>>3162756
As the two journeyed back down the hillside away from the chateau, Henry took a good look out over the seemingly endless expanse of forest that stretched towards the horizon. In the distance he could see a fire rising up from the signal tower and what seemed to be a small town much further away. However he couldn’t make any detours as he needed to get to the cemetery as quickly as possible. He had luckily memorized the route they’d taken to get to the Chateau, so it wouldn’t be a difficult trek.

They made their way down the hill that the Chateau sat on, Henry made sure to mostly stay out of sight of the guard towers to cloak their escape. Then they moved out through the clear cut section around the chateau, out towards the forests edge.

Ophelia clung closely to him, muttering something about how she didn’t feel safe in the forest, how everything looked and sounded strange to her. Henry added shut in to the list of flaws the woman suffered from, a list that was slowly becoming expansive. Henry took the time to take out Johnny’s contract and write a few messages on It. The general situation, the plan being in tatters, the new plan, and how they would need Johnny’s help to complete it.

They made good time, winding their way through a dusty dirt trail back towards the cemetery. Henry could see a familiar carriage parked outside the cemetery gate, which was conspicuously left open. That put Henry immediately on edge, Johnny wouldn’t be that careless.

As the two crept through the heavily warded cemetery, Henry noticed a small shack on the furthest edge of the runic wards that protected the dead. There was a small tin chimney with a good bit of smoke coming out of it. Someone was home.

Henry crept up slowly towards the door, he hesitated for a moment. He didn’t really know if he’d be ready for whatever was inside, or if he even needed to worry. Ophelia made the decision for him, throwing caution to the wind and throwing the door open.

A sword was immediately pressed to her throat. Time seemed to stand still as the two of them recognized Johnny.

“Lucky for you, any closer and you might’ve gotten hurt missy.” Johnny said. “In all seriousness are you both alright? Bit of trouble you’ve gotten yourselves into?”

“Aw hell.” A second voice called out from the cabin’s interior. “Guessing the plan’s gone to shit then? Am I needed now or do I wait here?”


“Wait here for now, I guess.” Henry said. “Things aren’t completely sunk. Where’s the owner?”


“Don’t think there is one, this is just a servants shack I believe.” Johnny said. “Me and Dimitri were playing cards to pass the time, nobody’s come home tonight.”

“Guessing Dimitri is that kid there.”

>>3162795

“Oy I’m thirteen, I’m no kid.” Dimitri exclaimed. “Sides I really shouldn’t be talking with you’s more than needed, I knew this job payed way too well for a simple drive.”

“How much do you know?” Henry asked.

“All I know is I’m was supposed to drive the three… yeah the three of you to the big fancy castle-“

“It’s a Chateau.” Ophelia said, interrupting.

“Whatever, it’s a big fancy building made of stone, look, all I knows is I’m dropping three people off, but only picking up two, and the pay is really good for that. Now I know better than to say something stupid about all this, but I have an idea about what’s going on.”

“For your own sake don’t think about it too hard kid.” Henry said. “Look, Johnny, could we have a word.”

“Of course, the cabin would be far too cramped with all of us.” Johnny said, stepping outside into the great outdoors, which mainly consisted of a lush forest and the graveyard they were standing in.

Once they were a good distance from the cabin, their conversation resumed.

“Johnny, is it possible for a fae to be here?” Henry said.

“Would be extremely odd this far south, the buggers always kept to the inner reaches of the forest, but that was a very long time ago, I never had much experience dealing with Fae I’m afraid, but I do know that they are all very different from one another, and generally take traits of other animals in some kind of bastardized and otherworldly combination.”

“Right, how do we kill it?” Henry asked.

“With iron, pure if possible. Steel wouldn’t be as effective I believe.”

“Steel is mostly iron actually.” Ophelia explained. “So it should be just as effective.”

“The less contaminants the better, from what I understand the less rust the iron has the more effective it will be, unworked iron ore is the best weapon from what I’ve heard, although a blade is a blade.”

“So it will die if we stab it enough?” Henry asked.

“Hopefully, as you well know some creatures just get angry when you stab them Henry.” Johnny said.

Very encouraging.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon now, dusk was here.

Decisions:
1. Stay at the cabin for a little bit longer, see if anyone returns
2. Head back towards the castle, now or never
3. Try to make it to the signal tower and get some help
4. (write in)

>>3162811
>2. Head back towards the castle, now or never
Also tell the kid to be careful.

>>3162826
writing

>>3162811
The three made their way out of the cemetery passing through the gate. Henry made sure it was properly closed this time. As they made their way back towards the castle, Henry could hear a sort of skittering sound in the distance, to their right. It had to have been a few hundred feet away or so, based on how soft it sounded. It still put the three of them on edge. It really wouldn’t do to get mauled to death by wolves of all fucking things.

Henry heart nearly leapt into his chest when a bloodcurdling scream let loose from the same direction. He could hear continued screaming as someone was being attacked by something. Whatever it was hadn’t noticed them yet, at least he thought it hadn’t. He got Johnny to hide their torch as much as possible while he figured out what to do. The screaming sounded human enough. The noise was drowning out everything else, so Henry had no way of telling what was scaring the man so much.

Decisions:
1. Ignore the screaming and continue on towards the chateau
2. Head towards the screaming, maybe you can save someone
3. *write in*

>>3162906
>2. Head towards the screaming, maybe you can save someone
And maybe we can be reimbursed for the saving too.

>>3162930
roll 2 dice!

Rolled 87, 90 = 177 (2d100)

>>3162936

>>3162940
Yay

>>3162940
them's some nice lookin rolls

>>3162906
Henry winced slightly as the screaming continued, which turned to begging, and then frightened praying. Johnny and Ophelia were looking at him and at the bush. Johnny of course would’ve instantly rushed off if he could’ve but he was supposed to protect Henry over everything else, so unless Henry gave the word he wouldn’t be able to. Ophelia was obviously frightened although she was doing a half decent job at hiding it.

“Aw fuck it, come on.” Henry said, unsheathing his steel short sword and plowing through the underbrush. Making his way around trees and over small gaps in the ground, while using the few remaining glimmers of sunlight left to make his way.

They reached the source of the screaming about a minute later. A middle aged man was on the ground with his back up against a tree, swinging an iron dagger madly about. He was trying to fend off some unseen assailant. His legs were bound up by some sort of webbing and he was unable to get up or even to move from his spot.

It didn’t take long to find the source of it all. Higher up in the canopy a massive spider was peering down at them. The thing was about half as big as Henry was, although that hardly downplayed how threatening the thing was.

The creature’s beady eyes were focused on the trapped man. The creature had a black carapace interspersed with a few white patters on its bulbous body. Its legs all ended in sharp points, a few of which were embedded in nearby trees. It made horrifying chittering noises as its mandibles clacked around in its maw. It was seemingly waiting for the man to tire before it struck, a patient and deadly predator.

Decisions:
1. You’ve seen enough, get the hell out of there
2. *cast a spell* (write in)
3. *attack the spider with your short sword*
4. *have Johnny attack it*
5. *Have Ophelia attack it.*

>>3163041
Write in
FUCK THAT'S A HUGE ASS SPIDER FUCK
Have ophelia ready a flame spell, but not cast it.
We wait for a minute to see if it runs off by its self.
I like spiders, they eat the annoying insects.

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>3163065
making a roll

>>3163071
will write tomorrow

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>3163071
Uhhhhh>>3163065

>>3163093
What was that roll for?

>>3163098
Just in case it was needed.

writin

>>3163041
“FUCK THAT THING IS FUCKING MASSIVE!” Henry shouted out, realizing a moment later he’d blown their cover.“Ophelia, get a flame spell ready! Johnny, wave the torch at it, see if we can’t run it off.”

Ophelia gathered a charge of red mana in her palms while Johnny charged forwards, yelling and waving the torch around at the spider. The spider nearly fell out of its perch both from the sounds and the flame. The creature jumped to the ground about ten feet away from where it had been perched in the canopy, then quickly scuttled off. Probably to find prey that wouldn’t fight back as much.

“Holy… holy shit… thank you god…” The man said, breathing heavily and closing his eyes.

“Oy you injured?” Henry asked.

“No, just unable to get out of this, just apply some heat to it and the thread loses its stickiness and become brittle.” The man said.

Without further instruction Johnny set about applying heat to the silk threads trapping the man. Holding the torch close enough to have the desired effect without setting flame to the bundle.

“Stuff isn’t very flammable until its dried out, so don’t worry too much.” The man said.

Ophelia leaned up against a tree and kept watch while Henry continued their little conversation. Her hands were still emitting a red aura from the mana she had built up. Henry took note of that, keeping mana charged for more than a couple seconds wasn’t easy.

“Do you have a name?” Henry asked.

“Wilks, I’m the groundskeeper for the local cemetery, under the employ of Baron Orion Hockrhine, and for the record you have my eternal gratitude. You lot just saved my life for certain.”

