Fuck yes here we go lads

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You have been punching the speedbag in your room. You still have a ways to go before unarmed close combat with the denizens of this world is actually a GOOD idea, but you can feel yourself improving.

You wonder whether you should change into the RIDERS outfit you bought in DUNNLIVIN. You can feel the ship is descending and people have said that KIANI FORREST is pretty dangerous.

You remember that you check your POCKETS for your inventory, and check your LICENCE to see what your current status effects are.

>>3800097
change into the Rider outfit

strike a cool pose to HB and ask how do we look

>>3800103
This, also check pockets and license for a refresher on what we got.

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>>3800103
You change into your RIDERS, making sure to transfer everything from the pockets of your THUG LEATHERS.

You are carrying:
A REVOLVER -holding 6 bullets
A CROWBAR
A SPARE BULLET
A LARGE HEALTH POTION
A SMALL HEALTH POTION
A MANA POTION
A MYSTERIOUS JAR OF BLUE PASTE THAT SURREY GAVE YOU.

Ain't you the kitted out adventurer?

You strike a few cool poses in your new outfit. Looking good. The thick leather squeaks a bit with certain movements, so its not real stealthy. But it sure is cool.

HIGHBALL is in her room right now. Any team member can be summoned using the BOSS HORN in your office.

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>>3800122
You check your LICENCE

Yup, that's you alright. 30 dollarydoos to your name.

>>3800201
Let's head there and have some vermouth while we strike a dashing raider pose

>>3800201
Summon Burstock later. First we head to Highball's room to replenish our cute goblin-girl energy

>>3800201
Check on the blue goo, see if it's started doing anything yet.

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>>3800212
You walk unannounced into Highball's room, she has her back to you she is pulling her shorts and is buckling up her belt.

"You felt the ship landing too, ey? Grab some vermouth, pal!"

She turns around and her eyes widen. She approves of your new duds.

>>3800310
"Aren't looking too bad yourself. Anything else you think I'll need?"

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>>3800326
Highball shrugs. She a knife over her shoulder and lodges it in the bullseye of her dartboard before retrieving it and holstering it.

She grabs to fistfulls of skewers from the same board and loads them into her harness.

"What we already got has been too much for any bimbo or palooka we've encountered and now we gots a healer."

The MYSTERIOUS JAR begins to glow and gently vibrate you can hear a muffled voice from inside it, but can't hear what it's saying.

>>3800350
Hold a finger up in the universal signal for 'one moment', and hold the jar up to your ear.

>>3800353
support

[Good to have you back QM]

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>>3800353
>>3800358
You hold up the MYSTERIOUS JAR to your ear and you can hear SURREY's voice.

QM: Good to be back anon.

>>3800367
Open the lid I suppose, though maybe ask if this is something they mind people overhearing, or if they want it to be a private conversation. Ask Highball to leave if it's the latter.

>>3800367
Deal eith it latter we got some raiding to do to the brige and summon the party

>>3800367
This>>3800369

>>3800369
Actually, on second thought, just step out ourselves if it's the latter; don't want to be rude.

>>3800415
support

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>>3800369
>>3800412
You remove the lid from the jar and SURREY's voice comes through loud and clear.

This is what I was talking about, you see. There are things brewers can make above and beyond things designed to be ingested. This MUTTERBOTTLE has an effective range of up to 20 MILES and can be used for an hour of conversation before new ones can be made. I have heard they are increasing in popularity and aren't just for CEO's as a status symbol any more.

Basically, with this, you will be able to communicate with anyone back aboard the ship when you go on an adventure. I don't know what use that will have yet, but I will leave the one I am holding with whoever you want to have it. To contact someone, simply breath into the jar, and their jar will glow and buzz.

I think we might be able to sell a lot of these."

Boy, SURREY can talk a blue streak when she wants to.

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

QM: SOrry, I have to make these in advance, don't worry it's not a private chat.

>>3800432
Wow. These are really useful. Ask for clarification though. We breath into the jar to contact someone, but how do we determine WHO we contact, exactly?

Also, you might be able to save on costs for jars and ensure repeat customers if you give buyers a discount if they bring their own containers. That way repeat customers can reuse the old container, and new ones can be lured in with a cheaper price.

>>3800432
>congratulate Surrey
>check on our healer

>>3800440
Sounds good!

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>>3800436
Wow. These are really useful. Ask for clarification though. We breath into the jar to contact someone, but how do we determine WHO we contact, exactly?

' Ah. That's the thing. A certain amount of paste is required per jar for it to work, and if too large a batch is made at once, it wont resonate properly. Put simply, there can only ever be two jars made at once. To talk to multiple people, you need multiple jars. With the one I have, you will be able to talk to anyone on the ship. We'll just pass it around.'

Also, you might be able to save on costs for jars and ensure repeat customers if you give buyers a discount if they bring their own containers. That way repeat customers can reuse the old container, and new ones can be lured in with a cheaper price.

' That's not uncommon for a lot of potion stores and brewers circles.'

>>3800440
>congratulate Surrey

'Thank you, sir.'

>>3800472
Let's get everyone to go and speak with Lumsden, then. Nothing else to do, eh?

>>3800475
support

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>>3800475
>>3800478
You walk up to the WHEEL HOUSE to talk to LUMSDEN. You knock on BURSTOCK's door as you walk up and she responds groggily that she'll be right out.

LUMSDEN turns to greet you all.

"I'm sorry to hold you guys up. We're on the edge of KIANI FOREST and I know you're eager to get to it. It's just...

There are three core mechanics I want you to be aware of before you set out. This is proper adventurer stuff. I might not do it any more, but just in case you don't know them I'd like to impart them.'

