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File: Dragon Miranda MGFH 97.png (1.08 MB, 856x1048)
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This place is damn muggy, you have to say. All the flora around...yeah, you’d definitely call this closer to a jungle than a forest. Sure, there aren’t any vines or anything, but there’s still massive, oversized flower plants and fungi here, and everything else just kinda has that ‘jungle’ aesthetic, if you’re being superficial about things. You’d remembered your damn mana step, thank goodness- but once you were about to cast it, you’d realized that the mud had started to dry already, and you were under much more solid footing as you went, barring the occasional wet and muddy patches.

Really hoping that the Lockstone is here- and that Gartoum's intel was accurate enough. Last thing you want to be doing here is wasting time.

---------------------

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Magical%20Girl%20For%20Hire%20Quest
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>>
>>4429379

The reason for the muddy spots were soon obvious- there’s a bit of a creek running through here. Nothing major, but deep enough that you can see a small fish or two swimming along. The various chirps and growls of beasts are already annoying, many likely sensing there’s something new in the neighborhood, more or less.

You’ve got a ways to go to get to the fortress, and that’s going to involve stepping through, however...whether they like it or not.

>You’ll try to keep any actual kills light, and focus on going around any possible predators.
>You don’t have time to waste; any animal that crosses you is getting put down.
> (Otherworldly) If you hold eye contact, they should get the message that you’re nothing to be messed with…
>Other
>>
>>4429380
>(Otherworldly) If you hold eye contact, they should get the message that you’re nothing to be messed with…
>>
>>4429380
> (Otherworldly) If you hold eye contact, they should get the message that you’re nothing to be messed with…
>>
>>4429380
>(Otherworldly) If you hold eye contact, they should get the message that you’re nothing to be messed with…
>>
>>4429380
> (Otherworldly) If you hold eye contact, they should get the message that you’re nothing to be messed with…
>>
>>4429380
> (Otherworldly) If you hold eye contact, they should get the message that you’re nothing to be messed with…
>>
>>4429387
>>4429392
>>4429397
>>4429409
>>4429410
One-sided.

Writing!
>>
>>4429380
>>4429387
>>4429392
>>4429397
>>4429409
>>4429410
>>4429413

After consideration… you think that the best way to avoid fights is to make them not WANT to fight you. That in mind, you drop the hood from your cloak, letting your head feel the air again. If they want to fight, they’ll know exactly what they’re getting into.

And they certainly seem to- there’s a number of smaller, bobcat-like beasts that wander around here as well; they initially seem aggressive, as expected...until they lock eyes with you. What generally results is a staredown for a number of seconds before they give up and slink off. Some strange insectoid creatures as well, like oversized bees that make you wonder why they haven’t been cleared out. There’s other, bigger things out there, you think, though...you’ll need to keep your eyes open.

This way, the walk isn’t...harrowing, but you do have to make sure you’re not lost or anything, and that takes time…

By the time you reach something resembling a clearing, it's been...a while. You think about an hour, but you aren't sure. And wherever this clearing is... is some sort of ring? A simple dirt one, but a ring nonetheless. There's a couple of wooden dummies, but beyond that, not much. No doubt for the soldiers...which means you're on the right track.

>Roll 1d20, best of three.
>>
>>4429413
>jungle area
>dangerous beasts

Keep an eye out for some of those Longdrift shrooms guys.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>4429450
>>
Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>4429450
>>
Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>4429450
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4429450
>>
>>4429457
Booyah!
>>
>>4429457
Very nice
>>
Someone is about to have a reaaalll bad time.
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4429508
Sun is shining, Birds are singing, Dragon on the track course.
Dragon on the track course!?
>>
I'm slightly flabbergasted that the Dragongirl meme costume has been helping us a lot so far. Even with a stealthy and small start shadow boss forced us into.
>>
>>4429515
I think it's a psychological thing. Rather than some mutant human, we appear as a dragonoid, well, dragons are a near constant (For some reason) and renowned for being strange and powerful. However, the things we don't understand about other human beings are terrifying to think about, someone call the inquisition, there's a witch etc.
Not that we've been outed as a dragon yet by an intelligent being, but if you FOUND a dragon, would you out them in-front of said dragon?
>>
>>4429519
I can't wait for the reveal when we end up losing the cloak or a fire spell hit us destroying it just so the caster(s) see a dragonoid coming out of the flame unmolested (thanks to the fire protection from the armor.)
>>
>>4429524
That'd be a bummer, our client gave us this cloak, and didn't mention wanting it back, meaning it's ours, and useful.
>>
>>4429528
Meh just though it would be a cool moment.
>>
>>4429524
Naaah we can drop the cloak for the dramatic reveal so the mooks soil their undies. Don't need to ruin the thing.

Hmm, should we drop the cloak entirely for the fortress raid?
>>
>>4429528
yeah, we're sorely lacking in items that reduce Intimidation. The options in the shop aren't good enough.
>>
>>4429515
no costume is a meme, the only issue is that you(or another anon) wanted to use it in very retarded scenarios.
>>
>>4429528
If the cloak survives this quest, we should probably look into enchanting it with something.
>>
>>4429532
Dunno maybe it's to early for the reveal? i half expect us to do it at the third of forth place we get to.
>>
>>4429555
Well equipping the cloak while raiding will risk it being damaged. And we (optimally) should be killing every single witness in the base anyway so there should be no risks of being exposed involved, unless they have a magical recorder or something.
>>
>>4429561
Ah so we expect a no survivors scenario? Dunno how good we would be against the elites of this empire so it may be harder to try and eliminate all of the soldiers posted here.
>>
>>4429574
Ideally. IMO the fortress should be swept clean of loot and people(that see us). But we're here for the stone so that's top priority.
If they have any anti-air defenses they should also be disabled before we take off too.
>>
in theory a nebula buster can erase everything here, but that will definitely raise all the alarms; the creepier thing is to kill everyone but leave the structure intact.
>>
>>4429574
If we are doing that, we can use then AoE attacks to for a quick kills:
>Mana-wave
>Flux wave (to fuck up magic barriers)
>Gaia gun (bullet explodes into earth spikes)

and yeah destroy their anti-air equipment
>>
>>4429592
Should we try using the claws? I think we should at least try the claws, they seem weaponize-able, and Miranda is more of a brawler than a shooter.
>>
>>4429594
She's both, but she's better with her melee. Although she is capable of doing precision hits with magiblasts so she isn't shoddy at aiming.
>>
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>>4429450
>>4429453
>>4429455
>>4429457
It’s just barely a decent ring, but it’s fair enough. Looking around, you figure you might as well get a move on…

...and that’s when you spot something out of the corner of your eye; a backpack. Not too old, either; definitely something someone dropped off and forgot, perhaps during a bit of practice. You have to hold in a scoff. Elite soldiers, huh? And they drop a military pack like this? Well, finders keepers, hopefully.

Rifling through, you find a number of interesting things; a small totem, this one with a vaguely familiar bust image of a fiery headed fairy. This is smaller than the statue you found, maybe as big as your palm, and etched in a cylindrical stone piece. A couple of silver coins - might as well pocket that. There’s also a small flintlock pistol, and a number of rations, as well as what looks like a uniform jacket. There's also a strange, slate grey orb, with an X deeply etched into it and four holes at the end of each line.

Everything else seems to be general papers and other small things- you check the papers for intel, but they don't seem to be anything beyond schedule dates for assignments past, and some more clothing that in no way fits you.

On the OTHER hand, there WAS something nice that you discovered...a basic map of the complex, at least as far as this soldier knew it; apparently it was hand-drawn, and was because, in his own words, he has 'a memory like a hummingbird.'

>Gained 2 silver coins!

>Take anything else?

>Anga Totem
>Small Pistol
>4 military ration packs
>Military Uniform Jacket (Large)
>Strange Orb.
>>
>>4429594
We definetly should use the claws. Make people think it was some type of monster swarm that attacked?
>>
>>4429592
>pretend to be a dragon-girl
>not using fire
did you forget about our flamethrower-sword?
>>
>>4429603
>Anga Totem
>Strange Orb.
>4 military ration packs
>>
>>4429603
>4 military ration packs
>Military Uniform Jacket (Large)
>Strange Orb.

We can eat the good and possible avoid having to stop at a town if we are in a rush.
>>
>>4429605
We also have the magical green fire that can't be put out by water.
>>
>>4429603
>Strange Orb.
>4 military ration packs
>>
>>4429603
>Anga Totem
>4 military ration packs
>Strange Orb.

I wonder if we can incorporate the totem or orb into one of our weapons...
>>
>>4429603
>>4429607
>>
>>4429603
>Check this flintlock, is it JUST a flintlock?
>Anga Totem
>4 military ration packs
>Strange Orb
>Write D- on an assignment paper
>>
Remember, flintlock bullets shouldn't penetrate our skin (they will still sting a bit). So we can just gorilla through a barrage or two with Body Shield up.
>>
>>4429605
Didn't you anons want the fortress to be unharmed? Plus smoke will alert the people near it.
>>
>>4429603
>Take anything else?
Drop everything into our bag. we'll sort out things later.

>>4429613
You know, this might be the best place to upgrade that skill
>>
>>4429603
>Take them all
>>
>>4429614
>>4429603
Changing my vote to
>take all
>>
>>4429603
>take all
>>
>>4429617
Fuck it. Gonna change to taking all of it. Including the backpack.
>>
>>4429603
>>4429607
Want to switch to
>Take all
Yes, INCLUDING THE BACKPACK. We're a greedy growing girl.
>>
...this is what I get for doing a few chores and losing track of time.

Writing, then.
>>
>>4429603
>>4429631
>>4429632
>>4429635
>>4429650
>>4429651
>>4429652

...Meh, might as well take everything. No reason to let gear go to waste, and you might be able to sell something or maybe use some of it as salvage or the sort. The rations and money at least should prove useful, if nothing else.

Naturally, there’s also the map. Thanks to that, you’ve gotten a fair bit of detail for where everything is. You’ll be putting THAT to use immediately.

Now, you just need to get to the damn place…

It’s about a half-hour later judging by your FutureSight that you start to see oddly placed gravel...it’s just a bit too uniform to be natural...and the area’s dried up as well.

Really though, it’s the footsteps that prove the case. They’re dry, but not crackling so. You’re close. Very close. Which means that now is the time to figure out how to go about infiltrating the place- while storming the castle sounds fun, it’ll get a LOT of people on your ass in no time at all. There’s a gate that they have set up that you’ve apparently got to get around, and you’d bet that there’s something else there that’ll make your day tougher, to boot…stuff to consider as you follow- just a bit off the beaten path.

Soon, you arrive at a dip in terrain- a severe dip, nearly a cliff face; although it’s not too deep. And as you carefully peer through the trees you can see the Fortress itself. A wide building base, dark grey, smooth stone...it’s style is basic and yet intimidating in a way. You can also see that there are defensive towers there as well- and very selectively placed holes in the treeline, for massive, wood and iron cannons ON those towers. You’re not sure what’s powering them...but you really don’t want to find out. Glad you didn’t try to make an entrance.

Naturally, there’s a massive iron gate there, with said massive fence. Two guards posted, apparently, just to be safe. Doesn’t seem like they’ve seen you- you’re too far away anyway, you think, and your cloak allows you some camouflage in the shadows of the trees. Still, it’s good that you know where it’s at now. Next question is just ‘when is the exchange happening’? You’ve got some time to kill, you know that much...may need to camp out hardways.

>Start looking for a decent overnight spot.
>Just get decently far away enough and you can build your own temporary shelter.
>Other
>>
>>4429730
>Get Gartoum out for recon
>Start looking for a decent overnight spot
>>
>>4429730
>Get Gartoum out for recon
>Start looking for a decent overnight spot
He should look out for security holes too BUT mustn't do something risky enough to set off alarms.
>>
>>4429730
>Start looking for a decent overnight spot.
>Refill the Induction Orb and take out your Mana Condenser.
>Scan the Strange Orb
>>
>>4429732
Add >>4429735 too
>>
>>4429735
>>4429730
THIS THIS THIS TOO
>>
>>4429730
>>4429732
>>4429735
+
>>
>>4429730
>Start looking for a decent overnight spot.
>Refill the Induction Orb and take out your Mana Condenser.
>Scan the Strange Orb
>>
>>4429730
>>4429732
>>4429735
+
>>
>>4429730
This:>>4429735

Also scan the strange orb if we have time.
>>
>>4429730
>>4429745
Does Miranda have any burrowing tools?
>>
Giving Gartoum a real workout this mission, eh. We should read some books on summoning and figure out the Bond that was mentioned in them after this mission.
>>
>>4429730
>Start looking for a decent overnight spot.
>>
Hm. Fair enough. Writing.
>>
>>4429755
Does repeatedly firing off manablasts into the ground count as burrowing?

Speaking of, could we do it with our legs and have it be considered practicing our leg channeling?
>>
>>4429777
mental image of Miranda hopping up and down exploding the ground beneath her.
>>
>>4429777
Waaay too noisy with a military base right next to us.
>>
>>4429780
I know, but as >>4429779 mentioned it's fun to think about.

Actually... Might even be a good start for creating a ground stomp spell!
>>
>>4429789
I'd like to finish developing the spells we've got right now instead of getting more half-baked situational tricks and gimmicks, thank you.
>>
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>>4429789
I think it's fun to think about too.
>>
>>4429791
No need to be a killjoy, anon. Just thought it'd be a good way to use our leg channeling. Besides, the more often we channel magic through our legs, the sooner we can learn how to fly.
>>
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>>4429801
Alright, although if we're talking about leg techniques...
>>
>>4429807
Sounds funky.
Need to find a way to not tire our legs out after a few shots first.
>>
>>4429807
>>4429816
I think we've just discovered how to pull off Chun Li's Lightning Kick.
>>
>>4429730
>>4429732
>>4429734
>>4429735
>>4429738
>>4429739
>>4429741
>>4429745
>>4429751
>>4429752
No reason to not start looking for somewhere to lay low, at least. In the meantime… ‘Gartoum, you alright in there?’

“Juuuust peachy now, a-thank you.” he responds airily. “Seems like there’s a bit of a tall order in store, hm?”

Well, he’s not wrong. “Used to it. Any possibility you could do a bit more snooping for me? Obviously the location of the Lockstone itself would be great, but other things like interesting rooms or people of interest would be nice.”

“Hmmm, got me running around a lot this time, don’t you?” He chuckles. “Buuut, then again, I suppose that’s understandable. Shadows seem to be the theme here...must say, that so-called ‘King’ certainly doesn’t lack for bombast. Reminds me of yours truly, if perhaps a bit more ambitious! Hilarious, though! Shadow King...” He makes a ‘hmm hmm’ noise you’re not entirely certain of the meaning of, before he slips out of that ring and into the ground. “Don’t wait up!”

Hope that he doesn’t hear that…anyway, moving on. The usual suspects would be nice; cavern, cliff overhang, something like that. As you’re walking, though, you figure it might be worthwhile to get some things done while you’re searching…

The Induction Orb practically vacuums your mana up when you put it to your hand; it actually causes you a moment of worry before it suddenly stops. Quicker than you expected, but still helpful.

>Induction Orb Primed!

>Current Mana: 10000/11000

The mana condenser should be useful here as well; hadn’t used it in a bit, but no better time than now to make up what you just socked away.
>Mana Condenser Equipped!

And as for the OTHER orb? Well, you’re not entirely sure what the deal is with that one...but, you can find out, hopepfully. Let’s see what the FutureSight has to say about it…

>Stone appears to emit specific low-frequency, low-intensity mana bursts at following locations on surface:

The areas highlighted in question seem to be where the holes are.

>No further emissions recognized. Surface pattern unrecognized. Further analysis inconclusive of any abnormalities.

Huh. Odd. Well, you’ll worry about it more later. For now...shelter.

>Roll 2d20, best of three. (Searching, and Scouting.)
>>
Rolled 13, 17 = 30 (2d20)

>>4429826
>>
Rolled 13, 11 = 24 (2d20)

>>4429826
>>
Rolled 10, 12 = 22 (2d20)

>>4429826
Here goes.
>>
>>4429826
Gartoum seems to think the Shadow King's moniker is funny. Hubris? or maybe something else...
>>
Say, Handler... That cylindrical totem thingy we got... can it fit in one of the small holes in that orb thing we also found?
>>
>>4429842
No, doesn't seem to. The totem is wider than any of the holes.

13, 17. Hmhm.
>>
>>4429844
Ah well... Guess it's going to be a secret for a while longer.
>>
>specific low-frequency, low-intensity mana bursts at following locations on surface
This thing's a damn key. But for what?
>>
>>4429826
Well...your search doesn’t turn up anything really nice. No caverns, at least. About the best you get is an overgrown tree with a hollowed out inside. Barring the smell, The place is muggy enough that you don’t have much worry about rain or cold, at least. Honestly, sheltering up like a hobo is never your favorite thing. Sure, you’re USED to it, and it’s just part of what you have to deal with if you don’t bring a full tent or the sort. Really should’ve packed one in...but blah, you sometimes remember, sometimes don’t. Moving on.

Gartoum’s not going to be back for a while, clearly. That means you’ve got time to yourself. Not much else to do in the wilderness; training at such a close distance to the target area wouldn’t be advisable. That leaves you to think, and plan. And, perhaps, research.

Really glad you copied those fairy books down.

>Any questions about Fairies?
>Do something else (Other)
>Timeskip
>>
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>>4429905
>Do something else (Other)
Did we scan these? I'm voting for
>Within and Without
>>
>>4429905
I don't think we'll be able to make a complete plan until Gart comes back.
>Research about the fairy origins, relationship with the dragons and shadow king
>>
>>4429905
>>4429911
+, see if there's a shadow fairy mentioned. Might be our current employer.

>>4429908
No, the library closed and we got escorted out by a security guard before we could sneak out Shatterpoint.
>>
>>4429905
>>4429911
>>4429913
Well I'm switching to this then if that's the case. See about shadow fairies too.
>>
>>4429911
>>4429913
>>4429905
+
>>
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>>4429913
wait, what exactly did we scan?
>>
>>4429923
>>4429905
Boss, what exactly did we scan?
>>
>>4429923
>>4429926

The books on fairies and the Breath of Life.
>>
>>4429929
Hmm.
We should carry on then? Digging into Breath of Life again seems fruitless to me, and we can't exactly practice.
>>
>>4429923
Pretty sure we definitely scanned Endomagic: The Magic of the Past, The Magic of the Future, but I think some anons voted for sneaking Shatterpoint out before the guard found us and escorted us out before we could hide it in our bag of holding.
>>
>>4429932
>>4429929
Hm. Guess not...
>>
Writing. Might be last one for tonight.
>>
Looks like boss dozed off again.
>>
>>4429905
>>4429911
>>4429913
>>4429914
>>4429917

>>4429941
Well...what you’ve come up with is...interesting.

The origins of fairies are said to be...uncertain. It’s claimed that the very first fairies were primordial beings, in and of the world themselves. However, others state that they came after the world had been shaped. This already contradicts what you’ve heard- if that weird old man was correct, then the dragons came first. Speaking of those...they’re not mentioned much; apparently whoever wrote this wasn’t able to get a clear answer from the fairies about the existence of dragons beyond the fact that they did, at one point, exist. Nothing about a war or anything. So whatever they might’ve done to each other may well be lost to history...or certain historians, if none of the more ‘official texts’ seem to tell you anything.

You DO find a bit more in the more fantastical historical texts that state that the dragons were the ‘eternal enemy’ of the fairies, and they sought them out as food for their appetite. The fairies then supposedly enlisted the aid of humans and the young races to fight where they could not. In exchange, they’d have dominion over the land. Again, close, but not quite what you’ve heard.

There’s a number of legends and tales in this book, apparently...you don’t see much about shadows...aside from one tale in particular...

>>4430035
No, this was just a doozy.
>>
>>4430054

‘Long ago, in lands unsullied, there once lived the fairy people, in harmony with the earth. They knew growth, love, and peace, and little else, for that was nature; even when times came, they accepted it with grace, and respect, and not sorrow, nor hate.’

‘Alas, they were not the only peoples on the earth. One day, as one fairy was playing in their grove, they heard a voice. Strange and melodic, they thought it perhaps a fellow fairy, mimicking the great birds that flew through the sky. They followed the song, among flowing stream and whistling wind, and in a clear grove they came to witness a strange creature they’d not seen before. They could not describe it, but found it beautiful nonetheless. The fairy did not deign to show themselves, lest they interrupt the creature’s song, which would be tragedy. And so they sat, and listened. They intended to greet the other being upon stopping- but as soon as it did, it rose up and flew away. The fairy felt strangely at this, and most uncertain of its feelings, left in confusion.

The next day, it was at a similar place, and once again it heard the wondrous song. Again it rushed to seek out the singer, and again its will proved lacking in greeting the creature. And so it left, and that strange feeling got stronger.

This occurred for many more days, with this feeling- which is to us known as desire- encompassed the fairy. And it was then it thought that ‘perhaps I can make it stay, then maybe it would sing forevermore’. And so it reached out with all its passion, and desire, and the creature found itself bound to the spot.

The creature let out a wail of dismay...alas, the fairy had not known true sorrow before this day, and so the fairy thought its dream come true- that a song just for it was being sung, and found it so sweet.

For many many days and seasons, the creature found itself captive to an unknown capturer, and no matter how much it wailed and cried, none came to save it, for this was the domain of fairies, who knew no sadness, and they danced and flew and thought the song nice, as they always did.

And then, once the creature’s lifeforce began to wane, the strange fairy at last thought it good to introduce itself, and expressed so much joy at being able to hear it sing for all this time. For was that not what it always did, and wanted to do? It had fulfilled its desire, surely, and would be able to pass on in joy!

(cont.)
>>
>>4430057
'Alas, it was not so. The creature then grew irate, for it knew anger. Its kind had many and varied emotions, and it expressed its pain most grievously, and its hatred for its captor most vividly. In shock and confusion, the fairy’s magic broke- what were these emotions it expressed? It could not be happiness, and was not contentment, nor respect nor curiosity. The creature, which proved more mighty than the fairy expected, swore never to return, and that the fairy would never hear it sing again, before flying away.

The fairy felt strange at this...and decided that this feeling must be similar to the ‘anger’ and ‘sadness’ it had said and shown. It did not like this feeling, but it felt it nonetheless. And as the days went on, the feeling persisted and persisted...until the fairy could stand no more. It resolved to eliminate this ‘anger’, this ‘sorrow’, this ‘hurt’. And so it decided.

It would find the creature once more. And it would use all of its magic to do so- enlisting the plants and animals of the land itself to aid in its search, no matter the cost. It would find this creature, even if it skulked in the shadows of the earth itself. It would use the very shadows it hid in to bring it forth, if needed be!

The creature would be returned to the fairy. The creature would sing again, no doubt- for surely, something that sang so much would have the desire in its nature- and was it not folly to resist its nature? No, the creature would sing.

And then, at last, perhaps, it would be happy once more.'

(Done! Will post tomorrow, night!)
>>
>>4430058
Hypothesis valid! Evidence found!
Begin theorizing everybody!
>>
>>4430062
Looks like an alternate happy ending route to me.

We find this bird!
>>
>>4430063
Ehhh with the further developments of the war against the other fairies, we don't know too much of the intervening history to know if they even still care or not. More data required
>>
>>4430062
So faries are assholes. News at 9.

The shadow king is definitely justified in its actions.
>>
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>>4430062
Actually, I'd like to theorize about the fortress
>“Apparently, there’ll be a number of forces being exchanged in and out of the place...something about mustering up mobile forces for a long-distance march.
So, if they'll be marching out and are supposed to be 'mobile forces', then there should be stables somewhere behind those walls. The map here doesn't show them, nor the towers - just the main building>>4429603. And how many floors does it have?
>>4429730
>Soon, you arrive at a dip in terrain- a severe dip, nearly a cliff face; although it’s not too deep. And as you carefully peer through the trees you can see the Fortress itself.
Does this mean that we have a vantage point?
>You can also see that there are defensive towers there as well
How many towers? Are they separate buildings or part of the main one?
Also the soldier who's backpack we found earlier will come looking for it and might spot our claw marks. Hopefully they'll just think that some beast took it because there were rations inside of it.

It's very likely that we'll have to go down into the dungeon, they could extinguish all light sources and use endomagical nightvision there to ambush us, so we should finish working on either the Nighteye endomagic spell or our experimental technique that we used for fighting with closed eyes back in mecha world (#79+pic related). I'd prefer the latter, since Nighteye has drawbacks that could be exploited:
>If any major source of light is lit in your immediate vision, however, you’ll be blinded for a while, so you need to use it carefully
>>
>dragons used to eat fairies

Ohohohohohohoho.
>>
>>4430105
>If any major source of light is lit in your immediate vision, however, you’ll be blinded for a while, so you need to use it carefully
Anon, our entire arsenal provides blinding light. A cheap Fireworks can effectively shut them down.
>>
>>4430201
Hell we're probably the worst thing they can fight without light if they're only relying on Nighteye.
>>
Writing shortly.
>>
>>4430058
Wow. Heavy stuff, you suppose. Still, it’s just a fable; a story that people tell, once that by all you can read was never confirmed by fairy, man, or otherwise. Granted, fables have a tendency to be more truth than fiction in your line of work...but that’s not saying that all of them are. Many are just that- tall tales.

The rest of the day passes eventually, save for you having to occasionally shoo out a few curious animals; nothing aggressive, fortunately. Without further intel, you’d rather not try to make a half-baked plan and so instead look to making sure all your armaments are in order, even taking a few extra swings with your Morph-Blade to practice using it. It’s a lot bigger than your Flamebringer, for sure, and the switching mechanism is, although quick, takes a second or two. You can’t swing it as fast as you’re used to, even with your enhanced strength- a lot of technical work seems to have gone into this thing to allow it such variability and still keep its tensile strength.

By the time the sun dips, you’ve even had a brief nap, before you hear a voice in your head. ‘I’m baaack!’ Gartoum chirps. “Found a few interesting things; not the Lockstone, sadly, though I CAN confirm it’s there! Bottom floor somewhere abouts...rather powerful magic stopping me from going any further, though- I have to admit, I’m impressed. The whole thing’s largely built into the ground, save for one floor.”

Great. Well, there’s something there.

>Any specific questions about the layout? The map will be updated with these.

Also helps in case I forget to show something.
>>
>>4431303
>How many towers are there and where are they located? Can they fire at the main building? (It's said they had some experiments going on there, could they use cannons to stop whatever might try to escape?)
>How many floors does the main building have?
>What other buildings are there? Stables? Barracks?
>>
>>4431303
No, but mention the story we just read and see what Gartoum thinks. He's a creature of shadow, what would he do if he was in a similar situation?
>>
>>4431303
>How many towers are there and where are they located? Can they fire at the main building? (It's said they had some experiments going on there, could they use cannons to stop whatever might try to escape?)
>How many floors does the main building have?
>What other buildings are there? Stables? Barracks?

plus

>Where do they save the explosives?
>>
>>4431303
>>4431306
Going with this then. And damn you're fast.
maybe +
>What are the general looks of their arsenals? Flintlocks are granted, but what about armors and other defensive measures?
>Where do they save the explosives?
>>
>>4431303
>>4431313
+
And don't fret Miranda, you're playing hammer time soontm
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4431306
Right, meant 'can they shoot from towers at whatever tries to escape the main building'. Just to clarify things.
>>
>>4431303
>Whereabouts in the basement would you approximate the stone is? You know, incase we want to install an elevator shaft, for reasons. Is it under a certain room, like the Dignitary room, or are the cielings/floors between floors particularly thick? how long were the stairs? This map says 2nd floor, is the first floor carved out of natural stone or is this subterran?
>>
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>>4431303
>>4431306
>>4431310
>>4431313
>>4431326
“Alright.” you take your map out just to double check as you make additions according to his comments. “Towers I didn’t see? And can they fire at the main building?” You know where a couple of them are…

“Here, here, here, annnnd...here.” He points out, and you mark the spots with little x’s. “And I don’t think so. Purely outside and anti-air, is my wager.”

“Right. How many floors does the building have?” Hopefully there aren’t many…

“Five, not counting ground floor- one second floor, and the rest are underground. That bottom one is that frustratingly locked off one I mentioned earlier. Maybe half the room is under a powerful defensive barrier.” He tsks at the memory of it. “So rude, really.”

You make a note of it. “Any other buildings I can’t see from this angle? Stables, barracks, anything like that?”

“They made mention of a stable ‘in the back’, but WHERE in the back is a mystery. Spent all my time sussing out the place itself- quite lively, really. As for barracks, it’s all in there, seems like the second sub-floor is all that. The first sub-floor is the armory, and third and fourth seems like...training and classes and whatnot.”

Hm. Fascinating. “Alright, then, how’s their arsenal looking? Flintlocks seem obvious, but aside from that, I mean. Like...explosives, too.”

