>>32308550
Atalanta the resbian, of course.

>>32308550
>>THE MOON, THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
>MALE

Can we have an armor with owl motifs and a cape made of feathers?

>>32308568
Also, gnoll female.

I FOLLOW THE WAY, THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT
Let's get full Dredd.

Gender doesn't matter.

>>32308568
>>32308578
This, especially if we're going to be biologically accurate.

>>32308574
this

time for owlman or batman or whatever seems appropriate

>>32308550
>JASON THE HERO (Neutral Good)
>MALE
Because Jason was the coolest Greek hero and he wasn't even a demigod

>>32308550
>THE SUN, SOURCE OF ALL LIGHT (Neutral Good)
>FEMALE

>>32308550
Achilles the Champion

Futa

>>32308550
>THE SUN, SOURCE OF ALL LIGHT (Neutral Good)
>FEMALE

Votes down to Atalanta Chick or Moon Man. Please pick one of those; first to break the tie wins.

>>32308643

Moon Man

>>32308643
Moon Man

>>32308550
>I FOLLOW THE WAY, THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT
>MY RACE DOESN'T HAVE THOSE

>>32308643
>Atalanta Chick

File: NOBLE PALADIN OF THE MOON(...).jpg (153 KB, 727x1024)

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That's right, you are a Paladin of the Moon, from a broken land in the Far East. A human man in a shell of metal and leather, the owl of your family's house emblazoned on your breast, and a well forged naginata at your side. Your mentor rides beside you, the two of you on matching horses, as you discuss your final test of courage.

"The moon watches over us in the night, my son," the old man says. "Just as we watch over the land when darkness falls. Before you become a true paladin of our pearlescent goddess, you must slay a creature of the night, one that ekes back from the sun like a rabbit from a fire. It is our duty to teach them the fear of the light of the moon, just as they fear the light of her sister."

"Of course, shifu," you respond. "So, what beast shall I be slaying this day?"

"A bat, of sorts, has taken roost in a village not far from here." He shows you the village in question on a map. "Your duty is to root the creature out and break whatever sway it has on the village's people. The forever war is enough - we do not need monsters making prey out of men, yes?"

And so you rode outwards, alone, as is the custom of your monastery. You've a freshly silvered Naginata, and five days of trail rations. There are two routes to the village - one which circles around the Mountain, the other which cuts through it. The path around will be safer, but take longer; the path within will be swift, but dangerous.

>WHICH PATH DO YOU CHOOSE, NOBLE PALADIN?

>>32308858

>Path Within

Guan Yu doesn't fear no bandits

>>32308858
CUT THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN.

>>32308858
>The Path within
We ain't no bitch

>>32308858
path within

>>32308858
>the other which cuts through it

WE ARE THE FORCE OF A THOUSAND MOONS

>>32308858
>Path Within

>>32308858
>Uses picture of Guan Yu
>Naginata and not Guandao

comeonson.jpeg

Path within

>>32308858
>not praising the sun
what is this faggot inferior thread?

>>32308944
YOUR RIGHT THIS WAS A MOST GRIEVOUS ERROR. BUT ALL THE PICTURES OF NAGINATA PEOPLE I COULD FIND WERE EITHER SHIRTLESS OR CHICKS. SOMETIMES BOTH.

File: Spoiler Image (188 KB, 292x288)

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You drop on your knees and pray to your goddess, asking for direction. Would it be better to risk the aid to the village and get their quickly, or delay but bring your aid most assuredly. The answer of course, is obvious - cut through the mountain with your glaive, as would the heroes of old when their land was in peril. Alas, you are not one of the heroes of old - not yet, at least - so you are forced to make a compromise.

You head through the tunnel.

It is dark, and carved straight out of the mountain's stone; dwarven work, if you eye does not deceive you. Or a human trained by dwarves, it can be hard to tell the difference. There is a foul smell upon the air, like rotting flesh and rancid blood. You do not falter in your stride, however - it will take more than a petty zombie to dissuade you in your quest.

The tunnel collapse. A smile play upon your face; more than a petty zombie indeed. What manner of clever creature of the night must this be, to know to box you in. You calm your horse, frightened by the shocks, and grab your naginata. Battle will be joined soon, of this you have little doubt.

>CAST A CANTRIP, AND BRING FORTH THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE MOON.
>CLOSE YOUR EYES, LET YOUR TRAINING TAKE OVER. YOU WILL FEEL THE BEASTS.
>A PALADIN HAS NO TIME FOR DAWDLING! CHARGE, BREAK THROUGH THE LINES AND SMITE WHATEVER DEMON DID THIS.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32309117
>CAST A CANTRIP, AND BRING FORTH THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE MOON.
Let's do this shit

>>32309117
>>CAST A CANTRIP, AND BRING FORTH THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE MOON.

File: FEI YU XIANG.png (21 KB, 516x479)

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ALSO STATS.

BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES A MOON BLESSED STAT SHEET.

>>32309117
>CAST A CANTRIP, AND BRING FORTH THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE MOON.

Show these motherfuckers we mean business.

>>32309117
>CLOSE YOUR EYES, LET YOUR TRAINING TAKE OVER. YOU WILL FEEL THE BEASTS.

PIERCE THE HEAVENS

>>32308550

>I FOLLOW THE WAY, THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT (Lawful Neutral)

>>32309185
>MAXIMUM CHIVALRY
As it should be

>>32309204

A bit slow there, anon

>>32309185
>maxed chivalry

I wouldn't have it any other way.

>>32309185

We are pure as fuck. All innuendo shall fly over our heads, all temptresses shall be met with an "Eh Nandatte?"

>>32309204
HOLY SHIT MAN, I KNOW THE WAY IS AWESOME (You would have gotten a falcata), BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE CHARGED BY A GOD DAMNED ZOMBIE HORDE LED BY ASIAN JACK THE RIPPER HOLY SHIT. A BIT LATE TO BE CHOOSING YOUR GOD NOW.

BE RIGHT BACK, GOTTA HELP MY BUD MOVE SOME STUFF FROM HIS CAR

>>32309117

>CAST A CANTRIP, AND BRING FORTH THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE MOON.

>>32309117
>>CLOSE YOUR EYES, LET YOUR TRAINING TAKE OVER. YOU WILL FEEL THE BEASTS.

>>32309117
>A PALADIN HAS NO TIME FOR DAWDLING! CHARGE, BREAK THROUGH THE LINES AND SMITE WHATEVER DEMON DID THIS.

>>32309117
>CLOSE YOUR EYES, LET YOUR TRAINING TAKE OVER. YOU WILL FEEL THE BEASTS.

Not sure I got here in time to vote, though I do like the Asian Moon Owl Paladin thing we've got.

File: KING ZOMBIE OH SNAP SON.jpg (307 KB, 578x800)

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You are not intimidated by the moans and growls of the living dead even as they close fast upon you. Your hand passes over the blade of your weapon while you shout an ancient prayer to your deity in tongue no longer spoken by the common people. The light of the moon fills your blade, reveal the twisted visages of the village's dead sprung to life.

Near the rear, one stands cleaner than the others, a fresher corpse whose sadistic grin you can smell passed from his life to this mockery of it. Its flesh twists and bends, splitting open to reveal blood dripping with knives and gnashing teeth. Mockery, anathema, an enemy of all things good and righteous. You steady your blade as he - it? - raises a finger to you, which splits open to reveal a knife of bone.

The beast breaths deep.

The knife shoots at you fasters than an arrow from a longbow - you dodge it, but only just, as it crumples against the steel of your scale mail armor. The horde of zombies takes this as a signal to charge, and charge they do, rushing at you in a wave of flesh and bone. You cleave one, then another in practiced swings, though claw and tooth and fist alike thud against your armor. Worse still, the single knife has become a rain, blades of bone and blood falling on you like hail.

>THAT ENDS IT. MAY THE WICKED BE SMOTE! (You may do this once)
>CLEAVE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ZOMBIES, YOUNG PALADIN. CONSERVE YOUR RESOURCES.
>CHARGE THE KING BEAST. LET RIP YOUR GLAIVE AND CUT HIM IN TWAIN.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32309605
>CHARGE THE KING BEAST. LET RIP YOUR GLAIVE AND CUT HIM IN TWAIN.
Take out the boss first, this isn't the thing we came here to kill right?

>>32309605
>>CHARGE THE KING BEAST. LET RIP YOUR GLAIVE AND CUT HIM IN TWAIN.

