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Dad,

I’m not good at this stuff, so let’s just get the big stuff out of the way. I’m not the helpless little girl you think I am. I can earthbend. Not just the basic forms and breathing exercises either. By sensing vibrations in the ground, I can see as well as you can. Better, actually. If you don’t believe me, ask Shin and Hun. I hope I didn’t hurt them too bad, but they weren’t letting me leave the compound. Go easy on them too. They already had their clocks cleaned by a little girl.

I’m leaving Ba Sing Se with Sokka. I know you’re probably already putting together a team to drag me home, but I hope you don’t. I’ll send them back with their tails between their legs. I can’t stay in the city anymore. I hated it even before everything happened, and I want to go out and explore. To see the rest of the world.

Well, you know what I mean.

I’m not telling you everything, but that’s only because I know we’re gonna see each other again. Maybe after you’ve dealt with the entire Earth Kingdom, one rebellious kid won’t seem so bad by comparison.

I love you dad,
Toph

The Shanty is the ship that’s tasked with taking you back to the Southern Water Tribe. She’s a mid-sized craft, crewed by seasoned Earth Kingdom sailors. They’re no Southern Raiders, but they seem to know their way around the ship well enough, and the trip from Ba Sing Se to the ocean passes quickly and without incident.

Well…not totally without incident. Though the weather is clear, and you don’t run into any pirates, you can’t help but notice that your two lady guests seem to have divided the ship between them. It’s not a hard line, not exactly, but Toph never strays far from the aft of the ship, and Suki never far from the bow.

It’s a little annoying – since you’ve been sailing since practically before you could walk, you’re often needed at different parts of the ship. And while you like talking to Suki and Toph, you often find your conversations cut short when you’re suddenly needed away from their assigned section of the ship. By the time you reach the sea, you’re about ready to grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient arrangement.

>Talk to Toph about it
>Talk to Suki about it
>Leave it alone
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement

>>3129837
>>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
Clearly the only way

>>3129837
>>Talk to Toph about it
Welcome to the dead mom club. You'll get over it, because we are in Avatar and forgiveness is our way.

>>3129837
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
Why give us only one option QM?

So why are they hating each other again? Do we know?

>>3129876
Holy Speedreading Anon! Suki fucking murdered Toph's mom, how did you miss that? Go back >>3119583

>>3129837
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
TIME FOR SOKKA DIPLOMACY

>>3129884
Oh shit. I totally missed that

>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
The only way is the diplomatic screaming route.

>>3129837
>Talk to Suki about it

>>3129837
>>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
I'm reading this as 'annoy them until they team up to screw with us'.
There are worse strategies.

>>3129837
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
Short term loss for long term gain

ASOIAF Reincarnation Quest: A Male Powder Fantasy, Thread #22

>>3129837
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement
On a wooden? Ship in the middle of the ocean, this is as close to neutral ground as they might ever get. They’re presumably both more comfortable on land than here.

>>3129944
Fuck off with your spam advertising.

>>3129837
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement

>>3129837
>Grab them by the shoulders and shout incoherently at them until they come to a more convenient agreement

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>>3129837
>>3129837
“Each two all avoid you is other do!”

Suki stares at you blankly. Toph is looking off to the left, but she doesn’t seem to be comprehending any better.

“Fine you whatever it get want do to I that’s! Very I understanding! Ease but hard making start for when to need you me maybe little a off you for!

“I understand all those words individually, I think,” Suki says. “But when you put them together it all turns into a mess.”

“If I could see you, I’d sock you,” Toph says. “I don't know why I ever got on this stupid boat! Wood is dumb!” She crosses her arms.

“Want you all that can leave argue is it out saying you I’m but me of all! Just home I’m all to trying get, two all worrying don’t need I be to about time you the! Know can me talk talk stuff this, always you you me so to about to!”

Suki throws up her hands. “Is this about-”

“It better not be!” Toph shouts. I can do whatever I want now, got it! I don’t have to listen to anybody, especially not a stupid water tribe boy who can’t form sentences!” She crosses her arms. “I can’t even enjoy the view, so what does it matter if I don’t go to the front of the ship? I just want to get back to dry land already!”

“I know what you’re saying, Suki says. “I’ve never gotten over my seasickness.”

“I’m not seasick! I don’t get seasick!” Toph shouts, stomping her foot.

You prepare to shout more nonsense, but your interrupted by one of the crew members. “Chief Sokka!” He says (they called you Chief Sokka the first day and you never corrected them). “We have pirates following us, closing in!”

>Try to outrun them
>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)
>Trade shots from afar

(Sorry for the long delay guys, real life got in the way)

>>3130678
>>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)

>>3130678
>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)
What kinda pirates?

>>3130678
>>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)

>>3130678
>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)

>>3130678
>>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)

>>3130678
>>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)

>>3130678
>Pull up close and fight

>>3130678
>Trade shots from afar

>>3130678
>Pull up close and fight (Combat DC 25)

Alright, roll 3 1d100.

The highest of 3 rolls is taken
90-100 is a crit success
1-5 is a crit fail, and has priority over any rolls that aren't crit successes.

DC is 25

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>3130892
Roll HIGH

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>3130892
Ahoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27mB8verLK8

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>3130892
Ok

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>>3130678
“The winds aren’t favorable and their ship is leaner and faster,” you call out to the crew. “We’re not outrunning these guys. Our best chance is to stand and fight. You, man the wheel. Hard turn starboard on my mark! You, you and you, get to the riggings! Hurlers, take positions! You, take Toph below decks and make sure she’s safe!”

“Seriously?” Toph shouts. “How many times do I have to run away from my dad?” She hurls a chunk of wood in your direction, but it sails uselessly over your head.

A beat. “Did I hit him?” Toph asks.

“Almost.”
“So close.”
“I think you might’ve grazed him a little bit.”

Toph groans. “Fine, I’ll go below deck!” You can hear her cursing about wood and ships long after she disappears down the stairs.

“Suki, I’m going to need you to have my back on this one,” you call out, keeping the other ship in your sighs. “Starboard turn! Now!”

“I…yeah. I got your back,” Suki says, holding onto the side of the ship as it cuts a hard turn to the right. “Of course.”

“Good. Everyone get ready! Hurlers, prepare to intercept!” Several earthbenders line up on the side of the ship, steadying the boulders you keep to serve as ranged weapons or rudimentary defenses. Just in time too, as the pirates launch a barrage of stones – your hurlers intercept their missiles with boulders, leaving you free to close the gap with the pirate ship.

“Everyone to positions!” You roar as the ship comes closer. You drum your itching fingers against the hilt of your boomerangs, the sound of boulders clashing overhead, and then suddenly the ships collide with a bone-rattling thud.

The pirates are on you in moments. They swing from the riggings to land in the middle of your deck, wielding exotic weapons and smiling toothless grins. Your crew, to their credit, responds in kind, roaring defiance and throwing themselves into the battle.

You spin and weave through the chaos. One pirate swings tow nunchucks your way, but you block his blow and catch him in the jaw with a spinning kick. Another charges you with a podao, jabbing at you with the wickedly sharp point to keep you at distance. Every time you try to prepare a throw he gets close, cutting off your momentum, until Suki tackles him from behind and draws several long cuts across his back with the bladed fan she wields in either hand.

>cont.

>>3130997
You don’t even have time to thank her before a pirate falls on you, his spike chain drawing dizzying patterns in the air around you. You flip backwards and throw your boomerang midair, catching him in the chin, but your landing is thrown off by a sudden rock of the boat and you stumble. Luckily you manage to turn that stumble into a roll, avoiding the knives of another pirate, and catch him across the chest with the bladed edge of your boomerang.

Then you’re face to face with an older pirate in a wide brimmed hat, his long grey hair flapping in the wind. He wields a jian with surprising skill, forcing you back step by step, but ultimately he’s old and careful, and you’re young and fierce. You step inside his swing and hit him with your shoulder, sending him sprawling, then fall atop him with your boomerang raised.

“Stop! Stop!” The pirate shouts. “I yield!”

Immediately, the rest of the crew holds up their hands and drops to their knees, defeated. All across the deck of the ship, the sounds of battle cease – except for one corner, where Suki is still wailing on a pirate with her fists. Each blow sends blood flying, but though the pirate has long since stopped any resistance Suki keeps going, pounding his face into the deck, an inhuman snarl frozen across her face –

“Suki!” You grab her wrist, and she freezes solid. She looks down at the nightmare of broken bone and twisted flesh that is her opponent’s face and bloody hands fly to her mouth in a vain attempt to stop her from retching.

You want to make sure she’s alright, but there are more pressing matters at the moment. Instead you assign a crewmember to monitor her, and turn your attention to the defeated captain and his crew.

Now that you can get a good look at it, you can see the pirate vessel is a bit of a mess. The sails are recently patched, the hull scorched and blackened. The crew bears a variety of injuries that you’re almost positive your men didn’t give them.

You zero in on the scorches. There’s only one force in the world that can cause damage like that, and they’re not anyone you want to run into while sailing under Earth Kingdom colors. “You’ve been fighting with Fire Nation Navy.”

