>>38744527
Oh boy! Hopefully we are able to make more progress today.

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You can see the gouges in the ground, where something heavy ...judging by the marks, walked across the soft ground, gouging marks into the soil and crushing plants.

The steps were uneven, and, you'd guess, unsteady - and more worryingly, they aren't that old. No more than a handful of hours old, in fact. You and the one who made these marks missed each other by only an hour or two, if you count back to when you first arrived.

Early morning sunlight glints off of something ahead of you, and you revise your thought. It looks like you haven't missed each other at all.

Sitting on the stream-bank, feet soaking in the water, upright only by virtue of the edge of her armour digging into the ground and holding her torso still, a blonde in heavy plate sleeps, sword resting on her palm, grip loosened in unconsciousness, and a shield still strapped to her arm. Not far away, a similarly heavy two-handed blade rests against a tree root, either broken or buried almost half its length into the ground.

It's a peaceful scene, with small white birds only contributing to the idyllic air, until you notice, later than you should have, the red streamers in the water, where it eddies around her boots.

Blood.

>You still have one elixir...
>Bandages and potions, where are your bandages and potions...
>Get help.

>...?

-------------------------------------------------------

I'll be operating on a slightly different timescale for voting today. I'll call votes about twenty minutes after the first ones start coming in, so don't wait too long to vote.

Also, I'll be answering some questions today! As long as it's not something directly related to the current vote, by my discretion, feel free to ask me about the quest. Thanks to the crazy timescales I've been working on the last three threads, I haven't been able to have a question and answer session yet, so we'll do it now.

>>38744961
>You still have one elixir...

>>38744961
>Bandages and potions, where are your bandages and potions...

Basic medical treatment. Oncr we know more we can make the judgement call of elixir or not. I hope it is not that bad.

>>38744961
>Bandages and potions, where are your bandages and potions...

>>38745043
This. We can use it if we don't get anywhere with more basic care

Calling it for Bandages and potions.

Writing now.

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This is bad. This is definitely not good.

Your hand is already digging around in your hip pouch, searching out a pair of your more powerful potions, as you cross the stream in a definite hurry. The woman on the other side of the water cracks an eye open, awakened by the noise of your passage - which is good, that she can, but only one eye opens, and only partway. Her hand closes loosely around the hilt of her sword, but she either doesn't try to lift it or can't move her body - bad signs, both of them.

"Hruu...?" She mumbles something, thickly, and you raise your hands, displaying the potions clearly.

"Relax." You reassure her, not wanting her to strain herself or make things worse. "I'm here to help, it's okay." Her eye drifts shut again, and you can see what strength was left leave her, as she sags into her armour.

You double-time it to her side, and all but pour the two potions down her throat - unpleasant, if you're awake to feel it, but she's most certainly not. A single weak cough is all you get, and, concerned, you seize her armour and haul her out to lie on the ground. You can't see any wounds, and her armour seems intact below the knees, so it was probably running down the inside and pooling in her boots - could be worse, you have to admit, as you pull out your knife, and begin cutting straps and undoing clasps.

She won't thank you for what you're doing to her armour, but it's necessary - nothing that can't be fixed in a couple of hours, anyway. It's when you turn her over, to get to a difficultly placed clasp, that you see the hole in her armour - just large enough to poke a thumb into, right in the center of a dent perhaps a half-inch deep, right in the back of her thigh. It's a dangerous place to have a hole in you.

You get the plates there off of her in a few moments, revealing a sluggishly leaking wound, blood dark, with no sign of clotting. The potions aren't slowing the bleeding much.

But at least it's been a slow bleed this whole time. Still, she's weak, and she's lost a lot of blood. And if the potions aren't helping, her condition's going to just keep worsening...

>Use your last elixir.
>Pack the wound well. You'll do your best for her.

>...?

>>38746427
>>Use your last elixir.

>>38746427
>Use your last elixir.

>>38746427
>>Use your last elixir.

After investigating, sounds like a nasty wound. Probably some anti clotting poison/magic. Slow bleed, shitty way to die.

Oh well, time to use the elixir.

Maybe learn true healing magic later.

Type of thing, that would lead to amputation or just burning the wound and living forever with one hell of a nasty limp.

>>38746427
>Use your last elixir.
Let's not hoard all of the elixir's only to end up not using them in the Final Battle.

>>38746703
I'm not the only one who does that?>>38746427
>Use your last elixir.

Hero thinking!

>>38746427
>Use your last elixir.
Surely we can buy more with the amount of coin/paper we are getting. Unless their just that rare.

Calling those votes!
Looks like it's unanimous, then.

>>38746703
I'll be honest, I do this every time.

>>38746799
Maybe we need to learn alchemy

Or recruit someone who does

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You reach into your pouch once more, pulling out the cedarwood box that you keep your elixirs in. The small box is lined in velvet, with padded recesses for the vials. Only one, you know, is occupied - and now even that one is empty, as you withdraw the finger-sized vial from the box.

You cautiously pull the cork from the mouth of the elixir, and then, quickly pour the few drops of the rare medication into her mouth.

Her skin flushes immediately, returning to a more healthy tone, and her breathing strengthens. You take a moment to mourn the loss of your elixir. This is what it was meant for, and you didn't have any other options, not if you're honest with yourself, but...

It WAS the very last one you had. And your companion wouldn't even let you look for more, yesterday, because that was 'business', she insisted, and 'not the point'.

