subtly harder for him in a later rout.

>>26014557
This.

>>26014590
We're a paladin. We're supposed ot be straight forward.

>>26014490
He doesn't understand. Just drop it.

It's like the racists in the first city.

>>26014569
He suspects that we could kill him. He's not going to pull anything.

And if he does, we kill him.

>>26014557
gonna link this
>>26014490

>>26014569
That isn't worth potentially pissing off the entire goddamned tribe by publicly assaulting and threatening him.

Once again. We have bigger fish to fry. Make like a good believer and turn the other fucking cheek.

>>26014611
This. If we keep spitting the impossible back in his face, he might offer to join our party.
Though I don't know how Orc culture will work down south. That's going to be a terrible mess that we are no doubt going to get blamed for.

>>26014637
Where there's an Isen there's a way.

>>26014637
At least we can outlive most of the haters.

>>26014728
look, just because we're getting blamed for it doesn't mean there aren't legitimate problems.

Getting orcs to work in society is going to be tougher than our monstrous kin even, since ours basically were cultureless. Orcs have their own pile of beliefs and bullshit.

"Take care not to do it again. Actions like that render you weak. If things had gone differently, you would have lost friends meaninglessly, and then they would have set upon the rat tribe." You say.

Tisgut blinks for a moment. Then he nods again. It's the classic problem, the Grand Fallacy, Tisgut at least gives you the honor of treating you like an orc and not a Thing, but he thinks the whole world is like that.

"You should eat." He says. "Chief, Shamans, and Boar Tribe Speaker want talk."

"The Boar Tribe keeps an ambassador or something equivalent to that here." Mari says.

>>26014768
"I really hope I don't have to knock some heads together. I'm not in the mood for that"

>>26014768
Well, time to eat and banter with the group. We'll do high level diplomatic talks after breakfast.

>>26014768
Continue digging in, because jeez we got a big plate of meat heck yes.

"So, the leaders of the local establishment want to talk to me. Is it gonna be about diplomacy, or grand heroism?"

>>26014768
"Any chance of getting them all in the same place?"

"Also, what do you all remember about the Chorus? As far as I could tell I as the only one who could hear it that didn't... you know. Go all screwy."

>>26014768
"And what, pray tell do they want to talk about?"

>>26014768
"So, post-near-death briefing I guess. How did everyone fare? Crazy singing thing, lea got stabbed, two civilians who... aren't here, and I hope I don't have to worry about right now."

>>26014824
This.
Let's all have a mind rape therapy session. Lea managed to resist it somehow. Be nice to know her secret.

>>26014824
>>26014862
Combo of these.

>>26014883
Earplugs.

>>26014490
"Tisgut I like you you don't play games, but twice you have done something that in the southern tribes would get you killed. We are playing by Orc rules so we understand that by your tribes rules you haven't done wrong but if you ever travel south then just know that attacking others is considered rude, as is endangering tribe-mates without telling them.

then >>26014883
>>26014900

>>26014910
Yes, but before that she resisted it, which allowed her to put the cloth in her ear.

"So, the leaders of the local establishment want to talk to me. Is it gonna be about diplomacy, or grand heroism? I really hope I don't have to knock some heads together. I'm not in the mood for that." You say as you go back to eat, sitting on your own tail.

"This is the Tundra, Ssen." Tricia says. "Have we been able to go more than an HOUR here without something horrifyingly fatal happening to us?"

"Agreed." Mari says. "I'm starting to miss Citadel."

"No you're not." Peri says. "This place just has the indecency to be as inhospitable on the outside as it is on the inside."

"Yea." Mage says, he looks at you and he gives you a little smile and then sighs and looks down at his plate. You know what that look means.

"What's wrong Mage?" You ask.

"It doesn't have to deal with anything up here, and it's nothing that concerns combat, Citadel, the Empire or anything like that. We can talk about it later." He says.

"You know when you say stuff like that, we know you're trying to be all passive aggressive and get us to ask anyway." Tricia says.

Mage rolls his eyes. "Look, it's about you and Tricia, and it's something I think you'd want to talk about in Private. It's bad news, anyway."

Tricia looks at you and then back at Mage. "How bad?" She asks quietly.

Mage shrugs, sighs, and shakes his head. "It's not going to work. Biology-babble and Magic-babble stuff, but you can stop thinking about Dragonflies." He says. "I'm sorry."

"Oh." Tricia says.

She gets up from the table and heads back to your tents.

>>26014937
Fuck.

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>>26014937
No. Not letting this go.
Also: I don't know why we didn't figure out something for Peri's sterility ages ago.

>>26014937
Fair enough. it WOULD have been horrifying anyway.

Sigh, take the plate, and head into the tent. It's fine, if sad, we can't have a kid. We should let Tricia know that.

"We should be back in a minute"

>>26014988
Leave the plate, we have more class than that

>>26014994
oh, fine.
Someone's gonna eat it while we're up.

>>26014937
"Is this one of the times when I go after her, or one where I give her some time?"

"... I'll be back."

>>26015004
our friends are classier than that and we can tell them to threaten anyone who tries to take it.

Or just eat it up quickly even if it's a bit rude to do so

>>26014937
"..Back in a second."

Follow after her.

>>26015017
"Is this one of the times when I go after her, or one where I give her some time?" You ask.

Mage shrugs. Peri and Lea give you a look.

"I'll be back in a second...kill anyone who tries to eat my food." You say.

