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>>44053626
Between entirely too much coffee, the bath, and having a book on hand, it's easy enough to stay up all night. Day. Camp? Urgh. This not having a day/night cycle thing is going to be more annoying than the death traps, isn't it? The clothes you're wearing are clean enough, but you brush 'em off anyway so you can look presentable. There's being casual and then there's being, y'know, uncaring. Plus birds are very clean creatures.

Fuck. Is that racist?

You alternate between sips of coffee and your ability to turn the page in your book; your right hand stays in Amy's left, and she sometimes squeezes it in her fitful sleep. Meadows has time to come in, sleep behind his desk, go about his 'morning' routine, and leave to get supplies, not to mention give you two more books ("Finally, someone /literate/!") and make a pot of rose hip tea that is left, regretfully, beyond your reach.

"Bri?" Amy's voice is small, and tired. When you look at her, you see that your hat has slipped from her hair, over her eyes. "Um. I don't mean to put you on the spot but, could you, ah, could you tell me if I went blind?"

You pick your hat up and put it on your head, and the bird girl's face turns crimson.

"Welcome back," you murmur warmly.

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>>44053715
"I...I feel better," Amy says slowly. "And also worse. I. I had bad dreams, Bri. Really bad dreams."

"I imagine," you agree softly. "Your body's adjusting to its own recovery. Not even an angel's feather has /no/ side effects."

"...Yeah." Amy sits up, slowly, but doesn't take her hand away from yours. She curls in on herself, somewhat; you can see the wings that aren't there, in your imagination, curling forward to shield her small body. She /does/ look better, like she's had the food and exercise she was deprived of for those many years.

"Thanks," she says, not looking at you. "For. For understanding. Mom always said revenge was a stupid plan but Mom fought Heroes, until she married Dad. He's not...she wouldn't get it."

"We're not quite done talking about that," you admit.

"...Okay. Might as well talk now."

> Propose breakfast first. There's even tea. Grandmother la Croix always said bad news goes better with a hot drink.
> Lay it on her straight.
> Ask if she's still sure revenge is what she needs.

>>44053787
>> Lay it on her straight.

>>44053787
>Lay it on her straight.

>>44053787
>> Propose breakfast first. There's even tea. Grandmother la Croix always said bad news goes better with a hot drink.
Taking it slow

Okay. As much as I hate to do this with NEW THREAD UP, I need to hit bed. I'm out of coffee and the roomate's got the machine set up to make theirs for work in the morning, and I ain't about to be That Fucking Guy.

See everyone in seven and a half hours, or when I wake up. Might answer questions or discussion while I'm prepping for bed. Will probably do stupid-early archive because, well, such is life.

>>44053847
>Vox
>Sleeping

Did someone steal your computer or something.

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>>44053854
Well, the good news is I have ALL. DAY. OFF. TOMORROW.

And I don't need to be in to work the day after until like 4 PM.

Oh yes. There will be threads.

>>44053920
.....NOW you might be an itty bitty little mad with a capital hat.

>>44053787
>Propose breakfast first. There's even tea. Grandmother la Croix always said bad news goes better with a hot drink.
Set the mood, y'know?

>>44053974
A capital... Hat? Am I missing something?

>>44054037
mad as a hatter?

And you know, Bri has a nice hat. If she starts liking tea more than coffee, it'll be time to worry.

>>44054054
Oh, I see. Yes. That does make sense. And she does indeed... I think the problem will be if she tries to put mice in the teapot, though, really.

>>44053787
>Propose breakfast first. There's even tea. Grandmother la Croix always said bad news goes better with a hot drink.
Tea is a remarkable thing.

> Propose breakfast first. There's even tea. Grandmother la Croix always said bad news goes better with a hot drink.

>>44054275
So it is.

> Propose breakfast first. There's even tea. Grandmother la Croix always said bad news goes better with a hot drink.

>>44053847
>such is life
don't you mean thread "death"?

Well, before I head off for the day... Somewhat worried that this will happen with regards to Amy, though I still support her getting revenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fEH9Ib-ShM

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>>44056009
I'd be more worried about pic related happening to Amy.

>>44052666
>CANNITH
Is this an Eberron thing? Are there other images in this set?

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It's good that she took the feather for personal reasons as much as out of obligation to be useful.

It's also good that the same reason that motivated her to do so is also what is motivating her to accompany us, again, as much as any sense of obligation to her rescuers.

However that motivation of revenge is only short term. She needs to find motivations other than vengeance. She may not get her vengeance, for whatever reason, and she risks that need becoming the ONLY thing that drives her.

And should we succeed, the question of "Now what?" will arise.

>>44056726
>the question of "Now what?" will arise.
that's pretty easy: find a more permanent healing power than the angel feather.

>>44056726
Even if she does get vengeance, it wont undo all the years worth of trauma that have been done to her. She wont ever admit it, but shes different now, shes cold, ruthless, and has a hell of a justice/vengeance complex now.

>>44056798
Cold, no. Ruthless and with a complex, maybe. We haven't seen her in action enough to judge those last two parts. Her attitude towards us and even Nathan shows she's far from cold, though. It may be her putting on a front, but the fact that she's trying to act like her old self is a concrete step towards actually *being* like her old self again.

>>44056782
Anon, where are you getting the idea that the feather is not permanent? I really, really need you to expand on this, because I need to know if there's been a breakdown of communication or an innocent mis-reading or what.

Also g'mornin' DLQ. Votes called, coffee, writing.

>>44056926
Shes covering it up with her cheerful and friendly personality, but she is a lot more fucked up than she is letting on.

>>44056935
Good Morning Vox the Mad

>>44056935
....wait, so the FEATHER was temporary, but not the TREATMENT?

Oh.

Ohhh.

>>44056967
We have achieved clarity! My apologies for the confusion, anon.

>>44056957
That much is true. We'll hopefully get to see how deep the rabbit hole goes now that we're talking in private.

>>44056935
Good morning, Vox. Lovely day to raise the dead, no?

>>44056984
It's all so clear now! As if the darkness was cast away from-

-oh it was just your hat on my face.

>>44053787
>Therapeutic breakfast and tea first, then serious discussion. Perhaps head pats if she needs more comforting.

IT depends on how much the feather healed. It may have healed mental wounds as much as physical ones. She did mention terrible nightmares while she was unconscious, could be a parallel to the physical pain experienced from the physical healing.

>>44057070


Since when does magic ever help with that? Don't get me wrong, your naivety is adorable, but that'd be way too easy.

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>>44053787
"Not now-now. Breakfast first. You've spent a day and a night healing and you're probably starving."

"I could eat, like, a whole goblin," Amy admits. Then she stops and looks down awkwardly. "ThatwascreepyI'msorry."

"Harpy?" you ask.

She nods, faintly. "It, um. It took me awhile to realize that...I mean...I know eating things that can talk is complicated. And I'd never hunt a person just to eat them, but. Y'know. Mom always figured if you'd killed them /anyway/..."

"Waste not, want not," you note with a shrug. "A lot of harpies /do/ hunt sapients just to eat them, you know. Your mother didn't?"

"No ma'am," Amy says respectfully. "Not ever. But it's the Dungeon, you know? Fresh meat's valuable. But Dad never liked it and after I started exploring the place I sort of learned why, so I stopped."

You ruffle her hair, and she closes her eyes in pleased surprise. "Let's go to the house, silly bird."

"Heeeyyyy ohgodsthescritchesokay."

Amy's a little unsteady on her feet. Some of it, you know, is that she's still overcompensating for injuries she doesn't have any more, though most of it is healing shock. You offer her a shoulder to lean on through the streets. The citizens of Lakehallow wave to her as she passes; a few children manage something along the lines of "Look momma, the flying girl!"

Amy tries to offer to make the breakfast, but the stern glare she gets from you sits her ass back down at the table.

"I want you to know that you can talk to me here," you begin, when you set her plate in front of her. You made black tea instead of coffee; tea's better for conversations like this. "I'm sure you know all about the difference between a person on the job and a person in their day-to-day, yeah?" Amy nods. "Well, right now I'm Bri-the-sorta-kinda-priestess. One of my duties is to help people resolve their problems in life, so that those problems don't follow them into death."

>>44057149
A better rebuttal would be to point out that, while the feather healed a great amount of damage, it did not heal her wings. That's a pretty big part of her anatomy.

Likewise, if the feather can heal mental and emotional wounds as well, there may still be parts of her psyche that could not be fixed.

