>>39917113

>>"But where did it come from?"

>>39917177
Cmon, only one person? Hopefully things pick up steam after a few posts...

>>"But where did it come from?"

>>39917113
>"Not your fault. It's dead now, anyway."
Also, did you forget your gems yesterday?

>>39917113
>"But where did it come from?"

That's better. I'll get writing.

>>39917410

The few threads after the first quest thread are usually the ones that attract the fewest people.

>>39917113
You sigh, even the motion of inhaling setting your body into agony. Fighting the pain off with your impressive fortitude, you look at Clarice, saying, "Not your fault. It's dead now, anyway. But where did it come from?"

Clarice kicks the floor idly, still not looking at you. "Well... I think it came from that Oblivion Seed. I've only ever heard stories of it happening before, but apparently an O-Seed can 'hatch' like an egg, and release the Hellspawn inside again."

You give her a look of disbelief. She finally looks up, stammering to recover herself. "B-b-but that's completely out of the norm! Nobody expects it to happen, and it only ever happens when a Seeds absorbs an unusual amount of darkness. They're usually completely safe, and when they're stowed properly, can't-"

"So why was it not stored properly?" you ask sternly.

She sighs, looking down once more. "Because I forgot to when my mom called me yesterday... I'm so SO sorry, Mister Hamilton! I'll work the farms until-" she cuts herself off as though she said something she shouldn't have.

"What? What happened?" you question her abrupt stop.

"I - I mean, the farm..." tears well up in her eyes.

"What ABOUT my farm?" your stomach twists into knots, awaiting the worst.

The worst comes.

"It... it's gone, Mister Hamilton. When that thing trampled around your house and made it a Nightmare, the ground just... turned to sand, the plants all died. It's..." she looks up at you, tears now well and fully running down her face. "...gone, Mister Hamilton. Completely gone."

>Sigh heavily. "...nothing to be done about it. I'll figure something out."
>Enter a righteous fury. "This is YOUR fault!"
>Curse the heavens.
>Cry externally.
>Cry internally.
>Write-in

(sorry about the wait)

>>39917812
>Cry internally.
>Externally: Sigh heavily. "...nothing to be done about it. I'll figure something out."

>Lie down.
>Try not to cry.
>Cry a lot.

>>39917812
>Curse the heavens.
then later
>Sigh heavily. "...nothing to be done about it. I'll figure something out."

>>39917812
>>Cry internally.
>Sigh heavily. "...nothing to be done about it. I'll figure something out."
Sup

>>39917812
>>Sigh heavily. "...nothing to be done about it. I'll figure something out."
>>cry internally

>>39917812

But i didn't want to say "not your fault". Only one person did.

>Cry internally
>Write-in
>You're helping me rebuild that shit

>>39918303
I figured a little creative liberty to appease everyone would be alright in a situation like that. Should I avoid that? I didn't think it was that bad. Sorry, still just my second quest, so I'm getting used to it.

>>39918336
If you give an option and literally ONE person votes for it, presume it isn't wanted.

>>39918409
I'll keep that in mind then. Correct me if I make any more mistakes.

>>39918510
It's fine, you learn by experience.

>>39917812
You lay back down without a word, continuing to ignore the pain lancing across your body. The twisting in your gut doesn't abate however; if anything, it increases. Your eyes begin to sting at the news, but you can't let Clarice see you like that. If you have anything left, it's your pride.

You sigh heavily. "...nothing to be done about it. I'll figure something out."

"B-but I-" Clarice stutters, both fearing and expecting your retribution.

You cut her off with a harshly intoned, "I said: I'll figure something out. And I will. So drop the topic."

Clarice drops into a chair, the thud rattling a small table where the rest of your items, that being everything you now own, are seated. Clarice pulls out a handful of colorless gems, the ones from yesterday. You eye them with suspicion. When she notices this, she puts them back into her pocket, saying, "The rest are completely harmless. They're just different forms of crystallized magic. Completely mundane." That doesn't ease any of the feelings you have, but you accept her explanation all the same.

