Welcome to Banished Quest!You take the role of a young mage, labeled a criminal by his people and cast out into the wider world. In the last thread, you managed to assassinate the Lord Steward of Anthus. Thanks to your companion setting a house across the street aflame, you slipped past the guards looking for you made a fairly clean getaway. Now you go to meet up with your companions and leave the city.Character Sheet:http://pastebin.com/8wLGz3HQDice:http://pastebin.com/nhswziq6Magic:http://pastebin.com/aYPzn0aUFluff:http://pastebin.com/ydKwNLbaArchives:http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Banished%20QuestTwitter:https://twitter.com/Quidam_Asino
You avoid the main roads, instead sticking to alleys and side streets as you weave your way towards the tavern outside City Hall. A glance behind you reveals that the orange glow of the burning house has grown brighter rather than dimmer as men and women rush to fight the flames. A bad sign, though you comfort yourself with the knowledge it has only been a few minutes. There is still a chance to contain the blaze, a chance no further loss of life is necessary.You cast your thoughts forward, to your escape attempt. Worrying yourself over the welfare of the citizenry will get you nowhere, they're not your responsibility. Making sure you're out of the Upper Quarter before it's sealed off and searched on the other hand, is. Granted you're not certain that the Upper Quarter will be sealed off. You did an admirable job of framing the prostitute for the murder, but if the rulers of this city are at all paranoid or even just cautious they'll seal it off anyway. You certainly would.You step out of an alley adjacent the tavern just as a guard rushes in, calling for everyone to grab a bucket, a barrel, anything that can hold water. You don't really catch the rest, instead jogging to the general store a block or so down the road. Your guar are waiting there, though Chryssa, Profectus, and Fulvia are nowhere to be seen. You untie and mount Al Gasreed, waiting impatiently for any sign of your companions and eying the tavern warily, just waiting for some guard to burst out and try to rope you in to fighting the fire.(1/2)
Time for adventures.
Fortunately your companions arrive before any mob of civic-minded volunteers can come pouring forth to hassle you. Chryssa hauls Profectus onto the back of his guar, strapping him into his saddle and lashing the guar's reins to her own. Fulvia mounts and rides a short distance ahead, waiting for the three of you to catch up. In but a few moments your party is riding hard for the Upper Quarter's gates, stealth sacrificed in favor of speed.As you approach the gate you see four guards wearing scaled armor and wielding pikes. Their uniforms are different from the vast majority of other guards you've seen in the city. The robes they wear beneath the armor are a deep burgundy, and detailed with elaborate golden knotwork. If you had to guess, these were some sort of elite. Fortunately they seem perfectly at ease, it doesn't seem like they've heard of the assassination or the fire yet.>Act natural, ride past if they let you, stop if they don't.>Just charge through, you need to get out of this city as quickly as possible.>Find a different gate, you don't want to risk interacting with people who are actually competent.
>>31411940>Act natural, ride past if they let you, stop if they don't.
>>31411940>>Act natural, ride past if they let you, stop if they don't.
>>31411940>Act natural, ride past if they let you, stop if they don't.We got our master robes and done with the city for the moment, if they ask.
>Act natural.Writin'
You pull back on the reins of your guar, companions following suit. You try to look casual as you ride past the guards, cloak solidifying as the light from their lanterns hits it. They watch you with apparent curiosity as you approach, though your companions don't receive nearly as much attention. You're pass the first pair of guards at the entrance to the gate, but as the rest of your party enters the guards in front of you block your path with their weaponry. The guards behind you do so as well, trapping you under the heavy iron portcullis above.“Έγγραφα.” The one to your right addresses you, though you still don't understand that language. Fortunately you hear Chryssa's voice filter through your mental connection. {He's asking for your documents, your pass}. You reach into your cloak and withdraw the wooden tablet, passing it to the man. He inspects it for a moment before snapping it in half. “Ακαδημία επισκεπτών;”Once more, Chryssa pulls you out of the fire. {Say ναί, it means yes}. While it would be nice to know what you're agreeing to, you don't really have the luxury of time. “ναί.” The guard nods, and motions the guard to your left forward. He starts inspecting your animals, searching through your saddlebags, even manhandling your cloak! You don't raise issue, causing a scene would just slow you down, but before he moves on he takes some jerky from your saddlebags and absentmindedly chews away while moving on to Chryssa's guar.(1/2)
You assume this is some sort of extortion, or just plain robbery, but you'd rather deal with corrupt guards than diligent and attentive guards. You're settled in to wait when you hear the guard inspecting Chryssa's guar and saddlebag give a pained shout. He twist around to get a look and see him clutching his flattened nose, blood pouring through his fingers. Chryssa shouts something in that strange language, Dwoveth if you recall correctly, and the other guards are shouting back just as angrily as she.This could turn really bad really quickly. You're going to need to speak with her about anger management if this becomes a pattern.>Fight!>Flee!>Talk!
>>31412369>Talk! or Flee!
>>31412369>>Talk!we either bribe them to leave us alone or we have to fight them. rather bribe them so as not to be very noticable
>>31412369>>Talk!If we can put that silver tongue to good use let's do it. If not,[/spoiler] >Flee!, they're not gonna report us fleeing when they were stealing shit from us anyway.
>>31412369>Flee!We've got the advantage of being mounted, lets use it.
>>31412369>>Talk!>IntimidateThey have our papers already. They searched us too.Do they really want to fight and make an enemy out of a master vatis?
>TalkRooooll me 3d10+2 vs DC 21
Rolled 1, 10, 2 + 2 = 15>>31412525
Rolled 17, 6, 10 + 2 = 35>>31412525we will talk them so hard they will beg us to leave.
Rolled 7, 10, 1 + 2 = 20>>31412531>wrong dicefuck
Rolled 6, 7, 3 + 2 = 18>>31412525
Rolled 9, 3, 7 + 2 = 21>>31412525Bullshit powers activate!
>>31412530>>31412531>>31412555spend 6 vys for great successI don't want to waste money on bribes
Spend 1 Vys
>>31412555>>31412559Spend 4 vys to make this a success.>>31412577It would take at least 10.
>>31412577We can't get great success. we can have noral success with 4 vys.
>>31412577Oh waitI misreadspend 1 for regular success thenI suspect well need to give a small bribe then
>>31412530>>31412555>>31412559>15, 20, 18 vs DC 21>Severe Failure!Spend 4 vys to make it a regular success? Current pool is 21/25
>>314126071 would make it a failure. We need 4.see>>31412602>>31412605>>31412613yes
>>31412577>>31412597>>31412607>going into quests without reading the rules>>31412613Yes.
>>31412613Yes
Rolled 4, 5, 9 + 2 = 20>>31412613spend them,
>>31412613yes
>>31412613Yes>>31412626I thought he asked for a d20 asshole
>>31412660He has never asked for a d20
>>31412685I misread
>>31412693No, as in, he never asks for a d20.Well, i can't really blame you though since i was the one who rolled the d20s. Other anon has a point in what he is saying though.
>>31412734I follow a lot of quests There are a fuck ton of dice systems.I've been here since thread three.
You're going to have to try and talk this out, you don't want any guards giving reports of some strange Samja in robes seemingly made of shadow, his two mutant companions, and the illusory woman. That would place you attempting to flee the scene of the crime shortly after it was committed.First, you heal the man's nose. It's not hard, soft tissue is easy for you to piece back together. He looks confused for a moment, before setting his eyes on you. He shouts something in that language of his that certainly doesn't sound like a thank you. You interrupt him brusquely by asking. “Do you speak Rhynian?” He glowers at you, but the guard who took your pass speaks before he has a chance to. “I do, slightly. You will need to buy a steep price in order ought we forget this!”>Vys Pool: (17/25)You condense water in the air to ice, binding the hands and feet of each of them simultaneously and freezing them to the cobblestone streets. “Really? A steep price you say?” You lean forward, adopting a sinister tone. “How about I let you live, and your friend gets to keep that piece of jerky he took from my bag. I'd say resisting the urge to end you here and now like the scum you are is paying a fairly steep price.”That seemed to do the trick. His eyes bulge and he bows as best he can with his hands and feet immobile. “Yes! Yes! You go unraped!” Really horrible word choice there. Then again 'raptus' can mean five or six things depending on context, you can hardly blame the guy. “You speak of this to no one. You never saw us, you've never seen anyone vaguely similar to us. Understand?” He nods his head vigorously, and the four of you ride on. You only release their hands and feet once you're around the corner and out of sight.(1/2)
>>31412821>You go unraped!Oh lord, my sides!
>>31412821Yes
>>31412821>“Yes! Yes! You go unraped!”Well thanks. I like to go unraped. It's a bit disturbing otherwise.
>>31412821>You go unrapedHeh, reminds me of that scene in the beginning of Witcher 2
Well, they were rather underwhelming for those you'd thought of as 'elite'. Perhaps no better trained than any other guard, merely better equipped? It wouldn't surprise you based on what you've seen of this city so far. It's really more like five cities that hate each other doing their best to cooperate.Griping aside, you make good time through the city after that. The lower quarters seem largely unconcerned with what goes on in the Upper Quarter. No guards try to stop you and while the streets are certainly still busy, they're not clogged with masses of bodies as they usually are during the day. Only once you reach the lowest portion of the city, the section nearest the bridge to the mainland and the port, do you begin having difficulty.Your cloak, rather paradoxically considering its properties, is drawing a lot of attention. You hear whispers of 'phantom' and 'shade' from the various laborers and workmen milling about in this section. A child begins to cry at the sight of you, and men watch you warily, as if at any moment you intended to leap from your mount and rip their souls from their bodies. The sea of people seem to part in front of you, but some paranoid portion of your mind starts shouting about witnesses. You'll need to ride past half the city to get to the mainland, and the whole way is lined with people. Surely someone will think to remark on the ghostly figure and his companions fleeing the city.>Head to the port instead. The market will be closed and you can surely find a ship to buy passage on.>Just ride as quickly as you can for the bridge. The faster you're out of here, the sooner you no longer have to worry about it.>Find a place to change. An inn or a bar. Even a reasonably secluded alleyway will do in a pinch.
>>31412984>>>Find a place to change. An inn or a bar. Even a reasonably secluded alleyway will do in a pinch.Not an alleyway or anything like that though, that's just asking for muggers.
