Korg: Your orcish blackguard, he is bound to your will. He wields a great hammer and cares for few things more than to use it in battle. A creature of simple pleasures and sins he is a destructive force on the battlefield and a cunning creature in planning.

Halivean: Known to you as Hal, he is your desert elf blackguard. Fanatically loyal to you and with some basic skill in necromancy and tactics he is a vital lieutenant to your forces. His agility is exceptional and his skill with a blade and bow is significant, but where he shines is leading undead into battle.

Karist: Dwarven runesmith and elder.

Spot: Gnoll rogue and boss.

Vlad the Kobold: Kobold leader.

Amythrien: Elven craftsman and elder.

Sheila: Human elder from your village.

Housekeeping

Suptg archive of the quest: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=DeadQM

Twitter where the quest updates usually happen: @DeadQM

http://pastebin.com/vBRyBWfK Mechanics and Character Sheet

Economy: You have 1kg of gold.

Your minions: 50 human zombies, 20 Dire Wolf mounts, 5 phantasms, 1 orcish pyromancer zombie, 4 Treants. You control 109/180 minions.

Your Holdings: A Human Village, An Elven Temple with a tower, A well-hidden and fortified cave.

Diplomacy: Human Tribes (Neutral); Dwarves (Revered, Open Trade); Forest Elves (Allies, Open Trade), Desert Elves (Unknown), Gnolls (Allies), Golems (ACCEPTABLE), Drow (Dead)

Goals: Achieve Immortality, Provide a good life for Bathory and the child.

Immortality option currently locked in: Draconic Magic.

The battle is done, the human force broken. More allies have arrived and are sure to want to talk to you. You have been awake for tha last 24 hours and you have been casting magic for 16 of them. The enemy commander, the paladin of Pern lies dead at your feet.

>Raise him as blackguard
>Let him rot

Afterwards

>Go rest. They can all wait for tomorrow.
>There are still a hundred things to do. Sleep is for the weak.
>Other

>>43540744
>Raise him
Fuck that holy nigga

Afterwards
>Go rest

>>43540744
>>Raise him as blackguard

>Go rest. They can all wait for tomorrow

>>43540744
>>Raise him as blackguard
> Sleep is for the weak.

>>43540744
>Raise him as blackguard
>Go rest. They can all wait for tomorrow.

>>43540744
>>Raise him as blackguard
>There are still a hundred things to do. Sleep is for the weak.

'This is your brain on magic,' you say, as you raise the paladin back to his senses and bind him to your will. Huh. Everybody's looking at you as if you weren't making sense.

'Don't kill people.' Is the only order you give to the newly bound paladin. Then you retire to your room and you fall into the pile of fur and silk and you sleep without dreaming for the whole night and some of the day.

You awaken and Hal is in your room. He is entirely too close to your face. You are quite certain he has been watching you sleep.

'Lord Tepish!' He says, jumping to attention as your eyes open, 'Message from the leaders.'
'What is it, Hal?' you say.
'They have invited you for discussion in the main hall. I dare say it is something important,'

>'Tell them to wait for now. I still need to speak to my newest blackguard.'
>'Tell them to wait for now. I still need to [write-in]'
>'I will be right there, just at least let me eat something first, have a bath.'
>Other

>>43540947
>'I will be right there, just at least let me eat something first, have a bath.'

>>43540947
>Tell them to wait for now. I still need to speak to my newest blackguard.'

>>43540947
>>'I will be right there, just at least let me eat something first, have a bath.'

>>43540947
>'I will be right there, just at least let me eat something first, have a bath.'
>'Tell them to wait for now. I still need to speak to my newest blackguard.'

>>43540947
>>'I will be right there, just at least let me eat something first, have a bath.'

'I'll be there in twenty minutes,'
'I will tell them, Vlad Tepish,'
'Has my newest blackguard gotten up to anything?'
'No, my lord. He merely stands there with a blank look upon his face,'
'Problem for a later time then. Is there food?'
'Yes, lord Tepish. Though it has cooled. You have slept for a long time.'
'I would eat it if it were still alive,' you say, and get up out of the bed. You walk to the garden where you would usually take your meals in the summer, absentmindedly, and are immediately reminded of the battle that took place less than twenty four hours ago. There is a head on the ground, gnashing, trying its best to roll towards you and to bite you. You dismiss it with a light touch of magic and a wave of the hand and it goes back to being properly dead.

It is the fresh kills that still sometimes get to you. You are used to rotting flesh and dry bones, but when one of your zombies still looks like it could simply wake up, as if from sleep... Esh.

Nobody is eating there, so you walk towards the kitchen. You would eat there in the winter, and since no one would like to leave the temple at this time, you assume that is where the food would be. You are right. Bathory is there, very pregnant now.

'Good morning, love,' you say.
'Good morning, Vlad. How are you?' Bathory says.
'Ravenous. I was too tired to eat last night, now I am too hungry to think,'
'Yes, I did notice you not calling me beautiful even once this morning,'
'Indeed. Only a madman wouldn't acknowledge that. So, what is there to eat?'

You eat in comfortable chatter, and in this room it is as if an impossibly large battle of life and death did not happen mere rooms away. You feel much better and ready to face the elders. Knowing your luck, you assume they are going to blame this whole thing on you and demand reparations.

You enter the main temple. The leaders of all the living races of these lands are standing there, around the one throne in the far end of the room. (cont.)

>>43541266
(cont)

The throne where the ancient Necromancer King of elves had held court a millennium ago. They are solemn and silent as you approach.

Amythrien speaks first:
'Do you know what a king is?'
Sheila jumps in:
'That is entirely too fast, we had not yet decided on how the alliance would be governed!'
Vlad the Kobold says:
'It is clear, yes. Vlad should lead us. Er, Vlad the Human, we mean.'

>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'
>'Finally. This should make things easier. Of course I will be your king.'
>'I am not going to rule anybody. You should all find your own way, separately.'
>Other

>>43541322
>>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'

>>43541322
>>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'

>>43541322
>j-jeez, it's n-not like I want to be your king or anything

>>43541322
>>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'

>>43541322
>'Finally. This should make things easier. Of course I will be your king.'

>>43541322
>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'

>>43541322
>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'

>>43541322
>'Wait, let us start this all over again. What the hell are you talking about?'

'What the hell are you talking about,' you say.
'They want to make you extra-big dog, see,' Spot says.
'Please, start from the fucking beginning,' You say.
'It is not safe to live like we have any more,' Amythrien says.
'It is not just the humans, though they are the most immediate issue. There have been horrible threats just about each month, to one if not all of us.' says Sheila
'Aye, the bloody bugs near killed us all,' says Karist.
'Arachnids. Spiders are arachnids, not insects, giant or no,' Amythrien says.
'And as I said, how the hell are you supposed to know that if you never even saw one!' says Karist.
'Is safest, yes. Most kobolds, most peoples, all together, all won't die, maybe just some,' Vlad the Kobold says.
'So, we have decided that we need to form an alliance. Certainly we all have... histories, but without working together we would have all died last night,' says Amythrien.
'Long-ear elf man means if Vlad did not save your ass you'd all be dead dead dead,' says Spot.
'As I said. We might not all like the idea of working together. But we must,' Amythrien says.

>'So what the hell is this about a king?'
>'This would never work. You are too different and entirely too argumentative.'
>'This sounds like a great idea. If we pooled our people and our resources nothing could stop us.'
>'I am not certain all of you should be a part of this alliance [specify]'
>'We need to hear from Were-Bears and Golems before we decide.'
>Other

>>43541537
>'So what the hell is this about a king?'

>>43541537
>'So what the hell is this about a king?'
>'We need to hear from Were-Bears and Golems before we decide.'

>>43541537
>'So what the hell is this about a king?'

>>43541537
>>'We need to hear from Were-Bears and Golems before we decide.'

>>43541537
>We need to hear from...

What was the deal with the merpeople? Are they their own kingdom? Do they even like us more than a trade route?

>>43541537
>>'So what the hell is this about a king?'
>'We need to hear from Were-Bears and Golems before we decide.'

'Two things. First of all, we need to hear from the Golems and the Were-Bears before we decide,' you say.
'Well, lad, I can tell you exactly what the golems'd say. I've gotten to be pretty good pals with one. He'd say that the golems serve the dwarven king, and that it would be irrelevant whether the dwarven king was a human,' Karist says.
'As for the bears, I suppose we should send a messenger, though I sincerely doubt that they will be willing to take part in such a structured endeavour.' Says Amythrien
'You might be right. Secondly, I still have no damned idea as to what the hell you meant by 'king'' you say.
'Simples. Vlad is the biggest, baddest dog around. Vlad either kills us all, or becomes big boss, that's how it works,' Spot says.
'That is not how *I* work,' you say.
'The dog's an ass, but he's not that far away from right. You have the most power already, nobody disputes that. We thought we might make it official,' Amythrien says.
'It's an alliance! Not the birth of a nation! Why can we not simply keep the current power structure? Elders, talking things through and coming to reasonable conclusions,' Sheila says.
'Because, lass, there'll come a time where we won't. Then we'll need someone who can tell us what to do whether we like it or not,' Karist says.
'Kobolds serve the man-Vlad thing!' says Vlad the Kobold.

