>>2918761
>Painter of ruddy sunsets and golden fields

>>2918761
>>Painter of ruddy sunsets and golden fields

>>2918773
>>2918792

Welcome to the quest, and thank you for replying. I hope you won't mind but I'm going to give it a bit and allow for a few other responses before we lock in our choice. I just wanted to say thank you for your votes for Painter of ruddy sunsets and golden fields, and let you know I wasn't ignoring you if you don't hear back from me for a bit.

>>2918761
>>Keeper of the hall of overflowing cups
I swear, they were half full

>>2918795

>Mistress who breaths life into little deaths

and let you know I wasn't ignoring you if you don't hear back from me for a bit.

Calm your tits OP

>>2918761
Ok, why not give this a go.
>Write in
She was all of those things, and so many more. Only the once though, for the knew that she must discard each face after but one show. There was one face though that she would not wear, Her true face, it was said. It was that of...

>She who dances amidst the broken masks.

>>2918932
Supporting this because I've got a thing for dancing and masks.

>>2918932
As long as we don't become a spring court shitnugget I support. The mask thing has an Autumn or Winter appeal

>>2919212
Also, this keeper will be hard mode to elude since she can be anyone

You were taken by the Painter of ruddy sunsets and golden fields a lord of the Fae who creates his realm in Arcadia with a great brush, painting into existence a living artwork from the lives of those he takes as materials for his craft. The greatest joy of The Painter is to create idyllic scenes depicting agricultural life. Golden fields of grain and those that tend to them are his pleasure, and his realm is woven of a hodge podge of both medieval farms and contemporary fields, as he paints them into existence according to his fancy at the time.
Of course his realm must be obtained, and when space becomes spare and he has not room to paint new canvas must be acquired, and so he paints into existence as well great armies, and when the battles are over he dips his brush into the sanguine of the shed life blood and slathers it across the sky a memorial to the slain and a warning to those others among the gentry who would dare try to interfere with his pursuit of the art that pleases him.

Those mortals he claims as his own to continue his work he takes and renders down into paints, before reconstituting them as part of his great painting by dabbing and brushing them into existence again. Living breathing paintings stripped of their memories by the process The Painter uses to render them into suitable materials for his art. Only those who exhibit some quality that parallels that he wishes to paint are taken, you yourself were taken for

>Your intelligence and cunning
>Your size and strength
>Your clever hands
>Your good looks
>write in

>>2919212

I'm sorry to say I started typing when there was no clear majority and finished up before you post or I would have gone with the majority. My apologies.

>>2918838

Just trying to be polite, i'm sorry if I offended you. I'm afraid that I'm not familiar with the courtesies of this particular board, and I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't going to continue.

>>2919268
>Your clever hands

>>2919268

>Your clever hands

>>2919268
>Your size and strength

Buff fairy

>>2919268
>>Your clever hands

>>2919268
>>Your size and strength

clever hands+ strength = boxer kek

>>2919305
>>2919427
>>2919445
>>2919491
>>2919512

You yourself were taken for your clever hands you believe, and you're grateful that you at least were luckier than those painted into a field of grain or a tractor and were fortunate enough to be used to paint a living being when...

> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a masseuse, a comforting companion to help them relax and remove the weight from their shoulders with magic fingers after they set down their brush for the day to rest. Not only are your hands skilled, but your mind is sharp and your tongue golden as in the course of your duties your life often depended on calming your master after he'd had a particularly trying day.

> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a thief in the night, to sneak into unassailable strongholds and circumvent obstacles that could not be removed by brute force. You were his clever hands in the darkness that twisted open locks and silently lifted windowsills stealing information and fine goods, and sometimes even lives when your master demanded it.

> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a mechanist, an avid tinker with precise hands to maintain his armies war machines and the fanciful and intricate tools of agriculture he painted into being.Your mind is sharp and your hands clever, though your body is twisted and small from forcing yourself into the inner workings of the machines.

> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a farmer straight from the range wars. Strong as an ox some might look at you and think you slow based on your size. Those that do quickly learn their mistakes when they see your fast fists and lightning quick draw and realize your hands are nimble as well as large.

> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a monk. A gentle giant in a hillside temple overlooking peaceful fields, you were happy to watch the turn of the seasons while practicing your calligraphy and mastering your body through martial arts, until war came and forced you to take up arms against the invaders.

> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a swashbuckling gambler. With your strong arms and dexterous hands and wrists you can make a blade positively dance. You can of course also palm a dice or slide a card out of your sleeve with equal skill, making you quite good at turning a profit when the soldiers gamble or getting fair companionship by making a flower appear at the opportune moment.

>>2919746

and of course

>write in

>>2919746
>> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a thief in the night, to sneak into unassailable strongholds and circumvent obstacles that could not be removed by brute force. You were his clever hands in the darkness that twisted open locks and silently lifted windowsills stealing information and fine goods, and sometimes even lives when your master demanded it.

>>2919746
> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a monk. A gentle giant in a hillside temple overlooking peaceful fields, you were happy to watch the turn of the seasons while practicing your calligraphy and mastering your body through martial arts, until war came and forced you to take up arms against the invaders.

>>2919762
This

>>2919746
>The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a monk. A gentle giant in a hillside temple overlooking peaceful fields, you were happy to watch the turn of the seasons while practicing your calligraphy and mastering your body through martial arts, until war came and forced you to take up arms against the invaders.

>>2919746
> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a thief in the night, to sneak into unassailable strongholds and circumvent obstacles that could not be removed by brute force. You were his clever hands in the darkness that twisted open locks and silently lifted windowsills stealing information and fine goods, and sometimes even lives when your master demanded it.

>>2919746
>The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a monk. A gentle giant in a hillside temple overlooking peaceful fields, you were happy to watch the turn of the seasons while practicing your calligraphy and mastering your body through martial arts, until war came and forced you to take up arms against the invaders.

>>2919746
>The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a thief in the night, to sneak into unassailable strongholds and circumvent obstacles that could not be removed by brute force. You were his clever hands in the darkness that twisted open locks and silently lifted windowsills stealing information and fine goods, and sometimes even lives when your master demanded it.

I'm really torn about this, both seem very cool

>>2919746
>> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a monk. A gentle giant in a hillside temple overlooking peaceful fields, you were happy to watch the turn of the seasons while practicing your calligraphy and mastering your body through martial arts, until war came and forced you to take up arms against the invaders.

>>2919746
>> The Painter took you and coating his brush with your essence painted into being a swashbuckling gambler. With your strong arms and dexterous hands and wrists you can make a blade positively dance. You can of course also palm a dice or slide a card out of your sleeve with equal skill, making you quite good at turning a profit when the soldiers gamble or getting fair companionship by making a flower appear at the opportune moment.

>>2918761
I'd advise you to put in a name like my example, but do what you think best

>>2919762
>>2919794
>>2919797
>>2919809
>>2919839
>>2919866
>>2919877
>>2919993
>>2919998

Split right down the middle, so here's a few concepts for both for the final decision.

Passing a still pool of water you see your own reflection. In every line and curve you can see the stylized nature of how The painter made you, the unnatural angles of your body and the stroke of the brush. You look less a being and flesh and blood than a walking painting, but even still you can recognize your appearance as that of...

>A massive red skinned Oni in the white garb of a Yamabushi, though the bloodstains that die it red and the well worn segmented vambrace on your fore arms along with the wrappings that bind tight and guard your fists and feet show the warrior you have become rather than the monk that you were. You lost yourself in the war punishing the sinful invaders that stole your peace until it twisted your very nature and the blood stained your skin as you developed unnatural appetites. (Male Oni Kith Ogre)

>A faceless androgynous caricature of the human form cloaked in loose black clothing. Your master left you a blank slate and before each mission would paint you a new face and form to walk among his enemies, and then destroy your form and return you to a blank slate after you were successful to prepare you for your next assignment. (??? mirror skin Kith darkling)

>A great earthen Bodhisattva with eyes made of jewels and glowing gems embedded in their palms wrapped in saffron robes and carrying a jangling staff that has served as both a mark of office and a weapon. (Male Di-cang Ogre)

>A dark gentleman of the night wearing a black overcoat over a charcoal grey waistcoat, showing both sophistication and blending in with the darkness. You keep the wide brim of your top hat tipped low and the collar of you jacket pulled high to hide your face and your hands are gloved. (Male Lurker Darkling)

>Your curves are wrapped in the maroon robes of a Tibetan monk, over which you wear the color and bell of Fu dog, as you went for to defend the people you took upon yourself the mantle of a guardian of the temple and it changed you until you became a great Tibetan mastiff. It was only as you regained your humanity you began to regain more elements of a human form, but even still elements of the beast remain in your coarse mane and large canines. In your lupine eyes and your clawed hands. ( Female True friend Beast)

> Your skin is creamy and paler than moonlight and the smooth cascade of your hair is the purest ebony. Your dress is beautiful, yet you know under it are sturdy practical trousers. Your master made you beautiful, after all so many will trust a pretty face and it's easier to steal secrets from a castle when first invited in its gates. And then when night falls and the world grows quiet you'd slip free to take by skill what your master required. (Female Shadow soul Fairest)

>Write in

>>2920187

Whoops, third should be Di-cang Elemental. My bad.

>>2920187
>>A massive red skinned Oni in the white garb of a Yamabushi, though the bloodstains that die it red and the well worn segmented vambrace on your fore arms along with the wrappings that bind tight and guard your fists and feet show the warrior you have become rather than the monk that you were. You lost yourself in the war punishing the sinful invaders that stole your peace until it twisted your very nature and the blood stained your skin as you developed unnatural appetites. (Male Oni Kith Ogre)

>>2920187
>A massive red skinned Oni in the white garb of a Yamabushi, though the bloodstains that die it red and the well worn segmented vambrace on your fore arms along with the wrappings that bind tight and guard your fists and feet show the warrior you have become rather than the monk that you were. You lost yourself in the war punishing the sinful invaders that stole your peace until it twisted your very nature and the blood stained your skin as you developed unnatural appetites. (Male Oni Kith Ogre)

>>2920187
>A faceless androgynous caricature of the human form cloaked in loose black clothing. Your master left you a blank slate and before each mission would paint you a new face and form to walk among his enemies, and then destroy your form and return you to a blank slate after you were successful to prepare you for your next assignment. (??? mirror skin Kith darkling)

>>2920187
>>Your curves are wrapped in the maroon robes of a Tibetan monk, over which you wear the color and bell of Fu dog, as you went for to defend the people you took upon yourself the mantle of a guardian of the temple and it changed you until you became a great Tibetan mastiff. It was only as you regained your humanity you began to regain more elements of a human form, but even still elements of the beast remain in your coarse mane and large canines. In your lupine eyes and your clawed hands. ( Female True friend Beast)

>>2920187
>>A massive red skinned Oni in the white garb of a Yamabushi, though the bloodstains that die it red and the well worn segmented vambrace on your fore arms along with the wrappings that bind tight and guard your fists and feet show the warrior you have become rather than the monk that you were. You lost yourself in the war punishing the sinful invaders that stole your peace until it twisted your very nature and the blood stained your skin as you developed unnatural appetites. (Male Oni Kith Ogre)

>>2920187
>A faceless androgynous caricature of the human form cloaked in loose black clothing. Your master left you a blank slate and before each mission would paint you a new face and form to walk among his enemies, and then destroy your form and return you to a blank slate after you were successful to prepare you for your next assignment. (??? mirror skin Kith darkling)

> A faceless androgynous caricature of the human form cloaked in loose black clothing. Your master left you a blank slate and before each mission would paint you a new face and form to walk among his enemies, and then destroy your form and return you to a blank slate after you were successful to prepare you for your next assignment. (??? mirror skin Kith darkling)

>>2920187
Also: aren't Di-Cangs an Elemental kith, rather than an Ogre one? I know Dual Kith can be a thing, but...

>>2920441
Nevermind me, you already answered this. This is what I get for paying attention; mea culpa.

>>2920187
>A massive red skinned Oni in the white garb of a Yamabushi, though the bloodstains that die it red and the well worn segmented vambrace on your fore arms along with the wrappings that bind tight and guard your fists and feet show the warrior you have become rather than the monk that you were. You lost yourself in the war punishing the sinful invaders that stole your peace until it twisted your very nature and the blood stained your skin as you developed unnatural appetites. (Male Oni Kith Ogre)

>>2920446
I could change to the sneaky dude if we had a clear identity, I don't like that blank slate/androgynous thing

>>2920187
>A faceless androgynous caricature of the human form cloaked in loose black clothing. Your master left you a blank slate and before each mission would paint you a new face and form to walk among his enemies, and then destroy your form and return you to a blank slate after you were successful to prepare you for your next assignment. (??? mirror skin Kith darkling)

>>2920213
>>2920237
>>2920279
>>2920362
>>2920417
>>2920431
>>2920439
>>2920446

Passing the pool you see your reflection, that of a massive red skinned Oni painted in sharp brutal brush strokes, and some small part of you that last remaining sliver of the child that was can't help but cringe at the way you look.

It's a disconcerting thing to see your own reflection and think deep down something is wrong, to not feel comfortable in your own skin. It started after you'd left the temple. The less time you spent meditating and the further you became from the detached spirituality you had cultivated, the more tied to the war and through it the material world you became, the more that sense of wrongness grew.

You began to see things, memories, visions of a past life you'd thought at first.
In your a skirmish for a moment you thought your oponent replaced by a small child in white pads with colored circles indicating where to hit for points and for a second you thought yourself to be similarly garbed before reason returned. Later when you burned your hand you remembered the first time you had burned yourself as a child grabbing a sparkler.

Eventually as the visions continued and that sense of wrongness grew you realized it was not memories of a previous reincarnation, but your own memories from before you were taken. You remembered being rendered down into paint, the horrible mind shattering pain of it, and being repainted as you were.