>>31412984>>Head to the port instead. The market will be closed and you can surely find a ship to buy passage on.
>>31412984>>Find a place to change. An inn or a bar. Even a reasonably secluded alleyway will do in a pinch.Put the cloak in our bag.We can just take it off while riding, it's not hard.
>Find a place to change. An inn or a bar. Even a reasonably secluded alleyway will do in a pinch.
>>31412984>Head to the port instead. The market will be closed and you can surely find a ship to buy passage on.Probably a faster way to reach the Water Temple anyway.
>>31412984>>Find a place to change. An inn or a bar. Even a reasonably secluded alleyway will do in a pinch.
>>31413051not really, they aren't going to just drop us off at the coast, they head only to ports.not to mention they document travel
>Place to changeWritin'
>>31412984Just remove the cloak and we are fine. It's easy. Why are we wasting more time and effort on this?
>>31413133>Removing our cloak in the middle of the street, with a crowd of spectators.>Revealing our face to a crowd of already suspicious peasants.
>>31413095OP what did you think of Talislanta?
You look around for an inn, or a drinking hole, or even just a reasonably empty alleyway where you could take a moment to whip off your cloak and pack it away in your saddlebags away from the public eye. You ride on for a block or so before turning down a side street, and then eventually stopping in front of a fairly abandoned and, quite frankly, shady looking hole in the wall. You dismount and do your best to conceal yourself behind Al Gasreed when you remove the cloak. It returns to coherency once removed and you fold it neatly before stuffing it into your saddlebags.As you mount up once more, you hear shouting from the main roads. Casting a glance towards City Hall you see the orange glow hasn't yet abated. In fact, it's only grown brighter since you fled that section of the city. You can see black smoke billowing skywards and the barest hints of flame licking up from behind the horizon of rooftops. You can't make out what's being shouted, but it's likely related to the fire. Chryssa draws your attention by snapping her fingers insistently before riding off ahead. Fulvia spurs her guar after her, and you follow along mildly offended.Once more on the main road you ride hard for the bridge to the mainland. You hear shouts of fire, and the momentum of the crowd is definitely against you. You spot guards standing at every other street corner, shouting instructions in several different languages. They're ordering all citizens to return to their homes, as a state of emergency has been declared and the city is being placed under martial law until such a time as the situation can be controlled.>Rooooll me a 3d10 flat! Lets see if you beat the guards to the bridge.>DC 18
Rolled 1, 10, 2 = 13>>31413342
>>31413308I'm enjoying it so far. Still working my way through the player's guide before I start on the DM's guide.
Rolled 3, 9, 9 = 21>>31413342Run Gasreed! Show us the meaning of haste.
>>31413357Favorite part so far?
Rolled 8, 6, 9 = 23>>31413342
Rolled 9, 7, 6 = 22>>31413342
Rolled 4, 2, 7 = 13>>31413342
>>31413402>>31413355>>31413359Use 5 vys to make it a great success.
Rolled 1, 2, 5 = 8Fly Shadowfa . . I mean al gasreed!!
>>31413355>>31413359>>31413402We made it.
>>31413379Definitely the big ass section on cultural differences at the beginning of the book. Either that or the rules for magic.>>31413355>>31413359>>31413402>13, 21, 23>You made it!Writin'
>>31413445Spend 5 vys
>>31413445The cultures in Talislanta are one of the things about it as well the Windships.
>>31413487*best
>>31413472Let's not waste it
>>31413509A great success guarantees there are no witnesses to us, and we get out early, plus we still have more than enough vys.
>>31413357>>31413379>>31413445Where did you get the books?
>>31413509Vys Pool: (17/25)We have enough to spend 5 vys on it, and we need the edge on this.
>>31413528There are plenty of witnesses and it would only save us a few seconds because our rolls don't affect our allies.And there is no such thing as too much Vys.Especially if we run into those bandits from earlier.
>>31413561>talislanta.com/?page_id=5I posted this last thread.
>>31413575I would rather make this a great success where it needs to make sure there are no hiccups, and bandits wouldn't hang out this close to the city.
>>31413575How about witnesses seeing which side we leave or, when we left or in what direction, or how we look like.If we can hinder these than 5 vys is more than enough.
>>31413636dude they're not going to pursue us. They have bigger shit to worry about, like the entire city burning down. Most of them probably hated that fucker anyway.
>>31413618Regular success means no hiccups.
>>31413672>Most of them probably hated that fucker anyway.How so?There is no real indication that anyone hated him.We only got one version of the story as well.
>>31413694It meant we succeed, in our objective, but by hiccups i meant in that they could find out where we went, or that we would be forced to wait and have to go through another search.
Could you people please contain your autism?
>>31413701All the lords hated eachother and were all vying for control.Which means when one dies his territory is quickly swallowed up by the others.
>>31413739There's no evidence to suggest any of those.
You spur Al Gasreed into a full sprint, initially overtaking Chryssa and Fulvia until they follow your lead. The closer you get to the bridge to the mainland, the more militarized the city becomes. Several times you're forced to weave past marching formations of city guards and avoid the impromptu checkpoints set up on the road out of the city. Fortunately nobody pays the four of you any particular mind, those guards at the gate either kept their mouths shut or only provided a description of you as a shadowy cloaked figure.Finally it seems you break out in front of the advancing military, the road ahead of you clear of any soldiers and the bridge in sight. You ride past the two great stone statues that flank the bridge, depicting two soldiers crossing their swords in the air to form an archway, and only pull back on Al Gasreed's reins once you're well past the bridge and riding along the cliff face that separates the sandy beaches from the dense grasslands. You've done it! You murdered a high ranking political figure, set the wealthiest section of the city ablaze, and made a clean get away.(1/2)(Internet crapped out for a bit.)
>>31413772>All the lords hated eachother and were all vying for control.Your right about control, but this guy was the leader of the city, so he must have been the leader of this group.>>31413793There are searches at each gate, but i do admit i'll drop the knowing where we went part.
>>31413834He was the treasurer.Nowhere close to the leader
You ride along at a slower, easier pace just to put some more distance between yourself and the city. Only once Anthus is well and truly out of sight do you start considering where to actually go, now that you're not forced to laze about the Academy. You could head north, to Chiron. That's where Sadik said you should spread the word that you're looking for employment. Supposedly that Elven warlord who's gem you're supposed to acquire would contact you about a job shortly afterwards.Alternatively, you could go southeast, towards the great mountain range that separates Elaudia and Pidjata from this region. It would provide you a direct path into Elaudia and might allow you to take a shortcut eastwards, thus allowing you to skip a brutal slog through dense jungle in search of the Elaudian Steel Recipe you owe Hayes.Finally, you've been wanting to check out that water temple the letter you found in Eshnuk spoke of. Perhaps they hold the key you need to reach Grandmaster in Water magic? To become a Water Grandmaster at your age would be quite impressive, especially since water is typically thought of as an element for older, wiser, crazier Vatis. Of course, you'll have to dodge patrols and do your best to conceal the scar on your cheek, but you think you can manage.>Head to Chiron.>Head towards Elaudia, via the mountains.>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.>Screw all that, pick a direction and start wandering. You'll make your own way.
>>31413834>Your right about control, but this guy was the leader of the city, so he must have been the leader of this group.Just stop your retarted arguements and read the quest.
>>31413851>>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.
>>31413855>>31413845my memory must have fucked up there, then since i figured if he was trying to make the academy under his control, he was a person of power.>>31413851>>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.
>>31413851>>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.It's right on the tip, almost no time in actual pidjata
>>31413851How far is Pidjata and the water temple?
>>31413851>>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.>>31413894Look at the map
>>31413851>>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.So lets go that a way, if anyone asks when we get back to the city later we can say we heard about this place and wanted to do a pilgramige there in honor of us becoming a water master
>>31413851quick question did we heal our scar?I remember we healed it when we were a lower level, but not at master.So can we heal it more so it isn't as noticeable?
>>31413851>>Head towards the Water Temple, in Pidjata.>>31413914We do not know how to remove scar tissue.
>>31413834>>31413885It was stated that Lord Spiros, the Steward, was the 'brains' behind Lord Hodei, the Chairman. However, he was not the de facto or de jure leader in any form.>>31413894On guar, assuming you stop to rest during the hottest part of the day and travel only in the mornings, at night, and in the evenings, it would take roughly a week, maybe slightly longer or slightly shorter depending upon weather and what not. You'll probably want to stock up on food as well before entering the desert. Guar tend to eat a lot when they can't graze.>>31413914One cannot typically heal scar tissue, since it's perfectly healthy tissue.
>>31413851>>Head to Chiron.We can work a bit on improving other vys while we are on this job. No rush to be a grandmaster.
>>31413938You told us we would buy supplies before leaving.
>>31413938we bought supplies before we left though.
>>31413943That guys is Grandmaster of like three elements.We are not starting until we are Grandmater of atleast one
>>31413938Can we burn/injure a large area then heal it so that it doesn't have a scar?
>>31413960>>31413972Food was not among those supplies, at least nobody mentioned it that I recall.>Head for the Water TempleWritin'
>>31413960>>31413972This is true
>>31414008We are not getting rid of the mark anon, not that easily.
>>31413943>>31413985Also to note, is that when we took the spice, soma said its power and ability was equaled to being a grand master in 2-3 elements.Also we should try to figure out how to master metal.
>>31414022We could as the nice people inside the mask o' doom for help
>>31414014You said basic travel supplies including winter gear and the like.Grrrrr.>>31414008>>31414022We could just burn the entire cheek and have that scar.
>>31414036Metal will not help with that.
>>31414036Later.
>>31414048almost as bad, i like the idea of cutting the cheek off and healing that.
>>31414048Ah, I believe I said that in particular before you took the assassination job. In which case, the situation changed. There was no time to buy supplies.
>>31414022That's pure bullshit. We can heal wounds, and cutting off a flap of face and healing it is far less of a task than what we've done so far.
>>31414071it was confirmed to help with mental fortitude, and would help with the spice, and our insanity.>>31414084So we still need supplies?
>>31414071Metal supposedly helps us not go insane, which would help an ass ton
>>31414048>>31414084How had will getting food from the desert be?we're a master in water so we should be able to do something
>>31414114Also we have the nature staff, so with those two we could make a grazing feild for the mounts.
