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/tg/ - Traditional Games


File: 1388786436200.jpg-(1.08 MB, 1254x1050, empireQuestOP.jpg)
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You have always wanted to be an emperor. That ambition has burned dimly in the past, tempered by reality. Now the opportunity to realise your ambition has arrived and you are determined not to let it slip. Now is the time to build your empire and become an emperor.

Last Thread: You are the knight, Talon York, and you are the man who will be an emperor. Last thread you nearly fell for a devilry trap set-up by a dwarf. You found out Sarah gotten Argyle and much of Vale province onside and you successfully summoned Gnome and Salamander. You are now outside the entrance to Undine’s PoP, which you must claim in five days to keep Gnome.

Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Aspiring%20Emperor%20Quest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AspirationalQM
Master Pastebin (links to all pastebins for AEQ): http://pastebin.com/6Su7M3fh
>almost all bins within have new links and major updates

>some housekeeping
1. Major updates to most bins, plus a recap bin added. The recaps are brief and I’m uncertain whether they have too much or not enough detail.
2. FYI regarding short-term future of quest, I intend to run thread 11 or 12 on 11th Jan. After, I will be running weekly at either 5pm EST Friday or Saturday, with Saturday being the preferred timeslot. Apologies to anybody who won’t be able to play once this change occurs, but I can only take leave from work for so long.

NB: The lorebin is pretty large and I’m not expecting everybody to read it all. I’m still up for answering questions ITT so as not to alienate players and I’ll try to make things understandable contextually.

Rolls are d20 and the best of the first three posters. Please quote the post you are voting for or rolling against.

>Now, with further ado
>>
>>29258416
With the sun at your back, you stand outside the entrance to Undine’s underground lake. Or, to be more accurate, the entrance to a long cave system that led to her lake. Gnome had mentioned that there were a few things to go over before entering, so you’re waiting here to catch the group just in case Caitlyn or Sala got any ideas about scouting ahead.

“We have no shortage of time to claim the Place of Power, Talon, so we need to be careful,” Gnome is telling you as the rest trudge over to you from your camp place last night. “Monsters may be rare elsewhere in the world, but near a site of power such as this they will become corporeal and will be more fearsome than any you may have encountered in the wild.”

You’d been absently thinking about the trip ahead, but something she says twigs your memory and you ask her, “So, the Place of Power acts like a spirit trap?”

Gnome blinks at you, surprised, but before she can say anything Caitlyn speaks up, “Talon, what’s a spirit trap? It doesn’t sound all that dangerous compared to what Gnome was just saying.”

“Spirits, or monsters are they’re known once they enter our world, aren’t usually be corporeal,” Maloric answers in your stead. “But when magical power builds up, they can feed off it and take a physical form. Places where the power builds up are known as spirit traps as spirits are drawn to them and tend to remain near them once they become monsters.”

“We’ve dealt with a few of these on our travels,” you explain to Gnome.

“So I see,” she says, nodding, then gives you a slightly accusatory look. “Are you hiding your thoughts, Talon?”

Ah, so that’s why she was so surprised. As it was, “No. You probably weren’t paying enough attention.”

“I was playing plenty of attention to your thoughts, Talon.”

“Maybe I just changed tack quickly.”

“Maybe.”

>continued
>>
>>29258437
You sigh. This was the main problem you’d found with Gnome. Unlike Undine and Sala, Gnome wouldn’t hesitate to essentially pick fights with you over minor things. You had still yet to work out whether she was genuinely doing so or just arguing to get a feel for your personality, but you had a feeling she would make your future cabinet meetings very interesting.

“We’ll need to be careful not just in travelling but in conserving energy. There’s no telling whether there will be a safe place to rest so it might be difficult to recuperate,” Undine says, moving the topic to something more useful. “I’m the only one who can heal but I also rely on sorcery to help you otherwise, so please be careful.”

Undine shoots you a look at that and you get a sharp look from Gnome as she reads your thoughts. You start speaking before she can start arguing, laying out your plans for pushing through to the lake. Your thinking is currently conservative, but you wonder if it may be a good idea to be more aggressive and save time.

>You have 5 days to claim the PoP
>Estimates are around 8-12 hours travel in the caves

SUGGESTED PARTY ORDER AND ROLES
Talon: Front-line
Gnome: Front-line
Salamander: Flexible
Undine: Support
Maloric: Long-range
Caitlyn: Rearguard

>Any changes to make? Any particular plans or points to bring up?
>>
>>29258463
Looks good to me.
>>
Rolled 14

>>29258463
let us go
>>
>>29258463
You sure are punctual! I think Gnome as rearguard and Caitlyn as frontline would work better.
>>
>>29258463
Yeah that looks ok
>>
>>29258526
Gnome says, "With my abilities, I can lead us through the cave system without difficulty. I can swap with Caitlyn should we encounter a foe but it might just cause confusion."

It's safe to say she's opposed, but is willing to backdown if you push it. She is vital to not getting lost, however, as Undine can only generally sense the PoP's location.
>>
>>29258463
>>29258486
>>29258513
Thirding! Lets get this train going.
>>
>>29258526
Check out her stats first.
>>29258463
Looks good to me.
>>
>>29258567

I thin with Caitlyn's recent episode it would be better to keep her in the rearguard, she might not be as focused as she usually is. The set up we have is fine as is.
>>
The first hour of travel is uneventful, as the cave just slowly descends. Progress is slower than you’d like due to the general unevenness of the ground and the darkness. Maloric and Sala are providing some light for everybody but having to watch your footing is still a pain. Gnome, as could be expected, appears to be have no such trouble. Evidently her nature and powers make this a natural home for her and she leads the way, not slowing at any of the forks or caverns you go through on the way.

“Shouldn’t there have been something so far? The spirit traps we’ve encountered before weren’t so… quiet.”

“There’s still many miles left to go. Any power that is leaking out here would be very small at best,” Undine explains next to him, as you all climb up a set of boulders in this small cavern. When Gnome had told you dwarves had lived here once, you’d thought you’d find old ruins and easy travel. As it was, this was just a huge cave. Either the dwarves of old preferred a lot of exercise, or they lived elsewhere in the range.

Suddenly, Gnome stops at a fork. You raise your hand and issue a small bit of power to signal a halt.

Gnome turns to the group and speaks, “Both these paths will lead to the lake, but one is shorter than the other.”

She points down the left path, and you suppress a shudder – there is… something down there that bothers you. Undine beats you to it, “That is a dangerous path. I do not think we should take it.”

You nod slowly but get a strange look from Gnome and Sala. “Don’t you sense it? There’s something off about that path.”

>continued
>>
>>29258685
Gnome gives you an odd look but slowly nods. “If you feel that way, then we can take the other path. It should only be a few hours extra.”

Maloric says, “There’s a lot of power down that path compared to the other? It’s faint but noticeable. I suspect that means trouble.”

“Probably a magical font,” Sala tells him, hands behind her head in a bored pose. “Lots of fun that way~.”

You sigh as Caitlyn nods. Sala and her were rather alike in some ways.

Gnome looks to you to make a decision.

>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous
>2. Go down the right path, which has a lot of sorcerous energy
>>
>>29258416
you should put a link up on your twitter feed to this thread
>>
>>29258712
>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous
We take the shorter way in and take the longer way out.
>>
>>29258737
I thought I did?
>>
>>29258712
>2. Go down the right path, which has a lot of sorcerous energy
>>
>>29258759
you did, my twitter bugged out on me, sorry
>>
>>29258712
>2. Go down the right path, which has a lot of sorcerous energy
>>
>>29258759
you did
>>
>>29258712
>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous
>>
>>29258712
>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous

If they both lead to where we're going there is a chance that whatever is down there could show up behind us later, I'd rather get the jump on it.
>>
>>29258712
>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous
no guts no glory, better to face the danger now when we are rested.
>>
>>29258712
2
>>
>>29258712
>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous
If we're going to be delayed either way, might as well take the shorter of the two paths.
>>
>>29258712
>>1. Go down the left path, which feels dangerous
Well the other way is filled with a lot of magic and this one is a lone enemy, plus i like the idea of taking care of the magical source for the long route and going through it on our way back out.
>>
Alright, we'll go with the short path from the votes. I'll call a vote once we're down as to whether people want to go back the other way to give Sala and Caitlyn their fun.
>>
Despite the chatter earlier about this path, it remains uneventful for the next few hours and eventually you call a brief break in a small cavern. The cave itself is lit up by a glowing fungus on the ceiling which makes everything an eerie blue colour. As the party takes a short break, you do some quick calculations as to how far you think you’ve gone. Gnome had indicated it would be about 11 hours at our current pace and you’ve travelled for five now. That means-

“We’ve travelled about seven to eight miles, Talon,” Gnome interrupts, telling you something you just estimated. “We’re getting somewhat close to the lake now, so we can start to expect trouble.”

“That means we probably have another twelve miles to go, then. This is a very long cave, Gnome.”

She shrugs. “The dwarves did a lot of mining here, and elementals have dug out their stretches over the centuries. You’re lucky you have me to keep you from getting lost.

“Another matter – the power leaking into the cave walls here will make it hard to use my elemental power properly. I can still summon earth, but manipulating what is already here will get harder the closer we get to the place of power.”

“So no tunnelling?”

“No tunnelling.”

>continued
>>
>>29259043
After a few minutes more rest and some water and rations, you set off again. You follow closely behind Gnome, who is still confidently leading the group. After a while you notice Undine becoming restless. The sense of danger that bothered you about this path has been very constant as you’ve ventured down it. Somehow, though, this earth feels different to what you’ve been going over before. Something or someone had been here recently. Nobody else appears to be bothered, though Maloric who should be of help appears to have his head in a book, reading as he walks.

You stop suddenly, getting a strange look from Gnome.

>1. Talk to Undine about her restlessness
>2. Investigate the surroundings. Something feels… off.
>3. Talk to Gnome about what she’s sensing nearby.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29259065
>2. Investigate the surroundings. Something feels… off.
>3. Talk to Gnome about what she’s sensing nearby.
No need to baby sit.
>>
>>29259065
>3
>>
>>29259065
>1. Talk to Undine about her restlessness
>>
>>29259127
Question that needs asking later (typing now cause I g2g now).
When we claim the POP, do all the monsters we bypassed dissipate quickly, or do we get rushed by anything we didn't put down on the way to the center?
>>
>>29259196
This makes sense to have asked earlier, but claiming the PoP won't have any horrible consequences. The slow flow of power into its surroundings will continue, it'll just start channeling more power into the Source. So everything will be more or less the same as you left it before you claimed the PoP.
>>
>>29259065
>2
>>
>>29259065
>3. Talk to Gnome about what she’s sensing nearby.
>>
>>29259065
1
2
3
4. don't forget to look up.
4b. Do we have any way to detect an invisible enemy or some sort of optical illusion type disguise?
>>
>>29259271
>4b. Do we have any way to detect an invisible enemy or some sort of optical illusion type disguise?

More or less. You can instinctively sense most living things with sorcery, unless they're better at hiding than you are at finding. Your companions can all do the same.

>going with a mix of 2 and 3
>>
>mix of 2 and 3

You rap your fingers against your breastplate for a second as you look around. You’re definitely sure that this is recently travelled. You think it must be from within, as there were no signs of activity earlier in the tunnels.

“Gnome, are you noticing anything odd about this area of tunnels?”

Undine looks over at you as you speak and the rest of the group starts to pay attention. Mal even puts away his book, caution returning to his frame.

Gnome, for her part, doesn’t appear to be too bothered. “I haven’t noticed anything, and this area is much the same as the rest. A little more power in the walls from the lake, but nothing of real consequence.”

“Are you sure? I think there’s been activity here.”

“Activity?” she replies, frowning and looking around but looks sceptical. “Maybe…”

You think it odd that she hasn’t noticed it yet you have. Are you imagining things?

“Could you take a closer look?”

“I can wash the area with some power, if that’s what you’re asking. If there’s something I’ve missed, that should reveal it.”

Maloric interjects, “It could also warn it. You’ve got good senses, Talon.”

You…

>1. Talk to Undine about her earlier restlessness. Maybe it’s related. She’s been oddly quiet about what you’ve been saying.
>2. Rely on Gnome’s powers
>3. Try to work out what’s going on yourself
>4. Custom
>>
>>29259458
>1. Talk to Undine about her earlier restlessness. Maybe it’s related. She’s been oddly quiet about what you’ve been saying.
>>
>>29259458
>1. Talk to Undine about her earlier restlessness. Maybe it’s related. She’s been oddly quiet about what you’ve been saying.
>3. Try to work out what’s going on yourself
We will rely only on gnome once we are out of options.
Also she did tell us her control would be weaker don here.
>>
>>29259458
>1. Talk to Undine about her earlier restlessness. Maybe it’s related. She’s been oddly quiet about what you’ve been saying.

This is her PoP I would assume our Champion would feel something.
>>
>>29259458
seconding this anon>>29259498
>>
>>29259458
>3
>>
>>29259458
>1. Talk to Undine about her earlier restlessness. Maybe it’s related. She’s been oddly quiet about what you’ve been saying.
>>
>1 with a tiny bit of 3

“Undine, this is your territory. Are you getting the same feeling as Gnome?”

“Ah, Talon, Gnome’s sense are better in these caves-“ she starts to reply.

You cut her off and repeat your question, “I’m asking you what you feel here compared to Gnome, Undine.”

She nods hesitantly then starts to speak, “That sense of danger from earlier is so strong here… and the power of my lake feels so muted. I don’t know why Gnome’s saying differently.”

Gnome remains silent at that, and she shrugs when you give her a look. Is it possible that the power of the lake is throwing off her senses… and your own.

“You said the feeling of danger is stronger? I’m not getting that,” you say. “What about this part of the caves? Is anybody getting a feeling that this area is different?”

Everybody else has a look around before shaking their heads, even Undine.

Gnome says, “The earth and caves here are the same as before, Talon. Are you sure you’re not just getting thrown off by being so deep underground.”

You ignore her for a second. These walls, these rocks, this dirt… Something scratches at your mind. Undine said it was dangerous. Her power was muted but Gnome said differently. Nobody else can sense anything. What the hell is going on?

>1. Move on slowly for a short while, maybe you’ll realise the problem as you venture further into the caves
>2. Have Gnome use her powers
>3. Take heed of their advice and move on
>4. Centre yourself and try to work out what is wrong
>5. Custom

>Note, if somebody correctly guesses what is going on, I’ll give them that
>>
>>29259771
>>4. Centre yourself and try to work out what is wrong
>>29259771
>>Note, if somebody correctly guesses what is going on, I’ll give them that
we are inside the creatures mouth and are heading into its stomach?
>>
>>29259771
>1
Poison spirits?
>>
>>29259771
>4. Centre yourself and try to work out what is wrong

Since we're connected to the Source we're getting thrown off by something?
>>
>>29259771
>4
I believe in the power of the mind.

