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You're about to haul yourself into the saddle on Zahak's back when a thought occurs to you. There was another passage out of the main chamber you'd almost forgotten about. {Wait here, Zahak. I forgot something, shouldn't take me long to investigate. If you hear anyone coming, tell me. Then hide yourself by that pond we landed in. Understand?}

You get a vague sense of affirmation which you take for a yes. Satisfied that Zahak isn't going to get caught by some doddering old woman on her way to pray, you turn towards the ruined temple complex and stride through the vaulted doorway. Last time you went through the doorway to the right of the massive mural depicting an enthroned Pani, so this time you'll try the left.

You find that this hall largely mimics the other, empty plinths lining a central walkway on either side, their inscriptions marking them as once holding statues of previous Varisthas. Judging by the sheer number of these statues you'd have to say the temple was active for quite a while, several thousands of years at the least. Which means that the giant statue of a two armed, seated Pani is probably a later addition. Not particularly unusual, but a curiosity nonetheless. You wonder why this temple fell to ruin after so spent as a prestigious and most likely wealthy center of faith?

Pondering that question, you pass through the spiral stairwell to the level below. At the bottom the stairwell widens out into what was once a richly decorated chamber, a rusted iron gate flecked with gold leaf blocking the way forward. The floors are black and white marble, or at least they were. Many of the tiles have been pried off the floor, likely to be sold or used elsewhere.

(1/2)

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Above the gated passageway is a carving of Pani, her four arms spread wide in a welcoming embrace. Unfortunately most of the other details have been worn or chipped away, so you can't discern much more than that. Beneath the carving of Pani is a inscription, it's hard to make out but you think it reads something like “May the souls of our ancestors protect us in this life and the next.”

If you had to guess this is some sort of burial vault. Most older temples, to Pani especially, usually contain a vault where the bones of the deceased are stored. Since the collapse of Hiacia the tradition has fallen out of favor. These days when someone dies their corpse is usually cremated and stored within an urn, or if they're particularly wealthy within a statue. While one's ancestors are often venerated privately, there's been a move amongst church officials to abandon what they deem worship of the dead.

You approach the gate, peering through the bars to get a glimpse of what's on the other side. There's barely any light down here, so channeling your Vys you will a small ball of flame to spring to life inside the chamber. Thus illuminated you find it contains a few statues, these still standing on their plinths, as well as a fountain in the center. Pillars support the vaulted ceiling and a crystal chandelier hangs precariously from a rusted hook. At the end of the hall is a doorway, which seems to lead into a tunnel system of some sort.

>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.
>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.
>Write-in

>>42256288
>>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.
No angry spirits for me tank you

Aaaand I haven't eaten today. Gonna run out and grab some food real quick before the thread picks up. Back in a flash.

>>42256288
>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.

AWW YISS

I thought it wasn't running today for a while there.

>>42256288
>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>>42256288
>>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.
lets find their jew gold and make it our jew gold

>>42256288
>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.
We aren't grave robbing. Even Mik should have the sense to not rob the graves of the dead from the temple of a god he worships.

>>42256288
>>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>>42256288
>>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.

>>42256288
>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.

You guys aren't even going to check it out? lame.

>>42256288
>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>>42256288
>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>>42256288
>>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.

>>42256494
No, anon, we are not going to break into the graves.

>>42256582
Fag.

>>42256582
You don't think Soma has something juicy cooked up for us in there? he spent hours searching for pictures to use when we're in there

>>42256288
>>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>>42256288
>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>>42256288
>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.

>all these non-unique posters

>>42256547
>>42256473
>>42256413
>>42256389
>>42256315
>>42256302
>2spoopy

>>42256353
>>42256370
>>42256393
>>42256496
>>42256507
>>42256639
>>42256673
>>42256684
>Not spoopy enough.

Calling it. Looks like prying to gate open wins.

>>42256706
>>42256698

>>42256706
But soma, MUH samefags

>>42256288
>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.

>>42256718
If I only count unique IDs

>>42256673
>>42256639
>>42256507
>>42256496
>>42256370
>>42256353
>Pry

>>42256302
>>42256315
>>42256413
>>42256473
>>42256547
>Don't pry

We get the same result.

>>42256288
>>Maybe grave robbing an ancient temple is a bad idea. Return to Zahak.

>>42256718
>>42256724
Keep cryin bitch niggas

>>42256845
The Soma has spoken!

>>42256288
>Pry the gate open. You're surprised it's even still standing.
Adventure and possible mortal danger!

>>42256845
C'mon what could an ancient crypt possibly hold that Mik can't deal with?

>>42257014
Soma's fat juicy dick

>>42257118
fuck i wish i was his sister

>>42257118
We're 60% certain he's giving it to his mother as well.

File: Mik and Zahak the dynamic duo.webm (2.95 MB, 852x480)

2.95 MB WEBM

I CAN'T WAIT TO FIGHT SOME VATIS AND SOLDIERS WITH ZAHAK

>>42257188
>landing
>ever

why not just build an army of golems and direct them from the air while Zahak provides air support for them?

>>42257188
>Pre-Alpha.
Yep the game's taking the same road Rome 2 took, don't fucking believe CA lies.

>>42257241
Pretty much this.

We're a ranged mage on a dragon. Land is for pussies.

2 spoopy

>>42257241
>>42257579
>lobbing fireballs and streams of napalm at our enemies while Zahak does strafing runs of his own
Stop, I can get only so erect.

