>A fallen, rotten apple, with sprouts spinging out of it. A fallen tree in the background. "Rebirth," the firgure explains. "It symbolizes new beginnings, a fresh start. You won't remember a thing, but no one will recognize your soul. Good or evil, it won't matter anymore what you were. I'll deal you a new hand, and you can start again.

>A lion, chained and collared to a crowned, robed figure. "The Beast." the figure says, placing the card before you. "Power tamed, directed might, and restriction. You can be my agent, with all the benefits that come with it - there are many. I will send you to take care of troublesome tasks or ones I am simply too lazy to handle. You will be my avatar in the world."

>A suit of armor, emptied and dissasembled. "The Armor." he says, "Symbol of protection and care. You will be reborn as a guardian of an individual whom I owe a debt. You will be not their slave, but their protector. The power to do this thing will be granted to you, fear not. And if you fail..." another card, face down. "Your fate is mine to pick. And it will not be kind."

>>45427760
>A suit of armor, emptied and dissasembled. "The Armor." he says, "Symbol of protection and care. You will be reborn as a guardian of an individual whom I owe a debt. You will be not their slave, but their protector. The power to do this thing will be granted to you, fear not. And if you fail..." another card, face down. "Your fate is mine to pick. And it will not be kind."

>>45427760
>The Armor

>>45427760
>>A fallen, rotten apple, with sprouts spinging out of it. A fallen tree in the background. "Rebirth," the firgure explains. "It symbolizes new beginnings, a fresh start. You won't remember a thing, but no one will recognize your soul. Good or evil, it won't matter anymore what you were. I'll deal you a new hand, and you can start again.

>>45427760
>Lion

>>45427760
> The beast.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>45427824
>>45427842

>>45427969
>>45427978

>A standoff, some may say, would have been inevitable.

>Thus, we decide with Dice.

>>45428037
>A victor! Presently creating....

File: 1452482619483.jpg (55 KB, 800x900)

55 KB JPG

>>45428059
"Ah. An excellent choice. Perhaps you wish to repent. Perhaps you want to protect something with your own two hands, rather than break something with them, as you are used to doing... Don't look at me, twinkle-toes, that was all you."

Taxes smiles. For some reason, you know that is what he is, an Inevitability, just like Death. "Well, let's talk about you, eh? I like to build what I do on the back of failures. Since that is by definition what you are, this won't be hard. You will be armored, of course. Agility doesn't suit you, and there's no way in hell I'm giving you magical armor after what you did. But armor, dense and powerful, obdurate and difficult to puncture. Yes. Yes."

You feel the plates slide and lock into place about you. "As for power, fire is excellent. Fire for power, and power of fire. A deep furnace fed by anything. Blasts of fire, swords of flame. But be cautious, the same flame you fight with is that which drives you. Take care not to get too cold, or you shall grow brittle." you feel fires licking at your heart, before your physical form is entirely consumed, fed to the furnace that is now your soul, brimming at your hinges, at your eyes, crackling. "You expend Heat to do anything, really. Even to live, to move. But not much for those. Be wary, be wary. It leaches from your extremeties first."

The skull draws close, a green glow within its sockets.

"Now go. We can't keep her waiting forever."

With a flick, you fall...

>Continued.

File: 1ug6Jva.jpg (62 KB, 600x900)

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>>45428279
...Into an attic, slamming into boards and cracking them with your landing. You note, laying there, still, that your fire is under your control - it doesn't spread to the dry floor as you stand. But the one in the room with you blinks.

She is dressed in black, and has an athletic build that speaks of an active life. Quivers and daggers, crossbow and bow, strapped to hip, arm, and chest, over dark leather. An angular face, with bright eyes and dark hair.

She reminds you of someone, but you can't place it off hand.

"In the name of - Oh. Oh! So the ass finally decided to pay up." she relaxes, hands sliding off of daggers. "Of course. Pay a thief with a guardian that's basically a walking torch. Great. Fantastic." she groans,

>...Has there been a mistake?
>What is your name?
>Are you my charge?
>...I am a dissapointment?
>Writein

>>45428399
>Are you my charge?

