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File: dragonborn antipaladin.png (2.29 MB, 4580x2700)
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All across the surface-world, on this very day, mammalian children wake up in their warm, soft, decadent beds. They wake up screaming, scrying, wailing for their milk-laden birth-giver or hairy, sweaty male progenitor. They dreamt last night—dreamt ancestral drams, dreams of an age before they rose up to steal the beauty and wealth of the world from your ancestors—from you! But when they dream… When they suffer their most terrifying nightmares… It is because they dream of you. They dream of their smallness, their weakness, their helpless insignificance… They dream of teeth, and talon, of wings like thunderclouds and breath like lightning. They dream of fire, and hurricanes, and death made flesh!

They dream of DRAGONS.

You are the Dragonborn—well, A Dragonborn, the smaller and lesser of the two extant examples of that secret project. In a small, subterranean bae, the Reptilian Master Race created you—as you brother before you, as the eggs which now incubate and ready to hatch thereafter—to reignite the dying embers of an ancient dream: the Age of Scales, the Age of Dragons!... Or so you were raised to believe.

In recent months, you have learned the terrible truth: you are a degenerate dead-end, product of a half-human mother and her politicking and mystical meddling. You have scarcely a drop of dragonblood to speak of. However, you have not given into existential despair… And why should you? Despite your inborn deficiencies, you have made great strides which none can deny! You have…

>Befriended (if you can truly call you vitriolic back-and-forth banter ‘friendship’) your oldest adversary, the novice fleshweaver of a daughter of your home base’s chief Chaplain
>Adventured with the oldest, truly-draconic Dragonborn, who you hold as a dear brother
>Uncovered dark secrets of the Dark Gods, including a well-hidden disunity in their ranks and a plot by one of them to outright replace you with bug-people
>Acquired and earned the allegiance of a band of outcasts, half-breeds, and degenerates
>Befriended (if you can call her constant attempts to get you to impregnate her for possibly-nefarious purposes ‘friendship’) the heir-apparent of those bug-people
>Adventured your way through the darkest parts of the underground
>Partied with dark eves and destroyed a legendary monster which had plagued them for generations
>Defeated a renegade kobold demon-cult, slaying its leader and capturing his demon
>>
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In the process of all this adventuring, you have acquired a number of treasures, including…

>A fine elven sword and bow (though you’re running quite low on the alchemical ingredients to maintain their leafweave components)
>A sometimes-luminescent ancient drow-scimitar hewn of a mysterious white material
>Gaudy ceremonial armour, perfect for intimidating adversaries
>A somewhat rudimentary )but effective) assassin’s dagger
>A potion of diminution, to shrink you down when size is no longer an asset
>A pair of magic rings—one to protect you with a magical shield, one to command the elements
>A magical necklace and cloak, exact enchantments yet unknown
>A scroll case
>A jewelry box…
>>
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>>5307141
In that jewelry box lurks the demon which damned the kobolds to their unfortunate encounter… With you. It dwells within an accursed ring, hewn of many interlaced strips of black metal, with a green gem like an ever-watching, ever envious eye. You worship Dark Gods, it is true, but this lesser darkness has undermined your lords temporal and spiritual, and you have resolved to destroy it. It is to this end, at least in part, that you now journey into dark and forgotten places in the bowels of the Bloodrise Mountains, seeking the long-lost treasures of reptilekind. In that ancient place, uncovered by kobolds who dug too deep, there lies the secret to destroying the demon…

(And, even more importantly, it is in this stones-swallowed sepulchre that you have good reason to believe there is a clutch of long-lost, pure-blooded dragon eggs, though their current status is unknown)

With you travel two long-serving members of your retinue: The Translator and The Cartographer, Silkscale-clan intelligentsia tasked to help you map and navigate these caverns and decipher whatever writings you may find within. Mindful of the dangers which dwell in dark place, you have also brought a small smattering of six kobolds—recent recruits, cowed by a fellow dragonblooded warrior, eager to earn favour in your eyes and familiar with these mountains and their secrets. A seventh of their race joins you, also: Hapo, the furtive kobold excavator whose arm you slew and whose treasure and status you stole, but whom you have offered clemency from your blade and your fiery breath if he leads to where he and his late friend (whom you slew) found the demon ring and the dragon eggs.

Before you plunge once more into the inner earth (and into adventure!), there is one more thing to attend to, however…
>>
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>>5307144
LEVELING UP!

In your first adventure, you demonstrated a number of propensities, for good an ill: a powerful will and dominant pride which caused you to second-guess even your hereditary betters and (at times) the Dark Gods themselves; a dogged determination to ascend beyond your heritage and to become a True Dragon; an affinity for fellow outcasts, for the lowborn, and even for such lesser creatures such as sapient arthropods and ape-folk like elves). In what class will you take your next level?

>Dragon Shaman Level 2
[Improves Firebreath and Reptilian Empathy, grants resistance to all energy attacks, opens up possibility to refine Dragonshape spell]

>Paladin of Pride
[Improves Intimidation and Seduction, grants you Royal Splendour spell to further amplify your presence and grant you resistance to all mind-affecting abilities]

>Outcast Champion
[Improves Fisticuffs and Leadership, Reptilian Empathy becomes Outcast Empathy and affects all lowly and disenfranchised creatures forsaken by the gods, and gain the spell Avenger’s Aura to empower your allies to grant them combat bonuses when working together against mightier or highly-placed foes]

Previous chapter, and the precursor questwhich is not required reading to understand this quest, are at https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=reptoidqm
>>
>>5307145
>Paladin of Pride
paladin of pog
>>
>>5307145
>Dragon Shaman Level 2
MORE DRAGON

Question about Outcast Empathy though, does it still affect all reptilians, or only outcast reptilians?
>>
>>5307145
>Dragon Shaman Level 2

Outcast champion would honestly be really helpful in getting the other subterranean races on our side. There's the Drow and those weird spiky guys we cold try to meet with. I would go for it if it didn't get rid of Reptilian empathy. Or do we still have our Reptilian Empathy and it just adds the Outcast part to it?
>>
>>5307178
>>5307181
[You would trade Reptilian Empathy for Outcast Empathy, but you would still have your natural sway of reptilians... Just not as dominant, especially over the highly-born, outside of Dragonshape. They would instinctive recognize you as an outcast, essentially, rather than a superior reptile.]
>>
>>5307145
>Dragon Shaman Level 2

I like outcast for later but become dragon first!
>>
>>5307145
>Dragon Shaman Level 2
>>
>>5307145
>Paladin of Pride
[Improves Intimidation and Seduction, grants you Royal Splendour spell to further amplify your presence and grant you resistance to all mind-affecting abilities]
>>
>>5307145
>Dragon Shaman Level 2
Nice images, RQM.
>>
>>5307407
[Thanks!]

My stocks tanked $6000 down, my divorce settlement was $8300, so I decided "fuck it, splurge on some art for my main hobby"
>>
>>5307145
>Dragon Shaman Level 2
More Dragon!
[my question last thread was related to the Kinslayer subquest of Ismena; it was our mother's cousin and not our cousin mother's; sorry for being a retard]
>>
Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>5307407
>>5307402
>>5307350
>>5307186
>>5307181
>>5307178
>>5307166
>>5307451


You take a moment, before you set out on the next leg of this month-long journey, to meditate. You meditate not on your ignoble origins, on your diluted bloodline, but on the flame which rages inside—in your heart, your fire-lung, your very spirit. Legs crossed, inner-eyelids closed and forming a translucent film between you and the material realm, you explore the nature of strength, legacy, and true power… On what it means to be a capital-D ‘Dragon’, at its fundament.

>Gained: +1 Firebreath
>Gained: +1 Reptilian Empathy
>Gained: Resistance to ALL Energy Types

Since your breakthrough a few weeks ago, you’ve been feeling more and more in-tune with that. Having a small army of subjugated and subservient kobolds at you back-and-call certainly doesn’t hurt, either, nor a hoard to put even your masters back home to shame. The real breakthrough was destroying the so-called ‘Dragonwrought’ leader of these kobold rebels, though. It occurs to you (and you feel the truth of this revelation in your heart-of-hearts) that part of the TRUE meaning of dragonhood is to understand and control all things Reptilian.

“Superior One?”

You allow your nictating membranes to slide open, and see the Cartographer before you, and the Translator and your kobolds behind him. They look to you expectantly.

“Yes, let us go,” you acknowledge, standing and adjusting your armour. You pull your new cloak around it, though you remain unclear on its purpose; the magical nature of it, and the prestige of it as a symbol of your victory, helps to keep the kobolds ensorcelled by fear and respect.

Hapo at the lead, and the Cartographer at his flank, furiously taking notes and charting your course, you enter into the craggy passages of the kobolds’ territory. Most of it is rough-hewn, functional, and so tight that a massive male like yourself must bow his head. It is irritating and, perhaps worse, suboptimal for combat.

“What threats can we expect down hear?” you demand.

Hapo shrugs, and says: “Not many. Kobolds scare off. DRAGOWROUGHT scare off, with our power.”

“Then I will have the same effect and then some, as the conqueror of such a pretender,” you say, reminding the defeated kobold of his place. He had been half of that ‘Dragonwrought’ entity, roughly, and you will not let your guide take advantage of your clemency tor rebuild his clout and authority with his race.

“Yes,” he says, “of course.”

He is seething silently behind the words. You can feel it, with your attunement to all things reptiloid. He fears you, though, too much to defy you. Good.
>>
>>5307452
The sense of wholeness which accompanies reptilian command is broken—or, at least, you are distracted from enjoying it—when the sound of slow movement against rough stone breaks your reverie. You send a pair of kobold hunters—Ivno and Ohle—ahead to investigate. They come back with worried expressions and auras.

“Fire-lizards,” one says.

“Must have come up from deep place, when the kobolds left,” says the other.

You’re… Not yet sure which is which. Both are male, scrawny, and their red-brown scales are close enough in hue (and their builds and voice also similar enough) to mark them as siblings of the same egg-clutch. You’re told that they are not, however.

“Fire-lizards?” you ask, and look to the knowledgeable members of the Master Race accompanying you: the Translator and Cartographer.

“I believe this term refers to what we know better as THERMAL lizards,” the Translator surmises. “They are but animals, albeit noble ones, who live solitarily or in small clusters, absorbing heat from the deep earth or the sun—whatever is closest—and then channeling it to empower themselves.”

“I could lead us past them,” the Cartographer suggests. “Cross-referencing the maps we’ve made thus far, and Hapo’s recollections, I THINK I have found some correlations with centuries-old expeditionary maps of our own people’s journeys into these mountains. There is an old hall which cold be dug out, by force of kobold-power or your new <Earth Tremor> spell, and thus avoid the encounter altogether.”

“Avoiding a battle is the wise course of action,” the Translator agrees.

Is that what a DRAGON would do, though? Given your recent meditations, you can’t help but wonder about that… And especially with all these kobolds’ eyes on you, including that hollow, bitter gaze of Hapo.

What do you do?
>Take the intellectuals’ advice and avoid combat by tunneling around
>Lead a charge into the fire-lizards’ lair—you are now TWICE as resistant to fire as you already were, and shielding your forces as they return a ranged volley will be nothing to you
>Send your kobolds to battle the monsters, while you and the more valuable party members provide support and advance past them
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
>Write-in
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
They're just animals, as far as we know.
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
Should we not help them realize their potential for us? As mounts or war animals in OUR horde
>>
>>5307465
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
but if that fails
>Lead a charge into the fire-lizards’ lair—you are now TWICE as resistant to fire as you already were, and shielding your forces as they return a ranged volley will be nothing to you
if it comes to combat, keep fapo close to us to ensure that he's mogged by our sheer power
>>
Rolled 3, 11, 14, 20 = 48 (4d20)

>>5307466
>>5307471
>>5307472
>>5307473
>>5307492
>>5307510
>>5307534
>Use Reptilian Empathy in an effort to commune with these simple creatures peaceably
>>
>>5307452
>He is seething silently behind the words.
Bitch YOU got yourself into this mess!

>>5307655
>that 20
Fire is POWER
>>
“We have nothing to fear,” you announce with some pomp, “from fire, or from lizards.”

Your advisors exchange a glance of uncertainty, but they have seen the destruction you wrought upon greater foes—the fabled ‘Devourer’, for instance, a great rust monster which terrorized nearby regions of the underdark since time immemorial. They trust in you, and follow. And as for the kobolds… Well, they have little choice but to do likewise.

You step into the hallway ahead, and see the narrow, chiseled caverns open wide into a more open room. It is more naturalistic, almost volcanic, and you realize you have entered into the long-empty magma chambers of the volcano which formed this mountain-ranged, and which once filled it. Low it is dormant—dead—like the dragon whose own heat also filled this place… But the mountain is not empty.

Fire-lizards are bigger than you expected. Each is easily the size of you, albeit built in such a way that you would place their weight closer to that of one of the smaller Silkscale-clan males with you. They are red of scale, wide of face, with pitch black eyes which give away little-to-no emotion. Luckily, you are a skilled in the ways of Reptilian Empathy; you do not need to rely on such windows into the soul of such beings.


The fire-lizards, of which you count four, stare at you as you approach. When they see more intruders file in behind you, they grow irate. You take a breath, find your centre, and summon the Fearsome Presence within, projecting an aura of draconic certainty. As they rear slightly, beginning to approach and to illuminate themselves with a burning aura, you step forward to meet them, raise a hand as if to command them to halt…

>20

…And they do. All six of these predators slowly settle back down to an uneasy simmer. The Cartographer and Translator breathe a sigh of relief. The kobolds watch in utter awe, regarding you worshipfully. Even Hapo is not immune to being impressed by such a display of mastery.
>>
>>5307688
“What are we going to do with them?” the Translator asks, regarding the beasts with a mix of trepidation and fascination.

The Cartographer, in consultation with Hapo, makes a suggestion: “If you command of them is complete, Dragonborn, the kobold says that we could benefit from their guidance. The egg-chamber is deep in the mountain, closer to the deepest magma-chamber, and these thermal lizards… They seek out heat. They could know a shortcut”

“Should we expect more of these things?” The Translator asks in alarm.

“Not when was there, with Hako,” Hapo says. “But… None were here, either. The mountain knows that king gone.”

“Well, then the vermin infesting this place can celebrate the return of the king,” you say, feeling a little bold.

What path do you chart?
>Follow the fire-lizards deep into the mountain, on a straight shot
>Attempt to chart a more traditional course—it may bring you through more places of interest, but it will take longer and possibly require excavation
>Split up, sending one group along each route
[If you choose the last, be aware that you have six kobold scouts, plus one-armed Hapo, the Translator, the Cartographer, and yourself, and now four fire-lizards (though they will leave if you are not the one guiding them]
>>
>>5307690
>Follow the fire-lizards deep into the mountain, on a straight shot
Cartographer better be getting all these dank uncharted routes in his notes
>>
>>5307690
>Split up, sending one group along each route
Group 1 : Dragonborn, Fire lizards, Hapo, 2 kobolds. Straight shot
Group 2 : Translator, Cartographer, 4 scouts. Look for places of interest.
>>
>>5307690
>Follow the fire-lizards deep into the mountain, on a straight shot
>>
>>5307145
>missed the first vote
Damn, that resistance to mind affecting abilities would be invaluable if we keep dealing with demons and fighting not! Pokemon plants.

Outcast is interesting, but I wouldn’t trade it for Reptilian Empathy. Meditating/conversing with Big Bro is important after all.

>>5307695
Support

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mJZZNHekEQw
>>
>>5307690
>Attempt to chart a more traditional course—it may bring you through more places of interest, but it will take longer and possibly require excavation
>>
>>5307690
>Follow the fire-lizards deep into the mountain, on a straight shot
>>
>>5307690
>Follow the fire-lizards deep into the mountain, on a straight shot
>Make Kobolds ride them
>>
>>5307688
>Split up, sending one group along each route
It's better for us and lizards to take the hot path while the others find something more suitable. I guess kobolds can cone with.

mfwi just realized i enjoy rqm's writing more when I'm not burdened by voting and can just read good stuff
>>
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Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>5307688
*all four the predators

[Dagnabbit. Anyway...

>>5307694
>>5307695
>>5307699
>>5307797
>>5307827
>>5307835
>>5307869
>>5307881

[Posting up! One more possibility of a random encounter on this route, since straight-shot narrowly wins out.]
>>
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Rolled 5 (1d13)

>>5308124
“We will stay together until we know the path is safe, and the eggs are secure,” you decide. “on the route back, we will split up… If it is feasible.”

“A wise decision,” the Translator says, breathing an obvious sigh of relief.

“Off of the old maps…” The Catrographer murmurs, but then flips through a few sheets of bellum and parchment, and produces one of his charcoal sticks. “…But a chance to make more!”

You look to the fire-lizards, and use your mental communion to transmit a message beyond language: “Find the heat at the centre of the mountain.” It is a command they well understand, as it is close to their heart, built into their very biology. Two of the bolder kobolds, Agno and Regne, attempt to mount them; they quickly abandon this plan, discovering both the limits of even a draconically-influenced fire-lizard’s tolerance, and their personal heat tolerances. This whimsy is abandoned, and the lot of you proceed on foot, guided by the slowly-crawling, swaying forms of the salamander-like fire-lizards as they return from whence they came, through a great cleft in the stone which leaves the pick-axe hewn tunnels and artificially-expanded caverns behind for a more naturalistic realm, deeper into the darkness and lit only by the dim orange glow of your feral guides.

“Egg-chamber was not warm, but not warm-warm, not for lizards,” Hapo warns. “They will get close, but not right perfect there. We will need to… Explore.”

“So be it,” you say. “It will still take a great deal of time off of our journey.

In the hours which follow, you take in the scarce, but fascinating, local wildlife. There are bat-like creatures, but eyeless, like a local equivalent to the cave-drakes of your home. There are no glowworms, but there are bio-luminescent, yellow beetles (“fire-bugs”, you’re told), which the fire-LIZARDS lap up like delicacies. They, in turn, feed on a strange, hard-and-dry lichen which grows near the scant sources of moisture. Your waterskins sustain you where a dearth of underground streams or pools leaves you wanting. It is not at all like the damper, colder caverns to which you are accustomed, and the red-grey stone makes the otherwise-familiar underground atmosphere uncanny and alien.

You must be kilometers underground when it happens—an attack, a reminder that this is no gentle stroll through exotic Subterra Incognita. The form it take sis unexpected, though: a sudden blur, a wet sound, and a mass like an enormous, thick pink tentacle!
>>
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>>5308144
Ohle, one of the bravery of the kobolds, who had earlier sought to mount the half-tamed fire-lizard, is snatched up. He shrieks, a piercing sound, and draws his dagger, but as he stabs repeatedly at the suction-cup-covered tendril, it becomes apparent that he is affecting little permanent damage. You squint into the darkness, willing your Darkvision to extend further, and you see the body behind this unconventional appendage. Your eyes widen, then, for it is no tentacle as of a squid… But a tongue, leading into a gaping, peg-toothed maw. The creature behind it is twice your size, thrice your girth, and bulbous, coated in a greasy yellow sludge which drips over its pinkish rolls. It stares at its meal with beady, black eyes which have no time for the rest of you—only for Ohle.

“HELP! HELP! HEEEELP!” Ohle screams, stabbing away like a reptiloid possessed. His other arm is pinned to his side, his legs kick frantically and fruitlessly.

The other kobolds draw slings and crossbows, firing a volley of bolts and stones… But while sticks and stones may theoretically break bones, they cannot penetrate the beast’s blubber. You, for your part, attempt to extend your Fearsome Presence… But it is equally useless. This thing, whatever it is… It’s no reptile.

“Superior One,” the Translator hastily whispers to you, “he is a kobold. Leave him, and let’s go while the beast is distracted.”

Hapo says nothing, watching you more than his near-doomed clan-comrade. He is not any more fearful than the savage, rural kobolds who attack, just conscious of his one-limbed limitations… And of the fact that the decision you make here may well affect how the kobolds see you.

What do you do?
>Aim your bow and attack at a distance—you’ll do your best to aid Ohle, but not at any great risk to yourself
>Draw your swords and charge into the fray, a whirlwind of amputation and aggression
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles
>Flee deeper—Ohle is, let’s be honest, only a kobold… And a kobold who attacked your retinue only a couple days ago!
>Command your forces to attack [specify which ones, and to what end]
>Write-in
>>
>>5308153
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles
>>
>>5308153
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles
Time to experiment
>>
>>5308153
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles
>>
>>5308153

Charge in there and shove our potion of miniaturization into the thing's mouth?

If it's tiny, it will drop Ohle and we can stomp it to death?
>>
>>5308186
Confirmed for a viable write-in
>>
>>5308186
Very interesting option. Voting for this.
>>
>>5308153
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles

>>5308186
I love this idea, but it can come in handy for that later
>>
>>5308186
dunno if I want to blow a potion on saving some kobold

then again it might start kicking our ass and we'd need the potion
>>
>>5308153
>Dragonshape + Firebreath
it looks like it won't like fire
>>
>>5308153
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles
>Firebreath to add to the Intimidation

>>5308186
You know the mini-me retains the majority of its strength, right lads?
>>
>>5308153
>Assume <Improved Dragonshape>; you feel as if your mana reserve has grown somewhat, and it would allow you to both fight better and to project your Fearsome Presence to non-reptiles
>>
>>5308284

Understood but I'd rather fight a grizzly bear the size of an ant than an ant the size of a grizzly bear?
>>
Rolled 12, 8, 18, 19, 5, 19, 9, 11, 14 = 115 (9d20)

[3 for spellcraft to determine the speed of transformation, 1 for enemy action, 5 for the Fearsome Presence]
>>
>>5308517
Transformation is 18, enemy action is 19, fearsome presence also 19.
We really are cutting it close with our roles again aren't we?
>>
>>5308517
>>5308528
>>5308284
>>5308275
>>5308236
>>5308185
>>5308179
>>5308164

You flex your muscles to full attention, then relax them, again and again. You control your breathing, directing it in and out, willing it to bring energy in and release impurity of blood and spirit. You focus on all things Dragon, and you let the mana build, and flow through you, from your spiritual core to the body around it. Your form shifts and transforms—a sensation you’ve felt before, but still unfamiliar to you. You grow taller, stronger. Your skin darkens and thickens, growing more heavily-scaled and metallic in hue beneath your armour. Your face expands outwards, snout lengthening and broadening, teeth elongating and multiplying as your talons do likewise. You force yourself to limit your growth so as not to burst your plate asunder with the sudden expansion.

Even with your self-limitation, you are MUCH more powerful than you were mere moments ago—physically and mystically. Your will, previously a force of nature known only to the reptiloid races, is now altogether more tangible… And it is tangible to ALL beings, regardless of their origins. The tongue-monster certainly senses it—its beady eyes fix on you, and you feel an instinctive fear and respect well up in it. Ohle, ensnared by this hungry beast, is similarly transfixed. He must see in you his salvation, for he regards you with the adoration appropriate to a living dragon even as he is moments from being eaten. So too do the other kobolds… Even (though you can see it mingled with bitter envy in his expression) Hapo.

>18 for Spellcraft
>19 for Fearsome Presence
>19 for enemy action
>Result…

The bloated carnivore attacking your vassal slowed its assault to behold your terrific transformation, buying Ohle the Kobold precious time. Now, however, it acts. It recognizes in you an apex predator, a threat to its life and CERTAINLY a risk to its peaceful repast. As such… It flees, Ohle still in its clutches. This, in turn, breaks the spell you have over the disappearing kobold.

“W-wait! HELP! No! AAAAAA-”
This bulbous thing stealing your subject is not exactly FAST, but it is climbing a natural shaft in the stone, squirming and shuffling away into some unknown hidey-hole amidst the long-dormant channels through which magma once flowed to the surface to become lava. If you are not going to let it escape—or spend precious time pursuing it—you will have to act fast.

What do you do?
>Use firebreath—though the heat may afflict Ohle, also
>Draw your bow and unleash arrows upon this thing, hoping to penetrate its blubber somewhere vital
>Climb up after it, hunting it down to its lair if necessary
>Let it go—you have secured MOST of your party’s safety, and no more creatures like this will dare approach you in Dragonshape
><Jump> after the thing and slice it open with your moon-blade
>Write-in
>>
>>5308529

>Climb up after it, hunting it down to its lair if necessary
Well, let's see what this form can do. Presumably scaling the rock wall will be much easier given the physical bonuses.
>>
>>5308529
I knew we should have just shrunk the monster and been done with it.
>Climb up after it, hunting it down to its lair if necessary
We are now bigger so we should have a better time climbing the walls.

You know something? We definitely scared this thing. What if we yell really loudly as we climb? Maybe we can frighten it into dropping Ohle
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5308529
>Use firebreath—though the heat may afflict Ohle, also
>Draw your bow and unleash arrows upon this thing, hoping to penetrate its blubber somewhere vital
rollan
>>
>>5308529
><Jump> after the thing and slice it open with your moon-blade
>>
>>5308529
>Climb up after it, hunting it down to its lair if necessary
>>
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>>5308538
>>5308585
>>5308597
>>5308616
>>5308652
You decide to pursue the retreating beast. Your enhanced form makes you faster than before, and it isn’t exactly the speediest quarry around to begin with. Better yet, your slight increase in size allows you to brace your bac against the stone of the shaft it is ascending, and to gradually shimmy yourself up after it. It would be even faster going if you could use your elongated claws but, alas, your gauntlets currently preclude this, and you’d waste even more time descending to remove them before starting anew.

Your allies follow you as far as they can, but none of them have the size or vertical leap needed to properly ascend that shaft. Instead, the kobolds begin clambering a top one another to form a sort of ladder for one of their number (Ivno? You think?) to crawl up after you. He follows you, a knife clutched in his teeth, and a small pickaxe serving to help him climb. His bravery is impressive—altogether different from what you’ve heard of kobolds, and have come to expect from your handy defeat of their people.

It is a tiring ascent, for the shaft is quite long. You are continually plagued by the fear that the <Improved Dragonshape> spell will fade, taking your enhanced strength with it, but you persevere, and eventually reach the creature’s lair. It is a smooth-walled dome of stale air and rot-stink amidst the solid stone, a bubble of cooled volcanic rock pock-marked by holes; the largest of these give way to more tunnels like that which you just ascended. For a moment you fear you will have to chase this ugly tongue-beast through these tunnels for an even LONGER stretch of time, but luckily for you (you think), it has clearly tired of this pursuit and decided to make its final stand.

The creature croaks at you like some great toad. Ohle, battered and bruised and barely conscious, whimpers beneath of it his captor’s great, flat feet. ‘Hands’ like fleshy, spike-studded stumps flex as the tongue-monster eyes you, its massive oral appendage still hanging freely, flopping angrily in some threat display. When you approach, it swings out at you like a warhammer, narrowly missing with a blow that probably could have concussed you had it connected. Still, attacking from range is a dangerous proposition: you’ve seen this thing’s layers of fat eat crossbow bolts (some of which are still sticking out of it!) without any apparent lasting effect, and firebreath risks frying your kobold ally. You’ve come to far to just cook him alive NOW!
>>
>>5309010
You can feel your <Improved Dragonform> beginning to fade. It will not last much longer… But, for now, you think you might be this enormous creature’s physical equal. It ahs the advantage of reach, however, and a hostage underfoot.

Ivno finally hauls himself up breathlessly behind you. He squeaks with alarm when he sees the showdown going on between you and this grotesque menace, and scrambles to his feet and into a battle-stance. He raises his pick-axe in one hand, and takes his dagger in his other.

“What do, Dragon?” he whispers urgently.
>Charge in together, to take this thing down through sheer, brutal force
>Draw the monster’s ire with your bow, distracting it while Ivno recovers Ohle and the two kobolds get to safety, then use Firebreath
>Attempt to lob the Potion of Diminution down this thing’s gut, shrinking it down to make it a more manageable opponent
>Sick Ivno on it as a distraction, then attack it from behind with a killing blow… Though likely Ivno will find himself injured in the process
>Write-in
>>
>>5309013
>Charge in together, to take this thing down through sheer, brutal force
>>
>>5309013
>Charge in together, to take this thing down through sheer, brutal force
>>
>>5309013
>Sick Ivno on it as a distraction, then attack it from behind with a killing blow… Though likely Ivno will find himself injured in the process
As long as Ivno doesn't perceive it as betrayal, I have zero issue using the kobolds as meat shields. Hype him up and tell him to bravely rescue his buddy and all that.
>>
>>5309010
>Charge in together, to take this thing down through sheer, brutal force
>>
>>5309013
>Draw the monster’s ire with your bow, distracting it while Ivno recovers Ohle and the two kobolds get to safety, then use Firebreath
>>
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Rolled 6, 14, 18, 6, 5, 3 = 52 (6d20)

>>5309035
>>5309042
>>5309046
>>5309105
>>5309212
You look to Ivno and nod your head towards the tongue-beast. He glances rapidly between the two of you and, with obvious trepidation, he nods as well. He’s nervous, but confidence in your might (or simply unwillingness to abandon his friend) drives him forward. You draw your blade, and he twirls his pick once—a meaningless flourish, meant to build courage. The beast lifts its foot from Ohle, who gasps for breath and curls up in pain. The monsters steps forward, slamming its tongue down upon the ground witha wet slap and a bellowing cry.

“NOW!” you roar.

