Thadeus Black

Nathaniel Swan

Kaname Madoka

>>26296941
ALRIGHT, sounds magical enough, lets go with this.

>>26296904
I kind of like this one.

I would rather change my choice to Thaddeus Nathaniel BlackSwan than than an anime character.

>>26296752
Mizuki Tsukimora

>>26296752

FLEX PLEXICO.

File: 1375063731867.jpg-(141 KB, 673x1117, Classselect.jpg)

141 KB JPG

>>26296768
>>26296904
"Thaddeus Nathaniel Black is it? Interesting. The name Thaddeus means 'courageous heart'. You will need one to endure what lies ahead."

The man nods, opening three cases, one carved of ebony, one carved of ivory, and one wrought of shining silver. He carefully takes out and shuffles one deck from the ebony case, and one from the ivory case.

“Your memories have fled you, but scraps of them remain, clinging to your mind like the dying embers of a once great bonfire,” the Fortune Teller says, placing four cards before you from the ebony deck. “Which fires burn the hottest in your mind?”

>Select ability set.

Magic: You are an innate sorcerer, naturally learning and casting spells drawn from a mysterious inner spring of power. You start off with a small pool of magic to drawn from, but the more you cast spells the larger that pool will get. You can create spells on the fly, though it is easier to cast spells you have previously developed.

Technology: When it comes to machines you are a genius, and though you cannot remember much about your past life, you remember clearly many different types of technology and how they function. With the right materials and enough time, you can craft any number of useful inventions, or repair damaged devices. Through half-forgotten shards of memory concerning machines you used to work with, you have a high chance to identify any technological item you find.

>Cont.

>>26297034

Ghost-Walker: You have a strong connection to the afterlife due to some event you cannot remember in your past. You can see and interact with ghosts and spirits as if they were real beings, though you will almost always be able to identify them as such. You can converse with spirits regardless of language, and possess a small selection of powers that mimic abilities ghosts have. These powers will grow with use and time, much as the Mage's. You can also attempt to summon powerful ghosts and spirits to aid you, though it is draining.

Specialist: Your hand has not forgotten its skill. You are a warrior par excellence, skilled with all sorts of weapons from blade to blaster. You also retain a certain set of skills rarely found in most humans. You can sneak, scout, and perform feats of athleticism with the best of them. You also know a select few combat secrets that allow you to make use of special attacks that lesser fighters can only dream of executing. You start off well-trained, but as you travel and remember more fighting techniques, your prowess will only improve.

>>26296941
Sure, I like female MCs anyway.

I vote for Magus.

>>26297039
Ghost-Walker! Talking to ghosts no one else can see, doing ghost stuff, summoning ghosts and ghost armies.

Sounds like fun.

"I wish I could see this geezer's face"

>tiny orb of light appears above cards

"Well that's convenient"

(I vote magic)

Voting for Ghost-Walker. It's likely the most unique of the four, and thus something precious to hold onto

>>26297039
Ghost-Walker. I've always liked that sort of character type.

I like the mage class.

>>26296994
This sums up alot of my feelings about anime

I vote for Ghost-Walker.

>>26297039

GHOSTWALKER.

Or technology, either way we can build an army of loyal followers easy.

>>26297286
We could with magic as well. Arcane constructs? Summoning elementals from other planes of existance?

Well, either way. Ghost Walker is outvoting magic.

File: 1375064673033.jpg-(15 KB, 157x271, Drives.jpg)

15 KB JPG

>>26297273
>>26297055
>>26297075
>>26297092
>>26297096
>>26297168
>>26297181

Mage: 3
Ghost Walker: 4

Ghost Walker wins.

“I see. We are almost done here,” the robed man says, drawing another four cards, this time from the ivory deck.

"Your soul aches for something. What is it?"

Power to change the world.
The pleasures of the world.
Other people.
Freedom.

A man must be free!

>>26297096
>>26297075

>Danny Phantom quest

>>26297331
Freedom is the only way!

>>26297331
Other people

File: 1375065288462.jpg-(14 KB, 133x269, Eyes.jpg)

14 KB JPG

>>26297369
>>26297411
>Freedom selected.

"Your eyes long to see something. What is it?"

A new world.
The world made whole.
The world as it was.
The world destroyed.

The world is corrupt. We must make a new one!

>>26297511
The world made whole

File: 1375065730146.png-(1.03 MB, 1028x768, THISWORLDISCORRUPT.png)

1.03 MB PNG

>>26297536

>>26297660
>Not a vote, btw.

Rolled 1

>>26297536
>>26297543
1: A new world.
2: The world made whole.

to create a new world, we must first destroy the old on

File: 1375065967891.jpg-(14 KB, 133x261, Heart.jpg)

14 KB JPG

>>26297704
>A new world selected.

"The final question.Your heart has lost something precious. What?"

Control of my life.
My beliefs.
The one I loved.
The future I hoped for.

File: 1375066045680.jpg-(8 KB, 259x194, images.jpg)

8 KB JPG

I've lost control of my life.

>>26297737
The one I loved.

I lost everything, my love, my god, my freedom, even my future

it took it all

control of life

>>26297737
THE FUTURE

>>26297737

>Your heart

...my pacemaker?

>>26297737
The future I hoped for.

>>26297737
future i guess

>>26297821
>>26297945
>>26297969
>Future selected.

The Fortune Teller begins to pick up the cards, placing them carefully back in their case. As he does so, everything begins to go black once more, your sight failing you once more.

"Then the time has come for you to wake up. Know that you may call on my aid to twist and tug at the strings of fate, but this is always a dangerous proposition. Destiny does not take kindly to my attempts at revision... there will almost certainly always be a price to be paid."

>Fortune's Favor: At any time you may attempt to bargain with the Fortune Teller to alter the results of a roll, granting bonuses, a re-roll, or even an automatic success in some cases. Be warned there will always be unforeseen consequences to such bargains.

"Wake up, Mr. Black. You have been exiled," the Fortune Teller pronounces before his voice fades away into the dark.

The darkness you find yourself in is split by a thin line of light as your eyes begin to open. A searing pain wracks your brain as blurry images slowly begin to focus in front of you.

“He's waking up,” a voice echoes from above you. You look towards the sound but only see a brown blur.
“Are you serious? He's got the luck of the devil, then,” another voice asks. “It's a miracle we got one survivor from this judging by the state of the wreck, let alone two.”

>>26298100
You move your head slightly and see a black blur.

“Whoa, hold on there, son. You just fell through a Gate. Just lie still for a while, let your body wake up,” the first voice says. It's deep and oddly comforting. “You were lucky. Not everyone walks away from the... journey here.”

“Giving him the D-Bee 101, Eli?” the second voice asks. Your vision clears enough to see a shiny black skull with lenses for eyes. A helmet.

“We call them Outsiders here, Wallace. And you'd know, I remember giving you this same speech fifteen years ago,” the first voice, Eli, states. Dark brown skin and a lined, worn face stare down at you. Graying black hair clings to his scalp in tight curls, and when he scowls at the second speaker, you are reminded vaguely of leather. “You're going to find yourself unable to really move or speak well for a few minutes, so you might as well listen up to what I've got to tell you. Dunno where you came from or what your home is, but you're not in it anymore.”

