>>38380735


You use Monster’s eyes to survey Baymoore. You spot a few beetlemen, but they aren’t paying as much attention to terrorizing the town as they are attempting to regroup on the south side of town. You and Orias are on the eastern edge. It could be that the beetlemen are mounting to mount more resistance, or maybe they’re just going to retreat back into the wilderness. Maybe they realized half their guys are dead.

You snap back to your current position and fetch your radio from your hip. “How far away are you guys?” you ask.

A moment passes. “Zote and Ranthix should be coming up on you right about now,” says Frederick. He sounds out of breath.

You put the radio away and think. You should be able to get between the beetlemen and the town itself, maybe to wedge them away from the people. Or you could try to hit their center and break them up while they’re all in one place. But if they’re retreating, you could leave them to their own devices and they’ll be out of your hair soon enough.

Orias perceives your indeterminate mood. “What are you thinking?”

>I’m pretty sure we already won. Let’s sit tight till the others get here.
>The beetlemen are grouping up. We can hit them in the center and break their whole shindig.
>They might be mounting for another attack. We need to get between them and the village.
>Forget the beetles, the city’s on fire. I’m going to go see if anybody needs help.
>Other (?)

>>38380750
FUCK YEAH! BIG BAD BEETLE BORG QUEST!
>The beetlemen are grouping up. We can hit them in the center and break their whole shindig.

>>38380750
>The beetlemen are grouping up. We can hit them in the center and break their whole shindig.

>>38380750
>The beetlemen are grouping up. We can hit them in the center and break their whole shindig.

>>38380750
>They might be mounting for another attack. We need to get between them and the village.

>>38380750
>I’m pretty sure we already won, but let's encourage their retreat a bit more. I'm going to sneak around and shell their group with fireballs.

>>38380750
>The beetlemen are grouping up. We can hit them in the center and break their whole shindig.

Point for Orias - only person so far who hasn't been weird about the blood thing.

>>38381261
Isaac and Cass were pretty understanding about it.

>>38381261
Orias isn't weird about the blood thing because he deals with the same blood thing we do.

Because, you know. HE'S PART DEMON.

>>38381416
He's full demon.

>>38380750
>The beetlemen are grouping up. We can hit them in the center and break their whole shindig.
yay! birthday thread

>>38381416
It's because he's Belph, even Wolfgang (hot though he may be) was grossed out when me mentioned how tasty blood is.

>>38381416
He's full demon, part Infernus and part Belphegoran.

>>38381457
Blood stuff is Infernus. Belph may be described as "vampire-like", but that's only in relation to their emotion powers

“Well, it looks like they’re all grouping up on the south of town,” you say, trying to squint at the burning village. “If we hit ‘em hard enough, they’d break.”

“You want to attack the beetlemen... at their strongest point?” he asks, dubious.

“Yeah, pretty much,” you say. “I mean. They’re not really that much of a problem when you’ve got superpowers.”

“I see,” says Orias. “You haven’t dealt with beetlemen in the past, so I feel to warn you that I haven’t yet seen a shaman. They don’t go on raids of this size without one.”

“Shaman?”

“A spirit caller,” he replies. “Theirs should be with them if they’re together. I’ll watch for the shaman while you keep the others disoriented.”

“All right, I can do that,” you say. You roll your shoulders, conscious of the unpleasant pain in your lung. Maybe that beetle body slam cracked a couple of your ribs. It’s mostly better now, though. “Let’s move.”

Orias nods and shoots off.

As you follow, you watch the group again from Monster’s point of view. You spot about eight beetlemen hanging around in the shadow of a burning smithy, clicking and clattering to one another as they loot tools and pieces of metal from the workshop. You guess they know they’re being hunted.

There’s only a few buildings separating them from the plains, while most of the city lies behind them. There’s a few large trees to give cover, as well as a low stone wall running along the road that leads from the center of town to their gathering point.

Monster dives, and affords you a new view of the smithy itself. Though the thatched roof is definitely on fire, you see a pair of beetlmen avidly watching the sides of the building. The windows of the living-quarters section are blocked off with something from the inside, and though several deep gouges mar the heavy oak front door, it looks to be fastened shut.

>Sneak up along the wall and put pressure on the edge of the group to try to get them to retreat away from town.
>Get atop the roof and sew chaos with terror and lightning and fire and whatnot.
>Charge into the depths of the group and make everybody have a bad day.
>Hold back and try to see if you can discern which beetleman is the spirit caller.
>Get Tiger to come over and help out somehow (?)
>There might be people in the smith’s shop. Tell Orias to hold off, and corner step inside and see if there’s anybody who needs help.
>Other (?)

>>38381955
>Charge into the depths of the group and make everybody have a bad day.

>>Get Tiger to come over and help out somehow (?)
Bring him along - we could use some backup.

>>38381955
>Hold back and try to see if you can discern which beetleman is the spirit caller.
>Get Tiger to come over and help out somehow (?)
Spike volley?

>>38381955
>Charge into the depths of the group and make everybody have a bad day.
If you raid a village with out a shaman you're gonna have a bad time

>>38381955
>>There might be people in the smith’s shop. Tell Orias to hold off, and corner step inside and see if there’s anybody who needs help.

Scout premises and see what's what.

>>38382029
>>38382056
Seriously?

And we don't know whether or not they have a shaman, but they probably do. And it's a group of ~10 of the things. We had a bit of a problem with 1v1in them even with ambush advantage.

>>38381955
>Hold back and try to see if you can discern which beetleman is the spirit caller.
>There might be people in the smith’s shop. Tell Orias to hold off, and corner step inside and see if there’s anybody who needs help.

>>38382114
AOE Bitch!

>>38381955
>Hold back and try to see if you can discern which beetleman is the spirit caller.

>>38381955
>Sneak up along the wall and put pressure on the edge of the group to try to get them to retreat away from town.

>Get Tiger to come over and help out somehow (?)

Have him find buildings to climb nearby and hit them with salvos from above.

>>38382114
So vote against it if you think it's a bad idea.

