“Some do” you say “though most are smart enough to work out some sort of bargain or trade: there are lots of ways for even someone under magical compulsion to rebel after all.”

“But that’s wrong” complains Imina “why is that allowed?” Around the classroom the students have stopped taking notes, and are watching this exchange with interest.

How do you respond?
>No talking, back to the lesson (exclusive)
>The gods don’t object, so it can’t be wrong
>Yes, its very wrong, and I would never condone it
>The world is full of unfairness, this is just one example
>Other (what?)

[Meta]

Angel Racial abilities re-priced

Titan Form Added

Minotaur racial abilities added

Barbarian class abilities added

Bard class abilities added

Multi-class abilities added

[End Meta]

>>41151898
>The world is full of unfairness, this is just one example
>Wherever power is found, there will be someone who will abuse it, or misuse it.

>>41151898
>The world is full of unfairness, this is just one example
>Its up to yourself to make the decision you think is the right one.

>>41151898
>The world is full of unfairness, this is just one example
>Wherever power is found, there will be someone who will abuse it, or misuse it.
>Its up to yourself to make the decision you think is the right one.

ok, writing

“The world isn’t a very fair or nice place most of the time” you say, putting down the chalk and leaning against your desk. Time to talk to your students rather than just teach them it seems. “There will always be those who abuse power, magical or otherwise.”

The girls all look at one another “That’s not what some of the other teachers say” ventures one “they say we should be nice to each other and stuff, and that most of the people in the world are not going to have any reason to hurt us.”

You smile slightly “that’s one view” you say “but not everyone you will meet is going to be *nice* - some of them are going to be truly horrible people, and yes, that includes wizards and other mages, we are no more righteous than any” And a lot worse than many you add silently to yourself, recalling your days at the guild.

“You too will have to choose” you say, looking around the room “whether to be nice, or not. It will always be up to you to make the right decision when you have some sort of power over others as well.”

There a pause as the girls all think about that, then they pick up the discussion.

“Can mages summon soulborn?” asks one girl. Ithilra is her name. She looks worried, she’s a succubus soulborn.

“Its possible” you admit “but then in theory anyone can be summoned with a spell, mortal or otherwise.”

“So any one of us could be summoned at any time?” asks Ithilra “And forced to do....do things?”

“I don’t think it’s very likely” you start to say “statistically the chances-”

“But it could happen, couldn’t it sir?” asks another girl. Daliana.

How do you respond?

>No talking, back to the lesson (exclusive)
>Not from the school, there are wards to prevent that
>No sensible mage would summon a young girl to do, uh....things
>That’s why I’m teaching you magic, so you can protect yourselves
>Other (what?)

>>41152064
>Not from the school, there are wards to prevent that
>That’s why I’m teaching you magic, so you can protect yourselves

>>41152064
>Not from the school, there are wards to prevent that
>That’s why I’m teaching you magic, so you can protect yourselves

>>41152064
>Not from the school, there are wards to prevent that
>That’s why I’m teaching you magic, so you can protect yourselves

>>41152064
>>Not from the school, there are wards to prevent that
>>That’s why I’m teaching you magic, so you can protect yourselves
>Like I said it'd be rare by any metric and it'd also be far harder than conventional means.

>41152064
Since we'll be leaving the school for events and stuff, what if we made the club members our exclusive summons? That way they can't be summoned during the few times they aren't behind protective wards?

>>41152163
Honestly? Summoning them would require an insane amount of work, because it'd be a completely new spell. I doubt any single one of the girls is worth that effort, especially since each girl would require her own unique spell.

“Not at the school” you say. You noticed the wards on your first day here, but paid them no mind “there are wards to prevent anyone from being summoned whilst on school grounds.” But now that you think about it, what about when you take the girls with you to the big city?

Not to mention, those wards you saw were obviously put together by a skilled mage – probably the Headmaster – but they were not up to your standards. Maybe you should improve them some.

It’s clear the girls are having similar thoughts.

“But like, what if we’re away from school and we get summoned?” asks another girl, Darcia. She’s a shy girl with glasses and dark hair, you think she’s a tiefling, but of what sort you’re not sure. “Or how about when we leave school for good?”

“That’s why I’m teaching you magic” you address the whole class “there are plenty of ways to prevent yourself from being summoned against your will: Most summoning spells have in-built safety clauses to protect the caster, and to ensure that the summoned creature is going to be useful when they arrive, but exploiting these features you can ensure that a summoning spell cannot be used to kidnap you or force you to do things against your will, for example the typical summoning spell always forces the summonee to obey the summoner. If it cannot force compliance, then it will search for a different target...”

You spend the rest of that class discussing the different classes of summoning spells and how they select their targets, and how this system can be exploited to ensure that the girls will never be targeted by such a spell.

You enjoy talking about what is a fairly advanced subject, and the girls are engaged and taking as many notes as they can. You also get several requests for private tutoring from some of the girls at the end of the class.

When morning lessons finish its lunchtime; this evening you will be tutoring Janrael, and then you will be getting on the train.

What do you do over lunchtime?

>Nothing, just have lunch (skips to evening)
>Study up on legal matters and get ready to help Taynathil
>Talk to Headmaster about improving the schools wards
>Private tutoring (which girl? Or girls?)
>Make magic items (what?)
>Recruit Trainer (which?)
>Recruit girl (which?)
>Other (what?)

>>41152215
>Study up on legal matters and get ready to help Taynathil

>>41152215
>Talk to Headmaster about improving the schools wards

>>41152215
>>Study up on legal matters and get ready to help Taynathil

>>41152215
>Talk to Headmaster about improving the schools wards

>>41152188
>>41152163
Hmm... this makes me wonder. Pally, what exactly are our options here? And can you give us some idea on their reasonableness?

>>41152267
Oh and how much effort would it require to make a spell that would summon one of the girls?

>>41152267
I suppose a item of dimensional anchor could help?

writing answers to questions.

Going with legal stuff for now, because vote tied

>>41152267
That's fairly easy, you just need to innovate the *Summon Soulborn* spell.

Any summoning spell can be used to either:
i) Grab a random target that qualifies;
ii) Grab a target that meets certain criteria (i.e. I don't want any Angel, I want a Warrior Angel), or;
iii) Grab a specific target, but requires an arcane link or their full name

>>41152269
You have several main options
i) Develop a custom spell that protects against summoning, based on another spell, such as Dimensional Anchor.
A modified DA spell could allow for *willing* dimensional travel, but specifically prevent unwilling only dimensional travel.
It might be a fairly high-ranked spell though

ii) Develop custom spells for each girl. As option 1 but lower ranked because of having a very limited target permitted (i.e. target: one beholder soulborn).

iii) Conjurers (specialisation) can *tag* creatures so that they can only be summoned by the conjurer, not by anyone else. Attempting to summon anothers exclusive summon is *very* difficult and even another conjurer would face severe difficulties doing so.

But really anything that exploits the summoning mechanism could work, summon spells reach out, grab a random (usually) creature and call it to the casters side, provided:

i) The summon spell can control the summoned creature (or confine it)
ii) The Summon spell can actually transport the creature there (defeated by Dimensional Anchor)
iii) The summoned creature meets the spells targeting criteria (creature type or specific one)
iv) The summoned creature is not arriving into a hazardous environment (can summon into battle, but can't summon a fish or of water, or a creature into lava - unless immune to it)

>>41152304
>>41152337
Thanks for the very thorough explanation. That is quite useful.

>>41152337
So it seems our most viable option right now is a dimensional anchor spell on all girls, until we taught one of them as conjurer.

>>41152361
Unless someone has a link to the girls, it's wasted effort. The summoning spells are in exact without one. Also why summon the girls when you could summon their full powered betters?

Over lunchtime you take your food up to the library and take advantage of the schools extensive collection of law books.

What the Headmaster told you earlier was correct: the dispute involving Mr Aldersly, the druids and the Mayor not enforcing the agreement would be settled by the local Baron: Haplendale.

And if the Headmaster is to be believed, Haplendale has at least mild antipathy towards the druids because they interrupt his hunting.

So you either need to create such a strong case that he cannot rule against you, or find some way to have this case head by someone above him. Hmmm, perhaps if you could find evidence of him ruling against the druids a lot and prove his bias?

