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Alfonso Barbati

I served on the SSN Polaris as a simple sailor and become famous because of a play inspired by our northern expedition. I'm now a simple butcher, however our captain... he becames involved in a conspiracy... And just as we shared his fame we are now all seen as traitors.

With the plague, it's even worse. People will not hesitate to report the 'traitors of the Polaris' just for a cough or a sneeze. Every merchant stock becomes magically empty the second we ask to buy something. Unlike my mates I don't have a familly to support but I'm worried about them.

After all we've been through I can't let them down, I have to find my mates.

Physical 70
Mental 50
Social 30
Butcher's Cleaver +5
>intimidating bone breaker (Physical)

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Susanna Marotti

My soul belongs to Sol and my body to his Church for I am a faithful servant of the god of light. We help everyone feels the warm embrace of Sol, bring comfort to the poor and ease the suffering of the ills. That's... what I thought...

The Inquisition has come to our beloved city and spread their poison in the heart of the believers. Countless innocent lives have been lost for 'heresy' and many more destroyed. So, I decided to take care of two orphans of savants who received trial by fire.

My soul and body are not mine, but my life belongs to me and I will us it to protect those children.

Physical 30
Mental 50
Social 70
Sol's Healing Scepter +5
>2 healing per day (Social)

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Corym Trafiel

I am an assistant at the Academy of Natural Philosophy. Ok, ok, ok... I am an Elf, but I never used a bow ! I have a pistol like every gentleman but never used it either. Some of us left the forest to emigrate in this Human city because we were fed up with sleeping in trees.

Since of outbreak I have given up on several of my little pleasures like theatre and masked balls. And coincidentally I had little occasions to meet my mistress, a high rank courtesan everybody will die to have at his arm and a beautiful specimen of Mermaid.

Me? In love with a Mermaid? Foolish. I'm already married to science and art, but still... I hope she is well.

Physical 50
Mental 70
Social 30
Duelist pistol +5
>one shot flintlock (Mental)

>>4136460
>>4136452
Susanna Marotti

>>4136452
>Alfonso Barbati

>>4136462
>In love with a Mermaid
Unironically a man of wealth and taste

My man Alfonso, no other choice need apply.

>>4136457
>Alfonso Barbati

>>4136490
>>4136495
>>4136499
>>4136521
>>4136527
You are Alfonso Barbati

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First week of the Quarantine

My favourite play has always been the 300 Phalangists. I was still a kid when I joined the army but the age of conquest was over. Now we trade with the Elves and the Dwarfs. So when my ten years were over I became a sailor in the navy and that was both the best and the worst decision I ever took. My ship set sail to the Northern Hemisphere. I became famous in a play inspired by our journey because I fought a polar bear with a cleaver.

This fame was enough to open a successful butcher's shop in the district. My mates and I, just had to say "SNN Polaris" and there was always someone eager to pay for the drinks of the brave northern explorers. If that was not enough, I just had to make the embarrassing roar that (according to the play) I used to scare the bear before chopping him down. I couldn't believe people were this easily misled. But they were. They were too when La Stampa revealed that our captain was involved in a conspiracy against the Doge.

Fortune comes and goes.

At first, we didn't notice the change, it was whispers behind our backs, then people stopped to buy us drinks. The bank cease and desist letters piled up as my customer base decreased. Then, one day, it just happened. The wheelsman was shot dead on the Piazza del Sol, a duel, said the Militia. So we stopped seing each other in public. Some of us emigrated to the New World or went back to Mainland. There's only a carpenter and a gunsmith left here, so we see each other in private every month.

Fortune comes and goes.

I worked with Mario, the gunsmith, at the cannery to butcher whales. Canned meat is the future, nobody wants to line up at a butcher's shop every day when you can stock up food. As long there is a seal and a fancy picture, it does the trick. But during our first day, someone dared to call us traitors so we broke his legs. Fired on the first day, totally worth it. Luigi, the carpenter, is more cautious, he works in a back shop of shoemaker. After all he has a wife now.

The plague started just like the seasonal flu. Nothing to worry about first. I remember when the first ship from the Southern Islands was put into quarantine, people were angry at first since we would not have grains for winter and only whale meat. Then, the canned meat became scarce, so they went back to my shop to get it first and fresh.

Fortune comes and goes.

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Second week of the Quarantine

I like where this is going. We are expected to wear facial protection at all time, so I can conceal my identity. Luigi, the carpenter, found work to build additional aisles at the hospital and I'm sure every shop owner would hire Mario, the gunsmith, regardless and maybe because of his ruthless behavior. In the most dire situations there's plenty of opportunities for men like us to shine.

The City has been put in quarantine now. Not that it really matters for folks like us who never go out of here. La Stampa revealed that some nobles fled before it was announced, and so, me and Mario joined a protest at the Piazza del Sol. After the Militia fired a warning shot which resulted in a stamped I tried to help the injured... but they still give me that look.

Sol Invictus doesn't like cowards anyway. They should have charged at the Militia after that volley of flintlock rifles. I'm not a coward, I'm just like in the SSN Polaris play or the 300 Phalangists. Yes! It's because I'm surrounded by cowards. And they don't even want my help. It's not my fault. And the first to say otherwise will get a taste of my knuckles.

Rumour says that Elfs are dispatching a Commando and the Church send the Inquisition. Why is Luigi accepting this? Why is he not angry? Is he patiently waiting to be taken by Charon? The alcohol made me say rude things to him, encouraged by Mario but he needs to wake up. We are not coward, right, we are the brave heroes of the SSN Polaris, right?

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Third week of the Quarantine

By the cold waters of the Styx, what is this? Someone put a La Stampa poster on my shop. Not that it really bothers me since I don't receive whale meat any more, but who dared? Who is the figlio di putanna who did this? And what does it say?

"La Stampa Public Edition Uno : The Academy of Natural Philosophy was raided last night.

The brilliants savants of the Academy were working on a cure before being assaulted simultaneously by the Militia, the Inquisition and the Elven Commandos. Their latest researches show that the disease has several stages each with noticeable symptoms.
Stage One: Contamination by contact with a patient. High fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. Can be cured naturally or with medication but the disease will ONLY GO DORMANT.
Stage Two: Relapse of previsouly Stage One patients or contact with Stage Two or higher. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, with bleeding. Can be cured by intensive medication but the disease will ONLY GO DORMANT.
Stage Three: Relapse of previsouly Stage Two patients or contact with a of Stage Three. Necrosis. DEATH.

La Stampa would like to address its sincere condolences to the family of the savants who lost their lives during the assault."

Damn those grass eating, tree huggers, pezzo di merda, knife-ears. I will make mince meat of them and sell it in my shop. But before that I have to get meat for me at the cannery. I just have to take care and hide my cough. I'm sure it's nothing.

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You wait patiently your turn in the line for canned food. This industrial cans of whale meat are the only thing preventing the city from starving. But two cans for a whole week is not enough! And with just one Iceburst Stone to heat both! Sure you can survive if you ration it, but it's as if the Militia was expecting everyone to stay calmly at home and avoid any uncesseray movement.

The canals of the city vomits their freezing fog on everybody's feets on this chilly winter morning. You jump from one feet to another and rub your hands to forget the cold. The line moves. You are next.

"The honorable Doge of the city would like to remind its citizen that we are still looking for volunteers."

A Militiaman with an even more ridicule outfit mounted a wood crate to adress everyone. The bright purple and yellow of his perfecty tailored yet baggy outfit indicated he has somehow a role of leader.

"The gear and rivet production has been halved due to a shortage of workers, if this is allowed to continue the Dwarven Kingdom will cesse outsourcing contract to us. Volunteers are also still needed to retrieve corpses in the streets and in the canals, haul them on a barge and dump them in the incineration center. If you are too weak for this, the Mystical Stones archeological center needs tiny hands to excavate artifacts. Even children can contribute! Actually children will be more rewarded."

Then it came to this. You can't run a city without money.

"Finally, I will personally remind you that delation is welcomed, don't be afraid to protect your community. Stage Two symptoms are very noticable, it looks like a severe cold."

What is your first priority today?
>[Ressources] work for additional food and fuel
>[The Cure] investigate the fate of the researchers
>[Personnal] find your your mates
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4136726
>[Personnal] find your mates

>>4136726
>[Personnal] find your your mates

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>>4136898
>>4136911
A Militiaman shoves two cans of industrially processed meat in your arms. He then tosses an Iceburst Stone and calls for the next in line. That's what you liked in your military service, quite, efficient and no unnecessary talks. At least you didn't have to reveal your face.

Heading back to your butcher shop, you waltz through the piles of rubbish in the street, thinking about where to find Mario and Luigi. Dead rats are floating in the canals under the thick fog. Thank to the cold the putrid smell is almost unnoticeable. Or perhaps you are used to it now.

"Ma che cazze?!" you exclaim witnessing marauders near your
shop "I don't have meat to sell, cogliones! Do you think I would eat this garbage if I had fresh meat?"
"Oh so I see you actually have meat to sell" defiantly retorts one of the two marauders "vecchio pazzo."

Your back is protected by a canal, none of the three thugs will get behind you. They are unarmed. Under their rags, they look youngs and emaciated, none of them is coughing. If only Mario or Luigi was there... You really need to find them, but first:

>talk to them to resolve this peacefully (Social)
>fight them or scare them away (Physical)
>observe them or your environment for opportunities (Mental)
(a clever write-in will get you bonus for the roll, don't roll before the option is locked)

>>4136963
>fight them or scare them away (Physical)
>scare them
*Alfonso starts to rolling up his sleeves and cracking his knuckles* well pezzi de merda You want meat I will give you meat after I be done with all of you I will have meat for months ground beef to be exact, it's time to butcher some pigs

>>4136963
>>4137050
based, supporting

>>4137050
>>4137337
roll 1d100 (mus be under Alfonso Physical attribute : 70+5 for threat)

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>4137367

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>>4137379
You put the canned meat on the ground and roll up your sleeves to show them what a daily work out of hauling a dozen kilograms worth of meat shop can do to you. Cracking your knuckles you imply that they will become the meat they long for.

"G-Go get him!" their leader barks to his underlings.

He then grabs his closest ally to throw at you. But the poor fella, scared to death, stumbles on a cobblestone and miss you by a few meters. He ends up in the canal amidst the dead rats and rubbish while his friends flee through a narrow street. It becomes clear the thug does not know how to swim. Maybe he is more focused on getting things away from his mouth than actually swimming. Anyway the freezing cold quickly slows down his macabre dance. It will be over soon.

>jump in the water to help him to the nearest dock stairs
>go back to the shop and plan how to find your mates
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4137442
>go back to the shop and plan how to find your mates

God knows whats in that filthy ass water.

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>>4137446
Yeah, serve him right. You are not a coward. Sol made you victorious it's not the time to lose everything in this filthy water. Serves him right. You can perfectly swim in that cold water but the brave hero of the SSN Polaris is going to risk his life for that. Serves him right, right?

Accepting his fates, the thug's arms end their last final push to distance a dirty rag like sweeping a death bed. He feels heavy now, something has clouded his eyes yet still open and fixed on you. The cold water engulfs him without a sound, Charon has taken his soul.

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Trying to move on to more important tasks, you enter the butcher shop. The Clock Tower has not yet rung for noon but your stomach already starts growling. There are two cans of meat and one Iceburst stone. You should probably eat before getting out. As for finding your mates, you know that Luigi the carpenter is working at the hospital and Mario... Well he will probably show at the district tavern sooner or later.

Do you want to consume half of a caned whale meat?
>yes
>no
Should you use the Iceburst Stone to heat it up?
>cooked
>raw

Who should you look for first?
>Luigi, to the hospital
>Mario, to the tavern
What should you bring with you
-Butcher's Cleaver
-2 cans of whale meat
-1 Iceburst Stone

>>4137483
hey OP , did you draw this?
Also
>No
>raw
>Mario

>>4137483
OP?

>>4137483
>yes
>Cooked
>Luigi
items
>Butcher's Cleaver
>1 Iceburst Stone

>>4137531
confrim that you are not eating anything and not taking anything with you, please

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>>4137588
You open the can with your cleaver, letting a loud metallic ringing fill your shop. Half of the meat and its fat pour out on a frying pan that you heat up with an Iceburst Stone. The aroma of your cooking ease reminds you of the SSN Polaris. Whaling between the giant icebergs. But you also had reserve of fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. This strict regimen of meat will for now as long as your are not ill.

The Iceburst Stone continues to evaporate, releasing heat. You tried to put it in water but it's useless. You now only have one and a half can of meat. After this meal, you gear up with your cleaver to look for Luigi, the carpenter in the Offices District, near the Hospital.