But responding to an idea by calling it adorable and naive just makes you look condescending.

>>44057306
Its 4chan, if you think something is even a slightly bad idea you are required to be a condescending douche about it. I probably should've thrown in the word "Nigger" somewhere too just to finish the comment off.

>>44057331
to be fair, using Nigger would have made you sound much more exaggerated and less seriously douchy.

>>44057306
I can top that.

As far as her mental issues go, she's going to be far more focused on them. The lack of physical wounds means she isn't going to be in as much pain, and I'm sure that's been clouding her ability to think. Even if the feather helped her mental problems somewhat, she now has the clarity to latch onto them much stronger.

Also, it'd be too easy, narratively speaking. We need to struggle to overcome our character's issues, or it just isn't as interesting.

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>>44057200
"I think I understand," Amy says seriously. Her icy blue eyes are attentive, even as she picks her way cautiously through her breakfast.

"I won't share the things you tell me unless you want me to, or unless I think you're going to harm the innocent. I have an obligation to /them/ too, if that makes sense?"

Amy nods. "Of course."

You sip your tea and ponder where to begin. Finally, you hit on a starting point. "Many of the gods condemn vengeance. Their perspective is not entirely wrong, but I do not agree. I've seen a great many ghosts held to life for lack of retribution upon those who wronged them. Forgiveness is not always an option; some people, and their crimes, are so heinous that to allow them to walk amongst the living is sacrilege in itself. The Vintner is one such person. But your revenge being justified and righteous won't actually make it helpful."

/Now/ she looks confused. "What do you mean, not helpful?"

You set your cup down and address her seriously, your voice steady. "When he dies, do you get the three years you spent his prisoner back? Will his victims come back to life? Do you think his dying breath will erase the screams that haunt your sleep, or put your wings on your back once more?"

"I - of course I don't, but -"

"No buts," you interrupt quietly. "I'm not telling you this to dissuade you. The Vintner's death will give you closure. But it can't be the only thing you're living for. And us, Nathan and I, we can't fill that role either. You need a reason for your own to live or I'll end up tracking down your ghost and punching it until it retreats beyond the Veil, and that's a terrible thing to have to do to a friend."

The bird girl looks lost, and a little hurt. "...You're gonna tell me to leave once he's gone, aren't you?"

> What? No; there's nothing wrong with finding purpose along the way.
> What? No; you're still my friend and I like having you around.
> I've been considering it.

>>44057388
> What? No; you're still my friend and I like having you around.

We didn't go through all the effort of rescuing and healing her just to tell her to fuck off later down the line.

>>44057388
> What? No; there's nothing wrong with finding purpose along the way.
Still in adviser mode. The second option is still true, but we can admit that when we go back to being everyday Bri.

>>44057388
>As you are now? That'd be even worse.
> What? No; there's nothing wrong with finding purpose along the way.

>>44056265
> Is this an Eberron thing? Are there other images in this set?

I have no idea. I did a search for 'thread necromancy' under images to get jokes and found that one.

>>44057426

Seconded.

>>44057388
> What? No; there's nothing wrong with finding purpose along the way.

Nathan, I believe is doing the same thing in the dungeon. Trying to find a purpose or reason. Bri doesn't really know that, but she might have an inkling.

>>44057388
>Yes, it is the only way you can truly embrace your anger and your hate, and join the dark side, where you may truly become powerful in the force!

Wait shit wrong universe.

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>>44057547
Bad anon.

>>44057608
Boy, that'd be a fucking twist.
>inb4 the Dungeon Dwellers must work together to fend off the Sith Empire

>>44057656
>Cardassians warp in
>Everything is a clusterfuck

>>There's nothing wrong with finding purpose along the way.
By the way, does Nathan plan on sharing his true nature with Amy as well? Or is that just something between him and Bri?

>>44057773
>Amy reveals herself to be a Tau in disguise.
>Bri drinks herself to death, only to see the angel replaced with Vecna

>>44057833
>'And it was then that the Narrator from The Stanley Parable metaphorically stepped in. Bri's mind had now finally accepted that this was not her day, and shut down.'

Votes called, you madmen. Writing.

>>44057821
That's up to Nathan. He'll have to do it at some point, even if only after a hairy engagement that necessitated use of his abilities.

> I've been considering it.
If we go 'what? no' that gives a way strong message. I have no intention of /actually/ making her go, but. gotta be tough, yknow?

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>>44057388
"What?" the surprise of the question temporarily jolts you, but you find your mental feet pretty quickly. "No, Amy. There's nothing wrong with finding a purpose along the way. I mean, hellfire, life is a journey, Ames. Asking you to stay behind would be like telling you that you're not allowed to live your life without meeting my approval. Which would be fucked up."

Amy looks visibly relieved. "I. I get what you're saying, but I can still ask you for help. Right?"

You nod. "Of course. And Nathan might be worth talking to as well, y'know."

Amy nods thoughtfully. "So...what now?"

"Now we kill a day to make sure you're feeling alright, consult with Meadows and see about getting you some equipment."

"Yeah, that asshole still has my stuff," Amy mutters. "If he hasn't sold it. LIKE AN ASSHOLE."

You chuckle.

> See Meadows first. Might as well have medical advice.
> Find Nathan, see this list of his.
> Hunt down a map of the local Basement.
> Write-in.

>>44058092
>> Hunt down a map of the local Basement.

>>44058092
>> See Meadows first. Might as well have medical advice. And Amy's stuff, that's handy, too.

>>44058172
"That asshole" would be the Vintner. My apologies for unclear context.

> Hunt down a map of the local Basement.

>>44058092
> Hunt down a map of the local Basement.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

> Ask Amy to help Nathan get supplies and with the list

I trust in Nathan to get what is needed and the basics for an adventure. Maybe send Amy to help with getting the equipment actually because she has some experience in a dungeon. It would also allow some time for the two to bond and get closer. Their interaction between the two has usually solely had Bri in the middle.

>>44058203

Oh, in that case
> Hunt down a map of the local Basement.
> And make sure Amy has some good stuff.

Vote will be extended while I hit some dishes.

Also, write-ins like > Ask Amy to help Nathan get supplies and with the list

Are fairly encouraged. 's an interesting thought.

>>44058250
>>44058312
Amy can go with Nathan to get some gear, and help prepare.

Dishes done, breakfast acquired, votes called, WRITING.

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>>44058092
"I'm thinking you should track down Nathan, swap notes on the preparations he's making, and then wrap that up," you suggest. "I'm gonna try to track down a map."

"Good plan," Amy agrees. "Though with the Vintner being the way he's been...reliable maps might be expensive. 'Cause they've gotten rare. Y'know?"

"Yeah," you say with a sigh. "I know. I'm considering selling Kells' porn to -"

"Don'tdothat," Amy says hastily. You give her a long Look, and her mouth just keeps moving. "Imeanwe'dgetamuchbetterpriceifweshopitaroundright it's not like Glen's making the stuff and no one here even works well with wood because it's rare this high up in the Dungeon and please don't?"

You blink, shake your head, and throw your coat on. "There is no response to this that ends well, so. Yeah. Conversation over, see you in a few."

"Don't sell the porn!" Amy calls after you, as you leave her to clean up breakfast.

The first half an hour of asking around the marketplace comes up with absolutely nothing. This merchant directs you to that one, who apologizes but suggests a third, and so on. At one point someone suggests that Glen might have a map, at which point his wife, slightly more attentive to the town gossip, points out that you're an exile and, furthermore, why should anyone trust surfacer information about the Basement?

You do get a cookie out of it, though.

Operating under the theory that Miss Burns might know something - she sells jerky, after all, which is good travel food - you start crossing the village. You have this nagging feeling that you're being followed, which has been growing more and more intense as your day has gone on. Something's been tickling your sense of death, a roaming darker spot against Lakehallow's background, like fresh blood on old.

But where's the killer?

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>>44059142
> Keep in open spaces. Witnesses might not stop an attack, but those crossbowmen sure will.
> Slip into a narrow space. It's not a trap if you know you're walking into it.
> Try to subtly detect the killer with necromancy, like some kind of undead prophet ninja.

> Keep in open spaces. Witnesses might not stop an attack, but those crossbowmen sure will.

>>44059164
>> Try to subtly detect the killer with necromancy, like some kind of undead prophet ninja.

We've got these extra senses, and we're well rested. Seems silly not to be using them.

