Things are finally starting to turn around for you in the Crafter's city. You've defeated Doctor and secured the remaining 'spare supplies' of living flesh and put them in barrels.

What's more, the flesh robot Nakai'ia was restored to her 'original state' (almost, she still has six arms and has her spider-platform thing for a lower body) and you managed to rescue her. She turned out to be a Crafter, who had been serving as that thing as a way for her to pay to go to the University here. Nikai, as she called herself, was distraught at the information that her civilization had long ago turned to dust, and a demented semi-God was her only legacy.

She was nearly lost to despair, but you managed to pull her back with the help of His Light. More specifically, Nikai's spite towards His Light, which existed as a small, ridiculed, cult back in her time. She refused to let it win, and decided to help you aid the Sad Things and wipe out the city.

First though, she wished to stop by her Uncle's home so she could fix her body, help herself to his jewelry collection, and get a few more 'essentials.' Then to the Tower of Obedience to get the Staff of Domination, and the brillitite stone set within it.

You made a crude cart, loaded up the barrels of flesh into it, and hitched it to Lightmare. Dawn had broken, causing most of the Ice Things to retreat back into their hiding places, and you made your way through the city.

Right up until now...

A small pack of three hounds are sniffing down the street that will cross yours. You have enough dried venison to use as a distraction. Of course, you could chuck a brick, or make Mage do something.

Still there's options where you hide, or bolt down the road as quickly as you can, or get ready to fight the creatures.

Good afternoon, echo! Hope you got a good sleep in ya.

Anyway, as yesterday, I'm still for the "shed a single tear and toss the venison" plan. Though we should probably try throwing a brick first, on the off chance it works and we don't actually have to part with our precious snacks.

Rolled 11

>>26156017
[x] Bolt, with fight as a backup plan if that fails.

>>26156128
bolting and then fighting are a good last-two-recourses in any situation.

>>26156017
Sticking with my plan of using an ice bolt to create a noise to distract the hounds

If this is anything like last night, we've run into one of them split decisions. It doesn't really matter, and several of the plans are quite similar.

Go with your narrative gut, echo!

Rolled 11

Wait, don't we have to aid the sad things before we go to the Tower and free the orcs?

>>26156274
oh, the plan is to summon them to the tower. Somehow.

We'll figure that out when we get there.

Why are these hounds not hiding before the light? Any running theories, while we wait for whatever we're waiting for?

secondly, why WOULD they hide from the light? We never found that one out either

Does anyone know any other good monster-based quest threads?
>>26156128
Also voting for this

I think we should either distract them or hide. Running past is only last resort as we are still trying NOT to attract attention.

>>26156582
I view running past as the "if distracting/hiding fails" plan.

Rolled 12

>>26156513
>>26156128
>>26156188

"Mage, can you shoot a bolt or make a sound to distract them?" You ask.

"I can try, but you know my his-" Mage starts.

"Just do it before Nikai ends up enamored by you like the rest." Peri says.

"What?" Nikai asks.

Mage sighs and aims his staff.

>>26156671
... another success!

good job Mage.

>>26156671
> he successes in front of potential female to impress

Oh Mage.

>>26156671
>>26156722
did you know:

Mage was showing signs of his swagger all the way back in purple sands right after we got him, when he had to hide for hours at a time to avoid the attentions of the local witches-in-training.

>>26156671
"CRACK!" A crate behind the Hounds splits open with a loud sound. The Hounds turn and start to head over there.

"Go!" Lea says quietly to Lightmare and the horse trots off.

You keep going through the city until Nikai orders you to stop in front of a large house.

"Wait out here." She says.

"No way." Tricia says. "We're not sitting out here like targets for the Things and who-knows-what else."

Nikai rolls her eyes. "Fine, but I forbid you to go further than the foyer. This is my family's house and I wont have Base, Beasts, and Light Cultists tromping through it!" She snaps.

With a sigh and a groan you all, even Lightmare, fit though the door. Nikai heads off, knowing where to go.

You look around. It's not untasteful or horrific. Table, empty vases that probably held flowers, and pictures of the wall of what must be dear Uncle's menagerie.

"Lovely...Mira and Belle." Lea says, looking at a picture of two conjoined twins. "A man who had a love for the bizarre and, by his societies standard's, disgusting."

"Pity we can't beat the shit out of him." Mari says.

>>26156671
whisper back to her
"Well, like my dearest brother says, he DOES have a history"

>>26156742
I remember that, yes.

I don't think Nakai's going to ever like anyone ever. MAYBE Ssen, after a few decades or so. Maybe.

>>26156754
shout after her
"If you're going to get some weapon to betray us, make sure it's a cool one!"

then to your comrades
"At least we only have to look at pictures. I bet the real thing is tragic, especially now."

Consider this for a bit, and then tilt every pictureframe in the room. As an act of avengeance.

>>26156754
"We can't get everyone"

Rolled 15

>>26156671
By bolt I meant flee.
>>26156754
But I suppose it works anyway.

>>26156754
"He's dead and gone. No point in hating him."

Rolled 6

>>26156809
Seconding this.

>>26156809
thirding.

When she comes back we should probably ask Nikai:
1. Why exactly she thinks things are becoming more human and if she was literal when she said lamia were breeding with humans. (I'm fairly worried this may have something to do with the light)

2. How much she knows about fleshshaping.

>>26156809
>>26156850
This, and then.

>>26156792
Gotta break that somber mood

Maybe elbow Mage and whistle when/if she looks different after fixing herself up.

>>26156924
yeah, that human thing is worrying. Really worrying. I mean, we like humans and all, but we'd also like to keep our race from being bred out entirely.

"If you're going to get some weapon to betray us, make sure it's a cool one!" You shout down the hall.

"At least we only have to look at pictures. I bet the real thing is tragic, especially now." You say as you tilt the pictures. "We can't get everyone, and he's dead and gone. No point in hating him."

