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You wake up more than a little groggy from your late night activities, the sun already high in the sky, to a quick rap on your door. You open the door and it appears to be a summons to the War Room, so you put on the robes you call your own now, grab a bunch of the worthless books on culture and tactics, and check the mirror. You see yourself, Kuo, a look of conviction in your eyes, staring back at you. You grab the small spectacles of a scholar off the desk and place them on your face, feeling like they have a home there. Staring back at you now is Dong Rock, a nervous scholar with absolutely no idea how to deal with what he does, glancing cautiously at you.

You walk out of your room towards the War Room, making sure to hunch over a bit and stand defensively; making yourself look small and concealing the strength you built up over your travels. The large doors open with only silence to accompany them; they must have oiled the hinges or something. You walk forward and the doors close behind you, the Generals looking at you stone-faced. One of them speaks.

"Good job Dr. Rock, your insight into the enemy's lack of aptitude was very much appreciated, and we expect a report from the front by the end of the day. We hate to utilize your judgment again so early, but we have another problem we could use your help with."

"O-okay, what do you need me to figure out?" You stutter like you normally do.

One of them pulls out a map of a Fire Nation outpost and a few plans of attack. The majority of the plans appear to involve direct combat and wiping the enemy out, but there are some more intriguing ones. One of them shows the exact same boulder-launching approach you heard last time. Another shows a concealed attack to assassinate their commander. The last one that catches your eye simply shows cutting the supply lines, a risk because the post is near a Fire Nation colony.

>Direct attack
>Boulder infiltration
>Assassination
>Siege
>Ask for specific Intel (What?)
>Write-in

>>43543686
>>Ask for specific Intel (What?)
How many soldiers are station at the outpost, whose in charge of it, any info on positions, patrol ect

>>43543686
>Assassination

Send them into disarray, I think.

>>43543686
>Ask for specific intel
"What tactics have been used before in these kinds of situations? The fire nation might not be creative on its own, but I haven't seen them fall for the same trick twice."

>>43543686
>>Assassination

>>43543686
>Assassination

>>43543745
>>43543787
>>43543732
Assassination it is. Writing.

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You mull it over for a bit, but then you make up your mind on a specific tactic. The Fire Nation commanders are normally nobles of some sort, so it goes to assume that they would have to get another sent in from the Fire Nation, which means that in the meantime they're vulnerable tactically. This could easily be exploited for further attacks.

You explain your reasoning to the Generals and they agree, saying they didn't know that most commanders were actually important people outside of war. You shyly thank them for the opportunity to help and ask if that is all for today.

"Actually, I'm having an event at my house this evening, all for donations to charity, you know how those in the outer wall live. I was wondering if you'd come, you seem the sort who'd be interesting drunk." The rest of the Generals laugh heartily at the joke, you laugh nervously.

"Don't worry, you don't have to donate, it's mostly for fun.You might even get to meet the King, he loves a good party. Then again, he might end up with the ball and chain, which means the party would get a lot less interesting." The man strokes his beard and sighs in exasperation.

"Feel free to bring a plus one, I don't know who you'd bring, but the offer's there."

>"Sure, I was just going to do research anyway."
>"I have other plans"
>Write-in

>>43544347
>>"Sure, I was just going to do research anyway."

>>43544347
>"Sure, I was just going to do research anyway."

>>43544362
>>43544405
Okay, going to lunch and then write.

Discussion is encouraged.

>>43544347
>"Sure, I was just going to do research anyway."
Nice just caught this live.

>>43544347
The party sounds interesting, though I don't think we have anyone to bring with us....

I wonder if any of them play Pai Sho?

>>43544347
>>"Sure, I was just going to do research anyway."

Fuck yes, love this quest

>>43544347
> saying they didn't know that most commanders were actually important people outside of war.

Seems like they don't know much of anything about Fire Nation culture. They could use spies.

