>>26378907
Get the crowbar from our car, reload gun, and follow them.

>>26378907
>[ ] Other.
Get the crowbar first, and try to keep it close to the body, don't want to get it caught on anything.

>[ ] Follow the strange crowd.
Then we see if they've got our friends.

>>26378907
These fuckers are all werewolves. Do we still have that silver razor that we dropped?

You could go home you know.

Your dog isn't hungry, you made sure to feed him before you left. Probably wondering where you are though. Rare for you to be out this late on a Saturday.

You walk for your car, emptying one magazine, and pushing another in. Eight bullets, including the one in the chamber.

What was Officer Brian's plan anyway? 'Let's just randomly walk in to people's houses, and hope for the best?' And to drag Ella in to it, what was he thinking? He's a traffic cop. These people, were on a wholly different level.

You yank open your car door, grab your crowbar.

Not that you warned them.

But you'll set it right. You're sure you will. Crowbar in one hand and gun in the other, you creep after the crowd in to the forest, careful and quiet.

It is very dark out. Only a half moon out in the night. Thankfully, the crowd have torches and flash lights as they walk along, taking up a hunting cheer that you can't recognize or discern the words of. It's hard to see them in the dark, to make out presences, but you're fairly sure you saw Lee's slouch hat bobbing about the number. He was the one that caught you last time.

Dangerous man, that Lee.

You do not see Officer Brian, or Ella.

>[ ] Follow stealthily, at a distance. 3 rolls of 1d100, 60 and below succeed.
>[ ] Follow stealthily, close enough to hear conversation. 3 rolls of 1d100, 50 and below succeed.
>[ ] Follow stealthily, close enough to try to make out faces, see who's who.
>[ ] Try to talk to them. See if they know where your friends are.
>[ ] Other.

>>26379223
[x] Follow stealthily, almost close enough to hear conversation.

>>26379223
>[ ] Follow stealthily, close enough to hear conversation.

Anything less would be an insult to the sudden stealth skills Timothy gained.

>>26378907
Follow the crowd

>>26379285
this one

Right, seems straight forward enough.

3 rolls of 1d100 please, gentlemen.

Rolled 81

>>26379328
We're gonna fail, and have to shoot someone, I bet.

Aim for the head.

Rolled 91

>>26379328

Rolled 98

>>26379328

Rolled 47

>>26379328
This isn't going to go well.

>>26379362
>>26379359
>>26379347
Yeah.

Writing.

Rolled 24

>>26379371
we officially screwed the pooch on this one.

You are a careful man. You proved that when you got in to the house as easily as you did. You're not going to go too close- you're just going to get a listen in, that's all-

A branch snaps unexpectedly underneath you, and you catch on a root, slamming down. You manage to stay quiet, despite the pain of feeling the crowbar digging in to your side, but the crowbar makes a very distinctive clank.

"What was that?" The crowd look back in the dark, and raise their flashlights to sweep the area. The man riding the horse, he's wearing a deer's skull. You can see that clearly now, even from this distance. A deer's skull, with the antlers down. That can't be comfortable, you wonder. Antlers up, well, you have to worry about catching in door frames, but antlers down, you poke yourself every time you move.

You're sure that you saw long shotgun barrels glittering in the light.

Your hand catches on a slick, mossy root, and you shove up, the lights are washing over you.

>[ ] Run, before they catch you.
>[ ] Home in on the antlered man. Strike first. Shoot with your pistol. 3 1d100, 40 and below to succeed.
>[ ] Children run or have temper tantrums. Hide again. 3 1d100, 50 and below succeed.
>[ ] Come out in the open. It's too late already, just try to talk this out. They wouldn't dare hurt a taxman.
>[ ] Other.

>>26379543
>[ ] Children run or have temper tantrums. Hide again. 3 1d100, 50 and below succeed.

Rolled 8

>>26379543
>[ ] Children run or have temper tantrums. Hide again. 3 1d100, 50 and below succeed.

See I knew the crowbar would do it!

>>26379575
>>26379573
Okey, 3 1d100 rolls please.

Rolled 15

>>26379620
let's not cock this one up?

Rolled 65

>>26379620

>>26379677
I think I'll stop rolling now.

Rolled 5

>>26379620
One more.

Rolled 54

>>26379620
Time to ride to fail town

Rolled 6

>>26379675
Eh, I don't think it's a matter of cocking up. Just.../tg/ dice being /tg/ dice.

I did bump up the thresholds to reflect in my opinion the skills of Timothy's inconspicuousness, but it just wasn't enough with those rolls, regrettably.

>>26379739
Two successes. Writing.

>>26379748
we'll it's not so bad this time....

Rolled 87, 89, 85 = 261

Don't be seen. Don't be seen. Don't be seen. Be yourself. Be nothing out of the ordinary.

You roll behind a tree, and go very still.

"Granger, do you see anything?"
"...No. I'm sure I heard something though."
"So did I," A high pitched snicker, "More guests?"
"Don't be idiots," That's Mrs. Abbot's voice, "No games. As above, so below."
"I thought we were having a hunt!" Lee's voice now, irritated, "Do you want me to go back to Eric Strahan without the boy blooded, eh? Pretty little place that'll put you in there."
"We're having our hunt, Lee," Mrs. Abbot's voice again. Things are still for a time, "Granger? Rick? Go out there. Take a look. Everyone else, come on! Keep singing! Keep singing, for a good hunt!"

Their strange song comes up again, and this time, you're SURE it's not English. The words slither almost, seem to coil in your ears, and stick. Bad words. Creeping song. A noise that goes down your ear, runs down your marrow, and squeezes your heart with fear and makes it beat faster. Thankfully, fading away now.

"Bitch," You hear whispered from behind you. Then another high snicker.

You don't know how close they are. Or where they are really. They don't know where you are either. But you suspect the rest of the hunt will be keeping an eye out now. Not good. Not good at all. You were just a taxman. There had to be professionals for this sort of work. Maybe you should just-

No. Can't bring people blind to the shore, and let them drown.

>[ ] Try to find these guys, actively. Get the drop on them first. 3 1d100, 50 and below succeed.
>[ ] Just stay hidden. Skulk past them, lose these rubes, follow the hunt. 3 1d100, 50 and below.
>[ ] Use that hunk of metal in your hand for something. Throw it, distract them, then sneak past them. 3 1d100, 60 and below to succeed.
>[ ] Straight razor out. It'll know what to do.
>[ ]Other.
>So many dice rolls this session. Cripes.

>>26379997
>[ ] Straight razor out. It'll know what to do.
combined with
>[ ] Just stay hidden. Skulk past them, lose these rubes, follow the hunt. 3 1d100, 50 and below.

And keep the crowbar in the off hand, putting the gun back in it's holster, so we make less noise.

>>26379997
>[ ] Straight razor out. It'll know what to do.
>[ ] Just stay hidden. Skulk past them, lose these rubes, follow the hunt. 3 1d100, 50 and below.

Rolled 19

>>26380098
i agree with these actions.
rolling

>>26380152
wait til consenus confirmation from Internal

>>26380152
oops. sorry. forgot about the concenous thing.

>>26380098
>>26380123
>>26380152
Roll on.

Also, swear to god I'm hanging in here until this night is finished. You're gonna get out of this night hunt no matter what, even if I have to keep it up tomorrow.

>>26380162
my bad. old habits and all.

Rolled 10

>>26380184
Internal Revenue, if i could reach though this net and hug you, i would! THANK YOU! you are a TRUE QM!

rolling

Rolled 56

>>26380184
Would I be correct in asusming this is a The Wild Hunt kind of thing?

Rolled 100

>>26380184

>>26380240
ouch.

>>26380240
Hm. I think that's the first 100 rolled in this Quest.

Well, not to worry. Only counts as a botch if there were no successes, and we have one right here
>>26380209

One success. Meager success, but still a success. Writing.

Rolled 36

>>26380268
>>26380240
son of a ---! this is going to hurt.... man, we are so not Solid Snake in sneaking around.

>>26380371
ANNDddd we could have used that roll! the dice are mocking us tonight. if the /tg/ dice were real, i would cuck them back into the bag and get fresh ones.

>>26380371
We were.

You forget when, but you've got a grip on the straight razor in your pocket. Well, it makes sense. Hasn't steered you wrong yet. You put your pistol away, reach down, grab the blade, flick it out. Breath a little easier. Comforting.

"Y'see anybody?" Rough voice. Sounded almost Canadian.
"Can't see a thing!" Southern accent, reminds you of Ralph's, except a lot higher pitched, then it giggles, "Wait, there he is!"

You nearly jump out of your skin- but realize he would have had to hit you with the flashlight first. They're trying to scare you. You roll your razor in your hand, look at the moon light reflecting off the blade. Not silver, no, but cold, hard, well used steel. There was blood on this just a while ago.

Should get this sharpened, honestly. You crouch low, carefully walk through the underbrush, hear the hunters stomping about the undergrowth, shouting, taunting, waving their flash lights, being very noticeable targets.

