Currently, you are in a line next to two official-looking outposts, well as official looking as two large wooden tents can be, in front of the Obelisk. On the day of the Call, as it has come to be known, The King prevented anyone from entering without taking a 'test' of ability first. The 'test' being a background check ensuring that you entering would ultimately be an advantage to the country once you succeeded, an advantage to him to be more precise. Skill was also taken into account, as rumors claim that only five thousand can commune with each Obelisk, of which only a few were scattered around the world.

You're quite confident you'll pass the checks, considering your family name. However what made you certain was that you:

Choose 2:
> became the apprentice of a nurse
> learned the arts of smithing from a blacksmith
> learned to track animals and forage food from a ranger who was your family friend
> trained in the use of weapons, especially (specify a weapon)
> tended to a stall with your older sister (negotiation/general diplomacy)

, useful skills to have.

((Whoops, dropped trip in the opening post. How embarrassing))

>>39970329
> trained in the use of weapons, especially chakrams
> learned to track animals and forage food from a ranger who was your family friend

>>39970329
>> learned the arts of smithing from a blacksmith
>> learned to track animals and forage food from a ranger who was your family friend
oh, it's the blue mage OP.

>>39970318
Op I'm pretty sure that tg dice can't roll a zero.

>>39970329

>trained in weapons (spear)
>tended to a stall

>>39970406
WHY did you tell him!?

>>39970329
>learned the arts of smithing from a blacksmith
> tended to a stall with your older sister (negotiation/general diplomacy)

We built and crafted she sold
Picked up a few tips and tricks from her though

>>39970329
> tended to a stall with your older sister (negotiation/general diplomacy)
> learned the arts of smithing from a blacksmith

>>39970406
>>39970424

((Glaring Mistake #1: Will fix :^>))

Calling votes now and writing

>>39970424
:^)

>>39970459
>:^>))
>>39970461
>:^)
call me outdated or whatever, but what does this mean?

>>39970494
I think its the language of faggots
I could be wrong

Also I think it became a taunt or some shit

As a child, you were sent off for an apprenticeship with one of the local blacksmiths. Although you haven't reached your masters levels of smithing yet, you're able to create items of decent quality, no doubt a useful skill. You tended to a stall with your older sister after working at the forge, selling trinkets and items at a marketside stall. Over the years, you picked up subtle changes in people's expressions as they haggled with you and learned which buttons to push to gain a favorable outcome.

"Alright, next up."

You step into the tent, parting the cloth drapes as you enter. There is little inside, save for a table at which five men sit at alongside a veritable mountain of books, no doubt city records.

"Name, age and notable skills"

"Raphael Volante, twenty one, blacksmithing and some trading experience."

"Volante, huh. Trying to reclaim honor or something aren't you. Well tough luck, you're no longer a 'prince' anymore. So what makes you think you can survive?"

"I think we both know why I'm capable enough.This bag contains the relevant documents, although for some reason unbeknownst to me they might weigh heavier than if just paper was inside. Go check it."

"...no issues with your... certification. Go ahead, just touch the obelisk and you should be in. And take your documents with you, wouldn't want it taking space on the table would we."

"No, no we wouldn't."

Collecting your bag, now significantly lighter, you head for the obelisk.

[1/2]

You step outside of the tent, now entering the fenced off area that contains the obelisk. You've seen if outside the fence before, but up close it looks even more oppressing. Passages fill the glassy structure, it's surfaces carved with the words and tongue of foreign lands that even you don't recognize. You place your hand upon the surface of the obelisk, it's surfaces growing warmer the longer you hold it there.

A flash of brilliant white bursts forth from your mind, and you fall. Looking below, you can only see an endless white that has no boundaries. Something is ejected from your stomach and you are now lighter with what used to be food falling in front of you, not that you know where it came from anyway.

Eventually, you fall into the wooden top of a bench, with a similar looking table in front of you. This time, it's manned by a floating wheel with... eyes?

"Ah, sorry about that damned latency."

"Latency?"

"Never mind, don't worry about that. So you mortal, you wish to ascend and rise to the challenge am I correct to assume?"

"Yes. It is my wish to bring glory to my House and restore it's honor."

"Glory to your house? Really now. You do know that- actually whatever. Just, just go kill the gatekeeper."