You and Ivno lunge forward as one…

[3d20, DC 13 due to Dragonshape; 1d20 DC 16 for Ivno; 2d20 for enemy response]
>>
>>5309230
>6
The tongue-tyrant is an opportunist, as one might expect of an ambush predator. As before, it strikes for the smaller target first: its tongue sweeps the ground, knocking Ivno’s legs out from under him almost immediately. He lets loose a wail of panic and despair, which seems melodramatic until you realize that the tendril-tongue has him tied at the tail, and is even now pulling him towards the hungering horror.


“As if I would allow that,” you scoff.

>14 vs 3

It is the monster’s turn to cry out in fear and pain as you stomp your boot down upon its tongue, pinning it in place and preventing any further effort to eat your bite-sized companion. The bloated, toad-like thing attempts to rear back, to pull its tongue free, but you lean all your weight into your foot, and grip the root of its tongue for added leverage. IT hopelessly, pitifully pulls against your might, but it is a losing battle

…Well, for now. Even now, you can feel your strength waning. The Dragonshape is losing its potency.

You waste no more time. Instead, you command Ivno: “Grab the tongue! Pull, with me!”

He scrambles to his feet, liberated by the panicking beast as it focuses its effort on you. Though he is small, and not especially muscular, Ivno’s extra effort is the small advantage you need to wrench the damned blob-thing towards you. As it stumbles forward, flailing, you release your own grip and steps into its slimy embrace. You raise your sword and let the force of your thrust join with the weight of momentum of your forward-falling foe, and impale the damned thing upon your elven moon-blade.


>18 vs 5

The creature thrashes and bucks, desperately swatting at you, but you are too close for either of your comfort—and, more importantly, in a spot its stubby limbs struggle tor each. Ivno releases the tongue, no longer able to hold it with only his own strength, but it its rage and terror the beast ahs lost control of its primary weapon, which waves in the air and fops about uselessly. With a wrathful roar, you use the last of your spell-strength to crave your uncanny blade upward and out of the beast, splitting it from groin through gut to gaping mouth. Blood and guts spill forth, tarnishing your beautiful armour… But also ending this vile and verminous villain. As you step back to avoid being crushed by the tottering troglodyte, you are shocked and appalled to see spools and spools of further tongue, and powerful attaching muscles, revealed from the gaping wound where you bisected it.
>>
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>>5309246
“Is… Dead?” Ivno whispers, peering around you with dagger yet ready.

You nod affirmatively, as you feel the last of your dragon-vigor leaving you. Your skin itches a little, and you know you will soon need to remove your plate to peel away the drying second-skin produced by your now-failing transformation. However, unlike when you’ve used this ability previously, you feel… Unemptied, part-way full, as if your expanded mana reserves have another such transformation left in them… provided you do nothing else with that magical power in the meantime.

Ohle is in worse shape, though. He is conscious, but only sporadically. You can see one arm was broken in his struggle, and his bruising from the battery has turned his red-brown scaly skin to a swollen purple-green. He tries not to, but when Ivno touches him, the other kobold cries out. Bringing him back down the magma-melted shaft is an ordeal nearly equal to your slaying of his captor, even with Ivno’s help, and for none is it as arduous as for Ohle himself.

“While your victory was no-doubt glorious, is seems it was for naught, Superior One,” the Translator reflects with a sigh. “We now press on with an injured party, I suppose.”

“We should leave him,” the Cartographer says, without malice or mercy. “We cannot slow our progress or hamper our ability for a half-feral kobold.”

When you leave your advisors to inquire with the kobolds—who you hope didn’t hear that last exchange too clearly, for the sake of morale—Hapo provides an alternative.

“Ring-demon may know how to fix,” he suggests, pointing to your pack with his sole remaining hand. “Necklace… Demon said it did many things, including heal.”

You idly tape at the magical necklace you wear, but the properties of which remain unknown to you even now. It seems Hapo was holding out on you earlier, though his own knowledge DOES seem woefully incomplete… Assuming he’s not just lying to try to get you to release the demon for a quick consultation that could turn into a mutiny attempt. You don’t SENSE overt hostility in him… But you see a dark ambition in him which could easily be deceit.

What do you do?
>Carry on, having the other kobolds tend to Ohle until you can get him back to the surface
>Leave Ohle hear and carry on without him for now
>Try on the demon ring, and try to extract information on the necklace from it
>Try using the necklace WITHOTU consultation—you have some magical skill yourself, after all!
>Put Ohle out of his misery quickly and painlessly, with your blade
>Write-in
>>
>>5309248
WE'RE NOT LOOSING THE DEMON FOR A KOBOLD WE DON'T CARE ABOUT
>Put Ohle out of his misery quickly and painlessly, with your blade
Also supporting leaving him here.
>>
>>5309248
>Leave Ohle hear and carry on without him for now
We might pick him up when we come back.
Cartographer is right.
>>
>>5309248
>Carry on, having the other kobolds tend to Ohle until you can get him back to the surface
Leave one or two
will support leaving him alone if this fails
>>
>>5309292
>>5309320

This is probably most in character for us given our soft streak. Maybe have the Novice splint his arm and leave them some supplies?
>>
>>5309248
I'm just now joining the quest, but can we get a whole lot of Kobold followers if we can fly and breath fire? I like kobolds.
>>
>>5309433
Kobolds are subreptilians. It's like wanting to be worshipped by midget rednecks.
>>
>>5309292
Supporting

He’ll be fine here
>>
>>5309456
I see nothing wrong with this. They'd make for useful minions.
>>
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>>5309254
>>5309292
>>5309320
>>5309345
>>5309466
You’ve been accused of softness-of-heart, primarily by the Novice Fleshweaver, your childhood tormentor and currently your primary medical specialist. Right about now, you regret leaving her in the kobold settlement—her ability to mend flesh-wounds or create potions to speed the healing of graver injuries would be invaluable right now. In her absence, though, you must leave Ohle to fend for himself—you are not SO soft.

The kobolds, who seem what community-minded, are reticent to leave one of their own behind, particularly Ivno. They’re even more hesitant to defy you, though, and after seeing some of the beasties who have moved into this wild realm in their absence, they would not dare to remain here on their own, without your protection.

Your forces are tried from the long climb/march downwards, and with the rush of battle fading, you sympathize. You rest for a time, eating and drinking some of your rations. The fire-lizards grow listless during your downtime, but you appease them with a portion of your own rations. The brief pause in your progress gives Ohle time to at least regain consciousness, too. When you tell the injured kobold of your plan—noting that he should be fine, and that you will retrieve him on your return trip—he trembles slightly, but does not object or argue.

Do you do anything else with this period of rest?
>Commend the kobolds on their bravery and performance thus far
>Have a talk with Hapo about his ambitions [specify if you threaten him further, attempt to negotiate peaceably, or something else]
>Try to more properly and permanently tame the fire-lizards presently following you
>Consult with the Translator or Cartographer about something [what?]
>Use divination to attempt to glean what threats and opportunities lie ahead
>No, just press on

[Write-ins allowed, but please choose no more than two major activities]
>>
>>5309521
>Commend the kobolds on their bravery and performance thus far
They need that morale boost to balance out leaving one of their own. Just keep it formal.
>Try to more properly and permanently tame the fire-lizards presently following you
>>
>>5309521
>Try to more properly and permanently tame the fire-lizards presently following you
>Use divination to attempt to glean what threats and opportunities lie ahead
>>
>>5309521
>Use divination to attempt to glean what threats and opportunities lie ahead
>Try to more properly and permanently tame the fire-lizards presently following you
I feel like "commending" isn't a major activity. Maybe we can just say something but not make a whole thing out of it.
>>
>>5309707
[Fair, but it won't get much soace in the write-up and will be treated as a simple, not necessarily hugely morale-boosting 'attaboy' if so.]
>>
>>5309710
That's fine.
>>
>>5309536
>>5309707
Just a reminder that if we use divination, we won't be able to use Fearsome Presents for the second time.
>>
>>5309729
you are confusing with improved dragonshape.
Still, we can couter-ambush ambushers.
>>
>>5309707
Supporting
>>
Rolled 19, 15, 8, 9 = 51 (4d20)

>>5309805
>>5309707
>>5309536
>>5309523

You summon the kobolds to you—well, except Ohle. You got to him, by necessity.

“You have all performed quite well,” you announce, in an impromptu performance evaluation. “You deserve to be commended for what you’ve done today.”

The kobolds exchange glances which might be subtle, to one without your innate empathy for all things Reptilian. They are… Confused, perplexed, unsure whether you are being serious and, if so, to what end.

“Thank you, Dragonborn?” says…

Uh….

“You’re welcome… Regne?”

“Agno,” the kobold corrects, then seems to panic at the realization that he has just contradicted you in front of an audience. He bows his head low.

You clear your throat, and turn around. No need to make a whole thing out of this.

“Anyway,” you segue, “What does your clan know of these ‘fire-lizards’?”

The majority of your rest is spent getting the kobolds and fire-lizards more comfortable with one another, while the kobolds—Agno in particular—share their people’s knowledge of the creatures.

“They come from deep-deep, but like bird, come up to surface with season. High summer, the fire=lizards bask in sun in high-high places, catch food… Sometimes kobold. Sometimes kobolds eat them, instead. Collect sacks from inside, strips along back and sides full of… Of ORGAN, unique to fire-lizard, collects heat and warmth and stores in sack. Leather is tough, fireproof.”

Agno and Regne, and to a lesser extent Ivno, are clearly fascinated to be this close to the normally skittish, hostile lizards, and the former two take great amusement is reaching out to touch the lizards, playing a game whereby they see who pulls their hand back first before risking being burned by the irate animal. You experiment is ‘instructing’ the fire-lizards to withhold that fiery response, dialing up your Fearsome Presence when they threaten the kobolds and rewarding them with cooked and preserved strips of rust-monster flesh when they show tolerance of the harassment.

“Can they be domesticated?” you ask, hopefully.

The kobolds look at you like you’ve grown an extra head.

“Has it ever been attempted?” you ask.

They shake their heads in the negative.

Well then, you suppose you are a pioneer at the frontier of knowledge once more. Novice Fleshweaver, eat your heart out.
>>
Rolled 17, 20 = 37 (2d20)

>>5309836
>19, 15
You encounter great success with two fire-lizards in particular, who you are gradually able to induce by means of empathic connection and your system of punishment-and-reward to obey simple commands, such as “Come here”, “Go there”, “and “Drop that kobold! Do not eat that kobold!”

One of the two is even eventually convinced to come close enough, and stay close enough, to allow you to scratch at its wattle and the rough skin around its ear, which it seems to enjoy. You gradually reduce the intensity of your draconic aura; as the Presence abates, two of the four fire-lizards in your thrall begin to grow agitated, and to make to leave, but the one you are scratching and one of its fellows remains. You get the feeling that these two, at least, will stay and remain somewhat calm without your constant, direct supervision.

The next course of action is to meditate and to divine some <Guidance> as to what lies ahead. You leave the fire-lizards in the care of the kobolds, though you fashion some impromptu muzzles from corded leather which the Translator had apparently acquired from the Drow. While you are in meditation, you will hardly be able to maintain your Fearsome Presence, after all, and even the two tamest of the animals are still not exactly comfortable around the rest of your allies.

This practical matter thus attended to, you fit a comfortable bulge of rock to alight upon, remove your helm for the sake of comfort, and let your nictitating membranes slide closed and your senses seek out the threads of fate-unwritten as they have in the past…
>>
>>5309852
>20
Almost immediately, you are assailed by a vivid vision of the future… Or the present, but at a distance? There is another thread, or a cord of threads, bound together, and their fate converges with that of you and yours! You sense a friction between the two, and inevitably clash or conflict… And, at its centre, a vision of a clutch of cracked and battered eggs—the dragon eggs! You see that they are mostly-intact, buts sense no spark of life in them; as one might expect after so long buried beneath the earth, they are dead before having been born. Still, they are of immense symbolic, cultural and potentially MYSTCIAL value.

Of greater immediate concern, though, is the other collection of souls who seems destined to collide with you over those eggs, and the other treasures of this lost kingdom. You see tight strips of cloth, bundled cloaks, and poking through these layers, spines and spines. With grim familiarity, you identify the threat which approaches: an underdark scavenger of a sort you encountered on your journey here. You know not what they are called in the dwarf-tongue which they speak, but some in your retinue took to calling the one which you once captured a ‘barbed devil’ or ‘dark creeper’. Both terms are apt: the one you discovered was capable of magically hiding its presence, was strong of arm, and was covered in an array of organic spines and spikes with which to impale its victims in a brutal bearhug. Your armour protected you last time, as well as your <Danger Sense>…

But you sense that there is more than one of the things. More than that, you sense… Something else. Chains, and the flapping of leather wings, and a chill like that of the grave traveling through your spine and forcing you to repress a shudder. A wave of revulsion and exhaustion afflicts you, and you lose the vision, opening your eyes to the world of the here and now once again. A leader… A barbed devil bandit-king, atop a winged mount, commanding some heretic magic!
>>
>>5309872
Your party is better-rested once more, though it was not so long a rest as for anyone to sleep. You feel you have another couple spells left in you, and another fight if it comes down to it… And, by your vision, a fight is what you’re in for, more likely than not. A longer rest seems possible, but not if you wish to the beat these devils to the egg-clutch. After that, you sense that they will rise towards the surface, looting your race’s relics from the rest of the compound—the ‘traditional route’ which the Cartographer suggested excavating and exploring on your return journey, based on his admittedly-old maps. You could head them off there… But who knows what twill become of the eggs, in the meantime, and what valuables or knowledge might be destroyed or removed before you catch them?

What will you do?
>Press on immediately, advancing quickly to reach the egg-chamber in advance of these damned scavengers, to secure the eggs
>Rest a while longer, and attempt to head the barbed devils off in the ruins of your people, at full fighting strength
>Send an advance force [specify who] to meet the devils, while the others rest and then trace the ruins-route to meet up with and reinforce the others
>Hold back, laying traps and sending a runner to call for reinforcements from the kobold settlement and the rest of your retinue
>Retreat—you’re ill-prepared for such a battle
>Write-in
>>
>>5309874
>Press on immediately, advancing quickly to reach the egg-chamber in advance of these damned scavengers, to secure the eggs
exterminate all devils
>>
>>5309874
>Press on immediately, advancing quickly to reach the egg-chamber in advance of these damned scavengers, to secure the eggs
Eat a light snack and get a sip of water if you have any?
>>
>>5309885
[Your party snacked while you were traveling and resting. You have some waterskins, and rations from home, from the meal with the Drow, and meat taken from the Devourer (see Thread 1 at around >>5296445, with the battle against the great rust-monster being the posts prior)]
>>
>>5309874
>Press on immediately, advancing quickly to reach the egg-chamber in advance of these damned scavengers, to secure the eggs
>>
>>5309874
>Press on immediately, advancing quickly to reach the egg-chamber in advance of these damned scavengers, to secure the eggs
SECURE THE EGGS
THEN KILL EM ALL
>>
>>5309836
>The kobolds exchange glances which might be subtle, to one without your innate empathy for all things Reptilian. They are… Confused, perplexed, unsure whether you are being serious and, if so, to what end.
what the fuck man, that's 2 now
the first time we thanked our crew, they thought we were trying to get something out of them
we're not a sociopathic lizard goddamnit
>>
>>5309920
Jesus how depressing. Their lizard brains probably work different than ours? Something something lizard people having no empathy?
>>
>>5309874
>Press on immediately, advancing quickly to reach the egg-chamber in advance of these damned scavengers, to secure the eggs
>>
Rolled 5, 13, 4 = 22 (3d20)

>>5309878
>>5309885
>>5309890
>>5309910
>>5310023
There is no time to waste! You muster your forces, leaving injured Ohle behind by necessity, and press on immediately. The eggs MUST be secured. The devils MUST be driven back, be in an empty-handed retreat or total extermination which ends the threat of their invasion. This is YOUR mountain, now!

None of your forces argue—not the Silkscale intelligentsia, not the kobolds, not Hapo. Even the fire-lizards fall into your furiously-paced march without objection. You bristle with urgency, and they all feel it in their bones, their muscles and ligaments, in the stem of their lizard-brains. A dragon marches to war—they follow. It is the way of things.

The fire-lizards, as Hapo forewarned, can only get you so close. The croak and groan as you reach one great chamber with many winding tunnels, carved smooth by escaping molten rock from the deep-earth. Lava lives here, bubbling audibly in the distance, lending a thermal energy which augments your darkvision. They wish to head for the place of greatest heat… But that’s not where the eggs are.

Luckily, your vision of <guidance> yet lingers.

“This way!” you declare, drawing your sword and pointing its luminous, white blade towards the tunnel-entrance in the red-black rock which feels most correct.

It’s a touch melodramatic, but it works, and you feel your forces rally, bracing themselves for battle with an inner steel to which your heroic flair lends additional resolve. They will need it…

[Athleticism check]
>>
>>5310071
>13
…Because you arrive too late. Well, not exactly TOO late—rather, right on-time for the confrontation which you envisaged. You find a crumbled natural wall, chipped and dismantled by kobold activity; through this entrance into the small reptiloids’ mining complex, Hapo leads you to where he and the other kobold who once formed the so-called Dragonwrought found their cache of magic items, ‘shinies’… And the eggs.

And there, in this holy place, you see them. Having expanded a small hole on the opposite wall through strength-of-arm and rusted hammer and pick, there lurk a small cluster of cloth-swaddled, glowing-eyed mammals. Pinpricks of deadly sharpness penetrate their clothing at odd angles, lending the collection of a half-dozen stout figures an air of danger… And confirming their identity. Barbed devils, or whatever you would call them. Scavengers of the deep places. You think you even recognize one of them—the parasitic opportunist who once tried to assail you, who you captured and mercifully spared. If he remembers the way you and Glowie (the venomous and surprisingly-stealthy worm-woman princess, awaiting you topside in Reptilain disguise) dealt with him so handily before, it would certainly explain and nervous step he takes backwards. Perhaps you are mistaken, though, for all of his cohort seem taken-aback by the way you barrel into the room, backed by five kobolds, a pair of True Reptilians, and four-fire-lizards, baring a glowing moon-sabre. You see no sign of the leader who you glimpsed in your divination.

The barbed-devils have scarcely entered the room. You have, likewise, only just stepped inside. Neither of you make a move—not right away. It won’t be long, though. No race which thrives in the darkness below long hesitates to take decisive action—if they did, their bloodlines would have perished in this harsh environment long, long ago.

What do you do?
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot
>Open diplomacy, having the Translator issue a warning and request formal discussion in dwarf-tongue—you know they speak it
>Strike first, strike hard, no mercy! Set them ablaze with Firebreath, while you allies bombard them with slings and arrows!
>Charge in to block their entry personally, flanked by your fire-lizards, while the rest of your retinue abscond with the eggs
>Write-in
>>
>>5310081
>Open diplomacy, having the Translator issue a warning and request formal discussion in dwarf-tongue—you know they speak it

I talked a big extermination game but if we fight here the eggs might get smashed
>>
>>5310081
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot

No mercy - no weakness
>>
>>5310081
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot
>>
>>5310081
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot
>>
>>5310081
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot
>Strike first, strike hard, no mercy! Set them ablaze with Firebreath, while you allies bombard them with slings and arrows!
>>
>>5310081
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot
If they do anything rash, not only will we go after them, we will go after their allies. We amgry lizord man.
>>
>>5310081
>>Strike first, strike hard, no mercy! Set them ablaze with Firebreath, while you allies bombard them with slings and arrows!
>>
Rolled 6, 11 = 17 (2d20)

>>5310206
>>5310201
>>5310192
>>5310124
>>5310119
>>5310100
These are scavengers, glorified thieves and muggers. They’ve steeped into your territory, and while their forces are more physically imposing, you DO outnumber them…

And your side has YOU.

You lift your chin, roll your shoulders, and summon every ounce of the young, draconic wager in your form. You are roughly 300 pounds of honed, Reptilian muscle, packed into a suit of imposing ceremonial armour, wielding a semi-divine sword. You take a heavy step forward, take a deep breath, and ROAR.

How’s THAT for diplomacy?
>>
Rolled 12, 7, 2, 4 = 25 (4d20)

>>5310232
>>5310235
[Athleticism, enemies vs allies (DC 16 for favourable result, slightly outmatched)]
>>
>>5310235
>>5310242
>11 for intimidation

…Sadly insufficient, it seems. The opposing forces wince, cringing back from your fierce warcry. For a moment, you think you have them. Then, one of them throws an axe.

>12 athelticism

You attempt to dodge, but you are ill-prepared—perhaps overconfident. You had not assumed a proper, readied stance. You catch the axe in the chest, saved only by your armour. Your chestplate is notched, indented, but it deflects the blow; you’re barely winded… But winded, youa re. It takes you a second to regain your initiative…

And in that time, battle is joined.

>4

Your allies are slightly outmatched and, having come to rely so heavily on your own indefatigable confidence and martial merit, they are shocked to see you disregarded and assaulted in such a manner. They react a second or two later than the save-mammals, but in these close quarters, that makes all the difference. The barbed devils fill the room, many of them flickering form sight and seeming to merge with the shadows. Your allies’ initial volley is wild, several crossbow bolts, arrows, and hurled stones nearly impacting YOU in their panic.

Then, the screams begin.

These are scavengers, but they are no carrion-pickers. These devils are warriors, and among your forces, only you are properly armoured to resist their spikes. Aside from their crude stone axes and rusted, pock-marked hammers, the your spike-studded antagonists also wield their very bodies. Once they are in melee range, re-emerging from their cloak state, counterattacks are a dangerous proposition which risk injury to the attacker. Your fire-lizards, in particular, learn that—their mouths and tails tail great injury on the first ill-fated attempt, and they recoil and retreat by necessity.

One of the barbed devils has you in its sight, too, but your greater size and armour gives it pause where its fellows rush in. The pick-axe it brandishes, though… With enough force, that could cave in your helm, pierce your skull. You are not immune to his attacks, by any means… And he’s between you and the eggs.

What do you do?
>Draw your bow and try to get a headshot before he can close distance
>Wrestle his pick away from him—he has no other easy means to slay you, and then he’s at your mercy
>An honourable duel will suffice—you’ll win, and then the eggs are yours
>Fall back to rally your forces, preserving their lives but risking the eggs
>Use a <Jump> to leap over this foe, and garb the eggs before anyone else can steal or damage them
>Write-in
>>
>>5310262
>Draw your bow and try to get a headshot before he can close distance

Should've done diplomacy, we're the peaceful dragonborn.
>>
>>5310262
>>Draw your bow and try to get a headshot before he can close distance
>>
>>5310262
*cave-mammals
>>
>>5310262
>Use a <Jump> to leap over this foe, and garb the eggs before anyone else can steal or damage them

>>5310268
Diplomacy is overrated. Besides, they would have demanded part of our heritage. Fuck. That.
>>
>>5310262
>Draw your bow and try to get a headshot before he can close distance
Kill him fast so we can help our allies, show that where our eye goes, so does death
>>
>>5310400
this
>>
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Rolled 12, 4, 14 = 30 (3d20)

>>5310430
>>5310400
>>5310366
>>5310269
>>5310268
You tuck your sword back into the cloth belt and crude swaddled ‘sheathe’ you have made for it (next to your more properly-sheathed, but altogether less magical, sword from back home at the forward base). Instead, you draw your longbow. It makes no sense to get into melee combat with a thorny thug like this when you can kill from a distance.

‘Distance’, however, is relative in these cramped quarters. Furthermore, the spiked mammal is not QUITE so dim as to be ignorant as to what you are doing. It grips its pick tight and leaps towards you, to bridge the gap. If it makes it into melee range, you’ll be at a disadvantage, having to draw your sword before this strong-limbed aggressor can wrestle you into position to kill you.

You string your arrow and take your shot…
>>
Rolled 6, 8, 19, 19 = 52 (4d20)

>>5310459
…And hit!

>14

But wait, why is it still coming? At you? Why isn’t it slowing down. You go to notch another arrow when you feel the impact of all that muscle hitting your armoured midsection like a boulder tumbling down a tunnel. You stare at the arrow, firmly embedded in the thing… And realize it must have gotten caught in the tangle of knotted cloth that serves as both clothing and armour for these things.

You avoid being immediately bowled-over, but the barbed devil is at least as strong as you, maybe stronger, and has the advantage of having you off-balance. You are being pushed backwards, away from the eggs, and at risk of being toppled over onto your back like a tortoise, for this barbarian to finish off at its leisure!

[Fisticuffs + a roll for the tide of battle, DC 17 for your forces to turn things around]
>>
>>5310463
>19
You keep hold of your bow, and swing it like a cudgel, smashing it across your assailant’s face. The below catches it off-guard, and the barbed devil stumbles back. You give it a hard boot, pushing it further away, and you take a moment to draw your sword.

>19

Your allies, too, are holding the line. Despite initially being driven back, they have gathered up and used their superior numbers and their coordination to prevent flanking. Two of the fire-lizards have fled, but the two who you took time to tame remain. These loyal lizards’ bodies now glow yellow-orange with a an intense heat that further helps to ward off the damned devils—they must be no true creature of the Hellish Realms, in spite of the name you’ve given them, for such beings do not fear flame, and these ones shrink back from it, and then are driven back away from your forces by another projectile volley.

You grimace at the stalemate. You’ll need to do something to break this draw… Before the mage-devil comes. You feel as if you can sense it, their commander from the vision, lurking somewhere just beyond the hole they carved to enter this most noble heritage-site like plundering brigands. You wonder if he has reinforcements with him… And you know that, if he does, it would spell doom as things are going now.

What do you do?
>Focus on securing the eggs, and then making a fighting retreat
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
>Use the Ring of Elemental Command to summon an elemental ally, or two, or three [specify how many, and which ones, and keep in mind the caveats at >>5305366]
>Use an <Earth Tremor> to rebury this place; if you can’t have the eggs, neither will the devils, and perhaps you can re-excavate them later?
>Write-in
>>
>>5310467
>>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
Kobolds are expendables.
>>
>>5310467
Could we do this
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives

Plus a roll for suppressing them with firebreath in tandem with the lizards?
>>
>>5310467
>Focus on securing the eggs, and then making a fighting retreat
>>
>>5310467
>Use the Ring of Elemental Command to summon an elemental ally, or two, or three [Fire]

In fights we generally don't get to choose what allies we lose let's use the ring we choose to attune to. It'd be bad to lose the Cartographer or Translator. Our best bet is probably the Fire Elemental.
>>
>>5310467
Backing >>5310476
>>
>>5310467
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
>>5310459
Heyy, that's the image I posted. Shame we didn't get the bow per my instructions.

>>5310476
>>5310492
Are you trying to get us killed by untamed fire elemental?
>>
>>5310495
I figured our chances of commanding it with our specialization in dragon shaman were better than our chances of losing a vital ally under your option.
>>
>>5310467
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
roast em
>>
>>5310499
You say this like a failed roll on fire atronach won't cost our allies lives and after QM specifically quoted hid old post to remind you it was never used and we don't even know whether summoned elementals can be controlled.
Besides, if you want to be safe, why are you voting for combat with a magical wildcard instead of defensive retreat?
>>
>>5310505
>You say this like a failed roll on fire atronach won't cost our allies lives
True, but like other anon said we should have good chances to pass the roll, given dragon shaman and fire affinity. The way I see it, our chances of controlling the fire elemental are better than our chances of not losing allies without it. That's assuming the item wasn't build with safeguards and the elementals don't come out under the owners control, which is also possible.

As for the defensive retreat, I couldn't really picture us gathering eggs up and running away with them while the enemy squad was already on top of us. Not without taking more losses than the other 2 options combined.
>>
>>5310510
>like other anon said we should have good chances to pass the roll, given dragon shaman and fire affinity
No, you said this.
QOf3lSmm said our BEST BET was fire elemental IF we choose the ring.
>The way I see it
The way I see it, you see it incorrectly.
>That's assuming the item wasn't build with safeguards and the elementals don't come out under the owners control, which is also possible.
This is headcanon with no value.
>As for the defensive retreat, I couldn't really picture us gathering eggs up and running away with them while the enemy squad was already on top of us. Not without taking more losses than the other 2 options combined.
The defensive maneuver isn't safe? Matter of fact, it's more dangerous than both risky combat choices COMBINED because you failed to IMAGINE it other way..?
>>
>>5310522
That's a whole lot of nitpicking with a whole lack of anything directly proving me wrong.
>>
>>5310524
Enjoy your headcanon, schizo.
>>
>>5310467
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
>>
>>5310467
>Use the Ring of Elemental Command to summon an elemental ally, or two, or three [Fire]
>>
>>5310476
+1
>>
>>5310522
Every lizard is resistant to fire why not
>>
>>5310467
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
Breaking the elemental ring before we even used it is stupid.
>>
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>>5310641
Only the Dragonblooded are resistant to fire.
>>
>>5310467
>Rally for forces for one final push, to surround and overwhelm the barbed devils, though it may cost some of your allies their lives
>>
>>5310495
Look at the boq innyour inventory. You pretty much did, just golden and styled slightly differently.
>>
>>5310659
>>5310641
You are resistant to fire. If the Bastard was with you, he would be, too. Fire lizards absorb heat. All your kobold and Silkscale allies with you are very flammable.
>>
Rolled 20, 18, 3, 10, 16 = 67 (5d20)

>>5310472
>>5310473
>>5310474
>>5310476
>>5310492
>>5310495
>>5310500
>>5310572
>>5310589
>>5310636
>>5310650
>>5310680
It’s time to do or die—and, for some of your forces, perhaps time to do both.