The hunt isn't much further, but you find yourself hemmed in by the two. You walk further up, the one in front sees you. You walk to the right, you go right through a patch of bushes, and make too much noise. You go left, you'll be spotted by the man behind you. Go back, you're back where you started. The hunt is slipping out of your sight. Damn, damn, damn!

>[ ] Screw it. Just sprint past the front blood. Hope doesn't see you. 3 1d100 50 and below.
>[ ] Bloody Hell, what a pain these guys are. Just go straight for the man in front. Take him, and his light down fast. His friend can't draw a bead in the dark. 2 1d100, 50 and below.
>[ ] Pain in the bleeding neck. Sneak up behind the one behind you. Bump him off. 3 1d100 45 and below.
>[ ] Blood is thicker than water. Try to sneak anyway. Might be slow, but you can't lose that hunt with their singing. 3 1d100, 55 and below.

>>26380480
>[ ] Blood is thicker than water. Try to sneak anyway. Might be slow, but you can't lose that hunt with their singing. 3 1d100, 55 and below.

>>26380480
>>[ ] Blood is thicker than water. Try to sneak anyway. Might be slow, but you can't lose that hunt with their singing. 3 1d100, 55 and below.

>>26380538
>>26380523
Alright, good. Gimme 3 1d100 rolls.

I swear to god we'll (hopefully if things go well) be taking a slight break from rolling soon.

Rolled 5

>>26380606
rolling

>>26380606

>>26380661
1d100.

Rolled 100

>>26380668
at least I live up to my title.

>>26380683
can I cry now?

Rolled 54

>>26380606
inb4 100

Rolled 77

>>26380606

>>26380707
too late.

>>26380707
Livin' on the edge.

Meager success, writing.

>>26380707
The smallest of successes.

You don't breath, wait, close your eyes. Get those thoughts out of your head. Then creep forward, darting from tree to tree, thinking to yourself the whole while how you were an ordinary, unimportant, irrelevant person, just an irrelevant, ordinary, unimportant, person, pay me no heed.

You have to creep, and seize up for a few moments, before you shake the men searching for you. You breath a sigh of relief.

Then realize that you're alone, in the dark, with absolutely no idea where the hunting party is.

How could you lose them? They had a bunch of torches, were singing a song, had a horse- but you stare around, and can see no light, save for the lights of the two men behind you.

For a moment, you fight frustration within you. This really has been the worst night. Okay, okay, focus on landmarks....

>[ ] Back to the men with the flashlights. Perhaps something can done about them, or you can follow them? Hopefully they'll be able to make it to the hunting ground.
>[ ] Follow the moon. Superstitious sorts liked the moon, right? Hey, it's a better idea than nothing.
>[ ] Make back for the manor. They have to come back to the house some time.
>[ ] Other.

>>26380874
>[ ] Follow the moon. Superstitious sorts liked the moon, right? Hey, it's a better idea than nothing.
The Wild Hunt rides across the sky, so I assume they'd need something to guide them.
Man I really hope they're re-enacting the Wild Hunt, shit is awesome

Rolled 37

>>26380874
>[ ] Follow the moon. Superstitious sorts liked the moon, right? Hey, it's a better idea than nothing.
also
>[ ] Other
were they not on a path/dirt road? if the moon is full (or close enough) there should be enough light to see it and fallow it.

as i should know. i live out in the country to be able to do that myself.

>>26380985
Yeah, full moons are bright as hell. Nothing beats a 3AM stroll on a full moon night.

Following the moon.

Well, it's not the craziest thing you've done tonight. You look up at the half moon, and walk after it. There are plenty of birds or bats in the sky it seems the moon seems to be almost flickering with how many go past. You follow after the moon, glancing back down every once in a while to make sure you won't trip again.

It doesn't take long before you hear the song again. You have to clamber up the side of a hill, but soon you're at the top of a modest rise- a too precise line of pine trees suggest that this isn't natural.You struggle through the thicket, but stop yourself at the edge of a decline at the sight of a gigantic snarling face, mouth open, incisors long and curled, face distorted in anger, shining in the light of bonfire. It has to be a carving fifteen feet high, like one of those stone heads, except carved of wood and painted. It is at the head of a glade- which with the too perfect ridges of dirt lined with pine trees, you suspect is not a product of nature. It is vaguely circular, though imbalanced. The part with the head narrows, and also holds the bonfire closer to it. At the other end, even the moon light fails. You swear you see squirming shapes there.

The man on the horse seems to be leading the crowd, and the remaining thirteen dance about the fire. You can see the three coffins are arranged in front of the monstrous carved hand. They are shouting their song now, all lyricism and melody forgotten, just shouting in some kind of awful passion. The words still disquiet you, but you can't focus on that at the moment.

Some kind of fell and awful pagan ritual it seems. You glance up again. Perhaps it was the smoke that was blotting out the moon? It is thick and black, and more and more the moon blinks and flickers, like a failing bulb.

>[ ] Sneak over to the other side, near the head. See if you can find out what are in the coffins.
>[ ] Wait and watch. Perhaps they don't intend to stay here?
>[ ] Other.

>>26381255
>[ ] Sneak over to the other side, near the head. See if you can find out what are in the coffins.
I think our friends are in there, I think.

>>26381255
>[ ] Sneak over to the other side, near the head. See if you can find out what are in the coffins.

>>26381318
>>26381288
Sneaking mission writing.

Thankfully, the revelers are too enamored of their madness to notice anything at the moment.

>>26381381
i hope so. also, i don't think gun sliencers were around at this time frame (save anything the army had or someone made themselves). they would be very useful right now.

Rolled 37, 18, 75 = 130

You creep along the side of the ridge, sparing glances on occasion for the dance going on below. The man on the horse is drunkenly clinging on to his horse's neck, antlers snapped off and hanging off of it. Mrs. Abbot seems to flicker with the fire, changing positions faster than the eye can see. The young Strahan boy for his part seems to ever be on the verge of falling, always helped up by the friendly Mr. Lee, slouch hat still on. Of the dancers, he seems the only one still cogent, glimmering eyes seeming to always end up looking about in between his writhing and swaying. You make sure to always have a tree opposite between you and Lee as you go along.

Finally, you manage to reach the coffins. The wooden head has water beading on it- almost as if it were sweating. The paint really is actually quite fascinating, now that you're close. Expensive work this- such fine carved wood, to have every piece painted a fresh color, then put together.

You approach the coffins carefully, keeping an eye on the dancers. You experimentally shoved at one- heavy, and something shifts within. You hear a muffled yell from the within. Sounded masculine. Should be Officer Brian. Quick checks of the other coffins reveal much the same thing- though these ones stay quiet. You're uncomfortably aware that the first coffin you investigated is thrashing now, and seemingly devoted to making a terrible racket. Though, there are three. One of them isn't Ella. Might not be a friend.

At least you have your crowbar. Prying these open should be a cinch now.

You do see that the dancers are slowing now. Somewhere, along the way, the man on the horse disappeared. The horse starts trotting over to you, riderless, of its own seeming volition.

>[ ] Start opening coffins.
>[ ] Hide.
>[ ] Scare the damn thing off.
>[ ] Other.

Gotta walk the dog. Be back in 30.

>>26381684
>[ ] Start opening coffins.
>[ ] Other.
Do it as quiet as possible
>>26381739
See you then

Rolled 86

>>26381684
>[ ] Start opening coffins.

>>26381684
>[ ] Start opening coffins.
Start with Brian's; he might be able to help.

>>26381684
>[ ] Start opening coffins.
and keep an eye out for those cultist.

>>26381684
>[ ] Start opening coffins
Yeah, open the thrashing one. Hopefully we get lucky.

>[ ] Start opening coffins
Open Brian's first

>>26381684
also, KEEP LOW! i don't know if there is a fire or some other light source around besides the moon. there might still be others near by.

I LIVE IN A HOUSE OF LIES.

Writing coffin poppin'.

You glance at the dancers. They're starting to slow. No hesitation, have to do this while you can.

You slip shut the razor, get both hands firmly on the crowbar, and work it in as quietly as possible. The thrashing inside redoubles. You privately hope it's Officer Brian in there, and haul on the crowbar with all of your body weight.

You hear the crack pops of nails, and the squeal of wood, the splintering clamor of pine wood bowing to iron, and move down, repeating the process, until the top of the coffin rolls off, and you see Kevin sit bolt upright, gasping, red face, clawing at his throat, coughing, still dressed in his officer's uniform. He leans over the side and retches in the grass.

You can hear the pops and snaps of the distant bonfire now. The singing stopped.

You look up, and they're standing there, the thirteen in a row, masked, spattered by mud, dirty, and ash, looking at you, weapons in hand. Lee and the Strahan boy are the only ones unmasked, and the Strahan boy looks like he's about to be sick. Lee has a very wide smile.

"Don't let us stop you," Mrs. Abbot speaks now, raising her red nails open handed, as if magnanimously giving a gift to you, "Go on. Release the others."

Kevin, coughing, rolls out of the coffin, on hands and knees, gasping for air.