>>31414084I always assumed getting supplies included that, not just poison powder and shit. Well, anyways, nothing to do about it now. We'll have to somehow deal with it. Where is the nearest place we can get some supplies then?
>>31414095We probably have some supplies.
>>31414142Chryssa's a hunter. I'm sure we won't starve.
>>31414084We could look for a village on the way there.>>31414095>>31414096The spice will still have a chance of killing us.
>>31414071It will. We need it in general against any other vatis anyway.
>>31414136Good idea.Also we have 4 days rations
>>31414136Yes, this. Work on earth and get the guar fed.
>>31414159>Earth: Manipulating the ground, creating pillars of stone, sinkholes in the sand, hurling boulders. Also useful for debuffing others, corroding their armor, et cetera.>Metal: Defense spells. Making yourself hardier, warding off mental effects, fortifying armor.
>>31414159Also we could kill those Bandits and take their food.
>>31414187It DRAINS VYS no amount of magic will protect us from that.
>>31414215where does it drain vys?
>>31414215Soma said that higher levels of Metal would help us manage the Spice.Which is what we're talking about. The Spice.
>>31414220What?
>>31414234It doesn't drain vys, but it has the side effect of making it harder to recovery from the imbalance it does to our body, but with metal we could handle it more.
>>31414215Metal will alleviate the effects of the spice.Not to mention getting grandmaster in water might put considerable strain on our mental health and metal will prevent that.
>>31414261We can get metal after we get Grandmaster in Water.Metal is priority number 2 now.
>>31414273Well I disagree. Basic metal would be first, then water. Nature for when we go to Elaudia.
>>31414293Water > Metal > Nature > Meta/EffectsThis is our to-do list
>>31414319No, that is your list. Everyone has their own. Stop being a faggot.I agree with the list though.
>>31414319So you want to spend a few weeks on water and ignore everything else when we could get basic metal in a couple of days and avoid all future mental disturbances.That doesn't make a lot of sense.
>>31414340I was just putting it out there
>>31414014Hey soma does cutting off our cheek idea work with getting rid of the scar?
>>31414347>basic metal>avoid all mental shitthat's not how it works.
>>31414347Probably take like a week.And why would grandmastering water harm our sanity?also this>>31414363Also we have no idea how to actually meditate on Metal
>>31414357It would more likely replace the current scar with a smaller, but still fairly obvious, scar. It wouldn't give you away immediately as having been banished, but it would be suspicious.
>>31414384well than let's do that.
>>31414384What about just burning that side of our face and healing leaveing one giant scar?
>>31414363We can at least avoid some of them. I'm sure the more extreme meditation techniques' effects will be severely downgraded at least.>>31414380That's true, we should still focus on water if we can't find a metal book but finding a basic one shouldn't be hard at all.
>>31414384Or we could cut off bits and pieces of our cheek so we get that hip stained glass look
>>31414405It would be the same deal, except the scar would be slightly larger instead of slightly smaller than your current one.
>>31414411We're going to a Water Temple.
>>31414405I like the way you think.
>>31414384Well then we know what we are doing next time we make camp.Have Chryssa cut it and then heal it.
>>31414424>>31414384Let's do the first one the next time we stop.Also we read while we ride of course
>>31414428So? Pidjata is magic central you think any decent town won't have a library?
>>31414384so what about the nature staff+water+earth idea?
>>31414457We are going to an ancient abandoned Water Temple that has been deserted for thousands of years.We will be avoiding all towns because we are a kill on sight criminal to them.
>>31414468We should try it when we next make camp.But we may need Nature magic for that to work.We could probably get the basics to Nature in a few hours though.
>>31414468I'd recommend experimentation. It's a pretty good idea.
So what shall we read while riding?
>>31414527Abusing Metaphysics.
>>31414527finish the book we were reading.
Ritual Book of Surya (3/16 Chapters Read) How Earth Vatis Built the Rhynian Empire (Unread) On Empire: The Rise of Civilization (Unread) Excidium (Unread) Abusing Metaphysics (Unread) Breaking the Ninth Barrier: Fire Magic and You (Unread) Research Data (Unread, Encoded) Encoded Rhynian Letter (Unread, Encoded) Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know (Unread) (Slow, Speed, Confuse, Manipulate, Leech) Utility Effects (Unread) (Mark, Animate, Create, Confuse, Sleep) Enhanced Interrogation (Unread) (Pain, Poison, Hallucinate)
>>31414571>Five Effects Every Vatis Should KnowSkip straight to leech.
>>31414578Seconding
You turn towards the south, or at least what you're fairly certain is the south. You've always had a fairly good internal map, but the moon has always been less reliable than the sun for judging east and west, not to mention the local landmarks are largely unfamiliar to you. Only once the mountains start to come into view do you become confident of the direction you're going.You ride largely in silence, at least until Profectus wakes up. He stirs slowly, shifting his weight in the saddle. Chryssa had the good sense to strap him down, but that didn't stop him from bouncing, shifting, and flopping every which way while the four of you were making your mad dash towards the bridge. Once he's laboriously righted himself he clutches his stone arm to his chest and takes a look around your surroundings. “Where are we?”“You pushed yourself too hard and passed out, we only managed to escape the city an hour or so ago.” Chryssa informs him matter-of-factly. “So the distraction worked?” He asked. You sigh. “A little too well actually, a good portion of the Upper Quarter looked ablaze when I last saw it. Think you might have overdone it a tad.” Glancing back at him, you see he's blanched a shade paler. “Was anyone hurt?” He ask in a worried tone. You respond with a shrug. How does he expect you to know?While Profectus considers this, Chryssa addresses you. “Where are we headed? We've been traveling South for a while now, but you haven't mentioned.” Ah, right. Should probably tell them. “I'd like to investigate that Water Temple the letter we found in that abandoned fortress spoke of.” She responds with. “How do you know that place is still inhabited? The letter was ancient beyond belief, the temple might have collapsed into ruin for all we know.” You shrug your shoulders. “Then we get to explore a ruin. It's a win-win either way as far as I'm concerned.”(1/2)
Fulvia seems giddy, to the point she's bouncing up and down slightly in her saddle. “I've never traveled before. Really I shouldn't have ever left the Facility. What's Pidjata like? Are the people friendly?” You pause to consider this. Are your people friendly? “Only to those they like, and they don't particularly like foreigners. They'll do business with you, sure, but many will likely consider you inferior to us. As for the land itself? Hot, dry. Very beautiful once you learn to appreciate it. It's hard to describe to someone who has yet to experience it.”You pass the time in this manner until an hour or so after midnight, at which point Fulvia finally seems satisfied and agrees to leave you to your reading. The question is, what should you read?(Pick One)>Ritual Book of Surya (3/16 Chapters read)>Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know>Utility Effects>Enhanced Interrogation>How Earth Vatis Built the Rhynian Empire.>On Empire: The Rise of Civilization>Excidium>Abusing Metaphysics as if They Were Your Servant Girls: Tricks for Metamagic Meditation>Breaking the Ninth Barrier: Fire Magic and You
>>31414612>>Five Effects Every Vatis Should Knowstart with Leech
>>31414612>>Ritual Book of Surya (3/16 Chapters read)
>>31414612>>Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know
>>31414612>>Five Effects Every Vatis Should KnowLeech it is. By the way we should test how much vys the wave sword can hold sometime, if we learn leech we could use it as a battery.
>>31414631>>31414662SecondingLeech is the most usefull shit ever.
>>31414631Agreed and also ask fulvia if she can decode all the encrypted stuff
>Five Effects>Skip to LeachWritin'
>>31414631Seconded.
Does anyone have ideas for travelling faster or differently with magic?
>>31414787Should be good for us. We can train our magic and read books while we get to the temple. Every one could focus on meditating and getting their shit together.
>>31414787Eh we are good with this speed, unless we want better mounts.
>>31414881Please leave
>>31414787short of making a magic carpet no..Random idea just struck me, if we find a way to make something similiar to a magic carpet through runes and such why cant we do that to something larger? Say a wagon or a boat.
>>31414881Er, what?>>31414889I'm just thinking about us ever getting chased or being in terrain our guar can't handle.
>>31414943Might be a size/weight thing
>>31414787We would need better mounts.
>>31414787Airships from Aleamond.
>>31414963Later Anon.Aleamond will come once we are god tier. (Grandmaster of at least three in my book)Because they hate magic and we are a magic centric race.
Soma you still keeping track of food supplies?
You reach into your saddlebag, pulling out a section of your cloak and shoving your hand inside. You feel the spine of a book pressed into your palm, and you withdraw the Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know. Ricky certainly is useful, you're starting to wonder how you got by without some sort of cloak that can store items and houses a monster from another world. Hauling around so much junk in bags and pouches was a real hassle.You crack the book open to the index, finding the section that details Leeching. It starts at chapter twenty, and has five chapters dedicated to it. It's the last effect detailed, though hopefully not the hardest. Then again even if it is the hardest, effects tend to be far easier than metamagic or elements to learn.The first chapter on leeching details what it's used for. According to this book, at its most basic leeching merely transfers the vys inside one item into the caster's reserves, though attempting to leech vys when your reserves are full just causes the drained energy to leak out into the surroundings. Still useful, if one wishes to drain an enemy Vatis of their spell casting ability.(1/2, or 3)>>31415057Only when food supplies would be scarce.
