>>32438024
Isaac’s first reaction to the news was not as you expected. Maybe you thought he’d be excited at the idea that you had somebody on the inside, or perhaps that he’d be angry you consorted with a creature from hell. Instead, he listened to everything in silence, and when you finished, he nodded simply to himself and took a moment to consider the whole family, who were on the dining room council with him, and in a perfectly mild mannered voice said, “We’re going camping.”

And so three hours later, with the sun hanging low and getting ready to sink behind the horizon, you find yourself driving across the Golden Gate Bridge in the back seat of Isaac’s jeep. Cassandra and Harvey follow behind in the minivan.

HP: 14/14
PP: 14/14
Stress: 24/100

You’re regretting coming along with Isaac, namely because he never puts the top up on the jeep, and San Fransisco is a surprisingly chilly city at night. “Okay,” you say, shivering slightly to yourself against the cold ocean wind. You hug Reeber the hellhound closer to your chest for insulation. It works, though not as much as you’d like.

You have to speak loudly enough to be heard over the roar of traffic and the hard snap of rushing air. “Explain this one more time to me, because I feel like I missed a critical detail or three somewhere along the way.” You kind of already get it, but talking will give you a distraction from your discomfort, and nobody’s been so chatty along the way.

>>32438027


“If and when the Belphegoran gives us useful information,” he says loudly, “we need to be ready act on it to get as much an advantage as possible, before Meckor figures out there’s a leak and clamps down on it. If it’s a trap, responding to any intel gained will be what Meckor or Waldric wants us to do – and I want us ready to break out of any trap they spring on us.”

“That means training with all hands on deck!” Rowan shouts, her voice almost drowned out as Isaac passes a semi.

“Now I haven’t done anything like this in a few years, so likely everyone has stepped up their game in the interim. You have a lot of power, Sierra, but you’re as unfamiliar with what we’re capable of as we are with you. Muir Woods is secluded enough that we can drill with our abilities and weapons out in the open, all of us. We need to have a feeling of how we work together so we can iron out any kinks before they become a problem .”

“Included Boris?” you ask. “Is he Angelborn or uh, Demonbane or whatever too?”

Isaac gives a negative answer. “Boris is pure mortal. He is, however, a yazichni druid. He works as a ranger up at the park, which is also where he draws his power.”

>Forrest powers, gotcha.
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?
>Not that I’m complaining, but what about school tomorrow?
>So me and Ro get a free pass about sneaking off, right?
>Other (?)

>>32438049
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?

>>32438049
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?
>Can he turn into a bear or is he already close enough?

>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?

Why would we want to remind them about having to punish us for sneaking off?

>>32438049
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?
>Not that I’m complaining, but what about school tomorrow?
>Other: And do you really have to keep the top down, geez!

>>32438049
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?
Did the USSR use him as a special operative back in the day?
Do we get rings?! I call fire if we do!

>Not that I’m complaining, but what about school tomorrow?

>>32438049
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?
>Not that I’m complaining, but what about school tomorrow?

>>32438049
>Not that I’m complaining, but what about school tomorrow?

>>32438049
>So he’s like… Russian Captain Planet or something?
>Other (?)
Do a little experiment. If shadows can move objects, can they trap air in close to us for insulation? It's night, I think(?), so it should be fairly easy.
Maybe say something along the lines of "Don't freak out and crash or something. I'm just trying to make a shadow blanket or something."

>>32438049
So, this means that powers are an acquirable thing. Presumably there are more routes than just druid?

>>32438186
2nding shadow blanket. We don't even need to focus specifically on heat. Just trap a layer of air around us.

>>32438186
Early morning, 1-3am, I'd wager. And I totally wanna try this.

>>32438186
You'd only need to make the shadows a little "thick" to kill the windchill, so it should be almost free compared to what's necessary to move a physical object

>>32438154
seconding putting the top up

>>32438186
Make a snappy comment if we actually even start to pull it off.
"Y'all can freeze to death if you want. Ima be comfy."

>>32438271
>put the top up
Not when you're driving on a main road

I highly doubt Isaac would pull over for anything except an emergency.

>>32438186
Can't hurt to try, so long as we give warning. It's presumably dark enough that nobody is going to notice anything even if they look at the car

>>32438311
this

It's not exactly an appropriate time to bring it up now unless we do the shadow thing and that leads the conversation that way, but I hope we mention at some point that every big fight has resulted in us getting at least one new power.

You do the math. “So if there’s five of us, that means we each get one of the rings to summon him, yeah? Man, I call dibs on fire.” All the other elements can go suck it.

“What?” Isaac says, not following.

Rowan snickers. “Captain Planet, dad. You should be old enough to remember that.”

Isaac gives the I-often-wonder-what-life-would-be-like-without-a-teenage-daughter sigh.

Your next question is of utmost importance, although it’s not really much of a question as it is a demand. “Tell me he turns into a bear,” you say, hardly able to sit still in your seat. Reeber’s weight on your lap does some to keep you in place. However, as it stands, Borislav is perhaps so bear-like that he already counts as one, but yet you hope against hope.

“Boy does he,” says Rowan.

“Hell yeah!” you say, unable to stop smiling. You totally called it. (-3 Stress: 21/100) Still, there’s something else that has been nagging at you. “Don’t get me wrong, I have no qualms going up into the forest to hang out with man-bear-Borya and roast marshmallows,” you say, “but uh… don’t we have school tomorrow?”

“There are things more important than school,” says Isaac.

Rowan seems to treat this comment seriously, so you do too.

“Last thing,” you say. “Why do you never put the top up? I’m freaking freezing back here.”

Isaac has a moment of realization. “Oh. Sorry. You should have said something before we left – can’t really get the cover up when we’re moving,” he says apologetically.

>>32438655


“Well screw that,” you say. “You guys can chill if you like, but I’m getting cozy.” You kind of hunker down in the backseat low so that headlights only passingly shine on you, and pull darkness from the depths of the jeep up over your legs and lower torso. With a snap of will, it hardens. While the solid shadow covering doesn’t bring any heat with it, it does a perfect job of deflecting wind and giving you some insulation, and so long as you don’t touch or disturb it much, it’s relatively easy to maintain. (-1 PP: 13/14)

Rowan looks back at you, and at your inky black comforter. “Did you just make a blanket for yourself out of shadow?” she asks, incredulous.

“I’m going to do whatever I have to,” you respond, annoyed.

“There’s blankets under the seat too, you could have just asked,” she says, shaking her head in amusement and turning back around.

Oh. You feel kind of dumb now. Well whatever.

