[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / x] [rs] [status / ? / @] [Settings] [Home]
Board:  
Settings   Home
4chan
/qst/ - Quests


File: Styles & Yayoi.jpg (2.63 MB, 3840x2160)
2.63 MB
2.63 MB JPG
Recording a potential mark is one thing. It makes sense- sometimes you have to get some sort of evidence to prove to someone (usually your client) that they’re doing what they’re being accused of. Other times, it’s for your own use- information that can be used later on down the line, or a weakness revealed that you can take advantage of. Thinking of it like that, it’s not really so bad, what you’re doing right now.

But recording stream of consciousness crazy is...less than amusing after the first fifteen or so minutes.

Greetings, soldiers of fortune, and welcome back to Magical Girl For Hire!

Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Magical%20Girl%20For%20Hire%20Quest
General Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/u/MGFHQHandler
Character Details: http://pastebin.com/9J70gqM2 (embed)
FAQ: http://pastebin.com/8unLWUjF (embed)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MGFHandler
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/Q5Q1MR92

What with all this madness coming from their lips, honestly you’ve tuned them out a bit- if only because you knew the FutureSight was recording everything anyway. Izumi had offered to stay by as well, but you insisted that she get some rest proper- not that either of you couldn’t take a sleepless night, but always better to get it in when you can.

The circle stretches further and further as their ‘writing’ gets larger and larger- they’ve gone from speaking aloud to muttering to themselves now, but you’re confident the FutureSight will still catch whatever they’re saying.

It’s near morning when the three of them finally go completely silent- and then stock still. You can see the few Veilweavers awake jump at the sudden lack of movement, trying to refocus. No one dares speak- at least in your immediate area. You can hear the words of some early risers meet you as they prepare to move out. One Veilspeaker clears her throat, and like a whip three heads turn to her. “Ah! Er, Miss...Carrang? Judica? Kalata? Are you done?”

“...Are we?” Carrang answers uncertainty. “What...what were we doing?”

“Ah...many things,” she answers, before point beneath their feet. “But mostly THAT.”

It’s...almost like a mural now. Full of abstract images that you can’t quite make out entirely. Some of them make a sort of sense- spiraling thorny mountains, zigzags you THINK are lightning from clouds, squiggles and shapes that remind you of salamanders or insects like ants, trees bent in on themselves, some sort of bird devouring itself- or maybe that’s a fish…

“...” The Veilspeakers seem too shocked at themselves to speak, but Carrang at least gets out a mumbled word. “...the mark…”

(cont.)
>>
>>3324140
“Hm?” The first speaker asks.

In response, she points towards some logo out near the side- it looks like a circle with three eyes inside it, with lightning shooting out in the four cardinal directions- below it, is three circles, each inlaid inside another. “That’s...that’s Chucinahil’s Mark. One of the first Elves to…” she mutters, before she suddenly pauses, holding her head. “Wait, why would I…? How?”

> Worry about the Veilspeakers first, they’re worryingly quiet.
> She needs to explain more about this mark if she knows about it.
> Let them calm themselves, and maybe you get a couple discreet shots before everything gets trampled over…
> Other
>>
>>3324141
> She needs to explain more about this mark if she knows about it.
>>
>>3324141
>> Let them calm themselves, and maybe you get a couple discreet shots before everything gets trampled over…
>>
>>3324141
> She needs to explain more about this mark if she knows about it.

I guess the veil already hinted were we should go next.
>>
>>3324141
> She needs to explain more about this mark if she knows about it.
>>
Details, please. Writing.
>>
>>3324141
>>3324163
>>3324187
>>3324199
The fact that she knows even the slightest bit about what she just drew is important enough to seize on, causing you to push past two Veilspeakers despite protests. “Hold on a second, what do you know about that mark?”

“I...more than I thought…” she groans as she puts her other hand to her head, clearly staving off a headache. “It...it was Chucinahil’s Mark. He was...was one of the first Elves to study what was beyond the Veil...one of the smartest, but...he vanished during his studies, trying to find a way to breach...AGH!” She collapses to her knees, holding her head tightly. “I don’t know how I know this!” she wails, writhing. “It’s like, like flashes of-of THINGS! All at once- stop it, stop it, PLEASE!” she’s near convulsing now- and your pulse quickens, something throwing up red flags in your head…

>Roll 1d20, best of 3.

>Action?
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>3324281
> Call Sal and see if this dude is in the Intersection, or if the Intersection has any contemporaries

Possible possession situation?
>>
Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>3324281
The safest option would be knocking her out, but I vote for force feeding her our Green Potion and attempt to heal her tohether with Izumi.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3324281
Hold her down so she won't hurt herself convulsing. Speak soothingly and calmly in case she can hear you so she'll calm down as well.
>>
>>3324281
Standby to restrain her from hurting herself, someone else, or the markings.
>>
>>3324304
Flux wave to mess with any mana affecting them?
>>
File: 4h35.png (79 KB, 307x280)
79 KB
79 KB PNG
>>3324310
I know we don't do critfails here, but I'm still pissed at myself.
>>
>>3324281
Call Sal; someone who forced themselves into the Intersection shows potential that the Dealmakers like. If this Chucinahil did it, then that'd be interesting for him.
We might not be able to do fuckall with that kind of info, but Sal might find it useful.
>>
>>3324281
>>3324303
>>3324310
>>3324304
So...we hold hef down, ask Sal about that Chuck-Hill guy, if her convulsions get more violent - knock her out, if her body starts giving up - try to stabilize with all the healing we could muster?
>>
>>3324344
We call Sal for Intersection-related stuff. We have no reason to think this is Intersection yet beyond vague suspicions.
>>
Need to at least make sure she doesn't hurt someone else or herself, it seems. Maybe try to heal her if possible.

Writing.
>>
>>3324358
Of we are finnaly using the gaunlets?
>>
>>3324356
Every time someone mentions 'Beyond' it turns out to be Intersection.
>>
>>3324281
>>3324303
>>3324304
>>3324310
>>3324312
No one’s moving- or if they are, you’re quick enough to get there first, regardless, as her convulsions get worse; her nails are starting to dig badly into her head, and you know full well that’s a bit too far, as you quickly grab hold of them, the blood starting to stream from her scalp due to the self-inflicted cuts. As you pin her down, she lets out a low, keening hiss from gritted teeth as she tries to struggle out of your grasp, her manic shivering causing her to wipe away much of her own work underneath you. Her eyes are stretched wide in pain and madness, and from the drool and foam coming from her, it’s taking all of her willpower not to cry out in agony...shit, this is getting bad.

“Careful now, you don’t need to remember anything you don’t want to bother with,” you try speaking to her calmly as you can. Reassurance wasn’t your best point, but you can try… “You’re here, your safe, you don’t need to think about it, okay? Just look at me. Don’t think about it, just do it, like you want, right?” HOW it’s working, you’re not sure, but you can see her eyes focus on you, and slowly, slowly, the shivering recedes. “You’re alright, you’ll be alright, just focus on me, nothing else…”

Looking at her bloody face, she was REALLY about to rip into herself, you notice. You can see pink, not just blood underneath. Might’ve gone to places unsaveable if you hadn’t stepped in…
Still, it’s bad enough to warrant healing, clearly. Honestly, been wanting to try out these gauntlets anyway…

You focus, concentrate. Her mana signature is something light and erratic, actually- wonder if that’s common or just with her or other Shaded Elves. However, you really don’t have much time to worry about it, as the gauntlets glow a bright green- and suddenly the rivers of blood that’ve been streaming down her face freeze...and then begin flowing back UP, almost like reversing time. In no time, she’s practically already healed!

And it hardly took any of your mana, either…VERY nifty.

>Current Mana: 12,250/12,500

Suddenly, a shriek echoes throughout the camp, and frantic yelling only just outside the circle; you turn to the source of the noise, and your eyes widen in surprise at the scene just in front of you. One of the Veilspeakers, one of the two that’d been entranced- drops without fanfare to the ground.

The cause is a spear bloodily extending through her torso as she stares at nothing with wide, blank eyes, shivering in her death throes as she tightens her grip on the weapon and pushes -further-.

(cont.)
>>
>>3324450
“KALATA!” Norima cries in shock as she runs over to her shock, fury, and disbelief warring over her face. “No, nonononono...WHO GAVE HER THE SPEAR?!” She doesn’t wait for an answer before she turns to you, panic clear in her eyes. You already know what she’s going to ask before she does.

“SAVE HER!” she roars.

A glance at her body, though, tells you that, well...you don’t think there’s anything there to save, in a way. Dead in spirit, if not otherwise quite yet...

>Considering your new gauntlets, and the fact that she might not be entirely gone yet...hell, you can try!
>...No. Dead is dead, and you’ve never gone back on that. Shocking it is...but it wouldn’t sit well with you. This was her decision.
>Other
>>
>>3324453
>Considering your new gauntlets, and the fact that she might not be entirely gone yet...hell, you can try!
Remember, time reversal gauntlets.
>>
>>3324453
>Considering your new gauntlets, and the fact that she might not be entirely gone yet...hell, you can try!
>>
>>3324453
>>...No. Dead is dead, and you’ve never gone back on that. Shocking it is...but it wouldn’t sit well with you. This was her decision.

> Dead is dead, and you’ve never gone back on that.
This is a rare glimpse into Miranda's past.
>>
>>3324453
>Considering your new gauntlets, and the fact that she might not be entirely gone yet...hell, you can try!
>>
>>3324453
>...No. Dead is dead, and you’ve never gone back on that. Shocking it is...but it wouldn’t sit well with you. This was her decision.

We also have a current patient to attend to, and another at risk. Triage is a bitch.

Can we use a flux wave now to purge the area of whatever is happening?
>>
>>3324453
>>...No. Dead is dead, and you’ve never gone back on that. Shocking it is...but it wouldn’t sit well with you. This was her decision.
>>
>>3324453
>Considering your new gauntlets, and the fact that she might not be entirely gone yet...hell, you can try!

Let's see how far we can take this.
>>
File: file.png (1.29 MB, 605x949)
1.29 MB
1.29 MB PNG
>>3324453
>Considering your new gauntlets, and the fact that she might not be entirely gone yet...hell, you can try!
>>
>>3324457
i doubt that time reversal can work with spirits that is like another level of magic. We can heal or reverse the body the way it was but not bring the spirit/soul back.

But if she is not completely gone maybe we can save her.
>>
>>3324492
if she wants to return she'll return. Either way since the hit wan't in the brain, she still has some precious minutes before cell death really begins.
>>
>Just look at me. Don’t think about it, just do it, like you want, right?” HOW it’s working, you’re not sure, but you can see her eyes focus on you, and slowly, slowly, the shivering recedes. “You’re alright, you’ll be alright, just focus on me, nothing else…”

lewd...i just hope this doesn't mena she will go wild once we go away.
>>
>>3324498
Honestly I don't care if she dies or not - I want to see how far that 'restoration' ability works and get a feel of the extent of their power and how much mana we need for that, you know?
>>
>>3324498
That's a dangerous (if reasonable) assumption to make. She's magic and so is the gauntlet. I'd rather not risk a "came back wrong" drider go on a rampage.

And wasn't there a second veil talking crazy? We need to keep her away from anything pointy.


>>3324508
It kinda loses the lewd undertones when you're trying to stop someone from literally tearing themselves to bloody pieces.
>>
>>3324498
No i agree with you. This can be really good to save someone of a grave injury or possibly from a coma but i doubt it would work as a ressurection magic.

Still time+healling just need to add some soul manipulation and bang you get a ressurection.
>>
>>3324513
That's why i just picked the talking and the looking description none of the blood and pink under the skin appearing.

Most things out of context can be pretty lewd.
>>
>>3324514
>soul manipulation
sadly that is miranda' s big nope, but time manipulation certainly can fill the gap,specially since this is a fresh body.
>>
Well.

Gonna take a crack at it.

Writing.
>>
>>3324453
>>3324457
>>3324459
>>3324479
>>3324487
>>3324489
You’re already arguing with yourself as you jump over. She’s not quite dead yet, you can still sense the faintest whiff of power from her. It’s nothing worse than a nurse or a doctor trying to save someone on the verge. Izumi wouldn’t want any of these innocents to take their own life- she’d want to help them through whatever caused it and help them heal, she’d appreciate it.

You don't even know if you're lying to yourself or what.

All these little thoughts running through your head as you focus yourself, your hands light up, and you begin to yank the spear out through her back. Cleaner than otherwise. As soon as it’s free you touch hands to the body, almost before it collapses- and everything seems to slow again, stop again- and then like a tape in rewind the blood rushes back to her, the viscera begins to reform itself- you can see the hole repairing itself, a wound that you could see through becoming torn muscle, becoming whole muscle, becoming covered by flesh and bits of chitin once again. It’s not effortless, but you’d be exerting yourself a ton more without these. The wide, hopeful eyes of her friends and allies surround you as you continue to work.

Mind, that’s not what you’re worried about. You’re worried about what might happen after you’re done. For once, you're worried about everything you're doing.

>Roll 1d20+-2, best of 3.
>>
Rolled 19, 14 - 2 = 31 (2d20 - 2)

>>3324537
>>
>>3324537
this can only end well
>>
Rolled 2 - 2 (1d20 - 2)

>>3324544
take 2
>>
>>3324543
yay a 17!
>>
Rolled 6 - 2 (1d20 - 2)

>>3324537
>>
Rolled 15 - 2 (1d20 - 2)

>>3324537
LIVE!!!
>>
>>3324543
>>3324548
>inb4 wrong format so it doesn't count.
>>
>>3324543
I don't think I can take that.
>>
Rolled 3, 2 - 2 = 3 (2d20 - 2)

>>3324557
aw
>>
>>3324562
Still wrong.

