>>46596231

Also, you’re still in your clothes, and you’re lying on somebody’s arm. You follow it back to its source, and find Wolfgang. Oh. Right. After you got Jack in the Box, you came back here. And then Wolf lied down, and you came in to say goodbye or something. You must’ve passed out like a big doofus. You gotta cut back on the chocolate shakes.

When your phone buzzes a third time, you silence its cries with a viper strike. It’s like 4 in the morning. The call is from Waldric.

You grumble meaninglessly to yourself, prop yourself up on an arm, and answer it. “What?” you croak, stretching your bony wings. You settle them carefully behind you where they’re not going to cut anyone.

Waldric comes on the other end, his voice worn-down. “They took Deletrius.”

You sit up, your blood running uncharacteristically cold.

>When did you find out?
>Who else have you called?
>You don’t just ‘take’ Crowther.
>It was Anatu, wasn’t it. She’s at the old goblin warren. We can get him back.
>You’re sure? This isn’t one of his super secret plans, right?
>Hold on a sec. (Take this conversation away from Wolf)
>Other (?)

>>46596239
>>When did you find out?
>>Who else have you called?
>>You don’t just ‘take’ Crowther.

>>46596239
>>When did you find out?
>>Who else have you called?
>>You don’t just ‘take’ Crowther.
>>It was Anatu, wasn’t it. She’s at the old goblin warren. We can get him back.

>>46596239
>When did you find out?
>Who else have you called?
>It was Anatu, wasn’t it. She’s at the old goblin warren. We can get him back.

>>46596239
>When did you find out?
>Who else have you called?
>You don’t just ‘take’ Crowther.
>It was Anatu, wasn’t it. She’s at the old goblin warren. We can get him back.

>>46596239
>You don’t just ‘take’ Crowther.

>>46596239
>When did you find out?
>Who else have you called?
>>It was Anatu, wasn’t it. She’s at the old goblin warren. We can get him back.

>>46596239
>When did you find out?
>Who else have you called?
>You’re sure? This isn’t one of his super secret plans, right?

>>46596239
>You don’t just ‘take’ Crowther.
>It was Anatu, wasn’t it. She’s at the old goblin warren. We can get him back.

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Space Wizard and Shadow Demon vs. Horrorterrors and Goblins?

Sign me the fuck up.

>>46596231
YES! Finally, I have caught you, Languid! Your reckoning is at hand.

First, I would like to express how joyful it has been to read your quest for the past two weeks. I got physically ill with depression when I came to its natural conclusion, a clear sign of good writing by my account. I felt really bad for Meckor from a writing standpoint, but I understand that shit happens. Hope he gets a chance to redeem himself.

I have noticed that the quest has been slowing down, both literally and figuratively, over the past few months and I think its a Tolkien Pass you are attempting so I will shut my gob about it. I hope things pick up again.

Keep doing god's work, friend. Expect some heavy fanart from me (and my cellphone cam) in the next few days.

It’s like hearing somebody say they don’t like chocolate. “You don't just take Crowther,” you say, almost trying to reason with the Baron. (+7 Stress: 13)

Wolfgang stirs beside you. “What’s up?” he asks, yawning.

You hush him for a second. “When did you find out?” you ask Waldric.

“My people saw it happen ten minutes ago,” he says.

Stiffly, Wolf turns and sits up next to you, his brow knit seriously together as he listens in.

“It was Anatu, wasn’t it,” you say, your mind flying into overdrive. “She’s at the old goblin warren. We’ll get him back.” (+5 Stress: 18)

Your phone starts buzzing again then, another call coming through from an unknown number.

>Hold on, I’ve got another call. (Put Waldric on hold)
>Hit ignore on the incoming call. You’re busy right now.
>I need to call you back, I’m getting somebody else on here. (Hang up, answer other number)
>Well, tell everyone else.
>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
>Other (?)

>>46596902
>. Hope he gets a chance to redeem himself.
He's dead anon.
>>46596941
>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
>I need to call you back, I’m getting somebody else on here. (Hang up, answer other number)

>>46596941
>>Hold on, I’ve got another call. (Put Waldric on hold)
It's probably them

>>46596941
>>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
>Hold on, I’ve got another call. (Put Waldric on hold)

>>46596941
>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
>I need to call you back, I’m getting somebody else on here. (Hang up, answer other number)

>>46596902

Great to see new people getting involved.

There were a lot of different things that could've happened with Meckor, but what he's done will have to speak for itself since he's gone.

About the quest slowing down, yeah, it has. Part of that has been me wanting to flesh the world and characters out before pushing forward. Another part of that is that I just haven't been able to dedicate 2~3 days a week to running the quest. Know that if anybody's frustrated, it's me. It's a big world I want you guys to explore, but it has to be my way.

>>46596941
>>Hold on, I’ve got another call. (Put Waldric on hold)

>>46596941
>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.
>Hold on, I’ve got another call. (Put Waldric on hold)

>>46596968
You'd be surprised how many people are redeemed after death. I sincerely think we kinda mega-skip his entire story arch because we are fucking bloodthirsty assholes.

And to make a point, Nabuth was dead too.

>>46596941
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.