What is the plan?
>Create the perfect case
>Find evidence of bias in Haplendales rulings
>Other (what?)

Standard vote time but there will be a delay in posting. AFK

>>41152394
Pally already said a summon Soulborn spell could summon any of them, and someone could want to do that, since they would be more easily coerced than a full outsider.

>>41152404
>Find evidence of bias in Haplendales rulings

>>41152404
>Find evidence of bias in Haplendales rulings
We already know the dude is corrupt as fuck, so trying to appeal to him will be a futile effort.

>>41152394
What >>41152420 said. Also I'm a lot less worried about someone summoning them for their power and a lot more worried about someone like a scalper summoning them for their parts, or something equally dark.


>>41152404
>Find evidence of bias in Haplendales rulings

>>41152420
But what would the point be? Sum miners want power and a random summon soul born is no guarantee of that. Additionally that spell could grab any soul born, chances of it getting one of the girls is next to nil. They need to already have a link to them to get a sure summon.


>>41152434
If the scampers could do it they'd have done so. Summoning spells without a link are very in exact. Also traceable.

>>41152404
>Find evidence of bias in Haplendales rulings

Please roll 1d20+14 for legal study

Rolled 19 + 14 (1d20 + 14)

>>41152497

Rolled 14 + 14 (1d20 + 14)

>>41152497

Rolled 11 + 14 (1d20 + 14)

>>41152456
>If the scampers could do it they'd have done so. Summoning spells without a link are very in exact. Also traceable.

Their abilities can change, maybe they'll get more money in the future or something will happen to make it more worth their while. Additionally, before the girls weren't making frequent trips off of school grounds. With the adventuring club that may change. Its not like it would be massively difficult to secure them somewhat.

Also

>Sum miners want power and a random summon soul born is no guarantee of that.
Its not about power. Its about deviant wizards who might want them for their parts or for their "parts."

>Additionally that spell could grab any soul born, chances of it getting one of the girls is next to nil. They need to already have a link to them to get a sure summon.
This is inaccurate. They could easily specify female soulborn (as this is THE school for female soulborn I'm pretty sure thats a problem) or female soulborn of a specific type. Read >>41152304 again since you didn't seem to get it. Also a full name is apparently as good as a link. That is worrisome.
>>41152497
rolling

>>41152513
If they put that much thought and research into the girls. There's no way to actually defend against it. By your logic we should be terrified some drop could summon us for torture and execution any given day. This is Pally trying to get us to shadow run and make us scramble.

File: Really now, Natalia Poklo(...).jpg (58 KB, 502x496)

58 KB JPG

>>41152527
>There's no way to actually defend against it.
Aside from the several points Pally explicitly pointed out would give us a decent level of security.

>>41152537
That we're currently incapable of doing. Also if they know that much about the girls, bypassing the wards with a rogue would be easy.

>>41152545
How are we incapable of doing
>i) Develop a custom spell that protects against summoning, based on another spell, such as Dimensional Anchor. A modified DA spell could allow for *willing* dimensional travel, but specifically prevent unwilling only dimensional travel. It might be a fairly high-ranked spell though
or
>ii) Develop custom spells for each girl. As option 1 but lower ranked because of having a very limited target permitted (i.e. target: one beholder soulborn).

And how does knowing one of the girls full names have anything to do with a rogue bypassing the wards?

Listen, I'm not saying that a kidnapping is imminent. I'm just saying we put forth some effort to protect the girls and in character it will make them feel safer.

>>41152580
hell we could make upgrading the wards a class project.

Appealing to the Barons sense of justice is a waste of time, better to find evidence that he’s ruled against the druids and their allies in the past.

You spend your lunchtime flipping through old and dusty legal records. You manage to sift out what you need. It seems the Barons grudge against the druids may be about more than hunting. His grandfather and father both ruled against the druids circles almost all of the time. A family grudge perhaps?

The only time they ruled in favour of them is when doing so harmed a third party who were the enemies of the barony in some way, or if ruling in favour of the druids also helped the baron somehow.

Well, you’ve got all the evidence of bias you need. Now you just need to put it together into a proper legal brief, and decide if you want to take it to the barons overlord, or the crown magistrates (who act for the king) or even perhaps a religious court, since the churches recognise the druids as a form of priest.

Before you can get writing however the bell goes, and you realise that you’re late for your next lesson.
---
The afternoons lessons pass quickly, you do have several repeats of the mornings conversation though. The schools rumour and gossip mill is running strong. You now have a list of 20 girls wanting tutoring on how to protect themselves against summoning. 2 of them are also on the list the Headmaster gave you: Safire and Lucinda De La Hallowthwaite. You’ll have to think about that later however, that evening you agreed to teach Janrael.
---
You’ve arranged to meet Janrael in an empty classroom for her lesson in abjuration magic. She arrives on time and you start the lesson, beginning with the basics of abjuration magic and protective spells, and how they work – shielding against evil (or other forces). As you talk, Janrael takes notes.

>>41152580
H pally is trying to get us to spend of our exp instead of using it to get stronger. If I'm good enough to magically figure out all the girls full names, I'm good enough to knock them out with a poison while in transit, which would be cheaper and yield more than a flashy snatch summoning.

>>41152545
>That we're currently incapable of doing.
Dimensional Anchor would work, it would just be slightly inconvenient if we needed to teleport the girls about. I wouldn't be very surprised if the school has a reserve of items to protect against unwilling summoning for girls that have to go on class trips.

>Also if they know that much about the girls, bypassing the wards with a rogue would be easy.
We had a scalper that knew at least one girl at this school by name break in last thread, so they do know that much about some of the girls, and they try it occasionally. The problem is there are alarm wards as well and, once those are tripped, a pissed off necromancer roaming the halls looking for skeletons to rip out.

Part way through your lecture, you notice that Janrael has stopped paying attention and is looking downwards, her shoulders hunched. You don’t need to be an enchanter to know something is wrong.

What do you do?
>Keep on with the lesson, when she’s ready to talk, she’ll talk
>Be direct, just ask her
>Try to cheer her up, tell a joke or something
>Other (what?)

>>41152628
>>Try to cheer her up, tell a joke or something
Then
>Be direct, just ask her

>>41152628
>Be direct, just ask her
"Yo bitch, whats wrong?"

>>41152628
>Try to cheer her up, tell a joke or something
>Be direct, just ask her

>>41152628
>Be direct, just ask her

>>41152628
>Try to cheer her up, tell a joke or something
>Be direct, just ask her

Joke then ask

Please roll 1d20+11 for talking

Rolled 19 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

>>41152712

Rolled 16 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

>>41152712

>>41152619
It costs us nothing to use DA on them, and they could always end up summoning one of the girls because she is the easiest target for the spell.

In the end there is literally no reason not to make the little effort to make sure they are sfae.

Rolled 17 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

>>41152712

>>41152724
Doesn't DA drain our pool? Especially when used on 4 or more girls? Honestly we should be far more worried about conventional rogues. Cheaper more effective and they have a lot of ways to drop you in a civilian setting.

>>41152745
Why not both?

>>41152745
It costs 8 Arcane Energy for 4 girls and we could cast it from our Abjuration reserve that totals over 120 AE. Not counting items.

Worrying about one thing doesn't preclude worrying about other things.

>>41152745
> more effective
Except not. They need to actually get to the girls and then move them away, a summoning doesn't.

And the safety of our girls would be well worth the measly 8 AE.

Maybe you’re lecture is a little too technical. You try to make it more interesting.

“So protection spells won’t protect you in all circumstances” you say “for example, lets say you’re at an inn and a dwarf, elf and orc walk in and...

The elf says: “We’ve been walking for hours, I feel so weak and feeble - I think I need to rest.”

The dwarf says: “We’ve been walking for hours, I feel so weak and feeble - I think I need a beer.”

And the orc says: “We’ve been walking for hours, I feel so weak and feeble - I think I might be part elf.”

You pause a moment to let that sink in and add “So when the bar brawl kicks off a simple protection spell won’t offer much in the way of well, protection.”

Silence greets you rather poor attempt at humour. Janrael is still looking down, and drawn in on herself.

“What’s wrong?” you ask in a softer voice.

