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Talent Tree

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Witcherpedia

>>34374803
Oh hey this is alive. Thought the shitsyorm around the Apprentice selection acared you away Dandy.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, drunks and whores, yes it is I; Dandrick E. Leonhart, story-spinner and adventurer extraordinaire back to bring you my tales once again. I know it has been many moons since last I regaled you all with my epic monster-slayer fable, and how I have missed your drunken scowls, curses and cheers. But a man cannot stand in the way of fate, nor can he do so in front of a fast-moving merchant caravan – not without sustaining some serious injuries as I’m sure you’re all aware.

But fear not, your brave hero lives on, and has come to finish the tale which he started a season ago! So without further ado I shall bring your minds and hearts back into the tale of Garland the White Panther, the truest Witcher to ever roam the land. And of course we cannot forget his new apprentice, the young Witcher-in-training Xander.

When last we left our hero of ivory mane and golden eyes, he had just chosen said apprentice from the three recruits of Kaer Morabeth – and not without some major difficulty. All three had been fine Witchers in their own regard, but finally he had been forced to make a choice, and he had chosen who he suspected would be a best fit for his style. Or at least, that was what he told himself, in truth if you remember it had been a matter of luck in the end, nothing more or less than that fickle force that drives so much of our lives.

While this may be where we last left off the story, it is not the place where I plan to return you. For while I’m sure you have missed Garland, I can tell you that him preparing for his journey was not one of the highlights of his tale. Let me just tell you that he made brief preparations, taking a number of potions and oils to use while he was away, then saddled a horse for himself and his companion and headed out that very next morning.

“On the night of the red moon the blood of Witchers shall be spilled. The line of panthers shall end, and with them the second great collapse shall come.”

You may remember these words, for this was the prophecy of young Elissa Frey, a girl gifted with the Power. It was these words that drove Garland to act so swiftly, for in his (admittedly at this point limited) experience prophecies given by true sorceresses were rarely – if ever – proven false. While he knew not what threat came for his home and his brethren, he could clearly sense the urgency amongst his senior Witchers – especially Elldrick. He suspected they knew something which they would not share with him, and while he wished desperately to know this secret, he would not press his masters patience. Instead he would simply go forth on the task given to him and return as soon as he could with a well trained apprentice and the sorceress Katarina de Lorienne in tow.

Of course at the time, he didn’t know just how difficult retrieving the sorceress would be… but as usual I am getting ahead of myself.

To get on track let me paint you a picture of a beautiful mid-spring morning, in the rolling grassy hills of the Honorian countryside. The spring rains have left the long grasses dewy, each drop shines with the sunlight, making the meadows appear dusted with thousands of tiny diamonds. Running through these fields of green is the White Road, a highway that runs almost directly east through a stretch of forest and mountains to emerge on the other side at the city of Starkhaven, where Katarina dwelled. It is along this road, on this clear spring morning that we resume our tale.

>>34374878

No, he got hit by a car instead.

They had been on the trail for approximately two weeks by the time we catch up with our protagonists, and by now they had sorted out a clear system of travel. That being that Garland rode alone a good ten feet ahead of his new apprentice. Not only did this allow for Xander to support him from range with his bow in times of danger, but it also meant that he did not have to put up with the lad’s constant chatter. Garland is not as sour tempered as some Witchers, but even he could not handle the excitement of a young Witcher apprentice on his first contract. At this stage in their journey it was not so bad, but in the first few days? The boy had done little more than ask stories of Garland’s past adventures.

Now as they crested one of the many grassy hills of this area, Garland found his eyes drawn automatically to the horizon. When they had awoken that morning his keen eyes had spotted a darkness on the horizon that was different to a cloud of any kind he had ever seen, but there had not been enough light then to truly pick out what it had been. Now as they crested the hill he could finally see with his cat-like eyes the true identity of the cloud – or rather the swarm.

Swirling above the forest at the far end of the White Road, he could see many winged creatures dancing about in the sky, circling and occasionally diving down towards the land and disappearing beneath the cover of the trees, before rising back up and joining the small swarm. Even from this great distance he could assess what the creatures must be, their flight patterns and shape gave him a good idea of what they must be: Harpies.

He looked to Xander as the younger man approached, bringing his own chocolate coloured horse up beside Garland’s chestnut mare, whom he had affectionately nicknamed “Merribelle”. He thought to tell the boy what he saw, for it surely spelled trouble for the pair. But then he remembered he was supposed to be teaching this lad, and apart from some short sparring sessions, had not been given the chance to do so. He could test the boy with this.

>See if Xander notices for himself
>Point out the flock, ask Xander to identify it
>Say nothing and continue on
>???

>Also make your Monster Lore check for Harpies [1d100]

Yeah I knew some people would think the shitstorm scared me off, and maybe it did a little because it was a good week or two before I got hit by the car. But I'm back and want to keep going, sorry for the wait.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>34375002
>>See if Xander notices for himself

If he doesn't then

>Point out the flock, ask Xander to identify it

>>34375002

Shit, this was a roll under system, right?

