THE BASICS Your name is Joey Donuts.You are Grel (half elf, half human}You are a student wizard. You haven't picked your major and you're not licenced to use magic in areas owned by the Grand Ternion Unity. You have 5 spells Blast - Does 6d6+20 energy damage. -MP 20Soar - Launches you up to 12 metres and up to 6 metres forward through the air. You land slowly and safely . -MP 10Wrack - DO 10 damage to yourself to gain 12 MP -free WIZARD HAAAANDS - Manipulate an object you can see but not reach. As strong as you are - MP 10Douse - Extinguish any fire up to the size of a campfire - MP 5Hells Heart - Instantly double the damage of any attack (ranged, magical, or physical) by charging it with magic -MP 16You became the boss of a small, airship based company. Your business partner (who you surprised/impressed by drunkenly kissing last night) is Highball an enterprising goblin for hire.You recently stocked up and geared up in the small town of DUNNLIVIN and hired a Vitamgus (healer) called BURSTOCK.You have just landed in Kiani forrest. Looking for xp and loot.previous threads for more details:1. http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3637272/2. http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3664294/3. http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3718163/This quest is nice and slow so don't panic.Here is the wikia that is chock full of info on the characters, locations and mechanics (and misspellings).https://trust-a-goblin.fandom.com/wiki/Trust_A_Goblin_Wiki
Fuck yes here we go lads
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.
>>3800097change into the Rider outfitstrike a cool pose to HB and ask how do we look
>>3800103This, also check pockets and license for a refresher on what we got.
>>3800103You change into your RIDERS, making sure to transfer everything from the pockets of your THUG LEATHERS.You are carrying:A REVOLVER -holding 6 bulletsA CROWBARA SPARE BULLETA LARGE HEALTH POTIONA SMALL HEALTH POTIONA MANA POTIONA 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.
>>3800122You check your LICENCE Yup, that's you alright. 30 dollarydoos to your name.
>>3800201Let's head there and have some vermouth while we strike a dashing raider pose
>>3800201Summon Burstock later. First we head to Highball's room to replenish our cute goblin-girl energy
>>3800201Check on the blue goo, see if it's started doing anything yet.
>>3800212You 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?"
>>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.
>>3800350Hold a finger up in the universal signal for 'one moment', and hold the jar up to your ear.
>>3800353support[Good to have you back QM]
>>3800353>>3800358You hold up the MYSTERIOUS JAR to your ear and you can hear SURREY's voice.QM: Good to be back anon.
>>3800367Open 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.
>>3800367Deal eith it latter we got some raiding to do to the brige and summon the party
>>3800367This>>3800369
>>3800369Actually, on second thought, just step out ourselves if it's the latter; don't want to be rude.
>>3800415support
>>3800369>>3800412You 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.
>>3800432Wow. 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
>>3800440Sounds good!
>>3800436Wow. 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.'
>>3800472Let's get everyone to go and speak with Lumsden, then. Nothing else to do, eh?
>>3800475support
>>3800475>>3800478You 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.'
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."
>>3800538ok, let's do this
>>3800538Seems straightforward enough so far.
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?'
>>3800583rightgrab whatever potions we can
>>3800583Sounds perfect. You coming, or you minding the ship?
>>3800589support
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%]
>>3800631QM: ANon, you gotta roll.
Rolled 50 (1d100)>>3800634YEET
Rolled 52 (1d100)>>3800625>D. [HUG LUMSDEN IN THANKS] [67%]
>>3800631>>3800634>>3800655Overcome 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."
>>3800698So 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.
>>3800704Nah fuck those guys, we are paying off the contract. Then going legitament and then coming back to fuck them
>>3800704QM: You have the option toIt 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
>>3800742QM: 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 preferredQM: I'm gonna be a little patch from here, so don't panic if I take a while to respond..
>>3800764>East
>>3800764East as well, I guess.
>>3800827>>3800855 You head EASTYou find a large apple tree and two GOPNIKS who seem to be picking them.
>>3800865>less than 3 gopniksHah, they pose no threat!>Attack!
>>3800879very well!. Roll initiative.
Rolled 59 (1d100)>>3800887QM: I should too
Rolled 35 (1d100)>>3800887Ah, okay!
Rolled 47 (1d100)>>3800887
>>3800889>>3800891The GOPNIKS flick out small knives and charge you and BURSTOCK.Your leather armor protects you, but Burstock gets shanked.
>>3800929Damn. Let's return the favor and bring our crowbar down on their skulls!
>>3800936Still 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.
>>3800966Ok, 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.
>>3800970Unfortunately, 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.
The GOPNIK slashes at HIGHBALLIt 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 youGop the gopnik
>>3801076>>3801084You and Highball rush the GOPNIKYou 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.VICTORYYou gained 10xpYou 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
>>3801124You all grab a few apples and head EASTThere 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."
>>3801124I'll second this. Been reading the quest on and off QM, but first time actually commenting. You're doing great.
>>3801153QM: 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.
>>3801150Fire over its head. We need to conserve HP and there might be good shit in these trash piles.
>>3801150>Sneak attack!>Hells Heart Blast!
>>3801169This, let's not get in over our heads.
>>3801177>>3801169You 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...?"
>>3801184Well. Investigate dead body.
>>3801184inspect corpseits the former boss! wohoooo he's dead! maybe he still has his savings with him
>>3801188>>3801189As 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."
>>3801195hmmmlook for tracks, someone was here to kill him
>>3801197There'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.
>>3801205Ask 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 topAsk
>>3801209Support
>>3801209+1
Rolled 45 (1d100)>>3801209>>3801216>>3801220BURSTOCK 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..."
>>3801225Our crowbar will come in hamdy here, maybe they are vulnerable to bashingMaybe ask the mage to heal them, that kills them right?
>>3801227QM: 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
>>3801235QM: You;re up to bat anon!Any advice for your team or do you trust them?
Trust them
>>3801254Trust them it's fine , bash the fuckers
>>3801254Second on trusting them. Hit the skellies with a blast.
>>3801259>>3801262You charge and hit one of the skeletons with your crowbar.HIGHBALL grabs fistfulls of skewers from her harness and does her LIMIT BREAK BLADE HAILThe skeletons receive 20 damage each as assorted small blades pierce and crack their bones.
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.
>>3801307Focus attack on one of them to kill it quick
Rolled 30 (1d100)>>3801227support 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 potionsBurstock HP/SPHighball HP
>>3801314support
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 turnYou have:SIX BULLETSONE SMALL HEALTH POTIONONE LARGE HEALTH POTIONONE MANA POTIONBURSTOCK 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.
>>3801324don't we have a Kamehameha?
>>3801333You 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_WikiDOn'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.>>3801076I think we picked apples (hopefully). After combat we can ask Burstock to imbue them to get mini health pots.
>>3801333>>3801337Save 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!
>>3801340support
Rolled 41 (1d100)>>3801340forgot to roll
>>3801343QM: 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?
>>3801349QM: perhaps you'll meet someone who knows
>>3801352I just recalled that Baron had skeleton employees. Might ask him later.
Rolled 37 (1d100)Rollan for ravenbar
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!
>>3801366Lets use one of our six bullets to bring one skeleton down. We have a gun for a reason and we can spare one bullet.
>>3801382If the one we're whacking is about to go down why not just save the bullet?
>>3801382Five 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.
>>3801366Keep crowingbaringThey are like stabby training dummies
sounds good, change from>>3801382to>>3801392I 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 heartHave fun anons, I got to go.Also kudos to you QM.
when do we get to fuck the goblin?
>>3801650Patience young padawan
The remaining skeletons shamble forward and attack Highball.
BURSTOCK casts ABSORB, transferring all of HIGHBALL's current damage to herself.Your go, anon!
>>3802259Crowbar!
>>3802261This, mash the motherfuckers.
>>3802261SMASH THEM WITH THE CROWBAR OF GREAT JUSTICE
We need to see if we can get this crowbar enchanted or something somewhere down the line.
>>3802413can we get it enchanted with Axiomatic and Celestial for JUSTICE?>do axiomatic moral alignments even exist in this setting?
>>3802261>>3802281>>3802319HIGHBALL 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.
>>3802578Suplex the skeleton
The last skeleton makes a final stab at HIGHBALL.BURSTOCK casts HEAL THYSELF
>>3802614Let's wack him in the collar bone! Can't stab if he don't got no shoulders!
>>3802631alternatively we could suplex the skeleton.:>
>>3802634We're a spindly wizard boi. Suplexing is for guys with hair on their chests and muscles the size of your mum.
>>3802614>>3802614I agree, no shoulders, no problem
>>3802638Skeletons are also really light. This is our one opportunity!
>>3802646or 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.
>>3802651God, we're gonna be as old as your mum by the time we're capable of that.
>>38026also 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.
>>3802659that's why we invest in a phylactery and take the lich route.Buff Lich.
>>3802661How does it work
>>3802667MAGIC
QM: Can we get a tie breaker on whether we're hitting the skeleton or suplexing it?
Rolled 2 (1d2)>>3802688well 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)
>>3802688guess 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?
>>3802696The dice have spoken. I for one look forward to muscle lichdom so let's move on
>>3802688>collarbone smash
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.VICTORYYou receive 14 GOLDYou receive 36 XP
>>3802739time for ghostbuster walk victory poses?
>>3802753QM: Ain't drawn them, sorry. I will amend this at some stage.
>>3802760ah, c'est la vie.
>>3802739Hmm. Let's head north for now then, see what's up that ways.
>>3802739do 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.
>>3802823>>3802777>>3802767>>3802763BURSTOCK 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 manaHIGHBALL has full HPBURSTOCK has full HP and 90 mana
>>3802874Well, 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."
Rolled 31 (1d100)>>3802885As 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)>>3802922Holy shit, that jaw is big enough to crush skulls!
>>3802922oh 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
>>3802924The DWARF lumbers forward with bestial speed and savagely bites your arm. 15 points of damage are absorbed by your armour.
>>3802958Didn't the author introduce a new terrifying feature or two for them in every book? Unhinging jaws, fluorescent saliva and other stuff?
>>3802985>>3802958What is this book series you speak of and where can I read it?
>>3802972See 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!>>3802989Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer. Read it at a library, I guess.
>>3802972Shoot him
>>3802999Better just shoot him in the eyeTime to bring out the gun
>>3802972Yeah, on second thought, these guys are right.>>3803001>>3803004Changing 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.
>>3802972Support shooting him
>>3803012The 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.