He chuckles. “WELL, From what I saw, they’ve got a number of swords and shields, and metal and leather armors. Saw a crossbow or two as well! A decent amount magic, as well! Many shield spells, saw a few wands on a few guards, some NICE looking staffs too, yum yum. Seem to be more traditional, though, more steel than sorcery on the whole, but not so little as to say not noteworthy I’d wager.” Hm. Traditionalists? Well, good for you, but still annoying. “As for the explosives?” He grins. “Those are on the second floor- above ground, I mean. Seems like it’s ammo for those cannons. Now, if you want my guess? That’s because they’d rather not have a cave in since their important areas are below ground if there’s an accident.”

Right, then...that should do it for now. Your map's updated, and you've got time to spare. Now...is the waiting game.

>Roll 1d20, best of three.
>>
Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4431383
>>
Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4431383
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4431383
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4431383
Oh so those cannons use regular ammo then? 'Slode them before we take off.
>>
ok, we definitely should run to the armory and take all the shields we can. we can definitely re purpose them as blockades to slow the soldiers advancement.
we also need to see if the lockstone shield has a battery attached to it. i don't think we will have the time to slash through the shield or flux wave it away.
>>
>>4431393
I'm wondering if there's a way to utilize those cannons as anything other than a bomb, and I'm not thinking of one, but we definitely want to disable them for our ex-filtration so we don't get a 16 lber to the back, as amusing as that'd be
>>
>>4431397
I.... dont think the shields are big enough to be barricades? These are like, infantry shields, and the magic ones are probably personal shields maintained by mages or keyed to allow personnel through.
>>
>>4431397
There should be a key for the barrier, maybe this anon has the right idea >>4429872
>>
>>4431397
this>>4431403
We can use Light Barriers to block the doors and corridors - we have mana to spare and meditation room manacost bonus is still active.
>>
>>4431406
The officer in charge of track and field dropped his packsack and forgot his faculty keystone to get past the three headed dog in the third floor corridor
>>
>>4431407
I really want to use some Light traps, but it's damage is meh and it costs as much as a barrier.
>>
>>4431400
that's when we set the armory's explosive's off. You can't man the defenses when the base is exploding.

>>4431403
its worth a try to give it a look. maybe they have an artillery sized shield that we can use to block a corridor, or you know, we can nab a shield for ourselves and the others back home.

>>4431407
>>4431406
sure, we can use our barriers, but why waste our mana on shields that the own enemy can provide for us? As for the orb... i don't think it'll be for that, butits also worth a try
>>
>>4431397
>>4431406
If that description doesn't spell a key then I don't know what does, yes. The minor trouble is finding the keyhole.
>>
>>4431409
the blinding effect is just not as useful when it goes off remotely without anything to take advantage of it
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>>4431415
that said, maybe we should set some up in proximity to actual deadly traps, I wonder if we could have blinded those scouts and gotten more casualties from those mines back in the north.
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>>4431417
>we should set some up in proximity to actual deadly traps,
we have the sticky bombs that can detonate if they try to be removed and half of our actual proxy mines
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>>4431412
>why waste mana
Then why waste shields?
It's an expendable resource that we recover daily. Stop being so shrewd with mana.
>>
>>4431421
i'm not against using the barriers or mana, but the enemy shields are already there. what i'm saying is that it doesn't hurt to see if we can use them against them
>>
>>4431421
It's like a playthrough of The Last of Us except we carry 12000 bullets, we get them BACK no need to scrounge.
>>
>>4431418
Right, we can combo Sensor Trap with Sticky Bombs. That should cost around 400 per combo with the bonus.
>>
So can we use Gart to shadow teleport us to the armory then? we can just put him back into the ring after that
>>
>>4431425
>shields already there
>artillery size shields
They don't just lay around ya know. It doesn't look like this training facility doesn't specialize in artillery or militry engineers.
>>
>>4431430
i was thinking on sticking the bombs behind closed doors or objects that the enemy has to move,m but that works as well.

>>4431437
the facility also holds a literal state top secret. you never know what kind of toys the armory will hold
>>
Oh, and don't forget about the Clockwork turret. It has a tanky shield crystal and proper battle rifle rounds that could punch through their armor.
>>
>>4431444
Let's just raid the armory first then plan from there shall we? Gart can do a silent takedown on the lone guard.
>>4431446
Prime the turret in front of the stairs when we descent?
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>>4431449
It'll probably get taken out before we get the stone if we leave it on too high up of a floor, maybe we put that down when we reach the magically sealed bottom floor to cover our six so we can pick it up on our way out.
>>
>>4431446
i don't think we need to bust the turret so soon. its a prototype and we will definitely need it at the last lockstone.

>>4431449
>Let's just raid the armory first then plan from there shall we?
sure, fair enough
>>
>>4431457
That's what I meant - putting it right at the bottom of the stairs (sub-floor to first floor) so they have no choice but to walk in a straight line to it's line of fire. Make the stairs a choke point.
>>
>>4431383
It’s during the night that you hear the marching of feet and the clanking of armor in the distance. Finally.

You’re careful to move, but sure enough, you see a platoon of at least a couple hundred marching in lockstep out of the fortress; they’re all dressed in slate grey armor, many in leathers and with flintlocks, but a sizeable number with steel and swords, and bringing up the rear, a contingent of mages as well. They’re all stone faced men and women all, and you have to admit their discipline is impressive.

As you watch them crest the hill and march past the horizon, you know that now’s your time. Or at least, in a couple hours or so; best to finalize your plan for infiltration.

>The front door, naturally. You’ll down the first two guards then dive in and beeline it straight for the bottom floor.
>You’ll try something a bit more stealthy- try going around to the side, then see if going in from above might work- maybe in one of the towers.
>Other


(Time to come up with a plan for Step 1. This'll be it for tonight, will post tomorrow.)
>>
>>4431458
Anon, stop being such a jew. It's a finished product, and our nerds could build even better stuff. For the last lockstone we would need our rocketlaunchers.
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>>4431461
that sounds like a bad idea. there is nothing stopping them from throwing grenades(or an equivalent) galore at the turret
>>
>>4431462
>You’ll try something a bit more stealthy- try going around to the side, then see if going in from above might work- maybe in one of the towers.
>>
>>4431462
>>You’ll try something a bit more stealthy- try going around to the side, then see if going in from above might work- maybe in one of the towers.
>>
>>4431462
>You’ll try something a bit more stealthy- try going around to the side, then see if going in from above might work- maybe in one of the towers.
break those canons
>>
>>4431464
It's shielded so handgrenades won't do shit and we can repair it with our gauntlets + they can't risk with more powerfull explosives or they risk a cave in
>>
>>4431469
oh yeah, i had forgotten the gauntlets were a thing. that gives me more hope for its retrieval, although i'd rather not put the turret down the stairs. that's the literal worst place to place it.
>>
>>4431462
Looks like there's some tree cover along the west side where we can hop the fence through the trees, there are 6 posted guards who are likely to engage us if we use the stairs, so unless we find a disguise or go invisible we're going to go loud when we go up or down a level, we could carve our way into the storage room from the second floor and from there to the first sub floor, and probably evade the stair guards that way, unless we hit a room separating wall by happenstance, there's an awful lot of unused room in this layout, I wonder if there are secret passages next to the Mess hall and off of the armor room hallway.
Anyway
>You’ll try something a bit more stealthy- try going around to the side, then see if going in from above might work- maybe in one of the towers.
I think we could play mind-games by NOT blowing the guns on the second floor, if we blow them up too early it'll signal that we plan to walk past their line of fire.
>>
>>4431475
>Looks like there's some tree cover along the west side where we can hop the fence through the trees
and if gartoum is up for it, we can use his shadow walk to get inside the complex, even go directly to the storage as well.
>>
>>4431474
What do you suggest then? I want to turn the stairs into a choke point.
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>>4431480
well, turrets work best the more range they can cover, let's just have Miranda put it down when we find a convenient long security corridor right before the lock stone floor
>>
>>4431480
at the end of a long hallway where the enemy has no real place to hide, because if you place it at the bottom of the stairs, gravity and the slop itself will direct the grenades at the turret with no real need to aim.
>>
>>4431474
>>4431480
It could guard the entrance/exit to the stairs. Gartoum could support it it and chase people out of cover with his shadow shark trick.
>>
>>4431480
>>4431484
>>4431486
>>4431488
We could also attach it to the ceiling with our sticky mana to get more range and reduce the threat of grenades and other stuff.
>>
>>4431493
that can definitely work.
>>
>>4431493
Wacky. No one expects an upsidedown turret in a medieval setting.
>>
>>4431493
I'll support this.
>>
Now, the zone trap+sticky bombs would perfectly work on the staircases, corners, behind closed doors, and any other places that could give them a healthy dose of paranoia
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>>4431462
>You’ll try something a bit more stealthy- try going around to the side, then see if going in from above might work- maybe in one of the towers.
Weeeeellll we've been stealthing fine so far, let's keep going and see what happens...
And yes I approve of the sticky mana/turret combo. Their poking sticks can't reach something's that on the ceiling.
>>
OH, jusr a reminder.
For operation Z1 we NEED to have the recording stuff out, so i think that we need to take the recording equipment out before we infiltrate the compound.
>>
>>4431612
probably a good idea
>>
>>4431612
Woah man, I'm against using Z1 here. Remember that it can have friendly fire and that's a disaster for us on closed areas.
We'll use that on the fairies or target rich open areas instead.
>>
>>4431612
>Many shield spells, saw a few wands on a few guards, some NICE looking staffs too, yum yum. Seem to be more traditional, though, more steel than sorcery on the whole, but not so little as to say not noteworthy I’d wager.
From Gartoum's intel, I guess we're expecting mostly shieldcasters/supporters instead of the traditional offensive mages? Mostly small fries, no need to deploy the thing for that. We'll waste more time trying to disable it than downing the soldiers ourselves otherwise, and once we go loud the clock ticks fast.
>>
>>4431645
but i mean if we were to use other experimental stuff... what else did we bring? the healing bubble? we should test that in the woods, and we happen to be in the woods right now...
>>
>>4431647
What we need to test:
>Operation Z1
>Revitalization Barrier
>Syn-Seither Pills (x2)

A lot of opportunities for the barrier, we just need one wounded creature, not a living human or anything. Plenty of monsters on our way.
Don't worry, the Z1 WILL be unleashed. It's too glorious of a thing not to.
>>
File: Flamebringer.png (2.23 MB, 1920x1080)
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>The Morph-Blade's a lot bigger than the Flamebringer.
For everyone's information, the sword Miranda's holding in OP is the Flamebringer on scale.
This thing is closer to Monster Hunter tier huge.
>>
>>4431739
Or, y'know...she's just THAT short...
>>
>>4431754
I was referring to the Morph-Blade anon, Flamebringer is a normal longsword but it looks like a Greatsword in Miranda's hands.
>>
>>4431754
Why not both?
>>
It seems the last thread has not been archived yet
>>
>>4431739
so what was the morph blade again? just a sword whip?
>>
>>4432402
>The weapon that you’d commissioned from Grizzi and Cella had turned out interesting, to say the least. She’d called it a ‘Morph-Blade’, and the thing was...well, to be frank, it was something else. Still rather large and thick, it’d been reshaped to have jagged, tearing teeth on one end, and a small yet sharp curve in the back, explained to be for ‘hooking’ weapons or people. Not to mention, the whole reason for its namesake- the blade itself had been reattached to a long, curved handle that she insisted was more ergonomic than the one it had before, and it apparently had a new core that the metal warped around...sort of. With the pull of a longtrigger, it would shift from a massive blade, to flipping back in on itself (you had to watch your hand placement) and form a more handsaw like shape, or perhaps a shield, considering the size of the blade itself. On the other hand, pushing the trigger instead would shift it into something more resembling a hammer, with a couple of the pieces twisting, interlocking according to the sawtooth grooves, and allowing the thicker core piece to hold it all together. It was an impressive piece, you had to admit, and initial trials proved it to be sturdy enough.
It's not a whip at all. It's some bizzare transforming hooked sword/saw-shield/warhammer thing.
>>
>>4432414
ooooh. so we can carry it in shield mode on one hand and the flamebringer on the other?
>>
>>4432504
I dunno, it's pretty heavy...
I think Lori is the one with the feathertouch.
>>
>>4432847
yeah, but we're pretty strong ourselves; i doubt that thing is heavier than the whole assault armor+ minigun that we had to carry in the mecha world.
>>
>>4432872
>>4432847
Better to just two-hand grip either of the weapons for faster kill speed. We already have reduced swing speed with the Morph-Blade, using it with the Flamebringer just brings efficiency way down.
>>
>>4432876
then that sword must be INCREDIBLY dense and heavy for us to have problems moving it around. it will definitely prove useful in the future.
>>
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>>4432914
Those dorfs packed a Kirkhammer into a Saw Cleaver. With this amount of raw mass we can probably just slam through regular shields - whoever that's behind them will be at least stunned, flinched or ragdolled by the impact.
And that's before considering the Assault Crystal or Over Channel.
>>
>>4432914
the problem with moving it around doesn't come from it's mass, we don't have problems with moving it around, you got it wrong. It's the fact that both of them are long two-handed weapons - they'd just get in each other way. For practical dual-wielding you need shorter weapons, one more than other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gVwaY0NEQU. If you want to use morph-blade as a shield shield then pick a one-handed weapon, we've got some.
>>
>>4431462
>>4431465
>>4431466
>>4431468
>>4431475
>>4431540
Might as well try and stick with stealth for as long as possible. There’s a little area off to the right side that you think might be worthwhile...though guard presence, as always, will be an issue. Fortunately, the darkness of night will help with cover. To your surprise, you don’t see anyone obviously patrolling up there…no scents, either. “Gartoum?” you ask. “Any guards?”

“Not so, surprisingly,” he hums after a moment. “Perchance they were part of the outgoing troupe?”

Maybe. You doubt you’ll get this lucky again, though; you race forward to immediately climb up the nearest tower, a jump and sinking your claws into the stonework. Claws are pretty damn useful, you have to admit.

You’re up and over in moments, and you can see the ramparts indeed clear, but with those massive cannons waiting. There’s a few entrances that you can see, though- one in the back left and right, which you know is near the stairs, one to the far right, near the corner, and one to the left, closest to you.

Odd. The map doesn’t say anything about those entrances...damn that man’s ‘memory’. Well, regardless, you’ve got to hustle. Now, if these entrances are accurate, the top left one should lead right to the ground floor- in front of a number of guards. As for the rest...

>Take the stairs to the top right- that leads straight to the 1st Sub-Floor, provided you don’t alert the guards on the ground floor.
>Take the stairs to the bottom right- those should lead out near to an Armor Room, and according to Gartoum, there’s some treasures in there. Worth a look.
>Take the stairs nearest you- you’re not sure where it’ll lead, but it should be near storage. May find something interesting there.
>Other
>>
>>4432925
>If you want to use morph-blade as a shield shield then pick a one-handed weapon, we've got some.
well true, but the flamebringer has the gravity stone AND the magical fire, although i suppose you're right. Unless our only purpose is to go full flamethrower mode with the flame bringer and only use the morph blade as a shield, the two will get stuck.

>>4432922
i'm pretty sure heads will be flying and bones will be cracking with the kirkhammer.
>>
>>4432941
>Take the stairs nearest you- you’re not sure where it’ll lead, but it should be near storage. May find something interesting there.
>>
>>4432941
>Take the stairs to the bottom right- those should lead out near to an Armor Room, and according to Gartoum, there’s some treasures in there. Worth a look.
Loot.
>>
>>4432941
wait, i'm changing to
>Take the stairs to the bottom right- those should lead out near to an Armor Room, and according to Gartoum, there’s some treasures in there. Worth a look.
>>
>>4432941
>Perform some light sabotage on the cannons, and by light I mean melt a swords-width hole through the barrel with flamebringer so the cannon ball gets stuck and if they DO fire it all the expanding gas flushes out into their faces
>Take the stairs nearest you- you’re not sure where it’ll lead, but it should be near storage. May find something interesting there.
Mystery stairs are best stairs
>>
>>4432941
>>Take the stairs to the bottom right- those should lead out near to an Armor Room, and according to Gartoum, there’s some treasures in there. Worth a look.
gotta grab the stuff and then block it/set up traps so they won't be able to get their gear.
>>
>>4432941
>Sabotage the canons
>Take the stairs to the bottom right- those should lead out near to an Armor Room, and according to Gartoum, there’s some treasures in there. Worth a look.
Give us the barrier stuff please.
>>
>>4432951
Adding this.
>Sabotage the cannon
>>
>>4432941
>Sabotage the cannon
>Take the stairs to the bottom right- those should lead out near to an Armor Room, and according to Gartoum, there’s some treasures in there. Worth a look.
Don't need to ruin their ammo stock when we can just do this.
Man our inventory is going to be flooded after this job.
>>
Sabotage and loot.

Writing.
>>
>>4432991
I hope they're pre-loaded. That way they'll just attempt to fire.
>>
>Claws are pretty damn useful, you have to admit.

New idea: Barrier Claws. Shouldn't take much training to work out/
>>
>>4433006
we have mana knuckles, we could modify them instead of developing a new technique
>>
>>4433012
That works. I feel it's simple enough to be "learned" without rolls involved..
>>
>>4433006
I'm honestly surprised Miranda made bodyarmor barriers without chopping off her limbs, those barriers are basically 2d, they're freaking SHARP.
>>
>>4432941
>>4432951
>>4432958
>>4432960
>>4432961
>>4432969
>>4432973
>>4432982
The stairs to the bottom right are probably a solid bet- you could get some interesting goods, maybe, AND sabotage any attempts at preparation for any first floor guards or personnel not already in gear. Two birds, one stone.

At that thought, you pause, looking at the cannons. They’re big, dangerous...and should be taken out of the picture. But just blowing them up would alert everyone WAY too soon. So then how…? Aha.

It takes you more than a few minutes, but the Flamebringer proves most adequate in burning decent holes through the underside of the cannons; if they try to fire...well, the extra space for the explosion to expand should cause some real damage. It’s extra time, but hopefully it’ll be well worthwhile.

That said, from what the map and Gartoum say, there’ll be at least one guard keeping watch over the armor room. Hopefully they don’t have an alarm system besides yelling set up, but you get the feeling you’re not going to be so fortunate. You quickly race over the ramparts, but from there take your time stepping down the staircase, attempting your best to do so quietly.

As you near the bottom, however...a laugh rings out. “Seriously? No wonder he didn’t wanna show up!”

“Yeah!” another voice rings out. “Woulda made a damn fool of himself in public smellin’ like that. Shame, but it was hilarious when it happened!”

Ah. There’s two of them, not one. Damn.

“So, I’m there tryin’ to make excuses for us being down a guy, and the girls are looking at us like we planned it!” And they don’t seem to be stopping talk any time soon…

>Wait it out, you’re gonna get to them one way or another.
>Gah, you don’t have time for this. Go back up and try another staircase (which?)
>If you move quick and aim well, you should be able to take both of them out with little noise…
>Other
>>
That's all for tonight, sorry. Will post tomorrow.
>>
>>4433057
>>Wait it out, you’re gonna get to them one way or another.
>Use Hearing Boost and Power Sense
Just to be sure there's only two of them + maybe they'll mention something interesting about this place or people stationed here.
>>
>>4433057
>>Other
>Have gartoum shadow step us inside the armory
>>
>>4433057
>Wait it out, you’re gonna get to them one way or another.
It's shift change, and this IS a low traffic hallway, we just need to wait for them to get tired of gossiping. It's one thing for the guard on duty to go quiet, if the guard coming OFF duty goes missing that's suspicious.
>>
>>4433057
>Wait it out, you’re gonna get to them one way or another.
>Use Hearing Boost and Power Sense
>>
>>4433108
admittedly I'm paranoid and how long it takes before they start a search for someone coming off duty could be a long time, I just figure we're relatively safe in this stairway, I'm not even sure why this staircase is here, emergency armory access for cannon crew?
>>
>>4433057
>If you move quick and aim well, you should be able to take both of them out with little noise…
>>
>>4433057
>>Wait it out, you’re gonna get to them one way or another.
>>Use Hearing Boost and Power Sense
I'm half tempted to fuck around with Tongue Tie on these guys. Where's a self important commander type making a speech when you want one?
>>
>>4433629
that's not a good.....wait. if we dress up in the military grab that we found plus our intimidating aura, we could make it happen.
>>
>>4433632
It's too big for us right now, but we'll do it next time we do a mission with Lorelei and/or Izumi.

I'm now thinking of having to do a mission where we attempt the "Three Kids in a Trenchcoat" cliche...
>>
>>4433650
Hey now, I'm sure they could manage with TWO girls in a trenchcoat.
>>
>>4433660
but what if its two trenchcoats inside a girl?
>>
>>4433650
Now i'm picturing Miranda in mission were she needs to train a group of newbies and she is wearing a Tanya style uniform
>>
>>4433881
given how it went the last time we tried to do it, its gonna be fun to try again.
>>
>>4433881
>training a group of newbies

Man, I'd like to have another one of those training missions after this one. Either that or do an Intersection freelance job where we try to substitute for a spellcasting class at The Care House.

>>4433887
Sometimes I wonder how those kids did against whoever that Smiles character was...
>>
>>4433887
We could always ask Sal how those kids are doing, he can probably find out.
>>
>>4433921
i don't think we need to ask sal, for it is an OOC question. I'm pretty sure handler can answer us in due time.
>>
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>>4433881
Not really Tanya style but more military MG.
>>
This probably won't work here, because we're in the middle of an infiltration, but...i think we might be able to bullshit ourselves into the next zone.
I see that we still have the executive card in our bag, now, given that all items change shape to fit this new world, maybe the card became something equally important that can allow us to enter into some restricted places.
>>
>>4434102
>given that all items change shape to fit this new world
...no, I'm pretty sure that's only our clothes that we're wearing when we get sent in.
>>
>>4434112
from what i remember all the things that aren't treated will change shape if its necessary and since the executive card doesn't fit the world, it will probably change as well
>>
>>4434116
>it will probably change as well

...If we wear it when we enter the new dimension. Otherwise it's just an ID card from the Seither world that has no meaning in this world.

Basically, Miranda can put on stuff in the Intersection and have it morph to better fit the new reality. But if you take off something you had worn when entering the new reality and put something new on, the new item isn't going to morph to fit the reality. It's that way in the quest so that we can't change our social stats whenever we want to.
>>
>>4433881
>>4434013
>yfw this EXACT same thing will happen
>>
>>4434133
>...If we wear it when we enter the new dimension. Otherwise it's just an ID card from the Seither world that has no meaning in this world.
Good point, but if that were true then we wouldn't have the need to treat items like the rapier or the gauntlets.

>It's that way in the quest so that we can't change our social stats whenever we want to.
not really. originally we couldn't even take off clothing(or put it back again? i can't remember) because it was literally part of us.

either way, it doesn't hurt to fish out the exec card from the bag and see if it actually changed. worst case scenario nothing happened, best case scenario it becomes a seal that proves that we're a noble or something like that.
>>
>>4434138
>if that were true then we wouldn't have the need to treat items like the rapier or the gauntlets.
Pretty sure that treating objects is only meant for magical items that would lose their magical effects and powers due to constant exposure to the Intersection's magic reducing zone. Purely technological items and non-magical items don't really seem to have that issue, so I'd assume they wouldn't need to be treated.
>>
>>4434155
I thought treating an object prevented it from turning into motes.
In which case magic items might dissolve slower and that issued ID might already be dust.
>>
>>4434155
>>4434166
from what i remember, the treatment exists so that items don't become passive modifiers; handler explained several times before, with the gauntlet's one being the one that i remember:
If we don't treat the gauntlets, we would lose the ability to wear them, heal things and instead they will become a passive bonus to our personal healing.
>>
>>4434102
Exectuvie card won't change. m
Maybe we could use king Emeral's royal pardon from shadow war mission, but the thing is - the language won't change. So they won't be able to read it.
Stuff like 'mountains always have snow all year round because snowy mountains haha', 'people from different kingdoms speak same language' and 'it's summer everywhere and every time and the weather is always fair' kinda fuck the immersion for me.
>>
>>4434169
Miranda hears and speaks in truespeech, she isn't actually aware of language changes, but they probably exist in universe.
>>
>>4434169
if that even helps your immersion, might not.
>>
>>4434169
I know that usually these things don't affect the plot so they're ignored by writers and don't offer that many new interactions to be important, but that's just how I feel about it.
>>
>>4434169
>Exectuvie card won't change. m
there is nothing saying that it won't. if our non treated clothing and items are prone to changing, why not the trinkets? pulling out the exec card costs us NOTHING and we might gain a lot of unseen advantages and maybe a way to get rid of items from previous missions.

also the other anon is right: miranda speaks, reads and writes in truespeech. That's how we manage to understand everyone and how we can read dead or alien languages.
>>
>>4434180
Anon, only clothes, attuned weapons and futuresight have camouflage. Exec card and royal pardon aren't from Intersection - they won't change.
>>
>>4434013
I like it.
>>
>>4434192
>Exec card and royal pardon aren't from Intersection - they won't change.
We had to treat the flamebringer, the rapier and the gauntlets -non intersection items- because they would change in the other universes we go to. Maybe the lore anon can help us sort this out?
>>
>>4434172
I know that Miranda has ruespeech, I'm talking about the locals
>>
>>4434209
well...they do have accents, but we don't hear their original language because that would be dumb.
>>
'Treating' originally was because if you didn't, they'd be essentially modified by the Intersection's energies and be transformed into passive gear that you couldn't really wear or use as intended. This was specifically for clothing with magical properties and weapons of a similar bent. It was to prevent players from...well, stockpiling ridiculous amounts of weapons and gear.

Shows how effective THAT was. It's still in effect, though.
>>
>>4434219
so basically nothing happens to "foreign" trinkets and nonmagical stuff that we find down the line?
>>
>>4434200
There were supposed to be 2 types of treatments - permanence and attunement: the item stays the same and doesn't change properties and functions for the former and it changes to fit the world setting and gives stronger stats to our outfit but might lose it's enchantments/hightech hardware in the process and turn it into something else. There was a discussion long time ago about bringing power armor and energy weapons and Handler explained that futuristic stuff works on physics of their world of origin and might not work thd same or at all in other worlds. I don't really remember it well, better to ask Handler to explain it again.
>>
>>4434219
We did just have a timeskip, that was your opportunity to scrub our inventory of anything that wasn't treated.
>>
>>4434243
Funny thing? I said I was gonna do just that over the break. Dunno why I didn't wind up doing so.
>>
>>4434253
We can do a meeting with the whole SES to break down what EQs everyone has, what should be given to someone else and what should be sold/scrapped. That way we can have some ice cream money and the weaker members can have more tools to work with.

I can that an "Equipment Assessment" meeting. You can call for that when the time comes, like right after this job.
>>
>>4434260
Yeah, I'm both hands for a proper HQ meeting - lots of stuff happened during the time-skip.
>>
>>4434264
>>4434260
I think we need a proper meeting room. Where did the group sit on the last meeting?
>>
>>4434273
The break room. It has a kitchen now I think.
>>
>>4434260
i don't think any of the crap we have can help the other members of the team and it probably would feel like an insult to boot. the best thing i think we can do is to convert the stuff to motes, scrap them or give them to R&D for raw materials.
>>
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>>4434278
Hmm, the only thing of worth is the enchanted katar, and halberd, spear and switchblade could be given to Noran, Harpi and Tami respectively + purse gun for practice.
>>
>>4434260
I'm in. Have this in mind boss, we need to take care of this elephant sooner or later.
>>4434278
>convert the stuff to motes, scrap them or give them to R&D for raw materials.
We can do that in the meeting and have everyone chip in on the matter too. We also don't know if anyone else wants our unused stuffs or not, because we have never discussed this with the team.
>>
>>4434278
But I don't get why the fuck do we need a flintlock pistol????>>4429603
Maybe the next time we bring a courier with us on a mission in a modern world theh could sell it as an antique.
>>
>>4434292
It's a hilarious prop at parties
>>
>>4434278
Pretty sure the Katar might fit Nura, provided we reassure her that it's so she can defend herself with something magic based, and that no, we're not telling her (both directly or indirectly) to go on assassination missions now. The hunting spear should go to Harpsi once she's proven to be fully capable with the quarterstaff we gave her. The purse gun's for when they're starting to learn firearm safety. Switchblade? Toss it. Halberd? Hold on to it until Noran could actually use it without falling over.
>>
>>4434292
We can shoot ourselves with it to show off our resilience. I'm half serious with this.
>>
>>4434298
What is this, Persona 3? impressive
>>4434297
The halberd is just a regular stock halberd it's not even particularly well made.
>>
>>4434292
>why the fuck do we need a flintlock pistol????
We don't, but we need it used on us even less.

Although... I did hear of a D&D story of a pirate campaign where one guy found a ring that would remove enchantments from the person who put it on. When a player found in a treasure pile, they found a blacksmith that could create a special barrel attachment to a flintlock pistol that would cause a bullet to pass through the ring at the end, then they had their wizard case Enlarge/Reduce on a bunch of cannonballs to shrink them in size. Then when he got into a fight, he'd load his pistol, put on the attachment, and fire cannonballs at his enemies.

