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>87, 96, 92

All three rounds of your burst strike the demon with violent force, perforating through its gelatinous like a hot knife through butter. Bits and glibs of the Black Ooze explode out of the holes your volley made, spattering all over the spriggan’s vegetables and fruit trees. You definitely struck something critical. With a gurgling wail, the viscous demon melts into the ground, unable to keep its body stable from the damage you inflicted upon it.

The sound of the spriggan’s delight at the new fertilizer contrasts sharply with High Pixie gagging behind you.

One down, four more (and possibly more, if the shaking ground was any indication), to go.

High Pixie’s wave of nausea seems to pass quickly. With a very audible gulp, she flies right up to you, perched on top of Gryphon with her cheeks puffed out to a ridiculous degree. Is she…is she holding her breath?

She waves her arms in some kind of pantomime. Signing towards you…pulling away. No, beckoning. Inviting. And then…who showed High Pixie Star Wars? Because all that gesture lacked was the sound effects of lightning and the voice of a demented old man.

Right. So, she wants orders. As does Gryphon, whose talons paw(?) the ground in eager anticipation for the hunt. It seems to have a stronger stomach than the Fairy perched atop its head. Because even with your experience in the dissecting labs and mortician’s office, the smell of splattered Black Ooze smells downright awful.

>What should Pixie do?
>What should Gryphon do?

>>47359884
Griffin Bouncing Claw
HP wing buffet

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>>47359884
>>What should Pixie do?
Wind Buffet since we got multiple opponents.
>>What should Gryphon do?
Bouncing Claw whatever Pixie misses.

>>47359884
Wing buffet
Bouncing claws

>>47359884
Woo, devil summoner t666 time!

>Wing buffet
>Bouncing claws

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>>47359922
>>47359928
>>47359955
>>47359972

>Wing Buffet

Pixie’s smile becomes a savage grin. “Get outta here, you smelly monsters!” She bellows as her wings flap vigorously. For the briefest of moments, they shine with magical energy, and from her pinions, four miniature tornadoes tinged green with Force magic howl towards the advancing Black Oozes. They strike at a random, hitting three of the Oozes and completely ignoring the fourth.

But that’s okay. Because while two got one each, the third got hit by two of the damn things. Its body shudders under the stress the compounded magic excises onto its body. Lacerations across the liquid’s surface break out, and gelatin flows out like a viscous ichor.

Not too bad.

>Two Black Ooze demons are Lightly Wounded.
>One Black Ooze demon is Wounded.
>One Black Ooze demon is unharmed.

As soon as the Force magic dies down, you give the order for Gryphon to attack.

>Bouncing Claw
>Specify: Hit whichever one Pixie missed.

Upon your command, the avian sends its trademark screech through the air as it bounces along towards its enemies. With a flurry of strikes, its deadly talons rend through the unharmed demon. For a moment, your demon’s claws don’t seem to penetrate as full as they normally would through flesh, but they eventually go through, and deliver catastrophic damage.

When it pulls away, the demon still seems to be holding itself together, but with the wounds it bears along its wobbling form, there was no guarantee it was going to stay that way. Even now, it looked as punch-drunk as a gelatin would ever appear.

>Two Black Ooze demons are Lightly Wounded.
>Two Black Ooze demons are Wounded.

“MacKay!” You shout to the priest. “I need you to…”

>Hit the ones that are Wounded.
>Hit the ones that are Lightly Wounded.
>Custom option.

>>47360396
>Hit the ones that are Wounded.

>>47360396
>>Hit the ones that are Lightly Wounded.
We can take care of the wounded.

>>47360396
>Hit the ones that are Lightly Wounded.

File: OseWhen.gif (2.87 MB, 320x180)

2.87 MB GIF

>>47360396
>Hit the ones that are Wounded.

Finish them.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Tiebreaker

1. Wounded.
2. Lightly Wounded.

Writing...

>>47360580
Ose would use swords, but yeah he's a badass.


>>47360606
Hope we take out the enemy so we can limit their dps.

>>47360580
Edit in a flask on his belt.

>>47360790
I cant but that would be glorious.

>>47360423
>>47360580

“…get the ones that took the most damage!”

“Understood!” He levels his assault rifle, aims down the sights, cries “Deus Vult!” and fires a three-round burst into one of the Oozes. MacKay isn’t the best shot out of the five of you, but at the slow pace his target was moving, it was almost a statistical improbability for him to miss.

The key word being “almost”. Because only two of the three shots strike the demon, and it is only through sheer dumb luck that the third one misses. The shock of being hit by the first two causes the demon to reel back violently enough to dodge on accident. But it’s a moot point now.

Because no less than three seconds after the second bullet hit that first Ooze does it give off a ghastly wail and dissolve into…well, a puddle of ooze. There isn’t much flowery language to describe the process of something demonic melting in front of your eyes.

MacKay’s orders for his demons snap you out of your internal monologue. “Bufu! Strike!”
Knocker grunts, vaulting over a stone barrier to get a proper line of sight on the last Wounded demon. With a snap of his fingers, crystalline shards of ice fly towards the demon. It is not enough to kill it, nor cause it to Freeze in its own trail, but it’s enough to slow it down. Just in time for Hua Po to deliver the finishing strike with a “HIYAH!”

>There are two Lightly Wounded Black Oozes.

The two remaining Oozes on the surface turn as one to regard all of you with their souless eyes. The fissures where their mouths would be grow, extending, distending until they’re about as tall as a yardstick.

And then they scream.

It isn’t as much a discordant noise as much as it’s a sound that pierces into the very depths of your soul. Every primal instinct locked within your DNA, every nerve hardwired to flee away from apex predators, all of them are screaming at you to run.

>Roll 2d100 to resist {Panic Voice}
>Best of three.

Rolled 5, 33 = 38 (2d100)

>>47360828
>Deus Vult
I love MacKay.

Rolled 41, 31 = 72 (2d100)

>>47360828

Rolled 73, 52 = 125 (2d100)

>>47360828
Fuck you and get shot!

Rolled 56, 49 = 105 (2d100)

>>47360828

Rolled 29, 99 = 128 (2d100)

>>47360828
Imma roll anyway

File: 1402191185919.gif (2.45 MB, 480x270)

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>>47360842
>>47360865
>>47360866
Mediocre!

Rolled 92, 95, 8, 83, 11 = 289 (5d100)

>Rolling for Pixie, Gryphon, MacKay, Knocker, Hua Po.
>MacKay recieves +20 bonus due to [Man of the Faith] Perk (+20 to resist Mind ailments)

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

>>47360970
Our demons know what's up. Sorry Mackay, High Pixie will Me Patra you in just a second.

>>47360970
....................
Mackay, Hua Po why you gotta jobber?

>>47360970
Knocker is too old for this shit.

File: 1447817643205.gif (575 KB, 512x384)

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>>47360970
A B E S T
B
E
S
T

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>>47360842
>>47360865
>>47360866

But the feeling passes, and your senses are yours once more. Gryphon and High Pixie shake their heads of the spell’s influence and resume their positions. It seems that just like you, they were able to resist the Mind Ailment spell.

Not so much for MacKay.

>>47360970

The priest freezes in his steps, breathing as hard as he can with every breath making very audible sound. His eyes are wide and dilated underneath his helmet, and you can see his boots shaking as the magic takes hold of his mind. You have to give him props. At least he didn’t do what Hua Po did.

She had screamed, tried to flee and then promptly into a tree in her blind terror.

Knocker’s face speaks volumes at the sight.

The spriggan sighs, muttering about the pitfalls of hired help before he lumbers over to the remaining Black Oozes. With a grunt, he brings a massive gardening tool down upon one of the demons. The demon barely has enough time to let out a “meep” sound before the bronze of the spriggan’s hoe turns it into paste.

>There is one Lightly Wounded Slime left.

Grimacing, you raise your rifle to finish the job off…

>Roll 3d100 + 10 (+20 Combat, -10 Three Burst Shot)
>Best of three

>Last thread had a typo, Adrian has only +20 Combat, not +30.

Rolled 43, 18, 66 + 10 = 137 (3d100 + 10)

>>47361264

Rolled 43, 56, 100 + 10 = 209 (3d100 + 10)

>>47361264

Rolled 83, 83, 49 = 215 (3d100)

>>47361264

>>47361279
>>47361293
>>47361294
83, 83, 100

we good

>>47361293
>>47361294
Oh baby.

>>47361279
>>47361293
>>47361294

All it takes is a single squeeze of the trigger. One moment, you’re staring down the wobbly bastard down the sights, and the next, it’s turned into multiple steaming puddles of goo. Smelly, nutrient-rich goo to keep the spriggan happy.

You’re not being paid enough for this job…

>You told High Pixie to use Me Patra on MacKay and Hua Po

The priest promptly snaps out of his terror-induced stupor, almost stumbling before your hands reach out to grab him. Within a few seconds, the light returns to his eyes, and he grunts as he stands up straighter. His breath is still coming out in harsh gasps, but he’s nowhere near hyperventilating. He’d have that under control within a minute’s time.

Hua Po bobs pitifully towards her master, doing her best to hide the noticeable lump growing on her forehead as well as her face proper. From the minute glimpse of her cheeks that you can see through her hands, she appears to have turned a shade of red even darker than her normal complexion. You’d be fascinated if you didn’t feel bad about it.

“Th-thank you,” MacKay coughs out, grunting once and slapping his face to get the aftereffects out of his head. “Oh Lord, that was awful. I’ve had my fair share of bleak moments, but that…that was something completely on a whole different level…”

You nod in agreement. “Yeah, it was…really, really awful…”

“Made you want to run as far away as you could?”

“Screaming and with my tail between my legs, aye it did…”

...

…the moment of silence is accompanied by Knocker awkwardly patting Hua Po and his master on the back. Shin, in MacKay’s case.

…

“We shall never speak of this again.”

“Speak of what?”

“Good man.”

(cont.)

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After your little affirmation, you return to the spriggan, who is happily spreading the remnants of the Oozes across the soil his vegetables and fruit trees have taken root into. It is singing as it goes about its work, in a tone of voice that sounds like rocks grinding against each other. In a melodious, and completely not-disturbing way.

