>>693714
>D. “Have you heard of our lady and savior, the Harvest Goddess?”

>>693714
>A. “I’m the new farmer in town, Jacky Richmond. Nice to meet you.”

>B. “Tara said you sell drugs here."

>A. “I’m the new farmer in town, Jacky Richmond. Nice to meet you.”

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>>693714

You wish the man, who you can see from his name tag is named “Patrick,” a good morning as well.

“I’m actually the new farmer in town, Jacky Richmond. Just moved in. Nice to meet you.”

“Richmond? Oh, I see. You’re Roger’s grandson, then?” You confirm, and he seems both happy and sad to learn that. “He said you were a good lad. He was very proud of you, Jacky, couldn’t help himself but talk about you.”

Patrick moves around the counter and offers an extended hand. You take it, and he surprises you by pulling you in for a hard pat on the back. “Thankfully, I enjoyed hearing his stories! Every last one. Was it true that you were raided in the night and had to fight’em off in your skivvies?”

You chuckle and nod. Patrick lets out a roar of a laugh. He asks a couple more stories, most of which you (honestly) can confirm.

“That’s Roger’s grandson for you!” This guy’s really flattering you, damn. You thank him. “My family and this town owe boys like you for what you did overseas. Thank you for your service, son, and let me know if there’s anything I can ever do to help you. The Harvest Goddess smiles on you and Roger both.”

Another thank you. Then, well, you decide to have a little fun at Tara’s expense. “Funny you should say that. Tara actually recommended I come here and ask if you have heard of our lady and savior, the Harvest Goddess. Weird, right?”

Patrick pales a little, then claps his hands together and slightly inclines his bald head in an apologetic fashion. “Ah, I knew I had forgotten something! It’s the first Sunday – I’m always forgetting to bring my donation to the shrine… Thanks for reminding me!”

Not quite the reaction you expected.

“That Tara’s a pain, but she always tends to help when you least expect it. Shame she’s got such an attitude – she’s a nice, pretty girl, really. She’ll never settle down if she doesn’t cool it. You can tell her I said that.”

Oh, you will.

“Huh. Yeah, in the little time I’ve known her, Tara’s said some ‘interesting’ things. I guess she gives everyone a hard time, because she even said you sold drugs here."

Patrick, to your surprise once more, nods his head. “Oh yeah, we serve as the town’s drugstore. If you’re ever having a cold or suffering a fever just let me know. Speaking of which – I actually have a tonic your grandfather ordered before he, uh…“
He goes quiet, “well, let’s just say he never picked it up.” Patrick shakes his head solemnly as walks behind the counter. “Paid for it, though. In my book it’s rightfully yours. Let me just dig it out.”

Patrick rummages in a storage cabinet before pulling out a squat bottle full of a rather thick-looking liquid. He hands it to you with a smile. “Here! This’ll fix you right up from most things. Take it, ‘cause you never know when it might do you some good.”

You take it with a quiet “thank you.” This is probably a better outcome then pulling one over on Tara. Patrick seems nice.

“So, what can I do for you today?"

>Cont.

>>693914

[We'll buy seeds now. Let's start with everyone providing a full suggestion up to $1000.00. Then we can start seconding. I want a separate vote for the $500 of mystery seeds. Thank you for your patience!]

----

>Current money on hand: 1,500G

>Spring Seeds:

>Parsnips: Purchase 1 unit of seeds for 20G, sell 1 unit of Parsnips for 40G. 4 day growth cycle.

>Cauliflower: Purchase for 80G, sell for 200G. 12 day growth cycle.

>Potatoes: Purchase for 50G, sell for 100G. Chance for multiple units per harvest. 6 day growth cycle.

>Green Beans: Purchase for 60G, sell for 50G. 10 day initial growth and continues producing every 3 days.

>Mystery Box (5 units available): Purchase for 100G and see what’s inside!

>Remember, 28 day growth cycle. You can buy additional seeds at any time during the month aside from Wednesdays (store’s closed)

>>693920
>>Cauliflower: Purchase for 80G, sell for 200G. 12 day growth cycle.
I guess 10 of these? or... is it 9 in a grid?

>>693920
>>Mystery Box (5 units available): Purchase for 100G and see what’s inside!

I need some mystery box in my life right about now.

>>693920
>Mystery Box (5 units available): Purchase for 100G and see what’s inside!
LETS GO MAGIC BEANS

>>693920
[Mystery box is probably a given. I accept that. 9 cauliflower for a round 3x3, or 10 for 800G?]

A. 720G for 9
B. 800G for 10

>>693981
A

>>693981
>A

>>693981
>A

Yeah, let's keep some money for the dreaded tool grind.

>>693981
A. 720G for 9

>>693981
[I'll update before I leave the office. Writing.]

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>>694129

[Note: The below link is for a Google Doc I have set up for the quest. Please let me know what you think. Have I missed anything?]

(https://docs.google.com/document/d/19HRkBJ6pM5vTkP6extSSrP7dXtVkBm6WLSIEIl3VApM/edit?usp=sharing)
----

Patrick writes you up for a peck of cauliflower seeds in exchange for 720G. Unable to resist, you also purchase the whole of the remaining mystery seeds and Patrick comes away from the transaction rather pleased. You, on the other hand, feel secure in the type and amount of seeds that you bought but significantly lighter in the wallet.

“I wish you the best of luck, Jacky! Cauliflower will take you little less than two weeks to grow. It’s a safe choice, and I think we’re both looking forward to the payoff when those suckers come to bear.”

You ask him about shipping off your produce. Patrick explains that Richard makes the run nightly to both Franc’s ranch and the Richmond farm for mail purposes. While there, he also picks up any produce or goods you have ready to be shipped.

“I’m Patrick, by the way. I should have introduced myself earlier - Celeste would get on me for that, she would.” You shake hands with him once again. “Richard’s my son, and Celeste is my wife. We run the store from 8 to 5 every day except on Wednesdays."

"Ah, I know-" He rummages through his apron. "You should take this," and he shoves a small piece of cardstock at you.

"Go ahead, it's my business card." He gives you a great smile through his forest of a beard. "It’s got my number and Richard's number on it, and you can call or text us if you ever have a question or concern or the forest catches fire again.”

You ask him about that last part.

"Something stupid. Probably the twins. Don't worry about it."

You and Patrick discuss doing business together in the future, his role in the town, and how he’s glad that he can live here with his family and support his neighbors. He also mentions that Richard’s a good young man but that he “can’t get through to Richard about horse riding. He’s going to kill or injure himself one of these days."

"Ah well, boys will be boys, am I right? I’m just glad both of you made it out of service in one piece.”

You say that you agree wholeheartedly - about making it out of the service, that is.

“Hey, Jacky, how about doing me a favor? Richard’s out back loading up some barrels. Do you mind asking him if he needs me to give him a hand? He’s been going at it for a while now. I just don't like leaving the shop unattended.” Patrick gives you an honest look, but you don’t imagine he’d be gravely offended if you declined.

A. Accept Quest
B. Decline

>>694281
A. Accept Quest
Sure, why not. Great way to get to know the town.

>>694281
>A. Accept Quest

>>694281
A quest! A quest to go to thine back of house yonder to ask fair Richard if thoust needest assistence.

Ye we shall! The knave who would refuse such valorous a quest should be striketh with the ire of the chivalry he hast smirched.

Is 2 minutes of our time REALLY a quest?

>>694310
You ever agree to help someone in a small town like this before? It turns into herculean labors really quick. Lots of: Hold this, Hand me that, oh do you mind... kind of things. Politeness is a bitch in these scenarios. I had an idea what we'd be in for if we said yes. I still said yes.

>>694281
>A. Accept Quest

>>694318
We tilled a field to get the tsundere to stop bitchin, whatver fetch quest this sends us on is nothing.

>>694336
>>694318
>>694310
[I appreciate you guys making me laugh.]

>2 minutes to complete this quest
[Oh, little do they know what I have in store for them, Igor... MwHAHAaha]

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>>694410
>[Oh, little do they know what I have in store for them, Igor... MwHAHAaha]

Mayor is kill.

>>694941

[I got pulled into a Yom Kippur dinner. Happy new year to all my Jew anons out there.]

[I will try to post an update/the next prompt but otherwise i will continue the thread tomorrow. Sound good?]

>>694954
>He is a dirty kike like me
Kek

>>694957
Same.

The three shekelteers.

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>>694977
>>694957
>>694954
[There are dozens of us. DOZENS!]

>>694281
You tell Patrick that you wouldn't mind at all.

"He's just around the back? Towards the left, here?"

"Exactly. Just up the alley, messing about the loading dock unloading the truck. He'll be wearing a cap. Richard's always wearing a cap. Blonde, like his mother. Just shout if you don't see him."

You give a "roger that" to Patrick with a salute goodbye. Seeds in tow, you head out of the shop and back out onto the street. There are a few people milling about, now. You head towards the alleyway.

>10:35 AM

Your footsteps echo off the brickwork to either side of you. Sure enough, you see the large, box-shaped delivery truck pulled up behind the loading area for the general store. You can't see any side of Richard, though - a bunch of barrels are aligned along the side and back of the truck and obscure your view.

You call out Richard's name, as Patrick instructed. An incoherent "Huh?" from the back of the truck, followed by a dull thud, is your response.

Richard (assuming it was him) then unleashes a string of swears so vile it would have made your old sergeant proud, followed by the sound of stumbling footsteps along the truck's bed. You see the tips of Richard's fingers peak out from the side of one of the stop most barrels. You move forward to greet him.

The barrel shits. It shifts more.

It's falling.

They're all tumbling, tumbling down - an avalanche of barrels, many of them now rolling down the decline of the alley towards you.

>Roll 1d20 to run. Best of 3.

[If I get the rolls quick enough I'll post the next part, too.]

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>695066

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>695066

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>695066

>>695093
This guy

>10:35 AM
Oh no.

>>695102
What happens at 10:35?

>barrels rolling at us
>nat 20
All those years of Donkey Kong paying off!

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>>695093
>>695097
[Success + 20 = Critical Success]

[Writing. I'll post the update tonight and then we'll continue tomorrow if work isn't too crazy for me. Thanks for another day of playing! Sleep tight!]

>>695106
No he's KEEPING TIME.
He's planning on this taking hours.

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>>695066

Even if each barrel only weighed twenty pounds, there are over ten of those suckers headed your way. That’s at least two hundred pounds of “going to fuck you up” express shipped on the pain train, Jacky. You better move.

And you do.