>>3802972agreed 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>>3803012agreed 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>>3803017Oks, 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).
>>3803001>>3803004>>3803008>>3803017You 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!"
>>3803060Guess you're right! Let's Hell's Heart it!
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!"
>>3803078Go with >>3803056
>>3803078As 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 + BlastCause hells heart is just a buff
>>3803078In future we need to bring a bottle of gin or something to throw on big crusty things like this before lighting them on fire.
>>3803097>>3803063>>3803089You cast HELLS HEART BLAST on the DWARFYour 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.
>>3803127See you later!
>>3803124We've got an alchemist, we can ask her to make that 'something' once she finishes her current projects.
>>3803124>Hells Heart on Highball
>>3803135Dis
>>3803130>>3803124On second thought, maybe it is a bad idea to throw that stuff in the forest of all places.
>>3803252let's create a spell that douses an enemy in accelerant instead
>>3803135give her some of our magical moxy!
>>3803263Maybe rediscover one of our earlier moves and get some more of that acid to throw at people? Kinda nasty but gets the job done.
>>3803135this
HIGHBALL leaps through the air as you supercharge her attack. She performs her limit break GUILLOTINEThe DWARF's armour absorbs 30 points of damage.The dwarf has felt it, but it is still standing.
The DWARF rushes you again and gnaws on your side.15 damage is negated by your armour.
>>3803510ouch, are we in need of healing I wonder?blast him to bits again, this guy is tough
QM: I'm gone again for a bit.You're doing well anon. These are just tough.
>>3803510Ok, 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.>>3803512Probably, by my numbers we're on 35 HP, so if we take one more hit like that we're gonezo.
>>3803572can't we whack and then hell+blast?vita mage can heal us after the whack
>>3803572Your are wrong.We received two attacks (-60hp) spells and used a charged blast (-36mp) and a second charge (-16mp).Joeyhp: 25/85 mp: 48/1004/6 bullets loaded, one spareBurstockhp: fullmp: 75/90Apply 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.
>>3803598Nah, 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.
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!
>>3804322Hells and blast
>>3804326>>3804322Also, 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
>>3804322eyup, 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.
>>3804322If 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
>>3804326As 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.
>>3804507We 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.>>3804492We 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.>>3804136Yes, you are right.I estimate the stats of joey as:hp 100/100mp 33/85>>3803078QM, 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.
>>3805075Point, changing my vote to charged gunshot then.Hopefully charging it will let it bypass the dwarven DR.
>>3805082the 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)
>>3804322Ah, dang, I'm late to the party. I vote HHB as our action.>>3805099Your notation is wrong in the second one, it should read "(60-30)*2" when following BEDMAS.
>>3805144well, whatever, but you got what I meant
>>3805144You 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.
>>3805144>>3805247I'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.
Hit enter too fast.Anyways, is the consensus HELLS HEART GUN SHOT?or HELLS HEART BLAST?
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.VICTORYYou receive 50 XPYou receive 300 goldYou receive a FIST SIZED SAPPHIRE
>>3805384>Status check, does anyone need a potion?>Reload the revolver
>>3805398BURSTOCK 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?
>>3805408ThisWhat's up number one?
>>3805408>>3805459HIGHBALL 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
>>3805486This, but sneaki-breeki (as much as one can be in creaki-breekies)
>>3805493I 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>>3805486agreedhad pats for the info
>>3805509against 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
>>3805486>>3805493Your 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."
>>3805513Hugball 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?
>>3805513Hug hughballBuy some of those prime ribs for her and the rest of the party
>>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."
>>3805562Hmm. 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)
>>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."
>>3805577Eat up, see if we can grab something for the tripBuy some spare bulletsAsk if he meat our former boss and if it was him that gilled him with bullets
>>3805579They 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."
>>3805589You know we've been kinda rude here we should probably do some introductions.
>>3805589Buy a pack of trollstoppers pne of dwarfstoppers and one of normal bulletsWe will need the troll ones when that boss troll comes around
>>3805612HIGHBALL 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>>3805632This firstAsk if there is anything more dangerous than a dwarf aroundOr any structures of caves
>>3805632QM: 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.
>>3805643Check walletIn any case, se should grav at least 2 trollstoppers and a normal setThe dwarfstoppers are not so urgent since we can deal with them.normally I think
>>3805653My 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?
>>3805653Get two trollstopper, one normal pack and one dwarfstopper and some ribs. Make it rain!>>3805668I'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.
>>3805721I meant to say... the big treasure is 5000
>>3805723You 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.
>>3805736No, I meant >>3801114
QM: Quick post before work.It seems like 6 Normal2 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
>>3806383It'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?
>>3806441Spend 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 allLong 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.
>>3806528optional 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.
>>3806537I'd describe those as interpersonal goals rather than optional, a happy crew is a productive crew.
>>3806761true 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'
>>3806537These 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.
>>3806528support
>>3806383Question for the QM?At what point in time, compared to the deaths of Viktor Diolen and Grigori Steerpike, are we at? And is this cabal of jackasses trying to undo the work of Jehuuti Luton in any way related to the benefactor of the two men of evil science?And more importantly though I would never -dream- of harem building unless Highball is the one who decides to start collecting cute gals/guys first are we currently in a landscape where there are 3 ladies for every one man?
>>3807188and will we get a chance to meet the ponce with the boiled off face so we can show him a mirror?
>>3807188>>3807194Where is this additional lore coming from?
Mike hands over 6 normal bullets, 2 trollstoppers and 2 dwarfstoppers. "If you have a revolving chamber on your gun, it can be good to have one of each special shot loaded in there. You can manually spin the barrel and it wont count as a turn, but if you need to eject existing bullets before you load in the special rounds, that'll use up your turn same as if you were reloading. Plan ahead.">Ask if there is anything more dangerous than a dwarf around Or any structures of caves"Depending on your point of view, harpies are more dangerous. They're the only permanent fixture of this forest that's even close to as dangerous as dwarves. There are no real structures or caves within this forest but there's a bunch in this area. You'd need a local map""There's one in my room." Burstock says.>Do you know anything about the troll that's been hassling a town called Dunnlivin? "Not a huge amount. He's big, but not big for a troll. He's got a bunch of bandits, thugs and gopniks working for him either through money or intimidation. He's probably going after DUNNLIVIN because it's small but has a lot buyfuglian to poach and sell. Or keep his troops fed. Think he's just getting started.">Does the name Edgewater mean anything to you?"That's the troll's name, yeah.">What's a VANGUARD?"Hilariously, they're not really vanguards. They're basically like the SATS (cops) except they keep an eye on nature and the uncivilised territories instead of the cities. They're mostly used to observe and report incursions of monsters and undesirables that are getting too close. They also enforce, as much as they can, their own form of justice. If someone's trying to burn down a forest or if a criminal escapes the civilised lands and flees back to nature, chances are it's a VANGUARD who will find them and deal with them. They're generally solo operatives deployed from a central station and generally have a mount. Cool guys. Dangerous, though.">"We encountered some skeletons earlier. Would you know what's their deal?"I kept wondering if it was The Baron's doing as he's powerful enough and mad enough to be a lich, but seems kinda unambitious and easy going. Don't think he'd just randomly summon skeletons. I've heard casters like you guys swear blind that they saw the EVERKING in this forest. But I don't buy that.""Did you shoot a guy with a stripy tie? We're not his friends, and I get why if you did."Mike looks around, disbelievingly."Are you...are you serious..? ">"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. "Sounds good. Shit, I'll even trade you services and goods just for transport and shelter if that works for you."
>>3807188I wanna say, this is as much the present day as "Bok the Neutral" is. Post contagion outbreak. SO yeah, more blooches with jobs - less dudes in general. I wanna say 1/4 not 3/4? In terms of meeting established characters - I dunno. Too much risk of a paradox.>>3807214Some here.https://www.deviantart.com/mr-culexus/gallery/12423263/bok-the-neutral
>>3807260I think I'm good, how about east?
>>3807286QM: You are presently at the most northeast point of the map, I'm afraid.I'm just gonna see if anyone else has anything to say or ask. I know my timing is weird for most people.
>>3807298wellthat <---- way then
>>3807298>>3807307West then
>>3807298Let's sweep the right side>go west
Rolled 59 (1d100)>>3807286>>3807307>>3807312>>3807313MIKE nods."Oh okay then! Eager to get back it! Good luck out there! Come back anytime."You move WEST along the top of the forest. You come across three THUGS. Each of them holds a PERCUSSION PISTOL and has a BATON at their hip.They are hostile.Roll initiative.
QM: As a heads up.HP: 100/100MP:17/100
Rolled 22 (1d100)>>3807342No whammies!
Rolled 13 (1d100)We shpuld use our blast in our turnThen we keep shooting and drink a mana potion after the fight
Rolled 11 (1d100)>>3807342Time for a gunfighthttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AFa1-kciCb4
The bandits each open fire.Your turn
Rolled 43 (1d100)>>3807360Return fire.Also is there any way we could learn to do gun tricks like 'fanning' the hammer?
>>3807362QM: Yes. What you choose to do before bed (assuming you have enough XP) will determine which of your skills improve.
>>3807360>Hells Heart + Revolver shot
HIGHBALL performs her LIMIT BREAKRED PANICShe hurls a boning knife at the rightmost THUG slashing open their inner thigh. If they try to make an action next turn, they will take 50 bleed damage.
>>3807371>>3807362>>3807359You charge HELLS HEART through your trusty revolver. The shot tears a fist sized hole through the THUG's face spraying blood and sparks (as well as many teeth) in all directions.He keels over gurgling and smoking.The remaining thugs have taken a DEBUFF to their physical attacks.You smirk, but your vision starts to blur. You feel sick.HP:75MP1/85AMMO:3/6
>>3807383shoot the bleeding bandid if he doesn't go down, if he does, shoot the other one
BURSTOCK casts BODILY BETRAYAL the left THUG may not move next turn.
>>3807383Try to finish off the wounded one.
The rightmost THUG takes releases his grip from his bleeding inner thigh, but promptly bleeds out after taking only a few steps forward.The leftmost THUG still can't move!!
>>3807414>Bum rush him!
>>3807414Crowbar
>>3807414Put thug in to a Full Nelson and let Hugball go town.
