Erick Velstein

Rolled 40

>>28445701

Murk E. Urginstury

>>28445959
(( Working on a response! If there aren't any more opinionated questfolk out there, we'll be playing as Erick Velstein, which is perfectly fine by me. ))

Rolled 44

>>28446185

Well I like my suggestion, but whichever you prefer.

>>28446019
Second

>>28446019
I like the first and middle of the name.

>Erick Velstein

You are a Shardkeeper, a human who knows and has the capacity to perform the taxing ritual required to capture a Soul by creating a Shard. Spiritual energy given form, powerful Shards are the medium for a variety of mystic purposes. Once created, the power within can be transferred to other objects, and recrystallized if necessary. In addition, if the Soul is itself sufficiently powerful, the Shardkeeper can manifest a spiritual representation of its ex-host in the physical world.

That's how you've been taught it works, anyway. You don't have a whole lot to go by. Granted, you haven't travelled too far beyond the village, but you know of only two others who can be called Shardkeeper: your Master, whom you haven't seen since he abandoned you here years ago, and his other apprentice, whom you now barely remember.

Your Master prided himself as a slayer of great beasts, and a protector of people; you are trained in combat and have memorized the rituals, but having never hunted a creature that fought back, and having never bound a functional Shard on your own, you are a failure in comparison to him. The nearby village's people have given you a place to live, and in return, you've claimed power and protection, when you've done little more than immortalize dead pets as jewelry and stare helplessly at incomprehensible notes left behind with you.

From the window of this lonely place, you can see the village in the valley below, a collection of huts and home-like shacks. It's the early morning; quiet, and not a soul is visible. You turn away, tossing the handwritten edict onto your desk with the rest of the papers, then slump into your chair with a sigh.

What's your next move?
>Find the Huntsmaster, and plead forgiveness.
>Abide by the edict, and set out into the wilderness alone.
>Prove your worth by slaying the beast Marsalis mentioned.
>Recall information about (topic).
>Other

>>28446455
We are Murk E. Urginstury. Just say it out loud. It's fun to say.

>>28446455
and the E. can be Erick,

compromise! everyone wins! or loses depended on your perspective!

>>28446483
>>Prove your worth by slaying the beast Marsalis mentioned.

and then leave anyway

>>28446483
>>Abide by the edict, and set out into the wilderness alone.

What stuff do we own that we can take with us?

>>28446483
>Prove your worth by slaying the beast Marsalis mentioned.

>>28446584
>>28446542

>>28446542
Second. Trials are good.

>OP life check

>>28446807

(( OP writes slowly. ))

>>28446542

You've heard the village's hunters speak of a creature called Tregalis. Afforded safety by the mountain caves, and with almost no sources of predation beyond infighting for dominance, the creatures at the top of the jagged peaks to the east of the village quickly grow to unmanageable sizes. You're not sure if they act as a pack, but among these great creatures, one plays the role of pack alpha—you imagine it will be recognizable by its size, ferocity, and the wounds of previous endeavors. Marsalis failed, but should you defeat it, there's no doubt he'd let you stick around.

Assuming you even wanted to, anyway.

Provided your knowledge doesn't fail you, creatures like those on the mountain summit are attuned to the element of earth.

>>28446558

Whether you plan to flee or fight, now might be a good time to take inventory.

You've got the clothes on your back—light cloth garments promote maneuverability—plus a cloak you often don when traveling. Given time to pack, you could gather up traveling provisions; something to set up a tent with, some rope, and of course, a couple days worth of food. A beaded anklet imbued with the power of a Shard—a gift of your Master's, of course—hangs around your ankle. You've been told it contains the Soul of a great turtle; it bestows you with increased physical hardiness.

You've also got a weapon, which has seen little use. Right now, it's sitting in the corner—what was that, again?
>A sword provides an edge against man and beast alike.
>A spear, to maintain distance between myself and my foe.
>A bow, to strike from the shadows and attack beasts of the air.
>Other

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>>28446858
>>Other

Hand axe

>>28446858
>A spear, to maintain distance between myself and my foe.
Best for this sort of thing.

>>28446897
Throwing axes! Hand axes! Poleaxes! Good for armor! Good for flesh! Good for wood!

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>>28446858
>A spear, to maintain distance between myself and my foe.
Can it be like this thing?

>>28446858
>>A bow, to strike from the shadows and attack beasts of the air.

File: 1385189738496.png-(90 KB, 600x600, halberd.png)

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>>28447067
>>28446995
>>28446897

compromise?

>>28447101
AND MY AXESPEAR!

>>28447067

(( Feasibly?

That's two for the spear, two for the axe, one for the bow, and one anon proposing a halberd compromise. Consensus would be favorable. ))

>>28447101
Yea that looks good. Changing vote to this from spear.

Will need to find a sidearm eventually.

>>28447101
YES.

>>28447101

It stands to reason that this halberd, also left behind by your Master has seen little use. Almost two meters in length, this steel-headed halberd is a weapon of war; it seems inefficient for hunting, but works all the same. Taking it from the corner, you spend a moment clearing the blade of dust before propping it up by the door. With this weapon, you can defeat Tregalis; should you steel yourself, you know you can set out today and return victorious.

For a journey to the summit, you'll need perhaps a day's worth of food, as well as your knife and a healthy length of rope. You prepare your knapsack and begin setting provisions aside, packing a little extra in case. You've got bandages lying around somewhere, but it might do well to carry something else in case of injury. The physician's daughter, Eisa, is almost never adverse to sneaking you a salve or healing elixir; you've been on good terms with her in the past, but it dawns on you that you've been blamed for the death of her father, and you're not sure how quickly news spreads. Marsalis and his men hunt beasts to provide an important source of food and materials, and you realize that you might be on your own for the moment; if he has it out for you, you don't know how much you can get in the village anymore, if anything at all.

What will you do to prepare for the journey and battle ahead?
>Recall information about (topic).
>Other

>>28447387
>>Recall information about (topic).

anything we know about the creature

habitat
feeding habits

>>28447424
This one~

>>28447387
>>Recall information about (topic).
Why people are hunting the monsters.

>>28447424
This.

We're also going to need a review of our combat abilities.

>>28447424
>>28447437

Tregalis is a dire mountain lizard—the largest of his kind, in this area. They are four-legged creatures, with short necks, narrow eyes, and coarse, spiky skin, the stony brown color of the mountain face they dwell upon. The average example of his species dwarfs any individual man, but the hunters, under Marsalis, can slay them often with proper tactics; still, this is no easy task. They venture to the lower parts of the mountain to feed on the animals there, often lying in ambush, and dwell in natural caves, protected from the harsh sunlight. You've heard through word of mouth, though, that the creature you seek will often devour weaker members of his own species.

>>28447474

The great beasts of the world are hunted by humans as sources of food and materials. The meat of a great creature can provide a meal for an entire village, often leaving enough left to salt-cure and store for later consumption or trade. Bones can be used for crafts, spears, and arrowheads, and should the creature be furred, it can produce a source of clothing as well.

Monsters often pose no independent threat to humans that aren't directly invading their territory, but your Master spoke of creatures that were too large or powerful for a typical hunting party to overcome, or great beasts that sought out, for some reason, to attack and destroy human civilizations. With bound Souls, he challenged these beasts, as part of what he believed was his duty as a Shardkeeper.

>>28447670

You are trained in survival, as well as in hand-to-hand combat and the use of various weapons, having spent the most time with bows, spears, and other polearms. In the past, you sparred with your Master and his other apprentice for hours at a time. In years spent alone, you have continued to hone your techniques, as well as maintain your physical shape and increase your strength and agility.