Gnome was replaced by a bodysnatcher. It's trying to trick us.
>>
>>29259771
>4. Centre yourself and try to work out what is wrong

we are all dead
>>
>>29259771
Undine's "Daughter." Undine's earlier death should have left a "slot" open for a new water elemental to form. Her lake is dampened because it isn't her's anymore, and she has the best sense of it because its her element.
>>
>4

You close your eyes and try to focus.

“Talon, we-“ Gnome starts but you cut her off with a gesture.

This isn’t a time to meditate, but something is strange about everybody’s senses here. The weirdest part is that nobody seems to be feeling the same things.

These walls… you reach out with a hand and brush them. Why does everything around you feel so off… Even this wall tickles something in your mind.

[DC13 Memory]
>>
Rolled 7

>>29259998
>>
Rolled 12

>>29259998
>>
Rolled 4

>>29259998
>>
Rolled 12

>>29259998
we are walking circles in a sorcerous maze
>>
Rolled 18

>>29259998
>>
Well, I guess our memory is shite.
>>
>Target not met

It feels as though your mind has a fog over it and you can’t quite see what it is that this wall reminds you of. It’s off. So very off. Your memory is usually so sharp, just like your senses. Maloric even said…

“Maloric, you work with magical energy so well, why don’t you draw out some of the power in these walls?”

“Talon, I can’t do that.”

“What are you talking about? Of course you can – you’ve done it before in other spirit traps.”

“Maybe then, but this is different.”

You stare at Maloric. It’s not just the walls… Everything is off. Undine is growing restless again. Sala looks bored, giving you an odd look.

These walls… You feel as though time is slipping away, somehow, and the fog on your mind grows deeper. This isn’t right.

>1. Press Maloric about using his abilities
>2. Have Gnome knock a hole in a wall
>3. Have Undine take some time to attune her power.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29260198
oh god
hypnosis trap
sleeping gas
freak out
press maloric
>>
>>29260198
>3
>>
>>29260198
>3. Have Undine take some time to attune her power

Are we not even the caves? Did something happen while we were outside?
>>
>>29260198
>2. Have Gnome knock a hole in a wall
Drastic times call for drastic measures, I think we're walking in circles.
>>
Rolled 20

>>29260198
break out our ball of yarn, and prepare for the minotauros

>3. Have Undine take some time to attune her power.
>>
>>29260369
She said she can't do that.
Though if she actually does do that this brings up more questions.
>>
>>29260414
If she can't do it, why is it an option?
That be like having "teleport directly to the source" as an option, and then using up a post just for Maloric to tell us we can't do that.
>>
>3

“Undine, could you please take a moment to attune to the power around you? Like you’ve mentioned you’ve done before? This is power that is aligned with you – your senses appear to be the best so far. Please try.”

You try to keep the disquiet out of your voice, but Gnome can sense it and you feel her tensing up beside you. She’s come very close to you. You keep yourself tense, especially with Maloric acting so oddly. Undine nods and with a deep breath, enters a meditative state. You stay like this for a little while, nobody talking or moving.

Until Sala’s expression changes to a more normal one and her arms begin to lower. Undine gasps and looks at her sister.

You feel something near her and, acting out of pure instinct, snap out and grab Sala’s arm. You draw your sword and slash with your other arm.

[DC18 Blind Fight]
>>
>>29260495
She just said it here.
>>29259043
>“Another matter – the power leaking into the cave walls here will make it hard to use my elemental power properly. I can still summon earth, but manipulating what is already here will get harder the closer we get to the place of power.”
>
>“So no tunnelling?”
>
>“No tunnelling.”
>>
Rolled 18

>>29260539
I got this, don't worry.
>>
Rolled 6

>>29260539
>>
Rolled 10

>>29260539
>>29260577
yes you do.
>>
Rolled 6

>>29260577
lol
you did get it
congratz
>Now I can ruin it
>>
Rolled 4

>>29260539

pls no nat 1
>>
File: 1388792033346.jpg-(39 KB, 500x281, 1335218453794.jpg)
39 KB
39 KB JPG
>>29260577
Nigga, you saved us
>>
>>29260577

Talon, only knowing how to fight and ward off infernal traps since 1918PC.
>>
>>29260570
You're stirring my autism, but for the sake of the thread, I'm going to tap it down.
>>
>target met

Gnome suddenly lashes out at you, but you were expecting that and channel a small amount of sorcery into your shoulder and knock her aside. You don’t have time to worry about her though, as a tendril of smoke is barely visible by Sala’s left shoulder.

Your sword lashes out in a controlled slash – straight from your scabbard to her neck. The smoke shifts, and your vision blurs, but you hold true and you hear a shriek. Your surroundings shift and your vision goes vibrant. Salamander looks panicked now, her face shifting so fast to be impossible.

“Sala!” Undine shrieks and tackles her sister to the ground. You draw your sword away from her neck, from where it had severed the smoke tendril, before Undine knocks her sister into it. The whole cave is shifting. You catch Gnome out of the corner of your eye, leaning against an invisible wall as she tries to right herself. Except then she is against the actual cave wall, as though she was always there. With that, your memory comes back and the fog lifts with a surge of will.

These walls… they’re exactly the same as before. When you touched them, it felt the same as when you stumbled much earlier. Exactly the same, as though the only way they could feel, regardless of their shape or texture, was that of the earlier wall. This whole cave, this last while – all of it is an illusion. The walls blend into a purple smokey texture. You can hear sounds through them – sounds of shouting and battle.

It is time to end this illusion once and for all. You unlimber your shield and, with a mighty surge of sorcery, bring it crashing down into the ground.

[DC12 Sorcery]

I nearly gave it to the 'walking in circles' crew, but it wasn't quite right.
>>
Rolled 9

>>29260790
I BELIEVE
>>
Rolled 9

>>29260790
>>
Rolled 9

>>29260790
>>
Rolled 5

>>29260790
>>
Rolled 16

>>29260790
trip 9's aboce me
gg
>>
>>29260818
>>29260820
>>29260822
.../tg/ dice everyone.
>>
Rolled 13

>>29260818
>>29260820
>>29260822
triple nines should count for something right?
>>
File: 1388792633932.png-(382 KB, 610x627, 1342734576897.png)
382 KB
382 KB PNG
>>29260818
>>29260820
>>29260822

>3 nines
>All at 23:41
>>
Rolled 7

>>29260852
yeah, a DC of 9
>>
Rolled 13

>>29260818
>>29260820
>>29260822
turn them upside down

yes, satan did this
>>
>target not met

You slam your shield into the ground, and you feel magic ripple into your surroundings. Gnome, Maloric and Caitlyn suddenly disappear, their forms evaporating as your magic strikes them. But the smoky walls stand firm, bending and shifting against your might. You growl and prepare to hammer your shield again but are stopped by an almighty shriek.

“Gnome” Sala screams as she disappears. You feel a monumental surge of power from her and the cave bursts into flame as she attempts, furiously, to breach the illusion and find her older sister.

[DC12 Resist]
>>
Rolled 15

>>29260905
>>
Rolled 16

>>29260905
This time for sure
>>
Rolled 3

>>29260905

WELL THIS COULD HAVE GONE BETTER.
>>
Rolled 13

>>29260905
pls let us not die
>>
>target met

You catch most of the fire against your shield and a barrier. Luckily, Sala hasn’t completely lost her mind and is targeting the walls not you. You feel Undine’s snap of sorcery as she protects herself. Your world is nothing except blazing fury and sorcery for a few brief moments before it clears and you finally see where you have been all this time.

The smoke itself blurs upwards in a strange haze, moving frighteningly fast. The cavern you are in is small, but several times the small section of cave you suspect you’ve been in for some time. You catch Gnome behind you, lying immobile on the ground in a small pool of blood. Caitlyn is standing guard over Maloric, her sword and shield out, but her armor largely stripped off and her clothes are bloodied. Maloric is crouched behind her, focusing his magic.

Above you, the smoke forms into a hazy form. You recognise this being. They’re known as trappers – spirits who draw their prey into illusions and attempt to draw them out one-by-one. This one must be extraordinarily strong to have fooled all of you.

“Gnome!” Undine shouts this time, rushing over to her sister. The trapper spots her movement and rushes her, moving so fast as to be teleporting. You catch another surge of Salamander’s immense power and she bursts in front of you on wings of flame, your face baked in heat for a very brief instant. You…

>1. Join Salamander in protecting Undine
>2. Rush over to Lynn and Maloric to work with them on a plan of attack
>3. Attempt to catch the trapper off-guard while Salamander battles it
>4. Custom
>>
>>29261151
>1. Join Salamander in protecting Undine
>>
>>29261151
>3. Attempt to catch the trapper off-guard while Salamander battles it
>>
Rolled 6

>>29261151
>3. Attempt to catch the trapper off-guard while Salamander battles it
>>
>>29261151
>3
Let's strike before he get's the chance to recover
>>
>>29261151
>3. Attempt to catch the trapper off-guard while Salamander battles it

Also requesting Lore/Bestiary on this when you update next. First true magical creature we've met in battle.
>>
>>29261151
>3
Use kill at it.
>>
>>29261151
>1
>>
>3

You figure that Salamander can keep the monster busy, and that Lynn and Maloric are best not distracted. Instead, you will attempt to catch this bastard off-guard and bring it down before it hurts anyone else. You move cautiously around it, keeping a bit of distance as Salamander surges magical fire around her and Undine to ward it off.

The trapper is moving absurdly fast. The tales you’ve heard say they can teleport and this almost makes you believe it. If you’re going to catch it off-guard, you need to understand its movement patterns and time your attack.

[DC16 Perception]
>>
Rolled 6

>>29261331
>>
Rolled 18

>>29261331

I see you!
>>
Rolled 3

>>29261331
>>
Rolled 14

>>29261331
>>
Rolled 10

>>29261331
Buddha don't fail me now
>>
>target met

You pay close attention its movements as it dodges Sala’s flame. Then, it suddenly is in front of her and its smoky tendrils grasp her in preparation for some attack.

You tense, furious at your own failure to protect her when suddenly the trapper is back where it was. Sala shrieks furiously as she weaves her scimitar through the air in front of her, creating an opening as she ceases to use her fire.

There was no reason for the trapper to teleport away – it had her by the arms so how could she possibly have harmed it? It occurs to you that if the monster manipulated you earlier with illusions, would it not do in combat? But is that the only explanation to its speed…

As the trapper attempts to take advantage of Sala’s opening you…

>1. Keep a closer eye on it for a while. Sala is strong.
>2. Attempt to cut it down from behind in a charging leap before it engages Sala.
>3. Wait a moment and try to engage it at the same time as Sala does. You can fight it from both sides at once.
>4. Custom

>posts might be slightly delayed as I'm cooking at the same time
>>
>>29261495
>1
>>
>>29261495
>4. Custom

Follow the tendrils. I don't think the monster itself isn't even moving, it's somewhere stationary and using illusions to lash out.
>>
>>29261495
>3. Wait a moment and try to engage it at the same time as Sala does. You can fight it from both sides at once.
>>
Rolled 11

>>29261495

>>29261528
seconding
>>
>>29261528
This, I think the monster is making itself appear invisible, only to confuse us with an image of itself.
>>
>4. follow the tendrils

Somehow, you don’t think that smoky form of it is truly what it is. You watch it engage with Sala in close-combat – she strikes out at it in a blazingly fast series of strikes, her blade glowing brightly. The trapper dodges them all, teleporting back and forth, but the only part of it that is actively trying to harm Sala are its tendrils. A sudden blast of icicles from its side has the beast retreating again, blazingly fast.

The tendrils have retreated into its form – or gone somewhere else entirely. Several lances of magical energy surge from where Maloric and Lynn are, and the beast warps about frenetically – dodging a fusillade of fire, magic and icicles.

[DC14 Perception]
Slight reduction in DC from watching the tendrils
>>
Rolled 7

>>29261808
>>
Rolled 16

>>29261808
>>
Rolled 17

>>29261808
>>
Rolled 17

>>29261808
I have great vision.
>>
>target met

As the beast tries to dodge, smoke blurring from place to place in the cavern, it also tries to close on Sala and Undine. As it does so, you catch its mistake.

Several icicles burst through the smoky form – you barely catch them as the being blurs and attempts to hide the fact. You were prepared though, and already suspicious of its true form, and aren’t the sort to be fooled. When it was dodging Sala’s blows, its tendrils always needed to shift to dodge but they moved with the main form. Yet, now it has no tendrils, its main form appears to be invincible.

One final thought occurs to you – this cavern is small. How would the illusion from earlier have worked if you kept walking? You know now that the cave was exactly the same for some time now. You think that the tendrils are the true body, and the rest of its smoke is just a way of hiding its minor spatial manipulation. Most likely, it can only move a short distance like that and uses illusions to hide the rest.

Do you test your theory…

>1. Charge it amidst the fusillade in an attempt to strike it with sorcery at close-range.
>2. Wait for the tendrils to reappear and hit it hard and fast
>3. Signal to the others to engage it in CQC and try to strike its tendrils then.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29262043
>3. Signal to the others to engage it in CQC and try to strike its tendrils then.

TEAMWORK TIME
>>
>>29262043
>3. Signal to the others to engage it in CQC and try to strike its tendrils then.
>>
Rolled 9

>>29262043
>>3. Signal to the others to engage it in CQC and try to strike its tendrils then.
>>
Rolled 9

>>29262043
>3. Signal to the others to engage it in CQC and try to strike its tendrils then.
>>
>3

“Salamander! Lynn! Charge it with me! Everybody else hold fire,” you bellow suddenly, as you charge the monster. It blurs oddly as the three of you close on it. Like a cornered animal that doesn’t know what to do. As you close, the tendrils return. You smile grimly – if it could truly teleport it would have moved away and you won’t be fooled by its illusions anymore.

[DC11 Tendril Cutter]
>>
Rolled 10

>>29262156
Let's go
>>
Rolled 18

>>29262156
>>
Rolled 1

>>29262156
>>
Rolled 7

>>29262156
>>
>>29262189
Of course...
>>
Rolled 11

>>29262189
fuck you.
>>
>>29262189
This was the first, and last time I roll in this quest.
>>
>>29262189

ALL THAT HARD WORK.
>>
>dramatic failure

As Lynn and Salamander engage it, you try to catch a tendril. Its smoky form is constantly shifting around their attacks and the tendrils are moving erratically. Suddenly, one snaps at you, thinking it can take advantage of your more conservative assault. Foolish, you think, as you swing your sword to sever it.

You feel a crunch and bite back a howl of pain as the tendril suddenly warps into your stomach. An illusion! The tendril was slightly to the right and your blow misses and you feel it squirm slightly in your body.