“Fall back!” you shout to your forces, unafraid of the enemy overhearing your True Speech. “Fire incoming!”

Your forces oblige… Save the fire-lizards who, at your willing of them, push forward. The barbed devils, mistaking this tactical withdrawal for a full retreat, press in to fill the gap…

And enter your kill zone.

With a mirthless grin, you open your maw and unleash Hell.
>>
Rolled 12, 7, 16, 19, 16, 6, 2 = 78 (7d20)

>>5310982
>20 for you
>16 for fire-lizards
Your gambit works perfectly: the barbed devils are completely blindsided by the rushing dragonfire, and the fire-lizards serve as a shield for your own troops, preventing the immolation by absorbing the roiling fire before it can hit the kobolds or True Reptilians of your retinue. Horrid screams and wails go up, and then are silenced.

As the smoke of burning bodies and ashen cloth fills the confines of the room, however, it becomes apparent that there ARE survivors… Barbed devils who sheltered from some of the fire behind they compatriots’ bodies. The burst forth from the smoke, hurtling themselves at you rather than your allies…

[5 allies, 2 enemies.]
>>
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>>5310983
>16, 19, 16 vs 6, 2
…But at your bidding, the kobolds Ivno, Ragno, and Agne leap through the smoke to attack these two surviving devils from behind. The ambush predators are now ambushed, keen senses dulled by blind panic and burning pain. They fall to scrawny lizard-men with knives and axes, stabbed to death and chopped to bits before they ever reach you.

You survey the carnage with grisly pride. There are no survivors to report back to their chieftain, or whatever he is. Two lizards abandoned you, but the forces who remain are all largely unharmed, save a few slashes, gouges, nicks, bruises… Some will scar, but lightly. They will be symbols of triumph and victory, not reminders of loss.

The eggs are right where you last saw them, unharmed.

“Let us take them and go,” the Translator says urgently. “More may arrive.”

“With no survivors to report back, we have time,” the Cartrographer notes. “Let us search for clues as to the name of that demon… And take the ruin-route back. We should leave nothing of value for these warm-blooded scum to loot.”

“And Ohle?” Hapo notes quietly, though all the kobolds silently take note, turning subtly towards him while outwardly still waiting on your judgement. “Have eggs, yeah? Take eggs, get out, get Ohle, go back home.”

You consider your options.
>Grab the eggs, retrieve Ohle, and leave this place post-haste
>Search the room, and the ruins, for means to destroy the demon, or other valuabels belonging to the ancients
>Delve deeper—you will track down whatever remains of the barbed devils and exterminate them from this place forevermore!
>Split up [specify who goes where]
>Write-in
>>
>>5310992
>Grab the eggs, retrieve Ohle, and leave this place post-haste
>>
>>5310992
>Grab the eggs, retrieve Ohle, and leave this place post-haste

Eggs were the main goal
>>
>>5310992
>Grab the eggs, retrieve Ohle, and leave this place post-haste


Let's not be a loot goblin we were pretty lucky with the combat rolls this time around.
>>
>>5310992
>Search the room, and the ruins, for means to destroy the demon, or other valuabels belonging to the ancients
>Delve deeper—you will track down whatever remains of the barbed devils and exterminate them from this place forevermore!
Kill them and protect our heritage!
>>
>>5310992
>Search the room, and the ruins, for means to destroy the demon, or other valuabels belonging to the ancients
>Delve deeper—you will track down whatever remains of the barbed devils and exterminate them from this place forevermore!
>>
>>5311032
+1 but

>>5310992
>Search the room, and the ruins, for means to destroy the demon, or other valuabels belonging to the ancients
See if there any clues that can help us. Search the corpses for anything useful like equipment. Have some kobolds take the eggs back for us.
>>
>>5310992
>Grab the eggs, retrieve Ohle, and leave this place post-haste
>Search the room, and the ruins, for means to destroy the demon, or other valuabels belonging to the ancients
Can we just briefly search this room before we go but not delve deeper?
>>
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Decisions, decisions
>>
>>5310992
>Grab the eggs, retrieve Ohle, and leave this place
We got a nat 20 and we have a chance to avoid further combat with our weak party. Please just go.
>>
>>5310992
>Search the room, and the ruins, for means to destroy the demon, or other valuabels belonging to the ancients
>Delve deeper—you will track down whatever remains of the barbed devils and exterminate them from this place forevermore!
I ain’t giving this up without a fight.
>>
Oh and in case this is relevant I (>>5311136) am also
>>5308209
>>5308528
>>5308585
My ident just keeps changing and I dont know why
>>
>>5310992
>Search the room, and the ruins, for other valuabels belonging to the ancients
Fuck the demon, just take our valuables and run!
>>
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[Writing up!]
>>
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Rolled 96, 86, 1 = 183 (3d100)

>>5311174
>>5311151
>>5311136
>>5311102
>>5311100
>>5311066
>>5311032
>>5311010
>>5310995
>>5310994
“Kobolds, gather the eggs,” you command.

They hop to it, doing so with considerable reverence for these relics,these heirs unborn of a long-dead demigod… Well, except one-armed Hapo, who can be of little assistance with these matters since his amputation. To him, and to the Cartograpehr and Translator, you assign a different task:

“You three, quickly search these rooms, and any adjoining ruins which you can easily access,” you say. “We will waste no time tunneling up through unexcavated, collapsed ruins, looting like… Like GOBLINS. We will own this mountain in time, but the eggs are our objective. We will not die here for the sake of pocket change.”

They each nod, and set to their task. Between the Cartographer’s map, Hapo’s knowledge as a miner and explorer of this place, and the Translator’s abilities to understand even exoteric alphabets and ancient dialects, they are a team uniquely-suited to making the most of this narrow window of opportunity.

[Three probabilities being rolled...Loot chance[/spoiler] Interruption chance ??? Chance]
>>
>>5311181

You wait impatiently, tail-spade smacking with latent anxiety at the volcanic rock beneath you. The kobolds and your remaining fire-lizards wait likewise. Your gaze flits every so often from the path your intellectuals and their guide followed upwards, into the rooms adjoining this rookery-turned-tomb. You imagine you hear sounds of their return, and prepare to leave more than once… But, no, they take what seems to you like an altogether reckless amount of time.

…Perhaps that’s just because the rest of your time, your eyes—and your sixth sense—are settled firmly upon that dark passage into the deeper depths beyond, and the adjoining underdark. Every now and then, a chill wind wafts through the hole the barbed devils made, and you recall the deathly chill you experienced in your premonition.

>86 for interruption (NO interruption)

As much as you were dreading and anticipating an interruption, none comes. No dark devil-captain rises up from the unknown to meet you. You’re almost, ALMOST, disappointed… But mostly relieved. You are holding up remarkably well, you’d say, but the kobolds tremble with exhaustion and exertion. You have driven them hard—marching for almost a full day, with only a short rest earlier and now this tense period of unrestful waiting to break it up. The fire-lizards, lacking the self-awareness to dread the future, are the only ones among you who seem at ease.

>96 for loot (EXCELLENT finds)
When the Cartographer and the Translator return, they are, full of exhilaration and… Something else. Their packs look heavy, and their arms are full of books, scrolls, and rune-scribed tablets and slabs.

“It was intact!” the Cartographer gasps. “I knew it would be tehre, hoped we’d find something, but… But…”

“It was entirely intact!” the Translator exclaims, almost giddy, tail lashing and throat vibrating with a delighted rattling. “The library of the ancients, intended for the instruction of young dragon princelings and their high priesthood! Histories, books of political theory, star-charts, theological treatises written when gods walked the earth…”

“…Political maps, resource maps, biological analyses, alchemical recipes, books on magical theory!”

“Everything,” the Translator finishes, interrupting the Cartographer, who doesn’t seem to mind.

It is a lot to take in—an ASTONISHING find, and a great, GREAT boon for your people. You congratulate them, but it doesn’t distract you from the one thing they did NOT bring back:

“Where is Hapo?” you demand.

>1 for ??? (oh no)
>>
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>>5311192
The two Silkscale males exchange a glance, both afraid to be the one to speak up.

You dial up the Fearsome Presence, crossing your arms, and they both avert their eyes downwards. The Translator is the one who tells you:

“We were so distracted by the magnificence of our discovery, so eager to catalogue everything and to acquire the most valuable… For the expedition, for the glory of all Reptilekind…”

“You failed to keep an eye on him,” you conclude. “He vanished when you weren’t looking.”

The silence which follows is all the answer you need.

“And the demon’s name?” you ask.

The Cartographer clears his throat, and admits what you suspected: the stack of books which were dedicated to arts demonological were there one moment, and then they were gone.

“Gone,” you mutter, “with Hapo, who stole them.”

“He is just a one-armed kobold with delusions of grandeur,” the Translator scoffs, before ashamedly demurring himself to you once more when you turn your glare upon him. “His demonic patron remains trapped within a ring, Superior One, within a box, within your pack. He is a foolish little runaway slave, doomed to die here…”

“…With his stolen knowledge” the Cartographer whispers, a touch bitterly.

It’s clear to you that neither of these learned males considers Hapo a threat, at least, but rather laments the loss of the tomes and scrolls he absconded with.

What do YOU think?
>Hapo cannot be left to his own devices down here, cavorting with demons in the dark—you will use <Guidance> to find him, and kill him
>Leave, now, and let this place be Hapo’s tomb as it was for the dragon eggs, as it is for the barbed devils
>Use <Earth Tremor> to seal this place, and to bury any foolish kobold or devil who tarries too long in it—if your foes wish this ruin for their own, or a path to the surface, you shall make them WORK for it
>Write-in
>>
>>5311193
>Leave, now, and let this place be Hapo’s tomb as it was for the dragon eggs, as it is for the barbed devils

Fuck it he doesn't have the Demon. Let's just fucking go we've spent too much time here.
>>
>>5311193
Okay, great, we got ourselves a recurring antagonist... let's destroy this ring ASAP before it gets stolen back in the middle of the night.

>Use <Earth Tremor> to seal this place, and to bury any foolish kobold or devil who tarries too long in it—if your foes wish this ruin for their own, or a path to the surface, you shall make them WORK for it

I also support leaving if that gets more votes.
>>
>>5311193
>Use <Earth Tremor> to seal this place, and to bury any foolish kobold or devil who tarries too long in it—if your foes wish this ruin for their own, or a path to the surface, you shall make them WORK for it
>>
>>5311193
>Use <Earth Tremor> to seal this place, and to bury any foolish kobold or devil who tarries too long in it—if your foes wish this ruin for their own, or a path to the surface, you shall make them WORK for it

What was once buried shall be again
>>
>>5311193
>Use <Earth Tremor> to seal this place, and to bury any foolish kobold or devil who tarries too long in it—if your foes wish this ruin for their own, or a path to the surface, you shall make them WORK for it
>>
>>5311193
>Leave, now, and let this place be Hapo’s tomb as it was for the dragon eggs, as it is for the barbed devils

Please don’t destroy the dragon holy site
>>
I'm catching up to the quest. Why not kill the bug people and the broodmother?
>>
>>5311279
>muh diplomancy
>>
>>5311193
>Hapo cannot be left to his own devices down here, cavorting with demons in the dark—you will use <Guidance> to find him, and kill him
Time to end this nigga. The oldfags know that to truely get rid of a problem, you have to kill a motherfucker.
>>
>>5311279
Dark God solidarity, I imagine. We should talk to the Dragon Mother after this btw, get her input on all of this.
>>
>>5311293
Changing my vote from >>5311212 to this.
How many time did Zivic came back? Not a shadow of a chance shall be let to demons or occultists.
>>
>>5311193
>Hapo cannot be left to his own devices down here, cavorting with demons in the dark—you will use <Guidance> to find him, and kill him
No loose ends.
>>
>>5311291
No? We could easily kill them all with dragon fire.
>>
>>5311193
>Hapo cannot be left to his own devices down here, cavorting with demons in the dark—you will use <Guidance> to find him, and kill him
We rolled a 1 so I'm sure he's VERY likely to survive whatever we throw at him and come back later with control over that demon. Let's just clean up the mess before that bitch grows in power like the last quest...
>>
>>5311279
what >>5311291 said
please help us kill the queen now before those schizocoomers end up sticking dragon dicks in a repulsive maggot
>>
>>5311193
>Hapo cannot be left to his own devices down here, cavorting with demons in the dark—you will use <Guidance> to find him, and kill him
Destroying holy sites is a BAD thing
>>
>>5311193

>Leave, now, and let this place be Hapo’s tomb as it was for the dragon eggs, as it is for the barbed devils

We shouldn't hang around here, too dangerous. Better to get home, deliver our goods, and then return here with a much larger force to secure the mountain.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5311413
>>5311408
>>5311341
>>5311312
>>5311293
>>5311240
>>5311235
>>5311213
>>5311201
>>5311196
Hapo is a dangerous loose end—THIS, you know. Demonology isn’t your forte, but you know enough (especially after your encounter with Hapo and Hako as ‘Dragonwrought’) that you are none too eager to face some occult onslaught from the world below. You’re tempted to hunt him down right now, in fact, but…

>55% of voters vote to leave

No, that’s foolhardy. Down in the darkness dwell devils, including that devil leader you foresaw. Your forces are weak and tired. And what of the eggs? The tomes of knowledge? Will you risk these discoveries—potentially game-changing for the Reptilian Conspiracy—to hunt down a single rogue kobold?

The only question is how to prevent him from returning and wreaking some misguided vengeance…

>Of these, half vote to leave after collapsing the ruins
>>
>>5311193
>Use <Earth Tremor> to seal this place, and to bury any foolish kobold or devil who tarries too long in it—if your foes wish this ruin for their own, or a path to the surface, you shall make them WORK for it

Just seal it, don't destroy it
>>
>>5311526
Leave a message rekinding Hako that daemons are cringe
If we can collapse the access tunnels to the important chambers without burying them, I'd support it
>>
>>5311526
Voting to deal with Habo

>>5311527
>>5311531
Why not go kill Habo? We've already killed the demons.
>>
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Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>5311527
>>5311531
Oh, hey, that works, too!

>>5311536
[Still outvoted slightly and also, come on, I'm mid-update.]

>>5311526
You don’t relish the thought of destroying your people’s history and legacy. This complex, or what remains of it, has been here for thousands of years, and it holds the greatness of the ancient Age for Scales! However, to give those of scalykind yet alive a chance to reclaim the surface—and under the righteous rule of true leadership, not some cloying kobold pretender—you cannot risk them falling into Hapo’s hands, OR those of the damned devils.

“Superior One, please!” the Translator begs.

“It does seem a waste,” the Cartographer notes, adding: “Speaking humbly and from a place of subservience, oh Dragonborn.”

“I will not destroy it all,” you reassure them. “Merely… A section. Enough to give the devils… And anyone else… Pause.

With a mighty stomp of your boot, and a spike of mana which sends shockwaves through the earth, you do just that: you send forth a tremor into this dead and dormant volcano, and bring stones down and magma roiling up. As you and your forces retreat, a portion of the complex—the rookery and the library wing already plundered for most or all of their value—are consumed by tectonic forces. Their secrets are locked away, in some cases forever, and an entry-point between the wider world-beneath and the mountain-home of the kobolds of Bloodrise is blocked off.

The march hope is a long one. Along the way, you stop by to retrieve injured Ohle…
>>
>>5311536
We haven't killed any demons. We've killed a small advance party of what I want to call spiky dwarves, because the given name of barbed devils is confusing. Their leader is still out there and according to Guidance has the potential to rock our shit. Not a good risk to take with the dragon eggs and ancient knowledge we just recovered.
>>
>>5311539
guys come on, we know where it is because of the cartographer's maps, and people had to build this place inside the volcano initially
we can always come back and UNseal it with more people with us
>>
>>5311539
>7

…But he is nowhere to be seen. Your kobold cohort search for him, Ivno and the others crying out his name into the dark, but no response ever comes. You eventually find the dagger you left him with, and fragments of the splint which one of the others had made for his broken arm, but this is the only clue as to his fate. It is a grim reminder that, even with the closure of that connection to the expanses of the subterranean realm, there remain dangers right here in Bloodrise proper.

In that spirit, you force your forces higher, and higher still, marching them (and even yourself) to the point of exhaustion until FINALLY you reach the more worn, lived-in caverns at the edge of the surface-world, where the kobolds of Bloodrise make their home.

In your clutches: the gifts of the past, and a promise for the future!

Running late for work, but I will continue with a post-mortem of your mission, and put up the next vote, ASAP!
>>
Why do we use swords? Bows and arrows I can understand, but why not max out unarmed?
>>
>>5311557
Because we got a rad relic sword and it was initially voted as backup
>>
>>5311699
You mean the wilting elf sword made of leaves?
>>
>>5311557
>>5311709
because we're a dragon who likes D100 things and not a fisting troglodyte
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>>5311732
I do not understand. I still have catching up to do though. I figured the bigger we get, the less frequently we'll need to use weapons and rely more on our claws due to less weapon swinging room. Kind of like the issue our big green dragonborn brother suffers through. It would be ideal to get a head start on unarmed proficiency for when we're older. Plus our claws are plenty shark right? Good for piercing and rending flesh, or relying on our bare knuckles like natural cestus's.
>>
>>5311550
Also been thinking. The jump ability. Can it only allow vertical lift? Can it aid in running jumps? Perpendicular jumps? Horizontal leaps? Dashing?
>>
>>5311759
>Can you <Jump> horizontally and diagonally
[Yes.]

>Swords
[You have a normal metal elf-sword in a leafweave sheathe, plus a moon-sword made of untanished white stone.]
>>
>>5311813
Why did we collapse the entrance to the secret lizard library? Are we gonna come back with a bunch of Kobolds to excavate everything, then haul it back to the forward base/home?
Can we "romance" (or the lizard people equivalent of that" Novice?
Is hand holding with outer lizard folk weird? Lewd even?
Can we duel wild the MELF and MOON swords?
Are silkscales the twins of Lizardpeople society?
>>
>>5312031
>Why collapse?
[The library was intended for the education of young dragons, and was adjacent to the rookery, where the barbed devils were entering through. It's also the last-known location of Hapo. In trying to interprwt a fairly close vote whwre the slim majority wanted to leave, a notable plurality wanted to end the threat of Hapo, and a good chunk of thsoe who eanted to leave also wanted to seal the ruins with Earth Tremor (but ideally not irreversibly destroy this monument to Reptilian heritage) I chose that as a middle path: aiming Earth Tremor to destroy and seal the areas where you had been, and taken most thjngs of value, while leaving the rest intact and MAYBE trapping or killing Hapo.]

>Can we excavate?
[Yep, but it'll be slower going to dig it up than it was to bury it.]

>Romancing the Novice
[Entirely doable, if you do it right.]

>Is holding hands weird to reptoids?
[By human standards, they are all touch-averse sociopaths with little to no sex drive. You're a little different, being a human hybrid. Same with the Degenerates, for the same reason. Kobolds are a bit different from the 'Master Race' in this regard, too. Simple gestures of affection and romance are likely to be interpreted as weakness, corruption, or a ploy... But the Novice, at least, DOES understand that you have a somewhat mammalian social and sexual drive. If you want to hold hands, cuddle, and coom without navigating a web of social conventions and seasonal hormonal fluctuations, you might be better served by an elf, a kobold, or a glowworm, but your call.]

>Can we dual wield?
[Yeah, but you're not very practiced at it.]

>Are silkscales twins?
[I'm not aure I understand the question. Silkscales, Steeltalons, the Dragonblooded, and Serpent Priests are the three main castes/clans of the Reptilian Master Race. Silkscales are lithe, lean, agile, and clever. The Steeltalons are direct, powerful, aggressive, and powerfully-built. The Dragonblooded are red-skinned, treated like nobility, and they breathe and reist fire. The Serpent Priests are tall, have long necks, are skilled in magic, and are essentially theocratic rulers of the society. They're all quite inbred and dissuaded from interbreeding to keep their groups distinct adnd uniquely useful for their own roles, which has become a matter of cultural convention over the aeons.]

[Posting soon! On my way home now.]
>>
[Roomie called a pizza and movie, will post after!]
>>
>>5312213
Silkscales = twinks
Even the males. PHAT. ASS.
>>
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>>5311550
When you return to the kobold encampment—realistically, more of a village, but they have lived apart form this place for so long, among their stolen human amenities, that it requires great rebuilding—it is to a heroes’ welcome. Sadly, much of this welcome is not for you, but for your kobold minions. They are welcomed with open arms by the comrades they left behind, by females, by hatchlings. It is… Unsettling, to see such camaraderie and physical proximity in a reptilian race. They do not embrace, per se, but they clasp arms at times, they chatter excitedly amongst one another, they have clear… Bonds, beyond strategic alliance.

“Undignified,” the Translator notes.

“Slaves,” the Cartographer says, with a shrug.

The kobolds snap to attention and quickly assume a more rigid and proper deference when The bastard merges from an adjacent tunnel. He bows his head low, and the kobolds you tasked him with corralling and marshalling do likewise.

“I was gone only twenty-four hours!” you remark. “How did you manage such discipline?”

The Bastard looks surprised, and is uncertain how to reply. Under your expectant eye, though, he explains that you were gone for almost two whole days.

Well, THAT explains your exhaustion. You, as with all your race, have always had a natural talent for telling time below-ground, however. You are uncertain how you lost track… Perhaps an anomaly caused by the magic of the region? Maybe it was just the thrill of the battle, for that matter—you’re certainly tarting to feel it now.

“The Infiltrators, are they back yet?” you ask wearily.

The Bastard shakes his head.

“They have another day or two in which to make their return journey,” he says. “then, we will learn something of the local humans, and what to expect of them.”

You nod.

“And you, Superior One?” he asks, though you know he has seen the eggs extracted, and the full packs of your scholars.

You tilt your chin up proudly.

“A full success,” you say, “with only acceptable losses.”

The Bastard seems concerned when you tell him of the skirmish with the barbed devils (“Not true devils!” you tell him. “Perhaps a spiny race of dwarves?”), and doubly so when you tell him of Hapo.

“A persistent wretch, that one. Too stubborn to die. Twice over now, he survives you!”

You give him a stern look, and the Bastard looks downwards… But you sigh. He isn’t wrong.

“they will bother us no time in the near future,” you say. “The kobold may even be dead.”

“One can hope,” he replies.
>>
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>>5312376
Your PERSONAL hero’s welcome comes when you return to the cavern-chamber where the Novice Fleshweaver has set up her mobile laboratory. There, she works tirelessly—as you did, you suppose—on her analysis and manipulation of the tissues of a mostly-mummified dragon hatchling, previously the catalyst for the deceitful ‘Dragonwrought’ transformation of Hako and lost-below Hapo. When he present to her the eggs, she practically falls upon them in giddy worship. No—it’s not worship. It’s secular and sinister in equal measures. She has the excitement of an exploiter born.

“Some things never change,” you note wryly. “Will you even thank your returning conqueror for his hard-won prizes?”

She hisses irritably, and replies: “You do your job, and I will do mine. I do not recall you singing MY praises, for MY triumphs!”

Glowie, at least, is predictably happy to see you. Though a massive, barely-anthropomorphic glow-worm in truth, she yet wears the Amulet of Disguise which grants her Reptilian guise: a slightly-distorted and modified version of the Novice’s own appearance, thickened in rear and tail to accommodate-by-proxy the worm-woman’s much larger back-half, which normally houses a dozen wriggling, peg-like legs. As it is, it just means that her embrace involves a long, thick tail coiled around you.

“What triumphs?” you ask the Novice, gently pushing Glowie away. You note that her skin looks… More authentic, more convincing up-close, and that her divergence from the Novice has grown more pronounced. The feel of her pliable, fleshy body beneath your claws is…

“Well, for one thing, I have further developed the worm’s Amulet of Disguise—quite applicable to disguising YOUR bizarre and unconventional form as well, oh Degenerateborn Quasi-Dragon.”
>>
>>5312414
Though she never denigrates you in such terms in public, for fear of her own status or respect for your inviting her on this expedition to begin with, the Novice is one of the scant few being alive privy to the secret of your birth. She alone, among all your retinue, knows you are no TRUE Dragonborn, but a heavily-modified human-Dragonblood-Silkscale mongrel, cooked up by a Degenerate half-human Infiltrator. It is, as she notes, one reason why conventional disguise spells have never worked well on you.

“You’re saying you can modify my form?” you ask. “Into… What?”

The Novice Fleshweaver hesitates, and you realize (with amusement AND annoyance) that she ahs overstated her case.

“I BELIEVE,” she says, “that I have devised a means to… Modify your appearance somewhat, yes. The theory, which is STILL being tested, is that through proper application of the Amulets, with MY advanced and prodigious Fleshweaving talents, I can create a amulet which does not merely DISGUISE, but which TARSNFORMS. An… Amulet of Elfshape, say, using the abundance of genetic material I gathered at our ‘diplomatic summit’.”

The Novice puts disparaging influence on the last two words. Not for the first time, you wonder if this female Serpent Priest, who so bullied you a short decade ago when you were both young, is JEALOUS of the time you spent alone with the dark elf leader Jazkarmel.

“Unless you can shrink me three or four feet in height, I doubt I would pass for one of the Drow,” you note.

“Skeptic! Small-minded One!” the Novice spits, then sighs. “But… Not incorrect. You would be a titanic elf… But for one such as me, or one of our Silkscale allies? It could be useful, if we wish to infiltrate their race more properly. And with a few abduction from the towns below… Or with what samples our Merchants and the Degenerate may bring back...”

“I see the potential,” you admit. “THEORETICALLY.”

“Do you?” the Novice asks, narrowing her eyes smugly.

You sigh, and tell her to spit it out.

“You have brought back DRAGON materials!” she exclaims, gesturing to the eggs again.

Your eyes widen.
>>
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>>5312420
“I have studied the dragon MOST of all, PER your instructions oh Champion. I cannot make one such as you—or myself, for that matter—into a true dragon. But…”

“…But?” you ask, hating yourself for falling for this self-proclaimed prodigy’s game of self-aggrandizing call-and-response, but unable to bear the suspense.

“BUT,” she says, crossing her arms and forcing her tail not to lash with glee, “I think I can IMBUSE you with something of their essence, to make your ‘Dargonshape’ more permanent… More controlled!”

You imagine it: no more pinkish-brown tinge to your scales, no more hair in unusual places. A dragon, armoured, proud, tall and mighty, your Fearsome Presence a herald to your approach wherever you go!

“I might even be able to grow you some wings,” she whispers.

Your heart hammers. You’ve always dreamed of flying.

“The Dragonborn is going to moult! Metamorphose! Become brood-queen!”

You look at Glowie, hands clasped and body wiggling rhythmically in delight, and she corrects herself:

“King. Queen-equivalent. Sorry!” she smiles. “One king, one queen.”

You cough, turning away and trying to ignore the desirous bug-woman’s implication.

“What’s the catch?” you ask.

The Novice frowns and looks away.

“There are… Potential complications. And each attempt at this uses up some draconic material.”

“And the others of our race would regard it as sacrilege,” you note.

“Hypocrites!” she cries. “Father, the Chaplain… He authorized such experiments with the Great Green Dragon\s remains!”

“By full-fledges Fleshweavers,” you note. “NOT by a renegade Novice.”

“A fresh perspective is NEEDED,” she asserts… But then, she demures.

“Maybe… It should be tested on another first, though. It would be a shame to accidentally deform or destroy such a… UNIQUE specimen as yourself, False Dragonborn.”

Glowie stops swaying, and looks thoughtful, then raises her hand—volunteering.

“I was thinking a kobold,” the Novice shrugs. “Or The Bastard. He is… Like you, but lesser.”

What do you do?
>Authorize the Novice to begin testing her theories [specify on who: yourself, kobolds, the Bastard, Glowie?]
>Deny the Novice—tell her to stick to her other avenues of amulet-improvement instead
>You need to sleep on this—even pray on this—before you make a decision [divine consultation]
>These eggs and their potential are a threat to you—smash them
>Write-in
>>
>>5312422
>Authorize the Novice to begin testing her theories [The Junior Novice]

I voted on getting him in the first place as experiment fodder. Might as well test out this likely very dangerous procedure on him first. It's not like he does anything else.
>>
>>5312426
+1
>>
>>5312422
>Authorize the Novice to begin testing her theories [specify on who: yourself, kobolds, the Bastard, Glowie?]
Backing Junior Novice
we're gonna make that thing the BBEG
>>
>>5312422
>You need to sleep on this—even pray on this—before you make a decision [divine consultation]

We don't want to accidentally fleashwarp up a horrific pseudo-dragon abomination.

Besides aren't dragon eggs (even dead ones) valuable? I don't we should use in a half baked manner.
>>
>>5312422
>These eggs and their potential are a threat to you—smash them
>>
>>5312426
+1
Drill loyalty before too
>>
>>5312436
+1, take time to think things through
>>
>>5312422
>You need to sleep on this—even pray on this—before you make a decision [divine consultation]

Why not reach out and ask - there is no rush, she won’t do anything about it today
>>
>>5312422
Supporting Frankensteining Novice Junior
>>
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>>5312506
>>5312465
>>5312457
>>5312444
>>5312439
>>5312436
>>5312433
>>5312430
You take off your helm and take a seta upon a nearby stone-and-wood bench to consider the options carefully. The Dark Gods’ guidance would be invaluable here, but... Do you really need it? And, if they offer it, will you be obliged to accept it, even if you dislike their demands? As the old saying goes, ‘The Dark Gods help those who help themselves, because the helpless are feeble and deserve to perish.’