The anklet you wear is imbued with the Turtle Spirit Shard, which gives a considerable boost to your physical hardiness.

>>28447774
>>28447714
Do notable individuals have unique souls?

>>28447794

As you recalled previously, Souls vary in power. The Shard of a “great” spirit or creature contains more power than one from a “weak” spirit or creature. You imagine that if you were to collect a Shard from an average mountain lizard, it would be of little potency in comparison to the bound Soul of Tregalis.

You aren't sure what contributes to this fact, however. It could be the creature's more robust form affords it greater spiritual potency. Perhaps it is a longer, more experienced life, with many battles fought against hunters; perhaps the reputation afforded it by people who fear it or have faced it contribute to the power of the Soul. It could be all of the above, or simply random chance.

>>28447894
What do we know of the world? Are there any near by cities?

Rolled 4

>>28447894

Do we have the ability to bind souls, does it require special materials?

Wait, where did that question even come from? What sort of existential crisis am I having? Must be a bit of shock from the note still. Of course we ca<insert answer>

Oh for pity's sake, can we kill the thing now?

>>28447959

Your Master sought his apprentices out based on not only physical qualities, but also a spiritual potential that few humans possess. The binding ritual involves manipulation of latent spiritual energy, and can be completed, without any special materials, once the creature is on the verge of death.

So, of course you can.

In theory, anyway. To restate facts, you've never bound a Shard of any significant power on your own. This would, of course, be a first.

>>28447924

Having lived in this corner of the world for almost all of your life, your knowledge of the world beyond is somewhat weak, and people here seldom travel to faraway places. There exist nomads who travel from place to place, as well as merchants whom occasionally pass through, boasting goods from different climate zones. These people come and go; your village is part of a network through which they travel, of similar places in the area several days apart from one another, with some through the forest that surrounds you, and some beyond the mountains to the east.

You know of a desert region to the north, and further still, an ancient volcanic wasteland. There is a great swamp to the far south, where you imagine communities are scarce; far beyond it, though, you've heard merchants speak of a much larger civilization.

As you finish packing, you fall back on your prior thoughts. (>>28447387)
What will you do?
>Hit the road.
>Chance things in the village.
>Other.

>>28448105
>>Hit the road.

that piece of shit killed Eisa's dad!

>>28448105
TREGALIS DIES BY OUR HAND.

>>28448105
>Hit the road.

>>28448105
Let's try to get a healing salve from Elisa, then get to the hunt.
also
>not choosing combi-stick

>>28448131
The only verdict is vengeance!

Rolled 35

>>28448105

Make for Tregalis! We'll camp out in one of the caves the lesser creatures inhabit, then jump atop the great lizard when it goes in to eat the lesser one.

>>28448105
We bring that fuck's head to Eisa's door.

>>28448133
>>28448162
>>28448183
>>28448131

Regardless of who Marsalis believes the blame for the death of his men, and of Eisa's father, should fall on, you care about the people of this village. You were raised by the people of this village, and have lived among them. You will make amends, and throw the head of the beast at the Huntsmaster's feet—or better, bring it to Eisa's door.

Knapsack tossed over your shoulder, weapon in hands, you glance down the village that would have you cast out.

You are Erick Valstein, the Shardkeeper, and vengeance is the only verdict.

>>28448190

You know the layout of the wilderness immediately surrounding the village relatively well, and immediately head east, cutting north a bit until your path intersects with a muddy, man-made road. Flanked by trees, and rising toward the visible, distant cliffs at a steady grade, this path is the primary method of travel for any villager aiming to make an expedition to the mountains. As you drive onward, you begin to form a plan; you'll stake out in one of the natural mountain caves, and wait for Tregalis to participate in one of his characteristic displays of dominance. When he exposes himself, you'll make your move.

Time passes, and the muddy road grows steeper, and eventually fades away to gravel and dry mountain rock. A path around will, after twists and turns, take you to the summit, a wide mountain peak surrounded by jagged stone spires. Alternatively, the steep mountain face ahead poses an alternative option—visible outcroppings of stone provide hand and footholds to climb or jump up, and you imagine your halberd could somehow assist in this process, with the rope offering more help on the way back down. You're not sure where it might lead you, however.

What will you do?
>Follow the path.
>Ascend the rock face. (1d20)

Rolled 11

>>28448463
>>Ascend the rock face. (1d20)

The high ground!

Rolled 7

>>28448463
>>Ascend the rock face. (1d20)

>>28448463
>Ascend the rock face. (1d20)

High ground is always useful, and the path is predictable and we'll be easier to see coming.

Rolled 16

>>28448463

Rolled 7

>>28448515

>>28448463
>Follow the path.

We already have enough problems without injuring our before we even meet Tregalis.

>>28448525

(( Forgot to mention that unless otherwise stated, I'm going to run with best of first three, with 1s and 20s taking priority ))

>16

You've stayed in great shape, but it's been at least a little while since you've battled the wilderness, and a feeling in your chest makes you realize that you've never been out with a purpose like this. You break for the cliff and allow your physical conditioning to carry you upward. Stone outcroppings serve as handholds, which you use to pull yourself up to short, flat ranges that you cross in mostly-vertical leaps and bounds.

With a hand and a leg on the next level upward, you glance back over your shoulder, admiring your work as you gaze at the forest below and the rest of the mountain behind you. You heft yourself skyward once, then again as you approach the top; with the only available foothold now just a little further down than you are tall, you summon all of your strength and leap upward, belongings and all, then swing your leg over a small stone outcropping and use the leverage to pull yourself up onto the mesa.

The air is torrid, and dusty, and ahead in the distance, you hear stomping sounds, occasionally interjected by a low rumbling. You stay low to the ground, moving quietly across the mesa, and peak out into the adjacent plateau from between a pair of stone spires. You're close to the highest point of this mountain segment, and in the adjacent plateau, you can see two of the familiar rock lizards circling one another. You're aware that they challenge one another in this manner for territory and mating rights, but none of them, other than the great beast of the mountain, prey upon their own species.

Ahead, on one side of the plateau, you can see a tall natural cave that might be Tregalis's domain. Above it, stone mountain blades point out over the mesa.

What will you do?
>Continue watching.
>Maneuver across.
>Other.

>>28448737
>>Continue watching.

maybe it will show and eat the rock lizard

Rolled 19

>>28448737
Continue watching. Hopefully Greg will show up to eat.

>>28448737
>Continue watching.

Now we wait.

Rolled 65

>>28448803

Sounds good. We can attack either after its been down in its den for a while and is nice and asleep, or immediately after this fight whem it's tired and wounded.

>>28448803
>>28448820
>>28448822

The sun is high in the sky as you observe the spectacle on the mesa below, pressed against the smooth stone spires on either side. Blistering mesa air quivers with rising heat as the two beasts circle one another. The duel continues for an impressive amount of time. They hiss, and roar, stomp and butt heads, gnashing teeth and colliding coarse hides until blood is spilled. The wounded, lesser creature snorts, whipping its tail as it turns and meekly stumbles away.

The victor turns, but is given little time to celebrate. The cave adjacent produces a bellowing roar, and massive, galloping stomps mark the arrival of the beast you seek. Much greater in size than either of the two combatants, Tregalis tramples forward with great speed. Unlike the other lizards, a single, curved horn emerges from the top of his head; his thick hide is marred by myriad, jagged scars, and you can see the broken shaft of a spear protruding from beyond the base of his neck, the flesh around it streaked with dried blood.