>>3807430>>3807434>>3807449You clobber the THUG across the face with your crowbar before looping it under his neck an pulling back, choking him.HIGHBALL makes meat confetti of his midsection."Don't ever gat on my squeeze ya biddlestiff looking skazwag!!" she seethes as the elf tries in vain to get his intestines back inside him before falling face first into a pool of his own viscera.VICTORYLOOT:45 GOLD6 BULLETS45 XPOPTIONAL:3 single shot pistols3 batons1 small health potionQM: Off to bed again, sorry. Please discus.
>>3807476Single shot pistols are great backup weapons when you don't have time to reload you revolver.
>>3807262>Too much risk of a paradox.I am both disappointed, and relieved by this answer.
>>3807476Take the pistols and the health potion
>>3807476rest well GM
>>3807476>"Don't ever gat on my squeeze ya biddlestiff looking skazwag!!">headpat best girl, sneak in an ear rub if she'll let us
>>3807476Should we Wrack ourselves and do healing potion?
>>3807527probably the wisest course of action.We should probably see if we can track down that treasure first and foremost. Did we get any clues as to where it might be?Cause if not then I'd suggest we find a gobnick to interogate.
>>3807523>ear rubniceHB our hero, kek>>3807476is there a camp mechanic so we can restore some hp and mp?
>>3807545I think we can camp out with Mike, though I don't know if it has a mechanical effect.We should probably take up on his offer for services and goods for transport and shelter.
>>3807476Pocket the guns and the potion if we can carry em, then >>3807527Offer a gun and a couple bullets each to HB and Burstock, see if they want one as backup?
I think we found who killed Chesapeake.Fill the revolver, put two dwarf stoppers and fill the rest with normal ammo. We don't expect to meet the troll until we find the treasure and light the signal.Offer a major hp pot to Burstock, she might welcome the respite and save some mp. Offer one minor hp to HB.We should take the mp potion and an apple.We are doing fine but we should be careful about resources... each cell takes its tool and in a few cells we will be tired and we will still need to face the troll and make our way back to the ship.Talk by the mutterbottle> Hey Surrey, got any mp pots or useful stuff there? If so, check with Lumsden to see if airdroping something is a possible. We can find our way to the airdrop location.
>>3807715it would be better to give her an mp bottle and let her use the heal self spell, we should save that big potion for an emergency
>>3807744It is a trade-off, we got no mp and she will eventually run dry, so the options are:A) taking the mp pot and continue with less healing.B) give the mp pot and continue with less firepower.Both Burstock and we can wrack to get mp but I suspect it has a limit to how much we can do it. She already warned us about that overdoing the wrack thing.
>>3807811I mean because she has 2 more mp pots on herself, not counting our pot, we should drink our pot
>>3807837good point this.I'd say chow on some apples, each down some pots, see what happens next.Out of curiosity can we wait while Highball sneaky-scouts other areas? Or is she not good at sneaky scouting in forests as opposed to urban environs, They -are- very different skill sets.Let's just ask her.
>>3807860>fucker I just realized that housefly transmog potion would be fantastic for scouting out tiles depending on how long it lasted.
>>3807862using transmogs are a bad idea
>>3807889No, they're -dangerous- it's not the same thing.
>>3807925Nah I'm with that anon, basically everything about them screams Bad News.
>>3807971pretty sure they can be made without slaughtering people, they need magical blood and rare monster materials.Those are just -easier- to get out of mages and citizenry 'monsters' like goblins from what I gathered.It was a cost-benefit thing for Chesapeake, like he said. Incredibly high value for something that was relatively easy to get if one was willing to sink low enough and take a big enough risk involving kidnapping folks.Tons of magical creatures out there, any of them would have made good potion bases. None of them were as easy to grab as some mage kid off the street.
>>3807995also not saying we go back to making those (cost/benefit is out there without a solid supply of materials and the illegality thing), but we shouldn't just throw out what we got. We can always just sell the housefly potion, but you gotta admit say an eagle transmog potion would be hella useful if taken at full health?
>>3807494And then we have to pick up all the pistols at the end of the fights too. Kek
>>3808137They're decent improvised cudgels too, stick something sharp on the end and you can have an axe like Zack.
>>3808137honestly flint locks are a bit heavy for hold out weapons.
>>3808237This leads me to an interesting idea. Could we learn to reload pistols using wizard hands?Something more serious like dual wielding with the wizard hands is probably going to take practice. Just using to to save a turn reloading for 10 MP sounds useful, however.
>>3808275I'd honestly say that I'd prefer to buy more revolvers and some quick draw holsters rather than that. We seem to be going for a skirmisher battle wizard build. I suspect we'll be going muscle wizard in the end.
>>3808275QM: You'd still have to cast the spell though.I mean, don't get me wrong, it'd be an amazing flex to telekinetically reload your gun but not actually save you any time.>>3807860This is an option. She will only be in any danger if the next grid contains a dwarf and there is only one more in this forest, so the odds are in her favour.Also, there is no TROLL in this forest. He would only come here if his team lights a signal fire and even then it would take him a bit.Sorry for the lack of real post before work. I like the sort of plans you guys are making.
>>3808303if his team lights a signal fire we'll need to vamoose for wherever it is, it'll take him a while to get here, but we can manage it easily before he does, dig up the thing, and get the hell away from here for a while, fall back to the town by a circuitous route leading any gopnicks observing the air ship by the lake to think we went a different direction.
>>3808303Well, there's still a dwarf around and I intend to clean sweep this forest so let's not send her as a scout before we get that other dwarfDrink and mp and give a small hp for HB
>>3808375I mean is there anything that keeps us from vamoosing away? And again, I'd at least ask her if she's got good forestcraft before we make a decision.If she's more urban sneaky and less general sneaky then it's a no go but otherwise it'd be stupid not to try to get more intel.
Friendly reminder not to ignore highball or we'll get fucked.Also, we should at least take one drop of mana at all times. Reason is simple; Trollstopper Bullet + Hell's Heart = Big damage on little troll man.And remember, we can still load the trollstopper in during combat, as it doesn't take an action iirc. So putting it into one of the weaker guns feels kind of cheap and not as good an option.Ergo, I say:>Drink an MP potion>Check our ID to see how much health we have out of our total.>Give HB babe a health potion, so she can drink it down if she takes too much during combat and Burstock can't spread her heals out.
>>3808630agreedand don't forget to rub ear and comment on the squeeze comment
>>3808630Seems like a sound plan.
>>3807476Compilation for the QM>Step 1: Give Highball affectionate head pats and an ear rub if she'll let us because she's fucking adorable and we love her when she gets protective/possessive.>Step 2: Drink an MP potion>Step 3: Check our ID to see how much health we have out of our total>Step 4: Give HB a HP potion so she can drink it down when she feels the need.>Step 5: Ask HB if she's got the forest-craft to be stealthy in the woods or if she's more of an urban sneaker. We don't want her risking herself scouting ahead if she's not used to this sorta area, but intel would be helpful.
>>3809157>>3808630>>3808651All this. Also. While we grind we could focus on finding another person to recruit. We need a tank to even the party out.
Okay, let's see if we can't figure this out.BURSTOCK absorbs your damage, heals herself and then infuses all five remaining apples. BURSTOCK drinks one of her two mana potions.HIGHBALL tends to herself with some SUTURE KITS and the apple BURSTOCK blessed earlier, to bring herself back to full health.You drink a mana potion.You thank HIGHBALL and hug her, giving her a small rub on her ears as you break away. Her body stiffens with surprise before she relaxes and purrs a little. She glances at you and mouths something.HIGHBALL accepts your small health potion for later use.You all now have full health and full manaQM: Regarding the special ammo.IMPORTANTIf you already have the special bullets in the cylinder (like 4 normal, one troll stopper , one dwarfstopper) you can rotate the cylinder to the appropriate ammo before you fire as a free action. If you have to open the gun to manually load the special ammo in THAT counts as your turn.Hokay, mechanically I think we're catching up.
>>3809281oklet's keep heading Westbut before we go reload the revolver with 4 normals and two dwarf
>>3809281This>>3809297
>>3809297Sorry, I forgot.You ask HIGHBALL whether she's okay to sneak through jungle environments.HIGHBALL clicks her fingers twice, handsprings towards you, dives through your legs, climbs up your back and then slides down your front. SHe smiles and looks up at you."I'm sneaky like a snap trap from snow to the ghetto, Nabob. If it's anything but a dwarf, I'll see it coming first. It's tiring being sneaky, so I can only do this like, three times - cause I scouted earlier. But you can count on me to be sneaky like."
>>3809297agreed
>>3809312Given this information, lets hold off on having her scout until we’re near the edge of the map again.
>>3809312let's go west then
>>3809313>>3809316>>3809315You go WEST. Life is peaceful there.You see a large, apparently very full back pack and a a large hide ground bed.
>>3809324investigate for trapslift the hide to see if it's....hiding(snicker) somethingsee if the bag has any ID, if it doesn't lets check it's contents, maybe its the ex boss camp
>>3809326Or we could take a few steps back and empty the pack with our WIZARD HAAAAANDS
>>3809326You give the pack a cursory push and it doesn't budge. HIGHBALL pats around the bed.You begin to take the slightest peak into the main section of the backpack, you wince as it appears to be filled with spheres of solid granite, weighing hundreds of kilos.A sudden voice snaps you out of your confusion. The voice is gentle, but has a certainty to it.
>>3809334"Hi, is this your camp?""My name's Joey, this is Highball and Burstock"See if she introduces herself"We are exploring here, mind if I ask you what you do around here?"
>>3809334"I see. This pack must belong to a stoner!"
>>3809324Damn you for making me remember that song.
>>3809354>"Hi, is this your camp?"" It is, yes. If you can call it that. I am sorry I have nothing to share with you, boy. Unless you think there is any knowledge you think I could impart"(she pronounces 'boy' oddly, kind makes it two syllables. WHatever)>"My name's Joey, this is Highball and Burstock"She takes the time to shake your and BURSTOCK's hands but does a fingerpistol at HIGHBALL who responds in kind."It is nice to meet you all. My name is Richter. It's a mononym I adopted at the end of my training."BURSTOCK nods."Neat. I've heard of people doing that.">"We are exploring here, mind if I ask you what you do around here?""Of course you may. I was here because though my pilgrimage is over, my journey is ceaseless. The iron compels me to seek those who need help or a task that makes me sweat. The mind must also be exercised as much as the body. There is much to learn in this world."She gazes skyward, thoughtfully and sighs.>"I see. This pack must belong to a stoner!She snickers.