Decisions:
1. “Some groundkeeper you are, can’t even avoid a measly spider.”
2. “How’d it even manage to catch you? Don’t you know the area?”
3. “Look we’re gonna help you out then be on our way, we have a friend waiting back at your cabin. We thought it was uninhabited.”
4. (write in)

>>3164623
>2. “How’d it even manage to catch you? Don’t you know the area?”
>3. “Look we’re gonna help you out then be on our way, we have a friend waiting back at your cabin. We thought it was uninhabited.”

>>3164628
writing in

>>3164623
“How’d it even manage to catch you? Don’t you know the area?” Henry asked.

“I do know the area… it’s just I’ve never seen any of the spiders this worked up before, and I’ve never seen so many of them at once, had to have been at least a dozen of them all moving towards the castle at once. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life.

“A dozen?” Henry asked.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true, they were moving like a pack but they don’t hunt in packs, in fact they generally attack each other on sight.”

“A highly territorial species then.” Ophelia mused.

“What?” Wilks asked.

“Fancy talk.” Henry said. “Look, we’re gonna help you out then be on our way, we have a friend waiting back at your cabin. Apologies for doing that but we thought it was uninhabited.”

“Right, no harm done then.” Wilks said, “Look you all be careful now, I’m gonna go limp on home in a minute. But no telling what’s going on right now, If you need to go back towards the castle get inside as quickly as possible, should be way safer inside.”

“Right…” Henry said, poor man didn’t know what had happened.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

>Roll 2d100

Rolled 93, 10 = 103 (2d100)

>>3164647

Rolled 88, 97 = 185 (2d100)

>>3164687

>>3164656
The three continued their short little trek, winding their way back up the hill and to the Chateau’s front gate. In the Henry noticed that the signal tower had gone dark, in fact the entire forest was hard to make out now. All that was visible was the half-moon and the starry sky. As they approached the castle’s entrance, they found that the portcullis had been dropped. There was no way in through the front doorway.

“Bother.” Johnny said, “We’ll have to find another route inside.”

“Or we could just climb back over the top.” Henry said, “Kinda odd that they’d close the place, guess they didn’t want the monster getting out.”

“The fae you mean?” Ophelia asked. “I could probably just shatter the bars, but It would probably take a good deal of mana, I’d have to break it as one piece, I wouldn’t be able to focus on a section.”

“Quiet both of you, I hear something.” Johnny said.

Sure enough, there were chittering noises echoing through the clearing below them, they had company. In fact they had probably been really lucky to have not been attacked on the way up here. Needless to say Henry didn’t really want to take his chances with a forest full of these things.

“Why the fuck does a vampire even need a forest full of spiders?!” Henry half yelled half whispered.

“Lots of vampires do it, generally those with estates. They provide protection and an easy source of blood that also doesn’t draw too much additional attention. Someone just got lost in the woods and fell victim to a spider.” Johnny explained.

“So three options then, though, over, or through another route?” Henry asked.


Decisions:
1. Use the grappling hook to scale the wall
2. Use Ophelia’s magic and try to bust the gate down (will use up a LOT of red mana)
3. Try to find another route. (will require going back down)
4. (write in)

>>3164737
>4. (write in)
If the gate can be unlocked from the other side, disassemble Johnny and put him through the bars and reassemble him so he can unlock the gate, otherwise
>1. Use the grappling hook to scale the wall

>>3164745
your welcome to roll to see if you can get Johnny through the bars, otherwise roll to see how well you climb up the tower.

Rolled 8, 29 = 37 (2d100)

>>3164768
First for passing johnny between the bars, andif that fails, the second is for climbing.

>>3164806
o-oh

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>3164806

>>3164737
The first thing Henry tried was simply shoving Johnny through the door. He began to shove Johnny’s femur’s through the holes before Ophelia mentioned he might want to start with the head. Henry decided to not comment on this very good idea, and started with the head itself. He quickly found he actually couldn’t stick Johnny’s head through the wooden portcullis. He couldn’t even loosen any of the iron bolts that were there to strengthen the iron, they’d have to find another way through.

So Henry put Johnny back together and begrudgingly grabbed out his grappling hook, and quickly threw it onto the castle’s wall with only minor trouble. He embarrassingly didn’t make the first attempt, luckily it was too dark for the others to see how badly he’d missed. Regardless, the climb up was quick; the only issue was that Ophelia absolutely refused to follow them up, even when Henry brought up the likelihood of spider attacks. The woman first said that she wasn’t strong enough to get to the top, then when Henry said they could just tie a loop at the bottom and then simply pull the rope up, the woman tried to deflect and shrink away. Johnny guessed she had a fear of heights. They had to move on without her for the time being, hopefully the dumbass wouldn’t end up as spider chow. All they had to do was get into the gatehouse at the top of the wall and move inside. Fairly simple all things considered.

After climbing their way up, Henry gingerly knocked on the outside of the gatehouse, then pressed his ear to it, he could make out a series of human sounding groaning noises coming from inside. Decision time.

Decisions:
1. Go in swords swinging.
2. Have Johnny go in and inspect the place, follow up with spells if needed.
3. Head further into the castle.
4. (write in)

>>3164876
night ya'll

>>3164876
> 2. Have Johnny go in and inspect the place, follow up with spells if needed.

He's got the skillset for it.

>>3164876
> 2. Have Johnny go in and inspect the place, follow up with spells if needed.

>>3165295
>>3165698
writing

>>3164876
Henry gave Johnny a set of fairly simple instructions, charge in, and kill anything hostile inside. Fairly simple and hopefully effective enough. They’d be real fucked if whatever the hells had killed the vampire was inside. They had only been gone for twenty, maybe thirty minutes tops. It couldn’t have been up to much.

Johnny kicked open the door and charged inside while Henry readied a bolt spell from the doorway in case the skeleton couldn’t handle it. What was inside was gruesome. There was blood all over the place, on the walls and ceiling. Sprinkled about were various pieces of vicera and even a few chunks of brain matter. It would’ve made most people vomit on the spot, but for Henry it just signaled wasted corpses and bodies ripped apart messily. There was an unrecognizable mangled corpse stuck to a wall by a sword through its leather chest piece. A second injured man was laying on the ground groaning in pain. In the far corner the gate winch and gears had been gutted and shattered then shoved full of metal bits for good measure.

“It wants to trap us inside Johnny.” Henry muttered, pointing at the destroyed gate controls. “Gonna have to haul Ophelia up the wall I think. Or find a way to undo the damage to this fucking thing.

“Perhaps we could convince her sir. You do have quite a way with words.” Johnny said, bending down to inspect the guard.

The guard was choking back blood and trying to say something.

“Look friend you can tell me what happened in a moment once you’re settled.” Johnny said.

The man wasn’t doing too well. Henry noticed one of his legs was bent at a horrible angle, and he’d probably suffered some internal bleeding, maybe a punctured lung. Even now the guard was trying to press a hand towards Johnny’s face, and push him away. All they could do was stabilize him and move on, maybe one of the guests was a healer, Henry had noticed a few other women in attendance.

“I’m going to move you to a better position, and then we’re going to get help.” Johnny said, trying to reassure the man. “We’re not going to hurt you, do you understand?”

Henry began to move towards Johnny to lend some help but was stopped by a large explosive blast that rocked the room, flinging Henry back a few steps and nearly sending him over the edge and plummeting to his death.

>Roll 1d100

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>3166835

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>3166835

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3166835

>>3166950
>>3167542
>>3167084
writing

>>3166835
Henry quickly corrected himself and rushed back into the gatehouse, inside he found that the guard had a massive hole in his chest from a bomb rune going off, and Johnny had been scattered around the room. The skeleton’s head had been lodged into the ceiling from the force of the blast.

“Holy fuck the thing set traps?” Henry asked.

“It’s fairly obvious sir.” Johnny replied. “I assume the guard is quite dead now? I can’t really see anything right now.”

“He ain’t walking it off if that’s what you’re asking.” Henry replied. “Well that was a fucking waste of time, give me a minute to put you back together. Fucking hell.”

(-0.5 black mana)

After managing to dislodge Johnny’s head from the ceiling, and wiping the blood splatter off his face, Henry thought about his next move, there wasn’t much in the guard house worth looking at. A few cross bows and a couple of shattered spears were laying on the ground. Henry noticed that the ceiling had a rather large hole in it, probably the point of entry for the fae creature. So it could climb up walls as well, great…

“IS EVERYONE OKAY UP THERE?” Ophelia shouted out.

“Johnny go convince her to get a move up here, the idiot is going to attract the spiders to us.”

“Right away sir.” Johnny said, grabbing his getup from off the ground and heading outside, where he began to argue with Ophelia. The woman was being a real pain in the ass.

Decisions:
1. Take stock of the Chateau (roll 1d100)
2. Try to argue with Ophelia (write in)
3. Try to find a way back inside the Chateau
4. You’ve had enough of this shit, you’ll take your chances with the spiders (try to leave the chateau)
5. (write in)

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3168881
>1. Take stock of the Chateau (roll 1d100)

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>3168881
>1. Take stock of the Chateau (roll 1d100)

>>3168991
>>3168948
will write tomorrow

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>3168881
> 1. Take stock of the Chateau (roll 1d100)

>>3169781
>>3168991
>>3168948
writing

>>3168881
As Johnny finagled with Ophelia, Henry took the time to get a good look at the Chateau. There were many interior lights still flickering about in the evening darkness. It seemed the good baron had invested in light runes, so having to face a deadly opponent in the darkness could be happily ruled out. Henry merely had to face a deadly opponent in the bright light where he’d still die painful if the thing got a hold of him.