You pull yourself up to get a better look, as Tregalis's horn pierces the other creature, and the two of them skid together across the rock face, kicking up a great cloud of dust. They slide to a stop, and throwing his head upwards, he flips the creature onto its back and presses down on it with a massive foot, evidently going for the kill.

What will you do?
>Other

>>28448975
watch it, follow it back to its lair.

kill it while it sleeps

>>28448975
So either we can use the distraction and try to kill Tregalis right now or wait until it returns to the den.

Hard to say what might be better.

>>28448975
We must make a might steed out of it. The villagers may let us back if we give them its head. They definitely won't bitch about it if we come back riding on it.

Rolled 28

>>28448975

Jump on its back and try to shove in the broken spear shaft. That's how master instructed us, right?

Catch your enemy when he's distracted, and deliver the killing blow.

Rolled 15

>>28448975
Nope, now is not the time to strike.

While the creature is out we can run into his cave and find a good hiding spot to wait for him to sleep

>>28448998
>>28449021

(( Is the concensus to wait for an ambush, then? ))

>>28449092
its the majority, so I suppose so

Rolled 18

>>28449092
Yea I'll vote for that.

Though the beast is distracted, you resolve that now is not the time to strike, and instead continue watching. Clawed feet digging into the chest of the struggling mountain lizard, Tregalis drags his opponent several feet through the dirt before lunging his head forward and clamping down on the beast's neck. Simultaneously pressing down and pulling away, he tears a massive, bloody chunk of flesh away, destroying the lizard's throat, and begins to gnaw on it, watching his prey die.

You're not sure how long you've got until he returns to his lair.

What will you do?
>Make your way onto the blades above the cave.
>Attempt to sneak into the cave before Tregalis finishes. (1d20)
>Wait until Tregalis enters the cave, then attempt to sneak in.
>Other.

>>28449150
>Wait until Tregalis enters the cave, then attempt to sneak in.

Rolled 18

>>28449150

Rolled 4

>>28449150
Into cave

Rolled 7

>>28449245

Seconding.

>>28449245
>>28449299
>>28449250

>18

You watch Tregalis slaughter his competition for a bit longer before leaping down into the mesa. The great beast of the mountain is absorbed in his meal, and doesn't seem to notice you skulk along the outer edge of the plateau; noiselessly, you cross the threshold into his lair, providing an immediately noticeable change in temperature and humidity from the environment outside.

There's an unpleasant, lingering stench of something you can't quite place. Large, smooth stones flank the entrance, with certain stalagmites reaching up to meet stalactites above, affording the cave scenery in the form of twisted, hourglass-shaped pillars. You tiptoe through the empty cave; it opens into a single, round chamber, where light from a crack in the ceiling above shines down on a mound of smooth stones, where you imagine the beast goes to rest.

From outside, the sounds of gnashing teeth and tearing flesh give way to a slow, familiar rumbling.

What will you do?
>Other

Rolled 16

>>28449150
In now!

Rolled 14

>>28449382
Check the monsters poop for the loot of other failed adventure parties

>>28449382
How large are the smooth stones? Probably small.
Think we should hide behind pillars and wait for it to sleep.

>>28449421

They're actually not terribly so. You note a pair of lopsided stone eggs that you could reasonably crouch behind and be obscured by.

At least, until Tregalis walked by and saw you. That seems to be a problem, though, with most of the potential hiding places in this cave.

>>28449382

(( Activity's dropping off a bit, and I'm getting tired, so this seems a good time to get some rest. This thread should still be around when I wake up, so I'll bump it first thing and we'll continue this vote. I'm super-happy about the response thus far, though. Thanks for posting, everyone. ))

>>28449453
Cool quest. Hope we don't die.

>>28449453

(( Sleepless QM is back. If there's questfolk about, I'm keen on continuing! ))

Pressed against the surface of a stone just a few feet beyond the entrance to Tregalis's shadowy domain, you wait calmly, halberd in hands, for the king of the mountain to approach, so you might make him your prey and take your vengeance.

The mountain around you now rumbles, with tremors of an unusually great magnitude pulsing beneath your feet. Low rolling footsteps draw closer to the cave from outside, and with each one, bits of dirt and rock are dislodged from the ceiling.

What will you do?
>You'll certainly be caught. Attack on sight. (Description + 1d20)
>Remain still in the shadows; this dumb beast will never see you. (1d20)
>Other

How did that syncronize perfectly with me finding this

I vote for climbing up a pillar so we can drop from above and remember, predators don't look up

Rolled 14

>>28451922
>Remain still in the shadows; this dumb beast will never see you. (1d20)
Hnnng

Rolled 3

>>28451922
Climb up and hide. Keep an eye out on what's going on.

Hopefully hidden from the sight of anything that might be approaching the cave's mouth, you stay low and move along the jagged rock wall to one of the pillars in the greater chamber ahead. You're able to make your way up the pillar about as easily as you scaled the mountain stones earlier. Climbing close to the cave's ceiling, you squint and grit your teeth as Tregalis's footsteps drop clouds of dust and rock particulate into your face.

Approaching the top, you find a protruding rock where you can sort-of crouch down and wait quietly.

Footsteps grow heavier, and echo throughout the chamber around you as the creature crosses the threshold into its domain. It stops just a few feet away from your pillar, and snorts, looking around the cave. Perhaps it detects something out of the ordinary—you prepare your weapon.

What will you do?
>Strike now. (Description + 1d20)
>Keep waiting. (1d20)
>Make a run for it! (1d20)
>Other. (1d20)

Rolled 1

>>28452213
predators don't look up, wait for the opportune moment to jump attack. No guts, no glory

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Rolled 10

>>28452252

Rolled 6

kek

>>28452213
Do NOT pull the punch

What happens happens

>>28452252

>1

You'll bide your time. Predators don't look up.

The predator immediately looks up.

It curves its stubby neck upward, gazing at you with glossy eyes that give off the idea that it thinks of you as nothing more than a meal. Could it already be hungry again, or was its last kill more for fun than food?

It charges at the pillar, each one of its heavy steps sending a tremor of unusually great magnitude throughout the cave. You begin to lose your balance before it even arrives, and when its horn collides with the stone, you go tumbling off, barely managing to maintain a grip on your weapon. You wince; your back skids against the coarse rock for a short distance as you barrel towards the creature, bits of stone from the ceiling falling at your back as the whole compromised pillar struggles to hang on.

Tregalis aims its head upward, hoping to skewer you before you even reach the ground.

What will you do?
>Other. (1d20)

Rolled 6

>>28452413
Any horn on a creature regularly used grows blunted and is used for striking not stabbing, see Rhinoceroses and Elephants. Assuming the Tortoise talisman doesn't have limited use and is instead a flat reduction, take the hit to the lower body and stab him if possible on the way down.

If we can, land on top and stab into his back to maintain purchase there, if we fall, get under him and keep the tip up, run to his gut and stab up. I would say neck, but that's pretty dangerous

Rolled 2

>>28452413
We're faster - he just ate, after all. Dodge, and let him slam into that pillar. Aim for the ankles and knees, try to wound him and slow him down further.

Rolled 15

>>28452485
aren't we falling?

>>28452492
I read that as if we already fell, sorry.

Dodge the horn and try to jab the fucker in his neck. Getting some distance here would help us.

Rolled 12

>>28452509
I only support a neck shot if that's where we land, I want to be AWAY from that mouth of his. Raphael and Michelangelo ain't going to keep us from getting bit in half, but should protect us if we get kicked

>>28452492

>15

Collect yourself, Shardkeeper.
After all, if you can't prove yourself, you might as well die here.

