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Talent Tree

File: Witcher Talent Descriptions.pdf (231 KB, PDF)

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Talent Descriptions + other goodies

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to the tale of the White Panther!

When last we left our mutant hero he had just returned to the apothecary’s to visit Elissa Frey, the strange young lady he had rescued from a terrible fate out at the lighthouse. Having solved one half of the mystery involving the disappearances, he was almost ready to set off for the island, but had hoped to come see Elissa and ensure he had learned all he could from her before facing whatever monster lurked upon the rocky islands.

But when he arrived he found that both she and the young boy – this lad you may remember was possessed by whatever creature lurked at sea – had gone missing in the night. During the commotion of capturing the bargemen, she had arisen and using her innate gift had knocked poor Grauvas out cold, taking the boy with her.

Garland could only guess where they may have gone, but suspected it may be the island. The apothecary believed the same, knowing some small details of the The Power, he believed her lack of control would have made it easy for whatever creature that controlled the boy to reach through him to take the girl as well.

It was time to make his final preparations and leave, this needed to end today.

>Make preparations [let me know what prep you suggest]
>Row to the island

>>32641648
>>Make preparations [let me know what prep you suggest]

Ask the doctor if he knows of anything that would weaken whistler's mind control.

Go and talk to Barth. He was in charge of the lighthouse, and all the lighthouse keepers seem to be under her power. We need to find out if he was working with her.

>>32641687
I'll back this

>>32641648
>>Row to the island

Rolled 17

>>32641648
>>32641687

Let's go wtih this

“Doctor,” Garland called before the Elven herbalist could turn to get back to his work “I was wondering if there were any mixtures here that could increase my immunity to mental assault.”

A small smile crept across the man’s features at Garland’s request, to the Witcher it looked almost smug. “A Witcher asking for my mixtures? I never thought I’d see the day.” At this Garland felt almost a touch of shame, most Witchers were known for their knowledge of potions and alchemical mixtures, but this was something he had neglected in his studies up to this point. He felt like nothing more than an apprentice at these words. “I do believe I have something,”

At these words Garland was snapped from his thoughts, and followed the herbalist into his shop. It took the Elf some time to find what he was looking for, but finally produced a fine crystalline powder wrapped in a large green leaf. “This is a distillation of the herb most dh'oine refer to as Sea Hag Grass. It is an old sidh recipe, it sharpens the mind, and allows strict perception of The Power. If anything will aid you it will be this. It is a bit unpleasant to take, you must sniff it… like fisstech.”

Garland was startled, but he trusted this herbalist more than most human doctors he had met, much of what Witchers knew of alchemy came from the Elves after all. He took the wrapped leaf, heeding the instruction to save taking it until just before he would need it, and paid the man before leaving on his next preparatory mission.

He would seek out Captain Barth – the two had fought together that night but he was still quite aware that the man might be involved. He headed back to the Garrison, a place he had visited so many times in the past few days he may as well sleep there.

Cont’d

He found Barth tending to the gallows, preparing for the public execution of the scoundrels who had dared commit slavery in his town. For all Garland knew this could all be an act, but that didn’t matter. What he needed to do was find out anything new about the creature and the island. Particularly that strange whistling.

“Witcher,” greeted the round – yet surprisingly strong – guard captain “I’m busy at the moment, shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave?”

“There’s still more for me to do here, Hermenegildo was only half the problem.”

Barth raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing but: “What do you need from me then.”

“There’s something out by the lighthouse, you’re in charge of that area, what can you tell me?”

The man seemed to regard the Witcher with an odd look, as if judging the mutant before him. “I’ll be honest with you, since you didn’t go all vigilante on me last night. Used t’ be that a guard would go out each night, light the fires an’ then return. But almost a year ago now, the men started complaining about a weird noise, half the bloody fools wouldn’t go out there no more, said it gave them the willies.” Barth scoffed then, giving the Witcher a bit of a smile as he tugged a knot tight on the hanging ropes. “So I got some local boys to go out there for some meagre coin, put up a schedule and that was that.”

Garland listened intently, taking in all this information and judging whether he deemed it true. He was taught to always be wary, even with those you trust, that was the way of a Witcher – especially a Panther.

>Question further
>Investigate elsewhere [give me a suggestion]
>Go to the island

>>32642434
Tell him that anyone who's been to that island and started acting strange is likely under control of the whistler. They may go berserk when we finally confront or kill her.

then,
>Go to the island

Rolled 7

>>32642434
>Question further

>>32642509
Lets go with this.

Though I don't expect there's any males left in the village who've been to the lighthouse.

“I suspect that there is a creature that is controlling those boys, potentially even some of the men from the guard who went out that way. Should I confront it, those who are left in the village may go berserk. I’ll leave it to you to keep control of this situation, I’m off to slay another monster.”

He wasn’t sure if Barth believed him, such men seemed to believe in the things they had seen themselves. Drowned men coming to life were easy to understand, because he had experienced such creatures before, but a creature that stole away men’s minds with a strange whistling sound that penetrated the mind? Surely that couldn’t exist. Garland wasn’t upset, he just hoped that Barth’s disbelief didn’t get anybody killed.

It took him no time at all to get to the docks, untie Yarven’s rowboat and begin rowing his way out towards the island. As the sounds of the harbour drifted away, Garland was left with only the sounds of the sea birds and the waves being carved asunder by his oars. At this moment before his final confrontation with what he had begun to called the “Whistler” in his own mind, everything felt calm.

