>>5174872
>Indifference. It was your fate, you had no choice in it and now take it as it comes, never finding true purpose to either the institution or yourself.

>>5174872
>Fervor. The inquisition serves many higher powers of order to defeat the Rot, and you believe it has not lost its way.

>>5174872
>Fervor. The inquisition serves many higher powers of order to defeat the Rot, and you believe it has not lost its way.

>>5174872
Some rules for the questing:
>First option to three votes insta-wins during active sessions (so not in overnight votes). This is just to make votes faster. Might remove or bend this rule at will if I get a lot anons voting because I do want all voices to be heard.
>During active sessions voting time is ~20 minutes. Voting ends when I post which option is chosen.
>System is a best of three d100 with varying DCs.

>>5174882
>>5174886
Locked in to
>Fervor

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>>5174900
You tug your black cloak to ensure it surrounds your body as you walk the streets of Rosepeak with a steady stride. Merchants and peddlers yell of their wares, children laugh and adults argue and work. The city is as lively as always. You reach one of the city carriage houses and show your pendant to the owner, who examines the circle and the I within it before muttering a few curses which you deign to ignore. You mount the carriage, and the driver spurs the horse forward.

The stony main street is crowded by carriages and horsemen coming and going from the inner walls of Rosepeak. Your carriage is stopped by guards with a red rose upon a green field emblazoned on their tabards. As they knock on the door, you open it. The sight of your black cloak and wide brim hat is enough proof of your purpose here and he yells at the rest to let you through without a search.

Here, all the streets are carved stone and the houses are no longer shacks and apartments. Small and large palaces with fenced off gardens are all around. You see Rosepeak Hold, the seat of the king, in the center of the inner walls section. And besides it, the cathedral followed by the massive palace reserved for the High Rectorate. It was one of the Alfreds of Rosepeak that gifted that massive complex to the inquisition, though you do not remember which.

As the carriage arrives at your destination, you hop down and leave the driver a tip at his seat, a silver coin that may just be a fourth of his monthly salary. He smiles a yellow grin at you as he packs it up, gives you a thanks and a good farewell.
The guards in front of the Rectorate bow to your presence and let you into the building. The lower levels are filled with laborers of both white and blue collar variety who all give you a short salute as you pass by them. Finally, you see inquisitor Grievn, your mentor. An old man of greying hair and cold blue eyes with a deep scar in his left cheek that has given it a hollow look.

“Inquisitor Strotov.” He greets you with a short bow, you respond in kind. “I hope your last task has not given you issue.”

>”Nothing that a sword and a prayer to the Divine Will could not fix.”
>”I was thankfully able to resolve it through parley and the Good Word.”

>>5174921
>”Nothing that a sword and a prayer to the Divine Will could not fix.”

>>5174925
Locked into sword and prayers

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>>5174925
A sly smile appears on Grievn’s face. He chuckles. “I see your penchant for ending the Rot swiftly continues. Who would’ve thought the Greybarrows’ third son would be a necromancer, of all things?”

“It seems it all started with him missing his dead cat decades ago.” You say, letting a smile spread on your lips.

Grievn now elongates his chuckle into a laugh. “Ah well, the Rot comes in all kinds of forms and employs all manners of methods.” He closes his book and leaves it on the table, a servant swiftly comes and takes it away.

Grievn gets up and walks to the hall then heads upstairs. “High Rector Durand has assigned our group an investigation in the marquisate of Westmarch.”

Westmarch, the border with the kingdom of Alençon, one of the many successor states of the empire of Ravens. It is ruled by the homonymous house of Westmarch.

“Are the Westmarch lords suspected?” You ask dryly.

“No, the task will probably not involve nobility.” Grievn responds.

As you reach the upper floors, Grievn takes you to his office. There are many mementos of past hunts across the walls, parchments and books filled with esoteric knowledge in neatly organized libraries. “There are rumors of frenzied canids. We’ve been told that they are not affected by illness, but are tainted by rot.”