Still, the woman's looking better, and holyFUCK

You fling yourself out of the way of the knife she produced and almost just jammed into your throat in the space of a heartbeat, as she scrambles across the ground, awkwardly, as armour plates slip and slide and obstruct her movement.

"Hey!" You protest, "Take it easy, take it easy, you almost died, there!"

"What do you care, scum!" She reaches the two handed blade, and proves that it was indeed buried almost half its length in the ground, as she hauls up on it, and immediately topples with a groan. "W-what?"

"I had to use an elixir to save you." You caution her, as you reflect that maybe you should wear a shirt or something, the next time you go out to train, if things like this are going to happen. Waking up with her armour half cut off and a half-naked man leaning over her can't have been pleasant - and it's probably a bad first impression, at that. "You're probably feeling the effects of that. You'll need to take it easy for a few days."

"I can't do that!" She immediately protests, As she finds her feet again, blade left lying on the ground. "And I don't believe you anyway!"

>>38747424
Ask her if she really thinks that she'd still be able to move with that hole in her thigh if we didn't use an elixir.

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"That's fine," You tell her, "But I also used a pair of high-grade potions to try to stabilise you before I saw your wound - you're not going to be feeling well for a while."

"On a stranger?" She scoffs, "That's a lot of money, to just pour down someone's throat." Her eyes drift to the empty glass bottles lying near the riverbank, and then snap back to your hand, the small, distinct vial on full display.

"...Ah." She narrows her eyes. "What's your angle?" She demands.

"...You were...hurt?" You try, "And I was there...and could help you?" The damaged cuisse catches her eye, and you can see the moment when she realises just what she'd be running around on if you hadn't done at least some of what you claim.

She's silent for a moment.

"...Why?" She asks again, in a much less confrontational manner.

>It's what I do.
>Why not?
>I can't just leave someone like that.

>...?

>>38747697
>>...?
Seemed like the right thing to do.

>I can't just leave someone like that.

>>38747697
>I'm the Hero.

>>38747697
>Why not?

>>38747697
>I can't just leave someone like that.

>>38747697
>>I can't just leave someone like that.

>>38747697
>I can't just leave someone like that.

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Calling votes for
>I can't just leave someone like that.

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HA HA TIME FOR STATUS QUO QUEST!

Glad I only missed the first few votes this time.

>>38746318
Am I wrong, or does that look like a lot like a bullet hole to you guys?

Baker, a couple related questions regarding magic:

How common are magic and magic users? If frequency or power varies by region or race, in what ways does it do so?

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"I can't just leave someone like that." You tell her. "Seeing you there, bleeding into the water..." You shrug, "I couldn't leave you to die." She hesitates, but there's nothing she can fault in your words.

"Alright." She says, watching you, still wary.

"Do you want a hand with your armour?" You offer, eying the scattered plates and the weapons. "I had to cut it off of you, until I got to your wound." You explain, "It should only take an hour or two to switch out the straps I had to cut, but it's mostly intact." You reassure her.

"...It would save me some time." She allows. "...Yeah." She coughs, once. "Yes." She corrects herself, "Thank you." The two of you collect her scattered armour plates, and with your help, she removes the rest of her plate, leaving her in quilted fabric and chainmail. You take the time to bind it all with her sword belt, leaving a convenient strap for her to carry it, with her shield strapped onto the bundle and her longsword in her hand. The only problem is her larger blade, which presumably used to hang on her back, or was carried on the march - not much hope of her doing that, now, not the way she's straining with her armour.

"Where are you going to go?" You ask her, as she rests her load on the ground while the two of you consider her larger blade. She hesitates.

"...I'm not sure." She admits. "My Order isn't welcome in League cities, and I'm not sure where else to go..."

"In your condition, Rabrodnik would be a poor destination alone anyway." You tell her. "It's not a friendly place, if you're on your own." It's common knowledge, of course, but...

The nearest other city - or large town for that matter - is on the order of a three-week journey on horseback. Rabrodnik is isolated by land - it exists solely for the sea trade. Their island colonies are a source of great wealth, and this is about as far east as the devil-ships can come without resupply.

>Invite her back to camp.
>Wish her luck.
>Where are your companions?

>...?

>>38749423
>Where are your companions?

>>38749423
>>Where are your companions?
>Invite her back to camp.

>>38749423
>>...?
maybe ask how she got wounded?

>>38749423
>Invite her back to camp (I hope you don't have anything against Orcs!)
>Excuse me, I need to wash up for an appointment

>>38749574
>>38749551
These

>>38749423
>Invite her back to camp.
>Where are your companions?
>What is your Order?

>>38749423

Combo of coarse.

>>38749618
>>38749608
>>38749574
>>38744527

>>38749769
Of course. As expected of /tg/.

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>>38749057

Magic is widespread in the world, but is generally less than impressive. It takes an incredibly organised and highly trained mind to use the most common magical school among humans, what we would consider arcane magic.

In terms of humans, there are probably fewer than one in in three thousand with any real potential for magic use, by nature.

Elves and Devils are much more magical, with elves being closely tied to nature in their homes, and with their extremely long lives, they have plenty of opportunity to train and learn. Most, however, don't take the kind of interest in magic that human mages would, although they have more innate power and are more naturally suited for the use of magic.

Devils, however, are absolutely fascinated with magic, and it is no exaggeration to say that diabolic magicians are the most powerful race of magic users, in general, and in possession of certain magical mysteries that other races have consistently been unable to solve.

