>>4628551
Posting

>>4628568
?

>>4628581
so it shows on tracker

>>4628551
You and your buddies execute the downed enemy mages with a flurry of rifle shots. You are amazed at how damned tough the things are, it’s like they don't have any internal organs with how much damaged they soak up before dying. You're certain some of the scientists at Zeta would kill someone for a chance to poke at the corpses laying before you.

"Oy they're breaking thru the gate!" Scavs says, terrified. "If they do we're fucked!"


"Oh fuck, everyone we need to defend the entrance!" You cry out.


You rush off to defend the entranceway, leaving behind your one wounded for the time being. He'll be far safer here than at the front. You turn the corner and find a madhouse. Some of the enemies have broken through and are engaging in combat with the remaining soldiers, mages, and mining crew. You see the Lieutenant, one of his arms broken and dangling, saber raised, leading his men. You suddenly have a change of heart about the man, he must've been dealing with the enemies you'd just killed. You hope they got Roland at least, not a single person in the camp would miss that fat fuck.

"PLUG THE GAP!" The Leutenant cries.

"You lot, help Sergeant Reyes at the wall!" He says, pointing you towards where the Sergeant, Simon, and a few of your own crew and trying to keep the junk wall intact. Outside you can see a mass of enemies, all baying for your blood.

You rush to the wall, and start shooting. Followed by your men.

"We need to force them back!" Reyes says, blood running down his face, his expression a lot more frazzled than when you'd last seen him.

Decisions:
1. *start taking shots*
2. *use the last of your grenade rifle ammo*
3. *go for the slime stables... you might be able to lead some of them away from the camp if you can get them to chase you.*
4. *try to knock down the watchtower with a shatter spell and permanently plug the stuck open gate.*
5. (write in)

>>4628585
well here's the actual post

>>4628586
>1. *start taking shots*
and
>4. *try to knock down the watchtower with a shatter spell and permanently plug the stuck open gate.*

>>4628586
>1. *start taking shots*
and
>4. *try to knock down the watchtower with a shatter spell and permanently plug the stuck open gate.*

>>4628586
>. *try to knock down the watchtower with a shatter spell and permanently plug the stuck open gate.*
Not good options

>>4629056
>>4628987
>>4628590
roll 1d100 for the watchtower.

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>4629352

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>4629352
>>4629370
Why?
Why must you do this to us?

>>4629370
welp, thats a crit fail

>>4629464
Sad human noises
Happy mushroom noises

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>4629352

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>4629352
Pls don't fkkkking diieeeee builder man

>>4629955
Fuking curseddddd

File: oh-god-oh-5c645b.jpg (157 KB, 600x450)

157 KB JPG

>>4629955
>>4629370
o-oh

>>4628586
You rush forward, firing your rifle until the thing jams. You toss it aside in a blind panic, watching as the line is beginning to break down. Your men all look to you for support but you’re not quite sure you can give any. Then you spot the watch tower.

“I’m gonna bring the tower down!” You scream, “I’m gonna use it to block the entrance!”

The others nod and give affirmation as you rush over to the tower, and quickly begin weakening its supports, rushing to seal the gap and save everyone. You watch as the Sergeant is pinned to the ground with a spear in front of you, Simon desperately trying to shoot the mushroom man off of him.

You cast the shatter spell into the base of the tower, and with a sickening crack it comes down bad, right into the wall, shattering it and the wall to pieces and allowing the Mushroom men to start streaming in.

“YOU FUCKING IDIOT!” The Lieutenant cries out. “Fall back, fall ba-“ The man’s orders are cut off as a couple of mushroom people tackle him to the ground, one slashes the mans throat while another begins feeding on the dying man’s entrails.

The line begins to break as the chaos spreads and the junk wall is taken down in the confusion. The enemy calvery begin to charge through, killing everyone in their path and screaming triumphantly. You scramble back but take an arrow to the shoulder for your troubles

>you lose 1 hp, 4 hp remaining

“Shit… fuck.” You mutter, watching as the camp is quickly being lost. Then you spot the stables.

The slimes are still there, terrified but alive. They’re all saddled up already… if you can get to them you can live…. You can escape.

>roll 2d100, failure = certain death

Rolled 48, 1 = 49 (2d100)

>>4629990

>>4629955
>>4629370
2 of the same number in a row = super crit
Since they're both crit fails its a super crit fail, jesus christ I've run Necro-Detective for 2 whole years and we never had one of those happen

>>4629993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR55kxkdUJs

>>4629993
if nobody can roll a crit for the 2nd roll thats pretty much Jack's death.

Rolled 16, 82 = 98 (2d100)

>>4629990
Please Khrone, bless these dice.

Rolled 16, 34 = 50 (2d100)

>>4629993
counter roll.

Rolled 53, 62 = 115 (2d100)

>>4629990

>>4630013
>2 of the same number in a row = super crit
>>4630014
Is that a winner?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fg4Dt8eirM

>>4630017
someone needs to roll a 95-100

>>4630021
then two 16s aren't crits?

>>4630025
oh shit, wait a minute that is a super crit. We back in business boys

>>4630030
Oh well, was fun while it lasted

>>4630013
>>4630014
2 16s = a super crit, it's not fantastic but it'll mean Jack can survive, writing

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!!!
SKULL FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!!!!

>>4629990
You awkwardly run across the battlefield, past the dead and dying and soon to be dead, only focused on your own survival. You trip on a body and fall face first into the ground. You scramble back up and barely avoid being speared by a snail riding Mushroom man. You don’t even stop to see who’s body it is as you dive into the stables and scramble for a mount.