You pivot on your left foot and shoot off, arms jack-knifing through the air, legs pumping furiously. The alley’s entrance is ten feet away. Nine feet away. You push against the ground, you suck in a breath of air, you heave your body forward. Eight feet away, seven feet away. Step. Step. Run. Run. You’re good, Jacky, you’re good - just keep on moving. Five, four, three-

“Get OUT of the WAY!” You bellow, the air leaving your throat in a roar. That’s Kari to your left, Ms. Fontenot to your right. They’re liable to get hit by the barrels and you don’t want that. They don’t want that - then why aren’t they moving?

You can’t make a choice on who to try and save. You’re greater than that - you’re Jacky Richmond, a mother-fucking airman. You’ve stared down the hell-raising fire of a heavy machine gun, grenade in hand, and lived to tell the tale. You’re not going to roll over for some barrels.

You pivot once more at the mouth of the alleyway and brace yourself, heels against the lip of the sidewalk, shoulder pressed to the brickwork beside you, and you tense.

The first barrel hits your arms. You grunt. You’re faintly aware of a woman screaming nearby. The next barrel, and then the next, then the third, another and another. Boom, boom-boom-boom. You curse through gritted teeth and feel the effort clench up in your neck.

The barrels cease. The dust settles. Time resumes its normal pace and you slump against the veritable wooden dam you have forced into the alley. The dust settles.

Jacky Richmond stands.

----

Ms. Fontenot is the first to reach you, and she’s beside herself with concern. Kari’s next, and you’re distinctly aware that she’s surprisingly professional about laying you down and restricting your movement. She calls on someone to get Eliza or Gwen. You hear Richard cursing, but mostly he's apologizing to you and ensuring you're alright. Patrick’s dumbfounded and a tad mad, but mostly dumbfounded. He repeatedly asks “How the hell did you manage that, farmer?”

Before answering, you brace yourself against a nearby wall and (slowly) clamber to your feet.

Because Jacky Richmond does not lie down. Jacky Richmond stands.

A. Upper Body strength. You could say I’m… barrel-chested.
B. I play a lot of Donkey Kong.
C. “Oo-rah.” Just “oo-rah.”
D. I don’t know.
E. Write-in

>>695218
>Training passed down though the richmond line for generations

>>695218
>A. Upper Body strength. You could say I’m… barrel-chested.

>>695218
A. Upper Body strength. You could say I’m… barrel-chested.
“oo-rah.”

>>695256
>>695218
Second

>>695256
>>695218
Thirded

>>695218
>>695256

>>695218
>>695256
>And im proud that my grandfather is Roger Richmond
>Looks up in the sky
>You just swear that your grandfather is giving you thumbs up while shouting "THAT'S MAH BOY JACKY!!" while brofisting the harvest goddess who wholeheartedly smile at your small victory.

>>695256
>Training passed down though the richmond line for generations

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>>695218

Kari instinctively moves to support you, and berates you for not “taking it easy, mister.” Ms. Fontenot joins in, but she can’t help but applaud your “manly strength” after voicing her concern. Kari asks if you’re alright and you confirm; then she asks if she can check you for a few things. You look at her and see genuine concern in her aquamarine eyes, but also a sense of professional confidence. You consent to the checkup. Bravado and jokes aside, you’re a little sore from taking that hit.

“Ooh, yes – we,” says Ms. Fontenot while rubbing her hands together greedily, “Should definitely check out Jacky. For his health, of course. O-ho-ho-ho!” Marie makes a motion to “check” on your arm, but Kari gives her a rather firm, disapproving look. Ms. Fontenot politely backs down after that.

Kari diligently pokes and prods various points on your body until she’s assured nothing’s broken. Your arms, legs, and chest all check out just fine, thankfully. Then she moves your limbs through a few different motions. Again, nothing stands out as injured.

“Wow,” remarks Richard. “Kari’s pretty good at playing doctor! Where’d you learn this stuff, Kari? Do you ever watch that Emergency Room show on TV?”

Patrick flicks Richard’s hat off his head with a grunt. “You should pay more attention to your friends, buddy.” Richard scrambles to put his precious hat back on his head. Patrick laughs. “Kari didn’t learn from no TV show. She went to school for medicine before she moved here.”

You and Richard both look at Kari with surprise. “Yeah,” she says, quietly. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I can help.” You’re not sure why she’s frowning – that’s very impressive of her to have studied medicine.

You thank Kari for the examination but she waves it off. “Just doing what a neighbor would, Jacky. Besides – you saved me and Ms. Fontenot! I still can’t believe you stopped all those barrels by yourself.”

“Neither can I,” chimes in Ms. Fontenot. “You really are my hero today, Mr. Richmond! Your grandfather would be so proud!”

“Yeah,” adds Patrick. “Roger would be mighty proud! Would you say it runs in the family, Jacky? I’d never seen your grandfather wrestle down some runaway barrels!”

You give a sure nod. “Oh, absolutely. This barrel-catching strength has been passed down the Richmond family line for generations!”

You flex your right arm triumphantly. “You could just say we Richmonds naturally have upper body strength. We’re all barrel-chested, even!”

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>>696532

To your credit, everyone comes away from the ordeal laughing and smiling over your terrible joke. Richard shakes his hand, thanks you again, and formally introduces himself. Patrick excuses himself while Ms. Fontenot promises to treat you next time you’re both at the inn. Kari warns you to be careful and tell her if any pains or soreness crops up. You’re a bit overwhelmed by the concern and friendliness, but it’s nice nonetheless being around such genuine people.

Ms. Fontenot gathers herself, her overwhelming hat, and her boa up and waddles away. Patrick comes back and hands you another tonic as a gift “in case you find yourself hurting from this later.” You two exchange a few words before he goes to help Richard clean up the mess, murmuring and grumbling the whole time.

>10:50

You're about to move on with your day when things get interesting once again.

Kari’s accosted by the town’s troublesome twins, Clyde and Courson, running up to her and exclaiming “Ms. Kari! Ms. Kari!” When asked what’s wrong they explain that a “barrel came out of nowhere and crashed into our wagon!”

You look to them, surprised, and ask them what happened. Being questioned by a new face quiets them a bit but, as requested, they reiterate that a barrel rolled across the plaza and crashed into their wagon just a moment ago. You mention to Kari, apologetically, that you thought you caught them all. She says that, yes, one rolled past you but it’s not your fault. She says she’ll go check on the wagon and excuses herself.

A. Accompany Kari (Continue Quest: Barrels of Trouble)
B. Excuse yourself (Postpone Quest: Barrels of Trouble)
C. Do something else (Write-in)

>>696539
>A. Accompany Kari (Continue Quest: Barrels of Trouble)

Though we need to keep track of time. It seems that we don't have a watering can yet.

>>696544
[Jacky owns a garden hose for watering. Google doc updated.]

>>696539
>A. Accompany Kari (Continue Quest: Barrels of Trouble)

>>696539
>A. Accompany Kari (Continue Quest: Barrels of Trouble)

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>>696539

“Come on, Clyde.” Kari gestures to the two boys in a rather teacher-like fashion and, surprisingly, they listen to her eagerly. “Come now, Courson. Let’s see about that fixing that wagon. I’m sure Alice can help us put it right.”

The boys pale a bit at that. “Alice…?” Clyde asks, clearly shaken. “Do we really have to? She’s so crazy it’s like, ‘wow! You’re crazy!’ Can’t we, iunno, tape it back together? That’s how I fixed my fishing pole, Kari!”

Kari chides Clyde for being rude towards Alice who, she insists, is very helpful. “Alice is just misunderstood, is all.”

“I don’t think either of us wants to understand,” mutters Courson.

You volunteer to come along and help and Kari is pleasantly surprised. She accepts and the twins lead the two of you south to the crime scene, where the corpse of an old garden wagon lay sandwiched between a barrel and an old willow tree on the north bank of the river. You and Kari diligently remove the wreckage of the barrel and move the wagon back into place. Both axles are bent out of shape and the whole of it is rendered useless. Kari, however, tries to remain positive.

“I’m sure it’ll be okay, boys! Here, just…” She pushes the wagon a bit with her foot. “You’ll have to pull on it a bit harder, that’s all!” Of course, right after she says that the wagon creaks and, with a wheeze and a groan, one of the wheels falls off. “… Well, Goddess dang it. Never mind.”

“Alice’s it is…” Mumbles Kari, and the twins both groan in despair. “Jacky, will you help me drag this to Alice’s shop? She’s on the east side of town. I know it’s a bother…” Kari thinks for a moment. “I can cook you something in return, if you’d like?”

“Or I could give you my old fishing rod, sir!” Offers Clyde. “It’s all I have until I get my allowance… But, my sister, Cyndie, will help me make another one!”

“I could show you a secret path on the beach,” mumbles Courson. “I found it last Summer.”

A. What’s so bad about Alice?
B. I’d appreciate some cooking, sure.
C. I actually don’t have a fishing pole, Clyde. That’s kind of you.
D. That secret path sounds cool, Courson.
E. Write-in

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>"Goddess this, Goddess that"
We're trapped in a land of heathens!

>>696628
>D. That secret path sounds cool, Courson.

>>696628
>D. That secret path sounds cool, Courson.

>>696628
>D. That secret path sounds cool, Courson.

>>696628
>D. That secret path sounds cool, Courson.

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>>696628

“Ah, I can’t take your fishing rod from you, Clyde. Or make you cook for me, Kari." You offer each of them a smile.

"But, I would appreciate learning about that secret path, Courson. Sounds pretty cool.” Courson, who you have noticed is the more cerebral and quiet of the twins, seems to like your response. "You can show it to me after we drop off the wagon, alright?"

He agrees, leaving you and Kari to get to it.

You and Kari initially try to roll the wagon behind you but that’s a no-go. After some discussion you decide that you can carry it. Kari says it's "good luck" having someone strong here to help. Then she flexes her arms and says she'll have start working out again. The twins laugh.

You get moving towards the east side of town.

So, that's how you end up carrying the wagon on your shoulder as you follow Kari to Alice’s workshop. The two of you pass through the main avenue of town, chatting casually, and turn off onto a smaller road about ten minutes into your walk. Alice’s workshop – and what appears to be a small machine yard – is then across a stone bridge crossing the valley’s river.

Most of your conversation is about how long you’ve been back in your home country, how long Kari’s worked at the inn, and some of the more “interesting” things Kari has seen while working as a maid. Her relationship with Lia goes back to her time in college – she, Lia, and Cocoa all went to school together – and Kari appreciates that Lia keeps her “grounded,” and is always teaching her how to be “proper.”