A rush of information floods your mind, experience and memories that you've never had flowing steadily like a river.

> Sygil of Avarice

> Mimic: Grasping at surrounding magic, you seek to understand the steps taken to perform it and aspire to replicate it.
> Consume: The true ability of your Sygil. You devour the soul of a corpse, gaining one of it's abilities perfectly.

CURRENT CAPACITY: [0/3]

[2/?]

>>39970716
>> Consume: The true ability of your Sygil. You devour the soul of a corpse, gaining one of it's abilities perfectly.

>>39970789
That's not a choice anon, we get both

Why yes that is pretty fucking OP

The scene dissipates from reality, well your reality at least. The walls and space of the cave rips asunder into shreds, before coming back together.

You find yourself in a similar cave, its walls now covered in grime and the only light, from sconces mounted upon the wall and from an opening from the end. A figure, almost twice your size, robed in a dark cloth, stands before you. It simply stares at you with a single eye before rushing you. A cyclops from myths, now brought real from whatever power governing the laws of this place.

You:

> keep dodging, its bound to use a spell soon. Then, you'll mimic it and use it.
> dodge, then strike at it with your fists. Make do with what you have
> write-in

___

Meta:

1: Catastrophic
2-5: Major Failure
6-10: Minor Failure
11-15: Minor Success
16-19: Major Success
20: Exceedingly Successful

Write-ins are highly encouraged and may give bonuses to rolls
___

>>39970852
> keep dodging, its bound to use a spell soon. Then, you'll mimic it and use it.

>>39970807

((To elaborate: Both require rolling, it's just that by consuming a soul, a highly frowned on activity by society, you eliminate the possibility of Copy Failure as it's a d20+1. Sorry, worded it wrongly.))

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>39970852
> keep dodging, its bound to use a spell soon. Then, you'll mimic it and use it.
While it's closing in, try to look for anything we could use as a melee weapon. In case he doesn't sling a spell.

Do we need to roll yet ?

>>39970888
Got it, thx OP

>>39970852
What, no character creation?
Boo, I wanted the MC to be a sexy futa.

On a serious note
>Dodge, then strike at it with your fists
Additionally
>Try to take out its kneecap, or otherwise topple it

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39970852
> dodge, then strike at it with your fists. Make do with what you have

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>39970960
Forgot roll. Derp.

>>39970852
>Keep dodging in wait of a spell
>Throw any pebbles/misc things lying around at it, the lack of depth perception will help up out
Its only got the one eye so it should be easy to out maneuver

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>39970993
Rollin rollin rollin

Writing, gotta go fast

Roll a d20, best of three

((Hopefully dice are warmed up now. Don't roll until I ask for it.))

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>39971020

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>39971020
pls

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39971020
Please dice gods

> 15, Minor Success

The colossus continues its charge towards you. Standing your ground, you strafe towards the side at the last minute as it swipes at you with it's arms. You sprint towards the other side of the small arena that is the cave, hoping that it'll decide to make up for the distance with a spell.

Your wish is granted, as it brings up both arms and smashes both palms together. An orb of shimmering grey shoots out of its clasped palms, rushing towards you. Having forseen this, you manage to strafe to the side with little difficulty.

You:

> Mimic its 'spell'
> Decide against it, aim to take it down
> write-in

>>39971137
>Mimic its 'spell'

Well I'd say we should try to cripple it but its fucking huge and even though we were a blacksmith we ain't that buff I assume

>>39971137
>> Mimic its 'spell'

>>39971157

((You are somewhat buff, but not enough to take down something twice your height))

>>39971137
> Mimic its 'spell'

>>39971137
> Mimic the spell
We can override spells if we want right? considering we have a cap of 3?

>>39971137
>Mimic its 'spell'
do we even HAVE mundane weapons/armor?

> Mimic it's spell

Writing now.

>>39971209
Does consume include innate abilities or just spells?

>>39971206

((Spells are override-able))

>>39971207

((Basic robes, you heard that it's better to just embrace your 'gift' as the challenge is suited for it. For example, the Cyclops has particularly hard skin, so you wouldn't be able to harm it with anything you could have gotten.))