While dwarves exist only barely on this side of myth, and only then because they destroyed the Old Empire (by accident or design remains unknown), it is generally agreed that they must be in possession of mighty magics to perform some of the feats attributed to them, most notably and verifiably the Old Empire's fall.

>>38749824

We are /tg/.

We will leave no question unasked.
We will always order extra large plates of spahgetti.
We will molest every NPC.
We will never pick one option when it could be argued to pick them all.

Calling votes for, uh.

Invite her back to camp, and chat.

Writing.

>>38749875
Thank you!

Since you mentioned it, who ruled the Old Empire, and how long has it been since it fell? I feel as though I remember it from thread 1 or 2, but I can't find it.

The Old Empire was a great empire of the Humans, that fell 800 years ago when the capital city was shattered and ruined to the point that to this day it still hasn't been rebuilt.

2% of the population of the city survived the fall, and fled. The destruction was widespread throughout the rest of the empire, as well, especially the central regions.

With the central power of the Empire broken, it broke apart into - roughly - the nations of the modern day, although in the eight hundred years since the borders have certainly changed, and some dynasties have risen or fallen.

The Old Empire is well known to have fought the Demon Lords to a stalemate, before heroes arose, and come out the other side of these conflicts intact, and still strong.

>>38750526
Good to know! Thanks.

>>38750526
Are there debuff remover potions, anything that can get rid of ongoing magical effects?

Declotting magic seems pretty dangerous in general.

>>38751597
>Declotting magic

Probably a simple poison, or too deep a wound.

The best way to fix it would be to stitch it up of coarse. She likely did not know how.

Sounds like magic in general is rare. Going to need a lot of potions.>>38744527

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"Well..." You scratch your head. "You can always come back to our camp." You offer. "It's only a short way, and I'd be glad to hear news from back east, if you have any." She hesitates. "One more person back in camp won't be a problem, promise." She sighs.

"...Alright." She relents, hefting her load. "...Could you, um..."

"I've got it." You pick up her greatsword, and carrying it over your shoulder, you lead her back toward the camp. "So..." You start, "Where are your companions? If your Order isn't welcome in Rabrodnik, you must have come over land, right?" It's certainly not a journey for a single person - there's almost no reason for it. You should know, after all - you and your companion came overland from the east, on your journey to assassinate the Demon Lord.

"...Dead." She answers you dully, bitterly. "We were ambushed..." She trails off. "I don't want to talk about it." Obligingly, you drop the topic.

"Which Order are you from?" You ask, instead, "I hadn't known any of the Orders were at odds with the League."

"I'm a Knight-Officer of the Order of the Dawn Star." She tells you proudly, perking up somewhat. "I was promoted only recently, too - for this expedition, actually..." She trails off, before coughing. "Anyway. We're engaged with His Grace Duke Bååt, who has levied a tribute on Småttland - naturally, they declined to pay, and it's been war since." She shrugs. "I can't say that either of them are winning. The Småttlanders will probably give some fraction of the tribute as a peace payment, the Duke will probably accept that, and the League will lift the embargoes. Or they'll engage an assassin good enough to get to him."

War with the League? There was no sign of that in Rabrodnik - as far as you'd seen, they hadn't mobilised, either. Republican politics, you assume. Within the League there's plenty of discontent.

"I see." You nod. "Ah, that's our camp, up ahead." You wave to indicate the smoke of the orcs' cooking fires.

>"I should probably warn you..."
>"We never were introduced, were we?"
>"...About the League..."

>...?

>>38752058
>"I should probably warn you..."

>>38752084
>>"We never were introduced, were we?"
>>"...About the League..."

>>38752084
>"I should probably warn you..."

>>38752058
"By the way, I keep strange company."

>>38751597
This variety of magical good is generally both in very high demand, and very, very specific. It's not unknown to have a given 'cure' be completely ineffective, because, say, it's for the petrifaction caused by a gorgon, but instead it was a cockatrice.

However, the ailments they aim to cure are also less than entirely common, and as far as is known, there's no true cure-all.

Declotting magic would strike the more educated people as smacking of Devil's work, if only because they'd otherwise never heard of it, and so clearly it's the work of Devils.

>>38752084
>"We never were introduced, were we?"
>"I should probably warn you..."

>>38752084
>I should probably warn you...
and once we actually reach camp,
>Excuse me, I need to go wash up for an appointment.

>>38752333
How often /is/ stuff they've never heard of Devil's work?

>>38752388

When it fits the political need i think.

>>38752084
>"I should probably warn you..."
We're traveling with Orcs, and have a pair of Devils in the camp, and we are in the middle of negotiations with the city.

>>38752084
>"We never were introduced, were we?"
>"I should probably warn you..."
orcs, devils, leader of the orcs, etc etc.

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You hesitate for a moment, before turning to the knight.

"I...should probably warn you." You begin, "About my, ah, traveling companions." You think about how to phrase this as she turns to look at you strangely.

"What about them?" She asks, "Why would you need to warn me about them?"

"....You, ah, hrm." Well, might as do it quick. "You don't have any problems with orcs, do you?" You hesitate, and since they ARE the only other small, flesh-coloured people in the camp, "Or devils?"

She stares at you, blankly, for a long, long moment, before she sighs. "...As long as they aren't trying to kill me, I guess I'll be fine with it."

"Excellent! Because there are no humans in the camp but you and me." You tell her, brightly, and she sighs again, resting the armour bundle on the ground long enough to run her hand across her face.