It shouldn’t be possible. The Fire Nation should be confined to the Earth Kingdom’s West Coast, and you’re on the other side of the continent. For Fire Nation to be on this side of the world, there’s been a major shift in relations while you’ve been away.

But the captain doesn’t deny it. “Aye, we have,” he growls. “That ain’t the worst of it though.”

>“I’ll be the judge of that. What’s the Fire Nation doing here?”
>“What’s the worst of it then?”

>>3130998
>“What’s the worst of it then?”
Bet its the southern water tribe.

>>3130998
>“What’s the worst of it then?”

>>3130998
>>“What’s the worst of it then?”

>>3130998
>>“What’s the worst of it then?”

>>3130998
>>“What’s the worst of it then?”

>>3130998
>“What’s the worst of it then?”

>>3130998
>“What’s the worst of it then?”
nb4 its ghosts

>“What’s the worst of it then?”

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>>3130998
“Really. So the worst of it is…”

“Black Belle,” the captain says. “She was the one who drew the Fire Navy down on us. They can’t let her get away with that ship.”

“Ship?”

“She calls it the Pirate Black, but it’s the FNS Iroh. Ironclad. Now she’s got some captain chasing her around, burning any free ship he sees!”

You shrug. “I have to admit that I’m finding it hard to muster up any sympathy for pirates.”

The captain laughs. “That’s what the all say, aye, from the north pole to the south. About time someone hit the pirates, yeah? Scourge of the seas, yeah?” He sounds bitter about it, but it’s true. Not far south of you are the Thousand Peaks, a collection of small islands clustered in a relatively tight area. The surplus of coves and shorelines to hide amongst has made the area a pirate hotbed, and threatens any sea voyage in the area. Even the ship that carried you to Ba Sing Se, crewed entirely by Southern Raiders, had been forced to swing wide around the Peaks. Though you’re not thrilled by the presence of Fire Navy so far west, you can’t really see a downside to making the area a little safer. “You’re thinking too small,” the captain says, “just like the Fire Navy. Belle’s already stolen one ironclad, you see? She ain’t scared of retaliation. But we are.”

“We?”

“Free men. Pirates! Fire Navy on the warpath, the captains get scared. So they do what anyone does when faced with an existential threat.”

“They rally,” you realize. “Under one banner.”

“Black Belle’s banner,” the captain says, smiling a wicked smile. “She’s the cause, sure, but she’s the only one who can stand up to them. You know how many ships are hiding in the Peaks?”

“Enough to rival our navy in size,” you mutter. “So Black Belle’s not just a pirate, she’s a pirate queen.”

“Will be, soon enough,” the captain confirms. “More flock to her every day, and the ones that don’t,” he gestures at his own crew, “are dying.”

“We can’t let them solidify,” Suki says from behind you. You turn to see her walking towards you, white faced by steady. “A fleet that big would devastate everything in its path, Kyoshi Island included.”

“Agreed. This is…kind of a big problem.”

“Will the Southern Water Tribe help us?”

You rub your chin. “They would, if we could reach them…but it’s a long way to South Pole, and then we’d have to come all the way back. I don’t think they’d get here in time.”

“And the Earth Kingdom Navy is tied up on the other end of the continent,” Suki says. “Or are busy putting down Lords that aren’t complying with the new regime. So it’s…”

“Up to us, I guess,” you finish, staring out over the ocean. The Thousand Peaks are there, just beyond the horizon – a den of outlaws and thieves, terrorized by a Fire Navy flotilla and a would-be queen.

>Sail to the Thousand Peaks
>Fuck that, go home

>>3131317
>Sail to the Thousand Peaks

>>3131317
>Sail to the Thousand Peaks

>Sail to the Thousand Peaks

>>3131317
>Sail to the Thousand Peaks
AAAAAAAAAAAAAADVENTUUUUURE!!!!

>>3131317
>>Sail to the Thousand Peaks
Yo-ho. Shiver me timbers. Matey. Peg-leg. Yaar.
Alright, think that's got it out of my system. Onward!

>>3131334
No no, keep going, if we pretend to be pirates nobody's heard of that might be our way of getting on board.

This is basically an assassination mission anyways, so infiltration is necessary.

>>3131317
>>Fuck that, go home
Don't we have a navy at home?

>>3131340
Yeah, but it's at the SOUTH POLE! It's gonna be a few weeks to get there and back, and by then the pirates will have a proper union set up. We can't beat pirates with adequate pay and health insurance!

>>3131339
I'm supporting this, let's pretend to be pirates to get in.
Maybe we can talk Suki and Toph into pretending to be our pirate harem!

>>3131339
The problem is the Pirates we captured can rat us out, unless we pull a PotC and strand them on an island(with no turtles or it's equivalent).

>>3131375
Well, if we're working together to take out the pirate queen, why would they rat us out?

>>3131376
The real problem is our fame as a Hero of the Revolution. We'll need a mask and an ironclad backstory. Maybe change our heraldry to match the shark-whatever Tribe? Maybe even keep the boomerangs in reserve and start using a sword instead.

>>3131317
>>Sail to the Thousand Peaks

>>3131376
>why would they rat us out?
Because they are pirates that's what they do backstab people.
>>3131383
We just need to change color scheme of our clothes and boomerangs and we golden.
I doubt Sokka face is popular enough, also masks would probably attract more attention and raise some questions.
If you really think hiding our face is necessary we could ask Suki for make-up.

>Maybe change our heraldry to match the shark-whatever Tribe?
How would that even work?

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>>3131317
The Thousand Peaks are beautiful, in their own way. When you were a child, your grandmother had told you the story of the Valley King, a powerful king who had lived thousands of years ago. He had carved out a vast kingdom in the shadow of the thousand mountains, and had grown rich and fat and arrogant. So mighty was his empire that he began to hold himself as equal to the spirits themselves. In particular he mocked the Moon and the Ocean, for he was man of solid land and saw little value in those spirits.

So prideful did the Valley King grow that the Moon and Ocean could brook his arrogance no longer. They called the power of the tides and flooded the Valley King’s land, condemning him and all his people to a death beneath the great waves. When they were done, only the peaks of the thousand mountains remained – hence, the Thousand Peaks.

Were you a more superstitious sort, you might be concerned of the ghosts of the drowned rising from their watery grave – but you feel like you might have enough on your plate already without adding an army of specters.

“Are we there yet?” Toph asks, not for the first time. Sailing has not been kind to her, and she’s eager to make landfall.

“Smoke to the southeast, Chief,” a sailor tells you, pressing a spyglass into your hands.

>cont.

>>3131424
You check the horizon and confirm the smoke with your own eyes – a lot of it, too much for a single ship. “That would be the Fire Navy flotilla,” you say. “No wonder they’re having trouble rooting the pirates out, we can literally see them coming from miles away.”

“Aye, they’re playing right into Black Belle’s hands,” Captian Hai says. He’s chained to the side of the ship, but since he’s the only one with experience in the Peaks you’ve decided to keep him close. “She boxes in the remaining Free men so they can’t run. Their only options are to join, or be caught and burned.” He spits into the ocean.

“Should we move to avoid them, Chief?” A sailor asks. “We’re not flying the skull and crossbones, but I don’t imagine the Fire Nation would take too kindly to us either way.”

You glance over at Captain Hai. “Do you know anything about the leader of the flotilla?”

“Just that he’s an ambitious Captain named Zhao. Has a penchant for overwhelming force.”

“We could fly the white and parley,” you muse, rubbing your chin. “I doubt even the Fire Nation would attack a surrendering vessel.”

“Unless the pirates have been using the white to get close,” Suki points out.

“Shit, yeah, that could be a problem.” You sigh. “Hai, if we swing west, what are we going to find?”

Hai laughs. “Probably the Black Bitch herself,” he says. “She’s set up camp thereabouts. If you can slip past her scouts, I can guide you further south. Long Kai and his boys are the strongest of the remaining Free men in the Peaks.”

You’ve heard of Long Kai – the Iron Kaiju, he prefers to be called. A more bloodthirsty and ornery man has never sailed the seas, they say, but he’s been a big name for over a decade now. If there’s anyone who could stand up to Black Belle, it’s the Iron Kaiju.

>Parley with the Fire Navy Flotilla
>Parley with Black Belle
>Sneak past Black Belle, parley with the Iron Kaiju (Misc. Check DC 50)

>>3131383
Lack of consistent long distance communication means your face isn't common knowledge. People will know who you are if you announce it, but they won't recognize you on sight.

Sheathing the boomerangs might be a good idea if you want to be extra careful, since they're a much more unique weapon than a sword or spear.

>>3131425
>>Parley with the Fire Navy Flotilla

>>3131425
>Sneak past Black Belle, parley with the Iron Kaiju

>>3131425
>>Sneak past Black Belle, parley with the Iron Kaiju (Misc. Check DC 50)

>>3131425
>Parley with Black Belle

>>3131425
>Sneak past Black Belle, parley with the Iron Kaiju (Misc. Check DC 50)
I think best case scenario here is a three-way battle that diminish the forces of all three but that's probably more than we can hope for. At the very least, we can try to get rid of the pirate problem by setting Long Kai and Belle against each other, and in turn rid the Fire Navy of their reason to patrol the area.