>>34375060
Yes, so >>34375036 doesn't help us much

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>34375002
>>34375036
I'll second this. Rolling.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

I always roll low, so let's try.

>>34375036
This it is then, let's see how slow I've gotten.

Also I notice I get nice easy captcha when doing anything BUT QMing, the curse is real.

>>34375193
>>34375135
Harpies were a common enough creature that in his five or so years of true Witcherhood, Garland had come up against them once or twice already. They have always been nasty creatures, any traveller or merchant is sure to tell you the same thing. They are thieving creatures, like the birds they resemble.

With roughly humanoid shaped bodies, at a distance you may mistake them for some sort of civil creature. But up close when you can see their birdlike heads, wings and talons you are sure to retract that thought. They are quick and agile due to their avian nature, making them a hassle for any man to combat – even a Witcher if he is outnumbered. Garland knew that the best way to fight them was to use signs, bombs or traps to stun them, and finish them with a silver blade.

What is not so common knowledge is that Harpies do not just steal shiny things as crows do, but also dreams and thoughts. They particularly enjoy the darker side of the human psyche, favouring nightmares. They steal these things by capturing them within crystals. I hear from Garland that these things sell well to any Sorceress who knows what they’re doing, for they are magical baubles.

Wow, did not expect to see this ever come back

As Xander approached his new master, coming to reign his horse up beside Garland’s, he fixed the man with a questioning look, accompanied with a sunny albeit nervous smile. When the man gave no response but to stare at him with those full-fledged Witcher’s eyes, so like a panther’s that it was disquieting even to the disciple.

I too have been fixed with that stare many times in my travels with Garland, and I must say that it is a hard thing to bear. He was not threatening, but you could tell that there was something he wanted from you, but it wasn’t something he would ask of you. It was something you must discover for yourself, for discovering was what he sought, not any specific task.

No doubt with cold sweat dripping down the nape of his neck, Xander turned his gaze from his master’s and began to shift his gaze about. What was he supposed to do here? He was not unused to lessons like this, he was supposed to sense something, a place of power or an upcoming ambush. Elldrick and Jyrrgen were fond of these sorts of tests. His eyes shifted to the road, the field, the forest, and even briefly to the sky, but without the mutated eyes of the true Witcher, or the trained wit of one, he mistook the flock for crows and even then thought nothing of it.

“I know you see it,” came Garland’s voice, cutting through the mist of concentration and making the young man jump in his saddle. “There, above the trees, what do you see?”

“Crows?”

Garland grunted, perhaps they were too far out of his sight, he had not undergone the final mutations after all. But even then crows should mean something to him, if there were a flock of crows what would they be flocking over? Likely corpses. His test failed, Xander needed to see where he had fallen short.

>Keep silent and ride on
>Tell him what the flock truly is
>Reprimand him on his mistakes, do not explain they are Harpies, wait for him to notice.
>Reprimand and explain they are Harpies

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>34375696
>>Reprimand him on his mistakes, do not explain they are Harpies, wait for him to notice.

He needs to learn for himself

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>34375696
>>Reprimand him on his mistakes, do not explain they are Harpies, wait for him to notice.
Socratic method is best method.

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>But a man cannot stand in the way of fate, nor can he do so in front of a fast-moving merchant caravan – not without sustaining some serious injuries as I’m sure you’re all aware.
Mfw

>>34375696
>Reprimand him on his mistakes, do not explain they are Harpies, wait for him to notice.

Garland had undergone training very similar to this himself, and he had not learned to keep his eyes peeled at every instance by having an instructor gently explain things to him, if that had been the case he surely would not have had the wit to notice the Harpies himself, had he even made it this far to begin with. He decided he would show Xander his mistakes, but give the apprentice a second chance to see what he had missed, after all it may have just been a matter of his own perceptive superiority.

“Did they not teach you to watch for signs of danger in all things?” Garland said, waving a hand to the sky of ‘crows’ before them. “You say you see crows, I know you spotted them before I pointed them out too. Yet you give me a look like I asked you what the colour of the surrounding flowers is. What would crows mean in a place like this? Especially a flock like that? I’ll tell you, it means trouble, it means death.”

With those words passed on he squeezed his horse gently with his knees, and made a minute flick of his wrists to get Merribelle going once more, leaving Xander to ponder his scolding for himself.

“They’re just fuckin’ birds.” He heard Xander mutter to himself, as he waited for his master to move the appropriate distance away before he too started his horse on a canter. He barely made noise as he grumbled these words, but Garland heard them as clearly as if the boy had shouted them. He was about to whirl his house about and give the boy another tongue lashing, maybe a clout about the ears, when he heard the rest of the boy’s mutterings “Why couldn’t you spot a bunch of fuckin’ birds.”

It seemed he was reprimanding himself, and that was good, at least he could see his mistakes, and to Garland, that was good enough for now.

>Cont’d

It was not until just before noon, when they were looking for a place to stop, rest and take water, when the boy approached Garland’s flank. “Are they really crows? They look massive now that we’ve made it this close.”