"Right." She hefts her bundle again, but can't quite get it onto her shoulder, and it clatters to the ground heavily. She frowns, and tries again, but her arm gives out even sooner. She grumbles, eying her trembling limbs. When she reaches down for her armour a third time, her hand is intercepted by a massive hand, and then her armour is scooped up to be held under a large scarred arm.

"Ah, Izhar." You've gotten to be able to pick Izhar out from the other orcs, now. You're rather proud of yourself.

"Kralj." The big orc nods to you gravely. It looks over at the Knight, and then back to you.

"She'll be resting in camp for a time." You tell the orc who's attached himself to your service. "She'll need a tent, I think." Izhar nods.

"I will find you when it is ready." He tells the two of you.

"He'll let us know when your tent is ready." You relay the message. She nods in acknowledgement, as the big orc walks away with her armour and shield.

"...They're big." She sounds impressed.

"Yeah, it can be a bit of a shock." You allow. "You get used to it."

>You should really check on Tamazi.
>...why was it Izhar, not your companion?
>Where's Uzair?

>>38754059
>You should really check on Tamazi.

>>38754059
>...why was it Izhar, not your companion?

>>38754059
>>...why was it Izhar, not your companion?

>>38754059
>...why was it Izhar, not your companion?

>>38754059
>...why was it Izhar, not your companion?
I sure hope she's not meeting the messenger without us. We still need to un-grass ourselves, don't we?

Have there been any particularly noteworthy individual Demon Lords, I wonder?

File: she's hunting me, I know it.gif (2 MB, 393x311)

2 MB GIF

...Wait a minute. Why was it Izhar who came to meet you? You would have expected your companion to jump you at some point. Suddenly on-guard, you glance around the area suspiciously.

"...What is it?" The Knight asks, picking up on your sudden tension.

"...I was just expecting..." You glance behind you, warily. "...Something." But there's no sign of your companion anywhere. You continue on into the camp, looking for her now.

"...Something?" The Knight has her hand on her sword, as she follows you. Orcs watch the two of you pass, bemusedly, stopping in their daily tasks to watch you go.

You arrive, eventually, at your tent, un-jumped. Your nerves are beginning to fray, to be honest.

"Well..." You breathe, "I need to change into some clothes." You need to relax. She's up to something, but... You can't let it eat at you.

You enter your tent.

...She's not waiting there, either. Okay, now you can relax a bit.

Once you're fully dressed, you leave your tent, and rejoin the knight, who seems to be fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the orcish camp.

"...It's not too different from a camp of knights." She observes, reluctantly. "...Not as sharp, sure. Not as disciplined. But they know what they're doing."

"...Yup." You agree with her. "It's rather impressive, I have to admit."

>...You should go meet with Uzair.
>You should check on the wagons.
>You should check... BEHIND YOU! AHA! ...Your companion's still not there...

>...?

>>38756588
>You should check... BEHIND YOU! AHA! ...Your companion's still not there...

>>38756588
>You should check... BEHIND YOU! AHA! ...Your companion's still not there...
Lol that gif

Ignoring the things that came up locally, the board seems to not want me to post - capcha is fighting me tooth and nail, and timing out mid-post, and all sorts of other fun technical issues.

Wheeee.

>>38756588
>...You should go meet with Uzair.
>Also check on the Devils.

>>38756588
>>...You should go meet with Uzair.

>>38756588
>You should check... BEHIND YOU! AHA! ...Your companion's still not there...
>Look for your companion's personal guard

Votes are called. Hero's really rather paranoid, huh?

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>>38757056
Only when it comes to his one and only faithful companion, I'd wager.

>>38757056
>>38757122
Then again, if we're talking about /tg/'s playerbase, that's an entirely accurate statement.

The truth is that I don't want to voice my worst fears, lest Baker activate his spooky QM powers and make them manifest.

>>38757056

/tg/ is paranoid.

Also our beloved companion has little back story, so we are fishing for that some.

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You take one last look around the area, but... no, you can't see her anywhere.

"Alright." You finally decide. "We'll go see... AHA!" And there she is!...n't! ...Hm. It looks like... she might not actually be stalking you? What?

"...What is wrong with you." The knight seems to have been spooked, as she returns her sword to its sheath, and several suddenly very interested orcs begin wandering off. You scratch your head, a little embarrassed.

"I thought..." You shake your head. "No, no, nevermind." You sigh.

You make your way through the camp, double-checking every path you cross, until you reach the flesh-mender's tent, now with flaps, open wide and tied out of the way, allowing the morning sunlight and fresh air in.

Tamazi is lying out on the ground, still, to all appearances, asleep, waiting for some sign that his ....friend? is okay. Looks like he fell asleep while he was waiting.

>Wake him.
>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.
>Is the flesh-mender around?
>WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS SHE?!

>...?

>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.

>>38757916
>>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.
>Is the flesh-mender around?
>Ask where companion is.

>>38757916
>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.

Hooooo boy.

This drink was a mistake. Updates are going to be somewhere between 'intermittent' and 'on hold' for the next, say... eleven hours.

>>38757916
>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.

>>38758017
it's just like the good old threads!

>>38757916
>Explain to the newer arrival that your friend often enjoys surprising you, and that it's a little weird that she's absent
>Say hello to the wounded devil after that, but before anything else

Taking bets on our companion's location.

>>38757916
>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.
>Is the flesh-mender around?

>>38758631
It would be funny if she's busy tending to and escorting back an injured member of the party that attacked our new friend here.

