>>3343875
The boat slowly sailed down the river shine, out towards the coast. Henry and his group all had their own reasons for venturing out. Trying not to be murdered in gang warfare, because they had no other choice, because Henry was the rare sort of figure who could pull people towards him, and because they had no better place to go, all of them would be key figures in the next big event to rock the world, although they didn’t know yet at the time.

As Malory’s boat, the Tempest, approached the river’s mouth, a city, shrouded in mist came into view.

Avignon

(Theme) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ0UKvl4jPY&list=PLLdGmiScGh6kRhxQ_t1BDQNrmhT_gYOdD&index=57

=================================(Chapter Start)=======================================

(Two and a half months later)
Henry was working on the mk II’s construction plans, his home of choice had become a large brick warehouse located in the fishery district of Avignon’s lower quarter. The place was mainly working class, which had raised a couple problems but nothing Henry couldn’t take care off. He wasn’t running some amateur set up and he knew how to keep people out of his business, either through greasing palms or by cutting necks. Most of the windows had been covered with cloth although a few were still open to allow proper light into the space. The rest was made up for by light runes that he and Ophelia kept charged. This place was far bigger than his older home had been, not just in terms of how high the ceiling was but the floor-space too. It had plenty of room for all of them, minus Rosa who’d bunked up in some pauper’s church and offered healing services for far too little coin.

Henry glanced up from his worktable at the metal monstrosity that Ophelia was working on. The thing was far more refined than Ticky had been. The body had been far more troublesome to construct than Henry had anticipated, the metal had been easy enough to come by and hadn’t even been too expensive either. The main problems had been allowing the thing to stay properly balanced, and making sure its joints both functioned and were well protected. Its face was a fairly accurate portrait of a person’s face,

File: download.jpg (10 KB, 275x183)

10 KB JPG

>>3343954
a couple of glass eyes, a closed mouth that had been drawn in chalk by Charles who was becoming quite talented at it.

The boy was busy setting up a necromantic summon in the other room of the large warehouse they’d set up in. Avignon had a lot of these places, tons of warehouses and not nearly enough angels and Cathars to inspect them all, though run away Franks had been a nuisance to the point Henry had considered setting up security. Johnny and Larry could only do so much. The other issue had been finding a buyer, to Henry’s surprise none of his usual customers had been interested in the thing. Even though Henry was certain he could control it, nobody wanted to take a chance on it unless he could prove it would function.

All of the costs had added up to about four gold coins, room and board, food, and materials. Even with Henry pulling jobs this thing was proving quite expensive to make, he’d have to focus on getting the cost down, or finding someone to front it if he wanted to make more of these things.

Still, this thing was built like a mountain, the fact its spiritual power wouldn’t be coming from black mana meant that it would be completely impervious to angelic spells. Which was a massive, massive selling point.

Decisions:
1. *talk to Ophelia*
2. *see how Charles is doing*
3. *check your schedule*
4. *have a look outside, through one of the few windows that isn’t covered up*

>>3343955
>2. *see how Charles is doing*

>>3343875
>from prior thread
==============(Mana Amounts)=================

RED (CURRENTLY 5)


BLACK (CURRENTLY 5)


BLUE (CURRENTLY 3)

This is a per day basis, these will reset after a long enough period of rest


>(You have 3 upgrade points, so 3 additional points of mana to allocate any way you see fit)

========================================================


====================(Spells)================================

Silence: Will completely stop you or a targeted person or object from making any noise at all, from any action. You can cancel the spell at any point of time. (Costs 1 bar of blue mana)(can be snapcasted for 1.5 bars of blue mana)


Undead Rush: Will cause any undead DIRECTLY under your control to break out in a run, allowing them to quickly close distance and overwhelm opponents. They will also be able to leap onto opponents as well. Effect lasts several minutes. (Costs 1 bar of black mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 1.5 bars of black mana)
Necromantic Heart: Will allow you and up to one other person who maintains direct contact with you to avoid detection by any wandering undead (meaning not directly controlled). Will also make you appear dead to any who use scrying or magical means to try and detect you. (costs 1 bar of black mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 1.5 bars of black mana)


Minor Scry (May be changed a bit if it makes it more fun to use): Will let you scope out a room or a small area of space and will allow you to detect both living and magical beings. Those who are using cloaking magics will of course be out of your sight, and you will not be able to control exactly where the spell will end up (costs 1 bar of blue mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 2 bars of blue mana)


Dark Healing: Steal the very Vis from someone and use it to heal yourself, this can outright kill those who are already injured, but can be resisted by those with enough willpower or physical strength. Vis is the energy that binds a soul to a body. Removing all of it will cause the soul to float freely, leaving the body a dead shell. Cannot be used to heal another person or creature, because sharing isn’t fun. (Costs 2 Black mana to cast)(is always snapcast)
Cancel: Will prevent a mage from being able to cast spells unless that mage can manage to overpower it. Basically you cut them off from the mana bank for a minute or two. Differs from dispel in the fact that it works BEFORE a spell gets cast. (Costs 1.5 bars of blue mana to cast)(is always snapcast)

Mind Rot: Can temporarily (or permanently if powerful enough) cause an opponent to lose their concentration for a period of time and be left slightly insane. Effects can vary WIDELY, ALSO CAN CAUSE PERMANENT MENTAL DAMAGE TO THE TARGET, USE WITH CAUTION. (Costs 1 bar of black mana, 1 bar of blue mana, and one bar of any mana to cast)(is always snapcast)

>continued below

>>3343976
Internal Combustion: Destruction of a different sort. Dislike buildings? Weapon or armor getting in the way of a killing blow? Gargoyle getting you down? Not anymore! With this little spell any unliving material can be blasted from the inside, assuming you can get close enough to give it a little love tap. The effect can be instant or delayed, allowing you to set traps in certain areas! (Costs 1 red mana to cast)(costs 1.5 red mana to snapcast)(EFFECTS MAY VARY)

Swerve: Pesky spells aimed at you constantly? With this little spell, you can grab those spells out of the air and make choose a new target for them for each spell affected! (Costs 1 red mana, mana)(always snapcast)

Haste: Need to get somewhere in a flash? Need to escape from something terrifying? Skipped leg day? No worries, with haste you can quickly traverse a distance, escape from traps or pursuers, or leap great distances with ease and with, dare I say it, “HASTE”. (will require Larry’s help)

Quicken: Don’t have enough time to cast a spell? Want to cast more? Well here is a fun little spell for you. Allows you to cast 1 additional spell this turn, and 2 spells the next turn. (Costs 2 blue mana, 1 red mana to cast)

Dark touch: will kill an opponent dead, assuming the spell connects and the opponent is alive, unlike a bolt spell does not damage the body (uses 1.5 black mana, can be snapcast for 3 black mana)

Undead Vision: Lets you move your sight into one of the undead you control. You need to have a general idea of their location, and the undead needs to be under your control for this to work (costs 1 black mana per cast, can be snapcast for 2 black mana)

Blight: An old favorite. Creates an area of blight in which opponents will have to fight off your will, can take out a swath of opponents if used correctly (uses 1 black mana + X black mana. The higher the ‘x’ amount of mana is, the greater the area of effect and the overall killing power is)

> 2 spells will be chosen

> Pick the top 3 spells you want Henry to learn, the #1 choice gets 3 votes, the #2 gets 2 votes, and the #3 gets 1 vote. Votes are tallied and the spells with the most points are selected, while ties will cause a runoff vote. This vote will remain open for about a week or so to allow as many people as possible to vote, although if there is a decisive victory I will end the voting period.

>Finally, I'm awarding something I'm going to call a 'creation point', this is a special thing that can be used to either create a new spell (which I will stat personally) or to upgrade an existing spell (which I will have to consider before accepting to ensure it doesn't break things gamewise)

Spell vote totals
Necromantic heart > 6 points
Internal combustion > 4 points
Blight > 2 points

Mana choice
Black, black, red (2 votes)


>votes closing Thursday at midnight, right now only 2 people actually voted so uh, yeah

>>3343955
Henry got up from his seat and stretched for a moment. He could hear the popping noises coming from his back and briefly wondered if it would start hurting as he got older. A fairly depressing thought truth be told.

