>>2939571
"Oh yeah! Over here!" And after crossing a couple of alleys, you finally come upon a rather fancy sign out in front of a particularly green and gold building; out front a sign in big, emerald green embossed letters: ‘Flutterby Books and Mossfield Cafe’. It looked sizable enough, and you could see several patrons outside reading books and casually enjoying various snacks, much like more modern bookstores and cafes. Seems like this is doing well for itself.

As you walk in, you notice that there’s...actually quite a number of people and summons here, looking on the shelves for books or otherwise investigating. There even seems to be a bit of a squabble in the corner between two summons over a small, pastel colored book, though it’s the way your client easily bounds up to the long-haired man at the counter that catches your eye. “Hey, Lance!”

‘Lance’ is engrossed in a book himself, a large eyed, six-armed monkey creature on his shoulders that seems just as interested, though it is the first to look at him- and then you, upon which the startled jerk he gives is enough to make him fall backwards, sending both him and summoner tumbling. “Whoa!” He nearly slams into the back wall, but his summon manages to catch himself, pushing them both back. It takes a second for him to shake off the shock. “Yikes, dude, what the heck? What’s goin’ on here?”

“Huh? Oh, right, this is my summon Kyrie, Kyrie, this is Lance, owner of Flutterby Books. Don’t worry, Lance, she’s cool!” It all comes out in a rush such that you’re wondering if he’s actually getting kind of tired of it. Either way, you afford him a brief wave, but decide to stay silent for now. You’re getting enough stares.

Lance just glances at you a bit longer before shaking his head. “Iiiiif you’re sure little man. Sooo...you heard we got some new stuff in, huh?”

Lysan nods eagerly. “Yeah! Anything up my alley? Y’know, the usual?”

cont.

>>2939577
Lance puts a hand to his chin, thinking. “Hmmm...well, might be a couple things you’d be interested in. One in particular.” He leans over, whispering now. “Ever heard of the Grey Codex?” Lysan shakes his head. “Yeah, me neither ‘till the guy bought it in. Says he got it from some sorta ancient ruin waaay to the north. Been keepin’ it off the shelves ‘cause I wanna take a looksee at it sometime later. No clue what it’s about, but dude says he took a look at it, thinks it might be some kinda old rulebook written in a dead language. For what, I dunno, but it SOUNDS legendary. Either way, he didn’t want it, so I scored it off him.”

Hm. You’re not sure what that might entail, either, but you can’t deny he does well at making it sound exciting. And then Lance straightens up, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Oh, and I got what SOUNDS like the latest book in your favorite ‘Dusty the Friendly Fairy’ series, so-”

“AGH! Zip it!” Hm. This place IS mostly books, so…

>Ask Lance if he has any recommendations.
>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.
>Maybe if you hurry, you can go somewhere else.
>Other

>>2939588
>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.

Why don't we just take pictures of the pages, for reading later?

>>2939588
>>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.
>>2939598
I think we are already getting enough stares right now.

>>2939588
>>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.

>>2939588
>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.

>>2939588
>>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.

>>2939588
>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.
Aren't all fairies friendly???!!

>>2939650
Dusty is verrrrry friendly.

>>2939670
Ohhh!

>>2939588
>>Ask Lance if he has any recommendations.

>>2939588
>Ask Lance if he has any recommendations.

>>2939588
>Ask Lance if he has any recommendations.

>>2939588
>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.

>>2939588
>Go make a nuisance of yourself, have fun.

>>2939670
So is it just stories of 'friendship' or is it more of a how-to series?

>>2939588
>I can probably read that language, wouldn't be the first time

Cmon guys it's dangling right there in front of us

>>2939588
>Other
"Show me this Grey Codex. It sounds like something I've seen before."
Not really, but we can scan it with the FutureSight.

>>2939867
It'll probably just be another love letter...

>>2939867
Good point. Maybe we can do it as a secondary question?

>>2939878
That just makes it funnier to do.

>>2939588
>Other
Demand to see the old book. He can't possibly deny us anyway, and this sounds like a subplot.

>>2939588
changing my vote from >>2939602 to
>I can probably read that language, wouldn't be the first time

>>2939588
this
>>2939867
might as well. If it's junk, we should be able to tell pretty quick and can go browsing.

Checking which ID is me

>>2939588
Changing my vote from >>2939726 to
>I can probably read that language, wouldn't be the first time

>>2939588
>Ask if you can go browsing a bit by yourself.

My bet is that, "the grey Codex" is just a rulebook for a ancient tabletop RPG, one that speaks of space marines even.

>>2939650
>>2939670
Wonder if this is the book version of that terrible movie Miranda and the girls watched during movie night

>>2940006
>>2940014
That'd be the funny option.

An interesting option would be a nanotech book-form of a FutureSight created by another universe-hopping civilization. Handler said that there are others aside from the Dealmakers, just that the Dealmakers are the best at that form of travel.
So it'd be interesting to see what the competition is like (when the competition is a bunch of food carts and trucks while we're a globe-spanning multi-national conglomerate with a vertical monopoly).

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>>2940035
>>2940014
Or it can be something akin to the codex seraphianus.

>>2940068
What the fuck am I looking at?

>>2940079
A bunch of nonsense created in the late 80's designed to evoke the feeling of a 5 year old that doesn't know how to read, but its enraptured by the images in the book.

>>2940035
Wrll i know one quest cross over that could be open if we found about other universe-hopping civilizations.

>>2939588
Hm. Thinking about it, there’s mainly one book that interests you. “I’d like to take a look at that ‘Codex’, if you don’t mind.”

The way him and his monkey-beast jumps again has you wondering if he’s just skittish. “Wha? Uh, I mean...I guess? I take a break in like, fifteen minutes. I can show it to you then.”

Lysan raises an eyebrow. “Why do you wanna see it?” And then he blinks, realizing. “Wait...do you think you can read it?”

“It’s likely,” you admit. You can see the monkey-thing squint at you (an effect surprisingly magnified by how big its eyes are), but it doesn’t say anything to oppose you.

Lance, meanwhile, just shrugs as you look backwards, seeing another customer stop about 5 feet behind you, trying to wave and get the man’s attention. “Alright, hang out here and I’ll get it in a bit. Oh, and Ly, don’t worry, I’ll have your pixie stuff, too!” He quickly calls out ‘next in line!’ before Lysan can say anything about it, and the two of you shuffle to the side, Lysan grumbling to himself.

You tilt your head slightly at his antics. This book can’t be THAT bad, can it? Ah well, not your business. You’re more interested in seeing something else. “So...would you mind too much if I went browsing a bit in the meantime?”

“Oh? Yeah, sure, if you want.” he allows. “Just don’t...I dunno, get into trouble or anything. People are scared enough of you…”

“Not to worry,” you reassure him as you step away. So now you’ve got a bit of time. Might as well see if there’s anything else worth your curiosity. If nothing else, it’s good that all the imported stuff is marked with a sticker saying so…

>Roll 3d100 for searching out anything interesting.

Rolled 97, 98, 68 = 263 (3d100)

>>2940378
Let's see if we can find something for the kids.

Rolled 26, 65, 49 = 140 (3d100)

>>2940378

Rolled 45, 55, 11 = 111 (3d100)

>>2940378
Loot time!

Rolled 4 (1d100)

Ignore this.

Or don't, up to you.

...Hhhhhhhuh.

97, 98, 68.

4.

That's a very interesting combination of numbers for this next post.

Writing.

