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>>44336208
There is a long moment of silence, and a treacherous thought - "If I'd built this trap, I would make the password completely unrelated to the riddle." - re-familiarizes you with your fear of death and pain.

And then the locks on the door click, and it swings inward.

"Everyone through," you call, slipping through the doorway and holding it open for the others. When you let go, it slams shut with an echoing sound that makes you wince.

You could really use a smoke for this shit.

Cherry's steady guidance eventually leads you to a locked door. Amy checks it and begins the patient process of disarming the traps attached to it, as well as the locks. You still volunteer to open it.

Inside is a small broom closet; on the very top shelf is a snowglobe.

The phylactery.

"And who is this, who sneaks through my libraries and touches the things which are mine?" a spectral, echoing voice asks, from just behind the doorway.

That was fast. Teleportation really /is/ possible in the Dungeon.

> Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.
> So how much do you hate the Poet?
> Take his phylactery down and use it as a (human?) shield.
> Write-in.

>>44336321
>Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.

>>44336321
>> Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.

>>44336321
politeness costs nothing.
> Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.

>> Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.

>>44336321
>> Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.
Maybe even show him our almost phylactery as a show of good faith?

>>44336321
>Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.
If he doesn't rhyme, I am going to be both relieved and disappointed.

>>44336321
>Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.
Politeness is usually the best way to start negotiations.

>>44336321
> Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize, but I needed to talk to you.
> Usher Cherry back into her lantern.

Well that seems pretty unanimous.

Votes called, writing.

Gotta hit bed soonish. Will be up at around 7 AM EST or so, with coffee and the power of my undying hate. Need to work between 11 AM & 7:30 PM EST though, which means there's gonna be about eight hours of no running, and I go into work at 9 AM on Christmas Eve (RETAIL MOTHERFUCKERS) and get out at about 5:15 PM.

I have Christmas & the day after completely free and clear, however, and will be running on both as I can, provided I don't get unexpectedly sucked into family shit with the relatives I don't like.

vox is the la Croix name well known to magic practitioners?

>>44336502
>I go into work at 9 AM on Christmas Eve
gotta get that sweet time and a half

>>44336502
Are they playing Monopoly again?

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>>44336321
You whistle for Cherry, and she slips back into her lantern. You shut the closet door, slowly, and stap back from it.

Before you is a lich, all flesh completely gone from his grey bones, with violet withflames glowing in his eyes. Unlike many liches, who dispense with ideas such as practical dress in order to conceal their withered forms, this one is dressed in tough, much-mended leggings and a thick shirt, over which is a many-pocketed coat.

Necromancy always /was/ one of the most practical studies of magic.

You take your hat off, respectfully. "My name is Brianna la Croix, dread master. I apologize for disturbing your defenses, but I needed to talk to you."

"La Croix, hmm?" the lich peers closely at you. "Do you remember Rupert la Croix?"

"Not personally, sir, but he and his wife were some of the first to turn the family around and make us who we are today," you answer.

"Ha! Good, the boy learned well! Best apprentice I ever trained." The lich extends a skeletal hand, which you shake firmly. "You may call me the Caretaker, la Croix. It has been a long time since a member of your family came through here. The last was -"

"Jackson la Croix?" you hazard. "The mapmaker?"

"Yes! Whatever did happen to him?"

"Died of old age, between two nubile prostitutes."

"Ha! Ha, and ha again. Your family is always good for a laugh. Will you accept my hospitality?"

> Actually...I was hoping to talk straight away?
> Yes, Master Caretaker
> Uhh. You're an ancient lich. Can you see why that's maybe a little frightening?

>>44336502
>work at 9 AM on Christmas Eve

I work as a sub contractor for FedEx. I work 2 am every day this week

>>44336516
It's a big family and it tends to settle down in regions it associates with. Coupled with their (frequent) contributions to the advancement of necromancy and the lore of the undead, and the la Croix name is known well in a lot of contexts.

>>44336569
That's only at the family reunions, thank fucking god.

>>44336616
> Yes, Master Caretaker
no reason to be rude

>>44336621
My heart goes out to you, Unfortunate Anon.

>>44336616
>Actually...I was hoping to talk straight away?
The "you're scary" option makes no sense to me.

> Yes, Master Caretaker

>>44336659
Ancient-ass liches have this habit of being completely insane.

It doesn't always happen. But it happens often enough to be worth worrying about.

>>44336616
>Yes, Master Caretaker

>>44336616
> Yes, Master Caretaker
He seems sane enough, so far

>>44336616
> Yes, Master Caretaker
We're gonna ask him for his help, it might help to be friendly.

>>44336616
> Yes, Master Caretaker

>>44336616
>Yes, Master Caretaker.
We definitely want to make a good impression with this guy.

>>44336616
> Yes, Master Caretaker
>>44336686
On the one hand, insane hospitality could be worse than lethal. On the other, insane inhospitality is probably at least as bad.

>>44336850
...though it still may be worth including a "though I note my companions and I do have some unfortunate requirements that may limit our time available."

Called, writing. Gonna be final update of the night 'cause I gotta sleep.

>>44336616

Is this an homage to the Caretaker screencap story? If so, wunderbar -- but poor caretaker! Nobody left to finish his line, so he just goes lich to train others?

>>44336961
isn't it like one where you are?

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>>44336616
"I'd be honored, Master Caretaker," you say formally. "I presume this extends to my compatriots?"

"Of course, of course! Come with me, and be welcome into my home as honored guests. I'm afraid I don't have food around, but there are pots and pans, and a flameless stove, and I've a ready source of water."

Oh gods. /Coffee/.

The lich's home is more like a study; he shelves books he's stored on the table and indicates the modest "kitchen" area, and Amy, bless her fucking heart, immediately begins making coffee.

"Please, sit," the Caretaker invites, taking his own seat. "I am most curious about the girl. Her spirit seems fresh."

"Newly dead," you admit. "...Unresolveable business."

"Nasty affair, that," the lich agrees sympathetically. "What are your intentions for her?"

"At the moment, we can't handle anything long-term. We're here for the Poet."

"The crying foggy lady," Cherry adds, helpfully.

"Crying, hmm?" the Caretaker says shrewdly. He turns his fiery gaze to you. "And you said you wished my help? I cannot approach her, you know. I made a deal with the angel who created this place, and became her servant in exchange for my retained sanity."

"But," you note, "you can hide from her. And I need to do that."

"Ahhh. I begin to see," the ancient lich agrees. Amy hands you coffee. There's no sugar, but fuck it, coffee is great.

Nathan and Amy have similar, if unspoken, feelings on the matter from the way they clutch their cups like precious things.

"You're in no shape for sorceries, la Croix. You're still reeling from the backlash of something big. You'll need some time to recover."

You sigh. "You're right. I just...time, you know?"

"You cannot help anyone if you are dead," the Caretaker declares firmly. "I may make myself scarce, if you wish, and offer you this chamber to sleep and rest in. I have cots, somewhere, that I can scavenge up. Or we can talk buisness straight away, but I find that coffee makes a poor substitute for rest."

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>>44337129
Amy giggles. "Don't tell Bri that, sir. You'll upset her entire worldview."

The lich shares a laugh with your companions while you fume in irritation. "I don't drink /that/ much coffee."

"Bri, if you drank alcohol the way you drink coffee, you would be a dead woman," Nathan points out.

"Fine..."

"My point stands," the Caretaker continues, smoothly. "You are of course free to make your own choice, but I can feel it on you, la Croix. You should rest."

> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to your companions
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to one companion (pick one)
> Get down to business

>>44337193
>> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately
if the lich says we're burnt out, we're burnt out.

Alright folks. I'm going to bed and will see you in six hours. I'm going to not archive the thread so that we get the chance to add some content to it first; hopefully anon can be as helpful as the last two times we did this and keep 'er bumped with discussion.

As always, feedback, discussion, comments, and criticisms are welcome. Your thoughts are appreciated more than I can say, and help me to continue improving the quest.

Thank you again for reading and participating! I hope everyone's still having fun.

>>44337213
>>44337193
> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately
>if the lich says we're burnt out, we're burnt out.

>>44337193
As much as I'd like to continue the thread tonight (perhaps ask Amy and Nathan how they feel about this whole affair), I'll have to go with;
>Take his advice; go to sleep immediately in a cuddle pile.

GO TO BED VOX! YOU MADMAN!