“Test your theories,” you allow, to the Novice’s muted delight and Glowie’s rather more exuberant response.

“Some sense rattles around in that quarter-ape skull, after all!” The Novice enthuses, unable to help herself from the little dig even as she ‘thanks’ you. Her eyes linger, though, as you self-consciously run your hand through your unkempt and matted mane of hair. “Hm, maybe not much of an ape-skull at all, once I’m done with it… Almost a shame.”

“What?” you ask.

“What?” she replies, then abruptly shifts back to the topic at hand: “I’ll need a dozen kobolds, young ones preferably—ones who can ENDURE.”

It hardly seems like a good way to build loyalty, you note. She scoffs.

“They’re KOBOLDS,” she says. “It’s what they’re FOR. The worm—”

“Glowie.”

“—GLOWIE is too DIFFERENT from us for it to work. I’m still not certain how her internal structures even work! Is there a skeleton in there?”

Glowie shies away a bit under the sudden intense scrutiny you and the Novice both fix upon her. Her disguised form offers little hints as to what lies below.

“There is another option,” you say.

Slowly, all three of you turn your gaze upon the pathetic creature which the Novice has unceremoniously trapped in a wooden cage in one corner: a creature of kobold size, ALMOST kobold shape, but distinctly un-kobold nature. A bristly, mangy, pinkish and scaleless thing stares back from between the bars, at first hopeful that you are here to let it out, and then wary as the Novice starts rattling with amusement.
>>
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>>5312525

“The ‘dog-kobold’?” she asks.

“The Junior Novice,” you correct, for you named this curious creature—acquired from a swindling Silkscale merchant back home—in her dubious ‘honour’.

The Novice crosses her arms, laughter subsiding.

“You call it my junior,” she says, “but when I ask for something suitably freakish to replicate your own form, you present it proudly. Maybe we should call it the Junior Degenerateborn?”

“Perhaps,” you reply, “You should get to work.”

The Novice clucks at you and turns away.

“PERHAPS I will,” she says. “And what of you?”

“Torpor,” you say tiredly, standing up again to seek out your quarters here—your sure have some, or can quickly demand such.

“…Alone?” Glowie asks quietly.

You pause, and…

>Bid Glowie a good rest… In her OWN quarters, while you enjoy some meditative solitude
>Allow Glowie to accompany you for (CHASTE) snuggling
>Cheekily invite the Novice, though you know she’s unlikely to accept
>Actually, on second thought, might see what the deal is with these small, rather athletically-lithe kobold females…
>Might meditate with The Bastard, and discuss the change in his aura you sensed earlier, when he was commanding the kobolds
>Write-in
>>
>>5312530
Here's my write in :
>"You're right, Glowie. Maybe company will be good for me. Hey, Novice, do you need to torpor? That's what I thought... I'll go meditate"

>Might meditate with The Bastard, and discuss the change in his aura you sensed earlier, when he was commanding the kobolds
>On the extremely edge case Novice accept, be dumbstrucked.
>>
>>5312530
>Actually, on second thought, might see what the deal is with these small, rather athletically-lithe kobold females…
After
>"You're right, Glowie. Maybe company will be good for me. Hey, Novice, do you need to torpor? That's what I thought... I'll go meditate"
I’m still curious about our new kobold subjects.
>>
>>5312530
>Cheekily invite the Novice, though you know she’s unlikely to accept
>Might meditate with The Bastard, and discuss the change in his aura you sensed earlier, when he was commanding the kobolds
>>
>>5312536
Support

What IS the deal with these kobolds?
>>
>>5312530
Jesus christ, we need to get rid of Glowie as soon as possible. This isn't cute anymore.

>>5312534
+1
>>
>>5312422
>“A persistent wretch, that one. Too stubborn to die. Twice over now, he survives you!”
He only lives because we allow it.

>You need to sleep on this—even pray on this—before you make a decision [divine consultation]
>Write-in
Consider waiting for a few more days, or maybe a week for us to learn some more flesh weaving. Perhaps we can help.

>>5312530
>Actually, on second thought, might see what the deal is with these small, rather athletically-lithe kobold females…
>Might meditate with The Bastard, and discuss the change in his aura you sensed earlier, when he was commanding the kobolds

>>5312534
>>5312536
>>5312560
Wait so sleep with Glowie? Why?
>>
>>5312573
Not at all. We bait glowie, rebuke her by saying we prefer the real novice, then go meditate
>>
>>5312530
>Cheekily invite the Novice, though you know she’s unlikely to accept
>Might meditate with The Bastard, and discuss the change in his aura you sensed earlier, when he was commanding the kobolds
>Actually, on second thought, might see what the deal is with these small, rather athletically-lithe kobold females…

Why do a complete 180 in personality and start being a dick to Glowie for no reason.
>>
>>5312580
>>5312592
Wait, was that the implication? I thought we were inviting both to torpor with us.
>>
>>5312601
I think a lot of anons thought that but no it’s definitely a dig at Glowie. For absolutely no reason too.
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>>5312609
Then lets not do the dig at Glowie option. I know shes our friend and all, but let's not get weird and fuck the bug.
>>
>>5312609
>>5312617
I don’t understand why’d it’d suddenly be interpreted as OOC mean spirited, but if that’s the case I want to make it clear that I intended to invite both to torpor with us, not intentionally snub Glowie.
>>
>>5312620
Why invite both? Glowie and Novice had plenty of time to sleep, while we have not. Novice seems to want to put in the research from the dragon eggs, and Glowie is.....Glowie. Plus I think our guy needs to bet his meat behind a tree to take care of his hormones for a bit. Like alone.
>>
>>5312623
Hmm.....what if, no maybe not that. Social etiquette and ruined standing and all that. Fucking kobolds is a bad idea.
>>
>>5312534
Backlinking my IP >>5312580
It was intended as a lil bit on trolling on glowie. I want to be mean on that with her because consent is important.
>>
>>5312620
I would like to be clear that I did not intend this and I definitely want to intentionally snub Glowie. If that's too confusing I just want to meditate alone/with the Bastard.

>>5312592
>Why do a complete 180 in personality and start being a dick to Glowie for no reason.
She stopped being cute and started being creepy and horny.
>>
>>5312630
I noticed that sorta too. Perhaps it would be a good idea to discuss this with her, about her apparent horniness and how she should probably find another mate. In like, a very polite manner.
>>
>>5312530
Changing my vote >>5312560 to
>Actually, on second thought, might see what the deal is with these small, rather athletically-lithe kobold females…
>Allow Glowie to accompany you for (CHASTE) snuggling
>Cheekily invite the Novice, though you know she’s unlikely to accept
Fuck the 180 OOC snub.
>>
>>5312643
>OOC
It's literally the start of Thread 2. I strongly disagree that anything we do (short of rejecting the literal premise of the quest) is incapable of being naturally incorporated into our newborn MC, and if the QM disagrees he is welcome to veto.
>>
>>5312643
I fear the snuggling will lead to degeneracy, lick fucking the bug. Tis one of my fears.
I would be less afraid, were it possible to turn Glowie into a 100% lizard.
>>
>>5312630
Its honestly probably in in part because of MC being super pent up sexually, she can feel the effects of the "Royal Command" whose to say she cant feel the effects of repressed hormones if she can use our dna, that isnt to say that it wont provide us with a bonus for if we continue on our no nut shaman route, pure concentration on focusing on ignoring whores and aquiring hoard, very dragonlike and makes the bitches beg for our dick when the time is finally does come
>>
>>5312650
Maybe there is a way to turn her into 100% Lizard, would have to talk with Dragon Mother though. Also, I think the (CHASTE) part indicates that it won’t lead to degeneracy.

You know, I was digging the cute imouto Glowie in the beginning.
>>
>>5312530
>>5312534
+2
>>
>>5312655
I mean, possibly, but it doesn't make me like her any better.

>>5312674
>Also, I think the (CHASTE) part indicates that it won’t lead to degeneracy.
I think this represents the MC's original intentions, but if you don't think Glowie won't try to turn it into spooning you're ridiculous.

>You know, I was digging the cute imouto Glowie in the beginning.
Me too :(
>>
>>5312536
Change the
>"You're right, Glowie
Vote to
>Allow Glowie to accompany you for (UNCHASTE) snuggling, and invite the Novice as well
Fuck da haters
>>
>>5312530
>Might meditate with The Bastard, and discuss the change in his aura you sensed earlier, when he was commanding the kobolds
>>
>>5312530
>Bid Glowie a good rest… In her OWN quarters, while you enjoy some meditative solitude
>Cheekily invite the Novice, though you know she’s unlikely to accept
Could we please be cheeky to novice and then go meditate on what we have found, the deeds we have commited and advancement on dragon?
Yes, I'm a /fit/ard
>>
>>5312530
>Allow Glowie to accompany you for (UNCHASTE) snuggling, and invite the Novice as well
>Actually, on second thought, might see what the deal is with these small, rather athletically-lithe kobold females…
>>
>>5312623
Just to spend some time with them.

>>5312624
Didn’t Big Bro have a kobold harem that tended to his every whim? Sort of makes me hungry for some meat actually.
>>
>>5312713
If I recall correctly, big bro has a silkscale harem, kobolds are probably too far down the social hierarchy
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>>5312721
Was it Silkscales? That would make more sense I guess, it’s not like they’d be a harem of Steeltalons, right?
>>
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Rolled 12, 8, 10, 5, 12 = 47 (5d20)

>>5312706
>>5312699
>>5312695
>>5312690
>>5312683
>>5312677
>>5312643
>>5312592
>>5312573
>>5312570
>>5312560
>>5312538
>>5312534
You are too tired, and too conflicted, to let <appetite> move you to degeneracy. Still…

“You are right, Glowie. Maybe company will be good for me.”

Glowie’s eyes widen slightly, and she starts to stand.

“Hey, Novice Fleshweaver, do you need torpor? You are welcome to join me.”

The Novice flinches, and then turs around to stare at you in shock.

“Do not take liberties, or make assumptions, ‘Dragonborn’, simply because I GRACIOUSLY deigned to share my quarters with you. It is YOU, not ME, which is perpetually in-season!”

You stifle a laugh at her over-the-top denial. You’ve flustered her—a rare turnabout of her usual teasing.

“That's what I thought... I'll go meditate with the Bastard.”

The Novice returns to her word, body language speaking to great irritation and disruption. Her head is bowed over her work bench, her tail twitching and clawed foot tapping agitatedly.

Glowie stares after you, still half-risen, as she was when you jokingly approved of her (you suspect decidedly unchaste) idea. Her expression and body language are… Difficult for you to read, uncanny despite her reptilian guise, but you think she might be… Sad? What is going on with her?

You turn your attentions to meditation, decompressing from your recent adventure in the mountain-depths. The Bastard joins you, and guide you to the ‘room’ of this warren-like complex of manually-widened natural caverns and crevices which will serve as quarters for the two of you commanding, quasi-draconic males of the Master Race. As you meditate together, you confirm what you had earlier sensed was no fluke: the Bastard’s aura of dragonliness has grown, strengthened in your time apart.

“It has?” he asks, surprised. “I supposes… Maybe it is the leadership role? The commanding of kobolds? It does feel… Right, somehow. Natural.”

Hm. Curious. Dominion and domination of lesser reptiles IS part-and-parcel to dragonhood. Maybe, to grow his confidence and to bolster his dragon-soul, more leadership opportunities are what is required? As a youth less than two decades of age, ‘mentoring’ this older, clanless assassin is an odd prospect, but you suppose that is YOUR role as the most-dominant…
>>
>>5312781

>12
…Regardless, the Bastard continues to be frustrated by the same meditative exercise in which you take comfort and find inner growth. He tries, but eventually you both resign yourself to torpor. You, at least, feel as if today—or the last TWO days, really?—have been a period of personal growth.

Choose one stat to improve:
>Swordsmanship
>Archery
>Intimidation
>Divination

When you awake, you find that the Bastard ahs already left. With a start, you realize you have slept a full EIGHT HOURS—twice your usual, natural torpor! You MUST have been tired. With no more time to waste, you rise, don your armour, and set about your day. It will be another day or so before your Infiltrators return from the human settlements beyond the foothill forests.

What do you do in the meantime? Choose no more than three, please:
>Learn more about kobold culture [specify if there’s anything in particular you wish to learn]
>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
>Practice dual-wielding your swords
>Help the Novice in the lab, and see if you can gain a better understanding of her craft
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Explore the surrounding mountain range
>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
>Attempt to commune with a deity for advice [specify if you have one in mind, or what you wish to know]
>Find somewhere private to ‘settle’ your sexual frustration, though of course it is sinful and sickeningly mammalian to do so
>Write-in
>>
>>5312793
>Intimidation
>Have the Bastard drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins.
>Practice dual-wielding your swords
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>>
>>5312793
>Intimidation
>Have the Bastard drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins.
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Explore the surrounding mountain range
>>
>>5312793
>Intimidation

Why fight when we can make them cower in fear

>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
>>
>>5312793
>Swordsmanship

>Learn more about kobold culture [specify if there’s anything in particular you wish to learn]
>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
Kobolds in general? Maybe things they like so we can build up a better rapport with them, in addition to making schemes to make them like us more.
>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
Gotta nip it in the bud.

>>5312845
>>5312863
Why intimidation, and why the choices you've chosen?
>>
>>5312901
Well because killing would be faster wouldn't it? Oh you mean using intimidation to cow the kobolds? Why not train up leadership then?
>>
>>5312903
Intimidation is because of the inevitable dragon ascension we'll have
Bastard drill kobolds to prep is to get his dragon soul going, in case shit goes wrong in the nexr few story posts, and to help the kobolds git gud especially since the surviving ones with us must have told the rest the kind of shit we faced down there
Tomes because reading is power
Explore mountain range to get some nice free time alone, to see what's where in case of human attack, and in case there's other hidden caves or secret routes into (or out of) the mountains
>>
>>5312793
>Swordsmanship

>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Explore the surrounding mountain range

Great job on the write in guys. In succeeded in its one job of making Glowie sad.
>>
>>5312793

>Swordsmanship

>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
>>
>>5312903
Pretty much the same reasoning as >>5312908 except that by practicing dual wielding we might also get a free sword(s) improvement on top of the intimidation
>>
>>5312793
>Divination

>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
that was kinda a dick write in for her

>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Explore the surrounding mountain range
>>
>>5312793
>Swordsmanship

>Have a talk with Glowie—she’s been behaving strangely, and you wish to get to the bottom of this
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Explore the surrounding mountain range

I’m voting to fuck Glowie now because of how retarded that write in was.
>>
>>5312793
>Archery
>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Explore the surrounding mountain range

>>5312915
>>5312969
>>5312974
>noooo you can't vote to hurt my maggot wife's feelsies, i-it's out-of-character!
I'm sorry to break it to you, r/niceguys, but QM doesn't give a fuck what happens to your virtual cumdump.
>>
>>5313036
>wife
Ew never, but she is still a fren.
>>
>>5313036
+1
>>
>>5313036
It's true -- I am entirely prepared to write a Dragonborn that is temperamental, hostile, platonically friendly, OR romantically/sexually interested in Glowie, or any other character. Consider no route unattainable, though some are easier than ithers, nonr will get me to write actual smut, and there may be consequences.
>>
>>5312793
>Divination

>Learn more about kobold culture
>Practice dual-wielding your swords
>Help the Novice in the lab, and see if you can gain a better understanding of her craft
>>
>>5313078
There are no female friends on /qst/. Someone is already voting to fuck her and it was gonna be this way since the beginning and only gonna get worse.
>>5313129
Sometimes you just scare me, RQM.
>>
>>5312793
>Divination
>Practice dual-wielding your swords
>Help the Novice in the lab, and see if you can gain a better understanding of her craft
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
Magic, and draconic related
>>
>>5313160
Fear is one of the possible consequences, yes.
>>
>>5313165
Hope you still enjoy writing despite the maggotfuckery, RQM. Guess it's easier with the level of detachment to choices you seem to have.
>>
Is it wrong that I want to bend Novice over a table and fuck her through a table? She got wide egg laying hips.
>>
>>5313187
We could reject her? Why worsen our relationship if that’s why? Friends exist between opposite sexes just vote to not fuck her if that’s what you want. Don’t actively worsen the relationship for no reason. It’ll have personal and mechanical consequences to our character.
>>
>>5312793
>Divination
>Learn more about kobold culture [koboldgirls]
>Attempt to commune with a deity for advice [Mother of Dragons]
>Find somewhere private to ‘settle’ your sexual frustration, though of course it is sinful and sickeningly mammalian to do so
>>
>>5312793
>Intimidation

>Learn more about kobold culture [koboldgirls]
>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
>Help the Novice in the lab, and see if you can gain a better understanding of her craft
>>
>>5313165
What would happen if we grabbed a harem of kobold gurls? Become a social outcast, or can we "fake it til we make it" hard enough that our status as a Dragonborn outshines our "degeneracy?"
>>
>>5313293
>What would happen if we grabbed a harem of kobold grills?
Mmm… what a feast.

You can consider >>5313129 to be gospel, all routes are achievable, you just have to work for them.
>>
>>5312793
>Archery
>Find somewhere private to ‘settle’ your sexual frustration, though of course it is sinful and sickeningly mammalian to do so
>>
>>5313313
Then I will 100% devote my time towards acquiring a harem of bottom heavy kobolds, Novice, and maybe a Steeltalons with thighs strong enough to crush boulders to powder.
>>
Bookanons, do you think we should commune with the Beholder before or after we start reading? I’m just wondering if there’s some synergy to be had in knowledge pursuits.

>>5313239
Anon be irrational. You can decide not to fucc da bug and still be friends with a princess of another race, not antagonize our race’s proto-successor because you’re autistic in your relationships.
>>
>>5313330
You gotta know that initalizing a communion with a god requires a sacrifice, and I vaguely recall that one of the dark gods hates us, or at least dislikes us. It might be the beholder, so that's something to consider.
As in, lets not do that. We also need to make some offerings for Death and Dragon Ascent to pay out or question debts to them, lest they choose to to take their worth by force.
>>
>>5313335
I highly doubt the beholder has ill will towards us, hes been very generous with his boons of divination, if its any of the dark gods that has it out for us its the persecutor, us being a degenerate leading a ragtag team of degenerates is a huge spit in the face to the literal god of eugenics and pure blood
>>
>>5313329
You’d think you’d change your vote to koboldgirls then. Either way, I hope you have your fun.

>>5313335
The God that hates us is the God of Laws and Chastity, though I don’t know if he actually hates us or our mother. We don’t know if he believe we’re culpable in the sins of our mother.

The Beholder may actually approve of us acquiring knowledge btw.
>>
>>5313363
From thread 1:
>>THE PERSECUTOR SOUGHT TO PURIFY YOUR RACES OF TAINT AND WEAKNESS WITH HIS CASTE SYSTEM, HIS TRADITIONS AND LAWS, HIS CHASTITY… BUT HE DISCOURAGED YOU TO STRIVE, TO ADVANCE. HA, HE MUST LOATHE YOUR TAINTED HERITAGE, AND WHAT YOU ARE BECOMING WITH YOUR BAND OF MISFITS AND OUTCASTS.
>The thought of a Dark God (and one you have such little direct knowledge of) being aware of an actively ANTAGONISTIC towards you is an alarming one. You gulp.

I don't know who the persecutor is. yet.

>>5313366
OOOOOOOH! Okay thanks guys.

>>5312793
Changing vote:
>Swordsmanship
>Learn more about kobold culture [kobold girls]
>Drill the kobolds in readiness for attacks from below, and plan further excavations of the ruins
>Help the Novice in the lab, and see if you can gain a better understanding of her craft
Gotta improve our relation with Novice so we can make her a part of our harem.
QM? How big are we, and how big are kobolds? Would we be able to "fit", or would it be like trying to fit a freight train through a small pipe?
>>
>>5312793
>Archery
>Learn more about kobold culture [kobold girls]
>Borrow and study some of the tomes taken from the ancient library
>Find somewhere private to ‘settle’ your sexual frustration, though of course it is sinful and sickeningly mammalian to do so
>>
>>5313450
What about training the kobolds for our return for the library? Shouldn't we prepare for that? What if the spikey bois try to excavate and steal more things while we're gone?
>>
>>5313454
I thought that’s what the
>Have the Bastard drill the kobolds in readiness
thing was for? Wouldn’t that also help him become more dragon-like as well? I see letting the Bastard train them as killing two birds with one stone.
>>
>>5313472
[The defensive drills and plans for an excavation would be separate matters, as they're very different operations.]
>>
>>5313511
Can we cum inside kobold ladies?
>>
>>5313600
Your hurry to join the Bastard in his morning drills with the kobolds, eager to see how they are progressing—and the Bastard, for that matter! He really does seem more poised and confident, DRACONIC even, when he is standing tall before a line of kobolds drilling group skirmish and flanking tactics.

“They’re naturals,” he notes as you approach, turning only long enough to give you a bow of respect before returning to his charges. “I think they might be more experienced than us, at least in large-scale warfare. While our people have been sending out Infiltrators, assassins, individuals… The kobolds have been living together, fighting alongside each other, in teams.”

“How many kobolds does it take to equal a single member of the Master Race, though?” you ask quiet.

The Bastard laughs quietly, and shrugs.

“If it takes two, even three, these hundred kobolds in this mountain village could destroy our forces—even WITH our missing membership returned. They have pitifully little in the way of subterranean fungus-crops, or livestock—they live as raiders and hunters, exclusively. They are warriors.”

That gives you pause.

“Why DO they follow?” you ask. “Just because I am—because WE are dragons, as they see things?”

The Bastard nods, then stops and shakes his head.

“They have lived here in isolation, but they have never stopped telling the tales. They live now in a village of a hundred—almost all of them cousins, their numbers ever thinned by predators, by battle with their neighbours, by famines and cave-ins. They remember when they thrived in throngs of THOUSANDS, Dragonborn. Just like us… They remember the old times.”

“But they are free now,” you note. “Or… Were so, before we arrived, or before Hapo and Hako played their little joke as ‘Dragonwrought’.”

“A kobold does not wish to be free,” the Bastard observes. “A kobold wishes to serve strength, and to be rewarded and recognized for service. They do not compete for individual glory, but rather for recognition... And recognition as a family unit, as a clan, is better still.

And so you watch as he drives them, harangues and bullies them… And rewards them. Every word of praise drives the kobold on the receiving end to strive harder, to redouble efforts, and the others stare in envy, even as they regard you both with lasting wariness. They recognize your authority... But they do not yet trust you.
>>
>>5313619

“…Their females fight alongside the males,” you note.

You can hardly fail to notice those surprisingly-wide hips. They lack the full rear and tail of the Novice—or Glowie’s false form, even more pronounced and serpentine!—but they have definite sexual dimoprphism once you get used to the local flavour. They males’ horns are longer, the females’ bodies carry more fan and have softer edges. All of them are lean with hard time and the vagaries of battle and labour, however, and all adults practice the drills.

(You feel your <appetite> piqued, and idly wonder how their small, tight bodies would… Accommodate… One of your size. You dismiss the intrusive thought—you are DRAGONBORN, no slave-diddler.)

“They do,” the Bastard acknowledges. “So do ours. The Novice and… That other one. They fight, when we all must.”

“Their females fight as well as their males,” you clarify.

“Better!” the Bastard adds half-jokingly, with a laugh. “The kobolds have long served the Mother of Dragons here, I gather. They were primarily nest-attendants in old days, and treasure-counters. Maybe that’s why they’re fertile so often…”

You blink.

“What?” you ask, not sure you heard right.

“Oh, yes,” the bastard notes, suddenly embarrassed at his observation. “They owe their population not to larger clutches of eggs, but shorter gestation, and more frequent… Ah…”

“They go into heat annually?” you ask, surprised.

The bastard shakes his head, and for a moment you think they are more like your own race’s females—pore only to a semi-annual season of fertility and desire.

“Once every six months,” the Bastard whispers, scandalously. “Sometimes three times, if weather and food permit.”

You watch the females running their laps, leaping and dodging obstacles on a course through a mountain pass which the Bastard has set up. The males are there too, yes… But you watch the females.

“By the Dark Gods,” you murmur, feeling very warm and constricted in your armour as you watch their tails sway.

>>5313584
(You bet they’d stretch. Nnf.)
>>
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>>5313621
>>5313621
You hastily retire from the training-ground, returning to the mountain’s interior to calm yourself. To stem your indecent arousal, you taking reading from your retinues new collection of books, charts, and maps… Especially those about divination by stars and naturals signs, and those relating to the local area.

>+Divination

Though the ethnographies and political geographies are sadly out-of-date, by centuries or even millennia, you learn quite a bit about the natural environs and weather of this area… And how this, and the star-ordained fates, dictate how and where settlements and nations arise here. Where the kobolds currently dwell, great powers have long been nested. The mountain interior, properly utilized and with the volcano active, is a perfect fortress for those incline in fire-magic, denying entry from below and offering power in the form of natural earth-mana to the defenders, as well as an excellent terrain advantage to the mountaineer (or those who, like a dragon, can soar above the difficult, army-stymying ravines and chasms.

Elsewhere, in the forests below, the woodland is lush and replete with opportunity for smaller groups, fed on game and grouse, fruit and berry. Rarely does a lasting power of note form here, for there is rarely need to band together in great number… Save when aggravated by the mountain above and, with the plentiful food often available negotiation is often easier than rebellion. That humans dwell there now, untamed, is a quirk of your own race’s fallen fortune… But a lack of known natural resources easily accessible to ignorant surfacers explains why no great human kingdom has come from the further forests and plains to extend their dominion hence.

The real resources are further into the mountain, and deeper down. You have heard kobolds grumble of dwarves, their natural enemies in this place—of dwarven ‘corporations’ of prospectors scoping out veins of ore or clusters of gems, or other earthborn valuables, and setting up company-towns around them.

“They don’t retreat, even when it’s foolish! Kill kobolds for nothing of use! Just…. ‘Honour’.”

“They hold grudges… Never forgive, never forget. Raid because MUST! Dwarf says, ‘raiders must die,’ and they mean raider’s hatchlings and siblings, also.”

“They dismantle kobold traps… And leave critiques! Little notes, insulting workmanship! Easy for dwarf to say, all fat on iron, buying food instead of hunt!”

Studying the star-charts tells you where magic and fates form confluence most often, aside from the place where you and your kobolds currently dwell—a messy intersection of leylines at the ‘heart’ of the mountains. The mountains are home to many small dwarven settlements… But their central trading hub will be THERE, wheree the mountains begin to wear down and flatten with age, and where there is greater access to the sea.
>>
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>>5313632
You close your tome and summon the last member of your retinue, to whom you have not spoken much or checked in on: the Thief, a Silkscale male branded with a mark of shame for theft from a superior, and betrayal of his betters among the Master Race. He h as proven invaluable as a scout, and you ask him his opinion on exploring the mountains.

“We could muster an expedition,” he muses quietly, as quietly as he does and says most things. “Would we be raiding, treating, or avoid the dwarves?”

>Raid the dwarves—steal their things, drive them out of your mountain, and put them on warning
>Open negotiations with these mammals, at least for now—the kobolds of Bloodrise have a new master, and he wishes to trade goods and knowledge
>Avoid them, and observe from afar; chart them, their numbers and resources, their comings and goings… But avoid discovery
>OPEN WAR—destroy all dwarves, in a brutal blitzkrieg

“And what of the other mammals?” the Thief asks.

You stare daggers at him.

“Apologies, Superior One,” he grimaces, bowing low. “I… Was coming to tell you. While you have been busying yourself, so too have I. I have been scouting the woodlands below, keeping watch for our returning forces. There are… Adventurers, I suppose. Queerly-attired mammals, a half-elf and some humans, and a little one—halfling. They have been snooping around the abandoned human-turned-kobold settlement.

This is a concern—if they find kobolds, they may kill them, or capture them for information. If nobody interrupts their ransacking of the twice-abandoned village, they may see this as sign of kobold weakness and come further up the mountain in search of glory and treasure… But then, you could always withdraw, you suppose, or silence them most brutally.

What do you do about the adventurers?
>Let them snoop—just make sure nobody sees you or your forces
>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back
>Confront them directly, and announce your dominion of this place—it is YOURS, and you will not cower from monkeys in your own wood!

[Write-ins are allowed. Please also specify where you, personally, want to go (ie. staying put, going deeper into the mountain, or heading down-the-mountain to deal with the adventurers)]
>>
>>5313634
>Open negotiations with these mammals, at least for now—the kobolds of Bloodrise have a new master, and he wishes to trade goods and knowledge
>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back
>>
>>5313644
Oh yeah and go to the negotiations. I'm sure something can be worked out with the Dwarves, maybe even some conversion. I'm at least hoping for a understanding based on hatred for the spiky scavengers. I'm guessing they're at thorn for the dwarves too.
>>
>>5313634
>Avoid them, and observe from afar; chart them, their numbers and resources, their comings and goings… But avoid discovery
>Find and open negotiations with the SPIKY dwarves. Perhaps for a joint raid/war on the mammals (dwarves).