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LUMSDEN clears her throat.

"First of all, you're going to be killing a lot of things out there.

Now, some creatures will have a distinctive corpse you can loot, or with the appropriate skill, harvest..

Most creatures an enemies, though will form this generic loot pile.

I know it shows a potion, a skull and a bag of gold but it's not a guarantee that whoever you kill will always have these things. It simply represents the sort of things they COULD have.

It basically means there's still a marker for where you've been, at least until the corpse has been looted.

Drawing a specific corpse for each mob is a hassle, basically."

>>3800538
ok, let's do this

>>3800538
Seems straightforward enough so far.

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LUMSDEN continues.

" Second of all. This place, as with many grind zones, has no map. The forest is dense and dangerous so you can only move a square at a time NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST - no diagonals.

This means no fast travel and you may have to backtrack in to random encounter areas, so new enemies may have spawned when you do. Keep your wits about you.

While in the forest, your DUNGEON grid will mark your location, starting with the entrance. If you try find something good, try to remember where on the grid you were when you found it.

Try to get a consensus on direction.

You can flee from combat if you think you're good enough, but be careful you may flee into more trouble. SO I recommend fighting.

It's what you're here to do, right? Grind and loot?'

>>3800583
right

grab whatever potions we can

>>3800583
Sounds perfect. You coming, or you minding the ship?

>>3800589
support

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LUMSDEN licks her teeth. It's probably been a while since she spoke so much.

"Last of all, there is a discussion mechanic.

At this point, you've probably noticed that safe statements and questions about the basic setting only need one anon to recommend them, and then they will be said.

Statements and questions than can alter the direction of the game or a characters mood require generally three separate players wanting to say them before they are said. First to three wins.

There is another type of dialogue choice. These ones are marked with percentage. Asking these can make a big difference or even yield rewards. They make you skip a step.

Problem is they are dependent on your CHARISMA. Failing them can either mean you don't get what you want or WORSE - you actually piss someone off.

With CHALLENGE DIALOGUE, not only must three separate players all want that choice, but they must also roll a d100 when they nominate their choice.

Two out of three who make the choice must also roll under the percentage that corresponds to the dialogue choice.

It's still the first three to do it. SO if five anons pick the same dialogue option and roll for it and it goes FAIL PASS FAIL PASS PASS. Then that still means you failed.Sorry."

LUMSDEN smooths her outfit. She feels awkward about lecturing you.

"Try one - just one- out on me"

>A. Can you spare a health potion? [50%]
>B. Lumsden...what is with the sweater on your waist? [60%]
>C. You should come with us! [03%]
>D. [HUG LUMSDEN IN THANKS] [67%]

>>3800625
>>D. [HUG LUMSDEN IN THANKS] [67%]

>>3800631
QM: ANon, you gotta roll.

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>3800634
YEET

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>3800625
>D. [HUG LUMSDEN IN THANKS] [67%]

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>>3800631
>>3800634
>>3800655

Overcome with gratitude, you hug onto LUMSDEN and thank her for caring about you and your battle party. SHe is a little startled at first but wraps her muscular arms around you.

"It's nothing. Just. Be safe."

Highball nods and makes a chirping noise.

Burstock gives a lazy thumbs up.

"You got it."

>>3800698
So we're going to deal with the former clientele that was ok enough with buying potions made of people, after our excursion into the forest? Just making sure. I suggest we get more info on the clientele in the future. Maybe make this a chance to expand and make more money.

>>3800704
Nah fuck those guys, we are paying off the contract. Then going legitament and then coming back to fuck them

>>3800704
QM: You have the option to

It is 1 and a half days until the schedualed meeting but you don't have to show up, and you sure as hell don't have to bring anything.

It just means they'll be looking for you.

>>3800698
>Prepare for landing

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>>3800742
QM: If there is nothing else, we may as well get to it. DOn't worry. You haven't missed anything.

+++++++++++++++
The SILVER LINING lands in a nearby lake at the edge of KIANI FOREST.

You click your fingers and point to the exit.

Highball and Burstock follow you.

You are now at the entrance to KIANI FOREST.

You can either choose UP RIGHT LEFT (and DOWN when available)

or NORTH, EAST, WEST (and SOUTH when available) to plot your course. I will try to find consensus.

Directions preferred

QM: I'm gonna be a little patch from here, so don't panic if I take a while to respond..

>>3800764
>East

>>3800764
East as well, I guess.

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>>3800827
>>3800855
You head EAST

You find a large apple tree and two GOPNIKS who seem to be picking them.

>>3800865
>less than 3 gopniks
Hah, they pose no threat!
>Attack!

>>3800879
very well!. Roll initiative.

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>3800887
QM: I should too

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3800887
Ah, okay!

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>3800887

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>>3800889
>>3800891
The GOPNIKS flick out small knives and charge you and BURSTOCK.

Your leather armor protects you, but Burstock gets shanked.

>>3800929
Damn. Let's return the favor and bring our crowbar down on their skulls!

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>>3800936
Still a little inept a close combat, you still manage to catch the GOPNIK across the face.

The other GOPNIK disengages from close combat but walks straight into BURSTOCK's smite attack, killing him instantly.

Highball twirls her knives.

>>3800966
Ok, I know it's not a guarantee this is what she's going for, but I wanna try anyways: let's cup our hands together for her to step on and be tossed up into the air, where she can do some cool acrobatic knife shit.
Also, sorry qm, but I gotta get to bed.

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>>3800970
Unfortunately, you've already taken your turn so you and Highball cannot team up! Also, you might not have the upper body strength just yet, but I like how you think.

