>>27143256
<Time to get some goddamn answers. I want to go talk to Tarda again.>

(Let's check Steve's Status with the gauntlet.)

>>27143256

let's go see if the gauntlet works on dead remnants.

>>27143280

if we go back to confront Tarda, chances are pretty good that she'll try to kill us.

>>27143299
Then we kill her first. She doesn't have any runes or Access to magic. We can demand some actual answers out of her.

>>27143256
<We can try the noble district or the city. Maybe we'll run into that guy again.>

>>27143256
>>27143299

also note down that rune we memorized, the one of the head of the creator remnant.

>>27143324
She's a wizard.

Which means she doesnt /need/ runes to kill us.

>>27143345
If she had access to magic, she wouldn't be stuck in her demi-plane.

>>27143355
It was clearly stated that she can't escape unless the runes outside are altered.
That has no bearing on what she can do inside the domain.

>>27143355
It's a PRISON domain. The idea is that she cannot leave it to change the external runes.

>>27143256
So what happened to Mal yesterday anyway?

>>27143393
Also, where's Bruno? We really ought to keep him leashed, for his own good.

>>27143256
>>27143299
>>27143340

ALSO, Kaederi said there were transcripts which prove Tarda's crime, we should go to the town hall.

>>27143381
<Well, first things first.> You say, and get to your feet. "I'll go find out what I can about the remnants."
"Take care." Miriam says. Mal quickly wraps himself up in cloth once more, and the two of you make your way outside.
<So what happened to you, anyway?>
<One of the flying things tackled me, tore up my shoulder.> He says, touching one of his shoulders. <The redhead patched me up, though.>
Outside, in the shade, you can see Ann snoring on her back, Bruno in her arms. Her father isn't far off, sharpening a hefty, oversized spear.
While you walk, you scribble down the glyph on the remnant's head. You're sure you can get Cromwell to translate it, when you find the time.

Steve is right where you left him, just inside the temple. Without thinking about it, you touch the gauntlet to his forehead.
Whispering, buzzing in your ear, something speaks to you.

>Warrior Servant, augmented with Earth.
>Created by Strelok
>No degredation

The buzzing got louder, and you heard it whisper your name. Your spine tingles, and Steve meets your eyes.
You aren't sure how you know this, but through this gauntlet, you have a feeling you can... try to change his shape, if you wish.

>Do you? Or do you simply want to examine the other remnants first?

>>27143431
Can we give him wings?

Flying Mount!

>>27143431
Organic backpack!

>>27143431
>Strelok

This really IS Fantasy STALKER.

>>27143431

let's look at the other remnants first and try to change Steve's shape with Cromwell present.

also we should check the brute guards.

>>27143462
I'll support this.

>>27143431
Let's make him quadruped so we can ride around in style.

>>27143458
>That's actually mostly a joke name, which is why it's spoilered.

After a moment thinking, a few ideas come to you, but you ultimately decide to figure out what you want to change him into later.
You order Steve to follow you, and leave the temple.
<Where are we going?> Mal asks.
<To check out the remnant corpses first.> You say. <Might as well take a look.>

Outside, some of the farmers are putting out small fires, and one starts trying to drag one of the corpses. You stop him, before kneeling and touching its head.

>Fli*ht Ser*****
>Cre*** b* Kae**ri
>Mino* ***gredat***n

The buzzing screeches in your ear, almost impossible to understand. Your spine tingles, and the gauntlet sparks, making you jump back.
You wander through the village a little bit longer, and find a second body- this one being the remains of the large ball-of-arms remnant- the one Ann had tried burning to death. One of its limbs were lying on the ground. Carefully, you kneel, and touch it as well.

>**********************
>**********************
>**********************

Your head pounds, and you bite your tongue, hard. The screech is too loud, too impossible to understand...
But this is one way to figure out the truth. If Kaederi truly hadn't sent these remnants, this is how you can try to tell.
Carefully, you try to touch it again.

