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 20Draw- Drain 10+2d6 mana from a target, providing they have mana -MP 5Wrack - 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 , includes ignitions from matches and guns - MP 5Hells Heart - Instantly double the damage of any attack (ranged, magical, or physical) by charging it with magic -MP 16You are the acting CEO of Silver Linings potion company. Making mutterbottles and vodka!Your consigliere and number one is also your girlfriend. An enterprising goblin for hire called HIGHBALL.You have a company staff.LUMSDEN -Owner and pilot of your airshipSURREY - Potion brewerJONES - Staff chefGILCREST - CustodianYou have adventuring party membersBURSTOCK - An enigmatic but chill healer. MIKE - A pragmatic hunter, kinder than he looksRICHTER - A wise muscle wizardprevious threads for more details:https://trust-a-goblin.fandom.com/wiki/ThreadsThis 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_WikiA useful new feature is your JOURNAL. Thgis helps you keep track of your inventory, quests, and relationships!https://trust-a-goblin.fandom.com/wiki/JournalEveryone take a minute. These threads last for ages and it's been a little while. Let's have some fun
Welcome back Culexus. What a pleasant surprise to see you still kicking with this quest.
>>4073948my body is ready
>>4073948IM GONNNAAIM G-G-G-GONNAAAAC-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-CCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
yay
>>4073970>>4073975>>4073982>>4073985When we last left off, your ship was approaching the small town of Scadam, presently under siege by bandits.Albeit, without their troll leader, but ex members still seemed to think it was pretty dangerous.As you near your destination, your second in command is taking an opportunity to show off the outfit she bought.You kinda knew she was gonna, but you still act surprised.You have to admit, a maid costume suits her.
>>4074053"Well, it sure attracts mine. May make it a little hard to concentrate on the streets, maybe we should reserve it for private use?"
>>4074059Highball smiles at you and does a little spin."If we're going to a big city I'm either going to have to wear this or the diplomat outfit. The diplomat outfit may earn me a little more respect, but this outfit has one advantage."HIGHBALL reaches into her stocking and produces a handful of iron skewers." I can still carry SOME of my weapons when I wear this. We shouldn't NEED weapons in a big city, but you never know."Highball shrugs."It's a bean scratcher for another day, nabob. For today, I'd better be dressed for a rumble."Highball kicks her shoes off.Your MUTTERBOTTLE vibrates and glows.
>>4074077"...yes, very distracting indeed...""Oh, I didn't think of the weapons angle. I guess some times it pays to be prepared for anything.""I should probably take that."
>>4074077Regain composure and answer your mutterbottle
>>4074077Answer the Mutterbottle
>>4074092>>4074094>>4074110 You unscrew the lid of the mutterbottle and hold it up to your ear.LUMSDEN is on the other line.'Hello, Captain. Because I will be unable to land for this adventure SURREY has decided to give the mutterbottle to me for now."You nod, sort of forgetting she can't see you."Use the mutterbottle to advise me on when to lower the ship as low as it can go , so that you and the party you have selected can ascend or descend the rope ladder. If you want to ask me for any advice regarding this particular, just meet me up in the wheel room."
>>4074077I CAN ALMOST F-F-FFEEL IT
>>4074140Inquire how long before we reach our destination?
>>4074140I like them mean and i like them green, time to party.
>>4074166support
>>4074166>>4074186Sure, but make it short. We have a naked lady in our room, it wouldn't do to ignore her.
>>4074166>>4074186 LUMSDEN clicks her tongue thoughtfully. 'We'll be at the safe edge of the town in about 10 minute. I'll have to drop you there, as the moment you enter SCADAM, there are going to be random encounters. For that same reason, if you want to switch party members or retreat, you either have to get back to safe territory or fight off attackers while I lower the ship. That would be dangerous."
>>4074215Good then off we go
>>4074215Well, if we want to retreat when not in safe territory, it's a safe bet we'll be fighting off attackers anyway, so...Also: look what you've done, Anon, now she's dressed. Oh well, 10 minutes is hardly enough for fun times in any case.
>>4074221QM: Just confirming.You wanna assemble your party and deploy into the safe zone now?
>>4074234Yes
>>4074215Could you provide a bird's eye view if needed?
>>4074234Might as well, unless there's something else left to do?
>>4074256>>4074265You assemble your current party and meet at the front hatch of the SILVER LINING. GILCREST is there to open and close the door he wishes you all good luck.You descend the rope ladder:Leader, DPS, Crowd Control, Healer.As you stand on the edge of the safe zone, you can already hear gibbering , moaning and strange animal sounds coming from the town of SCADAM. You thumb your holster open and nod at HIGHBALL, who nods back.Every step from now on runs the risk of a RANDOM ENCOUNTER.BURSTOCK taps you on the shoulder and hands you the CRUMMY SCADAM MAP that she copied from the ex-gangers drawing, complete with notes."Take this, skip. It'll let you know where we can go. AND where we are. The further we walk at once, the more encounters there will be."MIKE, who was apparently slightly lost in thought, chimes in. "As a quick reminder, since you switched out RICHTER for me. Whenever I'm talking my text will show up as red."
You flick open the CRUMMY SCADAM MAP and mutter.Why does ever map in this universe suck so bad? Well whatever.This map is basic and probably inaccurate, but honestly this is probably mostly gonna be a combat gauntlet.A combat gauntlet with hostages. Great.Well, the loot should be sweet.
>>4074321Hmm. Well, a smithy seems like a good place to start--best case, it's a friendly contact we can buy weapons from and is probably safe, worst case, we can loot the bullets.
Rolled 91 (1d100)>>4074337You take a cautionary step towards the SMITHY.A figure crouched in the long grass, stands upright and hisses, sniffing the air as blood gargles from its mouth and nose.A BASEHEAD. A magic addicted living zombie. It can cast a single random spell.It looks toward you and BURSTOCK.roll initiative. First in. flat 1d100
Rolled 4 (1d100)>>4074373
Rolled 79 (1d100)>>4074373
>>4074373do we want to roll high or low?
Rolled 23 (1d100)>>4074373
>>4074373Just a lone basehead? Alright. Since we still have the element of surprise on the rest of the rest of the camp, if not the basehead, we should try to avoid guns for just now. Remember to keep our distance from the things, so HB should keep to throwing stuff. Questions that we should probably have asked on the ship (or maybe we did last time, I don't remember):Does Draw work on baseheads? Since they can't originally channel mana, their MP should be pretty low, right?Does Hell's Heart work on Draw?
>>4074408...and when people run out of MP, they pass out, don't they? I like where you're going.
>>4074381You wanna roll high. So sadly you don't have initiative.The BASEHEAD screams and points at BURSTOCK, and casts SMITE on her.Your move.>Does Draw work on baseheads? Since they can't originally channel mana, their MP should be pretty low, right?Draw does work on baseheads, but their base mana is probably still relatively high, between 60-90>Does Hell's Heart work on Draw?It doesn't cause damage, so I'm afraid not.
>>4074437Guse we give it the smack downGob gives it the stabyHealer cast heal
>>4074437>You wanna roll high. So sadly you don't have initiative.oh well>The BASEHEAD screamsso much for stealth>their base mana is probably still relatively high, between 60-90so at least when we're low on mana we have plenty to recharge fromlet's rip into him from afar
>>4074437mike and mc both shoot him dead too while the girls do their thingnice to see this back, sadly I'm off to bed, let's see how you guys did in the morning
>>4074437Attack from a distance while Burstock heals
>>4074459>>4074466>>4074456You yell back to Mike, who has his bow drawn.You and Mikeshoot into the basehead making it stagger and stumble uneasily. Burstock casts BIG TIME on herself.Highball draws out her cleaver and crouches down.
>>4074516Keep it up, seems to be working!
>>4074519Highball leaps straight up and uses her LIMIT BREAK: GUILLOTINE!The moment the basehead is decapitated it erupts in a hissing, burning explosion of magical energy. You were all standing back so you feel the heat.Burstock drinks a mana potion.Mike pats around where the bashead was, but there is nothing to loot.Highball collects her cleaver and smiles broadly.'This is gonna be eggs in the coffee, pal Joey. Onward to the smithy? We'll probably have one more tussle to get into before we get there."===========QM: Taking a break for lunch. Will still be able to phone post if you have questions or ideas.
>>4074516Keep up the distance attacks and give HB an opening
>>4074534Yep, I say straight on. These guys don't seem so tough (famous last words, I know).Glad to see this quest back, been looking forward to it
>>4074534Let's keep going and see if we can get in before anyone else can stop us. Once we're in... well, depends on what we find, but I'm thinking lock the place up and loot it thoroughly? Scrap anything we can't use or sell, then we can see where to strike next.
>>4074534Continue onwards towards the smithy, but keep an eye out for trouble and/or opportunity.
Rolled 31 (1d100)>>4074544>>4074577 You continue toward the smithy.Mike and Highball are quite sneaky, but your spurs go jingle jangle jingle and Burstock is too dummy thick to sneak.A small crowd of 2 THUGS and 3 GOPNIKS cluster out the front of the smithy. There is a person with them. They sound kind of panicked.
>>4074678oh, I was wondering when the hostages were going to come into playBurstock can give people soak with Big Time, right? Do that to the hostage, then Hell's Heart+Blast them to bits
>>4074682if I did my math right, even if we hit with a max roll he'd only take 2 damageshould prolly warn the guy first, maybe, at least tell him to close his eyes or somethingHB and Mike should mop up anyone leftmy sleeping pills are starting to kick in, tho, so I'm off to sleep now
>>4074682>>4074696Provided anon's maths adds up and Burstock has enough mana, go for this.
>>4074696>>4074704So Blast states that it ignores armor. This panel shows the bleed over from Big Time as becoming armor >>4074516I'm worried we'll roast the guy.>>4074678"Nah, I'm a businessman."Maybe break out Douse and Mike's Cloudjar? Guns hurt.
>>4074732Eesh, yeah, hold off, this isn't a good set of odds.
>>4074682>>4074696>>4074704Sounds like a tight plan, but I can't proceed without an int roll, sorry.
>>4074732Shit, good point. Douse looks like it can only put out one fire though, so somebody's getting shot either way unless we douse one guy and kill off the other guy straight away.My concern is that they'll just kill the hostage as soon as we start swinging. Maybe time for diplomacy?
>>4074682>>4074696>>4074704Let's see... according to the wiki, Big Time costs 55 MP. It doesn't actually list Burstock's MP, but back in thread 4 it was 90. She just downed an MP potion, recovering 120 MP, so she should be back to full.Big Time heals 110 HP and any overbleed counts as soak for the next turn. Unlike Channel Heal, that mentions armor, this actually specifies soak, so it might not be bypassed by Blast. 6d6+20=56 max, so 112 total with HH. Yeah, it all checks out, provided CF gives the ok for the soak.
Rolled 19 (1d100)>>4074737And CF goes and replies while I'm still writing, ok.
>>4074732>>4074736QM: FOILED!!Well, devise a battle plan I guess, anons!Also, XP bonus for the "Nah, I'm a businessman." line. Awesome stuff.
>>4074745So armor and soak are the same thing, then?
>>4074749QM: Effectively, yes. Sorry.The systems still a WIP, so that may alter, but for the mean time that's how it is.
>>4074745Joey: Douse 1 gunBurstock: Body Betrayal other gun userHighball and Mie attack Gopniks
>>4074745I would say Big Time the hostage in case someone tries to shank him mid-fight, then douse one of the guns and have Mike and HB attack the other gun thug.
>>4074768If this works, we should follow up with "Today's business: gopnik removal service".
>>4074678>>4074744The THUGS fire upon you and Burstock. Your jacket absorbs some of the damage, Burstocks bigtime absorbs all of it for this turn.The GOPNIKS, apparently fearful, crowd around Highball and shank her.===============QM: For what it's worth, mobs will never intentionally hurt hostages.
>>4074786THEY HURT THE GOBLINTHEY GET THE CROWBAR
>>4074786Good to know. In that case, I say we go for >>4074760
>>4074786>QM: For what it's worth, mobs will never intentionally hurt hostages.Burstock should channel on Highball, then.
>>4074793QM: Keep in mind they will be losing a turn to reload, so you can do something now THEN do that to them if you like.I know there's a lot of info and gaps between threads, so I'm just giving you the straight dope on the thug's guns. They only fire one shot and then it takes a WHOLE turn to reload.But anyways! Open to combat plans.HIGHBALL snarls and grips an iron skewer between each finger....
>>4074801Hokay. In that case, my suggestion is:Joey: Shoot a thugBurstock: Healing BurstMike: Shoot a thugHighball: Chuck a spike at a gopnik
>>4074817Joey's in melee range of the gopniks, so the crowbar would make more sense. Also, Highball gripping the skewers like that is the beginning of her anti-crowd limit break, IIRC.
>>4074821Fair nuff, always good to train that swinging arm anyway. So Joey crowbars a gop and HB Blade Hails, then Burstock Healing Bursts and Mike hits a thug with the KARUBIN (which at a guess should kill him outright, can't remember how much HP thugs have). That sound good?
>>4074831Solid. Time to test the new quasi-enchantment on our melee tool.
>>4074821>>4074831>>4074855You rush towards one of the THUGs and smack him with your crowbar. His thug leathers absorb some of the damage but it definitely hurts more than it used to!You turn to MIKE who is angrily running up behind you to instruct him but MIKE draws a sawn of double barrelled shotgun and fires both barrels into the second THUG, shredding his midsection open and killing him instantly.BURSTOCK casts healing wave on you and HIGHBALL.
HIGHBALL uses herLIMIT BREAK : BLADE HAILand throws a flurry of iron skewers damaging everyone in the group!
The remaining THUG spends a turn reloading his pistol.The GOPNIKS rush towards You, Mike and Highball and once again attempt a shank.
>>4074922Burstock: Body Betrayal on ThugEveryone else: Attack
>>4074932Sounds good to me.
>>4074932>>>4074952You crowbar, Mike arrows and Highball machetes.All the GOPNIKS are dealt fatal blows and are dead.BURSTOCK casts BODILY BETRAYAL ON THE THUG. So they can't move or attack.It is your turn for combat again.GLORY KILL Y/N?
>>4075039always.
>>4075039Yes, if only for the audience
>>4075041>>4075042MIKE fires an arrow into the thugs foot, pinning him to the ground.HIGHBALL leaps up and slashes the thugs throat, almost to the bone.You get a run up and clobber the thugs head straight up and over the third base line. It's up. It's up! It's OUTTA HERE!VICTORYYou received 50xp PLUS 15xpYou all recover 10 HP for a glory kill.LOOT47 GOLD1 Book of matches1 Bottle of Kvas1 Bottle of Vodka2 Perka pistols3 Bent knives1 Can of black coffee4 BulletsThe HOSTAGE looks around amazed."Is...is this you downsizing?"
QM: Grabbing some quick snooze.It's good to be back anon. I hope this will be fun.
>>4075067start with introductions and what was happening to him when we arrivedthen we can ask about the situation of the town
>>4075081When do we fill the goblin with little gobins?
>>4075067"That was our company's pest removal service." *stash loot* "Don't worry, they're the ones paying."
>>4075152No canoodlin' while on the clock, mack. Once we lay this nest egg, get all our ducks in a row business-wise, and spend enough quality time with our lovely green dame, THEN we can consider the patter of tiny feets.
>>4075152>>4075256I'm not sure if ternion races and goblins are able to crossbreed. Somehow I doubt it. Besides, considering how goblin child rearing works, it's probably for the best.
>>4075084You sheath your enchanted crowbar and introduce yourself. You assure the hostage that the goblin cutting his bindings is on the level. Her name is Highball and she's your consigliere.Highball *click clicks* as introductionBurstock, wanders over to the hostage and pulls an iron skewer out of the hostages arm before drumming her fingers on it to heal his wounds."Volly Burstock. Vitamagus and ship's thot."Mike is reloading his shotgun. He doesn't look up."Call me Mike, man. You all good here?"The hostage scratches their head and rambles a little."I was honestly just staying in Scadam. I didn't really have a job as such but one day this big group of mean dudes - led by a troll of all things barges in, kills some folks and ties up the rest. Now they're just treating this place as their clubhouse. Eating and drinking and sleeping and taking what they want."The hostage catches their breath. Mike gives them a sip of water."What we need is our numbers back. If you guys can find another nine people - most will look like me but not all of them - and get them away from danger. We can repopulate this place after you clean up all the pests. Make Scadam a functional town, not a grind zone, again!"The hostage thinks."This next bit is less important -but- if you can also collect another 10 of those percussion pistols we could also arm ourselves. That way, when the trolls and his group comes back, we'll be able to spook him from this place. He might not even come back here! He'll have to go somewhere else, probably with weakened forces! That'd sure be useful."Burstock, an experienced adventurer does a sigh so exaggerated she almost pops out."Add it to your journal, cap"======================================QUEST ADDEDBOOTS ON THE GROUNDRescue hostages in Scadam (1/10)optionalCollect percussion pistols (2/12)
>>4075870>We know the hostages are dispersed among the buildins of the village. Do you know how many are in each building and who guards them?>Also, what can you tell us in general about the forces in Edgewater´s gang? We heard about a slime.Um, we should really consider trining with our off hand and going for dual revolvers. Then we can use magic hands to hold another two revolvers and be the magical gunslinger we always wanted to be.
>>4075870Sounds like a plan, I think we were intending to rescue the hostages regardless so picking up a few guns along the way shouldn't be an issue, provided we got the pocket space.Ask the guy if he's got a safe place to hang while we sort out the rest of the town, then carry on to the smithy.