“In the fey garden
there were rosebuds dripping a sweet nectar
that pooled on the ground crimson
wafting a heavenly scent
and the smell made ears ring
and sing with the cries
of the butterflies caught
left to rot, in the pretty fey garden.

In the fey garden
there were sweet fruits swelling with poison
and a fluttering song
caressing the fallen
though the tune was sharp
to the dead they were calling
the screeching rang strong, in fey garden.

In the fey garden
was a mystery told
the mundane, young and old
came longing for gold
they were sold by the fables
but the tables were turned
with the tune
sung of blood,
that flooded fey garden.”

…

…yeah, not disturbing at all.

You only notice the puddle on the ground when your boot goes into it. At the sound of your cursing, the spriggan turns towards you. His eyes widen, as if he’s either surprised to see you still standing there, or if he’s just remembered something. Probably both, given what he has to say.

“Ah, thank you very much for the help,” it rumbles, “Doubtless they shall come once more, but for now, the fetid stink of their kin should keep them away. Now, for your reward…”

(cont.)

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The demon sets the bronze hoe on the ground, and begins to rummage around in the cloth that covers its stone body. After a few moments, it produces two small pouches in its giant hands, and sets them down on one of the stone walls. They jingle with the tell-tale sound of coinage as they fall upon the barricade.

But the demon isn’t finished. It sets two mesh bags filled with dried fruit adjacent to the money bags. Even though the sack has enclosed the contents within, you can still smell the rich scent of dried grapes, apples, and the rich scents of summer sprinkled along the bag.

“One thousand Macca and a bag of Coven Fruit for each of you,” it rumbles, turning back to its work. “Should you ever go hungry or find yourself on the brink of exhaustion, consume the food at once. It not only offers a balm to minor aches and pains, but also alleviates the mind from the coils of mental fatigue.”

>You received 1000 Macca!
>You received one serving of Coven Fruit!
>Coven Fruit restores half of a user’s HP and SP.

“Now, you may take your leave, young helpers. I must return to my work…”

>Choose one:
>“Thank you for the gift.”
>“Oh, we can’t take this…”

>Choose one:
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”
>“So about that goblin you’re fighting with…”
>"Okay, see you later."

If you went to the goblin first, he would have given you a special weapon in addition to the Macca.

>>47361915
>“Oh, we can’t take this…”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>>47361915
>“Thank you for the gift.”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>>47361915
>>“Thank you for the gift.”

>>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>>47361915
>“Oh, we can’t take this…”
>>Choose one:
>>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”
it's the journey cough, exp that counts, not the reward

>>47361915
>consumables, or a weapon

How were we supposed to know? Fugg.

>“Oh, we can’t take this…”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>>47361915
>“Thank you for the gift.”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>>47361961
But pragmatism...

That's literally half a Soma Drop and some actual goddamn demon currency that WE DON"T HAVE YET. What if we negotiate with a nigger and he asks for Macca?

>>47362003
We headbutt him.

That shit establishes dominance.

>>47362030
And low loyalty. Remember where Gryphon started?

But that's fine, if you guys want to throw some decent stuff away for brownie points it might help down the road.

Hopefully.

>>47362003
1000 macca is pretty sweet, but I'll put priority on doing a good job. Getting in Titania's good graces opens doors.

Whoops. Forgot to add a date in the first post.

[Tuesday, June 2nd 2015, 3:42 PM]

Current Currencies
>+$1000 petty cash at the end of every month at Requisition Rank 1.

>Cash: $1442.03
>Macca: M 1000

We're tied for either accepting the Spriggan's reward or declining it. Sudden death, first vote in wins.

>Accept the reward.
>Decline the reward.

>>47362110
>Accept the reward.

>>47362110
>>Decline the reward.
first vote, really? that includes people who've voted before, like me?

>>47362145
That's the way sudden death works IIRC. Can't delay writing by waiting for another voter.

Writing...

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>47362160
look at the timestamps

>>47362179
And? Look at the Post #
>44
>45

You lost by milliseconds, shit happens.

>>47362179
...well holy shit. For me, I have "accept" as the first option, so that's the way we've gotta go. QM intervention, gentle foot down.

Just out of curiosity, is it different for anyone else?

Writing...

>>47362225
Nope look at the post numbers

>>47361948
>>47361959
>>47361987
>>47362144

You motion for MacKay to join you as you cautiously step forward to the Spriggan. You take a moment to clear your throat, both to get his attention and to get the butterflies out of your stomach. “Thank you for the gift,” You begin, with a very gracious incline of the head. The fairy grunts and begins to turn to his garden before your next words stop him in his tracks, “But we came here to talk about the land dispute…”

THAT certainly gets the demon’s attention.

It sets down the hoe, and shifts the entirety of its bulk towards you, and leers down from its position to stare directly at your face. “So you’re the ones the Pixie Guard sent…” It grumbles, “Which means that it’s now the appointment for Queen Titania’s return to the fairy realm. You must be the servants of the Order, then, come to intrude upon our affairs.”

The sinking feeling in your stomach is quickly quelled by the tired sigh that comes from the spriggan’s mouth. “Then let us get this over with. Doubtless, you have heard of my altercation with my associate. The goblin,” it sneers in distaste. “And you are to determine which of us should get the land our mutual friend left in ambiguity.”

You nod. “Yes, we have. And you’re the first one we’ve come to see.”

“Hmm…and I am to present my case, then, am I?”

“By all means.”

The moist soil underneath the fairy’s weight sinks as it fully settles itself into a sitting position. “I am the Dryad’s best friend in her will. From the beginning to the end, I was there for her. I helped nurture the very sapling from which she sprung into existence, and cared for both her and her lands in the storms and during the Time of Chaos. Even when she fell ill to the corrupting miasma that lingered behind, I was the sole person to stand by her side and make her comfortable. The goblin? Vanished and gone, only to reappear the day after she passed on.”

(cont.)

What exactly are we supposed to use our Macca on aside from the occasional bribe for demon negotiation?

>>47362464
Task Force also uses it.

>>47362464
compendium.

>>47362464
Buying shit when the world ends.

>>47362494
>implying we'll have time to spend that macca before Demi-fiend and Dante clean all that shit up

Dante is better than the actual SMT protag. Deal with it.

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>>47362464
You can cash in Demon Currency for requisition points/cash, or bring back demons from the Compendium. Aside from just straight up Demon Negotiation.

And pay this fucker if I ever make up my mind on his inclusion in this quest.

>>47362510
Nah I have Play Coins. Lots and lots of Play Coins.

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589 KB PNG

>>47362509
>Doesn't know Pierce
Okay buddy.

Tetrakarn.

>>47362509
>>47362539
Who's Pierce? When does Dante show up?

Isn't the SMT protag Raido or whatever?

I am so lost.

>>47362453
It raises a fist, and angrily smashes it into a patch of soil uninhabited by crops. A cascade of muddy water flies out from the impact, standing everything on you and MacKay from your thighs downwards with dirty liquids. Gryphon bristles and shakes at the sudden dampness while Knocker stifles a particularly wet cough.

“…I am deserving because I stood by her side and helped keep her safe from all the harm. That goblin would have her go exploring around the realm on ‘adventures’. Fun times for the both of them, to see new things. Pah! I would not be surprised if that is how she contacted the taint. Such brash recklessness...”

The spriggan lapses into silence. “If you have no questions, then I recommend that you leave. I have returned into a melancholic mood, and wish to be left alone…”

>Do you have any questions?
>If you do not, you will automatically set off towards the Goblin.

>>47362562
Pierce is a passive skill that lets Physical attacks beat resistances.

Dante (or Raidou in the Jap version) is a side character that's a boss fight and is recruitable in SMT Nocturne.

SMT Protags vary game to game. Raidou is the Protagonist of his two titular Devil Summoner games.

>>47362573
Taint? Where was her will? May we see a copy?

>>47362573
I need to read up on this whole case again. To the archives.

>>47362573
How often did she go off with the Goblin?

Did she talk to you about their adventures?

Were you ever mention by name elsewhere in the will?

The last question is really important

>>47362573
Can we see the will? What taint?

>>47362573
And what could you say ABOUT her, as someone who stood by her for so long?

>>47362589
>>47362592
>>47362615
>>47362624
>>47362631

>What taint?

For the first time since you’ve met him, the spriggan’s brow creases into a very noticeable frown. Even with the Black Oozes, you’ve never seen anything else other than a mild irritation. Here, it’s straight up anger, pure and concentrated as it grinds its teeth with a noise to set your ears on edge.

“Ten of your human years ago, the hidden world of the supernatural came under attack by a horde of demons that stank of corruption. Their very presence poisoned the earth they stood upon, make the air foul with their breath, and to ingest their fluids was to die a very slow and painful death…

“They came to our realm first. And one by one, they laid waste to our realm, leaving nothing but withered forests and trees in their midst. Members of your Order were here by happenstance, and rallied to fight back with their demons. Four of your Summoners gave their lives to drive it back from our lands, but the cost was too high for the last of them to be referred to as a hero…”

It pauses to take a deep breath. “…in the years that have passed since then, no amount of magic or purification rituals can completely remove the taint from our infested lands. The Darkbriar Woods that lie south of our city are forbidden for a reason, as the corruption still lingers. It’s the only way she would have been able to contract the taint.”

>MacKay spent the last few days before the mission reading in the archives.

You glance towards the priest, who gives you a puzzled look in response. “This is the first time I’ve heard of this. I went all the way back as far as I could, all the way to World War Two. I would have noticed something that big. Nothing other than minor occurrences around the world. Perhaps we should ask Commander Alger?”

You nod absently, still focused on the spriggan. “Yeah, we’ll do that. As soon as we finish the mission.”

(cont.)

“I have lived many of your years, but I remember that terrible war as if it only happened yesterday. Corruption or its symptoms are not something so easily forgotten…”

You quickly decide to change the subject.

>How often did she go off with the goblin?
>Did she talk to you about her adventures?

