Might wanna post on twitter?

Also good to see you back.

File: 1384652239733.jpg-(49 KB, 790x370, TACTICRUEL-GENIUS.jpg)

49 KB JPG

>>28328254
-LAST TIME IN SALEM-
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/28219606/

You, Natalia Jean-Louis, a young american witch of afro-caribbean descent have started your first year at the Salem Institute for Witches and Wizards. Your first day of school went fairly horrendous, with you losing all your hair due to a classmate's indiscretion. Unfortunately, the bad times didn't end that day, and you found out the morning of your third day of school that sometime during the night, a fellow Housemate passed away under mysterious circumstances. The student who found him was none other than Allen, the upperclassman who has been really nice to you ever since you arrived. During breakfast you received a message from your Dad and Helen that was overall encouraging, apart from a weird note at the end that had been redacted somehow. Somehow you kept getting deterred whenever you tried to write a reply- at least in the process you overheard a friend of the dead student talking about how he seemed out-of-character the past few weeks. After talking to Professor Squall about the weird postscript and finishing out the school day, you headed out to Starfish House with Angela and Todd to investigate the death of your Housemate.

Keep updated here: twitter.com/Salem_Institute

This quest uses a ROLL-UNDER system. I'll usually take the best of the first 3 1d100 rolls that are linked to my post. Critical fails are 98-100, Critical successes are 1-5 and take precedence.

There is an -ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED- Fate point system in which for every THREE achievements Natalia unlocks, you get ONE Fate Token which can reroll ONE die-roll. If someone expresses a wish to use a token, I’ll call for a y/n vote on whether to use one based on consensus.

Current Fate Tokens: 1
Achievements Needed to next Token: 1

>>28328310
Im still having awful internet problems. It cuts in and out incessantly, so it's taking me longer to post things.

You don't have to remind me.

>>28328405
Yeah you weren't kidding about internet problems.

I'm not sure if this is really sustainable for a quest, especially since Saturday Night is traditionally pretty slow as is, questwise.

>>28328363
Breaking into Starfish house had become blatantly more and more futile after trying to cross the bridge more times. Angela throws herself face down in the sand beside you and Todd after her third attempt to give her best Starfish house 'impression' which just consisted of her marching around chanting 'Star! Star! Star!'.

"It's useless!" She wails as Todd gives her back a reassuring pat.

The sun glints out its final rays of light as it makes it's decent over the horizon as the three of you conspire as to what to do next.

"We could always go to our own house to get answers, maybe not just to Oliver but about the Starfish house girl that seemed to be involved with him." Todd rests his slightly pudgy chin in his palm as he considers this.

Suddenly Angela jolts up out of the sand like a cadaver brought to life. "Why not take it a bit farther?"

A look of confused worry crosses Todd's face. "What on earth could that mean?"

"Raid his dorm. Go through his things. Try to find any personal evidence to what was going on." A wicked grin of a mad man goes across her face.

Ummmmm, what do you think of these ideas?
>Go with Todd's idea. Seems safer.
>Go with Angela's idea. All great detectives get their hands dirty sometimes.
>Suggest something else.
>Give up on this whole idea. It was stupid anyways.

>>28328770
Can't hurt to at least check to see how difficult Angela's idea would be?

I'd kind of imagine that the school would have already confiscated all his stuff, but I guess they might not have.

>>28328770
>>Go with Angela's idea. All great detectives get their hands dirty sometimes.

>>28328770
>>Go with Todd's idea. Seems safer.

>>28328770
>Go with Angela's idea. All great detectives get their hands dirty sometimes.

>>28328770
"You want to go through the dead boy's stuff? Wouldn't that make us look suspicious, or ghoulish?

>>28328770
>>Go with Todd's idea. Seems safer.
Be kind of a dick move going through his shit.

>>28328796
>>28328798
>>28328871
"Actually," You say after you have mulled over the plan, “that sounds like a good idea, Angela."

Angela beams but Todd does little to hide his skepticism.

"And how do either of you figure we sneak into a fifth year boy's dormitory? To rummage through another student's belongings at that." Todd remarks disparagingly.

"Todd, with the right amount of charisma and confidence anything is possible." Angela punctuates her sentence with a fries shoulder.

Fortunately the Starfish dorms are not far from the comfort of your Eel home. The three of you make it back to the catacombs in roughly fifteen minutes. While in the main lobby the three of you begin to conspire your approach. The fifth years dorms were on the third story of the dorms and from your understanding unlike the first and second year's large open ward like rooms the older student dorms had smaller rooms with one other student occupying the room with you. This means being less exposed but this also means that it will be harder to make a distraction so that one of you can go through Oliver's things.