>>44059142
>Do a barrel roll!

>>44059164
> Keep in open spaces. Witnesses might not stop an attack, but those crossbowmen sure will.

Six minutes to call.

>>44059142
> Try to subtly detect the killer with necromancy, like some kind of undead prophet ninja.


I have faith in our abilities

Vote extended until I see a tiebreaker. Hopefully soon.

>>44059164
>Try to subtly detect the killer with necromancy, like some kind of undead prophet ninja.

1: If it's a killer the populace doesn't know of it's either new or attacks from hiding
2: We're alone, no sense risking a respawn going solo into a dark corner.

Necrosenses lets us stay in the publicish area.

Called.

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>>44059164
You grasp the stone with a hole, still in your pocket, and murmur curses to the Veil. It's been so long since you cast a spell at your full natural lifespan that at first you feel tempted to go fully MAD WITH POWER, but that way lies permanent death, to say nothing of literally wasting your life force like half-eaten food. Your death sense sharpens, and you can feel the killer behind you. Or. Killers? You frown, feeling multiple, discrete entities and deaths all crammed in together, like too many people in an overlarge coat. You spare a glance behind you and see it, not with your eyes but cut from Death; dozens of /pieces/, stitched together with pain and following you invisibly.

A construct. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck with extra fuckity. Crossbows aren't going to work. Hacking it to pieces might, and if you can pin it in place you can maybe undo the spells sustaining its life, but...shit.

> What do?

>>44059954
>Get out of there, briskly power walk towards help, and maybe sling a spell or two if we need to start running.

>>44059954
> Get Nate to help. Verve might help with the cutting to pieces and you can trust him more than the random bloke.

>>44060071
>> Get Nate to help. Verve might help with the cutting to pieces and you can trust him more than the random bloke.

>>44059954
Well, fuck. I guess we went and pissed off the Vintner by killing his favorite pet monster and shoving an old codger into its corpse.

Hmm. A thought just occurred; Nathan, as a woundseeker, can feed on pain and suffering like an empathic sponge. What if we use this to our advantage, and drain it of its energy, then disperse the rest with necromancy and magical sword stabbings?
>Drop some magical bullshit to buy time, and FIND NATE RIGHT FUCKING NOW.

>>44059954

get Nate to help.
find someone to tell slaughter that shits about to go down. Maybe she can help

>>44060291
Wait, if its what I think it is, its probably in a massive pain feedback loop as is, Nate would be perfect for fighting it

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Votes called, writing.

Pic related.

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>>44059954
Attack with magic? No, you don't know many direct attacks good against a construct. It's still /alive/, is the problem, which is also /fucking horrific, merciful gods why/. No vital organs means the swordcane is probably out. You could throw a chicken at it, but why waste a good chicken?

Then you see the alleyway. There's an idea. You reach your hands out and brush the bones framing either side, murmuring to them. You walk past, feeling your half-started connection to them strain, and count your steps. One.

Two.

Three.

You whirl and throw a handful of corn meal, swearing at the top of your lungs like a drunken soldier who had his dick bit.

The construct pauses in what has to be surprise; the corn meal hits the bones and completes the half-started spell, sending spikes of bone shooting out in thin, needle-like protrusions that pierce the construct. It howls in invisible pain while you turn and sprint deeper into Lakehallow, clutching your hat to your head.

"BATTLE STATIONS!" you yell, exhaustion burning your lungs. Still have your full lifespan, that's good. "BATTLE FUCKING STATIONS, NOT A DRILL!"

You pass a mother hooking her son by the back of his shirt in a practiced motion; the kid gets yanked inside before the doors lock. Shutters close down the streets and booted feet pound towards the crows' nests. You hear - and feel - your animate bone prison shatter, followed by a triple-voiced bellow of rage.

Then another construct answers, from across town.

"HOLD YOUR FIRE THEY'RE INVISIBLE," you manage, between heaving breaths. Where's Nate where's - THERE'S NATE!

"NATE CROSSBOW BOLT BEHIND ME LEFT TEN DEGREES BACK TEN FEET NOW!"

To his - and the Glen Militia's - credit, Nate obeys instantly, unslinging his loaded crossbow and firing with frank aim. You hear the bolt sink into the illusion-concealed flesh and go into a slide so the soldier can rush past you, Verve leaping into his hand.

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>>44060603
The construct's roar of pain and fury is matched by the meaty impact of its fist against his chest; the breath whooshes out of his lungs as he lifts visibly and hits the ground on his knees. On blind instinct, Nathan rolls aside, avoiding a blow that gouges long lines into the stone, and rises to swaying feet.

"They hit kinda hard," he spits.

"I'm coming!" Amy yells. You spare a glance and see that she's dressed mail-and-leather armor, light and quiet, and pulling a throwing axe from her belt. Her hand goes back, only to be arrested by a long whip of bone and sinew that pulls her off of her feet and sends her crashing to the ground. She cries out in shock but moves instantly; the bird girl turns over onto her stomach and draws a second axe, chopping viciously at the whip at her wrist.

Down the street from Amy, a second construct, writhing with tendrils of bone and muscle, fades into few, screeching in three voices.

Fuck.

> Help Amy.
> Help Nate.

And

> You are Nathan Bookchild
> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker
> You remain Brianna la Croix

>>44060703
>> Help Amy.
> You are Nathan Bookchild

Amy's likely to be the most fragile of us (and Nate the least).

As far as decisions go...I'm guessing that the most important ones here are likely to be made by the guy who's hella tough and wielding a living sword, eager to take its first bites out of something nasty.

Well, at least now we have our party together in one place for the Boss Battle.
>>Help Amy
>>You are Nathan Bookchild

Nathan doesn't really need much assistance, but Amy doesn't have any particular abilities that can handle a flesh golem. Plus, it'll be good to see just what he can do when he goes all out on an enemy.

>>44060703
>> You are Nathan Bookchild
Ask Bri to cast eyes of the dead on you

>>44060703
>Help Amy.
As much as I'd like her to do things for herself the smith's apprentice with a magic sword is probably better able to fight these things.

>Help Amy
>You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker.

She's already grappled, we get to testdrive her, and the two of them can immediately turn and help Nate after.

>>44060703
> Help Amy.
> You are Nathan Bookchild

Time to be a hero, Nate

>>44060784
He can probably sense their pain no need for eyes.

>>44060703

>Help Amy
>You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker.

>Help Amy
>You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker.

About time we see what she can do, but she will need the assist due to recovery.

...it occurs to me that the Touch of Weightlessness thing she has would make her a KILLER grappler.

Votes called. Writing.

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>>44060988
>...it occurs to me that the Touch of Weightlessness thing she has would make her a KILLER grappler.
And it occurs to me that she shouldn't be limiting herself to throwing axes. Get this woman a zweihander. Or heck, a ballista.

>>44060988
Or a very effective anti-mage missile.

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>>44060703
You are Nathan Bookchild, novice adventurer, suspected Hero, and your sword really, really wants to have this fight.

You spare a glance for Brianna; the dark-skinned necromancer hurls an undead chicken into the face of the sin against nature attacking Amy, giving the harpy girl enough time to kip up to her feet and draw a machete to go with her axe. Good. They can handle themselves.

You feel, rather than see, the next blow coming at you and you leap back. Your sword lashes out, almost on its own, and you're rewarded with the bite of steel on flesh and a howl of fury. The only visual clue you have for your enemy is your crossbow bolt, floating in the air somewhere in its body.

And you fucking love it.

> Command Lakehallow's defenders to help. You need a visual.
> Go defensive. You want to know how it thinks and moves.
> Go offensive. Put it down and back your friends up.

And

> Remain human
> Unshackle your shadow

>>44061254
> Command Lakehallow's defenders to help. You need a visual.
>Remain Human

>>44061254
>> Go offensive. Put it down and back your friends up.
> Might want to at least call for some flour to be tossed on them, though.

> Remain human
Unless this gets a lot nastier, it doesn't seem like it's the time for this yet. No need to freak out the people of Lakehallow if we can handle these constructs without that extra boost.

>>44061254
> Go defensive. You want to know how it thinks and moves.
> Remain human

Ambushes rapidly lose their effectiveness when the threat is revealed; time is on the side of the defender. Maybe shot for the militia to pay attention to what they see while you size it up.