>>39971223

((Innate are available, although not all of them are. Getting something like 'Stone Skin' or a defense buff might be possible))

___

You pull against the edges of your mind, taking in the left over mana from the spell. The Cyclops is starting to charge at you again, but you begin to feel a grasp on it. Information floods your mind like before, but this time it subsides within a second, as compared to what seemed like an eternity just minutes before.

> Ether Net: An orb of basic is shot from a catalyst, its target slowed for a few seconds. Some might call it a cantrip or useless, but in the right hands it is useful in a pinch.
SPELL CAPACITY: [1/3]
> Ether Net
> Empty
> Empty

What do you do?
> write-in

((Several things this post, I'm using the 15 you guys rolled above, since I felt that rolling too much might be a hassle. Tell me if you want that changed. Also going with full write-in only for a change, might change it back or keep it depending on feedback.))

>>39971329
Shoot an Ether Net in the middle of the Cyclops' stride, making him trip.

Then we poke him in the eye(or whatever gory alternative we can manage)

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>39971329
>Use Ether Net
>Slip behind it
>Attack
OP is exp a thing in this world? or will we progress organically via spell learning and equipment? Just asking to know if killing this yields rewards we wouldnt get via mimic and run tactics

>>39971369
yes lets blind him

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>39971369
This

>>39971329
Always give at least two options. I've seen quests die because people just didn't feel like dealing with write-ins

Also I'd rather we rolled everytime. If you want to speed play up just let us roll while we vote and grab the first three results.

>>39971403
>Also I'd rather we rolled everytime
disagree on that. There are cons, and if OP wants to roll after a decision is made, let him.

>>39971387

((You have to progress 'organically' if I'm getting you right. Like, won't level up or anything. Killing the Cyclops is necessary this time but going around obstacles that are not 'Level Bosses' is possible. Killing this dude lets you consume.))

>>39971403

((Noted, and noted.))

Writing, use ether net to slip him up and blind him.

>>39971422
And what would these cons be ?

>if OP wants to roll after a decision is made, let him.
I want him to be conscious of how much that slows play down. That said, whether he wants to change thing or not is entirely up to him, not you or me.

>>39971465
The dice rolls may affect the final vote(picking less/more risky options)

I'm assuming that OP was aware of that risk already.

> 19, Major Success

The Cyclops charges at you, however strength isn't everything in this world. Or realm, you'll find out soon. Calling upon your arcane knowledge, you intuitively repeat his actions, creating a much larger orb of swirling grey currents around your palms before it rockets off towards the charging Colossus. Mid-stride, your attack impacts one of its legs, causing him to trip and fall towards the ground. Sprinting forward, you bury your arm within it's single ocular organ, making blood and humor to erupt from it's injury. Now in a rage at the loss of it's vision, it flails helplessly, seeking vengeance for itself.

It is time to put it out of it's misery, you:

> Let it bleed out before consuming
> Provoke it, maybe you can learn another spell
> write-in

Roll a d20 regardless of choice

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>39971488
Eh, I still think it's worth it just to make the thread move a bit quicker, but yeah I guess you could see that as an unfair meta advantage.

>>39971545
> Let it bleed out before consuming

>>39971545
> Let it bleed out before consuming

>>39971545
>Throw rocks at his eye socket and get out of the way

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39971566
Forgot to roll

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>39971545

> Provoke it, maybe you can learn another spell

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>39971545
> Let it bleed out before consuming

>>39971545
>> Provoke it, maybe you can learn another spell
i can SEE that you are in some trouble

>>39971597
I'm the guy who wrote >>39971578 and I think that was bad.

>>39971619
i have SEEN worse

> Let it bleed out

Writing

1, Catastrophic Failure

You wait for it to bleed out, hoping you won't have to finish it yourself. Unfortunately, what it seems that fate has other plans. Mid-flail, the cyclops somehow manages to cast the familiar grey orb at you. It strikes true, and you feel encased in a shimmering mist of etheric chains, smothered by them. The cyclops gets up from it's position on the ground, half standing, half crawling, it moves towards you before slamming it's fist into you.

You fly free from its strike, smashing into the floor a distance away. It hurts like a bitch, and that's before your nerves can even tell you the full extent of the damage. The cyclops seemingly glares at you, and begins moving again.