1d20+-2, not 2d20+-2.
>>
>>3324557
looks like
>>3324547
>>3324549
4 then. Let's... let's not do this again. It's certainly going to be traumatic, especially with our background.
>>
>>3324568
its 13. not 4. my rolls didn't count and bnFWRHoz was the third vote.
>>
>>3324568
Did you miss >>3324552? It's a 13, not 4.
>>
>>3324568
No, it's best of 3. Since the first roll is botched, we get 13, which isn't half bad.
>>
this reminds me of old DLQ. The PC was a friendly necromancer, but had a very strict rule about not resurecting anyone they had sent see die or had been dead longer than a minute. Anyone else was only eligible to be a zombie, as they tended to come back... wrong outside of the time limit.
>>
>>3324568

>>3324572
>>3324573
>>3324577

Whoops mixed up the Bo3 and that 2d20 roll. A 13 still isn't great for this kind of thing. I expect she's going to have some sort of issue or another.
>>
>>3324573
So either a mouthbreathing veggie or maybe a lifeless meatsack.
>>
>>3324584
i lean more towards a vegtable rather than a lifeless meatsack.
>>
>>3324584
Mouthbreather's a 5 to 10. I'd say there was either mild to moderate brain trauma, or her Sight's been affected or otherwise unable to be used.
>>
>>3324586
Everything is better than making her some violent revenant abomination thing.
>>
Oh well we did saved her. It was never asked if she should be fully concious or working.

This isn't gonna be traumatizing at all.
>>
>>3324595
Comatose is technicaly still alive right?
>>
13. Unlucky number. Not bad. Not great, either.

Writing!
>>
File: everything is fine.gif (710 KB, 140x130)
710 KB
710 KB GIF
>>3324595
Something along those line, or maybe some minor nerve issues causing sensory or motor issues is about what I expect.
>>
>>3324606
And there's the possibility she could recover too! Either she'll be stuck in a coma forever, recover from it eventually, or she'll snap out of it when we figure out who/what did this to her and we beat the everloving shit out of them/destroy what's causing it.
>>
>>3324617
Well at least now the Veilspeakers have another reason beside good PR to help the alliance.

Also it was probably that elf that was mentioned

>inb4 Khom is that ancient elf
>>
>>3324537
>>3324547
>>3324549
>>3324552
The last of her flesh returns to her- a gasp both horrified and despairing erupts from her mouth as she takes a lungful of air in, whole of body once again. Jubilant, her friends and allies crowd around her, mewling gentle platitudes and well-wishes.

But you’re not concerned about any of that. No, you’re concerned about the one part of her that hasn’t recovered at all, as far as you can see. Her eyes, dead to the world, even as they lift her upright, momentarily blind to whatever thoughts may be running through her head in their ebullience. Norima quickly skitters over to you, tears in her eyes and forcing your attention for a brief moment. “Thank you! A thousand thanks! You’ll be rewarded for this, I swear it!”

You nod, if only mechanically, before she runs over, the second Veilspeaker- Judica, was it? Following at a more placid pace, as though she’s uncertain of her being there. She’s closely watched by two of the other guard Veilspeakers, after several having come to the alarming situation only to see their sister in arms rise from the clutches of death.

She doesn’t speak a single word as she’s closely guarded, eventually Norima having to shoo her fellows away to give her space. Nodding placidly, her eyes are clouded, haunted, resigned...something inside her has vanished, eroded no matter your efforts.

And then her eyes snap to you. Briefly, but her expression shifts to something else when your eyes make contact.

Betrayal. Despair. Fear. Things that hadn’t quite been in them before, now she looks at you as though you were the harbinger of her own personal damnation, a spectre that cannot be challenged in any fashion and who’s say is absolute, regardless of circumstance or desire. Tenderly, she turns her head back towards Norima, and whispers briefly to her; you’ve no desire to listen in, personally. Norima grows solemn, and nods, leading her back away somewhere, Judica following on her command, as do her guards. Carrang, for her part, is pointedly looking at you, and only at you- when you look back at her, she shudders briefly, taking a deep breath and holding it before releasing, and finally standing up.

It’ll be some time before the army resumes marching...maybe you can-

“Goodness! What happened, Yvrace?!” Ah. There’s Izumi, a bit late to the scene, but here nonetheless. “I heard a lot of yelling, and I was told something had happened back here- what’s going on?”

> “Don’t worry about it. It’s over with.” You’d...rather not talk about it. At all.
> “Just...had an issue with that weirdness from last night.” She doesn’t need to worry about the details right now.
> “Ask Norima about it. I need to make sure Carrang’s okay.” You need to distract yourself with the decently recovered one.
> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
> Other
>>
Actually, I gotta stop it here for tonight. Next run is Friday! Look forward to it- we should get around to making it to the next major stop on this comeback tour by then.
>>
>>3324644
thanks for running! but is that the whole update? it feels like its missing text.
>>
>>3324642
> “Ask Norima about it. I need to make sure Carrang’s okay.” You need to distract yourself with the decently recovered one.

OH LOOK A DISTRACTION!!!
>>
>>3324642
> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?

Failing that, let’s at least tell her after the mission is over.

>>3324644
Night boss!
>>
>>3324642
> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
More lore on MCs, Wooo!
>>
>>3324642
>> “Ask Norima about it. I need to make sure Carrang’s okay.” You need to distract yourself with the decently recovered one.
>>
>>3324642
>> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
>>
Ah, damn, wish I were here 4 hours ago, y'all berk de rule
Granted it was sorta broken back in artificer quest with the MC from that quest and his soul shenanigans.
But now Miranda berk de rule in her own quest!
>>
>>3324642
> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?

The price of arrogance. Poor Miranda, suddenly acting out because she wanted to test her new gloves.
>>
>>3324642
>“...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
What's this?
>>
>>3324642
> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
It's fair time we actually get some glimpses on Miranda's past and why she has beef with tinkering with the soul and the afterlife in general.
>>
>>3324820
Probably because it never really turns out right, people don't come back the same.

Also was it Miranda or Lorelei who got cut from the resurrection line-up after saving the universe by destroying it?

But yeah. I imagine just a bunch of terrible experiences and stories about it from various magical girls. There's always a price, you know.
>>
>>3324832
Lori got kicked out by erasing herself from her plane's timeline I think. And Miranda tried to summon SOMETHING(A being named Andromeda like her namesake, similar to a goddess?) to take on a threat, and that's basically what I could get from Handler's breadcrumbs.
>>
>>3324642
>“...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
>>
>>3324852
I think you've got those backwards. I know randa defeated some great evil and reset the timeline at the cost of punting her out of her universe. I don't remember what happened to Lori.
>>
>>3324642
>> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
Aw yiss

I guess we didn't quite catch her whole soul when it was slipping away
>>
>>3325303
Or we weren’t quick enough and she saw a bit too much of the afterlife.
>>
>>3325303
If she's lucky, we replaced the whole thing, but it's "misaligned". If that's the case, with time she might be able to recover.
>>
>>3325303
If souls behave lile the ones in dark souls her's should recover with time. No idea in how long that time might be but she should.
>>
>>3325180
I distinctly remember from the western job that Lori said she had to undo the things a time-travelling villain did, unknowingly kicked herself out of her world in the process, because time physics just doesn't work the way you want to. She was still oblivious by the time Sal found her.
>>
>>3326378
I want to go digging, but the backstories are so scattered I'd end up having to re-read the whole quest.
Not that that's a bad thing, but that's a little more involved that I have time for.
>>
Anyone going to archive the previous thread while we can?
>>
>>3327330
done
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3287541
>>
>>3327349
Thanks, anon.
>>
Maybe we should ice the broken-veilweaver before they're carted off as a grand revival? We are responsible for our mistakes after all. Maybe if we send the soul off again before it experiences too much it'll become whole again.
At least there was no bleach or spaghetti.

> “Ask Norima about it. I need to make sure Carrang’s okay.” You need to distract yourself with the decently recovered one.

As much as I want to hear more Miranda backstory, I think it'll come out anyway, and think taking two "I don't wanna but-" options in a row is just ASKING for bad end.
>>
>>3327443
Keep avoiding it and it won't
>>
>>3324642
>“...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
>>
>>3324642
>> “...Mind if we go somewhere private?” You hate that you’re even entertaining this. But...Izumi laid herself bare before. Fair’s fair, right?
>>
File: 20190309_004038.jpg (343 KB, 1080x1113)
343 KB
343 KB JPG
>>3324644
Oh, decided to check last crossover's archive and found this.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kj00CtC5_cYWFCmRqc3h68q-OdQwCui3dgxQDbordEQ/edit
>Izumi
>1 Legendary Grade Exotic Scimitar (Fire)
>>
>>3328031
we might need to have an independent google doc so that we can keep track of all the things, lore, items and other tibdits we find.
>>
>>3328488
>General Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/u/MGFHQHandler
>>
>>3328492
but handler misses stuff like the gauntlets and the scimitar among others(also we can't edit that pasetbin) and there are lore tibdits that get lost in the threads and become increasingly difficult to find. having another doc where anons can compile all that stuff should save us some headaches and also help handler in the long run.
>>
Net check. Either it's being weird again, or maybe it's just my browser...so I'm trying a different one.
>>
>>3330191
Good afternoon, boss!
>>
>>3330191
Evening, boss! How'd your week go?
>>
>>3330203
>>3330211
Well enough. Got home late, so dinner, then a late run.
>>
>>3324642
>>3324651
>>3324652
>>3324756
>>3324784
>>3324808
>>3324820
>>3324877
>>3325303
>>3327497
>>3327739

“...Mind if we go somewhere private?” Your voice isn’t working right. Damnit, you don’t know- fuck, that’s a lie. You know damn well what’s wrong. You just hate having to admit it. But, hell. Izumi’s laid herself bare to you, and you treated her respectfully. You know she’s good for it.

But as she nods wordlessly, clear concern in her eyes, you still find yourself only just able to stop yourself from shaking.

Before long, you’re in the woods, a fair distance from the preparing army; you don’t have a ton of time to get this off your chest, sooo…

“I think I fucked up.” That’s as succinct as you can put it. “I just thought she wasn’t quite dead and I had these new gloves and I dunno, maybe-” Okay, not as succinct.

“Whoa, whoa!” Izumi puts an arm on your shoulder gently. “Now, calm down and start from the top, alright?” Her voice is softer, soothing, and you HATE it.

But, fuck, in for a penny. So you tell her the events she just missed. The crazy, the self-mutilation attempt, and…

“...oh. I see.” Fucking hell, she has this LOOK on her face- it’s not pity, but you swear it’s something close. It wouldn’t make you so pissed off otherwise. Still, you’re no raw crying little girl- you can tamp it down. She continues, and you’re glad she can’t look into your headspace right now. “If it helps...to be honest, I would have done the same. To take one’s own life is...well, it’s not something I feel right letting just happen. I’d have tried to save her as well. And frankly, I think you DID save her. She didn’t seem comatose, did she?”

“No, but hell, that’s not what I’m worried about!” you grind out. “Soul shit is always funky, never works how you want it to. It’s so damn precise it’s not worth figuring out, not to mention sensitive!” Why is your mouth still fucking moving? “And hell, that’s just...that’s the person person. Their core! With all the shit people and magical girls go through day to day you’d think they deserve a little fucking rest if they can get it! It’s just too far, okay? You can come back one way or another from just about fucking anything with the right magic. Your soul is IT. The buck stops there. I’m not gonna have another fucking-” Fuck.

(cont.)
>>
>>3330412
Nearly went a foot too far.

Unfortunately, she notices, her face turning understanding- and yet oddly losing that infuriating pity. “Miranda...if you don’t mind my asking...?”

You’re not sure if you do or don’t.

She goes ahead anyway in your silence. “Who...did it happen to?”

Fuck. Fucking...fuck. And at this point, you’re going to have to give her SOME kind of answer.

> “...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
> “...A close friend of mine back ‘then’.” She doesn’t need to know the specifics- they’re meaningless now; just heartache. But you can at least admit what happened.
> “Does it matter? Point isn’t WHO, it’s WHAT.” You’re not trying to give her a sob story, you just want her to know why you hate this.
> Other
>>
>>3330423
>“...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
>>
>>3330423
> “...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
>>
>>3330423
>“...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
I'm not sure this is the right time but I'm too curious.
>>
>>3330423
> “...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
>>
>>3330423
>> “...A close friend of mine back ‘then’.” She doesn’t need to know the specifics- they’re meaningless now; just heartache. But you can at least admit what happened.
>>
>>3330423
>> “...A close friend of mine back ‘then’.” She doesn’t need to know the specifics- they’re meaningless now; just heartache. But you can at least admit what happened.

Miranda does NOT need to break down this much right now. Save the details for after the mission when they're back, not here.
>>
>>3330423
> “...A close friend of mine back ‘then’.” She doesn’t need to know the specifics- they’re meaningless now; just heartache. But you can at least admit what happened.
Honestly, I wish we told our backstory to Lori instead because she told us hers and Izumi hasn't
>>
>>3330467
Nah. there is no way to stopp this pain train that we've been trying to avoid and trying to drown with booze for more than 500 years.
>>
>>3330423
>“...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
>>
>>3330423
> “...A close friend of mine back ‘then’.” She doesn’t need to know the specifics- they’re meaningless now; just heartache. But you can at least admit what happened.
Just the past nipping at my heels. It'll fade with time. Always does.
>>
>>3330423
> “...A close friend of mine back ‘then’.” She doesn’t need to know the specifics- they’re meaningless now; just heartache. But you can at least admit what happened.
>>
>>3330423
> “...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
>>
Well...