“And you can forget about ever getting back, either,” Wallace says, crossing his arms. Some sort of technological heavy armor covers his body in sleek black plates, a faded “27” stamped on the armor's right breast. “Welcome to the roach-motel of the multiverse, kid. Sapients check in, they don't check out.”

Your vision has almost completely cleared by this time. You can see the first speaker, Eli, is wearing no armor, but a many-pocketed loose shirt and jacket. A bolt-action rifle is slung across his shoulder. You can barely see smoke rising into the air from either side of them. Moving your head takes a lot more effort than it should, but you manage to see a smoking wreck around you. Debris and wrecked metal plates lie everywhere, support beams and superstructure jutting up from the sands like the ribs of some dead metal beast. The skeleton of what once was a ship is all around you.

>>26298124
“Dunamon's sake, Wallace, you know how to break news easily, don't you?” Eli scowls, then sighs. “My friend is right, though. There have been many attempts to leave this world and none have succeeded, but that's something to go into later. You're in a place called the Deep Desert, and you're damn lucky we found you and your buddy.”

>Try to move.
>Try to speak.
>Other.

Wiggle your big toe.

>>26298140
Move.

>>26298214
You concentrate and manage to wiggle your big toe. Feeling is returning quickly to your limbs. You can probably manage something a bit more strenuous now.

sit up, see how we feel then.

>>26298262
You haul yourself to your feet with a strained groan, both of your 'rescuers' taking a step back as you do so.

"Impressive. That's a pretty fast recovery given how long people are usually disoriented from the Gate," Wallace says.

>Look around.
>Speak.
>Other.

>Speak.
So, tell me about this place. Beyond the whole eternal prison deal.

>>26298297
What is this "Gate" you are referring to? And why am I having trouble remembering who I am?

>>26298297
Check your head. Make sure that your noggin is still in tact. And the same for your face, you kind of need that.

>>26298346
You check your head, feeling your face with your hands and running a hand through dark black hair before concluding you don't have any injuries there. From the lack of searing pain, it's unlikely you have injuries elsewhere either.

>>26298342
Eli and Wallace look at each other and frown.

"Memory loss isn't something I've heard associated with being pulled here," Eli says, turning back to you. "Maybe you hit your head on something?"

"You never get amnesia that way except in crappy holoplays," Wallace snorts. "More likely someone zapped you with something before you got here. Or maybe it's something new, it's not like anyone has a damn clue what the Gates are."

"Well," Eli says, considering carefully. "We know that they bring in all sorts of things from other worlds and appear at random in the desert, the Deep Desert especially."

"They can take many forms, but it usually looks like a Rift, or a tear in the air. Sometimes it's an orb of light that expands and vanishes, leaving something behind. I heard rumors that someone they even pop up in the other countries too, taking forms like a wall of mist or a gap in the ground."

"No one knows why they're here, but if I had to wager on it, I'd put my money on something to do with the apocalypse," Eli nods.

>>26298331
"Well other than that, you're in the Deep Desert. It's a sort of no-man's land located right in the middle of the Prospector Lands," Wallace says. "It's full of rich salvage left over from the apocalypse, but more than that the Gates keep dropping things here more than anywhere else. Always a fortune to be made here if you want to risk it."

"And there IS a lot of risk," Eli says, frowning. "Which reminds me. We should wrap this up. You can stand... Can you walk? We've already got your friend in one of our wagons and the others are loaded up with anything we could salvage."

Wait. Our friend? You mentioned another person, but I don't remember being with anyone.

Try walking.

>>26298606
"Wait, friend? As I noted earlier I don't really know much. Does he know me?"

>>26298606
I'm not the type to go skydiving with friends. Who's this "friend"?

I'm probably late and someone already said it but...
THE SPICE MUST FLOW!

>>26298669
>>26298689
>>26298717
Eli frowns again.

"No... his memory is all futzed up too. Can you remember your name?"

"You can ask him about it yourself if you want to meet him. He's in the covered wagon, taking it easy," Wallace says. "We found him just outside the wreck."

You take a few halting steps forward, feeling a little less dizzy with each movement. Yes. You can walk.

"Well, in any case, since you can walk, you'd better come along," Eli says. "The key to survival out here is to move fast. We've already done our business, if you've got nothing left to do, we should leave as soon as possible. We can talk on the way."

"There are a lot of things living out here that you don't want to cross paths with," Wallace states. Eli laughs.

"'Living'... that's a good one."

undead or robots?

>>26298833
>name

We have no memory and we're in a desolate desert wasteland filled with cynical scavengers.

Let's go with Courier.

>>26298833
"Thaddeus Black, pleasure to meet you."

File: 1375070168583.jpg-(30 KB, 323x499, csgrunt.jpg)

30 KB JPG

>>26298877
"Both," Eli and Wallace say together.

"Depending on how unlucky you are." Wallace says. "Depending on where you go."

"Those constructs... yeah, some people call 'em robots," Eli nods. "Sometimes you find them on ships or chunks of buildings that gate in here. If you can manage to take one down the scrap is worth a fortune. Technology is gold out here, and you best remember that."

"The undead... Well. It also depends on the time of the month," Wallace says with a snigger. "There are also living shadows that infest the desert like a plague. The deeper in you go, the more there are."

"And WE are pretty deep in, to find wrecks like this one," Eli puts in. "One more reason to leave quickly!"

>>26298948
>>26298890
"Thaddeus Black," you say, extending your hand. Eli shakes it firmly and after a moment's hesitation so does Wallace. You grin. "I guess you can also call me the 'Courier' if you want."

"Why's that?" Eli asks.

"It's a... no, nevermind," you say.

So, where are we going next?

"If you don't have anything else to do, get to the wagons," Wallace says, pointing to his right. You look over and see a covered wagon, two carts, and a line of camels ready to pull all of them. A dwarf in loose white robes and a young woman in brown tend to the animals. "We should've left by now already!"

That sentence sends a chill down your spine as an echo of a memory wakes up.

"Leave, damn it!" she shrieked. "You should've left already! There's not much time left!"

>Try to hold onto the memory (requires d100 roll.)
>Let the memory fall from you.

Rolled 21

Remember!

Rolled 75

>>26299349

>>26299364
You desperately try to hold onto the thoughts summoned by the errant phrase. The best you can do is a blurred image of a metal giant, cracked and battered, blood soaking into the sand, and a woman in some sort of uniform pushing you through a hatch before sealing it.

Then you feel something... foreign pushing its way into the memory and instinctively let it go.

"Kid? Kid!" Eli snaps his fingers in front of your face. "You zoned out for a minute there, what's wrong?"

"Probably a little aftershock from the Gate," Wallace suggests. "Can we get going yet?"

>"Yeah, let's go."
>"Hang on, let me look around a little before we leave." (Requires d100 roll.)
>Other.

Rolled 29

lets look around quick

Rolled 20

>>26299444

Rolled 89

>>26299444

Extreme quick search.