>>3809378>We're here to train as well. Bandits are planning to attack the nearby town, so we came to the forest to gain some experience before confronting them. They are led by a troll.>Would you help us with our task and join our group?
>>3809406This. We should also consider inviting her to join our crew once this is over.
>>3809406>We're here to train as well. Bandits are planning to attack the nearby town, so we came to the forest to gain some experience before confronting them. They are led by a troll.RICHTER rests a hand on your shoulder. "Truly a good reason. You may have only started your journey, but your heart beats true. You may still be weak in body, but you have already embraced the iron and felt its truth. Your spirit is strong and your goals are admirable. A troll can be dangerous indeed. They cannot be allowed to threaten the good small people of this world."RICHTER stands back and clenches her fists. There is a distant peel of thunder."It will not do.">Would you help us with our task and join our group?RICHTER smiles down at you."Of course. It will be another step on my journey. Iron or not - so long as you are kind and true, I will fight along side you, Joseph."RICHTER folds up her bed into her backback , which she then lifts like it was nothing. BURSTOCK whistles."Any other time, I would worry about joining a party this size. Though well intentioned, you are young - and may struggle to fight along so many at once. But for here in this forest, you have my hands."RICHTER has joined your party and will now have red text when she speaks.QM: In game terms, you can't usually have a 4 person party. It's just being allowed until you leave the forest.
>>3809443"thank you for your help""So, how did you get this....big? in a flattering way of course""I imagine you fight with your fists, am I'm mistaken? I could use some pointers on how to do it properly"talk while continuing going West
>>3809450You continue going west, where RICHTER had just been. There is nothing here save for smouldering chunks of bone and twisted scraps of weaponry. Still glowing embers and ash drift through the air.RICHTER clears a path through the remnants of the bodies dismissively. "Bandits." she shrugs.>"thank you for your help""I have not even begun to help yet, but I thank you for the opportunity to do so.">"So, how did you get this....big? in a flattering way of course""My height was passed down to me from my mama. My thew, my strength came with my pilgrimage and with my devotion to the iron. Know your body, your organs and how they correspond to the five gods, the five spheres, the animals fishes and birds of this world. Travel the globe and tackle the elements. It will make anyone strong. If they can be.">"I imagine you fight with your fists, am I'm mistaken? I could use some pointers on how to do it properly"RICHTER chuckles good naturedly. "You are not mistaken, boy. It is not my way to fight with weapons. It seems to be yours, so I cannot teach you to fight as I fight, but I do not doubt I can help you."
>>3809474all the way westpst, hey, HB...I bet if you sit on my shoulders we can be bigger than her.
>>3809488You continue heading WEST.HIGHBALL remarks covertly to you that its kind of a shame RICHTERS hair is so long that it hides her caboose.>pst, hey, HB...I bet if you sit on my shoulders we can be bigger than her."I gave up worrying about being tall a bit back, Doughy Joey, besides I know you've been working out - don't think I haven't noticed - but if I sit on your shoulders for more than a minute you'll still fold faster than an elf at a blackjack table."She smiles at you fondly and mouths the same thing to you as she did earlier.~'later."~
QM: Calling it a night for now. Busy days.This is a good chance for you to do any Q&A with your party actually, as the next grid space is also not dangerous. You'll see.For your patience, his is some Lumsden from patreon.
>>3809526damn, almost got her kek"I'll hold you to that"Ask the big one where she's from, and ask how old is she, she keeps calling us boyask how Burstock is, she has been casting non-stop, tell her to let us know if she needs a rest or something she can tell usas for our little ball of cute and sexy, tell her next time we pass a lake or a fountain she are using those tights ar earmuffs since the water can help us out
>QM: In game terms, you can't usually have a 4 person party. It's just being allowed until you leave the forest.We can clear more of this forest now that there are more of us. HB, use your gob skills and be sneaky, scout while we clear the path straight ahead. Be careful partner, If in trouble or if you find the troll's stash come to us.Rub her head and let her go.> This way there will be 3 of us fighting and we get intel on other cells.
>>3809664I'm still against sending her alone while we haven't dealt with the other dwarf, and she mentioned that she will get tired a lot faster doing it
>>3809530While harem route is forboden since Highball is our numero uno lady gob. We'll need to convince lumsden and the other lovely ladies for hotsprings episode time.
>>3809542We should check on burstock. Also agree with the lake and thigh-ears idea
>>3809281Request that you confirm that we want to shoot a special round BEFORE we shoot it if we're down to our last two rounds.
I say we wait and see whats in the next cell before making anymore decisions.
>>3809542>as for our little ball of cute and sexy, tell her next time we pass a lake or a fountain she are using those tights ar earmuffs since the water can help us outdid I miss something? What'll water help us with?
>>3809731oh wait, I get it now.Business before pleasure guys. Remember, we're parked by a lake, no reason to get undressed, do shenanigans, dry out, then get dressed again.We -are- on a timelimit. A big timelimit, but a timelimit never the less.We can come back for a vacay later.
>>3809664think this is a terrible idea.We should do it logically. We send her one ahead, then she signals for us to come along behind her.We'll need another gabbing jar for our network it appears, that would have been VERY useful right now.No splitting the party to this extent.>>3809672Point, but we haven't even covered half of the area yet.I vote we continue to make a circuit around the place. circling inward. Highball scouting ahead.>pic related. Red for the path we've taken, blue for the most efficient path to exploring the remainder of the forest.
>>3809733that is a comment, and if there is water we shall sieze the momentum>>3809748again, while I agree with the exploration path I'm against sending HB ahead because there is still a dwarf out there AND she will get tired doing so, stick together, we can beat anything the forest throws at us if we fight together, the dwarf was the most dangerous monster around
>>3809757>the dwarf was the most dangerous monster aroundDon't forget the Harpies. With them flying high in the sky HB might be like a rabbit to their eye.
>>3809748Honestly I feel like the scouting is a bit of an excessive precaution, given with this party we can probably steamroll most anything this forest has for us. Path looks good though.>>3809733Second on this, let's save the rendezvous for after work. Don't wanna seem overeager. Besides, we've got too much company now, hardly very romantic.
>>3810042you guys do realized that it was just a comment to tease her and we are not dropping everything we are doing here at the forest right now to do that right?just that when we have time water shenanigans with HB are on the table
>>3810055nope I didn't, because there was nothing to indicate that it wasn't a solid plan, sorta hard to tell in text environment.
>poster we probably saw at a formative age
>>3810042Agreed. We’re a good 4 man party strong, we can take on just about anything. Center is literally giving us an easy dungeon on a silver platter, lets not waste it and revel in the glory of the BOSS and his squad taking down shit with style.>>3810095100%. Wonder if the general store necromancer dude has this in secret supply...
>>3810196>Agreed. We’re a good 4 man party strong, we can take on just about anything. Center is literally giving us an easy dungeon on a silver platter, lets not waste it and revel in the glory of the BOSS and his squad taking down shit with style.okay that's fair. I retract my statement on the scouting thing then.
>>3810196Oks, so the plan is to go breaking up reality by fighting in a 4 member party and demolishing anything opposing us? I'm fine with that as long as the universe doesn't collapse from the paradox.
>>3810390I mean center quite literally told us that this is the one time we get to do this, running around with a 4 man party. Might as well take the chance.
>>3810418gotta get the team work poster before we can do it regularly.
Your whole party moves to the NORTH EAST corner of the forest. As you walk you talk to all of them.First, you talk to HIGHBALL.>"I'll hold you to that"She winks at you. "I'll hold you down."She makes a small growling noise.>ask how Burstock is, she has been casting non-stop, tell her to let us know if she needs a rest or something she can tell usBURSTOCK shakes her head."Nah, skip. I'm just outta practice. Been forever since I've had to wrack, and I've had to do it a lot today. I'll be fine, I just need to stock up on mana pots next time I can. "She thinks a moment."DOn't worry about making them in the company lab. I'll just buy them. I'm good for it.">sk the big one where she's from, and ask how old is she, she keeps calling us boy "I was born in Speyside, on the northen parts of the central band, I have not been back, since my pilgrimage began. I have truthfully lost track of time, but I believe I am 28 years old this year."She smiles at you."I call you boy because it is what you appear to be. I meant it affectionately. Is there a moniker you would prefer?"You all step into the clearing. There are no enemies here but there is a natural mana stream.RICHTER nods at it. "A rare and beautiful natural occurrence. This is only the second I have seen in my life."BURSTOCK laughs heartily."Gar dang it! We coulda used THIS earlier!"
>>3811314refil our mana to the maxis it possible to try and "store" some of it with an empty potion bottletell the big one boy is fine I was just curiousburstock will need a tight massage after all this walking, we need to volunteer to make sure she doesn't recruit HB for it, HB can come too actuallyhead South after we are finished
Rolled 55 (1d100)>>3811316You and BURSTOCK are all mana'd up and you are unable to bottle the stream.RICHTER steps into the stream and sighs with relief as she flexes her fingers.HIGHBALL sticks her head into the stream and makes a noise like shes in front of an oscillating desk fan.You head south and meet more SKELETONSIt's on anon, start rolling.
Rolled 28 (1d100)>>3811326
>>3811326>>3811329The skeletons shamble forward and attack.The skeleton is unable to stab through your armour.HIGHBALL was shanked.RICHTER casts BLOCK and the dagger blunts itself on her forearm, like it was hitting an anvil.
>>3811336Crowbar time baby, let's fuck em up.
>>3811336blast them, it's good aoe and we are next to the mana thing, we just do a trip up and down at the end
>>3811344That's a good point actually, hit them with a HHB.
>>3811344Suppin'
>>3811344>>3811346>>3811352You clench your fists letting mana build in both before launching a devastating attack, you find yourself getting into it and bellow :HELLS HEART BLAST!!!The skeletons rattle and crumble as your magic rips through them.
>>3811362SHOW OFFkeklet's do a quick trip to the mana thing then south and south again
HIGHBALL clamber up your back and launches herself through the air before throwing steel skewers in all directions.LIMIT BREAK!BLADE HAILThe skeletons are reduced to powder.RICHTER laughs"what do you need me here for? That was awesome!"VICTORYYou got 30 xpYou got 15 gold
>>3811372high five the gobthen do this >>3811368
>>3811372There's a chance to meet these skeletons again but let's roll with >>3811380
>>3811380You do just that, you high five HIGHBALL before you and RICHTER recharge at the mana stream, you then head further south.Huh. OhOkay.BURSTOCK nods thoughtfully.RICHTER blinks.FInally HIGHBALL says something."Heh! Never thought we'd come across any part of this kooky forest that has el zipp o nada in it. Nice change a pace!"HIGHBALL shrugs. "Further south?"++++++++++++++QM: I gotta go to bed again. Sorry for the late/short session!