Also you are uncertain if there are any enchantments to keep girls out of this area. What's the plan?

>Try to sneak into the fifth year boys dorm.
>Just blatantly walk in. Bluff an excuse if you need one.
>Other.

>>28329163
>Just blatantly walk in. Bluff an excuse if you need one.
Our bluff is that we're looking for Allen. For reasons.

>>28329291
You are quick, almost too quick, to point out how well you know Allen and how that would get you an easy ticket in. The three of you ascend to the third floor from the twisted staircase and walk on to the landing. Boy's dorms were always to the left, and girls to the right with a bathroom separating them in the middle. You try your best to act as confident as you can as you walk to the archway leading into the long tunnel of older boy's rooms. You hear classmates talking in the bathroom and from the hallways but no one seems to take interest in your group yet.

Todd takes the lead and walks through the archway, but when you try to follow him you find that your feet can't move beyond a certain point. Looking to your left you see that Angela is having similar troubles. Just what you thought. Enchantments placed to keep the opposite gender from mingling.

"Hey!" You half whisper to Todd who comes closer to hear you two. "Just tell them that you need to get Allen and then tell Allen that I need to see him right away."

"And when he shows up? Then what?"

Your anxious stomach twists. "We'll think of something."

Angela's face is swept with dread. "Todd! It's up to you now! Don't forget us!"

-CONT-

>>28329632

-YOU ARE NOW TODD! THIS IS NOW TODD QUEST!-

You can't help but roll your eyes at Angela's lament. You turn from them and scratch at your messy brown hair. Looks like you're on your own right now, but you don't like not having even an outline of a plan. Let alone basic knowledge of where Allen and Oliver's room even is.

Well, what is it?
>Be direct, find a fifth year and just ask. Use your cover story that Natalia gave you.
>Don't engage anyone. Do your best to study the lay out and figure it out on your own.
>Other.

>>28329822
>Don't engage anyone. Do your best to study the lay out and figure it out on your own.
The important thing is to act like we belong.

>>28329822
>Other.
>Both.
Look around, and if we run into anyone, ask. Look like we know what we're doing, but not what we are doing -here-

>>28329822
Be direct. No need to stick around too long

Rolled 1

>>28329921
>>28329939

>>28330094
You decide it's best not to attract unwanted attention to yourself. As you twist and turn down the long hallway you are surprised to see how dimly lit it is. Fortunately, you've always had excellent night vision but you wonder how often a tired student runs into things down here.

With little effort you notice that each large wooden door has a small plaque next to it with names on it. The first one you notice is 'Rupert Thunt and Marcus Vasquez'. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that these rooms are sorted alphabetically. Fortunately, you are able to find the door to your destination by briskly walking and glancing at the names.

As you pass by small group of fifth years, who seem to have little interest in your presence, you see 'Allen Waite and Oliver Walters' by door. With a quick assessment you notice that there is no light coming from the crack at the bottom.

>Slowly open the door and walk in.
>Place your ear to it first before opening, always good to be a bit cautious.
>Throw the door open! You have nothing to fear!

>>28330370
>>Slowly open the door and walk in.

>>28330370
>Place your ear to it first before opening, always good to be a bit cautious.

That seems like Todd so far.

>>28330370
>>Slowly open the door and walk in.
I almost want to knock, but intuition is telling me not to. Ah, fake knocking lightly on the door before opening it, in case anyone is watching.

>>28330438
>>28330492
Glancing around you see that no one is watching you so you slowly grasp the door knob and turn it gently to avoid any noise. The door makes no sound as it lets you in. The ghostly dim light from the hallway shines into the small stone room, illuminating the empty stripped down bed to your left.

You did not expect to see Allen's figure fast asleep on the opposite side of the room. You worry that the light in the hallway might betray you, so you close the door slightly but as you do so you feel ice flood your veins.

"And what are you doing here?" An all too smooth voice comes from the opposite side of the room.

You feel the air abandon your lungs. Allen wasn't asleep, but why would he just be lying so still in the dark, alone?

