The heady scent of the Grand Blossom is ordinarily intoxicating, but now it seems a welcome relief from the bile-and-rot stench that clings to you from the Wyrm's lair. The soft petal carpet beneath your feet seems to buoy you forward into the throne room proper.

The Mother awaits you within. For once she has seen fit to descend from her throne on high, pushing fist-sized larvae and grubs into the suspended pillars of water around the room. The fish within swarm the offerings, tearing off pieces to sate their ravenous hunger.

"You return, hale and whole," the Mother says without looking at you. "I presume this to mean your hunt was a success, Totemist. You've done yourself and my kingdom a great favor."

She turns to glance at you, dew-drop eyes alight with curiosity.

"You -did- slay the beast, did you not?"

> Tell her everything. The hunt was a success, and the Basilisk's Brood is reduced.
> Tell her what she needs to know. The avatar is gone.
> Tell her nothing. Your success should be plain from the state of your injuries.
> Other
---
You are Osyki, journeyman Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. In a period of relative peace, you have elected to train yourself and your apprentices for the winter to come. You have just successfully hunted an Avatar residing in an abandoned Behemoth's lair, ridding your village of a potentially potent threat.

[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem

Plot Summary (Current up to thread 50): http://pastebin.com/dqBSNUTM

The Cast Thus Far / Binder's Log (Current up to thread 50): http://pastebin.com/VsJpEUx3

Ask: ask.fm/DiarcaEXE

Wiki in progess: http://totemistquest.pbworks.com

Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest]]

>>35876538
>> Tell her everything. The hunt was a success, and the Basilisk's Brood is reduced.

>>35876538
>> Tell her everything. The hunt was a success, and the Basilisk's Brood is reduced.
Why would we not?

>>35876538
> Tell her everything. The hunt was a success, and the Basilisk's Brood is reduced.

>>35876538
>> Tell her what she needs to know. The avatar is gone.

>>35876538
> Tell her everything. The hunt was a success, and the Basilisk's Brood is reduced.
Obligatory TOTEEEMIST! in caps.

>>35876538
>Tell her everything. The hunt was a success, and the Basilisk's Brood is reduced.

>>35876412
I thought we voted to harvest wyrm parts last thread.

>>35876538
> Other
"I'm sorry, which one are you talking about? I killed both, but it sounds like you only knew about one. Well, fortunate for you, then."

>>35876764
We did. And if you'll read Diarca's post again, you'll see that our bag is full of Basilisk scales and claws. He just skipped the description of the harvesting so as to save time.

>>35876798
Oh, thanks for pointing that out mate.

>>35876412
For a minute I thought the dryad was the one we made friends with last time we were at the Grand Blossom. But upon reading the archives it turns out Orchid was purple, not green. Oh well. At least Osyki doesn't have to feel embarrassed for not remembering her name.

You nod, leaning on your spear. "The Avatar is slain," you tell her, "And another fell beast besides. A burgeoning broodling of the Wyrm. I thought it might be best to nip it in the bud before it had a chance to grow into a monstrosity like its predecessor."

"Wise judgment, Totemist," the Mother says. Though she's trying to appear as airy and flighty as ever, you think you see a look of surprise and concern flit across her face. "I take it my boon was ever-helpful to you in your twin battles." Did she not know about the Wyrmling? A startling oversight, for a land guardian.

You think back to the poison fumes, the clouds of acid smoke you hid yourself in. Yes, it would be fair to say that her boon was essential. Still...

Still, you can't help but think that the minor boon she granted you should have been free of charge, in exchange for ridding her realm of a potent threat. Renegotiation of your terms might be in order. But do you want to risk angering the Mother? You're in no shape to travel home on your own. Cirr chirps on your shoulder, reminding you that Quinn is only a call away.

> Renegotiate. You want a better deal.
> Let it lie. The Mother can get her way this time.
> Offer an exchange for renegotiation. A Wyrm piece for her trophy room, perhaps.
> Other

>>35877056
> Offer an exchange for renegotiation. A Wyrm piece for her trophy room, perhaps.

>>35877056
>Offer an exchange for renegotiation. A Wyrm piece for her trophy room, perhaps.
We surly have a bunch.

>>35877056
> Other
Use the vagueness of the agreement as an angle to start the negotiations. Point out that she left ambiguity to how we were to go about the task she set for us. If we were of a more exploitative nature we could have taken advantage of that to cheat her. Now, we're not going to do that, but we do need to know what she wants of us in more concrete terms, or else we risk offending her. Perhaps it would be best to start the negotiations again, so as to settle the issue and make sure we both come away from this satisfied?

>>35877056
> Offer an exchange for renegotiation. A Wyrm piece for her trophy room, perhaps.

Middle ground seems like the smart play

>>35877243
She wants us to put a piece of her swamp somewhere that isn't her swamp along the way to the moonbros place so the swamp spreads faster. Its pretty clear dude.

>>35877056
Negotiating better terms should be done before the dead is done. This is mostly something to vow to do better next time.

That said, if she is open to negotiations without being offended, then we can try it now. But let her have it her way if she insists.

And only give her the Wyrm piece if she actually does give us better terms. There is no way we should just give her yet another thing for the vague chance of negotiating again.

>>35877337
The idea was to give her the bit of wyrm instead of doing the other thing.

>>35877301
No, she said "bring a piece of the swamp to whatever lands you next visit". She said nothing about which land that should be. Furthermore, she said nothing about where in the new lands we should plant the swamp. Are all terrains equally good places to put a bog? And what about caring for the swamp, do we have an obligation to ensure that it isn't destroyed prematurely by some beast or spirit? There's a lot of ways for Osyki to wiggle out of giving the Mother of the Swamp what she wants. Even if we're not going to do that, we need to know the particulars so we don't do it by accident.

>>35877337
The problem is that the negotiations took place at five in the morning when most of the player base was either asleep or too tired to realize the implications. So we wound up with a vote for something stupid.

>>35877056
> Offer an exchange for renegotiation. A Wyrm piece for her trophy room, perhaps.

>>35877379
If she didn't say where to put it or that we have to look after it then we don't have to worry about it. As long as it goes somewhere outside her swamp then she benefits.