The spriggan growls. “More than enough, almost one disappearance every month to go gallivanting off to gods-know-where. And she was very open about her adventures, save for the moments when asked if she strayed too close to Darkbriar. She has never lied or had the need to. Not before that reckless fool.”

>Can we see the will?

It shakes its head, with a sad expression on its face. “The will was destroyed in our fight. That is the reason why I need helpers; I swore an oath to not use magic for the next five phases of the moon. Had I my magics, slug extermination would be a simple chore.”

>Were you ever mention by name elsewhere in the will?

“Nothing else save for a reminder to water the carrots…” The spriggan says quietly. “As well as a paragraph thanking me for staying by her side.”

>You can feel the atmosphere getting progressively gloomier.

MacKay makes a “chop-chop” motion with his hands.

>And what could you say ABOUT her, as someone who stood by her for so long?

“…she was unique for a dryad, never shied away from stone as others do to me. Trusted others too much for her own good. Inquisitive, always asking questions with an insatiable desire to know all there is about the world. I doubt one like her will exist ever again…”

>The spriggan lapses into silence.
>The sun is out and there are only a few clouds high above, but the crops around the stone are receiving more water than they need.
>You quietly take your leave.

Choose one:
>Go to the goblin.
>Investigate the taint.

>>47362968
>>Go to the goblin.

>>47362968
>Go to the goblin.

>>47362968
>Go to the goblin.

>>47362968
>Go to the goblin.

>>47362968
>>Go to the goblin.

File: 1390243521234.gif (1.74 MB, 320x167)

1.74 MB GIF

>after that creepy song people still wanted to take the reward
>mfw

>>47362999
>>47363005
>>47363007
>>47363082
>>47363098

You can investigate this ‘taint’ later. It definitely seems like something worth checking out. But you undertook the task of determining who got the land. And even though unexpected developments happened along the way, you’ve still got a task to complete.

It’s just basic human decency. Once you start something, you have to finish it.

The fact that your mother brought the wrath of God over your head if you didn’t finish anything has nothing to do with your insistence. No sir.

>>Goblin’s Shop

The goblin’s shop is out of the way, even further from the main hub of the city than the spriggan’s grove. You’ve had to navigate through devil’s walking stick, more thorn bushes than you care to count for, and no small amount of brambles that you’re fairly sure got stuck inside of your armor. Ah, nature…just can’t get enough of it.

You find the target of your current mission leaning back against a tree stump. In his hands, he fiddles with a toy, a puzzle ring of some sort. Interlocking pieces of bronze come together to form a puzzle that you’re not even sure the world champ of Rubix Cubes could solve within an hour. It had more moving pieces than your car.

“…the shop is closed,” the goblin mutters as you make your approach. It doesn't even take its eyes off its puzzle.“…redirect your deliveries elsewhere and wait for our reopening to make an order…we appreciate your patience…”

>“We’re here about the territory.” [Blunt]
>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]
>“This is supposed to be a demon?” [Mock]

>>47363314
>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>>47363314
>>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>>47363314
>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>>47363314
>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>>47363314
>>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

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81 KB GIF

>>47363314
>“This is supposed to be a demon?” [Mock]

>>47363314
>“We’re here about the territory.” [Blunt]

>>47363329
>>47363354
>>47363389
>>47363547
>>47363567

You cough once, and shoot a diplomatic nod to MacKay. Likewise, he prepares himself for a friendly introduction, but he cedes the lead to you once more. Trying to put a positive inflection into your voice, you say, “What’s got you down, friend?”

If anything, that does the opposite of getting the goblin to relax.

The demon drops his puzzle ring, and moves its hand to its side. It gets up slowly, drawing a bronze dagger out of its belt, regarding you with a guarded expression. You yourself and your party members move to a stance, not quite about to preemptively attack, but gearing yourself in anticipation for one.

“Devil Summoners,” the goblin mutters, spitting into the soil, “Always here when we don’t want them…what the hell do you want? I’ve committed no crime and my shop is legitimate. The accords in place will definitely see to that. So check them, and get the bloody hell off of my property before I make you.”

>Speaking to the Spriggan first has unlocked an extra dialogue option.

>“We’re here about the contested territory on orders from the Pixie Guard.”
>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”
>Custom option.

>>47363760
>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>47363760
>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>47363760
>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>47363760
>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>47363760
>>"We've spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad..."
Oh this will be good.

>>47363760
>“We’re here about the contested territory on orders from the Pixie Guard.”

>>47363760
.....whoops, forgot the vote in the last one.

>>47363760
>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

File: 543_Goblin.jpg (216 KB, 1020x1736)

216 KB JPG

>>47363778
>>47363786
>>47363792
>>47363808
>>47363864
>>47363931

What the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound, right? Although you don’t necessarily know why you’d follow American currency with that of British coinage. Maybe Brady knew? You’d be sure to ask him during down time, or a break period. It doesn’t make any damned sense.
But you digress.

“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

That’s all that can come out of your mouth before the goblin’s hand moves. The glint of metal flashes through the air, parting the wind itself as it embeds itself deeply in a tree stump right behind your head. Your cheek sings, and you can feel a warm fluid running down to touch your lips. The taste of iron and copper enters into your mouth.

Blood.

“Adrian/Master/Rawk!”

Gryphon moves to shield you, shrieking at the goblin at the top of its lungs even as High Pixie rolls up the sleeves of her Kimono and cracks her knuckles, with absolute murder written across her face. MacKay flicks the safety off his rifle, and motions for his demons to likewise get ready.

“Oh, so you’re here on behalf of that old piece of granite, are you?” The goblin snarls, drawing a bronze hammer out from its tool belt. “That makes this all the more easy. I’ll give it to you plainly: either you walk away now with just a minor scratch…or I make you leave on my own terms. The stone dodger restricted his magic. I made no such promise.

“Try me, Devil Summoner. Just try my patience one more time…give me a good reason to toss you out of my territory."

>Attack.
>Negotiate.
>Walk away.

>>47363970
>>Negotiate.

>>47363970
>Negotiate.
The pixie guard sent us to deal with the issue, I guess if you don't want us to hear your side of the story, we'll have to judge on what the spriggan told us alone.
Then move to walk away.

>>47363970
>Negotiate.bluntly

“We’re here about the contested territory on orders from the Pixie Guard. I came to get both sides of the story, but if you don't want to talk and would rather start stabbing I can just walk away and make my judgement based on the Spriggan's testimony alone."

>>47363970
>Negotiate
This >>47363989. Casual, no fucks given attitude appreciated but not required.

>>47363989
This.

>>47363970
>Negotiate.
figured as much. These two are real hotheads, even without magic.

>>47363979
>>47363989
>>47364004
>>47364006
>>47364050

You calmly hold out a hand to get everyone to stand down. If this was going to be anything like your last investigation (ha, no), the real fighting was going to happen later. And at this point, expending the effort to throw down the gauntlet at this stage in the case was little more than a waste of time, effort and energy.

So the goblin liked to play hardball. Two people can play at that game just as easy…

Your eyes narrow as you wipe the blood from your face. “The Pixie Guard sent us to deal with the issue of the territory. I guess if you don’t want us to listen to your side of the story and just want to start stabbing, we’ll have to judge on what the spriggan told us alone. His testimony should suffice enough.”

You motion for everyone to start moving out of the goblin’s territory, but you keep a sharp eye on its position. Never turn your back to the enemy. Especially one that’s apparently proficient in throwing extremely sharp and lethal projectiles.
So it is with great trepidation that you slowly back off from the throw-happy goblin, keeping a sharp eye on both its eye and its hands.

…

“…” You can audibly hear the goblin grind its teeth against each other before it shouts, “That’s not a smart decision! You’re making a very big mistake, and an uninformed one at that.”

You stop in your footsteps, and shoot MacKay a knowing eye. Its still an arrogant little piss, but you’ve got it right where you want it.

Jackpot.

You address the goblin, “Am I now? I’m only working with the information that I have. If I can’t get access to new sources, then that’s hardly my fault if I exhaust every option. I have to do the best I can. In this case, that happens to be our mutual friend of stone.”

(cont.)

Even from your distance, you can see that the very action causes the goblin to shake. Slowly, but gradually, it sets the hammer down onto the ground and kicks it away, hard enough to bump along the ground and return straight into the interior of the shop. It is now weaponless, and devoid of any sort of tools.

“Then allow me to educate you,” it growls, squatting down on the stump with an irate belligerence. “And give you a lesson in how the world works. Because no matter who’s telling it, they’ll embellish it in their favor if it gets them something in return. Just like that granite bastard.”

You smile as you return to the goblin. Not too close though, a nice and comfortable distance of six feet from his tree stump. Weapons lowered, but ready to be raised and fired at a moment’s notice.

It spits out a wad of phlegm onto the grass before grunting, “So he told you about the three of us, huh? Bet he made himself look like the good guy...so ask me questions, and I'll correct them, pull the truth out of his big heaping pile of bullshit.”

>Ask your questions.

=

Gonna call it a night for now. See you in the morning after I sleep, will immediately resume q/a with our irascible little friend. Please keep thread bumped, etc.

>>47364357
What makes you think she left the land to you and not the Spriggan?

What adventures did you and the Dryad go on?

Tell me what you know about the tainted area.

>>47364357
How often did you go on adventures with the Dryad? Where did you go?

Were you ever mentioned elsewhere in the will?

The Spriggan said he was the only one by her side as she died. Was this true? If so where were you?

>>47364357
Start with his version, how does he know the Dryad, up until her death?

As someone who's been with her for so long, what was she like?

Was Goblin mentioned in the will?

>>47364357
Where's the land you two are fighting over?

Bump

Bump

Bump

>>47367030
>>47368725
>>47370175
Hold on, one of these things is not like the others.

>>47364369
>>47364373
>>47364961
>>47366330

>How did you meet the dryad?

Its grizzled features break out into a melancholic smile. “She came to me asking for directions, believe it or not. I had a bit of a map-making business until the war, pointing out the best routes and safest areas to go exploring in. And then somehow, she ended up roping me into her little escapade…and then it all just went along from there.”

