>>5111607
It is a cloudy afternoon when the party arrives to the border-town. The moment they’re seen rumor has it they’re from the heartland, and heated debate swiftly follows whether they’re from the Order or are masquerading to be left alone by the local, and therefore mortal, and therefore flawed, authorities. Normally, the chance of the former would lead the townspeople of a place like this to panic, scrambling to hide themselves any and all evidence of their venal sins, but today, it does not. The streets are already empty.

Brother Hemault takes a deep breath on trotting into the outskirts of the community. Like most of his Brothers in the Order, he wears a visored helm and chainmail of superior quality, the tabard of his noble family replaced with a yellowed off-white, once as clear as the driven snow, now scrubbed and bleached thin from a hundred bloodstains, unseen but never forgotten. His horse is no true scion of Khadon but it is a mighty steed indeed, of a burgundy tint, with wary eyes. The beast, too, has seen evil and both can smell it here. He pulls up his visor in a gauntleted hand. His eyes are grim. His voice, stern.

“Something is wrong.”

>>5111613
At his side rides Brother Miguel, also a veteran of the Order, though he rides with his helmet under his arm and his face is concerned rather than accusing. To Brother Hemault’s side and back is Tebaud, a young squire in gambeson, who looks at them in equal parts awe and alarm. None of this atmosphere weighs on a fourth, hunched man in robes and a small, white-pointed cap straddling a donkey. “Oh-ho, you two’re always worrying about ommmens this- ommmens that-“ he rides ahead, thinking little of their stares. “-take it from an Abjurer, this place isn’t under any kind of curse, ahah-“ The first scream cuts him off, a bone-chilling howl beyond any human longing. In it are no words but the implications alone silence the magician. Without a word, he trots the donkey back, spreads his hand in an arcane sigil and begins to mutter forgotten tongues under his breath. The Paladins grip the handles of their swords and look to the mage.

Moments later, he shakes his head, any sign of earlier mirth gone. “No amplitudinal residue, diagonals are clean.” Brother Miguel’s eyebrows furrow with worry. “Ghouls, then.” Brother Hemault shakes his head. “No. Can’t be, we weren’t mobbed coming in. It must be-“ Tebaud, not a day older than fourteen, interrupts, “-quasimaterial?” A ghost of a smile graces the veteran’s lips, “Good lad.” and slips through to dead granite a moment later. “That means it’s here.” No words are wasted as they ride in, the squire at the rear of their formation, the abjurer in the center, either Brother as a forward prong.

>>5111615
The streets are emptied aside from hushed glances of eyes ducking back under windows when seen and the after-signs of peddlers packing up shop quickly. A few minutes go by, the tension between them rising, and then snapping in two when someone rushes toward their mounts with a face full of panic. Brother Hemault quickly and cleanly dismounts. He stands tall and speaks with firm dignity. “Good peasant, I’m here to help. What’s happened to yo-“ The man’s hands seize onto his tabard with frenzied strength as he falls to his knees, scraping the ground and dragging him downward as he screams in horror. “SHOULDN’THAVESHAREDITSHOULDN’THAVESHAREDITSHOULDN’THAVE-“ Rather than strike him on the spot, the Brother lifts him by the hem of his shirt, shutting his visor and leaning his head back out of fingernail range. “Shared what? What do you need?” The commoner’s eyes have nearly crossed the threshold of sanity. “INEEDMOREINEEDMOREINEEDMOREINEEDMO-AAAAAGHAAAAGHAAAGH!” Now he lifts the townsman over the cobblestones, his voice losing any trace of restraint. “Tell me. NOW. What is it that you need?”

The two-legged animal in his hands, snot-bubbling, eyes-bloodshot, looks at him and half-whispers, half-wails. “HUUUUUUH-NEEEEEEEEEY!!!” For a moment Brother Hemault stops cold, then a fistful of clenched steel strikes out, cracking the commoner’s orbital and knocking him to the ground. “GET AWAY FROM ME.” The lost-and-frenzied family man hits the rock and takes off on all fours, almost skittering in a mockery of human motion. His eyes sweep the street, cautious, and turn back to Brother Miguel, whose helmet is already on and shut. There’s a moment of silence between them, when one mentions the forbidden name with the black gravitas of a blood-oath, a fraction of a second before or after the other does the same. “…Sarintob.”

>>5111618
On his donkey, the mage looks terrified and the squire, confused. “Sarint-“ Brother Miguel shushes him. “Boy, there are secrets in the Order, secrets meant for no boy to know and none to say aloud.” The Brother almost stands on his stirrups, sighing with resigned dread. “This is… one of those times a secret has to be told.” Brother Hemault shakes his head. “No. Tebaud, listen to me, listen to me now. You will ask no further questions, and you will, under no circumstances, put anything in this town into your mouth. Do you understand?” The squire nods. He doesn’t know the details but he’s no page, he’s had the training, passed the trials, he knows he doesn’t need to know. The party continues on into the town, before dismounting in front of the guard tower.

A brief interrogation commences and five minutes later, all half a dozen guards are scurrying around the town with more gusto than has been seen in many years. They have a very specific mission with very specific consequences for failure. Outside of the noble-born guard captain’s office, as he struggles to synch a belt onto his beer-belly’d frame, both of the veterans are in a pitched discussion. The abjurer is outside, maintaining an alarm ward mentally linked to each of the four, and the trained horses among them as well.

Brother Miguel’s voice is gentle and laden with pity. “There has to be another way, there can’t simply be-“ Brother Hemault speaks, on the verge of tears but far harder. “Brother, you’ve read the same texts I have. You’ve seen the same horrors inked onto-“ The other shakes his head. “-Brother, these are innocents, they can’t simply be-“ “BROTHER! THAT IS WHY! The nearest high priest is WEEKS away! They are INNOCENTS, and if they are yet given the final mercy, their souls may yet be saved!” Brother Miguel leans the back of his head against the wall. He tries to retort but the words die in his mouth. He knows he is right. He remembers the studies. The bodies of men broken into nameless abominations. The winged, scything centipedes. The honey, growing in the bloated dead… pooling in the very rainwater… not enough, never enough.

All of this he knew was real, every one of the Order knew, but none he hoped to challenge- until today. Brother Hemault steps away from the door, marching with iron discipline, fallen back onto the fundamentals. Brother Miguel whispers a single word as the shame to his lineage staggers out, the reek of cheap alcohol stale on his clothes and fresh on his breath.

“Mercy.”

Rolled 6, 3, 2 + 10 = 21 (3d10 + 10)

>>5111622
Almost two hours later, everyone that’s had confirmed exposure has been taken to the ashen ruins of the pantheon’s temple. All nine of them. They’ve been blindfolded, told to kneel with their heads bowed, and say not a word lest they miss the chance to get any more of their- “huuuhney, huuuhneeeeey, huuuhnee-” None react to the slight indiscretion from the elderly incense-seller in their midst, or looks him in the fogged cataracts. Behind them stand both Brothers of the Order. The squire is nowhere to be seen, nor is the mage. They’re in the tower, the latter trying to distract the former with desperate stories of nonsense while he lays his head against the bare stone and recites fervent prayers to Byrsia, the Good Maiden, not Joyful, but Weeping.

The Paladins stare into each other’s eyes. They know what has to be done. Brother Hemault goes to raise his sword with zeal, pauses for a second that lasts forever, and sobs, faintly. Brother Miguel touches his shoulder and steps forward. His sword is held in one hand, firm, and he speaks in a holy tongue. Its terms are lost to those listening but its meaning is of a profoundness that transcends linguistics. It is a prayer, not for peace, not for war, but for mourning and ushering a soul into the noble halls. “So be it.”

The Brother’s sword descends with righteous might.

>rolling 3d10+10 and 1d6 for damage

>>5111627
>Honey Victim has been dealt 21 damage!
>Honey Victim has -15/6 HP left!

Brother Miguel doesn’t stop after the first strike, but moves too quickly to dwell on the act and stop himself, striking the second in the same moment, but he’s stopped from the third by the palm of a gauntlet. “Brother. I can’t let you bear this weight alone.” The Paladin forces himself to watch as Brother Hemault, an unmoving bedrock he and others have relied on, cleanly severs the head of a young boy who knew no better and weeps, audibly choked with tears, as he continues without flinching, his motions mechanical. None of the victims react to their execution, what some would call a euthanization, until the last two realize what’s going on and break down, groaning in horror at what they’ve become but not moving a muscle.

In an instant, their eternal souls are freed from the temptations of the flesh.

Both of the Paladins wipe their swords clean, on their own tabards, and sheath them in noble resignation. They hold a solemn vigil and soon after, move on. There is business that needs taking care of.

>>5111628
“There were rumors of the dead, then, mutilated?” The captain of the guard stares ahead, a shaking glass in his hand, a vain attempt to forget what he’s seen. He nods. “And you did nothing? Doubled no patrols? Sent no missives? SHUT NO BOTTLES?!?” The noble, undeserving of his title, shakes his head, convicted by holy guilt. “No… No, we- we assumed it was-“ Brother Miguel is furious. “IT WAS WHO? WHO!?!?” The captain sobs. “The B-Black Dyad.” The Paladin slams his gauntlet onto the fine table, cracking it. He could not care less, and Brother Hemault, ordinarily prone to polite manners, says not a word. “A CORPSE IN EVERY WELL? A FAMILY-FARM RAZED? ARCHDEMONIC TAINT IN EVERY WATER BUCKET!?!?” He breathes heavily, swiftly, righteous indignation reaching a fever pitch. “Does this LOOK like mafia activity, to you?” The captain closes his eyes and takes the glass to his lips.

A gauntlet smacks it out of his hand and into the far wall, where it shatters. “ANSWER ME WHEN I AM TALKING TO-!” Brother Hemault lays his hand onto Brother Miguel’s shoulder. “Brother, let not wrath overtake you. Remember the fate of…” Another secret, in the Order. The Paladin calms. “This is manifestly, by every metric I can muster, clearly not “mafia” activity captain. There is no profit motivation. No external criminal involvement. Not a single calling card left behind. This was-“ Brother Hemault gives a nod. “-a cult.” The captain shakes his head, hands unconsciously grasping for a glass that isn’t there any more. “-n-no, a man.” Both of the Brothers turn to him. “A man, you say?” “Tell us more of this man.” He leans back in his chair of office. He knows very well it might be one of the last times he sits in it. “Very well… sometime, a few weeks ago…”

>>5111607
link is unsafe OP. i think the archive address might have changed.

>>5111630
The party are in an austere campsite, in the woods outside of town late at night. The boy is in prayer and the abjurer meditating, maintaining much heavier wards than usual. “This “man” of the captain’s…” Brother Miguel nods, as the other continues. “He is a danger. By the drunks we interviewed-“ “-he is a danger beyond mere men.” Brother Hemault stops. “Even one of the… Fallen… wouldn’t consort with such horrors. This is something else. Something fouler.” They lower their voices to a whisper, so that Tebaud and the mage cannot hear them, but in truth, the cross-legged, entranced old man hears them with crystal clarity, and says nothing, for he knows what is and isn’t beyond his paygrade.

“A Hellknight. Or worse- a False Prophet, in the borderlands so near.” “Brother Hemault, I fear you speak the truth. Shall we ride at dawn?” There is a moment of strained, desperate silence. “…No.” “No? But what of-“ “Brother Miguel, this is a threat beyond us and I will abide none of your glory-seeking. We must alert the Grand Marshall at once.” “...A righteous host then. A score of hardened Justicars astride Khadon’s finest-!”