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"I was just g-going to do research, so sure." The General hits your back, knocking the wind out of your lungs for a second.

"Good on ya, wear whatever you'd be willing to be seen by the King in. I should mention, it's a masked party, all the rage with the brass these days." He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who comes from a noble family; maybe he worked his way up? This might be a guy to watch if he's kidnapped, you don't see how anyone could, but he seems a prime target. He's obviously well-liked by his peers, so that means he'd be worth a ransom.

"But then how would I know who the King is?" You try to look worried about offending a monarch, definitely fitting into your character perfectly. It's starting to become worryingly natural.

"You'll know, trust me. Especially if he brings the Queen, she will make sure everyone knows, even if it kills her." You get the feeling that you wouldn't much care to meet the Queen, she doesn't seem particularly well-respected.

You are escorted out by two royal guards and manage to navigate your way to your room. This palace is huge, but you think you can at least find the War Room and your room. A knock comes from the door and you open it to find Chan Yu standing outside and holding a small scroll. He gives you the scroll, no doubt the invitation to the dinner party.

"Are there any books you would like me to request from the University?"

>Something more recent on Fire Nation culture, these are my history books.
>Encyclopedias, the most recent, all of the corrections books too.
>A map of troop movements for my wall, mostly to help the War Council, be sure to keep it current.
>More sheet music for the Guzheng, definitely important.
>Write-in

>>43545041
To be fair, they did ask for a scholar to tell them exactly that sort of thing.

>>43545165
>More sheet music for the Guzheng, definitely important.
>Something more recent on Fire Nation culture, these are my history books.

>>43545165
>>Something more recent on Fire Nation culture, these are my history books.
>Encyclopedias, the most recent, all of the corrections books too.

>>43545165
>A map of troop movements for my wall, mostly to help the War Council, be sure to keep it current.
>More sheet music for the Guzheng, definitely important.
We should at least TRY to know what we're talking about.

>>43545165
>Something more recent on Fire Nation culture, these are my history books.
>A map of troop movements for my wall, mostly to help the War Council, be sure to keep it current.

>>43545165
>>A map of troop movements for my wall, mostly to help the War Council, be sure to keep it current.
>>More sheet music for the Guzheng, definitely important.

Gotta do something be back in a bit.

>>43545165
>To be fair, they did ask for a scholar to tell them exactly that sort of thing.

I wish we had bought the spark rocks. Perhaps we could have convinced these fellows that we found a way to imitate firebending using them and then we could go undercover as firebenders... while actually being firebenders.

also:
>encyclopedias and troop movements

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"I need some more recent books on Fire Nation culture, a set of general use encyclopedias, a map of troop movements, be sure to keep that current, and sheet music for a Guzheng." You rattle off a list and he repeats them back to be sure. He then promptly sets off to draft a letter to the University and set it in motion. You sit down and look at your invitation. The party doesn't start until the sunn goes down, so you have a decent amount of time.

You open your bag and pull out a memento of a different time, when you were you. A mask that sat at the bottom of your bag for a year is brought out and you feel a little remorse for what you left behind. You put it on, removing the glasses, and becoming the Flame Spirit. No, that you can't be here, you're still Dong Rock, just in a mask. You set to divorcing your look from your personality and find that the anonymity of a mask makes it hard to be nervous, so you put on the glasses underneath it which helps.

By the time you feel comfortable doing this the sun hangs low in the sky, about an inch from the horizon, so you have a bit of time before you have to leave. The house is very close to the Palace after all. Shinji pokes his head out from among the books in your bag, he seems to be getting better at hiding now. You're not sure if you like that, he's hard enough to find as is.

>Spend some time training Shinji
>Read a book (Which one?)
>Play the Guzheng
>Go to the party early
>Write-in

>>43546053
>>Spend some time training Shinji
Shinji is adorable. And if we don't he'll inevitably get himself into trouble in our absence.