You knew you did not belong here, that you must escape and be free, so you waited for your opportunity and then during a night raid slipped away in the confusion of battle to the mountains, thinking they would not think to look for you after the battle if they supposed you dead or captured. At least not for a while, long enough to escape you hoped.

For two days and three nights you have hiked through the mountains without food and only rarely stopping to drink, driven by instinct to keep moving to follow your feet to freedom, and they have lead you down a valley into a massive overgrown hedge, where branches blot out the sky and twisting paths branch off in all directions.

How then to tell your way?

>you hear and follow a faint strain of music
>you can smell roast meat, follow your nose
>you hear a woman weeping, you should help her, perhaps she can provide direction
>you hear tumbling dice, there must be someone gambling perhaps they can help you
>write in.

>>2920661
>>you hear a woman weeping, you should help her, perhaps she can provide direction

>>2920661
>>you hear a woman weeping, you should help her, perhaps she can provide direction

>>2920661
>you hear a woman weeping, you should help her, perhaps she can provide direction

>>2920703
>>2920788
>>2920924

You follow the sound of the woman's weeping, taking the left hand path and passing under a thorny arch to enter into a small clearing.

As you pass under the arch the first thing that registers is the sound of running water. On the far side of the clearing a running river passes from under a gap in the hedge on one side and away under a gap in the other.

Standing up to her knees in the shallows of the river is a woman in a white dress with dusky skin and long black hair, weeping as she turns back and forth casting her eyes upon the water.

As you step towards her and your feet crunch dry leaves on the ground she spins to look at you. Her face is splotchy and her eyes red from crying. As she sees you she cries out.

"Senior please you must help me, my children my niños, I have lost them in the river. Please senior save my children" she cries as she stumbles towards you though the water and trips, falling just shy of the shore. She kneels where she fell, propped up with her hands on dry land and her feet still in the water sobbing "my children, oh my beautiful niños"

Do you

>go to her and help her to her feet
>run to the edge of the river and look to see how fast if flows and if the passage under the hedge is clear
>call out to her asking for more information as you approach slowly
>say a prayer for the children who are surely dead, and prepare to try and comfort her in her grief
>write in.

>>2921068
>go to her and help her to her feet

>>2921068
>call out to her asking for more information as you approach slowly
>>say a prayer for the children who are surely dead, and prepare to try and comfort her in her grief

>>2921068

>run to the edge of the river and look to see how fast if flows and if the passage under the hedge is clear

>>2921068
>write in
Approach the woman and ask her how her children were lost while looking how fast the water flows.

If she makes her way out of the water, try and comfort her in her grief.

Do not let her pull us into the water.

>>2921068
>>call out to her asking for more information as you approach slowly

>>2921074
>>2921084
>>2921099
>>2921102
>>2921270

Approaching the woman cautiously you raise your voice and ask "How did you loose your children? How long have they been lost?"

As you listen for her reply you step closer and look at the river. At this distance you cannot tell how deep it goes, but watching the passage of a floating leaf on the water you are able to gauge how quickly it flows.

It runs swiftly, but in your quest to master your body following the Shugendo your meditations often involved feats of great physical exertion. You have practiced moving meditation through martial arts beneath the crushing blows of a mighty waterfall, and forded rivers while bearing mill stones. You are confident that if your feet could reach the bottom you could withstand the current of this river. It would have to be flowing much more violently to break your root and remove your feet from under you.

"They fell into the water and it swept them away" You hear her reply between sobs as you draw closer "I cannot swim. If I followed I would surely drown. Please senior, help me." she begs of you with her head hung low and her hair veiling her face.

You're much closer now, one step more and you'll be in front of her on the very edge of the river. Do you

>Take the last step kneel down beside the grieving woman to better speak with her
>Remain where you are and ask more questions while trying to gauge the depth of the water
>Pull her to her feet
>Promise her you will find her children and step into the river
>Write in.

>>2921869
>Promise her you will find her children and step into the river

Be bold

>>2921869
>Remain where you are and ask more questions while trying to gauge the depth of the water

>>2921869
>Remain where you are and ask more questions while trying to gauge the depth of the water

>>2921869
>Pull her to her feet
Water spirit trying to lure us to our death?

>>2921891
>>2921900
>>2921877
>>2921932
You come to a stop a few feet in front of her and pause to look at the River, attempting to view the bottom.

As you stop to look she screeches at you "why are you stopping? My children don't have time for you to wait"

Before you can even open your mouth to reply she begins to change, her body swells and grows transforming in the space of a breath before your eyes. No longer does she appear to be a living woman, you are confronted by the bloated visage of a drowned corpse.

It's skin is puffy and waterlogged and it's hair is tangled with moss, rancid water drips from between its rotted teeth and it's eyes are hollows where animals have eaten out the fleshy globes.

It lunges forward and grabs at you with clammy hands dragging you towards the water screaming "If you will not help my children then you will join them!"

Quick do you

>Lash out at the creature with your fists
>Grab it in turn and attempt to throw it clear of the river onto land
>Dig your feet in and hold your ground while you attempt to reason with it
>Allow it to pull you into the river, perhaps if you do not drown the water may lead somewhere
>write in

>>2921869
>Remain where you are and ask more questions while trying to gauge the depth of the water

Y'all don't recognize La Llorona when she's right next to you? We're about to get tossed in a river

>>2921954
>Grab it in turn and attempt to throw it clear of the river onto land

Judo flip

>>2921954
>>Dig your feet in and hold your ground while you attempt to reason with it
Time to go full spiritual enlightenment

>>2921954
>Dig your feet in and hold your ground while you attempt to reason with i

>>2921954
>Dig your feet in and hold your ground while you attempt to reason with it

>>2921962
>>2921971
>>2922013
>>2922139

As she grabs at your shoulders and tries to pull you into the water you spread your feet just past your shoulder width and bend your knees, lowering your center of gravity and planting your feet. Firmly refusing to be budged you grab her by the shoulders and plead with her.

"Spirit of the River I beg of you not to force my hand. I have no wish to harm you, for the Buddha teaches that to harm another living being is to harm oneself, and already I bear greater wounds than I can stand. My very skin is marked, so great is sin that rests upon my head that the blood I have shed stains not only my soul but my body as well. I beg of you do not make the weight I bear greater by forcing me to harm you, for I will not let you take my life and I will strike you down if I must, though it pains me to do it."

Your entreaties fall on deaf ears as she hisses and spits at you as she leans back and redoubles her efforts to pull you into the river "Selfish man, thinking only of himself just like every other man. None of you care for me or my sons, only yourselves!"

"No" You shout "I am not a stone, to be unmoved by your pain. I grieve with you for the loss of your children, but my death will not restore them, nor will it succor them in the afterlife. Release me mother spirit, and I will build a shrine for you and your children, and yearly will I burn incense and give offerings such that you may live in peace in the afterlife remembered and honored by the living. Release me mother spirit and I will preform the rites and rituals for the dead on behalf of you and your children!"

When you reply give me a roll of 1d100, we'll average out the next three rolls to determine the success of our attempts to reason with the creature and go from there. Or just average whatever we have if we don't have three within the next 10 minutes or so. Feel free to write in if you have something you'd like to add to the argument.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>2922212

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>2922212

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>2922212

>>2922278
>>2922270
>>2922267
Ouch

>>2922267
>>2922270
>>2922278

Welp, that's a 15

With your feet planted firmly and digging into the ground pull at you as it might the corpse is not able to move you, but you feel cool water begin to lap at your toes as the river swells and over flows its banks.

You watch the water level rise knowing it will soon cover your feet and that the unnatural swell of liquid might perhaps not stop there as the creature wails

"Lies, lies and meaningless words. How are you to lay out offerings for us on the Día de Muertos without our pictures?! Do you think me a fool?! I will drown you and your lying tongue!"

Do you

>Strike the spirit in the face with an open palm to disorientate it, before grabbing the back of its head to hold it in place and smashing it's skull with your elbow
>Shout out "Pictures I may not have, but give unto me your name and the names of your children and I will engrave them on stone tablets which fulfill the needs of ritual"
>Grab hold of the spirit and attempt to throw it onto dry ground.
>Write in

>>2922320

Oh, and a roll with your vote if you please. Thank you.

>>2922320
>>Shout out "Pictures I may not have, but give unto me your name and the names of your children and I will engrave them on stone tablets which fulfill the needs of ritual"

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>2922340

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>2922320
>>Shout out "Pictures I may not have, but give unto me your name and the names of your children and I will engrave them on stone tablets which fulfill the needs of ritual"

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>2922320
>Shout out "Pictures I may not have, but give unto me your name and the names of your children and I will engrave them on stone tablets which fulfill the needs of ritual"

>>2922340
>>2922359

hmmm 58. Alright

As the water begins to cover the tops of your feet you shout out to the spirit " Pictures I may not have, but give unto me your name and the names of your children and I will engrave them on stone tablets which fulfill the needs of ritual"

Your voice rings out through the clearing, and the waters cease to rise and the corpse looks at you, it's brow furrowing as it croaks " Tablets, what good are stone tablets? It's pictures that are needed, are you addled in the head to speak of Tablets? What desperate ploy is this?"

Seeing that the spirit is listening you breath deeply and then continue in a more calm tone "Hear me river spirit, for I swear to you in the name of Zaō Gongen that by name graven in tablet may a spirit be known to mortals and remembered, may he strike me down with his wrathful blade and horrible lightning should I lie. Such is the way of honoring the dead in the lands where I have lived, it is right and proper that such a tablet be made and an alter erected to honor and remember you. It is the highest service I can offer mother spirit, this thing I swear I will do if you will release me and send me on my way."

You hold your breath and watch. You can see the thing pause, and then the water begins to recede and it's flesh takes on a more healthy appearance and the bloating disappears. In moments your feet are no longer engulfed in the river, which has returned to it's banks, and the creature again appears to be a young mother in a white dress with red eyes from weeping.

She looks up at you and says "Swear it to me, swear by your freedom that you will create an alter for myself and my sons. That you will give offerings there on the day of the dead. Swear to me by your freedom, may you be hunted a year and a day and know not a moments peace during it should you break your troth, and I will release you and speed you safely on your way. Will you make this pact with me senior?"

>Yes
>No

>>2922414
>Yes
Can we offer to also help find pictures of her and her children as well?

>>2922414
>Yes

Be careful as to the wording though.
Make sure it is conditional on her giving us the names we need to do so properly for a start.

>>2922414
>other
Offer to do this for free for three years. After this, we expect payment. We are just a nice person, not someone willingly entering eternal slavery.

>>2923103
Agreed

>>2923103
+1

>>2922429
>>2922907
>>2923103
>>2923112
>>2923151


After pausing to carefully consider your wording and what you are willing to swear yourself to, you open your mouth and reply to her.

"If you will swear to release me unharmed and speed me safely on my way to a place where I will be able to gather the materials for the alter and the offering, and if you will provide me first the names of yourself and your children before I am expected to give my oath, then I will swear to you to build your alter and give offerings there and do remembrance for you and your children on the day of the dead for three years that you and your children need not be hungry ghosts" You say as you raise up three fingers on your left hand and wait for her response.

"What good is three years of sustenance if we are forgotten and left to hunger when it is done?" She retorts and out of the corner of your eye you see the waters of the river begin to become more agitated as her eyes narrow.

"Filial piety requires of a man that he observe his ancestors and do unto them as is right" You reply quickly "But you are not my ancestor mother spirit, and I will not give myself into servitude for the rest of my life. I have only just escaped from the power of one Kami, I will not now bind myself with the chains of another. "

"However" You continue as you see her eyes narrow further "I am not without empathy to your plight, and I know that without offerings when I stop to give them you must surely again become a hungry ghost. And so I will offer thus. During the three year period as I give offerings I will search for your pictures, and while so doing see if I might find any kin you might have that I may remind them of their duty to do unto you as is right. And if at the end of three years I am unable to find them we will meet on the day of the dead that we may discuss our arrangement and come to new terms for my continued observance of the alter for you and your children on the day of the dead. What say you mother spirit?"

She stares at you silently, considering you for a moment and then sighs "Very well, if that is your bargain I will agree to it. My name is María de los Ángeles Garcia, and my son's were Alejandro Roberto Garcia and Juan Manuel Garcia. If you will swear to me that you will engrave our names on stone tablets and build us an alter where for three years you will give offerings on the day of the dead, and that you will search for my living kin to remind them of their duty to us, then I swear by my power that I will release you unharmed and speed you safely on your way to a place where you will have the opportunity to fulfill your promise. May I be left powerless and frail before my enemies a year and a day should I lie or break my troth."

1/? Tbc

>>2923248

As she speaks you can feel her voice resonate, and the air becomes thick. You swear you can almost see the words leave her mouth as shimmering distortions and faint colors that fly through the air and wind around you both.

As she finishes speaking she looks at you expectantly, and straightening up you breath deeply and begin to speak your oath.

"And I swear that if you will release me unharmed and speed me safely on my way to a place where I can fulfill my promise, then I will engrave on stone tablets your name and the names of your sons and I will build for you an alter. And for three years on the day of the dead will I give offerings and do observance at it, and in that time I will search for your kin that I may remind them of their duty. This I swear on my freedom, may I be hunted a year and a day and know not a moments peace during it should I break my troth." You reply, giving your oath. As you speak you can feel your lips and tongue tingle, and there is a sense of power leaving you.

The woman raises her head and says "And so it is sworn, witnessed by the hedge and bound by the wyrd, and so mote it be." As the words are intoned you can feel the power in the air coil around you like a snake, and a heat penetrates your skin, wrapping itself around your bones and squeezing you tightly before dissipating.

"It is done then senior" The woman, Maria, says as she releases her hold on your arms. "Come, follow me into my river and I will send you on your way." She murmurs as she turns and steps out into the river.

Wary, but trusting to the binding power of the oath she has sworn to you, you follow her out into the river. You both walk out into it until she is about waist deep in the water and it comes up just past your knees and then she pats the water in front of her and bids you "Lay down senior, lay down on your back in the water. Close your eyes and let the water carry you away, and the river will bear you to a place where you may find others like you and live free."