When leech is combined with elements, it tends to withdraw all of that element from whatever person or object it is being cast on. So leeching water from a plant will cause the plant to whither and water to collect above it. Leeching fire from something will drain it of heat, or snuff out a flame. Leeching earth and metal from something isn't typically useful, though the author talks about the possibility of leeching pure metal from a lump of heated ore. Leeching nature has no known effect, though the author states he would never want to discourage anyone from experimentation.You start to realize the further you read, everything in this book pays homage to the number five. Each sentence uses as many five letter words as possible. Tries to keep the number of syllables as close to a multiple of five as it can. You start to suspect that even the number of words on any one page is some multiple of five. You recall that the Archmagos had mentioned the author was starting to lose it when he wrote the book, but this seems just a tad excessive.You try to ignore it and move on. After it talks about the effect's synergy with the elements, it goes on to talk about its affects when combined with other effects, be they outlier or metamagic in nature. Leech doesn't typically work with things like beam, blast, leaping, or even ranged. In order to cast a leech spell, a Vatis must touch their target. Otherwise it simply won't work. Leech poison will slowly withdraw poison from the body of the caster, eventually removing it entirely. Speed Leech will draw vys, or water or fire or what have you, from the target far more quickly. Other than that the author, at the time of writing this book, hadn't found any combination of just terrible potency.(2/3)
>Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know (3/25 Chapters Read)You're about to move on when you see the sun is coming up, and your companions are starting to drag. With the exception of Fulvia, of course. She doesn't need sleep. Profectus looks unusually grim, down right somber in fact. You think he might be beating himself up over setting Anthus ablaze. Chrys is slumped forward on her guar, chin in her hands and eyes closed. She's been much more relaxed lately, perhaps she's finally growing comfortable?>You're about a day away from the mountain pass, push onwards.>You can camp here for the morning and set out in the afternoon, give everyone some time to rest. No rush after all.>Set camp, but not here. Find some place well away from the road and obscured by hills. You don't want any passer-by asking questions.
>>31415036>we march into the magic hating society riding on colossal golems while pulling knickknacks out of our magic cloak that just so happens to make us look like a spooky ghost
>>31415132>>Set camp, but not here. Find some place well away from the road and obscured by hills. You don't want any passer-by asking questions.
>>31415132>Set camp, but not here. Find some place well away from the road and obscured by hills. You don't want any passer-by asking questions.Them vatis sure are crazy.Might want to talk to Prof
>>31415117I didn't know KoG was a vatis.>>31415132>>>Set camp, but not here. Find some place well away from the road and obscured by hills. You don't want any passer-by asking questions.Better safe than sorry
>>31415137Mite b koolbut seriously we gather info first
>Set camp, but not here.Writin'. After this post I'll probably grab some dinner.
>>31415117>leeching natureHm. As it seems linked to extrasensory effects, leeching nature might make the target harder to notice.Or perhaps, make one take attributes of the target in some way? But then Nature seems more accurately called "Plant" - if it included a broader scope of living things then I could see that.
>>31415132>Set camp, but not here. Find some place well away from the road and obscured by hills. You don't want any passer-by asking questions.Inb4 bandit raidI say we take the firat watch with fulvia just incase because I don't know what she considers odddiffrent time period and all
>>31415229We could always do nearly all of the watch ourself. We don't need to sleep every day.
>>31414911No
So no getting our rhivian A.I to decode the rhivian encryption we found in her facility?
>>31415272But we do need to meditate.
>>31415295Yes. Someone can take last watch, being the time we need to meditate.
You start to glance around, looking for a good place to leave the old Rhynian road you've been traveling on. Eventually you find a game trail that cuts across the road, and you turn Al Gasreed into the break in the tall grass. Fulvia and Profectus follow suit, but Chryssa just keeps riding ahead for a few feet until you give her the equivalent of a mental poke through the network. That gets her to spring to life, and she jerks her guar around to get back in line with the group.{Where are we going now? Should we not keep to the road for a while longer if we want to reach the pass?} You hear Chryssa's voice filter into the back of your head.{Setting camp, you and Prof seem pretty tired. It's been a long day and we're not in a rush to begin with.}The channel closes after that, and it doesn't take long following the game trail before you find a nice little clearing in the grass. It looks like some guar had grazed here, because the grass is trimmed down to barely an inch long, where typically it's almost as tall as you are mounted on Al Gasreed. The four of you dismount and Chryssa starts setting up the little tent she brought with her when the two of you fled Khmedi. You're starting to regret not buying one yourself, seeing as you'll be sleeping on the ground tonight, if you decide to sleep that is.Profectus, you note, has set to picking blades of grass and weaving them together. You're not sure for what purpose he does this, though it seems quite involved. He's also quite good at it. Fulvia merely stands at the edge of the clearing, a slight smile displayed on her projection. The guar meanwhile are setting themselves to grazing, attacking the long grass with vigor.>Get comfortable and read a little more.>Find a place to meditate.>Experiment with an artifact or spell>Ask Profectus what on Earth he's doing.>Ask one of your other companions something>Write-in
Aaand be right back. Food time.Man, I feel surprisingly with it for having only an hour of sleep to my name today. Hopefully I don't just crash terribly.
>>31415353>Get comfortable and read a little more.
>>31415353>>Ask Profectus what on Earth he's doing.then ask chrissa how her magic atemps progress
>>31415353>Ask Profectus what on Earth he's doing.>Get comfortable and read a little more.
>>31415353>>Ask Profectus what on Earth he's doing.>>Get comfortable and read a little more.Let's comfort Sparky and finish reading the Leech chapters. Maybe even meditate on them.
>>31415353>>Get comfortable and read a little more.>>31415285>rhivianOh look, another ignorant namefag.
>>31415353>Experiment with an artifact or spelltry the nature+water+earth idea.
After our therapy session with Profectus, we should teach him vys manipulation basics and move on to fire shit if possible. He's strong, but he really has no idea what the fuck he's doing.
>>31415353>Ask Profectus what on Earth he's doing.
>>31415410This
>>31415410thirded
>Get comfortable and read.>Ask what Prof is doing.Writin'
>>31415057
>>31415409Yes because misspelling the fictional name of a fictional fallen empire makes me ignorant. Its not like im asking to meditate while riding.
>>31415727>Yes because misspelling the fictional name of a fictional fallen empire makes me ignorant.You are absolutely right.
>>31415708
>>31415820
>>31415954>640x287Got that one any higher?
>>31416014I thought I did but I think I accidentally purged it
>>31416056Just found this
>>31416014Reverse imaged searched it:https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lO7CzDFDvnQ/UHoEdxsX1lI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/SDvL3aRraqU/w1218-h685-no/mystery.png
>>31416108>>31416117
>>31416192>gifAlso, the second one >>31416117 looks terrible and stretched if you didn't notice.
You withdraw your cloak from your saddlebag and wrap it tightly around yourself. It ought to make sleeping a bit more comfortable, or at least you hope it will. Once that's done you find a spot at the edge of the clearing where you can lean back into the tall grass; it's sturdy enough that with enough of it packed tightly together it supports your weight easily. Then you crack open your book and set to reading.However, you find yourself having trouble focusing. Mainly because whatever it is Profectus is doing is far more interesting than how this author thinks one should meditate on Leeching. It almost looks like he's constructing some kind of large sling, or perhaps a blanket of some sort? You puzzle over it for a time before deciding it would be best to just come out and ask him. “What are you making?”“Hammock.” He responds promptly, glancing over at you. When met with your uncomprehending stare he cocks his head to the side. “You don't know how to make a hammock? Really?” You shake your head, Chryssa stops erecting her tent for a moment to stare at you as if you'd just said you don't know what the color red is or something similar. After a minute or so of that you start to get annoyed. “Well staring at me certainly isn't illuminating the matter any. Care to explain?”Profectus speaks up. “A hammock is like... an elevated bed, sort of. It's woven from rope, or in this case grass. You string it up between two sturdy post and because of the way it's made, it sort of conforms to your body and traps you inside. Like a cocoon, sorta. Keeps you from falling out. Anyway, it's what we were trained to make in case we ever found ourselves in the grasslands without a tent.” You wrinkle your nose. “It doesn't sound very comfortable. Besides, where are you going to find 'two sturdy post' in the grasslands?”(1/3)
Profectus waves you off, returning to his work. “Just watch, it'll become clear as I get closer to finishing.” Chryssa decides to spoil it for you. “You can make a sturdy enough post to support a hammock by tying a bunch of grass shoots together. Everyone who lives their life in the grasslands learns how to make a hammock as a child.”So it's a bed, basically? You've no clue why they acted as if the hammock was some self evident truth of the universe. There is hardly any grass in Pidjata, let alone grass long enough to weave into a bed. You decide to change the subject. “How goes the meditation, Chryssa?” She shrugs her shoulders. “It goes acceptably. I'm starting to grasp the final points of physical channeling. The other day I even managed to crack a marble pillar with a single punch.” A pause. “Usually it takes two.”Sometimes you forget how freakishly strong she is.Your questions answered for the moment, you dice back into your reading. The fourth chapter on Leech finally gets into the nitty gritty of leech. Namely, how to learn it. The author suggest focusing heavily on the process by which one gathers vys from the surroundings in their initial meditation, then apply the same principles to either a charged target or a living creature. He ask the reader to conceptualize leeching as merely drawing the breath of life from someone or something else, rather than from the ambient vys that surrounds us all.(2/3)
Finally, the last chapter cautions readers not to abuse leech, as it can build a reliance. Focus too much on drawing vys from other living things, and one may forget how to draw vys from the surroundings. At least, that's his theory. To you it sounds like a load of bunk. Effects don't build dependency, artifacts might, but certainly not the spells themselves. His other advice is at least useful. It cautions Vatis that it's extremely easy to overdue a leeching spell and land a colleague unconscious or dead. Apparently if one does not actively cancel the spell, it will merely continue until there is no more vys left to drain. It self-perpetuates, in his terms.>Five Effects (5/25 Chapters Read)>May now meditate on Leech, if desired.You look up from your book, to see Profectus lounging in his strange 'hammock'. You have to admit, it looks rather cozy. He's snoring quietly and seems quite at ease. Chryssa has built a campfire in the center of the clearing, having torn out any near-by shoots of grass and surrounded it with stones. She looks over to you as you finish reading, and clears her throat gently. “How do you feel?”You cock your head to the side. “Fine, I suppose. Why do you ask?” She speaks hesitantly. “I mean... about killing that Spiros fellow. I vividly recall how much I regretted my first kill.”How do you feel about having killed Lord Spiros?>It was necessary, but on some level you still feel guilty. The reward helps.>No regrets. He was a corrupt official intending to slaughter his own people.>If you could do it all over again, you probably wouldn't have taken the job.
>>31416241Eh, was just going for a bigger size, not a lot of images dug up by the search honestly.
>>31416352>No regrets. He was a corrupt official intending to slaughter his own people.
>>31416352>>No regrets. He was a corrupt official intending to slaughter his own people.I recall we happen to have a certain dislike for skeeze-bags who abuse their power.
>>31416352>It was necessary, but on some level you still feel guilty. The reward helps.JEW
>>31416352>>If you could do it all over again, you probably wouldn't have taken the job.