In front of you, the blue slimes are panicking and gurgling in fear as the loud noise and sounds from the battlefield emanate. You find one that has a slime saddle, a bucket like contraption that’s anchored into the slime itself, and is far preferable to bearback riding for many, many reasons. As you hop on you scream as a mushroom man shoves a stone dagger into your gut.

> -2 HP, Gain status effect crippled, 1 Hp remaining.

You manage to kick the bastard off, not even bothering to shoot at it. You grab the slime’s reins and charge the stable gate, smashing it open and charging towards Gate A. A few Mushroom men get trampled by two hundred and fifty pounds of slime as you roll forward. The slime’s outer shell moving like a conveyor belt to transport you forwards. Arrows wiz over your head as you manage to escape Gamma and make it into the plain. You check behind you but don’t see any pursuers. Your gut wound burns but you still have the strength to push onwards. You have to survive.

Decisions:
1. *head back to try and rescue someone, you can fit one more person on the saddle*
2. *make a break for camp Beta, you know the alchemy team got fucked doing the same, but if you can make it you’ll be safe.*
3. *head for camp Delta, they have similar facilities as Gamma, you can get medical treatment if you can make it…*
4. (write in)

>>4630077
>>4630063
>posting updated character info

Jack Spensi: Builder’s guild miner and heavy equipment operator. A shift leader for the current mining operation, which is mining a new tunnel out to create a path lower into the cave network
Skills: Knowledge of operating mining equipment and explosives (increased chance of success when using mining equipment or explosives), ability to take apart and rejigger security devices, detailed understanding of the local cave network, ability to repair broken equipment, ability to somewhat use pistol firearms (increased chance of issues occurring using them), leader’s charisma (will have increased chance of succeeding in negotiation and leadership rolls, others will be more willing to follow you)

Priority in terms of emergency (how important they are to rescue): Low

Health: 1/4 HP

Mana: 2/5 Red mana

Spells: Shatter (allows user to shatter a nonliving object that does not have magical resistance, costs 2 red mana), stun (causes target to be unable to move for three turns upon success, and will completely incapacitate a target upon a crit, costs 1 red mana), energize (uses lightning magic to power equipment, costs 1 red mana), repurpose (turns equipment into red mana, however the equipment has to have some value to the caster. Costs 2 red mana, and 1 artifact or item that is deemed useful by GM, grants 3 red mana not to exceed character’s mana cap)

Equipment: miner’s headlamp (provides light without having to utilize the characters hands), miner’s drill, four sticks of dynamite, flaregun (with five flares), miner’s lunchbox (with lunch and canteen flask), rubber gloves (electricity proof), Grenade launcher (with two remaining grenades), Simple pistol (with sixteen bullets)

>>4630077
>3. *head for camp Delta, they have similar facilities as Gamma, you can get medical treatment if you can make it…*

>>4630088
supporting.

>>4630142
>>4630088
writing

>>4630079
You look back for a moment, wondering what you should do, you’re essentially leaving anyone else in Gamma to their deaths. Scavs, Jones, Simon, Pete… your knife wound throbs. You’re losing blood. You need to get to safety, then you can worry about guilt. You turn your headlamp on and head deeper into the cavern. You’re getting close to Zion by heading to Delta but you’ll be out of range of any help for certain. You just hope you’ll find people on the other side of things

The path stretches onwards. You fearfully look at every shifting of rock and every plink of falling waterdrops. You feel like there are eyes constantly watching you. You stop for a bit, patching your wound up by ripping your shirt apart to make makeshift bandages. It stems the flow of blood and slows your death, buying you much needed time.

As you head back onto the Path towards Delta, take a moment to reflect…

Decisions:
1. *cry a little*
2. *cry a lot*
3. *pull out a locket with a picture of you and your wife*
4. *try to apologize*
5. *do nothing, you feel nothing*
6. (write in)

>>4630504
>6. (write in)
heavy string of curses

>>4630504
>2. *cry a lot*

>>4630504
this>>4630555
followed by >>4630647

>>4630555
>>4630647
>>4630921
writing

>>4630504
“Fuck… shit fuck fuck fuck!” You mutter, out of a combination of anger and a desperate attempt to distract yourself from the pain of your wounds. You try and hold it together but break down into racking sobs as your mount wordlessly carries on, occasionally jiggling as your tears hit its outer surface. You briefly consider trying to pull out the arrow in your back but figure it’d just be another place to lose blood from

“I left them all… fucking shit… god damn it…” You don’t even have the energy to yell, nor the desire, as you don’t want to give your location away.

As you proceed on, the smooth volcanic stone of the local terrain gives way to sharp and jagged black, red, and purple crystals sticking out of the walls, ceiling, and floor, some of which even mysteriously float above the surface of the cavern. This mana rich area was chosen for Basecamp Delta while Zeta was pushed deeper into the caves as an alchemical research outpost. These facts hardly matter to you now of course.

As you continue onwards your mount shudders as it glides effortlessly over glass like crystal protrusions. Its form shifting to avoid any and all injury. The floor’s surface shifting from a clean appearance into jagged broken glass and then back over the course of mere meters. There was a reason the slimes were favored for traversal down here, after all. The damned things could move over just about any surface except molten rock. As you get closer to Delta, the crystals on the ground are more and more crushed in their appearance and heavy processing machinery comes into view, safely hidden behind Delta’s fences. Delta is a bigger camp than Gamma was, and it had the structures to show for it. Big smokestacks bellowing pink and green smoke into the air from the chemical processes as experiments went on inside its alchemical labs. As you get closer to the wall your vision starts to fade as the blood loss takes its toll.