File: 1375072456842.jpg-(53 KB, 625x442, knife.jpg)

53 KB JPG

>>26299474
"Hang on... Let me look around a little first," you ask. "There might be something here that jogs my memory. A clue or something."

"Are you serious? We were lucky to make it this far without incident, we're really pushing our-" Wallace says, waving one hand at the wreck while the other grasps the large rifle he carries.

"Ease up. A few more minutes shouldn't matter, and we're likely never to come back here. Let the kid look," Eli says, putting a hand on the larger man's shoulder-plate. Wallace growls.

"You think you're everyone's dad, but you're not Eli," Wallace says, turning and walking for the camels. "It doesn't matter, we already packed up everything of value. I'll be getting ready to leave. Like we should've been doing ten minutes ago."

You look around the smoldering wreck, carefully avoiding the jagged bits of metal thrusting through the sand as you walk through it. The ship wasn't that big, a twelve man transport at best. Whatever happened here, it looks like the ship took catastrophic damage from something. The 'interior' is so badly damaged each chamber is unidentifiable as to its function.

You don't find much... but you do find something. A small steel combat knife half-buried in the sand.

You grab the weapon without thinking, turning it over in your hands before slipping it into your belt for the time being. You'll have to see about a sheath later.

"Ready to go?" Eli asks. "We really don't have much time left!"

GHOST WALKER: At the edge of your senses you feel a presence, dark and malevolent. You get the feeling something is watching. Something is coming.

I feel something. We need to move now.

>>26299704
Time to get outta here.

Rolled 74

>>26299704

Something very bad is coming, we gotta move.

LETS FUCKING GO.

Rolled 94

>>26299724
>>26299732
"Yeah... yeah, I feel something. Let's leave. Now," you say, walking fast towards the line of camels.

"You 'feel' something?" Eli asks, puzzled as he follows.

"Ay! You lot ready ta leave now?" the dwarf asks, climbing up onto one of the camels with only a little difficulty. "The wind's picking up, and I dun fancy a sandstorm this deep in!"

"You found another one?" the young woman asks, her eyes widening a little. "Will our rations hold for that many?"

"We'll manage," Eli says, easily pulling himself on top of another camel. "We always do. Kid, do you want to try riding a camel? If not, you'll have to take a seat in the wagon with your friend, or whoever he is."

>Take a seat on a camel.
>Take a seat in the wagon.

>>26299824
>Take a seat in the wagon.

Wagon

>>26299824
We better not test our luck with something needing decent balance and mental clarity after a head injury.

Wagon.

Wagon

>>26299839
>>26299861
>>26299881
>>26299883
"I'd better not try riding after waking up like that," you tell Eli. He nods.

"Wise choice. Well, you can see the wagon and I doubt you need me to open the door, so go grab a seat. We'll give you a minute before we start driving the camels forward," Eli says.

"Thanks," you says, turning and walking for the wagon door. You take a moment to survey the landscape as you do so. A sea of dunes stretches out in all directions from the wreck, broken by the occasional bizarrely shaped spire of stone or jagged rock formation.

Something catches your eye as you lay a hand on the wagon door. Movement, out in the distance.

A great serpentine form is ascending into the clouds from the top of a particularly large rock formation. Despite the immense distance, you catch a glint of gold on its form before it vanishes altogether. For some reason, it makes you shudder.

A minute. Right.

You open the door and barely manage to take a seat on a rough wooden bench in the wagon's interior before it jolts forward. The wagon is full of crates and barrels, the only light coming from two flaps on either side of the vehicle's canvas top. Sitting opposite you on another bench is a man in a gray duster coat with a hood attached. He stares at you with blank hazel eyes, not uttering a word.

GHOST WALKER: Something feels strange about this man. You are not sure what it is, yet.

>>26300037
Is there anyone else nearby other than him? Do the other people seem to notice him or anything like that?

introduce yourself.

File: 1375074139983.jpg-(246 KB, 640x439, wagon.jpg)

246 KB JPG

>>26300037
For a moment the silence benefits you as memories surge in your mind. Memories of skill, of ability... but not attached to anything. You remember how to accomplish amazing feats, but not HOW you learned these things. No teachers or mentors float to the top of your mind, no ordeals or tests burn in your memory. But you remember this. You are a Ghost Walker. You are never helpless.

Ghost-Walker Powers:

Ghost-Walker Skill Level: 1

A Ghost's Touch: You can see and interact with ghosts normally, without the need for specialized spells or enchantments.

Cold Embrace: You can steal life force from incorporeal undead with a touch, but if your will falters, they may be able to steal from you instead. You may also attempt to steal life force from the living.

Ghost-Walking: By entering a deep meditative state, you may cast your soul out from its shell to wander as a ghost, returning to your body at any time. Be warned, your mortal shell is completely helpless when you do such. Your ghost-form is immune to physical damage and incorporeal, able to walk through walls and fly.

Fortune's Favor: At any time you may attempt to bargain with the Fortune Teller to alter the results of a roll, granting bonuses, a re-roll, or even an automatic success in some cases. Be warned there will always be unforeseen consequences to such bargains.

When you rally your thoughts again, you find the man opposite you no longer has the blank look he once did, but neither does he say anything.

>Remain silent.
>Introduce yourself.
>Other.

introduce yourself

>>26300156
>Introduce yourself.

>>26300156
See if anyone else notices him, then introduce ourself.

>>26300134
The only people in the wagon are you and him. You can hear muted conversation outside as the wagon grinds its way over the sand, so you know that they're fine.

>>26300139
"Hey... uh. I'm Thaddeus. Thaddeus Black. Uh... Thaddeus Nathaniel Black if you want to really get technical," you says. The man continues to stare. You shift in place. "So... what's your name?"

The man looks down for a moment. "...I can't remember."

"Are you serious?" you ask, arching an eyebrow. "That's... wow. Someone who remembers less than I do. Do you remember anything at all?"

The man shudders.
"I remember smothering... suffocation. A million whispers in my hear and a numbing cold. Then that old man woke me up."

>>26300176
>>26300134
Given that other people mentioned him, you can surmise that yes, they can notice him.

>>26300212
what is happening right now? OP are you waiting for a prompt or are you writing?

>>26300376
My apologies, I was waiting for a prompt and forgot to do the usual choice list.

>Try to prod the other man's memory.
>Tell him your memories, see if that sparks anything.
>Show him the knife.
>"What am I supposed to call you, then?"
>Other

>>26300424
"What am I supposed to call you then"

>>26300424
>>"What am I supposed to call you, then?"
start with this, we'll work our way down the list

>>26300457
>>26300463
"What am I supposed to call you then?" you ask. "Hey you' only gets you so far. You need a name."

"If you have a spare, I'd be obliged since I seem to have misplaced mine," the other man says, a little more life animating his features as he crosses his arms.

>Suggest a name.
>"We'll come back to that."

>>26300547
>Suggest Bob

>>26300547
>Suggest a name.
Charlie.

>>26300547
Fisty

>>26300547
"How about Nicholas? You look like a Nick to me."

>>26300588
I like charlie, its homely

Suggest Fortune Teller

>>26300638
"That's not a name, that's a title."

>>26300575
"It sounds... too round."

>>26300588
"Hmmm. Not bad."