>>38381955
>Sneak up along the wall and put pressure on the edge of the group to try to get them to retreat away from town.
>Get Tiger to come over and help out somehow (?)

>>38382114
>>38382161
errr not that I think you are a bitch, just using it as an exclamation

>>38382161
None of our AoE attacks deal enough damage to take these guys down.

>>38381955
>>Get atop the roof and sew chaos with terror and lightning and fire and whatnot.
>Get Tiger to come over and help out somehow (?)

Dice for dice reasons.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>38382336

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>38382336

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>38382336

>>38380735
Fuck yeah, two days in a row!

>>38382378
Nice

>>38382422
This is not okay.

>>38382426
I KNOW, RIGHT?!

>>38382426
>>38382452
Such a rare occurance.
I highly appreciate this.

Have we thought of asking ranthix if there are heltic blood delicacies?

>>38382908
In time, my friend, in time

File: dinuguan.jpg (49 KB, 700x355)

49 KB JPG

>>38382908
Maybe something like dinuguan? Or the pork blood cubes people make in the Philippines?

You and Orias stay in the dark and head to the stone wall, eventually finding cover behind it. While he scopes out the situation, you recall Tiger, telling him to quit biting the heels of a wounded beetleman and get his tails to where you are.

You look over the wall as well at the beetlemen, attempting to extend your senses so you can feel which one has the most magical stuff going on with it.

You see three beetlemen in particular that stand out from the crowd, but you can’t be quite sure which is the shaman – each of them seems to have more power than the others, which in your blood-hyped state, is extra-easy to spot.

One rifles through the open workshop of the blacksmith’s, knocking over tables and grabbing interesting trinkets out of the fire. It’s a big one, fat in the shell, with janky sharp fingers and a loose coat of heavy chainmail. (Big Beetle: 39/39 HP; 16/16 PP)

The second is at the back edge of the edge of the group, kneeling over a dead dog with a disturbingly thin knife. It works quickly to separate the animal from its flesh. Fierce black paint crisscrosses it in bizarre patterns, and animal pelts, mostly foxes, hang from its limbs and cover its broad back. (Skinner Beets: 35/35 HP; 13/13 PP)

The last candidate stands beside the smith’s home, leaning casually against the top of the frame and knocking gently on the door. It’s a good deal taller the average beetleman, and its jagged horns are asymmetrical in shape. Fancy leather wraps half-way up its shins, and it has long, torn strips of cloth wrapping up its arms and covering its black carapace. One of its bigger eyes is missing, and it carries a jeweled mace in its off hand. (Daddy Tall Legs: 36/36 HP; 10/10 PP)

“I can’t tell them apart at this range,” says Orias. “None of them are channeling spirits.”

“It’s probably one of those three, they’re the most powerful,” you say, pointing out the ones in question.

“I have one shot. I would save it for the most dangerous among them,” he says.

You feel Tiger nearing your position. He’ll be ready to join you when you move out, if you move out.

>Make up tactics (?)
>Have Orias shoot one of the beetles (?)
>Other (?)

A reminder that inflict terror is a useful tool on large groups of enemies. I’m not suggesting it’s the best way to approach this situation, but it is an option.

>>38383353

>Make up tactics (?)
Let's have tiger go after Daddy Tall Legs, and go for Skinner Beats our self.
>Have Orias shoot one of the beetles (?)
Have him shoot the fat guy.
>Other (?)

>>38383353
But we don't have anything called "Inflict Terror" and terrorizing gaze is single target because it requires eye contact?

>>38383353
>A reminder that inflict terror is a useful tool on large groups of enemies.
Isn't our Terror-attack based on eye contact? Doesn't sound like it'd be effective on groups.
Unless you're thinking of just doing stuff to scare the.

>>38383353
Tall old one is probably the leader. Let's shoot him and go after the skinner while they're disorganized. Tiger can hold off the huge one for a bit.

>>38383353
>>Have Orias shoot one of the beetles (?)
the dandy one

>>38383353
Drag beetles on the outskirts off their group into alleys with our shadows, picking them off one by one.

>>38383353
>Have Orias shoot one of the beetles (?)
"The big one is the most powerful, but that one (point out the skinner beetle) looks shamany. Animal skins and painted patterns and it's carving up an animal."

Let him pick.

Have Tiger hit the other with a salvo.

>>38383353
>Make up tactics (?)

Try to sneak up on Skinner, he seems like a shamany type. Use Stain of Sin on our physical attacks, pounce on him.

Use Terrorizing Glare on Big Beetle, he seems like maybe second in command.

Have Orias blow Daddy Tall Legs' face off. And Tiger launch some salvos at the Big one.

>>38383606

Whoops. I meant terrorizing glare. Still, you could use it to hit multiple targets in rapid succession.

>>38383826
Using Terrorizing Glare on the three important beetles is probably good, they're leadery types and if we can get them to break mopping up the rest won't be as hard. Though there isn't really a need to Glare them if they're the one who Orias is shooting.

And be ready to corrupt that jeweled mace, it seems suspicious, like it's magic and can do some bullshit.

>>38383353
>tactics
Orias shoots the mace beetle in the face then we zelathis: stain of explosions on the skinner. The big one gets hellfired.

Roll some dice. The current course of action seems to be to sneak up on Skinner, have Orias shoot the tall beetle, and have Tiger hold off anything that causes you problems, with improvisation on your side as necessary.

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>38383995

>>38383826
Do they have to actually see us or can we just look at their eyes?

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>38383995

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>38383995

>>38384003

It's just your eyes seeing their eyes.

>>38383353
We need to pace ourselves with our PP use, We've already burned through half our reserves.

Try to sneak up on them, then bite 'em.

>>38384009
Nice!

>>38384022
Ok, you might want to edit the charsheet to say that instead of just "eye contact" since as it is now it implies that they must be aware of our presence.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>38383995

>>38383995
We didn't bring any grenades did we?

>>38385377
Ranthix probably did.

>>38385377
We were supposed to. It was listed as part of the medium weapon package.

>>38385388
But we can't wait for him, we have to beat back the enemies to make him proud.