Then as he passed by the lighthouse and rowed towards the nearby island he began to hear it. Now as he heard it for the second time Garland decided this sound was less like a whistle, and more like a wail. Like the souls of the dead were calling out to him in the voice of the wind. The feeling was like metal grating against metal, it made his teeth ache and his head feel as though it would swell. Beneath that feeling in his mind he could hear something else, against the wailing he could hear what sounded like singing, melodic and beautiful. Now as he drew closer he wondered what he should do.

>Draw weapons
>Snort the powder
>Continue waiting

>>32642875
>>Snort the powder

She stopped us here last time.

>>32642875
How many doses of the powder do we have? I want to be sure we can give at least the girl one dose, maybe some of the village boys, too.

>>32642875
>Snort the powder
then
>Draw weapons
and start heading to the center of the island

>>32642941
Seconding this.

>>32642929
A single dose, plus it probably wouldn't work on them. This is to supplement your Witcher's resistances.

>>32642978
Not even the girl with The Power? Damn.

Well, time to snort and get ready. If we had traps or something, we could have used ourselves as bait, but we're stealth Witcher.

>>32642941
>>32642973
I should actually ask, which sword?

>>32643090
Silver

If we encounter a meatpuppet villager, we should try to disable them rather than kill them.

The Elf had said not to take the drug until just before he needed it, but Garland had no idea when he would actually need it, or how long this might take him. But it was better to be safe rather than sorry, so before he rowed any further the Witcher decided it was time to prepare. He took the folded leaf from within his pack, opened it and took a deep nasal breath, snorting up the powder as though he were a fisstech addict.

The effect was powerful and immediate, suddenly everything around him gained vivid edges, and the colours seemed more vibrant. The sound was still there within his mind, but now he could hear the singing more clearly, a melodic almost baleful tune that sounded far off, as though echoing out from a cave. The thickness in his skull lessened, and he felt he could safely row to the shore of the rocky island. But first he needed one more item of security; his silver sword. He drew it and lay it carefully across his lap. It was but a simple blade now, and looking at it Garland couldn’t help but dream of the new blade me might have made with the silver he confiscated from the merchant.

But there were other matters at hand now, and he would tend to them first. He took up the oars again, and within minutes he felt his vessel shore up on a gravelly edge of the island. He stood then, blade held tightly in his left hand, his right tensing and untensing ready to unleash a sign if necessary.

>Perception [1d100]

Rolled 25

>>32643290

Rolled 86

>>32643290
Spot check!

Rolled 82

>>32643290

Garland surveyed the landscape of the island, it wasn’t exactly large, and most of the surface of it was covered it large black rocks, some of which had small urchins or other such creatures clinging to them. Amongst the weeds and driftwood that was also piled on the island, he could see a number of corpses, they were clearly dead, having dried out in the sun of spring over the past two months or so. But amongst the ten or so bodies he noticed there were some that looked fresh, and wondered if they weren’t simply sleeping rather than dead.

What truly caught his eye though was a cleared area near the centre of the island, here there were no weeds or branches. Here there was a large stone platform, with ornate – possibly Elven – designs upon it. Within the centre of the platform there was a stairway leading down under the island. Of all the things he had expected this was not it. But it was from this gaping hole in the ground he could hear both the wailing and the singing come from.

>???

>>32643558
Descend

>>32643558
Check the bodies to see if any are alive, then descend.

>>32643558
Check bodies. If any are alive, I'm kinda torn on whether to wake them up disable them in some way. We might get info if we wake them, but they could alert whistler (wailer?) if she isn't already.

>>32643630
Yeah checking the bodies sounds good. Has the singing changed in any way since we have been getting closer? We might be able to guess if she knows we are here or not.

The bodies were a potential threat; they could act as an alarm system or as guards. It would not be the first time the dead had risen, and Garland wasn’t even sure if they were fully dead just yet. If it were me, I might have simply stabbed each one for good measure, but I am no Witcher now am I? No no no, it is a Witcher’s duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves, so instead Garland chose to check for life signs.

There were nine bodies in all, nine of the fourteen missing boys lay here. He had no reason to assume the others were not lost at sea, but something told him they were below him now, with the wailing singing creature. The first five he checked were clearly dead, the sixth and seventh required him to check for a pulse before he found that they too had perished some time ago.

Then when he came to the eighth he knelt beside him, as he had with the previous two. As he did so the young man’s eyes snapped open, though his eyes were as blank as a sleepwalker’s. “YOU’LL NOT TAKE HER FROM ME!” he roared, grasping the Witcher’s hand with surprising strength for somebody who looked so emaciated.

Even as he struggled with this one, he heard another voice from behind “SHE LOVES ONLY ME, YOU CAN’T TAKE HER!” and with it came the steady crunch, crunch, crunch of footfalls upon gravel.

>How do you attack/defend yourself?

>>32643905
Fisticuffs. They're half dead already, we just need to knock them out.

Rolled 16

>>32643905
Stuff their mouths with Sea Hag Grass after knocking them out.

No knives, no clubs, no sword.

>>32643955
this

>>32643905
Use the flat of the sword to knock them out

Grabbing lunch after this post, will be back in ~20 minutes

In this sort of environment Garland could hear the boy coming from behind all too easily, he knew exactly how much time he had to deal with this first lad before having to worry about him, and there was plenty of time.

With a swift twirl of his wrist he freed his grasp from the still prone boy, before dealing a quick strike to the gut, incapacitating the youth for a moment while he tended to other matters. With all the grace of the wild cat for which his school was named the which spun, barely needing to use his eyes to aim his blow at the oncoming boy.

