Bernie looks over at you. "Good Question. The problem is, the Patrons created Guardians to their realms, and scattered them around the many universes. But something went wrong with their creation, and now they don't let anyone enter or leave the Realms. The Patrons are effectively prisoners in their own Realms now."

Oh.

Defeating a guardian?

>>33068636
"How would I defeat a Guardian?" You say.

Bernie shrugs. "You'd need to be pretty powerful, and you'd need to bring a few friends. Honestly though, if you did it, you'd have a powerful ally. Now, that brings me to the last part of the tour."

He pulls out a small, leather-bound book.

"This is a guide to some of the more powerful foes you might encounter. It'll come in handy, because they tend to wander a lot."

>What Now?

Okay, I'm not quite sure tonight's a good night for this. I might try again Monday, TBH, considering everyone's probably at IRL games tonight...

What do you guys think?

Keep the thread open, people might come in later

You have built it and we have come

>>33068746
Read that book and thank him for showing us every thing.

Is the thread kill?

>>33069106
If not this.

attempt to change your appearance

>>33069106
You open the book, and see 12 entries.

>Jormungandr
>Phoenix
>Roc
>Continent Wurm
>Id
>Flesh Golem
>The Star
>Synchro
>Megapede
>Board of Directors
>The Horsemen
>The Black-Licorice Goat
>The Bogeyman
Open an entry?

>>33069428
>>The Bogeyman
and a quick flip thru on
>Megapede

>>33069428
>Board of directors

Update bestiary

>>33069428
>>Board of Directors

>>33069501
You flip the book to the page on the "Board Of Directors" and find the page is headed with a hand-drawn image of a mechanical spider-like beast, covered in gibbering heads.

You're not sure how you knew they were gibbering.

"The Board of Directors run the Sterile Dimension, wandering the halls and examining the many patients and procedures throughout the Hospital. A dangerous foe if caught unaware, they have a variety of "surgical tools" built into their spidery appendages."

Creepy.

>>33069593

Open another entry? If so, flesh golem.

>>33069817
You check the Flesh Golem entry. It contains a picture of a large, towering figure, smashing a building with its bare hands. It is covered in so much flesh it looks almost like it's melting.

"The Flesh Golem is the Guardian of Body. It has strength greater than any mortal, and can only be felled by the efforts of one as strong as it."

Huh.

>Open Another Entry
>Stop

>>33069899
>>Stop

Let's check out the sterile dimension

Rolled 79

>>33069973
Yeah I believe it was one he said we have a chance at doing.

>>33069899

Agreed, to the sterile dimension!

>>33070063
You close the book. "Hey, guys, wanna go beat some quacks to death?" you say, your fist raised.

Martin and Andrea seem okay with it. Bernie looks over at you. "Mind if I come along? I could REALLY go for deep-fried malpractitioner."

>What Now?

>>33070339

Of course Bernie can come along. Should we pick up anything in town before we go?

>>33070339
Yeah, sure.

Do they actually taste good?

>>33070464
"Fuck, you think I've actually tried tasting one of those chuckleheads? It'd be like eating a street-corner hotdog! God only knows what's in those things."

You head into town, and find that Bernie has full Reagents. Perfect.

You could probably pick up some medical supplies, or see if there are any new Focus types you could pick up...

>>33070631
List of medical supplies?

>>33070743
Bandages: $20 (Heals 15 Health)
Sutures: $40 (Heals 30 Health)
Med Kit: $60 (Heals 45 Health)
Protein: $80 (Temporarily Increases Strength)
Painkiller: $80 (Temporarily Increases Defense)
Muscle Relaxant: $80 (Temporarily Increases Dexterity)
>You have $85!

>>33070975
3 Bandages and a red bull.

>>33071014
You purchase three sets of Bandages!

You now have 25$

You also consider purchasing a Red Bull, but you feel awake enough and it probably wouldn't do that much anyhow.

>Go to Sterile Dimension?

Also call daniel and melissa, ask of the want to go

>>33071076
Aw and I wanted to throw it at the doctors and see what happens.

