>>1321198
Beginning right where we left off.

>Look into this ‘redcloak’ thing a little.

“I suppose I should probably look into that business with the redcloaks that everyone keeps talking about.”
You make sure that your makeshift brown cloak is secure.

“Oh? Hoping to find some allies or something?”

“Everything I’ve heard of them makes them sound like good people. Maybe the only good people in this town. That they keep to the laws of the Wheel God while wearing red cannot be a coincidence.”

“Makes sense. But let me guess, you’re at least a little pissed off at them for them making it so that you can’t wear your usual cloak, right?”

“No.”

“Really? I would be.”
Beatrice’s face softens even as her voice does not.
“I can’t pretend to know what that kind of thing means to you but...it’s all you have left from your old Watchtower isn’t it? That and the lamp. It’s also the last thing you’ve got that says you’re a Lamplighter. Without that cloak you’re just a crazy old Flame Artist with a crazy mission.”

“Nonsense. You aren’t a Lamplighter because a priest gives you a seal of authority and a cloak with the insignia on it. It’s something you carry in your soul and it can’t be taken from you unless you grow weak enough to let it go. It can’t be stolen, only surrendered. I don’t care about some dirty old cloak.”

“I see. I guess it’s like your humanity then?”
Something about her tone catches your attention but you’re not sure what.
“It can only be given up by the weak.”

“Are you sure that you’re feeling alright, Beatrice?”

“I’m fine,” she says, pulling her newfound peaked cap lower across her face in a futile attempt to shade her eyes. It looks ridiculous, the brim is just far too short.
“I’ll handle the Workshop Orion, you find out what you can.

“I’ll see you back here. If one of us isn’t back by three hours the other will know something is wrong. Good luck.”

“It’s just a hospital Orion, holy shit. Calm down.”

The two of you part ways.


>Who do you wish to follow?

>Orion
>Beatrice

>>1321203
>>Beatrice

>>1321203
>Beatrice

>>1321203
>>Orion

>>1321203
>>Orion

>>1321203
>Orion

>>1321203
>Orion

>>1321203
>Orion

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>Orion

You’ll have to entrust Abraham’s safety to the witch for now and hope that she’ll be able to navigate the situation on her own. And as for you, while you might have sought temporary refuge in good and honest work it’s time for you to set foot back among the populace of Dis once more.
You’ll be more prepared this time and you’ll keep your guard up.

You leave the hall without speaking to anyone, taking advantage of the early morning rush to the ‘mines’ to slip out relatively unnoticed. You’re hunting for information on the redcloaks and on the Viridian Consortium and you only have limited time to do either.

But where to begin?

You know that this ‘cult’ is probably on levels below you so should you just start heading down and hope that something will reveal itself to you? That hardly seems like a worthy plan. Perhaps you should simply return to the market or the brothel you passed through upon your entrance to Dis. Hives of scum and blasphemy they might be but they seemed to actually know what they were talking about when they referred to the redcloaks. And there’s always been plenty of green flame about in both places.


>Go back to the market.

>Ask at the brothel.

>Experiment with green flame and Flame Rites.

>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

>Other

>>1321364
>>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

>>1321364
>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

I think we should try

>Experiment with green flame and Flame Rites.

at some point too. Perhaps we could use our shard to undo whatever has corrupted the flame?

>>1321364
>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

>>1321364
>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

Apologies for the delay in updates. Feeling a little like a dishrag.

File: fleksnek.png (13 KB, 400x400)

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Sorry about this, just give me a few hours or so.

Actually, I've been thinking of transitioning from a session-based posting style to the looser 'update whenever I can 24/7' style that you see a lot more nowadays in stuff like Dungeon Life Quest. I don't really like it but it feels like it suits my current lifestyle and condition more since I just don't think I can sustain the old style of pumping out a session all in one go and then fucking off for a few days before doing another one etc.

Tell me what you think!

>>1321574
If you cannot sustain both simultaneously your health and session-based posting, you should opt for the looser option that will keep you alive.

>>1321574
if looser is more doable do it. I'll vote when I can.

>>1321594
Agreed. I love this quest but I also don't want you to die running it.

>>1321574
Works for me

>>1321574
Find the pace you're most comfortable with, Ouro. We'll follow either way.

>>1321364
>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

The further down we go the more likely we are to encounter the disenfranchised and malcontent of the city

also how do we intent to catch their attention?

>>1321574
Do what keeps you healthy Ouro

Maybe you could find something in between? Run shorter sessions when you can?

>>1321574
POST UNTIL YOU DIE.

But seriously do whatever let's us reach an end.

So close.

>Just walk downwards. You’ll make your inquiries on a level where people haven’t seen you before.

Going back to the whorehouse would probably be an incalculably bad idea and while the market is almost certainly full of all the answers you need, visiting it a second time in connection to your mission might be a mistake. If all goes well today it would be unwise to leave anything that can link you to the quenching of the green flame. Of course you could simply just ask about the redcloaks and nothing else but people there know you are an outsider and it would be a very suspicious line of discussion for an outsider to seek out. These red-cloaked men are their enemies after all.

So no, you’re going to walk down these stairs a fair few more levels. If what the beggars implied is true, the lower you go the more likely you’ll find the poor. And in these lower rungs of society, dissension and discontent easily arise. You know this for a fact as it was once part of your Witch-finder studies. Many a treatise on finding and identifying witches has linked such places in large Third Age cities as likely hotbeds for newborn witches and not just because the desperate are easy prey for temptation. When you feel that society has left you behind it’s all too easy to want to tear it all down.
And Dis is far larger than any Third Age city, large enough that its own pits of malcontent must themselves be larger than the cities you knew. And just like one might find witches in such places within normal cities, here you just might find a remaining ember of the true faith.

But how far down do you want to go? You’re also very much aware that you only have a few hours to do this before Beatrice assumes you lost so need to be wary of going down too far and to keep the return trip in mind at all times. You also remember what the beggars told you of the various subsections of Dis by height. If you keep going downward you’ll reach what they called the ‘mazes’, the places where the roads and streets and tops of lesser buildings have tangled up irrevocably to form a multilayered shell beneath the towers that acts as the only ‘ground’ most tower residents will ever see. And then further beneath are the Undertowns and the other districts he named but you can no longer remember, the lowest parts of Dis that sprout in an artificial darkness created by an overpopulated canopy of towers and roads and mazes. Down there, right up against the bare earth itself, is probably the worst part of Dis that still lies within its walls.

So how far into such darkness do you wish to venture?


>No need to go that far. Just head into the lower floors of the Folly, you know from what the whorehouse matron said that they have a presence in this tower-district.

>Into the mazes. Seems like an easy place to hide.

>The undertowns. Where else would you find those who need true flame the most?

>Other

>>1322690
>No need to go that far. Just head into the lower floors of the Folly, you know from what the whorehouse matron said that they have a presence in this tower-district.

If we find nothing, we can return later with the whole team.

>>1322690
>>Into the mazes. Seems like an easy place to hide.

>>1322690
>The undertowns. Where else would you find those who need true flame the most?

>Into the mazes. Seems like an easy place to hide.

I like the lassez faire type of threads. Just post whenever.

>>1322690
>>The undertowns. Where else would you find those who need true flame the most?