Guan Yu Time

File: Rip and Tear.jpg (42 KB, 301x249)

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>>32309605
>>CHARGE THE KING BEAST. LET RIP YOUR GLAIVE AND CUT HIM IN TWAIN.

>>32309605
>[WRITE IN]
Try to talk them down
"Halt, foul beast, we need not come to arms if we can resolve this peac-
lol just kidding lets fuck them up

>>CHARGE THE KING BEAST. LET RIP YOUR GLAIVE AND CUT HIM IN TWAIN.

>>32309605
>CLEAVE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ZOMBIES, YOUNG PALADIN. CONSERVE YOUR RESOURCES.

We can't let ourselves get swarmed here. Plus, all Badassess should be able to wade through mooks like its Dynasty Warriors.

>CLEAVE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ZOMBIES, YOUNG PALADIN. CONSERVE YOUR RESOURCES.

1000+ enemies killed combo incoming.

>>32309605
>CLEAVE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ZOMBIES, YOUNG PALADIN. CONSERVE YOUR RESOURCES.

WE GOT TIME BABY

WRITING NOW.

CHARGING WON! TIME TO BEAR DOWN ON THE VILLAIN!

File: LIKE THIS BUT NO SWORD; S(...).jpg (66 KB, 578x1000)

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You burst through the horde of zombies, showing no quarter as you swing your naginata wildly, cleaving a path through like a lumberjack does in the forests for the builders of roads. There is a time and place for mercy, for words instead of weapons, for chivalry instead of brutality; those are not to be wasted upon the likes of the mindless undead. You are lightning forged into steel and leather, unstoppable and untoucheable.

Your mind focuses on but one goal, the eyeless beast of knives and teeth that harrasses you with its blades. Your attacks upon his minions are quick and deliberate, struck only when they need be struck, when cutting one down would move you closer to the beast than dodging out of its way. When you burst clear, you can see it on the beast's eyeless face, the fear of the Moon that you put in him. You grin, perhaps enjoying this more than is healthy. No matter.

You leap at him, taking your naginata in one hand.

What follows is a family technique, a trick of the naginata passed from parent to child invented by your many greats grandmother. Owl Pierces Rodent, a leaping strike modeled after the way owls prey upon rodents - strike like lightning from above at the point where the shoulders meet the neck. With a proper twist, pop goes the head of the zombie. You execute it perfectly, making your ancestors proud of you.

>BETTER TAKE CARE OF THAT ZOMBIE HORDE, BUSTER!
>ONWARDS! TO VICTORY, AND DEATH TO THOSE WHO PLAGUE THE NIGHT!
>OH SNAP THEY'RE ATTACKING YOUR MOUNT! THOSE BASTARDS!
>[WRITE IN]

>>32310013
>OH SNAP THEY'RE ATTACKING YOUR MOUNT! THOSE BASTARDS!

And this was why we should have fought the horde first.

>>32310013
>OH SNAP THEY'RE ATTACKING YOUR MOUNT! THOSE BASTARDS!
My Horse, My Horse

>>32310013
>OH SNAP THEY'RE ATTACKING YOUR MOUNT! THOSE BASTARDS!

Rolled 1, 1, 3, 4, 6 = 15

>>32310078
HOLD ON THESE ROLLS ARE IMPORTANT.

>>32310296
Ded horse.

Ded quest.

>>32310296
Goodbye horse, you were a good horse

>>32310296
... I really hope those weren't for us or our horse. I swear to the Moon, if you guys got our horse killed with your charging in I'll..... do nothing cause this is an anonymous message board.

Dammit.

>>32310296
ripip horse.

File: BRIGHTSTAR AND LITTLE SIS(...).jpg (583 KB, 1200x900)

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(Dice: 1, 1, 3, 4, 6)
(Difficulty: 5[2])
(Successes: 1)
(FAILURE)

You turn around and let out a curse up the horde of zombies. Charging, perhaps, was not the best idea that crossed your mind, for it left a certain, more vulnerable member of your party at their tender mercies. When you decided to make yourself a less than easy snack for their hunger for human flesh, you forgot that they would also settle for the generally less satisfying flesh of the living. You sacred steed, Brightstar, has been surround by Zombies, and is not faring well.

You charge at the horde, wild swings of your naginata cutting them down like wheat against the scythe. Your horse makes a valiant effort, crushing dozens of the beast beneath its hooves. But you are not fast enough, and his efforts not valiant enough. You reach him before he dies, but the wounds are too deep, and you have not yet learned the art of laying upon hands. He dies valiantly, his heart finally giving out with another zombie crushed beneath his feet.

"BRIGHTSTAR!" You cry to the heavens. You turn to the horde of zombies, spinning your blade in a wicked, angry arc. "BRIGHTSTAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!"

The name of your fallen steed is the only word upon your lips as you charge at the remaining horde. Your blade lashes out like lightning, becoming a thicket of steel that cuts down all foul, evil creatures of the night that dare come near. You resolve above all else not to let a single zombie leave this place with its mockery of life intact. You have drank from the cup of rage, and you have let loose the fury.

The horde is dead. You are covered in their blood. Brightstar has fallen, and the way back has been cutoff.

>WHAT SHALL YEA DO, NOBLE PALADIN?

>>32310488
>the way back has been cutoff.
Then we must move foward
We're going to have to tell Imouto good horse died

>>32310488
>PRAY
>GO FORWARD

IN THIS DARK PLACE, WE ARE THE MOON.
WE SHALL RISE.

>>32310488
We give Brightstar a proper burial or whatever ritual is appropriate. May his soul be forever in peace with the alabaster goddess.

>>32310488
A prayer for our noble steed and on we go.

>>32310488
Well. Only a few posts into the first thread and we've already had our first casualty. I guess we try to drag Brightstar out of the cave so we can bury him properly.

I honestly don't know how to feel about a rather lighthearted seeming quest having us lose our horse this early.

>>32310620
Not lighthearted.
MOONhearted.

File: A VILLAGE, HOW SUSPICIOUS.png (785 KB, 1280x714)

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You drop to your knees. A silent prayer goes up asking the moon to guide your noble steed's spirit to rest, that he may join the stars in their journey around the sky. The only hope for a proper burial is to press onwards, to steel your heart and focus your righteous indignation upon the source. Whatever foul beast called these zombies its servants, it shall pay the toll with its life's blood, and you shall smite him where he stands.

You cast a spell of gentle repose upon Brightstar's body, to ward away the maggots and other indignations brought on by death for a week's time. By then, you will have smote the evil that lurks within this place, or you will have fallen trying. One thing is for sure - you've seen the trials; you know what they entail. The king zombie alone would have been enough for anyone to be knighted, the evil within here is thicker than it should have been.

You're... you're not sure if you should trust the townsfolk when you get there.

The rest of the path is empty of friend or foe. The stench of death lurks, and in the distance you see a light at the end of the tunnel. The glory of the Moon's sweet sister is dimmed, thick clouds of smog and haze block her rays from fully reaching the ground. A castle looms over the village, and a lake lies to the west - beyond which you see a torn up graveyard, where those zombies must have come from.

>Investigate the graveyard.
>Investigate the lake.
>Investigate the village.
>Investigate the castle.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32310620
TO THINK, IF YOU HAD CHOSEN ATALANTA, A RIGHTEOUS /U/BOAT WOULD LIKELY BE SETTING SAIL RIGHT NOW.

>>32310843
>Investigate the graveyard.

We are going Musou on some zombie ass, yes?

>>32310843
>Investigate the graveyard
Maybe we can find some sort of CLUE there

>>32310843
>Investigate the graveyard.

>>32310843
>Graveyard
SLAY ALL THE EVIL WITHIN!

>>32310843
>Investigate the graveyard.

I wonder if we'll ever properly bury Brightstar

>>32310877
Will Moon Man not get a chace to show off his gentlemanly Chivalry

>>32310905
Soon my friend. After we've properly avenged his death

File: A SUSPICIOUS PERSON APPEARED.jpg (121 KB, 1280x720)

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You go to investigate the graveyard. It's not far beyond the lake, a short bridge connects the island it rests upon to the main path towards the village. All of the graves there have been dug up, the coffins - dedicated to the spirit of the lake - cracked and slashed in sacrilege and disrespect. But this is not what puts you off the most. In the shadow of the tree, a shady looking character with with hands like spades and a sharp, cruel grin filled with too many teeth is assaulting a maiden as fair as the summer moon's light.