>Roll 1d100! Affinity: Skilled! Hard Difficulty!

Rolled 28

>>27143571
lel

Rolled 39

>>27143571

dice.!

Rolled 4

>>27143571
C'mon, C'mon.

>>27143584
>>27143593
>>27143595

oh man, we're going to have a huge ass headache.

Rolled 84

>>27143571
Format c: and reinstall remnantix.

Rolled 79

>>27143571

>DC: 70! Failure!

>. .

>***********

You touch the creature's remnants once more, and recoil, the screech deafening. Sparks dance from your gauntlet's fingertips, causing your
arm to twitch uncontrollably. The screech starts echoing in on itself, getting louder and louder...
With a roar, you tear the gauntlet off, and throw it to the side.

Your hand burns. You look down at it- it's still twitching. But at least the screeching has faded.
<You okay?> Mal asks, grabbing your shoulder. You grip your fist tightly, and wait to settle down.

Then you pick up the gauntlet again. You're not sure you want to try that again.
<Yeah...> You say. <Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go check out those armored ones next.>

You wander back down to the temple, and into the catacombs. This walk seems to go by quickly, despite how deep you're going. When you finally reach the bottom, you see that something is different.
There isn't just two armored golems... but three, now. The third is new, sitting down on the ground. It doesn't seem to react to you, so you gently touch it.

>Knight Servant, augmented with **** and Earth.
>Created by Tarda
>No degredation

Your head buzzes, and you heard a bit of that shrieking- did you almost break the gauntlet somehow, last time you tried using it? Perhaps trying to use the gauntlet on dead bodies isn't a good idea.

>>27143719
>armored golems
>Sorry, they're not golems, they're Remnants. Should make that clear.

Rolled 3

>>27143719
Augmented with SHIT and Earth.

<What do you think we should do, bro? If we go in and say 'Oh we spoke to this guy' she'll probably just kill us.>

>>27143719

uh oh, those aren't prison guards.

the lord we killed wanted to use us to make a new Remnant, where did Tarda get the resources to make this new one?

I think looking for those transcripts in the town hall might be a good idea.

>>27143810
Simple, we won't be going in before we know more what has happened.
>>27143828
Seconding this, we'll need to take a trip to the City next.

<These aren't prison guards.> You say, looking up at them.
You aren't sure how you feel about Tarda creating a new one... You turn to Mal.
<What do you think we should do, Bro? If we go in and say 'oh I spoke to this guy', she'll probably just kill us.>
<If that guy was telling the truth.> Mal says. <If he was lying, then she'll probably set things straight... But there's no way to be sure, is there?>
<Yeah. We won't be going in until we know more.> You say, and sigh- you just wish you could forget all of this politics bullshit.

He tilts his head, and walks toward the grand doubledoors. Carefully, he puts his hand against it- and one of the enormous Remnants grabs his sword, ready to attack. So Mal takes several steps back.
<At the least, she doesn't want us to go in there.> He says.

<I'm starting to think that looking for those transcripts in the town hall might be a good idea.> You say.
<Yeah, it will.> He says. <At the least, it'll be a waste of a day. I think it's past noon already, though- we don't have enough time to get there and back before nightfall. This might be important enough to stay in the city at night, though.>

>>27143967
<Good point. Let's head back to the town and load up on supplies then.>

>>27143967

<her making new Remnants doesn't sit well with me one bit, let's take supplies and prepare for a night in the city.>

we can try to change Steve to have deal more damage in combat so we are that little bit safer and we should pick a good defensible position to set up camp. Maybe one of the guard houses.

<Good point.> You say. <Her making new remnants doesn't sit well with me one bit. Let's take supplies and prepare for a night in the city. We should pick a good defensible position to set up camp, too.>
<The gatehouse is one.> Mal says. <The one with that old golem we disabled. It only has the one door, it has thick walls, and the windows are but arrow slits. Nothing can come in if we block the door.>

The two of you make your way back out of the temple, Steve following you wordlessly, and you consider all the different things you could try to change him into...
<For supplies, we'll need bedrolls, a few tools, some rations...> Mal says, pouring coins into one palm. <I'm pretty good at bargaining because I don't speak lelan, so I'll deal with all of that. You prepare as much as you can.>
You nod to Mal as he leaves, and turn to Steve again.