>>26300590
At this suggestion, the stranger inches a little away from you.

>>26300599
"Nicholas... Nicholas... Old Nick? No, but... Nicholas. I do like the sound of it."

>>26300625
"Hm. Well it is that. I guess it's as good as any other. Just please don't call me Chuck."

>Confirm name as Charlie?
>Call him Chuck.

>>26300715
>Lets fuck Chuck

>>26300715
Confirm Charlie

Nicholas sounds nice. . .

>>26300715
>>Confirm name as Charlie?
>>Call him Chuck.
why not both?

>>26300715
charlie

>>26300790
>>26300763
>>26300768
"Nicholas does sound nice, but I think Charlie fits you better," you smile a little. "That sound okay with you, Chuck?"

The man groans. "I should've known not to say anything. Charlie is fine."

>Try to prod the other man's memory.
>Tell him your memories, see if that sparks anything.
>Show him the knife.
>Remain silent.
>Other

>>26300715
>confirm name as charlie
>don't call him chuck

Let's not be asshole /tg/ quest protagonist #103920490293024.

Just wanna let you know OP, I'm really liking your writing so far. Nice work!

>>26300930
>Show him the knife.

>>26300930
Show him the knife, if that doesnt work tell him our memories

Also tell him about the cool golden snake we saw

>>26300930
>Tell him your memories, see if that sparks anything.

>>26300982
If you want to roll, you have to specify the number of dice. e. g.

dice+1d20

not

dice+d20

>>26301058
Oh, that.

Yeah, I leave it like that so I can roll dice in my other game.

>>26301094
...
Not that guy, but is it really that hard to type out "dice+1d20"? Especially when people are going to tell you to change it?

Tell him your memories

>>26300948
Thank you.

>>26300966
You pull the knife from your belt.

"I found this in the wreck. Mean anything to you?" you asks. Charlie reaches for it and you hand it over without a word. He turns it over in his hands, looking intently at the blade.

"It's not mine," he states, eyes narrowing as he stares at the polished metal. "...and it's not yours. I can't..." Charlie gingerly touches his head with a grimace. "I can't remember much... but this does bring up something. An image. A woman full of life, backing an ideal. This knife was hers."

He hands the weapon back to you. "Take care of it."

>>26300973
At the mention of a giant golden snake, Charlie shudders violently for a second as his eyes widen. "Are you... Are you SURE it was a snake?"

>>26300982
"I remember something about a metal giant too. And a woman. Fiery hair. Fiery temper. Blood... soaking into the sand. A battle? Yes. A terrible battle. Monsters and men against other monsters and other men. No clear victor."

Charlie grits his teeth and hisses. "It's... It's all so CLOUDY! It's like trying to watch a movie through several layers of gauze, with cotton in your ears! I'm sorry... I'm trying as hard as I can, but nothing else is coming!"

>>26301135
there are a bunch of other people rolling as well, so I do it to try and get in as soon as I can

>>26301198
>Press for details.
>"Have you remembered... any skills, I guess? Can you do anything?"
>Change subject.
>Remain silent.
>Other.

>"Have you remembered... any skills, I guess? Can you do anything?"

>>26301309
>>"Have you remembered... any skills, I guess? Can you do anything?"

>>26301309
>>"Have you remembered... any skills, I guess? Can you do anything?"

>>26301328
>>26301351
"No..." Charlie says, shaking his head. "I get... I get the sense I used to be able to do quite a lot. But when I try to focus on those memories... it hurts. A lot."

>Change subject.
>Remain silent.
>Other.

>>26301401
>Change subject.
"How long have you been here?"

>>26301440
Presumably just as long as we have.

>>26301401
>Change subject.

"I know about how you feel, it's odd. Say, what are your thoughts on the folks who picked us up?"

>>26301459
this

>>26301459
>>26301489
"Eli and Wallace?" Charlie blinks. "Well... they didn't kill us. I think that's a major point in their favor. Out here in the desert, food and water supplies are a big deal, them taking us in is a risk on their part."

Charlie looks at the piled supplies in the wagon. "Not too large of a one considering the stockpile they have, but a risk nonetheless. They also claim to be salvagers... Being found at the site, we could contest their claim to it. That's another risk they run letting us live. Given that neither one of us can remember anything of use, I can't think of any ulterior motive they might have."

"That's an awful lot of words to say, 'They seem like good folks," you comment.

"I guess it is, at that," Charlie remarks, eyes sinking into thought.

>Ask about something else
>Remain silent.
>Other.

>>26301401
>Remain silent.

>Remain silent.
I think we are done for now.

File: 1375080844698.jpg-(44 KB, 608x456, caravan-shadows-izabela-s(...).jpg)

44 KB JPG

>>26301638
>>26301707
You remain silent, letting your gaze turn from Charlie to the window flap. Out there, the dunes roll by, one by one by one. Occasionally the monotony of sand is broken by a rock formation or spire jutting up from the sands, or even rarer, the wreck of a machine or vehicle that long ago ceased to function. You drift off into the sleep, but not before making a realization.

GHOST WALKER: The desert is completely dead. Except for the people around you, there is no life at all. No plants, no animals, and you get the gnawing feeling no bacteria either. The desert is completely sterile, soaked in death.

Your sleep is not a pleasant one. You only have a single quasi-dream where you feel like you are being watched, but cannot see what is watching you.

You wake up to someone shaking your shoulder. It's Eli.

"Come on, kid," he says. "We're stopping to let the camels rest for a bit and get some food and water in us. Come out and get some grub."

You look out the tent flap and see a dying sun. You slept longer than you thought.

>"Quit calling me kid."
>"Sounds good. What's on the menu?"
>"We making camp?"

>>26301957
>Sounds good. What's on the menu?"

>>26301973
Eli gives you a lopsided grin, bringing even more wrinkles on his leathery face into definition.

"Oh it's the best," he says. "Sandworm stew and ice water."

"How'd you get ice out here?" you ask.

"Marie learned how to use a low power ice spell in a bit of an unorthodox way," Eli chuckles. "Dunamon bless her heart for that, I think that alone would've given her a place in my crew even if she didn't know more useful things."

>Ask about the desert feeling dead.
>Ask about something else.
>Exit the wagon with Eli and get food.

>>26301957
>sounds good, what's on the menu?

Very compelling story OP. I wish this quest well.

>Ask about the desert feeling dead.

>>26302180
>Ask about the desert feeling dead.

File: 1375082949892.jpg-(220 KB, 1600x1200, stew.jpg)

220 KB JPG

>>26302205
>>26302260
"The desert feels dead?" Eli asks. "Well, I guess that's about right. Never seen anything growing in it myself. You a druid or something?"

"Not exactly," you reply. Eli shrugs.

"Kid, I've been working the desert for thirty years, but I don't know much about how things 'feel'. When we get back to Mercutio you might ask a sage or scholar or something. Well anyway, come out to the campfire and get yourself a bowl."