>>42257696
That one thread where we fucked up those weird lions. Brrrrrrrrt

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You inspect the gate's latch. However, the longer you do so the more confused you become. There's no lock, per se, but nor is there any obvious way to open the door. Instead where the gate's latch ought to be is an artistic rendition of two snakes intertwined. The fangs of one snake pierce through the lower jaw of the other, while the other snakes fangs in turn pierce the skull of the first.

Well, whatever. The bars are old and rusted. Surely you can just pry them off. Grabbing hold of one of the bars and bracing your foot against the stone wall you pull back, heaving with all your might. The gate doesn't so much as budge. You try using Metal magic to separate the snakes, or bend the gate, but your spell just seems to slide off the metal.

Recalling the entry into the Temple of Pani where you attained grandmastery of Water magic, you let your vys pool at the tips of your fingers. Moisture seems to condense from the air of its own volition, coating your hand in a layer of dew. When you lightly tap your fingers against the metal gate, you release the gathered vys and all at once the harsh sound of metal grating against metal fills the chamber. The snakes slowly retract their fangs, sliding around one another until ultimately they lay flat. One forms a handle for the gate, which you tug on. It takes some effort, but eventually you get the gate open despite its decrepit hinges and manage to slip inside.

You inspect the statues passively as you make your way towards the doorway on the opposite end of the room. Each one stares down solemnly, their expressions varying from serene, to reproachful, to concerned. The two at the very back of the room seem to be the oldest, one missing its head entirely and the other missing only its nose. Reading the inscriptions on their respective plinths, you find that both of them died two thousand, three hundred, forty four years after the founding of Hiacia. Meaning this temple is more than five thousand years old.

(1/2)

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You enter the tunnels, although they almost immediately branch off in two directions. Going left, you find the walls are filled with small clay urns, each one set within its own little alcove. You imagine once they might have been wreathed with flowers or other such ornamentation, but anything of that sort rotted away long ago. All that's left is dust, and the smell of mold.

The hallway you wander through turns sharply, meeting with the other hallway in front of another doorway. You spare only a moment to peek down the path you didn't take to confirm that it's identical to your own. Satisfied you're not missing out on anything, you pass through the next doorway, into a far wider chamber.

The moment you pass through the door you make not of an altar, raised up on a sort of tiered pyramid in miniature. On either side of this monument to the dead are thousands upon thousands of bones. They seemed to have been used in the construction of the chamber, used as supports to hold up the carved roof and as ornamentation in the walls. A thousand pairs of empty eye sockets stare down at you from every direction. The effect is a little unnerving, though you've dealt with far worse.

Turning your attention to the altar at the center of the room, you notice something metal gleaming in the fire light. Curious, you begin to ascend the ancient stone steps of the platform on which the marble altar sits. At the top you find a collection of offerings ranging from rotted cloth, to torn scrolls covered in ink faded to the point of illegibility, to tarnished gold jewelry left to honor some forgotten ancestor.

(2/3)

What initially drew your eye appears to be the bronze blade of an ornate dagger. Even after who knows how many hundreds, if not thousands, of years it's laid here forgotten it shows not a hint of wear or tarnish. The hilt is inlaid with lapis stone, rubies, and a variety of other precious gems. The sheathe, laying near-by, seems to have a design on its surface of bulls and goats getting torn apart by lions.

Even without channeling any sort of vys, you can feel the magic bleeding off this dagger. You wonder what sort of enchantments it has?

>Take the dagger.
>Leave it, continue deeper into the catacombs.
>Write-in

I want another spirit war, now that we have our companions and dragon son with us we could take down even the most powerful of cults.

>>42257802
>Leave it, continue deeper into the catacombs.

>>42257802
Examine the dagger, without touching, if we can't tell if it's dangerous have Ricky grab it and put it in the cloak.

>>42257802
>Write-in
Manipulate the dagger, study the enchantment. Don't physically touch it.

>>42257802
>Take the dagger.
I guess if we go part retard we might as well go full retard.

>>42257848
This

>>42257802
>Take the dagger.

>>42257802
>>Take the dagger.

I feel kinda bad leaving Zahak while we go and explore.

>>42257802
>Take the dagger.

>>42257802
>Scoop it up with the cloak, careful not to touch it. It can be inspected later.

>>42257802
>Take the dagger
When did yall get so fucking paranoid? There's no reason to think it's trapped any more than all the other shit we've picked up

>>42257802
>leave it

>>42257802
I assume if we vote
>Take the dagger.
we will be smart and do something like >>42257848 suggested, and not just run up to it and grab it like a child would something shiny.

>>42257802
>>Take the dagger.

>>42257803
And we have our armor too.

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>>42257802
>Take the dagger.

>>42257802
>>Take the dagger.

>>42258010
>>42257924
>>42257923
>>42257898
>>42257889
>>42257878
>>42257877
>>42257862
>Take the dagger.

>>42257848
>>42257870
>>42257893
>>42257857
>Stare intensely at the dagger.

>>42257821
>>42257920
>Leave it alone

>>42257888
He's too big to fit down the stairs, sadly.

>>42257802
>>Take the dagger.
Whoever left it there probably doesn't need it anymore. Better than letting it sit in the dark.

>>42258063
>He's too big to fit down the stairs, sadly.
Aww.
Guess we'll just have to spend even more time together to make it up to him.

>>42257802
Channel vys into the dagger from a distance.

>I want another spirit war
Yeah, let's start a spirit war in the domain of the Child that moved here a short while ago.
Not saying don't fuck shit up, but be fucking careful you idiots.

>>42258111
>be fucking careful you idiots
No.

When was the last time we actually used a sword, or really any weapon at all? We can literally melt peoples faces off with our mind, tools seem a bit moot at this point.

>>42258385
We used an improvised club during the water grandmastery exam.