>>46596941
>>I need to call you back, I’m getting somebody else on here. (Hang up, answer other number)

>>46597104

Every once in a while, people die for real.

Also yeah, people were pretty brutal with Meckor. On the whole Sierra hasn't been very forgiving.

>>46597079
No need to frustrated, sir. I thoroughly enjoy your writing and it has been captivating to the point where I have to push it on my entire group of friends.
I am even considering making it canon in my cWoD game, what should speak volumes of the quality alone.

>but it has to be my way.
I would have it no other way, sir. Godspeed.

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>>46596941
>I need to call you back, I’m getting somebody else on here. (Hang up, answer other number)
>Well, tell everyone else.
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
She messed with the wrong nigger.

>>46596941
>Hold on, I’ve got another call. (Put Waldric on hold)
>We need to get the Conclave together, figure this out.
>That’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help.
All out war, motherfuckers!

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Love this quest

You forge onward, hoping to get some plan of action across. “The whole thing’s hostile action against the US government. Isaac’ll help – but we need to get the Conclave together, figure this out,” you say.

“We can’t rush a response,” says Waldric, his tone careful. “Nothing happened in this city without Nabuth knowing about it. They’ll be prepared.”

You imagine all the stuff Nabuth had to know. He knows the fief, he knows the demonbane, he knows you. Unlike the rest of Ushola’s people, he’s not incompetent.

Your phone’s buzzing distracts your thoughts. “Hold on, I’ve got another call,” you say.

“If it’s them, whatever they say, it’s a trap,” Waldric replies.

“Got it,” you say, switching over to the next call.

A deep womanly voice sounds on the other end, a grating, phlegmy quality to it. “Sierra, I contest your right to head the Francisco fief,” she says. She inhales again before speaking, the depth of the sound betraying something of her physical power. “You will duel me at sundown on the Alcatraz Island for this right, or I will slit the throat of your consort’s father.”

Wolfgang’s eyes go wide, and saccharine anxiety glows off him. (+4 Stress: 22)

You try to flash him a reassuring look, but wind up looking annoyed. You’re not a very reassuring person.

>My right? Waldric’s the Baron, not me.
>That’s a trap. You’ll just kill us both.
>How about you let him go instead, before I track you down and you get your own throat split open?
>Oh yeah? What do I get if I win? Duels are a two-way deal, Anatu.
>Wait, who is this again? I think you have the wrong number.
>Did you mean to call Waldric? You know, the baron?
>You get that this open aggression against the US, yeah? Didn't pan out last time, I hear.
>You wouldn’t dare. If you killed the Magister, the fief would be swamped with demonbane. You’d get nothing.
>Other (?)

>>46597980
Same

>>46597996
>>Oh yeah? What do I get if I win? Duels are a two-way deal, Anatu.
>You wouldn’t dare. If you killed the Magister, the fief would be swamped with demonbane. You’d get nothing.

>>46597996

>Other (?)
"If you do that, I will come to Stygia and kill everyone of your brothers and sisters so quickly that not even your whore mother will be able to fuck quickly enough to replace them!"

>>46597996
>That’s a trap. You’ll just kill us both.
>How about you let him go instead, before I track you down and you get your own throat split open?
Let's not point out that she should be fighting the court rat instead. He probably isn't a one-on-one duel kind of fighter, if he is one at all.

>>46597286

Ha. I'd love to hear about it, but maybe here's not the best place.

>>46597996
>How about you let him go instead, before I track you down and you get your own throat split open?

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>>46597996
>or I will slit the throat of your consort’s father
does... does she know who she's kidnapped?

I feel like we should ask her just how she kidnapped him, maybe she'll let slip how much she knows of the political sphere, since she sounds less like a plotter and more like a dumb brute so far.

also? use unnatural charm if it works over the phone.

>>46597996
>Oh yeah? What do I get if I win? Duels are a two-way deal, Anatu.

Let's get an actual victory under our belt for the love of god...

>>46598199
I don't think it will work, but this.

>>46598165
You are absolutely right sir. I will push forward snippets of it with fanart on a later date.

My people will contact yours, sir.

>>46597996
>You wouldn’t dare. If you killed the Magister, the fief would be swamped with demonbane. You’d get nothing.
>You get that this open aggression against the US, yeah? Didn't pan out last time, I hear.
>Other (?)
"Give me proof of life, or this conversation is over and I hunt you down"

>46597996
>Oh yeah? What do I get if I win? Duels are a two-way deal, Anatu.
>You wouldn’t dare. If you killed the Magister, the fief would be swamped with demonbane. You’d get nothing.
>You get that this open aggression against the US, yeah? Didn't pan out last time, I hear.

We should use this whole thing as a distraction so ranthix can fuck her shit up.

>>46597996
>(Lie) Tomorrow night then, it's a date.
>Hang up

I can't stick around, but I'mma just say that whatever you guys decide to do about the duel, you ought to come up with a plan to free papa Crowther regardless.

Good luck to ya'll.

>>46597996
>>Did you mean to call Waldric? You know, the baron?
>>You get that this open aggression against the US, yeah? Didn't pan out last time, I hear.
>>You wouldn’t dare. If you killed the Magister, the fief would be swamped with demonbane. You’d get nothing.