Eli jumps out of the wagon and you follow after a moment's pause. The dwarf you saw earlier is stirring a large cook-pot over a small fire, the woman, Wallace and Charlie already eating. There are a few collapsible chairs set up, but no other furnishing. Every so often Wallace, Eli, or the dwarf will pause and look around, or stop and listen for a good minute before resuming eating. Everyone seems tense. The only one in good humor seems to be Eli, who hands you a bowl filled with stew before making one for himself.

>Eat quickly.
>Ask Eli what's up with the tension.
>Talk to Marie.
>Talk to the dwarf.
>Talk to Wallace.
>Talk to Charlie.

>>26302407
>Ask Eli what's up with the tension

>>26302407
Let's speak to be Wallace. He seems interesting.

File: 1375084042305.jpg-(243 KB, 1536x864, Desert-Tracks.jpg)

243 KB JPG

>>26302453
"The deep desert's got a lot of perils, and the deeper you go, the worse it gets," Eli says. "We've gone awful deep this far and haven't had a single snag yet. That's never happened. I think we finally got a lucky break."

"No one is that lucky," Wallace breaks in. "There's a hammer that's gonna drop any minute. Mark my words."

"There's also the fact that shadow attacks rise dramatically at night," Marie says, tapping the edge of her bowl with her spoon. "...but then again dune dragons never attack at night, so it might be a trade off."

"If we weren't still in the Deep Desert, you'd have a point about dune dragons, but oh wait!" Wallace says, waving his hands. "We're in the Deep Desert! When I start seeing cacti again, you can talk to me about 'normal' monsters."

"Calm down, Wallace," Eli breaks in. "You're right to be worried, but..."

"But nothing," Wallace says. "I say we don't make camp. We eat, and we move until we see growing things. We CANNOT afford to linger here."

"If we don't make camp, we're going to fall asleep at the reins," Marie says. "We'll start suffering fatigue, we won't be able to keep watch as well, and when it finally comes to a fight, we'll be easy pickings. If we stick to our normal precautions, we'll be fine."

"Nothing normal 'bout this place," the dwarf says. "I'm with Wallace. We move. As soon as this pit stop be over."

"Well I don't think we should be going anywhere until we're ready to do so. We're still drained from the trip here, and I can't use my magic without proper study and rest," Marie say. "You know my magic is our primary defense against shadows. I say we make camp."

"Camp sounds good, but I guess that puts us at a tie," Eli says. He looks to Charlie, who shakes his head.

"I'm just along for the ride," he says.

Both Eli and Wallace look to you.

>Vote for making camp.
>Vote for leaving as soon as possible.
>Abstain.
>Other.

>>26302514
"I can spare a minute to talk after we figure out what we're doing."

>>26302670
>Vote for leaving as soon as possible.
gtfo

>>26302670
Vote for leaving. We should improve our relationship with Wallace and the dwarf.

File: 1375085762563.jpg-(32 KB, 437x344, Old_cs_helmets.jpg)

32 KB JPG

>>26302719
>>26302736
"If the desert is really dangerous, it's probably better to keep moving than stop to make camp. Didn't you say earlier that moving fast was key to survival, Eli?" you say after a moment's thought.

"I did," Eli admits.

"Then it's decided. Eat fast, then we move fast," Wallace says. Marie frowns and crosses her arms.

"Fine! But if we die because I couldn't cast anything useful, you know who to blame!"

With that, Marie begins to scoop the stew into her mouth extremely fast.

You take your bowl and walk over to Wallace.

"What did you want, Black?" he asks, detaching his helmet with a hiss of pressurized air. Wallace's face is worn, though not half as worn as Eli's. You'd guess his age in his early forties or late thirties. His hair is brown, eyes pale blue.

"I just thought I'd chat for a bit," you say. "Conversation over chow, you know?"

"What part of... No, that's overreacting. So long as you don't pump me for my life story, I can stand to talk a bit while you eat. Just make sure you're eating if your lips ain't moving. We're tight on time," Wallace says. "Now, what did you want to know?"

>Ask him for his life story.
>Ask him about his gear.
>Ask him where you're going.
>Ask him about the caravan crew.

>>26302670
If you would clarify: which are better, low rolls or high rolls?

>>26302988
>Ask him for his life story.

>Ask him about the caravan crew.
>Ask him about his gear.
>Ask him where you're going.

these

>>26302991
Higher is better. When you attempt something that has a significant chance of failure or a risk, I will determine a target number and then call for a roll. Your roll must beat that number to succeed. The more you beat it or fail by, the greater the result.

>>26302988
He just stated he doesn't want to talk about his life story. He seems a private man; let's respect that.

Let's ask about his gear. We can segue into more personal conversation later.

>>26303066
Besides, the 27 on his armor interests me. Perhaps a part of some order.

>>26302988
>Ask him about his gear.
Most important question.

>>26302988

Ask him about the gear, we've never seen anything like that, at least if we can remember.

>>26303010
"I wanted to pump you for your life story," you reply without missing a beat. You take a bite of the stew. The meat is very tough, but the taste is all right.

"Oh yeah, we're gonna get along FIIIIIINE," Wallace says with a sigh. "All right, I'll give you the short version. Grew up in Chi-town, bought the Coalition States' bullshit hook, line, and sinker, signed up for the military. Got assigned to Fort Barron at about the same time Quebec decided to call it quits with the CS, and the CS had had enough of Tolkeen. Then to make things REALLY interesting the Xiticix War breaks out all around us at the Fort and I get assigned to a special tactics unit."

"I don't know what you're talking about," you sheepishly admit. Wallace sighs.

"I worked for a bunch of shit heads, got caught up in a real fuck of a war, then got pulled in here when a rift opened up right under me during a battle," Wallace states. "Eli found me. I was young then, young and damn stupid. If it weren't for Eli talking sense into me, I would've ended up either dead in the desert or dead in the city. I would've..." Wallace catches himself. "I believed a lot of stupid things back then. Believing stupid things get you dead real fast out here."

He glares at you. "You done with that stew yet?"

"Almost," you say between bites. "Continue."

"Not much else to say," Wallace says, shifting on one foot. "I agreed to be part of Eli's Prospecting crew, and the last fifteen years of my life have been trawling around the desert for bits and pieces of technology to sell. I've got quite a nest egg saved up now. Would've quit, but Eli wants to keep going, and I owe him. Eli... sometimes I think he's got sand for blood. He loves being out... well, not HERE," Wallace indicates the dunes with a sweep of his hand. "Not the Deep Desert. But he loves being out in the normal desert, searching for salvage. Pickings are getting scarcer though, even with the Gates providing a steady stream of new salvage. Done yet?"

>>26303107
>>26303100
>>26303096
>>26303066
"Almost," you say. "What's with your gear?"

"Sheesh. All right, but this is the last question, I see your bowl. You've got maybe three bites left, and I know the meat's not THAT tou... OK, maybe it is, but still," Wallace crosses his arms. "It's Coalition issue military gear. And I don't mind saying it's pretty much the best you're going to find in this backwater. My armor can shrug off a railgun cannon burst point blank. My weapon can blow a hole right through a fortress wall," Wallace grins. "It's one of the reasons we're one of the top salvaging teams out here. If there's a physical threat, it's not lasting long with me around. Shadows, though..." Wallace frowns. "Some things aren't hurt by normal weapons, even high power lasers. Some things don't care how much armor you have on. And that's why I'm still cautious even with all this stuff on." He points at your empty bowl. "You're done. So now I eat."