>>42258385
Vys runs out eventually

>>42258385
Always usefull for companions or selling if nothing else.

And full outfit for warriors is usually Spear (open combat), Sword (short/close quarters combat) and Dagger (for backup/grappling)

Cause we're not always going to be able to melt their faces off.

>>42258385
We ought to use the trident more.

>>42258111
We got confirmation the child left.

>>42258443
And a bow

>>42258422
Not really, I can't remember a time where lack of Vys has been a problem

Pssshh what's the worst that can happen?

>>42258520
Soma loves including items with awful effects on the wielder/wielder for some reason

>>42258583
Wielder/wearer*

>>42258500
You must be new here

I say we stab ourself with it

>>42258673
nah, I just have a trash memory

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You move the ball of fire hovering by your shoulder closer to the shrine, careful to avoid setting alight any old wood or cloth. Really, a ball of fire is probably a poor choice so far as light sources go in these ancient tunnels, but it's not like you have any other options.

You don't see any obvious runes until you look at the pommel of the blade in more detail. There you find carved into the bronze a small enchanting circle. The runes carved within are so small you can't actually figure out what any of them say, but judging solely on the sheer number of runes carved onto the surface you'd say the enchantment must be complex indeed.

Around the outside edge of the circle is a small string of writing, just barely large enough to be legible. It's written in Old Samjan so the meaning is a bit hard to discern, but you think it reads something like “This blade within the djinn Fazi was locked”.

You think it's safe to assume that the dagger was not locked inside a djinn, the name your people once called spirits when they still worshiped them alongside the True Gods. Perhaps it's a relic of the time before Hiacia? Mahana's told you about pre-Hiacian tribe, or rather empire, which knew how to use divine essence in enchanting. The tribe your own people were elevated by the gods themselves to combat.

However, if that was the case this blade would need to predate the founding of the city of Hiacia, which itself predates the founding of the Hiacian Empire by some time. Estimates range from a few hundred to a few thousand years, and because the actual ruins of Hiacia are at the center of the Pa'vala, it's unlikely that you'll ever know with certainty the exact age of the city, or the empire for that matter. All that's known is that the founding of the empire predates writing, so the only records available are the oral traditions of nomadic tribes passed down from elder to elder. A questionable source, to put it lightly.

(1/2)

>>42258422
How many relics or other assorted jewelery do we have now that can store vys? Not to mention the leech spell.

For it to have survived the purge carried out by your early ancestors, avoid being locked away in a vault somewhere, and survive up to today sealed away in a crypt beneath a temple a few hours outside of El-Amin would be... well, unlikely to say the least. Actually, the inscription just says that the djinn was locked, no that the djinn is locked. Perhaps the spirit somehow freed itself?

You pick the relic up, half expecting to be possessed by some ancient vengeful spirit. Nothing happens. Shrugging, you tuck the dagger into your cloak and carry on further into the catacombs. You can study the dagger later, for now you want to keep exploring the tombs. Descending the raised platform on which the altar sits you find yourself once more surrounded by the skeletal remains of the long dead.

The walls narrow steadily, until you practically have to squeeze through a crack in the wall at the end. Odd, that they'd design a triangular tomb, but you suppose it's just some sort of architectural trend of the time. Shuffling sideways through the narrow passageway you emerge into another urn chamber, the walls filled with hollowed out alcoves. The room is claustrophobic. Skulls decorate the pillars which support a ceiling so low you have to crouch. Yet more skulls are piled up in the corners of the room like refuse.

What is this obsession with skulls, honestly? You can see why massive communal graves like this one fell out of fashion, they're creepy. You cast a cursory glance over the room to see if there's anything worth inspecting in closer detail, but ultimately find nothing. The only way forward is through a hole in the wall so small you practically have to get down on your hands and knees to crawl forward.
(2/3)

After what feels like an hour or more, with your legs and back on fire from so long spent crouched over hobbling through the dark, you see a light ahead. When finally you emerge from the tunnel it's into yet another pit of discarded bones. However, unlike the previous chamber these aren't nearly so well organized. While many are laid into the walls, most seem to have just been discarded in a pile and forgotten.

From the top of the pile a ladder protrudes, reaching up through a hole in the stone ceiling. The fact that sand hasn't filled this chamber entirely means whatever is up there is probably sheltered somehow. You catch glimpses of blue sky, and you hear running water from somewhere above.

>Climb the ladder.
>Turn back, you worry about spending so long separated from Zahak.
>Root through the piles of corpses for anything of interest.
>Write-in

>>42258959
>Turn back, you worry about spending so long separated from Zahak.
That's enough rummaging for now.

>>42258959
>>Climb the ladder.
I hope zahak gets killed

>>42258959
>>Climb the ladder.
Came this far, might as well see what's at the end of the tunnel.

>>42258987
>shitposting loudly

>>42258959
>>Climb the ladder.

>>42258959
>Climb the ladder.

>>42258959
>Turn back, you worry about spending so long separated from Zahak.

>>42258959
>>Climb the ladder.
The ladder is gonna take us to where Zahak landed.

>>42258959
>>Climb the ladder.

>>42258959
>Climb the ladder.

>>42259101
>>42259068
>>42259049
>>42259039
>>42259021
>>42259016
>>42258987
>Up we go

>>42258976
>>42259040
>Think of all those kids who died left in hot cars by themselves.

Writin'

>>42258959
Turn back

>>42259133
>zahak
>dying in a hot car

>>42259160
We parked the car on the sun

>>42258911
>Really, a ball of fire is probably a poor choice so far as light sources go in these ancient tunnels, but it's not like you have any other options.


>13x Magic Lanterns

>>42259329
This

>>42259329
didn't we learn to make fire without heat?