Also, if we fail the sneak roll, we can just pass it off as us being pirates not wanting to get caught up in her bullshit.

>>3131425
>Sneak past Black Belle, parley with the Iron Kaiju (Misc. Check DC 50)

Iron Kaiju it is, roll 3 1d100.

The highest of 3 rolls is taken
95-100 is a crit success
1-5 is a crit fail, and has priority over any rolls that aren't crit successes.

DC is 50

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3131484
What could possibly go wrong?

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3131484

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>3131484
Come on super stealth!

>>3131425
>Parley with the Fire Navy Flotilla

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>>3131425
To meet with the Iron Kaiju, you’ll have to sail right through territory controlled by Black Belle. But blockade running is a skill all young raiders are taught, vital for survival on the sea, and it’s something you have no small amount of practice at.

Of course, you never practiced while facing down enemies who would gladly kill you if you were caught, but there’s a first time for everything. You cut as close to the islands as you dare, taking Hai’s advice on how best to avoid the reefs, and keep up a near constant stream of prayer to the Ocean spirit to bless your passage.

When you see the massive sails of a Ship of the Line poking out from above the treetops, you’re forced to bank hard to escape before they can sight you. It’s a very narrow thing, but the winds are in your favor, and you make it behind the neighboring island just before the ship pulls out into view.

From there, Hai is able to guide you to a cove hidden amongst a dense thicket of islands, where three large ships are anchored. Each bears the same jolly roger – a skull surrounded by waving tentacles – and each bears the mark of recent battle. Hard, lean men and women watch you with narrowed eyes as you dock, but none makes a move to harm you.

Toph is the first off the ship, and she falls immediately to press her body against the sand of the beach. “Earth!” She shouts happily, digging her fingers and toes into the sand. “I’ve never been so happy to see anything this fuzzy!”

She picks herself up quickly enough though, pointing to an approaching coterie of pirates and scoundrels. At their head is a white bearded man in slate grey mail – the Iron Kaiju himself. He holds an axe as tall as he is with an easy, predatory grace.

“You aren’t Black Belle!” He calls, stopping well short of you, as men and women press towards you from ever side. “Nor one of her dog-lords, not that I recognize! Who are you?” He raises the axe. “And I’d better like what I hear, boy!”

>“I’m Sokka, son of Hadoka.”
>“I’m…Tarlokk, exiled from the Southern Water Tribe.” (Social Check DC 60)
>Other?

>>3131510
>“I’m…Tarlokk, exiled from the Southern Water Tribe.” (Social Check DC 60)

>>3131510
>Other?
>They call me...Roarke Starwind

>>3131510
>"I'm Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate!"

>>3131510
>>“I’m…Tarlokk, exiled from the Southern Water Tribe.” (Social Check DC 60)
We should mention that we were specifically from the Squid-Shark tribe. Imply that we used to raid and pillage and Black Belle is making it hard to start back up.

>>3131528
Hah

>>3131528
support

>>3131510
>“I’m…Tarlokk, exiled from the Southern Water Tribe.” (Social Check DC 60)
>>3131516
Let it die anon, at least the green men will die along with it.

>>3131548
Too bad it ended, we would have totally wrecked Avalon.

>>3131510
>>3131528
Backing this. I know it's a meme vote, but fuck it. Monkey Island was legit.

>>3131528
i keep imagining sokka trying to say this in the deepest voice he can muster... just wanted to share that

>>3131544
Idk if this is a vote but fuck it I'm down for Guybrush Threepwood.

Social roll, 3 1d100, standard rules, DC 55

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>3131601

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>3131601

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>3131601
Next we need to make a Hook reference somehow.

>>3131601
>>3131605
I fucking love the lower DC and getting a sexy 69

>>3131605
Pirate Sokka is lewd: confirmed.

>>3131626
Lewd rude and in the mood

>>3131605
>meme name
>meme dice

It checks out

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>>3131510
You cough and lower your voice about as low as it can go, trying to add years to compensate for your clearly young face. “Name’s Threepwood. Guybrush Threepwood. A mighty pirate!”

A moment of silence. “What the fuck is a Guybrush?” One of the Iron Kaiju’s men asks.

“It’s a title given to a flooring inspector,” another says.

“It’s clearly a fucking alias!” The Kaiju roars, silencing his crew. “I don’t got nothing against a man who wants to choose his own name,” he says, stalking towards you. “But I wasn’t blessed with a large reserve of patience, Guybush.”

“Guybrush.”

“Now either you’re a complete fucking idiot,” Kaiju continues, ignoring you, “who has no idea he’s stumbled into the middle of a war, or you’re here to parley. I’m going to assume, for your sake, that it’s the latter.” He slams the butt of his axe into the ground – beside you, Toph flinches. “Why are you here, boy?”

Emboldened by your first lie, you take a step forward. “What can I say? I was a southern raider, as you can probably guess from the clothes. I did my share of raiding and pillaging, and good times were had by all...well, all aboard my ship, at least.” You sling an arm around the shoulder of a nearby pirate and laugh, and the Kaiju’s crew laughs with you. “Yeah, that was the life,” you say. “But then this new Queen, this, Black Belle, she says all the pirates are bowing to her, or they die. Now, I consider myself a Free man of the ocean, you see, so I tell her that Guybrush Threepwood bows to no-one and nothing, not even to a spectacular pair of tits.”

At this, even the Kaiju cracks a smile. “Let me guess what she said to that.”

“Well, you could guess and you’d probably be right. Black Belle tries her best to kill me, but I don’t die easy, no sir, not Guybrush Threepwood. I claw my way back to land and what do I hear? That none other than the living legend, the whirling dervish, the Iron Kaiju himself is taking a stand against the Black Bitch. I think to myself well Guybrush, that sounds like an opportunity, and so I sailed straight here. Black Belle has grand designs, but I’m pretty attached the status quo, and between you and me, I’m not half bad at killing would-be-monarchs.” You spread your arms wide. “So what do you say?”

>cont.

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>>3131679
The Iron Kaiju laughs. “I say I like you, Guytree.”

“Guybrush.”

“There’s a bit of snag in your plan though,” The Kaiju says. He motions for you to follow him, leading you up the beach and into a driftwood hut decorated with rich silks and fine jewelry. “And it’s that Belle has twenty times the firepower we do – and she’s got an ironclad. Me and my boys learned the hard way that you can’t trade blows with those things, and she’s too clever to let us get in close.”

You take the offered seat and prop your feet up on the desk in front of you. “You strike me as the kind of guy who has a plan, though.”

“You’d be right about that,” the Kaiju says, smiling fiercely. “And I’ve got just the man to pull it off too. It seems to me, if you can’t beat it, rip it off.” He unfurls a detailed map of the Thousand Peaks and points towards a section to the North. “The Fire Navy has a flotilla here, commanded by a whelp named Zhao. He’s an ass of the highest order, but he has half a dozen Ironclad frigates sailing with him. We get our hands on one, and we can take the Bitch head on.”

You rub your chin. “A sound plan, but risky. I pity the man you’ve lined up to steal an Ironclad.”

“Ah, but self-pity is vilest of sins, Gruybush!”

You’re too busy swallowing to correct him.

“This is what I need,” The Kaiju says, his face just inches from yours. “You talk big game, boy, but you come to me with a single ship and a crew full of little girls. I need something I can use. I need an ironclad.” He claps you on the shoulder. “Get me one, and not only will I kill the Black Bitch, I’ll make you richer than you could ever dream.”

Your crew is waiting for you when you get back to the beach. “First of all, I can’t believe that bought that ostrich horse crap,” Toph says. “Your heart was going like a wardrum that whole speech? Is everyone on this island deaf?”

“Are we in the clear?” Suki asks. “You’re still alive, so he must have some use for you.”

“He wants us to capture him an ironclad,” you say, shaking your head.

Suki’s eyes go wide. “How are we going to do that?”

“I don’t know exactly,” you admit. “But that’s never stopped me before. I think we should…”

>Ambush Zhao
>Parley with Zhao
>Steal Black Belle’s Ironclad instead
>Other?

>>3131683
Parley with Zhao

>>3131683
>>Parley with Zhao

>>3131683
>>Ambush Zhao
Let's just be pirates, we were sent out to learn all about other cultures, dad would be proud

>>3131683
>Parley with Zhao
THIS IS IT, BOIS, WE'RE GOING FULL JACK SPARROW

>>3131683
>>Parley with Zhao
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he lent us a ship just so we could do his work for him.

>>3131683
>>Parley with Zhao

Okay, so, plan.

We've got Iron Kaiju who will punch Black Belle if we give him an Ironclad.

We can PROBABLY talk Zhao into giving us an Ironclad that will collapse with some precision firebending, on the pretense that while the two pirate groups are fighting he can come in and sweep up the lot.