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>Crowther was a total scrub this whole time

>>46597996
>Other (?)
"Obvious Trap is Obvious. Call me back when you're actually serious."
Then hang up.

>>46598228

I was just kidding. If you've got fanart or stories, I'm sure there's people besides me who'd like to know about it. Also I'm not sure where else you could share it with me.

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>>46597996
>Other (?)

"I'm going to gouge out your eyes, mangle your limbs, and with the heads and hands of your companions sewn into a sack made from their own skin and secured to you with hooks, send you weeping and broken back to your mother."

They will call us Sakheris Who Mauls.

>>46597996
>Other (?)
"Well you have a sexy voice. Tell me, what are you wearing?"

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>>46598454
brb, getting bandaids

>>46598514
To be fair, unglamoured Sierra is made of edge.

Also I just really want to go full demon all over the face of someone who deserves it.

>>46598445
You got me there, sir. Absolutely hilarious. Is a shame that I do not have any fanart on hands (my material has been misplaced by the impish creatures I call siblings).

But as soon as I am ready you will be the first to know, sir.

>>46598561
you and me both.

I felt cheated on the fight against the doppelganger and Axos' execution. Gotta test that new Fury of ours too.

>>46598564
>(my material has been misplaced by the impish creatures I call siblings).
I don't think you are old enough to be on 4chan.

>>46598672
25. Turn 26 this year. The youngest among my father's progeny are, respectively 18, 14, 9 and 2. I have 7 siblings in total. My father is 69.

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>>46598791
You really need to stop existing.

>>46598851
Hey, you started it.

>>46598886
>>46598886
Not really, I was just sitting quietly hoping you'd shut the fuck up on your own, but it wasn't working, so...

>>46598664
I fully expect us to be snarky Sierra as usual, but when the the showdown happens I hope we take her alive and go to town on her face with a melonballer. Maybe after we re-enact the sledgehammer scene from Misery on every one of her leg joints.

I want Ushologuissa angry enough to start making mistakes when she sees the wreck that was her daughter, and I want it to be an example to others.

We are the Imperiate.

>>46598851
what's your problem?

>>46598936
I, apparently.

You scowl. “You wouldn’t dare,” you inform her, your voice cold. “If you killed the Magister, that’d be open aggression against the US,” you say. “The fief would be swamped with demonbane, you’d get nothing.”

“Would the hosts of heaven weep over spilt demon blood?” she asks, conceit in her voice. “On the contrary, I can scarce imagine their relief to discover a hellish spy had been rooted from their number. Perhaps, even where one demon had smuggled itself into the good graces of the American government, there might be other infiltrators. I’m certain the descending flock of demonbane would be most zealous in their inquiry.”

The sharpness of her speech leaves no doubt as to her meaning. If she chose to, she could destroy everything, and the prize would go to no one. (+5 Stress: 27)

The Stygian heiress lets the thought linger for a half-moment. “So tell me, Sierra. Who stands to lose more should your beneficent little Magister die?”

You need to let her know you’re not powerless. You need a show of force. “You want to meet up on the island,” you remind her. “What do I get if I win? Duels are a two-way deal, Anatu.”

>>46599271

“If you win? If you win, you remain on your little paper throne,” says the demon. “You enjoy yet another day basking in the soft Californian sun. I leave your feeble kingdom for the next vulture that should happen along the road to snap it up, and then claim it from them instead, when the time is right.”

Now she’s just pissing you off. (+3 Stress: 30) Intellectually, you know you need to keep a level head about this. But the fire beneath your skin demands you answer the challenge directly.

>Oh, I’ll win. I’ll destroy you so completely you’ll serve as an example to anyone else stupid enough to threaten what’s mine.
>I know Nabuth told you all about me, so why a duel? Why risk anything? Why not demand the fief straight off?
>I’ve killed demon generals, bested landmasters in duels, and conned dragons and elemental spirits a thousand times more powerful than you. Axos had to find out the hard way, but I’ll give you a hint. You’re out of your league.
>The ‘take over San Francisco’ thing didn’t work for Meckor. It won’t work for you or your mother. You’ll call the Butcher down on your heads.
>How do I know you’ll keep your terms? If I beat you out of hand, what’s to stop you from sicking your whole gang on me?
>Fine. It’s a date. You and me, sundown. Do yourself a favor and dig your own grave ahead of time.
>I heard you were smart. Can't we talk this out? Use our words like powerful royal people do to solve problems without having to rip each others' throats out?
>Other (?)

>>46599317
>I know Nabuth told you all about me, so why a duel? Why risk anything? Why not demand the fief straight off?
>I heard you were smart. Can't we talk this out? Use our words like powerful royal people do to solve problems without having to rip each others' throats out?

>>46599317
>Oh, I’ll win. I’ll destroy you so completely you’ll serve as an example to anyone else stupid enough to threaten what’s mine.
>>How do I know you’ll keep your terms? If I beat you out of hand, what’s to stop you from sicking your whole gang on me?

>>46599317
>Oh, I’ll win. I’ll destroy you so completely you’ll serve as an example to anyone else stupid enough to threaten what’s mine.
>How do I know you’ll keep your terms? If I beat you out of hand, what’s to stop you from sicking your whole gang on me?