>>45428399
>What is your name?

>>45428399
Stay silent

>>45428399
>Are you my charge

>>45428428
"...Are you my charge?" you ask. It's like roaring flame, opening an oven, with flicking flame and wooshing wind pushed by heat.

"Yyyyyes." the lady-thief says, looking you up and down with a sigh. "For what it matters. I can mostly take care of myself." she crosses the room and your gaze follows.

>>45428438
"What is your name?"

"...Just call me Alex." she says, "It's as good as any name. And you?"

Something occurs, a whisper of the past.

"...Call me Xaver."

"Xavier?"

"No. Xaver. I spoke correctly."

"...Alright. Well, uh..." she stares at you for a moment. "Can uh... You go out?"

>Technically, yes. But it is not wise.
>...No.
>I can certainly leave this room.
>Writein

>>45428706
>...No.

>>45428706
>I can certainly leave this room

>>45428399
>Are you my charge?
>I have to admit, you're rather disappointing yourself. I was hoping for someone a bit more dainty.

>>45428706
>What exactly do you mean by "out"?

>>45428706
Out of what?
Pretend the armor is just our body

>>45428835
>>45428790
>>45428742
"...Out of what? I can certainly leave this room." you say, watching her as she walks past you.

"I meant... You... Ugh. Look, I steal things. Many things, valuable things. Things people protect. But those protectors are very strong!" she explains, "And if they see me stealing these things, they could hurt me. And you..." she jabs you with a finger in the chest. "Are very bright! Also hot." she wags her finger, frowning. "So I'm wondering if you can get darker. Less Human-sized torch. More, uh... Big suit of armor that doesn't make noise or glow."

>I do not think I am capable of that.
>The Heat is life. To snuff it is to die. That would be inadvisable.
>Please do not touch me. I am very hot.
>You are a criminal, therefore, you require subtlety. I am a walking furnace of glowing heat. There is a contradiction. Yes?
>Write in

>>45429049
>>You are a criminal, therefore, you require subtlety. I am a walking furnace of glowing heat. There is a contradiction. Yes?

>>45429049
>The Heat is life. To snuff it is to die. That would be inadvisable.

>>45429049
>The Heat is life. To snuff it is to die. That would be inadvisable.

>>45429114
>>45429314
These

>>45429314
>>45429114
"The Heat is life. To snuff it is to die. That would be inadvisable."

"Augh! Fine." she rubs her brow, narrowing her eyes, thinking. "...Anything against... Killing people?"

"...No." you feel the answer from nowhere and everywhere, and you're certain it's correct. "There are no restrictions against fatal action."

"Great! I mean, good. Been wanting to leave town for a while, so..."

She grins.

"So we're going to do a nice, flashy smash and grab. You'll do the smashing, I'll do the grabbing."

she says, practically bouncing in place with excitement. "Oh man! You'll be a perfect distraction!"

>...Grabbing what?
>Smashing what?
>I will be burning, not smashing.
>Is this safe? For you?
>Writein

>>45429734
>Smashing what?

>>45429734
>>Is this safe? For you?

>>45429734
>Smashing what?
>I will be burning, not smashing.

>>45429734
>Smashing what?

>>45429734
>Is this safe? For you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2KpYlEfYdQ

>>45429749
>>45429815
>>45429852
"Smashing what? And I will be burning. Not smashing."

"Even better. The fire will attract them." she says, "And you'll be burning a mansion. A manor, really. It has something that I want, a few somethings!" she says, grinning. "Then we run off to another town, and I sell it all, and we live nice and safe and rich." she nods. "I guess I got exactly what I wanted~" she turns around and bends over a chest, looking through one behind it. "I'll need something to hold all that swag..."

>Doing crime draws enforcement. Enforcement is dangerous. Ergo, it is a risk I cannot allow. You will have to make your earnings legally.
>I must remain with you. For your safety.
>... (silence)
>... (Judging silence)
>Writein

>>45430176
>... (Judging silence)

>>45430176
>>Try to eat a pillow.