“No,” Garland replied simply as he dismounted his chestnut mare, taking their packed provisions from his saddlebag and tossing Xander a bundle of cooked meat wrapped in lush green leaves. They were the leftovers of their previous night. The apprentice may or may not have the far-seeing eyes of a Witcher, but he was a dead shot with a bow, and they had often had fresh game to eat as they travelled.

Knowing that he would have no more than this from his trainer, the apprentice looked to the horizon once more, squinting his eyes against the bright spring sunshine. He stayed this way for at least a minute. “Harpies?” he asked, turning to his master, who was now chomping on his own wrapped duck meat.

“Aye,”

“That many? What are they having a family reunion?” the younger man joked, chuckling a little at his own joke before realizing that Garland was not laughing with him. “They lie in our path, what are we going to do?”

This was a question Garland had been pondering himself. He knew from his map that a small hamlet lay along this road, and where the harpies swarmed was undoubtedly above that small village. They could go and investigate, but that would surely tie them up for some time, perhaps a few days depending on the problem. There was surely Witcher’s work, but they were on an errand that was imperative to the survival of the Panther school. They could ride around and avoid the problem, but that would leave the Hamlet to die in all likelihood. This was one of the many decisions Garland made, where there was no clear right answer

>Investigate the Hamlet
>Ride around
>???

>>34376336
>Ride around

I just remembered that last thread I was supposed to provide an attribute bonus, but amongst all the shitfuckery totally forgot about it. So we may as well do that here.

You get 2 points, spread them as you will.

Physique: 11
Finesse: 13
Perception: 12
Intelligence: 11
Willpower: 11

Vigor (used for Signs) = Physique+Willpower/2
Vigor = 11 - most signs cost 4-6 Vigor.

>>34376336
>>Investigate the Hamlet

>>34376389

One point on Physique and one point on Willpower I guess

>>34376389
I'll second >>34376422

>>34376336
>>Investigate the Hamlet
Prophecies will always play out as they will.

>>34376422
>>34376432
Bumping up that Vigor I see

>>34376500
>>34376398
Hamlet it is, dem side quests.

“If my instincts are right, that swarm is hovering above the little village of Culan. There’s apt to be one of two things waiting for us there: Witcher work, or tragedy. In either case it would be good if we can clear out the birds.”

“There are so many though, even if you took out half of them, I don’t have enough arrows for that.”

“Harpies aren’t warriors by nature, they are scavengers, I doubt the people of Culan are doing very well if there are any left at all, even villagers can stave off the cowardly harpies. If we take down a few of the beasts, the rest will scatter with whatever trinkets they’ve scavenged.” To this Xander simply nodded, and continued to eat his meal, taking a swig or two from his water skin as he did so.

From that point on the two ate in silence, and when both were finished Xander announced that he needed to “water the fields” and was off into the grass without another word. Garland wondered as the boy disappeared whether or not the apprentice would be on the lookout for enemies when he made water. He made a note to surprise the younger man at some point in the future during such a time. It was not uncommon for a bandit or even a nekker to attack while your pants were down.

For now though he rummaged through his pack and brought out a belt of vials. He had not worn it while riding as he had felt no need for it. Now that they were heading into danger he thought it best to keep track of the supplies he had taken from Kaer Morabeth. There had not been much, as most Panthers had taken supplies and left before Garland had even arrived. But he had managed to procure a few decent supplies. When taking supplies he had focused on…

Pick one kind of oil, and one variety of potion
>Offensive Oils
>Utility Oils
AND
>Defensive Potions
>Offensive Potions
>Utility Potions

As a side thing, what does everybody think of the new OP? Had a friend draw up a Panther medallion for us.

I also wonder what you guys imagine Garland and Xander look like? I don't like being too express with their characteristics because I know for myself, even if a description is given in a book, I tend to make up something else entirely.

>>34376791
>Utility Oils
>Offensive Potions

I like the new OP

>>34376791
Offensive oils and utility potions.

>>34376791
>>Offensive Oils
>AND
>>Utility Potions

>>34376936
>>34376948

I'll just switch to Offensive Oils and Utility potions since I don't know what the difference is. So I'll trust the other anon.

>>34376994
>>34376992
>>34376948
Locked in

>>34376858
It's alright. Any art is good art, and overcomplicating things isn't the witcher way.

>>34376791
>>Utility Oils
>Offensive Potions

We can make basic potions, so I feel better about having offensive ones, as we can just shore up utility from scratch whenever they become useful.

Oils, I never really used in the games anyway.

>>34377045
aww damnit.

>>34376994
I personally never saw the point in offensive oils: they never lasted long enough. Better to just sharpen. If the oil is for fighting non-corporeals, though...

>>34376858
>As a side thing, what does everybody think of the new OP? Had a friend draw up a Panther medallion for us.
It looks good, though it could probably use a bit of shading on the medallion to help contrast and draw the eye

>>34377085

I barely remember playing Witcher 1, so I don't really know what the difference is.

>>34377138
I only played Witcher 2. Oils were highly specialized, and didn't last long. The increase in damage was always less than 10%. All in all, meh. If it has debilitating effects or poisons, I could be convinced.