Actually thinking about it the spiky dwarves seem more like the type of race who would indulge in dark god worship. I'm sure they hate the regular Dwarf's for one reason or another and seem to be pragmatic scavengers. I'm sure they would see reason for an alliance despite the fighting earlier. They should at least know our fighting power is nothing to scoff at. We're somewhat of a leader of outcasts and so they would fit right in. A dark underground alliance would be pretty cool with us, the drow, and the scavengers.

>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back
>>
>>5313634
>Avoid them, and observe from afar; chart them, their numbers and resources, their comings and goings… But avoid discovery

>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back

Fuck a kobold while we have the time
>>
>>5313634
>Avoid them, and observe from afar; chart them, their numbers and resources, their comings and goings… But avoid discovery
>Find and open negotiations with the SPIKY dwarves. Perhaps for a joint raid/war on the mammals (dwarves).
>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back

Only if they get the fuck out of the ruins ally
>>
>>5313679
+1
Eiffel tower with bastard to improve draconic bond
>>
don’t fuck a random kobold please
>>
>>5313675
+1
I do not support random coomerism.
>>
>>5313634
>Avoid them, and observe from afar; chart them, their numbers and resources, their comings and goings… But avoid discovery

>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back
Have kobolds harass them with guerilla tactics
>>
>>5313723
Then why don't we recruit a thicc kobold lady into our retinue?
>>
>>5313750
(you)
>>
>>5313634
>Avoid them, and observe from afar; chart them, their numbers and resources, their comings and goings… But avoid discovery
They could be in league with or thrall to the leader guy we saw in the vision. He's still at large
>Send a force down to destroy them, before these ‘adventurers’ can report anything back
No survivors
>>
>>5313785
Supporting this
>>
>>5313799
>>5313785
>>5313727
>>5313723
>>5313687
>>5313684
>>5313679
>>5313675
>>5313644
You command the Thief and Cartographer to lead an expedition into the so-called ‘dwarven mountains’ plotting their routes, resources, and held territories.

“As for the so-called adventurers,” you snarl, “END them.”

“Your will shall be done” the Bastard agrees, bowing.

“And what force will you accompany, Superior One?” the Thief asks.

You will…
>Stay here, and maybe attempt to make some conversation—and maybe find common-ground—with a fat-bottomed kobold girl
>Journey down into the Bloodrise once more, to attempt to bond with the spiky, dwarf-like (?) barbed devils, to ally against the dwarves
>Join the dwarf-territory expedition
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle
>Have a long-overdue discussion with Glowie about boundaries and consent
>Write-in

[Closing one vote, streamlining another]
>>
>>5313801
>Journey down into the Bloodrise once more, to attempt to bond with the spiky, dwarf-like (?) barbed devils, to ally against the dwarves
>>
>>5313801
>Journey down into the Bloodrise once more, to attempt to bond with the spiky, dwarf-like (?) barbed devils, to ally against the dwarves
>>
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>>5313801
>Stay here, and maybe attempt to make some conversation—and maybe find common-ground—with a fat-bottomed kobold girl
When we gonna get a normal friend that's not grumpy (novice), horny (glowie), or simpy (followers)?
I wanna get nasty with some hand holding.
>>
>>5313801
>Journey down into the Bloodrise once more, to attempt to bond with the spiky, dwarf-like (?) barbed devils, to ally against the dwarves

Please no fat bottomed reptiles
>>
>>5313801
>>Have a long-overdue discussion with Glowie about boundaries and consent
Nip the bug-squashing in the bud
>>
>>5313817
Life has no meaning without phat bottom bolds.
>>
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>>5313823
>>
>>5313801
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle

GLORIOUS BATTLE AWAITS
>>
>>5313825
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMnjF1O4eH0
T
H
I
C
C
>>
>>5313801
>Journey down into the Bloodrise once more, to attempt to bond with the spiky, dwarf-like (?) barbed devils, to ally against the dwarves
>>
>>5313829
Please spoiler this next time lmfao
>>
>>5313855
I forgot to make it spoiler.
>>
>>5313801
>Stay here, and maybe attempt to make some conversation—and maybe find common-ground—with a fat-bottomed kobold girl
>>
>>5313801
>Stay here, and maybe attempt to make some conversation—and maybe find common-ground—with a fat-bottomed kobold girl
>>
>>5313801
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle
TO BATTLE!
>>
>>5313801
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle
>>5313239
>>5313330
You're delusional if you think that faggots who want to fuck the bug won't vote to fuck her as soon as they get an opportunity regardless of our choices.
>>
>>5313806
I will also support meeting the adventurers in battle. I just want to stop the slavefucker menace.
>>
>>5313821
Backtracking; changing my vote to
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle
>>5313914
You're right. It's Foxanon all over again. Why can't we get anything nice? Because of you degenerate coomers.
>>
>>5313914
>>5313915
I can't believe there are normal players in this quest, please vote more often. Also consider giving the worm a boot before MC does something regrettable.
>>
>>5313923
I've voted in nearly every update this and last thread, I just changed IPs halfway through.

>consider giving worm the boot
>>5312570
Way ahead of you.
>>
>>5313923
>>5313929
I'm IP-hoping but voting almost all updates.
>>
>>5313801
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle

Lets make sure the kobols murder the mage first, not join at the start of the skirmish.
Reminder WE CANNOT risk discovery by the wider civilization, we join in either to crush the adventurers or block their avenues of escape.
This is the same reason why I'm against joining the scouting party, dwarfs might be too entrenched for us to blitz without the our martial reinforcements.
We could also further novice's research by bringing her some live subjects
>>
>>5313801
>Stay here, and maybe attempt to make some conversation—and maybe find common-ground—with a fat-bottomed kobold girl
If only to wind up the whiners.
>>
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle.

I think the adventurers are a more direct threat than the dwarfs, who seem to mostly only fight the kobalds when they interfere with their mining or in retaliation raids.
>>
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>>5313817
>>5313821
>>5313828
>>5313854
>>5313897
>>5313898
>>5313901
>>5313912
>>5313915
>>5313964
>>5313965
>>5313983
You mull over the half-formed notion of an alliance of some sort with the barbed ‘devils’—those dark-dwelling beings who, as pragmatic scavengers of the deep places, MAY be open to alliance and to conversion to the Dark Gods. With THEIR aid, a raid on dwarven settlements could be possible, and mutually beneficial! However, to even find them, you would need to reopen the tunnels and ruin-rooms which your magic collapsed, and if such a diplomatic effort failed you would face threats on THREE fronts. You dismiss the idea for now…

And you likewise shake off the persistent notion of staying behind to ‘familiarize yourself with the local culture.’ You have been walking around in a persistent state of arousal ever since your earlier discussion of kobold females, kept in check only by your well-honed self-mastery, but this is NOT the time. These new and more pressing developments take precedent!

(And anyway, none of these kobold females have quite the same girth and squeezability that… Well, moving on.)

Instead. You resolve to join your forces in repelling—nay, DESTROYING UTTERLY—the adventurers invading your domain. You wanted no reports going back to the so-called ‘civilization’ down below the hills of Bloodrise; now, this is doubly the case, for word CANNOT get out of the Reptilian Master Race, which has so long operated in shadows… Nor of you, nor the Dragonborn Project.

How will you destroy the adventurers?
>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers
>Go in with Glowie—she IS surprisingly strong and stealthy—and with a smaller force, perfect for a surgical assassination
>Go alone, assume <Improved Dragonshape>, and burn the abandoned settlement—and all the adventurers in it—to ash, hunting and killing any who manage to escape
>Ask the Novice for a subtler method—poison, magic-or other such methods which will leave no trace that you were ever there
>Write-in
>>
>>5313825
We were featured in Furry Space Empress Quest alongside a jew and a blue space monke. Is this good, bad or horrible?
>>5313929
Nice
>Way ahead of you
Saw that post, ye. I wanted her out the second I realized my mistake of giving worms benefit of the doubt, after RQM confirmed that Foxxy could've been an ally. Little did I know, it'd turn into worst kind of degeneracy and it was QM who made the maggot try to seduce incel anons, not the other way around.
I just wanted a based alliance of reptilians and Zergs, where we bring humans to their knees together >:l
>>5313942
Oh nice. I'm a phonefag, trying to vote every update, but inevitably missing some.
>>
>>5313801
>Go to meet the adventurers in glorious battle.


Changing vote. Now’s not the time for coom when we’re dealing with stuff. The anons who are threatening to squash the bug and are generally just hostile to women because they’re afraid we’ll fuck them are annoying, though. You don’t HAVE to be an asshole to Glowie, you can vote against any sort of romance when the vote comes up, the only reason we’re getting bombarded with reminders of her hormones is because we voted to DELAY it by pussy footing around.
>>
>>5314090
>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers
Blitzkrieg.
>>
>>5314090
>Go in with Glowie—she IS surprisingly strong and stealthy—and with a smaller force, perfect for a surgical assassination

Have the talk with her and kill the mages. Multi-task
>>
>>5314096
You are correct that Glowie's shift is deliberate, and her persistence was because of the lack of direct rejection.

Also, you're a vote behind.

>>5314095
The fact that someone considers my work worth mentioning in tandem with Space Monke Supreme Ruler is extremely flattering.
>>
>>5314111
+1
>>
>>5314090
>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers
Does Novice have the amulet ready to hide our appearance? We want no chance of people discovering us.
>>
>>5314090
>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers

Encircle then kill, there cannot be an avenue of escape for them
>>
And then we can bond with that cute kobold girl. The sooner we're rid of the hormones, the more powerful the post nutt clarity.
>>
>>5314111
+1
>>
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>>5314134
Stop.
>>
>>5314090

>Go in with Glowie—she IS surprisingly strong and stealthy—and with a smaller force, perfect for a surgical assassination
>>
>>5314090
>Go in with Glowie—she IS surprisingly strong and stealthy—and with a smaller force, perfect for a surgical assassination
Fast and decisive
>>
>>5314090
>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers
>>
>>5314090
>Go in with Glowie—she IS surprisingly strong and stealthy—and with a smaller force, perfect for a surgical assassination
We may want to take this time to tell her how were feeling about the whole bug fuckery so she understands were not interested, it may be helpful to say we might help her find that partner but its not us
>>
>>5314114
>worth mentioning in tandem with Space Monke Supreme Ruler
Told you your writing is great, anons might not talk that much of RI/DA quests, but they sure af don't go unnoticed. That's what you get for being a sentient typewriter capable of putting out two quality updates a day for several months.
>>5314143
Don't give (You)s, just let the /trash/ wither and die with chaste votes, anon.
>>5314292
I can't wait for this to end in coomfuckery the second the conversation-topic vote rolls in.
>>
>>5314292
What do you mean not interested? We’re going to fuck her until she has enough dragon juice for five colonies worth of bugs.
>>
>>5314292
see 5314323
>>
>>5314324
I’m only voting for it because of they write in. I was fine with a platonic friendship but that write in was such a retard move that it broke my brain. Now we must fuck her in atonement.
>>
>HNNNG I suddenly must fuck the MAGGOT-FACTORY because anon dared to insult my QWEEN'S FEELINGS and that's OOC
said the newfag shitter trying to justify his ooc bullshit
>>
>>5314090
>Ask the Novice for a subtler method—poison, magic-or other such methods which will leave no trace that you were ever there
>>
gonna be honest only the judgement of the Novice is preventing me from getting Glowie mega preggo

if we had some way of concealing the act from her I'd be down to found the bug kingdom
>>
>>5314391
We could tell Glowie to keep our “relations” a secret. It’s not like Glowie doesn’t already act overly horny for us anyways. The Novice probably wouldn’t be able to tel the difference.
>>
>>5314090
>Go in with Glowie—she IS surprisingly strong and stealthy—and with a smaller force, perfect for a surgical assassination

On that note it's time for DA TALK
>>
>>5314090
>Ask the Novice for a subtler method—poison, magic-or other such methods which will leave no trace that you were ever there
Because the mysterybox option will keep more adventurers away due to the sheer mystery/fear factor.
>>
>>5314397
she could smell it on us
>>
>>5314403
I'll advise you to read other thread and show me one time where anons/adventurer didn't picked the mystery box
>>
>>5314090
>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers
This will be a wonderful bonding experience with the Bastard and the Bolds.
>>
>>5314090
If we’re tied you can change my vote with the Bastard. It doesn’t seem like the Novice Horror Movie option isn’t on the table.
>>5314403
>>
[Post incoming!]
>>
>>5314090
>>Bring the Bastard and your full force of kobold warriors, to surround and annihilate them through force of numbers
Wanna see these little fuckers in action, preferably at night using guerrilla tactics.
>>
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>>5314650
[Sorry, already was writing... And it would have just tied things up and delayed the post, anyway!]

>>5314097
>>5314111
>>5314119
>>5314133
>>5314135
>>5314116
>>5314170
>>5314178
>>5314246
>>5314292
>>5314350
>>5314400
>>5314481
>>5314626
>>5314649

While you ARE curious to see the little kobolds in action, to see this martial dash which you have thus far seen demonstrated primarily in the Bastard’s drills or against YOU, you think better of it. A small force, traveling at night and using the tried-and-true techniques of the assassin or guerilla… They can end this threat more efficiently, and without risking any coward escaping the heat of battle. And anyway…

“Glowie, to me.”

…There’s a long-due conversation to be had with your most-capable assassin, the glow-worm princess.

Initially, she is delighted to be summoned by you, though you notice her joy is more muted than usual, and she in uncharacteristically hesitant to touch you. Her hands fidget, and occasionally flit to your own, as if she wishes to clasp yours. It makes you feel… Strange, not good. You can’t place it.

“We are going to lead a small squadron of kobold assassins to the abandoned village. There are adventurers camped out down there, which we must destroy utterly.”

Glowie’s puzzlement is palpable.

“Murdering, looting homeless mammals, essentially,” you explain.

“Ah!” she says, and nods. “We can kill them, yes! Silk to muffle, venom to paralyze… Happy to help!”

“I am glad to hear it,” you acknowledge.

After all: she is not technically a subordinate, and while you automatically frame it as instruction, and order, you suppose you ought to be treating it as a request. Glowie doesn’t seem to mind, though—the worm-woman wiggles slightly at your command, as if… Excited.

Well, no time like the present, you suppose.
>>
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>>5314696
You clear your throat, and finally address the tension which has hovered over the last two weeks directly:

“I require your full attention to be on the mission,” you tell her.

She nods, and quietly sways.

“NOT on these… Lewd desires you have been lately expressing.”

Glowie stops swaying, and blinks once, saying nothing. Her expression is neutral, but her body language is stiff. She trembles slightly. If you didn’t know better, you’d think she was going to CRY. Can… Can a bug even do that? Even REPTILIANS rarely do so.

“…Not understand,” she whispers softly.

“I am a Reptilian… A Dragonborn, my people’s champion. I am meant to stay—and to breed—with pureblooded, noble Reptilians.”

“But Novice Fleshweaver says you are… Hybrid, mixed. ‘Degenerateborn.’”

You cringe, holding back a harsh retort. She speaks the words innocently. She does not fully understand the implication—you can tell.

“Yes, well… That is one thing. This… Intimacy, and constant agitation for… For MATING… It cannot continue.”

Glowie is trembling more violently now. You aren’t really sure how to respond, what to do. You’ve never seen anyone, of any race, this emotional. You are completely caught off-guard when, to your shock and horror, she throws herself to the ground in a display of anguish. She tears the Amulet of Disguise from her neck and hurls it aside, and her modified take on the Novice’s form wraps and twists back into hr natural form, with her swollen, worm-like body, her glowing eyespots, her four eyes, her pedipalp-like mandibles, and her altogether too many legs.

…And yet, still, her despair is obvious. It takes you some time to coax her into donning the amulet again, if only so you can properly communicate.

“Not understand…” she repeats. “Grandmother said you would like! I did all reptile things, and mammal things, for courtship! She said you would… You would…”

Oh no. She’s trembling again. Panicking, you reach out and grab her hand. This craved contact seems to steady her. The shameless seductress is nowhere to be seen, though—just the shy, affectionate young creature you first met.
>>
>>5314697
“Grandmother, you said? You mean… The Mother of Dragons?”

“Queen of Queens,” she acknowledges, nodding. “Yes… Comes to me, in dreams, sometimes.”

This is a shock to discover. It seems you are not the ONLY one in your retinue receiving divine visitations.

“What did she say?” you ask.

“Grandmother said that if we mate… I will birth soldiers, warriors. Powerful sons! If not… Just like Mother’s brood. Drones, big glowworms, but not… Smart. And daughters, maybe, like me.”

You recall when YOU were last visited by a God, The Serpent Ascendant, and what he said of the ambitions of the Dark Godddess in question. The Mother of Dragons, also called Lady of the Rookery, believed strongly that the path forward for the forces of Darkness was to supplement ore replace the Reptilian races and their Dragon Kings with… Other things. Great beasts, marching monsters. A legion of horror, to consume mammalkind and the false gods who reign over them.

“She said that you wanted a mate, too,” Glowie mumbles, squeezing your hand tightly. “That you needed… Queen. That if… Helped you, our hive would grow into big swarm… Rule the world.”

She looks up at you, almost pathetically.

“…You don’t want to do that, with me? Just once, and then... Glowie can leave..."

You consider how to reply, and you…
>Pull back you hand, and declare that you will NEVER lower yourself to breed with a bug, nor allow her disgusting kind to overtake your noble people
>Kindly explain that, while you aren't attracted to her and your people come first, you DO value her as an ally... Even a friend
>Offer to find her an alternative mate, to help enable this prophecy… But you cannot bring yourself to have sex with a giant glow-worm, no matter her external appearance or your emotional attachments
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
>Awkwardly excuse yourself without answering—this is just too weird and confusing
[Write-ins and modifications also permitted]
>>
>>5314704
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon

If the mothers of dragons wants it it’s hard to say no
>>
>>5314704
>>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
C'mon the Hybrids!
>>
>>5314704
Make sure to let her know that her brood isn't going to be "supplementing" the reptilian race, but coexisting with them as partners. We're forming a dark alliance and there's no need to jockey for the top spot when we're all equals.

>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
>>
>>5314704
>Dark God literally demands it
Welp, that ends my neutrality.
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
Take a bath after though.
>>
>>5314704
>The dark gods put us mortals against each others for their machinations. You're great company Glowie but, what the goddess wants might be different than what you want.
>>
>>5314704
>Kindly explain that, while you aren't attracted to her and your people come first, you DO value her as an ally... Even a friend
>Offer to find her an alternative mate, to help enable this prophecy… But you cannot bring yourself to have sex with a giant glow-worm, no matter her external

>>5314707
>>5314709
>>5314710
>>5314724
Sex with Glowie seems really out of left fields ngl.
>>
>>5314704
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
Rip virginity.
>>
>>5314704
>Kindly explain that, while you aren't attracted to her and your people come first, you DO value her as an ally... Even a friend

>>5314707
The mother of dragons wants to replace us with bugs dont she?

>>5314710
and the rest of lizardkind will agree to that sentiment?
>>
We literally learned last thread that the Dark Gods suck, and the Mother of Dragons sucks most of all. Seriously, guys.

>>5314737
>>5314740
>>5314754
+1 any of these
>>
>>5314704
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
Best keep it quiet for now.
>>
>>5314754
I mean I don't think they would agree with the sentiment of allying with the dark elves or accepting the kobolds as much into the fold as we are either. I assume we're building a dark alliance on our own right now and figuring it out later. We're clearly not an isolationist.
>>
>>5314765
What do you mean keep it quiet for now? The mother of dragons conspire against lizards and you want to enable their take over? Are you crazy? Just because Glowie had an emotional outburst doesnt entitle her to hot dragonborn ding dong. Quite the opposite really. Plus she's not even that old. She needs more time to think on this before commiting to a big decision like who she wants to mate with, not what her goddess (who dont support us no more) tells her.
Plus theres the fact she looks like a bug. Not a cute anime face girl with vague attractive features. Shes straight up a bug
>>
Seriously- you guys crumple at the slightest sight of crying and you give her everything she wants on a Silver plater? I'm not saying we should help friends out, but we have to cross a line at bug fucker. Plus you can expect her to demand more fugg in the future, and that secret wont last forever.
>tl;dr stop simping on a literal macro size bug
>>
>>5314704
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
Smash those bug cheeks!
>>
>>5314770
With the elves it would be an easier pill to swallow, but bugs? They're expected to *replace us.*
>>
Am I wrong to assume samepost is at play here? I dont ever recall this many people wanting to fuck Glowie. Am I paranoid?
>>
>>5314777
They're going to try that with or without us. That's why it's important to foster a relationship with them so that instead of them lurking in the caves waiting for our downfall they instead join us against the surfaces races.

My biggest hope is some kind of dialogue with the mother of dragons where we confront her about her abandonment and come to some kind of understanding.
>>
>>5314782
I mean the fucking Glowie vote in the last thread only lost by one vote. It's been a pretty popular thing for a while. It's just that the people who don't want to fuck Glowie are REALLY vocal about it.
>>
>>5314704
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon

>>5314782
mad
>>
>>5314775
>>5314777
Actually, my motivation is to bring the Mother of Dragons back into the Reptilian corner mainly. I’m an Oldfag, and the Infiltrator’s devotion to the Dark Gods means something to me, we can’t simply dismiss their desires outright. I would be willing to get official confirmation from the Dark Goddess herself before we take the plunge.
>>
>>5314802
The oppressor would likely be vehemently opposed too crossing reptilian and mutant glow worm blood.

The Serpent ascendant was somewhat opposed too it, (since he believes strength comes from within via personal triumph and not via simply amassing numbers.)

The other gods are probably net neutral on it. However i pretty sure the serpent ascendant (since reptilians are male dominated) and the oppressor (the serpent priest class, the ruling class follow his dogma very strictly.) Are the gods which hold the most sway within our society.

>Offer to find her an alternative mate, to help enable this prophecy… But you cannot bring yourself to have sex with a giant glow-worm, no matter her external appearance or your emotional attachments
-Writ in: Commune with the gods before coming too a conclusion.
>>
>>5314782
COOMERS are a plague on all quest's, they fuck over long term strategy for shipper shit.
>>
>>5314832
I'm not shipping anything, I just think we should see how the brood turns out, for science! As far as political purposes go, we could use glowie's mom as an ally against the reptilian hierarchy to hasten our own ascension unto power.
>>
>>5314704
>Kindly explain that, while you aren't attracted to her and your people come first, you DO value her as an ally... Even a friend
>Offer to find her an alternative mate, to help enable this prophecy… But you cannot bring yourself to have sex with a giant glow-worm, no matter her external appearance or your emotional attachments

Either of these - or both

Everyone who is voting to fuck the big because she’s sad, you’re insane

It’s literally voting to replace our Reptilian race with bugs…
>>
>>5314835
We were already decently high up on the ladder. Due to our size and draconic aura only serpent priests regularly challenged us.

And with this latest victory on the campaign and treasure gathering (with no casualties on top of that.), our status will undoubtedly grow even further.

We don't need some bug's too gain more power within our race. And indeed its more than likely being know as a species mixer will hurt our status.
>>
>>5314856
Be honest. Are you the roaming ID anon samefagging?
>>
>>5314875
I don't know if you're talking about me or the other anti-Glowie guy, but I'm >>5313929.
>>
>>5314882
Nah, just that guy. He types like him and no one else really seems to press the idea that we’re fucking her because she’s sad. It’s a strange point that only he’s made since I don’t think really anyones doing it because she’s sad. It’s for coom, political, religious and other reasons why anons are voting for it really.
>>
>>5314887
Honestly I really shouldn’t have said anything accusing people of samefagging just bogs down the thread. Sorry RQM. I’ll stop now.
>>
>>5314828
I would like to get the Prosecutor’s favor, but I think we’d never get it because of our bloodline, so I don’t we could change his feelings even if we appeased him at every opportunity.

I largely agree with the Serpent Ascendant, and I think we should take power by our own merits, which is why any ‘Dark Alliance’ will be subservient to us and by extension the Reptilians, but we can’t make up for the surface dweller population game by sheer might and brutality alone, we need allies to help bolster and cover for the Master Race’s population shortfall.

Beyond that, courting the favor of the Mother of Dragons would be beneficial to us and the reptilians as a whole, and maybe she can actually assist us instead of getting insurance on the Master Race’s fall.
>>
>>5314875
>>5314782
>accusations of vote-rigging
[I do not believe that's happening, at least not to any great degree, in this thread. We usually get between five to ten votes per post, with fifteen being the upper limit. We have fourteen now. However, for the sake of argument, see pic related. I'm keeping an eye on it.]

>>5314890
It is possible to earn the favour of the Persecutor of the Weak... But not if you continue to treat 'lessers', criminals, and hybrids with the respect you have thus far. Mating with a bug-creature would make earning that favour back INCREDIBLY difficult.
>>
>>5314890
Prosecutor is a big idiot. Maybe singlehandedly responsible for our race's fall from grace. If he ever appears in our dreams I'm voting to tell him to eat shit and die.
>>
>>5314891
>spoiler
That… would have been nice to know beforehand. I was operating under the assumption that he already hates our existence, and if we can actually discuss the merits of courting his favor I would’ve been for that discussion.

Now I’m debating the merits of changing my vote. On one hand, I’d love to r talk to the Prosecutor and pick his mind about his choices a bit. On the other hand, sentiment like >>5314892 worries me that such an overture would backfire and be doomed for failure anyway.
>>
>>5314905
[You always have the option to commune and, like, I said at >>5313129, no route people are sufficiently invested in --- not JUST romantic ones -- is 100% off-the-table. It might just be very difficult to achieve. The Persecutor being your patron or ally is such a difficult route, though it would have been easier if the first thread hadn't showcased the Dragonborn being repeatedly transgressive and favouring outcasts, lowborn reptoids, and hybrids.]
>>
>>5314910
I think our transgressive nature came more from the revealing of our true heritage and anons voting on that basis. If that had never been revealed, I’m sure we would have defaulted to the Master Race’s norms.

I wouldn’t mind trying to regain the Prosecutor’s favor, but it ultimately comes down to the majority’s investment in that route. Certainly something to think about. Hmmm…
>>
>>5314917
We’re far down degenerate route it’d be a huge shake up to get rid of let me check…

Our entire party.
>>
>>5314926
Actually, we could probably keep the intelligentsia, but your point isn’t lost on me. I guess it ultimately comes down to if anons would be willing to court the Prosecutor at the expense of our party, the Bastard, and our treatment of other ‘lessers’.
>>
>>5314910
>>5314891
Hey QM, whats the general standing/ranking of each the dark gods in the eyes of reptilian society??
>>
>Offer to find her an alternative mate, to help enable this prophecy… But you cannot bring yourself to have sex with a giant glow-worm, no matter her external appearance or your emotional attachments
>-Write in: Commune with the gods before coming too a conclusion
>>
>>5314941
[The Persecutor is widely admired and venerated for his role in keeping society together in the Aeon of Humiliation -- pure, intact, strong, segregated appropriately, guided by strong morals and norms, directed by a central hierarchy with a powerful sense of tradition which goes back further than most other races have EXISTED.

The Mother of Dragons is considered vital, widely hailed by Fleshweavers (a powerful class) and by females (...less so) as vitally important. She takes very little active role in religious life outside of fertility and birth ceremonies, though. This was not ALWAYS so, but which came first: her decline in ritual, or her disinterest in Reptilians?

The Master of the Insightful Eye (or Baleful Beholder) is beloved and worshiped by Starseers and intellectuals, and thus widely regarded by Serpent Priests in particular. He is a distant god to the rest of lizardkind, but is regarded as a chief architect of the Grand Design, and none would ever speak lowly of him or sideline him in major rituals.

The Serpent Ascendant is considered a masculine ideal, and is regarded with GREAT veneration by the martially-inclined and by war-leaders. He is held up as symbolic of great personal virtue, of manhood, of ambition and of decisive action. It is sometimes said that “now is not the Serpent’s time, but his time will come,” and that time is understood to mean a new Age of Scales. He’s a big deal, but not a very PERSONAL god to some of the clans, let alone the Serpent Priesthood.

Death is feared, respected, and never loved. He’s seen as a traitor by those who know he willingly works with the Gods of Light, but also… He is Death, Lord of Endings. Even the other Gods know not to speak too ill of him. None are safe from him. Reptilians pray for mercy from him, or that he will claim their enemies, but only if they are truly desperate. EVERYONE visits his shrine at some point, because NOBODY wants to earn his ire.

There are many lesser gods, too, and demigods, and Reptilians not-infrequently work with Demon Princes (essentially ascended demons, close to godhood) when their goals align, which sometimes edges into religious territory… But demons are usually regarded as tools or fair-weather friends, beneath the respectability of even the least Dark God proper.]
>>
>>5314953
I think I’ll take you up on your option to commune with the gods. Tradition is important, but so are population numbers, and I wonder if there is an accord to be made between the Mother and the Prosecutor over this. I would really like to bring the Dragon Mother back on the reptilian’s side without pissing off the Prosecutor.
>Commune with the Dark Gods
>>
>>5314875
Nope, phone posting

I can point back to other votes in this thread, like this one >>5313828
>>
>>5314704
>>5314953
>>5314975
I am coming after the battle, but
>Commune with the Dark Gods
I'd wish to get Master of Insightful Eye and Mither of Dragons thought on the subject.
>>
The dark god are going to be neutral except for persecutor who hates us and worm
>>
>>5314704
>Give your virginity to Glowie, before you leave—if you keep it quiet, or spin it right, such a divinely-favoured brood of warriors could actually be quite the boon
Dark elf favorite but might as well pop the cherry
>>
>>5314704
>Commune with the Dark Gods
>>
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>>5314707
>>5314709
>>5314710
>>5314740
>>5314747
>>5314754
>>5314763
>>5314765
>>5314776
>>5314794
>>5314828
>>5314856
>>5314945
>>5314975
>>5314986
>>5314996
>>5314999

You recoil a little at this latest proposition, but not in disgust—to your own surprise, it’s much more at the thought of Glowie leaving over this.