Janrael just shrugs. You resist the urge to sigh “I’m not a mind-reader” you tell her “I’m asking because I really don’t know what’s bothering you. You can either keep it to yourself and deal with it, or you can let me help fix it.”

Janrael is silent for a while. You wonder if you’ve been too harsh, but that’s how the sergeants used to speak to you.

Then Janrael looks up at you, her face a picture of misery “I’ve been thinking” she says, her voice rough, as if she’s about to start crying “What if its me, what if there’s something wrong with me?”

“Wrong how?” you ask

Janrael throws her hands up “I don’t know!” she says, her voice louder “now I have some way to compare how it feels being around all this evil, I’ve really started to hate it. I feel like I should be doing something, getting rid of it somehow. I used to think the feeling of evil was just the school, I thought I was imagining it because I hated it here, but now I know its not, its everyone in it, it’s the evil I can feel here.” Her voice drops to a whisper “Kittrane walked past me in the corridor today and I felt like hitting her, she wasn’t doing anything wrong, just walking with her bag over her shoulder but the closer she got the angrier I got, I almost attacked her then and there. What’s wrong with me?”

You think quickly “I’m not really sure” you say. You quickly flip through everything you know about Janrael, and Soulborn, then you think you might have the answer.

As an angelic soulborn, not only does evil make Janrael feel very uncomfortable, she probably has some sort of instinct to fight and destroy evil. Not a good thing to have at this school. You’re not entirely sure how your protection sell triggered this; maybe its something that would have happened anyway.

What do you say?
>Explain your theory
>Don’t explain, just focus on teaching her
>Tell her a lie (hormones? wild magic? Other theory?)
>Take her to see the Headmaster
>Take her to the school nurse
>Other (what?)

>>41152872
>Explain your theory
>Take her to see the Headmaster

>>41152872
>Explain your theory
>Take her to see the Headmaster

>>41152872
>Explain your theory
>Take her to see the Headmaster

>>41152872
>Tell her it's puberty and her preferences might be awakening

>>41152989
kek'd

“It might not be something wrong with you” you say, wondering how to explain this “As an angel soulborn I wouldn’t be surprised if you had some sort of instinct to fight evil” you add quickly “or at least what you sense as evil, after all, evil actions are different from-”

“So I’m supposed to be like this?” asks Janrael, tears welling up in her eyes “I’m supposed to want to destroy, to kill?”

Ok, you’re not sure what to say here. “Let’s go see the Headmaster” you suggest.
---
Once the Headmaster has Janrael calmed down he has one of the girls escort her back to her dorm. To you he says “You did well coming to me, that could have gone worse.”

Something in his tone....

“You expected this” you say accusingly “you knew this was going to happen, that she was going to start getting violent.”

“I did” says the Headmaster “in fact its a wonder it didn’t happen earlier. She’s part angel – it’s her blood telling her to fight, to struggle, to wipe out evil.”

“I need to teach her how to cast this spell as soon as possible” you sat grimly.

“Or....” suggests the Headmaster “give her an outlet for her violent impulses.”

Ah, that’s why she’s on the list he gave you. “I’ll think about it” you say to him “right now, I have a lightning rail to catch.”
---
You head down to the station with team Fell Storm in tow, each carrying a bag with their clothes and other essentials in.

As the train pulls up the girls gasp in awe, as well they should.

“What’s that?” asks Cleya. Before you is no ordinary lightning rail. It’s a vast ornate thing with expensive-looking decoration.

“The Wheeled Palace” you say “C’mon, we’ve got a suite”. The girls all pile on the rail after you and Chame says “Wow sir, going all out to impress us girls on this long trip away from the school and its rules huh? Huh?”

You ignore her insinuation, mostly “This is a school trip” you say “and the schools rules are very much in force. But to answer your question, these tickets were cheap, the Wheeled Palace takes this route back to Veltwing, the capital of Lysva ready to pick up the wealthy patrons, but on this leg of the journey it has few passengers.” And, you add to yourself, you get to sleep in a bed, not a chair. Plus this train has guards, since it also carries gold bullion on the overnight treks – a little fact you know from campfire gossip on the Walls.

“If you say so Sir...” says Chame.

“Ooooh wow!” says Nevyn as you find your suite: an opulent-looking room with beds and a table.

“Right” you say to the girls “you have the family room, and I” you open a door into a small, plain room “have the servants quarters. It’s two hours until curfew, until then, your time is your own, within reason.”

“Well”, says Cleya, as she puts her trunk down by one of the soft-looking beds and pulls out her books “I have study to do.”

“Booooring!” declares Chame “I’m going to explore.” She and Nevyn head out. Kittrane just dumps her stuff, and as the lightning rail starts to move, she takes a seat by the window, and watches the scenery pass by, illuminated by the setting sun.

What do you do?
>Talk to Kittrane
>Help Cleya study
>Go keep Chame and Nevyn out of trouble
>Make magic item (what?)
>Other (what?)

>>41153218
>Wonder where everything went wrong.

>>41153218
>Talk to Kitty.

>>41153218
>Help Cleya study
A student after our own heart

>>41153218
>Go help Chame and Nevyn start trouble

>>41153218
>Help Cleya study

Breaking tie in favour of studying with Cleya

You spend a couple of hours helping Cleya with her study. It seems she’s gone far beyond the assignment you gave your class. Rather than simply describing and providing examples of the different school of magic in her essay she has instead postulated that the different schools are continuous rather than discrete and that they each blend in to one another.

“So you see sir” she says earnestly as the two of you sit at the table hunched over her books “even a simple shield spell could be seen as both abjuration *and* conjuration.”

“Most systems of magic classify it as Abjuration” you point out.

“For the sake of classification and simplicity” says Cleya “But its an example of a mixed spell, its on the border between the schools.”

Its an intriguing theory though not a new one. You are however impressed that she seems to have come up with this on her own though, rather than simply lifting the idea from a book.

The two of you lose yourself in the discussion, though you retain enough presence of mind to remind her to put her thoughts in her essay. You know who will be getting an A for her work.

[Cleya gains 0.5 TP]

Your discussion is interrupted by loud thumping on the door. You open it to see an irate and slightly smouldering guard. His uniform is charred and covered in ash, in each hand he is firmly holding the arms of Chame and Nevyn.

“Are these your girls sir?” he asks in a level tone.

“Um yes” you say, looking at the rather shame-faced Nevyn, and Chame who is....trying to hold in the giggles.

“What happened?” you ask “What did they do?”

“Everything sir” says the guard, in the tone of someone who doesn’t want to discuss it “They did everything. Keep them in the suite for the remainder of the journey if you please.” He pushes them towards you.

“Um sir” says Nevyn “it was an accide-”

“Just go to bed, both of you” you say. You feel a headache coming on.
---

You lie awake in bed in the main suite. You can hear the other three girls sleeping around you. But you’re awake; you can hear something on the roof, like footsteps. You should go check it out.

You can’t disturb the Professor though, he said he was tired and not to wake him up unless *everything is on fire, or there’s a portal to the Hells or something equally dire*.

This probably doesn’t qualify.

You quietly wake the other girls up one by one and explain the situation to them: you think someone is sneaking around on the train roof.

Who are you?
>Cleya
>Chame
>Kittrane
>Nevyn

Side-quest time; pick your PoV character

>>41153577
>Chame
The most laid back girl, yes please

>>41153577
>Cleya

>>41153577
>Cleya

>>41153577
>Chame

>>41153577
>Chame

>>41153577
>Nevyn
I will always vote for Nevyn, even if I'm alone.

;_;

>>41153577
>Cleya

breaking for Cleya

No naughtiness today

>>41153707
Your bias is showing, pally.

You are Cleya, you’re the team leader, and a leader is nothing without her team.

Together the four of you quickly get dressed in the dim light provided by the suits glow globe and then you sneak down the corridor. You need to get on top of the train to see what’s going on.

You get to the end of the train and peer out of the doors viewing port, looks clear. Chame fiddles with the handle and then its open. You step out and then suddenly back up, stumbling into Nevyn.

“Ouch!” She protests

“Quiet!” you say as quietly as you can.

“What?” comes Kittranes voice

“There’s someone up there” you say “They jumped across the carriage just as I went out.”

“Is it a guard?” asks Nevyn.