With that, Wallace begins to eat rapidly while Eli and the others begin to put away the cooking gear and chairs.

"Hey kid!" Eli calls out. "Did you want to ride in the wagon some more or did you want to switch out with someone for a camel?"

>Remain in the wagon.
>Switch out with Marie for a camel.
>Switch out with the dwarf for a camel.
>Switch out with Wallace for a camel.
>Switch out with Eli for a camel.

>>26303397
>Switch out with Marie for a camel.

>>26303259
Being a cheeky bastard won't improve our chances of survival. Let's stop joking around.

>>26303397
"...and my armor is environmentally sealed with an onboard computer and a bunch of other useful functions as well," Wallace says, swallowing the last of his stew. "...but I like to brag. I've had sixteen attempts on my life for this suit, you know."

>Sleepy OP forgot this part.

>>26303397
Switch out with Marie. She's useless without her magic so we might as well take over.

>>26303442
Have some coffee.

File: 1375088514198.jpg-(40 KB, 648x486, Arabian-Camel.jpg)

40 KB JPG

>>26303411
>>26303457
"Here, let me switch out with Marie," you say, walking towards Eli. "She said she's useless without her magic, right? She can rest in the wagon and I can take her camel."

"Sounds good to me," Marie says, hopping down and heading for the wagon. She waves at you as she passes. "Thanks for the break, Thad."

"You ever ride a camel before?" Eli asks as he helps you up onto the animal.

"No, but how hard can it be?"

Roll 1d100 to find out how hard it can be.

Rolled 9

>>26303567

Rolled 62

>>26303567
When are you next running?

Rolled 26

>>26303567

>>26303632
I don't have to do anything tomorrow, so I can pick this up then if the thread doesn't die. Say sporadic updates starting at 4 or 5, then steady updates around 8.

>>26303587
And with that low of a roll, I think I want to be awake to write out the result.

I hope you enjoyed the opening session. Feel free to point out what you liked and didn't like, and if I don't see you tomorrow, I bid you good night.

well il just keep this alive a tad longer

Enjoyed it immensely OP.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf3vaoSqOlI
Obligatory Deep Desert theme

>>26303717
giving this thread a bump.
really liked it so far

aah aah aah aah stayin alive

bumping

>>26305936
>That
>Not this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkN4TBUcLVM

bumping again

Bumpan

I hope he doesn't flake. Make sure I don't wait to a dead Thaddeus.

Rolled 86

Bumpi

giving it another bump

>>26310019
This board is slow. Once every two or so hours is fine.

File: 1375124950192.jpg-(52 KB, 450x306, camelbolt.jpg)

52 KB JPG

>>26303587
As it turns out, it's really hard, at least, for you. You don't know whether the animal can sense your otherworldly connections or it's just because you dug in your foot in the wrong place, but for whatever reason the animal lets out an annoyed bellow and bolts when you're only half-mounted. The camel rips free from Eli's grip on the reins and begins to bolt into the sands, leaving you desperately clinging to it to avoid being thrown down into the dunes. You can hear the others cry out and shout, but not what they are saying, your own ears full of camel bleating and the pound of cloven hooves on sand. You manage to cast your gaze back and the others are shrinking at an alarming pace. If you don't do something fast, the camel might end up taking you far away from the caravan, and thus your only source of navigation, food, and water in this desert. On the other hand, you vaguely remember something about pack animals instinctively returning to their stable or home if left to their own devices... but that may be an unwise chance to take.

>Attempt to get yourself properly mounted, regain control of the animal. (Requires d100.)
>Let yourself drop and roll. (Requires d100.)
>Just hold on and pray.
>Other.

>>26310236
Soothe the savage beasts with gentle cooing

HE'S BACK
IN BLACK

File: 1375125250020.jpg-(116 KB, 1053x767, image.jpg)

116 KB JPG

>>26310236
Youre back!

Rolled 23

>>26310236
Attempt to get yourself back on.

>>26310236
Attempt to regain control

>>26310348
Let's try that again.

Rolled 55

>>26310348
Drop n roll

Rolled 98

>>26310371
Whoops, I forgot the 1.

.. I think the dice in this thing is cursed. we haven't gotten above 30.

>>26310472
We must first achieve consensus.

File: 1375126623592.jpg-(78 KB, 1600x1200, desertnight.jpg)

78 KB JPG

>>26310257
>>26310348
>>26310360
>23
You attempt to whisper soothing words in the beast's ear.

"Come on, camel, let me ride you and I'll give you all the cud you can possibly chew! You like cud, right?" you say.

It doesn't seem to go over that well. The camel bellows again and bites at your hand, not breaking the skin, but giving you a painful start. The camel's pace increases to the point where you now believe dropping off would be extremely hazardous to your health. With very few options, you dig your hands and feet in and hope the camel calms down soon.

You crest a particularly tall dune and the others vanish from sight. The camel keeps going. Time seems to slow down as you keep waiting for him to calm.

That moment only comes when you are surrounded by dunes, coarse sand buffeting your face as the wind picks up and the sun sinks below the horizon.

You are now alone in the desert on a camel with no name. A full moon and a sky lit with stars gives you some light to work by, but the sense of death you got from the desert before has increased to the point of feeling oppressive. The only good thing about all this is that the heat has dropped considerably without the beating sun above you.

The camel seems to have calmed now, and you can get yourself situated on top of him without any problems.

>Attempt to back trace towards the main group using the camel tracks before the sand erases them. (Requires d100 roll.)
>There are more than a few bundles on the camel's back. Search them, you might find something useful.
>Other.

Clarification: You must invoke the Fortune Teller's Favor before the results of a roll are revealed.

>>26310664
Backtrack

>>26310664
search the camel's bags.
THEN backtrack

Get on with it, then!

Rolled 48

>>26310712
sry bout that

Rolled 99

>>26310664
FOLLOW THOSE TRACKS

Rolled 45

>>26310664
Backtrace!

>>26310824
Well apparently I'm the second luckiest man alive.

Rolled 11

>>26310758
>>26310685
>>26310712
You pause to search the bags, but as the wind picks up you get the distinct impression that the tracks might be gone by the time you're done looking through them. With that in mind, Thaddeus urges the camel around and then forward, the obstinate beast finally begrudgingly obeying. Moving at as fast a pace as you can manage, you back track for a good ten minutes before the wind manages to erase the evidence of your passing.

You no longer have a clear path to follow, but you managed to get a fair distance underway and you know the general direction to move in. A lot better than being completely lost.

You pause to search the bags, producing from one bag a battered lighter and five torches as well as a modest supply of water and food. If you stay separated, you won't have to worry about immediately dehydration at least. The other bag contains more water and food for the camel, and the last bag contains a rolled up map, several sheafs of paper that look to be some sort of order form, and a large amount of strange devices and pieces of machinery you can't identify. There is also a bedroll on the camel.

GHOST WALKER: You can feel the presence of several unearthly beings nearby. Their proximity causes an uneasiness in the pit of your stomach.