You hear shouting from a few of the guards as they rush down to open the gate and let you in. As the gate opens all of the energy leaves your body and you slump over in the saddle.

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

>>4632032
“He’s coming to.” A female voice calls out. You groggily sit up and groan.

You immediately send a hand down to where your knife wound had been, only finding a scar in its place instead of a gaping hole.

“Doctor he’s awake!” The female voice says again.

“Ah, good, maybe we can finally figure out what happened to Gamma.” A gruff male voice calls out from a good distance away.

“I thought I told you to give us some privacy!” A second, younger male voice replies.

“Its to do with base security doc, your word don’t mean a lick of shit right now. What he saw I need to know. We’ve already lost Zeta and that jury rigged transmitter ain’t up yet.”

You slowly sit up before a firm hand eases you back into a resting position.

“Woah there, I healed most of the damage but the poison that dagger was coated in is still working its way through. Give it some time bud.” The doctor says. The man’s a short Male Feriar, you guess he tops out below 5’10’, with a thick red beard as well. He has a lot more strength then his build would suggest but perhaps that’s more the poison he’d mentioned. Behind him a Mousefolk Nurse busies herself with writing on a clipboard while to your right a tall, grizzled soldier leans on the doorframe to the medbay room you find yourself in. From his ranking insignia, you figure he’s another Lieutenant, but his jacket is a bit fancier than the Lieutenant back at your camp… you try not to think about the man’s last moments.

Decisions:
1. “We can’t stay here, we need to head to beta!”
2. “I… lord above I’m alive…”
3. “They’re all dead god damn it..”
4. “Did… did anyone else from Gamma make it?”
5. “What do you want from me?”
6. (write in)

>>4632035
>4. “Did… did anyone else from Gamma make it?”

>>4632035
>“They’re all dead god damn it..

>>4632035
“Did… did anyone else from Gamma make it?” You ask.

The doctor and nurse share a look while the grabs a smoke from his jacket and lights it, clearly irritating the doctor. The doctor turns back to you, his face somber.

“No I’m afraid not, you’re the only person from basecamp Gamma who’s made it to Delta so far… its been… Nurse how longs it been?” The doctor asks.

“Three and a half hours, give or take.” The nurse says, not even looking up from her clipboard.

“Yes… we don’t know if any of them made it to Basecamp Beta however, communications are out for the foreseeable future.” The doctor explained.

“They’re all dead god damn it….” You say, placing your face into your hands, you leave out the part of it basically being your part, afraid of how they’d react.

“Good lord so we did lose Gamma… did… did you see Doctor Stirner, an old man there, the medic on site… do you know what happened to him?” The doctor asks.

“N-no… I saw him during the battle but when the gate got breached, I didn’t see him again… he might’ve made it…” You say, lying. You can’t imagine anyone else getting out of there alive.

“Well, that settles it, we can’t stay here doc. We’re gonna need to make a run for Beta or that’ll happen to us too.” The soldier explained.

“I understand…” The doctor says, sighing. “This entire expeditions been scuttled now…”

“I’m going to head out and inform the others. We can’t hold Delta, get everything ready to leave in 300 hours.” The man explained.

“Yes sir.” The doctor replied, sighing deeply.

Decisions:
1. *ask for something to eat* (write in optional)
2. “So we’re just leaving all the equipment then…”
3. “They… we’re gonna get picked off if we try this…”
4. “I’d be willing to make a run for Beta… get help. If everyone goes that’s just asking for them to get slaughtered.”
5. “Do we even have enough mounts here for everyone?”
6. “You aren’t going to leave me behind are you?!”
7. (write in)

>>4633856
>2. “So we’re just leaving all the equipment then…”
BOOBY TRAP EVERYTHING

>>4633856
>1. *ask for something to eat*
4. “I’d be willing to make a run for Beta… get help. If everyone goes that’s just asking for them to get slaughtered.”

>>4633856
7>> tell them how resilient to damage the mushroom people are, their use of flying mounts, invisibility magic, jamming magic, and skill at fighting in the dark and use of asshole tricks like using our survivors like living bombs. Tell them to ask the alchemists for better ways to kill mushroom based sentients.
>> the mushroom people have done good scouting and planning, they seem focused on killing off one base after the other. They will expect us to seek support and will probably ambust those going to seek support at Beta. We will need to be clever if we send for support, and they will probably attack in a few days, expect them to know the layout of our base and start by shooting out the lights. Barbed wire fucks up their flyers atleast, and mushrooms probably burn good.

>>4633858
easy enough, I'll add it to the final decision

>>4634240
also easy enough. Will add it to final decision

>>4633990
This'll require additional votes for it to happen as there'll be no turning back once you've decided this.

>>4634458
should mention you won't instantly leave Delta upon deciding but you won't be able to wiggle out of your decision if you change your mind either

>>4633858
also put up notices that everything has been boobytrapped
Since the shroomites wouldn't be able to read our writing.

>>4633858
Super booby trap EVERYTHING, we'll make 'nam look like a picnic and get some sweet revenge.

Also +1 for running for help to Beta, we could become a folk-hero with this, or get shanked in the gut by a shroom and die in a ditch. Its worth the glory. Ask for volunteers to increase our chances.

>>4634907
>>4634638
>>4634240
>>4633990
>>4633858
Writing

>>4633856
“They aren’t… they’re not a bunch of monsters… they’re a lot smarter than that.” You say, trying to sit up and being pushed back down by the doctor once more.

“Go on.” The military man explains. “And you can call me Johan”

“Thanks, I … can I get something to eat… sorry. I don’t think I’ve eaten in a day…” You say, a bit embarrassed.

