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>>38815453
You whirl around, taking in all the sights and sounds and sensations of the underground realm- your dwarven hair senses the faint movement of air circulating through the tunnel, and the scent of naturally-formed tunnel swirls all around you!!! You've been above-ground for so long that you've lost your cave adaptation, so this is totally the bestest day of your entire life!!! It's like you're reconnecting to what makes you a dwarf!!! And-

Ah!!! Estelle!!! Rokko!!! Look!!! Stagalamamites!!!! Actual stagamalalamites!!! They're big spiky rocks that look like trees except you can't cut them down for lumber and piss off all the elves who come to trade you their crappy cloth and useless knickknacks and... uh...

For a moment, all you can do is stare at Estelle and Rokko. Your allies are staring right back at you, and it's a little worrisome- the Dragon Warrior keeps taking pictures with her phone, grinning like a doofus, while your robot friend has her head tilted to the side, like she's trying and failing to compute whatever it is she's seeing in you right now.

Gradually, with all the inevitability of a nightmare from which you cannot wake, it begins to dawn on you that there's something very wrong, and you run through the past few minutes in your mind and no no no NO NO NO NO OH GOD WHY WERE YOU ACTING LIKE THAT, HAVE YOU NO FUCKING SHAME-

[ ] [BOOZE] THIS CALLS FOR A FUCKING DRINK, YOU WILL DRINK UNTIL EITHER YOU OR THE WORLD FORGETS
[ ] [GRAB] ESTELLE'S CAMERA, THERE CAN BE NO RECORD OF YOUR SHAMEFUL LAPSE OF GRUMPINESS
[ ] [FLEE] NOPE, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE, YOU CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS, GOODBYE WORLD
[ ] [IGNORE] ... nope, you're not even going to acknowledge that that just happened. You REFUSE to acknowledge that that just happened.

>>38815483
>[x] [IGNORE] ... nope, you're not even going to acknowledge that that just happened. You REFUSE to acknowledge that that just happened.

I don't know how you managed to post a blank OP, Blorp.

>>38815483
Wow, this is lewd.
>[ ] [GRAB] ESTELLE'S CAMERA, THERE CAN BE NO RECORD OF YOUR SHAMEFUL LAPSE OF GRUMPINESS
>[ ] [BOOZE] THIS CALLS FOR A FUCKING DRINK, YOU WILL DRINK UNTIL EITHER YOU OR THE WORLD FORGETS

>>38815483
>[x] [FLEE] NOPE, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE, YOU CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS, GOODBYE WORLD

>>38815483
>[ ] [BOOZE] THIS CALLS FOR A FUCKING DRINK, YOU WILL DRINK UNTIL EITHER YOU OR THE WORLD FORGETS
It's too late, Estelle has photographic proof that Urist is moe.

>>38815483
BOOZE
IGNORE

>>38815483
[x] [IGNORE] ... nope, you're not even going to acknowledge that that just happened. You REFUSE to acknowledge that that just happened.
[x] [BOOZE] THIS CALLS FOR A FUCKING DRINK, YOU WILL DRINK UNTIL EITHER YOU OR THE WORLD FORGETS
Yes. This is reasonable.

>>38815483
>[ ] [IGNORE] ... nope, you're not even going to acknowledge that that just happened. You REFUSE to acknowledge that that just happened.

Let's have Rokko hack Estelle's phone later and delete the evidence. maybe?

>>38815483
Was she smiling and skipping?
I bet she wasn't even doing her grumpy surly voice and she was speaking in her cute, raspy voice.

Nice to see you back Blorp.
Conditions next post?

>>38815749
>she was speaking in her cute, raspy voice.
That voice doesn't exist anon. What foul slander is this!?

>>38815749
Thanks! And yup, conditions next post!

Also, looks like BOOZE and IGNORE are the winning choices, so gonna go with that.

At least there is no signal down here so that Estelle can start uploading the pics onto the web...right?

>>38815769
Just be glad Estelle didn't record this instead of just taking pictures.