>>35877056
We don't need to renegotiate, but rather now can bring up another deal, with the knowledge that the deal we agreed to before favored her and so we have a bit more currency (as it were) to bargain with. That is, we could ask for permission to build the road and some more (like certainty the the road will be guarded and kept whole and safe by the swamp and it's creatures).

For some added incentive, we could also being up that the people who we are building the road to connect to live in lands that would probably be the first "new lands" we would encounter, and if the swamp proves hostile, then those people would have no incentive to not just destroy the swamp fragment in their lands. They might also place wards and barriers to check the swamps growth near their section of the road (since they would likely have to build the road close to the swamp before swerving off and take the long way around). If, perhaps, Eluneia has some assurance the road and its travelers would be untouched by the swamp, then they would be disinclined to destroy it, and may also help the swamp spread (if only to an area they will never care for. This assistance would only come if Osyki has some ability to make some concrete promises (hint, hint?).

>>35877450
I figured the renegotiation option would be kind of like that. Sans the whole threat part of course.

>>35877450
This would also be a good thing to bring up.

Daily reminder to put everything in the mask and also possibly the harp.

>>35877599
I don't know, we'd have to find some pretty awesome binds to make us want to swap out Noxious Roar. This thing is awesome. There is no longer any difference between normal sight and spirit sight anymore, as long as we wear it. We're always on, with just as good detail vision as using our eyes would grant. Plus we get acid spit, that's not a big thing but is still pretty cool.

>>35877644
As much as I love being reptile now you cant know how awesome the other things are if we don't try them out. Plus we still have to try out the hunger mask.

>>35877644
We haven't tried the basilisk on anything else yet though, I'm sure it's going to have much better offensive binds.

>>35877644
>>35877681
Also, I'm pretty sure hunger avatar+mask is going to be really good.

[[ Seems renegotiation is the consensus. Go ahead and roll me 1d100, folks. ]]

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>35877947

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>35877947

>>35877947

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>35877947
roll

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>35877947

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>35877947
I thought you started writing already ;_;

>>35877983
sweet probably suceeded unless we needed a 90

Did Diarca died again?

Totally have been busy and haven't been keeping up to date with good ol' Totemist quest.

Catching up then updating the Chart.

>>35878704
I'm actually working on a wiki for the quest to catalog all the stuff we've bound and made. I didn't get a chance to work on it as much this week as I wanted to due to a linear controls project, but I've got all of Osyki's spirits up and a few of the bindings. I'm planning on doing characters and locations, too. Want to join forces?

>>35878689
Give him 10-15 min

>>35878768
dropping the name
Sure, I'd be more than happy to just enter stuff into a wiki. I can easily send you the XML file I used to keep track of the foci and binds so you can parse them and enter them into the wiki.

File: the seal.png (437 KB, 800x800)

437 KB PNG

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>35878771
You must be new. We don't "give the QM more time". This is Totemist Quest. We invoke Diarca with magic and supplications to the dice gods.

Diarca, I roll to summon you!

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>35878845
What a shitty roll.

>>35878869
I know. I'm sorry, everyone. I guess I've displeased the dice gods.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>35878869
diarca please

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>35878893
Now he'll never come back.

>>35878841
Cool. Here, let me post a link: http://totemistquest.pbworks.com/w/page/88018309/FrontPage

>>35878930
That wiki is pretty great anon.

>>35879005
Well, it's mostly empty at the moment. But I'm going to fill it as I can.

>>35879030
https://github.com/Zamubafoo/BindingGuide/blob/master/tq.xml

I can't believe in the 3-5 threads I missed you guys got more foci!

WaitingforQMtopost.jpeg

I was ready to trust him again...

Dudes chill.

>>35879169
This, it's only an hour since he last posted. It's also halloween. He might be stuck giving candies to little kids.

[[ Sorry for the slow replies, guys. Brain is chugging along incredibly slowly today. I am caffeinated now.]]

You lean against one of the standing pillars of water, thankful that its inconceivable physics allow you a solid post to rest against. The Mother steps forward, hand outstretched expectantly, but you shy away. One vine and petal eyebrow arches.

"On my journey back to your abode, I was considering our deal. Far be it from me to renege on a already sealed compact, My Lady of the Swamp," you say. Your hand extends toward hers without touching it just yet. "Your power is yours, as promised, and I thank you for your generous use. I simply have a secondary prospect for your consideration. If you're interested."

The Mother stares at your extended palm for a moment, her lips parting to reveal the edges of needle-thin teeth. There's a moment's hesitation, then--

"Very well, Totemist. Speak."

You nod. In brief, you relay the details of your plans to the Mother. The Road, Eluneia. A possible alliance with spirits from another realm.

> 81

Her eyes narrow ever so slightly. She's interested, clearly.

"And in exchange?"

"Permission and safe haven for the road builders, and travelers upon it. Keep your guards, your fauna and flora from the road."

"Is that all?"

> Is that all?

>>35879651
Ask permission for installing totems in the road as well. We might not do it now but we might need it later on.

>>35879651
Yes

>>35879742
this

>>35879651
Hmmm, maybe we could have some infos about the most dangerous species found in the swamp for our library?
And maybe have one of her flowers acts as an embassador in our village? Orchid?

>>35879651
Provisos for what we do if human settlement expands into the swamp, perhaps? It's not likely that anyone will want to live here, but if we build a safe road that may lead to little pockets of civilization along it to cater to travelers. Having safe zones other than the road itself warded against the spirits and beasts of the swamp would be convenient.

>>35879651
Well, we'll also need to place our own wards and totems along the path. Stamina totems, boosted durability to the road surface, possibly some safe regions where people can rest without cluttering up the path. Nothing too disruptive, though.

>>35879651
> Is that all?
Yes

"Permission to modify the road as I see fit. Totems installed, guards patrolling. Extend the same protection to them."

"And in exchange?"

You shake your head. "I think the service I've done you by ridding the swamp of both the Avatar and the Brood of the Wyrm should suffice as payment. Along with the delivery I'll be making for you, this should all square up nicely. Think of it..."

You gesture gently with your non-spear wielding hand. "Think of it as the start of a mutually beneficial future partnership."

The Mother makes a show of considering this, but you know that she's won over. She nods, making an airy gesture with one hand.