So, yeah, pretty sure Jago would appreciate something like that.
>>
>>4434305
It's from royal armory and is still in one piece after two month of cleaving spiders and traitors. It's made well enough. But, yeah, no enchantments or anything.
>>
>>4434305
It was pretty good, considering the tech level. It's about the same level of quality that our kids weapons were, just unenchanted.
>>
>>4434309
Why can't it be done with a regular gun? Using a one-shot muzzle-loader feels like a needless handicap.
>>
>>4434317
in the original tale it wasn't a flintlock, it was a miniaturized ship cannon that fired miniature cannonballs
>>
>>4433057
>>4433078
>>4433108
>>4433159
>>4433629
You’re not going to let two guys in the middle of a shift change (you think) scare you out of getting some new stuff. All you need to do is be patient. You heighten your senses, though, just in case. No reason to get yourself caught out anyway, after all. Still.

This shouldn’t take too long...

“...so, everything’s good with him now? All better?” Oy.

“Yup, cleared right up! Gonna take him an’ his little brother out for a hunt soon, get ‘em used to it.” They’ve been talking for a solid 15 minutes. Seriously, for ‘elites’, there’s hardly any discipline here. “Think he’s gonna love it.”

“Good call,” the other man says. “But hey, how long’s it been? You should probably get to your post before someone checks in.” Oh finally.

“Yeah, yeah. Another night spent looking at the stars.” Wait, stars? Well, crap. “See ya around!”

As you feared, his steps start coming closer...figures. He’s right there? Why else? If not for exchanging guard duty...then to get to a DIFFERENT post.

>Hop back up- you may have to take him out if he notices something off.
>Strike first, strike hard! No time to waste!
>Shadowmeld, shadowmeld! Gartoum!
>Other
>>
>>4434323
Oh snap!
>Shadowmeld, shadowmeld! Gartoum!
Into the Armory room itself.
>>
>>4434323
>Strike first, strike hard! No time to waste!
Are we doing the 'no survivors' thing?
>>
>>4434309
Because you'd need to make normal bullets the size of tank shells that would be able to fit inside of a modern pistol's magazine and chamber after being shrunk in size, thus increasing the cost of creating the bullet, whereas the cannonball used in the flintlock has the benefit of just being a round lump of metal, with no need for an accordingly large bullet casing, appropriate amount of propellant, or primer. It just needs gunpowder.
>>
>>4434323
>Strike first, strike hard! No time to waste!
>Other
Sic Gart on the other guard too.
>>
>>4434323
>Shadowmeld, shadowmeld! Gartoum!
>>
>>4434323
>Shadowmeld, shadowmeld! Gartoum!
I'd prefer less bodies. That way they can look extra incompetent!
>>
>>4434329
Gah, meant for >>4434317.
>>
Speaking of giving stuff to people, what can we reward Gartoum with for carrying this mission?
>>
>>4434332
Switching to
>Shadowmeld, shadowmeld! Gartoum!
>>4434343
Actually read his book for once.
>>
>>4434343
I dunno, maybe some way to talk with us while he's still in the ring. Or possibly find a support group for sentient items so he can talk to beings in similar situations?
>>
>>4434323
>Strike first, strike hard! No time to waste!
>>4434343
By calling on him less.
>>
>>4434347
Yeah, this is long overdue.
>>
>>4434351
eh, we never call on him anyways. maybe once or twice per mission.
>>
>>4434360
this mission we've called on him like, 4 times already.
>>
>>4434323
>>4434326
>>4434333
>>4434336
>>4434347
“Gartoum!” you mentally call. “Shadowmeld! I need to vanish!”

“Right, right, just a moment! Dear me…” He mumbles, but you can feel your senses dulling as the darkness washes over you…

There’s some steps...and then nothing. “Thank goodness. Can you get us to the armor room?”

“Right, right, sure…” he sighs. “Starting to wonder about this place, really…”

“What do you mean?” you ask as he moves.

“Well..”

>Roll 4d20. Best of three.
>>
Rolled 16, 18, 17, 14 = 65 (4d20)

>>4434367
>>
Rolled 18, 10, 12, 8 = 48 (4d20)

>>4434367
>>
Rolled 6, 6, 2, 2 = 16 (4d20)

>>4434367
>>
Noice. Don't usually do such short posts, but...eh. Writing again.
>>
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Yeah, we're soo reading this book. After this stone mabbe?
>>
>>4434380
definitely
>>
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Also I imagine Gartoum looks similar to this, minus the latern and with a less saturated tint.
>>
>>4434391
Personally, I kinda had this guy in mind when we first met Gartoum. Extra points if you can name where he came from.
>>
>>4434401
Funnily enough, I know exactly what that game is.
>>
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>>4434405
And here I thought it was too obscure! Kudos, Handler.
>>
>>4434405
Stan's the man. Okage was hilarious. Also kinda sad.
>>
>>4434367
>>4434371
>>4434373
>>4434374

“I find it a touch...worrisome,” he explains as you slither along. “Pardon me for looking a gift horse in the mouth, but for an elite fortress, I’d expect better security. At least some sort of magic checkpoints or the like. Not just a barrier in the most obvious place. Then again, it’s not like many people have other ways to get in...” he mutters, but he leaves it at that. “Ah, here we are!” The sense returns to you in a few moments, and you find yourself in a decently sized room lined with various armors, much like a massive walk in closet. A plethora of gear similar to what you saw being worn earlier...most too large for you.

“Over here,” Gartoum says, and he leads you to a pair of chests; honest old fashioned storage chests, lock and everything. “Think you can open these quietly?”

A small spark is enough to break the hole around the locks, fortunately. You pause briefly to see if the guard was alerted...but no, fortunately. Opening the three chests, you find...well, in one you find what appears to be a set of officer clothing- very elaborate armor that looks to be a combination of light plating under leathers. Again, sadly, it’s too big for you to wear comfortably...but you might be able to swing the helmet, which seems to be some chainmail/leather variant. There’s also a faint blue glow to it- clearly enchanted. With what, you’re not sure. Probably water magic?

The second chest has a set about a dozen or so shields in them- well, bucklers, really. All the same, they’re good quality. A bright red and silver, polished to a gleaming mirror finish. THAT might be useful, thank you.

The third has a pair of arm bracers, with that same red trim. They look normal, though- don’t have that mirror polish that the bucklers did. Although...there’s something about them you can’t place that makes you wonder if that isn’t all there is to them...hm.

“Well, that’s that for now! Now...where to go from here?” Gartoum asks. “I doubt they won’t notice a shadow slithering along the ground in full lit view, don’t you say?” Good question. With the guard back up top, that’d be risky, but...hm.

>Take everything? Leave something behind?

>Try and be careful about where you travel. If you’re quiet and careful enough you might be able to slip past the guards and speed this up.
>Head back outside and go around the long way via shadows, though it’ll take more time.
>Other
>>
>>4434439
Yes he is. Yes he is...

I just wish that it sold better. That art style was what got me interested in the first place.

Well, that and I wished they didn't make Epros an absolute bastard of a boss fight.
>>
>>4434447
Grab the armor and helm, three bucklers, and the bracers. Armor for sale or trade, helm for us, bucklers for the kids, bracers for us.
>>
>>4434447
Take
>The helmet
>1 buckler
>The arm bracers.

>Head back outside and go around the long way via shadows, though it’ll take more time.
>>
>>4434447
>Time to brute force our way to the basement through the floor I suppose. Hopefully there's a lockstone here, Shadow King doesn't sense anything yet? He could sense the last one from a fair distance away.
>>
>>4434447
This >>4434458 and
>Set up Sticky Bomb-Sensor Trap combo and block the door with a Light Barrier!
Don't let them gear up when things get loud!
>>
>>4434447
>>4434458
>Head back outside and go around the long way via shadows, though it’ll take more time.
>>
>>4434460
We were inside the barrier last time. They probably have a barrier covering the lockstone like the last one
>>
>>4434447
>Take the bracers, one of the shields and the helmets

>Set up Sticky Bomb-Sensor Trap combo
Preferably with some explosives near the thing

>Try and be careful about where you travel. If you’re quiet and careful enough you might be able to slip past the guards and speed this up.
>>
>>4434447
>>4434458
+
No harm in taking everything, right? Right?
And
>Head back outside and go around the long way via shadows, though it’ll take more time
>>4434465
Theres still an armory underground. That will only hinder the upper floor soldiers.
>>
>>4434447
>Take the Helmet, grab 4 of the bucklers and the Arm bracers

>Try and be careful about where you travel. If you’re quiet and careful enough you might be able to slip past the guards and speed this up.
>>
Did everyone forget about the stuff we've discussed just two days ago? Time to set up traps! Don't let them back into the armory, what the heck! We're sabotaging the cannons but not the armory wth.
>>
>>4434447
Adding in
>Set up Sticky Bomb-Sensor Trap combo to sabotage the armory.
No need for a barrier.
>>
>>4434469
Yes, and? Do you want even more soldiers to have their gear?
>>
>>4434479
Fiiine.
>>4434447
>Set up Sticky Bomb-Sensor Trap inside the armory
>>
>>4434447
>>4434459
Switching to
>Try and be careful about where you travel. If you’re quiet and careful enough you might be able to slip past the guards and speed this up.
If we're setting up traps inside the armory, might as well speed this up.
>>
>>4434447
Writing!
>>
>>4434447
Alright...you’ll just take some of everything. The armor could probably...well, at the worst, you can sell it. Helmet’s usable. The bucklers you’ll snag four of, the kids’ll probably like ‘em. The bracers for you, too. On the other hand...you’d rather not they get ahold of these. Even if they’re just for a portion of these soldiers, any dissuasion is good. The answer is...fairly obvious.

>Current Mana: 9700/11000

The sticky mana shots should suffice, along with a zone scanner to let you know when someone’s hit the threshold. “Alright, get me out of here. We’re going back up, and hopefully we can get to the first sub-floor without any trouble.”

“Right, right...Worried I may need another nap after this, though…” he mutters as that dull feeling encroaches back on you one more time… “Buckle in, it’ll be a bit longer of a trip, though!”

Right, have to be careful…

>Roll 1d20, best of three.


(Small update, but I'm done for the night because I'm fading fast. Will write tomorrow!)
>>
Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4434551
>>
>>4434556
the security of this fortress sucks
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4434551
>>4434556
Nice
>>
>>4434557
Sounds like a case of they were more worried about what is inside escaping them something or someone breaking in.
>>
>>4434564
I dont think they were expecting anyone to shadowmeld their way in.
>>
>>4434551
I swear at some point Gartoum is going to spit us out in the middle of a platoon of soldiers just for shits n giggles, and you'll all regret using him so much. He's prankster at heart really.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d20)

blah, forgot my vote
>>
>>4434568
>spits us out in front of a platoon for shits n giggles
>trapped forever in a foreign world and absolutely no one would ever wear his ring
Come on anon, he likes travelling with us, why would he doom himself to eternal boredom?
>>
>>4434578
Oh no, we would destroy a platoon of goons for sure, him just teleporting us past fights is "boring"
>>
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>>4434580
Naaaah he's outta gas looks like, because he's been doing all the stealthing for us. When we go loud it's going to be a solo show, and we're much better at being a gorilla.
Can't wait to give THIS a swing.
>>
>>4434580
Did he EVER do something dangerous like that? Have you seen other summons doing risky stuff against their summoners?
>>
>>4434580
If you're bored from bypassing fights just wait a bit, things'll get hot in 6 posts or so.
>>
>>4434564
Taking bets on they having a dangerous mythical beast/dragon imprisoned in one of the lower levels. With Miranda having truespeak, we can try to persuade it.
>>
>>4434566
I mean the people in the north had charms and ward against shadow creatures even Gart said there was a lot of it around the area.
>>
>>4434633
probably this place is built like a nuclear reactor. relatively easy to get in, but it takes a long time to actually get what you want. Of course, they weren't expecting someone like us to get inside the base.
>>
>>4434586
When we first summoned Gartoum he tried to tentacle all three of the SES girls.
>>
>>4435247
There was no danger involved, he was only trying to show off his shadowmeld.
>“So, what, exactly, where you just trying to do?”
>“Oh, nothing heinous!” he insists. “Like I’d do that to the people that let me get a breath of fresh air in ages! That was just me tryin’ to show off my shadowporting! If there’s a shadow, I can slip in and out of it, y’see! Bring folks from one to the other if they’re connected, even! Anywhere there’s shadow or my own smoke! In addition to my little arts and crafts I tend to pull out, no less… but hoo boy! Let me tell you, folks back there didn’t seem to like my fun! Party poopers- I hate ‘em, y’know?”
Just admit that you hate him.
>>
>>4434869
True.

Also can't wait for the scene were the local garrison is guiding the hero party through all of this speaking about how impenetrable the forteess is and that even if someone got in it would have to pass by X than do Y. Just so when they are reaching they start to see smoke in the air and the partialy destroyed fortress.
>>
>>4435401
this will be specially funny because everyone will think that a dragon girl kid was the one that did all the mess.
>>
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>>4434260
Some ideas on what to do with our gear:
Hunting Spear, Halberd, Purse Gun - training equipment for the kids
Survival Knife - can keep it as a tool
Switchblade - goes in the bin
Multi-Missile launcher - we don't use it at all, so maybe we should give it to our new Enforcers, either Mono or Jago
Blightsnake Katar - it was suggested that Nura could use it, although I think that since she already has a dagger then we could have it reforged into a shortsword like cinquedea or a partisan spear for her to use.
Highball Rocket Launcher - I think it's better to keep it, 'just in case'
Seither Pellet Gun - we could shoot a fairy with it and test how potent it is against mana constructs. If it sucks - it goes into the bin.
Red Sun Gauntlets - pimp it out with crystals or manastones
K5 Bolt Pistol, Gaia MBR, Wonderland Sniper Coilgun - go shopping with Izumi and mod the shit out of them: sights, grips, barrel attachments and other stuff.
Flamebringer, Rapier, Draining Knife - before we move on to them, let me mention the elephant in the room
>The Giant Axe
This POS is too large to fit into our bag of holding and too big for our tiny body, but - troopers in power armor used it, so the material is stron enough to endure the punishment. It could be recycled and used to reinforce and buff up the stuff we have and then some.
Flamebringer - make it a full fledged flame sword: reforge, beef it up and turn it into a flamberge zweihander
Rapier - beef it up and/or reforge the balde into flamberge
Draining Knife - 6 inches blade is too short. Use the materials from the axe to either turn it into a spear or reforge into a long and sturdy parrying dagger to go with our rapier, with proper hand protection. Heck, make it a flamberge too.
Axe Leftovers - if there's anything else left of it, it could be used to make an elemental staff that has it's own spells and uses crystal-tech and manastones. Induction Orb and Spirit Stone from the summon mission could be used too, to increase mana cap and reduce manacost respectively.
>>
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>>4435620
>>
>>4435620
>Hunting Spear, Halberd, Purse Gun
Sure, although no gun training until they're older.

>Survival Knife, Switchblade
Sure.

>Multi-Missile launcher
I'd like to at least try it out first.

>Blightsnake Katar
It's a punching dagger. I'm pretty sure she's used one before.

>Highball Rocket Launcher
Sure.

>Seither Pellet Gun
Remake it into a paintball gun, then train the kids with that before they use actual firearms.

>Red Sun Gauntlets
Fine.

>Guns
Okay.

>Giant Axe
If we're not going to use either the giant axe or the armor, I'd rather just sell them both as a package deal. Who knows, could have some sort of wifi bonus.

>Flamebringer
It's good as is. Don't need to mess around with it.

>Rapier
We just beefed it a few threads ago and it makes for a good costume piece. It's good.

>Draining knife
It's shaped like a survival knife, and some of those things are able to be mounted to wooden shafts like spears. Just hire the dorfs to make a well made quarterstaff that can mount it. That way we've got a pretty good knife and quarterstaff that can turn into a spear.

Or maybe just enchant the hunting spear instead.
>>
>>4435620
>Multi-Missile launcher
It never hurts to have some non magical weapons that we can use ourselves or loan to NPCs if needed
>Seither Pellet Gun
the gun itself kills non magical beings, its just more gruesome. we can definitely use it as a shock and awe weapon against normal people
>The axe
well, the axe WAS SUPPOSED to be a war trophy, but we have tried to make some use out of it. Maybe the best we can do i to actually make it a trophy and put it on display in HQ.
>Flamebringer
its fine as it is; the gravity gem plus the flames and the fact that is a single handed sword(at least to us) makes it super useful like that
>Rapier
its fine as it is as well; its purpose isn't to be a melee weapon, but a magic damage multiplier and it does that job pretty well.
>Draining Knife
we just got the thing and while it is pretty easy to glue a stick to it and make it a spear, miranda doesn't seem to be the kind of girl that likes spears, plus the knife itself definitely compliments her close and personal fighting style.

>>4435657
>Remake the seither gun into a paintball gun, then train the kids with that before they use actual firearms.
or we buy actual paintguns, or use the training guns the HQ shooting gallery has. that's cheaper and faster.
>>
>>4435671
>or we buy actual paintguns, or use the training guns the HQ shooting gallery has. that's cheaper and faster.

From what I imagined, it's basically just a paintball gun already. The only thing that stands out about it is the seither pellets it fires.
>>
>>4435657
>>4435671
okay, got it, not touching the melee weapons.
what about the magic staff idea?
>>
>>4435682
I'm cool with that. Any ideas on what it could do?
>>
>>4435682
miranda isn't a mage; from what i remember she hates wands and is neutral at best with a staff. if you want her to use magical stuff, they have to be in the shape of stabby or punchy stuff.
>>
Writing shortly!
>>
>>4435682
Pitching in. It's decent, but who would use it (most usually not Miranda for sure) and what can it do? Do we give it to the nerds as some sort of homework assignment?
>>
>>4435682
>>4435690
Hold on, do you mean magic wizard staff or magic kung fu quarterstaff? Because I'm mainly for magic kung fu quarterstaff, but I could go wizard if we find an interesting enough one.
>>
>>4435693
Also, welcome back, Handler.
>>
>>4435694
>Do we give it to the nerds as some sort of homework assignment?
the nerds already told us that they are not taking any requests for the foreseeable future, so we would have to ask someone else and in that case we might as well buy something that already exists.

>>4435701
i think miranda would appreciate a quarterstaff, but look at her arsenal and her logic.
She tries to puch, stab with the flamebringer and finally magiblast herself out of a problem. i don't think she'll use the quarterstaff at all.
>>
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>>4435686
>>4435694
It could probably be used to channel elemental techniques better or use manastone spells as a base and make them stronger - pepper stones for fireballs (Miranda's magiblasts can't set things on fire), shock stones to zap people from distance and from what I got from a discussion in discord, water stone projectiles are balls of pressurized water that blow up after hitting/piercing the target. Not sure if crystals themselves would do anything, but crystal-tech staffs Owlia and Cylica use could serve as a base/frame for it.
>>4435690
>they have to be in the shape of stabby or punchy stuff.
Do you want it to be a swordstaff?
>>
>>4435706
>i don't think she'll use the quarterstaff at all.
I think she might, but only if there's something the quarterstaff could do that isn't covered by what she has on her now. Like, a regular +1 or +2 quarterstaff is probably a no go. A quarterstaff that vibrates like a tuning fork when hitting someone and increases the striking damage from it's vibrations? Absolutely, sign me up.

>>4435730
Yeah, that's more a wizard staff. I'd say yes to keeping a lookout for any interesting wizard staves, but making one of our own, not so much.
>>
Have been working on something, assuming the cloak magically "hides" the cumbersome parts like the horns and wings, because using a hooded cloak with them around is bothersome.

An interpretation of Miranda while cloaked, since G anon has already done the main costume. With some dark smoke motifs. Gradient hair, face scales, slitted eyes and the clasp/pin are all included.
>>
>>4435730
>Do you want it to be a swordstaff?
i'd prefer to have stuff added to the already existing weapons that we have like the new swordwhip, but yeah, that could work.

>>4435735
yeah, the weapon would need to have some pretty neat things for us to even consider using it.
>>
>>4435735
I just want to put all the stuff we've donated to the lab to use. We've dumped weapons there thinking that they'd reverse engineer them and make something better but all we have are crystals, sigil plates and some unrelated experimental stuff. I hope that they at least used it to improve their gear or could make something to arm our aircraft and minbots with.
What if it wasn't a staff but a spell-shotgun instead?
>>
>>4435743
>the weapon would need to have some pretty neat things for us to even consider using it.
>grab flintlock pistol
>>
>>4435755
Looting =/= using anon.
Also, spell-shotgun? What's that, and where can I get one?
>>
>>4435755
we're talking about making weapons, not about the ones we get our hands into for whatever reason
>>
>>4435752
Well, we dumped our only spell shotgun in there, so I'd love to get SOMETHING out of it... Some new ammo types at least.

Imagine having Ivonium fleshwarping buckshot, or exploding Seither slugs, or buckshot made from enchanted emerald shards that burn through bodies like acid. Damn...
>>
>>4435757
spell gun from wild west mission, uses manastones
>>
>>4435767
>>4435764
i'm pretty sure we can buy an autoshotgun and buy it some mods. we have more than enough motes for something nice. maybe something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXvmGtLYwKA
>>
>>4435771
but can an autoshotgun use spells?
>>
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>>4435776
With any motes, we can have anything...
>>
>>4435771
Yeah, but, y'know... Magic Super Shotgun just sounds so awesome!

Also, is it just me being a gigantic video game nerd, or did you pick that shotgun because of the Gloomwood Demo?
>>
>>4435776
the manastone one technically couldn't, but we can make it happen.
>>
>>4435783
nah, i just like guns and the forgotten weapons channel. Ian has a lot of cool stuff in video, like this weird thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nse7pbgShTg
>>
>>4435786
So basically you want to do this to it?

>>4435791
I've seen his show a couple of times. Mostly for the old, weird guns, the homemade guns, and the hilariously shitty guns. Fun enough watch, but I only view them once in a long while.
>>
>>4435802
>So basically you want to do this to it?
not me, but the anon that wants a shotgun probably would appreciate it
>>
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>>4435829
>>4435802
We can get Izumi to teach us some of her tricks...
>>
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>>4434551
The ride so far proves...smooth, to be honest. “Not much in the way of alertness,” Gartoum comments after several minutes. “Really, they’ve gotten farrr too lax. Almost want to cause a ruckus just to liven things up…”

“Do NOT,” you mutter back. “At least not yet.”

“Fine, fine...there’s at least more guards out here,” he notes. “Seems our timing was apt. Hate that it makes me have to be a touch more cautious, however. No one seems to have noticed the little work we’ve done...then again, we did it right on the underside, didn’t we?”

“I don’t expect them to never notice, though,” you mumble. “If they’re any competent, they’ll keep a running gear check just to be safe.” Although you’re starting to wonder…

The rest of it is...fortunately smooth, it seems. You’re seemingly in darkness for maybe a half hour, you think, before you hear him whisper. “Aaaand we’re down. 1st Sub-Floor, here we are!”

...Finally. You’re practically popped out, and when you look at him, he...sighs? “Mmmm...rubbery feeling all of a sudden with this mana. Not a grand taste. Distracting, to say the least.” Oh. “I’ll be wanting to try and feel this out a bit further, methinks…and I’m not sure that carrying you further is a grand idea.” Hm. Concerning. But, well, something to keep in mind for later. As for now...

Where you’re at now is...well, he said it was an armory of sorts. It’s pretty plain- an L shaped hallway of stone and rug flooring lined by magic lights, it seems. You’ll have to step lightly. A quick power sense tells you there’s four individuals up ahead- there’s just the one hallway with four exits- two being the T-section at the end of the hallway, and the first to your left, the second further down to your right. Two of the individuals aren’t much threat, and judging by their positioning, they’re on guard. One might be...somewhat annoying, and is still in the exit to your right before the end of the hallway in front of you. They aren’t moving. The fourth is moving away from you- down the right hallway. The hall to your immediate left is pretty bare, but for one turn and a door at the end.

>Investigate the first entrance way on your left.
>Go down the left hallway.
>Sneak up to the rightmost door.
>Other
>>
>>4435844
>Turn on and maintain Hearing Boost.
>Investigate the first entrance way on your left.

My mind tells me we should go loud right here and right now, but.
>>
>>4435844
>>Go down the left hallway.
>>
>>4435844
>Investigate the first entrance way on your left.
>>
>>4435844
>>4435860
>Turn on and maintain Hearing Boost.
>>
>>4435844
>Turn on and maintain Hearing Boost.
>Investigate the first entrance way on your left.
>>
>>4435844
>Investigate the first entrance way on your left.
>>
>>4435844
>Turn on and maintain Hearing Boost.
>Investigate the first entrance way on your left.
Can't wait til' the fun part.
>>
Writing!
>>
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>>4435844
>>4435859
>>4435862
>>4435864
>>4435872
>>4435878
Turning on your hearing boost just to be safe, you figure you might as well take a looksee in the nearest entrance; you can’t sense anyone in there, after all. Stepping as carefully as you can, you slip inside the door- no one seems to be thinking twice of it, thank goodness.

Inside, you can see there’s a number of armor shelves, holding different types of footwear- shoes, boots, and the sorts, along with two small tables. To the right, a few more helmets of a much more standard nature. There’s a cot in the corner, however, and a set of dressers on the left. Nothing particularly special, honestly. A couple of books are left on the table, their contents open for anyone to see.

>Roll 2d20, best of three.
>>
Rolled 15, 13 = 28 (2d20)

>>4435975
Nothing unusual I suppose.
>>
Rolled 13, 16 = 29 (2d20)

>>4435975
>>
Rolled 16, 10 = 26 (2d20)

>>4435975
>>
>>4435975
16, 16. Writing.
>>
>>4435975
So, with sub floors
1 armory
2 barracks
3, training
4, training
+ locked off area on the fourth floor.
If there's going to be a problem carving an elevator shaft it'll be on the second floor, so if we find a nice quiet spot on the second floor, I propose we cut through the ceiling and floor, so we have quick access to the first floor
>>
>>4436023
Yeah I can go with that plan. We're gonna have to go loud sooner or later
>>
>>4436023
If the ceiling is shallow enough for the Flamebringer to burn through, I can dig this.
>>
We need to pull out our sword eventually.Even if Rand ais a more punchy girl and she has claws now.
>>
>>4435975
>>4435978
>>4435979
>>4435980
Nothing specifically about magic or anything, unfortunately, but nearly just as good- one of them is a sort of report booklet, detailing past movements around the fortress, things like repair work or notable events and the sort. And it’s updated to today, you can see. According to this, the new guards that are supposed to be coming here are expected to arrive early in the morning, before the sun’s up. Good to know. The second is something of an equipment listing, it seems; a general record of the gear that everyone has and what’s available to be used. Not the most useful, but still usable.

As you peruse it, however, you hear footsteps...and then voices. “...All I’m saying is that you need to keep better care of your shit, is all.” Crap. “The bosses found you leaving that kinda crap around, your arse would be on PT forever.”

“It was for ten damned minutes!” comes the response, and you know you don’t have a lot of time to figure out what to do about this.

>Hide in the standing dresser. Wait for them to go away.
>The cot’s off the ground...you could hide under the bed, perhaps.
>Just wait behind the door and get ready to silence them…
>Other
>>
>>4436048
We do have magi-wave, that can also cut through buildings, incase flamebringer can't, also easier to reach with because Miranda Short.
>>
>>4436058
>Hide in the standing dresser. Wait for them to go away.
>>
>>4436058
>Hide in the standing dresser. Wait for them to go away.
worst case scenario, one of them opens the dresser, we punch him out and we jump after the other
>>
>>4436058
>Hide in the standing dresser. Wait for them to go away.
>Other
Ready the Draining Knife.
>>
>>4436058
>Hide in the standing dresser. Wait for them to go away.
No need to jump after the other, just drag him in with Mana Tether.
>>
>>4436058
>>Hide in the standing dresser.
>get ready to silence them
>>
>>4436058
>Hide in the standing dresser. Wait for them to go away.

This reminds me of metal gear.
>>
Last for tonight. Writing.
>>
Oh, btw handler, can we get a miranda dot on the map?
>>
>>4436128
Too small to notice.
>>
>>4436058
>>4436064
>>4436066
>>4436067
>>4436070
>>4436085
>>4436072
You quickly slip towards the dresser; getting caught here would be the LAST thing you want. Fortunately, the hinges are well oiled, so there’s not much sound as you slip in, revealing a number of leather gambesons, and close it behind you. You’re worried, but ready if they decide they need a change...well. You’ll be ready, especially thanks to this knife of yours…

Before much longer, you can hear the door open. “Right, see? Harmless.”

“Why’d you even bring them in here, anyway?” the other one asks. “You don’t need to bring the logs WITH you when you’re doing basic sweeps, that’s only for deep accounting- an’ that’s not until next week.”

“Well, figured I’d save some time! Mark th’ basics down that everything’s right, let the guy next week have an easier time of it! Easy!” There’s the sound of pages flipping. “Whatcha doin’?”