Writing.
>>
>>3330423
> “...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” Fuck it. Might as well tell her the story.
Go for broke. Getting it out might help Miranda later.
>>
>>3330491
It's been 70 years. Let's introduce ourselves.
>>
>>3330423
>>3330428
>>3330434
>>3330435
>>3330444
>>3330506
>>3330522
>>3330531
For a moment, you consider keeping it hidden again. You doubt it’d come up in polite conversation for...well, a while again. She knows the general etiquette, she’d shut up about it. You could just give a vague answer, she’d allow it and let her imagination do all the talking for you from then on. No need to put yourself through this. None at all.

...that moment quickly passes as you can see the genuine concern on her face; it causes you to flare up in indignation for a second before you let it all out with a sigh. Fuck it.

Just...fuck it. “...Her name was Tessa. One of the original members of my old team. First one to try to reach out to me.” You’re not bothering to look at her now- you know you’d get distracted otherwise if you were watching her expressions. “Real egghead, but in a weird way. Knew a lot of random crap about random subjects; a total trivia queen. Always loved to go on about random shit. Wasn’t as annoying as it sounds because she always managed to tie it into whatever we were doing or facing. Hell, saved our dumb asses a few times.” You’d always gotten the impression that she was some sort of savant…at least, most of the time. “She was kind of the team’s comic relief, but she was cool with it and I appreciated her efforts. Eventually we became...y’know. Friends.” You affect a sigh at this, rolling your shoulders, but Izumi doesn’t react, instead simply nodding at your story, listening intently.

So you continue. “Anyway, one day this really nasty piece of work showed up. I honestly forgot his name because I just called him ‘Lizardface Fuck’.” Thinking about it, you shrug in remembrance. “Well, not in front of the others- just in my head. But anyway, we tag him in a cemetery doing SOME grody shit, go to fuck him up. He’s not screwing around, though, because he has necrosis powers, and that shit is vicious. After about a minute of fighting off these super mutant zombie things, though, we realize that, fuck, where’s Tessa?” You mime looking around briefly. “We hear a scream, and then we realize one of them managed to snag her- big, meat-grinder looking thing. Lizardface Fuck pretty much teleports right to her- I can’t remember what he said to us right then because I was too focused on trying to not get hit- and then he just...touches her. Just fucking...boop, pointer finger to the chest.” Fucking hell, this part. “Swear, I’d never seen Tessa look so terrified or scream like that ever in my life. Honestly, it’s still probably the worst I’ve heard. SOMETHING comes out of her, some pinkish-blue ghostly essence...and he just fucking...transmutes it into a ball. And SWALLOWS IT. WHOLE.”

You'd never felt a gut punch quite like that before when it happened, and you can STILL envision it like it just happened, even after all this time...

(cont.)
>>
>>3330641
>Lizardface Fuck
Too soon man.
>>
>>3330641
Izumi gasps. “Oh...oh dear. I…”

“Not finished,” you mutter, and she immediately shuts up. “So she collapses, and naturally we’re ALL pissed, because fucking hell, he just did...THAT. We don’t know how to react to that really, but fuck, we’re at least going to beat the shit out of him now. First time I ever took the lead for them, honestly.” Hate that THAT was the first memory. “We’re all seeing red, especially me. I honestly couldn’t tell you what happened between then and when I cleared up, but I remember seeing him and his weird leathery skin almost literally melt away- and after he was gone, Tessa’s orb thing was still there, intact- although it had a kinda yellow bit to it now. Obviously we were all super relieved. Weren’t sure how to make it work with her, though, so we tried to force feed it back into her. That…” you sigh. “Well. It worked, for a given value of ‘work’. She opened her eyes again, said she was okay, we laughed, went home...but she was never the same, really. Didn’t talk as much, didn’t joke as much. We thought maybe she was traumatized for a bit, but...her personality shifted, too. She got a lot more sarcastic, a lot more biting humor. Less friendly. Still kinda friendly, but not the same, y’know? Even her powers didn’t quite work the same- her catalyst changed. She never told us what it was, but it wasn’t humor like it used to be. Everyone else could tell, too. Not like we could try to fix it, though…so…” you shrug again. “We just kinda had to get used to it.”

“I...I see,” Izumi replies, clearly distressed- you can see her hand twitch toward you before stopping. “I...can understand your reluctance, I suppose. However-”

“ALL SET!” Suddenly, the sound of the generals jolts you out of your conversation, the both of you looking in the direction of the camp. “SOUND OFF and PREPARE TO MARCH!”

“Damnit,” Izumi swears, before turning back to you. “I’m so so sorry about your-”

> “It’s fine, it’s in the past. But now you know. I’m way too aware of the consequences.”
> “I don’t need ‘sorry’...but I DID need to get it off my chest. So...yeah.”
> “Let’s just get back to the camp before they start panicking about losing us.”
> Other
>>
>>3330702
>Other
>Hug her. very awkwardly.
>>
>>3330702
>> “Let’s just get back to the camp before they start panicking about losing us.”
>>
>>3330702
>> “Let’s just get back to the camp before they start panicking about losing us.”
>>
>>3330702
> "Yeah..."
Followed up by a few moments of silence, after which Izumi does the hand-on-shoulder-from-behind silent comfort bit you see in movies.
>>
>>3330702
> “I don’t need ‘sorry’...but I DID need to get it off my chest. So...yeah.”
> “Let’s just get back to the camp before they start panicking about losing us.”
>>
>>3330702
>“It’s fine, it’s in the past. But now you know. I’m way too aware of the consequences.”
An actual specialist would say that OF COURSE something bad happened, we were basically someone with no first aid training except what they saw on medical dramas trying to do brain surgery while the patient is bleeding out. If a specialist had been there, then the soul could have been repaired before being restored to the body.
Little comfort to the person who had to do it, but it should be framed in the right context.
>>
>>3330702
>“I don’t need ‘sorry’...but I DID need to get it off my chest. So...yeah.”
>>
>>3330702
Gonna change >>3330738 to
> “I don’t need ‘sorry’...but I DID need to get it off my chest. So...yeah.”
>>
>>3330702
> “I don’t need ‘sorry’...but I DID need to get it off my chest. So...yeah.”
> “Let’s just get back to the camp before they start panicking about losing us.”
They were panicking and the situation scrambled their hands big time. And they had no soul experts. It's understandable in a way.
>>
Writing!
>>
File: q1xRcHR.jpg (26 KB, 480x393)
26 KB
26 KB JPG
Man...if Miranda ever needed a fight to take something out of her head now would be the perfect time.

Kinda feel bad for the sorry ass that is near her next time. But i know that losing our cool during a battle is just asking for trouble even if i want a scene of Miranda actually being angst about the memory.
>>
>>3330702
>>3330724
>>3330735
>>3330743
>>3330768
>>3330781
>>3330783
Oh, no, fuck this, this is what you DIDN’T want. “I don’t need ‘sorry’, okay!?”

She stops, nearly flinching as she looks away. Fuck. You mentally reprimand yourself. This is what Izumi does, you need to fucking calm down… one, two deep breaths...okay. There.

“...but,” you venture, “I DID need to get it off my chest. So...yeah.” you’re not sure what to say beyond that about the situation. It was there, it’s in the open, let the chips fall where they may.

Fortunately, Izumi seems to understand, giving you a soft smile. “Well...thank you for trusting me to listen. I’m...glad you honored me with it. I won’t betray that trust.”

“Well...Let’s just get back to the camp before they start panicking about losing us.” You’ve had enough of this sappy stuff. Time to get back to work.

Hopefully, the next location will be somewhere teeming with enemies. You’ve got some aggression to work out. It doesn’t take you long before you catch up with the Prince. “Next stop?” you ask, face schooled back into its usual professional standard.

He sighs. “With the situation at Dartmouth...unsuitable, given the current situation, we must detour a bit. Your ‘friend’ in the Blackweb finally showed her face this morning- apparently they she was ‘remotely assessing the situation’.” You can tell he doesn’t buy it for a second. “Nonetheless, my current intentions are to cleave closer to the mountain range from here on in- Kolm’s lands are on the other side, and there’s no easy way through- so if we’re going to make best possible time with minimal risk of casualties, we’ll be stopping near the mining town of Jorhold. It’s both a mining area and a fortress town; I strongly suspect that they will have cleared the town out by now, sadly- but I also see little reason for them to occupy it at this juncture. Still, better safe than sorry.”

“Prince!” A voice calls; you look back to see one of the Veilspeakers approaching rapidly. “We have seen something!”

>Roll 1d100+20, best of FOUR.
>>
Rolled 98 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3330891
>>
Rolled 70 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3330891
>>
Rolled 78 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3330891
>>
Rolled 87 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3330891
>>
>>3330901
>>3330904
>>3330907
>>3330909
>unsure if load of enemies to blow off steam on or free and clear.
>>
>>3330901
>>3330891
Oh boy...they sure did saw something alright.
>>
Seems like their appreciation for your efforts has manifested in superior sight despite the cost to one of their number.
>>
>>3330915
Might be even better - catching one of Kholm's lieutenants offguard. There's quite a list of them.
>>
>>3330926
Did the revived Veilspeaker lose her Foresight abilities? That would hit VERY hard.
>>
Why the heck does everyone call the prince prince? Instead of Prince John or whatever his name was. Or your Royal Hoityness.
>>
>>3330933
This is what was being discussed earlier. Any of the speculative damaged mentioned earlier could be counted as a "cost".

>>3330937
Nobles and royalty tend to put a strong emphasis on their station. It's similar to calling your boss "boss".
>>
>>3330937
Well, most of the time he's being adressed either by non-humans and they have their own ideas on how to use titles, or our outgoers who don't really bother about it.
>>
>>3330926
i would rather have gold thank you.
>>
>>3330946
>or our outgoers who don't really bother about it
It being grammar I assume. "We should do tell Prince."
>>
>>3330891
>>3330901
>>3330904
>>3330907
>>3330909
“Speak,” he commands.

“To the strong north, the land itself rebels against the shadows. In the darkness of the stone, just beyond the efforts of your people lies an ancient power, one of the wild itself. It musters its energy to banish the shadows there...but it will not last. We have seen a path which grants YOU this blessing, Prince. Should you go forth there now and brave what lies beneath, you will claim the ancient knowledge of wild magic, enough to banish the shadow where you step!”

“Oh?” He rubs his chin in thought. “Most interesting. Although by ‘wild magic’, you mean-”

“Hold!” she interrupts, to your surprise. “Because we have seen another path. One very possible, and just as helpful.”

“Another?” he asks curiously. “And what of that one?”

“To the east, the black winds howl. Led by lash and blade, one of our hateful kin seeks to empower herself at the cost of many in a seaside village,” she starts.

To himself, you can hear the Prince mutter ‘Hollow’s Point...?’

“Yes,” she answers, having heard him. “A blood ritual, orchestrated by a Lady of the Blackweb, and her followers chant the name ‘Ferrah’. She will be taken by obsession come this night- a lust for power which blinds her to the outside world until it completes when the moon is full. Strike her before the fourth moon rises, and she will fall, and her followers with her.”

Ferrah? Well, now, that’s one of your targets! It could prove to be quite the boon, either way, it sounds like. The question is, though...which should you suggest he go for?

>The Blessing of the Wild
>The Elimination of Ferrah
>Other
>>
Gonna call it quits for tonight. Run will be tomorrow.
>>
>>3330971
>Other
Try to access the situation more, and plan to take both paths if possible.
I'd suggest sending the duo to assassinate Ferrah, but getting more spells and tools that STAYS with us after the job is very tempting.
>>
>>3330996
Going with this.
>>
>>3330971
>>The Blessing of the Wild
The wilds appear to need him in particular. We can handle the Blackweb.
>>
>>3330971
>Other
Split up: Miranda goes after Ferrah, Izumi goes on an escort mission.
>>
>>3330996
>Other
Split up: Miranda goes after Ferrah, Izumi goes on an escort mission.
>>
>>3330971
>The Elimination of Ferrah

i want to get to Zatzil gold!!
>>
>>3331023
>>3330971
Ayup. Time for some scry & die tactics.
>>
>>3330971
>Other
>Split up: Miranda goes after Ferrah, Izumi goes on an escort mission.
if we can finish this early we can grab loot and then jump/fly back to help Izumi.
Also, we should ask for a map so we won't get lost.unless there are people coming with us
>>
>>3331187
I think we could take Carrang for a ride? To avoid simething like what happend moments ago from happening again.
>>
>>3331302
I doubt that she'd be allowed to move around without a platoon of tard-wranglers watching her every step after recent events, plus she's still a PoW. We could suggest making restraining shirts out of gambesons for the trio that received the message of the Veil though.
>>
>>3330971
>>Other
>Prince should go for the Blessing, Miranda takes care of Farrah
>>
>>3331187
>unless there are people coming with us
I guess it could be arranged to have a few bunny-spies and veilspeaker combatants to join Miranda on her assignment. And we also could contact Zatzil's supporters as well so they would guide us through Blackweb territory and cover our escape.
As for the Prince, we can expect his personal guards and retainers to be there, plus a few bear warriors and ritualists from Braun. Everyone else is supposed to stay with the armies and march towards Jorhold.
>>
>>3330971
>Other: Split up. Izumi and Miranda can take one each; we're heavy-hitters and we can handle it.
>>
Time for a solo assassination job. (With the nebula buster because there's no kill like overkill)
>>
>>3330971
>Split up: Miranda goes after Ferrah, Izumi goes on an escort mission.