>>43546053
>>Spend some time training Shinji

>>43546053
>>Spend some time training Shinji

>>43546053
>Read a book
Someone might actually ask us about troop movements for conversation, so we should probably learn about them.

>inb4 someone comments on how we look like a firebending entertainer some of the troops saw

>>43546099
>>43546106
>>43546118
First roll of the thread, roll me 1d100

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>43546261

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>43546261

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>43546261

>>43546342
This will at least make some progress, writing.

>>43546361

Waiting patiently, cowboy.

>>43546663
It's been 16 minutes man, I work faster than some, but I'm not a robot. Or at least you can't prove it.

>>43546753

Oh god. Our greatest defense to the robot uprising has failed. HOW DID YOU GET PAST CAPTCHA

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You need to start training Shinji before he gets into trouble when you aren't looking. So you start simple at teaching him how to listen to commands. He knows "stay" very well, but the command "sit" seems to elude him at first. Then you realize that if you hold some food above him, he will sit without a problem, and eventually all you have to do is hold up your hand to get him to sit. You eventually learn that snapping your fingers makes him stay, and you pet him every time you do so.

After about two hours, Shinji can sit, stay, and hide in your bag on command. You don't really have the whole "getting him out of the bag" thing down yet, but it's still progress. Then you realize something, this is a masked banquet, and you have a masked pet. This is genius; Shinji is well-behaved enough that you don't worry about him when he's with you.

You set out to the General's house; he's apparently named Piao, and find that the streets are not very crowded, but instead very empty. The street lamps illuminate the path in a warm glow, leading you to an extravagant doorway with two Royal Guards out front checking people's masks as they walk through, keeping track of who wears what mask, a pretty smart decision. They let you through and a large man in a wooden badgermole mask walks up to you and slaps your back.

"Hey, I'd recognize the way you walk anywhere Dong. Sweet mask, on the bright side, you aren't the only one without a date. You can definitely find someone who bends your earth if you know what I'm saying." You can smell the fragrance of strong liquor on his breath.

"I wish I didn't."

>Try and show off Shinji
>Just mingle
>Try to find the Earth King
>Keep an eye out for some very specific masks (Yokai Hunting)
>Write-in

>>43546856
>Try to find the Earth King

he sounded like a party animal. Maybe we can show off Shinji to him.

>>43546856
>Keep an eye out for some very specific masks (Yokai Hunting)

Eye's on the prize, I don't think that Dong is the kind of person to seeks out the Earth King and if we run into him at the party we need to start spilling spaghetti everywhere

>>43546856
>>Try to find the Earth King

>>43546856
>Keep an eye out for some very specific masks (Yokai Hunting)

>>43546856
>>Keep an eye out for some very specific masks (Yokai Hunting)

>>43546856
>Keep an eye out for some very specific masks (Yokai Hunting)
We have plenty of opportunities to go full spaghetti later, lets try and do what we were supposed to do since we got here

Rolled 39 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>43546909
>>43546938
>>43546950
>>43546991
Okay, roll me 1d100-5

Rolled 36 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43547114
We are all-seeing!

Rolled 41 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43547114

Rolled 83 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>43547114

Rolled 80 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>43547135
Shit. Messed up.

>>43547158
Well, that will help. Writing.

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This is the perfect place for the Yokai to kidnap somebody, an entire house full of masked partygoers. You decide to check around Piao, since he seems like a pretty good prospect for kidnapping, nobody would expect it at his own house. You walk around and grab a drink so as to seem casual and start chatting with people. You continually scan the crowd for any masks you recognize. You see a dragon, some kabuki masks similar to yours, a few golden faces, but not a single mask you recognize.

Then a glare catches your eye, turning towards it you see a man in a faceless mask chatting with a woman wearing a doll-like mask. He holds a glass in his hand and leans up against a potted plant, revealing a small brand on his forearm. You can't make it out before his sleeve covers it again.