>>44061254
>> Go defensive. You want to know how it thinks and moves.
> Remain human

As said by >>44061308, if this guy thought these would be enough to take us on alone, then he would've spent that magic on defensive or offensive enchantments and not stealth.

>>44061254
I wonder if the Vintner can sort-of see through these constructs? Because if he can, we should keep Nathan true nature concealed for later.
>Remain Human and Go Defensive. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew now.
>Command Lakehallow's defenders to help Amy and Brianna.

If this was supposed to be an ambush, it failed the moment Bri made the first attack and took the initiative. Any of the options are good.

> Remain human

Votes called. Writan.

>Go offensive. Put it down and back your friends up.
>Unshackle your shadow

No reason to hold back, and the additional abilities from being Unshackled will help go support the ladies. Put them down with extreme prejudice, and drain their pain

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>>44061254
Giving ground for time sounds like a great plan, in all honesty. You can't see most of your enemy and it hits like a runaway horse. You weave and retreat, luring it on with trilled insults and mocking slashes of your saber. Every time Verve meets flesh you can feel it pulse with satisfaction, and soon enough the mirror-bright blade is stained with black blood.

"Bri this thing's not turning visible!" you call.

"THEN HE USED A BETTER SPELL I AM FUCKING BUSY!"

Damn, no need to be rude. You feel your back press against a wall and duck immediately. As predicted, the thing's swipe takes a chunk out of the steel where your head just was; you feel blood and gobs of flesh splatter your hair. Ewww.

You step past the invisible construct and slash at mid height. Everything's going well, until Verve sticks in what has to be bone. You let go of the hilt and dive forward to avoid the inevitable counter-attack. You stand and -

Your sword is floating.

It is floating in the air and slashing like a mad thing, hacking at the screaming sin against nature. The steel /sings/ triumphantly, metallic glee sheeting from it in a rising pitch.

"Whatever else you did, Mom," you murmur, "this was pretty cool."

> Flank it.
> Let Verve press it; go help Bri and Amy.
> Use a chain to drag it down.

> Use a chain to drag it down.

hold it down and let the blade do all the work

>>44061920
Interesting, its not smart enough to take initiative but its smart enough to infer it should be stabbing the flesh monstrosity.

Best way to take down non-regenerating tough guys, restrain them and then apply trauma repeatedly.

Alternatively, fire is an effective medium, if you douse the thing in flammable material and set it on fire, you could use the flames as a guide of where to hit.

>>44061920
>>44061995
Voting
> Use a chain to drag it down.
by the way.

>>44061920
>Flank it

Use our Axe.

> Use a chain to drag it down.

Feed on its pain, let's take this thing apart

>>44062165
>>44062063
We Kharn now

>>44062165
Remember, Nate's gotta go FINAL FORM for that kinda thing. He can see in the dark with his shadow shackled, and that's about it.

>>44062201
So be it.
We better start liking ourselves for what we are

>>44061920
>Use a chain to drag it down.
Also Verve seems to be capable of finding invisible foes. Maybe Nathan can learn to use this to his advantage later.

>>44062392
Verve doesn't have eyes and isn't smart enough to realize it shouldn't be able to see the enemy, all it knows is its owner wants this thing dead and, more importantly, wants it dead via repeated stabbings of it.

>>44062201
I voted to unshackle, anyway. Holding back against basically anything is a bad idea, as long as that Form doesn't hurt us

>>44061920
Verve is magical and awesome and I love it. Does this mean Nathan has found his true love? Polishing his sword will have a whole new meaning then.

>Let Verve press it; go help Bri and Amy.
Let's not waste that angel feather, shall we?

Votes called for chain dragging. Writing.

>>44062494
>>44062633
After 20 years of sitting in a box with neither name nor purpose Verve is eager to make up for lost time.

If Verve were a car, it would be a drag racer with no chute.

>>44062633
Unfortunately he named it after his mother so its possibly incest.

>>44062793
Oh. Well, I'm just gonna go sit in a corner now.

>>44062793
...Anon. No he did not. What the hell. Where did you even?

Also NOW writing. Real life again.

>>44062948
>>44062864

I was wrong, it was named something unrelated when he was thinking about his mother, so the sword waifu is still valid.

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>>44061920
Okay. Based on its movements and attacks, its head should be /there/. You were expecting to use the length of chain you bought for, say, securing doors deeper in the Dungeon, but this works too. You pull the steel into your hands and whirl it; it flies towards the invisible construct and /wraps/ tightly.

Fucking perfect. You /yank/, dropping your weight into it, and feel the beast overbalance and topple. Verve stabs down gleefully, and you hear the construct struggling and roaring.

You wait until you see Verve sliding slowly upwards, struggling against the force pushing on it, and then rush forward. You pull your axe from your belt and chop down, raining blows at the thing's invisible head. The screaming turns desperate, and then to silence. Your lungs feel like they've been shot through with icicles and your vision swims with stars, but you did it. You fucking won.

You look over and see Amy on the back of the other construct, legs wrapped around its torso, and a knife in each hand, raining blows down on the thrashing creature.

Brianna stares in concerned awe.

"HOW DEAD DO I HAVE TO KILL YOU?" Amy snarls, jamming a knife in the beast's eye. It flails to the side, crashing against a house. "GO DOWN! GO DOWN AND STAY DOWN!"

>...No, she's got this.
>...Wat.
>..."You want a hand?"

>>44063188
>>...Wat.
Then, 2.5 seconds later,
>>..."You want a hand?"

>...No, she's got this.

>>44063188
>write in. Don't ask if she needs help. Get over there and help.

>>44063188
>...Wat.

Chicks got problems

>..."You want a hand?"

Also gotta appreciate that Amy is so skilled at the old fashioned jail house shower stall surprise.

>>44063188
>no, she's got this.
Working through her issues.

>>44063188
>..."You want a hand?"
Then kill the other construct with the dead one's severed arm.

I regret nothing.

>>44063188
>Could you move a little to the left?
>Let Verve build some momentum for a decapitation
>....this dead

>>44063188
>"...Is it in yet?"

Votes called, writing.

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>>44063188
You stand up slowly and pull Verve from the corpse of your foe. She's. Wow, she's really going at it.

"You want a hand?" you ask.

"I WOULD LOVE ONE!"

"Drop and roll!"

Amy leaps away from her half-blind victim; the construct screams in pain and terror, and the moment she's clear you throw Verve at it. The sword screams gleefully, twisting in the air. It slides smoothly into the beast's chest, and a gout of black blood sprays from its wide mouth. It staggers, then sinks to its knees. Amy comes up from behind with an axe and buries it in the construct's skull.

At long last, it falls over dead.

* * * *

You are Brianna la Croix, and you just watched Amy - sweet, happy, somewhat shy little Amy - take out something six times her size. There'd been savage machete blows, and thrown axes, and quite a lot of shanking, and she's still shaking with adrenaline and fury. She wipes a line of blood from her cheek from where one of its spines got her and tastes it thoughtfully.

"Not poisoned," she notes. "Good fight. That was a good fucking fight. Is there more?"

"Is there /more/?" you say incredulously. Amy gives you a broad grin and shrugs.

"What," Ms. Slaughter's voice calls from down the street, "the unholy /fuck/ just happened here?"

> Okay, look, I can explain.
> I found all these extra corpses! They were invisible!
> Emergency preparedness drill! Everyone did /great/!

>Write in: GOOD FUCKING QUESTION.

>>44063920
> Okay, look, I can explain.

>>44063920
>> Okay, look, I can explain.
We took out his invisible aquatic murder machine and Mr Asshole decided to send more of his invisible abominations.

>>44063972
can you? because i have no fucking idea what just happened.

>>44063920
> I found all these extra corpses! They were invisible!

>>44063920
>Vinter sends his regards, it looks like

>>44063920
>> Emergency preparedness drill! Everyone did /great/!
> Now I need more coffee. And possibly whiskey.

>>44064006
>Vinter sends his regards, it looks like
I like this

>>44063920
>>44064006
Supporting this

>>44063920
>Emergency preparedness drill! Everyone did /great/!
We are the three Musketeers, and we are bonafide badasses.

>>44063920
>Vinter sends his regards, it looks like
The best part of being a necromancer is adding your opponent's defeated forces to your own. Who wants their soul to be bound to these monstrosities?

>>44063920
Has anyone noticed that Vinter has an odd obsession with invisible constructs?