If we can't split up I vote
>The Blessing of the Wild

Let the prince become a hero. This world dearly needs one after we're gone.
>>
>>3331870
I think Miranda has earned the right to use excessive force today.
>>
>>3332573
As long as it doesn't make things harder on ourselves later, I'm game for some wanton destruction.
>>
Destruction is fun.
>>
>>3331870
>>3332573
It's my personal goal to use the nebula buster at least once per mission, but if they're supposed to make a blood ritual I'm pretty sure that there will be a lot of innocent around.
>>
File: 1500599509705.jpg (327 KB, 1110x684)
327 KB
327 KB JPG
>>3332573
I concur
>>
>>3332685
Is it wrong that i want to take a look at this blood ritual? I guess that would be to much for Miranda right? I guess not since blood ritual usualy means someone is getting sacrificed.
>>
>>3332817
Sure rituals are interesting but by design they're not something that will ever be useful, or useable.

We're the hero I guess so a dynamic entry at the last possible moment has a 100% chance of working.
>>
>>3332817
I don't think they're Randa's bag. While not directly soul-related, many variations seem to get kinda close to it. Plus, blood magic is often about sacrifice and/or pain/suffering in exchange for power, which randa already has in spades.

I could see Lori dabbling in it though, as she has less... restraints and is more likely to get herself into a bind that could be solved with a massive short-term power boost.
>>
>>3331084
>>3330971
Changing my vote because i suck at reading comprehension. We are just sugestung wrre the PRINCE should go.

>The Blessing of the Wild
>>
>>3332847
It's less to have the ritual and use it and have it to be more as a inspiration for another work/time of magic. We would never use the healling rituals here, but that didn't stopped from us getting inspiration/ideas from watching people doing it.
>>
>>3330971
>The blessing of the wild
The Prince needs some power up.

For our duo, I agree to split up.
>>
*Kick browser to make it work again*

Right, then. Seems like it's going to be convince him to go for the Blessing, while Miranda anad Izumi split up. Writing.
>>
>>333097
>>3333538

“You should probably go for that blessing,” you mention to him bluntly. “Something with the kind of power they’re making it sound like would be a major boon to us and likely allow you to take back any further areas we come across with far less fuss, considering we’d have to worry less about eliminating the shadows.”

“Mmm.” He nods slowly. “Yes, I can see your reasoning. Although I’m loathe to let this ‘Ferrah’ go unimpeded, especially with the sound of a blood ritual- no doubt requiring sacrifice...perhaps we can send a smaller unit to deal with them- or at least disrupt the ritual attempt.” He turns to the Lizardkin, nearby with Za-Leil. “Captain! Some news here, when you get a chance to hear it! We’ll be off soon!”

“You don’t want us to go to the east?” Izumi asks. “I can assure you we’d be more than happy to deal with this horrible happenstance.”

“If I’m being honest, I’m reluctant to have you too far away from us,” he admits. “You’ve become something of an intimidation factor for us, no doubt.” He looks out to the front. “Not to mention that even with your speed, it’d take time for you to get there and back to us. Perhaps I’m being paranoid, but I worry.”

“Then perhaps it’s best if we divide and conquer,” Izumi suggests. “My speed is superior to Yvrace’s, so I could go, eliminate Ferrah, and come back faster than she could.”

"Nah," you disagree. "I can get there fast enough that the time difference would be mitigated. Besides, the rank and file trust you more than me." No self-deprecation in it; just clear facts.

"True..." Izumi reluctantly admits. "But then, you'll be headed out now?"

You shrug. "Why not? After I get a map this time, though..."

"Anything else?" the Prince asks. "We need to get moving, after all."

Good question. "Well..."

>"No, I'd say that's the only real concern."
>"Actually, Zatzil might have some special insight...hopefully."
>Some further help from the Veilspeakers might not go amiss...
>Other
>>
>>3333770
>"Actually, Zatzil might have some special insight...hopefully."
>>
>>3333770
>"Actually, Zatzil might have some special insight...hopefully."

i'm off to kill your rival. If you have any spies or anyone that is willing to submit and "not wanting to die" move then. Because i'm in a terrible mood at the moment.
>>
>>3333770
>"Actually, Zatzil might have some special insight...hopefully."
If she knows of any potential turncoats, or if she has agents with Ferrah already.
Oh, and a description so we know who to headshot first would be nice.
>>
>>3333770
>>"No, I'd say that's the only real concern."
>>
Fair enough. Writing.
>>
>>3333770
>"Actually, Zatzil might have some special insight...hopefully."
She can probably ID Zatzil, if we apply the appropriate level of subtlety, paranoia and deception.
>>
>>3333835
Oh yeah that would be nice wouldn't it?
>>
>>3333770
>>3333780
>>3333821
>>3333835
>>3333877
Thinking about it, it’d be worth seeing what your informant has on her rival. “I’ll be off in a bit. Zatzil might have some particular insight.”

He nods. “Fair enough. We’ll start marching in a minute; you’ll have to walk and talk.”

“Understood.” With that settled, you head towards the back; if you recall correctly…

Ah, there she is. Still in her cage, now on wheels. That bear guard isn’t with her anymore, instead replaced by two burly grizzly-looking fellows. Despite that, she’s got at least a blanket, and a number of meats in front of her which she’s savoring. For all intents and purposes, she seems to have a gilded cage at the moment and...well, if not loving it, then she seems mostly content. Seeing you walk up, her attention turns from her meal, giving you a sycophantic smile (or maybe you’re just in a mood, still). “Ah, Sabereye. What brings you around to me today?”

...Yeah, you don’t really feel like entertaining any attitude from her today. “Going after one of your targets. Ferrah. If you got any information on her or people of interest, let me know now, or else they’re going to die. Simple as.”

“...S-she’s a rather fierce conductor of battle,” Zatzil says blankly. You’re not even sure if she recognizes she’s leaning back. “And is easily the largest of the three. One of the biggest in general, really- she tends to wear furs on her abdomen, as well as a carry a curved sword and whip, you see. Her armor is also rather...ornate. Black and red, and in particular her helmet- fully covered and stained in pattered blood. She likes to style herself as the Lady of War, and tends to favor brutality and overt intimidation over the more common subtle efforts. She gets away with it because she’s not an idiot, however- she has a PREFERENCE for direct action, but that does not mean she is incapable of strategic thought. Far from it.” She pauses a bit as she racks her brain. “There are some that serve under her that I’ve heard are...less than pleased with her stylings. But I’ve no one there under my own employ- if nothing else, Ferrah is fiercely protective of her status, and knows well each of her recruits.”

You can hear the call to march, as the army begins to shift and move again, on the trail to the north.

>Any further questions?
>Nothing- time to get going.
>>
>>3333970
>>Nothing- time to get going.
>>
>>3333970
"What is the thing that would humiliate her or otherwise make her superiors and equals think less of her?"
>>
>>3333994
>>3333970
Also, gonna grab that helmet, whip, and curved sword.
>>
>>3333970
Ask her if she has any ideas on how Blackwebs could adjust their philosophy so we wouldn't have to go with the genocide option.
>>
>>3333970
>Any further questions?
"Any magical protections? Anyone within her ranks that you've heard can be valuable alive?"

I want to put a shot through her abdomen and make her bleed out. And kill every single subordinate under her. Make the rest of the living soldiers under Kolm fear us.
We don't have the time to really set up a true psychological warfare campaign, so simply killing as many as we can will have to do.
>>
>>3333970
Physical description obtained, look forward to a new helmet Zatzil
>Nothing- time to get killing.
>>
>>3334030
Naw, that helmet's gonna be great as a stat buff piece for us.
>>
>>3334039
Let's be real, that helmet isn't surviving, we're gonna wipe her off this plane with a nebula buster.
>>
>>3334013
>>3333970
At the moment Blackwebs are openly hostile towards other clans and species, don't deal in trade and dabble in blood magic. Threaten her that if that doesn't change, then after we'll deal with Zai the Aliance will wipe the remaining Blackwebs from existence unless she can come up with idea how to change her clan's ways.
>>
>>3334030
No the helmet is ours. It will be cool if we ever go in a villan job.
>>
>>3334051
That makes no sense, we need to humiliate her in close combat first, otherwise how is that going to weaken Zai's place as Matron?
>>
Last question. How do we obtain the HUMILIATION FINISH?
>>
>>3334051
But i want loot. Besides she probably has cool shit in her castle.
>>
>>3334071
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gM0y0WhGoMw
>>
>>3333970
>>3333988
>>3333994
>>3333998
>>3334013
>>3334023
>>3334063
“You mentioned something about humiliating her and making her seem ineffectual to be best. Any ideas for going about that?” If this was going to happen, it needed to happen as efficiently (and preferably as brutally) as possible.

“Ah, for Ferrah...hm. Honestly, were you to utilize sheer overwhelming force, she may consider it a worthy warrior’s death and merely intend to be a martyr later. To humiliate her...it would take disabusing her of a notion that she is as skilled of a warrior as she claims. If you can get her to beg, even…” she chuckles to herself as the image runs through her head. “Hohoh...THAT would be quite the sight to remember. You’ll need to keep a few of her forces alive to spread the story, of course, but Ferrah begging for her life before the end would be a DELICIOUS marring on her personage.” You decline to add the obvious quip. “In general, it wouldn’t likely be as simple as trouncing her in both single combat and out maneuvering her soldiers. You’ll need to make it seem as though her strategy is inefficient wholesale. How you do that…” She shrugs. “Well, I suppose it depends on the situation, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” you agree as the lot of you begin walking (or in her case, rolling). “Any magical protections? Anyone within her ranks that you've heard can be valuable alive?"

“Nothing I can think of- though I’ve heard rumors that her helmet is blessed by the Ancestors. How and in what way seems to be a guarded secret, though. For all I know, they may be false. As for individuals? I do not know them personally, but I HAVE seen some individuals of her allegiance with furs on them as well- likely some sort of mark of special rank or the like. Is there anything else you need?”
“No,” you decide. “Just a warning.”

“Warning? For wha-” She stops when you look her back in the eye, almost unconsciously skittering backwards a couple more steps until pressed up against the bars.

“Think very carefully about what you might be ‘inheriting’. At the moment Blackweb are openly hostile towards other clans and species, don't deal in trade, and dabble in fucking blood rituals,” you explain. She opens her mouth to rebut, and you cut her off. “Right now, most everyone wants your clan ERASED. I don’t think it’d be out of turn to say that if you don’t find some way to get your people to mellow out after you take the throne, then the rest of the Alliance is going to finish what I’ve started- with relish. That’s presuming I don’t end up doing it first. Clear?”

“I-eh-uh-I mean-er, transparently! I’ll give it, uh, some serious thought, yes!” Hm. At least she’s still smart enough to be scared of you.

(cont.)
>>
>>3334151
With that, might as well get going. After talking to some of the knights, you’re granted a backpack of provisions; food, sleeping roll, waterskin, etc., and with your halberd and your map, you set off wordlessly, only turning to wave goodbye to Izumi before bounding towards the east, towards Hollow’s Point, and towards Ferrah, the Lady of War of the Blackweb.

>Roll 1d20, best of 3.
>>
Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>3334157
onwards!
>>
Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>3334157
On the road again...
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3334157
>>
Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3334157
I'M DEATH INCARNATE!!
>>
Writing. I made cookies in the meantime.
>>
>>3334270
What kind of cookies?

This is a very important question.
>>
>>3334301
Chocolate chip. I'm a simple fella.
>>
>>3334304
Acceptable. Proceed.
>>
>>3334304
What kind of chocolate chip, there are many a kind you know.
Are these standard milk chocolate chips? Maybe milk chocolate chunks? white or dark chocolate? crisp or chewy? Inquiring minds need to know.
>>
>>3334157
>>3334163
>>3334164
>>3334172
The trip isn’t harsh, but you can tell the difference in geography after a bit- there’s more gently rolling hills than anything else, less trees. Perfect to get your longjumps going. Although after about a couple of hours or so of jumping, you’re still nowhere near the seaside. Seems like they weren’t kidding about the distance…

It’s at least a pleasant day...well, disregarding the literal cloud of darkness in the sky, although it DOES seem lighter than before…

It’s an hour or so more before you finally decide to take a breather. Your field rations aren’t really much, but they’ll have to do. Hard tack seems omniversal, you swear…

There’s little around these days- the forest is unnaturally quiet, although you suspect that that’s due to the whole ‘literal shadow war’ thing than anything prowling. Still, it never hurts to be aware, which is why you keep an eye out, and thinking on it, you decide to keep a nose out, too. Fortunately, nothing comes at you, although you get faint whiffs of...something, or maybe someone, moving away from your location. After a surprisingly peaceful ‘lunch’, you move on, this time deciding on getting some gliding practice in. With the way mostly clear, you even see fit to try a bit extra- you’re wondering if you can’t do anything extra with this leg control you have nowadays...you’d have to form it so that it isn’t just expelled through your foot- you need it to have proper kick if you wanted any kind of boost from it…

After about an hour or so of messing around, you think you’ve managed to at least give yourself a little ‘kick’, sorta! It’s not much, but it’ll at the very least allow you to change your lateral trajectory, if not your vertical one just yet.

>Learned Air Shift! This allows you to essentially ‘juke’ in midair, altering your lateral trajectory to throw off anyone aiming at you. Vertical doesn’t get you much height at the moment, but it can at least arrest your fall provided you’re not yet in gravity’s grasp.

To your own surprise, it’s nearly evening by the time you crest another hill and see water in the distance. The sun- what little you can see of it- is going down around a very simplistic seaside village- a few ports, with a couple of sailboats, even. A lot of wooden thatched buildings, some stone ones that you think might be warehouses... The village itself seems to be bare from this distance, but you can see even from this distance there’s been a decent amount of destruction, although likely long since occured, and you know full well the place will be crawling with spiders. The whole village seems to be a relatively small cluster of buildings and there doesn’t seem to be any obvious town square or anything...which means you’re going to have to play this a bit differently.

Regardless, you’re going to make sure that come the morning, Ferrah will be dead, and her reputation destroyed to boot.