“Glowie… I value you as an ally. Maybe…”

Maybe even as a friend, you suppose, but that is too sickeningly sentimental for you to say in.

“…Maybe as more than JUST an ally.”

Glowie looks surprised to hear it, but then is immediately consumed by a strange and giddy frenzy. She lunges forwards, and pushes her face into your chestplate and into your neck. Her arms wrap around your torso, her tail encircles your waist and hips. She pulls herself to you, clings to you like a lifeline above a great pit of spikes—ironic imagery, given the place where you originally met this worm-princess and her race.

You gently push her back a smidge, buying yourself time and room—space apart from her softness, her peculiar and sweet scent, her touch, and how it all stirs you and speaks to your secret and not-as-secret desires, emotional and physical.

“You’re young,” you assert, though… You actually have no idea if she is any younger than you, or even older. How would you tell? She certainly ACTS young, and naïve. “This is what the Lady of the Rookery wants for you, but what about what YOU want?”

Glowie looks surprised at this question, replying: “Want to serve Grandmother, be good servant. She is… God.”

“Well, yes,” you admit. “But…”
>>
>>5315006
But the Dark Gods are not united, and their ambitions and ideals are not ALWAYS in accord with one another, let alone the mortals below them. You know this. However much you might wish to earn the favour of an additional deity, to bring the Holy Mother back to your race and vice versa… There is no telling what lasting interest she will take in the Reptilian Master Race, or in the ‘greatworms’, or even in your… Your BROOD with this strange caterpillar-girl. You try to think how to phrase all this, while Glowie stares up at you with wide, expectant eyes, her body pressed to you, her breathing heavy but even.

“…But what YOU want, what I want… That matters, also. And our peoples… Our races…”

“What Glowie wants is THIS,” the disguised silk-worm says.

She slides your chestplate off, and her hands—soft hands, right now very REPTILIAN hands, with small, teasing claws—rub and stroke your chest.

“What Glowie wants is her king… Her Dragonborn…”

She continues to caress and fondle your body, and once more her face is buried in your neck, your chest, and nuzzles into your face. The smoothness of her borrowed scales rub against your own exposed skin in supple and sinuous movements. Her scent—Gods, her scent! What is that delicious SMELL?—cling to you, just as she does.

“What does my king want?” she whispers, cupping your face and brushing aside your mop of reddish hair.

She meets your eye… And you know, in that moment at least, what you want.

What follows next is fumbling an inexperienced—on both your parts. Your armour is stripped away, Glowie’s cloak thrown aside with far greater ease. She keeps the amulet on—something neither of you directly addresses. Your first sexual encounter is to be with a glow-worm… In the guise of your childhood bully and current coworker, slightly-adultered.

“I… Am new to this,” you admit as the act itself approaches, a touch embarrassed.

“Greatworms have no males,” Glowie replies, seemingly a bit nervous as well. “Not yet. New to me, too.”

What you both lack in experience, you find she makes up for in gentleness, attentiveness, patience, and an eagerness to please. It is an awkward encounter initially, but when you issue instruction, and ESPECIALLY when you let the Fearsome Presence turn it to an order, Glowie trembles with excitement and redoubles her efforts. And when the moment comes…

“W-what is… Ha… What IS that?!”
>>
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>>5315009
[PG-13 intimacy follows between two weird monster-people. Feel free to skip to the vote if that's TOO LEWD for your sensibilities.]

The sensation is UTTERLY unexpected. You have never mated before, rarely even engaged in shameful self-pleasure, but you didn’t expect there to be… Never believed there COULD be—a sensation like what you are experiencing now… And you strongly suspect aspects of it should be physically impossible with Reptilian anantomy.

“Amulet only goes s-skin-deep,” Glowie whisper, voice shaky with her own sensory overload. “You’re feeling… Me.”

You grit your teeth, and she grows concerned.

“Do not like?” she asks. “Please, don’t stop… Not now!”

You shake your head… And meet her eyes.

“I could not stop now if you asked me too,” you tell her truthfully.

What follows is (at least in that short time) the best, and most intense, feeling of your young life. You have to struggle to suppress a roar—something Glowie helps you with by shoving your gaping mouth into her shoulder and holding you close as you fulfill the wishes of the Mother of Dragons… And of the bug-being who holds tight to you and squeezes your hand reassuringly in the afterglow. Her tail sways languidly back and forth, brushing periodically against your own.

“Was a lot,” she murmurs eventually. “Enough for many broods.”

You grunt, uncertain how to respond to such a ‘compliment’.

“…Don’t need to do again, if you do not want.”

You look down at her, and she meets your eyes questioningly. The expression is… Inscrutable. The post-sex clarity hits hard. You have just given your virginity—and your seed—to the task of fertilizing the heiress to a race of weird and alien bugs, meant to replace your race. You have just fulfilled a dark prophecy which has unknown repercussions for your own race—the race of your father, of the Novice.

…And it felt amazing. And the bizarre and alien bug… Is holding you with greater affection than you have EVER, you suddenly realize, been held.

What do you feel?
>You want to do this again—and not wit just anyone, with Glowie
>You have fulfilled your duty, and it was… Not unpleasant… But you cannot do this again
>You are ashamed, and need to leave this place, clean yourself of the scent, and busy your mind IMMEDIATELY
>Write-in

What is your next course of action, when this is dealt with?
>You need to pray on this, and to gain some divine guidance ASAP
>You wish to speak with the Novice about... The implications
>You have assassinations and small-unit combat to attend to, without further delay.
>Write-in
>>
>>5315022
>You have fulfilled your duty, and it was… Not unpleasant… But you cannot do this again
Allright BugSquasher. Take this and let's never do that again with anyone not being the Novice
I can concede some fletchcraft to turn her dragon for the heat cycle problem as Dead Bedroom suck hairy smelly ass
>You have assassinations and small-unit combat to attend to, without further delay.
>>
>>5315022
>You have fulfilled your duty, and it was… Not unpleasant… But you cannot do this again
>Talk with her about the future of our races. Make sure she knows that her brood is going to be an ally to the reptilians... not a replacement.
>You need to pray on this, and to gain some divine guidance ASAP

Got to see where her head is at after mating. It's important that we make sure she guides her brood to be reptilian friendly. Let's also see if we can talk to the Mother of Dragon's now.
>>
>>5315022
>Confused, and in need of a bath
>You need to pray on this, and to gain some divine guidance ASAP. Also, bathe with some mammalian handmade fat deposit, I believe they call it ‘soap’.
Yea, gonna need to commit to a penance with the Prosecutor. Way I figure it, the extra hassle is worth getting ALL the Dark Gods on board with us, even if it becomes a pain in our ass.
>>
>>5315022
>You are ashamed, and need to leave this place, clean yourself of the scent, and busy your mind IMMEDIATELY
>You need to pray on this, and to gain some divine guidance ASAP
We're not telling the Novice about this.
>>
>>5315038
Dude, I do not think we're ever going to be able to get the persecutor on our side at this point. If it's even possible, it'd be so hard we'd have devote our to character to it for basically half of the quest. We'd also being throwing away so many of the relationships our character built up and a lot of the characterization around the MC in general. I think we're going to have to chalk it up as a loss on the persecutor ally front.
>>
>>5315034
+1
>>
>>5315034
So long as we’re the boss and her brood subservient, sure.

>>5315040
I think keeping the Prosecutor satisfied is worth it, but if it would calm you down, we can ask for a side quest as penance. I think keeping all the Dark God’s on the Master Race’s side and focused is important, and if we have to sweat and bleed to get there then I’m willing to put forth the effort.
>>
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>be me
>eurofag
>wake up after fantastic sleep
>lets check favorite quest, maybe we murderized the adventurers and novice is studying their mage
>hit bottom prompt
>see votes
>Ihateyouall.exe

Ah fuck, serpent ascendant is gonna be pissed; maybe we could twist this as that we wish for our own apotheosis but will need proper soldiers?

>>5315022
>>
>>5315049
Forgot vote
>Confused, and in need of a bath
>You need to pray on this, and to gain some divine guidance ASAP. Also, bathe with some mammalian handmade fat deposit, I believe they call it ‘soap’.
>>
>>5315022
>Make sure Glowie washes off the scent as well
Almost forgot
>>
>>5315034
Supporting

I’m really not thrilled with this vote… we need to go into damage control now

Never tell the Novice

Also, tell Glowie not to tell anyone else about this and ask her how long until she gives birth

Jesus, what have we done
>>
>>5315022
>Write-in
>You want to do this again
> - with any female

lets go blackguard! we already took the seduction option, let's not waste it.
>>
I did not want to wake up to this today.
>>
>>5315049
>>5315103
>eurobros were the only thing between us and the bugfag menace
How could you guys...
>>
>>5315022
>You want to do this again—and not wit just anyone, with Glowie
>You have assassinations and small-unit combat to attend to, without further delay.
>>
>>5315022
>You want to do this again With other females
>You need to pray on this, and to gain some divine guidance ASAP
Yo Mama D, how you like that?

>>5315109
Probably frogmen. Never there in time for a proper fight.
>>
>>5314707
>>5314710
>>5314724
>>5314765
you were just waiting to shit up this quest
>>5314891
>I do not believe that's happening, at least not to any great degree, in this thread.
Get your eyesight checked.
>>5314775
>>5314832
hand addicts are actual fucking subhumans
>>5314875
I wish. If I samefagged this nightmare wouldn't be happening now.
>>5314887
they literally voted to fuck a giant human-sized maggot because it was sad
>>5315049
>>5315103
>>5315109
Count me in. I couldn't fucking vote against this cancer because RQM had a divorce and must now spam updates at night to fill the hole. I fucking knew this would happen and tried to prevent it but failed. And it's an asshole thing to do, he KNEW this was a dividing vote and should've left it up for longer.

But yeah as I said. Last vote before this would end up in fucking the worm.
>>
>>5315114
>But yeah as I said. Last vote before this would end up in fucking the worm.
Give them an inch, they take a mile.
>>
>>5315114
Are you pretending you didn’t vote to guilt trip QM?
>>
>>5315034
+1
>>
>>5315114
[I'd take your input more seriously if you were posting under an ID with more than 1 post, 'friend'. Please enjoy the quest or don't.]
>>
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>>5315172
>>5315113
>>5315110
>>5315072
>>5315071
>>5315070
>>5315052
>>5315041
>>5315039
>>5315038
>>5315034
>>5315030
“This was… Not unpleasant,” you admit, by way of careful understatement.

The weight of the implications settles upon your chest, and you sit up, to force it off. Glowie adjusts accordingly.

“But it cannot happen again,” you assert. “I’ve done my duty for our alliance. That is all.”

You expect histrionics, another bout of despair, but instead Glowie just asks:

“Can still hold hands?”

You blink, and with a deep sigh, you say: “Okay, maybe sometimes.”

This (and the voluminous contribution you have made to her future hive) is seemingly all it takes to appease the bug-woman. She snuggles into you, and you allow it, taking the opportunity to set some other, even more important, boundaries:

“Your ‘brood’, your warriors… Your race in general… They are to be allies to the Reptilian cause, understand? Not rivals, not REAPLCEMENTS. Friends, like… Like we are.”

Glowie stares blankly, but then slowly nods.

“If Grandmother says so,” she replies.

Your heart sinks a little, but Glowie clearly recognizes the distress this noncommittal response has caused. She reaches out to gently pat your face, to stroke your hair.

“Grandmother will agree! I’m sure! You are king, yes! She said so!”

You nod. Both you and Glowie will need to wash off—you will never hear the end of this if the Novice smells the scent of your sex on one another. Glowie consents to do the same, though only after doing a headstand and rolling her body a few times to ensure there is no loss of genetic material. After that, though… Well, perhaps it is time to see this ‘Grandmother’ of hers.

You dismiss Glowie from your chamber, and she leaves with almost a skip in her step, swaying and bobbing in a queer dance, as she and her race seems prone to. You wait a moment, collecting your roiling thoughts and complicated emotions. You light a small candle, taken from a human’s home (as with the soap with which you and Glowie scrubbed yourselves). Crossing your legs, settle into place, and extract another scroll from the uncovered library: one bearing an ancient chant intended to invoke communion and beseech the Dark Divines.

“Oh Lords and Ladies of Eternity and Infinity, oh Lords of the Endless Black, oh Ladies of the Deep Flame. It is I, your prince! It is I, your servant! Your first among sons and daughters beseeches you, and I offer up this great tribute—”

You hesitate. Does what you just did… And ‘gave’ Glowie… Count as tribute? Maybe, under the circumstances?

“—in hopes you will hear me, and guide me, and make me a part of your Grand Design!”
>>
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>>5315295
For a moment, all is silence. The candle flickers, but no differently than it did before. You consider that the ritual has failed. But… No, maybe it is just that the guidance it offers is more like <Guidance>, a boost to your divination abilities? You try reaching out with your mind and—

>What. Have. YOU. DONE?!

You are almost knocked prone by the force of the rage, the explosion of anger and intense heat which explodes from the candle, the flame of which flares up into an improbable and unnatural (or SUPERnatural, you suppose) bonfire. The voice, the aura… It is decidedly oppressive, and overwhelming. It is also, you feel, male.

“…Serpent Ascendant, Champion of those Who Strive?”

>Try again, DEGENERATE FOOL.

“The Persecutor of the Weak,” you realize to your dismay, stomach knotting. “Giver of Law, Taker of Lives, Keeper of Genealogies…”

>And PRESERVER OF BOUNDARIES AND BARRIERS, who YOU are in EVER-WORSENING violation of. Yes, it is I.

You prostrate yourself. What else is there to do.

>ANSWER my question, SLUDGE-BORN CREATURE. What have you DONE?!

“I—”

>I WILL TELL YOU. What you have DONE is RUINED the legacy which your mother DIED FOR. And for WHAT? WHY?!

How do you answer?
>You merely did as the Mother of Dragons requested
>You do not see the harm—you are already a mongrel, so what is one more admixture?
>It was a moment of weakness, and you wish to atone and make it right
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>It is not heresy, and you will not repent
>Write-in
>>
>>5315299
>Write-in
> b-but I only wanted an army to kill mammals!
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>>
>>5315299
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>Like whatever we could have done barring suicide could have made you happy
Proceed to not lower gaze as grand design have been debunked and this would make Serpent Ascendant proud.
>>
>>5315299
>It is not heresy, and you will not repent
>Also eat shit and die, your policies are singlehandedly responsible for the decline of our race.
>>
>>5315299
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>Like whatever we could have done barring suicide could have made you happy
>>
>>5315299
>It is not heresy, and you will not repent
>Also eat shit and die, your policies are singlehandedly responsible for the decline of our race.
>>
>>5315114
haters only express hatred of themselves
>>
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>>5315114
Lol see gif
>>
>>5315299
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
and secondary
>It was a moment of weakness, and you wish to atone and make it right
if free/doable
>>5315268
Can't do anything about dynamic ip and seriousness of my input has no effect on individual votes. Besides, you did make a poll about multiposting after I pushed a little and I doubt you'd do more if I had a 20-post ID. Sorry, I went too far.
>>53153xx
(You)(You)(You)(You)
^pick (You)rs
>>
>>5315299
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>Like whatever we could have done barring suicide could have made you happy
>>
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>1-post ids try to sperg out at dark god for calling their faggot ass out
>8-post ids support
I'll just try to sit back and enjoy the quest derailing from now on. No point in trying to invest in something that serves as ez entertainment for some rando after a couple of aspies couldn't empty their balls without a giant maggot.
>>
No strong opinion on bug buggery but I am amused that my post >>5296967 came true so soon. Loving Every Laugh right now.
>>5315299
>Wait...What is this about your mother?
My next prediction is that Dragonborn proceeds to meet and piss off every single dark god. He then embraces his human heritage, joins the Light Gods, becomes a real paladin and proceeds to usher in a new age of mankind.
>>
>>5315312
+1 Fuck it
We were always going to piss off at least one god, I really didn't want to give in to glowie but it is what it is
>>
>1 post id with kindergarten-level lore behind shitter vote
>>
>>5315299
WHOAAAA WHO COULD'VE PREDICTED THIS WHOAAAAAAAAAAA

>>5315311
>>5315363
+1
>>
>>5315363
[I took you seriously enough to run a poll on if people minded the update schedule. They didn't.

I took a look at if there seemed to be samefagging occuring. If it was, it was seemingly more prevalent on the anti-sex side, as highlighted in the post you replied to. Even tallying the morning objections as votes, it was incredibly close... And by the time I did my late post, we had enough votes in for it to match our typical player count.

I appreciate your passion for the subject matter, but if me not tailoring this quest to your specific tastes or schedule is such a problem.that you start taking personal digs, you should probably fuck off. Your half-assed apology following your tantrum is noted, but not accepted. This is a collaborative writing exercise on a half-dead imageboard. Simmer down. Besides, you should be thanking my ex for there being a quest at all, since I wouldn't be running one right now EXCEPT as a channel for my free time and energy, frankly.

This is the last I'll be addressing this vote. I hipe that even those of you who did not have your option chosen can enjoy the questing experience moving forward.]
>>
>>5315299
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>It was a moment of weakness, and you wish to atone and make it right
I do wish to atone and make things right. Even if he never becomes our Patron, I still think we should make shit right.
>>
>>5315607
Hatred acknowledged. Being retarded bites me in the ass again.
>>
>>5315299
>You do not see the harm—you are already a mongrel, so what is one more admixture?
>It was a moment of weakness, and you wish to atone and make it right
>>
>>5315299
>Wait… What is this about your mother?
>Like whatever we could have done barring suicide could have made you happy
>>
>>5315312
Support.
>>
>>5315311
>>5315312
Supporting these

We’re forced to find allies because of the long-term stagnation of our race

>If Grandmother says so,” she replies.
This is not a great answer…

We may have to kill Glowie and her brood…if they are not allies
>>
>>5315840
Why support the vote antagonizing him tho?
>>
>>5315299
>It is not heresy, and you will not repent
>You merely did as the Mother of Dragons requested
>>
>>5315299
>you wish to atone and make it right
>Mother what?
>>
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[Vote locked. Posting!]
>>
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>>5315925
>>5315861
>>5315840
>>5315831
>>5315687
>>5315679
>>5315613
>>5315604
>>5315447
>>5315435
>>5315391
>>5315363
>>5315336
>>5315332
>>5315314
>>5315312
>>5315311
You stand up and face this apparition—like the Serpent Ascendant would want you to, you reason, and more importantly like a DRAGON would. But… Well, this is a Dark God. You’re not so polish or prideful as to actively insult him, whatever his MAYBE overly-rigid policies have brought upon your kind. They are also, after all, what has kept your people distinct, whole, and unified-of-purpose. You haven’t forgotten your sermons yet! You were practically RAISED by the Chaplain, after all. But… Well, tehre IS a question that eats at you.

“I was born flawed,” you note. “I am… A Degenerate, of sorts. Sludge-born, as you say.”

>All true. Yes.

“Then what does it matter what race I breed with?” you ask. “What does it matter what my Degenerate mother wanted? What could I have ever done, Lord of Laws, to make you happy… Besides suicide?”

>YOU DARE?!

You stifle a tremor, staring into the inferno. By now, it is cloaked in swirling cloud, forming a stony figure like a broad-horned dragon, holding a fiery sword. You bow your head, as is proper, but you keep your back straight. You do not prostrate yourself—not a second time, not now.

“I merely plead for your guidance, Dark Lord.”

There is a near-silence, broken only by the flickering heat and crackle of the divine fire.

“He cannot answer you, because he cannot admit what I readily will,” speaks another voice—less booming, less imposing… But coloured and scented by a whiff of the supernatural and transcendent all its own.

You and the Persecutor both turn to face its source, and you find it: in the shadow cast by the Persecutor’s flame, framed by his smoke as a space of conspicuous void, there is a serpentine shape. You see four faint glimmers in it: one where a womb would be, one where a three-chambered heart might sit… And two atop it, as if hinting at two head, two faces.

>Mother of Beasts and Bugs.

“Master of Pointless Bureaucracy,” she replies.

You bow your head hurriedly to this second divinity: the Mother of Dragons, Divine Mother and Protector of Generations.

“I do not understand,” you admit, when respect has been shown. “What is it you mean? What will The Dark Lord ‘not admit’?”

>Keep your WAGGING TONGUE in your mouth… Or MOUTHS.
>>
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>>5315991
The Mother pointedly ignores her opposite number, addressing you instead.

“What he won’t admit,” she says, “is that he liked your mother. We all did, all five of the Dark Gods to whom she was acquainted. All for our own reasons. It’s why we gave her our <Favour>.”

It is a surprising thing to hear… ESPECIALLY of the Persecutor, you suppose.

“Why?” you have to ask. “She was just a Degenerate, a mere Reptilian Infiltrator.”

>CORRECT.

“And yet YOU, Persecutor of the Weak, approved the <Favour>,” says the Mother.

>…She was loyal. Strong. Determined. A useful pawn. I did not APPROVE of her STEALING hr superior’s seed to make this… This THING…

You flinch a little. He means you, of course.

>…But her efforts to bring back DRACONIC SUPREMACY were worthwhile. I wished for her to SUCCEED. Instead, she FAILED my test, DIED, and left this… This… BUG-FUCKER!

“And I loved her for that,” the Mother acknowledges, and though you can see no face, you FEEL her smile grace you. “She prioritized her legacy… You… Above all else, even tradition and loyalty. The creation of something truly terrible and terrific. A King of Monsters, mightiest of three clans and two races, with the spirit to become something MORE than a Dragon! And imagine, Young One, what you CHILDREN will grow into!”

>ABOMINATION. The bug should be slain, egg-sack ripped from her womb and squashed to PASTE! It is NOT according to the laws! SEPARATE KINDS ARE NOT TO MIX.

“Old thinking, from a time when we could afford to be stagnant in our thinking,” the mother scoffs. “The Gods of Light, weak WRETCHES and INVADERS that they are, are at least willing to use cunning. To experiment! Look at all their races—”

>Kept SEPARATE.

“Half-elves,” the Mother snaps.

>Are still PURELY APE, and they are WORSE for their mixture than human OR elf.

“Then use your accursed mastery of genealogies to help breed something BETTER!”

>Mix all the colours of the rainbow, and you get a slurry of unrecognizable SHIT, Mother of Mongrels! The old ways made our races strong! It kept ORDER, rather than the chaos which the scattered FAITH-THIEVES propagate.

The room seems to grow, and the two divinities tower like contrasting titans in a great expanse: one a pillar of smoke and fire, one a glimmering swirl of stars and darkness. You remain silent. What can a mortal do, even an aspiring dragon, when faced with such cosmic forces?

>You, DRAGON-THING. You wish to know what you can DO, to earn my favour? KILL THE BUG. END this DISGUSTING project before it begins. CEASE in your coddling of weaklings and freaks. PURIFY YOURSELF, and become the dragon you were meant to be, body and soul. I will even help.
>>
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>>5315993
The Mother laughs, a terrifying sound like a Reptilian rattle-croak and a bug’s chittering at once.

“You rock-brained brute, you came here to bully him into being YOUR creature? He already serves ME. He did as my servant requested: he sired ME a new race. A BETTER race. I will show you and that feathered fool the true might of this world: NUMBERS. EVOLUTION. No more reliance on a single ‘hero’ or ‘dragon king’, no more archaic ‘order’ or ‘honour’ that simply holds us back from doing what it takes to win. I will set a HORDE upon the invaders and their puppets and peons! When my worms become WYRMS, they will swallow the sun… And unlike when HE did it, it will STAY swallowed!”

She turns her attention upon you, and your perception of her shrinks, growing closer and smaller, more intimate and approachable once again.

“You don’t need to hold back,” she tells you. “Give in to what you want. Sire a dynasty, an empire! Your children will be my favourite sons—great warriors! Did you not like the little princess I gifted you? Was she not everything you wished for? I made sure to teach her exactly how to please you… Gifted her a reproductive system MADE for you… What other God has given you such gifts?”

>Even one such as YOU cannot be bought with perfumed WHORES, can you? Listen to her! She is MANIPULATING you.

“Silence!” the Mother snaps at the God of Law. “He is his mother’s son! I won her heart, in the end! She failed YOUR test, but she PASSED mine. He is PROOF. I am RIGHT.”

>She will destroy AEONS of tradition, mortal! There will never be anther true dragon, if she has her way. No Age of Scales. Do. NOT. Be. Fooled!
>>
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>>5315995
What do you do?
>Choose the Mother of Dragons
>Choose the Persecutor… And promise to do as he asks
>Ask them something before you make your decision [which god? and what?]
>Politely decline to choose either of them as a patron
>Reject them both—you are NOBODY’S pawn or plaything!
>Attempt to play them against each other, to earn a boon from both [VERY risky, and if you fail, you may be scorned by them instead]
>Write-in
>>
>>5315997
>Choose the Persecutor… And promise to do as he asks
But I support anything but picking the MoD.
>>
>>5315997
>Ask them something before you make your decision [Mother of Dragons. What place do the reptilians have in your grand plan?)
>Politely decline to choose either of them as a patron

Jesus.
>>
>>5316002
Also add
>Ask them something before you make your decision [Mother of Dragons. Will you show your favor to my people once more?]
>>
>>5316002
>>5316004
+1

Neither of them because I want serpent ascendant as patron I hope mother will be nicer to our people now
>>
>>5316002
>>5316004
Actually yeah you know what +1
>>
>>5315997
>Politely decline to choose either of them as a patron

I can back the questions
>>5316002
>>5316004

definitely don't choose persecutor though, he's out of touch with reality

>The old ways made our races strong! It kept ORDER, rather than the chaos which the scattered FAITH-THIEVES propagate.
If they kept us so strong, why are we hiding underground with an ever dwindling population while humans, elves, and half elves live in luxury on the surface? Who rules the world right now? Not us.
>>
Maybe we should use the demon the gods don’t seem to be very reliable or forward thinking. We need all the power we can get…
>>
>>5315997
>Ask them something before you make your decision [Mother of Dragons. What place do the reptilians have in your grand plan? Will you show your favor to my people once more? Prosecutor, what do you mean by purifying myself? Are there other ways to atone myself? Also, what are these ‘tests’ of my Mother you guys keep referencing about?]

Honestly? Sort of dig the Prosecutor. Reminds me of a stubborn grandfather to prideful to admit that he cares about us. Would love to find a way to get into his good graces that anons wouldn’t immediately turn down.
>>
>>5316064
The Gods seems to be pursuing their own agenda independently, regardless of the collective. I think the kino play would be trying to corral them into a semi-functional Pantheon instead of independent agents sniping at each other’s designs.
>>
>>5315997
>Ask them something before you make your decision [Mother of Dragons. What place do the reptilians have in your grand plan?] [Mother of Dragons. Will you show your favor to my people once more?] [Prosecutor. If the old ways kept us so strong, why are we hiding underground with an ever dwindling population while humans, elves, and half elves live in luxury on the surface? Who rules the world right now?] [Prosecutor. What do you mean by purifying myself? Are there other ways to atone myself? Also, what are these ‘tests’ of my Mother you keep referencing about?]
>Politely decline to choose either of them as a patron
Get info, then be nice with the "no"
>>
>>5315997
>>5316118 +1
>>
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>>5316194
>>5316118
>>5316073
>>5316018
>>5316007
>>5316004
>>5316002
You don’t LOATHE either of these Gods, but you also don’t TRUST them. They’re both at cross-purposes, and neither is entirely benevolent. You already know you answer will be ‘no”, but you plan to decline in the politest possible manner. And first… Well, you have questions.

“Mother of Dragons,” you address the Goddess first, “What place do the reptilians have in your grand plan? Will you show your favor to my people once more?”

“YOUR people?” she asks. “The ones who denied you the right to breed, treated you like a tool? Come now…”

“They ARE my people,” you assert. “Come what may, I am loyal.”

>SEE? You SEE? This is the power of tradition, order, MORALITY!

The Holy Mother shushes the Judge of All, to his great displeasure and rumbling, and turns to you again.

“These people, the lizardfolk… They made their choice. The walls closed in, and they retreated to their caverns and segregated themselves, of their own volition. They became inbred, closed-minded… They suppressed their females, promoted males who coupled cowardice with bravado, but who never dared to be truly bold. They rejected my overtures…”

>Overtures to dilute their bloodlines, mingle with mammals… And now bugs!

“And yet we are all here because of your mother,” the Lady says, “a Degenerate hybrid, who excellent beyond what the Persecutor thought possible.”

“Still… I cannot let my race be consumed and replaced by insects,” you say. “What would it take, for my race and the ‘greatworms’ to work together, as a united front?”