>What makes you think she left the land to you and not the spriggan?

The goblin snorts. “That’s an easy enough question to answer. I was the one who knew her the best, and codswallop to what that old stone has to say. I knew her better than he did because she never trusted in him enough for her little excursions throughout the realm. As much as the bastard cares for her, he would never have approved of her gallivanting. I alone was the sole person to confide in her secrets above all the rest. That is why I believe I am the one she refers to in her will.”

>Adventures? How often? Did you go with her?

“…they weren’t adventures as much as they were exploring,” the goblin mutters, lips twisted into an unreadable expression. “Because there were days where she was struck by wanderlust enough to pack up her things and go off without saying a word to anyone else. Once every month, maybe two if she was particularly afflicted. It was odd. Dryads tend not to stray too far from their trees if they can’t help it. She was gone for a week at one point.

“And for some, I did go with her. There were good days, bad ones, and the kinds of adventures that are best forgotten and left at the bottom of a bottle. But if I had the opportunity, I would gladly do it all over again.”

(cont.)

>The taint. What is it? What do you know about Darkbriar Woods?

At this, the goblin’s eyes narrow sharply. “To speak of Corruption is forbidden among our kind, a crime often greeted by disgust, or exile by the whole of the masses. Though the old bastard doesn’t have anyone else left to ostracize him, so it surprises me little that he would so freely speak of it.

“No, Devil Summoners. If you wish to find answers to that particular source of information, you will have to search elsewhere. But what I can tell you is that Darkbriar is a horrible place, a land where nothing goes in and returns unchanged. Its very presence is blight against your soul. I would not dare go there, even in my most foolhardy of days. And she knew that…but she either chose to ignore me and freely go in…or…no, I do not wish to talk about this any further.”

>The Spriggan said he was the only one by her side as she died. Was this true? If so where were you?

Perhaps you could have worded that better.

At that, the goblin’s nostrils flare, and he leaps up from his seat, roaring, “That bastard would dare assume that I only cared for the will?! Then he is an even greater fool than I thought! They all said that the taint was incurable, that there was naught that I could do to save her. No, no there was a way, spring water drawn from the highest point of Winter’s Peak, a pure fairy well said to cleanse all maladies.

“He said it was best to comfort her, and to let her move on. I spat upon his resignation and took it upon myself to journey to that distant mountain. The journey was perilous and wrought with danger, nearly killing me. But I found it, and took it back, as fast as I could back to the city. But I…” The goblin’s voice deflates, and he sinks back into a depressed stupor, “…but it was too late. She had already passed when I returned.”

(cont.)

It takes more than a few moments to relax from the sudden outburst. And even when he picks up his voice in a weary tone, all of you are still on your guard. “He was content to let her pass on. I was not going to let that happen. Tell me: which one would you rather have your side as your best friend?”

>What was she like?

“…he would have told you what she was like already, no doubt. We cannot disagree when it comes to our opinion of her. She was always so curious about things, even if it was the mundane droll of knowing why this flower was colored differently than that one, why I fashion bronze a certain way. And she was perhaps the only one that I could truly count on to tell me the truth without any sugar-coating.”

>Did she mention you in her will?

The demon takes a deep breath, and exhales with a melancholic air. “…an apology for accidentally knocking over the tools in my shop and failing to tell me. And a little joke about briar patches and tangleweed.”

>Where is the land the two of you are fighting over?

The goblin gestures somewhere towards the east. “Almost two leagues in that direction. It’s guarded by Pixie Guard. The stone and I are forbidden to enter until this whole matter is resolved…what a mess this all turned out to become…”

>You quietly take your leave.

“Assuming both were telling the truth,” MacKay starts as you recline against a tree, “This certainly doesn’t make anything easier. Both have legitimate claims to be the one she refers to in the will…and both have legitimate reasons for doing what they did upon her last days.”

“This is why I hate these kinds of things,” Knocker says quietly, “Everyone gets hurt. No one wins. It’s just people hurting each other without any good reason for it.”

High Pixie looks up to you. “Hey, Master? Who do you think deserves the land? We need to decide soon…”

>The spriggan
>The goblin
>Custom option.

>>47372053
>>Custom option.
We might have to take a look at the land. She disappeared about once a month, doesn't that strike you as odd? if we can figure out why we might get to the bottom of this.

>>47372098
>>47372053
i'll second this.

>>47372098
>>47372053
+1

>>47372098
>>47372156
>>47372183
“We should probably check out the land first. Something just doesn’t seem right here…”

“Think so?” MacKay questions, munching on a granola bar. “I mean, yes, it’s probably a good idea to check out the place before we give it, so why the bother?”

“She went out once a month, right? Just up sticks and left without a word and came back without a warning. Even the goblin noticed it as ‘odd’, and he was the one that went out on adventures with her.”

The priest frowns. “I thought that the once per month things were just her own adventures minus our red friend. Have you ever had the urge to just walk by yourself, maybe clear the air perhaps in some quiet spot? I find it quite refreshing after a long day. Perhaps she did too…”

You frown. “Maybe…but it’s worth investigating. Can’t leave no stone uncovered, right?”
“True…but let’s hope the Pixie Guard understand.”

“As do I…”

>>Dryad’s Grove

Upon reaching your destination after a half-hour’s walk, you come to understand why the spriggan and goblin would come to blows over the land. Even without the specifics as to why they wanted it, the place itself is gorgeous.

The grove itself is a paradox, tamed but left to run wild in a contained area. Underneath a canopy of oak and ash trees, a field of wildflowers is in full bloom, and the fresh scent of honeysuckle flies on the gentle breeze. In the center where there are no trees, one would have an unobstructed view of the sky from all times of the day.

A High Pixie in a very…interesting chest piece hovers towards you. “No one passes through here. This area is under our jurisdiction until such other time as the authorities deem it otherwise.”

>We’re honored guests of the King and Queen.
>We’re here to take care of the land dispute.
>Custom option.

>>47372500
>>We’re here to take care of the land dispute.

>>47372500
>We’re here to take care of the land dispute.

>>47372500
>>We’re here to take care of the land dispute.
>We've noted some , irregularities, and we're hoping an examination of the land might provide some answers.

>>47372544
>>47372574
>>47372595

“We’re here to take care of the land dispute,” You hand the demon the itinerary MacKay gave you, and she scrutinizes it with a very close eye. “Part of Queen Titania’s agreement with Task Force 666. And we just want to check up on something. It’s important for our investigation.”

The demon hands you the parchment back. “By all means, go ahead. Can’t really see why you’d want to check up on the land, but the sooner we get this thing over and done with, the better. We have better duties than this to take care of. Just be sure not to disturb anything and leave the place as is.”

“We can manage that.”

“Then by all means. Search away, Devil Summoner.”

>The Pixie Guard let you pass into the territory.

MacKay stretches, easing a krick out of his neck. “So what exactly are we looking for again?”

“Anything that might make sense,” you mutter, activating your Magnetite scanner. In an instant, the graph leaps up as it registers the nascent magic in the air. Cursing at the shrill, obnoxious beeping going off in your ear, you dial down the sensitivity to acceptable levels. “Even if she just went off for long walks in the woods, I’d rather have confirmation that it’s all she did.”

“Fair enough, I suppose,” he replies, likewise activating his Magnetite scanner. He starts walking along the outer perimeter of the territory, slowly working his way deeper along the flowerbed. “…nothing much except for high readings of tin deep in the ground. And mineral-rich soil for farming. This place really is worth getting all up in arms for.”

“And here I thought I was only in it for the view…”

“Well, there’s that, but it’s only the proverbial cherry on top. Sure it looks nice, but for all we know, this grove is hiding something sinister underneath the pretty flowers…”

>Roll 1d100 Perception
>Best of three.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>47373153

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>47373153

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>47373153

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>47373153
PLS

>>47373219
fuck.

>>47373198
>>47373199
>>47373201

There’s nothing noteworthy that you can find in the area, at least with your own eyes. Aside from a few curious patterns that the overhead canopy makes and the odd bend in the trees, there’s nothing here in the grove that would otherwise stick out to the naked eye. The dryad didn’t seem to have many possessions with her. But that’s almost a given, considering her nature.

But even when your eyes fail you, the magnetite scanner doesn’t. It’s almost pure happenstance when you discover it, just meandering aimlessly along the path. Then the graph begins to pick up an unidentifiable energy signature. You frown, adjusting the dials along your COMP. It’s magnetite, that much is certain…but there’s something…off about it.

“Adrian, I found…” MacKay jogs over to your position, and upon seeing your gauntlet, he shows you his as well. The same reading that’s on your device is also triggering his as well. “Ah, you found it as well. Then this saves me some time, certainly. What do you suppose this is?”

“Dunno,” you reply, coughing to get a bit of pollen out of your nose. “But whatever it is, it bears checking out. Because I couldn’t find jack squat. At this point, I’d welcome a trail of breadcrumbs if that’s all that there was.”

>>You track the strange reading…

Your device leads you to a tree a bit of a ways within the grove, one that stands a bit a ways from the others. Now that’s odd. You went over every nook and cranny, but you didn’t notice this one before. Only when you really focused on the reading are you able to notice its presence.

(cont.)

File: Ash2.jpg (130 KB, 512x340)

130 KB JPG

But you digress. In spite of a lack of markings or any other blemishes, the tree itself is a stark contrast to its other fellows. Its branches are devoid of foliage, and the bark is a shade paler than the rest. It appears to still be alive, but barely able to survive.

And the graph spikes as soon as you aim the sensor at the thing.

MacKay shuts down his scanner with a dismissive gesture. “This certainly doesn’t seem right in any sense of the word. It’s the middle of summer. It should be in full bloom right now, not looking like the middle of winter.”

“That is odd,” you concur. “What do you think caused it to be this way?”

“Dryads are reliant on their trees to survive,” Knocker informs you, couging politely to make himself noticed. “Perhaps this one his hers. When she passed away, her tree was still in ‘shock’ from the absence of its bond with the demon.”