Ophelia was too busy using that funky welder she’d cooked up using part of one of those flame-casters they’d gotten from Baron Orion’s estate. The rest of their loot was stored in the warehouses’ basement inside a lockbox Henry had gotten. It had taken himself, Johnny, and Larry to haul the damned thing into the place.

Through a green wooden doorway was the next room, another storage space for goods, or it had been when the warehouse served its intended function. Charles was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a cat’s corpse and a fairly basic summoning circle made out of mage’s chalk. The boy had a necromantic tome in one hand and a piece of said chalk in the other. From what Henry could tell he was reviewing his work. Good lad.

The boy was dressed in fisherman’s clothing, warm, mostly waterproof, and nondescript. So were Henry, Johnny, and Larry for that matter. Larry had complained about the smell at first but had quickly acquiesced after the first cold night. Besides the brick walls, the place didn’t have much outside of heating or insulation. Perhaps Henry could focus on that project sometime.

“So how’s it coming along?” Henry asked.

“Good, very good.” Charles said. “I can’t believe I’m about to cast an actual necromantic spell, I uh… I never thought I’d get this far truth be told…”

“To be honest, that makes two of you.” Henry said.

“Wha?” Charles asked.

“Johnny never thought you’d be able to pull it off either, but I’ve always had faith in ya.”

“Thanks…”

“Don’t thank me till you pull it off and only if you can maintain control of it.”

Decisions:
1. *give Charles reassurance*
2. *be stern with the boy*
3. *go find Larry, you’ll need his help if Charles can’t control the cat, not so much because its dangerous, but because it could scurry off and blow your cover*
4. *go find Johnny, he should be patrolling the exterior, get a report from him*
5. *head back to Ophelia and discuss the flamecaster she’s trying to install on the MkII*
6. *go review your plans for your outing tonight*

>>3344027
>1. *give Charles reassurance*
And also some hints, like securing the room in case it escapes his control and tries to run off.

>>3344052
roll 1d100

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>3344170

>>3344173
good advice

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>3344170

>>3344696
>>3344173
well holy shit, writing

>>3344027
“Want some advice?” Henry asked. “You seem nervous as all hell.”

“Yeah… before, when I was in the castle, this sort of thing would’ve gotten me hung, and its also that this is a stray Rosa was feeding.”

“Ain’t any of our faults the thing got mauled by a dog.” Henry said. “You did what you could, but that wasn’t enough. So don’t waste the body its left you, cause it’ll rot and be no use to anyone if you don’t use it.”

“Right.”

“So my first attempt was a rat.” Henry said. “My first spell completely backfired on me, I got so sick that Johnny nearly died again. It’s the reason I made you double check the circle and it’s the reason I’ll be triple checking it after your done.”

“Thanks.”

“No need to be so quiet Charles, this is a very important day for you.” Henry said. “Just be sure to bind it to you or it’ll run off on its own, undead animals tend to act like they would if they were still alive if they don’t have control placed on them.”

“It’s because their bodies aren’t meant to house complex souls right?” Charles asked.

“Bingo, you’ve been studying those books well.”

“Well truth be told I’m ready to try.” Charles said. “I just need you to give me the okay.”

“Well let me check the circle…” Henry said, crouching down and inspecting Charles’ work. It was textbook, a little too much so in Henry’s opinion. You needed to put a couple personal touches on your spells, both to give them a bit of flair, and to make it a little more difficult to dispel your work. But that’d come later, he’d rather his apprentice get it right instead of going for something fancy.

Decisions:
1. “looks good, let’s start it up”
2. “Let me make sure the outside is clear” (goes to Johnny)
3. “Let me find Larry and bring him back inside, just in case”
4. (write in)

>new vegas mods are my life now, spent a long time just trying to get an issue fixed, managed to but lost track of time.

>>3346753
2. “Let me make sure the outside is clear” (goes to Johnny)
3. “Let me find Larry and bring him back inside, just in case”

> Make sure to wear your PPE!

>>3343986
Spell vote

> Haste

We can cast it on others right? We just need Larry to teach us, we can cast it on our own later? Otherwise change this to Quicken.

> Undead vision

Finally we can keep our squishy self out of danger

> Necromantic heart

This has pretty much already won.

> Creation point

Upgrade Lightning Claws!

>>3346753
This >>3346967

>>3346753

>>3346967
+1

>>3343986

>Cancel

>Haste

>Creation

>Black, Red, Blue Mana

>>3346753
1. “looks good, let’s start it up”

>>3346983
You forgot Mana vote

>>3348380
Creation Point can be saved, you still need to vote for a third spell

>>3346967
>>3346983
>>3347413
>>3347627
>>3348380
>>3348486
will tally up votes on spells and mana and begin writing

>>3349363
Necromantic heart > 7 points
Haste > 5 points
Internal combustion > 4 points
Cancel > 3 points
Blight > 2 points
Undead vision > 2 points

Black red blue (1 vote)
Black black red (2 votes)

>>3346753
“Let me just make sure the outside is clear, don’t want angels bursting in on our fun.” Henry said.

Charles laughed a little bit in response then got back to reviewing the summoning circle. Henry didn’t really need it anymore when it came to such a simple raising spell, but it was invaluable for beginners like Charles, and it developed good habits too.

Henry walked through the living quarters and the false shopfront he’d set up in the front of the warehouse. He’d considered subleasing parts of the warehouse to others but had decided the risk was too large at the present moment, and the area wasn’t too good either.

Outside was a walled entry plaza with a bunch of rainwater collection tanks. Henry had taken to using the Purification flask to store large amounts of water and sell it as spring water for some spending money. A couple side gigs never hurt anyone, and he had really come to like the flask, constantly keeping it inside a pocket of his coat.

He walked around the exterior until he found Johnny, observing a nest of crows, an adult and a bunch of babies hungrily fighting for a piece of food from their mother.

“Nice view?” Henry asked.

“Beats watching the same streets day in and day out.” Johnny replied. “The coast is clear before you ask, just don’t ask me to come inside to help, thank you.”

“You’d think after a few hundred years you’d be okay with it.” Henry replied.

“Never.” Johnny said. “I’ve just learned to live with its existence, but I’ll never condone it.”

“Do you know where Larry is?” Henry asked.

>>3349525

“On the roof in his fishing spot.” Johnny replied. “Still hasn’t improved at it.”

“Lazy bastard.” Henry replied.

“Well you did encourage him to take up the hobby.” Johnny said. “Seems that any hobby that lets him lounge around is something he enjoys.”

“If only he could learn to feckin read.” Henry said.

“I doubt he ever will, unless you find him some books on enchanted weaponry.” Johnny said jokingly.

Henry walked around to the back of the factory to an old iron gate with a massive lock on it. In fact it was one of Ophelia’s creations. The thing was incredibly strong and resistant to quite a few different spells. The only problem the thing was heavy as all hell and massive to boot. Using it as a doorstop would’ve been just as effective

Still, Henry had a key, and enough strength to push the door open, and then push it closed to lock it. Up the ladder he went to the roof, which had a series of skylights, some old rusted pipes serving as railings, and Larry sitting atop a thatch chair he’d made while fishing. The man had grown a beard as of late and really looked the part of a fisherman, but Henry knew that he had no talent for it. The guy was too impatient when it came to reeling in the line.

Decisions:
1. “get off yer ass we’re starting up.”
2. “Catch any boots?”
3. “I never get tired of that view.”
4. “I see you’ve taken off your coat, finally warm enough for it.”
5. (write in)

>>3349528
>5. (write in)
You mind coming downstairs for a moment, just want an extra pair of hands in case.

>>3349536
writing

>>3349528
“You mind coming downstairs for a moment, just want an extra pair of hands in case something goes wrong.”

“You two are just defiling a cat right?” Larry asked. “Can’t be that bad.”

“We’re RAISING it, don’t use that word, you probably don’t even know what it means.”

“It means ruin.” Larry said.

“Feh, you probably just learned it from Ophelia.” Henry said.

“Shaddap, let’s go.” Larry said, leaping out of his chair and grabbing his sheathed sword off the ground. The two returned to the interior of the warehouse where the lightshow would begin. After inspecting the runic circle, Henry found it to be excellently prepared.

“Whenever you’re ready kid.” Henry said to an eager looking Charles.