The Divine Mother tuts, but to your surprise, she relents. She tells you: “If you can make your father’s people accept your mate—my cleric—then perhaps there is hope. Take her as your queen. Form a kingdom, allied with that from which you hail. I doubt it is possible, mind you, for they are poisoned by HIM.”

The Giver of Laws roars in moral outrage.

>PRESERVED, not poisoned. Loyal out of HONOUR and GRATITUDE.

The Mother turns her gaze from the outburst and back to you, and you sense a doubtful, but maternal, condescension in her kindness as she wishes you: “Good luck, Young One.”
>>
>>5316255
You take a deep breath, and steady yourself for the more imposing and hostile of the two deities. You have questions for Punishment Incarnate, too.

“Lord Persecutor, what do you mean by purifying myself? Are there other ways to atone myself, besides… Killing the worm-woman?”

>WEAKNESS. You lack DEDICATION.

You wait, nervously.

>…YES, I can help you purge your impurities—the mammalian taint of your grandfather.

“Or his Reptilian three-quarters!” the Mother shoots back. “Why don’t you tell him how—”

>It is YOUR turn to be silent, WENCH!


>I can remove your <appetite>, which has led you astray. I can give you clarity, strength… And as you cleanse your mind and soul, I can strengthen your body, and help you become the DRAGON your mother wanted you to be.

“And yet she did not integrate the Green Dragon’s bloodline into him,” the Mother idly interjects.

>Out of LOYALTY and RESPONSIBILITY.

“Maybe she just valued the unique perspective her partial-humanity gave her?” the Mother speculates, not without a smug satisfaction.

>She is ACTIVELY promoting our enemies, Boy! Listen to her! ABHORRENT!

“You have surely noticed that you think and feel differently than your pure-blooded counterparts, though, haven’t you?”

You contemplate the Goddess’ words, but the Persecutor hastily interjects:

>I can FIX that, if you join me. I can teach you the TRUE way, of objective FACTS without such… FEELINGS.

“Is all this elated to the ‘trails’ you both speak of?” you ask. “What was this trial my mother failed to pass?”

Both deities are quiet for a time.

“Each of us had a bet,” the Mother begins.

>We wagered how your Mother would choose to live… And to DIE.

“I won,” the Mother of Dragons says smugly.

>WE won.

“The Serpent and Beholder lost,” the Lady compromises.

>And Death, that self-satisfied, fat-bellied TRAITOR.

“Yes,” the Mother sighs happily, in a rare moment of accord.

“What WAS the trial, though?” you ask, almost DEMAND.

Neither Dark God answers. They almost seem… Afraid to do so?

>We had an AGREEMENT.

“We had a pact,” the Queen of Queens corrects the Judge of Judges. “It is more important, more BINDING.”

>We cannot say.

“No,” the Mother concurs.

“But it killed my mother,” you reason.

“Yes.”

>Yes.

“It was a good death,” the Mother says. “She bore you, and her time was done.”

>It was… DISAPPOINTING. But not unexpected. Purity won out over the impure… Even the BEST of the impure.

You sense that neither will elaborate, and you relent. You have no leverage to press further.

“I am sorry,” you say instead. “I appreciate the guidance… But I cannot honestly and fully commit my soul to either of you.”

>HA! He is no creature of yours, Whore-Queen!

“Nor your Antipaladin, Grandfather of Dusty and Ill-Remembered Legal Scrolls.”

>ENOUGH. This exercise was pointless.

“You say that because I am winning.”
>>
>>5316256
Both deities continue to bicker, but your consciousness is already returning from this uncanny space to the mortal world. You close your eyes for just a moment—an overlong blink—and find yourself cross-legged, in a comparatively small-chamber, before a melted and burnt-out candle, radiating only faintest smoke and surrounded by molten wax and grey ash.

A kobold raps at the stone next to your chamber’s open ‘doorway’. It is without real portal save a hung human curtain, which made the earlier ‘moment of weakness’ with Glowie all the roe awkward… And strangely thrilling.

“Is ready to leave?” a kobold anxiously inquired.

“Yes,” you say, and stand up to do so.

Night has barely fallen when you and your kobold minions—and Glowie—set out. Your small platoon—six in total—travel under cover of darkness. The lack of light means little to you. There is a kobold female present in this force, but you find your mind strangely… Clear of distraction, despite this. You aren’t sure whether Glowie of the philosophically-complicated conversation with the Dark Gods are to than for this.

You arrive at the abandoned village where, a few short days ago, you defeated the Dragonwrought, repelled the kobold archers and slingers, and looted everything of value before ordering its abandonment. You now see a dim fire-light emanating through the windows of the headman’s great cabin, where you briefly made your residence and where Hapo and Hako were defeated and ousted.

“Most of humans are in there,” the female kobold—Tessu—tells you. “But one of them—big, strong, horn helmet… Prowls like cat at outskirts, watches. Had to dodge to spy.”

“Half-elf, too,” Ivno tells you, for the male kobold scout joined you on this expedition in spite of his friend’s death In the mines. “Sits in tree, watches. Bow at ready, and pipe—to signal others.”

“Horn-man is dangerous, READY,” Tessu says.

“Elf-spawn is sleepy, idle,” Ivno says, “but tougher to reach, and can sound warning.”

“Could just avoid both and kill the humans in the house,” Glowie says cheerily. “They will not have back-up if their friends are envenomed or burning.”

”Three are sleeping,” Tessu informs you, counting on her talons, “Armour-man, magic-looking man, and robe-man with many knives, sleeps apart from others, many shinies.”

What do you do?
>Target the horn-helmed human first—likely entailing a personal duel [harder]
>Assassinate the half-elf in his tree [easier, but if you fail, you have a proper fight on your hands]
>Bypass the watchers to kill the sleepers in their home
>Split your forces to target multiple forces at once [specify how]
>>
>>5316256
>“Is all this elated to the ‘trails’ you both speak of?”
*is all this related to the trials

[Dagnabbit.]
>>
>>5316257
>Bypass the watchers to kill the sleepers in their home
>Send Glowie to kill the horn-helmed human(?)
>>
>>5316257
>>5316292 +1
>>
>>5316292
+1
>>
>>5316257
>Target the horn-helmed human first—likely entailing a personal duel [harder]
>Send Glowie to kill the sleeper in their home

I doubt Glowie's going to be able to kill the horned helmut man in a personal duel. That should be our job.
>>
>>5316420
She's a good killer, tho?
>>
>>5316422
She's more of a stealthy assassin type with her poison and silk. Any personal combat skills she has is from the training we did with her underground.
>>
>>5316420
+1
Why vote for the obvious troll write in
>>
[Watching an episode of the new Digimon, while I give our other players a bit of time to start their day and get a vote in. Locking vote in 30 minutes, then writing a post!]
>>
>>5316427
>4 posts by this ID trying to be a voice of "reason"
>>
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Rolled 15, 4, 3, 8, 5, 3, 7, 18, 14 = 77 (9d20)

>>5316427
>>5316420
>>5316356
>>5316327
>>5316292
“We did not come here with a team of scouts and assassins to engage in direct duels,” you tell your troops. “Glowie, this human male with the horned helm… ‘Envenom’ him. Avoid direct confrontation, if you can.”

The disguised worm looks uncertain for only a moment, before her expression turns determined. She nods eagerly. You equip her with a kobold short-sword—a dagger to her, just in case.

“Yes, my Dragonborn,” she affirms.

Glowie departs swiftly and with surprising silence for one with such a… Hefty rear. It is always uncanny to you how agile she is, while disguised. She once explained it to you as like removing heavy armour or clothes—that, being sued to navigating with a dozen legs and a much less nimble abdomen, she felt almost liberated by the Amulet of Disguise. Still, your training in direct melee combat with her was… Limited, in your time below-ground. You can only hope she doesn’t have to utilize it.

“The rest of us will avoid the elf-in-the-tree,” you tell your four kobolds. One of you will keep watch. Two will join me in entering the home. We will each find one of the remaining adventurers—the armoured one, the mage, the one with the valuables. Each of us will strike silently, precisely. They shall never again wake.”

The kobolds silently nod in agreement. They may be little rural savages, these mini-reptiloids, but you have been told—and seen in practice—that they are well-honed hunters and killers. Now, you will put that to the test.

[2d20 for your group's stealth [DC 13/17]; 5d20 for Glowie's mission; 2d20 mystery dice]
>>
>Known retard writes in a vote to get Glowie killed
>Anons vote for it

Why?
>>
>>5316483
>15
Your kobolds are small, light-on-their-feet, and they are used to hiding sounds of passage from their raiding and hunting lifestyle. Together with them, you pass in near-silence, your few fumbles muffled-enough to pass for regular forest-noise. Even now, at night, there are so many living things—plants, animals, fungi—in this surface-world! It seems enough to disguise the marching of an army at times, to one such as you from the empty halls and barren stone of the underpopulated underdark.

>4
Your own size, weight, armour, and your lack of aptitude for matters of stealth and subterfuge… All this is what conspires against you. It is not the kobolds, but YOU who ultimately spoils your approach. You reach the headman’s cabin quite readily, ad the kobolds lift each other in to scramble through the windows. You, however, are too large; you circle the building, and attempt to enter through the back door. Your heavy boot sets the raised floorboards to creaking, however, and raise the attentions of one of the human sleepers.

“Hm? Armod, is that you?”

You freeze. An armoured human is still asleep at the table where you once treated with—and ultimately destroyed—the Dragonwrought. You can still faintly smell the scent of Hako’s burning body here, lingering like an olfactory monument to your victory over the demon-dabbling heretic; the table is scorched along one side by the splash of your fiery breath as it engulfed his body, cracked where you toppled it over in your scuffle prior. None of this seems to have stopped the well-built man in his leather-and-chain from sitting there to eat and to drink: his partly-drained bottle is yet before him, his fingertips brushing against it, and a metal travel-plate seared with greasy food-residue has been pushed to the middle of the table. It was not THIS human, still in prolonged mammalian torpor, who called out.
>>
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>>5316507
In the larger, more comfortable chair which you once sat in like a throne, king of this little place and judge of its denizens, there now sits another. Your eyes widen as you recognize what the kobolds meant by ‘magic-looking’. The young (you think?) male (no breasts, anyway, which you gather to be a typical dimorphic indicator of mammalian females?) wears ornate purple-and-gold robes, and atop his head dons a pointed cap, with a small feather in it. It clutches a book in one hand, and has a pack resting atop its lap. This human mage blinks and squints blearily at you—lacking darkvision, you must seem a black silhouette in near-darkness. It is the only thing which prevents an immediate alarm…

But you are not Armod. You do not even know who Armod is—if he is the horn-helmed man or the half-elf, though if the mage mistakes your size and horned silhouette for this companion, you suspect it is the former. You must act fast.

What do you do?
>Pretend to be Armod, and hold his attention until you can get close enough to kill
>Shout for the kobolds to kill him, quickly, and focus your own attentions on executing the slumbering warrior closer to you
>Draw your bow and take the shot
>Kill them with fire! Set the building ablaze and bolt!
>Write-in
>>
>>5316509
>Draw your bow and take the shot
>>
>>5316509
>Draw your bow and take the shot
>>5316427
>>5316498
>Send out a 5d20 killer for a single-target assassination
>It's obviously just to kill her!
By this logic EVERYTHING we've done in RIQ was confirmed suicide. Stay obsessed.
>>
>>5316509
>Draw your bow and take the shot

>>5316536
You didn’t know it’d be 5d20 retard you sent her on what seemed to be her worst matchup that makes no sense to send her to.
>>
>>5316536
>>5316556
For the record, that's 3d20 stealth, 2d20 melee
>>
>>5316536
>Stealthy Worm princess. Weak in direct combat.
>Send her to stealth to sleeping adventurers???
>Stealthily kill sleepy elf in tree???
>Make her 1v1 vs huge juggernaut who’ll rape her shit ???
>OH I KNOW MAKE HER 1V1 GIANT WARRIOR GREAT IDEA

Stop playing coy retard.
>>
>>5316556
>>5316567
I never specified direct combat so she naturally went into stealth, what are you on about?
>>
>>5316567
>>5316584
[I don't want to spoil the fun, but for the record, there wasn't an objectively 'wrong' answer here. Glowie assassinating a powerful melee warrior could play her strengths and his weaknesses quite well, just as a direct confrontation would have allwoed you to meet strength with strength.]

Shame about her rolls...
>>
>>5316594
Dice were rigged.
>>
>>5316509
>Draw your bow and take the shot
>>
>>5316567
KEK True and based
>>
>>5316509
>Draw your bow and take the shot

Headshot then save Glowie
>>
>>5316509
>Draw your bow and take the shot
>>
>>5316509
>Pretend to be Armod, and hold his attention until you can get close enough to kill
>>
Rolled 4, 6, 4 = 14 (3d20)

>>5316700
>>5316682
>>5316646
>>5316643
>>5316631
>>5316536
>>5316524
“Hello, ssspellcasster,” you hiss back in your heavily-accented Northern Commontongue—the trade-language of the humans in this region. You’ve practiced it all your life, the better to intimidate and interrogate your enemies.

The mage’s eyes wide, but your bow is already drawn, arrow notched before he can hurl a spell or sound an alarm.

[3d20, DC 10/15/17]
>>
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>Rolled 15, 4, 3, 8, 5, 3, 7, 18, 14
>Rolled 4, 6, 4
The Serpent Ascendant is on his way to fuck us like we fucked that insect lady.
>>
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>>5316754
The mage has no time to duck the shot—a HEAFDSHOT, for certain! Except…

“AAH! Nigel! Wake up! We’re under attack!”

You stare, dumbfounded, as the mage grabs his book and scrambles to dive behind his plush chair. You didn’t miss—not exactly. Rather, that human’s damned wizard-hat is pinned to the chair, impaled upon your arrow, along with a torn-loose lock of his hair. And now… ‘Nigel’, you guess… Is sitting bolt-upright, scrambling for his axe and shield. He wheels around, begins to stand… And then falls back into his chair, seeing your enormous, armoured form looming over him like some nightmare-creature.

You’ve been seen. The mage is about to escape your line of sight. And on top of that…

“Kobolds! It’s the kobolds!”

The mage has seen your minions: Ivno, Tessu, and… The other one.

“N-n-not just… Kobolds…” Nigel stammers.

Gods Below and Beyond, can no encounter in this damned docile ever go according to plan?! Their terror and disorientation won’t last long. Thinking fast, you…
>Smash your reinforced bow across the warrior’s face, draw your swords, and take him down while the kobolds gang up on the mage
>Fire another shot at the mage, using <Guidance> to ensure you end the spellcaster before he can use his arts to endanger your allies
>Shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself
>Order a retreat and regroup, to rally outside
>Write-in
[Specify if you use any spells, potions, or magic items]
>>
>>5316773
>Shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself

Any escape to inform humans is bad news. Have to handle these two on our own.
>>
>>5316773
>Smash your reinforced bow across the warrior’s face, draw your swords, and shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself
FTFY
>>
>>5316773
>Shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself
Lets AoE with Dragon breath to try cut off the mage's escape and deal with warrior before he can get off his ass, Rogue hunting isn't exactly our forte.

>>5316772
Agreed, all the more reason to kick ass and prove ourselves
>>
>>5316781
If you look even closer, it's specifically us and the maggot getting mogged by the numbers. 9 rolls below 9.
>>
>>5316773
>Shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself
>Use guidance to find rogue general direction, shout to kobolds direction.
>>
>>5316773
>Shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself
What fun
>>
>>5316788
FUCK YOU TZEENCH (beholder?)
I'm going to sleep, please unfuck this
>>
>>5316773
>Order a retreat and regroup, to rally outside
>>
>>5316772
>Fire another shot at the mage, using <Guidance> to ensure you end the spellcaster before he can use his arts to endanger your allies
>Shout for the kobolds to find the third human—the roguish one—and prevent his escape while you handle these two by yourself
Damn, we SNAFUed
>>
>>5316910
>>5316860
>>5316850
>>5316795
>>5316781
>>5316779
>>5316777
[There seems to be a consensus that the kobolds should go after the roguish human, but no clear idea of what strategy you will use against the two humans YOU'RE fighting (or how to use <Guidance>, if you'll even do so). Close the vote and posting in about a half-hour, but if anyone wants to rally to a main tactic, now's the time.]
>>
>>5316929
Guidance, taking out the mage should be a priority.
>>
Rolled 6, 13, 20, 6, 15, 10, 8, 2, 9, 7, 1, 9, 15 = 121 (13d20)

[3 for melee, 3 for ranged, 4 for kobolds, 3 for humans, post incoming!]
>>
>>5316910
>>5316860
>>5316850
>>5316795
>>5316781
>>5316779
>>5316777
>>5316971
>>5316977

“Go!” you roar to the kobolds, using the True Speech to hide your intentions. “Make sure the third human doesn’t get away. No survivors!”

“Yes, Dragon!” comes the shout, and the three scramble in each direction, to scour the house.

That leaves the other two humans below to you. Both are ‘adventurers’, the infamous freelance mercenaries known far and wider—and even down in the deep—as much for their idiosyncratic eccentricities as for their skill in combat. They are not to be underestimated—but of the two, the mage in PARTICULAR is a grave threat. You will end him first.


You swing your bow like a club. He isn’t your primary target, but he is closer, and military doctrine dictates that he will protect his more dangerous, less-armoured mage companion. Not

>20 (fisticuffs)

The elven longbow’s study edge and sharpened tip catching the warrior across the face with a heavy impact and a spray of blood and teeth. He cries out in disoriented pain and falls from his chair, dropping his axe to clutch at his face. You ignore him, and notch another arrow.

“Master of the Insightful Eye, Baleful Beholder, Watcher-in-Darkness, <Guide> my aim!” you invoke, and let one arrow fly, and then immediately a second to follow.

>15, 10 archery, with <Guidance>)

The first catches the spellcaster in his back as he scrambles over the chair, and the second catches his shoulder. He shouts in high-pitched agony, and falls over the chair and out of sight. No matter—he won’t be spellcasting anytime soon. You know well that the arcane arts require concentration and, for the most dangerous of human magics, somatic components—gestures, movements. Try forming a sigil in the air while your rotator cuff has a darkwood shaft embedded in it.

From their noisy ransacking and chirping cries, you gather that the kobold are having little luck in their pursuit. You sigh quietly. Well, once these two down here are mopped up, you suppose you can help with the—

“Monstaw! You don’t BELAU in thiff wowld!”

“…What?”

You turn to face the mush-mouthed human warrior, ‘Nigel’, unclear on exactly what he was trying to say. You suppose you DID do a number on his mouth.

>15 (fighter)

He makes his feelings clear in the form of a rising uppercut, reinforced by his shield. Your head is spinning and ringing from the impact, enough to disorient you… But not enough to keep you from returning the favour, with a heavy gauntlet-impact to his already-injured face. You feel, and hear, his jaw pop out of alignment, and he tumbles like a sack of deep-truffles, bounces off the table, and clatters noisily to the floor.

He lays still, and you leave him there for a moment to go finish off his wizard-friend.

“W-wait, no, stay back! Stay baaaaaAA-”

>1 (mage)

It is brief work, and as tidy as you can make it. You were right—he was in no shape to resist.
>>
Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5317000
When you find the three kobolds, they are ransacking the upstairs. You catch Tessu stuffing her pockets with ‘shinies’, and she looks up guiltily.

“We look-looked, but no luck,” she says.

Ivno nods, and bows his head.

You narrow your eyes, and consider using your guidance again… But then you hear a clatter above, as if of someone losing their foot and stumbling.

>9 (rogue)

“The roof,” you hiss.

“Ooooooh,” the three kobolds vocalize as one.

You start to head towards the window—surely this rogue’s point of egress—to follow him up and finish the job. However, as you place a foot upon the sill, you hear the fourth kobold—the lookout—cry out.

“Dragon! Dragon! They have your female!”

You cringe at that characterization of your relationship to Glowie… But not quite as much as the implication. She failed to assassinate the horn-helmed watchman, which no doubt means the half-elf has been tipped off as well.
>>
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>>5317002
This suspicion is vindicated when the kobold below yelps and narrowly dodges an incoming arrow, sprinting almost on all fours towards the home to shelter inside.

Advancing from the forest come the half-elf you saw earlier and…

“Is that a human?” you wonder aloud.

His skin is too pale to be an orc, from what you know of said surface races. And yet… By the Gods Below, he is nearly as tall as you, and perhaps broader. He wears a helm with great horns, has a bushy beard, and he goes shirtless, wearing leather pats and a fur skirt of some sort, with a rune-bearing belt. He drags a massive maul behind him with one hand, and with his other…

“Glowie,” you hiss.

She is battered and bruised, her robes torn and tattered, and partly soaked with blood—not red vertebrate blood, but the clearish, blue-green stuff that oozed from the greatworm you slew a month-or-so prior. Her captor throws her unceremoniously to the ground before you, and he and his ally both look up to the window.

He bellows a bestial challenge, radiating rage. The elf-human hybrid alongside him notches an arrow. And their roguish friend… He is still on the roof above you.

What do you do?
>Leap down with a <Jump>, to face the berserk human directly in melee combat
>Exhale a gout of flame, potentially risking Glowie to take out both the mammals below
>Swing up onto the roof with a feat of athletics, to take out the rogue who would otherwise flank you
>Command the kobolds to take action [specify instructions]
>Assume <Improved Dragonform> and attempt to intimidate the mammals into backing down
>Use a magic item [which one?]
>Write-in
>>
>>5317009
>Exhale a gout of flame, potentially risking Glowie to take out both the mammals below
>>
>>5317009
>>
>>5317024
>Leap down with a <Jump>, to face the berserk human directly in melee combat
>Command the kobolds to take action [Watch our back from the rogue]
>>
>>5317009
>Leap down with a <Jump>, to face the berserk human directly in melee combat
>Command the kobolds to take action [Watch our back from the rogue]
>Activate ring of protection

Protect back with kobolds and ring for arrows
>>
>>5317009
>Leap down with a <Jump>, to face the berserk human directly in melee combat
>Command the kobolds to take action [Watch our back from the rogue]
>Activate ring of protection

Fucking kobolds are useless.
>>
>>5317009
>Leap down with a <Jump>, to face the berserk human directly in melee combat
>Command the kobolds to take action [specify instructions]
distract the rogue and try not to lose that 3v1 fight too quickly
>>
Rolled 4, 10, 16, 14, 9, 10, 14, 9, 4, 19, 5, 13, 6, 20, 1, 20 = 174 (16d20)

>>5317022
>>5317028
>>5317098
>>5317131
>>5317153
“Cover my back,” you command the kobolds. “Do NOT fail me a second time.”

You can feel your subordinates’ palpable anxiety in the back of your mind as you channel your mana for a <Jump>. With a speed and grace that neither mammal below could have possibly expected, you leap from the window , springing not vertically but straight at them—specifically, at the berserker who so abused the glowworm princess. Your speed is more than they were prepared for, but to his credit, the half-elf is still able to fire an arrow off…


[3d20 athleticism to guide the jump, 3d20 spellcraft to use your ring, 3d20 melee, 3d20 for your kobolds, 3d20 for your enemies, and 1d20 mystery die]
>>
What the fuck are the dice today?
>>
>>5317428
>3d20 athleticism to guide the jump
16
>3d20 spellcraft to use your ring
14
>3d20 melee
14
>3d20 for your kobolds
19
>3d20 for your enemies
20 AND 1
>1d20 mystery die
20

>>5317445
This shit is gonna get CRAZY
>>
>>5317450
jesus christ
>>
>>5317428
>16 athleticism
>14 spellcraft
>6 (half-elf ranger)
You are able to angle your descent and bring up your hand—your off-hand, bearing the Ring of Protection. The arrow is subtly redirected by the sudden pulse of invisible energy… But your shocking and frightening approach does the bulk of the work for you. You’re not certain the magical item would have been sufficient on its own, as you wielded it, to properly save you from a well-aimed arrow.

Well, a win is a win you suppose. You land well, between Glowie and the raging, shirtless human in his horned helm. You rise, drawing both of your swords as you do so, and face down your foes.

>19, 13 vs. 13, 1 (kobold support)

You hear a panicked cry and a heavy thump behind you—a human voice, not a kobold one. A rain of sling-stones drives back the half-elf a moment later, accompanied by yelps and snarls of the kobolds on the roof, confirming the defeat of the rooftop rogue by your retinue. Perhaps not QUITE so useless after all, then, those miniature minions of yours…

But also not likely to be the deciding factor, but the way the larger mammal strides forward—the horn-helmed one—and utterly ignores the impacts, despite his near-nudity.

The enormous human puffs out his chest, thumping a single fist upon it and raising his maul in a salute. He bellows something in a tongue you are unfamiliar with… And yet, you understand a challenge when it is thus issued.

“Then come,” you retort in the True Speech.

He grins. You grimace. He charges. You meet him.

>14, 9 (swordsmanship)
>20 (berserker)

…And you quickly learn how Glowie was so badly brutalized.
>>
>>5317503
“RAAAAAARGH!”

You are mightier than she, better-trained in the martial arts, better-armed, better armoured.

“AAAAAGH!”

And yet you are UTTERLY outmatched. You stab and slash at him once, twice. You land one blow, miss the other. You’re not sure which was which and, while you see him dripping with crimson, the madman doesn’t slow for even a second. Even thus injured, every swing of the monster-man’s maul comes swifter than you could ever imagine such a hunk of metal moving. The head of the massive warhammer is like a small boulder but it swings with speeds you struggle to match with your sword. There is no additional opening—NONE—that you can exploit. Your charge results only in an immediate, frantic retreat.

Staring at that horned helm, that monstrous and hirsute figure, your ears ringing with this mammal-male’s war-cries, you think you truly understand for the first time what it must be like for the smaller and lesser beings you have encountered to face YOU…

>BOOM

And that’s BEFORE the maul catches you in the chest, buckling in your breastplate and crushing your ribs. You vomit blood and fallback, stumbling over the very damsel-in-distress you had come to rescue and landing upon your back.

“N-no… Not like this!” you force the words out through imploding lungs, glaring up at him and readying a burst of firebreath. “I’ll burn you to cinders you damned APE!”

…But you are winded, wounded. You try to regurgitate dragonfire, but yoru firelung is spasming as well, and you can only cough up smoke. You can’t strike yourself, not faster than he can raise his maul—as he is now—and bring it down on your head—as he is about to. The human titan laughs once, a sound of rage and joy as one, and says something you don’t understand LITERALLY, but somehow feel as if you understand EMOTIONALLY.

He’s congratulating you on a good death.
>>
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>>5317506
But then… Something happens. The berserker’s expression twists. He twitches, his muscles pulse, but he does not bring the hammer down. Instead… he slowly, gradually, sinks to one knee. His arms sink down to his sides, the maul slipping from his fingers. His eyes bug out and he stares at you in hate and confusion, as if you did this to him…

20

But it was Glowie. Her hands reach out weakly to grab his leg, and her mouth—including distinctly non-reptiloid mandibles hidden at the rear of her mouth—are sunk dep into the meat of the human’s powerfully-muscled calf. Her throat throbs and flexes as hidden glands pump ounce after ounce of paralytic venom into your would-be killer.

“D-disohonour,” the human grunts n the Northern Common-tongue, his voice as heavily-accented as your own.

And then… He falls, like a stone dislodged by a breeze, tumbling down into depths unknown. He lands face-first. He scarcely breathes. He does not move.

“You… Okay?” Glowie asks, dislodging her fangs from her victim with come effort.

You force yourself up into a sitting position, still not quite able to stand. You look at the human who very nearly slew you, and then at the bug—looking half-dead herself—who saved you.

“Sorry,” she says, looking as if she might cry again. “Tried… But failed. Failed my king…”

Glowie’s eyes begin to slide shut, her strength failing her.

“Glowie…”

"I'm sorry," she whimpers, and says no more.

“The half-elf!” Tessu shouts.

“He’s getting away!” Ivno shrieks. “Get him! Stop him!”

You force yourself you your feet, ripping away your now-uncomfortable chest-armour and taking a deep, shuddering breath. Glowie, for her part, is in no shape to rejoin the fray—that last effort was all she had left in her.

What do you do?
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>Invoke the <Divine Favour>, which your mother bestowed you, to give you the strength to do both
>Write-in
>>
>>5317512
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf
We're absolutely screwed if this guy gets away and brings the humans on our heads. I don't trust the kobolds at all.
>>
>>5317512
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?

It's really important that she doesn't die here. Getting the Mother of Dragons favor back to the reptilians is contingent on her. We were able to make the goddess relent on that matter and agree to it if the Chaplain accepts Glowie. We'll just have to pray the kobolds can chase down the half elf.
>>
>>5317512
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf
Expend all our mana if we have to. We can regen it back and it'll all be worth it if we secure the no-witnesses clear
>>
>>5317512
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf

Don’t let Glowie die please…
>>
Can't we yell at the kobolds to help Glowie while we go after the half-elf?
>>
>>5317512
>Invoke the <Divine Favour>, which your mother bestowed you, to give you the strength to do both
This is the way.
>>
>>5317529
>>5317525

[There IS a write-in option, but the matter to which you do not attend personally, if indeed you do not do BOTH with the Favour or a clever-enough write-in, will have a much lower chance of success. This could mean the half-elf escaping... Or Glowie dying.]
>>
>>5317512
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
Wrong vote change
>>
>>5317529
Guys, can we please prioritize Glowie here? She's literally the ONE THING that's needed on getting one of the reptilian's rogue gods back on their side AND she quite literally just saved our life. I'm going to brainstorm a write-in but please do not choose chasing the half-elf. It'll be a headache but no one that can't be solved compared the problem of Glowie dying.
>>
>>5317541
They WILL spread the word and send reinforcements of we do not kill the half-elf
>>
>>5317541
>one of the reptilian's rogue gods back on their side
Via replacing us.
>>
>>5317506
>>5317512
>*You can’t strike back
>*D-dishonour
>*some effort
>>
>>5317545
Do you not read?