>>38385431
He's probably waiting for an opening to initiate.

You point Orias toward the tall beetle with the fancy mace. “That one’s probably the leader,” you say. “Take him down when I go in. I think the shaman’s the one skinning that dog – I’ll creep around the side and pounce him.”

Orias considers your plan with a serious expression. “If that is the shaman, you need to kill it quickly,” he says. “Don’t let him call anything.”

“You worry about killing daddy tall legs over there,” you say. “I’ll worry about my guy.” With that, you leap the wall, steal across the road with a surge of shadow, and trudge into the snowy grass. (-2 PP: 15/33) You circle around in a wide arc, coming back at the beetlemen up hill, using your lower position to your advantage as you stalk up toward Mr. Skinner. With the beetle’s many eyes, you have to be extra stealthy and shadowy to avoid giving yourself away. (-2 PP: 13/33)

Once in place, you gather your wits and let out a breath. Focus. You set your claws against the ground, bar your teeth, and launch yourself toward the shaman-suspect. You fly over the ground, but suddenly your speed slows as you get into line of sight of the other beetles.

Two notice you and turn to look. Your prey even jerks upward and starts pulling its knife out from the dog, but you’re on him too fast for him to react. You pounce and infuse your claws with negative energy midair– they darken and shimmer with tingling power, and you collide with your foe. (-2 PP: 11/33)

You dig your toes into the beetle’s shoulder, cutting through the animal skins and piercing its armored flesh with ease. (Skinner -3 HP: 32/35) Your momentum knocks the beetle to its side, and you go flying overhead, raking your claws along its back as you go. (Skinner -5 HP: 24/35) You hit the ground and lash out twice in rapid succession, leaving deep gouges in his arm and face. (Skinner: -5 HP: 20/35) Each strike drains the shaman of power, netting you more magic in return. (+6 PP: 17/33) (Skinner: -6 PP: 7/13)

The other beetles are turning to the flurry of activity, which is about when Orias fires. A thundering crack sounds in the air, and at the same instant, a hole the size of a bowling ball appears in center of daddy tall legs’ chest. The beetle remains standing for a second, then decides to falls to its knees and collapse flat on its face. (Daddy Tall Legs: 0/36 HP)

At the sudden fall of the tall beetle, three of the remaining beetles break and flee, leaving you and the shaman on your own. The other four charge toward you, including the really big beetle. They don’t look happy with your treatment of their shaman.

One of the forerunners approaches at speed. Just as it steps into your danger zone, a flurry of spines shoot over your back and stab the beetle in the face. (Quick beetle: 25/30 HP) Confused, it hesitates in taking its next step, just long enough for Tiger to rocket past you and tackle the beetle’s long spindly legs out from under it. The beetle falls with a crash, and the Shalbaan sets to mauling its quarry. (22/30)

It’s not the only one in danger, though. Tiger has a tough time dodging the beetle’s powerful mandibles and keeping its position as the huge insect fights to get on top. Without any throat or soft tissue available, its biting or clawing strikes don’t make much leeway against the beelte’s chitin carapace.

Meanwhile, the shaman beneath you is battered and bloodied, but definitely not dead. Your claws aren’t long enough to do finish it off in short order. You could be in a lot of trouble in short order if the beetle turns the close range to its advantage.

>This isn’t working, and you can’t fight all the other beetlemen. Beat a retreat.
>Keep up the assault, he won't be able to do anything if you keep up the corrupted claws.
>Be on fire. Fire always helps.
>EXPLODE.
>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.
>Other (?)

>>38385583
>>Keep up the assault, he won't be able to do anything if you keep up the corrupted claws.
>>Be on fire. Fire always helps.

>>38385536
>(Skinner -3 HP: 32/35)
>(Skinner -5 HP: 24/35)
>(Skinner: -5 HP: 20/35)
I think he should be at 19? Oh well. 1 probably won't make a difference.

>>38385583
>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.
>EXPLODE.

>>38385583
>EXPLODE.

>>38385583
>>Be on fire. Fire always helps.
>>EXPLODE.
>>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.

>>38385583
>EXPLODE.

>>38385583
>>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.
>Be on fire. Fire always helps.

>>38385583
>EXPLODE.
i don't remember how big of an Explosion this creates but since we are the the middle of a town we are trying to save it might be a bad idea

>>38385583
>>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.
>Be on fire. Fire always helps.
>EXPLODE.

>>38385662
I have no idea what the damage is doing there.

35-13=22, not 19 or 20.

But at the same time 32-5=/=24 and 24-5=/=20 so whatever.

>>38385583
>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.

Terrorizing Gaze the big guy as well, it might make him screw up.

>EXPLODE.

Wait for the group charging us to get close, then explode them all.

>>38385583
>Be on fire. Fire always helps.
>Drink his soul, keep him from doing magic stuff.
Don't explode the town

>>38385583
>The other beetles are turning to the flurry of activity, which is about when Orias fires. A thundering crack sounds in the air, and at the same instant, a hole the size of a bowling ball appears in center of daddy tall legs’ chest. The beetle remains standing for a second, then decides to falls to its knees and collapse flat on its face. (Daddy Tall Legs: 0/36 HP)
Dats a sweet gun

I admit, my math is wrong. I kept heel-toeing about how much ambush advantage you should have had.

>>38385583
>Explode, then retreat under the confusion, keep hitting and running.

Roll some dice for the exploding (and subsequent stuff).

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>38385917
Rollan

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>38385917

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>38385917
shits going boom

>>38385947
Dude

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>38385917

File: oh-boy!.gif (693 KB, 339x279)

693 KB GIF

>>38385938
>>38385947
>>38385954

I can only hope Mr. Beetle rolled shittier than us.

