You wake up in the temple cell, feeling more refreshed than you ever have in your life. Your powers are renewed and you are ready to start the day. There is a meal and a new set of nice clothes waiting for you. After you are finished, you walk into the cell and wonder what you should do next. You are interested in the possible magical abilities Charles was showing, but there is also the matter with the Duke the other day, and the is always the option of just exploring more of the surrounding area or talking to the High Priest about the atmosphere of the Capital.

Do you
>Go to the Duke’s home
>Go find Charles
>Go find the High Priest
>Explore the City

>>35405554
>>Go find Charles
Let's see if we can't get ourselves a magical ally.

You decide to go see how Charles is. Sure enough, the first place you look you find him buried in a book. He’s reading up on old Godly Legends, specifically on how the Gods drove the demons deep under the earth and locked them away. You sneak up on him and tap him on the head.

“O-oh, hi Aldan. What can I do for you?” He’s flustered, and probably could do anything you want.

Do you
>Ask him about what he’s reading
>Ask him about the artifacts again
>Ask him about the people who come to pray

>>35405748
>>Ask him about what he’s reading

>>35405748
Ask him about what he's reading

You ask him about what he’s reading, and he gets flustered again. “It’s nothing. It’s just about some demons and where they were supposedly buried. The gods tricked them by making them swear on their throats, and demons can’t break a promise unless they destroy the thing that binds their promise. Then they forced them into crystal prisons until the Gods and their servants wished to use them” You two keep talking for a while, until Brother Victor comes in. Charles tries to explain it away, but Charles won’t hear it.

“We have bigger things to worry about. The Morra people are back…” The two of them then rush out, leaving you alone.

Do you
>Follow after them.
>Leave out the Back

>>35405930
>>Follow after them.

>>35405930
>Follow after them.

You follow them to the front of the Temple, where several men and women clad in white robes. They seem to be yelling at the High Priest for some reason. The followers of Morra are the direct opposite of Varsa. The God of Light and Compassion takes little pity towards the followers of Ambition and Vengance.

“…and furthermore, your temple is an affront to any sense of justice! Your uncivilized God should have been removed from this city. Look at your lavish walls, it’s disgraceful! Your selfishness will not be tolerated any more, even if the Knights of Morra have to tear this place down piece by piece…”

They obviously aren’t leaving, and things are getting violence.

Do you
>Go find the city guards
>Turn invisible and mess with them
>Get between the Knights and the High Priest and demand they leave

>>35406125
>Turn invisible and mess with them

>>35406125
Yeah, that's me. I need to stop sucking at that...and stop going into other threads when I'm QMing

>>35406125
Let's fuck their shit up. Turn invisible

You decide to turn invisible and see if you can get them to leave the premises without getting any of the Varsa priests to go to violence. You look at the few people that have come to watch the spectacle happening, when you notice a particularly rich looking man chuckling at the sight. An idea forms in your head, and you sneak up on him. He has a very distinct signet attached to his belt, with what seems to be his family crest imprinted in the metal. With your deft hands, you remove the signet, and as soon as it is removed you can feel it’s weight, but it vanishes as well. You move behind one of the younger Knights and place the signet precariously in his pocket. You skulk away, and become visable again, and step up to see what happens.

All it takes is a slight jostle from another Knight to let the signet fall out. The rich man notices, and after failing to find it on his own person, starts yelling.

“THIEF! YOU LITTLE BASTARD, THIEF!” He grabs the Knight in his meaty hands, and guards rush in to remove him. After proving that the fallen signet was his, the Knights are frisked and removed from Temple to be taken to the Guard Tower.

You laugh to yourself, but the High Priest looks at you crossly. “Did you orchestrate this?”

Do you respond with
>“No, I have no idea what you mean.”
>“So what if I did?”
>“Of course I did. They were bothering

>>35406427
>“No, I have no idea what you mean.”

>>35406427
“No, I have no idea what you mean.”

>>35406427
>>“No, I have no idea what you mean.”
Admit guilt? Why would we ever do that.

You deny any involvement and the High Priest looks at you skeptically, but questions you no further. The Knights are taken care of, and none of the blame can fall onto you or the Varsa Priests. You feel tempted to check out the other temples, but you are free to do as you please.

Do you
>Explore the City
>Go to the Duke’s House
>Go to the Other Temples

>>35406638
Explore the City

Let's figure out where the hell we are.

>>35406638
Explore the city
Find charles
"Charles would you mind showing me around the city, I could really use your help" ;)

You decide to explore the city more and learn about the Capital. Faran-Ra is cut into 4 districts, separated by a large road leading to the 4 main gates. You are currently in the Western District, also known as the Gold District. Each one has a patron god, which leads to the flavor and businesses of those districts. And in the middle of the city is the Emperor’s Hold, a grand castle that has stood for over 300 years. The other districts are the North/Paper District, the South/Metal District, and the East/Feather District. You could go check out the castle if you wished, or go to one of the other districts.

Do you
>Go to the Castle
>Explore the North District
>Explore the East District
>Explore the South District
>Continue Exploring the West District

>>35406995
MOTHERFUCKER I DID IT AGAIN

>>35406995
> go to Castle

>>35406995
I kind of want to explore the Metal district. But Castle is also good.

>>35406995
>>Go to the Castle
Let's not enter the turf of the other gods, at least not yet.