He seems to be trying to blend in, and a good job at that. The mask is just reflective enough that the panoply of masked figures creates the illusion of other masks appearing on his face. If he hadn't have caught the glare, you would have missed him. The woman walks away and he continues resting against the plant across the room. You see two more guards at the stairs that could help. You also notice a tray of cups filled with sake has been left unattended.

>Plan?

>>43547477
>stop the woman, try and chat her up

She's obviously part of his plan, we may as well try and stay close to one of its core components.

>>43547477
Who exactly runs Espionage and Information in the Kingdom? One of the generals?

If we know which general handles that stuff, I say we approach him, tell him there's someone at the party who doesn't belong.

>>43547477
Convince the dudebro general to challenge that guy to an arm-wrestling drinking game. Every three seconds, both must drink. The loser must drink as many as were drunk during the contest.

>>43547477
Do nothing. Wait until he leaves (with whoever he's kidnapping) and follow.

>>43547477
Just observe for the moment. Surreptitiously.

>>43547569
You don't know, no, and even if you knew he's wearing a mask.

>>43547540
This is possible
>>43547582
So is this.
>>43547595
And this.

Choose please.

>>43547688
Drinking contest is crazy.
So crazy that it JUST MIGHT WORK...

>>43547688
DRINK DRINK DRINK

>>43547708
Hell, lets do this. Seems like the most Avatar universe things to do.

>>43547688
Try to stop the man with a drinking contest between the general and crazy mask guy.

Also I miss Thomas.

>>43547728
I ain't dropping it yet, I promised a christmas run, you're getting one.

We could just tell a guard. We're wearing a mask, and if we talk with a confident voice nobody will believe it's us.

>Dong Rock? No, he's a wuss, there's no way he'd be involved in this!

>>43547728
>>43547727
>>43547721
>>43547708
I would ask for a roll to convince Piao, but he would never refuse. Instead, roll for him, 1d100+5

Rolled 90 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43547835

Rolled 81 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43547835
Dong rock believes in you!

>>43547852
>>43547854
>>43547835
Wow.

Rolled 91, 17, 27 + 5 = 140 (3d100 + 5)

>>43547852
>>43547854
I think I've seen enough. Writing and checking

Rolled 18 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43547889
>>43547835

Roll didn't work...

>>43547918
Was supposed to be -5

God damn Kuo you are in top form tonight what the hell, is this the power of Dong Rock! Hero of the Earth Kingdom!

>>43548000

They should erect a statue to him when all this is over.

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>>43548000
Dong Rock is nothing compared to the inestimable might of Wang Fire!!!!!!!

So why exactly are we freaking out about this guy being here?

>>43548209
He's part of a four man group known as the Dai-Li that has been kidnapping nobles.

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You start thinking about a plan, and a horrible idea occurs to you. He wants to kidnap Piao, he has to beat him first. You walk over to the man in the badgermole mask and tap his shoulder, causing him to turn around with a stumble.

"Hey Dong, whatcha want?" His breath could probably peel paint.

"That guy in the silver mask challenged you to a drinking and arm-wrestling contest." You point to the criminal and he abruptly turns to face him.

"You dare challenge me! In my own home! We will engage in the contest of fortitude and strength now!" He shouts at the man, causing him to toss his drink in the air.

"Very well, what are the rules of this contest?" His voice is a strange, even tone that makes you more than a little uneasy.

"We will arm-wrestle, and drink one cup every two breaths, first one to drop their hand loses." A table with two chairs at it is brought out from a back room by servants, and the pair sit down.

The contest starts rather normally, Piao is definitely struggling to push the man's hand, but it does not budge. They both take their first drink and it seems to have a negligible effect on the contest. You see moisture soaking through the would-be kidnapper's sleeve, it can't be easy holding up. Piao rolls up his sleeve and pushes even harder, sweating bullets. The contest is very close at this point, but neither arm has budged an inch. You swear you can see the criminal swoon a bit at the second drink.