Some time later, you blink your eyes open, and find your face buried in dog fur. You sit up, vision blurry. You feel out around you and snatch your glasses up and replace them on your face, and have a look around. You must have fallen asleep at some point, because you’re nowhere near the bridge. Tall, ominous shapes of trees pass by on either side as Isaac drives on in silence. Rowan sits slumped in the front seat, curled up against herself in opposition to the cold. She looks asleep.

>>32438024
>You consider yourself lucky that Wally was so full of crap that if you cut him open and dumped the body on a farm, the farmer would probably make a point of it to track you down, shake your hand, and thank you about not having to buy fertilizer for the next couple years.
The edge! It hurts!

In a kinda fun way

>>32438668


The road you drive on is narrow and without marking. Without preamble, Isaac slows and turns off onto a dirt sideroad, and drives into the forrest. You look behind you and see the minivan do the same. You drive on in contemplative silence for several minutes, rounding hills and driving between huge trunks that dwarf you and the jeep you’re in.

“This is one of the few old growth redwood forests left,” says Isaac quietly. It’s no task to hear him. The only sound is the quiet crunch of rocks and dirt under tires. The headlights beam ahead, cutting a swath through the darkness like the keel of a ship through water. Large, leafy ferns, fallen timber covered in fungi, and hills covered in clover loom into view. The redwoods about you are so tall and large that their trunks look more like columns than trees, supporting an unseen, murky black ceiling that chokes out the sky and stars.

You kind of like it here. It’s like you’re in a cave or under a giant’s bed or something.

Soon, Isaac pulls off to the side and parks. “We’re here,” he says, noting a massive, misshapen stone that juts forth from the earth just ten yards before you. He opens the door and steps out. Cassandra parks not far behind you.

You didn’t notice any camping signage or anything that would indicate that this is a legitimate location for setting up tents, and you have the feeling that you’re far beyond anywhere that regular forest-goers would venture.

>>32438687

The smell of natural decay and earth and wood almost drowns out everything else. It’s been too long since you’ve gone out into nature like this. You can hear minute chitterling of insects, but not much else. This forest is a quiet one. Calm. (-5 Stress: 16/100)

Cassandra walks over from the van, it’s lights like an island in the sea of shadow. You can see Harvey pulling out big bundles and bags from the back.

Isaac walks over to meet her halfway. “He’s not here,” says Cassandra, folding her arms. She’s wearing a big, floppy sweater that you think would do well on you right now. You pull the blanket you scavenged from beneath your seat tighter about yourself as you listen in.

“Boris doesn’t keep a schedule,” says Isaac. “He’ll be along though by morning. Let’s get the tents up, the kids are tired.”

>Close your eyes for a second, you’re tired.
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.
>Other (?)

I'll be back within an hour.

>>32438707
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.

>>32438707
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.
do this so we can sleep again faster

>>32438719
Oh boy. Y'all smell that?

Smells like fresh cut grass.

>>32438707
>>Close your eyes for a second, you’re tired.

>>32438707
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.
get it done and go to bed

>>32438707
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.

>>32438737
I love the smell of burning grass in the morning.

>>32438719
Sometimes it's ok to leave the lawn to it's own devices

>>32438049
So Boris was a druid. No wonder he was such a bro.

>>32438707
>>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.

>>32438782
He probably grows his own weed too, Sierra should ask for some for medical reasons

>>32438206
Well, yeah, though I bet that there's a sort of natural predisposition in most people. Some are just going to be better at wizarding/druiding/whatever than others

>>32438765
Not if it is mocking you, tauting you with it presents its seer standing there being green and shit, nah fuck that. That grass is going down, no two sides about it boy. He is gonna whip that cunting freak of nature into order and MAKE IT UNDERSTAND NOT TO JUST STAND THERE AND BE GRASS

>>32438707
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.

>inb4 Reeber spooks Boris and they get into a fight.

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>>32438765
You clearly don't know what his lawn is capable of.

>>32438855
it's just a lawn, not some malevolent piece of land.

>>32438905
>It's just a lawn, not some sort of lawn.

>>32438854
>Fight is carried out into the woods, Sierra and Co. lose sight of them
>Sounds of great struggle are heard
>Suddenly, silence
>Someone goes to check on them
>They are found sitting next to each other, Boris has one arm around Reebers shoulders while the other arm is passing a bottle of vodka back and forth between them

"Good dog! Very strong!"

Can't really be arsed to check the archives, but does Sierra's claws pop-out when she has nightmares?
If so we should probably insist on sleeping in a tent by ourself.

>>32438707
>Let Reeber free and help set stuff up.
If there is a lake nearby we should take Reeber for a swim later.

Back! And the lawn is worse for wear.

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>>32438918

I wonder if Boris ever went to Russian summer camp as a child

>>32439116
I'm gonna draw you a moesana one day. I imagine you as some sort of sister of battle on a riding mower blasting flames at a malicious lawn/tentacle monster hybrid.

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>>32439116

>>32439116
You show that lawn who is boss

Despite your instinctual compulsion to lie down and pass out, you decide to save yourself the trouble of having to wake up AGAIN to get into a real bed. Or sleeping bag. Whatever, you’re not picky. You pat Reeber on the side. The dog refuses to move, so you shove him off of you. He falls roughly off the seat, giving you the leeway needed to escape. You leap out of the truck and wander over to the minivan to help stuff do stuff, leaving Reeber to sleep lazily in the jeep. Geeze, you thought you were doing him a favor or something. Were you using him as a pillow and a blanket, or was he using you as a pillow and a space heater? Stupid family dog.

You follow Harvey’s lead in getting crap out of the car. You work in silence, but Harvey is good with silence, you can tell. You don’t really need to say anything. You continue following his lead in setting up tents and deploying miscellaneous camping supplies, most of which you have no clue what their purpose is.

Thankfully, it’s not your place to ask questions, you’re just the muscle. You know. Even though Ro’s bro is bigger than you. You know what, whatever, you’ve probably killed more people than he has, that counts for something. Doesn’t it?

>>32439346

The night’s bitter cold creeps into your bones by the time everything is done. Rowan is roused from her slumber and lead to safe pastures, while Isaac watches the forest in contemplation. Two tents. You guess that means one for guys and one for girls. Seeing Cassandra move three sleeping bags into the bigger, better tent confirms your suspicions. You crawl in and shove your hastily packed backpack into the corner, while Cass starts rolling out a sleeping pad.

Rowan silently comes in and changes out of her jeans and into a pair of flannel PJ bottoms. A moment later she’s slipped into her sleeping bag and is out cold. You’re kind of jealous.

“Sierra,” says Cassandra, her quiet voice breaking the silence of the forest like an unexpected crack of thunder, “do you want a sleeping pad?” She says, indicating a roll of foamy material similar to the one she’s set up under her own bag.