You:

> keep your distance from it, it must bleed out soon right? You also use Ether Net to slow it down
> Finish it, another jab should mess it's veins (does it even have veins?) up and it should die faster
> write-in

>>39971735
> Finish it, another jab should mess it's veins (does it even have veins?) up and it should die faster

>>39971735
>> Finish it, another jab should mess it's veins (does it even have veins?) up and it should die faster

((Forgot, please roll a d20, best of three))

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39971735

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>39971735
> Finish it, another jab should mess it's veins (does it even have veins?) up and it should die faster

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>39971735
>keep your distance from it, it must bleed out soon right? You also use Ether Net to slow it down

Look for any remains from any older battles like a broken spear, sword, shield etc

We're slowed so the last thing we should try is getting closer and a crops counter with a cyclops is suicidal right now

> FINISH HIM

Writing

14, Minor Success

You begin the waiting game yet again, keeping your distance from the Cyclops. As soon as he gets close, you strafe, sprinting to the other side yet again, aiding yourself with the use of Ether Nets. Eventually, the cyclops bleeds out and dies.

> roll a d20+1 for consuming

((Sorry for the delay, had an errand to do.))

Rolled 7 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>39971953

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>39971953

Rolled 12 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>39971953

> 13, Minor Success

Writing

((There seems to be a drop in players, should I keep going or start up in a few hours?))

>>39972010
Well, I'm about to go to sleep.

>>39972010
I'm still around. Lurking. Don't roll or vote when it's basically already been decided.

>>39972010
Don't know. I didn't reply because capcha refused to cooperate.

13, Minor Success

You walk up towards the corpse of you what was your opponent a few minutes ago, its corpse bleeding out to create a veritable pool of blood. You step gingerly over it, intuitively bringing your palms over the center of it's torso. Drawing in it's powers, you manage to glean some information from it's brain.

After a few minutes of concentration, you go through it's memories, carefully examining it's thoughts and processes as it fought you. Eventually, you decide that consuming:

> Hardened Skin: You command surrounding mana to flood your body, increasing your tenacity by creating a temporary shimmering afterglow of orbiting magic around yourself. The magic intercepts incoming blows and dissipates, taking the force of the blows with it. Temporary effect, has to 'recharge' before it works again

> Ogre Strength: For a limited amount of time, you amplify a strike with magic, making blows hit harder and faster than before.

> Ether Spike: The cousin of Ether Net, this attack damages with the force of a physical blow instead of enveloping its target. You envelop your hand with the ether, attacking as if you had an iron blade within. The area of effect does not extend much after a the length of a dagger, but is said to be able to pierce even steel plate in the right conditions.

>>39972127
>> Hardened Skin: You command surrounding mana to flood your body, increasing your tenacity by creating a temporary shimmering afterglow of orbiting magic around yourself. The magic intercepts incoming blows and dissipates, taking the force of the blows with it. Temporary effect, has to 'recharge' before it works again

>>39972127
>Ogre Strength: For a limited amount of time, you amplify a strike with magic, making blows hit harder and faster than before.

>>39972127
> Ogre Strength: For a limited amount of time, you amplify a strike with magic, making blows hit harder and faster than before.
Now we can slow them down and beat the shit out of them

>>39972127
> Ether Spike
Spellswords a best

>>39972127
>> Ether Spike: The cousin of Ether Net, this attack damages with the force of a physical blow instead of enveloping its target. You envelop your hand with the ether, attacking as if you had an iron blade within. The area of effect does not extend much after a the length of a dagger, but is said to be able to pierce even steel plate in the right conditions.

>>39972167
Yeah im changing to Ether Spike
i kind of like the idea of "Shadow Boxing" with spells mimicing our movements, even if at this stage the range is very limited

>>39972127
>> Ether Spike: The cousin of Ether Net, this attack damages with the force of a physical blow instead of enveloping its target. You envelop your hand with the ether, attacking as if you had an iron blade within. The area of effect does not extend much after a the length of a dagger, but is said to be able to pierce even steel plate in the right conditions.
May as well get a good attack now rather than later.

> Stabby Stabby

Writing

>>39972127
>Hardened Skin

OP is kill?

>>39972665
It seems so.

>>39972665
seem like it.

If OP is truly the killest of kill anybody wanna run something like this, the concept of a Blue Mage Quest interests me.