>>3811390poke with mage hands?if nothing happens go south once more
>>3811390What even is it?
>>3811390>"...Impressive rack."
>Time to get serious Richter, show us what you got!Use Hell's heart on her attack.> got one alchemical HB?
>>3811440Why do you want to attack it though?
>>3811451first reaction... I saw big monster that looks like an evil necromancer. If it doesn't do anything let it be.By the way, we lave already level up (XP: 231/200)I vote to improve "constitution" given that we have been hitting the gym.
>>3811390Oh hey. Love this guy's mead.>>3811440Yeah don't attack him, he's a pretty big deal I think.>>3811411That's the EVERKING, the guy that Mike mentioned.
>>3811684Can't other see him? Is that what Mike meant when he said that wizards like us kept seeing the Everking in the forest but he never did?
>>3811799oh, and everyone is acting like there is nothing around too
>>3811799Yeah, my guess is only magic users can see him, hence Highball's lack of reaction.>>3811802I think Burstock and Richter are just kinda stunned, rather than not being able to see him.
>>3811390>>3811434+1, then south.>>3811440NO. I choose life.
>>3809324>>3811314Diiiid we skip a tile? or was there an empty tile? Cause it looks like we moved two tiles.
>>3811390>Ask everyone if they're seeing the big spooky skull faced Antler man.>wave at the skull faced antler man to see if he responds to us at all, do it slowly so that it's not aggressive cause I don't want something invisible and 2-3 times our size to rip our spine out or anything.>contemplate the possibility of an eldritch pact because spamming eldritch bolt would be wicked cool.
Let's hold off on moving south until we have clarity on what we are seeing.
>>3812018This, don't wanna waste this rare occasion. He might have something to say to us.
>>3811986also seriously did we skip a tile?
>>3812108no, that was the skeleton tile, after the fight we just went back to the mana thing, then passed through it and went down again
>>3812116no I mean from our new party member's campsite over to the mana thing.
>>3812128at the top line the tiles went as followsthe easternmost is where we met Mike, the next where we fought bandits, then wuere we fount the camp and the giant, then were we found a bunch of dead bandits that the giant had killed and lastly the mana thing, compleating the 5 boxes line
>>3812128That was >>3809474 I think, where Richter had wrecked some bandits and there was nothing else to see.
>>3812078He might demand a shrubbery.
>>3811390>Let highball know that there is a big spooky skeleton man right there, but not to panic.>Ask it if it’s the Everking, be courteous and nice.
>>3811390This dude's a badass. Try to communicate. He looks like one with the forest, maybe he knows somethin.Also, can we make our guy /fit/? I want to have to buy new clothes we get so yolked.
>>3812800I think QM said it’s possible to become fit, become a muscle wizard. We just need some time to get swole and then wrestle the literal elements
>>3813386Important thing to remember is that we gotta practice at stuff, and then actually level up. Practice is often only applied when level up occurs.
>>3813386>>3813468Well, we already levelled up.We can choose to increase something... I would repeat that we should choose stamina as it is useful for our build (hp? deff?) and as a step to be a muscle wizard.
>>3812380>Let highball know that there is a big spooky skeleton man right there, but not to panic."Ahh. Right. Like Mike said. So you can all see this Everking, guy?"BURSTOCK almost interrupts"This isn't really the Everking. Not quite. It's kind of an echo of him. A manifestation. The actual Everking is not quite this tall. He wears a fine white suit and silken purple shirt. Still dressed like the entertainer he once was. He has one arm that looks almost human. The other is made of the bones of an ancient dragon."The spectre in front of you doesn't appear to physically nod. But you feel in your mind that it agrees.RICHTER regards BURSTOCK "See, I just thought the Everking was really fast or could fly or something. I saw him a couple of times. But he always looked like this.""Not the actual guy. Not quite but he's still sort of here in some capacity."BURSTOCK doesn't sound scared but she doesn't have her usual relaxed tone either.While they are talking your hear a voice the others don't seem to respond to. Indeed, they just keep talking but you stop being able to hear them over this one. It is not especially deep, or sickly or menacing. But there's something gone wrong with it. It feels like stone paves are being dragged across each other when it talks. It feels like your brain is vibrating. S E E K I N G ? J U S T H E R E T O C L E A N ? G O O D W O R K I F Y O U C A N G E T IT
>>3813750QM: Sorry. way more of that turned out green than was meant to.Only the first bit is actually being said by HIGHBALL.Regarding levelling up:At the end of every day, if you have levelled up that day (you have) you can pick 3 activities to do before bed that will alter your skills or stats.Talking to your crew, eating etc does not expend one of your activities.Activities are things like melee practice, lifting weights, meditating on magical studies, punching a speed bag, contemplating motivational posters etc. Some activities cannot be practised yet as you don't have some of item required to practice them.e.g You've gotten familiar with your REVOLVER just be holding it, aiming it drawing it, cleaning it , loading and unloading. This made sure you actually hit with it when you fired it.More advanced pistol techniques you either need to practice with a ballistics dummy (don'y has) or learn from a crewmember who knows about guns (don't got yet)If you are not just talking to a team member but getting trained by them, that DOES count as an activity point. SO use them wisely.A lot of the stuff the Baron sells is good for this.
>>3813750Perhaps tell him>"We're here to clean up the forest. Any wisdom you can lend would be appreciated."He seems fairly chill for a giant beskulled spookydude.
>>3813771>>"We're here to clean up the forest. Any wisdom you can lend would be appreciated." N O T I C E D VERY GOOD. WEAKER ONES THINNED DOWN. UNFITTING S U B J E C T S THE HUD ALLUDES YOU OFTEN Hud, pronounced hyood, is a more scholarly term for mana or magic. You've never heard anyone but a teacher or a pedant say it. Y O URE nOT USING ALL THOSE SPELLS ARE YOU...?
>>3813776can you teach new speels?
>>3813776Wait, does Hells Heart increase the strength of our Magic Hand?
>>3813786QM: Nah. It's not really even meant as an attack.
>>3813776Play along for now and play coy>"Well, it doesn't hurt to keep a few tricks up our sleeves, but if you know any better ones..."
>>3813782>>3813806The King grants you his touch. YOU CAn ON L Y LeARN SO M U C H . SO THIS IS N O T A GIFT. J U S T A T R A D E.You feel like you're being smiled at, somehow. "IT IS...NOT LIKE Y O U W ERE USING IT.1. Stay still.2. 'CHANGED MY MIND. STOP'
>>3813824ok, he probably wants to steal one of our spells, the ones we don't use are Douse and Soar, what do you guys think? I'm conflicted
>>3813826Douse is only good for campfires and at the moment we're wanting a smoke signal for boss-troll.Soar may very well be useful in case of a Harpy attack, maybe we can even cast it on HB to propel her at something in the air if it flies out of reach.On the balance, Douse may be the less immediately useful spell.
>>3813834>even cast it on HB>*with HBimportant distinction.
>>3813824>>3813826I say we stay still. Exchange the dour or soar for the one he’ll give us. This is a rare opportunity, so might as well.
>>3813824can we chose is?get just a little bit our of reach and ask"Witch one that I'm not using you are talking about?"
>>3813834QM: SOAR cannot be cast on other people.Also, and I cannot apologise enough for this, I thought I had mentioned it, but apparently its only in my notes and I didnt write it down in the thread.DOUSE can be cast to as a readied action or reflex and can stop the ignition of a pistol.I am very sorry. I hope that the the loot and cheap party members puts me square.The Everking is about to remove SOAR, not DOUSE though.
>>3813824>2. 'CHANGED MY MIND. STOP'It's not like we were using it, but I still don't want to lose SOAR.
>>3813847Yeah, was thinking more along the lines of grabbing HB and slam-dunking her on a flying thing's back to weigh it down or get stabby.
>>3813824>1. Stay still.>inb4 he steals our DICK
>>3813847>1. Stay still.
>>3813853QM: Oh right. Yeah sounds good. Better keep lifting.
>>3813859>>3813855You feel no pain. Not even a tingle. Feels normal.You have forgotten SOARYou have learned DRAWMP : 5Draw 10+2D6 mana from a target that has mana. If the target has no mana, the spell costs nothing, but you will still waste a turn trying.
>>3813869See you later aligator and go south again
>>3813877+1
>>3813877You hear BURSTOCK finishing her conversation."...obody really knows. They think his phyllactary could be the whole planet. Seems crazy, right. Anyway. He's harmless so no one's ever really done anything."HIGHBALL pats your leg."Hey uh.. we good, pal?"It seems like though the others may have seen the king, they did not see his arm or hear his voice.You ruffle HIGHBALLS hair and she chirps approvingly.You assure her you're all good.Your party heads SOUTH. Preemptively, RICHTER casts FLEX as she walks.A distant crack of thunder can be heard.You are in the SOUTH WEST corner. There are a bunch of GOPNIKs here. They advise you to leave.
>>3813891Looks like this is where they plan on setting their signal fire for their boss. We could clear them out now and face off with the guy if we wanted to.If no other votes come forward then I think we will politely disagree with the GOPNIKs and commit to the following hostilities.
>>3813905We're going to have to dispose of them sooner or later, better to clear the trash before the boss shows up, I think.Also, better not use any big flashy attacks, just in case we accidently light up the bonfire.
>>3813891m downblast them with a Hell blast since its AOE and they are manny,it will be very effective manawisemake sure to not hit the signal fire so we don't light it on accident
>>3813891>Attack!
>>3813906We have DOUSE, it'll be fine
QM: I gotta go to bed for now guys, sorry. I will return earlier than usual tomorrow and announce it on dwitter when I resume posting.Just a quick thing, lighting the signal fire won't make EDGEWATER teleport to the forest. He'll just begin going there. It would probably take him a hours or even over a day depending on what type of transport he has or where his base is.I'm not saying light it now or don't light it now, just letting you know how it works mechanically.I'm having a really good time btw. Hope you are too.You're making some very cool moves.
>>3813910+1 hh blast>>3813926having a blast,btw, are you on australias timezone?
>>3813750Out of curiosity?What the hell -is- the Everking? I never saw any lore in your deviant art about him.