There was a large dome shaped structure on the roof of the chateau, along with several spires, which was shining from the moonlight hitting it. There were a few walkways between some of the Chateau’s inner spires that crossed over the roof itself, all empty of movement for the time being. It seemed they would have to go bug hunting room by room. If they could meet up with the rest of the surviving guards, the inquisitors, and the paladins, they might just stand a chance. Well, at least there would be a nice selection of human beings to shield himself with.

Henry stepped back outside to see Ophelia scrambling over the edge of the wall to safety, hugging the ground and thanking Johnny for not dropping her. Henry had a couple choice words for her but decided to keep them to himself.

Decisions:
1. Use the grappling hook rope to climb down into the courtyard and get into the grand hall
2. Head along the wall and find another way inside
3. Try to camp out whatever is going on inside
4. Try to see if Ophelia can fix gate controls (will use up time regardless of outcome)
5. (Write in)

>>3171259
>1. Use the grappling hook rope to climb down into the courtyard and get into the grand hall
Seems like something the "hero" would do.

>>3171259
>1. Use the grappling hook rope to climb down into the courtyard and get into the grand hall
Stylish and quick. Going for it.

>>3171279
>>3171264
writing

File: Chateau.jpg (432 KB, 2016x1504)

432 KB JPG

>>3171259
Johnny set the rope around one of the merlons on the wall’s crenellations, and the group slowly descended. Ophelia took the longest of the three of them, clinging tightly to the rope and barely managing to shimmy her way down. Johnny simple jumped down, not really having to worry about long falls or even damaging his body. The woman nearly kissed the ground once she had gotten to safety while Henry merely scoffed at her, she was holding them up, and he REALLY did not want to be out in the open.

With all due haste they made their way across the courtyard, through flower patches and hedges, back into the grand hall of the Chateau once more. The inside was more or less how they had left it, there weren’t any corpses hiding about, nor any living people, it was unsettlingly quiet for the time being. The dining hall’s tables had been tossed around interestingly enough, although they were both still in one piece. The chandelier’s candles had started to burn low as well, another hour or two and they’d go out, making it much harder to see.

Decisions:
1. Head through a door (pick from the map)
2. *preform an action* (write in)
3. *talk to someone* (write in)
4. (write in)

>>3171643
>2. *preform an action* (write in)
Have ophelia look with mage sight and see if she can see traces of where the other guests ran off to.

>>3171643
this >>3171662 but also
>check your corners and stay behind the pillars for cover
one exit west from Sun Room
one exit west and one east from Dining Chamber
stairs up to second floor, one exit west and one east from Grand Hall (you are here)
Baron mentioned a Keep, which should also be on Chateau grounds somewhere. Assuming this is a fae, best weapon we could find is an iron skewer or other tool in the Kitchens, if we can locate them in time of course.

>>3171643
> 2. *preform an action* (write in)

Spike the doors open so we can run away fast if we need to.

>>3171662
>>3172248
>>3172908
writing

>>3171643
“Hey Ophelia, do you have any spells which could help us track down the others?” Henry asked.

“I’d need some of their belongings to be able to really track them, there’s too much interference in here as is, place is frequently trafficked by all sorts of people, all the paths sort of blend into a slurry when I try to search them.” Ophelia said.

“Okay…” Henry replied.

Henry and Johnny quietly made their way deeper into the building, using the grand hall’s pillars as impromptu cover. Henry came to the realization that the second floor balcony which stretched the length of the upper floor pretty much gave anyone up there a clear line of sight on them. They’d be sitting ducks if anything came along.

Ophelia didn’t really understand the whole stealth aspect, the woman was constantly complaining about how she’d be able to see anything coming from such a well-lit room, and that hiding really wouldn’t help. Henry told her to can it, she’d begged to come along and she’d better fucking listen to him.

Henry wanted to spike the doors open but didn’t have anything that would allow him to do so, perhaps if he could find some blades or other tools somewhere… Simply using throwing daggers wouldn’t really cut it, he really doubted he could get them to stick in the plaster walls.

As they moved through the dining hall Henry noticed that the door to their left was ajar. He could see that there was a kitchen inside, probably full of all sorts of iron or steel tools they could use. The only other noteworthy piece of iron in this place was the massive chandelier in the foyer. Behind one of the suits of armor in the dining hall, Johnny found a set of controls for the Chandelier, interestingly enough.

The sunroom still had its tables and chairs, some of which had been overturned during the mad dash to protect the guests. Outside the windows Henry could see a smaller courtyard with a glass structure further inside, and a few fields with crops growing out of them. Seemed the Baron was trying to be a bit more self-sufficient.

Beyond that nothing really stood out. Henry didn’t know what he was expecting, but honestly this just made him more nervous, where was everyone?

Decisions:
1. Head into the kitchen
2. Head through the single door in the sunroom
3. Head upstairs (through the grand hall)
4. Head through one of the grand halls doors (left or right)
5. (write in)

>>3174723
>massive chandelier
Oh boy, we found the best way to kill the fae being.
Lure it to the chamber, distract it, then drop the chandelier on it.
We will remember this.
>1. Head into the kitchen
Steal the ice and fire runes.

>>3174723
this >>3174771 but also
>Try to spot something that might be iron and not steel. If this thing is a fucking fae, iron is an absolute must-have.

>>3174804
Hmm
Good idea
Cast iron skillet maybe?

>>3174815
Ophelia or Johnny with a frying pan? Could be funny and effective too. There might be other iron shit in the kitchen as well, or maybe a secret passage into a storage for OTHER foods? Not the kind regular humans would eat, but a vampire would? I'm saying secret human blood vault or whatever the fuck

>>3174825
If the Count finds out we found certain things, he might want us silenced, even if we are Vermilion's favorite "employee."

>>3174825
>>3174855
>>3174815
>>3174804
>>3174771
writing

>>3174855
Our job is to PREVENT people from finding certain things. We work for Vermillion. How will we know WHAT certain things to hide from people if we don't seek them out ourselves? If the Baron gets bitchy, we tell him to take it up with the V

>>3174889
But what if he's being a sneaky and conniving vampire keeping secrets from Vermillion?

>>3174894
Shit, that might be a reason he pissed off a fae in his fucking home to start with, hoping he gets ganked.
Shit

>>3174723
The group worked their way into the kitchen, where they found… a bunch of deserts laying around, and some iron cookware, a few frying pans, some knives, a couple stoves and a massive coldbox which took up half the room. It even had its own door, inside was a large amount of food laid out neatly on a variety of shelves.

Henry noted that the lights in this room were fairly dim, not nearly as well maintained as the public areas. The stoves had several fire runes in each of them, while the cold box was lined up with ice runes. Henry could tell Ophelia was thinking about something, the woman was pacing around and mumbling to herself about some sort of ‘flame caster’ she could whip up if she could find some components.

There was a door on the other side of the room, opposite of the door they had entered through, It had seemingly been closed in a hurry. A shelf next to it had fallen to the ground, along with several broken glass jars and their contents seeping out onto the tile floor and into one of the floor drains.

Decisions:
1. Take the cold and heat runes.
2. Try to get Ophelia to talk some sense (write in optional)
3. Head through the new door
4. Head back into the dining room’
5. Grab some of the iron cookware
6. (write in)

>>3174915
>1. Take the cold and heat runes.
More magic we have at our beck and call, the better.
>5. Grab some of the iron cookware
Something heavy and irony.

>>3174915
This >>3174922

>>3174915
> 1. Take the cold and heat runes.
> 5. Grab some of the iron cookware
Always loot.

> 6. (write in)

Have we considered setting the place on fire? Otherwise

> Get Ophelia to talk sense

What are these parts she would need? How likely is her device to blow up?

>>3175237
>>3174992
>>3174922
will be writing tomorrow

>setting the place on fire
I mean this IS something you could do.

As for Ophelia talking sense, do a roll

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>3177913
rollan

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>3177913
We want knowledge of the savant.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>3177913
rolling

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>3178631
>>3178020
>>3177932
successful persuasion

>>3174915
Henry ordered Johnny to grab any heat or cold runes he could find. The skeleton entered the cold room and began to strip them out of the walls. Henry began to gather up iron cookware that they could potentially use. There were a few butcher’s knives and a couple of serrated blades. The butcher’s knives were fairly dangerous looking but the cutting blades were fairly flimsy in comparison. Henry had a sneaking suspicion if he tried to stab something hard with them they’d probably break off. Henry considered taking some of the cast iron pots and pans, but the things wouldn’t be of much use in actual combat, they were heavy, unwieldy, and probably wouldn’t stop much in the way of attacks. Henry did however grab a frying pan, the thing might come in handy as an impromptu shield.

(+ 2 butcher’s knives, +2 Cutting Knives, +1 Frying pan)

There were a couple of locked cabinets which Henry believed contained more equipment, but opening them would either require lock picks, which funnily enough he hadn’t found in Sophie’s possessions. Brute forcing it, which could work, maybe. Or he could simply blast it open with a spell, which would create a lot of noise.

