>>27721593
[x] Caravan, go parcel up Tarda's notes, with instructions to send them to the boss

Then, go find Ann.

>>27721593

[X] need to post those notes and our letter to E.E. after that go talk to Ann.

>>27721593
Has Tarda ever heard of Orgone energy? that shit is meant to be powerful

"I think I have a bit more to do today." You say. "I'll get back to you later."
Tarda pouts at you. "Fine. Then I'm taking your room again. I don't have the money to pay Miriam for my own, after all."
She whirled around, and made her way back down to the tavern.

For your part, you make your way over to the caravan. You parcel up Tarda's old notes, your letter to E.E, and everything you planned on sending, and made your way to the caravaneer.
"Hey, do you know anyone by the name of Locke?" He asks you, after putting away the parcel you'd given him.
"That's one of my old names." You say. That is, you only used the name for a single job, where you met a particular young noble...
"Here." He says, and holds out a small wooden box. "I didn't know this was for you, else I'd have given it to you earlier."
You pull it open, and there sits a closed envelope... and a broken pile of some kind of electronics.

>Dear Locke,
>Guess where I am? That's right, I'm at Brookside! I know I told you I was planning to go back to the capital after we parted, but the innkeeper's daughter here... Cute as a button. I just need to convince her
>Anyway, I was doing some exploring, and found this thing! It looks electronic, so I'm not sure how it works, but I know you'd be able to figure it out. You're a genius that way.
>Sincerely, Abel Elrikan, Eighth son of Celedranis.

Then you sigh, and look over the electronics. You're not even sure how the noble manages to find out where you are, in order to send you junk like this. Then again, last time it was a large jewel, which was worth some money... But this thing seems pretty useless- it's just a cube with one side missing, cables strewn out of the missing side. You pocket it, and make your way to the smithy. Ann sits on a bench there, petting Bruno. She still looks deep in thought, and doesn't even notice you.

>>27721778
>convince her to come back to the capital with me.

>>27721778
" [Small unit of currency] for your thoughts?"

>>27721778

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Copper for your thoughts?" You ask.
Ann jumps, and looks up to you.
"Didn't even notice you there." She says. Bruno, when he stops getting petted, whines to Ann again. Absentmindedly, she continued patting his head. "Sorry, I'm just... thinking."
"What about?"
"... I asked dad about where we'd come from." She says, after a few moments' hesitation. She doesn't meet your eyes. "About Delura. He told me, and I keep trying to remember, but... I can't. And I can't even ask that soldier about it, because he doesn't talk to me."

>>27721901
Why don't you ask him again?

>>27721901
"I know a few minor things, if you want a story."

"Your father tell you everything then?"

>>27721901


"I'm sorry to hear that, maybe I can ask him, anything in particular you want to know?"

>>27721901
"what did your father tell you then?"

"Your father tell you everything, then?" You ask.
"I heard some of it from when you talked to him." She says. "But there's stuff he didn't tell me, too."
"Maybe I can ask Marcus for you." You say. "Anything in particular you want to know?"
"I want to know what the queen is like." She says. "That's where dad went quiet."
"Well, I only know a few minor things." You say, and scratch your chin, trying to recall what you know. "She traded with witches a lot, and there's a constant war of secession between her children..."
Then you shrug.
"That's all you know?" She asks. You nod, and she sighs. "Then can you ask Marcus about it later?"

>>27722118
"Yeah, sure thing."

>>27722118
"Ok then, my sweet. Anything else you want to ask him?"

>>27722118

"I will, I'm getting pretty curious too."
"It's okay to think about it but do try not to let it run your life." pat on the head and then we're off.

If Marcus is still up we could ask him then.

>>27722118
"Oh, don't mention anything relating to runes or Tarda to Marcus, okay? Dude's a creeper."

"I will. I'm getting pretty curious too." You say. "It's okay to think about it, but try not to let it run your life."
"I'll try." She says.
"Oh, and don't mention anything relating to runes or Tarda to Marcus, okay? Dude's a creeper."
"Uh... Right." She says. "Not that he talks to me at all anyway...."
While she grumbles, you pat her head, and make your way back toward the tavern. Marcus's door is closed, so you assume he's asleep. Mal's nowhere to be found, and Miriam gives you a wave. Seems everyone else has already gone to bed.

You make your way up into your own room to find Tarda, sitting on your bed.
"Alright, I'll teach you." She says, and holds up a piece of paper. On it is some kind of ritualistic circle. "First, draw this symbol. Or, well, use this piece of paper. Then you put the rune on top of it... and focus. Pour your will into it, focusing on it as hard as you can. It's pretty simple. Just don't do it too much, or you'll die."
You blink.
"That's it?" You ask.
"That's it." She responds. "The rune already has a connection to the Project, so you're making use of that connection to give the project the power it needs. Go on. Try it."

>Choose a rune! Other than the Obliteration one, of course.