“No!” “No? Again, you-“ “-and send a warning bell to every hidden sect, reprobate heresy, and ritual circle in the kingdom? No. I am not the Grand Marshall, though I know of him well. He is a man of tact and caution. He will send a few, Knight-Paladins of the highest degree, firm of steel and strong of soul. If any higher were to go missing, rumours will spread and see us undone. No, Brother, we will ride back as fast as Khadon’s blessing can carry us…” “…and then our Brothers will ride this blasphemer down.” The Paladin grips his fist, crushing nothing with a vengeance. “Aye, and I pray to every noble god, angel, and holy man with ears to hear that I am among them.” Brother Miguel’s eyes are alight with fire. “Dalhurst cannot be forgotten. We will send for questioners, spies-” “Hold, do you feel something? As if, just out of sight-“

Before either can turn to look, reality blinks.

>END OF INTERLUDE

>>5111635
It has, the new archive should be here https://lws.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=scumbag

>>5111759
You mean https://lws.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=scumbag

>>5111877
Apparently I did mean that, yeah

>>5111637
fuck yeah I'm hyped.

[insert incoherent hype here]

>>5111637
Well, fuck, we should've stayed quiet until they fell for our tomb ambush before engaging in unholy fuckery.

So, is this happening while Melvin is traveling or is the reality blinking in reference to him trying to make a sacrifice. I'm honestly disappointed we only got to nine people with the wells, but I'm not surprised. Dude should have only tossed bodies into the ones were we weren't putting honey, so that everyone went to the cleaner one.

>>5112046
should have left some type of blood trail leading to the crypt, just to ensure they would have went there.

Yo, QM, regarding the twitching twitching thing? Does this mean Melvin can notice if something is waiting to ambush us in the tall grass or in bushes and trees? Since it wouldn't be twitching like how the wind normally would have moved it?

>>5112046
Nothing we can do about it now. But they might still visit it, the place is foul and the evil in it can be sensed for sure by them. This paladins seems diligent as well. There is also a shrine of Sarintob there in the crypt, so this might send them somewhere else.

More importantly we have learn some meta things and a normal one.
1 Khadon men are dangerous.
2 Sarintob honey could be used for make half human-demon-monsters, and is incredibly addictive.
3 We should start to cover our tracks and camps when we travel

>>5112098
I agree with the things you've said we learned.

That being said, I don't agree that they'll check out the tomb, this event with the honey and evidence we've left regarding our raids on the farmsteads have spooked the paladins into believing there is a hellknight or prophet of the Ignoble Gods around. This has overshadowed their original mission. Hemault seems to believe the Grand Marshall will send a select few elite paladins after this town and us if they happen to get a greater inkling of our responsibility for these acts. Regardless of whether Hemault or Miguel is right about the response we are fucked if we stay here too long.

I think we ought to finish up and rituals, training and corruption of our minions and then do a final attack/raid for supplies on the town before fucking off into the borderlands or a neighbouring country. While it may seem lame to run away from the plot hooks, we simply aren't ready to face the best of the best the paladins have to offer, hell, I don't think we could take THESE paladins in a fight even if we got a perfect roadside ambush off on them.

I did briefly entertain the idea of rushing a bunch of farmstead/town raids to grind XP and then try and get SILENCE to suppress our aura and then level up deception and try and give some story about how we ventured into the tomb with our partner but we got cold feet for religious reasons or something and describe how these events started happening after "he" came back changed and we've lost contact with this hypothetical partner after he went back in there, then we'd give some light information about expected resistance to make it seem like it wouldn't be that hard to deal with before they went back home and due to our observations of the tomb and our partner and that these events would stop if they personally put a stop to him. In essence, make it seem easy to deal with, give them a responsibility to stop further horrors, make it seem like this "evil partner" is on a time limit to deal with before he gets stronger or causes more rituals, etc.

That was just the idea I came up with, - insert your better or alternative idea here - but it could fail for any number of reasons whether it be because the idea is bad or we roll poorly or whatever. I just think it may be worth trying to pull off our tomb ambush, but luring them there is the hard part. I don't think we can fight them directly at all, hence relying on the boulder trap to starve them to death.

>>5112046
Yeah, but they seem pretty diligent and they'll probably check it out; rumors of a necromancer's crypt near Dalhurst and a Hellknight or a False Prophet cropping up at the same time/place can't be a coincidence. That's assuming, of course, that reality blinking isn't them getting gobbled and that they'll be able to report their findings in a timely manner. Of course, I don't think we would have made things nearly as difficult on them as we might have hoped for, with how much time we spent trapping the ever living shit out the crypt with how well prepared these guys were.

>>5112098
>Khadon men are dangerous
No kidding; we need to get a lot stronger before we let (or want to make) this an open conflict: 3d10+10 damage is not a joke or something we want to face at this point (and that's not even touching the armor, blessings, and resources these guy has at his disposal).

Experimenting with the honey is something we're going to want to do more of (a shame we only got 9), even if we're going to have to discover the shenanigans we can get up to ourselves. Maybe the fat man has a use after all. And covering our tracks and finding somewhere to lay low is definitely on the to do list. I'm still for taking over a bandit or outlaw's stronghold or finding a sympathetic noble to make our bitch/patron.

>>5112112
Although I am surprised they didn't seem to investigate the temple too seriously; did they not notice the desecration (or did it fade with their presence?) or was the whole town so fucked up that, even with the desecration it was the most appropriate place to put those poor bastards out of their misery?

At the same time, on the side of the road a short ways travel away, another party also sits at camp, but their camp is far from austere. There are two improvised tents stitched and skewered together from thick blankets and sharpened branches, a wagon laden with stolen goods, and over a dozen huddled together. Far from friends, for the most part they’re held together by fear alone, and a glance would be sufficient to grasp that is more than enough. This is no ordinary fear, mortal terror fills their eyes when they so much as glance to the figure sitting in front of the fire, quietly sharpening his sword, as much for the noise of the whetstone as the need to do it. They’re glancing at you and for the fiftieth time since you rejected the army life, you think it’s good to be charge. You glare at the fat man to watch him squirm. You’re going to sacrifice him, sooner or later, you have a few ideas but that’s neither here nor there.

Most of what’s on your mind right now are practical matters. Your numbers, your food, your destination, and what you’re going to do next.

First, you consider your band, starting with your core of followers. The ones you can bother to remember the names of.

>(You), Melvin- Bearer of The Authority, skilled warrior, and raider pastime enthusiast, plunder, torture, and abomination are your bywords.
>Groshnak- An orc young, there to witness the black stars’ alignment, he was once your closest friend but he’s since shamed himself as a coward.
>Tobias- A young child you stole from his farm after you razed it, you might’ve sacrificed him, but then you discovered he had an uncanny talent for linguistics.
>Neilson- A (former?) member of the black dyad mafia, a competent thief that has yet to fail any of the tasks you’ve set for him.
>Sadie- You aren’t really sure what to consider her, but she’s something to you, also a novice necromancer and very minor noblewoman.
>Gawain- A low-ranking boss in the black dyad mafia who thought to question you, currently your prisoner, missing his left ear, and mercifully unconscious.
>Schwarz- Gawain’s right-hand man, he turned-coat without a thought, he’s a hulking thug that just so happens to be an invalid.
>Richard- The least important of your minions, really only here for his preexisting friendship with Neilson, a novice thief with little stomach for violence.

>>5112123
Next, you dwell on everyone else, the hangers-on that might one day amount to something, or at least, to catching a crossbow bolt meant for you.

>2 Farmers- Evil men, guilty of incest when you gave them a job offer. They wisely accepted.
>2 Farmer’s Daughters- Prisoners, kept to satisfy the farmers’ urges and possibly your own.
>2 Virgin Captives- Prisoners, of varying degrees of beauty, intended to sacrifice to the ignoble gods.
>The Fat Man- Prisoner, missing his trigger finger, and a victim of Sarintob’s honey, much like those in Dalhurst, his death is imminent. Unless… well, you aren’t sure what honey actually does long-term.


Altogether, you think that’s 14 mouths eating your food supply per day, 15 if you bother to feed the wagon driver anything but drops of honey. You consider your stockpile. You had 4 days of food (for one eater) before you sacked and razed the farm but before it went up in flames your followers took everything of any possible worth from it, primarily food. Thanks to that, you have as much as they could carry. That’s 190 days of grain, taken from what was meant to feed their family through the winter, it’ll keep your band functioning for little less than two weeks. You’re going to either have to find more or give some of them less food.

Should anyone be getting half-rations or no rations?

>If yes, who?

You also consider your stockpile of goods. Most of it piled into the wagon, it’s a fairly decent haul that could get you a fairly decent chunk of change, if you didn’t somehow use it for yourself.

>The Large Wagon has 12 storage, (11.7/12)
>4 units of Fine Cloth
>1 units of Domestic Goods
>2 units of Salt
>1 unit of Candles
>3 Passengers, Gawain, Richard, Schwarz (each takes 1 storage)
>7 days of Medicine (10 days counts as 1 unit)

>>5112126
There are also some useful materials, currently being held by Neilson because he’s proven a bare minimum of aptitude for their use.

>2 units of Tools

The more important sacrificial prisoners are also carrying most of the domestic goods in the wagon, from your reasoning that they’re the least valuable and that room has to be made for the injured, Schwarz and Richard both have a limp and Gawain is still unconscious. It’ll be interesting when he wakes.

>3 units of Domestic Goods

The fat man isn’t carrying anything, both because he wasn’t there to pile grain onto when you plundered the farm and because, to a degree, he’s suffered enough. Even now, you can see him licking his lips and staring at the flames. Lastly, you contemplate your destination. You have no fucking idea where you’re going. You’re just rolling your wagon down the road and hoping to run into something worth stealing on your way to the kingdom’s outlands, and, well, it’s worked so far so you don’t see a reason to change but you need to do something. A measure of consistency in your loot or a serious spot to be traveling toward would be a great boon. As it is, you have a very nebulous understanding that you’re anywhere from 2-3 weeks to reaching the outlands and that it’s going to be 6 days before the moon is right for the sacrifice.

While you’re traveling, you have some time to yourself. What do you want to do?

>Meditate, as YolunuloY has taught you to
>Pray to a specific ignoble god (which one?)
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (who?)
>Nothing, just because you’re walking doesn’t mean your noggin has to be a’joggin’.

For now, what’s the plan until the new moon?

>Get more distance. Don’t do anything, keep traveling at a breakneck and wait for opportunities to fall in your lap.
>Pillage. Send out scouts when you next camp. Look for a peaceful homestead, another farm, or even a hamlet worth looting.
>Harass Dalhurst. You aren’t quite finished with the town and its outskirts. You’re going to have some more fun, maybe another break-in, maybe another farm raid.

>>5111635
You think so?

>>5111759
>>5111877
Ah, I see, I'll use this in the future. Very cool that they've expanded their servers. Thank you for the heads-up.

>>5112046
You aren't directly communing with the ignoble god, but you imagine that at the very least Sarintob is well-pleased.

>>5112091
This is happening while Melvin is traveling. On the wells, you could've gotten as many as 40, but were somewhat unlucky with a 9 on 1d40. The honey was in the buckets and discovered before the bodies were. Sadie's disappointed she didn't get the chance to reanimate a corpse or two but understands you were in a bit of a hurry.