>>31416352>>No regrets. He was a corrupt official intending to slaughter his own people.
>>31416352>No regrets. He was a corrupt official intending to slaughter his own people.He was a piece of shit from the moment we met him. It was like killing any common bandit.
>>31416352>>It was necessary, but on some level you still feel guilty. The reward helps.
>>31416352So Vys vampires are a thing? Neat.Probably sucks to be one though
>>31416352>>No regrets. He was a corrupt official intending to slaughter his own people.He was a dick, we have no problems killing dicks
>No regrets.Writin'
>>31416523>>31416468>>31416409wHEN DID WE MEET HIM AGIAN?
>>31416536In the bar with all the other rich assholes.
>>31416536At the tavern with his noble buddies.
>>31416536We met him in a tavern said like 2 words to us I think
>>31416536At a bar, five days before you killed him if my math is correct. He didn't say much, you mostly spoke with Lord Hodei.
>>31416547>>31416550>>31416557>>31416561Ah ok, i was just wondering why people were saying he was a dick, since what we have is the one persons word against his.
>>31416577>one personsThat one person we consider a friend.
>>31416595After Our other friends comments, not so much anymore.
>>31416609Pretty sure he was when we spilled everything to him.Hearing a claim of him being two faced isn't really much reason to stop considering him a friend when it isn't based on much and not necessarily bad for us anyway. Plus, hiding shit is to be expected of someone like him, I'd be disappointed if he wasn't capable of deception.
>>31416706Oh he still is our friend, but i'm hoping people will stop blindly trusting him now.
>>31416706Plus he help us a lot, and gave us cool cloak.
>>31416754>gave us cool cloak.Wrong, he gave us a chance at the cloak, but not the cloak.
>>31416754Those three creepy guys gave us the cloak. Pretty sure he had a different artifact in mind.
>>31416795Actually we could ask for any one artifact.
>>31416752>will stop blindly trusting him>blindlyWe aren't. He hasn't done anything wrong and more importantly, hasn't been anything but a cool dude to us while helping us save our shekels.
>>31416810I doubt we would had asked for a cloak to be honest.
>>31416790>>31416795OK, he gave us access to artifact creating creepy constructs. He is still directly responsible for proving us with a cool cloak.
>>31416826We told him about the mask, and our plans.
>>31416826He also pays in advance with high quality goods.
>>31415954
You contemplate for a moment, assessing your mental state to the best of your ability. “I don't regret it. Certainly I did not relish the act, but he was a corrupt official intending to sic mercenaries on his own people. He got what he deserved, better than he deserved in fact.” She nods her head, and there's a brief pause before she speaks again. “It is good you recognize that he was a vile man, and that you do not grieve his death.” She cocks her head to the side, thinking for a moment. “I would be loathe to follow the kind of craven who thinks even the amoral deserve to be treated as people.”You grin. “Well how nice it is to know you don't consider me a coward. If anything, I'd say I'm brave to a fault. What with shoving ominous mask onto my face without a second thought, and huffing some variety of ancient plant extract to enhance my magical power, and strapping myself into a thousand year old device designed to stab me in the chest. Not to mention the plethora of other questionable decisions I intend to make before I retire peacefully at the ripe old age of two hundred.”She sighs in good-natured exasperation. “You know, one of those bad decisions might just kill you, and all that aside even the best adventurers rarely make it past a decade or two in the profession. Usually they end up being horribly disfigured by some malfunctioning Rhynian artifact and retiring.” You shoot back with. “Well unlike most adventurers, I can reattach my severed limbs. Wouldn't even be that hard... probably. I mean, I'd need to try it to find out.” She winces. “Please don't.”(1/2)
>>31416826Blindly trusting some one is never a good idea, you can trust people and still be a good freinds.
>>31416849He was horrified that we used the mask (for obvious reasons) and seemed genuinely worried.
>>31416849Yeah, and? He's our friend and those aren't really things needed to be kept secret, especially since he's an/the Archmagos and has more experience with that shit than Mikhael does.>>31416875>Blindly trustingWe aren't.
Does she actually think you'd chop off your own arm just to see if you could reattach it? Sure, you're curious now that the thought has crossed your mind, but you certainly wouldn't ever attempt it. Sober. Probably. The conversation sort of peters out after that, and you turn your thoughts inwards.>You should catch some shut-eye. You want to cover a lot of distance this afternoon.>You should meditate on something, if you don't practice you can't improve!>You should read some more. After all, you'll have plenty of time to meditate at the Water Temple.>Write-in
>>31416909>Write-inAsk Chryssa about her first kill, I'm curious now.Then>You should meditate on something, if you don't practice you can't improve!Meditate on Leech.
>>31416909>You should meditate on something, if you don't practice you can't improve!
>>31416909>>You should meditate on something, if you don't practice you can't improve!
>>31416923Second.SOCIAL LINK GO!
>>31416907Yes we are, our trust in him is based in only knowing him for a few day which is strange for how much we told him.>>31416909>You should catch some shut-eye. You want to cover a lot of distance this afternoon.GOtta Go FAST
>>31416909>>Write-inAsk her to cut our cheek so that we can heal it, and then try the making plant life idea, and then mediate on leech.
>>31416923This we never seem to really take some time and talk to our companion s
>>31416909>You should meditate on something, if you don't practice you can't improve!Let's give leech a shot.Also, experiment with the wave sword. Dump like 15 vys in it at once to see if it can hold.
>>31416963>Serious conversation>Awkwardly peters out>"Can you cut my cheek off?"Perfect!
>>31416972We are insane, so it does makes sense.
>>31416923>>31416965Yeah we should, social links go!
>>31416957>>31417000Social Link Mind
>>31416991On the insane scale Soma said were about either a 4 or 5 We should ask Fulvia if she can teach us the basics of metal
>Social links!>Maybe ask her to cut our cheek off!>Probably meditate after that!We'll get to each as we come to them. Writin'
>>31417007>2 minutes apart>claiming hivemindNice try
>>31417015that thought never crossed my mind, i do think she should be able to teach us metal, also ask her if she can improve her use of magic.
>>31417035I'm baked so I'm not sure what you mean. But oaky.
>>31417064
>>31417033>Social linksIf we ask for social link time with one of our party will you actually do it? Do you have things planned for the characters in our party and our conversations with themI really want to talk to Fulvia about that time she was staring a Chryssa
>>31417111Oh yeah, if y'all seem more interested in getting to know your party members personally, rather than keeping it purely professional, I'll allot time to that. The way I figure it, having some downtime to relax makes the adventurers more interesting, as long as the downtime doesn't stretch too long.
>>31417147>having some downtime to relax makes the adventurers more interesting, as long as the downtime doesn't stretch too long.Wise words.
>>31417147Good. Because while I do enjoy characterization, I don't want this to turn into waifu quest number 4125. Shit drives me crazy.
>>31417202Mikhael's hypothetical waifu would have to compete with his lust for being a Jew, love of adventuring, recklessness and his insanity. It's impossible.
>>31416871
>>31417033still eating?
>>31417465Nope, just an information-dense post.
>>31417322
>>31417479Wh-what did you eat?
“So, you know-” She glances over at you. “-you were there to see my first kill. If it's not just terribly rude to ask, could you tell me about yours?” She bites the corner of her lip for a moment before nodding. “It is quite an... involved story. Are you sure you'd like to hear it?” You shrug your shoulders. “We've got nothing but time, no pressing obligations, nowhere to be. I'm interested.”She takes a moment, likely collecting her thoughts, and after what seems like a few minutes finally begins speaking. “It was... four years ago, now. I had just reached marriageable age and my Father had given me a courting sheath for my birthday.” You gently clear your throat to interrupt. “I'm sorry, courting sheath?” She blinks a few times, and then seems to have a revelation. “Right, I suppose it wouldn't make sense for everyone to have the same courtship rituals as my people. When a girl seeks a husband she either buys, inherits, or makes a courting sheath. It's usually made of wood, and decorated with cloth and bangles. Then suitors will attempt to put a certain type of knife, called a Xifidio, into the girl's sheathe. If he succeeds, the girl can either accept him as a suitor by keeping the knife, or refuse him by casting it to the ground.”(1/3, or 4)
“Your people aren't big on subtlety, I take it?” You ask as perfectly straight faced as you can manage. She shakes her head brusquely. “No, we're not. We hold that obfuscating one's meaning is nothing but being dishonest. If you can't say something plainly, don't say anything at all.” You nod along, gesturing politely for her to continue. She obliges. “As I was saying, my father gifted me a courtship sheath. I began wearing it on my hip and, though I'm sure the horns dissuaded many one man proved to be particularly persistent.” Here she pauses, seeming tentative. “Do you remember that guard who hassled you at the gates of Khmedi?” You nod your head. “Of course, he later attacked us in an alley. How could I forget?”She cleared her throat. “Well, his name is Mazhar, and he's... technically my husband. Technically. The union was never consummated and thus we're really only betrothed, but according to Polopian law he is my husband.” You're surprised, considering how much she obviously despised that man. You try not to show it though. “So what does this have to do with your first kill?” She nods her head. “Right, well. I'll speed this up a bit. He bought a paralysis tonic from a local alchemist and slipped it into my drink, then used the opportunity to put his knife in my sheath.” You snicker, she glares at you. “The potion did not last long, as it was designed to paralyze a normal person. Not a... mutant.”(2/3)
You nod along, but you still don't really see how any of this relates to killing anyone. “Normally I would've just discarded his knife and have been done with it, but... well, according to Polopian law, to insult or impinge the honor of the military is punishable by death, and the guard is technically part of the military. Really, I had no choice but to accept. After that he demanded that I kill his brother as part of my sacrifice to his house-” You hold up your hands to stop her. “Wait wait wait, you have to kill someone as part of your courtship ritual?” She bristles a bit at your condescending tone. “Yes, we do. It is our belief that only through the death of another can new life enter the world. The bride killing one of the groom's enemies is taken as a sacrifice to the gods, to ensure future offspring.”It's becoming increasingly clear her culture is intensely militaristic. You motion for her to continue, and she does. “I didn't want to kill his brother, but if I didn't he would've had me arrested and then I'd have been killed instead and, well, I paniced. I took my father's bow and snuck out into the grasslands during a time I knew his brother liked to hunt. I tracked him to a small clearing, and shot him three times, twice in the back, and once in the neck. After that I used the xifidio to sever his head and-” Gods above, what? They require a woman sever the head of her husband's enemy before marriage? “-presented it to him according to the proper ceremony.”You have zero clue how you're expected to react to this. None at all. That was... that was not what you'd expected.>”I'm... sorry?”>”Wow...”>”Your people have some really barbaric practices.”>”That guy is dick.”>Write-in>>31417529Breakfast sandwich from Subway. It was alright.