>'It is an intriguing notion. But I would be certain everybody agrees before I take this responsiblity.'
>'It is true. I do have all the power here. I SHALL be king and if you don't like it you can try stop me.'
>'Perhaps we can reach a compromise? We vote on serious issues, and I have two votes in order to break ties?'
>'Sheila is right. There is no reason we cannot resolve our differences by talking them through.'
>'I am still not sure this whole alliance thing is workable. Convince me.'
>'The whole idea is laughable. We function perfectly well as tribes.'
>other

>>43541687
Overall, they are neutral-positive towards you, happy to trade, but ambivalent otherwise. In this specific instance, they simply live too far away to establish a direct and formal alliance.

>>43541788
>'Perhaps we can reach a compromise? We vote on serious issues, and I have two votes in order to break ties?'

>>43541788
>>'Perhaps we can reach a compromise? We vote on serious issues, and I have two votes in order to break ties?'

>>43541788
>>'Perhaps we can reach a compromise? We vote on serious issues, and I have two votes in order to break ties?'

>>43541788
>>'Perhaps we can reach a compromise? We vote on serious issues, and I have two votes in order to break ties?'

Sheesh, people need to step off trying to make Vlad a king... This will probably appeal to Dragon Vlad immensely though.

>>43541788
>other
>Look, I'll be happy to be a tiebreaker right now. But for the immediate future I have some very demanding business to take care of; perhaps we'll re-evaluate afterward.

Vlad is still mortal and his child is about to get here.

>>43541788
>'It is true. I do have all the power here. I SHALL be king and if you don't like it you can try stop me.'

>>43541788
>'It is an intriguing notion. But I would be certain everybody agrees before I take this responsiblity.'

'Look, this is happening much too fast for us to immediately reach a sensible compromise,' you say.
'But we need to act fast. We need to deal with the remnants of the human force,' Amythrien says.
'And I for one must know what is happening among the human tribes,' Sheila says.
'I get that. I do believe that these are issues that must be resolved swiftly as well, however, I believe that you want me rule because of your fear and indecision, not because that is what's best,' you say.
'So, what'd you reckon we should do?' Karist says.
'For now it is simple. It is clear that you believe that I should have a position of... seniority. We will then decide all issues with a vote among this council, and I shall have two votes in case we need a tiebreaker,' you say.
'Better than bending the knee. No offense,' says Sheila.
'None taken. So, what is the first issue we should deal with?' you say.

'The humans. Three hundred is still a massive force if they use it well. Raiding, stealth tactics, ambushes, we must be rid of them.' Amythrien says.
'And I say we must know what the hell we are dealing with. That force was not made up of the human tribes we know! We need to know what is going on!'
'We should lay low, bunker up and wear them out. They have no supplies and they do not know the land. They won't be the danger you're portraying them as,' says Karist.
'I think we should kill all humans! Er, not ALL humans, I guess,' Spot says.
'I think we should do what Vlad says!' Vlad the Kobold says, not specifying which Vlad he means.
'And now you see why we need a tie-breaker!' Amythrien says.

>'We have gained the advantage, now we must gain information. I will send scouts to the human lands.'
>'We need information. As luck would have it, I have raised their leader and I shall interrogate him promptly.'
>'We know what we need to know. Let us wipe them out.'
>'They are not an immediate threat. We should attend other matters.'
>Other

>>43542135
>>'We need information. As luck would have it, I have raised their leader and I shall interrogate him promptly.'

>>43542135
>'We need information. As luck would have it, I have raised their leader and I shall interrogate him promptly.'

>>43542135
>'We need information. As luck would have it, I have raised their leader and I shall interrogate him promptly.'

>>43542135
>>'We have gained the advantage, now we must gain information. I will send scouts to the human lands.'
can also force them to surrender

>>43542135
>'We need information. As luck would have it, I have raised their leader and I shall interrogate him promptly.'

>>43542135
also just in general: raise as many phantasms as we can to help hunt down the remaining humans
- if we cant make them join us that is

'There is literally no reason to fight. I have raised their leader as my blackguard. I will go and interrogate him. We will know exactly what is going on before lunch,'
'Vlad Tepish, lunch was an hour ago,'
'Before dinner then,'
'Very well. There is also the issue of re-location for our people...'

>'Settle where you like within a mile of this temple.'
>'Stay where you are for now. The alliance will work even if we aren't right next to one another.'
>'Find a site that you all approve of and start building.'
>'Sheila and the humans have built somewhat of a village already. Go there and expand it to accommodate your people.'
>Any of the above+ 'The dwarves, however need to return to the mountain. The runeforge is much too valuable to leave behind,'
>'Do as you want, I don't care where you are, only that you respond when I call.'
>Other.

>>43542353
Maybe settle somewhere around the mountain?

>>43542353
>'Find a site that you all approve of and start building.'
>Any of the above+ 'The dwarves, however need to return to the mountain. The runeforge is much too valuable to leave behind,'
We will need to work on a big road for that.

>>43542353
>>'Sheila and the humans have built somewhat of a village already. Go there and expand it to accommodate your people.'
>>Any of the above+ 'The dwarves, however need to return to the mountain. The runeforge is much too valuable to leave behind,'

>>43542353
>>'Find a site that you all approve of and start building.'
>>Any of the above+ 'The dwarves, however need to return to the mountain. The runeforge is much too valuable to leave behind,'

I don't think we should send the dwarves off alone. Aren't their numbers really now right now?

>>43542353
>'Find a site that you all approve of and start building.'
>'Sheila and the humans have built somewhat of a village already. Go there and expand it to accommodate your people.'

try to find a few site nearby that your people approve of and we can reconveen tomarrow to see which tribes approve of which locations, we don't necessarily all need to live in the same village

>>43542455
If we are i want to send protection with them
- also upgrading the protections weapon and armor while they are there and rotate the people in the procection group so eventuall all capable fighters are as well equipped as they can be
export food from the elves or humans if needed so they can focus on producing

>>43542135
Relocate everyone near the dorfs

>>43542455
We can send some Kobolds with them. We're going to have a million of the things soon, and they will basically worship us.

'The rune-forge is, of course, too valuable to leave behind. Other than that, find a place you like near the temple and feel free to settle,'
'We'll be needing protection if we go back to the mountain. Scary fucking shit keeps coming out of it,'
'You are right, of course. Let us say, each of the tribes sends ten of their warriors with you?'
'Agreed,' says Amythrien.
'What Vlad said!' says Vlad the Kobold.
'Grrr. If we must. Near half peoples. So many more Kobolds, why not they go?'
'Look, we can do the numbers later. For now, deal with it, we will come to a more just solution later. I am sure the dwarves will welcome you with every bit of hospitality,'
'Oh aye, any help will be grandly rewarded,' Karist says, and at that all arguments break down.
'Now, I shall go talk to my paladin friend.'

You find him exactly where you left him, standing over the remains of his fallen comrades that were too badly mangled to be raised again. He stands in a narrow hallway, in the rubble of barricades, broken weapons and bodies. He stands in a silent vigil, not saying anything at all.

Roll 1d20+3 DC 17 Linguistics and

>'Who are you?'
>'Why did you come here?'
>'Where did you come from?'
>'What have you done to the local human tribes?'
>'Where would the rest of your forces retreat to?'

Degree of success/failure might determine how many questions you can ask, so make sure to put questions you want to ask first first.

Rolled 12 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>43542621
>'Who are you?'
>'Why did you come here?'
>'Where would the rest of your forces retreat to?'

Rolled 3 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>43542621
>'Where did you come from?'

Rolled 15 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>43542621
>'Where would the rest of your forces retreat to?'
>'What have you done to the local human tribes?'

Rolled 16 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>43542621
>WHAT'S WRONG DOE? YOU WERE TALKIN ALL DAT GOooOOooOOD SHIT A MINUTE AGO!

But seriously, in order:
>'Where would the rest of your forces retreat to?'
>'What have you done to the local human tribes?'
>'Why did you come here?'
>Tell me about yourself.

>>43542621
"Still Salty?"

>>43542881
SECONDED!

'So, you still pissed off at me?' You say.
Your blackuard says something.
'I didn't quite catch that,' You say.
He repeats it, angrily.

It quickly becomes apparent, that while your languages have much in common, this man does not in fact speak the tongue that you have come to call Common, or at the least no dialect of it that you recognize. It is still close enough that you manage to translate the questions that you think are the most important without wasting the whole day on linguistic research.

'Where would your people retreat to?'
'Back to our new lands. Back to the villages we took. They must hold them against you, or kill and burn every man woman and child if they cannot,' he says.
'What have you done to the local tribes, exactly?'
'We have brought them under the rightful guidance of Pern, who is one true god. They will work as slaves until they earn the right to become People.'
'Where did you come from?'
'Across the desert and the fields. They have held the fire of the Sun God through the darkness and now the time has come to unite,'
'Are there any more of you, other than what we saw?'
'Some. Guards, priests and administrators,'

Going into further depth would take time and you would have to piece more of the language together, but you might gain some more information.