Frenzied canids usually do not attract inquisitorial attention. “We are being sent to hunt dogs, what is afoot here?”

Grievn shakes his head. “I do not know, Strotov. The High Rector preferred to keep quiet about the intricacies of the affair and has told me to follow my best judgment when finishing the case.”

“Well, as long as we adhere to the Divine Will, we have little to fear.” You respond, Grievn nods.

“Prepare yourself. We will depart soon.”

With those words, Grievn bows to you and you respond in kind before departing from his office and heading to your own, much more barren, inquisitorial office. You pass your gloves through the old wooden desk where you used to study in your teenage years. It is spotless, the servants having meticulously cared for your office ever since you left.

You decide to…
>Visit weaponmaster Farren, perhaps he will have something for you.
>Head to the chapel, perhaps cleric Volonte will have wisdom to share.
>Go see the acolytes’ head teacher, maybe one of them wishes to prove themselves to the inquisition.

>>5174961
>>Go see the acolytes’ head teacher, maybe one of them wishes to prove themselves to the inquisition

>>5174970
Locked in

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>>5174970
You don’t dally too long in your office before setting out for the acolytes’ wing. Young men and women are there, wearing robes similar to a monk’s and with their heads completely shaved. They are children and adolescents and most of them eye you with a deep sense of respect as you make your way to the head teacher’s office. Thadan was his name, though you only remember thanks to the plaque by his office. You knock a few times, and he invites you in.

“Oh, inquisitor. It is good to see you. To what do I owe your visit?” He asks, barely lifting his eyes form the parchment he is writing on.

“I’ve come to see if one of the acolytes here wishes to prove themselves to the inquisition.”

He finally moves his head up to meet your gaze, adjusting his dropping glasses. “Ah, yes. There are some youths around here that may want to undertake such a trial.” He gets up from his seat and approaches a box full of parchment rolls by his window, after a few beard caresses in deep thought, he takes one of them, reading it by the sunlight.

He reads the first acolyte. “Adam Henry, a former street urchin who proved to be a rather competent warrior who is adamant in his appreciation for gunpowder weapons.” He rolls the parchment down further. “Let’s see…” He points to the parchment with one of his soft hands. “Dadra Ravens, a northern orphan, quite adept at using miracles, that one, but brooding and silent most of the time.” He continues looking through the names but shakes his head. “The rest, while eager, are not quite ready for field duty.”

The old head teacher looks at you. “So, will you take any of the two?”

>Adam Henry.
>Dadra Ravens.
>I’m not interested.

>>5174994
>>Adam Henry.

I'll be leaving for the night, I'll leave this vote open until I return, not the biggest decision to make but might as well not close it. Have a good one boys

>>5174994
>>Dadra Ravens.

>>5174994
>>Adam Henry

>>5174994
>Adam Henry.

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>>5175054
>>5175256
>>5175258
“A brooding and silent girl does not make for a good acolyte on a mission. I’ll take Adam Henry with me.” You tell the old teacher.

He nods. “Well, Dadra is competent enough with the miracles to compensate for her emotional characteristics. But the choice is yours, inquisitor.”
You ponder for a bit, standing still in the middle of the room, as if a statue. “Competent as she may be, I will stick with the gun kid.”

Thadan leaves the rolled up parchment on his desk. “Of course, inquisitor. Come with me.” He says as he walks out of the office, you follow along. He leads you to the classes and dormitories of the eldest here. Young adults who have already spent over a decade of their lives studying the ways of the inquisition. They look at you in awe, none of them are as tall as you, nor have they ever worn the intricate cloak and hat of the inquisitor. To them, you are what they crave to one day be. You look the part with your somber walk through the halls.

In one of the last classes in the hallway, Thadan stops, he opens the door and adjusts his glasses. The entire class quiets down and looks to the door frame. “Adam Henry, come with me.”