>>4075918>We know the hostages are dispersed among the buildings of the village. Do you know how many are in each building and who guards them?The hostage thinks."Well, there's definitely one in the big stone building where the troll holes up. I don't think there's any mobs in there, but I saw...something on the roof of it.""There's also the smithy. She's definitely at her post. They're getting her to make bullets, you see. Dunno whose guarding her."The hostage smiles at Mike"She's an ork too!"Mike turns to you and shrugs."Outside of that I couldn't tell you. I don't think there is one in the well. Most of them are just being dragged around by guard patrols. Like me!">Also, what can you tell us in general about the forces in Edgewater´s gang? We heard about a slime"A slime? I haven't seen one, but that's also not that far fetched. I know Edgewater always has a wizard with him. And I know he's turned some of the gopniks into HACs, but that's about it. Most of Edgewaters strength comes from the size of their gang....also they're a troll.">Ask the guy if he's got a safe place to hang while we sort out the rest of the town, then carry on to the smithy."Oh totally. We're good at running and hiding. Once a hostage is off screen - they're safe. Means you wont be able to find us again but hey, neither will any enemies!"========QM: Onward to the smithy. This will take a bit, sorry.
Rolled 20 (1d100)You dust yourselves off and enter the smithy. The door just pushes open, as the lock was broken off. Seems odd. Thought they'd protect it more.You enter a large room crates upon crates of black powder and chemicals are stored on the rear wall. Standing atop the crates is someone you suspect was once human or an ork, but is now some twisted amalgamation of ternion species and crow. They stand when they see you enter and gargle out a warning.On either side of the room there are chained up baseheads that hiss and wretch at the scent of you and Burstock, straining against their bonds.Between them is a muscular ork in a heavy leather apron, dutifully filling in cartridges. She gives your group a slightly worried glance then resumes her work.Rumble.
>>4076752Well, shit. I have a feeling we aren't going to be shooting willy-nilly, not in a room filled with gunpowder.
Rolled 47 (1d100)>>4076760Time to club a bird to death, I guess.(I'm guessing we gotta roll initiative? Ignore this if not)
>>4076752Shoot that bitd willy-nilly
>>4076752>Gesture to the bird. "You are standing in what looks like a dozen of highly volatile munitions. The moment one of the baseheads chained at you feet explodes or misfires a spell, you, the hostage and the whole right part of the room will cease to exist. We know the basic distribution of your forces here and we have already taken out a part of them. We know your boss is out and he is your biggest fighting asset."Why not ply it smart when you are standing on top of a literal powder keg? Surrender and let us drain the baseheads and we will let you go. Any sort of misfire that happens in this room will only kill you. >If he doesn´t budge, sweeten the deal with 150 gold.
>>4076760>>4076909My biggest preoccuppatin are the baseheads. If we don´t want them to explode, we have to drain them and that is going to be difficult with the bird attacking us in tandem. A compromise solution is th best that cna happen here.
>>4076752>>4076911Let's hope he's not terminally stupid.
>>4076911 You step forward and authoritatively clear your throat. The Corvid stops thei battle cry and the smith stops working for a second. The room falls silent save for the baseheads clinking chains and their wheezing ragged breaths.You declare, gesturing at the boxes.>"You are standing in what looks like a dozen of highly volatile munitions. The moment one of the baseheads chained at you feet explodes or misfires a spell, you, the hostage and the whole right part of the room will cease to exist. We know the basic distribution of your forces here and we have already taken out a part of them. We know your boss is out and he is your biggest fighting asset."The smith looks up from her work and widens her eyes at you.The Corvid cocks their head."But why would you...?"You continue your speech.>Why not ply it smart when you are standing on top of a literal powder keg? Surrender and let us drain the baseheads and we will let you go. Any sort of misfire that happens in this room will only kill you."The smith loudly places her tools down on the work bench and stares at you.In your peripheral vision you see Burstock mouth something to Mike who nervously shakes his head.Eventually the Corvid speaks again."I'm....pretty sure the whole building would go up. I mean...I might still get the worst of it but it'd be pretty bad for you I wanna say...like - this is a lot of black powder and mogspit and all sorts over here."
>>4076986>Yeah, so you can see why a situation where that's in any way likely to happen - a fight, for example - is one which it's in both our best interests to avoid. So how about a compromise - we give you, say, 150 gold cash in hand, open to negotiation, and you leave us to sort out our business here with everyone unexploded.
>>4076990You call back up to the Corvid.>"Yeah, so you can see why a situation where that's in any way likely to happen - a fight, for example - is one which it's in both our best interests to avoid. So how about a compromise - we give you, say, 150 gold cash in hand, open to negotiation, and you leave us to sort out our business here with everyone unexploded."The Corvid lowers its head and winces."You mean YOUR best interests. If I attack you, I can fly down there, scratch you up like a cat on crack and return to my perch as a single attack action. Unless you climb up here with me - you gotta be on the boxes too. SO can hit you free of risk as much as I like. The only one whose gonna cause any explosions to happen will be you guys."The corvid shrugs."So how about YOU leave. If I attack you - you die - I get a bonus. If you shoot at me and miss we all die. If you blow up the baseheads we all die. The person who dies THE MOST is you."They shrug."220. Then I fly away."
>>4076990Support. What about we add:>I would be very interested on hearing about Edgewater´s latest operations. Perhaps you might walk away more than 150 gold rich if you wished to divulge.
>>4076996Look here birdie, I got initiative on you so I can just delay my action for when you come down here to peck at me, you'll eat the full force of our cmbined attack and believe me, we have other, non fire or gunpowder wepon ways to deal with you. if you don't believe me, come and try to scratch me and see how well that is going to go for youeveryone redies action to fuck the bird up if he comes downwe cast hells heart in whoever hits hardermaybe on HB's guillotine
>>4076996230, and you indulge me in Edgewater´s latest operations. I don´t think you are gonna work with him again after this, so this is a win-win for you
>>4076996>Sounds reasonable. Pleasure doing business.Give him the cash. Money talks more sense than we can, it'd seem. Be on guard in case he tries anything funny.>>4077002Talking tough doesn't seem to be working, and this guy's probably right in that he can fuck us up pretty bad.
>>4077023it may not work but it will get us a better deal, just showing him he does not hold all the cards like he seems to think he does, and I'm pretty sure one or two focused turns can kill him, just show him that we know it tooif he went with his strategy we could just armor up and he would be nothing"the deal is this, we can safely kill you and drain those baseheads, but it would take time and potions to do so, I'm willing to transfer some of the cost of those potions to you so we can both save, money in my case, your life in yours."
>>4077075By the looks of it he basically does hold all the cards - we can't shoot at him, we can't use our main offensive spell, so unless you want to try to climb those boxes and crowbar him to death our options are limited. Besides that, if we set one of those baseheads off we're history. He's also basically show by this point that he's not gonna be intimidated by us. Given we were specifically warned about the nowls here, I think we're better off dealing with this one without a fight.
>>4077082we can attack him when he comes to attack us, he does not have ranged attacks as he stated, we just delay our actions and come hereif he DID hold all the cards he would not be willing to negotiate like he is, he is backed into a corner and he knows he will not leave here alive in case of a fight, he will even die due to our attacks, even if slower, or die in a fiery explosionso no, he does not hold all the cardswe presented ourselves as a businessman, not an adventurer, so let's act bloody like one and drive this guy a hard bargain
>>4077088I am afraid that driving a hard bargain here its too dangerous. No gambler bets more than what he is willing to lose and all that. I suggest we just ask him about more infor about the things we might encounter on the other buildings. Mention that we have a ship around the area to check if he really flees.>Suggested deal: I have a ship around the area. I can warn them about you right now in fron of you and you can collect your payment there, to insure everyone fulfils their part of the deal. Give me any info you might have on this base (hostages hostiles..etc.) and Edgewater´s latest operations and I will up to 230.I presume we have enough money on the ship to pay the dude. This also give us info about anything else weimight want to know about the troll.
>>4077095I agree with bumping up the price if he's got anything to tell us about Edgewater and co., but I wouldn't recommend telling him about the ship in case he feels like hassling the crew. We also only have 170 gold in the safe right now, according to the wiki, compared to 242 in our backpack.>>4077088>we presented ourselves as a businessman, not an adventurerExactly, which is why I'd say taking the deal rather than risking a fight is the better way to go. I think we're still pretty banged up as is from our last encounter, HB especially.
>>4077102>>4077095Look, I'm not about to start and argument about saving a few gold piecesI'm not against taking the deal, I want the dealI just don't want to look like a limp dick bastard and let the birdie push us around like a fooljust present the arguments as part of the negotiation to show him we know he is full of shit
>>4077106Then what about we point out we have a flying ship around the area (with the implication that it is armed)? He must rat on his boss. Then we make a call and we tell them to give him 200 gold or more if he gives us good info. Obviously, info comes first.
>>4077106Who are we trying to impress here? I personally don't really care what the birdman thinks of us, and the smith already thinks we're insane for threatening to blow the entire building up - I don't think throwing more threats around is going to save us any face at this point.>>4077115Again, if he decides he wants to check out the ship for himself it's gonna be a pain for the folks on board. Richter could *probably* take him, but more's the better if it doesn't get to that point I reckon.
>>4077115>>4077106>>4077102Okay, Disregard the last one. New Suggestion:>Do you really trust those baseheads to just not miss and kill us all. Or start a chain reaction with the things that gal is handling there? Come on. You are too of a smart guy for that. Two hundred gold and we will forget about the look of your face when we inform the Vanguards about this mess. More if you have got good info on the town or Edgewaters´s dealings.
>>4077117it's not a question of impressing, it's good that the bird might think us insane, if he takes us for a fool he can easely lie to us or send us to a trap into townI'm not talking about threatening him further, just to point out that we are in on his bullshit and if we really wanted it we could kill him with, or without the explosion and we are deciding to make a deal that is favorable for us both>>4077119sounds good too
>>4077119>>4077121I'm still in favour of getting this negotiation done with as few complicating factors as possible. 220 is a lot, but we don't really have that many chips to bet with - he's shown he's not cowed by the threat of being blown up (that or he doesn't think we'd actually do it, which I assume we're not gonna), and he seems pretty unconvinced that we'd be able to beat him in a fight, regardless of whether we could or not. If we start suggesting that we can, he may well decide he wants us to prove it, then we have the fight we've been trying to avoid.My recommendation's to keep it simple, go with this:>Throw in some details about what Edgewater's been up to, what his plans are, anything we should know about this place etc., then deal. If not, we can do 200.
>>4077141I concur, don't just take his offer as presented, that would be horrible negotiation. Also half up front half after he fulfills his end either way.
Honestly, I'm not sure why you're all so scared of this. HB's blades and Mike's bow won't set off explosives, we can drain the baseheads, Burstock can heal and buff as needed or use bodily betrayal on the Corvid. We can totally fuck them up. Maybe we should impress this on him, and if he doesn't respond the right way, put it in action. No need to spend almost all our pocket money on this guy.
>>4077175I just think it's a fight best avoided - even if we can take him, it'd be a long and painful slog, and we'd have to lose a bunch of acts draining the baseheads first so they don't blow up mid-fight, which leaves us down till that's done. Given we're presented with the opportunity to negotiate with probably one of the beefiest guys we're gonna see in this town, it seems like a waste to go straight on the attack. Besides, this guy seems reasonable as far as goons go, perhaps he'll come in handy (or at least not outright hostile) if we see him later down the line.
>>4077191More like he'll fly away and warn the troll to come back.
>>4077191Baseheads explode on death, not randomly. Also, according to the map, there's an even more dangerous Nowl around, not to mention the green slime that nobody knows how to deal with yet (but I bet it involves salt).>>4077214The troll is probably on their way here anyway, what with the looted treasure and the dead gopniks.
>>4077214The troll's like two days away, whatever happens we don't have to worry about him for a while.>>4077221>there's an even more dangerous Nowl around, not to mention the green slime that nobody knows how to deal with yetYeah, and we may not have a choice when it comes to those fights, hence why I say we take the opportunity to get through this one unbloodied. If all goes well we're gonna loot more that 220 gold's worth of stuff from here anyway.
You draw your revolver and thumb the hammer back in his vague direction.The Corvid looks nervous and flinches.You call up to them>"175. Extra only if you can tell us anything about Edgewater's current plans."The Corvid glides down to meet you. Its talons clack on the stone floor."All I know is that his plan is to bolster his forces with more money - hire more thugs then do a big push on Dunnlivin. That's the most up to date info I have. I'm not exactly one of the bosses...."The Corvid accepts the 175 gold"...one of that FUCKING PRICK's inner circle. Just another thug with a good constitution."The Corvid walks out the door."Good luck on your rescue mission and what not."
>>4077435Drain the baseheads and free the smith.
>>4077517This, ask the smith what the deal is round here while we do so.
Hey he's back! Two days ago that is. Good to see ya keepin this going.
QM: im at work atm, so i cant update with pictures until i get back.Are things going ok? Any questions?
>>4077798Do successful negotiations and deals during adventures impact our speechcraft abilities? According to wiki Joey needs to work on these..
>>4078106Yes, they will be taken into account when you level up, and you get XP for them.
>>4078115Neat. Do the means we use to solve encounters affect our reputation or anything like that? If we bash in all the heads we meet or talk our way past said heads, will the word get out about that?
>>4078180I would say so. Wherever Chimkin ends up, they'll spread the word about you being reasonable, generous but also almost dangerous. Not bad.QMs honour, Chimkin is not flying to Kiani to dob you in to Edgewater. Theyre off to find a new life.
>>4078196Honestly, I'm kind of on the verge of offering him a job. Eh, maybe if we meet again on a more neutral situation.
>>4077568>>4077517 You cast drain on the first basehead. Your mana is full, but the drain still works.You call across the room.>"What's the deal with this place?"The smith opens her mouth and shows her stump of a tongue. She then gestures down to her left leg, which has been amputated at the knee, then bolted through the stump to a steel pipe that is screwed into the floor.Burstock winces."Old wounds. Gonna take more than a big time to deal with those."
The baseheads cast drain on you.Burstock recoils as mana is pulled from you, she puts away the kvas she was sipping."Hoo boy. You want me to start casting fizzle on one of these guys? We're gonna be here all day otherwise."HIGHBALL beckons mike towards her.
>>4078829Does "Gonna take more" mean you can't do it right now or you can't do it at all?Also, at least we could unbolt or cut the pipe screwed into the floor, right?
>>4078836...of all the spells they could have...That might help, but I worry we don't have enough juice to drain one of them to full with the other one draining every turn... Oh well, it's not like we have a better plan. Do it.
>>4078837You cast drain on the first basehead. Gritting your teeth, you turn to Burstock.>"Does "Gonna take more" mean you can't do it right now or you can't do it at all?""Oh I can patch her up just fine, but I need to be able to touch her and get a feel for her body. Not the sort of thing I can do in combat."You look around>"Also, at least we could unbolt or cut the pipe screwed into the floor, right?"Highball speaks excitedly."That's the straight dope, nabob. Me and Mike noticed that those baseheads aren't attacking that ork, not are they looking at either of us."Mike rubs his chin."So me and Nep could spook over there and either free the smithy, which would take a while - or we spook over and each free a bashead. That would sick them onto you and Ms. Burstock...""But it would mean you could lead them away from those 5 tonnes of kablammo. It'd mean you and thighs would have to hold your own for a round or two - but I mean I feel like you got this.">1. Mikes got a plan. Free the smithy.>2. Yeah, I got this H.B. Free the baseheads.>3. I'll keep draining. Burstock keeps fizzling. We both drink some mana potions. We can wear these baseheads down, ultimately then do things at our leisure.QM: First to three votes. Don't forget to quote the post.
>>4078858I figure the smithy should be priority one.
>>4078858>2. Yeah, I got this H.B. Free the baseheads.I'm assuming Mike and HB can get to work on the smith while we fight the baseheads outside. Sooner they're outta the way the better.
>>4078858A tough choice, but ultimately I think we can hold out a round or two outside the building.>2. Yeah, I got this H.B. Free the baseheads.
>>4078858>>2. Yeah, I got this H.B. Free the baseheads.And then there were three.
Could free the one at a time I suppose, but that would draw things out.
>>4078858>2. Yeah, I got this H.B. Free the baseheads
>>4078882>>4078916>>4078931You smile down at Highball.>"Yeah, I got this H.B. Free the baseheads."Highball makes a delighted chirping noise, jumps up and kisses you on the cheek."For luck. Go get 'em, Joey."Mike and Highball slink to the back of the room and unlatch the chains holding the baseheads who start toward you with amazing speed.Burstock playfully taps you on the shoulder as she runs out the door."Race you, skip! Tell me your plan while we tear ass outta here!"
>>4078958I'll hells heart blast both of them, if they don't fall use body betrayal to separate them while we keep runningAt least we get to look at her ass while running, these baseheads are gonna hurt
>>4078958How well can we cast magic while running? Can we use mage hands to trip the baseheads? It is difficult to stay upright while chasing someone when something keeps pushing in the back of your knee.
>>4078962>>4078973 You and Burstock go running back into the long grass.Burstock pulls ahead of you in seconds and it dawns on you that there's a reason she has the thighs of a speed skater.You call forward to her:>"How well can we cast magic while running?"She calls back:"Don't fire a blast over your shoulder if that's what you're thinking. Don't want it going wild. And if you turn to stop, those things will be too close."Burstock is breathing heavily, but still manages to pull about another 15 yards clear of you. "I've got enough of a lead. You wont have to turn around to cast a spell on me. Pump me full of your Hell's Heart and I'll cast SMITE on the closest one. I've got enough of a lead on them to stop and turn."You focus on the middle distance as best you can."The one I hit will explode with enough force to blow up the other one. Killing them both. You'll probably still get caught in the explosion. But only a little bit!">1. [Hells Heart Burstock then jump]>2.[Hells Heart Burstock then dive]>3. [Stop running and turn]>4. "Burstock *puff* your plan sucks *wheeze* and you're not in charge! Here's what we do...">5. [INSERT OWN]
>>4079002>>2.[Hells Heart Burstock then dive]
QM: I'm gonna be off to bed then work, so it's gonna be another large gap, but get those votes in. I love this thread and everyone in it.