>>2940400
Did we find the full blueprints and technical manual for a very obscure, but valuable piece of magitech?

>>2940400
Interesting to who?

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>>2940400

>>2940432
I'm starting to wonder if Lysan stumbled with the summoning contract with the intersection here.

Maybe this is a place were other universe-hopping civilizations leave their contracts? That is if the summons aren't a dimension hopping civilization too.

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>>2940400
I don't know how this is going to go, so here's a picture of a ferret having a party.

>>2940462
>>2940400
Lysan might just be the luckiest motherfucker alive in several dimensions.

>>2940557
Well he got Miranda as his summon so yes he is.

>>2940378
>>2940384
>>2940388
>>2940389
In particular, there’s a bin of imported, yet unsorted books that people are occasionally digging through. As you sift through, almost immediately your eyes latch onto something that strikes your interest- it’s some type of old paperback book, that honestly looks more like a manual more than anything else. Titleless, you can see why it wouldn’t be all that attractive to the common layperson...but for someone like you?

Flipping through it, you note that it seems to be fairly sketch-heavy; a number of diagrams of what you recognize as both summoning circles, motions, and even various creatures. From what text there is in there, however, you notice that it’s as much a manual as it is a bestiary; some kind of manuscript that seems to outline specifics as to how to summon certain creatures and...imbue them with power? Interesting indeed. There are simpler ones as well as more complicated methodologies, the latter half of the book seeming to be, from what you can gather, a treatise on how to summon simple monsters without using anything but a focus. You’re not sure how valuable this is, but...considering how big summoning is here, you’d be surprised if it’s not worth holding onto.

Sifting through the pile even more, you come across another book, this one old as well, but with a half-inch thick leatherbound cover who’s title catches your interest, although you can tell it’s in a different language: ‘To Rend the Beyond.’ This one is...you’re not sure, but the preface seems to indicate that it’s about using the raw energies of the dimensional plane that summons come from, explaining how summons come to be, and how both they and that energy can be controlled.

Something’s bugging you about it, though...as you turn the book end over end, you can’t help but squint...it feels like something might be inside of it- if only because it feels like the back cover might be heavier than the front. You’re not certain, but…

Before you can get too into it, however, you hear a commotion in the front- and then glass breaking, just before things turn into all-out yelling.

cont.

>>2940692
Running to the front mostly out of concern for your ward, you find him stuck between a table and the wall, a shattered glass cup nearby the source of the break. Hovering nearby and causing everyone to cower is a large, bipedal lizard looking summon, colored like an oncoming storm and eyes like blue thunder. He’s even got a pretty large sword strapped to his back. The reptile’s eyes are fierce as he paces the grounds, but no one’s daring to approach him- despite their numbers, he seems to be by far the largest here. “Now see here! I been polite, since my boss said so, BUT he also said to GET THAT BOOK BACK. Now the fink what stole it said he pawned it off here, so I’ll give ya just but a moment ta fork it over- ‘less you sold it already! Give ya till the count of five b’fore I lose my temper!”

Well...that won’t do. Not now that he’s basically threatening your client.

>Maybe you can have some fun with this. Lysan said to not get in trouble, but…
>Time for a quick retreat. Get Lysan, and get AWAY from the situation ASAP.
>He doesn’t seem to even notice you yet. She who strikes first…
>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.
>Other

>>2940692
Cool we found a pokedex of summons! Lyan just got even more lucky for having us.

>>2940695
>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.

>>2940695
>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.
I hope he resists. I really hope he resists. I want to make him suffer as he dies.

>>2940695
>>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.
We've got way more intimidation that we need, so let;s get some use out of it.

Did we hold onto those books before we dashed back other here?

>>2940695
>Maybe you can have some fun with this. Lysan said to not get in trouble, but…
I heard the word 'fun'. Vacation!

>>2940695
Orbital Ring on the lizard.

“Explain why you’re making a commotion. Now.”

>>2940707
Time to find out if summons can die.

>>2940707
>I hope he resists. I really hope he resists. I want to make him suffer as he dies.
You're taking this kinda seriously!

>>2940712
Yeah but the fucker is also threatening our ward. Not to mention intimidation might be a good way to make him leave without endangering the people in the shop.

>>2940695
>>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.

If he becomes hostile, orbital ring. (Other than this and punching less hard than usual, did we have any other non-lethal abilities?)

>>2940707
Same. I've been itching to actually fight someone here, see if we're as strong as we appear.

>>2940715
This is a hostage situation. With Hostage being everyone inside the cafe we should take this seriously.

>>2940713
>>2940717
Orbital Ring is expensive, but more importantly it explodes. Let's maybe not wreck the shop if we can help it?

>>2940717
Since his eyes are blue as thunder does that make him a level 3 summon?

>>2940695
>>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.
>Get in front of Lichen
We actually need to protect our client.

>>2940695
>>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.
Fuck, no. No one does that to our client and gets away with it. Who does this thing thinks it is?!

>>2940695
>>(Intimidate) That will make two of us. Stand down before I reduce it to one.

>>2940717
Instead of orbital ring why not just flug him out of the shop with a good old body tackle?

>>2940717
we have the solar flare, magi blasts, magic wave, magic fireworks and light traps.

We should track down and terminate this guy’s boss and his entire organization (or at least enough of it that they can’t do anything) in order to eliminate a potential threat to our client.
He bought the Narrative Rider, and the Narrative that this world’s people gave us is that we’re a barely constrained mass murder just waiting to happen. We might as well run with it.

>>2940716
>>2940719
>Yeah but the fucker is also threatening our ward.
No, he's threatening the shopkeeper. We're free to goof off a bit in this friendly world.

>>2940736
Dude.

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>>2940736

>>2940736
The narrative raider is determined by the client who also wrote that the summon should obey him. So unless Lysan disagrees with this course of action we won't be going out giving justice to a random summoner.

>>2940736
what the fuck. The narrative rider is that we are the kid's summon, not a potential edgelord, even if we look like one.

>>2940740
I mean we can always just give the book to the autorities...after taking a peak at it of course. Anything that is worth sending a high level summon to get back must be worth something.

>>2940740
>No, he's threatening the shopkeeper.
But the post explicitly states that our ward is being threatened here. Where are you getting that Lysan isn’t being threatened?

>>2940718
>Same. I've been itching to actually fight someone here, see if we're as strong as we appear.
We are. So we're free to not take things as seriously as usual.

>>2940753
If the lizard wants it, he can chase us for it. Maybe across some rooftops, through a pond, maybe thread through a couple of restaurants...

>>2940767
>But the post explicitly states that our ward is being threatened here. Where are you getting that Lysan isn’t being threatened?
Here's the quote.
>Well...that won’t do. Not now that he’s basically threatening your client.
>basically
He's not actually threatening our client.

>a treatise on how to summon simple monsters without using anything but a focus.

didn't Lysan said it was possible to use summons without the summoning orb? If we figure this out we can pretend to have a link with him and avoid the trouble of someone finding out about the broken orb.

Angry is as angry does.

Writing!

>>2940774
>He's not actually threatening our client.
But he is. Lets get fucking technical and grab the definition from google.
>in the most essential respects; fundamentally.
"we started from a basically simple idea"
>used to indicate that a statement summarizes the most important aspects, or gives a roughly accurate account, of a more complex situation.
"I basically played the same tunes every night"

>>2940717
We can box him in with barriers

>>2940774
>basically threatening a person
>not actually threatening them
That doesn’t seem like the contemporary usage of “basically”.
Every example of “basically” I’ve seen used has it mean that the actions taken or words spoken, simplify into an essential action.
So if he’s basically threatening Lysan, he doesn’t have to be saying “I’m gonna cut ya” while explicitly waving his sword under Lysan’s nose, to be threatening Lysan.

