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The wheels on the cart squeak around you as the darkened carriage ferries you to through Inner wall of Ba Sing Se. The bumps and holes in the road suddenly smooth out as you pass the gates, causing the wheels to stop their tortured cries. Shinji paces around the wagon with you, occasionally sniffing one thing or another, as you consider your mission.

Grand Lotus Wu has fully recognized you as a member of the Order, but there wasn't really a ceremony. He gave you a locker in a back room that had robes emblazoned with a white collar, etched with lotuses. But you were basically briefed and tossed in this cart. The Yokai are abducting nobles, and the Order has deemed this a rather important matter, sending almost everyone they can to stop it. Grand Lotus Wu told you that you may run into other members, but to not seek them out, it may draw suspicion.

The wagon lurches to a stop, the wheels momentarily whining under the stress, which scares Shinji into your new forest green bag. You stand up, the unfamiliar clothes being too tight in the wrong places cause you a bit of discomfort, and the rough fabric makes you feel less mobile. Earth Kingdom clothes aren't as comfy as you remember them being in your childhood, but they are necessary to keep up your new identity.

You were even given a choice of identity, who are you again?

>Dong Rock, a scholar renowned for his expertise on Air Nomads and the Fire Nation, called in for tactical advice
>Fan Gon, brought in to tutor the young prince in history and geology
>Chosu Tobo, the new chamber attendant for the war room, in charge of drinks and assistance of Generals
>Zakon Kozu, a diplomat from a recently freed Fire Nation colony, and the son of a recently deceased and widowed Spymaster

>>43370870
>Dong Rock, a scholar renowned for his expertise on Air Nomads and the Fire Nation, called in for tactical advice
How is this even a question?

>>43370870
>Dong Rock, a scholar renowned for his expertise on Air Nomads and the Fire Nation, called in for tactical advice

Really, I just wanted a vote I knew you would take in the beginning. Writing.

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You took the same identity you gave when you arrived in Ba Sing Se, Dong Rock, but you were given a free pass to the War Room to keep an eye on the Generals. Han implied that each General had a OWL member watching him from somewhere at all times, but not which position they had. Han wanted you there to provide a sort of false target, he wants you to attempt to gain influence in the War Room, and the Yokai should kidnap you. He then wants you to escape using "whatever you did to leave Flame Point" and tell him where it is at a designated dead-man drop.

Really, all that amounts to is getting popular, paying attention to where you are, and bailing. When you get the info, Han implied that a full-on assault may be in order, but until then it should be pretty quiet. You step out of the wagon, hefting a wealth of books on Fire Nation culture and tactics that the Order had in a bag, and walk to the gate of the Palace's Outer Court. Another little prop that the Order had for you was some small reading glasses which you put on the bridge of your nose, they really don't change your sight, but they change your appearance enough that, in addition to the facial hair you grew over the last year and your now untanned skin, nobody could recognize you.

"Name?"

"Dong Rock." The guard at the gate fumbles with a scroll, but eventually finds your name and lets you in.

"The meeting is already started, but they have been waiting for you, please head to the War Room Dr. Rock."

Oh right, you're supposed to be a scholar, it would make sense to have a degree. The doors to the war room tower immaculately at the end of the hall. You puff some steam out of your pipe in contemplation on how to enter.

>Enter proudly and take a seat at the table
>Enter clumsily and fumble a lot to breed an image of incompetence
>Enter in a way that makes others think that you're arrogant
>Enter normally and without grace
>Write-in

>>43371283
>Enter quietly, act all humble and nervous and out of your depth. Like an actual scholar would when his knowledge can suddenly determine the life and death of hundreds of soldiers.

>>43371283
>Enter proudly and take a seat at the table

I'm going to wait a bit longer for the thread to pick up.

>>43371405
probably for the best

>>43371283

>>43371337
Time to act.

Fair enough, this is technically a majority.

Roll me 1d100+10 to act

Rolled 81 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>43371564
Time for the first terribad roll of the quest.

>>43371592
We need two more.

Rolled 45 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>43371688
Sure thing, boss

Rolled 12 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>43371564
>>43371688
'aight

Rolled 2 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>43371564
sorry im trying to play binding of isaac afterbirth

>>43371746
YOU ALMOST SCREWED IT UP. Already halfway through writing the update.