>>31417666>"Wow...">”That guy is dick.”
>>31417666>”That guy is dick.”Seriously, fuckin wow
>>31417703Exactly that.
>>31417666>”That guy is dick.”
>>31417666>”Wow...”Yeah, Chryssa and the society she is from is pretty hilarious.
>>31417666>”I'm...sorry?">”That guy is dick.”>Write-inSo is divorce not possible?
>>31417666>”Your people have some really barbaric practices.”>”That guy is dick.”
>>31417747Like Kyou Kara Maou.
>>31417666>”Your people have some really barbaric practices.”
>>31417754Pretty sure we killed him that alleyway
>>31417666>”Your people have some really barbaric practices.”We are Mikhael after all>>31417754>according to Polopian law, to insult or impinge the honor of the military is punishable by death>divorce being possibleWow, I really wonder...
>>31417666>>”That guy is dick.
>>31417789No he ran away.
>Wow...>That guy is a dickWritin'Fun Fact: Polopian courtship rituals take their inspiration from the aboriginal Atayal headhunters of Taiwan.
>>31417794I think she already insulted him
>>31417666>>”Your people have some really barbaric practices.”We should tell her our peoples courting laws.>>31417822Can we telll her our courting laws.
>>31417666>>”Wow...”>>”Your people have some really barbaric practices.”So instead of skipping town while heading towards the guy, she just killed him?
>>31417822Ask her if she is still a virgin.
>>31417876WHY?
>>31417876That seems entirely inappropriate.
>>31417892we are from a middle eastern people.
>>31417876Duuuuude.Not cool.She's already shown that her people, or just her are pretty goddamn prudish.You're asking for a crushed windpipe.
>>31417525
>>31417903Yes and?
>>31417892Stop yelling fagtron.>>31417876Mikhael is not often polite, but I doubt he'd give a shit and assume, probably correctly, that she isn't.
>>31417876It seems you think we may get lucky.But what is much more likely to happen is she gets angry and punches us in the throat with a fist that recently mastered the art of cracking marble floors in one punch.
>>31417914I can't tell if you're being racist or retarded right now.I think both.
>>31417892>>31417903>>31417918Eh, it just seems something he would ask, as a follow up since she did follow through with the wedding, my follow up question would had been if she reared any children.
>>31417960See >>31417645>The union was never consummatedSo she didn't screw him, though that doesn't preclude her screwing someone else.
>>31417952>implying her super cunt strength would allow anything up in there
>>31417933>>31417960Actually we are less crazy than Hayes.
>>31417960we haven't seen any sexual tendencies come to light or his sexual history imply anything.Far as we know he could have been a pimp in his days as a vatis in training. Or dedicated to the mastery of omega the master vatis!
>>31417960>it just seems something he would askWhy would he give a shit? Mikhael doesn't even care about sex when we could have payed for the best woman back in the city with his new riches.
>>31418035Just the flow of conversation since she is speaking about marriage and how her people are blunt and don't like beating around bushes.
So instead of having her cut off our cheek, we should see if we can, instead of healing flesh, sever it with water magic instead. We could even make it a meditation practice, if we can, that would have some serious offensive applications.
>>31417931
>>31418063We already know they didn't consummate their marriage.Asking if she's a virgin just kinda makes us seem slow. She already said no one else liked her because of her horns too.So yeah.Let's get off this shit.
>>31417957>racistNot being racist if its true.
/tg/-socially suave
>>31418114Sure, i did miss the part where she didn't follow through though.
>>31418063while im sure she would "appreciate" that we're so blunt due to her "customs" most of us here agree to thinking she would still crush our wind pipe.be it anger/any other emotions she may feel. * but mostly anger about asking for her sex life*
>>31418101A high pressure water attack would probably be longer ranged too
>>31418114>she mentioned something that pushed people away>we didn't say it didn't bother usWell looks like we aren't getting her route
>>31418138Speaking of which has she shown to be that reactionary to a question like that?I understand that she has a temper, but i don't recall her getting that angry yet.
>>31418138>most of us here agreeSpeak for yourself namefag>she would still crush our wind pipeNo she wouldn't.I don't want to ask her, but you're still pretty stupid
>>31418153water whips,freezing them or suffocating them.
>>31418177I agree with you there, i do think she might get angry, but i have no clue why people think she would act like a cliched anime girl.
>>31418168>implying OP would ever EVER bog down his adventures with waifuing
>>31418168Dude...What the fuck does that have to do with anything I said?How does asking if she's a virgin convey we don't mind the fact she has horns?For the matter, who gives a shit about routes.This is not a goddamn waifu quest. You know the only route I care about?Money, Cool Artifacts, Great Power and Immortality.Waifuing can go suck a guar dick.
“Wow...” You're not quite sure what else to say, so you say the first thing that comes to mind. “That guy is a dick.” She stares at you like you've grown a second head. For a moment you think she's about to slap you upside the head for saying something so stupid, but then she starts laughing. It's a dry, bitter laugh but it's still probably the most emotion she's shown since you met her. “Yes, he is a dick. If my father had not been sick I would've abandoned that town right then and there.”“In my culture, one's parents merely form a contract with another family to marry you off. Typically there will be only a husband and a wife, though a husband is permitted to have multiple wives if he wishes. It's not a common practice, due to the financial burden it entails. Contracts are typically made when the two contracted parties are young and they're socialized together from an early age. I was actually suppose to marry the daughter of the Shah's brother's son-” You can't help but let a hint of pride enter your tone, it would have been a rather prestigious and advantageous marriage had it gone through. “-but after I showed exceptional talent as a Vatis I became an employee of the state and my life was devoted to study and service.”Of course, most Vatis father many bastard children, and many typically keep live-in mistresses throughout their lives, but officially becoming a Vatis means swearing oneself to celibacy. That always sort of amused you, especially considering how lecherous your master was.After a fashion Chryssa stands and stretches. “I believe I will rest, I enjoyed the talk, Mikhael.” She begins to retreat to her tent, and you recall an idea you had on the journey over.>”Wait! Chryssa... c-could you... cut off my cheek?”>Leave it for now, just meditate.>Write-in
>>31418247>It's not a common practice, due to the financial burden it entails.JEEEWS>”Wait! Chryssa... c-could you... cut off my cheek?”
>>31418247>”Wait! Chryssa... c-could you... cut off my cheek?”Full stutter mode
>>31418247>”Wait! Chryssa... c-could you... cut off my cheek?”
>>31418247>>Leave it for now, just meditate.
>>31418247>If my father had not been sick I would've abandoned that town right then and there.”+1 to Chryssa for not being an honorable retard like I thought she might be>”Wait! Chryssa could you cut off my cheek?”Don't stutter, we're crazy, not hesitant
>>31418247>>Leave it for now, just meditate.Let's wait until the water temple, maybe we can find a better way to heal it there.
>>31418247>lecherous your master was.So he did fuck anything that was alive and had a hole.
>>31418247>Leave it for now, just meditate.
>>31418344Water temple is in our country, where they shun people with our mark, and actively hunt them.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAlNrtcPCLw&feature=kp
>>31418247>>Leave it for now, just meditate
>>31418394>>31418371>>31418353>>31418344>>31418296>Leave it>>31418286>>31418280>>31418290>>31418290>>31418297>>31418299>>31418308>Please mutilate my face.Writin'
>>31418280>>31418286>>31418290>>31418297>>31418299>>31418308ALL OF YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:Look at the bonuses we have because of the branding.We made friends which the Arch Mage. We talked our way past the bandits.Honestly, we're still going to seem seedy as fuck with the brand gone.People might assume we had a worse one. Slanderer is not so bad as far as brands go, and it also helps us with the criminal element.
>>31418412Can I change my vote:>>31418299To leave it, just meditate?
>>31418440>>31418371At least remove your name.
>>31418418We are marching into the territory where if we show our mark we will be killed
>>31418247> Leave it for now, just meditate
Lets do this final destination style, since it's a pretty important decision.Vote>1To ask her to slice up your face.Vote>2To leave the brand for now.
>>31418440nah computer lagging i'll delete it.
>>31418458I know, but slicing off our cheek isn't a foolproof solution.We can just wear our armor, with the visor down.
>>31418412Why would Mikhael hesitate cutting his cheek off?He didn't hesitate shoving his head in a vacuum, getting stabbed through the chest into the spine, putting on a mask from an evil magic cult or getting high on magic roids that may have had some side effects.This is bullshit man, you can't just make him not crazy anymore. i'm literally in tears
>>314184772
>>314184771
>>31418498Because it might not be the smartest choice. This isn't about hesitation, it's about Pros and Cons.
>>31418492slicing the cheek makes the scar smaller, the brand is already small and making it smaller is useful, hell remember when that other person from our race acted towards us?He acted like we were filth, by just looking at our face.
>>31418111
>>31418556And what are they?This brands us a criminal scum.We are heading into a territory where they are openly hostile to people with brands, and hunt them for fun.
>>31418556>Because it might not be the smartest choice.That didn't stop Mikhael doing whatever, he didn't stutter. He's reckless as hell and considered insane, it isn't about you considering it a bad idea, but how it happens if it wins.
>>31418566>>31418546>>31418513>>31418502>Don't cut>>31418506>>31418508>>31418518>>31418526>>31418543>CutWritin'
>>31418573>less than a handful of archerswhy?WHY?
>>31418567Gah, but that's only in our country, somewhere we have no intention of staying long, because even without the brand there's still the whole slandering the prince thing. We'll die if there's noise of our return. We wanna get in, get out and then explore elsewhere.And elsewhere, our people will generally be branded. Because those are the ones who explore, and the branded are all brothers.
>>31418606>>31418607Does this make it a tie?
>>31418635Nope, it came in after the five minute mark. That's the cut off for final destination votes.
>>31418635Honestly its gonna be a tie again so lets just go with what he said.