You walk along the dividing road between the West and South District until you come to the Noble Center as you hear it being called. The walls around the castle are littered with guards, and people laden in gold and fine clothes going between them. You manage to walk through, your clothes look similar enough to a noble’s to allow you entry. There are several fancy houses on the roads actually leading up to the castle proper. There are several people lounging against a great, laughing and talking in a lively fashion. There is also several other men talking excitedly, laden in books. And finally a lone man, wearing plain clothes and playing a small Zither.

Do you
>Leave
>Speak to the talking nobles
>Speak to the academic men
>Speak to the lone man

>>35407424
>>Speak to the academic men
I know we came here for the nobles, but with the whole magic returning I don't want to risk us missing out.

>>35407424
>Speak to the lone man
Some on. He's obviously got something going down.

>>35407424
>Speak to the lone man

You decide to speak to the lonely man. He’s hidden under a hat, and his clothes are exceptionally plain, but his playing is impeccable and crisp. You stay on the edges of the small grassy corner for a moment until he is done and approach him. You compliment his talent, and though he tries to avoid looking up at you, he thanks you for the compliment. He seems genuine about it, but you are unsure of where his shyness should come from. Though he seems a bit nerved that you are actually talking to him, he still invites you to sit down.

Do you
>Sit next to him and just enjoy the music
>Sit next to him and try to talk
>Stand and try to make him more comfortable

>>35407729
>>sit and enjoy the music
This fuckin guy has some shit up his sleeve

>>35407729
>Sit next to him and just enjoy the music

You sit down, but choose not to engage and just enjoy him playing. Though he still looks nervous, it is not reflected in his music at all. The minutes pass until a full hour has gone by. He is noticeably more at east as his fingers fly over the string. When he stops for a moment to rest, you compliment his skill, saying how despite your mother’s efforts you never did pick up music, but always enjoyed hearing it.

“Thank you. You can call me Ed. I’d say that’s what my friends call me, but in the Hold friends are few. I can’t say I’ve ever seen you around, are you new to these parts?”

Do you
>Say you are the daughter of the Northneck Lord
>Simply say you are from the North
>Lie and say you are a merchant girl

>>35407875
>Simply say you are from the North
His name is Ed, This fucker has seen some shit I bet

>>35407875
>>Simply say you are from the North

>>35407875
>Simply say you are from the North

Honest, and it doesn't give too much away.

You simply say you are from the North, and Ed seems to appreciate that succinct response, not questioning it further. He packs the Zither away in a small case and stands, smiling down at you.

“You seem like an agreeable enough person, perhaps I’ll see you again. Here” He takes a small pewter ring out of his pocket and hands it to you. “If you ever want to speak again, just show that to one of the guards and they’ll direct you towards me. I’m always looking for an excuse to relax and play music.” He smiles, and after checking to make sure no one is looking, dips his hat over his face and makes his way towards the castle.

The day is still young, but the sun has driven most people inside so there isn’t much left to do here without looking a bit suspicious. You’re standing at the gate that leads to the West and South District

Do you
>Explore the West District
>Explore the South District
>Go to the Duke’s House
>Return to the Temple

New Ally – Ed(mysterious music player)

Gained – Finely Crafted Pewter Ring

>>35408098
>>Go to the Duke’s House
Well then, let's get down to business
to defeat the huns

>>35408098
>Go to the Duke’s House

It seems like a good time to pay him a visit. Too bad we already used invisibility today.

>>35408098
>Go to the Duke’s House

Though it takes some time, by the mid afternoon you are standing in the heart of the Gold District in front of a lavish house. This is the residence of Duke Insmon. There is a high wall made of stone and a metal gate, but no one is standing by the gate and the lawn is starting to look a bit unkempt. You could probably get inside rather quickly through the front gate, but people on the road might see and take note. There might be a back entrance or servants quarters if you go around.

Do you
>Walk through the front Gate
>Go around back

>>35408248
>Go around back

We don't want to be seen by too many people yet.

>>35408248
>>Go around back

>>35408248
>>Go around back
The front door is unbefitting of the kind of business you are going to be aiding.

You sneak around the back, sure that no one saw you, and eventually find a small wooden door hidden behind some bushes. You push on it, and it opens. You think that’s odd, but you decide to go in anyways. The grassy areas in the back are just as ragged as they were in the front. Making your way to the building and through another door, you are now inside the kitchen. Everything is covered in some grime and dust, with only a small corner of the kitchen in any sort of presentable order. You can hear two men talking behind a rough looking wooden door, and you see an open door that leads into the rest of the house.
Do you
>Listen in to the two men
>Go deeper into the house

>>35408513
>Listen in to the two men

>>35408513
>Listen in to the two men

>>35408513
>>Listen in to the two men
Secrets no doubt.

You press your ear up against the side of the door, waiting to hear something juicy.

“…your turn.”
“Fuck you, you griper, it’s your turn.”
“Ah, fuck it. This was better when Johan was still around.”
“Yeah, it was a shame that the Master had to let him go. Fucker can’t keep his money straight anymore.”

The two break out into laughter and then go back to arguing about their game. After that, you head back to the house and decide to walk around. The house is pretty grand, but it seems just as empty as you assumed. You eventually come to a room and hear crying coming from inside, and you believe it is the Duke.

Do you
>Knock on the Door
>Peek Inside Secretly
>Wait and Listen

>>35408835
>>Wait and Listen

>>35408835
Knock on the door

>>35408835
>Knock on the Door
knock knock knock

You knock on the door, and hear the crying suddenly stop. There is a crash and a clang as something falls over and you hear a moan of pain. You open the door and see the Duke sprawled out on the floor, some dark liquid staining the carpet that has a sharp smell of alcohol. You feel pity for the man, obviously distraught, and help him up into his chair.