"We should ask her to check on these poor souls." Lea says. "See if they're Sad Things in need of release."

"Or we could go check ourselves." Peri says.

"That would be breaking hospitality." Mari says. "Or at the very least be exceedingly rude. We still need her help at the Tower."

>>26156980
I can agree with asking her but Mari is right. No need to be rude.

>>26156964
Well, it's not so much a matter of humans breeding other races out as it is other races becoming human.

Remember that island of platypi that turned sentient and the Fifth destroyed them? Maybe that was to get back at the Light. I think the Light is trying to spread humanity (first in the form of sentience, and then in the form of human features) in order to uplift animals and beasts and try to get them to work together. It's a noble goal and reminiscent of the nature vs. civilization story arc that Echo had planned if we chose to meet up with those two Lamia at the start. He's clearly merging storylines.

>>26156012
>you have become a Paladin like your Father
Did he also torture people and kill childrens?

>>26156980
"I could probably technically go and check without breaking our word, since I can't tromp around, but we all know that's not what she meant. We'll just have her check them for us.

They're probably just dead though. They were caged, and there wasn't anyone to feed them, and... yeah."

>>26156980
We should just ask.

Best be diplomatic instead of fervent in our quest to give peaceful release

>>26156980
"She barely tolerates us as it is. We can ask, but if it comes to it our main objective comes first."

>>26157006
look, I'm fine with spreading civilization and culture and all that. S'cool. I don't want a homogenous monoculture monopeople, though. I want a vast and interesting world full of many people and places and things, new and old, whirling about. I am menaced by the human gene spread.

>>26157041
As I said, it's a nature vs. civilization type thing. By making them more human, they become more "civilized."

I for the most part agree with you, but the question is what's causing it and how do we counter or at least slow it.

>>26157010
Lawful good doesn't mean lawful nice.

>>26157078
don't interact with the bait, anon.

Rolled 16

I thought we couldn't have children with humans outside of special magical assistance. That doesn't really jive with what Nikai said.

>>26157078
Torture is never justifiable.

>>26157091
yeah, we're in the information gathering stage right now.
Who knows, maybe the magic assistance way left a permanent mark.

>>26157091
She might be wrong about it, which is why we should ask more.

Supposedly Lamias became more human to attract prey, which I've always thought sounded stupid.

>>26157124
I think everything about the Crafters rings of massive, species-wide delusion that would make Citadel blush.

>>26157106
Justification is a matter of opinion.

>>26157147
Logic isn't opinionated.

>>26157147
please, don't continue with him. He is not attempting to have a conversation, he is simply trying to rile you up.

>>26157154
And justification isn't based on neutral logic.

>>26157147
"Ends Justify the Means" has been the first and last step down a lot of dark roads.

>>26157165
Thus there is no logical justification for torture.

>>26157147
Spoken like a true Blackguard.

>>26157163
Dude, seriously. This.

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>>26157141
But they were around when, if I remember correctly, the Phoenix Empire were more like birds than apes.

There's something going on here and while the Crafters aren't exactly reliable sources of information, they are looking at it from a perspective we aren't. Why do elves and dwarves look so human? Why did the spawn of dragons and leviathans, the mer and lamia, become humanoid? Why does human civilization absorb non-human civilization time and time again? Why are our land spirits always the strongest?

Now, some of these questions probably have reasonable explanations, but Nikai's comments hint at something we've either ignored or taken for granted.

Rolled 9

>>26157141
Yeah, I trust Granny more than I trust this crafter girl. Nikai might just be spouting some speciesist ignorance.

>>26157167
"Necessary Evil" is a thing that exists.
>>26157173
We aren't all computers anon. Besides I just said that there was no such thing as a logical justification from a neutral opinion.
>>26157189
Thank you.

>>26157218
Yeah. That's specifically why we seek out so many ancient sources of information- if there's a discrepancy, it means something. And this is a big, ANCIENT discrepancy.

We're missing something important. Probably to do with the light.

>>26157232
>"Necessary Evil" is a thing that exists.
Not for a paladin.

>>26157232
I beseech you to stop entertaining him. There's no need to get into axioms and logic theory.

Rolled 18

>>26157242
There is nothing neccessarily unbelievable about Lamia looking like they do.

http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?680742-Where-I-Infer-The-Phylogenetic-Tree-of-the-Monster-Manual

>>26157242
Maybe we could try to nick a book on the subject before the orcs nuke the place.

>>26157261
sadly... you are wrong. Sometimes its the case of choosing a lesser evil, or doing nothing and letting even more evil to occur. A true Paladin would make that choice. Even if it damned her.

>>26157232
>We aren't all computers anon.
I just dont see how a paladin, a paragon of justice and righteousness, could ever stoop so low to the utterly pointless practice of torture and still consider themselves a paladin.

>>26157218
Which is kinda why I want to grill the shit out of her when we have a moment to do so. Nothing really jives anymore, and I get the feeling it's going to be important to our long game.
>>26157232
Just stop.

>>26157285
And torture isn't a lesser evil, its a pointless evil that accomplishes nothing. Torture never produces good intel.

>>26157232
Torture doesn't help. People will say anything to make it stop.

It's not a necessary evil. Just an evil.

>>26157280
who said it was unbelievable? That doesn't have a single effect on whether or not we're missing something big.

No reason to just toss aside a lead like this because granny told us otherwise. Cross referencing information is always crucial.

>>26157221
We're gonna need to compare notes, but Granny might be able to teach her some respect.

>>26157285
Silly Redaeth, when faced with a choice between two evils, a true paladin chooses the impossible and takes the third option!

>captha:accomplish all

>>26156671
>"I can try, but you know my his-" Mage starts.
>"Just do it before Nikai ends up enamored by you like the rest." Peri says.

I still say Mage must be getting some kind of charisma boost via dragon servant link with us.

>>26157346
he COULD just be a natural ladykiller.

>>26157355
He did fuck his own sister.