Even so, you won’t let it get away. You muster your strength and hammer your shield at the part of its form the tendril is coming from…

[DC11 Sorcerous Shield Bash]
>>
Rolled 4

>>29262283
WELP
>>
Rolled 13

>>29262283
I lied I'm rolling again!
>>
Rolled 3

>>29262283
...
>>
Rolled 11

>>29262283

All that perception and we still get our shit slapped.
>>
>>29262309
YOU FOOL! You'll doom us... huh, it ended up okay
>>
>>29262207
Maybe we should inform the party of whats going on.
"It uses illusions to make its tendrils invisible, the extreme dodging and teleporting its doing is just an illusion"

Because I doubt it knows our language, and even if it does, its best our allies know
>>
>>29262389
Gnome can read our thoughts can't she? oh, oh wait...
>>
>>29262415
gnome is down, and salamander, undine, lynn, and magebro (forgot his name) can't.

Also, we should start calling her caitlynn considering how huffy she is about everyone else teasing her by calling her "Sir Lynn"
>>
>>29262320
Without that perception you'd be rolling against DC18 or 16 with every attempt.

>target met

You let forth a bellow of pain as you thrust your shield forward. You drop your sword from your other hand and use it to grip the tendril as hard as possible. It rips and tears at your gauntlet but can’t break free.

With your magical power and raw strength, you hammer your shield right into the trapper’s hidden form. You hear a hard crunch and a loud squeal. The cavern bursts into smoke and you lose your grip on the tendril. You need to move fast and keep it from getting away. As you leap to your feet, Salamander lets forth another burst of fire and blows away all the smoke. You look around frantically, trying to ignore the gaping hole in your stomach.

Lying there on the ground is a small black pile of sludge. You sense the malign energies of the trapper dissipating into the surroundings. This battle is done. Looking around, though, you see that it was a hard-fought victory. Salamander looks exhausted, Lynn is covered in wounds and both Maloric and Gnome appear to have taken bad wounds alongside yourself.

You need to rest, but for how long.

>1. Rest just long enough to heal the party’s wounds.
>2. Take a long break to heal and recover your energy.
>3. Rest a very brief while, only long enough for Undine to get the others moving whilst you find a safer place.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29262469

Pretty sure in most dialogues Talon refers to her as "Caitlyn" now, Lynn comes up in some formal things though or when he is being stern.
>>
>>29262506
>2. Take a long break to heal and recover your energy.
have gnome partially wall off the entrances to give us some defense in depth. We can knock them down once we are good.
>>
>>29262506
>2. Take a long break to heal and recover your energy.
We have days literally.
>>
>>29262506
>2. Take a long break to heal and recover your energy.

We had 5 days left to get to the PoP yeah? Even though this might have cost us more time than expected we need to rest and regain our strength.

Also just because it's Mal, Would he pick up some of the sludge and keep it for research purposes? The magic here obviously enhanced the creature to be stronger than usual, maybe it's remains holds more.
>>
>>29262506
>2. Take a long break to heal and recover your energy.
We still have 4.5 days left to get to the center, its less than 5 hours away, and we are likely going to fight even stronger monsters closer to the center.
>>
Did the sensation of wrongness go away? (I am a bit paranoid about the trapper having faked its own death with illusion and escaping)
>>
>2

You direct everybody to take a long break, as you have ample time. Once Gnome is up and moving again she can wall off the entrances temporarily. That odd sense of danger and peril is gone, and Undine agrees with you on that. The power of her lake is still muted, but she suspects that is because the trapper has been absorbing so much power.

You take a seat and take stock of what just happened. Apparently Caitlyn and Maloric weren’t ever captured – Caitlyn’s draconic nature somehow let her break out of the trap immediately and Maloric caught the wave. Unfortunately, Maloric got sucker-punched and Caitlyn had her armor stripped as the trapper tried to kill her. Maloric says he blew the trapper off her with a blast of energy, at which point they went defensive and the trapper went after Gnome. Gnome, for her part, apologises for doubting you so much. She was torn out of the trap not long before you broke free, but was immediately gutted by the trapper and unable to do anything. You suspect the same would have happened to Sala if you’d failed to strike the beast when you did.

Ultimately, the battle was a mess but the fact you made it through at all is enough.

“This trapper is very different to what I’ve heard they’re like. For instance, they’re known illusionists – but spatial manipulation? Even at the minor degree it was doing it, it’s absorbed a frightening amount of energy. If this is what monsters are like here, I dread to think what we’ll find at the PoP.”

You nod. You wonder if this is a good time to have a chat with one of your companions. In order for Salamander and Gnome to recover their energy fully, they’ll need a lengthy break. You talk to…

>1. Gnome
>2. Sala
>3. Undine
>4. Caitlyn
>5. Maloric
>6. Nobody

Also, I hope that battle scene didn't go too bad. It's my first attempt at something of its ilk.[/sppiler]
>>
>>29262833
battle scene was fine
>>
>>29262833
4 or 5, we have been neglecting them for some time now
>>
>>29262833
>4. Caitlyn
>>
>>29262833
Battle scene was fine and it makes me think how the magic battle will go.
>>29262833
>4. Caitlyn
>5. Maloric
>>
>>29262833

It was really interesting, I enjoyed it. Still want to know more on the Lore of Trappers though.

Also, >3. Undine. She felt just as off about everything as we did, but didn't speak up. Need to reinforce that she can, even among her sisters.
>>
>>29262904
makes sense to me.
>>
>>29262833
>3. Undine
>>
FYI, today will be a longer session. I’m hoping to complete the dungeon dive descent and claiming today, then do the ascent tomorrow and back to empire building.

>4

You decide that now is a good time to talk to Caitlyn. You haven’t spoken to her for some time and you worry that she’s a little rattled from the trapper’s assault. You take a seat next to her, where she is inspecting her armor for damage.

“Dwarven work holding up well, I take it?” you ask her.

She gives you a small smile before turning back to her inspection of her helmet. “More or less. I’m bothered by how easily that thing could strip it off though. I never thought that would happen.”

“It’s a downside of being trapped by a monster. I doubt there’s many that could do that, though.”

“Maybe,” she replies, not looking at you.

>1. Ask her why she didn’t use her draconic sorcery to break free.
>2. Ask her whether she felt her rage building up in that fight.
>3. Ask her how she’s feeling.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29263038
>3. Ask her how she’s feeling.
>>
http://pastebin.com/z7RSgixA
>Salamander Says: "The order's territory and their priests are very separate. There's been a few schisms over the centuries - the first after the Lords attempted to wipe out wipe in the early 1600s
what?
>>
>>29263038
>3
>>
>>29263038
>3. Ask her how she’s feeling.

Don't want to ask her out right about the rage thing, she seemed to be handling herself just fine, if she's worried she should know she can talk with us. Also if she's worried about the armour, perhaps suggestion of forging something new? Or asking her father if he has anything of note.

>FYI, today will be a longer session. I’m hoping to complete the dungeon dive descent and claiming today, then do the ascent tomorrow and back to empire building.

Aw shit son I don't work tomorrow either. QUESTING ALL NIGHT LONG.
>>
>>29263072
Ah missed that. Should be
>the first after the Lords attempted to wipe out the mages in the early 1600s
A hint at the real cause of that war...
>>
>3

“Caitlyn, how are you feeling after all that?” you ask her.

She gives you an odd look before replying defensively, “What’s this about?”

“You’re my personal guard and you’re getting hurt help me. It’s my responsibility to look after you. So, please, let me know if you feel there’s anything wrong.”

She looks a little abashed at that response and finally stops dodging your eyes, turning to look at you. “Um, sorry. I just… I should have been able to stop that thing. You just said I’m your guard but I didn’t do much guarding there – and you took it out even after it punched a hole in your stomach but it kept me down without much difficulty. I just… battle is fun because I’m good at it, even if it’s challenging. This just felt like I was being punished for something."

>Response?
>>
>>29263291
>"And you don't think when I was your age battle wasn't "fun" or a game for me?" laugh a bit to calm her down, "You are still young and being thrown into a lot but I don't find my faith misplaced, if I did you wouldn't be here with me right now. I had my fair share of punishment when I was your age, but you need to build on it, as I know you will."
>>
>>29263291
You're being punished? Which of us has the hole in their stomach again?
>>
>>29263412
this
>>29263502
no
>>
>>29263291
"Well, in a sense you were. Have you ever fought illusions before? Ever considered or trained in any countermeasures for the attacker we just faced? I've seen similar beings before and that experience gave me an edge over you in dealing with this foe. Knowing your opponent and having anything approaching a plan of attack is half the battle Lynn, never forget that."
>>
>>29263412
This sounds good. Maybe throw in that it's unreasonable of her to expect to stop a trapper capable of grabbing us and three Pure Elementals on her own.
>>
>>29263291
1. That was a very unusual battle, most of our little group enjoy battle and I don't think any of us enjoyed this one.
2. You managed to keep maloric alive.
3. I have faced this kind of creature before, although never this powerful.
4. Take it as a learning experience
5. Question, did it lock you down, or did you hesitate to go on the offensive due to fear of berserking?

>>29263412
Not sure, some good points but phrasing a bit preachy for a teenager.

>>29263502
no
>>
"And you don't think when I was your age that battle wasn't ‘fun’ or a game to me?" you say with a small laugh. "You’re still young, Caitlyn, and being thrown into a lot but I don't find my faith misplaced. If I did you wouldn't be here with me right now. I had my fair share of punishment when I was your age, but you need to build on it, as I know you will."

She nods seriously at you. “How do you learn to deal with it?”

You raise an eyebrow at that and she clarifies, “Feeling punished, that is.”

“Well, mostly with experience. Once you’ve had a hole punched in your stomach ten times, you get used to the eleventh.”

“I’m not sure I want to get used to that sort of thing,” she pouts slightly. She’s been showing that flat smile of hers a lot less lately.

“Then you instead use the experience you develop from battle to avoid getting punished. Have you ever fought illusions before? Ever considered or trained in any countermeasures for the attacker we just faced? I've seen similar beings before and that experience gave me an edge over you in dealing with this foe. Knowing your opponent and having anything approaching a plan of attack is half the battle Lynn, never forget that.

“Remember, this wasn’t a wild boar or other dumb animal – this was a predator capable of sorcery powerful enough to trick and trap myself and three pure elementals. The fact you broke free so easily is a testament to your potential.”

She nods again, looking thoughtful. “I guess I am kind of new at this. I’m just so used to outclassing my opponents I didn’t think…” She then gives you a mischievous look. “So, did you learn anything interesting whilst trapped alone with the three elementals?”

>response?

>Moving back to dungeon diving after next post unless there's some important things to say to anybody else
>>
>>29263590
oh that good... in a sense it was like her first time (in battle). Because when fighting such high level illusions your previous combat experience doesn't matter
>>
>>29263702
They have some scary amounts of collateral damage.
>>
>>29263702
"Yes, though sadly one of the things I learned was to keep my mouth shut about certain things"

Make sure she knows we're teasing her then talk a bit about how much they values their familial bonds.
>>
>>29263702

>Stroke at hair a bit
>"That I need to count myself lucky that I have hair at all right now."
>"A few other things though, their personalities seem to come out the most in battle. I worry about Undine a bit though, as much as she seems wise and powerful amongst us, with her sisters here she is a bit more... reserved it feels like."
>>
>>29263702
Fire is okay against illusions.
>>
>>29263807
>Stroke hair a bit
Both overkill and far too tender. She's a warrior, our personal guard for crying out loud. Give her a squeeze on the shoulder or pat on the back, some kind of gesture that indicates confidence without emphasizing that she is essentially a child to us.
>>
>>29263874

Oh no no, I meant our own, not hers. My mistake for not clarifying.
>>
File: 1388800644693.jpg-(162 KB, 409x518, 1388261901674.jpg)
162 KB
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>>29263702
Was that a nughty joke?
>>
So... big plan for the future. How to deal with the vampire menace.
Get gnome to tunnel from Mier through Marrn and into Taour. With some alliances to get troops, perhaps from seraphic empire.
We could end up sacking the vampire's capital in a surprise attack
Then again, its so heavily defended, it might be better to do divide and conquer.

Darlesa has been recently taken and they are currently brutally suppressing it, turning people into vamps or blood cattle, perhaps the mage tower in it has warded up and not fallen yet, or maybe there is a resistance... and their forces are said to be stretched thin at that area. Perhaps tunnel through Marrn to take crece's wall from the other side and cut them off from supplies. Ideally we want to stir up all factions into ganging up on the vamps

There is also the issue of soldiers perhaps having Darlesia's relatives.
>>
You bite back a sigh at her teasing and decide to respond with some of your own. You stroke your own hair lovingly and say, “That I need to count myself lucky that I have hair at all right now.”

Lynn gives you an odd look, wondering how that relates and you continue, “Salamander burns awfully hot when she’s excited, you know? Nearly lost all my hair.”

As Caitlyn’s face goes a tad red you explain more clearly, “Salamander has to potential to cause a lot of collateral damage with those huge swathes of fire she throws around, after all.”

You laugh lightly as Cailyn realises you’re just teasing her, before responding more seriously, “A few other things though, their personalities seem to come out the most in battle. I worry about Undine a bit though, as much as she seems wise and powerful amongst us, with her sisters here she is a bit more... reserved it feels like.”

Caitlyn nods at that, having recomposed herself from her earlier embarrassment. “Hmm, I can see that, though I would say it’s more about being around Gnome. She’s a little… overbearing.”

“Overbearing?”

She nods quite enthusiastically and looks around to confirm Gnome is off in the distance before continuing. A shame Gnome can read your thoughts despite that…

“I get that she’s old and wise and powerful, but does she need to treat everybody like a child?”

“I wouldn’t go that far…”

She snorts. “Of course you wouldn’t. You’re the only one she actually thinks of as an adult.”

“You realise she argues with me, right? In fact, she argued with me a lot in that trap.”

“And she would simply have ignored the rest of us,” Caitlyn says dismissively. You wonder whether there’s been some catfighting going on in the background. You wonder whether Maloric is also being treated like a child. Gnome certainly has managed to annoy Caitlyn a lot for just two days.

>Response? Or move on into the dungeon?

I lied. One more post.
>>
>>29264176
Maybe this could be a learning experience for her.
Undine was the one who most clearly sensed the trap and yet gnome dismissed her concerns. And she ended up getting disemboweled.
Being old and wise doesn't make you infallible, especially if you underestimate younglings.
I will talk to her about this.
>>
>>29264176
> I'll talk to her about that,mbut considering that she's a few hundred years old I think it's not the greatest surprise that she tends to think of us as very young and inexperienced.
>>
>>29264176
move on
>>
>>29264318
changing my vote from saying this to lynn to discussing it with gnome directly.
I know gnome can hear our thoughts, but she might be offended at us discussing it with someone else like that.
>>
>>29264176

>"Perhaps a defense mechanism. She was injured before she came with us. We know little of her past outside of small bits. I will speak to her though."
>>
Undine being our only party healer is a ... deficiency. We need to pick up some healing ourselves, if only to be able to heal undine enough so she can heal others.
>>
4 of the 6 borders of harrowmont cannot be crossed except by air units.
How come? Is it a chasm? Rough terrain? Quicksand? Raging rivers?
>>
>>29264611

Bluffs really, Harrowmont is at the top of a bluff with a big fall on most sides. Highly defensible, probably a bit plot armoury but yeah.
>>
You figure to keep this brief as you spot some of your other companions beginning to get ready. At the same time, you don’t want to offend Gnome.