>Roll 1d100

>>3349416
voting is hereby closed, the new spells that need to be learned are necromantic heart and haste (from Larry)

the mana selection will be black black red, to bring us to a total of 7 black mana and 6 red mana

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>3349734

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>3349748

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>3349734

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>3349734

>>3349787
thats a pass, writing

>>3349734
Charles began to summon the needed mana, which was quite the strain on his untrained soul, Henry could tell. Henry and Larry watched as black mana trickled out of Charles’ hands into the magic circle, pooled into a ball and filled the room with black light.

It wasn’t much but for someone who couldn’t use mana two months ago it was incredible progress, the kid was a natural.

The hardest part came next, getting the black mana proto-soul into the body. Charles carefully used his control of mana to lower it down into the corpse, which sparked with black energy for a moment. The light died back down to the suns’ natural hue, and the cat began to twitch before standing up and staring at Charles’ blankly

“Take this marble from me.” Charles said, nervously holding out a glass marble in his palm.

The corpse walked up to him and used its mouth to take the marble out of his hand.

“Head back into the circle.” Charles said, a bit more calmly.

The cat obliged.

Charles whipped his hands around and the corpse was released from the spell. The corpse dropped limply to the ground.

“Fantastic work Charles.” Henry said.

“Can I go back to fishing now?” Larry asked.

“Yeah sure, wish you’d actually catch something other than boots.” Henry said.

“I’ve caught a couple glass bottles, even got that toy ship you’ve been painting back up in your room.” Larry said.

>>3352065
“Right, sure.” Henry said. “They’ll tell tales of the toy boat catcher, in every pub from here to the Graf swamps.”

Larry laughed and headed out, leaving Charles and Henry alone.

“So what now?” Charles asked.

“We’ll keep practicing on bigger corpses now, and work you up to a human one.” Henry said. “Plus we’ll need to get you to the point you can do basic casting without the circles.”

“Can we do it now?!” Charles asked impatiently.

“Fraid not unless you have more mana to burn.” Henry said. “You only got enough for one spell a day best I can tell.”

“Yet you’ve gotten so much more lately…” Charles muttered.

Henry could hear a hint of jealously from the boy.

“Everyone starts off slow, sides now you can help me make a living down here.” Henry said. “When you can start filling out basic work orders for me then we’ll really be in business.”

“Right.” Charles said.

“Clean up, dispose of the body in the furnace, then I want you to sweep the main floor here, place is filthy.”

“Yes sir.”

“Yes sir?” Henry asked.

“Yes Master Henry.” Charles said “Why do I need to say that?”

“Because your my apprentice and I like the way it sounds.” Henry said plainly.

Decisions:
1. Practice a few spells of your own in your workshop
2. Head out and get ready for a little outing with Rosa you have planned for tonight
3. Go try to find some more contacts for business, you have a few leads that you think might prove fruitful
4. Go fishing up on the roof with Larry, if you can’t make him stop being lazy, join him
5. (write in)

>>3352069
>2. Head out and get ready for a little outing with Rosa you have planned for tonight
GOTTA PREPARE

>>3352069
>2. Head out and get ready for a little outing with Rosa you have planned for tonight
yeah sure, """""""outing""""""" :^)

>>3352076
>>3352075
writing

>>3352069
Henry left Charles and gathered up a basket full of food, a blanket, a few pillows, and a bottle of wine. He had plans for tonight and he wasn’t going to cancel them for anything.

After making sure Ophelia wasn’t about to break anything, and checking in with Johnny, he headed out, locking the front gate with the same massive lock that the gate to the back ladder had, although this one had seen far more use. He’d have to focus on getting the damned things smaller, this was becoming a pain.

Outside was the city of Avignon, which was similar to Celeste in a way, the Cathedral of Midnight was located on the side of a massive cliff that overlooked the entire city, and a lot of the richer folk lived close to the cathedral itself. Beyond that, the city wasn’t very similar at all, it had tons of dockyards lighthouses, and fisheries including a couple whale oilers. It didn’t have a ring system, instead opting for a bunch of different districts, including the church of progress’ district a couple miles away. Henry could see the smokestacks from the various factories belching thick clouds of black smoke into the sky. Ironically the old warehouse district he lived in was one of the cleaner areas. Since it wasn’t covered with soot all the time, and gave him a nice view of the sun whenever the damned clouds would part.

The city was generally covered in either white mist or white clouds. Hell the city was known as the city in the mist, hence all the lighthouses that dotted the coastline. One of them, a tiny one jutting out against the water, was located a block from where he lived in fact. It was where he’d set up his little date, and where he left his supplies. He’d fixed up the place’s windows and fixed up the interior for himself. The place served as a fine living quarters for him, as he found that the warehouse was lacking privacy. A man needed his secrets, and a place to store things that was out of view.

Regardless, he finished up in the lighthouse, made sure all of the scented candles he’d gotten the other day were still in place, then headed out to meet with Rosa, in her workers church.

The place was a bit nicer than the one back in Celeste but was located near a factory district. The wind usually pushed the black fog out to sea but sometimes the wind wasn’t right, and the smog settled around the church, like it did today. How Rosa could stand the fumes Henry didn’t know. He’d much prefer being near a rotting corpse than in the thick of this.

Decisions:
1. *Have a good look at the church*
2. *head inside the holy grounds and find Rosa*
3. *preform an action* (write in)
4. *cast a spell* (write in)
5. *ponder something* (write in)
6. (write in)

>>3352116
>1. *Have a good look at the church*

>>3352116
this >>3352120
scope out the place

>>3352122
>>3352120
roll 1d100 for clues

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>3352152

>>3352155
Boi
Das a good roll

>>3352155
writing, also nice dubs

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3352152
Hell, I'll roll too

>>3352116
Henry took a good long look at the church and took the time to scope it out, again, for the hundredth time. He just didn’t feel comfortable in churches, made his skin crawl.

The church was about as clean as one could expect after a heavy fall of smog, the windows were dirty and soot covered, the stone walls surrounding it had all sorts of trash around the outside, and from what Henry could tell the staff were having trouble keeping the interior clean. The Healers abbey was off to one side and Henry could see a few lights on in some of the windows, they had patients in today it seemed.

There were also a couple of Cathars’ standing guard at the gates which was a bit odd as well.

Lastly there was an angel with a helmet on perched up on the roof, surveying the factories.

Beyond that, nothing else stood out to Henry.

Decisions:
1. *head into the church itself*
2. *head into the healers abbey*
3. *cast a spell* (write in)
4. (Write in)

>>3352211
>*head into the healers abbey*
Let's see if she's there

>>3352218
Sounds good to me.

>>3352222
>>3352218
writing

File: 1463878187699.jpg (11 KB, 236x285)

11 KB JPG

>>3352222

>>3352222
I'll let you guys pick Rosa's outfit due to the quads

>>3352232
Something simple in plain white and pale blue and, though not very expensive, is guaranteed to take Henry's breath away and cause him to feel less regretful about hinting at his past to her.

File: D314DarkOlive-1b.jpg (15 KB, 254x338)

15 KB JPG

>>3352244
Henry entered into the holy grounds after having his weapons confiscated from him, the security had been ratcheted up tremendously since he’d last been here, had something happened? He glanced around at the church itself.


There were a couple of healers outside the abbey speaking in hushed tones, and quieted down even further when one of them noticed him. Inside Henry found a nice room with a waxed wooden floor and a nice rug placed down on it. A waiting room of sorts with factory made wooden furniture and a desk with a bored looking healer on duty. The woman saw Henry and grumbled something before getting up and heading back into the abbey. A moment later Rosa nervously stepped out. The woman was wearing a plain light blue dress, a simple white button shirt and a basket like hat on her head to provide shade, although Henry figured she was wearing it to avoid the gaze of some of her coworkers. A healer being courted wasn’t something that happened too often.


He wondered if any of them knew about her little secret like he did, he hoped not.


She smiled weakly at him but he could tell she wanted to leave as soon as possible. He didn’t blame her for the rush either.

Decisions:
1. “You look beautiful.”
2. *Offer your arm*
3. “Pay them no mind, I never do.”
4. (Write in)

>>3352287
> 2. *Offer your arm*

Pull her in for a quick hug?

>>3352287
this >>3352295

>>3352306
>>3352295
night everyone

>>3352307
Don't leat the bedbugs bite

>>3352295
>>3352306
writing

>>3352287
Henry offered his arm which Rosa greedily latched on to, smiling at the receptionist who merely rolled her eyes and continued to work. Henry wondered what exactly had been going on, and if Rosa had already overstayed her welcome here.