>>26157346
>>26157355
Either is certainly possible.

>>26157362
well, he didn't mean to do that one.

>>26157364
Why can't it be both stacked upon each other?

>>26157382
because we have no way of telling if it's one, the other, or both.

>>26157389
>>26157382
>>26157364
It could also be a power thing. Mage has pretty much been the one causing the ecological damage that follows our every movement.

>>26157401
well, once it was our horse.

>>26157401
He has so much magical radiation around him he just becomes a chick magnet.

>>26157479
It's because he's Dagda reborn.

>>26157486
I actually believe this. Dagda helped create the Citadel and Mage will help end it.

>>26157486
More like Swagda, amirite?

Speaking of whom, I really do think that Dagda had something when he observed that the land spirits were deliberately killing off species. It could be that the Crafters got everything right, but were punished by another power for what they were trying to do.

Rolled 7

>>26157512
>slavers
>got everything right

>>26157512
It's clear that the Crafters were influenced by their own land spirit into taking slaves and becoming obsessed with "perfection."

>>26157538
I mean the Ascension procedure, dingus. Their THEORIES were right.

>>26157503
well, actually dagda made the dragon of shadows, thistleblossom (aka comedy) and peace made citadel.
>>26157512
I keep thinking the man on the ice is different from the crafters somehow.

>>26157486
Dagda's whole rebirth thing might be like one theory about Morrowind' Nerevarine. The theory is that Azura (the light in our story) is using the pc (or Mage here) to get revenge on the tribunal(the other gods)

Rolled 19

>>26157543
that's hardly "clear".

>>26157543
We don't know what that "Truth" Nakai mentioned consisted of, or where it came from.

I tried to ask last night, but it never happened.

"She barely tolerates us as it is, and as annoying as it is, Mari's right. We can ask, but if it comes to it our main objective comes first." You say. "I could probably technically go and check without breaking our word, since I can't tromp around, but we all know that's not what she meant. We'll just have her check them for us.

"They're probably just dead though. They were caged, and there wasn't anyone to feed them, and... yeah."

Lea takes down the names of the menagerie, regardless. "Every soul should have at least one person remember them, and pray for their guidance to His Light."

"Okay. I'm ready." A voice says, making all of you turn and look.

Nikai has changed. She has a human face now, and she's a knockout now. Long legs, flawless creamy skin, a figure that would make Ava of the Lightbringers jealous, only this one has realistic curves instead of Ava's exaggerated features. Shiny teeth, and long raven black hair.

"Umm...what?" Peri asks.

"Well, I can't exactly go walking around Orcs in my divine flesh. They'd rip me apart. I'm not stupid." She shrugs. "But, if I must be of the appearance of Base, then I should be of the finest appearance. Come on, Skitter!"

The platform skitters forward. It now has two antenna on it and makes little chirping noises. It has a small chest strapped to its back.

"Okay." Tricia sighs. "This is turning into something I'm officially regretting." She narrows her eyes at you and smacks your shoulder. "Stop looking at her. It's all fake anyway."

Peri, Mage, and Lea all break into snorting, semi-silent, laughter.

"Now to the Tower." Nikai says.

(cont)

>>26157261
Paladins in this setting aren't necessarily good, methinks.

I would suspect most of them are lawful neutral, if anything, and the few times torture has been employed, there was no permanent damage.

So, lawful neutral leaning lawful good.

Echo: spend some time coming up with a really cool weapon for nikai to come back with.

>>26157560
Also, the yellow boots are a great perk. They're pretty much immune from wear and always fit. Or so mage says.

>>26157591
>Tricia finally realizes this could be competition
Too late, Tricia! We've been noticing parallels for hours now!

>>26157632
LET THE HATEFUCKING BEGIN

>>26157632
I'm doubtful about the possibilities of polygamy/harem ends at this point.

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>>26157591
>smacks your shoulder
>got stabbed in the shoulder yesterday

Do that intake-of-breath ouch hiss kind of noise. Because yowie.

>>26157669
We probably got healed man.

We did tell echo to get ourselves healed, multiple times.

>>26157632
It's not really "competition", though. The best we can hope for out of it is for Nakai to not hate us as much and maybe become less of a bigot.

Not exactly romance material.

>>26157668
don't worry, she's just our eternal nemesis. You know. Our second one.

Rolled 1

>>26157669
Seconding this.

>>26157591
"Hold on, hold on." Peri says. "We need to know this." She gestures to the walls. "These girls and boys and...other...are they still here? I mean are they undead? Cause if they are then we need to let them out so we can help them."

She rolls her eyes. "Ugh, I don't know. Fine, we'll go check. I give you permission to come see Uncle's freaks. I don't suppose there's much damage you can do to that stuff."

She opens a door in the wall and motions for you to follow her.

You all head downstairs, this isn't really a secret passage, but more of a very expensive staircase that's 'secret' just for the mystique of being secret.

"Uncle was always so strange." Nikai says.

You enter into a large room. It's very strange. There's large glass spheres filling this room, must be twenty, give or take. They're each about the size of a large bedroom, there's a glass window on the top of every sphere, and a large heavy looking door on the side.

Along the top, by the windows are small viewing platforms so people could stand and look down on what was happening inside the sphere.

"Uncle was so strange." She shakes her head. "He always liked it when people watched him It was as if he couldn't justify being such a deviant unless other people KNEW he was."

Lea climbs up to one of the spheres and looks inside. She frowns, does a double take, and then swears.

"Open this. Now."

>>26157685
you do realize that neither the healing potions nor the coagulative powder actually heal wounds, and instead just seal them, leaving the body to finish the job?

>>26157696
"Something up?"
I assume lea is hogging the window, so we'll check once the door is open.

>>26157592
>Paladins in this setting aren't necessarily good, methinks.
So they arent paladins, then.

>>26157701
The potions are troll blood, I assumed they actually healed things.

I dont' recall echo saying anything either way.