“No” you shake your head “it was all dressed in black, the guards have those shiny breastplates”

“So a robber then” says Chame “uhm, what do we do?”

Kittrane looks around and grabs a bunch of short wooden poles with flags on the end, they look like some sort of signal flags.

“Here” she says, passing them around “now we’re armed, lets go get them.”

“Aww yeah” says Chame “lets do this.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Nevyn asks you.

You all converse in low tones. The sensible thing would be to let the guards handle it, but they don’t like you now, not after what Chame and Nevyn did – and they might not believe you, or could blame you somehow. And Prof Sallazar said not to wake him unless it was *really* serious, so therefore the most logical thing you to do is fix this problem yourself.

What do you do?
>Lets go catch some thieves (prep any spells/powers?)
>Go get the guards
>Wake up Prof. Sallazar
>Other (what?)

>>41153829
>Lets go catch some thieves
No prep. Team Evil can do good stuff on the fly.

>>41153829
>Lets go catch some thieves

>>41153829
>Lets go catch some thieves
Have Cleya manifest the Flame Strike and Charm Person or Cause Fear eyestalks. Nevyn should remain in human form for now.

>>41153829
>Lets go catch some thieves (ALL the prep)

Please roll me 4d20 for the girls, in order

Chame
Cleya
Kittrane
Nevyn

For sneaky

Rolled 12, 20, 1, 17 = 50 (4d20)

>>41154029

Rolled 7, 13, 13, 17 = 50 (4d20)

>>41154029

Rolled 2, 5, 10, 18 = 35 (4d20)

>>41154029

>>41154053
>>41154063
>>41154086
Wow irony, chame least sneaky, Cletus most.

You grab one of the clubs Kittrane is offering “C’mon” you say to the other girls “We need to go catch some thieves.” After all, its the only logical choice.

You all arm yourselves and climb up onto the top of the carriage, following in the direction you saw the thief go.

“By the gods its cold up here!” grumbles Kittrane. She’s not wrong. Its late at night and there’s a fierce wind ripping past you as the massive carriages of lightning rail thunder onwards.

“Oh quit whining ya baby” shoots back Nevyn, ahead of her.

“Say that again and I’ll smack you” threatens Kittrane “no one-”

“Hush” you say at the front “look”

You all crouch down on the carriage roof. Ahead of you is a group of four small humanoid figures all in dark clothing. They look like children, they’re so small.

They’re in a circle and you can see a bright orange light and spitting sparks. Then the light winks out and two of them pull something to one side with a lot of effort and grunting. They all disappear down through the hole they just cut, into the carriage.

“What’re they doing?” asks Kittrane

“Stealing something” says Chame “duh”

There’s the sound of a grunt and a “Yaya, missed me!” from Chame

“What do we do?” asks Nevyn of you.

You can just see some sort of spike on the roof in the darkness, on the edge of the hole, an anchor for a rope back up maybe?

What do you do?

>Creep close, keep watching
>Go untie that rope
>Follow the small thieves into the carriage
>Other (what?)

>>41154230
If there isn't anything tied to it
>Pull the rope up
If there is weight on the end then
>Go untie that rope

>>41154230
>Creep close, keep watching

>>41154230
>>Go untie that rope

>>41154230
>Go untie that rope
Close their exit route first

>>41154256
>>41154297
>>41154304
You realise this can easily alert them?
Since there is a good chance they notice the rope falling down.

remove rope it is

You motion for the others to wait here as you creep closer and peer down to see what the thieves are doing. In the carriage below you there are stacks of gold bars; as you watch the small thieves load the gold bars into small bags – each bag easily holds more bars than they should able to, given their size, magic maybe.

The spike does indeed have a rope attached to it, ah this must be how they expect to escape, well you can fix that, and leave them trapped here until the guards find them. The edges of the hole into the carriage are warm, and the circular chunk of the roof that was cut out has been pulled out and thrown to one side atop the carriage.

You untie the rope and it drops down into the carriage, as it hits the floor between the figures they all swiftly react. Three of them dive away, flattening themselves against the sides of the carriage; the fourth aims a red-coloured rod up at you and a bright beam of energy blazes out towards you. You throw yourself to one side and it fires harmlessly up into the sky.

“If you try to stop us you die!” says a voice from within the carriage, in an unfamiliar accent.

“Cleya are you ok?” yells Chame

“I’m fine” you respond as the other three come crawling up to you.

“What was that?” asks Kittrane

“A wand I think” you say “but that was a strong spell, I think they used it to cut a hole in the roof.”

“So now what?” asks Nevyn

“Now we go get them” says Kittrane, hefting her club “fire doesn’t scare me, I’ll go first.”

“Or” says Chame “We wait – they can’t escape now.”

“Can’t we like, talk to them?” asks Nevyn

“And say what?” snorts Kittrane “Surrender and you’ll only get 20 years in prison not 30?”

Your mind races, thinking over the possibilities.

What do you do?

>We wait, they’re trapped
>We attack (write-ins on tactics or options in next post)
>Negotiate with them
>Other (what?)

>>41154493
>Call Salazar

>>41154493
>We attack
Time to be heroes

>>41154493
>We wait, they’re trapped
>Send Chame to get Sallazar

>>41154493
>We wait, they’re trapped
>Send Chame to get Sallazar

>>41154493
>We wait, they’re trapped
>Call Salazar

>>41154493
>Negotiate
>"The gold is mimics."

writing wait and send Chame for Sallazar

“We wait” you say “like Chame says, they can’t get away now. Chame head back and wake up Professor Sallazar would you?”

“Why me?” she asks indignantly “I wanna see what they do?”

“You can go fastest” you explain patiently “because you can stick to stuff.”

“Oh yeah” says Chame “I forgot you lot are all mono-forms” And with that she runs off down the carriage.

“Not all of us” complains Nevyn. Kittrane just shakes her head.

And the three of you wait. You don’t risk poking your head into the hole again.

And you wait.

Then Kittrane says “that’s not good” She has her head over the side of the carriage. You shuffle over next to her...and see a bright beam burning through the carriage wall.

“Are they mad?” you wonder “What’ll they do when they get out the side? The Lightning Rail is moving.”

“I dunno” says Nevyn “they’ll climb up the side maybe?”

“Or maybe they’re crazy enough to jump” suggests Kittrane “What me to throw a fireball in the top?”

A fireball might kill them all....but maybe you could levitate down there and use your third eye to suppress their wand. Trying it from atop the carriage is going to be very difficult.

What do you do?

>Wait and do nothing
>Let Kittrane fireball the place
>Levitate down, use dispelling eye
>Stay safe up here and try to dispel their wand
>Other (what?)

>>41154780
>Levitate down, use dispelling eye

>>41154780
>Let Kittrane fireball the place
Burn the gold too while at it

>>41154780
>Stay safe up here and try to dispel their wand

>>41154780
>Other (what?)
Tell fire one to look inside
Don't kill stuff inside

>>41154780
Can Kittrane control how powerfull her fireball is?
>Let Kittrane throw a weak fireball inside

>>41154780
>Stay safe up here and try to dispel their wand

>>41154907
>Can Kittrane control how powerfull her fireball is?

Yes, requires a Will roll though, she's inexperienced enough that she might mess it up.

>>41154780
>Levitate down, use dispelling eye

>>41154780
toss a fireball at them to try to back them away from the new hole they're making. then see if we can dispel the wand from the hole in the roof.

breaking tie in favour of stay up where you are and dispel

Please roll Willpower 1d20+4

vote on extra AE used (you have 10)

Average of 3 votes used

>>41154780
>Anything that's not fireball
Are you all fucking retarded?

Rolled 14 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>41154967
5

Rolled 5 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>41154967
7

Rolled 4 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>41154967
5

“No fireball” you say to Kittrane “if the wand isn’t working, then they’re still trapped.”

“Hold on to my legs would you” you say to both of them as you lean out over the side of the train and open up your third eye.

It’s hard to describe to anyone what your third eye sees; it sees the world illuminated by the light of magic.

The carriage and everything around it is dull and lifeless, barely illuminated by a fading magical aura; some sort of protection spell for the gold you assume, now gone.