Highball runs up to the GOPNIK and shanks him in his unarmoured midsection.

QM: Don't sweat it, anon. I just needed enough time today to get started. Everything else is slow and low. This forest will take quite a while. Look forward to your return.

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The GOPNIK slashes at HIGHBALL

It is now your turn again.

No rush

>>3801009 finish him off crowbar stile and then let's get some loot, and apples too, maybe we can make some cider

>>3801073
>Bum rush him, all three of you
Gop the gopnik

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>>3801076
>>3801084
You and Highball rush the GOPNIK

You hit him in the jaw with your crowbar as she slices at his leg with her cleaver. He crumples over swearing weakly as he dies.

VICTORY

You gained 10xp
You loot 17 GOLD from their bodies.

One of the GOPNIKs has a NOTE.

It reads.

To u fuckin prats,

Our previous source of income is getting fucked up coz some dickhead is now guarding the beef. We need to hire more muscle or get better gear.

I got about 5000 gold stored in Kiani forest, can't remember where. Find it dig it up, then light me a signal fire so I can come down personally to collect it.

You lot have got sticky fingers so I aint riskin you trudging back here with my fukkin gold.

Better gear or more geezers and then we can show Dunnlivin wots fukkin wot.

DOn't fuck it up u mupits.
-Edgewater

>>3801114
>pick some apples
>keep going east

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>>3801124
You all grab a few apples and head EAST

There is a large HARPY feasting on a corpse. She has not noticed you.

HIGHBALL pats you on the leg and whispers to you.

"Just fire over her head, pal Joey. We don't want harpy levels of trouble. They're dangerous but they startle easily. We gotta save our moxy for fights we can't avoid."

BURSTOCK nods

"That's true, Highball - but it could also be valuable experience. WHich is what we're here for."

HIGHBALL shrugs.

"True. Well, whatever you reckon Joe."

>>3801124
I'll second this.

Been reading the quest on and off QM, but first time actually commenting. You're doing great.

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>>3801153
QM: Thank you.

I worry about having so many stupid rules. I just hope that after their intial explanation all the dumb little rules can add to nuance and fun.

>>3801150
Fire over its head. We need to conserve HP and there might be good shit in these trash piles.

>>3801150
>Sneak attack!
>Hells Heart Blast!

>>3801169
This, let's not get in over our heads.

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>>3801177
>>3801169
You draw your REVOLVER and fire a shot over the HARPY's head.

She screeches and takes off into the sky.

HIGHBALL narrows her eyes at the corpse.

"What in the goddamn...?"

>>3801184
Well. Investigate dead body.

>>3801184
inspect corpse

its the former boss! wohoooo he's dead! maybe he still has his savings with him

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>>3801188
>>3801189
As HIGHBALL gets closer you make the same realisation.

This corpse is her former boss and your captor ALAN CHESAPEAKE.

His face and chest have been largely eaten, but it is unmistakably him. Nasty striped tie and everything.

You pat down his corpse and find only one 200 gold note, which has been rendered worthless due to be saturated to the point of falling apart with blood and having a large bullet hole in it.

Bullet hole?

HIGHBALL turns over parts of CHESAPEAKES corpse.

"Harpy was lunching on him, but that's not what killed him. Stuffed shirt's been shot four or five times."

>>3801195
hmmm

look for tracks, someone was here to kill him

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>>3801197
There's no real sign or tracks to go on. That said, you're no more a tracker than you are a prize fighter.

HIGHBALL brings BURSTOCK up to speed.

>>3801205
Ask if the Vitamagus can figure out how long he's been dead.

Let's go up north after that, whoevee did this didn't come the way we came so they must have come from the top

Ask

>>3801209
Support

>>3801209
+1

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Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>3801209
>>3801216
>>3801220
BURSTOCK gives you a fond smile.

"This guy is far enough gone to be outside of my realm of expertise. I'm no medical expert, but he's been dead for an hour or two at least."

She pats you on the shoulder as you head NORTH.

"If there was a Thanomagus around, we could get you some answers."

You encounter 3 SKELETONS

"Speaking of which..."

>>3801225
Our crowbar will come in hamdy here, maybe they are vulnerable to bashing

Maybe ask the mage to heal them, that kills them right?

>>3801227
QM: You have to roll for initiative anon.

++++++
BURSTOCK mentions that if she casts BIG TIME that will kill the skeletons, but thinks it's a little inefficient mana wise.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3801229

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3801229

>>3801235
QM: You;re up to bat anon!
Any advice for your team or do you trust them?

Trust them

>>3801254
Trust them it's fine , bash the fuckers

>>3801254
Second on trusting them. Hit the skellies with a blast.

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>>3801259
>>3801262
You charge and hit one of the skeletons with your crowbar.

HIGHBALL grabs fistfulls of skewers from her harness and does her LIMIT BREAK
BLADE HAIL

The skeletons receive 20 damage each as assorted small blades pierce and crack their bones.

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The SKELETON you hit, swipes at you with its dagger, but is unable to get through your armour.

The other two, seeing HIGHBALL as the greatest threat here, set about stabbing her.

>>3801307
Focus attack on one of them to kill it quick

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>3801227
support crowbar

Can we get a quick image of consumables available? It will help us to make better choices and ration resources.
> Bullets
> Health potions
> Mana potions

Burstock HP/SP
Highball HP

>>3801314
support

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BURSTOCK takes her delayed action and casts CHANNEL HEAL on HIGHBALL, restoring 12 HP and giving her an armour bonus.

