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Cao sits on the edge of the bed, his pants loosely pulled on while he sits in contemplation. Nearby is Nitara, his ally and, now, lover. She is currently dressing herself and pulling together their discarded clothing from various corners of the room. He is silent as she hums a bit, stretching out her limbs and long legs. Cao tries not to think too hard about them; they give him ideas that make his head swim a bit and his stomach feel light. From the corners of his eyes he watches her. It seems so strange to him that she can just casually resume her business despite what they did, or rather what she did to him.

She seems to notice and stops for a moment. "You're quiet," she notes with a small smile. "Something the matter?"

"Just... I don't know," he replies, feeling a bit awkward. He isn't certain how to properly act around her now that they have grown so much closer. She picks up on this and approaches, sitting next to him.

"You needn't feel like you have to act differently, you know," she advises him. "Don't think too hard. You might hurt something."

He rolls his eyes a bit at her playful teasing and looks away. "I guess I just... I never expected it would be quite like... it was."

"Is that a good thing?"

"I think so," he says. "But I don't know."

"You regret it?"

"No!" he's quick to exclaim, turning back. "No, not that. I just don't know what comes next."

She shrugs, as if it is so obvious. "We continue on our quest. We part ways afterwards. I'll be with my people and you'll be with your sisters."

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He's silent for another moment and she smiles. "Aww, Cao, you're not growing too attached, are you?"

"Are you not?" he whispers.

She faces him fully. "Cao, what we did was great fun. I certainly got what I wanted out of it and I like to think you got quite a lot of something too," she smiles and he blushes a bit. "And while I would love to continue our little escapades, you've already made up your mind, haven't you?"

"I have," he replies softly. "I guess I'll just... miss you when it's over."

She gives him a sweet smile and pulls him into a hug before giving him a kiss. "I will too," she says with honesty. "But we should get going. The sun is setting and we'll need all the time we can to cross the remainder of the Golden Desert into the Ashlands."

>A) Get dressed and leave
>B) Explore more of the ancient palace
>C) Talk some more with Nitara
>D) Stay another night here with her
>E) Other

>>46227865
>>A) Get dressed and leave
>>C) Talk some more with Nitara
So fucking sweet/sad.

>>46227865
>>A) Get dressed and leave

Alas

Smutbin?

>>46228149

I'll have it at the end of this thread. It's not quite done yet.

>>46227865
>A
>C
We can talk while we get ready

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>>46228047
>>46228149

Cao redresses fully and looks back at Nitara, who is just finishing up doing the same. He finds his feelings over her growing more complicated, but is that because he truly cares for her, or because she is the first other woman who seems to care for him? Perhaps both. His mind is swirling with emotions that are difficult to understand. She looks back at him with a smile and he can't help but feel something for her as she heads towards the exit. She seems so perfectly at ease, probably because she's more experienced and older. He wonders how old exactly---he never asked.

Picking up his backpack, he slides his arms through the straps and follows along after her. They descend the stairs in silence, though he feels he would like to talk more. He's just not sure about what. They reach the hall that leads to the throne room and as Cao enters it, he remembers that there was part of the castle they did not explore, a large vault door of some kind that lacked a key. He wonders if he should bring it up to her.

>A) Ignore it and continue onwards
>B) Ask her what she thinks this palace may once have been
>C) Mention the vault door
>D) Try to break the awkward silence
>E) Other

>>46228394

Sorry, missed this one while I was writing.

>>46228431
>>B) Ask her what she thinks this palace may once have been
>>C) Mention the vault door
Don't wanna unleash any ancient evils. Already got enough on our plate.

>>46228431
>C) Mention the vault door

>>46228449
No worries
>>46228431
>B
>C

>>46228431
>>B) Ask her what she thinks this palace may once have been
>>C) Mention the vault door

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>>46228472
>>46228558
>>46228593
>>46228619

Cao pauses as they pass by the throne. She notices him lingering and turns back to him. "Cao?"

"I found something while we were here," he tells her. "A kind of vault door, further down in the palace. It was locked."

"And what do you think may be behind it?" she asks.

"I don't know, but do you think it might be worth a look?"

"I doubt it," she replies as she folds her arms. "My realm isn't behind that door."

"Well, no, but--"

"Nor, I doubt, a way to free my people from Outworld and restore our place in the realms."

"Maybe not. But still--"

"Cao," she interrupts him again. "This place means nothing to me."

He looks at her strangely. "But what might it have been?"

She shrugs. "Does it matter? Another lost and conquered empire from ages past. I don't know who, and frankly I don't care. Outworld is built upon the bones of the dead and the stones of their empires, all conquered and forgotten. But mine isn't forgotten, so long as I live. That's the one I'm fighting for."

"I suppose I see what you mean," he says. "But what if it's useful?"

"Perhaps it contains treasure," she muses. "What good is gold to us in a land of no merchants? Perhaps it is not treasure, it could be a weapon. Or a curse. Or perhaps it would be empty and we would have wasted our time. What matters to me is that I have the means to go where I need to go; everything else is just... distraction."

He stands silently for a moment. "What about me?"

"Cao... Come, now, don't find meaning in words where there is none. You're my partner." She approaches him. "And I did not mean that this place means nothing to me; we shared something special here and I'll not forget it. Ever." She takes hold of his hand as she says, "But we also came here for a purpose, and that vault is not it."

>A) Agree with her and leave
>B) Insist on at least showing it to her
>C) Insist on remaining to open it
>D) React negatively
>E) Other

>>46228768
>A) Agree with her and leave

>A)
We can come back later when we've accepTed Khans power and can bitch slap the ancient evil within.

>>46228768
>>A) Agree with her and leave

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>>46228803
>>46228845
>>46228874

He nods his agreement. "Alright. You're probably right, I guess it's just the thief in me wanting to look for treasure."

"You already found the treasure," she says with a wink, leaning in close. "And you plundered it quite well." The whisper leaves him shivering as the sultry woman pulls away, walking towards the exit. He stands for a moment before quickly moving after her.

Outside the underground temple they find a series of footsteps and green stains in the sand. Reptile. He came this way after their battle and was still bleeding. It's like that all the way out to the entrance of the surface temple where they step outside into the Golden Desert. His trail leads away, to the west, in the direction they originally travelled from.

"Good riddance," she says, scanning her eyes west. "We should reach the Ashlands today, if we make good time." She cocks a brow and says, "That is, if you're willing to fly again."

>A) Have her carry you
>B) Walk with her
>C) Let her fly and scout ahead while you walk/run to the east
>D) Investigate Reptile's trail
>E) Other

>>46229011
>A) Have her carry you

>>46229011
>>A) Have her carry you

>>46229011
>>A) Have her carry you
She teases soooo much.

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>another thursday thread
>>46228188
woooo

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>>46229039
>>46229149
>>46229202

Cao approaches her and waits for her to scoop him up. She leans over with a smile and wraps her arms around his back and legs, picking him up bridal-style. She stands comfortably, as if he weighs very little. He still doesn't like being carried like this very much and keeps his eyes focused on the horizon.

"Don't be shy," she says with a smile. "After all, we've done worse things."

Before he can respond she kneels a bit, spreading her wings and taking off. He clutches her a bit as she blasts into the night sky, heading east over the desert. She isn't quite as content to fly straight and true this time, however; she's in the mood to mess with him a bit, like he did to her before.

"Hold on," she says as she suddenly dives downwards, spinning. Cao shouts as she careens upwards just before hitting the ground. "Scared?" she asks him.

"No," he says, his voice a bit shakey. "Just surprised, that's all."

She loosens her grip a bit, pretending to let him fall. He gives a small cry and wraps an arm around her neck before she continues holding onto him with a smug smile on her face.

"That's not funny," he says, a bit sour.

"You've no idea," she laughs.

>A) Fly on into the Ashlands
>B) Land a take a break
>C) Mess with her a bit
>D) Talk with her as you fly
>E) Other

>>46229403
>>C) Mess with her a bit
All's fair

>>46229403
>D) Talk with her as you fly
Any others like you out and about, aside from the countess?

>>46229403
>D) Talk with her as you fly
Ask her what her home realm is like

>>46229403
>>C) Mess with her a bit
>>D) Talk with her as you fly
Seems she's been teasing us a lot more often. I bet she is a lot more sad then we think. She's just trying to play it off by being extra snarky.

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>>46229521
>she grows so attached to us that she goes yandere and tries to vampire us by the end of our quest

>>46229675
This quest already has one yandere. We don't need anymore.

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>>46229449
>>46229462

With his arm around her neck, he leans up to kiss her neck. She hums an affectionate noise before he suddenly bites her there, causing her to jolt a bit before she rights herself. "You...!"

"Just a taste of what you do to people," he jokes. As they fly, Cao speaks up a bit. "Which reminds me, I've been meaning to ask you about your kind," he says.

"Oh? I thought I'd given you a crash-course in my kind several hours ago," she jokingly flirts, stiffling him a bit.

"I meant how many of you are left," he says.

"Not many, truth be told," she replies. "Vampires are not born, they are made. It wasn't always like this; the Moroi Empire was large and we could have families, but after our realm fell, we were cursed."

"Cursed? How?"

"The moroi could always feed on blood, but it was not our direct source of nourishment. We studied and used Blood Magik for different purposes in ancient times. After Shao Kahn, we lost much. Our kind dimished as we were forced to spread out into other realms. Naturually, as we could only rely on others for food, we were hunted. The death of vampire kind has been a long, slow process. Many times we even killed each other so we would not have to compete for a food source. We have never been united since our realm was absorbed into Outworld."

"Will this all change when you get your realm back?" he asks.

"Like Edenia before it," she replies. "Many edenians who had died were brought back by the realm's return. I hope the moroi will rise again, and with the conqueror dead, that it will last forever."

Cao is silent. It's clear she holds Shao Kahn in terrible regard---which makes it all the more conflicting for him due to his new feelings for her given the fact that he is harboring Shao Kahn's soul. He considers telling her the truth, but knows not how she would react.

>A) Keep it a secret; change the subject
>B) Ask if she'll ever visit
>C) Ask more about the Moroi Empire
>D) Reveal the truth
>E) Other

>>46229759
>>C) Ask more about the Moroi Empire

>>46229759
>B) Ask if she'll ever visit
>C) Ask more about the Moroi Empire

>>46229759
>E) Other
Ask why she wears her headband like a weird eyepatch.
Nitara's standard look is just goofy.

