>>2697102
its hilarious how fucking bad I am at setting these damned threads up

>>2697102
>anyway, continuing from the previous thread, also with a fucked up title because I hate my life.

Henry went upstairs, half dragging Larry after him. The bar quickly back to its usual atmosphere of people getting drunk off their asses, or getting ready to get into trouble. The groups of interest, the man with the fancy specs, and the mercs, didn’t even pay either of them any heed. Everyone always had their own problems, suited Henry just fine.


The upper floor was segmented into a variety of rooms, each containing various ‘vips.’ Henry already knew where he’d find Jimmy, he’d just have to figure out how to best approach the man. Jimmy was a skittish fuck at times, and if he’d gotten himself drunk he might even be worse. But he’d LOVE to see that man shit himself from him barging in, so it was actually a tough decision.


“So whats the plan boss?” Larry asked. “This guy really that important?”


“Well if we want to have a place to stay, and a place to hold that woman, then yeah, he will be.”


“The heck do you even know him for? Bit of shady business this is.”


“Thought you wouldn’t care.” Henry said.


“I don’t, not really, just saying is all.” Larry said. “I don’t normally get involved in all this cloak and dagger stuff, I guess you figured that out downstairs.”


“Well shit.” Henry said. “I figured you hadn’t noticed.”


“I can act stupid, but I ain’t stupid.” Larry said. “Alright?”


“Yeah, sorry.” Henry said.’

File: 727361243.png (417 KB, 796x448)

417 KB PNG

>>2697105

>>2697111
Henry went open the doorknob and stopped himself. He could just barge in, sure, but even if Jimmy knew him it’d be fairly rude to just enter uninvited. As Henry went to knock he could hear talking and faint giggling coming from inside the room. He figured it was Jimmy with some arm candy or something similar.

“Who the fuck?” Jimmy said, his voice muffled through the door.

“It’s Henry Fisher, I wanted to speak with you.” Henry said.

“Come in then, fucks sake.”

Henry opened the door and was greeted by Jimmy and a couple of women draped across his arms. The man was in his mid-thirties, still boasting a full head of hair and a large ‘appetite’ for certain pleasures. There was also a guard in the room as well, one of Henry’s creations to be precise. The thing would obey its owners orders without question and without hesitation. But Henry had made the damned things, and he’d built failsafe’s into them. He could grab control in a heartbeat if need be.

The guard wore full plate, and a long cloak which completely obscured its visage. The thing was a modified corpse, Henry could perfectly remember the blueprints for it. Selling soldiers that couldn’t die so from superficial wounds had been a good market. Jimmy had always been a good buyer, and was a good contact to have. Henry really couldn’t afford this meeting to go too badly.

“So you couldn’t wait till morning?” Jimmy asked. “Fucks sake I didn’t think you’d be traveling around, don’t you normally stay locked up in the capital?”

“Bit of a special occasion.” Henry said.

“Oh do tell.” Jimmy said. The two women that he’d been with stood up and both exited the room. Henry took a seat across from the man, and Larry tried to get a good look at the guard, but eventually settled into an awkward seat next to Henry.

“Who’s the newbie?” Jimmy asked.

“Names Larry… mister?”

“Forgive the kid, giving him a bit of a trial run.” Henry said. “Larry, this is the part where you shut up and listen.” Henry said, quietly.

Larry scowled but remained quiet. This was a delicate conversation, and a delicate operation.

Decisions:
1. “I have some… goods I need stored. I came to you for help with that.”
2. “I need your help.”
3. “I’m trying to hunt down the monster right now.”
4. “You were a pain in the ass to track down you know.”
5. “I heard you had some goods stolen from you.”
6. Write in
7. *cast a spell*

>>2697117
>6. Write in
I need some assistance.
I have some associates that need a place to stay for a bit, while we hint down tho construct that seems to be running amuck. While there is a bounty on it, I'm sure that if it came to be missing a few pieces before the church got there, they wouldn't mind so much as long as it's been defeated.
Forgot to hit enter.

>>2697326
>2697326
waiting on votes

>>2697326
Make it worth his while. Tell him that we know that it's one-of-a-kind and potentially lucrative and revolutionary if it can be contained.

>>2697485
>>2697326
Writing

>>2697117
“I need some assistance with a certain matter.” Henry said. “One in which we could both benefit.”

“You have my attention.” Jimmy said, casually leaning back on the sofa he sat on. “It never ceases to amaze me how many schemes and plans you come up with.”

“Thank you.” Henry said. “I am working to apprehend the monster that the church has been after, however, as I learn more about it, well. The thing could be revolutionary, and very profitable to capture alive.”

“That… thing, seems to be more trouble than its worth. I know those cult of progress folks want it, or at least they seem to, plus the church is up in arms over it.”

“Can you hear me out?” Henry said. “I can try to track down the parts it stole, that woman back at that inn your run-“

“My daughter.”

“Your daughter informed me you had a break in. The monster was sighted tonight robbing from a barge containing a large amount of mechanical supplies, seem familiar? I don’t think anything else could’ve pulled off a robbery on you, not even a team of vampires. I made those guards exceptionally well.”

“Right, if that’s the case I’d want that fucker dead. Nobody robs from me.”

“It might not even be sentient…and it’d be a massive waste of potential…”

“English.” Jimmy said.

“It might not even be aware of what it’s doing. However, if we capture it alive well, I might be able to make more of them.”

“Why would I want more of those things running around?”

“An army of undying soldiers that can go toe to toe with an angel and keep swinging?” Henry said. “Sure, yeah, I suppose that isn’t’ a good idea.”

“Fair point, yeah.” Jimmy said. “Hell I could probably find TONS of buyers for something like that, assuming you can make it so they don’t rampage all over the fuckin place.”

“Those guards I made you have been perfectly behaved haven’t they?”

“Fair.” Jimmy said. “How could you work on it, you don’t generally work with metal.”

“It seems to be animated in a similar way to a corpse. If I can figure out how it was done, and how the body was constructed…”

“Then you wouldn’t even need the thing.” Jimmy said.

“It’d be far easier for me if I actually had the thing contained. I could study it as it functioned.”

“Above my head.” Jimmy said. “Look, what do you need from me. That’s the important part in all this.”