The priest exhales deeply. “That could be it, but that doesn’t explain the strange reading…”

You nod solemnly, and think. The guard said not to do anything too drastic…

>Chop it down.
>Touch the bark.
>Custom option.

>>47373716
>>Touch the bark.

>>47373716
>>Custom option.
The tree is her best friend isn't it?

>>47373716
>Touch the bark.

>>47373716
>Touch the bark.

>>47373716
>>Touch the bark.

>>47373764
Dawww.

>>47373716
>Touch the bark.
Do any of our demons have experience in tree whispering?

>>47373748
>>47373772
>>47373776
>>47373780
>>47373812

…you hope you can do this without looking like a fucking idiot. Or a tree hugger. Damn hippies.

You gingerly shut down your COMP, and reach out towards the tree. Just a quick touch, see what the hell is going on with this thing. Through the Kevlar of your gloves, you can feel the rough texture of the bark rub against your palm. Doesn’t feel any different from any other tree.

But something on a deeper level feels off. Like…it isn’t a feeling you can rationally explain in eloquent words and sentences. It just feels…wrong. From the point of contact, there’s something about the touch that makes your skin crawl, something that turns the sweet scent of honeysuckle in the air into the putrefying stench of rot.

A sweat breaks across your forehead. This is wrong. This should not be here. It does not belong. It is not a part of the natural order of things. But you cannot turn away. You can feel your mind slowly becom I n g o v e r w h e l m

>>47374087
It was tainted, guys.

Just like the dryad.

Just like us

File: Ded.jpg (61 KB, 1024x620)

61 KB JPG

>>47374087

>>47374087
>>47374087
“…ull!”

You snap out of your trance as if someone threw a bucket of water into your face. One second, you’d had a hand against the tree. And in the next, you find yourself flying backwards, with a mass of bodies cushioning your fall on the ground with a loud “OMF” and an indignant squawk.

You blink as your mental faculties return to you, and you push off from the ground. You don’t feel nauseous as much as you feel like you were drenched in oil: disgusting and just unnatural. What the fuck was that?

“He’s free now, let him have some air.”

Everyone’s demons part as MacKay squats down beside you, a look of concern written across his face. “What on earth possessed you to touch it?” He asks in an incredulous voice, even as he offers a hand to you.

“…dunno,” You mutter, wearily accepting a hand up from the ground. “Just…felt compelled to do so. What happened?”

He grimaces. “That’s my question. We had to pull you off of the thing. You were stuck like that for a solid minute, and nothing we said or did snapped you out of that…state of mind. And when I tried moving you…your hand was stuck fast to the bark. Took everyone to get you off, and even that was a struggle.”

“Stuck?”

He nods in the direction of the tree. “Take a look.”

Right where you touched the tree, your hand left an impression in the bark. The best analogy you can compare it to is the Playdough of your youth, or any kind of malleable putty that could record an object within its substance. And that’s what’s left on the bark, the imprint of your hand on the tree as if left by a branding iron.

(cont.)

“…the tree…” You mutter, your voice picking up speed as quick as it can. “It carries…it carries the taint. The one that the dryad contracted. I’m sure of it.”
MacKay looks alarmed. “…if that’s the case, does that mean you’ve taken the taint within you as well?”

Oh fuck. You look the priest straight in the eye. “I-I don’t think so. I mean…”

You look at your hand. Aside from a slight singe, the glove protecting it is still in one piece. It didn’t break through the material or pierce the skin. “I’m fine,” you say, wiggling your fingers. “Kevlar gloves aren’t busted. And I’d know if I was ill.”

“…well have to do a thorough rundown after this,” he says, casting a scornful look to the offending plant. “So…if it really does contain the corruption that they spoke of…what course of action do you recommend?”

>Burn it down to ashes.
>Call the Pixie Guard.
>Custom.

>>47374309
>Call the Pixie Guard.

>>47374309
>>Call the Pixie Guard.

>>47374309
>>Call the Pixie Guard.
I don't know the standard procedure for this shit.

>>47374309
>Call the Pixie Guard.

>>47374309
>Burn it down to ashes.
Morning Star from space, the only way to be sure.

>>47374323
>>47374324
>>47374332
>>47374337

First and foremost, you are guests of the Sidhe court. And the last thing you want to do is something incredibly dangerous without first informing them. First impressions last forever, and even though they’ve allegedly had agents come over in the past before, you want to go back to the real world with a favorable impression.

“Call the Pixie Guard over here,” You cough out, spitting onto the ground. “I’d burn it normally, just as a human procedure in response to contagions, but I don’t know if that’s how they quarantine the nasty shit that gets into the kingdom.”

He nods. “I’ll be right back.”

No less than thirty seconds later does MacKay return with the entire squad of fairies that were guarding the grove. Their captain zips right to the site of the tree, holding out a gloved hand for her underlings to stop and form up behind her. She casts a critical glance at you, as well as the handprint left in the tree.

Her eyes go wide and she swears explosively. “This is not good. Oh, this is not good at all. What you’ve got on your hands is a thrice-damned Seedbed. A revered elder of the forest turned into a breeding slave for corruption. It’s acorns, it’s pollen…well, it doesn’t have any of that now. It’s only still in the early stages of its…life.”

Oh great. A magical pathogen. “Well that’s nice and all to know, but what’s the standard procedure for this?”

Her eyes are sharp and grim. “Nothing short of total annihilation. The surrounding area is a regrettable loss, but we can't afford run the risk of something breaking out of the field.”

From her pocket, she takes out a red stone. It’s smaller than the one’s you’ve seen at Miss K’s armory, but you recognize it as a magic Fire stone of some sort. But more crystalline and refined than the one’s you’ve ever seen. “Stand clear!”

(cont.)

File: Corruption Seedbed.jpg (139 KB, 722x454)

139 KB JPG

As soon as you clear the blast site, scrambling behind the demons, she crushes the stone in her hands. Fire blossoms around her arm like a snake composed of pure flames, hissing and spitting as she aims towards the tree. “Agidyne!”

The area she aimed at doesn’t much catch on fire as much as it explodes into flames. You can’t help but raise your hands to shield yourself from the sudden light that comes with the detonation and the sharp smell of smoke. The very ground shakes from the impact, sending tremors racing up your spine.

As soon as the light returns to a respectable level, you lower your arms and cough once to expel the dirt and grime up your nose. You exhale in relief, thanking your lucky stars that it’s over and done with-

Before an inhuman growl squashes all of your hopes for a quick and easy end.

The tree comes to life, uprooting itself from the soil even as its bark is ablaze. Cracks appear along its surface, three fissures emerging to form a crude semblance of eyes, too many eyes, and a mouth. But there is nothing in those places save for hollow eyes and a maw alight with the rage of something that does not belong.

And it starts to move on twisting, shuddering limbs, gouging furrows into the earth and setting the field aflame as it moves towards your group.

“It’s already developed this far?!” The captain says in a panic. “Oh crap! We’re not equipped to handle this kind of situation! And that was my only Agidyne stone!”

>Get everyone to evacuate.
>Hold them off until aid arrives.
>Custom option.

>>47374712
>>Hold them off until aid arrives.

>>47374712
>Hold them off until aid arrives.

>>47374712
>>Hold them off until aid arrives.
Mackay gets the others on the horn and get them here NOW! Captain send a runner for aid and get everyone who's a non-combatant out NOW!

Pixie Zio, Griffin spam Sukaja

>>47374712
alright so plan debuff debuff it all to hell so it can do nothing

>>47374759
Actually Pixie should Rakunda

i say we swap out pixie for angel hit it with dormina then hit it a couple of times with sukunda have griffin boost us with sukaja finaly swap out angel for pixie and hit it with rakunda a few times then blast it to hell.

>>47374712
>Hold them off until aid arrives.

All the fire we can muster. So I guess Hua Po. Damn, we need to diversify our elemental damage portfolio.

>>47374890
I wish Fitz didn't take the fire rounds

>>47374903
>>47374890
We have an agi stone though, unless that got taken too.

>>47374738
>>47374740
>>47374759

…you are so fucked. This thing definitely looks like the upper limit of your weight class. And if the Pixie Guard’s reaction was anything to use as a measuring stick, then you give yourself at least another five feet up shit creek without a paddle.

But no one said that being a Devil Summoner was an easy job.

“How soon do you think the others can get here if we called?” You shout as the monster lumbers towards you. “MacKay?!”

The priest runs the math in his head, even as he orders Hua Po to blast the tree with another dose of fire. “Last time I checked, they were out a few miles from the kingdom, checking out some kind of anomaly? I don’t know! If it’s help you’re asking for, it’d be a long time before they get here!”

You resist the urge to groan, mentally cursing at Fitz for taking the fire rounds, and turn to the High Pixie guard. “Take your men and get everyone that isn’t a combatant of here. We’ll hold them off for you to escape. And if you can, send help. Preferably a demon that knows fire magic. The bigger, the better.”

“Are you crazy?” She shouts, sending a bolt of lightning streaking towards the monster. “Do you know how much trouble I’d be in if I left the Queen’s honored guests to fight on her own? I’d be out of a job, Devil Summoner!”

“Would you rather die?” You shoot back. “Because I think that we’d be kind of fucked without the extra help.”

The demon makes a face before cursing. “Dammit! Everyone, evacuate the surrounding area, at least one district perimeter around this place. Go find anyone that can help and send ‘em over here. Because if they die, it’s my head on the serving platter.

“So try not to die!” She shouts as her and her guards zip out of the area.
You give her retreating form only a second-long glance before you turn to the lumbering wood.

>What should Pixie do?
>What should Gryphon do?

>>47374996
pixie: Rakunda
gryphon: sukaja

>>47374996
BUFF AND DEBUFFS

>>47374996
>>47375021
this
Also ready that agi stone

>>47375021
>>47375035
>>47375038

“Buffs and debuffs!” You shout, reaching into your bag and pulling out your own Agi stone. Compared to the crystal the captain had earlier, yours is little more than a polished rock. “Standard operating procedure for big guys are now in place!”

“Yes, master!/Rawk!”

The telltale sign of magic once again envelops their limbs, or beak in Gryphon’s case. They unleash it, and you feel the familiar sensation of your footsteps getting lighter as a green aura envelops your body.