"You there, stranger!" you bark. You have little patience for fools and the ungentlemanly - less now, as you are on your mission. "Have you no sense of decorum? Your behavior is most ungentlemanly. I would suggest you leave that woman alone, to spare her the sight of your ill mannered countenance"

"Is that so..." the man drawls, withdrawing his hands from the woman's body. Red eyes meet your own, as the man - a blonde man, from the West; Lietens, or another Alaman land, you imagine - turns toward you. He slouches, too relaxed, like a predator eying his prey. "And what is the name of this... well manner gentleman who has the nerve to correct me, ALFONS!?"

"I am Fei Yu Xiang, initiate to the Knights of the Silver Moon," you state, drawing yourself to your full height. This man... he's dangerous, your gut can feel it. "And I correct only what needs correcting, cur!"

"Cur! Cur... and you call me ill mannered." He waves your words off as if he were swatting a fly. "Hmph... very well then, Noble Paladin. I shall leave this woman be. The night is young, after all, and there is plenty of company to be had in this village. But I would advise you not test my temper again, boy; you are to me what an ant is to a lion."

>TRAIL THIS SUSPICIOUS PERSON! ALFONS, WAS IT!?
>THERE IS A LADY IN NEED. CHIVALRY DEMANDS YOU AID HER. [ROLL 9D10]
>CHECK THE GRAVEYARD FOR CLUES!
>[WRITE IN]

Rolled 2, 6, 4, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 7 = 38

>>32311282
>>THERE IS A LADY IN NEED. CHIVALRY DEMANDS YOU AID HER. [ROLL 9D10]

>>32311282
>THERE IS A LADY IN NEED. CHIVALRY DEMANDS YOU AID HER. [ROLL 9D10]
Chivalry Yo

Rolled 8, 9, 1, 9, 2, 5, 7, 8, 2 = 51

>>32311282
Gotta stay in-character, even though I as a player think chivalry is stupid.

>THERE IS A LADY IN NEED. CHIVALRY DEMANDS YOU AID HER. [ROLL 9D10]

Rolled 6, 3, 3, 6, 3, 2, 7, 5, 9 = 44

>>32311282
>THERE IS A LADY IN NEED. CHIVALRY DEMANDS YOU AID HER. [ROLL 9D10]

We don't have it maxed for nothing.

>>32311282
One roll per post or just roll the full 9d10?

I don't even need to roll, you guys know whats up well done gents.

>>32311384
EITHER WORKS. BUT I'M COUNTING THE FIRST NINE, SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN ROLLED!

THOUGH BEAR IN MIND, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE FEW LOW ROLLS. HIGH ROLLS DON'T HELP UNLESS THEY'RE A 10.

>>32311421
You're very loud.
Is there any particular reason why you're so loud?
It's hurting my eye ears.

>>32311483
Sorry I can be less loud if need be. I'm only loud because of the GREAT JUSTICE that is flowing through me.

>>32311531
THEN SCREAM TO THE HEAVENS, DEAR NIGHT! YELL SO LOUD THAT THE MOON ITSELF MAY HEAR OF THE JUSTICE DONE THIS DAY! FEAR NOT FOR MY EYE EARS, FOR THEY HOLD NO VALUE OVER THAT OF JUSTICE!

>>32311421
Might want to specify that in the future. Usual decorum is to say what each person rolling needs to roll.

>>32311531
Fuck yeah, JUSTICE.

>>32311613
I ACCIDENTALLY SAID DEAR NIGHT.
I WILL NOT CHANGE IT, FOR IT MATCHES WITH THE GLORY OF THE MOON!

File: FAIR MAIDEN.jpg (569 KB, 750x750)

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(Rolled 2, 6, 4, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 7)
(Difficulty 4[1])
(6 Successes)
(OVERWHELMING SUCCESS!)

"My lady..." You begin. You notice a tear in her kimono along her bustline, and avert your eyes as you wrap your cloak about her. She shivers in your arms and wraps it tighter, her face flushed with shame and her eyes downcast. You do not keep contact longer than is needed - by the actions of the last man who touched her, you feel that she wants her space. "I hope you have been done no undue harm. That man has shamed himself and his ancestors by his actions this night."

"Not just this night," the pale flower speaks at last.

Her voice is small, shy and as handsome as she is - a classic beauty of raven hair, fair skin, and grey eyes that are almost silver. Of course, she flushes immediately and covers her mouth with her hands, only for the protection of your cloak to fall away. You bite back a smile as she scrambles for it, keeping your eyes averted from that which she does not want seen. You wouldn't want her to think you are mocking her.

"This is a regular occurence?" you ask, your eyes narrowing as the implications of her words reaches you. "Once my business is done here, you need but ask it of me, and that man shall be judged in the eyes of the Moon and Sun and Sky, and the punishment he deserves shall find him."

"Th-there's no need for that," she stammers out. "Ah... I don't like it when people h-hurt each other. Perhaps just t-telling him off... or bringing him to the con-constabulary... that would do. No need to... ah... hurt anyone. Not over m-me."

Your stomach rumbles. Her face brightens.

"You must be hungry from your travels, Sir Knight!" she declares happily. "Perhaps... ah... would you like some stew? I've had it on since this morning..."

>THAT IS MOST GENEROUS FAIR LADY! I SHALL HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER
>NAY, FAIR MAIDEN. MUCH AS I APPRECIATE THE OFFER, I HAVE MY BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO, IN THAT CASTLE, I IMAGINE.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32311971
>THAT IS MOST GENEROUS FAIR LADY! I SHALL HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER

A paladin must keep up his strength! Plus, she might be able to give us information.

>>32311971
>(OVERWHELMING SUCCESS!)
Aw yeah
Maximum chivalry

>THAT IS MOST GENEROUS FAIR LADY! I SHALL HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER
Maybe she can tell us what kind of spooky shit is going on in this village

>>32311971
>THAT IS MOST GENEROUS FAIR LADY! I SHALL HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER
It would be rude to decline such a generous offer.

>>32311971
>THAT IS MOST GENEROUS FAIR LADY! I SHALL HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER

Rolled 4, 3, 8, 6, 9, 8, 4, 10, 8 = 60

>>32311971
>THAT IS MOST GENEROUS FAIR LADY! I SHALL HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER

We are lower than scum if we wouldn't.

>>32311421
What happens if we roll a 10?
Is it counted as 2 successes?

>>32312103
Whoops, forgot to remove dice.

>>32311971
Could be a trap from some type of trickster.
The whole "The girl you rescue is working for the conman and the dangerous situation is a ruse" deal.
Cast Purify Food and Drink on the stew, just to be safe.

Also, what happened to searching the Graveyard for clues?

>>32312129
INDEED. IT ALSO CANCELS NATURAL ONES WHEN THE SITUATION IS DRAMATIC AND NATURAL ONES START NEGATING SUCCESSES. THAT'S USUALLY ONLY ON BOSS FIGHTS THOUGH.

>>32311971
>(Difficulty 4[1])
I assume this is something like we needed to roll higher than four to count as a success for this challenge and we needed at least one success?

>>32312198
We have 0 intuition.
We might not guess that if somebody told us outright.
Plus, we found clues, all the dug up graves, and also this villain Alfons.

>>32312252
INDEED. YOU HAVE A PERK, THAT REDUCES CHIVALRY ROLLS SUCCESS THRESHOLD BY ONE IN ALL SITUATIONS.

YOU COULD CHIVALRY THE FUCK OUT OF AN ANGRY MEDUSA AND CARRY HER OFF INTO THE SUNSET GOD DAMN. IT'D BE HARD, BUT POSSIBLE.

>>32312303
>YOU COULD CHIVALRY THE FUCK OUT OF AN ANGRY MEDUSA AND CARRY HER OFF INTO THE SUNSET GOD DAMN. IT'D BE HARD, BUT POSSIBLE.
I know what we have to do
Moon Man Fei Yu must romance all the monster ladies

>>32312258
You are correct. Disregard my comment, then.

>>32312303
BY THE MOON THAT IS A LOT OF CHIVALRY. IS THE ONLY LIMIT FOR OUR CHIVALRY "TARGET IS LANGUAGE-SPEAKING FEMALE"?

>>32312333
Chivalry is not the same as Seduction.

>>32312388
CHIVALRY MAY NOT BE SEDUCTION, BUT IT IS CHARM. ROMANCE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN SEX. IT MEANS THAT THEY SHALL LOVE US FOR OUR DEEDS.

>>32312428
THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD ALSO WORK ON MALES.

>>32312471
Women want us, men want to be us

>>32312471
I SEE NO ISSUE.