>>4079002>1. [Hells Heart Burstock then jump]Let's see how high we can fly, should be a good experience, burstock is used to making this kind of experiment so we can afford doing one while she is around to fix us up
>>4079008Thanks fer running. This is a fun quest.
>>4079002>1. [Hells Heart Burstock then jump]>>4079011 sounds fuckin hilarious, so it's worth a go. Burstock can fix a broken neck, right?>>4079008This shit's fantastic chief, love ya too <3
>>4079002>1. [Hells Heart Burstock then jump]
>>4079002>1. [Hells Heart Burstock then jump]>>4077435>made his subordinate "eat crow"I can appreciate the joke. Maybe Edgewater isn't so bad after all.
Jump action hero style, enjoy the flight and the pain after, it's an experience we will not have often....probably....hopefully...
>>4079002Hells Heart Burstock then jump
>>4079002Since it's their heads that explode, the smart thing would be to dive. But eh, Joe's not all that smart.
>>4079002Looks like we're GONNA HAVE TO JUUUUMP
>>4079011>>4079023>>4079054>>4079071>>4079426Burstock turns to face the pursuing Baseheads, you imbue her wuth Hells Heart just as she casts SMITE on one of them, causing a chain reaction that detonates both.At the last second you jump and ride the explosion, feeling the heat on your back as you sore majestically head first, arms outstretched.Burstocks eyes widen as you fly towards her.The impact staggers her but she remains standing, apparently still having several pounds on you.You are both unhurt!
>>4080239Muffled "that was awesome!"
>>4080239"Uh, sorry. Didn't really think about the landing."
>>4080239>Extricate thyself. “Thanks for catching me, Burstock.”
>>4080247>Muffled "that was awesome!""There are worse ways to travel, that's for sure.">>4080254>"Uh, sorry. Didn't really think about the landing.""I assumed you were gonna baseball slide under me, I admit. But that did LOOK pretty cool. Annd nobody got hurt."Burstock ruffles your hair and clears her throat.>>4080353>>Extricate thyself. “Thanks for catching me, Burstock.”"De nada. You'd do the same."Highball and Mike coming running out to see you."That was awesome, guys!""Sometimes the Q & D strats are the way to go."Burstock smooths her outfit and flicks bits off charred basehead off her shoulder."Let's see if I can't sort out the smithy. If you guys want to grind, talk to eachother or just wait in there with me, those are all good options."Mike crouches next to Highball and patches up her wounds a little."I...yes. That's true."
O fuk its back
>>4080595Let's hang outside and chat. The smith might not want an audience while she gets her parts regrown. Plus I wanna hassle Mike."I think I need to start jogging. College life did NOT prepare me for being chased by junkie zombies.""Thanks for not panicking when I started waving a gun at the explosives."to Mike: "So Joonda, Nep, and MS. Burstock, eh?" *eyebrow movement*
>>4080636Highball sits down in the grass with her legs out in front of her. She rummages in her pockets and finds some pistachios which she begins shelling and eating.Mike finds a high rock to stand on and begins looking around in a 180 arc down the scope of his rifle.You take the opportunity to reload your revolver and spin it back to the right position, so you don't fire any DS or TS shots by accident. As you walk up to Mike, he briefly turns to you and acknowledges you. Now's good to talk.>"I think I need to start jogging. College life did NOT prepare me for being chased by junkie zombies.""That would make me rethink academia, for sure. I'm not sure if there's anything we can get for the ship to help with cardio. Bit of time on the speedbag might help, but I think the rest will come from the right foods and more of this lifestyle."Mike fires into a thicket in the distance. You can't see what he shot at, but the distant green explosion is telling.>"Thanks for not panicking when I started waving a gun at the explosives.""I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous, but we all had to be on board for that."Not seeing anything else, Mike reloads and slings his karubin rifle, and instead begins loading his pipe."I don't really socialise. But I can spot a battle bluff. Any of us panic - you don't get believed. Simple. I really am glad you didn't start shooting though."You lean a little closer, smirking>"So Joonda, Nep, and MS. Burstock, eh?" *eyebrow movement*Mike looks up from his pipe loading"Your guess is as good as mine. I can start calling you Mister Donuts if you'd prefer."Mike clenches his pipe in his teeth and begins patting his pockets.>1. Wordlessly light the pipe for him.>2. Light the pipe and shrug "I'm easy. But I reserve the right to give you a nickname.">3. Light the pipe and smile. "Mr Donuts is my dad. The greatest of all leaders is also a servant.">4. Do nothing>5. Hand Mike your matches>6. Light the pipe and say politely "I would prefer that , Mike. I gotta be taken seriously.">7. [INSERT OWN]
>>4080690>Light the pipe and shrug "I'm easy. But I reserve the right to give you a nickname."
>>4080690>"Maybe in front of big boss types and that," hand him our matches, "I gotta be taken seriously on occasion."
>>4080690>2. Light the pipe and shrug "I'm easy. But I reserve the right to give you a nickname."
>>4080690>>5. Hand Mike your matches
>>4080690>2. Light the pipe and shrug "I'm easy. But I reserve the right to give you a nickname.">3. Light the pipe and smile. "Mr Donuts is my dad. The greatest of all leaders is also a servant."
>>4080239Also, awesome art
>>4080697>>4080711>>4080722 Mike continues to pat his pockets.You produce the paper matches you boosted from the gopniks and light his pipe for him, he leans into it, appreciatively.>Light the pipe and shrug "I'm easy. But I reserve the right to give you a nickname."Mike nods."More than fair. Just keep it holy and I'll make sure to call you 'boss' or 'master' or whatever in front of important looking guys."Mike exhales smoke."I'm from Tarko. If you wanna do a place name thing."Mike shakes his head."Nah. You think of something.""Anything else you wanna talk about?">1. Level with me. You like Burstock.>2. You ever used to get lonely?>3. You think it's weird I'm dating a goblin?>4. Level with me - who is best girl?>5. I should go.>6. How do you think we're doing?>7. [hold out hand for pipe]>8. It's good what we're doing here, you know? Saving people.===========QM: These are dialogue options so only one vote is needed. They are for flavour, not branching. None of them are required.
>>4080766>4. Level with me - who is best girl?>6. How do you think we're doing?
>>4080766>7. [hold out hand for pipe]>8. It's good what we're doing here, you know? Saving people.Wanna talk with HB and get some pistachios after we finish with him here
>>4080766>1. Level with me. You like Burstock.
>>4080766>6. How do you think we're doing?>8. It's good what we're doing here, you know? Saving people.I'd guess he'd be more of a Lundsmen guy, they both seems serious and on the level.Ask HB about our flight, check party hp and stats(seeing how her wounds are)"That was some proper action hero stuff wasn't it? I guess we are kinda going into the hero business ever since we both broke out of that potion factory.""Don't look at me, you started with the heroing first when you tried to save me and got yourself arrested."
Have you guys noticed how Mike looks like an elven princess from afar?
>>4080766>3. You think it's weird I'm dating a goblin?>8. It's good what we're doing here, you know? Saving people.
>>4080766>6. How do you think we're doing?>>4080792Careful, we dunno what's in that pipe. Gotta stay sharp for the rest of this.
>>4080837>carefulDude, we just jumpxploded, we deserve a puff and a handful of pistachios for the munchies lol
>>4080851CorrectionWe have not just jumpxploded, we jumpxploded and landed on massive and soft tits which is ten times betterBut I get you, maybe ask mike whats in it before taking a dragBut it would be cool to force the qm to draw fubny and distorted pictures to simulate being high for the rest of the run lol
>>4080766>6, 8, "And please go with Boss or Mr. Doughnuts around those people. You're not an apprentice, and I've not mastered anything worth teaching.">>4080797That's nice words right there. Maybe we should get fit so we can dive and roll in the future. One faceplant into cleavage is an accident, two is coincidence, three is conspiracy.>>4080863I'm pretty sure he's not getting wobbly footed in a combat zone, it's probably tobacco. Otherwise it might be a painkiller or healing herb.
>>4080766You think it's weird I'm dating a goblin?
>>4080871>Mr. DoughnutsLast names don't change according to regional dialects, you know.
>>4081305Well I mean, there's marriage down the line so dating would naturally come first.
>>4080778>Level with me - who is best girl? "Personally, I feel that all girls are equal in their own way for a certain part of society. Personally speaking, however, for myself; Lumsden is best girl.">"How do you think we're doing?""You got more stones than I initially had you picked for and its coming out in how you do business and solve problems. It's a little more out there than how I did things. But I kinda like it. It's getting things done."> [hold out hand for pipe]Mike nods and bobs his nonexistent eyebrows, he hands you the pipe. You draw from it. Tastes a bit like cloves and bourbon. The remaining sleep blinks from your eyes and your ears pop. You see and hear very slightly better. You only cough a little. Mike rubs your shoulder and chuckles.> Level with me. You like Burstock.Mike coughs and averts his gaze."I've..I've not really been around anyone for quite a while. Just customers and traders, you know. I haven't been around people I'm attracted to for some time. I mean, you and Nep are in a relationship - so that's cool. Someone's in a relationship, I got blinkers on. But I mean. Ms Burstock is in open relationships so I mean that means I still notice her. Between her curtsying and having her above me on the rope ladder it's hard not to notice her."Mike sheepishly pulls his head into his collar and pulls his hood over his eyes."She's just...she's really pretty.>You think it's weird I'm dating a goblin?"Nah, not really. I've been in the Mahalands so long I've seen a lot of different loves blooming. I was once at a beach and saw a goblin with a blooch girlfriend. Seen people settle down with trees out here."
>>4080804>>4080797>>4080792> "It's good what we're doing here, you know? Saving people."You exhale some smoke into the cool late morning air as you turn back to Mike, who is smiling at you, broadly."It really is, Joonda. It really is."Mike's action points have been restored.=========QM: You have the option of follow up questions with Mike or talking to Highball. One does not exclude the other
>>4081981>Lumsden is best girl.Excellent taste confirmed.>>4081995Chat with Highball a bit:"How do you think we're doing?""Chopping off a person's leg, bolting them to the floor, forcing them to work while surrounded by explosives, with two living bombs as guard dogs. Edgewater needs to be put in the ground.""Do you know why baseheads explode? 'Cause I'm pretty sure that's not a thing that happens to mages. Or, shit, did I just miss that lecture?"
>>4082040+1
>>4082040>>4082040You hand Mike his pipe back and wander over to Highball. She stands up when you approach, making a noise like a cat that just got woken up.>"How do you think we're doing?""Ten on ten, as I see it. Putting you moolah where your mouth is. Riding explosions. Putting your mouth other places."She elbows you, friendly like."Jealous.'>"Chopping off a person's leg, bolting them to the floor, forcing them to work while surrounded by explosives, with two living bombs as guard dogs. Edgewater needs to be put in the ground.""Pretty tip of the iceboig for trolls, Joey. But yeah. I don't think we're gonna be able to talk that guy down."She flattens her ears."I hope he puts up a fight.">"Do you know why baseheads explode? 'Cause I'm pretty sure that's not a thing that happens to mages. Or, shit, did I just miss that lecture?""I dunno the medical applesauce behind it all but it alters the body and how it interacts with the flow of all that magical hoobascotch. Like, with frequent enough dose of snakewater even goblins and orks can use magic. Something happens to a body if they drink too much of that mess. Something terrible."
>>4082095>"Jealous.'of me or her?>"I hope he puts up a fight."I... don't think I'll accept a surrender from him, even if he offers it.
>>4082111>"of me or her?"Highball splits a pistachio into her mouth and thinks."Of you, basically. Much as I like getting close to you, if you flew into me like that we'd both get hurt.">"I... don't think I'll accept a surrender from him, even if he offers it.""Straight dope that'd be a bad idea. His crew's negotiable but as the ringleader - nah. Nothing but trouble."She bumps against you."Anything else on your mind?">1. I was thinking about your maid outfit, to be honest.>2. Apparently before he knew we were a couple, Mike thought one or both of us were cute.>3. You can scout once or twice a day, right? It'd be nice to know how many more nowls are out there and what sort of animals they are.>4. [INSERT OWN]
>>4082181>3. You can scout once or twice a day, right? It'd be nice to know how many more nowls are out there and what sort of animals they are.
>>4082188>>4082220>You can scout once or twice a day, right? It'd be nice to know how many more nowls are out there and what sort of animals they are.Highball's ears prick up "Sounds like a good way to pass some time to me. I'll be back in two shakes."Highball sprints down the hill doing a few flips and tumbles to work between bushes. Before you know it, she is out of sight.Burstock reemerges from the smithy, yawning and discarding an empty mana potion bottle."She's gonna be alright. Her name's Stukka"
>>4082328Alright, let's talk to Stukka
>>4082353You enter the black smith, flanked by Mike and Burstock.Stukka looks up slightly then goes back to her work."I'm not going to attribute to heroism what can be explained away with idiocy.""But please believe. You have my sincerest thanks."Stukka resumes working for a few minutes then looks up again."Did you need something?"There is an exchange of expressions between Mike and Burstock.
>>4082367"Might be a long shot, considering everything, but do you know anything about the surrounding buildings?""Do you have any pistols around here? Seeing if I can rearm the town."
>>4082479>"Might be a long shot, considering everything, but do you know anything about the surrounding buildings?"'I know the well has a green slime in it. Not thrilled. But it doesn't actually come out or anything. It's just used as a way to dispose of anything ...or anyone that Edgewater doesn't want around. We just used it for waste disposal. He's put people down there."Stukka admires the cartridge she has made and places it in the crate behind her."The standing bar and the tobacconist are just places for grind and some junk loot. I've heard people say there's good shit in the public wash are but people here are idiots. If there's anything of real value it'll be in the big concrete and steel house at the back."You show her your crummy map.She points to the '5' building."That's where Edgewater holes up when he's here. It's where he's keeping the mayor. Gold coins to grapefruit that's where anything of real value is.">"Do you have any pistols around here? Seeing if I can rearm the town."Stukka produces a percussion pistol from the back of her trousers and ejects the cartridge from it before handing them to you separately.It's a troll stopper shot."Kept that hidden. I was gonna fire into the crates if I ever decided I was giving up - and Edgewater was in the room. I ain't gonna fight unless the whole town's in on it, so you may as well keep that until you have all of them.You can use the shot if you want.
>>4082502"Anyone in town we should look out for? Anyone else forced to work for Edgewater?"
>>4082502"Do you know anything about Edgewater's mage?"
>>4082521>"Anyone in town we should look out for? Anyone else forced to work for Edgewater?""None of the towns folk besides me have been doing work for Edgewater. Him and his gang have just taken everything else they wanted. Anyone can dole out booze and tabs. The gopniks rustle nearby animal pens for food. Probably why they're after Dunnlivin."Stukka discards a cartridge."There were three people who got fed transmogs and survived. Chimken, who you've met, got crowified as a punishment. Not uncommon. It was odd that he survived.Boris volunteered. I don't know what happened but his loyalty is absolute. The way the other gopniks talk, I am sure he survived the transmog also.Lastly there is Neffa. She was already crazy and violent. Always strung out on dryad extracts or snakewater. She drank a transmog by accident and she's utterly gone now. Only person she doesn't attack is Edgewater.">"Do you know anything about Edgewater's mage?""She's human.She dresses nice. Never heard her speak except to yell "NO!". But I had no idea why she was yelling it. I can't read her. Dunno if she's in it for money or love or because she has no choice. Her name is Jorn Taullopo."
>>4082558Thanks stukkaI guess we should move tobthe next houseWe'll probably clear the map to get levels and free all the hostages
>>4082576Oh wait, we gotta wait for HB to be back, let's do it outsideJust check party status tonsee how everyones hp and mp is while we waitPs: I know ship Mike and Lundsman, poor guy is lonely, he can be a spotter with his good eyes when we are on the ship, keep him at the helm room hehe
>>4082558>bankable skills"Tell me about. You take the time to learn how to put out fires with your mind, and then some whackjob tries to juice you for potions. What a world."
>>4082558>wait for HB and check status
>>4082576>"Thanks stukka""mmhm."There is a bump at your side. Didn't hear her come in. "All the houses are unlocked except for the big one. Couldn't find a key."Stukka's eyes widen at the sight of Highball. She closes the crate she's filling and nails it shut.Highball purses her lips. She rolls with it." A-n-yways. One nowl is closed in the smoke shed. The other one is now part spider. Eight eyes. Armoured skin. Spiny hairs. He's spry too. Clambering all over the big house. Looks like he's patrolling it.""I spotted three more of those unlucky stiffs tied up around the town. With groups of thugs.">Just check party status to see how everyone's hp and mp is while we wait'Only one who ain't on all cylinders is you, doughy joey."Highball gestures to a large, still bleeding graze on your forearm.Mike wanders over to you. "Lemme deal with that."Your party is now fully loaded.
>>4082626Alright, let's head to building 4 on the map, should be on the way to Edgewater's HQ
>>4082626To the next buildingLet's clear this place out.By the description of the smitthy we may only be ablentontalk with the mage, the others may no be approachable
>>4082640Lets go to the thug house to grab some more pistols
Rolled 7 (1d100)>>4082632You only travel a short distance, so there is only one combat between you and building 4 (the gopnik house)You come across a kill squad featuring a new enemy (sort of). The heavy thug can't use a gun, but his baton hits hurt more than most thugs and he has a few more hit points. He beats up whatever's left after these guys focus fire.Roll initiative anon.QM: I'm going to bed for a bit. If you get the drop on them, you may wanna think strategy.