>>26157668
Possibly Lea. She got pretty cuddly while she was stoned. Mari/Peri don't seem particularly interested, and Mage has his own bitches to worry about.

>>26157724
way back it was mentioned. It pertained to ava, and her permanent injury.

>>26157696
stand on our tail and look into what she is looking into.

>>26157730
no, we'll not have a love harem. That's not what we were talking about.

We will, however, have our pick of the enemies. Kinda similar.

Rolled 18

>>26157748
Seconding

>>26157737
Gotcha.
>>26157730
What do the teachings say about polygamy?

>>26157773
Bretty cool in my book.

>>26157786
Go away citadel.

>>26157786
Go back to your corner

Your timeout isn't over yet.

>>26157786
Man, Citadel was pretty weeb, what with the harem endings, oversized weaponry and grimderp edginess.

>>26157696
"What's inside?"

>>26157748
Thirding

>>26157786
GTFO Citidel. Go back to your egg.

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>>26157797
>>26157800

>>26157773
>Polygamy
Something to the tune of 'Don't betray those you love'. Basically, it's a lot of work sometimes, but it's possible.

>>26157748
>stand on our tail and look into what she is looking into.
This, but prepare to attack anything hostile that might come out upon opening. Who knows, the sphere might act as a sort of stasis chamber.

>>26157721
Paladins are the bodyguards of Frankish Chiefs

>>26157903
>go into city with party of five(six?)
>exit city with party of dozens
"Problem, orcs?'

>>26157933
They said we could take whatever we could carry on our backs, no wagons. They never said we couldn't recruit more people.

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>>26157931
>>26157721
Not everyone can have the benefit of being frankish.
But we can dream.

>>26157955
well, I more think their problem will be with where on earth we found people in super-zombie-town.
But yeah, it's cool. And if need be, we can just carry them on our backs. At least five of 'em.

>>26157971
The snake train is to be kept a secret

"What's inside?" You ask as you slither towards the ladder that leads up to the platform. Before you do you punch Tricia in the side where she got cut and healed as well.

"OWWW! What was that f-oh." She stops as you point to your shoulder. "Okay, okay, sorry."

You push and pull most of yourself up and look down inside. Your eyes widen in shock.

A human woman with tentacles growing out of her back is playing cards with a boy. He looks to be no older than twelve.

"Check the others." Lea says. "They're still alive, with children!"

"What?!" Mage, Peri/Mari, and Tricia scamper to different spheres.

"Holy shit." Peri says. "No kids, but yeah. What IS this girl? Looks like she's not totally...solid."

"We need to get these people out!" Tricia says.

"Hold it!" Mage says coming down. "Don't! We don't know how this works. We open a door, maybe a spell ends and they age into dust in a second!"

>>26157989
Ssen: blush while remembering embarrassing past adventures.

Tricia: Notice Ssen is looking in the general direction of Nakai and blushing

Aaaaand go.

>>26158004
"Can they read? We have a window, we could write them a note. Ask if we should open the door."

>>26158034
as good as a plan as any.

Mage do you think you could figure out whats safe?

>>26158004
"Nakai. Might I trouble you for a brief exposition on the rather pressing topic of WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON."

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>>26158004
>"Hold it!" Mage says coming down. "Don't! We don't know how this works. We open a door, maybe a spell ends and they age into dust in a second!"
This was the other thing I was worried about but didn't want to say so lest it give echo an idea.

Anyways, even if we successfully get them out, (and they go with us) how would the orcs react to them once they see us?

>>26158034
>"Can they read? We have a window, we could write them a note. Ask if we should open the door."
Seconded!

>>26158081
Seconding
>>26158034
Thirding

>>26158081
second. Nakai, the fuck is this. Tell us.

>>26158090
>"This snake lady is crazy as hell but she killed god so I'm going to keep my distance."

>>26158004
"I think we're going to need get a few more wagons."

>>26158221
I missed a "to" after need.
Because I'm an idiot.

>>26158221
Depends on how many of them survive being released. We really don't know how the process works.

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Rolled 20

>>26158241
TURN OFF YOUR DICE

"Can they read? We have a window, we could write them a note. Ask if we should open the door." You say as you get down. "Mage, in the meantime, try to figure out what's safe. And Nikai, might I trouble you for a brief exposition on the rather pressing topic of WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?"

She shrugs. "I don't know! I didn't exactly come down here regularly to watch my uncle fuck his homegrown freaks!"

"Yeah." Mage says with closed eyes. "Stasis, disease wards, cleansing, food summoning, waste removal, these bubbles are perfectly safe. A person could live inside one of these things for ages. Wait out the world."

"So we can't open them?" Tricia asks.

"Dunno. Maybe, maybe not." He says.

"They don't hear me." Lea says. "I've been pounding on the glass, they don't notice me at all."

Peri checks another and then looks away. "Your uncle was kind of sick."

"I know." Nikai says.

Mari taps her forehead. "Mage, would these thing survive the blast?"

Mage shrugs. "Maybe. I wouldn't want to risk it, but if I was trapped in the city when that bomb goes off, I'd want to be inside one of these things."

>>26158311
"So in other words, we could conceivably leave them here and they'd be safer then we're going to be?"

>>26158311
We should look into them, find the one holding a person with the least chances of surviving in the real world, and then try opening their cell.

>>26158311
"I don't want to leave them behind. Any way we can test it? Are any of these cells empty?"

>>26158311
Could we use the food summoning to send a note?

>>26158004
Nikai said that her Uncle did perverted things while others watched, so there must be a safe way to open the doors. Ask nikai if she knows and could do it.

>>26158311
"Well, it's good that they're safe, but I'd hate for them to have to be prisoners for the rest of... forever.
Is there any way to test if we can open one of these things without killing the occupant? Perhaps an unoccupied chamber, or one with someone who's died on their own?"

>>26158311
"What have I said about jinxing things!"