>Ask your blackguard something else [write-in]
>You have heard enough. Call the council and make your decision known.
>If they are going to stay away from you, at least for now, you have some time. Commune with the spirits you haven't spoken to, make homonculi, practice alchemy, or just hang out with your friends.
>Other

>>43543054
>>If they are going to stay away from you, at least for now, you have some time. Commune with the spirits you haven't spoken to, make homonculi, practice alchemy, or just hang out with your friends.

>>43543054
no matter what we do, i want to send scouts out to check if the remains of the human army is still out there.
ask more about their society

>>43543054
>>You have heard enough. Call the council and make your decision known.
Time to save our people.

>>43543097
>ask more about their society
this

>>43543054
>>You have heard enough. Call the council and make your decision known.


This as well>>43543097

>>43543097
This sounds best.

Fuck Pern

>>43543247
True, true

As you turn to leave, a thought strikes you and you give one final order to your blackguard.

'I order you to learn our dialect,'
'Yes. Wait. Before you go. If they see dead walking they will start the purge,' he says, in broken, but comprehensible Common.

That's a surprise perhaps there is some actual good behind the facade of self-righteousness. Perhaps it is a facet of his binding. Nonetheless, it is information worth knowing.

You call Lathrien and the owl-scout.

Lathrien does not respond. Indeed, you cannot find him. Last you saw him he was impaled by a greatsword. You would know if he were dead, but he is nowhere to be found.

So, you call for Melandie, and she tells you she's not seen him either. He had been fine after the battle, but he'd left immediately after, somewhere West.

Concerning, certainly, but you have other scouts. You send skilled kobolds and your more suitable homonculi to scout out the human tribes, and you should have a comprehensive report by nightfall.

You could scout yourself. You fear they might have more astral fuckery going on, but you could turn into a bird and be there in a few hours.

That said, the council is still waiting for you to bring them information and make further decisions.

>They can wait a while longer. Scout yourself.
>They can wait a while longer. Do something else.
>Go meet the council before you do anything else.
>Other

>>43543097
Sound good. We will know more about their numbers. Weaknesses, better locations to raid.
Also the scouting should make destroying the enemy forces much faster. And more thorough.

>>43543340
>>Go meet the council before you do anything else

>>43543340
>>Go meet the council before you do anything else.

>>43543340
Order the Blackguard to answer all the Council’s questions that are directed at him truthfully.

Then search for Lathrien because he might be under some sort of compulsion. (Tell others you are doing so)

>>43543405
I doubt it, he's probably finding someone to sate his thirst on.

>>43543340
>Go meet the council before you do anything else.
who could be the best scouts?
some phantasm and Melandie in the back for back up - some elves forward postions and stealth - humans for carrying luggage so forth

>>43543340
>>Go meet the council before you do anything else.

>>43543340
What's to the west of here? The mountains, right?

>>43543439
Nah, mang. Be paranoid.

>>43543340
Search for Lathrien, he's far too powerful to be let alone. (Well, except that greatsword thing, we don't talk about that.)

>>43543460
Kobolds are sneakiest, elves are most perceptive and have some minor illusionists.

Well, what's the point of this alliance, if you are going to keep them in the dark. You go right back to their chambers and you present them with the information you have gathered.

'So, we shall not be able to attack with your Undead,' Amythrien says.
'Indeed,' Sheila says.
'What? But if we go with dead-beasts, the men-things will be distracted by killing everybody and we can kill them easy,' Spot says. He mostly gets blank looks.
'Moving swiftly on, I do believe further scouting will be necessary. Furthermore, Lathrien has gone missing, and I would like to find him before any battle,'
'Who should go?'

>Humans, if they're caught they might be able to bluff their way through.
>Kobolds. No way is anyone going to notice them.
>Elves. No way are they going to miss anything.
>Yourself.
>Gnolls or Dwarves. For whatever reason.
>Make homonculi specifically built for this purpose. It will take some time, but they will be good at what they do and disposable too.
>Other

'But after that we're going to be fightin', aye?' Karist says.

>'Of course. If I cannot count on my undead I will have to count on my allies.'
>'Yes. Well, not you specifically. There are too few dwarves remaining to risk your lives. But the rest of us shall go to battle.'
>'No. I shall try to take them on myself with my magic.'
>'No. We shall be leaving them alone for now.'
>Other

>>43543642
>>Kobolds. No way is anyone going to notice them.
>Elves. No way are they going to miss anything.
>'Of course. If I cannot count on my undead I will have to count on my allies.'

>>43543642
>>Kobolds. No way is anyone going to notice them.
With some
>Humans
as back-up. (Staying farther away so they aren’t spotted, but capable of intervening if necessary.

>>43543642
>Kobolds. No way is anyone going to notice them.
>'No. I shall try to take them on myself with my magic.'

>>43543642
>>Kobolds. No way is anyone going to notice them.
>>Elves. No way are they going to miss anything.

>'No. We shall be leaving them alone for now.'

>>43543833
seconded
Build up then tear down if necessary
after we got L we should create more undeads and maybe some scout/archer homonculi

>>43543833
I vote for this

'Kobolds and Elves shall have to work together on this one. Together no one is going to see them and no one is going to escape their notice. A small party of volunteers, return to us with as much information as possible. All in favour?'
'Aye.'
'Aye.'
'Sure thing, boss,'
'Kobolds will do the scout-thing!'
'Very well. Until we hear back from them it is foolish to make any other moves. There might be an immediate threat, or we might make a mistake moving too early and getting people killed. Go back to your people and start getting settled in.'

With that the council leaves the room one by one. You are left alone in the chamber and have not much of an obligation to do anything.

>Check in on Melandie and/or Bathory.
>Check in on Korg and/or Hal
>Search for Lathrien on your own
>Practice some alchemy
>Commune with some of the spirits you haven't spoken with (specify)
>Send an envoy to the Mer [specify message and method of delivery]
>Other

>>43544156
>>Commune with some of the spirits you haven't spoken with (specify)
I’m curious about our guardian spirit. Is that something we could talk to or more like a pet or golem?

>Set up defences all around the forest. To be activated by us or our minions.

>>43544156
>>Commune with some of the spirits you haven't spoken with (specify)
The mage we found at perm's temple

>>43544156
>>Check in on Melandie and/or Bathory.
>>Check in on Korg and/or Hal

ALL OF THEM, need to keep up to date with our buddies

Also

>>Send an envoy to the Mer [specify message and method of delivery]

Not sure on method of delivery but we should let them know about the alliance and offer them a chance to have a voice on the council if they want it

>>43544237
Voting for this

Oh hell to it, you can't exactly lead an alliance of all the good races of this land, for a variable definition of good, if you cannot keep in touch with your closest allies. You've spoken to Bathory already, but you've only briefly checked in with Melandie today.

You find her in the library, with a book on mental discipline and meditation. It scarcely looks like it's working, as she appears to be extremely frustrated with the text.

'Am I interrupting?'
'Not at all, Vlad. If you could just fucking explain to me, how the fuck is it helpful to tell me to 'start from a position of serenity' when dealing with anxiety? If I was fucking serene I wouldn't fucking NEED help with my anxiety, would I?' Melandie says.
'Worried about Lathrien?'
'Fuck, I mean not really. He isn't going to DIE again, I mean I thought he was dead but then the fucking sword didn't even fucking seem to sting him.'
'Worried of what he might do, I mean?'
'Not like we haven't killed people,'
'For good reason,'
'Really? Better reason than fucking needing to do it to live? Vlad, I'm with you, you know that, but fuck, we kill a lot of people. I don't fucking know if all of them deserve it,'
'Probably not. It is good that you question. It is pointless though. People will keep trying to kill us. We will keep fighting back,'
'That's the fucking thing, isn't it though? It's going to be like that for me for like, what a thousand years if I'm lucky. You and Lath, hell, who fucking knows,'
'I hope not. I hope to change things,'
'Yeah, and I'm just your fucking bruiser until you get around to it,'

>'It's what you're good at. No, it's what you are great at. You do not have to enjoy it, but you can appreciate the learning process and the mastery it brings. Speaking of which, I would be happy to spar with you.'
>'Well, you're expanding your horizons. I think it's a good idea for you to train your mental discipline. In fact, so should I. Do you mind if I join you?'
>Other

>>43544615
>>'Well, you're expanding your horizons. I think it's a good idea for you to train your mental discipline. In fact, so should I. Do you mind if I join you?'

>>43544615
>>'Well, you're expanding your horizons. I think it's a good idea for you to train your mental discipline. In fact, so should I. Do you mind if I join you?'

>>43544615
>>'Well, you're expanding your horizons. I think it's a good idea for you to train your mental discipline. In fact, so should I. Do you mind if I join you?'

Group meditation is often even more helpful then solo meditation.

Chakras get in sync and shit like that.

>>43544615
>>'Well, you're expanding your horizons. I think it's a good idea for you to train your mental discipline. In fact, so should I. Do you mind if I join you?'
How old is she even?

>>43544660
This, she seems like she needs help.

>>43544615
>>'Well, you're expanding your horizons. I think it's a good idea for you to train your mental discipline. In fact, so should I. Do you mind if I join you?'