>>38758730
I'm trying not to think too hard about that last bit, but maybe she's just waiting for you at the wagons.

>>38758768
Waiting for us, I should say.

>>38757916
>Say hello to the wounded devil, first.
>Ask where companion is.

>>38759264
Why would he know? Besides, nobody else was stated to be in the tent other than us, the unnamed devil, Tamazi, and our newest rescuee.

>>38758631
We forgot to look up and she's floating above us with magic.

>>38758631
Stalking Hero and Knight with jealous eyes.

Or she put on the pendant and is on an adventure.

OR she's handling the papers and stuff ahead of us.

>>38759423
>OR she's handling the papers and stuff ahead of us.
And this gentlemen is why you always get a loyal companion!

Hey Baker, new question:

What would you have done if we'd chosen to be leader of a party of adventurers instead of just with our faithful companion or going at it solo?

>>38758017
had too many high-grade "potions"?

>>38757916
>WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS SHE?!

>>38758017
are Hero's weapons particularly special?

bump.

>>38758631
Prowling the shore of the stream in hopes of spying on us.

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You think you should probably let Tamazi sleep - after yesterday, it will do him good. You make your way into the flesh-mender's tent, looking around for the devil you saved - it's not hard to find him, really, since he's the only one around. He looks up from the small book he was reading, sitting up in bed, and smiles.

"Good morning!" He greets you, amiably, as he tucks the book away. You return his smile, glad to meet someone who hasn't started the conversation with wondering why you saved their life, as though it was such a strange thing.

"Morning!" You greet him, cheerfully. "How are you doing?" He considers the question for a moment.

"I'm doing better than I should be, at least." He replies, one hand resting on his lower ribs. "Tama- ... My friend, how is he?" You smile.

"Tamazi's fine - he's just outside." You reassure the devil, "would you like to speak to him?" He looks relieved, and nods.

"That would be very nice, thank you." You laugh.

"Let me go get him, he'll be very pleased to see you doing so well." You take your leave, satisfied that the wounded devil is well on his way to full recovery.

"Tamazi!" The devil is on his feet quickly, hand on his sword and blinking blearily around for threats.

"I'm awake! I'm ready! What is it?" He eventually manages to focus on you, tiredly. "Oh. It's you." He relaxes. "Is it morning already?" You nod, and gesture back at the open tent.

"And someone wants to talk to you." You tell him. It takes him only a second to figure out what you mean, and then he's gone, past you and into the tent in a heartbeat.

>Okay, time to go find Uzair.
>Time to go check the wagons, you suppose.
>I WON'T LET HER WIN. I WON'T LET THIS GET TO ME.

>...?

Hey Baker, does this world have a normal number of moons? Also, what moon phase is it?

>>38764075

Not especially so. They are magically enhanced, of course, but not beyond any theoretical or practical limits, as far as the human kingdoms are concerned.

>>38767846
>>Time to go check the wagons, you suppose.

>>38767846
>Okay, time to go find Uzair.
I'm not sure why we would be checking the wagons, though. Wouldn't the orcs have noticed if anything was amiss?

>>38767846
>>Okay, time to go find Uzair.

>>38767846
>Time to go check the wagons, you suppose.

>>38767846
>>Okay, time to go find Uzair.

Wait! What if we check the wagons AND go find Uzair?

I'm a genius!

>>38767854

There are two smaller moons, which move together through the sky - together, they cast about as much light as ours.

The moons are at first quarter, with Thalas fully occluded.

>>38767934
Are votes called yet? I'm considering switching.

Praise the moon

>>38768713
Moons, with an S.

>>38767846
>Time to go check the wagons, you suppose.

>>38768687

Well, they tied, just now, when I got back to my desk to write, so...

Feel free to switch.

>>38769265
try rolling 1d2

1. Okay, time to go find Uzair.
2. Time to go check the wagons, you suppose.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>38769307
Ok!

Meh, nevermind switching. I'll stick with my vote.

Votes ARE called now, the update is about halfway done, but I'm getting taken out to dinner tonight, so it'll probably come in the morning - a less than optimistic estimate, but it is what it is.

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>>38771046
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

>>38767846
>Time to go check the wagons, you suppose.

>>38773124
Votes were already called, anon.

Bump

Are there any gods Hero worships?

standard bumping procedure in process, please wait...

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>>38777390

As far as divinities are concerned, only priests and other clergy engage in anything that we might refer to as organised, regular worship, although attitudes vary from kingdom to kingdom and one region to the next.

Among the layfolk, especially the more rural ones, gods are generally considered something of a nuisance. Appease them, yes, show them proper respect, certainly, but less out of reverence for the god than out of a desire to avoid particular notice. Priests, in fact, generally have more goodwill towards them than the god they follow - perhaps because people prefer to think of them as strange wizards, instead of messengers of the divine.

Patron gods of various cities, trades, and nations tend to be the exception, and most of these are a different sort of divinity anyway.

The Hero does not personally favour any god, but has been taught good manners when it comes to spirits and divinities.


On a side note, if you had begun with a party, you would have had a holy person with you - the orcs would have constructed a temple to honour the god they followed, and a local cult would have been established, in contention with one or more orcish deities, depending on your choices.

>>38779408
Interesting! In that case, what's the most common belief about what comes after death?

>>38779494

It's accepted that there are a lot of fates that could await you - from becoming fuel to rebirth.