You head into the tent. Tricia's sitting on a cot. She's shaking her head. "I'm fine. It's fine. So what. Probably would have been a monster anyway. A horrible thing with bug eyes, and a snake tail, pincer hands and fangs...world's better off without another monster." She says. "I just needed a moment to think about it properly. I'm good, lets go yell at some orcs." She nods.

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>>26015070
No. No fox and the grapes.

>>26015070
>A horrible thing with bug eyes, and a snake tail, pincer hands and fangs...world's better off without another monster.
That is the most metal thing I've ever heard and I am sad that it will not be born into the world to herald a new age of heavy rock music.

>>26015070
well that's god damn depressing.

give tricia a god damn hug and try and fail to not cry

>>26015070
No words. Just hugs.

>>26015070
"It would have been a wonderful monster, it's a shame. Wouldn't have been fair to make you have all the kids, though."
Awkwardly sit next to her

>>26015070
Yeah, no she's not going anywhere. This one the few times where we need to just hug the bug girl and /keep/ our mouth shut.

>>26015144
>>26015156
you know, you might be true. Give my dialogue amillion grains of salt and feel free to not use it, echo.

>>26015070
"You remember way back when we started out? When it was so awkward waking up in the middle of the night with my tail wrapped around your ankle? There was something between us even then, and that hasn't changed, and it will never change."

"It's not fine. We both know it's not fine. But we're both going to get through this, because I know that we're both strong enough for it."

"So if you need to talk about this at some point, you don't even need to ask. If you want to lean on me, I'm here. But you're right. Let's keep moving for now."

It just doesn't sit right with me. When we got poisoned and were near death, Tricia was there to nurse us back to health. And at this point, we have naught but a scar to show for it.

Same applies here. We find a way.

>>26015191
Despite fucking up destiny, it still conspires against us.

>>26015227
So we conspire against it.

>>26015245
>So we murder it

FTFY.

We're the anti-plotter. We flip tables and fuck prophecies.

eh, we'll adopt.

>>26015325
doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt

a lot.

>>26015188
You hug her. She returns the same. The hug turns into a wrap and you both have tears.

After a while Tricia pushes away and you uncoil around her.

"Your tears burn, you know." She says. "I think they have a little of that Clear stuff in them." She sniffs.

"You remember way back when we started out? When it was so awkward waking up in the middle of the night with my tail wrapped around your ankle? There was something between us even then, and that hasn't changed, and it will never change."

She nods. "I know." She strokes your tail. "I know."

You hold her and comb your hands through her hair for a bit, picking out a few bugs here and there.

"Wouldn't have been fair to make you have all the kids, anyway." You say.

"It's fine." She says.

"It's not fine. We both know it's not fine. But we're both going to get through this, because I know that we're both strong enough for it.

"So if you need to talk about this at some point, you don't even need to ask. If you want to lean on me, I'm here. But you're right. Let's keep moving for now." You say.

"Yeah." She kisses you. "Thanks."

You two leave the tent, and go back to the group to finish your meal.

Mage opens his mouth.

"Drop it, it's fine. You tried." Tricia says, patting him on the shoulder.

Mage nods and goes back to his boiled root.

After the meal, you all go to the entrance to the largest tent in the camp. It's impressive, with a wolf skull above the entry way, and all along the tent's side are pictures of Orcs fighting Ice Things. Some of them look big, really big, 'as big as the Leviathan' big.

Tisgut is waiting for you. He holds out a hand.

"Package Rats gave you. Give it." Tisgut says. He has the other similar fur-wrapped package.

>>26015355
oh crap, I forgot about that. Do we have it on us? We might have to run back to the wagon for it.

>>26015355
hand it over I guess

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>>26015355
You're a terrible man, Echo. But this isn't over. We'll Henderson a dragonfly yet.

Take the package and see what it is. If we don't know what it is, ask.

>>26015355
"Oh, yeah, safekeeping and all that"

No reason not to hand it over really, I mean we were just keeping it safe. No idea what it is.
Also, on the topic of burning tears: Neat! If I had a guidebook, I'd be writing it down.

>>26015482
>God gives you burning tears
>use the tears to burn God's house down

>>26015506
not that kind of burning

On the upside, it means that any of these asshole land spirits will have a surprise in store if they try to drink our grief stricken tears.

>"IS THERE ANY PART OF THIS FUCKING SNAKE THAT DOESN'T KILL YOU?"
>"NO!"

>>26015611
Our forgiveness doesn't hurt people. At least I think it doesn't.
Can we weaponize that?

>>26015611
>is there any part that doesn't kill you?
We've been told our scales are pretty tasty.

so, how are we going to kill flagship-sized monsters?
I assume fire is involved.

>>26015623
Humans find Chocolate tasty and its poisonous to most animals.

>>26015583
Why NOT?

>>26015688
acid doesn't light shit up

>>26015688
it's more of a... melting

"Oh, yeah, safekeeping and all that." You say.

"What are those, anyway?" Mari asks.

Tisgut upwraps the two a little and shows you. They're long pieces of what look like driftwood. They have a mass of carvings, and runes on them. Also, there are pieces of metal and what look like gems embedded in them.

"Okay, what are they?" Peri asks. "I assume they're not just decorative."

"Map pieces." He says.

He enters the tent, and you follow.

It's not designed to be impressive. There's a few benches, a 'rug' made of a furred animal skin, and a few totemic fetiches hanging from the ceiling.