Roll 2d20 Meditation 1. +2 Melandie 2. +4 Vlad DC 12 for a pleasant session, 20 to learn it at 0 for Vlad/Level it to 1 for Melandie, 22/24 to bring it to 2 for Melandie or 1 to Vlad

Rolled 7, 18 = 25 (2d20)

>>43544728

Rolled 6, 12 = 18 (2d20)

>>43544728

Rolled 12, 3 = 15 (2d20)

>>43544728

Rolled 9, 9 = 18 (2d20)

>>43544769
Yay, i made sure Melandie had a good time :D

>>43544741
>>43544769
So Melandie at least gets to relax, and Vlad learns a thing!

>>43544805
When doesn't Vlad learn a thing?

'It is not all that you are. You are learning now. As you said, you have a long time to live and a long time to learn many things, even if some of those things are ugly,'
'Fuck. Look at me, I'm Vlad Tepish, I'm always so reasonable and fucking right,'
'You know what, I believe that I should learn to control my own emotions. Could you help me with the basics?'
'I mean, Lath was really the one that got this straight away, but I guess,'

You sit into the very familiar position of ritual, and quickly, through Melandie's guidance and your own experience as a ritualist you sink into a trance. It takes Melandie's voice to guide you into not ascending to the astral realm and to not actually commune with any spirits, but to look within and to find peace and control.

You feel that Melandie has to split some of her focus in order to guide you, but soon her voice goes calm and in a few minutes you feel her presence become serene and a little more confident. You are not there for very long, perhaps an hour, but you have learned much, and you've gained some rest that you didn't know you needed. You are fairly certain some of your entirely overdrawn magical energy is restored as well, though you know that sleep and food did much for that as well. It could be useful if you ever have to cast for extreme periods of time.

>You have learned Discipline 0 and can meditate or spend experience to advance it up to 3.

After your session with Melandie you go to see your blackguard. As time has drawn on, you have come to rely on their strange company. You are uncertain as to whether it was your magic that gave them their unique personalities, or if the personalities were always there and you merely found them by getting to know them.

You find the elf and the orc fighting with large wooden staves. You are just about to interfere, when you realize, that as brutal and intense as it is, it is merely sparring.

>Interrupt them for a chat
>Interrupt them to join them
>Let them spar.

>>43545068
When he's trying to learn his lesson about speaking to other people! Get fucked, diplomacy!

>>43545076
>>Interrupt them to join them

Bout to get our ass beat, but it's a good pain.

>>43545076
>Let them spar.

>>43545076
>>Interrupt them to join them
match their intensity as much as we can

>>43545076
>>Let them spar. Watch their fight.
Watch them fight and then take the winner and the loser at the same time!

>>43545076
I'm confused on what exactly Discipline will do for Vlad. It makes sense for the elf duo (literal bloodthirst and figurative bloodthirst) but what do we get from it?

>>43545076
>Interrupt them to join them
gotta get swole, plus we are already fully rested, so not much reason not to.

>>43545213
Mana regen.

Read, nigga!

And once we become a dragon, if it tries to make us super arrogant fuckhead mode, discipline would be nice to stay ourselves.

>>43545213
I think it will be more like an energy booster, if we don't have much time to sleep and such it could help us quickly regain energy. just what i inferred from the writing, so take that info lightly.

Your unarmed is your highest combat skill, Note that unarmed counts for natural weapons in animal form

>Train unarmed +4
>Train with wooden swords +2
>Train with live weapons +3 (+1 manliness bonus)

Roll 1d20 DC 15 to not get hurt and have a good time DC 20 to learn Swords 0 DC 24 to advance unarmed

Rolled 11 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>43545269
>>Train with live weapons +3 (+1 manliness bonus)
no pain no gain

Rolled 10 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>43545269
>>Train unarmed +4

Kung-fu niggas. Looking like some Wuxia shit.

Rolled 19 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>43545269

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>43545269

>>43545269
>>Train unarmed +4

>>43545314
Welp, guess we sword now, too.

>>43545314
forgot to say
>Train with live weapons +3 (+1 manliness bonus)

>>43545269
>Train with live weapons +3 (+1 manliness bonus)

Should we really let our blackgaurds beat the shit out of us when the enemy could attack soon?

>>43545412
>dc15 to not get hurt

Nigga.

>>43545412
We could always just life drain some of our allies. Taking a bit from everyone shouldn't impact much on their abilities.

>>43545458
This guy knows how to be a real necromancer.

22! Manly Success!

'Why don't we make this a little bit more interesting?' you say.
'Lord Tepish! I am sorry I didn'-' Hal gets whacked in the face with a staff. The wooden staff breaks. You hear an orc laughing.

Hal jumps on Korg and starts gnawing and thrashing at him in a wicked grapple.

'Stop, please,' you say. They do. Of course.

You draw your sword.

'Why don't we do some live weapons training?'
'Imma kick in the boss!' says Korg
'If that is your wish, Lord Tepish,' says Hal

They take their weapons up and you three stand in a circle.

'This will be last man standing fight to the first blood. We will begin....

Now!'

The sheer animal ferocity with which Korg rushes Hal makes you very glad indeed that they did not both decide to rush you instead.

You decide that there is no such thing as a fair fight in a three way and you go for the orc from behind. As you do you soon realize that his wild swings are not random, but indeed a tactic to protect himself from just such an assault. His overhead swings are far too dangerous for whoever's in front of him to ignore, but at the same time they make it harder for him to be struck in the back.

As your sword gets parried by one of his seemingly random swings, he turns sideways, so that he is facing both of you, and suddenly it is you and Hal versus Korg. You assault him without reck and Hal is exploiting any seeming opening he sees.

Reminding you that he is not a meek sycophant, Hal turns at the last moment, looking to exploit your recklessness and to score a touch on you, but as soon as his eyes leave the orc's weapon he gets punched in the face by Korg's off-hand hard enough to draw blood.

Now it is just you and Korg and now you learn some things about swordfighting. You feel like you are trying to parry a giant blacksmith striking an anvil. The strikes are not difficult to predict, and your sword is of masterful make, but each time a shock goes through your arms, and within seconds they are numb.

>>43545557
You know you have to find an opening, and soon. You have but seconds, but you think you can think of one weakness. It's going to hurt like a bitch, but you think you can win with it.

A strike comes. You see it clearly and you have time to react.

You choose not to at the last moment. The sword strikes you on the shoulder and you hear more than feel a dull clunk of metal against metal as your runecraft armour protects your flesh. With the edge of your sword you make a shallow cut on the orc's forearm, and a little blood spills. As soon as it does, the orc stops mid-swing and accepts defeat with a smile.

Your shoulder hurts like hell, but you do not think it is broken or even seriously bruised. The dwarves know how to make armour.

You realize that you are the only one gasping for air, as the other two do not exactly need to breathe. That was one hell of an exercise.

'Lord Tepish, that was very well done. Is there anything in particular you wanted to ask us?'

>'Yes, I would like to talk to you about [write-in]'
>'Just seeing how my people are doing. Carry on, men.'
>Other

>>43545656
>'Just seeing how my people are doing. Carry on, men.'

>>43545656
>>'Just seeing how my people are doing. Carry on, men.'

>>43545656
>>'Just seeing how my people are doing. Carry on, men.'

>>43545656
>'Just seeing how my people are doing. Carry on, men.'

>>43545656
ask them to train with the all the troops so we can begin making a more cohesive army
opinions on how we can use their individual abilities to command the undead in battle while we work magic. Such as Krog doing shock troop and Hel does more of a captian job of overall tatical command, strategic is still us do, just let him do micro management on the front line

>>43545656
>'Just seeing how my people are doing. Carry on, men.'

>>43545792
Doesn't sound bad.
If we are to have an alliance. We may as well get a force to defend our selves with.
Our own raised troops know how to fight as well as us?

'Nothing specific. There is a bit of a lull in the action and I am seeing how my allies are doing.'
'Good now. Can I hit the elf with a sword again?'
'You never hit me with a sword, now did you?'
'Can I hit the elf with a sword, Vlad Tepish?'
'Train as you like, but do not cause permanent injury,'
'How permanent is permanent, Lord Tepish?'
'I'm serious. I might be sending some warriors down here to train with you. Go easy on them at first, but teach them properly.'
'Sure thing boss,'
'Do NOT hurt them,'
'Aww. Yes boss.'

You leave and there is really only one more person to see. You saw Bathory at breakfast, but a good man should see the mother of his child more than once a day. You find her in her room, eating something that you could not accurately describe.