>>44337193
> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately

>>44337241
gnight, Vox!
Sleep tight, don't let the johns bite... unless they pay extra

>>44337193
>Take his advice; stay up to talk to your companions
Still getting sleep, but I don't think I trust the undead assistant of our enemy to watch over our slumbering cadaver. Just a thought.

>>44337193
>> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately
we can talk to lil miss angel

>>44337276
I may have been unclear in my phrasing, anon; the Caretaker is Lora's servant. Since the Poet currently commands Lora, she's prevented him from taking direct action against her.

>>44337241
You are one of the best QMs I have ever had the pleasure to have spoiled a movie to. I wish you nothing but the finest of drug-addled sleep.

>>44337193
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to your companions
We need rest, but we also need emotional healing, and there's nothing quite like social support for emotional healing.

>>44337241
Good night, Vox. I'm still loving the thread. I really like how you take our half-asses justifications and arguments and forge them into writing that feels like the characters. That can't be easy, but you seem to be quite good at it.

>>44337193
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to one companion (Cherry)
We promised to a nice long talk with her earlier, but I don't think she ever got it. And while we haven't really the time for the 'long' part, a short chat before hitting the hay shouldn't be too troublesome.

>>44337193
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to Cherry

> Take his advice; pass out like a little bitch

>>44337193
> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately
The fact that I am about to go to sleep may be influencing this vote

>>44337193
>Talk to Cherry

> Take his advice; stay up to talk to Cherry

>>44337193
> Take his advice; go to sleep immediately

Also, Vox, what do you think would be the soundtrack for this quest so far?

>>44337193
>Chat with Cherry. We did promise after all.

>>44337193
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to your companions

You think we could get Mr. Lich to teach us some offensive necromancy spells?

>>44339229
I think Mr. Lich is gonna be busy teaching us how to hide from the Poet. And that we agreed NOT to kill her.

>>44339437
Just because we don't have time now doesn't mean we can't later.

>>44337193
>Take his advice; go to sleep immediately
I don't see why we can't just talk about the general going ons about the dungeon and Lora, though.

>>44339497
Sure, but I was under the impression you meant immediately.

>>44337193
>Talk with Cherry, we did promise after all.

>>44337193
> Take his advice; stay up to talk to your companions

I'm up!

Vote called.

Coffee, breakfast, writing.

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>>44337193
It's tempting to stay up and get right to business. It's also tempting to stay up and talk to your companions, because frankly you could use a talk. This whole thing, where you have people to express your intimate fears and frustrations with, it's been...it's been nice.

You need to bottle your feelings less.

...You need to thank them for putting up with it too.

But the Caretaker is right. You're reeling from that spell and it doesn't help that you've been walking, marching, and putting your heart through the wringer ever since.

"Bring in the cots," you agree, at last. The lich nods and leaves the room, and you get up to sweep Nathan and Amy into a group hug.

"Hey," you murmur. "I don't say this enough, so...thanks. For letting me be me. Without, you know, tiptoeing around me like I'm gonna break."

"Least we can do is return the favor," the Hero says back. "...But if you don't let go this hug is gonna soak my coffee into your shirt."

Nopenopenope. You let go with a sheepish grin.

When the Caretaker comes back with the cots and some surprisingly cared-for blankets and pillows, the three of you set yours up next to each other. Which is objectively a little stupid because the person in the middle - you - will have a hell of a time getting out, but...

Well, but cuddle pile.

You hang Cherry's lantern and settle in to sleep.

In Lora's waiting room, the angel smokes a fresh cigar with a raised eyebrow.

"Can you talk?" you ask, hopefully.

"Are you repressed?" comes the slow, bored answer.

> What do you say?

>>44340930
>How do you feel about not killing the Poet?

>>44340930
>Anything you can volunteer to me about the Poet? If maybe the research is already compromised? If there's a way around the Poet's oaths? If the Poet has been lying?

>>44340953
Hold that thought. Lora is forced to obey them--if we leave the Poet's alive, the rest of the Dungeoneers will ask her what she knows and she'll HAVE to anwer.

>"Pot, kettle..."

>>44340930
Seconding >>44340957
>>Anything you can volunteer to me about the Poet? If maybe the research is already compromised? If there's a way around the Poet's oaths? If the Poet has been lying?

Called, writing.

>>44340930
Odd tangent but,
>How involved was Victoria in all this besides being /The Poet/'s lover?
>Can you activate the compass on this letter without killing anyone?

>>44341045
>>44341052
dagnabit

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>>44340930
You dig out your pipe, pack it, and light it with a sigh of relief. Sweet, sweet tobacco.

"I'm sure you can understand why I don't let people do that in my library," Lora says mildly.

"Completely," you agree. "But it still sucks."

The angel shrugs, her eyes on yours.

"Listen - what can you volunteer on the Poet? Is there a way around her oaths?"

Lora sighs and takes her cigar from her mouth to tap it out. "How do you think this ends, heritor? Nobody gets out of life alive. Why is it you care, besides the fact that she gives you tingly feelings in your loins?"

"That's not it," you snap, standing indignantly. "And how fucking /dare/ you. Where do you get the gall."

Lora stands, slowly, and the chains that bind her fade into visibility. She walks forward, each link rattling against the others, and rests her gaze less than an inch from yours.

"Right here, mortal," the angel murmurs, an icy edge in her voice. "Now give me a reason to care as much as you do."

> Revenge won't make you feel better
> She can't suffer if she's dead
> I have to believe in second chances
> She wants to make it right

>>44341110
> I have to believe in second chances
And unlike the others, she feels bad.

>>44341110
> She wants to make it right

>>44341110
>> I have to believe in second chances

>>44341110
>She was used by the Master as much as you were.

>>44341110
> I have to believe in second chances

>>44341133
>as much as
... I don't think so anon.
Notice the big chains?

Votes called, writing.

>>44341110
>Because you ALWAYS have to care, to UNDERSTAND, to make things better.
>To prevent such a thing from happening again.
>Do I need to tell you about how the La Croix work?

>>44341175
>>44341177
turn around for 5 damn minutes...

>>44341110
>I have to believe in second chances... And doing the right thing. It's what my family does, why I'm doing this.

>Besides, offering mercy is a tactical choice. I've got a long fight ahead of me; every person who can be turned away from the master is a person I don't have to fight, and is one more tool I can use against him. If they know they might survive a surrender in some meaningful way, they won't fight me to the death like a cornered animal.

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>>44341110
You meet the angel's glare with total calm. You take the pipe from your mouth and take in a deep breath.

"I have to believe in second chances, Lora," you tell her. "You wanna be the one to tell me that people aren't anything more than their mistakes? /You/ chose /me/, Lora. You know my family, you know my history."

The chains fade, and Lora whirls irritably; you have to duck to avoid getting body-checked by her wings.

"She got used too, Lora," you insist. "She'll have to live the rest of her life with what she's done."

Lora turns, blade in hand, and levels the tip at your face. "Shut up," she growls. "Just. Shut up. My job used to be /simple/. I don't need your mortal complications."

"You're angry because I'm right," you reply, still feeling that odd, soul-deep calm despite the weeping blade inches from your face.

"...These things have rules. Actions, reactions, prices. When a bargain is made, or an imprisonment of a being such as myself, there are consequences laid out. The goal of the one making the bargain is to avoid those consequences. When you break the Poet's chain, she is then under my power. That is the consequence."

"Let her make it right," you ask, your voice barely a murmur.

"I hate you so much right now," the angel growls. "...I'll think about it."

Your eyes open; you feel stiff, which is to be expected, and your pipe sits, extinguished, near your face.

Ah. /There/'s the adrenaline rush from the terror you weren't feeling earlier. What the fuck were you thinking, mouthing off to a Death Choir? If your grandmother -

"Mommy?" Cherry's small voice asks.

> I'm fine Cherry, I just need a minute to scream in my head
> ...Cherry, I'm not your mommy. You know that, right?
> ...Do you want to hear a story? I could do with telling a story, little one.

>>44341229
>Sorry, I'm just scared because I did something scary.
>...Do you want to hear a story? I could do with telling a story, little one.

>>44341229
>> I'm fine Cherry, I just need a minute to scream in my head
Sup Vox, just taking a peek

>>44341229
>> ...Do you want to hear a story? I could do with telling a story, little one.
Not a happy one, I'm sure, but we're a strange mom. She needs to get used to that.

>>44341229
>> ...Do you want to hear a story? I could do with telling a story, little one.
Havent had a storytime in a while. Good spot to have one.