The Red Wolf chief is an orc who looks like he's been dragged across ten miles of broken glass and jagged rocks. One eye is just gone, a closed mass of puckered scar tissue. He's missing fingers, half a foot, and it looks like most of his teeth are broken.

The Rat Shaman and the Red Wolf shaman are sitting on opposite sides of the tent. THey's on the ground, quietly sifting sand through their fingers. Their eyes closed and their lips silently chanting. They've been given respectful space.

The Boar speaker...well...for some reason you think of Isen when you look at him. Strong, but a pot belly that speaks of a heavy diet, a ornate looking sword strapped to his back, unneeded scrimshaw on his tusks, a toothy grin on his face, shiny armor that's jet black, tattoos or impressive looking boars and tally marks on his shoulder, and an air of a person trying to impress everyone in the room.

There's more of those driftwood 'maps' on the fur rug, lined up in a row.

"Tisgut." The chief says.

"Garkat." Tisgut replies. "The Snake tribe."

"You crossed the ice?" The Chief says. Apparently he learned Citadel tongue. He isn't as overly loquacious as Sirala is, but more so than Tisgut. "How?"

The Boar speaker says something.

Garkat nods at him. "What did you face?"

>>26015697
>>26015698
Again, I don't see anything that would stop us from finding a way to use our tears to melt shit and set it on fire at the same time.

I mean, we just blew up a monster with a blast so bright people back in First Wood and Stone Hall could see it.

>>26015670
Well, we can start by charging towards them.

Then we can work out the rest of the plan later.

>>26015725
"Big thing, lots of skulls, lots of singing in everyone's heads. I blew it up."

>>26015725
"The Chorus of the Three-Eyed. The ones who left in an attempt to become Gods."

"The song was messing with our minds, so I killed it."

Rolled 20, 12 = 32

>>26015725
"There was the lightning, the wierd wolf things with arms for heads, and the Choir."

Turn to friends, "Am I forgetting anything?"

>>26015775
Choir

>>26015777
Long legs as well. With those sticky tongues.

>>26015725
Get to listing things on your fingers.
"Well, there were those freaky kids, I'm pretty sure I saw one or two out there, and then there were the wolf-things, they didn't agree too much with the firebombs. After that was those really tall screaming tentacle things, turns out they eat their own injured. Then the giant singing pipe-organ of skulls extolling history and being horrifying, and then that huge explosion which I suppose I was responsible for."

If I've counted correctly, that's 5 things for our 5 fingers.

>>26015791
Choir. Right.

First were the hairless wolves with arms in the place of heads.

Second was the Legged ones with tongues that stuck to anything they touched. They were also barbed and assumed poisonous.

Third was the Choir. Its attack was a song that brought madness. I had ot blow it up to break my companions free.

Oh and the lightning, and the ice opening up like giant mouths snapping at us.

Wasn't there geysers too?

>>26015846
yep

>>26015846
I knew there was a third thing.

Wait. Three monsters
Three enviromental hazards.
Three eyes.

The Dark One likes to do things in threes. Ooo something that can be predicted

>>26015899
or multiples of threes

>>26015899
let's wait until the third set of three obstacles so we have three examples.

File: 1373851719481.gif-(533 KB, 500x314, 1353660568061.gif)

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>>26015899
We know his game.

>>26015913
Three druids in that hut.

>>26015913
I bet the other group had three troubles too.

>>26015928
dohoho, marvelous

Three ork tribes.

We need to mention these observations to the meeting

>>26015802
>Five Things
>Five Fingers

We're gonna do that Claw counting thing, aren't we?

>>26015939
nah, there's like, four major ones. and all sorts of little ones.

>>26015944
>>26015802
I hope to god we do that claw counting thing.
Because we don't do it enough.

>>26015950
Obviously, but so far we've encountered three.
Perhaps the Dark One likes to tell bedtime stories of his own.

>>26015960
Our claws are always out aren't they?

we'll need both hands. Since theres six things we faced upon the ice...

seven if we count our own explosives.

>>26013888
Magic talent is 1/1000 but that's more rare than in real life? Tell me your secrets, Echo.

>>26015972
No.

>>26015972
nah, they sort of look like pointy wedgelike fingernails while retracted.

>>26015972
Nah. We didn't even know they existed until Granny fed us some weird moss that made us all Feral.

>>26015985
>>26015986
Oh

>>26015995
For we had become Quickquick, poisoner of notsame.

>>26016038
I forgot, was quickquick an active thing we just forgot about lately, or a passive AC bonus?

>>26016060
we've honestly been neglecting it since the three-die roll system came along.

>>26016077
It's one of those things nobody manages to remember and echo not really giving us a chance to roll for it

>>26016095
think it'd be better as a passive thing. like, raises ac by x amount, and has x amount of charges that are depleted when something lands in the range that it buffs our ac by

"First, were the hairless wolves with arms in the place of heads." You say.

Garkat nods.

"Then these tall, screaming, long-legged things, with tongues that stuck to anything they touched." You say.

Garkat nods again.

"They ate their own inj-"

"We know." He says.

"The sky let loose with lightning bolts, the group opened up, and then there were geysers." You say.

Garkat blinks. "You summoned the Ichor to you?" He looks at Tisgut, who nods.

"Night, allows ichor in air."

Garkat speaks to the Boar Speaker. He talks back for a bit and there's nodding.