>>46599317
>Fine. It’s a date. You and me, sundown. Do yourself a favor and dig your own grave ahead of time.

>>46599317
>How do I know you’ll keep your terms? If I beat you out of hand, what’s to stop you from sicking your whole gang on me?
>Fine. It’s a date. You and me, sundown. Do yourself a favor and dig your own grave ahead of time.

>>46599317
>How do I know you’ll keep your terms? If I beat you out of hand, what’s to stop you from sicking your whole gang on me?
Swear on your mother's name, since yours is worth so little in comparison.
>Fine. It’s a date. You and me, sundown. Do yourself a favor and dig your own grave ahead of time.
>I’ve killed demon generals, bested landmasters in duels, and conned dragons and elemental spirits a thousand times more powerful than you. Axos had to find out the hard way, but I’ll give you a hint. You’re out of your league.
Oh, and by the way.
>I’ll win. I’ll destroy you so completely you’ll serve as an example to anyone else stupid enough to threaten what’s mine.

>>46599317
>Other (?)
"Give me proof of life of Deletrius or this conversation is over."

>>46599317
this as well >>46599588

>>46599588
Oh yeah, this too!

>>46599588
This.

>>46599317
IDK where we're going with this, but my plan is to a) Talk with Crowther to ensure he's okay, and b) Tell her that we'll get back to her on that. Bitch is trying to flatfoot us and we should talk to our advisors first.

Or c) where we agree to a duel and then go fucking assassinate that bitch in the middle of the night Verwelken style.

>>46599317
If we do a duel, can we bring like a shit-ton of plastic explosives? Also, her terms fucking suck. Either she should offer something better, or expect to not walk away from this duel. It'll end with one of us dead.

“How do I know you’ll keep your terms?” you ask, hand trembling on the phone. “If I beat you out of hand, what’s to stop you from sicking your whole gang on me?”

“Nothing,” says Anatu, humored by the question. “The same nothing that’s stopping me from killing the Magister when you fail to appear at sundown. I understand you’re inept when it comes to the particulars of negotiation, but as it so happens, I’m the one with the advantage in this situation.”

This woman is a bitch. The smugness in her voice. She already thinks she’s won.

“Besides. If you were capable of beating me out of hand,” she continues, “I suspect ‘my whole gang’ should prove to be of little consequence. You don’t doubt your capabilities, do you, Sierra?”

“Oh, I’ll win,” you say, your grip tightening on the phone. “I’ll destroy you so completely you’ll serve as an example to anyone else stupid enough to threaten what’s mine. But you, you’re not worth a second of my time if he’s not there. Give me proof he’s alive.”

Anatu laughs at your demand. “Nabuth,” she says, speaking in Heltic now, “you were right again. She hasn’t a clue.” She hangs up without another word.

Oh no.

You and Wolfgang stare at each other in shock for a silent moment.

The call ended, Waldric speaks again from the phone. “Sierra? Are you still there? Was it Anatu?”

>I uh... I don’t know what to do.
>Yeah. She challenged me to a duel.
>If I’m not on Alcatraz in 16 hours to fight her face-to-face, they’ll kill him.
>I can’t go in there, it’s a trap. They’re just going to dogpile me under bodies.
>I have to go in there. She didn’t give me much of a choice.
>We need to get everybody on this one. There’s got to be a way to get him back.
>Other (?)

>>46599989
>>We need to get everybody on this one. There’s got to be a way to get him back.
>Other (?)

First strike. We can either grab someone of hers that she values, or we can say "fuck it all" and get Isaac to go in with the American Gov't and the Conclave and just stay out of it, or we can go full Verwelken and stealth murder the bitch.

But really regretting not killing Nabuth right now.

>>46599989
>>I have to go in there. She didn’t give me much of a choice.

>>46599989
>I have to go in there. She didn’t give me much of a choice.
Stealth mode activate

>>46599989
>>I have to go in there. She didn’t give me much of a choice.

>>46599989
>If I’m not on Alcatraz in 16 hours to fight her face-to-face, they’ll kill him.
>I can’t go in there, it’s a trap. They’re just going to dogpile me under bodies.
>We need to get everybody on this one. There’s got to be a way to get him back.

>Other (?)
I think she's based in the mirror realm. Can we use that?

>>46599989
>>I have to go in there. She didn’t give me much of a choice.
>>We need to get everybody on this one. There’s got to be a way to get him back.

It's not like we haven't had interaction with other people either. Can we get our alternate dimension buddies in on this? Hell, we could even call up Sattler and just let her know what's happened and that there's a demon head to be taken.

I also do NOT believe for a moment that Crowther didn't have plans for this to happen. What is his emergency situation plan of action.

Did Waldric fucking betray us again? Do they even HAVE Crowther?

>>46599989
>>Yeah. She challenged me to a duel.
>>If I’m not on Alcatraz in 16 hours to fight her face-to-face, they’ll kill him.

>>46599989
>>We need to get everybody on this one. There’s got to be a way to get him back.

I mean, as much as I love just running in there without taking a moment to check if they even have the guy or if Waldric finally gets his throat slit. . . .