>>46229759
>>C) Ask more about the Moroi Empire
Woo that Shao khan guy... What a jerk.

>>46229954
Pfft. Do it dam.

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>>46229954
>Nitara's standard look is just goofy.

I have no fucking idea what they were really going for with that

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>>46229820
>>46229844
>>46229983

"So, how long did your empire stand? Before, you know."

"Thousands of years," she says. "It was strong, but I think that was its downfall. It attracted Shao Kahn's attention and they could not defend themselves from his wrath once they had failed in Mortal Kombat."

"Were you around for this?" he asks.

"No," she admits. "No, I have never seen Vaeternus. I was not born a moroi, nor was my sister."

"You don't talk about her much," Cao says.

"We weren't close."

"What came between you?"

"It was long ago," she says. "But she did not share my vision of our realm restored."

As he is about to speak again, she looks on, her eyes narrowing a bit as they glide. "Look, there, ahead---the Ashlands."

Cao looks on and sees red in the dark night. They are flying into a land of fire, with many active volcanoes and rivers of flowing magma. He looks on as red embers spew into the air from a nearby vent of black, charred earth.

"Quite the sight, isn't it?" she asks. He can only nod. "And we are headed for its heart. But the further we go, the greater the danger."

>A) Land and walk from here
>B) Continue flying
>C) Ask her about this land
>D) Keep silent and watch for danger
>E) Other

>>46230243
>B) Continue flying
>C) Ask her about this land

>>46230243
>>E) Other
Ask if we can't visit her after she reclaims her land. This doesn't have to be goodbye forever...right?

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>>46230295
>>46230364

As they fly, Cao thinks about asking if she will ever visit, or if he will ever visit her. They streak across the ashen skies and he is about to ask when suddenly a shadow passes them overhead. Nitara has only a moment to react before a dragon swoops down towards them, its jaws snapping in the air!

Nitara spins, holding tightly onto Cao as the great winged beast dives down past them. It curves back upwards and roars as it prepares another charge from the front!

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>46230934
Swoop low and skirt the surface. See if we can't lose it under some overhangs.

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>46230934
swoop low and find some cover

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>46230934
>>46231034
Rolling to save this.

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>>46231034
>>46231067

>>46230978
>>46231034
>>46231067
Sorry Nitara. Cao is gonna die now.

>>46231067
>>46231034
At least we had sex before we died

>>46231091
>>46231168
nah, we'll be fine

the result of rolling a 1 means we must now marry the dragon

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>>46230978

Nitara tells him to hang on as they dive downwards into a spiral as they fly under a cropping of rock that is low to the surface. The dragon, a wild and beastial thing, is not deterred, swooping above them and breathing fire. Nitara pauses behind a stone as flames blast upon it, surging out around them in all directions. It shields them as the dragon flies past them overhead and Nitara kicks off the ground as Cao holds on tight.

"He's a stubborn one," she notes as the dragon's tail tries swatting them before they both fly in different directions. The dragon turns and heads towards them.

"He's coming back!" he warns her.

>>46231034
>>46231067

She tries to go low again to avoid its attack but the dragon is ready this time. The beast coils in the air and reaches out with a claw, tearing off one of her wings as it passed overhead. Nitara screams in pain and immediately starts falling from the sky.

Cao tries to hang on but the dragon's tail slaps them both as it flies overhead, separating them. Nitara spirals off, trying to right herself with her one remaining wing as Cao lands on a nearby mountain. He hits the stone surface hard and starts rolling down before he manages to stop himself, grabbing hold of the rock before he would have rolled off the side and down a much steeper, more lethal edge.

He grunts in pain as he pulls himself up onto the stone, looking around for Nitara or the dragon and finding neither. He desperately searches for any sign of her. "Nitara!" he shouts as loudly as he can.

Just then, the rock around him shakes as the bulk of the dragon lands on the mountain. The snaking, wrym-like beast with black scales looks down upon him and hisses, its mouth burning with flames. Cao stares up at the creature and fear runs through him.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>46231280
LEG IT

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>46231280
Cheese it!

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>46231280
AH SHIT SON. Whip out the ol dadao and swallow that fear. Bait out some bites to get slashes in on the dragons mouth.

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>>46231334

Cao turns to run but the beast's neck lurches its heard forwards like a scorpion's tail, its jaws snapping like a crab's claws. It closes down on one of his legs, drawing blood and pulling him backwards. Cao shouts in pain as its head lifts up.

An arrow from somewhere unseen flies through the air and pieaces the dragon's hide, right below the jaw. The dragon drops Cao to the mountainside and roars in fury, scanning the surrounding area for the offending attacker.

Cao, meanwhile, gets back up and runs, though one of his legs is wounded, for the path down the mountainside.

>>46231359

Not content to lets its prey escape, the dragon chases after him, snaking through the larger rocks as he makes his way down, carried by gravity and fear. But the dragon is on him every step of the way, its breath loud and like a furnace, warm and loud. As the dragon bites at him again another arrow strikes true, piecing the side of its head.

Cao makes it to a cliff and realizes there is no other safe way down. He turns and draws his sword as the dragon looks down at him with burning eyes.

>>46231381

Cao baits the beast into biting at him, swinging his sword at its mouth like he did when he fought the snake in Kotal Kahn's arena. His dadao hits the dragon's jaw and bounces off, taking a scale with it and causing the monster to recoil in brief pain before it snaps back again.

Cao swings at the head each time it nears him until he is pressed back against the cliff. A third arrow from his unseen ally hits the dragon in the neck but the beast doesn't care. It rears its head back and high up, not wanting another swinging slash from the sword, and it prepares to breathe fire upon him. Cao's eyes go wide as the dragon's mouth opens and fire begins to appear before the blast builds up fully.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>46231659
Slide under the dragon and slice that belly open.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>46231659
Double back and dip underneath the dragon.

>>46231700
>>46231711

As the dragon's head moves forward to unleash a torrent of flames, Cao runs towards it, sliding under the inferno and ending up beneath the beast's chest. Swallowing all of his fear, he thrusts his sword up into the monster's stomach. The dragon's torrent of flame ends and it coughs, doubling over in pain and rolling off of his sword. He turns and watches the black beast roll down the mountainside before it rights itself and spreads its wings to fly away and lick its wounds. He doesn't breathe a sigh of relief, however, for he is terribly worried about Nitara.

He looks down the cliff and sees her lying facedown in the dirt. He desperately and carelessly climbs down the cliff and runs over to her as soon as he can jump safely onto the ground, turning her around. The fall hurt her as much as losing a wing; she slid for some distance. She's covered in ashy dirt and her skin is torn in some places from the rocks she skidded across. He holds her close as she manages to open an eye and look up at him, but even though she moves her mouth, she can't quite form words.

Panic races through him as he looks at her and doesn't know what to do. He looks around for anyone---that mysterious archer, perhaps---but cannot see far in the thick ashfall around them.

>A) Try and give her your blood
>B) Scream for help
>C) Give her mouth-to-mouth
>D) Feed her the dragon's blood from the shokan amulet
>E) Other

>>46231921
>B) Scream for help
>A) Try and give her your blood

>>46231921
>>A) Try and give her your blood
AAAAHHH. Slice that hand open boy.

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>>46231985
>>46232023

Without a second though, Cao brings up his dadao and runs his palm along the blade, cutting it open. He winces but bears the pain as he gently clasps his hand over her mouth. "Drink," he says to her desperately. "Please, drink."

He feels her lips moving against his wound as his blood trickles into her mouth. He looks down at her and hopes this is working. "Come on," he whispers sharply. "I didn't come out here just to watch you crash and die. Come on, drink!"

Her brow furrows slightly and both of her eyes open as she looks up at him weakly. She continues to drink his blood, slowly but surely growing stronger. He holds her tightly against him as she laps at the precious life fluid.

She brings up a hand and gently grabs hold of his wrist, moving it aside. "Cao," she gasps.

"I'm here," he replies. He looks around for a cave or anywhere that may be safe to drag her into, but the field is barren, save for large rocks and the mountain he just climbed down.

She closes her eyes, but keeps talking. "I don't think I can carry you," she whispers.

"That's fine," he says, grunting as he struggles to stand while lifting her in his arms. "It's about time I... repayed the favor!"

He starts walking but he isn't nearly as strong as she is. But he doesn't give up and manages to make it to the side of the mountain, under a low-hanging rock formation that offers some shade. He places her down.

"I need more," she whispers. He holds his hand up to her mouth and she suckles upon the wound.

>A) Stay and keep giving her blood
>B) Look for help
>C) Shout for help
>D) Deepen the cut more
>E) Other

>>46232218
>C) Shout for help

>>46232218
>>B) Look for help
>>C) Shout for help
Sorry I was on the phone.

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>>46232514
>>46232653

As Nitara feeds, Cao looks around and shouts for help. He screams a few times. "Hey! Anyone! Help!"

Nothing seems to draw attention, however. As Nitara quietly feeds, Cao turns to look back down at her, only to discover a blade held up against his neck. "Be silent," a female's voice reaches his ears. "Your shouting will draw more than just dragons."

Cao freezes, fearful that this person means to kill him, but then she withdraws the knife. He turns to see a beautiful woman in a grey leotard with matching gloves and boots, with her hair pulled into a bun. She looks down at him with piercing green eyes. "You should not have come to this land unprepared," she says.

"My friend is hurt," he says.

"She drinks blood?"

"She's a vampire," he admits, wary of admitting it to a stranger but there's little reason to hide it; one of her wings is visible, after all.

The woman kneels down and looks at Nitara, studying her injuries. "I will help you," she says.

"Were you the archer?" he asks. "Where is your bow?"

"Nearby. At my camp. Come, help me carry her."

Cao puts one of Nitara's arms around his shoulders and the strange woman does the same. They walk a distance and reach a path that winds up another mountain, leading to a cave. Within is a small home of stone, wood and animal hide furnishings.

"You live here?" he asks.

"No. Just a camp."

She helps Nitara to the bed, a stone surface with animal hides and a pillow. She is sleeping, but appears in slightly better shape than before.