Rolled 88 (1d100)>>4082662ShootSmiteKnifeShootFocus on one and if it dies spill the rest of the damage to the next one
Rolled 91 (1d100)>>4082662
>>4082662Since we have initiative, Mike should use a Cloudjar. Everyone else should focus fire on one of the thugs.
>>4082674I'd say this, then work through each of the shooters in turn. Once we get to the big lad Mike can blast him if he so chooses.
>>4082666>>4082674>>4082838Mike throws down a cloudjar, causing all the thugs to cough.You work from the left, firing a shot into the first thug, who catches it in the chest. He raises his hand reflexively but doubles over as highball runs over and stabs him in the stomach. He glowers down at her reaching for his gun with blood bubbling between his teeth, but a smite bolt from Burstock crackles through his skull lighting his head up like a cheap jack-o-lantern.
The thugs barely turn to their former comrade, whose head disintegrates as it hits the ground before furiously firing at Burstock.Thanks to the cloudjar, one of them misses.
>>4083591I wish we had a damaging spell that wouldn't hurt the hostage so we could show them there's not just one wizard. I guess we could HH a bullet, but it wouldn't be the same.
>>4083591Joey: Hell's Heart on MikeMike: KarubinHighball: AttackBurstock: Heal Thyself
The heavy thug lumbers from the crowd and catches Burstock across the face with a baton the size of a small tree.
>>4083610Now with picture. Fucks sake.
>>4083610>>4083614Wow, ok, I think we better make him a priority now. Can Mike hit him with ranged weapons from this close with no problem? If so, do this >>4083604 aiming for him. If not, maybe HH one of Highball's limit breaks or something.
>>4083622This sounds like a plan
>>4083614We gota beat him woth the crowbar
>>4083626>>4083622>>4083604You and Mike exchange a glance. He unslings his karubin and runs off panel, crouching down.You cast HELLS HEART as he pulls the trigger, super charging his shot for 160 damage. The heavy thug's head explodes.Highball stabs the rightmost thug.The thugs have to spend their next turn reloading, so you may attack again.Mike also needs to reload.
>>4083729Nice!Highball: Red Panic on injured ThugJoey & Burstock: Attack uninjured Thug (probably should try to save on MP now)
>>4083729Shoot the same one that HB's working on. "You shot the wrong 'fucking wizard'."Does Burstock have an attack that doesn't need MP? We have a lot of fights left to go through to clear the town.
>>4083741This
>>4083729Just run in and start swinging woth the crowbar, don't forget the cqc
>>4083745Disregard "shoot", use the crowbar. Better to use melee against ranged enemies, and save ammo while we're at it.
>>4083741>>4083745>>4083785>>4083852>>4084040 Highball savagely attacks the thug's inner thigh. If they perform their attack next turn they will lose 50 health.You run up to the uninjured thug and wallop him across the face with your ravenbar.A kusarigama, slightly inexpertly thrown, still finds its mark and embeds itself in the same thugs ribs.Burstock smiles."Yeah, this was a good purchase."Mike has returned.
The bleeding thug desperately squeezes off a shot, missing outright before bleeding out and collapsing.The remaining thug spits out a tooth and fires once more into Burstock."You wanna fuck with a troll gang?! You dumb motherfuckers?!"
>>4084148Your troll is days away. When he gets back, there won't be a gang waiting for him anymore. So no, there's no 'troll gang' anymore to fuck with.
>>4084148"No, not fuck with, just exterminate.">Bust his knee, give HB access to his neck. Non-resource intensive attacks for everyone.
>>4084166You approach the last thug as he frantically trie to reload. You smack him hard in the knee cap, lowering him and making him drop his weapon.You say, matter-of-factly:>"No, not fuck with, just exterminate."His eyes widen with anger, but before he can talk, a cleaver is sunk through his neck, killing him.Highball wipes her blades clean on the body."Cold like a shaker mid Manhattan, Joey. Not bad."VICTORYYou gained 35 xpLOOT6 Cheap beers3 Perka pistols21 Gold1 Small healing potion1 Bullet2 Pizza rolls
QM: Fwiw, I do an up to date inventory and quest update to this page:https://trust-a-goblin.fandom.com/wiki/Journalwhile I run the quest.So you can always click there to see where you're at.
>>4084208HHRRRRMMMMM ~nice~
>>4084197>free the hostage and proceed to the building
Hmm, we have a possibly hard fight coming up, I wonder if we should buff ourselves with something... dammit, we got the Grink machine but forgot to take any with us, didn't we?
>>4084351>>4084419You enter the supposed Gopnik house. House number 4. It smells nice, if a little agrarian.A single Gopnik startles up from his milking stool and eyes you all nervously."Just leave, blin. Not take hostage! Cannot mess up again!"
>>4084536...yeah, listen. In a matter of hours, if not minutes, everyone from Edgewater's gang left in the town is gonna be a corpse. I know gopniks have it rough, so if you just leave town and never look back, we'll leave it at that. Hell, I'll throw in 5 gold if you tell me something useful before you go.
>>4084548You approach the gopnik, calmly. Arms raised. Voice even.>"...yeah, listen. In a matter of hours, if not minutes, everyone from Edgewater's gang left in the town is gonna be a corpse. I know gopniks have it rough, so if you just leave town and never look back, we'll leave it at that. Hell, I'll throw in 5 gold if you tell me something useful before you go."The gopnik shakes his head."It not going to work. Fucking troll will find out. I don't wanna get hac'd!">1. "Five gold. You tell me what you know. You leave. I give you a head start." [55%]>2. "Twenty gold. You give me good info and I let you ride that buyfugllian out of here." [75%]>3. [Hold up a six pack] "Let's settle down a sec, yes? You're not thinking straight. You work to hard.">4. [draw gun] "Biggest way you can mess up is to keep yelling. Spill. Slink away. We're taking back this town." [44%]>5.[draw gun and shoot gopnik through the head]>6. [surround gopnik] "Sorry pal. You are in no way calling the shots around here. Let's start over"[85%]>7. "45 Gold. You tell me everything - EVERYTHING - I want to know and then you're up and dust. Next time I see you, you better be in another line of work."[98%]>8.[INSERT OWN]===========================QM: Quick refresher. Not only is it first to three, you also need to roll for your choice (only if it has a percentage).1d100 roll, but this time you wanna roll low. Under the percentage!two out of three rolls for the selected action need to pass.it can be fail pass passpass pass failpass fail passBut the first three to do it are the ones I will use.Good luck, anons!
Rolled 32 (1d100)>>4084675>6. [surround gopnik] "Sorry pal. You are in no way calling the shots around here. Let's start over"[85%]Can't say we didn't give him a chance.
>>4084687QM: This post is spot on. Exactly like this.
>>4084675>>6. [surround gopnik] "Sorry pal. You are in no way calling the shots around here. Let's start over"[85%]Gop the gopnik
Rolled 35 (1d100)>>4084675>>4084711
Rolled 84 (1d100)>>4084675>6. [surround gopnik] "Sorry pal. You are in no way calling the shots around here. Let's start over"[85%]
>>4084697Has the MC hit that yet? Because I'd hit that. I'd hit that so very hard. Perfect gobbo girl, 10/10, would risk end of the world to see what we spawned.
>>4084797Definite yes, she's his girlfriend by this point.
>>4084687>>4084711>>4084720You click your fingers and point with both hands at the gopnik.Your team surrounds him.Mike pats him on the shoulder.Highball clicks her fingers as she approachesBurstock makes eye contact with the gopnik and puts a finger to his lips."Ssssshh.."You stand in front of the gopnik.>"Sorry pal. You are in no way calling the shots around here. Let's start over">1. "Start talking. Anything useful." [65%]>2. "What's your name, pal? I'm Joe."[75%]>3. "Empty your pockets."[65%]>4. "Talk and you leave in one piece. Clam up, and my partner will ask you instead."[45%]>5. [punch gopnik in stomach]>6. [insert own]>7. [glower at gopnik]=====================>>4084797QM: Not exactly. Got a lapdance and a beej then reciprocated. But hey, you've only known her three days. Also, the difference in your species makes any spawning impossible.
Rolled 67 (1d100)>>4084877>1. "Start talking. Anything useful." [65%]
Rolled 73 (1d100)>>4084877>1. "Start talking. Anything useful." [65%]
Rolled 2 (1d100)>>4084877>2. "What's your name, pal? I'm Joe."[75%]
Rolled 52 (1d100)>>4084877>2. "What's your name, pal? I'm Joe."[75%]Mention the three gopniks back in DUNNLIVIN that we assisted to make a break for it. KRYCHEK, PAVEL and SALA. He could seek them out and team up.
Rolled 21 (1d100)>>4084877>>2. "What's your name, pal? I'm Joe."[75%]also this >>4084881
Rolled 79 (1d100)>>4084877>1. "Start talking. Anything useful." [65%]
>>4084881Liking this idea. Fuckin gopnik rehabilitation program we got going on here. Almost makes me feel bad about the ones we vapourised way back
>>4084995Hey now, Joey only vaporizes people if they threaten or hurt people. He's treating this guy (and the earlier three) fairly because they did neither. Those guys he vaporized were trying to mug him with knives out; the response was maybe a little disproportionate, but it wasn't unwarranted. But yeah, I kinda want it to get out that he's willing to let gopniks go if they don't threaten him.
QM: I'll be posting more in a bit. Got work and valentines day.
>>4085376Don't mix the two up.
>>4084880>>4084881>>4084932You approach the gopnik, hands by your side, palms out.>"What's your name, pal? I'm Joe."The gopnik looks around."That's what you wanted to know? I'm Milosh. I hope your follow up question just as easy."You do a semi convincing fake chuckle.>"Milosh, despite me and my crews doubtless aptitude for it, we're not actually in the business of wholesale slaughter. Generally, if a gopnik like you actually co-operates and then gets scarce, they don't get atomised. Three of your buddies - Pavel, Sala and Krychek our now 15 a piece richer and investing in salt mines because they didn't give me any trouble."Milosh interjects"I don't know them."You nod.>"All the same - you get what I'm saying. Now...">1. You keeping any hostages in here?>2. What can you tell me about Jorn Tauloppo?>3. [insert own]>4. Why are you rolling with a troll, Milosh?>5. What's in the cupboards?==============================QM: No percentages, so you can ask more than one, until the next time a dialogue event comes up.
>>4086546Ask why he's rolling with a Troll and if he'd rather roll with a Grel and Goblin pair instead. Y'know, if he spills all the beans in regards to his currently about to be former employer.We may not pay as well at first, but you can't argue with the far more chill and friendly work environment. And hey, get in on the ground floor of what may become the future biggest potion company on the planet. Would you side with some dumb violent troll, or with a grel and gobbo with a sense of long term vision? If you're smart, and I know you are, you know deep down that the latter is the winning team.
>>4086546>4. Why are you rolling with a troll, Milosh?>1. Your group keeping any hostages in here?>5. What's in the cupboards?>>4086606I'd rather only offer jobs to people that can offer unique skills, or high levels of competency.
>>4086606I'm not sure we should be offering a job to someone with no useful skills (except animal husbandry, apparently?). By his own admission he's no good at fighting, and I doubt he's good at chemistry, so what value could he add to our enterprise? I do empathize and want him to have a better life, but we have a business to run. The wellbeing of our employees comes first, the bottom line comes second, and hiring him would benefit neither.
>>4086631We'd get a disposable meatshield out of the deal. Not that we'd ever tell him that's what he is but hey, never a bad thing to have more meatshields.
>>4086546>4. Why are you rolling with a troll, Milosh?>5. What's in the cupboards?
>>4086546Also, who's this Jorn Tauloppo? Did I miss something?
>>4086634Hard pass. Having one of our hirelings die would be pretty bad for employee morale, and revealing that we intended for him to be disposable would damage our crew's image of Joey. I'd rather have the kind of meatshield that doesn't die, like Richter.
>>4086641I'd rather we also use the more positive term "Tank" as it is less insulting.
>>4086628>>4086635>>4086638You begin>'Why are you rolling with a troll, Milosh?'"Fuckink troll already recruited a bunch of thugs looking for power and free lunch! Gopnik can't compete even just with thug. SO when thug and troll say we should join, many gopnik join.">"Wouldn't you rather roll with us?"Milosh's eyes look the right. He looks slightly apologetic."Nyet. If Milosh leave. He leave good and far.">1. "Your group keeping any hostages in here?"Milosh lowers his gaze and shakes his head.>5. "What's in the cupboards?""Nothing much. Chicken feed. Some vegetables."Mike chimes in a little."Do you suppose he knows anything about Jorn Tauloppo?"You frown slightly.>" who's this Jorn Tauloppo? Did I miss something?"Burstock screws her eyes up and exhales through her nose.Mike looks around and speaks evenly."The uh...the wizard. The wizard that travels with Edgewater. Stukka mentioned her."Highball snickers.Mike looks at the two girls."C'mon. Guy's taking in a lot at once, here."Milosh is unsure they are part of this conversation."Only Taullopo I know is kind of sort of Brandt Taullopo. Politician or something. Only know because I heard fuckink vanguard talking about him while I was on the inside at Bacardi. Only remember because name is fucking weird, blin."
>>4086669Any idea how many thugs and gopniks in the camp? No need for exact numbers, a rough estimate will do. Oh, and we know about the crow nowl and the spider nowl, do you know what animal the other one is?
>>4086669"Ah... yeah. I remember the wizard, just forgot the name. Good on you to remember it, Milosh."Hmm. Would calling him "blin" back be friendly or insulting? I know it's kind of a mild insult, so...
>>4086719It's not like someone called Joemandius Coldiron Donuts has a leg to stand on to call someone else's name weird anyway
>>4086669"Know where the key to Edgewater's building is?""What can you tell me about Boris or Neffa?">>4086719Also, Mike remembered the wizard's name. Milosh just knew the politician. C'mon, Joey, keep it together.
>>4086678>"Any idea how many thugs and gopniks in the camp? No need for exact numbers, a rough estimate will do."Milosh shrugs."Who can keep count blyat. Is over half the gang. Easy two dozen maybe.">Oh, and we know about the crow nowl and the spider nowl, do you know what animal the other one is?"Nyet. Neffa was locked up in smokehouse long before she was hac'd. Always screaming and attacking people. Troll go in their with fuckink beastwater and then walk back out. Any one else goes in there get fucking smashed. Only Edgewater seen her and lived.">"Know where the key to Edgewater's building is?""Durak, he not give that kind of information to gopnik who feed chicken! Every one who know secrets and loot to this place on mission. More likely with boss right now. For EXACTLY this reason!">"What can you tell me about Boris or Neffa?""You cannot reason with either of them. Neffa is completely BEZUMNYY and Boris is loyal until death."
>>4086828Give him 5 piece and tell him to go bery very farCan we take that big animal with us? That orc back in dunnliving loved them so maybe we can return it to him since its probably from the farm he's guarding
>>4086828I think we've juiced this guy of all useful info, far as I can think. If there's no more questions, same deal as the other guys - 15 gold and we better not see him again.>>4086830Good point with the animal, might have to come back for it after this place is clear though, not sure how we're gonna get it outta here.
>>4086828It seems most gopnik, while not nice people, still got pressganged into joining the troll business, it makes me slightly more sad from atomizing them...But what can you do right? We make em surrender when we can and that should be good enoughAsk him if he's got a spare tracksuitLet's head to the Thug house after we are finished here? We still need xp and a key
>>4086830>>4086834>>4086836 You give Milosh 10 gp and tall him to scram. He does so. You think he may have even muttered some thanks.He does not have a spare tracksuit.You look at the buyfuglian.>"Can we take that big animal with us?"Highball pats it on the nose."If we could land, maybe. But we ain't getting this beef up a rope ladder. I bet if we lead it outside it'll find its way back, though."===================QM: I'm gonna get a consensus on where the party moves to next. This is also a quiet time if you want to talk to anyone.
>>4086848To Highball (and sort of the others, maybe Mike can pick locks): "You said the door to Edgewater's is locked. Think you could get us inside if we took care of the Itsy-Bitsy crawling all over it?"To Mike: "One of these days I'm going to remember something that someone said less than 24 hours ago and Burstock's going to faint. Or Smite me for being an imposter." *grin*As for actions: If highball thinks she can get us in, head to building 5. If not, let's go to building 2, grab some more guns.I think there's a chance building 8 has a spare key to the HQ, since only Edgewater can handle Neffa.
>>4086848Check the lockers for anything useful and do a general sweep of the roomAsk Burstock and then HB something we asked mike before.How do they feel about this hero businessPoint to HB that she started the trend when she tried to save us before we properly got introduced I say we go to thug house
>>4086848Building 2Maybe they still have some vermouth or vodka left right girls?
>>4086848My vote's on thug house, feel like we wanna get as much info as we can about the nowl before we try and whack it.
QM: Just going to bed for now. It looks like you wan to go to the thug house, I wanna say?But I will make sure the suggested interactions get taken care of first, don't worry.Thank you all very very much for playing my game.I have resolved to draw more Burstock lewds.
>>4086908I'll always accept burstock's melonsWe should turn that landing into a routine lol
>>4086908Night boss, thanks for running>>4086910Feel like she'd catch on after a couple of times, can't lie
>>4084877>Also, the difference in your species makes any spawning impossible.Sounds like quitter talk.
It seriously does not feel like three days since we met HB. Wonder if we could get a bit of time skip soon.
>>4086866I think we have brain damage affecting our short term memory.Or we're chaos motes partially possessing Doughy Joey and he can't stop us from being idiots just yet.