>>32312491
WHAT SORT OF MAN ARE YOU, WHO HIDES HIS WORDS BEHIND A VEIL OF SHADOW. COME FORTH, AND MEET THE LIGHT OF THE MOON!

>>32311971
>USED GOODS WON'T EVEN SELL AT CLEARANCE PRICE

>>32312303
You still here?

>>32312858
OF COURSE! WRITING, LIKE JUSTICE, SHALL FOLLOW SOON!

File: Qiaoqiao Wang.png (666 KB, 1175x799)

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The woman's house is a ways up the mountain, next to a shrine to the Mountain's spirit. Along the way, you learned her name, Qiaoqiao Wang, only daughter of the old shrine keeper. She had been keeping the shine maintained ever since she was a little girl, her parents died when she was only twelve. You pay your respects to the spirit of the mountain at the shrine while she heads in to change her dress. You take off your shoes when you come in, and find your cloak folded neatly on a chair.

Your meal does not pass in silence, the woman is happy enough to answer any of your questions - hell, she seems overjoyed just for the company. Apparently, there have been some disappearances in town over the last few weeks, which is what spurred the townsfolk to ask for the Knight's aid. Alfons has been in the village for quite some time now, though he has a peculiar reputation as a gentleman. The stew is rather delicious, though you can't quite place some of the spices, however familiar they may be. The meat is definitely venison, though.

"It's been rather scary going out at night with the disappearances," she says, flushed behind a cup of tea. "I'm glad to have someone escort me..."

"It was my duty and my pleasure," you say, draining the last of your cup. "And mark these words - when I find this beast that has been harassing your people, it shall be brought to justice under the light of the Moon. So you may sleep easy this night; for if I have my way, it will be the monster's last."

"If... if you do find them..." she asks. Her eyes are downtrodden again, sad and regretful. "I-I don't think I can imagine someone who would do any of this in their right mind. I-if you have to kill them, make it painless."

"Justic and sadism are incompatible," you reply. "It will be a clean kill. It will not suffer as its victims did."

>>32312991

"That's... good." She takes another sip of tea, and smiles. "Anything else I can get for you?"

>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE COFFINS WERE DEFILED?
>NAY, MY LADY, YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH. IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHERE THESE DISAPPEARANCES HAVE MOST OFTEN OCCURED, I SHALL BRING AN END TO THIS POST HASTE
>[WRITE IN]

>>32313005
Oh gods and goddesses if she's the vampire ...

>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE COFFINS WERE DEFILED?

>>32313005
>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE COFFINS WERE DEFILED?
Please don't be the monster were after

>>32313005
>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE COFFINS WERE DEFILED?

>>32313045
Shit.
That makes sense.
That makes too much sense.

>>32313005
>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE COFFINS WERE DEFILED?

Gotta gather plot hooks.

So we've come into this town.
The Graveyard had a mass of zombies, and the coffins were desecrated.
There's been disappearances in the Town, steadily.
We have Alfons, who's pinging our evil-dar, and has a reputation as a gentleman.
We caught him assaulting the shrine maiden, Qiaoqiao.
We're yet to investigate the lake, the village, or the castle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbvkqNIx8JM

>>32313407
>We have Alfons, who's pinging our evil-dar, and has a reputation as a gentleman.
>We caught him assaulting the shrine maiden, Qiaoqiao.
Super suspicious

>>32313407
>>32313427
>We have Alfons, who's pinging our evil-dar, and has a reputation as a gentleman.
His character portraint is Dio too, that doesn't help at all

>>32313427
Well, that's assuming it was an assault and not some kind of consensual tryst.
Unlikely, but you never know.

Shrine maidens can be very kinky.

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"Yes." You say, nursing your cup of tea. "I have one further question. What do you make of the coffins were defiled? They had the symbol of the Lake Spirit on them gouged out, did they not?"

She takes a sharp sip of her tea. You can sea a flash of anger cross her eyes.

"I imagine it's some sort of childish tribute to the Mountain Spirit," she says, an uncharacteristic venom in her voice. "Vampirism was created in the likeness of the Earth, you know. The Mountains endure, and the Dwarves sought to mimic what they took to be their fathers and mothers. So they took the stillness of the mountains and brought it into themselves. Life, though... life can't be still."

She takes your hand and presses it to her wrist, letting you feel her heartbeat. It's slow, but steady. Present, but weak. Still there, still moving, still living.

"The Vampires found that out right quick," she continued. "Their bodies hungered for that life, to have their heartbeat back. Some of the first tried to hide the hunger, bury it beneath their work and research, building monuments and works beyond peer. That's how the Henan Empire rose, in the old days - the Hungering Kings that stood eternal on their thrones were literally starving. Their hunger, in the end, brought about its fall, and the messy civil wars that wrack the land today."

She pours you both another cup of tea.

"Others, though, didn't have the Hungering Kings' resolve," she continued. "So they stole life from the living, to kickstart their hearts again. Any life would do, but the stronger the life the better. Humanoids, the Orcine, those were their prey, and for a while, they killed without abandon. Till the Poor Man's Crusade wiped them out, anyways."

>A TRIBUTE, YOU SAY. WOULD THE MOUNTAIN ACCEPT SUCH SACRILEGE IN ITS NAME?
>DO YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN IT IS A VAMPIRE? WHERE WOULD I FIND IT?
>MY LADY, YOUR STUTTER... IT IS RUDE OF ME TO POINT IT OUT, BUT IT VANISHED, AND I MUST QUESTION WHY.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32313633
>DO YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN IT IS A VAMPIRE? WHERE WOULD I FIND IT?

>>32313633
>A TRIBUTE, YOU SAY. WOULD THE MOUNTAIN ACCEPT SUCH SACRILEGE IN ITS NAME?

I don't want to poke her just yet, just in case she is the vampire or something.

>>32313633
>MY LADY, YOUR STUTTER... IT VANISHED, AND I MUST QUESTION WHY.

>>32313686
She has a heartbeat and vampires apparently don't, so she's not.

>>32313633
>She takes your hand and presses it to her wrist, letting you feel her heartbeat. It's slow, but steady. Present, but weak. Still there, still moving, still living.
Thanks OP, messed up your name though
>DO YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN IT IS A VAMPIRE? WHERE WOULD I FIND IT?
>MENTION THE ZOMBIE WE FUCKED UP IN THE TUNNEL, THEY WERE PROBABLY WHAT HAPPEN TO THE BODIES

>>32313744
>So they stole life from the living, to kickstart their hearts again.
They do, though.

>>32313633
>A TRIBUTE, YOU SAY. WOULD THE MOUNTAIN ACCEPT SUCH SACRILEGE IN ITS NAME?

>>32313744
She could be.
"they stole life from the living, to kickstart their hearts again"
The way I see it, vampirism is a spectrum. The hungrier you get, the harder it is to resist.
Hence "no one in their right mind", as they go insane over time.

>>32313633
Man if this fair maiden ends up being the vampire I hope we can save her, she's cute I don't want to have to kill her

>>32313802
>>32313744
I'm thinkin' no.

If she stuttered once, and stopped stuttering afterwards, she's not putting on a Consistent Charade, which makes me think she's not putting on a Charade at all.

I trust her on this.

>>32313828
Either that or the stutter was caused by nerves, thinking that we were going to kill her.
Then she realized we're just.. Just absolutely idiotic.

>>32312303
>YOU COULD CHIVALRY THE FUCK OUT OF AN ANGRY MEDUSA AND CARRY HER OFF INTO THE SUNSET GOD DAMN. IT'D BE HARD, BUT POSSIBLE.
What's the paladin's stance on monsters?
Are they things to be killed or do we have more leeway on that?

>>32313869
That depends.
Do they PRAISE THE MOON?

If they PRAISE THE MOON we have a bit of leeway.

>>32313828
It seems that she loses the stutter when angry. So it is just a character quirk.

>>32313978
This is likely, if she's shrine maiden to the lake the graveyard being defiled could have just made her upset enough to get over her shyness

>>32314017
Isn't she the shrine maiden to the mountain, though?

>>32314037
Not that anon, but she could still be angry over it if she doesn't believe its a good idea.

>>32314037
Yeah she is, I forgot for a bit
She could be angry if she thinks that it's offensive to the spirit

>>32313633
>>MY LADY, YOUR STUTTER... IT IS RUDE OF ME TO POINT IT OUT, BUT IT VANISHED, AND I MUST QUESTION WHY.
Mention the zombies too

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"A tribute?" you ask. "Would the mountain spirit accept such sacrilege in it's name? I know the Spirits have their pride, but are they truly so petty?"