The wand is a bright blazing light to your sight. As Nevyn and Kittrane grip your ankles and calves tightly you focus your third eye on that bright light and imagine all of that light being drawn inside you, draining it away like you’d drink from a cup.

Sure enough it fades, but only briefly, before it starts up again. You keep focusing, drawing on your own magic, willing its light to fade. Once again it fades, but only momentarily - its light blazes bright again.

This goes on for what feels like hours, but is probably only a few minutes. By the end of it you are covered in sweat and panting as if you’ve run a marathon.

[AE 5/10]

You slowed them down though. By the time they’ve cut a big enough hole to start squeezing out, you hear Chame yelling “We’re here, we’re here!”

Unfortunately the thieves must have heard it too. They start squeezing out of the tiny hole they’ve cut and are clinging on to the side of the carriage, it sounds like they’re having an argument. Their language is unfamiliar but from the gestures...some want to climb up atop the carriage where you are, and some want to jump, as suicidal as that might be.

“Girls what are you doing?” You hear Professor Sallazar yelling. Ah good, well there’s no danger now, but the thieves might get away.

What do you do?
>Nothing, the Professor is here, he’ll handle it
>Use an Eyestalk (which?)
>Levitate down and grab them, then levitate back up
>Other (what?)

>>41155184
>Levitate down and grab them, then levitate back up

>>41155184
>Yo prof there are thieves escaping through that wall

>>41155184
>Nothing, the Professor is here, he’ll handle it

>>41155184
>Nothing, the Professor is here, he’ll handle it

>>41155184
>Levitate down and grab them, then levitate back up
Come one, keep being useful. Don't let the PoV switch end so soon.

>>41155184

>Nothing, the Professor is here, he’ll handle it

Breaking tie in favour of levitate

roll 1d20-1 (strength)

Rolled 13 - 1 (1d20 - 1)

>>41155341
THANK GOD

Rolled 4 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>41155341

Rolled 2 - 1 (1d20 - 1)

>>41155341

Rolled 4 - 1 (1d20 - 1)

>>41155341

>>41155341

What tie? There are three votes for Letting the Professor Handle it.

>>41155341
I see no tie to break here

>>41155341
There was no tie though. Calling won 3/1.

>>41155409
I posted my decision just before the last vote appeared on my screen.

In between me hitting submit and the thread updating the last vote was made.

I'm sticking with my decision.

>>41155349
>>41155356
>>41155367
>>41155405
Wow

>>41155444
2v3 is not a tie no matter how I look

>>41155444
How is telling the professor there are thieves not a vote for letting him handle it in the case of a tie. Ain't even complaining just confuse.

>>41155444
Last two votes are after time limit anyway
Just admit you are biased

After reviewing the exact timestamps on votes and rereading, I admit I got it wrong.

I am changing to not doing anything and letting the Professor handle it.

Thank you for catching my mistake.

Please wait patiently for update.

>>41155534
Good decision op.

>>41155553
That's awful. Do nothing votes are the worst. Way to cut the girls' adventure short.

>>41155585
>Oh man a bunch of murderous thieves with powerful wand
>I know! I will go alone over this horribly fast train and try to catch them with my body!

>>41155585
Dude. Did you see those rolls?

I voted to do something too, but we were gonna fail, and that result didn't win. Stop being salty.

>>41155602
Just saying, failures can make for interesting stories as well anon.

>>41155655
This was situation where failing badly ends in horrible death

>>41155655
Failures involving levitation, high power wands and bullet trains usually equal death.

What is the spell on the wand anyway?
Scorching Ray?

“Professor” you yell, pointing “There are thieves there”.

Sallazar is running up the carriages towards you, stumbling occasionally behind the more sure-footed Chame. By the time he has gotten to you all four of the thieves are out of the small hole and the argument about what to do seems to have been resolved.

As Kittrane and Nevyn pull you back onto the carriage top your teacher say furiously “What are you all doing here?”

At the same time all four of the thieves leap off the train, their dark clothing unfolding into some sort of air-catching cloaks and rather than hitting the ground they all rise up into the air.

Turning to them your teacher says “I hate thieves”, and starts casting a spell. At the same time the one holding the wand fires off a blast of energy, aimed not at your professor, but rather at you.

Your life flashes before your eyes as you see that brilliant light eclipse your vision, only to suddenly wink out. The thieves have disappeared into the darkness, their flying suits or whatever they are taking them away.

Even though you saw that happen, it takes your mind several seconds to process what you just saw through your third eye.

You saw magic reshaped, impossibly so. Your teacher was casting some sort of spell to catch the thieves, only for him to change his spell in mid-casting to counter the blast of energy that was going to destroy you. From what he’s told you himself, that’s not possible, attempting to do that would only result in the spell failing, or the magic running wild. Just how skilled is he?

“Girls” says Professor Sallazar “could one of you please tell me what’s going on?”
---
Finally you arrive at Veltwing, capital of Lysva. Its mid-morning and you haven’t had much sleep. You were up all night arguing with the head of the train guards about the robbery.

His view was that the girls should have alerted the guards rather than tackle the thieves alone, and that doing so made them complicit in the loss of a lot of gold.

Your view is that the girls tried their best to help, and that his incompetent guards shouldn’t have been asleep on the job. Furthermore, should he attempt to arrest your girls, as he just threatened to, then he had best be able to fly, because being flung off a moving lightning rail is probably going to hurt.

Travelling through the wilderness the lightning rail was not able to stop to affect repairs, and instead continued onwards, albeit with a somewhat damaged carriage now full of guards.

You sent the girls to bed, yelling at them wouldn’t have solved anything, you’ll talk to them later.

You are Sallazar, teacher, club advisor and wizard. And you want to strangle someone right now.

You all get off the train and head out to the inn where you have rooms booked, you’re scowling and the girls are all following along meekly, even Kittrane, its good that they recognise they did something wrong, but you wonder if the lesson has truly sunken in.

Well, whatever. You get your luggage up to your rooms and then you talk to the girls in the main room.

“Right, I need to get some forms and fill them out” you say “then once that’s done, I need to book an appointment for all of us to be seen, I have no idea how long this will take, but if I get it all done inside four hours, I’ll eat my hat out of pure joy.”

Chame sticks her hand up “Yes Chame?” you ask tiredly

“Um, sir, you don’t need us for the first part right?” she asks

“Correct” you say.

“Then um, can we go shopping?” She asks, all the girls look at you, some are holding their breath.

That was the original plan, but that was before they decided to go running around on lightning rail carriage tops.

Also they have almost no money. You have your own funds as well as the club funds. You were thinking about giving them some spending money, but....maybe they should be confined to their rooms as punishment.

Whilst you’re off fighting bureaucracy, what will the girls be doing?

>Staying in their rooms
>Coming with you, where you can watch them
>They can go shopping (give no gold)
>Go shopping, and here’s some money (5 gold each default, or write-in amount)
>Other (what?)

>>41155932
>Staying in their rooms
If they will make any trouble take thirty credits from all of them
They are representing school and are hated by people while being valuable
Allowing them to leave the rooms is equal to losing our job and their lives

>>41155932
>Go shopping, and here’s some money (5 gold each default, or write-in amount)
Have fun girls.
>>41155952
You are a horrible human being.

>>41155932
>Go shopping, and here’s some money (5 gold each default
>But insist they don't split up on threat of detention and credit loss

>>41155932
>>Coming with you, where you can watch them
THE BUREAUCRACY IS PUNISHMENT ENOUGH

>>41155952
Also ward their room with alarm and lock spells
Maybe something more if we can
>>41155959
And you are irresponsible teacher
They were unable to behave correctly on fucking train

>>41155932
>Go shopping, and here’s some money (5 gold each default, or write-in amount)
This seems reasonable.
>But insist they don't split up on threat of detention and credit loss


>>41155952
Wow. Just wow.

>>41155907
Uh, doing nothing actually did nothing. No hero awards for the girls.

>>41155932
let them come with you but keep them on a short leash.

I feel like people forgot that soulborn are disliked
And yes it's fucking visible

>>41155989
Maybe you should have voted for them to do something other than letting the thieves escape.

>>41155932
I think we should cast True Sight when doing bureaucracy.

>>41155991
>>41155959
I get that it's not a nice option, but don't act like he's being evil or nonsensical.