“Who are you…what are you doing in my house” he slurs, obviously drunk.

Do you tell him
>“My name is Aldan. I heard about your problems and would like to help”
>”I am an agent of Varsa, here about your problem”
>”It doesn’t matter who I am. I know who you are and think I can be of assistance”

>>35409113
>>”I am an agent of Varsa, here about your problem”

I have to run a quick errand. I'll be back in about 10 minutes.

>>35409113
>”I am an agent of Varsa, here about your problem”

You say that you are an agent of Varsa, and display your ring to the drunken man. His eyes go wide and he is back on the floor, though now he is on his knees in front of you. “Oh, thank you oh Shaded Lord! Most fair and worthy God!” He drones on for a few minutes in his praise, which starts to get a bit annoying but he cuts down and crawls to his feet.

“B-baron Adworth. He stole a letter from me. He’s been using it as blackmail and I’m desperate. He’s bleeding me dry with the ransom he’s demanding and I’m going to lose everything! Kill him, maim him, I don’t care. But please just bring the letter back so that this nonsense can stop! If it’s just his word, there’s no way anyone would believe a lowly Baron over a Duke like me!” He tells you the address and what the letter looks like, a red envelope with lavender paper inside.

Do you
>Ask about the Baron
>Ask about the contents of the letter
>Leave without a word

>>35409491
>>ask about the contents of the letter
We can do our own reconnaissance on Adworth. See if he spills anything on the subject of the blackmail. Though I doubt it. Turn charm to max just in case.

>>35409491
>Ask about the Baron
We can read the letter when we get it.

>>35409596
Let's see what we're up against first. Once we have the letter, we can see it ourself and have a little leverage over this guy for the future.

>>35409491
>Ask about the contents of the letter
Yeah, sure.

>>35409491
>>Ask about the contents of the letter

>>35409701
>>35409677
>>35409587

He's being blackmailed for a ton of money. Do you think he's just going to tell us what's inside?

>>35409723
>Uncanny Charisma
Maybe

>>35407159
use two different browsers
one for general 4chan and one for the quest
that way you don't need to add/remove your trips/name for every post.

You ask about the contents of the letter, playing on your charm and his unarmed state as much as you can.

“I…it’s a mess.” He mutters. “I took a bit of money, JUST A BIT mind you, from the royal coffers…” He slumps on his desk, his hands in his face. “I needed to pay for the services of a young man. Don, his name was. He was such a sweet young thing. I haven’t seen him in weeks. I wonder where he is…” The man collapses onto the desk, asleep. You won’t be getting much else out of him.

So, you know where to go and what you need to do. Get the letter without getting caught. You’re a bit worried about not having your invisibility on you, though you still have the snake power you have yet to test out.

Do you
>Search around the room for interesting things
>Go to the Baron’s home
>Return to the Temple

>>35409852
he has been blackmailed for a while, we can steal the letter tomorrow morning after we get our invisible back. for now i say we spend the day using the snake to remotely spy on the baron, maybe we can even find where the letter is.

the important thing is the letter, not the killing.

>>35409852
>>Return to the Temple

By the time you return to the temple, the sun is low and heavy in the sky. The stores are lighting their lanterns, odd things made in a way that they burn brighter and far longer than the ones you use in your home. You enjoy the day turning to night and the continued bustle of the city when back home most people would be closing their shops and getting ready to sleep.

You pass a figure sitting in the alley of a decrepit building, their face bandaged and covered by a dirty cloak. You see a few people, each one carrying different signets for different ranks and Gods just pass by or throw a copper into the cup. You’re a bit tired, but something pulls on your heart a tiny bit.

Do you
>Silently give him a gold piece
>Give him a gold piece with Varsa’s blessing
>Walk past him

>>35410174
>>Give him a gold piece with Varsa’s blessing

>>35410174
>>Give him a gold piece with Varsa’s blessing

You give him a gold piece, telling him it is with Varsa’s blessing. He looks up at you, stunned at your generosity.

“Thank you ma’am! Praise Varsa for your wealth and generosity!” You smile at him and go on your way, leaving the man muttering in joy. You reach the temple, exhausted after the long day and quickly fall into bed.

---

You are back in the throne room of Lord Varsa. You go down on one knee, a sign of respect.

“You’re getting the hang of things quickly, little Aldan. Spreading my word and protecting my temple. If it weren’t for the bet having you as my warrior and champion, I’d want to make you my new prophet! I’ve needed one of those for a while now…anyway. I can’t give you a new power quite yet, but I can give you a cool little perk. Just something to make your life easier…”

Do you choose
>Blessing of Speed
>Blessing of Intellect
>Blessing of Strength
>Blessing of Wits

>>35410407
>Blessing of Speed
FAST

>>35410407
>Intellect

>>35410407
>>Blessing of Speed

>>35410407
speed

>>35410407
Wits

>>35410407
>Gotta go fast

(Gotta go fast)

Varsa smiles and waves his hand, and you feel as though you had an invisible weight you didn’t know was there was lifted. You stand, and you feel a bit light headed with how fast you went. “Sorry, but I promise you’ll get used to that. Now, I believe you had a letter to get to…?” He fades from your vision as you open your eyes, greeted by a new day.

>Gained Perks
>Increased Speed – Move faster and with less fatigue
>Increased Reflexes – React Faster and Harder to Capture you
>Higher Jump - With a running start, you jump much further and higher

You eat and get dressed, today in a very simple dark dress again provided by the Temple of Varsa. Your invisibility is restored, leaving you at your full power.