“...you didn’t mark down coming in here,” is the response, and you can imagine the grin even as you frown. “So easy, huh?”

“Ey, don’t blame me for Chedwick askin’ for help outta the blue an’ takin’ so long to move those things! So I forgot for a sec, no big!” He grumbles, and you can hear movement, and it might be getting closer.

Well, shit.

>Roll 2d20, best of three.

(Last for tonight, though.)
>>
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>>4436151
Forgot the pic.
>>
Rolled 20, 9 = 29 (2d20)

>>4436151
Fucking hell, gonna go loud I guess.
>>
Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>4436151
Night boss!
>>
Rolled 9, 14 = 23 (2d20)

>>4436151
Aw shit, forgot the second roll. Roling right this time.
>>
Rolled 3, 17 = 20 (2d20)

>>4436161
>>4436162
Oh my~

>>4436151
>>
>>4436167
and another 20
>>
>20 & 17
RIP
>>
>>4436195
Yeesh, we kill them so good they might not even have time to scream. So maaaaybe we will still be in stealth mode.
>>
>>4436184
>>4436203
>>4436195

Oh boy here we go killing again.
>>
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>>4434447
>a set of officer clothing- very elaborate armor that looks to be a combination of light plating under leathers.
>the helmet, which seems to be some chainmail/leather variant.
So, something like a brigandine/coat of plates + enchanted leather larp helmet with an aventail?
>>
>>4436218
>>
>>4436210
They wont even know what hit them. Officers these days, Pheh! Not prepared for the dragon girl in the armory closet ruse.
>>
>>4436512
We could even dress ans an officer and our mean aura will scare them from asking any stupid questions
>>
>>4436679
Unfortunantly Miranda is too small to pass as a officer.
>>
>>4436746
We might be able to pass it off as a novelty prank, but they'd probably try and escort us off base
>>
>>4436746
that is until a soldier tries to detain us and we bring our inner drill officer out to chew them out.
>>
>>4436930
Jokes aside, that'd make too much noise and attract unwanted attention. Then we'd waste even more time trying to dig ourselves out.
I almost want to blast through multiple floors with Magiwaves and just jump down now, but they might have barriers between floors.
>>
>>4436930
>>4437026
Yeah, even if they're incompetent as guards, they still must know all the instructors in this facility and we're certainly not one of them.
I feel like these guys are just ceremonial guards who look pretty on parades and don't get out from their fortress often. Maybe this is where nobles send off their spare children that won't be inheriting the title.
>>
>>4437066
Yeah, I think we should be worrying about the instructors instead.
>>
>>4437026
I think we can scan through the floors with the futuresight. I remember back on the bleachspaghetti mission that we scanned the floor(I think?) to see what was underground.
Maybe when then current threat is gone we can scan the floor for a rough idea of the next sub-floor (and then do the same for the next one)
>>
>>4436218
>>4436220
Actually very close, yes.
>>
>>4437328
It can do that? Well, I'm voting that we hide the bodies, scan the floors to see if there's anything unusual and just drill through to skip these grunts.
>>
>>4437356
>>4437328
I mean, that would alert the whole base prematurely, I'd like to set up more explosives in the armory and prepare the turret. Taking care of a couple of grunts is not a big deal.
>>
>>4437328
Ok I've found the post on the archive.
Only scanned for mana signatures or magic through walls/floors.
>It doesn't take too long to see you something oddball about the place already. A quick scan up at the sigil reveals that although it would need more data samples in order to construct a positive match, the current best guess was that it was indeed some sort of mental relaxant consistent with mind control magics. That's already concerned enough, but setting it to a wider scan reveals that there are several such nexuses of mana in the immediate vicinity and some that seem to be something else entirely; illusional magics. Several of those are NOT in areas that you recognize- they're in walls, from your estimation. Walls, and rooms that you can't deduce an obvious entrance to.
>Speaking of, there's the strange basin of mana below you, with a few points of mana surrounding it, no less. Apparently, the large singature is actually mana-infused water; you didn't think such a thing existed here.
>>
>>4437391
>mana scanning through walls
Bingo, so the option's still there when needed. If there aren't any barriers between the ceilings/floors then we can just drill through if needed, and this fortress'll need to hire a better architect.
>>
Started to write, and I'm just wiped today. I'll run tomorrow through Monday because holiday.
>>
>>4437444
No problem, boss. If you're exhausted, it's for the best to recharge your battery. See you around!
>>
Writing shortly!
>>
>>4438406
Huzzah, stay hydrated!
>>
>>4438429
>>
>>4436151
>>4436154
>>4436161
>>4436167
You hear the footsteps stop in front of yours. Quiet breath, loosen up, don’t tense up…

He opens the door, and you’re on him before he can open his mouth again, knife flashing. His neck’s covered- the armor’s got a high leather neckline. To the side of the head, then, and cover his mouth so he can’t scream as the blade slips in and out near silently...good. The body crumples like a doll, and his friend looks stunned- like what just happened wasn’t real.

Real enough, now. He barely gets his blade up. Instinct honed by training, you think, before you’re on him. You only have a knife- but it’s held much more surely than his sword, which is why it’s batted to the side with a rich clang, if still in his grip. Doesn’t matter. His body is off-center. So’s his mind. You take advantage, and slip around to his back. One hand on the top, one on the chin. His neck cracks quietly as you hold him close, and he follows his fellow guardsman to the realm beyond.

You’ll need to hide them now, though. People are gonna be looking for them…

The closet should work for the broken neck guard. The cot for the stabbed one- don’t want blood dripping on the floor and giving an early indication of your presence.

Now, with that issue out of the way…

>Continue down the left hallway. Let’s see what’s there.
>See if you can’t sucker another couple guards in to let you have freer run of the place.
>Other
>>
>>4438520
>See if you can’t sucker another couple guards in to let you have freer run of the place.
Knife to the side of the head, ouch.
>>
>>4438520
>See if you can’t sucker another couple guards in to let you have freer run of the place.
>>
>>4438520
>Continue down the left hallway. Let’s see what’s there.
>>
>>4438520
>Continue down the left hallway. Let’s see what’s there.

i would say to look them but soldiers in post don't carry money. They probably had those in his closest or something.

Also calling more people in might make people even more suspicious when there is no one around
>>
>>4438520
>Continue down the left hallway. Let’s see what’s there.
If people are going into that room, we can sneak around behind em' for some stealth kills. Such are the wonders of having a radar in your head.
>>
>>4438535
supportin
>>
>>4438520
>Continue down the left hallway. Let’s see what’s there.
>>
>>4438520
>Continue down the left hallway. Let’s see what’s there.
oooh, we're going full hitman! this will be fun
>>
I completely forgot, should we set up traps in this room as well? Or keep it for the room with weapons?
>>
>>4438562
The armory seems to me the place where they'd get their good stuff if an intruder came on site, so that should be more of a priority then this room.
>>
How about we scan the area for magic signatures or something through the walls/floor before we get out.
>>
Moving on. Writing.
>>
I'm (slightly) regretting not taking the vanishing sigil plate to this mission. Didn't think we would be sneaking around at the beginning of the job. Hopefully the boss' goons will be useful after getting this lockstone.
>>
>>4438582
If things go right, Miranda will point to this job cycles to come and say : "See Lorelei, I can do sneaky shit too!".

I find it funny that we're doing decent stealth in a A+ intimidation costume and without the invisibility plate.
>>
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>>4435671
>>4435657
>Draining Knife
coming back to this after what's just happened, I think that keeping it as a 'knife' isn't practical even if we want to use it close and personal - combat knives are still thin and too light for proper melee and 6 inches blade is not long enough to deal with thick hides and armor, it can cut through only after absorbing mana - it's just a basic knife without it. I still think it must be beefed up and made into a dagger. And maybe Grizzy can do something about increasing the amount of mana it can drain/absorb. We already have a tool-knife, so this one should be specialized for fighting.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27579
>L. 15 7/8 in. (40.3 cm); L. of blade 11 in. (27.9 cm);
>thickness of blade 3/8 in. (1 cm);
>>
>>4438615
We can punch through skulls. the knife is just a formality
>>
>>4438621
then why didn't miranda just punch through the guy, huh?
>>
>>4438621
We could have probably used the claws in our hands
>>
>>4438627
because anons wanted to use the knife
>>
>>4438590
That's because Gart did most of the work.
>>
>>4438627
Because
>We already have the knife in our hand
>A knife execution is much faster/easier to kill-confirm/more subtle than a fatal punch or a neck crack.
>>
>>4438615
>>4438627
Anon, the knife's doing fine. It's good as a utility and stealth option, and if it didn't get used on a person at some point, someone would ask why we didn't use it.
>>
>>4438635
This ya dingus, if ya want to mod it just spec more into its niche. Like more mana draining capacity/strength and a minor speed boost.
>>
Okay, full disclosure, I'm watching a wrassling PPV so if I take some time to write posts, that's why.
>>
>>4435657
>Blightsnake Katar
>It's a punching dagger. I'm pretty sure she's used one before.
>>4434297
>so she can defend herself with something magic based
>no, we're not telling her (both directly or indirectly) to go on assassination missions now
the reason why I suggested to reforge it into something else is that Katar is not a defensive weapon, and extra step of turning it into a shortsword or a spear is there to make it one.
>>4435657
>>4435671
>Multi-Missile launcher
I bet that we're never ever ever going to use it. We haven't even used our other rocket-launcher, why do you think we'll need this one?
>>4438637
I did mention increasing its mana draining capacity
>>4438635
>It's good as a utility and stealth option
I don't see it that way
I feel like a faggot for replying to this many posts
>>
>>4438640
What's playing?

Possible inspiration for an NPC/future mission
>>
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>>4438640
Will we get an opportunity to execute a stunner in this job?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qJ2LQI2Lt8
>>
>>4438646
>>4435657
although I do get your point that she just needs something that packs a punch
>>
>>4438646
>I bet that we're never ever ever going to use it. We haven't even used our other rocket-launcher, why do you think we'll need this one?
we have used it before, but not much.
>>
>>4438655
nope, Owlia used it, not us
>>
>>4438646
Here's a question to ask, then. How do you know that the Katar and the Antimagic Knife are going to have the exact same enchantments after they're melted down to slag, then beaten into a new shape?
>>
>>4438660
Yeah I noticed as well. No way they'll be able keep their enchantments, or they'll charge us premium for such a job. This isn't like a vidya where we can just combine weps.
>>
>>4438660
>>4438664
Because Handler has mentioned that one of the ways to deal with item bloat was to combine items, so why not?
>>
>>4438646
>I bet that we're never ever ever going to use it.
That depends on what types of jobs we take, as always.

Anyways, the launchers probably need a bit more fleshing out on what they can do and what munitions they can launch, so we could make more informed decisions on what our loadouts should be. Maybe a bit of time spent at a specialty range should be in order? Or hell, a look at them with the FutureSight at least.
>>
>>4438647
Watching AEW All Out.

>>4438648
If you want.
>>
>>4438664
>>4438660
Rapier has been reforged and it still works as intended
>>
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>>4438672
YES haha!
>>
>>4438673
The rapier's been REINFORCED, anon. Not melted down and turned into an ingot, then remade again.

You want to turn a Katar into... What do you even want to turn it into, actually? And turning a fighting knife into a dagger... Aren't those just similar enough already?
>>
>>4438671
Highball has guided anti-vehicle missiles, so it could be used to lock on targets moving at high speed, not necessarily a vehicle - like some unlucky Flash-wanna-be. Next time we visit Kovalsy, we should ask if there are other types of rockets. And non-anti-magic ammo for coilgun.
As far as I know, MMLauncher just launches HE rockets and has many tubes, so I think it's just a mini-Katyusha
>>
>>4438688
It was visibly beefed up, so it's reforged in my opinion. You don't just add more metal on top of the blade.
Katar - a shortsword or a spear.
Knife is a dagger - not really. Six inches is short even for a combat knife.
>>
>>4438694
>It was visibly beefed up, so it's reforged in my opinion.
well, your opinion is wrong; it was reinforced, not reforged.
>>
>>4438697
*Kowalski
Fuck
>>
>>4438691
Fair enough. Might as well see what they could do and what Kowalski has in stock for them before we sell, though.

>>4438694
In terms of it's magical aura. Remember we brought it to the dorfs so it could channel our Nebula Buster.

>Katar - a shortsword or a spear.
We're already giving away two of our polearms. It would be cheaper to just enchant one of them then to reforge a currently enchanted weapon into a different weapon.

>Knife is a dagger - not really. Six inches is short even for a combat knife.
Seemed to work well enough on the guard.
>>
>>4438709
>Knife is a dagger - not really. Six inches is short even for a combat knife.
>Seemed to work well enough on the guard.

Dunno man i think we might need to stab a couple more people to make sure.
>>
>>4438709
I've never said that we should sell rocket launchers, I want to give it to our junior enforcers, Mono or Jago. We don't use it at all but it'd certainly help them with their missions. That way we can have someone using it on a job with us while we do our flashy magic.
>>
>>4438709
The reason why I want to reforge our stuff is because Handler is having trouble with item bloat, so instead of buying new stuff I suggested reforging what we already have. It does have more extra steps but there'd be less items to keep track of.
>>
>>4438741
it would be better to get rid of unnecessary items whenever we finish a mission.
>>
>>4438730
Replace sell with give away, then.

>>4438741
Then just give away or sell the Katar, anon. That'll get rid of the bloat and give us money or an appreciative friend.
>>
Might as well keep going. No reason to muck around out here. You quickly slip out, checking for any new patrollers. Nothing, thank goodness, which mean you can keep going for a bit longer. As you check further, there’s no one there right this moment; though there is someone around the corner, judging by your scenting. You can also see a stairwell; seems like there’s the way to the third floor if you want.

But the whole thing is a bit smaller than you expected...unless the other direction has more to look for. Then again, you might as well just go ahead and continue on to the next floor if there’s nothing else to worry about, you think. But you never know…

>Continue on. (Roll 1d20)
>Try looking elsewhere on this floor for anything interesting.
>Other
>>
Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4438769
>Continue on. (Roll 1d20)
>>
>>4438769
>Try looking elsewhere on this floor for anything interesting.
Might as well see if there's an armory to trap.
>>
>>4438774
Daaaamn that's the first nat 1 of the job methinks.
>>
>>4438769
>Try looking elsewhere on this floor for anything interesting.
>>
>>4438769
>Try looking elsewhere on this floor for anything interesting
Where do they keep their weapons?
>>
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>>4438779
Well, at least there's no crit failures here...
>>
Rolls would be after the choice, I meant to mean.
>>
>>4438769
>Try looking elsewhere on this floor for anything interesting.
Get to the armory and take their shit
>>
>>4438700
>He presents the weapon, and indeed- it looks much the same, maybe a bit thicker at the base, and clearly has some sort of metal added just on the edge.
I don't know how more metal could be added to a blade without reforging, unless magic is involved. 'Reinforcing' is also a vidya concept.
>>
>>4438815
More souvenirs for the kids? I think it's time to teach them the fine art of swordplay...

...If only because swords are one of the most commonly enchanted weapons in all the multiverses.
>>
>>4438825
Sure we can, but I just wanted to steal shit for motes and extra stuff we can forge into new equipment or something.
>>
>>4438823
don't expect too much logic from a quest that involves heavy amounts of magic
>>
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>>4438769
>>4438777
>>4438780
>>4438800
>>4438815
No reason to not keep at it, you suppose. There’s a lot left to check. The question is, where? There’s a door back down the hall that you could look into...but on the other hand, there’s also a whole hallway to investigate...if you want to try and take them down.

Hm…

As you’re thinking, however, you hear something in your mind. “Hellooo?” Oh. Gartoum. “Ah, there we are. Won’t lie, seems like there’s something...strange in the air here. There’s something in particular that I’m...curious about.”

“Curious how?” you find yourself asking.

“There’s quite the conflux of mana deeper down,” he notes. “Not like the Lockstone, but...something. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now it’s gone a-rumbling...almost like it just woke up.” Hm. That might not be good. “Nothing that should be worried about right now, methinks...but something to keep note of. Somewhere around the deeper recesses, maybe 4th floor or so…”

Something to keep note of as you explore.

>Try the doorway back down the hall.
>Try the doorway where the other individual was sleeping.
>See if you can’t drop the guards in the hallway nearby.
>Other
>>
>>4438902
>Try the doorway where the other individual was sleeping.
Yep, imprisoned dangerous mythical beast.
>>
>>4438823
>>4438709
Although he does say he might 'reinforce' it (which doesn't guarantee that's what he actually did)
>"‘Less this alloy is something mighty strong, I can understand tha worry. I’ll take a looksee at it and see ‘bout reinforcin’ it. Mebbe ‘round the base, from an eyeballin’. It’s a thin thing, this blade- more fer flash an’ show than a propa fight. ‘Kin still keep its piercin’ qualities while givin’ ‘er a bit more heft.”
Now hear this - none of the stuff we gave to make the Morph blade had properties to change their shape. Meaning that dorfs might have magic that lets them reshape metal and add stuff without completely reforging/smelting it.
>>
>>4438902
>Try the doorway back down the hall.
>>
>>4438902
>Try the doorway where the other individual was sleeping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGSUjuSBt1A
>>
>>4438902
>Try the doorway where the other individual was sleeping.
>>
>>4438916
If that is true then modifying weapons should be safe.
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4438916
>>4438951
If that's the case, I'd still rather we'd just give the Katar to Nura or sell it.

We're already giving up the halberd and the hunting spear. We could enchant them for cheaper AND not have to pay for treatment (due to it being enchanted in the Intersection rather then being brought in from elsewhere). With remaking the Katar, we'll have to pay for it twice over.
>>
>>4438902
>>4438907
>>4438918
>>4438921
>>4438932
Alright, let’s see if there’s anything else on the other end of the place. Could be interesting. You move back down the hallway, keeping an eye out. You don’t THINK there’ll be much else in the way of guard watching, but, well...never know.

The door’s open, thank goodness, and as you get closer, you can hear snoring. You quickly peek in- ah. Barracks, of a sort. A larger room, with rows of bunk beds, each with chests next to them- likely personal effects. There’s a door in the back, however, and a single soldier sleeping soundly. Not much here, either, sadly- save for a general schedule, it seems like.

>Continue through the back door.
>Return to the hallway. (Where next?)
>Other

(Sorry, this whole sequence was meant to be done at a faster clip, but...yeah, wrasslin. It's done now, though.)
>>
>>4439018
There are only 4 guards left in the general area, including this sleeping one?
>>
>>4439018
>Continue through the back door.
I could see passing through at least 1 barracks segment of the fortress as being necessary to reach the inner depths, why not pass through this scarcely populated one while we can?
>>
>>4439018
>Continue through the back door.
Put down some sticky mana on the floor near the sleeping guard's bed in case he gets up and tries something.

So who ended up as the best wrassleboy of all?
>>
>>4439018
>sneak up and interrogate the soldier
We need to know where's the armory, what else are they guarding, etc.
>>
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>>4439018
>Continue through the back door.
You can repay us by doing a propa wresslan sequence in this job. Like suplexing a fairy.
>>
>>4439018
>Continue through the back door.
And add the suggestion from >>4439026
>>
>>4439026
Are we talking floor is lava level of sticky mana, or your slippers are full of glue and glued to the floor levels of sticky mana.
Because the second is way funnier to me.
>>
>>4439026
>>4439042
Why can't we kill/interrogate him instead?
>>
>>4439026
Hm. The PPV was kinda rough in spots, DESU. I think the best match of the night was probably the main event. Jon Moxley won in a hard fought one.
>>
>>4439054
...'desu'? What? I didn't swear or say anything particularly off...
>>
>>4439047
Definitely the second one.

>>4439052
Because he's probably a grunt who knows little, and it would leave us open to being noticed if we try to head back to the other room with him in tow for interrogation.
>>
>>4439055
Tee bee etch is wordfiltered into desu boss.
>>
>>4439018
>Continue through the back door
>>
>>4439055
Did you put down the abbreviation for In My Opinion? Because that gets changed to DESU on 4chan.
>>
>>4439058
I mean, he could at least point out where the armory is. And what about the other option?
>>
>>4439066
Wait, hold on...

IMO

DESU
>>
>>4439072
Opinions are permitted, Honesty is not!
Nothing is true, Everything is permitted.
ASS Creed had it right the whole time!
>>
...huh. Okay then.

Well, writing!
>>
>>4439067
Because it would take time and leave evidence to clean up that would risk our discovery. We can blast through him and the others on the way out.
>>
>>4439060
there are people who didn't know the existence of the long lived t-b.h to desu word filter? I remembered it came from people bitching about twitter slang.
>>
>>4439083
Pulling tricks with sticky mana also takes time, we could've just left him there as if he was sleeping. He could still scream and cast spells when he wakes up even with his feet stuck.
>>
>>4439124
*left the body
>>
>>4439018
>>4439024
>>4439026
>>4439034
>>4439042

Forget it. You’ll have to be quiet, but you’ll instead head through the back door…

...and HERE’S the primary armory room, it seems. At least for this area. A plethora of shortswords, longswords, daggers, staves, staffs, shields, plate armor, and a few barrels rest in here. If this isn’t where the majority of the forces get their tools, then it’s at least one of the primary spots. There’s little in the way of enchantments, it seems like after a cursory inspection; very much largely old-fashioned steel and leather gambesons of a number of sizes, surprisingly. Wonder if they actually have something in your size or not...

There’s also a door to the left. Might lead to that hallway up top, you think. That or somewhere close.

As you’re considering what to do next, however, you hear footsteps thanks to your enhanced hearing; they’re thumping down the hall you just came in from. Hm…

>Hold here, wait to see what happens for a few moments.
>No, best to get some distance- see if you can’t slip out the north way. Hopefully there won’t be any guards nearby.
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush.
>Other
>>
>>4439145
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush.
After we're done taking care of things, we'll grab two or three shortswords for the kids.

>>4439124
>Pulling tricks with sticky mana also takes time
Less time then interrogating him in an unsecured room? Or dragging him to a secured one?

>we could've just left him there as if he was sleeping
And we did, just with the added benefit of him being immobilized and acting as a possible lure for his coworkers.

>He could still scream and cast spells when he wakes up even with his feet stuck.
Thereby distracting coworkers away from us, with him blaming it on that one coworker that usually pulls pranks like this.

Not like it actually mattered, seeing as it didn't happen. So chill, alright?
>>
>>4439145
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush.
>>4439152
Meant killing him would take just as much time.
>>
>>4439145
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush.
>>
>>4439145
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush
>>
>>4439155
Fair, but we're past it now.
>>
>>4439145
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush.
Much as I would rather have a civil conversation, than one at knife-point we ARE illegal trespassers, not ones good at lying either.
>>4439155
Killing him would be far more obvious as hostile activity in a frequently traveled part of the fortress. I think glue is a far more benevolent seeming action to avoid raising an alarm. After all, what enemy would bother duct-taping someone to their mattress if they could just knife them in their sleep?
>>
>>4439145
>Get closer to them- be ready for an ambush
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4439145
Right. You’d rather not get them after you prematurely...but you don’t want to risk them getting you in a bad position, either. It’s for that reason that you quickly jump back through the door; you can hear them even better now...but they’re not headed into the sleeping quarters as you thought, from what you can hear- the footsteps are going away from you now; into the other room. The one that you killed those guards in. “The hell are you guys…?” you can hear him mutter.

Well, crap. You’re gonna get found out at this rate- this is too many people not at their posts for there to be no response for much longer, depleted numbers or not…you’re going to have to deal with him quickly and quietly.

>Roll 1d20, best of three.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4439241
Welp. Time to go for that mana signature so they can help us wreck shit
>>
Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4439241
Oh shit
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4439241
>>
Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>4439241
Nope
>>
Ooh. 13.

Writing.
>>
Almost got a fumble. It's prob a kill just not as smooth and clean.
>>
>>4439241
Ideally deal with them in the room, maybe at the doorway, just so we're not trailing blood everywhere.
There's also the off chance he goes "Oh you, sleeping on the job, where's the other guy?" and goes off on a goose-chase. Unlikely, but sometimes reality is funny like that.
>>
Either way guys, I propose running to the next sub-floor immediately after killing this soldier
>>
>>4439268
Yep, we're wasting time here. Should have gotten down there like 2-3 posts earlier.
>>
>>4439268
>>4439269
Nonono, what about the armory?
>>
>>4439270
Another round of Sticky Mana/Zone Scanner to trap the armory? I'm partial, but they're starting to bite into our mana pool. I want enough for at least 2 Flux Waves.
>>
>>4439270
I'm sure they're now aware that there is an intruder. Let's leave now before they block our path to the next floor
>>
>>4439270
There ain't nothing in it. Unless you plan to blow it up?
>>
>>4439274
This too. Maybe just quickly throw a little bit of sticky mana on door/door hinge of the armory and scram.
>>
>>4439278
>A plethora of shortswords, longswords, daggers, staves, staffs, shields, plate armor, and a few barrels rest in here. If this isn’t where the majority of the forces get their tools, then it’s at least one of the primary spots.
>There ain't nothing in it.
And yes, I do plan to trap it.
>>4439274
>>4439275
If we're in a REAL hurry, then at least block the door with Light Barrier. We've lost only 1300 mana and still have mana crystals with us.
>>
>>4439274
>2 Flux Waves
last thread one flux wave cost us 2200 mana (base 3000 and we have meditation room bonus). So two of them would probably be 4400, or around 3000 if we do a double-wave.
>Trap combo - 1300 mana
So that's -5700 from our 9700, we have 4000 left + 1500 Mana Condenser + 1000 Capacitor Orb + 2500 Mana Crystals + 1500 from a single Seither Shard or +4000 from a Seither Crystal
>>
>>4439283
>>4439288
Wait.

Just spray Sticky Mana everywhere like the armory's floor is lava. A bit lesser amount of interference, but without a strong mage they can't do jack.
And no mana lost. If we're sabotaging then I'm going with this.
>>
>>4439274
>>4439288
using some mana on traps to deny them their equipment is worth it - we'll have to use less mana during the fight in the future. And using techniques often grants some hidden xp, so maybe we can do a more cost-effective version of this combo in the future.
>>
>>4439241

You’re out there just as he yells- seems like he checked the cot before anything else, and your blood’s rushing now as you grab him in a chokehold and proceed to strangle him, despite the attempt at resistance. He flails, gargles, and grasps- your burst in had caused him to panic, and it was pure instinct that has him resist, not any training. A loud clatter resounds as a chair is knocked over in the struggle as you swing him around by his neck a bit, forcing him to go limp. He meets the same fate as his friend soon after, but that was enough noise in the relatively quiet area for you to know that it won’t be long before someone comes looking.

You need to leave, and fast.

>Action!

(Done for tonight. Resuming tomorrow.)
>>
>>4439294
>Quickly throw sticky mana on the bottom of the door
>Take out the morph blade
>Run to the nearest exit/stairs
Time to start hammering whoever gets in our way.
>>
>>4439294
Thanks for the run boss.
Well, too late to trap anything now.

>Unequip your Cloak.
>Sticky mana the door.
>Get your Morph-Blade out.
>Immediately head over to the lower floor and start smacking everything along the way.