>>38386125
nat 100

You’re not going to finish him off fast enough. You jab your claws into the beetle’s shoulders to drain him of his magical energies. Those magical energies belong in a museum. You force open your metaphorical heart, allowing the void to latch onto the beetle’s magic and consume it. (-3 PP: 14/33)

Except you only get about to the forcing open the metaphor part. The beetle flips its knife in one hand and cuts you diagonally across the face, snapping your concentration – the shadows keep it from digging too deep, but the firelight impedes their protection. (-1 HP: 25/28) (+3 Stress: 27/100)

Taking advantage of the distraction, the beetle lurches upwards and seizes your wrist in its mandibles, biting down hard on your boney skin. All things considered it could be worse, but it still hurts like a bitch. (-1 HP: 24/28) (+2 Stress: 29/100) With a frenzied shake, the beetle throws you off of itself, landing you between itself and the approaching others.

The beetle fighting Tiger manages to get the upper hand just about then as well, rolling over on top of the Shalbaan and stabbing haphazardly at the creature with a hastily acquired short sword while it wrings his neck with two other hands. (Tiger: 12/20 HP)

You’ve got bigger fish to fry, though. You snap to your feet in a low crouch. You’ve got two beetles, one of them pretty damn big, coming straight for you you, and the shaman has started singing in rhythmic tones and jostling a funky jig.

Three ghostly white entities brighten into being around the shaman. One’s a poorly drawn fox about four feet tall, and the other two are whispery beetlemen whose forms seem to waver in and out of existence. They are not happy to see you. You feel powerful feelings of anger radiating from the spirits, and you feel an impression of some kind of foreign energy you don’t really understand. (Doodle fox: 5 PP(?); Angry Beetle Spirit: 9 PP (?); Angry Beetle Ghost: 10 PP (?))

>>38387058

Your situation does not inspire confidence. (+4 Stress: 33/100) Given how your day’s been going, there’s about one thing left to do. You feel for the fire burning within your chest and feed it all the power you think it’s going to need for this one.

The big beetle strides forward into your discomfort zone, spear aimed at your stomach. You, on the other hand, explode.

Flames of intense, searing heat blow off of you in a fiery corona, blasting everything around you with scorching intensity. (-8 PP: 6/33 PP; +10 Stress: 43/100) Mr. Skinner and Big Beetle are in the killzone, and take a tidal wave of face-melting lava fire straight to the face. The hellish inferno halts Big Beetle in his tracks, his carapace boiling, cracking, and hissing. (Bigs: -15 24/39 HP) The shaman has a similar opinion, and does a passable impression of that guy from Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail. (Skinner: -15 7/35 HP)

Tiger’s playmate is in the secondary heat ring, and gets his back fried, shielding your Shalbaan in the process. (Quick Beets: 15/30 HP)

When the fire subsides, you’re left in the middle of a charred circle, the dirt at your feet blackened and carbonized.

As their master wavers in his coordination, all the shimmering ghosts spirit things seem to fade a couple shades toward transparency, and lose some detail. They don’t even have real legs when they ghost forward toward you. They don’t seem too quick, but there are three of them, and numbers are always a problem. You’re not sure what’ll happen if they actually touch you, but you don’t want to find out.

>Retreat while they’re stunned.
>Go for the shaman, he’s weak.
>More fire!
>Corrupt big beetle’s weapon.
>Try to destroy the ghosts by drinking their souls.
>Give Tiger some backup and get that beetle off of him.
>ZELATHIS
>Time for that slick invulnerability armor.
>Other (?)

Fuuuuuuuucking beetles.

>>38387164
>Go for the shaman, he’s weak.
>Try to destroy the ghosts by drinking their souls.

>>38387164
>Retreat while they’re stunned.
Hurl a firebolt at the shaman, prime a grenade too if we have one, then give through the buildings, see if we can get around the flank to help Tiger while losing the ghosts

>>38387164
>Go for the shaman, he’s weak.
>ZELATHIS

>>38387164
Blast the shaman with Zelathis, the shock would probably get him to drop the ghosts. I think we should stall for time, only a few minutes until cavalry gets here.

>>38387164
>Time for that slick invulnerability armor.
It's night now, it'll recharge in the morning.

Pull out our gun, SoS it, and open fire.

>>38387164
>>Go for the shaman, he’s weak.
>Try to destroy the ghosts by drinking their souls.
>Time for that slick invulnerability armor.
goodnight y'all, don't die

>>38387164
>Bigs
>Skinner
>Quick Beets
Sierra has an amusing naming sense.

Is it really a good idea to try drinking the ghosts?

Orias seemed pretty adamant about the "don't let him summon those things at all" position and he knows we're part [BE], so I don't think drink will work.

>>38387339
I agree, we should avoid the ghosts, try and disrupt the shaman with a ranged attack

>>38387164
Didn't big die already?

Alright, I have to go to the shops, don't fuck up while I'm gone.

>>38387164
>Time for that slick invulnerability armor.
>>Go for the shaman, he’s weak.

All right, roll some dice. Votes are to use the Hallowed Aegis and go in with lightning swords for the kill , while avoiding the ghosts.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>38387548

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>38387548

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>38387548

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>38387548

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>38387548

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>38387548

>>38387601
Hope 33 is enough for us to dodge ghosts.

>>38387601
Here you come to save the day!

>>38387692
Shaman's probably dead but there's no way we're going to be able to kill Big Beets too. Maybe deal a bit of damage, but the dude's still got 25 hp and that's a lot. I don't think we're actually capable of dealing that much damage in one round unless we want to SoS some c4 or something.

“Protega,” you mutter. Suddenly, you chainmail lights up like a new day, shining an infallible platinum gold in the dark. You draw Zelathis again, point the tip towards the shaman, and let loose a bolt of lightning. (Zelathis: 4/10 Charges) The dazzling purple arc connects with the beetleman’s chest, zapping the bug for all its worth and then more.

It ceases its dancing for another kind of dance altogether, and the ghosts coming toward you slow to a crawl before fading back into nothingness. Skinner convulses backwards into a heap on the road before going still, twitching every couple of seconds. It’s a satisfying kill, in a gross kind of way. (Skinner: 0/35 HP) (-5 Stress: 39/100)

Still lit up like the sun, you turn to face the charred face of the big fat beetle. It’s half blind from its burns, and its weapons have been scorched beyond usefulness. Its mail coat is fused and cracked in places, and is most likely worthless. The beetleman takes a step backward from your glorious person, paralyzed with fear.