> ...Do you want to hear a story? I could do with telling a story, little one.

Votes called. Writing.

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>>44341229
You /very carefully/ extricate yourself from your companions. At Amy's little frown and sad chirp, you gently pick her up - she still weighs almost nothing - and put her on your cot, where she can snuggle in to Nathan. She hugs herself close to him with a sleepy 'Mmthanks...cuddles...'.

You pick Cherry up and set her down on the table, then put the flask containing Isoldt down next to her. "Do you want to hear a story, Cherry?" you ask, warmly. "I could do with telling a story."

"What kind of story?" the little ghost asks, her quiet voice all excited whispers.

"A story about demons," you tell her, letting a little smile play on your face. "A very old story about demons, in fact. About the first time mortalkind met the Secondborn."

"I haven't heard that story told in /ages/," Isoldt murmurs.

"Tell me," Cherry begs, and you give her a little laugh.

"Alright Cherry, but I need you to be quiet. Nathan and Amy deserve some rest, and I don't want to wake them up."

"Okay," Cherry promises, and you lean back in your chair to begin.

"No one really knows where demons come from," you tell her. "We know they live in Hell and that it is hard for them to come here, to the lands of iron. But they call themselves the Secondborn, and the mortal races the Firstborn, and have since time immemorial. But though we were First, our souls are young and hot, while our younger siblings are old. Demons have always been old, even when their flesh was cooling from the forge of the gods."

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>>44341506
You can see the mist in the lantern forming into a tiny little gap-toothed face, all wide-eyed rapture.

"In the ancient days it was much harder to come to the lands of iron, because we did not know the secrets of calling our younger siblings to us. But a pair of demons, fair of face and curious of mind, found a crack in Hell that lead up to a sort of light they had never seen before, and they worked their way towards it. It was a long, hard journey, and they percieved that the light would go out, only to return, but eventually they emerged into the realms of mortalkind, and saw that the light was the sun. And they witnessed, for the first time, green growing things and the scent of rivers, the feeling of a breeze not blown by bellows and the feel of soil beneath their boots, and they were intrigued. Could this be the land made for the Firstborn?

Resolved to find out, they set forth to travel the lands. It did not take them long to find mortals, but at first the mortals they found were birds and beasts, fish and fowl, and while the demons were intrigued by them, they thirsted to meet the mortals given the gift they themselves had - consciousness."

"Like humans?" Cherry asked.

"In that time, it would have been elves and dwarves," you tell her. "And there is much debate over who the demons met. Elves say that of course, it must have been elves, for dwarves would not be caught dead living in a green and verdant forest, but later events in the story lend credence to the dwarven argument."

"What's credence?" Cherry asks.

"It makes their version sound more true," Isoldt says gently. "Now hush, little one. Let her tell the story."

"When the demons finally found the mortals they were seeking, they were dismayed. Though the Firstborn spoke in beautiful language, they wore rough hides and used tools of chipped stone, lashed crudely to sticks, and they huddled in caves and hollow trees to guard themselves against the cold and dark."

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>>44341565
You set down your clockwork lighter, so Cherry can see it. "In those days, mortals had not yet learned the power of fire. And the demons saw their struggle and fear, and took pity upon them. They asked of the gods permission to share some of their secrets with their older siblings, and the gods answered them, 'Receive payment in kind'."

So the demons returned to the Firstborn and offered a deal; they would teach the mortals the power of fire and the secrets of the forge, if the mortals would promise to also learn the arts of summoning, and permit the Secondborn to explore the world which was their home. And the eldest and wisest of the Firstborn debated this, and decided the bargain was good. And thus the first deal with demons was struck. The pair built a forge and showed the Firstborn how to build and feed a flame, how to contain it and fight its rage, how to fight fire with fire and what to do to make a flame burn hotter or simmer lower."

"Then, with great cunning known only to themselves, the demons found a stone that had fallen from the heavens, which was heavy with thunderbolt iron. They built an anvil, to go with the forge, and shaped a hammer, and showed the Firstborn the secrets of working metal. And they cautioned us to treat what we made with respect and love, for it had not asked to be created. And we promised to do this thing, though we have not always been good about our promise."

You tap Isoldt's flask. "Finally, we were shown the arts of summoning, and reminded of our word. And in those early days we had much to do with the Secondborn, who were curious and polite. They taught us many things, and we them. But eventually we learned caution, and while relations have never truly soured, we no longer trust our younger siblings, who have so often betrayed us. But it is said that in the fiery forges of Hell, those first two demons still watch the sunlit lands of the Firstborn, and feel satisfaction at the bargain they struck."

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>>44341623
"Wow," Cherry breathes, all wide-eyed wonder.

"Thank you," Isoldt murmurs. "I had thought that mortalkind had forgotten that story."

"Not all of us," you say warmly. "...Frankly, many of us who study arts considered unwholesome suspect this whole 'demons are evil and made of evil and shit evil and also eat puppies' thing might be a bit exaggerated."

"I'm certain I have no comment," Isoldt notes.

You feel...better, actually. Calmer. It was nice to tell a story. But the business of the day waits.

> Wake Nathan and Amy up
> Seek the Caretaker on your own; let them rest
> Talk to Isoldt

>>44341645
>> Talk to Isoldt
We'll be talking to the Caretaker at some point anyways so why not chat a bit with our new friend in a bottle? Get her input on things.

> Talk to Isoldt

>>44341645
> Talk to Isoldt
We struck a bargain that *might* let the Poet live after everything is said and done. She may care to know that.

The others will come around in due time.

>>44341645
> Talk to Isoldt
Hey know where a demonic altar is in here? A friend needs a favour.

>>44341678
We did that, anon.

>>44341701
Really? I did not notice. Sorry.

>>44341712
Yeah, Amy got her special demon gear as thanks.

>>44341645
>Talk to Isoldt
So, what can you tell me about the Poet? I guess the other demons also want in on the research?

Votes called, writing final pre-work update.

Hope y'liked the story.

>>44341158
>Notice the big chains?
Notice how the Poet will also die automatically if she disobeys his edicts?

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>>44341645
"So...you ready to talk yet, Isoldt?" you ask.

"You know, I didn't think you'd actually go through with the binding," she answers mildly. "...It is unpleasant in here."

"Well duh. I didn't threaten you with a fucking luxury inn. You ready to talk?"

"Some of us think loyalty is a virtue," Isoldt sniffs.

You stare at the flask. "She's banging you, isn't she?"

"One, no. Two, Brigette is faithful to Ms. Victoria. And three, you'd need to be /damn/ creative to impress me enough to manipulate me with sex."

"She tried to seduce /me/," you say flatly.

"I'm certain it was in keeping with her promise to her love to do whatever it took to get out alive."

...Huh.

> Listen, Isoldt, I don't want her to die either. Help me out here.
> You have to get tired of that flask /sometime/.
> Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

>>44341860
>Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

>>44341860
> I told off a death choir last night trying to do as much as I can for her. I want her to to get out of this as best is possible.

Alright folks, that's the final update before work. I'll be back at around 7:45 PM or so, to consume coffee and souls and continue. I'm gonna archive the thread just in case, because it's better to be safe than sorry.

Discussion, questions, feedback, comments, and criticisms are welcome and appreciated.

Thank you for reading and participating!

>>44341860
>> Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

We'll probably release her anyway after this whole thing blows over.

>>44341860
>> Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

Thread archived, heading out for work.

Hopefully this stays bumped enough to live.

> Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

>>44341860
>> Listen, Isoldt, I don't want her to die either. Help me out here.

>>44341860
> Listen, Isoldt, I don't want her to die either. Help me out here.
We literally just argued her case to death herself (or at least the local branch thereof), and we kind of came out on top of that argument. The last thing we want to do now is have to kill Brigette anyway because we can't beat her any other way.

> Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

>>44341860
> Listen, Isoldt, I don't want her to die either. Help me out here.

from what we can tell she's not so much a bad person, as a well meaning but naive one who got caught up in some truly horrific stuff.

>>44336208
Just on the off chance that you happen to see this, Vox, something just occured to me during rerecording. If you want to make an audio foreword, as some authors do in audiobooks, I'd be pleased as punch to splice it in at the beginning. Just let me know if you want to make one and I'll tell you where to email it, if not, I totally understand. Just thought you'd want the option.

>>44342428
>>44341889

>these. We are your master's opponent, but not her enemy.

>>44343066
Thanks for asking, but I'll pass. Aside from not having a mic, I'm not sure what I'd say.