>>34377138
Oils were applied to weapons. They could do things like make creatures bleed out (useless because they die too quickly anyway), cause more damage to certain monsters, confer a status effect or bonus critical chance, or allow you to attack certain kinds of monsters not normally susceptible to your weapon.

Potions could do a lot of things. Allow you to see in the dark, heighten awareness, increase attacking or defensive power, heal you, make you move as quick as a raging wombat.

Potions were generally more useful, since, like oils, they made you more effective at fighting, but conferred other bonuses as well, and weren't only applied to a single weapon.

All in all there were six vials nestled into the leather pouches of the belt, and though each vial was clearly labelled by a symbol upon the cork that kept them from spilling, Garland knew where each one was and could have chosen the vial he sought in the dead of darkness.

There were three oils:
Black Blood Poison – rather cruel venom designed expressly for use against humans. Witcher work is nasty stuff and there are just as many bandits willing to put their life on the line for the sake of coin as there are nekkers in swamps.
Crimson Oil – a substance beyond my understanding, it somehow effects the body causing it to bleed more profusely. A blade coated in this oil can cause many a creature a slow death.
Arachnid Oil – I once believed this substance to simply be the poison extracted from an endrega or similarly vicious spider beastie, but apparently this stuff is alchemically treated to be far more fast acting. It is a simple poison, meant to hasten death.

As for the three other vials? They were potions.
Cat – A fitting potion for any Panther to use, it heightens the senses to a supernatural degree, and that’s saying something considering how heightened a Witcher’s senses already are. It allows them to see in the dark, and Garland says he can almost “feel” other living creatures, or smell them… I’m not too sure.
Owl – I’ve never quite understood the Power, but I understand enough to know that when imbibing this potion a Witcher’s ability to cast signs is increased, perhaps by twofold. Garland once told me it fills him with a powerful vigor.
Serpent – A potion that Garland used often in my time with him. It loosens the joints and muscles to a freakish degree, making him far more agile.

>Cont’d

I may actually have to buy a pass god damn

With all six vials checked to ensure they hadn’t been damaged or moved out of place by the jostling of the horse, Garland nodded to himself and wrapped the leather belt around his chest. It fit snugly across from his left shoulder to his right hip, with each vial able to be swiftly swiped at any time should he need them quickly.

Not a moment had passed by after finishing this task when Xander came strolling briskly out of the grasp, whistling some cheerful tune to himself. Garland once more thought of how he planned to catch the boy off guard as a future test, and a small smile came to his stubble framed lips. At this smile the whistling stopped, as though the younger man had sensed impending peril.

Xander wasn’t the only one who enjoyed a good joke, though I’ve never understood Garland’s humour myself.

They set off not long after, and were within the shady confines of the forest by mid afternoon. As they entered the leafy cover, the two began to notice the strangeness of the forest that they now trotted through. It was not quiet – indeed there were birds and bugs making their usually racket – but there was still something disquieting about the place. When I asked about it Garland said that the forest felt “more alive” than it should have. I’ve yet to find the words to describe such a place, so I’ll have to use his as my best bet.

“Sir, how do we approach? I doubt the Harpies will be holding a welcoming party.”

Again, a question that Garland himself had been pondering himself. There were a number of options available…

>Approach on horseback
>Reign the horses, approach on foot
>Tether the horses, move into the woods and approach in silence
>Gallop into the hamlet to surprise the Harpies and attack on horseback

>>34377789
>Tether the horses, move into the woods and approach in silence

>>34377789
>Tether the horses, move into the woods and approach in silence
Almost forgot we were a stealth build.

>>34377789
>>Tether the horses, move into the woods and approach in silence
Perhaps by surprise and violence of action we can get them to break quickly

>>34377789
>>Tether the horses, move into the woods and approach in silence
Horses a shit

>>34377988
>>34377958
>>34377935
Stealth it up 1d100, best of first three

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>34378014

I've been rolling super high in the crusader quests, time for my luck to reverse and roll super low.

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>34378014

Rolled 4 (1d100)

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>34378014

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>34378082
I love roll under quests. They're the only ones I do well in.

>>34378082

That'll do, anon. That'll do.

There were no words between the two now that they had entered the forest, and it was a virtue of Xander’s training that they didn’t need them. Garland raised a hand to signal stopping their horses, and the two of them dismounted. With Garland leading and Xander following the signals the senior Witcher provided, they headed into the forest, and tethered their horses out of sight.

The horses too were Panthers in their own right, raised and bred for these sorts of situations. They did not make a sound, not even a snort of protest as they were tied amongst some tall growing bushes.

It was then that Garland beckoned for Xander, and the boy moved swiftly through the undergrowth to give his ear to his trainer.

>”Follow behind, I want you ready with a silver arrow. At my signal, fire your first shot and I’ll move in.”
>”I want you with me, bring your silver sword, we strike together.”
>”I’ll send you first, I want to see what you can do.”
>”Stay back, and watch – you may learn something.”
>???

>>34378297
>>”Follow behind, I want you ready with a silver arrow. At my signal, fire your first shot and I’ll move in.”