>>38815927
On her little sister collection homepage?

>>38816012
>Inb4 Happy Urist becomes a meme.
>People keep recognizing her from pics and asks her to smile and take a pic with them
>Even the Goddesses see them
>Neptune upset she wasn't there to see main character Urist have a cute break in character

>>38816154
Quest would end on account of MC suicide (intended or alcohol poisoning side-effect - and yeah, she totally could get that if she just drank enough, like a few thousand pints in a row!)

>>38815483
[IGNORE]
Continue fondling the stalagmites.

Urist is a qt.

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>>38815483
>[X] [BOOZE]
>[X] [IGNORE]
>and also conditions through Therapist!

This can't- you can't! She can't! T-That's not-

The shutter click from Estelle's phone cuts you off. "Yes, perfect! Just like that!" she gushes. "You're blushing like a tomato- ah, keep holding your cheeks like that! That's adorable~!"

You almost- ALMOST- scream that you're not adorable, and you almost follow that up with proof via horrifically violent physical assault. You stop yourself at the last moment, because she IS technically your friend and, more importantly, she could undoubtedly beat you without resorting to spells AND with both hands tied behind her back.

So instead, you give the fucking camera your best scowl and then proceed to ignore it, Estelle, Rokko, and basically the entire world as you pull out an entire keg of power mushroom booze, lean against one of those stalagalamalites, and start chugging away.

You've met people who've told you that dwarven alcoholism is basically a form of escapism. Your response is typically something along the lines of "well no fucking shit, Sherlock"; life as a dwarf is suffering, life as a MOE dwarf is suffering, and alcohol is the one thing you've got that helps alleviate your /everything/.

As the alcohol burns its way down your throat and into your stomach, Estelle's disappointed 'awwww's fade into the background, as do Rokko's static-laden queries; soon enough, their voices are a pleasantly distant buzzing noise, just like the events of the past few minutes no no no NO NO NO ARGH NOW YOU'RE REMEMBERING IT ALL AGAIN-

Right! Therapist. Therapist can help. You close your eyes and pull up the HUD with a thought, scrolling right to the solid names at the top of the list of allies. Seems you can't exactly pinpoint their physical statuses, not directly, but you can sure as hell check out their current conditions.

(Cont.)

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>>38817055
Estelle
>Caste: Adventurer
>Profession: Hero
>Squad: The Legendaries
>Happiness: Ecstatic
>Thoughts: Had a decent meal lately, talked to friends lately (x6), worried about a friend lately (x2), entertained thoughts of honor-bound vengeance lately, watched a friend be adorable lately (x35), took pictures of a friend being adorable lately (x81)-

Oh for the love of-! You almost sputter against your booze and lose precious, precious drops, but you regain control of your drinking prowess, remember to breathe, and swap to the next on the list. All the while, your senses seem to expand, the underground ambiance pulsing against your ears and filling your mind with... well, basically existential peace. You weren't lying when you said that you felt better underground than above it.

Rokko
>Caste: Adventurer
>Profession: Super Fighting Robot
>Squad: DLN-001
>Happiness: Content
>Thoughts: Enjoyed a wonderful repair and tune-up (x3), talked to friends lately (x3), faced down fears of mortality lately (x10), despaired over lost parts (x3), watched a friend be adorable lately (x35), took stealth pictures of a friend being adorable lately (x158) TOOK FUCKING STEALTH WHAT NOW-

You DO choke on your booze this time, and that's enough to snap you right back into the here and now. Hurriedly, you wipe stray drops of power mushroom beer from your chin and lick them from your fingertips before stowing your keg and straightening back up. After a moment, you clear your throat because Estelle and Rokko are huddled up for some reas- oh. They were looking at Estelle's phone, which explains the guilty expressions.

You take a moment to compose yourself and internally curse Armok for... everything. Yes, cursing him for everything ought to cover it.

(Cont.)