Then you touch him with your gauntlet.

>Name a few features you want the new and improved Steve to have, and roll a 1d100. This isn't a proper skill roll, though.

Rolled 65

>>27144206
Built in backpack!
Legs strong enough to carry 2 people!

Rolled 66

>>27144206
Wings!

Rolled 10

>>27144206
Extra pair of legs, for ease of riding!

Rolled 99

>>27144206

is we aren't limited to his mass, stronger arms and legs, as much as we can get away with without making him really slow, a fair balance between strength and speed. make his tail tougher too.

Rolled 28

>>27144255
Also, a bill that makes honking noises and plays 'La Cucaracha' when squeezed.

You focus on the Remnant in front of you, and focus. Wings, a tougher, more powerful tail... stronger arms and legs... You touch Steven, and his body contorts, twisting and slimming down- and four limbs burst from his back. His tail grows longer, and slimmer, as do his limbs. After the contortion, your gauntlet screeches, and you pull your hand away. The powerhouse you first created is no longer a powerhouse- now it has four large wings, and its tail is nearly twice as long. The claws it once bore are all gone now, the steel receding into its body.

Its eyes stare at you, as it stands on its four wings. It looks much less muscled, less durable, but after a few touches of its arms and legs you can tell that he's hiding real power. Possibly even enough to carry two people.

"Woah." Ann says, suddenly. You turn to her- she's simply staring at Steve. "You changed him. How did you do that?"

Dimly, you recall something... You told the girl something important, last night, while you were drinking... but you don't remember precisely what. Mal is nowhere to be seen, likely off gathering supplies, and Bruno is sitting in Ann's arms. He squeaks happily at you, glad you're paying attention to him.

Rolled 63

>>27144446
"Mad-sick gauntlet some crazy wizard remnant gave to me, why do you ask?"

>>27144446

"this really cool gauntlet let's me alter his form, pretty neat huh? Steve should be able to fly, and carry two people now."

"Hey uh, about last night, did I tell you any strange things? My memory is a bit hazy."

>>27144446
"Magic, I guess."

>>27144446
Pet Bruno, on general principles.

>>27144514
Did we learn what kind of a drunk the Wanderer is? Did we tell our life story teary-eyed to anyone who cared to listen?

>>27144549

he likes to climb dangerously high and weave nests in trees.

and we probably told Ann more than we should have.

>>27144446
"Child! Good noon. How much did I teach you last night? Are you now fluent in whatever Mal speaks?"

>>27144586

completely forgot but we should ask Ann to teach us Kystaran when we have some time away from lying(?) Kystaran nobility.

>>27144446
TAP HER HEAD WITH THE GAUNTLET

"This really cool gauntlet lets me alter his form. Pretty neat, huh?" You say, and hold up the gauntlet in question. With your other hand, you pat Bruno. "Steve should be able to fly, and carry two people now."
"Glad to hear it!" She says. "You should be able to get around more quickly, since he can fly."
"Hey, uh, last night, did I tell you any strange things? My memory is a bit hazy."
"You finally told me your name, so there's that." She says. "And, uh, you taught me some Galdian..."
"Are you now fluent in whatever Mal speaks?"
"Not entirely. I'm a bit confused about how they talk about other people and give eachother titles and stuff, but enough to talk a little."
You search her expression... You can't think of any reason why she'd suddenly be so friendly, unless you'd said something.
"Anything else?" You ask.

Her expression turns solemn, and she nods.
"You told me about that girl. The one you loved."
Funny. It feels almost like she punched you in the gut.
"Did I tell you how she gave me this scar?" You ask, quietly, touching the one on your face. She nods again.