CRRUNCH! Went the boy’s nose as the Witcher’s gloved fist rammed home into the young man’s face, sending him sprawling and unconscious onto the rocky shore. Thing up to this point had gone exactly as Garland expected, until he felt a sudden jab of pain in his right calf. Hissing in anger and pain he turn to find the other boy had managed to stand, and had a sharp rock in his hand. By the feel he hadn’t pierced flesh, nor Garland’s armour, but the blow had – once again – been surprisingly forceful.

But that blow would be all the boy could manage, as Garland struck him a powerful blow across the temple, as though swatting the youth for being naughty – though far harder than any right minded parent would. The first lad went to meet his friend in the land of dreams, as he too sprawled unconscious across the gravel.

Garland stood in his ready stance, listening and watching, but no more enemies came for him. Instead his awareness simply allowed him to notice that the singing had stopped. The wailing he still heard and felt in his mind, but that baleful song which even the greatest of bard’s would never hope to emulate – myself included – had ended.

It seemed he had been detected, or at least… so it seemed.

>>32644485
Well, on the bright side we won't be flanked by these guys when we head down.

Rolled 49

>>32644485
If we're taking advantage of stealth, now is the time to hide and wait.

Garland stood at the head of the stairs, staring down into the darkness that lay beneath. He could see that there was light further down, he could even hear the faint crackle of flames deep down in that strange Elven construction. He stood there unknowing of how what he would find would affect him for the rest of his journey.

He was not simply standing idly by – rather he was contemplating his strategy of attack. Assuming he had been detected stealth may no longer be an option. If he rushed down with his weapon drawn right now, he might be able to catch the creature by surprise and strike before it could prepare for him. Then again he was best suited to surprise attacks, his skills would be of better use if he concealed himself in the darkness and hoped to catch them unaware, though they may know he was there they didn’t know when he was coming down, if he was quiet he would still have the element of surprise.

There were many ways for him to attack, he had to choose carefully

>Storm down the stairs to catch them off-guard
>Sneak down [1d100]
>Make your presence known, intimidate the creature if possible [1d100]
>Make your presence known, attempt to converse with the creature [1d100]

Rolled 67

>>32644926
Hide outside the staircase and wait.

We need to takedown all the minions she sends before going in to minimize casualties.

>>32644926
>>Sneak down [1d100]
I'm not seeing us being too diplomatic with Whistler She's been killing people for a while now.

>>32644992
I doubt she'll send anyone out of her lair - there isn't really a benefit for her to do so.

>>32644926
>Sneak down [1d100]

>>32645033
>>32644999
Would you like dice with that gents?

Rolled 24

>>32645161
Sorry, thought we only rolled after it was called for

Rolled 25

>>32645161

Rolled 56

>>32645161
Wasn't it vote then roll?

>>32645174
You do, that was me calling it, though I can see how it is could sound like that

Rolled 79

>>32645161
Sneaky sneaky

Wait, is this quest roll under or over?

The stone stairs and hollow stairwell could likely carry sound better than any theatre in which I have spoken… though I must admit that I spend more time in taverns than amphitheatres. And yet Garland was able to creep down the stairs as though they were carpeted with thick wool or furs. His footfalls were as quiet as those of a spider as he crept down into the depths of this ancient Elven ruin. Twisting around and around as he sank deeper under the ground – and in doing so, the ocean as well.

When he came to the area of the stairs where light danced from a flame, illuminating the stairwell with its orange fingers of luminescence, he paused. Rather than continue down the stairs he pressed himself to the central pillar of the stairwell, and eased his head around the corner to see what lay before him.

As his cat-like eyes gleamed in the dim light, they widened in surprise at what lay before him. The area before him looked as though it may have been some sort of Elven temple or maybe even a bathhouse. The room was large, with detailed reliefs along the walls depicting all manner of scenes. About ten feet from the end of the descending stairs there was a shallow pool of water with a gradual decline of stairs into it. The water itself looked to be no deeper than three feet deep, and was fed from what must have been springs on either side of the room, which flowed through carved rivers into the water.

cont'd

Rolled 8

>>32645644

It's under, isn't it?

Four young men were gathered around the pool, sitting on their knees, staring blankly at the creature which rested in the pool’s far end. This was likely the creature for which Garland had come, it resembled a woman – at least its top half – of unearthly beauty. When later I would ask him of this adventure he would speak of her with almost a dreamy look upon his face and say “I was never sure if what I saw was what she was, or simply an illusion of everything I desired in a woman.” She was beautiful, of fair skin and auburn hair. Her eyes were a deep reddish brown – which almost seemed crimson when the light struck them true. Her lips were pert and full – as were her ample breasts. She was a creature from every young boy’s wet dreams.

That is until you reached the waist, from there her body was nothing human. Just below her naval thin iridescent scales began, giving way to full-fledged turquoise and green fish-like scales. Her lower body was like that of a sea serpent, long and coiled in the water. This long serpentine lower body ended with a fish’s tail which swished in the waters playfully. While the scales glistened with a beautiful colour, I can never imagine myself desiring that woman without the aid of her mind tricks.

There laying naked in her arms, her hair being stroked by the strange woman’s long-nailed fingers almost lovingly, was another creature of beauty. She – like the serpentine woman – was naked, her raven hair falling around her heal like spread wings, the tips of its length waving gently in the water. Her skin was just as fair, her bust just as beautiful – though smaller in size to that of the creature who held her. There lay Elissa Frey, the unknowing Sorceress in the hands of the enemy.

More cont'd!