And the…demon. Was it a demon? You shrug. The damn monster advancing onto you definitely started howling in pain as soon as Pixie’s spell hit it. The fucker’s still burning from the Agidyne blast that the High Pixie captain had used earlier, and it shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

>Gryphon used Sukukaja
>Your Hit/Evasion receives +10
>Gryphon has 50 MP left.

>High Pixie used Rakunda
>Seedbed has a -10 to Defense.
>High Pixie has 108 MP left.

>Seedbed is Burning!
>Seedbed takes 5 flat damage every round.

Now it's your turn.

>Shoot the demon.
>Use your Agi stone.
>Custom option.

>>47375326
>>Use your Agi stone.

>>47375326
>Use your Agi stone.

>>47375326
>Use your Agi stone.

>>47375326
is it possible to switch demons mid combat?
it would realy like to try and see if we can put the thing to sleep using dormina

>>47375345
>>47375356
>>47375362

You crush the Agi stone, and do your best not to recoil as tongues of fire appear in the palm of your hand. It isn’t a hot sensation, as it’s a product of your own prerogative, but it still causes your fatigues to scorch slightly. Ah well. Better late than never.

Like a pitcher winding up for the first inning, you throw the mass of fire as you would a baseball. It shrieks through the air, almost searing your eyebrows as it races towards the Seedbed. It explodes against the trunk, and it roars in agony as fading flames once more light up with vigor.

MacKay stands at attention, guns and demons at the ready as you back out of the combat area. He turns to you, with a sharp look in his eyes that briefly flickers from you towards the burning Seedbed of nope. He’s waiting for orders.

>Direct commands. You give orders.
>Let MacKay have free reign.

>>47375434
Not during this turn, no. Wait for your next turn, and I'll present that option.

>>47375583
>Let MacKay have free reign.

>>47375583
>Let MacKay have free reign.

>>47375583
>>Let MacKay have free reign
It's not like he has that many options. Automate that shit.

>>47375583
>Let MacKay have free reign.
hes probably just going to agi and rakukaja

>>47375583
>Let MacKay have free reign.

>>47375583
How many wind demons do we have? We pretty much have zero fire, so I'm wondering if we can compress whatever flames are already present like a pressure cooker.

>>47375735
the only one we have is pixie with wing buffet.

>>47375773
>mfw I hadn't thought of fusion spells.

Then again, I don't remember whether or not that was just a Persona/Digital Devil Saga thing or if it was ever in any other spin off.

>>47375773
pixie with wind and Hua Po with fire....
And knocker doesn't have much going for him, right now.

maybe we should just whittle down as many branches as possible, and pray that stalls for time.

>>47374136
I gotta ask: you guys knew it was tainted when you voted to do it, right?

>>47375834
I can't think of any other than Persona 1/2 or DDS yeah.

>>47375838
>I gotta ask: you guys knew it was tainted when you voted to do it, right?

I was going to vote to chop it down but I had to go clean up dog piss. I only got back to say it after the fact.

>>47375857
So that's another thing that I'm gonna have to be on the fence about. For now, consider that Fusion spells aren't a thing. Maybe later, it'll come up as an advanced tutorial technique for Alger to teach you.

Writing...

>>47375834
>>47375918
fair enough.

fusion spells are costly, anyway. I just couldn't get the image of Breath of Fire 3 out of my head, casting Simoon.

>>47375603
>>47375613
>>47375614
>>47375632
>>47375694
“Free reign!” You shout, “Show me what you’ve got, MacKay!”

In spite of the situation, a grin breaks out across his face. “With pleasure, leader. Now, get thee away from me, abomination!”

MacKay opens up with a fully-automatic burst, and while you can’t individually count the shots he unloaded into the Seedbed, you’re fairly certain that he emptied out the clip. Not that there was much in the ways of a wasted shot. The damn thing’s huge, not quite the girth or mass of the Black Oozes, but very large nonetheless.

You figure that at most of the shots he fired made direct contact. Hot lead shaves off bark and blows impressive gouges into the bark. And while it doesn’t seem to have done that much damage compared to anything else, it’s still an impressive attack.

Great. Another damn thing resistant to Gun attacks. This isn’t going to be easy.

MacKay gives his commands to his demons: “Agi and Rakukaja!”

“Aye!Yes, sir!”

Hua Po’s fireball joins the inferno that’s consuming the Seedbed. It doesn’t do much in the way of damage, but it certainly keeps the fire burning. The monster shudders, but continues to advance towards you…

>Hua Po has 53 MP left.

Knocker casts his defensive magic, nervously skitting away from the monster as it gets closer. Not that you don’t blame him in the slightest. Apparently, he’s weak to fire. Even by proxy.

>Typo in the first attack turn, supposed to be -1 to Defense
>You gained +1 to your Defense Threshold.
>Knocker has 48 MP

The Seedbed howls, raising its burning limbs to the sky. Then, it begins to slam them wildly into the ground, without any care or regard for accuracy. In its blind rage, it’s merely content to swing out at you blindly in the hopes of hitting something.

>Warning: Entity used move registered in the database known as {Rampage}!

>Roll 1d100 + 30 (+20 Combat, +10 Sukukaja)
>Best out of three.

Rolled 7 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>47376155
DOOOOOOODGE

Rolled 83 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>47376155

Rolled 55 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>47376155

Rolled 5 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>47376155
DODGE!

>>47376155
So Rampage is one thing, but if we physically touch it(even through kevlar), we're stuck/tainted?

We may have to unsummon some demons very quickly.

>>47376218
It might be prolonged contact. We had our hand on it for a good 30 seconds. Getting smacked by Rampage real quick should mitigate any taint.

>>47376218
What >>47376364 said. Gonna get a quick bite to eat, then I'll be back in about half an hour.

Okay, it was more than half an hour...

>>47376198
>>47376202
>>47376203
Just by the skin of your teeth, you manage to dodge the flailing tree limb that heads straight towards your face. And even then, it still stings just as it cuts through the space your body used to be occupying.

High Pixie takes the backlash of a particularly vicious swing, and for a fearful moment, it looked like she’d be sent careening out of the air. But she manages to catch herself at the last second and fly back to your side. She’s fine, if not a tiny bit wobbly as she tries to regain her senses.

Gryphon likewise took a hit, but it shrugs it off, trotting back to your side without even blinking.

MacKay and his team somehow managed to escape without too much damage. A set of angry claw marks run down the his face, courtesy of the branches along those tree limbs. Hua Po is unharmed, and Knocker got right back up on his feet. Seems that in spite of the burning branch, he didn’t succumb to his weakness of fire.

In response to the mild damage, the Seedbed roars as the flames enveloping its body quietly die out. There isn’t any piece of it that’s unmarked by the flames, from mild scorch marks to almost charcoal-like segments of branches. But in spite of the damage, it doesn’t look like it’s badly hurt. Only pissed off to the nth degree.

>Seedbed used Tarakuja!

As soon as he finishes casting his magic, you decide to press the advantage and counter attack.

>What should Pixie do?
>What should Gryphon do?

>>47377476
Pixy: switch for angel
Gryphon: Sukakaja

>>47377476
Pixie Zio
Griffin Sukaja

>>47377476
Switch gryphon for Angel
Bestie cast Zio

>>47377476
>>What should Pixie do?
Switch to Angel, Have Angel use Sukunda
>>What should Gryphon do?
Sukukaja.

Seedbed's Tarukaja won't mean shit if he can't hit us.

>>47377476
Pixie switch to Angel, Dormina
Gryphon sukukaja

even if the sleep doesn't completely take, we're just stalling for time, not setting up a killing blow.

>>47377508
>>47377548
I don't suppose I could convince you two to switch out zio for something else?

>>47377832
Switching Pixie for Angel already has the majority anon.

>>47377873
even so, would like their input on what Angel should actually DO.

>>47377892
That'll probably be the next decision unless Kaz skips her turn cause she is summoned.

>>47377892
can she even do anything on the turn she is summoned?
generaly in the games when you switch they can't do anything that turn.

>>47377920
some games make summoning cost half a press turn.

>>47377932
Demons can act on the turns that you summon them if you switch them out. Not if you summon a demon to replace on that has fallen.

Writing...

>>47377505
>>47377508
>>47377597

In any other situation, you’d keep on layering the buffs and debuffs and then bring in the blows when you’re satisfied. Not in this case. Because in spite of being on fire, taking a direct blast from an Agidyne, half of an M4’s magazine, and being debuffed, the Seedbed shows no signs of suffering too much damage.

And besides, you’re not trying to kill the damn thing. You’re just stalling for time for the big guys to get here. So that means it’s time to change up your tactics.

“Buff us again!” You shout to Gryphon, who trills in acknowledgement and fires off another Sukukaja. “Pixie, I’m swapping you out for Angel. Stand by for transmission…”

Just as the COMP envelops High Pixie in a burst of data, she cries out “Stay safe, Master!” and waves a little bit before she becomes data. You can still hear her echoing voice lingering in the air as Angel materializes in her place, unfurling her wings and exhaling in a dramatic flourish.

“Ah, my charge. How may I be-“ Her introduction is cut off by the roar of the Seedbed. Even though you can’t see her eyes, you can tell just by the sharp purse of her lips that they’re narrowed in a deep frown. “A wretched abomination, one that must be purged-”

“Not this time.”

“Come again?”

You gesture behind you. “We’re supposed to buy time for everyone to escape. And delay for reinforcements. By all means, we’re gonna do as much damage as possible, but I don’t think we’ll be able to bring it down on our own.”

“Understood. Orders then?”

>What should Angel do?

>>47378155
Dormina

>>47378155
>Dormina
it definitely has more to play than Rampage.

>>47378155
Dormina

>>47378155
Sukunda

Call me a pessimist but I like doing the thing that I know will work as opposed to trying a status ailment on a SMT boss. That's also a tree.

>>47378251
I'm just afraid that the sukunda won't actually stop some supermove.

>SMT boss. That's also a tree.
you say that like it's unusual.