The woman goes to a nearby surface and begins gathering some bottles. A bow and arrows lies nearby. Cao wonders what to make of her; she doesn't seem like the kind of person who would live in this land.

>A) Keep giving Nitara blood
>B) Talk to the stranger
>C) Ask her name
>D) Help Nitara be comfortable
>E) Other

>>46232907
>C) Ask her name
>B) Talk to the stranger

>>46232907
>>C) Ask her name
>>D) Help Nitara be comfortable
"Are you an Edenian?"

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>>46232926
>>46233016

"What is your name?"

"Khameleon," she says as she pours something into a bowl and begins to mix.

"Do you live in these lands?"

"Not originally, but for the time being, yes. I live in exile here."

"Exile? Why?"

"Punishment," she replies. "I have been charged with guiding any and all who enter these lands to the Lava Shrine."

He blinks a few times. "That is where we were headed!"

"I imagine so---it is the only thing in this land worth visiting." She turns around and walks over, handing him the mixture. "Rub this into her wounds. Use plenty of it but be gentle."

Cao takes the bowl and smells it; it smells rather foul but he follows her instructions, dipping his fingers in and gently lathering it upon Nitara's scratches and cuts while she sleeps.

"Your friend was badly hurt by that dragon," she says, sitting nearby and crossing her legs. "The loss of a wing must have been very painful."

He can only nod in response. The attack was so sudden. If he hadn't been there, perhaps she could have been more agile, or perhaps they wouldn't have been seen at all... He pushes such thoughts from his mind and focuses on giving her the medicine.

>A) Thank her
>B) Comment on her unnusual beauty
>C) Ask why she is being punished
>D) Ask her what she knows about the Lava Shrine
>E) Other

>>46233146
>A)
>D)

>>46233146
>>A) Thank her
>>C) Ask why she is being punished

>>46233146
>A) Thank her
>C) Ask why she is being punished

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>>46233293
>>46233315
>>46233362

"Thank you for your help," he says to her.

"Not much of a need to," she replies. "It's why I am here."

He is silent for a few moments until he finishes applying the paste to her wounds. He looks back at the grey-clad woman who stares at him with her oddly distinctive eyes. "Why are you being punished, exactly?"

"Disobedience," she replies. "That's the root of most punishment, is it not?"

"But who did you disobey?"

"My master. Now I am here, and will continue to be so until such time until he returns."

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand," he says.

"For now I don't expect you to. And you'll likely be dead soon, so I've little reason to explain it more in-depth." She rises to her feet as he looks at her, confused. "Stay with your friend until she wakes up. When you're both ready to move, I'll bring you to the Lava Shrine."

She leaves before he can ask her what she meant. Nitara stirs slightly but does not awaken. Cao puts the wooden bowl aside and tends to her, holding her hand.

>A) Wait alongside her
>B) Give her some more blood
>C) Explore the cave
>D) Go after Khameleon and demand an explanation
>E) Other

>>46233627
>D) Go after Khameleon and demand an explanation

>>46233627
>>A) Wait alongside her
Muh waifu

>>46233645
>>46233667
You know what? Screw muh waifu we are missing out on secrets by not following her. Delicious secrets.

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>>46233645
>>46233667
>>46233762

Cao lets go and moves to the entrance of the cave, where Khameleon stands, looking out over the horizon. She doesn't turn back to look at him as he speaks to her. "What was that supposed to mean? 'I'll likely be dead soon'? Explain."

"The Lava Shrine has a guardian. Everyone I take there falls to him. I doubt you can defeat him."

"Then why lead us there?"

"You're the ones who were travelling to the Lava Shrine in the first place. I'm just here to help you reach it. Once inside, you're alone. And dead, probably."

She sounds cold, and more than a bit bored, as if she has explained this many times before and is tired of doing so. "Lots of people have come through here. Fewer lately. I guess they're starting to learn that anyone who comes never ends up never coming back."

>A) Who or what is this guardian?
>B) How long have you been doing this, exactly?
>C) Are you alone out here?
>D) Can't you just leave?
>E) Other

>>46233882
>B) How long have you been doing this, exactly?
>C) Are you alone out here?
>D) Can't you just leave?

>>46233924
This

>>46233924
Thirding

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>>46233924
>>46234113
>>46234124

"How long have you been doing this, exactly?"

She lets out a long sigh. "A long time."

"Are you alone out here?"

"No."

"Can't you just leave?"

"No."

"You're damned unhelpful for being someone who's supposed to be here helping, you know that?" he says, annoyed with her short answers.

"I'm not here to answer questions," she says, still looking out at the distance.

He puts his hands on his hips, determined to keep asking anyway. "How many others?"

"Two."

"Who are they?"

"My brother and someone else."

"Well, what's your brother's name?"

"Chameleon."

"I thought your name was Khameleon."

"They're spelt differently."

"Well how am I supposed to know that?"

"I don't care. You probably can't even read."

Cao is about to snap at her, but she's right. "You're very rude, you know that?"

"You're very short, you know that?"

She might be beautiful but she's rapidly wearing thin on his patience.

>A) Fight her
>B) Keep arguing with her
>C) Go back into the cave
>D) Insult her
>E) Other

>>46234406
>B) Keep arguing with her
HA HA TIME FOR BANTZ

>>46234406
>>B) Keep arguing with her
This can only end well.

>>46234435
>>46234528
Say her butt is too big!

>>46234685
say her eyes are too beautiful, that'll really get her

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>>46234435
>>46234528

"So, are you always like this? Annoying and rude?"

"I've seen better, and bigger, men than you come here and die when they enter the Lava Shrine. I see no reason to make friends with someone who's going to die soon."

"You seem very sure of that, but what happens when you're wrong?"

She merely shrugs. Her indifference is frustrating to him. "You might just be the most unhelpful helper I've ever had, you know that?"

"I shot arrows at the dragon. You're welcome."

"I had that dragon by the balls. I stabbed his guts with my sword and drove him off."

"I'm very impressed," she says in a very unimpressed tone. "It won't do you any good against Blaze."

"Blaze?"

"The guardian of the shrine. He is a fire elemental, a being of pure flame given shape. You won't defeat him, not with your sword and certainly not with your wit. Trust me when I say that he's even less conversational than I am."

>A) Switch tactics; compliment her
>B) Continue insulting her
>C) Ask her about the Lava Shrine
>D) Ask to speak to one of the others; her brother perhaps
>E) Other

>>46234721
>A) Switch tactics; compliment her

>>46234721
>>A) Switch tactics; compliment her

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>>46234721
>blaze
>A) Switch tactics; compliment her

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>>46234742
>>46234766
>>46234780

Cao folds his arms and switches up his tactics. She is very beautiful, so he tries something unconventional and flirts. "You have a nice butt, you know that?"

This causes her to look back at him. "Excuse me?"

"It's nice," he compliments her. "You're very lovely."

She narrows her eyes but doesn't break her stare. "Your flattery means nothing to me."

"Come on, aren't you a bit lonely out here? What's wrong with making a friend, huh?"

She puts her hands on her hips. "You're treading down a dangerous path, little man."

"Yeah, well, I bedded a vampire so you don't scare me too much," he says, his confidence doubled ever since.

She's taken aback, to say the least. "You're either very brave or very foolish," she says, folding her arms. "But even so, you're still going to die."

"And if I don't? What then?"

She seems wary of revealing the truth. "If you did... things would change. I would no longer need to guide people to the Lava Shrine."

"Why, exactly? What is the Lava Shrine guarding?"

"The last egg of the true dragons," she says, now a little more interested in talking. "It is prophecized that eventually one will come, bearing the blood of a dragon, defeat the guardian and awaken it from slumber."

Cao is still for a moment. He looks back in the cave and realizes that Nitara still has the dragon's blood. She said it was pure, one of the last amounts of pure dragon's blood...

>A) Ask more about this prophecy
>B) Ask about herself
>C) Ask about the guardian, Blaze
>D) Head back into the cave
>E) Other

>>46235555
>A) Ask more about this prophecy
>B) Ask about herself
What's so special about a true dragon, never mind its egg?

>>46235555
>>A) Ask more about this prophecy
>>B) Ask about herself
Why would the blaze dying make it so that she can leave?
thought you died dam

>>46235555
Severely disappointed that she didn't comment about people always talking about her ass. And holy shit that was one of the crudest things he's ever said.

>>46235742
It kinda came out of nowhere.

To be fair, he DID just lose his virginity to a vampire.

>>46235803
To be fair he probably has no idea what is proper or improper to say compliment wise.

>>46235825
>If you want girls to like you, Cao, you need to tell them something you like about them. Take it from big sis: girls love compliments, especially if you catch them from out of nowhere with one.

>>46235866
SWEET ASS, TOOTS.

>>46235803
>>46235825
It was less him trying to compliment her seriously (even tho dat ass) and more him trying to get a different reaction out of her.
>>46235866
>>46235905
This also works
>>46235607
>>46235652

"What is this, prophecy, exactly?"

"The return of the Dragon King," she says, apparently resigned to finally answering all of his questions. Her tone has lightened a bit as well. He briefly wonders if this has to do with complimenting her butt. "It is said that he will be reborn to bring about a new age for Outworld."

Cao's eyes narrow. The Dragon King... Somewhere, deep inside him, something stirs with great distaste for that title. It makes him feel nervous and anxious. "Who is he?"

"The true Emperor of Outworld," she replies. "Long before Shao Kahn ruled, it was the Dragon King."

"And... you think it is true?"

"I do not know," she replies, looking away. "But I am to be punished and kept in these lands until he is reborn."

"And then what? You're free?"

"Then... I do not wish to talk about it." She looks away. "My fate has already been decided once the Dragon King is born."

>A) Press her further on the issue
>B) Ask more about the Dragon King
>C) Why not help me defeat Blaze and make the prophecy come true?
>D) Go back into the cave
>E) Other

>>46235944
>C) Why not help me defeat Blaze and make the prophecy come true?

>>46235944
>>D) Go back into the cave
I want to stop getting involved in outworld changing matters. Can't we just sneak pass blaze?

>>46235944
>E) Go back to Nitara
Thanks bitch but our gf is hurt

>>46235964
>>46235995
>>46236165

I'll be continuing in the morning.