“Nurse, get him some ration bars.” The doctor says, waving the Mousefolk towards the door, the woman rolling her eyes as she leaves.

You sit in silence for a few moments, before managing to compose yourself.

“They used a bunch of different things to attack Gamma, flying mounts, Calvary, invisibility magic, jamming magic, they turned a person into a living bomb for fucks sake…” You explain.

“That’s… very helpful, thank you.” Johan says, nodding along with what you’re explaining.

“Not only that… they’re resilient to damage, took a whole bunch of us shooting them to make them stay down… we used barbed wire to tangle their flyers up and… they knew our bases layout already, they’d probably sneaked in before we even knew about them… I … a lot of good people died… I think fire would work well on them… I’m sure the alchemists can…” You explain, trailing off, still not sure if any of it had even happened. This had all happened in less than a day.

“Survivors guilt, and a good deal of shock.” The doctor says. “Don’t blame yourself, because you lived you could get here to warn us, you’ve probably saved a lot of lives.”

“We… we need to be clever if we send for support. They completely butchered a group that had broken for Beta.”

“I actually did have a plan already, believe it or not. Not like I’ve been taking this lying down.” Johan replies.

>>4635807

“Using that madman isn’t much of a plan.” The nurse says under her breath, returning back into the room and handing you a ration bar.

You look at the composite of vegetables and protein, crushed into a crude granola bar like shape. Normally you didn’t really care for eating this stuff, but right now you were far too hungry to mind.

“You’re going to leave all the equipment?” You ask between bites, “You know… how expensive the mining equipment alone is?”

“I’m very aware, but all of that can be replaced. People cannot be. My job is to protect the people, not a bunch of expensive things.” Johan calmy explains.

“You should still lay traps to make sure the enemy cannot use them.” You explain.

“We already are, we’re also going to be scuttling any weaponry left behind so the enemy cannot use it… but considering they took Gamma that means they have the whole damned armory down there.” Johan says, rubbing his forehead.

“They won’t know how to use any of it.” The doctor says. “Even if they can figure out how to use it, they’re more liable to injure themselves with it.”

“Still a massive pain to deal with, Sam. Even if the enemy can’t use squad tactics all you need to do to injure someone with a gun is point it at them.” Johan replies.

“I’m willing to make a run for Beta, and get help. If everyone goes that’s just asking for a giant slaughter.” You explain.

“You’re in no condition to move just because your wound is closed up, and furthermore-“

“He’s willing to risk his life even though he knows full well what he’s up against. Hell he’s already gotten lucky once.” Johan says, cutting Sam off.

“If he wants to get himself killed then let em. Specially since he’ll be with that Headtaker maniac.” The Nurse chimes in.

>You have recovered some health, you now have 3/4 HP, crippled status removed.

Decisions:
1. *Get ready to leave, you don’t want to stay here too long, you can’t really handle being pitied with all that’s happened.
2. *stay in camp a bit longer to get some of your strength back.* (Will use up time)
3. *ask questions* (select a character, then write in a question.)
4. *perform an action* (write in, some actions may require rolls.)
5. (write in)

>>4635810
with this, we've reached the 1/2 point for the quest, give or take. Hell 2/3s point if you make certain decisions from here on out.

>>4635810
>2. *stay in camp a bit longer to get some of your strength back.* (Will use up time)
4. *perform an action* (write in, some actions may require rolls.)
Ask if they can prepare some firebombs or such as well as requisitioning extra weaponry and enough supplies to make the trip. Maybe ask for rock salt to slow and injury the mushroom-men's snail mounts if we get chased? And obviously their fastest slimes for us and the Headtaker.

>>4635925
supported.

>>4637129
>>4635925
writing

>>4635810
“Can I get some firebombs or firebottles?” You ask.

“Fire bottles… are you some sort of dissident?” Sam asks, a bit unnerved.

“Please, we have far better equipment than that, actual incendiary grenades, normally not the sort of thing I can just hand out to civilian but… I just realized I didn’t get your name.” Johan says, smirking, seemingly taking a liking to you.

“Jack Spensi, sir.” You reply.

“Please, you’re not in the military, you don’t need to be so formal.” Johan replies.

“Can I at least get some additional weaponry?” You ask.

“We have things prepared already; we were going to be making a run for Beta anywho. The general idea was to get to Beta and then have them meet us half way. I know the Captain will be more than willing to help, bastard’ll get a promotion off this for sure.” Johan half jokes.

“I still think it’s a suicide run.” Sam interjects. “You’re going to be in a whole load of danger if you go out there… especially after I went through all the trouble to heal you and keep you stable.”

“I… I want to make some kind of difference.” You explain. “I survived for no reason… and maybe if I manage to do some good here it’ll have meant something… I don’t know…”

“Right, we have military slimes all ready to go in the stables with military slime saddles as well, the kind that have a machine gun attached to them.”

“Iron heads?” You ask.

“Oh so you’re familiar with them, use them in mining jobs?” Johan asks.

“We use them to secure new tunnels sometimes. Those slimes are as tough as steel when

>>4637327
they want to be, expensive as hell too so we generally don’t use them often.” You continue.

“Heh, well no worries about that, the Guild Council will surely be happy to pay for any costs incurred. We brought the things to Delta since we’d thought that the elementals in the region would be tougher to handle than regular wildlife. All that charged mana really riles the slimes up. Once you get out of this crystalline area they’ll calm down a bit. As for the machine gun, its belt fed so make sure you’re careful not to let it jam. I can probably show you before you leave. Of course we’ve got some incendiaries too. You’ll be with a squad of five others, not too many volunteered and we couldn’t let all of em go or this place would be too sparsely defended.” Johan explains. “The trip will probably be shorter for you than the trip from Beta to Gamma was, and once you make it to the main lift shaft you’ll be in the clear. They recently brought down some of those new fancy golems down from the R&D wing for field testing. I heard they’re tough as all hell. Beta’s also been beefed up recently too, got a good four hundred soldiers manning it, a good chunk of which are veterans, not to mention an actual wall to secure the shaft itself. Unlike the chain link piece of shit we have here.” Johan explained.