Rolled 28

>>27722358
"No animal sacrifices? No blood of a virgin? Are you even trying, Tarda?"

I don't care what rune. Someone else pick.

>>27722358
Time rune Please.

>>27722358
Go for time!

>>27722358
let's try earth

>>27722358

our Earth rune has 2 uses left and our Time rune has 1 these two are priority but I think Time should get recharged.

>Recharge Time Rune.

>>27722358
>Time Rune

>>27722358
Lightning, because it has the least chance of failure.

"Tonight...I am the wizard."

>>27722358
Lightning

>>27722358
Time.

You sit on the bed, and unfold the paper in front of you. You pull out your crumbling Time rune, and set it down in the center of the paper.
A small flare of blue flame lit on Tarda's forehead, similarly to a matchflame, but you try not to pay attention to it. She gives you an expectant look.
"Tonight... I am the wizard."
"That's insulting." The wizard says. "You're just manipulating your soulforce. Anyone can do that."
You put your attention onto the rune in front of you, and focus. You focus on the rune as hard as you possibly can... And the circle on the paper starts gleaming with power.
"See, now that's a good user interface." Tarda mumbles, behind you. When she talks, the circle dims. "Tells you how well you're focusing."
You give her an annoyed glare. She goes silent. You focus on the circle again, and grit your teeth as it gleams brighter and brighter...
And then your spine tingles with power as you focus your will into it.

You grow tired, exhausted, even, as the crumbling, cracked rune rebuilds itself, growing more intact as you focus. Eventually, you relax, and slump your head.
>Time Rune: 2 uses left.

"Good work." Tarda says. "Guess you're not as useless as I thought, huh."
Everything is sluggish, and you can hardly keep your eyes open.
Before you can put much focus into staying awake, you fall asleep.

===

And then, what seems like minutes later, you open your eyes again. Birds chirp, and someone is knocking on your door. Tarda is nowhere to be found. You rub at your eyes and make your way to the door, and pull it open.
Mal grins at you on the other side.
<Hey, bro. Guess what?>
He holds out his leg. Other than a thick, mottled scar where his leg had been removed, it looked like there'd never been a wound there in the first place.
<I'm back. Where do you want to explore first?>

>>27722632
Shall we go to the city?

>>27722632
"Pottery is apparently going for a premium with Lelan nobles, so lets go loot the city!"

>>27722632

<there are still some districts in the city which we haven't paid a visit yet but if I go out there with you, we'll probably get attacked by 'failure' and that guy who said Tarda was evil.>

this will be fun fun fun.

>>27722632
"Hey bro, that's awesome. I see you you're feeling much better now. But wait, did you see where Tarda went?"

>>27722632
<That'll make for a great campfire story. 'Oh I had my leg eaten by a monster, then my best bro grabbed the leg from it's stomach and a wizard reattached it.'>

<Maybe we go check out the place where I grabbed the talking core from? Didn't have much chance to look around. Might be cool weapons and such.>

<That'll make for a great campfire story. 'Oh, I had my leg eaten by a monster, then my best bro grabbed the leg from its stomach and a wizard reattached it.'>
Mal chuckles, and starts wrapping himself up in cloth again.
<Yeah... that was an ugly scene.> He says. <Got caught by one of the remnants, and after I blew it up, I had only just grabbed the notes before the naga arrived.>
<Maybe we could go check out the place I grabbed the talking core from. I didn't have much of a chance to look around.> You say. <Or there might be some districts in the city. Pottery is apparently going for a premium with lelan nobles.>
<That sounds awesome. The city, I mean.> He says, completely armed up by now. <We leaving after breakfast?>
<May as well.> You say. The two of you head down into the tavern. <Also, did you see where Tarda went?>
<She wandered out sometime before dawn.> Mal says. <I heard her muttering to herself. Why do you ask?>

Miriam comes out from the kitchen, and serves the two of you, Leroy, and Marcus. The mutant is eating quietly, bandages still over his eyes.

>>27722869
Leroy's good with tech stuff, isn't he? Maybe we should have him check out that thing the nbole dude, Able, sent us.

>>27722869
"Yo! Leroy! I got this thing here from a friend. I have no idea what it is, though. Wanna take a look?"

Show him the electrocube.

>>27722869
Have we been served more mushrooms by Miriam? If we have, pick up the plate and just throw it at her. Fuck mushrooms.

>>27722869
<I may have to do a bit of superweapon-riding for her. I dunno. Anyways, I reckon the noble district in the city looks like a good place to start looking.>

>>27722869
As him how he's feeling.

>>27722869

<there are a lot of things we don't know about her and I would like to keep an eye on her just in case something comes up (Not in the sense that we don't trust her or anything like that)> \

<I also need to ask Marcus some things before we go.>

ask Leroy to take a look at the strange cube when the light becomes less straining on his eyes.

"Miriam, look, new armor!" at least we're trying not to die, right?

>>27722936
>Today is mushroom-free, thankfully. That's why Leroy is here instead of home- because he's fucking sick of them.