“I’ll be sure to talk to her about it. I don’t want dissent amongst you. Remember that we know little of her past, Caitlyn.”

Caitlyn nods at that and you give her a pat on the shoulder before walking away to gather everyone up. Gnome then gestures for you over to near where entered the cavern, and you hope that she doesn’t want to bring this up right away. Instead, as you approach her, you hear the sounds of growling and scratching.

“I think I’ll leave that wall up for now. We don’t want those beasts coming at us from behind,” she tells you.

You nod and the rest of you troop out the other side of the cavern. Progress is slow, as the cave system suddenly veers upwards and you end up having to do a lot of uncomfortable climbs. Now in one particularly tall cavern, you sit at the top of a set of rocky platforms waiting for your companions to catch up. Maloric is fit, but he’s not capable of leaping up these easily or levitating and he’s too prideful to let himself be carried. You have enough time, so you don’t worry too much about his speed though. The rest of your companions move along with him while you and Gnome remain at the top whilst Caitlyn pulls rearguard.

[DC13 Perception]

>>29264611
Bluffs for the most part. Your area used to be part of the Marnn mountain range before the angels levelled a large part of it. The terrain between Port Temby and Harrowmont isn't the most passable of terrain for armies as a result.

And yes, it us partially for plot purposes.
>>
Rolled 10

>>29264750
No problem!
>>
Rolled 7

>>29264750
>>
Rolled 16

>>29264750
>>
Rolled 6

>>29264750

Lots of rolling today. Enjoying this dungeon crawl.
>>
we had halfway succeeded in covertly enhancing our hearing with sorcery in order to listen in on undine/lynn conversation way back when.
We should perfect this skill. Next time we make camp we should spend some time practicing it.
>>
>>29264841
>>29264841

I wouldn't mind doing that. Though I think it falls under out Enhance Self skill so it would probably just level that up if anything. But who knows.
>>
>>29264841
>we learn our soldiers dirty little secret.
I would love if the QM had some funny tidbits.
>>
>>29264931
That could make for some fun. I might file the idea away to use to pad out some otherwise mundane scenes later.

>>29264793
Good to hear. I'm having to keep a careful eye on DCs - lots of rolls increases the chances of failure, so I'm trying to keep things fair over the longer run.
>>
>Target met

You think you hear some rather unnatural sounds from behind you. You stand up carefully, ready for an attack but can’t find anything. Gnome stands too and moves close to you.

She whispers, “You sense something?”

You give her a short nod, trying to work out where it’s gone. You feel a smooth rise in sorcery next to you – Gnome’s use of sorcery is very unlike Undine’s sharp snaps of energy and Salamander’s reckless surges. As she does so, you realise what you’re sensing.

“Magical beasts of some sort,” you whisper back. “Caught the edges of them.”

She nods, obviously confirming it with her own magic. “They’re a way off, Talon. I’m surprised you sensed them all.”

So are you, given you could have sworn you heard them rather than felt them. She gives you an assessing look, “Maloric said you have good senses – even if he was just an illusion. I think I can see what he means.”

You look back and see that Mal is almost at the top. You’ll tell them of the beasts in front in a second. You consider how to advance…

>1. Advance normally, if cautiously.
>2. Bunch up in normal formation, in case of ambush.
>3. Move Caitlyn to the front – the beasts are ahead not behind.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29264931

I'd mostly be in it for Talon's reactions. He plays the straight man so much when in "Imperator" mode that his breaks of character are always funny.
>>
>>29264910
>Though I think it falls under out Enhance Self
Perhaps, the skills are rather broad and unspecific. We would be gaining versatility with it. Just like salamander's fire control is heavy on raw power and low on finesse. Undine is lower power but higher finesse. I think we can learn to focus our body enhancement in such a specific manner. Also would be a good thing to do on the way back (burn all our mana on enhancing endurance only to run fast enough to keep up with the horses on the way back, then when out let ourselves be carried)
>>
>>29264978
So far our major failures on combat rolls have caused us to lose HP instead of game over or dead ally (aside from redshirts). Plus a lot of combat advantage shifting (rolls increase/reduce modifiers on next roll). I enjoy this system so far
>>
>>29265014
>2. Bunch up in normal formation, in case of ambush.
>>
>>29265014
>1
>>
>>29265014
>2. Bunch up in normal formation, in case of ambush.

Caitlyn is right where she needs to be and we can hold the front line against beasties that don't use sorcery.
>>
>>29265014
3
>>
>>29265014
Don't bunch up, it's a trap!
>>
>>29265014
I am tempted to try to enhance our senses again to see if we can track them well enough to AVOID engaging them.
If we sneak by we conserve power and time.
>>
>>29265014
Side note. I've been rereading the quest, and I noticed that I think those two mage-knights that swore to us in Curton never got added to the list. Also, the knights of the diamond fox aren't on our list as well.
>>
>>29265014
Who's best suited at scouting, magical or mundane?

Move them up to the front with us and continue a cautious advance.
>>
>>29265133
That's possible. I'll add that as a roll to the next post.

>>29265139
For the most part, I'm catching knights under the total list of mage-knights for simplicity. They're leaders of units. As for the numbers, I think you're right that I never added the OotDF knights to the total list (the two in Curton were just toughs in armor so got caught in that decision). The knights will be added to the total numbers when I add the Vale troops.

>>29265196
Technically, you and Gnome are the best scouts. Maloric can spot mages better, but you have a better instinct for beasts and spirits.
>>
>1 but with attempted tracking

You decide to advance as normal but try to track the beasts and where they might be. You work with Gnome to try to match what you’re sensing with her layout of the caves ahead.

[DC 14 Tracking]
>>
>>29265133

I distinctly remember the last time we tried to sneak we ended up 100meters in the air.
>>
>>29265248
I figured that they'd just be mage knights, but the number of veteran mage knights has held steady since the immediate aftermath of the Vitran attack on Harrowmont. And I figured that they had to be at least vets.
>>
Rolled 19

>>29265294
>>
>>29265325
You're right on both counts. It's an oversight on my part that will be fixed with the next military update.
>>
Rolled 16

>>29265294
>>
Rolled 13

>>29265294
>>
Rolled 6

>>29265294
>>
We roll pretty well except for when we don't.
>rolled terelatg
>>
Rolled 18

>>29265443
eh. I have seen some insane things
Like 5+ nat1s in a row. On different quests
>>
>>29265443

There was one thread where we rolled so horribly at every turn it was small wonder we were alive at all near the end. And now we don't tempt the dice gods.
>>
>>29265504
recently on wolf quest the QM based his DC on his own dice rolls and the fucker rarely rolled below a 17, and he liked to add modifiers to it as well.there was a small part where he just kep rolling nat 1s and the players rolled nat 20s.
>>
>>29265561
there was also the time he rolled nat20s and the players were rolling poorly
>>
>>29265561
I personally dislike contested dice systems for quests, as it makes them too random. With DCs I can easily set the difficulty of any challenge or battle.

>Target met

You are able to match up the rough locations of the beasts with Gnome’s mapping, though you had to stop briefly for Gnome to draw up a quick map in the dirt for you to use.

There are three beasts, one each in a three-way split that meets again after a few hundred metres. They seem reasonably strong from their magical presence, but nothing like the trapper you suspect. The split is a little way ahead. You will have to engage at least one of them to advance. Gnome says she can create walls if she has line-of-sight in these caves, meaning you’ll need to get up to the split itself to block off any paths properly.

>1. Blitz
You and your companions will charge through one path, try to slay or get past the beast, then wall off the other side to prevent the other two from following.

>2. Cautious approach
You will sneak up with Gnome and wall off two of the passages. You can then fight one of the beasts. The other two may double-back and come up behind the other one.

>3. Be tricky
Try to have Gnome cut off the other beasts entirely with walls, leaving you with only one to deal with. If it fails, you’ll be stuck fighting all three at once.

>4. Custom
>>
>>29265592
>>2. Cautious approach
>You will sneak up with Gnome and wall off two of the passages. You can then fight one of the beasts. The other two may double-back and come up behind the other one.
>>
>>29265592
>3. Be tricky
We love being tricky.
>>
>>29265592
>1. Blitz

Have Sala flame the hell out of one, Undine drown the other to distract them while we dispatch the third, then Gnome will be entirely free to block the other passages.
>>
>>29265592
Can we try and bring down the roof on two of the beasts instead?

>heh, players are enacting rocks fall, everything dies
>>
>>29265677
that is probably a nat 1.
>>29265592
>3. Be tricky
>>
>>29265677
Gnome can try, but she'll be at a disadvantage due to the magic in the rock and dirt of the caves (as she mentioned earlier).
>>
File: 1388804913934.png-(33 KB, 1536x864, plan.png)
33 KB
33 KB PNG
>>29265592
LOS
how far away can she see?
if we are coming from the bottom...

I am thinking we sneak and build wall #1
then she place wall #2 and then #3 trying to trap the middle beast (if she can see that far)
Then we kill the beast on the left. The noise might draw the beast on the right, if it does not we trap it as well so it starves by placing wall 4.

Of course this depends on how draining the walls are for gnome to place, and how far away can she place them. We might end up spooking the middle beast and be in a fight prematurely
>>
>>29265731
Ask Gnome to bring down the roof instead of raising a wall. Basically a variation of 2 or 3.

Best case scenario, we crush them utterly. Worst case, we can still block them off and use that time to fight the third monster.
>>
>>29265731
she isn't gonna move the existing rock, she will summon new rock out of thin air, a power she has
>>
>>29265805
You basically have to come up to the split to place walls, due to the fact it's at a crest. As for hiding, it mostly depends on your skills. Just as you can detect their magical presence, so too can they potentially detect yours plus any noise you make.

>>29265829
>>29265832
Alright, new vote.

>1. Use walls to close them in (either with sneaking or using your companions to hold them back whilst closing them in)
>2. Attempt to bring the roof down on them by summoning rock on their heads.
>>
>>29265920
>2.
Time to use our environment to our advantage.
>>
>>29265920
1
Is this still number 3?
>>
>>29265920
1h
>>
>>29265920
1
>>
>>29265959
Yeah, but I added
>>29265673
as a back-up plan for if you're spotted.
>>
>>29265920
1
you already said this has a high DC.
>>
>1.

You and Gnome cautiously approach the split, with Undine and Sala close behind you to provide fire support if you’re spotted. Caitlyn and Mal bring up the rear at a distance, in case of a surprise. If you can get to the split and close two of the monsters in, you can deal with just one of them relatively easily.

[DC15 Sneak]
>>
Rolled 2

>>29266072
>>
Rolled 15

>>29266072
>>
Rolled 16

>>29266072
>>
>Target met

Everything is going smoothly, you think to yourself, as you come up over the crest. The three tunnels bend into the darkness before you. You’ve shed all light sources and are relying on your own empowered senses to ensure the beasts don’t spot any of you.

Now you’re here, it’s time for Gnome to work her magic. The monsters will sense her sorcery the instant she casts, so she’ll need to work quickly.

[DC11 Gnome Sorcery]
>>
Rolled 2

>>29266220
>>
Rolled 6

>>29266220
>>
Rolled 9

>>29266220
>>
Rolled 20

>>29266252
>>29266250
>>29266240
these rolls hurt.
>>
>>29266279

I can't even.
>>
>>29266279
So close, yet so far.
>>
>>29266279
Not as much as your roll does.
>>
>Target not met

You feel Gnome’s smooth pull of power once more as she channels energy down each tunnel, but it’s that much stronger as she tries to summon enough power to create two rock walls. You hear howls as the three beasts sense her power and start to charge toward you. You draw your sword and shield, and feel the two elementals behind you ready themselves as they approach.

You feel Gnome suddenly stop channelling power down one path and notice she looks strained. As the beast on the right-most split comes into view, her rock wall grows to cover the entire cavern and she spins to the one she focused on earlier. It’s too late, however, and both beasts are well and truly too close to stop with walls.

“I’ll handle this one,” Sala calls as she fires off a blast of fire down the left path. Undine, being the more modest one, quietly unleashes a hail of icicles at the beast on the path in front of you.

“Talon, it’s not working! There’s something wrong here,” Gnome says, sounding more panicked than you’ve heard her. Before you can realise what she means, the left-most beast leaps out of the flames – the fire being sucked into the glowing blue cysts growing all over its warped wolf-like form. You feel Sala’s magical energy, so immense in sheer power, vanishing into nothing. You move quickly in an attempt to stop the beast from punching his fangs into Salamander's body.

[DC17 Defend Sala]
>>
Rolled 10

>>29266479
Sala!
>>
>>29266479
Dang, DC is wrong. Should be DC16. I forgot to add your skill to it (Battlefield Basics).
>>
Rolled 18

>>29266479
>>
Rolled 3

>>29266479
>>
Rolled 2

>>29266479
It's time!
>>
>>29266536
Phew.
>>
Rolled 1

>>29266479
Yell "MANAVORE, Don't use direct magical attacks"
>>
Something I completely forgot (but has been recorded on my char sheet for HP etc) from back when you got a hole punched in your stomach.

>Your Endurance has increased to [4]

>target met

The wolf is fast, faster than you, but you have skill and with a quick step forward you edge Salamander back and take the wolf’s leap with your shield. Its head batters against the metal frame of your shield with a horrible crunch and whine but you can’t let it end there, and thrust forward with your shield. The beast, glowing a sickening blue and looking like some sort of plague-ridden monster, goes flying back down the tunnel. You step back and pull Undine back with your arm. The wolf she engaged is more or less unharmed by her attacks, though it had apparently been slightly more cautious in its charge and hasn’t yet engaged. A quick glance confirms Gnome’s worry, as the other beast is tearing through her rock wall with terrifying speed, as though the wall were made of straw.

“It consumes magic! Do not engage it with solely magical attacks,” you call.

>1. Call Caitlyn up here and have the three CQC fighters (Talon, Gnome, Caitlyn) engage the beasts at the top of the crest.
>2. Leave Caitlyn as rearguard and charge the middle beast, leaving the other two for Gnome, Sala and Undine.
>3. Leave Caitlyn as rearguard and try to stop the foes with a combo of the four of you at the top.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29266736
>1. Call Caitlyn up here and have the three CQC fighters (Talon, Gnome, Caitlyn) engage the beasts at the top of the crest.