Overall, though, most agree that 'you' end at death - barring divine interference, and as long as you stay dead. The rule of thumb, among those learned on the subject, is that once the actual soul leaves this world, it can't be recovered.

Most gods of death are more concerned with this passage, than with bodily death.

Loose souls may become spirits, fray and be destroyed, or find use as fuel or light fixtures.

>>38780214

Can faith grant power? Like magical spells or abilities?

>>38767846
>>>Okay, time to go find Uzair.

>>38784372
See
>>38773242

>>38780214
>or find use as fuel or light fixtures.
"Your great-great-great-grandpappy is keeping that lantern lit, you better treat it with RESPECT, sonny!"

bump.

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Well, you've taken care of the other tasks you've assigned yourself, and since there's no sign of your companion - you spare a moment to glance around, lest the thought of her cause her to suddenly appear, but she remains no-where in sight - you decide that you should take a few minutes to go check the wagons, and make sure everything's in order. Perhaps you'll find Uzair or your companion already there, preparing for the city's assessor?

The Knight follows you as you make your way towards the wagons, in... what SHOULD be the most heavily guarded part of the camp. But as you approach, there's a distinct lack of guards...

There's an orc here or there, certainly, but not the sort of guard presence that you had expected. You can't help but frown, especially as, now that you're looking...

Where are the wagons?

You break into a run for all of two steps, before the Knight behind you shouts, and you are folded in half as you're tackled clear out of the path, into an 'alley' between two tents, the excited cry of "HEEERROOOOO" ringing out.

You've at least found your companion. Now if you could just find your breath.

"You took so long, Hero!" She complains, "I was just about to go looking for you!" You wheeze incomprehensibly for a moment. "The wagons?" she sits up - on you - and gives you a thumbs-up. "I took care of everything!" She declares, producing a pile of parchments from somewhere. "Five hundred seventy-five thousand artilucs!"

You can hear the Knight choking nearby.

>...Wait, how much?
>Could you...let me up...please?
>Have you met...our guest?

>...?

>>38787838
>Could you...let me up...please?
>...Wait, how much?

>>38787838
>Have you met...our guest?

>>38787838
>Have you met...our guest?
Is that more or less than what we expected?

>>38787838
>...Wait, how much?

>>38787838
>...Wait, how much?
> This is... our new guest. New guest, meet my longest and most steadfast companion. (Of course you haven't met, since you were here with the assesor)


A

>>38788006
>A
At least now we know where she was, I meant to say.

>>38787838
>Could you...let me up...please?

>...Wait, how much?

>>38787838
>>Have you met...our guest?

>>38787838
>...Wait, how much?
> This is... our new guest. New guest, meet my longest and most steadfast companion. (Of course you haven't met, since you were here with the assesor)

sounds good.

>>38787838
Mention that we used our last elixir on her

>>38787838
>...seems like you have to do THAT agai-
>...Wait, how much?

How many artilucs is a working person likely to earn in an average year?

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"Have you met...our guest?" You wheeze, diverting your companion's attention instantly.

"Guest?" She perks up and looks around, catching sight of the Knight standing back on the main path, staring at the two of you.

"Yes," You're catching your breath, again, "So..." And then what she said sinks in. "...Wait. How much?" You thought she said...

"Five hundred and seventy-five thousand artilucs." she informs you, very smugly.

The Knight, back behind her, chokes again at the figure.

"That's more than we agreed on." You note, "What happened?" She cross her arms, looking immensely pleased with herself.

"I can be very persuasive." She declares. "And so I convinced the assessor guy that fifteen percent more would be a fair price, of course." You give her a look. "I did!" She protests, "I didn't cheat or anything!"

"Alright." You allow. "Anyway, our guest." You pull a hand free and gesture to the Knight. "A Knight-Officer of the Order of the Dawn Star, don't tell the League. She'll be staying with us until she recovers." You companion looks the knight up and down, and something catches her attention. She looks down at you, sternly.

"Hero." She begins, firm, "Did you give her an elixir?" Ah.

"Yes." You confirm it without hesitation.

"Geez, Hero." She sighs, pulling herself off of you. "She should be resting, not following you all over the place as you wander."

"Izhar's finding her a place to sleep." You defend yourself.

"Look at her." Your companion declares, "No, that's not good enough."

"I'm fi-" The Knight attempts to contribute to the conversation, but your companion overrides her.

"No, you aren't." Arguing with your Companion is, of course, a waste of time, so you don't bother chipping in. You just sigh.

"Well..."

>"We could head back to the flesh-mender..."
>"...There's our tent..."
>"Maybe Izhar's done by now?"

>...?

>>38790385
>"We could head back to the flesh-mender..."

>>38790385
>"Maybe Izhar's done by now?"

>>38790385
>"We could head back to the flesh-mender..."

>>38790385
>"We could head back to the flesh-mender..."

>>38790385
>"We could head back to the flesh-mender..."

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>>38789381

The artiluc is one of the three great trade currencies, and is the middle value coin - the thick silver coin, as opposed to the thin silver(crusado) and the gold(hyperpyron). Each of these is officially minted by a different kingdom or city-state, and might be struck outside of its official mints at sub-standard weights and purities, depending on where you are.

The average labourer would earn roughly 60 artilucs in one year.

The wealthiest merchants earn about ten thousand times this, at 600,000 artilucs per year, on average.

A more typical merchant only makes ten times more than a labourer, at 600 artilucs in a year, and a skilled soldier makes about 33% more, 80 per year, adjusted for the value of the food which is part of a soldier's pay.