>>39972744
Yeah, Blue Mages really need more love around here.

((Really sorry for the delay, IRL stuff happened))

Sifting through the cyclops mind, if you can call it that, you eventually extract the information from him and implant it within yourself.

SPELL CAPACITY: [2/3]
> Ether Net
> Ether Spike
> Empty

You step back over the corpse of the cyclops, making your way to the opening from which light pours out from. As soon as you step within the portal, reality warps yet again, depositing you on your back in the grass.

[LEVEL 2]

You find yourself in the midst of the woods, trees towering high above you with seemingly endless branches. The sun shines down upon you, a difference of magnitudes from the cave you were just in. As you sit up, you find something clearly existing in the distance, yet so unnatural that you can't help but feel that it's 'off' somehow.

It takes you awhile but intuition fills in the rest: The city wasn't made by humans.

[1/?]

((Might have to wrap this up soon, I'll continue the next day though.))

>>39972744
Believe it or not, it has happened before, although under a different name.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Mercenary+Recruit+Quest%2C+Collective+Game%2C+Procastinator_Anon

It's nothing amazing, but I guess that too can serve as an inspiration if anyone wants to do it.

>>39972799
Amen. I'd love to see more blue mage stuff, like how to adapt them to different systems and so forth.

File: Blue_Mage_FFXI_Art.jpg (311 KB, 832x1032)

311 KB JPG

>>39972803
Ok.

>>39972803
Might be a silly question, but do passives take up slots in the Spell Capacity?

>>39972822

((Yes.))

((Alright, I'm afraid I'll have to end it here for now. Please leave constructive criticism and how I can improve. I'm aware that I have long pauses between updates but I'm working on shortening them. There will be a (hopefully) longer thread tomorrow, will update))

So while OP's gone, how about we discuss blue mages?

- How do we best implement Blue mages into different systems?
- What systems would they fit well into?
- What systems would they not fit into?
- What monster abilities/spells should they be able to learn?
- How should they learn them?
- What should the fluff be?

>>39972916
It'd be great if you got a Twitter. Following quests is a lot easier that way.
As for the quest itself, try to give Volante more of a personality, or allow our choices to dictate his personality. For example if we consistently choose defensive skills, he should come off as a "play it safe" type of guy in your prose, even if we didn't choose that correctly.
And this is more of a personal opinion, but the 1d20 system, even with the best of three, has a bad probability spread. Something like 3d6 can keep a relatively similar scale but will favor the 9-12 range. It makes thing more stable, but it's ultimately your call on what kind of quest you want.

>>39974293
>choose that correctly.
I meant "choose that directly"

Bump, I guess

>>39970807
>you gain the ability to crochet.

page 10 pity bump

>>39972803
what do souls taste like?

>>39974293
>And this is more of a personal opinion, but the 1d20 system, even with the best of three, has a bad probability spread.
it's not the probability that's bad, but the obnoxiously high crit rate when you roll three times.

Bump

>>39978988
I'm talking 25% chance of ANY crit happening, even after subtracting the cases where a crit and a critfail cancel each other out.

>>39972803
>((Might have to wrap this up soon, I'll continue the next day though.))

For the record, I strongly suggest you move the action system around from an 'everyone roll for what the ywant' system to the more established quest system of discussion actions, and THEN putting a promt to roll 3 times out there.

>>39971583
Otherwise, once the trollls arrive, you get shit like this rolling and making stupid suggestions at the same time.

___

Meta: Dice system has now been changed to:

100: Exceptional Success / Perfect Copy
76-99: Major Success / Greater Skill Copy
51-75: Minor Success / Major Skill Copy
26-50: Minor Failure / Lesser Skill Copy
2-25: Major Failure / Minor Skill Copy
1: Catastrophic Failure / Copy Failure

And holy shit, it's still up. You guys are great. The was meant to be the into to the second thread but I'll just put it here so no one has to read the whole thing to get an idea of whats going on. Also ask for info on lore if you want, writing a pastebin on the lore currently
___

SPELL CAPACITY: [2/3]
> Ether Net
> Ether Spike
> Empty

[LEVEL 2]

You are Raphael Volante, 6th son of a now poor House. Aspiring to return the name of your house to greatness, you have taken up a challenge issued by the gods. Rumors and myths claim that its purpose is to find a replacement for the pantheon, but nobody knows truly. You only have one thing in mind, however, and that is to win it.