The antlered man gives a whistle, and his horse returns to him, looking back at you all the while with strange gray eyes.

>[ ] Keep opening coffins.
>[ ] "What do you want?"
>[ ] Refuse.
>[ ] Gun out.
>[ ] Other.

>>26382914
wut? if your dog ok Internal Revenue?

>>26383121
The dog is fine, I just had to deal with some crap. I'm sorry I'm late is all.

>>26383117
>[ ] Keep opening coffins.
>[ ] "What do you want?"

>[ ] Other.
Maybe if they start to get hostile bring up beating the horse-man.

>>26383117
>>[ ] Keep opening coffins.
>[ ] Other.
Thank her.

>>26383117
hum...
>[ ] Gun out.
then
>[ ] Other.
tell them you are a law enforcemet Agent of the U.S.A. (aka bluffing that you are with the BIA) and stop what they are doing adn release the hostages.

if we can work on them giving out more information on themselves, the better.

>>26383270
that.... is probably not a good idea. we are not the charismatic snarky type.

>>26383327
Its called being polite, she's allowing us to save our companions, courtesy dictates we thank her

>>26383167
we love your quests you write my friend. but if you have problems that need addressing in your real (off line) life, we can wait it out till later.

>>26383360
Does courtesy really apply to a woman we've been attacked by, and have broken into her home? I do believe we're past that point.

>>26383360
i think that when we do open them all, they will hunt us down and try to kill us. i fear this is a human sacrifice ritural and the people in the coffens are the unwilling offerings to some dark force.

Hm. Well, the closest thing to consensus is two for opening coffins.

I'll try to mash them together, then, barring an objection showing up in the next two minutes.

>>26383380
>questS

Eh?

>>26383406
They don't know that.
>>26383425
well the wild hunt needs prey, and it will happen regardless.

>>26383117
>[x]Other
Drop the crowbar to Kevin.
Pull out gun and straight razor.
We can't stop now.

>>26383429
Give Kevin the crowbar and have him open the other coffins. Then yeah, pull out our pistol and the razor.

"What in the hell do you want? What are you people? Not humans, I figure. I know, I know I must sound like I'm going crazy. If I, a few days ago, heard what I was saying, I would think I was crazy. But the things I've seen. The things I've learned. What foul magic are you up to?"

If shit gets really bad, we should bluff that we work for Call. If nothing else, it might buy us a couple extra seconds to run for it.

>>26383429
i'm sorry, it sounded like there are problems popped up in your place. as gamer and considerit of others. i was worried you are having problems Internal Revenue.

>>26383609
NO. that guy makes his mojo off of promises and implications. we did all we could to NOT be in his favor, and now you want to invoke his NAME?

>>26383673
Well we'll see how things go here first.

>>26383609
That's a bad idea, I think. How about we name-drop Tom, instead? Like, not say that we're working for the BIA, but something like 'you're not human, then, are you? you're something else, like Tom was talking about...' feed them the bait and let them hook themselves.

>>26383717
Eh. It feels like where we are now, name dropping some magic cops wouldn't have as much pull as name dropping some magic criminals.

>>26383772
... Alright, then. let's wait on further info.

You stare at the crowd. Kevin is gasping, trying to whisper something, gagging.

No, you don't have time for this. You tip your hat, mumble a thank you, and run to the next coffin.

You slam it in, start yanking out the nails. Kevin lays on his side, panting, eyelids flickering, staring up. You can't help but look at them. The strange crowd. Only thirteen. You swear there are only thirteen, but the in the heat shimmer, in the interplay of fire and dark, it's almost like there's a vast army at the edge of the fire light, waiting, watching.

"What do you want?" You wrench out more nails, snapping open the coffin. Officer Brian is in the grass, whispering something. He seems almost half dead, "What ARE you people?" You narrow your eyes, move the crowbar over, another squall of pine wood and nails, "What is all of this?"

"Self defense," Sniffs Mrs. Abbot, offense pouring from every fiber of her stance, "Three strangers broke in to my property, and I was terrified for my life. At any rate though, thankfully, I didn't use any undue force," The mask shifts in the light- you can't really see much of anything of her mask. Just a patch of night shimmering in the dark, "Very strange occurrence on the property."

>>26383609
BAD IDEA!
>>26383717
might work. but i don't think a common name like Tom could make a connection.

File: 1375420425285.png-(1.63 MB, 754x849, RemarkableDrawing.png)

1.63 MB PNG

"Enough!" You shout, wrenching finally the top of this coffin off. You lean in and recoil- an old man stares back at you, rheumy eyes, flies buzzing about his body, what was once a woolen sweater and old levi's worn away to almost nothing. You take an involuntary step back, before looking back up at Mrs. Abbot, "What ARE you!"

"A mistress of the subtle orders," She whispers demurely, hurt by your implications- and you notice the bandages on her wrists, red lines on them, "A collector of keys, and a worshiper of the temple of myself-"
"Miz Abbot," Lee turns, annoyed, waving his knife, "Strahan's about to lose his nerve here, can we get it a moving on already?"
Mrs Abbot shakes her head, "Of course, dear, impatient, little cannibal soldier, whatever you say- Timothy Lawrence Johnson, taxman, here me well! Yes, Lee told me all about you. And Ms. Delinard here," She indicates the woman in the fur coat, who tips her head and gives a predatory smile, "Told me about what you had done in this town. Here is all you need to know, taxman- I am the host for this night's great hunt. As above, so below. Open the last box, Timothy, or I will, and I promise not to be so gentle as your crowbar!"

She seems to be fond of the histrionic. Might have had a future on the stage. Were it not for the habit of killing trespassers so cruelly.

She points to the last coffin, "Do it, Timothy!"

Kevin wheezes something.

"Not again," he whispers, staring up at the sky, "Not again."

>[ ] Don't open the coffin.
>[ ] Open the coffin.
>[ ] Other.

>>26383923
In this area, in this game, it probably would. BUT THAT IS A DIGRESSION. We aren't at that point yet and may not get there at all.

>>26383974
What is Kevin on about, we must wonder to ourselves as we look at the crowd and then to the coffin. Crowbar in hand, pistol by our breast, we have to finish this. One way or another. We are a tax man after all, and it wouldn't do to leave something half done. The paperwork is insufferable when lines are left incomplete. There's a place for everything, and everything has it's place. Right now, we're here. We have a crowbar. We have a job to do.

If this crazy dame and her gaggle of beasts descend on us in a few minutes, that's what's going to happen. If we fight back and manage to escape, or more likely, get killed (while maybe taking down a couple of them), then that is what happens.

But right now, we have a crowbar, and our friend is still missing. We aren't done here. Not yet.

Open that coffin.

>>26383974
>[ ] Open the coffin.

>>26383974
well, name-dropping doesn't work, they know who we are.

we'll open the coffin, but can we ask for a moment to tend to our associate? he appears to have trouble breathing.

while we're helping him, we talk soft and ask him what can't happen again. decide on the coffin for-realzies then.

>>26384084
I think that's a bit too meta.

>>26383974
>[ ] Other.
"Who is in it?" to Abbot and ask Kevin "What Again?" as we slowly try to open it as to by time for talking.

>>26384148
we heard him saying that, didn't we? if we didn't hear it, then why would IR put it in there?

Makes enough sense in my opinion.

>Hm. Minor controversy over whether to ask Kevin what's up first. I'll give it another two minutes, then flip a coin over here.

>We will get Timothy out of this freaking forest one way or another by the end of this session.

>Also, roughly my rate seems to average 20 minutes to write, then wait 10 minutes for consensus. Is this an acceptable rate? Just wondering. I realize 2 posts an hour is pretty slow, but, well, I'm an overwriting tit. So, I've been thinking of saving time by cutting down on the florid language, or drawing consensus faster. Any thoughts?

Rolled 79

>Okay. Keeping slow, asking Kevin first. Writing.

>>26384246
IR, let's solve the issue. we heard Kevin say 'Not again' IC, didn't we?

>>26384246
IR, you are a really fast poster! over in Girls und Pazner Quest thread, the QM posts between one to two hours at a time.

You glance over to Kevin. What did he say?

"Again?" You ask him.
"Timothy?" Why do people always jump straight to your first name? Maddening.
"My friend, he's hurt, shouldn't I-"
"The coffin, Timothy. I hope for her sake, you don't let yourself get too distracted."

You hesitate, then nod, grabbing an arm of Kevin's, trying to get him on to his feet. He clambers up, slowly, and you truly regret not paying more attention to your physical fitness, "Again," Kevin murmurs, as you haul him over to the last unopened casket, "The horns. The roots. The barbs. The howls. The dogs," Kevin's face screws up as he shakes his head, whispers, "Again. Always, again."

"Who is in this casket?" You ask, setting down Kevin. A contemptuous snort, "The one that hung off of his arm. Are you going to open it, or shall I?"

By that description, Ella. You never did catch her last name. Not officially Officer Brian's wife yet, they don't swap names until then.