As you rejoice seeing the morning fog dissipates, you are startled by a thick cloud of incense invading the street. There is a procession of Sol's adepts trying to purify the City. Harmless, you think. You cross the bridge where the thug had drowned with a stomachache. It's not the first death you see, but it's maybe the first you caused. Anyway you should only care for yourself and your mates.

"Hands up, Human."

The distinctive nasal voice of an Elf echoes in the street from the rooftops. You tighten your grip on the cleaver, ready to reclaim your city from the knife ears.

"You reek of meat... absolutely disgusting. Don't you know vegetarians are always healthy." He continues.
"Stop it captain. You see he has no firearm."

A subordinate appeared at his side along with a dozen of other Elfs in cloaks drawing their bows at you from an unreachable position.

"Hey Human, sorry about our captain. We just want to warn you that we are confiscating firearms here."
"And tell him I don't want to see him carrying dead meat... Barbaric Humans."

The knife-ears vanish as mysteriously as they came before you can even insult them. Your heart accelerates after this first experience of real danger. Yeah, they are the cowards, not you. Running to get faster to the hospital and absolutely not because you were afraid you finally arrive at your destination.

>ask someone about Luigi (Social)
>look for Luigi yourself (Mental)
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4137676
>look for Luigi yourself (Mental)

>>4137715
roll 1d100 (must be under 50)

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>4137728

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>>4137824
You try your best to find Luigi without talking to anyone, which made you circle the Hospital twice times before getting lost in the streets. It is getting close to 4PM. The winter sun will set in a few hours.

Merda, you can't be this stupid. After losing too much looking at the Hospital from all angles you use your hearing to try locating Luigi, ready to shout his name. Then, the unmistakable sound of a carpenter at work gets your attention. He was one the roof the whole time.

"Yo Luigi!"
"Alfonso, is that you? Did you sober up or you still want to make Elf's meat?"
"Don't be like that Luigi. I was worried about you, get down there."

The young carpenter, relatively agile climb down a ladder and you meet away from the line of patients and/or free loader waiting for a bed tonight.

"Can you believe it, Alfonso? We built 3000 beds in a single week and they are already taken."
"I don't care about these punks. How have you been?"
"You know Alfonso... You should care about them. If you get sick, who is going to take care of you?"
"... Look at you, talking like an adult, little Luigi."
"I'm not little, I have a wife now you know."

The carpenter is still angry about your recent quarrel, but what is it that you want exactly?
>do you need anything, Luigi?
>we should stick together at the same place and find Mario (Social)
>you should no work here when you have a wife (Mental)
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>we should stick together at the same place and find Mario (Social)

>>4137863
I am sorry anon for the current state of your quest. You are pretty good QM but the problem is with your player (I just want to kind of bump your quest. ) Don't give up if your first quest failed. You just need to find that one sweet quest to hook up your players

>>4137863
>do you need anything, Luigi?

tie breaker?

>>4138943
supportin

>>4138943
>>4139024
>>4139557
roll 1d100 (must be under 30)

I give up. Thank you for playing.

>>4139916
F
Again, don't give up my man.

>>4139916
F
Mama Mia rest in pepperoni

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>4139664
All he wanted was a dice roll.

Seemed like pretty good writing.

>>4139916
OP. Don't give up, man. I was around when you ran the dwarf fortress under siege quest. I just found this today. Reading the thread, I had assumed it was you from the similar character selection section, and rejoiced when it was basically confirmed upon Iceburst Stone being mentioned. Don't give in. This looks great, man.

>>4140463
>>4140467
>>4142112
>>4142313
I was not prepared for a long delay between updates and a low number of players. The system I created was not designed for this. There are a lot of quests currently running and maybe /qst/ need more players than QM.

But after thinking about it, I don't want to let a story unfinished as long as there is still one player. Sorry for my lack of motivation, I will manage something.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

I will roll myself now

>>4142530
Glad to hear back from ya.
So long as I'm awake for your runtimes, I'll be voting.

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>>4142535
must be under 30
>rolled 7, critical success

Luigi twirls the borders of his moustache he grew to look more adult, thinking about your proposition. Or maybe he was just pretending to think about it. He learned long ago that you should never accept an offer right away. However, your charisma from the days of the SSN Polaris is still very fresh.

"You know what Alfonso... If things really turn bad, I will gladly entrust my life to you."
"SSN Polaris for life, mio fratelli."
"Yeah totally. Why would I trust my neighbours when the only words we ever exchanged were greetings."
"That's the spirit boy."
"So... what's next?"

What's next?
>help Luigi move to your place
>move to Luigi place (butcher's shop)

Also, it's getting late. The amount of patients increased, homeless and wealthy alike who fear they might not make it to until dawn without medicinal herbs to clear their lungs from the thick phlegm. You can go home right now or do one more thing before the curfew.

>to the Tavern to find Mario
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4142549
>>help Luigi move to your place
>>to the Tavern to find Mario

>>4142554
Cancelling my vote. Thought it over. Instead, I'd like to ask something.
Is the move to Luigi place (butcher's shop) a typo?
Or am I just misunderstanding it?
I'd still like to search for Mario, but I'd prefer to change locations we're currently inhabiting. We're in the Elven Commando Unit's territory. Earlier in the thread during that confrontation, it was mentioned that the Captain didn't want to see us carrying dead meat. Weathering the storm in a butcher's shop seems like a bad fucking move, so long as it's within elf territory.

>>4142562
>a typo
yes, sorry, Alfonso is the butcher, Luigi a carpenter

I usually have between 40m to 1h between updates to wait for more inputs. This quest can run daily as long as I am myself in lockdown.

>>4142573
Got it. In that case, changing to
>move to Luigi place (butcher's shop)
>to the Tavern to find Mario
An hour between updates is fine with me. I'd prefer not to be the sole decision maker, with every fuck up being solely on me. I'll still be around, likely voting daily. I'll keep an eye on the thread.

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>>4142576
Since three is a lucky number, you decide to look for Mario, but not before heading back to Luigi's place. Avoiding the crowd, you both distance yourself from the Hospital. Shouts, cries and some gunshots can be heard in the distance. Luigi tighten his grip on his carpenter's hammer. Getting Luigi out of this hell was surely the best decision.

"Who goes here?"

A Militiaman in his clown attire is blocking the only bridge from West to East of the City. He looks surprised to see people going leaving the district of the Hospital rather than trying to get there. Other Militiamen are blocking a huge crowd on the other side, only letting people enter little a time.

"Sir, you remember me, right? I work at the Hospital to build an aisle." Luigi reminds him
"Ok, you can pass after I check you didn't steal anything."

Always eager to defend your honour you intervene, maybe you had something to prove to yourself after letting someone die. You are not a coward after all, right?

"You call us thieves? Eh, rompiscatole?"
"Look siniore, I am just doing my job. No medicine, no Iceburst Stone."

The young Luigi looks worried but you can't tell if he actually feels guilty of something or if he is just nervous about the consequences of your behavior.

>make a scene (Social)
>fight the Militiaman (Physical)
>let him do a body check

connection errors just when I promised to update hourly...

>>4142618
>let him do a body check
We'll deck him and run if Luigi is carrying.

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>>4142786
Burning in impotent rage you finally unclench your first and let the Militiaman humiliate both of you with the search and let you cross the bridge. Luigi had nothing to hide and while at first reassured about your decision, he notices how low your morale has fallen.

Are you really the kind of man to let other run over him like that? A sailor scared to save a drowning man. N-No, he was asking for it. You thought. A cold sweat runs down your spine as your inner world crumbles. You are not the man you thought you were. Who knows what consequences it will have.

"This is my place, Alfonso. Not a bunker but an apartment under the rooftop is better than an open shop in the street, right?"
"I feel like a coward in hiding..." Your mumble.
"You wanted to get Mario too, right?"

The sun is now barely noticeable above the horizon, so Luigi rushes upstairs and comes down with a lantern. "My last Mystical Stone." He says putting a small stone in a transparent container holding water. The stone shines and lit your path to the Tavern where Mario uses to come at night. However, after a gunshot echoes in the streets you notice several shadows jumping on the rooftops in the direction of the Tavern.

You and Luigi, fearing what the mixture of Mario, alcohol and firearms would cause when served with a plate of Elven Commandos, rushes to the place. But it's too late.

"You want my gun, knife-ears? OVER MY DEAD BODY!"

Mario is screaming at the rooftops holding a flintlock pistol in one hand and a paper cartridge in another. Even drunk, he reloads with relative ease but his aim is catastrophic. The only thing preventing the Elves from turning him into a hedgehog with their arrows is the general confusion with all the clients leaving the Tavern.

It's finally happening ! You think. No more running away. Without thinking you decide to join the fight, you wouldn't be a man otherwise.
>take cover behind a wooden table
>throw your cleaver at an Elf on the rooftop
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4142813
>take cover behind a wooden table

>>4142813
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
Flip over the tables to create cover, and lock and barricade the doors.

Shout at the other patrons to brace themselves for a knife ears attack!

Also shout at Luigi to get into better cover, then pull him to the floor.

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>>4142824
>>4142826
"Surrender your death stick, barbarian."
"Never, knife-ear. Go back to your dirty forest."

Mario fired another round in the air, missing against the fast moving shadows. Meanwhile, you choose to get under cover to prepare your attack. The Tavern is deserted except for you, Mario and Luigi behind a flipped table. The gunsmith's anger vanishes with the last ray of sunlight. The last source being Luigi's lantern enveloping you in a precarious bubble of light in the darkness.

"Luigi, Alfonso, miei fratelli, let me hug yo-" starts Mario
"Not now drunkard" shuned Luigi "Let's find a way out of here. What do they want anyway?"
"I dind't do anything. They came to complain about the smell of meat and said something I don't really remember... but I remember I punched him!"
"Great... Alfonso, should I break the lantern? I don't really want to fight them, remember how my house is on their territory now?"

What a turn of event. Because of all the things you lived today, you just wanted to face the danger straight on, not even hearing what the Elves wanted. Now that you regained some of your senses, maybe it's time to consider your options and their long term consequences.

>we have to find a backdoor to escape (Mental)
+20 bonus thanks to Luigi being a carpenter
>we will stay quiet and let them get close, then kill them (Physical)
+20 bonus thanks to Mario being a gunsmith
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4142858
>we have to find a backdoor to escape (Mental)

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>4142863
rolling 1d100, must be below 70 (50+20)

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>>4142863
A fire arrow hits right on the table you are taking cover behind. Luigi gets panicked while Mario scream unloading round after round on the Tavern's opening. You force the carpenter to look for an exit in this mess, forgetting about his lantern. Far away, an experimented Elf hunter aim a few inches above the lantern and hits Luigi right in the chest.

The lantern is broken but the rapid spread of the fire caused by the arrow light the whole interior of the Tavern. You can see bubbles forming in the blood around his wound. Tearing off a tablecloth you tell him to apply pressure and to not try removing the arrow.

"Alfonso! How is Luigi?! I'm out of cartridges."

You still want to find and escape from here but now you have to carry a wounded person. According to your limited knowledge in the army, you need to stop the bleeding by any mean necessary, then a wound this lethal should only be treated by a miracle healer or a healing potion.

"Time to abandon ship! Let's jump in the canal from the upper floor."

>just break a wood wall with Luigi's hammer to escape (Physical)
note that you can always get bonuses to rolls for clever additional write-in
>go on the upper floor and jump in the canal to escape
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4142932
>just break a wood wall with Luigi's hammer to escape (Physical)
*after trying to weaken the wall ask Mario to help you if he can

>>4142951
Supporting.

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>4142951
>>4142963
rolling 1d100 must be under 80 (70+10)

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>>4143009
Using the hammer of your mates, you obliterate the outer layer, making all the lime crumble to reveal a frail wattle. The only obstacle between you and your freedom was just this dumb old thin interwove branches. Upon seeing this Mario enrages and understands your non-verbal invitation to smash the wall with all his weight.

"SSN POLARIS FOR LIFE!"

He passes through with relative ease and comes back to help you drag the injured Luigi in the back street. The whole building is now on fire. All this because you have anger issues and an ego. As you progress in the darkness to your new home, the weight of Luigi reminds you that at least you are important for some people.

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>>4143011
The carpenter's apartment is just under the rooftop. His wife, a pregnant woman with a frame so thin her belly round as a balloon looked out of place, opened the door.

"Luigi! My Luigi! What happened?!"
"Good evening Valentina." You embarrassingly answer.
"Alfonso, what... Is that Mario? It's your fault, I knew you were behind this. By Sol, every time my poor Luigi is around you something terrible happens."
"'Evening to you too Valentina."

Mario, still a bit drunk, finds a corner to sleep while you and Valentina spend most of the night tending to Luigi's wound, taking turn to nurse him. The bleeding has stopped, but to repair his tissues after removing the arrow you will need a healing potion or a miracle healing if he does not die from an infection before.