He decided to play around with her and hugged her briefly, causing the woman the let out a small yelp of surprise then blush with embarrassment.

“H-henry!” She said. “N-not here…”

“Happy to see you, and you look wonderful.” Henry said.

She had perfume on, Henry thought he recognized it as the stuff he’d swiped from the Baron. She was all dolled up wasn’t she?

The walk back was pleasant, the weather had held up, none of the drizzle that the city was known for, and the clouds had even parted to reveal a setting sun. There were flights of angels overhead, using the updrafts generated by the cliffside to stay aloft.

Decisions:
1. *speak to Rosa* (write in)
2. *preform an action* (write in)
3. *head to the lighthouse, no sense dallying*
4. (write in)

>>3355590
>*head to the lighthouse, no sense dallying*
>*enjoy the moment. for now, let the haunting grip of the past slacken just a little bit."

>>3355622
writing

>>3355590
The two walked through the streets, enjoying each other’s company as they made their way towards the ocean. Neither of them had much to talk about, nor did either of them need to. Henry had felt true happiness in this city, funnily enough. Perhaps it had always been waiting for him.

He felt relaxed, well not entirely relaxed, but more so than he’d ever been since he’d been a kid, carefree and running wild and making an ass of himself. Though he had the benefit of experience now.

As they walked past his warehouse, and towards the lighthouse on the thin strip of pier that connected the two, Henry placed his arm around Rosa’s waist and pulled her close. The woman gasped as fidgeted but eventually pulled close and rested her head on his shoulder.

Yeah this was the life.

Inside the lighthouse was dark, but Henry was ready, he had one of the magic candlesticks. He sent a small pulse of mana through it and the thing lit up. Rosa stared at it for a moment before glancing at Henry.

“Not going to tie me up are you?” She said sweetly.

“Perish the thought.” Henry replied, lighting a couple of candles he had scattered around and leading Rosa up the stairs, lighting more candles as they went. Eventually they reached an old iron hatch which Henry carefully opened up, leading to a small room with a table, a couple chairs, and a window with a view of the entire ocean. He spent the next few minutes lighting the rest of the candles and setting up the meal he and Johnny had made, then sat down with Rosa.

A romantic candlelit dinner.

Decisions:
1. *have a bit of conversation*
2. *pour the woman a glass of wine*
3. *say something to her to break the tension* (Write in)
4. (write in)

>>3355753
>1. *have a bit of conversation*
> Ask her about the church and her coworkers.

>>3355773
roll 1d100 for charisma

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>3355794
Could I roll twice if no one else rolls in 30 minutes?

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>3355794

>>3355860
>>3355808
failure

>>3355860
Why

>>3355753
“So how’s work been? Any coworkers giving you trouble?” Henry asked, voicing his concerns over what he’d seen back at the abbey.

“Nothing to be worried about, I can handle it just fine thanks. Besides tonight is about us, not them!” Rosa said.

The woman was extremely giddy even before she’d had any wine. Probably because she never thought she’d have an outing like this at all. Henry poured them each a glass and laid out a couple plates full of a few kinds of fish, including cuts of a swordfish he’d purchased from the upper market, it had cost a bit but was completely worth it. In fact it was all good, he’d tested everything that afternoon to make sure it would taste good. He’d have tried the wine but he was worried Larry would’ve sniffed it out.

“So what have you been up to? Still trying to convince a guild to take you on?” Rosa asked.

“Well yes actually, I’ve even had a little bit of luck as of late, and I’ve got a few more leads too.” Henry said. “I never would’ve thought I could just set up so easily over here. Makes me feel like my time in Celeste was wasted.”

“Well, if you hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have met Charles, or me…”

“You have a point.” Henry said, flashing a smile.

Decisions:
1. *continue the conversation* (write in)
2. *dig in*
3. (write in)

>>3355882
>2. *dig in*
I am not good with the conversating.

>>3355882
this >>3355882

>>3355882
>2. *dig in*
I've got nothing...

>>3355937
>>3355912
writing then sleeping

>>3355882
Henry ate a few pieces of the fish and savored the taste, it was exquisite, and he could tell Rosa thought the same; the woman was slowly eating her food and really taking the time to enjoy it.

There was a slight breeze coming through the open window which kept things nice and cool inside the lighthouse tower.

As they finished up, Henry motioned Rosa to a door on the far side of the chamber which led out to an external stairwell, made out of iron and secured to the side of the lighthouse. Rosa seemed terribly frightened of the thing, but Henry had made repairs to it to ensure it would hold up, and he’d tested it with Ophelia the other day too.

After climbing up to the top of the lighthouse, the city of Avignon, and the ocean came into sharp contrast.

“Wow…” Rosa said, resting on Henrys shoulder.

Perfect.

Decisions:
1. *go in for an embrace*
2. *kiss her*
3. *just enjoy the moment, commit it to memory*
4. (write in)

>>3356002
>*go in for an embrace*
>*kiss her*
>*enjoy the moment, commit it to memory, never forget until the day you die*
All three, bitch.

>>3356098
Yeah, this should work.

>>3356098
>>3355957
Yep. In it to win it.

>>3356002
Hey, is adoption a thing in this setting?

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3356098
>>3356136
>>3356700
writing

>>3356002
Henry placed an arm around Rosa’s waist and hugged her to his chest. Rosa bit her lip and looked up at him longingly, waiting for him to make his move, they both knew what they wanted from one another.

He kissed her, a quick peck on the lips at first. He let it hang in the air for a moment, then went in again. Rosa wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled as close as she could, all while standing on the tips of her toes.

This was heaven. Henry enjoyed every moment, committing it to memory. It made all of the bullshit he’d had to put up with worth it. He leaned back against the wall of the lighthouse, and slowly slumped down to a sitting position, placing Rosa in his lap, and not once breaking the kiss. By the time they were done they were both gasping for air.

“Wow…” Rosa said, “I…wow.”

“Yeah.”

“I love you.” Rosa said.

“Yeah I know.” Henry replied.

The two spent another hour or so up there, soaking in the view. Then the two descended the tower and began making their way back towards the city, holding hands. Rosa even skipped around a bit, pulling Henry with her.

Decisions:’
1. *say something* (write in)
2. *preform an action* (write in)
3. (write in)

>>3359134
>3. (write in)
Keep an eye out for spies

>>3359221
Roll 1d100

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>3359241

>>3359246
writing

>>3359134
Henry kept an eye out for anything out of place, but it was far too dark for him to see anything other than the flickering torchlight coming from the city itself. He took out one of the light-runes he’d stolen from the Baron and used it to navigate with Rosa back to her church. He dropped her off without further incident than began to head home. Though he felt that he was being followed and knew well enough to trust his gut.

Decisions:
1. *head home and tell the others, might as well just fight this asshole off*
2. *try to lose the man in the various streets and channels of Avignon
3. *try to locate the pursuer, they’re being incredibly rude.*
4. *stop being so fucking paranoid, there isn’t anyone actually there*
5. (write in)

>>3359317
Slip hand into pocket and write on johnny's contract that we may be followed, and to meet us at a predetermined location that isn't our "lair" to confront the possible pursuer.

>>3359323
roll 1d100+5 for dexterity

Rolled 10 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3359333

Rolled 67 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3359333

Rolled 66 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3359333

Rolled 6 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3359333

>>3359765
>>3359589
pass, somehow, writing

>>3359317
Henry reached into his jacket, grabbed a pencil, then conjured up Johnny’s contract, and began writing. This was a fairly impressive feat given the fact he didn’t stop walking, he couldn’t actually see what he was writing, and he had to make sure he didn’t get lost.

The streets weren’t really safe around here anymore. The Cathars were beginning to have trouble dealing with things that lurked around. With Henry’s luck he was being stalked by a rouge Frank. Probably some amateurs work.

He told Johnny the gist, keeping the word count low, and gave him a location they could meet, an open square about a half mile from their home. A good location to launch a counter attack or at the very least get their bearings, assuming whatever was chasing him continued to have such interest in him.