"Very well, Totemist. You have my agreement for this project, with the proviso that you keep me apprised of its developments. I'll need to meet the men and women I'll be keeping safe, to guarantee their safekeeping."

You nod. "That's reasonable."

"You look exhausted, Totemist. Would you care to stay the night here? You can make your journey home in the morning."

There's a strange curve to the Mother's smile. Perhaps she's miffed at being outdealed?

> Stay the night.
> Call a ride.
> Other

>>35880393
>> Stay the night
eeh can't hurt, we might as well.

>>35880393
> Stay the night.

>>35880393
>Call a ride
I suspect bad things.

>>35880393

Changing >>35880452
To > Call a ride.
I want to test our new bindings already.

>>35880393
> Stay the night.

We're not in the best of shape, we could use some sleep before travelling home.

Call Boa next chance we get, let her know the expedition was successful and that our Cotemist and Apprentice can stop worrying about us.

>>35880393
>Stay the night.

It'd be rude not to.

>>35880393
> Stay the night.

>>35880393
> Stay the night.
> Other
Send a message back with Cirr, though. We don't want Quinn thinking we're dying in the muck. Tell him we're bringing back some nice potential components for the poison weapon totem he's been tinkering with, too.

>>35880580
Sure, yeah, this.

>>35880580
I support this.

A little off topic, but when we get back home what say you guys to some meditation to increase our elemental resestence (or something else) after we do some bindings?

Also should we attempt to make more elemental flesh? The earth element we got ages ago is amazing and I'd love to make Thane stronger by giving his shadow essence. Or honestly just experimentation to see if we can recreate it.

>>35880645
him*

>>35880645
If we're going to do upgrading spirits, I suggest Amal. He's deserves at least that much.
Also, before we do anything of the kind we should read some of Ayrens books on upgrading spirits.

>>35880393
I'm inclined to get a ride because it seems being here CAN hurt.

I hope you've started writing Diarca.

>>35880645
I don't know, the last time we fooled around with elemental essence we wound up giving ourselves magic cancer. And we just blew ourselves up making a simple icebox totem. I think we need to get some better safety gear before we start experimenting with elemental essence. We should try it some day, but for now let's just keep working on mastering the texts Ayren left for us in the drawers. We've got two new drawers unlocked, plenty of stuff to play around with.

>>35880645
I'm pretty sure that only worked due to the Bone Warden's status as a 'hollow' being meant that its void could be filled with elemental power. I really doubt it works on other kinds of spirits.

>>35880645
I don't know man, last time we did that we nearly fucked ourselves.

>>35880785
We should really bind another bone warden.

>>35880813
I don't really want to bind two of the same spirit. The original bone warden bindings weren't even that good.
Also, we don't really have a way to find one, I'm pretty sure Cordia doesn't count as one anymore.

>>35880716
>>35880755
>>35880785
>>35880793
Good points, we should definitly study more on upgrading spirits and focus on upgrading our workshop before we mess with this again. But I really do recommend meditating, if only to check on our "cancer?"/ keep is in check/ increase our resistence/ learn how to harness is safely.

I also imagine the Lord Restrained mind want to talk to us again.

>>35880860
I thought the original bone warden fell under the category of weird but effective. Besides if they are all people it would be bad form not to bind them and help them out.

Can we make sure that the Gem we found is properly secured before turning in for the night?

For it to have survived in the Lair for who knows how long it should be fairly spiritually powerful.

You can feel the weary ache settling into your bones. Your back is more bruise than flesh, and the wound in your shoulder still will not staunch. You nod, giving the Mother as low a bow as you can muster without toppling over.

"I appreciate your hospitality, My Lady. Truly. A bed to rest for the evening would be lovely."

She nods, clicking her nails together. A dryad-- Orchid, you recognize, from the namesake blooms growing twined throughout her hair-- appears at the Mother's side, smiling shyly at you.

"I believe you're acquainted with my handmaiden, Totemist. She will see you to your room for the evening, and attend to you as you require."

You cough. "Th-that... just the room will be more than sufficient."

The Mother bats her eyelashes at you, and Orchid steps forward to take your arm. "This way, Totemist," she says with a smile. "Let's get some salve on that shoulder."

You allow the Dryad to lead you through the hallways of the Grand Blossom. You're settled into a different room than the last time; The decor is decidedly darker, orange blooms and gourds on tapestries of dark leaves.

"Would you prefer me to stay, Osyki?" she asks gently. "I can help you to sleep, if that's what you'd like. We can see that wound sewn up, too."

> No, thank you. I can manage.
> The shoulder, certainly. I can manage sleep.
> That would be lovely, Orchid.
> Let me ask you about... (?)
> Other

>>35880866
I'm not sure we can meditate whenever we want to.
Diarca said something about him wanting to keep it sparse.
>>35880925
Sure, we'll try to bind them if we come across them, but I'd rather not go look for them.

>>35880954
> The shoulder, certainly. I can manage sleep.

>>35880925
They're not all people. Some of them are the result of hunger spirits like our new Avatar imbuing their power into skeletons. I'm not sure what we'd get if we bound one of that kind of Bone Warden.

>>35880954
>The shoulder, certainly. I can manage sleep.
>>35880969
Far as I know they just sort of wander about so chances are we will run into one eventually. I also wonder what a regular rock turtle would have given us.

>>35880954
> The shoulder, certainly. I can manage sleep.
We already have two lovely ladies with less obvious agendas than Orchid.

>>35880954
> The shoulder, certainly. I can manage sleep.
> Let me ask you about... (?)
How's she been since last we saw her? Did she get a chance to visit the flower spirits of the forest yet?

>>35881009
Better to do it anyway on the chance it is a person. Not like we are required to talk to it anyway.

>>35881028
Seconding this

>>35880393
> Stay the night.

She's either going to have us killed, or try to sleep with us.

Neither one is good. She's your basic unseelie fae type, and I get the feeling that having respect for Osyki means that she wants to keep him.

>>35880954
>The shoulder, certainly. I can manage sleep.

You nod. "Help with my shoulder would be very much appreciated, Orchid," you tell her. "I haven't been able to get it to cease bleeding with any of the poultices I carry."

The Dryad nods. "Of course! I'll fetch... give me a moment."