"Hardly... ah... h-hardly," she puts her hand over her mouth and blushes prettily. "Ah... s-sorry, I-I spoke boldly again, and I-I really shouldn't do that. Um... y-yes. I-I mean no. No. The Mountains Spirit is rather peaceful and still, and hates seeing the life that walks it's face wither away. And... and... ah... w-w-well, you... you see..."

Her blush deepens to a dark, cherry-red and she covers her mouth with both hands, a wide, wavering smile forming behind it. She mutters something in a small, quiet voice that you barely register is there.

"Forgive me, my lady, but could you speak up?" you ask. "I'm afraid I cannot hear you."

She stops. Takes a deep breath, her face getting redder by the second until she looks something like a black topped pomengranate.

"THE MOUNTAIN AND THE LAKE ARE LOVERS AND THE STREAM IS THE MOUNTAIN'S LOVE GOING INTO THE LAKE AND THE WIND AND RAIN ARE THE MOUNTAIN AND LAKE'S CHILDREN!"

She immediately claps her hands over her mouth again, her expression somewhat horrified of how loud she just screamed that bit of folklore into the night. You blink, biting back a bemused expression as she, red faced once again, starts scrambling around the kitchen babbling on about chores and dishes. Laughing at the girl would be rude, you remind yourself, and you are nothing if not chivalrous.

>I SEE. SO THE MOUNTAIN IS OFFENDED AT THE DESECRATION OF HIS LOVER'S MARK. WHO WOULD DO SUCH A THING?
>SO THE VAMPIRE IS IGNORANT OF THE LOCAL LORE, THEN? BUT NOT MANY TRAVELERS COME TO THESE PARTS.
>THERE WAS A GREAT ZOMBIE, AND HORDE OF LESSERS IN THE TUNNEL TO THE JADE RODE. COULD A VAMPIRE CREATE SUCH BEASTS?
>[WRITE IN]

>>32314333
>"THE MOUNTAIN AND THE LAKE ARE LOVERS AND THE STREAM IS THE MOUNTAIN'S LOVE GOING INTO THE LAKE AND THE WIND AND RAIN ARE THE MOUNTAIN AND LAKE'S CHILDREN!"
Oh shit that's great

>SO THE VAMPIRE IS IGNORANT OF THE LOCAL LORE, THEN? BUT NOT MANY TRAVELERS COME TO THESE PARTS.
I call that shit a clue

>>32314333
>"THE MOUNTAIN AND THE LAKE ARE LOVERS AND THE STREAM IS THE MOUNTAIN'S LOVE GOING INTO THE LAKE AND THE WIND AND RAIN ARE THE MOUNTAIN AND LAKE'S CHILDREN!"

vampires traditionally don't take well to running water, that might be relevant.

>SO THE VAMPIRE IS IGNORANT OF THE LOCAL LORE, THEN? BUT NOT MANY TRAVELERS COME TO THESE PARTS.

>>32314333
>THERE WAS A GREAT ZOMBIE, AND HORDE OF LESSERS IN THE TUNNEL TO THE JADE RODE. COULD A VAMPIRE CREATE SUCH BEASTS?
I do like to imagine us screaming all these things at the top of our lungs. While gingerly sipping a cup of tea.

>>32313633
>THERE WAS A GREAT ZOMBIE, AND HORDE OF LESSERS IN THE TUNNEL TO THE JADE RODE. COULD A VAMPIRE CREATE SUCH BEASTS?
Ask this first.

>"I imagine it's some sort of childish tribute to the Mountain Spirit,"
There are other reasons for someone to defile coffins.
What if the Water Spirit was preventing the dead from returning to life, and destroying his symbols weakened his power?
Or perhaps the corpse-raiser just doesn't like Spirits.

>>32314333
>SO THE VAMPIRE IS IGNORANT OF THE LOCAL LORE, THEN? BUT NOT MANY TRAVELERS COME TO THESE PARTS.

>>32314333
>THERE WAS A GREAT ZOMBIE, AND HORDE OF LESSERS IN THE TUNNEL TO THE JADE RODE. COULD A VAMPIRE CREATE SUCH BEASTS?

>(Write-in): ARE THERE OTHERS WHO HAVE INVESTIGATED WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED HERE?

>>32313936
Vampires tend to like the moon...

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>>32314706
Fuck yeah, redeeman VAMPIRES.

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"So the vampire is ignorant of the local lore, then?" You ask. The question is more rhetorical than anything else, though it is good to see a confirming nod from the shrine keeper. But there's still something bothering you. "Are you sure it's a vampire? I know they have the ability to raise spawn, and foul creatures into their service, but in the tunnels I did battle with more than just that. A great eyeless zombie, hewn of gnashing teeth and knifelike bones."

Again, Lady Wang sips sharply from her teacup, a expression of shock, betrayal, and anger crossing her face in a flash - gone almost as quickly as it came. She puts the cup down before speaking.

"Aye, good sir. I-It's possible that the vampire could do this. But n-not any mere vampire whose curse was passed down from one to another." Her expression darkens, and her stutter vanishes once more. "Their sire would have to be of the older ones, who died off over a thousand years ago. Greater servitors were their gifts to their children, perverse as they are, a more powerful servant with no will of it's own. I... I fear he may have done something very foolish. And very dangerous."

"Pardon, my Lady, he?" you ask.

"Yes. Alfons. He sought the gift that quite frankly should not be sought, the immortality of the Hungering Kings." Her lips thin. "He... he was a good man, once. Kind. Gentle. L-loving... But the madness the hunger brings, and the allure of the blood of man - it drove him to this."

She looks at you with pleading eyes. "You promised a clean kill."

>AND CLEAN IT SHALL BE.
>I SHALL DO WHAT I CAN.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32314813
>>AND CLEAN IT SHALL BE.
MAXIMUM CHIVALRY

>>32314813
>AND CLEAN IT SHALL BE.

Well now. That is interesting. And possibly outside our paygrade.

>>32314813
>AND CLEAN IT SHALL BE.

Light of the moon tg?

Paladin of the suns reflection?

>>32314813
Oh shit, it's Dio Battle Time.

IN AND AROUND THE LAKE! BOW WOW BABOOOWWW! MOUNTAINS COME OUT OF THE SKY AND STAND. THEEEERRRRREEEE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tdu4uKSZ3M

>>32314813
Help me out here /tg/
Is she implying that she's one of the old vampires and she sired Alfons who went all out with his vampirism?

>>32314924
>Dio Battle Time.
I kinda wish we had picked sun paladin for this, we could have been ripple punching everyone

>>32314813
>AND CLEAN IT SHALL BE.
I'm thinking we need more clues / angles on the situation than just the word of one person.

Investigating the town would be a good idea. Getting a sense of who's being kidnapped, from where, and how, would go a long way.

>>32314939
I don't see her trying to greentext anything in what she says.

>we are GREAT JUSTICE GLOWING FROM THE GLORY OF THE MIGHT OF THE PALE OF THE MOON to fight against what may be beginning to sound like !NotDio
this is definitely gonna be a fun quest.

>>32314939
I kinda get that vibe.

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"And clean it shall be," you promise. This might be beyond what is expected of a mere initiate to the order, but you did not dedicate five years of your life preparing for this moment to cower in fear as some heir to the Hungering Kings devoured innocents. You'll be damned if you back down now.

"He built the c-castle when he came here," she says, sadly. "He was an architect, a builder... and... um... he'll probably b-b-be there, if he i-i-isn't feeding."

"Understood, my lady," you say.

You leave her house behind, and head down the trail from the mountain shrine into the village. By the time you reach there, night has already fallen; the common folk have fled to the relative safety of their houses. Even the tavern is dark, deserted, with no bard or barkeepers playing music and serving drinks to keep spirits up while the Sun rests and her sister watches over. The paths are clear, even of zombies. The only light is far up the hill, the candles of the castle burning in the windows.

You arrive to Alfons, standing atop the gate, a wicked and sadistic smile slashed upon his face.

"So he shows his face again," the vampire snarls. "The pest to be squashed beneath my boot. I shall give you a running chance - flee, little knight, and perhaps my whim shall be not to crush you. Flee to your monestary, to cower behing your spears and your cannon. Or better yet - flee to that lying, selfish harlot who sent you here. I care not. You will all fall before me, in time."