Finding yourself in a forest after completing what was presumably the first test given, you gaze across. Plains separate the forests from a city, it's walls made of white stone displaying an unnatural gleam outwards. A large encampment of various wooden establishments, tents and various ad hoc structures can be seen outside the city walls around the sole gatehouse, although what appear to be the encampments guards seem to be most concentrated near the gatehouse for some reason or another. The encampment is lightly defended, with only palisades for walls, most likely the make of the Limenuav Engineering Corps.

Having recovered from your inter-realm travel, you begin your journey there.

[1/?]

>>39982628
For reference, that's a 5.8% chance of ANY crit happening, after discounting crits that cancel each other.

You arrive at the encampment not long after, by your estimates it took perhaps an hour or so, yet the sun hasn't seemed to move from it's central position above the heart of the city. Well, you say sun, but considering where you are, it's most likely false. But then again, what the fuck is going on in here.

The palisades encircle the encampment fully, save for a few stretches of land which serve as the entrances. The size of the hastily thrown together settlement is astounding, easily being larger than a town. In fact, you'd call it a town if it wasn't made entirely of wood. Two soldiers stand by next to one of the 'entrances', they don't seem to be doing anything though. In fact, they seem to be exactly similar to each other. Probably a static remnant or someone has a duplication ability however you're still unsure.

Smoke rises around you from campfires, within buildings and outside, as a people mill about. You:

> Find out more information
>> by approaching a guard. He, no it, it? Either way he has to be more knowledgeable than a poster
>> going to what seems like a billboard in front of you, no need to bother someone
>> by approaching a stranger
> go to the gatehouse immediately
> look for provisions, especially an inn. Gods know you need something to eat
> look for equipment
> write-in

>>39982888
>>> by approaching a guard. He, no it, it? Either way he has to be more knowledgeable than a poster
>>39982888
>> look for provisions, especially an inn. Gods know you need something to eat
>>39982888
>> look for equipment

>>39982888
> Find out more information
>> by approaching a guard. He, no it, it? Either way he has to be more knowledgeable than a poster

((Writing in 5 minutes))

> Find out more information
>> by approaching a guard. He, no it, it? Either way he has to be more knowledgeable than a poster

You begin to approach one of the guards next to the wooden palisades before waving at him.

"Excuse me but could you tell me about this place?"

He doesn't reply. In fact he continues looking forward into the distance while you attempt again. It is only after a few minutes when a man looking exactly like the guard you were talking to approaches you. The man is similarly clad in plain guardsman's armor, a breastplate, grey breeches of Limenuav, a spear about one and a half of his height and a rotund shield.

"Ah, sorry about that. They're copies that are passive until activated, so they're effectively statues until then."

"You are?"

"Willian Woldt, recently promoted to guard captain. I used to be a guard until I went through there, but now I can do the job of a dozen men easily. Horse shit I tell you, I'm getting paid a sixth of what I should be getting. But what can I do."

"I'm assuming a Duke is in charge here, since the guards are present?"

"Yeah, Duke Helmund is organizing some kind of raid into that city near the gatehouse."

"Yeah about that..."

"Monsters are inside, haven't been there myself but I heard there's some strong resistance within."

You:

> say something (write-in) Free action
> go to the gatehouse immediately
> look for provisions, especially an inn. Gods know you need something to eat
> look for equipment
> write-in

>>39983416
> look for provisions, especially an inn. Gods know you need something to eat
Do we even have currency on us?

>>39983497

((You do. I didn't specify until now as this is the first 'shopping' segment.))

>>39983416
>> look for provisions, especially an inn. Gods know you need something to eat

> grocery time

writing

___

Meta: I'll be going for an hour or so, both for lunch and also to see if more players turn up. Going to be leaving after I type the next post.
___

You head for one of the larger wooden structures that seem to dominate the local area. The entire building is a single story structure, essentially four walls with a sloped roof hammered on and wooden flooring installed. Open air windows are available, which would be a problem in the rain however it seems that the weather doesn't change in this realm. Parting the door, you find that the inn is not crowded, yet not empty. The place has a few tables and chairs, of which some are taken and others not, scattered around the floor with a counter at the back. An old man, with graying hairs stands behind the counter, and nods at you.