>>45430176
>I am not your servant. I'm your protector. Understand that. This course of action is dangerous, and I'd rather not take it. Any idiot with a torch can start a fire, but no one can protect you as well as I.

>>45430176
>(Judging silence)

>>45430216
>>45430332

You stare at her posterior for a moment, before she turns around.
"...What."

"I am not your servant. I am your protector. Understand that. This course of action is dangerous, and I'd rather not take it. Any idiot with a torch can start a fire."

-you should know, they did, trapping you, holding you in with the heat-

"But no one can protect you as well as I." you finish, crossing your arms as a pillow you had picked up earlier is sucked into your throat with a roar of flame.

Ooh, real down. That burns nice.

"H-hey! Well..." she frowns. "You've got a point. Singular. Fine." she looks at the floor, tapping her chin. "Put this on." she says, pulling down a big robe and tossing it at you. You struggle into it, finding it a little too large.

"Why do you possess this item? It cannot possibly-"

"Don't ask questions, yet, I'm plotting."

"Plotting?"

"Plotting!" she replies, "if I use this..." she pulls something over your head, making you flail a little before a hood covers your face. A mask...?

"There! The mask will take the form you think of first." she says, "And with the hood and robe, the glow is taken care of. If you promise to be a good Protector, you can come with me!"

She taps your chest with her knuckles. "Sound better?"

>...Yes.
>Very well.
>This danger is still too great. Have you considered honest work?
>...Why did you mask me?
>Writein

>Also, for this post:
>Design the mask! Either with text or an image! More serious suggestions will have a bit more weight!

File: mask.jpg (12 KB, 236x296)

12 KB JPG

>>45430564
Going for the intimidation factor here.

>>45430564
>>This danger is still too great. Have you considered honest work?

>>45430564
>Very well.

>>45430684
okay, so lets personalize this a bit. Add some hair/mane around it, and a scar over one eye maybe.

>>45430564
I want to go with "very well" but I just can't wait to see her say something rogue-ish so
>This danger is still too great. Have you considered honest work?

>>45430564
>This danger is still too great. Have you considered honest work?
>Very well.

>Very well.

>>45430564
>have you considered honest work?

>>45431016
>>45430704
>>45431016
>>45430684

A mane spills out of the hood, gathering in two tails down the sides, orange and bright. One eye brightly shines, the other hidden by a scar. The jaw is filled with big teeth, and the whole thing is painted and shaped like a growling lion.

"Woah, neat. So...?"

"The danger is still too great. Have you considered honest work?"

"Buh... What? Did you not... Do you not see the black leather, daggers, and crossbows, bud? I even have black lipstick around here, somewhere! I mean, come on! I have a reputation to uphold, as the Black Hawk!"

"..." you stare silently.

"Listen, I can't do honest work! It just... It doesn't work! I'm a rogue, damnit!" she stamps her foot, eliciting yells from below about noise. She flushed, embarrassed. "Look, It's... It's important, okay? If I don't do this, I won't be me!"

-this is what I am! You fools-

"I understand. In part."

"So you'll do it!"

>So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible.
>...Yes.
>You could try a safer hit, maybe?
>...No. We shall stay here. This is safe.
>Writein

>>45431154
>>...No. We shall stay here. This is safe.

>>45431154
>>So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible.

>>45431154
>no we shall stay here

>>45431154
>>So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible.

>>45431154
>So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible.

>So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible.

>>45431154
>>So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible.

>>45431261
>>45431249
>>45431181

"So long as you show me that you make it as safe for yourself as possible."

"...Well..." she itches her cheek, thoughtful. "First of all, once we get out of town, the guards will probably give up. Secondly, I've checked this place before. There's no curses, or anything like that. No real traps, either. So all the security is personnel."

she sits down, reaching and grasping a map, rolling it out. "See, I want to start the fire here." she says, pointing. "It's not perfectly the opposite end, right, but once I take the item, they'll have a harder time reaching me. Finally... Look at me, Bernie, I'm covered in knives!"