>>34378297
>”Follow behind, I want you ready with a silver arrow. At my signal, fire your first shot and I’ll move in.”
Archer Witcher is a go.

As much as I love the Panther side, I can't help but wonder what being a bear or a hawk might have been like.

Kick in the door kind of Witcher would be fun.

And I'm a big fan of signs, so I hope we get some more soon.

>>34378297
>”Follow behind, I want you ready with a silver arrow. At my signal, fire your first shot and I’ll move in.”

>>34378297
>>”Follow behind, I want you ready with a silver arrow. At my signal, fire your first shot and I’ll move in.”
No need to get the noob up in the shit yet.

>>34378395
It seems our apprentice is taken with the Hawks. I honestly feel a lot of a Witcher's gifts would be wasted with projectile weapons, though.

>>34378573
nah, he's just good with a bow, the female apprentice was a Hawk

>>34378573
I dunno

>strength pots
>stealth
>several hundred pound draw strength

sounds perfect for the bigger beasts.

”Follow behind, I want you ready with a silver arrow. At my signal, fire your first shot and I’ll move in.” he whispered, quiet as a breath of wind.

Xander nodded, his face set like that of a statue’s. This was something that Garland had seen before, and it always settled his worries about the Witcher-to-be. While the young man may be loud and boisterous, when it came to serious work he seemed to settle into some sort of quiet determination. He would turn as stern as Garland himself, even if after the fact he would boast and cheer like a… well like a young man might.

Their final words spoken the two crept off into the undergrowth, moving like the creatures for which their school was named. Garland was a good twenty feet ahead at all times, his cat-like eyes gleaming in the shadows of the late afternoon shade. He could hear them now, the greedy screeches of the Harpies who had broken from the flock to snatch up whatever it was that had caught their eyes. The beat of their wings, like quiet thunder in the oddly still yet oddly alive forest, drove him forward, until finally he reached the edge of the trees.

He flattened himself against the thick oak, so close he could smell the rich scent of the bark. He saw Xander behind him, and signalled to a small hill to their east with a deft twitch of his fingers. The boy made no physical confirmation, but his eyes glinted with understanding. In moments he was in position. It was then that Garland peeked around the edge of his hiding spot, to gaze upon the hamlet and see what there was to behold.

>Perception check 1d100

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>34378763

I got this.

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>34378763

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>34378763

>>34378780
done

>>34378780
It always seems to be the third roll

>>34378728
And think of all the special arrows.

>>34378849
I'm sorry for always being late, then.

>>34378878

I'll beat you one day, anon.

>>34378900
But rolling low is all I have!

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>34378930
Don't worry anon, I roll shitty no matter the dice rules

>>34378954
>Rolled 99 (1d100)
I can see that.

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906 KB GIF

>>34378954

The term “hamlet” did not fit any place better than this small village. There couldn’t be more than fifty people living in a place this small. The houses were small but cozy enough looking. The White Road was a popular spot, and it seemed as though Culan was well off for such a small place. There was one building along the road that was bigger than the rest, and likely served as an inn to travellers coming through.

Of course any good fortune and trade the town may have had was over now, Garland could see that clearly. Though he didn’t bother to count the bodies, he wagered he could see almost ever inhabitant of the town gathered outside the small rest stop of an inn. The lay there in a heap, the stack of bodies looked to be almost as tall as Xander, with a number of extra bodies scattered throughout the rest of the township.

In all Garland counted at least eleven harpies that were picking amongst the corpses. He didn’t doubt the possibility that they had been the ones to scatter the bodies about as they tossed them off the pile, searching deeper for more treasures. Even as he watched one of the group snatched up a copper necklace from a lifeless woman’s throat and took to the skies with it.

What had killed these people was of secondary concern, for now they had to scare off the swarm. Judging from what he knew of Xander’s skill with the bow, the apprentice could likely take down three or four by himself in the time it would take Garland to assault the rest. The problem he himself faced was he was limited by range. He knew that Aer would stun them for a good few seconds, and he could likely get two before they scattered. That meant he could likely take out five by himself before the Harpies knew what was happening… if he managed to be quick enough.

>Finesse check 1d100
OR
>Propose alternative assault tactic.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>34379164
>>Finesse check 1d100

Dice gods be willing

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>34379164
>>Finesse check 1d100

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>34379164
Well shit.

Do we have any trinkets we can lure them with somehow? I really can't think of anything.

>>34379164
A really nice smell would attract them, but we have no such thing. Wall jumping and chainhooks might work, but perhaps not as well as practiced strikes/signs.

>>34379276
Lure skill would allow for that. Maybe think of investing points when you next get them.

>>34379524
It does seem like it would be a boon to a Panther.

Being able to set up an area for an ambush and all.

Garland looked to Xander, and saw that his apprentice was watching him with keen eyes. Gold met blue and understanding passed between them. He raised his left hand, while his right went to the hilt of his silver blade. He raised three fingers, and as a second passed by he dropped one, then another, and finally the last. As his last finger dropped his right hand ripped the silver sword from its sheath with a familiar scraping sound.