Then we go to Black Belle and warn her of both the incoming attack and of Zhao who will use Iron Kaiju as a distraction, so that she is prepared to go full defense and make the Fire Navy pay for every ship they take.

In the middle of the ensuing chaos, we will go in and remove each of the leaders, killing off Kaiju, Belle, and Zhao, leaving the three groups bloodied and leaderless, scattering them from the Southern Seas.

>>3131683
>Parley with Zhao

File: 1516469750427.gif (160 KB, 250x271)

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>>3131703
>because overcomplicated plans never fail

>>3131711
Channel your inner Jack Sparrow, my friend!

>>3131711
not for guybrush threepwood

File: just as planned.png (626 KB, 569x543)

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>>3131716
>not for guybrush threepwood

>>3131683
>Steal Black Belle’s Ironclad instead

Enough with the social antics, not even Sokka is willing to push it this far.

>>3131739
Good thing we're guybrush threepwood

>>3131751
Point

File: zhao.png (187 KB, 356x420)

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>>3131683
Luckily, Captain Zhao isn’t hard to find. The smoke that his ships are throwing up serves as a marker, allowing you to head straight from the Kaiju’s base to his location.

Upon seeing the flotilla, you understand why Zhao considers the smoke worth it. The ironclads are unbelievably fast and don’t need wind, allowing them unparalleled maneuverability. If Belle is keeping ahead of them, it must be by the skin of her teeth. And if what the Kaiju said about fighting ironclads is true, the ships Zhao has must be equal to three times their number in battle. Still, Black Belle has stolen one ironclad already – and the Peaks’ geography, with an island around ever corner, is uniquely suited to taking down ironclads. The many twists and turns mean the armored ships aren’t able to build up enough steam to leverage their speed, and there’s plenty of places for pirates to hide and get in close, negating the ironclad’s defenses. Zhao might think he’s invincible, but his position is fairly tenuous.

Though you can’t know if Zhao will honor the white, you sail it anyway. Upon sighting you, the flotilla turns hard, and soon you’re completely surrounded by large, imposing metal ships.

“I’m getting kind of sick of being surrounded,” Suki murmurs, eyes darting back and forth.

“We’re surrounded again?” Toph asks. “Already? Why is surrounding ourselves with enemies always the plan?”

“I’m glad you guys are putting aside your differences to beat up on me, but could we maybe save that until after we’re sure the we’re not gonna get set on fire?” The girls, mercifully, fall silent.

A metal drawbridge lands on your deck with a thud, and an armored man struts imperiously onto your ship, flanked by two skull-masked firebenders. Captain Zhao, presumably.

“You were flying the white,” Zhao says, “and did not attack us. I will thus offer a warning. You are interfering in a Fire Navy operation. You will donate needed supplies and leave immediately.”

You bow. “You must be the illustrious Captain Zhao. Men call me Guybrush Threepwood, and I-”

“That isn’t a name,” Zhao says, his mouth set in a hard line. “I won’t be ridiculed on my own ship.”

Technically this is your ship, but you’re not about to correct him. “Okay, I’ll be straight with you,” you say instead. “We’re here because our interests align. We want the Peaks as pirate-free as you do.”

“Ah,” Zhao says, still sounding unimpressed. “Agents of the new Lord Chamberlain then? Or just rival pirates?” You try to answer, but he holds up a hand. “It makes no matter. The situation is well in hand. I have six of the most advanced warships in the world under my command, and I’m chasing rabble. The pirates here will be shattered before the moon turns. There is nothing you could possibly offer me.”

>“You haven’t heard my plan…” (What?) (Social Check DC Variable)
>“There has to be something you want.”

>>3131818
>“You haven’t heard my plan…” (What?) (Social Check DC Variable)

>>3131818

>“You haven’t heard my plan…” (What?) (Social Check DC Variable)

>>3131827
>>3131840
Do you guys have a specific plan in mind? So far this >>3131703 is the only one offered.

>>3131818
>“You haven’t heard my plan…” (What?) (Social Check DC Variable)
Have you never fought a guerilla army before? You cannot defeat them with a single fist of troops; you might win the battle, but they will always escape and regroup. Add to that attacking them on their home territory? You have a recipe for disaster.

What you don't know is that the pirates are more fractious than a single unified group. Just take this man I've got captured here, for instance. He was fleeing the Black Belle's draft. But the more pressure you put on them from the outside, the more unified they'll become, and the harder they'll be to shatter for good.

What you need to do is apply pressure from within - enable one of their factions to rival the other - then they'll tear themselves apart for you.

Of course, you could always continue as you have been, trying to catch a school of fish with a hammer. In that case, I'll at least be entertained.

>>3131818
>“There has to be something you want.”

>>3131818
>>3131848
This is nice. To reinforce the point, we can explicitly tell him our own observations about his tenuous position. If possible, I also like >>3131703 and his plan of sabotaging the Ironclad for the Kaiju. Not sure if Zhao would even be willing to intentionally lose one of his ships but it's something to bring up.

>>3131818
>“You haven’t heard my plan…” (What?) (Social Check DC Variable)
This ones are cool >>3131703>>3131848
we have a social auto-success anyways.

>>3131868
to lower dc, and maybe pass low rolls. I don't think asking a flotilla captain to give up one of his ships for a risky gamble is something that is gonna go over well with him.

>>3131883
Where does it say the auto-success works like that? Zhao is kind of a fucking idiot anyways.

>>3131898
Yeah, but he's the kind of idiot that will lock us away and still use our idea.

>>3131818
>>“You haven’t heard my plan…” (What?) (Social Check DC Variable)
The idea, Zhao, is that the Ironclad you give me is sabotaged in ways that can't be found by someone not familiar with how Ironclads function. Once Iron Kaiju has his trophy, he'll lead an assault on Black Belle. While the assault would normally leave Belle victorious and uncontested, if a bit bloody, you're going to come in from the side during the fight and hit both pirate fleets while they're focused on eachother, taking out the entire mass of criminals in a single move that will be sung about from here to the Northern water tribe.

>If we use the auto-success
Look, Zhao, the Pirates are everyone's problem. I don't really care about 'Who used Who' or a bit of extra reputation. What matters to me is that the pirates are gone.

Okay, summing up:
>>3131703
>>3131848
>>3131910
These 3 posts seem to be variations on the same plan, which has fairly widespread support.

Zhao is obsessed with boosting his own ego, but he also displays a willingness to work with specialists to perform certain jobs (the archers/the pirates). I think he'd see the price of a single ship as worth a speedy resolution of the issue, but the idea of taking orders from a teenager rankles him. So I'd say this is DC 60.

You have 1 social autosuccess, which will grant you a success without the need to roll, but is a rare reward that you might not replenish for a while. I'm going to give you 30 minutes to vote on whether to use it or not. Rolls thrown before the vote is resolved will not count.

>Use social autosuccess
>Don't use social autosuccess

>>3131936
>Don't use social autosuccess
I think a DC of 60 is a fairly reasonable risk. Not to mention this isn't an all-or-nothing situation; if we fuck this up, we can always try with Belle.

>>3131936
>Don't use social autosuccess
We need to keep this in our back pocket right until the endgame.

Or until we actually go into the Fire Nation and get the chance to pal up with the cast there. I will willingly sacrifice everything for the opportunity to say 'That's rough, buddy.' to Zuko.

>>3131936
>>Don't use social autosuccess

>>3131949
Shot could be completely different for zuko. I mean fire nation isnt on a total war path so his dad might be more chill.

>>3131936
>Don't use social autosuccess
DC 60 is easy enough on best of 3

>>3131936
>>Don't use social autosuccess

>>3131958
We've gotten three rolls in the entire thread so far above 60.

>>3131936
>Don't use social autosuccess

>>3131936
>Use social autosuccess

I think this situation warrants it.

>>3131936
>>Use social autosuccess
Don't risk it. Failure here would be unpleasant. In the fire and chaos way.

Don't has won, roll 3 1d100 please.

>>3131965
dice rolls are binomially distributed, they are not affected by previous outcomes

>>3131818
>Not even a temporary truce? Not gonna say when, but the free pirates intend to take her on, too. It'd be great if both of us didnt have to worry about fighting on two fronts.
>talk on the ironclad
The biggest gain we can get from this is enough time for toph to see on an ironclad. We can get that pirate guy to face off against the smallfry, if we have to.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>3132003

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>3132003

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>3132003
nat 1 incoming

>>3132013
Nice save pessimistic anon

>>3132013
oh gad thank you

>>3132006
So you say, yet we very nearly just got fucked.

>>3132018
best of 3 DC 60 has only a 20.5379% chance to fail, I was willing to roll those dice.

>>3132018
What you fail to understand is that there are people on this site autistic enough to run the numbers on a d100 best of three.

Exhibit A: >>3132022

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>>3131818
“The way I see it, you don’t fight a school of fish with a hammer, sir,” you explain. “Black Belle and her pirates are guerillas. You can chase them round and round their home turf, and yeah, you’d eventually win, probably. But there’s a quicker way.” You motion towards Hai, still chained to your ship. “The pirates here aren’t all happy with Black Belle. We caught this one fleeing, and we’ve met with the Iron Kaiju, who is determined not to kneel.”