Six hours and change to vote call.

Is 4chan broken for anyone else?

>>44343862
Question followed by a horribly stupid idea
Question: Is Bridgette forced to stop anybody or specifically 'Bri/that necromancer/her and her allies'?

Horribly stupid idea:Cuz I was wondering if the wording was for us+allies specifically, we might be able to enlist the help of a third party. Such as Marsh since he is bound to kill us on sight out there, he is technically not out ally. And then I was thinking, what if he went down here on 'official business/searching for a book' or something equally retarded and 'happened upon a certain chain a certain poet had lying around'. Plausible deniability and all that./end Horribly stupid idea.

>>44344244

I'm able to access threads by direct URL, but none of the catalogs or page directories are showing anything.

>>44344244
yeah, none of the boards showed up for a while and posting is hit or miss.

>>44344244
It was just a little while ago.

>>44344271
He is a man who puts duty before honor, and thatis all.

Besides, we have the gems that grant us pardon.

On lunch. Briefly available to potentially answer questions and discuss things. Three hours to vote call.

>>44336208
I haven't caught up yet after a week away, but Vox, could you please add the thread number to the subject line? Because the current thread names are confusing.

>>44345084
are there paladins in this world?

>>44345156
Define paladin in this context.

>>44345131
Sure. Bear with me while I adjust though; I may forget at first.

>>44345189
Not that anon, but I'll define one as a fighter/warrior in the service of a god that provides powers or gifts to aid the paladin in/for serving their cause.

>>44344271
Presumably she has to defend the interests of the conspiracy against all comers; their concern for Bri specifically is due to her particular advantages, including Lora's help.

>>44345265
That would be the Chosen then. If you'd chosen Lyra as your MC you would be playing as one. They weild great power but, as Pratchett said in Small Gods, "Man who talk to god have difficult life."

>>44345311
You know, I'd actually forgotten that we had a list to choose from at the start.

Now I'm wondering about those paths not taken.

>>44345369
I'd be willing to sate that curiosity when I get home. What do you want to know?

> Alright, fine. Tell me about you.

One foot in the door, a crowbar in hand.
(Let's hope that it'll let me post now.)

Final break. Vote call in roughly an hour, plus some.

>>44341860
> So I know a lich who likes me and has more time than you do to keep you bored.

>>44345483
Not the anon that asked, but personally, I'd like to know how the very early game would go down had we chosen another life. Would we still be in exile? Had we chosen the Knight-Errant, would it have been possible to save Amy from her cage before taking on the Vitner? That's all I can really think of for now, but I'm sure other anons have a few thoughts on the matter as well.

>>44347113
not either of those anons but I am also curious as to what the earlier choices would have done.

Off work. Fifteen minute warning.

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Votes called, writing.

>>44347113
>>44348163
The other options would have had different starts, threats, and opportunities.

JACK THE LESSER, as an adventurer, would have had the option to choose between the Dumbwaiter and the Oubliette as his entrance. With Rose Island cut off from Lakehallow he would have needed a way to signal the town, attracting beasts tasked with haunting the island. If he'd taken the Oubliette his options would have been much like Brianna's; thick armor would potentially protect him from Amy's traps, though cunning and guile would still be needed.

LYRA enters through the Dumbwaiter, guided by the voices of the gods...which go silent the moment she enters the Dungeon. Cut off from her guidance, she would have to face, for the first time, battles without a divine voice in her ear.

MARTIN BOOKCHILD would have entered the Oubliette with a research team of twenty people, with anon's task being to attempt to keep as many as possible alive to aid him in the inevitable confrontation with the Vintner. Dealing with Amy would have been simpler for him, but the croc would be /much/, much harder.

>>44348764
any chance we'll meet these guys later as npcs?

>>44348764
While I would still have voted for Bri, all three of those other choices I know I would enjoy playing as. Especially Bookchild as I love 'keep everyone alive' type play.

And I applaud you for having actually unique choices rather than '+1str, -1wis' stuff.Each of those characters would definitely have a distinct style of play.

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>>44341860
"Alright, fine," you mutter, giving in. "Tell me about you. You a succubus? Incubus?"

"Hmph. A succubus, obviously. Incubi can't /read/."

You sigh, grab the flask, and start shaking it vigorously. You hear the clattering thunks of flesh and bone against the steel on the inside, along with Isoldt's yelps of protests and repeated, "My wings!"

You set the flask down flat on the table and spin it. When it finally slows to a halt, you lean down.

"What was that you were saying about incubi?"

"Upright citizens of Hell. Salt o' the earth. Besfriens o' my life."

"That's what I fucking thought. Don't let me catch you being disrespectful like that again. One of Amy's only friends was an incubus and she's still a bit sore about having to kill him to end his binding."

"Sorry," Isoldt slurs, dizzily. "Bit of a rivalry."

"I gathered." You set the flask upright ("Hey!") and rest your chin in your hand. "So what're you good at?"

"Research. Sorcery. Fire sorcery especially, which was not...fully...thought through when I was summoned."

"Yeah, let's summon the fire witch to the place with no fire," you agree. "Fucking brilliant."

Isoldt sniffs, haughtily.

"Have it your way. I need to get to work."

> Seek out the Caretaker on your own
> Wake Amy and Nate

>>44348764
Would Martin be related to Nathan in some way?

>>44349367
"Bookchild" is a common surname assigned to orphans and those raise by orphanages for various reasons.

>>44349298
>> Wake Amy and Nate
The rest was really for us and I'd like to hear any of their opinions on battle plan stuff.

>>44349298
>Seek the Caretaker on your own

>>44349298
> Seek out the Caretaker on your own
There are some things that a Necro has to learn on their own

>>44349298
> Wake Amy and Nate
They've had plenty of sleep, and we could use the friends, now and always.

>>44349298
> Seek out the Caretaker on your own

Vote called.

Writing.

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>>44349298
You look back down at the flask. "Can you two talk quietly without waking up Amy and Nathan?"

"Yes," Cherry promises.

"Isoldt, can you /not/ corrupt the seven-year-old?"

"I have /standards/," Isoldt answers, horrified.

"Okay. Then I'm leaving the two of you here. Go ahead and try to tempt Cherry to open the flask if you want to, I made the trigger condition for your freedom a bit of a bitch."

"...What's the trigger?" Isoldt asks. "You have to tell me, that's the /rules/."

You grin, wickedly. "You have to swear a thousand years of service to a Rose cult and fulfill it in total chastity. Or I can let you out."

"You /did not/!"

"I diiiiiid," you sing, sweetly, before getting up from the table. You settle your hat on your hair and leave the room; Kat retrieves your coat and cane, settling the former around your shoulders and handing you the latter.

This morning's turning out pretty good. A little petty cruelty is good for the soul.

Besides, you'll let her out eventually.

Probably.

The Caretaker awaits in the next room. Well, "awaits" - the lich is sweeping and, from all evidence, is prepared to scrub the floors.

"Your name begins to make sense to me," you note.

"Before the Poet stormed the level and drove my staff out, I had assitants. Now they are cowering in the mine, either hiding from the Baron's slavers or already in cages. One could say that I am irritated at this state of events."

Your grip tightens on your cane, and you let out a long breath. "One problem at a time."

"Of course. You appear to be taking off your coat. Why?"

"Because I ain't better than housework, and these things have rules."

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>>44350320
These things /do/ have rules. You pay hosts back for their hospitality. You show respect to your elders.

An apprentice works for her master.

As you sweep, scrub, and dust, the thought is not lost on you that this Caretaker could teach you quite a bit. You aren't a master necromancer yet, and his knowledge is both ancient and not tempered by madness. There is a lot - some practical, some surely forbidden and wrong - that he could offer you, and you're already set up to pay him back.

But do you want that? You're making it on your own, and if that means you've been less of a necromancer and more of an adventurer, you might just be able to live with that. It's less that you're adverse to learning and more that it feels good to be working on your own, without expectations from a teacher. The circumstances that caused it aside, you've been learning on your own for awhile now, and it has its own appeal.

"I admit, I had not expected such courtesies," the Caretaker tells you, after the two of you finish; you lean against a gleaming bookshelf, empty pipe in your mouth just to give you something to occupy it.

"I had good teachers," you say modestly. "...We've toyed with hunting down other necromancers, every now and again. Cleaning up the practice. Making it respectable."

"Why don't you?" the Caretaker prompts.