Even as he did this he was up and running towards the centre of Culan, hoping his apprentice would be smart enough to aim for those farthest from his reach. Even as this thought passed his mind he heard the first arrow fly, whistling out of the bushes like an enraged hornet. At the very moment Garland was making the sign of Aer with his left hand, he saw the first of Xander’s victim’s drop, an arrow piercing its feathered craw.

“Fwoom!” came the sound of magic and air creating a burst from Garland’s hand, as he aimed his free hand towards one of the scavengers even as his right swung out and beheaded one of the unaware creatures with his meteorite sword. Even as he felt the weapon slice through bone and flesh, he felt the blade pulse with The Power, amplifying the energies in his left hand.

Three of ten were dead, and only now did the others begin to shriek in terror with their oddly human-like bird voices. Even as he made his way towards another harpy, left hand making the sign of Aer once more and directing it at a fourth bird-beast, he heard one of these shrieks halt suddenly in a choked garble – Xander had found a second victim.

The next two went down like the first, but when he came to his next targets things did not go as smoothly. The scavengers were alerted now, and though harpies were cowardly at heart, they had been startled into action, and had not yet seen enough of their own kind’s blood to fear the man with silver hair.

>Cont'd

This all happened in a moment, but the Witcher could almost predict what came next for him. The eighth harpy whom he had failed to subdue with Aer came at him in a flutter of talons and fury. It took every ounce of finesse he had to drop out of range and roll across the now bloody roadside. As he did this there was a whistle and another “Craww-euch!” type of sound, and the attacking harpy flopped over Garland like a limp bundle of hides – for that was what the creature was now.

Tossing the limp bird-beast off of him with a grunt, Garland made his way to his feet, silver sword poised ready for the next assault. But no such thing came. The sound of harpies was deafening in the sky, they were screeching and cawing in their maddening way. For a moment Garland thought they meant to swoop down upon him, and thought that this may be more of a fight than he had suspected, but no sooner had he thought this than the creatures began to disperse in all directions, scattering as though he may give chase somehow.

Panting Garland looked around, it had been a short battle, but nonetheless fierce. Blood streaked his face and hands, not to mention his glinting bluish blade. But already the battle fury was seeping fromm his hot blood and he was becoming aware of himself once more.

>Call Xander over and congratulate him on his first true battle
>Examine the Harpy bodies
>Examine the human bodies
>???

>>34379837
>Examine the human bodies
>Call Xander over and congratulate him on his first true battle

>>34379872
This sounds good.

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>>34379837
>>Examine the Harpy bodies
Mutagens!

>>34379837
>>Call Xander over and congratulate him on his first true battle
>>Examine the Harpy bodies
>>Examine the human bodies
>>???

>>34379837
>Call Xander over and both of you examine the area for traps/survivors.
Celebration waits until after the dead are confirmed.

>>34379837
>>Call Xander over and congratulate him on his first true battle after you both examine the monster and human bodies

Let me guys know what you think of the battle sequence, if you'd like more input throughout I'd be happy to throw more rolls in.

The way I was handling it was if there was a failure you would suffer some damage and get to make a new check.

I get carried away writing those sorts of scenes and forget that I'm QMing not just writing.

>>34379872
>>34379921
This it is then, with a bit of
>>34380000
>>34379965
Thrown in for good measure.

>>34380032

I thought it was fine, I like your writing and I don't like having too many rolls in one fight sequence.

>>34380032
From a narrative standpoint, it's just right: Harpies don't count as a real fight in that one good scare makes them run away(like intelligent people).

I'll wait until a more complex segment before passing any judgement.

Without looking for him, Garland beckoned for Xander to come forth from the shadows of the trees. The battle was over for now and he had done well, had even saved Garland from a scratch or two while he was at it. But now the true Witcher work was at hand. It wasn’t likely the Harpies had done this, so it was now time to see what had.

The human bodies were of interest more than those of the beasts. It was likely that those creatures would only have trinkets on them. Though of course some Witchers would have loved to take pieces of the creatures for use in alchemy, at this time in his adventures Garland did not have the knowledge to do so.

Finding the nearest body he rolled it over onto its back. He was at first surprised at the fact the body was warm to the touch, and then by the eyes that met his golden gaze as the corpse was turned to face him. Indeed these were not the eyes of a corpse, they stared blankly up at him, but vestments of life danced beneath the hazel irises that greeted him. Indeed it seemed that the man wasn’t a corpse after all, and was clinging to some form of life, likely by some unnatural means.

“Did you see that Master Garland? That first one went down like a-“ the excited voice of Xander came from behind him, but was swiftly interrupted by a raised hand.

“This wasn’t the work of bandits, or even wild beasts. Search for survivors check every building.” He had done well, Garland was very aware of that, but congratulations would have to be saved for later. Though he couldn’t see the young man’s face, he could almost feel the beaming smile drop from his face as he moved off to do the task given him.

>Examine this body further
>Check other bodies to see if they’re the same
>Check the harpies
>???

>>34380294
>>Examine this body further
>>Check other bodies to see if they’re the same

>>34380294
>>Examine this body further
>>Check other bodies to see if they’re the same
Then get a report from Xander.