Decisions:
1. “I’d like something up front to cover expenses.”
2. “Just a place to stay for the moment, and a holding cell I can use.”
3. “A place to stay and a holding cell, I’ve captured the things creator.”
4. “Nothing, I just want to keep you aware that I might need to move the damned thing quickly. Church will know the second it’s down I suspect.”
5. WRITE IN

>>2697548
>3. “A place to stay and a holding cell, I’ve captured the things creator.”
And possible information on certain places.
The clock tower, and any locations up or down the river where one could store items of questionable value. It has been entering town from the docks, and it storing the stolen items under water would just damage them. So it must have a base somewhere near the river.

>>2697571
waiting on votes

>>2697571
I also want to know what he knows about Ophelia,

>>2697680
>>2697571
writing

>I'm mainly waiting to make sure I'm not just doing what one guy wants, I know more people just lurk.

File: 1501995834376.png (489 KB, 900x900)

489 KB PNG

>>2697710
QM doesn't think I'm good enough.

>>2697548
“I need a place to stay and a holding cell, I’ve managed to capture the person responsible for making the damned thing, and I might need to eh, ‘entertain’ her.” Henry said. He glanced over at Larry as he said that, but the man’s expression didn’t change. Either Larry was perfectly fine with it, or he didn’t understand what Henry was talking about.

Torture had never really been Henry’s strong suit, but he’d picked up a couple of things over time. A bolt spell could be reapplied to other uses if you turned down how much mana you gave it. He really hoped that Ophelia would just talk after she realized how screwed she was if she didn’t cooperate. He wouldn’t enjoy this either way, but there was a LOT of money in this whole affair now.


“So was it Ophelia like all the church people are saying behind closed doors?” Jimmy asked.

“Yeah, speaking of, what do you know about her?”

“I know she’s smart, very smart. Its why the baron too such an interest in her. Otherwise she’d be with those cult of progress washouts.”

“Washouts?” Henry asked.

“They couldn’t make it in Avignon, why else would they be all the way up here?” Jimmy said

Henry didn’t think THAT was the reason for it. It smelled of something else.

“I know where the monster is hiding.” Henry said.

“Do you?” Jimmy replied. “Do tell.”

“The clock tower, at least that’s what Ophelia said to us before she clammed up.” Henry said. “Apparently it’s locked tight?”

“That’s a word for it, the church tried explosive spells today on the door, not a god damned scratch, but sooner or later they’ll break through, says I.”

“So that’s all you know about Ophelia?” Henry asked.

“Well, you didn’t hear this from me, but the Baron’s been… was acting strange before he died. I don’t really want to speak about it anymore than that.” Jimmy said.

“What?” Henry asked.

“Forget it, drop it, if you know what’s good for you.” Jimmy said, glancing out a window.

Decisions:
1. “Do you know where I could find blueprints of the sewer system of Grutzberg? I have a hunch.”
2. “Larry, get the others sent back to the inn, tell Johnny its game on, he’ll know what I mean. Tell him the party hasn’t started yet though.”
3. “So are we together on this Jimmy?”
4. “Any other pressing issues?”
5. Write in

>>2697786
>1. “Do you know where I could find blueprints of the sewer system of Grutzberg? I have a hunch.”

>>2697799
still waiting on votes

>>2697548
What? Did you just do all that in front of Larry? Or was he out of the room ( it had better be out of the room).

>>2697548
>“It seems to be animated in a similar way to a corpse. If I can figure out how it was done, and how the body was constructed…”

Mindwipe quick on Larry.

>>2698234
will write in the morning.

>didn't realize the implications as I wrote this, but you're right.

>>2697786
>1. “Do you know where I could find blueprints of the sewer system of Grutzberg? I have a hunch.”
>Mindwipe larry

>2. “Larry, get the others sent back to the inn, tell Johnny its game on, he’ll know what I mean. Tell him the party hasn’t started yet though.”

>>2697786
Oh
That's right.
Larry isn't in the "know".
>>2698475
Do that.

>>2698234
>>2698475
>>2697799
will write in in a bit.

>>2697786
“Do you know where I could find blueprints of the sewer system of Grutzberg?” Henry asked. “I’ve got a hunch?”

“Wouldn’t town hall have that sorta thing?” Jimmy said. “Aren’t you being hired by them for fucks sake?”

“Yes, they probably do, but then they’d be given a hint as to where the damned thing was. I don’t think the church is too happy about getting outside help. They find out it’s in the clocktower, they’ll probably go after it immediately.” Henry said.

“So they don’t have a clue?”

“They’d have brought the damned tower down if they did.” Henry said. “Right now they’re just trying to break inside since the chiming is driving people nuts.” Henry said. “Speaking of which, why haven’t you been affected?”

“Been drunk off my ass every time the thing’s gone off.” Jimmy said. “In reality, after all the shit I’ve had to deal with in my life, this little screecher isn’t jack shit.”

Henry glanced at Larry, whose eyes were darting around the room. The man looked nervous as all hell. Oh fuck he’d heard everything. Henry sighed before getting his memory scattered warmed up. The conversation had lasted less than ten minutes, give or take, and he’d already been in Larry’s head once, when he’d first gotten used to the spell. So it’d just be keeping him still.

“Larry.” Henry started. “I need you to focus here.”

“Yeah…” Larry said. “I don’t think I should be here bothering you too, I want to go and-“

Larry was cut off a moment later by the spell successfully hitting him. Henry dug around in the man’s mind for the short term memory of the conversation, and easily plucked it out of him. Larry’s eyes went dull before lucidity returned.

“Henry, what the fuck?” Larry said. “What… where?”

“You there, I think someone slipped something into your drink.” Henry said, doing his best to seem relieved.”

Jimmy raised an eyebrow but said nothing else, the man must’ve teased the situation out, and knew it was… delicate. The guard had gone to draw its weapon but since there was no further hostility it went back to it’s at ease position.

>>2700411

“Look, get the others sent back to the inn, the one from before. Tell Johnny its game on, but the party hasn’t started yet. He’ll know what I mean.”

“I… I don’t remember…fine.” Larry said, clutching at his head and getting up. “I need to be more careful, thanks Henry for looking out for me, and mister?”

“Jimmy.”

“Thanks.”

After Larry had left, Jimmy cleared his throat.

“So they don’t even know the full fucking picture do they, how trustworthy are they? Who are these idiots you’ve gotten together this time Henry? Will we have to do cleanup after this mess is settled?” Jimmy said, his eyes growing fierce. The man was not nearly so jolly anymore.