>roll 1d100

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>3361666
>666
Thanks for the quest satan

>>3361668
you're welcome mr bad rolls

>>3361679
I am the sads

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>3361666

>>3361693
pass, writing

>>3361666
Henry didn’t waste any time making it to the plaza, taking a fairly straight shot to it and breaking out into a run. He could hear something skittering behind him, and a faint buzzing noise as well. He didn’t dare turn back to look. He was surprised by the lack of town guard patrolling, but figured this area was low priority due to its seedier nature. Regardless, the church was screwing him even now.

There were quite a few ghiests flickering into view as well. The ghiest-tide was coming in full now, with the moon waning out. He knew most of the ghiests were harmless but being out any later than this would just be tempting fate. He had to get this over with and get back inside or he would be inviting disaster.

He managed to get into the square to find Johnny already waiting for him, sword drawn and ready.

What Henry didn’t expect was for Johnny to back up a couple of steps and stare up above in what Henry figured was surprise. That was NOT the reaction he wanted.

Henry flipped around to see something dart back into an alley, heading towards the warehouse.

“What in god’s name…” Johnny muttered.

“That was a big fucking bug.” Henry said. “You okay?”

“That wasn’t a bug.” Johnny replied. “It had the torso of a man, but it wasn’t a Frank, it backed off when it saw two of us… the thing was pulsating.”

“Fuck its heading towards the warehouse.” Henry said.

Decisions:
1. *try to find help*
2. *rush back towards the warehouse*
3. *hunker down*
4. (write in)

>>3361735
> *rush back towards the warehouse*
>"Remember the wall slice back at the costume party? Maybe we can do it here on this thing?"

>>3361743
I mean, you totally can, but you kinda work there, and most of your group lives there.

>>3361743
roll 1d100

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3361770

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>3361782
rolling for ???

>>3361797

Supporting>>3361743

Sorry, thought it was locked in already.

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>3361797
rolling a second time for a second action

>>3361735
The two raced after the abomination, but the faint buzzing noise it emitted from flying only grew fainter as they fought a losing race against it and had to make a couple detours away from hostile and confused gheists. Henry hoped that Larry wouldn’t be a bellend but the lad was damned good in a fight, and Ophelia for all her faults could cast spells better than anyone else he knew.


He nearly stopped running when he realized he actually cared about both of them. But his instincts kicked in and the shock subsided.


He was more worried about Charles than anything else. The kid was smart and he had the warding charm, which would be effective. He realized that whatever the fuck it was had been stalking him, and then it had immediately made a beeline towards the warehouse. Did it know what they were doing? The fuck would that even mean?!


“The skylights broken!” Johnny said, pointing up to the warehouses’ roof.
Henry didn’t hear any fighting coming from inside the building, which was either very good or very, very bad.


Decision:
1. Rush in through the main entrance
2. Burst a wall down using lightning talons, you REALLY don’t want to do this though, since it’ll leave your little science project out in the open.
3. *tell Johnny to hang back and keep any further intruders outside*
4. (write in)

>>3361825
>Rush in through the main entrance
I meant lightning talons to utterly oneshot or cripple the thing

>>3361834
night ya'll

>>3361825
>1. Rush in through the main entrance
>>3361868
night Lorekeeper

>>3361825
>Rush in through the main entrance

>>3361825
> Rush in through the main entrance

>>3361825
> 1. Rush in through the main entrance

> Johnny goes up to the roof to either DEATH FROM ABOVE it, or cut off its retreat through the skylight

>>3363735
>>3362557
>>3362335
>>3361947
>>3361834
writing

>>3361825
“Johnny, hit the roof and cut its exit off.” Henry said. “Can’t let the fucker get away.”

“Understood.” Johnny said, racing towards the back of the warehouse while Henry barged into the impromptu shopfront he’d set up in the front. He carefully made his way through the shop, making sure to not jostle the shelves lined up with pottery.

Inside he found Charles tending to a downed Larry. The man was convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

“Poison?” Henry asked calmly.

“I don’t… it shot out a spell, hit Larry and then he was like this.” Charles said.

“Fuck, probably used some sort of disorientation… where is it now?” Henry asked.

“It went further inside, I stabbed it in the leg but it just tossed me aside like laundry.” Charles said.

The boy was shaken, but there was something else. The kid was infuriated, probably because he hadn’t been able to do a damned thing.

“Stick with Larry, make sure he doesn’t die on us, I’ll try to remove whatever curse got put on him once me and Johnny kill it.”

“R-right.” Charles said. “What even is it?”

“We’ll talk about the horrifying thing later, if all goes to plan we’ll be dissecting it.”

Charles stood there terrified. Heh, good kid.

“LET ME GO YOU VILE OAF.” Ophelia said, screaming out. “I SAID LE-“

Henry raced in to the warehouse to see Ticky toppled over and Ophelia slung over the things shoulder. Wisps of blue and red mana floated about. There had been a LOT of spells cast over about a minute Henry figured. The thing was probably out of gas.

It turned towards him lazily and wordlessly pointed at him. It was completely unscathed from what he could tell. It was also utterly horrifying. Henry could feel himself taking a couple steps back before realizing it was emitting an aura of terror.

Knowing this didn’t really prevent him from faltering though.

The creature had the body of an insect and the torso of a man, Its face had a couple of antenna sticking out of it at odd angles, and a pair of mandibles protruded painfully from its busted mouth. Its midsection pulsated and writhed. Henry wondered if whatever the fuck had created it was still ongoing. Perhaps the thing would further mutate on him.

This was certainly not necromancy though. Of that Henry was certain. This was like nothing he’d ever seen before.


Decisions:
1. *cast a spell*
2. *fucking bolt him*
3. *tell Johnny to jump him*
4. *try to talk to it*
5. (write in)

File: BUGG.jpg (10 KB, 250x179)

10 KB JPG

>>3363771
forgot image

>>3363771
>3. *tell Johnny to jump him*
Then bum rush it.
Also try to stab it.

>>3363771
this >>3363795
And remember Lightning Talons

>>3363777
nice trips

>>3363796
>>3363795
roll 3d100

Rolled 44, 66, 18 = 128 (3d100)

>>3363830

Rolled 99, 44, 42 = 185 (3d100)

>>3363830

Rolled 56, 4, 6 = 66 (3d100)

>>3363831
rolling counters

>>3363838
>>3363831
writing

>>3363839
looks like Ophelia isn't getting her brain sucked out tonight

>>3363844
Lewd

>>3363771
We really gotta get some undead for capturing / killing intruders.

>>3363863
Agreed
Also another illusion rune to hide our shit

>>3363771
“NOW JOHNNY.” Henry yelled.

He needed the distraction so he could cast lightning talons on himself without giving the thing any time to react. Boy did Johnny deliver.

He leapt down gracefully from the hole in the skylight, preforming a flip before cleaving straight through one of the horrors wings, sending the wing and the creature crashing to the floor in a heap, and flinging Ophelia out of harm’s way. Johnny even managed to catch the woman before she landed painfully on the ground as a cherry on top.

“KILL IT!” Ophelia screamed, able to talk once more now that her mouth was no longer covered. “KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!”

Henry casted lightning talons on his steel short sword and charged in. The creature was staring at its lost wing, dazed by pain. Though it was hard to tell due to the lack of facial expressions, its face being little more than a mask at this point.

Henry closed the distance easily. The creature began to charge up some sort of spell but it was far too late. Henry tore through the things guts, sending blue blood splattering all over the floor. It was a messy display as the smell of burning guts, charred flesh, and white ash filled the room.

The creatures mouth ripped open and it let out an ear piercing shriek before keeling over onto the floor. The thing feebly crawled away with its upper half using its scythe like arms before slumping over dead. A couple pouches rolling away from it as it did so.

Ophelia ran over to the thing and kicked it a couple times before spitting on it.

“THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR TRYING TO BE BETTER THAN ME.” She said angrily.

Johnny walked over, pushed Ophelia out of the way and calmly stabbed it through the brain. Henry noticed that the pulsating from its lower half had stopped, probably when he cut the thing in half. The lab was in shambles and they’d need to repair the skylight. Also there was the matter of Larry as well.

“Who sent the thing?” Ophelia asked. “I’m going to march over to wherever it came from and I’m going to make sure they NEVER forget what they did here tonight.”

The woman was angrier than Henry had ever seen.