Seriously what the fuck? This guy might be a one trick pony. Lets keep an eye out for more invisible traps, I'd recommend some sort of fire, paint, or sand to deal with that. It doesn't matter if you're invisible if you're coated in paint.

> Okay, look, I can Explain

The veil does seem to fit the MO, though

>>44064205

They mentioned he was an illusionist, and invisibility's one of the better illusions out there for casting on things that you want to kill people.

>>44064205
I think we already have a reliable means of spotting the shitty illusionists traps and minions; the Death Sight. If Brianna can share her vision with Nathan and Amy, we'll be set.

Vote extended. Life stuff.

Calling votes for the Vintner write-in. Writing.

So are you continuing this post December?

>>44065493

He's said he plans to run it consecutively until Christmas, and presumably he'd keep going after that.

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>>44063920
You point to one dead construct with your silver-topped cane, then the other. "The Vintner sends his regards. And invisible hatebeasts."

"That a formal term?" Slaughter asks, annoyed.

"No," you admit. "I need some time to examine these, but I've got an ugly suspicion."

"Take all the time you like."

You have Amy collect her weapons - four axes, both knives, and her 'chete - while you examine the corpses. You roll the taste of their deaths over your tongue and frown, taking out the stone with a hole in it. A small, investigative spell confirms what you suspected, and you stand with a concerned expression.

"Well?" Slaughter asks. "What are they?"

"Impossible," you say simply. "This is the sort of thing Death Choir angels are supposed to prevent. These things are made of multiple living things that never ceased to occupy their bodies. They were killed and revived several times during the process before being bound."

Nathan gives you a concerned look. "Then, your -"

"How about you shut right the fuck up?" you suggest calmly. Nathan clams up while Slaughter raises an eyebrow at you.

"You know you're not getting away with that," the Lakewarden points out.

"And you know I'm not going to discuss it in a public street," you answer evenly. "I've got an idea of what's going on. And I'm pretty sure the Vintner is involved directly."

"...How do you want to play this, la Croix?" Slaughter asks.

> Meet her somewhere private and lay it all out.
> Tell her you'd like to complete your preparations and set out to solve this as quickly as possible.
> Write-in.

>>44065578

> Meet her somewhere private and lay it all out.

>>44065578
>Meet her somewhere private and lay it all out.
No suspicion on Brianna, please; being a necromancer is already a hit to the reputation.

>>44065493
>>44065572
Oh yes. Anon threw down a gauntlet last thread. Three months is the record? Sounds like a challenge. And I find myself intrigued by this challenge. Obviously I have work in real life to do, so I can't quite go at the same pace (I like having, for instance, food, water, and shelter) but thus far it's been...not easy, but almost natural, to run like this? I certainly don't feel like this is the insanity ya'll say it is, if that helps.

>>44065578
> Tell her you'd like to complete your preparations and set out to solve this as quickly as possible.

>>44065578
> Tell her you'd like to complete your preparations and set out to solve this as quickly as possible.
We can always tell her later. If the Vintner is sending magical hate beasts at us we don't want to give him more time to make more.

Actually, why not do both? Send Amy and Nathan to get supplies while Brianna explains?

>>44066099
I agree.
>Save time. Nathan and Amy collect supplies. Brianna explain to Slaughter.

>>44065578
>>Save time. Nathan and Amy collect supplies. Brianna explain to Slaughter.

>Save time. Nathan and Amy collect supplies. Brianna explain to Slaughter.

>>44066269
>>Save time. Nathan and Amy collect supplies. Brianna explain to Slaughter.
Fourthed.

Vote called, update will be slightly delayed.

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>>44065578
"Time's going to be a bit sensitive. Got somewhere you and I can talk while Nate and Amy finish getting the supplies?"

"My house." Slaughter nods to one of Lakehallow's defenders. "Escort her when she's done talking to her subordinates."

Aww, fucking hell. Her too?

"What do we still need?" Nate asks quickly.

"Map," you say. "Amy, go talk to Meadows and get his advice. /Actually listen to it, please/."

"Yes ma'am," Amy says brightly. "We should scrub down too. Not, like, a full bath, but a lot of monsters hunt by scent."

"Make it happen," you agree. The two of them nod and split off in opposite directions. The Lakehallow citizen salutes you respectfully and guides you to Slaughter's house, an affair like most of the others in town. The interior smells strongly of herbs and spelltaint. You were right - a wizard.

Slaughter sits perched on the top of a chair, with her feet on the seat. "We're here," she says simply. "Explain."

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>>44067051
"I believe there is a Death Choir angel assigned to the Dungeon. I don't know who or how, or why, so don't ask. But it is my belief that her duties have been suborned."

"This permitting the contravention of the laws she enforces," Slaughter muses. "And you think the Vintner is involved? I wouldn't think him capable of such power."

"That's depressing," you note with a sigh. "...That'd mean someone else gave him the leash."

"Oof. Fuck." The wizardess leans forward and sighs. "If you kill him, his servants will spread through the Basement. It'll be chaos."

"I'll do what I can, but he has to die," you assert calmly. "Can you prepare Lakehallow for it?"

"Yes," she agrees. "We can prepare. Thank you for your honesty, Ms. la Croix. Is there anything, /anything/, I can do to help right now?"

> With some additional materials, you could use the dead constructs to upgrade your chickens for battle.
> With her cooperation, you can enchant your sword cane to inflict more damage to the living.
> Write-in.

>>44067260
> With her cooperation, you can enchant your sword cane to inflict more damage to the living.
Fuck yea, magic sword cane.

>>44067260
>> With some additional materials, you could use the dead constructs to upgrade your chickens for battle.
Give Fetch a battlemech.

>>44067260
>With her cooperation, you can enchant your sword cane to inflict more damage to the living.

>>44067260
>With her cooperation, you can enchant your sword cane to inflict more damage to the living.
The other one sounds pretty close to bad necromancy.

>>44067260
>Minion upgrade
We already have 2 fighters, better to have some crowd control

> With some additional materials, you could use the dead constructs to upgrade your chickens for battle.
> With her cooperation, you can enchant your sword cane to inflict more damage to the living.

>>44067260
>With some additional materials, you could use the dead constructs to upgrade your chickens for battle.

>>44067260
>With her cooperation, you can enchant your sword cane to inflict more damage to the living.

>>44067260
>With some additional materials, you could use the dead constructs to upgrade your chickens for battle.
This. I think stabbity stabbity is covered pretty well. We need some meatshields. Speaking of meatshields...
>"Did you guys slaughter any animals recently? I could always use more minions."

>With some additional materials, you could use the dead constructs to upgrade your chickens for battle.

Votes called, writing soon.

Okay, I lied. I'm crashing hard and need to hit bed for the night, or at least stop trying to write. Will update in morning, open for questions, discussion, etc.

>>44068950
If we had gone with Amy on the party split, would she have gotten a cool item like Verve?

>>44069845
Events of equivalent significance would have occurred.

>>44069872
Does Amy's ability to lighten things keep working for a bit after she's no longer touching them? She could get some hella range with a bow if that's the case.

>>44069916
Aye, though not for long. She can, and does, use it to throw things further, move heavy objects, and lift things she can't otherwise lift. The trouble is, she can make, say, a person super light and suplex them, but it'll barely hurt them.

Now, with enough head space, she can just toss them /up/...

>>44069938
As long as it works for a little bit.

Lighten the arrows before firing them from a bow, and they'll cover a lot of ground real fast before the weight kicks back in. Depending on how the physics work out, it may slow down at that point, and I imagine it's hardly accurate, given the weird wobbling stuff a regular arrow goes through in flight. Also, if it hits anything before the weight kicks back in, it won't do much.

But that's something we can solve. With explosives. I don't know how yet, but I'm going to turn Amy into our artillery specialist. Just you wait.

>>44069938
Half harpy shoulder throws!

>>44070004
Hey, couldn't you just one up it and throw boulders at people, and once gravity takes over suddenly you're going Indiana Jones on there ass.

Alternatively you can nuke them from orbit by using lightening to produce relatavistic weapons (giant stone pillar thrown into orbit, upon re-entry hits with the force of a fucking meteor).

>>44070153
I'm unsure how far Amy could chuck boulders. Given how light they'll weigh, drag will be an issue since they aren't very aerodynamic.

As for the orbital superweapons, I like them, but I don't think we can get objects into the stratosphere. Again, drag issues keep Amy from just chucking things straight up.