She stands from your bedside, scampering across the room to one of the vines hanging from (part of?) the walls. A thick, gray-green sap oozes into her cupped palms. She returns to your side, applying it in thick streaks to the wounds in your shoulder. The sap seems to numb the pain, and while the color of the stuff quickly fills in deep, deep red, the bleeding seems to stop.

You let out an extended sigh. "Thank you, Orchid," you say quietly. "I really appreciate it."

She shakes her head. "Not at all, Totemist. Please, is there anything else I can do for you?"

You shake your head. "No, thank you. A good night's sleep should avail me."

She nods, turning to glance at you over her shoulder as she shuts the door.

Once she's gone, you tie a message to Cirr's leg and send him off. No need for Quinn to worry. Now, just one thing to take care of.

> Experiment with your Foci.
> Get some sleep.
> Explore the Blossom
> Other

>>35881397
> Get some sleep.

>>35881397
>Get some sleep
I don't see the poin of exploring right now, even though it sounds interesting

>>35881397
>> Get some sleep.

>>35881397
>Experiment with your Foci.
Everyone knows that the human body reaches peak efficiency between midnight and four A.M.
We should stick shit in the mask in order of when we got it. I would say hunger guy now but I get the feeling we might want to be at full strength for that.

>>35881397
Safely store the gem. Get some sleep.

>>35881397
> Get some sleep.
I'd rather not destroy anything by accident.

>>35881397
> Get some sleep.
Oh, I wanted to hear how she'd been. I will choose to imagine that while applying the salve we had a delightful conversation. Let's just secure our foci and the weird stone and get some sleep.

Can we meditate and speak with the avatar?

So I've been thinking of our equipment/ what we should be wearing while travelling as follow

Undergarments: T-shirt, Gloves* Underwear*, Socks*

Armor: Helm/mask, Pauldrons, Chainmail shirt, Gauntlets, Leather pants, Boots

Outer: Cloak, Robes, Belt

accessories: Rings (2-10?), Ear rings, Armbands, Bracelets, Amulets

* <- not sure if usable/ stacks with other spirits.

What do you guys think of the list and how should we go about picking up new gear from our blacksmith/ tanner when we decide to do so?

The Blossom is an enticing mystery, and the Foci in your bag call to you with siren songs, but the acher in your bones is the most overwhelming voice in your mind, and you cannot help but succumb.

You strip off your boots, lean your spear against your bedpost, and double--then triple check the bindings on your bag. You stow that under your pillow. You trust the Mother, of course. About as far as you can throw her.

The second your head hits the perfumed pillow, you're out like a light.

Something swirls in your subconscious as you drift from the light. Something...

Something that hides from the light.

[[ Continued shortly, popping out to get some dinner. ]]

A lot of people made mention that the Totemist setting and Monster Hunter are realy close in some points, what would happen if you murdered a pack of raptors for example and took a different part of each monster in the pack(crest of the alpha, leg of another, fang of a 3rd and so forth) and bound the pack at the same time to our gears?

Would it unlock special abilities like some of the set in the MH games? Like Tigrex's armor giving Hi-grade earplug so you don't get stun by a roar or some other skill?

>>35881856
Maybe we should get one of those scissor swords from the iron generals place. Also a whip. Also maybe a small shield. Maybe a boomerang. Also puppets. Blowgun. I also wonder what would happen if we just got a totem like a stereotypical Indian and but stuff in it.

>>35882028
Oh shit. Maybe the lesser raptor spirits would react to the alpha and we might get some sort of pack binding.

>>35882075
Or, we could try to use the parts to make a totem that enhance teamwork. Not very useful for Osyki, but the guard would certainly get a huge bonus off that shit. Though it might turn sour on them if the 'leader' gets killed if the Tau behave when an ethereal dies...

>>35882201
Seeing as they aren't being mind controlled they will probably be fine. But they wouldn't use the totem anyway would they? Head man hates that shit.

>>35882266
That would make for some good char developement if he's not hating just for the sake of hating, discover why he's so bracked against our trade and either make him come slowly to term that it can be a good thing, or the other side of the coin have him hate our guts even more because we're musclin' on his turf or something.

Though the multi spirit thing could be researched in character by having Quinn and Terra help Osyki in making a entry into a species' behavior and the like

>>35882390
You could do it in character of Osyki wondering what happens if you mix a bunch of the same spirits together. He is basically a magic fighting scientist so its not that odd that he would think of it.

>>35882390
Diarca's commented on why Walther hates us. It's because Ayren, while overall a good man, was a serous dick to other people. Ayren's "mysterious and secretive mystic" act led to him making Walther's job both more difficult and more dangerous. We don't know the specifics, but clearly something Ayren did was enough to make Walther not even want to give the new kid a chance.

>>35882487
Yep, though having the guys spending days scribbling notes about where a monster shit in the woods and the like would be hilarious and a clear message that we're doing a different job as our master with all the secrets and the keeping away from people. Hell we might even run around the village asking people if they know stuff about this or that monster before marching off to spy on them.

>>35882621
Eh, people probably already know a whole lot about things like raptors. Couldn't hurt though I suppose.

>>35882659
Yeah the raptor might be easy to understand but if the method works on them, we could jump to the next pack of monster in the area (Stalkers maybe? Wyrms? Rock Turltes?)

The stars are gone here, and the moon never was.

You glance down with a start. Your eyes wince, pupils tighten as they take in something but deep, utter darkness. Back in the Basilisk Wyrm's domain, it would seem, from the monochrome landscape all around. Or... are you?

It's different. The domain was never a loud place, but there is an oppressive quiet here. Your hands are pale, thin representations of what they once were. Your pulse is weak.

"Totemist," says a familiar voice. "What an unexpected surprise."

You turn to find a startling figure. Thane sits in the crook of one of the deadened trees, shadows cast over his face. His eyes glow a startling orange in contrast to the gray hues all around, and a gleaming black claw twirls in complex arcs around his fingers.

"I have to say, I didn't think you'd stumble here on your lonesome. What a fascinating turn of events. Still, considering the season?" He shrugs, sending the metal plates sewn into his tunic shimmering in the gloom. "Not impossible."

> ...Where am I?
> Thane?
> What does it mean, that I'm here?
> Other

File: Telll me about.....jpg (106 KB, 569x802)

106 KB JPG

>>35882721
> Thane?