You get the impression that Kari has a different concept of personal space than most people – physical contact and exposure seem to not bother her in the same way that cleaning a rifle doesn’t bother a soldier. You don’t find this too unusual, lots of people don’t have boundaries, but she’s more “stiff” in her being agreeable and formal than you would have expected of someone your age. And she mentions that Daniel might have hit on her a few times and this seems to really embarrass her. Very strange.

Your best guess is that her quirks are from her time studying medicine – she can treat dealing with people and the human body clinically but being social is a different sort of challenge. Thinking on it in the moments of silence makes you curious about your own quirks and what some of the people you’ve met so far must think of you.

You hope that they see you as…

A. Helpful
B. Strong
C. Just a good person
D. Funny
E. Write-in

[Go ahead and vote while I keep writing]

>>696799
>A. Helpful

>>696799
A. Helpful

>>696799
>A. Helpful

Helping everyone with their problems is pretty much our duty as a Harvest moon protagonist.

>>696799
>A. Helpful

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>>696799

>11:15 AM

Alice’s abode, her monstrosity of a workshop, looks like the aftermath of a mad scientist’s laboratory attempting to consume a small brick cottage and dying halfway through its meal. The larger, dominating eastern wing of the workshop hasn't been built on what looks to be there original structure so much as built around it.

Brazen red brickwork visually crashes over old, smooth whitewashed plaster and stone. Smokestacks adorn the flat roof of the eastern wing and the smaller quarters are topped by the traditional sloped, shingled roof. The sunlight glares off of round windows of bright stained-glass. You find them jarring yet almost homey with their bright, comical colors. The front façade of the house is painted a burnt orange and the main wall of the workshop is painted the blue of the sky.

“Damn. Look at this place…” You mutter.

“Oh yeah?” amusedly replies Kari. “Just wait until you step inside, Mr. Richmond.”

“Jacky.”

“Oops, sorry. ‘Jacky.’” She chants. “’Jacky.’ ‘Jacky.’ That’ll take me a while – just be patient with me, okay?”

She's too innocent and cute. You need to be careful around Kari.

“No problem. Shall we head inside?” You motion to the wagon. “This thing is starting to dig into my shoulder.”

Kari apologies and hurries to the door. She knocks with a sweet, happy rhythm and then the two of you wait. After a moment, Kari looks to you and mentions that Alice doesn’t always “hear knocks the first time,” and so she knocks again. This time, her knocks are much louder.

You hear a “Come in, Kari!” yelled from inside. Kari opens the door and you both peer in, your head peeking over the pink haired maid beside you. You see Alice, the girl with an arcade-cabinet tinkering problem and a stilted way of speaking, standing in her unmentionables, toothbrush in mouth, pulling her shorts up from her ankles. You gawk. Just a little.

“Alice?” Asks Kari, tone bordering on reprimanding, “What have I told you about answering the door without your proper clothes on?”

“I wassh jussht waking up and I had to get dressh’d,” says Alice through her toothbrush and toothpaste.

Kari walks inside the house. You stay behind and turn your head away out of decency and some slight embarrassment while the two of them go back and forth on Alice’s “impolite behavior.” You can’t believe how completely nonchalant they are being.

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>>696964

“See, Alice?” The two of them are now each sitting on a tall metallic barstool, Alice still lacking clothing. “This time I wasn’t alone and now you have to apologize to Mr. Jacky.”

Alice looks at you tiredly, toothbrush moving slowly, and offers a wave that you that you see out of the corner of your eye. “Sshorry, Jamie.”

“It’s Jacky,” you offer. “Sorry, but are you going to put some clothes on? Should I just leave this here and go…?”

Alice just looks to Kari in confusion. Kari explains the situation with the wagon and beckons for you to bring it inside. You move inside and manage to trip over a bucket for your troubles. Unfortunately, you can’t both avoid looking at Alice and watch where you’re going.

“Why don’t you get dressed, Alice, and then you can fix this for Clyde and Courson?” Alice nods, spits into a nearby sink, and then trudges away to (presumably) her bedroom.

You are now left in Alice’s “house” side of her workshop.

A. Express concern about Alice’s behavior.
B. Act casual. What’s the big deal?
C. “So, does Alice cut glass in her workshop?”
D. Ask if there's anything else you should expect from Alice.
E. Write-ins Encouraged

>>696976
B. Act casual. What’s the big deal?
C. “So, does Alice cut glass in her workshop?”

E. Given all this, she must be one hell of a tinkerer, does she have any specialties in particular, or just a plain ol' tinker? I may have a few ideas for the farm she could help with.

How... how many times have you seen her answer the door like that, I mean, does she really do this all the time?

>>696976
>A. Express concern about Alice’s behavior.

Is this her usual behaviour?

>>696976
B. Act casual. What’s the big deal?
C. “So, does Alice cut glass in her workshop?”

>>696976
>A)
>C)

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>>696976
[Writing]

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>>697867

Kari rises from her seat and, unceremoniously, pulls out a can of soda from Alice’s tiny fridge. She asks you if you want one and you acquiesce - it’s not your house, and should Kari be offering out other people’s drink?

“Alice doesn’t mind,” she offers in a knowing-all-too-well fashion. “So, feel free to drink up. You need to stay hydrated - especially after the walk here. Doctor’s orders (uh, not that I’m a doctor or anything...).”

You shrug, pop the tab, and drink up. [+10 SP]

There’s another moment of silence. You rap your fingers on the countertop and look around at the various whirling, steaming, spinning instruments around the room. However, unable to take anymore awkwardness you decide to strike up a conversation and ease some of your curiosity at the same time. You turn to your pink-haired guide as she taps a message off on her phone.

“Kari,” you say. She looks at you with her usual patient, kind expression.. “Is Alice always cutting glass?” You make a bit of a hand-motion to cue Kari in. “Usually or most times you knock on the door?”

Kari looks at you expectantly. You motion with both hands this time. She takes a sip of her drink. You follow suit.

“No, usually she’s welding or fabricating. Alice will cut glass for you, though. She’s very talented.” You can’t help but agree when you look around at the assorted sculptures, machines, artworks, and metalwork that practically fill the shop. You have a bit of an eye for welds and tech. You can appreciate the artistry here. “Unless, of course, you’re talking about her nipples. Those are usually like that, yes. I can’t seem to get through to her about wearing more layers - perhaps she’s anemic? She shouldn’t be that cold so often. Odd.”

You are [i]this[/i] close to spitting out your drink. [i]This[/i] close.

“I imagine she often gets into trouble if she’s always like this, Kari? Does anyone else say anything? What if the twins came by?”

Kari laughs a bit. “The twins don’t come by here anymore after Alice scared them away with her ‘power level,’ as she called it. She can be clueless, yeah, but she’s more aware than people give her credit for. I think she only answers the door like that for me, really. Tries to get a reaction out of me. That’s part of her…”

“Game?”

Kari nods.“Yes, game. She’s got a thing for games - not the mean kind, she’s not mean. She just likes to know how people ‘tick,’ I guess.”

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>>698037

“Huh.” You shrug and go back to your soda. “I’m not quite sure what to make of that. I’m sure she\s one hell of a tinkerer, though. I may have a few ideas for the farm she could help with. Do you think she would be interested in that?”

“Yes. There’s nothing Alice loves more than a new project, something to wrap her head around. If you can bring her ideas and materials you’ll become fast friends, I think. Probably.”

“Are the two of you?” Kari gives you a confused look. “Friends, I mean.”

“Oh, yes. I consider Lia my best friend, but Cocoa and Alice are my friends as well. We get along nicely - or, we do when I can keep Alice from trying to kill Cocoa with embarrassment.” Kari sighs and rubs her temples. “It’s nice when we all get together, though. It’s like a bad sitcom or something.”

“That sounds like me and my unit in the ‘Force. More MASH than Friends, though.”

You and Kari share a few more words before you’re left to ruminate on what she has told you. Maybe the best course of action is to not react? Or maybe the best course of action is to react so that Alice doesn’t try and push your boundaries? Guess you’ll find out.

----

11:22 AM

Alice walks out fully dressed and ready to face the world this time. Now that you’re able to look at her, you notice it’s not just her personality but her appearance is a bit nontraditional as well. It’s not bad, just different.

“Kari, Jeffery.” Alice nods her head at each of you in turn, then turns to Kari. “Kari, we have established a closeknit relationship. So, per usual, I shall skip the usual pleasantries and greet you with informality.” Alice throws a finger gun at Kari, who reciprocates jokingly. “Sup, girl?”

“Sup, bitch?” Replies Kari with the brightest of smiles. Then she remembers you’re sitting next to her and goes red as a tomato. “Oh! Jacky! I’m sorry - so sorry. I forgot you were there and Alice always plays this game and it’s kind of a thing we do-”

You see that Alice has a notebook in her hands and is taking notes. “Does not like to swear in front of Jessy,” she notates.

“It- it wasn’t a swear, Alice! I was just kidding!” Kari turns to you again. “Really, Alice isn’t the b-word! I was just playing along!”

Alice then turns her attention to you.

“Ah. New individual. It is a pleasure to meet you. I remember seeing you at the inn but we did not have the chance to speak. Shall we commence the introductory shake?” With no reason to refuse you stand up and offer your hand to Alice. Contrary to your expectations, she simply raises both of her hands and wags them up and down in the air.

Ah. You can already tell this will be “so much” fun.

A. Match her power level. Shake your hands.
B. Raise the stakes. Say you’re a hug kind of person.
C. EXCEED HER POWER LEVEL. ENGAGE THE POKEY THAT IS HOKEY.
D. Give a short wave and say hello (you normie).
E. Write-ins Encouraged

>>698040
>A. Match her power level. Shake your hands.

>>698040
>E Invent complicated secret handshake on the spot

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>>698065
[This anon isn't a normie. Normies, learn from this anon.]

>>698065
I'll back this. heh.

>>698065
Yes!

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>>698065
Someone post the secret /s

As long as we try to out-weird the weirdo I'm on board with this. Gonna be total bros with the mechanic and maybe have some sexual tension as we repair cars, minecarts, and the greenhouse!

>>698500
Im all in for this

>>699219
>With that hair

Hey everyone,

Apparently Mayor's phone IP has been blocked for some reason, but he's such a baller that he wants to keep running somehow regardless.

He posted a link to a google doc on his twitter so he can do some updates during the day until he gets home

>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OBXikNjhPBQrHdBlYm7HXBxeTV9KO68jIkQzOJz1hLM/edit?usp=sharing

>>699617
[Testing to see if I can post...]

>>699734
He lives!