House inventory
-6 canned whale meat
-1 hammer
-1cleaver
-1 fintlock pistol (no ammunitions)
-2 Iceburst Stones

Use an Iceburst Stone to warm up the apartment tonight
>yes
>no

Who takes the first turn?
>Valentina
>You

>>4143013
>>yes
>>You

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>>4143017
The dawn finally came after an uneventful night. Hopefully the cold embrace of Charon did not drag Luigi into the Styx and Sol's ray defiantly triumphs over the darkness. Letting that Iceburst Stone warm the room had maybe contributed to it. There is a lot to say but few words can actually pass through the anger of Valentina.

"Drunkard! Deficiente! Good for nothing! Sfigato!"
"Wow... Easy Valentina, easy. Think about your baby."

The frail woman collapses to the floor near her husband, sobbing on his thigh. For a moment you try to gather your thoughts for a clever comeback, not wanting to let a woman insult you. Then, seeing the oblique ray of light descending on the couple, you can't help but feel like a fly on a magnificent painting. Maybe you are not a hero and just a nuisance.

"Valentina" a faint whisper escapes Luigi's lips "we have guest... breakfast maybe?"

Even badly injured, the carpenter tries to smile at his wife, holding her little hand with his strong fingers. Half out of pride and half out of frustration, she accepts and prepares two cans of whale meat on the dying Iceburst Stone. If only you knew how to put these things off... They are more powerful than coal but damn inconvenient.

"So, what's next Alfonso? Collecting some Elf's ears? Maybe getting some gunpowder?"
"Healing Luigi? Maybe?"
"He is a big boy, I survived four days with a bullet in my guts before receiving a miracle healing."

>[Ressources] work for additional food and fuel
>[The Cure] investigate the fate of the researchers
>Healing Luigi
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4143088
>[The Cure] investigate the fate of the researchers

>>4143088
>>Healing Luigi
He has a pregnant wife, we're staying at his place, and he's probably fucked if we don't get onto healing him as soon as possible.

>>4143088
>Healing Luigi

Tell Mario no more drinking till hes all patched up, This was mostly your fault, I think.

Now where are the healers?

>>4143314
Probably the hospital. Thankfully, it's in the Militia's territory.
We're likely on their bad side now, and they may be looking out for those who fit our description. Or at least an injured guy. Might be worth taking a precaution to move Luigi secretly.

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>>4143440
>>4143314
>>4143132
>>4143096
>>4143096
>>4143132
>>4143314
>>4143440
Feeling the cold stare of Luigi's wife you decide to find a way to treat his wound. Your first option is the hospital. It's free but, the risk of being infected is really high, you will have to find a way to avoid the crowd. Remembering how the Elves jumped on the rooftops makes inspires you, you also had to break wall to escape a building, maybe the straightforward way is outdated. Also, yesterday, you get Luigi just before a riot happened, so you will probably need the gun.

Of course, like all ex-soldiers and believers of Sol, you trust healing potion and divine magic more than this modern science. Furthermore, they can heal him instantly. The problem with healing potion is that everybody want some to cure the disease so it will probably cost a lot. Also, the Alchemists being in the Craftsmen District, you will have to cross the bridge checkpoint of the Militia and they said "no Iceburst Stones, no medicine" but Luigi can stay home. An Alchemist can sells many other potions and maybe help you make gunpowder with an Iceburst Stone.

Finally, you can always go to the Dispensary. You don't have anything to hide to the Inquisition and you even heard that the fine for Miracle Healing dispensed by servants of Sol has been reduced. People also believe that as long as you stand on consecrated ground, you will not get infected. So you can swim in a sea of infected people bu will need a way to pay the fine.

Where to go?
>Hospital
>Alchemist
>Dispensary

What to bring?
House inventory
-4 canned whale meat
-1 hammer
-1cleaver
-1 flintlock pistol (no ammunitions)
-1 Iceburst Stones

>>4143965
Luigi is a carpenter, right?
Does he have a crate around his place we could use to smuggle him out of elf territory, and into the factories? We could then take him out of it prior to the bridge checkpoint, and head to the dispensary for cheaper, safer healing.
If we're stopped by elves trying to search us, mention that we are delivering our carpenter friend some supplies from his workshop that he needs to continue work at the hospital.
If anyone has a better idea, I'll swap my vote to that.
>bring
-2 canned whale meat
-1 hammer
-1 cleaver
The meat to trade for healing. We'd still have enough for another day. The hammer for Mario to wield, and to potentially trade with if the meat isn't enough. Cleaver, of course would go with us.

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>>4144091

Valentina smiled. Briefly. When she heard that you were going to move her husband in a coffin she revolted. Then, it ticked, she instantly threw herself on the canned food, understanding that you will use this to bargain for a miracle healing.

"Why should we pay for your mistake."
"We need to pay a miracle healing, just give us the food."
"What are we going to eat after? We can eat tomorrow but will have to hold four days before the next ration."

She had a point. If your plan to smuggle the injured carpenter to the dispensary succeed, you will have to look for supply the day after tomorrow.

>"Out of the way woman." (Physical)
+20 bonus with Mario
>"You will have to trust me." (Social)
>write something to convince her (Mental)
+xx bonus depending on your write-ins

>>4144187
>>write something to convince her (Mental)
>+xx bonus depending on your write-ins
"Valentina, you needn't worry. I had already planned to go work for more food tomorrow beforehand. Mario and I will head out whilst Luigi is still recovering. We'll scrounge enough together to last us to the next ration distribution. By the next distribution, we can all go head there separately. Two cans for me, Two cans for Mario, Two cans for Luigi. You could also head along with Luigi, and possibly get a third can. Being pregnant and all."
Feel free to edit this to make it more setting appropriate, or condense it down. These are merely my points. Also, I may have fucked up and got ration distribution wrong. I thought it was mentioned earlier in the quest that Alfonso only got two cans a week during distribution. Correct me if I am wrong, but I figure that'll be fine.

>>4144193
>ready planned to go work for more food tomorrow beforehand. Mario and I will head out whilst Luigi is still recovering. We'll scrounge enough together to last us to the next ration distribution. By the next distribution, we can all go head there separately. Two cans for me, Two cans for Mario, Two cans for Luigi. You could also head along with Luigi, and possibly get a third can. Being pregnant and all."
>Feel free to edit this to make it more setting appropriate, or condense it down. These are merely my points. Also, I may have fucked up and got ration distribution wrong. I thought it was mentioned earlier in the quest that Alfonso only got two cans a week during distribution. Correct me if I am wrong, but I figure that'll be fine.
Support.
I'm not able to come up with a better write in.

>>4144193
>>4144211
roll 1d100, must be under 60 (50+10)
I will try to reopen the rolls if there is enough participants

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>4144212
rollan

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>4144212
do I even need to roll?

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>>4144215
>>4144224
"Valentina, you needn't worry. I had already planned to go work for more food tomorrow beforehand."

The pregnant woman stiffened, trying to hold back her anger. Hearing that you were ready to work for food earned you a higher place in her esteem.

"By the next distribution, we can all go head there separately. Two cans for me, Two cans for Mario, Two cans for Luigi. You could also head along with Luigi, and possibly get a third can. Being pregnant and all."
"If you have planned this far ahead, I hope you know where to find a definitive cure of the disease."
"Excuse me?"
"If people start rioting the traitors of the SSN Polaris will be the first to go."

Her anger seems to have changed to random taunts, trying to find a pressure relief. She was convinced but did not want to admit it. However, she has a point, like always. Aaah... "woman" you thought rolling your eyes.

"Then let's go, Mario."

The streets are relatively empty, people are still cheering each other from their balcony. There's even a famous opera tenor singing for free. Just seeing his face is enough for everyone to smile, so let's hope his moral will not deteriorate.

You escaped the Elven controlled territory with the wooden crate trick. This morning breakfast helped you regain enough strength for such a feat, let's hope you will not run out of food. The only remaining problem is that bridge, the only connexion across the Grande Canal. Hopefully you came early just after your breakfast, so the crowd is not an obstacle. Plus, who would stop brave carpenters helping to build the hospital?

The wind feels cold on your sweaty back after carrying the crate. People in rags trying to sell rat meat are staring at you, children are playing in the mud all around, some of them are coughing. It doesn't feel like the steam engine was brought to the city a decade ago. Now you have to cross the Slums to get to the Abbey, but even with Luigi out of the box it will take the whole day, not even talking about your way back. Maybe you should think of another way of moving in this City.

"Eh, maybe they have a cart to get to the Abbey?" asks Mario

How to cross the South Slum?
>ask them how to get to the Abbey faster (Social)*
>come up with an idea yourself (Mental)*
>we will carry Luigi ourselves (Physical)*
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

*+xx bonus depending on your write-ins as always

>>4144226
>>we will carry Luigi ourselves (Physical)*
Human Crutch. One arm around each Mario and Alfonso's neck. Moving him in any other physical method may be dangerous, and worsen the wound. Even this may be a stretch.

>>4144233
roll 1d100, must be under 80 (70+10)

Rolled 19 (1d100)

rolling 1d100, must be under 80 (70+10)

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With the help of Mario, you manage to move Luigi across the South Slums just for noon. You only have the North Slums before arriving to the Abbey District. The two District of the lower class are separated by a canal and the only access is an island where gunshots can be heard.

"I recognize that sound." says Mario

Indeed, it seems that North and South rivalry turned to urban warfare during the crisis. Building riddled with bullets from each side are exchanging diverse projectile from stones to flaming bottles of alcohol and sometimes are sniper emerges from balcony to blankly fire on the other side.

Wounded South fighters are immediately repatriated from the island. There is a dozen of corps lying inside the remains of a tavern, some with the face covered by their blanket.

"Did we make this huge detour for nothing?" enrages your companion.

>ask a Southerner what this is about
>fall back on another healing option (Hospital/Alchemist)

>>4144608
>>ask a Southerner what this is about

>>4144608
>ask a Southerner what this is about
I think we should get into the tunneling business.

>>4144608
>ask a Southerner what this is about

I don't want to have made this huge detour for nothing

Also great quest OP, sadly our timezones are such that I work/sleep when you update :(

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>>4144741
>>4144925
>>4145354

The place where corpses and wounded alike were shoved seems like the safest so you and Mario take cover here. A flaming bottle shatters on the pavement where you once stood under the cry of "Damn Norf".

A tall man with a ridicule bird mask and black clothes is treating the wounded. Extracting bullets, amputating them with a bloody saw. He looks like a crow feasting a human flesh in these ruins. If it were not for the constant stream of children running in and out of the building you could have mistaken this for hell. A child bumps into you.

"Pardon me siniore." he apologizes
"What's going on boy?" you ask
"Damns Soufs get the Abbey and their potato field, but we got all the supplies we looted from the city."
"Can't you just trade?"
"You crazy siniore? What if we run out first?"
"So you both fear that and you are jumping at each other throats to increase your stock"
"Ah! You think too much siniore. Luv Sol, luv potatoes, 'ate knif-ears, 'ate Norf. Simple as."

The child continues to rush where he was supposed to go, at the bed of a dying Southerner. He then takes out a red phial from his pouch under his rags and made him drink that.

"It's a healing potion" exclaims Mario

He pours the liquid on a bullet hole in the flank of the wounded, it instantly closes and regenerates. Noticing your how you stared at him, the boy with his acute perception of a people from the slum takes out a knife and warns you.

"Not happening, sioniore."
"Wait, we just want to ask you something."

The boy is getting very nervous, if you don't want the stabby, you will have to make this quick. Aks 2 (TWO) and only 2 (TWO) questions
>where did you get that phial?
>can we trade something for a healing potion?
>can we help you against Northerners?
>is there a way to get accross that island?
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4145528
>can we trade something for a healing potion?
Our friend here was stabbed with an arrow by some knife ears.

>where did you get that phial?

>>4145565
This. Mentioning the Elf involvement is a good move.
'ate knif-ears. (ain't racist, just don't loike 'em)

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>>4145565
>>4145579
"Can we trade something for a healing potion?"
"Ah you bet siniore. We got all that gunpowder but so few guns."
"Our friend here was stabbed with an arrow by some knife ears."
"Ah damn tree huggers! I tell you what. You bring me a pair of ears I give you a potion we can't use here. We looted some strange stuff, y'know."
"Oh, and where did you loot that one?"
"... Alchemist shop in Craftsmen District. Get your own if you don't want to trade."

That was clear enough. Your accusatory tone ended the conversation. Finally, it all comes to this, whether you find a solution to bypass the canal and access the Abbey or you get a healing potion. As you are about to consider what is the best course of action between looting and trading your only pistol, a deafening silence falls on the island.