"Their lives. Their choices. It's not our place to rule the world. Nobody appointed us the high lords of undeath."

The Caretaker nods. "Are you ready to learn?"

"If you are willing to teach me, dread master," you say formally.

"Please," the lich asks. "Teacher will do."

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>>44350635
"The essential principle is simple. Like many simple principles, it is much more complicated than it seems. A sword, after all, is simple."

"Until you ask how to make or use it," you muse, working the pipe to the other corner of your mouth. "Okay. So what's the simple part?"

"You become as a shade, undetectable to all but necromantic sorceries."

"...Fuck, where do you even /start/ with that?" you ask.

"That's the complicated," the Caretaker admits. "I can show you what it feels like. Do you consent?"

You stand up straight and put your pipe somewhere safe. "I'm ready, teacher."

The lich procudes a thin glass rod, filled with wisps of fog. He touches it to your forehead and mutters in a hollow voice.

You feel a great rushing surge of Death, in a hollow flood that whelms your senses and makes the world spin dizzily.

You're dead. You know you're dead. Everything about you feels dead to your magical sense - except that your heart is still beating. You're still seeing in color. You put a hand against the bookshelf to steady yourself, head spinning.

You're dead.

You're alive.

You can feel the migraine building, and then you heave, splattering the clean floor with vomit. Your teacher tuts and places a bony hand on your forehead, revoking the spell.

"A side effect I had not anticipated in the living," he confesses. "Are you okay?"

> I'm not sure this is the solution for me
> I'll be fine, teacher.

>>44350813
>I'll be fine, teacher.

>...Assuming there was no damage.

>>44350813
>I'll be fine, teacher.
Oh man, can we use this to bypass Poet's supposed permanent kill? I mean killing doesn't work on things that are dead!

>>44349198
I keep coming back to this and I'm only getting more confused. Why would anyone bother to create such minor differences? Is this a thing that happens in quests? Why?

>>44350813
> I'll be fine, teacher.

>>44350813
>Assuming we can blind our own magic sense.

>>44350813
> I'll be fine, teacher.
So does this mean that The Poet's Doom Blade can't affect us when we change our colour to black?

>>44350990
Yes. Often. Usually in quests that spend an entire thread on character creation. In fairness, there are generally enough such choices that they add up to something meaningful. Still much prefer your way.

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>>44350990
>Why would anyone bother to create such minor differences? Is this a thing that happens in quests? Why?

The fact that you cannot comprehend that is testament to your QM skills.

>>44350813
> I'll be fine, teacher.
We are Brianna la Croix, patron saint of pushing ourself well past healthy limits. Of course we're gonna say we're fine.

Votes called, writing.

>>44351097
Pffffft.

>>44351072
>>44351090
I am not less confused.

>>44351017
From what I understand, we're learning how to Shade mode because it would allow us to sneak up on Bridgette and steal the chain from her, which would both serve as an excuse from her to the Master so that she won't be back stabbed, and if all goes well, she won't be added to Lora's sword.

>>44350990
Differences are still differences. And having it that way lets multiple 'classes' fit in the same slot. i.e. Barbarian uses str to break door and rogue uses dex to pick it. It allows things to be organized in a 'cleaner/neater' fashion that lets a players have many ways to solve the same problem without the gm having to come up with more than a few puzzles.

Basically it allows the gm to be lazier and things to work out more mathematically than thematically.

>>44351125
That style tends to have the thread build the character, choosing skills and attributes (or whatever else). So it might involve making multiple choices on backgrounds or hobbies or whatever else, which then affect whatever.

>>44351188
>more mathematically than thematically.
*rather than*

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>>44350813
You spit out the last of the acid in your mouth and breathe for a minute.

"I'll be fine, teacher," you say at last. "I'm not hurt, just...I dunno how to describe it properly. It was a lot like vertigo while spinning very fast."

"I knew what that meant once. I will take your word that you are uninjured," the Caretaker grants. "But we will need to redesign the spell to prevent this. Though the obvious solution is to merely turn you undead, I doubt the woundseeker or the harpy would consent to that."

You give him a curious look. "You can tell?"

"Oh, yes," the lich says mildly. You drag the scrub bucket over across the floor and start to clean up after yourself. "We'll need to research and experiment. It will likely only take a few days, since we're changing small parameters."

You groan.

"The ability to move undetected will be worth the loss of time," the Caretaker promises. "...And perhaps your friends can make progress on their own?"

"Not sure I like that," you admit. "She'll have an eye on them, and that fog of hers means she can appear any time, or drop her forces on them."

"Troublesome," the Caretaker admits.

> Keep your companions with you
> Let Nate and Amy scout around
> Let Cherry scout around

And

> Skip the research time (advance the quest)
> Acquire interaction scenes

> Let Cherry scout around
> Acquire interaction scenes

>>44351367
>> Let Nate and Amy scout around
>> Skip the research time (advance the quest)

>>44351367
> Let Nate and Amy scout around
Nate and Amy are adult adventurers. They shouldn't go too far, or try to take Brigette on their own, but they can handle themselves.

> Acquire interaction scenes
YAAASSSSSS

>>44351367
>> Let Nate and Amy scout around
They can do what they want if were gonna be occupied. They could also serve as a 'halfhearted proof of trying to stop us' thing for the poet to play against.
> Acquire interaction scenes
These are always interesting.

>>44351367
> Let Nate and Amy scout around

> Acquire interaction scenes

I require wacky lich-school hijinks

>>44351367
>let cherry scout
>acquire interactions
>see if he has somewhere large enough for nate and Amy to practice swordsmanship. No sense in wasting the time.

>>44351367
No idea what to do with our party but I do want to get to know Mr. Lich a little better. He seems fun.
> Acquire interaction scenes

>>44351672
Yea, I think a little bit more general necromancy training would be good too (in the long term). We've got a good balance between necromancy and swordsmanship going, but having a few more tricks up our sleeves couldn't hurt. He might help us make Sir Fetch & the Fetchettes more potent, too.

So assuming we survive and succeed, we should spend a bit of the next interlude training with him, if he'll let us.

>>44351072
>>44351090
>>44351125
Vox: so based he cannot comprehend how based he is.

>>44351367
>> Let Nate and Amy scout around
>But if they want to stick around and hang out with Cherry, that is JUST AS important
>> Acquire interaction scenes

>>44350990
The prevailing sentiment is that the players have "full control" over the main character, regardless of how well the QM will be able to integrate such a character into the story. This often results in the main character's, well, character, not actually mattering. Things like background and personality are rarely impactful to the story as a whole because the many permutations were not accounted for in fitting within the setting.

If it goes poorly, all that changes are tiny numbers. If it goes well....there's no actual benefit, you just didn't fuck up. I GUESS people can self-insert more? As if that's actually something you want instead of treating the MC as their own character?

>>44352068
It's not just that.

>>44351125

Often times those quests are sandboxes, without nearly as much intended plot, and they make use of /tg/'s dice roller to create a more rpgish game, instead of a choose your own adventure style game.

So the stats and numbers matter far more there.

It's not innately superior or inferior, just a different style of game.

voxxxxxxxxxx did you pass out?

>>44352540
maybe his internet died.

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THIS UNEXPECTED VOTE EXTENSION BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOURTEEN SHOTS IN LESS THAN AN HOUR WHEN THE ROOMATE WAS OFFERING PREMIUM VODKA AND FIREBALL WHISKEY.

KILLING MY FIFTEENTH NOW.

Votes called.

Writing.

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>>44352605

>>44352605
Glad to hear it was an emergency. Please proceed Voxxles.

HELLO DRUNK!VOX. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>>44352605
MY MAN.

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>>44352605
oh dear

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>>44351367
"Let me go talk to them," you say at last. "I'll wash my mouth out with coffee, settle things up with them, and we can hit the books. They're adults, they can make their own decisions. And they're pretty tough together."

"I imagine the woundseeker is, but what about the halfbreed?" the Caretaker says doubtfully.

"She grew up in the Roost."

"Objection withdrawn," the lich notes, mildly. "My research room is one door down, then a door to the right. I will meet you there when you have acquired coffee. Breakfast is not suggested, as we will need to test this effect further."

"I was afraid you'd say that," you admit. "But I understand. Thank you for spending your time on me, teacher."

"I have limitless time," the Caretaker admits. "...But limited interest. And you interest me, la Croix. So go, and settle up with your companions."

You drop the wash rag in the cleaning bucket and bow before throwing your coat on and heading back.