>>33071138
(Okay, upon reading that justification, I'm saying you bought a Red Minotaur, except as a Combat Item. It was 5 bucks.)

>You have $20 dollars!

>>33071090
You call up Daniel and Melissa, and ask if they want to head with you.

When Daniel picks up the phone, he sounds horribly congested. "Ugh, sorry *sniff*. I have the worst *sniff* cold right now *muffled nose-blowing noises*. I would if I could."

When you call Melissa, she sounds distracted. "Oh, geeze, you were gonna head out today? Crap, sorry, I kinda have a doctor's appointment and I'm already late. Sorry!" She hangs up.

Before you can really wonder where you'll be getting a Support, Bernie speaks up. "Oh, I can get us a Support for this. Hold on a second."

He pulls out a phone and has a conversation with an "Alice", and then hangs up. "Hold on, Alice'll be here any second."

Before you can inquire further, a young woman suddenly steps out of the shop window in Modron Medicals. She has long blonde hair, and is dressed in a rather fetching blue t-shirt and long skirt.

"What's up, Bernie? Someone need to go through the Looking Glass?"

>What Now?

Does Modron Meducals, by any chance, sell cans of whoop-ass?

>>33071289

Introduce ourselves to this new person and let's get going.

Also we obviously need to give Melissa space (which was clear even before now), stop calling her. I wasn't around for the vote or I would've spoken up at the time.

>>33071289
God that is going to burn those with out skin.

All right I'm ready. Lets do this!

>>33071374
You shake hands with the woman. "Hey, I'm Samuel."

She smiles. "Alice. Water-Magician-In-Training, though so far I've only managed to nail the Glass Symbolism."

You nod, and turn to everyone else. "We ready?"

They all nod, and Alice pulls out a small pocket mirror. She gazes into it for a moment, concentrating deeply. "Right, the corridor's clear. Space-Case, let's get moving!"

Andrea nods and pulls out her telescope, and shortly afterwards you're all in the Sterile Dimension. It smells like disinfectant and rotted meat, and as you step forward something squishes underfoot.

Ahead of you is a door to room "521", a right turn and a left turn.

Behind you is the Operating Theater.

>>33071496

Put our ear up to the door and listen, decide to investigate if we hear anything. Otherwise go right.

>>33071601
You put your ear up to the door of Room 521. You hear the sounds of a drill whirring, and the occasional wet crunch.

>Investigate?

(Also, I updated the Stat Sheet to include our new Party Members, and their skills!)

http://pastebin.com/ngs83XDE

>>33071746
Well we got to start some where. Yes!

>>33071819
You open the door to the room, and inside you see a grisly sight. A doctor seems to be taking a surgical saw to a dead body.

Hearing the door open, the doctor turns to face you... except it's not a doctor.

Dressed head to toe in scrubs, is a surgical dummy. You see slight pulsating from underneath the scrub cap, and you realize that blood is leaking from underneath it.

It slowly walks towards you, surgical saw raised.

COMBAT START!

Andrea's Turn!
>Attack
>Magic
>Scan
>Run

>>33071977
>Magic: Dislocation / Enemy

Rolled 9, 2 = 11

>>33072070
Andrea used Dislocation!

Rolling. First is hit chance, second is dodge chance

>>33072104
Andrea hits! Andrea does eight damage!

Bernie's Turn!
>Attack
>Magic
>Scan
>Run

>>33072166
I kind of want to do Inferno. But this thing could have almost no hp left. ... hm.

>Scan.

Rolled 10, 4 = 14

>>33072226
Alice stares deep into the enemy's eyes... and suddenly she IS the enemy.

"Woah, okay, kinda hard to get a read here through the horrible agony and batshit insanity, but..."

Surgeon Dummy
HP: 22/30
Strength:2
Defense: 4
Dexterity: 2

Alice stops being the Dummy. "Wow, okay, if it's all the same to you I'd rather not do that again."

The Dummy's Turn!

Firing up the surgical Saw, the dummy attempts to slice open Martin!