Still falling, you regain focus; your back hurts a bit, but you push it out of your mind, turning to face the creature below as you fall. You press your feet against the pillar, then leap off and over the infuriated creature's horn. Halberd raised overhead, a wicked grin crosses your face as you land at the base of the creature's neck—first your feet, then the point of your weapon, which digs deeply into its hide. It bellows and hisses, immediately spinning around at an unexpected speed; the creature's thick tail smashes through another stone mound, and you barely manage to hang on, tossed weightlessly in a semicircle about the shaft of your weapon.

You pull your halberd from the creature's hide, and strike again and again, maneuvering quickly across his spiky back. The mountain beneath you trembles, louder than Tregalis's bestial battle roar—louder than your own. As you prepare to strike at the creature's neck, you stumble, as Tregalis leaps to one side, thrashing its body in an apparent attempt to smear you across the rock face.

What will you do?
>Other (1d20)

Rolled 38

>>28452459
please use my role if it's better instead

Rolled 1

>>28452609
Get off of that thing before it crushes you and make some distance.

How badly wounded is it?

>>28452609
dodge and counter with an attack on the neck

Rolled 12

>>28452609
Stop drop an roll.

Rolled 12

If it's on the correct side, jump over to the spear left behind by the villages hunters, it's a festering wound by now I hope. Jab and twist and maim. Otherwise dodge under, stab through the gut

Rolled 11

>>28452670
forgot my roll

>>28452676

You've gotten some pretty good hits in so far, and this attempt, you think, will literally put Tregalis against the wall. If you can clear his body, you'll have an opening at his gut—or an opportunity to press the advantage afforded you by the broken spear fragment in his neck. First, you'll have to make some distance...

>>28452665

>1

You jump off the creature's back in the opposite direction a little too late, with insufficient footing as you make the leap; your agile jump turns into a helpless fall almost immediately, and as you tumble, Tregalis spins back around to face you, meaty tail bashing across the cave wall he thrashed towards a moment ago. He braces himself and lurches towards you, horn colliding with your left side; you hear a crack, and fiery pain surges though your chest as you lose grip on your halberd.

It goes flying towards the mouth of the cave, clattering across the ground, while you roll a distance and recover onto one knee inches away from the cave wall. You haven't much time to rest, though; stone chips fall from the natural ceiling overhead as the beast charges toward you.

What will you do?
>Other (1d20)

Rolled 7

>>28452771

We are trained in unarmed and physically hardened. Grab it as he charges and use that momentum to slam him into a wall.

Rolled 1

>>28452771
Roll to side, draw knife, continue the assault. If we turn we die. If we flee, we die. Charge forward into the maw of hell and only then can we walk back out. Cut open his gut and bathe in his entrails or rip through his neck. Whichever way opportunity lies,

Here's for shock keeping us going with adrenaline

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Rolled 5

>>28452826
unpossible

File: 1385229832526.gif-(3.95 MB, 495x200, nf34.gif)

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Rolled 19

>>28452771
Do some crazy Souleater gymnastics and dodge the horn, grabbing the spear shaft in its neck.

>>28452826
This quest is cursed, isn't it.

Rolled 4

>>28452826

Or just die, we could do that too

Rolled 3

I think it might be time to tap into our knowledge of the dark arts, can we try to rip his soul out while he's still alive? At some cost or something?
Because fighting isn't working

>>28452665
>>28452252
>>28452826

Well this pretty much explains why we can't make a soul shard.

Rolled 7

>>28452878

At least this means we are playing in character

>>28452826

>1

You pull a bloody hand away from your side; your wounds ache, and you tremble. Fleeing is not an option—victory, or death. You draw your knife and charge forward to meet Tregalis's own attack; he lowers his head, and your injuries overcome you again as he directs his horn towards your shoulder. There's an overwhelming pain as its tip hits just beneath your collar bone, and he prepares to throw his head upward, immense body weight behind it.

>>28452838

>19

You press against him, feet skidding across the hard stone, and barely push away from his horn, feeling the cave wall at your back as you dodge to the right. You slam your decorated knife into the base of his neck with all the strength you can muster; Tregalis hasn't quite realized you've broken contact, and practically gores himself for you, bellowing in pain as he throws his head upwards. He sweeps back down towards you, and you leap out of the way again, reflexes barely managing to overcome the mighty beast of the mountain.

You stab again and again, pushing everything but victory out of your mind as you make your way toward the spear shaft lodged in the beast's neck. You leap forward and grab it, moving in time with the thrashing beast to swing yourself onto its back again, hands on the spear.

What will you do?
>Other (1d20)

Rolled 41

>>28452996
Stabstabstab!

Rolled 8

>>28452996
>>28453015
Welp. No one ever said I was good at this shit.

Rolled 10

>>28452996
Wiggle and torque it and saw it in and out until you find an arterie and rip it apart

Rolled 7

>>28452996
Tear spear from neck.
Jam spear into vertebrae.
Eat soul.

Rolled 18

>>28453032
Seconding this.

The beast thrashes, roars, and howls, and the mountain itself seems to wither away alongside its king's fortitude. The tremors grow greater; large stones fall around you, pillars give way, and entire sections of the chamber walls slough off in miniature rock avalanches, rolling into the cavern. You twist the weapon in Tregalis's neck, torquing it and driving it further until a great volume of fresh blood surges from the wound, then pull it out and into your hands; it's a spear with a broken shaft, and a still-glinting obsidian hilt bound up in bloody threads of flesh and muscle.

>10

You drive it downward as you maneuver across the beast's hide; he thrashes against the cavern wall, and you're slammed against the rocks again, but stay resolute.

>8

You feel something strike your back; large, jagged stones fall around you, crashing down on Tregalis's hide.

>7

You barely have the strength, but force yourself to go on, and charge toward the base of the beast's neck.

>18

You raise the obsidian spear overhead, and drive it through the flesh at the base of Tregalis's neck. He cries out, and blood pours from his lacerated hide as you twist the weapon deeper. His body tilts, and you feel him attempting to throw you off one final time.

Finish this, Shardkeeper.

What will you do?
>Bind. (3d20)

Rolled 14, 13, 6 = 33

>>28453094
Here goes... well, everything.

Rolled 13, 16, 4 = 33

>>28453094

Rolled 1, 11, 18 = 30

>>28453094

>>28453094
stab out eye then temple? If he's bleeding out of the neck he'll go down soon enough we just need a coup de grace

Rolled 4, 2, 8 = 14

>>28453094
GIve it one last stab

>>28453098
>14

You stab the creature again, to make sure the weapon holds. You can barely think straight; pain is beginning to overwhelm you, and you don't have much time to act. Balanced at the base of Tregalis's neck, you fall to one knee, and press one hand against his body, the other braced against the obsidian-tipped spear. Blood runs down your own arm, and mixes with his, forming gruesome scarlet pools and rivers that run between his scales.

>>28453110
>16

“This spirit is bound in the name of Shardkeeper Erick Valstein.” The world succumbs to darkness, as you call upon your teaching. You nearly stumble over your words, instinctively preparing to announce your Master's name instead of your own—you're sure the words themselves hold no power, though, and are merely a device to maintain the level of focus required. “This Soul is mine to command.”
>>28453127
>18

You keep your hand planted, though most of the rest of your body leaves ground as the creature lurches, tossing you upward with what strength it has left. Time slows to a crawl, and color bleeds away from the world around you; a bright glow erupts from between your knuckles, light erupts from the creature's wounds, and wispy green trails swirl upward from beneath its body, surrounding the two of you. A power like none you've felt before gathers in your palm, affording you a strange feeling that conflicts with the pain of the encounter hitting you all at once.

For a bit, you lapse in and out of consciousness.