Decisions:
1. “Calm the fuck down, do you have any mana left?”
2. “Johnny, restrain her.”
3. “Charles, get a mop and start wiping the blood up.”
4. *Grab Larry and head over to a nearby church, preferably not the one Rosa is in.*
5. (write in)

>>3363870
>5. (write in)
Examine to ensure it doesn't pose a continuing threat, and examine the pouches.

>>3363870
This >>3363874 but also
>"Calm the fuck down and help me examine this. Take samples too, or whatever."
>Once done, go examine Larry.
We should make sure Ophelia and Larry are okay first, THEN clean up this mess.

>>3363879
Yeah ensure no one's been infected with an egg or something.

>>3363882
>>3363879
roll 2d100 for inspections on larry and Ophelia

The creature is dead as all fuck though

Rolled 16, 5 = 21 (2d100)

>>3363885
>The creature is dead as all fuck though
I wanted to make sure there weren't parasites or other magical shenanigans lurking in it's body.
Also rolling

Rolled 51, 71 = 122 (2d100)

>>3363885

>>3363889
>>3363898
writing, pass on Larry, crit fail on Ophelia

>>3363870
“You okay Ophelia?” Henry asked. “Did it lay eggs in your trachea or-?”

“DO NOT JOKE WITH ME.” Ophelia said. “YOU TOLD ME SECURITY WOULD BE FINE, AND THEN THIS HAPPENS!”

“I didn’t expect whatever the fuck that thing was!” Henry protested. “But are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just stay the hell away from me.” Ophelia said, fuming. “It knocked Ticky over!” Ophelia said. “The supports gave out, if any of those internals are damaged…”

“The internals will be fine, but are you okay?!” Henry asked.

“What do you think?!” Ophelia replied. “Just leave me be, please.”

“I’ll stay with her, you check in on Charles.” Johnny said. “And Larry if he isn’t here.”

Henry rushed back to find Larry leaning against the wall and rubbing his head. Whatever the fuck the thing had done to him must have been linked directly to it, when it died the spell must have failed.

“You okay?” Henry asked, holding his hand out for Larry.

“Been better, feel like I just spent a night at the pub.” Larry said, grabbing Henrys hand and pulling himself up.

Henry took a good look at the man but found nothing wrong with him

“Did it feed you eggs?” Henry asked.

“The hell can you think of food right now?”

“I meant did it lay eggs in your stomach.” Henry said.

“Can it do that?!” Larry said, trying to laugh it off but clearly concerned.

“No clue, probably not.” Henry said. “You alright? What happened?”

“Thing burst through the skylight and started attacking Ophelia, me and Charles rushed in and tried to stab it but it hit me with something before I could get close. I think the kid managed to stab it but I was already out by that point, hit me with a blue bolt of something and everything just went fuzzy.”

“Fantastic.” Henry said.

Decisions:
1. *ask more pointed questions* (write in)
2. *check on Charles, where did he get off to?*
3. *head back into the lab and check on those pouches it dropped*
4. (write in)

>>3363908
>2. *check on Charles, where did he get off to?*
And tell Larry to go in there with Ophelia and Johnny

>>3363908
might as well mention Larry is fine if a bit dazed.

>>3363912
writing then going to bed.

>>3363912
this

>>3363908
“Larry, go back into the main room while I find Charles. We need to have a meeting about this.”

“You think this’ll become a normal occurrence?” Larry asked. “Cause I do not want to get hit by whatever the hell that was, a second time.”

“Look this is serious.” Henry said.

“I know, but getting all angry and upset ain’t gonna fix it now is it?”

“Fair enough.” Henry said, taking a deep breath and trying to calm down. “Thanks.”

“Yep.”

“Did you see where Charles ran off?”

“He went into the storage room for some reason, dunno why.” Larry said.

Henry walked down the hallway and took a right, then slowly opened up the storage room to find Charles huddled off to the side holding his dagger in a deathgrip. Henry tapped a light rune on the wall, activating it. Charles jumped up and dropped the dagger onto the ground where it clattered across the room.”

Decisions:
1. “get into the lab, we are having a meeting”
2. “The hell you doing in here?”
3. “Monsters dead, no need to hide.”
4. “Good work.”
5. (write in)

>>3363925
>3. “Monsters dead, no need to hide.”
"Did it hit you with a spell? Or is this normal terror... Fucked up if you have to ask such questions."

>>3363925
this >>3363931

>>3363931
>>3363925
Fuck you post fast. I'm used to quest with like. 2 posts a day. If that

Backing this.

>>3363931
>>3363935
will write tomorrow, night ya'll

>>3363939
Toodles noodles

>>3363925

>>3363931
+1

>>3363935
>>3364336
>>3363932
>>3363931
writing

>>3363925
“Monster’s dead, no need to hide.” Henry said.

Charles said, nothing, getting up wordlessly, grabbing his dagger, and proceeded to leave.

“Did it hit you with a spell? Normal terror… fuck I’m not used to having to ask.” Henry said.

“I’m fine.” Charles said.

The kid was NOT okay judging from how his voice trembled. Henry decided to let it pass for the moment and followed Charles back into the lab.

“So what’s the diagnosis doc?” Larry asked Ophelia.

“I think its undamaged, somehow.” Ophelia said.

“Its because I helped you build it, sturdy is better than complicated.” Henry replied.

“I’d prefer my work to be elegant.” Ophelia replied. “But I’m going to have to concede your point.”

“Are you calm now?” Henry asked.

“No, but I’m able to hold a conversation at a reasonable level.” Ophelia replied.

“It’ll have to do, is everyone else alright?”

“Of course sir.”

“Yeah I’m good.”

“…Yes…”

“Alright fine, let’s get this little emergency meeting underway.”

Decisions:
1. *go inspect the pouches that got dropped*
2. *inspect the corpse, tell Charles and Larry to grab some supplies from the closet.* (write in optional)
3. “So we’re all agreed that we’re gonna figure out who made this thing and murder them right?”
4. “Alright Ophelia, I’ve decided I’m going to invest in additional security, happy?”
5. (Write in)

>>3365936
>1. *go inspect the pouches that got dropped*
Tell Larry and Johnny to move the corpse to the work table, and have Charles bring some more light runes and the necromancy kit.

>>3365936
this >>3365973

>>3365973
>>3366044
writing

>>3366053
forgot to add, roll 1d100

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3366061

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>3366061

>>3366063
>>3366071
welp, writing

File: 1508785009778.jpg (129 KB, 600x600)

129 KB JPG

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3366072
check this 5

>>3365936
“Larry, Johnny, move the corpse onto the inspection table while me and Ophelia inspect the pouches it dropped.”

“Do I just sit around?” Charles asked, annoyed.

“No, I want you to grab some light runes and preservation supplies, as well as necromantic divination materials, gonna see if we can get the thing to sing.”

“I don’t think it even has a voice box.” Ophelia countered.

“As long as it has a brain we might be able to learn something from it.” Henry said. “Worst case we have the corpse write on a chalkboard.”

“Without any hands to hold chalk…” Ophelia said.

“We’ll figure something out.” Henry replied.

As they spoke he’d grabbed up the pouches and emptied their contents onto a table near the center of the room. There was little of note inside except dead bugs and a single postcard with a fancy looking building on an island shrouded by mist.”

“I know that place.” Ophelia said. “Hallcroft Asylum, its in Magica to the west of here.”

“I know of it, fecking weird place to have it though.” Henry said.

“Not really?” Ophelia replied.

On the back of the postcard was a series of scribblings, meant as a letter.

‘Harry Worchester,

I hope this finds you in good spirits and better health. The rune experiments I’ve been conducting have been unmitigated successes, we are able to block entry to mana comprised beings up to a fairly impressive grade, and will be looking to reduce the cost and increase the duration the runes hold a charge from here on out. These blue mana walls hold a lot of promise if we can refine them. As for my own experiments, the Cuckoo’s Nest is the same as it ever was, no shortage of bodies to work on given the failing of the local towns angelic rune wall. My main project has also borne much fruit, I hope to speak to you about it on your next visit.

Sincerely,

Michael Lynewood’

P.S. The meeting place is still the same correct? I hate having to go into the Nirdek caverns but the ‘town’ down there is the best place to meet.’