>Roll 1d00+5 for Piao

>>43548222
Yokai, associated with the Dai Li Triad, a criminal organization that has been making gains in power.

Rolled 85 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548281

Rolled 44 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548281

Rolled 41 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548281
Fuck him up! Let the power of Dong Rock guide you!

Rolled 24 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548281

Rolled 39, 94, 39 - 8 = 164 (3d100 - 8)

>>43548331
>>43548347
>>43548354
Pretty good, his advantage in the last one earned a minor benefit.

>>43548383
Oh shit, guys, this guy has the power of the crits.

>>43548396
Nah, modifiers bring the general out on top

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Piao is definitely still holding together, but the other guy is hurting. The third drink goes by and his sleeve is soaked, he must be sweating up a storm in that mask. His hand buckles a bit under the pressure of Piao's arm bearing down on it. You swear you hear a crunch, but the man doesn't make a sound, his hand is now tilted slghtly to the side, but he's making a valiant effort.

>One die lost!

The fourth drink drags by, then the fifth, but neither is moving anymore to either side. When the man lifts his mask a bit to drink, you see a small tatoo, but it quickly becomes obscured by the mask once more. The man's sleeve is now leaving a puddle on the table. Piao's face is shimmering with rivulets of sweat and his arm is straining against the unyielding opponent with valiant effort.

>Roll 1d100+5 for Piao
>Write-in

Rolled 65 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548569
All that moisture.
I'm guessing there's more pressing on Piao than just this guy's arm?

Rolled 33 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548569

C'mon piao

Rolled 82 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>43548569

Rolled 13, 31 - 8 = 36 (2d100 - 8)

>>43548607
>>43548642
>>43548648
Okay, one last push.

>>43548696
That poor bastard. Also, nice palindrome.

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>>43548696
Rekt

So even if he loses this, why wouldn't he just stab the living shit out of him?

>>43548990
Because we're there. And he is really drunk.

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You see Piao grab a drink before the two breaths and tilt it back, the he sits sidewards and slams his hand forward, using the table as leverage. You hear a crushing noise from the man's sleeve and shards of ice roll out as his hand crashes into the table. A gasp escapes the crowd as they realize who this man must be, and the front door slams open with a loud boom through the room. The royal guard from the gate is standing at the door. He gets into a bending stance and locks the defeated crook's feet to the ground with earth.

"Everyone take off the masks! NOW!" The entire crowd obeys and you peel your mask from your face. Piao makes an effort to pull off his, but drunkenly hits his mask with his palm. Then he passes out.

"Everyone line up at the wall and show me your masks!" The Royal Guard, who all the other guards seem to salute to, goes down the line, obviously checking identities and masks. Then he gets to you.

"Dong Rock, a graduate from Ba Sing Se University, yes?" You nervously look at him while nodding.

"I heard good things about you from the Headmaster, keep up the good work." He walks past you, leaving you wondering who the headmaster is and how he knew them. He walks the rest of the line, finding nobody who doesn't check out, the woman in the doll mask nowhere to be found. Eventually a guard patrol shows up to take Noppera to... wherever he's going. The rest of the guests leave, but you decide that the responsible thing to do is wait for Piao to wake up.

Hey, at least that's one down.

>Thread end, Twitter is @xLostCowboyx, next thread I don't know when. Will be around for a bit to answer questions Ask.fm is ask.fm/LostCowboy.

>>43549069
Holy shit, he had water in his gloves and was trying to use that to match piao's strength.
That's...genius, actually.

I really hope Piao got laid for that feat.

>>43549069
>Piao makes an effort to pull off his, but drunkenly hits his mask with his palm. Then he passes out.
Good ol' Piao.

>>43549069

Well that Royal Guard is part of the WL

>>43549069
Excellent thread, mate.
>>43549110
Alas, he's passed out

>>43549069

Based Piao. Looking forward to the next thread.