Cherry and Isoldt continue to talk in low tones, but gods /damn/ if Nate and Amy aren't passed the fuck out. You give them a wistful look before you decide that Amy is going to be the one who wakes up the most gently. You tickle her behind her ear, and her eyes flutter open with a murmured, "sniceBri..."

She looks at Nate in her arms with visible disappointment, then looks up and brightens when she sees you.

Welllll then.

She must see something on your face, because she gives you a guilty smile. "I...you're cuddlier. And...and I dunno. Ever since I showed you my special spot..."

> Me too, Amy
> Now's not the time, there's business afoot
> Ames, you missed /storytime/.

> Ames, you missed /storytime/.

>>44352883
>Me too, Amy. But, I woke you up for business...

>>44351898
Well don't tell him, that's part of him being based is that he doesn't know it.

>>44352883
> Ames, you missed /storytime/.

>>44351898
>>44353009
I am legitimately uncertain of what I am doing right but will attempt to continue doing it.

>>44352435
>>44352068
This...sounds like a thing I used to do when running tabletop RPGs. I ultimately stopped, deciding it was better to create NPCs and worlds with solid characterization, and strong plots within those worlds, which would then react to the distinct PCs created.

Not saying it's innately better, but my players certainly liked it better, so I've continued doing it.

HAHAHAHA I CAN FEEL THE BOOZE FLOWING THROUGH ME LIKE POWER, UNLIMITED POWER.

>>44352883
>Me too, Amy

>>44353114
>>44353114
It's absolutely a tabletop thing. It's like lifepath character generation, or the questionnaire at the start of every Fallout.

>>44353114
>I am legitimately uncertain of what I am doing right but will attempt to continue doing it.

You said it yourself
>to create NPCs and worlds with solid characterization
You are making actual characters rather than NPCs. The characters in your game are for all intents and purposes real as opposed to 'that dude you need to talk to to get the macguffin' that is treated like he is disposable.

>>44353114
How can you even drink? Wouldn't it just fall through your lich-bones?

>>44352883
> Ames, you missed /storytime/.

VOTES CALLED.

~Writing~

>>44352883
>Ames, you missed /storytime/.

>>44353114
Also, Vox, congratulations on being the first QM to make this anonymous individual stop archive binging and focus on catching up with the current plot in order to actually be there for the threads. Most everything else I read on Suptg I just do to pass the time, whereas with this quest, I'd been looking forward to joining in the fun since I read the first entry. I can't say for sure what it is about your writing style, the characters you create, or the world that you're building, but whatever it is you're doing, you're definitely doing it right!

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>>44353114
You're the bestest madman, Vox

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>>44353409
I am so flattered that I almost forgot to correct my name/trip combination. I hope you have fun, anon!

Still writing. I have someone on hand to tell me if I'm getting too drunk for quest BUT THUS FAR I AM FEELING PRETTY FUCKING GREAT ABOUT THIS.

>>44353529
Please do not make Bri's vertigo spells art imitating life

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>>44353529
Ours is a good QM. He is skilled and passionate and off his fucking rocker.
And this anon love that.

>>44342428
> This

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>>44352883
"You slept awhile, Ames," you murmur, ignoring her admission for now. What is there to say to it? Something happened that night and it was...it was nice. And oddly intense, for all that the 'action' had been You, Yourself, and You.

Something about hearing her strained chirps had clung to your mind, and you didn't mind it there.

"I was cozy," she admits. "...I like cuddling with you. I like /cuddles/. I -"

You put a finger to her lips. "I know," you murmur. "You say the things you mean with the expression on your face, and with your body, a lot more than you do your words. I know. But you still missed storytime."

"Awww," she complains, loud enough to rouse Nate. "But I love storytime!"

"There were demons!" Cherry says excitedly.

"Aww," Nathan and Amy say at the same time. You whap both with your hat. "Up. Business."

Coffee is made, and you rinse your mouth out with it while you eat cold rations, because no one thought to bring anything you can cook.

After all, this is /no fire land/.

Fucking angel.

>>44354057
>making coffee cold
one of the worst feelings

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>>44354057
You lay out the situation in frank terms.

"We're gonna be at an intelligence disadvantage until or unless I get this spell working properly. It might even work just fine on the two of you, since you have no death sense, but it'd fuck me right up to be sensing you like that."

"Can't you just turn your death sense off?" Amy asks. In response, you pinch her nose shut. She squirms, turns blue, and then starts breathing awkwardly - and heavily - from her mouth.

"Sure," you say. "But imagine you have no mouth to breathe out of." You let go of her nose. "I've sensed death for so long that not sensing it would be like numbing my skin or gouging my eyes out. Yes, I could live my life like that, but under no circumstance do I /want/ to, or fight without it."

"But you don't need it to fight," Nathan says in confusion.

"Do you need to smell to fight?" you ask.

"I...I mean. Maybe?"

"The lack of it would distract you and get you killed. Same with me and death. So...if you guys want to explores, I'm not gonna stop you, 'cause I'm gonna be busy. But stick together, and don't do anything stupid."

"We won't," Amy promises primly. "When are you gonna get to work?"

"Immediately," you promise, your voice grim. "I might not like throwing up but at least it's not an injury. I need to test this, and get started."

CHOOSE A SCENE

> Fog's Rollin' In
> Lullaby at Noon
> In Vino Veritas
> The Drunken Watchman
> The House Where No One Goes

Vote will be LEFT OPEN UNTIL MORNING because SLEEP HOW DOES IT WORK

Choose only one please.

>>44354057
We need a magic microwave

>>44354357
>The Drunken Watchman

>>44354357
> Fog's Rollin' In

>>44354357
>> Lullaby at Noon

>>44354357
> Fog's Rollin' In

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Okay folks, I have to be up early so I can be to work early.

I'll be up at 6:00 AM or so, probably post/update around 6:30 or so once I have painkillers (DRUUUUGSSSSS) and coffee (MORE DRUGS) to kill the inevitable hangover.

I have to be to work by 9:00 AM EST, until about 5:15 PM EST, because RETAIL.

There are no family plans on Christmas, so I'm going to be running Christmas Day.

I REPEAT, RUNNING CHRISTMAS DAY FOR ANY ANONS WILLING, OR ABLE, TO PARTICIPATE. CHANCE OF DRUNKENNESS VERY HIGH.

As always, discussion, comment, critique, and questions are both welcome and appreciated overnight. If the thread sages, I'll make a new one in the morning, and do my best to address the above. Your feedback helps me improve!

Thank you all for reading, participating, and voting. This wouldn't be possible without you.

>>44354357
>The Drunken Watchman

>>44354357
>The Drunken Watchman
>>44354536
Have a good night. I'll be here drunk on Christmas too.

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>>44354357
> The House Where No One Goes

>>44354357
> The House Where No One Goes
In the place where nobody knows
On the mountain where it always snows
In the country where nothing grows.

>The Drunken Watchman

>>44354357
>In Vino Veritas
Drunken Secrets...?

>>44354357
>The Drunken Watchman

>>44355103
"In wine, truth", I believe.

> The House Where No One Goes

>>44354536
I've got a question, where did you get the story of the snapped rope from quite a few threads back? Thought it up yourself? From a site? That's the kind of Aesop tales-esque story with meaning that I'd like to tell to my little sisters as a bedtime thingywhatsit.

>>44354357
>Lullaby at Noon
in aqua sanitas

>>44355626
It sounded familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd heard it - so that might just have been the style. I'd look it up, but. Not sure how to go about it, for something like that.

>>44354357
>> In Vino Veritas

>>44354357
>The House Where No One Goes
Sounds creepy let's go.

>>44354536
>>44354357
>In Vino Veritas
Inb4 we must trust a shady guy named Vino

>>44354357
>The House Where No One Goes

...What the fuck am I doing writing a pseudo-aftermath thing for a quest that isn't even a quarter of the way done yet?

Whatever. Will pastebin when it's done.

>>44354357
>> Fog's Rollin' In

>>44354357
> Fog's Rollin' In

>>44355626
>>44355698
It was my own story, though I won't claim I was uninfluenced. The tale was inspired by an actual legal principle, in which someone who, having been condemned to die, would be freed if the execution didn't kill them as dead as they ought to have been killed. The reasoning was that God had spared them.

The flow and cadence is modeled for the way I've seen/heard stories told in my own life, as well as a few of the Sandman stories (but especially the tale of young Vassily, and to an extent the story Ramadan).