>>31418635No, the vote was called.
>>31418646Than at least cut off the votes.
>>31418607Terrible decision folks, but oh well.Here's hoping we don't run into other Branded.
>>31418692Not all branded are good folks, you know that right?
>>31418674He did...>>31418607
>>31418635nope. it's fine later on once we become a grand-master if we can't heal it completely im sure we can improve the scar a bit. Or improve it a bit more now by focusing on meditating on water and dedicate to healing that slowly but cell by cell or something.
>>31418711Of course not, they're all criminals.But with the Brand we're one of them. Those bandits earlier would've killed us as easily as breathing. The Brand made us their brother though. Heck that brotherhood even allowed us to pull Chryssa safely through the situation too.
>>31418758We would have given them a good fight.
>>31418758>implying we aren't op as fuck now
You do your best impression of a nervous teenage boy. “W-wait a minute, Chrys... could you, uh-” She glances at you, eyebrow raised suspiciously. “-could you cut off my cheek?” She stares at you uncomprehendingly for a moment. “Is this some kind of cultural reference I'm not getting?” You shake your head, gesturing to the remains of the brand on your cheek. It's still fairly clear as to what it says, though it would probably be hard to pick out from a distance. “No, I mean, cut off my branded cheek so I can heal the wound. I'd do it myself, but I don't exactly think I'd have steady hands while slicing my face.”There's a long pause, but finally she speaks. “If you're serious, and you really want me to cut off your cheek, I will do so.” She draws a dagger from her sleeve, standing up straight. “However, once I begin there will be no going back. Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?” You nod your head. “Yes, I am. We're going into Pidjata, and if they see my branded cheek they'll kill me. No trial, no questions asked. This way, there won't be any overt brand. Just a scar covering where a brand should be.”She nods along, and then moves to crouch down next to you. “Very well, lay back and try to keep your head still, This will hurt immensely.” You do as you're told, and open your mouth wide. She presses the knife to the flesh of your cheek and begins to apply pressure...>Roooll 3d10, flat. DC 23 to tough it out without squirming excessively.
>>31418758>Those bandits earlier would've killed us as easily as breathingNot really. We were still an expert water vatis with a superhuman mutant.
Rolled 2, 4, 7 = 13>>31418801
Rolled 4, 7, 9 = 20>>31418801
Rolled 3, 4, 10 = 17>>31418801
Rolled 5, 2, 1 = 8>>31418801>Accidentally cuts out our tongue.>We're now a mute.
Rolled 2, 5, 1 = 8>>31418801bb plz
Vys usage
>>31418780I don't know about that. We didn't have all that much in the way of versatility back then. And we were heavily outnumbered.>>31418793I'm not arguing that we couldn't kill those bandits now, I'm just saying, it's not bad to be on the good side of criminals.The Arch Magos is branded. He could whoop our ass too I'm fairly sure.The Brand was useful, but oh well, whatever.
>>31418827Spend 3 vys to make it a regular failure.
>>31418825>>31418827>>31418828>13, 20, 17>Severe Failure!Spend 3 vys to make it a regular failure?
Use Vys.That's one tough DC though.
>>31418869Sure
>>31418869Uh yes
>>31418855>He could whoop our ass too I'm fairly sure>implying we wouldn't use the roids that nearly made him shit himself to kick his ass>>31418869Yes
>>31418869yes
>>31418869Can we make it a Regular success?Spend as much Vys as possible
>>31418885>I see you cut off your brand>DO NOT SPEAK TO ME MORTAL
>>31418808They had bows and arrows. We did not possess ranged attacks back then. Superhuman Mutant and Vatis does not trump getting pincushioned. We might've won. We might've lost. 60/40 split in their favor.I meant the killing as easily as breathing more to refer to their attitude.We would have probably died.
I suppose we can stay here for a day to heal whatever we just lost.Soma, can we up our pain tolerance?
>>31418872Well, we are getting a large portion of our face cut off. Wouldn't you cry like a bitch if that happened?
>>31418915We were a Expert Water Vatis with some crazy good armor.You seriously underestimating our damage avoidance powers. And our crazy Regen powers.
>>31418920If you experience intense pain frequently enough, you'll start to become less sensitive to it.
>>31418935>>31418954So was the roll just for how we took the pain or was it for the general cutting off?
>>31418954How about learning metal?
>>31418954Operation: Edge Lord is a go
>>31418954>If you experience intense pain frequently enoughTime for extremely painful vatis meditation techniques.
>>31418970Mainly just for the pain.>>31418974Metal would not only help you to handle pain better, but also make it harder to actually cut you.
>>31418954Would the Pain spell work for that?
>>31418987Just wait for when we make Master in Fire.
>>31418995Yes.Though, I'd caution torturing oneself is not typically the action of a sane individual. Or even really most insane individuals. Not even Hayes tortures himself.
>>31418995Let's not
>>31418994>make it harder to actually cut youHoly shit. Metal sounds strong as fuck.We need to learn some martial arts (add magic) so we can enter close combat range and not get stomped.
>>31419032Hayes Isn't a hardcore adventurer.
>>31419049We already have that.
>>31419049>>31419067We have some training already and Chryssa intends to help us take it further.
Ritual Book of Surya (3/16 Chapters Read) How Earth Vatis Built the Rhynian Empire (Unread) On Empire: The Rise of Civilization (Unread) Excidium (Unread) Abusing Metaphysics (Unread) Breaking the Ninth Barrier: Fire Magic and You (Unread) Research Data (Unread, Encoded) Encoded Rhynian Letter (Unread, Encoded) Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know (Unread) (Slow, Speed, Confuse, Manipulate, Leech) Utility Effects (Unread) (Mark, Animate, Create, Confuse, Sleep) Enhanced Interrogation (Unread) (Pain, Poison, Hallucinate)So how much Vys would we get for reading all of the books in our possession?Which of these count as Tomes?I remember you said something about The Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know would give us 6 Vys (one for each effect and one for completeion) Are any of the others like this?
>>31419032>torturing oneself is not typically the action of a sane individualWell we aren't really sane and hurting yourself for a good reason is different.>>31419067>>31419107Oh, I forgot about Marsala Ve. This makes things easier though. With metal increasing physical capabilities combined with current healing, debuffs and our martial arts, non lethal or lethal take downs close up will be pretty easy.
>>31419129>Marsala VeWe should look for books in our local book stores since we can learn and train in our home country.
>>31419114>Ritual Book of Surya (3/16 Chapters Read)1>How Earth Vatis Built the Rhynian Empire (Unread)0>On Empire: The Rise of Civilization (Unread)0>Excidium (Unread)??? >Abusing Metaphysics (Unread)1>Breaking the Ninth Barrier: Fire Magic and You (Unread)1>Research Data (Unread, Encoded)???>Encoded Rhynian Letter (Unread, Encoded)???>Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know (Unread)>(Slow, Speed, Confuse, Manipulate, Leech)6>Utility Effects (Unread)>(Mark, Animate, Create, Confuse, Sleep)6>Enhanced Interrogation (Unread)>(Pain, Poison, Hallucinate)4Is this correct?Not sure on Excidium due to the mystery box nature of it. Same with the encoded ones.
>>31419177Yup, more-or-less.
The knife digs its way into your flesh and you immediately jerk your head away, leaving a long slash down your cheek and across your neck. Chryssa glares at you. “Stay. Still.” Is all she says. You channel some vys into your cheek, filtering it into a paralysis spell in the hopes it will serve to numb the area. It works... sort of. It still hurts about as much as you'd expected getting your cheek sliced off to hurt, but at least this way you have a little trouble moving your neck. Chryssa tries to work as quickly as she can slicing off the scar tissue, but with you screaming and jerking around it's slow going work.>Vys Pool: 14/25Finally, she pulls the flap of cheek flesh off. You immediately raise your hand to your cheek and channel some healing magic. New flesh snakes its way across the gap, linking to the other side and weaving together into a large, round, horribly jagged scar. Smaller overall than the brand you had before, but fairly obvious that something was cut or burned off there. Hopefully you can get by on technicality and don't see anyone you know.You work your jaw open and closed a few times. Your cheek aches, but it's not the searing pain you'd experienced during the actual cutting. When you take a glance around the clearing, you see Fulvia standing at its edge. She watches with clear horror on her face, though after a time she merely says. “Organics are weird.” And goes back to her watch.You're surprised Profectus slept through this, and Chryssa eyes your branded cheek flesh warily. “Do you... want this?”>Sure, it's a great souvenir!>What? No! Toss it on the fire.After this, you intend to meditate on...>An element>Metamagic>Leeching
>>31419177>>31419205So that is a minimum of 20+ Vys to our pool for just reading all of the books in our possession, and that's if Excidium gives one and the encoded give none.We should really get to reading.
>>31419245>>Metamagicwe haven't finished reading Leech
>>31419245>Sure, it's a great souvenir!
>>31419245>>What? No! Toss it on the fire.>Metamagic>Leaping
>>31419245 well keep it as a souvenir also meta
>>31419246Technically, you only get 1 vys bump after successfully meditating on each of the effects detailed in the effect books. So while completion of the book only provides 1 vys, learning everything the book tells you as well provides 5 or 3 or what have you.>>31419278No, you've finished leech. You haven't finished Five Effects though.
>>31419245>What? No! Toss it on the fire.>Leech>>31419278We did.
>>31419245>>What? No! Toss it on the fire.>>MetamagicLeaping for that 2 bonus
>>31419245>>Sure, it's a great souvenir!>>31419245>>Leeching
>>31419245>What? No! Toss it on the fire.>Leeching
>>31419245>MetamagicLeaping>Sure, it's a great souvenir!
>>31419245>>What? No! Toss it on the fire.>>31419317Oh, you said that there was 5 chapters for it but it says we only read three chapters of the book
>>31419317Soma, is Mikhael some sort of prodigy?How is it in story that we get vys after reading?
>>31419332>>31419307Abusing Metaphysics would have given us bonus to the roll.
>>31419245>>What? No! Toss it on the fire.c'mon, we're not that crazyAlso Leech
>>31419245>What? No! Toss it on the fire.
>>31419376I'd say he is. We achieved Mastery of Water pretty young, and Grand Mastery isn't some far off dream and he specifically said that Water's Grand Master field is generally filled with the older, insane crowd.