Rolling

Rolled 13, 11 = 24

>>33072349
With a small spray of blood, the saw nicks Martin! Thankfully, it wasn't a very deep cut.

Martin takes 2 damage!

Martin HP:
68/70

Martin's Turn!
HP: 68/70
Synchronization: 100%
>Attack
>Magic
>Scan
>Run

>>33072429
>Magic: DoubleStrike / Samuel

>>33072467

seconding this

Rolled 17, 3, 18 = 38

>>33072467
Martin casts DoubleStrike on Samuel!
>Synchronization: 80%

Samuel's turn! Samuel is under the effects of DoubleStrike! He attacks twice!

Rolling! (First two are attacks, third is dodge.)

Rolled 4, 4, 5 = 13

>>33072514
Samuel punches the Dummy hard, knocking him to the ground and removing the surgical cap... revealing that the top half of the Dummy's head has been removed to make way for a bleeding, infected pulsating brain.

Andrea's Turn!
HP: 80/80
Stardust: 92%
>Attack
>Magic
>Scan
>Run

>>33072564
... hm.
>Attack
I don't want burn threw all our magic to soon.

Rolled 9, 10 = 19

>>33072564
(The dummy takes 5 damage.)
>Dummy HP: 17/30

>>33072646
Andrea attacks! Rolling.

Rolled 11, 20 = 31

>>33072685
Andrea pimp-scopes the dummy. She doesn't do much damage, but it IS thoroughly humiliating!

Dummy takes 3 damage!
Dummy HP: 14/30

Bernie's Turn!
HP: 50/50
Ash: 100%
>Attack
>Magic
>Scan
>Run

>>33072731
>Magic: Inferno / Enemy

I will not lie. I kind of like the combat set up. But I think it slows things down a bit. Maybe our side / Enemy's side would help or moments of All Attack to speed things to the story.

Rolled 18, 6 = 24

>>33072857
(I think in the future I'll roll initiative for everyone, and then just get the entire party's actions and go from there. That would speed things up immensely.)

Bernie casts Inferno!
Rolling...

>>33072883
The enemy is suddenly engulfed in burning flames!

Surgeon Dummy takes 12 damage!

Plastic starts melting, and the brain attached to the dummy begins shriveling in the heat.

Dummy attacks!

Well, okay, it really doesn't. Instead, it collapses to the ground and seemingly dies. You don't find much of value, other than a large bonesaw embedded in its back.

You got: Focus Dagger! Dark Bonesaw!
Attacks Penetrate 2 Defense!

Bernie picks up the bonesaw and examines it critically. "Wow, this is some dark shit." he says. You can feel it, too. This bonesaw has taken many, many lives.

Bernie stows it in his satchel. "Kev'd like this..."

You walk back into the hallway. There are hallways to your LEFT and RIGHT. At the end of the corridor is the Surgical Theater.

>Go LEFT
>Go RIGHT
>Examine Theater.

>>33072991
(Whoops, crap, forgot to mention, it gave everyone 20 EXP, and 30 dollars.)

>>33072991
>>Go LEFT

>>33072991

>Go LEFT

>>33073143
You head down the LEFT hallway, and find a STAIRWELL. Unfortunately, a makeshift barricade of hospital beds and other furniture seems to be blocking the ways down and up, and it's far to precarious for you to try and remove.

Though you also notice two open rooms.

>Go Back
>Open RIGHT DOOR
>Open LEFT DOOR

>>33073307

>Open RIGHT DOOR

>>33073307
>>Open RIGHT DOOR

>>33073361
You open the RIGHT DOOR, and inside you don't find much, aside from a cabinet containing various glass bottles.

>What Now?

>>33073538

Check the other room and then head back to the first area and follow the other hallway.

>>33073538
Grab bottle for later. We could throw it enemies or use it to make them to sneak.

Other wise next room.

>>33073538
If we find some oil we could make molotov cocktails with those bottles.

>>33073770

Would alcohol work? There's bound to be some somewhere in the STERILE dimension.

>>33073793
In fact it would. This coupled with the fact that there's bound to be fresh cloth lying around make for a good opportunity.