>>46236362
Smmmmuuuuutbin pls.

>>46236385

It ain't done yet, anon.

>>46236442
Sheeeeet. Goodnight loser.

bump

Bump

Writing now.

>>46236165
>>46235995

With this new information, Cao doesn't know what to make of it. Inside, something tells him that it is bad---it makes him uncomfortable and on edge. The Dragon King... Nitara told him that he was the one who ruled Outworld before Shao Kahn. Is that why he is suddenly so nervous?

He walks into the cave and looks over at Nitara, who is awake. "Cao," she breathes.

Quickly he runs over to her and kneels alongside her. "Are you feeling alright?"

"No," she says with a chuckle, "but I'll live. I had one hell of a fall." She looks at his wounded hand. "You did that for me? You're so sweet. Good thing I brought you..."

"Your wing, it's..."

"I know. When my realm is returned, there is Blood Magik that will repair it. I'll be alright."

He is silent for a moment. "There is someone here who will guide us to the Lava Shrine. She says that there is a guardian inside, a fire elemental named Blaze. She's also saying something about a prophecy about the Dragon King being reborn."

"I know this prophecy," Nitara says.

"What? Then why did you bring dragon's blood?"

"Because it's just words, Cao. The dragon egg in that chamber is thousands of years old. It's stone by now. The Dragon King is dead and gone." She sits up and takes out the dragon's blood amulet he stole from Jagara. "This blood will allow me to retrieve the orb containing my realm's essence from the magma in the chamber."

"Did you ever wonder why the orb is down there?" he asks.

"Somene put it there. Why, I do not know. But that is where it is, and where we are going."

She moves to stand but is weak, her legs buckling a bit. Cao moves to support her. "Maybe we should rest..." he suggests.

"No! We're so close. We should go there as soon as we can."

"What about the guardian?" Cao asks.

"I have a plan for it."

>A) Keep her here and rest until she is more recovered
>B) Head to the Lava Shrine
>C) Ask her about her plan
>D) Give her some more blood to drink
>E) Other

>>46242456
>C) Ask her about her plan

>>46242456
>C)
Yeah we're in no condition to be taking action here.

>>46242478
>>46242689

"What is your plan, exactly?" he asks her as he helps her up.

"I have studied well for this journey. The prophecy may just be words but Blaze is very real. Long ago, he was taken by the priests of the Dragon King to guard the chamber against his will, robbed of his memories. I have a means to free him from his imprisonment."

"You don't think we can defeat him?" he asks.

"He is a being of pure fire," she says. "Can you stab a fire, or punch it?"

"I see what you mean," he replies. "Even so, are you certain it will work?"

"I am," she nods. She takes another step and falls onto her knee. "Gah! Still weak," she gasps. "Damnit, I'm so close..."

>A) Keep her here for now
>B) Offer to go and free Blaze without her while she rests
>C) Head to the Lava Shrine
>D) Have her explain her plan to free Blaze
>E) Other

>>46242743

Forgot to change trips.

>>46242743
>D)

>>46242743
>>D) Have her explain her plan to free Blaze

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>>46242755
>>46242781

He helps her to sit on one of the chairs in the cave. "How do you intend to free him?"

"I read scrolls from the ancient dragon priests who performed the binding upon Blaze," she explains. Reaching into her jacket, she takes out a bottle of hardened glass with a purple liquid inside of it. "This will free him."

Cao takes hold of it and looks at it. The purple liquid continually bubbles, even when it is still. "He has to drink this?" She nods. "What will this do?"

"It will restore Blaze's memory. The fire elemental has been robbed of his memories so as to believe his only purpose is to guard the dragon egg within the chamber. With this, however, he will regain his memories and the spell upon him will be broken."

"And then what?"

"Presumably, he will be thankful," she says. "With any luck his fiery wrath will be brought upon those who attacked him, and not those who gave him his memory back."

>A) Keep her here for now
>B) Offer to go and free Blaze without her while she rests
>C) Head to the Lava Shrine with Nitara
>D) Other

>A)
Again, not in any condition

>>46242870
>A) rest
What if the dragon king will be reborn in the body of the one who fulfills this prophecy? What if we're collecting the souls of outworld's former rulers?

>>46242870
>>A) Keep her here for now

>>46242870
>A) Keep her here for now
>D) "You've waited how long to reach this point? Wait a bit longer to rest."

>>46242892
>>46242983
>>46243024
>>46243122

"You need rest," he urges her. "You've waited this long, you can wait some more. Come on, rest."

She protests, but doesn't fight him as he helps her back to the bed. He sits on the edge with her and offers her his hand to drink from. She graciously accepts it and licks his wound before suckling on it.

He looks out towards the cave entrance and finds Khameleon there, with her arms folded and leaning up against the wall, staring at them both. He isn't sure what is running through that one's mind---she still has many secrets, he can tell.

Nitara is soon asleep and resting again. Cao shakes his hand, which has lost much of its feeling. She's drained quite a bit, which is an acceptable loss he supposes, but it still has left his hand a bit weak. He'll need time to get more blood into it.

As he sits nearby, he wonders what he should do. Nitara is hurt; that was unfortunate and unforseeable, but it's the situation he's in. He could wait for her to fully heal before leaving with her. Or, perhaps, he could take the memory potion and leave for the Lava Shrine to take care of Blaze while she rests. He doesn't know how the battle against the firespawn will go---having her there, if she isn't fully recovered, could be risky. And then there's this prophecy, which while she assures him is false, still fills him with a strange, growing dread he doesn't fully understand. Perhaps it has something to do with Shao Kahn and his relationship to the Dragon King...

He looks at the purple potion on the table and thinks. Perhaps he could take care of Blaze. Without the dragon's blood of the necklace he would have no risk of accidentally fulfilling any ancient prophecy, surely?

>A) Wait with Nitara until she is fully healed
>B) Leave for the Lava Shrine without Nitara to take care of Blaze
>C) Speak to Khameleon some more
>D) Other

What do you guys think the odds are of us channeling Shao Khan in a fight with Blaze?

>>46243157
>>A) Wait with Nitara until she is fully healed
>>C) Speak to Khameleon some more

>>46243157
>A)
>C)

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>>46243272
>>46243529

As Cao sits and waits for Nitara's strength to return, Khameleon wanders over. "So, she's the one?" she asks, her eyebrows raised.

"Yes," he replies, a bit sheepishly.

"You often sleep with monsters?"

"She's not a monster," he replies, growing defensive.

"She's not an outworlder, either," she points out. "So you're her thrall, then?"

"We're partners. She never used any mind control on me."

"Not the vampiric kind," she says with some amusement. "How long do you intend to stay with her?"

"We'll part after the quest is done," he says quietly.

"And this makes you sad?"

"What's your game?" he asks, annoyed. "I thought I was the one who asked you questions."

"I suppose you've made me curious," she shrugs. "I'll admit, it's not every day I get someone to talk to, especially not someone with a vampire accompanying them. A curious relationship breeds curious questions."

"What do you care?"

"I rather admire someone who is brave enough to seek romance outside of their own species," she says. "I wonder, is it a fetish? What's next for you? Shokan? Tarkatan? Saurian, perhaps?"

He laughs at that last one. "Have you seen a saurian? Ugly things, aren't they?" Khameleon grows silent. "I know this one, Reptile, and he's---"

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"Reptile," she interrupts him with a distasteful tone. "Is all you know of the saurians Reptile and his disgusting, mutant brood?"

Cao blinks in surprise at her suddenly hostile tone. Before he can reply, she says, "I should have known that he would give saurians a bad name."

"Wait... Are you a saurian?"

Her peachy skin fades into a translucent, clear surface and her eyes glow green. Her grey outfit turns into a turquoise color as she steps out of the shadows. "You know nothing of true saurians," she says to him. "Reptile is a vile creature unfit for the name. I tried to kill him and his entire deformed offspring once and now they infest Outworld."

"I'm sorry," he replies. "I didn't know you were..."

"I know," she says. "Believe me when I say that I am offended more by Reptile than by your words. The fact that his life hasn't been strangled out of his pathetic body is infuriating. Were I not forced to be here in service, I would have tracked him down and slit his throat and smashed every mutant egg in his lair."

She slams a fist against the wall. She's clearly been holding this anger in for quite some time. "I'd give anything to get out of here..." she mutters.

>A) Ask for her help in defeating Blaze
>B) Let her in on Nitara's plan
>C) Let her leave and stew in her rage
>D) Compliment her true self
>E) Other

>>46243837
>>A) Ask for her help in defeating Blaze
>>D) Compliment her true self

>>46243837
>D) Compliment her true self
awkwardly

>>46243837
>>D) Compliment her true self
I AM HERE!

>>46243837
>D)
Then
>A)

>>46243885
>>46244229
>>46244314
>>46244469

Cao holds up his hands. "Hey, uh... If it means anything, you do look a lot better than Reptile..."

"Well, that's obvious, he's wretched. More false flattery?" she asks, her glowing eyes scrutinizing him.

"I haven't paid you a single false flattery," he says. "I mean, I like the way your... skin... shimmers? Uh, and your eyes are very... pretty? Did I mention how nice your butt is?"

"Why does EVERYONE keep saying that?!" she reacts quite explosively. She looks back. "What do people see in it?"

"Well, there is a shortage of blind people in the world," he jokes.

She glares at him again. "Cute, boy. Very cute." She transforms back into her human disguise and goes back to leaning up against the wall. "So."

"So?"

"So, when do you think you'll be ready to fight Blaze?"

"As soon as she's okay," he says to her, looking back at Nitara.

"So be it," she replies. "I'll go back to keeping watch."

>>46244558

As she leaves, Cao thinks about their strange interraction. He's learned more about her now, at least, and apparently about the hatred she has for Reptile and the other lizardfolk from Z'unkahrah. He sits down and hopes Reptile did go back and didn't follow them here. That would lead to a violent confrontation, he thinks.

Still... another interesting bit of information was revealed to him: she wants out of her service. Perhaps he can use this to bargain for her help...

Leaving Nitara's side, he walks out of the cave and approaches her from behind. He openly asks, "Why not help me defeat Blaze?"