>>44357305
That's pretty cool, Vox. Love your stories man! Was the demon story original as well?

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>>44357372
Aye, though the influences there include the tale of Prometheus, as well as Kill Six Billion Demons. It hints at some of the things I'm still not sure if I should share re: demons, worldbuilding.

We have a tie in the vote. It's early as shit and I haven't finished my coffee yet, so I'ma call the tie in favor of:

> The House Where No One Goes

You'll get another, slightly changed set of scene options after I write.

Writin'.

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>>44354357
The first day of work is pretty much what you expected - miserable physical discomfort, brain-wracking attempts to explain the effects to a creature that stopped having organs a long time ago, and translations. Lots and lots of translations. It's been ages since you've had to read some of these languages.

You haul your carcass back into your temporary bedroom, find a chair, and sit like they're about to ban sitting forever. Kat peels your hat and coat from you; Nathan and Amy look up, take one look at you, and scoot their own chairs closer to be near you while you recover.

At some point Amy ends up on the floor in front of you, sitting between your legs with her back against your chair. You comb your fingers through her hair, absently.

"Cherry says we missed storytime," Nathan prompts, a little wryly. "...You like telling stories, don't you?"

"More than I thought I would. Didn't used to do it regularly," you admit. "But then, I didn't have an audience then."

"Do you have another one?" Cherry asks, her tiny voice all hope. You put your (accursedly unlit) pipe into your mouth and chuckle.

"I do. It's about a house, or many houses really, that you might know about."

"Hold up," Nate says. The Hero gets up to pour cups of coffee and pass them around, and you give him a grateful smile. "Alright. Now go."

>>44357609
>Cherry says we missed storytime
Bitch we told you when you woke up.

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>>44357609
You take a long drink of the unsweetened coffee and hunch forward slightly, like you're sharing a secret. You stop stroking Amy's hair, mostly because you're not sure if you can tell this story properly with her chirping and nuzzling your hand. She makes a little noise of disappointment, then looks up at you to listen.

"There is a house in the town, as there is in every town, where no one lives and no one goes," you begin. "In villages these houses are often just away from their neighbors, found in the woods or on small islands in lakes, though in walled towns and cities where people forget what's traditional you'll find them on hills or hidden behind tall fences. They always give the /impression/ of occupancy; they are owned by someone who never comes out, or by a family that never visits. And yet..."

You take a sip of your coffee to cover up the dramatic pause, enjoying the wide look in Amy's eyes.

"And yet," you continue, "they always have a name, these houses. And their yard, if scraggly, is never /completely/ overgrown. And sometimes, very rarely, someone hears a call they do not quite understand, and they intrude upon the house. Many of these will not be brave enough to leave the yard; they go to fetch their ball, or rescue a beloved pet from something they understand is private, and dangerous, and /old/, and then they leave. Others might make it so far as the front door, or peer in through a window, but they hear something, or see something, and they flee back to the lands they know."

"What do they see?" Cherry asks.

You grin, broadly. "Depends on who you ask. It always seems to be the house's owners though, doesn't it? People long dead, or long gone, still going through the motions. And yet, that is not what those brave enough to go /inside/ see."

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>>44357764
You gesture, with one hand. "Look, and see the dusted shelves, the tidy kitchen. Listen, and hear the music that plays from another room, ever-so-slightly off-tune. The house /breathes/, and it gleams as though someone cares for it, though of course no one can. No one has. There are little things, touches of luxury that are hard to place - clockwork snowglobes and newly bound books, that still smell of paper and glue. Maybe the explorer touches something. Maybe they know better respect. But as they slip through the house, becoming more and more curious, they all eventually find the door, and grip its glass knob - it's warm, and inviting, and it feels like home."

"Few understand the price of going through that door, but once our curious explorer touches it, they are likely gone forever. They open it, and slip through into a fog that calls their name, never quite understanding that the price of going to a new world is losing your old one."

"Where do they go?" Amy asks. "What is this world?"

"No one's really sure," you admit. "But Jackson la Croix called it the Mistlands, before he went into the house in his town, looking to map the place no one had ever mapped before."

You set your coffee down and stretch. "Okay. I'm tired, I gotta get some sleep before I go through this, again, tomorrow."

"Aww," Cherry complains, but Amy shushes her softly.

Getting ready for bed is easy enough, and you rest on your back with your hat over your face. The room's quiet, until Nathan's voice says your name, questioningly. You lift your hat and look at him.

"...The old Grady place. In Glen. When I was a boy, a brother and sister went into it, looking for their kitten. It came back out, but they never did. The adults said they ran away from home, but their friends saw them enter the house. No one believed us." His tone isn't sad, more...curious. Interrogating, almost.

You flash him a white smile and drop your hat back over your face. "Fancy that."

>>44357812

> In Vino Veritas
> Speak With Dead
> Poltergeist 101

>>44357812
> Poltergeist 101

> Poltergeist 101

How, why and what for, in 10 easy steps!

Alright. I gotta get ready for work; leaving this one open.

...I feel vaguely bad about posting for just one update until 5:30 but then it is Christmas Eve.

>>44357822
Imma repeat my previous vote for
> In Vino Veritas

Headin' out for work folks. Will discuss as I can on breaks/during slow periods, will call vote and update when I get home. If I've gotta make a new thread, I will.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve, anons!

>>44357305
I vaguely remember a story that is similar to the hanging man thing. Maybe you've heard of it?
A priest, a lawyer and an electrician was found guilty for a heavy crime and was sentenced to death. The priest was first to go. When it is time for his last words, he said, "I leave my judgement to God, and only God." The switch was flipped, and yet the priest was perfectly fine. He was released on the grounds that he might be innocent after all. Next come the lawyer, which is a known atheist. His last words were, "I do not acknowledge any higher power but the Law, and I leave my fate in its hands." The switch was thrown, and again, the lawyer isn't electrocuted. He was released on principle. Then comes the electrician's turn. His last words? "Well I can't say I trust God or the law with my fate, because you left the electric chair unplugged."

>>44358348
Heard the same with a doctor, scientist, and engineer, and a guillotine with a stuck blade.

>>44357822
>> In Vino Veritas

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>>44358025
>>44358292
Good luck with Christmas Eve retail.

I hope those animals don't tear you to peices.

>>44358292
I'm glad I just left my retail job after several months working flow team. It's like I'm allowed to be a person again.

I can't say 'have fun' because you won't, so I'll say try not to die! It'd be inconvenient for your team members to dispose of your corpse while dealing with customers.

>>44354357
>The drunk watchman

>>44357822
>> Speak With Dead

>>44357822
> In Vino Veritas
Because this one sounds fun.

> In Vino Veritas

Also, have we decided what to do with Cherry after the Poet is handled one way or the other? I was wondering if it would be possible for Bri to posthumously adopt her into the la Croix family. That might help her to pass on and we might be able to bury her in the Lichyard so that we can visit on occasion. Just a thought. Hopefully Vox will tell me if it's a terrible idea.

>>44357822
>Speak With Dead

>>44359402

Was thinking something River lichyard lesson yadda yadda.

>>44358560
>>44358729
I appreciate the thoughts.

Six hours to vote call. May nap when I get home since I'm feeling like hell. Dunno. Gonna try making some coffee with monster instead of water and see if that hits me.

>>44359735
You may want to know you've got me reading KSBD. One of the most interesting webcomics I've ever read, but it's so busy visually at times I can't help but feel I'm missing *so much*.

>>44359514
Have River help her cross over?

I dunno, she gotten awful close to Bri by this point.

>>44359756
Seek heaven through violence, friend.

>>44358729

I work at [GIANT-ASS BULK-SHOPPING STORE I'M CONTRACTUALLY DISALLOWED FROM TALKING ABOUT ONLINE], as a morning stockperson. Have to wake up at 2am, but usually my shifts only last until 10am, which is five minutes after the doors open, so I rarely if ever actually have to deal with customers rather than just the crap they leave behind.

I can say with great sincerity that I have had only one unpleasant customer in my 2 year run there. Seriously, if you can handle the hours, try to get the shifts that put you in there at oh-god o'clock. Any time before you're actually open is less time while you are.

>>44360094
Same shift/job here. Only ran up to 6:30 AM on the schedule, but our team always worked until 7:30 anyway, and I worked well enough that when we were inevitably not finished with work by the time the store opened and we all went on break, they'd ask me to stay.