(Wrapping up here tonight. Run continues tomorrow.)
>>
>>3334421
Dark chocolate, crispy.
>>
>>3334637
Thanks for running.
>>
>>3334637
Night boss. Enjoy your cookies!

Now I want cookies, too...
>>
>>3334637
Thanks for running!
>>
>brutal spider warlord
>weights a lot, large in size, wears armor
>needs to die in humiliating way
>SEAside village
Here's an example for inspiration.
>>
>>3336228
I had to look up the actual individual to figure out what you meant.

At least I learned something today.
>>
>>3334637
You don’t see any guards patrolling as you try to keep as close to the sparse treeline as possible. There’s a few sweeter scents on the wind, but they’re moving quickly; not towards you, but rather in a number of various directions. Clearly busy, but where to specifically, you can’t identify as of yet. That said, you can hear some noise towards the western area, closer to where you are and in the direction of one of the warehouses...that still smell of fish.

There’s something going on in the eastern side closer to you as well, though...you’re not sure, but there seems to be large piles of dirt on the outskirts of the village, as well as a few shovels planted into the ground. You’re not sure how recent that is, but it might at least be worth looking into; some of the dirt seems fresh, despite the darkness making it harder to tell. It’s then that you get a flash of movement, and quickly conceal yourself as best you can as you see a Blackweb Weaver heave a large bag onto the pile carelessly, before leaving as quickly as they came.

>Head towards the warehouse. Better to see what’s going on there, just in case.
>Head towards the pile and the bag. May be worth investigating, whatever it is.
>Keep concealed and try to stay away from any potential congregation points for now.
>Other
>>
>>3337909
>Head towards the pile and the bag. May be worth investigating, whatever it is.

What’s in the bag, Weaver?! What’s in the bag?!
>>
>>3337915
By the way, how visible is our mana tether? Does it glow, or is it transparent?
>>
>>3337909
>Head towards the pile and the bag. May be worth investigating, whatever it is.
>>
>>3337909
>Head towards the pile and the bag. May be worth investigating, whatever it is.
>>
>>3337937
It's visible, tangible and glows a bit.
>>
>>3337909
>>Head towards the warehouse. Better to see what’s going on there, just in case.
the dirt and bag is either defensive earthworks, or mass graves.
>>
>>3337909
>Head towards the pile and the bag. May be worth investigating, whatever it is.
>>
>>3337909
>Head towards the warehouse. Better to see what’s going on there, just in case.

Oh i get it. They are drainning the villager from their blood for the ritual. Must be a pretty big ritual to require all that blood.
>>
>>3337951
It's mass graves they are preparing to do a blood ritual after all.
>>
What's in the bag?

Writing.
>>
Beware of the Old blood little spiders.
>>
>>3337909
>>3337915
>>3337940
>>3337946
>>3337967
Well, pile and bag is closer; you can take some time out to it. You’ll just have to be cautious about it.

Your hackles rise a bit when there’s no sentries nearby, but you recall the Veilspeaker’s claims- likely Ferrah’s just begun to pull everyone off in order to work on her little ‘project’. As the sun drops below the horizon, you creep up to the mass piles- nearly as tall as the houses themselves, they don’t seem to be anything too special...although you can’t help but take a look at the bag that was thrown on top there. Just what did they have that they junked?

You grimace after you undo the string. Simple question, simple solution...a corpse. Human. Youngish, too, barely out of his early teens, from the look of things. He has a shriveled, anemic look to him, like he was…

...Blood ritual. Right. Duh.

Question is, then, what’s all the dirt for? Ritual circle? Graves? Some sort of construction? As you look inwards to the village street, you notice that there’s a couple of Weavers, both with shovels, discussing something, only to be berated quickly by another Weaver that comes up to the both of them, sending them scurrying along.

Suddenly, you see a trail of smoke go up closer to the beach area- nothing too thick, but why would they be making a fire if they're digging graves? Or even vice versa- if they were cremating the body, then would they need graves? Or is it just for the ritual?

>Head next for the smoke; see if it's fire or what.
>Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.
>Disengage- see what's over on the other side, now.

Regardless,
>Roll 1d20, best of 3.
>>
Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>3338096
>>Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>3338096
>>Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.
We can check on the fire after, if we want to. This is time sensitive.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3338096
>Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.
>>
Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>3338096
Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.

>>3338111
noice
>>
Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3338096
>Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.

Miranda is the night.
>>
>>3338096
>Try to follow the two chatterboxes and listen in, just in case.
>>
Impressive. Let's see what they have to say. Writing.
>>
>>3338096
>>3338111
>>3338114
>>3338115
>>3338116
>>3338128
>>3338161
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of vertical space taken up- not the best idea to take to the rooftops this time. You’re going to have to be careful and follow them on foot if you want to listen in. Still not great at that, but you’re getting better, at least. You take a quick check for anyone else in the vicinity; being much closer, you can detect their ‘scents’ a bit more minutely now. Fortunately, there’s no one nearby, except the ones you want to follow. Perfect.

You dart out across the dirt street to slip behind another house; jumping through a few back areas, you do your best to move quickly and lightly; you’re less than a house’s length from them before turning on your hearing boost. Fortunately, they seem just as chatty as they’d been before.

“...I swear, this goes so slowly! And so meticulous! How much blood will she even need?” At least one sounds frustrated, for sure.

“I don’t know. I never know,” the other one grumbles. “I just keep quiet and do as I’m told. Not inclined to become another ‘sparring partner’.”

“Good point,” the first mutters. “Still, the way she wants this circle built is far too strange. I’m not exactly the best when it comes to ritualism, but she’s not making any sense!”

“That’ll probably change later. We just need to make sure that there’s enough humans for her supply. We can’t just drain them ALL.” Well, that’s good to know. “So you can’t go and do what you just did too often.”

“He insulted my hair! Besides, it was probably going to happen sooner or later. And I get a headstart on my required amount.”

“Good for you. Regardless, we still need to work on the circle FIRST. She was very adamant about that.” Interesting.

A grunt of understanding as they turn off the main street and towards a small hilly area- you can see they’re heading for a clearing with a number of Weavers around it, and several chopping at trees. “Right. So what do WE do with the captive humans, then?”

“Madam Nie’s supposed to be taking care of that. Just ask her. If I recall, I last saw her heading around the big building with Lady Ferrah. The one that stank of fish.” Well, that explains that…

“Then what’s Fireeah doing?” comes the followup question. “Sitting around and drinking tea again?”

“Careful no one hears you say that. She should be here briefly, she’s doing...something, down by the water’s edge. No clue what. Now shut up and let’s get back to work before we get punished this time.”

“Oh, relax, she said nothing about being unable to talk while working…”

(cont.)
>>
>>3338266
Yeah, it’d be harder for you to get closer without getting spotted anyway- but still, some information. They’re not planning on killing all of them just yet, but what they DO need them for...egh. You look up into the sky- you can still see the smoke, at least, but it’s thinner.

You’ve got to figure out how to go about this before you lose the element of surprise…

>Check what may still be there. Might be worth looking into whatever Fireeah was doing.
>Maybe you can strike here. You don’t see any of those ‘special’ Blackweb around…
>Alright, you know that your target is in the warehouse. Time to go say hi.
>Other
>>
>>3338269
>Check what may still be there. Might be worth looking into whatever Fireeah was doing.
>>
>>3338266
>Check what may still be there. Might be worth looking into whatever Fireeah was doing.
>>
>>3338269
>>Alright, you know that your target is in the warehouse. Time to go say hi.
>>
>>3338269
>Check what may still be there. Might be worth looking into whatever Fireeah was doing.
>>
>>3338269
>Check what may still be there. Might be worth looking into whatever Fireeah was doing.
>>
>>3338269
>>Alright, you know that your target is in the warehouse. Time to go say hi.
Doesn't matter what they're planning on doing if they can't do it because they're dead.
>>
I wonder if we could confuse them with our demonic looks and pass as Kolm's direct subordinate, if only for a few moments.
>>
Might as well be making smoke signals. We'll see.

Writing!
>>
we could try to use our summon as a scout. There is no one important nearby that would get spooked by it
>>
>>3338269
>>3338273
>>3338276
>>3338290
>>3338310
Well, whatever that smoke is coming from, you at least want to know the reason behind it. You have to be careful, and truthfull, there’s a number of Weavers that are skittering around, but they all seem to be remaining mostly in the center of the village, as their numbers thin out the closer you get to the edge. More than once you swear you’d been too loud or obvious, but it seems like they’re so busy with their orders that they’re clearly not paying as much attention to their surroundings as they should.

The moon’s light is far more sinister under this cloud cover- honestly, the fact that it can shine at all is surprising to you. And yet it does, at least partially, break through, illuminating the rather small sandy shore ahead.

It’s thanks to that that you can see the cause of the smoke easily enough- fire, clearly. A strange bonfire...although maybe ‘bonfire’ isn’t accurate; the fire is clearly burning in a specific shape, although you can’t quite tell what at this angle... something inside a circle, might be an S-shape. There’s something as well in the center; some kind of small spire. That’s not what sticks out at you, though. What sticks out is the COLOR. A dark, vicious black fire that you can easily feel the heat of from here as it spirals higher bit by bit. Blatantly unnatural, and whatever’s burning in the center is extremely difficult to see because of the fire surrounding it. No one is nearby, however, oddly enough, and despite the smoke lessening, the fire itself seems to be perfectly stable- growing, even…

>That proooobably needs to be taken down soon.
>Hm. You move quickly enough, this might be ignorable.
>Maybe you can sabotage it- disrupt the circle just enough.
>Other
>>
>>3338413
>>Hm. You move quickly enough, this might be ignorable.
Fire is often a cleaner or purifier. I could see us trying to disrupt or put it out only setting it loose.
>>
>>3338413
>>Maybe you can sabotage it- disrupt the circle just enough.
Or make it so that the fire spreads where it shouldn't...
>>
>>3338413
>That proooobably needs to be taken down soon.
>Other: Scan the magic of the fire using the FutureSight
Are we depending on the FutureSight too much now that we have something that can give us an idea of what we're dealing with?
>>
>>3338413
>Hm. You move quickly enough, this might be ignorable.
>>
>>3338413
>Maybe you can sabotage it- disrupt the circle just enough.
>>
Going to end the run here for today, there's a few 'life' things I need to finish up before the day is out.
>>
>>3338499
Night, boss.
>>
>>3338413
>Maybe you can sabotage it- disrupt the circle just enough.
>>
>>3338413
> Maybe you can sabotage it

I wonder what happens if we mix our blood into it?

Anyways, we should maybe also look at those graves again, check that they aren't being buried in a specific order. If they are, we can maybe steal a couple corpses at random and mess that up too.

I wonder if Gartoum would know anything about it.
>>
>>3339212
Maybe this is the shadow version of a upgrade for weapons. The same way that our gloves got a upgrade thanks to the Bears deity or whatever the thing they whorship is.
>>
>>3338413 #
>>Maybe you can sabotage it- disrupt the circle just enough.
>>
>>3339228
We should have brought along a ritualistic specialist.
>>
>>3338413
>>Maybe you can sabotage it- disrupt the circle just enough.
>>
>>3339266
The specialist would probably slow us down of bump into something breaking our stealth. N9 need to complicate stuff our goal here is to humilate the spider, which will work if we fuck up the blood ritual, then give her a sound beating, making so unfair that she will end up begging Miranda to stop, so we can humilate her even further and kill her in the end.

Probably killing three or four of her closest and strongest warriors. Oh and of course the most important part, collecting anything that is valiable and it's not attached to something.
>>
>>3339566
I was thinking about tricking her into fighting with us near the shore, chucking her into the sea and have her drown under her own weight and all that gear that she packs - seeing her helplessly flail around and chocking on water while crying for help would be a quite humiliating way to go for a warrior. And then we can fish-out her loot with the help of our magical super-respirator.
>>
>>3339574
What if she's a water spider though?

Besides, given her body and the whole "near water" thing, her excessive use of artifacts makes me think that she probably is prepared for someone trying something like that.

I say we fuck up her ritual, then set some supplies and such on fire, abduct vulnerable patrols, maybe focus on her supporters within her faction to weaken her power base, then finally we just waltz in and ideally be able to force her into a 1v1 or else we'll go back to guerilla tactics.
>>
>>3339648
>What if she's a water spider though?
Where did you get that idea? And there's only ONE item in her posession that could be called an artifact, and even then it's questionable that it would help her. Blackweb's rituals are focused on strengthening their bodies, not elemental stuff. Plus, there's only sea to the east and we're coming from the west, where all the action is - there's no reason for her to prepare for water hazards since she'll be marching to battle through the hills we've passed. Stop making stuff up and curb your paranoia.
Don't mind id change - phoneposting.
>>
Instead of drowning her in the sea, we could do what the Swedes did, and look for a cesspit to drown her in shit.
>>
>>3339674
Sounds fetishistic and she probably wouldn't fit, considering her large size. We could also try throwing her into the sky instead - gravity does not discriminate (usually). Unless there are anons who think that she might be 'an air spider though'.
>>
>>3339683
I was thinking that dragging her, kicking and screaming, to a cesspit to be drowned will make her start begging for a warrior's death faster, and make her death even more humiliating.

Like, she wasn't tricked into it or anything; she was simply dragged to a toilet, despite all of her vaunted strength as a warrior, and drowned in shit like a peasant being murdered.
>>
>>3339566
>our goal here is to humilate the spider
I understand that we want to, but have no particular need to, besides the nebulous idea that it'll help our captive spider somehow.
>>
>>3339697
And now it sounds like autistic edgy powerfantasy of punishing your schoolbully. Stop.
>>
>>3339707
It's an old and documented atrocity.
You're projecting a little much, aren't you?
>>
>>3339704
Just make her plans constantly fail.