Also, I love Thomas. I hope it becomes a running gag that Jacky and Thomas keep walking in on the eligible ladies in various states of undress and barely getting away unseen.

Rolled 24, 87, 23, 8, 91, 85, 6, 30, 91, 37 = 482 (10d100)

>>699747
Old man and still
a MAN
>>699734
Good to see you again Boss

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>>699734

“I don’t shake hands like that,” you tell Alice. She frowns, cocks her head to the side and moves to write something in her notebook. “I do, however, engage in secret handshakes.”

This piques her interest. She puts down the notebook and turns to you. “Like the tatsumaki dance from Supercell Heroes 9?”

Supercell Heroes is a Super Sentai-style show that you’re vaguely familiar with that show from your time overseas. It was Eastern style animation, of course, and some of the satellite feeds the boys watched in camp could pick it up from the Japanese broadcasts.

It says something that Alice is referencing the show, it’s not too popular in the States, but anything Japanese is good in your book after the JDF saved a bunch of seamen that had been sunk in the Pacific. Japanese boats had poured into the area – despite the dangers of enemy subs – and picked up anyone they could find. You tip a Sapporo to the Japs whenever you get the chance.

“Just like that, except better.” You extend both of your pinkies and thumbs and then windmill your hands about your body while hip-thrusting. Alice looks on in fascination. You wink a few times. “You got that?”

Alice, her jaw dropped to the floor, nods her head. “T-teach me your ways, Sensei…” She mumbles. You demonstrate the greeting for her once more.

“Alright, now we do it together.” You tell Alice. She bows curtly and replies with a firm “yes! Show me your power level, sensei!”

Kari stares in abject fascination from her place on the barstool as you and Alice both gyrate your bodies like the geriatric section at the local fitness center hopped up on something strong. Alice busts out laughing halfway through but you maintain a straight face. A few years of razzing and suffering with the biggest group of lovable Air Force idiots a tech could ask for has stripped most of your sense of “giving a damn,” when it comes to looking stupid.

You and Alice stop and regard each other once again. She’s slightly panting and red in the face from laughing.

“Who’s your favorite director?!” she calls out, excitement in her eyes. “The Tarantino, del Toro, or Hideaki Anno?”

A. Anno. I like my anime like my women: postmodern and crazy.
B. “Tarantino. Blood was meant to be orange and everywhere.”
C. My love for del Toro is larger than a kaiju.
D.Write-in

"Who would win in a bar fight, Princess Serenity or Homura?"

A. Yes.
B. Serenity.
C. Homura.
D. Me. Oorah.

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>>699755
>JDF saved a bunch of seamen
Why this sound like all other everyday things

>A. Anno. I like my anime like my women: postmodern and crazy.

>A. Yes.

>>699755
>A. Anno. I like my anime like my women: postmodern and crazy.
Wait, you said hate, right? Either way.

and

>A. Yes. I just wanna see it go down.

>>699747
[Good to be back. I'm glad you like Thomas. I like him a lot, too. I'm sure there will be many shenanigans with him in the near future.]

>>699752
[Good to see you too!]

>>699755
>A. Anno. I like my anime like my women: postmodern and crazy.
>
A. Yes.

>>699755
>C
I am legit hype for pacific rim 2

And then

>B

Crazy moon superpowers + she has a bigger posse to back her up. One of them even also has time travel.

I'm glad we're back in action here.

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>>699772
I am happy that you like that Rinmaru anime character creator, Boss

>>699755
>C. My love for del Toro is larger than a kaiju.
>C. Homura

>>699779
[It's the best. Thanks for the suggestion!]

[I'll start writing now.]

>>699755
>"Who would win in a bar fight, Princess Serenity or Homura?"
Obviously Serenity cause Homura can only succeed in fucking things up and making them worse.

Mayor is kill

(Hey, it works over on Pokemon Island Adventure)

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>>699755

You ponder on Alice’s questions for a moment. “Out of those three, my favorite would be Anno. I like my anime like my women: postmodern and crazy. And with a killer soundtrack. Oh, and Serenity versus Homura?” You pause for a moment. “Homura’s the one that always shoots the quarterback, right?”

Alice gives you a funny look. Kari steeples her hands in front of her mouth and observes quietly. “You mean Kyubey?”

“Yeah.” You give Alice a flat look. “QB. What I said. My answer to that question is: ‘yes,’ because I would absolutely love to see that fight.”

Alice stumbles backwards a bit and takes a deep breath. “M-my heart, Kari… It’s hard to breathe, the world’s going dark and my ‘doki-doki’ is moving like an unbalanced V8…” Alice looks to Kari in alarm, and Kari moves out of her seat towards the wobbly machinist. “What’s happening?”

“Hm. Well, based on the symptoms,” Kari lists possible diagnoses off on her fingers, “Cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, or you’re suffering a massive crush.”

Alice looks at her in fear. “A-a crush? What, desu? No, this can’t…” Alice moves to the counter top and flops her arms down dramatically. “H-his power level, it’s over…”

“9000?” You offer, jokingly, but to your dismay Alice reels back as if she’s been struck in the heart by an arrow. Kari looks between the two of you several times before shaking her head sadly.

“It looks like Alice has finally found her match, Jacky. I’m not sure if I should be happy or sad that she’s finally beaten at her own game.”

You wouldn’t go that far to say you’ve “beaten” her. This is getting to be a little much, even for you. Alice is pale and is holding her goggles in her hand, muttering “the scouter… too strong… can’t be right… desu…” as Kari fans her with her hand.

“Do you know what’s going on, Jacky?” Kari asks you. “I’m not sure if she’s joking anymore. Did you break her? Is this another one of her ‘cartoon’ things?”

“K-kari,” Alice hisses in a whisper to Kari, her hand clawed on the maid’s shirt, “it’s ‘anime,’ not ‘cartoon,’ you… heathen! Now get Jacky out of here before he starts to realize I’m the show’s protagonist and his fate is inextricably wrapped up in mine! I’m not ready for this!

"We’ve already done the ‘walk in on me getting dressed’ scene and everything, next he’ll try to hold my hand and make me bento! Don’t you see? He’s the handsome Yuta to my chuuni Rikka and he’s going to turn me into a normie! A NORMIE!”

Kari looks at you, pleading, with the expression of a woman that has lost all hope in understanding the depths of the depravity in front of her. You just shake your head.

A. I’ll be outside.
B. “Just accept your fate, Alice. I’m going to have to ‘banish’ you to the ‘shadow realm.’”
C. “Just make sure you fix the wagon, okay?”
D. “I blame you for this, Kari.”
E. Write-in

>>699914
>B. “Just accept your fate, Alice. I’m going to have to ‘banish’ you to the ‘shadow realm.’”
agh this is too damn cute...

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>>699914
>B. “Just accept your fate, Alice. I’m going to have to ‘banish’ you to the ‘shadow realm.’”
Keep it rollin into to Weaboo lore

>>699914
B. “Just accept your fate, Alice. I’m going to have to ‘banish’ you to the ‘shadow realm.’”

This is too much fun. How could I possibly resist keeping this going.

>>699914
Write in:

"Alice, it's okay. Don't you know that the first girl always wins? I met Tara on my way into town, so you SHOULD be safe."

>>699946
Supporting.

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>>699946
[Ooh. Bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off.]

>>699946
Oh God, this is great. It's going to either cool her off or make her actively pursue us to 'buck the trend' (probably the latter).

I'm changing my vote to this.

>>699914
>B. “Just accept your fate, Alice. I’m going to have to ‘banish’ you to the ‘shadow realm.’”

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>>699914

[An idea has occurred to me. Please roll 1d20 to dodge.]

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>700078

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>700078

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>700078

>>700083
Ain't no otaku like closet military otaku. Jacky is pretty physically powerful.

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Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>700078
DODGE!

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"Just accept your fate, Alice. I’m going to have to ‘banish’ you to the ‘shadow realm.’”

Alice, summoning her chuuni strength from deep within her heart, stands up and points at you determinedly. "No, Jacky, because you've just activated my trap card!" She raises her hands up into the air, fingers outstretched. "I realize now that the only way to stop a deredere like you is to make you go full 'tsun!'"

Alice looks at Kari with a great, ferocious urgency in her eyes. "Kari! You need to distract him while I think of somethi- I mean, summon the spirit bomb! I'm pretty sure doing this will buy us two episodes' worth of time!"

"W-what?" Asks Kari, still confused.

Alice explains that she needs to fend you off somehow before it's too late. "Be the Kirllin to my Goku, Kari! BE MY KRILLIN!" Kari looks on the verge of cracking, and all she can manage is a nervous "w-what? Who?"

"My Krillin! Be the Z Warrior you were always destined to be, Kari!" Alice continues to bark this order at Kari with such urgency that Kari finally succombs to the pressure, turns to you, reels back her arm and then launches her empty sodacan skyward with an adorable warcry.

You duck under it and barely manage to stop yourself from cursing. "What the f-!?"

Kari, thankfully, comes to her senses and begins to profusely apologize. Unfortunately, Alice seizes on this idea and runs with it. "Brilliant idea, Kari! We can force him to range with our numbers advantage! Attack!"

>16

You duck, dodge, dive, and dodge away from the myriad of projectiles Alice launches at you, Kari still apologizing in the background. Spoons, gears, rags, papers - it's all fair game to Alice if it's within reach.

"Alice!" You call out in desperation, "You don't have to do this! You aren't the first girl - Tara is! The first girl always wins so you should be safe!"

"Ah! But you're MY first girl, Jacquelyn!" Yells Alice triumphantly, "So don't even try your tsundere mind games on me!"

"But I'm not a tsundere!" You reply as a pocket watch almost hits your right shoulder.

"That's exactly what a tsundere says! Checkmate!"

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>>700236

You're pinned behind a welding cart when a piece of ceramic sails overhead and you decide you've had enough. You dive for the door, open it, and dash out into the safety of the real world.

You stand there, pressed against the wood and panting in relief, swearing that the women of this town are crazy.

"Ah! Jacky, my word, you look like you've seen a ghost!" You look over and see Thomas, a sight for sore eyes, waddling down the road. "Are you alright?"

"Thomas?" You ask with disbelief. "What are you doing all the way out here, sir?"

"Checking up on you, of course!" He replies happily. "I heard about the barrel incident from Marie! Very heroic of you, but you need to be careful and take care of yourself, Jacky. I wanted to see for myself that you were alright, especially when I heard you were traveling to see Alice. It's my duty to ensure the health and safety of all of the citizens of Sunnyvale, after all."

You thank the mayor and gingerly step away from Alice's front door.