'Hello, love,'
'Two visits in one day? What is the occasion?'
'Am I really so bad?'
'Oh, you're busy, Vlad, I know. I won't beat you up over it. I'm just happy that you can make the time,'
'How is the baby doing?'
'If I'm counting the days right, then she should come along in a few weeks. I'd appreciate it if you didn't miss it,'
'Not for the world. Not if I can help it,'
'We are at war, Vlad. If you can't help it, it is what it is,'
'When did you get so forgiving?'
'Forgive torture from hell and it gives you a new perspective. Vlad, there is something I have been thinking,'
'Yes, love?'
'Well, with all the talking and all the diplomacy, I feel that you are as good as me now, if not better. And that was the one thing I did for us. I feel useless now,'
'You are not useless. I love you.'
'It is just that. I am not a princess from one of those stories that gets dressed up pretty and whose job it is to be loved by a lord. I need work, Vlad. Not now, now it is work to get out of bed, or to sit down comfortably, but after the baby grows a bit,'
'You have an eternity now. You could learn anything you wanted. What do you want to do?'
'I just don't want to be a freeloader. I want something,'

>>43545979
'Well, I think there will always be room for diplomats. I won't be able to be everywhere at once,'
'I guess so. I have read a lot now. Do you think it would be of any use if I wrote down what is quickly becoming history?'
'What do you mean?'
'You! Your work, your achievements, your battles. I just need some ink and a quill, I do not know where to get them,'
'I could make some ink easily enough, and a quill easier yet, if that is what you want,'
'I do not mind the idea, but it is about being useful here, not just about what I want to do with my life,'

>'You keep the temple in order, you run things and soon there will be a child to care for. You already do as much as anyone here, and there is no shame in keeping house.'
>'I think that chronicling this new alliance is a great idea. I shall bring you quill, ink and papers.'
>'I shall need diplomats more than I shall need a record of history. Make sure to not let your craft get rusty.'
>'Have you considered doing [write-in]'
>Other

>>43546082

>'You keep the temple in order, you run things and soon there will be a child to care for. You already do as much as anyone here, and there is no shame in keeping house.'
but if you insist
>'I think that chronicling this new alliance is a great idea. I shall bring you quill, ink and papers.'

>>43546082
>'You keep the temple in order, you run things and soon there will be a child to care for. You already do as much as anyone here, and there is no shame in keeping house.'
>'I think that chronicling this new alliance is a great idea. I shall bring you quill, ink and papers.'

>>43546082
>>'I think that chronicling this new alliance is a great idea. I shall bring you quill, ink and papers.'

>>43546082

>'I think that chronicling this new alliance is a great idea. I shall bring you quill, ink and papers. Once you've finished I shall need diplomats more than I shall need a record of history. Make sure to not let your craft get rusty

'You are being stupid,' you say
'Vlad, I will have you know I can still punch you,'
'No, I mean, you do more work than just about anyone here. Lathrien has run off, Melandie is just sitting in the library and moping, the orc and the elf are probably sparring, but quite possibly just enjoying the fight, and you are working your beautiful ass off, and with a baby on the way.'
'Well, I think I can do more then!'
'If you insist, love, I shall make you all that is necessary to write. And I would ask you that you not let your negotiation skills get rusty. But you do a lot, and I will always appreciate it,'
'Oh alright, have it your way. Do you have to leave right away?'
'Of course not, love.'

You spend an hour or two just talking and not talking, merely enjoying each other's company. It is a rare time that you have the chance to do so, and so you leave your thoughts of imminent war and responsibility for life and death of hundreds of people out of your mind for now. When you finally leave you feel better than you have in a very long time.

You make a simple note concerning the nature of the alliance, and send it down-river with a cooperative water spirit. The Mer should receive it soon and if they want a seat on the council then they are welcome to petition for it.

Then, it is back to real work.

>The scouts should be back within a day or so.

>Experiment with alchemy
>Study something or another
>Try to find Lathrien [how?]
>Just let the time pass
>Other

>>43546082
>'I think that chronicling this new alliance is a great idea. I shall bring you quill, ink and papers.'

>>43546473
>>Study something or another

Everything we can get our hands on about Dragons

>>43546473
>Try to find Lathrien [how?]
use spirits?

>>43546473
>>Try to find Lathrien
cut our wrist and flail it around outside

>>43546473
>Study something or another
Dragons

>>43546473
This >>43546517
and >>43546521

>Study Dragons

Roll research 1d20+6 DC 20

Rolled 14 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>43546630
lets rock!

Rolled 14 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>43546630
Alright!

Rolled 16 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>43546630

Rolled 9 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>43546630

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>43546641
>>43546658
>>43546660
all three passed, noice.

Your library is extensive, though you've been making a dent in it over the last few years. You are somewhat surprised that you'd never come across any information on dragons or their kind before now. You soon realize that you are looking in the wrong sections. There are no mention of dragons in any of the bestiaries, or any books on magical beasts. Knowing what you know, this makes sense, as dragons are no more beasts than humans or elves.

What does surprise you is that in the books that you do find reference to dragons they are very much treated as humanoid creatures. At first you write it off as a strange cultural tradition, but a few hours into your research you learn that most older dragons, and just about all of the ones that interacted with the civilized races were capable of shapeshifting into humanoid form. This also makes sense, considering what you know of both dragons and magic.

The shapeshift does not seem to be nearly as spiritual in nature as your wild shapes, being a much more exact magical science, but nonetheless, the themes overlap, and you are quite certain that advancing your draconic magic would allow you to change shape. Perhaps that would lead you to the breakthrough you are looking for in your quest for immortality.

You also learn a few interesting factoids. Dragons all seem to be obsessed with personal wealth and power. Most of them seem to be severely individualistic, though a few operate in family units. They were seen more as important individuals than as dangerous monsters in the books of history, and so it makes sense that these books are where dragons are most commonly described.

One book speaks of a battle where an ancient dragon turned a great dwarven city into slag and molten gold.

You swear you could hear a whisper 'Beginning of the end', but when you turn there is nobody there.

You are deep in your research when you hear word that your scouts are back. You go out to meet them and a young elf reports to you:

(cont.)

>>43546844
'The human tribes have been completely taken over by Pern's followers. There were some stragglers hiding in the forest, but they were being hunted down and we could not risk taking on untrained civilians out of fear of being detected ourselves. The Pern people are making the old tribes build walls, pits and temples, mostly it looks like they're just giving them busy work. The conditions are sub-human. I doubt more than five in six of them will survive the month.

There is chanting everywhere, old songs we did not recognize, presumably prayers. They seemed to exude an aura of restfulness and strength, though that might have been simply the skill of the singers.

Finally, we heard tales of people going missing. Nothing specific, but once per night someone disappears without a trace. They are sure these are not escapes, or otherwise that is the face they put forward.'

The elf takes in a breath. A kobold takes over.

'No one saw us, even though elfs very big. They see trouble and get out of way. Not bad, but couldn't sneak up on a rat.'

>'Hard labour is rough, but it is better than summary executions and witch hunts. We have time to plan this out carefully.'
>'First priority is to make passage here safe for these refugees fleeing the new regime. They will have more information and they can work and fight for us.'
>'That settles it, if they are working my people to the death we need to strike soon and decisively.'
>'I fear Lathrien might be responsible for the disappearances. We must find him as soon as possible.'
>Other

>>43547026
>'That settles it, if they are working my people to the death we need to strike soon and decisively.'
>'I fear Lathrien might be responsible for the disappearances. We must find him as soon as possible.'

>>43547026
>'That settles it, if they are working my people to the death we need to strike soon and decisively.'

>>43547026
>>'That settles it, if they are working my people to the death we need to strike soon and decisively.'
>>'I fear Lathrien might be responsible for the disappearances. We must find him as soon as possible.'

>>43547026
>>'That settles it, if they are working my people to the death we need to strike soon and decisively.'
>>'I fear Lathrien might be responsible for the disappearances. We must find him as soon as possible.'

>>43547026

>'First priority is to make passage here safe for these refugees fleeing the new regime. They will have more information and they can work and fight for us.'

>'I fear Lathrien might be responsible for the disappearances. We must find him as soon as possible.'

>someone said Lath was fine

>Lath was cursed by the sun god, Pern.

>Lath was recently impaled by a follower of Pern

>no one suspects that Pern fucked with Lath through curse shenanigans.

>>43547026
>They must be burning the dead bodies to prevent zombies. Use the ashes of the corpses and create a giant ash monster and show them all work and no play makes Pelor a dick God.

>Take in the refugees, and offer anyone a way past the walls and away from the Ash

>The undead champion returns and kills their leaders who are enacting these laws infront of everyone.

>Then when a new leader is needed, we step in and become King and our champion publicly pledges himself to us and we knight him.

Our campaign slogan?

>We may smoke, but we don't make you build death walls that don't even protect you.

Shit fucking fuck shit dicks.

I'm going to have to cut it short tonight.

I guess It's a decent cut-off point at least. I'll be here tomorrow with a new thread to finish this, but for now:

You have gained 3 exp bringing the total to 4

Rules for levelling up: http://pastebin.com/vBRyBWfK

Suptg archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=DeadQM

Twitter @DeadQM for quest updates

Oh come one people. You could have used our basketweaving skills and taught bathorie how to basket weave.

File: 6254657.gif (315 KB, 330x184)

315 KB GIF

>>43547291

>>43547309
Dragon magic to 6

>>43547309
dragon VI please

>>43547309
Dragon magic

>>43547339
this

>>43547309
Dragon magic up boss

>>43547310
>Basketweaving becomes our new Diplomacy

>>43547339
Yes

>>43547358
You have gained Draconic Magic VI!

You have learned.... Shapeshift (humanoid)? You can shapeshift out of your great dragon form and into a humanoid of any shape and size normally found within their species.

More importantly, however,

You have learned the mechanics of how to shapeshift into a dragon.

Draconic Form Immortality Final Stage Unlocked:

>Find a way to strengthen your mind to survive the transition, either through alchemy, meditation, or magic.

>>43547427
And I'm super fucking out right the fuck now!