“Pirates are always fighting amongst one another. It’s in their nature,” Zhao says. But, tellingly, he doesn’t force you to be quiet.

“Why waste time chasing enemies who will destroy each other given half the chance?” You ask. “The Iron Kaiju is a seasoned killer. He ‘’wants’’ to kill Black Belle. But he can’t do it without an ironclad.” You look pointedly towards the ships surrounding you. “Let me take a ship to the Iron Kaiju. I’ll gladly take some of your soldiers aboard as escorts. When he goes off to smash Black Belle, follow him. They bloody each other, you sweep in and take down the remnants.”

Zhao strokes his sideburns with his hand, pacing back and forth. “You would have me turn an ironclad over to pirates. That’s exactly what got us into this mess in the first place.”

“Sabotage the ship. The Iron Kaiju’s never sailed an ironclad before, he won’t notice. Surely the quick resolution of the pirate problem is worth a single ship.”

Zhao pauses. He’s considering it, you can see it in his eyes. One of the skull-masked firebenders leans in and whispers something to him. “I know that,” Zhao snarls. “But every minute I’m here is another moment those brats are consolidating power without me. I end this today, I return home a Commander.”

He wheels on you. “I’m willing to try this, on my conditions. My men will escort you on the ironclad. The slightest hint of treachery, and they kill you and all your crew. Is that understood?”

“Sounds reasonable, sir.”

“The rest of my flotilla will be following close behind. Rowing power, as I understand the need for discretion. When we attack, you will be responsible for your own safety. I will shed no tears if you are caught in the crossfire.” Something like trepidation must flicker across your face, because Zhao smiles. “If you’re truly so committed to the cause of ridding this backwater of pirates, the risk of death should be a small price to pay, yes?”

You flash him an uneasy thumbs up.

>cont.

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>>3132197
You have never seen a man so happy as the Iron Kaiju when you give him an ironclad.

“Now this is a flagship!” He roars, banging his axe against the metal hull. “A ship worthy of my majesty!” He claps you on the shoulder. “I’ll admit I didn’t believe in you, Whybrush, but I’ve never been happier to be wrong!”

Zhao’s firebenders, their armor replaced by pirate rags, give you a look. You do your best to ignore them.

“Aye, this’ll kill the wench,” the Kaiju says. “Men! Aboard! The fire’s in my blood, we’ll use it!”

There’s a cheer from the Kaiju’s crew as they stream aboard.

“About that, sir,” you say, jogging to keep pace with the Kaiju. “I think it would be best if you used some of my crew to man the ironclad. I have some Fire Navy deserters, they know their way around the ship.”

“Fire Navy deserters?” The Kaiju asks. He glances at Zhao’s men, curious. “I didn’t see them earlier, did I?”

“Ah, well, they’re very…inconspicuous,” You say. “They fade right into the background. Even I forget they’re there sometimes.”

Zhao’s men are six feet tall and ripple with muscle. The Kaiju grunts. “You’re a funny one, boy. A funny one indeed.”

*

You pace the bow of the ironclad, back and forth, back and forth. Toph and Suki wait on either side of you, Toph leaning against the railing, Suki sitting with her legs crossed in meditation.

“If you don’t stop pacing I might jump off this ship,” Toph says.

“I’m just worried about the plan,” you whisper, drawing closer to her. “I feel like we’re running a lot of schemes here, and honestly I’m not sure it’s enough. I’m flying by the seat of my pants and I can barely keep all my lies straight, and my first instinct is to pile more lies on top of it.”

“You’re a pretty smart guy, Sokka. Or Guybrush, or whatever you’re going by now,” Toph says, smiling somewhat. “You followed your gut in Ba Sing Se and that…mostly worked out.”

“Is everything okay over there?” Suki asks. Looking up from her meditation. She makes no move to join the two of you, however.”

“We’re talking,” Toph says. “You know, a private conversation?”

Suki quickly averts her eyes. “Right,” she says, voice quiet. “Sure.”

You’d like to pry into that a little more, but perhaps now isn’t the best time. The Kaiju is signaling the crew to quiet down as you approach Black Belle’s island. There isn’t much time before the assault.

>Sail ahead to Black Belle and distract her forces (Social DC 60)
>Commence the assault (Combat DC 70)

>>3132198
>Sail ahead to Black Belle and distract her forces (Social DC 60)
it's easier to roll a 60 than a 70

>>3132198
>Commence the assault (Combat DC 70)

Enough talking, let's GET IT ON!

>>3132198
>>Sail ahead to Black Belle and warn her of the coming attack. Have Hai at the head, trying to get in her good graces by selling out Kaiju and Zhao. Make it look like he's lead a mutiny against you, him and your men can bust you out once the fighting starts.

>>3132203
Or, if people don't like Zhao, we could have Suki do it in an attempt to barter safe harbor for her island.

>>3132198
I'm having difficulty thinking of a line of approach for bullshitting the Black Belle. What yarn would we even spin her? Conditionally going with
>Commence the assault (Combat DC 70)
unless someone can come up with a good idea for the social option.

>>3132198
>Commence the assault (Combat DC 70)

>>3132206
Easy. Either Hai attempting to get in her good graces, or Suki bargaining for the safety of her island. Toph might be a bit of a stretch, otherwise I'd suggest her. Either way, I'm going to assume spies of Belle's have already warned her of who we are and how we got Kaiju the Ironclad, so the only way a warning can be given and believed from one of our people is if they "betray" us.

>>3132203
Playing all three sides like this will more than likely to cause all of them to gang up on US by the end of it all.

>>3132209
How? We are surrounded by water, unless a guy jumps ship and swims all the way to the island to warn her.

>>3132209
Yes, but what purpose would that serve? What are we trying to get her to do by talking to her? Social combat should always have some objective in mind.

Or is it just a simple distraction - in which case we'll be occupying the attention of one single person while the rest of her fleet would presumably be intelligent enough to react to an incoming attack, and putting ourself right there for her to execute once our treachery becomes apparent?

We could just cut our ties to the Earth Kingdom and join the Fire Kingdom and become a world-renown tea maker who learned the trade from the best Tea School and united the world through the art of tea.

>>3132213
Only if the any of the three leaders are alive by the end of it.

We'll just have to see to it personally that doesn't happen.

>>3132215
Like I said, we go out to distract Belle and then someone on our ship fakes a mutiny in transit. Instead of distracting her like we were supposed to (and the option suggests) the mutineer (either Suki or Hai, Suki will be less likely to fuck us over but also might get betrayed herself if Belle's a vindictive cunt) warns Black Belle of the coming navies, both of them.

>>3132218
The objective is to give Belle time to turtle up. She might be able to run from an Ironclad Fleet like Zhao, but unless she gives up the entire powerbase she's been building up she won't be able to outmaneuver the second, if smaller, pirate fleet that Kaiju is bringing to bear. So, she'll turtle up and meet both fleets with weapons flashing. All we'll have to do then is kill her and her inner circle before she can disengage, and her fleet will shatter even as it inflicts heavy losses on Zhao, and Kaiju gets caught between the Zhao-Hammer and the Belle-Anvil.

From the moment the battle starts, our objective will be making sure NOBODY wins.

>>3132222
Realistically, the pirates are the only ones we need to make sure lose. Zhao just wants to fuck off home from this bullshit assignment. And it's easier to ensure that one side wins than that all sides lose.

I'm also not too confident in our ability to carry out an assassination and then sneak/fight our way out of the center of enemy territory back to our own lines.

>>3132228
>I'm also not too confident in our ability to carry out an assassination and then sneak/fight our way out of the center of enemy territory back to our own lines.
this

>>3132228
There won't be a center.

Alright, you want a plan then? If Belle knows that Zhao's on his way, she can stall Kaiju's fleet and act as the anvil to Zhao's hammer. Then, when the two of them are locked in combat, envelop them both with her superior numbers. They'll be surrounded, but only inflicting half the casualties on her fleet they could otherwise.

As such, we'll most likely be on the outer-most layer when the shit really hits the fan.

>>3132198
>>Commence the assault (Combat DC 70)
So tempted to pile on more complications until we forget what side we're on, but sooner or later we'd screw up. Easier to just smash.

>>3132230
Wasn't there a jet lee movie based on this?

>>3132235
I don't trust sokka threepwood's ability to kung fu kick his way out of 3 navies ganging up on us

Merry Christmas anons

>>3132237
But obviously we have to try and fail then regret making an obvious bad choice with harsh consequences and a dead companion.

It just won't be qst without it.

>>3132241
yeah, you're right
after all you only live thrice

>>3132241
So THAT'S how Suki dies.

>>3132244
companions are like cat lives, we live at the cost of one of them.

>>3132246
;p

>>3132197
>“But every minute I’m here is another moment those brats are consolidating power without me
Guessing this is Zuko and Azula? And they're possibly working together in this timeline.

>>3132256
Well, that's not terrifying at all...

Commence the assault! Roll 3 1d100

The highest of 3 rolls is taken
90-100 is a crit success
1-5 is a crit fail, and has priority over any rolls that aren't crit successes.