"So, Jacky, what exactly are you doing out here looking so pale? Are you feeling ill? Perhaps you should sit down."

A. "She was naked, and then she started yelling, and then throwing things at me..."
B. "She's crazy. About me. Maybe. I'm not sure."
C. "I need reinforcements. It's us against Alice, and she has the highground."
D. "I think I'm in love."
E. "Why me, Mayor?"
F. Write-ins Encouraged

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>>700241
>E. "Why me, Mayor?"
>C. "I need reinforcements. It's us against Alice, and she has the highground."

>>700241
>"Thomas, can you do me a favor: knot at Alice's door and get her attention? Can you do this for me?"

No more explanation than that and then we round the corner and see if we can't sneak in for the flanking manoever!

>>700261
I'll back this.

>>700241
>E. "Why me, Mayor?"

>>700241
I bet you had no idea that we'd go all in on Alice's crazy like this, did you?

backing >>700261 then
>C. "I need reinforcements. It's us against Alice, and she has the highground."

>>700241
>B. "She's crazy. About me. Maybe. I'm not sure."
Its time to stop, or at least deescalate things a bit.

>>700261
I'll back this too.

>>700261
[Can I please get a clarification on what you will do once you flank Alice?]

Hold her hand?

>>700261
This one is good. I'm having a great time with this entire sequence.

I cant wait to actually meet more of the girls.

A thought occurred to me a while ago. We failed a perception test and saw a black cat run out of the bushes past us a few threads ago. I think that might have been the witch princess..

Alice's actions seem counter-intuitive. Doesn't she know that tsunderes win almost all the time in anime?

>>700302
This is a Christian Board, we don't stuff like that HERE

>>700302
KANCHO

>>700306
Don't try to remind her of that sad fact. It'll only make it worse.

>>700302
How about holding her in our manly arms until Kari and Thomas can get the whole situation calmed down?

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>>700317
Yes, YES, YESSS

Do it

>>700308
While hilarious, that might be going a bit too far with a girl we just met.

>>700302
I'd say hold her hand, since that was next on her list and I want to see her lose it a little more, and then (sadly)de-escalaye the situation.

There are lots of great characters to meet and this only has me looking forward to them more

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>>700329
She threw gears at us. GEARS! All bets are off.

>>700351
We don't want to prove that tsundere comment right! What are the odds she actually likes that type? We're not gonna risk a route lock this early you fool!

[Final destination clarification vote so we are all clear. Keep in mind there are other things in town to do and two years to engage with our waifu, Alice.]

A. Engage
B. Disengage
C. Send Mayor in

>>700468
>B. Disengage

>>700468
A. Engage

I missed so much at work! My fucking sides!

>>700468
>B. Disengage

>>700468
>B. Disengage

>>700468
>C. Send Mayor in

>>700468
>A. Engage

MAKE IT SO NUMBER ONE

We aren't waifu-ing her yet, just trying to convince her we're fun to be around.

>>700468
>B. Disengage

>>700468

Disengage, for now. I wouldn't mind tossing an "I'll get you next time gadget" her way before we leave though.

>>700468
A. Engage

>>700468
[Disengage wins. Writing.]

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>>700522

“Yeah, I think I should head out, Thomas. Thanks for checking on me.” You and Thomas share a smile and you trudge away from the house, your mind still reeling from your “otaku” battle for the ages. “Walk with me back to town? Maybe we can avoid any more excitement for a bit, yeah?”

“Or at least until after lunch, Jacky. I’m feeling a bit hungry myself.” He chuckles and you find it contagious. When you think about it, you agree that some lunch would be good. You’re thinking on what you might get at The Duck – and about your lack of groceries back home – when the door to Alice’s house audibly opens behind you. You and the Mayor cautiously look back.

“Jacky?” It’s Kari and she looks haggard. “Alice sent me after you. She wants you to have this.” Kari approaches and you spot a tiny piece of paper in her hands. You take it from her, thank her, and then apologize for the fuss you caused. Kari says that it’s “alright” and that she’s glad Alice seems to have a new “friend.” She then acknowledges the Mayor and the three of you chat for a bit about Alice and the day’s events. Kari says Alice got to work on the wagon after professing her claim on you and her excitement for the “beach episode.” The Mayor asks what that means, but you and Kari just wave the thought away.

Eventually, Kari excuses herself to return to the workshop and say goodbye to Alice.

You open the folded note and find inside both a number for Kari and a number for Alice with a message next to each. Kari’s message says “sorry!” and Alice’s says “we belong together <3 – Alice.”

You shake your head and walk away. Then, after a second thought, you pull out your phone and text “I’ll get you next time, Gadget!” to Alice. Her nigh-instantaneous response is a reaction image captioned “L-Lewd.” You’re impressed but also scared. And exhausted.

You turn to your squat, posh companion and ero-mentor. “Mayor?”

“Yes, m’boy?”

You earnestly ask “what’s the deal with the women in this town?” but Thomas doesn’t have an answer. All he has is a reassuring pat on the back and an eager ear. You tell him about your experience with Alice and he relishes every moment.

->->

1:00 PM

You’re back in town, seeds in tow and your hunger sated after a nice lunch with Thomas. The rest of the day is yours and your exciting “quest” is finished. What do you do, Jacky?

[Quest: “Barrels of Trouble” Complete! Rewards: Tonic, Eastern Pier, Alice’s Workshop Unlocked]

A. Back to the farm.
B. Check out the mines.
C. Ask Courson about the secret path.
D. Go to Cocoa’s, meet up with Tara
E. Write-in’s Encouraged

>>700723
>B. Check out the mines.
might as well add some loot grinding to this dating sim.

>>700723
B. Check out the mines.

>>700723
Check out the mines

>>700723
>B. Check out the mines.

>>700723
>B. Check out the mines.

>>700723
>B. Check out the mines.
We're going to need to trap our home against Alice, aren't we?

>>700812
Depends on how stalker ish she gets. The thought of a giant box held up by a stick with a a pile of beat up machines and a dakimakura pillow as bait is hillarious to me.

[Closing shop for now. Might post again in around four hours. Cya guys on the flip side]

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>>700860
[Quality idea. Consider it reserved for possible future use.

Might I suggest for bait a pair of Jacky's boxers instead?]

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>>701376
I'm getting some strong Anna vibes from her now.

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>>701508
>Anna, Queen of Yandere
[No. Nonono. Let's not go there just yet. I doubt there will be any yandere. Do anons even like that in a quest?]

>>701919
Well, there WAS Clemmy in Mecha Space Pirate Quest, but she's much less Yan and much more Dere these days.

If you aren't sure you can write one properly, don't do it. Yanderes are hard even in closed stories, and in a Quest, with different anons coming and going, you'll either have to sacrifice her verisimilitude as a person (not hurting herself/the MC/other love interests when he explores their relationship) or go whole hog and alienate anyone who doesn't like her/likes the character she assaults. Roarke Starwind gets away with it through sheer manly force, a genuine dedication to his girls, and a large tolerance for emotional flailing around when they start to freak out. Jacky here... it remains to be seen, but I'd think not.

>>701919
No. I personally don't want to deal with a yandere.

>>701919
Yanderes are not my cup of tea either. Especially not in a harvest moon quest of all things

>>701919
Hell fucking yeah

>>701919
Oh, and I want to add that I believe the only people who actually like yanderes in general are people who don't understand the terror and helplessness that being stalked gives you. REALLY not good material for this quest.

Or maybe it is, shit, I'm not writing it.

>>702232
[I will not judge any of you for your wishes or words, but I will add that it is not my cup of tea after having been stalked myself. Bad times.]

>Thisisnttumblr.jpg

[Writing!]

>>701919
this doesn't seem the quest for it, that said some obsessive behavior is to be expected considering how Alice has been portrayed so far... plus she's named Alice.

But full stalker mode? nah, she'll just set up elaborate animu meme exchanges in her head till she has a chance to use them on us and see how we respond, maybe a few carefully planned anime harem/romcom cliche's too.

>>702310
>maybe a few carefully planned anime harem/romcom cliche's too

>We go into town one day and at one point, we almost collide with Alice at a corner. Though we missed, she's upset that we didn't collide after she went through the effort of making that toast in her mouth and running around for this moment to happen.

I can't say i'm too big on the yandere thing either, but like >>702310 says, some obsessive behavior is expected to a degree.

>>702422
This is hilarious.

Every time we drop by, she has a proximity alarm go off so we can "accidentally" walk in on her in various states of undress.

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>>700723

You shoot Tara a text saying you " bought some seeds" and are "now headed to the mines." She replies tartly that it took you long enough and asks if you want to meet at the house. You'll spare her the story and yourself the explanation, but part of you wants to correct her.

"It's my house," you think to yourself. "You should be asking if you want to meet at 'my' house, or just say 'the farm...'" This wouldn't normally bother you, but her attitude in the past has rubbed you a bit raw. This isn't helped by the fact that Tara tends to churn up memories of your grandfather.

You put it behind you for now and head North to the mountain path. It'll take you about forty-five minutes to get there based on what your GPS tells you and you'll have to head through the northern stretch of woods and into the foothills. The caverns lay at the base of one of the taller mountains in the area, adjacent to the head of the valley's river. It seems the only major structure once you get there is a small lodge. You think Garreth and Jamie are holed up in there based on what you've heard about them.

----

The lonesome road you find yourself on brings tranquility with each step. There was once a time when the teeth of your memories, the shadows of your enemies, would touch on the fringes of your mind wherever you walked. Wherever you laid your head, wherever you tried to find peace and solace, the fear would be with you. The comforts of modern life numbed you at best and time healed you when you allowed for it but you find walking through this calm, innocent landscape is what touches the part of you that ultimately. needed surrender.

You breathe out. You cheer, you laugh, you whistle. You're alone, but you're safe now, Jacky. Nothing lies hidden in the shadows; there are no shadows to hide. Death does not follow you; there is no death to have following. Life, sweet life, is with you now. You see it in the flowers, hear it in the birdsong, and feel it on the wind.

You see the gifts of the Goddess around you. They are freely given, freely taken.

A. Pick the fowers of the bluebells, that you might share their beauty with others.
B. Pick the greens of the dandelion, that you may be nourished.
C. Gather the seeds of the trees, that you may foster the forest that gives.

[Goods gathered in the wild, including wood and lumber from trees, are Wild Goods or Forage. Most Wild Goods have various uses, can be given as gifts, or sold.]

[Roll 1d6, best of 1, to determine the quantity obtained of whatever item is voted on]

>cont.