They stopped throwing things at each other. A procession is slowly crossing the bridges, spreading incense everywhere. The scene is surreal, nobody dares to make a move and all hostilities ceased. On the contrary, people coughing or kneeling, begging for a miracle healing. It's the Inquisition. Nobody expects the Inquisition.

The Clocktower in the Offices district rings for noon
>falls back on the Alchemist shop
>you will get Mario's pistol at Luigi's and trade it for a healing potion here
>try to approach the Inquisition

>>4145624
>>try to approach the Inquisition
Try this first. The shop can be a fall back option. We came all the way here for this, after all.

>>4145624
>try to approach the Inquisition

free healing?

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>>4146173
>>4146225
For the modest price of one can of whale meat, you are allowed to kneel alongside all the infected, outside consecrated land. The priests do not care if you are injured or infected by the plague, Sol's light embrace all, Sol is life. Luigi's painful breaths stops for a moment, you feel at the same time the light radiating from a sceptre of one of the priest, it's almost blinding, you can only hear the intense coughing of the nearby infected.

When your sense come back, Luigi's breathing is deeper, his lungs expands fully, the wound has disappeared. And all that just for a one can of meat, what a great deal! He can walk now and you have to decide where to spend the rest of the day. All those adventures showed you that you really need to find a new way to travel in the city, you also have new opportunities with that alchemist shop, maybe it's also time to care about the cure or work to get food. Speaking of which, someone came to nail a poster of La Stampa on the ruins of a barber shop.

"La Stampa Public Edition Secondo : The Fate of the savants from the Academy of Natural Philosophy.

Igor and Grichka Gallileof are currently judged by the Inquisition of the Church of Sol for their heretical research on 'Black Holes' which could completely change our view of divine magic.

Dottore Bernardo Pastori is protected by the Militia to focus his talents in alchemy on gunpowder production instead or plotting with his revolutionary friends or playing with mold.

Professore Tornelli Picardi da Costa is now a permanent guest at the Elven embassy, the famous naturalist explorer had to put on hold his deep sea exploration and look out for a miraculous alga.

A building has collapsed in the North Slums causing dozens of death, excavation of the corpse will be handled by volunteers."

"Great, the geniuses are going to die." commented Mario
"Yeah they can't do anything without us." you boasted

The last part could be useful if you choose corpse retrieving duty. Anyway, it's too late to get at the cannery and enlist as a volunteer for today.

What now?
>back at Luigi's
>let's see that alchemist shop
>[The Cure] investigate the fate of the researchers
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

let someone go back to Luigi's place
>Luigi
>Mario

>>4146825
>[The Cure] investigate the fate of the researchers

We wanna make sure the judgement goes well first of all

let someone go back to Luigi's place
>Luigi

Reassure his wife

>>4146853
Supporting this.

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>>4146853
>>4147017
"Luigi, I'm sure Valentina will be reassured if you went back."
"Yeah... Thank you for not letting me down."

Luigi then shakes your hand, thankful for what you have done. Now that the immediate problems has been dealt with, it's time to focus on the cure. Here, in the slums, people might not recognize you but once back in the workers district, the 'traitors' will always be the scapegoat for everything.

There are first those Gallileof weirdos, then the renowed Pastori and finally the lunatic da Costa. Each must have looked for a cure in their own field of application. However, they are now trapped somewhere, unable to pursue their researches.

"It's not going to be as easy as knocking on the Inquisition, Citadel or knife-ears embassy's door, right?" complains Mario
"You bet. We should try to look in the ruins of the Academy in the Offices District."
"Maybe we are not the only ones who want to free them, do savants even have friends? Or I dunno.. a mistress?"

You both laugh at the idea of witnessing one of those nerds at the arms of a courtesean. Anyway, you waited long enough for their situation to turn this bad and facing each of the three faction would be problematic. You heard only yesterday that the Academy was raided and today that they are all detained. Who know what fate awaits them tomorrow?

Which savant should you look for (first)?
>Igor and Grichka Gallileof
face the Inquisition and revolution divine magic
>Dottore Bernardo Pastori
face the Militia and unlock the wonders of alchemy
>Professore Tornelli Picardi da Costa
face the Elves and discover the miracles of the deep sea

I will let you some time to choose the path you like, I will be back and live at 4PM EST for as long as I can, so in 10h or so

>>4147095
>>Dottore Bernardo Pastori
Seems like the best option here. Inquisition just helped us out big time on the cheap, and we'd better avoid the ire of the elves. We live in their territory, after all. Fuck with them too much, and they may bring the hammer down on Valentina. On top of that, we could likely score some gunpowder out of this venture. If we manage to free Bernardo himself, we could potentially get him set up with some gunpowder manufacturing as well as the work on his version of the cure, utilizing the surplus for trading.

>>4147095
>Dottore Bernardo Pastori

>>4147113
makes some good points. Inquisition heals for a single meat can and Elves are the master race. Militia on the other hand is a bunch of scrubs.

>>4147113
>>4147199
"You're right, Alfonso La Stampa called him 'Dottore' so he must know how to heal people." comments Mario

Choosing the safest route that will avoid any confrontation with the useful Inquisition or the dangerous Elves, you reflect on your options. This Pastori alchemist is a conspirator, an enemy of the City, involved in numerous assassination attempts against the Doge, he will p rove to be a formidable ally. If you can free him that is. However, even the dumbest kid in the slums knows that nobody gets out of the Citadel.

>visit the ruins of the Academy of Natural Philosophy
>just go to the Citadel and try to communicate with him
>go ask another alchemist about this Pastori
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4147793
>>visit the ruins of the Academy of Natural Philosophy

>>4147793
>visit the ruins of the Academy of Natural Philosophy

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>>4147917
>>4147997
Mario and you make it to the Offices District relatively faster without having to carry Luigi now that he is healed. Out of the slums, you notice the streets are a lot less populated than yesterday. There is not a single shop opens, people are avoiding each other and giving each other nasty looks. There seems to be a tendency to cover own's nose when encountering someone. Ah, as if bad smell could spread the disease, how stupid you think.

The Academy is partially destroyed, a wall collapsed due to a fire, as if the building itself was vomiting its rooms in the canal. However, it is quite easy to get inside. And so, several looters are looking for anything useful.

There are three accessible floors
Study of Causes : Cosmology, Astronomy and Divine Magic
Study of Elements : Alchemy, Biology, Mystical Stones
Study of Motion and Changes : Mechanics, Metallurgy, Iceburst Stones

Since you came for Pastori, it's obvious which floor you should head into. Climbing a pile of bricks and debris, you both made it in room filled with shattered glass. There are a lot of broken phials, things you can only describe as alembic and other more obscure tools you have no idea how to name. You are not alone here, marauders are also looking for something interesting.

"Ah, they think we play on the same ground. I will throw them in the canal myself if they dare to attack us." boasts Mario
"Y-Yeah" you stutter

The memory of that young thug who drowned amongst the rats under your passive comes to your mind. The thought is quite unsetting. You wish you will not have to fight a marauder here because it will probably end with someone thrown out of the building and in the canal.

temporary -20 to fighting

The sun will set in 3 hours. You have to hurry before the curfew since it will probably take one hour to get back to Luigi's place or you could also spend the night outside, hiding in the cold night. Anyway, 3 hours means up to 3 actions.

You can try to look for something useful in one of the branch of the Study of Causes (Mental)
>yes
>no

Pick up to 3 documents (2 if you choose to look for something useful first) to examine before the sunset
>Note on the shipments of macaca mulatta for clinic trials
>The Philosophal Stone a very rare Mystical Stone
>Letter to Raphaella
>Search for Patient Zero in the Harbor
>Don Giovanni's offer

>>4148023
>Yes

>Note on the shipments of macaca mulatta for clinic trials
>The Philosophal Stone a very rare Mystical Stone

Dang, too much, we probably will need to come back

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>4148069
roll 1d100, must be under 50

also, I am rolling a 1d3 for what type of item you found (if succeeded)
1 for Alchemy
2 for Biology
3 for Mystical Stone

>>4148069
supporting.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>4148117
hopes and prayers

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>>4148143
>rolled 30, success
You get your hands on an artefact commonly found while excavating Mystical Stones.
+10 accuracy when using a firearm

The note about the shipment is written on a very finely crafted paper, there are a dozen of scriptures in foreign language and stamps everywhere from several harbor cities. Finally, in a language you can read, there is a letter adressed to the doctor.

Doctor Pastori, I am deeply sorry, but we failed to find a cure. All our ancestral remedies from tusk powder to hundred years eggs failed. I believe your method was right and I want to give a chance to modern medicine. This is why I am sending a jonque to your city with a dozen of monkeys as you requested. I doubt you will make them force the quarantine though. If you can develop a Human serum from a cured Stage Three monkey, maybe you will be able to stop the spread before it gets as bad as us.
Take Care, Doctor Wong Fei Hung

The book about the Philosopher Stone looks very old and used, coffee cup marks and tears on the pages. It's a both written as a fairy tale and a scientific thesis. You try to sum up what this is about.

Mystical Stones are minerals recovered from the ruins of an ancient civilization. Their fascinating properties embarked us on the age of exploration. Wet they shine in the dark. Heated they float. It was only in the last decade that we found out that careful excavation of Mystical Stone was necessary to recover artefacts imprisoned in the mineral. The same artefact adventurers used a century ago to battle monsters, giving strange abilities or boosting their skills. The Philosopher Stone may well be one of those artefact according to ancients legends. Thus, the cure-all miracle stone will probably be fond one day in our Mystical Stones archaeological center.

Great, now you know what his researches were about but you still have absolutely no idea of how you are going to get him out of the Citadel. You curse yourself, using the names of Sol and Charon alike, hoping this delay will not put the life of Pastori in danger. At least it seems the marauder are not the least interested in the fighting artefact you retrieved or the documents your read.

temporary -20 to fighting over

"He you're done, Alfonso?" worries Mario
"What you have a date in the Redlight District?"
"The curfew has started... Yeah and I guess unless we are in Redlight District it's illegal."

The Clocktower rings for the last hour of winter sunlight, it's getting much colder than yesterday and windy too. You miss the meteorological prevision from the Academy. What happened to them anyway? Well it's not like you can find the answer on the floor dedicated to biology and alchemy.

>try to sneak to Luigi's place (Mental)
>hide in the Academy until morning
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4148196
>hide in the Academy until morning

Go through the rest of the documents

>>4148205
Good move. Supporting this.

>>4148216
Though, I assume if we pick the wrong documents, that may trigger a fight with the Marauders, assuming they're still here. At least the -20 modifier is gone.
I'm assuming if that is the case, then it likely is the message from the Don.

>>4148205
>>4148216
>>4148227
"It's too dangerous to to walk outside after the curfew." you comment

So both of you decide to stay in a room of the Academy. There's barely enough ligh to not navigate in the dark hallway and totally not enough to read. Well, at least you can read the rest of the document tomorrow morning. The wind is howling in the empty building and makes the windows shutters. You didn't notice but you tensed up your shoulders because of the cold. Maybe you should find better clothes or even gear to protect yourself from coughers.


Who takes the first turn?
>Mario
>You

>>4148329
>>You

>>4148329
>You

>>4148329
>You
Bunker down and fortify our hideout a little.

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>>4148417
>>4148467
(Optional) You are on good tracks to save the city after rescuing your comrades, this thought let you hva a profound sleep and reflect on the situation
>what do you think about the three savants or is there any research that interest you particulary?
>what do you think about the three factions and how badly their behaviour could deteriorate?
>do you think you need allies or maybe special equipment?

You propose to take the first watch which seems to bother Mario. It's true he was staring too much at that alembic. After fortifying the doorof a room filled with squelets of marine creatures, you take shelter behind a desk. The first hours of the night are uneventful, you only notice a rapid drop in temperature and go to bed around two in the morning, the coldest hours. When you wake up, your clothes are slightly damp from the morning dew of a water city and you have a runny nose.

"So about that alembic, Alfonso..."
"Damn Sol, Mario, you really have a problem with alcohol. You should get married to put some lead in your bra... brai... ACHOO"
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I wish was the one moving around a few hours ago instead of sleeping."

The first rays of light are shining on the water city, giving you the opportunity to read more document. You can read the last three of them and/or look as much as you for anything useful in the debris. However, if you want to work for additional supplies, you should depart in no more than 3 hours for the Factories, 2 if you want to stop by Luigi's place and eat. La Stampa's poster will probably be nailed everywhere just before the Militia call for volunteers.