>This is coming from a pyromaniac, and explosives enthusiast.

>>33073920

Well I could get behind picking up a couple bottles then. This was me originally: >>33073589

>>33074169
If we find one of those fancy hospital spray bottle we can also make a nifty flamethrower. Or a bottle of disinfectant.

>If we find some bleach, ammonia and other bits we can also make low yield grenades.
>Don't you just love hospitals?

>>33073920
You find a few bottles of Alcohol in the cabinets, and tear up some bedsheets. You now have some makeshift Molotovs!

You got: 3 Molotovs! (10 Damage)

>>33073589
You decide to examine the other room before heading down the other hallway...

This one is similarly empty, and there aren't even any cool bomb supplies!

From the direction of the surgical theater, you hear a door open. A surgeon dummy runs past pushing a cart of bloody medical tools. He doesn't see you.

>>33073793
If you mix in some detergent you could make it stick to surfaces.

>>33074298
Go into the theatre.

>>33074298

Follow him at a distance?

File: 1361072063578.gif (593 KB, 320x240)

593 KB GIF

>>33074307

>>33074338
You see him stop at the stairwell, uncomprehendingly stare at the blockade, then rush back in the direction of the Theater. He flings open the door, and inside you can hear a cacophony of voices.

"Take 2 and call 2 in the 2"
"I need 20 ccs 20 ccs 20 ccs 20 ccs"
"The operation was a success, open him up and we can head home."
"Do you have insurance?"

The doors close, and you can't hear the voices anymore.

>>33074511
Probably to many to fight in there. But we do have fire ... hm.

>>33074511
Head inside.

>>33074537
You tentatively open the door and walk inside, just in time to see the Board of Directors devour the Surgeon Dummy alive.

"You're at great risk of Adult-Onset Diabetes"
"Well, it's not the worst diet I've seen yet..."
"Eat more greens, the stomachaches will clear up..."

Seems it's a bit distracted. You have a bit of time.

>Run
>Attack
>Other

>>33074618
Scan it first.

>>33074511
Glance inside, find the highest concentration of them.

>Then light and toss a molotov.

>>33074618
>>33074632
Fast typing motherfucker.

>>33074618

>>33074632
backing with scanning as well.

>>33074618
>Run

Guys don't even bother scanning. Remember Jormundgr? 1000 hp?

>>33074697
Alice scowls a bit. "Alright, let me try..."

She focuses on the Board of Directors for a moment... When she becomes it, it's less like a reflection appearing and more like a horrible physical transformation.

"GRAAAAAAAGH!" she screeches, unfortunately drawing the attention of the Board.

It turns to you, and begins scampering up the wall, its metal limbs clacking against the metal walls.

"UUUURGH... IT HURTS! EVERY THOUGHT HURTS!" Alice cries out, tears leaking from several of her new faces. "I KNOW IT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO!"

Board of Directors
HP 75/75
Strength: 5
Defense: 4
Dexterity: 5

The Board clambers into the observation area, its front face staring you right in the eyes. Without warning, it lunges!

COMBAT START!

Turn Order:
Bernie
Andrea
Board of Directors
Samuel
Martin

What will the party do?

>Attack
>Magic
>Items
>Run

>>33074813
>>Magic
Soul burn

>>33074813
wow only 75 hp? what a weak guardian.

>>33074813
>Items: Molotov Cocktail

BURN BITCH

>>33074895
Actually, they're not a Guardian. Ysee, there are eight Guardians, and each Dimension has its own "Ruler", I guess you could say?

The Board is this realm's ruler, and it's a rather simple realm.

>>33074890
Bernie will use: Soul Burn

>>33074923
Who will use Molotov(s)?

>>33074890

>>33074946

Molotovs: Andrea, Martin

(they have the highest dex, so I'm guessing best chance to hit with them)

>>33074978
Current Tactics
Bernie: Use Soul Burn
Andrea: Use Molotov
Martin: Use Molotov
What will Samuel do?

(Also, for reference, remember that Body Spells are a thing.)