>>35882721
>> ...Where am I?
the fuck is this shit?

>>35882721
Have we fed him recently?

Also,
>Other
"Sup."

>>35882721
> What does it mean, that I'm here?
It was a Halloween episode all along!

>>35882776
I think we're two weeks, at most three into the lunar cycle

File: Nope, not on my aircraft..gif (2.53 MB, 280x358)

2.53 MB GIF

>>35882721
>If I pull off that shadow will you die?

>>35882721
>> ...Where am I?
>> Thane?
>> What does it mean, that I'm here?
>> Other
"Seeing as how your here I can assume this is somewhere in the Shadow, as for why I can guess."

>>35882721
> What does it mean, that I'm here?

>>35882721
>> What does it mean, that I'm here?

Heh, did Than take the time to grab one of our spoils from the bassilisk? Maybe the one we were going to offer to the Mother but right in the middle didn't end up even bringing it up?

>>35883053
I thought it had to do with hunger guy.

>>35883053
Nah, he's always had that claw. He's had it with him in every scenes where the narration has noted details about his appearance beyond just "shadowy". I think it's the claw of the Fanged Stalker he...whatever he did to make it so that our focus contains him and not a beast. Either possessed it before we bound it or took over the focus between binding and summoning the spirit inside.

>>35883072
Maybe, though the claw is what I was going off of.

Do you think Hunger may have actually ate the basilisks identity or some secret that left a little loopwhole for Thane to slip in?

>>35883164
I just guessed it was down to hunger guy because that was his lair. For some reason I thought that claw was thanes foci. Thane how are you stealing shit! We are wearing you!

>>35883164
>Turns out that, as a totemist become more and more powerful, many aspect of his psych can take form in the real world.
>Said totemist must look for them, find them, and bind them to himself or a weapon/armor.
>The more powerful a totemist is the more powerful the spirit become with time.
>Our first spirits where goddamn avatars.

>>35883255
I repeat, he's always had the claw. Here, let me get his very first appearance:
>Before you, shimmering into view slowly, appears to be a gentleman in a dark robe. As he appears further, sitting in one of the chairs of the workshop, it becomes apparent that the robe is actually a tailored garment, a strange tunic and slacks combination with metal designs seemingly sown into its surface. The figure's face is obscured by shadow, though the light should throw his face into sharp detail, and he spins a severed, polished claw between his fingers.

>>35883362
What links it to the wyrm then?

You blink, shaking your head. "Thane?" you ask, and you take the growing, fanged smile as an affirmative. "What am I-- where am I? What's going on?" You can feel the energy rising in your belly as you grow confused, and from confusion, angry.

"You don't remember? You've been here before, after all. The last time, it was garbed in robes of your own blood."

You narrow your eyes. That means...

"The -Shade-?" you hiss. "How in the hells did--"

"Is that the important thing right now?"

You start. Suddenly, he's standing beside you. You didn't even see him move, how did he...?

"Appearances, appearances. Less important than you might think, Totemist. Feelings are just as important, here. Your eyes tell falsehoods."

You scrub a hand over your face. When it comes away, Thane is gone.

Fantastic.

"So what am I supposed to do?" you ask empty air. The chill down your spine provides you with an answer, and the howling that picks up behind you confirms it.

Run.

> Head into the swamp. Lose it among the trees.
> It? You're a Totemist. Stand and fight.
> Try to wake up. This is ridiculous.
> Other

>>35883395
Nothing at all. That's my point. He's just twirling the claw because he's always twirling the claw.

>>35883395

Nothing. It isn't the Wyrm's claw. It's the fanged stalker's. The Shade has always been described as similar to the Wyrm's Domain. Maybe because the veil between worlds is thinner there?

>>35883420
> Other
Check for our foci and equipment. If we have our weapons, fight. If we don't, run.

>>35883420
>> It? You're a Totemist. Stand and fight.

>>35883420
>It? You're a Totemist. Stand and fight.
We are the connection between this world and the next.
We will not run. Without more reason.
But neither will we fight any intelligent creatures except if forced to.

>>35883420
if we have our bindings
>> It? You're a Totemist. Stand and fight.
if not
> Head into the swamp. Lose it among the trees.

>>35883436
>>35883439
I am confused. Why bring up the claw then?

>>35883420
>It? You're a Totemist. Stand and fight.
Step up and get beat down motherfucker.

>>35883520

He's literally always twirling a claw around his fingers. It's part of his thing. He's shadowy and mysterious and he spins the claw to taunt us.

>>35883520
For the same reason his clothes or shadowy face were brought up: to provide details and help establish the scene in the reader's imagination.

>>35883562
>>35883564
No I mean what is
>Maybe, though the claw is what I was going off of.
about?

>>35883476
This. It's stupid and almost suicidal to fight without any thing.
We still should be able to second sight fairly well so I say tap into our reserves and get a fix on whatever it is.

>>35883592
Someone else misinterpreting the claw as having significance. Neither of us are that poster.

>>35883420
>Other
Go find the spirit you spoke to before, who was reflecting you.

>>35883596
I was figuring we would beat it through spiritual power seeing as we are both dreaming and in the spirit place.

You pat yourself down as the strange, moaning howl begins to approach you. No weapons, no Foci. Barely the clothes on your back-- your shirt is torn at the shoulder, your pants ragged around the edges. The brackish water seeps through holes in your boots, soaking your feet.

Unarmed and alone. Not much of a choice, then. You stick around just long enough to see, to catch a glimpse of what's coming.

Long, white fangs. Slavering jaws. Multiple, insectoid limbs.

Burning red eyes.

You run.

Your escape is clumsy, at best. Without your usual bindings to grant you graceful, skimming travel you're reduced to stumbling through the underbrush, tripping on submerged roots, scrambling through the thicket. The sounds of pursuit grow ever louder behind you. Eventually, you realize the you're not going to escape this foe.

Only one thing to do, then.

You turn on your heel. The black sky above you seems to shine darkness down in a perverse inversion of the sun, radiating gloom. You squint through the dark fog as your pursuer gains. You have naught but your fists, and an indomitable will.

A small, mirrored ball floats along the surface of the water.

> Fight.
> Thane!
> Ball?

>>35883844
>> Ball?

>>35883844
> Ball?
Caethos, is that you? Or is "weird reflective ball" a common form for spirits living in the Shade?