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>>38817078
Anyway. Anyway! What you were trying to say is this: the underground is a horrible place filled with monsters who wanna eat goddamn everybody, so you shouldn't ever let your guard down. Because then you'll never be seen again and then they'll find your body months later and it'll be eaten by cave crocodiles and giant cave spiders and troglodytes will be chewing on your /bones/ and there will be so much fucking wailing and screaming and-

... this doesn't seem to have the desired effect of sobering up either of them, judging by how Estelle's turned away, her shoulders shaking in silent mirth. Or maybe she's crying at the grim and dark picture you've painted of the perils of underground exploration. Yeah, that's got to be it.

You ignore that and press on, placing your hands on your hips. ANYway, your mission is to get to Leanbox and dig out some of that... that whatever-it-is ore that the Adventurer's Guild requested you to find, so you ought to start plotting out your route. Estelle doesn't have a map of this place, but maybe Rokko-

"A-Already, downloaded the directions." The robot's poker face is nothing short of impressive, and it would almost fool you into thinking that she's on your side- if she hadn't also been hunched over Estelle's phone, probably ogling illicitly-gained pictures of you being adora- being the A-word. "100 feet straight ahead. L-left at the, fork. 200 feet, t-then. Left at the next fork. R-Right at the following fork..."

(Cont.)

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>>38817098
As her electronic voice drones on, you frown in thought and start piecing together a mental map. Combined with what you felt when you'd extended your senses... you quickly interrupt Rokko. How up to date is this map?

"M-Most, recent map I could, find," Rokko's voice grates out. "A-Although. Few adventurers, bother m-mapping this area, many have confirmed the. Veracity of, that map."

"Eeeeh? We're not exploring the side tunnels?" Estelle groans, sagging a little in place. "But that's the best part of spelunking! You never know what sort of legendary treasures you'll find in all the little dead ends! Besides, if we can find our ore here, we won't have to spend time digging once we hit the coast!"

... left at the fork, huh? Call it a hunch, but your senses are telling you otherwise. And on the other hand, Estelle DOES have a point.

[ ] [FOLLOW] Rokko's directions; they're probably the most accurate reading you'll get of this place, and you don't have much time to experiment.
[ ] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run.
[ ] [BLAZE] through the tunnels, but take a right at the first fork. You're a dwarf, you're used to the underground, and you ought to trust your hunches when it comes to these things.
[ ] [WRITE-IN]

[X] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run.

>>38817133
>[x] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run.
Leaving stones unturned is not... dwarfy. Explore until you find the Clown House.

>>38817133
>[ ] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run.

What dwarf does not scout out good locations for new fortresses, ore, stone and where to avoid the might carp.

At least with Estelle and Rokko here, you are not likely to get killed by one.

>>38817133
>[x] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run.
It's too late Urist. You'll forever be adorable now.

>>38817133
>[ ] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run
We are cutting down a lot of time taking this path anyway and those dwarf instincts have me curious.

Any idea who drew the map or who had been through the mountains?

[X] [BLAZE] through the tunnels, but take a right at the first fork. You're a dwarf, you're used to the underground, and you ought to trust your hunches when it comes to these things.

>>38817133
>[ ] [BLAZE] through the tunnels, but take a right at the first fork. You're a dwarf, you're used to the underground, and you ought to trust your hunches when it comes to these things.
Fuck yes, blaze of glory like a proper Dwarf!

>[ ] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run
Though I have reservations about running around in cave systems, namely SEEKRIT FUN STUFF, we are a dorf and we have a competent party that won't fly off the hook at the drop of a hat. If worse comes to worse, we can just dig.

>>38817133
>[ ] [FOLLOW] Rokko's directions; they're probably the most accurate reading you'll get of this place, and you don't have much time to experiment.

>>38817431

Considering Estelle is the personification of Dragon Quest, you need to remember that involves quite a list of different game styles.

Mystery Dungeon series: Roguelike adventure games. She would not shy away from dungeons.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Pokemon games with a lot of monster breeding. Bet Estelle has a bunch of monsters she could pull out for any situation too.