Decisions:
1. “A healer, and that moron.”
2. “A Healer, my apprentice, and that moron.”
3. “I have full faith in the team I’ve assembled.
4. “There are some… complications, yes. But I will pull this off, we’ll be fucking rich.”
5. “I’ve never let you down before.”
6. Write in

>>2700415
>1. “A healer, and that moron.”
>3. “I have full faith in the team I’ve assembled.
"Yes, there are complications, but we can pull this off. You have a couple of Progress cultists - Spectacles and the hulk and their mercenaries at your place. Make a deal with them for Ophelia. It's worth it to her because the church and the Duchess think she'd be a good tree decoration. "

We keep Charles and Johnny in the back pocket. Jimmy is only so trust worthy.

>>2700577
I don't think it'd be safe to let him know that we have a healer with us.
>>2700415
>4. “There are some… complications, yes. But I will pull this off, we’ll be fucking rich.”
5. “I’ve never let you down before.”

need a tiebreaker vote here, otherwise I'll be flipping a coin.

>>2700415
>3. “I have full faith in the team I’ve assembled.

>>2700415
“I have full faith in the team I’ve assembled.” Henry said.

“You’re handling of that muscle there didn’t impress me too much, Henry. You realize that your neck is on the line here. That monster is no joke. A team of idiots and newbies will get slaughtered here.”

“Look, there have been a few complications, but I know my guys can pull this off.” Henry said. “Just trust me here, I’ve never let you down before. I just need you to prepare a container for the damned thing. One of the big ones. We’ll have to move the thing fast once we have it.”

“I can get that done Henry.” Jimmy said. “But I’m not lending any support to this stupid project. If it works, then I’m a happy man, if it doesn’t I don’t lose anything. Also, that fucker better be more docile than a kitten. T”

“Fair, fair.” Henry said, waving him away. “But it WILL work.”

“Of course.” Jimmy said. “just don’t die would ya, hard enough to find a skilled necromancer who isn’t completely insane.”

“Aw, so you do care.” Henry said.

“One other word of warning. Apparently some church big wig is coming to port in two days’ time. Don’t know who he or she is exactly, but the local church officials have been abuzz with it.” Jimmy said.

“Is it a Seer?” Henry asked.

“I don’t think it’s that high up the chain.” Jimmy replied. “Might be some inquisitor. Kinda odd that there haven’t been any since this whole thing started.”

“Yeah…” Henry replied. He had a pretty good idea of what had happened to those unfortunates.

Decisions:
1. “One last thing, I have the creator in custody.”
2. *leave without saying anything else*
3. “Before I leave, have any orders you’ll need me to fill when I get back to the capital?”
4. (Write in)

>>2703478
night

>>2703478
3. “Before I leave, have any orders you’ll need me to fill when I get back to the capital?”

Good night op, sleep well

>>2703804
waiting for any last minute votes

>>2703804
Sounds good.

>>2703478
“Before I head out, anything you need me to do?” Henry asked.

“Well, I’m going to need three more standard guards. I lost them during the ‘robbery.’”

“Fucks sake, it took three of them out?” Henry said. “Yeah, I should be able to get that sent out within a month or so.”

“Send them individually.”

“More risky, you willing to pay for that?”

“I need them yesterday, so yes.” Jimmy said, ending the conversation. “Just don’t die during this whole thing.”

“Oh how sweet of you.” Henry said.

Henry worked out further details with Jimmy, and thanked him before leaving the room, heading back downstairs into the main bar. The place had really cleared out. Spectacles and the giant of a man had left, the scarred hands mercs were still there, though they had started a second bottle of wine. The vampires had also left, to god knows where. Henry hoped Johnny had the good sense to avoid them.

As for the new work order that Jimmy had put in, it would be a good opportunity to teach Charles some of the basics of necromancy. Henry had been completely serious about putting the boy to work. Besides, necromancy was pretty much the only dark art that didn’t require sacrifices. Well, the death didn’t have to happen DURING the ritual, so it still counted, technically. He wondered how he’d justify it to Johnny, did he even need to?

The others were waiting where Henry had left them. The vampires thankfully hadn’t bothered them. What a shame, he would have loved if Johnny had slaughtered them. Johnny had notably gagged Ophelia now, and the woman was occasionally squirming in his grasp. Completely ineffectually however, Johnny was terrifyingly strong. Since Ophelia had no leverage to use her weight advantage, she was helpless.

“Henry can I have a moment?” Rosa said, bouncing off of the wall she’d been leaning on.

Decisions:
1. “No, because I want that woman there in a cell.”
2. “Let’s get to the inn, then we can discuss whatever you want to talk about further.”
3. “Fuck no, it’s waiting till tomorrow.”
4. “Do we have to?”
5. “Come on guys, we’re leaving”
6. Write in

>>2705010
>6. Write in
Sure

>>2705010
“Sure.” Henry said. He didn’t really want to risk blowing the woman off, especially during this critical juncture.


“We aren’t going to turn Ophelia in are we?” Rosa asked. “From what Larry told me, the plans changed? Why wouldn’t we turn her in to the church, obviously that’d be the best course of action!”


“Rosa it’s a bit more complicated than that.” Henry said, trying to ease the womans fears.


“I don’t know what you’re planning but going into that place, well, it can’t be anything good.” Rosa continued.

This could go bad fast, from Henry's experience, Rosa tended to be... inflexible.

Decisions:
1. “Just trust me, alright?” (roll for speech, 65 or higher)
2. “She’s just going to be hanged if we send her to the church.”
3. “The church hasn’t been able to do a god damned thing since we got here.”
4. “We need to hold onto her to increase our chances at getting the reward money.”
5. Write in

>>2705120
>5. Write in
She has information that we need to take down "ticky", and if we hand her over, we will never get it. You know how tight lipped the church is.

>>2705126
gonna wait a tiny bit longer on this, since I consider this an important little moment

Heading to sleep

>>2705120
>2. “She’s just going to be hanged if we send her to the church.”
>>2705126
yes.
" 1) She has info we need at this point. 2) Once we have got what we need, then we turn her over to authorities. We need every edge and bit of info we can get. Nevermind that the Church will just hang her which does no one any good."