>>3813847Dude, we cool. This is only an issue if you use something like that on us without telling us. Some of us play Skirmish Games, and the QMs of those just LOVE their 'hidden features' on abilities, and love changing them mid session on us since Skirmish Quests are half playtest, half actual quest.You're doing fine. Warn us about rules changes when they happen, and try not to pull hidden features on us -too- often without some ability for us to safely experiment (As I tell a lot of QMs, the first time the player uses an ability it should almost always be successful, so that they get a positive vibe for it. Same thing for the first experimentations, that way players will fuck it up all on their own by over extending and not get overly cautious. As long as any failures are felt to be the players fault you're good).You are no where near apologies territory man :)
>>3813926Can you mark this, our ship, the mana well and our ranger buddy on the map? Even just a letter or a color for the tile under our marker would be fantastic.>we definitely need to buy a moleskin notebook/travel log when we get back, buy a pack of them so we got something to write notes down in as we walk along.Anyway, we totally should come back here later and light this sucker before we head back. It'd buy more time for the town. If we could whip something explosive up in the air ship we could even drop some stuff on the guy if he's not got an air ship of his own.There's a reason I don't allow air ships in any fantasy setting I run. Bombers are the kings of the battlefield, and without some kind of serious anti-air capabilities, an air ship is a trump card. You don't even need proper bombs, get hand sized blades with weighted tips and just toss them over the side onto a battlefield and free fall acceleration will do the rest
>>3813993Well, it just opens more dynamics... airships fighting other airships. If there are guns with guns, if not, with arrows, boarding parties or byramming one airship into another.It also depends on how common, fast and powerful airships are.
>>3814157I should clarify, I never allow them to be exclusive should be what I said. Like 'no, there is not a single nation whose entire deal is steam punk airships, sorry.'
After we bust these guys, I say we scoot around the rest of the forest before coming back and lighting the fire. If the worst comes to the worst and we have to retreat from this troll, I'd rather have seen everything else first.>>3813981As far as I can tell this is all the lore we have on him so far: https://www.deviantart.com/mr-culexus/art/The-Draught-of-the-Everking-403328903I guess this is the "more on the Everking later". We should interrogate Burstock about it when we get a moment, she seems to be in the know.>>3813985>I am Angry. Angry About Monday.>>3814157It is important to also consider that airships are Sick As Hell, Yo.
>>3814335I love monday's games, the dude is a game design genius, but lord almighty I wish he'd not patch things midgame or set things up so the NPCs flawlessly inflict things on his players and the players flub it their first try
>>3814368Yeah, in all honesty I feel you on that - I guess it comes with the territory, but that doesn't make it any less annoying when you get instakilled by something you could never have seen coming.Anyway, that's a discussion for a different thread. Point stands that CF definitely isn't guilty of that here.
>>3813926So if we set up the fire now and explore the rest of the forest, he'll be here later?
>>3814335Seconded, that sounds like a pragmatic course of action. Better to get what we can, and have the element of foreknowledge and surprise... and a safe line back to the mana font.
>>3814335Remember that monsters can appear in cells that we explored and monsters can follow us so running away is a bit suicidal.Anyway, remember to load the troll stoppers in the revolver after the fight.
>>3814475well no we got them loaded, we just need to remember to reload after 4 shots rather than 6
Rolled 48 (1d100)>>3814436>So if we set up the fire now and explore the rest of the forest, he'll be here later?QM: Yeah, much. You'd have to camp over night or something.Anyways, I'm back and I'm rolling initiative , you might wanna do the same!
Rolled 78 (1d100)>>3815066ROLLAN
Rolled 77 (1d100)>>3815066Let's go!
>>3815086I forget, is higher or lower better here?
>>3815109I dunno. I think in general higher is better -except- for persuasion checks
Rolled 38 (1d100)>>3815111Sounds about right. Still, rollan cause why not
>>3815086Taking offence to the GOPNIK who spokes tone, RICHTER calmly walks up to them and collapses their skull like thanksgiving jack-o-lanternWhat do anon?HIGHBALL twirls her blades.
>>3815120Hit them with the ol' reliable Hell's Heart Blast.
>>3815120Hit one with your crowbar.
>>3815120shoot a motherfuckerthey are weak as fuck
>>3815120This >>3815122
>>3815122Going with the hell's heart blast, and prepare an action to douse the signal fire juuust incase.
>>3815122>>3815155>>3815168 You're getting good at this!HELLS HEART BLAAAAST!!!The two GOPNIKs at the front shriek and curse as they disintegrate the two further back brace themselves as the magic crackles over them too but they stay standing.HIGHBALL and BURSTOCK exchange a glance and nod at each other.
>>3815154shoot, save the mp
>>3815191Hell's heart blast was made for this, any fight where we have at least 4 guys remaining I think is a safe bet to use the hell's heart blast in order to fuck up their day. It shouldn't be our go to for one on one fights, that's what the pistols are for, but for AoEing a crowd in the opening gambit?It's perfect.
HIGHBALL runs towards BURSTOCK who crouches down with her hands together and ally-oops HIGHBALL into a high backflip.HIGHBALL does her limit break BLADE HAILThe extra height allows her to throw skewers clean through the eyes of the remaining GOPNIKs, killing them instantly.
VICTORYYou got 25 XPYou got 20 goldYou got 1 cherootYou got 1 bottle of kvass
>>3815220Fukken awesome. Congratulate the others on this banger of a move then head on East.Hey, we're getting to be one hell of a team.
>>3815227https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YCN-a0NsNkeast
>>3815230I know it's not popular, but it was my first one, so I'm more of a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=236UImGx1q0guy myself. Anyways, heading east!
>>3815240hey dude, I'm a ff tactics guy, that one was only the first one to pop at the search
>>3815240honestly that sounds more our speed given our jaunty crew's nature.
Light the fire as it will take the troll a bit to arrive.>>3815230Yes, move one cell. We still need to find the treasure
You head east and encounter a friendly MOGWOMP."My name is Ruine! Welcome to my forest shop! You wont find a better deal on spit and wood, actually."
btw QM, what is cheroot and kvass?
>>3815293Neat, ask em what they've got.>>3815298Cheroot's a cigar, kvass is some fermented bread drink.
>>3815311>Neat, ask em what they've got." I'm glad you asked, actually. I sell high quality spit, and lumber for decking, fencing, ship repairs and boiler fuel.!"
>>3815326"Oh, you know, if you just head east a bit then we have our air ship parked. Our pilot would be better able to tell you what the ship needs"
>>3815333agreedthen head north
>>3815342and the spit might interest our alchemist too
>>3815333>>3815342>>3815346wait a sec, we got the speaking tube right? If he doesn't want to move over there and negotiate, then we can always do it by this thing later. We need to find the money stash though, without that not much we can buy.
>>3815326Wait, before we move on ask about the spit. Does mogwomp spit have some kinda special properties we should know about?
>>3815354We might not know but our tech sure does, send the guy over.
>>3815333>"Oh, you know, if you just head east a bit then we have our air ship parked. Our pilot would be better able to tell you what the ship needs"Ruine smiles."The only ship I've seen overhead belongs to Lumsden. Are you travelling with her? Holy crap that is amazing! She comes by here sometimes when she needs mogspit and lumber for her ship!"
>>3815362yup it's her, run along lizard friend, go there meet her, I'm sure she will be glad to see younow go north!
>>3815362"Of course! Sadly we can't barter right now, but could you tell us about your wares? We expect to come into some capital before we return and would like to know what we can purchase. Mull it over you know?"
>>3815362Sounds good, well buy some mogspit and lumber then. Can you take it to the airship? If you go to the east you will find it. Ask Hank for a meal and a drink, he is a cool guy and we offer the meal with the deal.If that is ok with you we will arrive latter with the gold, we still got some business here.By the way, have you by any chance seen gopkins digging around here?
>>3815368>yup it's her, run along lizard friend, go there meet her, I'm sure she will be glad to see you."I can't just pack up an leave my company! I could miss other potential clients. It's a competitive market! I'll see her next time!">"Of course! Sadly we can't barter right now, but could you tell us about your wares? We expect to come into some capital before we return and would like to know what we can purchase. Mull it over you know?""Here at RuineCo we have high quality mogspit. Mogspit is a powerful and volatile chemical used to power many modern conveniences! From autobards, to polarboxes and even the humble Moglight. Your airship is powered by Mogspit and also high quality lumber - which I also sell. I can also sell you timber boards, but I can't make the repairs for you. I am just a wholesaler."You continue north."Thanks for coming by! and! I'll see you next tiiiiime!!+++++++++++++++++++++++QM: Ruine's shop, similar to Mikes, was always part of Kiani Forest. Basically, if you had gone here first instead of DUNNLIVIN, you would still be able to stock up on the very basics.The idea is, it costs less (or more in Mikes case) but is more dangerous and has more grinding potential.
QM: Heading north is cool, right?
>>3815395yep, and the balance makes sense.On the wiki you're probably gonna want to do some organizational stuff. Is it possible to apply? I can help throw together some templates for you to use from character to character or for things like locations and characters so that it'll be much easier to organize and navigate the wiki?
>>3815395Yeah, gotta clear out all the squares and hunt down the last dwarf.
>>3815398QM: I'm more than fine with other people contributing. I just dunno how to do that. The most important thing to me for the wiki is the categories at the top of each page that allows me to quickly find peoples spells etc.fact is, I partially made the wiki so I didn't have to have as big a book of notes by my comp the whole time.
Rolled 66 (1d100)Anyways you head NORTH
Rolled 83 (1d100)>>3815433
Rolled 44 (1d100)>>3815433Ah fuck!
Rolled 43 (1d100)>>3815433Dwarf stopper with hell's heart first move.
>>3815433Ah shit, here we go again.
>>3815434RICHTER leaps forward suddenly, you here her breathe in sharply like she's about to yell but your ears ring when she actually does. Desiccated flesh and warm embers scatter in all directions.
>>3815459What just happened?
>>3815459...Well, that was an honour to witness.
>>3815426I'll apply for an account with the wiki then and pull together some templates for ya this weekend.
>>3815459What the... cool move!BTW QM, can we quickly check the id?
>>3815459"Hmmm.....nice....."Whsper to HB"What the fuck just happened"Turn and smile to Richter"Nice, amazing, well done" double thumbs upAnd then continue north
>>3815467>>3815473I think that backpack she has is a punching bag on top of being weight training.