But even this was not what caught Garland’s attention, for behind them in the large open space of the temple – or bathhouse – there was something strange and bewildering. The area at the back of the room seemed to bend and sway, warping like one’s vision does on a terribly hot day. Looking at it the wailing sound seemed to fill Garland’s brain like never before. He could feel it within him, everywhere and nowhere. It pulled him closer, even as he fought to keep himself hidden. Never had he felt the power so strong in one place. It took him a moment to realize but now that he paid it attention he noticed his medallion was having a veritable fit, almost fighting to break itself from his neck it danced so wildly from the Power it sensed.

He had to pull himself away from that strange warped place, it was of no consequence at this moment. What he needed was to pay mind to the creature, he dragged his eyes away, realizing just how difficult that was. Instead he laid eyes on the serpentine maiden, and decided on his course of action

>How do you proceed?

Under, yes

Sorry if I went overboard with the writing there. I guess I got excited to finally be here.

>>32645749
Hmm. Hostage situation and we don't have any ranged weapons.

How about this : We try and sneak as close as possible, avoiding looking at the warp portal, and then just as we're discovered we Aer the mostergirl to disrupt her hold on Elissa, rush past her thralls and put our sword to her neck, demanding she break her hold on the others.

Then maybe we can ask questions.

Rolled 30

>>32645749
Assuming we have 2 vigor.

I doubt we can make it all the way to Whistler by sneaking, but can we manage getting past the clearly distracted villagers?

Once we're there, burst in, use 1 Aer on the villagers, and another to separate Whistler from her captive.

>>32645749
So the wailing is not coming from the mermaid/siren? I'm not quite sure I get this, but shouldn't we investigate the source?


>>32645811
No complaint here

>>32645749
Whistler is using people as sacrifices to keep back an eldtrich abomination, isn't she?

Rolled 29

>>32645749
How competent are we at fighting with our eyes closed?
>tfw I wished we had Monster lore
>tfw I wish we had Archery

>>32645749
I'm in favor of diplomacy, at the point of a sword yes, but still diplomacy. So sneak into a position where we could break whistler away from the others and then get talking.
Priority #1 is WHAT IS THAT?

>>32645980
Priority # 2: Bitch your head is mine

>>32645968
Monster lore and basic potions.
A Witcher having to ask a town apothecary for potions is just pitiful. We're probably not going to be able to rely on that in the future, and to be honest I think without that stuff we'd be sucking portal right about now.

So I'd say from votes we favour

1. Sneaking as close as possible
2. Using Aer on the serpentlady
3. Sword-point diplomacy

Sound good? Roll yo' dice

Rolled 20

>>32646068

Rolled 56

>>32646068

Rolled 40

>>32646068

>>32646076
No one expects the Witchers

File: Spoiler Image (492 KB, 652x940)

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>>32646207

With a simple but effective plan established in his mind, the Witcher began to creep forward into the dimly lit room, his left hand holding his glinting silver sword, his right ready to mimic the movements he had learned at Kaer Morabeth to unleash the Aer sign. He had never successfully cast the sign, but was confident in his ability to do so now.

Quiet as before he crept into the room, his target being a pillar that stood at the edge of the water pool, he would use this for cover, this would be all he could manage before having to rush the wench and put her at the point of his blade. He moved quickly and carefully making not a sound as he did so. In moments he found himself pressed against the pillar, his breathing slow and even, the coldness of battle falling over him.

“Witcher, you’re here.” Purred the woman of auburn hair and snake-like body as she pet her captive, shocking Garland for only a brief second, before he let his emotions calm once more. It was unlikely she knew where he was, he didn’t think she had seen nor heard him. Instead he suspected she could simply sense his presence somehow. He had less than a second to make his next decision, just because she knew he was here didn’t mean she was ready for what he would unleash.

>Continue with the plan [1d100]
>Parlay with the creature
>New plan

Rolled 93

>>32646317
>>Continue with the plan [1d100]

Diplomacy is more effective when you have the edge

>>32646317
>Continue with the plan [1d100]

We might not kill her based on what she says, but leaving her with a hostage is unacceptable.

>>32646317
>Continue with the plan [1d100]
ShitShitShitShitShitShitShitShitShit
Don't panic guys

>>32646360
Shes been killing a lot of people I'm up for finding out why she did if possible but I'm not seeing any reason to let her live yet.

Rolled 42

>>32646343
>>32646360
>>32646371
Might want to roll guys

Rolled 16

>>32646421
Don't we wait for him to call it?

>>32646437
yup

Well it's definitely called

Continue with the plan, best of the first three to reply to this post.

Rolled 48

>>32646492

Rolled 78

>>32646492

Rolled 42

>>32646492

Rolled 28

>>32646492
Well there goes my 16

>>32646492
Shit guys, I hope you didn't kill us all.

There was no time to revise his plan, she didn’t know what was coming and he had to deal with her and do so now.

Rushing out from behind the pillar he flashed forward as quickly as he could, dashing down the left side of the temple grounds, skirting around the two dazed young men, his right arm raising as his fingers danced the sign of air. With the final movements of his fingertips he directed his palm towards the serpentine woman, who did little more than sit and watch him as he charged, a look of what might have been pleasure or entertainment upon her attractive features.

At the same moment that the pulse of force shot from his fingertips, he felt a hand grasp him around the ankle. As he hadn’t come completely to a halt he found himself tumbling down, his haste to finish the plan pointless as he was knocked to the floor. He managed to keep hold of his blade, and with some measure of satisfaction heard the woman cry out as she was knocked back and away from Elissa.