<There are a lot of things we don't know about her, and I'd just like to keep an eye on her in case something comes up.> You say. <Not that I don't trust her, but...>
<I know what you mean.> Mal responds.
<I also need to ask Marcus and Leroy some things before we go.>
<Fair enough.> He says. <I can be patient.>
"Yo! Leroy!" You call. "I got this thing here from a friend. I have no idea what it is, though. Want to take a look?"
"Certainly." He says. "Miriam, please be a dear and close the curtains for a moment."
Miriam does so, and Leroy pulls up his blindfold to take a look at the item. Marcus shivers in revulsion, and looks away, while Mal peers closer at the cube as well.

"Miriam, look! New armor!" You say, and swoosh it around. Miriam gives you a grin.
"Good for you." She says. "Now I won't have to worry about you getting hurt nearly as much."

"... Ah. It's an explosive." Leroy says.
You blink and turn to him.
"A very destructive one, in fact. It doesn't have a timer or anything, but that could be fixed." He sticks his hands into it. "Or you can activate it on the spot by putting these two wires together..."
"Please don't." Miriam says, quietly. Leroy's lower jaw clicks together in amusement.

>>27723104
How long would it take for you to set up the timer?

>>27723104
"Wow, I think someone just tried to assassinate me. Awesome!"

>>27723104
"How big of a bang, Leroy? I need to know. For reasons. If I use the wire method, will I have time to run away?"

>>27723104

"Good thing my friend didn't fiddle around with it then, do you think you could make a timer for that?"

>>27723173

I don't think he did, he found it while exploring.

>>27723104
"Marcus, stop being a prick and talk to Ann when she talks to you."

>>27723280

to forward, let's talk to him in private.

"This looks to be an artifact from ancient Nystar. Well preserved. As old as the hunters, if not more." He mumbles.
For a moment, you wonder if Abel had tried to assassinate you... But you know the kid pretty well. He couldn't hurt anyone on purpose, let alone someone he's friends with. This wouldn't have been the first time he sent you something dangerous from his dungeon delving.

"How big of a bang, Leroy?" You ask. "I need to know. For reasons. If I use the wire method, will I have time to run away?"
"No, it will be instant." He says. "As for how large it is... It could destroy the village. And then some."
He licks his fingers, and sticks his hands inside again. You notice that he's binding the wires, making sure to keep them far away from eachother.
"How long would it take you to set up the timer?"
"Less than an hour." He says. "I already have a timer. I just need to connect it. I can have it back to you by then... If you promise not to blow up the village, or use it anywhere near here."

>>27723344
I promise.

>>27723344
"An artifact! How glorious! I almost feel bad knowing I'll be using it some time in the future. Probably. If you wouldn't mind, I can compensate you in coins for any materials you need for the timer."

>>27723344
"How's it work? That much out of such a small capsule is pretty impressive."

NEW PLAN:
Bomb Kaedri.

>>27723344

"wouldn't dream of it. No really I wouldn't, it'll just be weird stuff again that makes little sense."

"Marcus, could I have a word with you in private?" Leroy will probably hear it if he stays.

>>27723438

back up plan, we still need to find his real body, if he even has one and Tarda really wants to use that weapon she built.

"I wouldn't dream of it." You say. "I promise."
"Then I'll get it to you in an hour." He says.
"How's it work?" You ask. "That much out of a small capsule is pretty impressive."
"Inside of here is a storage tank." He says. "A very small one, but still. According to the symbols, The material inside will explode if it touches any object besides itself. It's rigged to mix this material with ash. I've seen something like this before."

He shakes the box, and gives you a smile. Marcus shivers in revulsion again, seeing the mutant's monsterous lower jaw. "I'll take this back to you soon."
Leroy puts on his blindfold again, and takes the box out of the tavern, making his way down to his farm.

"Marcus, could I have a word with you in private?" You ask.
"Me? Yessir." He says.
You pull Marcus aside, into the tavern's kitchen. He simply stares at you cautiously, waiting for what you're going to say.

>>27723344
Ten points for Abel!

We need to write him a thank you eventually.

>>27723567
Nystar has anti-matter. Noted.

"Why aren't you talking to Ann?"

>>27723567

"I don't mean to pry but you seem quite tense around a few people and Ann told me you won't even talk to her, I'd like to ask why."

"Well... Why aren't you talking to Ann?" You ask. "You seem quite tense around a few people, and Ann told me you won't even talk to her. I'd like to ask why."

He instantly looks away.
"She... reminds me of someone. Sir."

You wait for him to elaborate, and soon enough, he does.
"Of someone who terrifies me. She looks and acts just like her."
"Who?" You ask.
"I... wouldn't want to malign their name." He says, slowly. He's being very hesitant. "There would be consequences."
You sigh. This doesn't seem to be getting you any answers.

>>27723877
"The Queen?"