It is once again your turn

You have:
SIX BULLETS
ONE SMALL HEALTH POTION
ONE LARGE HEALTH POTION
ONE MANA POTION

BURSTOCK and HIGHBALL's condition is not known to you because you do not have enough leadership skill.

Once you know your team better you will be able to tell just by looking at them, but you're not there yet.

>>3801324
don't we have a Kamehameha?

>>3801333
You do!

It's some heavy reading, but you can find a list of all your- and your team mates skills on this wikia:

https://trust-a-goblin.fandom.com/wiki/Trust_A_Goblin_Wiki

DOn't worry about missing a turn or anything. Its past midnight here and I'm gonna sleep soon.

But it'll let you know what your team can do in combat.

Tell burstock "We can handle this, save your juice"

If damage to HB is high (45+) use "absorb" and then "heal thyself"... it is more sp efficient.

>>3801076
I think we picked apples (hopefully). After combat we can ask Burstock to imbue them to get mini health pots.

>>3801333
>>3801337
Save the SP anon... these enemies are damaged, this is only the third grid and we only got 45sp. Save resources for the troll.

Use Crowbar!

>>3801340
support

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>3801340
forgot to roll

>>3801343
QM: its okay you only have to roll int once.

What causes skeletons to animate in this world? Do they do that on their own with something like magic radiation or do they have a master that raises them? Are we looking to face Reanimator seeing we are facing undead?

>>3801349
QM: perhaps you'll meet someone who knows

>>3801352
I just recalled that Baron had skeleton employees. Might ask him later.

Rolled 37 (1d100)

Rollan for ravenbar

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You and HIGHBALL exchange a glance and charge back at the SKELETONS.

HIGHBALL drives the blunt side of her cleaver through one, powdering its spine.

Yours has yet to go down, but it is cracked and swaying.

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

QM: Sorry for the bad timing, I'll be up in a bit to post the sketetons fighting back.

You're doing good anon!

Make sure you know what your party can do!

>>3801366
Lets use one of our six bullets to bring one skeleton down. We have a gun for a reason and we can spare one bullet.

>>3801382
If the one we're whacking is about to go down why not just save the bullet?

>>3801382
Five bullets now (plus the spare I guess). Also I dunno, these guys do seem pretty puny to waste a bullet on. Besides, we need the melee practice I'd say.

>>3801366
Keep crowingbaring
They are like stabby training dummies

sounds good, change from
>>3801382
to
>>3801392

I got to go but things to remember for latter on:
>We can ask Burstock to imbue the apples to transform them into "skyrim healing potions"

Also there are a few combos
> Both we and Burstock can wrack (-10hp +10sp)
> "heal thyself" only heals burstock but it is the most efficient healing (-10sp +45hp)
> Burstock can absorb 45 damage from us or HB pretty cheap (-5sp)
Technically with enough time and effort Burstock can get the party to full hp/sp... she might tire, it is a bit of a gamey move and recovering sp might be better done outside combat.

Also:
> HB can limit break once per combat session
> HB guillotine limit break deals (70 dmg) and automatically kills an enemy if it deals 1/2 of its hp
> We can double the damage of any attack with the spell Hells heart

Have fun anons, I got to go.
Also kudos to you QM.

when do we get to fuck the goblin?

>>3801650
Patience young padawan

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The remaining skeletons shamble forward and attack Highball.

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BURSTOCK casts ABSORB, transferring all of HIGHBALL's current damage to herself.

Your go, anon!

>>3802259
Crowbar!

>>3802261
This, mash the motherfuckers.

>>3802261
SMASH THEM WITH THE CROWBAR OF GREAT JUSTICE

We need to see if we can get this crowbar enchanted or something somewhere down the line.

>>3802413
can we get it enchanted with Axiomatic and Celestial for JUSTICE?

>do axiomatic moral alignments even exist in this setting?

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>>3802261
>>3802281
>>3802319
HIGHBALL rushes one skeleton with two blades, cutting deep into its clavicles before kicking it in the sternum, shattering it.

You deliver a mighty whack to the last skeleton, knocking out a number of its teeth.

>>3802578
Suplex the skeleton

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The last skeleton makes a final stab at HIGHBALL.

BURSTOCK casts HEAL THYSELF

>>3802614
Let's wack him in the collar bone! Can't stab if he don't got no shoulders!

>>3802631
alternatively we could suplex the skeleton.
:>

>>3802634
We're a spindly wizard boi. Suplexing is for guys with hair on their chests and muscles the size of your mum.

>>3802614
>>3802614
I agree, no shoulders, no problem

>>3802638
Skeletons are also really light. This is our one opportunity!

>>3802646
or we could get magic that makes us RIPPED by giving us muscles as big as your mum and then suplex anybody we like.

Priorities Anon.

>>3802651
God, we're gonna be as old as your mum by the time we're capable of that.

>>38026
also half the damage of the suplex is from the gravity acting on the body lifted then dropped. The skeleton being light is an argument against suplexing.

>>3802659
that's why we invest in a phylactery and take the lich route.

Buff Lich.

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>>3802661
How does it work

>>3802667
MAGIC

QM: Can we get a tie breaker on whether we're hitting the skeleton or suplexing it?

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>3802688
well I've already voted but I can roll a dice.

1: Supplex (changes my vote)
2: Collarbone smash (doesn't change my vote, unless supplex anon decides to roll with the dice too)

>>3802688
guess it's on you QM? Flip a coin if nobody answers in 5 minutes or so, or go with whatever is the easier to draw?

>>3802696
The dice have spoken. I for one look forward to muscle lichdom so let's move on

>>3802688
>collarbone smash

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You charge the last skeleton, sick of its repeat attacks on your new goblin. You drive the crowbar clean through its clavicle and wrench upward, scattering its splintered bones.