"Martin?" Her mask of shadow looks over to a man wearing a great big, hoary boar's mask, "He seems hesitant. Give the girl in the box some air, would you?"

Martin emits a low, and dangerous chuckle, and starts approaching. A tale man, in a pin stripe suit. That is a remarkable boar mask he has. Envelops the whole head. Looks quite realistic- you can almost see the slather on his tusks.

>[ ] Open the coffin.
>[ ] Let Martin do it.
>[ ] Stall for time.
>[ ] Other.

>>26384293
You did.

>>26384478
>tale man
I keep seeing all these god damn typos I make. I hope you guys are smart enough to auto substitute the proper word (tall in this case) when I fuck up like this.

>>26384478
>[ ] Open the coffin.
Though we will need to kill some of these things before the night is over.

>>26384478
>[ ] Open the coffin.
and
>[ ] Other.
if ella is in there, she needs out now! also get ready to pull your gun out and shoot boarhead/ the ork if he gets too close! we already shot up a minotaur already. shooting an Ork might also be on the list of things to do tonight.

>>26384478
"What happened to your arm, Mrs. Abbot?"

>>26384611
Predators go after injured prey, no?

>>26384523
don't beat yourself up over it. you are doing wonderful anyway. besides, i have dyslexia and i fight hard enough to spell as well as i do so far.

>>26384478
open that coffin before the Orc rips her to shreds.

>>26384611
>>26384626
oh, that is good. we might have to use it if we see she still injured.

>>26384655
>>26384610
>>26384557
There has to be some song somewhere called 'coffin poppin' or something with that as the chorus, or a lyric or something.

Anyway, writing-

I'll include the injury question as well.

Creativity good.

>>26384884
>durp forgot trip
"Wait, wait, wait!" You step in front of Martin, all out of proportion. Stoop back, long thin limbed, with such a large and frightful mask, "I'll open it, I'll open it!"

You run to the coffin, start wrenching it open- then glance over at Mrs. Abbot. The bandages on her wrist.

"What happened to your arm, Mrs. Abbot?"
"Never you mind, taxman, open the coffin!" You oblige, wrench it the last bit open, swing aside the top.

Dried blood covers her nose and lips like a veil. Her eyes flicker open, and she groans, her hands cut and dirt covered, branches in her short tangled hair, "Kevin?" she murmurs, blinking, trying to get her bearings, before starting to cough as well. Good. She was safe. A civil servant must always be sure of the safety of the populace.

"They look like deep cuts, Mrs. Abbot," You glance back at her, "Are you well?"
"I am FINE," She hisses, balling her fists, "I am the mistress of the hunt, and will not be doubted. There, prey ready? Get on your feet. Breath a little," She raises her hand, and as her raises hire, the bonfire starts to dim, the eyes of those gathered starting to shine, "We'll give you a running start. As is tradition."

Kevin starts shaking his head, stumbles over to Ella who is still shakily trying to get out of her coffin, "No, no, no, no, Ella, Ella, come on honey, up on your feet, we can make it, just 'till the dawn, please."
"Oh Kevin," Ella falls in to her fiance's arms, "You know, you know-"

Ignoring them.
>[ ] "Who could have touched the mistress of the hunt?"
>[ ] Dares never end well. Run, now.
>[ ] Defy the hunt. Gun out.
>[ ] "Me? Running start? Don't need it," prod Kevin and Ella to go. Distract the hunters.
>[ ] Other.

>>26384892
>[x] "Who could have touched the mistress of the hunt?"
>[x]Other
"I am fairly certain that you do not possession the requisite licenses and permits for this activity, Mrs. Abbot."
Take out our gun and straight razor.

>>26384892
>[ ] "Who could have touched the mistress of the hunt?"

Let's start poking holes in her authority. we don't let up on this idea.

>>26384892
>[ ] "Who could have touched the mistress of the hunt?"

>[ ] Defy the hunt. Gun out.

>[ ] Other.
Throw in a taunt about the horse man, show the ring.

It's our fault that Kevin and Ella are here, if we can buy them time and help them escape, we owe them at any cost. After all our most cherished thing is justice.

>>26384962
let's save the taunt for when things are balls-out failing. If we throw the fact we trounced her minion out, she might go berserk.

...Then again, we trounced her minion. this could also work to sow doubt in the Wild Hunt. nobody here is used to the hunted packing heat, I bet.

>>26384989
Lee might be.

"Cannibal soldier."

>>26384949
>>26384961
>>26384962
Okay, taunting Mrs. Abbot seems to be the theme.

Also, two want to get the gun out.

Writing.

>>26384892
>[ ] "Who could have touched the mistress of the hunt?"

Taunt her into making some sort of mistake there's got to be some tradition we can play on.

"Who could have touched the mistress of the hunt?" There's your hand again, wrapped around the straight razor.

"Kevin, Kevin, listen to me," That's Ella talking, "I'm going to need you to stay calm, okay?" She sounds very tired. Very very tired. They shouldn't have gotten involved in this.

"You are quick to speak, taxman," Mrs. Abbot steps forward, her entire attention turned to you. Her pack's attention is split between you and her, "For being nothing in our world."

"'Your' world? Please," Your thumb rubs along the outside of the blade, as you try your best to bite back the increasing giggly panic welling up inside, "You are standing on the territory of the United States. This activity, is most certainly not legal-"

"Your laws are nothing compared to the immutable order!" Mrs. Abbot is frustrated, seems to want nothing more than to leap across to you, and tear your throat out. You can see her flexing her hands, the fingernails seeming more like claws in the dying light, "What idiocy is this, to come waving a badge and paper like it means something?"
"Ahem, Mrs. Abbot?" That's Lee speaking. You keep walking, sidle to the side, away from Kevin and Ella. Mrs. Abbot mirrors your movements.
"You are a paper tiger, in the purest form, Timothy, an odious insect that makes himself a crown from the pulp of oaks and calls himself a king!"
"Love, listen, now really isn't the time."
"Did you never wonder why I am called MISSUS Abbot? Did you never wonder at the arcane power that you witnessed? Are you so NARROW minded, that you would think a mere GOVERNMENT holds power over me?"

You glance back to where you used to be. Kevin and Ella are gone. They seem to have taken the hint.

"The only reason you still BREATH taxman, is because I intend to let a boy run you down and kill you for his immortality! Do you understand? You are livestock! Your greatest value, is that no one will miss you!"

>[ ] Keep goading.
>[ ] Run now. Objective accomplished.
>[ ] Start shooting.

>>26384949
Exactly, you'll have to remember to audit her tomorrow, if she has been shirking her duties paying hunting licenses then she's in a world of trouble.

>>26385295
Shame tomorrow is Sunday.

But this is going in the before bed journal for sure.

>>26385284
>[ ] goad like there's no tomorrow
"Miss Abbot, this the United States of America. This is no place for royalty, by tradition."

>>26385284
'Just like nobody will miss the Horseman you sent after me. or anybody else who tries.

>>26385284
>[ ] Keep goading
Remind her of her need of the proper licenses and permits. We need to buy our companions as much time as possible.

>>26385284
[x] Keep goading.
[x] Shoot the boy for whom this Hunt was arranged
"The United States of America is an institution that is based upon the will of the people. You are infringing upon its laws while within its claimed sovereign territory.
"Your continued refusal to comply with a duly appointed civil servant and officer of the United States Federal Government is noted."

>>26385284
>[ ] Keep goading.
"Why, I think you forget Miss Abbot, there is no nobility in the Good ol' U.S. of A. And Miss Abbot, we use cars now, not horses"

>>26385284
I think now is time to start running, but not before we throw in one final jab about killing the Minotaur. Put some fear of God in these pagan beasties.

>>26385284
You know what? They need to hunt. If you don't run they cannot hunt you. If we get her to straight up attack us the hunt will most likely be a failure.

Interesting to note that they had intended to do this with just the feeble old man here. Maybe we could mention how they try emulate the great hunt with just a couple guys and a half dead man as prey. Kind of a low budget operation this. Hardly what one would for a Royal.

>>26385284
>[ ] Keep goading.
"wonder at arcane power? I have seen a mundane gun make it bleed. as you are bleeding now. If anything can be hurt, it can die. i shall not fear it. We are not cattle! we ARE FREE MEN! FREE FROM TYRANY! ALL TYRANY!"
>>26385295
good point ADD this!

Some serious goading is happening. Writing. Gonna try to make something from all these suggestions.

>>26385409
>>26385397
While goading is good I doubt we can make them fear us. This will just make them laugh or take us seriously enough not to make mistakes we can exploit anymore.

>>26385409
USA! USA! USA!

>>26385433
That's good. If they're laughing they can't chase out compatriots, and if we're not taken half as seriously as we look then we get the first shot. Let's make that count eh?

>>26385474
We are currently goading them. Making them laugh would break the mental trap we currently try to keep the vampire lady in. She is currently kept too enraged to think clearly. Changing her mind set would stop this.

If they don't consider it hilarious they will just take us slightly more seriously. In turn this would mean they don't take so many chances any more. The chance of getting the first shot wouldn't increase.