Henry was thrown out of his thoughts by the clanging of pots and pans, Ophelia was desperately searching through the cabinets for something now, mumbling loudly about some sort of plan or idea. Henry immediately seized her arm so that she’d stop making so much noise.

Ophelia began to struggle as he’d expected her to do. Beginning to raise her voice and demanding a pen and some paper. Henry simply slapped her a couple of times, knocking her to the floor and causing her to lash about angrily. He didn’t have the time or the patience for this fucking bullshit right now.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?” Ophelia yelled.

So he could slap her out of it, as long as it wasn’t severe…

“First off, shut the fuck up, we’re not alone here.” Henry said, quietly. “Second off, you were being REALLY … you again, and creating a lot of noise. I didn’t want to do the usual routine of trying to snap you out of it, and having you ramble for twenty minutes. You’re a big girl Ophelia, stop complaining.”

“I’m not hurt, thanks for asking! And I don’t know what you’re even on about, I was thinking of a way to help us!” Ophelia said, leaping back up to her feet in an angry huff.

“So what were you on about?” Henry asked.

“I was thinking up a weapon we could use. With the heat runes we have here, and my wand template I’ve created, I could probably make a flame caster.”

>>3178822
“I don’t know what that is exactly but I like the sound of it.” Henry said.

“I’d need a metal trigger mechanism, some heat runes, some wire to conduct the mana flow, and something to bind it all together, but if I had that it’d be fairly simple to make. I can use my wand template I’ve created as the central unit.”

“That sounds incredibly unstable.” Johnny said, walking out of the cold room and laying seven cold runes on the table.

The man didn’t miss a beat and began to open up the various stoves in the room to pull out their contents. The smell of burnt food filled the air rather quickly.

“So how would it even work?” Henry said.

“Well with my wand template as a conductor, I’d draw power out of the heat runes rapidly, instead of a slow burn like they were designed to. I’d probably need two or so per shot of the thing, but I’d probably be able to get a really nice geyser of flame out of it!” Ophelia said. “I don’t think it’d be nearly as strong as the ghiest caster though, but it’ll still give us an option against the monster. It’s better than nothing!”

“We already have magic Ophelia.” Henry said. “Why the hell would I want a heavy cobbled together mess that in all likelihood would explode? I mean if I want to save the monster the trouble I would’ve just jumped off the damned wall.”

“Well… I’d like to build one?” Ophelia said awkwardly, “I mean that’s usually why I make things…”

“If I could interject sir, I believe I could wield it, assuming no magical charge is needed to kick the thing off.” Johnny said, laying six heat runes out on the table. “Although a direct confrontation with just the three of us should probably be avoided. We might win, but I don’t exactly like our odds.”

(+7 cold runes, +6 heat runes)

The three stopped talking when the sound of thunder slowly echoed through the castle, a storm was coming. Of all the fucking luck.

Decision 1:
1. “We should try to get this flamecaster together, it’ll help our odds and we need everything we can get right now.”
2. “If we find the parts, we can make the thing, but we can’t afford to go out of our way for it.”
3. “We are not building that suicide machine.”
4. (write in)
Decision 2:
1. Cabinet (ignore it, force it open, cast a spell)
2. Head through the doorway into the next room
3. (head to another previous location)

>>3178824
> 2. “If we find the parts, we can make the thing, but we can’t afford to go out of our way for it.

The cabinet lock

> freeze them with cold runes first, then heat them with the fire runes to shatter the locks.

Should be quieter than anything else, and it won't use spell power.

At least if it doesn't shatter the lock it'll stress it so it's easier to break.

>>3178824
THIS >>3178868

>>3178868
Supporting

>>3178868
make a roll for it,

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>3179753

>>3179756
thats a success, but will use up a heat and cold rune in the process. A higher roll will allow you to preserve them

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>3179753

>>3179770
>>3179756
writin

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>3179772
rollin a loot table

>>3178824
Henry eyed the small locked cabinet again. The lock itself was an external piece, and interestingly enough it seemed to be handmade rather than a factory lock. Henry took a look at the back of it and found a couple of miniature runic symbols carved onto it. A fairly complex strength rune and a magical ward rune of sorts to prevent tampering, the thing was extremely well made and had been welded into one piece. By a talented mage from what Henry could tell. More importantly, anything with enough power to bust the lock would more than likely destroy whatever was inside the cabinet.

However, there was one little detail that made the lock absolutely worthless. The cabinet doors were made out of polished iron with a wood frame around them. The stuff was sturdy enough to withstand most attempts to get inside of it, but it didn’t seem to be magically warded whatsoever. Meaning it’d become brittle after a bit of heat and cold were applied to it.

“Hey Ophelia, want to learn a little thieves’ trick?” Henry asked.

“Huh?” Ophelia asked, perking up. “You going to cast a spell to open the lock?”

“Heh, watch this.” Henry said, grabbing one of the heat runes and applying a bit of red mana to it. The rune quickly flashed to life and with a bit of coaxing Henry directed its energies towards the cabinet door, quickly heating it until it was glowing red hot. Henry then grabbed a cold rune and used its enchantment to quickly draw the heat back out of the door. Henry kicked the door with the heel of his foot and smiled as it shattered inwards, causing the lock to drop to the floor and allowing him access deeper into the cabinet.

“So that was the plan?” Ophelia asked. “I thought it’d be more impressive.”

“I’d rather have something that works than something that’s showy.” Johnny opined.

Inside the cabinet were several bottles which were neatly stacked, each with different labels on them. ‘Saffron, Sumac, Cardamom, Galangal, Borage, and Cinnamon. Henry took a look at each of the bottles. They weren’t massive but he had heard of a few of them before. Especially Saffron and Cinnamon, both of which had high prices both in the black market and in more official places, the others were also spices of some sort. Ophelia filled him in, the rest were all fairly rare as well, They’d probably fetch a decent price if he pocketed them, or maybe he could finally learn to cook something high end… or maybe he could use them as a present. Regardless, the option was open.

>>3179844
Further inside was a set of fragile looking gold inlaid plates and a few pieces of solid copper cookware. The pieces even had a few floral patterns worked into the handle. This was obviously the fancy stuff. The copper cookware would probably sell for a good price, though it’d be a pain in the ass to carry around, and would probably be noisy too. There were a couple of decorated candlesticks made out of what Henry assumed was pewter, they were well made and both had intricate patterns on them, and from what Henry could tell a set of enchantments as well, complex enchantments. He couldn’t tell what they did on a simple looksee. Lastly there was a fairly ordinary flask with a VERY powerful enchantment on it, Henry could almost FEEL the power coming off the thing as he grabbed it. There was also a note attached to it as well.

‘I leave this as a reminder to the kitchen staff, and to any servant who handles this piece. DO NOT PUT WINE, BRANDY, OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER INTO IT. It will turn whatever sort of liquid placed into it back into water, VERY PURE WATER, but water nonetheless. The Baron has already fired several junior servants for messing this part up. Also, DO NOT STICK YOUR FINGERS INTO IT, need I remind you that Stevens now works with only nine fingers on his hand. Other than that, treat it as the Baron’s favorite flask. Do not damage it, and angels help you if you lose it.’

Decisions:
1. Keep the lot of it (will count as stealing)
2. Keep parts (write in)
3. You’d rather not risk the wrath of a vampire, and you’d rather not get ‘fired’
4. (write in)

>>3179845
(-1 heat rune, -1 cold rune)

>>3179845
>2. Keep parts (write in)
Keep the flask.
The flask is super cool.

>>3179848
night ya'll

>>3179845
this >>3179848

>>3179845
> 1. Keep the lot of it (will count as stealing)

It's only stealing if we don't give it back.

Dump the spices into other containers, smash the cabinet, tell the dude we saved his flask in the confusion.

I mean. We're planning on building a flamethrower, how could there NOT be casualties?

Besides it could be useful.

>>3179920
>>3179848
two votes for just the flask, one vote for the everything else (which I assume does not include the copper cookware)

>>3180606
Why not? It could be useful for the flamecaster, for holding the runes.

>>3180720
I'm just tallying the votes up my guy

>>3179845
Henry pocketed the flask and left the rest behind, carefully putting the spices back into their proper places.

“Why aren’t you taking everything?” Ophelia asked.

“I don’t really feel like carrying it all, and we can always come back to it later if we want to. But I’d rather make it look like we knew what we were looking for when we broke it, should throw suspicion off of us.” Henry explained.

“You mean off of you sir, I’m taking no part in this petty thievery… of a water flask.”

“It has a very powerful enchantment on it Johnny, and I’ll be able to save a hell of a lot of time since I won’t need to purify my own damned water anymore, assuming it works properly.”

“Right..” Johnny said.

“So are we done playing with cookware?” Ophelia asked.

“Yeah, let’s get a move on.” Henry said.