>>3815459>slow clap>>3815477>don't head north until we learn wtf just happened and how our investment in two dwarfstoppers was just rendered moot
>>3815482It was not wasted investment, the dwarfstopper only means it ignores armor, we can just use against other armored enemies
>>3815477This
>>3815482There are still harpies in this forest.
RICHTER shakes her hand and blows on it. Beads of sweat have formed on her."Yow. Better not make a habit of that. Still - just thought I should get that out of the way, you know?"The dwarfs smouldering, cauterised remnants topple over backwards.>What just happened?RICHTER produces a towel from her backpack and dabs herself off."I just cast fist - or a version of it."VICTORYYou get 300 goldYou get 40xp
>>3815497>go northUnf, what a tease. Gonna bug Surrey for some protein powder once we're bavk on the ship.
>>3815497Fuck yes I was waiting for thatHead on north.
>>3815504QM: Eyyyy! My wife drew that.
>>3815497"We have much to learn from you Ms. Richter.">>3815503seconding.Also if we find any more gnopkins we need to see if we can keep one alive and offer to let him go in return for telling us where the gold is in the forest. OH DAMN WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE EVERKING
>>3815507Its epic, more so knowing that it was from your wife QM.>>3815503>>3815504You know... suddenly we got 300 gold and we are one cell away from the shop... what about backtracking one cell and buying the stuff for lumsden?
>>3815507Damn, ultimate /tg/ power couple right there.>>3815513Good shout, but they've been willing to die before snitching in the past. Might have to get HB to apply some interrogative techniques.
>>3815507Your offspring will be very interesting people.
>>3815525Ehn... I'd prefer to avoid out and out torture for pure greed, which is what this is. If it was for higher stakes then I'd break out the 'enhanced interogation techniques"
>>3815537Fair enough, but it's gonna be a lot of looking if they don't feel like talking.
Rolled 94 (1d100)>>3815513>"We have much to learn from you Ms. Richter." RICHTER cracks an egg into her mouth and nods thoughtfully."We all have much we can learn from each other. It is an exhilarating concept,yes?""YES.">You know... suddenly we got 300 gold and we are one cell away from the shop... what about backtracking one cell and buying the stuff for lumsden?QM: Here to tell you: LUMSDEN is good for fuel atm she bought it from DOWLER when you were in DUNNLIVIN. You walk NORTH to the sound of many flintlocks cocking.HIGHBALL does a whole body eyeroll."These shmucks again..
Rolled 39 (1d100)>>3815561Oh no
Rolled 28 (1d100)>>3815561shit they gonna fire before we canuse our blast when we can since our AOE is awesome
Rolled 9 (1d100)>>3815561Well shit, this'll hurt. Remember to leave one alive!
A punishing hail of bullets fire at your party.A couple of them seem to extra hate goblinsHP:75MP: 49
>>3815574"She's right!"Hell's Heart Blast, this time with feeling. Nobody shoots our number one and gets away with it!
>>3815574>Hells Heart Blast!
>>3815583>>3815576"OI! GANG UP ON MY GIRL WILL YA?!">fry the smucks with hell's heart blast.
>>3815576>>3815583You grit your teeth savagely as heat travels down your arm. You don't even say the spell name. You just yell. Birds scatter from distant trees and you feel a searing up your arm as unfettered mana rips through the bandits severely injuring all of them.RICHTER leans back, looking engaged."INteresting..!"The bandits are still standing But they are smouldering and confused. Their pistols slagged, they fumble for their batons.HP:72MP: 13
>>3815604>-3Huh, interesting indeed.
>>3815604On the one hand, fhuck yea we badass. On the other hand, prolly wanna be a bit careful going forward. Don't wanna end up having a Hell's Heart Attack or something.On the OTHER other hand, we could keep going with this and see where it takes us. We seem to be getting pretty good at it, after all.Either way, it's getting up on 5am here so I gotta crash out. Godspeed lads.
>>3815604Yeah I say we take one east from here, save on the mana, stick to the gun for the moment, and then head for the mana well north you know?Wait is the mana well closer now or after we head east?
RICHTER slides like a skater across the ground an tackles on bandit blowing them to pieces.BURSTOCK casts BIG TIME on HIGHBALL.The bullets push out of HIGHBALL's body as her wounds knit completely.HIGHBALL grabs two fistfuls of skewers."OH YEAH!!
>>3815654>make it count HB!If there is anyone still alive after that just cast crowbar.
>>3815684HIGHBALL performs her limit breakBLADE HAILResidual magic from BURSTOCK crackles around each skewer she throws into the bandits, searing and exploding when they hit.VICTORYYou get 80 goldYou get 48xpYou get 8 bullets
>>3815709>Wrack ourselves a couple of times and wait for your crew to heal up.
>>3815711Why wrack? Can't we just move from here towards the mana well? That's in the... I want to say top left hand corner? That's a superior option surely? We can take one or two fights with no mana.
>>3815741It looks like spells improve the more we use them, it's a good opportunity to accumulate that hidden exp. Also Burstock hardly used any mana after refilling anyways.
>>3815749We're not going to get any closer to the mana well than we are right now.The XP argument makes sense, but we'll be advancing wrack as we go, there'll be time when we're forced to use it, and we want to make sure Burstock understands, and Richter also used some of her power as a punch wizard.This is the most optimum time I think to recharge.
>>3815749I think that was because we saw our girl get hurt and our anger fueled the spell.Anyway, move east. We can handle this.
So are we trudging back to the well and wracking in the well or are we just gonna use potions and apples we have?
>>3815759>>3815709Okay, go north for refueling
>>3815759>>3815782>>3815741You lead the party back up to the mana well and you all recharge Then walk back to where you just beat the bandits.BURSTOCK exhales through her nose.
>>3815798let's push east then,
>>3815798>East
east
>>3815808>>3815815>>3815823You mosey EAST. How nice! Another quiet spot.Well. ANother non hostile spot.Between its noisy chewing and its idle chirping the RINKAN here is quite loud.
>>3815832What's a rinkan? Looks like someone's steed.
>>3815847support, we should pet it.
looks cool, I wonder where is the rider... look around and if nothing go south
>>3815856We haven't checked the tile to the east yet.
>>3815832huh, is that a saddle on it? Don't loot the saddle just yet, we'll finish exploring and come back for the rinkan after if we gotta. For now we'll head east again.Optimal path reminder: >>3809748
>>3815847>>3815855You walk up to RINKAN. It looks up at you briefly before going back to vapidly chewing on an apple core.BURSTOCK gives it a HP Apple and it breeps appreciatively.You scritch on of its plates and it taps its leg. Seems to like it.You notice it has a harness, that forms handlebars and large saddlebags on it.As if that wasn't proof enough, it also has 'Bob' painted on its side.Whether that's the RINKAN's name or the owners name is anyone's guess.
>>3815896Go east
>>3815896Cya Bob!go east.
>>3815916>>3815924>>3815928You walk EAST you see an elf dressed in a leather uniform satisfyingly finishing a bottle of some flavour of grink.She tosses the bottle on the ground then turns to look at you and irritably picks the bottle back up.She clears her throat.
>>3815935"Stranger in the forest."
>>3815935"Officer, was Bob back there yours?"
>>3815935>Wave>Ask if she's the one who blasted Chesapeake's cap.
>>3815943>"Stranger in the forest."She smiles at you like you just asked to speak to her manager."How rude of me. Vanguard Interceptor Sergeant Boddicker. Nice to meet you.She seems to be a pure elf, but her accent suggests she grew up on one of the larger grape growing areas in the human continent. >"Officer, was Bob back there yours?" "Oui. Fastest Rinkan for the finest rider. He is a good boy. We've been through a lot. "
>>3815961>Ask if she's the one who blasted Chesapeake's cap.She tilts her head."Right. SO you know his name? What was this? Some sort of arranged meeting spot?"She pauses, then realises she hasn't answered your question."Yeah, I did shoot him. Kept trying to bribe me or beg for his life. Dumbass."
>>3815972>Introduce ourselvesThen >>3815961
QM: fwiw, boddicker's picture dialogue is not meant to be hostility, she's just muttering to herself about CHESAPEAKE
>>3815984Oh. Well, she has our thanks.>Inform her about the troll
>>3815984"Well we're mostly passing through here, dealing with Gopniks who hired on with some troll. We ran into more of them near the local town, tried to shake us down, which didn't end well for them, and apparently they said their boss was going to come beat on the town now? There weren't any vanguard around then, but maybe you can help out back there?"'>specifically do not mention that we have an air ship where the cop might want to go looking around even if we did offload all the transmog potions and our favorite custodian has done a perfect job of cleaning up the bloodstains.>specifically do not mention what the Gopniks are here for because 5000 gold pieces is a lot of money and she might want to take the ill gotten gains as 'evidence' or something.
>>3815998support
>>3815998>>3816008QM: This sounds good guys, just gonna grab a bite to eat. You're doing good.
>>3815984>"How rude of me. Vanguard Interceptor Sergeant Boddicker. Nice to meet you.nice meeting you, we are just minding our business, ensuring that nothing crazy gets to Dunliving>"Right. SO you know his name? What was this? Some sort of arranged meeting spot?"Not a friend of ours, we knew him as a shady greedy bastard that tried to make us into a potions to get some gold.So, what brought you to this place?I'm off to bed, it is almos 2am here
>>3815972>Er, sorry, but... you look familiar. Have we met?
>>3815972Is... Is Bobrovski a Rinkan round these parts?>>3815998>>3816020These, would be good to know why she's round these parts. See if there's anything else we gotta keep an eye out for.
>>3816020>>3815998agreed
>>3815984If I show you mine will you show me yours?.....the gun I mean..hehask to see her gun and show ours, let's nerd over them and bond about /k/
>>3815998>"Well we're mostly passing through here, dealing with Gopniks who hired on with some troll. We ran into more of them near the local town, tried to shake us down, which didn't end well for them, and apparently they said their boss was going to come beat on the town now? There weren't any vanguard around then, but maybe you can help out back there?"'As you talk, she casually flicks open a small cigarillo case, taps one down , sniffs it, lights it with a match and savours it. She is barely listening. She eventually says:" That sounds like a whole merde load of not my problem.">Not a friend of ours, we knew him as a shady greedy bastard that tried to make us into a potions to get some gold."Oh yes? Part of that recent poaching and abduction spree. If that's been stopped. I will report it back to my station. If anyone could give a statement there, zat would be ideal.">Er, sorry, but... you look familiar. Have we met?She cocks her hips and smiles."I think if you had met me once, you would not be able to forget me."HIGHBALL's ears flatten.>So, what brought you to this place?She gives you a look."My job. This is my beat.>>3816137>>3815972 (You)>Is... Is Bobrovski a Rinkan round these parts?QM: It is a reference. But there is another Bobrovski here. The rinkan might be named after him, though.