VICTORY

You receive 14 GOLD
You receive 36 XP

>>3802739
time for ghostbuster walk victory poses?

>>3802753
QM: Ain't drawn them, sorry.

I will amend this at some stage.

>>3802760
ah, c'est la vie.

>>3802739
Hmm. Let's head north for now then, see what's up that ways.

>>3802739
do we have some sort of indicator for our total HP/Mana at the moment?

>>3802739
>ask girls how are they holding up
>Head north

before advancing...
>Hey Burstock, do you still have juice? We might need to wrack and heal, perhaps also enchant some apples. We got some pots too but we should save them for when you are tired.

Wrack a couple time to get our damage to 45 so Burstock can absorb and heal the damage.

>Are you Ok HB? The blade hail was cool. When you are about to do of those cool moves tell me and I'll supercharge it.

Then move up on cell in the grid.

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>>3802823
>>3802777
>>3802767
>>3802763
BURSTOCK once again ABSORBS all of HIGHBALL's wounds then heals herself.

She watches with a measure of sympathy as you painfully WRACK yourself back to full mana. She then ABSORBS your wounds and heals herself a few more times.

BURSTOCK winces and staggers a little and takes a drinks a MANA potion from her pouch.

"You wanna be careful with all this wracking business, Cochese. This amount is fine, but if you do this too often it could end up messing with you."

Her mana replenished, BURSTOCK infuses one of the apples she has. She gives the apple a small kiss.

"Twenty one HP stored on this badboy now."

BURSTOCK gives the apple to HIGHBALL.

You all move NORTH

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

QM: You now have full health and full mana

HIGHBALL has full HP

BURSTOCK has full HP and 90 mana

>>3802874
Well, I'm all for interesting, but I think I'd be just fine if it came in the form of half-buried treasure or something instead, you know?
Continue north.

>>3802874
"Well I guess I'll trust Highball and you to whump me up side the head if you think I'm doing it too much."

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Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>3802885
As you step into the clearing, BURSTOCK's smile doesn't fade but her eyes do widen and for the first time since you've met her , she raises her voice at all.

Standing in the clearing is something new to you but you suspect, terribly old. A DWARF.
Milky eyed and mad, with webbed fingers and armour irrevocably adhered to its body with ancient filth and gore.

It sniffs you out easily and bellows at you in a language no one knows.


Roll for initiative

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>3802922
Holy shit, that jaw is big enough to crush skulls!

>>3802922
oh gods we're dealing with Artemis Fowl type dwarves aren't we? The kind who chew through the ground and shit out the dirt.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3802922

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3802922
>initing

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>>3802924
The DWARF lumbers forward with bestial speed and savagely bites your arm. 15 points of damage are absorbed by your armour.

>>3802958
Didn't the author introduce a new terrifying feature or two for them in every book? Unhinging jaws, fluorescent saliva and other stuff?

>>3802985
>>3802958
What is this book series you speak of and where can I read it?

>>3802972
See if you can't jam the back end of your crowbar into one of it's eyes while it's close up, half-blinding it for the rest of the encounter!

>>3802989
Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer. Read it at a library, I guess.

>>3802972
Shoot him

>>3802999
Better just shoot him in the eye

Time to bring out the gun

>>3802972
Yeah, on second thought, these guys are right.
>>3803001
>>3803004
Changing my vote to just shooting this thing. I doubt we'll regret it.

>>3802989
'Artemis Fowl' by Eoin Colfer, modern fantasy book series for teens/YA. There's a graphic novel made from the first book and it's getting a movie adaptation this year by Disney too.

>>3802972
Support shooting him

>>3803012
The graphic novel isn't that great in all honesty, I own it and it leaves several interesting and important parts of the original book out. Guess that's the nature of adaptations though.

>>3802972
agreed on the gun, especially if he's still latched onto us with those chompers. Line up the gun with his eye, pull the trigger. Let's give him a lead trepanation.

>>3803018
>>3803012
agreed with these two. I highly recommend reading at least the first book, it's YA fiction before Mockingjay turned the whole thing into a joke, if you are even a moderately competent reader then you'll blow through it in less than a day, if that. It's well worth it for the world building alone.

Series goes down hill after the Infinity Code imo, but the lost isle (or whatever the one involving demons was called) wasn't so bad either.

>>3802999
>>3802985
>>3803019
>>3803017
Oks, this is not the time for a simple (30dmg) gunshot or crowbar thing. Tell HB to do the guillotine thing and we use hell's heart (~140dmg). If not, Burstock should do the smite thing and we empower it (120 dmg).

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>>3803001
>>3803004
>>3803008
>>3803017
You draw the revolver and fire it into DWARF as HIGHBALL attacks with her cleaver.

30 points of damage are absorbed by the DWARF's thick armour.

BURSTOCK turns to you. Actually sounding really into it.

"Unless you have some dwarfstopper bullets, we're either going to have to supercharge our attacks or use magic or both! Magic will bypass armour! It's okay! I'll buy us some time..I think!"

>>3803060
Guess you're right! Let's Hell's Heart it!

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BURSTOCK casts BODILY BETRAYAL on the DWARF.

The DWARF cannot take it's next turn.

BURSTOCK strains a little.

"This is generally only something I can do to ternion species, so this will only work every two turns! Make it count!"

>>3803078
Go with >>3803056

>>3803078
As I said, Let's Hell's Heart the dwarf. After that though, it'll probably be low enough that Highball can GUILLOTINE it.