>>1322690
>No need to go that far. Just head into the lower floors of the Folly, you know from what the whorehouse matron said that they have a presence in this tower-district.

Closing vote in an hour or so and then I'll start updating again.

>>1322690
>No need to go that far. Just head into the lower floors of the Folly, you know from what the whorehouse matron said that they have a presence in this tower-district.
I'd rather our first expedition doesn't accidentally get us lost in the city in the process. If we find nothing the first time, then no harm as we can do like >>1322838 said.

>>1322690
>No need to go that far. Just head into the lower floors of the Folly, you know from what the whorehouse matron said that they have a presence in this tower-district.

>No need to go that far. Just head into the lower floors of the Folly, you know from what the whorehouse matron said that they have a presence in this tower-district.

You’d prefer not to get lost within the city during your first expedition, particularly while you’re on a timer. You’ve got to meet back up with Beatrice relatively quickly to begin your first real assault on this wretched city after all. And if you don’t quite find what you’re looking for then you’ll just come back later with everyone else. These redcloaks aren’t critical information yet after all, just a group of potential allies that might be important later on.
And, you must admit, it’ll be pleasant to speak with someone in this godless city that has some genuine faith. Particularly considering both of your usual companions lack such. You don’t doubt Abe’s belief but you also know they aren’t close to being his greatest motivation to follow you, something that he seems to do out of a mixed sense of obligation, shame and some sort of muted death wish. Beatrice is even worse off, her relationship with faith starts off as being charitably described as ‘complicated’ and then gets worse from there. Ironically you’d judge her pure belief as being much stronger than Abe’s but only with a mile-long list of caveats behind it.
You haven’t truly talked to a fellow brother of the faith for quite some time, such creatures are sparse upon the wasteland and probably even scarcer here. You’d welcome the chance.

You count the floors as you descend, stepping out of the way as you pass other travellers along this seemingly-eternal stairwell. The immense size of the Folly, while always known to you in theory, is only now truly impressed upon you. There is not a single Third Age structure you know that is even half the height and this tower isn’t even one of the grander ones, merely a gigantic vertical poorhouse for those well-off enough to live in the upper strata but only on the very lowest edges of it. There are dozens and dozens of floors that pass you by as you traverse the stairwell and the amount of people in each central hall is undoubtedly immense. You pass a lot of travellers and you get an uneasy feeling that not all of them are human. Why else would you wear a mask like that?
You look quite strange yourself of course, all wrapped up in a brown ‘cloak’, armour beneath and a swaddled up lamp-post across your back. But there’s nothing you can do about that.

1/2

>>1323496
You stop every few floors and peer into the various different kind of halls to see if you can spot anything of immediate use or interest to your investigation. This is to mostly no avail until you descend to what you judge to be the 29th floor. The stairwell here is empty but the hall joining it and all the little passages around the edges are most certainly not. It’s another market-floor not unlike the one you first arrived at two days ago only a lot more packed in with people and with a lot less walls, the hall directly connecting to the stairwell and to most of the side-rooms as one giant space.
It also stinks.

And in this grungy, green-lit scene your eyes naturally fall upon the source of the nearby commotion.

“Thief! Stop him!”

A lanky young man is elbowing his way through the surprised crowd spilling around the side-passages with a small metal canister firmly within his grasp. You don’t see many details however, your eyes drawn immediately to a flash of bright red. He’s wearing a scrap of red cloth around his throat and the lower half of his face, the torn and ragged thing trailing a little down his shoulders and upper back. Hardly a cloak but still…

You can’t see who’s accusing him of thievery but the crowd is beginning to react, pressing tighter as people begin to shout. The thief notices this as well and abruptly changes direction, shoving a small woman out of the way with enough force to knock her over as he runs straight for the stairs!
The stairs that you are standing upon.

There’s no proof that he’s connected to them in any way, you tell yourself. And besides that, he’s almost certainly a genuine thief. But is it truly a sin to steal from a society that is vile? And can you afford to let this opportunity pass you by?
More importantly, can you afford to antagonize an entire crowd?


>Hold off his pursuers to give him time to flee and then help his escape.

>A sin is still a sin and a thief is still a thief. Detain him and see what he has to say about himself and what side of the story the other people have.

>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.

>Step aside and let what happen happen. None of your business for now.

>Other

>>1323497
>>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.

Here we go!

>>1323497
>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.
If we take away the canister he stole and leave it here, we're likely to dissuade further pursuit.

>>1323497
>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.

>>1323497
>>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.

>>1323497
>>1323505
Support, we'd lose the canister but we'd keep the thief from going to the slammer.

>>1323497

>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.

>>1323497
>>Step aside and let what happen happen. None of your business for now.

>>1323505
This. Even if he's not a lamplighter, he'd be inclined to assist, possibly.

>Grab him and drag him away, pretending to arrest him. Does Dis even have enforcers of the law? Surely they must.

You think quick and act quicker, reaching out as they pass you and grabbing the thief by the back of their tunic. It nearly yanks them off their feet but you keep them from falling as you start to pull them up the stairs.
“Let go of me!”

You wrest the canister from their grasp without much difficulty, keeping your eyes on the advancing crowd as you do so. As much as you need any possible information this man might have, you don’t feel particularly confident in your ability to take on an entire crowd just to defend a stranger. But there’s a way around that that might just work. Does Dis even possess officers of law? It has to, you don’t understand how some parts of it would function otherwise.

“Got you!,” you growl, making sure it’s loud enough for all to here. “You’re under arrest.”

“What?”

His pursuers come to a halt at the base of the stairs as you slowly pull the struggling young man up another step. He writhes and lashes out but his errant fists only strike metal beneath your cloak.

“Who are you?”
The voice rings out from somewhere in the back.

“Don’t worry,” you say. “He won’t bother you again.”
You toss the canister down the steps, letting it roll until it comes to a rest against the feet of the crowd.
“I’ll take care of him.”

“And who are you supposed to b-”
The man in the crowd gets shushed by several people.
“Look at his armour!,” you hear someone say. What do they mean by that?

Regardless, it seems to be enough for them not to chase after you as you pull the struggling thief up the stairs into the next floor, shoving him quickly into a side-passage with a few locked doors and little else. Hopefully no eavesdroppers here.
“What’s your name, miscreant?”

“Why should I tell you?”

You let go of them, shoving him against the wall as you do so to make sure that he’s cornered and won’t immediately bolt. You can finally get a good look at them. They’re as young as they sound, barely an adult most likely and rather lanky, particularly in comparison to you. They’re clean-shaven and their face, while obscured with grease-stains and dirt, is thin. His hair is a ragged dirty-orange mop.
“You should tell me because I just saved your hide.”

“You arrested me!”

“And now you are free to go.”
Grease stains, huh? That’s interesting. Makes you think you’re on the right track.

“So I can leave?”

“After you answer a few of my questions. Some gratitude would be nice.”

“Shit...I’m not ungrateful or nothing but this is a bit suss. I’m not doing anything funny with you, you hear? And if you want to try and take it I’ll...I’ll scream! And bite!”

“Just who do you think I am? Trust me, did not I just save you?”
1/2

>>1325637
You try not to think about the implications of what they said. Do you really come off as an invert that much? You always assumed Beatrice had been wrong about that.