Do you
>Go talk to the High Priest
>Go talk to Charles
>Go to the Baron’s House

>>35410698
Charles for our daily hello/flirt, ask about artifacts acting up
Then hit the Baron

>>35410698
>Go talk to the High Priest
Sure.

>>35410771
Second this anon.

>>35410698
>>Go talk to Charles
>>Go to the Baron’s House
In that order.

You walk around to try and find Charles and see how he is today. Suprisingly, you find him actually doing work sweeping and cleaning the marble statue of Varsa that rests in a small alcove deep in the temple. He smiles kindly, less nervous than before but still a bit shy around you. You wonder if he’s actually ever really been around a woman he wasn’t related to. You ask about how he is, and make some small talk before asking about how the noises in the night are.

“Oh, since you did whatever you do to that fang, it’s been a lot quieter. I mean, I don’t get those feelings a lot, but they’re creepy when I do. Like one time, we visited Morra’s Temple as a sign of good will yesterday afternoon, and I swear I could hear bird’s everywhere! But no one else noticed. They think I’m crazy…” He sighs sadly and gets back to work, muttering about how he’s being punished for freaking out about imaginary birds.

>Gained New Relationship: Friends – Charles, Acolyte and Librarian of the Temple of Varsa

(I’m going to go eat, but I will be back and we can go fuck with a Baron)

>>35411158
Charles is definitely magical and he's a massive nerd. We should groom him to be our court magician or something.

Back. Is anyone still around/interested or should I call it quits for the night?

>>35413655
I'm still here

>>35413655
Here

You are now standing in front of the Baron’s home. It is just as lavish as the Duke’s was, but is infinitely better kept. Two guards are stationed in front of the gate, and servants are bustling around and about to keep the place in impeccable condition. You wonder how you could possibly get inside. Maybe you could charm your way past the guards, or wait for an opening and slip inside invisibly.

Do you
>Go invisible and sneak around through the back
>Distract the guards and slip in the front gate

>>35413868
> Go invisible
Summon our snake, we're gonna need a scout and possible defense just in case our speed and stealth fail

>>35413914
This. Call the Snakebro

>>35413868
i suggested we use the snake YESTERDAY to scout so today we just go invisible and grab it.

also, we should summon the snake every day since we can summon it every 24 hours and it lasts 24 hours. we can keep it around always . our powers get stronger with use, and the snake is useful for spying, and for milking venum, and for self defense (keep it hidden in your clothes)

>>35413914
Supporting this

You summon the snake, feeling the black shadows peel off of your skin as the tattoo is gone and a thin, pitch black serpent coils around your hand. You smile as you turn invisible, feeling it constrict and staying tightly wound as it joins you in your unseen state. You sneak past the guards without much fuss, and with a little timing you are able to sneak through one of two back doors into the servants quarters. Everyone seems extremely busy, and you hear talk of a party or something happening later this evening.

You’re now standing in the grand foyer, unsure of where to go. There are the stairs to your right, and a hallway with several doors to your left. You see an open dining further to your right, but it is empty save for a servant setting up.

Do you
>Go down the Hallway
>Go upstairs

>>35414072
>Go down the Hallway
Stairs can make a lot of noise. Best to check out the downstairs first

>>35414072
> Upstairs
If the baron hid the letter I bet its in the office/study or master bedroom

>>35414072
>Hallway

You decide to check out the hallway before heading upstairs. As you are walking along, you notice your snake friend curling up tighter as you pass a room on your right, prompting you to go inside. It’s a library, books and oil paintings of some stuffy man on every wall. Except one. You see that one of the paintings is slightly eschew. A little movement reveals a safe hidden behind it, with some scratch marks on it. The snake is straining towards the safe you feel, as though something is drawing it. As you are about to mess with it, there is a noise behind you. A servant comes in and quickly shuts the door behind him.

You barely move out of the way before he is messing with the safe, using some tool and swearing loudly. It looks like this man is trying to break into the safe. But you are a bit worried that he will make noise, and it will be harder to go through things if guards have to come in and put everyone on edge if he is found.

Do you
>Leave and come back later
>Wait and See What he Does
>Knock him unconcious

>>35414457
>>Wait and See What he Does

>>35414457
>whisper to him that he must remain quiet and he shall get what he desires

>>35414537
oh hey, we can have the snake "speak" to him. if he doesn't react well we knock him out with a sap.

of course he COULD yell and call the guards.

>>35414457
>Wait and See

You decide to wait and see, standing close enough o view his progress but far enough that there is no chance of him hitting you as he wildly digs through his bag. After a few minutes of frantic twisting and turning, you hear a ‘thunk’ and the door swings open. Inside you see a mountain of gold coins and papers, but that is not what draws your eyes. A golden dagger, slightly glowing, is in the far corner. The Man starts shoving everything, including the sphere into the sack with his tools. There is obviously something magical about that weapon, even if the thief doesn’t realize it. And you want that magic.

Do you
>Take the knife from the bag, leaving the coins
>Grab the knife and some coins
>Kill the man and try to take the whole bag

>>35414745
>Kill the man and try to take the whole bag
Time to test out our snake's venom

>>35414745
Grab the knife and some coins
We need him caught read handed to take the blame

>>35414745
wait for him to open the safe and verify there is a letter in there
then knock him out and take the entire bag and the entire contents of the safe.