A chip and young kid gets up at the notice and bids his farewells to his group of friends. He pats his robes to get them straightened out and heads towards you. His look to both you and Thadan is one of respect that’s tinged with fear.

Your group heads back through the hallway. Adam seems to get nervous, the head teacher either does not notice or mind too much.

>Assuage him. “You’ve done nothing wrong, Henry.”
>Berate him. “Your posture does not denote confidence. Straighten your back.”
>Ignore him for now.

>>5175528
>Berate him. “Your posture does not denote confidence. Straighten your back.”

We picked fervor so I'm going to vote in line with that

>>5175528
>>Berate him. “Your posture does not denote confidence. Straighten your back.”

>>5175528
>Berate him. “Your posture does not denote confidence. Straighten your back.”
Henry is a blank slate, we should start molding him into a respectable Inquisitor right away.

>>5175553
>>5175643
>>5175670
Let's go. Reminder to straighten your backs and keep yourselves hydrated anons.

You give the young man a look. “Your posture does not denote confidence. Straighten your back.”

He looks at you surprised and instantly starts walking upright as a plank, getting into the realm of silliness. The look on his face almost gets a chuckle out of you, thankfully your smile is not seen thanks to your coat’s raised collars.

“Yes, madam inquisitor!” He says. Thadan looks back to him with a glare. “I mean… inquisitor.”

As you reach the head teacher’s office once more. Thadan heads to his seat and invites the young man to sit down as well. “Inquisitor Strotov and I have deigned you capable of proving your merit to the inquisition.”

Adam’s eyes lit up at the words. “Truly?!” He says, then looks at you. “I will prove myself worthy, inquisitor Strotov.”

You sigh. “Showing emotions so easily is unbecoming of an inquisitor amidst the masses.”

He nods, trying to return to a neutral expression. “It would be my honor to follow you in your battle against the Rot.” He utters with a monotone voice. He’s got the knack for it, even if he is trying way too hard right now.

Thadan clears his throat. “You will be given the gear of an inquisitor and must behave like one. For all intents and purposes, you are an inquisitor to the outside world, though not one in the eyes of the inquisition. Is this understood?”

Adam nods. “Yes, head teacher.”

“Then, you are under the service of inquisitor Strotov.” Thadan finishes. “Trust her as you would trust the Divine Will.”

He nods again.

“You may go.”

He gets up from his seat and faces you. He is slightly shorter, but lean and muscular. His eyes are of a deep green. “Inquisitor Strotov, it will be an honor to serve you.”

You nod. “It is the Divine Will we both serve, acolyte Henry.” You walk out of the head teacher’s office and Adam follows along.

“I believe the weaponmaster will have gear fit for me ready. Have you been told of my expertise in gunpowder?”

“So I have come to learn. Do you know how to use a pistol?”

“Pistols, muskets, specialized rifles, even the mighty blunderbuss, inquisitor Strotov. Though all my teachers have told me that I have a good deal of skill with the rifle, at a distance.”

Perhaps you could make a bit of a deal with the weaponmaster then. You ponder on your next destination.

>Visit weaponmaster Farren, perhaps he will have something for you.
>Head to the chapel, perhaps cleric Volonte will have wisdom to share.

>>5175773
>Visit weaponmaster Farren, perhaps he will have something for you.

>>5175773
>>Visit weaponmaster Farren, perhaps he will have something for you.

>>5175786
>>5175791
Alright

>>5175773
>>Head to the chapel, perhaps cleric Volonte will have wisdom to share.

Adam Henry might be excited to see the weaponmaster, but we must make sure he won't turn out too martial. The Divine Will is more important than gunpowder weapons.

Out of the acolytes’ wing, you head into the areas of the complex reserved for production and stockpiles of many of the inquisition’s tools and weaponry. Its many rooms vary in size and items kept greatly, from the library of books on the practical arts of miracles to armors, cloaks, swords, pistols, and the lot.