>>3803078
>>3803085
>Hell's Heart + Blast
Cause hells heart is just a buff

>>3803078
In future we need to bring a bottle of gin or something to throw on big crusty things like this before lighting them on fire.

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>>3803097
>>3803063
>>3803089
You cast HELLS HEART BLAST on the DWARF

Your magic bypasses it armour.

HIGHBALL calls out.

"JOEY!! I'm going for the GUILLOTINE!! Give me some of the magical moxy, yeah?"


[PAUSE]

QM: Back later guys. I'll tweet once I have a comp.

>>3803127
See you later!

>>3803124
We've got an alchemist, we can ask her to make that 'something' once she finishes her current projects.

>>3803124
>Hells Heart on Highball

>>3803135
Dis

>>3803130
>>3803124
On second thought, maybe it is a bad idea to throw that stuff in the forest of all places.

>>3803252
let's create a spell that douses an enemy in accelerant instead

>>3803135
give her some of our magical moxy!

>>3803263
Maybe rediscover one of our earlier moves and get some more of that acid to throw at people? Kinda nasty but gets the job done.

>>3803135
this

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HIGHBALL leaps through the air as you supercharge her attack. She performs her limit break GUILLOTINE

The DWARF's armour absorbs 30 points of damage.

The dwarf has felt it, but it is still standing.

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The DWARF rushes you again and gnaws on your side.

15 damage is negated by your armour.

>>3803510
ouch, are we in need of healing I wonder?

blast him to bits again, this guy is tough

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QM: I'm gone again for a bit.

You're doing well anon. These are just tough.

>>3803510
Ok, if my maths is right we got 33 MP left, so another Hell's Heart Blast is off the table. Hit him with a regular Blast.

>>3803512
Probably, by my numbers we're on 35 HP, so if we take one more hit like that we're gonezo.

>>3803572
can't we whack and then hell+blast?

vita mage can heal us after the whack

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>>3803572
Your are wrong.
We received two attacks (-60hp) spells and used a charged blast (-36mp) and a second charge (-16mp).

Joey
hp: 25/85
mp: 48/100
4/6 bullets loaded, one spare

Burstock
hp: full
mp: 75/90

Apply our gun wizard skills and charge a shot with hell's heart (-16mp). Shots are limited but deal more damage than whacking. Burstock should use an absorb and we will be fine next two rounds. Situation is dire but keep calm. We got this.

>>3803598
Nah, you got HP and MP flipped: we've got 100 max HP and 85 max MP, and we took 65 damage from those two attacks. I like your plan though, need to practice that Gun Wizardry.

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BURSTOCK casts ABSORB transferring your wounds to her. She whimpers slightly.

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

QM: Not back properly. Just getting in BURSTOCK's turn before work.

I look forward to what Joey and Highball do next!

>>3804322
Hells and blast

>>3804326
>>3804322
Also, does HB has anything left to damage it? I don't think her knives can pass the armor, does she have anything else? Maybe she could use our gun

>>3804322
eyup, Hells heart and blast this fucker.
...I do hope this guy is supposed to be the boss and not an introductory fight, though. I don't wanna have to fight multiple dwarves at once, no matter how much loot they might have.

>>3804322
If we have the mana for it, Hell's Heart Blast. If not, Hell's Heart the gun and shoot it.
"Hell's Heart Blast" is such a delightfully anime name for a move I love it

>>3804326
As much as I hate wasting resources like this, yeah. We gotta do that. His DR is rediculous and we can honestly get through his defenses better.

I'm still catching up with the series, but we might need to consider falling back along the path we took (or the fastest path back) and recovering for the nigh then going back in after this, or making camp, or something.

These fights are draining our mojo fast.

>>3804507
We are already half the fight in... there is no point in retreating. We still got a couple health pots, probably one apple or two and one mana pot. We might do well to skip simple fights to save resources on next cells though.

>>3804492
We only got 33mp, casting a 36mp spell might make us faint. Also, a non charged shot might be more efficient:
>Hell's heart blast (70 dmg, 36mp)
>Revolver shot (30 dmg)
>Hell's heart revolver shot (60? dmg, 16mp)
Blast is efficient against multiple targets, shot is strong against a simple one but requires bullets and crowbar is inefficient but cheap.

>>3804136
Yes, you are right.
I estimate the stats of joey as:
hp 100/100
mp 33/85

>>3803078
QM, can we get a side bar that has the map and our current MP and HP in each combat image? It would be easier to keep track of our options that way.

>>3805075
Point, changing my vote to charged gunshot then.

Hopefully charging it will let it bypass the dwarven DR.

>>3805082
the big question is, does it double before the dr, resulting in 90 damage (60 x 2 -30) or does it double after the dr resulting in 60 damage? (60-30 x2)

>>3804322
Ah, dang, I'm late to the party. I vote HHB as our action.
>>3805099
Your notation is wrong in the second one, it should read "(60-30)*2" when following BEDMAS.

>>3805144
well, whatever, but you got what I meant

>>3805144
You still vote for it knowing it's going to knock us out to use it?

Remember Hitting negative mana = passing out. If we pass out I imagine the QM is just going to resolve the fight without us and it could be nasty.

Also it'll worry Highball, and we don't want to do that.

>>3804322
>Health Heart + Revolver Shot

QM: Hey guys, the working week has started so my posting will be patchy, but I'll be around and watching the thread even at times I can't post in it.

I hope it's still fun!

To clear things up:

1. A creatures armour comes off the total damage after all other multipliers. So a bullets damage is doubled THEN the armour comes off.

2. I will, if you like, put up reminders about Joey's HP and MP during combat rounds, but I don't really want to add a HUD to this game if I can help it. I'm already juggling a lot of layers. If you insist, it will be done but if I can just post it along with the image, I would rather do that.