>>27723877
"All women remind you of someone? Get a backbone, and talk to them. Ann especially."

>>27723877
"Consequences? There's just two of us and I am not telling anybody else."

>>27723877
"Yeah, I know. Women can be scary."

>>27723877
"Calm down, kiddo. Women are like spiders, remember that and you'll be fine. They're more afraid of you, then you are of them."

>>27723985
I thought you meant they spray a viscous substance from their rectum that they then use to ensnare their pray.

>>27723877

"Listen, I would really appreciate it if you told me, we're a long way from Delura and they are definitely not going to hear anything from me, you have my word."

>>27723877
"Did you have a childhood Marcus? Did you ever frolick through fields and go finger painting and ride a tricycle?"

"Yeah, I know. Women can be scary."
"That's not what I'm talking about." He says, and for the first time since you met him, he groans, his tone frustrated.
You say. "But there's just the two of us here. We're a long way from Delura, and they're definitely not going to hear anything from me. You have my word."
"The queen." He says, finally. "She looks just like the queen. But if she's a descendant, then..."
He pauses.
"It's part of the secession war. If I talk to her, I can't... ignore who she is. I'll have taken sides, and I can't maintain my neutrality."

>>27724123
"Who's gonna know, you wimpy sack of shit?"

>>27724123
"Sure you can. Marcus, nobody is looking over your shoulder to enforce those sorts of things. You can talk to her without swearing fealty to her cause."

>>27724123
Nobody lasts long out here if they don't know how to keep a secret, Marcus.

I'm sure you can find a way to talk to her and Dalton where nobody has to be implicated for anything.

>>27724171
>>27724123
She's what, 8 years old? I don't think she's planning a succession.

>>27724123
Dalton hasn't told her anything about her past. She has a right to know.

>>27724123
"You're on your own here. You don't need to report things back."

>the Shroud in Nystara is a nanite-swarm. Taking all bets.

>>27724206
>Why would a nanite swarm mutate people?

>>27724123
"Well considering the fact that she was going to be traded to a witch by some stupid prince, I'm fairly certain she's not too likely to participate."

>>27724225
Because it's rouge, out of control, and might have been only originally designed to 'improve' people?

>>27724123
"Back there, you can't. But here and now you can do whatever you like and ignore whatever you want."

>>27724255
Damn those rouge nanites! Messing up society's make-up!

>>27724255
>I'd be willing to bet it was just some mad scientist with a monstergirl fetish.
Hell, it's what I'd do.

>>27724123

"I won't force you to talk to her, at least I understand the situation somewhat."

>Why WOULDN'T one?

"Sure you can, Marcus. Nobody is looking over your shoulder to enforce these sorts of things. You don't need to report things back. Here and now you can do whatever you like and ignore whatever you want."
"Just because nobody's there to know doesn't mean you should break the rules." He says. His tone has entirely changed, now- he's no longer speaking nearly as respectfully or as calmly as he used to. "They're there for a reason."
"Well considering the fact that she was going to be traded to a witch by some stupid prince, I'm fairly certain she's not too likely to participate." You say.

"That will change in eight years. You can't trade an adult against their will."
"She's what, eight years old?" You ask. "I don't think she's planning a secession."
"Not right now, of course. But if I talk to her..." He says.
"Dalton hasn't told her *anything* about her past. She has a right to know."
"Then I'd be directly responsible of informing one of the queen's descendants of her birthright." He says. "That's exactly what I can't do. And that's exactly what she's been trying to ask me."

>>27724341
>Heh, meant to link to >>27724225
>Also, sorry for the slow posts. I'll try to pick up the pace. Maybe even post extra long today.

>>27724341
"Holy fuck, you're like talking to a brick wall. Not everything is black and white you silly sausage."

>>27724341
Sit back with a sigh.

Do you support the current queen, Marcus?
Would you give your life for her?

>>27724341
"I'll tell her, then."

>>27724341

We can't force Marcus to talk to Ann, we need to discuss our findings with Dalton.
if Ann wants to learn about her past, it has to be Dalton that tells her.

Mal is waiting for us, we need to get moving.

>>27724341
I think it's clear your principles are too rigid here. How about you go out of town for a few days, and I'll try to convince Dalton to let her know more. Then you can't be implicated.

>>27724341
"Marcus, I've been on both sides of the law. Trust me, they have a tendency of only being right some of the time. This is not one of those times."

Why are we trying to convince Marcus to talk to her? It's not a good idea for her to become a part of the succession war.

>>27724504
But she doesn't want to. She just want's to know what Nystara is like.

>>27724526
Not Nystara, Deluria.

You sit back and sigh. "Like talking to a brick wall.
"It's not like I don't have reasons for acting this way." He responds.
"I think it's clear your principles are too rigid here. How about you go out of town for a few days, and I'll try to convince Dalton to let her know more."
"That sounds good." He says. "It's what I'll do."
You make your way back toward the main room- and then stop, and turn back.
"Do you support the current queen, Marcus? Would you give your life for her?"
"I support the Deluran nation." He says. "And I would give my life for it. It's not my place to have an opinion on anything else."