>>33075014
>What will Samuel do?
Mega Punch

>>33075014
>>33074978
Also, keep back towards the door. Provides a nice little chokepoint if we need it.

SAMUEL CASTS FIST

>>33075035
Um, we're the ones who outnumber it. A chokepoint will only hurt us.

Rolled 10, 15 = 25

>>33075035
Samuel will cast Mega Punch!

Bernie casts: Soul Burn

Rolling...

Rolled 12, 2 = 14

>>33075103
Bernie misses!

Andrea uses Molotov! Rolling...

>>33075091
A choke point never hurt anyone, anon. You must into strategy.

Rolled 1, 9 = 10

>>33075120
Andrea hits!

The bottle shatters against the Board, spreading burning alcohol against the Board, and it lets out an ear-splitting screech. In retaliation, it lunges at Samuel!

>>33075141
.....
I'm not the one who needs to "into strategy"
Literally just think about the situation for a few seconds instead of spewing out whatever you just learned from your RPG of the month.

>>33075158
The Board takes 8 damage from the flames!

Board HP: 67/75

The Board misses! Samuel uses Mega Punch.

Rolling

Rolled 8, 9 = 17

Whoops, let's try that again.

File: 1361305025875.gif (83 KB, 303x312)

83 KB GIF

>>33075190
Well fuck you too then.

Rolled 12, 9 = 21

>>33075260
Samuel Misses!

Martin throws a Molotov!

>>33075289
Damn, these molotovs are effective. We gotta get ourselves more of these.

Rolled 14, 7 = 21

The molotov hits!

More flames engulf the Board, and several of its faces become irreversably burnt.

"This is unapproved use of medical resources..."
"Where did you find the materials for this little "experiment"?"
"OH GOD, NOT AGAIN!!!"
The Board of Directors takes 7 damage!

Board of Director Health: 60/75

New Turn!

What will the party do?
>Attack
>Magic
>Item
>Run

>>33075267
I wasn't just insulting you, though you really deserve it. Seriously think about it. In what situations is a chokepoint helpful?

>>33075334
>>Magic
Conflagration

Rolled 12, 10 = 22

>>33075355
Bernie will use: Conflagration!

What will the other party members do?

>>33075346
(Not them.)
When you are out numbered and defending.

>>33075390

Andrea- Dislocation

Sam- Megapunch

Martin- Lockstep

>>33075346
Well, okay:

>Fucktons of enemies trying to swarm you, retreat to chokepoint so only a few can come at you at a time
Or
>oversized enemy blowing you the fuck out, fall back to small area so he can't move as much/ harder for him to attack

Then proceed to AoE the shit out of whatever it is you're fighting. That's how it forms in my mind, and it's been used in armies since the beginning of warfare. Just saying.

File: Martin the time mage.jpg (18 KB, 250x381)

18 KB JPG

Wait I just realized something, is this what Martin looks like?

>>33075423
sounds good, Backing.

Rolled 11, 19 = 30

>>33075476
Well, with more "punk" clothing and less stupid hair.

>>33075487
Decisions set!

Activating attack process...

>quest has been up for like 6 hours and I had no idea
fuuuuuuck
Get a twitter :(

Rolled 11, 1 = 12

>>33075679
Well, I do have one I mostly use for pestering the guys behind DHMIS. I could use it for this.

>>33075609
Bernie casts Conflagration!
Rolling...

Rolled 15, 11 = 26

>>33075741
Bernie's Conflagration hits!

Bernie does 10 damage!

The Board of Directors health: 50/75

Andrea casts Dislocation! Rolling...

Rolled 16, 16 = 32

>>33075763
Andrea hits! Andrea teleports several of the Faces on the Board off of it, leaving several gaping, bleeding wounds where the faces were.

10 Damage!
Board of Directors Health: 40/75!

Board of Directors takes 6 damage from Molotov Flames!
Board of Directors takes 5 damage from Conflagration!

Board of Directors Health: 29/75

Board of Directors lunges at Martin! Rolling...