Then Garkat allows you to continue.

"Finally, there was the Choir." You say. "It was a giant mass of ichor and the bodies and skull of the Three-Eyed ones, the ones who le-"

Garkat hisses and motions for you to talk.

"Speak not of the Crafters." He says. "Please. They may hear and will come. It has happened before. The less they attack, the better.

"However, you heard their song?" He shakes his head. "How did you make that light? That was what saved you, yes?" He asks. "Tisgut told of the *Orc word* bombs. Which is something we are making now. But, did your shaman do something to one of them? What caused that light and blast? Can you do it again? Can you teach us?"

>>26016210
"It is a gift from the Light, we don't fully understand it."

We don't know exactly how beacon works, right?

>>26016210
>the Choir is basically Hastur

>>26016239
not the beacon you dummy, but the GIANT GIANT explosion.

That was peri's new Brillitite bullet. 60% purity.

>>26016239
I suspect its Brillite combined with souls of the just inside the weapon itself.

Hold up Mari's remaining bullet.

It was this. A material that takes a great deal of effort to find and purify.

>>26016210
"Sixty percent purity Brillite bullet. Hell of a thing."

Should we tell these guys? Gotta keep some secrets.

>>26016210
"Oh, that. Fairly rare mineral, it glows when struck by lightning. We've found it packs a major punch when refined.

How pure was that one, Peri?"

>>26016280
Look, either they don't have this stuff and we have them over a barrel in trade, or they DO and this is the exact kind of source we need.

This is the quickest way to find out and get to trade relations either way.

>>26016262
>>26016265
Extremely rare. Extremely expensive. We had two of these.

>>26016210
"two bombs, a Brillite projectile, and dawnchaser luck"

>>26016302
May or may not require divine power

>>26016316
probably the best answer.

>>26016210
Can you say bargaining chip?!

>>26016316
throw in
"and a little help from his Light"

"Oh, that?

It was the invention of one of the weak and clumsy members of our tribe back home. The ones we don't make fight.

They come up with some real great things, if you treat them well."

>>26016337
er, link to
>>26016210

>>26016316
Agreeing with this.

We should also stress that it will be very difficult to acquire more. It was going to take how long to refine enough to attack Citadel?

>>26016210
"We're not sure. Weapons like the one I used are still experimental, and we're not sure they can be used by just anyone. They rely on a rare and difficult to work material."

"That was a one-time thing for now, but I can do similar but less dramatic things with fair reliability."

>>26016327
Absolutely don't throw that in

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>>26016368
Going to agree for the moment but at some point we've got to get in some time for the Light for us having survived this far.

You hold up Mari's remaining bullet. "It was this. A material that takes a great deal of effort to find and purify. It's a fairly rare mineral, it glows when struck by lightning. We've found it packs a major punch when refined." You say.

Garkat looks fascinated he talks to the Boar Speaker, who nods, and then shakes his head, and shrugs.

"Glow stone does that? How?"

"It was the invention of one of the weak and clumsy members of our tribe back home. The ones we don't make fight. They come up with some real great things, if you treat them well." You say.

Garkat sits up. "You have weapon makers."

"Yes, but it was also thanks to two bombs, and Dawnchaser luck." You say.

"How does it work?" Garkat asks. "Does you shaman do something to it, or must the Crafters be fooled into eating it?" He shakes his head.

Ah, they don't know about blackpowder weaponry. You see Mari put a hand on where she's hidden the pistol and she looks to you for a cue to show it to the orcs or not.

You clear your throat. "That was also a one-time thing for now, but I can do similar but less dramatic things with fair reliability."

"How?"

You take out Beacon.

You can see a flash of greed and want born from desperation in Garkat's eyes, but he looks at Tisgut and he shakes his head. He relaxes back on his bench.

"Were we to gain a mass of glow stone, could you show us how to make it work with *Orc word* bombs?"

Mage nods. "Yes. I can."

Tisgut, Garkat, and the Boar start to talk for a while. You see them make the motion for an explosion many times. Then they nod.

"Chief of the Snake Tribe." Garkut says. "You may have given us a way to save our people. We need you do something for us, something no orc can complete. There would be exchange for this."

>>26016555
and here's how we negotiate for an army

>>26016555
"Well Chief Garkut, what sort of exchange do you have in mind?"

>>26016555
>>26016581
Think we can tack some cultural reform on there to boot?

"Doing crazy impossible things is our bread and butter. Give me the details."

So when should we bring up the Seal Mirrors?

>>26016628
once we get his plan. It will be costly, we can throw in the mirrors as an extra added bonus for working with snake-co miracle services. It will improve our bargaining position.

>>26016616
Gonna have to second this

>>26016555
>We need you do something for us, something no orc can complete.
"Somehow I suspected that would be the case"

>>26016555
"We MAY have a way to save ALL peoples from the same threat. If you have a source of "glowstone", we may have the beginnings of a partnership."

"And before you think of taking Beacon from me, it is my weapon, forged from the weapon of my late father, and I doubt it would serve anyone but myself. Perhaps one of my Tribe at great need."

>>26016555
>Satan_makes_a_deal.jpeg

>>26016555
"let me guess you want us to ride into the main city of the ice creatures, fight our way through leviathan sized creatures that are basically parts of gods, take or destroy something that will kill the god or grant you some kind of freedom. that's a typical Monday for us."