>>2703804
This

>>2705508
I mean this>>2705270

>>2705519
>>2705270
writing

>>2705120
>Anonymous (ID: TLG6zoEE) 07/05/18(Thu)06:32:25 No.2705508▶>>2705519
>>>2703804
>This
“She’s just going to be hanged if we send her to the church Rosa.” Henry said.

“Well… yes?” Rosa said. “She’s obviously sinned by bringing that… abomination… into existence. It’s the right thing to do!”

Ophelia began to squirm around a lot more upon hearing that. Johnny whispered something into her ear and her eyes flashed with fear. But she stopped struggling.

“She has info that we need right now, like information on this thing, its weaknesses and what not. I also think there is more to this whole series of events we’re unaware of. Once we have everything we need, and every advantage we can get, then we can turn her over then.”

“I happen to agree, I feel it’d be better for our little group if we did so.” Johnny said. “If the church gets a hold of her, I fear more… subtle solutions will be lost to us. Say what you will about Henry, but he can often bring a softer touch than the average Cathar can. Considering the monster can’t be brought down through the conventional means we have available, his approach should save time and hopefully lives.”

“The church won’t share anything it learns, from what I understand, and you would know too had you paid attention. They don’t seem too happy about having to ask for help like this. I also think that the inquisitorial team might have been… delayed?”

“Delayed? Well, I suppose so, a team of inquisitors would have solved this mess far faster that our sorry lot.”

“I think we’ve done pretty good.” Larry said. “I mean, I know I’ve done a great job!”

“I don’t think that’s helping.” Charles said. “Can we stop fighting, we’re not getting anything done.”

“Fine.” Rosa said.

“Sides, just hanging her doesn’t do anyone any good.”

“What does that mean?” Rosa asked. “You aren’t seriously considering… SPARING her are you?”

Ophelia looked at Henry and nodded her head rapidly. Henry smiled inwardly. How nice it was to be shown some fuckin respect.

Decisions:
1. “We’re not going to spare her.”
2. “We’re not going to spare her.” (lie)
3. “She’s obviously talented, why not put her to better use?”
4. “Yes, because hanging her is the best way for her to seek redemption.”
5. “Bloodthirsty aren’t you?”
6. “Shut up Rosa.” (speech roll, 55 or higher)
7. Write in

>>2706882
>4. “Yes, because hanging her is the best way for her to seek redemption.”
>Make a sad face and look off into the distance.

gonna wait on votes till later tonight

>>2706882
“Yes, because hanging her is the best way for her to seek redemption.” Henry said. Before making a saddened face and looking down an empty road.

“Some people aren’t worth the trouble.” Rosa replied. “People like her, who circumvent what’s good and proper and create things that shouldn’t exist! Would you argue to spare that horrid thing she’s created as well? As if it was a person with a soul?!”

“Anyone can find redemption, Rosa.” Johnny said, looking directly at her. “From what I understand, her creation hasn’t killed anyone as of yet, mainly caused destruction of various buildings and property. Far worse criminals have been spared and even found redemption.”

“That… that may be the case… but do you think her sort of behavior should be encouraged?! We don’t want more experiments occurring, and certainly not tacitly supported by the church.”

Decisions:
1. “So you think you should hang someone for simply going against ruling doctrine?”
2. “So hang anyone who disobeys even slightly?”
3. “There’s more to this isn’t there?” (roll 50 or higher)
4. “We need her alive for the moment, we can continue this line of argument later.”
5. Write in

>>2709089
>2. “So hang anyone who disobeys even slightly?”
Look even sadder.
>Sometimes children misbehaves, that shouldn't mean they should be whipped.
Walk away, while muttering under breath in a low tone, but where Rosa can still hear.
>Or tortured.

>>2709089
“So hang anyone who disobeys even slightly?” Henry asked. “Some heroes you are.”

“That’s… I never said that!” Rosa said, acting indignant. “Stop twisting my words.”


“Sometimes children misbehave, that doesn’t mean they should just be whipped.” Henry said.

“What are you going on about?! This woman, she isn’t a child! Just because she acts like one… a child couldn’t create such a monstrosity, and then DEFEND her actions!”

Henry turned and began to walk away, over Rosa’s protests.

“Or tortured.” Henry finished, under his breath. He winced slightly at it, bad memories getting brought up.

He wondered if he would have to torture Ophelia. He certainly could get her to talk, in fact he was VERY skilled at it, not as good as some of the cabals finest, but far better than most. The head priest Jacobin had always said he’d had talent, as much as it pained him to admit, he was right.

Eventually the others began to follow with him, first Johnny, then Charles and Larry, and finally, after much restraint. Rosa reluctantly followed as well.

“This isn’t over Henry.” She said. “We WILL continue our chat.”

“Sure.” Henry said. “Whatever you say.”

Decisions:
1. Head back to the ‘inn’
2. Head to another location (select location)
3. Write in
4. Continue to talk to rosa (write in)

>>2709213
>1. Head back to the ‘inn’

>>2709347
waiting on votes

>>2709213
>1. Head back to the ‘inn’

>>2709650
>>2709347
will begin writing in 10 min

>>2709213
As Henry and his posse of a healer, an idiot, a child, a skeleton, and a captive worked their way back through the city streets. The clock tower went off, signifying that midnight had indeed been reached. The ringing in Henry’s ears was only that, ringing. But for those affected by Tickys screeching, it was hell.

Luckily this end of the city was more sparsely populated and thus there weren’t any mobs forming. However the occasional denizen stumbled on thru. Henry wondered how much longer the city could keep things together, well, if ticky was going to explode in a day or two, it wouldn’t matter much. Still, he needed the damned thing alive… or well… in one piece. It wasn’t really ‘alive’ per say, at least in no way anyone would consider ‘alive’.

Eventually the group reached their destination. The nondescript building that made up the inn, and the much larger warehouse behind it, which contained Jimmy’s shipping materials and other things better left unsaid. His main business was shipping illegal goods into and out of the heartland. A large chunk of the things that ended up in black alley passed through here on their way to the capital for instance. Although there were all sorts of private clients that Jimmy serviced.

Henry had known the man for many years. But he didn’t exactly trust Jimmy, he just knew Jimmy wouldn’t fuck him over unless he had a reason to, and that it would SEVERELY fuck his reputation over if he did. At least that was Henry’s working theory anyways. Henry wanted to be done with this little investigation and back in his comfortable home in the capital, doing his normal routine. God damn it’d been just over a week and he was severely homesick.