>>33075414
>>33075437
exactly
BoD certainly doesn't outnumber us, and while we haven't gotten a description for his size, the book stated that he wandered this domain instead of hanging out in one room, so I'd say it's a safe bet he can fit through the doorway.

Therefore, getting to the chokepoint would only help it and hurt us, as it would be able to attack one of us just as much as normal, but less of your party could attack it.

Rolled 9, 13 = 22

>>33075850
The Board of Directors hits!

The Board tackles Martin to the ground, gouging him with metal legs and chewing on him with jagged teeth. When it finishes, Martin is DEFINITELY worse for wear.
24 damage!

Martin HP: 56/70

Rolled 13, 19 = 32

>>33075899
Martin stands up shakily, bleeding from several new wounds. "I'm... I'm fine, it's okay..."

Samuel uses Mega Punch!

Rolling...

Rolled 16, 5 = 21

>>33075987
Samuel's punch is dodged by the Board, who leap out of the way and onto a nearby wall. Martin pulls out his Watch and casts LockStep.

90% Synchronization!

Rolled 6, 17 = 23

>>33076051
LockStep hits, and the Board of Directors falls to the ground with a loud crash. As it gets back up, its movements show the same jerkiness associated with LockStep affliction.

New Turn!

What Will The Party Do?

>Attack
>Magic
>Item

>>33076076
He's nearly dead, attacks all around

>>33076076

Bernie - conflag
Andrea- flesh crafting on Martin
Sam- Fist
Martin- lockstep if it wears off after 1 round, otherwise throw a molotov

>>33076112
Add an inferno in there

>>33076076
Sam Mega Punch

Andrea: Magic heal martin

Bernie Inferno

Martin red minotaur

>>33076162
I'll second

Rolled 9, 13 = 22

>>33076162

Turn order Set!

Bernie uses: Inferno!
Rolling...

Rolled 17, 8 = 25

>>33076222
Bernie does manage to start a fire, but unfortunately he only manages to ignite some chemicals apparently spilled during the "surgery" you interrupted. Now the room is filling with flames.

Andrea uses: Fleshcrafting!

Andrea focuses, and slowly the flesh sliced open by the Board starts reappearing on Martin.

Martin's Health: 66/70

The Board of directors takes 2 damage from the Molotov flames!
The Board of Directors takes 5 damage from the Conflagration!

Board of Directors Health: 22/75

With a whirr of machinery, several saws, drills and scalpels pop out of the edges of metal limbs. It advances on Bernie...

Rolling

Rolled 2, 1 = 3

>>33076283
What happens next isn't exactly pretty. Bernie is pretty much cut to ribbons by the Board of Directors, and by the time it's over he's on the floor, a gaping wound in his chest and surrounded by a pool of his own blood.

57 Damage!

Bernie Health: 0/50

Bernie is down!

Samuel uses: Mega Punch!

Rolling...

>>33076374

WHAT

Is resurrection a thing? When does death occur? Do we need to heal him now, or just scrape him up after we kill this thing?

>>33076374
Well shit. Good this that the doctor failed is dodge, Cause his ass is dead.

Rolled 8, 8 = 16

>>33076374

Samuel's Punch misses!

Samuel's Health: 80/100

(That's accounting for the Mega Punch earlier. Remember, this costs HP!)

Martin throws his last Molotov!

rolling...

Rolled 6, 7 = 13

>>33076429
Well that's not accounting for the Dexterity bonus. WAIT I FORGOT ABOUT CRITS ONE MOMENT

>>33076427
Don't worry, he's not dead. Just in critical condition.

Why, they planned on saving him for later! They wouldn't kill a perfectly good test subject!

Rolled 20, 15 = 35

>>33076374
Well, actually, Critical Hit!

Not only did the attack do 10 damage normally, it also did Double Damage!

Your fist impacts the Board so hard that it goes flying through the glass of the Theater, slicing it horribly. It lands so hard that several of its limbs fall off as well.

Board of Directors Heath: 2/75.