You sigh again, and make your way back to your table.
Your food's gone cold. Despite that, you start to eat, making small talk with Mal.
Eventually, your plate is clear- and then Leroy returns. He's holding a cube in his hands, with a sixth panel where there wasn't before. On it are buttons with numbers- a small electrical timer.
"I gave it the timer." Leroy says. "Do you know how to use it?"
"I've played with electrical timers before." You say, looking at it.

>Artifact Bomb: 1 use. Big boom.

<That all you needed to do before we set off toward the city?> Mal asks.
You see Marcus make his way out of the kitchen, and without even touching his food, he leaves the tavern, heading toward the west.

>>27724558
<Yup, that's it. Time for adventure!>

>>27724558
That about does it.

>>27724558
Did we translate to Mal that we've now got a hellbomb?

Because we should.

>>27724558
I've just got to say one thing to Dalton on our way out. Can you find Steve? He's useful to have around.

Tell Dalton: "I think you ought to tell Ann."
Perhaps even a little of: "She's acting wierd/looks more worried then a young girl should."

>>27724558
"It's definitely going to explode though, Leroy?"

"It's definitely going to explode though, Leroy?"
"Unless the explosive matter in that container is all gone, or unless the markings are empty. There's supposedly a way to check, but I don't know how."

<Yep, that about does it.> You say. <I've got something to say to Dalton on our way out. Can you find steve? He's useful to have around.>
<We also need him to pull the wagon.> Mal says. <Last time I saw him, he was just outside.>
You look just outside of the tavern, and there Steve stands, like he's been standing this entire time.
<Well, what do you know.> You say, and change to Kystaran. <Steve, follow me.>
The remnant follows you. You, Mal, and Steve make your way to the wagon, and then you flag down Dalton.

"I think you should tell Ann." You say, when he approaches you. For his part, he doesn't even act surprised that you know.
"... I'm waiting." He says. "Until she's older."
"She looks more worried than a young girl should." You say.
He thinks about it as you urge Steve to pull the wagon onward.

<A hellbomb?> Mal asks, after you explain it. <That tiny cube is a huge bomb? That's damn cool. Dangerous, but cool.>

Time passes, and eventually you get closer to the city. It seems... darker, somehow, than it did before. You hear clashing and fighting. When you sit at the entrance gates... you look up at the towers in the district.
All of them have small, swelling pustules of black remnantstuff at the top. Flying remnants keep doing strafing runs on them, slashing the pustules with their talons, but swarms of mutated remnants pounce on them when they can, bearing them to the ground to tear them apart.
<... It looks like a war.> Mal says. <You sure this is a good idea to continue on?>

None of them seem to have noticed you yet, and you're not sure if they'd attack you if they did- they're all awfully busy.

>>27724940
Are we SURE there isn't another way in?
Because I'd like to take it if there is.

Wasn't there some docks? We should go around to the waterfront. Even if we have to crawl up a stormdrain, it's better then wading into a remnant slugfest.

>>27724940
<Yeah this doesn't look friendly at all. Let's, um, let's go raid some other district.>

<Yeah, this... doesn't look friendly at all.> You say. <Let's, um, go around to the waterfront and climb up to the docks.>
<I second that.> Mal says.
<Uh, steve, turn us around and head for the beach.> You say.

A short, very wet time later, you reach down to pull Mal up onto the docks alongside you. The two of you look around, and you call Steve from the beach. He flies over toward you- just as another flying remnant pounces on him. The two start struggling, Steve's spiked tail slashing at his opponent.
<We've been noticed!> Mal calls, and raises his musket. You follow where he's pointing, and see two more flying remnants coming toward you. One has a peculiar, crackling rune on its forehead... One that makes your spine tingle.

>If you're going to fight, you'll need to roll.

Rolled 86

>>27725148

Rolled 56

>>27725148
Aim for the sparkly-forehead.

Rolled 81

>>27725148
Let's try taking it down without runes.

Stab it in the glowy bit. Those are the weak points, yeah?

>>27725225
>>27725178
Surprise it with the punch blade!

>DC: 40. Significant Success!
You raise your steamsling... And slam two bolts into the remnant's forehead. You tear right through them, making his head burst into smoke... But a moment later, it recovers. As if it hadn't taken any damage at all.
<Nice try, traitor.> Kaederi says, swooping down toward you. <But if I can deal with Failure, I can deal with you.>

You look down at your steamsling, as the two flying remnants come closer. Mal fires his musket, and the galdian bullet tears through his own target, slamming through its chest and making it collapse to the ground.
You load another bolt into your steamsling- this one bone white, and smelling of bile. This time, you fire- and the bolt tears into the rune- and the bolt shatters, shards and naga venom burrowing into the rune and the remnant's forehead.
Kaederi howls in agony, twitching... And collapses to the ground. It twitches and howls for a few moments, before going completely still... And then it melts into black, tarlike goop.
Steve lands at your side, his opponent dead and in the water.