DC is 70

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3132270

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>3132270
[muffled pirates of the caribbean theme]

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3132270

>>3132272
Critical YEET

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>>3132198
You’d like to say your attack caught Black Belle off guard, but she was waiting for you.

Her stolen flagship, the Pirate Black, is even larger than the ironclad you gave the Kaiju, but the crazy old pirate doesn’t seem to mind. “Hurlers!” He shouts, raising his axe to the sky. “Crush her grounded forces!”

In a moment, the sky is so full of flying boulders that you’re half convinced you’re back in Ba Sing Se’s royal palace. The crash of the waves quickly snaps you back to reality however, as the Iron Kaiju rams his ship directly into the Pirate Black. Your world shutters, and you’re forced to grab Toph by the collar before she tumbles into the sea.

“Screw this!” She shouts, gripping your arm with a feverish strength. “Get me to dry land now!”

You couldn’t agree more. You signal Suki and pull Toph up onto your back, her arms wrapped tightly around your neck. You and Suki charge the Pirate Black and leap, and are followed quickly by two of Zhao’s firebenders.

You hit the metal deck of Black Belle’s ship and stumble, waving your arms desperately to maintain balance. “Almost there! You shout to Toph, as you lower your shoulder and charge a pirate. He swipes at you with a dagger but misses, and your collision sends him soaring over the edge into the surf below.

You follow quickly after. Finding and killing Black Belle is the absolute priority – if she’s allowed to survive then it’s only a matter of time until she sets up another pirate queendom. You crash hard into the ocean, saltwater filling your nose and mouth, the impact tearing Toph away from you.

“Sokka!” She screams, flailing wildly. “Sokka!” Then she’s gone beneath the waves. You shout for Suki’s help but she’s already ahead of you, swimming towards the shore, the sounds of battle making it impossible to get her attention. So, alone, you dive under the water to find Toph.

The sea is choked with sand and debris, and you grab hold of a corpse before you find Toph – but you do find her. She fights and kicks you at first, an instinctive reaction to drowning, but you press her tight against you. Her hands find your face, and only then does she relent, letting you tow her up to the surface.

She sucks in air greedily, but there’s no time to slow down. You pull her towards the shore, where Suki is engaged in pitched combat with three of Black Belle’s pirates. One stabs at her with a spear but she leaps over it, planting a heel in his face and throwing one of her bladed fans at another pirate. It takes a chunk out of his throat as it flies past, and he collapses to the sand.

You yank Toph ashore and she collapses to the sand, still coughing up seawater. A pirate rushes you but you block his strike with your forearms and land a bevy of punches across his chest and face, knocking him to the ground.

>cont.

>>3132368
“I’ve got you!” Suki shouts. She sprints lightly across the sand, elbow smashing in the nose of a pirate that gets to close. But when she places a hand on Toph’s shoulder, the younger girl recoils.

“No! Sokka!” She shouts, hands shooting out to grip at your shirt. Suki flinches as if struck, but you signal for her to cover your continued advance. It would be better if Suki could lead – your boomerangs allow you to cover more angles – but Toph is worth the inconvenience.

“BELLE!” The challenge rings out as if from a horn, but when you turn you see only the Iron Kaiju standing in the water. The surf and sand around him is soaked red with blood, and he bleeds from a half a dozen wounds, but if anything he only looks stronger for his injuries. “COME ON WOMAN!” He bellows. “SHOW ME HOW A QUEEN DIES!” He’s rushed by a small group of Belle’s pirates, but bisects them with a single swing of his great axe. Say one thing for the Iron Kaiju, say he knows how to make an entrance.

Thankfully, his little display pulls enough attention from you that you’re able to get Toph to solid ground relatively unmolested. She practically dances as her feet hit rock, but celebration is cut short by the arrival of more pirates. They have a fire nation woman with them, a dark skinned and cloaked in red and gold. The air around her shimmers with heat.

Toph throws boulders at the approaching crew, but the firebending woman leaps into the air. Twin bursts of flame send her up high, and Toph loses track of her – but you and Suki work in concert, cutting off her landing, forcing her to adjust with another blast of flame. Toph is holding her own against the other pirates but she can only move so fast, and the pirates are the worst type of enemies for her to face – quick and light on their feet, hard for her to pinpoint and never in one spot for long.

You, however, have your own problems. Suki trades blows with the firebender but is forced to duck away when she unleashes a gout of flame that torches the grass in front of her. You hurl a boomerang but the firebender jerks her head to one side, letting it sail harmlessly past her, then throws out a fireball to knock it off course as it returns.

“You think this is going to stop her?” The firebender snarls. “She is a queen! The Kaiju is an old man, and he does not have the ships to take our fleet.” She nods towards the bay, where Belle’s ships are surrounding the Kaiju’s ironclad. “See? Already he falls. You have only delivered us another ironclad, another weapon for her fleet.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” you say, smiling. “Too bad I’ve got schemes on schemes on schemes, baby!”

At that exact moment, Zhao’s flotilla makes itself known. It’s as if the spirits themselves are smiling down on you.

>cont.

>>3132369
The firebender is so stunned by Zhao’s arrival that she doesn’t see Suki coming until it’s too late. The Kyoshi warrior takes a running leap and slams her knee into the firebender’s chin, and the dark skinned woman is out like a light.

A moment later Suki is knocked to the ground by a massive stream of water, and you get your first look at the infamous Black Belle.

She’s beautiful, there’s no denying that. Tan skin of the Water Tribe, dark black hair, a fire in her eyes, she looks every bit the pirate queen she claims to be. She whirls her arms around her head and summons more water from the ground behind her, whipping it towards you, but you dodge aside and throw a boomerang.

She catches it in a wall of ice. “You brought the Fire Navy here!” She shouts. “Two days! I needed two fucking days!” The water whips towards you again, and this time you can’t stop it from cracking you across the jaw. Stars explode across your vision, and you’re saved only by the timely intervention of Toph – but she can’t protect herself from the water, which never touches the ground, and is shoved violently against a tree for her trouble. “Well if I’m going down,” Black Belle says, hitting you with her water whip again, and again, and again, “then I’m taking all you fuckers down with me!”

The Iron Kaiju catches her in the side with a bull rush, and they both topple to the ground. The Kaiju reaches for his axe but Black Belle is quicker, and with a gesture the water works its way into his mouth and nose. The old pirate stumbles back, clawing at his throat, but there’s nothing he can do.

You break Black Belle’s concentration with a well placed punch, and the Iron Kaiju retches water and bile. Now it’s your turn to grapple with the pirate queen, the two of you rolling this way and that, struggling for leverage, as the Iron Kaiju lifts his massive axe. “Guybrush!” He roars. “It’s been an honor!”

Oh, now he remembers your fake name. Right as he’s about to cut you in half.

Amazingly, it’s Zhao that saves you. The Fire Nation Captain has rushed the beach, following the priority targets, and his fire blast sends the Kaiju howling, the stench of burnt flesh filling the air. Toph sends a waist high pillar of rock cutting your way, and you dive away from it just in time for it to shatter several of Black Belle’s ribs.

Zhao falls on the Iron Kaiju, his hands burning with barely controlled, flame, and you draw another boomerang from your belt. Black Belle lies battered and nearly broken, struggling to draw breath. Zhao and the Iron Kaiju are locked in combat, separated from their troops.

You, as they say, hold all the cards.

>Kill Black Belle
>Capture Black Belle

>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Capture the Iron Kaiju

>Kill Zhao
>Spare Zhao

>>3132372
>Kill ‘em all
I LOVE power vacuums

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao
It's interesting. We could kill Zhao, but he seems intent on serving as a balance to Zuko and Azula's unchecked rule. And though he is a dick, it might be useful to have an acquaintance, if not an ally, placed highly in the Fire Nation.

Also we do kinda owe him one for saving our ass, if unintentionally.

>>3132372
>Capture Black Belle
She's the one we actually came to deal with, but killing her ourselves is a bit more ruthless a solution than Sokka probably meant for; capture her and let Zhao take her prisoner to deal with however works best for him - might even get us more brownie points with him.

As for the Iron Kaiju and Zhao himself... Well, we COULD just conk Kaiju once we've secured Black Belle, and then just let Zhao handle it.

But then, we could also just leave it in Zhao's oh so capable hands; after all, he DID say that "When we attack, you will be responsible for your own safety. I will shed no tears if you are caught in the crossfire [...] If you’re truly so committed to the cause of ridding this backwater of pirates, the risk of death should be a small price to pay, yes?”

The real question is, do we hope to count on him as an ally for if we ever go to the Fire Nation?

>>3132383
support the only good pirate is a dead pirate

>>3132381
switching to
>Capture Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao
>>3132391
like this anons plan for belle

>>3132372
>Capture Black Belle
>Capture the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao
Only to start up again when we want.

>>3132372
>>Capture Black Belle
>>Capture the Iron Kaiju
>>Kill Zhao
This is even a merciful fate for Zhao. "KILLING THE MOON" probably won't happen in this timeline but it's better if we don't take chances.
As for the other two, I want whatever bounties they have.