Bunch of other spin off series.

>>38817133
>[ ] [EXPLORE] the side tunnels insomuch as you can. Maybe you'll find something good, and maybe you'll even find that ore you're looking for- it'll save time in the long run.
Who knows when we'll see another cave; better make this one last.

>>38817213
>adorfable

>>38817133
>[X] [EXPLORE]

On one hand, you're a dwarf. You know full well the horrors that await you in the deepest reaches of ANY Armok-created world, and you're absolutely willing to assume that that applies, even in cutesy Gamindustri. Hell, you're willing to bet that the only difference is that the monsters of THIS world are doe-eyed things that squeal "Oneechan!" at you as they push your shattered skull through your brain.

On the other hand, you're a dwarf /adventurer/, and that means poking your nose where it doesn't belong. Sure, you COULD build an impregnable 10x10 walled area with a roof and a closed drawbridge, but sometimes... sometimes, you have to make your own fun, even if it rapidly becomes !!FUN!!.

But it probably won't come to that, because you've got two blooded veterans by your side. Even now, a part of you is still in mild awe that Estelle and Rokko are following you around and participating in your own little adventure...

... so you might as well milk it for all it's worth. You stand up on tiptoes and pat Rokko's shoulder again. She'd better keep that map in mind, because you're sure as hell gonna need it.

Estelle droops down even further in place, poking her index fingers together despondently. "I... I guess you've got a point, Urist. If we're in that much of a hurry-"

Because we're going to go spelunking and come out of this goddamn labyrinth filthy rich.

(Cont.)

>>38818809
"YES!" The Dragon Warrior pulls you up in a rib-crushing hug and twirls you around- you keep your hands to your sides, because you SURE AS HELL remember the horrible finger-eating crevices in Estelle's weird armor. "I KNEW you're a full-blooded adventurer at heart! We can't NOT explore everything here, that's the most classic of the classic dungeon-running methodologies~!"

Eventually, you disentangle yourself from Estelle's grip and glance over to Rokko. S-So, that's the plan. Sound good, or-

"Acknowledged. E-Every nook and, cranny must be investigated for. A complete dungeon run." She didn't even hesitate and just nodded her agreement, the movement still a little jerky despite how /clean/ she looks.

Jeez. Is that obsessive-compulsive instinct hardwired into EVERYONE'S psyches in Gamindustri?

(Cont.)

>>38818834
As you keep walking, you realize pretty rapidly that there's some pretty weird things about this tunnel, especially once the ceiling starts growing higher and higher. It's almost enough to distract you from the way you're all walking in a line, except Estelle ISN'T breathing right down your neck; Rokko trails behind with some space between her and the rest of the party, so Estelle apparently spaced herself out to match. Something about how all party members have to be a precise distance apart-

More to the point, the moment you take the fork in the road leading to the right (as opposed to what the map told you to do), you've got floating brick blocks every now and then, lazily drifting around a good six feet above your head like they just don't give a fuck about physics or gravity.

"... well, you know, back in the day, Lowee's influence extended really far," Estelle explains, barely giving the things a second glance. "And legendary adventurers like the Plumber really got around. Besides, you know how the rumors go, right?"

You shake your head, feeling your braids shift with the motion.

"That modern Gamindustri was, built on the backs of. ancient nations," Rokko interjects. "That everything is connected b-by, even older tunnels. Left by the common a-ancestor of, all nations."

Estelle blinks at the Blue Bomber, eyebrows raised. "Huh! I never pegged you as the archaeological type."

Rokko shrugs, her face blank as always. "Did a little digging. In my time," she grates out.

She might have kept on going if you didn't suddenly come to a stop in the middle of the path and press yourself against the wall. Thankfully, you're all spaced out a little further than you are when it's just you and Estelle, so no one crashes into anyone else. Even MORE thankfully, both of them figured out WHY you stopped so suddenly; Estelle's sword and shield all but spring to her hands, while Rokko's right hand withdraws to reveal the barrel of her Mega Buster.