You are covered in blood, most of it your own, lying in the ruins of the mountain king's cave. A distance away, you see your halberd. In the palm of your upturned hand sits a large, translucent, bronze-colored gem that periodically gives off a vibration.

Tregalis lies next to you, with lightless eyes, the handle of a spear protruding from its neck.

What will you do?
>Other

>>28453282
Shout and pump our fist in the air before realizing how severely damaged we are and cry in pain

>>28453282
Take care of our wounds, take a few deep breaths, and get the horn. After that, pack your stuff and head home.

>>28453282

Get his head or horn and grab the spear in his neck then sneak out.

>>28453282
Bandage. Grab halberd. Grab spear handle. We can return the spear to the owner's family.

Need to take some sort of trophy to prove that we actually killed it. Head too big. Horn or something. Tooth.

>>28453339
WhyNotBoth.jpg?

We can use the horn as a trophy and make charms with the teeths.

>>28453323
The head might be to heavy to carry. The horn and spear would be good enough to prove you actually did it. Then go to Eisa so she can heal you

>>28453307

You feel as if this is an opportunity worth celebrating, but you're severely damaged, and not quite out of the danger zone yet. This cave, though, affords you a bit of safety, and you spend a bit of time to eat a little bit of food and bandage the more severe of your wounds to the best of your ability. You believe you've got a couple of ribs broken, but aren't quite sure; somehow, you feel as if things could have been much worse.

>>28453404
>>28453323
>>28453339

With your knife, you cut the creature's horn away from its skull, cleaning some of the blood before storing it in your pack. It is unique among the rock lizards, and will be suitable proof of the creature's demise; in addition, you spend some time carefully cutting away a few of the creature's sharp teeth. You also retrieve the spear from its neck, as well as your own weapon, then slip away from the cave.

To follow the route you took back home, you first maneuver across the mesa and up the rocks toward the higher plateau. It is physically taxing, especially in your current state, but luckily it's easier going down than up. Rock lizards occupy the plateau outside the cave, and as you pass across the way from them, they give you strange stares, looking at you as they would a rival member of their species. You avoid confrontation, and make your way back toward the forest.

The late afternoon is upon you by the time you arrive back at your home, collapsing on the floor next to your desk. You're on your last legs, and the sun will set soon. Among your belongings are parts of Tregalis's body, as well as a Shard containing his Soul. Marsalis's ultimatum will expire in two days, and your injuries will only worsen if untreated soon.

What will you do?
>Seek out the Huntsmaster.
>Seek out Eisa.
>Experiment with the Shard. (Description)
>Other

>>28453509
>Seek out Eisa.
She is the town healer isn't she?

>>28453509
>Seek out Eisa.

Time to do what we promised and bring the thing to her door.

>>28453509
>Seek out Eisa.

>>28453551
Pharmacist's daughter, good enough.

Rolled 2

>>28453603
>Seek out Eisa.
Need healing. Would be convenient if spear is her father's.

>>28453509
so, what can we do with the soul shard?

>>28453642

We don't know yet, hence the experiment option.

But we have other pressing priorities now.

You follow the path down the hill and into the village. You are bandaged, covered in blood, and visibly limping. An overloaded knapsack and man-sized halberd are slung across your back, and you carry a red-stained, broken obsidian spear in one hand. Your eyes are wide, and you wear a grin that comes from somewhere between delirium and victory.

It is just before sunset, and the weather is cool. People sit outside their homes, preparing or enjoying meals, or tending to such chores as laundry and gardening. At the sight of you, though, eyes widen and jaws drop; either the news has spread, they're concerned by the sight of an individual who looks to be returning from a hard-fought war, or both. Perhaps they'd thought you already left town. You resolve to make yourself scarce, until you can hopefully make things right.

You arrive at Eisa's door, and prepare to knock. Expecting to be greeted by her father, you think of something to say, then pause and frown.

How exactly are you going to go about this, Shardkeeper?
>Other

>>28453712
>Expecting to be greeted by her father, you think of something to say, then pause and frown.

Uh, isn't her dad dead?

>>28453712
Knock, don't say anything. She has eyes and will know what happened and know we need to be healed.

>>28453712

Give her the horn, then faint from our injuries.

>>28453728
(( Eisa's father is dead, and it appears that in the eyes of the village, you're to blame. ))

>>28453744

Why not? Let's go with an old classic.

>>28453744

Fuck it, time to push the drama power to the max.

Hopefully they won't kick us out until they know what the hell happened.

>>28453712

Present the horn.

"It's not much but could it buy some stupid bastard a salve?"

Rolled 10

>>28453744
>>28453762
That's dumb. I want to remain alert and not faint like fevered old lady. Try to remain cognizant.
>>28453712
Spaghetti falls out of pocket. Tell her that we've avenged her father and ask for medicine.

>>28453786

We're practically on death's door.

Fainting isn't exactly implausible.

Smile, thumbs up, fall

Rolled 5

>>28453801
It's just so cliche, and if we were really on death's door we wouldn't have made it down the mountain. Fainting is unnecessary. It's good to know what is going on around you. Someone might steal our stuff.

>>28453834

We got nearly gored to death by a giant lizard, am completely delirious from, and covered with blood, plenty of it ours.

Bullshit we're not on death's door.

>>28453712
Ding dong the beast is dead.

But seriously, present her the horn and collapse.

Rolled 16

We need to present the horn to the Huntmaster not a girl. She doesn't care about some beast, just her father.

>>28453886

That thing happened to kill her father.

It's not hard to determine our reasoning from there.

You knock on the door a few times, and there's a pause before it opens. Eisa appears as if she's been crying, but as the door swings open, her expression changes. She looks at you with scorn, as one would look at something worthless—then tilts her head as she notices your condition, your heavy breathing, and the way you stand favoring one side.

“What are you doing here? Why are you...” She stutters. “What happened to you?”

One hand behind your back, you rummage through your knapsack. It doesn't seem quite right to present Tregalis's horn to this girl, but you'll present yourself to Marsalis once your wounds are better dressed, and though you're not sure what the village has been told of the hunters' failed campaign, you imagine seeing it will be enough to inform her of the scenario.

That, and you're at a bit of a loss for words at the moment. The load on your back grows noticeably lighter as you heft the massive horn, cradling it in your free arm. She stalls, and her face falls blank. “That's... how can that be? There's no way you...”

Your wounds ache; You grin, then sway a bit, and begin to drop to one knee. Eisa gasps, and moves forward to catch you, but you instead maintain your balance with the broken spear as the rock lizard's horn slips from your grasp. The girl assists you to your feet. “Get in here, quick.”

>(Cont'd)

>>28454151

Events seem to run together for a bit, and your consciousness fails you periodically until you find yourself in a bed; this small room is illuminated by an oil lamp on the bedside table. You can see your torn and bloodied shirt hung on the door to the room; in a pile near there, you see your knapsack, Tregalis's horn, and both of the polearms you brought back with you. The immense pain you've been dealing with has dulled a bit; it appears that almost all of your upper body is dressed in bandages.

“Whoever bandaged you did a poor job. You were bleeding badly.” Eisa sits in a wooden chair next to you; she speaks quietly, and, in short words, seems visibly haunted by confusion and sadness. She pauses, teary-eyed. “I heard you betrayed the village, Erick. They told me people were killed because of you... that my dad... What are you doing? What is this?”

What will you say?

>>28454176
Actions speak louder than words.

They blamed my lack of skills for the death of your father. I believe I've proven them otherwise and avenged your father.

>>28454176
forgive the smithing metaphor but, hottest fires forge the best blades.