This is her field, should for sure use her.

Also, I really want to make a magic repellent cloak out of their pelts. They are even blue like our standard, it was meant to be.
>>
>>29266736
1
>>
>>29266736
>1. Call Caitlyn up here and have the three CQC fighters (Talon, Gnome, Caitlyn) engage the beasts at the top of the crest.
Everyone else provide support. Even of its just summoning an ice wall to slow down a beast or something.
>>
>>29266736
Have Gnome make the rock underneath a wolf one of her barriers, then use Barrier Break to send it tumbling into the abyss. That sounds like a thing that would be cool.
>>
Rolled 4

>>29266815
Um, I don't think there is an abyss under us?
>>
>>29266736
>Your Endurance has increased to [4]
does this do anything different?
>>29266736
>1. Call Caitlyn up here and have the three CQC fighters (Talon, Gnome, Caitlyn) engage the beasts at the top of the crest.
>>
>>29266815
how would that even work?
>>
>>29266833
>>29266840

You just have to dig deep, anons. Dig deep!
>>
>>29266815
So, basically, you want to try punching a hole in the ground to a cave below you (which may or may not be there)?

>>29266836
Endurance increases HP and also helps with physical resist checks. You'll be loving that HP increase for the final boss, I bet.
>>
>>29266873
>So, basically, you want to try punching a hole in the ground to a cave below you (which may or may not be there)?
I think he is saying that if gnome summons a sheet of earth underneath it, then that sheet of earth, if broken, would lead to whereever she summoned the earth from
>>
>>29266873
Sure, I'm confident that if that works perfectly it'd be pretty nice.
>>
Rolled 8

>>29266873
Even my rocks fall suggestion sounded better than the way you put >>29266815
, Aspirational
>>
>>29266873
>So, basically, you want to try punching a hole in the ground to a cave below you (which may or may not be there)?
that sounds stupid
>>
>>29266909
I'm not meaning to offend anybody, but I wasn't quite sure what he meant. As it is, there's a little too much magically reinforced dirt and rock to do such a thing without a Nat20, as cool as it might be.

>1.

“Caitlyn!” you call out. “We could use a hand here. This is your speciality.”

The beast you hurled down the tunnel is already back on its feet and charging you again. Caitlyn’s no slouch, and will be here in a moment.

“Undine, Sala – try to slow them down but don’t waste your energy trying to hurt them otherwise. Gnome, help me and Caitlyn hold them off here.”

You take a stance alongside the other two and consider how to fend them off.

>1. Tag-team with Caitlyn against two wolves, trying to use your complimentary fighting styles to better deal with a pair of the wolves.
>2. Tag-team with Gnome against two wolves. She can read your thoughts so synergising tactics shouldn’t be too hard.
>3. Handle one wolf yourself and leave the others to their own devices.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29266898
I don't think Earth Control I works that way. It's more a manipulation skill than summoning I think.
>>
>>29267069
This. When I say 'summon' I mean 'create.' She summons physical matter using magical energy, so to speak, but it's not from any particular place or from a portal. Maybe I should consider changing the terminology...
>>
>>29267067
>1. Tag-team with Caitlyn against two wolves, trying to use your complimentary fighting styles to better deal with a pair of the wolves.

This has gone well before.
>>
>>29267067
>1. Tag-team with Caitlyn against two wolves, trying to use your complimentary fighting styles to better deal with a pair of the wolves.
>>
>>29267067
>2

Trust our guard to do well in her element?
>>
>>29267067
Let's work with our guard, went well last time.
>>
>>29267067
4. have lynn and gnome each engage one wolf, then you look for an opening to strike (or assist whichever looks to be in trouble)

>>29267115
should probably call it "create". Since converting raw energy into matter is creating that matter rather then conjuring it.
>>
>>29267067
>2. Tag-team with Gnome against two wolves. She can read your thoughts so synergising tactics shouldn’t be too hard.
>>
>>29267226
>Since converting raw energy into matter is creating that matter rather then conjuring it.

The only issue with that is they only create it temporarily. After a while the energy (and any matter created) dissipates. I'll think on it for a while.

>1.

You and Caitlyn hold the lip of the crest and Gnome charges down one passage once she catches your thoughts. You’ve done this before, no reason not to do it again. You and Caitlyn both ready your swords and shields as the wolves charge at you.

[DC13 Tag-team Combat]
>>
Rolled 19

>>29267300
>>
Rolled 15

>>29267300
>>
>>29267300
Shucks
>>
Rolled 1

>>29267300
Victory!
>>
>>29267342
why we had a fucking 19.
>>
>>29267342

Talon is really struggling with this whole combat thing today, usually his strong suit.
>>
Rolled 14

>>29267361
OP policy is to waits until all 3 rolls are made in case of a crit.
Waiting would have just stalled the quest rather then locked in the 19
>>
>>29267376
Then again, he is doing really really well on other skills. He aces sneaking, he kept on acing those sensory rolls vs the trapper. He detected the magical beasts via hearing before anyone else.

He is having a really rogue day.
>>
>>29267414
Hey, maybe we apcan accidentally get either Undine or Gnome killed and need to head home and try this whole thing again.
>>
>>29267300
I thought of an even better name...
Manifest
It doesn't imply permanence like create, the manifestation runs out.
But it doesn't imply that it comes from elsewhere via a portal.
>>
Rolled 13

>>29267414
It's because he isn't on a battlefield.

Not having pounding adrenaline from men dying left and right around him is wrecking his combat mojo.

>Gatchpa: SOCIALISM hasfees

>Reeeaaaaallllyy, gatchap?
>>
>>29267497
I like it.

>dramatic failure

Despite how natural it feels to fight alongside Lynn, it’s clear that your weapon choices weren’t the greatest for these narrow caves. Your footing is constantly compromised by the rubble underfoot and although you are used to handling your large weapon with thrusting and half-handed attacks, Lynn clearly isn’t, and you find yourself trying to cover her openings.

The wolves, however, have no such problems, and despite Undine and Sala’s attempts to scare or slow them you take some nasty slashes. Seeing the larger wolf about to take a chunk out of Lynn’s leg you step forward with a huge slash from the ground. The wolf jumps back to dodge and your foot crunches awkwardly on a rock.

You bite back a scream as the smaller wolf uses the opening to punch its fungs into your left arm, bypassing your shield. You swing your arm wildly and the wolf also takes a backhanded blow from Sala’s scimitar – but it’s apparent your foes are still going strong. Lynn pulls up next to you as the wolves regather for another assault.

>1. Lynn’s inexperience is counting against her. Try to take out the weaker wolf quickly so that you don’t need to cover her.
>2. Keep fighting like this.
>3. Fight more defensively and wait for Gnome to get back.
>4. Custom
>>
>>29267548
>1. Lynn’s inexperience is counting against her. Try to take out the weaker wolf quickly so that you don’t need to cover her.
>>
>>29267548
2. Lynn needs this experience. Treat it like a training session and talk her through it.
>>
Rolled 19

>>29267548
>4. Custom
Roll to Intimidate!
>>
>>29267548
>2
I've got a good feeling about it this time.
>>
>>29267548
>2. Keep fighting like this.

Communication Talon, he's focusing too much on his own movements and trying to cover for Caitlyn. She fights with our style she can be coached through a battle in narrow areas.
>>
>>29267548
Fallback to the widest area where the 3 tunnels intersect.
Call for gnome to manifest us a better footing.
Gnome, make a
>>
>>29267629
That would take a nat20 and attract more challenging foes whether or not it succeeded.

I like it!
>>
>>29267629
can we actually tame these guys?
If so i'm with you i would love them in our military.(though they would eat a lot of food.)
>>29267548
1, if we can't tame them.
>>
Rolled 5

>>29267548
>4. Cut the Gordian Knot
Are we strong enough to cleave the walls of the tunnels?

Let's make our own fighting room
>>
>>29267548
>3. Fight more defensively and wait for Gnome to get back.
waitaminute... where did she even go?

>>29267668
You can't time an adult predator. You have to catch cubs for taming.
Also, as manavores they would starve away from the POP unless you provide for them.
It is possible to bind a magical beast as a familiar (even sapient magical species like elves can be bound as familiars), but we do not possess the skill, and the attempt will probably fail on a manavore.
>>
>>29267691
How would causing a cave in help us aside from splitting the party?
>>
>>29267715
I agree, we shouldn't do >>29267691
>>
>>29267629
... oh hey, I actually have a calculation for this even though we haven't used it yet. I might tie it into the fight.

>>29267668
Uh, not really taming. You can make them flinch or be more cautious.

>>29267661
You're already there and Gnome is busy fighting so you don't know if she could help.

>>29267691
You could cleave through the walls, but that's for single blows (not widening the tunnel and you'd lose a lot of power from the strike. As it is, you can fight in tight quarters quite well but Lynn can't.

>probably going to go with 2. but better communiction with lynn unless the votes suddenly change
>>
>>29267714
>where did she even go?
Well, considering all her weaponry and armor is magic based and these are manavores, I'm guessing part of her's inside the belly of the third wolf by now.
>>
>>29267750
Is it possible to tame monster here and if not can we do this?
>>29267714
Since monsters can be a great boon in an army.
>>
>>29267714
Well do have the Source back in Harrowmont, though we aren't quite sure how similiar they are in power provided seeing as we don't have monsters prowling our castle.

Truth be told if we found some pups I would be so down with taking them with us. Maybe the Source and a more positive influence would make them look less sickly and be stronger.
>>
>>29267763
>Quest failed, gnome died
:(
>>
>>29267777
maybe the wolves aren't actually the manavores.
Maybe the crystals are parasites that also absorb magic
(que killing the wolf and a bunch of crystal creatures bursting out of their carcass to swarm at us)
>>
>>29267763

I don't quite think so. She has her martial arts and gauntlets/gloves to fight with still, she can enhance herself with her magic, like we do, to punch wolves. Because that's how we do.
>>
>2. But talk Lynn through it

“Lynn, try half-handing your sword like I am so you don’t catch the walls so much,” you tell her as the wolves prowl at the tunnel edges. You demonstrate this to her, gripping the sword with one hand halfway up the blade to show her what you mean. Now is a good time to demonstrate you think, and you signal her to follow your lead and you charge the weaker wolf to take the initiative.

[DC12 Combat]
>>
>>29267777
Um, aren't these guys spirits that upon feeding off the energy radiating from the place of power congealed physical forms around themselves? Did I miss something or do these wolves legitimately not reproduce in such a way as would produce pups?
>>
Rolled 3

>>29267863
>>
Rolled 11

>>29267863
>>
Rolled 2

>>29267863
>>
Rolled 11

>>29267863
Here we go again...
>>
Rolled 15

>>29267863
here comes the failsmobile
>>
>>29267870
This will come up in the bestiary, but basically, these beasties are what happens when ordinary animals get too close to powerful magic sources for too long.

>these terrible combat rolls after all those goodd perception rolls
>>
>>29267872
>>29267876
>>29267893

Talon get it together, we'll never beat the boss like this.

>>29267870
...That's actually a good point. I'm not quite sure if they are bounded spirits or not.
>>
>>29267872
>>29267876
>>29267893

Talon continues to disappoint...
>>
>>29267936
Fair enough.
>>
>>29267936
>green text

I feel like we should be half way towards developing a flaw against teamwork at this point.
>>
>>29267983

Nah usually Talon does a lot better with it, the Undine+Talon fight went really well(even though she came to our rescue after a Nat 1).

>>29267936
But wolves don't belong in caves, bears do.
Oh christ.
>>
Rolled 7

>>29268014
>But wolves don't belong in caves
Do you seriously think they sleep out in the open?
>>
>>29268014
Yeah, these weren't wolves.

>target not met

Your footing is still betraying you, or maybe it’s the wound you took earlier, but either way your attempt to take out the speedy wolf is quite clumsy. You slash and hack at the foe, but it darts every which way. Lynn, on the other hand, does slightly better now she’s half-handing – even though your demonstration was so terrible.

You step in with a hard thrust against the larger wolf now, but he ducks down and leaps at you instead, catching you off-guard. You go down with a thump and find yourself with a full set of horrible fangs, and a mouthful of those same horrific cysts, right in front of your face.

[DC13 Leave-my-face-alone]
>>
Rolled 16

>>29268048
Talon, stop being so nice guy off the battlefield!
>>
Rolled 2

>>29268048
>>
Rolled 5

>>29268048
So long face.
>>
Rolled 3

>>29268048
notaonenotaone...
>>
Rolled 16

>>29268048

PUNCH THAT THING IN THE FACE
>>
Rolled 16

>>29268084
stab its brain through the open mouth
>>
>>29268046

Well depending upon the weather, wolves themselves, and if there are pregnant bitches... Yeah kind of. I've seen them hole up in dens and out in the open.

I mostly said that because we are some 5 miles deep in a dense cave system. I was joking.
>>
Caitlynn has been saying how we are like her, a knight, someone who boosts themselves with sorcery INSTEAD of using an enchanted armor.

Yet I thought we DO have magical armor AND we ALSO boost ourselves through magic.

Why do knight orders not combine preenchanted armor with self boosting?
>>
>>29268153
the biggest depend is whether or not there is a suitable cave nearby
>>
>>29268172
They probably don't stack. Its like grabbing a +2 strength item when you always cast bulls strength right before the fight anyway.
>>
>Yet I thought we DO have magical armor AND we ALSO boost ourselves through magic.

You don't actually. Some knights do, but it's rare. The empowerment you do conflicts with the strength/speed/etc enchantments of the armor and anybody good at empowerment can outdo most sets of armor without much difficulty. Those Golden Bear knights with their fancy armor could match your empowerment with their suits.

Of course, there's other enchantments so you might want to pursue getting yourself some swag armor later.
>>
>>29268172

Nah our armour is mundane. And getting really beat up lately. And we do enhance ourselves before battle, Aspirational has said he usually does it off screen as it is assumed at this point.

However, I don't know why we don't combine them, make super tanks or something, I'd suppose it has to deal with the logistics of it all.
>>
>>29268213
but why not get different enchantments then?
Or one use enchantments for things you can't do
For example we could get runes of healing on our armor since we can't actually heal ourselves, consumed on heal.

Unless it actively disrupts our magics.
>>
>>29268240
Aha, I was right (and by the time I finished posting you had already answered >>29268221

Ok so. we definitely should get some healing on our armor. Since we don't have healing powers....
I can't actually think of anything else to put on it that we can't do better on our own.
>>
>target met

You let out a guttural growl and wrestle with the beast on top of you. Its fangs find purchase in your left wrist, adding to the problems you have in your left arm from earlier but you take advantage of the newfound occupation of its jaw to crack its skull open with your other hand.