(Cont.)

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>>38818862
Good thing too, because you've got a gaggle of Gamindustri monsters dead ahead- not that hard to sense, with how you're attuned to the underground realm. Twenty strong, which is bad enough as it is, but-

"Plum-mets?" Estelle whispers, frowning at the sight in front of her. Sprouting out of the ground are a bunch of perfectly nondescript open-ended metal pipes, each as green as grass and taller than a human. The only indicator that they're not just scenery fixtures is how they occasionally swivel around and squirm a few inches forward or backward, like they're not at all connected to the ground.

You curse under your breath. Giant living metal pipes with no discernible organs or pain receptors? TWENTY of the damn things? If you were here alone, you'd barely have the strength to tarnish their hides before they crushed you to a fine red paste. As it is...

"W-We can, take them," Rokko replies, eyeing them speculatively; you note that her whisper is an even harsher electronic buzz, like she's speaking out of a broken television. To your surprise, a tight grin stretches at her lips.

"Is it worth it, though? I mean, yeah, we CAN take them, but..." Estelle bites her lip, glancing around the cavern. "With the sort of skills we'd pull out, we'd be calling down every monster within a half-mile! Not that it won't be a legendary brawl. Even the goddesses haven't fought these things in this kinda number before!"

(Cont.)

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>>38818883
Yeah. Plum-mets don't /gather/ like this. Not in huge groups. Unless there's something about giant metal pipe biology that you don't know about that prompts them to gather around things like-

... oh, hell.

Is that fucking Sharicite on the ground? Maybe the better question is, would even THAT be worth all the headache you'd be going through just to get at it?

[ ] [RETREAT] Save your firepower for when it's really needed. Even as good as your teammates are, you're not taking on twenty metal pipes over a hunk of really valuable rock.
[ ] [AMBUSH] You've got the element of surprise and two veteran teammates on your side. Why SHOULDN'T you take advantage of this opportunity and take 'em out, and get filthy rich (again)?
[ ] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...
[ ] [WRITE-IN]

>>38818925
[ ] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...

Listen to the shadowruns

>>38818925
>[ ] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...

Maybe we're about to witness giant metal pipe breeding season.

>>38818925
>[ ] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...

Weird shit is happening in Gamindustri

>>38818925
>[ ] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...
If it looks to good to be true, it probably is.

>>38818925
>[x] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...
Even more might arrive, and we'll have even more loot!

>>38818925
>[ ] [WAIT AND WATCH] Plum-mets don't normally gather like this; something fishy's going on. Sure, you might lose the element of surprise, but if it'll prevent you from jumping into something worse...
More sharicite beer money.

>>38815453
How are your friends seeing in the dark?

Dwarves don't carry lightsources.

>>38818925

oh fuck yea, HDFQ day <3
If i could chain you to a pc and force you to write this all day, you would never again see the light of day ~

>>38819334
Adventurer vision(tm)!

... actually, that's probably literally the explanation. I can't recall a Dragon Quest game that ever required the main character to carry a light source (other than the first game), and I'd be surprised if a Super Fighting Robot didn't have some sort of night vision built in, given everything else she can do.

>>38819370
Thanks! I... I think?

>>38819492
I believe it.

>>38819370
Kinky

>>38818925
>[ ] [AMBUSH] You've got the element of surprise and two veteran teammates on your side. Why SHOULDN'T you take advantage of this opportunity and take 'em out, and get filthy rich (again)?
Get these suckas and get double rich.

We need that money to buy land.

>>38818925
>[X] [WAIT AND WATCH]

If the others saw the Sharicite, they don't comment on it. But anyway, as much as it pains you to be the one to suggest NOT running in and murdering all of them, like your instincts are screaming at you to do... well, you tell 'em to wait a bit.

"A-Affirmative."

"Right! That's pretty much what I would've chosen, too."

Come to think of it, when did YOU become the leader of this group? Estelle seems like the one better suited to be leading from the front. It's basically in her job description, after all.