>>28454176

We don't happen to have that note on us do we?

If we don't, tell her how Marsalis apparently blames us because our enchantments apparently didn't work. So we decided to kill the thing, because the bastard hurt the people who took care of us this whole while.

Also, treason? Holy shit, I know Marsalis is pissed because some of his men are dead, but accusing us of treason is going too far.

Just caught up with the quest now, Just wanted to say that I approve of this quest. Will recommence lurking now.

>>28454176
"I'm setting things right. In the morning I will go to the Hunstmaster to prove the beast that killed your father, and many others, is dead by my hand. They blamed me for their deaths. My magic was not strong enough to protect them."

>>28454276

(( Thanks! ))

>>28454207
>>28454257
>>28454310

Treason, huh? You didn't know the allegations against you were that harsh. Just what the hell is this guy trying to do, anyway?

“I'm setting things right. Tommorow morning, I will go to Marsalis, and prove that the beast that killed your father and many others—that hurt the people who've taken care of me all these years—is dead by my hand. I've avenged them.” You say. It's not easy to face Eisa, and your gaze occasionally drifts to the ceiling.

The girl stalls, and tears begin streaming down her face. She continues, sniffling. “So... he lied, then? I didn't want to believe them, but why would he say something like that?”

“I'm... sorry, Eisa. I was blamed for their deaths because my magic failed to protect them.”

There's another long pause, and she holds her her head in her hands, eyes covered. The two of you are silent, until she stands to leave, making for the door.

“You can stay here tonight.” She grabs the bloodied garment on the door and folds it over her arm, then turns and looks at you, red-eyed and blank-faced. “I've given you something to dull the pain, but the bandages will have to stay until your wounds close.”

What will you do?

>>28454522
Well, the best thing we can do really is sleep and recover.

We got a big day tomorrow.

>>28454176
Osyki is that you?

Moving on though I am loving how this is going, but those 3 1's man....

I vote after this is all over we leave the village

>>28454551
>>28454522
Maybe experiment with our little soulshard idly. Keep it close.

>>28454522
Big day tomorrow, get some sleep so we can properly flip off the hunter

>>28454567
Second. Time to go out into the world.

>>28454567

Just wait and see how it goes.

>>28454551
This.

Try to remember applications of this kind of soul.

Gonna have some weird dreams tonight.

>>28454758

Shards have many applications, of course. As you recalled, a Shard can be dissolved and its power imbued into a physical object, affording it unique properties; an example of this is the anklet you wear. A Shard dissolved in this way can be recrystallized, but a reasonably time-consuming ritual is necessary to do so. Your Master also spoke of the ability of a Shardkeeper to draw a spiritual representation of a creature from an intact Shard into the world to fight and perform tasks, though you're aware that certain criteria must be met—for starters, the Soul within must be immensely powerful.

>>28454551

The morning comes, and sunlight shines through the nearby window; you are well rested, and feel much better, though complete recovery is still some time away. Your shirt, now cleaned of blood and dirt, hangs on the door where it did last night, and all of your belongings are as they were left. You slip the clean garment on over your bandages and don your knapsack, again clearing space for Tregalis's horn, then toss your halberd over your shoulder, broken spear in hand. Against your back, you feel the Shard pulsating gently.

You peek out of the door to this room. Eisa is nowhere in sight—still asleep, perhaps—but you think you've said all you can to her.

What will you do?
>Find Huntsmaster Marsalis.
>Other.

>>28454846
>Find Huntsmaster Marsalis.

>>28454846
>Our halberd has a pokey bit
>The beast had a massive fucking horn
>1+1=awesome

Let's enchant our halberd.

>>28454846
>>Find Huntsmaster Marsalis.

Also
>Your Master also spoke of the ability of a Shardkeeper to draw a spiritual representation of a creature from an intact Shard into the world to fight and perform tasks
Lizard stands?

>>28454872
>Magical telescoping spear-axe

yesyesyesyesyes

>>28454891
>>28454872
>Golemquest hero soul mechanics

God, I hope so.

>>28454872
>>28454891
>>28454915
>all these guys who dont want to have a giant horned lizard as a stand
/tg/ I am disappoint.

>>28454967
No, you misunderstand. We want to use this lizard to get a BIGGER lizard.

>>28454980
OP, do dragons exist in this setting?

Because a Dragon Stand would be unbelievably awesome.

>>28455001
It strikes me as rather Monster Huntery.

In which case they probably do, but are more like primal beasts than magical dragons.

>>28455018
You are now imagining having a yian kut ku as a stand.

>>28454846
(( I'm back. Also, I dropped my trip there. ))

>>28455001
(( It'll probably be gone over IC at some point in the near future, but to provide a short answer, this guy's (>>28455018) kind of got it. ))

>>28454865

Many of the village's hunters live in a communal lodge-like building which serves as their base of operations for larger campaigns and affords them space for crafting, as well as a small archery range. The village is quiet in the morning, and you make your way from Eisa's to the lodge on the other side of the small area unobstructed. It's a wooden building, larger than most, sitting at the edge of the village with its back to the forest.

You've interacted with the hunters before, of course. You will find Marsalis here.

What will you do?
>Knock, and address whoever shows up. (What will you say?)
>Let yourself in.
>Other.

>>28454967
There are requirements for summoning a soul. The lizard souls is powerful but I don't think it's " immensely powerful"

>>28455107
Wait.

Do we still have the fucking horn?

>>28455001
What is a Stand?

>>28455185
Some sort of avatar spirit from Jo Jo's Bizarre Aventure.

File: 1385241239308.jpg-(70 KB, 500x500, 1342754860158.jpg)

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>>28455185
>this motherfucker never heard of jojo

>>28455156
Glad you asked!

In your possession is:
>Turtle Spirit Anklet, worn
>Soul Shard (Tregalis)
>Tregalis's horn
>Several of Tregalis's teeth
>Halberd
>Obsidian spear, broken
>Food and water for a half-day's travel
>Roll of bandages, nearly depleted
>Rope

What will you do?

>>28455107
>Knock, and address whoever shows up. (What will you say?)
I need to see Marsalis.

>>28455246
In that case, knock away. You said we dropped it earlier, and losing it in the interim seems like the sort of move that might happen.

>>28455258

You knock a couple of times, and there's a significant pause before the door opens. An unfamiliar, large, bearded man answers; he stands only a bit taller than you, but his upper body is wide, and he appears to be many years your senior.

“Whaddaya want, kid?” He folds his arms. “We've got a rough day ahead of us, y'know. Don't have much time for small business.”

“I need to see Marsalis.”

“Eh?” He pauses, looking at you carefully. “Oh, you're that kid who lives up on the hill, aren'tcha? Don't you think you've done enough? The Huntsmaster's busy, and he wants you gone anyway, so, uh, get.”

What will you say?

>>28455403

Show him the horn.

>>28455403
"I've killed Tregalis. I need to see Marsalis."

>>28455403
Lean in close.
"I came to make a delivery."

>>28455419 then this.

>>28455403
Whip out your horn and show it to him.

>>28455490
"Let me show you my horn."

>>28455403
Pull out the horn and drop it right on his toe in front of him and ask to see the head hunter again.

Who uses a damn halberd for hunting?

Rolled 89

>>28455419
>>28455427
>>28455429
>>28455490
>>28455514
>>28455556


Por que no los seis?

Lean in close and say
"I came to make a delivery. Let me show you my horn."
Then whip our horn out and show it to him, afterwards drop it right on his toe and finally tell him
"I've killed Tregalis. I need to see Marsalis."

>>28455625

When the person in question needs is hunting giant monsters.