>>26016616
we can but it will have to be in the guise of "oh since we helped you and your sending an army with us then these are the rules in the southern tribe"

>>26016732
its so, so true. We're making a deal that will solve ALL their problems... they just have to do one tiny favor is return hah.

>>26016732
Then we got up on a hickory stump and said "orcs, lemme tell you what".

>>26016781
well, a couple small favors.

>>26016555
As it turns out, Scout seems to be higher up than we imagined. Tisgut appears to be some kind of advisor.

>>26016890
ya know, just a mutual defence pact and the abolition of slavery.

Nothin big.

Rolled 2, 18 = 20

>>26016932
I very much doubt we are getting them to abolish slavery. Even if this is a big enough favor that we could get all the orcs to abolish slavery, we frankly need them to fight the Pheonix empire.

Which probably keeps slaves themselves. As much as I hate it, its better to fight off the Pheonixes than to stop slavery among the orcs.

We should tell them of the other land spirits. AFTER an agreement is reached.

Citadel, that tries (or tried) to spread cities built of bone, blood and rock rather than the spread of ice. Trapping the souls of those caught within it and feeding on the dead to grow stronger. It is trapped within itself for the moment, though we don't know for how long.

Then there's what little we know of the Phoenix Empire. A land spirit now harnessed by men to do their bidding. Their people see Citadel, their great rival trapped within itself and wish to take it for themselves as well. And then they will continue to spread until THEY cover the world.

We would see all these spirits, from the Ice that you fight back every day, to those the Phoenix have come to rely upon on sealed away.

File: 1373855498752.png-(132 KB, 330x330, wonderful_business_move.png)

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Don't worry orcs this will be a wonderful business move and both cultures will be enriched and prosperous.

Also, we'll have a source of weapons grade explodium and the abolition of slavery, so everyone is happy.

Rolled 15, 8 = 23

>>26017019
We don't actually know if the Pheonix Empire has a land spirit, and if they do what their relationship to it is.

"Well Chief Garkut, what sort of exchange do you have in mind?"

He nods at Sirala and the Red Wolf shaman. They point their staves at the blocks of wood. There's a flare of light, and then you're not standing in the tent. You're standing in...a city?

No wait, you can smell the tent. This is just illusion magic.

"This is the City of the Crafters. It is twenty miles north of the camp. It is here they were greatest, here they thrived, here they made us as we are." Garkat says.

The city looks beautiful. Bronzed buildings, clean roads, statues and pillars. It's like Citadel's beauty, only this is for real, the result of labor and effort, not something just handed to people by way of magic.

"Let me guess. You want us to ride into the main city of the ice creatures, fight our way through leviathan sized creatures that are basically parts of a God, take or destroy something that will kill the god or grant you some kind of freedom. that's a typical Monday for us."

Garkat's eyes go wide and his mouth drops open a little.

"Told you." Tisgut says. "Snake sees much before others glimpse."

"Doing crazy impossible things is our bread and butter. Give me the details." You say.

"Yes...well...here is where their ascension was, and here is where the Crafter's souls dwell." He points at what has to be a house of worship. Huge vaulted walls, stained glass showing a three-eye holding a staff.

"What did they worship before?" Lea asks.

"Themselves." Tisgut says. "We have sent scouts, Tisgut himself has been within the City."

"Massive flesh, Cathedral more living than stone, birth Things there, Sing all time there, heart heartbeat." He says.

"If we destroy this, the Crafters will lose one of their greatest sources of power. No Cathedral, means Red Wolf, Boar, Rat, and other True Tribes can destroy City and end Ice." He says.

(cont)

>>26017040
We were told that they harnessed their land spirit. We even told Granny this.

>>26017055
"So, you want to make a bomb and have us deliver it for you?" Peri asks.

"No." Garkat says. "Crafters MUST be destroyed by the Orcs. Otherwise we will always be locked within their chains. However, no Orc can do any form of violence, whatsoever within the City, even through distant means. We've tried many things, but an Orc cannot even set a fire outside of the City if it would damage the City. The Crafter's chains remain."

"It's a geas." Mage says.

"A strong one," Mari agrees. "Ah! I get it!"

Garkat nods and the illusion moves to another building. This looks like a cross between a Mayoral Manor and a Conclave. Tall spired, glass domes, and a sense of authority and wisdom.

"In here, there are the chains." The illusion moves inside. You see a large room that has a giant carved floor. Runes cover the floor and the walls. You see them pulse and shimmer. This is a Bad Room. In the center is a tall staff. It's of smooth white stone and it has a hoop at the top, within the hoop floats a glowing stone.

"That is the strongest link in the chain, it is also the weakest." Garkat says. "That powers the other seals within the city that make us powerless, but it only remains active now thanks to the staff. Remove that, and the rest of the seals fail and the geas is lifted."

"Does the staff look EXACTLY like this?" Mage asks. He looks very excited.

Garkat nods. "As far as we can tell, yes."

"So, you want us to go INSIDE the city of an evil God of the Crafters." Tricia says. "And pull out a magic staff, just so you can blow up the cathedral?"

The illusion fades and you return to seeing the inside of the tent.

(cont)

>>26017040
We saw it in a dream. They've basically killed it and taken it's place.

You know something about that staff Mage?

I have a feeling we're going to meet said evil god at some point in that city

Rolled 11, 9 = 20

>>26017099
Probably the one he needs. You know, the second in the set of the one he has.