>>43371777
blame afterbirth not being released properly

>>43371746

Jesu Christo.

>>43371740

Almost as bad. This should be an interesting update.

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You have to come off as looking like an actual scholar, and then you start thinking about what that could mean. You're out of your depth, all you are is a public servant at this point, but you aren't prepared. There are thousands of people who could die if you fail to inform the Generals correctly, but even if yu are successful people will die to your actions. You were just a kid at the academy a few years ago, and now they want you to take lives? You can barely handle the responsibility, you're about to shatter.

You walk through the doors with a frantic bow to the room, then sit down at a chair before announcing your name while keeping your eyes firmly downwards. You begin shakily unpacking your books and unroll a scroll with twitching hands. You clear your throat.

"I just w-wanted to say that i-it's an honor to be here and I hope to be of help. The Fire Nation has many o-odd cultural quirks that m-may be exploited for t-tactical gain." You try to appear nervous, but it goes beyond acting, you actually seem to be nervous. Something has happened and now you are Dong Rock, the scholar with lives on his shoulders.

You spend quite a bit of time with the Generals stumbling through what might be useful information in a skirmish that is set for a rather simple open field.

>Roll 1d100 for tactical support

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>43371897
And thus we become ingratiated among the generals for our tactical knowhow, despite our rather petite demeanor.

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>43371897

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>43371897
Why is the thread so slow today?

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>43371897

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>43371897

>>43371983
Threads kinda early today anon, I rolled out of bed and into this thread.

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The field appears to have a bit of a history with large-scale battles, especially with the Fire Nation, but it does hold as a sort of normal acquisition and loss. The Fire Nation has it for a bit, then the Earth Kingdom, but there are a few ways that the tactics could be adjusted for it. The Fire Nation seems to consistently burn sections to get rid of any chance at stealth, so spies are off the table. One of the generals suggest doing it underground, but you know enough about fire to dissuade him, as the fires have been burning long enough to practically bake the earth down at least a few meters.

Another General has a plan that involves a risky tactic, using catapults to launch soldiers in boulders behind enemy lines. You have to hand it to him, you never would have thought of that, but then you read over a few of your notes on the field and recognize a recent pattern in battles. The Fire Nation consistently use the center of the field to burn and split formations that we throw at them, without that the position would be indefensible at their end. You bring up this pattern to a general and the one with the boulder idea shouts that he has a new idea.

He's going to fill the boulders with sand to cover that spot with it, thus making it impossible to burn. You know from experience that sand doesn't melt quickly to Firebending, so you make something up about researching Firebending in school and express your support. This has greatly improved odds of success.

>Try to brainstorm a new idea for how to pass their wall of fire
>Write-in an idea for tactics
>Look through reports and books for relevant info
>Write-in?

>>43372228
>Look through reports and books for relevant info

>>43372228
>>Look through reports and books for relevant info

>>43372228
>>Try to brainstorm a new idea for how to pass their wall of fire

>>43372228
>Look through the reports and books for relevant info.

Okay, roll 1d100 for books and stuff for nerds.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>43372363

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>43372363

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>43372363

>>43372395
We read the shit out of those books.

Also, NEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRDDDDD

>>43372395
Well then, guess you're really in character. Writing.

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You start flipping through reports and cross referencing through your books. Troop movements, tactical formations, all the stuff on Fire Nation Military culture you have. Then you reach a book at the bottom of the pile and flip it open, greeted on the first page with a sample attack plan. Then you realize something.

"THEY ARE LITERALLY COPYING FROM THE BOOK?!" You scream out in a bit of rage, a bit of incredulity, and extreme confusion. The Generals turn to you and you show them the formation in the book, everything is exactly the same as the troop movements on the field. You sheepishly shake their hands as they congratulate you on a job well done, then you read the various flaws from the book to them. They start making notes to be sent out to the troops.

"Dr. Rock you just potentially saved many lives, I get that you must have been very nervous, but we appreciate your expertise, you are dismissed for the day." The General at the head of the table waves you out and a servant shows up at the door.

"Hello, I'm Chan Fu and I am here to assist you in any way I can for your stay at the palace."