>>35414745
>Knife only

>>35414745
Kill him
If the letter is in there take evrrything and bolt
If not stash the gold near the exit and keep looking

>>35414812
if we knock him out and then take everything, they will catch him...

althugh i wonder if we should at least try to recruit him first, he could be useful to us.

>>35414816
the reason to see there is a letter in there is that if he opens the safe and it doesn't contain any letters then we got the wrong place and getting involved here will sabotage things... then again we could still steal from him and leave him to be caught. the duke will likely rush to the location of his letter to verify it wasn't stolen and we could follow invisibly and locate it that way

>>35414860
Could we try to recruit him?

>>35414745

Kill him and take his stuff.

>>35414919
i am seeing a consensus for killing (and by that i mean obvious samefagging since there are 3 readers here).
if we do that could we at least have the brains to let him open the safe first? he is obviously a professional and we have never busted a safe before

also, i bet he will yell when he dies so its probably best to knock him out with a hard blow to the head first anyways regardless if we choose to kill or spare.

>>35415020
The safe is open.

>>35415020
> have him open the safe first
Did you not read the post he literally just opened it and is currently emptying it

You decide to test out your new friends abilities and kill the man. You lift your hand and as the snake slides off of your arm and gently clings onto his clothes, the inky black form becomes visible again. The snake rears it’s head back and strikes quickly against the man’s neck. You can see the veins on his neck turn an inky black and he barely makes a sound before he is twitching on the ground. He’ll be dead in under a minute you think as the snake crawls back towards you, knowing where your hand is despite the invisibility. You take the back and knife and store it under a chair by the door, reminding yourself to pick it up as you are leaving.

All that’s left is to check upstairs after confirming that there isn’t any letter in the papers from the bag and in any of the other rooms. You skulk around until you hear someone talking in what you assume is the master bedroom.

Do you
>Open the door slightly and sneak inside
>Listen in to the conversation

>>35415099
Listen

>>35415099
>Listen in to the conversation

>>35415099
>Listen

>>35415099

>Listen in to the conversation

You lean against the door, and though the conversation is a bit muffled you can still make out some of what he is saying.

“…for the party. We still need that fruit delivery, oh and it is impossible to get that stuff in the evening so they better be here on time.” A frantic man’s voice says.

“Whatever you say, sir.” A male voice responds, obviously very bored with the conversation.

“Oh, cheer up you little hussy. That sort of thing doesn’t suit your face, Don. Besides, I’m paying you to look pretty for me, a lot more than the fool Insmon did, aren’t I? And as long as we have the letter here” a pause and a ruffle of paper “I can keep paying you. Unless you’d rather be working the streets again.”

The first man is obviously the Baron, and the other is the man that the Duke purchased ‘services’ from with royal money. The letter is in there you believe, but a part of you feels that the Duke might appreciate a bit more vengeance.

Do you
>Send your snake in to get the letter
>Send your snake in to kill them both quickly
>Wait until they leave to retrieve the letter yourself

>>35415245
>Send your snake in to get the letter

Just kill the Baron. Leave the other guy to take the blame for poisoning a royal. Get the letter and leave.

>>35415245
> Send your snake in to get letter
Didn't the duke mention a Don, we need to remember this for later

>>35415340
Second, time to pocket a duke for shadow god

>>35415340
Supporting this

>>35415267
>>35415245
You can change my vote to kill the baron only, it solves a lot of our problems.

guy, if we kill the baron and leave don alive to see it he will raise the alarm and we won't be able to clean out the safe.

enter the room, knock out don at the same time the snake kills the baron
then take the letter, then clear the safe, then leave.

How about we send in the snake
Have him bote the baron
When don reacts to this rush in and knock him out
Grab letter and bolt
For bonus points maybe find a knife or letter opener to stab the baron and make it look like they fought and took eachother out

You send your snake friend through the door, his body contracting to slip through the keyhole and you sit back to listen to the music. You hear them talk about unimportant shit until suddenly there is an ugly groan and the collapse of a body. Don is freaking out and quickly throws open the door, running away screaming. You don’t even need the snake at this point, you just walk in, pick up your companion and the letter and walk out of the room. Guards start swarming in, but you sidestep them easily, picking up your bag on the way out and once it becomes invisible as well, you practically dance out the front door.

Gained
>Magical Dagger
>300 Gold Pieces, 500 silver
>Baron’s Personal Notes

You return to the Duke’s home and waiting until you are safely inside to remove your invisibility. You stand outside the door to his study and you hear him pacing inside. You know you will give him the letter, but you are wondering whether or not to hand him some of the money and papers as a show of good faith and cement your future partnership.

Do you
>Hand him just the letter
>Hand him the letter and the personal papers
>Hand him the Letter, personal paper, and some of the money

>>35415579
we don't need to frame anyone, nobody saw us coming in here. its not like we are an employee doing an inside job. we are an invisible assasin

>>35415594
>Hand him just the letter

>>35415594
oh damn, we probably could have blackmailed the baron with the papers we stole from him!

hand him the letter + all the documents.
ask him how bad is his economic situation. we are willing to invest in him if needed to prop him up for now (we expect to be paid back if we do, but no rush and no interest).

explain you are creating a network whose goal is political power and wealth. a secret society of sorts... we are in the top. He would do well to join us.

>>35415700
>We illuminati now
hehe.
oh, and we rule from the shadows.

You knock on the door and it flies open, with the Duke grabbing you and pulling you inside.