Decisions:
1. “The Nirdec caverns is the location of the biggest corpse market anywhere, I’m guessing that’s where they were meeting.”
2. “Do the names mean anything to you, Ophelia?”
3. “How’s the corpse, Johnny?”
4. *Start working on preserving the corpse, you can read later*
5. “I’m going to assume the… whatever it is, was Mr. Worchester”
6. (write in)

>>3366157
>*Start working on preserving the corpse, you can read later*
>“Do the names mean anything to you, Ophelia? Something about this reads familiar...” Runes holding a charge?

>>3366207
support

>>3366209
>>3366207
roll 2d100 for corpse preservation attempt

File: 6_3.jpg (193 KB, 431x600)

193 KB JPG

Rolled 55, 52 = 107 (2d100)

>>3366229
COME ON

File: Spoiler Image (497 KB, 600x867)

497 KB PNG

Rolled 100, 42 = 142 (2d100)

>>3366229
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!

>>3366247
>>3366235
gonna write this tomorrow, but that's fucking incredible.

>>3366247
writing

>>3363925
The preservation attempt went… well it went incredibly. The creature had been completely seared along where Henry had cut it, which had prevented its guts from spilling out. Meaning Henry just had to preserve the body using copious amounts of formaldehyde and other preservation fluids.

Having Charles along also helped in more ways than Henry could imagine, for one he didn’t have to hear Johnny’s constant complaining about how he was defiling corpses though given the subject it probably wouldn’t have happened.

As they worked Henry could see Charles was becoming much happier and began to bounce around excitedly. Henry was a bit exicted too, he’d never worked on anything like this before. After wheeling the bottom half into the freezer, Henry opened up the upper half and began poking around.

Its internals were probably more terrifying than its externals.

“Holy shit.” Henry muttered. “Look at all of this, poor bastard was still alive when he became like this.” Henry said. “Look at all the organs, the intestines have fused together and the stomach is all bloated, poor sod probably had another day or two to live at most.”

“So we performed a mercy killing?” Ophelia asked.

“Do I even need to dignify that with a response?” Johnny replied. After Ophelia looked at him blankly he continued, “It was an abomination, killing it is by definition a mercy killing.”

“Well it looks like he wasn’t done going through whatever transformation he got put on.” Henry said. “His ribcage is one piece now, almost like he was growing an exoskeleton.”

“Like a bug?” Charles asked

“Yeah, would explain why his face was peeling off like that.”

“Wonder what kind of magic did this.”

“I don’t believe its demonic magic. Nor does it look to be pagan.” Johnny muttered. “I doubt its draconic or vampiric either.”

>>3368410
“Honestly I have no clue what could have done this.” Henry said. “Ophelia?”

“I… I need to think.” Ophelia said, running back to her work area and ruffling through notes.

“Bit beyond me to be honest.” Larry said.

“Maybe it was a curse?” Charles said.

“It could’ve been an enchantment, or a bunch of them, but I can’t imagine anyone doing this willingly.” Henry said. “And he was still able to cast spells too, which is a pain in the ass if there are more of them.”

“I got it!” Ophelia said, running back over and slamming down a set of notes that had a list of names and locations on it.

“The hell is this?” Henry asked.

“Every single mage I’ve ever met, what I know about them, and where they live.” Ophelia said excitedly.

“How… you didn’t bring that when we left Grutzburg.” Henry said.

“Well I wrote this from memory, obviously…” Ophelia said. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“So the point?” Henry said.

“Ah, right, well both of those names come from members of the cult of progress, mid level members when I met them at a party.” Ophelia said.

“How’d that go?” Charles asked.

“So I think the Lynewood fellow… yes he lives in town, in the high district… I think.” Ophelia said.

“You think?” Henry asked.

“Well I met him a good four years ago.” Ophelia said. “Last time I ever did too, I don’t even know if he still lives there… oh before I forget…”

Ophelia proceeded to grab a couple of vials from her coat pocket and proceeded to scoop blue blood off the ground.

“So what do you plan to do with it?” Henry asked. “I can’t imagine you could use it for anything.”

“Oh I’m adding it to my collection of course.” Ophelia said. “Will go nicely with the mimic and the stonefish.”

“Where did you even get stonefish… look forget it.” Henry said. “Least we have some leads now.”

“So why don’t we take a midnight stroll?” Larry asked.

“While the ghiest tide is out, this close to the coastline?” Henry asked. “Are you mad?”

“Maybe?” Larry said sheepishly.

“Well it’s not like anyone will realize the thing died right?” Charles said. “It was going to die anyways.”

“True… it can probably wait till tomorrow.”

“Well when you find him try to take him alive.” Ophelia said. “I want to thrash whoever did this to my lab.”

“Wasn’t that the creature?” Larry asked.

“Whoever made the thing that did this to my lab.” Ophelia replied.

Decisions:
1. *chance a walk outside*
2. *clean up and go to bed*
3. *continue to work on the corpse* (write in)
4. *do some research of your own* (write in)
5. (write in)

>>3368415
>5. (write in)
Wheel the rest of the corpse into the cold room, and then letS SEE IF OPHELIA CAN SCRY THE PLACE THE CREATURE CAME FROM
I FORGOT SHE CAN SCRY

>>3368415
this >>3368423
Scrying can be OP if done right and planned right

>>3368423
>>3368424
roll 3d100 for it due to a bunch of factors like the size of the city, emotions or lack of them attached to the corpse, interference from the group souls, etc.

Rolled 61, 46, 59 = 166 (3d100)

>>3368431

Rolled 69, 30, 59 = 158 (3d100)

>>3368431
rollan

File: f88.gif (197 KB, 500x500)

197 KB GIF

>>3368453
>>3368435

Rolled 40, 4, 39 = 83 (3d100)

>>3368431

>>3368453
>>3368435
these are the rolls I'll be using. Worked from 9am-10pm today and am exhausted so I'll be taking the night off for sleep. Will post tomorrow when my work schedule isnt' as crazy.

>>3370941
I feel ya

>>3368415
“So can you determine where it came from?” Henry said. “Use a scry spell?”

Ophelia visably placed her palm to her forehead and ran back to her desk, grabbing a roll of paper from a drawer that turned out to be a map of the city of Avignon.

“You planning on using that as a basis?” Henry asked.

“Yeah, if we’re here at this warehouse district, then I can create a mental radius as a mold for the spell.”

“Right right, what supplies do you need?”

“The usual stuff.” Ophelia replied. “Runes, crystal guidance points, and the corpse.”

“Alright Charles I’m going to write a list for you to grab from the storeroom while I look outside to see if we got any nosy neighbors.”

“Yes sir!” Charles said. “I hope none of the ghiests got attacted.”

“The runes will hopefully hold.” Henry said, leaving the room to inspect the exterior from the safety of the interior.

“So what the hell is a guidance point? Why can’t she do the scry spell on the ugly corpse and figure it out simply?” Larry asked, “It’s just a spell, you just cast it and it does its job.”

“The type of red mana casting you do is from the gut correct, simple things?” Johnny said. “Scrying is an incredibly complicated type of spellcasting at the upper levels. If Ophelia doesn’t do it properly then it could produce completely different results than what you want.”

“I still don’t really get why you need to do all this work for a spell though.”

“It’s like baking a pie.” Johnny said. “Sure it looks like you can just use whatever ingredients in whatever amounts in whatever order, but what you use, how much you use, and when you use it will produce completely different effects.”

“Makes sense I guess. Still seems like a lotta trouble for figuring it out.”

>>3374040
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Henry walked in from his patrol to find Ophelia finishing her preparations. She had created a circle of mage powder and had made a near perfect replica of Avignon, with a bunch of wavy lines where the ocean should be to represent water.

“Alright, I’m going to start now.” Ophelia said, sitting crosslegged at the casting end of the circle and beginning to summon the required blue mana. The way she weaved her hands around and chanted affected the way the mana flowed.

Blue mana spells tended to be the most complex forms of spellcasting due to how much information the mana itself could hold. This was an example of such. Henry had heard of green mana scrying from Nessie once, but he had no idea how that would even function.

Ophelia sat up stock straight after fifteen minutes and ran for her paper supply and began jotting notes down.

“I know exactly where it is, what the name of the place is, and how we’re going to get there.” Ophelia said.

“And what’s the location?” Henry asked.

“An old factory in the old mage district, about a mile from here.” Ophelia said. “That’s the location the thing spent the most time in recently, and where it received a heavy bit of enchantments and where it experienced an absurd amount of pain.”