File: Angel.png (61 KB, 363x466)

61 KB PNG

>>47378187
>>47378196
>>47378250

“See if you can put it to sleep!”

She nods grimly, and puts her hands together as if in prayer. Then they part, and directly in the space between her palms, a blue orb slowly comes to form, pulsating and throbbing with magical power. When it reaches the apex of its development, she raises the orb to the sky and cries “Dormia!”

Instead of rocketing towards the enemy as you expected, the magic orb slowly dissolves…no, it doesn’t. It pulls itself from the orb like a serpentine creature, traveling along the air not unlike a snake. The Seedbed only has enough time to grunt in confusion as the Angel’s spell takes a hold of its body, girdling around burnt bark and icherous sap.

The lights in its eyes begin to dim slightly, and its movements become sluggish and slower…

>Roll 1d100 for Dormia
>Best of three.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>47378653

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>47378653

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>47378653
Do tree demons dream of electric sheep?

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>47378653

File: 13cf07748002dc109605fe3ac(...).jpg (130 KB, 808x1000)

130 KB JPG

I want Angel to punish us for our sins!

>>47378692
Worthy!

>>47378748
Demons are not for lewds anon.

>>47378801
Anon i-
i want to play with arisu~

>>47378668
>>47378686
>>47378692
And – holy fuck, you can’t believe this – the light in the Seedbed’s eyes goes out, and it completely stops moving. Well, no that’s not completely true. Occasionally, its limbs still twitch, but other than that…

The fucking corruption monster of death is fast asleep. Even Angel can’t believe it, if her agape mouth is anything to go by.

But you quickly snap out of your surprise. If Brenda was any indication, this thing wasn’t going to stay this way forever. A long time, maybe, through repeated castings. Then again, repeated castings apparently lead it to build a temporary resistance…

You shake your head. No use running around in circles now. It’s crunch time.

MacKay staggers over to you, absently wiping the blood off of his face. For a moment, he just stares incredulously at the sleeping monster before coughing. “Well that was rather anti-climactic, wouldn’t you say?”

In spite of yourself, you can’t help but start laughing. “What, were you expecting some final stand? Because the only thing that comes to mind is ‘Butch Cassidy’.”

It looks like he’s struggling with it, but he eventually smiles past the blood coming down his cheek. “Not quite something along those lines that leads to our imminent deaths. I was thinking more of a, pardon my vocabulary, ‘big damn heroes’ interrupt. Where our backup arrives just in the nick of time.”

…

“Just in the nick of time!” MacKay says again, cupping his hand around his mouth to allow the words to ring out louder.

...

Nothing.

He sighs, flicking the firing mechanism of his gun to the burst setting. “I find it a travesty that life doesn’t operate with Hollywood standards.”

You grin even as you keep your gun trained on the Seedbed. “Me too, MacKay…me, too…”

>Attack it while it’s down.
>Call the others on your COMP.
>Wait for reinforcements.
>Custom option.

>>47379094
>>Call the others on your COMP
Sukunda and Sukukaja while it's asleep.

>>47379094
>>Call the others on your COMP.
Tell them come over, now.

>>47379094
>Call the others on your COMP.
keep debuffing it

>>47379094
>>47379119
this

>>47379094
Buff and debuff while it sleeps, to the max

>>47379094
>Call the others on your COMP.
So guys, I'm awake. We're also standing in front of a corrupted tree monstrocity, having soothed the savage beast to slumber. Those fire bullets would be really nice, right now.

I want to protect MacKay's smile.

>>47379201
too bad, we got the belt angel.

File: FitzCasual.png (93 KB, 442x532)

93 KB PNG

>>47379119
>>47379122
>>47379134
>>47379142
>>47379161
>>47379187
You fire up the communication app in your COMP as you direct your demons to debuff the monster and buff you to the max. Just in case things get worse. Because knowing your current trend of luck, that was the inevitable thing to happen.

>Gryphon used Sukukaja!
>Your party has +30 to Hit/Evasion
>Gryphon has 35 MP.

>Angel used Sukunda
>The Seedbed has -30 to Hit/Evasion
>Angel has 47 MP.

You give Fitz a ring. Because, you know, she has the fire bullets. She picks up the call within a few rings, “Thought you’d never wake up, Sawbones!” Her voice has a teasing edge to it. “Thought we’d have to get someone to kiss you to wake up. Might’ve had Brady do the deed if you were still out of it by the end of the day.”

Rolling your eyes, you cut right to the chase. “Funny. Listen, how far out are you guys right now?”

“Bout…forty five minutes away from the city. We were on our way back to get some chow and head out to keep digging for our elusive kidnapper. Why do you ask?”

“Because MacKay and I have just spent the last few minutes fighting up against a corrupted tree monstrosity that tried to do some weird voodoo thing to my head that resulted from a land dispute between a spriggan, a goblin, and their mutual dryad friend. We could really use those fire bullets.”

“…” The line is audibly silent. You can practically hear the gears turning in her head as she tries to reconcile your words in to a coherent thought. “…you know, if it was anyone else, I’d think that they’re tryin’ to fuck with me.”

You smile. “Oh, I’d never try to do that to you…but I digress. We could actually use some help. The Pixie Guard went off to get reinforcements, and they haven’t shown up yet. And considering the last time this ended, I’d rather have all of us together as opposed to being split up.”

(cont.)

>>47379463
Oops. Dropped my trip.

Writing....

>>47379707
>goblin frowns
>>47379707
>with a stone hand
umm.

>>47379463
>>47379787
Fixed it just for you

“Yeah, you’ve got a point there. Alright, we’ll head to your location. Tracking your COMP now…”

She hangs up, and you assume that she’s getting the rest of the team together. But you can’t help but walk in front of the Seedbed, take a selfie with your COMP, and then send it to everyone in the group chat. MacKay gives you the driest look he can muster, and you just shrug in response.

Worth it.

Reinforcements eventually do come, but they’re not the ones you expect. Coming from opposite ends of the grove, the spriggan and the goblin of all people/demons burst out of the foliage. Their immediate shock and anger at the other’s arrival is quickly overrun by the sight of the dormant Seedbed that lies within their friend’s grove.

As one, they turn to you. “What the hell happened here?/Where did this monstrosity come from?”

You rub the back of your head in a sheepish gesture. “Funny story actually…”

>You explained to them what happened to the tree.

The spriggan looks aghast at the sight of the Seedbed. “That was the most recent tree that she had taken as her home. A healthy and young ash that has stood long before the war, and survived long after its absence. She raised it herself, watered it and nurtured it when it was just a sapling…”

“But I don’t understand,” the goblin frowns, “It held no sign of the taint, let alone any trace of…this…” It gestures to the slumbering monster with a red hand. “How could this happen? That was her favorite tree out of all the ones in the grove. It was pure before her…illness…”

(cont.)

The goblin trails off in silence as a look of horror overtakes his features. Catching on, MacKay gasps softly. “She knew about this. She knew that her tree was tainted by the corruption and chose not to tell anyone. That’s…”

“Akin to treason,” Knocker finishes with a dark look on its face. “I have not set foot into this realm for over twenty years, but I know the law has remained unchanged since then. It is the duty of a fairy to report any and all possible threats to the realm immediately.”

“The fact that she chose to remain silent even unto her death,” you observe, “Just makes that all the more damning.”

Angel’s lip curls in disgust. “Absolutely disgraceful…”

“So what’s going to happen?” Hua Po asks, casting a worried look towards the slumbering wood. “What does that mean?”

Knocker exhales deeply. “…the Sidhe Court won’t stand for this. I don’t know that much about Corruption, but if it’s dangerous enough…they just won’t purge the Seedbed and the few plants that grew around it. They’ll destroy the dryad’s grove. Just to make sure nothing else was made impure by the taint.”

You didn’t think that demons could turn pale. But the goblin and the spriggan were quick to prove you wrong. And that’s not all. In the distance, you can see a veritable army coming right through the abandoned road. Dozens of Pixie guard, lead by vanguards of earth spirits and other high-level demons.

…wait, that’s…that’s Queen Titania herself! And the look on her face is far from the beautiful woman you saw in Alger's briefing room.

You bite your lip…

>Choose one:
>Condemn the dryad’s actions. [“She’s committed treason against the realm.”]
>Defend the dryad’s actions. [“She actually did warn you all…”

>>47379955
>>Condemn the dryad’s actions. [“She’s committed treason against the realm.”]
Ech, I don't like it, but if it means the rest of the land survives, I'll take two grouches hating us and bonding over that hate.

>>47379955
How did she warn them? Was it something in the will? Sorry if I am being slow.

>>47379955
>Rationalize the dryad's actions.
Probably, to the dryad, what she did for the tree was no different for Spriggan and Goblin. Treated as "evil" and shunned without trial. That this corruption would harm her may have never crossed her mind.

Her monthly trips....were they for searching for a cure, or just because she couldn't find anyone who shared her lack of prejudice, even to the corrupted?

I don't want to Condemn her actions, but we should definitely purge the Grove.

>>47379955
>>Condemn the dryad’s actions. [“She’s committed treason against the realm.”]

>>47379955
>>Condemn the dryad’s actions. [“She’s committed treason against the realm.”]
I get it, she was buying time by not telling anyone to get a cure, but she put everyone at risk.

>>47379996
>A healthy and young ash
>Stood apart from all the others
>She raised it herself, watered it and nurtured it when it was just a sapling…
>Took it as her home, formed a bond with it
>Her will:The grove goes to my best friend

A very shaky argument, but one that could be made if you rolled high Socially.

>>47379955
>Condemn the dryad’s actions. [“She’s committed treason against the realm.”]

>>47380135
This

File: Titania.png (1.99 MB, 1200x1600)

1.99 MB PNG

>>47379984
>>47380084
>>47380123
>>47380180
...you don’t really have much of a choice.
The entire fairy vanguard approaches, and the Pixie Guard part to allow their Queen to pass through. Titania’s features are stern and sharp as they sweep over your friends, the dryad’s grove, and the slumbering Seedbed. With an actual SNARL coming out of her lips, she raises her hand and snaps her fingers.