We're going loud now, so I want to drop the cloak. Let's see how effective high intimidation is in combat when it's not dampened.
>>
>>4439295
I meant to put "of the door to the armory"
>>
>>4439297
yup, the door to the armory.
>>
>>4439294
okay, trap combo might take more time than we have, so we can either
>Spray the armory floors, gear and door with Sticky Mana
no manacost, but time-consuming
OR
>Use Induction Orb to create a Light Barrier BEHIND the Armory door, so it won't be seen from outside but still block
VERY QUICK, still cheaper than trap combo
>>
>>4439299
Riiight, assuming there's only 1 door to the armory (the back door of the bunk beds room) I can go with an Induction Orb fueled barrier too.
>>
>>4439294
>>Use Induction Orb to create a Light Barrier BEHIND the Armory door, so it won't be seen from outside but still block
>Unequip your Cloak.
>Take out the morph blade
>Run to the nearest exit/stairs
we have mana to spare, if we spray the door they can still break in. we absolutely cannot let them get to their gear.
>>
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>>4439294
>>4439304
wait, fuck, there IS another door in the armory
>There’s also a door to the left. Might lead to that hallway up top, you think. That or somewhere close.
if I understand it correctly, then it should look like this.
Should've asked Handler about a proper map update.
>>
>>4439312
I think I got it wrong
>>
>>4439294
changing >>4439306
>run into the barracks, spray some sticky mana underneath the door
>smack the sleeping guy and run into the armory, spray the armory-barracks backdoor
>run out of the left door into the hallway and use Induction Orb to block it with Light Barrier
>get to the stairs
should take less than a minute
>>
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>>4439312
Uuuuh anon? Aren't we in THIS room atm because we just downed the guy checking it? It will be a lil slower but the course will definitely bring us into the remaining guards.
>>4439316
I can do this, but we'll be interrupted midway most likely.
>>
>>4439325
you're right, I haven't corrected our position.
>>4435844
>A quick power sense tells you there’s four individuals up ahead
>>4436151
>two guys walk in, one girl walks out
>>4439294
>another one bites the dust
does this mean that the sleeping guy is the only one left on this floor?
>>
>>4439325
we could also use Low-Quickening to get around faster...now that I think about it, the guards can do so as well.
>>
>>4439332
I have to object, I want to save Quickening for when we get the stone, using it right now saps our much needed stamina for more soldier smacking.
There should be close to nil guards left in this area, we can finish off the one left in the barracks and a couple more if they show up and block us.
>>
>>4439332
Yeah, I thought so. That was just a reminder.
>>4438902
>“There’s quite the conflux of mana deeper down,” he notes. “Not like the Lockstone, but...something. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now it’s gone a-rumbling...almost like it just woke up.” Hm. That might not be good. “Nothing that should be worried about right now, methinks...but something to keep note of. Somewhere around the deeper recesses, maybe 4th floor or so…”
Think they've got a fairy in there?
>>
>>4439336
>Dragon-girl with Quickening and Mana Step running through the swampy jungle
https://youtu.be/CW0TijmAUqY?t=47
>>
>>4439294
>>4439296
Supporting.
I don't see the point for this amount of sabotaging. So far we've seen only normal soldiers who don't have shield spells on, with or without a sword we can just walk over them. There are also only an insignificant number of them left, so glue the doors shut and continue down.
We're clearing the lower levels too and no way they can go to this floor's armory through us.
>>
>>4439294
>>4439296
I'll second this. There's what, maybe half a dozen guards behind us and we got time until the changing of the guard above is done and they all return

You guys are never going to accomplish a successful stealth run, I just want to close my eyes until it's over.
>>
Well if we're throwing stealth out the window, let's just use magi-wave to cut ourselves a route down to the fourth floor and skip the stairs, stairs are for chumps
>>
>>4439294
>>4439296
If it's ambiguous I'm still going for my original post boss.
>>4440035
I want to thin out at least 1 more floor so they don't have the numbers to catch us from behind. Then we'll drill straight down.
>>
>>4440099
We can ascend and descend a direct shaft faster than the guards, and this place is probably labyrinthine, it'll take quite a while to get to the bottom by cutting our way through all the guards blocking the stairs.
>>
>>4439294
Yeah scratch I'm gonna go with just
>Unequip your Cloak.
>Get your Morph-Blade out.
And
>Drill through the floors with Magiwave/Magiblast and descend.
We're dropping stealth so no need to waste time running and trapping things.
>>
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>>4439294
Supporting:>>4440127
>>
Writing shortly!

>>4440147
Shadowsun was canon!
>>
>>4439294
>>4440127
Giving this a go.
>>
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>>4440149
>pic related
>>
>>4440127
Votes not locked in yet folks, so I suggest giving this a try. We've only a few hours until the cavalry arrives >>4436058

>And it’s updated to today, you can see. According to this, the new guards that are supposed to be coming here are expected to arrive early in the morning, before the sun’s up.
>>
>>4440174
Uh friend...>>4440149
>>
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>>4440183
It's shortly, not now!
>>
>>4440191
It doesn't matter anyway, if handler is gonna write us going to the next floor we can vote to blast through the floor once we get there.
>>
>>4439294
No real use for your cloak with that, you think- while there’s no reason to keep its charms active, there’s also no reason to worry about fiddling with it overmuch, and the extra intimidation might be worth your while. You race out the door and around the corner, and you can already hear someone muttering as they walk down the hall- in fact, you can hear two people, actually. Guess the other guy woke up. Great, just fantastic. Where’d this new person even come from? Must’ve just showed up.

Well, doesn’t much matter- you’re not going to be here very long anyway. You just need to find a good spot to...well, go down. The next two levels are supposed to be training and classes? Although there’s some sort of ‘mana conflux’ down there as well...wonder what the case is with that.

Well, time to find out. Drawing your morph-blade, you figure you might as well haul buns. No use in playing sneaky now- especially not with the sudden exclamation that you hear as you bound for the stairs. He’s already yelling...something- as you descend down the set of stone stairs.

You exit out in a crossroads, a number of doors easily viewable in an intersection of hallways. A quick glance around tells you that there’s...well, not much to go off of. Just door numbers, barring the ones to your right, which is a larger set of steel double-doors; just as much an indicator of something important as it could be of something dangerous. You can see down the hallway behind you that there’s another set of stairs, thank goodness; easy enough access- though there’s also a thinner hallway nearby as well, which compared to the wider open ones you see now may be to somewhere intended to be less utilized by common foot traffic...not that you have much time to explore now. ESPECIALLY not with the sheer number of scents converging on you- nothing horrible on an individual level (yet), but just ripe enough to be frustrating- and possibly dangerous- if you aren’t careful. And that’s not counting any magic devices they might have on hand...

>Go down the left hallway anyway and take down the two coming. Might get lucky?
>The one at the top should be easy pickings and help give them the runaround.
>Go towards the right hallway and open the double doors. Surprise is valuable here!
>Head down the stairs immediately, no time to waste.
>Take that one individual past the doorways, see where he’s coming from.
>Other
>>
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Also, forgot pic.

Also also, think I mistyped a bit, but this is the 2nd SubFloor.
>>
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>>4440267
>Head down the stairs immediately, no time to waste.
>Prime the Clockwork Turret and GLUE it somewhere hard to reach by normal melee weapons.
Somewhere around this place.
>>
>>4440267
>Head down the stairs immediately, no time to waste.
Either that or blast through the floors (somewhere) immediately.
>>
>>4440267
This>>4440274
>>
>>4440274
No let's use the turret on the 4th floor or something.
>>
>>4440279
Right, when they get all their gear since we haven't done anything to their armory?
>>
>>4440267
>>4440274
I'm fine with this. The turret will hold them off from getting us from behind. Since there is only one staircase here, it can cover the entire thing if we put it in the corner.
>>
>>4440284
And what are you gonna do if there is more guards on the next floor(s) then?
>>
>>4440267
>Head down the stairs immediately, no time to waste.

>>4440274
Don't glue it anon! Do you want to leave it behind when we escape?!
>>
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>>4440293
We just smack them down the ol' fashion way.
>>4440294
Anon, the Sticky Mana is our mana, I'm pretty sure we can dispell them at will. Running to pick it up should not take much time, especially if we use Quickening.
>>
>>4440293
we're basically separating their forces, if we do it on the 4th floor then they can organize and concentrate them
>>4440294
why do you think we won't be able to pick it up?
>>
>>4440293
Eh whatever, I was thinking of using the turret to stall the guards from all floors so it gives us plenty of time to destroy any barrier to the lockstone.
>>
Okay, seems like just heading down the stairs wins.

Need to be sure, though- do you want to glue the turret up or not?
>>
>>4440308
>>4440309
Alright, I double checked. My mistake.
>>
>>4440309
Basically, they can't do shit to the turret since they don't have any mages. It will also thin out the tarpit while we're working on the scarier soldiers.
>>
>>4440293
>>4440294
also if we place it in this corner the turret would have both sets of stars covered, so the 2nd subfloor guards won't be able to make it to the armory and will have to wait for topfloors troops to relieve them.
>>
>>4440314
Fine on my end. I mean it's just a salvo of sticky mana and it will help the turret's survivability.
>>
>>4440314
glue!
>>
>>4440314
+ me too boss.
>>
>>4440314
No.
>>
Alright, seems like it's going up.

Writing.
>>
File: Clockwork Turret.png (1.42 MB, 1200x1200)
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Imagine having to go past this thing in a hallway while while you only have unenchanted gear.
>>
>>4440267
>>4440320
>>4440322
>>4440326

Yeah, no sense in messing around here, not with so many people on your tail. That said, you’re at least going to throw up something that could hold them off…provided you have the time.

The clockwork turret, given a bit of distance and height, should waylay ‘em pretty well. And you’ve got just the place to put it- right near the wall. Problem is, though…

“Hey, hal- what the?!” The one individual coming around the corner. He’s dressed like an officer, you think, and the wand with an orb on its tip lets you know he’s an obvious mage. And judging by how fast he’s going for said wand, he’s well trained, too. If a bit spooked by your visage, which is enough to get you the initiative right now. You fire off a salvo of sticky mana- as much for maybe him as the wall behind, honestly...

>Roll 1d20, best of three.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4440407
>>
Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>4440407
oof
>>
>>4440410
Wow dice doesn't like me today
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4440407
Wand orbs? Really? Are they mages or MG wannabes?
>>
>14
Gah, just blast him if he dodges.
>>
>>4440424
Even a glancing hit with sticky mana will set him up for death. Just not as clean.
>>
>>4440410
Man, the d20 just doesn't like you anymore, does it?
>>
Writing!
>>
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>>4440407
>>4440410
>>4440411
>>4440417
The shot manages to get a glancing hit as he moves to dodge, pinning one of his hands to the wall, but only that, the rest hitting higher on the wall as you wanted. His wand hand is still free, but his retaliatory shot is rushed just enough to go wide, a crimson bolt that causes your face to heat as it passes by with a flash. You can’t really stop moving at this point, which is why you take a leap as you get within melee range, lashing your foot out and hearing the sound of steel through flesh as you rip the clockwork turret out of your bag when you land. No real time to check if that killed, though. A second jump has you more or less dunk the thing on the wall, the sticky mana plentiful enough that it should hold for a decent amount of time. Just need to remember how to program the thing as you head downstairs…

“Hey, hold it!” Ah, shit.

You manage to dive down the steps before any volleys could go off, and quickly pull out the control gauntlet...how do you use this thing again…?

“What the hell is that! Shoot it down before- AUGUH!” Ah, there you go. No time for the fiddly bits, automatic assault should work well enough for now.

The next floor, on the other hand...well.

“Halt!” At least six guards; two by two by two in a semicircle. Front two have swords and shields; kite shields. The middle two, archers, clearly. Crossbows and everything. It’s the back two that are concerning. Mages, both of them. Still ripe smelling, but you don’t know what they’ve got in store. There’s one in the back as well- you’re pretty sure he’s some kind of captain or chief- he smells worse than the mages, and this is a very enclosed area. “Whoever you are, you are to surrender yourself immediately.” He’s got a pencil mustache, and looks older and VERY smug and angry at the same time, if such a thing is possible. “For the crimes of infiltration and murder, you will be tried and sentenced. Likely to death, but it mayhaps be less painful than were you to face the Drogan Elite Guard in battle, I assure you.”

“The ‘ell IS she?!” one asks out of nowhere- one of the swordsmen, clearly antsy.

"No clue...some sort of demon?" An archer responds. Correct, seems like more than a few of them are antsy, it seems. The others...not sure. Regardless, you’ll have to be CAREFUL here. You don’t know exactly what they’re capable of, and you don’t want to get a job failure right here and now...

>Focus on evasion; you don't want to risk challenging all these combatants now.
>If you can spook them somehow, you might be able to snipe the two mages in the back...
>This morph-blade better be useful as a shield...time to dive in!
>Other Plan
>>
>>4440594
>Flux Bubble them, then smack them with morph-blade
>>
>>4440594
>If you can spook them somehow, you might be able to snipe the two mages in the back...
>Cast a full Body Shield (should be 1000 mana in total).
>"This world's coming to an end."
>Megaphone a (dragon) roar and charge in at the mages.
>>
>>4440594
>>4440600
+
Shields up and break their morale.
>>
>>4440613
Wait, open with a Magiwave first to break their position.
>>
>>4440594
>We can use the flamebringer to light them all on fire.
>>
>>4440614
Or hell, I want a Sun Flare. We have mana to spare.
>>
>>4440594
I support >>4440600 + sparkling fire works to blind them
>>
>>4440594
>>4440600
+Magewave.
>>
>>4440594
switching >>4440598
to >>4440625 >>4440600
>>
>>4440594
Sooo >>4440600
>Flare/Fire Works+Barrier Armor(less than 2000 mana accounting in the meditation room).
>Magiwave first to break position
>Roar and zoom into the mage.
I want a Flare but firework's fine too, looks like this is their heaviest group.
>>
Hm. Writing.
>>
>>4440594
>>4440600
>>4440613
>>4440625
>>4440626
>>4440631
>4440631
You aren’t going to drop here...but you can use this fear of theirs. Raising your hands up in a show of surrender, you speak out, in a calm and careful voice. “I’m largely here to deliver a warning,” you mention as they slowly approach.

“I doubt such warning was worth the lives of good men!” the captain responds succinctly. Nonetheless, they approach. “Do tell, however, whatever fool claim is it you’re trying to make!”

Bit more, bit more… now. “That this world’s coming to an end.”

He doesn’t even get time to ask as you let loose a flare that immediately has everyone shouting and people trying to regain eyesight. You’re already using the chaos to cast your Body Armor, however- full body, specifically.

>Current Mana: 9800/11000

The roar you let out is more impressive than you thought yourself capable of- it’s not the deepest thing ever, but you managed to get a lot of hiss and gravel into it, and the shouts that come out as you lunge for the nearest mage lets you know it had the intended effect.

>Roll 3d20, best of three.


(Sorry, I'm done for tonight. Started feeling kinda crummy, but I know what the issue is at least. sinus issues. I'll resume tomorrow.)
>>
Rolled 6, 11, 12 = 29 (3d20)

>>4440747
Thank ya boss.
>>
Rolled 3, 19, 20 = 42 (3d20)

>>4440747
>>
Rolled 11, 1, 1 = 13 (3d20)

>>4440747
Let's not roll low now.
>>
>>4440754
Bahahaha
>>
>>4440754
dude...
>>
>>4440757
Ok hit on me all you want. At least we have CRITs. And thanks.
>>
POV: You're a Drogan mage 1 week away from a raise
>>
Preeeetty sure I have a sinus infection. This shit feels familiar.

Anyway, run begins in about an hour or so.
>>
>>4441300
Those suck.
>>
I kinda picture Miranda's roar to be more close to a raptor's roar than a actual dragon.
>>
>>4441300
Get yon some tea... or meds.
>>
>>4440747
>>4440748
>>4440752
>>4440754

You don’t exactly have room to spread your wings, but that doesn’t matter too much as you grab onto the collar of the nearest mage. You twist over, and flip him, sending him hurling down the hallway- enough for you to get some space as your morph-blade is drawn with a loud *clank* as they desperately try to get their vision to return.

Yeah, no.

The nearest archer doesn’t even get a shot off as you whirl in his direction and the massive blade tears through his upper body, a massive rip in his upper torso spreading blood and viscera. A sudden *twang* comes to sound as you turn around- and an arrow finds its mark in your right shoulder. Or rather, your padding underneath the shoulder’s armor. “Another!” you hear, and you quickly turn to see a fireball impact your chest flush, a sudden burst of heat as an explosion of heat and smoke erupt from in front of you.

“Think we got her!” you hear someone yell.

...Well, no. They didn’t. The residual heat’s impressive, though, and you have to fan yourself for a moment before lunging through to where the nearest body you remember was- the other archer. There’s a *crunch* as you grab at him by the neck, feeling his throat cave in, and the cloak helps with clearing the smoke as you whirl around and toss him down the hall towards the other mage and the captain as well.

“What in the world…!” one of the swordsmen says as the smoke clears and you- and they- are in a much clearer position. The captain seems gobsmacked, his smug expression having given way to naked fear.

>Focus on the captain.
>Clear out the remaining swordsmen first.
>Other
>>
>>4441480
>Focus on the captain.
Reminds me of the fight where we first got the Flamebringer.
>>
>>4441480
>>Focus on the captain.

>Or rather, your padding underneath the shoulder’s armor.
Oi, what about that Body Shield?
>>
>>4441488
I integrated the 1s.
>>
>>4441495
Don't worry, though I didn't forget about the shielding.
>>
>>4441488
Seems like it was an aesthetic hit, not an injury. We're wiping the floor with them.
>Let's just pass by, get to the floor proper, and carve a new "staircase" down before MORE troops assemble.
>>
>>4441480
>Focus on the captain.
>Other:"Do you want to see real fire?" Then use that green fire skill we have
>>
>>4441480
>Clear out the remaining swordsmen first.
>>
Writing.
>>
>>4441480
>>4441484
>>4441488
>>4441510
Time to cut off the head of the snake- you lunge for the Captain, and he’s got just enough sense in his head to dive out of the way. It’s a miracle he makes the dodge, but dodge he does, forcing you to brace yourself to stop against a wall before you crash into it, not that he gets much better result. He’s sprawled on the floor, trying desperately to scramble away...but at once, he grimaces, holding up a hand with his pinky and pointer finger outstretched, before-

“Alruba lo Malamund!” What the shit?

>Roll 1d20

(Sorry, took some medicine and it knocked me out for a bit.)
>>
Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>4441643
hmm
>>
Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4441643
Shit that's a fairy invocation!
>>
Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>4441643
>>
>>4441650
>Malamund - Elder Fairy of Wood. Motherly and humorous, but also can be cold and vengeful.
Some kind of restricting vine spell?
>>
>>4441643
Do yoy need a break?
>>
>>4441643
17. Not too shabby.

Branch of Malamund is not a weak invocation.

Writing!
>>
It's a pitty Miranda wouldn't be able to use her fire spell like a dragon breath. That would be pretty cool.
>>
>>4441672
Hey, we just figured out our next party trick.
>>
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>>4441685
>>
>>4441672
hmmm... there is nothing stopping us from using our mouths instead of our hands for the spells. we might as well try to use the green flames right now.
>>
>>4441667
Naw, I'm good now.

>>4441643
>>4441644
>>4441650
>>4441651
Before you can reach him, a strange, green glyph circle shines around his hand- and a massive tree branch erupts from it, screaming towards you. You don’t even have time to do anything but juke to the side- and a branch streams FROM the side as though it realized, trying to impale you- or at the very least crush you against the wall. You manage to dodge that one as well, your blade coming down in response and severing the trunk as it slams into the wall.

The main branch is given the same treatment as you rush the captain himself; he’s got a second hand up, but you’re not giving him the chance to call anything else; the blade itself comes down on the captain, crushing his head as much as cutting it. Messy, if you’re being honest. Though effective, clearly.

The swordsmen, now on the floor due to diving out of the way of the captain’s desperation attack (now beginning to wither and die now that the source is done), look at you with fear- and as soon as you lock eyes with them, they scramble to their feet, clearly trying to run upstairs.

>Let them- not like you’ve got anything to hide, and you have places to be.
>Try to snipe them; you don’t want any survivors right now…
>Other
>>
>>4441738
>Let them- not like you’ve got anything to hide, and you have places to be.
>Other
Give them a parting Magiwave.
>>
>>4441738
>Let them- not like you’ve got anything to hide, and you have places to be.
there's still a turret up the stairs, they're doomed

>>4441672
>>4441685
Technically, we have some techniques that are affecting parts of our head, so in theory we can figure out how to shoot stuff out of our mouth. But the problem is - the range of our fire spell is extremely short (touch distance) because we haven't finished it - so even if we figure out how to breathe fire, the only way to hurt someone would be to give them a smooch.
>>
>>4441738
>>Try to snipe them; you don’t want any survivors right now…
IF THEY SURVIVE, THEY WILL RELAY OUR MESSAGE and then everyone will scramble their forces at the rest of the lockstones!

We can't let this particular group survive!
>>
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>>4441744
I suggest that once we have some free time we should finish our flamethrower technique. Study how our flamebringer does, fire fairy's statue might help too and take some seither pills as study aids too.
>>4441748
they're walking straight into an automatic turret
>>
>>4441738
>>4441741
+
Also glad to know you're better now boss!
>>
>>4441752
well, then we see that the turret gets them. i don't want this group to actually relay that we're planning to release the shadow king(lets be honest, they will put two and two if the "world is ending" message gets so the ears of someone important)
>>
>>4441756
where did the "world is ending" bit come from? was it really necessary?
>>
>>4441738
>Let them- not like you’ve got anything to hide, and you have places to be.
And then they were gunned down by the turret.
>>
>>4441738
>Try to snipe them; you don’t want any survivors right now…

I though we didn't wanted anyone to survive this? But i guess we need to free the lockstone.
>>
>>4441752
Oh i forgot about the turrent...
>>
>>4441764
Just give them a Magiwave or two to soften them up if you want and then let the turret do the rest.
>>
Rolled 2, 14 = 16 (2d20)

Magiwave it is. Writing!
>>
>>4441738
>>Let them- not like you’ve got anything to hide, and you have places to be.
>>
>>4441780
Oh look at that one managed to survive the turret?
>>
>>4441800
Think that's for the Magiwave. You'll need some bs acrobatics to survive the turret, not to mention their morale is broken.
>>
>>4441803
We're probably not getting that turret back though.
>>
Noticed something: these folks have no shields/barriers on them whatsoever. These are supposed to be the elites?
>>
>>4441810
Isn't there a rule in the intersection forbidding tech to fall into the hands of another world?. If we are not recovering we should Nebula Buster the fortress.

But if there isn't i guess that's a loss
>>
>>4441810
>implying we don't have enough time to get it back.
Quickening's there anon. We can use it to backtrack, get the turret back and then blast the ceiling open to escape.
>>
>>4441812
We did get than without any gear. They probably had that at the armory.

There could also be more specialized people on the bottom floors
>>
>>4441815
There's some wiggle room, the real problem was it was a Futuresight that they lost, which allowed them to learn anything, and also allow them to build an interdimensional portal.
>>
>>4441812
I guess that personal shields spells are something only mountain kingdom specializes in. Although, it seems like they have mostly outdated equipment, no guns and mostly leather armor - maybe they're some sort of honor guard that has to use old 'traditional' gear.
>>
>>4441810
>>4441815
it has a shield crystal and they don't have enchanted heavy armor, so it'll gun anyone down
>>
>>4441825
Eyup, so far they only have primitive arrows and basic offensive spells, and meleeing the thing is futile, our personally created height advantage saw to that. The turret will be on light duty so to speak.
>>
>>4441828
I mean, offensive tree growth is a bit stronger than basic magic, though that was an officer, if all we have to worry about are officers, we're fine.
>>
just keep in mind, we need that turret back for the next lockstones.
>>
I suggest we blast the floor on this area so that when we get the lockstone, we can get the turret quicker as we escape.
>>
So apparently there is something imprisioned here. Should we free it?
>>
>>4441846
If it's a fairy? Nuh uh. A dragon? After we ensure that it isn't going to become a loose cannon .
If it's a Dark Fairy? Roll the dice.
>>
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>>4441738
>>4441741
>>4441744
>>4441754
>>4441763
>>4441764
They scramble and flail, but you’d rather not let them get away so soon. Now, if you aim this right…

A quick slash of your hand sends a magi-wave racing down the hallway as they try to flee up the stairs- one of them, to his misfortune, is more or less bisected immediately. The other one barely gets high enough to dodge the cut, though shrapnel from the impact of the stone beneath him flies into his back, knocking him down when he’d barely managed to stand again. He’s left at a crawl, blood pouring out of his armor...which really should be good enough, especially considering your little present upstairs…

But, enough of that. You need to move on. Now, that’s just a matter of finding the exit, however...doesn’t seem to be around the corner, unfortunately...There’s a few hallway exits, but little to identify which might be which...not that you have a lot of time to investigate. Scents indicate...nothing coming on this floor, you think, though you get a vague rank scent from...somewhere. Strange. Hearing, however...

...strange. You can also hear some noise coming from...somewhere to your right. You’re not sure what it is, though- it sounds like humming, or buzzing, or...something like that.

>Investigate the buzzing/humming thing. Might be worthwhile, even in a rush.
>Still no time, you need to hurry to...whereever the stairs are! Hope you find them quickly...
>What’s causing this ‘danger’ scent everywhere? Maybe you should try to stop it.
>Other
>>
>>4441854
>What’s causing this ‘danger’ scent everywhere? Maybe you should try to stop it.
>Other
Use the Futuresight to scan for abnormal mana.
>>
>>4441854
>>4441855
>>
>>4441854
>What’s causing this ‘danger’ scent everywhere? Maybe you should try to stop it.
>>
>>4441854
>>Investigate the buzzing/humming thing. Might be worthwhile, even in a rush.
>>
>>4441854
>>4441855
Sure, we have some time to spare.
Remember, we have few hours until the reinforcement arrives, before the sun comes up. So far I think it has been 2-3 hours.
>>
>>4441854
>Investigate the buzzing/humming thing. Might be worthwhile, even in a rush.
>>
Scanning time. Writing.
>>
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>>4441854
>>4441855
>>4441856
>>4441858
>>4441862

You might not have a great deal of time, but you’ve got something that can mitigate that, if you want to find out just what’s going on here. The FutureSight can detect better than your own senses can, and if you want to figure out what’s suddenly causing this strange danger that seems to be ementating everywhere, then this’ll do it.

You’re steadily on the lookout as you search, turning as it collects data...and before too long it gives you a response.

>Mana Infusion Active among present structure. Current status- energetic. Mana-based techniques may be easier executed in relation.

Wait, so...there’s mana in the walls, now, it sounds like. And so it’s easier for magic to take effect on them? Great. You don’t know anything that specifically works for you with that, so...something to watch out for. But where’s the source…?

According to your FutureSight, there’s an estimated three locations...it can’t exactly give you a layout, but at least it gives you a rough location...as well as a few more indicators of mana sources...moving ones. And it's that way you can start to guess where the stairwell is. There's also a strange 'low frequency' mana signature coming from nearby...you're pretty sure it's behind that door ahead of you.

You don't have long to make a decision.

>Continue on; you don't have time to handle something like this after all.
>Well, you'll have to be as quick as possible. See if you can take these 'sources' out!
>Whatever that low-frequency pulse is, you hope it's useful...!
>Other
>>
>>4441938
>Whatever that low-frequency pulse is, you hope it's useful...!
>Other
Collapse the floor with Magiblasts/Magiwave right around this area before proceeding.
>>
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>>4441943
Oof, the area over here.
>>
>>4441938
>Whatever that low-frequency pulse is, you hope it's useful...!
>>
>>4441938
>>4441943
seconded
I do hope they don't teleport the fortress out from under us or something, hopefully these sources are just a buff or a power supply for barriers or something.
>>
>>4441938
>>4441943
Can do this. We'll still need to get through them because they're coming FROM the stairs, but this can slow them down and mark the spot where we can jump up and nab the turret.
>>
>>4441938
>Whatever that low-frequency pulse is, you hope it's useful...!
>>
>>4441955
Right, I forgot that.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

Writing! Collapsing the floor, huh?
>>
>>4441976
their floors are sturdy, huh.
>>
>>4441984
That wasn't for the floor.
>>
>>4441987
Alright, let’s guess at what the roll was for. The closest one to get it wins the satisfaction of being the winner.

The roll was for us to notice the high explosives hidden underneath the floors.
>>
>>4441991
>There is a trap underneath the floor
>High ranking or powerful enemies appear
>Weak beast/monster
or
>Wow it's fucking nothing!
>>
>>4441991
I bet it was for what they had imprisoned as a superweapon here
>>
>>4441998
>2 out of 10
Damn thing is weakened and starved if that's the case.
>>
>>4441991
it's the integrity of the fortress structure - we've just buried everyone, including ourselves.
>>
>>4441938
>>4441943
>>4441951
>>4441952
>>4441955
>>4441958

The decision is made in general quickness- you have a bunch of bogeys coming down the hall, and something relatively passive nearby. You quickly dart down the hall and rip the door open- lock or not, you can’t be assed to care right now. Whatever’s in here, you REALLY hope it’s useful.

What you see honestly surprises you somewhat. Apparently this is some sort of...medical ward? Or containment, perhaps? There’s medical instruments, for sure, but the whole vibe seems closer to laboratory than doctor’s office. And in one of the beds is...a person? A woman, at first glance. Gaunt, and looking to be on the older side of middle age. She nonetheless seems...content. Especially considering how she sits on the bed- crosslegged, eyes closed, and altogether unconcerned with your presence here, it seems. “Greetings, Dark One.” Her voice is crinkled, yet strong. “You have traveled far to get here- ah, but I suspect you have little need or desire of my words. You seek to egress.” No duh- you’re already wondering about the door to the left- hopefully it leads out somewhere. “I will skip ahead, then. Destroy the floor below you. My quarters are above the path you seek.”

Oh. Well, then. No reason to not take her at her word- well, plenty of reasons, actually, but you’re not really on the right timetable to appreciate them. You charge up a magiblast, standing in front of the old lady to shield her from any splash damage. She deserves that much for tell you, at least. The explosion goes off with a massive, juddering BANG- although not so loud as to not hear a smaller bang a distance away for whatever reason...oh, wait, shit. The turret. You quickly check the controller gauntlet as the smoke clears- yup, offline. Damn. Well, you’ll have to get back to that later. Checking below, and finding a room empty, you hop down, into what looks like a small personal room, for sure- and a door in front that leads out into a hallway.

“Well, now,” Khartoum speaks unbidden- if you jumped a bit, you’re not admitting it to yourself. “Seems like we’ve made it to the so-called deepest floor. I wonder if there’s one deeper they aren’t telling anyone about, but this seemed to be where they had all their more precious materials and whatnot. Training for the higher tier elites, you see?” Right, makes sense, you suppose. Oh, and not to mention. That rumbling is more active now, but it’s for certain from hereabouts.”