>It is a bit after midday

>"Where's my room"
>"Know any good places to get tea, maybe play some Pai-Sho?"
>"What do you like doing in your free time?"
>"Know any good places to get lunch?"
>Write-in

>>43372534
>>"Where's my room"
>>"Know any good places to get tea, maybe play some Pai-Sho?"

>>43372534
>"Know any good places to get lunch?"

>>43372534
>>"Know any good places to get tea, maybe play some Pai-Sho?"

Assuming this kid isn't the WL agent himself, then we might as well see if we can identify others.

>>43372558
we were told not to seek out other members

>>43372534
>>"Where's my room"
>>"Know any good places to get tea, maybe play some Pai-Sho?"

>>43372534
>I need a good cup of tea to calm my nerves...do you know any tea parlors around here?

>>43372593
This is...more subtle, at least.

>>43372534
>"Know any good places to get lunch?"

Okay, combining lunch and tea.

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"I need some tea to calm my nerves, and maybe something to eat, know any places?" Your stomach growls in response, but it might have been Shinji who pokes his head out of your bag. You quickly feed him some jerky and he pops his head back in the bag.

"Well, that's adorable. Yeah, I know a place, the guy who runs it actually just got into town a few months ago, but he's taking the nobles by storm." He seems very enthusiastic, and you can tell he can't be more than a little under 20. He begins leading you out of the palace to a crowded street, where your clothes don't keep you from feeling out of place among the nobility. You decide to make small talk to pass the time.

"So, where are you from?"

"Outer Wall, made my way up here thanks to my uncle knowing the Earth King. And you?"

"I used to live in Omashu, but I decided to go to the University at a young age."

"Oh, cool. I assume you play the scholar's game? I could never get into it." You knew that Pai-Sho is practiced fervently at the University, and that's why Han plucked an identity from there.

"Yeah, I'm pretty good at it too, defiitely not for everyone though." He nods in affirmation.

You eventually reach a large tea shop with the sign "Waro's Exotic Teas and Foods". Inside, is a man behind the counter you seem sure you recognize, but you can't place him. He doesn't seem to have noticed you.

>Order two meals and tea (1 gold)
>Talk to the man behind the counter
>Look around at the patrons
>Write-in

>>43372894
>Order two meals and tea (1 gold)

>>43372894
>>Order two meals and tea (1 gold)

>>43372894
>Order two meals and tea.
Some Jasmine. No need to talk but the guy can at least get a look at our face.

>>43372894
>Order two meals and tea (1 gold)

Okay, writing.

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"What's the special today?"

The shopkeeper looks at you with glee, "Well, today the tea is Hot Spring brew, made of tea leaves harvested from the plants surrounding the hot springs in the southern Earth Kingdom. The food special is a traditional Earth Kingdom dish of roasted Dog-ox covered in Turtleduck sauce." You sort of recognize him, but you can't quite remember his name.

"Two please." He leads you to a table and sets a pot of tea next to you and Chan. Then he walks to a door in the kitchen and yells back.

"TWO SPECIALS P!"

"I HEARD IT, I'M NOT DUMB!"

"QUIT BEING UPSET ABOUT IT, IT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO P!"

You finish covering your ears at the conversation and pour the tea, an earthy greenish tan color, into the china on the table. Chan gets up and says he has to use the restroom and leaves you alone. Deciding to get a smell of the tea, you lift the lid of the pot and find a small note under it.

"What do you need to know truthseeker?"

>Put down the lid
>Write something
>Sip your tea
>Read a book to keep up the facade of scholarly nature
>Write-in

>>43373258
>Sip your tea
>Write something
"where can I get more of this?"

>>43373258
>>Sip your tea
Shake your head slightly.

I'll wait for a bit longer.

>>43373258
as >>43373292 the get more tea thing was mostly a joke so as to not make a tie
ill second >>43373399

>>43373258
>Sip your tea

>>43373258
>Sip your tea with the usage of your right hand
>Read a bookheld in your left to keep up the facade of scholarly nature

>>43373448
Okay, Writing.

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You put down the lid and start sipping the tea, it calms you down and feels like sipping a warm hug, it isn't very flavorful, but it just seems like a subdued tea. You end up considerably comfortable in the wooden chair and start reading some books on tactics so you can keep impressing the Generals. It's a bit morbid to think that your only purpose for being here is to get kidnapped. Chan comes back and apologizes for his absence, but you say it's fine. A few minutes later, two plates of roasted meat come out of the kitchen, spirals of steam rise of the dish and you get a savory aroma from the curls of moisture.