“Maybe. Maybe not. I coulda gotten away on my own.”

“What’s your name?”

“...Alex.”

“Alright Alex. I’d like to ask you about that thing you wear around your neck.”

You recognise their reaction immediately, the way they draw back a little and tense up.
“You can’t make me talk.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’m not some snitch! D-do whatever you like with me, I won’t tell you about them! I’d rather die.”
He tries to spit at you but his mouth must be exceptionally dry.

“Once again you’ve got me all wrong. I’m interested in the folks who wear the red but I’m not trying to hunt any of you. I want to help you. Join you, perhaps.”

Alex’s eyes narrow.
“How am I supposed to believe that?”


>”You have my word, if that means anything to you. You still owe me.”

>Perhaps you should drag this lad back to Beatrice and Abe, they’d be better for talking things out safely.

>Show him a small Flame Rite.

>Show him your old cloak.

>Other

>>1325646
>Show him a small Flame Rite.

>>1325646
I don't suppose we could light a match or candlewick? At least then there's plausible deniability that we're just "from outside"

>>1325698
In places where the old powers of the Earth are strong, even lighting a match or a candle is a surprising feat indicative of a strong Flame Internal.

>>1325646
>Other
Benediction of Warmth

>>1325646
>Show him your old cloak.

>>1325646
Seconding >>1325784

The fact this thief isn't snitching is hopefully a good sign that the cult isn't easy to infiltrate

>>1325646
>Show him your old cloak.
>”You have my word, if that means anything to you. You still owe me.”
Who else would wear this sort of outfit, or possibly act as self-righteous as us?

>>1326034
>>1325881
Showing our cloak is going to catch people's attention more so than a random old man showing up with flame arts

Especially if there are snitches

>>1326049
I thought we were in a secluded area though? Or do you mean that the thief could snitch on us later?

>>1325646
>>1325784
this

>>1326049
flame arts are way more illegal here than the color red

>>1326059
News will travel about a lamplighter for good or ill, we don't need Dis to know we are here and aligning with their crazed fire cult

>>1326093
His talking about our lamplighter cloak dingus and that will set off more alarm bells than a simple flame art

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>Benediction of Warmth

You look for a moment at the green-burning torch above you and sigh. Hopefully it still counts as a worthwhile sense of light. You raise your hand up and do your best to ignore the way Alex flinches back just a little.
“I must commend you for your loyalty. But let me ask you something. If I was an enemy of the red would I be able to do this?”

You’re taking a bit of a risk here. If you’ve misunderstood this lad or the redcloaks you could just be outing yourself for no reason. But looking into his eyes gives you a feeling of sincerity in regards to your beliefs. There’s a flame in there that has yet to go out. And since when does a Lamplighter balk from the opportunity to bring light to the dark places?
Light gathers around your gauntleted hand, pure white light clinging to the edges as if it was eclipsing the sun itself. The blasphemous and shadowy green light departs for just a split second, transformed and purified into the light of Benediction.

You brush a finger against his brow and let the light fade to nothing as the Benediction of Warmth soaks through him. You hear his breath catch as the magic dims.
“I feel-...what was that?”

“Benediction. I don’t imagine you see that often.”
It’s one thing to see a Flame Rite, that is the basic magic of humanity and could be theoretically manifested by any wild and untrained young talent. Benediction, discovered only in the Second Age with the light of the sun and refined specifically by the church and the Lamplighters that follow them, is something you doubt exists within Dis.
But while you give it to him as cause for hope, it can’t help but be a cause for worry within your heart. Was it just your imagination or did it feel a little less warm? A little less bright? It was probably just a trick of the vile light but what if it wasn’t? How much longer do you have left before light and flame truly fade from the world for good?

“You’re not from around here, are you?”, Alex breathes. His tone has changed to one approaching reverence. Looks like you had the right idea.


>”Correct. I have a few questions for you about your group.”

>”And I think I will need a guide.”

>”That’s unimportant. Just know that I am your ally.”

>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”

>”It is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”

>Other

>>1326114
Are you telling me that the people of Dis don't wish to be as grossly incandescent as us?
Feh! We didn't need them anyways!

>>1325646
>>1325715
Switching >>1326034 to
>Show him a small Flame Rite.
>”You have my word, if that means anything to you. You still owe me.”
>”Also, once we’re done here play it cool, alright?”

>>1326174
>No I am not from here
>Now can you tell me what I wish to know?

>>1326174
>”It is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”
>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”
>"Once we get there then we decide who else is worthy of knowing."

>>1326174
>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”
>"Also, please fill me in on some of the dos and donts around here, as a guide."

>>1326174
>”It is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”
>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”
>"Once we get there then we decide who else is worthy of knowing."

>>1326174
>>”It is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”
>>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”
>>"Once we get there then we decide who else is worthy of knowing."

>>1326174
>”Correct. I have a few questions for you about your group.”
>”And I think I will need a guide.”

>>1326174
>”It is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”
>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”
>"Once we get there then we decide who else is worthy of knowing."

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Apologies, I've been very out of it. I'll update in an hour or so.

>>1327015
Out of light, Ouro? We can offer you some benedictions if you're in need of it...

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>>1327015

>”It is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”
>”Please take me to the rest of your people. I don’t have much time.”
>"Once we get there then we decide who else is worthy of knowing."

You don’t give him a direct answer to his question, better not to give him anything explicit about that just yet. You’re sure he can infer enough as it is.
“Listen, it is imperative that you tell nobody about what you just saw. Not even your friends.”

“Right. What’s somebody like you even doing here?”

You take a step back and make doubly sure that nobody else is present in the small corridor that you pulled him into.
“God’s work.”

Alex stays where he is even after you give him as much space as he needs, his back pressed against the wall. He stares up at you as if he’s trying to look you in the eye, helmet or no helmet.
“Are you really here to save us?”

Is that he thought you meant?
“Yes.”
It’s not exactly a lie but you’ll admit that you’re being a little misleading here. You doubt he wants what you want. Your path leads to the collapse of all Dis after all, to the Fourth Age where it will become the Forgotten City in prophecy.

“And what do you want from me? Why did you protect me?”

“Do I need a reason to protect a fellow brother of light?”

“Brother?”

“We are all linked by faith, Alex, particularly in these dark times.”

“That’s not what was wr-ah forget about it. So I guess you want me to take you to see the boss?”

“Correct. Those cloaks of yours, they mark you as true believers in the Wheel God don’t they?”

Alex nods.
“I don’t know if you’d call mine a cloak. But yeah, it means we’re part of the Sun Temple.”

Now that’s a term you haven’t heard before. To each their own I suppose.
“I must admit, I did not expect to find any of you here in this wretched city.”

“Sun Temple’s always been around,” Alex says. “But my pa said that after God died it got pretty bad. Now there’s laws about fire and all kinds of shit. There’s no law against faith but that doesn’t stop ‘em from coming around and treating us wrong.”

“I first heard of your kind in relation to apparent attacks and vandalism. Are those stories true.”