"...Bernie."

"You burn things, right?"

"..."

"...Alright, different nickname."

"A nickname is not required."

"...Are you impressed, at least?"

"...This looks barely sufficient. But I will come with you."

"Alright!" she hops up. "After I get some rest, and prepare, and all that." she hums to herself, dragging out a giant pillow.

>...So how have you lasted this long?
>What did you do to gain a favor from Taxes?
>...Where am I?
>Writein.

>>45431655
>...Where am I?

>Where is the nearest stack of firewood?

>>45431655
>What did you do to gain a favor from Taxes?

>>45431655
>where am I?

>>45431655
Where am I?

>>45431655
>>What did you do to gain a favor from Taxes?

>>45431798
>>45431708
"...What did you to to gain a favor from Taxes?"

"...Oh. Nothing major. Stole a sword. It was so shiny. Like... So shiny, but you could see through it, sorta? I dunno, it was in a big empty place. Easy, really. He laughed so hard when I brought it back, then cut a diamond with it like an apple. Scary guy."

"Where am I?"

"You're in the city of Cypress, in the nation of Grysald." she says, throwing the big pillow into place, finding a big comforter onto it. "...You ate my pillow."

"You have a significantly larger one."

"That's my bed."

"...I will get you another pillow later."

"Thank you." she reaches up to her neck, then pauses, her eyes narrowing.

>What?
>... (Intense stare)
>... (Judging stare)
>... (Say nothing.)
>Turn around.
>Writein

>>45432024
>(Intense stare)

>>45432024
>... (Say nothing.)

>... (Intense stare)

>>45432024
>>Turn around.

>>45432024
>... (Intense stare)

>>45432024
>>... (Intense stare)
we shall not be losing a staredown

>>45432120
>>45432118
>>45432068
>>45432089

You stare at one another, and eventually she loses her nerve and looks away, slipping behind a part of the room.

You start to notice the whole room - a variety of knickknacks all over the walls and ceiling, shining, glittery things, most of them without any real value.

She returns, dressed in a robe.

Scars dot her legs (Which you can see up to the knees,) and arms, (visible to the elbows). Like melted wax.

"Shut up." she says, sliding under the covers. "It's nothing."

-fire, fire all around. Torches. Pitchforks-

"It is not nothing." you state. "But it is not significant."

"... Night."

>Good night.
>Stare at her the whole night.
>Watch the street.
>Look at the sky.
>Look at the items.
>Writein

>>45432270
>>Watch the street.

>[PROTECTING INTENSIFIES]

>>45432270
>Good night.
>Stare at her the whole night.

>>45432270
>>Look at the items.

>>45432270
>good night

>>45432270
>watch the street

>>45432286
Seconding.

>>45432286
>>45432327
>>45432316

You nod.

Once she is asleep, you walk to the window, staring down at the street and taking it in. The street is cobbles, carts drawn by people, mostly. You note that this is probably not subjugation, but paid work, and the rarity of horses is due to the narrow streets - streets that look older than the buildings by a wide margin.

The sky has two moons, one more distant, the other significantly closer. The closer one is a soft, purple color, the distant one shimmers with a metallic look.

Time passes, and you while it away by determining the speeds of egress along various routes. It is simple work, time consuming, and has a use. Perfect.

She stirs with the rising sun, and is not slow about waking up. She explodes out of bed, then flushes when she notices you are still there and quickly closes her robe, zipping behind a bit of furniture. She emerges dressed in tan clothes and lighter leathers, smiling again.

"Ready?"

>Yes.
>Are you?
>You do realize that I do not do the whole sex thing, yes?
>In broad daylight?
>Writein

>>45432446

>>45432446
>Are you?

>>45432446
>Yes.

>>45432446
I require additional pylo-, I mean, fuel. Wood or coal will do.

Might as well make sure we're 'fired' up, eh?

>>45432446
>are you?

>>45432446
>>Are you?
>>You do realize that I do not do the whole sex thing, yes?