>>35883844
> Fight.

>>35883844
>Ball?
oh? I wonder if it's related to Caethos?

>>35883844
>Ball?
Also I sort of hoped we would still have earth powers. I cant remember if our magic cancer treatment got rid of those.

>>35883925
>>35883906
Caethos?

>>35883844
Ball?

>>35883959
remember the first time we came here, we met a big shadow spirit with a mirror head named Caethos.

>>35883937
It didn't, but our own personal powers are just to enhance the strength of Earth-based bindings. On our own we're just as helpless as any other totemist without their foci.

>>35883959
Caethos was the name of the spirit we spoke to last time we were in the Shade. He seemed...relatively friendly. Fairly ominous, though. Depends on if you interpret his using our reflection to speak to us as just his means of communicating or an omen of our future.

>>35884008
I don't remember, hence why I asked! Thanks though.

>>35884011
What about that time we bodied that worm?

>>35884036
We were using Obsidian Touch at that time. Everything we did was an extension of its "shape the earth with your hands" power.

>>35884069
Well shit.

You nearly miss it. Your mind is awhirl, seemingly clouded by the oppressive gloom that beats down on you. Your fists clenched, adrenaline pumping, heart pounding, your mind takes note of but does not process the small silvered orb bobbing lazily down the unseen currents of the swamp.

It's only when your mind briefly flashes back to your last visit that the sight of the orb arrests you. Sparing a glance to the impending, earth-shaking howling, you crouch down to fish the sphere from the water.

"...Caethos?" you wonder aloud.

"A fragment thereof," Thane says casually. He pushes you back, and you fall onto a comfortable chair. The room around you is dimly lit by candle-light, and the ball nearly fumbles its way out of your grasp. "Keep looking."

It's incredible how comfortable the chair is, for a row of spiked hedges.

Wait, what?

You spring forward, cursing, as the barbs tear at your person. What's going on here? It's impossible to keep track of where you are. Every time you close your eyes, things change here.

At least the howling seems to have stopped.

You glance at the orb in your hand. A fragment? Is Caethos broken?

> Look into the orb.
> Look around. Keep looking.
> Enough is enough. Try to wake up.
> Other

>>35884176
> Look around. Keep looking.

>>35884176
> Look around. Keep looking.
Never gonna stop!

>>35884176
> Look around. Keep looking.
Maybe our advice for him didn't end well. Uh, sorry, Caethos.

File: 2413543.png (83 KB, 428x428)

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>>35884176
>> Look around. Keep looking.
Slightly spooky.

>>35884176
>Look around. Keep looking.
> Other
We shall find the shards. We will Reforge the Mirror. The reflected shadow will rise again, for we are Totemist, the link between worlds.

>>35884176
diarca im spooked

You begin to turn, eyes taking in the thick row of hedges you've somehow stumbled into. Paths run to the left and right of you, myriad twists and turns visible as possible paths to take. A maze?

You shake your head, glancing down at the sphere for a moment. A fragment, Thane said. You fervently hope your advice wasn't responsible for shattering the mirror-headed titan.

You pick a direction at random and wander, your eyes peeled, your senses acute. An unfelt breeze rustles the hedges around you in rippling waves as you walk, and every so often when you glance behind you, it seems as though the maze has rearranged itself.

You're getting nowhere fast.

You close your eyes, probing outward with spiritual sight. It didn't work the last time you were here, but Thane -did- say that your eyes would lie to you. Perhaps it's time to try a different tactic.

The gloom is everpresent, even through your spiritual sight. Only the orb in your hand shines through, a beacon through the mist.

Maybe if you focus on it?

> Focus on the orb with second sight. (1d100)
> Explore the maze. (2d100)
> Call for Thane.
> Other

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>35884761
>orb

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>35884761
> Focus on the orb with second sight. (1d100)
Might as well.

>>35884761
> Focus on the orb with second sight. (1d100)

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>35884761

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>35884761
>> Focus on the orb with second sight. (1d100)

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>35884761

File: 1408999342705.gif (4 KB, 256x272)

4 KB GIF

>>35884820

>>35884176
> Look around. Keep looking.

>>35884820
abandon ship

File: ...........!FUCK!.gif (1.97 MB, 375x246)

1.97 MB GIF

Rolled 34, 72 = 106 (2d100)

>>35884761
>> Explore the maze. (2d100)
>>35884820
fuck, its best of three right? or is this happening

Rolled 75, 10 = 85 (2d100)

>>35884761
> Explore the maze. (2d100)

>>35884881
5 for crits 3 for normal rolls

>>35884881
Best of three, unless a critical shows up in the first five. So yeah, we got a critical failure.

Rolled 85, 30 = 115 (2d100)

>>35884761
>> Explore the maze. (2d100)
i don't even know why I'm bothering anymore

Rolled 79, 82 = 161 (2d100)

>>35884761
> Explore the maze. (2d100)
I don't trust the idea of gazing into the spirit of this thing. Seems like a trap.

Rolled 46, 40 = 86 (2d100)

>>35884761
> Explore the maze. (2d100)

File: these skeletons aren't ju(...).gif (2.95 MB, 300x168)

2.95 MB GIF

Looks like we lost that Halloween magic

Rolled 28, 19 = 47 (2d100)

>>35884761
>> Explore the maze. (2d100)

>>35884820
Shits about to get spooky

[[ Lost this post twice trying to get it out. Shit 2spoop]]

You stare into the soft luminescence of the sphere as it guides you, its quicksilver caress pulling you, tugging you through the aggressive darkness that lashes at your senses. The guiding beacon is a soothing balm on your paranoia, your fear, and you find yourself drifting down.

Down.

Ever down.

When you finally manage to wrench your eyes open, you wince. A rush of color fills the air, assaults your eyes. You stand at the gates to your village, the sun rising behind you.

Home? But how?

Something is subtly off here. A sense of some unknown wrong, obvious, plain as the nose on your face and yet utterly undecipherable.

A giggle flits at the edge of your perception. A flash of blue cloth disappears behind the bowyer's hut. A dainty ankle slips out of sight.

Something is wrong. But what?

A familiar scent wafts past you. The scent of fallen leaves and damp earth.