What is your first priority today?
>[Ressources] work for additional food and fuel
>[The Cure] investigate the fate of the researchers

Pick up to 3 documents before noon
>Letter to Raphaella
>Search for Patient Zero in the Harbor
>Don Giovanni's offer

>>4148745
>[Ressources] work for additional food and fuel
>Letter to Raphaella

>>4148745
>>what do you think about the three savants or is there any research that interest you particulary?
The potentially heretical research certainly seems interesting. As does this mold mentioned in our man's section of the poster.
Not sure what to feel personally, as we have not met them yet. Hoping the trial of the Gallileofs ends without bloodshed.
>>what do you think about the three factions and how badly their behaviour could deteriorate?
The Inquisition. Sol's light.
Seem alright. They may head off the rails, and begin purging whomever they deem heretical. We've had the least amount of contact with them so far, so who knows.
>The militia, the arm of The Doge.
As of now, they seem mainly focused on maintaining the face of order here. The overall situation is rough, but still hasn't deteriorated to a point where food is incredibly scarce. Seems competent enough for now, but as society crumbles and panic rises, some may break rank and look out for themselves, or turn to extortion. Shouldn't fuck with too hard due to the fact they seem to handle ration distribution.
>The Elven Commandos. Outsiders.
They've already expressed disdain for both meat and firearms, but only have begun confiscating firearms. Nothing done regarding meat (yet). As the situation grows worse, they may crack and try and make a power grab and seize the city, or begin persecution of those who wear their Elf-hatred on their sleeves.
Or they may amusingly run out of the vegetables they presumably brought with them, and come visit Alfonso's Butcher Shop so they can continue to operate here.
>>do you think you need allies or maybe special equipment?
Definitely. Another gun or two. Or three. Would compliment the mystical stone we found well. And certainly some allies. Maybe a healer. Maybe one of the three main factions. Or if we decide to go burn all bridges with them, maybe Bernardo's revolutionary friends.
>What is your first priority today?
>>[Resources] work for additional food and fuel

>Pick up to 3 documents before noon
>>Letter to Raphaella
>>Don Giovanni's offer
Two, so we can still make breakfast with Luigi and Valentina, then make good on our promise to work for more food today.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>4148769
>>Letter to Raphaella
>>4148967
>>Letter to Raphaella
>>Don Giovanni's offer

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>>4148769
>>4148967
You spend some time trying to find any meaning in some letters the brave doctor addressed to a certain Raphaella. Details are embarrassing to read out loud for your mate but there must be something useful in there. Maybe this Raphaella is an ally.

Raphaella, every hour away from you brings me closer to insanity. I can't stop thinking about you. How you silky brown hairs fly when we dance, that childish smile you make when I pat your head, how your ears twitch when I whisper your name and how your tail wagers when we wait for food at the restaurant...

"What the?... That Bernardo is a shameless furry." you exclaim
"Is he going out with a half-human? What's written next? Come on, I don't know how to read." urges Mario

Soon, the half-humans will be treated as our equal. Once the Doge is overthrown and democracy is restored to this beautiful City. And I will be able to free you from that mansion, we will no longer hide. With love, your hero.

"By Sol, who could have predicted this?"
"Ha ha ha... There he is, the brave doctor. Ha ha ha..."
"Stop it Mario, we have another letter here."

Everybody knows who 'Don Giovanni' is. Member of the College of Nobles of the City, a prestigious family descending directly from the 300 Phalangists. One of the richest noble and main contender for the title of Doge. Typically, an 'offer' from Don Giovanni is more like a demand. Without realizing it you spend most of the time discussing the person with Mario than actually read the letter. It's actually an invitation to a Masked Bal.

You are invited to Don Giovanni's villa for a Masked Bal this Saturday.

"So, in three days." comments Mario
"Do we need costume or something?" you answer
"You are not seriously thinking about merging with the powdered noses ? They are all scheming and plotting behind curtains. You can't trust them. Even our captain was..."
"Won't you just get over it Mario? The captain tried to kill the Doge but not all nobles are like him."

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>>4149562
The subject of your captain treason, once again, brought on the table has killed the mood. You cross the bridge guarded by the Militia without incident since you don't have any medicine or Iceburst Stone. A crowd has already formed this late in the morning, people staring blankly in a half-sleep state, walking every day to the hospital hoping they will have some beds for them. However, a civilian was more cocky than you and tried to smuggle potions found in the Craftsmen District. The smirk across your face quickly disappears when you hear the words:

"Necrosis! Necrosis! It's a Stage Three."

A terrible chaos washes everyone from the bridge, wave after wave of corpses in a cacophony of screams, cries and splashes. A woman holds her baby as high as she can before she gets swallowed by the mass, drowning under the feet of this human centipede. It's even worse than the stampede from the Piazza del Sol.

You only have Mario and a cleaver
>fight your way out of here with your fists (Physical)
>hunker down in a safe place (Mental)
>get the attention of the Militiamen (Social)
(a clever write-in will get you bonus for the roll, don't roll before the option is locked)

>>4149569
>hunker down in a safe place (Mental)

Maybe we can hang off the side of the bridge?

>>4149615
That seems like more of a physical roll. I'd support that if we could do that utilizing our physical stat instead of mental. Seems a bit too sketchy otherwise, don't really want to deal with falling into the drink.

>>4149694
You can easily hang to the side of the bridge but hiding and anticipating the movements of the crowd is a mental roll.

>>4149615
>>4149694
roll a 1d100, must be under 60 (50+10)

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>4149737
roll

>>4149737
Sorry about the wait on that, OP. Got sidetracked.
I'm sure that this was brought up to you during the Dwarf Fortress Under Siege quest, but consider making a Twitter or Discord to announce run times/updates, so voting hopefully would stay more consistent. Had a lot of good discussion between updates in the other quest, it's a shame that more of those players aren't around.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>4149737
I wanted to fire a shot at it and scream out loud in the direction of the militia before kicking in the door of the nearest building or window and barreling inside.

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>>4149843
>>4149851
>>4150680
>rolled 14, success

Hanging on the most iconic bridge of the City with Mario, you avoid the cascade of human bodies falling in the canal. Some of them manage to swim back to dock stairs but most of them drown, clinging to each other in panick. Yet, again, you are helpless when people are drowning. For a sailor, it's a real shame. If only you had Mario's pistol and some gunpowder.

permanent -10 when in a crowd

You haul yourself back on the bridge and head to Luigi's place for breakfast. Luigi has his ear on Valentina's belly, listening to his unborn child. At least you are able to protect your mates and their family, it's a small consolation. This time, the pregnant woman does not hesitate to cook you lunch. Well, there is no more Iceburst Stone to heat it up so you will have to eat it raw.

Not eating anything warm for more than twenty-four hours and spending a night outside weakened your health and you had a strict meat regimen for the last two days. You sneezed again, realizing you have a soar throat. Maybe you should get your hands on some potatoes of the Slums and work for an Iceburst Stone.

"Hey, did you catch a cold?" asks Luigi
"Haha for a northern explorer what a joke." laughs Mario
"This is no laughing matter Mario, maybe he get the disease when we kneeled for the miracle healing with all the other infected."
"What? Weren't they supposed to heal everyone?"
"There's a reason why people are fighting to get healed on consecrated ground. Unlike the Hospital, they can't infect each other while waiting."
"Cazzate! It's just a cold."

Anyway, you planned on working for more resources, so you have to decide who goes were. Meanwhile, someone is nailing La Stampa poster on a wall in the deserted street.

La Stampa Public Edition Terzo : Humans have to rely more on half-humans during this crisis and it's a good thing.

The Fishmen near the Redlight District have become the sole provider of whale meat and fish for the City as all boat are forbidden to leave or enter the harbor.
The Beastskins, also in the Redlight District also appear to be immune to the disease and trans-species prostitution is becoming more commonly accepted.
Elfs and Dwarfs continue, while not immunized continue their trade with our City. Without them, are economy would certainly collapse.

Igor Gallileof received failed his trial by fire yesterday and now suffer severe third degree burns that the Inquisition refuse to heal. His fate is uncertain but Grichka Gallileof will probably share the same.

"Sciocchi. Scalies and Furries just can't stop propaganda." Mario comments

Who goes where for the rest of the day? (Mario, Luigi, You)
>Cannery
>Corpse retrieval
>Mystical Stones archaeological center
3 days before Don Giovanni Masqued Bal
4 days before ration distribution

House inventory
-1 canned whale meat
-1 hammer
-1cleaver
-1 flintlock pistol (no ammunitions)

>>4150930
>>Cannery
Mario, Luigi.
>>Mystical Stones archaeological center
Alfonso. Should be pretty safe. Though, bring the cleaver along with us. Just in case.

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>>4151040
Mario and Luigi end up fighting against someone who recognized them, calling them traitors. However, the wiser Luigi succeed in calming Mario. You only get half of the promised rations.

+1 canned whale meat
+1 Iceburst Stone

The archeological center looks nothing like a place where serious studies happen. There are mostly children dusting off debris from crushed Mystical Stones to retrieve artefacts. You are assigned to a three square foot area in a grid of hundred of other workers. The pay is assured but smaller hands have a higher chance to find an artefact. And on the contrary, your heavy butcher's hand will probably crush them.

Test your luck at finding an artefact (Mental)
>roll a 1d100, must be under 50

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>4151112
>>roll a 1d100, must be under 50

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>>4151124
>rolled 74, failed
You meticulously remove the dust on what looks like a runic tablet but it crumbles between your fingers. Before it is completely destroyed you identify the symbol of Nyx, goddess of the night. Assassin's guilds would have literally killed to have this one. The workday is over, you report that you didn't find anything to the overseer, as disgusting fat noble. There are only a few adults in the line like you, most of them are children. They all receive exotic beans in exchange for artefacts they found with their canned meat.

"You dirty little thief."

The fat man discovered that a child tried to smuggle an artefact out of the archaeological center and is now beating him on the ground. Insulting him, kicking him in the flank, drooling like a mad dog. Your blood boils in your veins and your heartbeat sounds like war drum in your temples. Adults all turn a blank eye to the scene, wishing it will be over soon. Cowards! But you really need that canned meat, right?

Do you want to react against the overseer or will the northern hero let people die (again)?
>yes
>no

>>4151135
>>yes
We still have several days before the timed options become available. It won't hurt much to spend tomorrow working for food once again. Time to step up.

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>>4151143
You step out of the line, feeling a rush of adrenaline to put in place that fat greasy bastardo. But as you are about to open your mouth, the boy who was repeatedly beaten on the ground let out a singular high-pitched cry of pain. His newscap falls on the ground revealing long hairs. It was a girl, probably fourteen springs, which doesn't seem to stop the overseer, on the contrary.

You have already decided to do something about it. But will your actions reflect the image you have of yourself as a hero and help you forget your cowardice?

How do you approach this?
>talk first
>hit first

>>4151332
>talk first

Pull him off, don't hit him. Maybe call attention to his actions damaging his reputation if he continues?

>>4151396
Maybe you should talk first. You are not one of those right-doers who bashes his own morals in the skull of bad guys. Even if the behaviour of the overseer disgust you to the core, you try to bear it long enough to resolve this peacefully. But you know that somehow this contradicts who you really are.

"Hey you! Bastardo. You better stop right now or else we are all gonna report it." you shout proudly
"Bwahaha! Who is this clown? I didn't know Pagliacci was working here... He... This is boring anyway."

The overseer stopped after a long enough pause to make it looks like he didn't give in to your threat and one last kick in the girl's flank. After getting your canned meat thrown at you without any Iceburst Stone, you crouch near the victim. It seems that she has a broken rib.

"T-Thank you siniore." she forces herself to say
"Heh don't thank me, I just had to... say something."
"I think... *sob* I think I found a medical related artefact *sob* so I was thinking... thinking about bringing *sob* it to my brother.
"Why? He has the disease?"
"Yes... And now I have nothing. No artefact, no food. And sister Susanna will have to waste her two miracles on us."
"Wow stop right there. You know someone from the Church who can give healing miracles?"

An interesting encounter, but the night is coming. You are worried she might not make it before the curfew and worst, she could get assaulted... being a girl and all... Also, you feel really guilty about her broken rib, maybe it was that last kick. Maybe you should stop trying to be the hero the City needs and more of the hero she deserves.

>the girl comes with you to Luigi's place
>you bring the girl to her place (also Workers District)
>you just get back to Luigi's place alone
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4151723
>you bring the girl to her place (also Workers District)

get in tight with sister Susanna

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>>4151729
You help the young lady to walk back to the orphanage where, she and her brother are sleeping. She feels nervous about the idea of bringing a stranger there, as if she has something to hide. On your side, you feel slightly better at the idea she had not to walk those streets alone. It will soon be that time when the Mystical Stones of the street lamps replace the sun that is disappearing behind the rooftops. The rooftops !