Looking up from his position on the floor he could see the raven-haired girl laying naked in the pool, her bare rump resting upon the bottom step that lead into the water, keeping her head above drowning level. The serpentine woman lay a few feet back, not prone like him but only knocked back, her snake-like lower body coiling beneath her. “Capture him!” she hissed

The two on the other side of the pool stood, ready to make their way to him. Meanwhile the one who had grabbed him was about to attempt to pin him, while his associate ran to aid him. If all four got him with their unnatural strength, he might not be able to escape. These young men were more fresh than the others, he had to act now.

>Defend yourself
Vigor remaining: 2

Rolled 80

>>32646718
>Lethal mode engaged

Sorry guys, crazy children is one thing but if it's us or them then we're definitely choosing us.

>>32646718
Kick off the one attached to our leg, reposition until we have all the villagers in front of us and then blast them with aer. Rush the monstergirl.

Rolled 7

>>32646718
>Go lethal
Shit man it's fucked up but The only other alternative I sheeting our shit pushed in if we hold back. We'll avenge them she'll pay for sending them to death

>>32646718
>non lethal mode
Bludgeon them around the head with the pommel of our sword
Maybe throw an Aer at them

>>32646523
28 wasn't bad, unfortunately you were too late.

Sorry about your 16 anon

>>32646809
Aer is single target at this stage

>>32646824
In that case, just stay non lethal and beat the crap out of the villagers. We'll deal with whistler after her lackies are unconscious.

>>32646718
As much as I don't want to, I think we have to go lethal here. Playing the hero will just get us killed and then more young men will die.

Stab the gun grabbing us and the one running towards us. Hopefully we can just blast the other two with aer and then get to the mermaid.

>>32646861
>>32646813
>>32646753

>OH SHIT, THERE'S SOME VILLAGERS ATTACKING US! MURDER EVERYTHING!

You guys need to calm the fuck down.


>>32646718
Just beat the villagers into submission.

Rolled 30

>>32646718
Blast the one running towards us, kick the grabby one in the head, bash the guy we blasted unconscious, then seperate the other two with another Aer and take them out the same way.

Try not to kill them, but don't go out of our way to be nice about it.
We're holding a SILVER sword right now, don;t want to damage it before the main course.

3:2 Lethal:Non-lethal

A Witcher kills monsters, and that's what Whistler has made these men into. 1d100 boys.

>>32646902
Its basically four unnaturally strong brutes attacking us. While we're busy trying not to kill them, who knows what monstergirl will do.

>>32646941
I'm counting 4:3 non-lethal to lethal

>>32646902
It's not that it's the fact that one of them can give a pause. 4 of them plus the siren or whatever the hell it is bad news bears. I'm the first one to try to play the hero but even I know this is not the time.

>>32646753
Lethal
>>32646813
Lethal
>>32646817
Non-Lethal
>>32646809 revises to >>32646851
Non-Lethal
>>32646861
Lethal
>>32646902
Non-Lethal
>>32646937
Non-Lethal

The latter two I hadn't seen. Guess we're Non-Lethal. Final choice, roll it

Rolled 3

>>32647024

Rolled 67

>>32647024
Dice pls

Rolled 35

>>32647024

>>32647039
and you people were worried.

>>32647039
Oh good lordie. I'm too scared to follow this anon up.

These were simple villagers, even if they had been possessed by this serpent woman, Garland wasn’t capable of truly harming them unless he absolutely had to. The blade he had in his hand was for monsters, not for young boys.

Whirling from his place on the floor Garland used his hands to propel him backwards, launching himself at the lad who held his ankle. The twisting motion and sudden momentum caused the boy’s grip to falter, and had it not done so the swift boot blow to his face would likely have done so. The boy was sent sprawling, blood spraying from his nose and lips across the stone tiled floor.

The boy number two never faltered in his charge, had he hesitated he may have been able to reassess the situation and attack when the others arrived, but perhaps such creatures as these young men were now did not contain such complicated tactical thoughts. Nevertheless he too was sent to the ground as Garland swept his boot underneath him, all as one fluid motion following the kick to the first lad. The attacking boy stumbled to ground, just as Garland had done himself, konking his head with a hollow sound. For food measure the white-haired monster hunter struck him another blow as he stood.

Now the other two were upon him, just as doubtless as the first two. They came at him across the water, heedless of how it made them vulnerable and slow. Focusing his mind once more Garland called upon the sign of Air again, directing it to the boy to his right. The directed flow of energy struck him square in the chest, and Garland was amused to see a look of surprise and pain take over the dazed expression on the boy’s face, before he flew backward five feet and fell unconscious as he hit his head sharply on the steps of the pool.

Cont'd

>>32647333
The final boy aimed a strong young fist towards Garland’s face, but the blow never connected. Using the pommel of his sword the Witcher struck deftly upward, driving the blunt steel into the boy’s arm, knocking the blow – and as a result the boy himself – askew. As the lad stumbled by him, struggling to maintain composure Garland swerved with him. Sword raised once more he struck the young sailor’s son in the back of the head – noticing only now that this was the same boy he had taken to the apothecary’s the day before. Not that it truly mattered, the boy fell just like the rest, face down on the tiles.

All of this occurred in mere moments, and Garland was pleased to see it had stunned the pleasured look right off the serpentine woman’s face. She gaped at him, hands at her sides, her unabashed nakedness only making her look more stupefied, as if she were some innocent maiden he had caught bathing.

>???

Critical success saves the day

>>32647389
Question her.

I want to know
1.Why she was taking control of the boys
2.What the warp portal is
3.Why she took Elissa

>>32647432
This, pretty much.

>>32647389
Put the tip of sword to her throat. Tell her to release all her captives, and ask what that weird stuff is.