Anons will argue about anything, huh?

>>2940800
Are we supposed to accept an obvious mistake at face value?

>>2940790
>>2940797
The lizard is being loud and obnoxious in a crowded room. If there's a fight, our client might get caught in it. That's not the same as actually threatening him, okay? Lysan is incidental. The lizard doesn't care about him. If we told the lizard, 'Stop threatening my client,' he'd think our client was the shopkeeper.

>>2940800
>>2940821
>>2940774
Fuckit, I'm out.

>>2940825
Bye, go take a sip or eat something. We will be waiting once you come back.

LADIES, please.

don't argue semantics with ESL

>>2940836
Well to be fair we need to do somwthing to pass the time between post somehow.

>>2940836
Esl?

>>2940813
The lizard is threatening the entire room, not just the shopkeeper. If he was, then why pace the room instead of staying at the counter?

>>2940850
English as a Second Language.

>>2940853
This situation is basically someone assaulting a shop/bank. Now i'm thinking on the dinner robbery scene from Pulp Fiction

>>2940856
Huh. I thought it was a derivative of autism or some other insult.

>>2940695
>>2940706
>>2940707
>>2940711
>>2940717
>>2940726
>>2940727
>>2940728
Your voice is loud and clear, and he immediately turns your way as you make your way forward. “That will make two of us.” Planting your feet, you level a solid glare at him before continuing in a hiss, making sure your three eyes are locked on his pair. “Stand down before I reduce it to one.”

His eyes widen at your countenance, and there’s a flinch from him, before turning into a scowl. “Sooo...got somethin’ worth hidin’, then.”

“Only my annoyance at your tantrum implicitly threatening my summoner,” you respond easily. “One last chance.”

Lysan tries to croak out a response, his voice clearly dry now. “K-kyyyria...wwhhhhaa…”

Lance manages to stutter out something, himself. “C-can you, y’know...take it outside?”

A hiss is all his response is as you see him bare a set of wicked claws. You’ve got a number of book aisles to the back of you, and to your left is the counter, and closer to where this interloper is facing you. To your right, tables and the more ‘cafe’ oriented part of the building, near where Lysan is.

Now, just how to take him down...without putting anyone in danger or you getting into any more trouble than you already have.

>Current Mana: 10,750/11,000

>Maybe if you can blind him first, you can surprise him.
>Keep it close range and keep his hands occupied with you.
>He might not be expecting a magibeam- and you’re a quick draw.
>Other

File: Spoiler Image (2.5 MB, 1920x1080)

2.5 MB PNG

Hey Handler, model guy from the last thread here. Guess what? I delivered.
It's not Koikatsu or Miranda since I'm more familiar with HS myself. Lemme know if you want something.

>>2940878
>>Keep it close range and keep his hands occupied with you.
We in close, in a building full of people and flammables. Let's keep collateral to a minimum for now.

>>2940878
>>Maybe if you can blind him first, you can surprise him.

>>2940878
>Other: use light shields to box him in to give us time to get in close and forcibly boot him out of the cafe

>>2940878
>>Maybe if you can blind him first, you can surprise him.
Attempt to keep propriety damage to a minimum.
>>2940880
>HS
Nice

>>2940878
>Keep it close range and keep his hands occupied with you.
Probably best to wrestle him out of the building to avoid collateral damage. I think blinding the other patrons would be best avoided, and a whiffed magical-blast would be even worse.

>>2940880
Nice threads. Good style!

Yeah, she WOULD make that face.

>>2940878
>>Maybe if you can blind him first, you can surprise him.
use the flash to get an opportunity to push him out of the place, then we can fight properly.

>>2940880
Horey shiet!

>>2940878
>Grab him by the scruff of his neck and drag him outside

>>2940878
>Keep it close range and keep his hands occupied with you.
>Other: "Use this to moving him out of the store and avoid as much damage to it as possible"

>>2940880
Nice!

>>2940880
20/10

>>2940880
What's HS?
I would make her eyes less droopy, but that's more of a personal preference.

>>2940878
>Keep it close range and keep his hands occupied with you.

>>2940878
>>Maybe if you can blind him first, you can surprise him.

Also for those wanting to blink the lizard. Lizard usually have membranes to protect their eye. It's moatly used to protect the eye underwater but i can see be used to stop blinding attacks.

Locking, need to count and then write.

>>2940969
Our flash is instant. I don't think he will have time to react.

Also you guys are about to cast a bling magic in a room full of people. Good job in avoiding hurting others and avoid panic.

>>2940982
ACCEPTABLE CASUALTIES

>>2940981
We still need to roll and now all the attendants will be blinded and unable to dodge is something hurt then. Or hurt themselfs if they fall from the sudden flash or simple panic and bump into a wall because they heard their instics and ran away.

>>2940982
Blinding them temporarily wouldn't be nearly as risky in terms of harm as close-combat with a sword-wielder or using ranged blasts. So they'll need a moment to see again, big deal.

>>2940986
I see the retards are here then Well nothing to do besides deal with it.

>>2940982
I didn't vote for it, but at least a flash isn't going to damage anyone. The ensuing panic might though.

I'm not keen on wonton collateral damage, but we don't have the minimum collateral Rider, so it's not a major issue.

>>2940989
Whatever i will just shut up the votes are locked anyways.Also it won't since people could simply move out of the way and take cover. With they blinded they will get in the way and more likely to be hurt uf we take the fight more deep into the store.

>>2940991
I just hope Lysan give us a firm steering about such things and the idiocy can be contained next time.

>>2940996
I hope so. Otherwise he will end up as the street hero and won't have a clue as of why.

>>2940993
Anon, what do you do when you accidentally look into the sun right after coming out of a dark room? Because I cover my eyes, hurl insults at the sun and keep going because it only took 3 seconds to recover.
Worst thing that will happen here is someone trips on something and hits the floor with their face.

>>2941025
First of your comparisong has nothing to do with the current situation. The current situation should be what would you do if a armed tug entered the dinner threated everyone and suddenly someone throwed a flashbang grenade in the room?

Also i'm not idiot to look directly to the sun i know better.

>>2941029
>and suddenly someone throwed a flashbang grenade in the room?
So that means most of the people go down, and the remaining people can pile up on the LONE assailant.

>Also i'm not idiot to look directly to the sun i know better.
And we have the advantage there because they don't know that in mere fragments of a second we can be as GROSSLY INCANDESCENT as the sun.

>>2941038
Or they panic and start to trample other people. But again this is the worst possible situation. Who knows maybe we are lucky and we roll well enough and so no one gets injured.

>>2940878
>>2940892
>>2940894
>>2940903
>>2940955
A risky idea comes across your mind, and after a brief internal debate with yourself, you decide to go ahead with it. There’s a loud yelling as he charges you, but you’re already building up energy. Just when he gets within clawing range, you let yourself shine- a brilliant sun briefly going off in the small building and causing those shouts of fear to become yelps of surprise and a bit of pain.