(Special Item: Water Purification Flask gained)

Decisions:
1. Head into the next room
2. Head into a previous room (write in)
3. Head to another location in the mansion (write in)
4. *cast a spell* (write in)
5. *preform an action* (write in)

>>3181542
>1. Head into the next room
this must take us westward from the dining chamber, I think? past the fallen shelf with broken stuff on the floor

>>3181552
Lets do this.
We should also put some water in the flask, and later drink it to test it out.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>3181565
>>3181552
writin

File: images.jpg (8 KB, 161x312)

8 KB JPG

>>3181542
The group moved through the far kitchen doorway, being careful to step over the broken glass and scattered contents of the broken containers.

“What a waste of perfectly good food.” Ophelia muttered.

“You like the pickled stuff?” Henry asked. “Always too salty for my tastes.”

“I do actually, always had a fondness for salt in general.”

“I only like using it on the job, I don’t much like the taste on food.” Henry replied. “Never did.”

“I’d hate to impinging on your conversation on food, but we should be keeping quiet now. No idea what lurks farther in this place.” Johnny suggested.

A loud bang rippled through the house as they exited out into a small hallway which expanded to their left and right. In front of them lay a fairly plain wooden door. To their left lay a second door which was far more decorated in appearance. The hallway extended further down out of view in that direction. To their right was a set of three doorways, one of which was made out of wood and iron, while the other two looked fairly fancy. Beyond that nothing stood out in the hallway except the fancy wallpaper, a couple of nice paintings, and an old grandfather clock. Henry was fairly certain that nobody had gone in this direction when everyone had evacuated to the inner keep, so they probably wouldn’t find many people this way.

The bang they had heard had probably been a spell going off. The fact there had only been one bang was slightly concerning.

Decisions:
1. Choose a door way (Directly in front, the door on the left, or one of the three doors on the right[left, middle and right])
2. (write in)

>>3181607
>2. (write in)
Have Johnny and Ophelia hang back, while you go and investigate the noise.

>>3181607
this >>3181723

Occured to me as I was sleeing that I forgot to include the decision on Ophelia’s flame caster, I will be including it in the next post.

>>3181607
> “I do actually, always had a fondness for salt in general.”

She's saying she is fond of Henry, who is like 90% salty all the time?

>>3181723
>>3181607
This, but send Johnny since that's his skillset. We're squishy and he has lifetimes of experience being stealthy, not to mention we can support him from range of he retreats.

>>3181723
>>3181743
Johnny should investigate.
The immortal sword saint is the vanguard

>>3181607
changing my vote from >>3181743 to sending Johnny to investigate while Henry and Ophelia check the plain door in the middle.

>>3182129
>>3182279
>>3182400
writing

>>3181607
“That sounded like it came from the far end of the corridor sir. I believe we should look into it.” Johnny suggested.”

“You go do that and report back what happened. Try to stay out of sight.” Henry said. “Me and Ophelia are going to have a look around and get our bearings.”


“Right away sir.” Johnny said.

The skeleton began making his way down the hallway, unsheathing his sword and creeping along carefully, trying to make as little noise as he could. Since he wasn’t wearing any armor and weighed very little, it was a fairly easy task.

Henry slowly cracked open the door in front of him, wincing when it creaked nosily. He realized he didn’t have his sword out and quickly fixed that oversight. Inside was a sort of storage room with rows of shelves containing all sorts of supplies and materials, there were a couple boxes full of light runes to his immediate right, which all seemed to be fully charged. Nothing really valuable stood out to him, but perhaps a bit of searching might turn up something useable?

“So about my flamecaster…” Ophelia asked. “You didn’t really give me an answer…”

“Look if we can find the parts, then we’ll make it, but I am not risking life and limb to make something that might not even work.”

“I…fine…” Ophelia said with more than a touch of sadness.

Upon further inspection of the room, Henry found a trap door leading into the basement of the castle, he could hear the sound of something mechanical running down there as well. So far no signs of any monsters though.

Decisions:
1. Search the room for useable materials (write in what you’re looking for)
2. Head down into the basement
3. Grab a couple of light runes
4. *Ask Ophelia to cast some scry spells, see if anyone’s come through here* (-2 blue mana for Ophelia)
5. (write in)

>>3182460
Chateau janitor closet? Definitely something for the flamecaster here.
>1. Search the room for useable materials (write in what you’re looking for)
Maybe something for cleaning that's highly flammable? Getting some of that on the poor fucker before we light them up should give us the advantage. Ophelia might also spot something that she might find useful, probably gonna roll for that.
After that, we
>2. Head down into the basement
What could be running down here, hmm?

>>3182460
Forgot with >>3182464 but
>3. Grab a couple of light runes
before we head into the basement.

File: interior-wood-floor--.jpg (144 KB, 1920x850)

144 KB JPG

>>3182464
its much bigger than a mere storage closet, its like a mini warehouse.

>>3182464
>>3182515
Lets do this.
The cooking alcohol might of worked for fiery substances.

>>3182519
They better have shit clearly labelled then

>>3182537
Like peasants can even read labels.

>>3182542
>implying they won't teach the JANITORS how to read
>implying they'd risk the wrong thing being used and fucking shit up

>>3182460
> 3. Grab a couple of light runes
> 4. *Ask Ophelia to cast some scry spells, see if anyone’s come through here* (-2 blue mana for Ophelia)

>>3182555
It'd just be easier to teach them what NOT to touch, instead of the long involved process of teaching them to read.
Shit, forgot to post

>>3182600
>>3182515
>>3182464
tallying up votes, then writing

>>3183631
>3 rolls needed:
First Roll: Ophelia's scry spell, roll 1d100+25
Second Roll: Search for Flammable Liquids and Components for Ophelia's contraption roll 1d100 and 1d100 - 10 (crit fails have no effect besides failure on these rolls)

Rolled 8, 25, 60 = 93 (3d100)

>>3183645
add and subtract as necessary

Rolled 89, 88, 9 + 25 = 211 (3d100 + 25)

>>3183645

>>3183649
>>3183655
writing

>>3182460
“Hey Ophelia, can you do a scry here, figure out if anyones passed through or if the fae thing’s around?” Henry asked.

“Of course I can, what kind of question is that. It’ll… just take a while to get ready since I don’t have anything to grab ahold of with the spell, so you’ll have to wait a few minutes.” Ophelia said, rubbing her temples as if Henry’s question were annoying her.

“Works for me, will give me time to search the place.” Henry replied.

Henry took a look around, noticing that a bunch of the boxes had different symbols on them. On one sealed box was the symbol for bread, on another was a symbol of a tree, so it was probably wood or something similar. Next to the doorway they’d entered, hung a clipboard resting on a nail stuck into the wall. A piece of paper attached to the clipboard had the following written on it.

“Here is this week’s inventory list. I do this every week so I’ll know if one of you bozos takes something again. To whomever’s been stealing wine, I’m going to catch you and wring your fuckin neck, be warned if you can even read this.”

Henry took a good long look and the inventory chart, a bunch of useless materials… and a whole shipment worth of whale oil for something, obviously not lighting lamps. If the shipment of light runes was any indication, maybe they used it for cooking? Regardless, Henry walked over to a crate with an etching of a whale in it, pried it open, and grabbed a couple of flasks of whale oil. The stuff was a putrid yellow color. Henry knew from prior experiences that the stuff was incredibly flammable and could even cause explosions if heated enough. He could probably blow a sizeable hole the stone walls with all of the whale oil in the chest.

He also began gathering components for the flame caster while Ophelia prepared. He managed to find most everything he’d needed, the wire and some extra strong glue to bind everything together. However he needed a trigger mechanism, and he didn’t exactly know where he’d find that… probably the armory if anywhere. Although that’d likely be well defended if the creature had any brain to speak of. If all the guests got armed Henry doubted even something that strong would survive long.

Ophelia finished casting the spell, and a flash of blue spread out from her coating the room in ethereal light. The spell had gone off… but Henry was gone… in fact it felt like time had stopped…. She hadn’t put nearly enough mana into the spell to do that, not by a mile… what had happened?

Decisions:
1. Knock some boxes around, see what happens
2. Go out into the hallway, Henry probably just ran off
3. Call out for Henry, what the hell is going on?
4. (write in)

>>3183837
>3. Call out for Henry, what the hell is going on?
Yes, lets forget that we're being hunted by a giant creature. Lets forget that Henry has scolded us already for hollering. We're absent minded, and it's what we would do.

>>3183837
>3. Call out for Henry, what the hell is going on?
Oh fuck

>>3183837
“Henry?! What the hell is going on, what did you do? You messed my spell up didn’t you, you’re playing another stupid trick on me, trying to make me play the fool, right?” Ophelia asked.

“I-it’s not going to work, I-I’m not scared okay, I k-know you didn’t want to bring me along … l-look where are you Henry?” She asked.

“Johnny? Whats going on, is anyone there?” Ophelia asked, turning around and beginning to panic slighty.”

She wondered why she was panicking, sure the spell had gone wrong….

It did go wrong! Why are you so calm, this is VERY bad!

She needed to stay calm, figure things out. She rubbed her head again, she’d gotten an awful headache the moment she’d entered the room she needed to lie down for a moment…

NO! What was she thinking, she needed to stay up and about… she felt odd.

“I know somethings wrong, who is there!” Ophelia said, circling around.

That’s when she noticed something odd. Some of the shelves were missing, in fact so was the stairway down into the basement.