"Hey you stop right there." orders a familiar nasal voice from the rooftops "Is it meat that you are carrying?!"
"Please captain, not again." an other nasal voice continues
"Filfthy animal. Don't you know meat is making you sick?"
"Captain, just et them go."
"Wait... Do I know you?"

Luigi's apartment is on the outskirts of the Elven Commandos territory but the orphanage is way deeper. And you are carrying industrially processed meat they despise so much as well as an injured child. You want to act cool in front of her, right? However, after recovering from the initial shock of her assault, the girl does not intend to play the damsel in distress and want to voice her opinion too.

>you can have it
>let her speak
>please, she is injured can we just go home?
>go to Charon, this is mine and I will keep it

>>4151767
>please, she is injured can we just go home?

It sounds like he doesn't have any support

>>4151767
>>let her speak
She may surprise us. Let her speak up.
Assuming this allows us to pass, before we leave the elves ask what the Captain means by the meat making people sick. Is something wrong with the cannery?

>>4151767
>let her speak

Posting in /qst/ works.

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>>4151776
>>4152056
>>4152515
Before taking any decision, you turn to the girl holding her flank and frowning her brows to forget the pain she screamed as loud as she could in perfect Elvish.

"Attackien y' harwe farim? Naa sina i' proud Elven Companime?"

You are not the only one startled, the cloaked hunter on the roofs all lowered their bows. Not as fast as if they were obeying an order, put more like people who lost all motivation. Surprised by the resolve and language knowledge of that girl who appear much more mature than initially, you wonder who she might be. One thing is sure, she is not fitted for manual labor.

"Let's stay in the harbor for tonight, Captain. There is enough people trying to find a boat to serve as target practice."
"Damn barbarian. Eat your meat and die. Your accent is terrible anyway."
"Yeah, yeah... We will get them next time, captain."

The Elven Commandos vanish without a sound.

"They are just hardcore vegetarians." explains the girl shrugging painfully

Maybe you made the right decision but your ego has suffered severlly these past days. You let someone drown, turn a blank eye to a stampede, tried to negotiate with a child molester and now this. You are definitly not the hero you thought you were.

Physical 65 (-5)
Mental 50
Social 35 (+5)

The girl get you to an orphanage with wooden planks nailed on all windows. She makes a special knock on the door to require access but is denied any response, a second time and a third time. The girl starts to panick, and call for her sister Susanna iinside as well as her little brother.

You still have your cleaver but you will have to spend the night here or risk getting out few the curfew to Luigi's place. How fast do you want to get inside?
>break the front door and rush inside
>remove a plank from a window and have the girl get inside to open the door
>remove all planks from a window and get inside yourself

>>4151767
>let her speak
hello from /qtg/

>>4152566
>remove a plank from a window and have the girl get inside to open the door

Give the girl the cleaver in case of danger inside. A broken window will attract attention, and removing the planks is excessive.

Hold on to the removed plank as an emergency weapon while she's inside.

>>4152572
+1. Solid plan.

>>4152576
I figure, worst case she screams and we kick the door in before laying about with our trusty 2x4.

I presume we're leaving the nails in on one end.

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>>4152571
>>4152572
>>4152576
>>4152589
For all you know her brother or the nun might be in danger, but you don't want to ruin this safe place for tonight. Tearing off a wooden plank, you instruct the girl to get inside with your cleaver which she can barely hold. At least it will intimidate anyone inside until she open the door.

She painfully slides inside, having her broken rib radiating pain in her chest and let the cleaver fall. The noise would have alerted anyone but after a long silence you try to get what is going on inside.

"Hugo! Hugo! What happened? Where is Sister Susanna?" she says panicked inside

A very faint voice you can't really understand respond to her before she come back to the door. However, you do not hear her open any lock, on the contrary, it seems she is adding weight on it.

"I'm... I'm sorry siniore."
"He what is going on inside? Open!"
"I can't... It's the disease. My brother had symptoms this morning, but we were not sure. If I open you will get it too."
"What? The nun has not come back to heal you and it's already past the curfew."
"Please be well siniore. I don't want you to catch the disease. Thank for saving me"
"I don't even know your name."
"It's Amicia..."
"I'm..."
"I know who you are. Everybody knows. And now I also know that you are not a traitor."

You both stare silently on your side of the door waiting for the other to say something. The first stranger you saved in the City. You can risk getting back to Luigi's place with the curfew and come back later to heal them (healing potion, let them to miracle healing hotspot or to the hospital) or hope Sister Susanna will come back. But you can also share their fate and get infected in case something happens tonight and wait for this nun.

>stay here
>I'll be back

>>4152607
>>I'll be back
Amicia mentioned Susanna only had two heals left. Or something similar. It would be best to avoid getting sick ourselves, so we do not need to deal with three potential treatments. Would be best to leave. But, have Amicia pass us out the cleaver before we go.

>>4152619
>>4152607
Obbvy. Having the plague should keep people out.

We should also replace the plank before going. Hammer it in with the butt of the cleaver.

For new players, I recommend this post detailing the characteristics of the disease
>>4136716
Should you get infected or not, it's useful to know how ot recognize the symptoms

>>4152607
Do we know where the Nun went? We can maybe try to get her back through Curfew.

Why the fuck not. This life seems full of shit today, I'm kinda fed up reading through it.

Like the girl said, we aren't a traitor. What did we fight for? Worst comes to worst, we die, but we die doing the right thing.

>>4152607
Oh yeah

> Leave them the meat

We don't need knife-ears sniffing it out, and it might give the kids the strength to make it until the Nun gets back regardless.

>>4152645
Changing my vote to include this. She didn't earn any, we should be covered tomorrow due to the can we had, and what Mario and Luigi earned. iirc.

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>>4152653
>>4152645
>>4152638
>>4152630
>>4152619
"Yes... I understand Amicia. I will come back to check on you later."
"Don't worry Siniore. I'm sure Sister Susanna will be back from the Abbey soon."

You decide to replace the plank before leaving but before that there are a few things to settle. Should you take back your cleaver or leave it with her, you have never heard of anyone getting infected like that but the Academy mentioned 'contamination by contact with a patient', there is also the canned meat you earned.

Select as much as you want
>leave the cleaver
>leave the meat
>cheer up Amicia (Social roll)
(a clever write-in will get you bonus for the roll, don't roll before the option is locked)
too bad you are not the hero who punched her molester

Then you have to plan how to get back to Luigi's place safely now that it is all dark and a patrol of knife-ears could just shot you in the dark. You really need another method of transport than walking you think.

How do you get back?
>use the plank as a torch to signal your presence and not get shot like a rat
>run as fast as you can back to Luigi's place (Physical)
>sneak as carefully as possible back to Luigi's place (Mental)

>>4152672
>>leave the meat
>>cheer up Amicia (Social roll)
Too much of a sperg to come up with a write in for this. If I'm not around to vote, assume I changed mine to support anybody else's write in. At least that +5 to social can be put to use.
No way are we actually getting this roll.
How do you get back?
>>sneak as carefully as possible back to Luigi's place (Mental)
Put the plank of wood back in place on the window. Avoid the areas we have encountered the elves on the roof tops, if possible. If not, move to the back alleys in those areas. Keep our sword arm steady.

>>4152672
> Leave the meat
> Leave the cleaver

Man, fuck getting sick. Cleaver is good. A soldier doesn't wait to be saved, a soldier saves themselves. She's little, but she's a little soldier now. She can fight the disease, and she can fight anyone who tries to take advantage of them before the Nun returns.

We can take 2x4 with nails in it. It's a good enough weapon, anyone it can't take care of would be more trouble than a cleaver could help with.

But we will want it back. Cleaver is not cheap, very valuable. So whether or not Nun comes back tonight, we will be back tomorrow. If Nun does not come back tomorrow, we will take them to someone who can help them in exchange for her taking care of our very nice cleaver for us. Also she can use it to open can of meat. Carefully, cleaver is sharp!

Now we leave, quick. Speed is king.

>run as fast as you can back to Luigi's place (Physical)

>>4152698
Nah man. Elves are better at being sneaky fucks. If we run fast enough, we can lose them before they can group together.

Also 65 vs 50 for rolls.

>>4152706
>>4152709
Alright. Fair point, man. Changing to support you.
Running there seems like it could be a bad move to me, though. It's night, we may trip and fall, or lead a group of elves right back to Luigi's place to question us. Not keen on dealing with another injury, but sneaking there definitely could be riskier and definitely more suspicious looking.

>>4152698
>>4152706
>>4152709
>>4152719
> Leave the meat
> Leave the cleaver
>run as fast as you can back to Luigi's place (Physical)

roll 1d100, must be under 65

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>4152729

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>4152729

>>4152738
>>4152731
Never trust unmodified dice.

If we had some sort of advantage to sneaking, like knowing the area and back routes or something sure.

But I'm the kind of guy who goes "+15 DC is junst under 1/6 of a better chance".

>>4152729
Hopefully my write in helped cheer up leetle goil.

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>>4152742
>>4152739
>>4152738
>>4152731
>rolled 55, success

To get back to Luigi's place, you have to run on the dock of the Workers District. The rush to the apartment is uneventful except for that time you almost fall in a canal. You are welcomed by at the door by a very drunk Mario.

"Bwaaaaa Alfonso! Someone said something bad about the SSN Polaris again." he cries
"Sorry about that Alfonso. He stole a liquor bottle at the factory after he fought to save the honour of our captain." apologizes Luigi
"Yeah... I guess we can't count on him for tonight watch." you respond

Who takes the first turn?
>You
>Luigi

>>4152751
>>Luigi
We were on watch first last night.
We shouldn't strain ourselves too much here.

>>4152751
What about the social roll to cheer up Aimica?

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>4152791
>>4152751
I gotta sleep, so here is roll for little girl smiles

>>4152791
>What about the social roll to cheer up Aimica?
When >>4152719 said he was changing his roll, I assumed he abandonned the social roll option too

>>4152795
Whew. Even with leaving the cleaver, building up its value, calling her a little soldier, and promising to come back that's gonna be an unlikely to pass roll.

>>4152800
But I made a write in.

Do you want special formatting for it? I assumed it was gonna be attached to the options.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>4152800
Unless you already have it written, would you allow the option to pass? Roll if so. And if you'd even accept it.

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>>4152795
>>4152791
>>4152758
>>4152742
>>4152739
>>4152738
>>4152731
Taking a well-earned rest after all those events, you decide to take first turn. And it's not like you need to walk in circle at 2AM to fight the cold, it's a nice cosy apartment. Without heating but it will do just fine.

Dreaming about your time as a northern explorer, you see yourself a few years younger, facing a polar bear. In your hand, the cleaver you used to break his skull turns to a piece of paper. So you try to roar at him like your character did in the play inspired by the expedition but no sound get out of your throat. Instead, a powerful female voice echoes behind you. This dream was... not really flattering for your ego. Maybe you are not a hero and just a guy who happened to be at the right place, an opportunist.

Your turn goes smoothly without any incident, except for Mario heavy snoring. There's a chance this City has not yet fallen into anarchy. But after today's stampede on the bridge and the fights you saw yesterday in the Slums, you fear for the future. Your soar throat is now painful and turned to a dry coughing.

"Get up drunkard. It's breakfast." barks Valentina at Mario

It seems that the pregnant woman accepted her husband's mates presence in her house for now. Still maintaining her hostility only as a facade, she starts humming while preparing the canned meat they brought.

House inventory
-2 canned whale meat (4 meals)
-1 hammer
-1 Iceburst Stone (8h non stop fuel)
-1 flintlock pistol (no ammunitions)

If everyone eats, your reserve of food will drop to zero and you only have one Iceburst Stone to cook them.

What about food?
>everybody eats the same part
>rationing, everybody eats half parts
Should you cook it or eat it raw?
>cooked
>raw

What are your main two priorities for today?
>[The cure] back at the Academy for more insights on the savants or just looting
>[The Cure : Pastori] pursue
>[Ressources] work for additional food and fuel
>[Amicia&Hugo] get back to them/find a way to heal them
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
2 days before Don Giovanni Masqued Bal
3 days before ration distribution

>>4152806
>>4152807
no turning back now, sorry I will pay more attention in the future
playing the hero was more for you than her

resuming tomorrow at 9PM EST

>>4152809
What about food?
>>everybody eats the same part
Should you cook it or eat it raw?
>>cooked
We seem unwell. Should try to stay healthy.

>What are your main two priorities for today?

>>[Ressources] work for additional food and fuel
Send Luigi to work at the cannery. Mario would likely cause another scene, or get the two of them turned away. Bad move.
>>[Amicia&Hugo] get back to them/find a way to heal them
Bring Mario along with Alfonso. Try to keep him on his best behavior.

Current morale jauge of the City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU5roitYI1s

>>4152809
>rationing, everybody eats half parts
>cooked
no fire wood or coal?