>>3132391
I'd rather we have cards to play if we want when we want...

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

>>3132416
I imagine the Kaiju won't trust us again after this, and Belle never trusted us in the first place.

Is there any possible way we could apprehend the Kaiju such that he'd be amenable to act on our behalf after this? Given his 'Guybrush, it's been an honor', he doesn't seem to have caught on just yet, but he probably will once we turn on him unless we're very careful about it.

>>3132372
>>Capture Black Belle
>>Capture the Iron Kaiju
>>Spare Zhao

>>3132419
Okay, well maybe kill Kaiju then...

But guise, if there's no pirates there's no swag and if there's no swag there's no grug, and we've already run out off grug!

>>3132372
Kill Zhao
Spare kaiju
Kill Belle

Let's be judicious here boys. Zhao is borderline omnicidal. Dude has to sooner or later

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>>3132435
>Guybrush Threepwood
>no swag

If we kill Zhao we are risk starting a war with the fire nation. Lets try and not start a global war,

>>3132412
>>3132446
>"KILLING THE MOON"
>Zhao's borderline omnicidal

I mean, yeah, but it's generally better to act on what Sokka here actually knows about him which basically boils down to "jerk, ruthless, self-interested." Those may not be a glowing recommendation, but they're hardly reasons to kill a man.

don't make choices based on OOC info you fuckbois, you know who you are.

>>3132453
If we kill him we get more credit for the victory. Not exactly a good guy thing but fuck it, we aren't afraid of getting our hands dirty, we already betrayed Kaiju and got a bunch of people killed. Zhao is just some guy, whoever replaces him is probably gonna give us a better deal than him.

>>3132460
>Kaiju
this is a pirate a backstabbing motherfuck that was going to chop us in half to get belle

>Zhao
this is an officer in the most advanced military this world has. when the fire nation finds out it was the southern water tribe that killed him they will probably use it as an excuse fuck our shit up. don't be stupid

>>3132452>>3132461
>Zhao and the Iron Kaiju are locked in combat, separated from their troops.
I'm guessing there's no one to tattle on us besides the pirates and our friends, and I'm also guessing that if killing him is an option it's because we can get away with it. Besides, we can just blame Kaiju.

>>3132372
>>3132391
I'll just take this chance to clarify my vote:

>Capture Belle
>Capture Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

We get both the pirates and the Fire Nation Fleet out of our neck of the woods while (hopefully) scoring some goodwill with Zhao before he fucks off. Maybe even give Belle a last second chance to tell us why handing her over is a bad idea, should that have been a potential plot hook.

>>3132461
And do I have to remind you that the Fire Nation is at war with the Earth Kingdom, the guys we are allied with? Killing this guy is perfectly reasonable.

>>3132463
>I'm also guessing that if killing him is an option it's because we can get away with it.

sure if we bet the DC which I am betting will be high as we will have to take out both at the same time. not only that but killing the man that just saved out life is a pretty fucked up move

>>3132468
>the guys we are allied with?
we have a personal alliance with the man in charge not the southern water tribe as a whole. so no it's not perfectly reasonable to risk a war with a tech superior nation.

>>3132468
>the guys we are allied with
We may be the hero of the revolution, but the Southern Water Tribe has been staying the fuck out of this conflict for the most part; any involvement is more personal than political. We're out on a journey to educate ourselves, not a political mission as envoys.

>>3132468

furthermore, we are the "nominal" future chief the elders can revoke our statues and starting a war without the support of the other tribes that make up the southern water tribe seems like a great way to fuck things up. so once again to all anons don't be stupid just because you can do something does not mean to should.

Man all this meta gaming is putting my avatar bing on hold.

Just exactly how powerful of a position do we have in our own tribe? I feel like we are more influential in the earth kingdom that back at home right now.

>>3132478
if the elders think we are ready when our old man dies or steps down we will become the chief of dogbear tribe, just one of five tribes that make up the greater southern water tribe.

>>3132478
the earth kingdom leader might do a few favors for us.

>>3132478
>Just exactly how powerful of a position do we have in our own tribe?
People have high hopes and expectations for us because our dad has ruled well as chief, but that rule isn't hereditary - we're still expected to go and prove ourselves worthy before we can be properly considered for the position. So we're basically a favored son of the tribe.

>I feel like we are more influential in the earth kingdom that back at home right now.
Possibly! Certainly people would be willing to lend an ear to a proven hero of the Earth nation. That said, we don't have any actual legal titles, so it's really more like we'd be unexpectedly welcome at the courts of the Earth kingdom, not unlike our status at home.

In fact, if we kill anybody, it better be directly in self-defense or it's basically just manslaughter, what without any legal authority anywhere; back in Ba Sing Sei, at least Toph's dad had our back regarding any bodycount we racked up in the name of the revolution.

>>3132481
exactly killing Zhao only makes our future plans and action harder.

>>3132471
>sure if we bet the DC which I am betting will be high as we will have to take out both at the same time. not only that but killing the man that just saved out life is a pretty fucked up move
They both think we are on their side, they wouldn't see it coming and it would be very easy, especially having Toph on our side. The choices don't even show DC as before.
And in case you are going to mention, no, Kaiju
was going to kill Belle and we were on the way, for all he knows we are still allied.
>we have a personal alliance with the man in charge
You think that if this guy knew that he still would be all buddybud with us?
>so no it's not perfectly reasonable to risk a war with a tech superior nation.
I'm sure the chances of a war happening are near zero. For all they know we are just some guy from the tribe and Zhao isn't even all that important to warrant a war for him.

>>3132372
>as the Iron Kaiju lifts his massive axe. Guybrush!” He roars. “It’s been an honor!” Oh, now he remembers your fake name. Right as he’s about to cut you in half.

>>3132485
did you read OP's post?

>>3132489
>Now it’s your turn to grapple with the pirate queen, the two of you rolling this way and that, struggling for leverage, as the Iron Kaiju lifts his massive axe
>>3132485
>And in case you are going to mention, no, Kaiju was going to kill Belle and we were on the way, for all he knows we are still allied.
>We were on the way
>>3132489
Sasuga Anon-kun.

>>3132489
>did you read OP's post?
Sounds more like a difference in opinion of how much of an asshole that makes Iron Kaiju. I wouldn't be surprised if Bangarang was willing to roll with an "it wasn't personal" angle if we really went out of our way to be friends with the man; pirate relationships are complicated like that, always a tightrope of decency and camaraderie against the potential to profit. Or he might turn out to indeed just be that much of an asshole.

>>3132490
>>3132491

He was willing to chop us in half if it meant taking out belle. someone like that is not to be trusted. as far as I'm concerned any alliance we had ended right then and there.

>>3132495
>as far as I'm concerned any alliance we had ended right then and there.
I'm not saying the contrary dumbass, I want to beat his ass. I'm arguing he wouldn't expect us to hit him from behind or hold a grudge like you do.

>>3132495
I won't lose too much sleep over turning him in as long as we clear out the pirates and the fire nation ships.

>>3132497
amen to that

>>3132496
No chill on this one

Sokka muh dik nigga

>>3132481
>Possibly! Certainly people would be willing to lend an ear to a proven hero of the Earth nation. That said, we don't have any actual legal titles, so it's really more like we'd be unexpectedly welcome at the courts of the Earth kingdom, not unlike our status at home.

Phoneposting before bed because I just thought of something: Toph’s dad may actually be pissed at us since he knows she’s with us; depending on how he’s dealing with it (and with the loss of his wife), we may be back at square one or worse.

>>3132372
>Capture Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Kill Zhao

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
"It has been an honor Iron Kaiju"
>Spare Zhao
And so ends the age of pirates.

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>>Capture the Iron Kaiju
>>Kill Zhao

IC-wise, the water tribe doesnt benefit from organized pirates, and Sokka isnt in a position to trust Belle. Even Suki would be reluctant on pirates protecting them from raiders.

If its Kaiju, hes already old and wasnt one for unification anyway. He can be around as a roadblock for anyone else wanting to pull something, fire nation or otherwise.

Zhao? He'll be replaced with another. Hopefully its not someone so power hungry.

OOC it might be nice to get Belle for waterbender teaching, but oh well. Zhao is also the most direct influence pushing good old royal fire boy to look tough at the start, so having him gone will be a load off for everyone.

>>3132567
The water tribe doesn't benefit from any type if pirate, anon.

>>3132570
Kaiju wont be leading for long, and he knows it. Better pirates in a constant state of flux than fire nation having uncontested control of the seas.

Earth nation is busy with internal conflicts, and we're not sure if northern/southern navies are capable of contesting sea control without leaving themselves vulnerable.

>>3132372
>Kill Black Belle
>Kill the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

>>3132372
>Kill Belle
>Kill Kaiju
>Kill Zhao

Sink as many Ironclads as possible. Nobody wins but us.

>>3132644
If we do this we can't leave any witnesses anon.

