>>45555046

Tearing the thick paper envelope open, you are immediately confronted by a second, smaller envelope and a folded letter. This second parcel is stamped with the crown and moon sigil of the Tatsuhiro family, a sure sign that this has been sent from the palace itself. The palace and the Nameless Temple, you muse as you take a few paces away from the messenger, both writing to you personally. Setting the second envelope aside for now, you skim the note that came with it.

It's a message from the Mentor himself, recorded in Howa's flowing script. The short version is this – a request for assistance has arrived from the Emperor, regarding a serious matter. While the Nameless Temple is under no obligation to obey, it could make things very difficult if the request was to be ignored. The Mentor was very careful not to issue an order, or to let his own views shine through – he's leaving this one up to you. The second envelope, you assume, is the request itself.

If you had been expecting details, you would have been disappointed. The orders seem more focussed on telling you where to go – an even smaller town, an hour or two away – and who to meet. That last part catches your attention, at least – Tawn Moriya, a man you once considered a fellow Wanderer, now working for the Emperor directly. The note closes by reiterating how serious the situation was.

Sounds like a load of crap, to be honest, but you're smart enough to see what's beneath the polite language. When the Emperor says jump, he expects you to jump. Then again, you're a rootless Wanderer, a dog without even a shred of status or rank – what does he have, then, to hang over your head? Still, you've got to admit that your curiosity has been piqued...

>Get Koa and follow your new orders
>See what Koa thinks about these new orders
>Return to the Nameless Temple
>Other

>>45555049
>Get Koa and follow your new orders
Curious

>>45555049
>Get Koa and follow your new orders
More interested because of Tawn Moriya than anything else.

>>45555049
>Get Koa and follow your new orders
>See what Koa thinks about these new orders

File: Koa.jpg (123 KB, 850x525)

123 KB JPG

Alright, you'll admit that this has got your attention – more because of who is involved, as opposed to what. Ever since he left the Nameless Temple, Tawn Moriya has been the subject of quite a bit of gossip, mostly centred around what he was playing at. For a Wanderer to simply quit is nearly unheard of – either you retire, usually into a teaching position or settling down as a village priest, or you die. Walking away from every oath and commitment you've ever made, though? Not common at all.

So you'll check this out, for your own satisfaction if nothing else. Taking a few moments to grab Koa and give him a brief explanation of the situation – which is about the same as you've been given, really – you lead the boy out to your horses. It'll be a short ride, and you can get his opinion along the way. It might brighten him up a little, you think, if he thinks you're keeping him involved. Too many teachers give instructions without any kind of context or discussion, and that's never a good way to learn.

“So...” Koa thinks aloud as he's fumbling his way into the saddle, “Is he... was he a friend of yours?”

Not a friend, you correct the boy sharply, an associate at best. Tawn had quite a reputation at the Nameless Temple for being... crude in his methods. You naturally take the role of an investigator – Tawn fell into the role of executioner. He didn't have many friends in the Nameless Temple, and that was the way he liked it.

“Oh,” Koa pauses, “So maybe it's good that we're going. We might be able to rein him in a little.”

That's what you're hoping, you reply, so Koa is happy to come along?

“Yes sir,” he nods, “Orders are orders, and it certainly can't hurt to keep the Emperor sweet.”

Not so naïve after all.

[1/2]

File: Tawn.jpg (194 KB, 1066x1599)

194 KB JPG

>>45555293

The trail laid out in your new orders leads you to the remains of a village, mostly burned to the ground or otherwise deserted. Old devastation, even a quick glance is enough to tell you that – a town where the populace has fled, putting their old homes to the torch in the process. The ruins aren't what catches your attention, however – that honour belongs to the ship, the largest you've ever seen, bobbing in the grey waters beyond the shore. A smaller boat is docked, with a sullen looking soldier ready to row you out.

Showing the soldier your orders, he silently gestures for you to sit and takes you to the larger ship, waving for you to climb aboard as soon as you arrive. Marching up onto the deck, your eye is drawn by a slender figure looking out across the waters. Even from behind, you recognise him – Tawn Moriya, a few years older but still the same as you remember. Haughty, vain and distant.

“Ira Furyo,” Tawn says, without turning around, “I never thought you'd be the one to come. In fact, I was wondering if the Mentor would send anyone at all. He's smart, but stubborn – I'm glad he saw the value in cooperation.”

As you join Tawn, Koa waiting a few paces behind you, the ship starts to glide off towards a distant island. “Dumas,” Tawn explains, pointing to the island, “Officially, the population has declared itself independent from the Emperor's rule and no longer recognises his authority. We're here to put an end to this little stunt, before anyone else gets any ideas.”

Officially, you repeat bluntly, so what's the real story?

“Details are scarce,” Tawn's eyes glint as he looks round at you, “But it's nothing good, I can assure you of that.”

>Get to the point, man
>Wait silently for him to continue
>Ask a question while you can (Write in)
>Other

let sleeping gods lie

>>45555355
>>Get to the point, man

>>45555355
>>Wait silently for him to continue

>>45555355
>Wait silently for him to continue

>>45555355
>and what, a god is involved in this?

>>45555355
>>Wait silently for him to continue
I assume he has a point.

Sighing inwardly, you wait in silence for Tawn to continue. His face grows pensive as he returns his gaze to the waters once more. Following his eyes, you look for yourself. You can almost see shapes under the water, blocky ones that nature had nothing to do with. Buildings?

“There was once a city here,” Tawn explains, “A great one, in fact. Tenngaru's lost third city, destroyed overnight when the waters claimed it. Now, all we see above the water are the mountains – one of which is now the island of Dumas. Some of the locals earn a little extra coin by diving down to the ruins and salvaging anything they can find – illegal under Imperial law, of course.”

Of course, you reply, all salvage belongs to the Emperor. So is he saying that a god is responsible for this?

“Maybe, but that's all in the past,” Tawn shrugs, “A pair of divers went down recently, and came up with more than they bargained for – since that moment, the town has been claiming independence. It's been tricky learning exactly what happened, but the rumours suggest that one of the divers – a woman – is now with child.”

That catches your attention. Surely Tawn remembers, you say slowly, that men and gods cannot mix blood. It's simply impossible.

“Isn't it?” Tawn agrees, “And yet, that seems to be the case. The townspeople have become a cult, sworn to protect their unborn god – the mother leads them, as a kind of figurehead or oracle. At her behest, they have taken up arms to protect their lands. I won't waste your time with false delicacy – our orders are to kill everyone, to stop this situation from spreading.”

So that's it – a purge.

“I've got a plan to proceed,” Tawn explains slowly, “But we are to cooperate on this. I'm willing to listen to what you've got to offer.”

[1/2]

>>45555544

This plan of his, you begin, what is it?

“We need to know what's going on in there,” Tawn says, “I'm going to wait until nightfall and send out two of my best scouts. They can investigate the situation and gather as much information as possible. Once we know how many fighting men they have, and what kind of arms, we can proceed with the assault. Or, if an attack proves impractical, we can investigate other avenues.”

It's a sound place to begin, you admit to yourself, and not what you expected from Tawn. Perhaps he's learned caution in the years you've been apart. Even so, you can tell by the glint in his eye that the young man is desperate to prove himself – he wants this to work, and the collateral damage means nothing to him. Any assault, especially on a well-defended island, will be a bloodbath.

“We're just gathering information,” Tawn repeats calmly, “My scouts won't be there to start a fight, I promise that.”

Even so, you've got your doubts. Mainly because you've only heard his version of events – the rebels might have a very different account of things. If you were to go in, alone, you might be able to negotiate in good faith.