With a surge of sorcery to strengthen your body even further than normal and roll the wolf. Now, with it pressing against the ground and able to apply some leverage, you hammer your fist into the warped canine’s skull. Once, twice – then you hear a sickening crunch and the wolf’s grip slackens. You roll off the beast, grab your sword from nearby and, in a rather slick movement in contrast to your earlier clumsiness, put your sword right through it.

You take a brief look around and see Caitlyn with the other wolf pinned against the wall by her sword. Gnome on the other hand…

“I would have thought you’d have handled that better, Talon. But then, I can’t point fingers given my earlier failures,” Gnome says from beside you. She appears largely unharmed and you wonder whether she had any real difficulty with the monster. Perhaps she fought defensively.

Undine comes up to you and berates you for your recklessness and she uses her healing to staunch your wounds. With that said, you are unwilling to linger. You passed a number of forks before and you don’t want to be ambushed this close to the lake, where the monsters are stronger.

>next post shortly
>>
>>29268304

After taking an axe to the breast plate, a puncture wound to the gut, multiple rolls to joints and now bites and slashes from crazed beasts I'm pretty sure we should focus on just getting a new set of armour before we get too carried away with enchantments.
>>
>>29268360
Excellent. Gnome will soon commence treating us as a child. We done good guys.
>>
Rolled 13

>>29268379
Agreed. Send a dignitary to the dwarves immediately upon our return to Harrowmount.
>>
>>29268379
Undine's has magically repaired our armor each time she healed us.
>>
Maybe gnome can work our armor to make it toughed without enchantment (increase steel grade, etc)
>>
>>29268400

>tempting the dice gods further

Do you wish to die?

>>29268409

My assumption with that was that over time stuff like that wore away and we just need to get a new set of armour. Besides this is our mercenary gear, not Imperator wear.
>>
Rolled 2

>>29268450
>>29268409
gnome and Mal would work great, maybe have Sal and udine speed up the armour making process.
>>
>>29268462
>do you wish to die

No, but I find it endlessly entertaining when the dicegods screw over the game or permanently cripple the MC in the most unlikely way.

I admit I'm weird in enjoying the critfails as much as the hard won successes.
>>
>>29268502
Well we have an awesome enchanter, an earth spirit and access to a mining town and a chance to gain a second mining town and have two sisters that can help strengthen and speed up the armor making process.
>>
>>29268551
Screw the empire conquering scheme, let's go into business!
>>
>>29268450 replying to self
Actually when I think about it, gnome probably has some unusual metallurgy abilities/knowledge. Like making armor out of titanium or some exotic alloy.
>>
>>29268408

Random thought, why not have the dwarves come to us in Harrowmont? We have a market place, the general residential area is completed and I assume with us having Mier under control we could have raw materials at the ready.

I kind of like the idea of making Harrowmont a cultural melting pot, using the best assets we can find. I know Mal and Caitlyn must know someone who might be interested. Plus conscripted dwarves into our army sounds cool as fuck.
>>
Your wounds, after some healing, aren’t so bad this time, and Gnome thinks you’re reasonably close to your goal so you choose to press on. You take some short breaks to keep everybody fresh but otherwise things go reasonably smoothly. Contrary to your expectations, the closer you get to the lake the less presence you’re sensing. The same can’t be said about the power you’re sensing. The walls glow a faint blow from the magic, and oddly shaped magic crystals line many of the walls. Maloric warns you not to touch any of them – the condensed magic in them could pump a lot of magic if you cut yourself on their jagged edges.

“Large pools of magic in one small container aren’t very good, especially if they’re natural. When we’re creating catalysts or batteries we take care to make sure they’re stable – these could not only poison you, but could even explode.”

Exploding is the last thing you’re interested in so you move on. Eventually, you reach a small cavern – and through the other side is an oppressively great amount of power, and the largest cavern you’ve seen in your life.

“What the hell is that?” you ask your elementals, hardly believing your eyes.

The lake below you is enormous, stretching as far as the eye can see and possesses a slight glow. Enormous spires of crystal grow out of it at various points, and there is a huge platform of ice that extends out into the centre of the lake. But it is not the lake that draws your attention.

At the edge of the lake, half its body submerged in the magically charged water, is an enormous beast some half the size of the keep at Harrowmont. Huge chunks of flesh have been gouged out of its enormous hide, only to have been covered in the strange crystal of this place. Its whole body is lined with bizarre glowing lines. Its head, with part of its skull missing and replaced with crystal, move very slightly.

>continued
>>
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>>29268551
You have been playing kamidori alchemy meister haven't you?
>>
>>29268643
IIRC most dwarves are very insular.
some rare few dwarves live outside their holds.
>>
>>29268672
“That, Talon, is a dying dragon,” Gnome tells you. “To make matters worse, the magic of the lake is turning it into a feldragon in the most unnatural manner possible. It must have lay here for decades…”

She looks up at the ceiling, and you see an enormous entrance there. Somehow, the dragon had flown in through a much larger cave system many years ago.

“How is it still alive?” Maloric asks in shock.

“With great pain. I doubt it can move, chained to ground as it is by those crystals.”

You take a closer look and find she’s right – the crystals appear to be attached to the ground and the lake.

“We should avoid it,” Caitlyn says.

“We can’t,” Undine replies. “It’s claimed this lake for itself. We’ll need to kill it before we can claim it ourselves.”

You stare at her as you realise what she’s saying. “The dragon claimed this Place of Power?”

Well, you think, this should be fun.

>You will automatically take the time to rest and heal before the next fight
>Take some time to think of battleplans
>Feel free to ask lots of questions

DYING FELDRAGON
(Probably) cannot move
Still has huge claws
Is capable of sorcery
Has a breath weapon
>>
>>29268643
Or we could just horrifically abuse our knowledge of the industrial revolution for fun and profit. After all, it was initially powered by water wheels. Also, I know how to make an honest to god assembly line without using electricity (which has never been managed IRL)
>>
>>29268691
If its a dragon, can we have Caitlyn use her ancestry to diplomance it into a honorable, quiet death?
>>
>>29268691

Even though it is being "raised" to a feldragon in the worst way, could we... Talk to it?

What if it wishes for death? Perhaps even taking solace in dying by the hands of its kin(Caitlyn) knowing that with her lies a grand future for its kind, and by helping us, he is helping his kind?
>>
>>29268691
what exactly can feldragons do?

>inb4 read the long ass pastebin
>>
>>29268691
Clearly we should try talking it into committing suicide. I kid.

No idea how to kill it though. Good luck guys.
>>
>>29268766
They are magic dragons.
>>
>>29268689

Taken from the Lorebin.

///5.4. Dwarves

Hardy creatures of industry. They don't participate much in the happenings outside their underground citadels, but they certainly love to trade. You bump into one in settlements from time to time, and they maintain some trading posts near their mountains. There's a large city of theirs in the mountain range in the midst of the RSK and one of them told me they've got a smaller city not that far north of Darlesia, closer to Ahm. There's probably other cities elsewhere. Magic isn't exactly common for them and what they have is supposedly more like transmutation than evocation.

So while true, we could offer to set up a dwarven trade post in our city. They might be into it, hell some might even stay. You never know.
>>
>>29268691
Well, if it can't move we shouldn't stand in front of it where its breath weapon can move. Beyond that, I assume our bow has enchanted arrows? If so, go for the Eye Imperator, go for the eyes!
>>
>>29268730
Assuming it's still sane, she could try. Gnome suspects that several decades of unending pain and the poison that the magic would have pumped into it might make it not so talkative.

>>29268766
"Not much more than a regular dragon in this case. The magic from the lake is probably just keeping it from dying. The main thing to be careful of is its breath, which will likely be a powerful form of fire and its sorcery. What it can cast in its current state is beyond me, but it will likely be more about power than finesse."
>>
>>29268691
we should go back to the corpses of the crystal infected wolves we killed earlier and experiment with their crystals.

I would like to see if we can find a way to reliably detonate them or disperse their power harmlessly.

With detonation, we could take turns being carried out the hole at the top, then from the air detonate and fly away to not get caught in the blast... or we could just die from that so its somewhat risky.

Alternatively, draw the dragon out and then detonate it, or try to detonate localized crystals in it such that it won't cause a chain reaction.

Also... if its dying we might be able to CONVINCE it to not fight us at all, a mercy kill since its in horrible pain.
>>
>>29268831

Do dragons have a natural tongue? And if so can Caitlyn speak it? That might make it a bit more talkative.
>>
>>29268724
they already have magitech factories where magictech heavy machinery mass produce magical devices that act like phones, armor, etc.
Its not as flexible and requires a LOT of knowhow to set up, but the results are pretty superior to regular factory stuff since it produces enchanted products instead of just regular products like a modern factory does.

also, unlikely to be allowed
>>
>>29268831
Can Undine or Mal or anyone do some illusion magic? Make like fakes of us and stuff, for the dragon to breath at?
>>
>>29268873
She can, yes.

>>29268910
Undine could so some simple illusions.
>>
>>29268831
breath comes (usually) from the mouth end of the dragon. So if we stick to the tail part we likely could avoid that.
Also that keeps us out of its range.

Honestly I am most concerned with getting us infected with the magic crystals, it made the dragon sick, it made the wolves sick. If it cuts you with a crystal you become infected and horrible magic draining crystals grow in your body? NO THANKS!

So, yea, crystals are key, we need to research them some more.
>>
>Sitting in giant lake
I am assuming its too magically saturated for undine to control? Just like the walls were too magically saturated for gnome to control?
>>
>Breath fire
Actually exhale fire, if it breathed fire it would be suffocating to death due to lack of fire.
>>
>>29268940
>Undine could so some simple illusions.
Definitely have her make clones of us then, to fake out those absurdly powerful breath attacks.
>>
>>29268940
Well, it was said to be more about power than finesse. Here's my plan.
1. Undine puts an ivisibility thingy on us if possible.
2. We shoot dragon with enchanted arrows in the eye
3. Undine sets up some displament illusions on the rest of us.
4. Avoid the Dragon's face bleed it to death.
>>
>>29268984
I think it's more that the dragon seized control of the magic in question.
>>
>>29268984
"If I can get to the centre of the lake on the ice platform, I could likely focus the entire lake. But... once I start to do that, the crystals in the lake will start to react. If the dragon is only kept immobile by those, he will likely become mobile. You would need to hold him off long enough for me to channel the lake."

Other notes on party member capabilites:
Maloric can disrupt enemy sorcery and do medium/long-range artillery
Undine has a huge variety of spells
Gnome can probably penetrate any barriers the dragon casts, as can Talon
Salamander might be able to counter his fire
>>
>Big giant hole in roof right above dragon

Ok hear me out here... we fly out through the hole. get a bit further from center, Carve a giant ass spike of stone (not manifested, actual stone).

Fly it really high up in the air above it and above the hole.
Let go of the rock and as it falls PUSH it to accelerate it... Also making course adjustments to aim.
Just before it hits move to the side. Watch dragon gets speared by giant ass sharp rock that is totally unmagical (so no having its crystals absorb the magic)
>>
Alright, short-term vote.

>1. Have Caitlyn try to talk to the dragon
>2. Investigate the crystals more
>3. Attempt an assault
>4. Custom
>>
>>29268940

Huh we didn't actually know that about Caitlyn that's kind of cool.

Alright here's my suggestion.

Go down with Caitlyn at the helm and ourselves and Undine on point. Everyone else disperse around without being seen.

ATTEMPT to have Caitlyn speak with the dragon, doing as detailed above, perhaps seeing if it would rather an honorable death/mercy by the hands of its kin, or see if there are any other requests.

If this sours, have Undine cast essentially a bubble shield (could also be Sala to redirect the flames) in case the dragon attacks, to protect ourselves and them. After the intial attack by the dragon, everyone else does their thing from afar, as the dragon can't move it should be mostly effective at pinning it down even more so.

We enhance jump to the skull and enhance strike our greatsword right through the bastards skull into the brain. Hopefully that'll do the trick.

I'd really like to avoid some fighting, and having Caitlyn take the dragons life in an honorable sense might go much better.
>>
>>29269098
That would be a neat trick.
>>
>>29269120
>3. Attempt an assault
>>
>>29269120
>1. Have Caitlyn try to talk to the dragon

But we need a back up plan if it all goes to hell.
>>
>>29269120
2
>>
>>29269120
>1. Have Caitlyn try to talk to the dragon
>2. Investigate the crystals more
>>
>>29269120
2
>>
>>29269120
>Gnome Says: "There are only two helldragons remaining - Sylvian, a silver one, and Matthias, a black one. My understanding is that they were heavily involved in the fall of their race, along with Tylarne and Lairos (two of the few remaining feldragons). Helldragons themselves are frighteningly powerful - I could not hope to best either of those remaining (or the feldragons) even at my most powerful. Be very careful around dragons, and keep Caitlyn close and secret if you don't want to see her killed."
So gnome, did you mean to suggest that Caitlyn would be killed by some/many dragons if they found out about her existance?
>>
>>29269271
Yeah she did. Her dad led the Feldragon faction that caused the destruction of the draconic kingdom and the near extinction of the dragon race. He is not a popular figure amongst dragons.
>>
>>29269271
Probably, dragons tend to be highly territorial and when possible to eliminate future competition while it's weak. So...
>>
>>29269120
2
>>
>>29269331
>Her dad led the Feldragon faction that caused the destruction of the draconic kingdom and the near extinction of the dragon race
oh boy... yea I am definitely having second, third, and fourth thoughts about letting caitlyn talk to her/him then. Chances are very high s/he has lost family to that.

Then again I feel really sad for her/him. Maybe it is possible to remove the crystals and undo its link to the lake? Maybe if s/he tries to assume human form?
>>
>>29269331

I don't feel like that's totally accurate. Relatively, but not entirely.
>>
I wonder why he is called the font of eternity.
>>
>2

You decide that knowing more about these crystals is vital to any plan you will make. Gnome, Maloric and Undine are all able to make some sense of them so you ask them to spend some time investigating while the rest of you rest.

After a few hours, you get some results.

“These aren’t the same as the cysts on the wolf-monsters,” Maloric says, one of the crystals hovering in front of him. “These may have caused them or they could simply be unrelated.”

Undine continues, “The crystals themselves are unreactive – even the ones in the caves. There’s a lot of power in them but unless you shattered one and coated your wound in it, they likely wouldn’t do much.”

“Can we use them?” you ask.

“Possibly. Undine and I could combine our powers to manipulate individual crystals, though it would be difficult,” Gnome answers.

“What are the ones on the dragon doing, then?”

“Channelling power into it, I’d guess. If Undine was to try to seize that power from him, he’s probably become a lot weaker.”

“And if we broke the ones attached to him?”

She smiles slightly. “Same result, really, but we’d need to get close to him.”

“Mal, can you use that power for anything yourself?”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s too concentrated for me to safely do so. If I accidentally caused one to react to me, I could kill us all.”