>>42259329
I still think the shah wouldn't have been killed by pirates if he would have bought our lanterns

>>42258911
Time to feed it to the cat

>>42259329
When was the last time we even did something with those? 2014?

File: Hiacian Standing Stones.jpg (536 KB, 1276x1920)

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You eye the veritable mountain of corpses warily. Who knows what sorts of creatures might have taken up residence inside? There are a variety of highly poisonous snakes, spiders, and scorpions which are known to dwell within the desert, among other nasty critters.

Instead of scrabbling up the pile, you channel Water magic. Drawing upon the moisture in the air you craft a stairwell from ice, and simply walk up to the hole in the ceiling. You have to shield your eyes against the sun initially, but soon they readjust to the light of day and you find yourself at the bottom of a canyon. A river runs past you, frothed white by rapids. Its source seems to be three waterfalls which cascade from above into a small cave. The sight is really quite beautiful.

Yet what draws your attention is not the natural beauty of the location, but the floating stones which surround you. Each of them is covered in elaborate geometric symbols, the carvings on their surface glowing with vys. Stones like these, which seem to float of their own volition, are not a rare sight in Pidjata. The Hiacians put them all over the place, largely in areas of immense spiritual significance. Places where a great battle was fought, or where great religious rituals were held. Usually no more than one or two. For there to be, by your count, fifteen in one location means that wherever you are, it's somewhere important.

You're distracted from the standing stones by the sounds of boots scrabbling across stone, muttered curses, and the jangling of metal. Someone is coming.

>Duck back into the catacombs before they see you.
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.
>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.
>Write-in

>>42258911
>Really, a ball of fire is probably a poor choice so far as light sources go in these ancient tunnels, but it's not like you have any other options.

Uh, we've been able to make light without fire since the Water Temple-Beach Party-Killing the Shah Arc.

>>42259603
>>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.
Use the cloak and illusions

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them
Get the drop.on these fuckers

>>42259603
>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.

>>42259603
>>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.

>>42259603
>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.

>>42259603
>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.
We can introduce ourselves if they're not degenerates.

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259603
>>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.
quit being so anti social guys

>>42259603
>Hide somewhere, so you can observe them.

>>42259666
>>42259646
>>42259635
>>42259627
>>42259619
>>42259682
>>42259746
>>42259750
>>42259752
>>42259754
>>42259757
>>42259771
>This seems shady.

>>42259663
>>42259628
>>42259688
>>42259711
>>42259715
>>42259737
>>42259765
>Yo, niggas. Sup?

Writin'

>>42258932
>Odd, that they'd design a triangular tomb
Just FYI guys, triangular tombs were designed as defense against graverobbers in the form of chokepoints. In essence, more people can stand in the larger part of the triangle than the smaller part, giving even small groups of defenders a pretty good chance against large parties of hopped up thieves. Some castles borrowed this idea, though there is argument as to who put it in tombs first.
Not that Soma is any sort of archaeologist kinda guy that pays attention to these things but, y'know, fair warning.

>>42259603
>>What are you afraid of? Just greet them when they walk past.
Whoever is here has to be pretty interesting.

>>42259765
We're not being antisocial. We're being not stupid.

>>42259785
Blasphemy!

Yall are a bunch of panzies.

>>42259785
So you hide and observe every single person before meeting them? You must have no social life at all.

>>42259785
Even when you guys observe that people are okay, like the guy we passed meditating, you still ignore them. That's anti social.

>>42259785
I voted for hiding because I'm antisocial and don't like people.

>>42259780
They've been done both ways, anon. As funnels and as inward defenses. Some old cultures and even some modern ones (looking at you India) revere certain geometric patterns like triangles in the constructions of their monuments to the deceased.

>>42259785
We are always anti social, smart my ass.

>>42259814
Hey, I voted to stick our dick in his mouth.

>>42259840
That's not social behavior you goddamn trollop.

>>42259777
Can we build a shrine to the Cat here?

>>42259603
I personally hope it's cultists

>>42259855
Yes it is.

>>42259869
This seems like a place that would be fit for such a thing.

>>42259869
seconded

>>42259869
if it was up to me we would be building a Cat shrine every half a mile we go.

>>42259869
i'm game

>>42259869
Sounds good nigguh

>>42259869
Perhaps we'll get runes that will benefit us in Eludia.

>>42259949
No we won't.

File: no escape.jpg (77 KB, 559x351)

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>>42259949
WOD'NDURT
GIT ME MY WOD'NDURT

>>42259959
That's what the cat grants us in exchange for shrines is it not?

>>42259869
Yes. Even better than at the pool.

>>42259869
it'll be good for us to have him owe us when we want to get the knife identified which he might not want to do if it's too op

>>42259990
He's probably commenting more on that we don't really enchant much, regardless of everything we've gained from the cat.

>>42259921
He only wants them at seemingly "special" locations. Places of power and whatnot. Like this. Or the meditation area we found before.

>>42259990
He gives us random shit, none of it will ever be used, but we should keep sucking that dick tho

>>42260011
>it'll be good for us to have him owe us
Not how that deal works, boyo.

>>42260042
the deal ain't important, if we get him more power he will be more inclined to help us

>>42260027
Cat dick good dick, anon. Not soft like human dick. Sucky suckle sucky suck.

Oh, almost forgot. ROOOOLL 3d10+8 (+2 from traits, +6 from Cloak) vs DC 21 (Base 15, +8 from Perceptive (Two people have the trait, so their bonuses stack), +2 from Nature Vatis, -4 from Unsuspecting)

If this basin is open to the sky can't we just ask Zahak to fly into here?