“That's an incredible risk,” Tawn says, “If you were to get captured, I can't guarantee your safety. We'd do our best to rescue you, of course, but it wouldn't be easy.”

>We'll go with your plan. Send your men
>I'm going in alone. I'll take this risk
>I've got another plan... (Write in)
>Other

>>45555544
>But we are to cooperate on this.
I'd rather get off the boat.

>>45555586
>I'm going in alone. I'll take this risk

>>45555586
>I'm going in alone. I'll take this risk
Let's see if we can fix this without mass murder. Maybe prove this woman does not have a god-child.

>>45555586
>>I'm going in alone. I'll take this risk
obviously bringing Koa

Really, it feels SAFER to go without the clearly military armed group.

>>45555586
>>I'm going in alone. I'll take this risk
Your men won't know what to look for Tawn. You know I'm right.

>>45555704
>>45555635
lol found the idiots

As the ship draws closer to Dumas, you peer out at the island. It's a natural fortress, with sheer cliffs forming an impenetrable barrier around much of it. The one beachhead is ringed with a crude wooden wall – a recent addition, you expect – and a cluster of tiny figures patrol the wall. An assault would be forced into a bottleneck, and the casualties would be enormous. Even with trained soldiers fighting against armed peasants, there would be a heavy price paid for every inch of ground.

You'd rather not see that happen. It's a risk, you agree, but you're going in alone. Of course, you'd be bringing your apprentice along – someone needs to row you out there.

Tawn is silent for a long time as he considers your suggestion, before turning to the island with a baleful eye. “I don't know what I like less,” he mutters, “The fact that you're undermining me, or the fact that you might be right to do so. Understand this, Ira – I have MY orders, but you are not bound by them.”

So, you reply, he's giving you the go ahead?

“I can't actually stop you,” Tawn offers you a crooked smile, “Just like I can't order you to attack. As long as you're prepared to risk your life on what might be an insane cult, I'll just have to accept that.”

One other thing, you remind him, his men won't know what they're walking into – you will. If there is some divine cause for all this, you're the best man for the job.

“That you are,” Tawn nods, sighing, “Okay Ira, I'm leaving this in your hands. Once you're there, though, things aren't going to be easy. If we don't hear back from you within a day – a single day – we've got to proceed with the attack. Orders are orders.”

A day. Plenty of time.

[1/2]

>>45555834

“Oh,” Tawn announces as you're turning to leave, “Here – take this.” He holds out a bulky pistol, fatter than the one currently weighing down your hip. “It sends up a flare, a ball of blazing light. If you need us to go in, fire it up into the air and we'll launch the attack as soon as we can – with all the consequences that go with it.”

Tucking the flare gun into your sash, you nod. If things really go wrong you doubt you'll get the chance to use it, but it doesn't hurt to carry the thing.

“Use the same boat you came in on,” Tawn adds, “I can't give you one of my men, in case they get taken hostage – you understand, I'm sure, that these rebels can't be allowed any bargaining chips. Outside help like you, though... Nothing to do with me, so it can't be used against our attack.”

Cold and pragmatic, just what you were expecting from the Emperor's man. Waving away Tawn's last warnings, you lead Koa to the boat and set your sights on Dumas.

“Sir,” Koa begins as he's taking a few experimental swipes with the oar, “I think you're doing the right thing. This could save a lot of lives, on both sides of the fight, but what if this woman really was... given child by a god? We'd need to do something about that, won't we?”

You remain silent as you think about that. It's an unknown factor, something you can't rely on your teachings to solve, and that bothers you. It might be a false claim – something for a fledgling rebellion to rally around – but if it isn't...

“Sir?” Koa asks, your drawn out silence wearing on his nerves.

>I'll handle it. Don't worry
>Gods can't mix with humans, you know that. This is all fake
>You heard what Tawn's orders were
>Other

>>45555913
>>We'll handle it. Don't worry

>>45555913
>>Gods can't mix with humans, you know that. But that's not the same as fake.
Could be a similar deal to a family kept alive and raised by a god. If it's all built on a lie, this rebellion needs to end before any lives are lost.

>>45555913
>>Gods can't mix with humans, you know that. This is all fake
At least I hope it is, for all our sakes.

>>45555913
>>45555965
This. There might be a simple explanation for this.

>>45555913
>I'll handle it. Don't worry

Gods can't mix with humans, you remind Koa – and yourself – sternly, he knows that. However, you're not going to write this all off as fake just yet. Facts have a way of distorting themselves, spinning off into wild rumours as they travel far and wide. It could be that a family has been kept under the protection of a god, giving rise to ignorant speculation. If it is all build on a lie, though, you'll need to bring the truth to light. Lives will be lost, you tell the boy, if this rebellion goes ahead. Too many lives, for no good reason.

“I know that,” Koa nods, determination creeping into his voice, “But what if it IS a child of god? What then?”

Then, you reply after a cold pause, you'll handle it. He doesn't need to worry – it'll be your job to take care of things. You expect Koa to answer that, although you're quite sure what he'd say, but the boy is stubbornly silent. Putting the hypothetical worst case scenario out of your mind for now, you focus on the approaching island. Closer now, you can see the handful of armed figures aiming their rifles at your little boat. Slowly, calmly, you hold your empty hands up in a gesture of peace.

Just a pair of harmless Wanderers, you think to yourself, wandering over to see what's going on. Maybe the militia can see that you're not soldiers, because they relax a little. Not enough to lower their weapons, true, but just a little. Koa, you mutter, don't make any sudden movements. Not now, and definitely not once you've both reached the shore. Like you told him earlier, you'll handle things here.

“I'll follow your lead,” the apprentice replies quietly, “Don't worry about me.”

You're a little surprised to realise, as your boat bumps up against solid ground, that you were worried. Just a little.

[1/2]

>>45556190

Trying not to flounder in the loose, damp sand, the three militia men approach you and bark out simple orders – hands up, no sudden movements, everything you expect to hear in a situation like this. Obeying, you allow the first peasant to circle you, taking the sword and pistol from your belt. The flare gun, tucked in your sash, goes unnoticed. A mistake, born of inexperience, or something more calculated?

Once Koa has been similarly disarmed, you're led up into the village and confronted by a taller, weary looking man. He scrutinises you for a long moment during which you take the chance to study him in return. He's got a learned look about him, especially for someone living so far north, and life hasn't been kind. Deep lines are scored in his face, although you can't tell whether age or some old injury caused them.

“This is a siege,” he explains, his voice heavy and tired, “And now you two come up on shore. Tell me, what am I supposed to make of this? You could be spies – I'm having trouble thinking of anything else you might be. Logically, I should have you executed, or thrown in what passes for a prison around here. Why shouldn't I?”

>Kill me, and this place will be swarming in soldiers. You won't live
>I'm here to resolve this peacefully. Maybe you can start by giving me your side of the story
>I heard there was a pregnant woman here. Can I speak with her?
>Other

>>45556236
>>I'm here to resolve this peacefully. Maybe you can start by giving me your side of the story
>>I heard there was a pregnant woman here. Can I speak with her?
Water spell time.

>>45556236
>I'm here to resolve this peacefully. Maybe you can start by giving me your side of the story
>>I heard there was a pregnant woman here. Can I speak with her?
Water spell.

>>45556236
>>I'm here to resolve this peacefully. Maybe you can start by giving me your side of the story
Agreed, absolutely use our water magic here.