>Maybe later. I’m not tired yet. (Go out and have a look around, or perhaps talk to Isaac.)
>Yeah.
>Won’t make a difference.
>Hey, if I start doing anything weird, wake me up.
>Maybe it’s not the best idea if I’m in here with you guys. Is there a hammock or something?
>Other (?)

>>32439365
>Yeah.
>Hey, if I start doing anything weird, wake me up.

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>>32439116
onward to battle!

>>32439365
>Maybe it’s not the best idea if I’m in here with you guys. Is there a hammock or something?

>>32439365
>>Hey, if I start doing anything weird, wake me up.

You'll be doing us a favor. Stupid recurring nightmare.

>>32439365
>Hey, if I start doing anything weird, wake me up.
>Maybe it’s not the best idea if I’m in here with you guys. Is there a hammock or something?
>I might pop the claws in my sleep or something

>>32439365
>Maybe it’s not the best idea if I’m in here with you guys. Is there a hammock or something?

>>32438992
They pop out under duress. So I guess if her nightmares are spooky enough.

>>32439510
Then we shouldn't sleep near any of them. It's for the best.

>>32439365
>Yeah.
>Hey, if I start doing anything weird, wake me up.

>>32439365
>>Maybe it’s not the best idea if I’m in here with you guys. Is there a hammock or something?

>>32439365
>Yeah.

I haven't seen anything about her bed stuff having taken any damage while we sleep. I think we'll be fine sleeping in the tent with them. also WE ARE THE MASTERS OF OUR DREAMS!!!!

>>32439365
So this has been bugging me for a while now, but why are some of the abilities listed with their ranges in yards while other have it as meters?

>>32439581
The ones in meters are better, cooler abilities, obviously.

>>32439559
>WE ARE THE MASTERS OF OUR DREAMS!!!!

I'll honestly vote for the "worst" options in the dreams just to see if we can figure out what happened to our family.

>>32439595
t-thanks, schizophrenia.

>>32439592
This anon gets it

>>32439595
...I like the way you thing good sir.

>>32439581
It doesn't really matter for the purposes of a quest. Yards and Meters are nearly interchangeable.

>1m = 1.09yd

>>32439634
TYW that .09 comes back to bite us in the ass

>>32439634
Way to add a needless .09 there, Yard!

Meter represent!

Looking around the tent, you realize you might not want to be in here tonight. Close quarters. And you might have one of those things where you wake up and don’t know where you are for a minute. And then there’s that one time you woke up with your room wrecked. “Is there… anywhere else to sleep?” you ask, tentatively. You don’t want the answer to be no.

Cassandra picks up the flashlight from where its lying on the ground and sets it up so that it’s pointing at the ceiling and illuminating everything evenly. She looks up at you with some degree of understanding. “Go talk to Isaac. He’ll figure something out.”

>>32439682


You nod silently and go back out. It doesn’t take Isaac very long to get a hammock set up between two trees for you, and explain the finer points of sleeping beneath the night sky so you don’t wake up soaking wet. More shuffling things around, and several minutes later you’re peacefully suspended above the ground, cozied up in a sleeping bag. It’s way cold at first, but it doesn’t take long before you’re roasty toasty. Looks like the Hallows know their outdoors and outdoor accessories well.

You fall asleep.

--

The ground is rough and red. Rocky. You’re running. A massive beast pursues. You dare look back. It is bigger than everything, but you have a cunning plan.

You hear a light play of laugher off to your left.

>Execute cunning plan.
>Who dares laugh at you? This is serious!
>Laughter is infectious. Fall to ground giggling.
>The hell? Reeber isn’t freaking a billion miles tall. (Dice)
>Other (?)

Rolled 75

>>32439691
>The hell? Reeber isn’t freaking a billion miles tall. (Dice)

>>32439691
Roasty toasty. Heh, that's cute.
>The hell? Reeber isn’t freaking a billion miles tall. (Dice)

Right? We control everything!

>>32439691
>Execute cunning plan.

>>32439691
>Execute cunning plan.
this option promises hilarity

>>32439691
>The hell? Reeber isn’t freaking a billion miles tall. (Dice)

>>32439691
>Execute cunning plan.

>>32439691
>>Execute cunning plan.
>Who dares laugh at you? This is serious!

Rolled 61

>>32439731

Rolled 13

>>32439727
Rolling for this, then.

Rolled 51

>>32439691
>Execute cunning plan.
gotta be cunnin'

>>32439751
YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR DREAMS!

also captcha is deoptzu DISCIPLINE

>>32439780
I'M SORRY, OK?! WE STILL HAVE THAT DUDE WHO GOT 75! IT'S FINE! EVERYTHING IS COOL!

COME ON, 75 GUY, I BELIEVE IN YOU!

>>32439802
This quest is roll under, dood

>>32439802
Lower is better in this quest, mate. 75 is bad.

>>32439751
Voting this roll

>>32439824
>>32439831
Oh right, I keep forgetting. That shit is so confusing goddamn.

Well, guess WE CONTROL THE DREAMSCAPE NOW AND FOREVER!

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>>32439802
Don't apologize, you're doing awesome bro!
Awesome rolls like that need a reward. have a potato.

File: oh yes.png (22 KB, 706x660)

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>>32439877
You're a good man, Anon.

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>>32439892

Something irks you about the creature’s apparent size, but you dismiss it. The plan is flawless, so you stick to it, letting distractions be damned. You run past an outcropping of rock in mock terror, screaming and flailing your arms just in case the monster doubted your fear.

The creature behind you simply follows, and once he passes the rock, it is time for phase two. You skid to a halt and turn on the beast, barring your teeth and crooking your fingers into menacing claw-shapes. “Rwawr!” you yell.

The monster pads up to you and stops, tail wagging. It is slightly confused as to why you have stopped. The answer, however, becomes clear as your cohort emerges from behind the rock and leaps onto the leviathan’s side, seizing hold of its horns to pull herself up on top.

While Reeber’s distracted, you charge his head, fling your pretend claws out cling furiously to his snout. The dog huffs, steps back a couple paces, and lifts its head away from you, lifting you from the ground. You scramble up, then, and kind of on top of his head, and slide down his neck, colliding with your all-time ally.

>>32439913

“In my way!” you yell, as Reeber starts walking off, his every motion threatening to throw you off. The light laughter repeats itself as you struggle to maintain your position.

“Not either,” says Nevada, buckling down on Reeber’s shoulders and refusing to move. She sticks her tongue out at you. The audacity! You should teach her the price of impudence. (Nevada: full/full helthpionts)

>Attack with claws, go for the vulnerable spots. (Dice)
>Force her to relinquish her hold of the beast, she will certainly fall. (Dice)
>Sonic attack. (Dice)
>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)
>Other (?)