“Did you do it? Did you get the letter.” You give him the letter and the personal papers from the Baron, telling the story and how the Baron is dead. The Duke looks over the papers and starts laughing. “Well, it looks like our friend the Baron was involved with some rather dirty adventures. But I supposed he won’t have to worry about those anymore.” He turns back to you, grabbing yoru hand and shaking it vigorously. “Oh, thank you! You’ve made a stupid man very happy. I promise to not make those mistakes ever again. Please, if there is anything I can do for you, just ask!”

Do you
>Ask for money
>Ask for future favors
>Ask for life-long fealty to the God Varsa

>>35415872
>Ask for life-long fealty to the God Varsa

>>35415872
>Ask for life-long fealty to the God Varsa
>Ask for future favors

>>35415872
wrtein:

we are going to go far and we need partners for this. we want him on our court so to speak for both of us to earn both wealth and power.

basically, recruit him

>>35415974
>Make him swear to obey a god
>We are the golden child of said god
>Owes us his livelihood
>Got a little Duke in our back pocket

>>35416006
he just had us murder someone who was blackmailing him

I don't want to COERCE him and make demands...
we SEDUCE him (not with sex, with power and wealth).

>>35415872
Ask for life-long fealty to God Varsa
"Varsa has set his gaze upon the capitol, times and power is changing and soon those in his favor will stand above
Tell me Duke where you will stand? At the bottom or woth us?"

>>35416031
>This was just a taste of what i can do for you.
>Join me and we go far.

So for now our inner cirlce is
Charles- court wizard
High Priest- advisor
Duke - Noble patrion
Street musicain- he's gonna be somebody important I just know it

You simply smile and say that he should be thanking Varsa for giving you the strength and to guide your hand. You say that you are a powerful agent, and that thanks to your prowess and his power you plan on becoming a powerful force in the Capital and in the whole of the Empire.

He swears on his life to obey Varsa’s words, and that should you need any assistance, he will be your servant and partner in reaching for the top.

Gained: Ally, Duke Insmon

You leave the man to sort out affairs, saying something about contacting some men mentioned on the former-Baron’s papers and regaining his wealth. The shadowed snake is curled up on your wrist, resting gently against it as you return to the Temple. You feel a bit tired, and contemplate resting now. But you are also curious about the Magic Dagger and think to talk to someone about it

Do you
>Retire for the day
>Go Speak to Charles
>Go Speak to the High Priest

>>35416220
Charles and hand him the dagger with our snake hand and make the snake go up his arm

>>35416280
Sure sounds fun

>>35416220
>Go Speak to Charles

>>35416280
What? Why?

>>35416220
handle the dagger. if we don't get anything from it then get charles to look at dagger.
also, he told us about singing birds at another temple, we should check it out.. but before we do we should ask the high priest if it is safe for us to enter the churches of other gods.

>>35416220
>Charles
>High Priest
>Retire for the night
In that order

>>35416389
I'm genuinely curious what you mean by this.

>>35416280
>and make the snake go up his arm
no.

>>35416280
Not this

>>35416389
Kinda curious if he'll react plus he's fun to mess with

>>35416220
>>Go Speak to the High Priest

You decide to go speak with Charles about the Dagger. He flips it over in his hand, nearly dropping it once but he catches it and puts it down gently on the table of the library.

“Well, I have no idea what it could be. But if feels kind of funky to me… I guess I could do some research and see what it is if it’s ‘magical’ like you say it is. But Magic hasn’t existed for hundreds of years, if it ever did. Like the kind of stuff you tell your kid that Faries and Dragons once existed.” He turns away and rushes off to begin eagerly researching. For someone who calls it the stuff for children, he’s throwing himself into it whole-heartedly.

You decide to retire for the evening. A quick but excellent meal from the Priesthood and you return to your bed.

(I can end it here or keep going if people want, but several days are going to pass between this and the start of the next quest/section anyway)

Several days pass and you pick up a few things from the Priests and their studious ways.

>Gain Local Knowledge (Faran-Ra)
>Gain Legend/Religious Knowledge
>Gain Political/Aristocratic Knowledge

>>35416591
>Gain Legend/Religious Knowledge
Artifacts ahoy

>>35416648
Second
With our current allies local and political knowledge can be obtained easier

>>35416591
>Gain Legend/Religious Knowledge
As a side question am I the only one who wants to form a theif/assassian guild kinda of thing with this character?

>>35416893
Could be done

You study many different texts and learn about the Legends and Religion of the Four Gods.

In the beginning, there was a single God who grew bored of the world. So he lowered himself to the status of a mortal man and wanderer and created the Four Gods to rule while he explored his creation.

Varas, God of Dark Ambition and Vengeance. Protector of those wronged and upholder of oaths to the death. Whose symbol is a ring.

Morra, God of Light and Compassion. Protector of the weak and destroyer of all selfishness and corruption. Whose symbol is a staff.

Hema, God of Knowledge and Insight. Protector of ancient wisdom and the former protector of wizards and Fey. Whose symbol is a book.

Rosk, God of Steel and Sword. Protector of warriors and the patron of all soldiers and men of the battlefields. Whose symbol is a weapon.

(Are people interested in continuing or calling it a night?)

>>35417028
I can go

>>35417028
I'm fine with continuing

>>35417028
We totally need to hook up with Hema, surely the knowledge god would see the benefits of working with Varsa
or Morra, after seeing the attitude of her followers here I'd love to get hrr champion on our side

>>35417215
Of course we can't make it obvious that we are the champion of varas.

You are sitting in the front room of the temple, looking at the great golden statue of Varas and simply thinking about the world, when a fine dressed young man approaches you.