>"aaaahh I'm Todd, Natalia's friend, she sent me because she needs your help with..." (Bluff)
>"We need to talk about Oliver, you and I both know it wasn't an accident." (Charisma/Diplomacy)
>"Just stay out of my way, and we’ll be square." (Intimidate)

>>28330370
Slowly open it. Fake knock like >>28330492 said

>>28330596
>>"aaaahh I'm Todd, Natalia's friend, she sent me because she needs your help with..." (Bluff)

Tell him she'd like his help with metalwork

>>28330596
>>"We need to talk about Oliver, you and I both know it wasn't an accident." (Charisma/Diplomacy)
Todd's a disturbingly honest boy.
I wish we had our statblock

>>28330596
Bluff. I don't think Todd can bluff all that well because he's nervous as fuck but its our best option

>>28330596
>"We need to talk about Oliver, you and I both know it wasn't an accident."
But probably less confident.

Like say we heard some things and wanted to look around because we thought something didn't seem right?

Rolled 2

>>28330762
>>28330786

>>28330770
>>28330809
>>28330809

>>28330918
>"We need to talk about Oliver, you and I both know it wasn't an accident." (Charisma/Diplomacy)

Roll 1d100, please.

Rolled 1

>>28330945
Time to fail again.

Rolled 26

>>28330945

Rolled 77

>>28330945
Last roll.

>>28330974
>1

-CRIT SUCCESS-

Writing.

>>28330974
Or not, evidently.

>>28331034
You take a deep breath, it's just Allen. Who you've never met. From the way Natalia speaks of him he sounded like a really nice guy so the really isn't anything to be afraid of. It was your idea to question the fifth years, not rummage through a dead boy's belongings but why couldn't you do both?

"I'm Todd, a first year, friend of Natalia's." You expected to feel your mouth dry out but are surprised when you feel in control of the situation. "I think Oliver's death is a bit suspicious and I think you feel the same."

The other side of the room is silent, but then you can make out Allen's outline as he sits up in bed and studies you for a while. You remain where you are, unflinching. After a moment he gestures to you to close the door, to which you comply, and he mutters a 'lumos' to the ceiling, activating several decorative rocks to spread light.

The sudden change to light makes you wince a bit.

-CONT-

>>28331246
Once your eyes readjust you notice that Allen is staring at you, studying you closely. You return the sentiment by give him a quick look over, but you find nothing too out of the ordinary for a stressed out teenager besides his clothes looking oddly mismatched.

"So, you think that there is something suspicious going on here?" The older boy asks with an air of caution.

"I have reasons to think that. That's why I was going to give his room a quick look around."

"So, Nancy Drew, you think you're going to find something mysterious that even the professors couldn't find when they ransacked this place?"

"Well," You shrug, "it's certainly worth a try. I also wanted to talk to you though."

Your tenacity must have struck some sort of chord with him, the older boy relaxes for a moment. He sits up and leans his back against the wall by the top of his bed.

"Okay, I'll bite." He crosses one leg over the other. "What would you like to know?"

>Anything unusual with Oliver.
>If Oliver hung out with anyone outside eel house.
>If Oliver confided in anything to him.
>Where he think Oliver could have been hiding anything that he didn't want found.

>>28331280
>>Anything unusual with Oliver.

>>28331280
>>Anything unusual with Oliver.
>>Where he think Oliver could have been hiding anything that he didn't want found.
"Was he acting unusual in any way? Maybe keeping secrets, or hiding something? I don't want to imply tat this is in any way his fault, but people usually get murdered for a reason, and finding out why will lead us to who." Or something along those lines.

>>28331354
>>28331386
Let's be more specific.

Did Oliver ever ask him to not tell the teachers something?

>>28331354
>>28331386
>>28331393
>>28331393
"Was Oliver behaving....strangely before his death? Did he ever mention something to you that he made you promise not to tell any teachers?" You ask.

"Told me anything personally, no." Allen stares at you blankly. "But I guess he did seem upset about something. Wouldn't tell me what though. Also it wasn't uncommon for him to work through the night, but he seemed to take it to the extreme the few days he was here. Don't think I ever saw him sleep. Even if he was laying down he was still awake, just laying there, staring at the ceiling."

"That's....strange." You remark for lack of better terms.

"I suppose." He seems dismissive.

What else do you want to ask?
>Where would Oliver hide something that he didn't want found
>Did Oliver ever hang out with someone outside of eel house

>>28331280
>"So, Nancy Drew, you think you're going to find something mysterious that even the professors couldn't find when they ransacked this place?"

Yeah to be honest that's why I'm having trouble with this apparently being the plot.

Especially because none of the first year characters have any real incentive to investigate.

>>28331529
>Did Oliver ever hang out with someone outside of eel house
Specifically a girl from starfish house?