>>26017066
>>26017055
Ah, so it's the logical conclusion of Citadel.

>>26017099
I think mage is getting an upgrade

>>26017112
I thought his sister had the other staff

>>26017123
Mage broke it.

Rolled 1, 18 = 19

>>26017123
If she had, we would have taken it from her. But we didn't, IIRC.

>>26017130
Mage broke it to defeat every single Ghoul in a city.

>>26017127
Yeah I know

Regardless we gotta talk to Mage about his new magic stick

>>26017130
mage broke that shit

>>26017066
"Yes." Garkat says. "I know, the City is vile, and it is where the Crafters are strongest, in all respects. But you crossed the Ice at night. You are strong, you are not Orcs."

"Have you asked this of others before?" Peri asks.

"Yes." He says.

"You tried to have your human slaves get it, didn't you?" She says. "That's how they got all those identical human creatures, didn't they?"

"Yes." Garkat says. Again there's no shame in his voice.

"May I speak with you outside?" Mage says to you.

"Me too." Peri says.

Garkat motions that you may step out for a moment.

"No. No. NO!" Peri says. "That place is a death trap, and they know it. Also, I don't think they'd give a damn about anything that happens to us once we get them access. They'd probably blow us up too!"

"No. We HAVE to go. That's the Staff of Domination." Mage says. "I read about it in the Staves Guild books when I was looking up stuff about my staff." He says. "That's our solution!"

"We can't free the Orcs and then turn arou-" Lea starts and then winces. "Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to, you wouldn't do that."

"Thank you, but I don't blame you for going there." Mage says. "That stone in it? The one as big as my first? Guess what it's made of?"

"You're kidding." Tricia says.

Mage nods. "And it'll be pure, or at least pure enough and big enough to serve our purposes."

"The orcs would never let us keep it." Peri says. "Also, we don't know how intact that staff will be."

"True." Mage says. "After all these years, the drain could have caused the stone to disintergrate a little, but...look if there's a chance we can get what we need to blow a hole in the Citadel Wall, AND get the Orcs on our side, why shouldn't we take it?"

"I'm not saying your wrong, Mage." Tricia says. "But the Orcs will always act in their best interest, which is very rarely ours."

>>26017066
>Mage asks. He looks very excited.
>Mage very excited
This is either really good or really, REALLY bad.

... pure brillite.

Tricia is right about that. So instead of telling them we have it we hide it from them.

>>26017176
good point. How do we hold the orcs to any deal they make?

Should we bring up tisgut's little trick, and ask them why they wouldn't do such a thing again after we've removed the staff?

Rolled 16, 5 = 21

>>26017176
"So we steel the orb and tell them it was like that when we found it."

>>26017176
They'll likely only let us leave with one of them. Either the staff or the stone. And thats WITH negotiating terms before hand.

>>26017176
"Well, we could give them a reason to not NEED it. We've got the mirrors in the wagon don't we?"

>>26017176
"I see no reason they wouldn't let us keep the stick. I mean, what, are they going to demand it of us? After we just waded into their most horrible place and slew everything there?

As long as they don't backstab us entirely that is."

>>26017176
I agree with Tricia here, nations or for this matter tribes will always act for their best interest rather than ours. We got to convince them that our interest is aligned with their interest and by them helping us, they help themselves.

Do the quest only for the defensive pact, and we'll appropriate the Brililite for ourselves.

>>26017176
"We will allow them to have enough Brillite to do what they need to do, just as we'll take enough to do what we need to do. Most likely we'll also take the staff. Mage, I need you to do whatever you can to protect everyone else from the Choirs. Probably with a modification of your Stealth spell. The entire city is probably filed with magic...it might help us blend in. We'll also need a plan to keep ourselves clearly strong enough to survive after we're done with this. Finally, we need to look at that piece of Ice, maybe we can develop something to help us with it."

>>26017176
"So we steal it, and then use it as insurance to ensure that they keep their word? Nothing like a bit of mutually assured destruction to prompt a race whose primary motivation is self interest, right? Just a threat, mind, I'd never actually use it like that."

>>26017176
'We also need to explain to them about the threat of the Phoenix Empire. Their army is large enough that the Orcs probably wont be able to deal with them alone after fighting the Three Eyes."

>>26017176
"Simple, if they desire for orcs to free themselves, we get to keep what we find in addition to what we already want out of them. If they think to double cross us, we'll do the deed oursevles."

>>26017267
>Satan introduces nuclear deterrents.jpeg

>>26017176
"First we need to consider how to combat that damned Choir trick. You lot managed to recover fairly quickly, because it seems the human mind recedes temporarily when faced with those sorts of things."

"But in the mean time it's still a serious problem, and I don't have that benefit. It was so horrifying it took me until Lea shook me out of it to realize that I had been screaming. So I'd prefer if we didn't all have to do that again."

>>26017176
"The adventurer who looted the tomb gets the glowing orb. Them's the rules. It may or may not then go to a museum after that, I'm not sure."

"Well, we could give them a reason to not NEED it. We've got the mirrors in the wagon don't we?" You say.

"We don't know if the Grand Seal will work on anything other that Citadel." Tricia says. "And even then that's just us going on the theory that it'll work because Dagda's the one who started the mess with this. This is something else entirely."

"Also, what if using the mirrors here, destroys them?" Mari says. "We don't have a lot of spare Lantern Metal lying around."