“Pardon me, ma’am. I have a letter for you. A message from Duke Insmon.” He hands you the note, red envelope with a fine seal on the front. He bows and walks away briskly, leaving you sitting in the temple nearly alone save for one or two worshippers. You open the letter and read it quickly.

It seems like the Duke wishes to make a proposition for you, and needs your assistance on a rather personal matter that he wants to discuss in person. But you recall that Charles also wanted to speak to you about the dagger and some other odd stuff that had been happening lately.

Do you
>Go visit the Duke
>Go see Charles

>>35417300
>Go see Charles after sending a messanger to the duke saying we will be by this evening.

>>35417300
>Go see Charles
>Visit the Duke afterwards

>>35417335
Second

You choose to go see Charles, sending a young acolyte to give a message to the Duke on your behalf, informing him of your arrival this evening.

As you go into the Library, you see Charles surrounded by stacks of books and flipping frantically through the pages. You sneak up behind him and purposefully knock a book down to snap him out of it. He jumps, clutching his chest a bit and sighing when he sees you.
“Don’t do that! You can’t just sneak around like that. You’ll scare people!” You apologize half heartedly and ask about the dagger.

“Well, I think I figured it out. And I might have figured out what you did to the fang! Aldan, brace yourself, this might sound weird…but I think you might have some magic powers.” You feign surprised, trying not to laugh as he described how old wizards and those gifted by the gods used to wield unnatural spells.

“Well, one of the powers some mages could have, especially those touched by the gods, is to absorb the Magic inside them. So, if it’s true and your magic, you might be able to use the magic. Wow, this is so cool! I’m actually talking to someone who might be a wizard! They were supposed to be able to commune with spirits and be in touch with it and all that stuff!”

cont.

>>35417215
>>35417272
we aren't going to deceive them and it would be stupid to try
our goal is to kill them OR to get them to admit defeat and thus become subjaugted to us

if you want their help, then make them bend to us. but we cannot ally with them

“Anyway. You could probably do that, but you may not want to.” He pulls out a very thick book and flips it open. It seems to just fall to the exact page he needed. “This, I think, might be the Dagger of Arnma. It was supposed to be, if put in the hands of a warrior, able to slice through any magical thing. The Monk Arnma was said to use it to kill the King of the Fey when he possessed the body of a child without spilling the child’s blood. It won’t cut mortal flesh, but it tears at the soul of magic. It seems pretty neat, but it’s yours so I guess you could do whatever you want with it…”

Do you
>Keep the Dagger as it is
>Absorb the Magic in the Dagger

>>35417589
Absorb and then ask if wants to see something cool if yes then show him us sommoning our snake if no then don't.

>>35417589
>>Keep the Dagger as it is

>>35417589
>Absorb the Magic in the Dagger
Tell him to keep quiet about the magic stuff.
>>35417641
Don't do this.

>>35417589
On the one hand, I am thinking
>We can absorb it later and might need the power to kill some fae
but on the other hand
>we need power NOW
>The power might let us mimic its power
>We can stack a lot of powers inside ourselves, but we can only wield one weapon
>We can lose a weapon

so... absorb

>>35417589
tell him that it is true, you can use magic...
but he appears to be able to detect it. maybe he could become a wizard too, he should start studying and see if there is a type of wizards who have the power to detect magics mentioned in his books, and what practice they can perform to develop their powers.

we can also tell the head priest that we confirmed he has the ability to detect magic so not to discount it when he sees something nobody else can.

also, remember he told us about hearing birds nobody else can in a temple of another god.

You give him a wink and tell him to keep your magical proclivities a secret and you feel a rush as you absorb the power inside the dagger consciously.

---
You are once again inside Varsa’s throne room, but it looks a bit different. The shadows are still prevalent, but the contrast between a few lights and the stark darkness is much more pronounced. The room feels a bit warmer and it looks a little cleaner. Varsa leans forward in his throne, still holding onto the crown.

“We’re getting closer. I feel myself getting stronger with every one of your successes…I’m going to prove that I am the true heir.” He shakes his head and smiles at you. “Sorry dear, I get lost in the past. Anyway, you’ve earned another little power. You should know the drill.”

Do you
>Expand Invisibility uses
>Increase summons/power of your snakes
>Get a new power

>>35417784
>>Get a new power
>Get a new power

>>35417784
new power

in the past new power was related to the item we consumed. knife that kills magic sounds like a power i want to have. it goes great with our existing reportuire.

>>35417784
>Get a new power
>>35417838
The knife is probably an artifact of a different god, so we may not get that power.

You accept a new power, and Varsa waves his hand as you feel something materialize in your hand. It’s a small dagger, made of the same inky blackness as your snake summon. “Not quite the same as Morra getting kill all of Hema’s favorite little magical creatures, but I’d say that is pretty good.”

Gained
>Power: Shaded Blade. Once a day, you may summon a blade of shadows. Unless the person is blessed directly from an opposing god, the blade will cut through any armor and stop the heart of it’s victim without spilling a drop of blood.
>Knowledge: Basic Knife Proficiency.

You awaken as though only a moment had passed. The blade is now a dull piece of gold, nothing more to it than that as the magic is infused with your soul. Charles looks at the blade and frowns a bit.

“I’m a bit disappointed that it’s gone. Maybe I finally could have proven I’m not a weirdo when I show that magic stuff to Brother Victor and the others. They all still think I’m crazy.” Charles doesn’t seem to be aware of his own magical disposition yet.