Heeding her you begin to lower yourself into the water, but before you can lay down on your back and begin to float she stops you with a hand on your shoulder and says "But be warned, where you go they all have many faces. Faces they show to strangers, faces they show to enemies, faces they show to friends, and faces they show only to themselves in the mirror. I offer this warning freely, for I do not wish you to perish before you are able to fulfill your end of the bargain. Now go senior, and remember your oath"

And having spoken her piece she removes her hand and allows you to lay down pull your feet up and be carried away by river.

2/? Tbc

>>2923264

You float on your back along the river for some time. The dimness of dappled light that breaks through the gaps of the twisting thorny canopy of the Hedge is soft on your eyelids and with your ears under the water the world is quiet. For the first time since your escape you allow yourself to relax, just a bit, and be in the moment. Softly murmuring a sutra under your breath you wait to arrive at your destination.

You finish about six repetitions of the sutra, and pass under and through many gaps in Hedge walls where the river cuts through them before burbles of the water begin to speak to you in the woman's voice telling you you have arrived. Opening your eyes you turn your head and cast them towards the shore as you lower your feet and catch yourself on the river bottom. Bracing yourself against the current so you'll not be carried further down river and crouching as low in the water you move to the edge of the shore so you can better see where you have been brought.

On the shore of the river is a multitude large open space filled with a multitude of tents and wagons gathered into loose groupings. The tends have their side flaps pulled up, and many of the wagons have large windows and doors built in to their walls that are thrown open to show their interiors. In the tents and wagons are all manner of goods, you see bolts of cloth that shimmer like the night sky, bottles filled with the shifting lights of the Aurora Borealis, giant insects roasting over open flames, a wall covered in individual braids of hair wrapped in bright ribbons, broken looms and intricately carved statuettes that move.

Inside the tents and leaning out of the wagons are small strange beings. Some are a light blue with scrunched faces, as if someone had taken a clay sculpture of a face and pressed on it pushing the features together, off set by massive ears. Some are green and rotund with massive eyes the size of their fists and grins that reach quite literally from one ear to the other. Some are grey with long angular almost equine features. The little creatures tend to congregate with others of their kind, tents with greys in one blob and wagons with greens in another group, and so forth, except for a group of long limbed burnt orange fellows that shamble along on their knuckles like gorillas that wander freely. As as one passes close by you can see it seem as if their faces were split down the middle and one half shifted slightly up and one half slightly down, and it's wide grin is a strange mish mash of shark teeth and flat grinding plates with no discernible rhyme or reason as to their organization.

3/4 tbc

>>2923305

More interesting to you than the peddlers and their wares however, are the buyers. They look almost human, though each is in some way strange or fantastical, and some are genuinely horrible to behold. Each is unique, though some are similar. There are for instance some who are large and imposing, such as a man who passes that is your equal in size and has only a single eye. Some are unnaturally fair to look at, with countenances so perfect as to be unsettling. Others appear bestial, such as a man near you in a leather jacket with white downy feathers for hair and whose arms ends in taloned hands that remind you of the feet of an eagle.

These you determine must have been who the spirit meant when she said that there would be people "Like you". If you could be taken and changed by The Painter and then escape it stands to reason others could have had similar experiences. You are not alone.

And now you have a choice to make. Do you

>Remain in the river a while longer and continue to watch
>Walk out of the water and go into a shop to talk to one of the little creatures
>Come out of the river and go talk to one of the people like you
>Get out of the water and just wander around among the tents and wait for someone to talk to you
>write in

>>2923313
>Remain in the river a while longer and continue to watch

>>2923313
Come out of the river and go talk to one of the people like you

>>2923313
>>Get out of the water and just wander around among the tents and wait for someone to talk to you
We are a warrior, we should not lurk around cowardly. But let`s try not to do anything wrong either.

>>2923331
Ok, I change to this

>>2923313
>>2923331
This

You know, I have to wonder: we're in our escape prologue, but we don't seem to be escaping TO anything. We got out of Arcadia, but why? What memories call us home?

>>2923502

You have an excellent point. I suppose I was so caught up in the outward elements of character creation and the mechanics of our escape from Arcadia that I've neglected to take time to explore our motivations, rather supposing that the character would develop as we went. Bugger. It'd be rather abrupt to do it now however. Hmmm, any suggestions on how you lot would like to handle this? Way I figure it the quest belongs to the community as much as it does me, and I'm open to suggestions and feedback. Within reason of course, but I really am interested in working with you all to make this a collaborative venture evdry one can enjoy so if you have something to say by all means please speak up. And while we're on the topic, what's everyone's impressions so far, and how do you think that I could improve the quest? Being a new qm I do wonder about that.

Please forgive the meta discussion post. Gonna give it a bit to see if there are any more votes for our next course of action and any input on this issue, and then we continue the story.

>>2923535
It's all good. It's a thing I see a lot when people sit down to play, they focus on the Durance and forget to create a mortal life. Definitely something to consider now that we have something resembling time to breathe.

>>2923535

I am not sure if I got this right: we seem to at least have memories of video games and a small mishap in the kitchen. One of our backgrounds involves being a monk who progressively became more war-like.

Maybe fighting, although we are good at it and we by now respect values typically respected in martial cultures, goes against the core of our personality. Clichés of groups of people strongly opposed to violence include clergymen, doctors and some diplomats.

tl;dr: i suggest our past job to be a doctor in a children's hospital.

>>2923582
Could do. Ogres are often made from people who have strength or crave it, but the Fae also prize Ogres made from those who offer themselves in another's place.

>>2923582
The doctor is good.

We should have a family toi, wife and kids to complicate things.

Now, what year and city did we vanish from?

>>2923582
>>2923632
>>2923633

I'd point out that changelings are often taken young, with the core book for changeling advising teenage years as a good time for them to have been nabbed by the Fae. Still young enough to be taken, not so young they wouldn't have enough of a personality and memories to survive the change and motivate their escape.

Don't get me wrong, I love the concept of our character as a caring soul, and trying to be a healer would be a pretty sweet way to take this, but I don't think he would have been old enough to be a doctor before he was taken.

Now his fetch on the other hand, well his fetch has lived a nice full life on earth whole he's been in Arcadia. Time will only tell how that's all panned out though.

>>2923645
Teenager years is a common time, yeah, but not the only time. Plenty of sample characters were taken as adults (Cerastes in Miami was a successful lawyer; one example Ogre is a prize fighter who bargains for the strength to defend his championship one last time), while others were even younger (such as Wild Sam, in Night Horrors: Grim Fears).

>>2923645
If not a doctor we could be a talented med student, it would fit our clever hands, our fetch could have married our girlfriend or we could have no fetch and simply disapear

>>2923660

That is an excellent point, and you are of course correct. It is possible for them to have been older. I admit it's not what I had in mind, but If it's the will of the thread he was a doctor then a doctor he was. I can work with that if it's what we decide on, but let's not rush into it. We have as you said, a bit of breathing room.

Let's toss around ideas and make our choice in the background while we explore the market and get our first taste of the inhabitants of the free hold. No need to rush, we have a bit and we should give all interested parties a chance to voice their opinions before we lock into anything.

>>2923672

I like this quite a bit actually.

File: Ogre.png (135 KB, 500x557)

135 KB PNG

>>2923535
Just realized I never actually answered this

> And while we're on the topic, what's everyone's impressions so far, and how do you think that I could improve the quest?

You've got a nice sense of motion and progression; there's a definite sense of our mysterious protagonist in his environment, a taste of how his thoughts color his perception of the world. Spelling and grammar could use some work, which in part is just gonna be a practice thing. First draft is the only draft, when it comes to quests.

If you can dig some up, some artwork or pictures might help you set the tone some. A ton of the official artwork is just floating about the internet.

I'm looking forward to getting out the other side of the prologue. A lot of Lost campaigns start in this region of a character's development, but I personally usually like a bit later, after the raw fear and panic of the escape, when it's time to try and rebuild your life.

>>2923421
>>2923352
>>2923331
>>2923325
>>2923320

Having observed the scene on the shore and determining there to be no immediate danger you raise yourself out of the water and walk out of the river, and passing by the first few shops on the water front walk deeper into the collection of tents and wagons clustered on the river bank.

Rather than flag down the first person you see and begin asking them questions, you decide to wait for someone to approach you. After all if you choose someone at random they may be unsuited to assisting you, and you would be disturbing them unnecessarily and wasting both their time as well as your own. Better then to wait, surely if you continue to explore someone with authority will question your presence? Or perhaps a beneficent soul who believes themselves capable of helping you will offer their assistance. In either case, it seems more likely than just approaching the first person you see and demanding explanations from them.

Furthermore, by walking among them and watching you have the opportunity to learn more by observation, and better prepare your questions for when someone does speak to you. Indeed as you walk sedately from tent to tent watching those around you, you do notice a few things. Among the changed people shopping at the market there is a noticeable pattern.

Many of them wear an accent piece, a splash of color on or in addition to their other garb. A red scarf here, a bright green hat there, a wilting yellow flower in a lapel. Those that do move with a certain confidence, and seem to mostly keep to others who wear the same color. A smaller, but not insignificant group, lacks these accent pieces. Those without a color displayed seem to move quickly, and walk hunched in on themselves. You observe that if one wearing a colored accent piece and one without pass each other, it's never the person wearing one of the colors who steps out of the way.

After walking a bit longer you notice a third group, rarer than the other two, of individuals who proudly display faintly glowing tattoos rather than wear a bright scarf or carry a well dyed hand bag. These tattooed individuals positively swagger, which you find absolutely bizarre as for most of your time in Arcadia you remember tattoos being a mark of shame used to brand criminals rather than the point of pride these people clearly see them as. You vaguely remember that in the time before you were taken you had friends with tattoos, and there is a hazy recollection of seeing someone your mind tells you was a friend flex and show you the Celtic knot tattoos on their bicep and telling them it was "cool", but even so it just seems odd.

1/2 tbc

>>2923826

As you ponder the meaning of this you hear someone call out from behind you "Hey big red."

Turning to face the voice you see a sandy haired man in a loose sleeveless white shirt and a pair of off brown paints that reach just past his hairy knees. Board shorts your mind whispers as you look him over from head to toe. His hair is gathered together into thick dreadlocks, and two small horns poke out from his fore head and his eyes are the color of sea foam. His chin is covered by a well kept goatee, and you see he has back bent hairy unguligrade legs like those of a goat.

His left arm and shoulder are covered by a bright green tattoo that shines with an inner light, a depiction of a thorny rose bush that starts at his wrist and wraps around and up his arm ending just before it would carry over onto his chest.

The man smiles at you and says "Easy there big guy" as he hold up his hands. "I don't want any trouble. It's just it seems like you're new and needed a bit of help. What's your name big guy?"

How do you respond.

>Incline your head and say "my name is Kentaro Jones"
>Bow and say "If you would be so gracious as to tell this one your name, one would be happy to tell you ones own."
>Jones is fine
>My name is Kentaro
>You can call me (insert moniker)
>Write in

If you like a previous option but hate Kentaro Jones feel free to suggest alternate names. I was tossing around ideas for a mixed heritage name and I liked the way this sounded, but if it isn't to your liking feel free to say so.

>>2923878
>Write in
>Bow and say, "You might call this one Kentaro, if you would be gracious enough to provide a name in return."

>>2923909
This

>>2923909
support

>>2923909

Seconding and Kentaro Jones sounds like a pulp character which I dig

>>2923909
>>2923930
>>2924299
>>2924499

Raising your hands in front of your chest and laying your left hand over your right fist you bend at the waist and bow to the man saying "You might call this one Kentaro, if you would be gracious enough to provide a name in return."

His eyebrows raise slightly and then his smile widens and with a flourish he drops his left arm to his side, and bringing up his right hand to cover his heart gives you a shallow bow of his own and replies "Jonathan Galloway Esquire of the Emerald Court." before straightening up and saying "A pleasure to meet you Kentaro."

"The honor is mine Sir Jonathan" You say and bow again slightly deeper than you had previously before inquiring. "Are you perhaps sent to act as overseer of this gathering by your lord?" You don't think that would be the case, His clothing certainly doesn't seem dignified enough for such a position. However the title by which he referred to himself and the tattoos seem to indicate a certain importance. Better to be safe and be too polite rather than to earn his ire by being overly familiar before you have determined how important he may be.

"No no" he denies while waving his hand back and forth and smiling awkwardly. "The market belongs to the hobs. I'm just here to pick up something I need to pay back a favor, and please there's no need to call me Sir. Johny will do just fine."

Balking at such intimacy, you've only just met surely he can't think to be so comfortable with one another as to use nick names, you respond "If it does not displease you this one would prefer to call you Jonathan."

"Jonathan then" He agrees with a firm nod of his head. "Well Kentaro I'm sure you have a lot of questions. And I'll be happy to answer them, if you'd be so kind as to answer one for me first so I can get an idea what I'm dealing with. If you'll forgive the personal question, do you remember when and where you were taken from? I figure it might have been a while, and having an idea will help me to know what I need to fill you in on."

His question prompts memories to the forefront of your mind. You remember, you were


>Twenty four and a first year medical student, you don't remember the exact year but you know it was early 2000's. Your maternal grandmother had just passed,and finals were coming up around the corner. You'd been so stressed you had been snapping at your girlfriend and family like a rabid dog. You needed to get away, to find some peace, so you'd gone for a hike to a remote waterfall and The Painter found you there
> Eighteen, an aspiring artist who'd just graduated high school in the late nineties. Rather than start preparing for college immediately you decided to visit Japan and reconnect with your maternal roots. Maybe get some artistic inspiration. You'd gone off into the mountains chasing stories the locals told you about an ancient temple when The Painter found you and took you.
>write in

>>2924699
>>Twenty four and a first year medical student, you don't remember the exact year but you know it was early 2000's. Your maternal grandmother had just passed,and finals were coming up around the corner. You'd been so stressed you had been snapping at your girlfriend and family like a rabid dog. You needed to get away, to find some peace, so you'd gone for a hike to a remote waterfall and The Painter found you there

>>2924699
>Eighteen, an aspiring artist who'd just graduated high school in the late nineties. Rather than start preparing for college immediately you decided to visit Japan and reconnect with your maternal roots. Maybe get some artistic inspiration. You'd gone off into the mountains chasing stories the locals told you about an ancient temple when The Painter found you and took you.