"Hmm... well, it seems like you've got a good head for these things?" she replies quietly, grinning at you. "A lot of adventurers get tongue-tied whenever they fight with me, y'know."

... well, okay, you can sorta see that. If those old fogies at the Lowee Basilicom were falling all over themselves to speak to the great hero in person, you don't even want to think about what a bunch of greenhorns would do when confronted with someone like Estelle. Then what about Rokko? Why's she keeping quiet?

The Blue Bomber turns to face you, her green eyes glowing slightly in the dark. "W-We think alike. Your j-judgment is. Probably trustworthy."

That... explains absolutely nothing, but... you're flattered? Maybe?

To say that your conversation is cut off would be putting it far too lightly. You, at least, almost jump like a foot into the air when the sound of many clawed feet scrabbling against rock suddenly echoes /everywhere/, and only the presence of Estelle and Rokko stop you from just bolting right then and there.

(Cont.)

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>>38819837
Green hunched-over bipedal lizards, each the size of a- well, a dwarf- are just sort of popping in from out of nowhere, silent until they hit the ground running. The Plum-mets shrink back like sheep from a sheepdog; in fact, that's almost literally what's going on, as the five reptiles snap slavering jaws at the metal pipes' heels.

They're herding the damn things further into the cavern, making for a side tunnel of some sort. As you watch, one of the reptiles snaps up the Sharicite between its jaws and trundles off after the others, and the demon spawn whips its tail back and forth like a pleased puppy as it-

"R-Retreating. Command?" breathes Rokko, her eyes tracking their movements with robotic precision. Estelle doesn't say anything, but she readies herself regardless; a silent breeze starts whipping around her, causing her scarf to billow out a bit.

But none of that matters, because you /recognize/ those damn lizards. Demon spawn. /Demon spawn/. The name echoes through your head, stirring long-forgotten memories. You... had one of those once when you were younger, kept it like a tamed pet or something, back when you lived in a squalid, poorly-lit dungeon owned by-

Keeper. Motherfucker, those five demon spawn over there are Keeper's minions!

[ ] [OMNI AMBUSH] Take them down! Take them all down, and keep the Sharicite for yourselves!
[ ] [SORTA AMBUSH] Gun straight for the demon spawn! If you can take those out, the Plum-mets should be a piece of cake!
[ ] [NOPE NOPE NOPE] If Keeper's minions are here, then Keeper herself isn't too far behind. You're not dealing with that bitch AND her minions AND a bunch of monsters.
[ ] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.
[ ] [WRITE-IN]

>>38819864
[ ] [NOPE NOPE NOPE] If Keeper's minions are here, then Keeper herself isn't too far behind. You're not dealing with that bitch AND her minions AND a bunch of monsters.

Track Keeper down

Follow our main quest

>>38819864
>[X] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.

Can't let Keeper get that for the forces of Darkness! Plus, you know, payday.

>>38819864
>[ ] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.

>>38819864
>[ ] [WRITE-IN]

Track them down. The shardcite is being used as bait. She is gathering those things, likely to make minions, somehow.

We need to track them down.

>>38819864
[ ] [NOPE NOPE NOPE] If Keeper's minions are here, then Keeper herself isn't too far behind. You're not dealing with that bitch AND her minions AND a bunch of monsters.
Not going to risk tangoing with Keeper in her own lair. De-ass the area and report it to somebody who can actually do something about it.

>>38819864
>[ ] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.
Should also share that Keeper info, unless she was already speaking outloud

>>38819864
>[ ] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.
No sense sticking around here, but letting them keep the sharicite when we can take it is not good either

>>38819864
>[X] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.
If Keeper's working with Airfoire, then letting her have the Sharicite is a bad idea.

>>38819864
[ ] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.

We need more shares!

>>38819864
>[ ] [FOLLOW]

Okay, so we know WHAT the Plum-mets are doing here, but that raises the question: fucking WHY? What possible use could Keeper have for a bunch of animate plumbing?