>>26385437
In my head Mr Lawrence is more of a "JUSTICE!" type than a fanatical patriot.

>>26385523
I certainly didn't mean to imply changing our tactics to comedy, but if they find us humorous that's good, they wouldn't suspect an earnest attempt. If they're intimidated we can get away with most of our limbs, hopefully.

Rolled 63, 27, 39, 61, 86 = 276

Well, you're on a roll. Why stop now? Kevin and Ella will need all the time they can get.

"Missus Abbot, this is the United States of America. This is no place for royalty, by tradition."

There's a few chuckles among the crowd, while Lee looks up to the sky despairingly.

"And besides that, there are numerous licenses I am sure that you have failed to update- for one thing, I did not see a single notice about the hunting season when I entered, furthermore, though I act on the federal level, I'm sure this entire area is a zoning nightmare-"

"Enough," Mrs. Abbot seems to be rapidly cooling. The bonfire behind her starts to shrink to its last few embers.

"And your great hunt?" You wave to the three coffins, "A dead man, and a husband and wife. Chased by a group of lackadaisical dilettantes in masks they bought at a dime store, and coach guns they must have dug out of their attics. Truly, terrifying, the United States must tremble behind their artillery and aeroplanes."

Mrs. Abbot is silent now, staring at you. A few stray sparks fly up in the air. Did you see a boater hat in the crowd?

"And your beast? Your 'Golarim'? In the cave? Three bullets! Hooves, in a stone cave," You give a nervous laugh, "No friction!"

Silence from the audience. You're aware of twenty six eyes staring at you.

"Well? What do you think of that, then? We-"

>Roll 3 1d100s.

Rolled 92

>>26385684
It's behind us, isn't it?

Rolled 42

>>26385684

Rolled 10

>>26385684

>>26385754
Alright, Timothy's still got a bit of luck.

Writing.

File: 1375427771662.jpg-(50 KB, 640x480, 1372193892147.jpg)

50 KB JPG

Rolled 95

>>26385776
oh thank god, the dice haven't abandoned me yet.

>>26385888

... taking dice off now. that could have ended very badly.

Rolled 27, 63, 58 = 148

You see Lee pull a knife from his boot, and casually toss it at you. It slams in to your chest, and sends you off your feet, down on to the ground, gasping raggedly for breath.

"Hm, that didn't sound right."
"Lee, do what you must to him, but remember not to kill him. Golomir must have his due."
"Ech. Right, well, whatever you want, ma'am."

You blink away the pain, and note to your horror a knife protruding from your chest. Directly in your pistol's holster. Lucky. But, you're currently down. Good lord, the man threw strong. Felt like you got hit by a bowling ball.

You hear horns, and hear the tramping of feet, and a cheery song. Damn it. They were hunting Kevin and Ella. At least they had a lead- but who knows how long that would last.

You see the boot rise, and roll out of the way, letting making a tread mark in the grass. You roll up in time to see Lee there, with his big bowie knife out, gleaming dully in the moon light.

"Nice night mate. Care to chat?" Lee's all smiles right now.

You glance past him, see the torches bobbing away in to the dark. Maybe...Just maybe you could duck past Lee here, get after them, distract them. And maybe you could wake up and have all of this be a dream. That would be nice too.

"See, I come here on a contract- got no love for Missus Abbot meself, just working for the Strahans," He throws the knife in the air, catches it in boredom, "They want their boy to live forever. Well, I know me a degenerate with a great old tract of land, and an obsession with old deities. So, a deal was struck, and I gotta uphold my end," He points the knife at you, "You seem to be fond of getting in my way. So, me being a peacable sort, why don't we come to an arrangement?"

>[ ] Shoot him. 3 1d100.
>[ ] Try to duck past him. 3 1d100, 40 and below succeed.
>[ ] "...I'm willing to listen."
>[ ] Other.

>>26385722
>You're aware of twenty six eyes staring at you.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that they're not staring at us.

>>26385928
>[ ] "...I'm willing to listen."

>>26385928
>>[ ] "...I'm willing to listen."
>>[ ] Other.
Get the straight razor out. It probably wants to taste some more blood by now.

>>26385928
>[ ] "...I'm willing to listen."

he's competent. He's probably got loads of experience tracking. let's distract him while we can, then tear away at the first opportunity.

>>26385962
>>26385971
>>26385978
Okay, writing.

>>26385928
"While greatly interested in a friendly chat, I feel obliged to save both of my friends."

How do you feel about hinting that we know 'something' about that Devil eating guy? Mr. Lee was asked to kill that one after all.

Hopefully he gets the hint. I doubt we can save the old guy but they only need to hunt one. Mr. Lee could surely ensure two out of three escape. This is only a symbolic hunt after all.

>>26385928
Well, this escalated quickly. Let's hear what the man with a huge knife has to say, it's just polite.

Rolled 55, 19, 75 = 149

Well, your side hurts. You stay bent over, backing up to the mouth of the carved wood, and then notice something. Shining on Lee's knife was a yellow glow.

As discretely as possible, you glance up, and catch sight of that baleful eye.

Guess Golomir was more stubborn than you though. Perched above you, you're surprised that the creature wasn't acting now.

"...I'm willing to listen," Your hand strays to your pocket. You might be relying on this too much.

"Thanks, mighty decent," Lee glances up for a split second, then back to you. He's hoping to conceal the monster's presence, "Now, listen, you got a bum deal. It really is unfair what happened to you- a confluence of interests. Mrs. Abbot wanted to show off, claw back what little respect she has in this city after what happened between her and her, uh, 'husband,' I feel for you-"

"Get to the point, Mr. Lee?" You feel far too confident with this razor in your palm.

"Hah, savvy," Lee shakes his finger at you, a smile on his face, and a glimmer of irritation in his eyes, "Very savvy this one. I'll make this quick then. The cop, or the flapper?"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Which one will young Strahan bring down with his bare hands, bring back to the manor, and eat alive? Well, not all of them alive. Just the heart. Rest you can stew."

"That's disgusting!"
"Well now, that's why you're here," He points to you, "At the end of my knife. Just let me know which you can't stand, and I'll do the rest. It'll be good, really. Mrs. Abbot can have fun explaining to Merit how she's so weak she let one, one too many get away, including yourself.."

Mr. Lee is a very strange man, and vile. Still, this meant one of the group was guaranteed an out. In theory, you could save the stronger.

>[ ] "Leave the cop out of this."
>[ ] "Let the girl go."
>[ ] "How about you let me out instead? Those two should be fine."
>[ ] "Your offer is sick, and disgusting. I refuse."
>[ ] "And the monster above me?"
>[ ] Delay.
>[ ] Other.

>>26386232
>[ ] "And the monster above me?"

>>26386232
>[ ] "And the monster above me?"

I don't trust him to not be a rules lawyer about this shit.

Personally, I do not trust Kevin the slightest, what with how IR has been hinting at him, but to throw him under the bus would be bad. Dead cops are NOT what we need on our dance card right now.

>>26386232
>[ ] "And the monster above me?"
I think it's time to let the razor do what it does best, and exsanguinate these two.

>>26386344
>>26386294
>>26386265
Pointing out things to Lee. Writing.

>>26386232
>[ ] "And the monster above me?"
>[ ] Delay.
>[ ] Other.

How about we suggest we become the prey for the Strahan boy, to buy time and work on the fine specifics of the deal, we are a taxman after all we should have the know how to eliminate some loop-holes. Very least we buy time. I also think if worst comes to worst we might be the most prepared out of the three.

>>26386232
Why not the old guy?

Currently we don't offer anything to this nice guy in exchange for his help. How about we offer that we tell him what we know about the Devil Eater as mentioned above? He helps us survive this, we help him with his job.

Wait a- OH FUCK ME. THIS IS THE BOATERS TRYING TO MAKE US CHOOSE. THEY'RE WATCHING US RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO MAKE US CHOOSE BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE WOMAN.

>Bleh, forgot trip again.

"And the monster above me?" You keep your gaze steady with Lee.

Lee raises an eyebrow, but keeps his tone level, "Oh yeah, that. It's probably waiting because it doesn't want to damage something on you- or respect for me, which would be flattering. Don't worry- it doesn't speak English. Just keep level toned, and don't. Look. At. It."

"So, no guarantee of my safety then?" There's a stirring in the foliage behind Lee.

"Well mate, I have my job, I imagine you have yours. I was gonna just leave you for the thing- but you've got the devil's own luck. I was aiming to keep you down- I like my conversations one sided, but you didn't even get a scratch."

Something green glints behind Lee, before going back in to hiding. If Lee is aware of it, he makes no show of it, staying stock still, with his bowie knife at the ready.

"The old man wasn't enough?"
Lee makes a sour face at that, "What, you want the boy to get sick? And no. His heart gave out. Strahan didn't kill him. Doesn't count. Stupid Mrs. Abbot and her attempts to 'incarnate the believing over consciousness through primal proto-emblems,' whatever that bloody well means. But that's dancing about the point mate. Which do you want to live?"