Decisions:
1. “So who is this headtaker person? Is he one of your men?”
2. “What happened with Zeta?”
3. “What do you think my odds are on making it to Beta?”
4. “You’re risking the entire camps lives on the chance that me and a few other people can make it to Beta?”
5. (write in)

>>4637329
voting is open in case nobody realized

>>4637329
>2. “What happened with Zeta?”

>>4637329
1. “So who is this headtaker person? Is he one of your men?”
5. >>can you electrify the chain link fence? or create electrified barbed wire? They might have some stolen guns now and have those freaky exploding arrows, but they still rely on close quarter combat alot, electric fences/barbed wire might help alot because of that and the mushroom people might not have faced something like it before.

>>4638303
>>4638041
writing

>>4637329
“What happened with Zeta?” You ask.

“It… it got overrun, though not completely wiped out like Gamma did, plenty managed to get out due to the help of the Headtaker. From our understanding the enemy forces were around two hundred strong.” Johan explained. “Beyond what you’ve already described to us, we don’t know much. Its been about five… six hours or so since this all kicked off”

“Who’s the Headtaker? You going to keep me in suspense?” You ask.

“He’s a man from that adventurer’s club on Sword Street, who managed used forged papers to fool the ‘best and brightest’ of the guilds into letting him tag along with our merry adventure.” The Nurse explained, pipping up. “Can’t believe you idiots let that madman along with us.”

“If that ‘madman’ hadn’t been in Zeta when this had happened it would’ve been completely wiped out.” Johan shot back.

You wince at the mention of the adventurer’s club. Rumors about that place had always swirled around the entire city. About monsters in human form, with enough strength that even the army was careful with messing around with them. Nobody really liked them either, and they were incredibly insular too. You’d never seen one of them in person before, none bothered coming down to the mines very often, at least not to the civilized parts of them.

“He probably caused all of this so he could add to that damned collection.” The Nurse continued.

“Enough.” Sam says, “Nurse thank you for your help, but I believe I can handle things from here, you are excused.”

The mousefolk shot the doctor and the lieutenant a deathglare as she left, pivoting her head from one then the other.

“The man managed to kill thirty of the things without even using a gun. He ran right into an enemy cavalry charge and began hacking them apart with a military machete he’d grabbed off a rookie. It caused the enemy to panic and break formation which bought the people in Zeta enough time to evacuate. I wouldn’t have ever believed it if I didn’t have multiple firsthand reports from the men down there, not to mention the ‘trophies’ he brought back.”

“They said he was laughing the whole time, like it wasn’t even that dangerous for him.” Sam continued, nervously. “From my understanding he’s not even that highly ranked in the club, I overheard him talking about how nobody will be able to call him a runt anymore.”

“It was him bragging.” Johan interjected. “Regardless he’s volunteered to join the forward team heading for Beta.”

“More like demanded, Lieutenant. He made demands like a spoiled child and nobody could prevent him from doing as he pleased.” Sam said.

“That’s enough doctor, just because you’re not a part of the army doesn’t mean I will tolerate your flagrant disrespect in front of a guest.”

“I uh… had a few more recommendations for improving security.” You explain trying to defuse the situation. “You could run the barbed wire on top of the base and connect it to the fence, then electrify the whole thing with lethal volts. It won’t be safe long term but you aren’t staying for too long right? I doubt the mushroom folk even understand how electricity really works. Didn’t see any lighting spells at all from them either.

“Good to know, we’ll do that if we have the time. Might be able to a fry a few of them at the very least. It’ll drain the main generator’s power quicker too, so they won’t be able to use it as much. That last bit’s interesting and is similar to the reports from Zeta they may not be able to utilize red mana… interesting. Usually when dealing with greens or human tribals they heavily lean into red mana… ah right, lighting and fire spells.”

“Well Lieutenant, I’d like you to leave the man to rest a bit before he strains his body further than he already has on your milk run.” Sam sarcastically remarked.

“You enjoy your daycare center.” The lieutenant joked back.

Decisions:
1. *rest a bit and then prepare for the big trip*
2. *talk with the doctor a bit* (write in, feel free to ask lore questions about the setting if you wish. It might be the last time you have the chance to ask questions in a peaceful setting.)
3. *check the watch on your wrist, it hasn’t worked for years but it was the last thing your father gave you, you wonder what he’d think of you now* (character development)
4. *You have a document in your coat pocket, your last payment on a rather large amount debt you’d owed to the Dragon Bank, and had been settled by the down payment you’d been given to go on the expedition. If you can make it back home now, you can still start fresh* (character development)
5. *pray to god to give you just a bit more luck* (character development)
6. (write in)

>>4638714
>1. *rest a bit and then prepare for the big trip*

>>4640182
no post tonight, will be posting tomorrow!

>>4640182
support

>>4640637
>>4640182
writing soon

>>4638714
You lay your head back against the pillow, letting your body rest a bit before the big trip. You are awoken by Johan later in the day, and you follow him out into the camp. You notice that the place is extra busy as all of the inhabitants are busy packing up, trapping, or disassembling equipment so it won’t be useable anymore. It’s a large project, and it leaves you feeling a bit glum, all this stuff had taken a month of work to set up at least.