3.The DWARF is a rare and very dangerous mob. It is worth considerably more XP. They are solitary creatures. There are not many in this forest. You just kinda b-lined toward one of them.

I know it seems scary, but I know you've got this.

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>>3805144
>>3805247
I'm tired and misread the mana >>3805075 put up without reading everything else more than a glance. Pic related for my brain right now.
Changing to a charged gunshot.

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Hit enter too fast.

Anyways, is the consensus HELLS HEART GUN SHOT?

or HELLS HEART BLAST?

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You channel HELLS HEART through your REVOLVER, get dangerously close to the dwarf and fire right into it's face.

The DWARF snorts and gurgles, grunting like a camel before taking single step forward then finally keeling over with a mighty thud.

VICTORY

You receive 50 XP
You receive 300 gold
You receive a FIST SIZED SAPPHIRE

>>3805384
>Status check, does anyone need a potion?
>Reload the revolver

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>>3805398
BURSTOCK sets about repeatedly casting WRACK on herself to regain her mana then healing herself until both her stats are returned to normal.

She staggers a little as a little smoke emanates from her body and HIGHBALL steadies her.

BURSTOCK smiles.

"That's a question you should ask yourself, chief."

She flicks open her side pouch and counts three mana potion in it before handing one to you.

"Since you've decided to start using magic, you should take one of these."

You load the SPARE BULLET into your revolver. You have 4 shots.

HIGHBALL sniffs the air.

>>3805403
>Do you smell something, partner?

>>3805408
This
What's up number one?

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>>3805408
>>3805459
HIGHBALL turns to you, her ears pricking up.

"To the north, I smell meat and bones! Other stuff too! Not like a dead body or whatever but it smells like a hash house or something."

She briefly stops her usual finger wiggling to do a chefs kiss.

BURSTOCK looks around.

"Would people actually camp in this place?"

>>3805477
>go north and investigate

>>3805486
This, but sneaki-breeki (as much as one can be in creaki-breekies)

>>3805493
I feel HB would be far better at this. Perhaps we should send her out alone to scout?

>Ask HB about the above. Not gonna force her.

>>3805493
>>3805486
agreed

had pats for the info

>>3805509
against sending her alone, we saw how dangerous shit are around here, even if we are discovered is better to stick together than risk one of us getting ambushed alone

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>>3805486
>>3805493
Your party moves forward as sneaky as they can, but only HIGHBALL is truly stealthy.

Your tight leather pants squeak, and BURSTOCK is too dummy thicc.

Doesn't matter as whoever's camp this is looks up the moment HUGHBALL enters the clearing.

A hairless ork with white eyes, clad in leather and robes looks you up and down and takes a pipe out of their mouth.

They smack their lips, thoughtfully.

"I uh.. got stuff to sell if you want."

>>3805513

Hugball now official nickname.
Thanks Centrefield.

Also sure:

>Interesting shop location. What do you have?

>>3805513
>Ask what's for sale
>Can he share some hunting tips or general info about the area?

>>3805513
Hug hughball

Buy some of those prime ribs for her and the rest of the party

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>>3805547
>Interesting shop location. What do you have?

"Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that. Sticky barbeque ribs, some choice cuts of vrok, boar and goose to take home and prepare how you like. I have some herbs and mushrooms, some dwarf flesh, some hair, harpy feathers...some general mob junk.

They look at the big iron your hip.

"Fancy piece. I can also spare a little ammo if you need it. One shooter to another. Probably cost you more than it would in a city, but well - demand is high out here."

>Can he share some hunting tips or general info about the area?

"I would need you to be more specific, sorry. I tend to apply the same approach to most things I meet here. Arrow arrow, bullet."

They think a moment.

"Arrow arrow bullet boomflask bullet bullet if it's a dwarf though. Those things freak me out."

They watch you hug HIGHBALL.

They push some ribs towards you.

"Get into it, kids. More than I can eat."

>>3805562
Hmm. I've checked the wiki and past threads but couldn't find anything except a single name drop. Sorry if I'm blind but:

>Boomflask? What's it do, and do you have one for sale?

(I'll let another anon decide if we trust the fellow's food)

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>>3805571
>Boomflask? What's it do, and do you have one for sale?

"Alchemical bomb. Chuck at a mob and it'll light em up for 40 damage one turn and 20 the next. Ignores armour. Not without it's risks. I don't know how to make them, but I have three I can spare at 50 gold each."

HIGHBALL slides the ork a small wad of cash.

"Just sold out of boomflasks, sorry."

They say handing 3 spherical bottles to HIGHBALL.

BURSTOCK leans forward and tears off a rib.

The orks's eyes widen and then they politely turn their head and clear their throat.

BURSTOCK chews thoughtfully.

"Not poison. It's a molasses baste I think."

The ork places the pipe in their mouth.

"Pretty weird poisoning a whole rack of boar just in case I can trick someone into eating it."

>>3805577
Eat up, see if we can grab something for the trip

Buy some spare bullets

Ask if he meat our former boss and if it was him that gilled him with bullets

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>>3805579
They nod approvingly while watching the three of you eat.

"Take a few drumsticks. JOONDA here looks like he skipped his last seven breakfasts."

They gesture to you and BURSTOCK chuckles.

>Buy some spare bullets

"If you want to settle up. It'll cost you 36 gold for a pack of 6 normal bullets. 60 gold for a dwarfstopper, 100 gold for a trollstopper."