"I cannot," she says. "I am forbidden from entering the Lava Shrine."

"Why?"

"It is a term of my service. I cannot leave, cannot defeat Blaze myself and must guide others to the shrine."

"Who enforces this? What stops you?" She is silent. When she doesn't reply, he asks, "Well, if the only way out is by defeating Blaze, why not help me and I'll help you?"

"I cannot," she says. "Even if Blaze were to be defeated, I told you that my fate is sealed. I am to serve the resurrected Dragon King when he is reborn and there is no going back on that." She looks away and forlornly says, "The priests of the Dragon King have made sure of that."

>A) Do you not want to serve him?
>B) What kind of spell did they put on you?
>C) Ask if she can do anything at all to help
>D) Go back into the cave
>E) Other

>>46244576
>E) Other -does the prophecy mention how the dragon king will be reborn?

>>46244576
>A) Do you not want to serve him?
>B) What kind of spell did they put on you?

>>46244576
>>A) Do you not want to serve him?
>>B) What kind of spell did they put on you?

>>46244576
>>B) What kind of spell did they put on you?
Maybe Nitara can free her with blood magic or something when we free her realm.

>>46244620
This too.

>>46244622
>>46244628
>>46244689

"How does the prophecy mention he will be reborn?" he asks, wanting to know what to avoid.

"The presence of pure dragon's blood will awaken him," Khameleon replies. "Then, the egg shall break and the Dragon King will be reborn in a new body. He will take over the body of the one who possesses the dragon's blood."

Cao begins to realize how this is all falling into place. He looks back into the cave, worrying that if Nitara drinks the dragon's blood, she could awaken the dragon egg. But if she doesn't, she won't retrieve her realm...

"And if that happens, do you not want to serve him?" Cao asks.

Khameleon looks left and right, scanning her eyes across the mountains. She turns and tackles Cao up against the nearby wall of the cave.

"NO!" she nearly screams in his face. as she grips his collar. "I hate this place. I hate how it smells. I've been here for a decade and I hate it!"

"Gah!" Cao says as she lets go and punches the wall.

"I was supposed to be a matriarch," she breathes. "I was going to breed a new generation of saurians! I was supposed to be a queen-mother! Now I am nothing but a slave!"

She turns around and paces. "And brother doesn't care... he doesn't care! None of them do! All they care about is Onaga! Onaga this, Onaga that! The return of the Dragon King! The return of the one true Emperor! The return of dragonkind! I'm sick of it! Sick of all of it, all of it, all of it! AAAAHHH!"

Her hands run through and pull on her hair as she lets out her grievances. 'No wonder she didn't want to talk to anyone,' he thinks. 'She's crazy...'

"What did they do to you?" he asks as she sits against the wall. "Did they put some kind of spell on you?"

She closes her eyes. "Yes. A spell that forbids me from leaving. I must do as I am bid or else."

"Or else what?"

"Or I'll never have children," she says softly, defeated. "Their magic can take it away from me. Can take away the only true future I have for my blood, my race..."

Cao can't help but feel pity for the saurian. She leans her head back against the cave wall. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was going to be a matriarch..."

>A) Ask how the spell can be broken
>B) Tell her that you want to help her
>C) Could Onaga be stopped when he is reborn?
>D) Return to Nitara's side and wait
>E) Other

>>46244997
>>A) Ask how the spell can be broken

>>46244997
>A) Ask how the spell can be broken

>>46244997
>E) Other - grab the memory potion and the dragon blood! Head to the temple!
"He will take over the body of the one who possesses the dragon's blood." Shao Khan 's soul would never allow someone else to steal his chance at resurrection! All hail, the once and future Cao Kahn, the Dragon King Reborn!

>>46244997
>A) Ask how the spell can be broken
>C) Could Onaga be stopped when he is reborn?

>>46245129
>>46245136
>>46245241

"Alright, so how can the spell be broken?" he asks her.

"Why do you care?"

"Well, maybe I want your help, and maybe I don't want the Dragon King to be resurrected," he tells her. "Maybe that sounds like something I'd personally like to avoid."

"Lao Pan," she says.

"What? What is that?"

"The High Priest of the Dragon King's Order," she says. "He placed the spell upon me with his staff. If we could destroy the staff... the spell would be broken." She gives him a curious look. "Why would you do this for me?"

"I already told you, I want your help. You want out of his service and I want to get rid of Blaze without waking up that egg. The problem is that we need to take the dragon's blood into the chamber. Is there any way this could be done without making that prophecy come true?"

Khameleons eyes dart back into the cave. "Perhaps... How much dragon's blood do you have?"

"Not much," he replies. "Only enough for a single drink. She means to drink it to retrieve something from the lava within the chamber because the dragon blood will stop her from burning."

"A good plan, were it not for the fact that it would awaken the dragon egg," Khameleon replies.

"But is there a way we can keep it from waking up long enough for her to find what she needs to find? Can we stall it?"

Khameleon is silent for a moment. "Perhaps. But we would need the staff of the high priest."

"I'm a thief," Cao says with a smile. "Stealing is what I do. Where is he?"

"There is a temple over the shrine where the dragon priests perform their rituals. He is there, but he is a powerful sorcerer in his own right. It may not be easy for you to just sneak in and steal it."

>A) Take me there now
>B) I'll wait for Nitara to heal
>C) Take the memory potion
>D) Take the memory potion and dragon's blood
>E) Other

>>46245421
>A) Take me there now
>E) Put our self over. Be confidant.

>>46245421
>A) Take me there now

>>46245421
>>A) Take me there now

We should get her to watch Nitara for us.

>>46245441
Uuh. What are you saying for this second part? Put ourselves over?

>>46245491
No it's a figure of speech.

>>46245491
I think it's Cao trying to sell himself as Khameleon's salvation. She found this loophole to not only free herself of her magical compusion to guard Onaga but also prevent Onaga's resurrection in the presence of true dragon blood; she just could never act on it before Cao showed up.

>>46245421
>D) Take the memory potion and dragon's blood

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>>46245441
>>46245456
>>46245469

"Just tell me where it is and I'll get that staff," he says with a smile. "Trust me. I'll get what I want, you'll get what you want."

She looks up at him, silently contemplating if it is worth trusting him or not. After a moment, she offers him her hand and they shake. "Very well. I hope you're right."

"My name is Cao, by the way."

"I'm putting a lot of faith in you, Cao," she says. "If you are captured or killed by the dragon priests, I will be in great trouble."

"I won't be," he replies. "Take me to the temple, and then come back to look after Nitara."

"Follow quickly," she urges and they leave the cave behind.

She takes him across the blasted, volcanic landscape until they reach a lake of fire. At the heart of this lake is a single island with a large volcano on it. Cao squints and can see the outline of a fortress temple built within the volcano.

"Cross the lake with this," she says, leading him to the shore where a boat of cold, black metal sits in the fiery water. "Once you have the staff, bring it to me immediately. I will watch your friend."

"Okay," he says and Khameleon leaves him, heading back to the cave. He climbs into the boat, which is surprisingly cool to the touch, and grabs the oar and starts pushing himself through the loose, magma-like liquid surrounding it.

He looks on at the temple and wonders how he should sneak in.

>A) Through the main entrance
>B) Climb the mountain and go in through the top
>C) Seek out an underground passage
>D) Scale the walls of the temple until you reach a window
>E) Other

>>46245977
>>D) Scale the walls of the temple until you reach a window

>>46245977
>>D) Scale the walls of the temple until you reach a window

>>46245977
>D)

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>>46246032
>>46246151
>>46246501

Upon reaching the other side of the lake, he races towards the temple walls. Putting his hands on the black stone surface, he begins to climb. Finding handholds and surfaces from which to climb higher, he eventually reaches an open window and climbs inside.

He touches down silently in a hallway. The stone halls of this place are lit by great burning braziers and torches, along with ornate golden chandaliers hanging from the ceiling. His eyes dart up and down the halls as he begins to explore, searching for the high priest.

>A) Search the higher portions of the temple
>B) Search the ground floor
>C) Search the bottom levels
>D) Head into the heart of the temple, the volcanic chamber
>E) Other

>>46246587
>>A) Search the higher portions of the temple
This is where the head priests office would be right?

>>46246587
>>A) Search the higher portions of the temple

>>46246587
>A) Search the higher portions of the temple
High priest, high location

File: Lava Shrine Onaga Priests.jpg (64 KB, 573x348)

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>>46246686
>>46246688
>>46246694

Cao finds some stairs and climbs them. At the top, he hears chanting. 'That's a good sign, right?' he thinks to himself. The chanting appears religious in nature. As he walks down the halls, he suddenly hears a group of people walking towards him. He moves to hide alongside the pillars of the hall in the shadows cast by the many fires as they pass.

The dragon priests all wear golden and black robes with lavish hats. Some carry scepters or spheres of incense, but none appear to be any different from each other so as to signify that they would be the high priest. As they pass, Cao looks in the direction they came from, seeing a staircase leading up, a large, brass door and another hallway which appears to be the source of the chanting.

>A) Follow the priests
>B) Go up the stairs
>C) Sneak through the brass door
>D) Follow the chanting
>E) Other

>>46246848
>>B) Go up the stairs

>>46246848
C) Go through the brass door

>>46246848
>B

File: Lao Pan, Dragon Priest.png (485 KB, 558x800)

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>>46247102
>>46247171

Seeing his opportunity, Cao dashes up the stairs and finds himself on top of the temple. There, a large, flat roof is built leading to the mouth of the volcano itself. More dragon priests are here, and one of them stands upon a raised platform as the smoke from the volcano rises behind him. He certainly looks like a high priest, as his robes and staff set him apart from the others. He speaks to them all as he holds up his golden staff.

"The time of darkness has ended! We have kept the fire hidden and protected, and now comes the age of flames! Heretics and false emperors alike shall burn when the Dragon King returns! Fire shall rain down from the sky, just as fire shall reign over the land! The fire has grown in isolation and will soon spill forth from our lands to blanket all others in ash! Long live the fire! Long live the Dragon King! Eternal may he reign!"

The priests before him all repeat the last few lines. Cao, from his hidden position, looks upon the high priest and his staff and wonders what to do...