>>28331529
>>Where would Oliver hide something that he didn't want found
"Do you know what he was working on, or where he might keep it?"
Also, maybe we should ask if he'd like to include Natalia and Angela?

>>28331573
Include in what?

He doesn't seem to care that much.

>>28331529
>Where would Oliver hide something that he didn't want found
Though really he's probably already said the same to the professors so...

>>28331677
In the discussion. We'd need to leave the male dorms, because NO GIRLS ALLOWED magic. Cons: it might prematurely end Todd Quest time, or spoil some of QFs plans or something. Pros: it seems in character, and have multiple brains bouncing ideas around does tend to work better.

>>28331773
Eh, I think we've gone about as far as we can, since we learned some details.

I don't think there's really more to be said right now.

>>28331529
>Did Oliver ever hang out with someone outside of eel house

>>28331573
>>28331734
"Where would Oliver hide something?" You ask, worrying now that this might have been a waste of time.

"Dunno." Allen dismisses. "Feel free to look though."

You begin to feel a bit frustrated with this conversation but you begin searching his side of the room. First you look in the desk. Nothing. Under the mattress. Also nothing. Weird wall panels? Non existent.

You find something strange once you start feeling around under the bed, loose stones. You feel around a bit more to find several stones that are in a similar condition. Pressing down on one would also press a different one down as well. You begin fiddling with them, trying to figure out the combination. A squeak of springs is heard from the other side of the room.

"They already looked there. It's empty." You hear Allen say but you notice there is a bit of panic in his voice.

Then the stones come apart and reveal a small compartment below. Letting your hand quickly dip into it you soon realize it is not empty at all, but a small cloth book is carefully tucked away. You grab it just as you feel Allen's hands grasp your ankles, pulling you out from underneath the bed.

"I told you, there's nothing-" He stops as soon as he sees the book in your hands. "Give that to me. Now."

Taken aback, you grip the book even tighter. This wasn't the Allen that was described to you by Natalia.

"No." You say firmly, still lying on the ground. "We need to give this to a teacher."

Allen drops your ankles as rage fills his being. "Give. It. To. Me!"

He lunges at you.

Roll 1d100, please.

Rolled 20

>>28331906
Time to bash and run

Rolled 57

>>28331906

>>28331773
New item on the Pro list: Not getting jumped by crazy-Allen.

Rolled 36

>>28331906
Mystery solved.

Looks like Natalie has a bad taste in men.

>>28331906
What spells do we currently know at this point in time?

>>28332074
The book is full of love-letters between Oliver and Allen.

>>28332097
But that's forbidden love

File: 1384667726610.jpg-(28 KB, 580x387, SNOWBALL-qt3.14.jpg)

28 KB JPG

>>28331937
Adrenaline kicks in as you quickly roll up on you side, you want to scream or call out for help but your body won't let you. Allen, even more upset by your evasion, gives your chest a quick shove which knocks you into Oliver's desk. The book fumbles from your hands but you are able to catch it by the back cover.

His larger and stronger hands make a swipe at the book delicately dangling from your possession. Allen jerks the book back and forth violently, doing all he can to loosen your grasp. This sends the two of you in a strange dance like circle but in the end you are only eleven and are no match for a fifteen year old boy. You think about grabbing your wand but that would risk losing all of the book.

There is a sickening rip as you stagger back, your fists now holding a few crumpled pages.

Clinging to them, you take this moment to make bolt from the room, flinging the door open right as Allen makes a swing at you, missing your face by inches and colliding with the now open door. He lets out a loud shout as you slip out the narrow escape and into the hallway, legs giving you their full effort as you race down to the entrance.

Your instincts told you not to look back but you can't resist yourself. Casting one last look over your shoulder you see Allen standing in his doorway and, and with eerie calmness slowly closes his door.

-NEXT TIME IN SALEM-
-Todd is surprised that his pants remain unsoiled!
-Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime Skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!
-Snowball investigates a particularly smelly sock
-A mysterious letter arrives.

ALL THIS AND MORE, WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON:
-SALEM INSTITUTE QUEST-

Q&A starts now!
As always, stay updated with twitter:
twitter.com/Salem_Institute

Any comments, critiques, suggestions etc are welcome!

>>28332198
I guess now we have a reason to investigate personally, so that's one objection withdrawn.

Though I'm not sure how you're going to stretch this mystery across a whole school year.

>>28332245
If Op doesn't suck he/she will stretch it out with various sub plots to distract us. We at least have that rivalry with that turtle chick.