>>4086963Now you mention it, given we got whacked over the head and mana drained brain damage isn't out of the question.
>>4086928Agreed. Magic, pacts with gods, or just plain ol' being stubborn. MC is half-human and humans are known for their remarkable ability to generate offspring with just about anything! We'll get her preggers if we lewd her hard enough!
>>4087113>We'll get her preggers if we lewd her hard enough!Easy there anon, this ain't CoC
>>4086928>>4087113Eh, I'd rather have a girl I can have fun with without having to worry about having to change diapers, so I see it as a plus.
Anon's, there's always adoption and/or surrogacy. Seriously. Don't be bitches about this.besides are we really going to make pacts with eldritch entities when the price they'll ask will almost certainly have to be paid by the child produced from said pact? Come on guys, only worst parents (tm) do that
>>4087556tg/qst's desire to actually settle down and have a family is overpowering anon
>>4086866You walk around the room. Taking stock. Jugs of water. 3 large chickens. A milking stool. A bucket of milk. Large back of potatoes.You ponder out loud as to whether it would be possible for someone to pick the lock to the mayor's building.Highball ,pocketing some eggs, says she absolutely could.You also think out loud:>"I think there's a chance building 8 has a spare key to the HQ, since only Edgewater can handle Neffa"Burstock nods."That follows.">>4086867You go to check the lockers for anything useful, Mike has been jiggling the handle to no avail. Mike turns to you."I dunno if I'd bother locking a cupboard that's got chicken feed in it."==========================QM: A few things.I get that /tg/ is eager to be the proud papa and all, but your best option is adoption in this universe. Time skipping occurs when you move off a map section an onto another part of the garlands.Basically, you pick far north, far east, far south or far west, and then multiple weeks will pass as you move there.When this happens, you will be given broad options and character interactions that will alter things like I'll say:"While crossing the Woodbrine Straight you noticed a scuttled ship. The crew are desiccated husks, but their treasure is intact. Do you go down to inspect it?That sort of thing. It's a good way to move things along. Keep in mind though, you wanna have enough money for peoples paycheques and resources before you do this.That's not to say dialogue options to convince people to stay and having to make emergency landings to refuel aren't also fun. But it's all a matter of the sort of game you wanna play.Sorry for the blather, back to the game.
>>4087638You know what? Sure. Let's do what L.B Harmless couldn't and adopt a Blooch baby, to settle the nature vs nurture debate once and for all (and give a kid pretty much fated to slavery the opportunity be "raised with kindness and opportunity", as he put it).
>>4087746Mike's right. Have HB open it, then. Also, pet the buyfuglian.
>>4086867>Ask Burstock and then HB something we asked mike before.>How do they feel about this hero business>Point to HB that she started the trend when she tried to save us before we properly got introducedHighball fidgets happily."Ah geez, nabob. It weren't nothin' but getting you out of a fix you were only in 'cause of me. This business here is the real deal."Highball lowers her voice rubs her thumb and forefinger together."We gotta be making a little more *cha-ching* than this, you know?"Burstock finishes guiding the buyfugllian outside."I don't want to call us heroes before we've completed some quests, but this feels like steps in the right direction. If nothing else, I'm shaking of some cobwebs. I dare say, Joe, you're making me give a crap."
>>4087786>Burstock finishes guiding the buyfugllian outside.Ah, dammit. Fine, pet one of the chickens instead.
>>4087774You gesture to the lockers and Highball is already on them. Springing both locks with ease.Two terrified hostage spill out of the lockers, with small potion bottles lodged in their mouths.Burstock stamps her foot.You and mike assist them in dislodging them.Mike mutters, disappointed."I thought I heard something. I should have said.."
>>4087786>"We gotta be making a little more *cha-ching* than this, you know?"Now that you mention it, all those explosives in the smithy are bound to be worth a nice amount, wouldn't you say? We're going to have to be careful hoisting them up the airship and handling them, but still.>>4087822>"I thought I heard something. I should have said.."Hey, no worries. We got them out anyway, right? Take a gun each and join the rest, guys, we'll see you all when we're done liberating the town.
>>4087822Ask em if they know why they got stuffed in there rather than marched around like the rest of them.
>>4087822See if we can figure out what the potion bottles in their mouths were? I feel like that should be concerning unless they were just desperate and thirsty?
>>4087822note for the future: gopniks are shit liars and he didn't meet our eyes when he said there were no hostages, next time notice the tell>>4087846hope they're not transmog potions
>>4087786> I dare say, Joe, you're making me give a crap."Glad to be making something positive Burst, we have much good that we can still do.Then look at HB>"We gotta be making a little more *cha-ching* than this, you know?"And yes, we can always hit the bad guys that are loaded, feels much better getting rich over them right?
>>4087846>See if we can figure out what the potion bottles in their mouths were? I feel like that should be concerning unless they were just desperate and thirsty?The potion bottles are empty, they seems to just have been there as gags. A bit like putting a light bulb in someones mouth.>Ask em if they know why they got stuffed in there rather than marched around like the rest of them.They look at each other and shrug."I guess they figured having some hostages locked up would mean they would always have at least SOME if those in the field got away?""That and we put up more fight than most. Our business is here. We've stuck through this town for years. Even when others were chased out or left. We stayed. Scadm is our town."Despite their character models looking like every other hostage, you realise they are husband and wife.>Now that you mention it, all those explosives in the smithy are bound to be worth a nice amount, wouldn't you say? We're going to have to be careful hoisting them up the airship and handling them, but still.Highball smiles and nods."Just keep track of anything in this place you wanna grab that wont fit in your pockets or back pack. We can scoop it up when this is over. Anything short of furniture should be possible"
QM:Gotta step out for a bit.Give you guys time to rest and come to an agreement.Have a crummy sketch with stolen dialogue.I cannot stress enough: I don't genuinely expect you guys to all keep track of all the names and info I throw at you. I think the running gag that Joey is overwhelmed/forgetful is a good one though. Someone doing as well as him, so early, benefits from a few detriments.He's your guy's character and he's really good.
>>4088038We kinda agreed on going to house 2: thug house right?I just put this before that I think>>4087883
>>4088038Hey now, we may be a little absentminded, but we're nowhere near GOKU levels.
Rolled 97 (1d100)>>4088047Yeah, I think so, sorry.You all spook across the no mans land between buildings. You are nearly at building 2 when from around the corner of it, three all too familiar shapes lumber into view, wheezing.Roll initiative.>>4088048Indeed not. Just made me laugh.
Rolled 76 (1d100)>>4088064I'm thinking they got it.
>>4088038Joey's voice is now in my mind MasakoX's. I hope you're happy.
Rolled 16 (1d100)>>4088064
Rolled 23 (1d100)>>4088064Sometimes the odds are just so against you ya gotta take a chance.
>>4088064Should we just hellsheart blast these bastards?
>>4088070One basehead screams and casts SMITE on Burstock.The other casts HELLS HEART on itself and swipes at her with jagged, splitered fingers.The third just stands there.Your move.>>4088121QM: fwiw, I imagine him being voiced by Jason Marsden. Because Craig Boone from fallout new vegas sounds kind of cool but you can still sorta hear that he's also Max Goof.
>>4088321what are our current stats sitting at?
>>4088321Ah, so the zombies are smart enough to try and insta-gib our healer. They seem to have failed for the moment so we get to respond by blasting that undead fucking PoS into a gore pile yes?
>>4088405QM: JoeyHP: 100/100MP: 69/85HighballHP:100/100BurstockHP:26/100MP:30/105MikeHP:100AP:10/10
>>4088418QM: My bad, Burstocks MP is actually full.
>>4088321ok, third has fizzle or some other counter.Burstock: health potion (take from joey if neededEveryone else: ranged attack non-casting basehead (Highball use skewer limit break)
>>4088427actually, probably safer to focus ranged attacks on Smite basehead, a Hells Heart Smite would insta-kill any of our party
>>4088451QM: Baseheads aren't smart enough to cast hells heart on eachother.Also, while it is not good for party members to lose all their HP, they can be brought back from it.
>>4088427You throw Burstock your large health potion and yell for Highball to bring the STEEL HAILHIGHBALL uses her LIMIT BREAK throwing skewers into all the baseheads.You and Mike draw your weapons and fire into the motionless basehead, causing it to detonate, which in turn blows up the two in front of it.You and mike feel the heat, but your leather armour protects you.VICTORYYou got 30xpThere is no loot.
>>4088488>continue
>>4088469good to know on both points.>>4088488Heal up Burstock and continue.>>4088413I think the baseheads are just focusing on Burstock's higher MP pool.
Rolled 70 (1d100)>>4088493>>4088499>I think the baseheads are just focusing on Burstock's higher MP pool.QM: Correct.>Heal up Burstock and continue.Mike, after several false starts, asks Burstock if he can hold still so he can patch up her remaining wounds, she says yes.Mike crouches down to heal the wounds on Burstocks leg. He fidgets, but he gets it done. Burstock is now only 4 points short of her total.Burstock drinks a mana potion. She has 2 left.You enter the standing bar. A THUG ELITE and two HEAVY THUGS place their drinks down and draw their weapons, shepherding a hostage into their group. Their is a gopnik there also.The thug elite smiles."Did you have fun playing hero? Your little adventure is over, traveller."He looks at the gopnik, who nods."You're not the only one with special ammo types, you know."roll initiative
Rolled 91 (1d100)>>4088561ominous
>>4088580no longer ominous. Hell's Heart Karubin, let's not find out until we loot
>>4088561>Burstock drinks a mana potion. She has 2 left.Why did she drink a mana potion? Wasn't she full by >>4088422?
>>4088580oh neat>>4088561this>>4088582+ Burstock: Bodily Betrayal on Elite if he survives, a Heavy if he does not
>>4088585QM: FUck! Yes, scratch that. I'm keeping track of this with a notepad and I was on the wrong page.
>>4088587Can we direct HB to pick up the gun to make sure the gopnik can't do it in their turn?
>>4088587>>4088582You point Mike to the back corner, Mike baseball slides to the forth wall and calls out"JOONDA!! Light em up!"You infuse Mike with HELLS HEART just as he pulls the trigger.The THUG ELITE is shot between the eyes makes sparks explode from his face. The cool fizzing pop like when two lightsabers hit can be heard. He expires.Highball runs over and uses LIMIT BREAK: RED PANIC on one HEAVY THUGBurstock casts bodily betrayal on the other.>>4088601Very sorry, I gotta draw these in advance.
>>4088617which is sadly why we don't get victory snap-dancing after every defeated boss. Different clothing requires different pictures.
>>4088617Focus fire on the one that is not bleeding, everyone attacksIbwas thinking, after we clean up the baseheads we shohld trade Mike for Ritchie, everyone here is a little brittle and a focus from the enemy could drop one of ours, she is bulkier and can tank for us
The HEAVY THUG that can move does, but bleeds for 50 damage. He wallops mike with his baton.The gopnik, seeing the thug elite get thoroughly bitched. Scoops up the dropped gun and decides just to run."Piss on this, blyat!"
>>4088687Body betrail on the gopnik and mike and HB take care of himJoey shoots the heavy
>>4088699Burstock spots the gopnik making a break for it and seizes his body up. Highball intercepts him and otherwise keeps him busy by stabbing him in the midsection.Mike takes a turn reloading his gun.You fire a shot into the unwounded HEAVY THUG
The gopnik is unable to move.The HEAVY thugs lumber forward and wail on you and Burstock.
>>4088765Mike: Breaker upper Heavy ThugHighball: Attack Gopnik (I think this enough to kill him)Joey & Burstock: Melee lower Heavy Thug
>>4088788This but burstock shoul heal herself insteadHer melee is useless
>>4088765The botton thug should keep bleeding shouldn't he?
>>4088796+1
>>4088801I believe the bleed is only for one turn
>>4088796How is it useless? First and only time she used it she did about as much damage as Joey.
>>4088796How close are we to losing those huge tracts of land anyway? I mean, we got superior gobbo girl but boobie lady dying would be such a waste.
>>4088903And add to that that she is our main healer so keeping her alive is in everyone's best interest
>>4088903A team member who gets dropped doesnt die unless you ignore them for two turns. Also sorry. A thing has come up with my family. Phone posting.Now is a good time for questions, though.
>>4089766Hmm, questions... ok, I got some about Grink Rak, of all things. Because we have such a great history with hurting ourselves for bonuses.>Grink Rak....15 (+5 intitative for 3 combats, two attacks in a row once per combat, 3d6 damage)From this I understand that when we drink one, we take 3d6 damage once, then have +5 initiative for the next 3 combats (not counting the current one if we take it mid-combat?), and once per combat we can decide to two attacks in a row. I assume the two attacks in a row apply only for any characters that drink it. So far, so good? Now, the questions:If two party members drink one, the init bonus stays the same but now both get two attacks, right?Are the attacks restricted to abilities that do damage, or do non-damaging spells count? or do they have to be just stock regular attacks?Is it restricted to ternion species or can anyone use one?If more than one character drink one, how do the turn orders work? does every character have to do both attacks one after the other, or can we resolve them at any point during the turn?Is the damage actually painful or just symbolizing how bad it is for your health? right now judging from the name I'm assuming it's just as painful as wracking.Also, does it taste any good?
are there goblin magic girls?
>>4089832Grink Rak is low sugar extra caffine. It tastes good in some places, revolting in others. The damage represents largely internal damage and fatigue and withdrawl.Generally, you can only recommend grink to your party members. You cant make them drink it.You do not need to synch your double attacks, it can be normal or special actions. It works on all species. One action has to come after the other when its being used.sorry i feel like im explaining this badly.
>>4089880Some have the same style and seem to act as them. But goblins are not naturally magical.Have you guys seen black lagoon?
>>4090244yep
>>4090216No, I think I got it. One thing, though,>One action has to come after the other when its being used.So if I got that right, if HB and Joey both take a Grink Rak, that mean we can't use HH on both of her attacks, then?
>>4090270No, you can. But she cant do two limit breaks in a row. Not atm. Highballs move set is gonna get an overhaul, though. Then itll be possible. >>4090266Well then. Remember magical girl Revy? That sort of magical girl.
>>4090321Hmm. But we still can... oh, shit. I just realized that if we drink a Grink Rak along with Mike (who advised to use Grink more often not too long ago), we can HH his Smoke and Murder twice in the same turn for 2400 HP worth of armor-ignoring damage....and then, if whoever we did that to survived that but has 4800 total HP or less, HB can finish them off with Guillotine. Mind you, that'd spend almost all of Mike's AP, our extra attacks, a good chunk of MP and HB's limit break for the fight, but regardless I now feel much more confident about our inevitable fight with Edgewater (assuming we don't just decide to dump the explosives on top of him from the airship)
>>4090369That IS a little broken. I may need to adjust that. One moment.
>>4088788>>4088796>>4088809You blast the wounded thug, killing them.Mike fires both barrels of his breaker into the healthier thug, killing them.Highball hacks away at the gopnik, killing them.VICTORYYou gained 50xp!LOOT1 perka pistol2 bullets1 dwarfstopper bullet2 clubs1 pair of sneakers2 cheeroots55 gold
>>4090627>check our xp bar and other stats
>>4090627Mike heals us and HBThen we check the bar for loot and soke quality drinks
>>4090801And tell mike to inspect that gun and see if he knows what kind of special amunition it has, we probably won't recognize it.
>>4090802I think it was the dwarsftopper round
>>4090627Free Hostage, ask them if they have any info about other buildings or hostagesHeal up
>>4090717Mike wanders over to you and patches you up. He talks to you to take your mind of the wax thread going through your flesh and the sting of disinfectant."Smart work dealing with that elite punk first. It's not just that his opening shot would have punched through your armour - or mine- but that tracksuit next to him was carrying this."Mike hands you another perka pistol."Brings us to 8. Basically the gopnik would have been reloading the elite guys second gun as his action, so the elite could always be firing during his turn."Mike snips the thread.Highball cuts the hostages bonds.The hostage breathes a sigh of relief."never thought I'd be happy to see a goblin coming towards me with a knife.."You ask the hostage if they know anything about anything."I just swung by here for a drink and a bed. Scuttlebutt is the local economy was so bad that shit was cheaper than ever. Factoring in being beaten and kidnapped, I think it was still over priced."Burstock sways out from behind the bar holding four bottles."Too much here to fit it all in your back pack. So I just grabbed the best of it."LOOT2 bottles Dom Benedictine1 Bottle Punt e Mes1 Bottle Last Minute Panic
>>4090861Nice work Burstock, grabing the booze is always important, we canndrink it laterLet's gontonthe gopnik house now, probablynmore hostages there
>>4090861Let's go clear the Gopnik house
>>4090861"Any extra effect on those bedised gettong drunk burstock? Or I'll have to test it myself later?"Agree on gopnik house
>>4090861"Best for drinking or burning some fuckers to ash?"Gopnik House clearing time I guess.
>>4090873>>4090876>>4090878>>4090910Oh boy, Zoolander Joey, here we go again. The gopnik house was the one with the chickens just now. Can we at least realize that before someone else has to tell us this time, CF?
>>4091000I thibk we were all refering to the other gopnik house that used to be the tabaccoist
>>4091000Unless you mean the tobacconist. In which case, carry on.
>>4091011I was actually just commentary, but that's not clear by what I put down, so yeah.
>>4090861Onwards to house number 1. I say we give the Dom Benny to Hank when we get back to the ship, gets him one step closer to Singapore Slings on the go.