>>43547427
nice. We should up Enchantment in the next thread.

>>43547427
Well shit how are we going to survive....

>>43547471
This meme needs to die.

WE DON'T HAVE ENCHANTMENT.

NO ONE TAUGHT US ENCHANTMENT.

STOP FUCKING TALKING ABOUT ENCHANTMENT.

So uh.

Wonder what Dead had to do.

Maybe the Kobolds got out.

>>43547541
But in actuality that'd be neat. Maybe we'll get to pursue it after chapter 1 ends.

>>43547541
...? Did you not read the thread where we did the funeral for the Elven Elder? We found an ancient elven shamn in the woods who taught us enchantment to help protect our mind, then wiped our memory of our meeting with her.

>>43547541
But we do have a conjurer in a rock.

GAS THE WORSHIPERS
WE HITLER NOW

>>43548468
What are you talking about?

>>43550183
>>43547541
Come on, this stopped being funny a while ago. Its in our fucking character sheet. We know enchantment, even if we don't know how we learned it.

Bumpu

Oh look, this survived the night. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I'll have some breakfast and I guess I can conclude now after all.

>>43556103
Yayyyyyy

>>43556103
Let's begin

'That settles it. I will not leave my people, no matter how much a thorn in my side they have been, to be worked to death. We will attack, and soon,' you say.
'Shall I bring the council?' says the elven scout.
'Promptly. But first, have you any information about these missing people? I fear Lathrien might be involved,'
'Not much in common among all of them, except that they were all beautiful young girls. Only reason they really noticed, I believe.'
'Hell, Lathrien, you better not have killed anybody,''

Roll 1d20+5 DC 15 Discipline for Lathrien.

The council convenes within minutes of your summons in the churned field outside your keep. It is early morning and most of them seem to have just left bed. It looks like you will be going to war on little sleep, though that is not anything new.

You explain the situation to them and they agree that action must be taken. What the action should be, however...

'Look, they are human beings, I am certain they can be reasoned with!' says Sheila.
'All reason left them when they became fanatics. We need to strike fast and decisively. Need I remind you that their force is still a serious threat to us?' Amythrien says.
'Kill all humans!' says Spot.
'Lads, please, we can give 'em one hand and arm the other. Send an envoy, but bring our army,'
'And what if that does not work? Then the envoy is as good as dead and they know that we are coming,' Amythrien says.
'And what of the vampire? If he's been feeding on their people, can we even trust him as an ally?'
'You figure that just because lil' Lathrien has been killing some of the ENEMY we shouldn't trust him no more?' says Karist.

And so on and so on.

'Enough.' You say, without emphasis.

>'Amythrien is right. We should strike hard and fast and with no warning.'
>'Sheila is right. We need to talk to them. We will send [Vlad/Sheila/Amythrien/Spot] as the envoy.'
(cont.)

>>43556546
>'Karist is right. We have to give them a chance to end this peacefully, but I do not expect it to actually happen. We will send [Vlad/Karist/Sheila/Amythrien/Vlad the Kobold] as negotiators.'
>'Lathrien is the priority. Regardless of what he has done, he will have more information on them, and might have created us some allies. We must find him first.'
>'None of you are seeing the obvious here, [write-in]'

Rolled 5 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>43556546
Cmon, Vampire.

>>43556556
>>'Karist is right. We have to give them a chance to end this peacefully, but I do not expect it to actually happen. We will send [Karist and Sheila] as negotiators.'

Rolled 6 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>43556546

Rolled 3 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>43556546

>>43556573
>>43556590
>>43556595
Well, fuck.

>>43556546
>'Amythrien is right. We should strike hard and fast and with no warning.'

>>43556608
I told yall vampires a shit.

>>43556556
>'Lathrien is the priority. Regardless of what he has done, he will have more information on them, and might have created us some allies. We must find him first.'

>>43556556
Intel and friends come first
>'Lathrien is the priority. Regardless of what he has done, he will have more information on them, and might have created us some allies. We must find him first.'

'Lathrien could be the key to this. If it is him that has been disappearing these humans, we must find him before anything else,' you say.
'Vlad is wise, not making any decisions is wise!' says Vlad the Kobold.
'I've MADE a decision. And that decision is that my friend comes first, he might have valuable intelligence and further allies.'
'How do you recommend we proceed then?' Amythrien says.
'We move out towards the human lands, just as planned, keeping as quiet and subtle as we can. We have the scouts lead us to any of the disappearance sites and look around for clues,'
'That's what I would have done. But you do also have your magic.'
'I'll use it if it's necessary. The enemy can navigate the Astral realm as well as I can, or at least I am choosing to assume the worst. It could put us in danger of discovery and it could put me in personal peril if the astral realm is watched and I look for him in that way.'
'Well what are we waiting for?'

>Leave your undead behind to help civilians build settlements.
>Take your undead with you, just in case, to use in an emergency.
>Split them up somehow.

>>43556844
>leave undead

Night dead, it's 2am so I gotta go pass out.

>>43556844
>>Leave your undead behind to help civilians build settlements.

>>43556844
>>Leave your undead behind to help civilians build settlements.

>>43556910
Good night. 6PM GMT seems to be a terrible starting time, but I cannot really stay up till 5AM nowadays anymore, so there sometimes ends up a 6+hour gap between posts when I sleep. I'll try to make it more reasonable, but it's a process.

'We are waiting for your people. I cannot take my forces with me, they will help your civilians build. Melandie shall come with us, but other than that I shall go alone,'
'Of course.'

Then the shouting of orders and the arrangement of troops begins. It takes an hour before everybody is ready to go.

You know the path, the same path you ran through in desperation from your own tribe two short years ago, well. Much has changed since then, and one of the changes is that you know this forest like the back of your hand. Melandie is even better at it than you, and together you lead the force through such paths that none could see you, except by sheer chance.

It is a long trek still, and harder for all of the people you have to lead, but within two days you reach one of the sites of the disappearance. It is only you, Melandie and the elven scout.

'We heard that she'd come to the brook to bring water. People had assumed she'd taken a break. They only noticed she was gone when the Pern people came looking for their worker.'

You do some disturbed grass, some very light tracks. Lathrien is light on his feet, even for an elf, but you are sure that among the three of you you shall find some sign of his passing.

Roll 3d20 1. You +3 2. +5 Melandie 3. +4 Elven scout DC 20

Rolled 14, 16, 19 = 49 (3d20)

>>43557015
Did we bring our wasp spirit as well?

Rolled 10, 17, 6 = 33 (3d20)

>>43557015
I spy with my shaman eye

Rolled 4, 19, 1 = 24 (3d20)

>>43557015

Vlad Failure! Melandie Great Success! Scout Critical Failure!

As soon as you start looking closer the scout grows increasingly confident that he has led you to the incorrect location. Ignoring your assurances he starts wandering off down-stream to see if he can find the 'right' spot. He is convincing too, as you stop looking quite so closely at the original location, and begin wandering slowly towards the direction that the scout indicates.

Melandie, however, wanders off in a different direction, and though you notice this, you know she has solid fieldcraft and that you can cover more ground if you split up.

You are not worried overmuch, until you hear the furious shouting.

'Bastard! I will tear your eyes out! You will fucking see if they fucking grow back!'
'Wait, Melandie, no, let me expl-'
'Aaaaargh *Wham* *Bam* *Glam* *Shazam'

You rush towards the sound and you find a cave. You enter the cave and you find Lathrien there. He is rather naked, as are the four young human maidens, clearly turned vampire recently.

Melandie is hitting him with some sort of a wooden club. He's dodging some of the hits, but he can't dodge them all.

>He deserves this. Let Melandie finished before you interfere.
>He might deserve this, but you need him able-bodied. Interfere.
>First and foremost, you cannot have these untested women of unknown loyalty join you. Kill the vampiresses, they are recently turned and would be quite weak.
>Other

>>43557227
>He deserves this. Let Melandie finished before you interfere.
Study/interrogate the vampiresses. We still don't know all that much about the aftereffects of the ritual.

>>43557297

Seconded

You raise your eyebrow at Melandie, but give no more notice to the... quarrel going on in the cave. You point your finger at the three young women.

'You, you, you and you with me. Now.' you say. They approach you and... Oh for fuck's sake, they are trying to seduce you. Not that they are unattractive, but fucking hell.

'Stop.' you say. They do. You have really gotten a lot better with your authoritative voice.

'Who are you and what happened to you?'
'Hmm, Lathrien came to us and he gave us eternal life,'
'No pain, no fear, no whips,'
'Unless we want them.'
'Mmmm,'
'First of all, if you do not stop with that seductress act I am going to drag you one by one out in the sun.

Let us try again. I am Vlad Tepish, Who are you?'

Their facial expressions change as if you'd slapped them.

'Anne,'
'Josie,'
'Joanne,'
'B-'
'What?'
'It's Buttercup, alright?'
'I see. Lathrien is my vassal, and he was on strict orders not to feed or to create more of his kind. Why should I not kill you here and now and correct his mistake?'
'I-'
'We-'
*Bam* 'Asshole' *Crack* 'Fuck you!'
'Vlad Tepish, we will serve you, forever, however you want!'
'I don't even fucking know you! How can I fucking trust you?' you say.
'We- I don't think we can do anything Lathrien doesn't want us to. I wouldn't want to try anyways. So I guess, if you trust him...' One of the girls says. It is dark and you haven't exactly been paying attention to which one is which.