The curtain hanging in the doorway is pushed gently aside, and in walks a tall, rather filled-out woman. Her shoulder-length black hair and sapphire blue eyes mark her as Clarice's mother. She hands you a mug of water, which you accept with a nod. After draining the cup in a single swig, you sit up again, and ask Clarice,

>"So what happened to the rest of the town?"
>"What happened to the demon?"
>"Where were you during that?"
>Write-in

>>Write-in
All of the above.

>>39918673
>Write-in
Everything

>>39918673

All of them, plus
>>Write-in
>So can we rebuild?

>>39918718
Seconding.

Make this the 5th vote for that.

Fast turnout. I think the answer is obvious. I'll get to work.

>>39918718
This

>>39918673
You hand Clarice's mother, Brynn, the mug back. You tell her, "I still have some peppers to pay you for your hospitality, if you'd like."

She shakes her head. "Nonsense! At times like this, it is the least I can do." She smiles, "If you need anything else, I'll be inside." She departs once again, leaving you and Clarice alone.

"So what happened to the rest of the town?" you ask.

Clarice brings her legs to her chest as she answers, propping her chin on her knees. "You didn't see it yet, but it was attacked by some lesser Hellspawn - Familiars of the one that made a nest around your house. There's a lot of damage, and a few people hurt, but the worst didn't happen."

"And what happened to the demon?"

She glances at you. "It's dead. I didn't think it was possible for a normal human to kill a Hellspawn like that."

You snort. "Yeah, well, it cost me my farm. And my house."

This time, she doesn't break eye contact. "Really, Mister Hamilton, you're lucky to be alive."

"Sure don't FEEL lucky."

"Well... I dug around the house, and found the monster in an O-Seed again. I've got it-" your eyes widen in shock as she scrambles to finish. "I've got it stored it properly this time! That won't happen again. There were still some pieces of the monster left, but it's mostly garbage. The skull, for example. I didn't look too hard after I found the Seed."

You grunt. "And where were you during that?"

"I mentioned the Familiars, right? I was out and fighting as soon as I sensed them. I was too busy trying to keep them at bay to find the main Hellspawn, but I guess you took care of that one..."

>"I'm going to see that dead son of a bitch for myself."
>"So, what now?"
>"Who was hurt?"
>"Without land to farm, this town's as good as gone. Has anyone thought about how to solve that?"
>Write-in

>>39919271
>"Who was hurt?"
>"Without land to farm, this town's as good as gone. Has anyone thought about how to solve that?"

>>39919271
>"Who was hurt?"
>"Without land to farm, this town's as good as gone. Has anyone thought about how to solve that?"

>>39919271

>>"Without land to farm, this town's as good as gone. Has anyone thought about how to solve that?"
>>"I'm going to see that dead son of a bitch for myself."

>>39919271
>IS MY TREE OKAY
>"oh also who was hurt?"

>>39919271
Something Clarice said only just strikes you. "Who was hurt?"

"Well, the merchant Mr. Tarou, for starters. He lost his leg, so walking with any sort of help is probably a long way off for him. Not to mention, he's in a coma... hopefully he wakes up soon." She thinks for a moment, adding, "Apart from him, the only people really hurt enough to worry about were the baker and his wife the craftsman. They got bitten up pretty bad. Their kid's okay, though. A few other people had some bumps and bruises, scratches, but nothing major. I'm most worried about you, Mister Hamilton."

You nod, fidgeting in the bed, plucking idly at your bandages which cling uncomfortably to your body. You ask, "Without land to farm, this town's as good as gone. Has anyone thought about how to solve that?"

Clarice is quiet for a while. Long enough to nearly prompt you to ask her again before she says, "We've thought about it, at least. See... Mr. Tarou was the only one of us who ever really left town and went out into the desert. Nobody else is strong enough to handle it or has any experience there. We've got a good stock of food to last a while, but if we don't get some way to renew that stock, then..." she goes silent again. You don't need her to finish, because you do it yourself.

"Then we're going to die. There aren't any places to scavenge for miles, and wasting resources on a blind march through the desert is not the way to go about this."

Clarice nods. "That's exactly it, Mister Hamilton. Our best bet would be to find someone with magic more powerful than mine. Either someone with power over Time who can reverse the damage, or maybe Life. Or - or, Water, or anything. There's so many Magi out there with powers that could save us. My own magic is too weak..."

You look down, thinking deeply.