>>34380399
>>34380371
Perception 1d100

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>34380471

Perception!

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>34380471
where'd everyone go?

>>34380513
I'm here. Just reading a book, since I have no meaningful input.

>>34380498
>>34380513
dude. I don't want to roll again.

>>34380498
>>34380513
fuck

>>34380610
You realize this is a roll under system, right?

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>34380610

Those are really good rolls, anon.

>>34380471

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>>34380620
>>34380628
meant "fuck" in the positive sense

After this one I’m taking a snack break

Garland was intrigued, he had never seen anything like this before in his years as a Witcher, and wasn’t sure his master’s had either. He began to examine the body further, patting it up and down, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He noticed that there were scrapes around the man’s throat, and that he was missing a finger, but these looked like Harpy marks. Oddly enough the finger seemed to have already clotted too, it was not healing but had certainly stopped bleeding quickly.

He rolled the man over again, content he couldn’t find anything on the man’s front. He found what he was looking for then. On the man’s back he found a dark patch where the blood had soaked through his clothing. But as he pulled the cloth aside, noticing the sticky sound of it coming away from a clotted wound, he saw that there was a large hole in the man’s back, roughly the size and shape of a dagger wound. It too had clotted over, but showed no signs of healing.

“Strange…” he murmured and moved on to check some of the other corpses.

Many of them were dead, one hundred percent corpse, with blood drying upon their lips, looking as though they had died eating strawberry jam tarts… Oh, forgive me it seems I have become rather hungry. In any case, there were others like the first man, perhaps one in five of the corpses that Garland checked were in this semi-living state, with clotted dagger wounds, most found on their torsos or legs.

“What in the world…” Xander marvelled as he returned to see Garland examining a young woman no older than the apprentice himself, who stared up at the young man with vacant green eyes. “There were some just like her, in the houses, no sign of forced entry or of a struggle either.”

>Check the harpy bodies
>Check around town
>Check the traveller’s rest

>>34380674
That's not really how this language works.

>>34380682
>, forgive me it seems I have become rather hungry

I see what you did there

>Check around town

This is familiar. I feel like I should recognize this.

>>34380746
The scenario or the Quest itself?

>>34380682
>Check the harpy bodies
Then
>Check the traveller’s rest

>>34380682
>Congratulate Xander
>Check the harpy bodies
There is no immediate threat, and it's a good way to calm down before assuming things.

>>34380682
>>Check the harpy bodies
>>Check the traveller’s rest
>>Pat Xander on the back

>>34380800
The scenario. Their condition.

Although I'm not sure what I'm thinking of is related to anything about The Witcher.

Could just be other media I've taken in.

Seems like
>Check Harpies
>Congratulate Xander
are our priorities then

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54 KB GIF

I-Its alive?

It's been so long...

>{Witchering Intensifies}

“Check the Harpies.” Garland grumbled, not upset with Xander, though he wondered if the apprentice might take things that way. He had been expecting a bandit attack or something of the like, with the scavengers picking the town apart. But now he was starting to realize something a bit bigger was going on in this sleepy little hamlet. Which meant they were likely to dally here longer than he first thought. “Collect any trinkets, we’ll have to burn the bodies, and we’ll let them take their trinkets with them. The last thing we need on top of all of this is necrophages.”

Together they examined the corpses of the Harpies, rolling the beasts onto their backs and examining anything they had clasped in their talons. There were fewer to check than there were humans, and it wasn’t long before they had searched each and every one of the fallen beasts. Garland hadn’t expected to find anything on the bodies but leftovers from the villagers. But it seemed the mystery extended even to the beasts.

“Do you see what I see?” Garland asked, turning to Xander after he had checked his final Harpy.

“Aye, they have collars… can Harpies be pets Garland?”

“Indeed, and I have something else of interest.” He beckoned for the apprentice to approach “What do you make of this?” he asked, waving a hand to an object one of the Harpies was clasping. It was a glass crystal, a roughly hewn orb. Within it thrummed a smoky substance, that seemed disquieting to even look upon.

“I… What is it?”

“Trouble,” grumbled the senior Witcher, gazing to the sky as if expecting to see the Harpies swirling again. These crystals were those of which I spoke earlier, the things the Harpies use to capture the dreams of mortals. Not to mention the chance that these harpies belonged to somebody – or something – was a problem in and of itself. “For now we gather the dead and burn them, then we gather the living into the inn.”

>Cont'd

He stood and began to work, but paused, realizing he had forgotten something. He turned his gold gaze back to his apprentice. “You did well, you made a fine Witcher this day.” These words were greeted by a smile so luminous it made the cocky words that came from the apprentice bearable.

“Damn straight!”

Xander has levelled up!
>Improve Archery
>Improve Hunting/Trapping
>Improve Stealth

>>34381161
I missed you

>>34381338
>>Improve Hunting/Trapping

We are not so good at traps and Xander's already quite good at stealth and archery

>>34381397
While I like the idea of our 'prentice complementing us, I still feel we should get at least proficient in the basics of everything.