“Some of them,” Alex says with a touch of defiance in his voice. You can immediately tell that he’s had to argue about this before. “But there’s nothing wrong with violence against the right people. Especially all the scum. And burning and breaking things...they’re just things! Those up top would do the same to us if they could!”
He stares at you as if expecting you to condemn him. You get the feeling that not all sun-worshippers are as willing to perform or even condone the acts of anarchy that Alex and his gang do. But as long as it’s all for the right reasons you cannot see fault in it.

1/2

>>1327619
“Well said,” you say and you are rewarded by his face lighting up. “I don’t know how it is seen in Dis but from where I hail, it is seen as a holy duty to cleanse the world from abominations against the faith.”

“Yeah!,” he says, a little louder this time even though his husky voice isn’t particularly deep.
“That’s the kind of shit we’re always telling them! If they’re going to step on us, we’re going to fight back!”

“Exactly. In a just world a crime against the sinful is no crime at all! Now Alex, I want you to lead me to the rest of your group. I don’t have much time and I would like to make allies of you all, should they all be as righteous as you.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want me telling anyone. Not even boss.”

“I’ll make the judgement when I’m there.”

“And you’ll help us?”

“Of course. Now lead the way.”

Alex squirms along the wall for a moment, fidgeting.
“Just one problem, maybe a problem I don’t know. It’s not in this tower. It’s down below in B-”
He stops himself from speaking the location out loud. He seems to have a problem with that in general as far as you can tell, his mouth outracing his brain by a few key moments at times.
“Down in the maze. Is that good with you? ‘Cause I know you said you don’t have much time.”

That could be a problem.


>It doesn’t matter. You’ll do your best to handle this quickly and if you can’t then you’ll just apologise to Abe and Beatrice later.

>Maybe just talk to Alex and arrange a meeting with him and his group at a later time. It is good enough that you know they exist.

>Go back up but bring Alex with you. You might be able to use him.

>Other

>>1327621
>Maybe just talk to Alex and arrange a meeting with him and his group at a later time. It is good enough that you know they exist.
somewhere safe for both parties, we DO have a couple snake eyes watching us at all times.

>>1327621
>Maybe just talk to Alex and arrange a meeting with him and his group at a later time. It is good enough that you know they exist.
I have no doubt that things are going poorly on their end

>>1327621
>two of my traveling companions were wounded and one wound up in the care of some "doctors" My other companion is trying to exfiltrate him ,but I would like to be nearby to provide firepower if need be. I would do it myself but I blend in.... poorly.

>>1327621
>It doesn’t matter. You’ll do your best to handle this quickly and if you can’t then you’ll just apologise to Abe and Beatrice later.

>>1327621
>>Maybe just talk to Alex and arrange a meeting with him and his group at a later time. It is good enough that you know they exist.

>>1327621
>Maybe just talk to Alex and arrange a meeting with him and his group at a later time. It is good enough that you know they exist.

Alright, vote called and writing. Update will be soon.
In the meantime, an ask raised an issue with me that I might not describe what a Third Man looks like enough.
https://ask.fm/OuroQM/answers/142076893568
So there's a rough guide I guess, for those who don't really peruse the ask.fm.

>Maybe just talk to Alex and arrange a meeting with him and his group at a later time. It is good enough that you know they exist.

You shake your head, tapping a finger against your helmet as you briefly consider your options.
“No, you were right to bring that up Alex. I don’t have the time to descend that far.”

“What’s wrong? You got something else to do today?”

“That’s exactly it. Furthermore one of my travelling companions was injured and has wound up in the possessive grasp of some ‘doctors’. My other companion is attempting to extricate him but I can’t stray too far lest they need my assistance.”

He looks a little disappointed, slumping back up against the wall.
“What about after that?”

“After the three of us meet up once more we will have important business to attend to. I’m sorry Alex, it was good to meet you but any alliance between us will have to wait until at least tomorrow. I don’t suppose there is a way I can stay in touch with you or your group? I would like to continue this later on.”

Alex fidgets, looking uncomfortable about something.
“Here’s good. This time tomorrow?”

“Perhaps. I will endeavour to be here but depending on this next task, I may be busy or otherwise unable to come.”

“I can be here tomorrow too. And the day after that.”

“Now that’s more like it!”
You pause for a moment.
“What’s wrong Alex? You look uncertain about something.”
You’ve already been scanning your surroundings in response to his discomfort but you can’t find anything of note.

Alex sighs.
“Yeah, there’s one other thing. I tried to talk ‘bout it earlier but you just made assumptions and I wasn’t sure what to say or do about it. But I don’t want to be no liar to you either.”

“Is it something urgent? Does it relate to the redcloaks or myself?”

“Not really.”

“Then I fail to see why it should discomfort you so.”

“It’s not anything wrong, it just feels fucking weird to do it but it’d be worse to just let you keep on thinking what you’re thinking. Uh…”
They look at a loss at how to present this for a moment.
“You know my name? What do you think it’s short for?”

“Alexander, I presume.”

“Almost. It’s Alexandra.”

But that’s a girl’s name!
And then you stop yourself for a second and take a second look at the dirty ruffian standing before you. At their uncommonly slim build, their clean-shaven face, what they’d said to you earlier…
You brain grinds to a halt for a very short moment.
“So...you’re a girl.”

“Wasn’t it obvious?”

“No, not really! That’s on you for wearing such unsuitable clothing!”
You’re not sure why but something about this shakes you just a little. The idea that you could look at a woman and think them a man and treat them as such is a little disconcerting for reasons you can’t quite place.
1/2

>>1327882
And now that you know about it, you can’t help but think of how low-cut her tunic is, a collar you had considered fine for a man now seeming quite scandalous and filthy in your eyes. It goes inches down from the neck!

“Is something wrong? I thought I should probably say something before you left.”

You had come seeking the redcloaked faithful in search of a more familiar setting, of people and ideas like that of the old times. Considering your companions and your location it had been a pervasive urge. And for a short time Alex had been exactly that.
But now...they’re just one more strange face in a strange land. One more strange and foreign thing to remind you just how far you are from home.


>”Nothing is wrong. I am leaving now. I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow.” Leave swifly.

>”Nothing’s wrong. I just hope you’re not part of the priesthood.”

>Accuse her of feminine wiles.

>Berate her for her choice of clothing.

>Ignore this development, continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

>Other

>>1327885
>Just a reminder how far from home I am child. This monster of a city is very, very ,very different from the lands I traveled to get here. I appreciate the honesty.
>Ignore this development, continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

>>1327885
>Ignore this development, continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.
>Make a mental note to look for any apostasy or heresy in the local cult doctrines. Their impression of Lamplighters might differ from ours in other ways too.

>>1327885
>>Ignore this development, continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

>>1327885
>>Berate her for her choice of clothing.
>Make a mental note to look for any apostasy or heresy in the local cult doctrines. Their impression of Lamplighters might differ from ours in other ways too.

>>1327885
>>Accuse her of feminine wiles.
lol

>>1327885
>Just a reminder how far from home I am child. This monster of a city is very, very ,very different from the lands I traveled to get here. I appreciate the honesty.
>Unfortunately, there are more pressing matters at hand

>>1327885
>Just a reminder how far from home I am child. This monster of a city is very, very ,very different from the lands I traveled to get here. I appreciate the honesty.
>Ignore this development, continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

>Ignore this development, continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

You blink, pulling your gaze back to yourself as you rein in your surprise. Just what do you think you’re doing? You don’t have the time to be wasting on gawking at a revelation as simple and pointless as this one. Yes, it’s a little disconcerting, particularly when you had been counting on your visit to the redcloaks reviving a little familiarity in an unfamiliar world. But if this sort of conduct is the oddest thing you see today, you’ll be in luck. There’s so much else about this city that is worse than the habits of its women.
And besides, this doesn’t make what she told you earlier a lie, does it? You still agree with her reasoning thus far.