You chuckle, and pat her head with your gauntlet. Nothing happens, but she seems to calm down.
<Hey, you two.> Mal says, a bag on his shoulder.
<Hi!> Ann says, with a wave and a word. She doesn't add the proper suffix for either a casual or formal greeting, so it's a bit awkward, but she does seem to be learning quickly.
"Uh... And Kystaran! When you get back, I can teach you Kystaran." She says, abruptly changing the subject.
<You ready to go?> Mal asks- and then notices Steve. <Woah, that guy's entirely different now.>

>>27144701
yeah, we're ready. So, want to take the scenic route?

>>27144701
<Yeah it's pretty great.>

<Let's hit up that town hall!>

>>27144701

<should be set, Steve can carry us now, though I'm not sure if he'll get us the entire way with the extra luggage.>

"If you are willing to teach me Kystaran that would be excellent!"

Steve should at least be able to get fly a decent distance before needing to land.

>>27144701
Take Steven out for a test drive.

<Should be set.> You say. <Steve might be able to carry us now, though I'm not sure he'll get us the entire way with the extra luggage.>

"If you're willing to teach me Kystaran, that would be excellent!" You say.
"Alright." She says. "It's only fair, since you're teaching me Galdian."

<You ready to hit up that town hall?> You ask.
<Ready.> Mal says.

You turn to Steve, and give the order. A tail wraps around your waist, and Steve sits on your shoulders, wings flapping. With his arms, he grabbed Mal, and flapped his wings harder. And harder. Wind buffets both of you, and ann backs away, covering her eyes.
<Take care!> Ann calls, with a wave. Her tense is wrong- it sounds like she's thanking you for taking care at first. Bruno, in her arms, warks happily as the two of you slowly start lifting into the air.

Some time later, Mal just sighs as the two of you hover over the road, moving slowly.
<It'd be faster to walk, you know.> He says. <This guy needs to put so much force into staying in the air that he's not really useful for speed.>

You sigh as well, and order Steve to let you down slowly, and then you start to walk. Steve follows, mostly preferring to walk on his wingtips instead of his feet- at least until you have him carry the bags Mal bought.

By the time you finally get to the city, the sun has made its entire way across the sky, and you'd stopped for lunch.
<It's getting late already.> Mal says. <Looks like we set out too late. Should we explore the city anyway, or prepare for the night?>

>[] Focus on getting to the Heart District gates.
>[] Explore the city, look for a good place to stay that isn't the gatehouse
>[] Prepare for the night at the gatehouse.
>[] Other, as usual

>>27144995
<Prep for the night at the gatehouse. If we wake up at first lightbreak we can spend the entire day here.>

>>27144995

secure the gatehouse, we'll need the remaining time to ensure nothing will get in overnight.

<Let's prepare for the night at the gatehouse.> You say. <We'll need the time to ensure nothing will get in tonight, and if we wake up at daybreak, we can spend the entire day here.>
<Good point.> He says. The two of you push past the dead golem and make your way into the gatehouse. Together, the two of you clear up one of the rooms, and use the beds to blockade the door. Eventually, the two of you have a nice, safe location.

Orange light filtersin through the arrow slits, and Mal sits back, closing his eyes. <Should one of us start keeping watch?>
<Probably a good idea.> You say, and turn on your flashlight to look at the list of instructions to Steve. You might as well add him into the rotation as well...

===

That night, something starts howling, outside of your gatehouse. It's loud, and angry, gibbering and roaring. You hear something smash, and peek out of the arrow slit. You can't see much, but what you do see are the mutated, twisted remnants pouncing upon a much larger beast. It tries to shake them off, but there are almost too many.
And then, while you watch, the remnants illuminated by moonlight, the mutated, twisted ones started eating the larger remnant, consuming it entirely and tearing it apart.

During your watch, you sit back on your bedroll, and relax. Nothing's come in- nothing has even tried getting in. It's almost mysterious- but then again, the golem had been alive until you killed it. Maybe the remnants don't try messing with golems.