Decision:
1. Try to use the still functioning exit (while you can flysie way, return again to earth and clay)
2. Calm down and think, something odd is happening, you need to figure it out (roll… roll and roil churn and toil, in the end flesh will boil. Slough and scrape, mind agape, blister scar and change shape)
3. OUT OF MY HEAD (Gah… flysie fight flysie pain, and yet alls you dos is fly in vain. Not a flysie but a bumbly bee, little change in the endsie see, in the end you’re littlsie flea)
4. (write in)

>>3183920
>4. (write in)
OH HO, A BATTLE OF MINDS?!
...
3. OUT OF MY HEAD (Gah… flysie fight flysie pain, and yet alls you dos is fly in vain. Not a flysie but a bumbly bee, little change in the endsie see, in the end you’re littlsie flea)

>>3183920
this >>3183927

>>3183920
>Self harm is a sure way to combat mind tricks!

I think?

Maybe just go into her head and get one of those headaches from thinking about impossible stuff. If there is a mind link it could affect the intruder as well

>>3183920
> 4. (write in)

Find an iron pot to wear on our head.

Also, cast Close Mind.

>>3184060
>>3183971
>>3183927
Y'alls know we have a spell for this? We ARE a mage.

>>3184060
>>3183927
Roll 1d100

>>3184253
a sensical decision

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>3184440

>>3184253
>Find an iron pot to wear on our head.
is this the beginning of the use of tinfoil hats to counter blue mana magic?

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>3184448
If it works . . . >>3184440

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3184253
This sounds ultra smart.
Lets do it
>>3184440

Rolled 1, 16 = 17 (2d100)

>>3184446
>>3184451
>>3184456
27 is the highest roll

Rolling for ???

File: MFW.jpg (31 KB, 1280x720)

31 KB JPG

>>3185531

>>3183920
Ophelia was always seen as an oddity by most who encountered her. A woman who was an inventor, a crazy lunatic who still somehow came up with brilliant ideas, and a prideful egomaniac who saw other people as inferior and yet craved their adoration. Yet all of that gave her a fairly unique perspective…

“OH HO, A BATTLE OF MINDS THEN!” Ophelia shouted. The sounded echoed throughout the blue tinted room, and through the void the room sat in.

“Foolish mortalsie vain not wise, open up your head through your eyes, give me treasure deep inside!” The voice boomed.

“I’m not scared of you, mind your manners you idiotic abomination!” Ophelia shouted.

The foreign creature who was intruding into her mind could only watch in stunned silence as Ophelia dug through a cabinet which had suddenly appeared before her. Conjured out of the ether from her sheer will, it was similar in design to those that she’d seen in the Chateau’s kitchen. As she pulled out a cast iron pot and threw it onto her head, she felt a smug satisfaction from the sheer brilliance of her little idea.

As the entity continued to watch in stunned amazement at the spectacle, Ophelia casted close mind on herself, from inside her own mind.

Taken by complete surprise, the creature could only let lose a string of curses in a language alien to Ophelia, but the woman could still feel the intent behind the words.

Then she snapped out of the trance she’d put herself into.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

>>3185644
“So how long has she been out exactly?” Johnny asked.

“Bout ten minutes now, but I’m not exactly worried.” Henry replied. The man was sitting down in a chair he’d managed to scrounge up from the basement.

“So you’re saying you found another stairwell up to the second floor then?” Henry asked.

“Yes, exactly.” Johnny replied. “Bit of a mess at the bottom though, a guard fell from the second story I think.”

“You think?” Henry asked.

“It was a bit of a mess sir, couldn’t really tell how much damage the body took, on account of the holes in it. The thing broke pretty badly on impact.

“So we’re up to what… four corpses, well technically one of those is an ash pile, but still.” Henry said, biting on his right index finger.

“I don’t think the guard caused the bang though, the body itself wouldn’t be noisy like that.” Johnny replied.

“I agree, probably the monster got involved in a fight with some of the guards, fucking hell we need to group up with them.” Henry replied. “If it keeps picking those idiots off then we’ll be on our own, and I don’t really like our odds.”

“I’d happen to agree.” Johnny replied.

“AH HAH, I WIN AGAIN!” Ophelia shouted, leaping up off the floor and excitedly dancing about.

Decisions:
1. “Yknow what, I’m not even going to fucking ask.”
2. “So what did you see… exactly?”
3. “You know for such a talented mage a simple scry like that shouldn’t take so long.”
4. (write in)

>>3185646
>4. (write in)
Look at her, look back at Johnny.
Shake head and do sorta face palm, and sigh.

>>3185646
this >>3185664 but also
>2. “So what did you see… exactly?”

>>3185675
>>3185664
writing

>>3185646
Henry looked at Ophelia for a moment, as the woman danced about like she’d achieved something marvelous. Honestly it just weirded Henry out more than anything, even at this point. He turned to look at Johnny who was stoically nodding along to Ophelia’s ramblings. What a trooper. Henry ran a hand down his face and prepared his words carefully.

“So what did you see… exactly?”

“A lot of spiders.” Ophelia replied. “A mountain of them, then the image cut off… probably the result of the fae beast trying to tap into the connection I opened up in the local aether weave. I can’t really go poking around too much without protecting myself. Luckily I was able to escape its clutches unscathed.

“Did you see it?” Johnny asked.

“Well no… I saw a lot of spiders before the spell ended, but I didn’t actually see the brat.”

“You’re calling a creature that’s torn people in half… a brat?” Henry asked.

“Well it sure is full of itself, talking in rhymes and riddles, said it wanted to take my brain out of my skull, probably thinks if it eats it it’ll get smarter. Heck, its probably so dumb that my brain would make it a bit smarter!” Ophelia bragged.

“Can you translate that back to normal language?” Henry asked, turning back to Johnny.

“I really haven’t been following along I’ll admit, I didn’t think she’d say anything of value.” Johnny whispered back.

Decisions:
1. Head down into the basement.
2. Head towards the stairwell Johnny was talking about, try to reconnect with the others
3. Head back through the grand hall to the other side of the chateau, the keep should be over there, perhaps you can find some degree of safety.
4. (write in)

>>3185798
>4. (write in)
"Alright, it has massive blue mana.
Fucking greeat"
Continue searching for where the survivors went.

>>3185798
This >>3185804

>>3185644
This little bit with the iron pot just seems so appropriate for Ophelia.

>>3185798
> 2. Head towards the stairwell Johnny was talking about, try to reconnect with the others.

We should all get iron pots to protect us from illusions and such.

Does anyone in the party know to turn their clothes inside out to hide from the Fae?

>>3185804
>>3185810
>>3186136
>>3186138
writing

>>3185798
“Alright, it has a massive reserve of blue mana and it’s not shy about using it, FUCKING FANTASTIC. The thing lays traps, it’s strong as a damned werewolf, maybe stronger, and we need to kill the fucking thing?” Henry said. “God damn how the FUCK did we get involved in this?!”

“I believe the blame lies squarely on your shoulders sir.” Johnny replied with a dry tone. “Though perhaps blame will be more productive after this is all over, assuming we survive.”

“Wouldn’t you survive regardless?” Ophelia asked.

“Yes, but I was being polite.” Johnny replied.

“Look I’m going to run back to the kitchen to grab something, wait right here.” Ophelia said.

As the woman left the room, Henry and Johnny shared a look.

“Should she be off on her own sir?” Johnny asked.

“I’d rather you stick with me than with her, I’m less replaceable.” Henry said.

“I do hope that was in jest sir.” Johnny replied.

“Ta-da!” Ophelia said, returning with a medium sized iron pot placed squarely on her head.

“That’s not going to…. Should I even tell her?” Henry asked.

“It got me out of the captured spell and fae don’t like iron correct? So problem solved, it is not going to get back into my head!”

“What a genius.” Henry said.

“I even brought you a pot for your head.”

“I’ll pass.”

“But you’ll be unprotected!” Ophelia said, “What happens if it controls you and you try to kill me?!”

“It’s a risk I can live with.” Henry replied sarcastically.

The group exited out of the storage room, and hooked a right down the hallway, passing a couple of paintings and then Johnny led them through a plain wooden door into yet another hallway. They continued on until reaching a stairway and the smell of blood wafted into the air.

The corpse at the base of the stairwell was fairly mangled, Henry noted that its arms had been broken, but whether it was from the impact or from the monster was hard to tell. It had some chainmail and leather armor on, but Henry didn’t feel like looting it, the blood alone would make it a fucking hazard to wear. Not to mention some of the mail looked rusty. Whomever it had belonged to hadn’t kept their sword in the best condition either, a chipped and battered iron short sword was stuck into the railing of the spiral staircase, several steps up from the base of it.

“I didn’t check the body on account of our prior experience.” Johnny said, “Figured you approve.”

Decisions:
1. Check the body
2. Head upstairs
3. Call out upstairs, see if anyone’s alive.
4. Head back to a prior room
5. (write in)

>>3188122
>1. Check the body
see if we can determin if he was a normal guaard, or a private guard of one of the guests

>>3188142
one vote to inspect the body, any other takers?