>[ ] Man.
>[ ] Secretary.
>[ ] "There's something behind you, Lee."
>[ ] "I'm not picking who lives and who dies, Lee."
>[ ] Other.

>>26386517
>>26386512

Sonofabitch I called it. It's the Boater-Hats trying to get us IRL.

>[ ] "I'm not picking who lives and who dies, Lee."

Let's also mention that there were a large group of men with Boaters behind you all. let's see if that spooks him any.

Let's keep our mysterious hideaway to ourselves for the moment.

I also think we're all starting to pass out, IR.

>>26386517
>[ ] "I'm not picking who lives and who dies, Lee."

>>26386517
"I'm not picking who lives and who dies, Lee. I'm a tax man, my job is to keep the accounts balanced."

>>26386566
Yes and so am I, but damn it I vowed in this session to get Timothy out of these fucking woods, and it will fucking HAPPEN.

Though I suppose it would be a dick move to make it so that players that have normal sleep schedules get punished.

Worse comes to worse, I'll try to pick this up tomorrow.

>>26386566

To expand off of this, maybe Tim's struck by the resemblance between this choice and his dream, then connects to the boater hats in the crowd. something like, 'I saw men wearing boater hats and no eyes in your crowd. I had a dream about them recently. I don't think they're friends of yours.'

>>26386593
>>26386579
>>26386566
Hah! Three votes! Writing.

>>26386631
Is... is this a good thing, or should I break out the Doom Paul preemptively?

Rolled 69, 9, 32, 28 = 138

"I'm not picking who lives and who dies, Lee," You pull your hand out of your pocket. You keep your fist wrapped around the razor. Lee cocks an eyebrow at this.

"What? I'm giving you a chance here, chum. You lose both if you don't pick."

You shake your head, "I'm no judge Lee. I'm just a taxman," You pull Lee's knife out of your holster, and drop it to the grass, "I'm just here to make sure the books balance."

Lee raises an eyebrow, shakes his head, "Well, good work then son. They both die. Can't get more balanced than that," He looks up, above you, "Golomir, ding ding ding. Dinner time," He gives you an apologetic look, "I tried. Call be damned, I tried."

Two things happen very fast, very quick.

The first, you hear an enraged snarl above you, and the crack of well carved and treated wood, as something leaps down towards you.

The second, something eight feet tall, a blur of white, silver fur bursts from the undergrowth behind Lee, shining black claws at the ready.

>First, obviously, give me 3 1d100s for a dodge, if there are enough of you conscious to do that.

>Second:
>[ ] Warn Lee.
>[ ] Draw your gun.
>[ ] Charge Lee.
>[ ] Charge Golomir.
>[ ] Other.

Rolled 72

>>26386720
[x] Draw your gun.
[x] Shoot Golomir

Rolled 94

>>26386720
DODGE

>>26386720
Draw your gun.

Rolled 68

>>26386720
Draw gun, Charge Golomir. we'll have to trust our mysterious interloper is on our side.

Rolled 44

>>26386720
>Get the hell out of the way
Just as you said, you're not here to choose who lives and dies, you're here to check that in the end books are balanced.

Rolled 12

>>26386778
>>26386720
Whoops forgot my roll

>>26386780
>>26386754
Why, exactly? We're not an action hero and shooting the thing just slows it down at best.

File: 1375432998150.jpg-(58 KB, 478x355, 1374558512497.jpg)

58 KB JPG

Rolled 75

>>26386754
>>26386759
>>26386780

>>26386787
But we want to slow it down so that we can get away.

>>26386720

Grab Lee's Knife and stab him with it.

>>26386780
>>26386759
>>26386754
I am surprised at how many responded actually.

Also, drawing gun.

Writing.

>>26386800
I'm just calling going out guns blazing OOC behavior for Timothy. He's about justice, not violence.

I think it's time for you to call it a night, IR. MAybe finish whatever post you've got cooking, break it into 2 parts, and have the 2nd with choices posted in 8 hours or so. please? I'm swaying as I type.

>>26386821
But when Justice is no longer on the table and the opponent has resorted to violence, you must respond in kind. only when you hold a position of strength can you answer violence with peace.

>>26386844
Ah, but you're presuming that the violence is directed towards us. If we couldn't choose between our compatriots, how could we choose between Golomir and Lee? Let it play out as it is meant to be, is all.

>>26386830
Seconding, this would be a pretty good spot for a cliffhanger anyway.

>>26386759
>>26386780
>>26386781
Our rolls are ridiculous. It's like rolling 6 on a d6 nearly as much as all the other results combined.

>>26386815
I have woken up just a few hours ago but I would still prefer you don't DM sleep deprived. Players also tend to make bad decisions when lacking rest.

Also guns are not quite as useful as magic blades are in close quarters, I think, but whatever.

File: 1375433764189.jpg-(110 KB, 843x756, Schedel'sche_Weltchr(...).jpg)

110 KB JPG

You glance up just in time to see horseshoes. You turn, try to run, try to scramble for your gun, but it's too late.

Two hundred and forty four pounds of muscle and hate land directly on your right shoulder.

You're beyond screaming. As you're forced into the dirt, your arm splayed at an unnatural angle, you feel bones that you've never been truly conscious of. In a remarkably short time, you know them as friends, get to know their neighbors, their range of motion, and their breaking points.

Pushed in the dirt and grass, you open and shut your mouth like a gold fish. Your right arm, part of you thinks. Why did it have to be the right arm?

Not even the sight of Lee's momentary surprise before a blur of white muscle bats him to the side, sending him down in to the ground really registers on your mind. The sight of that terrible wolf's head leaning in, its single eye curled in rage, a scar along its right cheek, caked in clay and stone.

It got the drop on you, you numbly realize. Quite literally.

You smile a moment. Lee. Thinking you were both predators- treating about life and death. What an idiot. In the dark, in the woods. There are real monsters.

The hoof twists, and you find the energy to scream again.

>To be continued tomorrow because FUCKING DAMN IT WE ARE GETTING OUT OF THESE WOODS GOD. I apologize, readers. I read last thread and realized the entire thread was getting out of a house. Pacing must pick up again.

>Hopefully we can use this thread again. Because, again, I hate to have too big a footprint in suptg.

>>26386821
>To be fair, Timothy is currently frightened for his life. Self defense at the moment.

>Sorry everyone. I will do my best to be faster tomorrow. Pick up at 18:00 4chan time tomorrow?

>>26386889
That would be lovely. I bet we can bump this sucker a few times in the meanwhile. It'll probably survive anyway for 3/4 of a day.

>>26386917
Thank you. I'm going to go crash now.

>>26386889
Pacing is acceptable for a few important bits. These are the beginnings, our detailed sneaking for example established that we know what to consider when sneaking and prefer sneaking over alternatives. This would allow you, were we to replay the same situation, to take over Mr. Johnson for longer periods of time.

Instead of
>There are people. They are talking. How do you wish to proceed?
>They have moved, do you still wish to sneak?
>Something minor happens, do you still want to stay hidden?
>They moved again, what do you want to do?
you could condense it into half that many posts. Generally I like for the players to establish how the protagonist acts in situations in detail when a new situation comes up and for the amount of player input in repeating situations to shrink continuously.

>>26386946
Sleep well.

>>26386946
What time tomorrow, and damn am I sad I missed most of this

>>26386983
see
>>26386889
>18:00 4chan time.

Archived.

>>26386983
shit nevermind. 4chan is PST, isn't it?

>>26386995
Well, it'll be thirteen hours from now.

I think 4chan is like US eastern seaboard.

>>26386993
I just noticed, is 4chan PST? I need to go find a timezone converter.

>>26386995
Look at your timestamp. Look at you clock. Use math.

...Guys, do you think Timothy is going to die?

>>26387015
Crap. I hope I wake up that early.

>>26387025
19:11 UCT+10

>>26387045
No.

>>26386994
Dammit, if you're going to Archive, fit the goddamn theme of 'In which Timothy L. Johnson...' this is bugging me something fierce.

>>26387175
My bad, anon!

>>26387175
I'm not alone in my OCD!

But it's been marred forever. Barring intervention of God, the archive descriptions shall never be that beautiful whole they once were.

>>26387214
we could negative vote sink it 'til it gets deleted then re-submit it. I think that works.
but I'm not 100% certain

>>26387233
No, that wouldn't work. Threads don't auto delete. LL has to purge them. By the time it would be deleted, this thread would be dead and gone.

>>26387214
I'm really sorry anon, but for what's it worth the archives were marred already in the fourth installment...

>>26387344
No, yeah, I knew that. Sorry, I shoulda been specific, didn't want to try to burden you with all the blame.

Aside from that, archives don't matter so much. It's just an obsessive thing that means nothing.

Thanks for running this quest IR, I really like it.
But damn you PST, why must your evening be in the middle of my night?
(GMT +2 here)

>>26388121
+10 here

The Hyperion Corporation would like to say: Live! LIVE!