>>38819864
>[x] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.

>>38819864#
>[x] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.

>all these yoinks
This doesn't seem like a good idea, but I really want to do it.

Is this what FUN is like?

>>38820243
Not yet, but it's a good way to get there.

>[x] [YOINK] Go in, ambush that Sharicite-holding demon spawn, and then get the hell out of there. You can lose these guys.
I've got a lovely bunch of Sharicite, dodododoodo, here they are all sitting in a bunch, do doo do. One Piece, Two Piece, all as big as my head! Give em a toss, a cavern across, that's how Urist wins BU-BYE!

>>38820172
Minions for her dungeon/headquarters I wager.

I wonder if Keeper is after the sharicite or if it picking it up was a coincidence.

>>38820470
Prob bait

Keeper always has to pay wages to to monsters in the game

>>38819864
>[X] [YOINK]

Estelle and Rokko stare at you, lowering their weapons slightly. It's the Dragon Warrior who speaks up first. "Keeper? That psychopath with all the flies?" she growls, and you get a glimpse of the beast lurking behind that happy-go-lucky demeanor. "Just because she upgraded to a bunch of lizards won't stop us from giving her a legendary-"

"N-nothing," Rokko cuts in, as firmly and implacably as the metal she's made from. "Monsters are one thing. M-Minions are another thing. C-Can't take on all those AND an outcast freelancer at the, same time."

"Uu~..." Estelle actually pouts, but lowers her sword. "Alright, I guess we'll back off and-"

You shake your head, jutting your chin out in hopes that it'll make you look more stubborn. We can't just back off. We've got to get that Sharicite- who knows what the hell she'll do with it? Or with a bunch of Plum-mets, for that matter?

"Urist. K-Keeper is, an adventurer. Can't do anything w-with Sharicite," Rokko explains patiently.

Even so- she's, she's stupidly perceptive. AND she's fucking ingenious with magic and items, and she's a researcher to boot. You're sure she'll come up with something, if you all give her enough time!

It's Estelle's turn to jut her chin out a little stubbornly. Probably doesn't appreciate being cut off so many times, and you can't really blame her. "If we can't fight them, and if we can't just leave them alone..."

"T-This is a, terrible idea." Leave it to Rokko to cotton onto what you're thinking before you even say it. "Go in, take it, and run b-before they swarm?"

... it IS terrible, but frankly, that's the only sort of idea you tend to have. And you don't have a whole lot of time- the group of monsters has already reached the tunnel, with the Plum-mets going in first and the demon spawn waiting behind-

Oh. Well, if you're going to do this, now's probably the best time.

(Cont.)

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>>38820920
"Hah! Okay, I've got just the thing for this situation. And Urist even gave me their names!!" The scraggy-haired swordswoman sheathes her sword and rubs her hands together, taking a few steps forward. "Everyone ready? I'll lock them down, Rokko'll lay into them with cover fire, and Urist's gonna run in and take the Sharicite right from underneath their noses!"

You're nodding up until that last point. Wait, is that really-

"No time to talk, here we go!" Estelle splays her hands out in front of her, and you can SWEAR you see the air around her- around ALL of you- start wavering, pixelated motes rising up as the fabric of reality is given a good stretching. The monsters turn as the Dragon Warrior's heavily-digitized voice rings out through the caverns, but it's far too late-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkZu8xj3lvs

"Estelle casts Turn-Based Battle(+)! Demon Spawn A through E have appeared!!"

You nearly stumble as your footing grows unstable- in fact, you DO stumble, and you're pushed straight out of the field of battle. Quite literally, too- an entire black screen seems to swirl around Estelle, drawing Rokko and the five demon spawn into their own little corner of the cavern. Text boxes sprout like mushrooms, popping up in front of Estelle and Rokko- one even poofs into existence above the demon spawns' heads, knocking one poor bastard off his feet as an invisible hand shoves them all into a row.