Rolled 8, 6, 1 + 8 = 23 (3d10 + 8)

>>42260105

Rolled 2, 3, 1 + 8 = 14 (3d10 + 8)

>>42260105

Rolled 5, 4, 1 + 8 = 18 (3d10 + 8)

>>42260105
Fine, have your roll you dirty whore.

Rolled 7, 2, 7 + 8 = 24 (3d10 + 8)

>>42260105
dice a shit

Don't spend

Spend 3

>>42260120
>>42260121
>>42260132
>23, 14, 18 vs DC 21
>Failure!
Spend 5 vys to make it a Regular Success?
Spend 12 vys to make it a Great Success?

>Don't spend
>Spend 5
>Spend 12

You're at 56/58 at the moment.

>>42260168
>>Spend 12

>>42260168
>Spend 12

>>42260168
>Spend 12

>>42260168
12

>>42260168
>Spend 5

>>42260168
>Spend 12

>>42260168
Hey Som, 18+3=21.

>>42260168
>Spend 5
That should be spend 3. I don't know how I messed that up.

>>42260168
>Spend 12

>>42260168
>Spend 3

>>42260168
>Spend 5

>>42260168
>Don't spend

>>42260168
>Spend 12

>>42260213
>>42260196
>>42260189
>>42260187
>>42260181
>>42260177
>>42260255
>12

>>42260192
>>42260223
>>42260241
>3

>>42260251
>Don't spend

Also it's 10, Soma, just so you don't try to jew us in the inevitable combat round.

>>42260200
So the other one is actually 10 right

>>42260259
>partial jew
>can't count
This makes no sense to me.

>>42260293
Jews forget to count when they owe you something

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>>42260264
>>42260263
Jesus fuckin' Christ I need to get it together.

>>42260168
>>Don't spend

>>42260293
He;s also partially bl--k

>>42260293
It's the nigger in him.

>>42260293
Maybe he's already drunk?

>>42260336
So he's Jewish, Black, and Irish.

>>42260293
Jews are actually quite notorious for "miscounting".

See: Holocaust victim numbers, video related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpvsEgDrsY

>>42260336
Well, then we know why he couldn't count

>>42260392
Right but that's intentional miscounting to deceive goyim. Soma just can't into math.

>>42260430
>Right but that's intentional miscounting to deceive goyim.

Your point?

>>42260361
Sweet

>>42260430
Implying this isn't exactly that.

>>42260430
fuck off soma you're not deceiving us again

>>42260316
I don't care about your shitty math skills, we just want you to stop drinking for a minute and post faster.

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You haul yourself fully out of the hole in the ground and look for somewhere to hide that will give you a good view of whoever it is coming. You spy a rocky outcrop just a little further ahead which is sheltered by a rocky overhang. You duck into the shade of the niche and feel your cloak slowly dissolve into intangibility, further obscuring you from sight.

Four men enter the canyon. At the front are two lightly armored men holding bows. They wear aketons, padded coats, and long robes. One has a shield strapped to his arm, and both have swords sitting in sheathes on their hips. Judging by the way they walk confidently across the rocky canyon floor, they're probably pretty familiar with this part of the desert. Either that or they're just particularly agile.

Following immediately behind them is a heavily armored man with a massive shield strapped to his back. He's got scale armor over a padded jacket and mail, his splinted boots giving him trouble walking over the stone. He's the source of all the noise you heard. Judging by his thick beard and the generally weathered look about the man, he's probably around two or three hundred years old.

(1/3)

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Finally, bringing up the rear is an unarmored man dressed in robes. He has a brand on his cheek which reads “Trickster”, marking him as one of the Aghtaki. He carries a sickle on a long chain strapped to a sort of metal skirt he wears as some modicum of protection. He seems to have no trouble walking across the stone. Indeed, his balance seems almost preternatural.

The heavily armored man seems to be the leader of sorts, judging by the way he addresses the two guides. “Where is this fucking chest, Sanjay? You said it was just ahead two miles back! If you're wasting my time I'll have the chief string you up by your balls, I swear by the gods!”

One of the guides, Sanjay you suppose, turns towards the armored man and smiles beatifically. “Relax, look closely Atif. Do you see the cave ahead?” He turns aside, sweeping an arm out towards the cave entrance. It would be almost impossible not to see it. “What we seek is just inside, we hid it there after the raid.”

Atif, the armored man, grumbles under his breath before motioning them forward violently. “Fine, fine! On with it then!” You make out something about Vasanti, a woman's name, and then the party moves ahead. Unfortunately, that also means they move out of your field of view.

You have to readjust yourself, but in the process your foot knocks against a stone in the process. It rolls out from behind your rocky outcrop, the sound echoing through the canyon. You freeze, and evidently so do the four men.

You hear one whisper to another “What was that? Did you hear that?”

Atif responds irritably. “Of course I heard that, shit stain! I'm not fucking deaf!” He sighs. “Mukesh, check it out.”

(2/3)

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You hear someone approaching, but an idea occurs to you. Channeling Fire magic you force yourself to fade from visibility and draw upon your memories of Vaisala to create an miniature, illusory version of your lizard mount. You have the lizard trot out into the light, flick its tongue in the air, and turn a black eye towards the four men before scampering off down the hole in the ground, into the tomb.

It seems to have the desired effect. “Just a lizard. What are you, a bunch of scared women? I could be meditating right now, so quit wasting my time.”

You wait until you hear the man's footsteps fade. Curious, that you never hear him splash through the stream. Logically he would have to. Once you're confident that they don't know you're here you continue adjusting your position, until you can peek through a crack in the stone that provides you a good view of the cave mouth.