“Adam. Do you know stockmaster Tom?” You ask, seeing Farren taking stock in one of the halls nearby.”

“Yes, inquisitor.” He responds.

“Go and tell him to get your inquisitor gear. Tell him I sent you.” You say, and see the acolyte run off.

You approach Farren, a middle-aged man who also requires the use of glasses. He was not adept enough to stand the horrors of field work, but his management skills were not to be wasted in an organization as large as ours. So Grievn says.

“Weaponsmaster Farren.” You say, getting his attention. He ticks off one last element in his parchment before looking over to you.

“Inquisitor Strotov.” He greets back. “To what do I owe the honor?”

“I am to depart on a mission and would like to use the stocks of the High Rectorate in Grievn’s name.”

He smiles. “In Grievn’s name? You no longer need to utter that, you are a fully-fledged inquisitor.” He points his inked feather at you.

You redden slightly, but do not betray your composure. It had not been so long since you were but another acolyte, had it? “Of course.” You respond.

“Well, worry not, inquisitor Strotov. I would be remiss to hold back my wares to one of Grievn’s former pupils.” He says. “The usual sword and pistol will be provided along with leather armor. Anything else that you’ll need for your case?”

You think of the foes you might find during the case. Frenzied canids will usually charge straightforward and leap for the kill. Killing only one with a sword would not be much of a hassle, but a pack could quickly become overwhelming. At a distance, considering their lack of intelligence due to their curse, they are easier to dispatch, but it would not do to keep your close range capabilities too low if fighting great numbers.

For Adam Henry:
>A specialized rifle, the best of the stock. [Will require a roll]
>A musket, a fine enough middle ground.
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.
Adam Henry is not yet trained to wear heavy armor, so he will use the leather set.

Your extra weaponry:
>Another specialized rifle, the best of the stock. [Will require a roll]
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.

Your armor and melee capabilities:
>A fine armor and two-handed sword to use in melee combat. It will be more exhausting to move. [Will require a roll]
>A set of leather armor is fine enough. You’d rather have the flexibility.

The more rolls you want to make, the higher the DC will overall be!

>>5175839
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.
>Another specialized rifle, the best of the stock. [Will require a roll]
>A set of leather armor is fine enough. You’d rather have the flexibility.

>>5175839
>A specialized rifle, the best of the stock. [Will require a roll]
If Adam is as good with gunpowder weaponry as we've been told, putting an excellent rifle in his hands is making the best out of his skills.

>Another pistol, for close range engagements.
>A set of leather armor is fine enough. You’d rather have the flexibility.
An extra Pistol to fire during the melee for us, plus leather armor.

>>5175839
>A musket, a fine enough middle ground.
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.
>A set of leather armor is fine enough. You’d rather have the flexibility.

We don't need anything special.

>>5175839
>A specialized rifle, the best of the stock. [Will require a roll]
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.
>A set of leather armor is fine enough. You’d rather have the flexibility.

>>5175839
For Adam Henry:
>A musket, a fine enough middle ground.

Your extra weaponry:
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.

Your armor and melee capabilities:
>A fine armor and two-handed sword to use in melee combat. It will be more exhausting to move. [Will require a roll]

OP you got me intrigued and I haven't pick a quest, keep going you are doing good.

As an extra weapon for Strotov, we'll pick another pistol. We're also going for the leather armor for her.

As for Henry's weapon, we've got a tie between rifle and musket.
>>5175873
>>5175877
For rifle

>>5175875
>>5175903
For musket

>>5175871
For an extra pistol

Next vote should break the tie.

>>5175839
For Adam Henry:
>A specialized rifle, the best of the stock. [Will require a roll]

Your extra weaponry:
>Another pistol, for close range engagements.

Your armor and melee capabilities:
>A set of leather armor is fine enough. You’d rather have the flexibility.

>>5175908
Why MC doesn't have musket option not her style?

>>5175910
We're going for rifle then.