>>45432634
>>45432537
>>45432478

"Some fuel would be excellent." you state, "But are you prepared?"

"Damn sure!" she says, grinning. "I got the Jangian Cocktail here, ready to light. And I got my knives up here, under my arms, and on my thighs, and wire... and rope, and..."

"I understand." you state, holding up a hand. "Please give the plan in detail."

"OKAY!" she said, "First of all, you light the cocktail. Then I throw it." she says. "You'll stay just a little longer than me, and then follow me back to the other entrance of the manor. We give it a few minutes, then break in a window. Then, I need you to hold off any guards that spot me while I pick the lock into the display cases."

She nods, "Then, when I have it, you carry me out! And we get the hell out of here!" she grins at you.

...You begin to wonder if she's worked solo this whole time.

You arrive at the location, lighting the cocktail for her and watch her tossing it from a concealed location, then move on as people gather to watch the fires grow from the room it landed in.

Rounding the corner, four men draw swords.

"Wha... That's not fair!" she states, reaching for her knives.

>I will handle this.
>You. Men. Leave or die.
>Remove mask, blast one of them, see option 2, replace mask.
>I needed fuel.
>Grab her and escape further inside.
>Grab her and leave.
>Writein

>>45432921
>leave or die

>>45432921
>I will handle this.

>>45432921
>I needed fuel.

>>45432921
>>Remove mask, blast one of them, see option 2, replace mask.

I was hoping we could blast through the mask. Fire and smoke rolling out of the holes would be pretty awesome visually.

>>45432921
>>Grab her and escape further inside.

>>45432921
>>Remove mask and give somebody a hot kiss

>>45432963
>>45432993

You reach up, removing the mask as your faceplate slides back, a fist-width blast of fire lancing out and incinerating the leftmost guard. When you place the mask back, your eyes grow hotter, smoke slipping through the maw of the mask and curling up.

"Leave or die." you state. To the remaining lone guard who hasn't run away. He throws down his sword, screams about something related to his pay, and flees. You turn to the thief, who gives you a thumbs up and points at a window.

It's a simple matter to simply break and rise it out of its housing. Which you then eat, fueling yourself as she jumps through.

Landing beside her, she rushes across the hall, to a glass case. In it is a top hat, with a gold-silver brim.

Other cases hold similar items, floating in place - A monocle, a set of cuff links, a pair of gloves, a cape.

"Any one of these would go for a fortune." she explains, tinkering with the lock.

"Then where are the guards?"

"You scared them off."

"No. The real guards."

"Oh. Well, there was some stupid nonsense about an animated statue." she says, as a stone lion pads silently behind her. "Honestly, it's probably nonsense."

>Writein

>>45433316
Get her behind us and attack the lion

>>45433316
>"My sense of humor died with my previous life"
>"So please tell me you are joking"

>>45433316
"This is the kind of thing you mention before we set the building on fire"

Proceed to ruin that lions day and make sure she doesn't die.

>>45433392
Wait, no, it's already padding behind her. In that case, it's time to grapple lions and burn Rome, Nero style.

>>45433316
Grapple lion, smash head through case for easy loot removal.

>>45433474
>>45433356
Well, the robe probably wouldn't last the fight. So your armor opens, and eats it, right off your body, then clanks back into place, leaving the mask as you leap over her, kicking the beast in the face as your shoulders open and blast you forward.

This pushes the beast back, and you land between it and the Thief, who lets out a quiet sound of fear.

Your body falls into an easy, loose martial stance.
"Pick the lock. Hurry. The fire will spread."

"R-right!"

>Buy time.
>Fight aggressively, attempt to kill.
>Fight defensively, attempt to disable.
>Try to eat it.

>>45433844
>Fight aggressively, attempt to kill.
We're too slow to escape this thing which means running isn't a great option

>>45433844
>>Fight defensively, attempt to disable.

Because, hey, free lion.

>>45433920
I don't think this thing is recruitable anon.

>>45433844
>Fight aggressively, attempt to kill.

Want to see what we can do

>>45433932
I was thinking of using it as more of bludgeon for when the watch comes after us.