You finish up the meals handily, by the time you're done it's only about halfway through the afternoon. Chan seems to be sitting in his chair waiting for you to say something. You've ran into people like this before, don't speak unless spoken to, but maybe that should be how it is. You are Dong Rock, a nervous scholar, not a kind friend exactly, would he have the guts to tell Chan not to worry?

>"So, why don't you show me to my room? I have research to do."
>"Don't worry so much Chan, I'm not going to do anything if you relax a bit."
>"Does the Palace have a library I can use?"
>Write-in

>>43373891
>>"Don't worry so much Chan, I'm not going to do anything if you relax a bit."
>"Does the Palace have a library I can use?"

>>43373891
>>"Does the Palace have a library I can use?"
Afterwards is there a room for me?

>>43373891
>"D-don't worry so much Chan, I'm not going to do anything if you relax a bit."
>"But, you wouldn't happen to know if the palace has a library I could use?"
Try to act like nervous guy trying to act casual.

>>43373891
>>"Does the Palace have a library I can use?"

Sorry, keyboard accidentally toggled to Norwegian. Writing.

>>43374095
Hvordan i helvete skjedde det?

>>43374189
No, that's the problem.

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"You wouldn't happen to know if the Palace has a library I can use?" You're a little split over the telling him to relax thing.

"No, only the royal library, which is off limits to all but the royal family. If you need books on anything I can request them from the University."

"That's fine Chan, why don't we head back to the Palace." You start walking back to the Palace and are shocked by an apparent crime scene being kept off limits by Royal Guards. They keep the area blocked off and keep people from approaching. You eventually reach the outer court and a flurry of activity is whirling around the palace. It seems that another noble was kidnapped, a relatively minor one though, only holding a ceremonial position. Chan leads you to a room filled with shelves and a luxurious bed with a desk at one side.

"You may want to keep in here for a while, stuff gets hectic after this happens."

>Request books on a subject from the University
>Read a specific book (Which one?)
>Read from your Fire Nation books about their tactics
>Write-in

>>43374415
>>Read from your Fire Nation books about their tactics

>>43374415
>>Read from your Fire Nation books about their tactics

>>43374415
>Read from your Fire Nation books about their tactics

>>43374415
>>Read from your Fire Nation books about their tactics
Sup Lost

>>43374589
>>43374515
>>43374477
Roll 1d100 for reading good.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>43374602

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>43374602
NEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRD

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>43374602
Let's see if I can get something higher than 30 this time, or at least 15.

>>43374622
Good job, you are fail.

Writing.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>43374602

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>>43374626
>Finally gets a roll that is above average
>Someone else's critfail negates it

>>43374750
5 is not a crit fail anon

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Chan walks out of your room and you put the books from your bags on the shelves, mostly filling them. Then you take down a book on basic Fire Nation tactics and begin reading. It is then that you realize you have no idea what any of this means, the diagrams aren't helping either, and seem to confuse you more. After about an hour of trying you put away the book and start checking different ones.

As the sun sets you feel as if you wasted your afternoon, as it seems that no matter how much you study, without a problem to actively think about. The situations in the book are too unrealistic to help you in that regard, so it looks like the only expertise you have is as to the capabilities of Firebending. You might be able to use that to substitute for tactical knowledge.

Wait, you don't have to do the tactics, that's the Generals' jobs, you just need to be a resource on what the Fire Nation might do given their culture and leadership. You actually DID just waste the afternoon.

>Read some books on Fire Nation culture
>Read a specific book (Which one?)
>Have Chan bring you some dinner so you can continue researching
>Go out and get dinner
>Write-in

>>43374837
>>Read some books on Fire Nation culture

>>43374837
>>Read some books on Fire Nation culture

>>43374837
>Read some books on Fire Nation culture

>>43374837
>Read a specific book
We do have that book on dynamic firebending. If someone sees us reading it, we can just say that we're reading a thesis on firebending in general, in the hopes of "anticipating future firebending forms that may be employed on the field of battle."