I'm still down for the healer route but I do t want to start there persay with the doctor backstory, we can really lean into the learned samurai who can fight, compose, heal, and build

Glad to see another Changeling quest! You mind terribly if I drop a shoutout for you over in CSQ? My readers may have an interest.

>>2924780
do you run one yourself? mind if I ask the name?

>>2924808
If OP's cool with it. I didn't come here to jack his readership, just to ask if he's okay with me crosspostin' his link to mine.

>>2924699
>write-in
>Eighteen, an aspiring medic who'd just graduated high school in the late nineties. Rather than start preparing for college immediately you decided to visit Japan and reconnect with your maternal roots before following in your father's footsteps and studying to become a doctor. You liked art, particularly calligraphy, and searched for inspiration for other art techniques at the island You'd gone off into the mountains chasing stories the locals told you about an ancient temple when The Painter found you and took you.

>>2924825

Switch my vote to this write in, strikes a good balance

>>2924825
I'm ok with this too

>>2924890
>>2924873
>>2924825
>>2924714
>>2924713

You remember. You were eighteen and aspiring to a career in the medical field. It was the late nineties and you'd just graduated high school. Rather than prepare for college immediately you decided to visit Japan and reconnect with your maternal roots before following in your father's footsteps and studying to become a doctor. You liked art, particularly calligraphy. You felt it helped develop the fine motor control you'd need if you were ever going to be able to preform surgery. While you were in Japan you searched for artistic inspiration, and you'd gone into the mountains chasing stories the locals told you about an ancient temple where a master resided when The Painter found you and took you.

"One believes the year was nineteen ninety eight or perhaps ninety seven when one was taken by the malevolent Kami." You answer. " One was in Japan at the time, though one was born and raised in the United States."

When he hears your answer you see him visibly relax before he straightens back up. "Well that's a relief" he sighs " I was worried you were one of those poor saps who'd been taken a few centuries back and stumbles out of the hedge thinking its still the 1700's. Damn man, you must of had one hell of a durance to talk like that." He says as he eyes you speculatively.

You look at him for a moment. Durance? You aren't familiar with that term, but before you can ask what he meant he starts speaking again.

"I bet you're hungry." He says suddenly. "Big beefy guy's like you always are. Tell you what, come on lets go grab a bite to eat. My treat. We can talk over dinner."

Do you

>agree to his generous offer and thank him
>Tell him you couldn't possibly impose yourself on him
>Write in.

>>2924780

Wasn't aware there was another changeling quest. If you want to let people know about this I'd be grateful I suppose, and if you want to drop a link to your's I don't mind at all.

>>2925104
>>2924808
Done and done. It's Cinderella Sanction Quest, with the live thread located here:

>>2920477
>>2920477
>>2920477
>>2920477

MOST of the archives are available in PDF format, hosted by the esteemed Domochevsky right here:

https://wildwestscifi.net/cinderella-sanction-quest

>>2925100
>Tell him you couldn't possibly impose yourself on him

But if he insists again we will agree, only appropriate to deny at least twice

>>2925100
>Tell him you couldn't possibly impose yourself on him
It’s polite to decline two times before accepting

>>2925100

>>2925325
>>2925417

These

>>2925417
>>2925325

yeah, agree to make him company but deny the food at first

>>2925277
Very good, you never know what happens to threads if you forget to give them enough votes on /suptg.

>>2925100
>Go with him, but only eat if he insists thrice.

>>2925325
>>2925417
>>2925424
>>2925688
>>2925882

"It is truly gracious of you to offer this one a meal, but one could not possibly impose upon your hospitality" you reply mildly.

Scoffing at your refusal he replies "ain't imposing if I'm the one who offered in the first place"

"Still one would not wish you to feel obligated, one truly has no desire to cause you inconvenience" you insist softly "one would be quite happy to speak with you without the promise of a meal."

After dragging one of his hands across his face Jonathan replies with an exasperated drawl "I'm just offering you a bite to eat, not to trade favors or something serious like that. It's no trouble, just say yes and let's go get something to eat."

Polite formalities having been seen to you relent and agree to his offer saying "Very well Jonathan if you insist one cannot in good concious refuse your most gracious offer. One thanks you for your consideration."

"Good let's go" he says and motions for you to follow him as he turns and starts walking "there's this hob I know that does great gyros in ogre sized proportions. We'll eat there."

He leads you down the dirt roads in a winding path through the market until you come to a wagon painted with bright blue depictions of helmets with crests of horse hair and sticks of meat.

"Hey Phil you in there." Jonathan calls out and smacks the side of the wagon. "two gyros, one ogre sized on the double"

"Jonathan you son of a goat" comes a voice from within the wagon. " you still owe me three church mice"

"And you'll get them" your guide replies "I'll even throw in the cries of a newborn puppy for making you wait. You know I'm good for it Phil, just get us the food I'm on buisiness."

"Very well" comes the voice from inside "go sit at the table and the food will be out in a minute. And you had better not stiff me. Cries of a new born puppy, none of that twisting a grown dogs ear to make it whine shit"

"Of course Phil of course" Jonathan calls over his shoulder as he meanders to the table and takes a seat. He motions for you to sit across from him and when you've been seated says "Alright, let's talk. Why don't we start with any questions you have and go from there. Ask away."

Do you ask

>where are we
>what are we
>what do the tattoos mean
>what is the emerald court.
>write in

>>2926196
>write in
"You spoke of those who had been taken a few centuries back, is that something which happens often? While I may not have been taken so long ago in comparison, it still has been long enough that I know neither when nor where I am."

Just making sure the spirit didn't return us on the day of the dead or something. That would be a start to the rest of our life

>>2926286
this, also ask when is the next day of the dead

>what are we

>>2926196
> Where are we? This isn't the mortal realm...is it?

>>2926286
>>2926315
>>2927073

"Indeed one has many questions." You say, and after a moments contemplation you ask Jonathan "You spoke of those who had been taken centuries ago, are such individuals common?"

"No" He replies with a shake of his head. "They really aren't. You hear stories about them, but I've never met one."

Nodding your head you continue with your next question. "While one is not so unfortunate as to have been gone centuries, one knows neither when nor where one is. Though one is fairly certain one has not yet left the realm of spirits and returned to the lands of the living. If you would be so kind as to enlighten this one, one would be most grateful"

He nods and says "Yeah absolutely. It's September of 2009, and you are in the wandering Goblin Market of Southport Washington in the hedge. Your right, we aren't in the human world right now, this is the Hedge, the border between our world and Arcadia, the world of the Fae where you've been for the last decade or so."

Southport, that sounds familiar. Suddenly you remember driving into Southport when you were younger with your parents. You'd grown up in one of the suburbs and your father worked at St. Peter's Pediatric Hospital in the city.

You cradle your chin with your fingers and look down at the table as you think. Surely this is significant, the will of the benevolent heavens that even as you knew not where you went you returned home. You'll need a moment to process this, but first there is one last thing you have to know urgently.

"Día de Muertos" You say as you look back up at Jonathan. "The day of the dead, when is it?"

"That Mexican thing?" He replies as his brow furrows in thought "I honestly don't know man." He pauses for a moment and then he smiles and says "But I bet Rico would. Yeah, Rico would know."

>Could you introduce one to Rico
>Where might one find Rico
>Why would Rico know
>Write in

>>2926286 I'm not that big of a dick, you'll have time to do it.

Before anyone asks fictional city, helps keep me from being autistic and trying to research every last detail of a real city if I just use one I make up. Loving the write in's by the way. Gotta say the character is developing in interesting ways. Not at all what I had expected, but it's a lot of fun. Doing the voice is a hoot.

>>2927259
>Could you introduce one to Rico

It's shaping up to be really nice OP.

I player a changeling quest some time ago, it was called Lost in the seventies, I recomend it to anyone interested in the setting, I'm particarly proud of the plan I hatched to fool a keeper on it lol.

>>2927259
>Could you introduce one to Rico

>>2927259
>Could you introduce one to Rico

>>2927342
>>2927347
>>2928006

"If it is not too great of a difficulty Jonathan, could you perhaps introduce this one to Rico?" You ask the blonde man as one of the spindly long faced grey creatures shambles up to the table you are seated at and drops two platters down onto it.

Looking down you can see what appears to be a flat piece of bread wrapped around a bundle of thinly sliced meat and vegetables drizzled in a white sauce. You watch as Jonathan grabs his bundle with one hand and raises it up. He pauses and gestures with his other hand in the general direction of the bundle in front of you and then takes a bite of his. He chews slowly with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Taking up the bundle in front of it you tear off a small bite with your teeth. The flavor is zesty, not bad, but stronger than you are used to. Chewing slowly you wait for Jonathan to speak while you contemplate whether or not you find this dish to your liking. You are still rolling it over your tongue when Jonathan clears his throat and speaks up. Swallowing you listen intently to what he has to say.

"I could" He says slowly. "Yeah, I could introduce you to Rico. I get along well enough with the guy so it wouldn't be a problem. I did some business with him a while back, and he's pretty decent for a Red. I even know where he'll probably be this evening after the sun sets. Yeah, I could introduce you to Rico."

Then there's a pause and the left half of his mouth quirks up in a half grimace and he looks at you apologetically " But the thing is it'd be a bit out of my way. I don't really have a reason to go see him personally, and getting there and back would take at least an hour, hour and a half and that's if we just went in and then left straight away, which probably won't happen. I could make the time, but I'd have to shuffle some things around. I'm a pretty busy guy. I have obligations you know, to my patron and the people I give patronage to...I guess what I'm trying to say is that I could introduce you to Rico, but if I was going to do this Favor for you, then I'd need a Favor in return.


How do you respond

>One could not possibly ask of you to inconvenience yourself to such a degree, one will figure out another way
>What manner of favor would you require of this one in return Jonathan?
>Write in

>>2928518
>One could not possibly ask of you to inconvenience yourself to such a degree, one will figure out another way

>>2928518
>One could not possibly ask of you to inconvenience yourself to such a degree, one will figure out another way

>>2928518
>One could not possibly ask of you to inconvenience yourself to such a degree, one will figure out another way
There's going to be more than one person who will know this Rico.

>>2928518
>What manner of favor would you require of this one in return Jonathan?

>>2928518
>What manner of favor would you require of this one in return Jonathan?

>>2928518
>One could not possibly ask of you to inconvenience yourself to such a degree, one will figure out another way

Could this one join you in reentering the world?

>>2928572
>>2928582
>>2928589
>>2928682
>>2929014
>>2929246


With a small shake of your head you reply "if it is so great of an imposition one could not possibly ask of you to inconvenience yourself to such a degree. One will find another way. One asks only that you show one the path to the gateway by which one may return to the mortal world, if you would be willing."

"Of course" he says. You think you can hear a faint tinge of disappointment in his voice as he tells you "I'd be happy to show you the way back out of the hedge when we're done here."

Picking up his gyro he takes another bite and chews and swallows before saying "So you've been gone about ten years. I imagine that's probably still sinking in and you're just starting to see the implications. You may have already figured some of this out, but there are a few things you've got to know about your situation before we leave the hedge. Sorry if I tell you something obvious, but it's for your own good we make sure you get this ok? So listen up."

He pauses and takes a moment to gather his thoughts. " So the first thing is, don't try and go straight home or run off and try to pull cash out of your bank account if by some miracle you remember the numbers. Had a guy try that once, it wasn't pretry. See thing is you've been gone a long time. If you are lucky, or unlucky depending on who you ask, your family and the world in general probably thinks you are dead. People who show up claiming to be dead men draw a lot of attention. Attention you don't want, believe me."

He looks straight at you when he says that, looking you right in the eyes as he speaks with absolute certainty. "Now on the other hand, they might not think your dead. Might be that when your keeper took you they left a Fetch behind in your place. In which case if you aren't careful you'll probably end up in jail for identity fraud or in an asylum, and if that happens your as good as dead."

"Pardon this one's ignorance Jonathan, but what is a Fetch? " You interject as he pauses to take a breath. "One is not familiar with this term."

Tbc

>>2929316

"Like I said, it's something they leave in your place" he replies with vehemance, anger slowly bleeding into his voice as he answers your question. "They tear out a bit of you, steal some of your soul I guess you could say, and then they bind it to something. A wicker man made of straw and twine, or a lump of peat moss shaped like a person, maybe even a bundle of sticks, and it gets up and takes your place. Walks like you, talks like you, looks like you, and it goes and steals your whole life. Living how you should have while you are suffering in Arcadia. That's what a Fetch is."

Confronted with the idea that there may be a thing out there with your face loved by your family and friends you feel

>Angry, that some thing may have taken the life that should have been yours
>Sad, that you have been denied the chance to live your life as it should have been. The thought of something else taking your place is bittersweet. At least your family would not suffer thinking you dead.
>Contemplative. The Buddha teaches that seperation is an illusion, and that all is part of a greater whole. If there was a creation made from a part of your spirit, would not it's seperation from you be an illusion? And could not there be a way to reunite two halves that should in truth be one whole?
>Write in

>>2929325
> Angry, that some thing may have taken the life that should have been yours

We will inherit the punishment for its sins and the rewards for its virtues; neither is justice

>>2929325
>>Angry, that some thing may have taken the life that should have been yours
at first and then we start to
>Contemplative. The Buddha teaches that seperation is an illusion, and that all is part of a greater whole. If there was a creation made from a part of your spirit, would not it's seperation from you be an illusion? And could not there be a way to reunite two halves that should in truth be one whole?