>>46599989
>Yeah. She challenged me to a duel.
>If I’m not on Alcatraz in 16 hours to fight her face-to-face, they’ll kill him.
>We need to get everybody on this one. There’s got to be a way to get him back.

What we need is a duel, very flashy and very noisy, and then an extraction team. Competent people, perhaps Orias and the red twins. Bring Ulam and Ranthix too, just in case.

Also, calling it now. Nabuth is setting her up. If we can we should contact him. We might learn more from him than from miss Analtu there.

>>46599989
>Other (?)
"How did they take Mr Crowther? Seriously, fucking how?"

>>46599989
So . . . . is this duel NOT to the death or something then?

>>46599989
>We have 16 hours, lets use them.

You fight to keep calm. If you have a specific comfort zone, you are currently outside it. (+10 Stress: 40)

You relay Anatu’s threat to Waldric, and then give your decision. “I have to go in there. She didn’t give me much of a choice,” you say.

“If you go to Alcatraz, she’ll kill you,” says Waldric, his tone flat.

“We know where she is now,” you remind him. “I’ve been there before.”

“You were fed the goblin warren information by two half-witted Stygian spies,” the baron replies. “Anatu is pressuring us to react before we’re ready. Fimbria is as much a trap as Alcatraz, if not a worse of one. You won’t be on your own territory. You’ll be isolated underground on another plane, surrounded by goblins. Whatever theories Ranthix has been indoctrinating you with, you aren’t invincible.”

You scowl at the criticism. “How the hell did they take Mr. Crowther?” you shout, overcome by the situation. “Seriously, how the hell did that fucking happen? How do I know you’re not just setting me up again?”

Wolfgang puts his hand on your shoulder. “Sierra. I can’t reach him,” he says, showing you his phone. “Moriah told me he didn’t come home last night, and the Second Magister just texted that Father didn’t give her notice of any impending absences. I don’t know how, but he’s gone.”

You rub your eyes, angry with everything at the same time. “There’s a way to get him back, I’m sure of it. We... we just need to get everybody in on this one.” It’s difficult to slow down and compose your thoughts. “I gotta call my dad. You get the Conclave, Waldric.”

>>46600958

Waldric hesitates. “That could be the real objective,” he says thoughtfully, as if solving a complex puzzle. “Frighten us with a show of force. Get everyone in one place, make it easier to catch us all at the same time. We could be doing exactly what they want.”

>Well fuck you Waldric. I’m trying to figure out a plan here. Quit shutting me down and say something useful for a change.
>I’ll swear I’ll eat my lightning sword if Anatu has anywhere near enough power to tango with Isaac and me at the same time, let alone all of you guys.
>We need to talk this through together. That’s what we’ve got over them, we’re a team, they’re just a bunch of monsters.
> You stay out of it if you want. I’ll handle this in house, this is marshal business. I’ll let my dad figure out if he needs a posse or not.
> Fine then, maybe we’ll skype it in. We’re not stuck in fucking 1492 here in the US.
>We’ve got 16 hours, let’s use them. Nabuth and Anatu are idiots for giving us that much time.
>Other (?)

>>46600978
>I’ll swear I’ll eat my lightning sword if Anatu has anywhere near enough power to tango with Isaac and me at the same time, let alone all of you guys.
>We need to talk this through together. That’s what we’ve got over them, we’re a team, they’re just a bunch of monsters.
>We’ve got 16 hours, let’s use them. Nabuth and Anatu are idiots for giving us that much time.

>>46600978
>> Fine then, maybe we’ll skype it in. We’re not stuck in fucking 1492 here in the US.

>>46600978
>Fine then, maybe we’ll skype it in. We’re not stuck in fucking 1492 here in the US.

>>46600978
>>I’ll swear I’ll eat my lightning sword if Anatu has anywhere near enough power to tango with Isaac and me at the same time, let alone all of you guys.
>We’ve got 16 hours, let’s use them. Nabuth and Anatu are idiots for giving us that much time.

>>46600978
>>Well fuck you Waldric. I’m trying to figure out a plan here. Quit shutting me down and say something useful for a change.
>Pretty sure having all of us together is stronger than us divided you fucking professional traitor.

>Well fuck you Waldric. I’m trying to figure out a plan here. Quit shutting me down and say something useful for a change.
>I’ll swear I’ll eat my lightning sword if Anatu has anywhere near enough power to tango with Isaac and me at the same time, let alone all of you guys.

For the love of me I really want to not hate Waldric, but he makes it impossible

>>46601259
>I really want to not hate Waldric,
Why?

>>46601326
I think we need a Varus (or a fucking little finger) on our side if we are to win. I want him to prove he can be that to us.

Up until now he has not.

>>46600978
>Other (?)
"Start giving me options, Waldric! Otherwise we're just going to sit with our thumbs up our asses while Anatu takes over."

>>46601478
>I think we need a Varus
A traitor?

>>46601478
Varus would have had us offed and replaced for our rampage.

>>46601689
In the politics of Westeros, yes, but in Demon Politics that seems to be the norm. Specially for inferni.

> Fine then, maybe we’ll skype it in. We’re not stuck in fucking 1492 here in the US.

>>46601738
He would probably be a demonbane sympathizer.

>>46601784
But Waldric is a demonbane sympathizer already.