>A) Dropkick him into the volcano while you grab the staff
>B) Wait for them to finish their ceremony
>C) Attempt to steal it from him and then run away
>D) Reveal yourself to them and speak
>E) Other

>>46247501
>B) Wait for them to finish their ceremony

>>46247501
>>B) Wait for them to finish their ceremony

>>46247501
>B) Wait for them to finish their ceremony

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>>46247590
>>46247646
>>46247779

The high priest goes on for some time about fire and rebirth and a new age and such. Cao waits for him to finish as he hides in the shadows amongst the stones on the ceremonial rooftop. The priests begin to filter down the stairs when someone appears and approaches the high priest.

He looks like a warrior of some kind, with green and gold clothing with the iconography of dragons upon it. "My lord Lao Pan," he says as he kneels before the high priest.

"Rise, Hornbuckle."

From his hiding place, Cao tries to stiffle his laughter. 'What kind of a name is Hornbuckle?' he thinks as he smiles.

The man in green, Hornbuckle, does as he is bid. "I have captured someone in our lands."

For a moment, Cao is worried he may be referring to Nitara.

"He is a saurian who claims to be a member of the false Emperor's court."

Cao realizes immediately that he is reffering to Reptile! He followed him here! 'That slimy little snake, why didn't he just go home?' he thinks to himself.

"And did he have the blood of dragons upon him?" Lao Pan asks.

"No. He says he is looking for a thief... and a vampire."

"Interesting," the high priest says, running his hands through his thin beard. "He is in the dungeons?"

"Yes."

"Good. A servant of the false Emperor will make a worthy sacrifice to the Dragon King. Go to him and prepare him. I must go to my chambers and fetch something."

Cao watches them head down the stairs as Hornbuckle says, "Yes, my lord."

Reptile is their captive? He briefly wonders if he should save the ungrateful whelp from his fate. He didn't listen and continued following him. This could complicate matters...

>A) Follow Lao Pan to his quarters
>B) Find Reptile in the dungeons
>C) Get the staff, then get Reptile
>D) Ignore Reptile entirely
>E) Other

>>46248031
>>C) Get the staff, then get Reptile
Fucking moron, this is the last time we help somebody.

>>46248031
>C) Get the staff, then get Reptile
We should bust out Reptile first, as he can serve as the obligatory distraction for the guards.

>>46248031
>>B) Find Reptile in the dungeons
Second pair of hands to find the staff

>>46248031
>>C) Get the staff, then get Reptile
Maybe we can finally use magic.

>>46248110
>>46248129
>>46248209

The thief follows them down the stairs and watches them split apart. Lao Pan approaches the brass doors and touches his staff to them; they open at his silent command. Cao watches as he steps within and sees them closing behind him.

>1d100+10 to run inside before they close!
>Or, look for another way inside---a window, perhaps?

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>46248349

>>46248349
>>46248360
I knew I believed in our thief skills.

>>46248360

Cao rolls forward and ends up dashing through the doors just as they close, silent as a mouse. He finds himself in the personal chamber of the high priest as the man approaches a large wardrobe. Lao Pan takes off his hat and places it atop the dresser. As he turns around, Cao hides behind his stone desk. He approaches it and places the staff upon it. The thief looks up at the golden head of the staff, just above his own head, as the high priest turns and heads back to his dresser.

Cao smiles to himself as he reaches up for the staff, taking hold of it and silently bringing it down in front of him. But now, how to escape...

>A) Out the window
>B) Through the doors
>C) Knock out Lao Pan
>D) Kill Lao Pan
>E) Other

>>46248475
>A) Out the window

>>46248475
>>A) Out the window
Cmon.

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>>46248489
>>46248578

As Lao Pan looks through his wardrobe for something, Cao sneaks towards the window. He silently leaps up into it and climbs down, making his way out of Lao Pan's room without the high priest ever knowing. He can't help but smirk to himself a bit.

Now, for Reptile... That green, good-for-nothing lizard should have left, but he's willing to help spring him out of prison. Cao makes his way to the floor underneath the high priest and through another window, working his way into the fire temple and down the stairs to the dungeons. There he finds many cells, all of them empty, except one.

There is Reptile, sitting in the corner, bruised and bleeding green from a few wounds. He looks up at Cao and scowls. "You."

"Nice to see you too, lizard," he replies. "I'm here to get you out."

"I don't want your help. I am capable of leaving at any time."

"Shut up, you idiot. Look." He holds up the staff. "I have the staff of the high priest of this place. It's what I came for and I could have left by now, but I heard they had you. You shouldn't have followed me again but here I am, willing to help you, so you should be a bit more gracious."

"Leave," Reptile spits back at him. "When I want to, I'll melt the bars of my cell with my acid. This is not the first prison I have essscaped from."

"What is with you saurians and being so rude? At least Khameleon warmed up a bit but you've always been---"

"Khameleon?!" he says, jumping up to the bars. "Ssshe is here?"

"Her brother, too," Cao tells him. "Though, I doubt she wants to see you. She spoke of slicing your throat when I brought you up."

Reptile looks away. "Ssstil she hates me," he says. "No matter. Leave. I have my own plan and I don't want your help."

>A) Leave him
>B) Spring him
>C) Ask him what he plans
>D) Tell him not to interfere with you or else
>E) Other

>>46248754
>A)
>D)
Not even Damashi's writing makes this guy likable.

>>46248754
>C) Ask him what he plans

>>46248754
>A) Leave him
Don't blame me if you get sacrificed.

>>46248754
>>A) Leave him

>>46248754
>>E) Other
I just want to be your friend. I don't pity you, Reptile. I want to help you because friends help each other out.

>>46248919
Cao never agreed to be Reptile's friend.

>>46249006
I EXTENDING THE OLIVE BRANCH!

>>46248919
We're not Kaito

>>46248803
>>46248846
>>46248909

"So be it," Cao says, shaking his head. "But don't interfere with me and don't come crawling to me when you need help."

"I will never crawl to you, thief," Reptile says as Cao walks away. He leaves the petty saurian behind and walks out of the dungeons, making his way out of the temple. He dashes across the fields of ash to the boat and rows over the lake of fire back to the other side, where he follows the same trail Khameleon took him down before. Soon enough he's back in the cave where he discovers Khameleon and Nitara, who is up and more active.

"Cao," the vampire says with a smile as soon as he enters.

"The staff!" Khameleon cries, running over to him.

"Here," he offers it to her, but she does not take it.

"I cannot," she shakes her head and backs away. "I could have stolen it myself but I cannot touch it. Only when the spell is broken."

Nitara approaches him. "She explained everything to me while you were away. Were you detected?"

"Nobody saw me," he smiles. He looks at Khameleon and wonders if he should tell her about Reptile.

>A) Head straight to the lava shrine
>B) Tell her about Reptile
>C) Ask her how this is all going to work
>D) Give Nitara the staff
>E) Other

>>46249085
>B) Tell her about Reptile

>>46249085
>C) Ask her how this is all going to work

>>46249108
If Khameleon knows Reptile is here, she's going to fly off the handle and be uncontrollable.

>>46249085
>>B) Tell her about Reptile
Just so she knows.

>>46249085
>B)
Probably should mention seeing as he might bother us.
>A)
>C)
They'll be looking for this staff soon so lets not stay in one place.

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>>46249108
>>46249119
>>46249165
>>46249218

"I found something else while I was there, down in the dungeons," he says. "Reptile."

"He followed us again?" Nitara says, but the distaste in her voice is only half as potent as the distaste in Khameleon's.

"He is here?!" She looks away for a moment. "It... It doesn't matter. My freedom is more important. If the opportunity presents itself, I will kill him afterwards."

"So how will this all work?" he asks her.

"We go to the Lava Shrine and defeat Blaze," she says, gathering her things and moving to the cave mouth. "Then, we use the magic of the high priest's staff to keep the dragon egg from hatching."

"I drink the dragon's blood and I get the orb containing the essence of Vaeternus," Nitara explains. "Then I bring it up, smash it, and our quest is complete."

"What about sending me back?" Cao asks. "The timing on this will have to be perfect."

"I'll open the portal to send you home when I come up with the orb," Nitara says.

"And when you both are gone, I'll destroy the staff and freedom will be mine," Khameleon says.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Cao says.

All three of them head out, making their way back to the temple. After crossing the lake of fire, they reach the temple and enter its lower depths using a different passage. It opens up to a large cavern, at the heart of which is the Lava Shrine.

They walk upon smooth black rock and stop upon entering the chamber. Cao looks on ahead through the sweltering heat as he gazes upon the dragon egg. It is massive, easily the size of a man, set within a great stone goblet. Stone and glass dragon's wings rise from the altar and spread out, and alongside it two massive stone statues continually spew lava from their mouths.

There is no sign of Blaze yet, however.

>A) Cao approaches alone
>B) Cao approaches with Nitara
>C) Cao approaches with Khameleon
>D) All three approach
>E) Other

>>46250084
>C) Cao approaches with Khameleon

>>46250084
>>A) Cao approaches alone
Let's test the water. Remember Khameleon can't do anything to blaze

>>46250084
>>A) Cao approaches alone

>>46250084
>A)
Tell the other to keep out of sight and ready to act.

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>>46250159
>>46250205
>>46250230

"Stay back," he warns them as he approaches, taking the memory potion from Nitara. "Let's see what Blaze is I've heard so much about."

He walks forward with the staff of the high priest while Nitara and Khameleon linger behind. As he approaches the dragon egg, he gets another ominous feeling from within him. He clutches his chest for a moment. He feels a great compulsion to take out the Wrath Hammer and smash the egg and destroy it now. Something within him screams for him to do this.

But as he draws closer, the lava to his right suddenly bursts and small drops rain throughout the room. Cao leaps back to avoid getting hit as an orange, fiery figure emerges. Cao looks on at him as Blaze, fire given the form of a man, emerges from the lava and looks upon him with white-hot eyes.

"I am Blaze," he says in a deep, rumbling voice. "You have violated the sanctity of this shrine with your presence. I am to destroy you in kombat."

He steps out onto the stone. The ground at his feet burns and his skin is covered in fire, though he does appear to have some solidity to his body. He wears metal gauntlets and what appears to be metal set of underwear, for lack of a better term.