>Ask if he meat our former boss and if it was him that gilled him with bullets
"The dude with the ugly tie? Wasn't me. I heard a bunch of gunshots and went to check it out from a distance. Saw and elf turning over his body and grabbing fistfuls of cash off him. Dunno what that was all about. She was dressed as a VANGUARD though. So I left her to it."

They shrug.

"I come to this forest, once a fortnight to do some hunting and selling, seems like its buzzing with folk at the moment. All after something else."

>>3805589
You know we've been kinda rude here we should probably do some introductions.

>>3805589
Buy a pack of trollstoppers pne of dwarfstoppers and one of normal bullets

We will need the troll ones when that boss troll comes around

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>>3805612
HIGHBALL nervously takes the initiative, feeling like maybe it's her job.

"Call me Highball, pal. Goblin for hire. EMployee and top gob of this handsome fella. Joey Donuts. CEO of the SIlver LIning. Thigh master over there is Burstock, full tilt Vitamgus."

BURSTOCK bows and curtsys, causing the ork to avert their gaze again.

"Mykonos Shenandoah. For Gars sake just call me Mike."

He taps out his pipe.

"Wanna sit a spell? If you have any broad spectrum questions about this place weird folks you've met, we could swap stories."

>>3805639
>>3805632
This first

Ask if there is anything more dangerous than a dwarf around

Or any structures of caves

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>>3805632
QM: Sorry I should confirm. The dwarfstoppers and trollstoppers are priced EACH.


I gotta go to sleep for now, but please write down any questions you can think of for Mike.

>>3805643
Check wallet

In any case, se should grav at least 2 trollstoppers and a normal set

The dwarfstoppers are not so urgent since we can deal with them.normally I think

>>3805653
My maffs says we got 361 gold, but I dunno if we wanna blow that much on two bullets. Definitely get a pack of regular ones though.

>>3805639
>Do you know anything about the troll that's been hassling a town called Dunnlivin?
See how far afield word of him has spread, if he's known all the way out here this is a bigger problem than we thought.

>Does the name Edgewater mean anything to you?

>What's a VANGUARD?

>>3805653
Get two trollstopper, one normal pack and one dwarfstopper and some ribs. Make it rain!

>>3805668
I'd say Dwarfstoppers are definitely worth our money. We got 300gp from the dwarf so a 60g dwarfstopper is totally worth it.

The big treasure is 500gp and the troll is the big boss. The trollstopers are worth it.

Normal bullets are probably a caution but we better save resources and a bit expensive but nothing to crazy.

>>3805721
I meant to say... the big treasure is 5000

>>3805723
You mean the sapphire? Where'd you see that price for it? If that's the case then we could prolly spring for more trollstoppers, like three at least.

>>3805639
"We encountered some skeletons earlier. Would you know what's their deal?"

>>3805639
"Did you shoot a guy with a stripy tie? We're not his friends, and I get why if you did."

Also I vote one pack of normal, two dwarf stoppers, and two troll stoppers since we plan to end up fighting one at some point. If we get more money then I don't mind getting more.

>>3805736
No, I meant
>>3801114

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QM: Quick post before work.

It seems like

6 Normal
2 dwarfstopper (AP Rounds)
2 trollstopper (Incendiary Rounds)

Is the plan? That leaves you with 5 gold, but fwiw, I think it's a sound investment.

I will post properly after work.

Thanks guys!!

>>3806383
>Is the plan?
+1

>>3806383
It's the plan, I only just got back, but that big old jewel will net us some more cash later I hope and we'll want more troll stopper rounds eventually.

Wonder if your brewer can make such things given the right equipment?

>>3806441
Spend our last 5 coins on hot goblin art

I can't believe anons haven't jumped on this.

>>3805639
"By the by, where else do you go if you come through this forest once a fortnight? We've got an airship and some skilled personnel on it, maybe we could work out a business deal where we meet up and buy all the loot you can't carry out of a given spot? At a fair price, of course."

Since we got a bit of a lull.

Immediate Goals:
>explore the forest to find interesting things
>locate the stash
>Set up for killing the troll boss.

Middle-Distance Goals:
>Buy a diary so we can keep track of this stuff and not lose track.
>Find out Goblin Courtship rituals so we can sweep Best Girl off her feet. Willing to bet a lot of guys won't go to those lengths for a goblin.
>Get the ship outfitted to maximize the abilities of our crew.
>Continue to explore relationship with Highball and see where it goes. hopefully handholding. interlocked fingers and all

Long term goals
>Secure ship's financial future and upgrade it to be awesome.
>Beat the shit out of crazy nobles who want to force everybody into castes again
>(Assuming things work out with Highball) Happy Ending with Highball, preferably in a mansion in the tropics with cute dryads in maid outfits for the female serving staff, and whatever Highball's eyecandy of choice is for the male serving staff.

>>3806528
optional goals I feel we've not really decided upon, but are open to us and need to be investigated more:
>Help our ship's custodian to get cured
>Help our ship's pilot to get over her emotional barriers and enjoy times with the rest of the crew
>Get our ship's brewer an assistant (or at least an automated coffee maker that pipes directly to their office)
>Figure out why our healer has been in a drunken stupor for approximately an entire goddamn decade or more, and if there's anything we can do to help resolve that.

>>3806537
I'd describe those as interpersonal goals rather than optional, a happy crew is a productive crew.

>>3806761
true but we barely know most of these folks and didn't go through the trial by fire with them that we did with Highball.

They seem chill, but we don't know their own ideals or wishes or how best to go about them, or even if these are actually deeply held desires of the crew's. We need to spend more time talking with them.

Thus the 'optional'

>>3806537
These all sound about right. I think our custodian mentioned that he's pretty happy being transformed, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask.

>>3806528
support