The two scouts seem to be struggling to haul something out of a hole in the ground near the cave wall, just inside the shelter of the overhang above. They stumble back when a chest covered in scorch marks simply raises up out of the ground, seemingly by itself. The Vatis, Mukesh, is busily inspecting his nails while the two scouts shoot him dirty looks.

When finally they open up the chest you spot a massive pile of silver, gleaming in the early morning light. One of the scouts, the one who's name you don't know, grins wide. He's missing a few teeth. “Me and Sanjay hit ourselves trade caravan. Used those pots Rifat cooked up in his lab. Hauled this out of the wreckage. Had to hide it here to escape a patrol, but it's a good haul. Doesn't look like anyone found it either.”

>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
>They're probably part of a larger group. You should follow them back to their base.
>You don't want any part in this. Just slip back into the tomb and return to the temple.
>Write-in

>>42260927
>>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
Jew activated.

>>42260927
>>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
Geek the mage first

>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

>>42260927
>They're probably part of a larger group. You should follow them back to their base.

>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

>>42260927
>>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
Kill the vatis

>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

capture one alive and interrogate.

>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
Keep one alive so we can follow him to their base, though.

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>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

>>42260927
>MAKE DAT CAT SPIRIT SHRINE

>>42260927
>>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
We can interrogate one of the rangers once we kill the rest.

>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

inform our party that we may end up in a fight. tell Zahak to get close in case we need a drive by dragon dive bomb.

>>42260927
>>Write-in
You mentally contact Zahak and give him the location of your targets. It's time to fry some bandits. While waiting for Zahak, you begin to ready your trap for their expected escape attempt as they retrace their steps running out of the canyon away from Zahak.

>>42260927
>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

>>42260927
>They're probably part of a larger group. You should follow them back to their base.

>>42260927
>>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.
We still within th border, there's a bounty for branded when found in the border isn't there?

>>42261005
fuck u and fuck the cat

>>42260927
Yummy, check out the sure footed guys boots, he also just be very agile

>>42261028
Hey dickhead, we used to be one of them.

>>42261029
>not wanting fast travel
>not wanting sweet baby runes
>not wanting a stronger relationship with a spirit growing stronger every day

>>42260927
>raiding the raiders
ayy lmao let's do it

Okay, this is obvious bait by Soma.

Still, stealing from bandits is our specialty.

>>42261077
>Okay, this is obvious bait by Soma.
I know. And I am happy to take it.

Sit there and start rotting their organs from our sneaky spot. Unless Mukesh is GM water they're fucked.

>>42260927
>>Silver? Possibly other valuables? Sounds like these four need to die.

>>42261064
>>42261027
>>42260975
>Follow them back to the source.

>>42260944
>>42260955
>>42260956
>>42260976
>>42260982
>>42260983
>>42260993
>>42261001
>>42261006
>>42261009
>>42261011
>>42261028
>Did someone say money? Time to murder them all (Except one, it seems) and steal their stolen shit.

Writin'

>>42261063
>fast travel to a place we'll never visit again
>runes we'll never use
>getting closer to a fucking cat spirit

No, no, and no. Fuck all of that shit.

>>42261063
>wanting to give a spirit more power
>wanting to let him restart his cult
>wanting some big cat dick in your mouth

We're wearing our armor right now, right?

Why not flip the Sight on and see what's up with this place?

kek can we fuck with them before killing them?
make us an illusary horror from the void while melting their bodies?

>>42261124
implying he wouldn't be able to do that anyways, we might as well gain something from it

>>42261121
>>42261124
You guys lost this argument a long time ago.

Can you try to Roleplay now?

>>42261138
Let's not underestimate them.

>>42261138
I can dig it.

Ricky probably wants to have some fun again too. Let his tentacles slip out of the cloak.

>>42261149
>You guys lost this argument a long time ago.
Saying it doesn't make it so.

>>42261138
The guy's a pretty powerful mage, let's not underestimate him.

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>>42261190

>>42261190
he's right y'know

>>42261190
You've lost, time to accept the inevitable

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I don't even know what we'll use that money on anyway. I just want a fight.

Popped in to inform the thread that you've been mis-archived on suptg as 'Shitposting'.

>>42261320
>mis-archived

>>42261320
>misarchived

>>42261286
Paying our servants and estate expenses? We sorta blew all our cash on artifacts and we almost burn the house down every couple days.

>>42261320
>miss-archived

>>42261320
>misarchived

>>42261190
it's over, it's time to let go.

>>42261320
> ma'am-archived

>>42261320
m'lady-archived

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>>42261320
God damn it, they didn't even do the tags right. This thread wasn't even particularly shitposty. Well, until now.

>>42261320
Why would anyone waste their time to misarchive a quest thread? Seems pretty passive aggressive to me and a huge waste of time.

>>42261460
Fuck I forgot my meme arrow

If you steal from bandits, and give to yourself, is that still a noble action? You are after all freeing this stretch of desert from their raids. Who's to say you don't deserve a little reward for that? Creeping closer to the mouth of the cave you position yourself such that you're almost directly behind the four of them, so that when it comes time to attack you'll be ready.

You wait for now. One of the scouts and the leader are struggling to pick up the chest while the other scout takes up a position at the mouth of the cave with an arrow knocked and ready, lazily scanning the canyon ridge for enemies. He doesn't even get close to spotting you. Unfortunately the Vatis walks past an overhang, further into the cave. You hear him call out. “Hey, have you seen these paintings on the wall? These look recent!”

Atif shouts back. “Who gives a fuck about cave paintings, Mukesh? Help us with this chest!”