I wonder if Timothy and company would ever get a chance to head back for the crime scene.
I don't think Kevin would be in any condition to provide escort after this ordeal.
Also, page 8 bump 'til IR comes back

BMP FOR THE BUMP GOD!

Bump.

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>To pick up where we left off.

You were insensate there for a time. Screaming, then faded out for a moment.

Your right shoulder is broken. Crushed underneath a horse shoe. You really hope it isn't permanent. The creature is bending over now, leaving you face to face with it's large, glowing eye. The lips of it have peeled back, revealing yellowed, chipped teeth, shining with drool in the half moon.

Your gun is half out of its holster. You feel an incredible amount of pain.

But you're able to set it to the side.

Lee is gone, in a blur of white and silver. You hear his cries, and the snarls of something dragging him up in to the wood. But right here, you are pinned under this creature. Golomir.

At least you can see the bullet wound in its face is still there, caked in clay and dirt.

The creature growls, low, deep in the throat, curious. It twists it's hoof in your shoulder again, and there's another flare of pain. But you don't scream again. You grit your teeth.

>[ ] Try to talk to it.
>[ ] Go for your gun, quick as you can.
>[ ] Give it the ring you took from its cave.
>[ ] Throw the ring as far as you can with your left arm.
>[ ] Other.

>>26394727
>[ ] Give it the ring you took from its cave.
Get ready to hand it over, and just as it reaches for it switch to:
>[ ] Throw the ring as far as you can with your left arm.

>>26394786
Okay, writing.

>>26394849
Err, IR maybe everyone assumes that you'll be starting at the same time as yesterday?

Rolled 49, 42, 10 = 101

You can taste the grit of dirt in your mouth, pressed as you are into the grass. Looking up at the creature, it really doesn't make sense that it hasn't killed you yet. The ring. You did take the ring from its home after all. Maybe that would be what it wanted?

Your left arm slithers down- and hesitates for a moment as the creature's eye flickers to follow the movement. You halt, and the creature glances at the arm, then back to you. There is a slow nod. Well, that's a start. You resume, pulling your arm in slowly, and reaching to your suit jacket with the ring. You manage to get a grip on it, then lift it out, raising it to the creature's sight. It brightens, reaches out to grasp for it with its claws.

And then you throw it. Throw it out in the glade with the cooling bonfire with all of your might. The creature's eye follows it, and it snatches for it, too late. The glimmering ring falls out in to the moon light.

The thing looks back to you, cyclopean eye narrowed in fury. It looks back to the ring, anxiously, then stands away from you, looking for its missing ring. Then it gives you a kick in your crushed shoulder. It crackles like gravel under a wheel.

You have the terrible premonition that it'll never heal right, if you survive this night.

The creature turns, and sprints off in to the night. You feel cold, on a warm August night.

>[ ] Run now, back to the manor, and your car.
>[ ] Get your gun out with your left hand. You're going to make sure the thing stays down this time.
>[ ] Check how Lee is doing.
>[ ] Go follow the hunters. You came here with a purpose.
>[ ] Other.

>>26394890
>Well, I did write it in the thread that I'd be starting 18:004chan time. Though probably there were already a bunch of people passed out by that time, regrettably. I'll forge on, if you are okay with it.

>>26395089

>[x] follow the hunters - you came with a purpose

Civil servant cannot be slowed down by something as trivial as crushed shoulder. Can't you feel the weight of nation's worth of responsibility on them every day when checking the tax returns?

Carry on with our duty as befits a champion of the only other universal constant aside from death.

>>26395166
This. The United States of America would never stop for such a trivial injury.

>>26395204
>>26395166
>Writing.

>>26395089
[x] Go follow the hunters. You came here with a purpose.
We have an obligation.
And as for throwing the ring rather than just giving it, in the words of Mr. Zedmore, "That was really STUPID!"

You grit your teeth,breath carefully, and lift yourself off of the ground.

You can worry about it later. That's what doctors are for. Kevin and Ella are still in danger, they needed saving. That's what you are for.

You teeter to your feet, and then stand, ignoring the dreadful pain of your arm swinging loosely. It wouldn't go down all the way, kind of stuck off at a slight angle. You could worry about it later.

Hand on your arm to keep it steady, to keep the pain from making you pass out, you run on.

You're lucky this time. You scrape and stumble up the rise, thankfully holding back the instinct of using your right arm to steady yourself. Feet dragging through pine needles, you manage to bring yourself to the top of the artificial hillock, and look out at the forest. You can see bobbing lights. The pursuers, fanning out. Couldn't have found the two yet.

The forest stops a while short of the side of the lake, leaving open beach. You can see two black dots against the moon light reflected on St. Clair. Heading away from the distant lights of the manor. That might be Kevin and Ella. Or Granger and Rick, who you had left earlier. Whoever they are, the hunt will find them soon.

You are a civil servant. Your duty might have been not so dramatic as a soldier's, but the spirit of service is there.

>[ ] Shoot your gun, yell, do anything to get the attention of the hunters.
>[ ] Yourself, you are brave. Go after the hunt directly.
>[ ] Now isn't the time to risk your life so blatantly. Go after the runners on the shore.
>[ ] Other.

>>26395358
[x] Shoot your gun, yell, do anything to get the attention of the hunters.
We must first distract the Hunt.

Then we shall hunt them down, one by one, as the unbalanced accounts they are.
Our straight razor and arm shall be the wrath of the Federal Government, and it shall slice away their lives like an audit of accounts cuts away debts from a delinquent account.

>>26395358
>[ ] Yourself, you are brave. Go after the hunt directly.

>>26395483
>>26395478
Hrm. I'll give it two minutes, then flip the coin.

Rolled 2

>>26395483
>>26395478
First for distracting.

Second for going dead at them.

Writing.

>>26395562

looks like there will be some account balancing

You had to do this. You had to find them, to get them to safety.

But what was most dangerous was the hunters.

You thought for a moment, about bringing their wrath on you. Draw their attention, make you the focus of their hunt, but that didn't seem wise. You liked it quiet. You liked being inconspicuous.

You let go of your arm for a moment, ignore the pain, and reach for the straight razor in your pocket. In the awkwardness of reaching for your right pocket with your left hand, you feel your fingers brush your pocket watch for a moment, and decide to check the time. Only 10:23PM. Not as late as you expected. You put your watch away, shift your razor from right pocket to left. You remember you had a crowbar- left it by the broken coffins. Damn. You'll have to remember to pick that up later.

You go down the hill, stepping along roots and quiet paths, being remarkably quiet for a man that hadn't grown up a forest.

As you get down in to the trees, the bobbing lights get obscured, but that's okay. You have a good idea where they were going, and they make no secret of what they're doing. You suppose they relish in the terror they inflict on their chosen prey- would explain the whole of this ridiculous set up with coffins and horses and horns and kidnapping people. You wonder a moment at who the old man that died was- well, that might be the policeman's job. You'd have to make a note of it- your hand reflexively reaches for your notebook, until you remember your condition.

Your left arm still does not bleed.

You hear a man shout something up ahead. Through a thicket of slim white trees. He needs to use the lavatory. Then, almost as if in response, you hear a clink, and behind a fallen cedar.

>[ ] Wait here, ambush him when he comes through. 3 1d100 rolls, 40 and below succeed.
>[ ] Go investigate that noise first, as quietly as possible. 3 1d100 rolls, 50 and below succeed.
>[ ] No one just shouts that on a hunt. Hide. 3 1d100 rolls, 60 and below succeed.

>>26395783
>[ ] No one just shouts that on a hunt. Hide. 3 1d100 rolls, 60 and below succeed.

>>26395783
>[ ] No one just shouts that on a hunt. Hide.
I am suspicious.

>>26395783

[x] Investigate quietly

Discrepancies must be spotted and their nature determined before they can be eliminated.

Hiding. Writing.

Wait. I forgot to make you roll.

Actually, I'll give this one to you. Timothy's quiet, it's a forest, and this guy isn't actively expecting trouble. Writing.

Too suspicious. Far too suspicious. Who would shout that?

You step back, find a tree to hide behind. Your right arm was useless. Couldn't take risks here. You have had to do this a lot this night. You might have to start teaching classes on it.

The man stumbles out, college sweater on ragged, a wolf's mask on his face, sweat pouring from his neck. The Strahan boy. The guest of honor. He's shaking his head, pulling his mask back and off. Sweating like mad. He's got something in his other hand, looks like a cigarette case small and shiny.

"Lee," he hisses, drawing what looks like a match from the case, "Where are you Lee. You left me!"

He's shivering like mad, glancing around wide eyed with fear. He suddenly stills. You do too.

You heard a tearing noise from the right, and a hissed intake of breath. The boy whispers some word, and the match springs to life, glowing a strange violet fire.

"Who's there?" He turns to the bushes, presenting his back to you, creeping forward and squinting, the wolf mask on the earthen floor behind him forgotten, "Is someone there?"