>>5112116
The desecration of the temple wasn't extensive enough to turn the place unholy, it only removed the holiness already there, which was already an abomination. If your sacrifice of the priest was successful, it would've tainted the altar. The temple also went up in flames and most of the evidence was wiped clean, though there will be a full-blown investigation. Hence, Brother Miguel wanting to get some of the noble temple's subtler agents into the town. Dalhurst itself is largely intact, but its population has been scared shitless by the aftermath of the arson and apparent blasphemy going on. The Paladins are being sparse on the details, lest someone taste any lingering honey out of curiosity, but it's not unlikely they'll call for a full-lockdown until the situation has improved.

>>5112126
>no rations
The fat man; we haven't committed to a decision regarding him yet and it's not like he's in immediate danger of starvation. He's currently a drain on resources we aren't exactly flush with and so he gets nothing.

>half rations:
>2 Farmer's Daughters
>2 Virgin Captives

Virgins only get more food if going hungry ruins their looks. I'd also give less food to Richard and Gawain, but we need them to heal so that's out for now. Everyone else has either earned their meals or recently turned coat for our benefit.

>>5112127
During travel we should continue our meditation and talk to our companions: Gawain is the most immediately useful to us that hasn't already become accustomed to being under our thumb, so he should have priority. We want to keep Neilson with us--he's a useful fellow--so giving him and Richard (mostly for Neilson's sake) a little attention should be our second priority. Sadie and Tobias get third priority, both because I think Sadie will be a bit happier if we leave her alone to continue her studies on the diary and that we should encourage her to take charge of the kid and jump start his studies. Schwarz is probably a bit too dim to need us to focus on him, and Groshnak is still our bro despite his recent failures so I think they should have last priority on our time.

For the immediate future, though: I think we should get with Sadie and Neilson and figure out whether or not Sadie brought a map with her, what they know about the area (so we can refine our heading) and where we can liberate one from if need be. Let's get their opinions on what we should do with the goods on the wagon for good measure while we're at it.

>Get more distance

>>5112136
Ah, right. I misunderstood how thorough it was, then.

>>5112146
You were in a hurry at the time and only took about five minutes to carve into and ruin the holy symbols, but consecrating an altar is a semi-involved affair and even deconsecrating it is a setback for the temple itself.

>>5112126
>If yes, who?
Fat man, a spit of honey if we feel generous time to time. That s it. And he needs to demonstrate obedience. He is going to become a sacrifice regardless.

>half rations:
>2 Farmer's Daughters
>2 Virgin Captives

Only for now.


>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (who?)
Nelson, Tobias, Schwarz and then Gawain when he gets up, use the word "STOP" with command if he gets violent. Richard last.
>Meditate, as YolunuloY has taught you to
>Get Nelson, Sadie, Tobias+Groshnak and plan. Which threaths are in this region ? Which oppurtunities ? What more can we gain here in this region ? Should we instead go further away ?
>Continue learning how to read, in exchange have Sadie learn how to use that crossbow.

We might need a pastebin for some knowledge like the gods names and so on.

>Get more distance. Don’t do anything, keep traveling at a breakneck and wait for opportunities to fall in your lap.

If we see someone easy and weak we take them out. But preferably we want to go away from here and the town. On the night of the right moon, we sacrifice virgins, fatmen and anyone else we have captured on the road.

>>5112126
>Half rations for Gawain until we come to an accord. Half Rations for Richard until he proves himself. Half Rations for Tobias until he properly joins us or until he starts to get sick. Half rations for the Virgins and the Farmer's daughters. Half Rations for the Fat man, he's got that fat to keep him alive, and I'm interested to see the long-term effects of the honey, especially since we know out-of-character that there is a way to turn them into winged-centipede abominations.

>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (Tobias, to corrupt him, and talk to Gawain to come to some sort of arrangement.)
>Pray to a specific ignoble god (Sarintob) if we have time to
>Meditate, as YolunuloY has taught you to if we have time to

>Get more distance. Don’t do anything, keep traveling at a breakneck and wait for opportunities to fall in your lap.

We can afford two days of travel without raiding, we need distance to be safe from the paladins. The paladins will curbstomp us, and they don't know we are "their hellknight" or that they have the chance to snuff the chosen of the Black Stars in the crib before we have a chance to grow to full power, so if they hear about a raid they may still respond even if they are in a hurry to return home.

After the new moon sacrifices then we need to immediately start raiding for food and XP, and to corrupt our minions.

>>5112127
>Farmer's girls get half rations
We need those virgins to look their best for the sacrifice.

>Get more distance. Don’t do anything, keep traveling at a breakneck and wait for opportunities to fall in your lap.
>Pillage. Send out scouts when you next camp. Look for a peaceful homestead, another farm, or even a hamlet worth looting.

We need another virgin, but I'm fine with just setting Neilson out to scout while we keep moving. If we don't find anything, we don't lose anything.

>>5112149
+1

>>5112096
I missed this earlier. Yes, it does, if Melvin's paying attention he's likelier to notice patterns amid or amongst living things. Also I forgot to reply to the anon asking if the twitching is permanent- it is, Melvin's noticed the twitching and can't unsee it, it's as fundamental to his perception as the fact that the sky is blue.

As for the crypt, the Paladins originally arrived at Dalhurst to search for it (which is why they brought the squire) and won't be abandoning that mission, but the verified presence of honey has them putting the search on the backburner for now. After all, necromancy and Sarintob aren't related, on the surface, but they won't be dismissing any possibility.

>>5112127
>Meditate, as YolunuloY has taught you to
>Pray to a specific ignoble god (the arson one and the murder-charity one)

>>5112162
Damn, I'd like to complete that ambush, but if they are prioritizing alerting the rest of the paladins then there is no point, because presumably they'll ride back to inform the Grand Marshall before returning to deal with the tomb. There is no point in staying to ambush them if they are gonna do it after getting help.

I don't know about praying, at least "praying" with the reverence that's usually implied with that word choice. Respecting the ignoble gods, sure, and thinking of them while thinking something along the lines of "I heard you like x, that's pretty cool, I dig it" and treating them as ghostly bros, great... but I'm worried about the potential dangers with willingly submitting to any of these gods the way you would have to in order to pray properly (at least as I understand it).

>>5112180
By prayer, it'd be more accurate to say trying to commune with them. Not worshiping, trying to communicate with them, even if they're silent, and get a broader understanding of what they're about from there. Melvin has an ego the size of a small continent, he considers himself a peer to the ignoble gods, whether that's correct or not.

>>5112180
I figure pray is more like communicating with the gods than really submitting to them yet.

>>5112187
>Melvin has an ego the size of a small continent

That gave me a hearty chuckle.

Rolled 37, 91 = 128 (2d100)

>>5112146
>>5112149
>>5112152
>>5112156
>>5112157
The fat man will stave but for a taste of honey when you’re feeling in the mood. The farmer’s daughters and future virgin sacrifices will be receiving half-rations for the time being, the former because it doesn’t matter if they’re well-fed and the latter because they’ll be dead soon enough it won’t matter if they starve some in the meantime. You’ll continue your meditations on… why, exactly… everyone and everything seems to be twitching, pulsing, spasming, ever-so-slightly. When you aren’t, you’ll focus on corrupting the two of your companions that need it the most- Tobias and Gawain, once he wakes back up.

>roll 1d100 to travel
>roll 1d2 to meditate
>roll 8,12,16,20 on 1d20+3 to deepen Tobias’ corruption using a mix of tactics
>You're using deception and intimidation so you get a bonus for the average of both.
>Your combined score is +5, making you a de-facto expert. Take the best of two rolls

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5112216

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5112216

Rolled 18 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>5112216

>>5112216
Make sure to cover our tracks on the way out.

Rolled 20 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>5112216

File: 1625212173532.gif (997 KB, 245x297)

997 KB GIF

>>5112228
My god we've just ruined his poor little soul.

>>5112228
Holy shit, nice! Also, my ID changed for whatever reason.

I just went back to reread when we did our sacrifice and talked to the Ignoble gods, it may be worth feeding the fat man after all. If we put any meat into the lump at the bottom of the jar it makes more honey especially raw and rotting meat, maybe something similar happens in an addicted person, like feeding a gestating centipede baby.

>>5112234
It would be pretty on brand if by eating the honey you slowly transformed into a honey producing demon.

>>5112234
He's still a "fat man" though. We've got time.

>>5112162
Anti could we get a pastebin sometime later (now we have session so not now) ? Mostly for have any info we don t remember immediatly like the names of the gods and so on.


>>5112238
I don t think we could get something to produce the honey beside the jar, since is an artifact if evil. But I recon the jar always make honey, but anyone that has eat it and dies leaves some additional honey in his corpse probably. And I recon we can create some half monsters, if we feed someone the honey many times to someone, and put it in like a hole with some insects and corpses, and then see if something happens. The real problem by doing experiments with the Sarintob honey, is waiting for see the effects in a safe place with a lot of space to use and understanding if we can actually control the things that we made.

>>5112228
We might be able to stop tying Tobias up and let him keep watch over the prisoners while we are out raiding. I'm worried that when Gawain wakes up he will escape his ropes with some sort of thief trick but even a child with a knife could stop him from wriggling.

Tobias is a pretty smart kid. Once he finishes learning Orcish we might want to show him how to meditate. He would be a good follower of YolunuloY.

>>5112266
That's probably a good way to get a quick sorcerer with how flexible the minds of children are.

>>5112266
Yeah, I was thinking that. Though I still want him to get involved in combat in a somewhat safe manner, just to get him the level ups and also because I want him to be combat capable as well, not just to be a squishy scholar/dark priest later down the line. Though to be fair, it seems Sadie gains XP from doing research, so maybe he can just be a squishy backliner.

>>5112221
>>5112222
>>5112223
>>5112227
>>5112228
>18+3,20+3 vs 8,12,16,20
>CRITICAL SUCCESS
As you travel down the road, you task the farmers and your captives with covering your tracks. You aren’t sure how that would be done and none of your closest followers, an urban thief, a minor noblewoman, and an orc, do either, but you insist on it and they do their best, dragging a rake behind them as you go. Thankfully the road covers up most evidence of your passing by itself and what little you aren’t on the road can be swept over but you have no doubt in your mind that a skilled tracker could see that a wagon and a group of people on foot went through here as easily as blink.

It’s better than nothing, so you focus on your own affairs. Seeing how everything is twitching, mostly, and trying to wrap your head around the constant, grotesque motion but also getting closer to the boy, Tobias, who’s very clever for a farmer’s son and seems to be handling the massacre of his family before his eyes very well. You also don’t have a doubt in your mind that he hates you and wishes you were a corpse but he understands the power dynamic and doesn’t dare defy you openly. So when you step back from the head of the party, band, ad-hoc gang, you need to devise some means of naming this if it grows much larger, and take him off to the side, he doesn’t question you or react. You walk in silence next to him for some time without saying a word, then, on the cusp of just when he seems about to ask what you’re here for, you pour The Authority into a single, questioning word.

>”WHY?”

He flinches and asks you, “Why what?” You keep walking and don’t give a thought to his question. He struggles to keep up with you and the wagon and the mules and the more you don’t answer his question, the more desperate he seems to answer it himself in any way he can. You go a decent distance and before long, your silence has broken something in him and he has started to rant. He rants about his time on the farm, about how much work he was made to do for how little next to his older siblings, how he was ridiculed when he begged his family to go nearer to a town instead of homesteading, how he struggled with how simple everything was and they mocked him for it.