Rude. You care about cave paintings. They're one of the few sources available that shed light on the lives of pre-Hiacian Samjan populations. Even if they do mostly relate to hunting giant lizards and fertility rituals.

If you're going to spring an ambush on them, now seems as good a time as any. Two of them are too busy trying to haul away their loot, and the others aren't even paying any particular attention.

>Rot the organs of the three you can see, then do the same to the Vatis when he comes rushing out to investigate.
>Cast a Paralysis spell with an Area of Effect, in the hopes that you get all four of them in one go.
>Just incinerate the three closest to you and demand the Vatis surrender.
>Slide out from behind the rock as some sort of illusory horror, Ricky's tentacles streaming from your cloak. Intone some bullshit about violating the graves of their ancestors.
>Write-in

>using suptg
>ever
Ok, it's actually better for mobile reading. But still.

>>42261479
This is what happens, Soma

This is what happens when your quest is more shitpost than quest

>>42261507
Oh, and reminder for those trying to think up spells. Metas and effects Mik knows are here: http://pastebin.com/Tu1sVEnQ

>>42261480
>Why would anyone waste their time to X
>Seems pretty passive aggressive to me and a huge waste of time.
wheredoyouthinkweare.tiff

>>42261507
>Cast a Paralysis spell with an Area of Effect, in the hopes that you get all four of them in one go.

>>42261507
>Rot the organs of the three you can see, then do the same to the Vatis when he comes rushing out to investigate.
but just to play it safe make one or two golems incase it goes south

>>42261507
>Just incinerate the three closest to you and demand the Vatis surrender.

>>42261507
>Just incinerate the three closest to you and demand the Vatis surrender.

>>42261507
>Slide out from behind the rock as some sort of illusory horror, Ricky's tentacles streaming from your cloak. Intone some bullshit about violating the graves of their ancestors.

>>42261507
>Rot the organs of the three you can see, then do the same to the Vatis when he comes rushing out to investigate.

>>42261507
>Use the Vys metamagic to make one of the goons stab the closest person to him.
>Rot their eys out while they're panicking.

The misarchivist got you guys

>>42261507
Cast leaping Suryia's Vice.

>>42261507
>>Slide out from behind the rock as some sort of illusory horror, Ricky's tentacles streaming from your cloak. Intone some bullshit about violating the graves of their ancestors.
while also
>Cast a Paralysis spell with an Area of Effect, in the hopes that you get all four of them in one go.

>>42261507
>>Rot the organs of the three you can see, then do the same to the Vatis when he comes rushing out to investigate.

>>42261574
Damn, actually I'm gonna second this.

>>42261507
>fertility rituals
Tell me more.

>>42261507
>>Slide out from behind the rock as some sort of illusory horror, Ricky's tentacles streaming from your cloak. Intone some bullshit about violating the graves of their ancestors.

>>42261507
>Cast a Paralysis spell with an Area of Effect, in the hopes that you get all four of them in one go.
Maybe we can keep one of them around and enchant something using their soul?
Who am I kidding. We're never gonna enchant anything ever again.

>>42261513
>using archive.moe
>ever

>>42261507
>>Cast a Paralysis spell with an Area of Effect, in the hopes that you get all four of them in one go.
we need one alive so we can get the loot a their camp as well

>>42261613
It would make sense though to enchant a small metal shield with fire+big+big to give to mortia or darzi for when we hit the forest.

>>42261613
Certainly we can make something that would be useful in a massive jungle.

>>42261519
Nigga please, I don't care. I'll just link that thread in the archive description of the next thread.

>>42261595
>>42261584
>>42261569
>RETUUUUURN THE SLAAAAAB

>>42261535
>>42261584
>>42261613
>>42261626
>AoE+Paralysis

>>42261588
>>42261570
>>42261539
>Cell death on a mass scale.

>>42261592
>>42261574
>Puppet one of them into stabbing their friend and then rot their eyes.

>>42261578
>LIGHTNING BOLT!

Lookin' like AoE+Paralysis is gonna take it. Judging by Mik's rough estimate a 2 vys AoE meta (meaning it would cover about 20 square meters) would be enough to hit all of them, and then the spell itself is just 1 vys. Then you'll need an additional +1 to make it a ranged spell. Thus, the total cost of the spell is 4 vys.

None of them have any innate magical resistance nor any artifacts which might help them. They're also totally flat footed and unaware of your existence.

Thus I need you to ROOOOOLL 3d10 flat vs DC 11 (Base 15, -4 from Unaware)

Rolled 7, 5, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>42261794

>Make magic ring that leeches and repels Life
>Sell it to someone for exorbitant price
>Laugh all the way to the Void Cloak Bank
I wanna join the ranks of all the assholes who make dangerous artifacts.

Rolled 10, 6, 3 = 19 (3d10)

>>42261794

Rolled 4, 7, 7 = 18 (3d10)

>>42261794
Set sail for fail!

Rolled 8, 4, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>42261794

>>42261811
>>42261817
>>42261819
>13, 19, 18 vs DC 11
>Great Success!

>>42261794
really soma, no bonus for being a skilled vatis?

>>42261848
Noope. For the most part you don't get bonuses to effects other than situational bonuses, and situational bonuses usually just lower the DC. I've been thinking about implementing a system that gives you bonuses based on the number of effects and metas you know, though. Not sure if I'll implement it.

Rolled 8, 9, 8 = 25 (3d10)

>>42261794

>>42261834
noice

time for

RAPE

>>42261834
spend 10

>>42261916
You mubst be gnu here.

>>42261815
>enchant something with create + water + large + large + large
We wouldn't even need to have SK make that desalination plant anymore.