>'Fucking hell. I don't have the time for this. Stay out of my way for now, We will see what happens after I deal with those Pernite assholes.'
>'Incompetent, useless idiot. I have a mind to join Melandie. I am sorry girls, this is not your fault, but you cannot be allowed to live like this.'
>Interfere in the fight, see what Melandie thinks.
>Other

>>43557448
*Four

>>43557448
>Interfere in the fight, see what Melandie thinks.

also let's ask Lath if he can really controll them. if so, the can live, at least for now.

>>43557448
>>43557227
>>43557465
Lost my name, these are all me. Brb 20 minutes or so.

>>43557448
>Interfere in the fight, see what Melandie thinks.

>>43557448
>>'Incompetent, useless idiot. I have a mind to join Melandie. I am sorry girls, this is not your fault, but you cannot be allowed to live like this.'
Could we Lathy boy to do it? Correct his own mistake?

>>43557448

>Interfere in the fight, see what Melandie thinks.

>>43557448
C

'Melandie, chill. Start from a place of serenity,'
'What? Fuck you too, Vlad!'
'Melandie! I need to ask you a question.'
'What?'
'What do you think should be done with these women?'
'I don't care about his fucking whores. Can we drag HIM out in the sunlight?'
'Melandie, please, I am really asking,'
'I never-' Lathrien says.
'Shut up,' you and Melandie say in unison.
'Fuck, Vlad. I- I guess it's not their fault that Lathrien couldn't keep it in his mouth.'
'Melandie, I-'
'So what are you saying?' you say.
'Fuck, can't believe I'm saying this. They can be useful. They can train with Korg and Hal and we can use them. It'd be a waste to just kill them now,'
'Thank you, Thank you, great Lady,'
'Shut the fuck up. If you ever speak to me again I will fucking tear you to pieces so small that your new sisters will have to put you together like a puzzle over three years before you start regenerating,'

The vampire girl goes silent.

>Agree with Melandie. Be harsh to the sisters, but use them as long as they stay useful.
>There is no reason to be so harsh. They did not cause what happened to them, welcome them as allies.
>Melandie is being too soft. Kill them.
>Hear Lathriens side of the story.
>Other

>>43557786
>>Hear Lathriens side of the story.
But afterwards. Kill them.

>>43557786
Hear Lathriens side

>>43557786
>Hear Lathriens side of the story.

>>43557786

>Hear Lathriens side of the story.

You sigh.
'Lathrien. Explain yourself.'
'Well, Vlad Tepish, I did lose it, and I was just about gone for a day. I could only think about the hunt. Then I fed, a lot, much too much. It powers my regeneration, I am certain now. But then they were dead, and I thought... Well I felt terrible, and I thought I could bring them back.'
'Well why are they FUCKING naked, you fucking asshole?' Melandie says.
'I- I think it's a part of what came over me, I could just... control them. And it felt-'

And you are straight back to the beatings. Melandie does not let Lathrien finish.

On the one hand, you understand great temptation. You know Melandie understands it too. It is easy to get mad at Lathrien, but many a stronger person has caved in to many a temptation much more natural and less complex.

Not that it excuses his behavior, but at least you understand where his failure lay.

>'You are not coming back to the temple. You will create a dwelling of your own and you will fight for me when I call you. Our apprenticeship is over. I will [take the women to train them/leave them with you].'
>'I know you understand just how hard you fucked up. Next time I'll just kill you. You know I could do it without breaking a sweat. For now, we need you in the coming battle. You have lost my trust and that of Melandie, and you will just have to try to earn it back. The women will fight also, and after the battle they will be sent to train with my blackguard.'
>'Fucking hell, let's just leave this mess behind. Burn these abominations and come back to us.'
>'You are banished. Your women will be burned. If I ever see your face again, I will burn you too.'
>'Melandie, sort this out. I have more important business to deal with.'
>Other.

>>43557917
>'I know you understand just how hard you fucked up. Next time I'll just kill you. You know I could do it without breaking a sweat. For now, we need you in the coming battle. You have lost my trust and that of Melandie, and you will just have to try to earn it back. The women will fight also, and after the battle they will be sent to train with my blackguard.'

>>43557917
>'I know you understand just how hard you fucked up. Next time I'll just kill you. You know I could do it without breaking a sweat. For now, we need you in the coming battle. You have lost my trust and that of Melandie, and you will just have to try to earn it back. The women will fight also, and after the battle they will be sent to train with my blackguard.'

'Melandie, enough.' you say.
'Whatever. It's not worth it anyways,' Melandie says and walks off.
'Shit, Vlad, what can I do?'
'That you know how hard you fucked up is the only reason you are still alive. You will come back to us and learn to control yourself. Maybe yoyu will win back our trust. But we do not trust you now.'
'I- I understand, Vlad Tepish.' Lathrien says.
'Good. The... New vampires will be sent to train with Korg and Hal, if they survive the battle and stay loyal,'
'The battle?' one of the women says.
'Yes. We will be fighting these Pernites.'
'Oh, good,' she says.
'Hmp,' you say.
'Well, I mean, I did pick those most strongly opposed to the current leadership to turn. I was out of control, not out of my mind,' Lathrien says.
'Well, there is that at least, I suppose. Convene with us at nightfall at the pond near the old oak, you know the one,'
'Yes, Vlad Tepish.'
'Bring your spawn with you. And feed them some alchemical blood before they eat one of my allies,'
'Yes, Vlad Tepish.'

'Before I go, did you learn something about the situation here that my scouts might have missed?'
'Well, I have some routes to sneak in to the camps. I'm not sure anyone could follow me, you have to be pretty much invisible to make it,'

>'Very well. Sneak into the nearest camp, and when we arrive, start killing guards. Protect civilians first, I've reason to believe that they might try to kill them'
>'Tell me of these paths. The kobolds can probably sneak nearly as well as you can, and if we can get a significant force behind enemy lines the battle will be over before it starts.
>'No, we have to do this in the open and with overwhelming force, force them to react before they can hurt anybody. Meet up with us, we attack at nightfall.'
>Other

>>43558189
>'Very well. Sneak into the nearest camp, and when we arrive, start killing guards. Protect civilians first, I've reason to believe that they might try to kill them'
They might start a purge if we pressure them too much.

>>43558189
>>'Tell me of these paths. The kobolds can probably sneak nearly as well as you can, and if we can get a significant force behind enemy lines the battle will be over before it starts.

They can be our hidden force for when the negotiations go wrong.

(I think Lathrien should carry a paralysis potion with him or something for when he feels himself losing it but can still act, or when he regains his mind momentarily from drinking.

Still angry that he wanted to gain this power, though.)

>>43558189
I'm still unclear. Did lathrien give the fresh vampire spawn the D?
Because NTR is not cool man

>>43558309

He gave them the Dracula

>>43558189

> Very well. Sneak into the nearest camp, and when we arrive, start killing guards. Protect civilians first, I've reason to believe that they might try to kill them'

>>43558189
>'Very well. Sneak into the nearest camp, and when we arrive, start killing guards. Protect civilians first, I've reason to believe that they might try to kill them'
Sup Dead

'One more thing. Did you fuck these women?'
'Er, it is not that simple.'
'Did you put your fucking dick in any of their orifices?'
'Well, no, not exactly, but, well... It was... sensual,'
'I do not want to hear any more to it. And I truly wish you good luck explaining that to Melandie. Though you might be pretty well doomed.'
'So, what should I do? '
'For now, sneak into the nearest camp. Wait for the battle to start. Then start killing the guards. Protect the civilians, they might try to kill them,'
'They will. As soon as they see your face.'
'Make sure they're not there to do it then. But no killing before the fighting starts.'
'Vlad Tepish, you cannot possibly hope to talk to these lunatics,'
'I can and I probably will. They are human. They have their reason. If they fail to use it, well that is not my fault. If I take that choice away from them, it is.'
'Right, Vlad Tepish. I shall be ready when you come.'

With that you leave and move back towards where your force is camped out. You reach the allied forces within a few hours, and the sunset is few hours more. Giving Lathrien time to get into position, you have just enough time to reach the humans before the arranged time.

You set out and you are not seen by any scouts. Indeed, you've not encountered any. Whether they trust their magical sensors (you make sure all of those are disabled well before they could notice you.) Or whether they want to avoid any splitting of their forces, you are just about on their doorstep, and they still have not noticed you coming.

They have erected simple, but effective fortifications from pointed logs and shallow trenches. It will be painful to try to take the encampment by force.

>Try to sneak your forces into their camp, then speak.
>Walk up to the wall and call out for their leader.
>Have someone else walk up and talk to them.
>Approach in full force and demand an audience with their leader.
>Send all of your allies ahead, work your magic from well behind.

>>43558443
Not much, running this weird game of pretend on this Laotian Carpentry Shared Journal, you?

>>43558477

>Walk up to the wall and call out for their leader

>>43558477
>Send all of your allies ahead, work your magic from well behind.

>>43558477
>Try to sneak your forces into their camp, then speak.