"Welcome, welcome. Looking for something?"

"Actually, yeah..."

You have 3350 Silver Units (S.U.)
> Preserved food for a day (20 SU)
> A meal (10 SU)
> waterskin (If filled, sufficient for a day) (5 SU)
> bandages (prevents bleeding) (10 SU)

You also:

> attempt to strike up a conversation with one of the patrons (You can choose multiple) ((Meta: Companions))
>> the first table, which seats a man armored in chainmail and a plain surcoat, as well as a figure robed in brown with a rapier at their side
>> the second table, which seats an archer
>> the third table, seating an (as far as you can tell) unnarmed man
>> the fourth table, seating a medical student from one of the universities from your city
> leave for
>> gatehouse
>> an equipment store
>> write-in
> write-in

>>39983948
>> Preserved food for a day (20 SU)
>> A meal (10 SU)
>> waterskin (If filled, sufficient for a day) (5 SU)
>> bandages (prevents bleeding) (10 SU)
1 of each.
>> the second table, which seats an archer

>>39983948
>>39983948
>> Preserved food for a day (20 SU)
>> A meal (10 SU)
>> waterskin (If filled, sufficient for a day) (5 SU)
>> bandages (prevents bleeding) (10 SU)
>some alcohol(for disinfecting/drinking, whichever is more urgent)
>rope
>small hand mirror (small and sturdy enough that it won't break)
>firestarter(whatever's appropriate for the tech level)
>......backpack
>collapsible telescope
>a small magnet

>> the fourth table, seating a medical student from one of the universities from your city
get the man with a degree on anatomy, we're going to need it.

after which, we get equipped. A targe or any small shield to wear on the arm at all times while leaving both hands free. Some proper freaking light armor, as is proper for blue mages. Boots and anything that doesn't get caught on thorns so running is not a particularly difficult task to do.

Maybe get some workshop tools and a carving knife, if those smithing skills are ever going to see use.

now it's time for ME to leave, as well.

>>39983948
I'm not gonna vote on the shopping part, but if we're gonna go all stabby-stabby with the Ether Spike, we gonna need some ranged back-up. Take the archer dude, weaken him from afar, shoot him with the Net, and then shank the nigga.
Alternatively just get everyone there and say, "Ay, if we all go together, we probably won't get mauled mauled to death. At least, not as quickly as others.

((Right, going to start this up again at about the same time yesterday, which is about 5~ hours time))

((Roll call, who's here?))

Me

Here

>>39988037
Hello

>>39988037
I am here now

((Right, starting now.))

Buy items included here >>39984190
Y/N

Also vote for who to approach

>>39988414
right when I get back, too. Still(as in the vote from above) voting for medical guy.

>>39988414
Food and Waterskin sounds nice

Approach the most attractive/busty young woman availible and open with "I'm Blue" *rest elbow on wall, snap-into-point finger* "How are you?"

>>39988448
With emphasis on the rhyme.

Writing

>>39988414
shoot got distracted, casting a vote for medical guy

You purchase a warm meal consisting of a meat stew and a mug of ale, as well as a few other preserved foodstuffs and stock for your adventures ahead, before walking over the the second table. The archer seated looks up at you, seemingly curious at what you're about to say.

"Mind if I seat over here?"

"No, not at all. Edward Veray, countryman until I came here. You?"

"Raphael Volante, of House Volante. Mostly a tradesman before."

"House Volante? Never heard of it before, my apologies, sir."

"No, no, it's fine. I don't blame you, my House was on some hard times previously so we weren't that active in the political scene."

"Right, so what did you kill to get here? I don't suppose you got a giant sentient mushroom too."

"Close enough, got a cyclops. On a side note, what did you get as a sygil?"

"I won't go into details, but I can amplify my shots now."

"Alright, I respect that. I can-"

> use the ether (lie)
> copy spells from others (truth)
> now use general magic that I learn (half-half)
> write-in

>>39988626
>learn spells on the fly

>>39988626

> copy spells from others (truth)

>>39988626
>copy spells from others (truth)

> truth

Writing

"Alright, I respect that. I can copy spells from others."