Rokko doesn't waste any time, bringing her Mega Buster up and firing off- okay, LITERALLY firing a steady stream of flames, working it back and forth along the row of reptiles. The poor bastards shriek, but instead of searing them to a crisp, they start bleeding numbers- doesn't SEEM to be doing them harm, but it's sure as hell distracting them.

Wow. That is /totally/ cheating.

"Urist! Go!"

(Cont.)

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>>38820954
Shit- it's distracted YOU, for that matter! Your boots pound the ground as you run pell-mell toward Demon Spawn A, the one with the Sharicite still clutched in its jaws. It doesn't even turn to face you as you rapidly approach, and not when you reach out with your liquid metal gauntlets to nab it, like you're trying to take candy from a baby-

The demon spawn doesn't turn to face you until the very last moment, and you almost lose yourself in its eyes. Eyes that, in a split-second, start glowing as a more /expansive/ mind flows in, filling the minion with an almost overwhelming presence, one with a good enough reaction time to whip up one clawed foot to snatch your wrist right out of the air.

"Hello, Urist," Keeper's voice purrs from the demon spawn's mouth.

You barely have time to spit out a curse before you're kicked halfway across the cavern, with the rock wall kindly breaking your flight with a bone-shaking impact; the floor pitches in as well, rising up to meet you and basically slapping you in the chest.

A shattering noise makes you look up- Keeper's possessed demon spawn just sort of saunters out of Estelle's turn-based zone, despite the Dragon Warrior's best efforts; seems that Rokko's shots can't reach out here in the real world, either.

So it's just you and Keeper in a demon spawn. That shouldn't be so-

"You know, I DO have to thank you, Urist," Keeper says, almost conversationally. "For carrying around a piece of my dungeon's floor. It makes it so much easier to bring my minions into the fight."

(Cont.)

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>>38820978
You stare at her for a moment as your brain struggles to keep up- it takes a moment for you to remember that fist-sized chunk of red rock in your backpack.

And your memory chooses NOW to reveal that Keeper's dungeons all had neatly-tiled floors, each tile emblazoned with a red rock smack-dab in the middle. And also that Keeper can, indeed, summon minions as long as she tosses them onto a tile she owns.

Of course, you remember this all just in time for Keeper to start dropping monstrously-sized insects right on top of your fucking head.

[TO BE CONTINUED NEXT THREAD]

Can't dorfs destroy those pretty easily in Dungeon Keeper?

>>38821009
>fist-sized chunk of red rock in your backpack
Ah shit. I had forgotten about that.

>[TO BE CONTINUED NEXT THREAD]
Thanks for the thread Blorp, can't wait for next time.

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Alright, that's... well, that's not really the best place to stop due to cliffhangers at all, but it IS a weeknight. Sorry guys!

Next thread will most likely be on 3/22, SUNDAY, starting from around 8:30-ish pm EST! Updates to schedule will be on https://twitter.com/BlorpQuest, and questions can go either here or to ask.fm/BlorpQuest.

Thanks for participating, guys- hope to see you next thread!

>>38821009
Welp

>>38821043
Only if they're not a dozen max-level flies, and if they're bigger then you are they probably are.

And she can keep dropping stuff or immediately pick it up if it gets to low hp... but if it's carrying something it drops it.

Best bet is to just straight kill the demon spawn (they're expensive and can turn into dragons).

>>38821043
We'll need to give it a try next time.

>>38821080
Thanks Blorp, bye bye.

>>38821009
I wonder if standing in one spot will keep her from spawning bugs in greater numbers. After all movement means new squares to summon into. Or is she not limited that way?

Can we get a ruling here, Blorp?

>>38821009
>fist-sized chunk of red rock in your backpack
We gotta break that sucker, I hope that's a thing we can do.

>>38821225
Craft it into a fine sand

>>38820978
>Keeper
I bet Urist woke Keeper up by digging into hell.

>>38821009
I wonder if someone can use those red rocks to "counterhack" Keeper. Could you unsummon monsters in the original game?