So after we kill her, what can we do with her remains that will send the best "don't fuck with me" message to Halth? I'm assuming flaying and crucifixion is considered pedestrian.

>>46601995
eat them and keep the skull?

Thinking about this from Anatu's point of view, her actions speak more of fear than anything. If she's willing to burn a fiefdom just to get rid of us, she and her mother are afraid. Taking a hostage speaks of fear.
I think whatever we do, we need to not only keep her afraid, but scare her even worse.

>>46601854
No he isn't, he just works with them for business reasons.

>>46602233
Take that argument to the courts in Halth and see how far that gets you.

>>46602277
I mean Varus would go out of his way to benefit the demonbane.

>>46602332
First off, Varus has only his own interests in mind. Secondly, I think this metaphor outlived its usefulness.

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>>46602180
Alright. We know Isaac is theoretically able to call in USAF support if shit hits the fan. Let's use it. The Feds have the border crawling with surveillance drones. We can use them to monitor Heltic activities on ground discretely.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/the-rapid-rise-of-federal-surveillance-drones-over-america/473136/

We're low on intel, so let's move to get that first. We can monitor movement into Alcatraz and any known goblin warren entrance.

>>46602621
We do have monster, an imp who can show Sierra what he sees through telpathy and turn invisible and walk through walls. Beats the shit out of a drone and its cheaper too.

>>46602693
Imp can't monitor several areas at once, and we have to be on scene. I'm talking full surveillance with heatscans on every open front. We're headed in for a war council. Might as well put assets on the scene while we do so, so we might get a hint of we're up against.

“I swear I’ll eat my lightning sword if Anatu has anywhere near enough power to tango with Isaac and me at the same time, let alone all of you guys,” you reply heatedly. “But just in case she does, fine then, maybe we’ll skype it in. We’re not stuck in fucking 1492. I’m trying to figure out a plan here, and if you’d quit shutting me down and say something useful for a change, maybe we’d be somewhere already.”

Waldric remains infuriatingly calm. “No, I don’t have all the answers on a silver platter for you ten damn seconds after you start screaming your head off at me,” he says. “My apologies if I don’t lick the dust off your shitty red Jordans, but we’re on the same side. We both want Deletrius back. They’re counting on us being emotional and making mistakes.”

You grit your teeth, rage burning within you.

He continues after only a brief pause. “If we don’t think this through, they win, and Crowther dies. So stop and think for one damn second, before you blame everything wrong with your life on one of the few people left who gives a shit.”

There are few words to express your disdain for the demon on the other end of the line. That makes it pretty easy to sum up your position in one sentence. “I hate you so much,” you say.

“Grow up,” he says.

Wolfgang prompts you with a look, clearly not happy with the bickering while his father’s life is on the line.

If Wolf weren’t here, you’d have a few other words to share with Waldric, but as it stands, you have business to attend to. “Whatever. We’ve got 16 hours. Let’s use them.”

“Let’s,” the baron agrees.

--

You don’t have much time, but you need some kind of plan. Half an hour later, you’re with the Hallows in the family room, gathered around a webcam. Wolf took off to check in on Moriah, but he joins the skype channel as soon as Harvey rings up his computer. Mori is in the background. Their image is displayed on the TV, hooked up as it is to Isaac’s laptop.

>>46602799

Waldric sits alone in a mystery location when he joins the channel. Ranthix opts to appear in person, barging in through the door with Xathix and Xanissil in tow. Orias and Ulam’uberatu join the channel shortly afterward, with some assistance from Maviel.

“Do we have any idea if Deletrius is still alive?” asks Isaac, wearing his war face. “Can Sierra or anyone else track him with his blood?”

“Not across planes, if they are indeed keeping him in Fimbria,” Xanissil replies. “My efforts have not produced results.”

“He’s more useful to Anatu alive,” Orias points out, taking a moment to shrug off his jacket. “And I’ve met Nabuth. He doesn’t strike me as the kind that would kill a prisoner unless he absolutely had to.”

Waldric frowns. “Nabuth wouldn’t execute him, but Nabuth isn’t in charge,” he says. “Anatu views males as chattel. That’s why she applied her challenge directly to Sierra. Deletrius is important, but the purpose in kidnapping him is to manipulate her. Anatu assumes she’s pulling the strings in the background.”

You scowl at him. “And I’m not?”

Isaac spares you a moment’s glance. “Not by a long shot, sunshine,” he says gravely. “That would be me.”

You feel cheated somehow.

Cass ruffles your hair reassuringly. “Don’t worry, you pull all our strings a little bit every day.”

And now you feel demeaned.

Isaac stands firm. “As I see it, this is hostile action by a foreign nation against the sovereignty of the United States Government,” he says. “I can have a SOARD team here in six hours for a hostage rescue operation.”

“Still doesn’t answer the question of how Crowther got snagged in the first place,” you remind everybody.

Wolfgang nods in agreement. “Father is an accomplished wizard, a grand master in a few different schools of magic,” he says. “I don’t see how Anatu-allatu captured him. If she has some advantage, we need to know about it.”

>>46600978
>I’ll swear I’ll eat my lightning sword if Anatu has anywhere near enough power to tango with Isaac and me at the same time, let alone all of you guys.