>>31419317Oh i see.Then it would have been better to buy 5 different books on the effects to get the 1+ Vys for reading the tome for each effect and the 1+ for learning it.ehh whatever
>all these squeamish cowards not keeping the flesh to feed to Ricky.
>>31419455That is a bad idea.
>>31419473This is a bad, yet brilliant idea I think you mean.
>>31419307>>31419326>>31419332>>31419358>>31419387>Toss it on the fire.>>31419340>>31419314>>31419301>Keep it.>>31419307>>31419278>>31419332>>31419365>Meta>>31419340>>31419358>>31419326>>31419414>LeechingSo we're not keeping our cheek flesh, but we're torn on whether to go meta or leeching. Just to put this out there. Leaping will have a DC of 30 to successfully meditate on. Leech will have a DC of 20.>>31419376Well, in fluff I represent it as an expanded understanding of the world around him, and thus an increased ability to manipulate it. Any Vatis who really studies what they read can expect to gain a similar boost to their power.That said, Mikhael is rather competent for a Vatis his age. Then again, Samjan typically are. They're the most magically adept race known.
>>31419501The chance >>31419332to leech
I'll hold a quick Final Destination vote to see if I can break the tie, and then probably start next thread with that. I'm starting to burn out. Need my sleep.Thus, vote>1To meditating on leaping.Vote>2To meditate on leech.
>>314195372
>>31419527then change
>>314195371
Unrelated, is it leech or leach? They both look odd to me.
>>31419501Interesting.>They're the most magically adept race known.Oh fuck - do you have a vatis to normal soldier ratio? This is going to be really bad if they find out who we are.
>>31419594It's leech. Leach is something different altogether.
>>31419594leechThey know who we are.I don't even know what you're talking about
>>31419608Every Samja knows at least a little bit of magic. Every soldier is giving basic training with fire magic.
>>31419630meant to link to >>31419608
It's pretty clearly numero dos. I'll archive this thread.Sticking around for Q&A, suggestions, complaints, et cetera.
>>31419660next thread when?
>>31419660So were the guys right in saying that Chryssa would have crushed our wind pipe in asking of her virtue?
>>31419630>>31419652I meant that if they figure out we're an exile or act on suspicion that our scar was where a brand used to be, we're probably going to have some big trouble.
>>31419708We can always just mutilate our selves more and make us have a few more scars on our face, and say we got it from our training with our master.
>>31419708We aren't going to going into towns anyway.They won't send the military after us.All we have to worry about is bounty hunters if we get discovered.
>>31419660So does Pidjata have a standing army, or what?
>>31419738Perfect idea.
>>31419672Maybe Saturday, maybe Monday. Definitely no thread on Sunday.If on Saturday, I'll announce on Twitter when it is. If on Monday, look for it around 2 o'clock.>>31419699She would've been weirded out, probably a tad uncomfortable, but not necessarily angry. Certainly no more than a solid punch angry.>>31419748Each tribe in Pidjata swears a certain number of warriors to the Shah's armies, and they live and work in facilities supplied by the Shah. However, officially they're still members of their tribe before they're members of the army. Tribes have also been known to withhold troops as a protest against one policy or another.Archive here:http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Banished%20Quest
>>31419738Nah, leave it as is.We'll be leaving Pidjata as soon as we're done at the Water Temple anyway
>>31419797I like the idea of shopping in our home country, that is full of mages.
>>31419785Would getting some kind of home base be a reasonable possibility? Just a place to relax between adventurers. Maybe hole up in if shit hits the fan.
>>31419817That is literally the dumbest idea of the quest.We are not entering into any towns whatsoever, let alone the citys.We are just here for the Water Temple.There is plenty of world that doesn't view us as a criminal.
>>31419785Can we go shopping?
>>31419862That's the plan for when we're wealthy enough to buy an island.
>>31419878Soma said we are gonna be forced into the town soon.
>>31419862It's certainly a reasonable possibility, in fact you've had more than enough money to buy a respectable estate several times now, though you've spent it all each time.That said, I've stated it plainly in the past and will do so again. This is a quest about Exploration at its heart. Events will conspire to drive you out into the world should you stay sedentary for too long.>>31419887It is physically possible, yes. You could walk into El-Amin declaring to the world that you're Mikhael Abdul-Hakim and they can suck one.The Water Temple may also have goods, though it's unlikely they'll accept currency in payment.
>>31419862>Just a place to relax between adventurers. Maybe hole up in if shit hits the fan.Like some sort of base that was designed to hold out intruders? Maybe we could get a butler to take care of it, or some sort of AI, maybe with little golem servants? Too bad we didn't run into any place perfect for this before...
>>31419916No he didn't
>>31419967for supplies, he did.
>>31419952>The Water Temple may also have goods, though it's unlikely they'll accept currency in payment.I thought you said it was abandoned and ancient
>>31419952Can't they just buy stuff from us when we wear our suit of Armour and cover our face, or have one of our friends buy shit for us?
>>31419963Fuck the Facility. I don't know why you Facility Base people are so bent out of shape about that.I want something above ground. Living in the dirt is moles, miners and people in the outback for when it's too hot to be above ground.
>>31419952Have you gotten any ideas from reading the Talislanta books?
>>31419977There are many many ways around that.>>31419963Not worth it
>>31420016>Not worth itBut it was free!
>>31419985Characters speculated that it might, possibly, be abandoned. It's most certainly ancient. You'll have to get there to find out.>>31419977If it's supplies you mean, there will likely be opportunity to buy or forage for some before entering the desert.>>31419993They certainly could, and you could get away with it scott free if you were careful and clever. It's just risky.>>31420012Yes, though I'd rather not say for what in particular. That would be spoiling things.
>>31419996Getting a place is pointless anyway since we won't be back in this area for months. and then after that we'll be heading away for possibly years.Just a waste, better to sink effort into mobile stuff. If you really want a "Base" I reccomend pushing for acquiring an Airship. Or building one ourself
>>31418573Being an Art anon is suffering when you can't remember all the pics you dumped
>>31420052>They certainly could, and you could get away with it scott free if you were careful and clever. It's just risky.Thanks, thats all i needed to know, so we can shop at a library using such methods is good to know.
>>31420052Entering pidjataan citys and towns is too risky
>>31420084There is always an inherent risk, but at least now we know we won't get spotted automatically, plus by changing the scar we are less likely to get caught.
>>31420079You really thin they'll let us in without making us remove our armor? In the place where the brand criminals on the face? While we're traveling with foreigners? We would get discovered and have our shit stomped faster than we could blink.
>>31420120Anyone samjan who sees the scar will know what's up.
>>31420145Which is why I said it was pointless to cut it off and lose the friendly criminal benefit.Too late for that though.
>>31420052How far ahead do you have things planned? Even if it's just in a vague sense.
>>31420145>Hopefully you can get by on technicality and don't see anyone you know.Proves that we can roll to lie.(funny enough considering what our brand is).
>>31420177But any criminal would see it and know what we did.The scar shit only fools foreigners
>>31420181Maybe... up to 6 months of in-game time? Counting travel time, of course. It really depends on how quickly y'all get through things and what sort of quest y'all take up.
>>31420220>>31420177Actaully the brand is gone now, and no one knows what we did, now any one that knows our culture just knows we are branded.
>>31420227If we pass the 3 DC checks for Grand master, do we get healing first?
>>31420227Soma are you prepared to kill us if we either fuck up during a major event, in battle, or just do something incredibly stupid?
>>31420297>no one knows what we did>now any one that knows our culture just knows we are branded.do you not see how these conflict?Anyone who is familiar with samjan culture would know that we had a brand and cut it off.
>>31420325>>31420227To add on to that if we pass all 5 DCs and the special requirement, does our healing get better, if we get healing first after passing it 3 time?
>>31420220The Friendly Criminal benefit meaning the benefit of being brothers with other Branded you idjits.>>31420297And that's my whole point, the other branded are far less likely to be friendly to us what with cutting off the brand in addition to being branded. It's like saying we're shunning our own kind.
>>31420343Yes, but not the crime, like i just said.
>>31420377That's not a good thing.Slanderer is probably one of the tamest brands.Now we're just a criminal in their eyes, could be a thief, rapist or murderer.
>>31420325It depends on the method of meditation you use.>>31420335Yup, if you die I'd probably end Mikhael's story with an epilogue. I might put it to a vote whether or not you jump to one of your companions, but it wouldn't really feel right to just move on after the MC's death.I may or may not run something in the same setting after that. More than likely the new MC would be of a different race if that happened.>>31420350If you get a bonus early, it does not improve again when you get the full benefits.
>>31420373No it isn't, and no they won't.your entire post is just dumb and no one thinks that is true.>>31420377Either way it is a kill on sight kinda thing.
>>31420417Slander means our mouth caused some one to be exiled or killed, it can be just as bad.
>>31420435Can a person be branded for multiple crimes?
>>31420482As I recall, it just meant that we had levelled false accusations that got someone banished. Which in this case happened to be us. With true accusations.
>>31420521Exiled and banish are the same, but i remember in the recent meeting the guy said killed as well(could be wrong).
To clarify a few things about the brand.>Other Banished won't recognize you as their brother.They will, but you'll be the 'That Guy' of the criminal world. The guy who shunned their lifestyle. Those who went on to more respectable lives won't care as much as those roughing it as bandits or what have you. Those who similarly tried to remove their brands will identify with you more closely.>You'll still be attacked on sight.You will not, the guards may hassle you but they will not just kill you or arrest you outright. You'll be considered a dangerous element, but they will not just flagrantly break the law. They have to have proof positive that you were once Banished.Keep in mind I'm speaking in generalities, individuals may vary.>People will automatically assume you did the worst crime, whatever that crime may be in their view.It would vary from individual to individual. Some would assume you were a horrible murder rapist. Others would try not to make any assumptions.>>31420499No, typically if someone has committed multiple crimes they're put to death. If they have pull, they might merely get branded the more severe of the two offenses.
>>31420569Post this at the start of next thread, since i doubt every one has seen this.
>>31420569Will we ever be able to completely remove evidence of the brand?
>>31420569Haha! I was kinda, a little right.I'm happy with my partial vindication and can resume my normal schedule.
>>31420681That's the sort of reward you'd get with reaching Grandmaster level healing.