...Maybe more. They’ll recover, though. This idiot won’t; blinded like he was, he lunges for you in literal blind desperation, but it’s easy to sidestep, grab him by his tail, and take off like a shot out of the doors, dragging the would be assailant outside. He barely gets a yelp in before you swing him around, up, and with a vicious yank of your arms, sling him down to send him crashing into the ground, much to the shock of the bystanders and pedestrians nearby.

Although part of you wonders if that’d be it, your question is answered when you see him raise his head; you’re forced to let go as he lets loose a blast of heat that would’ve charred even you- as close as you were already, you’re immediately sweltering. He scrambles to his feet, and unfortunately the fact that you have an audience is very clear.

>Let him go; your client is out of harm’s way, it’s the guard’s job now. So long as Lyson's safe, you don't much care.
>You’re not giving him another chance to threaten anyone. You can try to finish this here and now, damn what people might think.
>Try to keep him restrained; a Great Barrier should hold him, although you don’t know how long you’ll have to hold it before the guard comes.
>Other

>>2941052
>Try to keep him restrained; a Great Barrier should hold him, although you don’t know how long you’ll have to hold it before the guard comes.

>>2941052
>>Try to keep him restrained; a Great Barrier should hold him, although you don’t know how long you’ll have to hold it before the guard comes.
Hmm.... Either this or just let him go. While it shows off a bit of our skills, it's a non-lethal restraint one that wouldn't make people too worried, I think. After that Lysan can decide what he wants to do with the thing since it was the one responsible for hurting him.

>>2941052
>>Try to keep him restrained; a Great Barrier should hold him, although you don’t know how long you’ll have to hold it before the guard comes.

>>2941052
>Let him go; your client is out of harm’s way, it’s the guard’s job now. So long as Lyson's safe, you don't much care.

So let's avoid a scene also i don't want Lysan to get in trouble because of us.

>>2941058
>>2941056
>>2941069
I think you guys are showing off way to much power. People will start to question how a student can keep a summon like us if we keep up doing this.

>>2941077
hmm, i guess you got a point there. On the other hand, this miiiiight help him to get extra credits for heroism?
I'm saying this, because i'm pretty sure someone will come for us in revenge if we let them go.

>>2941077
Which is why we need to keep him down for the guards. He's clearly here on some shady business, and he's identified us as Lysan's summon. There's no way he won't tell his boss about this.

>>2941052
>Let him go; your client is out of harm’s way, it’s the guard’s job now. So long as Lyson's safe, you don't much care.
Yeah, it wouldn't benefit us in any way to get more attention.

>>2941052
>Let him go; your client is out of harm’s way, it’s the guard’s job now. So long as Lyson's safe, you don't much care.

>>2941081
I doubt the school gives such extra credits but you neber know.

>>2941089
Or getting him arrested will make his boss more interested in us and also reveal what we are capable.

We aren't even sure if he can't damage himself and get to the aether world the summons get from to escape our barrier.

>>2941105
>Or getting him arrested will make his boss more interested in us and also reveal what we are capable.
I'm pretty sure that his interest would be the same because we already have them at our mercy. The only difference right now is how fast that information reaches the boss and how many steps said boss has to do in order to free his crony(supposing he wants to).

File: Styles & Vedder.png (3.53 MB, 1920x1080)

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>>2940949
A lewd game made by Illusion that has evolved into a budget dollhouse/3D poser due to extensive community support and modding. Think of it as an even easier and more user friendly Daz3D.
It can produce decent results to the untrained eyes.
Here's another shot.

>>2941105
>Or getting him arrested will make his boss more interested in us and also reveal what we are capable.

He'll be interested in us already, based on what just happened. It's really a "Damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation here. Which didn't even need to happen if most of the players didn't go for intimidation.

>>2941052
>>Let him go; your client is out of harm’s way, it’s the guard’s job now. So long as Lyson's safe, you don't much care.
Restrained fury.

>>2941117
Still we don't know how summons work as far as we know they could only be able to sustaing so much damage before getting send back to the summon world just to summoned again by his boss.

We have no way to ensure he can't escape or find a way to do it. Summoners also have a link to their summon and we don't know how deep this may go.

>>2941132
eeeh....We don't know what would have happened if we didn't act. Chances are that he would have used Lysan as a bargain chip because he was the closest one and then we would have been forced to go with lethal force against them.

>>2941141
Thats why sending them into prison is for the best. At the very least in that way there is one of the two imprisoned and not bothering us.

>>2941145
He could just impale himself and escape anyway that's my argument.

>>2941153
And my counter argument is that you forced him into hanging himself instead of just running straight for his boss. We are forcing them to take a longer route so to speak in order to begin retaliating against us.

>>2941160
No because the summoner and summon have a link remember? If Iris and other summons can know the summon ability by the link they could also figure out when a summon is killed.

And who ever summoned this guy must be strong so without knowing more reaveling our skill is more dangerous and also might make people thing/suspect that Lysan doesn't actually control us.

>>2941145
>We don't know what would have happened if we didn't act.
We also don't know what the other options would have led to. Probably not an afternoon picnic and making daisy chains with the lizardman, but hopefully not a fight.

>he would have used Lysan as a bargain chip
...I kinda wanted this to happen a little bit, if only to show off our new harmonized mana blasts.

>"You sure you want to risk hitting your summoner with those blasts of yours, cute stuff?"
>"Sure, why not?"
>"WAIT, WHAT?!"
>"Don't worry, Mister Lysan, it won't hurt TOO much... (charges blast)"

>>2941172
Ok, those are fair points.

Had a bit to do, should resume in about 15 minutes.

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>>2941203
Don't worry i will be waiting.

>>2941125
OOh, thats really interesting and seems useful for some quick and dirty previsualizations.

>>2941052
>>Try to keep him restrained; a Great Barrier should hold him, although you don’t know how long you’ll have to hold it before the guard comes.

>>2941052
>>2941070
>>2941090
>>2941091
>>2941137
You’re not interested in getting on the front page today, and frankly you doubt Lysan is, either. You think you’ve done enough; as he backs up, he goes to hold his throat- that blast must’ve been superheated even for him. When a crowd starts murmuring and you can hear people call for the guard, that’s when he glances around, realizing his situation. Only staying long enough to give you a fierce growl and a muttered ‘next time…’, he takes off in a run, moving at a pretty good clip. By the time the armored guard approach several seconds later, they’re long behind him, and a couple stop nearby while two others continue the chase on summoned sabertooth tiger-like beasts.

The two that stop look you over, both of their spectral knight-ish summons standing behind them carefully as their masters draw spears. “Alright, then, careful now! State your summoner and reason for being, and-”

“Kyria!” Before you can answer, Lysan stumbles out, eyes still squinting, presumably from your brief light show. “Are you okay?”

“This summon’s yours, boy?” The knight doesn’t sound convinced. “We got word there was an altercation here…”

Suddenly a voice interrupts again. “No, wait, hey!” A young woman makes her way up to them, coming out of the store. “She’s innocent! She helped!”

The two knights look at the gathered group, yourself included, and you can hear one of them sigh. “Alright, alright...let’s go inside. We’re going to have to take statements.”

Ugh. This is going to be a waste of time…

(cont.)

>>2941369
It’s about a half hour or so later before the two of you walk out of the bookstore/cafe. You’d informed them about the attempt at robbery, as well as given them a description of the culprit that had been backed up by the other eyewitnesses. After that, Lance had decided to close up his half of the store for the day- but not before giving you the Grey Codex as well as the other two books you’d been interested in as a thanks (and maybe a bit of insurance), with a promise to ‘tell me what it says later, okay?’