>>3188122
This >>3188142 but also
>Send Johnny up top as you do so. Cover for ambushes.

>>3188201
>>3188142
writing

>>3188122
“Johnny, get up to the second floor, be quiet, and just keep a look out, don’t go charging in unless you need to.” Henry said.

“Are you going to check the body?! What if its trapped?” Johnny asked.

“Only the living guy was booby trapped last time.” Henry said, prodding the corpse with his foot. “Sides from the sound of it this poor bastard is only recently deceased… probably not enough time to lay a trap right?”

“I’d prefer if I move it…” Johnny said.

Henry simply kicked the body out of the way to prove his point. He could tell Johnny was horrified.

“See no problem.” Henry said, beginning to get a good look at the body. There was a small crest on the man’s armor, indicating he’d been a member of a local milita, probably here with Stanley, which meant the man was either around or dead. Henry hoped the man was as good of a fighter as he was a blowhard, otherwise he didn’t like their odds. The man had a couple silver coins and a few coppers which Henry pocketed, after wiping the blood off of course.

(+2 silvers, +4 coppers

“Find anything useable?” Ophelia asked nonchalantly.

“Few pieces of coin, little else. Its kinda suprising you’re alright with looting corpses. Most would be too squeamish.”

“Never been one for petty superstition or getting disgusted over a cadaver.” Ophelia said.

“Unless it’s a rat.”

“That’s different!”

Decisions:
1. Head upstairs to Johnny
2. Call Johnny back and find another route
3. (write in)

>>3188245
>1. Head upstairs to Johnny

>>3188320
going to bed

>>3188245
this >>3188320

What do we... look like?

>>3188457
Depends on who you're playing as, but I assume you mean Henry.
He has a Average build, dark brown hair and eyes, is about five ten (which is a few inches above average for the world). He's wearing his owl costume presently, as well as his red cloak under that.

>>3188245
> double tap the body just in case

> raise it as a minion

Hello valuable necromantic resource.

>>3188320
>>3188453
Guys, if we raise the corpse then we can have it do things like open doors, check for traps, sacrifice itself pinning down the Fae while we go in for the kill, etc.

We can also (have ophelia) put whatever iron scraps we have on it, or get it to carry an iron post and get it to cudgel the Fae with, without worry of retaliation.

>>3188716
This will also out us to people

>>3188245
>1. Head upstairs to Johnny
Does Johnny has his disguise?

>>3189123
How? Blame it on thebFae, and Johnny and Ophelia already know.

> Necromancer Detective Quest

> Doesn't do any necromancy

Come on.

>>3189197
Do you really think that raising dead is a good idea right now?

>>3189204
Why wouldn't it be?

>>3189235
Inquisitors could find out and hang us?

>>3189247
Pft. Blame it on the Fae monster. We know how to hide our mana tracks.

>>3188712
>>3188716
>>3189123
>>3189135
>>3189197
>>3189204
>>3189235
>>3189247
>>3189260
taking the night up, I'll tally up votes tomorrow and then write from there.

>>3191100
>up
I meant off, fucks sake

presently a tie on whether or not to raise a minion. I might as well mention that the body is fairly fucked up but its legs are still functional.

File: il_570xN.474761371_s004.jpg (18 KB, 570x503)

18 KB JPG

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3194711
Fuck it, flipping a coin
1 for zambie
2 for not zambie

>>3188245
Henry eyed up the body one last time. He idly pulled at his dagger with the intent to use it, but after looking over the man’s injuries he knew better. No way was that man still alive. His arms were completely busted and his head was partially caved in from the impact with the bottom banister of the stairwell. The body itself was still in much better condition than the two dead guards from before had been, well, how they were now, and with the armor it had it would prove a valuable meat shield, it couldn’t dish out any real damage except for a measly bite, but it could certainly soak up damage. So without a second thought Henry cast raise dead on the corpse and watched as it clumsily stood up, broken arms flailing behind it.

(-0.5 black mana)

“Are you sure that’s wise sir?” Johnny asked.

“I’d rather improve our odds however possible; we’ll just have to keep it a good distance behind us.” Henry said.

“Fine.” Johnny muttered. “You could have at least let me pray for the man’s soul. Nothing to be done about it now though.”

“I don’t think he’d want you praying for him to be honest.” Ophelia said, butting in.

The group traveled up the tight spiral stairwell and found the scene of a small scuffle. Several dead giant spider corpses and a good deal of blood were littered about. The stairwell window behind them had been shattered and appeared to have been the entry point for the creatures. He checked the opening using his mage sight and something horrible occurred to him.

The chateau didn’t have any angelic runes around it, nor would it have made sense for it to considering its owner. They were completely defenseless. If anything tried to come into the chateau, the only thing stopping them would be the hill itself and the perimeter wall. From the hole in the window he could see one of the four towers on the Chateau’s walls had a light rune spotlight on it, which was surveying the area outside the walls. Henry figured those poor bastards were shitting themselves, but it did prove that somebody was still alive over there.
>(this is the lower right tower on the map)

Turning back towards the grisly scene, Henry saw what looked to be another corpse propped up against the far wall. Henry idly flicked another raise dead spell at it and was shocked to feel the spell fizzle out.

The hallway they found themselves in was ringed by two doors on either side or lead back into the grand hall. Henry could even see the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Decisions:
1. Kill the unknown guard and raise his corpse
2. Help the unknown guard
3. Ignore the guy, it’s better to not get involved with that.

>>3194804
>2. Help the unknown guard
Get some info while we try to stabilize him. What happened? Where did the enemy go? Where is everyone?

>>3194813
will begin writing in 10 min

>>3194804
Henry left his minion down at the stairs as he went to inspect the injured guard, the man had heavy bruising along his neck and right arm, and probably had more underneath the plate mail chestpiece he was wearing. Henry didn’t have the time to try and remove it. He reached for one of the light runes he’d snatched during ophelia’s ‘journey’ and shined it a couple times in the man’s face and waited for a reaction.

“He-hello?” The man asked. “R-rodger?” The man asked.

“No fraid its someone else.” Henry said.

“Did Stanley bring you?” The man asked, “D-did …” the man coughed out a bit of blood and writhed in pain.

“Oy I think you got internal bleeding pal.” Henry said. “What happened, if you can manage to talk.”

“S-spiders… ambushed us from the window… German fell… dunno what happened to him… Eugis and Stanley went for h-help…”

“Eugis?” Henry asked.

The man didn’t respond, he’d lost consciousness.

“So we just have to wait for the others then?” Johnny asked.

“Nobody even knows who you are.” Ophelia said. “Not to mention the corpse we have with us, we should just leave him to the others and keep up our search.”

“Awfully brave of you.” Henry said. “Guy’s external injuries don’t seem too bad but he has blood in the lungs, dunno how long he’ll hold on for, but it’s probably risky to move him.”
“This is a complete cock-up.” Johnny said. “We need to regroup with the others or we won’t survive.”

“If we just turn everyone into corpses we won’t have to deal with politics.” Ophelia replied. “I don’t get why you two want to even deal with other people when you can just… just have them do EXACTLY what you want, when you want. Seems SO much easier.”

Decisions:
1. Reply to Ophelia (write in)
2. Guard the man until help arrives (disposing of the corpse optional.)
3. Leave him and continue onwards (into one of the four rooms, or into the grand hall balcony.)
4. (write in)

>>3194906
>3. Leave him and continue onwards (into one of the four rooms, or into the grand hall balcony.)

>>3194976
good night

>>3195064
Nihgt lore

>>3194906
>3. Leave him and continue onwards (into one of the four rooms, or into the grand hall balcony.)

>>3194745
Sorry brah I work night so I sleep weird hours.

>>3194906
> 1. Reply to Ophelia (write in)

Micro-management sucks, it's boring, and without stimulus from each other people don't grow.

Eventually in her world, she would stop being able to make anything new at all, and would just go through the same motions over and over again becoming no better than a mindless undead herself. But while still alive, which is even worse.

She really doesn't think ahead, does she?

> Kill the guard and raise his corpse as well

I mean, the guy has probably done something to deserve it anyways. Besides we don't have any way of healing him. It's like when you put down a deer that's been hit by a truck. If we leave him he's gonna die anyways.

I also didn't realize how mangled the other corpse was. My apologies for not being here to pull back from that.

>>3194906
Okay, ignore my vote in >>3195078 because >>3195382 is better

>>3194906
>3. Leave him and continue onwards (into one of the four rooms, or into the grand hall balcony.)

I really don't understand why people want to raise dead while we so close to inquisitors.

>>3194906
>3. Leave him and continue onwards (the grand hall balcony.)

>Because that shit is the kind of stupid evil that makes angels, Cathars, heroes and adventurers want to kill you. It's not worth the effort. I only do smart or utilitarian evil

>>3195710
Gotta have someone operate Ophileas flame thrower.

Or at worst, stuff with with fire and cold runes and have it run towards the Fae beast before blowing it and the stones up.

>>3194976
>>3195078
>>3195368
>>3195382
>>3195676
>>3195710
>>3195794
>>3195915
will tally votes then write.

>>3194906
“Come on, we should head into the grand hall, get our bearings.”

“What about the injured man?” Johnny asked.