Then, only then, do you look upon the docks- and the warehouse district.
It's very different than the rest of the city. The streets are still wide, and the buildings look the same, but they've all been... added to. Dirt and junk sit on the streets, and atop the buildings, wooden planks sit between them all, making it easy to get from building to building without touching the ground. It looks like whoever did this had cannibalized most of the docks in order to do it.

As for why they've done it... A mutated remnant shows you why, by pouncing toward you. The moment it touches the ground, some very large, completely natural rats swarm out from one of the buildings, chittering and angry as they swarm the remnant, chewing away at it.

And then one of the rats turn to you, and sniff... And then chitters, in a very wyvern-like way.
<What.> Mal says.

>>27725332
"Thanks, furballs."

>>27725332
I think we should avoid falling off. Just a hunch.

Any ideas of where to loot first? The warehouses could be hit and miss, but the offices might be hard to find.

>>27725381
Seconding offices. Might be a list of what is in each warehouse too.

You take a few experimental steps, but the rats swarm away from you, apparently wary of a living being.
<They eat the remnants, but not us.> Mal says. He turns to Steve, who's hovering by your side. <Make sure to tell this guy not to walk on the ground for now.>
"Thanks, furballs." You tell the rats. They simply swarm over the dead remnants, and the tar that used to be Kaederi. You tell Steve not to touch the ground in this district, and start to wander.
<Any ideas where to loot first?> You ask. <The warehouses could be hit and miss, but the offices might be hard to find.>
<I'm thinking we should try the offices first.> Mal says. <I have a feeling they'll be in and around the towers.>
You nod. <I agree.>

The two of you wander the streets.
The mutated, twisted remnants run along the top level, across the wooden bridges connecting rooftop to rooftop, and you see a bulging, remnantstuff pustule sitting on one flat rooftop. Mutated, degenerate remants swarm it, covering it with their bodies as one of the flying remnants claw at it. There's not nearly as much war in this district, but it's still here... and the streets are for the rats. You're safe down here, at least. As you watch, the pustule bulges... And something bursts out of it. Something large, and powerful.
It's almost a copy of the monsterous remnant you'd fought- one with the airsacs, that used air to fire small pellets at you.
Except this thing had both arms like that, and no legs. There it sat, its torso connected to the roof with vinelike tendrils of remnantstuff, as it raised its arms to the sky, both shoulders bulging as it breathed in air.
Then it started firing at Kaederi's flying remnants, with both arms.
Mal's eyes widen.
<They're coming to this district too. Can't be a good thing.> He says. <Let's go around.>
You give the strange, anti-flying remnant a wide berth as you check the towers for offices...

>Roll for navigation!

Rolled 35

>>27725603

Rolled 87

>>27725603

>>27725603
<I'm starting to regret setting foot in an active warzone.>

Rolled 32

>>27725603
Did they just spawn a turret?
Did we walk into some wizards playing a remnant RTS? That's not good at all!

<I'm starting to regret setting foot in an active warzone.> You say.
<What, this your first time in an active warzone?> Mal asks.
<Nope.> You say. <Doesn't mean I don't regret it.>
<Guess this isn't a first for either of us, then.>

>DC: 50. Success!

The two of you make your way into one of the towers, and look up.
This is exactly what you're looking for. A records room. Written in kystaran are all sorts of notes on warehouses, incoming and outgoing goods, where they're exporting from... You also find a small pouch of coins hidden in one of the desks.
<Perfect.> You say. Mal just takes a seat, waiting for you to read. <There should be a load of enchanted silver in a warehouse not far from here. There's also a load of pottery pretty far north. Then some kind of top secret package meant for a galdian chieftan. That's the furthest one away.>
<Which galdian chieftan?> Mal asks.
<Names are hard to figure out.> You say, squinting at it. <Larradis.>
Mal shrugs. <That one's still alive. He might like if we sent it to him. Sixteen years late, but still. Which one should we head for?>

>[] Enchanted Silver
>[] Kystaran pottery
>[] Top secret galdian package

>>27725805
>>[] Top secret galdian package
delicous secrets

>>27725805
>>[] Top secret galdian package

Rolled 90

>>27725805
The pottery is the most valuable, but I can't resist the mystery option.

The pottery is probably too heavy to get out if we can't use Steve though.

<Let's go for the mystery option.> You say. <The pottery's more valuable, but heavy.>
<Also you're curious.> Mal says.
<Also, I'm curious.>
Mal pockets the coins, and the two of you make your way out of the tower again, creeping your way through the streets. Despite the fighting above, which is slowing down as you move, both of you are unharmed. Steve hovers just behind you, careful not to touch the ground- despite the hungry swarm of rats hiding below him- and eventually, you make your way into what must be no man's land. There's no fighting, and no people above, as you walk. Eventually, it's utter silence, except for the rats following Steve.