The trip back is fairly uneventful, and it’s as he takes a shower that you decide to finally crack open the book…

The tome is...an accounting, it seems. A massive detailing of the inner workings of an old city, an old civilization, complete with historical accounts. Tales about how the world was in older times, as well as several ‘how-to’ sections on building certain technomagical structures. ‘Replenishment Towers’, ‘Fortification Pools’, ‘Rebinding Chairs’, and so on. To your surprise, it makes mention of feats of magic performed by humans, and what seems to be multiple other races. Nothing like what seems to be modern day.

“Hey, whatcha lookin’ at in there?” Lysan asks, toweling off his head. “So CAN you read it?”

You can. In particular, the part you just thumbed through. It seems like it’s an account. Some kind of massive war that scoured the world to such an extent that magic in and of itself became scarce, locked away. The codex explains how such power originally thrown around caused the plane of magic itself to shift, warp on itself. What ended up happening was that people could no longer tap into the natural magics of the plane, that they were trying to figure out methods around it. On a hunch, you flip to the last section...

‘So it has come to pass that we are attempting a rather radical idea, one that may not be our salvation entirely, but shall at least allow us some semblance of access to our old ways. We must call upon forbidden magics- ways to bind the spirits of the past to our will, for when they pass through the Field Arcanum, they will be endowed with but a portion of what powers we once brought to bear…’

Fascinating. “Well!?” Lysan asks. “So what does it say? Anything about legendary artifacts or treasures or anything?”

>Eh. Nothing interesting. A lot about dead people, though.
>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.
>A lot of instructions for how to build things, mostly.
>Other

>>2941373
>>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.

>>2941373
>>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.
We've no reason to hide it from him.

While less common than other jobs, I'd bet some enterprising Outgoer could make good money specializing in "translation" services. Maybe one that had lost their taste for combat?

>>2941373
>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.

>>2941373
>Eh. Nothing interesting. A lot about dead people, though.

So summons are actually the spirit of the dead that get brougth up by forbidden magic. I guess it makes sense why people get worried about summon mayne Lysan has the gift to acess the magic the old way that's way the current way summoning works doesn't work for him.

>>2941373
>>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.
Long long ago...

Although, I wonder if ways to regain some of the original ways of magic can be found. Maybe that's what Lysan's good at, and not summoning.

>>2941373
>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.

Man, I wish Iris and Bellbelle could be around for this. This has "Visual Novel Flag" written all over it.

>>2941373
>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.

>>2941391
>>2941392
>>2941394
You guys really want to shock the kid uh? Well i don't mind maybe he can be a researcher and figure out a better way for this.

>>2941404
Well, he wants answers and we can give him answers. But i agree that we should tell him that its about something bad that its related to the summons.

>>2941373
>Up for a bedtime story? Not a happy one, though.

>>2941413
People are obssessed with anwsers, doesn't mean that the ones they find are the ones they were looking for.

>>2941373
>>2941391
>>2941392
>>2941394
>>2941398
>>2941400
>>2941401
>>2941485

“If you’re up for a bedtime story, I’ll tell you,” you offer. “But a fair warning- it’s not a happy story.”

“Yikes. Can’t say I’m much surprised, though,” he admits as he hops into bed. “Alright, let’s hear it.”

And so the rest of the night is spent telling him about what you’ve read- the history behind the old kingdoms, the multitude of races that apparently don’t exist anymore, the war in particular.

When you get to the summons and their history (after having skipped a few chapters), his eyes go wide for a moment- but only a moment. After the end of it...you can tell he’s got a great deal to think about. You can only imagine that it’s these thoughts that keep him up for some hours before he can finally fall asleep.

Even then, before you nod off, you can hear him mutter two words that make you wonder.

‘Old magic…’

(cont.)

>>2941558

Morning is a standard affair- you and he prepare, eat breakfast, and leave with little fanfare. The students seem to be starting to acclimate to your presence now, although the way some of them actually look at you and SMILE has you thinking that yesterday’s little escapade has made the rounds.

“Lysan!” Before you know it, Iris comes up behind him in a tackling hug. “Oh, GEEZ I can’t believe you were involved with that crazy mugger summon!” Spinning him around, she practically steers him as she frantically checks over any bit of exposed skin. “Are you okay?! Did it hurt you?”

“Wha-! Wait, whoa, hold on!” Lysan just manages to wriggle out of her grasp, much to Bellbelle’s amusement. “I’m fine, I swear! Kyria handled it, scared him off good. So now the city guard know about it and everything!”

“And you didn’t disperse it?!” She half-yells. “Why wouldn’t you!? It was attacking a civilian populace, you’d have been fine!”

You’re halfway taken aback, and you’re about to speak up to defend yourself, when Lysan does instead. “Hey, she didn’t know! You know most summons don’t, first time! And besides, even if it comes back, I’m pretty sure we...well, SHE could handle it!”

“There may also have been the possibility of further endangerment, miss,” Bellbelle helpfully points out.

Iris groans, but relents. “Fiiine...but I worry about you, Lysan. Anyway, let’s get ready for the next test.” And here she grins like the cat that’s about to eat the canary as she lowers her voice to a whisper. “I overheard a couple of the teachers talking earlier…”

“Er, that was me, miss.” Bellbelle interjects. “I simply informed you.”

Iris’s face falls flat for all of a second before she barrels on. “Anyway! I know what the next test iiiiis! I mean, I know EXACTLY- AND I know how to ace it!”

cont.

>>2941560
“Okay...cool?” Lysan shrugs.

Iris’s grin doesn’t leave, however. “Ahhh, but! I can tell you right now that there’s NO way you can beat this test on your own- because you’ve only had Kyria for a couple of days, get me? But maybe if you knew beforehand...”

Lysan’s eyes widen. “Oh...so it’s Sync?” he whispers back. Iris nods her head rapidly, and Lysan huffs. “Yeah, that’d be a tall order. So, what is it and how do we pass it?”

And then Iris’s crafty look deepens as she wags a impish finger. “Ah-ah-ah! You gotta agree do me a favor, first...ooor, should I say, you gotta make Little Miss Scary Heroine do me a favor, first!” She looks at you with something approaching envy, for once. “It’s nothing horrible, but Bellbelle’s not the type, and I don’t exactly want her to go just to bring someone else in, sooo…”

“Uhhh...what’s the favor?” Lysan asks.

But Iris shakes her head. “Nope! Not tellin’ until after I get a ‘yes’!”

Lysan purses his lips, then looks to you in a questioning expression. “What do you say?”

“Wait, you’re giving her the choice?” Iris says in surprise.

Lysan shrugs. “Yeah. I think it’s appropriate.”

>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.
>No way. You’re not going to risk something bad happening to your reputation or Lysan for cheating.
>Other

Aaand done for now. Will continue tomorrow!

Feel free to speculate what the favor might be while I save these pics and do more 3d stuff.

>>2941566
>>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.

Ah yes! i was forgetting we could give Lichen one murmur stone so we can more or less fake a mind link.

>>2941566
>>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.
The method don't matter, the priority and mission is completing Lysan's tests. Besides, I'm not sure if we could do whatever the 'sync' thing is if we don't have a real bond. It'll probably involve something like testing the perfect teamwork like portal 2's coop mode.

>>2941566
>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.
>”So long as you are willing to accept any possible consequences, I am willing to listen to your plight.”

>>2941566
>>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.

>>2941566
>>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.
She doesn't seem malicious or cruel, and helping him with the tests is the entire reason we're here.