>>32647432
This but also don't forget to stay ready who knows how long the powder lasts

>>32647510
This, the threat of death must be immediate and imminent.

I'm not sure we shouldn't just kill her and be done with it either.

Rolled 42

>>32647432
>>32647510
>>32647564
All of that, but get ready to grab the girl and run like the wind if things go south with that portal.

Garland strode towards the terrified woman, his silver blade gleaming gold in the light of the torches. He had left in his wake a scene of utter destruction, he hadn’t taken a single wound save for the one he took on the shores of the island, and that was barely a scratch. Swinging the blade deftly in his hand as he approached, he twirled it once for emphasis, then placed the tip at the edge of her throat.

“Yes, the Witcher is here indeed.” He murmured with a smirk, seeing the brief flitter of rage in her not-quite-crimson eyes. “You’re going to answer my questions now. Why were you taking control of the young men of Loredge?” there was no room for argument in his tone, nor in his eyes. He found that though the strange bending light that existed behind her had enthralled him, if he focused entirely on her it did nothing but whine in his ears.

“I did no such thing,” the woman said scornfully, her voice still just as sultry and purring as earlier, even under her contemptuous tone. “Can I help it if they dedicate themselves to me when they hear my voice? They came to me, I never forced them into love. They gave their life force willingly to me as a sign of compassion.”

He heard no lies in her tone, but knew that they were so nonetheless, even if she did not realize it. Whatever this creature was it seemed she was akin to a succubus, draining the life from men – and perhaps women too if she so fancied – through their devotion to her rather than through physical acts. He had a feeling her song was what enthralled them.

“Hmph, I suppose you cannot help your nature, just as others cannot help but breathe poison, it’s just your poison comes in song.” At these words she glared openly at him, but said nothing. If nothing else but beautiful this woman was smart. “Next, what is that strange phenomenon behind you?”

Cont'd

At these words her eyes turned from a glare to a sparkling brilliance of adoration “Beautiful is it not? It is what first drew me to this place. Surely you know of the Conjunction of the Spheres? It is what brought many nasty things to this world, including your kind… or at least the kind you once were, so they say.”

“And?”

“This is a remnant from that cataclysm, some call it a fold, others call it a seem. It matters not, I care only for its beautiful song, the way it fills me… like no man ever could.”

I imagine this would be cause she was a serpent, and no man could really ever fill her the way you would expect, but Garland has a lot more tact than I and did not mention this, and instead replied with; “So this is some sort of meeting point of the worlds?”

“Yessss,” she half purred half hissed in something akin to ecstasy.

“And why did you take the girl?”

“I did no such thing, my dear Witcher. She came to me, or rather to the fold. She feels it just like I do, just as I’m sure you do too. It is powerful, beautiful and dangerous, it reminds me of myself.” She giggled then, how she could do such with a blade at her neck I haven’t the slightest. “Doesn’t it fascinate you?”

And now that she mentioned it… the fold truly did. He felt himself struggling to keep his eyes upon her, instead he wanted to stare into the depths of that shimmering mass of energy and light. He wondered how many others had ever seen such a thing, for he had never even heard of it. He wanted to touch it, to learn its secrets and to feel its power…

He had more questions to ask though, and so turned his attention back to her and her little sultry smile.

>???

>>32647939
>He had more questions to ask though
Do we though...?

She's a monster and is drawing the young men of the town away by her very nature. Our path is clear in this instance, if its hostile, you kill it.

As for the fold...I'm not sure. Anons?

>>32647983
The fold is probably beyond us at this point. We could try tossing her into it and see what happens, though.

>>32647939

More information about the fold, its origins, how she cam to be drawn by it/found it would be welcome.

>>32647939
I suppose if we were feeling merciful we could probably tell her to get the hell out of town, but that would just be pushing the problem onto someone else.

I'm not seeing a good reason to keep her alive at this point, honestly. Cut off her head. Get Elissa back to the town, and have more boats brought to pick up the six guys.

>>32647939
Has she considered soundproofing? If she really wants to stay here peacefully, she should take measures to prevent her songs from disturbing native life.

As for the fold...if she doesn't plan on doing anything to it, we don't have cause to drive her out. We need to deal with Elissa first, before she subconsciously activates the fold or something.

Rolled 92

>>32647983
What I'm worried about is what'll happen to us if we don't have something to fixate on. I say we kill her, grab the girl and get away from that thing, at least far enough so that we can't see it.

>>32648006 seems like a good idea, or a REALLY bad one.

>>32647939
Hmm if the Fold spawns or helps in the creation of monsters it might be in the best interest to seal this place off for now until we can find an expert on this.
As for the creatures fate
Kill it
She pretty much said she wouldn't leave she loves the feeling/sound of the portal (also another reason to seal the entrance to this place might attract even more monsters) plus whenever she sings weak willed people are attracted to her and she end up draining their life or they become enthralled to her.
It time Anons oil up that silver blade
Unless yous guys have more questions?
I suggest we don't ask her how to seal or destroy it might set off Alena for her

>>32648071
>I say we kill her, grab the girl and get away from that thing, at least far enough so that we can't see it.
Has my support.

Maybe right after we ask her these questions >>32648008

>>32648084
>Alena
Da fuq this always happen to me in this quest whenever I start getting sleepy.
Should be alarms

>>32647939
Kill her and be done with it.

>>32648048
> If she really wants to stay here peacefully, she should take measures to prevent her songs from disturbing native life.
She's not exactly sorry or even considerate of the lives she has taken.

So are we agreed to ask a bit more about the fold and then kill the bitch?