[1/2]

>>39920036
>"My own wounds aren't enough to keep me in bed. I'll find something, or someone."
>"We should take the risk, and relocate everyone in town. Maybe there's another place willing to take us in."
>"There has to be something out in the desert around us. We'll get a search party together and circle around town until we see something."
>Write-in

>>39920036
>How long will the supplies last?

>>39920075

>>"There has to be something out in the desert around us. We'll get a search party together and circle around town until we see something."

If we don't find a magi or something, we'll find a place to settle, better than just relocating everyone blindly.

>>39920075
>"My own wounds aren't enough to keep me in bed. I'll find something, or someone."
>>39920099
Good question.

Also ask her what her capabilities are. Would her magic help with things? She grew plants real fast.

>>39920036
>>"There has to be something out in the desert around us. We'll get a search party together and circle around town until we see something."

>>39920075
>"My own wounds aren't enough to keep me in bed. I'll find something, or someone."

I'm leaving work now, so I'll be gone about 20 minutes or so while I head home and get settled. When I come back I'll tally the votes and write my little heart out to make up for lost time.

Sorry about the delays. Hopefully the whole thing's not too dull for you guys. It's definitely not as intense as dropping your house on a demon, at any rate.

>>39920433
NO! COME BACK!

By the way i missed the first part of the quest, can someone fill me in on what happened?
Also we're using the word magi and we're in a desert, is this some kind of 1001 nights setting?

>>39920433
Might be asleep by then, if so, thanks for the thread and catch you next time, QM.

I'm here, and not dead! Give me a few minutes to finish up this phonecall with my crazy grandmother.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>39920099
>>39920224
How long will the supplies last?


>>39920210
>>39920257
Search party.

>>39920224
>>39920332
I'll find it on my own.

I'll ask the question and let the dice gods decide our fate.

>>39921153
Heading off on your own it is. Writing now.

>>39920075
You force yourself to sit up, rising and moving to the side of the bed. Clarice immediately moves to stop you, but you hold out a hand to halt her. You ask, "How long will the supplies last?"

She stops, taken aback by the urgency in your question. "A - a few months, maybe. Two or three. We've had a good season this year."

You continue, your eyes bearing down on her, "And what, exactly, are your capabilities? I understand you're good with Growth, but what else can you do?"

She take a step backwards as you stand, a firm resolve burning in your eyes as you tower over her. She says, "I... I'm good at analyzing things, I guess. Like, magically...? It helps me know where to apply the Growth to get the crops growing at their best. I'm not limited to plants, though. I can sort of help people Grow too, or at least, help speed healing a little. I've already done what I can for everyone, you included. What... what are you planning on doing, Mister Hamilton?"

You look down at her for a moment before you move to grab your things, gingerly packing them away as best you can without disturbing your injuries too badly. "My own wounds aren't enough to keep me in bed. I'll find something, or someone."

"That's crazy!" Clarice shouts, arms waving wildly. "You're hurt, you're not prepared, you're-"

>"I'm going."
>"I'm going. Will you come with me?"
>"I'm going. You stay here and help however you can."
>"Organize everyone in town and tell them my plan. Maybe they can help too."
>Write-in

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152 KB JPG

>>39921153

>1d2
>for 3 options

>>39921560
>>"I'm going. Will you come with me?"

>>39921565
The top option was the question, which I said I would ask anyway. The bottom two were the options I rolled for.

>>39921597
Oh ok.

>>39921560

>"I'm going."
she will probably insist on coming with.

>>39921560
>"I'm going."
>"Where would be the best/closest place to find someone?"

>>39921560
>"I'm going. You stay here and help however you can."
>"Organize everyone in town and tell them my plan. Maybe they can help too."

>>39921595
I'm going. Join me.

>>39921694
>>39921824
I'm going.

>>39921949
I go. You stay. No follow.

Looks like we have a winner. Writing now.

>>39920477
Hey, sorry nobody got back to you before. Quick recap: You're Winston Hamilton, 30 year old, 6 foot tall, buff as hell farmer of a small unnamed desert town well off the beaten path, to the point where it's practically unknown. After entertaining the local Magi, Clarice, you dealt with a shady trader and traded your produce for an enchanted clay jug, a piece of oldworld tech called a cellphone, and some magical gems for Clarice as payment for her assisting on the farm.