>Light a torch, try to keep moving in the direction the others last were.
>Do not light a torch, keeping moving the direction the others last were.
>Move towards the presence.
>Other.

>>26310664
>Move towards the presence

We are a ghostwalker after all.

Rolled 89

>>26310930
Light a torch, shadows dont like that shit, rite, RITE? Also its like a beacon for the caravan to see.

>>26310664
>Move towards the presence

I'm a bit confused as to when we should roll.

>>26310996
Im scared of that. He was talking about shadows killing people, also, there was severeral unearthly presences. Guess well see...

Rolled 67

>>26310986
seconding this. shadow attacks can't happen when there is light.

i hope

File: 1375128893673.jpg-(52 KB, 233x350, spire.jpg)

52 KB JPG

>>26310996
Rolls are needed when a choice says (d100 required), or when I call for one. Currently only the first roll made for an agreed upon action count. Sorry if I wasn't clear on this.

>>26310976
>>26310986
>>26311063
You grab one of the torches and light it, carefully moving the camel towards where you feel the presences. The camel doesn't like it one bit, straining at your touch, but somehow you manage to guide it forward.

You crest a dune and see before you one of the strange rock spires. Illuminated by the moon, you catch a glimpse of four vaguely humanoid shapes floating around its midsection. Burning red eyes like coals are set where their heads should be, but they have no other features. They circle the spire for a few seconds more before one of them turns, drawn to the light of the torch in your hand. Without a sound, all four shadows fall from their orbit and melt into the sand. You cannot see any trace of them.

GHOST-WALKER: But you can feel them. They're moving straight for you, using their incorporeality to move through the sand beneath your feet.

>>26311196
Cold embrace?

I think they are attracted to light. Throw the torch.

Rolled 89

>>26311196
The camel begins to buck beneath you as you sense the shadows' approach. You have less than a minute before they reach you.

>Stand your ground.
>Turn the camel around and book it back towards the caravan.
>Dismount.
>Attempt communication.
>Other.

>>26311196
Attempt communicatoon

Rolled 38

>>26311282
attemp comms and throw the torch
if they come to close, cold embrace

Attach torch to camel, dismount camel, and book it. We might have to turn around and communicate with it, if it does not take the camel as decoy.

File: 1375130747017.jpg-(24 KB, 290x290, shadow.jpg)

24 KB JPG

>>26311278
>>26311334
>>26311308
>>26311353
Results: Throw torch and attempt communication.

You throw the torch to the side, but it does nothing. They're still coming straight at you. You shout at the sand.

"Wait! What are you? Who are you?" you cry. "What do you want from me?"

A hundred voices hiss in your head at once before resolving into a multi-toned chorus.

"We want you."

Eight misshapen shadowy limbs burst from the sand around the camel, spontaneously growing foot long claws that drive deep into the beast's body. The doomed pack-animal lets out a pained cry before the claws drag it down. Acting fast, you are able to dismount and leap away from the butchery as the chorus of voices begin to laugh hysterically. Blood sprays through the air as the shadows gruesomely dismember your mount, pulling themselves out of the sand and taking on physical form. At the very least the beast's death has bought precious time to act while the shadows indulge in their savagery.

>Flee! (Requires d100 roll.)
>Attack! (Cold Embrace, Requires d100 roll.)
>Attack! (Combat Knife, Requires d100 roll.)
>Other.

>>26311707
Attack with Cold Embrace.

Once they see we're no average, lost traveler, they might back off.

Rolled 17

>>26311733
seconding this

Rolled 32

>>26311707
Fuck this im outa here
>flee

>>26311755
>17
I hope the dm wont kill off this character already...

Rolled 89

>>26311707
Cold embrace attack

Rolled 7

>>26311707
Chilly hug!

File: 1375131285198.jpg-(17 KB, 460x460, 1327381660633.jpg)

17 KB JPG

Rolled 29

>>26311755
Steeling your will, you force yourself to walk towards the violence and leap on the first shadow to complete pulling itself up from the sand. Instinctive you splay your fingers outward on your right hand and drive it into the creature's chest...

>>26311870
>these low rolls

We're all going to die.

DEVOUR ITS SOUL! USE IT TO FUEL OUR POWERS!

>>26311870
The creature staggers back as your seek out the spark of unlife within it and suck the energy from that spark. An unearthly howl bursts from its lipless mouth as it contests your theivery, instead attempting to draw out your own life force and consume it. You feel your will falter a little and your hand becomes very, very cold...

Either unwilling to help their comrade or just too consumed by their murderous impulses, the other three shadows continue to tear apart the camel into gibs of gore. However, very soon they're going to run out of things to tear.

>Failure, but not by enough to cause damage.
>Maintain Cold Embrace (d100 required.)
>Attack with knife! (d100 required.)
>Flee! (d100 required.)

>>26311870
aww shit

Rolled 42

>>26311955

DRAIN THAT CUMGUZZLING FUCKWAFFLE DRY.

Rolled 22

>>26311955
maintain cold embrace
gods help me

>>26311955
Maintain it! We must show our dominance!

>>26311955
DRINK ITS ESSENCE! ADD IT TO OUR OWN!

Rolled 49

>>26311985
>>26311989
>>26311991
>>26312000
"I just GOT here!" you shout, anger lashing across your brain. "I'm NOT leaving so SOON!"

You pull at the creature's life force with renewed vigor...

Rolled 11

>>26312073
And get 'nommed.

I think we need a better roll.

Rolled 65

>>26312093
Haha ok one more roll
please dont eat us

>>26312073
The creature grapples with you, sinking its claw into your side as you begin to siphon its essence into you. His form begins to waver, grow insubstantial as you continue to drain, your injuries from its claws regenerating as you draw out its life.

The other shadows stop their bloody recreation and slowly stand, looking towards you.

>Partial success, essence drain successfully, but regeneration negated by damage dealt.

>Maintain Embrace! It's almost dry! (d100 required)
>Attack with Knife! (required d100.)
>Withdraw!
>Other

Rolled 95

>>26312141

STAY THE COURSE AND DRAIN THESE GRUNDLEFUCKING THUNDERCUNTS UNTIL THEY GET THE FUCKING MESSAGE TO BOW DOWN OR RUN AWAY.

>>26312164
SUCCESS
WE ARE GOD

Rolled 73

>>26312141
MAINTAAAAAIN

File: 1375132250566.jpg-(13 KB, 259x194, imgres.jpg)

13 KB JPG

RUN LIKE A LITTLE BITCH!

>>26312164
finally, I was worried we go the entire session with low rolls

>>26312164
THIS

File: 1375132742465.jpg-(149 KB, 1024x768, image.jpg)

149 KB JPG

Drew you guys this. Ulike?

>>26312341
Why dat nigga white? He a shadow, man.

>>26312341
good, but it needs more camel.

>>26312164
The shadow in your grasp howls in what sounds like pain one last time and then sizzles away to nothingness as you feel a surge of violent energy in your body from the drained essence. The other three shadows spread out and charge from all directions, but with the recent drain boosting your reflexes and speed, you are faster. Your hand impales the first shadow to close the distance, its form boiling away to vapor in an instant as new memories wake up in your mind and new energy suffuses your body. The other two shadows pause at this, one melting away into the sand while the other tenses itself for something.