>>2929325
>>2929345
this

>>2929325
>Angry, that some thing may have taken the life that should have been yours
>Contemplative. The Buddha teaches that seperation is an illusion, and that all is part of a greater whole. If there was a creation made from a part of your spirit, would not it's seperation from you be an illusion? And could not there be a way to reunite two halves that should in truth be one whole?

>>2929325

>Angry, that some thing may have taken the life that should have been yours
>Contemplative. The Buddha teaches that seperation is an illusion, and that all is part of a greater whole. If there was a creation made from a part of your spirit, would not it's seperation from you be an illusion? And could not there be a way to reunite two halves that should in truth be one whole?

>>2929344
>>2929345
>>2929355
>>2929640
>>2930686


You feel angry at first. The thought that some thing may have taken the life that should have been yours infuriates you. Taking your place in your family, taking the chance at going to medical school you had worked so hard for. Some thing living your life...that was made with a part of you. The more you think about it the more contemplative you become. The anger is still there, but it's banked embers rather than a raging fire. It could flare up again, but for a moment it subsides as you consider the implications of how Jonathan told you a Fetch is made.

After all, did not the Buddha teach that separation is an illusion, and that all is part of a greater whole? If there was a creation made from a part of your spirit, would not it's separation from you be an illusion? And if it was an illusion, could not there be a way to reunite two halves that should in truth be one whole? You are still puzzling it over like it was some sort of Koan, when you are pulled from your contemplation by the sound of Jonathan clearing his throat.

"Frustrating isn't it" He says with an understanding nod. "It's a shit hand to be dealt, but that's how it is."

After eating another bite he goes on and says "The long and the short of it is you're basically homeless. You can go beg or steal shit on your own, or you can look for a patron in one of the courts to help you get on your feet" and then he snorts and says "Or you can go to old king colorless Nikolai's soup kitchen I guess. Those are basically your options, unless your smart enough to think of something the rest of us ain't come up with."

You incline your head and say "Thank you for your kindness Jonathan. One is grateful for the information you have been gracious enough to share. One will keep your words in mind."

His smile returns and he says "No problem. Lets finish up eating and then be on our way. I'll need to go grab what I came for, but after that I'll take you to the gate and show you the way back alright?"

"That sounds agreeable" You reply, and then both of you apply yourselves to the meal and make short work of your gyros. When you've both finished Jonathan leads you away from the table and back into the market. After walking for a few minutes during which time you observe those around you.

You notice that occasionally some of those without a colored adornment, or those with either red adornments or yellow adornments will watch you and Jonathan as you pass, though they will immediately look away when they realize you've noticed them watching.

1/?

>>2931445

Jonathan leads you into the gap between two tents, where you meet a small man with six more tiny black eyes than average and a jaw that splits down the middle into two mandibles lined with serrated teeth when he speaks. He's wearing a worn sweatshirt and a pair of loose pants, with a green bandanna tied around his left forearm. "You're late boss" He says as he reaches behind him lifts up a large burlap sack bulging with outlines of different shapes and sizes. You can see some of his eyes shift over to look at you and he asks "There a problem?"

"No problems" Jonathan says as he takes the sack. "Just showing the newest member of our freehold a little hospitality. Sorry for making you wait Will."

"It's fine boss" The smaller man says. It's very difficult to try and guess at what his facial expressions mean as his mandibles flex. You're amazed he's able to speak at all with his facial structure, though he does have a noticeable lisp. "We got a good crop this time, nice wide selection."

"Glad to hear it." Jonathan says. "Go ahead and run off Will, I'll see you tomorrow at the regular place alright?"

"Sure thing" Will tells Jonathan with a small nod of the head, and then after throwing one more look at you he turns and jogs off out of sight around the corner of the tent on your left. As soon as he's gone Jonathan starts walking forward.

"Sorry about the detour." He calls over his shoulder "But now that I have what I came for let's get to the gate. Come on, lets go."

He comes to the intersections between the tents where Will had turned left and turns right. Rather than return to the more crowded and open paths, he leads you along an out of sight and winding trail behind and in-between the tents. Until you come to the edge of the market and he looks to both sides before emerging from between the tents and walking quickly towards a wooden arch.

"This is the gate" He says as he comes to stop in front of it and then stops. He places his hand on the side of the arch and closes his eyes. You see his brow furrow in concentration and then he opens his eyes and says "Open says me."

There's a strange sensation, it's almost like feeling the wind brush against wet skin on your arm, only you feel it between your eyes inside your mind. You can feel a force, or perhaps an energy, leave Jonathan and slide it's way into the gate. Colors begin to bleed into the air inside the arch, seeping out from the wood until the whole space is a swirl of light before it shimmers and turns clear.

However rather than seeing thorny walls of the hedge that had previously been visible through the arch, you see dingy concrete and an old rusted dumpster overflowing with black trash bags.

2/?

>>2931551

"Go on then" Jonathan tells you. "I'll go through after you do and close the gate behind us. "

He gestures with his hands for you to hurry and you step through the gate into the alley. There's a disorienting sensation of falling when you step through the gate. It reminds you of the feeling of walking down a staircase and lowering your foot expecting to feel it touch a solid step only to feel it sink into the open air. And then in a moment you are again standing on solid ground.
The smell hits you immediately, an unpleasant odor your memory tells you is a mixture of car exhaust and cheap cigarette smoke.

A moment later Jonathan steps through with his burlap sack clutched tight in his arms, and then the gateway shimmers again and in the opening of a brick doorway where you had been able to see the market the only thing you can see is a closed steel security door.

"Welcome to Southport." The blonde man says. " That's the back door to Wonderful Things pawn shop and novelty store" He tells you gesturing to the steel door set in the brick doorway. "It connects the city to the Goblin Market."

He sets the sack down and says "Well, I guess this is goodbye then. Hey just when second, before you go..." He trails off as he reaches down and rummages around in his sack before pulling something out and holding it out to you. "Have some fruit, you know, for the road."

The fruit he's offering to you is like nothing you've ever seen before. It has a smooth peel with angular corners like a banana, but it's shape is triangular like a giant strawberry, and the peel is a deep burgundy striped with crimson.

Do you

>Accept his gracious parting gift and partake of the fruit
>Tell him he's already done so much for you, you could not possibly accept such a gift
>write in.

>>2931646
>Tell him he's already done so much for you, you could not possibly accept such a gift

Take it if he insists though and ask what sort of fruit it is

>>2931654
this, we humble and polite to a fault

>>2931646
>Tell him he's already done so much for you, you could not possibly accept such a gift
We must be best nice guy.

>>2931654
>>2931688
>>2931705

Bowing you reply to him "You have already been so gracious as to provide for this one a meal at your own expense Jonathan. While one is honored by your offer and humbled by your generosity, one could not possibly accept. Such kindness is more than this one is worthy to receive."

He shakes his head and pushes the fruit into your hands. "Really, I insist, I want you to have it. Take it."

Taking the gift with both hands you straighten up and smile "Then though it is more than one deserves, one must accept. Truly one was blessed by the heavens to have met such a beneficent individual as you Jonathan."

"It's just a fruit man." He says with a smile. "It's not that big a deal. That isn't like a thing for you is it? Not accepting gifts and talking like that? Cause if it is I get it, we all come back with some quirks you know? Frailties some people call em. I knew this chick that couldn't touch bronze, and a guy whose body treated basil leaves like they were crack cocaine. Me personally, it's wine. I literally can't say no if someone offers it to me. The Wyrd won't let me. Damn inconvenient really..."

He trails off for a moment and then straightens up and starts speaking before you can respond. " Sorry, that was probably rude of me to ask, that sort of thing is pretty personal. You don't have to answer that. Anyway, go ahead and try the fruit."

You bring up the fruit in front of your face and consider it carefully. It really is one of the strangest looking things you've ever seen, and it has a smokey scent that reminds you of roasted poppy seeds. "What manner of fruit is this Jonathan?" You ask. "One has never seen such a thing."

"I'm not surprised" He replies with a chuckle. "Created it myself out in the hedge. It's amazing what you can do with some careful cross pollination and basic botanical skills there. I call it Summer fruit. Go on, try it. It peels like a banana."

Digging one of your thick almost claw like finger nails into the peel, you pull it back and reveal the flesh of the fruit. It's a reddish pink, and looks like it's full of juice contained in thin membranes like an orange.

You bite down, and your fangs part the flesh of the fruit effortlessly. It melts in your mouth in a gush of juice that carries a wave of overwhelming conflicting sensations. It tastes like a mix of red-plums-rage-blood-crimson-victory-wine that shouldn't make sense and shouldn't go so well together, some of the flavors aren't even things you should be able to taste, but it's heavenly as it slides down your gullet.

1/?

>>2932245

As it settles in your belly you feel that same sensation of power you'd felt earlier when Jonathan opened the gate, only this time it's originating from the warmth in your gut left by the fruit and radiating through your body. As the feeling fills you, the weariness left by your escape from Arcadia fades.

Weariness? Had you been weary? You certainly don't feel it now. There's an energy coursing through your veins, pushing you to Move . To run, fight, find a woman, to do something; anything to release this energy that pounds through you as your heart beats like a drum.

"Good isn't it." You hear Jonathan say. It's hard to focus on what he's saying, to be in the now. "I figured you'd like that. You ever want another just ask around on the street for me, I shouldn't be hard to find and i'm sure we can work something out. Now I've really got to go. It's been a pleasure Kentaro. Good luck . I'll see you around."

He grabs his sack and hurries out of the alley and heads to the right.

Left alone in the alley, you need to decide what to do next do you

>Go try and find Rico
>burn of energy exploring the city and re familiarize yourself with it
>Try and find the courts Jonathan mentioned
>Try and find Nikolai's soup kitchen
>Run after Jonathan and figure out what exactly it was you just ate
>Write in.

>>2932282
>burn of energy exploring the city and re familiarize yourself with it

I know this is just asking for trouble but I dont feel like we know enough in character to go trying to track down rumors and we have a lot to process

File: Oni.jpg (218 KB, 588x657)

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Alright real quick, before I slip off for the night. For this decision if ya'll would be kind enough to include rolls to see how well things go along with your votes it would be appreciated.

Also, when you respond if you have any questions or comments you wish to make feel free.

On a random note I've been trying to find Images like >>2923700 suggested. Looking through the official stuff and seeing what I can find online that might work. It's surprisingly difficult. This is basically the best I've been able to find, though it's not quite right.If ya'll come across any art you feel is appropriate feel free to post it as well.

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>2932282
>>burn of energy exploring the city and re familiarize yourself with it

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>2932282
>Try to find Nikolai’s Soup Kitchen

File: Goblin Market.jpg (113 KB, 640x640)

113 KB JPG

>>2932282
>Try and find Nikolai's soup kitchen

Our new benefactor called him a king. A king of charity sounds like a king of beggars, and we are now beggars.

>>2932337
> Also, when you respond if you have any questions or comments you wish to make feel free.

It's been interesting thus far! I might suggest rolls after votes are locked in, so that the appearance of good or bad rolls doesn't influence the voting.

I'm surprised to see Frailties so openly discussed. That sorta thing is usually kept secret, given the power they can give others over you. I look forward to seeing your Freehold.

As far as trying to find the official art online, if you want the stuff out of the White Wolf books (like this one) try image searching "Changeling: the Lost" and a book title. Usually pulls up a few.

File: The Troll's Bargain.jpg (46 KB, 293x300)

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>>2932337
Adjacent material can be helpful too. Lost is a setting that speaks in mood and theme a lot.

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>2932314

My roll for my vote

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>2932282
>Try and find Nikolai's soup kitchen

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>2932838
Wrong dice

File: Nightscape.png (2.38 MB, 953x917)

2.38 MB PNG

>>2932314
>>2932346
>>2932349
>>2932354
>>2932838

You decide to burn off energy exploring the city looking for Nikolai's soup kitchen. Jonathan named him King, and surely even here it is the duty of a lord to see to the well being of his people? You don't pause to consider how you'll find him, you feel certain that you'll be able to do it, that if you just get Moving something will present itself to you. Besides you can figure it out on the way.

With long strides you walk out of the alley and look to the left and the right. It's dark, you thought it had just been the shadows of the buildings blotting out the sun in the alley, but now that you've stepped into the open you can clearly see that the sky is dark, and the only light to be had is cast by giant metal lights spaced at even intervals along the side of the street.

The buildings around you are old slightly run down two story affairs. Many of the first stories hold shops, most of which are dark with closed signs on the doors, and a number of which are boarded up in the manner of a more permanent closure. After a moment you decide to turn to your left, and begin to walk down the street.

The look of the buildings around you isn't familiar. This is a part of Southport you never remember having visited, or if you had the memories are still buried. You move quickly to the end of the street and pause momentarily to look at the street sign. It reads "Murdock Way" and in smaller print beneath the name 95th NW. Vague memories of your youth surface. A balding blonde man with hazel eyes your memories call father telling you to stay away from the north side, that it was dangerous and you shouldn't go there...

Well that can't be helped. You're here now and besides you are no longer a boy. You've survived a war between Kami, you can survive in a rough part of town.

1/? tbc

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>>2934244

The road on which you walk is largely deserted, but you continue to follow it for lack of a better idea of where to go, surely this road will eventually lead to a more populated part of the city where you can begin to get your bearings or look for assistance.

As you stride over the smooth stone walkway it begins to rain, but with the warmth like live coals in your gut kindled by the fruit you find you could care less. The cold barely touches you, and the sensation of the falling water running over your skin is pleasant. After passing half a dozen blocks you begin to run into more people and the buildings grow taller.

Those who look up and notice you seem to stare and then walk faster until they pass you. Even as the walkway becomes more crowded the other pedestrians give you a wide berth as you pass them by, some going so far as to step into the gutter to avoid drawing too close to you. Vaguely you wonder why, and consider stopping someone to ask them, but that would be rude. And in any case if they are so opposed to walking near you they would likely not wish to talk to you in any case.