>>5112273
It seems that magic classes don't have to fight to get xp, but have really small hit die.
Sadie just has a d4.

>>5112281
The little boy rants about you, even, about how evil and horrible and terrible you are and what you’ve done was and what you’re going to do will be, and you let him go on, and on, and on, when he makes the leap of logic you were hoping for. He asks WHY the noble temple never sent a Paladin to see how his family was doing, he asks WHY the noble gods never gave them a miracle like the ignoble gods seem to shower you with, and finally, he asks WHY none of the nobles, godly or otherwise, didn’t help his family when they needed them most. You continue walking, dead-silent, as the boy trudges alongside you, frustrated rage giving him stamina beyond his years. The gears are turning in his head and you stay passive, not wanting to alter this for the worse, and after another hour of quiet, he grits his teeth and scowls. “…If the noble gods don’t care to help me. I don’t care to help them. The ignoble gods at least do something. The ignoble gods at least did something to you! I want the ignoble gods to do something for me, too, and I… AND I DON’T CARE WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT!” His voice cracks, his face is pitiful, but his eyes, through the tears blaze with hate. “I’m the last of my family and- and my family never mattered. They never mattered to the nobles, they never mattered to the gods pure and foul, they never mattered t-to ME! I want to matter to somebody! I want to matter to ME! Do you hear me? Do you e-even hear what I’m saying? Talk! GODSDAMNIT, SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE!”

You look back to the boy, resist the urge to make an obvious joke, and laugh. “Ahahaha! Yes! YES! Now you see the truth of this world, you matter to no-one! No-one and no-thing but you and yourself! If you want something… If you want power, pleasure, plunder, you have to TAKE it for your SELF! If you want the ignoble gods to look down on you, you have to SEIZE their attention! If you want me to care about you, you have to EARN my regard! Do you understand now, boy? Do you know? Or have I been listening to a fool waiting to be a corpse?” The two of you walk for several minutes, and then the boy mutters. “…I’m no fool. I’m not smart, the rest of you are just stupid but I know I’m no fool... For once, I-I want to take something, for myself. I want to own something... for... myself. To… t-to do something, to someone, or so-something, f-for… m-myself.”

>>5112285
You cackle. “AHAHAHA! Good! GOOD! EVIL, even! AHAHAHAHA! You’ll earn the right to prove yourself soon enough, boy, ahahaha-“ A sudden scream interrupts your discussion. “OOOHHHAAAAAAGH! MMMMYYYY EAAAAAR! MY FUCKIN’ EAR! NOBLE GODS WHERE’S MY FUCKIN’ EAR!?” You smile and the boy stares ahead, deep in thought. You take a sniff. The child is no longer an innocent. His soul has simply yet to be stained. You go to the wagon and take a look at what’s going on. Gawain’s hands are tied down, he’s thrashing, and visibly pissed that there’s a gory hole on the side of his head instead of a proper ear. To be fair, you probably wouldn't be too pleased either.

How should you approach this?

>Inform him that his ear is currently in pieces, rotting on the ground.
>Attempt to calm him down with The Authority, use force if necessary.
>Imply that if he’s willing to swear obedience, you can get him a new ear.
>Leave the thief alone. He’ll tire himself out sooner or later.

>>5112149
>>5112265
A pastebin is a good idea. I'll make one soon.

>>5112287
>Inform him that his ear is currently in pieces, rotting on the ground.
>Attempt to calm him down with The Authority, use force if necessary.
>Imply that if he’s willing to swear obedience, you can get him a new ear.

In that order, if you'd please.

>>5112287
>Imply that if he’s willing to swear obedience, you can get him a new ear.

Hell, Espurgat can probably give him one for cheap.

If he doesn't quiet down then...
>QUIET!

Maybe we can do some beginning work on staining Tobias's soul by having him rape one of the farmer's daughters.

>>5112271
>>5112273
True. Let's teach him to meditate, then we can start teaching him the sword/let Neilson and the other thieves teach him things and have Sadie teach him to read/give him access to her materials. Best case scenario we have a tiny little spellsword. Worst case scenario? We break him or give him too much power and he turns on us.

>>5112287
And I'll +1 this: >>5112297

>>5112287
>Inform him that his ear is currently in pieces, rotting on the ground.
>Leave the thief alone. He’ll tire himself out sooner or later.

>>5112273
>>5112283
He can learn to use some weapons no problems, and backstabbing foes could be nice as well a distraction for them. Same for Sadie. The xp gained for combat are still nice, so is better if they gain them. Sadie can gain an offensive spell next level that would be quite nice to have in fights.


>>5112288
Thanks anti, very appreaciated.

>>5112287
>Imply that if he’s willing to swear obedience, you can get him a new ear.
>Attempt to calm him down with The Authority, use force if necessary.
"SILENCE"
"The noble gods will not answer. They do not care of your ear. But I might, Gawain. You can be use of me, swear service to me from now on and not just your ear, but more can arrive. Women, coin, a fearsome reputation and action. Plenty of action, or would you prefer returning to the shithole where one of the headquarters of the black dyad is found ? Between scum, crap and rats do you think your wound will have a good time? Or that your superiors will bother ? Tsk"
"You and i know the truth. Accept it now or later. Serve me or .... no i will not tell you what could happen. I think you can imagine it" grin

>>5112301
>Maybe we can do some beginning work on staining Tobias's soul by having him rape one of the farmer's daughters.

Nah. A man's first time is important, he should find a conquest to take for himself instead of some farmer's sloppy seconds.

>>5112297
+1
Do you guys want to pick up the Resilient trait next level?
It would solidify our hitpoint advantage, the stun resistance is great, and it gives more hitpoints in the future so it's better to take it early.

>>5112303
Melvin could also need a boost in combat. I was thinking training melee with Groshnak and then training range with Nelson. Both are decent at it so it should help us, more than doing it alone.


>>5112314
We could use it, it would be good.
I think we need Torturing next for the abilities, the skill is important for not just gain info but for improving sacrifices rolls. We could also use more people than Melvin for make the sacrifices more coordinated

>>5112314
Hm. Menacing is also a good option. Here's a copypasta of the combat traits from Level 3--for those who can't be fussed to check the old thread/archive--and a friendly reminder that last time we took Treacherous (whether or not there's a second level to that we'll be tempted by remains to be seen) and currently have a Stealth/Intimidation build:

>Sword Expert: Your constant use of the sword has reflected in your aptitude, it moves more readily in your hands and strikes with impressive force. You’ve become obsessed with its sharpness, its elegance, and wonder why you would ever use another weapon. (+2 to Combat Skill, only when using swords.)
>Grudge Against Man: You have been wronged beyond wrongs by your kind, again and again, and you have grown weary of the shackles their false law imposes on you. Enough! Against your fellow man, hatred consumes you and you fight with frenzied tenacity. (+2 to Combat Skill, only against your fellow humans.)
>Treacherous: You are convinced the best fight is one that never gives the enemy a chance, and you haven’t been proven wrong yet. You have a natural knack for getting into position with a weapon, and once there you can inflict terrible damage. (+4 to Stealth, any surprise attacks you manage do 1 extra dice of damage, a 1d4 to 2d4, a 1d6 to 2d6, etc.)
>Resilient: You are far sturdier than most, fueled by spite, you refuse to give your enemy the satisfaction of your death so easily and wounds that have been dealt worry you little. (+2 HP per Level, including previous Levels, +4 to resist disease and being stunned, +1d2 HP recovery per day instead of +1 HP.)
>Menacing: Your eyes glow with cruelty that most can’t comprehend and against the weight of your ferocity, even the brave find themselves in a state of fear. The cowardly find their will to fight ebb with every swing of your blade. (+4 to Intimidation, the first kill or stunning blow during combat triggers a morale check at 8 difficulty, the second at 9, the third at 10, etc. Each counts to the same difficulty.)

>>5112325
True. Torture might be worth taking too.

>>5112297
>>5112301
>>5112303
>>5112306
>>5112307
>>5112314
“SILENCE.” The thief glares at you, his handsome face twisted with lust for murder. He says nothing as you continue. "The noble gods will not answer. They do not care of your ear. But I might, Gawain. You can be use of me, swear service to me from now on and not just your ear, but more can arrive.” He glares, frustrated by your words but silent. “Women, coin, a fearsome reputation and action. Plenty of action, or would you prefer returning to the shithole where one of the headquarters of the black dyad is found? Between the scum, shit and rats do you think your wound will have a good time? Or that your superiors will bother? Tsk." You can see his eyes mulling it over.

>roll 12,16,20 or higher on 1d20+4 to intimidate him into obedience, best of 2

Rolled 8 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>5112328

Rolled 9 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>5112328

Rolled 9 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>5112328

Rolled 6 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>5112328

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5112328

>>5112314
>>5112327
We should've picked up Menacing or Resilient first off rather Treacherous, which we barely utilize.

>>5112310
Fair enough.

>>5112314
>>5112327
Either of these are fine. I'd also prefer to favour either combat skill or toughness over more dodge. I prefer Damage Resistance over AC. It'd be nice to be essentially immune to low tier enemies damage while reducing strong paladin-esque enemy damage to something manageable. Combat skill is my number one priority though until we can actually consistently hit things that are at least a professional soldiers level, though that may just be trauma from the early game of the 1st thread speaking. Watching you guys be unable to hit anything during the early parts of last thread was inducing second hand cringe in me.

>>5112342
I think Treacherous has been useful enough.
We don't really go for individual sneak attacks ourselves but it keeps our options open when we don't have to worry about breaking stealth.

>>5112330
>>5112333
>8+4,9+4 vs 12,16,20

He takes a deep breath and sighs. You scoff. "Gawain, your ear is currently in three pieces, rotting on the ground just north of Dalhurst. You aren't getting it back on yo-" He interrupts you, his voice sharp and angry. "You think I didn't get women back at the dyad? Coin? Fear? Action? Fuckin' hell, but they couldn't get me a new fuckin' ear, not without sellin' out more to the temple than they know I'm worth... Fuck. Get me a new fuckin' ear. Then we'll talk, then we'll fuckin' talk." You see him roll over in the wagon, with his good side facing upward. Well then, you have a goal. Get a new ear for Gawain. That might earn his loyalty or at least indebt him to yourself. Curious.

The question is, how are you supposed to do that? Espurgat, perhaps? Maybe another one of the ignoble gods would be willing to pitch in. Bah, it's beyond your knowledge but not your means. You continue traveling.

Is there anyone else you want to corrupt, or would you rather focus on meditating?

>Meditate on YolunuloY exclusively
>Corrupt someone in particular (who?)
>Spend time with a favored minion (who?)

>>5112354
>Spend time with a favored minion (who?)
Sadie. Take her bareback, no lube.

>>5112354
Almost forgot-
>SLIGHT SUCCESS

>>5112354
>Meditate on YolunuloY exclusively
We're never going to be a proper dark lord if we can't cast spells in heavy armor.

>>5112327
Good then.

I can see the use in sword expert, resiliant or even the eyes.

>>5112342
If we do ambushes or attacks at night it could be of use. There will be occasions.

>>5112354
>Corrupt someone in particular (who?)
Schwarz
We need to get it him more loyal. Afterwards we need to plan with the brains of our group for what to do at the moment in this region, and what we know of this region. So Nelson and Sadie. I am not sure if Groshnak knows something of this region, maybe.