As you readjust, you hear something clink in the pile of items you and Mal had pushed into the corner. Digging through it, you find something.
Something important. Armor! A longcoat, specifically, with metal chain woven into the inside, and plates of steel in the arms. You try it on, and it's rather tight on you- but it might protect you from an attack, if you wear it.

>>27145335

inspect it for possible magics, if non are found, wear it.

>>27145335
Let's put it aside till morning, and keep watching the outside for anything interesting. Can we see the noble district? Is there a roof access or something we can peek out of?

>>27145369
>>27145384

I guess we can wait for day break.

>>27144995
Gatehouse

You put the armor aside, relatively certain there's nothing magic about it, and peer out through the arrow slit again. You can't see a lot through such a thin hole, but you can see the distant towers of the noble district from here. You sit back, and close your eyes, relaxing.

The roars continue until just before daybreak.

===

You wake up with your head pounding, thirsty. You drink from your waterskin, and then shake Mal awake.
<Daybreak already?> He asks, and you nod. <Alright, let's unblock this, then.>

The two of you work on unblocking the entrance to the gatehouse, and eventually you have it open. The armor, now that you can see it, isn't actually that good quality- it's steel, but rusted rather badly, the leather coat cracked and worn in places. It'll protect you, certainly, but it might hold you back in combat- especially with how tight it is.
You look outside, and the twisted, gnarled remnants seem to be hiding in the shadows again. You see nothing of the enormous roaring creatures- they'd vanished, somewhere.
<We going straight to the gates?> Mal asks, eying the armor. <And I didn't notice this earlier. Good find.>

>>27145657
<Bit rusted though, and tight on me. Might fit you better. Let's go straight for the town hall, and see if we can make some sense of this mess.>

>>27145657

<It doesn't fit me as well as i would like, care to try?>

take the armor with us for now, we need to make good time so let's head out.

destination: Heart district, Town hall.

we need to find the transcripts and we might as well venture in to the dungeon below the hall to try and find that book Tarda wanted. Might contain something worth translating.

<A bit rusted though, and tight on me. Might fit you better.>
<I have armor.> He says, and pulls the cloth aside. Underneath most of the cloth, you can see a vest made out of woven wood- lamellar, or similar. <That stuff would be too heavy on me.>
You nod, and put it in your bag with everything else.
<We need to make good time.> You say, and shrug. <Let's head out.>

The two of you set out into the city proper, walking through too-wide streets and ignoring too-small alleyways. The squat, twisted Remnants continually peek out at you, but they seem to be waiting for you to be alone- or possibly even weakened. In a surprisingly short amount of time, you reach the gates to the next district. They are closed entirely, and based on shaking the porticullus, you don't think you can lift it very easily. Sitting at the top of the gatehouse, you can see one of Kaederi's winged servants, sitting there quietly. It meets your eyes, but doesn't attack you.

<We can try flying over.> Mal says. <Well, I climb, you fly. Or we can get the gate open from inside the gatehouse, I think. As long as the machinery still works.>

>>27145934
Or we could just use Earth rune to lift the portcullis.

>>27145934

<The gatehouse might have another one of those golems and we don't really know what kind of Remnants we will find on the otherside so let's climb/fly over it for now until we have explored a bit more.>

let Mal climb first since we wouldn't want the wind to cause an accident.

>>27145996
This is a cool use.

<Or I can try using an earth rune to lift the portcullis.> You say, and examine the portcullis. If you create a pillar from underneath and push it upward, it should be rather simple... And if you ever have to close it in a hurry, all you'd have to do is shatter the pillar. <The gatehouse might have another one of those golems.>
<Good point.> Mal says. <And if you do lift it with magic, then we won't have to rely on this guy to get out. Which would be a good thing, if he ends up dead.>

You take out your Earth rune, and take a step forward. You're not very good at controlling them without using the other rune, but since you lack any kind of Pillar shaping rune you'll have to use the kystaran word instead.