Martin looks down at the bleeding, flailing Board of Directors. By now it's too weak to do much more than skitter in circles on its last good legs. He lights the molotov and flings it into the theater, igniting monster and finishing it off. As it burns, the last few heads start speaking in surprisingly somber voices

"Thank you... thank you..."
"It's over! It's OVER!"
"I don't feel anything... thank god..."
"I'm... sorry..."

The Board of Directors is dead.

Alice has already slung Bernie over her shoulder.

"Cmon, we need to get him out of here and to a hospital!"

You briefly stop to tear off a particularly nasty-looking metal leg, then follow everyone out.

>What Now?

>>33076657
Get out and rest. A lot happened and someone all most died.

>>33076657
Well, I guess we head out.

did we get any loot?

>>33076657

Does Bernie need bandages or anything? If not, proceed to the exit as quickly as possible. Isn't the operating theater on fire anyway?

Rolled 15, 17 = 32

>>33076699
Well, yeah, and the fire is slowly spreading. But there's no time to give Bernie bandages, and even if you did he'd probably just soak through them anyhow, considering the wound's deep enough that you can see his ribcage.

>>33076687
You got: 100 EXP!
You got: $100!
You got: Sterile Leg! (Focus Material)

>>33076685
You leave the Sterile Dimension, and immediately call the Hospital. The ambulance arrives, and they take Bernie away immediately.

Alice looks like she's about to cry, and everyone else is looking pretty bummed out.

>What Now?

>>33076823

Say that you're gonna try and visit Bernie tomorrow, ask if they want to come.

Then just go home, try to meditate, and go to sleep.

>>33076823
Lets stick to killing bugs

>>33076823
Is the BoD dead forever, or does it respawn?

>>33076823
comfort them the best we can and say we should get some rest. Then we can see him tomorrow.

>>33076859
"I'll go see him tomorrow. I... kinda feel responsible..." you say. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to bring him along anyhow.

Alice lets out a sob. "That IDIOT. I told him that the Board was dangerous. It didn't even do anything useful! They have an entire set of them! We killed one, sure, but there are four more wandering around!" She starts crying.

Andrea pats her on the shoulder. She doesn't say anything, which is kinda odd.

Martin sighs and looks at his watch. "Look, honestly? It could be worse."

You cringe when Alice punches him in the eye hard enough to knock him to the ground. "SHUT UP. I'm not even sure he's gonna LIVE, they cut him open! Those tools weren't even sterile, what if he... what if..."

Martin stands up, and continues his general posture, even though he's now sporting a shiner that'd put a hockey player to shame. "Okay, I'll admit, that was douchey of me, but seriously, there's no need to..."

You can't help but wonder what good that "seeing into the future" thing is when it can't even tell him he's dropping spaghetti like an Italian Restaurant waiter with an inner-ear infection.

Andrea gives him a glare that could probably make a demon cringe, and Martin jumps about a foot into the air.

"Uh, I think I'll be leaving..." he says, and immediately runs off. Andrea leads Alice off somewhere, and you decide to head home for the night.

You meditate for a bit, but can't really sleep. You had a close-up view of Bernie getting hacked up, and it kinda left an impression on you.

The next morning, you get out of bed, pour yourself an obscene amount of coffee, and check your phone. You got a message from Andrea.

"Hey, uh, I just wanted to say it's not ur fault that berne got cut like a thanksgiving turkey. Come down to the hospital whenever, Alice and me are already there."

>>33077077

Text back: "thanks, see you in a bit"

Get ready and head down to the hospital. No detours.

>>33077077
>grab donuts
>proceed to hospital

>>33077163
"Thanks, see you in a bit."

>>33077193
You decide to pick up some donuts and coffee before you head down to the hospital. You get the distinct feeling that nobody else really got any sleep.

When you get to the hospital, you discover Alice and Andrea in the waiting room.

Alice looks like a wreck, and yet Andrea somehow looks impeccable. Well, except for the large wet spot on her shoulder, presumably caused by Alice crying into it.

Andrea looks up at you. "They haven't let us in yet. He's stable, but not in the best shape."

Alice seems to have stopped crying. Now she just looks kinda sad.