To contrast, a landed knight in service to a lord would earn roughly 8,000 artilucs a year from rents, stipends, and other incomes.

>>38790934
holy hell we are kinda rich but considering we seem to be planning on running and improving a country, i have a feeling that money is not going to last very long we realy need to work on a sustanible source of income.

>>38790385
>Five hundred and seventy-five thousand artilucs
Wanted to aim for 600. Damnit Hero, don't lowball yourself with the very first estimate.

I wonder what we should get with that money?

>Seeds
>>commodity plants?
>Textiles
>Livestock
>>silkworms?
>Fertilizer
>Road-laying supplies?
>Tools for skilled labor
>>alchemy/chemistry
>>Paper and ink
>>Stuff for magic
>>Needles, yarn
>>Syringes

They might not want to build roads for the same reason they dislike irrigation.

>>38791619
>Seeds
>>commodity plants?
yeah totaly the climate in ork lands is perfect for some of those.
>Livestock
could worki'm up for trying.
>>silkworms?
orks seem far to clumsy for such delicate creatures.
>Fertilizer
probably not there are ways we can get that ourselfs
>Road-laying supplies?
totaly it's a long term project but considering how orcs are in this world they would love the tedium and hardwork of laying roads.
>Tools for skilled labor
>>alchemy/chemistry
hmm i'm thinking more along the lines of metalcrafting and woodworking probably masonry aswell
>>Paper and ink
>>Stuff for magic
>>Needles, yarn
>>Syringes
probably not we have to get in the mindset of the orcs they are a people that love menial labor and a little bit of a spartan life.

>>38791690
>>38791690
>They might not want to build roads for the same reason they dislike irrigation.

I figure they would be up for building huge Roman style irrigation, if we get someone else to farm.

They like hard work. Have them build stuff that lasts for centuries through hard work and it likely could convince them.

The same with mining and such.

>>38792099
Nah. I don't remember if an exact reason was given, but I got the impression it was some kind of religious thing that kept them from doing irrigation. Besides, I thought the whole point of growing yams and so fforth was so that they wouldn't need to irrigate and could just bring the water.

What do Orcs usually use to store their perishable goods? Could they export Orcish pottery, for example? Do they have any alcohol-brewing skills? These are the kinds of questions we should be asking, I think. We should really get a better handle on Orcish culture and provide a solution to the famine by getting them to at least subsistence-level farming before we move on to diversifying the Orcish economy.

I wonder what Earth culture Orcs could be most closely compared to.

>>38794578

Don't think the orcs really had much of an in depth culture.

Kinda tribal, waiting for the next demon lord to show up and take them plundering and give them direction.

>not breaking everything

*Starts to nail and glue all the stuff tight just to make sure no one breaks anything*

I just lost a whole update, yay.

Anyway, this delay is my own damn fault - I'd almost forgotten I'd rescheduled a client, and then we ran over. I'm working on the retyping.

>>38797743
you should probably consider typing things up in a word document first, saving often, and then pasting it over here when you're finished.

>>38797876

I've been hearing that for almost six years, now - but I have terrible save habits, and after some rather large fuckups, (including this one), I'm at the point where I have browser add-ons and computer utilities to defend myself against the problem. Every time I fuck something up, it seems, there's a utility out there to help that problem. My most recent 'solution' is a text field autosave, because apparently I can't be trusted to not CLOSE THE TAB I'M WORKING IN WHILE I'M WORKING.

>>38798069
yeah... habits are hard to break.

>>38798069
So... are you still working on that update?

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Keep fighting, Baker! Never say die, Baker!

>>38798069
I feel bad, but knowing how consistent you are despite all of that, I'm not too worried.

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"We could head back the the flesh-mender's tent..." You suggest, with a resigned shrug, "There's only the one other person in it, so there should be an empty bed..." Your companion considers the suggestion.

"Yeah, that's good." She gives it her approval, before turning her glare back to the Knight. "And as for you," She says, sternly, arms crossed, "When we get there, you are going to lie down, and rest, so you can recover." The subject of her gaze grumbles, rebelliously. "That's not a yes." The Knight tries to match her glare, defiantly, and your companion taps her foot impatiently, not backing down.

"...Fine." The Knight relents, as she has to use one hand to still the violent tremors of her other. You can empathize with her - elixirs are rough. Your companion sighs, shaking her head.

"You're almost as bad as Hero." She laments, even if you can't see the problem - or the similarity. Which, on reflection, probably has something to do with it, huh.

The three of you head over to the flesh-mender's tent, and as your companion settles in to bully the Knight into settling in and actually resting, you head over to greet the devils.

"Ah!" The wounded devil smiles as he sees you coming. "My friend was just telling me about how you saved my life." He says, amiably. You laugh, a little awkwardly.

"Ah, no, I didn't really do anything worth speaking of..." You demur, shaking your head. "...Ah, before I forget," You begin, "Have you seen the healer?" You shrug. "I guess I must keep missing them..." But the devil shakes his head, regretfully.

"No." He says, "I owe them my thanks, as well." He shrugs, and takes a moment to appreciate the lack of pain with the movement. "And speaking of thanks, I owe you a great debt. You saved my life, after all." You shake your head.

"No," You deny, "I only did what I could, like I told Tamazi." The wounded devil just smiles at you.

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"I am Zviadi, of the Telane." He tells you, "If I can help you, you need only ask, and I shall place myself at your disposal." You sigh.