>>2709904
He once again spoke with the insomniac daughter of Jimmy’s, who he still didn’t get the name of. She gave them three rooms and a ‘special’ room to keep Ophelia in. Which was basically a jail cell in the basement of the building, replete with special wards and seals to keep the curious out and to prevent anyone from trying to scry inside. He also made sure that the cell was deadened, meaning no magic could be practiced within it. Why Jimmy even HAD a cell like that was beyond Henry, and frankly he didn’t fucking need to know.

Without knowing where and what this place was, nobody would really bother them. Jimmy paid off the local commons officials for a reason. The main problem would be the church. Fuckers were always difficult to bribe.

Still, Jimmy’d been running this little operation for upwards of fifteen years from what Henry knew. So this place was far safer than a random inn. He just hoped he wouldn’t owe any favors after the dust settled.

Decisions: (pick ONE)
1. Speak to Ophelia and see how she likes her ‘room’
2. Talk to Jimmy’s daughter, see if any other guest might be a problem
3. Talk to Rosa, better get this whole thing solved now
4. Talk to Charles and Johnny, figure out the plan for the next day
5. Talk to Larry, see if he’s doing alright. Maybe figure out how… ‘morally flexible’ he is
6. Write in

>>2709938
>1. Speak to Ophelia and see how she likes her ‘room’
>2. Talk to Jimmy’s daughter, see if any other guest might be a problem
>4. Talk to Charles and Johnny, figure out the plan for the next day

calling it a night boys

>>2710011
writing

>>2709938
Henry worked his way down the old creaky wooden steps into the stone basement of Jimmy’s inn. The place was cramped, musty, and a bit cold. A perfect place to make someone uncomfortable before an interrogation. Henry thought about how he’d have to get himself in the condition to be able to conduct a “full session”, but he TRULY hoped it didn’t come to that. He HATED having to use his talents, at least THOSE talents.

The cells were mostly empty, a couple people filled a few of the others. Poor bastards, either being sold off to some mad mage or a vampire of some sort. If they were lucky they were being held here to be executed in style by some crime boss or what not. Either way none of them would still be here come next month. Henry usually didn’t give them much thought, was far easier that way, and Johnny had no clue what happened down here. Oh boy would THAT go well. Most of these people weren’t exactly of the pure sort. At least that’s what he tended to tell himself anyways. When he was younger he’d considered trying to free these poor fucks once or twice. But Jimmy had far too many connections to justify it, he remembered hating himself for it before he eventually stopped caring.

Ophelia was near the back scribbling into the dirt floor with a stick she’d somehow managed to purloin. Henry took a look at the writing. Normal letters, not runes or mage cant. So perfectly safe. The woman was deep in concentration, seemingly unbothered by her confinement. She didn’t even notice Henry’s approach.

Decisions:
1. Knock on the bars
2. Cast a weak bolt spell inside (no chance of death occurring)
3. “What the fuck are you up to?”
4. “How are you enjoying your room?”
5. “I’d get some sleep, otherwise tomorrow is going to be even worse for you.”
6. Write in

>>2712466
>Let out a rancid fart to grab her attention.
OR
>scream "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU UP TO?"
your choice.

>>2712787
gonna go with the scream.

>>2712466
Henry pondered exactly what he would do to get this woman’s attention. He could have simply announced his presence of course, though that wouldn’t have worked even if he’d tried to be as polite as possible. He could have zapped her, though that likely wouldn’t have left her in much of a speaking mood. He could have simply saved this till morning. But this woman had caused him a great deal of trouble, who cared if she also created an amazing business opportunity?

So, in lieu of more subtle options, and due to his own massive impatience, he decided to forego any sort of tact and simply yell at her.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU UP TO?” Henry screamed, causing Ophelia to jerk up. The movement of her hands resulted in the twig snapping in half and partially ruining whatever she’d been writing.

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO YELL, GOOD LORD.” Ophelia responded, covering her ears. “You prove to be more and more of a boarish oaf, I can’t believe I thought you had ANY intelligence whatsoever.”

A few of the lowlifes crawled to the edges of their cages to get a good look at the display. Some fancy pants woman talking with a slightly disheveled man wearing a red cloak and a pair of work boots.

“I asked what are you doing.”


“I WAS writing my will, now I don’t know. Considering you RUINED it.”

“You were writing your will, a document that would pass everything you owned onto whoever you may choose… on a dirt floor in a dungeon?”

“Do you have any better alternatives? You’re obviously going to just hand me over to the church so they can just hang me when this is all over.”

“I … what?”

“Don’t play dumb, that’s your plan isn’t it? Just a hunch, but I feel you’re the sort of person to do that kind of thing.”

“So were you trying to escape?”

“With what? I can’t use this twig to pick the lock, it was too short before and its CERTAINTLY too short now. These cuffs you slapped on me aren’t helping matters.”

Decisions:
1. “Who do you even have to write a will for?”
2. “how do I get into the clocktower?”
3. “Look, I’m not turning you over to the church.”
4. “I’m not turning you over to the church, you have my word.” (massive fucking lie)
5. Write in

>>2712858
>1. “Who do you even have to write a will for?”
>3. “Look, I’m not turning you over to the church.”
>2. “how do I get into the clocktower?”

>>2712906
calling it a night

>>2712965
G'night sweet prince

>>2712858
“Who do you even have to write a will for?” Henry asked. “You don’t really seem like the type to have a family.”

“What’s THAT supposed to mean?” Ophelia asked, clearly offended.

“You’re a woman wearing workmans clothes, covered in soot and who is known to invent crazy contraptions that cause grievous damage to life and property. It means I think you’re a crazy bitch, but that’s not answering my question.”

“I’m not going to tell you, don’t want to get them involved…”

“Family?” Henry asked. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t plan on getting anyone else involved by the way, I’m not that horrible of a person. Least I like to think I’m not.”

“Yet I’m in an actual dungeon.” Ophelia responded.

“I know a lot of horrible people.” Henry said. “I also CAN be a horrible person, depending on how you behave.”

“Speaking of which, I’m not turning you over to the church.”

“How can I know you aren’t lying?” Ophelia said.