>>3132372
>Capture Black Belle
>Capture the Iron Kaiju
>Spare Zhao

I'm not even sure if it'll be better for Zhao if he comes back with them alive but he can just execute them if he doesn't want to. I doubt he'll ever become anyone we'll see as an ally but we could have a nice business relationship.

>Kill Belle
>Kill Kaiju
>Kill Zhao

Soon... We shall be our own master...

Locking the vote here, we're killing Black Belle and the Iron Kaiju, and sparing Zhao.

Merry Christmas anons, hope you're all having a good holiday.

>>3132707
Merry Christmas to you too QM

>>3132707
Merry Christmas too you too man

>>3132707
merry christmas

>>3132707
merry Christmas and thank god

>>3132728
Good anon keeping Christ in Christmas

>>3132792
praise the lord and pass the christmas pudding

Merry Christmas!

>>3132707
marry chrismas QM loving the quest so far

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>>3132372
With your ship safely back on course, you turn your attention back to the treasure horde. There has to be something in here Katara would like – maybe you should ask Suki. Suki is a girl.

Instead, it’s Toph who opens the door and feels her way inside, plopping down next to you to fiddle with some necklace of colored sea glass. “Please tell me we’re done with ships for a while,” she says. I’m getting so tired of not being able to see anything.”

“No ships for a good long while, I promise,” you tell her, picking up a pearl bracelet. Does Katara like pearls? “You’ll like the South Pole better, I think. Lots of snow, but there’s earth under it.” You frown. “We’re gonna have to figure out how to keep your feet warm.”

“Yeah, sure,” Toph says, though she doesn’t particularly sound like she’s paying attention. “So are we going to be dropping Suki off on the way, or…”

“Hm?” You examine a box that holds a pair of sapphire beads that look like you might thread hair through them. Katara is always doing weird hair loopy stuff, you remember. Or you could always just get her one of those fancy birds. “No, I promised her I’d approach the Southern Water Tribe about protecting her island. She’ll have to come with us, talk to my dad a little bit.”

“Oh. Right.”

“Look, I know everything isn’t exactly okay between you two, but-”

“Just drop it, Sokka,” Toph says. She sounds so tired.

>Press the issue
>Drop it

As for Katara’s gift…

>Pearl bracelet
>Sapphire hair beads
>Exotic bird

>>3132372
>>3132842
(Oh man oh jeez oh snap that was supposed to be the last post.)

Black Belle is, of course, still the priority. She thrashes mightily as you approach her, high speed blasts of water leaving long, shallow cuts across your face and arms, but she’s too weak to truly fend you off when you fall on her, driving your knee into her broken ribs and forcing the breath from her body. Her eyes shimmer with hate as you press the bladed edge of your boomerang to her throat and sweep your arm out.

The Queen is dead, may there never be another.

Zhao and the Iron Kaiju are still struggling when you pick yourself up and move towards them. Zhao’s skin burns the Kaiju wherever they touch but the old pirate seems to be beyond pain, and is in the process of choking the life from Zhao by the time you reach them.

“It’s been an honor, Kaiju,” you say, before lopping the man’s hand off at the wrist. He roars in pain, falling back on the sand, and you pin his arm to the ground with your heel as he reaches desperately for his axe.

It takes half a dozen solid blows from your boomerang to finally put him down though – the Iron Kaiju is not one to die easily. Zhao watches you do the deed, a glint of approval in his amber eyes.

With their leaders dead, the pirates are quick to scatter. Toph and Suki busy themselves by herding those who flee back towards the Fire Navy marines, whose discipline and training (not to mention their firebending) allows them to easily destroy any wooden ship that tries to escape the cove. A good number of pirates, including the firebending woman you and Suki fought earlier, escape into the jungles – but without Black Belle to unify them, you doubt they’ll become a serious problem anytime soon.

“Quite the coup for us, I have to say,” Zhao says, the two of you overseeing the aftermath. You have the Iron Kaiju’s axe slung over your shoulders – the thing is taller and heavier than you are, but it’s a pretty awesome souvenir. Maybe you’ll give it to your dad as a gift. You’re sure you’ll be able to find something for Katara amongst the haul of miscellaneous treasure your crew is storing aboard the Shanty. You’ll have to split the treasure with your crew, of course, but there’ll be plenty for you to sift through – fine silks and pelts, exotic weapons and mirrors, a menagerie of colorful birds. Zhao’s men are likewise loading his ironclads full of their share of the treasure. Quite a bit more than their share, you note, but Zhao still has far superior firepower and you’re not so attached to baubles that you’re going to strain a good thing over it.

>cont.

>>3132846
“Less than half a year away and I’ll return home, triumphant, with not only all my ships intact, but the Iroh recaptured as well.” Yes, Zhao certainly sounds proud of himself. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I skip Commander entirely and jump straight to Admiral.”

“Well you’ve certainly performed…admiral-bly.”

Zhao is, predictably, unamused. “I suppose I have you to thank, in some small part,” he says, bowing slightly. “You have a friend in the Fire Nation, Captain…”

“Sokka,” you say. You’ll miss Guybrush Threepwood, but there’s no real point in hiding your identity anymore – on the off chance you want to call in the favor Zhao owes, you hiding behind aliases will only make things more complicated. “Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe.”

“Ah,” Zhao says, nodding. “Hadoka’s boy. I see it now, yes.” He pauses. “Well then, Sokka, I imagine it will not be long before we see each other again. And with that, he turns on his heel and stalks up the walkway to his ship.

“Well,” you mutter, “that wasn’t ominous at all.”

>cont. right here >>3132842

>>3132842
>Press the issue
>Exotic bird

>>3132842
>Press the issue
>Sapphire hair beads

>>3132842
>Drop it
>Sapphire hair beads

>>3132842
>Press the issue
Our besties shouldn't be fighting.
>Sapphire hair beads
An exotic bird and the South Pole shouldn't go together.

>>3132842
>Press the issue
Issue about frostbite. Another one is to fucked up. Like what you gonna say
Suki killed Toph mother. The fact that Toph isn't trying to kill her is miracle

>As for Katara’s gift…
>Sapphire hair beads


>Exotic birds
Won't those things die where Soka lives?

>>3132842
>>Drop it
>>Sapphire hair beads
Tempted by birb, but pets are a terrible gift even when they're not going into an environment that's likely to kill them..

>>3132842
>Press the issue
She's probably seen more killing than is good for someone her age. Unlike in the actual series, we haven't had an airbender capable of putting people down without killing them.

Her main source of emotional safety is a ruthless killer and schemer. She's learning to act the same way from us, so when she sees Suki as competition...

>>3132848
>Drop it
>Sapphire hair beads

>>3132848
>“Well you’ve certainly performed…admiral-bly.”
>Zhao is, predictably, unamused.
kek
It almost feels weird having all this goofy Sokka moments, when just earlier he was brutally murdering people without remorse.

>>3132842
> press the issue
we need to clear the air before things get out of hand
>sapphire hair beads
she's got that hair that goes for days

>>3132842
>Press it Issue
Matricide is uh, horrible, and hard to deal with for anyone. Dont feel like you have to pretend to be strong even when you are weak.

>Sapphire Hair beads
>Pearl Bracelet

Lets be greedy

>>3132963
No no, its not murder if what you are killing is pirate scum. Then its just pest extermination

>>3132707
So many 1 id posts during an important vote that we won't see voting again.

>>3132974
yeah a lot of samefags in this quest its sickening

>>3132974
Hey man, Im a lurker.
We exist, dont marginalize us.

>>3132981
How about you participate in the quest instead of fuck us over during a major vote.

>>3132974
I see four for the last vote and the only commonality between them was to kill Iron Kaiju. Don't be a little bitch because you lost your vote, anon.

>>3132974
Shut up you faggot. Maybe they don't want to participate on your gay arguments

>>3132986
So many one ids at a major voting point, wouldn't bring it up if there wasn't.

>>3132991
Stfu cockslurper.

>>3132842
>Press the issue
It's not good to bottle things up when something is bothering you - that can break even hardened veterans if it goes on long enough.

>Sapphire hair beads
There's a chance it may be a little too cold for pearl-bearing mollusks down at the south pole, but the stuff is probably still easier to get than actual gems. And yeah, the bird probably can't handle the cold, though that depends on how exotic we're talking here; Arctic birds are totally a thing.

>>3133003
You are surprised that many people vote for important stuff and ignore less interesting things where they dont have opinion? Call me surprised, you fucking idiot

>>3133008
Great projection there fuckhead, go back to tumblr where you can be the SJW you were born outta the toilet to be.

>>3133005
>the stuff is probably still easier to get than actual gems
I think even if the beads aren't as rare as the pearls, giving her some shows that we notice the little things she's interested in; in this case, the "weird hair loopy stuff" as Sokka puts it.

>>3133018
Whos projecting? You are walking irony. Where did you get that copy pasted from? 10 most popular insults use on 4chan? Very creative, probably should check out meaning of word before mindlessly using it shithead

>>3132842
>Drop it
>Sapphire hair beads

>>3133008
Please report and hide, we're getting off topic
Also sapphire is clearly the correct choice but I still think we should grab both jewelery options.