At least, until you reach the warehouse. Your spine buzzes with a sudden energy, and something slams down in front of you. Something dripping with black ichor, two dozen red eyes of different sizes and brightness covering its body.

This is the same thing that you fought, once before.

<Trueblood.> It howls at you, its head splitting vertically to roar at you.

Failure.
Surprisingly, it doesn't attack. Instead, it slaps down two pustules beneath it, and tears itself into the air, the tarlike material following in its wake.
At its feet, the two pustules swell, swiftly growing.

>>27726020
<Well Hello to you, too.>

>>27726020
<Hey, how's unlife treating ya? Talked to your former sister, by the way.>

>>27726020
Shoot em before they can grow any further. How many Naga teeth do we have?

>>27726020
We should probably stab those pustules before they become something dangerous.

>>27726020
Chain lightning everything!

Should we start rolling for all these attacks, or, next post?

>>27726020
<Tell me, is it true that Kaedri defeated you?>

>I won't really be keeping count of naga teeth. It's more of a general 'ITEM UPGRADE' sort of thing.

<Well, hello to you too.> You say, looking up at the retreating entity. It continues sailing away, making a smear of tar in the sky. You shoot one pustule, and then the other, both with naga teeth. They both burst open, hissing and howling, and half-grown, fetal remants crawl out a few feet before collapsing.

<That wasn't hard.> Mal says.

The rat swarm pounces toward the fetal remnants, but when they try... The remnants burst into tendrils, reaching out and consuming the rats. The squeal, and cry for help.
<Shit!> You say, and back away. The remnants still aren't dead, though the naga teeth may have slowed down their growth. They look like they're going to be big... So you'd best put them down now, before they get much stronger.

>Roll for attacks!

Rolled 53

>>27726167

Rolled 28

>>27726167
Lightning fire blast!

Can we force a fire rune like we could a shape rune? Try it anyway.

Rolled 1

>>27726167
LIGHTNING RUNE

Rolled 26

>>27726208
is this going to be a bad one

because last time, we got our heart ripped out

Rolled 17

>>27726208
Nooo!

>>27726229
And Mal lost his leg for another.
Have we ever managed to roll a nat100 yet?

>>27726208
I hope the rune just doesn't work.

Would suck if we lost our best rune.

Rolled 30

>>27726167
rawl

>>27726263
i don't think so
haven't seen a 100 in these threads or a few other quests for a long time now.

You fire with your steamsling, winding and reloading as quickly as possible. The creature roars again, and pushes itself to its feet. It's still growing stronger and larger, consuming more rats as it does so... And then it charges, growing faster and wider.
Wind, fire. Wind, fire.

You fire one last time, and there's a bang. The naga tooth only fires a few inches forward, falling against the ground.
Your steamsling's piping had burst. You reach for your lightning rune... and your vision goes red as the remnant pummels you, and you fall back onto the street, skidding backward. Your head pounds, and you only have a moment as you look up at the brutish creature. Dimly, through the pounding of your head, you recognize that it looks somewhat like an ape. If an ape had bricks built into its arms, turning them into heavy, massive fists made for crushing.

It rears up, above you, and brings both hands down onto your chest. There's a loud noise, and a sudden crunch in your chest.
You can't breathe.
You can't breathe.
The remnant bursts into flames, and is blown to the side.
Mal isn't wearing his cloth, anymore. He's covered in woven wooden armor, crouched low on the street. As you watch, he tears the armor off, piece by piece, leaping nimbly out of the swing of one of the brutish remnants.

Golems, you dimly realize They're based on golems.
<Come on.> Mal snarls, baring his teeth. He pulls out a long string of firebombs, all strapped to one another with leather. Both golem-shaped remnants barrel toward him, and he leaps away, throwing down the firebombs.
Everything begins growing faint... and your eyes start to dim... And dimly, you recognize the sound of an explosion.

>Continued!

>>27726414
Ahhh, why are 1's so devastating to everyone.

Rolled 47

>>27726480
I just want to know how we can pass out while Mal's stripping. He's too hawt to miss, you know.

And you gasp, finally able to breathe again.
<Bro.> Mal says, and slaps your cheeks. You open your eyes, and take another deep breath.
And another. Your ribs aren't broken, and your heart still pounds.
You're in a building, somewhere, and you can hear something howling outside.
He slaps your cheeks again.
<How are you doing? Are you okay? Can you breathe fine?>
<Yeah, yeah.> You say... But you see, in Mal's hands, something terrible.
Your new armor's breastplate is cracked, bending terribly inward. You touch it- and it falls completely apart.
<Well, it worked once.> Mal says. <You lelan need to get armor that lasts longer.>

<Where are we?> You ask. <And where's steve?>
<He's outside. We're in the warehouse we were going to. Those big guys are burning. But I lost all of my medical gear. One snagged some of my stuff. I still have my bombs and knives, though.>

>>27726507
<Let's just get the mystery box and GTFO>

>>27726507
Why so clumbsy, bro? We've got to get your stuff back.