Or would we prefer to just kill her?

>>32648171
I'm not sure that we should stick around here any longer than necessary. The fold is already distracting us. I say just kill her and get out.

>>32648156
this is why characters like Flonne would make waves if they could stay alive in this setting.

>>32648171
If we're going to kill, don't waste time talking.

>>32648171
Ask more about the fold using support asking how to close it might set her off
It's her Waifu
Also in support of sealing this place the fuck off with good old rocks and shit after we get the guys out of here

>>32648171
>>32648097
If we keep asking about it we have to THINK about it, which makes it harder to resist.
KILL HER QUICK AND GTFO!

>>32648171
Just kill her.

>>32648171
Get to the killing, I doubt she really knows that much more about it or how it works, and odds are we're a bit out of our depth here. Maybe we can find a sorceress with some real knowledge and experience to deal with it later.

>>32648171
Kill her.

This warp gate is better left untouched anyway. I agree with >>32648209

>>32648284
>>32648212

It could possibly be amplifying her innate ability, perhaps her song wasn't strong enough to lure humans before she discovered this place.

In either case, she's a present threat to the human race and not one to be one over. Killing her and being done with it is the best option.

“One final question,” the Witcher asked, and was not so distracted by the fold to notice the glimmer in her eyes. She thought she had a chance here, as long as she answered the questions he had long enough that he was enthralled. “How does silver taste?”

Her eyes grew wide with realization and surprise, but it was too late. He drew back his sword just an inch, adjusting his aim ever so slightly and then plunged it forward. Her pert lips had been open to either shriek or simply gasp, it did not matter as his glinting blade buried itself through them and burst out the back of her head in one clean thrust. The irony of a succubus-like creature taking his sword down her throat was not lost on him, nor on me for that matter. As she crumpled to the ground in her own coiled lower body, Garland smirked, glad to see an end to her.

He dare not look up now, instead he turned to the water pool, where Elissa still lay bare as the day she was born. She was still out cold, and he thought that for the best – who knew what she might do with the fold were she to wake. He cleaned and sheathed his blade, knelt before her and scooped her up. Having done this he headed for the surface, knowing that he would be making several trips back here for the survivors, and then finally to deal with this strange fold.

Right I'm off to grab some quick Chinese food

Figure out what you want done with the fold (if anything) while I'm away. This is the final decision of Act 1. I'll write the epilogue type post when I return.

Also, awarding two talent points for finishing Act 1, bicker among yourselves as you will for how to spend them.

Be back soon.

>>32648426
For the 2 points, we should take
>Monster Lore
>Basic Potions

our lack of knowledge is becoming problematic.

>>32648426
Potions and monster lore
Gt me early, otherwise we will just end up spending points on more exciting skills and powers, not the most useful

And definitely seal the entrance to this place. Destroy the tunnel somehow

>>32648449

I'm on board with Monster Lore at the very least.

Probably basic potions as well.

>>32648426
For fucks sake can we please get
>Monster Lore
>Basic Potions

>>32648458
It's questionable whether burying it will actually solve the problem.

We should bar it in some way, though, while we look for an expert that might be able to actually do something about it. Locked gate, maybe?

>>32648426
Also seal off the entrance to the fold
Advocating using Good ol rocks
And any form of monster repellents we can get our hands on

>>32648449
100% yes

>>32648426
>Monster Lore
>Shadow

just ooooone more stealth talent...

seconding >>32648537

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>>32648395
>“One final question,”
>“How does silver taste?”

Fucking siiiiick.

I reckon we should just close up the entrance until we can figure out what the frig to do with it (survivors being saved of course).

As for our abilities, I'm tempted to go further down the Signs or Stealth tree but to be perfectly honest I'd say we need to solidify our swordsmanship first.

>Reflexes
>Parry

>>32648536
Burying it or atleast sealing the entrance should prevent it from being do easily accessed. I know it would work but Hell I'm up for lying and telling the villagers some shit about curses, spooky ghost, and all that.
It's better than just leaving it here.

>>32648536
The less people we involve the better.

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>>32648559
>More stealth talents
I will fite you anon

>>32648536
only people who know how to deal with this are sorceresses, and they are HELLA untrustworthy.

I don't think we can do anything about the fold. The best thing is to just be aware of it. We don't have the resources to build a gate or collapse the entrance, and I don't know how I feel about getting the townsfolk in on this.

Maybe chuck a rock at it and see what happens, but just memorise where this thing is and get back to witcher HQ ASAP, we've got a prophesy and a hole in reality to report.

>>32648611
Shadow sounds really, *really* good.

But we need basic potions and monster lore first.

>>32648589
God fucking dammit should be
>I know it wouldn't work

>>32648611
>sneaks away

>>32648611
>>32648633
>>32648559
Look at our progress so far, we've managed to sneak around with little difficulty, but were forced to attack an unknown monster with unknown abilities using a potion we BOUGHT FROM A STORE with only our TRUST IN A MERCHANT backing it.
That is not acceptable.

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>>32648646

>>32648611
Once you go Black Panther you never go back.

But yeah, Monster Lore is a definite yes. Potions in preparation will help as well, perhaps then we go full sneaky sneaky.

>>32648671
To be fair, I highly doubt any potions unlocked at basic level would have helped as much as the merchant's little not-cocaine did.

He's probably the only reason we weren't taking willpower checks every turn.

>>32648698
You know I'm for lore and potions I'm also up for Archery but I have a felling I'm going to get beat to death for even suggesting we get it at some point

>>32648738
I'm up for stealth powers, after we get potions and monster lore. Next thread we can splurge on shadow and archery or whatever, but for now let's grab potions and lore

>>32648738
if we do, we're gonna have to ignore swordplay for a LONG time.