Eventually you arrive in an area that is truly well lit and well populated and pause to look around. Unlike the previous blocks you've walked through rather than just hurrying on their way some of the people here are standing still on the side of the road, perhaps waiting for someone. The ground level store fronts remain open and have lights on inside. Looking at the signs you see that most of the shops proclaim themselves "Bars" or "Pubs", though there are some that declare themselves to be "Cafe." Finally on your last sweep of the street you see a black and white vehicle with a golden depiction of a shield emblazoned on the side that you recognize as a police car.

This seems like a good place to make your next move. Do you

>Go into a Pub, they have more people in them than the Cafe but less than the Bars, seems like a nice compromise
>Go into a Bar, they appear well populated someone in there will be helpful
>Walk into a Cafe, they seem better lit and quieter than the other establishments.
>Approach one of the people standing around waiting, if they aren't in a hurry they may speak with you
>Walk up to the cops, surely public officials could help you to find your way.

>>2934354
>>Go into a Bar, they appear well populated someone in there will be helpful

>>2934354
>>Approach one of the people standing around waiting, if they aren't in a hurry they may speak with you

>>2934354

>Write-In

Try to find a place where we can see our reflection and get an idea of why people are avoiding us

>>2935026
this is good, I change to that and after that we can decide where we would blend in better

>>2934503
>>2934752
>>2935026
>>2935048

Alright, I'll give it about 30 minutes more to see if we get any last minute votes and then I'll start the write up.

Love the sensible write ins. Though i'm curious. I know the reason why people are getting out of your way, what do ya'll think it is? Do you have a guess?

>>2935026
Support

>>2935089
I guess we are either fuck huge, are naked or look like a hobo

>>2935089

A combination of being fuck huge and I'm guessing garishly dressed with a sword on us

File: yamabushi.jpg (113 KB, 630x385)

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>>2934503
>>2934752
>>2935026
>>2935048
>>2935107

You decide that before you enter into one of the establishments or approach someone to speak with them, it would first be prudent to determine why people seem to be avoiding you. It immediately occurs to you that in your memories of life before you were taken you never saw any red skinned Oni like yourself, or men with the legs of goats like Jonathan. Can they see what you are? Is that why they step away from you?

No reason and some deep rooted instinct tells you. If they could see what you are they wouldn't just step out of the way, they would scream and run. As no one has looked at you and cried out "Monster" you are reasonably certain that they can't see what the time you spent in the realm of the Kami after being spirited away has done to you. But if it isn't the red skin and the horned visage of an Oni that turns them aside, what is it?

Looking around you search for a reflective surface, and seeing a bar that has a glass storefront you walk up to it and try and view your reflection. In the glass you can see a faint reflection, a kind of double image. You can see your reflection, but you can see another thin almost translucent personage layered over the top of it. It's a human reflection, and you recognize the face as your own, or what your face might have been with a few years on it. As you think about it, you reason that the more human version of your reflection laid over your monstrous visage must be the reflection seen by the people around you.

As you contemplate your reflection the reason for the other's reluctance to draw near quickly becomes apparent. Your hair is matted and tangled and you've several days growth adorning your face. Your apparel is completely different from what the people around you are wearing, with your baggy white Hakama tucked into the bindings covering your lower legs and feet and your loose off white top and over coat, and that's not to mention the fact that your clothing is worn and torn in some places, and stained with blood and grime. Furthermore you stand head and shoulders around most of the people around you, only the largest in the crowd approach your height and even then they reach at best your chin or nose. There's also the fact you have no umbrella, and are soaking wet.

All and all you stand out quite a bit compared to those around you. At least you aren't carrying your Daisho. Though on the other hand you wish you had your Daisho...

Do you

>Try and find something to wear that would make you less conspicuous
>Accept the fact that you probably won't be able to do anything about how you look and proceed regardless
>Write in.

If at all possible I'd like to move on with the next write up within the next hour or two. Hopefully we'll get prompt responses.

>>2935107
>>2935257

Fuck huge, wearing what's basically a dirty version of pic related minus the mask, and you look like an unwashed hobo. But no swords, which is probably a good thing. If we were wearing Daisho i'm pretty sure the cops would be coming for us. Though we might want to get some swords later on, depending on how things go. We'll have to see.

Also if you choose to accept the fact you probably won't be able to do anything about how you look we go with one of the options from above or a write in.

>>2935339
>>Accept the fact that you probably won't be able to do anything about how you look and proceed regardless

for now at least

but seeing as we are not presentable let's not enter a establishment and just ask someone on the street
>>Approach one of the people standing around waiting, if they aren't in a hurry they may speak with you

>>2935339
>>Write in.

Might as well own it, I'm sure we have seen examples of Buddhist monks and ourselves sound like a strict practitioner. Let's say we're a travelling monk, which we in a way are on a journey for truth and enlightenment, if we have prayer beads that would be perfect to have out and might take some of our intimidating edge off

>>2935383
This

>>2935373
>>2935383
>>2935410

Writing will start in 30 minutes. If there's anyone else who wants to vote or anything else ya'll wish to add for your actions speak up.

Well there isn't really anything you can do about your appearance at this point you decide, or at least not much, but perhaps you could try to be a bit less intimidating by pulling out your prayer beads and wrapping them around one hand and letting the ends dangle.

You rub your thumb across the worn wooden orbs and steady yourself by quietly chanting Namu Amida Butsu ,before turning back out to face the street and looking for someone you could approach. Your eyes fall on a large man standing at the edge of the sidewalk underneath a large black umbrella, wearing slacks and a button down shirt. You reason he might be less intimidated by you than some of the other's you see, so you approach him slowly slumping slightly and hunching your shoulders to try and minimize the difference in your heights. You step up in front of him, and then quickly introduce yourself.

"Pardon this one for disturbing you kind Sir" You say with a bow as you come to a stop in front of him, clasping your hands before you as is proper with the prayer beads prominently displayed on your wrist. "This one is a wandering monk who has become lost in your fair city, if you would be so kind as to provide this one with direction to a place where one might find shelter for the night, one would be most grateful."

He stares at you for a moment and with a befuddled expression and you hear him murmur quietly under his breath "what the hell" Before he clears his throat and says more loudly. "Listen buddy, I don't know what your problem is, but I can't help you."

"Kind sir-" you start to say before he cuts you off.

"What, did you not understand?" He asks "I said I can't help you, go bother someone else. I don't wanna deal with your shit."

Put off by his rude behavior you consider insisting, but decide it would cause to great a scene and instead bow and then turn away.

You walk away considering what you should do next, trying to decide whether or not you should try your luck with someone else on the street, when you hear someone behind you say "Excuse me mister monk?"

tbc

>>2935759

Turning you see a petite brunette woman in a yellow off shoulder blouse and a knee length denim skirt, and a tall statuesque red headed woman stepping up behind her wearing a zipped up black leather jacket and blue jeans. The brunette is smiling up at you, but the redhead is wearing a frown.

"I'm sorry for eavesdropping Mr. Monk" She says in a silk smooth contralto voice "But I overheard your conversation, and I'd like to help. I volunteer at the homeless shelter over in Hyde park on the weekends. We could take you there if you like."

"Lizzy" the redhead says sharply grabbing the other woman by the elbow "What are you doing? We don't know this guy."

"Look at him Mary he's a monk" She replies gesturing at you "It's fine, it's not like he's a gang banger or a crack addict or something."

"He's also fucking huge." the woman in leather retorts sharply "And how do we know he's a monk? I could throw on a habit, would that make me a nun?"

You can see the woman who offered to help you scrunch her brow and narrow her eyes as she looks at the other woman. It appears that she's gearing up for an argument.

Do you

>Wait and allow them to hash it out between them
>Tell them you do not wish to cause them to fight, and that you will leave them be and go on your way
>Ask them if rather than take you to the homeless shelter they could just give you directions.
>Ask if they have heard of Nikolai's soup kitchen, and if they could direct you to it.
>Write in.

>>2935804
>Tell them you do not wish to cause them to fight, and that you will leave them be and go on your way
>Ask them if rather than take you to the homeless shelter they could just give you directions.

>>2935804
>Tell them you do not wish to cause them to fight, and that you will leave them be and go on your way
>>Ask them if rather than take you to the homeless shelter they could just give you directions.

We can ask about Nikolai's kitchen at the shelter, the homeless there will probably have heard whispers

Also how down are folks in running with the monk thing? I think it fits character and is probably the easiest disguise we could make in the mortal world. We would need to do is shave our head, try to get sturdy robes, and continue our studies of Buddhism which is already something we're invested in.

>>2935851
Either that, or mountain ascetic/hermit that haven't seen civilization for quite a while.

>>2935851

Technically I've been writing us as practitioners of Shugendo rather than straight Buddhism up until this point. It's an amalgamation of Buddhism, Shinto and Taoism.

Going full monk/hermit would be pretty sweet in my opinion, if that's what everyone wants to do. Can go nicely with that healer angle that was discussed earlier, and warrior monks were quite common as well of course if we want to emphasize that angle. All depends on where we take it.

>>2935883

I've never heard of Shugendo, looks like a cool source to pull from

>>2935804

>Ask them if rather than take you to the homeless shelter they could just give you directions.

>>2935804
>>Tell them you do not wish to cause them to fight, and that you will leave them be and go on your way
>>Ask them if rather than take you to the homeless shelter they could just give you directions.
>>2935851
>>2935883

I was more into a monkly warrior, but still a warrior, we get a daisho and some proper western clothes so that to blend in better

>>2935851
>>2935883
Warrior-monks and syncretic religions are the best!

>>2935926

Yeah it's kind of obscure, but I love it personally. Lotta good stuff there. Updates coming in about an hour and a half once I go on lunch. Last call for votes.

>>2936208
>>2935974
>>2935846
>>2935818

Quickly before they can begin to argue you interject and tell them "please do not fight, one has no desire to cause contention between you. If you could provide one with directions to the shelter, one could find one's own way and leave you to enjoy your evening in peace."

"Great" the redhead says and begins to say "lemme tell you-" before being cut off by the smaller woman.

"No, we can't do that" she insists. "Look at him Mary he's soaked to the bone and he doesn't have an umbrella, he's gotta be freezing. What if he gets lost and dies of exposure? "

Speaking up before the redhead can reply you say "One is humbled by your concern but one feels fine. The rain is quite pleasant. One would not wish to cause you any inconvenience. Please, the directions will suffice, one can make ones way without assistance."

"See he's fine" Mary says. "Big strong guy like that won't be bothered by a little drizzle, lets just tell him and be done with it."

"I can't juse leave the guy" the brunette whines.

"And I'm not letting some strange hobo into my car" Mary retorts.

Sensing this may go on for some time you speak up and say "perhaps one could propose a compromise. Rather than allow one into your vehicle, perhaps you could provide this one with directions to the shelter and then follow this one from t he safety of your car to ensure one reaches the shelter safely and preserve your peace of mind."

They look at each other and then back at you, and then back to one another. The smaller woman stares up at her friend expectantly for several seconds and then the taller woman signs and turns to you and says, alright, that will work. Keep following 9th until you his 4th west and then turn south. Follow it for eight blocks and you should see the center."

Bowing you thank them and then go on your way. As you walk you occasional look behind you and can see a pair of headlights creeping along behind you.

The directions were straightforward and you reach the center with little difficulty, though covering the distance does take some time, and by the time you arrive the enervy imparted to you by the fruit has begun to wane, and you feel magnitudes more tired than you had before you had consumed it.

You are greeted at the door and ushered in, but you don't have the energy to really notice much or greet the person who welcomed you properly. You stumble after them to a room filled with cots.

After the worker leaves you in the room you look around and you see that most of the cots are filled with sleeping forms, there are only three other people still awake. One is an older man sitting up in bed hacking and coughing, and the other two are a larger man standing stiffly over a younger boy trying to make himself as small as possible.

Do you

>Go see if you can help the old sick man
>See if the boy needs help
>Sleep, you don't have the energy, they'Ll be there in the morning
>write in.

>>2937095
>See if the boy needs help
This seems like an immediate issue the coughing man while concerning is likely a long term problem.

>>2937095
>See if the boy needs help

What a nice girl, hope we see her at the shelter later

I would like to help the old man because of our doctor family but the kid need help right now

>>2937095
>>See if the boy needs help

>>2937095
>See if the boy needs help
First priority and then helping the sick man, no rest while there is good to be done

>>2937095

Fuck that is rough. Guess that's what I get for shoving it out as quickly as I could on break from my phone. Sorry it was delayed, we had a minor crisis at work that ate up my lunch hour.

I'll get to writing just as soon as I've grabbed a bite to eat for dinner, I'm starving.

>>2937095
>See if the boy needs help
Just caught up. Great read, keep up the good work QM

>>2937105
>>2937164
>>2937165
>>2937438
>>2937603

Tired but determined you begin to slowly shuffle your way across the room. You can't let yourself rest when there are those who need you before your eyes. You reach the bed of the coughing man and spare him a glance, but continue moving. You can help him come morning, or perhaps later tonight if you have the strength. The boy needs you now. You move your leaden feet as quietly as you can, and listen as you approach the far end of the room where the large man stands over the boy.

As you draw closer you see the smaller male is a sandy haired teenager whose face is covered in freckles. All you can see of the man standing over him is his shaggy black hair. Though they are speaking quietly so as not to disturb those sleeping, the room is silent enough that as you reach about the halfway point you begin to be able to pick up on what they are saying.

"Dammit Jimmy" A gruff voice hisses quietly "What do you mean you don't have my money?"

"I tried Luke" The boy replies quietly in a twangy accented voice "I tried, but it's been raining off an on all day. You know I can't play when it rains, and the takes not as good when I can't play. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" The man spits "You'da been real sorry if i'd left you for the twists and the rapists boy. I look out for you and this is how you repay me?"