Martin doesn't seem to have showed up. He's probably too scared.

You sit down with the both of them, and wait.

(END OF THREAD THREE)

>>33077374
Good run OP, sorry for the lack of participation at the start, I did not realize it was up

>>33077431
It's all good. I'm gonna start using my twitter for announcement's relating to the Quest, as well as some occasional bits of backstory that won't quite fit into the quest itself.

For reference, it's right here.

https://twitter.com/BlatantHarmonic

>>33077374

I'm liking it so far. One question, why can't they just heal Bernie at the magic hospital? Do wounds sustained from creatures like the Board require really powerful magic and/or time to heal? Or is it just because he got to 0 health?

>>33077477
Modron Medicals is really more like a Walgreens, with some magical stuff too.

They DID send him to the Magic Hospital, the problem was he basically got sliced open by the Board.

They were prepping him for further examination, which meant getting all that pesky muscle and skin out of the way. All in all, it's a small miracle he survived. He's going to live, but it'll take a while before he's ready to go adventuring again.

>>33077536
>falls behind in level
>is now useless
am I playing a jrpg

>>33077562
Don't worry, everyone's getting in offscreen training. Remember, everyone has Masters that they work with. Everyone'll be gaining levels at more or less the same rate.

>>33077536

Yes I know he went to the "real" hospital, I meant why isn't there some really powerful body mage at the hospital who just heals him up on the spot? Are the wounds he sustained beyond the limits of healing magic? Further examination for what?

>>33077678
Body mages that powerful do what they want. And what they want is probably not hospital work.

>>33077678
Look, he was being prepped for medical examination by a mentally insane collective mind, who used horrifically dirty tools, and are also somewhat magic.

Body Magic can do amazing things, but to fully heal someone from getting most of their flesh removed in one go is the realm of, say, Daniella, and her time is WAY too valuable for that.

But yeah, the Board was fully planning on cutting him open and seeing what makes him tick. They didn't need to, but half of them were psychotic malpractice-suit magnets and the other half were driven insane by sharing a brain with the first half.

He wouldn't have died. But he would have WISHED he were dead.

>>33077777

Okay thanks, that was exactly what I wanted to know. I just want to make informed decisions.

>>33077863
No problem! I'll admit, I'm not always the best at explanations. Now, I bid you all adieu, because I have been getting barely any sleep this past week and I REALLY need it tonight.

>>33077890

Get some sleep, looking forward to next time.

Member of the Board:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g2dkDh4ov4

>>33077934
I'm just gonna say before I go that people like him are basically the reason the Sterile Dimension is such a shithole.

TIME FOR SOME BACKSTORY

For a while, the Sterile Dimension was actually a multi-dimensional hospital. They could take care of any patient with any injury, and they'd do it for next-to-nothing.

Then some hotshots got it in their heads that things weren't quite profitable enough. They started with making patients pay through the nose for everything.

Then they got onto efficiency. And human/alien/whatever doctors just weren't efficient. They had a bunch of Surgical Dummies lying around, gathering dust... and all the knowledge is in the brain... hm...

Of course, then they realized that with a Board of Directors, there was too much chance of things like "opposing viewpoints" getting in the way of "Progress". Secretly, they spearheaded a project to implant the entire Board into a single form. One that would share a mind, and would no longer argue.

All in the name of Progress, you see.

Basically, the Board of Directors are shambling monstrosities, mostly driven by insanity and the sheer PAIN that everything causes them. Even THINKING hurts.

They evaluate the surgeons. They perform procedures. But that's only because it's all they know. It's the one thing they can understand through the haze of sheer PAIN they feel every second of every day.

Really, killing them is a mercy by now. Notice how their last words were apologies and genuine gratitude? That was the last shred of humanity pushing through in their dying moments.

Just food for thought.

>>33078036

I guess we'll have to go back there at some point and finish our business with them, then. I also think that as a body mage we'd be deeply opposed to them as well. They're a total perversion of our principles.

Uh, could somebody please archive this? I can't really ATM.

It's archived.