The weaponsmaster raises his eyebrow. It's not everyday one is willing to risk such an expensive and innovative piece of equipment in what could be a minor hunt. You will try and convince him.

Roll 1d100, best of three. You are a former pupil of Grievn's, so he is easier to convince.

>>5175911
I actually didn't think of including it, I'll make a note for next time. A pistol will be a fine addition for close range though.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>5175915
Right, time to see if Adam is as good with shooty shooty bang bang as his teacher says.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5175915

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>5175915

Well, Adam ain't getting a rifle today it seems.

>>5175920
Unless it's roll under.... pfft

Rector, you made an error on the OP by referring to Valina as his instead of her.

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>>5175935
Fuck

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

Farren listens to your plea. You mention the likelihood of encountering a pack of beasts, and perhaps even a werewolf, and insist that the boy was top of his class during marksman training.

He listens and then ponders. He scratches his cheek in frustration. “A rifle is a very expensive piece of equipment, inquisitor Strotov…”

You are ready to hear a big fat no disguised with pretty words.

“Fine, but only because I know you are one of Grievn’s favorites.”

Your eyes open wide, you have to tip your hat so he does not see and pretend it is done in thanks. “Thank you, weaponsmaster.”

He tells you to follow along through the warehouse and into the armory, bringing out a large iron key to open the reinforced door. Inside, rifles, muskets, swords, armors of all kinds. He picks out an ornately crafted rifle, though it bears no markings of the inquisition, for discretion’s sake.

“Old Grigori made this one.” He says, caressing the rifle’s barrel. He puts his hand to the stock and slides the rifle’s bolt back. “This is not a musket, my dear. It is a full-blown rifle. The bolt is slid back, a cartridge is inserted in this hole and the bolt is then thrown forward to load in the cartridge.” He inserts a cartridge and slides the bolt forward. “You then fire, and repeat the equation. It is based on a design from Alençon’s royal gunsmiths.” He puts it to his shoulder and aims down, for an instant, you’d think he’ll fire, but you know he wouldn’t. He then hands it over to you.

“Even if you lose this rifle, we have many dozens more of similar quality, but I will let Grievn know of my great disappointment in you.”

You offer him a bow. “It shall not happen.”

“Scram now, inquisitor. And return to us safely. I will take stock of the armory now that I’m here.”

You bow again and head out of the armory with rifle in hand, then take the rest of your equipment. A sword, another pistol, and a leather armor set. You pack it all neatly so you can swiftly equip it when you reach the objective at Westmarch. It is not too long before you find Adam again. He is fully dressed in inquisitor apparel, you only recognize him by height and his green eyes, and there are not many more inquisitors around here who walk with such pride in their stride.

“Inquisitor Strotov!” he says. “I hope all was well with the weaponsmaster?”

You reveal the rifle and his eyes lit up as he recognizes what is in front of him. He takes it gently. “This is one of Grigori’s.” He says.

You are surprised. “How would you know?”

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>>5175954
“I’ve trained with most of the rifles in the armory. They’re all crafted by hand, so there are peculiarities to each. Grigori’s stock has Gorodskan artistic patterns in the stock mixed with Alençon patterns he copied from the original. He has a real knack for woodcarving.” He shows you a fleur de lis from Alençon and a Gorodskan drake, both carved into the rifle’s stock.

“Then you know how difficult it was for the weaponsmaster to surrender this rifle to an acolyte.” You say.

“By the Divine Will, I will protect this rifle with my life.” Adam responds.

You nod. “Good. We still have to visit the chapel. Let us head there.”

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

It'll take me a bit to write up what's next, so I'll leave this here for now.

When's the next session?

>>5175935
Truly a horrible mistake, giving a man such a feminine name

Hey bros, will have to delay the next stuff because of the Ukraine shit, lots of people I know are in Ukraine.

Stay safe and stay sane. I'll be back and will at least archive this thread.

>>5179333
Be safe QM

>>5179333
Take care and come back soon.