You just shake your head in response to her question.
“Just a reminder how far I am from home. This city is very, very different from all the lands I travelled through to get here and it’s taking me some time to adjust. I appreciate the honesty.”

“Not much honesty involved, I just heard you call me ‘brother’ and I figured you’d gotten me wrong. Didn’t want you to leave with me having lied to you in some way.”

“Oh,I understand.”
That said, you’ll have to be careful with the redcloaks. This is just a reminder that they might be struck through with all kinds of apostasy that you’d typically find unbelievable. You’ll have to try to not hold it against them.
You walk back down the corridor, Alex tagging behind you as you slowly make your way back to the stairwell.

“So you’re definitely from the outside then?”

“I suppose there’s no point in trying to hide it.”

“I’ve always heard that there’s basically nothing outside. Just a bunch of barbarians and savages.”

“I imagine that’s how this city sees it, yes. But they’re wrong. What lies outside is civilisation of a kind and people just as human as you or I. It is for their sake that I am here because your city would doom the rest of the world to fall just so that it can shine.”

Alex’s pace falters.
“...How bad is it?”

“Very. You keep your house locked tight and your hearth warm even as you ignore the screams of the people being torn apart upon your doorstep.”

“I never thought about what it might be like out there.”
She sounds troubled. She should be.

“Count your blessings that you had the freedom to be ignorant of it. But that is why I am here, do you understand? I am not here solely to save the likes of you or the other low-people of Dis, though I will do my best if I can. I am here because every peaceful minute this city enjoys comes at the price of my people’s suffering. The people who rule up high bought this city’s freedom with lives that were not theirs to give. Do you understand?”
Your stop yourself from saying anything further, all too aware of how tight your tone had become.

1/2

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>>1328274
“It’s not my fault,” Alex says a little sullenly. “We din’t have nothing to do with it.”

“But you can help me bring it to an end. Your people and mine both deserve better.”
You reach the stairwell, still mostly empty.
“Can I trust you, Alex?”

“Anytime! I’ll be waiting here tomorrow and the day after that, same time for each day. You better be able to put your money where your mouth is, old man.”

You bid them goodbye and begin the long slow climb back up towards your floor. As you might expect, it’s significantly harder on you than the descent but while you might slow down at spots you never stop. You’ve already spent enough time.

Abe and Beatrice are waiting for you outside the central hall that houses the work-home, the two of them sitting by the stairwell itself.

Abraham stands as you approach, the picture of perfect health. The stone around his side is gone and he has a bottle of that strange Tonic stuff in hand.
“Orion! I heard you were worried about me.”

You pat him across the shoulder as you reach the landing.
“Good to see they were unfounded. How are you feeling?”

“Fine. Better than fine really. Feel stronger than before.”

“Good to hear it. I’m not going to waste anytime on small talk here Abe, we’re about to depart on what might be our most dangerous outing yet. Are you ready?”

“Aye!”

“Me too,” you hear Beatrice say, her voice thin and raspy.

You step past Abe to look at her and shake your head in dismay. She looks exactly as you last saw her this morning, which is to say an utter mess.
“Beatrice! How went the rescue attempt?”

“Easy,” she grumbles, making it sound anything but. “I’ll tell you about it after this. That’s not about this. Listen Orion, I know you said you wanted me to stay behind. But I’ve been doing some talking and- and this Viridian Consortium sounds like some serious shit. The two of you need me.”

“You look like you can barely stand.”

“Don’t need to stand to shoot.”

Abe just shrugs.
“She’s been like this all day, as far as I can tell. I’ve been trying to convince her to stay behind.”

It doesn't look like she's been taking that very well.


>"You know he's right, Beatrice. You're still recovering from yesterday."

>"I don't like it anymore than you do Abe but we might need her help. She's coming."

>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."

>Other

>>1328281
>"Tell me more about what you've learned, Beatrice. I need the full information to decide."

>>1328281
>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."
inb4 we make a shoulder harness for her to ride on our back and shoot

>>1328281
>"You know he's right, Beatrice. You're still recovering from yesterday."

>>1328281
>>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."

>>1328281

>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."

>-Roll The Bones-
Orion may roll two or more dice at any time and can compare the results, tracking the 1s to find the direction of Dis and Snake-Eyes itself. The dice must be rolled upon the earth.

Does this mean that we can hunt the Witch-Inspector's boss? Will she be looking back at us if we do so?

>>1328281
>>"I don't like it anymore than you do Abe but we might need her help. She's coming."

>"You know he's right, Beatrice. You're still recovering from yesterday."

>>1328358
>>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."

Napalm falsefire! Whatever the hell her transmutation shit is and she's a hell of a good shot

>>1328349
>implying Orion can hunt what he doesn't know exists

>>1328378
He knows that something is watching through the dice, and he knows that the dice will point him in their direction.

>“Fate? The sun is dead, the solar calendar broken. The Prophecy of Ages no longer applies. Time and fate no longer apply.”
>Beatrice makes a rude noise with her mouth, apparently secure in her belief that you won’t leave the hut to strike her. “Yeah but all that stuff is just order that the Sun forced upon the earth. The earth has its own fate and it ain’t nice.”

>“Tamed earth still works and is safer besides. You do this too often and you risk getting attention from those who lurk below. Same reason I’m only using two dice instead of three. Three would be best, that’s the good number. Here.”

>“You have two brothers Orion. Brothers in sunlight not in blood. They carry what you carry and for the same purpose. And seven sinners who await you at the end of the world. It-It all leads there. Roll again!”

>“The dice have been watching back! Orion, I don’t know what awaits you but beware! Something with its claws upon the fate of the world knows of you, has seen you. They were waiting for you! And now they’ve seen me too!”

>You sit down in the very center of the rails and start rolling upon the little clump of earth, rotating just a little around with each roll until you find the direction where the dice show nothing but ones. That’s it. That’s the rail you need to take. That’s the rail that leads to the end of the world.

Vote will close in an hour and writing will resume.

>>1328281
>>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."
>Even someone resolute in mind and spirit can fail if their flesh is weak.

Really don't think we should bring her with. She's at -2 at least.

Apologies for delay, just been feeling very drowsy and tired.

S'fiiiiiiiiine.

>>1328281
>>1329505
>Nor would we want to push her beyond the limits of her body. While it is admirable to see such dedication to our cause, she needn’t ruin her health to prove it to us.

>>1328291
It would also be pretty useful to get some in the event we have to evacuate any wounded too.

>>1329593
I thought she's always at -2 unless she starts snorting gunpowder though? Would the battle be a good time for her to start taking fantasy drugs?

>>1330153
Would you like to a taste of some gunpowder?

>>1330224
>I thought she's always at -2 unless she starts snorting gunpowder though? Would the battle be a good time for her to start taking fantasy drugs?
Can't she be at 0 after a rest?