Kill her subordinates, make her look incapable of actually protecting them.

Break into her room and drop a deuce on her pillow.

Attack their supply chain and leave embarrassing items addressed to her.

Frame her closest ally for betraying her.

Steal small items so she looks everywhere for them, then place them back in her room to make her look forgetful.
>>
>>3339971
While that does sound delightfully petty and fun for Miranda to de-stress-out by acting like Lorelei, I think we might want to go for a more formal call-out.
Like, walking up behind her and loudly asking for her to fight us. Then overpowering her by using our overwhelming magic channeling... power, infront of her minions. Then maybe toss her into the air and vaporize her with a small Neb. Buster.

It's overkill, but making enemies pop like balloons is fun.
>>
>>3340247
However, we did get warned that even completely overwhelming her in battle may not humiliate her, because she'll still have died a "warrior's death".
>>
>>3340269
We could use whatshisname(our summon in the ring) for that. He seems like we would be powerful and creative enough to drive the spider mad.
>>
>>3340315
I’d support this just so we could actually do something with Garters for once. Plus his skill with shadow magic would really help with us sneaking around.
>>
>>3339971
That describes *what* we could do, not *why*. We're not giving our captive spider a drop of power until after Blackweb as an organization is no longer a threat, and this humiliation won't help that goal anyway.

>>3340247
I'm fine with this. Simple stress relief.

>>3340337
I'm against doing anything with him until we actually talk to him again, get a better sense of what he can do and his willingness to do it. Our first conversation gave me the impression that he's too much of a wild card to try and sort that stuff out on the fly.
>>
>>3340247
Can't we at least break her legs as if she was a little insect on our hands first? Or would that be edgy? I will admit if i wasn't afraid that the fire would somehow piwer her up i would vote to throw her at it so she would burn alive.
>>
>>3340491
>Can't we at least break her legs
isn't really edgy
>as if she was a little insect on our hands first?
is really edgy.

Burning alive is an awful, awful way to die, but not really humiliating like anons seem to want.
>>
>>3340499
I would say we try to shock her using our mana lightbing but after Carrang i'm kinda afraid the spider might end up enjoyning it to.
>>
>>3340477
>I'm against doing anything with him until we actually talk to him again, get a better sense of what he can do and his willingness to do it.
we can literally do that right now.
>>
>>3340559
As long as it's an actual conversation, now's a good a time as any. We're not particularly crunched for time.
>>
>>3340559
>>3340570
Sure, might as well tell him the situation. Hell, maybe we could convince him to pretend he's one of their ancestors and convince the Blackweb that we're his worldly messenger, or something.
>>
>>3340655
Would rather just kill the spider lady and take the loot.
>>
>>3340673
i'm pretty sure that the loot will be bigger if we go according to the already laid out plan.
>>
>>3340673
Our current target or the captive? I'm good with both, honestly. Much simpler.
Still, a conversation with our ring-bound need to happen at some point.
>>
>>3340673
Humiliating her before we kill her will help us get the location of Zatzil's treasure, as well as what we get after we kill Ferrah.
>>
>>3340696
>will help us get the location of Zatzil's treasure, as well as what we get after we kill Ferrah.
No? Why do you think that? Humiliating her gain us nothing.
>>
>>3340699
You might want to reread Thread #66. It's right past the mid-point of the thread, right after we rescued the bears and captured Zatzil.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3176457/
>>
>>3340699
>Humiliating her gain us nothing.
FALSE.
>>3334151
>“Ah, for Ferrah...hm. Honestly, were you to utilize sheer overwhelming force, she may consider it a worthy warrior’s death and merely intend to be a martyr later. To humiliate her...it would take disabusing her of a notion that she is as skilled of a warrior as she claims. If you can get her to beg, even…” she chuckles to herself as the image runs through her head. “Hohoh...THAT would be quite the sight to remember. You’ll need to keep a few of her forces alive to spread the story, of course, but Ferrah begging for her life before the end would be a DELICIOUS marring on her personage.”
>>
>>3340762
Ah so we just need to beat her in a sword fight and avoid her whip. Then after beating her until she starts to beg us to stop.
>>
>>3340820
We need to prove that she's not as tactically smart as she think she is, as well, not just in a one-on-one.
>>
>>3340725
around >>3193874 ?
That doesn't have anything to do with taking over. Humiliating our target spider doesn't change anything for the rest of Blackweb that wouldn't be accomplished by just killing her, nor does it gain our captive spider support.

>>3340762
That describes what would happen, not how it benefits us.
>>
Topic switch. What technique should be worked on next? Mana Conductivity and it's combos? Ritual Magic while it's still relevant? Any new ideas that haven't been mentioned before?
>>
>>3340878
Could ritual magic be combined with sigils? Maybe with including crystal arrays and capacitors? Though that sounds like too much theoretical work for Miranda and more something for Owlia and Cylica.
>>
>>3340878
Ritual magic is... eh. I'd go with either finishing a path towards true flight(either by buying a personal glider or having mana wings/glider with a propulsion method) or work on the mana gauntlets more.
>>
>>3340852
You think that stealling all the people she captured for the blood ritual would be a good move? Although it might be to many people to move
>>
>>3340878
Ritual magic seems like fun, but isn't really randa's thing, too slow and fiddly.
We've been putting some work into maneuverability options like the snowshoes and the JinxJet, further developing that seems promising.
There's been a bunch of chatter on barrier use and manipulation, which we've spent a little time on, there's potential there in movable and more complex shapes.
Personally, I've a fan of working on lower cost spells, boosting our mana cap or regen, or making our existing spells more efficient. This would allow us to actually use some of our more powerful spells without as much of an argument. While they're fun, they're also often severe overkill. I've long suspected Randa has so much mana she never learned to focus it properly and just forces spells to work via brute, wasteful force.
>>
>>3340921
Wouldn't rituals help her to develop a focus if the last part of you post makes sense? Or it could at least inspire her to do something more foxused like the summon thing Miranda said she could do using dolls.
>>
>>3340886
Well, I remember that 'summoning circle' had some sigils and glyphs, so mayyybee? But yeah, our researchers would get more out of it than Miranda.
>>3340921
Combining severeal techniques into one action either through conductivity combo or training in multitasking could also be a way to increase Miranda's capabilities with her simpler techniques instead of using 'overkill' one.
>>
>>3340954
Boy, I'm stupid. *summoning circle from artificer quest crossover - the one used to summon us.
>>
>>3340997
>>3340954
I think ritual magic would work in advancing the summoning path.
>>
>>3341054
You know, since most of the rituals here work by calling primordial powers of dead gods, and summoning magic from the last job worked by calling entities from spiritual plane - we could study both and do some cross-referencing. Though in other worlds these types of magic might not be related at all and share no similarities - right now we may have a special case.
>>
>>3341161
By definition, if you're "summoning" something you need access to where it's being summoned from. Most if not all summoning magic we find is going to be tied to it's home plane, as that's where the potential summons reside. Something like the ring physically brings the summon along inside the ring, which is why it still works. If we could bind summons to objects, similar to the ring, we might be able to bring specific summons along, but then we're getting into bringing intelligent creatures into the intersection again and that's a whole separate can of worms.


Plus, summon doesn't seem like a good fit for randa either. she's more of a lone wolf.
Though I could see a use case in using them as unpaid help instead of bringing a SES member.
>>
By the way, how difficult using different techniques at the same time is supposed to be? The only case of multitasking that I remeber was Miranda shooting magiblasts while holding a barrier and it was noted that it wasn't easy.
>>
>>3341299
I think it would be similar to drawing a circle and a square at the same time. It's not as easy as it looks.
>>
>>3340477
For "why" see >>3340269

It's literally what we were told would be best ending.

This is why we never complete side quests. Hey, I know, maybe we can put bleach in her food!
>>
>>3340921
I'd really like to work on integrating our electric/burning auras into our mana for better / localized effects or as beam effects.

CHAIN LIGHTNING
>>
>>3341409
That's not a "why", that's a "what". Why does her dying in humiliation help us? How does it help us?
>>
>>3341430
Could be neat, but I'm worried it'd wind up as another spell too expensive to use except on rare occasions.
>>
>>3341491
Practicing for efficiency would be a thing we can do too. What you see is just the Base of what the spell could be. If MGHandler agrees to something being cool, reasonable, and logical enough, it will happen.
>>
>>3341480
That would undermine Blackweb's trust in their leaders and current values so we could painlessly put Zatzil on the throne. Veilspeakers became the part of the Aliance under condition of destroying/redeeming the Blackwebs. Since we're working for human kingdom and serve for the Prince atm, fulfilling that condition is our new objective for this job.
So if we don't mess with Blackweb lieutennants -> we might fail condition for Zatzil becoming new leader -> we have to spend a lot of time on genociding Blackwebs and we'd have to do it for free.
>>
>>3341529
>fulfilling that condition is our new objective for this job.
This is still a side job, not the main objective. And fulfilling it is only to get more veil support for the war. We can do this without them.
That's not to say we shouldn't try and actually finish a side job, even if this one only makes the main job a little easier.

There's an important point being missed in this "show how much better our spider is than your head spider": We will have to publicly state we're doing this on Zatzil's behalf, otherwise they'll attribute to the alliance, as we're known working for them, which won't help the "leader replacement plan". That could have all sorts of unpleasant side effects on diplomacy with our current and potential future allies.
>>
>>3341491
I was thinking using a really low powered mana beam to act as a guide for the electric/burning aura instead of pumping the beam with pure force.

So it would be cheaper since there's no point adding anything to our OP beam.
>>
>>3341560
This is why we never get bonus pay, right here.

We just gotta humiliate her. It's not complicated, like I said ruining her ritual and then sniping her supporters, or better yet killing them inside her bed, then we can balls in and challenge her.

We have to make her look outclassed, so that when we prop up Zatzil it makes it look like she made a good strategic choice in allying with us, not that she was just bowing to overwhelming but temporary force.

She knows spider politics better than us anyways, so we should probably weigh her advice as being accurate.
>>
>>3340954
>Well, I remember that 'summoning circle' had some sigils and glyphs, so mayyybee?
You know that the summoning circles and rituals that the people do to summon us are bullshit, right? Sal (and other deal makes under specific circumstances, i asume)is the only one that can bring us to a world and pull us out. The rituals and stuff are just ways to make believe the client that their money is well spent.

>>3341560
>And fulfilling it is only to get more veil support for the war. We can do this without them.
But our lives would be easier tough. who knows, maybe we kill ferrah in a simple brutal manner, she becomes an martyr, then all the other spiders see the futility of a full frontal assault and decide that is a great idea to copy the Vietnamese?
>>
>>3341618
I was thinking of trying to "tag" targets with "conductors" so you could properly chain targets, but the principle is similar.

>>3341635
>We just gotta humiliate her. It's not complicated,
As I just stated, it isn't simple. We have to risk alienating other allies to make this work. And this is only the first step, not the entire job.
>so we should probably weigh her advice as being accurate.
She didn't advise humiliating her, we asked about it. She didn't even say it would help her, only that she liked the idea of watching her enemies suffer.

>>3341643
>But our lives would be easier tough.
>That's not to say we shouldn't try and actually finish a side job, even if this one only makes the main job a little easier.
I kinda doubt the blackWebs even have concept of martyrdom, and they're fighting an offensive war, not a defensive war. That makes Vietnamese-style tactics more difficult. Yes, I know that wasn't entirely serious, but wanted to respond anyway.
>>
>>3341643
>You know that the summoning circles and rituals that the people do to summon us are bullshit, right?
I did say 'maybe'. At least they looked legit for their Archmage and in some worlds that could be possible. Need Handlers input to be sure if Sigils and Rituals could work together in the Intersection though.
>>
>>3341662
I think you're overcomplicating things a tad bit. For the most part, figuring out how to mess with blackweb leaders and prove the Aliance that she's trustworthy enough is Zatzil's problem, not ours - we don't have as much info and dirt on them than her.
>>
>>3341662
I see it as us disorganizimg the chain of and and invalidating her organizational structure as replacements.
>>
>>3341662
>I kinda doubt the blackWebs even have concept of martyrdom

Zatzil LITERALLY said that killing her like a warrior could help make her a martyr. It's RIGHT HERE.

>>3334151
>Honestly, were you to utilize sheer overwhelming force, she may consider it a worthy warrior’s death and merely intend to be a martyr later.
>>
>>3341662
>I kinda doubt the blackWebs even have concept of martyrdom,
Zatzil told us that Martyrdom might be a possibility if we kill ferrah too quickly/brutally and i'd rather not deal with that.
>>
>>3341685
>>3341698
...forgot about that. I was thinking about blackweb culture; cloak and dagger types don't seem like they'd care about martyrs. But things are never that simple, are they?
>>
>>3341708
Failure is worse than death. Death is light as a feather, duty heavier than a mountain.

Actually they're right in line with classical bushido. Gotta give warning before attacking, so calling it out as you kick down their door satisfies that requirement.
>>
>>3341708
All this effort is sounding less and less profitable/worth by the minute.
>>
>>3341925
Now you see why Miranda is so unscrupulous in her choise of jobs and why she worries about Izumi?
>>
>>3341925
Well genocide is out (Thanks Obama, er, Izumi).
>>
>>3341925
right now don't think about profits, but about how easier the rest of the mission will go if we stick to the plan.
>>
>>3341935
Yeah i can see it.

>>3341939
Even if Genocide isn't a option we can still blow this villahe and blame the ritual going waywire. But we shouldn't because if we lie Izumi would probably caught us in that.