>>5112358
support

>>5112348
We wound up not using it much--we attacked an inanimate object when ambushing our wagon and chose non-lethal damage when we shot Richard--but it certainly keeps our options open and helps to establish a philosophy where we don't give people options to hurt us (which we haven't been the greatest to sticking to, but I digress).

>>5112343
Our inability to hit anything--and then Gawain--was probably a lot of the reason we went for Dodge on our last level. We're open to flaws now and it might be worth the extra stats to start taking more of them. Building up our 1 toughness might be a bit too slow for most Anons.

>>5112354
I say we wait on getting him a new ear until after we sacrifice virgins to Uvbree. She might have some advice that's worth listening to.

Let's spend a bit of time with Groshnak and then Meditate when the interaction isn't all that interesting.

>>5112372
Sword Expert and Grudge strike me as a bit too restrictive.

>>5112354
>Spend time with a favored minion (Sadie)
She learn anything new?
>Corrupt someone in particular (Richard)
After
>Meditate on YolunuloY exclusively

Because I'm impatient.

>>5112364
>>5112354
I'll switch to this >>5112372 to avert the coomer vote.

>Corrupt someone in particular (Richard)

I'm guessing his soul is on the darker end of neutral. To be useful we need to get him on the lighter end of dark.

>>5112383
>anon wants to be a chaste dark paladin

>>5112348
>We don't really go for individual sneak attacks ourselves

That's why I don't like it, we ain't using it. Could've used Menace, would've worked really well with Authority. Could've used Resilient, extra health and heal bonuses are self evident. We instead went for the option that we never use, which is infuriating from a min-maxing perspective.

>>5112354
>Meditate on YolunuloY exclusively

>>5112388
To me, the main use for it is stuff like Dalhurst, where we need to complete an objective with subtlety.

>>5112387
Later, when we make camp. Pretty sure we're still on the road and haven't made camp for the day.

>>5112388
Stop being an autistic minmaxer, then.

>>5112372
>>5112376
>>5112383
You already spend enough time with Sadie. If she has something useful she'll come to you, no doubt, but Schwarz... Schwzarz is nearly half as strong as Groshnak, no mean feat for a man, and mentally deficient enough it should be trivial to influence him however you please. Of course, you'll have to take the time to influence him, which is what you'll do now.

>roll 1d100 to travel
>roll 1d2 to meditate
>roll 4,6,8,10 or higher on 1d20+5 to corrupt Schwarz
>You're using deception and intimidation so you get a bonus for the average of both.
>Your combined score is +5, making you a de-facto expert. Take the best of two rolls.

Rolled 4 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>5112395

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5112395

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5112395

Rolled 17 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>5112395

>>5112378
I could say the same for dodge or any of the stats really, considering humans get plus 1 to one of those three each level, and professional soldiers would probably be vaguely in our tier. In a way fighting a peer opponent is like going back to the start of the game depending on the gear and stat distribution. Personally I'd say the damage resistance is pretty good considering the small die sizes on the weapons.

Regarding Uvbree, we may want to ask her for information on the paladins and their numbers and capabilities as well as info about neighbouring countries and any secret knowledge she is willing to share.

>>5112378
>but it certainly keeps our options open
But it doesn't. It's a use or useless skill, it becomes irrelevant beyond the first turn in battle (when surprise is in effect), it doesn't help us when we're already in the fight. It circumstantial at best, limiting at worse, since more hp=better survivability and more morale damage mean less damage taken by our war and in return. Treacherous simply isn't as useful in battles as the other options.

>>5112387
I think we fuck her already everytime we like.

>>5112378
Perhaps. Yeah i don't think we need grudge, bonus isn't needed when we recruit all evil kinds.
For sword i am not sure if there is a penalty for using other weapons. If there isn't it can be nice as an upgrade later ... and if we get lucky again we can go for that sword of evil

>>5112388
If we want we could go for attacks where we can use apply the skill. Attacking a camp of alone travellers at night for example, where it could be repeated more than once after a successfull strike.
>>5112404
A good first strike can be of use especially for take out someone more dangerous for example. Or wound it enough to make it easier to kill.


>>5112402
I am not sure what s the price for info, but it could be of use. Though is better to see what we can learn on our own within our group first. She just might give us easy information we could have gain on our own, just for play with us.

>>5112404
It does keep our options open, because it puts us above Neilson in terms of stealth.
When we were in Dalhurst, there was a very low possibility of us being noticed despite being fully armed and armored.
Not being detectable by normies is very useful.

>>5112404
>a permanent +4 to Stealth
>somehow useless because we haven't had opportunity to use the sneak attack bonus damage
>when the only time Melvin even came close to the death in the first thread is when he got caught in a trap
Not everything is about our bonuses in battle, especially with how useful that +4 to Stealth was.

>>5112402
True. Might want to see if we can fetch her additional virgins in any towns we pass through.

Rolled 5 (1d30)

>>5112399

>>5112393
If we were going for an assassin build, sure. But does Melvin really come across as 'subtle' to you?

>>5112410
>A good first strike can be of use especially for take out someone more dangerous for example. Or wound it enough to make it easier to kill.

I'm not denying that, but situations to utilize Treacherous don't come up that often, while Menace and Resilient will anways be useful in a general melee with the enemy, which all surprise attacks devolve to.

>>5112420
>If we were going for an assassin build, sure. But does Melvin really come across as 'subtle' to you?
Yeah, when he needs to do something without getting mobbed and killed by guards and peasants.
I'm not even disagreeing with you about the other traits being more useful, but Treacherous has unique utility.

>>5112411
>>5112414
I'm not saying the +4 Stealth isn't useful, my just saying that the other trait would've been more useful.

Rolled 2 (1d4)

>>5112399
>>5112400
>>5112397
>>5112398
>4+5,17+5 vs 4,6,8,10
>GREAT SUCCESS

"Uuuuh, so den I took his ear n' den I... harharharhar... I went- it-it-uuuh wen' like, like.... SCHIIIIIIK n' now he's got no ear! HARHARHARHARHAR!" Gawain is sitting behind you, dimly staring at Schwarz's malformed face. He's been giggling like this for two straight hours and every time he looks to see Gawain's wound, he bursts into laughter again, like it was the first time. At two separate points, you had to remind him not to rip off the thief's other ear to- "make dem all eben like" but he seems to take your commands seriously. At the very least, you've confirmed that his loyalty is, as long as you can keep whatever's sitting between his ears entertained, nigh-absolute. You don't even need to taint his soul further. He's already closer to a rabid animal in human skin than anything sane.

You're starting to consider the logistics of getting him some kind of simple puzzle or the like to keep him distracted when you hear someone crying out in the hills, far to the side of the road. "NOOOOO! PLEASE! NO! I'M BEGGING YOU NO! NO! NO! AAAAAAGH!" You listen closer for a few seconds and think you hear the sound of something sizzling, or of someone with a very phlegmy throat laughing.

What should you do?

>Ignore the disturbance and move on.
>Take your followers and approach in force.
>Take some of your followers and sneak up on the noise.
>Go alone and see just what's going on over there.

>>5112425
>Take some of your followers and sneak up on the noise.

>>5112425
>>Go alone and see just what's going on over there.
Sounds like someone's having fun without us

>>5112425
>Go alone and see just what's going on over there.
sneak time

>>5112424
Anyways, I'm thinking Menacing for Level 6. We haven't been in enough life threatening situations for Resilience to be anything but nice and we're starting to rely more on Intimidation.

Of course QM might give us some additional things to choose from.

>>5112425
>Go alone and see just what's going on over there.
Maybe bring Neilson since he's sneaky.

>>5112420
He can be quiet ... not his fault if the victims screams so much can you blame the man for that ? Come on give little ol Melvin a break.

They might not come up, but if we keep the initiative and plan our attacks we can put it to use. Being on the defensive is something we need to avoid, if possible. If we can be on attacks especially surprise ones at night we become deadly.

>>5112425
Lmao
Ok end of games, time to work.

>>Take some of your followers and sneak up on the noise.
Nelson.

Remain on alert and put the wagon and the others in a safe position. Then we go. See what we have to deal with. Remain ready to kill.

>>5112430
The thing I like about Resilience is that it allows us the ability to be more active after being wounded than we would otherwise, as well as having a higher tolerance for damage so we won't be as inclined to waste time with HP regen rest.

>>5112354

I think we have to give Groshnak a pep talk, clearly he has a mental block that is impeding his effectiveness.

Maybe we learn a little more Orcish in the process?

>>5112426
>>5112427
>>5112428
>>5112430
>>5112432
You make a snap decision. It sounds like someone's having fun without you. That won't stand. You gesture toward Neilson and he catches on immediately, going into a stealthy position and you crouch likewise. You know you can trust Sadie to keep things in order while you're busy with... whatever this is. You keep your dagger at the ready, prepared to switch to Espurgat's dagger or your longsword if you find it more convenient. Now you're on the prowl.

>roll 16,20 or higher to avoid being sensed on 1d20+6, best of two

>roll 16,20 or higher for Neilson to avoid being sensed on 1d20+4, best of two

Rolled 3 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>5112441

>>5112432
I agree with being aggressive or on the offensive. It'll probably be more useful in infiltrating a castle or something of the like, and working our way inside.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5112441

Rolled 16 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>5112441

Rolled 7 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>5112441

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5112441

>>5112445
Let's say this one's for Neilson since he didn't include the modifier.

>>5112444
Yeah. Other targets like town guards or the like are also available.

>>5112441
What the hell as a sight of 16/20 ?
Well we can strike at one or more, and then tell the others to move their ass from camp and aid us.
Unless they are friendly ? I doubt that

>>5112453
Maybe it's one of those non-hobo badguys

>>5112457
Aren't we all murder-hobos though?

>>5112462
QM said there's legitimate Anti-Paladins elsewhere in the setting. He's saying this might be one of them.

It's from my 98 roll. He might be another sicko like us. A potential recruit.

>>5112462
I mean, we had the choice to be a knighted noble at the start of the game, which is a lot higher in terms of social class than an illiterate deserter.

>>5112463
No, I know that. Just because you're an Anti-Paladin doesn't exclude you from being a hobo though.

>>5112457
If it is, it might still be bad.
A night for doing sacrifice is coming and we have a few victims with us. Then we have several evil artifacts not made, but from the gods. We might need to go on an attack, and we have still the bonus if we are in stealth mode.
And if he is weak, well he might send us on our track some good guys for then finish them off.
Our group is near so they can help us at least

>>5112443
>>5112445
>>5112446
>>5112447
>3+6,15+6 vs 16,20
>SLIGHT SUCCESS
>16+4,7+4 vs 16,20
>SLIGHT SUCCESS

You approach the site of the commotion with as little noise from yourselves as possible. You're like a panther on your feet, coiled and poised to kill, and Neilson is little different, though he lacks the innate knack for exactly where his feet need to go and at what angle that you possess. After a minute, the screaming getting louder and louder, you round a bend and take a close look at what you see.

There are two men wearing tattered rags stitched together in a crude cloak and no sign of any other clothes. Neither of them has a hair on their head and at a glance, you find their skin uncomfortably greasy and pale. Between them is a third man, the average farmer it looks like, his hands tied to a tree while the rest of him hangs and his intestines... You see they haven't been spilled out but rather are actively dissolving. He howls, tensing his fists and weeping, as one of the pair holds a glass bottle, pours a bit more of a translucent mixture into what remains of his innards, and you watch with morbid fascination as it eats through the flesh. This goes on for a minute more, both clinically detached from the torture they're committing, and one that's standing there, keeping an eye on the rope, gurgles. "Did you hear sumthing? I thought I heard sumthing."