> Elana? Follow her.
> Elana. End this.
> Thane!
> Look for the maze. (1d100)

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>35885645
> Look for the maze. (1d100)
Nuh uh.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>35885645
>> Look for the maze. (1d100)

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>35885645
> Look for the maze. (1d100)

This is all going to end in tears.

>>35883155
Actually, he was born of all the kills that day, is what I think we found out. There was a great assault of beasts when we bound him, and that plus the ritual combined to make Thane.

>>35885769
Nope. Thane never conclusively said anything about what he is. And him being borne of bloodshed doesn't really fit what we know about him. He's fond of blood, but only as a way of linking a veil to a specific person. It's a means, not an end.

>>35885840
No, not what I meant. I mean he's the Stalker's spirit, but the actions of that day sorta fueled him into something bigger than he would be. The blood of dozens of predators mingling together, the day the totems that protect secrets (the wards to protect Elana) gained the blood they needed to fulfill their task. That means secrets and shadows, as Thane is more about the shadowy nature of the world, hiding the truth in darkness, as was what he once was. I could swear I saw this in a thread somewhere...

>>35886038
That very well could be, but Thane hasn't confirmed or denied anything about his origins. He's said he will acknowledge it when we guess it right, but so far Osyki hasn't made any guesses. He's keeping his conjecture to himself until he learns more. Personally, I'm in favor of the theory that he was one of the darkness spirits we invoked for the ritual, who decided to stick around with us because we looked interesting. The Fanged Stalker was just his means of getting close.

You shake your head, attempting to still your churning thoughts. Home? No, you can't be home. You were a day's trek from there when you went to sleep. You're... almost certain.

Assuming you haven't lost some time, between now and then.

You turn to look for the maze when a sharp whistle arrests your thoughts. You glance at the sound, startled out of your musings, and see that again, the village has changed.

Gourds and strings of corn decorate the outsides of buildings, and paper lanterns burn with eerie designs painted on them. The sky overhead seems to dance with orange, indistinct serpentine shapes roving on a sea of black and stars.

The harvest festival? Is it that time already?

Villagers, familiar and yet indistinct, wander the streets in hooded robes, chattering amiably, soundlessly. The scene is surreal, to say the least, and yet--

You can't miss the harvest festival.

You see a shift of blue again, a beckoning finger at the healer's hut door.

> Wander the streets.
> Head for home. You need to dress appropriately.
> Head to the Healer's Hut. Elana needs you.

>>35886591
>Wander the streets.
Plot hook? What plot hook?

>>35886591
> Head for home. You need to dress appropriately.
By which I mean "in our most powerful totems". Pretty sure Osyki's too disoriented to do that right now, even assuming the dream logic will let him, but I can hope.

>>35886591
> Head to the Healer's Hut. Elana needs you.

>>35886591
Oh shit we're in deep now.

>>35886591
> Head to the Healer's Hut. Elana needs you.
Wouldn't be a party if no one hit hurt.

>>35886591
>> Head for home. You need to dress appropriately.

File: Come Along.jpg (816 KB, 800x1000)

816 KB JPG

You wander down the avenue, flashing smiles at familiar, blank faces-- laughing noiselessly, the breath absent from your lungs. You head for home, but the tide of strangers is tight packed before you, streaming for the village gates. Without your robes, you cannot proceed further into town. How did you get this far without them? Some folly must have led you astray. Perhaps--

Perhaps Elana can help you?

You fight sideways against the ceaseless, punishing current of robed figures, managing to squeeze your way onto the doorstep of the healer's hut. Paper lanterns display shadowy scenes of terror on the wall, and the high-pitched whining in the back of your head grows louder, and louder still. Dizzied, breathless, you slip inside.

The inside of the hut is cold. You can see your breath on the air. The sick beds have been cleverly disguised as mausoleums, fresh graves, coffins. Their inhabitants wear unconvincing disguises, wrapped in mummy cloth, false bones adorning their flesh in skeletal patterns. The Healer sits silent in the corner, her back turned to you.

None of that is important.

That beckoning finger draws your attention again. Elana leans against the doorframe leading to her sleeping chambers. Her cheeks are flushed with a brilliant red glow that seems to creep into her eyes as well. Has she already gotten into the Harvest Ale? It's so early in the day, yet.

She crooks a finger again, beckoning you into the room.

> 1d100-5

Rolled 24 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>35887128
Bloody Halloween episodes...

Rolled 90 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>35887128

Rolled 59 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>35887128

Rolled 64 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>35887128

>>35887137
I told you guys not to go to sleep here but noooooooo.

>>35887177
I'm pretty sure it would have just delayed it until we got back to the village. And then we'd be very tired and do even worse in this nightmare world.

>>35887215
Just get to tired to have nightmares. I'm doing it right now.

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Even as you stumble toward the door, something screams in the back of your mind. What about the Shade?

You smile at Elana.

Where did Thane go?

She winks brazenly at you, disappearing inside the door.

Didn't you...

Didn't you need to do something?

You slide past the doorframe, casting your eyes around the room for her. She's arranged herself invitingly on the bed before you, her dress clinging to her in a way so close to being indecent you find yourself forcing your jaw shut. The door swings behind you, not quite closed, catching on something on the ground. A crystalline -ting-.

The room wavers.

Despite this oddity, the girl before you beckons you closer again. You kneel on the bed, crawling toward her. A plume of dust rises from your motions, shrouding the air around you in hazy half-light. Elana smiles wide, so wide.

So very wide.

And again, that crystalline ringing. You shake your head. What -is- that?

The room shifts around you, dream-like. You're in the bed, but Elana is absent. The gray-orange tint of the room has made itself scarce, replaced by a decidedly crimson hue. A figure hovers at your side, a hand on the bedpost.

All at once, and quite without warning, you realize what is wrong.

The strange bedchamber looms around you as the crystal orb rolls across the floor, stopping against the foot of the figure next to you.

Everything is, for a moment, deathly still.

> Wait.
> Run.
> Fight.

>>35887417
>Run
NOPENOPENOPENOPE

>>35887417
>Fight.

>>35887417
>Run.
Tuck and roll and pick up that fucken orb.

>>35887417
> Fight.

Find an improvised weapon, like a chair, and beat them with it.