You heard the faint tide of water rushing in your ears as you let a trace of your magic slip out into the air, closing the gap between you and this gun wielding mob. The weary man's face twitches for a moment before he starts to smile – a closed, cautious smile, but a smile nonetheless. You're here to resolve this peacefully, you tell him slowly, maybe he can start by giving you his side of the story?

“Alright stranger,” the man nods, “A man can't be too picky with his friends in times like these. You've cooperated with us this far, so I think you've earned a little trust in return. My name is Joln, I'm sort of the doctor around here. I know a little about herbs, at least. I do a little diving in my spare time as well, that's when all this started.” Waving his hand, you see the militia lowering their rifles and taking a step away. A few of them still give you and Koa sullen looks, but they keep their problems to themselves.

“I was diving with my sister, Jetta, in the ruins around here,” Joln continues as he begins to stroll through the improvised fortress, gesturing for you to follow, “It's amazing what you can find down there, bits of old metal that have survived this long. People buy them, you know, for more than you'd think. It's almost obsessive the way some of these collectors snap up anything we can bring.”

His sister. This must be the woman you heard about.

“Have you ever been diving?” Joln asks suddenly, “We use these bladders to store air. Risky business, but you can last pretty long down there once you've got the knack for it. Anyway, my sister and I were searching as normal when we found this... this shrine. I can't remember exactly what happened after that, my memory is very blurry, but we had to return to the surface soon after – Jetta, you see, was...”

She was pregnant, you ask carefully, wasn't she?

[1/2]

>>45556557

“That's right,” Joln nods, a faint and unconscious shudder running through him, “Please, believe me when I tell you that she wasn't with child when she went down. Not... not like this, at least.”

Can you see her, you ask, his sister?

Joln hesitates, then, as he considers the issue. He might be more inclined towards trusting you, a benefit of your magic, but it's not mind control. His own natural doubts are warring against your unnatural suggestion. “I... can you show you to her,” he offers eventually, “But I can't guarantee that she'll be able to talk. And, please, don't be alarmed by what you see. A few days ago, she tried to... to hurt herself. We had to take precautions.”

Precautions, you repeat softly as Joln stops outside a bigger, more ornate building. The windows have been sealed up, but the scent on incense creeps out from under the door. This must be where they're keeping her – as if she was a prisoner.

“Just you,” Joln says to you, holding out a hand to bar Koa from getting any further, “I don't want you to crowd her, it might confuse her. If you don't mind having a guard accompany you, you can roam the village freely.”

Koa looks a little put out by the situation, but nods grudgingly. As he is being led away by one of the militia – they had been following you, quite discretely, all the while, you turn back to Joln.

>Can you tell me a little more about the village?
>I was told you declared yourselves independent. This doesn't look like a rebellion
>I've got a question for you... (Write in)
>I'm ready to see your sister now
>Other

>>45556557
>Jetta, you see, was...”
>She was pregnant, you ask carefully, wasn't she?

Like instantly third trimester, visible as hell?

>>45556577
>Can you tell me a little more about the village?
>I was told you declared yourselves independent. This doesn't look like a rebellion

>>45556577
>Can you tell me a little more about the village?
>I was told you declared yourselves independent. This doesn't look like a rebellion.

>>45556577
>>Can you tell me a little more about the village?
>>I was told you declared yourselves independent. This doesn't look like a rebellion

You'd like to know a little about his village first, you tell Joln, just if there's anything special about it.

“Special?” Joln frowns, “The ruins here are the only thing I'd call special, really. We're quite isolated out here, so we used to get a lot of pilgrims seeking peace and quiet but that's died off lately. I suppose there aren't many people willing to travel to the edge of the world for a little solitude these days. We trade for much of our food, and there's the remains of the old silver mine up in the hills. We've got a lot of supplies, the dry kind that lasts forever, so we're prepared to wait this out if we need to.”

His mention of waiting the siege out brings you smoothly onto your next question. You were told that the village had declared independence from Tenngaru, but this doesn't look much like a rebellion – can he explain, perhaps?

“We believe that this child is a gift from the gods,” Joln tells you, looking you in the eye, “And that frightens a lot of people. As long as we exist beneath the Emperor's heel, we will never be safe. So, if protecting this child means taking up arms, we're prepared to do that. We bear the rest of the Tenngaru no hostility, but that doesn't mean we won't defend ourselves if we're pushed.”

And one last thing. When he said his sister was pregnant, he sounded very certain. It showed straight away, you ask, didn't it?

“Perhaps...” Joln swallows nervously, “Perhaps it's better to see for yourself. Just...”

But he doesn't finish that thought. Joln merely lets the door swing open and steps inside, leading you into the smoky room. Incense fumes almost choke you as you enter, and the smoke cuts your vision down to a few inches ahead of you. Stepping through the fog, you spy a slumped human figure on a pile of cushions.

More or less human, at least.

[1/2]

>>45556849

To say she was pregnant would be an understatement. Her entire lower body is distended, ballooning out into a grotesque parody of motherhood. A loose shawl covers her breasts, putting the fleshy mass of her stomach on display to the whole world. Swallowing your sudden disgust, you kneel down by her side and lean a little closer. Her skin is stretched to near translucence, a faint web of veins running across it.

Inside her, something moves. Something slithers. Smothering a curse, you jerk away and instinctively reach for weapons that are no longer there. As you rise, regaining your composure as best you can, you take a look at the rest of the woman. Her skin is slick with sweat, long hair plastered to her forehead, and soft ropes are tied around her wrists. She can't rise, you realise, from that slumped squat. Not with those ropes tying her down, at least.

“I told you,” Joln stammers, all bravado vanished, “She tried to hurt herself. You see, her throat...”

True enough, there are faint bruises around her throat – the imprint of fingers vaguely visible in the purple shadows. She tried to strangle herself, or someone tried to strangle her. You've only got Joln's word for it, but those don't look like slender female fingers to you. As you're leaning down to take another careful look at her, the bound woman speaks.

“Newcomer,” she growls, her voice deep and masculine. It doesn't seem to come from her mouth, either, filling the room around you in an instant.

>Who... what are you?
>Jetta, who hurt you?
>Whatever you are, I've got questions to ask you (Write in)
>Other

>>45556925
>Who... what are you?

>>45556925
>Who... what are you?

>>45556925
>Who... what are you?
>Jetta, who hurt you?

Who... no, what...?

“I will become known as Nodens,” the woman gurgles, her jaw flapping poorly in time with her words like something imitating speech, “I was the one that was drowned, but now I feel the sun upon my skin. Soon, I will walk among men once more.”

Again, as that watery and terrible voice rings out around you, you find your hand straying down to where your weapons should be. It isn't just a rational fear or disgust – something about this thing is inspiring an almost primal revulsion in you, the unshakable urge to stamp it out of existence for the simple crime of being what it is. Fine, you choke out as you take your clench your hands into fists, what does it want? What will walking among men achieve?

“I wish to exist,” the unseen voice tells you simply, “Do you not wish for the same thing?”

You try to ignore that part – it's a question you could spend all day discussing without ever reaching an answer – and ask another question. There's no guarantee of it working, but if any of your words can reach Jetta, the woman within... Jetta, you ask firmly, who hurt her? She didn't do it to herself, did she?

“No!” Joln protests, grabbing your arm, “You don't understand!”

“There was pain,” Jetta, or her unseen partner, rumbles, “Yes. An attempt to prevent my birth. Men will always fear me – as men fear the depths of the ocean, with their savage hearts. Even now they fear me, their fear cloaked in righteousness and hostility to those who lurk outside. There will be fighting soon, man killing man as has been the way since time began.”