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Rolled 19

>>26158310
Read my name.

"So in other words, we could conceivably leave them here and they'd be safer then we're going to be?" You ask.

"Maybe." Mage says.

"Mmmh, I still don't want to leave them behind. Any way we can test it? Are any of these cells empty?" You ask.

"What do you plan to do? Get inside and wait for the bomb to go off?" Peri asks.

"I mean to see if there's any way to test if we can open one of these things without killing the occupant? Perhaps an unoccupied chamber, or one with someone who's died on their own?" You ask.

"How would we test that?" Tricia asks. "Not like we can spend ages upon ages inside them to see if time doesn't catch up when we open it."

"Okay, so...we can't open them without risk, we can't leave them without risk, and we're burning time every moment we stay here." Peri says. "Look, I vote we leave them here."

"Peri!" Lea says.

"This time I have an argument, may I?" Peri says.

Lea nods.

"Okay, say we open them all and a few die but a bunch don't. Then what? We've got to deal with getting them around, getting them out, escaping the bomb, AND we still have to go deal with the Tower and get the stone.

"If we let the bomb go off, maybe some survive. We come back for them, let them out, and we can then just deal with some orcs who'll probably be more than willing to just let us cart them away. Then we just have ANOTHER stupid convoy to deal with. Letting things explode, honestly is less risky than having them deal with a giant city of monsters."

There's a pause. And then Lea nods. "She's not wrong. I don't like it...but she's not wrong."

>>26158520
She's right.

We're wasting daylight as it is, lets go.

Just gonna remind you guys we still have shit to deal with back home, we can't exactly spend too much time up here

>>26158520
God dammit I don't want to play Snake Trial: Winter edition.

Lets go then.

I hope they survive.

>>26158520
"Great peri, now instead of a nice simple moral problem, we have a logistics problem. I honestly have no idea whether monster attack or shelter explosion is more dangerous.

Fine. Here's what we'll do. Give me one of those firebombs. We'll try to break or burn one of the chambers. If we can't do it after ten minutes, we come back for them after the explosion."

>>26158520
Peri has a point. We can't get distracted in this city. Let's leave them and hope for the best. We still have to get the Staff from the tower.

>>26158595
her point isn't the distractions thing, it's the monsters thing.

What's more dangerous, getting exploded or getting mauled by monsters? Very good question.

>>26158611
We're very good at mauling monsters.

Explosions are the more dangerous of the two.

>>26158520
"What we want to do and what's right aren't always the same thing. This feels like one of those cases to me, Lea. And it's all the more reason to make sure that all this wasn't for nothing."

"We can't save everyone all the time, but leaving them here at least they have a chance."

>>26158636
Are you sure? We've got no wagons for cover, and are quite outnumbered by monsters.

Regardless of our monster killing ability, we don't have the surface area to guard a number of refugees over say, a dozen or so without losses.

Rolled 1

>>26158520
Damnit, I can't think of any good counter-arguments to Peri.

The only moral thing to do is to let them out if we can when it's safe. We don't even know if we CAN let them out, but we're going to be opening a door sooner or later. Either before or after the explosion. I say we take one or two with us now- we can guard that many people, and it will be a test to see if they can survive outside the pod without magic withering.

>>26158723
That's because there are none. If we end up burning too much time and resources on trying to save a few people who could be safe if we leave them on their own, we lose time saving an entire continent worth of people.

Leaving them is both the lesser of two evils and the logical thing to do.

>>26158778
well, it would slow us down while we're in the monster city, sure. But after, when we're doing the orc march? They'll not slow us down any more than the orcs do.

"We could try to break or burn one of the chambers," You ask as you head back upstairs.

"Not the same explosion, remember it's going to be a oil and magic mix and we shouldn't waste Mari's last brillitite bullet. Mage says.

"It wouldn't be a waste." Lea says.

"Fair point." Mage agrees as you head back outside. "But I'd rather have it be used to shoot something else than used as a test."

"So, we'll come back after this is done?" Mari asks.

"I suppose." You say. "We need that staff. Ugh, another pain in the ass logistics time."

"Being a Paladin isn't all about the flash and glamor of combat and confessions." Lea says.

Lightmare starts up and you head away from the Menagerie household.

"Do you people have any decent food? Spiced bread or maybe some..." Nikai stops when she sees the looks on everyone else's face. "Never mind...pass the dried venison."

You slowly make your way though the city. Thankfully, the place is mercifully empty and you've gotten good at spotting the signs of Things both Ice and Sad. It's sunset when you arrive at the great glittering doors of the Tower of Obedience.

"Please tell me it's not all the way up there." Mage says, looking upwards.

"No, just the Bell. That IS how we're going to call the Base to here so we can use those." Nikai nods at the barrels of flesh. "And the bell pull is on the ground floor, along with the Staff."

"Then why build this thing so high?" Mari asks as you all struggle with the rusted door.

Nikai shrugs. "To have the power reach all across the city? To show the Base that we Divine are always above them? To prove that we can? I dunno. I was supposed to learn all of this stuff when I went to University."

>>26158806
Which depends entirely on how they've shaped up after all this time. God only knows what they've been through, or how long they've waited.

They're a massive unknown and a burden, and it's safest for EVERYONE to leave them there until we can recover them carefully.

>>26158847
yeah. After the explosion.

We can't leave them for the orcs, they'll pry the doors open and take slaves like nobody's business.

>>26158835
"So, they'll just come for the bell? Wouldn't that also attract a horde of gribblies? I mean, I'm still for the plan, I just need to know if I should be getting ready to defend the place or not."

>>26158835
"Don't worry, given how this city works we'll most like have to repair a few things, find yet another horrible atrocity to fix, and have to invent a new kind of magic in the next few hours..."

>>26158835
Hmm, we can ring the bell to get the Sad things here, and it will take time for the orcs to set up the bomb, soo... here's what I was thinking.