The one onto the left, holding the bottle, undergoes an immediate and horrific transformation. The skin on the side of his head bubbles, as if boiling, and then his ear moves itself from the side of his head to the back, angled to your direction. You make not the slightest motion. After a minute of this, the skin boils again and his ear returns, not to its original position, but to near enough, at a slapdash, lopsided angle. "Nuh. Nuthing." They look at the farmer, who's begin to pray, and the one without the bottle shrugs, though it's more like the bones in his shoulders melt and pop back in on themselves. "Dis is gud. I think the mixture needs more..." The other gurgles. "EGG!" He sounds overjoyed. "YUS! EGG! Culd use more thickness. Burns too clean, methinks. No time to uncubate."

You're confident they have no idea that you and Neilson are watching. The thief is visibly horrified and you aren't sure how you feel, personally.

What should you do?

>Shoot one with your light crossbow, while you have the element of surprise.
>Turn and leave, while they still aren't aware that you're here.
>Attempt to sneak closer to the pair, to eavesdrop on them.
>Draw your longsword and charge them both!
>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself.

>>5112471
Hmmm, plaguebros.
I guess that ear trick explains the dc.

>>5112471
>Turn and leave, while they still aren't aware that you're here.
I'm tempted just to leave them to it, more people causing chaos keeps us safe.

>>5112471
>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself.

>>5112471

>Shoot one with your light crossbow, while you have the element of surprise.

I don't know what the fuck is happening here, but we only need one of these shapeshifting sludge demons to explain it.

>>5112471
>>Shoot one with your light crossbow, while you have the element of surprise.
Alchemists sound like they can make useful minions... but we only need one of them.

>>5112471
>Turn and leave, while they still aren't aware that you're here.
or
>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself.

Shooting at them is a Schwarz level idea.

>>5112487
you should probably pick one or the other since that's the idea that is currently winning

>>5112471
>>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself.
Ey boys, need an expert in torture>

>>5112488
I only tie it up, we need a third anon to break it.

>>5112493
That's not how democracy works.
You don't get two votes to tie things up with, you get one vote which you can use to create a good outcome or waste so something dumb happens.
>>5112477
>>5112471
switching to
>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself.

What do you think would happen to the other one if we kill his partner? I don't think he would be very inclined to support us.
We should at least say hello, if they're hostile/not useful we can kill them afterwards.

>>5112471
>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself.
fuck I got distracted with other shit

>Abandon stealth and openly introduce yourself

Hello friends, have you heard any good news?

>>5112471
>>Shoot one with your light crossbow, while you have the element of surprise

I don't know i an not sure about them. Kill both. We are too good to pass up with the jar and i don t want to test if they are ready to talk

>>5112502
Why would we kill them? We're not a paladin. We should either leave like a pussy, or talk to them.

>>5112504
Who cares if we aren't a paladin ? Evil doesn't play by those rules.
They can be competition, and we have an artifact made by the god their worship. Attacking them is an advantage now because they are an unknown.
I also don t want the group to get more large when we aren't strong enough for a bigger group.

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>5112496
Ignore him, he's an obnoxious faggot.

>>5112509
You don't even know what the fuck they are, let alone if they're hostile to us. No need to attack our distraction for the paladin hit-team coming after us.

>>5112510
Sorry, I forgot I was talking to a retard.
You can't vote for two contradictory things dumbass.

>>5112509
>Who cares if we aren't a paladin?
Paladins vanquish evil, we are not a paladin, therefore we have no reason to vanquish evil if it is not interfering with us. If anything, in the scenario we leave without saying hello, they would help by throwing the paladins off our trail.
>we aren't strong enough for a bigger group.
By what metric? The QM already has rules ready to go for abstractions suiting a warband.

>>5112519
How does an "or" work in an explicit vote?

>>5112513
They look like Sarintob cultists. Point is i don t feel like trusting them.

>>5112515
Killing competition doesn't mean being like a paladin now. We could still torture them for info or more.
We would need to feed them, control them and ensure their loyalty.

I can agree they can be used as a bait for the paladins

>>5112493
If there's a tie a vote can only count for one thing at a time, but if there's a general consensus "multi-votes" can make some things happen. Say if there's a 5-0 vote to eat a sandwich but 2 of those 5 votes are to add cheese to the sandwich, since it doesn't contradict the other votes cheese gets added to the sandwich. That's how I've been counting them, anyhow.

>>5112479
>>5112487
>>5112491
>>5112496
>>5112498
>>5112499
These two are dangerous, sadistic, and if not supernatural entities themselves then twisted and warped by some sort of supernatural force. They seem like your kind of people. You signal to Neilson to stay hidden with his crossbow, ready to shoot if something goes wrong, when you stand and walk into the clearing. "Hello friends, have you heard any good news?" Both of the cloaked... you aren't sure if you should call them men, turn and eye you with deep curiosity. Only one of them turns, the one with the bottle's skin boils again, sending an eye, ear, and mouth to the back of his head in completely inhuman positions. You notice that the one to turn fully is missing an eye, and that the eye remaining is in the center. His skin shows signs of bubbling a moment ago, which leads you think he also moved an eye to keep watching their victim. They each glance at each other. They look back to you.

One speaks. "Have you hurd the gud news of Zugzeb?" The other jiggles disapprovingly. "Stupud question. He OOZES Zugzeb. Stupud, stupud..." The first looks downcast. "Nuuuh." The second gurgles. "OOZES." You get the impression that they're awed by your personal presence but at the same time too fixated on their experiment to give you their undivided attention.

You have some of their attention, at least, and they don't seem openly hostile.

>"Ey boys, so I need an expert in torture."
>Ask them who or what Zugzeb is
>Give them a recruitment pitch
>Ask them what they're doing

>>5112521
Either 'this vote' or 'that vote', I'm not picky which. If I felt strongly for one I would've voted for it, simple as.

>>5112523
>Killing competition
We don't have a monopoly on evil, and it would be foolish to try.

>>5112525
>Ask them what they're doing
>Give them a recruitment pitch
>"Ey boys, so I need an expert in torture."

>>5112525
>Ask them who or what Zugzeb is
>Give them a recruitment pitch
>Ask the farmer where his family is.

>>5112526
That's retarded.

>>5112525
>>Ask them what they're doing

>>5112525
>Ask them what they're doing
Say it in a way that's clear that we are not judging them for it, but are intrigued and interested in their "methods".

>>5112525
>Ask them what they're doing
that looks cool

>>5112525
>Ask them what they're doing

>>5112531
I don't think it is. I'm not choosing to do both at the same time, I'm just choosing two mutual conflicting votes that I like. I don't really care whichever wins against the other.

>>5112542
>I'm just choosing two mutual conflicting votes that I like
Do you not see a problem with this?

Can y'all cut your autism before QM breaks out the firehose?

>>5112546
No. Like I said, I don't have strong feelings for either. If I did, I would've voted for a single choice rather than an 'either/or' choice.

>>5112548
I don't see the autism of my vote.

>>5112529
>>5112530
>>5112535
>>5112536
>>5112537
>>5112539
You look at the way his intestines are dissolving without leakage, while causing excruciating pain, and speak genuinely. "That looks cool." They stare, unblinking, and you continue. "What exactly is it that you're doing?" Both of them gurgle (their equivalent of laughter?) and the one with the bottle rushes to explain. "Glass cleaner." The other groans, annoyed. "Nuuuh. MAKING glass cleaner." "NEW glass cleaner." "Glass cleaner." You stare at the farmer, writhing, barely conscious, gnashing his teeth in horror, and back to these two. "Glass cleaner?" "Yus." He pours some more in a different spot. "It'll make stains a thing of the past. Better fur juice consistency." You look at the glass. "Juice consistency?" "YUS! Juice sometimes has bone shards. Annoying to scrape out. If we dun't, juice es no gud." The bottle-holder scratches his back, by bending his arm at an unnatural angle.

"It'll make us RICH." "RICH." "Give gold to Zugzeb." "Yus."

You look at the farmer, screaming in agony, and realize that their motivation for torturing him is to test how well their experimental glass cleaner dissolves organic material. You contemplate this for a moment.

>"Why didn't you use a corpse or find an animal? Why a live human?"
>"Could this glass cleaner of yours be used for other things?"
>"How do you two feel about Paladins and the kingdom?"
>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"
>"Farmer. Listen to me, where is your family?"

>>5112553
>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"
>"Farmer. Listen to me, where is your family?"

>>5112553
>detect evil
these guys appear to be operating off of blue and orange morality

>>5112553
"Huh, tell me about Zugzeb."

>>5112553
>Detect evil
>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"

>>5112553
>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"

>>5112553
>>"How do you two feel about Paladins and the kingdom?"
>>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"

>Ask them what they're doing
>Give them a recruitment pitch
>Ask the farmer where his family is.

>>5112553
>Detect evil
>>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"

>Detect evil
>"Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?"

>>5112557
>>5112559
>>5112560
>>5112565
>>5112569
>>5112574
"Huh, tell me about Zugzeb." Both of them glance at each other. "Nut stupud question?" The one who disapproved moments ago looks down in shame. "Nuh. Nut stupud." You interrupt. "Who or what is Zugzeb and why does it want wealth?" The one with the bottle pulls out a leather strip with several notches at exact ends, and appears to be using it to measure the rate the intestines are dissolving but you can't see how he would be supporting the leather strip to hold it taut like that if his other hand is holding the bottle, unless, he didn't only have two hands. The other gurgles and claps his hands together in a dull, smacking noise. "Zugzeb is the BEST!" "GREATEST OF ALL TIME!" "Master of Slimes, Oozes, Jellies, Puddings, Puddles, and Acids, in all of their forms!" "ALCHEMY!" "YUS! Alchemy." You put your fingers onto the bridge of your nose. "But why does he need wealth?" "Help FIND way to make gold!" "Philosopher's stone!" "Mystery of ages!" You sniff to detect their evil and are almost shocked. The souls of these two are at least twice as dark as Groshnak. If you weren't indelibly stained by the black stars, they would be your equal, if not greater. At the same time, they have a strange incomprehension of their deeds, not innocence, far from it, but a mindset utterly divorced from individual suffering and its consequences.

How do you want to progress this?

>"Zugzeb is like an ignoble god?"
>"Why not just steal gold, instead?"
>"...Are you looking for employment?"
>"Thoughts on Paladins and the kingdom?
>"Farmer. Where is your family?
>"I guess I'll leave you to it, then."

>>5112587
>>"...Are you looking for employment?"

>>5112587
>"Thoughts on Paladins and the kingdom?
I would invite them into our band, but I'm worried they won't understand that they can't douse our own allies with the acid.

>>5112587
>"Thoughts on Paladins and the kingdom?
>"Farmer. Where is your family?

I like these guys' spunk.

>"Thoughts on Paladins and the kingdom?
then
>>"I guess I'll leave you to it, then."

So that they can serve as distractions for the Paladins.

>>5112587
>Offer for them to join our group, and be among fellow seekers of the world's mysteries.
We're studying the secret truths of the world, Sadie's doing necromancy, and there was talk about getting Toby into magic as well.
Why not present ourselves as fellow mystics?