Rolled 25

>>32439926
>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)

Rolled 88

>>32439926
>>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)

Rolled 63

>>32439926
>Sonic attack. (Dice)

Rolled 38

>>32439926
>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)

Rolled 80

>>32439926
So that's, what, tickling, pushing her off, screaming, and calling for mom/dad? I vote for tickling.

Rolled 80

>>32439926
>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)
O-O-O-Overkill

Rolled 95

>>32439926
>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)

Rolled 42

>>32439926
>>Call on the dark gods. (Dice)

Goddamnit, Nevada. Wait, is this Sierra's other half? Get it? Sierra Nevada?

Rolled 43

>>32439926
>Attack with claws, go for vulnerable spots. (Dice)

>all these people saying to yell for mom and dad

god damn you must have been whiny kids

Rolled 67

>>32439926
>Force her to relinquish her hold of the beast, she will certainly fall. (Dice)

Rolled 98

>>32439971
>Goddamnit, Nevada. Wait, is this Sierra's other half? Get it? Sierra Nevada?
This is Sierra's twin. So, yes, you could say that she's her other half.

>>32439978
I know, right? We should have gone with the claw attack, assuming that's tickling rather than scratching.

Rolled 26

>>32439971
her sister

>>32439831
He takes the first three rolls after a post, though. 13 is not bad

Such heinousness can only be adequately punished by one entity. It will be the downfall of you both, but you dare utter the forbidden name. You squeeze your eyes shut and shriek, “MOOOOOOM!!!”

Reeber quits moving, but you can feel his tail continuing to wag. Nevada gives you a look of horror a pair of massive claws descend from the sky. They seize her delicately under the stomach, and tear her away and into the air. You begin giggling in triumph, only to have the exact same thing happen to you and cut your mirth short. You grab at one of Reeber’s horns, but you’re too slow. The claws tear you away.

“Such distress, my creatures,” mother coos, slipping you onto one hip and Nevada on the other. “Why can’t we all play and play along in peace?”

“She screamed for no reason,” says Nevada, pouting.

>Use reverse psychology.
>Shift blame onto Nevada.
>Blame mom for laughing at you.
>Other (?)

>>32440133
>>Other (?)
"There can be no peace! Only the grimdarkness of warrrrr!"

>>32440133
>Use reverse psychology.

>>32440133
>Shift blame onto Nevada.

Shift blame, always shift blame

>>32440133
>Use reverse psychology.

>>32440133
>Use reverse psychology.

>>32440155
Then commence tickling our captor

>>32440133
>Use reverse psychology.

Rolled 41

>>32440133
>Use reverse psychology.
>Shift blame onto Nevada.
>Blame mom for laughing at you.
Full shitstorm mode, go! We're clearly in desperate need of a fucking nap.

>>32440133
>Blame mom for laughing at you.

>>32440133
>"It was my turn to play with Reeeeberrrrrrr"

>>32440133
>>Use reverse psychology.

>>32440155
>>32440174
I vote for these.

Rolled 87

So, do you think that Reeber is short for Erebus, or a childish mispronunciation of Reaver?

>>32440218
I was thinking mispronunciation of reaper

Rolled 34

>>32440242
So, our current possibilities are Reaver, Reaper, and Erebus.

>>32440250
I say Reaver, b and v are closely related, like p and f.

Rolled 90

>>32440303
The only difference between a 'b' and a 'p,' though, are whether or not you vocalize it. They use the same mouth movement/shape.

The same is true of 'v' and 'f,' actually.

I think you got your letters mixed up.

>>32440303
>b and v are closely related

Yeah, the only difference is, one plays video games

>>32440328
But what about the German consonant shift, that caused words like 'fenning' to be pronounced 'penning?' And then there's betacism, where the b sounds becomes a v.

>>32440356
dohoho

>>32440356
Clever girl

“No, Nev screamed for no reason!” you reason. Revese psychology, you think. You’re pretty sure that’s what it’s called, what you’re doing here.

Mother gasps. “Is that true?” she asks, turning her attention to Nevada.

But Nevada is just as clever at mind games as you are. “I’m Sie, she’s Nev, she screamed!” Nevada says treacherously

Curses. Nevada just turned your turn around back on you, and to make it worse, she’s assumed your identity! You can’t handle it. “She’s lying! I’m me, I screamed!” you scream.

“Your tricks have no sway over me, my darling demonettes,” says mother. You believe her. She sets the two of you down. She extends her index-claw toward you, and you grab the back of it out of habit. Mom’s fingers are pointy on the other side. You all begin walking.

“Mom, how do you know I’m me and she’s her?” you ask, genuinely curious. Everybody else gets confused all the time. Even dad sometimes gets you mixed up.

“A mother knows,” she says omnisciently. “You two don’t look at all alike to me.”

Your jaw drops, as does Nevada’s. This is impossible. “What do I look like?” asks Nevada, in awed wonder.

Mother takes but an instant to respond. “When I look upon you, my Nydalis, you are a more beautiful, more exquisite shade of night than the farthest reaches of the void.”

“Do me too!” you say.

She nods wisely. “And when I cast my gaze on you, my Sakheris, you are the brilliant blazing fury of the stars, unquenchable, unconquerable, and indomitable.”

>>32440703

You don’t know what half those words mean, but they sound pretty so you smile. Mom always says important stuff when calls you by your other name.

The scenery changes, though your relative position to mother and Nevada remains the same. You’re in a stone hall. A man approaches, towering and draped in black. His face is covered by a metal mask. The mask looks like a face with a very stern expression, though it’s far more angular than any face you’ve ever seen. You don’t like this man.

“Returned so soon?” asks mother, a cold note in her voice.

“As soon as was possible,” says the man. Water begins to gush out from the edges of the mask. It pools on the floor and begins spreading outward quickly, originating at the figure.

“Mom?” you ask, looking up. No one gives any indication that they notice what’s happening, except you. It brushes against your feet, getting your toes wet. It’s icy cold. (+7 Stress: 23/100)

>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)
>Go get dad.
>Use your claws on the masked man. (Dice)
>Other (?)

>>32440720
>Other
Hide behind mom
Prepare for sadness

Rolled 50

>>32440720
>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)

Rolled 65

>>32440720
>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)

Save mom

Rolled 65

>>32440703
Oh geez, Sakheris is Sierra's true name. OH GEEZ! Also mom was a demon, dad likely wasn't.

>>32440720
>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)
>Other: "Away from him! This man is bad!"

Rolled 6

>>32440703
>Sakheris
Wait, so our real name actually IS Blood? I wonder what Nydalis means.

Rolled 2

>>32440720
>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)

>>32440828
Oh boy

>Nydalis
>Lindsay

Rolled 29

>>32440860
...what? Her human name is Nevada.