We unload the meat first then grab the Brililite from the staff, and after that ring the bell. This is alert every thing in the city to come to the tower, so we better move out fast. This is also a distraction so the orcs have less enemies to fight once they rush the cathedral.

>>26158835
"Well if we get the chance, we can try to nick some books."

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>>26158835
>don't you people have any decent food?
Oh Nikai you don't even know how bad the north sucks

>>26158952
Yeah, we need books on this humanizing thing.

>>26158835
"5 gold says we'll have to go all the way up anyway."

>>26158967
>>26158952
>"Sorry, we never had books. Only brains."

I am fully expecting this.

>>26158984
10

1 gold says someone will have to leap from the tower.
...Mage did you finish researching feather fall?

"So, they'll just come for the bell? Wouldn't that also attract a horde of gribblies? I mean, I'm still for the plan, I just need to know if I should be getting ready to defend the place or not." You say.

Nikai shakes her head. "The bell is meaningless to the Divine, and to answer it at all is considered to be a Base act."

"You have no idea. Do you?" Tricia asks.

"Look, you want to save all the Base souls here you can or not? They'll HAVE to come to the bell."

"This could be trouble." Peri says.

"Don't worry, given how this city works we'll most like have to repair a few things, find yet another horrible atrocity to fix, and have to invent a new kind of magic in the next few hours..." You say.

"True." Lea says. "I suppose any plan is better than no pl-"

Lea's cut off when the door blows open with enough force to knock everyone down in the street.

You pull yourself up and look inside. There's a glow of light, and you can see it. For ONCE something in this horrible place goes your way and is simple. There's the Staff of Domination, placed upright in a stand, right in the middle of a large empty room and behind that, at the back of the room is a bell pull rope.

Of course, because the Universe apparently hates you, between you and those two things stands a familiar figure.

The Cold Dark Man is there.

He has the shape of a Crafter dressed in expensive looking clothing. The ground has ice crystals at his feet, and you can see wisps of smoke come off his body. (For reference it's the type of 'smoke' you see come off of dry ice)

He makes a gesture and all of you, Nikai, Platform, Lightmare, and the barrels are all dragged within the Tower and the doors slam shut behind you.

He shakes his head and wags his finger. "Enough."

>>26159186
Did we just anger a manifestation of a God?

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>>26159186
SHOOT HIM IN THE FACE, IT WORKED LAST TIME!

>>26159186
Do... Do we pull another Peace maneuver?

>>26159186
"So much for cold shoulder you were giving me earlier."

>>26159186
>"Think fast."

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>>26159186
>"Enough"

You gotta lot of nerve implying we need to stop.

>>26159186
Lie on the ground a bit
"And here I thought you were one of those wispy-insubstantial types. I suppose you've heard the "what you do is wrong, let these people go" speech before?

Want to skip right to the fight then, shadow man?"

If there were light cultists in his time, he probably heard all our shit already.

Rolled 18

>>26159186
[x] Draw Beacon and Clang
[x] "Freedom is the right of all sapient beings. Move aside, or we will move you aside.

>>26159246
>>26159230
wait until he starts monologueing. That's when they're most vulnerable.

problem with that plan is he seems the silent type. He's only spoken three words, unlike Peace who would go on and on and on.

>>26159186
>"Enough."
"I couldn't have said it better myself!"
The best way to start a combat: with everyone agreeing.

>>26159186
"No it's not."

We need to argue him to death

>>26159291
I don't think we're going to get another Peace. We got one and that was luck.

I personally want to hear what he has to say. We don't know much about him.
And we might even ask him about the human thing. He probably knows.

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>>26159291
>wait until he starts monologueing. That's when they're most vulnerable.
YES. Unless it looks like he's not going to then skip straight to the shooting.

In b4 pic related.

>>26159186
"I could say the same to you."

Because, really, we could.

>>26159372
>>26159316
Seconding this.

I want to get back to lamia sassing

>>26159372
>>26159411
guys. what if we. Guys. GUYS. What if we make ANOTHER new friend?

>>26159186
Now now, we don't have to fight them. As long as we can make their brain hurt hard enough that they discorporiate, everything should be fine.

"Look, I know you want to talk, but we're on a tight schedule here. I've got an invading army, a god-egg, and souvenirs for my nieces to deal with, so if you schedule something with His Light, I'm sure I can get back to you in a reasonable amount of time."

>>26159428
no, see that would imply something unexpectedly going right, and that just doesn't happen.

>>26159456
no, you're looking at it the wrong way. just needs to go horribly wrong for someone else

"No...no it's really not. So much for cold shoulder you were giving me earlier." You say. "And here I thought you were one of those wispy-insubstantial types. I suppose you've heard the "what you do is wrong, let these people go" speech before? Want to skip right to the fight then, shadow man?"

He nods. "I was warned." He gestures with his hand...but nothing happens. He nods. "I see. As you said. Very well."

He takes a step back and holds up his hand. You hear a rattling sound from the cart, and you see something fly out of the cart and towards the Man. You blink and stare.

Soma is in the Man's hand. The singing sound it makes as it vibrates sounds like mocking laughter to your ears.

"I KNEW that thing was evil!" Tricia says.

"Die." He says.

"I could say the same to you!"

Roll for initiative!

The Avatar of Ice gets three attacks per round. He has 15 wounds. His Ice Aura means that any physical attack against him with bare flesh (like your tail, but not Lea's gloves) will cause a wound.

Divine Flesh: The Avatar of Ice can shape change at will.

Soma Effect: Beacon will NOT charge as long as he wields Soma. You CAN try to damage Soma directly, but it's not easy.

Tower of Obedience effect: If the Avatar of Ice gets his Ice within a Dawnchaser, they might become Dominated. This effect lasts as long as the staff remains upright. Note, you now see that the staff is FIRMLY locked in place due to a metal stand. You'll have to smash that thing to free it.

Nikai's Platform will fight for you.