>>5112587

>>"...Are you looking for employment?"

These guys are going to be fun, I can tell.

>>5112587
>>"Thoughts on Paladins and the kingdom?
>>"Farmer. Where is your family?

>>5112592
Just tell them that friends aren't experiments, as friends help provide gold. Should be simple enough.

>>5112587
>"...Are you looking for employment?"

Uvbree is associated with shadows, treachery, and the pleasures of the flesh by those who don't know any better.

When we sacrifice two virgins, I think we can get her to give us a higher-quality (non-pencil) dick and change us and our parties' looks for the better.

I'm not saying we change the other members into entirely different people, but Groshnak should look like a better-looking (likely more intimidating) Orc by Orc standards.

Sadie will just have a hotter bod, clearer skin, shinier hair, thicker eyelashes, straighter and whiter teeth, more symmetrical features, etc. We can even ask her about it before we do the rituals to see if she has any physical insecurities she wants to change as you intend to change the looks of yourself and most of the party.

Gawain can get his ear fixed.

If we look more handsome we'll have better charisma rolls, especially for deception, because pretty people get away with things, and if our hair color, height, and eye color is changed, then we won't fit the paladin's description of us anymore. If we can look like the kind of guy parents tell their kids they should try to be more like, even better, since people will automatically trust us more when we're using Silence.

Another thing I noticed is Uvbree likes 'pleasure of the flesh from those who don't know any better' which means having Schwarz fucking one of the farmer's daughters during the ritual would probably get her approval, since he's retarded, and doesn't know any better. I don't agree with letting Tobias do a rape too because he's smart enough to know rape is wrong, and it's better if we get him to focus on YolunuloY, since him getting a little crazy will make him more pliable and more likely to do things of his own free-will.

>>5112629
I'm not reading that.

>>5112632
Where do you think you are?

>>5112633

Nah, that guy is right, you've gone too far with the Tobias angle. Reel it in boyo.

>>5112629
TL;DR: Use Virgin sacrifice to Uvbree to improve looks. Uvbree likes it when 'people who don't know any better' does rape, so having Schwarz fuck one of the farmer daughter's during the ritual would gain some of her approval.

>>5112591
>>5112592
>>5112595
>>5112596
>>5112599
>>5112602
>>5112604
>>5112617
"Thoughts on Paladins and the kingdom?" They're silent for a moment, measuring their victim and puzzling over your question, then one gurgles. "...Glass cleaner." "Yus. They get the glass cleaner." You stand for a moment, processing this, then stare at the farmer whose eyes are rolling back in his head. He's about to go unconscious and die very quickly after that. You ask, hopefully audible through the pain- "Farmer. Where is your family?" He groans in agony and goes limp. You sigh. "Damn, I was hoping for the chance to-" "Uuuh we know." You look. "You do?" The one with the bottle speaks, emptying it out into his ribcage and monitoring the results. "Yus. He helped us earlier." "Yus. Gave us chicken for copper. Gud chicken. Melted gud." You look. "Then why did you, uh, choose him to test with?" They both pause for a minute, genuinely confused, and the bottle-holder gurgles, horizontal lips on the back of his bald head smacking together. "Dudn't know if human melted different." The other jiggles affirmatively. "Now we do. What es your name?"

You don't hesitate for a moment. "Melvin." "Meeelvin." "Melviiiin." You stare. A few moments later they grunt. "Melvin. Sounds better that way." "Yus. Juuust Melvin. Mel-vin." "Is melty." "Makes sense. Feels melty." You think they're talking about you. "What are your names, then?" They both glance at each other and "shrug," before mumbling. "Furgut, dudn't matter." "Huuuh. Me too." They both sit for a minute and shrug, moving on. "Eh, is Zugzeb." "Yus. Zugzeb."

"...Are you looking for employment?"

They both pause their experiment. "A jub?" "Wurking?" "Sunds gud." "Gud. Yus." "Mmm... What we get?" "Yuh, what?"

You think for a second. What should you offer them?

>Wealth. They'll be compensated with a salary.
>Materials. The flesh of innocents, namely.
>Zugzeb. Their deity would be pleased.
>Nothing. They would work for free.

>>5112641
>Zugzeb. Their deity would be pleased.

>Materials. The flesh of innocents, namely.

>>5112641
>>Materials. The flesh of innocents, namely.

>>5112641
>Zugzeb. Their deity would be pleased.

You also get chicken.

>>5112641
>Zugzeb. Their deity would be pleased.

>Materials. The flesh of innocents, namely.
We make more corpses then we know what to do with.

>Wealth. If they create something useful to us we would be willing to buy it.

>>5112641
>Materials. The flesh of innocents, namely.
>Zugzeb. Their deity would be pleased.

There'll be wealth too, but it will be more intermittent.

>>5112643
>>5112644
>>5112645
>>5112647
>>5112657
>>5112659
>>5112665
"Materials. Flesh, living and dead to experiment with." "Mmm..." "Uuuh..." They're on the brink, you go for the kill. "Zugzeb would be pleased if you helped me melt Paladins." You know that's true. "...Zugzeb gud." "Yus, es gud." "We work fur you then." "Yus. Gud." You watch them both. "We are in agreement then." "Yus." You scratch your head. "What exactly... is it that you can do?"

>+2 Adepts of Zugzeb

>16/16 HP, 8 Dodge, 4 Toughness
>Regenerate +4 HP per turn, +8 if submersed
>Immune to acid and stun
>Resistant to fear and pain
>+8 grappling, +4 intimidation, torture, alchemy
>2d4 damage per turn, can inflict 1d4 acid damage at range, 1d8 at melee, 1d12 when grappled

You had to coax the cliffnotes version from them and aren't entirely sure that they're aware they've given you an in-depth summary of their abilities, but as near as you can tell, Zugzeb is some sort of slime deity and these two are members of its cult? They're willing to work for you, at least, and seem very morally flexible. You aren't sure you understand their morals.

What do you want to do now?

>Continue traveling, they can walk like anyone else.
>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.

>>5112672
>>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.

>Continue traveling, they can walk like anyone else.

>>5112673
Also check for virgins.

>>5112672
These are very good shock troops.
>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.

>>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.
>Check if he has a virgin in his home

>>5112672
>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.

Fuck it, this'll be interesting.

>>5112674
Changed my vote.

>>5112672
>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.

>>5112672
>Take them to the farmer's home to see them in action.

>>5112673
>>5112676
>>5112677
>>5112678
>>5112681
>>5112684
You’re striking the farmer’s home to see just how dangerous they are in combat firsthand. For their part, they ramble to themselves about whether the glass cleaner is too slick or not harsh enough. You could listen to them for hours and you’re not sure it would make more sense than when you started. They are at least comprehensible in their directions and they explain that his home is nearby, a homestead of four, formerly five, him, his wife, daughter, and both of their sons. You instruct them not to melt any of the women until you’ve checked their virginity. There’s brief confusion until you relate to them that you need it as an ingredient for a sacrificial ritual, then they agree not to touch any women. A few minutes later you see a field of grain and a small, wooden house. There are two sturdy young men outside the door, one holding a wood-axe, the second, apparently nothing, but then you notice him tossing a stone up and down in his hand. They both look wary, terrified, even. You can’t imagine why.

What’s the plan here?

>Sit back and watch the Zugzeb worshipers work.
>Open up with a shot of your light crossbow.
>Close in to melee, you want their blood.

>>5112686
>Sit back and watch the Zugzeb worshipers work.

>>5112686
>>Sit back and watch the Zugzeb worshipers work.
Although we should be prepared to box them in so they don't escape.

>>5112686
>Sit back and watch the Zugzeb worshipers work.

>>5112686
>Sit back and watch the Zugzeb worshipers work.

Chow down on an apple and watch the fireworks.

>>5112686
They seem afraid? Does the second farmer have a sling or some kind of mystical/godly powers?

>They attack from range as they seem wary, we'll close into melee to interrupt any counter-fire by them

Oh, nevermind, I guess my reading comprehension isn't great, but I'm tired. The farmers are the ones that are afraid, not the cultists, probably, hopefully.

Raw Combat Log:
>Zugzeb Adepts charge Farmers
>Farmer #1 prepares to swing
>Farmer #2 throws a stone at Zugzeb Adept #1, rolls 5, misses
>Zugzeb Adepts reach Farmers
>Farmer #1 swings woodcutter’s axe at Zugzeb Adept #1, rolls 17, hits for 1 damage, -4 from toughness, Zugzeb Adept #1 has 16/16 HP left
>Farmer #2 throws a stone at Zugzeb Adept #1, rolls 13, hits for 4 damage, -4 from toughness, Zugzeb Adept #1 has 16/16 HP left
>Zugzeb Adept #1 grapples Farmer #1, rolls 6+8 vs 14, success, inflicts 3 acid damage, Farmer #1 has 3/6 HP left
>Farmer #1 has lost half his HP in one blow, must save against 16 or stun, rolls 18, isn’t stunned
>Zugzeb Adept #2 strikes Farmer #1, rolls 18, hits for 1+1 damage, 6 acid melee damage, Farmer #1 has -5/6 HP left
>Farmer #2 makes morale check, must roll 18 or higher on 1d20+4, rolls 8+4, panics and runs
>Zugzeb Adept #1 throws acid vial at Farmer #2, rolls 6, misses
>Zugzeb Adept #2 attempts to catch Farmer #2, rolls 10 vs 1, Farmer #2 tripped, Zugzeb Adept #2 grapples Farmer #2, rolls 19+8 vs 15, inflicts 2 acid damage, Farmer #2 has 4/6 HP left
>Farmer #2 attempts to escape, rolls 10 vs 19+8, fails
>Zugzeb Adept #1 strikes Farmer #1, rolls 12, hits for 1+1 damage, 2 acid melee damage, Farmer #2 has 0/6 HP left
>Zugzeb Adepts victorious

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5112687
>>5112689
>>5112691
>>5112694
>>5112709
Both of the cloaked men go into a dead-sprint, making a manic, screeching, gurgling noise at the sight of the men, and the two of them panic but hold on. Their family is depending on them. One readies his axe to swing and the other throws a stone but his trembling hand sends it wide over their heads. They come closer, near to hitting them like a hammer on an anvil but the farmer swings his axe, burying it into the first's shoulder! To no avail, as the flesh bubbles, the blade slides out, and the skin beneath is unharmed. Motivated by his brother's hit, the second throws a stone with furious force, straight into the stricken adept's jaw with a sickening CRACK, and doing nothing, as it bubbles back together the moment the stone falls.

The Zugzeb worshiper that's been hit twice now bends his arms at a hideous angle, seizing him with strength that shouldn't be possible from limbs so thin. The man cries out in horror as translucent fluid leeches out of the cultist's very skin, and straight through his own! But he holds on, ready to fight, but before he can make an attempt to gouge his eyes the Zugzeb worshiper defends him, by swiping fingers through his now-liquid face like he was running them through water. The poor bastard doesn't even time to scream. After seeing what happened to his brother, the other farmer drops his rock and sprints in the opposite direction from the house he grew up in. The first Zugzeb adept throws a bottle that goes wide and shatters elsewhere, but the second sprints on legs bending in three places and the squelching noise causes the farmer to turn his head, and trip on a pothole, twisting his ankle and being tackled at the same time. Thanks to the angle, the acid can't melt too much at once, but when the man tries to shove the abomination off of him, it gurgles and laughs as his skin shifts and bubbles to force his fingers away. Before he has time to lament, the other horror grips him by the neck and gurgles, melting a hole through either side and killing him on the spot.