Also, she can't fly that high to just drop them. Cause, y'know. No wings.

>>44070153
>>44070211
There's also an eventual size limit to what she can affect. She can move some really big stuff by making /most/ of it lighter, but Rods From God have a lot more stuff than she's ready to handle, and that's a lot more distance than she can reasonably throw it.

>>44070238
So, we can't accidentally the world then. Thats a shame.

By the way vox, how would you do bad ends, would you just make us suffer a lot without actually killing us, would you bad end and end quest if it was natural, or would you bad end and then go back to the last salvagable point (which can lead to comedic bad ends).

>>44070275
The natural solution. If people would die, they die, and you get to pick up the pieces. I'm not out to get you, but I'm not going to /save/ you.

>>44070153
I should note that 'relativistic' is things going a good chunk of the speed of light. Those are just bog-standard kinetic energy weapons.

>>44070381
Yes, bog standard kinetic weapons operating off of raw mass and terminal velocity speeds from being launched to a suborbital height.

The idea of dropping meteors on people alone is pretty terrifying to me honestly, because you're effectively doing the equivelent of nuclear weapon sized damage with it.

>>44070394
Well, yes, I didn't say that those bog-standard kinetic weapons were not a terrible idea and complete overkill for anything short of, say, a full-on nest of ancient dragons. Just that they're not, thankfully, actually relativistic.

>>44069872
So no magical weapons or awesome dungeon tools for Amy yet? Shame.

>>44070593
In fairness, Amy might not have been able to use the magical weapons if she got them. We might've felt compelled to get Nate a nice thing from Lora at that point.

>>44070593
Don't worry, we'll get her some next PoV switch

>>44070593
>>44072180
Or we could follow the Shax school of combat: Wield the biggest damn "sword" we can find by abusing weightlessness enchantments and screwy physics.

>>44072199
Is there actually a reason not to get her a badass megasword that is also enchanted with all sorts of things?

>>44072766
She's obviously not used to fighting that way.

It might not fit in certain areas where only Amy is small/flexible enough to access, and sending her in without a weapon would be bad.

Might be more economical to have several lightly enchanted tomahawks. And javelins.

It's hard to conceal/she stops looking harmless. Although possibly still cute, if Shax's story is anything to go by.

>>44072820
oh, and anti-magic fields would fuck her up real bad. Cancel/Dispel her harpy magic at a bad moment and Amy could crush herself as compared to just being weighed down by tomahawks.

>>44072820
I was just referring to the fact that the other anon was talking about 'megasword' and 'magic weapon' like they're incompatible. Whether or not we actually want to get her one's a whole separate can of worms.

>>44073017
oh, THAT is something entirely up to Vox. We don't know if mass is a factor when it comes to enchanting, like if it increases the amount of "additional materials" needed. It also might be impractical on a slow weapon, etc.

>>44073054
Honestly, she'll be a capable fighter if we can get her some basic equipment. However, we're a bit lacking in the ranged department right now. Nate doesn't have anything, and while I'm sure we have some offensive magic effective at a distance, that's going to be draining. If she can pick up any slack in that department, either with thrown weapons or a bow, we can have melee, ranged, and magic covered between the three of us.

Also part of the reason I'm trying to figure out a way of turning Amy into artillery; explosives pack a lot of punch for their relative size, so she can be well-equipped to cause damage at a distance while staying unencumbered. Not to mention that anyone who thinks she's weak at melee will be sorely disappointed.

Besides, I love watching otherwise adorable characters cause massive collateral damage when they fight.

>>44073371
>super light explosives
on one hand, she can carry many more and it's harder to accidentally trigger them due to inertia problems

on the other hand SHES CARRYING MANY MORE EXPLOSIVES AND IS A DANGER TO ALL


But honestly, it's an option.

>>44073440
Wouldn't need too many- if we're in a place where the only way to get through is with copious amounts of explosives, the correct answer is to come up with a better plan.

But it is a nice 'fuck this shit' solution for when moderate amounts of explosions will suffice.

>>44072820
>>44072199
Also, Shax used a carrying enchantment, one that made the carry weight of the sword negated while at the same time not decreasing the sword mass, weight, or increasing shax strength because motherfucking mind flayer wizards.

Bump

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"With some additional materials, I can upgrade my chickens into something a bit more combat-ready," you muse.

Ms. Slaughter stares at you, then down at your undead farm animals, and then back up at you. "Your chickens."

"My chickens," you say, with the dignity and grace of an Empress.

"You have undead, flightless, nonpredatory birds, and you are asking me to commit Lakehallow's resources to them."

"You did ask," you continue. Your poker face could bluff down the God of Roads. "And mostly what I need is the corpse of the constructs. That, some live fish to use instead of my own life force, and silver shavings."

"For the sake of my own sanity, and so I don't drink an entire bottle of whiskey right now here in front of you, I am going to presume that you have some deep necromantic insight that makes this not insane, and then have the supplies delivered to your house. Prepare your ritual, la Croix."

You tip your hat and turn to leave, only to be halted by, "Brianna?"

Your turn. Slaughter looks tired. So very tired.

"I am not ungrateful," the wizardess says softly. "For the risks you've chosen to take, and for protecting my town. If I am harsh, it is because I need the respect of those who have survived terror and pain."

"I understand," you answer. Slaughter nods and gets off of her chair; the two of you leave the house, splitting in different directions.

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>>44075692
The preparations are made, checked, altered, checked, double-checked, and then redone when the clumsy assholes dragging the corpses to you disturb your veves. For a work like this you almost wanna light up just for the mood of the thing, but the cigs Lora gave you are almost as bad as dying was, and Kells took his pipe with him when he died, the bastard.

Nathan and Amy will be back soon. Best to finish up and be ready to move out with them.

"Alright," you murmur, your chickens standing obediently in circles of their own. "What do we do with you?"

> Add offensive power and a ranged attack.
> Enhance their intelligence and initiative.
> Make them tougher and faster.

And

> Upgrade all chickens equally.
> Leave one chicken out of the upgrades and promote Fetch to your familiar.

Regardless of the option chosen, the chickens will become tougher and harder to destroy.

>>44075869
> Enhance their intelligence and initiative.
> Leave one chicken out of the upgrades and promote Fetch to your familiar.

>>44075869
Could we make all the chickens tougher and faster, but make Fetch more intelligent?

>>44075912
...Presuming you mean not turning Fetch into a familiar? Yeah, that's possible. Vote explicitly for such, though.

>>44075869
>> Enhance their intelligence and initiative.
>> Leave one chicken out of the upgrades and promote Fetch to your familiar.

I think that in general, we're going to be better served by little chicken minions, rather than little chicken autoguns. We've got a fair amount of general firepower already; having chickens that can not only possibly distract enemies, but also perform more complicated tasks for us is likely to be our best bet in the long run.

>>44075869
> Make them tougher and faster.
> Leave one chicken out of the upgrades and promote Fetch to your familiar.

>>44075869
>> Leave one chicken out of the upgrades and promote Fetch to your familiar.


The chickens are disposable, IMO. Fetch would make a good long-term investment.

Calling in eight minutes.

>>44075869
>Enhance intelligence and initiative
And then later, we can upgrade their speed and offensive capabilities. WE ARE BRIANNA LA CROIX, MASTER OF UNDEAD RAPTORS!

Votes called, writing.

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You've got Nathan and, evidently, Amy for the killing of angry shit. Small, smart minions that can intelligently follow orders? That sounds a bit more useful than kill machines. Plus, honestly, why not make something a bit more threatening into a kill machine later so you can use it to intimidate people instead of straight murdering them? That's always a side benefit of having scary minions, the whole not-having-to-kill-people-after-all thing.

Good talk, you think to yourself, and you start working.

One chicken stands obediently aside while you work on the other two. One gets a shard of silver where its brain used to be, and then you place the severed head of one of the constructs next to it. You feel a twinge of sympathy as you pull wriggling fish, thrashing in terror, from the bucket provided for you, but swift knife-work ends their suffering.

The flesh strips from the construct's head and binds to the chicken skeleton in strips, layering over the bones and hardening like leather. Eyes form in the bird's sockets, gleaming with awareness; it cocks its head and quarks at you in a hollow, echoing voice.

"Good boy," you praise, and the chicken preens.

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>>44077000
Fetch takes a bit more preparation. Powdered silver is blown onto the obedient bird, and you anoint its beak and eyes in a mask of your own blood.