>>41155833
A boosted one, yes.

>>41156045
He is being ridiculous anon.

>>41156030
Before that

Ok, looks like 3 votes for shopping + 5gp each as well as no splitting up, but please check my count.

>>41156058
Have you forgot the part where they just pissed off thieves with access to Teleport and wand with Scorching Ray?

>>41156091
If you guys wouldn't have alerted them by throwing down the rope, we would have had better chances.

>>41155932
>Coming with you, where you can watch them

Are you people RETARDED?

Soulborn are HATED and we're representing the school. Not to mention the trouble they caused last night.

They're coming with us.

>>41156128
>Soulborn are HATED
No, they are largely disliked.
Use of hyperbole doesn't make your argument look better.

>>41155932

I vote for anything that's not letting them go shopping.

The fuck is wrong with you guys who're letting them off? You'd be terrible authority figures.

>>41156128
>>41156167
Too late anon. It's time to have fun with clothes shopping.

>>41155932
>Coming with you, where you can watch them

>>41155932
>Coming with you, where you can watch them
Not a good idea to leave em alone.

>>41156187
>>41156184
>>41156167
>>41156128
Anon, please control your samefagging. The vote has been called already.

>>41156106

Irrelevant from Sallazar's POV. They messed up, they shouldn't be going shopping.

>>41156184
>>41156187
>>41156167
>>41156128
Ten minute voting period already ended.

>>41156167
"Anything but X" votes are invalid anyway.

Can we argue against it for being OOC?

>>41156200
They count as votes for everything but X

>>41156195
>>41156200
Sorry late voters here had life stuff. Didn't samefag, chill your tits.

>>41156218
Its not, Sallazar is a pretty big softy for the girls and their shitty pasts.

>>41156218
Sadly our character is composed of being bad authority figure that hates seeing students that have to exert any amount of effort or do something unpleasant
This action is perfectly IC

I have felling this quest would benefit from short prologue from when we were at wall to build our character
Sadly it's too late for that

>>41156274
It wouldn't have.

>>41156218
It's not.

>>41156241
Didn't accuse you of samefagging, chill your own tits with telling me to chill my tits that are already at a perfectly level temperature.

>>41156223
I recall Pally ignoring votes like that in previous instances.

On the one hand, they screwed up, on the other keeping them confined here when they’ve all been looking forwards to exploring the city and enjoying its wonders is needlessly cruel. Maybe you can figure out some punishment once you’re back at school.

“Yes” you say.

The girls all whoop and cheer, Kittrane high-fives Nevyn.

“But” you add “you will all stick together, you will steer clear of the Partheon, and you *will* be back at the inn by 5pm.”

“Aww c’mon teach!” whines Chame, waving a touristy leaflet at you “The Partheon is the best bit”, she reads from the leaflet “the Partheon Quarter has gambling houses, the finest beverages in the city, all of the cities brothels and many other exciting sights.”

“No visiting the Partheon Quarter” you say firmly “or else” you glare at all of them to reinforce how serious you are about that. Its a haven for all sorts of unsavoury characters that you hope the girls never have to deal with.

With that settled you bring out your coin pouch and say “with that said, I suppose a few coins apiece won’t be too hard to afford-urglt!”

You were unprepared for the impromptu group hug you’re now the centre of; Kittranes even stronger than she looks.

“Enough, enough” you say, trying not to smile “five gold each, and that’s for the weekend, spend it wisely.” You have out some coins, adding to Chame “and you need to pay with actual money, no pretending to be gold ok?”

With their spending money in hand the girls start arguing over where to visit first.

You speak loudly enough for them all to hear you “Finally” you add “Soulborn are not popular, as many of you know. Don’t start fights with anyone, and don’t attract too much attention to yourself, ok?”

“But Sir.” Says Nevyn, drawing out your title in a whine

“Yes, I know” you say “The world isn’t fair, welcome to life girls, now get going.”
---
It only takes three infuriating hours to get the forms you need filled out, signed and accepted.

You wonder if your hat would taste better with garlic or mustard?

Still, your appointment to meet with a tournament official is midday tomorrow, so maybe that counts over your 4 hour time limit.

You head away from the circle of hell known as bureaucracy and start looking for somewhere to buy lunch.

As you do, you here a voice saying “Hey, over here” and a cloaked figure beckoning you from a dark alley, ah typical muggers trick, you keep heading onwards.

“Azar” says the voice again, adding “Wallbreaker, I need to speak to you.”

You stop dead in your tracks and turn to get a good look at the figure. He’s a dwarf, but his face is covered and his voice muffled, you don’t know him. Still, he knows you, and there are only a very few people that know what you did. You wander over cautiously, staff in hand and ready to fight. Adrenaline courses through you and everything seems clearer, more defined.

“Who are you?” you ask, still a dozen feet away from the figure loitering at the alley entrance.

“Not here” he says “It’s not safe.”

“I’m not going anywhere without a name” you say “at the very least.”

“Jathrul” he says after a pause “once known as...as Ironshield.”

Jathrul Ironshield. Now there’s a name from your past...

From the height, build, and the black whiskers you can see poking out from the cloth over his mouth, it’s probably him, and the muffled voice sounds like him.

His beard is a lot shorter than it was, but then they usually shave it off, when they cast a dwarf from his clan. Once known as....what did he do?

“I thought you died” you say, remembering.

Jathrul Ironshield was one of the walls Stone Eyes – its scouts and spies. Jathrul was serving a ten year sentence in the army for theft, and barely kept his clan name then.

He’s not someone you’d trust exactly...but he knows that alone, or even with a small army of cutthroats he can’t harm you.

“It’s not safe” he says, retreating down the alley and beckoning “I need your help, won’t you help an old friend?”

“We were never friends” you say quietly. But still, you’re curious...

What do you do?

>Follow Jathrul
>We talk here
>Cast spells (what?)
>Be on your way, leave him
>Other (what?)

>>41156686
>Follow Jathrul
>Cast mantle and true sight

>>41156686
>We talk here

>>41156686
>>Follow Jathrul
Cast some defensive spells like stone skin. And true sight.

>>41156686
>Follow Jathrul
seconding
>Cast mantle and true sight

>>41156686
>We talk here

>>41156686
>Follow Jathrul
>Spell Mantle and True Seeing

>>41156686
>Follow Jathrul

>>41151894
>Main Character http://pastebin.com/xHFh2iz2
Check it out OP
And fix it too if you can

Looks like follow + Spell Mantle and True Sight

>>41156831
Thanks for spotting, should be fixed now

Do sixth level spells exist?
Also how hard would be to do some quick side work for mages guild for some money?

>>41156686
>>Follow Jathrul
"What have you done know? Also if you are trying to kill me for some reason I will slowly torture you until you die. On that note it is good to see you are alive."

>>41156941
>Sheaths Fedora

>>41156941
>Implying
We would just Geass him to kill people that hired him and put Fireball with Contingency on him for when he dies or kills them

You follow Jathrul, but slowly, raising your spell mantle and casting another spell to pierce illusions. Will those done you head after him, trusting in your magic to keep you safe.

You follow him on a confusing route through the cities back alleyways, until you’ve no idea where you are, except that all around you is filth, and abject poverty. Much like the slums you were born in.

Jathrul heads into a battered shack against a crumbling wall “in here” he says. You follow inside, your magic detecting no hidden attackers or other dangers.

You have to stoop to fit inside his shack.

“Well” you say once you’re inside “what do you want?” In the shack is a dirty straw mattress and a few personal belongings.

“Azar, Azar” says Jathrul “I knew you’d come, my friend” you fend off a hug

“We’re not friends” you say quietly “We were never friends, I came out of curiosity, nothing more, now, what do you want?”

Jathrul backs off, and removes his cloth face covering. Yeah, its him, the recent cuts on his face don’t hide that. They look like a punishment of some sort, his face all sliced up in precise lines, probably no more than a few days ago.

“I need help” says Jathrul “The Grey Hand thieves guild want me dead, I need money to pay them off.”

“How much?” you say “and why?”

“Eight thousand gold” says Jathrul, eyeing you, watching you carefully.

You laugh, not even bothering to hide your reaction “out of the question – even if I had it” you say “why so much?”