You hope it doesn't tire you out *too* much.

>Roll Affinity! Skilled, Medium Difficulty!

Rolled 43

>>27146173

let's hope we avoid exhaustion, we just slept!

Rolled 77

>>27146173

Rolled 42

>>27146173

rolling again for 3dice completion.

Rolled 93

>>27146173
Probably too late with this roll.

>DC: 50! Success!

With a shout of the words 'Earth' and 'Pillar', you felt energy leave your body. Your spine tingles, and rumbling from the ground, a pillar pushes up at the porticullus. The gate squeals loudly, almost painfully- the sound of wrenching, squealing metal echoing in your ears. Eventually, however, the pillar is seven feet off the ground, holding up the gate.
<Well.> Mal says, as the gatehouse around you groans. <Seems we have access. Nice job, comrade.>
With a grin, the two of you walk in, leaving the Entrance district- inside is the Heart district.

Which is when it occurs to you.

It's almost certain that a great many things heard that. Behind you, the remnants are ambling out into the street, cautious enough to stay away from you. The twisted, squat creatures gibber to eachother, speaking wordlessly. None of them are the same shape- they're all mutated, gnarled creatures...

A word from the gauntlet suddenly enters your mind- Degraded. They're degraded.

<We should get out of the open.> Mal says, looking around. <But it seems like the alleyways might be worse. We can go slow or fast. Should we run toward the town hall before anything catches us? Or see if we can avoid attracting attention?>

>>27146379
<They're degraded, so if we attract the big ones they might fight between themselves.>

Did we do that without a rune?

>>27146379
<let's go fast, the sooner we get somewhere defend-able the better.>

>>27146379

<I think that gate got us all the attention we could possibly get, but if we start running now they might see us as easy prey.>

let's take the normal road and hurry to the Town hall.

unless the degraded remnants run after us, in that case leg it!.

>need sleep.
>good luck gentlemen.

>>27146461
>You did it with only an Earth rune.

<They're degraded, so if we attract the big ones they might fight between themselves.> You say.
<I don't see any big ones.> Mal says. You look around, and agree- there were big ones last night, but it seems they all vanished when the sun rose.
<I think the gate got us all the attention we could possibly get.> You say. <But if we start running now, they might see us as easy prey.>
<Good point.> He says. <Let's just walk.>

As the two of you powerwalk toward the town hall, more and more degraded remnants start pouring out of the alleyways, crowding around eachother. They're all keeping some distance away from you, but the sparse remnants behind you are starting to coalesce into a proper, true force. Their gibbering goes slightly louder, more rambunctious, and they start gathering properly, getting more confident as they group up.

In front of you, Mal stops walking and you bump into him.
<There it is.> Mal says, and points.
The Town Hall sat in front of you, elevated up a set of stairs, and at the top... Were four golems, all active, standing around the entrance. There are other windows rather high up, and you're sure you could find some different entrance, but... the remnants started crowding inward, the gibbering and mumbling turning into proper jeering. They're growing more confident as the group gets larger.

<This can't be good.> Mal says.

>>27146744
<Let's bait the golems into fighting that remnant horde.>

>>27146744
Ah shit I don't know what to do.

Can we get Steve to fly us onto the roof while Mal climbs into a window? Or are the remnants and golems blocking that approach?

>>27146744
Wave to the golems and tell them you're visiting in official business here. Mal is with you.

<Let's, uh, bait the golems into fighting the remnant horde.> You say.
<... How do you expect to do that?> Mal asks.
You look around.
<... Shit, I don't know what to do.> You say. You look to the windows, but most are closed and you think you can see bars over the sides. The remnants are getting closer and closer, gathering more...

So you step forward, in front of the golems. You wave. "I'm here on official buisiness!" You call.