The stables lie ahead. It’s a nondescript two story building, inside a variety of slimes mill about aimlessly. Outside there is a small gathering of people, mostly soldiers, but the one in front of all of them stands out. He is wearing a military uniform which but it is quite obvious he is not a regular soldier given his unkempt appearance and general unnerving stare. He has a couple of machete blades in sheaths on his hip, which have given him his namesake. The head taker.

“So this the last cannonfodder?” He asks, chuckling as if he’d said something funny.

“This is Jack, he’s the only survivor from Gamma.” Johan said, “Can you at least show a bit of care?”

“Why? They’re just baggage.” The headtaker explains. “You civilized folks never had any business coming this far down into the caves, everyone knew you’d get screwed over by something. Who’dve thunk it would’ve been actual warriors though?” He explains cheerfully.

You eye him up nervously, wondering just what sort of person could talk like he does after everything that’d happened.

“So guy, get on your slime and we’ll get this trainwreck moving along.”

You walk over to where your slime is, it’s silvery exterior looking like liquid mercury. The saddle is more like a train carriage than anything. With a partially enclosed interior, a small view port on the back and a couple on the sides, and a gatling gun on the front. One of those new enclosed ones with the ammo cases you’d seen in a magazine you’d read a few months back.

“So we’ll be taking a straight shot to Beta, quick and easy. ‘Hopefully’ it won’t put us on a collision path with those things eh? Doubt any of you boys would survive.” The headtaker explains, chuckling again.

>>4642103
“Bastard.” One of the soldier’s mutters under his breath. You turn to look at him. He’s sitting atop one of the military slimes in the enclosed saddle. A moment later the man shouts as a knife impacts the side of his rig, sticking into the metal surface less than a foot from where he’d been sitting. You notice the blade was red hot, magically enchanted somehow. The soldier leaps out of the rig as the area around the knife turns molten.

“I’d watch your words around me, lotta things can happen out there.” The headtaker explains.

“You know you’re bosses will be hearing about this behavior.” Johan says.

“Please, like any of em would give a shit what you military papermen would say.” The headtaker gleefully explains.

Johan grunts, heads over to where the glowing red knife is, yanks it out of the saddle compartment, and then tosses it onto the ground, where it continues to sizzles.

“Get back into the truck soldier, and try to get to Beta in one piece.” Johan orders.

Decisions:
1. *Don’t say anything to the Headtaker, he’s clearly unstable.*
2. *try to convince him to take a longer route that’ll be less dangerous for everyone, you don’t want to swing too close to Gamma.
3. *Try to convince Johan to let you and the soldiers go off alone, anything’d be better than going off with this jackass, no matter how strong he is.*
4. *write in*

>>4642105
>1. *Don’t say anything to the Headtaker, he’s clearly unstable.*

>>4642105
>*Don’t say anything to the Headtaker, he’s clearly unstable.*

Part of me want to take the longer route but we don't have time

>>4642143
>>4642117
no posts tonight, and posts will likely be a bit sparse this week, due to it getting down to crunch time at my accounting job. Sleep and Sanity come first.

>>4643589
no post tonight. Still working hard.

>>4642105
4 >> behave headtaker, the reason we are also going is because this mission is essential and many will die if it does not succeed. You have not displayed the level of professionalism needed to be trusted to handle this mission alone, it is a lot of trust to place in a single man. What I am saying is that you are still too much of a unprofessional runt in behaviour. Now lets take the long route and the whole city will celebrate you as a hero and the coolest adventurer of the month later on. But now lets focus on our mission. The mushroom people know alot about us and we know very little about them, expect unforseen stuff too happen.

>>4645008
no post tonight either I'm afraid. I believe I'll have time on sunday and prob a bit more next week. But shits stressful right now. Sorry for the delays and what not, but after this week I should be able to have a more regular schedule, and not have to work 55+ hour weeks.

>>4646444
no post tonight either boys, I should be able to post tomorrow tho.

>>4648265
sadly I got carried away with resting and lost track of time. However, I will DEFFO be posting tomorrow. Promise.

>>4649750
alright, its time, writing

>>4642105
You consider arguing with the man but glancing at the cooling red hot dagger on the ground. You decide that it isn’t an argument you stand any chance of winning. You resign yourself to the upcoming ‘experience’ and hop into the cab sitting on top of your military grade slime. Inside is a set of fairly simple controls, a steering wheel, a dashboard with a few different buttons and switches, but a far cry from the mining rig you had to abandon down by the breach site. The cab is much nicer than the shitty mining saddles you had to make due with while working down there as well. It even has padded seats and what appears to be a heating coil under the dash. There are also backup reins built into the cab just incase the main controls fail. Lastly is the machine gun, glancing at the thing you marvel at it. From what you heard it was these devices that allowed Oasis to repel the last big greenskin attack. By the end of it they had literal mountains of bodies. The things are basically able to spit a lot of hot death.

It would’ve been nice if Gamma had been located in a more obviously dangerous area, then you’d have had access to better equipment, you realize.

You are knocked out of your thoughts, and nearly jump out of your skin as a soldier suddenly climbs into your cab with you, grabbing hold of the turret and checking various parts of it. You don’t really have the time to make conversation as a series of whistles comes from the front cab where the Headtaker is. You watch as the slime holding his cab up changes its shape slightly, forming hardened tread shapes on its exterior. Then it’s off, rumbling down towards, and out through the gate.

You push down a pedal inside the cab, sending a light burst of magic into the slime, telling it to get a move on. You marvel at how the creature is able to so easily support the weight of the cabin. The military steel slimes are something else.