>>35887417
> Run.
Damn it, Thane, you told us that night was when this place was safe, because all the monsters were out haunting the physical world.

>>35887476
Reverse Halloween? Spirits leave the physical world to haunt the spirit place?

File: sample-512bcc4852ede66a8b(...).jpg (136 KB, 850x1194)

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You can feel the scream climbing up your throat, pushed out by the thundering of your heart. You're sure she can hear it now, the only sound in the room, filling your ears like the ring of hammer on anvil, the shriek of steel against steel. You suck in a shaky breath, quiet as a mouse, as she -moves-.

Twitches.

A sound like snapping wood echoes out as that terrible maw of a face turns to regard you, yawning wide, an infinite abyss from which no light could possibly escape. That sounds rings out like a shot and you -dive, surging past her with all of your strength to wrap your fingers around the cold, clear surface of that crystalline orb.

You're out the door, no time to look behind you, have to move quickly. You dive into the crowd of--

You stand in a long corridor. Faceless robes hang empty, nailed to the walls, rustling in some unfelt breeze. That snapping sound echoes again behind you and you begin to move.

No time to think.

Run.

You sprint with a fire in your core and your fingers wrapped tight around the orb, glancing down to ensure that it's still within your grasp every so often. The snapping, ringing sounds grow quieter as you pound your feet against the icy stone floor.

You round a corner and--

Stop.

From a shadowed archway, a figure beckons. Its gleaming skull promises many things. Cold metal fingers far out of place gesture urgently toward the doorway it occupies.

It does not move.

> Go to the hooded figure.
> Keep running, for gods' sakes, keep running.
> Turn and walk the way you came.
> Other

>>35887417
fight

>>35887582
> Go to the hooded figure.

>>35887582
> Go to the hooded figure.
Metal skeleton monster? Oh, we're friends with one of those. Well, okay, we're not enemies with one. Point is, it's better than any of our current options.

>>35887582
>metal skeleton monster leans out of an alley
>hey kid wanna buy some totems

File: Come back.jpg (239 KB, 850x1202)

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You stare at the metallic monstrosity for a full ten seconds, counted in heartbeats and breaths and the slow, methodical creaking of its beckoning metal finger. Ten second while you turn over your options in your head, while you stare at that grinning death's head, listening to the resounding -crack- echo repeatedly down the hallway.

Ten seconds is enough time to come to the decision that this thing is, somehow, the least threatening thing you've yet accomplished.

Ten seconds is enough time to glance behind you and catch a trace of that terrible circular maw, yawning wide now, teeth flexing on bulbs of corded muscle.

You step toward the hooded figure, and it envelops you in soft darkness. You feel yourself quickly spirited away, flying over indeterminable distances.

In your hand, the fragment of Caethos shines gently.

"Well done, Osyki, well done," Thane says, patting you on the shoulder. His thick, rich voice sounds a little strained as he pulls the death's-head cloak off of his form, discarding it in the waters of the swamp.

You open your mouth to-- reprimand? Give gratitude? You're a little conflicted. Your indecision is answered by the twin fragments (one in either hand) pulsing, fusing together. A massive orb of silver rises over you, suddenly entrenched on the shoulders of a familiar titan.

(cont.)

>>35887962
Dude that fucking skeleton is going to give me nightmares.

>>35887962
This fucking shadow world, man.

File: Caethos.jpg (102 KB, 538x800)

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Caethos rises high over you, and for a moment you catch a glimpse of your reflection in his head, streaked with blood, blackened eyes weeping distinct trails of crimson before he rises to his full height. His head reflects the landscape around you on a broad scale, and behind you--

You catch a brief glimpse of a strange figure standing in Thane's place in the mirror. Nebulous shadows disperse as orange-black lights play out of a grinning gourd-head, and a paper lantern bobs ever so slightly in the wind.

The vision is cut short as Caethos rises higher still, impossibly tall. You feel an unexpected -pulse- from the Titan, a deep sense of gratitude. The area around you seems, all at once, much less threatening.

You turn to question Thane, only to find a pair of small boxes sitting in his place. One final choice, it would seem. The elevated pedestals teeter dangerously above the black waters of the swamp-- only time to grab one.

On your left, a perfectly polished mirror orb.

On your right, a grinning death's-head mask.

Decisions, decisions.

[[ Readership seems to have dropped off since it's fairly late at night, so I think I'll leave the choice for the beginning of next thread. While it was a slow quest overall today, I'm pleased with the results. Happy Halloween, /tg/! I'll see you next week.

I'll stick around for a little while to answer questions and see if we get a surge of people unexpectedly.]]

>>35888028
Dat fucking skeleton man. leaning around the corner is what made it bad.

>>35888028
So was Thane ever actually here? I'm starting to doubt if it was really him or just the psychomorphic nature of this place shaping a guide to look like him. Like how we thought the creepy face monster was Elana to begin with.

>>35888056
I think its the spirit of halloween being a dick.

>>35888056
>>35888069

[[ Close, anons. Very close on both counts. ]]

>>35887962
The fuck has happened? Someone needs to summarize this shit for me at this hour of the night.

>>35888028
So Diarca, it's been hinted that there are other people besides Totemists who deal with Spirits and such too... are there other types of magic in the world, like curses,or Wizardry or such?

>>35888185
Mindfuckery on Halloween night my friend.

>>35887128

GAT DAMN. I always pictured Elana as girl next door, but maybe she's got some tigress. That or Osyki's mind exaggerates....

>>35888185
I don't think we're supposed to understand. Not yet, anyway.

>>35888206

[[ There are indeed, anon. Saeri is one such magician type person. The magic she wields is not Totemistry, though it shares a common root.

True Magic, the ability to warp the world to your will without sacrifice or tool, is the stuff of legend.]]

>>35888238
>That or Osyki's mind exaggerates
The battlefield of teenaged hormones and young love is something that no man can ever truly be prepared for.

Also: I'm voting Orb.

File: Osyki.jpg (119 KB, 731x1000)

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[[ Alright. Looks like I'm drawing things to a close for the night. I'll see you all next week. Thanks for hanging out and playing! ]]

>>35888384
See you next time. Thanks for running, Diarca.

>>35888384
Have a nice night, mang.

>>35888394
Shit, accidentally left my trip on.

>>35888394

[[ You too, mang. ]]