If she did she wouldn't be bothering with the duel. Also, this is Mavriels dad. Are you with me on this, Wally?

>>46602823

Orias draws attention to himself by coughing. “It may not be much to go on,” he says, “but I was speaking with the Lewtinskin brothers, the ones who saw the abduction. Aside from the glamored Stygians, they mentioned a tall man in a white mask?”

Your stomach locks up. On screen, Moriah blanches, and beside you on the couch, Rowan exchanges a brief glance of understanding with you. On your road trip, when you were meeting with Roger, a man wearing a pale mask showed up trying to... you don’t know what he was trying to do, but it had something to do with your Starspawn neighbor up north.

Isaac and Cass share a similar knowing look.

Your mom's expression darkens. “Pallid Mask. He’s an agent of the King in Yellow,” she says.

Isaac folds his arms and looks down, deep in thought about something. “He hasn’t come this near the city since...”

“Since last time,” Cass finishes. “We’re calling it in. Our people will handle this.”

Wait. It can’t be that easy. Your parents are purposefully leaving out details.

>Say stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>46602854
>>Say stuff (?) How badly is this my fault and where can you put me to fix it? Specifically somewhere I can kill Paley Face and Anatu?

>>46602854
Tell them we encountered this guy before, and while he did get into our heads, we were able to drive him off without too much trouble. We've got no intel on him otherwise, so why does he have them rushing to call in Federal assets?

>>46602854
>Spill the beans please, Leaving out ANY information no matter how useless it is is putting everyone's lives in danger.

>>46602854
Ask them if they this is a two stage assault. As a Landmaster, we have to know whether or not our the water goblin is trying to muscle in too. If there's a war coming, we can't be left out of the loop.

>>46602854
Let's be a bit proactive. "Last Time" Isaac had to shoot the sea goblin in the face to head off an invasion. Are we in for another repeat of that?

>>46602854
>Say stuff (?)
Can we insert Monster and Tiger into Fimbria for scout it out?

>>46602895
>>46602936
backing a combo of these.

>>46602854
>Say stuff (?)
What happens if we can't find Mr Crowther in time or he's already dead? Will I be forced to duel with Anatu? What kind of combat capability does she have?

>>46602854
>Say Stuff
Isaac has been keeping us in the dark about a lot of stuff. I understand he wants the best for us, but trust has to be a two-way street, bud.

>>46602854
Ask Isaac about the his remarks about dealing with our draconic neighbor. If he can get F-22's in the air, can he get surveillance craft to survey the scenes and put San Fran on cam?

>>46602854
>Say stuff (?)
Should we contact Roger? He has experience in dealing with Pallid Mask.

>>46603217

I'm a delayed in updating. Dinner break.

Huh. Fun fact. The largest stockpile of Main Battle Tanks is the world is housed in California. In a place called the "Sierra Army Depot." Our name is on the sign. That means we can take a tank, right?

>>46603430

Whoops, didn't mean to quote there.

I wonder who these SOARD guys are. I hope they're like, peak human badasses who field fully developed Talos exoskeletons and personal miniguns that fire HEIAP rounds. That's High Explosive, Incendiary Armor Piercing bullets to you. For when someone absolutely, positively needs to be completely vaporized, and you don't a laser gun on hand.

Just finished reading through the archive, and I have to say this quest has the best characterization that I've ever seen. Keep up the great work Languid!

>>46603901
Special Operations And Response Division?

That's the one that makes the most sense to me - my guess is they had a choice between SOARD and SORD and thought the former looked less stupid.

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>>46603430

>>46604085
It's only been 40 minutes anon.

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>>46604109

>>46604085
That picture hasn't failed to make me chuckle once yet.

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>>46604151

I forgot there were going to be happenings today. Good luck.

>>46602823
>Cass ruffles your hair reassuringly. “Don’t worry, you pull all our strings a little bit every day.”
Cute.

You’re about to pipe up and demand more information, but Rowan beats you to the punch.

“The last time Hassatur made a move, the whole city was almost wiped out,” she says. “You can’t just leave us out of this.”

“I know how to hold a gun,” Harvey suggests.

Isaac remains firm. “If things don’t go well, we’ll need you here,” he says. “This isn’t up for discussion.”

“Woah woah woah, slow down,” you say, trying to get a hold of the conversation. “What are we talking about? We talking about the same guy you had to shoot in the face back when you met Cass? People’s lives are in danger. We’ve got demons and goblins crawling all over the city. If there’s something else trying to kill me, I need to know about it. Spell it out for me.”

“YES, DEMONBANE,” Ranthix adds, scowling hatefully, “TELL US OF THIS YELLOW KING YOU CLAIM YOU ARE SO CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING ALONE.”

All eyes turn to Isaac and Cass.

“He, or it, lives on the floor of the Pacific Ocean,” says Cassandra. “He’s a being from outside the seven planes. And for the past twenty years, he’s been trying to get a foothold on land.”

“I stopped him the last time he tried,” says Isaac, nodding to Cass. “His power is diluted up here on the continental shelf. But if he established a beachhead, I can’t guarantee anybody’d be able to push him back into the sea.”