Without any more delay, the big beetleman backs off and runs, clicking at its comrade. The beetle currently stabbing Tiger takes a look back at you, and decides that its bigger friend has the right idea. It abandons the fight and runs away as well.

Both beetlemen run pretty damn quick, and are out of here like a gunshot.

Tiger forces himself to his claws, and shakes himself evidently pained from his many wounds.

>Let them go.
>They don’t deserve to live.
>Other (?)

>>38387987
>Let them go.

>>38387987
>Let them go.

>>38387987
>Other (?)
If we have our pistol, SoS and try to shoot him in the head as he runs. If not, whatever.

>>38387987
>They don’t deserve to live.

>>38387987
>Let them go
Maybe fire a few shots after them? Might get lucky, or else it's just warning shots.

I wonder if Orias will have an autism conniption about the very-obviously-angelic armor...

>>38387987
>>They don’t deserve to live.

>>38388218
He's probably fine but the Gracie twins are going to freak out if they saw it and the townspeople are probably weirded out by the sight if any of them saw.

>>38387987
>They don’t deserve to live.

>>38387987
>>They don’t deserve to live.

>>38387987
>They don’t deserve to live.

Man. People really hate these guys, huh?

>>38387987
>>They don’t deserve to live.

>>38387987
>>Let them go.

>>38387987
>Let them go.

[I wrote this before all the kill votes came in.]

You don’t really think it’s a good idea to let the beetles escape, but after all that, you’re kind of out of it. You juggle Zelathis to your other hand and draw your Ruger. You fire a few potshots after the fleeing beetles, but you can’t really tell if you got any hits. The beetles continue running away into the night – you don’t think they’ll stop running for some time.

You take a deep breath. “My life’s hard,” you say, feeling tired as you come down off your adrenaline rush. At least you won. (-4 Stress: 35/100)

Orias comes up behind you about when your armor stops being all glowy.

“Are you alright?” he asks, eyes flicking down to your chainmail for a brief moment. If it phases him that you have obviously angel powered armor, he doesn’t show it or let it creep much into his feelings. The fighting’s washed aside any emotion except the satisfaction of victory.

You look to the burning house, which has really lit up in the last couple minutes. Flames lick up the walls and twist into the sky, dull red and warm. Tiger limps over to you, much worse for ware.

>I’m good.
>Fuck beetles.
>We need to get you a gun that fires more than once every ten minutes.
>That’s a pretty badass rifle you’ve got there.
>I’m going to go check out the house. I’ll be back in a sec.
>Let Tiger rest.
>Other (?)

>>38388471
>I’m good.
>We need to get you a gun that fires more than once every ten minutes.
>Let Tiger rest.

>>38388471
>I’m good.
>We need to get you a gun that fires more than once every ten minutes.

>>38388471
>I’m going to go check out the house. I’ll be back in a sec.
Acquire NPC's. Get the skinny.

>>38388471
>Fuck beetles.
>We need to get you a gun that fires more than once every ten minutes.
>Let Tiger rest.
>I’m going to go check out the house. I’ll be back in a sec.
Check for more beetles, ignore everyone else.

>>38388471
>>Fuck beetles.

I hope we don't have to worry about them telling others about us and bringing attention to the operation.

>>38388471
>>Let Tiger rest.

>>38388471
>I'm good
>That’s a pretty badass rifle you’ve got there, though the rate of fire leaves something to be desired.
>Let Tiget rest
>See if you can do something about that fire, or if there's anything inside the house worth saving.

>You are now imagining Orias with a barrett

>>38388565
I have a feeling we're going to cornerstep into the burning house, try to help the people in there, and then realize that they don't understand English somewhere around the time they nail us in the head with a log.

>>38388471
>>I’m going to go check out the house. I’ll be back in a sec.
>>Let Tiger rest.

>>38388471
>>I’m good.
>>Fuck beetles.
>That’s a pretty badass rifle you’ve got there.
>We need to get you a gun that fires more than once every ten minutes.

So, this whole licorice blood thing they've got going on. Do we call it...

..

Beetlejuice?

>>38389118
I shall call you


Mini Me.

>>38389118
I love how Orias commentated that though he hasn't partaken in their blood, he knows it has a particular effect, makes it sound a lot like demon MDMA or something

Languid kill?

Usually much faster than this with the writing.

“Nothing’s broken yet,” you answer. You turn to get another look at his high-caliber rifle. Thing’s impressive. “Pretty badass rifle you’ve got there. Fire rate could be better though.”

“One shot is all I typically need,” he replies.

“Yeah, but sometimes you need two,” you counter.

“In my experience, I only have time for one.”

You snort. “Okay yeah, but you’re not always going to be shooting basilisks. What if you do have time for two?”

He gives a slight smile. “Then I have time to reload.”

Geeze. He’s really not letting this one go.

Orias gives Tiger a curious look, and nods at the animal. “Where did your Shalbaan come from?”

You give Tiger an appreciative pat on the head, and allow him to dissipate so he’s not being all sad. He vanishes in a flurry of shadows. “That’s where,” you say, starting to walk toward the house. “Stay here, I’m going to check something.” You walk forward until the heat is pleasantly hot against your face. You’re not worried about your jacket getting burned thanks to Moriah’s enchanting, but your jeans are a different story. You’ll have to be careful.

>>38389327

You slip through the doorframe, and find yourself in a cozy, beautifully furnished, and mostly on fire room. It’s like a medieval mix of a dining room, family room, sitting room, and whatever other rooms you’d like to have in a house. A pile of bookcases have been shoved up against the front door, and somebody’s taken the time to nail thick boards over the windows. While good for keeping beetlemen out, probably not the best for escaping flaming buildings.

You feel an intense fear coming from the corner of the house. You follow the sweet sensation to its source, though there’s no obvious indication there’s anything to be found. Well. Except the big wardrobe that’s not supposed to be in the kitchen. You grab the piece of furniture and throw it down. It tilts, falls, and smashes on the ground, spilling rough fur coats and other stuff all over the floor.