File: waffle_sq-1a157824bcd634f(...).jpg (37 KB, 948x948)

37 KB JPG

>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)

>>32440828
That 2....... even if it isn't counted that still a fucking awesome roll. have a WAFFLE

>>32440860
No man, it's Siladyn don't you see!

Rolled 29

>>32440720
>Pull mom back toward the door. (Dice)

Rolled 59

>>32440720
>Tell mom about the water

“Mom, the water!” you exclaim. You seize hold of mother’s claw and pull away from the man, but it’s as if she’s made of marble. She doesn’t budge an inch.

“The Conclave is hesitant,” says the figure in the mask, “but your presence could tip the scales.” Water continues to gush out of his mask, and the water continues rising, more rapidly now. It’s at your ankles.

“You speak that which I already know,” says mother. “If you have nothing of value, leave.”

You give up momentarily on mother – you slosh through the shin-deep water and grab Nevada. “C’mon we have to go!” you say. Unfortunately, you find that she, too, is rooted to the floor.

The masked man hesitates, even as water begins rushing out of his sleeves. “I fear for your safety.”

“As I for yours,” says mother. The water reaches your waist, chilling you to the bone. “This is a difficult transition,” she says. “Perhaps I shall leave, for a small time. Now depart.”

The masked man bows, but instead of leaving, he simply explodes into a geyser of water that begins flooding the room. Mother kneels down so that her head eyes are level with yours and Nevada’s, even as the strong current issuing forth threatens to tear you away from her. You can feel your grip on her wrist slipping. “How would my little creatures like to go on a sailing trip?”

“Will we look at the stars?” Nevada asks. A wave swallows her up. You’re holding on to your mother’s wrist my a hair’s breath, and the current only gets faster.

>>32441270

“Of course,” says mother. The tide crashes down upon you. Your fingers slip free, and you’re away.

Cold depths of darkness flood your ever sense. Your lungs burn for air, and you gasp out in desperation, only to have them fill with salty, briny, icy water. You thrash wildly, helplessly, unable to determine direction or feeling from raw animal terror. (+15 Stress: 48/100)

--

“Waagh!” you shout, sitting bolt upright. Your world turns upside down, and after a brief feeling of weightlessness, something smashes into your side. You blink in confusion at the pale light streaming through the forest canopy.

You hear a fire going, and smell cooking eggs.

“She’s finally up,” says Harvey, blandly.

You hear footfalls. “Forgot to mention,” says Isaac, crouching by your side. “Don’t sit up in the hammock. Are you okay?”

>Insert response here.

>>32441286
"I'm hungry, also my head is a weird place"

>>32441286
"holyfuckmorenightmares"
make sure claws aren't out

>>32441286
Just a dream. Borya ever show up?

>>32441286
>F-fucking dreams! Fuck!

Also what if Nevada is still alive and Mom just faked that shit. I wonder how Sierra survived from being swallowed by the sea.

>>32441286
"Yes, nothing unusual. What is for breakfast?"

>>32441286
"Feed me, mortals."

changing >>32441352 to >>32441401

>>32441401
They are angels.

>>32441540
Only like a quarter angel

>>32441540
Demonbane. Technically half and quarter angels since Isaac's dad was of warrior caste.

Though I suspect Cassandra is something special too. I mean, what's up with those tinted glasses. They're all tinted, even at the eye doctor place.

>>32441553
Isaac is half.

>>32441568
Sensitive eyes?

reminder that we have no idea if God or Satan exist or are players in this world. Should probably ask about that at some point

>>32441622
Bullshit! There has to be something more to it!

I can sense it in my gills!

“Fucking dreams,” you say, righting yourself and extracting your body from your sleeping bag. You immediately regret it, because it’s freaking cold outside. You pause to give more consideration to the scent of eggs, and look past Isaac to see Harvey manning a little portable propane stove thing. “There’d better be enough of that to go around,” you say loudly, “because once I start I’m not stopping.”

Harvey waves idly at you without turning to look. He needs to take these kinds of things more seriously, you think.

You stand up and move past Isaac. You groggily make your way over to the tent, zip inside, and pop out a while later in your business clothes – or in this case, something warm and something warmer. You plop down on a stone by the fire and gaze intensely into the heat. The quiet dignity of the woods seems to suppress a few of the shivers you’ve caught from your dream. (-5 Stress: 43/100)

Reeber bounds toward you a minute later in full on hell-beast form, and presses into your shoulder in a friendly fashion. (-5 Stress: 38/100) You sit him down next to you to enjoy the fire’s heat alongside you.

Isaac, meanwhile, walks over to the jeep, pulls a bag out of the back, and carries it over to a large pile of similar bags and boxes, and throws it down.

You look over to Harvey again, the smell of eggs almost overpowering.

>Feed me if you dare, mortal.
>What’s the itinerary?
>Where’s Borislav?
>What's in the bags?
>Other (?)

>>32441700
>What's in the bags?

>>32441700
>What's in the bags?
>What’s the itinerary?

>>32441700
>Feed me if you dare, mortal.
>What's in the bags?

>>32441700
>>What’s the itinerary?
>>Where’s Borislav?
>>What's in the bags?

>>32441700
>Feed me if you dare, mortal.
>What's in the bags?

>>32441700
>Feed me if you dare, mortal.
>What's in the bags?

>>32441700
>>Where’s Borislav?
>>What's in the bags?

>>32441700
>Feed me if you dare, mortal.

>>32441700
OH WHATS IN THE BAGS??! WHATS IN THE FUCKING BAGS!

We should probably ask Isaac about this demon conclave thingy we just remembered at some point. Also, is name magic just a fictional thing here, or might we have a problem?

>Sakheris
We probably need to remember this shit. Sounds important.

>>32441891
Well, Tweed or whats-his-name said something about him giving us his true name, so maybe knowing one gives you some leverage over a demon - or a being.

>>32441891
either way we should keep our true name to ourselves

>>32441941
its our true name i think

>>32441941
>We probably need to remember this shit. Sounds important.
...yes, our name is probably. We should definitely try to remember our own damn name.

>>32441957
No, we should tell the hallows!

>>32441941
It's our name.

>>32441957
Bit late for that - we told Waldric to put us down as Blood in his phone. He put us down as Sakheris, since that's what it means in Halth. Hopefully he won't realize that's our real name

>>32441891
>>32441957
we should ask if the true name thing is actually an issue first. I mean we could slip it in as a joke in the same way we're saying "feed me mortal" or some shit, but it'd be well worth knowing.

>>32441700
"I think I just remembered my name. My demon name."

>>32441985
We should only tell Rowan

>>32441993
Actually, if i remember correct it was something similar but not exactly Sakheris. I might be wrong though and am too lazy to go check archives.

>>32441993
Heltic, you mean.

>>32442013
You remember incorrectly.