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>>702539

>1:45 PM, Spring 1

The old lodge, nestled into a bald face of the mountain, looks sturdy and proud. The wind shrieks around it and flows down the carved staircase leading to its entrance. You tuck your jacket tighter around yourself and make the climb up the steps, a sense of history and wonder encroaching upon you with each step.

The door itself is lined and lit with inlaid, glimmering crystals. You raise the brass knocker and pound it into the oiled oak of the door once, twice, three times. You hear steps, a bit of murmuring, and then the door swings open.

You find...

A. Jamie, sword at her hip, standing before you
B. Garreth leering down at you through his magnifying jeweler's loupe

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>702539
C. Gather the seeds of the trees, that you may foster the forest that gives.

>>702545
A. Jamie, sword at her hip, standing before you

>>702545
>A. Jamie, sword at her hip, standing before you

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>C. Gather the seeds of the trees, that you may foster the forest that gives.

>A. Jamie, sword at her hip, standing before you

>>702539
>C. Gather the seeds of the trees, that you may foster the forest that gives.
They may take a good while to grow, but fruit bearing trees can really pay off from what I remember.

>B. Garreth leering down at you through his magnifying jeweler's loupe

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>702539
C. Gather the seeds of the trees, that you may foster the forest that gives.

A. Jamie, sword at her hip, standing before you

>>702545
>>C. Gather the seeds of the trees, that you may foster the forest that gives.
>>A. Jamie, sword at her hip, standing before you

Looks like we're getting trees and moar waifus.

I expected nothing else.

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>>702545

The young woman that greets you carries an unmistakable, yet subtle, poise to her bearing. You can see it in the upturn of her chin and the coiled strength of her stance, the way her shoulders are rounded just so and her feet are planted precisely. The two of you regard each other for a moment in minute examination. You note the sword at her belt and the discoloration to her left eye. She’s a warrior. Dignified? Yes, but she has the spirit of a fighter in her. You hardly needed to have served to be able to see that much.

Jamie, for her part, notes that you are unarmed and unsure of your own intentions here, but also rather handsome. Right now you are an unknown, a mystery. Jamie hates mysteries.

Her words whisper over her lips. "A visitor? How curious.” Her one good eye scans you up and down, lingering ever so slightly. “We never receive visitors." Jamie's eyes narrow. "Are you a shade, perhaps?"

You reply with an emphatic "No, no! I'm quite human!" and Jamie seems to believe this; all she offers in return is a sly smile.

"A shade would make the same argument, I think, but they do not speak in English. Their language consists more of guttural 'Blurgh-blurh's' and 'ka-karakaw' chittering, as you must know. You are either a human or the most well-spoken shade I have either met.”

You weigh saying “thank you” and running back down the trail to Sunnyvale. You go with “thank you” for now.

“In either case, I feel you deserve entry."

Well, you're grateful that you “deserve entry” and that she's slightly less odd than Alice. Slightly.

"Uh, it's Jamie, I believe?" You offer cautiously. "My name is Jacky Richmond and it's a pleasure to meet you. I heard you and Garreth lived together up here and there were caverns in the area to mine. Allen told me about it, at the inn. To be honest, I was just curious. I don't mean to barge in or anything."

You extend an open palm towards her. Jamie nods, takes your hand gently, and you share a brief shake.

"It is no intrusion, Jacky, but I thank you for your consideration. My name is Jamie Nguyen and it is a pleasure to meet you as well.” She dips in a formal curtsy, here.

“You'll have to forgive my surprise - I'm not used to company other than Garreth and the Shade. Neither is much company, a-hah.” Jamie finds, to her embarrassment, that she is the only one to laugh at her little jest. “Yes, Garreth... we do not 'live together' so much as 'live in the same space' and occasionally share meals. Garreth and I, that is. He is my greatest of friends, and very brilliant" Her demeanor returns to its earlier seriousness for a moment. "Were it not for Garreth I would then be alone, as I refuse to dine with the Shade, nor have I ever known them to offer such. Hmph."

Jamie taps at the air, as if to say "and that settles what I think about the Shade." You’re following along with her ranting okay, you think.

>Cont.

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>>703177

Jamie moves inside, pulls the door open further and beckons into the lodge. "Would you like to come inside? The winds here tend to nip like dogs. I have a fire going as we speak."

You think that's a fine idea and graciously accept.

True to your expectations, the whole of the place is done in a style that evokes a sense of history, antiquity, and pride. The initial foyer features two suits of western armor and some tarnished weapons hung in the heraldic style. Looking out into the grander rooms beyond you see trophies, worn furniture, and maps of all shapes and sizes. The air is thick with a sort of reverent energy.

"This place is..."

"A bit stuffy? I apologize if that is the case. I don't push Garreth to clean much these days. Both of us are always busy, it seems."

"I was going to say 'impressive,' or 'magical,' really. I feel like I've stepped into the past. I can feel the sense of adventure, if you will."

"Is that so?” Jamie says, a bit of a predatory look in her eye. “Hm. My, my. Interesting. The words of the oracles said that opportunity and adventure would fill the air today. This must be no coincidence, yes? Perhaps you are the opportunity that was spoken of, Jacky?”

“Come, you must join me. Allow me to discuss the Guild with you?” Oh, damn, those puppy-dog eyes... “Allow me a moment of your time…?”

She must accept your hesitation as agreement, because before you know it Jamie has dragged you into a main sitting room. The two of you come to a halt just beyond the great fireplace; the warmth washes over you.

“I want you to look around, Jacky.” She moves to take your hands. You pull them away but she’s too quick - she grabs them in a blur of motion. “Close you eyes. Feel the energies of this place, yes? What do you feel, Jacky?”

You're not sure if you're willing to close your eyes. Man, she's pushy... But in a nice, endearing way?

A. Hope.
B. Adventure.
C. Victory.
D. Uncomfortable.
E. Opportunity.

>Cont.

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>>703187

”It is said that all warriors hear the call to battle evil, yearn for glory, dream of victory. I, myself, can feel it in my bones as well. Yes, this place is a suitable fortress from which to journey. It has been preserved well from the glory days of the Adventurer's Guild, by my measure. It's a shame the place is so empty. Garreth and I were lucky to find it in this condition but we are just two. And, as I said, we do not receive visitors often." She once again looks at you seriously with her healthy eye. "Tell me again, Jacky, why are you visiting today? To solely investigate the mines? Perhaps the whispers of the Goddess led you here in search of adventure?"

"Hm? You ask. "Led here? No, I don't think so. I wanted to come here - and I'm glad I did."

In a swift motion Jamie has closed the gap between the two of you. She stands before you, chest to chest, and regards your eyes intensely. You can feel the silk of her garb, her very breath fall upon you.

"The Goddess is not always seen even when she is felt, Jacky. You cannot see the threads of fate that led you here but they are real, just as real as the Shade this hall was built to defend from." Jamie then slips away, dancing off in light, acrobatic steps. "Perhaps the fates will guide me to victory, Jacky, or perhaps I will fall tomorrow? The Goddess has yet to deliver me an ally in the battle against the Dark. Perhaps you are the answer to my prayers?"

"Answer to your prayers? Jamie, that's..." You motion for her to take it easy. "If you need help, please, let me know. You said you're battling the Shade? Is it that bad? I thought all the leaks in the area had been sealed?"

A sullen "No, Jacky. While it goes unnoticed by most, the leylines in this area have leaked for decades. The leak was opened during the mining operations that occurred here. Many died, but the majority of The Shade was sealed within forcefully. The Shade sit and fester, out of sight, but at any time they could escape the caverns and spill forth. Rocks and hope do not hold Shade."

"You've got that right," you mumble. "So, what, everyone's ignoring it?"

"For the most part, yes. The danger does not seem grave enough to concern most. I think that is foolish. Shade are attracted to suffering, pain, and weakness. Should a disaster strike this area they could be whipped into a frenzy. I know how many lie in the earth. There are few other places where so many exist in one place."

You're surprised, shocked, to hear this. A large colony of Shade is a serious danger to everyone in the area. Granted, Jamie says they were physically sealed away but you know that's not always enough. Wards need to be placed or, better yet, the leak above the leylines needs to be sealed.

>Cont.

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>>703197

"Why not call in the government, Jamie?"

She falters a bit at this. "I have, yes. They did not respond to the threat - that was some time ago, right after the war had ended. I could try again, yes, but... I have reasons not to."

"I see..." You don't, but you're not sure if you should push on that right now. "So, you're fighting them yourself? Alone?"

She nods enthusiastically. "My family comes from a long line of Shadehunters. I am very confident in my abilities, and I have already pierced through the top layers of Shade."

"And... How many 'layers' are there? Do you mean floors? As in, 'floors of the old mining operation?'"

"Yes, there are distinct points of excavation. Floors have been carved from the rock, and there... There are floors numbering perhaps a hundred? Perhaps more? The shaft is many stories deep based on old records."

You whistle. This is some serious shit.

"I can see that part of you is intrigued. No one else in town will help me exorcise the Shade, Jacky." Jamie flits repeatedly through a forlorn expression and a bit of hopefulness. "Are you brave enough to do so?"

A. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I haven't exorcised Shade in years, though.
B. No, that sounds too dangerous.
C. Write-in (Questions Encouraged)
D. Let me think on it some more - this is too sudden.

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>>703205
[Done with the updates. Sorry about the text dump! Hope it's an interesting read... There was just a lot of information to get out there and I kinda fell into a trance for about two hours. On the plus side, this chapter is starting to wrap up and we made it through a lot of material in my book!]

[I'm going to bed before my SO kills me. I'll observe and post when I can! Complaints, compliments, observations, and ideas are ALWAYS welcome! Thank you for playing and good night!]

>>703187
>E. Opportunity.
>A. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I haven't exorcised Shade in years, though.

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>>701919
Yes
>>702047
She is STILL (in our hearts)

Maybe instead of "kill-em-all" Yandere we should have just a creepy stalker/|i-don't-know-how-to-talk-with-men girl?

With GLASSES, I really really love "ordinary girl with glasses" look

Gonna go with

>Hope

and

>Yeah, I'll give it a shot

The way she talks about them, I feel like Hope is the natural opposite to these Shade.

>>703205
>A. Hope.
>A. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I haven't exorcised Shade in years, though.

>>703187
E. Opportunity.
A. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I haven't exorcised Shade in years, though.

>>703187
E. Opportunity.

>>703205
>A. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I haven't exorcised Shade in years, though.

>>703205
>>A. Hope.
>>A. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I haven't exorcised Shade in years, though.

Thread is kill?