Behind the wardrobe is a smallish door, which you’re about 100% sure is hiding somebody.

>Do stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>38389366
>Fuck beetles.
>Knock on the door

>>38389366

(PP: 5/33)

>>38389366
Knock

>>38389327
>Knock on door

>>38389366
Knock politely, then open the door standing to the side. Don't want to get rushed by a scared civilian.

>>38389366
Put up glamours then knock and call out

>>38389366
Glamours on, SoS Zelathis to carve open one of the windows. Knock on the door and try to get them to come out. I doubt they'll into English, but maybe hearing that it's a human and not one of the beetlemen will let them know. If they don't open the door, cut the hinges and get out of the way before they take a swing at us.

>>38389366
>Knock on the door.
"Hi, the beetles are all dead, it's safe"
Look around the burning room
"Well kind of safe, I mean your house is still on fire"

>>38389366
Be careful not to burn our clothes off of our lower body, who knows how Orias would take such a display.

In all seriousness though, knock on the door and tell whoever it is they have to leave before fire, and stuff.

>>38389366
Call out to whoever is behind the door. "Hey, time to leave! The house is on fire!"

>>38389366
>Say stuff
"I'm a firefighter. I'm here to rescue you"
>When they don't speak English, just claw the door open and them to safety

>>38389463
We could always steal some of the clothes from this place. It's all about to burn anyway.

Firefighters don't knock politely.

>>38389494
>claw
>in the plane of medieval demon-haters
>when we have Zelathis
anon pls

>>38389521
Firefighters are trained professionals and don't have to deal with scared farmers thinking they're about to be murdered by giant bugs.

>>38389533
>looking a gift hellborn in the mouth
We're after information, not friends.

>>38389612
Which will come more freely if we don't look like a demon now. There's no reason to look demony now, anyway.

>>38389632
Yes. We want to look like a firefighter now. A local come to help our brothers out. Grab some of the clothes in the place and dress locally.

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Did someone say something about dinosaurs last thread?

>>38389819
>swiggity swooty

>>38389819
>Life . . finds a way

>>38389819

>Half human, half demon, half dinosaur.

>>38389917
All Attitude

>>38389917
I thought only man bear pig could exist with three halves?

>>38389917
>He's a straight-shooting big game hunter with a chip on his shoulder.
>She's a loose-cannon dino demon.
>They're cops.

>>38389981
10/10

>>38389981
I'm imagining Ranthix as their Police Chief, always berating them for trashing the latest squad car.

>>38390029
SPAWNLIIIIING!!

>>38389981
>>38390029
Fucking fund it.

>>38390029
>OFFICER SPAWNLING, YESTERDAY YOU TOTALED YET ANOTHER POLICE VEHICLE, LOST YOUR GUN, AND ATE THE SUSPECT
>OFFICER SPAWNLING, I WOULD BE WITHIN MY RIGHTS TO REVOKE YOUR BADGE
>CITY HALL WAS BREATHING DOWN MY NECK THIS MORNING
>I DON'T EVEN HAVE A NECK

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>>38390111

Considering the door isn’t big enough to admit the abdomen of a beetleman, you think it safe to assume it’s just one of the villiagers.

You glamor up, but pull up short of knocking on the door. You should probably make sure there’s an exit first, considering it’s like, a hundred ten, hundred twenty degrees in here. You go back to the window, unsheathe Zelathis, and use the corrupted blade to cut down the board barricades. (PP: 3/33)

The window’s already broken, but you smash out the rest of it and wave to Orias before heading back in. You return to the door, avoiding the table which has now caught fire, kneel on the overturned dresser, and knock politely at the door. “Hey, it’s safe to come out,” you shout, putting your hood down so you’re more comfortable in the heat. “Well, I mean, your house is still on fire I guess, but you know what I mean.”

You get no answer from within. Guess you’ve got to handle this yourself. You drag the wardrobe further away from the door to give yourself room, and jiggle the heat-warped handle until the door pops open. The doorway looks in on a cramped pantry type deal, with a bunch of beats and radishes and stuff stacked up on the shelves and a couple chickens and a roll of sausages hanging from the ceiling.

Huddled on the floor you find a girl maybe a couple years younger than yourself, with wild brown hair. She’s dressed in a kind of odd pocketed dress skirt thing and a billowy long sleeved shirt. Importantly, she clutches a crossbow to her chest and has it aimed straight at you. Her eyes are wide with panic, and you don’t really feel like being shot today.

>If I’m a beetle, you really should have pulled the trigger already.
>Don’t worry, I’m a fire fighter. Don’t you believe in fire fighters?
>Uh. Spreken ze English? Or wait. Tui gavoriish angliskii? Your house is on fire.
>Hi, I’m Sierra. What’s your name?
>Motion her out.
>Other (?)

>>38390111
>I Don't even have a neck!
I love it.

>>38390161
>Uh. Spreken ze English? Or wait. Tui gavoriish angliskii? Your house is on fire.

>>38390161
>Motion her out.
>Point to self and say Sierra.
Let put a sentence together first

>>38390111

Just like Archer's pilot episode.

>>38390161
>Hands up don't shoot
>Motion her out.

>>38390161
>Uh. Spreken ze English? Or wait. Tui gavoriish angliskii? Your house is on fire.
>Motion her out.
It turns out the only language any of these villagers speak is jive.

>>38390190
*her

>>38390161
Make peaceful exiting gestures
>>Uh. Spreken ze English? Or wait. Tui gavoriish angliskii? Your house is on fire.

>>38390161
>If I’m a beetle, you really should have pulled the trigger already.
>>Uh. Spreken ze English? Or wait. Tui gavoriish angliskii? Your house is on fire.

>>38390161
>Don’t worry, I’m a fire fighter. Don’t you believe in fire fighters?
>I iz green space marine.jpeg
>Motion her out.

>>38390193
>And THAT'S how you get ants. I mean beetles.

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>>38390161
Do this.

You know those bullets that separate in flight but remain connected by metal wire and spin as they go?

We should get some of those. SoS + those things would be disgusting. Everything in a big circle in front of the gun would just die. Would barely even need to aim.