“What about the Lockstone?” you ask as you round the corner. “You mentioned a barrier?”

He sighs grumpily. “Yeees, THAT. That was down...thataway, I believe,” he says, suddenly forming a shadowy hand towards the left hallway. “Annoyingly thing, very nasty. On the other hand, that strange rumbling mana is over THERE,” he insists, pointing indeed towards the righthand turn.

Hmph.

>Take the lefthand turn and deal with the barrier ASAP.
>Take the righthand turn and find out the mysterious source.
>Other
>>
Next one will be the last for the night.
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>>4442061
>>Take the lefthand turn and deal with the barrier ASAP.
oh well, we can repair the turret with our gauntlets
>>
>>4442061
>Take the righthand turn and find out the mysterious source.
So glad we’ve got the Gauntlets, just hope we can get there in time to repair it...
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>>4442062
>>Take the righthand turn and find out the mysterious source.
Jail break?
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>>4442061
>>Take the righthand turn and find out the mysterious source.
we're gonna have to blast our way either way. better with a potential ally or tool to help us.
>>
>>4442061
>Take the righthand turn and find out the mysterious source.
Hmm, let's hope there's something, or someone there. They'll need time to catch up to us.
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>>4442061
>Take the righthand turn and find out the mysterious source.

If Gart wants us to check the source it means this si the fun option.

Wonder who that lady was.
>>
To the right, then. Righting.
>>
>>4442066
>>4442065
the problem isn't repairing the turret (yet) but actually making a path back to the turret
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>>4442108
We're much faster than them, especially with Quickening. If we just barrel through like a bowling ball then they can't do anything about it desu, but we do have a lot of options for disengagement, like destroying the floors along the way or blocking stairs with barriers.
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>>4442115
That sort of pride gets you in trouble anon, best to consider bowling over the soldiery a backup plan.
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>>4442127
We have a bunch of seither shards, so we could use one to increase potency of our techniques as long as some of seither mana is in us. Also our current level of mana is huge, we can use Channel Overcharge (1000 mana + 1dX*100 per post) instead of Low quickening - that'd cook anyone getting close, channel aura gives some protection against spells and with the speed and strength bonus we'll certainly roll over anyone standing in our way. Mana can be restored - we have mana crystals, full mana condenser and daily regen.
>>
>>4442149
just a note; around 50% we get literally sloppy, so lets not try to push it much.
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>>4442154
I think it's around 4000-4500 when we get sloppy, or when we use more than 3000 at once.
>>
>>4442061
>>4442066
>>4442068
>>4442069
>>4442070
>>4442075
You’ll go to the right, then. Better idea to figure things out with this weird source that has Gartoum acting funny. You’re quick to bound up the hallway, then turn the corner according to Gartoum’s instruction, bounding down a small flight of stairs; to your surprise, there’s a large set of double doors here as well. The main difference between the two, as far as you can see, is this one is clearly locked with some sort of spherical lock. Five marks in the half-sized hole, and…

...wait. Five marks? You take out the stone sphere you’d gotten from the bag. It looks like it fits, at least…

It inserts cleanly, and there’s a clacking noise as steel and stone grind against each other...and with a loud *clack*, the door slowly but heavily swings open. You slip in, nabbing the key back, and give a quick look around.

The whole area is bathed in a strange and sickly green glow, and there’s a number of tubes and tables, filled with various fluids and pipes going to and fro, most seemingly running out of the room to...various places in the fortress, if you had to guess. As for where they run TO, however...your attention is brought to the rightmost wall, where there’s a massive iron sphere with a small grill, encased behind a glass partition. There’s a strange, hemispherical device with a number of spheres and gauges embedded in the ceiling, and pipes leading down from it as well that connect to the metal sphere- all basically a massive, strange boiler, or reactor maybe. There’s a much more bluish-grey glow coming from it. “That’s absolutely it,” Gartoum says simply.

You walk up to it; the glass door is easily shattered, and you decide it best to peek in between the grill slits to see just what’s in there. What you see both surprises you and doesn’t.

It’s a young boy. A young boy with blue hair, and strange, translucent wings, like that of a moth’s. His eyes are pure silver, and he sits with a strange air, as though he’s both completely fine with this situation and yet not. Your eyes meet his, and he shows no reaction. But...he can’t be a fairy. He’s the size of a regular 12-year old boy. But his hair and eyes...not to mention the wings.

And it’s then he speaks one singular sentence. “Are you here to kill me, at last, dragon?”

...What IS this kid…?

(Ending now since I think it's a good spot, will post tomorrow. Hopefully.)
>>
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>>4442160
Also, map update. No scanning done yet, so no enemy location estimates, in case you're wondering.
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>>4442160
......
5 motes on artificial Fairy. Sounds unethical enough for a secret military base.
And thanks for the run boss.
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>>4442160
thanks for running!
also, NEW KID TO KIDNA- to adopt!
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>>4442165
Yea, we probably kidnapping, they seem a bit listless to just let them go hoping for a distraction.
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>>4442165
>new kid to adopt
I bet that he's older than Miranda
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>>4442173
then its time to ship mothboy with miranda
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>>4442160
Oh a fairy hybrid~
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>>4442160
I honestly was expecting to find a dragon hybrid, thinking that you were playing with the name of this empire (Dragon-Eragon-Drogan) and whatever experiments are going on there will have something to do with that.
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>>4442189
Well, it's possible this fairy boy has us confused with a known captor who is a dragon.
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>>4442193
he probably knows the tales; faries get eaten by dragons and this boy seems to have accepted his fate of being a lab subject. Being eaten by a dragon seems way better than be a lab subject.
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>>4442160
Kidnapping or not he's obviously a mana power source of this fortress, so maybe by removing him from the device/prison it would hopefully turn off the barrier(s?) to the lockstone.
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>>4442208
i can already see miranda doing this to the poor kid.
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>>4442208
Ah shit you're right.

>The whole area is bathed in a strange and sickly green glow, and there’s a number of tubes and tables, filled with various fluids and pipes going to and fro, most seemingly running out of the room to...various places in the fortress, if you had to guess. As for where they run TO, however...your attention is brought to the rightmost wall, where there’s a massive iron sphere with a small grill, encased behind a glass partition. There’s a strange, hemispherical device with a number of spheres and gauges embedded in the ceiling, and pipes leading down from it as well that connect to the metal sphere- all basically a massive, strange boiler, or reactor maybe. There’s a much more bluish-grey glow coming from it. “That’s absolutely it,” Gartoum says simply.
This kid is the fortress' battery, and might be powering the barrier as well. We just need to remove his connection to the engine.
Well, either that or to make it easier for the murderbros out there, end him after he gives us more info (he did ask for it).
Anyway this kid's existence is pretty much blasphemy of the highest caliber should words get out. I say we'd want to plant some very loud and nasty rumours to disrupt investigations.
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>>4442209
I would ask of we can put him in the bag but than i rememebr we already putted the androids inside of it and Prima already. So he is gonna be the perfect fit.
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>>4442215
>end him after he gives us more info (he did ask for it)
Or, like you've said, since his existence is a blasphemy, it's possible to drop him off in a fairy faith church with a message. (Don't actually visit the church, just go back to that city-state and give him directions and a letter with explanations for the church). This would distract both the empire and the church from focusing on us better than just baseless rumors.
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>>4442215
There were already rumors about the experiments going inside this base, so unless we drop concrete evidence that can't be ignored, people will just take it as another tall tale.
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>>4442232
>>4442225
i feel we should keep the kid. if anything, someone with such magic potential will earn us a decent amount of motes if we get him into the intersection and i want to see how mothkid reacts to the other kids, but that's just wishful thinking on my part.
>>
>>4442225
>>4442232
>drag state-secret unethical and blasphemous experimentee out of confinement
>give them back to said state's church

I'd not say it wouldn't cause some turbulence, it would make a huge one in fact. One that ends in tears that is, how much depends on if the church kills him on sight or protect him 'till death, or the church and the ruling gov have a fierce quarrel.
I'm liking this, let's drop him near a church and see what happens.
>>4442238
Sorry anon, waaaay too inexperienced.
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>>4442241
Technically, that church is in a semi-independent city-state on the border, and Fairy Faith is an universal religion - it does not belong to a state.
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>>4442241
Oh, i know he'd go directly into the care house, but i'm pretty sure that the dealmakers dabble into long term investments. Of course, there is the issue of dropping him in front of a church, but who knows, a lot can happen.
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>>4442241
>>4442244
Or we could take him to another state's church. The Light-alligned Almina kingdom is next on the agenda, right? So here's your falseflag op material.
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>>4442249
Hmmm, I like dropping him off the church near Gran Torun more. I want to hit them using momentum while they're still disrupted, it'd be fun to see what kind of excuses the Drogan rulers 'd come up with for this fiasco.
>>
Personally, I’d rather go with the Care House idea. Unlikely to happen, sure, but leaving him to his own devices seems a bit too uncaring for how often we have Miranda teaching kids.
>>
Instead of questioning him, how about scanning him and the devices so we have accurate info without wasting time.
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>>4442279
We can do both. Probably should sniff him first tho.
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>>4442283
I dont think the sniff is necessary. If the kid exudes enough mana to power a whole base, that means that he can be VERY powerful, even in its current state. more reasons to take him to the intersection instead of using him as a bargain chip if you ask me.
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>>4442284
well, if kid is an actual 100% fairy he's made of this worlds mana and removing him might be bad. Bad as in he dies, bad as in part of the world is removed and it faces an apocalyse event of some sort, bad as in he loses all his magic and becomes a normal kid, basically anything could happen.
I do think we take him, but the false flag plan sounds much better to me, we hardly even have to instruct him, he will already say things that piss people off against drogan.
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>>4442303
anon, transporting mana constructs and fairies is safe - there are other fairies in the intersection and other highly mana-dependent creatures too.

Another way of halting Drogan's investigation while keeping the kid - kidnap him and leave an ominous message on the wall of this reactor room, like "stay out of my way and no one would learn of this blasphemy".
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>>4442303
>bad as in part of the world is removed and it faces an apocalyse event of some sort
now, you're obviously talking out of your ass here
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>>4442306
transporting fairies is safe, transporting mana constructs is safe, transporting what are basically avatars for primordial gods afaik? iunno
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>>4442310
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what this setting's fairies are.
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>>4442311
I dont see a problem with that. The fairies being gods is speculation at best and bullshit at worst. I mean, you have to be a pretty shitty god to be captued by someone and by no means you're powering a part of the universe if you're that shitty.
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>>4442311
1)he's obviously is not a 100% fairy
2)fairies are comparable to dragons here, they're not actually gods - just very powerful
3)this is something that looks good on a resume, although I must note that it is likely that he'll lose some of his powers just like Miranda did when she arrived to the Intersection
4)he's not that important to this world - if his death/disappearance would've led to the end of the world, then the guards would've been more competent. It'd have been a medieval SCP facility instead.

Now, desu, I'm okay with sending him to the Intersection or leaving him with the Church. But I need to remind you - to be sent to the Intersection people must voluntarily agree to leave their world - and we don't actually know shit about him or his personality. Why do anons instantly assume that it is something he'd want and accept? Or that he'd want to become an Outgoer and join the kids. What skills does he have - other than being a giant mana battery?
Btw, if he's a mana battery - could he refill us? That'd be great.
>>
also we totally should've blocked the stairs from 1st to 2nd subfloor, the turret would've lived longer. next time - don't be afraid of losing mana.
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>>4442335
*blocked the stairs with a barrier
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>>4442328
>But I need to remind you - to be sent to the Intersection people must voluntarily agree to leave their world - and we don't actually know shit about him or his personality. Why do anons instantly assume that it is something he'd want and accept? Or that he'd want to become an Outgoer and join the kids. What skills does he have - other than being a giant mana battery?
This.
Realistically I feel leaving him to the church is way better. Getting to know him enough to hand out an Intersection ticket requires babysitting and I'm NOT babysitting on a mission like this, or any whatsoever. Possible transfers need to prove their worth and earn the ticket, and even then they still need to give their consent first.
Let the Fairy church take care of this burden for us.
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>>4442344
I'm also not a fan of babysitting, but if he can regen our mana for free - then I'm both hands for keeping him 'till the end of the mission. I absolutely HATE the fact that whenever we have to use some mana someone always shows up to tell that "waste mana bad, must save mana for big spell" and when that opportunity comes they repeat it again.
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>>4442352
We'll just have to find out on the next episode of MGFH.
Personally? I can understand them, can't be too careful etcetera. I don't think Handler'd throw us a huge bone like a mana battery but it'd be refreshing to fire multiple Busters in a mission for once.
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>>4442357
I think that Handler assumes that we know what we're doing and can pop a mana or seither crystals if we want to, but in truth that'd be likely seen as an unnecessary step and no one would be convinced to vote for it. Feel like people don't believe that daily mana regen is a thing. Like, in a world with mana regen of 3000 we can use a Nebula Blast once a day and be at full cap the next one IF we use mana condenser properly, or pop one seither crystal, or a few mana crystals - and Handler is aware of that and always keeps it in mind but still gives a day or two of free time after each encounter to let us regen. But no, anon, using more than 1000 is a lot, 2000 - gotta ration our mana dude stop wasting it, 3000 - this guy is insane!
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>>4442364
The amount of mana we've spent inside this fortress at this moment can be regened in a single day without the use of crystals, just plug in the condenser.
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>>4442365
Well, we still haven't gotten to another hard part yet - that is escaping the fortress.
Our current tank leaves very little to chance, so the mana saving works in this instance. Plenty for Flux Waves and Quickening/Over Channel.
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>>4442357
Like, how much extra mana do you expect we'd have to use to get out of here? Like 3000-5000, right? So we'd still have more than half of our manacap and it can be restored in 2-3 days, including this one, depending if mana crystals are used or not. We don't even need to have a full mana cap to finish the mission, but people always treat it like the most important requirement, as if it increases our paycheck.
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I'm kinda mad that we've decided to drop stealth and go loud just because the option of blasting through floors seems fun, when we haven't even sabotaged the armory, so I've checked the floor plans and our path.
>>4431383(ground - yellow)
>>4438902(sub 1 - white)
>>4440270(sub 2 - blue)
>>4441938(sub 3 - green)
>>4442161(sub 4 - pink)
So here's the thing - this is not an underground parking garage! The floors are not neatly stacked on top of each other - blasting through the floor is not as easy as some anons think it is and we were lucky that the med room didn't have just earth and rock under its floor. (Or maybe Handler just threw us a bone and had to remake the floor from scratch).
BUT, there is a spot where we can skip 2 floors at once: near the Clockwork Turret (Orange Star) there's a room by the stairs, and above it there is another one (both of them are marked with a Red Cross), and above that one - the Dignitary Meeting Room! And from there we can just blast through the wall, call the bat-friend and fuck off.
Also we can detonate the sticky bomb trap we've placed earlier to divert their attention if they haven't checked the ground floor armory yet - better to do it right after we get the Lockstone. They'd send at least some of their heavies to investigate.
>“They made mention of a stable ‘in the back’, but WHERE in the back is a mystery.
I feel like the arrow in the top-right corner of the first sub-floor points there. Keep in mind just in case.
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>>4442503
That's some impressive autism anon, now we can use this for a quick getaway.

>I feel like the arrow in the top-right corner of the first sub-floor points there. Keep in mind just in case.
But how can they fit a fortress worth of horses in a sub-level, let alone having enough stair spaces to lead them up?
And I'm pretty sure we're much faster than horses when buffed up.
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>>4442523
It vould be an underpass/connector to the stables.
Never said anything about riding a horse, just in case if the groundfloor is off-limits for ond reasone or another.
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>>4443009
i refuse to acknowledge the existence of that discord
>>
Posting shortly.

This infection is the pits. Have medicine for it, though.
>>
Welp, guess the meds knocked Handler out. Stay in bed boss.
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>>4443295
>>
>>4442160
You don’t have much time to debate the question, when he speaks up again. “If so, then do it quickly. My death would be very inconvenient for them to come back to.” Huh. He knows that the place is on a skeleton crew? “You may not have much need for me, but considering my size, I would make a grander meal than most...perhaps especially for you.”

Okay, first. Fuck him

Second, ew. You’re not eating him, but you’re going to have to figure out what to do with him- and fast. You can already hear thumping in the distance- not grand, really.

If nothing else, you can at least rip the furnace containing him apart. After that, however? Well, if he IS the power source to everything here, it’s probably a good idea to get him out of there one way or another- if only to potentially drop that barrier. The question is how...

>Just do ask he asks. Will be quick and painless.
>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you.
>Other

>>4443432
They did. I'm still sleepy, but my computer was still on so here you go. Going to bed.
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>>4443455
>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you.
>Drop the Holy Charter Coin in his cell
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>>4443456
Got no other insignias for false flagging, but it kinda fits.
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>>4443455
>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you.
>Knock him out and stuff him into the bottomless bag.
Killing him or ripping the furnace apart seems to take about the same amount of time, this looks like a decision to spare or kill.
He knows a lot, but we can chat later. Time's not the resource we can spare right now.
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>>4443455
>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you
>Knock the kid out and put him in the bag of holding.
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>>4443495
I don't know if there's any AIR in the bag of holding? We might wanna confirm if he breaths air first.
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>>4443538
.... right, we stuffed the bots inside it, that made me completely miss that we have never stuffed a living being inside the bag. There should be air inside the bag, and according to this related topic here (https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/8158/can-you-place-something-living-in-a-bag-of-holding), he can hold out maybe up to 30-50 minutes depending if Handler wants to be generous, before he exhausts the bag's air. We don't know the specific details so Handler will need to step up and clarify.

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MUCH, if we just pull his head out every once in a while to resupply the air. Or heck, let HIS HEAD dangling out of the bag so he can breath, we don't have to stuff him entirely in it.
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>>4443455
>Nope, he could be useful [s] And he’s just a kid [/s]. He’s coming with you

Inb4 we put him in the bag he thinks he is inside Miranda's stomach.
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>>4443553
Found a permanent solution for the lack of air!

We actually have a RESPIRATOR in our bag. Just slap this on him, dunk him in the bag and we can go to town without concern. Easy as pie.
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>>4443648
>’Real Divinity’ Respirator- 50 Motes (Small): A respirator that requires an influx of mana, but can allow you to breathe in anything short of vacuum.
hmm, hammer-space is not vacuum, right?
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>>4443648
...that’s for extracting oxygen from water, anon.
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>>4443654
>>4443653
Welp, never mind.
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>>4443653
Nope! There should be tons of stuffs (including air) left inside it.
>>4443455
>>4443475
Adjusting a bit.
>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you.
>Knock him out, put the respirator (>>4443648) on him, activate it and stuff him into the bottomless bag.
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>>4443455
Welp lets try this then>>4443659
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>>4443659
I still think we should drop something to divert their investigation elsewhere - since what they're doing to that boy is something that the church won't tolerate, leaving the holy charter coin that has an image of fairy of light on it would give some serious implications. It is not certain if we're going to leave the kid with the church or not, maybe our boss might find some use for him or we'll end up taking him to the Intersection after all - meaning that if we won't do it now then there's nothing stopping Drogan from mobilizing without any hindrance. >>4443456
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>>4443455
>>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you.
Are you sure that stuffing the mana radiating kid into a magical bag filled with our magical weapons isn’t going to backfire on us? Like if we pull him out and he flies off with our Flamebringer?
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>>4443699
Well, I want to keep the coin for a free night at one of the inns (goodness gracious our girl hasn't bathed in days), but that can also be solved with local currencies too, which we have plenty of.
>>4443456
Sure, let's drop the charter coin in his cell too.

Also, I don't know if this still holds but http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3803941/#p3832304
Our bag, when last described size wise, has a width of a foot and a half.

>>4443708
We have stuffed volatile stuffs inside our bag before anon, and we'd knock him out beforehand. It'd be rather far-fetched for him to wake up before our next check, let alone grabbing something in our bag - an alien environment and then try to scram when we pull him out (which he won't know when and where). From the way he speaks, kid's just done with life, he's not gonna make a desperate move.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3575114/#p3577685 - what inside of our bag looks like, it's mildly claustrophobic.
>“DO NOT.” Prima suddenly nearly shouts. And although the rest of her body doesn’t seem to budge save for the sudden swivel of her head to Jago, the two Aegis employees momentarily look back in surprise before continuing on their way, talking animatedly. “I would not recommend that course of action despite the usefulness of the containment device!” She’s talking kinda fast all of a sudden. “It is rather lonely and there are just floating objects to keep you company. I recommend waiting at base.”
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>>4443722
Alright, what if his mana aura activates our weapons while he’s out and it turns him and our nonmagical stuff to slag?
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>>4443727
Alright, what if none of what you're saying is going to happen?
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>>4443733
Alright, what if it does?
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>>4443734
Alright, what if?
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>>4443736
Alright, what?
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>>4443734
There's no way he's that volatile and irradiated.
We're practically next to the reactor he's powering on and we don't feel jack - Miranda is very magically-sensitive.
Another far-fetched scenario anon.
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>>4443743
Alright?
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>>4443747
I’m just saying it’s probably not a good idea to me. We dunno if he’s magic enough to activate it remotely and unwillingly, we dunno if he’d spit out the respirator if he woke up, we dunno if he needs to breathe (since he’s at least partially made of mana)... it’s stuff that might come up and cause problems for us. That, and I’m worried about what could happen to our bag of holding and our stuff if something fucky happened. There’s a reason why there’s Bag of Holding/Portable Hole lore about creating a Sphere of Annihilation with those tools.
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>>4443748
Aight?
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>>4443758
Ok then, so do you have another idea for transportation? Because if you're suggesting we do an escort mission I'll have to slap you down.
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>>4443763
I might, but it puts the kid at risk for being hit (which could either be good due to them trying to recover him, or bad due to nobody must know). It’s basically punching two holes in that backpack we found for his legs and gluing his butt inside it so we could carry him around like a toddler.

...It sounds even worse out loud than in my head...

So back to your plan, are you planning on letting him out of the bag of holding when it’s safer, or just keeping him in there for longer?
>>
>>4443779
Aaaah, well once we land somewhere safer with Gargles the Bat-friend, I will suggest to pull him out to have a chat, generally to ask him for misc info and get to know the kid better to decide what we should do with him. Keeping him there for too long will just break his psyche so much that he doesn't want to talk to us, fortunately if he's going into the bag then he won't have to wait long, our current mana pool leaves little to chance.
>>
>>4443786
Okay, I’m fine with that. Maybe give him a sweetsap first so he doesn’t wake up and turn into that kid from that Stephen King short story about teleportation, but with heavy weaponry.

>“ITS LONGER THAN YOU THINK, MIRANDA!” (fires missile launcher)
>>
>>4443827
Oh I know exactly what kind of horror you're talking about. Soft-stasis like that is about the one of the worst things you can inflict upon someone.
Time flows normally in the bag, else we'd have known otherwise when we pull out the the bots from our bag.
>>
>>4443455
>Nope, he could be useful [s]And he’s just a kid[/s]. He’s coming with you.
>Drop the Holy Charter Coin in his cell
get in to THE FUCKING SACK
>>
>>4443553
we stored seither in its gas form inside the bag. we only need to do the same for air and make sure that the kid and the air are in the same space when we store him.
>>
>>4443862
We have a respirator, that's faster and safer imo.
>>
>>4443727
>>4443827
Do you remember how the bag of holding works? it creates a an infinite void that stores a particular object until we(and only we) want it back. so the only thing that we need to do is to grab a shitload of air and put the kid and the air in the same void(by thinking really hard about it). that's it.

>>4443864
eh, sure. it's an extra measure to keep him alive. although a respirator isn't what you think it is. that's a rebreather
>>
I really hope we don't put the kid in the bag. Not like we can't carry him or anything
>>
>>4443866
How do you grab air?
>>
>>4443933
in the same way we grabbed the seither; we open the bag and move it around to catch the air.

>I really hope we don't put the kid in the bag. Not like we can't carry him or anything
we can carry the kid, but then he becomes a target. that's something we don't really need right now
>>
>>4443936
He would be to shocked to react if we actually freed him. Doubt he has any love for the people that are using him as a live battery.
>>
>>4443945
i suppose we can ask him if he wants to help us take revenge, although i don't know how well he will take it when we go to the lockstone. probably he won't mind.
>>
>>4443455
>>4443456+>>4443659
this
>>4443945
You're relying on the kid to be competent when he's all but ready to give up on life? No way he's able to keep up with us speed wise and carrying him around impacts our performance too much. Bag's good.
And do I have to mention we can't use Flux Wave with him around?
>>
>>4444268
i think he just doesn't need to stand in the general direction of the wave.
>>
>>4444363
>i think he just doesn't need to stand in the general direction of the wave.
But anon, the normal Flux is omnidirectional and undiscriminating, that's why we're learning a directed version.
Unless you're suggesting that he should hide behind a wall every time we use FW, in which case that still leaves things to chance because we don't know how deep FW can penetrate walls.
>>
>>4444379
didn't we already learn the directional version of the wave? otherwise, yes, the kid is better inside the bag.
>>
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>>4444383
We did, but it's still in its' infancy state atm. Much less oomph and requires concentration to maintain, doesn't persist and the effect stops immediately when they step out of it.
>>
>>4444383
That one doesn't weaken our foes, just disorients them while they remain in the bubble. Once they're out of it, they're fine, which is bad, because Flux Bubble requires concentration to maintain.
>>
>>4444396
>>4444387
fuck. in that case the kid goes into the bag and we have to train the flux bubbles. also, we should use the magical flames to destroy the kid's chambers. that will buy us enough time and split the enemy forces.
>>
Writing!
>>
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>>4443455
Well, for now? He might be useful one way or another. You doubt that with people’s worship of fairies, they’d take his being hidden away lightly, regardless of if they considered him blasphemy or a demi-god. Would pretty much be the perfect distraction while you do what you need to.

Also, he’s kinda pathetic, being honest.

Either way, you quickly tear open the hatch keeping him contained-

And are forced to brace yourself as a wave of mana emanates from his prison- whatever spell was on there seemed to have been released, and it’s then you realize this kid is practically radiating power off in waves; uncontrolled, unrefined, and unimpeded-

-and then nothing. Geez, for a second there you thought you’d have to put him under; that much mana might’ve been dangerous just flowing out. “Come on,” you urge. “I’m getting you out of here.”

“And yet to where?” he asks, though he crawls out nonetheless. “Have you more of a desire to feast somewhere less antagonistic?” This kid.

“No, but I need you to do me a favor,” you mention.

“And that would be?” he asks listlessly.

You swing your bag of holding around, and open it wide, to its full diameter. “Get in the bag.”

A pause. “That is not-”

“Yes it is, and I don’t have time for this. Get in the bag.” You’ll shove him if necessary.

“...very well. Such a mode of preservation…from one prison into another.” Well, that’s not quite accurate, but again, no time. At least he’s thin. When he steps out of the reactor area (that’s what you’re calling it now) you can practically feel the ambient mana in the air fade. Whatever was going on, you doubt that either it is or that it has enough power to be anything more than a nuisance, now.

Still, it takes some maneuvering, particularly when he nearly gets stuck on his upper body, to fit him in, but drop he does. Honestly, hauling people in this thing? Not your first choice, but needs must. You’re...fairly sure there’s something in there that keeps things preserved, at least. He shouldn’t die.

Nonetheless, time for you to move on. “My my...suddenly things have gotten far less...odd.” Gartoum mentions. “Will we be off in the other direction, then?”

“Yeah,” you say already jumping up the stairs. And about time, too. By your scans...you're going to have company, soon.

>Roll 2d20, best of three.
>>
Rolled 10, 12 = 22 (2d20)

>>4444687
Good boy. We didn't need to knock him out.
>>
Rolled 2, 3 = 5 (2d20)

>>4444687
>>
Rolled 17, 9 = 26 (2d20)

>>4444687
>>
Rolled 19, 13 = 32 (2d20)

>>4444687
>>
Rolled 2, 6 = 8 (2d20)

>>4444687
>>
Damn it, by two seconds.
>>
Boy, so nice of them to pack themselves tightly into a hallway. Almost makes me want to use the Induction Orb to boost a Rapier-flavoured Magiwave.
>>
>>4444707
or a rapier powered magibeam that would literally cut all of them
>>
>>4444707
>>4444711
Save the orb and rapier for the Nebula Buster we'll fire to destroy the place behind us.

Man, I can't wait to finally channel Nebula Buster through the rapier...
>>
>>4444716
Rapier is free though, it doesn't have a cooldown or anything, we can just use it to amplify as many spells as we want.
>>
>>4444716
just like the other anon said, the rapier is free to use. we can use it as a stabby weapon AND as a magic bootar
>>
>>4444719
I know, I'm saying we haven't ever used the rapier for a Nebula Buster before. Other spells, yeah, but the Buster's always seems to be used without it.
>>
>>4444731
we have. every time we use a nebula buster we use it with the rapier. i think that was the main reason for the reinforcement as well.
>>
>>4444716
I actually do not want to buster the place since that would kill the old woman who pointed the way for us. But that's just me.
>>
>>4444734
Nope, never used it with our rapier.
>>
>>4444734
...No, we unfortunatly haven't yet, anon. The last Buster we did was the one in Mecha world, and there's no mention of pulling out the rapier for that.