“That's not right!” Joln shouts, pulling you hard enough to force you to your feet, “Outsider, you've got to leave. She's confused, she's not... right! We... we'll talk more outside, okay?”

You're only too happy to agree. You need to get out of this choking air, and away from that... thing.

[1/2]

File: shitsonfireyo.jpg (94 KB, 600x554)

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Shits fucked yo.

>>45557182

Outside, Joln leans against the wall and lets out a long, slow breath. He looks terrified, his eyes wild with a poisonous mixture of exhilaration and horror. For most people, gods have that kind of effect. This, though, feels like something else.

“This isn't something I understand,” Joln admits, “But you felt it, didn't you? The touch of the divine?”

You felt it, you agree, but you didn't like it.

“No,” Joln says sadly, “People tend not to. I can't explain it, but some people were... they couldn't stand her, just the sight of Jetta was enough to drive them wild with anger. They would have killed her – you saw the marks on her throat – if I hadn't protected her. Now, with the threat outside looming, everyone is looking out rather than at her.” Breathing slowly through his nose, Joln's voice wavers as she speaks again. “This will all be over soon. One way of another, right?”

You don't answer that. You don't need to.

That thing within Jetta, that Nodens, is an alien force – something that, by virtue of its very existence, spreads hatred, fear and paranoia. If left to wander freely, you cannot imagine the damage it might cause. The question, then, is what to do? You can't shake the feeling, either, that there's something you're missing. Some vital information that you don't have.

>Joln, can you show me these silver mines?
>Joln, can you show me this underwater shrine? I'll dive if I need to
>I'm sorry Joln, but Jetta has to die
>Fire your flare, call in the troops
>Other

>>45557309
>Joln, can you show me this underwater shrine? I'll dive if I need to
I feel we should go straight to the source.

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>45557309
Show us the silver

>>45557309
>Joln, can you show me this underwater shrine? I'll dive if I need to
Shrine first then the silver.

>>45557309
>>Joln, can you show me this underwater shrine? I'll dive if I need to

Joln, you announce with forced calm, pay attention now. Holding him by the shoulders and looking him in the eye, you continue speaking. Can he show you this shrine he mentioned?

“The ruins,” he mutters, “Underwater...”

That's fine, you insist, you'll dive if you have to. You need to go straight to the source in order to learn all you can. For a moment suspicion flashes through Joln's eyes as your magic starts to wane, but then he nods reluctantly.

“It's dangerous, but you might be right. If there's an answer to this...” Joln nods again, his determination wavering slightly, “Alright, I've got some equipment that you can use. It's simple really, breath in through your mouth and out through your nose. If you panic, you'll probably... well, try not to panic, that's all I'm saying.”

Somehow, you doubt that Joln will be doing much more than leading you to the sunken shrine, but that's all you need from him – once you're there, you'll see what you can find. You just hope you won't need to fight anything down there. Even if you got your sword back, a long weapon like that would be useless...

“This way,” Joln says, interrupting your thoughts and leading you to another one of the simple houses. Inside, he rummages around in a wooden chest for a while before emerging with a heavy burden of equipment. When he said he used bladders to store air, you hadn't expected it to be... literal. It looks like something he ripped out of a goat. “The air might taste a little funny,” he warns you, “But it's perfectly breathable. More or less.”

You have such a glamorous job.

[1/2]

>>45557635

At least his loaned equipment includes a small knife, the blade set deep into an ivory handle. For emergencies, Joln explains, such as vines or weeds clutching at limbs. It was never meant as a weapon – although that's never stopped you before.

A few of the militia give you harsh looks as you're leaving, but nobody stops you. Joln, apparently, is the closest thing to a leader this community has, and his authority remains undisputed. Taking the boat you came in, he rows you out to an anonymous stretch of open ocean before stopping abruptly. You don't ask how he was able to lead you back here so easily, or with such certainty, because you're not sure if you want to know the answer. The sky above grows dark, a few clouds drifting across a bright moon. Not total darkness, at least.

“It'll be hard to see,” Joln warns you, following your gaze towards the sky, “But follow me as closely as you can.” Then, after reminding you how to use the improvised air bladder, he jumps into the grey waters. You follow, forcing down a gasp at how cold the sea is. Sinking slowly down into the darkness, you power forwards with determined strokes. Joln is a natural, occasionally drawing ahead of you until he remembers to slow back and match your pace.

As your stinging eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, a blocky shape resolves itself ahead of you. Joln waves for you to follow as he dives down, a trail of bubbles leading you along his path. Pausing at the columned entrance to the building, he points inside. It's glowing inside, faintly but unmistakably lit with some phantom light. The diver reaches down and scoops up a handful of some much, showing it to you. Glowing lichen, you realise, and the closest thing you've got to a torch.

Taking a handful for yourself, you swim into that darkened shrine.

[2/3]

>>45557776

The first thing you see, upon paddling inside, is a sitting figure of indescribably tarnished metal. Gold or bronze, it's impossible to tell what it was originally – now it is mostly black, coated in slimy growth and signs of decay. The statue itself, a particularly fat human, is deformed. The hands are gone, the wrists ending in truncated points, while the face is twisted in a rictus of agony. Shuddering at the sight of it – something about it fills you with unease – you guide yourself through the water to the wall behind, your eye drawn by some kind of pattern.

Not a pattern, you correct yourself, but an inscription. The pictures show crude human figures bowing before a taller, swollen human, their backs bent in worship. The next image in the sequence is one of horrific violence, the central figure – no longer entirely human – standing surrounded by warring believers. Lastly, the final image shows the inhuman figure dying, maybe, as one of the worshippers, their hands larger and more carefully engraved, strangles the life out of them.

It means something. Once you're back at the surface, you can figure out what. Turning, you glance around as you look for Joln. He's gone, leaving you alone in the choking darkness. All of a sudden, your sense of direction vanishes and the blackness around you seems to draw in closer. You need to leave, but... but how? The exit is nowhere to be seen, everything blending together into a dull gloom.

>Please roll 1D100 to stay calm and get your directions, aiming to beat 40 or 60. I'll take the highest of the first three!

File: 1453561547013.jpg (147 KB, 499x642)

147 KB JPG

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>45557879
Ruh roh.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>45557879

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>45557879

>>45557902
Nice save

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>45557879

>>45557879
The message is obvious. We must kill the woman or at least whatever is inside her.

I can see it. Our apprentice will have disappeared when we come back.

Focus. You need to stay calm and focus.

Floating there in the absolute darkness, with cold water surrounding your entire body, you find yourself thrown back into memories of your training. You were taught to meditate, to retain clarity of thought under any kind of circumstance. Whether you were trapped in a void not unlike this one, or bombarded with conflicting stimuli, you were expected to think clearly and calmly. Now is no different to any of those times.

Upon entering the shrine, you were confronted by the fat, howling face of that festering idol. The exit, therefore, will be opposite the statue's front. Flailing like a drunk man – or a drowning man, some malicious whisper in the back of your mind leers – you clutch to the statue and grope at it, your fingers slithering across the slick metal. Discipline stops you from gasping out in relief as your hands find the rough shape of a nose and twisted lips. From there, with your eyes closed, it's easier to navigate around it and to propel yourself into the open waters. Opening your eyes once more, you lean backwards and look up to the sky. Above you, a bright ray of moonlight caresses your body.