>Any more questions about the crystals? New plans? Otherwise we’ll return to the previous vote.
>>
>>29269429
You do realize its dying of old age and those crystals are its life support system?
>>
>>29269454
>>29269440
None of your party other than Caitlyn really knows any of this. Gnome has a lot of second-hand knowledge but hasn't dealt with dragons too much.

Caitlyn hasn't been too talkative on the topic, but you could press her on it if you think she knows much. Or simply ask her direct questions about the dragon below and what she thinks of attempting diplomacy.
>>
I just realized... had we gotten the POP first we could have promised it salvation... by binding the POP to the source, then bringing him/her into there and using our power to cure and undo his/her failed transformation. But now we are on a timer for gnome.

Although maybe there is another POP and the dragon could fly us to, but yea, too many logistical issues and the possiblity of angels/demons/fae/gods/archmages taking us out when we leave the safety of our domain
>>
>>29269484
Is that what is happened?
I thought it was a normal dragon attempting to ascend to feldragon status whose transformation failed and is now living in constant agony and dying from the damage to its body caused by the crystals.
>>
Second vote

>1. Have Caitlyn attempt to talk to the dragon
>2. Attempt an assault of some form (I'll pick from the better battleplans suggested)
>>
>>29269459
is the hole above the dragon positioned in a way that this plan >>29269098 is at all feasible?
>>
>>29269616
1
>>
>>29269616
>1. Have Caitlyn attempt to talk to the dragon

First ask her opinion on doing so.

With of course a back up. The use of the crystals described above sounds good.
>>
>>29269459
> If Undine was to try to seize that power from him, he’s probably become a lot weaker.
And that would require her to float to middle of lake on ice floe?
>>
>>29269618
Gnome doesn't currently have the power to manipulate a large enough spike of stone in contravention of gravity. You could try smaller ones, mind.

>>29269673
No, no. The earlier description mentioned a huge (magically reinforced) ice platform leading into the centre of the lake. She'd have to go out on that.
>>
>>29269459
Yea I have an extra quesiton.
Is it possible in any way for the dragon to relinquish the POP without dying? This is critical because there is no point in diplomacy otherwise.

If we do talk to it, rather then coming right out and offering mercy death we should first see if we can get information on what s/he is doing/wants.
Maybe s/he is too enamoured with the power, maybe s/he will beg us for help... who knows what we can promise it to make it our ally.
>>
>>29269705
>Gnome doesn't currently have the power to manipulate a large enough spike of stone in contravention of gravity. You could try smaller ones, mind.
Not gnome, salamander. Salamander can fly and can lift quite a heavy load IIRC.
Step 1, salamander flies gnome out the hole and half a mile away
Step 2, gnome carves a large spike rock
Step 3, salamander lifts the large spike rock and then smashes it down on it from a mile up in the air.
>>
>>29269719
You'll have to ask the dragon (assuming he's responsive). Your elementals think he'll die shortly after he loses the power of the PoP or Undine tries to control the lake, simply because the transformation has done so much damage to him.
>>
>>29269616
2. Undine saps it's power with Lynn defending her, Sala and Mal doing range attacks on the crystal growths which Gnome and Talon taking attacks of opportunity on it from close range (staying away from the breath weapon).
>>
>>29269765
Would Undine controlling the lake prevent us from transferring the power to Gnome? Would she be taking in any theoretical feel dragon contamination in the magic?
>>
>>29269765
>Your elementals think he'll die shortly after he loses the power of the PoP
LOGIC!
If he cannot reliquish the POP we must kill him
If he reliquishes the POP he dies
We are going to ask if it wants to die.

Logic fault, if he wanted to he would have just released the pop already... unless we are misinformed.
>>
>>29269616
>1. Have Caitlyn attempt to talk to the dragon
While udine prepares the spell for sapping in case things go south.
>>
>>29269759

That whole ordeal sounds ridiculous. I don't think any of them are of strength yet to do any of those things.
>>
>>29269616
2.
>>
>>29269809
Nah, she's controlling the lake not the PoP. No the later, too. Undine can't be poisoned by the lake's magic - it's her birthplace and she can't feel any contamination.

>Right now, it looks like a quick chat with Caitlyn about attempted diplomacy

>>29269759
Sala can only lift about a half-tonne if that's what you want to try.
>>
We should probably ask Caitlyn what she thinks about trying to talk to the dragon. I'm not too sure attempting to talk to this stagnant and probably insane dragon is the best idea, though.
>>
>>29269885
>Sala can only lift about a half-tonne if that's what you want to try.
ONLY half a ton? I knew I remembered it being very heavy, yes :).
A 1000 lbs spike falling really fast from really high would be an excellent opener for the battle...
Might want to make it slightly less than that to avoid overtaxing her and to ensure she doesn't miss.
>>
>>29269885
Um no. The vote is to order Caitlyn to diploma nice the dragon. No discussion needed.
>>
>>29269931
You want to throw a pebble at a dragon?
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>>29269950

People can do write ins, few people requested talking it over with her first. Which is probably ideal. Chill fella.
>>
>>29269950
its currently 3 to 2 vote in favor of talking
>>
>>29269982
Disappointing. Ah well, you are right after all.
>>
>Talk to Caitlyn about attempted diplomacy

You sit down with Caitlyn in a corner of the cavern to have a chat. She eyes you warily, sensing something different about your manner.

“Caitlyn,” you say slowly and carefully, “you can talk to dragons, correct?”

“Yes,” she responds even more slowly.

“Do you think you could communicate with that dragon?”

She stares at you for a few seconds, eyes going wide before responding seriously, “If it’s insane, maybe… but why would it talk to me? What could we gain from talking to it?”

“Maybe it wants something?”

“The only thing we could give it is death,” she replies bitterly. “Gnome says it can’t live without the power of the lake. If it didn’t want it and was in pain, wouldn’t it have just let itself die?”

“Maybe it doesn’t know.”

“I don’t think so,” she replies before straightening. “I’ll do it if you ask me to, Talon, but it seems to be a really bad judgement call from you.”

You frown at that. You wonder if it’s because it’s about a dragon. Undine had even supported the idea, thinking that the dragon might not truly understand that it’s attempt to become a feldragon would never succeed.

>1. Order Caitlyn to talk to the dragon
>2. Attempt to convince Caitlyn to talk to the dragon willingly
>3. Instead just try an assault
>4. Custom
>>
>>29269931
A half-tonne spike of rock isn't even a metre in diameter at the base of the spike. That's what I meant about smaller. It might be damaging, however.
>>
>>29270066
3.

Though on a side note you really shouldn't try warning /tg/ of its stupidity. It just doubles down.
>>
>>29270066
Sounds like Caitlyn doesn't know that it can't successfully become a feldragon? If she does, let's drop it.
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>>29270209
She does.
>>
>>29270066
3

He dies if it lets go of the lake
He obviously knows it
If he was willing to die he would have just let go already. Obviously he cares more for power and immortality that he will get when he finishes transforming to feldragon that he does about transient pain
>>
>>29270066
>3. Instead just try an assault

Even if we convinced her it would be halfheartedly. And ordering that, which seems personal, seems a poor way to keep her close to us.

So I guess... We'll just try to kill it.
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>>29270066
>3. Instead just try an assault
>>
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>>29270066
3
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Did some math, a half tonne dropped from 1 mile up hits with the force of... 1.7 kilograms of TNT explosion, which is 1/10,000,000th the power of the bomb dropped on hiroshima... so not nearly as impressive as I thought, at all. :(

However, it could make quite a hole in something if shaped right.
I am thinking a cone with a sharp point and a wide end (so it pierces more easily but does more damage as it goes in). Maybe triblade

It can signal the start of the fight so to speak.

>>29270173
>A half-tonne spike of rock isn't even a metre in diameter at the base of the spike
isn't even? How big a dragon are we talking about here? If a hole bigger than half a meter doesn't phase it then what chance does our sword have?
>>
>>29270444
I'm not saying it's small just not massive. You wouldn't necessarily be able to one-shot the dragon unless you got lucky and hit its head.


>3.

“I see. You’re the expert on dragons here, Caitlyn, so I’m happy to leave this decision to you. If you’re so confident that it will fail that you’ll talk back to me like that then I won’t order you.”

You give her a small smile to take some of the edge of your words. She looks genuinely surprised at that, having obviously expected you to give her the order. You give her shoulder a squeeze and stand up, ready to put together your plan of attack.

“Talon, I-“ she starts but stops. Then she says, “I don’t think it’ll listen, but I know that if he sees me showing off my wings he’ll pause. That might give you an opening you can use.”

You nod at her and thank her. You have a battleplan to make.

>1. Have Undine claim the lake
If Undine attempts to claim the lake, the dragon will supposedly be free to move again – but he will be much weakened. This could be a chance to slay him, despite his mobility, or you could wait until Undine finishes channelling and then uses the lake itself to kill the dragon.

>2. Head-on assault
Have Caitlyn distract him at first, whilst you hit him as hard as possible. Undine and Maloric would work best at range, here. Gnome, yourself, Salamander and Lynn would be best suited to close-combat. If you target the crystals as you fight it, you can likely kill it and weaken it simultaneously.

>3. Head-on assault but open with rockdrop

Same as 2. but instead try to drop a spike of rock on him first instead of using Caitlyn as a distraction.

>4. Aim for his rear to avoid his mouth.

This works every similarly to 2. except that his breath weapon isn’t a threat but instead you will need to be wary of the lake due to the angle he lies against the edge of the lake.
>>
>>29270513
>instead you will need to be wary of the lake
what will the lake do to us if we fall in?
>>
>>29270513
>2. Head-on assault
Open up with an arrow barrage towards the eyes.
>>
>>29270582
It's full of potent magic so it might not be pleasant for regular Joes such as yourself - it'll also be bad for Gnome and Salamander, who aren't aligned to this magic. Caitlyn can probably shrug it off.

>Mechanically, you'll lose HP (but gain MP) if you fall into the lake, but it won't be lethal.
>>
>>29270594
Oh yeah, you have some of your useful enchanted arrows if you want to open with those.
>>
>>29270513
>1. Have Undine claim the lake

With some 2 mixed in there.
>>
>>29270612
I can't help but think that this would be less injurous to us then taking a blast of his fire. Not to mention that he cannot look at us so he will be fighting blind and might have difficulty targetting us with spells (unless he can just target accurately based solely on sensing our sorcery)
>>
>>29270513
mix 3 and 4
>>
>>29270513
I wish we would have said it nicer. like "you are right caitlyn, I was just hoping there is a way to do it without killing him"

>>29270612
Dragons exhale fire, right? will his fire breath even hurt salamander?

Also, I think our squishier allies should shoot at him from the back, while keeping outside his tail range. So in effect he can only target them with sorcery
>>
>>29270659
He would still be able to see you. he might not be able to turn his mouth towards you but could see you with one in most cases.


>I might have to blend some of these options to get a plan it seems. Unless some more votes comes in, I'll see what I can do to mix together a sensible battle-plan from the feel of these posts
>>
I'm not sure we should go for the rock drop, we'd be at a big disadvantage if we failed a stealth roll during the set up, and we're not that stealthy.
>>
>>29270780
The fire can hurt him as it's magically imbued - with that said, Sala could try to control it. That's the main reason I put her as a front-line fighter.
>>
Ok so... sala is more resistant to fire
undine can't be hurt by the lake... I am honestly think we should attack him from all directions, it splits his attention a lot and reduces the amount of people he can hit with a single attack.

Undine attacks him from behind. Sala from the front. We literally on top of his back hacking at him. Mal standing far away at the shore at a 90% angle and suppressing his sorcery
And gnome with either undine or sala... probably undine, pelting him from afar while also disrupting his magic.

In both cases we should not allow him mobility. Aim for taking out his eyes ASAP.
>>
Alright, I'm going to roll with 4. with Caitlyn as a distraction and an opening arrow barrage. There's an effective counter-vote for the rock drop, so I'm excluding it. I'll also add in elements of >>29270888

Standby for initial post of battle. My intention is to wrap this fight up and close the thread. Next thread is 5pm EST today (4th Jan) and will be back to regular AEQ stuff.
>>
>>29270888
oh, and i forgot Lynn, also charge from the back and be on top of his back with us.

Although, if sala does get hit she might be killed before we can help her... if she was behind him and flying he would have to sorcery at her we might catch her if she is knocked out of the sky before she hits the lake.
>>
>>29270888

It can literally sense us via sorcery, eyes or no eyes I doubt it matters.

>>29270780

I kind of preferred the tone we used with her. It isn't often that Talon does that, to closer NPCs, so it cuts a bit deeper. Besides it'll lead into a good conversation later.
>>
>begin dragon fight

With combat with the dragon effectively inevitable, you draw together a battle plan that you hope will enable you to defeat it.

Maloric will attempt to fight the dragon’s sorcery, Sala and Gnome will fight him head-on as their elemental abilities should enable them to counter his breath weapon, Undine will engage him at range from behind to keep your rnage fighters spread out. Meanwhile, you and Lynn will engage him on his back – but not before launching the opening salvo. You will attempt to do some damage to his head with an enchanted arrow whilst Lynn distracts him.

You line up on the rock with your shot as everybody else takes their positions. The beast senses the Caitlyn and opens one eye lazily to look at her. It rears up at her approach and you fear it might begin to move – but its movement is so very limited your fears subside quickly. As it opens its mouth, presumably to engulf her in flame, Caitlyn brings her wings to bear – they tear through the armor on her back and her clothes and stretch out to their full length. The dragon pauses as Caitlyn shrieks something at him in some draconic tongue.

You take the shot.

[DC11 Archery]
>>
Rolled 9

>>29271128
>>
Rolled 5

>>29271128
>>
>>29271128
best laid plans don't survive the RNG
>>
Rolled 20

>>29271128
>>
Rolled 7

>>29271128
Archery!
>>
File: 1388817735434.png-(75 KB, 244x205, 1384394825355.png)
75 KB
75 KB PNG
>>29271173
>>
>>29271173
Holy snaps, spoke too soon!

... is this our first crit success?
>>
>>29271169
>>29271173

Bemused am I.

I'm hopping this activates our god mode like it did in the Second Siege of Harrowmont.
>>
>>29271169
thank god you messed up your dice.
>>
>>29271223
I know, right. :)
>>
>>29271203
I wonder what would happen if we interacted with the source more (like when it flushed all its power into us)... than again I am worried it would have... negative effects. Like that dragon over here suffering from horrible magic poisoning.
>>
>Exceptional success

As you let the arrow loose, you channel as much power as you can into it. One of the tricks you learnt in all your travels was that you can effectively place barriers on your arrows to give them extra penetrative power. Maloric think you’re not creating barriers, but it feels the same to you. Your sorcery flows strong and true into the arrow.

And then you feel it again, that something from when Vitria besieged Harrowmont. Power, utterly endless in depth it seems, flows through you. You see the arrow leave your bowstring in slow-motion, a bright golden glow manifesting over the whole of the arrow. You know then, that Maloric is right. This is no barrier – somehow, you’ve made a temporary enchantment to the arrow. Just like you did at Harrowmont. This power is so great – you wonder why you’ve never felt it before.