Later that night, Clarice took off, leaving the gems in your home by accident. One of those gems was the compressed form of a demon called a Hellspawn. After it broke free of the gem, it wreaked havoc and chased you around, at which point you dropped your already on fire house on top of it, killing it.

>>39921560
Your steely resolve burns nearly bright enough to be considered magic of its own. Clarice is sufficiently cowed by your abnormal force of will. You say but two simple words, and that is enough for her to know that there is no way to stop you.

"I'm going."

She sighs, looking up at you. Her eyes begin to well up again. "At least let me join you, Mister Hamil-"

"No. It's too dangerous."

"But what about you?" she shouts. "You're hurt as it is! You do understand that Hellspawns are out in the desert, right? What if-"

"I'll drop another house on them." You slip on your shirt, shoulder a small bag with your belongings, and strap your hoe and baseball bat to your back. Adjusting a few straps and wincing as they grind against your burns, you face the door, walking past the curtain. Clarice, thoroughly defeated, slumps her shoulders as you walk out.

Not bothering to find Brynn and say goodbye, you figure Clarice will tell everyone what you're doing anyway. Like you said before, you'll figure something out.

On your way out the door, you leave one of the larger peppers you have left on a table as a token of your thanks, and step into the morning sun. Your aches have hardly abated, but you haven't got time for that. This town, your home, needs you. If you can't feed this town with your own two hands, you'll just have to find someone who CAN.

Where do you go?

>Out into the desert. If you walk in one direction, you're bound to find something, right?
>To Mr. Tarou's place. The wily old merchant must have a map or something you can use. Not like he'll need it, being unconscious and all. Plus, you're an honest type. You'll bring it back.
>To your house, or what's left of it. To see the dead bastard that started this and find anything remaining.
>The town well, to fill your jug and bucket with water.
>The crafts shop, to purchase anything of use with the last of your vegetables.
>Write-in

>>39922467
>To Mr. Tarou's place. The wily old merchant must have a map or something you can use. Not like he'll need it, being unconscious and all. Plus, you're an honest type. You'll bring it back.
>To your house, or what's left of it. To see the dead bastard that started this and find anything remaining.

>>39922467

All of them

>>39922467
>>To Mr. Tarou's place. The wily old merchant must have a map or something you can use. Not like he'll need it, being unconscious and all. Plus, you're an honest type. You'll bring it back.
>>To your house, or what's left of it. To see the dead bastard that started this and find anything remaining.

>>39922467>To Mr. Tarou's place. The wily old merchant must have a map or something you can use. Not like he'll need it, being unconscious and all. Plus, you're an honest type. You'll bring it back.
>To your house, or what's left of it. To see the dead bastard that started this and find anything remaining.

>>39922033

>not having mage girl come with us

fuk u guys

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181 KB PNG

>>39922467
You figure the best place to start would be Mr. Tarou's place. The wily old merchant must have a map or something you can use. Not like he'll need it, being unconscious and all. Plus, you're an honest type. You'll bring it back.

You depart from Clarice's house and head to Mr. Tarou's place. You knock on the door more out of habit than anything else, knowing he'll be out cold after what Clarice told you. After receiving no reply, you push open the door and step inside, kicking the sand off your boots to avoid tracking any behind you.

You step quietly through the house, feeling moderately uneasy about being inside someone's home without their permission. But this is for the good of the town, so you press on. Eventually, you find Mr. Tarou's bedroom, with him currently laying in bed. It seems he's at least being tended regularly, so the old guy won't just kick the bucket in his sleep without anyone knowing. That's a plus.

You begin to root through his desk drawers, looking for a map of some sort. Eventually, you find exactly that. Pulling out the rolled up piece of paper, you unravel it on the desk, looking it over.

It's rather bare, for the most part. The hand-drawn map lacks any sort of scale or identifying mark, and the majority of it is desert, so you can't be sure how accurate it is. What you CAN see is your own town, located on the upper left corner. There is another place marked as a town directly south of you, while a second town is to the northeast At the very far southeast are some mountains, while smack dab in the middle is the giant, stacked city of the ancient ruins. Scrawled around that are various lines marked "DEADLANDS - DO NOT ENTER."