Glorious, beautiful moonlight! Mentally reciting a delirious prayer to Selene, the mistress of the full moon, you let your body relax and float upwards. Once you're no longer panicking, it becomes easy, even calming, to trust your body to the waters. With your eyes closed, you feel rather than see yourself breaking the surface of the water. Climbing back aboard the boat, you see Joln's shuddering form.

With guilt in his eyes, he turns to face you. “Are you... okay?” he asks tentatively.

>No thanks to you
>At least I'm not pregnant
>Joln, it's bad news. She needs to die
>Hands. Does that mean anything special to you?
>Other

>>45558094
>>At least I'm not pregnant

>>45558094
>No thanks to you
>Hands. Does that mean anything special to you?

>>45558094
>Hands. Does that mean anything special to you?
no time for anything else but business

>>45558094
>Hands. Does that mean anything special to you?
This mission is spooky

>>45558094
>>At least I'm not pregnant
>>Hands. Does that mean anything special to you?

>>45558094
>Hands. Does that mean anything special to you?

Casting aside the bladder and taking a deep breath of clean air – Joln was right, that stored stuff really does taste of goat – you grunt out the first thing that crosses your mind. At least you're not pregnant. Joln doesn't reply to that, merely staring at you with his jaw hanging loose.

Right. Probably not very funny, under the circumstances.

You're fine, you announce, no thanks to him.

“I couldn't spend another minute in there,” Joln admits fearfully, “It... I'm normally very good with searching underwater, you've got to be, but... I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me.”

It doesn't matter, you say brusquely as you wave away his apology, you've got important business to take care of. Images and ideas swirl through your mind as Joln begins to row you back to shore. Hands, everything seems to come back to hands. The statue was missing them, the final image showed a human with exceptionally detailed hands strangling the monster. Then there was the nameless urge you felt, the desire to strangle the life out of Jetta, and the existing marks on her throat. Does they mean anything special, you ask Joln, hands?

“Hands?” Joln repeats, “I don't... wait...”

So you wait patiently, not saying anything as Joln rows you back to the shoreline in case you interrupt his delicate thought process. It's only when you're about to ask him again that he speaks up.

“There WAS something!” he announces suddenly, “Years back, I was just a boy you see, one of the divers announced that they'd found something. They said it would make them a very rich man, but they never got a chance to sell it – they drowned the very next day. We never found what he claimed to have recovered though, even when we searched his house.”

And the hands part?

“His journal,” Joln explains, “He wrote that he'd found a pair of golden hands.”

[1/2]

>>45558477

That's it, you murmur, that has to be it. You're just... not exactly sure what “it” is yet.

You'll need to know everything, you tell Joln, everything he can tell you about this dead diver. Was his body recovered? No, they wouldn't have buried the hands with him, he just said that the treasure was never found. Maybe he drowned trying to put the hands back? Ah, but you never saw anything in the temple – not that you were looking for a pair of hands at the time...

“Slow down,” Joln says, “It was a while ago and, speaking honestly, he wasn't really a very special guy. Like most of the men on the island at the time, his main job was working in the...”

What?

“...In the silver mine,” Joln finishes slowly, “So maybe...”

Maybe he stashed them there, you suggest, for whatever reason. Paranoia or greed, it doesn't matter why he kept them there. They've not been found since, so they might still be here.

“Maybe,” your guide murmurs, “Unless someone found them, kept quiet and sold them on...”

>Doesn't matter. Take me to the mines
>Go tend to your sister, Joln, I'll find the mines myself
>Wait here a moment, I need to find my apprentice
>Other

>>45558545
>Wait here a moment, I need to find my apprentice

>Wait here a moment, I need to find my apprentice

>>45558545
>Doesn't matter. Take me to the mines


Hmm these golden hands might be the only way to actually kill this thing or put it to sleep or whatever. And I might be an optimistic anon here, but maybe by using the golden hands instead of another mundane way we might be able to save Jetta. Or something.

>>45558599
>>45558545
Add
>Wait here a moment, I need to find my apprentice
to this vote.

We'll head to the mines after we gathered him.

>>45558545
>Wait here a moment, I need to find my apprentice

>>45558545
>Doesn't matter. Take me to the mines
>Wait here a moment, I need to find my apprentice
Find Koa first and make sure he's doing okay.

>>45558599
That's what I'm hoping for. I'm also glad there's no actual god baby. It seems much more like its just using her body to give itself physical form. Which is weird since every god before this one already had one. Unless it just... slithered inside her. Ugh

Wait a moment, you tell Joln, you need to find that apprentice of yours. Not only does he need to know what's going on here, but you want to make sure he's still okay. Again, you're surprised at how concerned you're feeling. It hasn't been that long, after all, since you last saw the boy. How much trouble could he have found in the short time you were apart?

“The boy, right,” Joln nods, “He should be around here somewhere. It's not a big town, so...”

Joln's right about one thing – it's really not a big town. It doesn't take long to make a complete circuit of it, and that's including the time you spend on searching for Koa. You find him easily enough, sitting with his back against one of the ramshackle buildings. He looks unusually thoughtful, a sign that something, somewhere, has probably gone wrong. He falls in behind you promptly enough, but his silence bothers you. What, you ask him, is the problem?

“Sir,” Koa clears his throat, “We need to end this quickly – before the attack comes.”

That was your plan, you assure the boy, but why is he so certain all of a sudden?

“I was wandering around earlier, taking the tour,” he forces a laugh at that, “They've got kids here, Ira, just a few but still... I don't think Tawn's soldiers would discriminate.”

The worst thing is, you know that Koa is right. Anyone old enough to hold a pistol, even a knife, and the soldiers would shoot on sight – assuming that their orders aren't to shoot on sight regardless. Koa's right – you need to end this as quickly as possible. You could send Koa back in an attempt to delay the attack, but Tawn is under no obligation to obey. Without the boy, searching the mines would take that much longer...

Damn it all!

>Send Koa back to stall for time
>Take Koa to help search the mines
>Other

>>45558834
>Take Koa to help search the mines
Tawn doesn't seem the type to listen, much less to an apprentice. We need to get this done as fast as possible.

>>45558834
>Take Koa to help search the mines
Im gonna operate under the assumption that Tawn wouldnt listen to Koa

>>45558834
>>Take Koa to help search the mines
We'll cover more ground with two of us.

Tawn, damn him, isn't the type to listen to a mere apprentice, especially one trying to get him to disobey his orders. Koa might be able to delay things a little, stalling for a scant few hours at best, but it won't make much difference in the end if you've not found what you're looking for. You'll need to cover as much ground as possible, and that means taking the boy with you.

“Right, I understand!” Koa nods, his mouth drawn down into a hard line as he gathers his resolve, “I'll do my best, just point me where I need to go!”

Where you both need to go, you tell him as you return to Johl, is the old silver mine. Once you're there, you'll... you'll just have look around for anything that might be suspicious. Vague, but that's the best you've got to go on right now. Johl, you announce as you meet up with the weary man, you need to know everything he can tell you about the mine. Layout, when it was last expanded, everything!

“I'm no miner!” he protests, “But, ah, there was a sort of rest area that some of the miners used to store their kit and such. It was expanded... a few years ago, in search of a new vein of silver. We didn't find anything though, so it didn't reach very far. The mines are... they're big, though! How are you suggesting we search them?”

Carefully, you snap back as he leads you to a cave entrance, but quickly. You'll start by focusing your search somewhere and then you'll spread out. If this miner hid the golden hands somewhere inside, he would have made some kind of marking to lead him back. He wouldn't leave them buried under an unmarked rock, would he?