>[ ] Come around the tree with a gun up, and hold him up for information.
>[ ] Wait. Watch.
>[ ] Listen to your razor. Roll 3 1d100s, 45 and below succeed.
>[ ] Sneak past him while he's distracted. No roll necessary.
>[ ] Other.

>>26396081
>[ ] Listen to your razor. Roll 3 1d100s, 45 and below succeed.
For two reasons, it means neither Ella nor Kevin has to die, and we get to get the probably crippled Lee in trouble with his boss.

>>26396081
>[ ] Sneak past him while he's distracted. No roll necessary.
He is weak, and not actively hunting like the others. They, we must kill because they are the greater threat.

>>26396141
>>26396107
This'll probably be pretty major as far as decisions go, so I'm hesitant to make it a flip of the coin. Any chance that we'll get another vote, or some kind of compromise?

>>26396107
Is me.

>>26396141
Has a better idea, we can come back for the not yet immortal kid after we deal with the paranormal beasts.

Alright then. Sneaking mission is go.

It's a simple matter. Apparently the Strahan kid isn't used to this. Focusing on the bushes with his violet match, he doesn't notice as you walk past him.

You have reached a trail by now, and can smell the smoke of the hunters. There's a minor crowd of them, walking slowly behind the horse rider, though it looks like two are looking after where the boy went. Two men, rather stout, short. Long arms resting in the crooks of their arms, and flash lights waving to the right of you. Haven't seen you yet.

You creep to the left, making a long circle, but staying close enough to hear their mask muffled conversation.

"Kid doesn't have his heart in it," One says, casting his flash light to where the boy went.
"Doesn't matter if he has his heart in it, it matters whether or not his father does. That, and Lee."
"I suppose so," The man sighs, "At least we have the cop's trail. Where'd the girl go?"
"She was here a little while ago," The man tips his head up to the trees now, bringing his flash light up with it. A mole's mask, long and pointed, with whiskers drooping from it, "Maybe she climbed?"
"Hah, well, we can go check the traps," The other says shouldering his shotgun, then freezes, "Oh! I just got that!"
Mole mask turns to the other, "Got what?"
"Heart in it! I just got that, hah!" The man whose mask you can't see clap's the mole on the shoulder, "You're pretty funny, y'know?"
"Know what? What were you talking about?"
"What? You did that unintentionally?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Look, can you go get the kid?" Mole mask waves over to where the Strahan boy was, "I'm starting to get creeped out. That weird tax collector, Mrs. Abbot's...Well, anger, and now BOTH Lee and Delinard are gone!"
"Don't worry. Mrs. Abbot's psoglav has made his mark," The man to the mole's left walks forward, revealing a fish's mask, "He likes to draw things out, ooooh!" The fish turns, waving his fingers at the mole, "Maybe WE'RE the ones really being hunted!"
"Don't do that," The mole looks back to the main party through the trees, trotting away, "Go get the kid out here."
"Whatever you say," the laugh behind the fishes mask seems to echo hollowly, "Just save me a piece of the cop."

The man in the mole mask glances back and forth between where the fish masked man went, and where the hunting party are going. The hunting party are well within range to hear his screams. What a terrible thing to think.

>[ ] Eliminate the mole. 3 1d100, 45 and below to succeed.
>[ ] Follow the fish until he's out of screaming range of the hunt. If a mistake occurs, only the mole and the Strahan boy would hear. 3 1d100, 45 and below to succeed.
>[ ] Leave them. Go after the main hunt.
>[ ] Other.

>>26396576
>[ ] Eliminate the mole. 3 1d100, 45 and below to succeed.
Even if he screams that means the hunt follows us, not the innocents.

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>>26396625
Mole must die.

Gimme rolls.

>>26396576
>[ ] Eliminate the mole. 3 1d100, 45 and below to succeed.
It time to audit this man's accounts.

Rolled 47

>>26396695
Time to die, Mole.

Rolled 53

>>26396695

>>26396695
Are we really a killer, though? Seems like a weird action to me.

Rolled 92

>>26396695

>>26396748
>>26396720
>>26396719
The dice seem skeptical of Timothy's killing intent.

Writing.

Rolled 30

The dice simply are not with Timothy today.

>>26396770
The dice know that Timothy ain't a killer, anon.

Your left hand clenches on the razor. You stare at the mole. No, not a mole. Person in a mole mask. Better to think of him as a mole. Vermin that destroys crops. Farmers kill moles all the time. Moles are nuisances.

There was a person's eyes in that mask, looking left and right. The person was nervous.

The person was a cannibal, and was part of a party that sought to hunt you down and kill you.

You're a taxman. Not some kind soldier, not even a gman.

You squeeze hard on the folded razor. This wasn't the time to hesitate. You were in a world of killers now. If you had stayed over the beast, had made SURE it was dead, your right arm wouldn't be crippled.

Kevin. Ella. Who you were, or might want to be, doesn't matter so long as they're in danger. You close your eyes for a moment. Breath out. Grab the razor in shaking hand, and thumb the blade out.

Then you hear someone shout behind you, and you feel a relief and a frustration that something has distracted you. The man in the mole mask perks up, as a hollow sounding voice shouts out, "Strahan got her! Strahan found her!"

The mole in the mask starts jogging for the bushes, shotgun and flash light in hand.

>[ ] Don't let him get away! Get him, now! Give me 3 1d100s, 45 and below succeed.
>[ ] Follow him quietly. He hasn't noticed you yet. 3 1d100, 60 and below succeed.
>[ ] Other.

>>26396740
>Timothy's whatever the players make him. I try to write and catch up.

>Though the razor has been an influence as well. Even Timothy's starting to notice this.

Rolled 34

>>26396936
>[ ] Don't let him get away! Get him, now! Give me 3 1d100s, 45 and below succee

>[ ] Other
make a mental note that we need to ditch this razor. Things messing with our head is bad, but survival first.

>>26396936
Follow him quietly, he'll lead us to Ella.

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>>26397011
>>26397001
I realize it's my fault, and I probably shouldn't waste more time asking, but shall I roll the 1d2?

Rolled 2

Right.

Well, the razor had gotten you out of situations before. But now is not the time. You're starting to feel a foreboding that it is influencing you.

You follow the man quietly. As eager as he is running down the way, you don't particularly have to worry about being stealthy. He is focused on the potential prize.

It only takes a few moments for him to come upon the scene. The Strahan boy is there, with fish mask next to him, looking down a small gully, behind a fallen tree. The boy glances up at the mole's entrance, then goes back to looking down. You circle around the opposite way, try to peer over them. It looks like the edge of a pit.

Mole mask glances over the shoulder of the Strahan boy, gives a low whistle that reverberates strangely in the mask, "Beartrap, huh?"
"Yeah," Fishmask sounds disappointed, shakes his head, waves with his double barrel, "Right above the ankle. She's probably lost a lot of blood already. We'll need to get everyone over here, get her back to the manor as soon as possible. Sorry pal," The fish mask looks over at the college boy's face, "Shame you missed out on it. Nothing like a woman's flesh. You'll have to go for the cop."
"Wait, I thought Lee's deal only counted for if he killed her? She's still alive down there," Mole joins the other two. Fish mask laughs a bit behind his mask.
"Ahhh, hey, shut up!"
Before they can continue arguing, Strahan speaks, looking down, without a mask, "She's awful quiet."

>>26397121
>>26397181

roll for it, IR?

The other two lean over the log, look down. You try to get over to the side, to the left, to be able to look down the pit, threading between the trees, but instinct stops you. It's too hazardous.

The mole speaks first.

"Hm. You got that right. Tough one down there, aren't you?" No response, "Maybe she's just exhausted. Accepted it."

Still no response from below.

"She's alive, right?" The mole turns to fish and Strahan.
"Yeah. Was glaring daggers at us. C'mon," The fish claps the mole on the shoulder, "Let's go to the hunt. Let them know we bagged one. Hopefully we'll be lucky, and they'll have the cop too."

"You only need one of us, right?" That's Ella's voice.

Fish laughs, "Ah, young love! Strahan, you can talk to her."
"You only need one of us!" That's her shouting again. Her voice sounds weak from exhaustion and blood loss.

Fish and mole walk past, leaving Strahan behind the log, looking down. You feel a dreadful sympathy for your razor's arguments now.

>[ ] Don't let them reach the main hunt. 3 1d100, 55 and below.
>[ ] Wait for them to pass. Then put down Strahan. 3 1d100, 60 and below.
>[ ] Wait for them to pass. Speak to Strahan.
>[ ] Wait for them to pass. As soon as you have an opening with Strahan, get down to the pit, and get Ella out.
>[ ] Other.

>>26397420
>Sorry, shoulda announced I was writing. Just worried about thread health.

>Also, pardon me for about 40 minutes, I need to go out and get something to eat.

>>26397427
we put down Straham. without the guest of honor, the hunt fails. Mrs. Abbot and her guests get in a world of shit with whoever Straham is kin to, and likely get killed.

>>26397495
actually, you know what? we put down the two leaving first. they're the more pressing priority.

>>26397427
>[ ] Don't let them reach the main hunt. 3 1d100, 55 and below.