The golems churn... But they don't attack you. There's a long pause. The golems examine you, your spine tingling strangely. They look strangely more advanced than the other golems you've seen. Where most golems are made of stone, and the one in the gatehouse had a sloped head, these golems have entirely sloped bodies, burnished brass bodyparts instead of rock.
"This man is with me!" You call.

They buzz again, and your spine tingles...

>Roll Affinity! Skilled, Difficult!

Rolled 17

>>27147006
Flash your papers to convince them.

Rolled 9

>>27147006
Oh shiiit

Rolled 34

>>27147006
Magic: unreliable

>>27147025
>>27147030
>>27147052
Mal: Proper fucked.

>DC: 60! Failure!

All four of the golems buzz. The remnants behind you are jeering, and a cold sweat has popped up on Mal's brow.
<Are they going to let us in?> He asks, looking behind him at the jeering remnants below.

One of the golems stepped forward, and in a very simple way, said no.
By swinging its arms at you. You stumble backward, away from the golem, and fall a few steps down, closer to the remnants.
<Shit!> Mal calls, and fires a shot at one of the remnants. It burst into black smoke, and he hurries to reload. The golem swings its fist toward you again- but a tail whips around its hand, pinning it back- and Steve clings to the golem with his wings, his hands and legs punching and kicking at the golem. The two start wrestling- the golem has plenty more power, but Steve has reach and flexibility.

The remnants detect that you're being attacked, and surge forward- but back away when one of the other three golems- who are all standing still- buzz at them, warning the remnants away. The second golem turns back to you, apparently waiting for something while Steve wrestles with the hostile golem.

Then it buzzes angrily, and says a word in kystaran.
You have no idea what it just said. Mal drops his gun and starts rummaging through his belongings for something, anything.

>>27147171
The golem or Steve?

>>27147192
>Steve is, as always, perfectly silent.

>>27147171
Show the golems your gloves, perhaps they're official enough to let you pass?

Pushing down the panic that threatens to rise, you raise your gauntlets to the golems, showing them the runes on the front. Behind you, as Steve and the golem wrestles, Mal finally reaches into the golem's back and tearing out the core. It slumps, and Steve lets go of the creature.

The other golems pause... And one pulls open the door, stepping aside. You, Mal, and Steve step inside.

Then it closes the door, and the Remnants, seeing their prey is getting away, charge.

They have no chance against the golems- their armor too strong to gnaw off, and the door too sturdy to break down with degraded limbs.
<That.> Mal says, panting. He tears off the cloth around his head. <Was not fun. Let's not get crowded like that again.>
<Let's not.> You say, with a nod, and relax. As soon as your heart settles down, you look around the hall. It's a large building, light filtering in through the glass in the ceiling, and at the very back of the hall is a large circular room, complete with chairs and a round table. It looks like dozens of people once sat here. Shelves sit along all the walls of the round room, papers and books of all sorts in the shelves. A few doors span along the hall, but you check each of them, and most of them seem to be locked. But through one, you can feel a strange tingling...

<See anything out of the ordinary?> You ask.
<No, nothing.> Mal says, looking through the shelves. Then he finds a small pouch, and shakes it. <Oh, hey, bag of coins. We can split these later.>

>>27147418
Look for a list of contents, or any kind of info desk really.

>>27147418
<Good eye, bro.>

Maybe they have a record of citizens somewhere? We could look up our mother.

>>27147418
All right, then. Well, let's see if we can't find a directory of some kind. We need to find the Records.

<Good eye, bro.> You say, and rummage through the books and papers.
<I always keep an eye out for money.> He responds. You find a podium, in the back of the grand circular room, but inside is just pages and pages of kystaran writing.

And for a moment, you feel rather stupid.
You don't speak Kystaran. You can't even read most of it. You flip through page after page, looking for something you notice. A few smatterings of words of Lelan locations, like the Capital, or the fortress of Raven Hill, or the countess June Cromwell... But nothing you notice. Dates and times you can recognize, as well as numbers, but you have a feeling this isn't what you're looking for.