>>2941566
>Other: "Do you trust her?"

Then once Lysan says he does.

>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.

>>2941596
She is also his friend so i take she deserves some trust too.

>>2941566
>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad
Might as well. Chances are it's just going to be embarrassing judging by what universe we're in

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>>2941362
Right? I know a lot of artists who use it for pose references and previsualizations. One of it's weaknesses is that it doesn't support basic model sculpting, so you're out of luck if you want to replicate costumes from other medias (unless said costumes are really simple, or the costumes are already ported to the game, using other sources, or you get REALLY creative with the game's + modding resources). But for original works, it's useful indeed, since you can do almost whatever you want .

>>2941709
Or dangerous since she seems to want a specialized combat summon like us.

>>2941828
Man, I like what you did with the body and clothes, but the face and posture... Maybe it's just me, but I've always pictured Miranda either looking down at or directly at another person with calm confidence with head help up high, or neutral indifference, not facing slightly down with depression and meekness at a first glance.

Argh, it's probably the eyes that did it. When I look closer for details it looks much more normal, while overall it's eyes that makes it look like she is looking up with meekness for approval.

>>2941566
>Sure, we can handle whatever she throws at us
I mean it can't be worse than the blight monster from the last job

>Give Lysan a murmur stone soon as we can

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>>2941849
The pose was a really hasty job on my end. And I tweaked her expression for the picture a bit.
Here's a T-pose with default expression. The arms need to be looked at in the future, since they look rather too large for her noodle frame.

>>2941873
You can always try to make the legs longer, but i don't know how flexible that program is.

In other news, i had forgotten how entertaining is to make models from scratch. Now i Just need to do the face and the rig will be done.

>>2941566
>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.

>>2941849
Reminds me of Billy Eilish posture.

>>2941873
Wow, even the slightest changes now makes her look like the badass she should be. Very nice work!

>>2941566
>>Hmm...sure, why not? You’ll trust her on it not being too bad. Hopefully it’ll stay not too bad.

>>2941566
>she's your friend, right? If so, i dont see the harm in helping out

Welp, writing shortly.

Also, really humbled by the fanart, honestly. It's amazing. I'll have an update on my end for the project tomorrow.

Ugh. Sorry, something came up, so 'writing' very quickly turned into 'leave on an hour-long drive to get somewhere' and yeah.

>>2942847
So no writting for today? I was kinda excited here.

>>2942847
Life happens. I’m sure you’ll have some folks like me loitering around here anyways.

>>2942847
At least it's not another migraine. It could've been worse

>>2942847
Aww...

Seriously though, do what you need to do. We'll still be here, probably arguing about best kid to adopt or whether we should steal the lizard's sword or something.

>>2942863
PS: The answers areall of them and yes.

>>2942869
Ah good at least you know the right anwser.

>>2942863
>best kid to adopt
Pragmatically that would be Noran and Mewla. They already got the basics about what to do, since they are still kids, they can still be taught how to listen to others and all of that stuff and they don't seem to have as much emotional baggage as the others.

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>>2942881

>>2942897
Fight me, faget. You know that i'm right.

>>2941566
>>2941574
>>2941587
>>2941591
>>2941592
>>2941596
>>2941604
>>2941709
>>2941956
>>2942059
>>2942094
“Hmm...I suppose if you’re a friend, then there’s no reason to not trust you,” you decide. She seems a bit...excitable, but largely harmless, on the whole. Whatever it was she wanted you to do can’t be THAT bad...hopefully.

Iris claps her hands in excitement. “Great! Now, I’m holding you to that, okay? So...here’s the deal.” She waves you all to follow her around a corner, where there’s no other kids within hearing range. “Okay, so! The Test of Sync is supposed to be this tandem thing where you both basically have to solve a set of puzzles, right? You solve the puzzle, you get a picture card. Trick is, both the puzzles are different, but the SOLUTIONS need to match. That, AND you can’t see the puzzles your partner is solving- you’re gonna be across the room. So you can’t just solve them, they need to be the right pair. They’re using visuals for it, the example I heard was ‘night sky goes with star symbol’, so stuff like that. Some puzzles are a lot harder than others, though! No two are the same!”

Lysan nods, deep in thought. “Okay...makes sense so far. So we’re supposed to feel out what our summon is thinking and come to a mutual decision to match our answers?”

“Yup! Pretty simple, honestly- except you haven’t made much of a Bond with Kyria, right? So...you’re gonna have to make sure you know what you’re doing before you start- and that’s where the trick comes in!” She leans in close, and you have to admit you’re intrigued. “They have specific places where the solutions are supposed to be. Left, Middle, Right. And they’re inverse placements of each other, understand? Which means that if Kyria here goes for a solution that’s on her left, YOU need to go towards the solution on your right!”

“Wait, what?” Lysan blinks briefly. “Hold on, now that doesn’t quite make sense. Placements for the solutions? How?”

She shrugs. “Dunno, but that’s the setup that I overheard! Anyway, don’t tell anyone else or I’m in a bunch of trouble- heck, I’m only telling you because...well.” She pauses for all of a second as her eyes dart in a number of directions before refocusing on him. “Just because! Now go get ready or something, I gotta go!” Before she leaves, however, she turns towards you, grin on her face. “And I’ll see YOU at my dorm after class! Later!”

As she takes off, you notice Lysan has a dour expression on his face. “I dunno about this one…”

Neither do you, but… “Might as well try.”

“Then what do we do about matching up?” he asks. “Especially if the puzzle is super hard?”

Good question. If you can’t see anything, then you still can’t be positive you’ll both match until you set up a gameplan.

> “We’ll just both do the middle every time.”
> “We’ll try to go in an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left.”
> “Just start from your left and go from there.”
> Other

>>2942968
>> “We’ll try to go in an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left.”

>>2942968
> “We’ll try to go in an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left.”

>Slip him a murmur stone, just in case

do the murmur stones work by thinking at them or do they need speech? the description in the pastebin is unclear

>>2942968
>“We’ll try to go in an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left.”

>>2942980
Yeah, it might work, but these are going to be proctored, aren't they? To make sure that the students aren't cheating? So seeing Lysan bring a stone to his ear is going to be suspicious.

>>2942982
Sew it into his collar

>>2942968
> “We’ll try to go in an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left.”

>Other: "I may habe something that might help... *give Lysan a murmur stone* you can hide it inside the hole of the damage summoning orb we can use this to communicaye with each other."

>>2942982
Just put the stone inside the damaged summoning Orb.

>>2942968
> “We’ll try to go in an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left.”

Guys, I’m not sure about the idea with the stones. Seems a little risky.

>>2942998
As much risky as Iris hearing the teachers speaking about a clue. As far as we know that could be all a red Herring.

>>2943004
If we flunk the Sync test, we fail 1 of the 4 tests.
But if we're caught cheating, that'd be grounds for expulsion, wouldn't it?
The risks are quite different.

Locked, writing.

>>2942968
>>2942988
great minds think alike.

>>2942968
Going with >>2942980. If only the Bond is being tested it might not matter if we answer correctly or not, but just sticking to a set pattern isn't smart either. Teach the kid how to use the stone ss well.

>>2943024
>>2943015
Now that i think about it, that lady did say she would keep a eye on us and Lysan.

Eh maybe he can pretend he can comunicate with us usi g the broken summon orb? The books did tell something about using a focus to bind a summon. Maybe we should look at that next time.