>>4152815
Yeah I don't like this.

>>4153012
>no fire wood or coal?
Iceburst stone. We can utilize one to cook the whale meat, but the stone is single use.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>4152818
>>4153012
>>everybody eats the same part
>>rationing, everybody eats half parts

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>>4152818
>>4153012
>>4153170
Valentina uses the Iceburst Stone to cook all the remaining meat. A full meal combined with the warmth of an apartment restore some of your strength. But with a strict regimen of meat for days, you can't really make the cramps all over your body disappear. Must be the result of last night run you think. If only you had some vegetable or fruits, you remember that even the SSN Polaris had a reserve of citrus to fight scurvy or modern medicine remedy.

you need a full bingo to get better : warm home, full meat, meat and vegies/vitamines

There's not a lot of furniture left in Luigi's home, most of was used as camouflage for the wooden crate to transport Luigi. You will have a hard time convincing Valentina to burn the essentials. But maybe it will come to this it the temperature drops lower. If only the Cosmology department of the Academy was still there with their weather forecast...

"Mario, I met someone" *cough* "I'd like to help deeper in the Workers District" *cough* *cough*
"Huh... Are you alright?"
"I just had to" *cough* "run yesterday. Anyway, they have a miracle healer."

You instruct Luigi to get back to the cannery for another an additional can of meat and Iceburst Stone. You wish you knew an Alchemist who could tell you how put them out to use them several times.

Helping Amicia&Hugo
>visit the orphanage first
>find a healing potion first (the only healing option that doesn't need them to move)

What do you bring?
House inventory
-1 hammer
-1 flintlock pistol (no ammunitions)

Luigi can do something else before noon when it's time to work at the cannery
>just wait here and go to the cannery when it's time to work
>come with you and Mario
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4154161
>visit the orphanage first

Not sure where we'd find a healing potion

>Bring hammer

>Luigi pays a quick visit to the Abbey to find Susanna and notify her of Amicia and Hugo's situation

>>4154184
Support.
We'll have to score some potatoes and more meat later.

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>>4154213
>>4154184
>>4154184
>>4154213
After considering the many places where you could get healing potion (trading at the N-S Warzone in the Slums, the Alchemist or the Alchemy lab of the Academy), you choose to directly go at the orphanage. Luigi will go the closest he can to the Abbey, trying to pass the N-S Warzone for news of the nun before directly going to the cannery. It's a huge detour so you will not meet with him until tonight and his workday is over.

With just a hammer to defend yourself you head to the orphanage. Along the way you can see corpses in the canal, you were really lucky to last night to not have fall in it. At a balcony there is a woman banging on her shutters. "Let me in, bastardo! I'm not infect- *cough* *cough*" Just a few days ago, some people used to walk in the street just to exercise but everybody is in lockdown now.

"So, about this Amicia. How is she?" asks Mario
"Very brave as long as she is not fighting." you explain
"Like all women, right, right... But HOW is she?"
"She's is fourteen, porco."
"... ow... And Susanna?"
"Are you still drunk, Mario? You remember what you did yesterday, right?"

You realize that most of Mario's problem always imply alcohol, the fight with Luigi which made you group broke apart in the first place, the fight against the Elves which resulted in Luigi's injury and yesterday self-sabotage at the factory.
>[straightforward] you have a problem with alcohol
>[rational] it's problem for us
>[emotional] it's hurting me to see you like that

After that quick comment on Mario's behavor, the orphanage is in sight. Apparently untouched, planks still on the windows and the door shut. You repeat the same secret knock Amicia did yesterday.

"Sister, is that you?" she asks
"So, I guess she did not come back." you respond
"No... I'm" *cough* *cough* "glad you are well siniore."
"Are you alright?"
"I think I got all the Stage One symptoms, fever, runny nose, sore throat and pain everywhere."
"What about your brother?"
"He started vomiting blood *cough* last night and this morning *cough* I had to... Oh Sol... he soiled himself with blood."

This is getting serious. The boy has Stage Two and require intensive care. While Stage One can be cured with a good night rest and a good diet if you are already strong and healthy, Stage Two needs at least a miracle healing or a healing potion.

How would you like to limit the spread of the disease to your group?
>Mario to Luigi's place
>find something to protect yourselves
>force Amicia out of here
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

What is your top priority?
>finding vitamins for you and Amicia (potatoes, remedy at the Hospital)
>finding a healing potion at the Academy for Hugo (it's a roll, like gambling)
>finding a healing potion at the Alchemist shop for Hugo
>bring Hugo closer to the Abbey for a miracle healing
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>4154247
>[straightforward] you have a problem with alcohol

smoke instead, we probably won't live long enough for you to see the downsides

>bring Hugo closer to the Abbey for a miracle healing

He already knows Susanna. If Luigi managed to pass word this morning she might even be ready to heal him when we get there.

>>4154247
Sorry for late vote. Been drinking.
Anyway.
>>[emotional] it's hurting me to see you like that
"We are brothers in arms, Mario. It hurts me to see you like this. Remember the Polaris. We need to stick together to survive this. Please, try to cut back on your drinking before it hurts us all further. At least until we manage to survive this situation. Please, brother."
How would you like to limit the spread of the disease to your group?
>>find something to protect yourselves
It seems like it could be airborne in nature. Due to us being ostracized already due to being the crew of the Polaris, we should wrap some cloth around our nose and mouth. Both as a mask, and as something to potentially (and hopefully) limit our risk to infection.
What is your top priority?
>finding vitamins for you and Amicia (potatoes, remedy at the Hospital)
iirc, the hospital is free, and Amicia and Alfonso are definitely already infected, so it will not be a risk to the both of them to go there. Mario should leave, as he seems fine for now. Maybe to go work at the Mystical stones place, as a gunsmith's hand are probably more used to precise work, so he may find more success. Hopefully he could keep his cool.
Luigi may find Susanna, and we simply can use her to Miracle heal Hugo. He likely won't go to stage three in a day, so we should be fine for now. We could always try to get him Miracle Healed tomorrow, if Luigi cannot find Susanna.
How'd I do? Pretty good for someone who's been drinking, yeah?

>>4154272
this desu

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>>4154292
>>4154272
>>4154268
Without anything better, you tear off part of your sleeve shirt. The weather getting colder makes you think that you should soon look for a coat or maybe waterproof sailor coat. Anyway, you will loot them later. For now everyone finds some cloth to put on their face.

"Mario, it's too risky for you. You should try the Mystical Stones archaeological center."
"R-Right..."
"And try to keep your cool."

What you said to him earlier has him deeply moved. Calling him a brother in arm and saying how much you rely on him. You don't know yet if this was the right approach to his alcohol problem, addiction is a strange illness but being criticized constantly for his behavor sure would have not helped.

"Amicia, I'm going to find something for you at the Hospital. We will soon have meat and an Iceburst Stone, you will feel better after that."
"But what about my brother?"
"I already send someone to the Abbey to look for her."
"Okay... But I can't take my treatment before my brother is cured. It would be pointless to get cured of Stage One with a Stage Two nearby."
"Agreed, we will find Susanna, no matter what."

And without further delay you depart for the Hospital. The bridge is again overcrowded and people are fighting to pass through. The Militia had to fire a few rounds in the air as warning shots. Then you saw him. Straight out of the carnival, someone uses twelve feet long stilts in his ridicule Militia costume, high above the ground. With a pike both as a weapon and a third leg he pushed aside someone whose mask was covered in blood.

"Stage Two are not allowed beyond this point. Go back to your home and self-quarantine."

Only two hours before noon and the bridge is already like that. Should you wait one hour in the line or find another way to cross?
>get in line and wait (2 hour)
>fight your way to a better place in the line (Physical)*
>find a gondola to cross the grande canal (Mental)*
>try to argue with the Militiaman (Social)* +5 bonus thanks to mask
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

*+xx bonus depending on your write-ins

>>4154315
current stats
Physical 65
Mental 50
Social 35
-10 when in crowd
cause: dissapointed yourself by not acting like a hero
+10 accuracy
cause: Mystical Stone artefact
+1 fighting
cause : carpenter's hammer
(+5 fighting )
cause : butcher's cleaver (currently owned by Amicia)

This quest has a lot more freedom than you might think, you can create you own objectives. Put them as secondary choice if you are not sure they will have enough support

quest will resume at 7PM EST

How wide and deep are the canals?

>>4154315
>try to argue with the Militiaman (Social)* +5 bonus thanks to mask

We left Hugo behind, so we should be able to zip on through with no stage 2's.

>>4154946
I doubt this roll will go well, but supporting this regardless to move the thread along.

>>4155065
>>4154946
>>4154851
roll 1d100, must be under 40 (35+5)

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>>4154851
when in doubt use the real city as reference even if I took some liberties like connecting it directly to the sea >>4152672 by erasing half of the lagoon

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>4154315
>try to argue with the Militiaman (Social)* +5 bonus thanks to mask

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>4155202

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>>4155244
>>4155241
>roll 7, suceed
I forgot to mention the -10 in crowd, so I was ready to let pass all rolls under 40 instead of 30

Again, pretending to be the apprentice of the Hospital's carpenter you can pass first in line and get to the Hospital in one hour before the most overcrowded hour. There is a triage first were all the symptoms are checked first. Something has changed in the profile of the crowd. The first days it was just homeless, beggars and severly ills patients looking for a bed, now there are whole families coughing who fear getting to Stage Two.

Meanwhile, someone nailed a poster of La Stampa on a wall
"La Stampa Public Edition Terzo : Nun defies the Inquisition

It has been reported that a nun tried to sneak in the jails of the Inquisition to heal one of the Gallileof brother. She was apprehended and the second Gallileof also failed his trial by fire, suffering a htird degree burn.
A Dwarven Airship has be sighted on the horizon. Larger than the usual Mystical Stone cargo, we believe it to be a warship.
A stampede occurred at Ingothide&Son Dwarven bank when people rushed to exchange their banknotes for gold."

You know you have all Stage One symptoms except fever but it will soon be the case without taking care of your health. However, you do not know if this is enough to get medicine or if you will get enough for two. Just getting one vitamin pill will be enough for Amicia, as long as she has a warm home and meal with it.

Only one hour before noon, you can try to enter the process with no guarantee you will get one since you don't have a fever yet
>get in line and wait (1 hour)
>steal someone else's vitamins pill (Physical)*
>try to sneak in the Hospital to steal vitamins (Mental)*
>you will beg to get vitamins for Amicia (Social)* -10 due to the pressure of the crowd and no mask bonus (needs to be removed)
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

*+xx bonus depending on your write-ins

>>4155314
>get in line and wait (1 hour)

Anything else isn't worth the mental debuffs we'll get

>>4155314
>get in line and wait (1 hour)

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>>4155336
>>4155377
Patients with all symptoms are admitted to the Hospital, but everybody else has to leave. Luckily, they still give free vitamins pills to everyone with even mild symptoms. However, just as the number of empty beds is rapidly decreasing, so does their pills reserve. Just a few days ago anyone could have a bed as long as they had 'problems breathing', who now what will qualify someone for healthcare the next days.

+1 vitamin pill

As soon as you leave the Hospital, the horde from the bridge arrives. And just as the patients already gathering around they are from all classes, mostly families, couples, ... It seems the disease spread rapidly in a closed environment. Among them, a top hatted businessman waving his cane and his banknotes.

"I have money *cough* give me a bed *cough* *cough* please I have nowhere to go." he pleads

It's noon, meaning that Luigi and Mario are both working to get each one can of meat and an Iceburst Stone. Perhaps Mario will find an artefact and bring beans high in vitamins. Sending Luigi to learn the fate of Sister Susanna proved useless though since you learned about it in La Stampa. She is detained at the Abbey by the Inquisition after trying to help the Gallileofs.

Tonight you will have enough to treat at least Amicia, but Hugo needs better medical attention than just some good night sleep and there's the possibility Amicia could get Stage Two. Actually, you don't really knows the disease well. All the reason the free that Pastori savant.

What would you like to do before Luigi and Mario come back?
>approach the businessman and offer your help even though banknotes only worth their weight in paper
>The Academy, scavenging for something useful with a chance of finding a healing potion >>4148023
>Alchemist's shop, see how you can get a healing potion
>[The cure] prepare to free Pastori (Masqued Bal costume, find Raphaella)
>Abbey, find Sister Susanna (you will have to cross the N-S Warzone)
>trade a healing potion against your pistol in the South Slums
>secure more vitamins by trading potatoes in the North Slums (you will have to cross the N-S Warzone and find something they want)
>write-in (if you think there should be a certain shop/place on the map, you can propose, I may or may not add it)

Important note You should have understood it by now, but this is a water city, and there is only on bridge between East and Wes (see map). And this is why there are choke points like huge detours and the N-S Warzone to access the Abbey You will have to learn how to move more freely (several options available

>>4155418
>secure more vitamins by trading potatoes in the North Slums (you will have to cross the N-S Warzone and find something they want)
We have a day or two before we need to worry about the ball.