>>34381338
>>Improve Hunting/Trapping

>>34381338
>Improve Archery

>>34381338
>Improve Hunting/Trapping

Xander has learned "Lure"

Congratulations, if you have properly identified a monster with Monster Lore, Xander will be able to build a lure, given the right time and materials at least.

The work was difficult, but the two of them together were able to gather all the corpses and drag them to the centre of down. The area was clear thanks to the highway that ran through the town, and the area was moist from the spring rains, so there was little chance of the neighbouring forest catching aflame. They burned the bodies in a pyre that send foul smelling smoke high into the once Harpy filled sky.

Next came the securing of the bodies. Originally Garland had planned to take them into the rest, but realized that the sun was now close to setting, and wasn’t comfortable sharing a space with these living-unliving beings, for fear of them rising from their slumber or something equally dangerous. Instead they found a large house and stored them there. They used blankets from other homes to cover them from the neck down and then left to make their own places in the inn building.

It was hardly a high end establishment, even this harbour-side tavern would put the place to shame. There were mats by the hearth for any guests that came by, and a number of tables for eating and drinking. Aware that nobody would want to stay here for some time, the pair helped themselves to the food and drink available as night began to fall on the world outside.

>Go to sleep now and rest up for the day of searching ahead
>Head out into the night to see if anything is different
>Set Xander on watch and sleep
>Let Xander sleep and rest up

Probably going to finish up soon, don't want to burn myself out since I'm running another Quest tomorrow

>>34381740
>>Head out into the night to see if anything is different

Take turns taking watch with Xander. Garland shall take first watch.

>>34381774
Basically what I was thinking.

>>34381774
seconded.

>>34381774
third

>>34381740
>>Let Xander sleep and rest up
What other quest do you run?

>>34381740
What time?

Night had fallen over Culan by the time the two had finished their meals, and both of the Witchers both master and student were growing weary after a long day. Of course Garland had taken many a sleepless night in his years of Witchering, and could have managed to stay awake through this night and the one to follow through his will alone. But he decided it would be best for them to take a rest. He sent Xander to his rest first, deciding he would take the first watch.

He waited for an hour to pass by, then another, listening for the sounds of deep slumber to take over the young apprentice before he moved. He was aware of his own training and new he would wake the boy in a panic if he made any noise in those early stages of sleep. He wasn’t going to abandon the lad, not in a town in as much tragedy as this, he simply wanted to poke his head out and see if anything had happened, the moon often brought out all manner of creatures.

He opened the traveller’s rest’s door cautiously, and stepped out into the cool spring night air. He breathed in the air of that night, expecting to smell the sweet smells of forest night. But what came to his nose was not sweet, for of course the ashes of the pyre were still fresh and billowing in the night’s wind.

But it was not only that he could smell, there was something else to smell out in the darkness of this night. A sour stench, the scent of death – not of burned corpses or rotting flesh, but the very essence of death itself, that you must inhale to truly understand. Think of the warmth of your own mother, her scent from your childhood, how warm, living and welcoming that smell is. This would be the opposite to that smell.

Something roamed in the darkness of Culan that night, but you shall have to wait for next time, to hear of it. For I grow weary, my body still aches from my accident, and I have an empty belly to fill. But I shall return another night, for more stories, I promise that

>>34381927
None at the moment, and it will likely be very different to this one. Its kind of a secret, though if you really must see I'll be running under the name "Iron Lion"

>>34381996
Same time as Witcher Quest usually is, around 12:00 my time, so around 20:00 EDT I believe.

>>34382067

Is it going to be a historical quest. Because that's my fetish.

>>34382067
Well, thank you for the run and hopefully I will be able to check out the new one

>>34382067
What's the DC we have to pass to get another hint?

>>34382035
Thanks for running. I just wish I'd gotten here in time to participate.

>>34382088
No, its actually in the future

>>34382143
I haven't even worked out all the kinks yet, part of the reason I'm finishing a little early. But the setting is based on an anime

>>34382148
Next time maybe

>>34382098
I may just run Witcher Quest again if I can't figure out what I'm doing with this other thing.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>34382035
Thanks for the thread Dandy, any idea when the next will be?

>>34382328
Either tomorrow if I can't figure out what I'm doing with this other thing, or decide I don't have the time for two quests, or... the day after.

Always around 20:00 EDT unless Twitter says otherwise.

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>>34382209
Which One?

>>34382349
Touhou I'm fucking kidding

But seriously, that's kind of the secret part. If people know the anime let's just say things might get meta. First thread decides a lot about the rest of the Quest.

>>34382391
Really, Dandy, you already engage the meta by saying it's from an anime. Shut up.

>>34382391
>Meta

Meta is for faggots.

If a quest is based on anything I've read or watched I always throw everything I know about said universe and consider it to be an alternate universe.

Why? Because fuck meta.

>>34382489
If only such could be said for certain other quests...

>>34382706
I'm just saying Meta just drains all the fun away.

I'd rather go into things blind, deaf, and dumb and experience new things. Rather than just sit back and go just as planned.

And there was I, looking for people to help translate Witcher RPG...