>>3341943

>don't think about profits

But isn't that what we do all the time?
>>
>>3342019
yes, but there is a time and place for everything, and right now is not the place or time to think about profits. To put it simple, the profits are already secured, this side mission is mostly to have an easy, bumpless ride towards said profits.
>>
>>3342033
Personally I also find this to be the fun part of the quest, and it's irritating to have anons bitch wanting to skip it because it doesn't appeal to them.

Personally I'd rather do like half or less of the SoL shit back at the intersection, or at least not have it involve robot mascot jar-jar binks, or children. But I don't mean and bitch try to to sandbag that part of the quest with ridiculous justifications.

At least not during votes about it. I'm clearly doing so now.

Because I know some people enjoy hence why they vote for it.

But this isn't people voting to do something else, it's them voting to "get this part over with". And honestly it happens a lot with side quests and it's making me less and less involved in the quest. I'm starting to just not care about "go here, blast away" "go there, blast away" "Oooh, Miranda-sempai, your magiblast soooo big, so much bigger than local boys magiblasts. Oh yes, magiblast right inside me, spread your magiblast all over".

Fucks sake, here we have straight up "go do this" and people are bitching about it being possibly more complicated than doing what we were explicitly told would be the worst way to do it.

It's late. I'm cranky.
>>
Eyy, chucklefucks. So how's that google.docs idea supposed to work? Or should anons stick to pastebins? Asking cause there's still a big list of missing items.
>>
>>3342423
Personally i was thinking on a single doc that everyone can edit and save in their own computers and stick to the honor system. Unless someone wants to take the job of curator and have a singular pastebin controlled by said person.
>>
>>3342423
>>3342683
In theory, we should be able to bring things up as we find them in thread and Handler addresses them then.
The alternative is to have pastebins or gdocs... which when modified, anons will have to bring up in thread so Handler can address them.
>>
>>3342706
>The alternative is to have pastebins or gdocs... which when modified, anons will have to bring up in thread so Handler can address them.
That's exactly what i was thinking. We'd use the doc to have a central place to write theoretical upgrades we want to have, copy and paste lore and other interesting tibdits(like miranda's past, or something mission relevant) and have an unoficial inventory which handler can use in case that we get a weapon or something like that just gets mentioned one we have some place to:
First, confirm that we aren't hallucinating and second, ideally have also written down in what thread we got the weapon.

If everyone likes the idea I can make the doc later today.
>>
File: Items Checklist.pdf (121 KB, PDF)
121 KB
121 KB PDF
>>3342683
>honor system
That's my biggest concern. Though there's an option of 'commenting' on the docs so we could stick to suggestions instead of giving access for editing.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z3xqyWOe5upXuYIUsBSV4pWkC1sG0mnYzn_lJyRJZiI/edit?usp=drivesdk
>>
>>3343192
Also made a list of possible research options but it's turned out pretty autistic and full of ESL bad grammar.
>>
>>3343212
Wasn't there also some assortment of abilities in a text file during the latest crossover? I swear there was one but can't find it.
>>
>>3343833
Are you talking about this?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kj00CtC5_cYWFCmRqc3h68q-OdQwCui3dgxQDbordEQ/mobilebasic
>>
If you folks want to go ahead and do something like that, I won't say it'd be unwelcome. Thanks!

Also, writing.
>>
>>3343848
Yup, that one. Thanks.
>>
>>3343853
Morning, boss. You did not forget about that 'questions list', did you?
>>
>>3343894
Kinda but not really.

Your questions will be answered rather thoroughly and likely to your satisfaction once this job is over by dint of sheer coincidence.
>>
>>3338413
>>3338431
>>3338447
>>3339109
>>3339212
>>3339249
>>3339495

Alright, you can’t just let that thing sit. You’re going to have to do something about it...but at the same time, you’re giving yourself away if you just blast it apart; there’ll be spiders on you in no time. You’re going to have to be subtle- disrupt it somehow in a way that isn’t immediately noticeable by anyone looking at it. Not like you have a lot of time anyway- you never know when someone will be looking down the beach for whatever reason. Whatever you do, it’s going to have to be quick.

>Ritual circles need proper lines, right? You can’t see inside the fire, but maybe if you make some random Magibeam ‘alterations’, it’ll screw it up enough.
>Shooting out whatever’s burning in the center might work. Might be able to even make it look like it just fell if you’re careful enough.
>Maybe if you toss something else in it it might screw up whatever it’s doing. Looks like it’s using something specific as fuel, so...
>Other
>>
>>3343958
>>Ritual circles need proper lines, right? You can’t see inside the fire, but maybe if you make some random Magibeam ‘alterations’, it’ll screw it up enough.
A lot of ritual magic tend to use lines and circles as containment and direction of energy, similar to circuitry. Break the lines, break the system.
>>
>>3343958
>Maybe if you toss something else in it it might screw up whatever it’s doing. Looks like it’s using something specific as fuel, so...
>>
>>3343958
>Shooting out whatever’s burning in the center might work. Might be able to even make it look like it just fell if you’re careful enough.
Sounds like a job for the MANA TETHER!
>>
>>3343958
>Ritual circles need proper lines, right? You can’t see inside the fire, but maybe if you make some random Magibeam ‘alterations’, it’ll screw it up enough.
>>
>>3343958
>Ritual circles need proper lines, right? You can’t see inside the fire, but maybe if you make some random Magibeam ‘alterations’, it’ll screw it up enough.

it isn't active so.
>>
>>3343972
Hopefully that doesn't mean that the fire will be spreading. After all the circle could be containing it too.
>>
>>3343958
>Ritual circles need proper lines, right? You can’t see inside the fire, but maybe if you make some random Magibeam ‘alterations’, it’ll screw it up enough.
As the other anon said, mana tether onto circle. Maybe drag the tether around to further alter it.
>>
Break this system. Writing.

You guys meant latch onto something then drag it around, right?
>>
>>3344068
Yes.
>>
>>3343958
>>3343972
>>3343982
>>3344004
Cleanest method would probably to just be disrupt the lines that make up the circle itself. Easily fixed, but easy to cause, and likely will last until someone else takes a good, hard look at it, with all the fire around. Now, how to actually reach it, considering it’s as hot as it is...you could just magibeam it, you suppose...ah, but actually. Another idea pops into your head- considering the beam might look like foul play if something’s off, there’s another avenue open to you.

Good thing you’ve been practicing. And it SHOULD hold for long enough…

The jellied mana darts from your finger after it coalesces, and like a stinging barb it snakes into the closest line of the fire- you can definitely feel it connect with something solid...but you can also feel a disturbing warmth snake up through your line and to your arms as well as soon as it connects.

Thinking fast, you yank it to the side, and you can clearly see SOMETHING budge harshly and move out of place as you cut the line. You’re not sure that was just heat, but...a quick check at your hand and arm shows nothing amiss. No odd feelings, positive or negative, nothing visually off.

Speaking of visually off, though, looking back to the fiery circle reveals the core of it immediately shrinking in size, and even heat. While it doesn’t vanish entirely, it returns to the size of roughly ‘merely’ a large, raging bonfire, the color of the center lightens to something more purplish, the outer fiery lines of the circle return to a normal red/orange, and the smoke returns as well. Fortunate for you, but that’ll be quite the opposite of what they were likely expecting...you can wager they’ll be investigating this.

>Time to get around to the warehouses if you can.
>Actually, you might get lucky if you stake this place out…
>Now might actually be a good time to start causing noticeable trouble.
>Also, roll 1d100+20. Best of 3.
>>
>>3344150
>>Time to get around to the warehouses if you can.
We might as well have that talk with Gartoum...
>>
>>3344150
>Time to get around to the warehouses if you can.
>>
Rolled 56 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3344156
Forgot to roll...
>>
Rolled 27 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3344150
>>
Rolled 37 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3344150
>>Time to get around to the warehouses if you can.
>>
Rolled 32 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3344150
>>Time to get around to the warehouses if you can.
>>
76 and we're off to the warehouses.

Writing.
>>
>>3344150
>>3344156
>>3344161
>>3344163
>>3344166
>>3344169
>>3344195
You’d rather not be around for that- best to get moving as quietly as possible. High time you investigated that warehouse looking area anyway...although you guess they’d be more storehouses? Or is that the same thing- gah, whatever. Focusing.

You have to be particularly careful; the streets are far from empty, but it definitely seems like everyone’s doing something in particular- either on the side of the street clearing debris as though they were civil servants (fat chance) or setting large wooden spikes in front of buildings. Pointed end up, even. What those would be for, you were uncertain, but you had a painfully good guess. Although the location makes you wonder…

Regardless, they’re so focused that they don’t notice you weaving behind, and on occasion, on top of houses. It takes some time to make it without drawing attention at all, however- the night is certainly your friend here.

Soon, you find yourself near the large stone building; a lot cruder than most warehouses, and smaller, but that’ll work for you just fine. Now, you just need a- ah. It’s not quite a window, more a ventilation slit in the back, towards the sea, but it’ll work enough for taking a look…

...Oh. Yeah...it’s about as expected.

People. A lot of people, every age, every size, rounded up, hogtied, many hanging from poles like the fish or meats that would normally go there. There’s a number of Blackweb in there that look to be dressed up as cooks, surprisingly, three or so slaving over a large cauldron full of...something smelly. You’re not sure what it is, and not sure you want to know, but they seem oddly heated over it, one of them with her head covered with a fitting grey cap. “Too much salt! You always put too much salt!” she admonishes the Weaver next to her, a light slap across her chest.

(cont.)
>>
>>3344348

“It’s the only thing that makes this worth eating! Your leaves drain the flavor!” the second snaps back, her hands gloved and holding a large stirring spoon.

“Would not too much salt drain their bodily fluids, however?” The third asks. She’s done up in a red cloak, reminding you a bit of a witch. She definitely seems to be the most calm, however. “I forget how human bodies work…”

“Exactly!” the first proclaims. “We need to keep them alive, not make them tasty food!”

“If I cook, I will cook WELL!” the second proclaims. “It doesn’t matter to me who tastes it! I have my pride!”

“And that pride’ll get you killed!” The first snarks. “Too much salt, too much pride, too much-”

“Pride is no great fault, wielded properly,” a smoother voice says, just outside of your field of vision. Larger, clicking footsteps sound as all three’s eyes look towards the source- and you can see a MASSIVE Weaver body step into your line of sight- enough so that despite being already on tiptoes, you still can’t see her face, her spider abdomen about the only thing you can see at this angle and distance. You can see that it has furs, however- and the whip on one side and bastard sword on the other leave no doubts as to who the speaker is.

“Pride is what drives us to be greater. It is nourishment for our willpower. It is what allows us to remain standing when our body fails to follow orders. Pride is strength. She steps closer to the trio, the first talker taking only a step back. “If nothing else...absolutely NOTHING else... a Blackweb must keep their pride, above all things! A body may tire, plans may fail...but pride! Pride is eternal!” She has her sword out now, likely holding it high as the others remain fixated on her. “Your pride is your life!”

“YES, LADY FERRAH!” As one, they salute, ramrod straight.

“Excellent. Now, once the humans’ meals is prepared...Sotsa, was it?” The second speaker jolts slightly, nodding. “I would like to see you later at the grounds. Your pride does you credit.”

“Thank you, my Lady!” Sotsa salutes and nods.

“Then I’ll be off to oversee how preparations are coming. Our time is short.” With that, she begins to walk away, as the three turn back to their meal preparations, with far less grumbling- although you notice the complainer glaring daggers at Sotsa, who merely has a smug grin on her face.

You have to admit, that kind of talking isn’t what you expected, but you suppose there’s some sense that the leader would be well-spoken. Still, you have to think of something to do from here…

>Action?
>>
>>3344349
>but bleach on their---wait, no.
>summon Gartoum. this seems like a nice time to test his skills.
>>
>>3344349
See what kind of havoc Garters can cause for these dweebs.
>>
>>3344349
>Summon Gartoum: see what he can do in this situation
Probably start messing with ritual stuff and causing problems.

Though Ferrah saying "A body may tire, plans may fail...but pride! Pride is eternal!" sounds like even making everything around her fall apart won't do anything to her pride.
>>
>>3344349
If they're feeding the prisoners, unpleasant as it as, they're not in urgent danger.

>Follow Ferrah
>>
>>3344349
Time is short, we don't have time to talk with ring-guy. Out on the beach would have been fine, but not now.

>Track Ferrah, see if she's got any obvious weakness.
>>
>>3344379
to be fair, time is always short.
>>
>>3344380
Not always. We spent two days with the Bears taking a break for instance.
>>
Out for tonight. Eye on Twitter for if I run tomorrow.
>>
>>3344396
Night, boss. Thanks for running!
>>
>>3344349
>Summon Gartoum: see what he can do in this situation

If we could somehow free the prisoners, Gartoum could probably lead / hide them somewhere.