However, at the bottom of the pile, you find an old, aged map of the town hall itself. You look through it, and most of the doors end in studies, small offices... And finally, underground, you notice a room filled with cabinets, including dates written on most of them. It looks to be the record room.

You flip through the pages again, again looking for something you notice-

And then you see your mother's name. You've only seen it written in the kystaran way a few times... but you recognize it. You just can't recognize anything else around it.

You've never known why she left Kystara in the first place- and she was ill before you ever found the time to ask.

>>27147662
Take the book with us, and head to the records room.

>>27147662
Huh. Take a trip downstairs to see if you can find your mother's records.

>>27147662
...I think we need to spend some time learning Kystaran. Properly.

You take the sheaf of papers and wrap them up, tying it with string and putting it into your bags. Map in hand, you brush dust off of yourself and make your way toward the record room.
<You be careful. I'll keep looking for anything of note in here.> Mal says.
<Sure.> You say, and continue on. The door to the next area is locked, but it isn't hard to force it with your shoulder.

You walk through the darkness, eventually lighting your electric torch. The air is stale, dust thick. Nobody's been here in years. Despite that, the building seems well-built and sturdy. Using the map to navigate, you turn toward the stairs down...
And your spine tingles more. There's something down there.
Your gut squeezes, and you have a nervous feeling about this. You're normally not shaken...

Someone whispers your name. You jump, drawing your steamsling, but nothing is around. Nothing is following you. You can't see a remnant, nor Steve, nor even Mal.
Something about this feeling in your spine- that strange, innate magic sense- is telling you that there's something wrong here.

Carefully, you make your way down the stairs, putting the electric torch in your mouth and grabbing at your spear with the other.

At the bottom of the stairs is the record room. The latest years- sixteen years ago, apparently- are on the right side of the room. You pull it open, and start to rummage through.
Then you hear a womanly giggle. You turn to the noise, and there a figure crouches in the center of the room. Her- as it was a woman- is wearing an ornate robe, red eyes glinting out at you.
She giggles again, staring at you. You can't see her face from here, but you swear you can recognize that voice...
Your scar throbs, and your head starts to pound.
It's her, you realize. the one you saw in the forest... Only quieter. No longer gibbering in that alien tongue.
Getting less degraded, somehow.

>What do?

>>27148033
"Explain."
Keep steambolt aimed at her.

>>27148033
Have a good old-fashioned freakout. Fire your gun at shadows.

>>27148033
I wish we had some fire onhand. The torch in the mouth is really bad. If forced, drop the steamsling for it, the spear will be more useful on the stairs.

Your gut twisting, you raise your steamsling.
"Explain." You say, your voice quiet.
She giggles, and stands, stepping closer.
"We're going mad." She says. "We're growing hungry."
You back away, against the wall, and raise your steamsling.
"So long without a master... And we go wild." She says, taking another lurching step forward. You're finding it hard to breathe, for some reason.

"Maybe you'll find us, someday." She whispers. Within the folds of her robe, she draws a long, curved black knife. You cast the torch's light into her face- and you recognize her.

The head priestess of the Titan cult.
Once your lover.

"You should be dead, Adrienne." You say. She dives toward you, knife in hand.
You sidestep her attack, and slam a bolt into her forehead.
Still giggling, she disintegrates, fading away into smoke.

Even the dagger vanishes when it hits the ground.
And you're left, alone, wondering if you're going mad.

>End of session!
>My twitter is at @futureexabyte
>The IRC is #Exabyte on Rizon.
>And I'll stick around for a bit to answer questions!

>>27148305
Well, if Mal saw her then no, we aren't going mad.

>>27148305
We're going to have to find a way to permanently kill her I guess.

>>27148305
Did she evaporate into smoke the first time we killed her?

>>27148383
Actually, Mal's still in the main hall, looking for cash.

>>27148522
She most certainly did not.

>>27148660
Are there such things as exorcists in this setting?

Because I think we need one.