Rolled 55 (1d100)>>4090878Burstock shrugs"I've heard people say it makes them more charming and more knowledgeable. My experience, it's in their imagination. But I mean, who knows the effect it has on a suggestible mind?"As she puts the bottles in, you realise your backpack is getting pretty full. Little bit of room.Your group moves toward the old tobacco place. Now a gopnik flop house.A large patrol stops you.ROLL INITIATIVE
Rolled 11 (1d100)>>4092707
No hostage here, maybe its time for a hells blast
>>4092707>>4092714 The thugs open fire on a surprised Mike. Mike grits his teeth an pitches forward, blood soaking into the grass around him."S-stupid. I'm sorry Joonda..."The third thug fires into the unarmoured Burstock.
>>4092720The heavy thug lumbers forward and hits you with a club the like a stack of coffee cans.Two of the thugs chuck their pistols to nearby gopniks, who begin reloading them.
>>4092722Burstock uses big time on mike, we use hells blast and hb attacks whoever is left with her strongest attack
>>4092722Oh no you fucking don'tBurstock: Bigtime on Self (If she goes down this gets much worse)Highball: Small health potion to MikeJoey: HELLS HEART BLAST
>>4092723And as stated before, I think its time to seitch up mike for ritchie, we need her on first row soaking up what she can
>>4092724I change to your choice, its better
>>4092724Supporting
>>4092725Looking at our tanks magics and abilities I see what you mean, she would be important there, maybe we should give the ship a call
>>4092722>>4092724Can't reload those pistols if they're dead.>>4092734After maybe.
Hmm I see things are getting deadlier as promised...
QM: Limited to phone posting for a bit.This is getting serious , huh?
>>4093320This was an unfortunate fight to lose initiative on. Probably should start bringing Grink with us.Also CF, if we got more Mutterbottles, could we have our other party members do stuff while not in the party? Like Highball doing more scouting or Burstock setting up a place for us to fall back and heal?>>4092725>>4092734I can see the arguments for, though I'll be a little disappointed that Mike won't get to pin down either of the Nowls. I was looking forward to that trick.
>>4093343We could use Ritchie as a tank and she has Fist for a nice damage dealerAnd we can ask her to bring down some grink with her when she comes down
>>4093343You could theoretically use mutterbottles to split your party. Could be useful. My three points would be.1. That'd put them and you in more danger.2. If you sleep before you next level up then your extra party member buff will fade. Standard party is three. There are ways to improve things, but they take time.3. Same with all potions, every mutterbottle you grab from the lab, is one youre not selling. Watch how much you slice.
>>4090861Holy, I can't believe I missed this.
>>4093729What about it?
>>4093745I just saw this in the catalogue, I thought it died glad it's finally back.
>>4093766oh rite yeah, coolcheckout the wiki if ur lost
>>4092724You toss Highball a small Health Potion and your mutterbottle.>"Get Lumsden to hover down so we can get Richter down here and get Mike to safety."Highball nods an relays your message to Lumsden.You realise how loud The Silver Lining is from the outside as it rumbles over the town, casting a significant shadow.You see random potshots from patrolling thugs and magical blasts from lost baseheads streak around it as it gets lower to the ground, a few unfortunately find their mark.You can hear Lumsden through the mutterbottle."We're getting peppered, Joey! We gotta get Mike up fast."You see Highball helping Mike to his feet he is still groggily trying to apologise.You hear another voice through the mutterbottle. It's Richter this time."Just escape the moment he's on the ladder. I'll make my own way down."Lumsden doesn't get it but she agrees.Burstock casts BIG TIME on herself but starts to sway a little.You turn back to the enemy mob. They did this.You roll back a sleeve and thrust your palm out.HELLS HEART BLAAAAAAAAAST!!!The two gopniks have barely handed over the reloaded pistols when they are flayed, charred and disintegrated as your magic washes over them. The thugs are blown back, staggered and smoking.Two of the thugs raise reloaded guns, as the other reloads.Mike clambers on to the ladder, looking sadly over his shoulder before nodding to HIghballHighball calls to Lumsden"He's on!"The Silver Lining's engines rotate back to their horizontal positions and it speeds back up and away, another smite bolt scoring along the side of the ship.
The thugs with loaded guns sneer as they open fire on Burstock. The bullets spark and ricochet of her body as she smiles broadly at them."Oh dear."A kusarigama slides out of Bustrocks sleeve."I don't think I have enough mana to use magic on you."The two thugs look confused at their guns as the third reloads.The HEAVY THUG grunts and lumbers forward."I'll bet that snot skinned gutterrunner ain't bullet or club proof..."
What seems to be a random metero from nowhere smashes into the HEAVY THUG, pulping everything above his breastbone.Your turn
>>4094411So that's how you do a dynamic entrance.
>>4094425So that's the result of a critical success?
Rolled 42 (1d100)>>4094411CROWBAR the thug who made that comment about High Ball, also greet everyone's favorite muscle wizardess.
>>4094439You, Burstock all rush the barely standing thugs. Crowbaring, Scything and Macheting them respectively. They slide to the ground gurgling.VICTORYyou recieved 70xpLOOT5 Perka pistols57 gold3 bullets1 cheerootNowl Porno scrollYour backpack is basically full, but you now have access to RICHTER's backpack also. She will default to carrying any new loot you find unless you make room in your own. Except for money and bullets.Richter shakes a bloodied rib cage off her foot and turns you all smiling."I am flattered that such obviously powerful people feel that they could use my help. Let's do what we can."She places a bottle of grink, grink rak and grink cherry in your hands."The tonics you requested."
>>4094462"Thanks Richter! Nice entry by the by"could we get a stat check?
>>4094462I think burstock needs a manapot
>>4094462I give that entrence a 10 on the Richter scale
>>4094470>"Thanks Richter! Nice entry by the by"Richter namastes"A little uneconomical in regards to the hud. But I felt time was of great importance."Richter pours a mana potion into a cracked egg then consumes it."Will your friend be okay? The hunter."Richter looks around the town and sighs.STAT CHECKJoeyHP:100/100MP:17/100HighballHP:100/100BurstockHP:100/100MP:10/105RichterHP:100/100MP:65/65
>>4094503"No worries, we rescued some of the hostages and even got weapons for them, we just need to take care of the big bad. Maybe we should could try to create a militia with the people we rescued to help in the next area. "Drink mana potions to full MP for the grels.
>>4094503>>4094462Also check out the porno scroll
>>4094503Give a potion to burstock.Can we give one more line to the Lumsden or is the mutterbotle spent? If we can I'd like to"Take good care of Mike, Lumsden. The guy was on point down here, work with hin to keep an eye out for reinforcements and let us know if you spot anything."
>>4094503>"Will your friend be okay? The hunter.""I hope so. Mike apologized to ME for getting shot. Like he hadn't been shooting aces all day. I think he might be a bit too hard on himself.">state of Scadam"We have enough pistols to arm the town if we can free a few more hostages. Hopefully it's enough to drive Edgewater off. Provided, you know, he's not pissed enough to just try and destroy the whole town.">>4094502kek
>>4094503Don't know where she came from but hey, not gonna complain about being bailed out by a girl with another nice pair of sweater puppies. Doubly so as it seems she's gonna fill in for our gork'd party member while he recovers.We got mana potions or something right? Because I'm not liking those numbers, far too low for my taste.>>4094508I think that's a thing we should do in private with our Gobbo girl and/or the crew once we've sorted out the current nastiness. Besides, you don't want to go into a fight while pitching a tent if ya know what I mean.
>>4095046>Don't know where she came from but heyRichter has been around since like thread 3 or 4 ya know. Shes our resident muscle wizard
>>4094511>Give a potion to burstock.Burstock waves you back." I have two more after this one. That's your last. You better drink it."You shrug, and do so.You lick your teeth. Can't be more than 20mls in a bottle but it coats your mouth. Sweet, herbal and bitter all at once.Highball is munching on a pizza roll she boosted from your backpack, she hands you the mutterbottle. You call through to Lumsden.>"Take good care of Mike, Lumsden. The guy was on point down here, work with him to keep an eye out for reinforcements and let us know if you spot anything."There is a pause."I'll bring him something if things get quiet, but when I asked if he was okay, he wouldn't even look at me. He made use of the medkit on board, but he's just gone to his room. I'll keep you posted."You could be imagining it, but you think Lumsden is deliberately ignoring your reconnaissance idea."Take care, okay?"You put a lid back on the jar and pocket it. You turn to Richter who has been absent mindedly trying to talk to you while you're on the mutterbottle.>"I hope so. Mike apologized to ME for getting shot. Like he hadn't been shooting aces all day. I think he might be a bit too hard on himself."Richter smiles."That is how he has survived this long perhaps. It is his way. It can be devastating when the methods that have served you well in the past come up short. But the strong learn from it, and with a small push, better themselves.">"We have enough pistols to arm the town if we can free a few more hostages. Hopefully it's enough to drive Edgewater off. Provided, you know, he's not pissed enough to just try and destroy the whole town."Richter walks over to a nearby trashcan and rights it. She stares at each piece of debris as she places it back in the can."I am quite sure, with his forces diminished by more than half, his base compromised and his former captives now armed and organised, Edgewater will turn his back on this town, hide and regroup rather than set foot in it. But that is not what I speak of entirely."Burstock whispers something to Highball, who snickers.
>>4095973>"I am quite sure, with his forces diminished by more than half, his base compromised and his former captives now armed and organised, Edgewater will turn his back on this town, hide and regroup rather than set foot in it. But that is not what I speak of entirely."Let's hope we'll get him before that happens, there's a lot of questions and too little answers."Are we heading to the Concrete house or should we check out the well and the wash area? I think we could do a little more looting.
>>4095973"Mayor Taulloppo? Wouldn't happen to be Jorn Taulloppo, would it?">>4095979I'm still for knocking over the tobacconist/Gopnik house. If we're gonna change objectives, I'd switch for the Smoke House.
>>4095988>Wouldn't happen to be Jorn Taulloppo, would it?Probably Brandt Taullopo or someone else in the family. Goddammit, Scadam was an inside job.
>>4095988I'm with you...Sneakely check that porno scroll
>>4095993+1
>>4095979>Let's hope we'll get him before that happens, there's a lot of questions and too little answers."You aint kiddin'. I thought this was a standard hostage situation.">"Mayor Taulloppo? Wouldn't happen to be Jorn Taulloppo, would it?"Richter shakes her head."Jorn is his wife. Both fine people. Compassionate and patient. Last I heard they were trying for a child. Scadam, was excited about it."Richter bands a nearby fence back into shape."That was some time ago. Perhaps a year.""According to one of those goons we spoke to earlier, HE spoke to Brandt in prison. The holding cell at bacardi outpost."Richter puts her hands on her hips and shifts her weight onto one leg."The idea that either Taullopo ran afowl of the law is unthinkable. I saw the sort of town they ran.""Weird thing to lie about, though."WHile the others discuss things you take a few steps back and take a quick look at the nowl porn.Hey now. Rabbit nowl. Classic. Not too far gone. Not bad.There is a sudden voice, so close to your ear, that the breath tickles you."Nice. I think I know her."You leap forward a little, snapping the scroll shut.How and when did Burstock get behind you?
>>4096003"I-I was checking for any hidden notes! never know with these thugs, might be a treasure map."
>>4096003"Oh you do? N-nice...I mean...yeah...no clues here, no sir...."I wonder if we will find one of these scrolls with Burstock in it
>>4096003When did you get so good at sneaking on people Burstock? I figured it would be hard with her assets and all.Maybe we were a bit distracted tho.
>>4096015Well, there is no "boing" sound effect on the settingI bet the bunny can't hold a candle to HB and Burst
>>4096006>>4096013before you say that, actually check that there's no hidden notes or clues
>>4096003You know her?Is there ine of these with you?Asking for a friend.
>>4096006>>4096013>>4096423You can only assume you were lost in thought. Between wearing kickers and being dummy thicc, Burstock is not sneaky.Huh. Someone has made a note on this scroll, though.>>4096466You ask if Burstock knows the rabbit nowl[blue]"I think so. Seen her around."[/blue]You then ask if there's any scrolls like that of Burstock.Highballs ears prick up and she turns to you, her tone excited.[green]"That's a GOOD question."[/green]Burstock shrugs. Not that she knows of but she did spend 2 decades being pretty drunk.
>>4097309Well, I guess we already know what to ask for the baron to procure when we see him again.Keep the scroll.......for safe keeping...i mean....that message could mean something.Let HB take a peek if she wants
>>4097309Hey, that excuse worked better than we could've hoped.Smells like a puzzle. However, only thing that come to mind is taking the letters L, I and T (which are crossed out) out of the world 'illumination', which gets us, uh, 'ilumnaion'. Which doesn't seem very helpful.
>>4097406What? Is there something besides the bunny tit....ooooohhh I seee.... Yeah
>>4097406>'ilumnaion'that's only if you take just one of each, otherwise you get 'umnaon' which is just as useless, but kinda sounds like a pokemon, so yay I guess?
>>4097309It is a good question indeed HighballSee if burstock recognizes the message on her friend's pic.Tell burstock"Being drunk for two decades sounds fun but I'm glad you are here, let's save some helpless villagers shall we?"After we clear the gop house we should go for one of the nowls, our supplies are running low and we should use what we have against the stronger opponents
>>4097309Try looking at the pormo in the dark, put cloth over it and take a look.
>>4097309To the tobacconist!
>>4097405You show the scroll to HB who bobs her eyebrows."It's a big world out there. Not so much my thing but she's kinda cute">See if burstock recognises the message on her friend's pic.Burstock blinks. She clasps her hands and bows her head a little. She adopts a humble pose."Joe..Boss. This is a pornographic linolium print. There will have been dozens made at once. Based on one artists rendition of a naked lagermorphic broad. The message this scroll - one of many - was added on there after the scroll was printed."She smiles, her tone is soft."Even if it were part of the original scroll - how -or why would a chick I might have met three years ago leave a message that I would understand on a jazz scroll of herself?"You shrug. You were just asking, jeez.>"Being drunk for two decades sounds fun but I'm glad you are here, let's save some helpless villagers shall we?"Burstock straightens up. She gives you an affectionate smile"Sounds great, jefe. Let's do this."Highball looks around"Where'd Rick go?"You all turn around started as the front door of the tobacconist slams open and two terrified hostages sprint from it still cuffed.They run off and hide and the bushes.Highball shrugs.'Well, that still counts as rescu..An explosion from inside the shop blows all the glass out of the windows and makes the shingle swing from its remaining brass ring. A smouldering gopnik is briefly seen trying to drag themselves out the front door but they are dragged, screaming back into the building.Burstock takes a sip from her hipflask."Hope that's her."
>>4097870Jeez, I meant if she recognized the puzle on the message to help us figure it out, not that the message was from the girl on the pic since it obviously would not be
>>4097870Apparently for all her virtues, Richter's patience has its limits. At least we can stop talking about the Nowl scroll.Let's get in there
>>4097870Lets...rescue? Not sure if the gopniks or ritchie
>>4097873yyyeah. I get Burstock takes our... distracted nature... worst of everyone, but that's a bit much, I think. We should probably clarify that what we wanted was help with the (possible) puzzle, not that we thought the message was from the nowl or for her.
>>4097870Our boy's reaching shit-for-brains levels previously thought impossible. Let's hustle up and check out what's left of the tobacconist.
>>4097873>>4097904 As you approach the tobacconist, you clarify with Burstock that you were just trying to ask her about the note, obviously not thinking that her friend had written it. You manage to contain the umbrage you feel, but your tone is firm.Burstock purses her lips, slightly ashamed of her earlier speech." Ah, yes. That's fair um..let's see..well I think the fact that LITE is crossed out is a genuine mistake. Likely as not, whoever wrote it just forgot how to spell 'light' then corrected themselves. Lotta folks are bad spellers. I've seen this before. The message seems to imply something will be clearer in the dark, with either no light or less light. Might have light beams? Maybe?"Speech option:>1. Thank you Burstock. Was that so hard?>2. Thanks.>3. [say nothing]>4. I had figured out that much.>5. [insert own]>6.Not doing so well yourself when on the spot huh? Quit treating me like an idiot.>7. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway.>8. That's actually pretty helpful. Cheers>9. No problem. Please try to remember I'm still your boss.
>>4098263>7. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway.no reason to be a jerk about it.
>>4098263Eesh, nearly half of those answers are a bit too (passive-)agressive for my liking.>7. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway.We're probably missing the other part of the puzzle, but keep an eye out for something that could fit.
>>4098263Definitely not this one, or anything reprimandish. We reprimand in PRIVATE, praise in public.>9. No problem. Please try to remember I'm still your boss.If she'd undermind us when we were dealing with people we weren't either A) going to kill, or B) part of our party, then we'd need to cut her off quickly and then deal with the issue in private after. But as long as she's not undermining out authority when we need to present a united front? We're all on this together.
>>4098263>8. That's actually pretty helpful. Cheers>7. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway.No boss talk
>>4098307Supporting this, it is helpful and we will figure it outMake sure to give her a smile too, no hard feelingsNext time we are indoors lets try to see if we can get it dark enough
>>4098263>7. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway.
>>4098263>7. Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway.>8. That's actually pretty helpful. Cheers
>>4098307This. No reason to be a hardass.
>>4098263Glow in the dark ink maybe?
>>4098267>>4098270>>4098307>>4098383>>4098390 You look back to Burstock fondly." I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thank you anyway."Burstock smiles and nods. The door to the tobacconist is still clattering open and closed from people bursting through it. High ball holds up a hand to you then gingerly pushes the door open with her cleaver.Richter stands in a cracked and smoking room, the floor littered with smoking and beaten corpses of gopniks. She exhales as steam emerges from her body."I did try to reason with them."Richter drops a collection of snapped and bent knives on the ground."They didn't listen."
>>4099276"What about the guy who tried crawling away- actually never mind...MORE LOOT!!"Start looting and investigating, pry those crates with the pocket crowbar if we have it.