>>43558477
>>Walk up to the wall and call out for their leader.
We can take several wounds and counter most spells.

Tempted to go in dragon form.

>>43558477
>Try to sneak your forces into their camp, then speak.

>>43558477
>Try to sneak your forces into their camp, then speak.
just to make sure they keep the purging at a minimum

Roll (stealth+tactics)/2 1d20+4 DC 18 to get past the walls before you're noticed, DC 22 to get your whole force well inside the camp before you're noticed.

Rolled 6 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>43558788

Rolled 5 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>43558788

Rolled 17 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>43558788

Rolled 9 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>43558788

WOOO

>>43558789
>>43558798
Third roll, I believe in you!

>>43558802
Yes!

21! Success, marginally not Great Success, but Success nonetheless.

You work under the cover of darkness and you move quickly. Your people are all well trained for such tactics. The walls take less than five seconds for even the shortest and stoutest among you to cross, and it is only when the last dwarf is tossed across the fortifications that a look-out shouts, in the same strange Old Common that you heard from your blackguard:

'Enemies! Enemies inside our walls!'

>Well, it sounds like it's too late to negotiate. Start with the fighting.
>Try to make them surrender. You have them by the short hairs

>>43558842
>>Well, it sounds like it's too late to negotiate. Start with the fighting.

Kick dem sumbitches in the ground!

>>43558842
>.
>>Try to make them surrender. You have them by the short hairs

>>43558842
>Try to make them surrender. You have them by the short hairs

>>43558842
>Try to make them surrender. You have them by the short hairs

Roll diplomacy 1d20+7 DC 25, exceptional write-in to reduce DC to 23

Rolled 10 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>43558908

Rolled 17 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>43558908
>Imitate being a look-out
>"False alarm! It’s just a diplomatic party."

>>43558908

Rolled 17 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>43558908

>>43558935
>>43558952
We need that write-in… I got nothing beyond generic "You have already lost" or "We are already in your base, you are outperformed, outnumbered and surrounded. Also your own civilians will rise against you, as will the hidden enemies in your base" stuff.

>>43558991
I just entered this thread so what do I know?
>Are your lives so worthless that you'd throw them away for a lost cause? Do I have a reputation for treating my former enemies poorly? Do you not love your kin more than you cherish death? Submit, and live to see another sunrise. You have my word of honor.

>>43558908
Hear me followers of Perm. Hear me those who have been subjugated. The wall has been breached, the tyrany that zealots enforcce is about to end. Pern has atempted to destroy me, he has sent an army thousand strong and a champion empowered by greatest blessings. I have crushed them, wiyhout any help I have killed hundrets, and then led an army against them, destroying and scatering those who would attack without losing any of my own. Those who think that they have a chance, come, face the wrath of one who Pern considers his greatest foe. But if you wish to avoid certain death, run, run as far as you can. When you can no longer run, walk. If you are strong, by the time you become too tired to even crawl, you will be far enough to avoid death for at least this day.

>>43559042
Good enough?

>>43558908
That village is recently conquered, right? Probably not that important to the zealots right now. Maybe there’s an angle: "Would lay down you life for a village that you don’t even know yet, that you have no attachment to and that doesn’t like you?"

>>43559031
We kinda kill, wholesale, everything that fights against us.

24! And I'm calling it.... Success!

'Hear me, followers of Pern and hear me those suffering under them. I am Vlad Tepish and these are my allies. We crushed the zealots that assaulted my keep without provocation. I have made allies of those that would hate me and I have crushed those that would oppose me or kill my allies. I shall not attempt to quell your zealot rage, for I know that is an exercise in futility. But any of you that have not yet been lost to that madness, lay down your arms. Surrender. I swear upon my name that you shall be treated fairly and honorably.'

There is a pause. Not a one of them was expecting anything to happen this night. And then, someone drops their sword to the ground. At the sight of that, the enslaved members of the local tribes shout their own defiant cry and threathen to attack their jailors.

Some still resist. They are dealt with without casualties. Between Lathrien's and his vampire's stealth attacks, the element of surprise and the doubt you'd sown through your speech, the enemy does not last an hour.

Out of the fifty garrisoned here, twenty surrendered before the battle began in earnest. Twenty more were killed, and ten more surrendered afterwards. Of the enslaved locals, only the first five to charge their armed and armoured slavemasters were killed, and eighty more survive.

>Bring them all into the Alliance if they would join. Explain how it works, and have them choose themselves. [Exile/Kill] those who refuse.
>You cannot trust those that fought against you. [Exile/Kill/Imprison] [The ten who surrendered/ The thirty that fought against you], offer the chance to join to the others.
>Leave the humans to their own devices.
>Leave the humans to their own devices, but [Kill/Exile/Imprison] the foreigners.
>Draft all the able-bodied men into your fighting force. Have the rest do as they will.
>Other arrangement.

>>43559191
>>Bring them all into the Alliance if they would join. Explain how it works, and have them choose themselves. Exile those who refuse.

>>43559191
>>You cannot trust those that fought against you. [Exile] [The thirty that fought against you], offer the chance to join to the others.

Might as well have someone spreading the word that we are not complete dicks.

>>43559191
Can we bind souls (to contracts /promises??) that are not dead yet?

I’d keep those who fought us and surrendered afterwards as slaves/ carefully watched workers.

Those who surrendered immediately I would talk to and find out quite how much of a zealot they actually are. For many of them, being Pernites is the only way to survive, so now that we show them another way, they may convert.

The freed humans I would offer to settle near our land, but ultimately they can do what they want.

>>43559191
>>Other arrangement
Offer them the choice to join or go back to the tribes like before. Exile those that fought against us.

>>43559191
Wait a moment, how would we exile the thirty that fought against us if twenty of them are dead? Reanimate them and tell them to walk somwhere in the general direction of "away"?

>>43559191
>Bring them all into the Alliance if they would join. Explain how it works, and have them choose themselves. Kill those who refuse.
impaling time

>>43559254
Derp. Should be,

>The thirty that are not locals

basically.

The first battle was barely that. Now that they are split up and know where they are it is not too difficult to dismantle their camps one by one. In each camp you liberate, you have any Pernite survivors exiled, and have the local tribes join your alliance, or otherwise go with them. All in all it takes you around a week to destroy the Pernite invasion completely. The vast majority of the human tribesmen, understanding the situation join you without much hesitation. There are some stragglers, ideological opponents, individualists and good old fashioned racists that refuse to work with your new alliance. Most of them flee to the mountains.

You return to your temple not much more than a week after you left. There you receive a response from the Mer. They, obviously, have no territorial quarrel with you, and they do not even want a vote in the alliance. They would like to send a diplomat to the council, to voice the opinions of the Mer and to hear about any important goings-on in the surface lands.

You still have not spoken to many of the souls you have bound, but they can wait for now.

The land is under your control as far as the known world reaches. You have ensured an alliance, something that might one day develop into a prosperous and safe empire. Your friends trust you with their lives, and though your life is not without conflict, you feel safe and cared for.

Only one thing remains for the first volume of your story to conclude. The very quest you set out to accomplish. Your immortality.

(Next post will conclude the thread. Next thread will conclude volume one)

>Fortify your mind with alchemy
>Fortify your mind with meditation
>Fortify your mind with magic
>Other

>>43559369
>Fortify your mind with meditation
magic can be countered
alchemy can fade

>>43559369
>Fortify your mind with meditation
we may be an alchemist and a powerful necromancer, but we were first and foremost a great shaman, possibly even the most powerful shaman in the world now.

>>43559369
>>Fortify your mind with meditation
I’d like to get alchemical fortification as a fall-back (as in a potion to temporarily enhance our control).

>>43559369
>Fortify your mind with meditation

>>43559369
I'd say we should be able to mix alchemy with either meditation or magic. We know a recipee for a ddecent Inteligence potion, might as well make one before trying Dragonform.

>>43559392
Magic can be countered. Alchemical potions would have to be re-applied and they might fade. You must fortify your mind yourself, and by natural means. You will have to learn to meditate, not just as a novice- you are going to have to master the skill.

You have read of many ancient peoples achieving enlightenment atop great mountains, in solitude, so you decide that might as well be the path that you shall take. You've not scaled the tallest mountain in the Dwarven mountain-range.

You know that this is something you must do alone. You shall wait for the birth of your child. Then, you shall go on your own, down the path towards your immortality.

And with that concludes the Thirty First installment of Feral Necromancer Quest.

You have already distributed experience gained in this thread, though you had one point left over, which you may use to raise any skill below level three by one at this point.

Other than that,

Suptg archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=DeadQM

Twitter @DeadQM for quest updates

>>43559448
I guess we could raise our discipline skill with that skill point, or something.

>>43559448
Raise meditation or enchantment I guess.

Thanks for running boss

>>43559448
Thank you for the thread!

>>43559463
>I guess we could raise our discipline skill with that skill point, or something.
If we can indeed rise that from 0 to 1.

>>43559472
this

>>43559830
this

>>43559838
this

I'm just amazed that we didn't roll a nat 1 for that diplomacy check... that would make this the first time since.... since the werebears maybe?

>>43559838
that

>>43559850
At one point we our luck had to run out.