"I see no reason they wouldn't let us keep the stick. I mean, what, are they going to demand it of us? After we just waded into their most horrible place and slew everything there?" You say.

"That thing is pretty powerful, old or not." Mage says. "You really don't want ANYONE getting that staff."

"So we go in, remove the staff, steal the orb and tell them it was like that when we found it." You say.

"I suppose that's a plan." Lea says. "But I'm still not keen on Mage teaching them how to refine brillitite on their own."

"There's not much up here." Mage says.

"So they'll find it somewhere else...or just take it." Lea says.

"So you don't want to take out the Ice God?" Peri says.

"No, it must be destroyed, that's a given." Lea says.

"So we steal the staff, and then use it as insurance to ensure that they keep their word? Nothing like a bit of mutually assured destruction to prompt a race whose primary motivation is self interest, right? Just a threat, mind, I'd never actually use it like that." You say. "But we tell them that we get to keep what we find in addition to what we already want out of them. If they think to double cross us, we'll do the deed oursevles."

"Alright, that sounds like a plan." You say. "We better start making plans on how to resist the Choir."

"First we need to get a deal for the army and the staff." Tricia says. "They're waiting for us."

You nod and go back inside.

Garkat looks at you calmly. "Your decision and exchange terms, Snake Chief?"

>>26017410
"You agree to help us solve our problem, we'll help you with yours. You need a small team to pull your task off, we need an army."

So time to come to a consensus. What do we want aside from mutual defense pact and abolishing slavery?

Rolled 19, 4 = 23

>>26017410
"We will do this. On several conditions.

First: We came here to get an army to fight the Pheonix Empire. The orcs will be that army.

Second: The Staff of Domination will be destroyed, but we get to keep the orb. We need it to kill an ice god of our own."

>>26017485
They don't need to know that we want the Orb nor that we're going to take it.

>>26017468
I'm going for just the mutual defense, abolishing slavery, and the orb.

Those are the three points of my little sphiel I'm making.

After these extended messages, we'll be right back.

Rolled 18, 7 = 25

>>26017468
>>26017535

Sadly, abolishing slavery is probably not going to happen.

>>26017410
"We'll help save the orcs, sure. The orcs and everyone else. First, the true orcish tribes and the tribes of the south will swear to defend one another. This means no raiding one another, and when war with our enemies comes, we will help each other. Second, people will stop being treated as things. slaves will be allowed to join tribes or make a prepared and healthy journey to the south, and no more slaves will be taken. Finally, to ensure no further tricks like Tisgut's lure, we will be keeping most of the staff's orb, so as to provide tremendous consequence for oath breakers.

What say you?"

>>26017581
then they can figure out how to save themselves on their own.

luckily this can be used after the meeting:
>>26017176
"ok first we need to find out to to protect ourselves from the mind scrambling effects, next we need something to either hide or fight the giant ice creatures, next we need something to fight the main god because knowing our luck he will talk to us, or at least to me, and finally we need a plan to escape because as soon as we have the staff i bet every single ice creature will attack us not to mention the orcs will start blowing it up. Then we have the minor problems of actually getting there without alerting the ice creatures, bargaining with the orcs, making sure we don’t make the orcs have a world conquering weapon, and even before we leave the ice god will probably drop by my dreams for a visit. Did I forget anything?"

>>26017410
“We will do it, but these are our terms first we get the staff we will probably destroy it for parts but you never know what might happen if you start blow the city up while were in there. Next you announce that any orc that wants to move south and fight our upcoming war is welcome to travel with us but they will follow the rules of the southern tribe not orc rules, any that travel after us must be told our laws and advised to come to the camp of the snake tribe. Third you will allow us enough time to escape the city before you try to destroy it, we don’t feel like saving you then getting blown up in the process, we are heroes but you are already on our last nerve with your using us as bait without telling us. This is what we get after, before we go in we want all the info on the city, the creatures, and the god and any bombs we make we take half into the city.”

>>26017614
I was tempted to make an argument for why keeping and taking slaves makes them weaker as a people, but I was unsure how to go about it. I mean, we've demonstrated that if you treat the weak well, they invent wonders like our guns. I just didn't have the words.

Rolled 10, 11 = 21

>>26017615
The only good slaver is a dead slaver.

Unfortunately it isn't that simple. Slavery is an economic problem, and it won't be solved by merely political solutions. At best, the Red Wolf tribe will stop practicing slavery, but the other tribes probably won't feel bound by the agreement.

>>26017634
I think you could use some commas, or periods, or other punctuation in there somewhere.

>>26017410
"Oh, you ask what I want? Just a few, trifling little things.

An army that can fight 500,000, an end to slavery in all the tribes, and assurance you won't break the deal. "

>>26017581
Agreed. At least not now. Abolishing slavery should be a long term goal like freeing the souls from Old One's horde. For now we should work on getting an army to fight the Pheonix Empire, obtaining the brillite we need to break into Citadel since the opportunity has presented itself, making sure the Staff of Domination doesn't fall into the wrong hands, and not getting ourselves killed in the process.

>>26017410
'First, we need Brillite if we can find it in the area. We have our own God to kill as well. We can give some interesting information that should at least get less Orcs killed in the City.

Secondly, there is a threat that will be coming later. We wanted to bring it to your attention, suggest that we both fight it to minimize the difficulty in stopping it on our own.

There might also be the possibility of trade with Kingdoms to the south. I don't represent them, but I bring up the possibility.