“Right.” Henry said. “So we should probably head over there tomorrow.”

“Sooner the better.” Johnny said, “Whoever did this might try to look for scry spells when his creation doesn’t return.”

Decisions:
1. “somethings bothering me about all this, why did it only go after Ophelia?”
2. “Alright, first thing tomorrow we head out to bag the bastard who did this” (will commence factory investigation in the morning)
3. “We should gather more intelligence” (will delay factory investigation till the afternoon, and will bring up further options)
4. “We should risk heading out now” (roll 3d100, will commence investigation now)
5. (write in)

>>3374047
>1. “somethings bothering me about all this, why did it only go after Ophelia?”

just realized I didn't have my name on

>>3374047
“Somethings been bothering me about all this, actually.” Henry said.

“Don’t worry, I learned my lesson properly.” Ophelia said. “I made sure I wouldn’t be detected, I doubt even the angel of midnight would’ve been able to track that particular scry spell.”

“Not my point at all.” Henry said.

“You thought of it too?” Johnny asked, glancing over at the upper portion of the corpse.

The thing was being wheeled away by Charles into the cold storage room. The boy struggled with the weight until Larry reluctantly lent a hand.

“Why did it only go after Ophelia?” Henry asked.

“It completely ignored both Charles and Larry, only striking out at Larry when he was a threat.” Johnny said. “It strikes me as odd that it also lured us out of the way and then made a beeline for the warehouse.”

“We have a couple of different options, none of them great. One: someone knows who Ophelia is and what we’re doing here. Two: The thing was attracted to a large potential source of mana, Three: It merely stumbled upon this place due to dumb luck, Four: It was some kind of test that we might have passed.”

“Hrm, perhaps it was after mages?” Johnny asked. “I’ve been hearing there have been several disappearances of mages as of late.”

“I figured it was due to the ghiest tide coming further inland.” Henry said. “But you might be onto something.”

“Someone’s targeting mages?” Ophelia asked. “You deduce that just from a few scraps of evidence?”

“I’m not going to act on it until I’m reasonably sure, but yes I believe so.” Henry said.

Decisions:
1. “Alright, first thing tomorrow we head out to bag the bastard who did this” (will commence factory investigation in the morning)
2. “We should gather more intelligence” (will delay factory investigation till the afternoon, and will bring up further options)
3. “We should risk heading out now” (roll 3d100, will commence investigation now)
4. (write in)

>>3374130
>2. “We should gather more intelligence” (will delay factory investigation till the afternoon, and will bring up further options)
Also use the time to develop some protective equipment. Maybe a rune that causes disorientation to the bugperson. And some weapons designed for the insectoid form they're turning into.

>>3374130
this >>3374143

>>3374223
>>3374143
writing

>>3374236
We should use our knowledge of the physiology we just looked over to develop defensive and offensive measures against the bug people.
One aimed at their incomplete form, and one aimed at their finalized form.

>>3374236
Excuse the intrusion, I am currently working on the quest timeline. And since your quest has use a different image for the op in every thread, I was wondering if you have a preference for which image should I use to represent it on the timeline.

>>3374274
I don't really have preferences for that sort of thing, I'd just like to review the end product if at all possible.

>I just like using different images to keep things fresh

>>3374274
Cool

>>3374130
“We should gather more intelligence.” Henry said.

“I disagree completely.” Johnny replied. “We need to strike at dawn, otherwise whoever did this might flee.”

“This isn’t a church operation.” Henry shot back. “I’m not going to risk anyone here over this, assuming the info Ophelia got is correct.”

“It is, do you think one of my spells would misfire like that?!” Ophelia said, offended.

“We should also develop some tangible countermeasures. How goes that chemistry experiment?” Henry said.

“The scar gas?” Ophelia said. “I have the means to produce good quantities of it but no way to do it safely, nor anyway to prevent our own deaths if we used it. I’m trying to work on breathing masks now but it’s been slow going trying to find something to filter the air out.”

“I’m not going to use scar gas in the middle of a city.” Henry replied. “Still can’t believe something like that even exists. Look, we need more information on what’s going on. I feel this is a bit more complicated than a rogue mages’ science experiment. Given the depth of the changes brought onto the body of that man, I suspect this is the latest in a long line of failures. Whoever’s been doing this has been doing it for a long time I suspect.”

“Is the spare flamecaster still in working condition?” Henry asked.

“Of course, I’m not going to let a good welding torch go to waste.”

“So what will you have us do then?” Johnny asked. “Other than letting whoever’s behind this escape our clutches.”
Decisions:
1. “We hit up the corpse market, find an info broker and work from there.”
2. “We should ask some of the local Cathar’s if anything odds been going with their routes
3. “I’m going to ask Rosa if she knows something.”
4. “I’m going to pay a visit to Malory and see what she might know.”
5. “I want to scope the place out before barging in.”
6. (write in)

>>3374307
>1. “We hit up the corpse market, find an info broker and work from there.”
And
5. “I want to scope the place out before barging in.”
6. (write in)
Charles, how is that cat from earlier?
Use the cat to do recon.

>>3374307
this is good >>3374317

File: Necromancer Detective Quest.jpg (9 KB, 101x181)

9 KB JPG

>>3374296
If that the case I will be using the op of this thread http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2658767/

And it will end up looking like this.

File: 1549780584895.png (28 KB, 508x1000)

28 KB PNG

>>3374328
actually hold up I got a better image

>>3374326
>>3374317
writing

>>3374347
That's OK, thanks. I might pick up your quest once the timeline is up to date.

>>3374307
“We hit up the Igazu corpse market in the Nirdec caverns, find a good info broker, and take it from there. I know a bunch of people down there, and my name will hopefully allow us to make some headway.”

“Didn’t think you were famous.” Ophelia said.

“I’m known for quality work, what can I say.” Henry bragged.

“Hardly something to take pride in.” Johnny opined

“Secondly, I want to scope the place out before bargaining in….”

At that point Charles and Larry returned from the storage of the corpse.

“Charles, how is that cat from earlier?”

“I stored it away, figured we were going to cook it up for dinner or something.” Charles replied.

“Cooked cat?!” Ophelia said.

“Hey its food and it’s still reasonably fresh.” Henry said.

“Yep.” Larry added.

“I grew up on table scraps so I’m not picky.” Charles added.

“Don’t look at me.” Johnny said. “My memories of food are hazy at best.”
“You’re all, with the exception of Johnny, disgusting.” Ophelia replied, horrified.

“So anyway, I want you to do recon with the cat, you have those books on necromantic site circles that you can use as reference. I want you to get near the location of the warehouse and use the circle to hijack the cat’s vision and control it.”

“What!?” Charles said. “But I…”

“Do you want a chance to prove yourself?” Henry asked. “Now’s that time. I’m going to raise the cat then transfer its ownership to you so you don’t waste your mana. Then I want you bring it out to the factory location Ophelia found, and scout the place out using the scroll.”

“Larry I want you to take one of those Gambesons and protect Charles while he works, I’m trusting you here.”

“Aye aye captn.” Larry replied.

“Ophelia you stay here and patch the skylight up.”

“What?!” Ophelia said.

“Unless you want to work in a lab prone to being flooded out by rain.”

“Ugh, fine.”

“Johnny you’ll be with me.”

“Fine, I suppose it’ll be nice to take my hood off for once.”
“That’s the spirit!” Henry replied, smacking the skeleton on the back and receiving no visible response.

Decisions:
1. *Ask a question* (write in, choose a character to ask the question)
2. *Preform further actions* (Write in, choose a character)
3. *write in*
4. *end the night*

>>3374413
>3. *write in*
Tell ophelia to keep an eye out, and if she sees anything odd to immediately call out to us and head to us.

>>3374397
thanks, we only have like 2 dedicated players and like 2-3 people who vote occasionally

>>3374413
backing >>3374426

>>3374446
>>3374426
writing, will assume this is the end of the night

>>3374413
“Ophelia, I want you to keep an eye out and contact me immediately if you see anything odd.”

“Fine, just remember to actually take the two way transference rune with you this time, I’m not going to remind you.”

“Alright, good lord.” Henry said.

The group, excluding Johnny, went to sleep, and even with the wails and moans of ghiests outside, it was fairly peaceful.

=====================================(End Of Chapter)=================================

Last post lol

HAH Got'em