“I tried to steal from them” says Jathrul, you turn to leave “wait, here me out, I was trying to steal Thrandels breastplate.”

You stop, and turn back to him “what?” you ask quietly, anger boiling up inside you.

“They have Thrandels breastplate” says Jathrul “I was trying to steal it, to give back to his clan.” He’s twitching, nervous. He probably meant sell it back to his clan, or trade a piece of the young kings armour for his clan name back.

Thrandel Greensteel was a prince of the dwarves when you came to the wall, but the time the wall fell you were closer than brothers, but...

“Thrandels body was taken by the drow” you say “How did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?”

“I don’t know” says Jathrul, looking nervous “but they have it, and if we can get it back then maybe the Greensteel clan can pay off the guild.”

They probably can, they’re rich enough. But what to do?

>I’m done with you (leave, exclusive)
>What happened to your face?
>Tell me more about the guild
>I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?
>Other (what?)

To help or not is in a later vote

>>41157203
>Tell me more about the guild
>Tell me on the way

>>41157203
>Tell me more about the guild
>I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?

>>41157203
>>What happened to your face?
>>Tell me more about the guild
>>I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?

>>41157203
>Tell me more about the guild
>I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?

>>41157203
>Why haven't you told the other Stone Eyes about this?
>Tell me more about the guild
>I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?

>>41157203
>What happened to your face?
>Tell me more about the guild
>I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?

>Asking about face
You are silly people

>>41157331
>Why haven't you told the other Stone Eyes about this?
I think they disbanded when the Walls fell, given that they were it's spies.

Please roll 1d20+3 (fellowship, intimidate)

You're asking about stuff he doesn't want to talk about

Rolled 12 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>41157469

Rolled 3 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>41157469

Rolled 15 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>41157469

Rolled 5 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>41157469

Rolled 19 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>41157469
Let the dice gods speak

What about spending all our exp on Intimidation for big bonus?
When we will be busting that shithole it would be useful too
Not to mention when we will be playing dungeon boss

>>41157561
It's a bit late for that if you want it to apply to this roll, I think.

>>41157598
It will still have uses in future

“Tell me more about the guild” you say. You don’t want to help Jathrul, but a piece of the Kings armour would bring a lot of closure to his family, and to you. You failed your friend, worse you k- no, no that wasn’t your fault. But retrieving his armour from a bunch of thieves; that might help you feel better, a little, maybe.

Jathrul takes that as a sign you’ll help “They’re a thieves guild in the poor quarters” he says “cutthroats and muggers and protection rackets, they have some hedge mages working for them” Ok, so far nothing you can’t handle.

“Their leader though” says Jathrul “He’s an undead, a monster of some kind, when he bites someone they die, and rise again as a grey-skinned monster, not all there, but still with most of their know-how intact.”

“A vampire?” you ask, cocking an eyebrow at him.

“Nah” says Jathrul “sunlight don’t faze him, nor his minions, and I never seen him drink blood.”

Huh, weird

“I can draw you a map of their hideout” says Jathrul “I might’ve been there once or twice.”

Ah, now things are clearer “As a member?” you ask. Jathrul just looks away, answer enough you suppose.

Well, now its time to push him “I’ll ask once more: how did the Grey Hands gain a piece of his armour?” you say quietly

Jathrul looks nervous, refusing to meet your gaze “I dunno” he says “mebbe the drow sold em the-”

“Liar” you say “The drow would have taken it as a trophy, how did a low-class thieves guild get their hands on a piece of the kings armour?”

Jathrul shakes his head “He didn’t look much like a king” he hisses “not when I found him crushed under all them boulders, and that crown and fancy armour, so much gold, more gold than I’d ever seen, who says it weren’t right to take it? Who says it weren’t mine-”

He stops speaking when you jam the tip of your staff into his throat and back him up against the stone wall.

“The drow took his body!” you almost yell “they took my friend from me! You could have bought him back for a proper burial; instead you looted him like the scum you are!”

“Oh yes” chokes Jathrul, grinning at you “I looted him, common criminal that I am, but I never aimed so high as you, did I, Kingslayer?”

Jathrul goes staggering and falls to the ground as you spin your staff and smash it into the side on his face. You jam the heel of your staff into his bloody mouth.

“Say that again Jathrul” you say, calm and furious at the same time “say it again, and you won’t have to worry about the Grey Hands finding you.”

Jathrul twists his head to side and spits out a gob of blood and spittle “my apologies great wizard” he growls out “I am but a humble thief, but...are you going to help me get the breastplate back?”

He’s scum, and he’ll betray you if he gets the chance. But he has knowledge you need.

Are you going to get the Breastplate back?

>Y/N

And Jathrul?

>Is going to help you
>Is going to die, now
>Is not important (do nothing to him, and he’s not helping you)
>Other (what?)

>>41157921
>Y
>Is going to die, now

>>41157921
>Y
>Is going to help you
And after we are done he'll die

>>41157921
>Is going to help you
Put Geass on him to help in any way he can
>Is going to die, later
After we are done
>Go to that guild and wreck everything you can after calling guards about it

>>41157921
>Y
>Is going to die, now
He is just going to betray us to the thiefs guild when it comes down to it.

>>41157993
yeah, but I want at least a map or something

>>41157921
>y
>Is going to help you
Geas his ass.

>>41157921
>>41157993
Fair enough adding
>Force everything he know about the guil out of him before you kill him

>>41158024
You realise a geas isn't actually that reliable?
Just saying, if you take him with us, he WILL betray us and make things more difficult.

Will End to Undeath work one these grey guys?
Also cast Probe Thoughts when interrogating him
>>41158056
Cast Disintegrate with Contingency on him

>>41157921
>Y
>Is going to die, now

>>41157921
>y
>is going to help

More by keeping tabs on him than relying on him. I don't trust the guy.

>>41158085
>Cast Disintegrate with Contingency on him
Thats not how Contingency works.

And that's why we should save exp until we will have 20 exp required for Dominate

>>41158109
Nah.

>>41158133
He was including the cost of purchasing L5 magic, anon.

>>41158148
He really did, how emberassing for me.
Thats what I get for replying to things I glance at.

>>41158109
My apologies.

looks like a yes, and he's going to help you

Follow up vote (5 minutes)

To enable his cooperation will you use

Geas?

>Y/N

Contingency?

>Y/N

Default contingent spell is something lethal, but write-ins encouraged.

>>41158178
>Y
>Y

>>41158178
>Y
>Y

>>41158178
Don't forget to include not talking about the people that accompany us here into the geass. On the chance he sees them at some point.

>>41158178
>y
>y

So how many rays does our Scorching Ray has?
Also cast Detect Scrying

>>41158178
>Y
>Y

>>41157921
>Y
>Is going to die, now

>>41158263
Might be better to just skip to Mind Blank.

>>41158294
Only if we detect something
Sadly Mind Blank doesn't allow to detect it
And it would be good to know if someone is on us

>>41158308
Even if we don't, it would be nice to have complete immunity to mental and emotional effects and to be impossible scry while we're doing what we're about to do, especially with an unknown undead(?) out and about.

>>41158178
yes and yes please.

“I’m going to get Thrandels Breastplate” you say, Jathrul relaxes, perhaps believing the worst is over. Well, hope is a terrible thing sometimes. “And you’re going to help me”

Jathrul nods “Of course, of course” he says “anything, a map, a lookout, whatever you need.”

“Glad to see you’re so eager” you say “and as a motivational tool...”

You cast your spells as Jathrul cowers.

“What did you do to me?” as asks fearfully.

“You won’t betray me” you say “you won’t sell me out or try to backstab me, you’ll help me to the fullest extent of your abilities, in any way I ask of you. You won’t speak of me or anyone I associate with, to anyone.”

You lean down “because if you do, you’ll suffer” your voice drops to a whisper “and with a single word, uttered anywhere over any distance, I can kill you – as a final condition, you will not seek to have these spells removed, and you will resist their removal, unto death.”

Jathrul cowers in a very satisfactory way as you say “so, tonight I want you to meet me at the same alleyway we met today, I expect you to have a detailed map of the Grey Hands hideout as well as the location of the breastplate and anything else of note such as traps and guardrooms.”

As you strike from his hovel you hear him call weakly after you “bastard...”
---
You head back to your inn and eat some lunch, whilst you contemplate your next move.