You've never had a familiar before. If you'd been asked a year ago what you'd pick for one, "undead chicken" would not have been on the list.

The rite is longer, more involved; even with the extra lives to use in place of your own, you feel a drain, an exhaustion as some of your life strips away with each muttered curse and plea. You feel the bond form between you and Fetch, starting as a vague awareness and becoming an intimate understanding. You can see yourself through Fetch's eyes and feel a sort of reverent awe coming from him. His bones fill out with dead flesh, wrapping them in armoring muscle, and greasy black feathers sprout from the chicken's tattered skin.

Fetch ruffles its wings, and its shadow stretches long and gangly, like the scarecrow of a chicken. Its eye sockets burn with violet witchlight, and you stare down at it. You've created something, and if you made it wrong, you might have another fight on your hand.

Fetch sits itself down on the ground and spreads its wings wide before inclining its head. What is it - wait, is it fucking /kneeling/?

"Command me, O queen of my life, goddess of mercy, who has gifted me with this, mine own thoughts, and I will follow in joy."

> ...Wat.
> ...No, I can't do bird poetry, no, gods no.
> ...Fuck it. RISE A KNIGHT, FETCH!

>>44077151
> ...Wat.

>>44077151
> ...Wat.

Undead black chicken is fantastic for our voodoo theme. Very Maman Brigitte.

>>44077151
>...Fuck it. RISE A KNIGHT, FETCH!

WE'RE GOING FULL ON CHICKEN-NOBLE, SOON WE SHALL HAVE A FLOCK OF FEUDAL POULTRY UNDERLINGS WITH FIEFDOMS OF THEIR OWN

> ...Fuck it. RISE A KNIGHT, FETCH!
WE HAVE OUR MASCOT. Now let's get a tiny knight's helmet made for him.

>>44077151
> ...Fuck it. RISE A KNIGHT, FETCH

we now have two smart and tough tiny minions, and Fetch is apparently smart enough to serve as a mobile command node. Chicken isn't likely to be attacked first if we make something big and threatening, so this frees up attention. Better choice than I thought

>>44077273
One smart and tough tiny chicken. You now have:

> Fetch
> Upgraded chicken
> Normal chicken

Because you had to leave one out to have enough materials to upgrade Fetch to familiar status.

>>44077291
Ah. Still, worth it.

Called, writing.

>>44077151
>RISE A KNIGHT, SIR FETCH OF THE BLACK PLUME!

>>44077273
Oh, shit, I just realized something; Sir Fetch and Amy are both birds. He's gonna start serenading her with poultry poetry.

>>44077510
"Poultry Poetry" might be the least-expected two words of any thread I've ever been on

>>44077602
Then my work here is done.
>Turns and walks away into the sunset.

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>>44077151
Okay. Grandmother had said familiars could be odd, that what they expressed of their masters was not always what their creator expected, but. Hellfire. A knight? When did you ever -

Your thoughts drift, to books read in bed, and a mother's voice telling stories of Heroes and villains, and noble souls dying worthy deaths, and remember a little girl's voice calling for more in eager excitement.

Okay. He can be a knight.

"Rise, Sir Fetch," you say formally, pushing your hat back onto your hair. "You will command these, my lesser creations, and aid me in my quests."

Fetch squaks excitedly and rises to his feet. You can feel his eagerness, running alongside your own emotions; it's like you're reading two books at the same time, almost. He clucks at the other two birds, and they fall in with him in a small 'v'.

"You can command them?" you inquire.

"I am honored to be your familiar, O my queen. I may command anything you make, unless you forbid it."

"That could be handy," you admit. "Do you remember much, of before?"

Fetch shakes his head.

"Ah well," you say with a shrug. "My compatriots should be here soon. Might as well wait."

You sit in front of your door, waiting for Amy and Nathan, and soon enough they appear. Amy squees excitedly over Fetch and pets his tiny head, heaping praise that he accepts with dignified pleasure. Nathan tries to share a look with you, sees you smiling, and gives up.

> War council now
> Head back to the area near the Oubliette, then war council
> Write-in.

>>44077151
> ...Fuck it. RISE A KNIGHT, FETCH!
because hell yeah

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>>44077602
We can only hope that the poetry is good and not merely... paltry.

>>44077692
>Amy squees excitedly over Fetch and pets his tiny head, heaping praise that he accepts with dignified pleasure.
Have Fetch grab on to Amy's back and flap its wings while Amy activates her weightlessness power.

>>44077662
> War council now

>>44077662
> War council now

I imagine heading to the oubliette would be to make sure we are not overheard or disturbed, though that seems a little overkill and not without it's own problems.

Taking some preventative measures might not be a bad idea, however. So,

> write in
> Check for listeners, place wards, etc

> War council now

Vote may be extended while I visit the emergency room. I...I am sorry.

>>44077941

Oh fuck what happened?

>>44077971
Giant chunk just calved from my tooth and now I'm drinking my own blood like a vampire with an autofellatio fetish. Could be just a cavity forming. Could be LETHAL FUCKING MENINGITIS. Since I like living and would prefer it to dying, I'ma see a professional.

>>44078022
That's a dead-ass tooth. Good luck with it, hoss.

>>44078022
Yeah, Vox, forget the quest and go take care of that shit pronto. /tg/ will be here for you when you return.

>>44078073
You know, barring complete global apocalypse.

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>>44078022
Quest till you bleed, man.

>>44078022

Jesus. You don't need to apologize for something like that, mate. We'd rather have you take a break than risk death.

...would a joke about your caffeine-exclusive diet be uncouth here?

>>44077941
THE QMS CURSE STRIKES AGAIN

>>44078117
Eh, go for it.

Vote definitely extended. Going to hospital. Will phone post if/as I can. May need to end up starting new thread once I can computer.

Again, my apologies for the interruption.

>>44078117
He needs to include the other major food groups: Fat, Sugar, and Alcohol.

>>44078170
You ain't got nothing to apologize for. Health issues are health issues.

Also christ you are beastly at QMing if you do keep phone posting from the hospital.

>>44078208
They'll likely put him on pain killers while they remove the tooth and cauterize the wound

So we're going to be in for some very interesting probably retconned posts after this point if he phone posts

>>44078208
Not gonna try to update from phone but I can answer questions, address feedback, discuss, etc, so forth.

Aside from...this...is anon still having a good time here?

>>44078170
Vox, you are a saint among QM's, and I shall make many sacrifices to to ensure your safe return. Also, perhaps you should switch to tea or something. All that caffeine has probably hurt your teeth.

>>44078229
FetchxBrianna OTP when

>>44078241
Coffee is acidic, its definitely hurt his teeth, especially since hes dangerously close to ingesting a lethal dose of the stuff.

>>44078234
Also obligatory pics or gtfo.

>>44078234

Quest has been awesome so far. One the few that I can go back and reread all at once and still be entertained.

>>44078288
No pics. Looks like whole tooth is chunking and will need to be extracted before it can poison my blood and kill me.

Next time you see a dentist, thank them for all they do. They don't get enough love.

>>44078873
FUCKING OUCH.

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>>44078873
>Looks like whole tooth is chunking

sweet baby jesus

>>44078873

That an official diagnosis?

Good thing you went to the ER then.

>>44079010
>>44079149
>>44079157
I think this a first for /tg/, a part of a QMs skull disintegrates in the middle of a thread and we keep trucking.

>>44079157
Yeah, it's fun times.

Alright folks. Gonna try to update when I get home. There are decisions to be made about how you'll approach the problem and set the tone of your exploration. I suggest you think about the kind of adventurer, and leader, Bri wants to be.

>>44079413
aren't teeth bones? could bri become an adventurer-dentist?

>>44079530
Teeth consist of tissues quite different from bone. But necromancy will probably work on them, too.

>>44079586
sweet. we now know her true calling. Dentistry, pragmatic friendship, and swimming lessons for all!

well THAT was strange

>>44079298
Remember kids, always brush your teeth!

And no amount of brushing will save you if you keep drinking soda, like holy shit that's a lot of acid and sugar.

>>44080563
Also 4chan is no longer kill!

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>>44077662
"Alright, gather around everyone. Fetch, keep the minions off of the map, yeah?"

Fetch chirps at his fellow birds, and is distracted briefly as Amy chirps back in excitement. You watch a brief conversation flow between them, entirely in bird noises, with each getting visibly more enthusiastic.