>>2942968
>>2942976
>>2942980
>>2942982
>>2942988
>>2942998
You both mull on it, and you eventually decide. “Well, I think we should just try an alternate pattern. Left, Right, Left. I have to imagine they’ll be suspicious if we just stay in one direction or just go in a row.”

He has to agree. Hopefully, the tests won’t be so ridiculous that he wouldn’t be able to figure it out. If they are...woof.
---------------------

“Alright, students.” The old lady is just as crisp as yesterday, but aside her is a new face- a long haired, pretty faced, brown-haired young man who looks at everyone with a simple smile on his face. Aside him is a purple colored amorphous being that seems to largely be content in the outlined form of a detail-less young woman. “Pay attention to Proctor Tullis, if you would!” She nods at him once the students quiet down, and he begins to speak.

“Okay! So your next trial will be here, in this auditorium. You will notice that there are two rows of seats at each end of the auditorium, each with a box on them. Summoners are to be on the end to my left, Summons to my right. You’ll both be given specific visual tests. These tests will be visible to ONLY the individual they are given to. You’re to complete the tests with the goals of arranging your answers so that both you and your summon create a coherent image- and I expect three of them. I also expect NO audible or visual contact with either other summoners OR summons. Understand?” He’s younger, but his voice carries no lack of authority in it, and everyone nods, as they head to their respective sides, yourself included.

“Make sure to not open the box until I say to begin. When you’re finished with one puzzle, raise your hand, and either I or Vivid will supply you with your next until you get three, or until 2 hours have passed. Oh, I should also note: there’s no rhyme or order to the solutions, okay?” He smiles a thin smile that you recognize as someone confident in out-thinking an opponent. “So don’t get too complacent!”

(cont.)

>>2943128
Hm. Well...things might’ve gotten a bit dicier. Alright, then…

As you sit down, you can see Lysan go white as a sheet. Not that you see it for long, as large privacy screens come up between your fellow summons, cutting you off from seeing anything but the test in front of you.

For a moment, dead silence. “Aaaand...begin!”

What lies before you is what can only be described as pieces of a ‘contraption’. There seems to be little reason to it, but it’s a mess of wires, tiny shutters, tubes, and a small ball that you can only guess needs to be directed somewhere. It’s all coming together into some kind of rube goldberg-esque machine. At the bottom of the base, closest to you, are three shallow divots, underneath which are different clear, square glass holders. These holders are protecting image cards, from the looks like. At the leftmost is a picture of a sun, the middle a pencil, and the last a strange fruit that looks like a lumpy banana.

A note inside says ‘Piece together the machine so that the ball rolls into the opening you want to obtain whichever card you like.’

Well, you know which one you want...now you just have to figure out how to put it all together.

>Roll 1d20, Best of 3

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2943133

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>2943133

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2943133

>>2943139
I guess we figured somehow.

>>2943133
>you know which one you want
...We do?

>>2943177
We do from Iris tip.

>>2943180
I don't see how it's helping here.
Unless we're just working the LRL pattern, I guess.

>>2943190
Thats the idea

>>2943133
Oh man, glad i dont have to be the head of this, i suck at puzzles

Man, Iris must be feelling really awfull right now. She screwed up big time.

>>2943212
What? Why? So far, her information is good.

>Oh, I should also note: there’s no rhyme or order to the solutions, okay?” He smiles a thin smile that you recognize as someone confident in out-thinking an opponent. “So don’t get too complacent!”

She say that there was a padron while apparently there is actually no padron for the test.

At least that's why i think Lysan got nervous.

>>2943133
>>2943139
>>2943145
>>2943150
Let’s see...if this piece goes here...that tube goes there...no, no, that’s going to be in the way of the lever…

Oddly enough, as low-stress as this is, it’s hard to really take too seriously. It’s kind of like a 3d jigsaw puzzle, or something. Doesn’t mean there aren’t frustrating moments, however…

Some time later, you at least slot in the final piece- you think. Now, all that’s left is to test it. You place the silver ball at the top of the contraption, and follow it as it makes its journey through shutters, loops, tubes, spinning pieces, and more, alllll the way down until it slips into the base, as designed, and goes out of your sight for a few moments…

...only for the lid on the leftmost glass barrier to lift as the ball is spat out. Success! At last you can raise your hand. For a few moments, nothing...and then a thin, transparent tentacle reaches up and over your privacy screen, waving back and forth- looking, you realize. A second one follows, and after a few moments, you hear a softly gurgling voice: “First test passed. You have one hour and twenty minutes left.” Carefully, she shlorps over the cover, scoops up the pieces in herself, save for the sun card, and quickly places down another box before she darts away.

Opening it, it’s ...some sort of triple layered puzzle. There’s a stick that goes through all three levels, but just looking at it, you can tell that not all three layers are the same. The note in THIS one reads: ‘Get the stick from one end of the three maze layers to the other.’

Well...here goes.

>Another trio of rolls, please.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2943231

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>2943231
rollin

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2943231

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2943231

>>2943234
FAAAAANTASTIC!

Making solid time so far...

Writing.

>>2943255
No worries we will fuck up eventualy

>>2943257
Thanks for jinxing us.

>>2943262
Your welcome

>>2943231
>>2943234
>>2943235
>>2943236
This one is only marginally easier, if only because there’s less moving parts. Having to determine the proper direction without slamming into dead ends is tougher than it looks. After some time and a lot of clacking, however, you do manage to make it to the rightmost end, where there is a picture of a picnic blanket, complete with basket. Your peg sinks a bit deeper in, there’s a *click*, and in front of you a card is ejected from a small slot in the base. Fantastic.

You raise your hand again, and quickly enough Vivid comes yet again to perform the same inspection. “Second test passed. You have fifty minutes left.”

Another takeaway and replacement, and this one is…huh. A board, lifted off the ground, with a number of panels, suspended by a pole, but you notice that, upon pressing them, you can flip them around- although every panel seems to be tied to another panel. Pressing one to flip it causes another to flip- sometimes one that you’ve already flipped. What’s more, there’s three colors.

‘Pick a color. Arrange the board so that all panels of that color are shown on the board. You will receive your card reward upon completion of the puzzle.’

Oh.

That’s not good. There’s no indication of a ‘leftmost’ picture. Just an trio of stacked image cards sitting on the top. The first and the one that’s showing has a tiny image of a bow and arrow, the second is a crown, and the third a river.

You’re actually going to have to choose…

>The bow and arrow.
>The crown.
>The river.

>Regardless, roll 1d20 once more.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2943413
>The river.

Oh boy.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>2943413
>>The river

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2943413
>>2943421
huh

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2943413
>>The river.
could maybe be linked to the other tests as a picnic on a sunny day by a river?

>>2943413
>>The river.

>>2943429
I just chose the river because it was the one that was probably the least likely to be picked by the rest of the teams.

Rolled 2 (1d3)

Way down the river, then.

Writing!

>>2943458
Damn it, Lichen...

>>2943460
Probably thought we'd go for the crown out of pride.

>>2943458
Welp, if the girl's advice was totally worthless, do we still have to do something for her?

In the event that we fail this test though, there's still 2 other ones at least.

>>2943464
We got 2/3 on this test, so it's not a write off yet. And we've got the combat one in the bag.

>>2943413
>>2943421
>>2943424
>>2943426
>>2943429
Hm. Well...thinking about it, you flip to the river, which has a green background, interestingly enough. Considering green is one of the colors…

Fortunately, this one is altogether too easy once you figure out which panels affects the panels you’ve already pressed, and in practically moments you’re raising your hand yet again.