>>4099276" I know, sometimes they just won't listen, are you alright?"Use one of those rugs to block the window and see if we can make this place dark enough to make something else appear, lets test that theory
>>4099285I also support this.
>>4099285The door too if needed since it was damaged.I was thinking, since Richter likes eggs so much, when we pilla- I mean, finish liberating the village we could give her those chickens, if she takes good care of them that is a supply of eggs....and feathery company
>>4099281You pat around the bodies of the gopniks for some loot.You find 11 goldA book of paper matchesA stockingA bottle of sesame oilYou can just barely fit these in your back pack.>>4099285>" I know, sometimes they just won't listen, are you alright?"Richter towels herself off."I am unhurt. I regret both the overt use of my strength on weaker opponents and the modern ternion condition of outnumbering and blindsiding opponents mid sentence in an attempt to gain an advantage that made the use of such powers unnecessary. But I am unhurt."Burstock and Highball hold one of the rugs over the door. Richter holds on over the window.The room goes dark. You open the scroll.As your eyes adjust it looks the same. Highball says it looks the same to her, too. "I guess the note's just a note huh? It's nothing to do with the jazz mag, that was probably just the only paper the stooge who wrote it had."You pry each of the crate open only a little. Two are tobacco. One is rolling papers.Highball clambers up your back and looks over your shoulder, sniffing. She makes a face."Cheap junk. But like with anything in this town, we can get bugly to put it in the crate room until the next time we're in Dunnlivin. The baron says he'll buy anything."You turn to her, your cheek brushing against hers. She chirps.>I was thinking, since Richter likes eggs so much, when we pilla- I mean, finish liberating the village we could give her those chickens, if she takes good care of them that is a supply of eggs....and feathery company"Right? This place is kind of a bust, cabbage wise. We're gonna have to grab, sell and otherwise re purpose whatever ain't nailed down just to get the ship repaired."
>>4099339I say smoke house and deal with that nowlThe thing about seeing it better in the dark refers to other area probablyCheck to see if everyone is in top shape and let's go there
>>4099343Roll a cig before we head out, I'll give it to Mike when we are back at the ship, we can smoke it at the top at the ship while he takes a good look at Lumsden.
Would be kind of funny if the note is just the start of some Gopnik poetry>>4099339Let's go take care of the smokehouse. Probably should drink a Grink on the way.
>>4099339>You can just barely fit these in your back pack.>We're gonna have to grab, sell and otherwise re purpose whatever ain't nailed down just to get the ship repaired.If we're going to do that, why are we bothering to fill our backpack with items that won't be immediately necessary? We probably won't need to have ALL 4 drinks on our backpack, for example. Couldn't we just leave the extra stuff here and pick it back up on the way out?>>4099347Highball just told you it's cheap stuff. You don't want to make cheap presents.
>>4099360The thought is what counts :)>>4099359Agreed on grinking
>>4099365Yeah, but there's a limit. If we find any fancy shit we can give it to him.>>4099359Gotta hit it sooner or later, backing this. No shade to Mike but looking at here performance here I'm very glad we have Richter for this one.
Rolled 5 (1d100)>>4099343You click your fingers. It's time to see what this Neffa business is all about.>>4099360If we're going to do that, why are we bothering to fill our backpack with items that won't be immediately necessary? We probably won't need to have ALL 4 drinks on our backpack, for example. Couldn't we just leave the extra stuff here and pick it back up on the way out?QM: Only battle loot has been going there automatically. If there's anything you want to take out and collect for later, or transfer to Richters back pack you absolutely can. I just wanted people to have the loot items in case they thought they'd be useful in battle.You backpack currently has in it:35 Bullets2 Sticks of DynamiteRope (10 ft)2 Mana PotionsFist Sized Sapphire1 Burnsauce1 GlowbottleJournalVodkant1 Bottle of Kvas1 Bottle of Vodka13 Perka pistols3 Bent knives1 Can of black coffee6 Cheap Beers2 clubs1 pair of sneakers3 cheeroots1 Bottle Punt e Mes2 Bottle Dom Benedictine1 Bottle Last Minute Panic1 Nowl porno scrollYou can leave whatever you like at the tobacconist and I can't imagine anyone would steal it. You can mention it after this post and we can just say you did it before you left. I'm waaay good with that.>>4099359>>4099365You pop the top on a cool glass bottle of classic grink. Ah. Real sugar. Must be elven grink. For three combats you can add +3 to your 1d100 initiative roll.You approach the smokehouse. There is a basehead scratching at the door half heartedly. It whips around at the sound of your footsteps and grow incensed, hissing at you.Roll initiative!
Rolled 94 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>4099975I say we leave the kvass, vodka, knives, coffee, beers, clubs, sneakers and the bottles, except maybe one if HB wants us to carry it with us (hey, battle is thirsty work).
>>4099987Wow, we beat him by over 90. Hmm, does anyone know the HP for a basehead? By my rough calculations it's somewhere around 91-160, but that's a huge ballpark. Also, how are we on MP? If it's low I'd like to drain him, but not if that means we can't kill it in one turn, that'd just mean taking mana off of Burstock now that Mike's not here for a free heal.
>>4099998QM: Everyone's HP and MP are full.You have 1 mana potion in your pockets, 2 in your pack.Richter and Burstock are both carrying to mana pots.
>>4099987agreed on this point, we'll come back for them if necessary but for now they're pointless to carry and the most expendable things we got.
>>4099987>>4100010Just to clarify: we'd be keeping the vodkan't, since we can use it as a potion out of combat. Actually, would the slow release count as a (limited) regen effect if we used it in combat?
>>4099987>>4100010QM: Donezo.I have adjusted the backpack inventory on the wiki and kept track of everything you set asie in a separate word document. You have a bunch of room in your backpack.If it helps, in the future I can merely list the loot and then wait for folks to say what they actually want to take, and unless they say so, just take the gold.But then, this is a whole town. Unusual loot amounts.
>>4100011QM: yyyyyes... It would be quite slow. But yes.
>>4100015nah, keep picking it up. Do we have a map to show us where we've been in the town and what's left to explore?
Rolled 30 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>4099975
>>4100020You have been making notes on your incredibly crummy map, yes.>>4100021You've got a nice initiative, thanks to this anon.>>4099987What matters now is what you do with it.
>>4099975Cast drain on it2 girls thow pointy things at it and r girl can sheild us from blast?
>>4100069Oh, right, the actions. If Joe shoots, Burstock throws the kusarigama, and HB does Guillotine, we stand a good chance of killing him (~145 damage). Richter can finish it if they don't.>>4100080No need to drain, we're full, and per >>4074437 it has between 60-90 MP so we're not gonna drop it anyway. And we don't need to be shielded if all we do is ranged attacks anyways.
>>4100080You cast drain on the basehead.Your MP is full! The basehead teeters slightly.Burstock slings her kusarigama at the basehead, slashing it along the belly for 25 damage. It doubles over.Highball performs her LIMIT BREAK: GUILLOTINE!The basehead is decapitated by Highballs flying cleaver and detonates when it explodes.You are unhurt, because the basehead was not near you!VICTORYYou gain 10xp
>>4100093Ok, so one survived a 40+50 attack, and this one died with 25+70... so either they can have varying HPs, or we can narrow it down to 91-95. We can test this with the next one.Also, it was next to the door when we found it, did the explosion damage it?
Rolled 42 (1d100)Blasted by the basehead's explosion, the back of the smokehouse tumbles away into smouldering flinders.Neffa emerges from the ruins. She bares her teeth.roll initiative
Rolled 27 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>4100114oh boy
Rolled 71 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>4100114
>>4100130dammit, wish this counted
>>4100118Neffa lets out an inhuman roar, mixture of agony and fury and charges into a surprised Burstock, sending her flying through the air, landing on her back in pile of gravel.Burstock arches her back and exhales through her teeth, wincing. She will miss her next turn to stand up and rejoin the battle.Your move!
>>4100137Hell's Heart Fist + Guillotine
>>4100139support!
>>4100137Joey: Hells Heart Blast (1st)Richter: YAGADOOV'S CHARGE (2nd)buy that one turn for Burst to come back
>>4100139>>4100140 Richter is already stepping back, breathing in deep for a haymaker. You imbue her with HELLS HEART as she charges towards Neffa.Again, as she makes contact, your ears ring and the ground rumbles.Neffa digs their feet into the ground but is pushed back, you can see bloodvessels bursting beneath her skin and splinters of bone exploding out her back. Richter says something.
>>4100165>Richter says something."omae wa mou shindeiru"
Neffa takes a few unsteady steps forward, burnt skin flaking from their chest and face. They spit out a tooth.Highball uses her LIMIT BREAK: GUILLOTINE! And does 17 damage to Neffa.Neffa takes the cleaver to the neck. SHe pulls it out and drops it.Neffa raises her hand, held flat, palm towards herself, places it to her mouth, and lowers it towards you before falling face down and expiring.VICTORYYou gained 50 xp!LOOTYou got MAYORS KEY
>>4100186>lowers it towards younot too sure I understood thatanyway, let's see that loot
>>4100196oh wait I forgot the corpse image doesn't represent actual loot, never mind
>>4100186Rush to burstock, check if ahe's alright, we don't know where she landed
>>4100186Hell's heart Fist is a scary thing"Good job guys, see if there is anything off value I'm going to check on Burstock"Get to the healer, help her out, she is always a tease but she is solid and I'd hate if something bad happened to her.
>>4100196>>4100205 You scoop a large key off the ground and pocket it. Highball pats down the corpses but finds nothing else.She looks up at you."What was that gesture? She blowing us a kiss?"You shrug.>"not too sure I understood that.""Thank you.'Burstock walks up wincing and casting heal on herself. She sighs and sips from her a small bottle."She was saying: 'thank you.'"
>>4100217Rub HB's ears"no problem. well done!"
>>4100217Well, one more reason to kill the shit out of that troll, poor nowl probably was oit of her mindIs there anything left of the smoke house for us to check?If not I say we go to the wash houseI want my "beach episode"
>>4100217Guse its yhe mayos house then.
>>4100217Lets go to building number 6Maybe we can get some useful things, it's market good loot
>>4100217"You ok, Burstock? Do you want some vodkatonic?"Richter probably needs a mana potion after that too, she doesn't have a lot. Let's make sure she can punch the spider guy too.>>4100235Yeah, wash house time.
>>4100231HB wriggles free of your grasp but in a playful way.>>4100239>>4100240>>4100235 You wander, unopposed to the wash house. As you walk, Burstock straightens back up and you hear her bones click.>"You ok, Burstock? Do you want some vodkatonic?"She smiles fondly."Nah, I'm good skip. Bit of the ol 'lay on hands' and I'm never better. Still got plenty in the tank, too."You offer Richter a mana potion from your backpack, which she accepts.You still have 70 mp also.You step into building 6. The public shower.Hm.Good loot, huh?Highball looks around."Even the shower curtain is a piece of shit."
>>4100291Call me paranoid, but that shower curtain looks like a Cloaker.
>>4100291Try equipping that robe of darkness. Also look at the drainage or the flooring near it.
>>4100295Darkness, you say? Check the curtain, then look at it in the dark.
>>4100291Check for loot, see if the water is working, we can get some of the blood out
>>4100302Looks kinda holey. Maybe we can shine light through it?
>>4100291See if there is amything hidden in the drain or the showerheads, the courtain too.Those are all classic prision stashes......not that we would know of course...cough cough
>>4100291That shower curtain looks like it's got Gandalf trapped at its summit. I say we check it out. But don't touch it.
>>4100291Do we got any kind of "10 foot pole", scanner, or lens of truth of some sort? Because I'd like to poke (metaphorically speaking) that ominous looking curtain without risking a party member in the more direct fashion of doing that non-metaphorically.Same basically goes for the water and the drains. Check it with the expectation that doing so will probably end up badly for you but since you know that then hey, precautions can be taken that will frustrate the buggers who'd hoped you were stupid enough to just be, well, stupid.
>>4100294>>4100302>>4100295>>4100309>>4100310>>4100326>>4100513>>4100638 You, Burstock and Richter, all wizards and therefore cautious of such odd looking things, speculate and theorise from a safe distance.Burstock casts wizard hands several times on the drains and shower heads to check them for traps and loot. Netting you another 7 gold!Mostly she just find hair.WHile the three of you theorize about the shower curtain, Highball walks up to it, touches it, shakes it, and flicks it all the way out, showing several holes.SHe walks behind the curtain and flicks open her lighter, shining light through the holes"Man, this thing is thick! It;s vinyl or rubber or leather or something. How'd they even get holes in it?"She has found no traps.Burstock drinks a mana potion
>>4100703>It's a shower curtain, guys."Keen eyes babe, that's a curtain alright a SUSPICIOUS curtain, it's just that it feels like it's not part of the scenery..."Go outside and move on to the well if there's nothing else in here.
>>4100703Do the holes in the shower curtain make a pattern of some kind? Can we spread out the curtain and look at it?
>>4100703Lets gontobthe mayor house, we are not fighting that green slime
>>4100743We don't need to, checking it out would be enough.
>>4100728You nod to Highball>"Keen eyes babe, that's a curtain alright a SUSPICIOUS curtain, it's just that it feels like it's not part of the scenery...""No? Well I'll keep checking it out"Highball drags the curtain out.>>4100731 The curtain doesn't form any kind of pattern to you. It has rips and holes all about it.Burstock and Richter are discussing things."Since we're already so close, we may as well be thorough. Give the well a look. Just so we can say we did.""If any one in this town is in peril, it would be the mayor. Perhaps we should not waste time.""You said yourself this town has gone to hell. Maybe the mayor is partially to blame. Let him wait.""I don't doubt that the current mayor may be at least partially to blame for this towns predicament, but by that reasoning, he may have some information for us. Information he will be unable to provide if he is already dead."Burstock disinterestedly cleans her ear."if he's dead, we take him to the baron. I wanna check out the well."Highball smiles fondly at you as she munches on another boosted pizza roll"Looks like you need to weigh in, nabob"first to three.
>>4100768"If a life is at stake we'll head to the mayor, we can check out the well after."
>>4100768this >>4100769
>>4100768A live mayor means a grateful mayor. We shouldn't have much trouble converting that gratitude to money, info or favours. Let's go to the mayor's house first.
>>4100768We will check the well burstock, but let's deal eith that nowl first, we are running low on potions
>>4100798>>4100783>>4100769>>4100811You step between Burstock and Richter.>"If a life is at stake we'll head to the mayor, we can check out the well after. Let's deal with that nowl first, we are running low on potions"Burstock does a full body slump sigh that borders on making her indecent."oooOOokaaaay..."Richter liked that.You walk up to the mayors office. A larger concrete building with a heavy oak and steel door. The brass plate on the front reads 'H.Anderson'.There is a huge brass ring on either side of the doorway.Highball tilts her head."What are those? Gigantic knockers?"Burstock sneezes.
>>4100813>"What are those? Gigantic knockers?""Strange, shouldn't they be on the door? Could you look around a bit for a peaksies we need some intel or we could always breach the door and handle anything afterwards"Have HB look around for any windows or vents or even cracks to peak inside
>>4100813"Well, if we are given gigantic knockers we should put them to use right?"KnockLet's hope burstock doesn't catch a cold from sneezing so much kek
>>4100813Could be an electric defense thing? How are they attached to the wall?
>>4100826Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. Can we check for traps?
>>4100813“Hmm...this might sound insane but, Burstock, Richter, could you guys uh press your chests on to those knockers? This might be an advance anti robbery system. Or a really wierd puzzle.”
>>4100823LolGrab the thing"These are heavy....it's not everyone that could handle them, gona use both hands and use them hard, time to knock the knockers"Cue to burstock couching uncontrollably while joey keeps making double meaning sentences without realizing
>>4100819You instruct HB to check around for cracks or windows. She gives you a little salute then runs off.She comes back a moment later."There's a high up window on theast side, but its got bars on the inside. I think the door is the only way in.">>4100823You wiggle the brass ring. It taps on the concrete. Makes a dull sound. Wouldn't be a good knocker.>>4100826>>4100827You put your gloved hands to it and feel no hum, Burstock puts bare hands on the other and survives. No power seems to run through them.>>4100830>“Hmm...this might sound insane but, Burstock, Richter, could you guys uh press your chests on to those knockers? This might be an advance anti robbery system. Or a really wierd puzzle.”The two of them exchange a glance, shrug, then do as you say. Nothing happens except you feel a slight shift in peoples esteem for your problem solving.>>4100836You grab the brass ring and knock it vigorously. It doesn't seem to be attached to the concrete but seems to be connected to something on the other side of the wall.
>>4100845Thays it, lets get in.Use the key
>>4100845>"There's a high up window on theast side, but its got bars on the inside. I think the door is the only way in.""Did you manage to see inside?"
>>4100852You give the ring a cursory pull. You're too weak to move it much but it feels loose. Loosish?You look down at Highball.>"Did you manage to see inside?""Scampered up and look through, yeah. It was frosted so I couldn't see much. On my side there was a lot of storage, I think"
>>4100845Yeah fuck it, let's head inside. We'll find out what those rings are for the hard way.
>>4100856Open cesamoWith the key, if the key is not from the outside door but from something inside then ask HB to handle the lock
>>4100856Any way to pull those rings with multiple people? Maybe have muscle lady give one a go while we, best gobbo, and boobie lady tug on the other one? Does anyone get the feeling that this might trigger an incinerator and thus rob us of loot?
>>4100924You suggest pulling on the rings.Richter walks up to a ring and pulls on it, casually. It pulls from the wall and has a tough cord attached to it.Richter walks backwards, pulling the cord as far as it can go.Highball jumps over to the other brass ring, grabbing it with both hands before kicking off from the wall and dragging it backwards until her brass ring and cord are out as far as Richter's.They look at each other."Now what?"