>>705177
Thread is kill.

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>>705177
>>706362
[blue]
[And now it has risen once more. As was foretold.]

>>707290
Welcome back.

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>>707369
[Thank you!]

>>703205

There is an opportunity here and you can feel it prick at the back of your neck. You’ve never been one to ignore your feelings, your “gut,” whatever. It’s saved your hide before.

“Yeah, I’ll help. You’ll have to understand I haven’t exorcised Shade in years, though. I’m more used to fighting… A different kind of enemy, I guess.”

Jamie picks easily picks up on your hint. “Ah. You served, yes?"

You nod.

"I thought you had that look about you. Jacky Richmond, tell me…” She looks down at her hands, “Have you not assumed the worst from me, as many others have outside of town? I am Vietnamese by blood, you see. But my family immigrated long ago and I am not Chinese or Korean. You do not see me as an enemy, yes?”

A. "Of course not"
B. "Evil and good, friend and enemy are proved in deeds."
C. "I left my enemies on the battlefield. I have no enemies here."
D. "You'll have to earn my trust."
E. Write-in

>>707741
>C. "I left my enemies on the battlefield. I have no enemies here."

>>707741
>C. "I left my enemies on the battlefield. I have no enemies here

My enemies were left on the field, I take individuals for what they are first.

>>707741
C. "I left my enemies on the battlefield. I have no enemies here."

>>707741
>B.

C. "I left my enemies on the battlefield. I have no enemies here."

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>>707741
That thought didn’t even occur to you. You don’t notice that sort of thing, at best; at worst you try and move beyond those kinds of thoughts.

"I left my enemies on the battlefield, Jamie. I have no enemies here, only people that deserve the right to a fair chance."

Jamie gives you a careful smile.

“I served alongside people of all sorts, Jamie." You give her a reassuring smile in return. "Including some Vietnamese translators, once. They were good folk, and I think good folks come in all shapes and sizes. ou have to see a person as an individual, not a thing or just part of a race."

"Please, seriously, don’t even worry about that with me. I'm not a close-minded asshole like some people. Let's agree to not assume about each other, okay? Sound fair?"

"Yes, that sounds most fair, Jacky Richmond. Thank you for pointing out the weakness in my spirit and my own lack of faith." She laughs a bit, stands up, and places her hands on her hips. “I must trust in the goodwill of the spirits that have brought us together. And, I must trust in you now that you have accepted to fight alongside me! Please, trust in me to join you in battle.” She offers her hand. “Let us eliminate the Shade and find glory in battle! Glory in life!”

You stand up and clasp hands with her. Her eyes, one golden the other pale in its blindness, are filled with determination and, yet, desperation as they search for the determination in your own eyes. You try to display your own resolve, your own spirit. You think Jamie sees it and the moment that you share is a good one.

“I shall show you to the caverns, if you have the time today? Allow me to train you in the arts of exorcism, and I shall give you an honorary blade as the second member of this Guild!”

A. Agree and descend
B. Decline, you have other things to do
C. Write-in

>>707969
>A. Agree and descend

>>707969
>B. Decline, you have other things to do

Guys, we do have to do the whole farm thing. The caverns are a great thing to do tomorrow, but we gotta get the seeds in the ground first.

To put it another way, I don't think Jamie will be upset if we postpone till tomorrow, whereas Tara /definitely/ will.

>>707969
>A.

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>>707969

You and Jamie head down a spiraling staircase of stone located in the eastern wing of the lodge. The air around you grows thick and cold as you descend. Condensation gathers on the rock, forcing you to carefully step in a measured pace. Jamie casually walks in front of you and demonstrates no difficulty at all. She walks light and easy, as if she suffered none of the weight of the world at all.

With each step lower you notice that the darkness has grown unnaturally thicker. Fortunately, glowstones, lamps, and a small light emanating off of Jamie’s person illuminate the way.

You reach a thick wooden door barred from your side that, with your help, Jamie unbars and shoves open. You walk into a great room of natural stone where a large, stories-high tunnel stretches out in front of you. To your direct left is a small enclosure formed of steel bars around a table, a bed, and two small chests.

Jamie asks you to wait where you are, enters the enclosure, and goes to work. She lights the two lamps in the enclosure and then turns to the chests, opens them, and pulls out a collection of objects. You see it is a chest piece of leather and a sword for each of you.

Quickly finished, Jamie joins you and offers you the boiled leather and the old, light sword.

You look over the offering concernedly. “Explain to me again why we can’t just shoot the Shade, Jamie? With firearms?”

“Ah. Yes, we could - that would damage and discourage them.” You nod. “But you cannot kill the Shade, only exorcise or banish the creatures before sealing them away. Sealing them is the only permanent solution, but banishing them from an area and then warding it will allow us to reclaim floors of the mines. That is our ultimate mission - make progress over time, reach the leak, and then seal it to stop the influx of Shade.”

Jamie suits up. You slip the leathers on, mirroring your new woman warrior friend and “mentor.”

“And the sword helps us banish them…?”

“The Shade respect victory, in a sense. They are born of malice, helplessness, and fear. Demonstrate your victory over them, your martial and mental superiority, your courage, and you have stripped them of their power. A gun cannot allow us to claim our own power in most cases. It is much easier to ‘earn’ victory over a Shade with our own efforts than by using a gun. Here, allow me to help you warm up. Guard up!”

Jamie motions for you to raise your sword. You do so, and she swings her blade into yours. They crash together. She motions for you to reciprocate and raises her blade horizontally.

“Huh. Right. Earn victory and show them who’s boss.” You swing your blade down. “And it’s always through fighting?”

“It is not always through fighting, no. Sometimes the Shade engage in… ‘other’ ways. Combat is, however, almost always violent and martial in nature. And do not mistake the Shade’s games for anything other than combat: let your guard down or fail to prove your resolve and they will kill you.”

>cont.

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Rolled 4, 6, 8 = 18 (3d20)

>>708129

The two of you clash for roughly half an hour, Jamie conversing with you and gradually drawing the tension out of you as your training continues. Her alternations of firm, direct orders interspersed with casual, disarming questions are meant to keep you from overthinking your efforts while also correcting your form. She adjusts your swinging motion, your foot placement, your breathing. She asks you about the farm, your breakfast at the Inn, where you lived before Sunnyvale.

She’s smart. You know that too many men got themselves killed because they couldn’t get out of their own heads. Every battle begins in your mind, your spirit.

----

>2:30 PM, Spring 1

Eventually, you stop your practicing. Jamie motions for you to stop, compliments your work, and then motions for your sword. Carefully, she places her hand on your blade and begins chanting until a faint glow alights over your sword. She repeats the spell with her own. “I have shielded the blades. Jacky, allow me to test you in a spar, please? If you pass, I would like to then show you a nearby infestation of Slimes. If you are willing, we shall slay them together before ‘calling it a day.’”

You look at her, then the great, descending tunnel before you, wearily. So much has happened today. Are you ready for this?

"I will not go that easy on you, Jacky Richmond. I want to see how effective your instincts are. Are you ready?"

You nod.

Jamie swings down at you with her blade in a wicked arc. "Then we begin!"

[Current HP: 100/100 SP: 200/150]

>Please roll 3 rolls of 1d20 for defense.

Rolled 1, 20, 12 = 33 (3d20)

>>708191

>>708203
whoops... misread what dice were needed, can we just call that a 12?

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>>708203
>>708212
[In this single, special case I will bend the rules and take that as a "12" because the 1 and 20 effectively "cancel out" and they are, admittedly, hilarious rolls. In the future, I will ignore posts that do not have the correct die or correct number of rolls. I hope everyone understands.]

[Thank you.]

>>708231
all clear, sorry 'bout that.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>708231

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[mfw Falling asleep at my desk. Going to get this update out and then go to bed. Forgive your mayor, please, anon-samas.]

>>708357
s'all good, seems like a number of us have fallen to the same fate already.

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>>708191

You meet Jamie’s first slash with your own blade.

>Rolled 1

There is impact and then you feel the blade slip out of your hand and go flying. Jamie’s swing continues and, by the grace of the Goddess, you manage to reel your body back and avoid any sort of injury - other than a small, linear incision cut onto your cheek by the point of her blade.

You raise your fingers and feel a small trickle of blood. You’re amazed - she earned a clean, precise cut simply with the form and speed of her stroke using a dulled blade. You curse yourself for not gripping the sword correctly. You won’t let that happen again.

“Take up your sword, Richmond. Again. Let us both continue to learn and grow, yes?”

You nod, turn around and bend over to pick up your sword. You hear Jamie giggle behind you and you look back to see her leering at your backside, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

“Ms. Jamie!” you exclaim! “Come on, I see you doing that!”

“I was simply watching you for inefficiencies in your movements - and weak spots! Yes, weak spots! I see that your backside is gravely open to attack and am making note.” You display how unimpressed you are with her lies. That causes her to pause, cough into her hand, and apologize quietly. ”Well,” she says, “You must understand that just because I am a woman and warrior does not mean I cannot appreciate the finer things in life. The Goddess gave me eyes for a reason!” She declares firmly, fist pounding into her chest.

“You ready?” You ask, shaking your head. Jamie nods and then launches on the offensive once more.

>Rolled 20

This time, however, you are prepared - you step to the side, avoid her downward slash and then reach out with your off hand. You manage to grab onto her and then pull her body forward by the cloth of her sleeve. Jamie exclaims and stumbles forward a step. In that split second, you are presented with an opportunity to-

A. Quickly spank her with the flat of your blade as punishment
B. Grab onto her sword hand and attempt to disarm her
C. Deliver a soft chop to the back of her head. “Bad pervert instructor!”
D. Trip her. Hope for panty shot!
E. Write-in

>>708460
>A. Quickly spank her with the flat of your blade as punishment

>>708460
>E Trip her then spank her ass while hoping for a panty shot while saying "Bad pervert instructor"

>>708460
>C. Deliver a soft chop to the back of her head. “Bad pervert instructor!”

>>708460
>C. Deliver a soft chop to the back of her head. “Bad pervert instructor!”

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>>708460
>A. Quickly spank her with the flat of your blade as punishment

Spankin Action in 3...2...1...

>>708944
[I'm going to need a tiebreaker, as the vote is currently 2-2-1. Otherwise, I could go with this vote.]

>C. Deliver a soft chop to the back of her head. “Bad pervert instructor!”

>>708460
A. Quickly spank her with the flat of your blade as punishment

>>709530
>>709537
[I'll make the vote work. Writing.]