>>4651303

You make good progress through the crystal forest, your slimes crushing fresh crystal deposits under their treaded exteriors. For the time being, everything is quiet. You glance over at your compatriot, but the man is too focused on the surroundings to have any hope at having a conversation. You sigh, focusing on the road and on the trees. In the front the head taker is sitting on the roof of his cab, totally exposed and yet totally confident in his own skill. You wonder how the man can be so crazy. You rub your former dagger wound and shudder.

The trip continues in silence. The slimes rumbling along without tiring. Occasionally your gunner asks you to swing the cab around to get better views on the terrain. The fact that the cab is sunk into the slime makes turning it a breeze, the slime merely rotating the cab inside of itself to allow ease of motion, with the gunner pivoting his gatling gun for finer aiming.

You watch as the crystal forest gives way to a mossy plain, broken up by giant mushrooms and fungal marshland, and various insects buzzing about, some of which are as large as your head. Your Gunner hits a couple of buttons on the dash and you watch in amazement as the surface of the iron slime changes to rows of spikes, meant for gripping onto the wet rock and mud of the swampy terrain. You manage to turn on the flood light on top of the cabin, giving you a good view of the area. The other cab’s work to overlap their light, allowing for a fairly encompassing cone of vision.

>roll 1d100

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>4651306

>>4651976
anyone want to attempt to improve this?

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>4651306

>>4652892
nice, you get to avoid combat

this is neat. would love to see illustrations of this

>>4655220
I wish I had the talent

>>4652892
Roll of 71 clinches it, will write later tonight.

>work is slowly winding down, will likely be able to start nightly posting from here on out.

>>4655640
even if they were simple illustrations It would be neat, maybe even to give ideas for drawfags on their request threads idk. I might sketch the steel slime tonight for fun, tho I’m complete rubbish

>>4655762
Basic idea is a silvery/metallic slime body with a pill shaped cabin half stuck into it, from which a machine gun or grenade launcher can be mounted. There are pieces of metal with holes in them welded to the bottom of the cabin to allow the slime to grip it more easily, and usually a light fixture on the top for seeing things. There are then levers and controls which drop through the cabin into the slime to give it various magical "prod" signals. Allowing it to follow commands. It functions more like an armored jeep than a tank in practice as the slime can only carry so much weight and thus armor. However its far more mobile than any car could be as the slime can climb over almost any surface, even some vertical ones.

In addition there are of course MUCH bigger slimes the army utilizes. (and smaller ones) Hell they even use a specialized kind for artillery. Its just the steel slimes and the regular "tunneler" variety were considered the best choices for the expedition.

Seems I've seriously underestimated how much work I have left to do so uh, yeah... more delays... Will try posting during my lunch break tomorrow assuming the storm doesn't royally fuck my power.

>>4657737
Welp, ended up working through lunch, just got off work. I'm off work tomorrow earlier than fucking midnight so I'll hopefully be able to post SOMETHING.

>fyi busy season ends in 1 more week, after that I'll have no fuckin... 12 hour days

>>4642105
The convoy continues on, rolling over the marsh and coming to a stop along a naturally occurring river. The soldier sitting next to you points to one of the buttons on the dash and then quickly returns to his job. You hit the button and a moment later the slime your cab is sunk into expands as a massive air pocket is created inside of it. One by one the slimes ford the river, utilizing their air bubbles to allow them to float, and spreading their forms out into a pontoon like shape, all with the Headtaker never leaving his spot on top of his ride.

When you get to the other side of the river the convoy comes to a complete stop, and the order to kill the lights is given. The area is plunged into near pitch black, with the only light remaining being the dim green glow of the nearby fungi. Out in the distance there is a bunch of dim blue glowing lights.

“Fucking hell they’re already sending out patrols.” The soldier sitting next to you mutters.

“What?” You ask.

“Things glow blue when there isn’t any light around.” He replies. “We saw em when they killed the lights at Zeta.”

You watch as the Headtaker scuttles down from his position and dashes off in the direction of the blue glow. A few minutes later, the lights fade one by one in quick succession. A few minutes after, the Headtaker returns and vaults up back onto his perch, his body stained with glowing blue blood.

The convoy turns its lights back on and rolls back out, you don’t really want to consider how one man just managed to deal with a whole patrol worth of those mushroom men.

“So how far are we out from Beta now, do you think?” You ask the soldier next to you.

“bout… ten… fifteen miles maybe?” He replies. “We’re about halfway there now.”

The terrain had shifted into basalt deltas sticking out of every imaginable surface at every imaginable angle. There was a good bit of sand and silt along the ground, and as the slimes moved over it they picked some up as a meal. Above glowing crystals illuminate the area in a dull red glow, and you can feel a slight breeze carrying a bit of sand and dust along with it. The area is like a miniature desert.


You check the surrounding area and notice large worm like creatures lazily snaking their way around. You’d heard about the things from some of the other miners. These worms were like bigger cousins to some of the species you’d see further up in the caverns. One ventures closer to examine your convoy before being spooked off when one of the cab’s flickers its lights at it.

>Roll 1d100

>holy shit the fat bastard actually posted
>also here is prior thread archive http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4590216/

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>4661087

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>4661087

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>4661087

>>4661151
oh no

>no post tonight

>>4662494
4 more days until busy season ends and I can actually start having sleep and posts.

>>4664233
Things are moving as planned, I'll resume posting (finally) on Friday!

>>4666019
I shall soon be able to live as a human once more

>>4669125
busy season has ended, posting resumes tomorrow!

>>4669526
woo!