>>32442013
You're right, it was Sakherith. Very close, though

>>32442013
I was just reading that. It is Sakheris. Hopefully he'll think we couldn't possibly be stupid enough to give him our true name.

>>32442013
>>32442033
>“You know, the Heltic word for blood sounds more dramatic. I’ll put you in as Sakherith instead.”

>>32442036
I don't think true names work here like that they do in D&D

>>32442045
Can't really say. Nabuth implied some power behind them, though.

>>32442041
so what, if Sakherith means "Blood" then maybe Sakheris is "Bleed" or something similiar?

>>32442041
Thanks anon. What a great memory i have.

>>32442045
General mythological significance of a name in multiple areas/settings would suggest that it is important.

>>32442064
>>32442076
We know that someone who swears on their true-name is bound to uphold it, but we don't know much about it other than that.

“Feed me at your own peril, mortal,” you say to Harvey, your voice more of a croak than anything.

He glances over at you. “What?”

“It’s a joke,” you say.

Harvey eyes you tolerantly.

“I’m joking. Shut up!”

He chuckles, flops a big piece of egg onto a paper plate, and hands it to you. You’ve pretty much consumed it all before he’s had a chance to hand you the fork. Though you have many talents, table manners are not among them. Though there is no table, so you don’t beat yourself up too much about it. With some fuel in the furnace, you find it easier to access the part of your brain that deals with intelligence and thinking about crap.

“What’s in all those fucking bags?” you call out to Isaac.

He stops and waves you over. Begrudgingly, you leave your prime spot in front of the fire and walk toward him.

He pops the lid off one of the boxes, revealing its contents.

You let out a low whistle. It contains racks strung with blades of various sizes. They’re some pretty sweet things, too, besides knives. Like brass knuckles and hand axes and stuff you don’t even know what it’s called. “Can I have one?” you ask jokingly.

“At some point, yeah,” says Isaac. Your heart does a little flip at that. “We brought up most of the things we train with, including guns. I figured while we’re up here we could figure out what you’re good with and make sure you’ve got what you need. You know, if you’re still on board with going after Meckor with us.”

>>32442138

Besides the satisfaction of killing the demon that caused the death of your best friend, you’re pretty sure you know what it is that Isaac does for work. Somehow, he gets paid to slay demons and arm-wrestle werewolves. Some time after your run in with dogwalker, Isaac forked over a couple hundreds and told you that you earned it. Rowan’s hinted she gets compensated as well, but stashes most of her earnings in a college fund. Not that you’re complaining. It’s nice to have cash on hand, especially yesterday, when you splurged and bought a bunch of clothes.

Anyway, the other reason for going after Meckor is simple. There’s money to be made.

>All this stuff is great, but it makes me wonder who gives you the money to pay for it.
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>So I take it next time we go kicking in doors, I’ll get a sweet vest too?
>Is all this crap just normal stuff, or is there like, angel magic on it or whatever?
>Other (?)

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>So I take it next time we go kicking in doors, I’ll get a sweet vest too?
>Is all this crap just normal stuff, or is there like, angel magic on it or whatever?

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.

This is good shit to know.

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.

>All this stuff is great, but it makes me wonder who gives you the money to pay for it.

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
And clarify if that applies to hellborn as well.
There might be a very good reason we have 2 names.

>>32442151
>All this stuff is great, but it makes me wonder who gives you the money to pay for it.
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.

>>32442138
>Harvey didn't feed Sierra
Wow, what a douche.

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>Is all this crap just normal stuff, or is there like, angel magic on it or whatever?
>Other: Also is there some sort of demon council or whatnot?
>And is God and THE DEVIL real?

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>..I think I remembered my demon name.

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>Other(?) perhaps mention that we remembered ours?

>>32442151
>All this stuff is great, but it makes me wonder who gives you the money to pay for it.
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.

>>32442151
>All this stuff is great, but it makes me wonder who gives you the money to pay for it.
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.

We've been told that you don't need special powers to hurt demons, haven't we?

>>32442151
>>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>>So I take it next time we go kicking in doors, I’ll get a sweet vest too?
>>Is all this crap just normal stuff, or is there like, angel magic on it or whatever?

>>32442069
It might be the feminine form, or the Heltic equivalent of 'Bloodita' or 'Bloodette.' We don't really know the distinction between 's' and 'th' as word endings in this language.

Languid, please write us a primer on Heltic's grammar system and a semi-comprehensive dictionary of words. We'll be fluent by this time next week.

>>32442151
>>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names?

>>32442243
What this guy said. Hop to it, Languid!

>>32442243
It makes sense that the players knows as little about Heltic as the MC does

>>32442151
>Hey Isaac, what’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out.
>So I take it next time we go kicking in doors, I’ll get a sweet vest too?
>Is all this crap just normal stuff, or is there like, angel magic on it or whatever?

>>32442325
>>32442243
It's Haltic, btw.

>>32442325
well seeing as in one of the first threads the way she thinks was described as dozens of arguing voices all trying to decide what to do, i think you're probably right. It wouldn't make any sense for her mind voices to know more than she knows.

>>32442325
Man, fuck that. Don't tease me with a fictional language that already includes different suffixes for proper/normal nouns. That's like offering a dog a whole ham and then refusing to let them actually have a bite for linguistic nerds.

>>32442394
It could also be Languid making a small hole into the fourth wall and implying the voices are us, the players.

Though I think it's just her dormant insanity.

>>32442501
That's actually exactly what i was trying to get across. Clearly I didn't explain too well.

>>32442539
Or maybe I'm retarded?

We'll never know.

>>32442550
we are on 4chan. We're all retarded. TOGETHER!

>>32442595
Thank you! I feel better already.

>>32442595
Speak for yourself. I'm not retarded like the rest of you louts.

You pick out a long knife from the box, and twirl it in hand experimentally. You’ve been getting a lot quicker with your hands lately, for some reason. “Yeah, I’m cool with kicking in Meckor’s teeth or whatever,” you say. You pause to turn the knife over in hand, and examine it carefully. “Is this like, normal stuff, or is it all magical and whatnot?”

Isaac shakes his head. “Most of our equipment is normal enough,” he says. “A couple things aren’t. My crossbow is special. And Rowan’s sword belonged to her grandfather.” He scratches the stubble at his jaw. “I think he intended me to use it, but I prefer the work of my own hands. Rowan knows blades better than I do, in any case.”

That makes sense enough, you think. Your recent dream, however, brings another topic to mind. You think it was mingled with a memory. Waldric’s mention of the word Sakherith and your recent reacquisition of Reeber probably spurred it back to the forefront of your mind, where it met your often sucky dreamscape.

“Another thing,” you say. “What’s the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian swore to me with his real name or whatever and thought I should be impressed.”