>>1330255
>>Beatrice works along a dice modifier scale that is constantly being applied to all her physical actions save those related to shooting. This scale runs from -6 to +6 and has been seen in previous Collective Effort rolls. Taking gunpowder normally alters her modifier by +2, a bonus that will eventually flip and reverse to a -2 penalty. Snorting gunpowder does the same but by a +4. If left alone Beatrice tends to stabilize at a -2, her default state of feeling like absolute shit. The lower the modifier the worse she feels and if she ever hits -6 she falls unconscious and possibly dies in her sleep. The modifier going into the positive is also unpleasant, prompting brief fits of hyperactivity and strained heart activity. The higher the modifier goes into the positive, the quicker it will decay and flip into a penalty. Beatrice gains 2 charges every time her modifier changes by 1 in either direction. These charges can be used for a number of shitty techniques that make her feel bad and also shooting her gun which makes her feel good.


Guess not. -2 it is.

>>1328408
He know Something is watching him, not who or what or even if it's realistically near him, he'll for all he knows it could be one of the dead earth gods

>>1331228
It could be one of the dead earth gods... If they lived in Dis. Since there are no gods who live in Dis, and the bones lead him to Dis, he could simply continue to follow the bones.

>>1332280
but why though? we litreally have bigger more important tasks to do

>>1332280
>>1332503
Besides, I'm not sure if these old bones of ours can handle another journey to meeting the conspiracy leaders. Nor are we sure the snek-eyes won't be spying on us from the start.

>>1332503
Not sure I get the question. We came to Dis to find pieces of the sun. We know that something powerful is in Dis. We know that the bones lead us in that direction. It's our biggest lead after Viridian.

>>1332503
>>1332596
And since Bea thinks we're not strong enough to go after Viridian, we could just try to go after the next target instead.

>>1332948
I was thinking we meet up with the rest of the redcloaks around Dis, figure out all people of interest, and then make a conspiracy board to decide our next move.

>>1332966
Which would be the smart thing. Unfortunately, Orion is not being smart, he seems to want to storm the gates. Don't know how we're going to manage it without burning our soul with the Lamppost.

Things that bother me:

1. We're not strong enough for this.
2. We have no disguises, and we're going to have the entire city after our ass.
3. We don't have a particularly secure home base.
4. Snake-Eyes has her eyes on Bea. Bea might lead her to Orion.
5. Golem witch.

Things I like:
1. We do have an 'ally.' Someone let us into Dis.
2. Orbital Bombardment, it's the only way to be sure.
3. Fire Gang.
4. Bea's understanding of the tainted fire.

>>1332971
>Unfortunately, Orion is not being smart, he seems to want to storm the gates.
>>1332984
>2. Orbital Bombardment, it's the only way to be sure.
Would Orion call an Exterminatus on Dis and the rest of the wastes if he could?

>>1333020
>Would Orion call an Exterminatus on Dis and the rest of the wastes if he could?
Don't think so, he wants to find the Sun Shards. But if we ever really want overkill, we have the option. Do you remember how large the craters were?

>>1332984
>Snake-Eyes has her eyes on Bea
Meta info
>We do have an 'ally.' Someone let us into Dis.
Again meta info, Dis could have rebuilt the bridge for all Orion knows

>We know that something powerful is in Dis. We know that the bones lead us in that direction. It's our biggest lead after Viridian.

No we know everything and everyone tha hated the sun and an earth free humanity threw its chips in with Dis and has done all it can to break the sun and those who follow it

>>1333035
>>Snake-Eyes has her eyes on Bea
>Meta info
No it's not, are you under the impression that the Witch Inspector travels everywhere with a bowl of gunpowder? Bea knows and told Orion.

>>We do have an 'ally.' Someone let us into Dis.
>Again meta info, Dis could have rebuilt the bridge for all Orion knows
Yes, I know that this is meta-info. Orion is not going to make use of this. I'm simply stating that I'm happy with it.

>No we know everything and everyone that hated the sun and an earth free humanity threw its chips in with Dis and has done all it can to break the sun and those who follow it
I don't think so. Aren't the Earth Gods, yanno, sealed under all the concrete? Everywhere?

For some reason, Orion decided that throwing the bones leads him to Dis. Might as well ask him how he figured that out.

From my PoV, he found a plot thread and tries to follow it to its source. Seriously, what are you arguing? There is something incredibly powerful at the end of the knucklebones trail, in Dis, would you have thought that being would have nothing to do with the Sun Shards? Why would Orion think that?

Anyway. The star crash created a crater a hundred feet wide, we were able to put it back into the sky with about thirty Wick.

>And from that, you suddenly know all you need to. You can digest it, it transforms into power. This is flesh of the Primordial Flame. But it gives you next to nothing. It is tainted and weak. Orion was right, this was genuine flame once but something dark has been done to it. No wonder your blood called to it, it’s the same as you. Light held in thrall by something pathetic and dark. You’ve know what you are for some time but this might be the first time it’s ever been so objectively confirmed.
>You are the pale flame.
I wonder what the metaphysical implications of this are for Beatrice. We had thought that her Wick was snuffed out, is it possible that it's relightable? If the green fire was not 'held in thrall,' would it return to being real fire?

i wonder what our brilliant Bea thinks about this, after some thought.

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>"We'll have to bring her but you're right, she's not combat ready. One of us will have to protect her."

“I’m afraid I agree with Beatrice on this one, Abe. But on the other hand, you’re right as well. She isn’t combat ready. One of us will have to protect her.”

Abe nods but he doesn’t look happy about it.
“She told me about what happened to her yesterday. I really don’t think it’s safe for her.”

“It won’t be safe for any of us.”

“Hey!”
Beatrice interrupts, glaring up at you both from beneath the brim of her newfound cap.
“Don’t I get a say in any of this?”

“You do and you have but it must be weighed against that of the rest of us,” you tell her. “We can take you with us but we’ll have to be careful with you until you recover. This is serious work, Beatrice.”

“Fine,” she groans. “When we are we going?”

“I’m beginning to have doubts,” Abe says. “If Beatrice is still injured then maybe we shouldn’t go at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said, Orion. I did some talking while I was in the Workshop and they told me a little about this place. This Viridian Consortium? Their headquarters is a single massive tower made from steel and concrete and it’s so heavy that people say it’s been slowly sinking into the ground for years. And they reckon that all the firecrafting gets done all the way down at the bottom, beneath the ground. I’m starting to have some reservations about just trying to storm it.”

You notice that he only voiced said reservations when you confirmed that Beatrice would be part of the assault and thus involved with the danger. That better not cloud his judgement in the future.
“Are you suggesting that we let this be? We need to gather up the flame while we still can and if we would hesitate or falter we will be lost!”

“I’m not saying that we shouldn’t do this,” Abe continues. “But maybe in a few days? After we have some more time to plan or explore. Or we could try to sneak in or...or something? These people are rich, Orion, I’d bet anything that their tower is crawling with guards and God-knows-what.”

“But the longer we wait, the more they’ll know of us! There are agents already tracking our footsteps, we all know this. If we do not seize the initiative they will find us before we can accomplish anything!”

“I just don’t think this is wise.”