>>45433990
Sounds like a questionable tactic...

>>45433978
>>45433904
The lion rears up, claws coming for you, and your elbow opens up as you swing into its belly, launching it back and up. Your faceplate opens up, blasting it with another lance of fire - shearing off part of its 'mane'.

Glowing bits of blue shimmer around the wound, and the lion lets out a silent roar. It charges, and you catch the jaws in your hands. Your fingers feel warm, instead of hot.

"THE LOCK"

"I KNOOOOOW! I have to be careful, or else it'll go away."

"G...Go away?"

"LOOK, ARCANE SECURITY SYSTEMS-"

"I THOUGHT YOU SAID-"

"NO PLAN SURVIVES FIRST CONTACT, BURNIE!" she shouts back, the lion scrabbling at the floor with its feet, pushing you back.

>Blast the thing in the mouth.
>Throw it out the window.
>Headbutt.
>Knee to the chin, maybe?
>Suplex?
>Write in

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978 KB GIF

>>45434160
>>Suplex?

FUUUUUUUUUU

>>45434160
>Throw it out the window.
Take the chance to get more fuel too

>>45434196
Can't argue with that.

File: MOTHERFUCKER.jpg (74 KB, 621x742)

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>>45434160
MOTHERFUCKER SUPLEXED A LION.

>>45434160
>Suplex

>>45434321
>>45434248
>>45434196
>>45434237

You let go of the jaws, breaking back to avoid the snapping jaws - only for your elbow to slam its forehead, cracking the stonework. It stumbles, and you skid along the wood floor, grasping it from behind.

You could just suplex. But it's doubtful it'd work, you realize, halfway through the lift.

Naw.

Your back opens up, blasting the ground, soaring up, and, since you were bent back, also backwards on a perfect arc. Once you're pointed at the ground, the lion's head closer than yours, your back opens up once more, blasting hard and slamming the lion earthward, shattering its head.

You rise from the grab, uncricking your neck as the Thief watches the lion stumble one, two, three steps, then fall over and crumble into sand. The lock opens in her hand, the case swinging open - and she grabs the hat from the case, looking inside.

"Yes this is it real deal let's go the fire's here AAAA"

Indeed, the fire bursts through the door to the hallway, roaring into the hall. the Thief is screaming.

>Writein

>>45434406
Can we just... straight suck up the fire? Superman style?

Need a snack anyway.

>>45434406
>>45434438
Yeah, eat the fire.

>>45434406
Bust through a wall, kool aid man style

>>45434438
>>45434504

"I will handle it." you state, handing her your mask.

It's like learning you can breathe in, after breathing out forever.

Or like trying to sneeze backwards.

Or, perhaps, like pulling a noodle through your sinuses.

It feels weird and strange and wrong, but your reach the fire, and put out your hand, into the flame. The warmth, the heat, is familiar, but taking it in, that's new. It tears into your body, filling it more and more, past the point of full, bursting, shaking, as you stumble to a window, look up, and release it into the air, a fireball the size of a house.

The front half of the manor collapses, to some screams of dismay. You turn around, to see the Thief running away.

Running after her, you catch up in short order.

"That went quite well." you say, without any cheer.

"Well. About as well as it could have. I wonder what's so special about this hat, though." she says, turning it over in her hands. She sticks her hand in, then her arm, then her shoulder, blinking. She waggles the hat-stump at you in wonder. "Neeeeeeeeeeeat."

You're nearing the gates now.

>Writein

>>45434657
>"I assume you have us leaving all planned out."
When she inevitably doesn't...
>"I do not wish to burn more men than necessary"
suggest non-violent alternatives (bribes, maybe something's in the hat, grappling hook, burst through a wall, why the hell did we have to do this in the middle of the day again?)

File: 1454892487060-0.png (502 KB, 600x1119)

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((We'll be stopping off here! Next game is Noon on the 19th.

Please be there! We'll get out of the city and all sorts of fun things.

Have a totally unrelated for real honest guys image to cap the thread. Night guys!))