>>38390161
>Hi, I’m Sierra. What’s your name?
>If I’m a beetle, you really should have pulled the trigger already.

>>38390341
Better plan: Just get a shotgun.

You figure she’s not really going to shoot you, because if you were her, and you were going to shoot, you would have done it already. Still, there’s the more troublesome thing about languages. “Uh. Sprechen ze English? Or wait. Tui gavoriish po-angliskii?” It occurs to you that asking if she speaks English in other languages doesn’t make much sense, so you default to the message. “Your house is on fire.”

Her eyes dart to the flames behind you, and you remember then it’s pretty damn hot. “Just a second,” you say, going back out and grabbing one of the coats off the floor. You motion her forward, and she gets up, half in a daze. You throw the coat over her so she doesn’t get burned, and guide her quickly toward the window. Once you get there, you make sure she puts her feet in the right places and shove her out.

Orias rushes over to help her away from the building.

Well done, you are the hero. (-2 Stress: 33/100)

>Loot the house before all the good stuff goes up in flames (?)
>Better get out of here before it collapses.
>Other (?)

>>38390409
>Loot the house before all the good stuff goes up in flames

>>38390409
Loot, and get ready to step out as soon as it starts coming down.

>>38390409
>Loot the house before all the good stuff goes up in flames (?)
May as well, considering we're fireproof.

>>38390409
>Better get out of here before it collapses.
I don't really want to risk a support beam to the dome just to loot some turnips.

>>38390409
>Loot the house before all the good stuff goes up in flames (?)

>>38390406
Sierra with an AA12 and SoS is a scary prospect indeed.

>>38390409
>>Loot the house before all the good stuff goes up in flames (?)
Grab some of that food from the pantry so she didn't starve immediately after we leave town.

>>38390435
We're fireproof, not huge-chunks-of-falling-wood-proof.

>>38390409
>Better get out of here before it collapses.
Getting rescued from a burning building by Orias because we're a magpie would be super embarrassing.

>>38390447
Why don't we have smoke grenades? We can sense life force and if they can't see us then we move faster.

>>38390409
>>Loot the house before all the good stuff goes up in flames (?)
Its cold out here mang, we should at least make sure we get one of those fur coats.

>>38390463
Solid wood housing doesn't collapse just because it's burning. If the roof is made out of hay and refuse then it might come down as small balls of fire, but that's not really a problem.

>>38390486
>We can sense life force
Only in land we own. And it takes a moment of concentration and a roll to pull it off. Not really viable compared to just looking at the target with our eyes.

Maybe we should grab something for the orphan(?) whose house just burned down? She has a crossbown and a blanket and however many turnips she shoved up her ass while she was panicking in the pantry, but I think that's about it. Does she even have shoes?

>>38390542
She can probably pick some stuff up from the rest of the village. Kind of comes with the owners being dead and all.

>>38390542
A crossbow, a blanket, and some turnips? She'll be fine!

Still, you’re not done yet. You’ve got to get to the good stuff before it goes up in flames. Cautiously, you go through the coats, picking out one (you guess) is your size. It’s a severe, wintery kind of thing, heavier than anything you’ve ever owned, but you think it’s around your size.

Now that you think about it, it probably belongs to the girl you just saved. Awkward. You try to remember what coat you threw on her. If the one belonged to her dad or something, it’d be huge, and she’d have to deal with it until her family figured out everything. That’s assuming her family’s okay, though. You mean, with the beetlemen running around, it wouldn’t surprise you if her mom and dad… uh. (+5 Stress: 38/100)

You get a weird kind of feeling as you look around the house again. A playful sketch of the countryside sits in a burning frame on the far wall. As you watch, the flames catch hold and the picture blackens into ash. (-1 Sanity: 84/100) You suddenly snap out of it. You can’t hang out here forever. At the very least though, you can make sure the girl’s got something. You rifle through the winter stuff, and come away with a pair of dainty fur boots, fur gloves, and a furry hat.

You head toward the window and leap out back into the frigid cold dark.

You walk away from the building, brushing a bit of flame off the cuff of your jeans. They served faithfully, but everything gets burnt sooner or later.

You walk out toward Orias and the girl. Orias seems at a loss, while the village girl slipped into the coat and huddles in its depths. You approach and hand her the boots and the other stuff. “Sorry,” you say, unsure of what expression you should put on your face.

The girl takes the things into her arms, a numb kind of feeling pressing in on her. “Thank you,” she says. She’s got a really funky accent that takes you a second to wrap your brain around. The girl takes a moment to juggle her crossbow to get her hat on and stuff, then looks around at the dead beetlemen. “What happened to them?” She does a good job of keeping her voice from shaking. “Are they coming back?”

>I don’t think so after what me and this guy did to them.
>I uh. I don’t know. They were like this when I got here.
>Why'd they even come in the first place?
>Huh. You speak English?
>Are you going to be… okay? Because. I don’t know. You want something else out of your house?
>Other (?)

>>38390976
>>Huh. You speak English?

>I don’t think so after what me and this guy did to them.


>Why'd they even come in the first place?

>>38390976
>>Are you going to be… okay? Because. I don’t know. You want something else out of your house?
>I don’t think so after what me and this guy did to them.

>>38390976
>maybe

>>38390976
>Huh. You speak English?
>If shouldn't, if they know what's good for them
>Are you going to be… okay? Because. I don’t know. You want something else out of your house?

>>38390976
>Huh. You speak English?
>Why'd they even come in the first place?
I'm guessing they just came to loot and stuff, but who knows.

>>38390994
>>38390976
This

Poor kid. I hope some of her relatives survived.

>>38390976
>I don’t think so after what me and this guy did to them.
>Huh. You speak English?
>Are you going to be… okay? Because. I don’t know. You want something else out of your house?

>>38390976
>Huh. You speak English?
>I don't know.
>Are you going to be… okay? Because. I don’t know. You want something else out of your house?
The bugs might try to do the whole back in greater numbers thing, especially considering we offed some pretty important guys.