“What’s the Yellow King’s end goal in all this?” asks Wolfgang. “What would he do if he got onto land?”

“Do yourself a favor and don’t look into it. True understanding of the Yellow King opens your mind to his control,” he replies. “The last guy who deciphered his intentions became the pallid mask. We don’t need another one of him running around, so don’t take it personally when I don’t tell you anything more than you need to know.”

You decide that you’re not a big fan of these outside-existence guys. “So what, you take the Avengers and shoot him in the face again,” you say.

>>46604422

“But the whole hostage thing, what if that’s separate? I mean, is this a two-front operation?”

“We have seen Ushologuissa receive secret support from Hassatur in the past,” says Waldric. “His people helped capture Lucifer for Axos. It could be another feint.”

“That was different. The Pallid Mask wasn’t there,” says Cassandra. “He’s involving his avatar now. That means his attention in on San Francisco. He’s going to make a move soon.”

Isaac nods. “Until we get confirmation to the contrary, we treat Anatu as a collaborator. The Yellow King kidnapped Deletrius, and she has Deletrius now. She’s our only lead to head off whatever Hassatur’s plan of attack is. We can’t afford to wait.”

Orias tilts his head and narrows his eyes. “And if you do get a lead?”

“Then that’s where we have to go,” says Cassandra, turning to frown at Isaac. “It’s possible, honey. This isn’t exactly like last time.”

Sighing, Isaac accepts the advice. “We need a second strategy to get the Magister back, one without me,” he says. “You’re right. We can’t be sure repelling Hassatur and rescuing Deletrius will be one in the same mission. I’m open to suggestions.”

Fighting the Yellow King? Maybe that’s not your realm of expertise. But getting in there and wrecking demons, that you can do.

>Suggest rescue ideas/operations (?)
>Say Stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>46604443

Hate to bow out now, but I have to do things tomorrow. Finals week is coming up. Anyway, we'll pick up next time. I'm looking forward to your input, you're definitely in a tight spot.

>>46604528
thanks for running boss, have a good night.

>>46604443
We can call in Roger to help with the Yellow King. He's able to smush the masked guy, so that might free up Isaac to help us with the hostage rescue. Honestly, that sounds like our best option. We'll need him (Isaac) and Ranthix with us for the best chance of successfully retaking papa Crow alive. And if anything, Roger's friend the dragon has enough power to deal with anything not carrying tons of ordinance.

>>46604443
>Other: How about asking help from The Guy Up North, and by that I meant Canadaguy. He could help with Maskface.

>>46604550
>>46604443
This works.

Have canada guy help the team dealing with yellow fish while we lead the team working on saving deletrius.

Ideally it'll be Angels fight the Fish and Demons save the magister.

So we have Issac and his Merica buddies (possibly including Cass/Harvey) repel the Yellow Kings foothold.

Then we lead the Demons (Ranthis, Xan/Xath, Wally and Wolfgang and Moriah if she wants to come to) To save Deletrius from Anatau.

The angels go home thinking they did gud protecting san fran from fish dude while we keep all the secret demon business away from them. Plus our Duel will be legitimate while we have Ranthix and the gang there to prevent outside interference/deal with Nabuth and any other demons.

I think that Roger should help the angels as that's the most likely place for The Pallid Man to turn up. If his friends want to come we could totally have The Dragon help our team, totally up to them. (This is all assuming that Angels /the gov are cool with Rogers whole tentacleface, if they're not then he joins us.)

Everyone wins.

>>46604528
Thanks for running languid, have a good night!

>>46604528
Can we call Arty out on being a pawn and join against yellow cunts? It's pearl harbor weather with a nasty little nip in the air.

>>46604443
>Say Stuff (?)
"So, like, I've had this idea to find a nice beachside landwell or two and toss em to Ossifera. Let her squat on over there as a buffer state type deal."

>>46605189
That sounds fun. I can hear the silence from the entire group already before erupting into an argument. I'd vote for it.

Has anyone considered that the bad guys might plan concentrate everything on Alcatraz, meaning the Avengers will be there to fight Hassatur while erryone else is trying to save Papa Crowther(if he is there)? Isaacs buddies would be tripping over themselves to fuck any demons, our conclave included, up.

>>46605170
>It's pearl harbor weather with a nasty little nip in the air.
I chuckled

Anyone else think Alcatraz is a landwell? people don't know our pops kicked the bucket and Hasatur doesn't like going up on land on account of he tends to get his ass kicked back into the sea. So hes building up support to make his beachhead.

He probably went to Anatu as a way to trick "The landmaster" into coming to a place where he can gank us. a landwell surrounded by water. She doesn't necessarily know he meant our father and not us, if that would even make a difference in Hassys conception of mortal beings.

So we call on the water cat to watch our back and skip on over to Alcatraz before anything else all sneaky shadow like, claim the probable well, or at least scope the place out, and get ready for what comes next.

I know we are planning on going to russia soon, but it seems kind of risky to potentially leave all these juicy Landwells on the coast unclaimed.

I wonder if we could make a Smoke Mimic of Anatu-Allatu, kill the real Anantu-Allatu and have her duplicate rule in her stead...

>>46608331
Hassatur knows about Sierra. Pallid Mask knew us by name and knew about our fear of cisors.