Cao studies his foe. He does appear to have lips and a mouth, but getting near him and getting him to drink the memory potion may be difficult...

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>46250627
Yeah...yeah...that's great. Before we engage in combat my religion requires that my opponent drink the sacred potion of battle.

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>46250627
Find a way to get this guy to drink the potion.

>>46250749
Nice suggestion there anon.

>>46250690

Cao nods. "Nice to meet you, Blaze. But my, uh, religion requires that before we fight, we must share a drink! Here, have one, you look thirsty."

Blaze looks down at the potion in his hand as he holds it out. He raises his hand and smacks it out of Cao's palm. The hard glass of the bottle keeps it from breaking as it falls onto the stone floor.

"What did---"

>>46250749

Blaze follows up his slap with a kick to Cao's chest, planting a burning foot upon the thief's stomach and knocking him back. Cao gasps from the heat of the contact and looks down at the red mark on his stomach. Blaze follows after him, intent on burning him even more!

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>46250859
Well, we can't exactly touch the guy, but we need to get him to drink. Any way to cool him down? Barring that, use the dadao to slice at his legs and slow him down.

>>46250859
Fuck. Start backing up and start summoning daggers to sling at this big bozo

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>46250859
Sure, throw daggers at him.

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>46250988
Roll

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>>46250944

Cao realizes how burning hot the elemental's skin is---touching him is only going to hurt! He draws his sword and swings at Blaze, managing to lodge it directly into the elemental's stomach. "Hah!" he cries.

Blaze looks down at the sword as the slice in his body heals and he pulls himself together. Cao tries to pull out the sword but finds it stuck within him. The elemental raises a hand and knocks Cao to the ground. He looks up and watches as Blaze holds out his arms and makes his flames grow even hotter around him.

Both the hilt and tip of the sword fall down, having melted from the intense heat. The remaining metal in the elemental's body bleeds out onto the ground, molten and rapidly cooling.

Cao looks up as the elemental looks upon him with a dispassionate, emotionless face. He raises his hands and prepares to launch a fireball at Cao when suddenly he is attacked from the side as Nitara runs up to punch him in the face. It burns her hand, but she cares little as she draws his attention away from the thief.

>>46251010
>>46250988

Cao gets up to his feet. He may no longer have his dadao, but he still has daggers he can summon and use. Pulling power from within, he summons three of them and whips the green glowing constructs at the elemental's back. They stick into his burning surface but do not seem to do him much harm. He thrusts both arms out again and creates a growing wave of heat that shatters the knives in his back and knocks both Cao and Nitara to the ground.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>46251139
Tell Nitara to get the damn potion and use it.

Distract him by slinging dirt at his face or something.


Also we lost the fucking sword again... Really?

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>46251139
throw as much dirt as possible at his face

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>46251139
This is getting nowhere, and everyone is clearly ill-equipped for this fight. The sooner we get Blaze to drink, the better.

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>46251139
Nitara has his attention make sure to snatch up the potion while he's distracted and don't stop throwing.
>>46251221
Ok guys... No more dirt in faces. It NEVER works out for Cao.

>>46251221
>>46251301
>>46251334
>>46251364
Fuck this quest's dice. We're cursed Damashi

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>>46251221
>>46251301

Cao shouts for Nitara to get to the potion. He reaches down and picks up a handful of dirt from the hot ground and tries throwing it in Blaze's face, but the elemental is unphased as the rocks and dirt hit him. He does not blink nor react in a way a normal being would, for indeed he is no normal being. He looks upon Cao and his eyes burn bright before he is attacked from behind by none other than Khameleon.

She wields a pair of steel fans and spins them around her fingers, fanning away his flames and slicing at him. Blaze's blood is a bright orange liquid that burns upon hitting the floor. The elemental holds up his arms and blasts fire at her, which she blocks with the fans.

Nitara kicks him from behind, though it damages her shoe. Blaze turns around and throws a fireball at her which she barely manages to dodge.

>>46251334

Cao looks over at the potion while the other two distract the firespawn. He leaps and wraps his hand around it, looking back and preparing to use it. He just needs his opening...

>Current Meter: 3
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>46251457
Blow out the fire around Blaze's head, jump on him, and force him to chug.

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>46251457
X-Ray, poor the damn potion down his throat.

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>46251457
Pinch his nose close so he opens his mouth and have him chug that shit. X-ray the liquid going down his throat?

>>46251659
Nope.nope.nope. Cao will never be happy.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>46251457
Xray that potion down his throat

>>46251712
He got laid, he's led a full and rewarding life

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>>46251474

Cao leaps up when he thinks he sees the fire around Blaze's head, arms and shoulders lowering, but the elemental sees him coming. Blaze jumps into the air with a spinning back-kick and knocks the thief backwards, causing him to land near the edge. The heat from the fiery liquid is almost overwhelming but he gets back up to his feet as Nitara and Khameleon both try to attack Blaze, but nothing they do seems to work. Nitara throws a knife which merely melts against the elemental's skin and Khameleon's fans can only keep him at bay for a moment before he regains his full strength.

>>46251588

Cao realizes that fighting carefully isn't going to work. Clever tricks won't work. Only taking risks will. He charges at the firespawn and slams his fist into Blaze's stomach. The firespawn lurches forward a bit as fire crawls up Cao's right arm. The pain is great, but with his left hand he uncorks the bottle and shoves it into Blaze's open mouth. He withdraws his burning hand and falls back into Nitara's arms as the firespawn steps back, the purple liquid pouring down his throat. He spits out the bottle and staggers for a moment before falling onto a knee. Khameleon moves to stand next to the two of them as Blaze slowly moves a hand to his head and he shakes.

Nitara manages to put the fires out on Cao's arm with a cloth. The thief gasps in pain as the flesh reacts by turning red and white.

After a moment, Blaze looks up at them. "What... What..." he repeats himself. He looks around, realizing where he is. "I should not be here," he says as much to himself as he does to them. "I must go."

He rises to his feet, keeping a hand on his head. "The quest... The brothers... The quest... Armageddon... Armageddon..."

>cont'd

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The elemental mutters to himself like a madman as he leaves the Lava Shrine. Nitara helps Cao up to his feet as the thief groans in pain from the burns on his arm. "The time has come," Khameleton says, reaching for the staff. He hands it to her as she approaches the massive dragon egg. She holds the staff up and points it at the shell, looking back at Nitara. "Are you ready?"

"A moment," she says, still ensuring that Cao is okay.

He shakes his arm. "I'm alright," he insists.

She surprises him by pulling him into a kiss. He reacts with wide eyes, intially, before giving into it. She pulls away and smiles. "Just for luck," she says, taking out the amulet of dragon's blood.

She opens it, removing the metal dragon claw cap, and drinks it all in one gulp. As she does, a quiet fills the chamber. Their eyes are drawn to the egg, which starts to subtly move.

"Go," Cao urges her. She wastes no time and dives into the lava. He watches her go and really hopes the dragon blood works---otherwise that's the last he'll ever see of her.

Khameleon watches the egg stir from the presence of dragon's blood and points the staff at the shell, channeling her power into the magical artifact. The head glows and it creates a circle of binding magic around the egg, preventing it from breaking. The magic is like a series of chains that keeps it held together.

"No hatching for you today, or ever," Khameleon smiles to herself.

"What do you think you are doing?" a new voice reaches their ears. They both turn and see someone new walk into the Lava Shrine---another saurian with shimmering skin.

Chameleon.

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>>46252256

"Brother, I---"

"Silence," he hisses. "You've betrayed our lord for the last time, sister. You just lost what little freedom you had left."

He approaches her, but Cao moves to stand between them. The saurian looks at him with suspicious eyes. "I do not know you. I don't care to. Move or die."

"As you wish," Cao replies, moving into a kombat pose. He knows he cannot let Khameleon's hold on the Dragon King be interrupted---not until Nitara has found the orb!

The saurian laughs at him. "You know not what you do, boy."

He matches Cao's readiness and gets into a stance of his own. The thief doesn't know what the warrior is capable of, but whatever it is, he knows that he must stop him from interfering.

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>46252279
Kick some ash in his face and sucker-punch him.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>46252279
poke him in the eyes then clothesline him

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>>46252317

Cao opens up by kicking ash towards Chameleon's face, thinking to follow up with a sneaky suckerpunch, but as he does, the saurian vanishes in a cloud of smoke.

"What---"

A fist flies into his jaw, then his chest, and then his stomach before a kick trips him and he falls onto his back. Chameleon reappears over him before planting a boot onto Cao's neck, looking down at him and laughing.

"You are nothing compared to me," he boasts. He takes his boot up and picks Cao up by the neck, holding him with one arm. "What are you? A rat? A speck of dust?"

>>46252388

Cao looks into his eyes and grunts, "I'm the thief," before bringing up his fingers and poking the saurian in the eyes. He drops Cao to the floor as he reacts in pained surprise before the thief brings up an arm and slams it across the saurian's chest, knocking him down.

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>46252636
Curbstomp time

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>46252636
Grab him by the head and grind his face into the rock.

File: seth-rollins-curb-stomp-e(...).jpg (143 KB, 550x309)

143 KB JPG

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>46252656
nice
>>46252636
Axe kick to his chest.

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>>46252656

Cao brings up a foot and slams it down onto Chameleon's chest, then his head and neck two more times. The saurian brings up his arms to try and block the attacks before teleporting away again.

>>46252678

Invisible once more, he punches Cao in the back of the head before following up with a stinging blow to his back.

>>46252722

As Cao stumbles forward, he twists and delivers an axe kick to the man's chest, turning him visible once more. They both back away from each other due to their wounds as Cao gets ready for the next series of attacks.

Chameleon shakes his head and puts his hands together, gathering energy for a force ball. He hurls it towards Cao!

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

>>46252722
Wrestling moves have always worked for Cao it seems. That and Jackie chan moves.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>46252836
Jump it, and kick him in the chest.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>46252836
Ole.Put your hands and try to absorb the a blast.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>46252836
Rolling dodge into a leg sweep.

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>>46252863

As Chameleon blasts the green ball of energy towards the thief, Cao leaps over it, flipping expertly and planting both feet upon the saurian's chest. Both of them fall back, with Cao springing up to his feet.