“He said it himself that help would be on the way, hell with any luck they’ll have a healer with them. None of us can do anything to help him unless Ophelia can secretly use white mana.”

“No I cannot, nor have I ever had any interest in it.”

“So you aren’t perfect after all.” Henry replied. “Oh and about your earlier comment on the undead, micromanaging that many of them would be an utter pain in the ass you realize.”

“If I really committed myself to it I’d figure something out.” Ophelia responded. “You know I could figure something out.”

“No, just the logistics of keeping that many undead functional would be an utter nightmare. Dead bodies don’t heal themselves, and any damage they sustain would accumulate. They also tend to wander off if you don’t keep an iron grip on them, and I know for a fact you’re too much of a scatterbrain to be able to do it.”

“First off, I’m going to ignore that rude comment, and second off, while that would be a problem, I’ve done the math before with that in mind, and It would work out, I could even show it to you when we have some time if you really want. I wouldn’t turn everyone of course, that’d be silly, unthinking servants can only do so much… but if I could get rid of all or even a good chunk of the idiots that make up society, then use them to automate anything I’d actually care about, I could make a utopia! And imagine if I could have an army of Tickys… the things I could accomplish! I just keep getting held up by unforeseen events and from people getting in my way!”

“You really do think highly of yourself don’t you.” Henry replied. “Look if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that shit NEVER goes to plan… I mean simply look back at that poor sod, hell, look around the chateau for confirmation on that.” Henry turned to Johnny for support but the skeleton silently stared at the two of them.

“Well fuck you too buddy.” Henry said in response.

“You just need to have faith in me, even with… slight miscalculations on my part, I was able to make a functional prototype, something that most mages would say is impossible. I mean that’s more than anyone else in recorded history has done.”

>>3197052
“Woop dee do you made an abomination that subsequently rampaged, killed some people, drove a bunch more insane, then exploded and nearly KILLED ME.”

“Well that was probably your own fault.”

“You’re insane.” Henry replied. “Also fuck you.”

“You’re not the sublime picture of mental health either.” Ophelia replied.

“Honestly I feel the sanest person among us is that corpse Henry raised.” Johnny remarked.

The grand hall stretched out before them, mostly unchanged, Henry could see at the far end a group of three people hastily making their way towards the two staircases that led up to the second floor. Henry recognized one of them as Stanley, another one who looked to be armed in a similar manner as the militia man, and a middle aged woman wearing a fairly ornate dress gown. Henry figured she was a healer of some sort, though it was odd she wasn’t wearing healer’s robes.

Decisions:
1. Get rid of the corpse, hide it in one of the side rooms and give it orders to stay put, it should listen, at least for a while.
2. Get rid of the corpse, get it back down the stairwell and then release it from the raise dead spell
3. Prepare an ambush
4. Hold your position and prepare for combat
5. *cast a spell* (Write in)
6. *write in*

>>3197053
>1. Get rid of the corpse, hide it in one of the side rooms and give it orders to stay put, it should listen, at least for a while.
Emergency backup.
Have Ophelia prepare, but DON'T cast, a flash or mind burst spell.

>>3197053
this >>3197068

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>3197078
>>3197068
writing

>>3197053
Henry quickly ordered the corpse into one of the side rooms, stowed it away behind some furniture, and ordered it to stay put. He realized how stupid it looked but he really didn’t have the time for any of this. He returned to the hallway in time to catch Stanley and his compatriots round the corner and enter the hallway they were in.

The woman who was with them seemed taken aback by the spider corpses, but Stanley quickly assured her that they were all dead, he’d ‘made sure of it.’ He slowly made his way over to Henry and co. while the woman and the other man who was with them rushed over to help the downed soldier.

“Where the fuck did you all go off too?!” Stanley asked, “We thought you’d already been killed, caused one of them fuckin inquisitor’s to have a feckin tantrum, real smooth pal, and who the fuck is this?” He said, gesturing to Johnny.

The woman had begun to cast healing magic’s on the man, a telltale white glow emanating from her fingers. The man would probably survive.

Decisions:
1. “Fuck off, you’re not our leader, we don’t need to tell you shit.”
2. “You’re friends lucky to be alive, no thanks to your brilliant leadership.”
3. “His name’s Johnny, he’s a good friend of mine.”
4. “We went off to try and get help from the guards manning the signal tower, the tower lights went out and we decided to head back.”
5. “We tried to go for help at one of the nearby towns but got cut off by spiders. Barely made it back.”
6. (write in)

>>3197204
>4. “We went off to try and get help from the guards manning the signal tower, the tower lights went out and we decided to head back.”

>>3197204
this >>3197209
gnight

>>3197204
> 1. “Fuck off, you’re not our leader, we don’t need to tell you shit. If you can manage to speak to us like you want our help, we can start over. Otherwise, I'm pretty confident of OUR group's survival."

>>3197209
>>3197204
Also this. Buy I still want to make him ask nicely first.

going to bed myself.

>>3197262
Night!

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>3197247
>>3197209
writing

>>3197204
“We went to try and get help from the guards manning the nearby signal tower, the lights were out and we decided to head back. I think something happened to them.”

“That’s was incredibly fucking stupid, are you serious? Why the fuck didn’t you get some flares and use them? The whole fucking forest is full of spiders by now, least we can tell. You could’ve been torn apart out there!”

“Look sir we need to stick together, they’re obviously civies, they don’t know what they’re doing, obviously.” The other milita-man chimed in.

“Shut up Eugis, keep your eyes on the doc and Sinclair, and make sure she doesn’t get interrupted. As for you two, we’re going to be marching you back to the keep and getting you to safety. Except for whomever the fuck your friend is.”

“Fuck off, you’re not our leader, we don’t need you telling us what to do.” Henry said, flippantly. He couldn’t afford to be separated from Johnny at this juncture.

“Oy now, let’s just calm down…” Johnny said, trying to defuse the situation.

“THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION YOU FUCKING NITWIT, THREE PEOPLE ARE DEAD-“ Stanley said, yelling at Henry.

“Seems to only be two sir! German’s alive! Man’s wandered off though, but he’s alive!”

“Aw fuck.” Stanley said. “He’s probably gone back to the keep for help, he took a nasty fall, but he’s a tough bastard, he’ll make it I’m sure.”

“Right.” Eugis said.

“Either you speak to us with a basic amount of respect or you fuck off, the two of us are mage’s and he’s the best damned swordsman you’ve ever seen, we want to kill the fucking thing. So, let’s start over, talk like civilized human beings, and if you want our help, we’d be happy to provide it.

Stanley chewed on the words for a moment. Which was an excellent sign; it meant Henry’s plan had worked.

Henry had taken a bit of a gamble by being flippant, but he’d read the situation correctly. Eugis was a calming influence and a bit more agreeable to their needs than Stanley was. So Henry played the asshole, Johnny acted like Johnny by trying to defuse things, and so had this Eugis fellow. Easy peasy. Now he’d offered an olive branch of sorts, mainly to do the job he had been hired to, sort of, with these two knuckleheads acting as meatshields. He’d release the raise dead spell on German, and they’d just say he must have been delirious and wandered upstairs before being killed. The head injury would be hard to explain but they could figure something out afterwards.

>>3198846
“Are you absolutely sure we need their help Henry?” Ophelia asked. “They don’t look to useful, a small group of spiders killed two of them anyways. Besides, with me here I’m pretty confident of OUR group’s survival.”

OPHELIA YOU FUCKING MORON.

Stanley proceeded to slam Ophelia into a wall while screaming obscenities at her. Eugis leapt and tried to pull the man away but was batted down to the floor. Johnny did much the same but was stopped at the point of a short sword by Stanley.

Johnny of course couldn’t do anything else without blowing his cover. Sure he’d survive being slashed at but that’d ruin both his disguise and any chance they would have at getting their help. Henry’s brilliant little plan had fallen apart due to one social incompetent.

OPHELIA YOU FUCKING MORON.

Decisions:
1. Cast a spell (write in)
2. Say something (write in)
3. “Look, let’s just go our separate ways, alright?”
4. “OPHELIA YOU’RE A FUCKING IDIOT.”
5. (write in)

>>3198848
>5. (write in)
"Ophelia, zap him."

>>3198853
Not enough to kill, but enough to knock him on his ass.

>>3198855
>>3198853
as a heads up to anyone thinking this is a risk free nonlethal option, it has a 50% chance to kill or severely injure the man.

>>3198848
>"Please, let's just stop being at each others' throats and focus. We got a fucking monster hunting people down, and no amount of giant spiders is as bad as that."
>Pull Eugis up, give Stanley a good look
>"Look, I'll be honest with you. My partner here is kind of a fucking idiot and I'm sorry about that. We'll ALL be fucking idiots if sitting around and bitching causes more people to die. We're on YOUR side with this, okay?"

>>3198906
Well, lets do this then. But we gotta be angry.

>>3198906
>>3198910
will write tomorrow

>>3198858
Those sound like good odds to me.

> Ophelia, zap him.

>>3198937
>>3199324
Alternatively, could we cast lightning claws on our hands, just to make a point?


After all, Ophelia is an idiot but she isn't *wrong* here.