>Start searching the rest area
>Start searching the middle of the mines
>Start searching the furthest reaches

>>45559091
>Start searching the furthest reaches
If someone wanted to hide something it'd be at the place with no silver.

>>45559091
>Start searching the furthest reaches
Too greedily, too deep, etc etc

>>45559091
>Start searching the furthest reaches
This seems like the most likely place. WOuldnt want people to stumble upon his hidden treasure in the rest area. Not to mention that someone probably would've found it when they expanded.

>For searching the furthest reaches, I'll need a 1D100, aiming to beat 40, 60 or 80. I'll take the highest of the first three!

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>45559365

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>45559365

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>45559365
Looks like we already won.

You'll start at the furthest reaches, you tell Koa, and work your way back from there. It seems like the most logical place to start – there was no silver here, so there would be nobody digging, and it's far enough away from the surface that few people would stumble down here by accident. The rest stop would be too busy, too frequently visited, and the middle of the mines would have been cleared out. Someone, by blind luck, would have found it eventually.

That leaves the furthest reaches, the barren stretch of mine at the very end. Now you just need to search high and low, looking for anything. A hole in the wall, patched with gravel and dirt, say. Maybe a scratched set of directions pointing out where to look first. There has to be something, and that means looking at anything that catches your eye.

As it happens, it takes a lot less time than you expected.

You're not even at the furthest reaches yet when you see something engraved upon one section of the cave wall. Ten lines, radiating out in a rough semicircle – like fingers, almost. It's not where you were expecting, but...

You stop. The mines were expanded a few years ago, but the miner who hid the hands died much earlier than that, when Joln was still a boy. Back when he was looking for a hiding place, the furthest reaches of the mine would have been solid rock. If you hadn't been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of that scratched marking out of the corner of your eye, your search would have been a very long and frustrating one.

Thanking your lucky stars, you begin to dig beneath the ten fingers. The ground is loose, and you soon hit metal. Worn and tarnished with age, the pair of golden hands are unmistakable – and hollow, you notice, like gloves.

[1/2]

>>45559546
>Back when he was looking for a hiding place, the furthest reaches of the mine would have been solid rock

Woops, shoulda thought of that.

>>45559546

As you're brushing loose soil and stones away from the metal gloves, you notice point of articulation. The fingers are jointed, like a sophisticated kind of metal gauntlet. Sliding one hand into the right glove, you can't quite clench your fist but it's close – strangling someone would be easy. In fact, just wearing them is enough to send violent thoughts shivering through your mind, filling you with the desire for murder. Grimacing, you pull your hand free and tuck the gauntlets under one arm.

Not now, you tell yourself, there will be time for that later.

“So,” Joln says when you catch up with him, “What now? I'm assuming you have a plan of some kind.”

About that...

“I'm not going to like this, am I?” Joln's voice grows forlorn, “Just tell me, I can handle it.”

>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry
>Jetta needs to die, I'm sorry
>Bringing these back to the sunken shrine should break this curse
>Other

>>45559632
>Bringing these back to the sunken shrine should break this curse

>>45559632
>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry

>>45559632
>>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry
Bringing them back to the shrine now seems like it would be a waste of time now. The statue might be a seal but it's already broken. We need to cut the problem off at the source.

>>45559632
>Bringing these back to the sunken shrine should break this curse

>>45559632
>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry
Yeah I am going to go with my gut. There was nothing telling us that bring the gloves back would do anything.

>>45559765
This.
The pictures at the shrine pretty much point to strangling the source to end it.

>>45559632
Gonna change my vote to
>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry
Im hoping that the hands will allow to wring that god out from her and not kill her

>>45559632

>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry
Running out of time and for all we know this is the most likely choice. We did say we would have to do the hard choices to him after all.

>>45559632
>I'm going to wear these and strangle Jetta. I'm sorry
Hopefully it Just kills the dark God in her

You might just have this worked out, you begin as you're all leaving the mines, and you might know how to end this. The golden hands are the key, but... it's not going to be pretty. You're going to wear them, you say heavily, and then you're going to have to strangle Jetta. It's the only way to end this, you tell Joln, you're... you're sorry.

“Oh gods,” Joln gasps, “Can't you... can't you bring them back? Making the statue whole might... anything but...”

Maybe once the statue was a seal, you tell him sadly, but fixing it won't do any good now. It's too late for any of that. You need to cut this off at the source – and that's Jetta.

“Oh gods,” Joln whispers again, “I... I see. I won't stop you, sir, but I just want to ask you... make it quick, please. Quick and merciful.”

She won't suffer, you tell Joln. The lie almost catches in your throat. When you arrive at her house – her prison cell – you ask Koa to take the man away, far away. There are things that a man doesn't need to see, and this is one of them.

“Yes sir,” Koa answers, his face pale. Taking the unresisting man by the arm, he leads Joln away, back down to the shore. When they're both out of sight, you slip the golden gloves over your own hands and flex the fingers. It feels heavy, the weight of responsibility made manifest.

Time to get this over with.

[1/2]

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>45559972

Closing the door carefully behind you, you glare into the thick, obscuring fog at Jetta's slumped form. No weapons, you remind yourself, you'll need to do this by hand. Literally by hand, you think with a bitter smile. Putting any lingering doubt or fear out of your mind, you stride deep into the smoke.

“Newcomer...” Jetta – Nodens – gurgles at you. That's the only thing you allow it to say, grabbing the frail woman tightly around the throat and pushing her down to the ground. The gloves feel terribly powerful around your fingers, yet somehow conceal nothing of the raw, fleshy sensation that strangling the woman brings. It's as if your bare fingers were pressing into her flesh, digging deep and gouging into her. She tries to scream, but not a single gasp of air can escape her. Just as her eyes are growing glassy, rolling up into her skull, there is an awful sound – wet tearing, paired with a slippery slap.

Crying out with raw disgust, you take your hand away from Jetta's throat and stumble backwards, nearly slipping in the brackish seawater that has flooded out into the room. It HAS to be seawater – nothing else smells quite like it. Half hidden by the fog is a writhing... thing, mercifully cloaked from sight. It writhes and it wriggles, squealing slightly. Yet you can see enough of it to see the teeth, and the malice behind those jaws.

You'll kill it. You'll crush the life out of it.

>Please roll 1D100 for the attack, aiming to beat 50, 60 or 70. I'll take the highest of the first three, and spell cards are refreshed and ready to be used
>I'll roll for the creature's attack, aiming to beat 50, 60 or 70, just the same. Only one roll for this thing.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>45560108
Sublime Strike

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>45560108

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>45560108
>>45560141
This

>>45560108
35 vs 76 plus sublime strike. We bloody decimated it for the first round.

It's pathetic really, but then again, you ARE fighting something that was born a few seconds ago. Squealing and writhing, it jumps at your boot in an attempt to gnaw at the flesh beneath. Merely moving your foot back is enough to dodge, putting you in the perfect place to kick the revolting little thing. It bounces away, thudding damply on the floor, and you don't give it a chance to recover. Sweeping your hand down, you grab the creature's slimy body in one of those golden gauntlets and squeeze hard.

As you tighten your hand around it – the thing is surprisingly dense – you feel the primal magic of wrath building within you. It squeals shrilly as you crush it, eventually spitting a gout of steaming liquid, blood maybe, at your eyes. Cursing, you drop it on instinct and it wriggles away, faster than any creature has a right to. Gone for now, vanished into the depths of the house. You're starting to follow it when a groan from behind you catches your attention.

Jetta. She's alive.