I knew enough about the store from stocking that I could reliably help people, so most customers were fine with me, if not friendly. Only one was ever impatient with me.

Honestly, I liked dealing with customers. They were a nice break from what I doing, which was trying to put my 'team leader's' 'needs' out of my head.

Only 6 months there for me. I'll miss the people I worked alongside, but not the store, company, or most of the management.

Lunch. Four hours to vote call.

>>44357822

> Poltergeist 101

> Poltergeist 101

>>44357822
> Poltergeist 101

>>44360214
I spent most of a year working as a closer at a grocery store. Loved night hours, SO much easier. Only people coming out knew what they wanted and got out quick, only issue was the occasional drunk

Forty five minutes to vote call.

God it's been a long day.

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>>44363400
Stay strong Vox, you're almost there!

>>44363400
You could always take a nap.

You madman.

>>44363643
Nope. Making coffee with Monster instead of water.

Witness me.

Ow, my fucking tastebuds.

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>>44364014

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>>44364014
So I don't wanna be a downer or anything, but you may want to lighten up on the caffeine a bit, Vox.

>>44364178
This is like asking Walter White to stop making Crystal Meth.

>>44364214
Jesse, we need to quest!

>>44364117
>>44364127
>>44364178
>>44364214
>>44364250
Home. Not writing yet, need caffeine. Sweet, beautiful fucking caffeine.

But Soon(tm).

IF an anon would be kind enough to tally votes I'd be much obliged. However, I can also damn well do my own vote tallying. I'm just tired and I have blood in my drugstream.

>>44357836
>>44357881
>>44362029
>>44362305
>>44362391
5 for Poltergeist 101
>>44358108
>>44358433
>>44359139
>>44359402
4 for In Vino Veritas
>>44358934
>>44359510
2 for Speak with Dead

>>44336502
>>44336621
Here in Europe Christmas Eve is over and I already finished my 13 hours of work. Sure it sucks to work at all on such a day, but it was pretty quiet today (working on an intensive care unit, most patients were very stable). I don't even want to think about how horrible it would be to work as a parcel service slave, stay tough Anon! And we already talked about how retail sucks.

>>44336616
>much-mended leggings and a thick shirt
You instantly know this is a nice guy from the comfy clothes (does he wear slippers, too?). Just like sharp coats or SS-style uniforms intantly mark an evil guy.

>>44364381

Just a warning, dude, apparently someone in KCQ tried that and the last thing they posted was that they'd had to call paramedics because their heart wasn't beating right.

>>44365229
What was KCQ again? Also the majority of the time thats just a caffeine induced panic attack. God knows I've had em.

>>44365406

Kant-o-Celle Quest. Planefag mentioned that a character had made coffee with Monster instead of water, one of the anons said he was going to try it, posted later with what was going on, and an army corps nurse who was reading told him he was suffering from caffeine poisoning.

Dude didn't post after the one where he said he'd called the paramedics and didn't show up for the next run either.

>>44337241
AFAIK, even when the thread drops off the board, you can still find it in the local /tg/ archive for 48 hours and archive it from there.

>>44344271
Somebody who works towards the same goal as we are might be considered an ally technically (on that one thing), even if he is an enemy on all other things. Depending on how the rules work. But if he is only "happening upon...", without any preexisting plans towards the BBEG it might work.

>>44349298
>You a succubus? Incubus?"
I probably don't know some /tg/-related lore here, but as far as I know, the reallife-mythical difference between succubi and incubi is easy: Succubi are female (latin sub = under, because during [missionary position = the only allowed form in the middle ages] sex the woman lies under the man) and incubi are male. (?)

>>44357609
That webm...

>>44365465
I've had people brought to my emergency room after they drank too many monster drinks. Doctor's advice: When your body says "gimme rest or I break", it's not joking.

>>44365018
Thank you based anon.

>>44365229
>>44365406
>>44365465
Thus far I am neither tasting in colors nor tempted to reveal my mostly naked form to an emotionally immature shipgirl known to be attracted to me, so I think I may be fine. However, IRL has eaten me, delaying the writeup, and now I have to dishes, further delaying the writeup.

You have my deepest apologies, anon(s).

>>44365751
>an emotionally immature shipgirl known to be attracted to me
Elaborate.

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>>44365736
> I probably don't know some /tg/-related lore here, but as far as I know, the reallife-mythical difference between succubi and incubi is easy: Succubi are female (latin sub = under, because during [missionary position = the only allowed form in the middle ages] sex the woman lies under the man) and incubi are male. (?)

TL;DR literally everyone does it wrong. The original succubi/incubi, themselves ripoffs of the lilitu in Hebrew lore, are dream demons lacking entirely in physical form. As the succubus, the demon tempts a man in his dreams and steals his seed, for the demon can neither create seed of its own, nor bear a child. Having drawn the man into sin, it then transforms into an incubus (that is, becomes male) and forces itself upon a woman, impregnating her with corrupted seed and forcing her to bear a part-demon child. The "women are tempters, men are rapists" symbolism literally could not be more blunt.

In the context of DLQ, succubi and incubi are related classes of demons known to be sensual, persuasive, and fair of face and form. Succubi tend to be more intellectual and magically inclined, and lure their summoners with vice and curiosity; those ruined by succubi are often drawn not by sexual manipulation but by making the mistake of letting the demon get to know them.

Incubi tend to be more physical, being stronger, faster, and skilled with their hands (and, yes, in that way too). They embody both physical attraction and aggression, but are seen as easier to control than succubi since it's less likely that a given incubus can break your binding on the sly and start disobeying orders when you're not looking. Mind you, when one finally /does/ get loose...well, it ain't pretty.

>>44365833
I think I owe it to KCQ's author to encourage you to read the work rather than get my secondhand summary.

Dishes now, then writing.

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>>44357822
Sorry for opening up with short chunk

Cherry rarely leaves the lantern, and it's a surprise when you come wandering through the room, book in hand on your endless quest for More Coffee, when you find her struggling to turn a page in a storybook.

"Mommy, /help/," she wails. "Amy and Nate went away. They said they'd be back but I wanna read more."

You blink, slowly, and put the bookmark in your book.

> Cherry, I'm not your mother.
> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?
> Just wait, Cherry.

> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?

>>44366829
>> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?
>If I'm Mommy, what're Amy and Nate?

>>44366829
>Helping might be hard. It means talking about what happened in the woods. Are you okay with that?
Let's make sure to take this slowly, as to not change the innocent ghost girl into a vengeful revenant.

>>44366829
>> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?
Spiritual advice powers, activate!

Form of... a necromancer!

Shape of... a mother surrogate!

>>44366829
>> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?

>>44366829
> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?

>>44366829
>> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?
So is Cherry an unusually coherent ghost, or what?

Given ghosts start to slip beyond the veil as they finish unfinished business, does that mean either a) she'll start to fade because we fulfill her need to find a mom, or b) her shits more complicated than that and she'll stick around?

>>44366829
> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?

>>44366947
It's a ghost that died close enough to a fully prepared unoccupied phylarchy to take it over, effectively making it a lich without a body. We took it with us because most of the alternatives are unnecessarily cruel and we can't die anyway

>>44366947
Cherry's business is essentially unresolveable. She wanted to have a better life, but it's hard to, you know, /have a life/ when you are dead. At some point, Bri's going to have to smash the phylactery so that Cherry can begin, well, dying properly. Right now it's a shelter that keeps her from being attacked by other necromancers and other beings that might do her harm.

>>44367120
Roger. How long will it take her to pass on? If it's on the longer side, is there any way she could have more of a life while she died? (...this quest...) Like, if we bound her to some kind of construct and she hung out with River as a familiar.

>>44366829
> Helping might be hard. It means talking about you being dead. Are you okay with that?

>>44367240
Everyone lives one life, no more, no less.

There is no happy ending to the story, no miracle or intervention. We will smash that phylarchy and throw cherry into the screaming void. Hopefully we can keep her happy in the meanwhile and maybe allow her to accept her fate.

>>44367350
I mean, don't get me wrong, I know she _is_ going to die. I'm just curious about the specifics, and the boundaries, of that.

>>44367240
Ironically it's probably easier for her to stay sane as a ghost than it is to try and tough it out in a construct. Unlike Kells, she never had enough time to really develop a strong personality, as well as life experiences to bulwark against the alien nature of her circumstances. As a ghost she's not expecting familiar body traits that are insistently not present.

>>44367413
>she _is_ going to die.
She is dead. She's a ghost.