>Critical Success!
>Ghost Walker Skill is now level 2.
>2 Shadows defeated and essence drained. Overhealed to 150% health.

>Charge and Cold Embrace last shadow. (d100 required)
>Attempt to track fleeing shadow.
>Shank with knife. (d100 required)

>>26312376
I need more energy.

Rolled 53

>>26312376
finish it

Rolled 59

>>26312376
lets continue fighting. Since we have no idea if our knife will work on these...

Cold Embrace.

Rolled 12

>>26312376
MORE HUMANITY FOR THE DARK HAND

Rolled 80

>>26312376

KILL THAT FUCKING BITCH IN THE FACEHOLE.

>>26312358
Gonna make the next one more metal, dont worry

Rolled 60

Rolling to increase chance of OP writing success.

File: 1375133284976.jpg-(6 KB, 480x360, MUSTHAVEENERGY.jpg)

6 KB JPG

Rolled 30, 86 = 116

>>26312341
Excellent.

>>26312396
>>26312405
>>26312414
>>26312424
>>26312440
MUST HAVE ENERGY!

You dart forward and thrust your hand at the last shadow's neck as its 'fleeing' companion's hands break through the sands and try to grasp your ankles with wicked claws...

Rolled 10

>>26312504
Rolling once again to increase OP writing speed. Here's hoping for crit success.

though critfail would be amusing

Rolled 25

>>26312504

SHIT DOWN THEIR INCORPOREAL THROATS AND SKULLFUCK THEM WITH A FLAMING DILDO.

>>26312563

STOP ROLLING.

>>26312596
It's too late. His writing speed is now abysmal. Check back in 3 weeks and he might be done a paragraph.

Unless the DC for writing a quest thread is really low.

>>26312504
Your fingers wrap around the standing shadow's throat, your eyes pinpointing the ethereal threads within the creature that gives it life and pulling that life into yourself. The creature gives out a gasp and begins to turn to ash, managing a fanged smile as he does so.

"Welcome... back..." it hisses before disintegrating.

Then you fall face first onto the ground, your feet caught on wicked claws as the last shadow bursts from the sand and tackles you, driving foot-long claws of razor darkness into your chest. Your drained essence immediately goes to work repairing the damage, but it still hurts.

"We will have you!" the shadow hisses, digging its claws in deeper. "You fled us once, spirit-binder! You will not again!"

The pain is excruciating, but you can still think, still fight.

>Damage taken negated by essence drain.
>Cold Embrace one more time. (d100 required)
>Knife (d100 required.)
>Other.

>>26312620
Actually right after I read that I got a phone call from my boss. I have to cover for another worker, so after this battle I'll be leaving for a bit.

No joke.

Rolled 56

>>26312631
EAT THAT SOUL
HIGH IN PROTEIN, DOESN'T KILL YOUR GAINS

>>26312646
Ha ha, I killed the thread with incredibly poor rolling!

Rolled 55

They will be ours!

Rolled 35

>>26312631
Knife + essence combo?

Rolled 70

>>26312631

YOUR SOUL IS MINE YOU DICKSMUGGLING ASSGOBLIN.

Rolled 95

The dice seem to like cursing...

Rolled 38

>>26312658
>>26312663
>>26312701
>>26312720
You press your hand to the creature's chest, but feel his essence invading yours instead. A numbing chill spreads through your arm as you feel your recently drained essence stolen by the creature driving its claws into you.

"Two can play at that game, fleshling!" the creature says, withdrawing its claws and driving them back into you. You almost faint from the pain, but anger and what extra energy you still have from your drains sustain you.

>>26312699
The creature is resisting the pull of your right hand on its essence... but your left touches on the knife in your belt. You are a Ghost-Walker. Any weapon wielded by you can slice spectral forms the same as flesh. If you can just get it loose without the creature seeing and countering...

Roll a d100.

>Overheal down to 125%.

File: 1375134393652.jpg-(45 KB, 640x548, TheRecreator4a83db5004ca9.jpg)

45 KB JPG

Rolled 89

come on, stab it in the neck!

Rolled 86

>>26312821

Rolled 64

Aww, we couldn't eat him even with a roll of 95?

Fine, slicey-slicey.

Rolled 90

>>26312886
that roll was for the fiend to resist us.

Rolled 2

>>26312821

SHANK IN NECK.

BREAK ITS SPECTRAL BONES UNDERNEATH OUR FLESH.

FEAST UPON ITS ESSENCE.

File: 1375134959432.jpg-(217 KB, 800x600, knifesand.jpg)

217 KB JPG

>>26312871
>>26312875
>>26312886
>>26312898
The favor of Fortune returns it seems!

"Can you feel your life running into the sand, little flesh? Soon, I'll be able to taste your very soul..." the shadow whispers. You don't pay much attention. You're too busy slipping the knife from your belt and into your hand while the monster on top of you prattles on.

"Your pain is deli-GRAAAAAAAAAUUUUU!"

The shadow's words devolve into a pained shriek as your left hand slashes upward in an arc, cutting deep into the flickering form of the shadow from waist to shoulder before you curve the blade around and jam it in the monster's neck. He pulls his claws from you and staggers back, flailing at the knife in his neck before boiling away to vapor with one last pained gurgle.

You sit in the sand for a minute, catching your breath and letting your drained essence heal you completely.

"...I can't fucking believe this all started because I can't ride a goddamn camel," you mutter, finally standing and walking over to retrieve your knife.

>Investigate the spire.
>Investigate the slain camel, maybe some of that gear is salvageable.
>Leave. Now.
>Other.

You've all got a few hours to choose, that shift starts now. Be back around 9 or 10.

Rolled 14

>>26313044
>Investigate the slain camel, maybe some of that gear is salvageable.

>>26313044
Investigate the spire hopefully the vantage point will allow us to spot the caravan.

Rolled 30

>>26313044
Rolling for OP's workplace to be hit my a plane before he arrives.

Also, my vote goes to pillage camel.

>Investigate the slain camel, maybe some of that gear is salvageable.
Gonna at least need water.

>>26313044
Investigate the camel. We need the extra gear to survive out here.

>ghostsa liketh
Yeah, captcha, they sure like sucking us dry of life.

Aye, my life for OPiur.

Rolled 78

last bump before i sleep. will be back

>>26314448
is that you op
please do not be you op

Rolled 94

>>26314493
not OP faggot. OP is at work

An hour to go!

>>26315049
Cmon, OP.

Bump

Bampu.

My body is ready, Op.

op please deliver

File: 1375151500133.jpg-(101 KB, 700x466, torch.jpg)

101 KB JPG

>>26314743
Well that certainly did suck. Back to questing!

>>26313084
>>26313091
>>26313096
>>26313105
>>26313230
You check over what remains of the camel and it isn't much. Two torches, some food and water, and the map are the only things you can really take. Most of the salvage looks to have been wrecked in the onslaught.

>Investigate spire.
>Leave, try to continue towards where you think the others are.
>Other.

>>26317827
Let's find the others.