"Hey," Nathan says helpfully, leaning over to murmur in your ear. "They're communicatin'."

Your burst of pent-up laughter interrupts the two; Amy blushes, while Fetch preens as though nothing happened...at least until she picks him up and puts him on her head.

"You shall be my zombie hat," Amy declares as she sits with the rest of you, around the map.

Fetch settles himself in with exaggerated dignity.

Amy looks over the map and points. "Okay, so Lakehallow's here, and there's the Oubliette. We've got three basic approaches to the Vintner's domain, and none of them are pretty. This passage near Lakehallow, off of the lake's cavern? That's the Obstacle Course. Been around for years, never consistently mapped."

"How bad are we talking?" Nathan asks quietly.

"The traps rearrange themselves on a monthly basis, don't target the monsters native to the Obstacle Course, and the least lethal one in living memory involved sharpened pendulums and flamethrowers."

"Who builds this shit?" you ask in exasperation.

"The Obstacle Course? No one knows," Amy admits. "Legend has it that it was trapped before it was mined out, and that it killed three digging teams before anyone realized it was cursed."

>>44081122
So vox, are you high on painkillers as I predicted?

>>44081137
HA HA, YES.

>>44081196
What happened anyway?

We're in for a roller coaster everybody, DMing while intoxicated results in either some of the best or some of the worst content imaginable (I.E. Grayson Quest and/or whiskey basically committing trip suicide repeatedly)

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>>44081122
"What about the other two?"

Amy taps the T-section hallway near the Oubliette. "This center door eventually lets out into the Maze. As you might imagine, another section that changes a lot. The Maze is primarily populated by goblins, but a minotaur and his mate moved in, and they took over the tribe. Hilariously, the goblins are /more/ peaceful now, because the minotaurs are smart enough to extort instead of just raid. But..."

"They're still minotaurs," you finish. "Tricky negotiations at best."

"Pretty much," Amy agrees. "But without access to either one of the minotaurs to guide us, or the control room at the center of the Maze, they can just keep us lost forever until we starve to death. If we can cut through it, though, we'll enter the Vintner's domain from the side, and be that much closer to what's presumably his lair."

"Presumably?" Nathan asks.

Amy taps a room on the map marked with descending lines. "The Stairwell. The most accessible route into or out of the Lichyard. Trade between this level and the next has dried up, which means someone's got a stranglehold on it. Who else would want it?"

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>>44081425
"Let me guess," you say thoughtfully. "Third route is through his territory?"

"You may have the chicken," Amy says proudly, taking Fetch from her head and handing her too you. "That's exactly right. Means illusions, magical traps, whatever constructs he's built, and the incubus."

"...Of course he has a demon," Nathan says with a sigh. "Why would he not have a fucking demon?"

"Yes," you agree, "incubi are indeed fucking demons. Much like you, in the singular."

"H-hey, she's only part - youshutup."

"Wow, he's cute when he does that," Amy says dreamily. Nathan gives her a glare, and she smiles brightly and turns her attention back to the map. "It's gonna be hell no matter how we play it. So...how /do/ you wanna play it?"

> Dare the Obstacle Course.
> Negotiate with the minotaurs.
> Storm the Vintner's domain.
> Write-in.

>>44081226
Tooth has broken and is infected. I'm on antibiotics and the FUN PAINKILLERS, and off work for three days. I also need to get it extracted; while awaiting the extraction it will continue to fall apart in greasy, spit-smeared chunks.

>>44081521
> Negotiate with the minotaurs.
Seems fun.

>>44081521
>> Dare the Obstacle Course.
Its so suicidal insane that he'll never see it coming!

>>44081521
>Negotiate with the minotaurs.
Back door time! Minotaurs can't be that bad, right?

>>44081521

> Dare the Obstacle Course.

>>44081521
> Negotiate with the minotaurs.

Seems the least suicidal.

...though I'm guessing these options map out to the FIGHT/SNEAK/TALK trio of progression types.

>>44081521
> Negotiate with the minotaurs
I like this one the most.

>>44081521
>Dare the Obstacle Course.
we don't get much of these in quests

>>44082061
...Expand?

>>44082144
We get a lot of negotiating, often called "diplomacing". We get some illusions, and obviously a lot of fighting, but not too much on the "press this button for spiky death trap"

>>44081521

> Assuming respawn mechanics, obstacle course or Minotaur maze is best bet - if you don't make it through, you've got that much more intel that reliably carries over to attempt #2.

Voting for Minotaurs - being reasonable is a good thing, and Bri seems like she has a good head for talking and also may have services they'll appreciate.

Alright, we're dangerously close to the 300 post mark. Gonna leave this open for additional votes and/or discussion, and make a new one.

Negotiating with the minotaurs sounds like the best option

>>44081521
>> Negotiate with the minotaurs.

Not sure what we've got that they might want, but hey, if they're the type that are willing to talk, we might as well talk.

We've always got the option to take one of the stabbier routes if this one fails, right?

>>44083055
Technically yes, but within the context of a quest, narrative sunk costs and impatience would say otherwise

>>44083114
It might be easier to just try the Minotaur route again if this fails and we are kill.

Hell, go at it long enough, and we could eventually find a way to recruit the Minotaurs! Maybe not even as undead minions at first!

>>44082570
...speaking of which, do we want Minotaurs as undead minions? How hard would that be, in terms of killing them/bringing them back?

>>44083306
preeety sure Bri would whack you on the head and say "noooooo sapients, at least without consent"

>>44083336
That's a possibility. I wasn't thinking of bringing them back as intelligent creatures, though. Figured that was too risky. Just bringing them back as basic skellies and having Fetch command them would be good enough if they could still swing around massive weapons and serve as siege weapons.

Also, pack mules.

>>44083306
If we're fucking around with minotaurs, we're going to want to cut a deal with him, seeing as vinters fucked up trade between here and the lower levels, they probably aren't very happy with him. No trade caravans means no trade caravans to extort, after all. I'd rather make a deal with them and leave them for some other band of adventurers to handle (lets face it, those minotaurs are the best force possible in the area, there isn't much of a better scenerio than the uncaring extortionists).

>>44083306
>>44083389

Who says they need to be undead?

Aside from what >>44083434 said, if we can convince them that killing the Vintner would be a good thing for them, AND that we could just bring them back to life if they died fighting him, we might have a band of suicidally confident mooks on our hands!

...of course that assumes that they're a bunch of generic 'evil but stupid' goblins and minotaurs, which I sincerely doubt is the case. Hell, the mention of a tribe probably means all the little goblins have little goblin families with littler goblin babies.

I'd also not be surprised if the female minotaur (assuming that it is a male/female 'mate' pairing) was pregnant and one of our persuasion options for recruiting the male's aid is the "to protect your unborn child" spiel, which will inevitably result in his tragic demise and our bringing his soul back to say goodbye to his mate before passing on.

Bonus points if the female gave birth while we were gone, so the spirit of the male gets to see his kid for the first and last time.

>>44083495
I'm assuming the goblins are working under the assumption that anyone who is both more powerful and willing to not instantly murder them is a good person to not piss off. They likely are under the minotaurs because those minotaurs will fuck up anything they can't handle. Its benefitted them as is because they're basically getting what they consider free food for it.

>>44083434
That's assuming he hasn't cut a deal with the Minotaurs for goblin labor or something. Still, I'm not committing to my idea until we actually talk with them and see what they can offer. I'm all for getting more weapons and improving the party, but if we can part on friendly terms, I'll accept it since it minimizes the risk to all of us. And keeps the goblins peaceful, I guess.

There will always be more opportunities to better ourselves.

>>44083495
Recruiting is even better than what I'm suggesting. I doubt we'll be able to do it, but if we can swing for it, great. We'll see how it plays out as we talk to them.

>>44083552
I suspect the minotaurs might be paying him off if they're not dead. In addition, assuming they're working gang style, they'd much rather be at the top of the totem than the middle. If we get vinter killed and give them credit, they'll be able to run a much greater extortion ring. (Once again, extortion sucks, but its preferable to vinters rein of murder, torture, and terror.)

Vote called, writing new thread.

We are now officially over 300 posts this thread! Which is kinda moot to note since Vox is already archiving and making the new one. But still.

Could we stitch fish fins together into wings, in order to make fish skeletons that can swim through the air to scout when combined with Amy's magic?

NEW THREAD HERE >>44084033 >>44084033 >>44084033

Suck it vox I posted first!