>>32648776
Yeah, that's not gonna happen. Archery is barely even visible on our list of priorities.

>>32648738
Why would we invest in Archery? It's kind of hard to sneak up on someone after we've stuck an arrow in them. A dagger in the hand makes kills quieter, from the lack of dropping bodies and screams and whatnot.

>>32648812
>>32648776
I'm not saying we get it the next thread I'm saying we should atleast invest 1 TP into it not all enemies can be dealt with by hiding in a cardboard box an shanking them with a sharpened toothbrush. I'm just saying there might be situations where archery would be best at the same time there's going to be situations where signs and advanced swordsmanship would be more favorable I'm just advocating we invest a little into it. Would synergize well with the poisons we'd make oils too probably and hell even our sneaking skills

>>32648899
I know, it's just that if we get archery, we may as well get identify weakness.

>>32648899
Yeah, guy makes a good point
No reason to ignore it or other skills we won't be using every thread simply because it doesn't fit our 'build'

>>32648729
Do you think every quest will happen to have a trustworthy elven alchemist on standby?
We got lucky. Next time we won't.

>>32648951
>>32648931
>>32648899
>>32648812
>>32648803
>>32648776
>>32648738
Instead of thinking what might be nice to have in the future, look at what we ALREADY fucked up with. We went in blind because of a lack of monster lore, and we almost went in totally unprepared because of a lack of potions knowledge.
We also looked like an idiot. We're a Witcher who knows nothing about monsters or alchemy. We might as well be a mercenary.

>>32649039
What? I know I voted for Monster Lore and Basic Potions here >>32648481

I was just laying out my thoughts on what we should invest in later with archery

>>32649039
I voted for both monster lore and potions.
Then I added that archery would come in handy down the road

I think it's pretty clear what we want, Monster Lore and Basic Potions it is.

That unlocks Lure, Intuition, Harvest Mutagens and Enhancer Potions.

That will also reveal "Harvester" in the Alchemy tree and "Identify Weakness" which we already had from Ranger side of things.

And so we come to the end of the first Act of our Witcher’s tale, with the death of the two monsters who plagued Loredge. Hermenegildo the slave trading filth, and the mysterious creature Garland would later learn was a Siren. With the mysterious disappearances solved, the Witcher was free to leave Loredge in search of newer and greater challenges – after being suitably paid of course.

Of course I leave the tale with many open questions do I not? What of the fold? What of Elissa Frey? Well my friends of these things I can only tell you a little for now, because otherwise I might ruin the latter parts of Garland’s story.

Elissa was nursed back to health by the apothecary, and when she awoke she was told of all that had happened. From there she left Loredge, in search of a mistress to help her better understand her powers. She did this not only for her own sake, but for Garland. She wished to thank him in any way possible, and if she could understand her own visions, then she would be able to pay that debt.

As for the fold? The people of Loredge – chosen carefully by Captain Barth to avoid problems – were set to destroy that Elven ruin. There was some scorn for this in the coming years from the Elven community, but even they could not deny that the Fold was a dangerous thing. The ruin was collapsed from the inside, and the entrance blocked with rocks and wreckage.

When next we pick up our tale, three years shall have passed. I shall tell you of Garland’s next great adventure, of curses, sorceresses and of course… more monsters. Join me again when I tell you the tale of Garland, and his unexpected apprentice.

>The silver bars Dandy! what about the silver bars!?
Why yes, the silver bars. Would you like:
a) A cutlass - a light but fast weapon, not entirely durable
b) A longsword - A decent weapon, middling between agility, durability and damage.
c) A Robust Longsword - Slower, heavier, but more durable and stronger to boot!

>Dandy! The meteorite ore!
Yeah yeah, that can go towards a steel or silver sword, up to you. It'll increase your sign success chances while wielding that particular sword.

>>32649264
>b) A longsword

and use the meteorite ore towards the silver sword.

>>32649264
We have a longsword right now, right? And I suppose keeping multiple silver swords would be too taxing, so...

>Meteorite Silver Longsword

>>32649255
>Epilogue finally posted
>mfw
Sometimes it's hard living on the best east coast it's 3 in the fackin morning
But I can finally Sleep now
Thank for the thread Dandy see ya for the next one which should be when?>>32649264
And then you go post this. Are you trying to kill me?
>c) A Robust Longsword - Slower, heavier, but more durable and stronger to boot!
Should help with those monsters with thicker hides or scales

>>32649264
c)A Robust Longsword

use the meterorite ore for a steel saber

>>32649264
>Meteorite Silver Longsword

Meteorite Silver Longsword it is I believe

If work goes well next thread will be Wednesday 00:00 - 01:00 UTC, if badly... I'd like to say Friday but that didn't get me much traction last time.

Aiming for Wednesday at this stage

>>32649395
>Friday
Yeah I don't know what the hell happened last Friday either everyone was busy or that was 4Chan fuckery

>>32649395

I'd probably be down for Friday

>>32649423
It might be that he gives his times in UTC rather than EST

>>32649437
UTC is easy for me because I'm 12 hours ahead of it. But if EST is easier I'll learn to basic math.

>>32649482

EST would be easier for players since I believe it's the default 4chan time.

>>32649487
Right, I don't know when 4chan decided to use my actual time zone, but I'll fix that now.

20:00 - 21:00 EST ....Tuesday? Does that sound right?

>>32649538
yup

>>32649538
It's actually EDT right now, but that's right.
UTC-4