>>28455625
People who hunt giant monsters evidently.

>>28455556
this could work

>>28455631
I second this

>>28455419
>>28455427
>>28455429

Your halberd wobbles on your back, and teeth clink together in your bag as you lean towards the man and grin. “I came to make a delivery.”

“Oh, really? What, then?” He asks.

Again, you produce the mountain king's horn, and the conversation stalls. The bearded man's jaw drops. He rubs his eyes for a moment, planting a hand on the grim trophy, then stares blankly at you.

“That's goddamn impossible is what that is.” He says. “You sure that's not a fake? My, uh, it looks like you could have, uh... I...”

“I've killed Tregalis.” You say. “I need to see the Huntsmaster.”

“Uh, I don't think you should, I...” He continues to babble in this fashion, despite stepping aside to let you in.

You make your way into the lodge, the curve of Tregalis's horn resting gently on your shoulder. Time to get some answers. Luxurious fur-lined chairs, bone crafts, and taxidermied trophies set this building's interior apart from any one you're familiar with; you move calmly and quietly, searching for the Huntsmaster. You pass a couple of living quarters, doors slightly cracked, but see nothing of significance inside.

You cross the threshold into a large room, with an area rug set across the floor. Racks of bows, blades, and spears—the hunters' equipment, no doubt—sit lining the wall to your right as you enter. You recognize Marsalis, who sits in a chair, a drinking glass in hand, staring ahead at an empty fireplace; the Huntsmaster wears a brown cloak, tossed over a leather jerkin bound by gold-buckled straps.

“Shardkeeper... you.” He turns to face you as you enter, then grits his teeth. The man stands up quickly, chair sliding backwards across the floor, then makes his way towards you and snatches the broken spear from your free hand. “What are you doing with this? Why are you here—and that thing... can't possibly be? Is this some manner of trick?”

What will you do?

No trick. Just cleaning up a mess. The question is what are you going to do?

>>28455762
"I do not play tricks, Marsalis. I get things done. Things that cost me almost a whole day of recuperation and quite a bit of blood. Things that I need to do because other people are apparently happy to blame their incompetence on me."

Set the horn on the table.

"You've marked me a murderer and a traitor. I'd like you to publicly apologize for this error."

>>28455762

"Does it look like a trick to you Marsalis? Perhaps I should've dragged the beast's body back as well? I can understand you being upset at the loss of your men, but what could I have possibly done to deserve being accused of treason?"

File: 1385243900523.png-(10 KB, 327x173, 1364703275327.png)

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>>28455795

>>28455762

"No trick. You claimed I was a traitor because my magic didn't protect your hunters. I needed to prove that it could be done. I never claimed my magic would make them immortal, even at my best I barely won. But what is done is done, deaths avenged and monster slain. Now if you will excuse me I will be going back home."

Then drop the horn like a pair of drumsticks.

>>28455794
Already out.

I just want to get him to pay for some gear and supplies for our expedition.

How about we let him take credit for the hunt in exchange for it?

>>28455795
Eeeeeeh, this seems too much like poking the confused bear.

>>28455836
Voting for this.

Rolled 89

>>28455762

"Oi wot u thinken tryna boot me otta ton der m8? I otta sok u rite in da gabba fo dat."
Then this
>>28455836

>>28455762

I have a body up the mountain and a shard in hand, don't draw this out it'll just make you look like even more of a fool.

>>28455795
> maybe don't call the dead people incompetent bro

>>28455836

This, the others are too confrontational to me.

>>28455762
"If you don't believe me you can look for your self." Then tell him where to find the body.

>>28455836
Supporting this, as others have said, the alternative feels too confrontational.

>>28455836
Changing to this

>>28455795
I'm sure calling his dead men incompetent is going really endear us to him.

>>28455836
This.

>>28455858
Don't tell him about the shard. Am I the only one that think the hunt master will tell everyone he killed the lizard. It's really our word against his.

Rolled 16

>>28455927

Well we're the ones who walked in to town last night all beaten and bloodied.

>>28455927
Doesn't matter. We killed the lizard. Got the shard. Going to leave this town anyway for cool adventures.

>>28455927

There's Eisa and that hunter who greeted us at the door.

Though to be honest, the mention that he has gold buckles are screaming alarm bells at me.

>>28455927

I am kind of leery of this situation...what made us think he wouldn't just attack us?

>>28455939
No, we're going to start up a farm here after we've settled all these matters. Eventually we'll find a wife and die peacefully.

>>28455927
Dude we are the only one around able to make shards. Its pretty good proof.

File: 1385244466041.jpg-(105 KB, 590x775, 1380960308399.jpg)

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>>28455953
Voting for Plan Farm.

>>28455951
>Though to be honest, the mention that he has gold buckles are screaming alarm bells at me.

He's a leader of a group who, assumedly, both protect and trade in wildly rare materials. It's not a leap to assume he's fairly well off.

>>28455961
It's utterly worthless as proof because nobody apart from POSSIBLY us has the skills to determine that it's Tregalis' shard.

>>28455961

There are plenty of ways he could go around that to get the villagers against us.

It's just a normal gem!
Look, he even has the gall to claim one of his master's relics as his own!

>>28455991
Until we start making giant lizard stands that is.

>>28455991
Honestly, if you're going to go this far, then slaying the beast had no purpose entirely.

>>28455976

Yep, but it does seem he like to indulge himself. I'm not saying that he's doing anything illegal, just revealing things about his personality we might do well to be wary of.

>>28456016
I think him accusing us of treason is probably a better reason to be wary than his swag belt buckle.

>>28456014
The logic is not fucking hard.

We brought the horn and spear, which is material proof that Marsalis can accept as part of his context. The shard gobbledegook thing however, is outside of his context and helps us in no way.

>>28456041
I repeat if it is possible for us to manifest giant horned lizard spirits than its pretty good proof.

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>>28456066
Have you read the beginning where we barely understand the shit we're doing, or the fact we need a REALLY FUCKING POWERFUL spirit for it to manifest?

Did your parents drop you on the head as a baby?

I'm getting a Morrowind feel for some reason.

>>28455836

“Does it look like a trick to you? Perhaps I should have dragged the beast's body back as well. I can understand you being upset at the loss of your men, but what could I have possibly done to deserve being accused of treason?”

“Someone must shoulder the blame for this, Shardkeeper.” Marsalis speaks, after a long pause. “Since you turned up on our doorstep, our village has given you food and shelter, and received nothing but unkept promises in return. You've contributed little to our crafters and farmers, and I can count the number of times you've been hunting or even simply accompanied my party on one hand, preferring instead to sit among your... magic notes, and look down at the people who've cared for you so. If this village were to hear news of the deaths of beloved family members, their faith in my men would sink—and I was angered, Shardkeeper, when I was forced to watch my men die carrying trinkets that you claimed would afford them warding.”

“But if this event were to fall on you, Erick, instead of causing our people to distrust in their hard-working providers, it would truly be the most you've ever done for us.” The Huntsmaster grins, and folds his arms. “Now, then. Tell me how you killed that beast.”

What will you do?

>>28456117
Unique giant horned lizards capable of killing the best guys in the village probably count as really fucking powerful. Especially when you compare them to shit like cats and dogs and other pets.

>>28456146
>best guys in the village

Oh yes, it suuuure was a bigshot.

>>28456146

>>28456146
Tell him how we killed the beast.

>>28456146
"If you think so little of me, Marsalis, then I shall take my leave for a community that does not. I apologize for wasting you time, and hope you find another Shardkeeper to assist you in the future."

Leave and take the horn with you.