You expect the girls will stay out until the very last moment of your curfew, and you have hours yet until that is.

What do you do with your time?

>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to
>Ask around about the Grey Hands
>Just rest, you have a long night ahead (skips to the girls return)
>Craft magic item (what?)
>Other (what?)

>>41158414
>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to

>>41158414
>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to

>>41158414

>Scry Around to see if you can find the Breastplate

>>41158414
>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to
Probably better to try to keep a eye on them.

>>41158414
>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to

>>41158414
>Ask around about the Grey Hands

>>41158414
>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to

>“bastard...”
Shouldn'ta pissed off a wizard, mate.

>>41158414
>>Go looking for the girls, see what they’re up to

>>41158414
Sallazar a best

>>41158536
Gotta love caster supremacy, and the impotent rage that results from
It.

>>41158414
don't fuck with wizards, man.

Do we know anyone in the town that could point us in the good direction without ratting us out? If yes,
>Ask around

Otherwise
>Just rest, you have long night ahead

So how much does it take for AE to regenerate?
Also we really should make that gem girl into battery

>>41158642
I think it regenerates at 1/hour by default, since that's usually how the energies work.

Your second sentence makes me a little uneasy for some reason...

>>41158677
Why would it?
She is just perfect for that purpose
All we need is to cast Dominate once and we would become close to unstoppable

You head out to find the girls, and see what trouble they’ve got up to this time.

When you catch up to them in the market district, they’re all laden down with parcels and bags: apparently the money you gave them was well-spent.

When they catch sight of you they all try to offload packages and bags onto you “Woah, woah” you say “wait” with a few simple spells, the packages are now weightless and easily carried, by the girls.

“So, what did you all get?” you ask

They all start talking. It seems that all of them got some sort of cloth to make into new clothes, as well as coloured glass that looks like gemstones and lengths of wire, to make jewellery out of. Kittrane tries to make out that the others insisted she buy this as well, and claims to have no interest in jewellery; she’s also carrying a package that looks like a battle-axe wrapped in paper.

Chame seems to have gone for quantity over quality, and until you levitated her packages, was staggering under their weight.

“You like lots of different clothes?” you ask Chame

“Oh no Sir” she assures you “I never wear them, this is to sell to the other girls.”

Your brain tries to process that “but you’re wearing clothes now” you say.

“Nope” says Chame happily, her sleeve changes colour as she waves it in front of your face “all me, the Headmaster said it was ok as long as I *looked* like I was wearing clothes and stuck to the uniform code.”

You untangle your wits, and move on to a new topic “Ah Cleya” you say “what book have you bought?”

“Wizards of the ages” she says, showing it to you “famous wizards of-”

“And a book of love poems!” says Nevyn, taking another book from amidst Cleyas packages and showing it to you “Cleya wants to find out how to woo a-mmmmft!”

“Give it back” says Cleya, wrestling Nevyn for the book, and clamping her hand over her mouth.

Before you can ask who Cleya wants to woo, Chame asks “So sir, its been a long hot day and we saw a spa but its 1 gold each an hour and we’re down to silvers now, so maybe you could take pity on four young tired perspiring girls and treat us – we didn’t get into trouble at all today.”

A quick glance around faces indicates none of them look like this is a lie. Still, they’re due a punishment, not a reward.

You have business later, perhaps telling them they need to stay at the Inn after dinner can serve as both their punishment and a way of keeping them away from you business with a certain thieves guild.

About this spa?
>I’m not paying
>Fine I’ll pay
>I’ll pay, and I’ll go too
>Other (what?)

And this evening?
>Girls stay at the inn
>Girls can go where they like, within limits
>Other (what?)

>>41159050
>I’m not paying
>Girls stay at the inn

>>41159050

>I’m not paying
>Girls stay at the inn

>>41159050
>I’ll pay, and I’ll go too

>>41159050
>I’m not paying
>Girls stay at the inn

>>41159021
Anon no.

>>41159050
>>I’m not paying
Told you all to make it last, you didn't.
>Girls stay at the inn

>>41159050
>I’ll pay, and I’ll go too
>Girls can go where they like, within limits

>>41159050
>Make a choice, spa today, or pocket money tomorrow. Can't have both.
If they opt for spa, go with. We might overhear some useful rumours.
>Regardless, after dusk you go to the inn.

No spa and stay at the inn seem to be the winners.

>>41159050
>>I’ll pay, and I’ll go too

>Girls stay at the inn

Oh and Intelligence check 1d20+8 please (perception)

Rolled 20 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>41159412

Rolled 13 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>41159412

Rolled 9 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>41159412

Rolled 5 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>41159412

>>41159443
Nice

“I told you to spend your money wisely” you say calmly “so if you’ve spent it already, then I guess you can’t afford a spa, and you’re not going.”

The girls all groan, but without much feeling in it, as though they didn’t expect you to agree anyway.

You continue “now I on the other hand, have plenty of gold, and an hour or so of hot baths, massages and pampering sounds like just the sort of thing I need after a day dealing with paperwork-”

You manage to dodge the various packages thrown at you.
---
Late that night, after dinner, you’ve told the girls they can have the run of the inn, and that they’re to stay out of trouble as you go into the city to “go drinking with an old friend”. You’ve also left Cleya with a stone with a contingent whispering wind spell. If Cleya or any of the others speak the command word near the stone you’ll be notified and you’ll teleport back at once, just in case.

You’re in your room getting ready, when you notice something is...off. Your spell component belt has one too many pouches.

“Chame” you say in a I’m-not-putting-up-with-your-tricks voice “very funny, now go and keep the other girls company.”

The extra pouch drops off, and as you stand back it enlarges and changes into Chame, who grins at you.

“Whatcha doin?” she asks in a cutesy sing-song voice

“Visiting a friend” you say evenly

“Uh huh” says Chame, folding her arms, and giving you a look about ten years older than her real age “sure Sir, that’s why you’re all dressed up for a fight with a dragon” her eyes suddenly go wide “are you fighting a dragon, can I come along? I won’t be any trouble; I’ll be your handkerchief or something.”

“I’m not fighting a dragon” you say, trying to smile, but its more like a grimace “nothing like that.”

“So what are you doing?” asks Chame, rocking back on her heels “and if you say you’re visiting a friend, I’ll walk out of here, go sit with the others...and tell them you’re all dressed up for a fight, and then who knows what might happen?”

You pause, taking a moment to master yourself. What Chame said sounded very much like a threat, you don’t like being threatened. You breathe deeply, trying to ignore the adrenaline flooding your veins and the blood pounding in your temples. She didn’t mean it, she’s just a young girl, and your student, you *cannot* hurt her. You repeat this to yourself several times.

What do you say?

>Take her with you
>Visiting a friend, like I said
>Shout at her and chase her off
>Tell her...some of what you’re doing, just enough so that she stays put
>Buy her silence (gold? credits? next weeks test answers? Other?)
>Other (what?)

>>41159675
>"Keep in mind that I'm giving you free-reign of the inn. Keep talking like this, and I will shove a fern in your room and seal it air-tight. So please, stop, Chame. I am not in the mood."

>>41159675
>Visiting a friend, like I said
>If you make me, I WILL seal you into that room. I will not argue this with you.

>>41159675

>Calmly and Clearly ask "Are you threatening me?" while looking at her straight in the eyes. Try and let some of what we're feeling bleed through our stare.

>>41159675
>Take her with you
She will be very useful.

>>41159675
this >>41159737
and

>Visiting a friend, like I said
Say it sadly. We are in a way... A small part of him anyway.

>>41159675
>Shout at her and chase her off

>>41159746
More like useless
She's more likely to go into shock when we will start slaughtering all these guys and that grey dude will probably detect and mind control her

>>41159675
>Pick her up
>Carry her to the room
>Use magical assistance as necessary
>Usher the other girls into the room
>Tell them they only have Chame to blame
>Seal them in for the evening

>>41159675
Oh fuck I changed my mine, Switch me vote from >>41159764 this to >>41159716 and >>41159737

>>41159775
She can just remain as an earring or something on Sallazar. Heck, she could stick to his back and warm him of any ambush. She is also perfect for scouting and lockpicking.