This time, Vivid peaks over your wall, and this time she’s clearly squinting at you, rich blue eyes becoming more noticeable as she takes in your handiwork. “Already finished? Truly? Hmmm…”

Although clearly suspicious, she can’t seem to find anything wrong with your work, and nods, expelling a full sized card from her gelatinous body. “Pass. I do wonder about the success of your summoner...although with such speed, assisting him should be easy, hm?” There’s something else in that sentence that she meant, but you’re honestly not sure what.

Regardless, it’s no longer up to you- it’s just a matter of waiting until Lysan is finished with his own tests…

Twenty dull minutes later, your divider is taken from you- and you see that Lysan’s is as well. There’s a couple others that got out ahead of you, Iris most notably, but by and large the majority seem to be stuck behind dividers still. “Alright, both partners are done- so now comes the moment of truth.” You walk with Vivid up to the center, meeting up with Lysan who’s clearly nervous. “Now, let’s see… your first choice?”

You hold out the sun. Lysan holds out a card of clouds. “That’s one match!” Tullis says. “Now, the next?”

The picnic scene for you. For him, ants on the march. “That would be the second,” Vivid says easily. “And now the last…”

You have the river. For him?

It’s a sword. You’re...pretty sure that’s not a- “Ah, not a match, I’m afraid. Two of three, it seems.” Yeah. That. Lysan groans in misery, only to get a pat on the back. “Hey, kid, don’t get too down. Nearly got this, and from what I’m told, your, uh, friend there is pretty new to you.” He flickers his gaze between both you and him, notably staying a bit longer on you. “To get two for three on a new summon is honestly impressive when it comes to figuring out these kinds of complicated Bond tricks. All this means is that you just gotta push yourself to pass the last two, y’know?”

(cont.)

>>2943473
Jinxed it. We're now going to be slapped with a punch of restrictions in the name of fairness. Hopefully we can still intimidate the opponents into surrendering.

>>2943495
“Y-yeah, I guess…” He sighs in defeat, arms limp. “I kinda wanted to not worry about the last test, but…”

Tullis just shakes his head, a wry smile on his face. “Nothing for it now, kid. Gotta go for it. At any rate, you didn’t pass, so we gotta keep you on campus for today. Your summon...well, you know the rules.”

“Right, right, no, I’ll just...uh, Kyria?” He turns to you, shrugging. “I guess you can...y’know, do whatever until I get out of class this evening.” He seems annoyed, but at least he’s trying to bounce back. “Just don’t hurt anyone, okay? I know you probably won’t, but, uh...just in case. That’s an order and all.”

You tilt your head in acquiescence. “As you say, then.” Of course, if he got in trouble, all bets were off.

“Come now, I believe it was...history for you, about now?” Vivid asks as she begins shooing him out.

"Okay, okay, I'm going..." although his trudging makes it clear his thoughts on the matter.

Tullis just sighs. He glances at you again, and you can see him swallow nothing but air as he tries to put on a brittle smile. “Yyyeaaaah...soooo...are you just kinda gonna...stand here or what?”

>No, you might as well see to Iris and her task. She’s done, so presumably she passed and is at her dorm...
>Iris can wait a bit- she DID say AFTER class, and class is still ongoing. You can take this time to explore the campus a bit…
>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.
>Other

>>2943502
>No, you might as well see to Iris and her task. She’s done, so presumably she passed and is at her dorm...
Yes!

>>2943502
>No, you might as well see to Iris and her task. She’s done, so presumably she passed and is at her dorm...

>>2943502
>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.

Sorry i can't resist.

>>2943502
>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.
>”Why DID you choose the sword, Mister Lysan? I’m rather curious as to your reasoning. Was it an assumption on what you thought I would have chosen?”

>>2943502
>>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.
Just for a bit. Then
>You might as well see to Iris and her task. She’s done, so presumably she passed and is at her dorm...

>>2943502
>>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.
Let's have a little fun.

>>2943502
>>2943519
Joy of joys, we get to mess with people!

>>2943502
>Iris can wait a bit- she DID say AFTER class, and class is still ongoing. You can take this time to explore the campus a bit…

>>2943502
>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.
>Other: "You still have that book in a foreing laguange that talks about the place were summons come from. Maybe you could take a read while you wait or just walk toward Iris while reading it,and unconciously dodging the people on your way using your figthing insticts."

>>2943502
>...You kinda DO want to now that you’re seeing how freaked out he is. Wonder if you can creep him out with just body language.
Iris can wait, fun stuff is happening

jiiiiiiiiii~

Writing.

Man we really are the kuudere of this setting.

File: file.png (1.91 MB, 1920x1080)

1.91 MB PNG

How often does Miranda get stuck on puzzles Handler ?

>>2943560
Man that is awesome as fuck.

File: PukingRainbows.jpg (24 KB, 522x399)

24 KB JPG

>>2943560
Saved! This is some of the best fan-art I've ever seen, period!

>>2943502
>>2943514
>>2943517
>>2943519
>>2943521
>>2943531
>>2943532
To answer him, you just walk a few steps away, put your hands behind you back in parade rest, and stare. Directly at him.

He blinks once, twice, then sloooowly turns away. “Oooookay then…right.”

A couple of minutes pass, and he’s starting to look back more often- although he quickly tries to refocus his attention elsewhere, scooting step by step away.

After another few minutes, Vivid comes back, and seeing you standing there, she moves to approach you. You immediately whip your head around to fix her with a stare and she- her head stops, but the rest of her body is on a bit of a time lag, and she practically *whips* herself to a halt, bits of gelatinous ooze flying a foot or two.

She manages to meet your stare only briefly, but when you turn back to your prior ‘subject’, she simply slithers off in a more snake-like form to get closer to Tullis.

10 minutes, and he’s taken to actively walking where before he was just waiting on students to call on him, wiping sweat from his face. Vivid’s taken to largely staying in the back, slithering either protectively around Tullis or otherwise staying either VERY close to him or far away from you. Every time they turn to you, you’re there to meet their eyes with all three of your own. You don’t blink. You don’t move. Just...staring.

Stare.

Stare.

Staaaaaa- “Okay, enough, please!”

That one is loud enough to get the attention of the few students still left as Tullis rounds on you, face sweating bucks and voice a bit cracked. “Please, I-I don’t know what you’re doing or-or what you’re up to, but I’m BEGGING you, please, just, I dunno, just stop it! What do you want from us?!”

> “...13 minutes.” Walk out, don’t say ANYTHING else. Iris time.
> “...You’re amusing.” That’s really all there is to it.
> “Can you pass us?” If he can’t, too bad!
> Other

>>2943560
She's not a wizard at them by any stretch of the imagination (winner there would actually be Lorelei), so it's entirely plausible she can get tripped up on certain types of puzzles. Put her in front of a sufficiently hard Sudoku puzzle and watch her sweat buckets.

And by 'sufficiently hard' I mean 'anything beyond what you see in newspapers'.

>>2943560
Outstanding! Saved.

>>2943580
>> “Can you pass us?” If he can’t, too bad!

>>2943580
>“Would you prefer I sit while I watch? I do enjoy watching mortals.”

>>2943580
> “...13 minutes.” Walk out, don’t say ANYTHING else. Iris time.

>>2943580
>“Can you pass us?” If he can’t, too bad!
I mean, he DID ask...