You roll the map up and stow it, then decide to head to your home. Or what's left of it, anyway.

>>39923077
You depart from Mr. Tarou's house to your own house, or what's left of it. To see the dead bastard that started this and find anything remaining.

Trekking across the small town, you come to the still-smouldering pile of charred wood that was once your home. The stench of rot that the Hellspawn emanated still lingers in the air, but it vastly overshadowed by the smell of burnt wood. Looking at this wreck, where you lived for most of your life, brings a tear to your eye. Luckily, nobody is around to see it.

You step through the destroyed entry way and across piles of wood. A number of boards, weakened from the fire, snap underfoot. You nearly fall several times, each awkward step over the piles of rubble being agony in themselves, courtesy of your burns.

You search for anything of use.

Roll 1d20. Average of 3 rolls, crits take precedence.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>39923218

>>39923271
...motherfucker. Are you the same bastard that pulled this trick last time, too? Are your dice weighted?

I guess that's that, then. I'll write this up.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39923218
I find everything.

>>39923326
AND THEN YOU TORE IT ALL DOWN

>>39923326
I'm scared.

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>>39923326

Oh shit.

You guys should be happy I'm only taking the first roll, because I'm just so kind, and it came first.

But the temptation to fuck you over is great indeed.

...I'll get you another time. It's time for loot.

>>39923218
You pluck through the charred remains of your home, searching for anything of use. Your Farmer's Intuition leads you to a particular area and bids you to start digging. Which you do, albeit painfully.

When you've finally cleared away the charcoal and boards, you uncover the skull of the Hellspawn, completely intact as Clarice described. It continues to grin at you, even in its death. Laying beneath the skull, nearly invisible due to the amount of ash and blackened wood surrounding it, is what appears to be a cloak of black. It almost resembles the Hellspawn's "flesh" as you saw it when it was alive, though gingerly poking the cloak reveals it to be made of a soft and fine material instead of some grim taxidermied flesh.

Lifting the skull with one hand and the cloak with your right, you examine each in turn. The cloak, now that you hold it out in full, is more a cape than anything else. There's a clasp for it to clip around your neck, allowing it to flow freely behind you, while the skull seems to have a head-sized opening on its underside. It reaches just to your ankles, so it doesn't drag behind you.

Looking at the skull fills you with a rage. You shake it in frustration, causing one of those clear crystals that Clarice was so fond of to rattle, and fall out of it into your palm. You examine it for a moment, remembering how Clarice classified each one, before determining this as what she called a "Blank." You pocket it for now, returning your attention to the skull.

>Smash the thing.
>Stow it away.
>Drop it and walk away. You're past that now.
>Put it on your head.

followed by

>Where do you go now? Write-in.

>>39923705

>Stow it away
Nice trophy to intimidate people
>>Where do you go now? Write-in.

To the city to the northeast, to find a mage who can help us, or information of a place to settle.

>>39923705
>Smash the thing.
Fuck that thing

>>39923705
>Stow it away.

>>39923705
>>Stow it away.

>>39923705
>>Stow it away.

I suspect putting it on will lead to interesting things, things it would be best to be healthy for

>>39923705
You gaze intently into the black sockets that make up its eyes. For a moment you consider smashing it, but decide that it would be best to keep. A trophy, memento, reminder. Whatever it is to you, you'll hang onto it for a while yet.

You look out into the desert, unable to see anything but sand past the horizon, before you turn your gaze towards the sun, shielding your eyes from the light with your hand. The sun's just reaching its apex; it's only going to get hotter from here.

You consider waiting until it cools off in the evening, but then consider the fact that the longer you wait, the less time the town has. You pull out the less-than-helpful map, and going on your Farmer's Instinct, you decide to head towards the town to the north.

Stowing the map, you secure your pack on its strap, then begin walking. The sand shifts beneath each foot as you begin your quest to save your small town from an untimely demise.

>>39924312
And I think we can call that a wrap for the night! I hope you all enjoyed it. Next time, the real quest begins, as we search for a Magi to help the town.

I'll hang around a while if anyone has any questions, but I'll archive this in the meantime.

Thread's archived!

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/39917113/

>>39924464

Thanks QM!