>THE ONE WHO SOLD HIS SOUL TO VAMPIRISM FOR IMMORTALITY HAS NO RIGHT TO CALL ANYONE SELFISH.
>NO. I THINK I WOULD RATHER SLAY YOU HERE AND NOW. SMITE EVIL [Roll 5d6]
>WHY WASTE YOUR BREATH TELLING ME TO FLEE, IF YOU DO NOT FEAR ME?
>[WRITE IN]

Rolled 5, 6, 3, 4, 1 = 19

>>32315273
>>NO. I THINK I WOULD RATHER SLAY YOU HERE AND NOW. SMITE EVIL [Roll 5d6]

SMITE

>>32315273
>WHY WASTE YOUR BREATH TELLING ME TO FLEE, IF YOU DO NOT FEAR ME?
Tauntan time
Paladin, if you want us to only do one roll per person you can specify if you want

>>32315273
>[WRITE IN]
Well what's YOUR story then, Alfons? What do YOU think happened to the missing townsfolk?

Guy's obviously a douche and probably evil, but I think we're not getting the whole story here.

>>32315273
>THE ONE WHO SOLD HIS SOUL TO VAMPIRISM FOR IMMORTALITY HAS NO RIGHT TO CALL ANYONE SELFISH.

This way we can get the truth out of him if something is off.

>>32315324
No, just once in the thread-

>>32315287
>>32315273
AHEHE.

That should be d10, not d6.

My bad.

Rolled 5, 8, 5, 9, 5 = 32

>>32315456

>>32315500
damn son
also kill him now

>>32315287
>>32315324
>>32315329
>>32315384
>one for everything
This sure is one clear vote

>>32315500
...

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

(That's a really good set of rolls, thanks to smite evil).

Now if only people would agree on an option...

>>32315534
Sure why not, I'll change this >>32315324 to smiting

>>32315273
>>32315534
Smite Evil to break tie

>>32315534
Well then I'll change mine >>32315384
to >>32315329
since i want answers first.

I gotta jet but this is pretty cool story op. You gotta twitter or a time for the next thread?

>>32315625
Well, this arc's gonna finish this thread, but twitter is https://twitter.com/HalflingQM.
I'll probably do another tomorrow, either this or Halfling Quest

>>32315659

Oh, you are the guy who's running Halfling Quest? Enjoyed both of your quests so far

If you aren't already on the Quest Directory, https://twitter.com/Eisenstern/lists/quest-runner-directory

>>32315273
>NO. I THINK I WOULD RATHER SLAY YOU HERE AND NOW. SMITE EVIL
I'll join in on the smite, guy just threatened our order and other innocents regardless of his side of the story he dun goofed.
>>32315659
Cool thanks.

>Everyone voting we go right for the throat.

I was hoping we'd learn caution after the last fight ended with our dead horse.

>>32315735
We promised probably not a vampire shrine maiden we would be quick and painless about this
Smiting is painless right?

>>32315787
I'm all for smiting the fuck out of the guy. IF he's actually the guilty party. So far all we've got is her word and the mildly threatening statement of this guy. Plus, I was hoping to get who his sire was out of him.

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Cleave and smite evil. Cleave and and smite evil!

>>32315534
SMITAN TEIM

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(SMITE EVIL: REDUCES SUCCESS THRESHOLD BY 2 ON TARGET FOR ONE TURN)
(Rolled 5, 8, 5, 9, 5)
(Difficulty: 75[4])
(Successes: 5)
(Success!)

"I don't think I will flee," you declare, giving your naginata a flairful twirl. You adopt a stance, one that your grandfather taught you as a child in the dojo, meant for springing and striking hard. The stance of the Diving Owl. "Your sins are too great, Alfsons. You've kidnapped. You've killed innocent lives. You've beaten a quite probably raped that poor girl on the mountain. I judge you here in the name of the Moon - thou art guilty."

The man doesn't blink nor snarl nor spring to attack you. He stands there on top the castle's gate, and falls back with peals of laughter. The doors open with a kick he gives them, and from behind him in the shadows pour more of those foul, loathsome ghouls that struck at you in the tunnels. He points at you with a sadistic grin, his smile shining in the moonlight.

"You forgot my greatest sin, dog of the moon!" He declares. "Depopulating a village. Ladies, gentlemen. I believe your first meal has arrived; an appetizer of the feast to come."

The horde, all five hundred and seventeen residents of the village pour forth from the mouth of the castle, a mass of twisted spines and limbs. You ready your naginata; not for the beasts that charge you. You've a different target in mind. And this time, there's no noble steed behind you to take the penalty for your arrogance. You'll stymie the tide at it's source.

In a single stride, you throw yourself with all your force, calling upon your goddess to bless your jump, to bathe your blade in her power, that this devil in the shape of a man can be killed before his madness can spread any further. Your jump is accompanied by a crash of thunder - a sign perhaps? Blessings of the Mountain and the Lake? You feel blood splash up from the horde of undead, and see a line of them fall crashing to the ground.

>>32316253
>That should be (Critical Success)

You land blade first on the Vampire. It splits him head to groin.

It is not enough. He laughs, pushing himself together around the blade of your naginata.

"Hah! Is this your justice, paladin? Is this the best you can throw at me?" He screams, grabbing you by your throat, squeezing until, the nails of his fingers have drawn blood. "Do you know, the work that I have put to achieving this? That harlot, that so-called 'Hungering Queen' who lives atop the mountain, she refused to turn me. Refused to share the gift that she had been given, the wonder that she achieved and the other Henanites achieved in their youth. Called it a curse."

Another roar of thunder crack out. The supporting wall around the gates explodes into stone and dust, taking a few of the zombies with it. Your strength is fading, as you realize Alfons is drinking your blood through his nails.

"FIND IT. KILL IT. GO, NOW." The horde obeys the vampire's commands, fanning out to find the thunder's source. "So you see, you were sent by one monster to thin out the competition. Do you know how long it took me, to find an intact fang of one of the Hungering Kings? And how long my research took - how many lives I gave to the pursuit of it's science."

He looks you dead in the eye, maddened crimson running.

"I. HAVE SLAIN. MORTALITY." He roars into your face. "AND THIS IS YOUR JUDGEMENT, PALADIN? A SHARPENED STICK?"

"Yes," you choke out. "See... it lets me do this. SMITE. EVIL."

You let the essence of the Moon flow through you, and into your blade. It grows, rippling back and forth like the tides that the Moon is mistress of, enveloping the vampire with the positive energy that her light is made of. It bubbles from the inside of him, a fire that cracks its way free of his skin, until his soul is purified of the stillness's taint. At last, at long last, the corpse tumbles to the ground.

>>32316277

And so do you. You struggle to remain conscious, to remain living. The wounds on your neck trickle with blood, not for inseverity, but for how much you have lost. The zombies, still on their master's final task, ignore you, even as further cracks of thunder pick them off, piece by piece. The last thing you see before the darkness takes you is a red and white kimono, and a pair of worried silvery eyes.

>Roll 9d10.

Rolled 6, 10, 2, 4, 5, 7, 2, 4, 2 = 42

>>32316301
Oh man we got to save Vampire maiden

Rolled 6, 6, 4, 8, 3, 2, 9, 1, 1 = 40

>>32316301
>AWAKE

Rolled 3, 1, 8, 10, 10, 5, 9, 2, 10 = 58

>>32316301
NOT TONIGHT

Rolled 3, 10, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 4, 10 = 53

>>32316301

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>>32316351
Noice

>>32316351
>>32316425
...
You know what. Sure. The first one was enough, but that's too good a roll to ignore. So I'll allow it.

Very nice rolls all around. And I'm glad we did get some answers from the pompous bastard.

>>32316452
I would like to thank the dice gods and the lady in the night sky.

>>32315659
Whaaaaat!
My whole life is a lie.
Everything that I once knew has been struck down in one fell swoop.

>>32316452
Also, while it hasn't really been trouble before now, could you specify whether its first roll, best of three, or something else?

>>32316548
I believe I said it before, it's usually the first roll. This is a fluffy bit, though, and since the first one already succeeded it didn't really matter. This just makes the way you succeed at the fluffy part cooler.

>>32316598
Oh, well if you said it, then shame on me for missing it. Looking forward to what's coming up.

>>32316548
Basically it's a dice pool of how many dice he says. Since we're using that in each post, it's just the first.
If we had done 1d6 per post, it would have been the first 9 posts.

>>32316649
My confusion is because most QMs do a best of X system, and everyone rolls however many dice the QM calls for.