>You need to get her to safety
>Focus on the monster. It must die
>Get Jetta out of here and torch the building. You've got enough spare lantern oil, after all
>Other

>>45560291
>>Other
"Koa get in here and get Jetta out! She's okay!"

Then
>Focus on the monster. It must die

>>45560291
>>Focus on the monster. It must die
We can't risk it infecting someone else.

>>45560291
>>45560331
this

>>45560291
>>Focus on the monster. It must die
Setting the place on fire is tempting but it would give the monster a good chance to slip away unnoticed. Kill it here and now while we can see it.

>>45560331
Unfortunately, I dont think hes near enough for us to yell for him. Maybe we could get the QM's word?

>>45560291
>>Focus on the monster. It must die

>>45560356
Damn he's by the shore isn't he? Well we should still focus on the monster. Jetta should be okay if she is behind us as we are clearing forward.

>>45560291
Use Towards the Great Land if necessary to catch the monster.

>>45560356

>Koa has returned. He heard the noise and came running as soon as he could. He would, then, be able to help here

>>45560400
>>45560291
Seconding this if we need to close on it fast.

>>45560291
>>45560331
Third.

>>45560331
Seconded

>>45560400
This is a good idea. It can help us close in to deal with it. It can also help us deny it from attacking the lady. We also have some healing cards right? Could probably use those for a patch job of the woman.

>>45560404
Perfect

>>45560331
Then I support this

>>45560400
Supporting this as well as this >>45560331
if its possible

Rolled 82 (1d100)

Koa, you yell, uncertain if the boy can even hear you, Koa!

“I'm here!” he cries back, practically bursting through the door, “Sir, I heard you shouting right down at the shore, we all heard! What's going on-”

No time to explain, you bark, just take the girl and get her out of here. Joln's diving knife provides the perfect tool to cut through Jetta's bonds, and she is light enough that Koa can lift her now that her insidious passenger has torn its way from her body. Grunting a little with the effort, Koa drags the bleeding girl from the house. Slamming the door behind him, you turn to scan the house for any sign of the creature. It's small, quick and the place is still thick with incense fumes – finding it won't be easy.

Or maybe, you think as a tentacle smashes through a paper screen before you, it won't be too difficult. In the few moment that it was out of sight, the thing has swollen to a grotesque size. It's clawing at the walls, barbed tendrils tearing at wooden beams and ripping strips out of the paper panels. Trying to escape – and you've got to stop it.

Distance becomes nothing as a simple flick of magic draws you to the thing's side. Plunging the diving knife into its side – the tool breaks almost immediately, blade snapping free from the handle – you draw all of its attention onto you.

>Please roll 1D100, aiming for 50, 60 or 70. I'll take the highest of the first three
>Rolling the creature's attack, aiming for 50, 60 or 70 as well.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>45560594
>82
Oh dear...

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>45560594
Have we used Sublime Strike already?

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>45560594

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>45560594
damn we're about to get beat up by a baby

>>45560626

>Yes, we used it in our first attack.

>>45560594
Porcelain Skin and retaliate with Gift of the Soil

It's 10+ mod should make us break the third tier success.

>>45560594
>that attack roll
Can we use Skin of Porcelain?

>>45560646
>>45560594
Seconded

Take half damage, redirect half, heal some of the wounds and make our attack success bigger

C-c-c-combo!

>>45560646
Sounds good

>>45560647
>>45560646

>We can only use one spell a turn, but we could use Gift of the Soil on our next attack. Using Skin of Porcelain to defend against the current attack, though.

>>45560594
>>45560646
Yup

>>45560711
Then one at a time it is.

>>45560711
But muh combo. Alrighty Skin of Porcelain first then.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

Lashing out with a rasping tendril – it has teeth embedded within it, not any kind of sucker – Nodens attacks. Bringing your arm up, the skin already hardening into a skin of disposable armour, you intercept the blow before it can wrap around your throat. Even so, the strength behind that tentacle is awesome, squeezing your arm until the layer of porcelain shatters. Releasing you and rearing back with a screech, Nodens bleeds a colourless liquid onto the floor from countless tiny wounds. Even so, your arm is both aching and pierced with needles of your own shattered armour.

>Ira takes 20 damage, reduced to 10 due to Skin of Porcelain.

Grunting in pain, you lash out and punch the revolting creature, your fists sinking into the rubbery flesh as you pummel it. It's like beating a corpse, and not a particularly fresh one. Vile creature, you snarl as you ready your next magical attack, you'll kill it!

>Please roll 1D100, aiming for 50, 60 or 70. I'll take the highest of the first three, and this will include a +10 modifier due to Gift of the Soil
>Rolling the creature's attack, aiming for 50, 60 or 70

Rolled 1 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>45560830

Rolled 77 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>45560830

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>45560830
>these high rolls
We're gonna lose a limb.

File: 1449143337526.png (26 KB, 510x556)

26 KB PNG

>>45560860
Pfft good thing there aren't critfails.

That would have been really bad.

>>45560860
Moloch doesnt do critfails right? Right?

>>45560884
>>45560892
I wish he did.
Watching shit blow up in your face is half the fun.

The scent of fresh soil and growing grass breezes through your mind as Mandragora's strength fills your limbs, offering a respite and new power. Feeling ready for anything, you prepare to launch another attack against Nodens' filthy, rubbery body. As you're lifting your fist to pound another blow home, the tendril lashes out again and wraps around your wrist, twisting your arm back. Biting back a howl of pain – you can feel the blood seeping out of your torn flesh – you bring your new strength to bear

>Ira regains 20 Health to 100 and then loses the same amount. Currently sitting at 80 Health

Gritting your teeth, you grab the slimy limb in your other hand and pull, tearing it from Nodens' body. It shrieks, screaming and squealing as you cast the discarded tentacle aside and lay into it, punching and tearing with the golden gauntlets. Your attacks open up deep wounds in the creature, but it shows no sign of dying. Inside, rather than organs or anything inside, it's just... more of that oily flesh, right down to the core.

Snarling, allowing a trace of your old anger to show through, you find the broken stub of blade and tear it out, ripping it down the length of Nodens' body. A filthy tide of blood washes out over you, but that finally seems to do it. Writhing futilely at the air, the creature collapses to the ground and grows still.

And stay dead, you grunt at it.

[1/2]

>>45560876
Nah this quest is pretty ezmode

>>45561095

Bending down, you get one last look at the creature before it dissolves, once and for all, into a pool of oily sludge. It has aspects of a fish and a squid, as well as one horrible feature that had, luckily, been hidden as you fought it. A disarmingly human face, set deep within the folds of its stomach churning body. The whole thing is black, and the grease that it dissolves into is just as dark. Glaring down at it until the last of it has vanished, you clutch a hand to your pained wrist and leave the house.

“Sir!” Koa gasps, standing up suddenly as you stagger from the building, “You're bleeding!”

You noticed, you grunt, how's Jetta?

“It looks a lot worse than it is,” Joln says, his voice light with relief, “She'll live, I think. It's all... it's all thanks to you, sir. She's alive because of you.”

It was a team effort, you tell them as you glance from Joln to Koa, they both played their parts. Now though, you've got bigger problems – namely, this little rebellion of his...

“Oh,” Joln's face falls, “We'll all be executed for this, won't we?”

>Not if I can help it. I'll bring Tawn your surrender, and he doesn't need to know what happened here.
>I'll tell Tawn what happened, and that you're willing to surrender. It's his call though
>Well, good luck with that. My job here is done
>Other

>>45561235
>I'll tell Tawn what happened, and that you're willing to surrender. It's his call though

>>45561235
>Not if I can help it. I'll bring Tawn your surrender, and he doesn't need to know what happened here.