“Being kind of a pussy, Abe,” Beatrice chimes in with her usual charm.

Still, you can’t ignore his words entirely. What should you do?


1/2

>>1333431
>No change in plans. You will locate the most appropriate point to storm the building and you will immediately do so. And you’ll do it today before they can catch up to you.

>Maybe a more subtle and deceptive approach can be taken but you’ll still be doing it now. You can’t afford to wait.

>You must admit he has a point. You can spare a few more days to grow more acquainted with this city and your targets, can’t you?

>”Odd that you would not bring this issue up until Beatrice was confirmed to be joining us. Do you really value her life more than your own?"

>Other

Ouro, will rolling the bones automatically make Snake-Eyes aware of us?

>>1333443
Provided you continue the witch-lore rite until you find the direction that rolls the most double 1s, yes.

>>1333433
Subtle and deceptive

>>1333433
>Maybe a more subtle and deceptive approach can be taken but you’ll still be doing it now. You can’t afford to wait.

>>1333446
What does Orion think is the source of the double ones? Could it be a god, or is it limited to being a witch?

Has Beatrice had any more insights about the green flame?

Guys, I'm having trouble thinking of a better idea than StarCalling onto the building, then going into the wreckage. I think Orion would rationalize the human cost, and he's repaired a star once already.

>>1330273
Beatrice's fairly constant use has degraded her 'normal' level from 0 to -2. Theoretically if she went a long time without using powder at all she would slowly drift back up to -1 and then 0 as her default state.

>>1333473
As far as Orion knows, it is some power that has grasped hold of the strings of fate within the earth. He doubts it is a god as they are all dead.

Beatrice has not. The confirmation that despite all her gathered flame, she is still as inherently dark and tainted as the world insists she is was a displeasing one so she'd rather not draw any more similarities between the green fire and herself.

>>1333473
I'm pretty sure the fortune teller said it's an earth god, but they're in constant communication with either witches in general or a specific witch so the difference is negligible

>>1333433
>>Maybe a more subtle and deceptive approach can be taken but you’ll still be doing it now. You can’t afford to wait.

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>>1333433
>Call a star onto Viridian Tower.
>Try to minimize casualties, but this is a war for the future of the world.

>>1333433
>Maybe a more subtle and deceptive approach can be taken but you’ll still be doing it now. You can’t afford to wait.

>>1333433
>No change in plans. You will locate the most appropriate point to storm the building and you will immediately do so. And you’ll do it today before they can catch up to you.
do it now, and cripple their infrastructure. We don't need to go back "home" if we meet up with Alex right afterwards.

>Maybe a more subtle and deceptive approach can be taken but you’ll still be doing it now. You can’t afford to wait.

“I will not call it off,” you tell him. “We have to make our first real move today. But what you say isn’t entirely without merit either, it may be best if we came out with a more deceptive approach to get inside the tower.”

“Like a disguise?,” Abe says. “That could work but how would we pull it off? You and Beatrice are both going to stand out in a crowd no matter what you do.”

“Orion, master of disguise,” Beatrice says acerbically. “I can just picture it now. You two know there’s more to a disguise than just putting on a different outfit, right? There’s a whole fucking web of shit you have to have to back it up! Name, personality, history, motivation...the last one’s the important one. What kind of story or credentials are you going to have to show them to get through the front door?”

“That’s just one way,” Abe replies. “We could try to sneak in perhaps, find a way inside or bribe someone-”

“Bribe someone with what? All our money?”
Beatrice laughs, a short bark that sounds like it tears up her throat a little.

“We can pose as someone they may be expecting,” you tell her. “Or as someone of enough presumed importance that they must at least humour us. We don’t have to convince them, we only need to get far enough inside.”

“Which relies on us having a lot of information that we don’t,” Beatrice snaps. “No, I’d much rather go in guns blazing. Fuck ‘em.”

“If you can’t contribute then be silent!”
You speak a little louder than you meant to and Beatrice stops talking immediately, taking a small step back until she’s out of your arm’s reach.
“What if our disguise was no disguise at all? We pretend to be some sort of malcontent, an enemy. Something that might force the guards to take us down and bring us into the building.”

“Or hand us over to someone else,” Abe warns.

“Mmmrfph,” Beatrice says before finally resolving to open her mouth again. “I mean, there’s one other way if you really insist on me contributing to this dumbfuck conversation. You want to pose as someone with influence or power? I know someone with that kind of stuff and I know he might be willing to do something for us if it means getting what he wants.”

You think back to yesterday.
“The Inspector? That’s insane.”

She looks a little wan.
“Maybe so. Trust me, I don’t intend on giving him what he wants. But he and his mistress want something from us and we might be able to string them along for a while. Get them to help us with this?”
She sounds less and less certain with every passing word.

1/2

>>1333611

>Plan some disguises. You'll pose as someone important.

>You’ll have to find a way to sneak inside without anyone noticing.

>Stir up trouble to see if you can be dragged inside and questioned on the premises. You’ll break out and work your way from there.

>Negotiate with the Inspector.

>What if you just introduced yourself truthfully at the front door and asked to see the boss?

>Other

Or we could set the building on fire.

>>1333616
Start trouble elsewhere to get the guards to come out then while they are away make our way in.

>>1333616
>What if you just introduced yourself truthfully at the front door and asked to see the boss?

>>1333616
We could see if that gang has any connections that could help us get inside

>>1333632
This is the best option so far, since all the others are various 'Walk into the lion's maw and hope for the narrative to keep us alive,' sort of ideas.

I'm still in favor of some sort of distraction then flattening them. Set a fire, wait for everyone to go home, smoke them out, then hit them with a star. Anything else just plain leaves us too vulnerable.

>>1333666
One would think that if they had connections they wouldn't be seen as vermin. Still a better option than walking right in.

>>1333632
This might work

Why don't we relight the nearest lamp with the shard to drive away most of the resistance within the tower? They'd be left with human guards and maybe the big baddie.

>>1333714
Plus we could get the gang to distract the populace and the authorities in the area around the lamp so we can more easily relight it without interference

>>1333714
Changing to this this this. Start lighting lampposts, it'll drive out people, make a scene.

(Then maybe we can do an orbital strike.)

>>1333724
Yeah I was thinking it'd be easier to slip inside during all the confusion, I'm not too keen on the orbital strike idea personally

>>1333727
Yeah, that's the more mainstream opinion. If you want to not be as cool as me.

Seriously, though, I've got a snag. These lampposts might not work the same way as the Artifact Lampposts did. They ought to do something, since the green fire does light up the area, but it likely won't have as much an effect on creatures of the dark as we'd like it to.

>>1333734
I think it's more that the green flame is diluted to the point where it barely even provides light, Orion never noticed anything different about the lampposts themselves as far as I know

>>1333743
At the very least, they'll consider it 'A Dangerous Substance' that needs to be put out and/or reported.

>>1333632
>Start trouble elsewhere to get the guards to come out then while they are away make our way in.

I concur.

Dropping a star is a decent idea too, but I think we should save it for a little. This is only one of seven shards after all, and if we pull this off the remaining six are going to focus their attention on us. It could be really useful in the future if we're in a pinch.