>Warning: Queen Titania has used move registered in the database known as {Concentrate}

“I never thought I’d see one of those repugnant beasts outside of Darkbriar,” she comments as if all she was doing was talking about the weather. “Where I would be free to destroy them at my leisure. Instead, I find one sitting within the walls of my kingdom, almost mature enough to start spreading its vile miasma throughout the kingdom. Now that’s very odd…”

She turns to you and MacKay. “Not quite the service I was expecting of you, neophytes. But if you come from Alger’s stock, then I suppose you are atypical of an average Order Summoner. You have done a commendable job in uncovering this blight. But I do not wish to detract you from your other mission. You are free to go…unless, you have something to say?”

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the goblin and spriggan looking at you in apprehension. They’re pleading with you.

…

…you make your choice.

You turn your full attention to Queen Titania. “Your Highness. If I may take a moment to explain…”

>You and MacKay tell Titania about the squabble that brought you here.
>You tell her about the dryad that contracted the taint.

“…and she didn’t mention this to anyone,” You conclude. “Endangering the realm. I am not an expert on fairy law, but from what Knocker told me-”

“-the crime is treason,” She finishes with the grim finality of the judge’s gavel. “Very well. I know what action I must take. Thank you for simplifying that for me, Summoners of the Order.”

(cont.)

As she walks forward past you, the Seedbed stirs in its slumber. Its eyes light up with the fires of corruption and it bellows out a challenge as it regains full cognition. Several of the Queen’s guards scramble to form a defensive perimeter around Titania, and your group prepares for another battle. But she quells them all with a gesture of her hand.

Her eyes are cold as ice as she raises her hand towards the Seedbed, the grove, and the last site of the goblin and spriggan’s dear friend. All it takes is one word, almost a whisper from lips as sweet as honey. “Megidolaon.”

And a star is born in the realm of the fey.

>+2 to Law
>Angel’s Loyalty has increased to 75%
>MacKay approves +10

Eventually, your eyes stop smarting, and you manage to blink your vision back into focus. You can’t help but stare with a mouth agape at the sight in front of you. And once more, MacKay’s composure is visibly shaken for the day, along with all the fairies gathered behind you.

In front of Titania, a landscape of utter ruin greets you. Her spell not only destroyed the Seedbed, now little more than a lump of ruined ashes, but completely obliterated the dryad’s grove. Every single flower, every single tree, the last memento of a dear friend: all of it was gone.

Little more than dust on the wind, a barren earth in the land and a bad taste in the memory of the people.

Nothing was spared from the queen’s wrath.

Before she glides away, she regards to you and MacKay. “Do not think that I will forget this. You will be handsomely rewarded for your actions here today. I will see to it personally that you receive the compensation you deserve.”

And one by one, the fairies follow their ruler, only lingering to talk and mutter. How could one of their own hide such a terrible thing from them? They whisper among themselves, even as they depart.

Traitor.

(cont.)

Jesus christ.

Not saying it wasn't deserved, but that was still brutal as fuck.

Fairy hitler did nothing wrong

>>47380856
Not even being ironic, she didn't. That corruption shit is bad.

2 Demon's feelings < Her people's safety.

>>47380769
No, not all of them have departed.

There are two demons that linger, transfixed by the sight before them. A stone fairy that tends to a quiet garden. And a crimson sprite with a passion for exploration. The despair on their faces matches that of the shattered home of their most beloved friend.

And as one, they turn away from the broken land, hot tears streaming down their face.

Their hatred for the other has been set aside. Because now, they have another thing in common as well as the dear memory of their friend. Together, they share an object of hatred that burns hotter than their dislike for each other.

You.

===========

And that's a wrap for this session! For a mini-quest, it ended pretty dramatically. Oh well. Hope y'all had a good time.

>Captcha says to select flowers.
>kek

>>47380913
Well, what a way to end to end it. Fuck man, I do feel bad for them, but they know that taint shit is bad and against the damned law to bring in. Sure, she might have had good intentions, but she still went against it. And look what that got her. Dead and her former home gone.

>>47380913
Damn. Feels bad.

>>47380769
Titania don't fuck around. 10/10 best girl, all years, all nodes on the Amala Network. I hope Pixie grows up just like her.

>>47380913
Thanks for running.

>>47380913
>friend is a disgusting traitor that put her people in danger
>get mad at the person that saved them
They can go fuck themselves.

>>47380913
So did we effectively neutralize our chaos gain from a few threads ago? Did you expect us to investigate so thoroughly? What would have happened if we gave the grove to one of them? Do we need to make a corruption test? How are we looked upon at court? Is the last side mission still going and will it be as eventful? Will we be able to explain our actions to the goblin and spriggan or will they attack us automatically now? Are Fitz, Brady and Victoria far now? Will they be pissed this ended and they came out for nothing?

File: dead_forest_1__november_2(...).jpg (2.2 MB, 3920x2204)

2.2 MB JPG

>>47380946
Demons are creatures of emotion, irrational and prone to bad decisions. Not unlike ourselves, no?

>>47380982
Let's see if she does!

>>47380985
You're welcome, anon.

>>47381034
A sentiment that I can share, if with a little less rancor. I feel sorry for them, but I don't sympathize. Big difference between the two.

>>47381043
>Alignment
SMT is always about juggling the alignment. There will be opportunities to gain more Law/Chaos points in the future. Light/Dark are more plentiful and easier to gain.

>Gave the grove
Bad things that I can't say due to possible spoilers.

>Corruption test
Nope. I can say without any cloak/dagger mischief that you are corruption free. Without spoiling too much, its easier for demons to get tainted than it is for humans.

>Court and last side mission
Quite favorably. And taking that last mission all depends on whether you want to next session or not.

>Goblin and Spriggan
That's a minefield. Maybe if you gave it time and a good Social roll, they'd understand. But not right now. Emotions are too raw. And they wound't attack an honored guest of the Queen in public.

>The team
They were coming back anyway, so they won't be too miffed. And they'll have varying reactions, ranging from approval to disapproval. Stick around for the next session to find out!

===========

Gonna archive it in a few minutes.

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Hope y'all have a good night/morning/day/afternoon wherever you based anons are.

>>47381129
Thanks for running! Next when?

>>47381163
I think both his quests are on hiatus until summer school ends for him.

>>47381129
>And they'll have varying reactions, ranging from approval to disapproval.
Fitz is probably going to mad about missing the action, but she'll agree that it was the best decision to get rid of it.
Vicky is probably going to be sad about the the lost of the grove but she'd come around.
Brady is going to have a bleeding heart most likely saying we could've some something else or blah blah blah.

Is it wrong that I fear the Brady is going to be talked by Mastema more than MacKay? Cause like, Brady is pretty light-law, and MacKay seems more like Law-Neutral or Neutral-Light.

>>47381163
Maybe in a week or so for TF666. My script writing class is starting to pick up. Not to mention that I have to do BRQ as well, and the fact that I'm feeling slightly burnt out. A quick break should get my creative energies restored.

>>47381176
Not that dramatic. Maybe one for each depending on my free time. Two if you don't mind quick threads. I'm surprised how much knowledge I have in my class relates to running a quest. Win-win scenario: I get both credits and tips for how to write.

>>47381196
Brady seem light/neutral but is pretty nostalgic about thing and is kinda a bleeding heart.

Victoria seem light neutral

Fitz Chaotic neutral

Mackay seems like Light law, firm believer in the bible and God's word, but he seems to sue the New testament as a guideline over the old.

>>47381205
Nice. Writing quests for class credit. My analysis accurate?

>>47381273
I don't know if I see Fitz as Chaotic. Neutral with some chaotic leanings sure, but she was a police officer that seemed to take her job seriously.

>>47381273
Close. Not going to say which ones are more accurate/off than the others, though.

Hmmm...a thought occurs. I could do character-building threads during summer school. Kind of put the plot on the side for a moment, but give everyone a chance to get to know the squad much better than from inferring bits and info from dialogue.

>>47381348
I'd be down for it.

>>47381348
Yes please

>>47381348
Cool

>>47381354
>>47381370
>>47381429
Then it's settled. Maybe take a day off from the case, give everyone a chance to breath for a bit. Low level patrol. Investigate the town of missing children while incognito. Sleuth stuff. Any particular characters you want some one-on-one with?

>>47381450
MacKay and Fritz

I like their chemistry with Adrian

>>47381450
All of them, might want to focus on Brady and Victoria though. They've gotten less screen time.

File: MacKayDetermined.jpg (486 KB, 700x800)

486 KB JPG

May as well stick this in here before I bugger off for the night completely.

===========

Stanley MacKay

Age: 29 [Found on 8/28/86]
Gender: Male
Height: 6’3
Weight: 195 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian (Unknown)

Division: East Coast IV
Commander: Landon Alger
Team: Carina Squad
Roster: Active Field
Psyche: Stable

[He finishes his prayer, closing the book with tender reverence and marking himself with the sign of his faith. Standing up, he’s surprised to find you in the chapel, but it quickly gives way to a warm smile. Silhouetted by the stained glass windows and the afternoon sun, the man in front of you is the very image of a cleric of the Lord.]

General: Stanley draws his origins from North Carolina, and was assigned to the parish of St. James in Arlington, Virginia at the time of his recruitment into the Task Force. Found on the doorstep of the Saint Ignatius Orphanage as a babe, his life has revolved around the faith since the moment the Jesuit Brothers took him in. Even in his developmental years, the presence of the priests has been a tremendous influence on his life, to the point of following in their footsteps.

[FURTHER CONTENT RESTRICTED TO COMMANDER RANK AND HIGHER]

Personality: Stanley is best described by his squad members and the staff he’s interacted with as a very approachable and amicable man. It should be noted that among his team, he is the most level-headed, perhaps a side-effect of working with children in the parish. The ideal subordinate, he follows orders to the letter, and is steadfast to his faith and his friends, demonstrating surprising acceptance of using non-Abrahamic demons in his roster.

>>47381657
>Tfw even command thinks he's a great number 2


I forget did the ever do one on us? I remember everyone else got one.