Then reality surges back and the arrow strikes the dragon directly in his right eye. With a brilliant flash, the path of its flight visible to the naked eye from the sheer speed of it, the arrow seems to explode against the gigantic beast. Blood and gore explodes everywhere and the crystal above his eye shatters completely. The beast howls in rage and pain so great you feel your bones shake. But it is still alive – despite having obliterated nearly a third of its head, and having blown out most of the other side of where the arrow exited, the beast still lives.

It seems you’ll have to get down there and take out those crystal spires yourself. At least you know once they go down he’ll die quickly from his wounds. You empower your body again and charge towards him to join Lynn in an assault on the crystals on the rear of his boy.

[DC12 Charge]
>>
Rolled 3

>>29271411
>>
Rolled 18

>>29271411

Acceptably badass Exceptional Success. Talon is doing some next level crazy shit.
>>
Rolled 17

>>29271411

LEROY JENKINS!!!
>>
Rolled 15

>>29271411
>>
Rolled 2

>>29271411
>This power is so great – you wonder why you’ve never felt it before.
both times we felt it occured after the source surged into us.
>>
Rolled 18

>>29271411
Charge!
>>
>>29271411
>in an assault on the crystals on the rear of his boy.

Sorry I'm 12 and I laughed at that little slip.
>>
Rolled 15

>Thread VIII Ed, 03/01/13 - http://pastebin.com/JNXH2fJt
>NB: All content added since the most recent edition has a #NEW# tag above it. Use Ctrl+F to find new content this way.
I can't find a single #NEW# Tag on that pastebin even though it was supposedly updated after the last thread.
>>
>>29271558
Fixed. My bad.

>>29271524
Same. I make quite a few slip-ups in trying to write so fast and sometimes they can be pretty funny.
>>
>Target met

Having just nearly removed its head, the dragon makes you its prime target. Although you approach it at speed and from an angle that it cannot get you with its head, it tries to obliterate you with its sorcery.

Enormous lances of magic, several times your height, blast into the land and water around you. Sand, water, crystal and ice fly everywhere but you continue charging, shield in front of you. Suddenly, you feel an enormous surge of energy from beneath your feet and make a charging leap at the dragon – much further than you’d normally try.

Luckily you did, as gigantic metallic talons surge out from the ground you stood on. A gigantic metal cage of death, each talon twice your height, would have left you as prey for the dragon’s other sorcery – assuming you hadn’t been skewered by them. As you approach the dragon, he attempts to hit you with a claw and a few more magical lances. Fortunately, your hurried leap was good enough to carry you over his reach and onto his back and you land in a hard roll.

Slamming your sword into his body to right yourself, and ignoring the jarring feeling of the sudden stop, you spring to your feet. There is a crystal spire nearby. With the rest of your team in the midst of battle, all you can do is try to destroy it.

[DC13 Combat]
>>
Rolled 19

>>29271666
>>
Rolled 9

>>29271666
For Satan!
>>
Rolled 2

>>29271666
>>
>Target met

You charge across the dragon’s back. Lynn suddenly flies down next to you and lands in a neat roll and you catch the sight of a multitude of magic lances in the distance that clearly missed her in her flight.

“Lynn! With me,” you shout to her, gesturing with your hand to charge the nearby spire with you.

It is only a short distance, but the dragon has no shortage of tricks up his sleeves. The smaller sections of overgrown crystal on his body manifest strange crystalline constructs that engage you as you pass. A crystal lance tries to take you in the chest, but with a clang you knock it aside. Without pausing for breath, you then crash into it, still surging from magic earlier, and follow through with a hard slash against another one. Lynn rolls up beside you and you duck down into a roll yourself as her sword goes over your head. With another smash, a third construct is returned to its true form.

Then, with a final burst of speed, the two of you are right at the spire. You don’t hesitate and, drawing on the last of the energy you felt within you when you fired your arrow earlier, you strike the spire protruding from the dragon’s side with all your strength and might.

It explodes outwards from the force and you grit your teeth against the sudden sensation of an enormous amount of sorcerous energy suddenly blasting into reality. You don’t have time to be stunned though, as you see Undine avoiding the dragon’s magical lances atop the lake. She’s trying to destroy the spire attached at the base of his rear, the one that restrains his tail.

>1. Send Caitlyn off to help Undine destroy it.
>2. Leave Undine alone to destroy it.
>3. Send Caitlyn after another spire whilst you help Undine destroy hers.
>4. Have both yourself and Caitlyn charge the spire to help Undine.
>5. Custom
>>
>>29271923
>1. Send Caitlyn off to help Undine destroy it.

We can manage on our own.
>>
>>29271923
Fly, dragon girl, fly!
>>
Rolled 1

>>29271923
how many spires remain?
>>
>>29272013
Going with this.

I'm guessing quite a few people are retiring for the night. Apologies for running so late for you guys. Let's see if we can't finish this with the next roll.
>>
>>29272171

Lot of us are on USA time, myself am EST so it's ~02:30. No worries man, lots of stuff to put into this one.
>>
>>29272171
its fine. Not sure if its people going to sleep or just this specific vote. I don't have a clear preference between those options so I just didn't vote
>>
>1

“Lynn,” you shout again. ”Help Undine.”

And with that, you charge off to one of the spires closer to the dragon’s head. You feel another surge of energy further ahead and guess that Gnome and Salamander have successfully destroyed a spire. That leaves two, including the one Caitlyn and Undine are after. One last push and this will be over.

[DC14 Combat]
>>
Rolled 2

>>29272262
What's the worst that could happen?
>>
Rolled 2

>>29272262
>>
Rolled 10

>>29272262
>>
Rolled 17

>>29272262

!SNIKEJ YOREN
>>
Rolled 4

So close yet so far
>>
>>29272282
>>29272292
>>29272295

That'll teach you Aspirational.
>>
Rolled 4

>>29272171
I was actually busy masturbating, but yeah i need sleep, so when is the next session.will going to sleep now.
>>
Rolled 4

>>29272390
2014-01-04 17:00 EST
>>
>>29272339
Sorry

>>29272390
5pm EST today (4th Jan).

>Target not met

As you close on the spire, Salamander flares over you on wings of fire and drops Gnome off onto the dragon’s back to help you. She rolls to avoid a series of lances but the dragon suddenly lurches with one of its claws and she suddenly finds herself with a large and hard object in her path. Her tries to correct her path, but is too late and the claw clenches over her.

She screams and you face some indecision. The spire is right ahead of you, but Salamander is in danger. The dragon might not die immediately once you cut off your power source. You…

>1. Leave the spire. Both you and Gnome need to save Salamander.
>2. Leave the spire to Gnome and try to save Sala yourself.
>3. Go for the spire and leave Gnome to try to save Sala.
>4. Custom
>>
Rolled 19

>>29272322
>>29272390
>>29272399
4 rolled 3 times in a row.

>>29272282
>>29272292
2 rolled twice in a row.

Pretty crazy rolls
>>
Rolled 13

>>29272401
1
>>
Rolled 14

>>29272401
>2. Leave the spire to Gnome and try to save Sala yourself.
Well i'm going to sleep.
>>
>>29272401
>1. Leave the spire. Both you and Gnome need to save Salamander.
>>
>>29272401
I have complete faith in Gnome, send her to go finish that spire.
>>
>>29272401
>3. Go for the spire and leave Gnome to try to save Sala.

We've been delegating thus far. Can't stop now.
>>
current vote is
1. 2 votes
2. 2 votes
3. 1 vote
>>
Rolled 1

>>29272561
Tie-breaker roll to keep things moving.

1 = Option 1
2 = Option 2
>>
Rolled 1

>1

You immediately change direction where Salamander is, putting as much magic into your body as possible. Knowing that Gnome can read your thoughts, you don’t bother vocalising the order and simply run as hard and fast as you can. The real trick is going to be breaking his grip – that claw is gripping her tightly and if you don’t there soon enough, she’ll be in grave danger.

Gnome darts in front of you, her gauntlets flashing with light as she weaves… something in the flow of magic. Several magical lances, summoned by the dragon to strike at you seem to bend around her. You sense a few more lances behind you, but there is a sudden dull sensation in their place – Maloric is obviously covering you and trying to disrupt as many of the dragon’s spells as possible. Gnome continues to charge forward, and you follow in her wake, feeling some strange force puller you faster. The claw is ahead of you. Now is the time to save Salamander.

[DC13 Mega-slash]
>>
Rolled 20

>>29272724
Mega slashu
>>
Rolled 4

>>29272724
>>
Rolled 9

>>29272724
>>
Rolled 5

>>29272724
>>
Rolled 7

>>29272724
>>
Rolled 17

>>29272743
I think you just disarmed the dragon
>>
>>29272743
And then we won
>>
>plot event with the next exceptional
>you guys roll it now of all times

Goddammit. I'll finish off the dragon fight now, but you guys get some interesting carryover next thread from this.
>>
>>29272840

Hahahaha The dicegods are having a field day today.
>>
>>29272840
I had wondered if you were tracking something there.
>>
File: 1388822215453.jpg-(95 KB, 500x427, i accept it.jpg)
95 KB
95 KB JPG
>>29272840
>>
>exceptional success

Suddenly, it is as though time itself stands till. One of Salamander’s screams tears through your ears and you use just that little bit more sorcery – pushing an already straining body well past its limit. Then everything seems to stand still.

Gnome, who was moving into a strange ducking motion. Salamander, gripped viciously in the dragon’s claw. Maloric, on the other side of the cavern, frantically trying to counter the dragon’s magic. Undine, controlling swirls of magically infused water to cover Lynn from magical attack. Lynn, her wings flaring around her as she prepares to collide with the crystal spire she’s responsible for. The dragon, a bloated, prideful, dying beast that lay beneath you, shudders with power. Your power.

You recall your times in your first war. When you were young and stupid. You bore the same ambition but had no means to achieve it. No power. You could defeat any man you met in a straight fight – but when everybody but you could use sorcery, what did it matter? When you killed a man with sorcery one day in that war, your body surging with a power you had never known, you recalled feeling like you were invincible. You understood then why everybody desired such sorcery. Why the mages all spent so much time researching it. It all became clear then and that realisation helped to forge your future. You would never have ended up here, even if you had survived, if you had never made that realisation.

>continued
>>
>>29273023
Now, you make another realisation as your body hums with a power you have never felt before. No, that’s not true. You have felt it before. You once felt you could life a mountain. You once felt you had all the power the world could offer. Now, you feel that again. This dragon – you feel the shudder of its power. You feel what it intends to do while you busy yourself saving your companions. It had foreseen its death with that first arrow you launched and prepared for it. The last spire surges with power – a trap laid to catch you. But it will never catch you.

Again, you consider the power below you. It is old, yet it is but a thimble of power compared to what you hold in your body right now. You will not let this beast - this antique that should no longer be here harm your friends. You will not let it stand in the way of your ambitions. Least of all, you will not let it even think of harming you.

It is so simple now. So clear. You reach out with your power and pluck the thread that will end this.

[DC1 Destroy Dragon]

That’s not a typo. You cannot critfail this roll.
>>
Rolled 4

>>29273037
That sounds like a challenge to me.
>>
Rolled 3

>>29273037

I AM THE GRIFFIN.
IMPERATOR TALON YORK.
>>
Rolled 11

>>29273037
>>
Rolled 19

>>29273037
>>
>Target met

You wake up to the sound of silence. You feel your head in the lap of somebody. It feels so very soft. You remember being so powerful. You remember saving somebody. You open your eyes and see Gnome’s green piercing eyes staring into yours. You choose to ignore her for now and look around for the dragon – or what’s left of it.

And you see how much has changed. No crystals in the lake. The water still glows – glows with a greater intensity than before. And over on the sand lies a desiccated corpse. As though the dragon was not merely slain but have its very life torn from it. As though the fire that kept its existence burning had been removed in one instant, leaving nothing but a shell that could not possibly sustain life.

The dragon is dead. Yet, somehow, you think things aren’t quite over.

“Before you stand and join the others, Talon, I think we should talk,” Gnome tells you, her voice very quiet.

>And that’s another thread guys

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this thread. I’m not sure how well the change of pace the dungeon crawl brought worked. I’m also not sure how interesting the challenges were. It was certainly interesting to write.

With that said, this was a pretty amazing place to roll this exceptional. Better than rolling it doing something mundane.

Next thread is 5pm EST, 4th Jan (today). Hope to see you there.
>>
>>29273144
The thread was fun. Now I will sleep.
>>
Rolled 15

>>29273144
our rolls have been inversely proportional to the power of our foes.

I liked this thread, it was a nice change of pace to be a dungeon delving party instead of general leading an army. Both in terms of plot and in terms of mechanics.
>>
>>29273144

It was a lot more tabletop feeling. Party going from encounter to encounter. It's a dungeon crawl kind of hard to avoid, but I enjoyed it, we won't be doing it a lot I figure so it really gives everyone a good combat fix for awhile.

There is a lot more to Talon then we even remotely know.
>>
>>29273191

Adding to my post. I'm really interested in us meeting "monsters" for the first time. The Trapper and the "Wolves" were really cool encounters, and I hope Mal is interested in researching them a bit, an add a bestiary to the Lore.
>>
>>29273185
>>29273191
That's an interesting way to consider it. Designing the crawl was pretty fun, I will say, even if I worried over how different it would be from the rest of the quest. At the same time, this sort of format is what most boss fights will be like. There's some crazy high power levels in the world and if you want to be emperor, you need to box with them.

As it is, I'll probably skip the ascent tomorrow to avoid bogging down the quest. Especially now there's this minor reveal with the latest exceptional.

>>29273245
One of the things I wanted to put across was that monsters are supposed to be rare and strange. These aren't goblins or giant spiders - they're genuine monsters. As for Bestiary, you can probably expect it written up over my next break. I'm not sure how comprehensive I'll make it or if I'll just add notes on monsters you've encountered so far.
>>
>>29273144
Amazing ending to a fairly interesting thread.

10/10 quest
>>
>>29273271
>One of the things I wanted to put across was that monsters are supposed to be rare and strange. These aren't goblins or giant spiders - they're genuine monsters.
I admit I was expecting giant spiders and goblins and this was so much better. I didn't recognize any of the monsters and they had some pretty diverse effects that we had to content with.
>>
>>29273401
By picking the dangerous path you made it interesting, really. The other path would have involved more of a Capture the Flag approach, where you would have need to fight past a large number of random spirit summons to dispel a font of energy, followed by a cavern filled with mischevious water sprites.

Instead you got a teleporting illusionist shank monster and mana-eating wolf-bear-things.
>>
>>29273144

Just read the archives. You be doing great in this quest. Thumbs up.


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