>>32316705
That's understandable. I was just making certain it was clear

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(Chivalrous: Reduces Success Threshold on all Chivalry Rolls by 1)
(Rolled 3, 1, 8, 10, 10, 5, 9, 2, 10)
(Difficulty: 4[6])
(2 Dramatic Successes! 4 Regular Successes!)
(Success!)

You sleep. You dream.

There's a voice that wants you to join it. It promises you power, it promises you fame, it promises you good fortune. It whispers honey words into your mouth - how a sip, a taste, that's all you need, and you will rule as a king! Your enemies will be driven before you; your allies will bend the knee and worship you as a God. With it, if you follow the voice, you will outshine your mentor in battle. Outshine the High Priest in faithfulness. Outshine the moon in beauty.

Just a drink, just a simple drink and the power will be yours, it whispers. Cheng'e, the Hungering queen, the Moon made flesh will cling to your side and be your consort, her silvery eyes will look at you nothing but awe and reverence, devotion and love. You will be master of all that you see, and you will stand upon the very surface of the Moon and see all the world bare before you. Power, dominance, all the joys of living and none of it's pains shall be yours, if you but open the throat of your fellow man, and drink of his blood!

But you reject it out of hand.

A life... a death like that wouldn't be very gentlemanly, now, would it; you are a servant, not a master. Your duty is to help the meek, prop them up upon your shoulders, and take your joy in their smiles as you use your strength for them. Conquest and dominance interest you not - there is joy in battle amongst friends, the tourneys and the jousting, but the joy is in the moment. What comes after matters not.

>>32317045

And those silvery eyes. Well, the worry in them was all you needed to see; that beauty is already yours, in that memory burned into your mind at your rebirth. You need not supplication or reverence.

Another voice calls. Rougher than the tempter, deeper too. It promises nothing to you, just asking you to wake.

---

"Hey kid," a gruff, mustachioed man says. His accent's thick, Alamani - the heart of the Imperial Republic far to the west. "Kid wake up. I don't know what voodoo hijinks Miss Vang over here put you through to keep you alive, and I really don't care. But she's doing the Henanite equivalent of bawling your eyes out over there, and I don't think I made the best impression on her, so if you wouldn't mind?"

Eyes bleary, you turn to the left. Qiao-no, Cheng'e is frowning, observing you as if waiting for a reaction.

>MY GOOD MAN, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHE IS CRYING AT ALL.
>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?
>FORGIVE MY RUDENESS, BUT WHAT THE DEVIL HAPPENED WHILE I WAS OUT?
>[WRITE IN]

>>32317068
>>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?

Politest Paladin

>>32317068
>MY GOOD MAN, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHE IS CRYING AT ALL.

>>32317068
>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?

But of course we also state our name before asking for others. Most polite.

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>>32317045
>Conquest and dominance interest you not - there is joy in battle amongst friends, the tourneys and the jousting, but the joy is in the moment. What comes after matters not.

We are a true paladin.

>>32317068
>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?

I wonder if our protagonist has an indoor voice.

>>32317068
>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?

(Can vampires cry?)
Also, beautiful stuff OP. Really top dollar.

>>32317045
>>32317068
WE are become vampaladin?

>>32317068
Don't worry vampire shrine maiden we didn't go crazy like not!Dio

>>32317280

A daywalker?

Or wait, since we're a moonadin, would that make us a nightwalker? So... we're a double vampire?

>>32317068
>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?

Denying all the power because it "wouldn't be very gentlemanly"
I really like this MC.

>>32317280
I believe that we may have just become one of the hungering. That's what it sounds like, at least.

>>32317258
He does.
Our QM on the other hand...

>>32317358
>>32317303
>>32317280

I thought it was the exact opposite, we rejected the offer of vampirism out of hand, no?

>>32317376
...does have one as well.

>>32315659
>>32316452
>>32316598

>>32317403
Nah we just didn't crazy from hunger like not!Dio did

>>32317403
We rejected the power, yes. But you can't reject a disease, or a curse for that matter, off hand.

>>32317409
I know, I was just making a joke.

Spoilsport.

>>32317068
>I'M SORRY GOOD SIR, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE MET. I AM FEI YU, OF CLAN XIANG. MIGHT I KNOW YOUR NAME?

I'm curious exactly who/what was offering us Supreme Vampire status.

>>32317637
Have you never heard a voice in your head whispering "go ahead, have the last donut. It looks delicious, doesn't it? Go on. Eat it."?
I figure it's kind of like that.

>>32317729
Don't Women have those, not Men?

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"I'm sorry, good sir," you croak. Your voice is cracked and dry; you hunger and thirst, but not so much that you will lose your manners over it. "I... I do not believe we have met. I am Fei Yu, of the Xiang clan. Initiate to the Knights of the Moon. Might I know your name?"

The hooded man looks at you for a moment, his expression more than a little disbelieving. He turns to Cheng'e and gives her the same look before turning back to you.

"Seriously?" he asks. "That's the first question you ask when you come out of a three day... uh... coma. You ask me what my name is?"

"Wouldn't..." you cough, "wouldn't be very chivalrous of me not to."

He stands, pulling his hand from underneath your bed. In it is some sort of miniaturized arquebus - no, you think you've heard of this; one of the weapons the elvish hordes of Darkhan give their calvary to use. What was it called again... oh, right. In the hand that was underneath your bed is a pistol, no doubt loaded, which makes you wonder just why he was pointing it at you. He gives it a twirl, and holsters it on his belt, one among many.

"Yeah, no." He says, not to you, but to Cheng'e. "Miss Hungry Queen, I think it's pretty safe to say that your boyfriend there didn't go mad with vampiric power and is... well, somewhat insanely polite." He turns around and gives you a look. "Was he always like that, or was that an unexpected side effect? You go nuts with power, or you become the politest person on the planet."

You stare at him expectantly. He stares right back at you before he realizes your meaning.

>>32317738
THIS IS NOT CHIVALROUS!

Also /fit/ guys.

>>32317792

"Right, oh, sorry about that," he apologizes, bowing with a flourish. "Nick Carver. Officially, Lieutenant in the 51st Marksman's Legion, Imperial Military. Unofficially, and since you're neck deep in this it's alright for me to tell you, Field Agent for the Imperial Department of Irregular Operations. Or, as we like to call it, DIO. I was the guy popping the zombies from half a klick out while you went in for the kill. Nice work there, by the way."

He turns to Cheng'e.

"You gonna stand there all day, Miss Pale, Hot and Immortal, or are you gonna tell your boyfriend what you did to him?"

>NICK... I AM AFRAID I MUST INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE NOT IN SUCH A RELATIONSHIP.
>I BEG YOUR PARDON? WHAT HAPPENED TO ME THAT I NEED TO KNOW.
>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.
>[WRITE IN]

>>32317816
>>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.

>>32317816
>>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.

>>32317816
>>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.

>>32317816
>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.

>>32317816
>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.
>HASN'T SHE TOLD YOU? THERE'S EVEN VAMPIRES ABOUT!

Intuition 0.
Do it.

>>32317816
>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.

Chivalrous through and through. We're going to be the most awesome Vampire Paladin in all the lands.

>>32317816
>MY GOOD MAN, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO HARASS MISS CHENG'E. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH QUITE ENOUGH.

Also
>Field Agent for the Imperial Department of Irregular Operations. Or, as we like to call it, DIO.
I'm loving this quest

>>32317833
>>32317855
>>32317874
>>32317876
>>32317905
>>32317914
>>32317922

We Hivemind now

>>32317922
In my defense, this setting existed for a while before this quest (it's my tabletop setting), and I named the Department of Irregular Operations verbally, and didn't write it down for about three weeks. That's when I realized it's acronym was DIO.

Oh shit we need to go bury our horse.

>>32318021
SHIT! Although, if we're a vampire now, we might be able to revive it.

>>32318014
I was wondering about that, the dice system is VERY fleshed out.

>>32318106
What, as an abomination?

Surely you jest!

Hmm, I wonder if we'll encounter the other Paladins we could have been on the course of this quest.

>>32318106
Vampaladin on a vamhorse? I approve.

>>32318014
>>32318118
It also explains the fact that we got an entire pantheon of gods to choose from at the start. I was honestly wondering how much prep work he had done for this.

Which reminds me, QM, is the Vampire plot something that would have happened in all/most of the choices? Or did you have individual plots for each one?

>>32318145
And they'll attempt to use smite evil on us.
We'll respond by shaking their hands.

>>32309721
LOL, thats good man.