>>4444736
Ah, yeah, forgot about her... Well, not like we can't pick her up and drag her outside on the way out before the fireworks show.
>>
>>4444746
>>4444739
I find it odd given that using the nebula buster with the raiper has been asked in EVERY mission from the moment we got it.
>>
>>4444762
You would, but for some reason it never happened. Who knows why.
>>
>>4444762
>>4444769
Well this job is a nice one for our first, since we'll be fighting armies by the last stones.
>>
Eh, can using the nebula buster wait until the 3rd or 4th lockstone? Blasting an army would be cooler and would strike fear to the enemy.
>>
>>4444687
You quickly leap forwards, trying to keep yourself ahead of the pursuers as you fly down the hallway- not literally, but you wish you had the room to. There’s little else you can worry about as you race forward, half expecting a massive mana wall to be stymying you. To your surprise, however, you see little but walls and lights and doors; Gartoum consistently points out left or right in terms of direction, but at one point he stops you. “We’re here!”

It’s in a dead end, near one small door; checking it reveals it’s a cargo closet of course.

“How do you know this is it?” you ask.

“Oh, simple! Wherever shadow can get...so can I! And there is indeed shadow riiight beyond that wall.” You can’t see him, but you can hear the smirk in his voice. “If there isn’t a hidden passageway here I’m a smokestack.”

It doesn’t take too long before you can see one thing obviously out of order- a hook for clothes completely unused, compared to everything else. You pull it, and a gravelly noise echoes out as the wall opens up like a door, revealing a dark, prison-like hallway, lined by glowing stones. “Behold, the secret chambers of the Lockstone! And I must say, no barrier in sight! Fantastic!”

You have to agree. You have little time to celebrate, however, when you hear the rushing of footsteps. You quickly dart into the entryway, and looking for a way to close said door, find an identical hook on the other side. Another twist, and the door closes- just as you see the people run in.

That won’t hold long. But you don’t NEED ‘long’. Especially with how this place seems to be relatively straightforward.

That Lockstone WILL be yours.

(Will post tomorrow.)
>>
>>4444812
I agree with this. Not only we cant use the buster indoors, but if we use it, everyone will immediately bring out the big guns to kill us.
>>
>>4444838
Thanks for the run boss!
We're so reading those summon books. Maybe we can cook a combination technique out of them.
>>
>>4444838
Night Handler. This run has been smooth so far.
>>
Oh, we can use the magical flames thay cant be turned off to close the path behind us, or at least make the enemy's advancement harder.
>>
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So, the three dots here are purple>>4444687, and I think we've seen them before>>4441938. Judging by their position in the latest map update, they didn't follow us through the hole and used the stairs instead. I assume that the red dots were standing in the hallway>>4441938 that leads to the stairs to the 4th subfloor.

tl;dr forget about the stairs, the hole we've made on the 3rd subfloor is actually closer to the entrance of the 5th.
>>
>>4444842
Summoners from Gartoum's world used their own mana to boost summons, maybe we could share ours to keep him active for longer - things would've gone smoother if he had not run out of steam on the ground floor.
>>
>>4444932
I call this smooth enough. We aren't wounded, we used minimal mana/stamina and as far as I know we're doing good on time. The only thing bad thing we did was botching the stealth right on the 1st sub-floor, which frankly was a very Miranda thing to do.

Speaking of Gartoum, he should be well rested enough for another Shadowmeld after we nab the stone with the interfering magical energies gone (notice how he got more talkative the moment the reactor went offline?). Yet another factor on top of our stacked deck.
>>
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Handler i must ask you a important question. Does Miranda in her dragon form has teeth like pic related?
>>
With Shadow Boss being able to start making minions soon, we can grab one of them to test out the healing barrier. No need to look around for wandering monsters.
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4446176
Heya Handler
>>
>>4446176
Yo boss, you doin' fine?
>>
>>4446176
Evening, boss.
>>
>>4446180
Yeah, doing better. I got tested for Covid just to be safe since it was free and for a minute I was feeling feverish, but no, it was indeed just sinusitis and it's on the mend.
>>
>>4446193
Do you have a PO box I can send a Hazmat suit, a 55 gallon barrel of hand sanitizer and a pallet of Vitamin C gummies to?
>>
>>4446193
That's good to hear
>>
>>4444838
The hallway is long, but you can see a split in it ahead- reaching it’ it’s a standard intersection. Seems like someone wanted to make this a maze after all...but fortunately, you’ve got a bit of a cheat. According to your FutureSight...well, it’s obvious WHERE it is...it’s just a matter of getting to it. The damn thing doesn’t show you the actual paths, unfortunately. But it’s something. That's not the only thing, though...

...there's other spots of mana, for whatever reason. Smaller, mind, but still there, and of...strange variety. That's kinda odd. What ELSE could they be hiding? You'd heard something about superweapons, but...huh.

"Well, this is a bit of a pickle," Gartoum hums. "Which way shall we go?"

>Roll 1d20.

>Northwest
>Northeast
>Southwest
>East-North
>Southeast.
>>
>>4446249
>Northeast
>>
Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4446250
>>4446249
Damnit...
>>
Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4446249
>Northeast
Why would you build your superweapon storage into a maze?
>>
>>4446251
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4446249
>Southwest
>use Induction Orb to block the corridor you came from with a Light Barrier
>>
>>4446249
>Northwest
>use our magical flames to block the path
>>
Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4446249
>Northwest
>>
>>4446249
>Northeast
You guys jesting right? Look at how small those corridors are, one magiwave sweep and they'll all collapse. They shouldn't have any shields on too.
>>
>>4446249
>East-North
>>
Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>4446263
>>
>>4446249
>Northwest
>>
Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>4446249
>>4446256
>>
>>4446262
pretty sure that the guys following us had stronger scent>>4444687
>>
Seems like it's Northwest. And as for the rolls. 16.

Good. Writing one more.
>>
>>4446267
I though only the captain had a strong scent.But i take they must have someone strong to take out our turret
>>
>>4446267
Being entirely honest- I increased intensity, but I failed to take the size to account.
>>
Smart of them to have the big guns be the last line of defense. Must had sent them in when we broke stealth.
>>
>>4446249
The hallway is long, but you can see a split in it ahead- reaching it’ it’s a standard intersection. Seems like someone wanted to make this a maze after all...but fortunately, you’ve got a bit of a cheat. According to your FutureSight...well, it’s obvious WHERE it is...it’s just a matter of getting to it. The damn thing doesn’t show you the actual paths, unfortunately. But it’s something.

You quickly move forwards, deciding that it’d be best to just try for the direct approach. You’re not going to rush ahead blindly, especially with that warning of something likely in the way, but at the same time you’re not going to waste much time with enemies at your back. You follow the path around a couple of corners easily enough, and running into a slightly bigger, seemingly empty room, you have to pause and jump back to the nearest wall.

There’s something there; something big and mean, from the looks of it. A massive serpent-like creature- thick black scales and beady red eyes- the thing has the body of a VERY large lizard, but an elongated neck like a serpent. It seems you’ve caught it a bit by surprise, though, as it rears back, and gives off a warning, threatening hiss.

>Action!

>Magi-wave, see if you can’t lop that head clean off and end this quick and easy!
>It’s neck is too big to be much use in cramped corridors- if you can keep it there via close combat, it’s not going to be able to do much.
>Might not be the best idea to risk it right now- see if there’s another way around this thing.
>Other
>>
>>4446336
>Magi-wave, see if you can’t lop that head clean off and end this quick and easy!
>Other
Equip the rapier beforehand.
>>
>>4446336
>>Magi-wave, see if you can’t lop that head clean off and end this quick and easy!
>Use Rapier
>>
Whoop, forgot map. Updated visual power levels.
>>
>>4446336
>Magi-wave, see if you can’t lop that head clean off and end this quick and easy!
>Use Rapier
>>
>>4446336
>Magi-wave, see if you can’t lop that head clean off and end this quick and easy!
>>
Random aside, I was tempted to make the layout thematic and following a pattern but decided that'd be a bit much. Not hard to see what I was considering, though.
>>
>>4446336
>giant snake with wings...
they were trying to create a dragon and this thing is the closest they got to...

>Other:"Draw the rapier and taunt the snake to a attack, since it has wings but is limited by the space he is in, it will probably go for a lunge attack toward us once it dies so use overchannel to buff our legs for a last secodn dodge and pierce the soft belly with the pointy rapier, focus energy blast using the spear tip with the rapier already piercing the soft belly, avoid the scale in case they are as resistant as a actual dragon scale.
>>
I just gope this proto-dragon doesn't have a acid/poison breath attack.
>>
Hmm you guys think we could get some of the wings feathers, if they have it, or some of the snake skin? Maybe if we make a snake leather pants and boots we can get a lamia/Snake girl Miranda
>>
>>4446336
>Magi-wave, see if you can’t lop that head clean off and end this quick and easy!
>Use Rapier

>>4446354
What if it has acid blood and poison farts?
>>
>>4446352
Uuuuuh anon? Where did you get the wings part from?
>>
>>4446336
>Might not be the best idea to risk it right now- see if there’s another way around this thing.
>"Hey, can you move out of the way?" Giants aren't known for their intelligence but sometimes magic snakes are, Though, the last time I tried talking to a giant snake it instantly tried to swallow me.
>>
>>4446362
I think i'm to tired it's like 03:00am here
>>
Writing shortly.
>>
>>4448570
Welcome back, boss! How's your Saturday treating you?
>>
>>4448574
I was super tired. Think I'm good now though.
>>
>>4446336
>>4446337
>>4446339
>>4446341
>>4446342
>>4446359
You’ve got just the thing for this beast. It’s neck is practically begging for it. You quickly reach into your bag, just as the thing hisses again, its neck bulging yellow with something-

You’re not giving it the chance. The rapier is out, and flashes green as you flash it through the air, the magi-wave coming from it tearing through the air, the walls...and the thing’s neck, a clean severing at the base allowing a spurt of fluid to erupt from the base of its neck; you’re not sure what it is, but it’s sizzling yet not chewing through the rock, at first glance, so you’re unsure. Still, that’s one hazard dow-

The head squirms.

You almost freeze in surprise as you were about to walk towards it. But no- the neck and head of the thing suddenly starts writhing and squirming- and just as you’re about to take another swing at it, suddenly opens its eyes again and immediately turns around and slithers away down one of the halls it was guarding- down the leftmost hall, in fact. You hop over the puddle to chase it, but as you turn the corner, you see it slither into a small hole on top of the ceiling.

...unexpected. Vaguely creepy. But it’s gone now. A quick check up and down reveals nothing else in the immediate vicinity. Huh.

>Continue down the leftmost hall.
>Go up the rightmost hall.
>Double back and try a different path (which?)
>>
>>4448773
Forgot the image again.
>>
>>4448773
>Go up the rightmost hall.
>>
>>4448773
>>4448778
Nevermind
>Continue down the leftmost hall.
>>
>>4448773
>Continue down the leftmost hall.
More pretty lights can only be good right?
>>
>>4448773
Apply some fire to the neck stump via the Fire Line spell, then go down the left hall.

It's probably some sort of hydra variant.
>>
>>4448793
I don't think it's that kind of hydra, it didn't grow a new head out of its body - the head ran away. All the vital organs are probably there and it just lost its 'tail'.
>>
>>4448773
>Continue down the leftmost hall.
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4448773
>>4448785
>>4448786
>>4448803
Might as well keep going now that you’re on this path. Keeping clear of whatever the goop is, you continue on, making sure that you keep an eye out for any...oddities.

And oddities you do find. Aside from some bats and strange small lizard things reminiscent of what you just fought (much more easily dispatched, thank goodness), there’s something else there. A massive, shimmering, iron gate. You hadn’t seen anything like this before- but as you begin to wonder just what it is, Gartoum speaks up. “Well, isn’t this a bit of annoyance,” he complains. “Yet another blockade. Seems they didn’t put EVERYTHING mana-powered on our little guest after all…”

“Mana powered?” you ask. It just looked very polished and shiny, to you. “Why wasn’t it detected, though?” You mutter as you glance at your FutureSight. Maybe it’s reactive or something? Shrugging, you decide it might be worthwhile to try your luck against it...A direct punch hardly phases it, to your non-surprise. A quick magi-blast doesn’t even leave blast marks. Anything strong would likely bring down rubble on top of you, too, so that’s out...

Yeah, this is annoying. And with the soldiers likely just waiting for you- at the entrance if not already in the chamber itself, considering you didn’t get any kind of register back there- it’d be risky to go back. Either there’s a way around it, through it, or ideally, there’s some sort of release mechanism somewhere around here…

>Head back for now. Maybe you’ll find whatever unlocks this thing, if you’re lucky. (Where?)
>There’s got to be SOME way past it...right?
>>
>>4448863
>Try to cut it with the draining knife
>>
>>4448863
>There’s got to be SOME way past it...right?
It's not mana-powered but it's shimmering?
Hmmm.
>Pull the kid out and ask for directions to get past the door.
>>
>>4448863
Flux Wave.
>>
>>4448869
And if that doesn't work, also try draining it with our condenser
>>
>>4448863
>There’s got to be SOME way past it...right?
Try these
>Flux Wave
>Draining Knife
If it does not work then go check the blue mana signature nearby.
>>
>>4448863
this >>4448875
while poking the door with our knife to check.
>>
>>4448890
>>4448863
Well, and we can try this too I guess. But I don't like to waste mana to just have a slight chance at bruteforcing this.
>>
>>4448914
They didn't chase us inside (i think) - we can pop some mana crystals while we explore the maze
>>
>>4448863
>Flux wave
>>
Writing!
>>
>>4448863
>>4448869
>>4448875
>>4448876
>>4448890
>>4448900
>>4448914
>>4448931
Well...if it’s mana powered, then maybe your fancy new draining knife will help. You take it out, and place it against the steel- there’s no initial response, but a slight glowing of the knife after a second or two tells you there IS mana in it- not as much as you thought, though… A few saws and slashes lead you to sigh in frustration, though. Really, though, trying to cut through steel with a knife...probably not the best results. Oh, you made some small cuts, to be sure- but if you were to try and saw through the whole thing? Might take over an hour. Hm. Maybe there’s another way you can affect the mana, then…

>Current Mana: 6800/11000

The Flux Wave shimmers and flows, and it erupts out of you after a few moments- the hope being that whatever reinforces it will die and allow you to bypass it normally. After a few moment, however...the shimmer seems to dim slightly...and only slightly. “That’s...concerning,” Gartoum admits. “So this appears to be some sort of naturally mana resistant material, then?” Good question. Fortunately, you know someone that might be able to answer it. You set your bag on the ground, and reach in- and feel for a rough head of hair. You haul the moth/fairy/human/you don’t know up to his shoulders, where he looks at you blankly. “A strange respite, that. The peace of oblivion seems only temporary, alas.”

“...yeah, that’s not oblivion,” you inform him. “But I do have a question.” You point at the gate. “That gate thing. Do you know what it is and how to get past it?”

He takes one glance at it, and sighs. “Ah. Faemetal, alas. That cursed substance, created out of my blood and body for the use of these lamentable humans, myself taunted with it, yet rejected all the same.” He looks askance at you, eyes dim. “Like attracts like. And so it is with Faemetal. Mana not of its own type is of no concern to it. Normal steels are as feathers to the touch. Only faemetal can truly cut faemetal.”

Fan-fucking-tastic. “And how do I GET Faemetal?”

He shrugs. “The spells and techniques were blinded to me, and I am as knowledgeable as a babe therefore. Perhaps there is a source near ‘round. Perhaps not, and all is lost.”

Fuck.

>Head towards the blue mana source. Maybe that’ll help!
>Head elsewhere (Where?)

And before you ask, no you don't have to visit all the lights. Only if you want to or get very unlucky. That's your one hint.
>>
>>4448998
>Head towards the blue mana source. Maybe that’ll help!
>Restore mana with Mana Crystals/Condenser
>>
>>4448998
See! I told you guys.
>Head towards the blue mana source. Maybe that’ll help!
>Restore mana with Condenser
>>
>>4448998
Are the walls also made of faemetal? Or can we just hack out the doorframe and laugh at the puny humans.
>>
>>4449014
We'd probably bury ourselves under earth and rock.
>>
>>4449014
>>4448863
>Anything strong would likely bring down rubble on top of you, too, so that’s out...
>>
>>4449014
.... wait
>You’re not giving it the chance. The rapier is out, and flashes green as you flash it through the air, the magi-wave coming from it tearing through the air, the walls...
The walls are NOT made of Feametal and we can blast through them with Magiblasts/Magiwave. Then the Flamebringer should suffice as well.
>>4449009
Changing too
>Scrap through the walls next to the door with the Flamebringer.
They shouldn't have enough Faemetal to reinforce such a large area.
>>4449025
I think melting through will work instead of pure force from our blasts.
>>
>>4449028
Or we could burrow under the gate
>>
I'll let this go overnight, considering your mind-changing. Feels fair. But in exchange-

Run WILL RESUME (or at least votes will be locked) tomorrow at 12:30 PST. Not like I'm doing anything anyway.
>>
>>4448998
>Restore mana with Condenser
>Use Flamebringer to burrow through under the gate.
This shouldn't give us any risk of being collapsed on. Can't hurt to try.
>>
>>4448998
Supporting >>4449028 melting/cutting through walls/floors
>>
>>4449028
>>4449031
>>4449038
Can we look for the key instead of digging rocks with swords? We can find loot along the way. Miranda is not that small, it'll take us a lot of time to dig a hole big enough for her.
>>
>>4448998
Burn through the walls by Magibeam-ing a hole in it. Pull out the rapier to increase the power.
>>
>>4448998
>Head towards the blue mana source. Maybe that’ll help!
>Restore mana with Condenser
>>
>>4449047
Getting some Faemetal cpuld help in the longrun of we encounter other gates like that + if it's effective against fae magic, then it'd be cool if there's a weapon made out of it. Fighting a fae with one would make things much easier.
>>
>>4449047
Fine, the dungeon probably took a while to make and cheesing it would hurt Handler's feelings.
Let's go to the blue light, blue's always been one of MY favorite colors.
>>
>>4449047
Flamebringer's heat is just one step below real dragon breaths, it can easily melt through rocks and walls in decent speed.
>Miranda is not that small
Good joke anon.

But that aside, I'm fine with more exploration too. Assuming more people don't vote to just cheese through the door and embarrass the architect.
>>
Are we about to witness the bleach spaghetti 3.0 with people wanting to pierce the wall instead of looking for the key?
>>
>>4449075
Hey it's not different than collapsing the dungeon itself and then skipping the final boss.
>>
>>4449075
This is going to end in a cave in, I swear.
>>
>>4449075
No, Bleachgetti was due to putting bleach in pasta, which on hindsight was a terrible idea due to it's obvious smell. There's no extremely noticeable flaw with burning through a wall, particularly if we use the rapier to beam through the rock quicker. Although maybe we should set up a barrier at the hallway going north...
>>
>>4449091
>There's no extremely noticeable flaw with burning through a wall
>Anything strong would likely bring down rubble on top of you, too, so that’s out...
You're going to block the path with your cheesing, why can't we do it the proper way?
>>
We are five floors under, the pressure from all the earth and rock above us is held by these walls. Imagine that you are on a submarine - what you folks are suggesting is to cut through the hull to get around one locked door.
>>
>>4449099
Mate, she was obviously referring to firing stronger stuffs at the door, not precision melting/cutting/burrowing through walls and doors.
Sure, I give you that messing with the walls next to the door can give us some surprise rocks from above. But if we just burrow through the floor under the door instead? No chance in hell that can happen. Again I'm good with exploring too.
>>
>Head elsewhere (Where?)
To the lockstone
guys, lets try to get the lockstone first and THEN we fiddle with the doors. remember that the whole base is trying to find us and they will go to protect the lockstone.
>>
>>4449099
Because I hate you personally and wish ill upon you for no adequately logical reason to the point where I'll sabotage the entire mission for everyone just to spite you?

No, seriously, I just figure a spell with a mana cost of Negligible isn't going to be considered strong enough to cause a cave in.

Anyway, exploration's winning, so... (shrugs)
>>
>>4449114
I do get what he's saying to an extent, I am worried when people say wall, we probably don't want to damage the walls, but the floor? I think the floor is fair game. Pretty hard to cause a cave in by digging downwards unless you're using explosives.
>>4449124
based on the pathfinding in here, looks like north of the orange glow is the keystone, this seemed a likely path, and it's reinforced by an impenetrable door. Sounds like a last ditch barrier to me.
>>
>>4449129
in that case we should definitely blow a hole through the side of the path. the hole won't be big enough to create a structural collapse(because any weight will go to the doors) and we will be able to continue
>>
>>4449129
Yep, north of the orange glow should be the keystone. Either way choices are:

- Cheese through the door and save a ton of time, potentially skipping pursuit from the reinforcements (remember, we only have until early morning). But we don't get Faemetal.
- Explore and grab some example Faemetal, can potentially create an anti-Fairy item out of them. But we lose a lot of time (assuming we need to visit more than one mana signatures) and give the guards more time to regroup.
>>
I think we should be wary of getting ourselves locked away in these catacombs. It'd kinda suck if they just slammed down an extra faemetal door infront of the exit and called it a day.
>>
>>4449264
its not like we can't use gartoum's shadowalk to get outta here.
>>
>>4449275
can we shadow-walk past this door?
>>
>>4449277
I'm gonna say...yes?
I dont really see why not, because we wont pass through the door itself.
>>
>He takes one glance at it, and sighs. “Ah. Faemetal, alas. That cursed substance, created out of my blood and body for the use of these lamentable humans, myself taunted with it, yet rejected all the same.” He looks askance at you, eyes dim. “Like attracts like. And so it is with Faemetal. Mana not of its own type is of no concern to it. Normal steels are as feathers to the touch. Only faemetal can truly cut faemetal.”

Since the kid confirmed it, we'd still want to gather a bunch of these metal even if we are tunneling through. Reasons being:

- This is probably the only place in the world that produce such heretical products. The originator being in our bag.
- Can give a piece to the kid to have more hard evidences of blasphemy delivered to the church.
- And most importantly, we can craft an anti-magic suit out of them! And it would be hardy against physical hits too. Maybe the dorfs are up for another challenge.

Just my thoughts.
>>
Oh and we probably should ask him if he can refill our mana pool.
>>
>>4449325
I still feel we can search for that AFTER getting the lockstone and im pretty sure we'll see the metal again when we go for the last lockstone and everyone is desperate enough to use all the experimental and heretical tools at their disposal
>>
>>4448998
>Head towards the blue mana source. Maybe that’ll help!
>Restore mana with Condenser
>>
Wow, time flies. Writing, nonetheless.

Seems like we're trying to cut through the walls and floors!

Cool, writing! (Prep your dice.)
>>
>>4449872
Fuck sake....
>>
>>4449872
Mmm. You really don’t want to bother with whatever tricks and traps this place has in mind. It’s too long and too complicated to really bother. You’d rather just go ahead and try to bypass it, and there’s a good way for that. Pushing your ‘advisor’ back down to clear some room, you decide that a bit of digging wouldn’t go amiss.

You’re going to need to use your magibeam and Flamebringer for this, but with some careful cutting, you SHOULD be able to get past the whole situation without even bothering with the gate.

It’ll take some doing, but if nothing else you’ll save time and potentially energy.

>Roll 2d20, best of three.


(I'm so sorry, I thought I posted this already.)
>>
Rolled 9, 9 = 18 (2d20)

>>4449956
here goes then
>>
Rolled 14, 18 = 32 (2d20)

>>4449956
>>
Rolled 3, 3 = 6 (2d20)

>>4449956
>>
14, 18. Writing, will be quicker about it.
>>
14 and 18, that's great!
Braum would smile proudly upon us.
>>
>>4449962
Miranda's evolving into a dorf!
>>
>>4449967
too bad we can't make the door our shield.
>>
>>4449961
Pretty sure we voted to restore mana with the condenser. Can you opt that in next post?
>>
>>4449970
Well, if it could be cut then maybe the door itself could be taken as loot?
>>
>>4449982
Let's wait and see if there's any Faemetal stuff on the other side, first. Got to be easier to transport then an entire metal door.
>>
>>4449956
>>4449958
>>4449959
>>4449960
It’s not a quick process by any means. A lot of mana, and part of that get sapped up by this damn gate. The cuts are slow and deliberate, more of a torching melting than anything else. There’s not much else to be said about it, despite the effort it takes. You don’t need to carve the whole thing out, at least- just a portion of it for you to slip through.

Fortunately, you manage to after a bit- you’re not sure how long, but it at least didn’t FEEL like it took forever. Small blessings. As you slip around the gate to the other side, you take a look around- one again leads left, down to one of the big lights, and the other leads upwards- seems that whatever is there hasn’t moved much, if any.

Again, small blessings.

>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.
>Head upwards towards the aggressive mana source.
>Head back (Where
>Other
>>
>>4450031
>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.
>Restore mana with Condenser
Woo! We didn't waste too much time, that means we can investigate a neutral node without worries.
>>
>>4450031
>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.
>>
>>4450031
>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.

i don't think there would eb a barrier on the agressive one. Even if i suspect it's another experiment. Hmm wonder if our boss could control the snake if he had more power
>>
>>4450031
>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.
if red are animals or at least living beings....orange could be hybrids like the kid?
>>
>>4450038
probably he will, given that right now its just a head.
>>
>>4450031
>>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.
Even if it's not the right path, at least one potential avenue would be accounted for.
>>
>>4450039
Well whatever it's. It's important or valuable enough or dangerous enough to be locked at the same vault as the lockstone
>>
>>4450031
>Head down the southern path towards the orange mana source.
>>
Going down. Writing.
>>
>>4450031
>>4450034
>>4450035
>>4450038
>>4450039
>>4450047
>>4450061

Well, it’s pretty near, and you doubt there’s anything in particular hindering you from getting to the area in general if you want to- might as well investigate that orange mana source if you want to. Fortunately, the hallway is relatively easy to get down, and to your surprise there was little more than a basic door blocking you. Iron, but basic.

Inside is...well, it’s definitely some kind of crossbow, underneath a thick steel case on a steel table. There’s a window that lets you see inside. A compound crossbow (or at least it resembles one), adorned with some sort of gold crystal. The stock resembles a dragon, with the head the mouth, and the prod and bow shining as though made of lava- even if clearly not.

There’s a rack of bolts nearby as well; many of them very well made, and seem to be gold bolts- very inefficient, in your opinion, but still pretty at least. It’s...emanating mana, but you’re not sure exactly how dangerous it may be. There’s three more of those sphere locks in the small hatch to open the box as well…great.

>Ignore it and head back to the hallways.
>Try to look for the sphere keys. (Where to?)
>Other
>>
>>4450124
How big is the case?
>>
>>4450132
About 3x3.
>>
>>4450124
>>4450134
Hmmm,
>Other
Loot the bolts.
Try to stuff the case into our bag of holding.
>>
>>4450124
>>4450137
+
>>
>>4450137
+. If we can’t open it here, we’ll be able to when we get back to the Intersection.
>>
>>4450124
Is the glass enchanted? Or the steel faemetal? Because... If this bow isn't set to incinerate if we open the case, we could just carve it open, with like, our claws.
>>
File: BOTH.gif (2.37 MB, 480x270)
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>>4450124
>>4450137
>Use Mana Crystals and Condenser to restore our mana
>>
Writing.
>>
>>4450124
>>4450137
>>4450143
>>4450145
>>4450152

You look around- that metal’s shining just like the faemetal before...a quick test, and yup. Just to be certain, it’s faemetal. Fantastic. And it’s not exactly small enough to fit in your bag, either. Meaning the only way to unlock this thing WOULD be to find the locks. You’re not exactly happy about this, but...well, not everything’s easy. At the very least, the bolts are easy enough to use, and you're fortunate that they aren't being protected nearly as well. Maybe they're not meant to be used without the crossbow? Even if not, you're pretty sure you can do SOMETHING with them back home. Assuming you don't get said crossbow, of course.

That’s if you even want to bother with it all. As you consider the idea, you pull out a pair of mana crystals and condenser. You could use some recovery after all your efforts earlier…

>Current Mana: 7000/11000 (Recovering)

>Continue on and ignore the crossbow.
>Backtrack and look for other things.
>>
>>4450177
>Backtrack and look for other things.
Bring the case with us. If it's Faemetal, and only Faemetal can damage Faemetal...

We've got an impromptu door ram now.
>>
>>4450177
>Continue on
>Haul the crossbow's case with us
Shouldn't be too heavy. If we can't get it then at least we can ditch it somewhere to deny them of their superweapon.
>>
>>4450177
>>Backtrack and look for other things.
>haul the box with us.
worst case scenario we tie it to a rope and make a flail.
>>
>>4450177

>Backtrack and look for other things.