Lightmare will fight for you if you want it to.

>>26159186
"Hi again."

"If you want me to cooperate, an explanation of WHY I should stop would go far. And threats won't cut it."

Hey hey

What If

It's the cold dark man that's making everything cold

And if he dies the whole land turns into flowers

Rolled 2, 7, 4, 10, 8, 1, 9 = 41

>>26159482

>>26159482
>Soma

SON OF A BITCH

Time to fight a boss for several hours.

Rolled 9

>>26159482

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Rolled 1

>>26159482
>we specifically left soma behind earlier
aaaand the cat came back. I knew that thing was eerie.

How do we get rid of a cursed returning sword?

>>26159482
Fuck. Of course it starts right when I sit down for dinner.

If anyone gets hit too bad or starts acting screwy, get the staff. Keeping him from using our friends against us will win us the fight in the long run.

Do claws count as unarmed?

Is disarming soma an option?
We've always been the main source of damage so it's not like we can just play protector all day

Would Nikolai be too busy directing her platform to assist in any other way?

So since beacon isn't gonna charge while he has Soma, are we gonna prioritize getting rid of it or poisoning Beacon for once?

Rolled 4, 4, 3, 10, 4, 10, 2 = 37

>Do claws count as unarmed?
Yes.

>Is disarming soma an option?
Yes.

>Would Nikai be too busy directing her platform to assist in any other way?
Nikai has no combat ability at all. She's hiding, terrified. If you want to try and give her commands you can try, but if she gets hit by the Avatar or Soma, she's dead.

>>26159528
>>26159555
I need one more initiative

Hmm, alright, I think this is what we should do first turn:
Flurry with Beacon
Mari Analyze
Lea Armor Break... on Soma
Tricia use her weapons not her bugs.
Mage FIRE!
Platform help as able.

Nikai hide
Nightmare gaurd the door from incoming. This guy might call in reinforcements.

Rolled 10

>>26159613
Har you go

>>26159562
we might want to try poisoning beacon, though I don't know if it will do much. Acid is the only one that might even have a chance of working.
>>26159560
no, we can't mess with the staff much yet. It will trigger the orc attack, and the sads are still in town.

Rolled 2

>>26159613

Rolled 9

>>26159613

>>26159626
>>26159613
>>26159555
>>26159528
Well god damn

>>26159576
We should actually. Coat beacon in black that is

Although I'm very very very curious to what the Enlightenment beam would do to this guy

Is there anyway to clean beacon after we've coated it or do we have to rely exclusively on clang blocks to charge from there?

>>26159482
>Soma is in the Man's hand. The singing sound it makes as it vibrates sounds like mocking laughter to your ears.
Some day, we're going to cast that thing into this settings equivalent to Mt Doom.

>>26159639
Do you want Lightmare to fight?

Also, I know it's poor timing, but I have to step out for something. So, after these messages, we'll be right back.

>>26159669
Nope, since claws count as flesh I bet hooves do too.

>>26159669
>lightmare gets hurt
>up shit's creek without a paddle

No.

>>26159482
Soma is Peace's soul. That should have been obvious from the start.

>>26159669
nah, lightmare needs to stay healthy to drag our sorry carcasses out of here. Though, we don't have control over whether lightmare fights.
That's for lightmare to decide.
I wish I had a picture of a flaming horse with sunglasses and a biker jacket.

>>26159651
Beacon doesn't charge while poisoned.

We can probably use our mantle or the dress/coat/tailsock we're wearing to wipe it clean.
>>26159669
Could we put Mage and Mari/peri on him? Search for weak spots and immolate them.

>>26159669
If lightmare won't get oneshot sure.

I kinda wanna make sure our allies can't be turned from the get go though

>>26159692
actually, all this proves is that land spirits have an affinity for corrupted lantern metal.

>>26159718
... except Lantern Metal doesn't laugh.

>>26159705
I thought poisoned beacon attacks don't get charge instead of we don't charge period.

Oh well, still a good idea to coat.

If we do coat Beacon we should use Clear. I doubt this guy will be effected much with White or Black.

>>26159731
okay, it could also prove soma is a dick. It doesn't mean soma is peace though.

It's probably peace's equivalent of beacon. You know, our creepy and oddly willful weapon that drinks the blood of evildoers and sings the song of the light?

Rolled 8

>>26159705
Beacon doesn't charge anyway because of Soma.

>>26159623
I like your ideas, but Lightmare wouldn't make that great of a guard. I would use him to keep Mage and Mari mobile.

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>Soma attack sanity

>>26159794
Yeah I know, we need to know if we can clean beacon mid fight.

>>26159814
totally can.

It may require further ruining of our clothes and armor

>>26159669
Biting, Hooves, and Fire could help.

Soma should be our primary target here. We also have no idea weither our poisons will even effect it, so lets go spear and board here and try to disarm them. Shattering Soma might also be possible, with the help of smart thinking, favourable dice, and some decent RP.

As for the Staff, getting it out basically signals the Orcish attack, so while we may find ourselves doing this, it'll definitely effect our plan to help the Sads.

>in b4 soma is shattered in battle
>then we find it intact
>just sitting in our wagon

>>26159873
agreed, we are going to need to use beacon to stand a chance aginst this thing. that means we need to knock out soma

Rolled 2

>>26159873
Lightmare only has flesh to attack with. He'll be taking way too many wounds if we have him fight. I'm against lightmare fighting.

>>26159945
yeah, lightmare should stay out of it. As should nakai.

Skitter, well, I don't know if we can actually order that one to stay out of it, but it probably should.

>>26159945
Nightmares are usually pretty nasty. Consider a carnivorous horse. Then set it ON FIRE.

>>26159994
I'm considering. It uses a lot of unarmed attacks.

Maybe if it also had a sword we'd let it fight.

>>26159945
One other thing is that Lightmare may be immune/resistant to the Ice.
>>26159986
Nakai should definitely stay out of this, unless there's cool NPC things she could be doing.