>>32442151
>finally got caught up with previous threads and managed to make it to a thread as it happens.

Hey Isaac, what's the deal with demons and their names? The Stygian mentioned his trying to get me to let him go before he made me freak out

>>32442719
Isaac’s eyes widen slightly. “Did he?” He thinks it over, and nods. “Whatever he said, I’m glad you stayed the course. Anyway, most demons value their names highly. Now it’s not like what you’ll read in stories. Knowing a demon’s name doesn’t mean anything in and of itself. But the more powerful demon, and the more highly they think of themselves, the more power their name possesses. When a demon swears by its name, its power gets sealed into its word.”

“What happens if it breaks its word?” you ask.

“However the powerful the demon was at the time it made the vow, that power gets released back at it. For an underling, that might not be too bad. But if you’re talking about a demon lord, it could cripple or even kill him. I’m not exactly sure on the details, there aren’t many recorded cases of demons breaking their word, sworn by name.”

“Huh,” you say. Knowing is half the battle, as they say. “Say Isaac.”

“What?”

“Who pays you to do what you do?” you ask.

Isaac smiles. “Taxpayers. But if I didn’t get paid, I would still do what I do.”

“You’re telling me the government pays you to kill demons?” you ask, a little incredulous.

“Who else are they going to pay to do it?” he asks. “There aren’t exactly that many people that can. And then out of that subset, there’s less that want to.”

"Not what I meant," you say. "I mean. They know about all this crap?"

"Surprising, isn't it," Isaac says flatly.

>Response.

>>32442748
So the government paying you to kill demons is all about having you take out the competition?

>>32442748
"But seriously, is it like the FBI, or something? I was asking for specifics."

>>32442748
yes
I am surprised

>>32442748
Huh. Why us? You'd think dudes like Blackwater and ABC Sec. would be all over this like ants on a pic-nic.

>>32442748
Is Area 51 actually demons too or something?

>>32442748
>The truth really IS out there!

You just had to believe!

>>32442748
"Hell yes! Sierra, FBI Special Agent!"

"When do I get a badge?"

>>32442748
"Wait, does that mean the government has it out for all demons? I cant see the FBI being too happy with people like me loosing it all the time"

>>32442798
Actually it's called Academi now. So much better, don't you think?

>>32442748

So Area 51 is actually just a portal hell? Wait. Wait! Can we kill some aliens too?

>>32442748
"Do you get a fancy badge?"

>>32442824
Yeap. Just like National Socialist Party sounds much better than, say, Nazi.

>>32442748
"So how old was Rowan before you stopped calling her 'Agent Scully'?"

>>32442748
>Government-sponsored demon hunters keeping people safe from monsters.

Thanks Obama

>>32442748
>>32442818

>>32442896
Changing mine to "Thanks Obama"

>>32442896
Ah haha, yes this

>>32442896
yup, say this

>>32442896
Thanks Obama!

>>32442748
thanks obama

>>32442896
What the hell, switching Blackwater to Obama.

>>32442920
>>32442936
>>32442959
>>32442963
>>32442989
>>32443042
I was joking, yeesh

>>32443063
Live with the consequences!

>>32443063
There are no jokes

>>32443063
TO LATE

>>32443063
Never make a joke you don't want people latching onto.

>>32443063
too funny to not say, sorry bro!

You stand there for a second, dumbfounded. “Area 51 is a demonic zoo, isn’t it.”

“No Sierra, that’s where they keep the aliens,” Isaac says.

“Okay, now you’re just fucking with me,” you say flatly.

He smiles slightly. “Sorry.”

“So basically the entire world is really exactly like the X-Files,” you say, trying to sum everything up into a catchy phrase you can wrap your brain around.

Isaac thinks about that for a second. “I don’t think I’ve seen enough X-Files to verify that,” he says.

“How can people not know that the truth really is out there?” you say loudly.

Isaac shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s not really a secret, per say,” he says. “Most people just want a normal life that’s under their control. Magic and arcane things and demons, well, the majority of civilization has no power to handle anything like that. Most people would rather live in ignorance than constant fear.”

“So what you’re saying,” you say, “is that the world is a big fucking campout, and everybody’s sitting around the fire shooting the breeze and having a great time, and we’re like, the one guy who’s looking behind himself in the dark going like, geeze, there’s something in the bushes back there?”

“Yep,” Isaac confirms. “Basically, reality is on a need to know basis.”

“Who decides who needs to know and who gets to stare into the fucking flames?” you ask.

“In the US?” Isaac asks. “You do.”

>>32443309

“But what about TV and the news? I mean, we left like, three dead hellhounds and a mangled Infernus corpse in the middle of the street in broad daylight last week. How did that not hit the airwaves?”

“I’m certain it did,” says Isaac. “You can google it. I’m sure the neighbors put pictures up on the internet. But no respectable news company is going to publish a crackpot story about alien creatures found dead in the suburbs of San Fransisco.”

“It doesn’t need to be on the news,” you argue, “just throw it up on Facebook.”

Isaac laughs. He actually laughs at you when you say that. You start claiming you’ve seen demons and that magic is real. How long does it take before one of your friends sits you down and tells you about how concerned they are for your mental wellbeing? And if you keep it up, it won’t be long before your boss at work is having the same discussion. You start questioning yourself, and before long, yes, you believe it was a hallucination as well, or at least, you’re willing to say it was.”

“But,” you stammer, “there was evidence. Real bodies!”

>>32443321

Isaac waves that concern away. “If the medical examiners have problems reconciling away the differences between hellhounds and regular dogs, or an Infernus and a guy on steroids, the government has people that work with that kind of thing.”

“Wow,” you say, drawing out the word as long as possible, “thanks Obama.”

Isaac Hallow chuckles at that. “Him? Please, give credit where credit is due. You should really thank the founding fathers. The free masons set this country up to run exactly like it does is today.”

>Response?

>>32443349
"thats... oddly comforting...."

>>32443349
>"Woah, this is a lot to take in."

>>32443349
>"So if this is all people do about it, why the hell haven't demons just up and taken over yet? I doubt just us could stand up to a whole army."

>>32443349
thanks... Washington?

>>32443349
>Blood ell govna.
>Welp, I need to go get fed - I mean go eat.

Srsly, we need more food.

>>32443413
I like this one.

>>32443349
I guess if people want to be free to stick their fingers in their ears and go "LALALALALALALALALLAA", then that's their prerogative.

>>32443413
>>32443474
>"I guess if people want to be free to stick their fingers in their ears and go 'LALALALALALALALALA', then that's their right. Soooo, thanks... Washington?"

>>32443390
I like this.

>>32443349
Vampir Hunter Lincoln was a thing too, wasn't it?

Rolled 17

>>32443500
I'm on board for this one.