>>43374858
>>43374865
>>43374871
Okay nerds roll me 1d100+5

Rolled 72 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43375012

Rolled 58 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43375012

Rolled 2 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43375012

Rolled 94 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43375012

>>43375028
Wow, Kuo has trouble understanding this "culture" thing.

Writing.

>>43375028
>>43375035
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWHY

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You start flipping through more pages of books on current Fire Nation culture, and you are left with one enduring thought. What? You begin frantically searching through books but none of them are even anywhere NEAR current, one of them even refers to the term "Hotman" which is so old you have to strain to even remember what it means. After flipping throuh every book for anything current, your stomach feels empty and you're parched, but you've come to the conclusion that Han was messing with you. He gave you a bunch of books that LOOK really useful and scholarly to have, but really gave you horrible information.

You put the mess of books back in their places as the half moon shines through your window. Then a single thing against the wall catches your attention, a Guzheng in immaculate condition. In front of it is a small book titled "Beginner's Melodies".

You also look at the assortment of books you bought in your travels a bit more intensly. If you want to look the part of the scholar, you have to read at any given time. Maybe you could read some of these for actual info.

Your stomach growls in protest to its emptiness, signalling that you need at least something to eat.

>Have Chan get you dinner
>Try to learn the Guzheng
>Read a book (Which one?)
>Go to bed
>Write-in

>>43375060
Cowboy that's bullshit, crits should only be ones

>>43375268
>>Have Chan get you dinner

>>43375293
It's always been that way, but if you're willing to make crits only 100 I'm game.

>>43375268
>>Have Chan get you dinner

>>43375268
>Have Chan get you dinner

>>43375268
>Have Chan get you dinner
>Read that Dynamic Bending book.

Dinner is being had, writing.

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You open up your door to try and find Chan, but outside your door are two guards who hold you back.

"I'm sorry sir, but what do you need, curfew is in effect."

"I didn't get dinner, I was too busy researching, is there a way I could get some?"

He sighs in exasperation, "Fine, we'll get a servant to do it. Just stay in your room."

A few minutes later the door opens and a servant hands you a plate of lukewarm dumplings. He bows and swiftly walks out of the room, with the door slamming behind him. You close your curtains and check around, then quickly warm your dumplings with Firebending and eat them, taking a drink of the water that was brought also. Your hunger sated, you are feeling a bit tired, but you're probably fine to stay up. Tomorrow shouldn't be a very taxing day.

>Read a book
>Try to learn the Guzheng
>Go to bed
>Write-in

>>43375606
>Try to learn the Guzheng

>>43375606
>>Try to learn the Guzheng

>>43375606
>Read the Dynamic Bending treatise, dammit!

>>43375606
>Try to learn the Guzheng
>Simultaneously attempt to perfect your singing voice

>>43375606
>Try to learn the Guzheng

Roll me 1d100 to learn the Guzheng

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>43375820
>inb4 100

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>43375820

>>43375820
Come on Kou stop fucking up.

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>43375820
crifail

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>43375820

>>43375828
You were close.

Writing. Should be the last update.

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You decide that you don't want to read anymore and the guzheng is just sitting there, so you open up the songbook and take a seat. you read through how to use the guzheng, then you start playing. You swiftly find that you are rather talented at it, and start flipping through the book to find something more challenging. You find an older piece at the back that's very long, so you decide to play that one.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01NxAVWh9yw

You let your hands walk across the board, playing a rather rewarding piece, then you decide it's time to sleep. You change into bed clothes from the wardrobe and get into the bed, it's the most comfy bed you've ever slept on. They must've given you a good room, Shinji curls up next to you and begins lightly snoring. Before you go to bed, you reflect on what you need to do tomorrow. Convince the Dai Li Triad that you're worth kidnapping, get kidnapped, report where their base is. Not hard at all.

You feel sleep take a grip on your body and you fall into slumber.

>Thread end, Twitter is @xLostCowboyx, I will be around to answer questions and talk about stuff

>>43376140
WHY ARE WE SO GOOD AT THIS SHIT?

>>43376140
Awesome thread, LC. Can't wait for the next one!

So we going full Buddha guys?

Thanks for the run lost.

>Not http://youtu.be/g293pFZ9-9o

>>43376310
Fucksake, I missed another one?