>>4661151
writing

>>4661087
Your convoy continues onwards. Rolling around and occasionally over the basalt columns. Eventually you come to a crevasse with a fallen column spanning its length. Your group begins crossing one after the other, with the headtaker taking the front. As you prepare to nudge your craft onwards, an arrow clunks against the side of your cab. You briefly panic as a few more impact your slime, the first one sticking into it and the next few bouncing off of its hardened steel like surface harmlessly. A gurgle emerges from the slime as a tendril comes out of it and pulls out the arrow that had managed to hurt it while its defenses had been down.

“Oh fuck where are they.” Your cabin mate asks, trying to find them in the darkness.

A couple more arrows impact the side of your cab as you attempt to make the trip over the basalt column, however, you find that the steel slime has hardened significantly due to the arrows that’d impact and that its movement speed has significantly decreased. A few more arrows clunk off your cabin as you attempt to flash your lights at the already crossed vehicles to get their attention.

“I think we’re good, they shouldn’t be able to do anything to us with just arrows.” The soldier says.

A moment later you hear a loud bang as an arrow impacts your cabin and immediately explodes. The slime holding you up sinks the cab further inside itself in response as you begin to panic and try and get the damn thing to move. You’re a sitting duck here and its only a matter of time before the mushroom men try something that’ll actually work.

>Roll 1d100
>write in optional

>>4661151
failing a roll meant a combat encounter would happen, a CRIT fail means you'll be facing something spicy :)

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>4671678
can we tell from what direction the arrows are coming from so we can notify our machine-gunner?
>>4671683
lol nice

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>4671678

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>4671678

>>4672112
high roll of 81

>>4671678
You slowly coax the slime forwards, nervously clicking at a few of the dials, trying to get the slime to start moving again. Next to you the soldier suddenly realizes where the arrows are coming from, points his gun, and fires a few volleys, deafening you and filling the cabin with a good bit of smoke.

“Fucking shit they didn’t… *cough* install filters” the Soldier says.

You look at the soldier and shrug, you’d breathed in worse on shifts.

You finally manage to find the right button, sending a small magical shock into the slime and getting it moving at full speed again. You are forced to turn the cabin around to ensure you can see where you are going, meaning your soldier buddy isn’t able to keep a bead on the archers or lay suppressing fire down. However, with the noise and flashes of the gunshots, you have several search lights on you and have covering fire being flung out from the rest of the convoy. You hear some shouts of concern from across the bridge, and then a couple of thunks from the back of your cab, then some scraping noises. The soldier looks at you for a moment, then reaches under the seat and pulls out a couple of pistols. He pauses before handing one to you.

You realize what had happened. The mushroom men had used you as a shield to get close, as the others wouldn’t open fire with the risk of hitting you. Now they were on the back of your cab… or on the top of it.

>you are 60% across the column to the other side of the chasm.

>roll 1d100
>write in optional (there might be a way to make it so the uninvited guests don’t have cover anymore…)

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>4673532

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>4673538

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>4673538
too bad e can't order our slime to *consume* the shroomites, cause slime.

>>4675647
I’m honestly unsure what we can do. can we spin the cab around while still driving the slime forward; maybe this will shake off some of the invaders or let the cabs in front get a shot off on the ones hanging on?

>>4675647
you uh, you can actually. Though you'd only be able to fit like, 1 guy in there and its risky for a variety of reasons as the slimes armor doesn't work from inside of it.

>>4675659
Ding ding ding.

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>4676293
>rolling boss action

>>4673538
You fiddle with the controls some more as you hear more movement from the back of the cab, then, suddenly, inspiration strikes you. You quickly take an assessment of the row of friendly cabs lining the crevasse in front of you, each with a deadly machine gun mounted inside.

“Hey, can the armor of this thing handle a machine gun?” You ask the soldier next to you. “Like, a bunch of them?”

“Yeah, small arms fire will just bounce off the shell. Hell that explosive from before’ll just leave a big dent at worst.”

You don’t need any more information or time to decide. You grab for the controls, the cabin rotates around quickly, leaving you facing several enemies who have taken cover near the crevasses’ edge. Your gunner looks at you dumbfounded for a moment before you both flinch as a large amount of dinging sounds emanate from the back of the cabin. Then several thumps. The cab angles downwards as the slime lifts up a bit, and a couple of bodies are crushed underneath. It seemed like the plan had worked rather well. The slime, as you expected, is smart enough to not drop off the pillar and get itself and you killed while you aren’t looking ahead.

“Holy shit.” The soldier mutters, chuckling nervously.

Your celebration is cut short as a rather angry looking mushroom man climbs down from the top of the cab and tries to impale you with a spear made of bone and chitin. You manage to duck in time as the mushroom man staggers part way into the cab while breathing heavily. You notice that it has three bullet wounds in its chest and is leaking blue blood. The fact it’s still able to move so well with damage that would completely cripple a normal human and outright kill a mousefolk is terrifying.

Your buddy tries to raise his pistol at the thing, but the mushroom man manages to grab his arm, preventing him from getting a good shot off on it. It tries to bite him unsuccessfully, revealing a mouth full of needle like teeth. The soldier bashes at its head with his free arm to stop it.

>you’re 85% across the gap now

Decisions:
1. *use a stun spell on the fucker, might as well try to take one alive* (no chance of missing and no crit failure punishment)
2. *try to shoot it with your own pistol. You won’t be able to utilize the controls of the slime while doing it.
3. *use a shatter spell on the spear*
4. *swing the cabin back around*
5. (write in)

>>4676874
>1. *use a stun spell on the fucker, might as well try to take one alive* (no chance of missing and no crit failure punishment)

>>4676953
support

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>4676953
>>4677073
I've rolled for the opponent, you need to roll 1d100 to beat it

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>4678479