>>38391101
Good luck to them if they try it. Ranthix will be here if they start feeling up for round two.

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>people want to run back into the burning house that we just left

>>38390976
>Why'd they even come in the first place?
>Huh. You speak English?
>Are you going to be… okay? Because. I don’t know. You want something else out of your house?

>>38391145
We're probably not actually going in, it's just the comedy option. We're going to ask "You, uh... you want me to go back in? Look for some more stuff?" while the roof finally falls in the background.

>>38391199
I'm more expecting that it will backfire on us when either the kid suspects something's up from how we don't seem to give a fuck about fire or the house will fall on us when we go back in.

>>38391145
Well it's not like the fire is going to hurt us.

>>38391270
The house falling on us will. And the fire can fuck up all our supplies. And we have fucking bullets in our pockets.

>>38391293
>Standing around in fire
>"Lol fire can't do shit"
>BANG BANG BANG
>"What was that?"
>Look down
>Big blood splotch pooling in stomach and thighs

>>38390976
>I don’t think so after what me and this guy did to them.

You’re still surprised by the fact you can understand what she’s saying. “Huh. Didn’t think you’d speak English,” you say.

“Why’s that?” she asks, confused.

“It’s the merchants,” says Orias, frowning. “Everyone we’ve met on the road for the past week has been a Sevelander. We haven’t spoken to a Bann in days.” He peers at the girl. “You’re not burned, are you?”

“I don’t think so,” she says, looking down at herself. When she looks up at her house, she stiffens. “But they’re not coming back, are they?”

“Not tonight after what me and Orias did to them.”

The girl surveys the dead once again. “You killed two beetlemen by yourselves?” she asks, sounding amazed. She looks at your clothing, probably pretty foreign compared to what she’s used to. “Are you magi?”

“She more than I,” Orias tells her, not completely untruthfully. Though honestly, you still have no idea what he’s capable of.

“So. So we drove them off though?” she asks.

Orias nods. “For now,” he says.

The girl looks around at the empty landscape. “Where’s the rest of the militia? Did father send you here?” She catches herself. “Sorry – Carmine, his name’s Carmine. I’m Farren.”

You put your hands in your pockets. “Uh. Well Farren, we kind of just wandered into town,” you say. “We haven’t seen anybody yet, really.”

“Of course, right. That’s fine, why would you have? I just thought… because maybe he said… that….” She clenches her jaw for a second. “Never mind.”

You detect a spicy kind of feeling coming from her, coppery and sweet all at the same time. It’s kind of a flavorful mix. “Are you going to be… okay?” you ask, wincing a little at the vibe. “I mean. You need anything else out of your house?”

Farren looks blankly at the building and smithy, which is now coated in roaring flames. “No,” she says faintly.

You spot something approaching out of the corner of your eye, and turn to see Ranthix bolting along with Zote hauling it behind. Reeber’s with them, and shoots out ahead to meet up with you.

>>38391825

You pat his head, and he licks the blood from your fingertips. Heh. (-2 Stress: 36/100)

Ranthix trots up a moment later. He scowls at you and Orias, and then notices Farren, who is entranced by her burning house. He glares at the back of the girl’s head, but doesn’t say anything before noting the two dead beetlemen. “I see you slayed their commanders,” he observes. “Well done, Spawnling.”

It’s not often you get praise from big red. You’ll take it. (-2 Stress: 34/100)

Ranthix points to the villager. “Who’s this supposed to be? Another lady-in-waiting for your ascension?”

Orias’s face bears a frustrated look, probably because this doesn’t fit into the facade very well.

Still, Ranthix looks like he wants an answer. You wonder if he’d get it if you tried to explain stuff to him. Does he feel feelings like that? You don’t know.

>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>What’s that supposed to mean?
>Ranthix, not now, okay?
>She’s one of the villagers.
>Hey, I think there might be another beetleman or two in the town. Could you and Zote take care of that?
>Was it in the plan to stay the night here? Because I don’t know if that’s happening.
>Get Farren out of here. Watching your own house burn down is kind of too metal for anybody.
>Other (?)

>>38391849
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>Hey, I think there might be another beetleman or two in the town. Could you and Zote take care of that?
>Get Farren out of here. Watching your own house burn down is kind of too metal for anybody.

>>38391849
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house. She's one of the villagers. And that was her house in her village.
>What’s that supposed to mean anyway?
>Nevermind, was it in the plan to stay the night here? Because I don’t know if that’s happening.

>>38391849
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>Get Farren out of here. Watching your own house burn down is kind of too metal for anybody.

>Hey, I think there might be another beetleman or two in the town. Could you and Zote take care of that?

>>38391849
>She’s one of the villagers.
>Was it in the plan to stay the night here? Because I don’t know if that’s happening.

>>38391849
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>Hey, I think there might be another beetleman or two in the town. Could you and Zote take care of that?
>Get Farren out of here. Watching your own house burn down is kind of too metal for anybody.

I'm going to bed. Next thread maybe not next week, seeing as there's stuff to do. I'll post on twitter when I know my next run time.

>>38391888
Thanks for running, Languid!

>>38391888
Thanks for running. It was a fun thread.

>>38391849
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>What’s that supposed to mean?
>Hey, I think there might be another beetleman or two in the town. Could you and Zote take care of that?

>>38391888
HAVE A GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE WEEK AND SO SHALL WE, LAWN GUIDE.

A GOOD THREAD THIS WAS.

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>>38391849
>Get Farren out of here. Watching your own house burn down is kind of too metal for anybody.

Now, when you said she has a weird accent...

>>38391888
Thanks for running. Feels like you've been on a roll the last couple days. Looking forward to next time, whenever it is.

>>38391888
Thanks for running lawnguy.

>>38391849
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>Get Farren out of here. Watching your own house burn down is kind of too metal for anybody.
>Hey, I think there might be another beetleman or two in the town. Could you and Zote take care of that?

>>38391849
>What’s that supposed to mean?
>This is Farren. That’s Farren’s house.
>Was it in the plan to stay the night here? Because I don’t know if that’s happening.

Awesome thread thanks Languid