"Just give me one more day" The boy begs "If you give me one more day I can-"

" I don't have one more day" The man cuts over the boy with vehemence, his voice raising up to almost speaking levels "Malone is coming to collect what I owe him tomorrow, and if I can't pay up he's gonna use my fucking eye for a fucking ash tray!"

The boy flinches and looks down and the man growls and says "Dammit Jimmy" and reaches for the youth

tbc.

>>2937806

However he stops before grabbing him as you step up next to him and draw his attention by saying mildly.

"One apologizes for intruding in your private matter, but one could not help but become aware of your conversation. One suggests that you reconsider harming the young man, it would surely bring you bad Karma."

The shaggy black haired man looks at you and flinches. You can see that his nose is crooked, clearly having been broken in the past. He has a few small scars on his face and one of his eyebrows is split. He's also missing one of his canine teeth. All and all he looks to be a beat up old brawler, and he quickly rallies and squares off with you. You can see the muscles bunch in his shoulders and neck as he clenches his fists and says to you.

"This is between me and the boy stranger, now you piss off and stop sticking your nose where it ain't wanted or there's going to be trouble." He whispers to you.

How do you reply

>One does not wish there to be any trouble, but one will not stand by and watch you harm the boy. Surely we can discuss this and come to a peaceable solution. We are men, not beasts.
>One could not help but overhear your conversation. One understands your difficulties, and that a man faced with imminent danger may be driven to actions he might later regret, but this is not the way. Talk with me, perhaps I could help you.
>Write in.

>>2937603

Good to have you, glad you are enjoying it so far. I hope you will continue to do so.

>>2937811
>One could not help but overhear your conversation. One understands your difficulties, and that a man faced with imminent danger may be driven to actions he might later regret, but this is not the way. Talk with me, perhaps I could help you.

I feel like coming at him with some sympathy will help, it's not like we don't understand being put in a hard place under the threat of torture

>>2937811
>One could not help but overhear your conversation. One understands your difficulties, and that a man faced with imminent danger may be driven to actions he might later regret, but this is not the way. Talk with me, perhaps I could help you.
The fact that we're both a hulking bruiser AND a good Buddhist just keeps amusing me.

>>2937898

It's a fun contrast.

>>2937821

True, very true.


Alright gonna give it half an hour more for responses, and then I'm going to start the write up. Really looking forward to this one.

Also, random question. So I like to look at the ID's. Check who has been around for a while, whose new, see who is coming back after an absence that sort of thing just to try and get a feel for who my players are. But my own experience with being on the move and having my ID change leads me to wonder if perhaps some of these ID's that are one offs are actually the same people just getting assigned different IDs. Just trying to get a feel for who is who, and who all I'm working with here. If by chance that is happening to you, I'd really appreciate it if you could identify yourself and what posts are yours, if that isn't too much to ask.

Test

>>2937898
>>2937821

“One could not help but overhear your conversation.” You tell him in your most soothing and understanding tone . “One understands your difficulties, and that a man faced with imminent danger may be driven to actions he might later regret, but this is not the way. Talk with me, perhaps I could help you"

“Help me?” He says bitterly “Who the fuck the do you think you are? Unless you got a fat stack of Benjamins hidden in those pajamas you can’t help me. I’m in deep with Marlboro Malone, no one can help me.”

“One has never heard of this Marlboro Malone” You reply “But surely he can be reasoned with, or otherwise dealt with, the same as any other man.”

“Shit man” He says “It’s Marlboro Malone, ain’t you heard the stories?”

“No” You reply, “One has not. Please, tell me.”

“Why” He asks you “Why should I. It’s not like it will do me any good.”

“One thinks it could not hurt. Tell one of this Marlboro Malone, and let one decide if he can help. ” You tell him softly. “What do you have to lose?”

“Not much” He says with a snort and shakes his head. “Fine, you wanna hear about it i’ll tell you, you wanna try and get between me and Malone afterwords I won’t stop you, but don’t blame me for what happens to you.”

He pauses for a moment and then begins to speak, the way he looks past you and the slow steady manor of his speech tell you his mind walks far away through memories. “He don’t look like much when you see him the first time, just a rake thin guy in a suit with a Boston accent. Sure you've heard the stories, they tell you about the guy's who've welshed on debts to him and what he does to em, but you figure they’re bullshit scare campaigns you know? And then you come up short on a payment, and he just slides up to you pale as fucking death and stands there for a minute.”

tbc

>>2938304

The man shudders and continues. “He reaches into his pocket and he pulls out a cigarette and his lighter, he always carries cigarettes it’s why they call him Marlboro it’s his favorite brand, and he lights up and he just watches you for a moment. Then he takes a nice deep drag and blows the smoke in your face and ask you real quiet like where his money is.”

He looks you in the eyes, and you can see the fear reflected in his as he says “Then he stares at you with those cold fucking eyes, like some sort of snake just watching you, and he takes these deep sucking breaths that make the cherry on the cigarette glow red. Just dragging on that cigarette letting it burn bright right in front of your face, and you know what he does with those cigarettes man, you’ve heard the fucking stories. If you’ve been around long enough you’ve fucking seen the guys he done it too.”

“And it’s not just that” He adds “Things happen to people who cross him, weird things man, things that don’t make no sense. You can’t cross Marlboro, you just can’t.”

“Why would you borrow money from such a man?” You ask

“Backed a buddy of mine opening up a little hole in the wall.” Luke replies. “He’d gone to culinary school while he was in Jail, but no bank wanted to finance a felon you know? Hell even most of the sharks didn’t want to put out money for it, but Malone would. We thought it was a sure deal, that it would work out fine, but then the place caught fire a few days after opening and we lost everything. Faulty fucking wiring. Man If I ever find the real estate agent who recommended we rent that place again I’ll kill them. I swear I will.”

He trails off then, it seems he’s said his piece.

What will you tell him

>You’ll help him deal with Malone
>He’s made his bed and has to lay in it
>He should run
>You’ll talk with Malone for him
>Write in


FINALLY. I've so incredibly frustrated with this delay, it's nice to be able to get this up here.

>>2938321
>You’ll help him deal with Malone
>You’ll talk with Malone for him

Both of them and I am going to be very surprised if Marlboro Malone isn't a Lost himself, also suspect that he's the one who burnt the place down too but I'm a paranoid

Also this delay sucked and I didnt get the chance to answer your earlier point about switching IDs, just so you know these are all mine: >>2937821
>>2935846
>>2925325

And I'll keep a basic name for the quest

Ah, I remember what I was going to ask. I've aquired the Pdf for the 2nd edition. What would ya'll think about stating out Kentaro and giving some end edition material a try here in the quest?

>>2938341
Supporting. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Malone who caused that fire.

On another note, its good that /qst/ is fixed.

>>2938370

Huh, I guess I had forgotten that there isn't a character sheet for this guy yet, I'd be down if it turns out that QM doesn't have one on hand

>>2938407

Ah, forgive me, I probably should have specified. I am the qm. I have the beggining of a 1e sheet, but as I was working on it it occurred to me that since I was planning on borrowing concepts I liked from 2e anyway, why not use this as a test to take 2e for a test run? That and this would also be a good chance to test porting over some of the stuff we have in 1 that's absent from 2 into it way I figure, if everyone is down for that.

>>2938419
Go for it.

>>2938419

Oh yeah for sure, whatever you're comfortable with, I'm not familiar with 1st the same way I am with 2nd anyways and was wondering what would be going down as far as contracts go. You should look into getting a tag

>>2938432

Been years since I wore a tag, and my old one really doesn't fit here. I'm open to suggestions, otherwise I'll probably just stick with storyteller. I'm not that good at picking names for myself, even my old tag was something my readers gave me cause they thought I needed one rather than something I picked.

On the subject of stating Kentaro, I'd like to hear your opinions as players. Part of the reason I've been so slow to make a sheet for him is because I wanted to wait and see how you all played him. After all the stats should reflect the character. If we had a stat block that didnt match the way ya'll played him that would be no good, so I've been watching and trying to see how Kentaro would shape up.

At the moment I'm definitely thinking he's got good social stats. We've been playing him as a character that leads with words first, so I could even see it as the primary, with physical stats as secondary and mental as tertiary.

What do ya'll think? If you were putting him down on paper, how do you feel he could be best represented? Use whatever edition your comfortable with, I'm familiar with both versions of Ctl, and I'd love to get some imput. After all if we do produce and use a sheet that will effect the way things go forward, so it seems only right to me that the players have a hand in it. It's ya'lls character after all. I'm not asking for full sheets, just your thoughts on the matter.

>>2938479

For the tag I would say that Storyteller would be fine but if I remember correctly there have been a few Storytellers on qst. What do you think about the name Rakugo?

I think that's a good way to organize the stat blocks for Kentaro, and certainly fits with the wise monk warrior we've been playing. Been showing empathy and resolve all the way throughout.

>>2938534

>Rakugo

I like it. Done and done. Thanks.

>>2938716

No problem, as far as getting the character sheet together with input from the players it might not be a bad idea to run through a quick meta character gen, it might take some time but it's the most democratic way to do it

>>2938754

Good Idea. We'll do meta discussion and character creation in between write ups.Speaking of lets start up our first meta discussion for stating Kentaro and in 30 minutes I'll do the next bit of writing. We haven't had as many votes as I would have liked, but I reckon most people would have chosen the same based on previous decisions anyway.Hopefully the lack of people is just the effect of the downtime from the update.

In any case, first thing to be decided is Seeming and Kith. Obviously we're an Ogre. No questions there, but since 2e does Kith a little different Oni isn't an option for Kith, or we'd just be going with that. Honestly Kith options are rather limited, but they're fairly comprehensive and you can do a lot with a bit of re-fluffing.

Now in 1e the Oni kith ability was a bite and heal. This could best be represented either by a slightly re-fluffed version of the Leechfinger kith in 2e, or perhaps by a 2e Gristlegrinder. The Leechfinger has spend glamour while in contact to damage opponent and heal, and the Gristlegrinder has bite for lethal damage.

However rather than focus on the 1e kith ability, I feel that 2e Hunterheart makes a better thematic choice that matches more fully with our character. The Hunterhearts thing in 2e is an ability to cause supernatural fear by by locking eyes with their opponent. If they succeed their unarmed attacks do lethal. I feel that rather than obsess over the bite focusing on the fact that Oni are meant to be terrifying creatures, makes good sense to me personally.

Of course Oni of myth did often have man eating tendencies, so Gristlegrinder could work as well...

In any case these are just my thoughts on the matter, it is of course something we will all need to decide together.

We'll start with this and see how it goes, and then open up the next topic for discussion, which will be attributes.

>>2938341
>>2938395

"Leave the boy be and let this one rest with you tonight" You tell man. "And in the morning when your creditor comes one will speak with him on your behalf. Surely he is a man as well, able to understand the misfortune of another and feel compassion. And if not, if his heart is as a stone, then one will stand by you all the same should words fail."

The man looks you up and down, taking in your muscular bulk, and says earnestly "Thank you, I don't know why you are doing this, but thank you. What's your name man."

"One is called Kentaro" You tell him "Now let us rest and prepare ourselves for the morning, but first a moment. One has something one must attend to."

You stand up and shuffle your way wearily over to the old man coughing in his bed, approaching him you whisper out "Honored Elder, will you allow this one to tend to you? One has some skill in healing"

The old man mutters and keeps coughing, he seems to be in a feverish daze. You reach out and feel his temperature. He is warm, but not dangerously so. Looking at him you realize there is little you can do at the moment, with no proper supplies and tired as you are. His sickness does not seem to threaten his life at this moment, you can allow yourself to rest and prepare for the morning, and perhaps after Malone has been seen off you can do something to help this man.

Returning you lay down on a cot near to Luke and Jimmy and lay your head down on the pillow.

Morning comes all to swiftly and you are wakened by a gruff voice calling out "Hey, big pajama guy uh... Kentaro, get up. Malone's gonna be here any minute."

You sit up and stretch and reply "One does not understand why you refer to one's raiment as pajamas. One does not see the resemblance."

"They're all poofy and loose" He says. You notice something different about him today. Something you hadn't noticed last night, perhaps you were just to tired to pick up on it, but there is a certain...[i] Flavour [/i] to the air around him. Or perhaps it is a scent, it is difficult to tell, but you can sense it much as you sensed the power that opened the door or the fire that filled you when you ate the fruit. It whispers across your mind yellow-fear-lemons-suspense-gold and you can almost see it shimmering in the air around him.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" He asks as you consider the phenomena and what it may mean "Come on lets get going, unless what you said was just words."

tbc

File: Marlboro Malone.jpg (33 KB, 381x810)

33 KB JPG

>>2939336

"No, one's words are not empty." You say as you stand up. "Lead the way."

"Yeah sure right this way" He says and leads you out of the room and through a few hallways to the back of the building. He gestures at a plain doorway marked exit and says "That leads into the back alley, it's where he wants to meet, he said he'd be here at half past nine and it's about twenty three after the hour now, so we should probably go and"- he pauses to take a gulp- "wait for him."

You can sense that he does not wish to see this Malone, that the thought of meeting with him fills him with dread, the phenomena around him thickens at the thought, so you offer "One will wait and meet this Malone oneself first. Wait here, and I will call you out when the time is right."

He nods to you, and you can see the gratitude written across his face and he slumps and sits down against the wall. You return his nod and then step out into the alley to wait.

You do not have to wait long. Soon you hear footsteps coming from the street and entering the alley. They slowly get closer to you, whoever it is is in no hurry as they slowly meander towards you. They step around the corner and you get your first look at Marlboro Malone. For a moment you think a burning skeleton in a suit has walked around the corner, but then you get a better look at him. There is flesh over his bones, but it is lit from within and his bones can be seen faintly through his flesh as shadows overlaying that inner fire. Open flames dance over his skull in place of hair swaying this way and that as he walks towards you. He wears a suit that's been well tailored but is made of cheap materials, and a bright yellow handkerchief overflows from his breast pocket.