Decisions:
1. “I want to get the design for that thing, improve it, and further distribute it. Can’t do that if its sole creator is hung.”
2. “Because I don’t like the fucking church, they butcher people who don’t deserve it. You don’t either, least I can tell.”
3. “You can’t.”
4. Write in

>>2714806
>1. “I want to get the design for that thing, improve it, and further distribute it. Can’t do that if its sole creator is hung.”
>2. “Because I don’t like the fucking church, they butcher people who don’t deserve it. You don’t either, least I can tell.”

>>2715489
This

>>2716420
>>2715489
writing

>>2714806
“I want to get the design for the thing, improve it, and further distribute it. I can’t really do that if its sole creator is hung.” Henry said.

He might as well start with the truth, even if it wasn’t the complete truth. If he could become the only one who had access to these things, then he’d be a VERY rich man, and a powerful one. It would come with quite a few risks, certainly. But the rewards were potentially vast.

“YOU WANT TO STEAL MY IDEAS!” Ophelia shouted, terrified. “I knew you’d come after me! Did the Hand send you? Did those cog worshiping bastards send you?! Are… are you the pointer?”


“Who?” Henry asked, playing dumb.

“The cult of progress! You… you’re not… then who?”

“I’m just some jackass who stumbled into this whole thing who realizes the value in it.” Henry said. “I think you should feel the same, considering you won’t have a noose around your neck.”

“I don’t think living as a SLAVE is much better.” Ophelia responded. “Sides, you could be some church lacky!”

“Ophelia, let me get one thing straight. I don’t like the fucking church. I think the fact we’re in this basement proves it, eh? They’ve butchered plenty of people who didn’t deserve it. You don’t deserve to be hung either, least I can tell. Unless you do and I’m the biggest idiot here.” Henry said, trying to make a joke.


“Har har.” Ophelia said, standing up and clutching at the bars. “Then if you’re oh so willing to work with me, why did your friend bonk me on my head. I could have died! Then all of those neat little plans would’ve been for naught. I’m not going to work for some moron!”

Decisions:
1. “Couldn’t have you run off now, this is a far better bargaining position.”
2. “Because making it look like you’ve been disposed of would be the best way to get you out of the city.”
3. “Because things were a bit different than they are now.”
4. “Look, you ain’t stupid. Neither am I, we’ll work far better together than apart. We could do a lot of great things together.” (speech, 45 or higher)
5. Write in

>>2717705
>"Lady, you've seemed to have forgotten that you gave up the hiding place for your pal Ticky to show me up."
3. “Because things were a bit different than they are now.”
>"And to be frank, the fact that you were rather cavalier with the situation and it's risks... It brings back bad memories."

>>2717759
I'll go with this.

>>2717759
Sounds good.

>>2718502
>>2717920
>>2717759
writing

>better late than never

>>2717705
“Lady, you’ve seemed to have forgotten that you gave up the hiding place for your pal Ticky to show me up.”

“Guh.” Ophelia replied before pacing around her cell agitated. “S-shut up, t-that was a … uh… tactical miscalculation, obviously!”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Y-you’re obviously not intellige-“

“Please stop embarrassing yourself, it HURTS. For the record, I am INCREDIBLY intelligent. I just have this lovely rough exterior, and right now, I’m being VERY polite.” Henry said. “Look, things are different now that I have a handle on this… uh, ‘situation.’ Tbe frank, the fact that you were rather… cavalier with this whole thing, and the risks that go along with it. It brings back bad memories.”

“For someone who doesn’t like the church you sound an awful lot like them.” Ophelia responded. “Don’t do this, don’t tamper with that. Life is sacred. Those sort of limits imposed simply hold us back. So what if my experiment isn’t behaving properly? I blame the conditions in which it was awakened. That was probably the culprit…. Anywho, if someone dies… well, that’s the price of progress. Once I find my way out of this mess…”

“You won’t but go on.” Henry said. Keeping a close eye on her hands, just in case.

“I’m going to get away and rub it in your face.” Ophelia said.

This woman, was like a child who had power she didn’t know how to control. A mad genius sort. But, she was incredibly naïve. Hilariously so, if he played this right, well, he could probably get her to talk without having to lay a finger on her. Hell, he’d probably be able to get her to cooperate, as long as he used the right carrot.


Decisions:
1. “If you try to escape I will kill you.” (threaten her)
2. “We could cooperate, I can help you distribute the thing, and we both share in the profits.”
3. “How do I get into the clocktower?”
4. “So how did the Baron die?”
5. “Who are you really?”
6. Write in

>>2719828
>5. “Who are you really?”
>2. “We could cooperate, I can help you distribute the thing, and we both share in the profits.”
>3. “How do I get into the clocktower?”

>>2719828
>3. “How do I get into the clocktower?”
>4. “So how did the Baron die?”
>I'm a lot nicer than the vampires. Events like this would definitely draw their attention.
Also
>What would a necromancer care for life?

>>2719828
>3. “How do I get into the clocktower?”
>4. “So how did the Baron die?”
>5. “Who are you really?”

>>2720174
Let’s not mention the fact that we work with vampires, and that we’re a necromancer, to the girl who we tricked into telling her secret laboratory’s location fairly quickly. She might just blab about it to people we don’t want it going out to.

>>2719958
>>2720174
>>2720523
writing

>>2719828
“How do I get into the clock tower?” Henry asked. Moving closer to the bars but still a good deal away from Ophelia’s grasp.

“I’ve already made that mistake once, I’m not stupid.” Ophelia said. “I want some assurances if I’m going to work any further with… ‘you’.”

“Oh, so it’s a mistake now?” Henry asked.

“S-shut up. Look, I have s-some demands.” Ophelia said, barely maintaining her composure.

“Such as?” Henry asked, this was a far better response than he’d been expecting. Henry wasn’t sure whether he thought her vain attempts at trying to grab control of the conversation were cute or pathetic.

“For starters, release me from this prison, and provide me with a place to work. Secondly, I want to know you won’t betray me.”

“How would I be able to do that, somehow I don’t think you will just ‘trust’ me.”

“I would poke around in your mind for a spell, find that you’re telling the truth or aren’t, and that’d be that.”

“Now you think I’m the stupid one.” Henry said. “I’m not letting you dig around in there.”

“I know enough about magic to avoid digging too deep, I just want to make sure you aren’t lying!” Ophelia said. “I suppose I am a tad curious…. But I won’t dig! Please!”