Rolled 18

>>26159986

Skitter might not count as flesh, but if it does, I won't be too sad at it's loss. It's also a lot sharper than Lightmare.

We need as many bodies against Iceman as we can get, if we didn't need Lightmare to get us out of this dump I'd have it fight as well.

>>26160041
Well better at following orders at least

>>26159482
PEACE YOU ARE JUST A COMPLETE BITCH YOU KNOW THAT? YOU'RE IN THE SWORD AREN'T YOU?

>>26160147
I can't believe didn't talk to us this entire time.
She must have been lonely in there.

>>26160174
Shes been busy doing backroom deals in the Blank Space.

>>26160185
you mean whoring herself out and taking it in the butt from the fifth

Rolled 19, 17 = 36

Lea tries to do a double strike against the AoI.

Rolled 6

>>26160245
Good Job Lea

>>26160237
I'm surprised the 5th hasn't contacted us.

I mean, we didn't even break his plans on purpose.

>>26160265
But we did tell him that he was no better than any other land spirit. And he got mad.

>>26160245
Right out of the gate, she unleashes the righteous fury of His Light, slamming her first into his chest and a snap kick that nails his hand and Soma.

Your turn

>>26160279
right, I believe we wanted to coat beacon in clear.

Rolled 5

>>26160279
Attempt to disarm him of Soma. Use Beacon.

>>26160279
can we clean beacon mid battle? if so, coat it in clear.

>>26160300
No point in that. Soma would just fly right back into his hands

>>26160279
Hit soma with beacon once, without the clear.

I want to see what happens when they clash.

Rolled 8

>>26160313
Echo said disarming him is an option

>>26160313
>Soma would just fly right back into his hands
That would be one of his attacks though.

>>26160147
>>26160174
Soma was forged for Dad. A sword DESTINED to be used against Citadel.

>>26160342
yeah, and it didn't work and was taken by peace. she's totally in there with a sore ass

>>26160342
It was always forged with corupted metal

>>26160342
we should bind citadel into it And then carry it forever as its' eternal warden

>>26160279
Disarm Soma with Beacon

Rolled 20

>>26160332
Kicking him down to only two attacks a turn would be a great help.

>>26160362
You're reading the sentence, but not the capitals. It's not her sword, just like it's not Dad's, just like it's not ours. Someone gave it to them.
>>26160279
Can we attempt to stun the Avatar with Beacon?
>>26160387
Considering whose it is? Find a way to give it back to them, quite possibly with a surprise added. Everyone loves surprises.

>>26160389
>>26160300
>>26160328

You swing Beacon intentionally at Soma. You're trying to disarm the Avatar, or at the very least to damage the blade.

>>26160524
1d20 +2

Rolled 14

>>26160524
do we need to roll?

Rolled 20

>>26160532
>>26160524

Rolled 10

>>26160532
lets see

Rolled 17 + 2

>>26160524
Brillite meets corrupted (insert mineral here). Who wins? Is winning even the point?

>>26160546
I'm sorry for ever cursing you out you magnificent bastard.

>>26160387
It would mean passing off beacon to someone else because it wouldn't work for us anymore then.

>>26160546
>>26160559
>>26160524
I am taking this as beacon itself striking soma.

Because there isn't enough room in this town for TWO holy weapons, ya hear pardner?

>>26160612
Exactly. Dad learned the hard way why you don't upgrade from awesome weapon to awesome weapon +1.

>>26160612
of course we pass beacon along to somebody else. That thing embodies change.

>>26160546
Soooo... Soma breaks?

Not much reaction here.

Then again, this guy hasn't been made up to be so hated than Peace was.

>>26160647
nah, it just flies off never to be seen again.
we find it in our wagon

>>26160647
Maybe a crack. Maybe something that the Fifth didn't plan for. Maybe something that makes everyone grin.

Rolled 20

>>26160647
I'm certainly hoping for that.

>>26160674
....

Rolled 18, 5 = 23

>>26160546
There's a flare of light and sparks as Beacon and Soma clash, but your weapon is the winner. You FEEL Soma stress under Beacon's power and it goes flinging away out of the Avatar's hand.

The Avatar motions with its hand and Soma snaps back into his hand. Then it lashes out with Soma with two quick slashes at you.

>>26160661
it was personal with peace. We were -required- by our word to slay her with extreme prejudice, oathbound by a dragon, a dying traitor, and three dying friends.

Wheras this ice man we just sort of ran into, and professionally acknowledged can't be let stand. Ice man is being professional too.

Rolled 3

>>26160687
Quick quick roll?

>>26160687
ooh, that's gonna sting. At least we found out that Beacon is the stronger of the two.

>>26160736
Or nevermind then.

Rolled 3

>>26160687
quickquick?

Rolled 20

>>26160687
QuickQuick?

>>26160744
oop! We got stabbed! No looking like a coolguy for us.

Also, this adventure is now beating the stone hall raiders in our "most times Ssen was stabbed" counter. We're probably going to need to rest on the cart on the way back.

>>26160755
Okay now I'm beginning to doubt your dice.

Rolled 10, 3, 8, 20, 12, 4 = 57

>>26160687
A harsh cut across your arm. You swear you almost see Soma start to glow but you feel something from Beacon and Soma's glow fades.

The Platform charges the Avatar.

Mage shoots a fireball at the Avatar.

Mari starts her observations.

Tricia swipes at it with her sickle.

Lea goes for another double strike.

>>26160771
Go Tricia!

Rolled 1

>>26160755
>>26160674
Did you sacrifice a horde of Virgins to the dice Gods or something?

Rolled 2

>>26160771
OH SHIT THEY'RE THE SAME BUT OPPOSITE

>>26160771
>mari crit observed
Sweet

>>26160755
Then, suddenly, Ssen figured she'd had enough bullshit for one adventure and murdered everything that tried to get in her way with extreme prejudice.