>>4101702well, now we go inlet's hope that wasn't the "kill all hostages switch", I really didn't want to mess with the rings anymore
>>4101718As Richter and Highball maintain their grip on the rings, you and Burstock unlock the door and enter. It's a long building.There is a man dangling from the ceiling. There is a noose around his neck and a collapsed box beneath him, apparently rigged in some way to the unlocking mechanism on the door.Fortunately, two strong cords either side of him are being pulled taut and are supporting his body weight. So he is not hung.He glances around then down at you."Okay, so are you here to rescue me orrrr...?"
>>4101741"yeah, rescue, not orrrr.""help me out here Burstock, will you?"so who are you, why are you here and where is the damn spider (cue spider showing up)
>>4101741"Yeah. Hold on, I got an idea."Have Burst wizard hands him afloat while you shoot the ropes
>>4101741Tell the ones outside to hold the ring where it is, give burstock a boost or lift her so she can cut the rope or untie the noose around his neck
>>4101750this seems good to take him down, safer too
>>4101754>>4101750 You turn to Burstock.>"I'll boost you up there. I'll hold your legs so you can reach the noose and cut it."Burstock pats your shoulder."Jefe, I know you've been lifting, but I gotta have 30 pounds on you. No way you're holding me steady."You smile at her. Thought she might say that.>"I'll only need to steady you a moment, you can rest the rest of your weight on the cord Ritchie is pulling taut. You'll still have a free hand to cut the noose."Burstock looks up at the cords then back at you, impressed."Okay, cool. Get me in position."You grab Burstocks legs and boost her up. It is a tremendous effort that has you hissing through your teeth but you manage. You breathe a sigh of relief as Burstock grabs a cord and starts supporting most of her weight."Hold me steady, yeah? This rope is thick. I don't want to cut myself."You strain. This is still pretty hard.>1. Hold her legs tighter>2. Close your eyes and breathe deep [80%]>3. Mutter 'the iron is with me, I trust the iron..' to yourself [70%]>4. Enjoy the view to take your mind of the weight
>>4101741That is a really elaborate way to kill someone.
Rolled 95 (1d100)>>4101804>3. Mutter 'the iron is with me, I trust the iron..' to yourself [70%]
>>4101804>1. Hold her legs tighterhold on joey boy, can't let her fall
>>4101816option 2 and breathing deep is not ideal where we are, imagine the smell like the fellows in /sp/ would say
>>4101817And option 4, while tempting, will probably drain the blood from our arms and send it to the nether regions
>>4101804Cast mage hands to help support some of her weight
>>4101825QM: That's legit. If it can get two more votes, you can grab Burstock with wizard hands to hold her up.
>>4101825Mage nds all the way.Not our fult they grabed her butt, not to self to use mage hands on gf....
>>4101825yup, mage hands along with regular fleshy hands, I wonder where it will support>>4101843agreed on the note
>>4101825>>4101843>>4101848 You still strain with Burstock's weight but you get a hand free for half a second. And cast:>"WIZAAAAAARDS HAAAAAAANDS!!!""What? Ah!It becomes easier to hold Burstock steady.Burstock uses her kusarigami to cut the mans noose, then disconnects the cords that wre attached to the brass loops.As they were being pulled tight, the cords simply yank out of the building completely.You hear a small"OOF!" from outside.The man drops to the ground, bending his knees as he lands but still hissing a little."O wow geez. Nice. That didn't feel good.Burstock slides down your body and steadies herself.The man stands between you."Still uh..thanks, I guess."
>>4101907you guess?welllet's get somethings out of the way shall we?so who are you, why are you here and where is the damn spider (cue spider showing up)
>>4101907So I guess introductions are in order.
>>4101907Well buddy the fuck went down in the place?
>>4101907"I assume you're the Mayor, mind telling us what the hell happen in your side?get the rest of the squad in here
>>4101907Invite the others in.
>>4101948You call for the others. Richter and Highball enter. The man takes an instinctive step back, you are unsure which one of them he is reacting to.>>4101916You explain that you are Joey Donuts. C.E.O of...(that's right you're potion company doesn't have a name yet. Next meeting.) But anyways. You're a big damned hero and you and your sweet team are here to straighten out this mess.You introduce Highball who juggles some small blades.The man wrinkles his nose.You introduce Burstock who arcs a little lightning between her hands.The man backs awayYou introduce Richter, who folds her arms and stares at the man.He stares back. Confused.>>4101914>>4101936>>4101938You gesture to the guy as if to say: And you are?He smooths his vest."Well, first and foremost I am the mayor of Scadam and secondly I am victim. My name is..""Happ Anderson. I know. You used to be a journalist. I've read some of your work. Very creative."The man backs up."Rrr..right..and now I'm the mayor."Richter raises her eyebrows."The people of Scadam elected you over Brandt Tauloppo?""Yes. You can ask around. It was their choice."You speak up.>" where is the damn spider?"Andy backs up, scared."You haven't dealt with him?! You'd better get back out there!"
>>4101985And where is the mayor and his wife....the ex-mayor.
>>4101985Eh, everyone said the other one was more dangerous and we dealt with her in, like, two blows. I'm not worried.
>>4101985>"You haven't dealt with him?! You'd better get back out there!""Wait just a moment, we have some questions first and then we'll worry about that spider."Glance at HB with a wink/nod for her to look around outside.pls don't tell me the spider is literally outside right now
>>4102010>"Wait just a moment, we have some questions first and then we'll worry about that spider."Andy wrings his hands.>"everyone said the other one was more dangerous and we dealt with her in, like, two blows. I'm not worried.""So, I mean, you could go out there - deal with him and then we could talk at leisure...">Glance at HB with a wink/nod for her to look around outside.Highball leans outside then leans back in. She shakes her head.You turn back to Andy.>"And where is the mayor and his wife....the ex-mayor."Andy gets incensed."Well his wife - his wife! SHE's helping the damned troll that ruined this town! My town! My people!">"So what happened to the mayor?"Andy shrugs."I don't know"Richter's eyes flash orange."That was a very interesting time to lie, Andy"Andy looks panicked"I don't!"Richter's eyes flash orange again. Her ever present smile has completely faded.Richter holds up three fingers. Her pinky and ring finger are curled closed."Andy. When this hand forms a fist. I will use it."Andy looks around nervously."You're her boss! Sort her out, would you?!"
>>4102036"Only one more finger left andy, I would talk if I were you.....did I mention it was that same fost that caved in that nowl ribcage?"
>>4102036Lean on Richter with our arms crossed"She is sorted all right Andy. Tell the good lady what she needs to know. I would not advise you meeting her fist."
>>4102036"Sort her"? I trust her judgement more than I trust you.
>>4102047>>4102051>>4102061You lean on Richter confidently and assure Andy that if he wants her under control he'd better start talking.Andy looks to Burstock, who shakes her head."I've told you everything I know about the mayor and the election."Richters eyes flash and she curls her middle finger in. Only her Index finger and thumb aren't curled. She takes a few steps towards the mayor. There is a distant peel of thunder."Alright! Alright!! ALL FUCKING RIGHT!! Look...The Tauloppos... they...they were trying for kids...there were complications. We didn't know what. Jorn - the mayors wife had a baby bump one day and then was taking a massive trip north the next day. The good people of Scadam didn't get an explanation - and we deserved one!"He looks around, you agree with him, right? Right?"If the people don't get an explanation, we can only speculate. To me, the logical explanation is that one -or both of the Taullopos have the troll sickness. So their baby was a blue child. A blooch. It was logical that Jorn was travelling away from Scadam to get it adopted or killed or something. So people had to be told that."Burstock lets out a long sigh."I just wrote some articles. It wasn't just me! A bunch of town folks rallied behind it! Of course the mayor denied it! Of course he had no proof as to what his wife was actually doing!! SO yeah, he got a little hassled. Maybe drank a bit. Maybe assaulted a journalist on neutral territory and got picked up by the vanguards."There is a pause."How was I to know he would kill himself in jail?"Andy smooths his outfit."Somebody had to run this town."Richter lowers her hand. She exhales through her nose.
>>4102095"And a great fucking job you did of it, by the looks of it."You know what I think? I'm thinking this guy is as low as Edgewater, but at least the troll is honest. I think the world would be a better place without him.
>>4102095well, now we kinda know why Jorn would help the troll, the people in this town fucked her husband over and drove him to kill himself, I would be pissed too.we are not killing andy because we ain't savages but those tied hands stayask where we can find Jorn, is she with edgewater?we can use him to trade her support if she is with him, we would need to convince her to not be on the troll's sidelet's deal with the spider
>>4102095"Seems all kind of fucked, got any idea where the baby is? or the mayor herself?"
>>4102095Do we know what is a blue child? If we don't discretely ask Burstock about it since she reacted to it.
>>4102125Yes we do. Remember Dowler from Dunnlivin's lumber yard? The guy that works on our ship. Also, see this https://www.deviantart.com/mr-culexus/art/Table-25C-Blooches-244362700
>>4102097>"And a great fucking job you did of it, by the looks of it."Andy gets defensive."This town was fine before that troll and that crazy bitch came here!"Richter shakes her head.>ask where we can find Jorn, is she with edgewater?"Almost certainly. One supports the other. He wants power. She wants revenge. They don't seem to like each other much but they do work together. Can you imagine? Working with a troll?"He eyes Highball nervously.>"Seems all kind of fucked, got any idea where the baby is? or the mayor herself?""I'm the mayor you...no. I don't know where Jorn's baby is. It's almost certainly sold off or dead."Highball takes a rope out of your backpack."You want I tie him up proper? We can search the rest of this place and load him aboard the ship with the rest of the loot once we're done here."Andy looks panicked."Tie me up?! For WHAT?! Aren't you trying to save this place?! You don't kidnap the mayor!"
>>4102150Can we do that without the rest of the town noticing? Also, don't forget the gag, he looks like a screamer.
>>4102150andy boy, we don't want the spider to think you are escaping in case he drops by do we? and if I'm to convince Jorn to step down on her plan, having you onboard would make things easier don't you think?
>>4102150>"You want I tie him up proper? We can search the rest of this place and load him aboard the ship with the rest of the loot once we're done here.""Tie him up with your best knot, if he gives you trouble we'll feed him to the slime."-"Speaking of the slime we should check out that well."
>>4102157Highball nods. "Yep! All the escaped hostages are in hiding at the moment, not watching us. So we grab what we can. Leave behind the perka pistols, climb up the ladder then we yell down the all clear. No risk of them seeing what - or who we take."Andy looks at you as Highball ties him up"You work with a goblin?! Has the whole world gone mad?!">"andy boy, we don't want the spider to think you are escaping in case he drops by do we? and if I'm to convince Jorn to step down on her plan, having you onboard would make things easier don't you think?""How do you figure? Jorn doesn't care that much about me. I was made part of the door trap because I was the only townsperson she was completely okay with killing. Edgewater wanted a trap that would kill a civilian if any big stupid heroes barged into his house. I'm not special - she's not saving me for last. I'm just expendable.""Be-besides. You need rescued townspeople to complete your quest, right? That includes me."Richter nods.
>>4102174ok, scram, we'll give you guys the perka pistols laterlet the guy go
>>4102174Let him leave.You know, we should actually reinforce this village and wait for him to come back in my opinion
>>4102174>"Be-besides. You need rescued townspeople to complete your quest, right? That includes me.""Tch. You're lucky I try to be a completionist"We should head outside if we're done here.
>>4102174Yeah, let him go. We expect a Scadam election pretty damn soon, though.Check out the rest of the building before we go outside and face the spider.
>>4102177>>4102179>>4102181Wait, no, don't be that hasty. "that includes me" is an intentionally broad statement. Don't release him until we're sure we can't get 10 without him.
>>4102181Theres, more to explore here, remember that barred window on the second floor?OhAsk him what else is inside and what is in the room with the window before he leaves
>>4102188richter nodded, I don't think he's lying or else she would have cought it like she did the first time
>>4102195That's my point. What he actually said is that he's part of the townspeople, not that we can't make up the numbers without him. What he said is technically true - just crafted to mislead us. Consider his career, he's good at it.
>>4102177>>4102179>>4102181>>4102187You stare at the mayor hard for a moment, then nod to Highball, who unties him. He brethes a sigh of relief."Oh fuck oh gar. Thank you! Thank you! Good luck! I believe in you!"Andy sprints out the door. Richter watches him as she leaves.As she turns back to you her expression has become pleasant and neutral again.Burtstock wanders deeper into the large house."No enemies. SHoulda just walked through the wall in retrospect. Actually nah, then how'd I get him down? AH whatever"You move as a group to the rest of the house.
>>4102210Good going, guys, we made the guy who manipulates public opinion mad, then afraid, then let him join the rest of the town. Surely he won't make up shit to make everyone hate us while we're busy.
>>4102210Team work burstock, feels nice doesn't it?Hey hb, I have a new thing I want to try laterLets explore the rest of the house
>>4102232You wander through the rest of the house.You smile down at HB>"Hey hb, I have a new thing I want to try later"She beams."Sounds good to me, pal Joey."As you walk into the next room, Highball begins to loudly purr. The room contains only a troll sized armchair, an ashtray and a dozen lock boxes."O-o-oh..ring-a-ding-DING!"========================>>4102218QM: Might be hard sell. At this stage you've done nothing but good for the towns folk here. Andy can be convincing but he'd be the loan voice of decent at this stage. Even the two panicky guys that Richter rescued still basically see you guys as heroes
>>4102264Start lockpicking you gorgeous green minxWhile she works lets check the throne, behind it, under it, under the cushion and all that
>>4102264Do mimicks exist in this world?
>>4102267just make sure none of them tick or breathe before opening
>>4102270QM: Nope.
>>4102264>Might be hard sellWell, at least there's that. Best case scenario, trying to badmouth us will turn the townsfolk against him.>a dozen lock boxesOoooh, shiny.
>>4102264Thid could be a good place to try and see that thing about darkness, see if Richter can hold the throne over the window to block the light and see if anything appears
>>4102279>>4102274>>4102267Highball skips over to the far corner lockboxShe caresses it and puts an ear to it. She smiles.You call over to her>"Start lockpicking you gorgeous green minx"Highball jingles her lockpicks on her fingers and sets to work."OOh.. you're making this easy for me. That's fine we can work with tha.."Your ears ring
>>4102297FuuuuckRush to help her and ask burstock for a heal.Try to make Richter block the window with the throne to see if the puzle is about this room
>>4102300Or better yet, do we have healing potions? Use healing potions
>>4102297"Oh SHIT! Burst channel heal her, nobody touch the chests yet."rip in peace Gobbo waifu
>>4102300>>4102306You rush over to Highball, who is smoking and broken. Trying to stand up. Burstock tells her not to move and begins casting lay on hands rapidly. Highball's bones knit and she whimpers.You only have 1 small health potion plus the healing vodka, so you opt to heal with magic.Highball stands back up and dust herself off.Richter effortlessly hold the chair over the window, plunging the room into darkness. Nothing becomes clear.You check the scroll. Nope. Nothing.
>>4102335Ten foot poles folks, ten foot poles. We need to get a few of them before we even attempt to tentatively "poke" at these remaining boxes.Poor Highball, you didn't deserve that.
>>4102335It did say "illumination with less light", not "no light". Can we dim it somehow? And sit in the chair?
>>4102335Alright, no more messing with chests until we have at least a hint that something's actually of value in them. Because I'm ready to accept that all of them are trapped with nothing of value.>>4102386Frankly, it's seeming more likely that the scroll is a red herring. Edgewater seems to like messing with adventurers.
>>4102405We could ignore the chests and get some of Edgewater's henchmen to disarm the traps, or even get that info from the troll himself if we end up fighting him.
>>4102433>>4102405>>4102386>>4102385You call a timeout. No one touch any chests.Burstock kneels on the ground and offers her lap to Highball. Highball rests her head on Burstocks thighs and looks up at the ceiling, breathing deeply as Burstock continues to heal her.Highball smiles up at you."These guys are full of surprises huh, Joe?"Richter puts the chair back where it was and paces around the room.You muse to the room:>"We could ignore the chests and get some of Edgewater's henchmen to disarm the traps, or even get that info from the troll himself if we end up fighting him."Burstock nods."That's gangsta. We've rescued enough towns folk and connected enough guns. Edgewater wont be able to re-establish a hold on this place. Unless one of the hostages knows which of these boxes are booby tapped and which ones aren't - which I doubt - then we can afford to leave them here."Richter looks pensive."Tauloppo is a mage yes? She might be able to turn invisible like I can - even if Edgewater can't. If there's loot in these boxes, SHE could still get it."Burstock shrugs"Assuming she knows which boxes to open. This place looks like Edgewaters set up. No human sized furniture. Jorn Tauloppo didn't stay in this house.""That's true, yes. She's not in this for the loot. She is merely very angry, I think."Burstock nods and keeps stroking Highball's hair.Highball eventually laughs."Hee hee. You said 'booby'"
>>4102487What was the range of that blast? Could we just mage hands it?
>>4102487Hang on there are twelve chests and twelve letters in illumination.
>>4102487What if we just magic hands the chest one by one at max range?
>>4102487"Maybe the shower curtain? That'd let light through."Also, I'm suspicious that Spider-Face hasn't shown up. We should prepare for an ambush when we leave the building.
>>4102487Its the shower courtain guysThe material was thick and the holes on it where strangeIt will let light in and shine only on the chests we can open through the holeQuestion: did the chest explode when HB touched the thing or when she messed with the lock? If we can touch them we could take them with us, you never know when you'll need a trapped chest