You pause for a bit, before continuing, "How'd you like to team up together?"

"I don't see why not, although once we reach the upper realms we may not be able to do so anymore. Either way I'll join you."

> Ally gained, Edward Veray

He sets down his utensils, before cleaning his palms upon his leather armor and shaking hands with you.

"I'll have to purchase some equipment first, shall we meet... here after we're done with everything?"

"That's fine by me."
___

Once you've finished your meal with Edward, he leaves the inn, most likely for one of the temporary marketplaces that have seemed to sprung up. You suspect not all of them are of mundane origins, considering their speed. Leaving your seat, you now head for the fourth table.

Seated at the fourth table is a girl slightly younger than you drinking soup. Judging from her cloak, a worn maroon emblazoned with the silver crest of one of the medical schools in your city, she is a graduated student, no doubt an advantage to you if you manage to recruit her.

"Hey, mind if I seat over here?"

She glances around, before simply looking with bored eyes at you.

"Why, there's an empty table over there."

"Honestly, I'm here to propose something."

"I'm not interested in you."

"Damnit, not that. How would you like to join me and a ranger as a team to ascend? You don't look like you have much combat capabilities and we need a healer."

"Show me that you're a capable fighter then, I can fight too. Lets spar outside. If you win, I'll join you, if not you can fuck right off."

You:

> accept, this seems to be the only way you'll convince her
> decline, you can get someone else
> negotiate, perhaps you can prove that you have something of worth apart from combat skills

>>39988926
>accept, this seems to be the only way you'll convince her

Literally just straight up ether chain her to the ground

>>39988926
> accept, this seems to be the only way you'll convince her
kick her fucking ass
Also i really think a new thread would be good for finding more players, i only came stumbling in after seeing this was still up by chance

>>39989004

((I was considering it. Leaning towards doing so now (well maybe after the fight) actually, thoughts from others?))

>>39988926
>accept, this seems to be the only way you'll convince her
ether chain is a given, but ether spike might be a touch lethal for a sparring match

>>39988926
>accept, this seems to be the only way you'll convince her
even if we lose, we can still copy techniques

>>39989030
the only reason i got in here was due to the fact that i still had the page open from last time, so a new thread is probably a good idea

Writing, possibly going to shift to another thread after combat scene

"Lets go then."

Your acceptance signals both of you to leave the inn. Currently, you wear a simply traveler's robe that you bought before entering this realm. It was common knowledge that the difficulty increased with your preparedness, however you doubt that a little since the Duke in charge of the expedition was reportedly seen wearing plate.

To be fair, your opponent wasn't that much different in the armor section either, she's currently equipped with a robe, which you could trip possibly, a much thinner white gambeson than the ones you normally see, and some trousers that cover everything below the waist that the gambeson doesn't.

Both of you find your way to an empty section of the settlement, a difficult task by itself since now the crowd has grown. Eventually, you manage to get a location where you're not likely to be disturbed.

She stands a few feet away from you, the purple iris of her eyes looking at you vigilantly through her blonde hair.

"Shall we begin?" You ask, as you stretch

"Yeah, go for it. Don't pull your punches, I need a good read on you." She replies as her hands up till her elbows bursts into flames. Fire coalesce in her grasped hands, which she holds separately from each other.

You:

> dodge, and attempt to copy whatever she's doing
> ether net her
> write-in

>>39989213
>ether net her
We should be friends.

>>39989213
>Ether net her, and feign attacks while trying to copy her fire thing.

>>39989213
>ether net her
get closer for a ether spike

>>39989213
>Write in
Throw some punches and purposely miss them by a few inches. When she gets a feel for that pace we activate Ether Spike and beat her with out extended range

> writing

((Sorry, some urgent IRL stuff caught up. Please roll a d20 for ether net. This will be the end of the thread, thanks for the participation.))

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>39989425

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>39989425

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39989425

>>39989425
wait, didn't we change to a d100 system?

((Sorry, roll a d100. My bad.))

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>39989425
Saving roll!

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>39989425
just in case we were supposed to be rolling d100

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>39989425

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>39989513

>>39989709
>>39989486
>>39971583
now that's just pathetic.

>>39989709
I regret nothing

>>39989781
You should regret everything