"Really, this is unnecessary." You never asked for this, but he seems insistent.

"I can't be so ungrateful as to allow you to go unrewarded for what you have done." He declares. "So at least allow me the opportunity to repay you in kind."

"...I don't have much choice, I suppose." Shrugging, you give in. Mollified, the devil relaxes. The three of you have some light conversation for a couple of minutes, as you pointedly ignore the scuffling and soft cursing from the other side of the tent.

"I've gotten a tent set up for the woman, gospodar." And then you have a quick heart attack, as Izhar comes up on you from out of nowhere. The devils snicker at you, clearly having seen the big orc coming. You glare at them halfheartedly, even as you note Izhar's use of a strange term for you - it's not hard to guess what it means, in context, but it's still striking, somehow.

That's done, then. Good. You check, quickly, to see if the women are still... disagreeing, but at this point it looks like the Knight has been put to bed, although from her sour expression you can see it's under protest. That's...

Well, actually, you think that the only thing you haven't done yet is speak with Uzair, and everything else seems to be taken care of...

>Then that's what you'll have to do.
>...First, though, ask Izhar about the flesh-mender.

>...?

>>38799753
F-f-f-flat.

>>38800845
>Then that's what you'll have to do.

>>38800845
>>...First, though, ask Izhar about the flesh-mender.

>>38800845
>Then that's what you'll have to do.

we have put it off long enough!

>>38800845
>...First, though, ask Izhar about the flesh-mender.
is healing costly for a flesh-mender?

It's just.

So hard to retype everything from scratch.

Especially if you have a line you were proud of, only half remembered, that you know, you KNOW, you messed up in the rewrite.

>>38799753
Hah. Thanks.

Lina's pretty great.

>>38800845
>Then that's what you'll have to do.

>>38800845
>>Then that's what you'll have to do.

Was asked before, but what is orc civilization right? are they kind of a blank slate, to be imprinted by a demon lord or is there more to them?

>>38800845
> Thank Izhar for a job well done
>Then that's what you'll have to do.

I'm a little confused. I thought Uzair was the assesor and our companion had already covered that angle, yes? Or did he need to speak with us and get our signature, or something?

>>38800845
>...First, though, ask Izhar about the flesh-mender.

It's late, but luckily, I actually have time to write tomorrow! So we'll continue when I make it back to my desk, in about ten hours.

a bump for the future.

one more bump.

I do wonder where the flesh-mender is, but oh well.

I may just be dense, has our companion's name been given?

>>38807821
Nope, and neither has our own!

>>38807862
this is starting to feel almost like that one manga, maoyuu maou yuusha

>>38807979
We've been calling that since the first thread, man.

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Well, then, that's what you'll have to do. Bey Uzair is going to be much more familiar with the needs of the orcish people, and you're going to need to get input about what you'll be purchasing, other than seeds and food - a rough estimate of the villages and garrison that need to be supplied will be a big help in arranging your purchase. Food, cloth...salt, maybe? On the sea like this, it should be less prohibitively expensive, at least...

After warning the Knight to stay in bed, and enlisting Izhar to take care of anything she needs, your companion accompanies you to meet with Uzair. The two of you reach his command tent, where the Bey is talking to an orc, who is dismissed as the two of you approach.

"Kralj." You're greeted.

"Uzair." You return. "There were a few things I wanted to discuss with you..."

The three of you retire into the Bey's tent, where, using a map and Uzair's help, you plot out the extent of 'your' kingdom. Which is an awkward and uncomfortable thought, to be honest - and it's even more so when you see the extent of it. The sheer land area the orcs are spread across is really quite impressive - apparently, there are three main regions, and while the Dark Citadel is the capital of the central region, and the orcish people in general, there are two Valis, who rule the other two regions, known as valiks, who - supposedly - owe you their allegiance, through the Beglerbeg, Uzug.

As you understand it, each of these titles is more a military rank than a feudal title, but the discussion about how all of this works is one for another time.

It turns out that there are eleven garrisons, fifteen major villages that can distribute the goods to the surrounding regions, and an actual city, in the west, towards the devils' lands. As you understand it, the western parts of the country aren't suffering as much from the famine, thanks to their relations with the devils, but the easternmost orcs are suffering even more.

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Based on Uzair's estimates for the orcish population, and your own rough estimates for the cost of seed and the food to last them, it looks like you're going to need... thousands of wagons of seed, but it'll leave you with lots of money left over - you'll need to set up a regular caravan, and just try your best to get everything distributed as quickly as you can. At...fifty-five artilucs per wagon, even if you pay for everything in advance, you'll have... Two hundred and seventy thousand artilucs left over for other goods.

The scale of this effort is incredible, even you have to admit, but... You're feeling confident, looking at these numbers. It's doable. In one month, two, perhaps, for the more far-flung settlements, the seed will be distributed, and food supplies will be bolstered, and after that, the harvest will solve the problem.

You just need to convince the city to sell you a significant portion of their granaries. That's all.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's the end of the story portion of this thread - originally, I had intended to put out a few updates this evening, but between the closing point I accidentally gave myself and my plans for the next thread, this ended up being our stopping point.

...Delays are mostly thanks to my own obsessive attention to detail.

>>38809396
Well, it's been a good thread!

>>38809396
Thanks. A good run. Will we start again on Monday?

>>38810119

Probably not - I'm going to be doing some traveling Sunday into Monday, but the week after that should be open.

>>38810268
have fun traveling. see you next week.