All in all, it took them about fifteen seconds. Now they're trying to figure out whether or not they should break-in so you save them the time and do it yourself. What you find doesn't surprise you, a gray-haired but not old woman gripping her daughter at their kitchen table, a girl about a year or two below the age of both the men that died outside. You don't have any sympathy. What you do have is vile curiosity. You peel the woman away from her and find that she's not just pretty, she's beautiful, the most you've ever seen, with all of her teeth, well-formed hips, and brown hair that goes past her shoulders. (Rolled a 10 on 1d10) It makes the one you already have almost look homely, and you scramble, searching, and find that...

>1: Not a virgin
>2-6: Still a virgin

please please please please be a virgin daughter. Best sacrifice to Ubvree we need to make up for the lost temple helper.

>>5112714
Damn if she's that attractive, maybe it would be a waste to kill her when we can keep her for ourselves.

>>5112714
Blindfold the bitch, make sure she stays as innocent as possible. Use the Mother for ourselves though.

>>5112714
...This entire ordeal was an excellent detour. She'll make for a good sacrifice, of that you have no doubt, though the temptation to keep her for yourself is strong, the temptation to seize an ignoble gods' favor is perhaps stronger. Her mother's looks have faded over the years and she was never as pretty but she's at least easier on the eyes than the farmer's daughter/sister.

What do you want to do with her mother?

>Leave her to the Zugzebites
>Kill her yourself, quickly
>Kill her yourself, slowly
>Take her along

After that, you return to the rest of your group, captive(s) in tow, and tie them with the rest. Your followers are quite... disturbed by the new entries, and you neglect to inform them that they were promised to be compensated for their time. The last thing you need is a sort of, Melvin's minions guild forming, and negotiating some sort of wage for themselves. Bah.

>>5112723
Don't think with your dick.

We can get another hot woman later, Ubvree wants beautiful virgins, I wouldn't be surprised if we get better rewards for her.

>>5112714
Mother of god...She'd make a great sacrifice, but a 10/10 hotness and still a virgin, it is tempting just to keep her for ourselves.

>>5112725
>Leave her to the Zugzebites
>Blindfold the girl and take her out of earshot.

>Take her along

>>5112729
+1
Got to maintain that innocence.

>>5112729
+1
Let's make sure all of her virginities are intact this time, not just the sexual ones.

>>5112725
>>5112729
This

It's really tempting to keep her, but we'll find another hot lady eventually.

>>5112729
+1
>>5112726
Beauty didn't seem to matter, just age and virginity. It's also quite in character for Melvin to keep her.

>>5112727
Dude, we can always just make Sadie hotter using some ignoble boon later.
Our chances of getting another perfect sacrifice is rare, better boost our powers first before we run into paladins.We're on a time crunch now.

>>5112725
>Take her along
>Blindfold them both

>>5112738

The ignoble goddess waits and then whispers.

>I've given you a gift more valuable than anything else. Understanding. If you want more, and believe me, I can give you much more, sacrifice a beautiful virgin on a moonless night. Its sex doesn't matter but its age does. I'm not into the very young or the very old. You understand?

>>5112743
Ah, guess I missed that.

>>5112740
I was just musing, there'll be other beautiful girls and as you said we can probably make Sadie hotter or something with a boon. If I actually wanted her I'd wouldn't have tried to preserve her innocence, I vote for a rape or to use her as a reward for Tobias succeeding his first kill or something.

>>5112729
>>5112732
>>5112733
>>5112736
>>5112738
You force the new captive into a blindfold, guide her away from the viscera that used to be her brothers, and leave her mother alone. The cultists wait for a minute like you asked them to, or muffled her anyhow, because you can't hear any screams. You genuinely do hope this helps them make a better glass cleaner. You're no brewmaster but you imagine that's important to making good booze. You return to the rest of your followers with the virgin, her ears stuffed with rags, too, and tie her in with the others. You aren't sure which order you'll sacrifice them in, or even if you're going to. You'll figure something out. You wait about another hour and then your two new fodder return. They keep to themselves, thankfully, because most of the others are... disturbed by them. You continue traveling and make good time before you lay down your head to rest. When you awaken, you know that it'll be three more days until the new moon, not counting today. Each of your prisoners is untouched. Good. You'd castrate the fool to risk the well-being of your sacrifices.

What do you want to do for today's journey? Assuming you want to keep traveling until it's time for the sacrifices, that is.

>Meditate, as YolunuloY has taught you to
>Commune with a specific ignoble god (which one?)
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (who?)
>Nothing, just because you’re walking doesn’t mean your noggin has to be a’joggin’.

Concerning your food supply, and assuming the adepts are getting full meals and the new virgin's also on half-rations, it's currently sitting at:

>Day 35, 170 Food left (grain, you could use something better)
>12 eating full-rations, 5 eating half-rations, 1 eating no rations

Do you want to adjust who's getting how much in the way of rations?

>>5112747
>Meditate, as YolunuloY has taught you to
>Commune with a specific ignoble god (arson and murder/charity)
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (Richard)

>>5112747
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (who?)
Richard

>>5112747
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (Neilson)
He's still shaky
Rations are fine

>>5112747
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (Neilson)
hopefully we can get past the whole blatantly plotting against us thing

>>5112747
Foods good.

Let's split our time between Meditating and Corrupting: Neilson, Richard.

>>5112753
He's been consistent loyal and high quality with us, his plotting is all water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned.

I'm going to sleep for now and be back tomorrow, but will be busy so updates might be less frequent then.

>>5112756
Night QM. Sleep well.

When we get a bit of a grasp of the Orkish language, we should definitely go into ork territory and assemble a dread legion.
That's probably the quickest way to make ourselves into a big shot dark lord that can threaten the kingdom.

>>5112760
Becoming not!Sauron is definitely on the list.

>Talk to someone, corrupt them further: (Teach Tobias how to meditate to YolunuloY)
>If he succeeds on it, then give him a full ration for the day.
>Plan out the ritual while traveling. Think about how to maximize Ubvree's amusement when we make the sacrifice to get better gains, and what kind of boon do we want to ask for.

I recommend One Virgin sacrifice for cosmetic improvements; Fixing Gawain's Ear, we get different looks and a build with a thicker dick so that paladins can't identify us based on witness testimony, and lastly, Hotter Sadie or ORK-ing Groshnak's looks more. Second Sacrifice with the 10/10:???. The third virgin is just average looking, so I don't think Ubvree wants her.

Is it possible to have multiple rituals going on at once? If so, she can go to Zodom, but make like Schwarz fuck her in the ass, since Ubvree likes when 'those who don't know better' engage in pleasures of the flesh and he's probably retarded enough to qualify as 'not knowing better'. So if they get to see that too, it's just a cherry on top of two gifts. And Zodom might like it if we have the 2 farmer's spitroast (but anal) the prettier daughter and Groshnak buttrapes the ugly one.

>>5112793
-1 the write in, we're not tainting our virgin sacrifices by bringing Zodom into this. If you wanted to get Zodom's attention, you should've voted to rape the mother before the blob brothers melted her, or engaged the farmer's female family in an incestuous threesome.

>>5112796
Can you just vote normally?
Cut it out with the antivotes and quantum superpositioned double votes and just pick one choice like everyone else.

>>5112802
No, especially considering we can choose multiple choices here. I really don't understand why you're so upset over the way I vote.

>>5112796
Yeah, but Ubvree only wants the pretty virgins, once of the virgins we kidnapped is average. There's no point sacrificing a virgin Ubvree doesn't want, nor will appreciate.

So, I recommended the one Ubvree doesn't want get sacrificed to Zodom, but, do it in a way that appeals to Ubvree, by letting Schwarz have a go at them.

I don't think you get what I'm talking about, I'm saying we have two rituals go at once. 2 virgin sacrifices to Ubvree, the 10/10 and the 7/10 pretty ones (the most recent one and the one from the store). The average one and the two camp followers (the farmers' daughters), get buttfucked while we do the virgin sacrifice so that Zodom's attention is also caught during it.

We won't be tainting our virgins at all, dude. Ubvree doesn't care about innocence, it's looks+age+virginity that matters to them, it's Espurgat who gives a fuck about soul purity.

>>5112827
Well, not sacrificed to Zodom, but used in a ritual in honor of Zodom.

>>5112827
Pretty sure we wouldn't have got a virgin that Ubvree wouldn't want, just for this quest's collective sanity.

Second off, we don't even know the relationship between the two deities, or met with Zodom in any capacity. It could seriously backfire on us instead.

Third, QM said that a soul's purity does matter as to it's value, and that other gods would be interested in such purity in a soul.

>>5112793
Anon I'm pretty sure "those who don't know any better" was not intended to mean "pleasures of the flesh (committed) by those who don't know any better" but rather "pleasures of the flesh (known by) those who don't know any better"
Also Zodom is literally a joke god that may not even exist

>>5112841
I'm pretty sure QM only said that Espurgat cares about purity and that we don't know if that is his personal metric or one that all ignoble gods use.

For sacrificing the virgins, we could sacrifice the beautiful one first and then just ask Uvbree if she also wants the ones that are better described as pretty or cute.

>>5112793
>I won't waste any time with introductions. My name is Uvbree, I'm associated with shadows, treachery, and the pleasures of the flesh by those who don't know any better.

You are misinterpreting this line. She isn't saying she likes it when stupid people fuck. She is saying that the things people know her by are not correct.

To put it differently, the only people who associate her with shadows, treachery, and the pleasures of the flesh are those that do not know any better.

>>5112885
>Espurgat specifically mentioned that the more innocent, powerful, and difficult a soul is to obtain, the more valuable it is. You aren't sure yet if that's true only for his system of exchange or as a general rule.

By the QM's own words, it can be a general rule.

Secondly, if Uvbree didn't want these virgins, we wouldn't have gotten them for her sacrifice. This is a nonissue, because it's common sense for the QM to not confuse the issue. What would be the point of making Sadie find these virgins if they are not suitable for sacrifice.

Also, she's clearly talking about people who can't help themselves to the pleasure of the flesh.

>>5112885
>For sacrificing the virgins, we could sacrifice the beautiful one first and then just ask Uvbree if she also wants the ones that are better described as pretty or cute.
Oh, okay, I agree with this point.

>>5112864
Ah. That's a point. Though rather than not real, I thought the reason Sadie was trying to tell us he wasn't real was that she tried to get his favor and butt-slutted herself for nothing.

>>5112747
First remember to sack that farmers house
Loot it and gain more food


>Talk to someone (who?)
Sadie&Nelson we need to make a plan for our situation, and know what everyone in our band knows of the region we are in

>>5113027
>know what everyone in our band knows of the region
Yeah, it's a conversation we should've had by now, but eh.

>>5112747
>Talk to someone, corrupt them further (Neilson)

Make further steps in securing his loyalty

>Commune with a specific ignoble god (Uvbree)

Find out the specifics of any formal practices regarding how her ritual should be done.

Also, regarding the "By those who don't know any better" or whatever the quote was...I think that she meant that she is known as the goddess of lies, shadows and whatever else by those who don't know any better. In other words, she is claiming that that is not what she is the goddess of, but that most people think of her as having dominion over those concepts.