>>32443349
"So are free masons all wizards or demonbane or just regular old dudes who know how it do?"

>>32443349
"But what if you show undeniable proof. Like demon hands and hellfire bolt and moving shadows. How would they deny it or dismiss it as madness or similar then? Why have no demon or something done this yet?"

I'll bet Rowan hasn't told her friends because she wants to have some part of her life that's normal.

What about Sierra? She spent most of her childhood thinking and being told her abilities were unnatural and bad. She might keep hiding them, or get real showy now that she knows there's not as much pressure to hide.

“Huh. So… thanks, Washington? I guess? For preserving our right to remain ignorant?” you say, confused about this whole situation. The thought that George Washington knew about people like you is… oddly comforting? (-7 Stress: 31/100) “But one thing. I don’t get it, if like, the six of us are the only people dealing with a bunch of demons scrambling around in San Fransisco, why aren’t demons like, in control of everything behind the scenes? Why not muster up some huge army in hell and march over here and kick the front door down?”

The thought of one Infernus itching to burn your head off is one thing, but you see the complications that begin to arise when you give a thousand of them military training and a commander.

>>32443751

“Generally,” says Isaac, “demons are too busy kicking each other’s doors down. And I would say the majority of them know about as much about earth as the average person does about hell. Now that doesn’t mean there weren’t demons that haven’t tried,” he adds. “But demons and angels aren’t the only things out there, and some of those other things are very…” he searches for a good word before settling on one. “Territorial. And you’re forgetting, it’s not just us. There are people that do what we do, all over the place.”

About this time, you hear the approaching rumble of an engine older than you are. It sounds like Borislav’s pickup truck.

>Borya's here.
>All these revelations make me hungry.
>Does this mean I don't have to be all hide-and-seek about what I am?
>One more question (?).
>Hey. I think I remembered my demon name.
>Other (?)

>>32443767
>All these revelations make me hungry.
>Hey. I think I remembered my demon name. Should I keep it to myself?

>>32443767
>All these revelations make me hungry.

>>32443767
>One more question(?)
>"Oh my god, are dragons real too!?"
>hey I think i remembered my demon name.

>>32443767
>Hey. I think I remembered my demon name.

>>32443767
>Does this mean I don't have to be all hide-and-seek about what I am?
>Hey. I think I remembered my demon name.

>>32443767
>Hey. I think I remembered my demon name.
>Oh wait. Do Hellborn even have those? Because I'm pretty sure I remember my mom calling me something that sounded like a Heltic word.
>Other (?)
"Man I'm gonna have to convince you to sit down and tell me about all this stuff one day when we aren't preparing to go fight Meckor or something. This is way cooler than the stuff they teach in highschool."

>>32443767
>>All these revelations make me hungry.
>>Borya's here.

>>32443948
this

“Okay, point,” you say. You’ll have to talk to Rowan or someone later to find out what exactly there is out there besides angels and demons, but right now, it seems like that’s what you need to worry about. “Do Hellborn have demon names?”

“Most don’t,” says Isaac. “Their demonic parents don’t stick around long enough to give them one. It’s more of a cultural thing, though – if a demon acknowledges its spawn’s existence, it’s going to give it a good, demon name.” He pauses for a moment. “You probably have one, given your family circumstances,” he says.

“About that,” you say.

Isaac puts his hands on his hips, and watches you curiously.

“I think I remembered my demon name in my dream last night. Is it like… a secret or something?”

“I would be very careful with that information, Sierra,” Isaac tells you seriously. “There’s no telling who,” he pauses, “or what, might know you by that name.”

You absorb his words solemnly. Be careful about the name. Check. “Wait, one more thing,” you say quickly, your heart rate beginning to accelerate.

Isaac nods and waits for you to continue.

“Dragons. Fact or fiction?”

Isaac exhales slowly. “All the myths have to come from somewhere, Sierra,” he says.

You feel your body surge with an electric energy like a kid going down and seeing all the presents under the tree, Christmas morning. You smile stupidly. “Kick. Ass.” Life gets better and better. (-5 Stress:26/100)

>>32444375

Borislav drives up in his truck, and parks nearby. He steps out, wearing a tattered park ranger’s uniform, sans hat, but plus heavy bomber jacket that looks almost as old as his truck. He waves to Isaac and you. “Zdorova!” he shouts.

“Dobrei ootra,” Isaac responds, some lightness invading his countenance and voice. “Kak tui pozhivaesh, Borislav Aleksandrovitch?”

“Normalna. A vui?”

Isaac jerks his head toward you and chuckles. “Potihonichku.”

You look between Isaac and Boris as they exchange greetings in Russian. Why does Isaac know Russian? You feel unaccomplished. And you also get the feeling that they’re talking about you now. You decide to leave, before you get even more uncomfortable. (+2 Stress: 28/100)

You sit solidly down by the fire. Cassandra and Rowan have emerged from their tent by now. Cassandra has taken over breakfast from Harvey, who is busy whittling at a solid looking stick with a pocket knife. Rowan munches zombie-like at a plate of eggs, while Reeber eyes her food hungrily.

You help yourself to more as well, and sit down beside her. Reeber switches his gaze from her to you, thinking perhaps he can garner more sympathy.

>Gee, go eat a squirrel or something boy. This is people food.
>Why does Isaac know Russian?
>So. You’re all government spooks. Should have known.
>He really turns into a bear, right? You weren't just pulling my leg about that.
>Eat your eggs.
>Other (?)

>>32444405
>Gee, go eat a squirrel or something boy. This is people food.

>>32444405
Eat more eggs.
Gives some to reeber.

>>32444405
>He really turns into a bear, right? You weren't just pulling my leg about that.
>Eat your eggs.

>>32444405
>So. You’re all government spooks. Should have known.

>>32444458
Second this.

>>32444405
>He really turns into a bear, right? You weren't just pulling my leg about that.

"What sort of other stuff can he do? Can he talk to trees and stuff like that?

Give Reeber a bit of our eggs, and pet him. If he keeps on silently begging we can tell him to go and bring back a deer, rabbit, or something like that.

>>32444405
>He really turns into a bear, right? You weren't just pulling my leg about that.

>>32444405

>So. You’re all government spooks. Should have known.
>Eat your eggs.
>Share a little bit with Reeber

>>32444405
>Give Reeber some food
Reeber is dignified enough for people food.

>>32444405
>>Gee, go eat a squirrel or something boy. This is people food.
>Arent you lively this morning, Ro.

>>32444405
>He really turns into a bear, right? You weren't just pulling my leg about that.
>Eat your eggs.
>Give Reeber some food.

>>32444824
going with this don't want to piss of the druid by having a hell hound eat one of his critters

>>32444846
I don't want piss of a druid either.

>>32444909
damn it frogot the last F ah you get the idea