“Who are you really?” Henry asked, changing the subject for the time being.

“What do you mean, I’m a mechanic and a tinkerer. I do all sorts of work around the city for people.”

“I mean what’s your angle? You aren’t just some hapless damsel in distress. What stake do you have in all of this.”

“I just want to get as much information from ticky’s run before the failsafe kicks in, honest!” Ophelia said. “Is it THAT hard to believe I’m just a hapless genius once again wrapped up in things out of her control?”

“So how did the baron die?” Henry asked, once again changing his line of questioning. “That seems to be the key to all of this.”

>>2721777
Ophelia stared at Henry for a moment before pacing around the room. She seemed awfully upset about this line of questioning.

“I uh… it was an accident, I swear!” Ophelia said, panicked. “L-look, you wouldn’t believe me anyways, it’s too uh, c-crazy. I… I honestly don’t know if I just imagined it… I’m not going nutty I swear though!”

Ophelia began pacing around her cell while biting her fingernail, deep in concentration. She then crouched down and used the same finger to scratch something out on the ground. She occasionally muttered to herself. She seemed to be drawing up some sort of blueprints. She seemed to be humming a tune to herself all the while. Henry couldn’t quite make it out. The woman’s hands were slightly trembling as well.


Decisions:
1. *let her finish*
2. “Try me, I’ve seen a lot of shit over the years, and I’ll know if you’re lying.” (roll 55 or higher for speech)
3. “I’m willing to trust you.”
4. “I’m willing to trust you, but if you try anything funny your dead meat.”
5. “I know you were working for him, and that you were one of the last people who saw him. After he died this monster showed up, which makes you the prime suspect.” (use the evidence you’ve obtained)
6. Write in

>>2721779
>5. “I know you were working for him, and that you were one of the last people who saw him. After he died this monster showed up, which makes you the prime suspect.” (use the evidence you’ve obtained)
Letting anyone in our head is a pretty bad idea. I say we rile her up enough that she spills the beans on her own.

>>2721779
>5. “I know you were working for him, and that you were one of the last people who saw him. After he died this monster showed up, which makes you the prime suspect.” (use the evidence you’ve obtained)

>>2721779
>6. Write in
Was he, or anyone near him, a necromancer?

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>2723179
>>2722048
>>2722030
writing

>>2721779
“I know you were working for him, and that you were one of the last people who saw him. After he died the monster showed up, and attacked his estate. I know you made the thing. That makes you the prime suspect in all of this. So fess up, did you kill her or not?” Henry said.

He sure as shit wasn’t about to let her into his head, that would be all sorts of horrible. He had enough shit in there to deal with on.

Ophelia jerked up and scratched at her head for a moment. She seemed absolutely mortified. She curled up into a ball shivering for a moment, before looking up at Henry with tears in her eyes.

“NO NO NO NO NO NO NO, I LOST IT, I HAD A BRILLIANT IDEA AND ITS GONE NOW, YOU MORON!” She screamed, jumping up and trying to leap through the bars at Henry.

A soft thud followed as she jumped face first into the bars, and comically slid down to the ground, clutching at her face.

“Stop acting like a child.” Henry said.

“NO!” Ophelia responded. “YOU UTTER MONSTER, IT COULD’VE CHANGED THE WORLD, MY BRILLIANT IDE-“

Henry sighed before kicking the woman in the stomach. He made sure he didn’t use too much force. But it caused her to skid further into her cell. She grabbed at her belly and breathed heavily. She looked to be in a good deal of pain from it.

Good.

“I will do a lot worse if you do not cooperate. No more outbursts, no more acting like a god damned child.” Henry said. “Do you fucking understand me.”

“Y-yes…” Ophelia said. The woman was shaken now. The location and the reality of the situation had begun to dawn on her. About fucking time, this whole shit show had really begun to drain on Henry’s patience..

Henry smiled despite himself, before the smile slipped back under a mask of indifference. He couldn’t slip back to old habits. As much his baser instincts screamed at him to harm this stupid piece of shit.

No, he was better than that.

“So, what happened with the baron?” Henry finally said. “I’m going to ignore that little, uh, outburst.”

“I… I uh.” Ophelia said. “L-let me start from the beginning, I guess.” She slowly backed away from the cell bars. Far out of reach of Henry’s foot.


====================================(End Of Chapter)===================================

File: ur203_chron.jpg (82 KB, 620x450)

82 KB JPG

>>2723285
Ophelia stretched and threw herself out of her bed. Her creation was almost complete! She’d spent so many late nights getting Ticky Tock into working order. Just a few more modifications and she’d be able to get it up and running. She’d designed so many wonderful things into it.

“Ticky!” She said, getting dressed and moving into her workshop. A well-kept warehouse containing a wide assortment of gadgets, and work areas. Ticky stood lifeless in a custom built rig meant to hold it. Her wonderful, amazing, revolutionary creation couldn’t quite stand on its own yet, but that technical glitch would be fixed soon. That and the fact it wasn’t even animated.

She’d scraped parts from a few different contacts in the rider’s guild. One of them, a smuggler, had supplied her with some more… illegal components. Necromantic materials and ritual books.

Of course she ABHORED rot and corpses. Things were filthy and disgusting to her. No no, she’d make something out of beautiful metal. Sure Ticky’s exterior was…. Rough, but later iterations could fix its lack of beauty.

She reviewed her plans for the day. She had a lot of work to do. First off finishing off Ticky’s weapons systems. Her creation had to defend itself after all, losing MONTHS of work to a silly Cathar would be a huge problem. Secondly she had to arrange a way to transport it quietly out of the city to that small parcel of land she’d purchased. It would make for an excellent testing ground. She also had a few other things she wanted to do. A few… personal touches to her lovely creation, it would be so PERFECT!

Of course there was also the work on the clocktower that loomed over the city’s center. She needed to get everything ready for Duke Oswald’s arrival. He was expecting the thing to be ready for whatever the hell he wanted it to do. Ophelia had gone over the plans he had provided. A crude mind manipulation spell built into the clocktower itself, it honestly wouldn’t do too much except cause some mild disorientation into those who heard the tower chime. The magic would only even last for the extent of the chiming as well. She had no idea why he’d want such a thing in such a place, but she really didn’t care too much. It wasn’t really her business. As long as he paid her and allowed her to continue her own research. Besides, she could just build a nullification rig to cancel any effects the thing would have on her.