>>28456178
'Fuck this town' seems pretty reasonable.

>>28456146

"You dare tell me to leave because if I don't 'faith in your men will sink'? You watched your men die carrying trinkets of mine that would afford them warding and you shoved the blame of your overconfident risktaking onto my charms failing in their purpose? I assure you, it wasn't my charms that failed your men. It was you. Now you sit here in your gold-belted tunic and tell me this town doesn't deserve to have their faith in you shattered so they can rightfully demand the better that they deserve."

>>28456151
I've said this before.
>>28455142
pet = weak
medium lizard = moderately powerful
big lizard = powerful
Full blown dragon = "immensely powerful"

>>28456268
No need for that. Simply leave. He loses his scapegoat, and we give zero fucks.

>>28456283
Unless I see the OP say that it don't count for shit.

And thus we became Ginko, the Shardkeeper

>>28456306
Personally I want to show him up as a dickhead and then leave.

>>28456146
I honestly don't care. It was time to move on.
We snuck into its cave and attacked it when it came in.
Then leave.

“If you think so little of me, Marsalis, then I shall take my leave for a community that does not. I apologize for wasting your time, and hope you find another Shardkeeper to assist you in the future.” This village has cared for you, and you for it, but if Marsalis would have its people turn their backs on you, then you will do the same to them.

With the horn of Tregalis still tossed over your shoulder, you do not wait for a response, instead turning your back to Marsalis making your way out the door the way you came in. If you plan to abide by the Huntsmaster's edict and leave, you've still technically got a day left. The quiet of the morning hasn't quite given way yet, and you stand alone in the center of the village.

What will you do?
>Return home. You'd like to experiment with this Shard. (What will you do?)
>Return home. Probably best to get packing.
>Other

I'm for leaving after this. We need experience obviously. We learned more in just this than we have since our master left, it seems. We can become a wandering beast slayer or something.

>>28456490
pack all of our notes as best we can, see if there's some way we can get good travel equipment

>>28456490
>give Eisa the horn
then
>Return home. Probably best to get packing.

>>28456490
Get packing, study how to imbue that shit into your weapon, and get the fuck out of Dodge. Write an apology to the dead and leave it on your door - Admit partial responsibility for their deaths, but no more. Head for the other nearest town.

>>28456490
>>Return home. You'd like to experiment with this Shard. (What will you do?)
Might be a good idea to do a little before we set off into the great unknown.
Maybe start with seeing if the Lizard is strong enough to summon and if not sticking him into the halbard.

>>28456490
>Return home. You'd like to experiment with this Shard. (What will you do?)
>Return home. Probably best to get packing.
Both.

I think we should either imbue our halberd with the shard, or the horn itself, and later on make it into a spear.

After we're done start packing.

>>28456490

>Both.

>>28456490

Return home, check to see how many supplies we have (and recall how close the nearest town is), give Eisa the horn or the spear if she wants them, then experiment with the shard. See how powerful it is, try to summon a ghost-image and if not try to determine what sort of benefits it'd imbue on something.

>>28456572

There's a cool idea. We shouldn't forget to check out the obsidian spear either.

You all know this could be an awesome cross between Mushishi and Monhun

>>28456583
>>28456603
Boss man still has the spear. Pretty sure it would have belonged to the top hunter anyway so its not really ours to keep or give away.

>>28456572
The horn is too big to make the spear. The teeth might work but the horn is like a large rhino horn or small elephant tusk.

>>28456708
A hammer, then. Or the hornbill on an axe.

>>28456603
>>28456583

The broken spear remained in Marsalis's possession.

>>28456572
>>28456579

Arriving back at your place on the hilltop, you empty your heavy knapsack to assess your inventory; with your belongings set out in front of you, you recall the Shard you've been carrying. The bronze, translucent gem gives off periodic vibrations, and occasionally pulses with a warm light. You're aware that the rock lizards are attuned to the element of Earth. As you bound the spirit of Tregalis to this shard, you felt the energy of tremors, or earthquakes. While the great beast of the mountain was the most powerful enemy you've faced thus far, you do not feel any living presence calling out from within the Shard. What to do with this, then?

You set the horn on the ground, and the teeth on your desk, then begin folding and collecting your notes, storing them in a small tin. What else, as far as travel goes? You'll need your cloak, and a change of clothes, as well as food and water, which you'll be able to find around here. Medical supplies might be important, and it'd be nice to have a bow as well, though you don't know how you'd be able to get one in town at the moment, and all this equipment might be burdensome anyway.

What will you do?

>>28456715
... or a drinking horn or something

>>28456708
I got the feeling it was actually bigger than that even.
>>28456715
Man that shit would be too big to swing around like a weapon even if it was just rhino sized. We could probably carve it into something useful though.

>>28456715
hammer would be cool. But, you would need to take it to a craftsman and it would take a day or two to carve it into the right shape and attach that handle. Our halberd is right there and waiting to be enchanted.

>>28456738
ENCHANT THE POLEARM ALREADY.

>>28456738
Exactly how big is the horn?

It appears that the spirit within the shard isn't as powerful as I hoped. Should we use it toe enchant the halberd for a nice power boost, or wait for a more powerful beast to enchant into our halberd?

Maybe we could enchant our boots, considering it's earth attuned. Also, we can always make a teeth necklace and enchant it, although I'm unsure what kind of enchantment we could hope to get from that.

>>28456738

We should say goodbye to Eisa at least, she was, if not a friend, someone who was nice to us and pretty much saved our life.

>>28456914
If we come across something stronger, we'll
A) need the power to take it down, and
B) it will be strong enough for summons.

>>28456907
This. Enchat the halberd, get some supplies together and leave as soon as we can. Maybe get some medical supplies from the doctor girl whatver her name was. Make sure to bring our master's notes!

>>28456933
Might as well grab some herbs while doing so. And apologize to her.

>>28456933

This.

Also seconding enchanting the goddamn polearm already..

>>28456935
Do we want to go to the summoner path? We can just use really powerful spirits to make epic level equipment.

>>28456914
We can always take it back out of the halberd if we find something better, its not impossible just time consuming.

>>28456964
Why wouldn't you want summons? It means the fucker has to fight you with your souped up gear *and* a giant ghost monster.

>>28456981
I say we just roll with it. I do think it's better to have a dragon summon then dragon weapon, but something more overall useful, like a super armor would be better then just another summon. I guess it depends on the monsters we meet.

>>28456968
Good point, although taking our a spirit is supposed to be really hard and time consuming.

Just enchant it.

>>28456981

Because going the summoner path is bound to be very difficult and time consuming and fraught with danger. We just heard our master mention it, we don't have the faintest scrap of training in summoning ghost-monsters.

>>28456914
>>28456738

Let's enchant our halberd, as its the only piece of equipment we'll be keeping around for a while. We're likely to replace any clothing as soon as we have the coin for some proper armor.

>Enchant halberd with shard
>Go visit Eisa for medical supplies

>>28457101
We don't seem to have much experience in enchanting stuff either if the three dead hunters are much to go by. plus it wasn't mentioned that it was much harder to do than anything else, just that the souls required to pull it off were rare.

>>28456914
We might be able to enchant boots so they can cause earthquakes. But the pole arm sounds like a better be for now.

Also, say goodbye to the girl. Tell her that the hunt master plans on taking credit for the kill. But, give her the horn to remember us by.

>>28457149

Well yes it hasn't been explicitly stated to be more difficult, but it's implicit that if it requires monstrously powerful souls (that you don't run across often) it's going to be so.

>>28457207
Well by the time we can take on things that strong we will probably be a whole lot better at our job so it doesn't really matter much.