Blood sacrifice, hey?
>>
>>3344349
>follow Ferrah

Because trying to deal with an unknown like the genie guy in the ring in the middle of a sneaking mission is stupid. If anons want to use him so bad, vote to talk to him when we have some free time, not while we're in the middle of something.
>>
>>3344349
>Mess with their cooking process, maybe summon Gartoum
There are much more disgruntled driders under Ferrah's command than Zatzil was lead to believe. Instead of forcing their prisoners to slave for them they have to build fortifications and perform other menial labor themselves, have to cook decent meals for her ritual sacrifices - all in order to perform a weird ritual that doesn't benefit them. Basically, they are her personal slaves.
Spending our time on messing with her favorites and lieutennants, undermining her reputation and ideals would prevent her from becoming a martyr and might even convince her underlings to seek service under different Lady.
>>
>>3344349
>Follow Ferrah

Talk to Gart between missions. The only time we talked to him he was somewhat belligerent.
>>
>>3344582
Have to admit, it's both what she said and not at the same time. Wonder why she makes them do it.
>>
Alright, fuck it, let's give this idea a try
https://pastebin.com/ti7Dwzrt
Now I'm off to bed

>>3342722
You got anything?
>>
>>3344349
Summon Gartoum.
Just so we can put it to rest.
>>
>>3344349
So, just from the last two points from her speech (speechcraft 90 btw)
She wont give up if we pulp her, or if we foil her plan.
So what's next, steal her laundry and kick her dog?
I think we just need more details about her plan, to have it not fail, but backfire. Backfires are much worse than failing, and indicates a lack of planning or care.
>>
>>3345037
i'm having a pretty busy week, so i don't really have time to add or check the stuff in the doc right now.
>>
Okay, about to write. Seems like we're going to try and summon Gartoum and see if he's game for helping.
>>
Hm. Considering her attitude, it’s even more obvious now that just beating her up won’t do anything to drop her social standing. In fact, it seems like she’ll try to make the best light of anything that happens directly to her. So that avenue’s out. That means you’re going to have to get sneaky; sabotage seems to be the name of the game for now. But how? You’re going to have a hell of a time keeping this up, and once they figure out that their little firepit isn’t burning as brightly as it should, they’ll likely have stronger lookouts. You’d need to practically be a shadow yourself to get past all that…

Wait. Shadow. You might not BE a shadow…

But you still have access to one. Although you’re not entirely confident in how he might handle things, especially with such a shadow heavy world like this. He’d likely be right in his element, but at the same time...you don’t know him very well. He could be a liability just as much as an asset. Still...well, you might be about in the best reasonable situation to take that risk.

...Okay, kind of a lie, but you’re confident you can wrangle him if he goes TOO far off the rails.

Pulling the ring out from your sack and slipping it on, you sigh lightly as you take off a bit of a distance away- you don’t want to be too close when bringing this guy out, and you’re near the treeline when you do. “Gartoum, come out!”

The ring burbles and churns, and smoke billows forth from it, similar to last time as a formless shape shlurps from the dark fog, before twisting, spiraling in on itself- and spreading out into something like a flower, wiggling its stem like a noodle. “Ta-daaaaa! Once again back, it is I, the incredible and outstanding Gartooooooum!” The flower bursts into shadow droplets, and that strange one-eyed drider form takes shape again- apt, considering. “And just what have you called me for this time, darling?”

(cont.)
>>
>>3346647

“Please don’t call me that,” you mutter, before pointing behind him. “And I’m on a job. Long story short- I’m trying to humiliate a particular spider-taur; they’re called Weavers in this realm.”

“Oooh, so I’m ALREADY in character?” Gartoum giggles. “Exxxxcellent.”

“They’re eight-eyed, but yeah, you’re close,” you allow him. “And they’re in that village, setting up for some kind of blood ritual. I need it stopped and the leader dishonored.” He shifts his eye- now eyes- behind him, literally popping them out the back of his head as you continue. “She goes by Ferrah, and is literally the biggest one there. Has a whip and a sword on her, as well as a helmet.”

“Ahahahah! Why, sounds like a fantastically, fearsomely’ good time!” Gartoum cheers. “Might I say, for a debut act, you certainly know how to pick ‘em! The air here is thinner with magic than what I’m used to, buuuuut I can still feel the ol’ mojo, so water in a desert and all that! Now, if that’s the case, then I’ve CERTAINLY got an idea or two; a bit of a warmup, as it were! Although as my ‘master’, I suppose I should ask...any requests?”

> “Just so long as you keep a few alive; I need word of this to get out so her clan doesn’t think highly of her any more.”
> “Make it extra brutal; she needs to be crying and begging for mercy afterwards.”
> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
> Other
>>
>>3346651
>“Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
>“Just so long as you keep a few alive; I need word of this to get out so her clan doesn’t think highly of her any more.”
>>
>>3346651
> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
Make it sound like a challenge and proof of his trustworthiness
>>
>>3346651
>> “Just so long as you keep a few alive; I need word of this to get out so her clan doesn’t think highly of her any more.”
> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
>>
>>3346651
>"Well, start with these three by the cauldron of soup, so I can get an idea of your abilities."
> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
>"Basically, you drive her up the wall so she's not thinking tactically, and I'll sweep up after you."
>>
>>3346651
>> “Make it extra brutal; she needs to be crying and begging for mercy afterwards.”
>> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
>>
>>3346651
> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
> “Just so long as you keep a few alive; I need word of this to get out so her clan doesn’t think highly of her any more.”
Can we record it with our future sight like a phone video?
>>
>>3346651
Oh, oh! Since he's a shadow creature could he play it as if he was Lord Kholm's mole?
>>
>>3346701
No


>>3346651
> “Try to keep it mostly non-violent; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in.”
>>
Non-violent and make sure to have an audience.

Writing.
>>
>>3346732
Kay
>>
>>3346651
>>3346656
>>3346657
>>3346659
>>3346689
“Two,” you decide. “One, try to keep it mostly non-violent regarding her directly; she has a lot of pride, and if she thinks it’s more of a battle than a show, she won’t give in like I’m hoping.”

“Of course, right. Warrior’s heart, is it?” He adopts a thoughtful pose. “Mmmyes, those sorts tend to be either very easy or very hard to crack.” He shrugs as he lightens up a bit. “A fun challenge, though!”

“Which leads me to ask number two,” you mention. “I don’t care really what you do aside from that, and just so long as you keep a few followers alive as well; I need word of this to get out so her clan doesn’t think highly of her anymore.” After all, they could come up with whatever they wanted to excuse her if she and her troupe suddenly just...vanished off the face of the earth one night.

“Pft, naturally!” Gartoum chuckles. “It wouldn’t be worth doing if there weren’t someone after to tell the tale. Anything else?” You shake your head. “Then it’s rather much time for me to get to it! Now let’s see; it’s always a smart idea to get a feel for the crowd before the show starts…” Muttering to himself rapidly, he decomposes into a slimish form before slinking of into the shadows, nearly melting into them entirely- you can keep track of where he is easily enough, considering his and your abilities, and the vibe you get from the ring, seemingly pulsing harder the closer he is. As for how he intends to warm up...well, you’ll see soon enough. Hell, maybe you'll record it if it's good enough.

>Roll 1d100+25, best of three.
>>
Rolled 47 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>3346805
here we go
>>
Rolled 1 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>3346805

Should we have told him to keep the prisioners alive? Eh if they die we can always blame the spiders.
>>
Rolled 34 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>3346805
>>
File: 1441589344208.gif (621 KB, 440x247)
621 KB
621 KB GIF
>>3346810
>>
72.

Tough crowd...but not unreachable.

Writing.
>>
>>3346805
>>3346808
>>3346810
>>3346811
As you wait for the results, keeping on the outskirts of the village, you can’t help but frown in worry. You’ve no idea what he’s actually going to do, or even when. The darkness is harsh, but you can’t just go out and try to tail him- for one he’d probably either shy away or give the game away in an instant, and for another, you might end up messing up your own plan. As much as you hate to admit it, you’re going to have to trust that he can get the job done.

You just wish that-

“Gyaaah!” A high pitched shout, a creaking suddenly sounds, and suddenly a crash not too far away as something scatters to the ground loudly. A massive shout- “YOU FOOL! Pick them up, hurry!” And you can guess he’s started.

Several situations you can’t directly see, but as you keep to the edges and peer into the streets, you can tell that the mood has definitely shifted after about two hours of misfortune- some stakes falling over (one nearly crushing an unfortunate Weaver), several bags of supplies ‘oddly’ spilling out and being ruined; when the fire was noticed early on, Ferrah had shoved one of her followers towards it, ordering her to ‘rework the basis, quickly!’ only for the poor soul to trip on ‘nothing’ and stumble into the flames herself, charring her badly, and causing a desperate dive for the water, inadvertently ruining more of the circle.

THAT had the effect of riling up the Blackweb leader, and her style quickly became more fierce and directing, her whip singing out more as she lambasted a number of Blackweb for ‘getting complacent’. In her own words. “You see now? You lose your pride, and you slack off, and things get ruined! You LOSE YOURSELF! There will be NO slacking off herein! Move and prepare the circle once more! The flames MUST reach the clouds by the full moon!”

Amidst a number of shaky ‘yes ma’am’s, they do so, and she leaves one of her fur-clothed Blackweb to watch over the recreation efforts, the unfortunates already grumbling to themselves as they are instructed gleefully and carefully by their overseer. You’ve been keeping an eye on things since then, and they’re making slow work of it, especially since they have to apparently douse the flames carefully, and find more material to work with. This allows you to see what the center of the circle is- some sort of stone pylon with a dark purple gem inside of it. All the ritual circle lines connect to this pylon, and there’s a deep river of blood that fills the sandy grooves, although judging from the skeletons surrounding the pylon, they’re animals. That means they’ll need to go hunting again, hopefully.

(cont.)
>>
>>3346978
But, enough of that, you need to check what else is happening...over in the eastern area, where the massive dig site is, there seems to be a large wooden lookout tower that keeps you from getting too close, but from your vantage point, you can just barely see that the two Blackweb in it are fiercely arguing. Your hearing boost allows you to decipher it as the one on the right, ponytailed and with a shawl on: “The- the lines in the lower left, you idiot! It had an extra cross!”

“It did NOT!” the other says, hair oddly dyed pinkish and sticking out everywhere despite her tattered rags. “You’re trying to undermine my efforts again! You always HAVE, you always WILL!”

“Not this time, idiot!” Wow, didn’t even try to refute. “Farrah will have both our heads if I were to waste my time with you now! It’s someone else!”

“Then who?!” the second one asks furiously.

“Damned if I know!” is the response. But someone IS! Look, if we don’t find the culprit, we’ll be executed! Let’s put our hatred on the backburner for now and seek out this saboteur!”

The first growls, but she doesn’t immediately respond…

>You’re going to just have to let them go, keep quiet, and hope for the best. Don’t want to risk anything more than you are already.
>Well, you can at least see if there’s anything interesting up there- the walls are high enough that if you stay low, you won’t be seen by anyone groundside if you’re quick enough.
>Is there no way you can’t knock them out from here? Hmm…
>Other
>>
And that's all for tonight. Short, as said. Next run will be Friday!
>>
>>3346979
>>Well, you can at least see if there’s anything interesting up there- the walls are high enough that if you stay low, you won’t be seen by anyone groundside if you’re quick enough.
Better than just standing around.
>>
>>3346979
>>Is there no way you can’t knock them out from here? Hmm…
I’m really tempted to just tether one of them as soon as the other turns away to drag them into the underbrush.
>>
>>3346979
>>Is there no way you can’t knock them out from here? Hmm…
>>
>>3346979
>>Well, you can at least see if there’s anything interesting up there- the walls are high enough that if you stay low, you won’t be seen by anyone groundside if you’re quick enough.
>>
>>3346979
>Is there no way you can’t knock them out from here? Hmm…

knocking then out is a good idea because it makes then look like they are slacking off. Because they will be searched for and with the leader already losing her temper she will kill her own soldiers
>>
File: FO02_NPC_Dornan_B.png (514 KB, 803x414)
514 KB
514 KB PNG
>>3347320
Except they are in a lookout tower. And if you were to check on sentries but could not find them there/found them unconcious right after recieving Lady's order to stay alert, would you think that these sentries were slacking off?
If these two decide to look for us then they would certainly get in trouble for leaving their post and ignoring their orders, which would be more dangerous for them than stumbling upon Miranda - at least we go for capture from time to time.
Considering the way this night mission goes so far there's still a chance that we wouldn't even need to show ourselves and could eliminate Ferrah by 'freak accident'.
>>
>>3347320
>Be Ferrah
>Couple of soldiers go missing
>Get mad
>Kill your own soldiers
Anon, this isn't a cartoon villain. And there is no need to jump the gun and risk raising the alarm because of 2 schmucks who haven't even decided if they are going to search for us or not.
>>
Updated items checklist - added thread and post numbers for items, though not all of them. Editing is supposed work now.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z3xqyWOe5upXuYIUsBSV4pWkC1sG0mnYzn_lJyRJZiI
That's a lot of red stuff...
>>
>>3350245
What's the red for again? Stuff we should have but don't?
>>
>>3350994
Yes. I thought it was obvious enough. Added some notes for clarity.
>>
Now see, I have to say I really appreciate this. Because goodness knows I would never have remembered half of this shit. Anywho, writing shortly.
>>
...Okay, I said, that, but truth is, I'm not sure if I'm feeling it tonight. I'm in that mood of 'I really do want to run, but I'm just lacking the energy to do so.' Chances are higher tomorrow, but I'll be going to a convention, so...
>>
>>3352188
Well, if you're not feeling it, you're not feeling it. No reason not to take a break every once in a while, especially if you've got a convention tomorrow. Just let us know if you get the con bug and aren't feeling well tomorrow night.

Oh, and enjoy yourself, of course. See you around!
>>
>>3352188
Does this mean that you are still taking votes, or is the choise locked already?
>>
>>3352316
Might as well put in.
>>
I feel perfectly fine! Run will be tomorrow morning, and aside from the occasional break (I need to go shopping) will be all day.

We'll have a new thread, as well.
>>
>>3356379
Welcome back, boss! How was the Con? Get any sweet swag?

(currently thinking back wistfully to the days when I used to have enough money to go to conventions)
>>
>>3356409
A couple things. I got a signed picture from Christian from WWE. That was pretty sweet, he was one of my favorite wrestlers back in the day. The Christian/Jericho/Benjamin Triple Threat for the IC Title is one of my favorite matches ever.
>>
>>3356422
Nice get, congrads!I know less then nothing regarding wrestling, unfortunately...
>>
New thread!

>>3357954
>>3357954
>>3357954



Delete Post: [File Only] Style:
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.