Do you
>Tell him you think he’s magical
>Tell him to start researching wizards for you
>Just comfort him without revealing your thoughts

>>35418067
>Tell him he is magical and tell him to look up magical people like him

>>35418067
>Tell him you think he’s magical
>Tell him to start researching wizards for you
for himself too, he said SOME wizards have the power to absorb. he has the power to SEE. obviously he is a different kind of wizard.

also, talk to the head priest and inform him of this development. at the very least i want him to have permission to sharpen his talents instead of being denied access to what he needs to develop

You sit down next to Charles and tell him that you think that he might have a bit of magic inside him as well. With the strange noises and glows he sees around the magical items. You say it might behoove him to study up on wizards and magic users from the distant past and see if he can find some common ground with them.

He almost doesn’t believe you, but you convince him to go and he once more throws himself into the work he does. You can’t help but smile a bit at his earnest and enthusiastic nature. You leave a note with an acolyte to deliver to the High Priest, asking the Charles be allowed to work on his own projects without worry for his other duties.

The sudden flow of power leaves you feeling a bit drained, but you have the Duke still to meet.

Do you
>Go rest for a few hours
>Go to the Duke’s home

>>35418417
>To the Duke

>>35418417
what is the time? we said we will see him this evening. is it still morning?

that being said, we might as well go see him. I doubt we will have to fight anything immediately. so its best to get the info now and deal with it with rested.
or if it is an emergency deal with it right away.

so, go see duke

>>35418417
>>Go to the Duke’s home

You decide to go see the Duke. It is only around mid day now, but you figure that he won’t be too displeased with you arriving earlier than expected.

You find the Duke Insmon’s house to be in much better shape. In just a few short days, it seems as though his fortunes have turned around radically. You inform the guard standing at the front gate of your appointment, and the guard allows you entrance, knowing you were expected. You are greeted by a servant who shows you to the sitting room of the Duke, pouring you a glass of water and leaving quickly. The Duke finishes signing a few papers before moving to sit close to you.

“Hello, my dear friend. I hope that Varsa finds you well. His protection of the ambitious has certainly extended to me. Now, the reason I called you here was urgent, though to a brave warrior like yourself, you may find it a bit underwhelming. Since my sudden turn around, I have been given the chance to be accepted back into the good grace of the Emperor and his family. But of course, I can’t go alone. I need someone charismatic, beautiful, and brave on my arm. Of course, you know that I have no interest in you of…that sort. But I do need someone of the fairer sex to keep the gentry from whispering about me behind my back.”

You have been invited to a dinner hosted by the Emperor and his family as the guest of Duke Insmon.

Do you
>Accept
>Decline

>>35418670
>Accept

>>35418670
>>Accept

(Stop me if you’ve heard this one, an assassin and her gay business partner go to a party.)

You accept the Duke’s offer to attend the ball. He smiles and stands. “Wonderful! We don’t have much time, but I have already purchased several dresses of roughly your size and I have a seamstress at the read to make the necessary preparations!” you are rushed out of the room and lead into a lavish bedroom. A woman sits in the corner, threading several needles and preparing some pins. Three dresses are lain out on the bed waiting for you.

“Just pick one and tell the seamstress to prepare it. She’ll know what to do!” Insmon closes the door behind himself. You look down at the options you have for dress. You know that in this situation, lavishness is a necessity.

Do you choose
>The plain dress, dark red with very little flair. Underwhelming, and not likely to draw attention
>A sleek violet dress, it is smart and with black fringed it is a bit intimidating and shows a powerful disposition
>A fancy red and gold dress. If being the life of the party and having all eyes on you, this would be your choice.

>>35418964
fancy dress. we are just a minor noble who is to be under estimated.

>>35418964
>>A sleek violet dress, it is smart and with black fringed it is a bit intimidating and shows a powerful disposition

>>35418964
Fancy dress. Dress to impress.

>>35418964
>Violet dress

You choose the red and gold dress, knowing that if the nobles here are anything like the ones you’ve met in your life, impressions mean everything as very little talking will be done face to face. The seamstress quickly works and by the time the evening has come, you have the dress completely ready to go.

>Gained: Capital Noble’s Dress

You show off the new look to Insmon and he applauds. “Ah, you look like royalty itself! But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Baby steps if your goal is power with the court. The balance is fragile and it’d be a shame to throw it off and tip you over with it. But come, let us head out!” He grabs your arm again and escorts you to the front. A fine horse and carriage are waiting for you, but before you step in, you notice a familiar face running down the street heading East. It’s Ed, looking worried and still clutching his intrument’s case.

Do you
>Ignore him and get in the cart
>Wave to him
>Stop him and ask what’s wrong

>>35419255
>Stop him and ask what’s wrong

You step away from the Duke, much to his confusion, and go onto the road in front of Ed. He stops, looking at you surprised, but when he notices your company he keeps his head down.

“Aldan! Look, it’s really nice to meet you, but I have to go. I’m really in a hurry.” You ask him what’s wrong, feeling concerned with how out of breath and distraught he looks. For a moment, he looks genuinely relieved that you are asking.

“Thank you friend. It’s nothing serious, I’m just late for something very important.” He sidesteps you and pushes on. “I’ll see you later, little Alder tree!” He now has a bit of a smile as he waves goodbye.

“Who on earth was that?” The Duke asks, and you respond that is was just a friend as you return and enter the cart with him.

You are now on your way to the Emperor’s Gala.

(I’m calling it. I might do another thread tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my schedule. Stay frosty)

>>35419540
Cheers OP for the fun