He comes to a stop in front of you, and then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a red and white box and shakes out a cigarette. He raises it up to his lips and then brings his other hand up. He holds loosely with the fingers curled over his palm as if he was holding something, a lighter perhaps, though his hand is empty. Then when it is in front of his cigarette he drags his thumb across his forefinger like he was hitting a flint wheel, and you feel the universe twist and a flame appear floating over his empty hand.

tbc

>>2939390

It's such a small thing, and he does it so casually, but your world stops for a second. You remember of course. You remember bargains made with different Kami during your time in the realm of the spirits that granted you amazing powers. You remember reading portents in burning bones and raised stones that told you the truth of your enemies, of their pasts and their present and future plans. You remember leaping over great rivers and crossing battlefields in a single bound. You remember blades breaking on your skin, and winds flowing off your own blades that cut through hills. Or had your blades been the winds themselves?

It is all so hazy now, the further you ran the more it seemed a dream induced by your exhaustion. Certainly the Kami do not seem to leap to do your bidding now, but seeing this display you know you were not imagining it. This man has made a bargain with a fire Kami, just as you had made bargains with Kami while you were there, and if he can have such a bargain here surely you can renew your own bargains or seek out new bargains from the Kami here in the mortal realm. The implications...will have to be considered another time. Your focus must be here in the now, and on the man before you. Not wandering the past or contemplating the future.

He lights the cigarette and takes a deep pull before exhaling slowly, blowing the smoke out over your face and saying "Well, I don't think I've seen you around before, and I can still smell Arcadia on you. You must be new meat. You aren't trying to steal my [i] Harvest [/i] are you new meat?"

How do you respond

>One knows not this Harvest you speak of, and one has no desire to steal from you. One is here to speak with you one behalf of Luke
>It is said one kind word can warm three months of winter. One wonders how much more one kind action might warm relations that might otherwise cool into enmity. One suggests you should consider this before we continue our conversation.
>I am neither new meat nor your ash tray! We have eaten from the same bitter iron pot, how can you think to treat your neighbor in this manner?
>Write in

>>2939435

...huh, wonder why the italicization didn't work. Well that's irritating.

>>2939435
>It is said one kind word can warm three months of winter. One wonders how much more one kind action might warm relations that might otherwise cool into enmity. One suggests you should consider this before we continue our conversation.
He should know, he's a skeleton on fire.

>>2939435
>It is said one kind word can warm three months of winter. One wonders how much more one kind action might warm relations that might otherwise cool into enmity. One suggests you should consider this before we continue our conversation.

>>2938143
Couldn't post at all yesterday, I am >>2923909 and >>2918932

>>2938419
I know absolutely nothing about 2e, but go for it if you are comfortable with it.

>>2939466

I swear I know you from somewhere. You ever use that trip on /tg/?

If you don't mind me asking, what do you think of Malone? I'm curious what everyone's opinion is of the character and his presentation.

>>2939500

Honestly 1e would be fine, I'm really used to 1e it's what i've run for years, but I like the look of 2e and if everyone is interested it'd be interesting to experiment with I think.

Thanks for being part of the quest, and thanks for letting me know which posts had been you, I appreciate it.

Same question about Malone. That question is for everyone really. I'm always looking for feedback so I can improve, and I like to know what my players think. It's odd not to be able to watch the people i'm playing with's reactions to try and figure out how they feel and what they are thinking.

>>2939435
>One knows not this Harvest you speak of, and one has no desire to steal from you. One is here to speak with you one behalf of Luke

>>2939502
I usually lurk /tg/ and /co/, and of course /qst/.

I see Malone as this MIB looking fellow that's just unnerving, and 1920s Ghost Rider in Changeling form. So far, characterizations are good, keep fleshing them out!

>>2939513
I've been assuming 1e this whole time and advising based on that assumption, myself.

>>2939435
>It is said one kind word can warm three months of winter. One wonders how much more one kind action might warm relations that might otherwise cool into enmity. One suggests you should consider this before we continue our conversation.

For our Kith I'll be honest I hadn't considered the Hunterheart but I think that would be an interesting direction to go

>>2939513

How would you go about combining the Ogre with the Hunterheart?

>>2939466
>>2939500
>>2939517
>>2939573

Rather than answer his question you tell the man "It is said one kind word can warm three months of winter. One wonders how much more one kind action might warm relations that would otherwise cool into emnity. One suggests that you should consider this before we continue our conversation."

The man looks at you for a moment, and then pulls the cigarette out of his mouth and points it at your face and says "What was that meat? I couldn't understand you, it almost sounded like you were trying to threaten me. But that can't be right. You can't be dumb enough to bark at me like that right new meat? I musta misheard your chink gobbledygook. Speak English meat, I ain't in the mood to put up with that multicultural shit."

"Then one will endevour to speak simply so as not to exceed your ability to understand." You grit out. "And one's name is Kentaro."

He looks at you for a moment more, and then takes a long deep drag on his cigarette and very deliberately blows smoke in your face.

"Ain't that cute" Malone says "The new meat thinks it's people. Listen meat, get outta here. Scram, and I'll forget you was here and forgive you for trying to interfere. Now that's a generous offer, I ain't gonna make it twice."

"You will forgive me?" You reply incredulously. "This one has not behaved outside of propriety. For what does one need forgiveness."

"For interfering with my business" he replies mildly. "And I'm sure you'll find after you've been here awhile that interfering with a member of the freeholds buisiness is pretty far outside propriety. Listen new meat, you're colorless trash. You ain't got no court, no one to back you. If it comes down to it and this goes south, it won't end well for you. So scram, and stop trying to keep me from getting what's mine."

How do you respond.

>A harvest cannot be had of a barren field. The man inside has been left destitute, cast into the waves by the will of a malevolent Kami. He cannot be blamed for that. One suggests you return again when the fields are once more green and lush.
>One thinks one might more readily draw blood from a stone than compassion from your heart, but one will try nevertheless. He has no money with which to pay you, and you gain nothing by harming him. Should you show him mercy surely he will repay you for your generosity in time.
>The Buddha teaches us to rise above provocation is divine, yet the Kami are proud and quick to anger. For compassions sake one will give you this final warning, though you have done nothing to deserve it. Leave now, and you will go unharmed. There is nothing for you here. Do not try this one's patience further.
>back down....
>write in.

>>2940161

So in 2e kith works a little different then it had in 1e. In 1e each kith was a subset of a particular seeming. So for instance hunterheart was a subset of beast, or Oni was a subset of Ogre.

In 2e your kith is not a subset of Seeming. Rather in 2e any seeming can be any kith, and your kith is chosen based on what best represents your character. The kiths aren't hard locked to certain seemings, or subsets of them. They're archetypes of their own really, and by combining a seeming archetype and a Kith archetype you describe your character.

It's actually one of the things I question in 2e. I can see the potential, but I feel that at the moment they don't have enough kiths, and that some of the kiths obviously work better for certain seemings than others. I mran I guess you could have an ogre playmate if you wanted but....anyway it's one of those things I reserve judgement on, and that I think will need some further expansion material to really be all it can be, but it's still a fascinating new way to go about it for me after all these years of 1e.

I suppose I should clarify, when I say 1e I mean firat edition of changeling the lost. I am not refering to changeling the dreaming. When I say 2e I am refering to the second edition of changeling the lost, which actually hasn't been released yet and is still in kickstarter, but they gave the supporters the Pdf for it which is how I have it.

It's like 90 percent the same as 1e, it's still the same changeling we now and love courts and all, but some of the tweaks and new concepts really go a long way in my opinion. I love the idea of adding huntsmen as antagonists for example, and the new contract system is actually a lot simpler and in many ways more versatile than the way contracts had been handled in 1e.

Anyway, I'm probably getting ahead of myself and if it's confusing people we can just stick to 1e, I just wanted to put it out there cause I'm really jazzed for the upcoming release and I just can't wait to start playing with it.

>>2940502
>A harvest cannot be had of a barren field. The man inside has been left destitute, cast into the waves by the will of a malevolent Kami. He cannot be blamed for that. One suggests you return again when the fields are once more green and lush.

>>2940502
>A harvest cannot be had of a barren field. The man inside has been left destitute, cast into the waves by the will of a malevolent Kami. He cannot be blamed for that. One suggests you return again when the fields are once more green and lush.

>>2940542

Ah I see where I'm getting mixed up then, thought you were referring to CtD instead of CtL between the 1st and 2nd editions. I do not have the source for the 2nd edition pdf so I'll be behind as well as far as what's available, I do like to idea of unmooring the seeming from the kith and would like to see how it goes with a hunterheart ogre, from how I understand them is seems like it would fit an ogre ronin. But if it's easier for all the people playing then sticking with 1st edition makes sense, that way when we get into contracts people can look up and make decisions with all the same level of information

>>2940553

>Write in addition

One does not wish to obstruct ones business dealings and one recognizes a deal made in faith. One cautions against falling to the side of exploitation and taking on the burden of bad Karma.

>>2940502
>>A harvest cannot be had of a barren field. The man inside has been left destitute, cast into the waves by the will of a malevolent Kami. He cannot be blamed for that. One suggests you return again when the fields are once more green and lush.

>>2940566

Yeah I started to get the sense I may have been confusing people when I went back and read through the posts. Hopefully this clears things up.

And it is true that it would be easier for all involved and likely better for the you all the players to just stick to first edition changeling the lost.

...gonna miss that sweet sweet 2e contract system though. Ah well.

Anyway, I'll give it another half hour and then start the next write up. Last call for votes.

>>2941214

Damn, forgot the trip.

>>2940543
>>2940553
>>2940887

"A harvest cannot be had of a barren field." You tell the man before you. "The man inside has been left destitute, cast into the waves by the will of a malevolent Kami. He cannot be blamed for that. One suggests you return again when the fields are once more green and lush."

He just stares, and as he doesn't seem inclined to respond you continue "One does not wish to obstruct your business dealings, and one recognizes that you are due recompense. One merely cautions against allowing your business to fall into exploitation and taking on the burden of bad Karma."

He looks at you a moment more, his head cocks to the side, and then he throws his shoulders back and cackles. "You, you think this is about the money?" He asks between his harsh guffaws. "It ain't about the money, I know he can't pay me. It's about reputation, and fear."

"Can't you feel it?" He asks as he inhales deeply through the nose. "It's so thick in the air I can taste it. You're wrong, the field isn't barren, its a ripe golden yellow carefully tended and ready to be brought in. That fear is mine. That Glamour is mine. I've cultivated it carefully for weeks, and i'm here to take it."

"Fear, what manner of harvest is fear? do you think to eat it? can fear fill your belly?" You demand.

He laughs all the harder and says "You really don't know anything do you? Glamour new meat, Glamour. That's the harvest. Fear, Anger, Lust, Sorrow, it all works, though Fear tastes best to me. Energy, the essence of human emotion, that's what makes Glamour. And you'll need it new meat, oh how you'll need it. You may be flush with power taken with you when you left Arcadia now, but it'll fade before long and you'll need it. You'll starve on a full belly as your body cries for something food can't give it, and you'll either learn to take it from people or you'll end up begging at the goat's hooves for scraps. Either way I can't wait to see it."

As he straightens back out and replaces the cigarette back into his mouth you can see his eyes are manic. His mouth opens in a wide stretching grin that shows too many teeth.

"Now this has been a right hoot." He says as he moves to step past you towards the door "But I'm going in now, and I'm going to drag Luke out here and take my jollies, and get what I need."

Do you

>Step between him and the door.
>Shove him away from the door
>Allow him to pass.

>>2941389
>Step between him and the door.

"If this Fear is already here one imagines that one can harvest without the necessary physical damage else one would see many more cyclops's wandering about. Take what you came to get, without the pound of flesh."

>>2941389
this
>>2941462

>>2941462
>>2942365

Huh, slow day. Well, thank you for your replies. I'm afraid it will be a few hours before I'll be able to update. My appologies.

In the meantime further votes are welcome.

>>2942500

Damn, still keep forgetting the tag.

>>2941462
>>2942365

You step in front of him blocking his path to the door and tell him. "If this fear you desire is already here then take it. One does not believe that this Harvest you speak of necessitates maiming, else our kind would leave behind many more cripples and the city would be full of them. Take what you came here for, without the pound of flesh."

"The glamour may be what I'm after but that pound of flesh is important." He says, his face still split by that overly wide grin that shows too many teeth . "After all we had a deal he and I, and he isn't keeping his end of it. I'm owed."

"Money perhaps, but what you mean to take is more than your due one thinks." You reply, remaining between him and the door.

"You're really going to stick your neck out for this guy are you? You even know the first thing about him?" He asks as his head cocks to the side again and he squints at you .

"One knows he is a man who's suffering is worthy of this one's compassion" You tell him, remaining firmly in place before him. "And that is all this one need know."

He looks at you for a minute, and then takes a long drag on his cigarette burning it down to the filter before throwing away the nub onto the alley floor.

"Fine" he says as he exhales a cloud of smoke. He pauses for a moment and then breathes deep, and you can feel that sensation of yellow-fear bleeding through the wall. You hear it swirling about, and then the taste fades from the air in the alley as Malone sucks it into himself.

The mania fades from his eyes and the smile shrinks until he's once more calm, and then he lights another cigarette and takes a puff before using it to gesture at you and saying "Alright wise guy, he's your responsibility now. I'll give Luke two weeks, and then I expect my money. Tell him a regular instalment won't do neither. Seeing as he's inconveniencing me by making me wait if he doesn't put a grand in my hand when I come for my money then he's finished. And I won't just be taking what I'm owed from him. I'll take my due from you as well for this."

Then he turns sharply on his heel and briskly makes his way out of the alley. But before he turns the corner and leaves he pauses for a moment and looks back at you over his shoulder and then says "And wise guy? Even if I get my money, I'm not going to forget this."

With those parting words he turns the corner and leaves, and you are left alone in the alley.

Tbc