The way i see it if we don't take this they will use it against us. So i vote to find the locks and grab it
>>
>>4450177
>Backtrack and look for other things.
>haul the box with us.
>>
>>4450182
>impromptu door ram
We can hold the box in front of us like a shield and just ram through the guards when we get out. Spells from the front won't do jack and so do weapons.
About as gorilla as you can get.
>>
I just realized, if we damage the door, we could damage the case, which could damage the crossbow enough for us to pull out the broken parts if we damage the lid enough to create an opening, which we could THEN use our gauntlets on to fix the crossbow right back up.

I fucking love those gauntlets.
>>
>>4450213
Or that, I approve. We don't need INT for this just smash
>>
>>4450218
Actually we need to check if the crossbow itself is Faemetal first. I suppose the gauntlets don't play nice with it.
>>
>>4450182
>>4450191
>>4450192
>>4450200

Backtracking it is. Although it seems like we're taking the box with us.

In which case, what direction?

>Towards the blue mana signature.
>Up at the second intersection (towards the second red mana source)
>Northeast unknown path
>Southwest unknown path.
>East-North Path
>Southeast Path.
>>
>>4450219
eh. as long as the crossbow isn't useful to them, fine for me.
>>
>>4450177
The case is described as having a glass display? I bet the glass is not made of faemetal.
>>
>>4450224
>Up at the second intersection (towards the second red mana source)
>>
>>4450224
>See if we can fashion ourselves a faemetal club by smashing this table against the door
>>
>>4450226
It's a viewport, that's about it. Barely big enough to fit your hand through.
>>
>>4450224
>Up at the second intersection (towards the second red mana source)
>>
>>4450224
>>Up at the second intersection (towards the second red mana source)
Next nearest to the goal.

>>4450226
It says a 'window', which could be just a small slit to see through that's too narrow to take the thing out of.
>>
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>>4450224
huh, there's some weird dark purple spot near the white mana signature.
>>
>>4450224
>Up at the second intersection (towards the second red mana source)
>>
>>4450224
>Up at the second intersection (towards the second red mana source)
lets get the lockstone and bails ASAP. I don't like the fact that we're not being followed
>>
>>4450229
I doubt very much that the secret military research base would make a table out of a rare material made by making a fae kid depressed.
>>
>>4450236
The second intersection is the topmost one, just to make sure you know.
>>
>>4450239
>>4450236

That is, the path leading up to the top of the map, I mean.
>>
>>4450234
Nice catch. Maybe the red mana room is connected to the Lockstone room via another door on the inside of it, with the purple spot being some sort of locking mechanism that works like how the kid was powering the barrier.
>>
>>4450237
they were daft enough to make a door out of it.
>>4450224
>Northeast unknown path, after we bash this case against the door, see if we can use faemetal to damage faemetal.
>>
>>4450244
red one is probably another animal like the lizard snake
>>
Going up! Writing.
>>
>>4450261
I do think most people read (Towards the second red mana source) and thought it was the closer one that we just got access to.
>>
>>4450224
Well...hm. Maybe you can find the locks for this thing- or failing that, some other way to break it out. If nothing else, maybe you can find some rope to tie this with and use it as a bludgeon, even if you’re pretty sure the crossbow itself would shatter from the force. Maybe there’s a Faemetal sword or something around here...that’d be useful, for sure. For now, you’ll have to settle for carrying it under one arm.

You jump back up the hallway, and thinking on it, head upwards towards the intersection where you found the first lizard thing- its body is still here, and the yellow goop has gone from a rich yellow to a much darker yellow. Still not risking touching it, though. You DO decide to test touching it against the faemetal box, however- still nothing. Rats.

Moving on, you head upwards- having to stop and check on your FutureSight where the mana source has moved...seems as though a couple of them have. The nearest one seems to be moving away- though it pauses as you get closer- likely having heard you coming. As you set the box down in preparation for attack, however, you hear a familiar hissing noise…

Taking a peek down and around the corner, you’re not too surprised to see a virtual carbon copy of the same lizard/snake thing stalking the halls- this one, on the other hand, looks ready for a fight as you duck out of view.

>Action!

>Roll 1d20, best of three. Actions and rolls are decoupled.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>4450286
Same tactic. Rapier to Magiwave.
>>
>>4450286
Stickymana it's mouth shut.
>>
Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>4450286
>>4450292
don't change what worked.
>>
Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>4450286
>Burn it with Flamebringer
gotta either disintegrate their head or turn it into paste. Another option is just to deal enough damage so it'd fuck off
>>
Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>4450286
>>4450294
WHY DID I FORGET TO ROLL???
>>
>>4450297
Hey at least we have a 15.
>>
>>4450286
>>4450294
I think disabling this thing is worth more than killing it, if burning it worked I doubt it'd be lurking in the cellar
>>
>>4450299
I'm not complaining that I didn't get past the three rolls rule, I just keep forgetting to put the dice roll in when it matters.
>>
>>4450305
That and it has red mana and was locked up vs being dead. So chances are either it has uses to be kept alive, or it's too hard to be killed in the first place, especially by fire. Lizard makes me think of regen and red mana probably means it's a salamander.
>>
>>4450310
Well we still have another one before the lockstone itself. Can try to burn it then.
>>
Seems like there's a tie between magiwaving and just stickymana.
>>
>>4450313
Nah, Boss, it's manawave.

>>4450292
>>4450295
>>
>>4450319
MAGIwave. Cripes, my memory shouldn't be this bad yet...
>>
>>4450294
and >>4450305

But if you're willing to change, then alright.
>>
>>4450322
Sure, I'll vote to disable it via magiwave
>>
Roger that. Writing.
>>
>>4450286
Well. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, hopefully. Setting the box down, you draw your rapier once again. Deep breath, careful. You can hear the unnaturally light tap-tap-taps of the thing’s clawed feet, and you know you have to move quickly in order to not stay in its ideal range. Careful...now!

You dart out and quickly swing the blade in a wide arc, the magiwave screaming out towards the monster; the thing however screeches as soon as you’re in view and tries to contort its body with a bright red neck- you’re forced to dodge quickly as a stream of some sort of plasmatic energy erupts from its mouth, the attack streaking past you just barely- you can feel the heat on your tail, in fact! You duck into a roll and immediately come to face the thing- only to see the creature’s neck half off. It rolls its body at you, and you can see the blood seeping out of it...but there’s also something else there- some kind of muscle moving…

There’s a tearing sound, however, with a gross meaty sound, and it seems to do the rest of the job FOR you as it tears its head and majority of its neck off; much like the other one, retreating at speed down the hall as you chase, even managing to fire off a few magi-blasts. One hits the ‘tail’ end, but continues on, slithering up onto the wall and into a hole nearby.

You’re not a fan of that, but at least it’s out of the way...that plasma beam thing honestly might’ve hurt. Especially considering the massive burning gouge it left in the stonework...it’s comparable to your own beams. But, on the plus side, it leaves you a clear way down the hall! You follow it, turn a corner, and soon you’re at a T-intersection; down your left is a doorway, and your right being more hallway and a turn- though a look at your FutureSight tells you that if you keep going, you’re liable to run into yet another beast.

>You’ve been lucky so far, might as well keep it going and knock off this next monster.
>Think you’ll see what’s inside the door before you do anything else.
>Other
>>
>>4450355
>Think you’ll see what’s inside the door before you do anything else.
>>
>>4450355
>>Think you’ll see what’s inside the door before you do anything else.
>>
>>4450355
>Think you’ll see what’s inside the door before you do anything else.
Yep these things can regenerate. Not on a troll's level though. Good thing we have a lot of fire.
>>
>>4450355
>Think you’ll see what’s inside the door before you do anything else.
>>
>>4450355
>>Think you’ll see what’s inside the door before you do anything else.
>>4450359
If its regen is magical based, maybe a flux wave could disrupt it.
>>
Let's see what's behind door number 2. Writing.
>>
I have a theory that we need to kill all 4 beasts to unlock the final door to the lockstone chamber.
That, or all of the escaped heads form a real hydra and we have a boss fight.
>>
>>4450406
I think we should proceed to the lockstone after this yellow aura, we'll have to kill another plasma-snake-lizard, but we should be able to manage it. I think they're learning from each other's deaths.
>>
>>4450411
We could glue one of them to the floor and then cut it's head off while it's stuck, assuming the head is also glued down. Keeps it from informing the big monster and neutralizes the threat.
>>
>>4450355
>>4450358
>>4450359
>>4450364
>>4450380
As you head inside, you’re rather pleased that this one seems to be a normal, wooden door. Ideally, they’ll all be like that from here on in- no more of this faemetal stuff unless it’s a form you can swing around easier than a damn box.

Inside here is what looks to be some sort of...pit, actually. The first thing you think of is some sort of sand trap; a morass of dirt and gravel in the center of the room. And above it, floating in the middle of nothing is a pockmarked, spherical gem, constantly emanating warm, gentle winds from itself. Whatever it is, it seems to be pushing the gravel out at intermittent times before it stops for a few moments, letting said gravel roll back in before getting pushed to the edge again. To the left of said pit is another table; normal steel, this one, and a number of instruments on it that you can’t readily identify. That said...on the table is a familiar, more normal looking sphere with marks on it. That’s one of those down, at least. As for the floating one? You reach for it- and you have to admit there’s a surprising amount of pressure that seems to want to push you back, even at the edge of the pit, itself being around 3 yards wide and deep. It’ll be a pain to get…

>Try to snag the thing while staying in one piece. (How?)
>Just destroy it- it’s probably holding something else together and it’s not worth the trouble.
>Other
>>
>>4450443
Send out a Sticky Mana tether to the gem when it starts to drag in the gravel, hopefully it'll attach itself to the gem easier. Then pull it back out with a flick of the wrist.
>>
>>4450443
>>4450448
Reinforce the tether also.
>>
Where'd everybody go?
>>
>>4450443
>seems to be pushing the gravel out at intermittent times before it stops for a few moments
>>4450448
it doesn't drag in the gravel, there are pauses between its pulses that let gravel fall back under gravity. I guess it got either some repulsion or anti-grav aura
>>
>>4450470
it's a puzzle - so either theorizing or waiting for someone else to come up with solution
>>
>>4450443
Or
Create a barrier under the gem when the gem is above a safe distance over the gravel. Then use barrier step to approach and get it.
>>
>>4450470
>>4450473
yeep. i'm not thinking clearly enough to choose one.
>>
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>>4450443
>Scan tools and the Gem with FutureSight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYplx0pDYLI&ab_channel=GSNgameshowman24
>>
>>4450482
Actually we can move barriers at will right?

Just box the gem inside them and move them to us.
>>
>>4450443
hmm, let's combine these two >>4450482 >>4450487
>trap the gem in a barrier
>use Air Step to reach it
>shove it inside our bag
auras and stuff stop working inside the bag, so it should be safe to carry it around
>>
Gonna cut it here for tonight. Work tomorrow.
>>
>>4450487
>As for the floating one? You reach for it- and you have to admit there’s a surprising amount of pressure that seems to want to push you back, even at the edge of the pit, itself being around 3 yards wide and deep. It’ll be a pain to get…
There's a gravitic aura for sure, not just the wind from the gem. So the answer is to get the gem while staying outside of the gravel.
>>
>>4450495
thanks for running handler.
>>
>>4450443
Since it's constantly pulsing out air I'd expect a simple sticky mana tether to be thrown back via more air waves unless it was done quickly and effectively at exactly the time when it's not emitting, while being thorough enough that the tether doesn't break right after.

To make it easier however, I think it's possible to make a light barrier on the side of the gem opposite to ours and let the gem propel itself while it's emitting the air, and then time it so that the tether has minimal distance to cover for maximum ease of hitting/sticking and durability.

>Use both Light barrier and Sticky Mana Tether to pull the thing.

I also thought about using airsteps to basically walk up to it, but unless timed even more the gem would probably just be propelled away from Miranda if she gets closer. The tether should at least be minimal in terms of area size to push against.


>>4450470
It's late so people are probably tired and/or starting to go to sleep by this time.
>>
>>4450495
Night boss. Don't get too tired.
>>
>>4450500
Fair enough. It’s starting to hit me too...

>>4450495
See you around, boss.
>>
>>4450494
>>4450500
then how about instead of using airstep we glue our feet to the floor with sticky mana?
>>
>>4450443
>>4450494
Hmm. I think I got it now.

>Stabilize ourselves by tethering to the ceiling.
The pressure is concerning, and we don't know if it's just the wind or some sort of gravitic aura. But we do know that it originates from the gem. SO
>Barrier box the gem
This should weaken the pressures enough that we can safely operate with barrier steps. The barriers should hold.
>Try to move the boxed gem towards us, while at the same time move towards it with barrier steps.
In case things go wrong we still have tethers attaching us to the ceiling.
>Stuff the gem inside our bag. DO NOT dispell our barriers beforehand.
Dispelling the barriers beforehand will just reset the pressures to normal again and it will be blown away from us.
>>
>>4450521
we don't need to use a full box though; just apply the third law of motion. we only need to place a wall behind the gem and push it towards us.
>>
>>4450527
so you suggest just to use a simple flat barrier as some sort of 'sail' instead of trapping the gem itself?
>>
>>4450527
My idea is that boxing the gem will weaken the winds and gravity for safe operating. If we just put a barrier behind it to let it push itself towards us then our front is still exposed. We'll just be blown away the moment the gem is within reach.
At least that's what I think that will happen.
>>
>>4450531
yeah, although >>4450532 makes a lot of sense as well
>>
>>4450508
I'm not sure why we need to since I only suggested air step to get closer. But then again being stable by sticking to the floor sounds pretty useful when the gem gets pulled towards us and it pushes us back or something. So yeah sure why not.

It also occurred to me that this entire thing could be much easier if we just had some sort of net-on-a-stick thing such as a bug-catcher to use. I bet that's how they caught it the first time haha!
>>
>>4450532
But that's what the tether is for right? Even if we're being pushed away so long as the tether is durable enough and we're strong enough to pull it close to push it into the bag then it's doable with less mana cost. After all a box would surely take like 6 sides vs 1 side. Or maybe make it simpler with 4 sides to further minimize the number of barriers.
>>
ok hold on...why are we here again? we're nowhere close to the lockstone and we regained almost 1000 mana. that means that close to half a day has passed. we have to get the stone ASAP and then we can continue spelunking.
>>
>>4450543
we can change shape of our barriers - we've trapped that spook from mecha world using just one. There's no need to use extra barriers.
>Barrier Manipulation (Basic)
>Miranda can move Light and Great Barriers fairly freely now in a 3D space at will. She can also shape them simply for more personal effects...
>>
>>4450539
I misread your earlier post, thought you said that Miranda would be propelled away, not the gem.
>>
>>4450545
The mana regen is from the condenser and mana crystals. Looks like Handler doesn't want any potion spamming so he make them give us regens instead. I can understand than.
>>
>>4450549
Yep, and with the gem being so small I doubt we need to use any mana at all, unless for reinforcing.
>>
>>4450470
I for one went to make fried rice because I was hungry
>>
>>4450443
I'm rather bad with puzzles, good thing there are other folks. >>4450494>>4450521
Going with these boss.
>>
>>4450443
>Try to snag the thing while staying in one piece. (How?)
>Put the gem, in a barrier box, then mana tether the barrier box. Then take the box, and stuff it in the bag.
Handler is usually sensible about the mana costs of Variable sized barriers, if they're this small it's pretty comparable to barrier armor so it should be affordable to box the gem
>>
>>4450443
>>4450602
This should also work too, if even safer. Since the pushing force is mitigated we should be able to snag the boxed gem with mana tether. Can even expend more mana to make the barrier box more durable.
>>
>>4450822
The fewer moving parts the plan involves, the better IMO.
>>
>>4450443
>Current Mana: 6700/11000 (Recovering)

Hmm...there’s got to be a way to get that thing moving towards one end or another- trying to just tether it will probably result in the strand smacking you in the face- fat lot of good that’d do. What if you were to step in, just bulldoze the issue and hope for the best? Plausible, but if you miscalculated, you’d likely be in worse straits. No, you’ve got to think of a way to keep that thing stable but still drag it over without getting yourself shoved every which way by that weird wind AND that pulsing force of its.

It takes a bit to decide on, but the barrier could be used to trap the thing, and then as to how to grab it…? Hm. Maybe you might HAVE to tether it. The barrier can be used as a bit of a windbreaker, but as for how to actually get it off axis...oh, wait!

As the box entraps the device, the wind and strange force suddenly cuts out, and the device drops to the pit’s depths- you quickly hurl a sling of stick mana to catch it before it gets too deep or perhaps cracks on impact. It manages to catch, and you pull it back, as though you were fishing, allowing for the thing to sail in a graceful arc into your hands.

Brilliant. Especially because now that you’ve caught the thing, the pit suddenly swirls, and a hole opens up beneath it, funneling all the loose sand and gravel to a underground area, turning into a much more typical sandtrap- if you hadn’t caught the thing, it would’ve been lost beneath the gravel to...wherever that pit leads. Well. That’s a faemetal box with a crossbow, and a strange, anti-grav, wind-producing orb. And one of the lock spheres for said box. Not bad so far...

>Continue on towards the closest red signature.
>Return back to the blue mana signature.
>Continue back to the furthest red mana signature.
>Southwest Unexplored Hallway.
>Southeast Unexplored Hallway.
>East North Unexplored Hallway.
>Northeast Unexplored Hallway.

(Good call.)
>>
>>4451692
>Northeast Unexplored Hallway.
Might as well keep going clockwise-ish.
>>
>>4451692
>Return back to the blue mana signature.
It's right next to the path of progression and it'll let us peep down the way we came to see if we're getting chased or there are sounds of construction.
Greed is good and all, but if we somehow DON'T manage to grab the lockstone we might just piss off the shadow king and fail the contract, so let's loot everything else after we pick up the macguffin, not like it'll self-destruct the base or anything.
>>
>>4451692
>Northeast Unexplored Hallway.
Woo! We solved a puzzle.
>>
>>4451692
>Continue back to the furthest red mana signature.
PLEASE ENOUGH DISTRACTIONS
we can check the rest of the signatures after getting the lockstone
>>
>>4451692
>>4451700
Scratch that I'm getting ahead of myself.
>Continue back to the furthest red mana signature.
>>
>>4451701
Yea I guess we have to pass the blue room anyway on the way back out, red mana signature will more reliably get Miranda to the lockstone.
>>4451699
change to
>Continue back to the furthest red mana signature.
>>
>>4451692
>Continue back to the furthest red mana signature.
>>
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Before everyone forgets, these are the mission's loot so far:

- Induction Orb.
- 4 Fairy Statues of Sylathi, Mobambo, Malamund and Anga. We're missing one of Yuyula - Elder Fairy of Light.
- Unknown medallion/insignia from one of the first lockstone's doorstop girls. "Limited standard mana signature present. No emission capabilities."
- Enchanted Scarf. Automatic limited restorative effect (has a minor healing enchantment).
- Spells : Low Quickening, Nighteye, and Tongue-tie.
- Holy Charter Coin of Yuyula. Free lodging and a meal for any inn or eatery what follows a Church of the Fae. Unscanned.
- Mushrooms : Dragonsbreath x4, Navamund x3, Longdrift x3, Sweetsap x19 (give one away).
- What's in this thread.

Juicy info:
- Books we scanned: the books on fairies and the Breath of Life.
- >>4430057>>4430058 Fairy fable.
- Knowledge to protect ourselves from Endomagic (incompleted, mildly useless until we know more) from Breath of Life.
- There're potential allies somewhere in Alminia.
>>
>>4451692
>>Continue on towards the closest red signature.
I don't want to potentially miss a lock sphere for the box. That and it's close by anyways
>>
>>4451742
Do remember red signatures so far have being only monsters.
>>
>>4451692
>Southeast Unexplored Hallway.
>>
>>4451801
Sure. But since they've also been the same kind of creature, I'm more inclined to think that it's just fire-attributed mana, and it doesn't have to be another living thing. The Gem was certainly an example.
>>
>>4451809
The gem was white-ish, not red
>>
>>4451820
The color is irrelevant. It's not like the color of mana indicates if it's from a living being or an object.
>>
>>4451825
anon, all red signatures have been living beings >>4450443
>>4441938
>>4440270
>>4436154 - the soldiers were marked with red lights
>>
>>4451692
alright, but promise that we'll go looking after the keys for the crossbow next
>Continue back to the furthest red mana signature.
and do remember that there's something else near the lockstone>>4450234
>>
>>4451866
There should be magical locksmiths in this world. If things go bad, we can always find one. Hell, we even have one of the lock spheres for the case to make their work easier.

I wonder why the guards are not pursuing.
>>
>>4451918
Why bother with finding the locksmith when the keys are right here? You think they'd agree to work on stuff stolen from super-secret base? Or that we won't have to pay through our nose for it?
They're probably setting up barricades/fixing the hole on 3rd subfloor/busy with catching the blind woman
>>
>>4451918
The case doesn't fit in the bag, do you expect us to ride the bat and travel around the world with it? It even occupies one of our hands, do you expect us to fight through the base only with one hand? This is fucking ridiculous.
>>
>>4451928
>For now, you’ll have to settle for carrying it under one arm.
>Setting the box down, you draw your rapier once again.
>no more of this faemetal stuff unless it’s a form you can swing around easier than a damn box.
>>
>>4451936
I'm just suggesting another way if we can't get the other keys in time, no need to sperg out lol
>>
>>4451945
And if we're really short on time we can just do drive-bys over at the other mana signatures too, no need to waste even more time solving gimmicks. Just need to sight the keys and snatch them.
>>
>>4451947
>>4451945
>>4451918
greed is good, but we're almost in the lorelei zone of "fucking up a mission because we went for all the sidequests"
>>
>>4452172
It's not my fault that people want to loot the keys too anon.
>>
>>4451936
DESU I don't really care about the mysterious crossbow, the faemetal case is worth more to me, just smash the case into the door a few times (breaking the crossbow) to make a faemetal club and we can go ham on people with it.
>>
>>4452635
but you aren't exactly telling them to focus on getting the lockstone.
>>
>>4452661
Don't exactly need to tell people something like that.

I want both the case and the crossbow in it. The box too because it's our only source of Faemetal at the moment.
The thing can't be destroyed by normal blades so we should be able to haul it while running.
>butbutbut we hav to fight with one hand
Disengaging and escaping.
Also battering ram.
>butbut we hav to carry it across the world
Bat-friend can take it and keep it hidden. That's one set of eyes on it. After this stone shadow boss can create minions too so we will be able to do even better.
>>
...it's over.

I return tomorrow. 2 PM PST.
>>
I think we should snack on some more mana crystals. We're still at half tank and there should be 8 left.
Hell we should use all and then recharge them after this raid is over. Running at such a low mana threshold gives me the heebie jeebies.
>>
>>4456336
please make a new thread since this one is now taking too long to load for me.
>>
>>4451692
Well, you’d rather not dally around here. There’s too much on your docket. You’ve got other things to deal with, and you’d rather move on with getting the Lockstone. You’ve got two of the key spheres, and the third is probably nearby, but...well, lack of time causes hurry. You need to get to the chamber proper, and if you have to find another way to rip this box apart, so be it.

The walk back through the corridors brings with it a feeling of...not nerves, but at the very least a stilled silence. While before there was at least the subtle whooshing of air through cracks and the occasional squeak of vermin, now there’s just...nothing. Just your own footsteps. You’re a rookie Outgoer if it didn’t send off alarm bells in your head. Something’s changed. But what?

Although, when you check your FutureSight to make sure those last two organic signatures aren’t about to jump you, you notice something...different.

Well...you don’t think that’s good. At all.

As you turn round the bend, you notice a hole in the ground- wide, but not large...yet big enough for you to fit in only barely. Not very far away is a massive steel door...a thick black, and has some sort of...you’re pretty sure that’s the Drogan flag on it, judging from others you’ve seen. Figures. In the middle is a diamond-shaped indent- likely for a key sphere… or key diamond, rather.

Oddly enough, there’s no mana signature on this door, either. It’s just an ordinary steel door- you could cut through it if you wanted. Or you could try and find the key as proper; then again, that’d involve going allll the way back, most likely, yet again. Presuming it’s down here in the first place, even.

>Cut through it. You said you’re on a time crunch, that means you’re on a time crunch.
>Don’t bother, whatever’s on the otherside will have too much time to see you coming. Find the key.
>Other

>>4457556
After this one, I suppose.
>>
>>4457771
>Other
Have Gartoum see what's on the other side of the door.
>>
>>4457771
>Overchannel and kick the door in! Projectile door! It's the perfect plan!
>>
>>4457771
>Get Gartoum to peek through under the door.
>Cut through it. You said you’re on a time crunch, that means you’re on a time crunch.

>Use a synth-seither pill
This should mitigate the initiative penalty a bit.
>>
>>4457771
>Cut through it. You said you’re on a time crunch, that means you’re on a time crunch.

already made a hole on the last one. One more won't be a problem. Right?
>>
>>4457812
Even if i want to find the last key.
>>
>>4457771
>>4457788
switching to>>4457808
>>
>>4457771
>>4457808
>>
Doping is only cheating in an organized fight!
Ye ye ye ye
>>4457793
change to
>>4457808
Though if we kick the door in instead of cutting I won't complain.
>>
>>4457808
>>4457823
>>4457831
>>4457835

Interesting. Popping a pill, huh?

Alrighty, then, I'm gonna need a roll for that one.

1d8, please. Best of three.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>4457841
Side reactions?
>>
Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>4457841
>>
Rolled 7 (1d8)

>>4457841
Naisu>>4457844
>>
>>4457842
>>4457844
The duality of man.

Nonetheless, good rolls. Although I might change the roll type next time you pop one...
>>
>>4457844
YEAH BABY, IM THE LIZARD KING!
>>
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500 KB
500 KB GIF
>>4457844
>>
>>4457771
>>4457841
Hm. Don’t want to go back all the way out there to look for a key- but just slicing your way in won’t help you at all. You need a way to do it faster, and cleaner than normal. If you had some way to overload your mana for a bit, maybe you could use your Flamebringer as a serious torch- wait!

You do! But as you dig into your bag, you sound off to Gartoum. “Hey, do me a favor? See if you can’t slip inside there and see if there’s anything nasty waiting for me?” Ah, there it is.

“Not a problem!” he salutes, and quickly slips in as you grab your Synthetic Seither Pill. You’re not sure how well this’ll work, but, well..can’t hurt too much, right? You pop two with a small canteen swallowing them and immediately wishing you had something a bit more flavorful- the taste is like cinnamon overload.

But as they settle in your gut, Gartoum comes back. “There’s some nasty slithers in there, and a MASSIVE one sitting in front of them, it seems like. Might be in for a rough fight, methinks!” But you’re too... you’re a bit distracted right now.

>Current Mana: Doesn’t Matter/11000

Because YES, this feels great. Not as good as the real stuff, but still! Gartoum hardly has a chance to question it before you drag out your Flamebringer and light it up, the flame bursting into brilliant flames. Hm. No, though, you can make it hotter.

Hotter. The flame roars, and you see the flames lick the ceiling as Gartoum dashes back into your ring wordlessly. But still.

HOTTER. The flames coalesce slightly, and the blame seems to steam, the silvery metal lost beneath the pure orange of HEAT. Yes, that’ll do nicely.

One slash, two slash, three slash, four- now you’ve got a nicely sized door! Ha, rhyming! Yes. You charge through- just in time enough to see the house-sized hydra creature- clearly made up of the two bodiless lizards and the one singular one left- form properly. The body wasn’t of a DIFFERENT creature, it was merely some kind of...backup. The third body, practically absorbed by the torso of the symbiotic host in the center, hisses, as its other two heads wake up, doing the same. Behind it, a locked and chained door. The final room containing the Lockstone itself, no doubt.

So this is a fight against a massive, six-footed, three headed hydra.

Yes, this works.
>>
Gonna start up another thread.
>>
>>4457952
Doesn't Matter out of maximum, Y'know methinks we were only supposed to pop one of these at a time? Oh well!
>>
>>4457974
Frankly I was worried that there would be nothing behind the door, but thankfully not. Popping the pills was the right call, and that made the Flamebringer stronger too. If we lop off a heads with this they won't be growing back, ever.
>>
>>4457952
lol Miranda is high as fuck.
>>
Is ot wrong that i want to skin the hydra. So we can take to a leather qorker and get a cool set of hydra boots and hydra pants?
>>
>>4457981
First thing we really should do to make this fight easier is to bring out the Rapier and just slime that Hydra to the floor.

>>4457991
Skinning might take too long. How about yanking out a couple of teeth, eyes, and organs instead?
>>
New thread!

>>4457993
>>4457993
>>4457993

You can't exactly think in long sentences right now. You're too wired to wait that long.
>>
>>4457997
I want mostly the scales/skin. Maybe we can have Gart grab it for us? Yeah let's ask him to.



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