Find the mystery box.

>>27726507
Grab all the armor pieces! Tarda can do that spell on them to fix it back together!

See if we can peek outside. <Catch our breath for a few minutes? Wait for those big things to move off?>

You pick up the armor pieces, and put them away. Maybe someone can reforge them, or Tarda can repair it.
<Catch our breath for a few minutes?> You ask.
<Sure.> Mal says. <I'll go find that mystery box. What did the records say about it?>
You go over it again, and spend a few moments translating it. <It's something that was made here, then shipped to one of the deluran islands, to a 'Norn', whatever that is, and then it was sent back here to one of the wizards, and then to a chieftan. It's supposed to be tiny, in a pouch.>
<Alright. I'll go find it.> He says.

You lean and peek outside, and see the burning giants slowly stop moving. Eventually, they're entirely gone- nothing but burning husks of stone and rat bones, their remnant components burned away.
<Aha!> Mal says, coming back behind you. He's holding a small satchel. <Is this it?>
He pulls it open... And inside is a small cross of bones, carefully lashed together with what looks like hair. Small carvings in it gleam blue...

And you start trembling, unimaginable power running through your spine. Mal shivers- he can feel it too.
<What the hell...> He says, and reaches to touch it. He hesitates. <... You think it might be a bad idea to touch it?>

>>27726759
Nod vigorously.
<Best not to touch it.>

>>27726759
<Touch it, bro.>
<Do it!>

>>27726759
<Maybe I should touch it? I mean, I survived touching the dome that makes everyone crazy, so, what harm can a few bones do?>

>>27726759
<Maybe bring it back, and we'll ask Tards what she thinks? Might not be best to tell her we have it, though, just that we found a sketch in the warehouse.>

>>27726759
<Leave it for now. Let's grab some of the enchanted silver on the way out if we can manage. And your medical bag.>

>>27726759
You're galdian, right? I'm sure it won't hurt you.

>>27726759
<I'm gettin' real bored of all this magic shit.>

Rolled 43

>>27726759
I want to touch it first!

<Leave it for now. I'm sure it won't hurt you, but we should ask Tarda what she thinks first.>
<Yeah... good idea.> He says, and, trembling, closes the satchel again. That strange, omnipotent pressure leaves you.
<Let's go get your medical bag, now.> You say.
<Lucky thing you weren't that badly hurt.>
You nod, and get to your feet.
<And then maybe we can go see if we can manage to grab some of that enchanted silver.> You say. <Even though I'm getting real bored of all this magic shit.>

<Hey, come on.> Mal says. <Kystara is the land of the magic shit. Like how galdia is the land of the animal shit, and nystar is the land of the electrical shit.>
<What does lelan do?>
<Lelan's the land of the noble shit, or something. Steam shit?>
He just shrugs.
The two of you, your breath caught, make your way back out into the city.

>End of session!
>My twitter is at @futureexabyte
>The IRC is #Exabyte on Rizon.

>>27726759
<Yes. I think it is a bad idea>

>>27726956
We were supposed to touch it weren't we ;_;

>>27727001
It was a choice for a reason. Hehehe.

>>27727001
Mal should have poked it.

We can always stitch his arm back on.

>>27727214
I always feel like we've made the wrong choice though, and that we're slowing down the pace a lot. For example, the portal under the temple. It was two/three threads before we actually entered, and it really dragged the pace down.

>>27727442
Well, I normally don't talk about my plot like this, but in this particular case, all three choices (Don't touch it, have Mal touch it, have the Wanderer touch it) all had their own effects.
It wasn't like the temple portal where the choice was to 'go ahead in the plot or not'.

>>27727769
Ah, okay, didn't really have enough info so I wasn't sure what to pick.

Of all the characters, which ones would watch Seinfeld?

>>27727842
Dalton would watch Seinfeld. Leroy would kind of have to, since it's his power Dalton's wasting.

>>27727888
/Does/ this world have a version of Seinfeld?

>>27727769
which one of those gives us wizard shit

>>27728377
Most television shows are just whatever the nystaran purebloods with access to broadcasting technology can find or make. Mostly, plays. Nysta plays are pretty legendary for being good. They don't usually sell recordings of them or anything, because so few people can find or repair a VCR.

>>27728810
That would be spoilers.

>>27729436
That's not a no.

Next time we have to come up with a fake name, I'll make sure to suggest Cosmo Kramer

I just had a fun idea for making a rune:
"Absorb lifeblood and soulforce to empower self"
Now while the "self" could be the person wielding it, I think it'd be even more fun to have it empower the Rune to greater absorptive strength and also to recharge it.

>>27731138
Personally I want to see what other ridiculous technology Nystara holds. Sounds like they have suitcase nukes stockpiled, and having one of those is always a good dealbreaker.