>>1333898
Also, if the tower has sunk into the earth I wonder if we could connive some way to have the old earth powers attack or damage it somehow.

>>1333898
The only problem with that plan is that the security guarding that shard would never leave to investigate something outside of the tower, that's up to law enforcement. The only way to drive anyone out of there would be lighting the lamp post.

>>1333714
>>1333720
I like this plan here actually

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>Start trouble elsewhere to get the guards to come out then while they are away make our way in.

“No Beatrice,” you say, shaking your head. “I appreciate the offer but I won’t be having you sell your soul just yet.”

“I’m not selling my fucking soul! It’s a mortgage at most.”

“Nonetheless, I won’t have you hurt yourself further with the dark’s involvement after yesterday. Not when we can do something else instead.”

“What else is there to do?” she asks. “All your plans just seem to involve waltzing in under a different variety of pretenses and hoping things go well. What if they don’t? Will you just fight your way through the whole building? I’d be down for that.”

“What if we draw them away?” Abe suggests. “Do something that’ll clear out the tower a little bit?”

“That’d be a good idea if we had the means,” Beatrice replies. “But we don’t so it’s not.”

You look up.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. We have a few tricks that I doubt anyone in Dis would be able to ignore.”

“What the fuck happened to laying low?”

You can choose multiple options:


>Setting some part of the tower on fire, a big one, would probably do wonders to scare people out.

>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.

>Call down a star nearby or even upon the top of the Consortium tower itself. There is no judgement more divine.

>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.

>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…

>Have Beatrice and Abe circle around the surrounding areas taking potshots at the people in the tower.

>The top of the tower is likely connected to the sky-rails or at least close by, considering how rich and connected they are. If you could just lure down a behemoth from the upper rails it’d cause all sorts of havoc.

>Other

>>1334015
Shell their defenses, send in the shock troops and anti-infantry, then let the men clean up.

>Call down a star nearby or even upon the top of the Consortium tower itself. There is no judgement more divine.

>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.

>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.

>>1334015
>>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…

>>1334015
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…
I don't think we should go full shock and awe just yet

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I've been dozing off in little fits and starts so I think I'll be hitting the hay. Vote will remain open for a few hours until I wake up.

>>1334015
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…
While an orbital strike would be fuckin rad I don't really want the collateral damage and bad PR that would bring

>>1334015
>>1334111
>>1334139
3rded.
>>1334070
Let's not play our trump card just yet. We might escalate our enemies to bringing out their superweapons too and it might not work so well the second time.

>>1334015
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…

I'd encourage NOT lighting the tower itself on fire, as it could bring in more people to try to suppress it and end up making our job even harder.

>>1334015
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…

>>1334015
>>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…
Lightupthenight.jpg

>>1334185
>>1334347
>>1334425
Any reason you don't want the redcloak gang to help us out?

>>1334459
I don't feel too strongly about it, I just thought it might be best to save them for later. Destroying the consortium might encourage them to rise up and join us as well.

>>1334459
Want to keep them off tge radar for our getaway

>>1334459
>>1334466
>>1334488
That makes sense, although having a getaway would still be a part of
>>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.
We could modify it to:
>>1334139
>>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to provide us with escape options to make a clean getaway.

>>1334493
So I was thinking that lighting the lampposts will take a while and leave us sort of vulnerable to any guards or police, which is why I wanted the gang to keep them all busy in that area. But yeah securing the escape would be good too, I don't see why they couldn't do both

>>1334015
>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.
Then
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.

>>1334139
Supporting

Anarchist bombings are a go!

>>1334658
Should we start wearing Guy Fawkes masks too?

>>1334662
Unironically yes

Gunpowder plots are rad

>>1334015
>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…

What I want is to frame the redcloaks for everything. I don't think they would mind, and they are the only ones who could plausibly deal with true fire except us, so it could mask our involvement at least a little.

Lighting the tower on fire is the reserve plan. Orion is immune to fire, so he can act with impunity, but that would attract a lot of attention over time so it better as an exfiltration option.

>>1334015
I have to ask though, how distinctive a huge guy in full armor and a curtain is in Dis?
Maybe we should skip the armor for this operation.
Or leave it on but stop going everywhere else wearing it.

>>1334874
Yes, we should wear our red cloak for this operation.

Alright, I'm awake. Calling the vote for:
>Enlist Alex’s little temple-gang to help perform a little of their traditional work.
>Light the nearby lamp-posts and let true radiance shine upon that little patch of Dis once more. That’ll hopefully attract attention if you do it enough and may drive out any nasty inhuman surprises.
>It’d be a shame if the Consortium workshop’s latest shipment was filled with real flame instead of the imitation…

>>1334870
if we frame the redcloaks it will deny their aiding us in later ventures, better any forces that could array against us think we work alone and the redcloaks merely opportunistic anarchists

>>1334874
I'm expecting heavy resistance inside, it's probably worth having the armor for protection

>>1335557
No, we have no need for armor when we have our FAITH to protect us!
The Wheel God protects!

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>>1334015
>Ouro has Bea/orion artwork

oh my

CFS stuff:
Hey Ouro, I asked my mom what advice she'd give someone coming down with CFS. She has experience, having dealt 15 years with Psoriatic Arthritis, of which CFS was a symptom.

1. It's a learning curve. It will be hard to learn to navigate, budget allocation of energy, learn your limits, and abide by them but it's doable.

2. Get out of the 'Boom-or-bust' cycle. That's when you have a good day, so you strive to do everything you couldn't do on the previous bad days and then collapse. Don't overdo it, it's not worth it.

3. Exercise every day, and do your exercise first thing in the morning. It's okay if you have to nap afterwards. If you don't do it first, you won't have the energy left to exercise, and exercise is necessary so that you're able to do more in the future. It makes your energy banks bigger. Don't give up when you can't exercise much, she had days when her exercise was walking to the next house over and back. Slow and steady is much much better than overdoing it and then collapsing for the rest of the next two days.

4. SSRIs and Tai Chi are the only two things that have been clinically proven to help with CFS. She went for hyperbaric chamber treatment and it kicked her up a notch, she has the brain scans to prove it, but the clinical trials are not finished yet.

5. Her rheumatologist tells her that there's no such thing as CFS, it's all the early stages of an undiagnosed autoimmune disease. This is good news, because once a diagnosis is found, things get much better.

Apologies for the lack of updates, I meant to do some today before I went to game day but I ended up lying in bed all morning. Updates tomorrow.

>>1335692
I don't choose what gets fanart and what doesn't m8.

>>1336379
These are very helpful (and one very worrying) tips! Thank you

>>1337604
It's not meant to be worrying. There are many different types of AIDs, and each person reacts differently, even to the same type. Impact is very variable.

Again, when a diagnosis is found, things get much better.

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As said on twitter, been focusing as best I can on life stuff right now and have been feeling drained when it comes to doing updates. It's weird but I feel like work was actually giving me more energy somehow, without it I feel like it's all I can do to manage myself and keep my shit clean before I'm fucking exhausted.

So I'll just archive this thread now and I'll start a new one when I feel like I've got some more in me, alright? Sorry. Thanks for showing up anyway.

>>1347887
Keep well man.

>>1347887
get well and see a doctor

>>1347887
Good luck Ouro

>>1347887
Remember to exercise!