>>45561235
>>Not if I can help it. I'll tell Tawn what happened, and that you're willing to surrender.

Why would they be executed? They got fucked by a God Parasite and were scared. Everything is taken care of, no one needs to die.

>>45561235
>Not if I can help it. I'll bring Tawn your surrender.

>>45561235
>>45561235
>Not if I can help it. I'll bring Tawn your surrender, and tell him the god bewitched all of you and that you weren't responsible for your actions.

>>45561313
This, don't leave it up to Tawn. The problem has been solved. And this place can go back to normal.

>>45561235
>Not if I can help it. I'll bring Tawn your surrender, and he doesn't need to know what happened here.

>>45561323
Let me add >I'll tell Tawn what happened

>>45561235
>>Not if I can help it. I'll bring Tawn your surrender, and he doesn't need to know what happened here.
If he thinks that a human/god hybrid is impossible he'll be willing to believe this was all a fake. If he knows the truth he might feel the need to take further action.

>>45561509
The only further action he should take would be sealing that shrine off for good. I'm not sure how executing anyone at this juncture would logically help the situation.

The dude seems pragmatic, not bloodlusty.

>The majority opinion seems to involve telling Tawn what happened here, so I'll go with that. Writing the next post now.

Not if you can help it, you tell him, you'll go to Tawn and tell him that the people here are willing to surrender. He was sent to put down a rebellion, and that's what he'll do – peacefully.

“And what about Jetta?” Joln asks fearfully, “What will he do to her?”

You don't have a choice, you tell him, you need to give Tawn the truth. You'll try to convince him that the danger has passed, and you're fairly sure that he'll believe you, but that's the best you can offer. He's pragmatic and willing to listen to reason, you assure Joln, so there shouldn't be too much danger of further repercussions. Even so, the weary man has a dark look on his face as you're leaving him, leading Koa back down to the shore. Sighing slightly, the apprentice immediately takes up his oar and begins to push the boat out to sea.

Tawn, when you arrive back at the larger ship, is pacing the deck restlessly. When you climb back up on deck, he hurries over to you, his dark eyes flicking between the two of you. “Alive, both of you, and... more or less unharmed.”

You've spoken with the people of Dumas, you tell him, and they're willing to surrender. Their rebellion is over.

“Indeed?” Tawn raises an eyebrow, “I never took you for the diplomat, Ira, but perhaps you've changed. Officially, my job here is over – the rebellion is over, after all. Still, I've got to ask about the... other matter. What did you encounter?”

That, you say tactfully, wasn't so simple. Perhaps Tawn should take a seat, you tell him, because this might take some time to explain.

[1/2]

>>45561737

Tawn is silent, unusually so, as you tell him what happened. When you mention the shrine, his face grows concerned. When you talk about Nodens, and how you killed the thing, he grimaces. Koa offers nothing of his own, watching the two of you talking with a keen and curious eye. He's learned a lot since leaving the Nameless Temple, you decide, and the lesson isn't over yet.

“I've got to admit, I'm a little out of my depth,” Tawn says slowly when you're finished, “I don't understand why this was possible – or even what this Nodens creature was – but I know that it's dead. That's enough for me. Your part of this joint operation was to investigate these claims, and you've done so admirably. I'll be sure to tell the Emperor that later, in my report.”

And the people, you ask, what's he going to do with them?

“Nothing,” Tawn shrugs, “Calling it a rebellion would be a gross exaggeration. A few citizens requesting to speak with a representative of the Emperor. Their request was granted, and both parties went away satisfied. I think that just about sums it up, don't you?”

You've got to admit, Tawn isn't quite the waste of skin you were expecting him to be.

“I'll have one of my men row you both back to shore,” he says indifferently, turning away, “I'll see you again, I'm sure. Oh,” pausing, Tawn glances back around at you, “You saved a lot of lives today, Ira. Good work.”

You were happy to help. Believe it or not, you actually mean that.

>I'll end this here for tonight. Next thread on Tuesday, and I'll stick around a while in case of any questions!

>>45561837
And now I exhale.
That was pretty different from what we've been seeing thus far Moloch. It was interesting. Something tells me that whatever lies below was flooded for a reason.

>>45561837
Thanks for the run Moloch

>>45561837
So you expect us to figure it out? what would have happened if we went to the statue?

>>45561914

I'm going to be trying a few different things over the course of this quest, I think. The more episodic style helps with that. I hope this style of things worked!

>>45561936

Thanks for taking part!

>>45561837
Best thread so far.

>>45561837
Thanks for running this quest thread!

>>45561973

I will admit, returning the gauntlets to the statue was kind of a trap option. It would have wasted a lot of time for no reward. By the time Ira got back to land, Nodens would have grown more powerful.

For a short explanation of things, the statue was a seal keeping Nodens pinned up. When the first diver broke the statue, Nodens was able to get a foothold on the world, waiting for a host to arrive. When Jetta finally got down there, the spirit could hitch a lift back to the surface!

>>45561992
>>45561993

I appreciate it, thank you!

>>45562048
How's Koa doing? He's kinda got thrown into the deep end.

>>45562382

He took a pretty big blow during Odan's Harbour - being confronted with such a grim situation took a lot out of him - but he's a lot happier now. He's a good kid really, and ending the siege without any innocent deaths really perked him up.

I wager he's just about ready for a nap though, after all of this!

>>45562439
So which freaked him more? Here or Odan's harbor? Does he understand why we're grumpy? The Emperor going to remember our name? Aya get wind of this? You read Twilight Thorn's stuff?

>>45562439
So I take it our "reward" for this is the gloves? They seem pretty dangerous though, not sure if Ira will want something that naturally instills primal rage.

Is it possible to study it and try to figure out WHAT Nodens was from that?

>>45563071

I'd say Odan's Harbour freaked him out more because it was a little more human, easier for him to relate to. Either way, he's certainly starting to understand why Ira is so grumpy!
The Emperor is already aware of Ira actually - he keeps his ear to the ground when the Nameless Temple is involved. Aya, on the other hand, hasn't heard about this yet. It's been kept rather quiet, but she'd certainly run the story if Ira talked.

Twilight Thorn runs the Persona quest, doesn't he? I've got quite a backlog of quests I've been meaning to catch up on, but it's a list that mainly gets longer rather than shorter.

>>45563084

The gloves are probably more useful being studied than used. In exchange for them, I imagine the Mentor would be more than willing to offer some new magic skills.
There will be a chance to learn a little more about Nodens as well in the days ahead!

>>45563286
Emperor ever make "donations" to the Nameless Temple, to "keep up the good work"?

>>45563286
What Quests do you read? Or at least you prioritise?

>>45563372

Currently, the Nameless Temple receives a small official stipend from the Emperor. Officially, it's because it takes in and cares for children with nowhere else to go, but it's also been used as leverage in the past. On the other hand, there are occasional donations from "wealthy patrons" if things go according to the Emperor's wishes.

It's all very cloak and dagger, especially considering that basically everyone knows what's going on.

>>45563422

I follow MGNQ, but not very closely these days. Task Force 666, the SMT quest is another one I follow. I try to keep up with Exterminator Quest, but I can't always catch it live. I don't actually have much free time to read other quests these days, unfortunately!

>>45563511
Twilight Thorn's persona quest is pretty good. So is Snakecatcher Quest.

>>45563548

I've seen Snakecatcher mentioned before and it does sound interesting. I'll add it to my list and see what it's like - when I've got some time to work on my backlog!