>>3816174>"Well, good hunting.">go south
>>3816174Good luck thenGo south
>>3816161>If I show you mine will you show me yours?.....the gun I mean..hehShe produces one revolver that looks like yours except it is larger and two weapons that look like sawn off shotguns but with an axe blade on the barrel.She briefly juggles all of them before re holstering them."You'll see me around, kid."
>>3816180shit she found my weakness, bib boobs elf gunslinger with meganesdeep breaths, focus on hb, deep breathslet's go south
>>3816177>>3816178>>3816181You head south. There are the smouldering bullet riddled , looted carcasses of some GOPNIKS here. Nothing else.
>>3816182kick someone's foot and then go west
>>3816183Should we deal with the harpy in the south-eastern corner?
>>3816184she flew away I think, leave the bird be I guess
>>3816184Wait, no, she's right to the south.>>3816182>check south
>>3816182Go south
>>3816187>>3816186just remember we haven't cleared the west spot from here
QM: I'm confused are we going south or west?
>>3816188Then go there first?>>3816189So am I
>>3816190I would advise to, let's visit west since it's the last unexplored spot
>>3816189>>3816190>>3816188Okay, let's go west first and clear the last square, then we can check the harpy and pick some more apples.
Rolled 63 (1d100)>>3816183>>3816188>>3816190>>3816191>>3816192You walk into the very last square of the forest you haven't explored to see a gopnik clambering out of a hole holding a rolled up paper bag.His eyes widen when he sees your party."CYKA BLYAT! Waste them!"
Rolled 28 (1d100)>>3816197shit, paper bag, better not burn ithell's normal pistol shot
Rolled 42 (1d100)>>3816197Crap, guess we can't vaporize them this time
Rolled 79 (1d100)>>3816197Tag team with Highball - gun and knife
>>3816200>>3816201>>3816205The GOPNIKS draw their flick knives and all rush BURSTOCK slashing at her mercilessly.
>>3816219smart dudes, shame for them her best spell is self healingshoot a bastard in the head
>>3816219Yeah nah fuck that, Hell's Heart and pop one of their heads open.
>>3816219Shoot the one holding the paper bag and once he goes down we can blast the rest of them if needed.
Fucking mayham breaks out.You draw your revolver and shoot the first GOPNIK through the eye, killing him instantly, he drops the bag and it is picked up by a GOPNIK further back.RICHTER slide tackles into a GOPNIK, collapsing their chest cavity.HIGHBALL does her LIMIT BREAK RED PANIC on the furthest GOPNIK, they have to miss a turn or take 50 damage.BURSTOCK casts BIG TIME on herself.
>>3816230keep shooting the bag holder
Three GOPNIKs rush BURSTOCK.All their blades chip and dull as they try to attack her. One of them even breaks completely.A GOPNIK hangs back to control hi bleeding, and misses a turn.
>>3816234shoot the bag holder
>>3816234>Hells Heart Shot!
>>3816236You fire a cap into the guy with the bag, who throws it forward as his head explodes.RICHTER lunges towards the bagholder and punches them savagely in the midsection, cracking their ribs.HIGHBALL finishes off the furthest GOPNIKBURSTOCK casts SMITE burning one GOPNIK to a crisp.
The remaining GOPNIK staggers back.He looks at your party and what you've done.He's done.He rubs his fractured ribs and throws the paper bag on the ground."Fuck dis troll.he looks briefly at his knife, bent out of shape on BURSTOCKS armoured hide and throws it over his shoulder.He produces a bottle of clear liquid and drinks it.
>>3816243grab the bag and check what's inside
>>3816243>interrogate him - what does he know about the troll and how many goons he has under his command.
Are you grabbing the bag or interrogating him?
>>3816256>>3816243Let him go and take the bag
>>3816256Bag first, definitely.
>>3816256The bag isn't going anywhere. One of our teammates could pick it up anyways.Interrogate him.
>>3816256bag first, don't know what they could have in store for us, gotta make sure
>>3816259Don't let him go just yet, he prolly knows at least something useful.
>>3816259>>3816260>>3816265You step forward and quickly grab the bag. When you look up, the last GOPNIK is gone.BURSTOCK shrugs"Lone unarmed gopnik in THIS place? He shoulda let us kill him."HIGHBALL laughs.You're done here, best as you can figure.VICTORYYou got 30 xpYou got 5000 gold
QM: Do you guys want me to start a new thread for any convos and activities you do back aboard the ship?I am good to stay here, I'm just asking because I dunno how much chat you wanna do, and this thread is autosaging.
>>3816280Bollocks. Ah well, head back and light the signal fire then.
>>3816284First things first, that dude went to light up the signal, we should do that and set up an ambush there, we can chat while camping the place
>>3816280>travel to the south-eastern corner and check if the harpy returned or not>pick more apples on our way there
>>3816284Might as well stay here for now, thread should be good for a bit longer at least.
>>3816287And when we camp offer to massage Burstock's legs with HB's help (wink wink number one) the girl was a casting machine and she was not used to it anymore, she must be tired(If qm id willing we can wait for a pic of that hehe)
>>3816290yup, we can keep going around here>>3816292nice, gotta take care of those tigh....teammates
QM: Okay, on the understanding that you're pretty much not gonna find the GOPNIK or the HARPY you scared off, what do you wanna do?
>>3816313come on baby light that fireand this>>3816292 when we campon the way there congratulate everyone, maybe we can even one of those booze bottles we got from the gops
>>3816313Light the signal fire, then we wait.>>3816292Feel like that's treading thin ice, we've already snubbed HB over Burstock once. 'Sides, boss offering you a massage? Sounds like some kinda HR violation.
>>3816320Nah it'd cool, HB will like it anf I'm sure Burnstock will too, they gave plenty of hintsFriendly tight massage as reward for a job well done, then we can think of something to HB
>>3816313What was the deal that Mike was offering for us exactly? We could pick up on that before moving on with our other plans.
QM: Okay, I'm gonna try to get it all downYou walk back to the SIGNAL FIRE, the four of you split the KVASS along the way and all agree you kickethed much ass. What a team! Man, forget indoor rock clibing, we formed some bonds today, probably.You (and the survivalist minded RICHTER) get a good signal fire going.HIGHBALL, with slight suggestion from you gives BURSTOCK a slight leg massage on account of all the wracking pain she endured.That works, as goblins like to keep their hands busy.>Light the signal fire, then we wait.I'm really sorry. What are you waiting for?
>>3816336QM: Mike was basically agreeing to be an on-again-off-again team mate.He likes to hunt and fight but hates all the walking he has to do.Basically, so long as where you take him gives him stuff to trade with others, and you're willing to give him transport and a place to put his bedroll, he'll travel with you.
>>3816340Oh, we should be on that leg actionNow we are waiting for a trollLoad the troll stoppers in our gun
QM: Very sorry. Very tired. Gotta sleep. WIll be back soon.Very good thread guys. Hope this is at all fun.
>>3816346QM: It's gonna take him like a DAY to get here.
>>3816340>>3816347let's roast something by the fire, offer HB our lap since she likes it plenty and let's head pat while we are at itask the teammates what did they think about the run here and if they know about any other place nearby that is good for training
Since its a long wait, I'd say we go pick up Mike and spend some time at our ship to level up and get a proper rest before coming back tomorrow.Also what's in the paper bag?
>>3816351Camp dinner yeahSomeone should tell a ghost story.After it we can go back to the ship do grab the pilot and go to the lizard shop to buy some upgrades with our money.>>38163635k
>>3816377QM: RUINE can't actually upgrade your ship. Only DOWLER can do that.
>>3816382Well, we can grab material that we may need then, the pilot shoud know if there is anything useful there or not
>>3816340I was saying wait for the troll, but >>3816350 I getcha now.>>3816351>>3816363We'll need to swing by Mike to get something to roast first. Here's what I kinda gather our plan is:>go to Mike, buy meat to roast, tell him he's welcome to join us for dinner or head back to our ship. If he goes shipwards, mutterbottle to Surrey so they know he's coming.>roast meat round fire with the team, generally bond etc.>head back to the ship to train, level up and sleep>get up bright and early to kill a troll tomorrowThat sound about right to you folks?>>3816385Pretty sure we fully restocked in Dunnlivin, we should be alright for that kinda stuff.
>>3816429Add HB sitting on our lap and we are golden
>>3816429+1 support
>>3816438Well of course, should go without saying. Gotta show appreciation to best gob.>>3816347No worries, sleep well boss. Thread's been a Hell's Heart blast so far, as always.
>>3816530>Gotta show appreciation to best gob.and it's good for blood preasure, gotta keep healthy and relax while rubbing those ears
>>3816544Surely finger-exercises are a vital part of the path of the muscle wizard too.
>>3816429I take it that we never -did- find where the thing was buried right? Nor get any hints as to where it was buried?
>>3817484the 5000gp the troll has buried here. I don't want to have to beat it out of him. You don't try to torture trolls, you just take their heads off.
>>3817484Yes, we found it here>>3816280You can notice the hole in the ground and that we got 5000 gold. We should pay the salary of our crew asap and spend the money on cool stuff.
QM:Okay, so if I have this straight.1. You're gonna go back and recruit Mike. Kind of - for the mean time you're gonna take him somewhere in exchange for the meat and herbs he currently has.2.You're gonna gather everyone back on board, let em disperse. Let Mike know to give anything uncooked to JONES, so everyone can have a big decent meal.3. Do your walk around and talk thing, catching up with everyone.4.Spend the night in the SILVER LINING and not go anywhere?
QM: It is meant to be dusk-ish
>>3817514Yeah, that seems about right. Hand over our meat and apples to the cook as well.
>>3817514definitely want to talk to folks and do some training before crashing for the night. Maybe set up a watch on the roof and take the first shift? Since we gotta stay low and also want to know when and if the troll arrives (in case he comes by air ship)Also, aren't we a tad concerned about the signal fire causing a forest fire?How wet has it been recently?
>>3817514The idea was to have a barbecue by the fire we set up actuallyIn any case, we have dinner with HB on our lap
>>3817576Since we don't have a mess hall everyone could be there together, save for some brave dude that would stay guarding the ship