>>4155418
>Alchemist's shop, see how you can get a healing potion

Not 100% on how this plague works, can you go right to stage 2 by contact with a stage 2 person? Can you get bumped up from stage 1? Either way Amicia said there was no point in curing her until her bro was cured.

As for travel, I don't suppose we can bang a few planks together and make a shitty bridge we just lay over the canal to the Abbey? Not only would that bypass the warzone but also cut down on travel time drastically.

>>4155436
>can you go right to stage 2 by contact with a stage 2 person
I indeed intended to only give limited information through the first La Stampa post >>4136716, learning about the disease is part of the quest (through your own experience or from savants insights). For now, players understood that Stage One is airborne. La Stampa said you can get Stg1 by 'contact' with Stg 1, and get Stg 2 by 'contact' with Stg 2, etc... but no details about what type of 'contact'

>make a shitty bridge
maybe with the help of a certain carpenter you know... if you are talking about building a replica of the Ponte degli Scalzi which is not on this Renaissance map (and thus not in our story), it's 43m long so yeah, it will have to be a pretty downgraded version
I like your idea, pay attention to the next La Stampa post

>>4155462
>if you are talking about building a replica of the Ponte degli Scalz

sounds way too fancy, my idea is more the equivalent of cutting a tree on a riverbank down so it falls over the river and can be used to cross.

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>>4155431
>>4155436
>>4155495
The businessman can go to Charon, whatever he needs, it's people like him who paid to see the play of the SSN Polaris and spread rumours about your crew without a second thought after. You decide to focus on healing Amicia and Hugo by looking for a healing potion and more vitamins. Sol is on your side since you pass nearby the Alchemist's shop on your way to the potato field.

The tenor who gave free opera from his balcony during the quarantine has switched to a something more religious. A song to the goddess of love. A clear indicator of the City's hope stead decline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpYGgtrMTYs

You arrive at the Alchemist's shop. From the size of the door, you understand that this must be a owned by a Gnome. Those small creatures like to see tall people bow down when they enter their home. And with so many Militiamen guarding his shop, it sure is a small recomfort.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid son." you heard from a grumpy old voice
"B-But Dad, they need our help" respond another more youthful tone
"Always meddling with lower species fate, never trying to make profit. What a stupid son."

Then crate filled with phials full of the red liquid characteristic of healing potion 'walk' out of the shop. After looking closely, you can see a pair of clogs under, the Gnome was behind the crate, carrying it. He then drops it on the feet of a Militiamen and reveal himself, an old but very angry Gnome.

"There. Today's production. Now get out of my property."
"Dawn half-human!" mumble the Militiaman

He leaves with the crate. The shop is still opens but guarded by the Militia, it's their district after all, and they want all the medicine they can get. The Gnome has been staring at you, frowning his heavy brows and biting his pipe.

"No healing potion for you, get out of my property." he says before returning inside

Not intimidated by this small person, you enter the shop.

"Come on. I didn't come here for nothing. You can sell me-"
"No. Get out" the grumpy Gnome interrupt you
"Dad, can you at least hear him?" says a younger Gnome "Remember how you agreed to trade a love potion for some fries? You love fries, right?"
"As if this barbarian could understand a delicacy as refined as fries. All they eat is whale meat, whale meat, whale meat!" he disappears after slamming a door
"A-Ahah... As you see stranger, my dad is quite fond of fries, you could get him to make a healing with that... I presume you are looking for a healing potion, but you will have to smuggle it outside without the guard noticing it... You are looking for a healing potion right? All our potion cost one gold coin."

>do you have ___ ? (write-in any potion you had like to see in his stock)
>h-huh where can I get a gold coin
>"I'll be back" go directly to the N-S Warzone to try to access the potato field

>>4155549
>Gnomish Alchemist
>Father and Son
>Same setting
Oh man. How many years have passed since the siege quest, OP?
>>do you have ___ ? (write-in any potion you had like to see in his stock)
Something explosive, or a flashbomb. Something we could use as a distraction in some manner. Or we could trade it to the N/S people in the slums. Probably the north, in exchange for potatoes.
As for gold coins, I'd imagine we could go help that business man for some banknotes, and exchange them at Ingothide.
Voting to go back to the hospital, after we ask about the explosives.

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>>4155558
Fearing that the guards might have hear you, the young Gnome gets really nervous and answer the loudest as he can. "Erectile Dysfunction?! No problem, siniore!" Meanwhile, he dumps a really heavy grimor on the counter and start flipping the pages. Then, very quietly he jumps on the table to get at your ear level and whispers.

"I can sell you the recipes, but those a really dangerous potions, siniore. Anything explosive will need an Iceburst Stone. Also, smoke bombs, Incendiary... Do you know there is a recipe of Gunpowder using Iceburst Stone?"
"Interesting... So, I can buy a recipe?"
"Yes, one potato worth of fries for each. My father would not notice but if you want us to make one, the price of ingredients and his time will require one gold coin."
"Good"
"And when I thought you were going to ask for something like an instant-harvest potion, or a fortify strengh potion... You should try to look for a weapon shop in the Craftsmen District."

Empty-handed, you are back to the hospital. The crowd size increased around the Hospital. The businessman is sitting under a porch from a distance, holding a bloody cloth on his forehead.

"What is it? You want money? Here, you can have it." He says throwing banknotes "It's just paper now."
"What is your problem, siniore?"
"I was just visiting my office in this City. I don't live here."
"So you were trapped by the quarantine?"
"Yes... I rent a very small room in a Tavern but the owner does not accept banknotes so he rises my interest fee each day. I will own him a fortune when this is over."
"So that's why you want a bed in the Hospital?"
"Yeah, that or someone fool enough to open the chest in my office... You know it's a Dead Zone now, too many corpses in the street."

This has been one of the consequences of the quarantine. People lost in transit, people who used to constantly project themselves in the future are now prisoners of the present. And this man who represents nothing but his past, as soon as he tries to make plans and take a glimpse at his fate, the harsh reality of the quarantine quickly steal all hope from him. Maybe before being a businessman, he is just a man.

>what's in for me? how much gold are we talking about?
>I'm the man of the situation, I will get you your gold
>ask ___ (write-in)

>>4155558
>How many years
just enough to see some characters come back :)

>>4155677
>spoiler
Neat. Looking forward to it.
>>4155675
>>I'm the man of the situation, I will get you your gold
>>ask how much gold he'd be willing to give us for our trouble
Dead Zone, huh?
We'd better be careful. Keep the cloth wrapped tightly around our mouth. Avoid ingesting anything we find there. My guess is that Stage One can develop into Stage Two over time. The time being shorter, without proper care (such as avoiding hot meals, half rations, sleeping in the cold, etc) With it being possible to contract Stage Two/Three immediately via ingestion of contaminated food/drink/bodily fluids. Possibly from being close to corpses for too long. Is Amicia still with us? She is injured, we should definitely drop her off back with Hugo, or Luigi's. Whichever is closer to our ultimate destination in the Dead Zone. Don't want to waste time. Assuming we are the only one of our close group sick, they will likely contract it from contact with us, or Amicia. If we are to be home, we should probably keep our cloth wraps around our face at all times. Amicia included. Those at home should have their own wraps on their faces for good measure.
Also, the instant harvest potion seems like a good move. Depending on the area it effects, that could entail a decent harvest of potatoes. Could make a deal with the North Slums that if we use such a potion on some of their crops, we'd get a certain amount of potatoes from the harvest without having to trade for them. We can work out finer details such as the exact amount when it comes to that.

>>4155675
>I'm the man of the situation, I will get you your gold

Hopefully we can clear some of our mental debuffs

Maybe even get bonuses?

>>4155675
>I'm the man of the situation, I will get you your gold
>ask ___ (write-in)
Can he give us some gloves and extra cloth to wrap ourselves in?

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>>4156559
>>4156062
>>4155733
"I'm the man of the situation, I will get you your gold" you answer straight away.

You are not entirely sure if you should ask for a reward before or after the task, though. A lot of things fill your mind, confidence that you will recover from Stage One, worries about Amicia. Yeah. The curtain has risen and the main character enters the scene.

"I hope you are... And don't try to betray me in my back. I recognize your face. You were on that huge poster for the SSN Polaris play."
"Where is your office?"
"Near the Clocktower, last floor of the grain trade building."

The cloth tightens around your mouth could need an upgrade to hide for both anonymity and protection. You will, after all, enter the Dead Zone, considered the epicentre of the disease. Rumour says that corpses were not entirely removed and are still rotting on the street. If you no cure is found, the whole City might face the same fate.

"Huh... I see you have leather gloves and a scarf... If I have to go through the Dead Zone, can I use them?"

He gives you an angry look and throws you his gloves and scarf like someone who just made the worst deal ever. Also, yout now sleeveless shirt does not protect you well from the weather that is getting worse by the day. You rub your arms to get some heat by friction, but you should consider better equipment. And you are still looking for a more convenient way to circulate in the City.

The Clocktower, rising above the Dead Zone, indicates 2PM, anything else before entering the Dead Zone?
>talk to someone? write-in
>get some equipment? write-in
>think about a better way to circulate in the City? write-in
>just go directly to the Dead Zone

Inventory
-hammer
-2 layers mask
-leather gloves
-vitamins pill

next update and live at 8PM EST

>>4156585
>>think about a better way to circulate in the City? write-in
In the long term, making our own gondola to navigate the canals a bit better. With Luigi's help of course. I'm sure there are something like water locks/gates to limit some travel into the canals, but it still seems like most of the road blocks and restrictions are on land.
>>just go directly to the Dead Zone
Would be nice to get a new shirt, but we're right next to the zone. We really need to get this gold as a way to heal our people as soon as possible, so we can focus on freeing Susanna or Pastori.

>>4156585
>>4156588
A thought just crossed my mind.
What exactly is a trial by fire?
The Gallieofs obviously failed it, but that implies there is a condition to "succeed" it.
So, how?
Will Susanna face the trial by fire? Fucking hell. I hope we can have time to get her out of there tomorrow if that's the case. Seems like we're locked into this artisan blend of trading for today, and even if we weren't, Mario and Luigi both have their own tasks.

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>>4157118
You take a mental note to get a new shirt and build a gondola of your own, but for now the Dead Zone awaits. Entering an area of four to five-story high buildings, you see one of the three bridges accessing the area. Down there it's all silent, like Charon reaped all life from beyond the bridge. You feel like crossing the Styx.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKNdw-Bq0CY

In the middle of the bridge, a magic fire has been lit, acting as a repellent for any rodent that might come from there. And you start to understand why. Corpses are just lying in the streets, sometimes covered by sheets, sometimes their agonizing face gaping at the sky. Doors are marked with white crosses, all of them.

* SQUEAK*

A swarm of rats is finishing devouring a corpse. How to go to the Clocktower?
>run (Physical)
>sneak (Mental)
>use a torch lit on divine fire (Social) yeah social because it's divine magic

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>>4157300
>What exactly is a trial by fire?
Something like that
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_by_ordeal#By_fire

>>4157366
>use a torch lit on divine fire (Social)

neato

>>4157380
roll 1d100, must be under 40 (35+5 from Sol's favor because you behaved more like a hero today)

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>4157408

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>4157408
Hope you're not writing already.

>>4157460
I withdraw my previous statement.
Did not think of plague bearing rodents. Or birds. Stage two, here we come.

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>>4157460
>>4157437
>rolled 56
partial failure

Sol favors the victorious, Sol likes bravery. The best image you can picture in your head of what will grant you Sol's protection are the 300 Phalangists from your favourite play. You hold the torch made from a broken carriage like a phalanx and dwelve into the darkness.

The horde of rodent are pushed back by the divine light, squeaking angrily at you. It's becoming harder to concentrate with their footsteps sounding like a thousand drums. A noise every sailor learned to fear, something that urges you to look closer to eliminate an invisible threat looming on the shadows.

"Get away from me, you filthy servants of Charon."

You scream, running out of memories from the heroic tales of the priest. Too bad you never really listened the sermons. Now the torch is lost in the swarm, scaring away the rats on the pavement and you... you are alone. Half-way to the Clocktower, you only have limited options and the way back will be difficult.

Make a run to the grain trade office with no guarantee of safety there or look for the safest place at your reach.
>dash to your destination (Physical)*
+5 being half-way to your destination
>hide in the nearest safest building (Mental)*
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
*+xx bonus depending on your write-ins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7WpiPBeMJM