She clutched at the prominent scar on her forehead before she had another flash of inspiration. She quickly got to work writing it down. A ghiest powered flamecaster. She had no idea how it worked yet… but it seemed like it would function perfectly.


Decisions: (pick one)
1. Work on Ticky
2. Work on the clocktower
3. Eat Breakfast
4. Clean yourself up
5. Work on the ghiest flamecaster
6. Other? (write in)

>>2723315
>5. Work on the ghiest flamecaster
....
I want this.

>>2723315
4. Clean yourself up
Let's at least get rid of all of the grease and dirt we've accumulated.

>>2723325
This

>>2723325
>>2723505
seems people want the new cool thing, so I'll be writing that tomorrow

>>2723315
Ophelia bounced up from her work station, giddy like a child opening up a new present. She HAD to work on this new idea. A ghiest flamecaster? She probably had all the required components, at least if the blueprints she’d drafted were correct.

Did she still have the mercurial ghiests though? She left her laboratory, passed through a couple of hallways, and went down to the basement. Inside a massive glass container held together with iron were several malevolent spirits. Luckily they couldn’t move through clear materials. Most ghiest callers of the more scientific sort used this fact to great advantage. Along the coast the church made use of such things as well, though mainly for catching and releasing troublesome ghiests, or destroying those who weren’t human. What a waste of potential!

She tapped on the glass a couple times then leapt back as a misty skull angrily pressed itself up against the glass. Oh these things would be potent fuel. The red and blue varieties of ghiests always were the most potent. Human ghiests were far less energetic, so she’d never bothered to catch any.

She ran back up to her materials room, rummaging through all sorts of spare parts for a few hours, getting everything together. She pulled out her tools, lovingly cared for and far cleaner than she was. She’d make magic happen, both literal and metaphorical.

Decisions:
1. Get lunch
2. GO FOR IT (roll 1d100, 3 tries allowed)
3. Have a nap
4. Write in

>>2726718
Lets clean ourselves up, have lunch and a power nap before doing the thing

>>2726793
Sure I'll go with this

>>2726793
Yes, a rested mind is a working mind.

>>2726793
>>2726860
>>2727922
writing

>>2726718
Ophelia grabbed her right hand with her left. She should at least get some food in her and some rest before embarking down a massive project like this. It wasn’t like this was an amazing piece of machinery or anything. No no… that could wait just a little bit longer she decided. Besides, she had all the time in the world right?

She took the time to shower using her ingenious heating rune rig and a pipe that led directly into the city’s water supply. Then ate some hastily prepared food while studying a few other devices she’d planed. One of which was a flying machine, or rather a pair of artificial wings constructed out of cloth, metal, and cogs. She’d been trying to get this design to work for a few years now, but there had always been complications. Flight was surprisingly difficult, even for a genius like her. Of course she could just learn a flight spell, but that’d be CHEATING. She needed to make it so anyone could use it. That was the whole point!

She sighed before crumpling up her latest blueprint and tossing it into the trash. It was almost as much of a waste of time as that mind control helmet she’d kicked around. She had dozens of other similarly flawed designs, or rather she couldn’t quite figure out how to get them properly working. Although what she had gotten working had always sold amazingly well. Even if she’d been too nervous to do the sales pitch herself.

She took the time after finishing her food for a small nap, which turned into a slightly longer one. She dreamt of her creation defending the city from an invasion of shadowy men, but she didn’t understand where the thought had come from. She awoke to a pounding headache centering around the scar on her forehead. Why was the blasted thing acting up AGAIN? Twice in a day was highly unusual.

Decisions: (pick one)
1. Try working on the ghiest flame caster (roll 1d100)
2. Work on the flying apparatus (roll 3 1d100)
3. Work on Ticky Tock’s failsafe further
4. Work on Ticky Tock’s weapon systems
5. Head over to the clocktower, you’re no longer in the mood to work
6. Write in

>>2728078
>5. Head over to the clocktower, you’re no longer in the mood to work

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>2728078
>1. Try working on the ghiest flame caster (roll 1d100)

>>2730842
well hot damn, that ain't a crit but thats damned close.

I'm gonna assume the other anon would want this.

>>2728078
Ophelia slapped her face a couple of times to snap herself out of her funk. She wasn’t about to let a little headache get in the way of an amazing invention. She journeyed back into her lab, swept a large load of papers and other junk onto the floor. She’d have time to pick it up later. She grabbed a large list of components, metal parts, etching acid, and other various bits and bobs, and got to work.

She sketched out the blueprints she’d drafted out to completion. The device would function, the main problem would be its power supply. It’d only have so much charge for the ghiests placed inside of it, and the glass canister containing the ghiests would be fragile. Stronger glass maybe? She didn’t know if such a material even existed, but it could be something for later.

The iron and small steel fittings would have to do, she didn’t have the time to grab enough steel to make the entire thing out of it. The device could… dramatically overheat if used incorrectly, at least that was her best guess. BUT it would fire a couple shots at least before being dangerous to the user.

Lastly were the ghiests themselves, she managed to use a few restriction runes on the contained mercurial ghiests to guide them into a glass container she’d had on hand. They let out silent screams and rammed angrily into the containers walls, but otherwise did nothing. They couldn’t shatter the glass unless she allowed them to, and why would she release a couple of angry ghiests into her lab, not only would she lose the damned things, they’d dissipate upon contacting sunlight, and she’d never be able to find them.

The device was a shoddy dangerous and clunky thing. The actual emitter was made out of slightly rusty iron parts and held together with steel screws and clamps. She’d had to make a backpack for the ghiest container, and it would be a massive target for anyone with more brainpower than a clam, but the firepower it would grant… she could make improvements later, she wanted to test the thing… just to make sure it was functional of course, not because she wanted to see something melt… that was just b-barbaric.

Decisions:
1. Test the device out (roll d100, 35 or higher for both)
2. Leave the device in your saferoom, for safekeeping
3. Head out to meet the baron, it’s almost nighttime already….
4. Write in

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>2731503
1. Test the device out (roll d100, 35 or higher for both)

Must test the thing...

Also you assumed right!

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>2731503
>1. Test the device out (roll d100, 35 or higher for both)

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>2731503
Rollin

>>2732552
Wew lad