>>32318159
It was divided by Pantheon. Vampire Plot was for the Eastern Gods (Sun, Moon, Sky), since the Hungering Kings ruled Henan. The Knightly Gods of the Imperial Pantheon (Heracles, Achilles, and Jason) would have had you dealing with a Medusa. The others would have been doing various tasks for a lord or lady (mostly dealing with bandits and the like).

The paladin of the Way would be dealing with Mummies, because it's militant Buddhism in the middle east type region.

>>32318313
I'm so glad we went vampire-route.

>>32318313
Well, Glad we got this one. Although, the /u/boat one you mentioned earlier is tempting....

Anyway, any reason the Moon is LG, Sun is NG, and Sky is CG? I would have figured if the Sky is father of the two sisters, it'd be the NG one with the sisters on opposite ends.

>>32317816
>NICK... I AM AFRAID I MUST INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE NOT IN SUCH A RELATIONSHIP.

Unless thing's got -really- interesting while we were out.

>>32318313
Did we fuck up the vampire plot?

>>32318313
Dude, you're hella cool.

>>32318372
Because the Sky is Lel Random xD with its cloud patterns and with its stars all over the fuckin' place, some of which move about.

>>32318313
The Medusa sounds like that could have been fun, but still glad we went with Moon man, instead of the lesbian

>>32318470
I'm still wondering where exactly that came from.

>>32318372
The Moon is the Protector. The Sun is Nurtrurer. The Sky is Teacher. The mythology paints the Sky as a trickster god, who teaches lessons to his daughters through through pranks and lies. Think Loki, but less of a dick.

>>32318548
And less horse fucking?

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"My good man," you groan out, sitting up. "I would ask you to please refrain from harassing Miss Cheng'e any further - she has been through quite a lot these past few weeks, I imagine. What's worse, there may yet be ghouls about, and possibly another Vampire. Someone had to sir-"

At that point, the gunslinger start burst out in laughter. Both you and Cheng'e level glares at him, but the man seems to have no shame at all. Either that, or whatever private joke he is laughing at is truly and terribly funny.

"He doesn't... Hector and Heracles..." He gasps desperately for air, making a high pitched, amused whining noise. "And he... and she... and the guy just up and told him, and... Ha... ha... haaaaa.... You. You, my good sir, please never change. I... I think the next time I gotta work with you moonknights, I'll be requesting you specifically. You're too damned funny."

"I fail to see why Vampires are a laughing matter, knave."

The knave turns to Cheng'e, and raises his eyebrows, motioning towards you as if expecting something. She gives a little hmph at him, making the man roll his eyes.

"Well if she isn't gonna tell you, I am, kid." He throws back his hood, revealing a face with a full beard and shaggy blonde hair, and the slightly pointed ears telling that he's a half elf. "See, while you were out, your girlfriend over their sucked you dry. With a certain vigor, I might add - she was really rather desperate to get out every last drop."

The innuendo sails straight over your head. For some bizarre reason, Cheng'e chokes on her tea, and nearly drops her cup, turning a beat bright red at the man's words. When you make no reaction but an inquisitive arching of your eyebrow, the man sighs and shakes his head.

>>32318694
"Hector, man. You sure you don't worship Atalanta?" He asks. You don't dignify him with an answer, just a stern glare for making Cheng'e feel uncomfortable. "Yikes, buddy. Blood. She sucked out all of your blood. The joke was that it was some other fluid that folks can suck out of people."

>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.
>LADY CHENG'E IS THIS TRUE? YOU ARE A VAMPIRE THEN?
>THEN WHAT WAS THE VOICE EARLY. IT KEPT ASKING ME TO DO RUDE THINGS.
>[WRITE IT]

>>32318724
>LADY CHENG'E IS THIS TRUE? YOU ARE A VAMPIRE THEN?
Ignore the rude

>>32318724
>THEN WHAT WAS THE VOICE EARLY. IT KEPT ASKING ME TO DO RUDE THINGS.
Very... Very ungentlemanly things. *shudders*

>>32318724
>>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

Maximum overoblivious

>>32318724
>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

We are also the densest paladin.

>THEN WHAT WAS THE VOICE EARLY. IT KEPT ASKING ME TO DO RUDE THINGS.

Except not really.

>>32318724
>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

WE ARE CHIVALROUS, IT ISN'T HONEST TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND DRIVE IDEAS THAT DO NOT BELONG INTO THIS CONVERSATION!

WHY SHOULD WE ACCUSE THIS FAIR LADY?

>>32318724
>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.
Gotta let the elf get his chuckles.

>>32318724
>>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

>>32318769
>Except not really.
>implying asking us to enslave people and terroize villages isn't rue

>>32318724
>LADY CHENG'E IS THIS TRUE? YOU ARE A VAMPIRE THEN?

>>32318805
I meant that as a continuation of the previous sentence. I should've used ellipses more.

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>>32318805
>Rue
What are you implying?

>>32318724
>LADY CHENG'E IS THIS TRUE? YOU ARE A VAMPIRE THEN?

>>32318769
>the densest Paladin

So dense we have our own gravitational field.

So dense we influence the tides.

That's how we honor our patron, y'see.

>>32318724
>>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

>>32318915
You. I like you.

>>32318724
>LADY CHENG'E IS THIS TRUE? YOU ARE A VAMPIRE THEN?

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>>32318915
Hmmmmm.

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>>32318915
I admit it, I laughed at that much harder than I should have.

>>32318724
>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.
We Shirou now
>LADY CHENG'E IS THIS TRUE? YOU ARE A VAMPIRE THEN?
What's a paladin to do when his savior is a vampire?

>>32318987
Well.
Or when we have no blood.

>>32318987
Fall in love with them. That's what mine did.

>>32318987
>What's a paladin to do when his savior is a vampire?
Thank her, we didn't kill not!Dio because he was a vampire, we killed him because he was killing others

>>32318724
>AH. LIKE POISON THEN. SO SHE SAVED MY LIFE BY DRAINING ME OF BLOOD? THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

I will not fall to your crass ways Half-Elf. Not when I shift into MAXIMUM OVERDENSE!

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Guys, I think we're male Seras.

>>32319172
I'm onto you Dan

>>32319413
... By the moon, that makes too much sense.
Though, we'll still be the dominant one, I feel.

>>32318915
+1

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"Ah, like poison then," you groan. For some reason the half elf snorts and Lady Cheng'e gives you a small, grateful smile. You try to return, but the effects of dying seem to be rather painful, and it turns into a grimace halfway. "That seems, perhaps, a little counterintuitive. But if it saved my life, then I am in your debt Lady Cheng'e. Though... I think that raises further questions."

You slowly raise your hand and stick it into direct sunlight, which you noticed your bed was positioned almost perfectly to avoid. You expect it to burst into flame, or cumple into dust, or for some other form of disintegration to take hold. You are pleasantly surprised when none does - Lady Cheng'e throws the gunman a small, slight smirk while he stares at you flabbergasted, his jaw opened and refusing to close.

"Oh, I guess that proves one theory wrong," you say. "For a second I thought Lady Cheng'e turned me into a vampire like... what was his name, Alfons? Yes, like Alfons, but with more presence of mind."

"No, no, no," the half elf complains. "You, sir, are most definitely a vampire; your girlfriend was rather lovingly feeding you a soup made out chickens blood and tomatoes for the days that you were out. Put the color right back in your skin, and started your heart beating again the first time around. But I... CATEGORICALLY... refuse to believe that I am in the presense of someone three thousand years old. There is no way in hell that she is a Hungering Queen, and no way in HELL that she made you into a Hungering Prince."

"I-Is not your Marquessa nearing her first century?" Lady Cheng'e asks. "A-And she isn't... isn't a v-vampire like the two of us are now, right? J-Just perfect control over her body, h-her ki, that m-makes her more l-like the d-devils and angels than a h-human, right?"

>>32319413
I can dig it.

>>32319462

"Aye, she's old, and she don't look that way, but..." He tosses his hands up in the air. "Fine. Sure. You're bloody older than the Empire is, congratulations. I'm gonna go hunting for sane people and dinner. You two just keep doing that damned passive agressive dance you Henanites do when you fall for each other. But when I get back, you better acknowledge the fact that you're boyfriend and girlfriend, you hear?"

He grabs the rather... ornate looking arquebus leaning against the wall. It has some sort of spyglass on it, and a thicker tube near the end the purpose of which you can't divine. He leaves the cottage with a slammed door.

>Lady Cheng'e, what did he mean by Hungering Prince?
>So, um... you're a vampire then. That... is... well...
>Why is he so insistant that we're "boyfriend and girlfriend?"
>[Write In]