>>26017800
We're already stealing the brillite from the staff

>>26017712
Yes I could but Word is not a miracle worker and i'm not a grammar expert. my grammar skill are not Nazi level. The real question is how flawless are my terms

>>26017854
eh, they're OK, if we're not going the abolish-slavery route.

>>26017816
I'm wondering weither we even should lie to the Orcs, though. This isn't really us...

>>26017917
yeah, we can probably just flat out state "we're taking it because you did a thing to make us not trust you"

or even just "we're taking it"

>>26017887
i'm in the its not possible party the closest we will get is when i said >>26016775

Echo: Somehow salvage the disparate and patchy negotiation terms into something reasonable.

>>26017939
Or "we're taking what we want from the city" without drawing special attention to what we're planning on taking.

>>26017410
'I also think that you may find a more efficient method of slavery. After this is all over, you'll have to deal with less pressure on your respective tribes. It may be more effective to allow and encourage slaves to become stronger, and eventually merge with the tribe if they wish.

I also must request that if any Brillite is found, that you give it to us for safe-keeping. These being are...a sad reminder of what good intentions combined with power over others leads too. Having so much power around could warp your tribe, making it more easily fractured.'

>>26017410
"First, the orcs will march to war alongside us, that the north and the south might crush any god or army which threatens them. Divided, we fall, but united, no enemy would dare to strike.

Second, the orcs will not engage in active hostilities with the tribes in the south. It is within my power to ensure that the majority of the south tribes reciprocate this. I do not require that you immediately accept them, their culture, or their philosophy, I only require that you not engage them on hostile terms.

Third, you will provide some form of insurance to ensure that you cannot absolve yourself of this bargain without grave consequences befalling your every tribe.

I will strike down the god which you cannot, and in exchange, you will honour these terms. They are not negotiable, and they are not unfair. What say you?

>>26018157
>>26018166
Ehh I really don't like these at all.

Rolled 16, 13 = 29

>>26018157
This is dumb.


>>26018166
This is good.

>>26018166
>>26018211
well, I like this one, if we're going the non-abolition route. It's all right. Covers all the other points.

>>26018242
I thought we were going for abolition.

>>26018281
I personally support the abolition myself. But that was a fairly well written non abolitionist thing.

If no one wants to talk to the Orcs about the Brillite or the Staff, that's fine, but...well, they probably will not take it too nicely that we didn't tell them up-front. We also haven't talked to them about the Phoenix Empire, which was one of the two reasons we were coming up here.

>>26018281
Let's push for eventual abolition. Can't exactly make them offer to change their society before we've even delivered.

it may help to remind them that they're essentially no better than their former masters.

>>26018306
yeah, we do need to tell them. mention we'll be needing to fight 500,000 men and ettins in our defense agreement terms.

Rolled 14, 10 = 24

>>26018281

Abolition is probably too expensive politically. I doubt we can get both it and the army. We need the army, abolition can come later once the United Free Kingdoms are not under threat of invasion, especially since I suspect the Pheonix Empire is a slave keeping empire.

If it's abolition vs army, it's probably better to get the army and work on abolition later.

>>26018313
We might just find some goodies in the city that would help.

Or use the staff to demonstrate if push comes to sthove

>>26018281
We fight that battle after beating back the invading Phoenicians.

About the staff\brillite thing. To orcs us taking it because we want it fits prefectly within their worldview.

>>26018340
I see no reason not to highball the orcs and have them have to argue us down.

>>26018375
They'll also be getting what remains of the city to resettle into a proper capital for the north. Might as well throw that in.

>>26018407
I wonder how orcs deal with stationary living. They seem semi-nomadic.

>>26018340
That's kinda why I suggested the addition of slaves working their way up. Probably best just to give them some pointers on how to change their society (which they can implement by speaking with the whole tribe about it) based on not living on the Ice constantly.

As to the Phoenix Empire army, explain it's coming with the Ettins, explain their ruthless and cunning, and explain it would be easier just to all take it down together then get picked apart one group at a time.

>>26018361
Which is a damned good point, Redaeth, I'm just adding in that them not having to deal with magical superweapons while their entire society reorganizes itself may be a blessing, and that most of the brillite will probably be used up stopping Citadel.

We also don't know if there are other Land Spirits that we need to take care of. We also don't know if even using a bomb is the right idea, maybe we can use the Brillite as some sort of shield generator to protect us from Land Spirits.

>>26018526
I'd rather take the strong position on stonewalling them.

>>26018597
>and that most of the brillite will probably be used up stopping Citadel.
Then throw that in under conditions for the negotiation. We keep the brillite but only under the condition that it be used to help destroy a land spirit. I'm sure the Orcs will then want to use it to destroy the three-eye city once the geas is broken but I suspect that it won't be needed there as much.

>>26018673
I wonder if we could impress upon them the fact that all of the land spirits are focused on total domination over every living thing in the world, and how bad that sucks for everyone involved.

Also, I wonder if the Ice Man might be willing to help us deal with the Three-Eyes.

>>26018752
>ice man
>seperate from three eyes
That's a thought. They might not be the same entity.

Probably are though.

>>26018760
I doubt it. Three-Eyes are an "ascended" civilization. The Ice Man was probably what was here before that... Fifth's frosty Northern cousin.

>>26018760
The kids ran to him like their favourite uncle.

my guess is he's the old land spirit, and the accession was his idea.