>>46252933

As Chameleon stumbles backwards, he turns in place and throws his wrist out towards Cao. A spearhead attaches to a rope flies out from under his hand towards the thief, piercing his chest. Cao shouts in pain as Chameleon pulls him towards him before roundhouse kicking him in the face. Cao finds his face planted into the ground.

>>46252966

As Cao tries to get back up, he finds Chameleon's boot planted onto the back of his head again and then again. The saurian kicks him away and Cao rolls along the ground, ending up near the edge.

He gets back to his feet as the saurian prepares for his next attack. Cao wipes blood away from his mouth and looks at the turquoise ninja, spitting some of it out.

He holds up his fists and gets ready for the next round.

>Current Meter: 3
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>46253087
Time for the X-Ray

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>46253087
Kick him in the balls until they're a bloody mass. He wasn't planning on using them anyway. X-ray in case you couldn't tell.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>46253087
Flaming spectral dagger to the throat!

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>46253087
Shoot for the legs and go for a takedown.

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>46253087
Try and summon a spectral sword for a swip at his face.

Just about to run a game of Dark Sun. Sorry for the delay, but I'll post the next part as soon as I can.

>>46253809
Waiting for op.

>>46256555
What is this? A Sheeva for ants?

>>46256636
none may look upon her in big quality but me

>>46256636
I think it's nsfw

Alright, I'm back and writing now.

Sorry for the slow day, folks, but we'll get going again now.

>>46258012
Fuck you Damashi, we only came here for the smutbin anyway.

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

>>46258098
Strikezone? More like... STRIKEBONE!

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>>46253108
>>46253134
>>46253160
>>46253174
>>46253196

Chameleon turns invisible and charges at Cao, but the thief is ready for him this time. He looks on the ground and sees the saurian's footprints running towards him. He conjures up a green dagger and throws it right into Chameleon's forehead, piercing his headband and drawing green blood, turning him visible again. Cao then runs at him and grabs his arm, twisting it behind him as he positions his leg around the saurian's neck. He jumps up and pulls on the arm in his reverse armlock, managing to twist and pull it out of its socket. Chameleon shouts in pain as Cao lets go and rolls backwards while he falls onto the ground, clutching his wounded arm.

As Cao advances upon the fallen saurian, he hears a noise from the Lava Shrine's entrance. Reptile runs inside, chased by Hornbuckle! He escaped from his prison cell, just as he said he would, but what is he doing here? As Cao looks on, Chameleon swings a leg and trips him, taking hold of his leg.

The third saurian runs forward and tackles Khameleon to the floor, knocking the staff out of her hands! As she tries to get back up he pushes her out of the way and kicks the staff in the opposite direction.

The dragon egg shifts slightly as the creature inside moves. The spell breaks, the magical chains shattering, and the shell begins to crack. Reptile stands in front of it, his arms spread wide and Hornbuckle stops in the center of the chamber, watching the events unfold.

"What are you doing?!" Cao shouts, trying to reach Reptile to stop him. The turquoise ninja doesn't let go and pulls him backwards. "Let go of me, you idiot!"

Khameleon looks up at Reptile. "Stop! You don't know what this is, you fool of all fools!"

"I know exactly what this is!" he shouts. "I have studied in the libraries of Z'unkahrah and know this is my destiny! A lifetime of service, a lifetime of ssslavery to sorcerers, emperors! NO MORE!"

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>>46258574

Cao's eyes go wide. "Reptile, no!" he screams, but it is too late as the dragon egg cracks and light streams out. The chamber is filled with blinding light as a beam blasts forth from the egg, completely enveloping the closest and most willing being: Reptile.

As the light swallows him completely, his body begins to change. He shouts as he hunches over, his spine jutting outwards as two large wings burst from his back. A tail coils rom behind him as his head elongates, growing great horns. His arms and legs lengthen as his body doubles in size and his legs grow new joints. A roar that shakes the mountain is uttered from new lungs as the great beast begins to take form in the light.

The light fades, leaving only a broken and shattered egg. They all look on as smoke wafts around Reptile, but when it clears, Reptile is no more.

Onaga, the Dragon King, has returned.

The massive figure stands up fully, easily ten feet tall, as he stretches out his mighty wingspan. His large, hoof-like feet stomp into the ashen floor around him as he raises his arms and bellows forth a deep, powerful roar before spewing flames from his mouth like a flamethrower, covering the ceiling.

He lowers his head and scans golden eyes around the chamber. Hornbuckle immediately falls down to a knee and kneels before the Dragon King, and Chameleon does the same despite his injury, letting go of Cao, who stands up.

Cao stares at the Dragon King and within him, something snaps. As he takes in the sight of transformed saurian his rage boils as Shao Kahn's utter contempt and hatred for Onaga begins to overwhelm him. He feels himself losing control as he looks on at his resurrected foe.

"Kneel before your Emperor," Onaga says, pointing a finger at Cao.

Those words push him over the edge and he feels Shao Kahn clawing his way out. He wants to come out. He wants to battle Onaga.

>1d100 to not turn into Shao Kahn!
>Or let him take over...

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>46258600
Lets not get turned into a puddle

>>46258600
So you just Rail Roaded Onaga anyway...

Dude, could we have avoided him at all? Like seriously?

>>46258724

Yeah, there were several opportunities, actually.

>>46258766
What were they? I feel like Reptile would've just run in and done this no matter what unless we killed him. Which we never really got an option for. I mean honestly man, you can't expect us to know what to do to avoid this shit. Like we were given no hint at all we could prevent this, it was just LOL REPTILE IS ONAGA NAO

>>46258803
>Reptile would've just run in and done this no matter what unless we killed him

I'm pretty sure there was an option last thread of "Kill Reptile" that nobody took

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>46258683
so what happens when we stay as cao, pick the only option that is allowed? Problem with authority?

rolling for the burn accompanying problem with authority

>>46258834
Like we would actually do it.

>>46258803
I imagine if we pushed reptile enough, he would have told us his plan so we could be prepared. But he said "I have a plan" and we just went "good luck" and bounced.You can't complain about not having a chance to stop it because we never did anything about it.

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>>46258683
>>46258857

Cao grits his teeth and his fists turn white from how hard he is curling them. Inside, Shao Kahn's soul rages, shouting, demanding release.

>"FREE ME! LET ME FACE HIM! I WILL CRUSH THE WORM BENEATH MY FEET! NONE SHALL TAKE MY THRONE FROM ME!"

Onaga looks upon the thief as his hands find their way to his head, not knowing the inner struggle that is taking place. Cao shouts in pain as Shao Kahn continues to battle him for dominance of his own body, but he fights the Emperor's soul back. The rage of Shao Kahn at the sight of Onaga is powerful, however, and he does not relent.

>"DO NOT DENY ME MY RIGHT, BOY! I WILL DESTROY THE DRAGON KING AGAIN, JUST AS I DID BEFORE!"

"No!" Cao cries out. Onaga does not know he is speaking to Shao Kahn and assumes he is refusing his order. With a snarl, the Dragon King takes one large step forward and raises a three-fingered hand to swap Cao aside. The thief rolls along the ground.

"All those who will not kneel to the rightful ruler of Outworld shall die," Onaga says, his voice thunderous and commanding. He takes another step towards Cao when something causes him to stop. He turns and finds that Khameleon has stabbed him in the back of his leg with a steel fan.

He leers at her and coils his tail to smack her aside. "What do we have here?"

Chameleon stands up. "She has betrayed you, my Emperor! She planned to keep you from being reborn!"

Onaga leans down and picks her up by the neck, holding her up with one arm. "A pity," he says.

Just then, a nearby burst of lava draws everyone's attention as Nitara emerges, holding a glowing white sphere! Lava drips off of her (though as a side effect she is completey nude, but Cao has more pressing matters on his mind). She looks around the chamber at all of the new figures.

"What in the hells did I miss?" she asks.

>A) Tell her to open the portal
>B) Attack Onaga; free Khameleon
>C) Escape the Lava Shrine with Nitara
>D) Tell her to smash the orb
>E) Other

>>46259001
>A) Tell her to open the portal
we need to run

>>46259001
>>A) Tell her to open the portal
>>B) Attack Onaga; free Khameleon


>>46258960
I'm not butt hurt or anything, mostly because of how fucking cool this is.

>>46259001
>>B) Attack Onaga; free Khameleon
Give Shao an out. Try to release energy through your hands let em get out all that frustration.

>>46259001
>D) Tell her to smash the orb
>B) Attack Onaga; free Khameleon

>>46258803
>What were they?

I mean, there's quite a bit, honestly. Walking into the ashlands would have triggered a different encounter than the dragon, and we wouldn't have met Khameleon; it would have been Hornbuckle. Not checking Reptile's trail after leaving the temple in the Golden Desert to discover that he didn't actually stop following them would have helped. Killing him would have been a sure-fire way to stop him from wanting to become the Dragon King. Asking him about what he planned to do in the prisons, while he would have been very argumentative (and would have led to Hornbuckle discovering Cao and the staff if they had stayed to argue) would have given a great hint towards Reptile's knowledge of the Dragon King's prophecy and his desire to see it fulfilled. Encountering Chameleon and Hornbuckle prior to going into the temple would also have prevented some things from happening the way they did.

There are many roads, and some of them ended up with the Dragon King being reborn, but some of them didn't.

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>>46259075
>>46259097
>>46259128

Cao ignores Nitara and gets on his feet, running towards the Dragon King. Before he can reach him, however, Hornbuckle leaps up and tackles the thief to the ground to stop him from attacking his lord. Khameleon, meanwhile, teleports out of Onaga's distracted grasp by slipping away under the cover of smoke, going for the high priest's staff. She picks it up only to find her brother there, grabbing the staff as well, pulling against her with his one good arm.

Nitara looks around the chamber and knows not what to make of the chaos. Onaga turns to her and commands her to release the orb containing her realm's essence or else be destroyed; she naturally refuses. The Dragon King roars and charges at her, as any realm fused to Outworld belongs to him.

>A) Fight Hornbuckle
>B) Help Khameleon
>C) Distract the Dragon King
>D) Escape with Nitara
>E) Other

>>46259282
>>C) Distract the Dragon King
NOOOOOOO! Hit him with our strongest force of energy.