>>709551

With but a quick flick of your wrist your blade flashes out and meets Jamie's backside with an audible smack. She recoils upright, hands to her rear, and bounces about in surprise.

"Ah-ow! I see that you go straight for the finnishing blow, Jacky Richmond! I was not prepared for such an undrhanded attack..." She gives you a rather troublesome-looking grin. "But it was most effective, mm! This is what I like to see, yes! Such fighting spirit!"

Jamie winks and then wiggles her tush at you suggestively. "Show me what you can do, Jacky!" You narrow your eyes at her.

""Here I come," she sings out, her stance low and her arms coiled in preparation for a finishing thrust, "ready or not!" Jamie dashes forward, her steps low and fast, and you are forced to step back and thrust your blade up in a parry. The energies of the shielding spells fizzle and crack at your meeting. Jamie's face is but inches from yours and mischief is alight in her eyes. By the grace of the Goddess you read her movement (perhaps you are allowed to read her movement, really) and react to the shifting of her right shoulder. You thrust your center of mass away from her because, sure enough, her hand now gropes the empty air where your buttocks were but a moment before.

Jamie growls at you, lunges again, and you once again dodge her grab. She repeats this effort several times, then resorts to interspersing her grabs with slashes and strikes. Each attempt brings her closer and closer to her target and frustrates her more and more.

----

You flow about in this ridiculous dance for who knows how long before you really begin to feel your waning energy still, you have avoided the impish Jamie admirably to the point of her frustration. It is only after a particularly ingenius manevuer where she rolls over your back to land behind you that she is able to plant her hand firmly on her prize. "Co tri thi nen!" She exclaims, panting. "Co tri thi nen! A-haha!"

Jamie turns away from you, arms held up in celebration as if proclaiming her victory to an invisible audience. You grunt, reach out, and chop her firmly on the head. "No! Bad pervert instructor! Bad!"

She laughs weakly at you. You threaten to chop her again in disapproval.

>Cont.

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>>709649

"We have a saying in Vietnamese, Jacky," Jamie offers, wincing and rubbing at her head, "It is no use preaching to a hungry man. Or, woman in this case."

You look at her in confusion. "What? What does that-"

The earth-shaking, haunting moan that fills the cave prevents you from finishing. You are unable to discern its origin because it feels as if it is the cave itself howling. You and Jamie look at each other and a glint of apprehension is in both of your expressions.

"That was a Great," whispers Jamie. "How is it so close to the surface? Where did that come from -" Another moan splits the air. The earth around you begins to shake. "Jacky, we must leave! Now!"

You look at her in disbelief and ask how it could be a "Great Shade." It doesn't make any sense. Your mind cannot understand it - Great Shades don't appear except after great tragedies, unless this one was...

It must have been hibernating. Why emerge now? What's going on?

The two of you move to the door and fling it open so that Jamie might usher you inside the dark corridor. She looks behind her only briefly before she then moves to follow. Had she not moved, she would have been standing in the path of the great and shadowy appendage that erupts from the earth behind you. You watch as it climbs and snakes its way out of the tunnel and spills into the cavern. Like some nightmarish tree it blossoms out to twelve feet in height. The "trunk" of it comes to loom over you. In an adrenaline-fueled rush, Jamie pushes you aside and moves to protect you with her blade before the appendage lashes out like a pulse of lightning. It takes all of Jamie's mettle to parry the blow and she is knocked back towards you. You catch and support her panting form.

The stalk roars before retracting back into the earth. You can feel it roil beneath the soil and rock around you.

>Stalk of Titanos, Great Shade
>Lvl. 4 Opponent
>Danger Level: Fatal

Jamie hurries you inside, shuts the door, and you bar it. A great, thundering, crashing boom erupts from the door. It shakes in its hinges and barely holds.

"We have to get out of here, Richmond! The area past the staircase is warded, but we are not safe here!"

A. Take the lead up the staircase
B. Jamie takes the lead
C. Ask something [write-in]

>>709675

A. Take the lead up the staircase

Haul her with us if we have to, we're all getting out rather unharmed if we have anything to say about it

>>709675
[Give me 5 rolls of 1d20, please]

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>709692

Let's survive, shall we?

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>709703

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>709692

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>709692

Rolled 11 (1d20)

should one of us roll again?

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Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>709692

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Rolled 17, 17, 8, 9, 1 = 52 (5d20)

>>709692
[Rolling for the Shade. 4d20 Offense first, 1d20 defense second.]

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>>711120
>The one on its Defense

>>711120
Well, that 1 might help us out a bit, yes?

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>>709675

The Shade assaults the door once more and the top hinge is blown apart. Jamie leans against what remains of the wood and yells at you to head to safety while she holds it off. You tell her to "cut the shit" and drag her off the door just as another strike splinters the wood. Where the finger-like appendage of the Shade pierced the door is now a sizable hole through which the Stalk peers at you. You see that an eye has emerged from the top of the stalk, and multiple smaller appendages have sprouted from the base. It screams out, desperate to take your life.

"We need to move!" You yell, and Jamie nods in agreement. "I'll take the front, you watch that thing-"

Your words reach Jamie but she is not given a chance to respond. The Shade whips another, smaller limb through the hole in the doorway and Jamie is forced to block it with her blade. The Shade's fleshy whip wraps around the sword but Jamie pulls a knife from a holster at her thigh and stabs the small silvery blade into the flesh of the monstrosity. It screams as the flesh boils at the wound

"Go, Richmond, up the stairs!"

But as you look upwards, towards the ever-fading light, you see that another of the smaller limbs has burst through the stonework and is raging against the walls of the staircase. It flops and strikes against the stone, searching for you and Jamie but somewhat blinded by the light.

"Right," you exclaim, your sword in a tight grip, "Let's go you black bastard!"

You march up the stairs and take an easy swing against your blind prey. A chunk of flesh is lopped off the top of the appendage and lands at your feet. The Stalk screams once more in pain; unfortunately, now it knows you're close. The limb in the staircase lashes out at you once, twice, thrice- four times in rapid succession. The first lash takes you by surprise and stings across your arm, ripping the cloth of your shirt to shreds. The second you are more prepared for and duck. The third and fourth come from above and below you, respectively, as the ability of the appendage to strike from any angle comes to bear and overwhelms your guard. Like a wicked arrow the limb thrusts towards the ceiling before whipping down at your spine. You lash at it with your sword and it withdraws, but then it moves underneath you and repeats the attack.

As the second strike hits you scream out in agony which quickly turns into rage. You take your blade in both hands and swing down, the edge catching into the meatiest part of the appendage and severing it cleanly in half. You scream again before reaching out, grabbing a torch off its sconce, and then plunging the fire into the newly inflicted stump. The Shade howls and moan, its rock-like teeth nestled in the main Stalk chattering and clacking as it voices its desire for vengeance.

[Please give me 4 rolls of 1d20 as Jamie takes the offensive against the Stalk and then defends against one attack.]

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>711946
Hack and slay, hack and slay, hack and slay all day!

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>711946
[Current HP: 85/100, 5 damage per hit]

[Rolling for Shade's 1 Offensive action against Jamie]

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>711946

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>711946

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>711946

14,18,15,15

Good set, Anons!

>>708129
>A gun cannot allow us to claim our own power in most cases. It is much easier to ‘earn’ victory over a Shade with our own efforts than by using a gun.
This annoys and somewhat angers me.

>>712274
[I can respect your feelings on the matter. If I forget to provide an opportunity for you to vote on expressing these sentiments to Jamie make sure you write it in.]

[On a general note, I'm always open to and interested in hearing your thoughts, Anons.]

>>712449
I can understand the semi-anti-gun thing, if only because it is way easier to pull a trigger from 20 yards off than get up in something's face and hit it with a sword or spear or whatever.

It annoyed me a bit because i'm pretty /k/, but i don't care because it fits with the aesthetic. It will make Jamie respect us more too, so thats a plus. Also, finding ammo sucks sometimes.

>>712466
>if only because it is way easier to pull a trigger from 20 yards off than get up in something's face and hit it with a sword or spear or whatever.
Then let's just fight them bare handed, since its harder than using a sword or spear.

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>>712546
[Astute observation and good conversation on the subject by all involved. +1 FP awarded to Jacky.]

With the appendage no longer blocking your path you call for Jamie to take the opportunity and flee. She audibly confirms that she heard you while repeatedly stabbing the larger "Arm" of the Stalk with her silvered knife. The injured limb retreats a ways back into the cavern, giving Jamie some breathing room, and looking to press her advantage she swings her sword laterally into the beast. A deep gash is earned on the face of the appendage and black, inky ichor spews out of the wound onto the far wall. The ichor lands on a nearby torch and extinguishes it in a spew of bubbling and angry sizzling. The whole of the Arm beings to roil before collapsing onto the floor where it writhes and flails.

Jamie turns and jumps, steps at a time, up the stairs. You cheer for her and urge her forwards, forwards, higher, higher. Hope springs in your chest that she will reach you, and escape, without further episode. It is then to your dismay that another Finger appears from the inflicted hole in the stone and attempts to block Jamie's path. Not to be halted, she lances out and sticks the limb to the wall with her sword. The Finger, in a final attempt to stall her, wraps around her wrist and holds fast. Jamie is forced to pull out her dagger once more and stabs and then twists the blade into the wicked flesh with a yell.

The limb ceases its movement. Jamie climbs, pulls her sword away, and then joins near the ground floor.

The Stalk of the Great Shade below you continues to howl and beat at the structure in frustration. You and Jamie ascend with haste until you are fully beyond the warded, silvered door of the lodge's main floor. You stand there folded over yourself and braced against a nearby wine rack. You heave and pant, your chest burning and mind spinning. Jamie breathlessly tells you to wait here a moment before rounding a corner.

She comes back momentarily with a small cask labeled in ornamental papering.

"Holy water and gunpowder," she explains. "We light the wick and then roll it down the stairs; hope for the best. Do you want to do the honors?"

A. Yes.
B. Go ahead. I'll observe.
C. Why don't we use this every fight?
D. Write-in

>>712630
D. Write-in

We'll, light it, you can push.

>>712630
>A. Yes.
Moment like this reminds me of a DnD session once in a similar situation. All we had to do was light a fuse on a barrel of gunpowder and roll it down some stairs to blow up the only passage out of a cave for some monsters.
DM was kind of a dick and made us roll for practically everything.
Want a drink of water?
Roll to not spill it on yourself or drown.
Gotta piss?
Roll to get to the bathroom in time and not piss on yourself.
Anyways, we roll to light the fuse.
Nat fucking 1.
We blow ourselves up.
I'm anticipating something bad happening now.