>>42261974
I'd just like to interject for moment. What you're refering to as GNU, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.

There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux!

You let vys pool in the palm of your hand, you flesh going cold underneath your armor. Then, focusing your will, a ball of roiling green light forms above the palm of your hand. You pump it full of vys until it's practically bursting, tendrils stretching from its surface briefly only to be sucked back in. Then you lob it overhead. One of the bandits manages to get out a “Pani's tits, what's-” before the spell activates and a wave of vys washes over the area.

You stand from your hiding place, letting the illusion of invisibility fall away and stretching your back until it pops loudly. Three of the bandits stand frozen, Atif halfway turned around to glance at where the paralysis spell was at the time and the scout they'd stationed as a watchmen staring wide eyed up in the air.

Grinning like a cat with a mouse trapped between its paws you step out from behind the rocks and advance towards the three men...

>Enemy Turn!
>Enemies Remaining: 1x Master Vatis, 2x Bandit Archers (Paralyzed), 1x Bandit Heavy (Paralyzed)
>Status: Uninjured

Unfortunately before you can reach them a spire of stone shoots out of the ground in front of you, forcing to sidestep. Another comes almost immediately after. You use your own knowledge of earth magic to erode the next spike that comes sliding out of the Earth but your opponent seems far more skilled than you are, forcing through your efforts and yet again make you take a step back.

(1/2)

>>42261999
I'd laugh my tits off when that eventually floods the whole peninsula and causes mass die off of sea life in the area due to unbalanced salt levels.

The vatis in question steps out of the cave's mouth, still shaking off the last of your paralysis spell. You suppose he probably knows both manipulate and paralysis, making countering your spell a simple task. You feel him channel a burst of vys, but nothing outwardly changes. You feel no different and there's no spike of stone driving towards your crotch.

>Just rot out his organs, you doubt this man's a Water Vatis. If he is, you're almost certainly more skilled. (1 vys)
>Shoot a beam of fire at the man, it will almost certainly strike before he's able to move. (2 vys)
>You don't like this. Fortify yourself with Metal Magic in preparation for whatever he's going to throw at you. (2 vys)
>No need to use Metal magic. Just use Point Defense. You're better with Water anyway (1 vys)
>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)
>Write-in

>>42262143
>far more skilled than you are
because bantits are gm's
Soma pls, stop trying to compensate

>>42262172
>>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)
ayy lmao
we thor now

>>42262172
>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)
Pretty sure he was using water magic earlier

>>42262172
>Just rot out his organs, you doubt this man's a Water Vatis. If he is, you're almost certainly more skilled. (1 vys)

>>42262172
>>Just rot out his organs, you doubt this man's a Water Vatis. If he is, you're almost certainly more skilled. (1 vys)
>>42262184
We are only a vatis at earth fag

>>42262172
>You don't like this. Fortify yourself with Metal Magic in preparation for whatever he's going to throw at you. (2 vys)
>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)

>>42262184
You're only a Vatis rank Earth Vatis.

> Maximum Vys Pool: 58
> Basic Elements:
> Grandmaster Water Vatis
> Master Rank Fire Vatis (1/5 Insights)
> Vatis Rank Earth Vatis (1/3 Insights)
> Expert Rank Metal Vatis (2/4 Insights)
> Vatis Rank Nature Vatis (1/3 Insights)
From the character sheet.

>>42262172
>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)

>>42262172
>Just rot out his organs, you doubt this man's a Water Vatis. If he is, you're almost certainly more skilled. (1 vys)

>>42262172
>vys no effect
Delay? This nigga knows his magic

>>42262150
>I'd laugh my tits off
LONDON
O
N
D
O
N

>>42262209
Can the stone gauntlet fit over our armor?

>>42262172
Rot his face until he begs for mercy

>>42262172
>>You don't like this. Fortify yourself with Metal Magic in preparation for whatever he's going to throw at you. (2 vys)
Tall niggas about to get ganked, but nah go ahead and attack him

>>42262223
NOPE

>>42262194
Yeah we couldn't hear splashing when he should've been walking through water. He's definitely a water vatis.

>>42262172
>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)
Then
>Just rot out his organs, you doubt this man's a Water Vatis. If he is, you're almost certainly more skilled. (1 vys)
Ayy lmao we lightning god and shieeeet

>>42262172
>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)
Use leaping to bounce off the leader and one archer as well

>>42262172
>>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)

>>42262172
>>You don't like this. Fortify yourself with Metal Magic in preparation for whatever he's going to throw at you. (2 vys)
[05:20] <~Soma_QM> >these overconfident anons

>>42262281
Go to bed, Call.

>>42262172
>>Try shooting a bolt of lightning from him using that technique your Master taught you, Surya's Vice. (3 vys)
I just want to see this in action.

>>42262172
>You don't like this. Fortify yourself with Metal Magic in preparation for whatever he's going to throw at you. (2 vys)
Dudes a master earth Vatis.

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>>42262221
Effect+Manipulate is a pretty hard counter to a lot of effects. The trick is thus to learn a vast number of effects in the hopes of being able to throw combinations at your enemies that they never would've thought of.

>>42262255
>>42262252
>>42262213
>>42262204
>>42262194
>>42262190
>>42262273
>>42262303
>Shocking

>>42262200
>>42262201
>>42262215
>>42262224
>>42262252
>Organ stew

>>42262307
>>42262281
>>42262204
>Fortify

>>42262281
Oi mate, I never said that.

Looks like the lightning bolt takes it.

Gimme a sec to calculate bonuses and what not.

>>42262307
The best defense is a good offense.

>>42262327
Soma pls

>>42262327
This isn't me, I'm me