“Still… I cannot let my race be consumed and replaced by insects,” you say. “What would it take, for my race and the ‘greatworms’ to work together, as a united front?”

The Divine Mother tuts, but to your surprise, she relents. She tells you: “If you can make your father’s people accept your mate—my cleric—then perhaps there is hope. Take her as your queen. Form a kingdom, allied with that from which you hail. I doubt it is possible, mind you, for they are poisoned by HIM.”

>>5317544
And? We can deal with reinforcements, we cannot do anything if Glowie dies. Once she's dead, she's dead.
>>
Anons had to vote for the troll write-in…
Was it really on purpose to kill Glowie like the other anon said?
>>
>>5316292
There’s something wrong with this faggot…
Second time malicious voting to snipe at a character he hates…
>>
>>5317555
Yeah, that guy can't seem to accept the decisions made around Glowie so his solution is "bug-squashing." It's one thing to argue against and say you dislike a certain character, but it's an entirely other thing to actively try to grief any actions with that character in an attempt to get them killed.

I know QM said there was no "wrong answers" for choosing who to send Glowie against, but there was a clear level of danger between all of them, and a clear indication to which actions Glowie seem best suited to. I somehow doubt that the anon who constantly goes on and on about "bug squashing" was voting in good faith to send Glowie against what seemed out of all the options to be her worst matchup.

And now we're here.
>>
>>5317512
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf
>>
>>5317512
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>Invoke the <Divine Favour>, which your mother bestowed you, to give you the strength to do both

Voting for both of these. Would rather just save Glowie, but I'd rather use the favor than not save her too.
>>
>>5317539
Can you change too? It'd be really sad to go through this whole character arc with Glowie and the Mother of Dragons to have her die right now. It wouldn't even have any benefits like the Persecutor route. We're not gaining any favor for leaving her to die because of a human.
>>
>>5317589
[Anon already did: >>5317539. If you want Persecutor favour, though, I guess you could kill her yourself... Pledging your own unborn heirs' lives to Death could make you a Death Knight, too, for that matter.]
>>
>>5317589
Ok

>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>Invoke the <Divine Favour>, which your mother bestowed you, to give you the strength to do both
>>
>>5317591
Oh, no. I meant for them to include divine favor in their vote so it's 3-3 on votes for saving Glowie.
>>
>>5317512
> Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion
>>
>>5317512
>Invoke the <Divine Favour>, which your mother bestowed you, to give you the strength to do both
>>
fuck does any big brain anon have a write in that favor is big
>>
>>5317512
QM, what do we have in our inventory right now?

A good write in may depend on this…

Also, I’m not sure what to vote for yet - but I’m 100% against invoking our divine favour here!
>>
>>5317681
The only items that I think are probably relevant are probably the Shrink Potion, Elvish Moon Sword, and Demon Ring.

With the Shrink potion the only idea I've come up with is using it to shrink Glowie and take her with us while we chase the Half-Elf, but she'd probably die in our bag.

The Elvish moon sword I was thinking maybe we could channel our fearsome presence or something into it, do some spiritual bullshit. Command the elf to stop. It is a holy elvish artifact so maybe it'll compel him or some shit.

As for the demon ring we know it has flesh weaving/healing abilities. We could possibly take it out of our pack and command the demon to heal Glowie and then we chase after the Half-Elf. The demon definitely doesn't have our best interests at heart, though, but we could possibly bargain with it in exchange for healing Glowie. Like we'll owe it a favor or something.
>>
>>5317683
The most realistic one is probably using the demon ring, it's dabbling in bad stuff, but I honestly think it's better than using the favor here.
>>
>>5317683
>>5317681
[You also have the necklace, which Hapo implied had healing abilities... But it's a crapshoot if you can figure out how to use it.]
>>
>>5317512
>Command Demon to heal Glowie than chase after Half-Elf

Fuck it that is big brained enough for me… Make a pact not to destroy the demon or something else…

Still count my old votes if write in doesn’t win Reptoid RQM
>>
>>5317512
>Command Demon to heal Glowie than chase after Half-Elf
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>Invoke the <Divine Favour>, which your mother bestowed you, to give you the strength to do both


Well, I guess it's better than using the favor. I still want to save Glowie no matter what, though so I'll include the divine favor vote until further notice.
>>
>>5317699
[I'll count your vote as "save Glowie, but if we can also stop the half-elf, do that too." Fair interpretation?]
>>
>>5317701
Yep
>>
Can our fleshweaving help in this or does inexperience make it an impossibly harsh roll? Really for keeping the divine favour for a game over emergency;could be argued this is one because of getting discovered but I'm not sure
>>
>>5317710
We only have 2 skill points in fleshweaving so it'd be a pretty hard task.
>>
>>5317710
[2d20 for default fleshwaving, but THEORETICALLY the necklace or a potion could help.]
>>
It’s all bad options here
>>
>>5317512
>>5317710
>>5317716

I'd go for fleshweaving and necklace because I don't want to use the favour. Would understand if other anons take the option.
I understand other anons being upset, I am anti brood route; but kinda gotten used to the idea of going a monster overlord route instead of reptilian champion purist. Lets try to save the bug so we aren't turning on our own decisions like a bitch
>>
>>5317552
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf.

I see no reason too risk an Evil Demon who tried to kill us getting lose, Or letting the humans have warnings about us Or wasting a divine favor.

Say what you will about whether glowie is a good romance option (she's not in my opinion, The chaplain almost had our egg smashed just because we were a quarter human. Glowie is a flesh crafted mutant bug, she was never realistically going to be a part of reptilian society.)

The demon was the brains behind Hako's blasphemy and stopping him was the entire reason we came here.

Our mother DIED passing her divine favor too us.

We had specific Orders from the serpent priests too keep the master races operation a secret. Lest the northern paladin kingdom bring down its army upon us.

Glowie was never mandatory for our long term goals to bring back the age of scale's. And we only originally accepted the offer of her coming with us out of diplomacy and to use her as a weapon against mammals. There is ZERO reason to throw away our entire mission for her or the mother of dragons sake.
>>
>>5317756
No reason to listen to one of the gods of the pantheon

ok
>>
>>5317758
>No reason to listen to one of the gods of the pantheon
And a different god of the same pantheon would be thrilled if Glowie died. >>5317591 says Death would be cool with it too. What's your point?
>>
>>5317760
Reply under wrong ID? And they only would be please if we made sacrifice…
>>
>>5317743
can you put vote in green so QM see it
>>
>>5317758
>one of the gods of the pantheon

What part of "abandoned us" and "the serpent priest who created glowies race killed herself out of the shame of her betrayal of the master race" and last but not least.

>>5315022
>“Your ‘brood’, your warriors… Your race in general… They are to be allies to the Reptilian cause, understand? Not rivals, not REAPLCEMENTS. Friends, like… Like we are.”

>Glowie stares blankly, but then slowly nods.

>“If Grandmother says so,” she replies.

Her species is a long term rival to ours. And the mother of "Dragons" as the persecutor and serpent ascendant put it. Is more a mother of beasts who has decided to become a wishy washy ally like death is tok the master race.
>>
Putting aside all the political and religious discussion. You guys do realize she literally saved our life 3 seconds ago? Are we really that ungrateful that we’re going to let her bleed out after she just did that?
>>
>>5317743
>>5317512
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>Attempt to call your fleshweaving and the healing gem in the necklace to patch glowie up while the kobolds track down the knife man

As soon as glowie has stabilized go kill the remaining adventurer
>>
>>5317770
We’re making an effort in getting the mother of dragon’s on our side and we’ve already made significant inroads. You do realize without Glowie there are plenty of other worms that are GUARANTEED to now wait for our downfall of Glowie dies.

We made a literal Dark Goddess relent! Why throw away all that progress? Having her and her beasts on our side is a massive boon, letting Glowie die here is just wasting ALL the diplomatic inroads we made with the goddess.

The mother of Dragons literally gave us terms on how to get her back on the Reptilian side.
>>
faggot tries to gets glowie squashed to reverse impregnation decision

this was argued so many times… it’s deja vu for fucks sake it’s the faggots fault for making us have to sacrifice stuff
>>
>>5317772
>Putting aside all the political and religious discussion. You guys do realize she literally saved our life 3 seconds ago? Are we really that ungrateful that we’re going to let her bleed out after she just did that?

The ancestors of the north's paladin cut down the mighty green dragon. If they go on the offensive against the Reptilians before we are ready the Age of Scales IS OVER before it even began.

Every person who went on this campaign understood that deaths could happen at anytime, to throw the entire mission and our people future and our future into wack is foolish and absurd.

And the ONLY reason anons are considering it is beacuse they have been cooming!! To bug cheeks, if one of our male companions were cut down not a single anon would complaint wasting a divine favor and bring the humans army down on us.


>>5317775
>We’re making an effort in getting the mother of dragon’s on our side and we’ve already made significant inroads. You do realize without Glowie there are plenty of other worms that are GUARANTEED to now wait for our downfall of Glowie dies.

The glow worms have orders to not challenge the master race unless the dragonborn project fails. If the dragonborn project fails we along with the rest of our clan will probably be dead. So the threat of the glow worms is a moot point.

>We made a literal Dark Goddess relent! Why throw away all that progress? Having her and her beasts on our side is a massive boon, letting Glowie die here is just wasting ALL the diplomatic inroads we made with the goddess.
>The mother of Dragons literally gave us terms on how to get her back on the Reptilian side.

The mother of beasts herself believes that the terms she gave us, were impossible too fulfill.

>"I doubt it is possible, mind you, for they are poisoned by HIM.”

our clanless partial human nature makes it difficult enough too climb the ranks of scalykind.

Tying our fate too glowies in some weird heretical display of pan species untiy makes what is already hard nearly impossible.


And then their is also the fact that the human army and the demon might kill us, and that divine favor we have is vital to our quest to become a true dragon and bring back our people from the edge of extinction.
>Use <Guidance> and <Improved Dragonshape> to track down and finish the half-elf
>>
>>5317777
>faggot tries to gets glowie squashed to reverse impregnation decision

>this was argued so many times… it’s deja vu for fucks sake it’s the faggots fault for making us have to sacrifice stuff.

Only like four people voted on how too fight the adventurers so you can't claim it was some anti glowie coomer.

And if we sent all of use to the sleeping adventures, its likely the giga chad barbarian would have gotten to us even before we finished off most of his comrades. Because we failed our stealth roll.

All in the best choice right now is hoping glowies mutant silk worm body can cling to life long enough to bring her to the novice. While we insure the adventurer crew leaves with no survivors like we came here and planed on.
>>
>>5317689
Are we able to roll a fleshweaving or intelligence check to see if we know what to do with it before deciding whether to run or stay

It would be truly unfortunate if we voted to stay and she died anyway…

Right now I’m leaning towards running after the Elf though.
>>
>>5317512
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>Attempt to call your fleshweaving and the healing gem in the necklace to patch glowie up while the kobolds track down the knife man
>If all that fails, demon shit
>>
>>5317758
>no reason to listen to Serpent Priest who wanted us to kill the bug and antinatalist Death
wtf I agree now?
>>5317761
wtf unresponsive?
>>5317777
Yes, my little fuming friend, I rolled all the 5 dice for her with express intent to KEEL. Will also be rolling the ones used for healing her.
>>
>>5317512
Damn nigga, we nearly died.
>Save my homie Glowie
That homie saved our life, the least we can do is repay that debt. Plus, it’s dark, the motherfucker might not have gotten a good look at us.

Might be smart play to get our undercover homies to run damage control anyway though.
>>
I hate elves
>>
>>5317512
>Demon shit
>Chase down Half Elf
>>
>>5317885
Oh ye only chase if Glowie saved tho
>>
>>5317512
>Let the kobolds chase the remaining mammal—you need to attend to Glowie! Perhaps one of the defeated adventurers has some sort of potion?
>If that fails, supporting other write ins
Knew we should’ve went with the Bastard and a larger force. I do think using the Divine Favor is out of the question, elfboy is just a mook, and we all know that bigger fish will need to be fried eventually.

On an unrelated note from this holy shit moment, I think we should try and talk to the Prosecutor more, maybe try and convince him to… adapt, to this new age. We’ll need more law and order when we’re ruling the surface dwellers, right?
>>
Rolled 9, 19, 8, 2, 17, 9, 4, 10, 3 = 81 (9d20)

>>5317897
>>5317891
>>5317827
>>5317812
>>5317791
>>5317788
>>5317774
>>5317756
>>5317702
>>5317700
>>5317615
>>5317594
>>5317586
>>5317550
>>5317531
>>5317523
>>5317516
You turn towards the forest, watching the elf-human disappear nearly seamlessly into the trees, passing without trace, He will be difficult to track, maybe impossible, if you don’t follow him (or send a force to do so) immediately. If he escapes, so does word of you, your race, and what you’ve done here. Can you really trust the kobolds with such an important endeavour? They have been… Sporadically useful, but you can’t say that this evening ahs left you greatly impressed with them as an organized force. They are hunters, though…

Your musings are cut short when your gaze falls back to Glowie, curled up in a ball, clutching her wounds in silent, unconscious misery. She might be a bug… She might be a rival… But she just saved your life. She’s your… Your…

“Do not fear, Friend,” you whisper, kneeling close. “I will save you.”

You let the kobolds depart in pursuit of the half-elf, which already seems to be their default strategy in absence of your orders to the contrary. You hope and pray that they will succeed… But this is not where your own attentions lie. Instead, you are scouring the bodies of the adventurers slain for resources which can help you fallen friend and first lover, bleeding out before your very eyes.

Glowie WILL NOT die! You will not allow it!
>>
>>5317992
How to fuck everything up in one simple vote
>>
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>>5317989
>>5317992
>>5317997
You run frantically from one felled adventurer, turning their bodies over and searching packs and pockets. In the process, you discover that the armoured fighter is still alive, albeit unconscious; you can only hope he does not wake in the meantime, for you can spare no time to slay or restrain him.

>9 (search)

Unfortunately, the scouring of the slain and unmoving adversaries proves for nought. The potions prove to be among the belongings that the hooded human thief took with him to the roof… And you discover this because, when you turn over his thrice-stabbed and fall-broken body, you find that he landed on his pack, and smashed the vials on impact. Their restorative fluids now soak uselessly into his pack. You know enough about such arts to know that dissolution and contamination will render a healing potion useless to you… And to Glowie.

The adventurers are not your only option, however. In desperation, you pull the necklace from your own neck, and begin to flick and thumb your way through the strange beads which adorn it. You were never able to get it properly appraised by a mage of specialized skill… But that traitorous fiend, Hapo, did he not say one of the functions the demon told him this item had was healing? You try to focus your mind despite the rising anxiety for Glowie’s life. You try to quiet the fear, to stifle the part of you that says ‘make a deal with the demon! We have no time for this!’

You consider using the <Divine Favour>, pleading with the Dark Gods to save Glowie’s life.

>19 (spellcraft)

But THEN, when all hope seems lost, you sense it: the telltale aura, faint and contained but undeniably THERE, of restorative magic! You clasp the bead, tear it from the necklace, and rush to Glowie’s side. Once there, you press it to her, murmur a prayer, and focus your energies. The bead breaks and warmth suffuses your palm and pours forth into your first mate…

“Please, please…”

You catch yourself pleading. It’s undignified, perhaps, unkingly… But you do not stop yourself. You squeeze your eyes shut, continuing to mutter prayrs and appeals to any deity that will listen…

“Dragonborn…”

You feel a hand on yours, and open your eyes. Glowie is staring up at you—pained, but alert, and with an expression you do not recognize and cannot place—not at first. Then, you recall your dream, your vision of the future and past… Your dead mother’s words…

>I love you.

“My Dragonborn,” Glowie whispers, clasping your hand tightly. You simply stare at each other for a time, saying nothing.
>>
>>5318000
Nice trips
>>
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>>5318000
>>5318011
“…Well,” you eventually grunt, “I can’t exactly have my only avenue to winning back the favour of the Mother-Goddess dying on me, can I?”

You take back your hand, to Glowie’s evident displeasure and confusion.

“…Yes,” she whispers, nodding. “Understand.”

You hold one another’s gaze for a while longer, and she quietly hums. The tuneless humming is somehow soothing—to her as well as you, you suspect. She shuts her eyes, and you retie your necklace and simply listen. Finally, you recognize the discordant melody as like that which the worm-princess’ mother’s voice produced, when her voice reverberated in her hall…

And that which Glowie produced, ever-so-faintly, when you mated.

You shake off the peculiar feeling this elicits, and instead turn to the woods, where eyour kobodls are emerging…

>17 vs. 3 (kobolds vs. half-elf)

…With the half-elf, half-hauled and half-walking between them. Daggers prick his ribs, and one of his legs is bleeding profusely—a tendon has been cut, to prevent a sudden escape. He stares at you, and at his fallen friends, in hopeless sorrow. He knows his fate is to join them in death.

You step between him and Glowie, shielding her from any last-gasp defiance.

“What are you?” he asks, when the kobolds shove him to his knees before you.

“The future,” you pronounce. “The end of you.”

The half-elf and the human fighter yet live. So, too, the barbarous berserker. The question becomes: what to do with them?
>Slay them all unceremoniously
>Spare one for interrogation, and slay the others [specify if you have anyone in mind]
>Bring them back to parade before the kobolds, and offer as sacrificial tribute to the Dark Gods
>Commend them for their efforts, and spare them… As slaves and vassals
>Write-in
>>
>>5318013
>Slay them all unceremoniously
>>
>>5318013
>Commend them for their efforts, and spare them… As slaves and vassals
But most importantly is interrogating them all for information.
Make sure they're all stripped of their equipment, and ensure they are crippled. Also unfuck their bleeding.
>>
>>5318013
>Spare one for interrogation, and slay the others [specify if you have anyone in mind]
half elf
>>
>>5318041
+1
They're gonna love us having the cool moon sword
>>
>>5318013
>Commend them for their efforts, and spare them… As slaves and vassals

Novice will like them if we don’t have need of a few.
>>
>>5318013
>Commend them for their efforts, and spare them… As slaves and vassals
>>
>>5318013
>Commend them for their efforts, and spare them… As slaves and vassals
>>
>>5318013
>Bring them back to parade before the kobolds, and offer as sacrificial tribute to the Dark Gods
Serpent daddy, we did good.
>>
>>5318154
Shit man that's an option? I'll support that, after we interrogate them. That should appease the dark gods for a time. Not sure if it's enough to clear our entire debts, but enough.
>>
>>5318013
>>Bring them back to parade before the kobolds, and offer as sacrificial tribute to the Dark Gods
Light the pyres and let the screams of the condemned reverberate through the forest as a psalm to our gods and a warning to theirs. Give the charred corpses to the kobolds afterwards, the little guys earned it.
>>
>>5317791
You’re right. It wasn’t just any anti-glowie coomer it was the biggest one. The one that’s quite literally been threatening to do this the entire quest. I don’t know why his retardation got 2 votes, but it did, and it almost turned terrible. Good job retard.
>>
There’s so much hatred for that one anon kek
>>
>>5318202
What did I miss?
>>
>>5317791
I would love to hear what makes me a coomer, given I was the most vocal about not fucking a literal human-sized bug.
>>5318172
Didn't threaten to do anything, just said I want the worm off our party the second she appeared, because coomers would vote to lose virginity to it. And I was 100% correct.
>>5318202
And it's amusing as fuck.
>>5318205
Seems like I pissed off some coomers and overly passionate larpers, because I voted to send out murderous maggot to kill one (1) guy and she failed 5 rolls, which got her fucked up. But fear not, for she is practically immortal with half of these tools willing to immediately sacrifice Divine Favor for her.
>>
>>5318253
To be fair you are a massive faggot so I see why they dislike you
>>
>>5318013
>Commend them for their efforts, and spare them… As slaves and vassals
For interrogation and experimentation. If anons see this as too much of a risk though
>Bring them back to parade before the kobolds, and offer as sacrificial tribute to the Dark Gods
Death might appreciate this, and maybe the Prosecutor if we word it right.
>>
>>5318267
I can't desu glowie is trash, and the novice Giga mogg's her (hell even even the kobalds mogg glowie. When she's not using her amulet.)

The simping for the unnatural insect mutant is weird. And borderline bizarre.
>>
>>5318016
>>5318023
>>5318041
>>5318049
>>5318066
>>5318075
>>5318126
>>5318154
>>5318163
>>5318170
>>5318336
“You crippled him,” you note to your kobolds, reverting to your native tongue once more. “Good thinking. Do likewise to the others, and tie them up with what rope you can find in the homes.

“One who fell from roof has some in bag!” shouts Tessu.

The kobold set to work as you have requested. The half-elf ranger is horrified to see them cutting his unconscious allies’ tendons, and by the time they come for him with the rope, he understands what is happening.

“What will you do with us, monster?” the half-elf demands, too injured and hopeless to actively resist, but still somewhat defiant.

“Interrogate.” You reply. “Then… enssslave.”

“You won’t get away with this! I’ll see to it!”

“Maybe ssacrifice, if you do not like that. You were worthy foesss. My massterssss would be pleassed.”

That shuts him up. You have the kobolds gag him, anyway.

Your lackeys have to work together to drag out the armoured man, and even all of them working together struggle with the berserker. Stripping them of their equipment helps, however, and Ivno is able to find an only-somewhat-rickety wheelbarrow for you to load the bound prisoners into. You strip them of all their equipment first, and you take particular note of the berserker’s belt. You THINK you sense the faint, ethereal buzz of magic about it.

“Novice Fleshweaver will know what belt does!” Glowie chimes in cheerfully.

You sling the belt over your shoulder, and experiment with the dead rogue’s sword for a few stabs and slashes, and test the elf’s bow; your own equipment, you deem superior. On the other hand, the berserker’s maul—a weapon so hefty that only you, of all your party, can lift and swing it—impresses you in its own way.
>>
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>>5318434

You flip idly through the caster’s spellbook, but struggle with the unfamiliar magical principles therein, seemingly all related to the summoning-up of energy to convert into elemental energy—something like what your still-unused Ring of Elemental Command does, but using power from within rather than captured elemental entities. You suppose it’s not unlike your firebreath… Hmm, interesting.

“Kobolds are loaded and ready,” Glowie informs you.

You close the book and tuck it away for future study, perhaps with the Novice’s aid. She has replaced her cloak with that of the dead rogue, you note. It is a small for her, as the wealth-laden thief was some sort of halfling, upon closer inspection; it’s more like a capelet. However, her existing cloak was too dirty and ragged from her battle, and soaked in her peculiar bluish blood. The kobolds have avoided her ever since the end of the battle, wary of her obvious strangeness, though they do not know her exact nature. This also leaves her bottom half unclad, lewdly exposed... A situation not uncommon to the kobolds, you note, but frankly inappropriate for a female of the Master Race--which IS, after all, what she is masquerading as. For the sake of modesty, you help her fashion a makeshift skirt from some miscellaneous cloth in one of the homes here; she hums happily as you tie it around her waist, reveling in the accidental embrace and in your touch, chaste as it is.

You take one last look at this now twice-forsaken place, and hope to have seen the last of it.

Do you bring the maul?
>Yes—this imposing weapon is a worthy weapon for one such as you!
>No, it is cumbersome and clumsy
>Yes, but as a gift for the Bastard—it seems like something he might enjoy wielding
>Write-in

Do you do anything else before you leave, or on your way back?
>Burn the village—prevent any more humans just moving into this place, or using it as a staging ground for further incursions
>Interrogate the half-elf [specify if you have any questions in particular for him]
>Dress down/commend the kobolds [specify which, and if you have any particular questions or notes for them]
>Talk to Glowie about something [what?]
>Write-in
>>
>>5318440
>Yes, but for the Bastard—it seems like something he might enjoy wielding
>Burn the village—prevent any more humans just moving into this place, or using it as a staging ground for further incursions
>>
>>5318434
THE LISP IS BACK BOIS
HELL YEA

>>5318440
>Yes, but as a gift for the Bastard—it seems like something he might enjoy wielding
>Burn the village—prevent any more humans just moving into this place, or using it as a staging ground for further incursions
>>
>>5318440
>Yes, but as a gift for the Bastard—it seems like something he might enjoy wielding

>Interrogate the half-elf [Do you recognize our sword? Are there any other adventurers coming this way? What is the current information that the humans have of this place?]
>>
>>5318451
+1
THEN BURN IT TO THE GROUUUUUUUUND
>>
>>5318440
>Yes—this imposing weapon is a worthy weapon for one such as you!
>Trap the village and it’s surroundings to hell and back
>>
>>5318445
Supporting

Looks like everything went well…

We should 100% sacrifice the berserker to the Serpent Ascendent. He’ll be a pain to try and keep as a slave
>>
>>5318445
>>5318451
>>5318489
+1
>>
>>5318445
>>5318451
+1
>>
>>5318595
>>5318489
>>5318483
>>5318456
>>5318451
>>5318447
>>5318445
>>5318718

You know what? This IS going to be the last time you see this accursed place.

You take a deep breath in, and when you release it, the world goes up in smoke and fire. Human structures, trinkets, comforts, and family legacies are set ablaze with the distinctive pure red of dragonfire. Kobold-built additions, the products of months of their occupation, go up with it. It is a fire supernatural, one which burns as hot as those of Hell but with such intensity that nothing can long withstand it. Nothing long does. It takes only a few huffs, and puffs, and this little village is burned away.

The mammalian prisoner—the conscious one, the half-elf—watches in terror as you judge this place unworthy to continue existing, and then correct this error. The kobolds see the place they conquered and claimed, lived in for months, razed to nothing; their expressions are ambivalent, but none speaks up to stop you. Glowie claps her hands and watches with a simple aesthetic joy, pleased by the spectacle of it (and by the show of power, you suspect).

“There will be no more clues for ‘adventurers’ to follow,” you announce. “And no more shelter for our enemies.”

“Yes, Dragon!” the kobolds bark, standing upright and carefully concealing any misgivings.

You and your squadron leave. Along the way, you un-gag the half-elf adventurer, to ask your new captive a few questions:

“Do you recognize my sssword?” you ask, brandishing the moon blade. “It iss as ssword of elven KINGSSS, I am told. I took it from the belly of a russst-monsster.”

The elf says nothing, until you apply the point of said sword to remind him of who is master, and who is now slave.

“AAH! I w-was raised by my mother. She was human! I don’t know about any of that stuff… My father was some traveling storyteller and. But… Yeah, okay, I guess I might have heard a few stories from other elves about how moonblades are an old symbol of their kings, back when all the elves were part of one big nation… Before humans.”

You clean a bit of human/elven blood from the blade, as well as some of the berserker’s. As you do so, you notice that the phase of the moon currently visible in the sky above—a half-moon—is aglow on the side of the sabre, while the other phases of the moon thus embossed on the strange white stone of that unrusting blade are not. Curious…

“Are there any other sso-called adventurersss coming thiss way?” you ask.

“Well, we heard the rumours of a kobold infestation led by a big kobold with lost of magical items on it, so I have to imagine others did, too.” The half-elf glares at you, and grimaces. “Guess they were more than rumors. You’re bigger than any kobold I’ve ever seen.”
>>
>>5318724
Your wounded pride gets the better of you.

“Sssilence yoursseelf, Ignorant One! I am NO kobold!”

“Then… What are you?” he asks.

“What ELSSSE iss being ssaid of thiss place?” you ask, ignoring his question to ask another of your own.

“Just that the kobolds—and whatever YOU are, I guess—are in need of putting down, and are mustering a small army. That and the dwarves here…”

He goes quiet, but a pointed look and a tapping of the blade on the side of the wheelbarrow gets him talking again.

“…That the dwarves are refusing to ask for aid, even though they need it, because they don’t want the humans down below in Redwell to use it as an excuse to come up this way to ‘help’, then renegotiate their mining contracts as ‘payment for assisting’. I guess the greedy bastards found SOMETHING they like up here, enough to risk dealing with the likes of YOU alone.”

You can think of nothing else to ask, and so you order your prisoner re-gagged and return to the head of your procession to ponder what you have learned.

Eventually, as the sun rises bloody red, you draw near to your ancestor’s ruins once more. The passage to the kobolds’ mountain-home grows too narrow, precarious, and uneven to bring the wheelbarrows and carts you have been using to move your slaves and loot. Luckily, you are able to signal a kobold lookout, hidden amongst the spikes and spires of the Bloodrise where you know to look for him. Not long after, several kobolds descend to meet you, with the Bastard towering in their midst. The half-elf’s eyes go wide when he sees that there are yet more of you ‘not-kobolds’ here.

“Here,” you say when the bastard is close enough, and hand him the berserker’s maul. “I have noticed you enjoy your weapons with a great deal more heft. This should suffice.”

He takes it, bowing slightly in thanks, and then still more in surprise at the weight. He takes a few steps back, gives it a few swings, and looks back to you with redoubled appreciation.

“Thank you, Superior One,” he says.

“Use it well,” you say. “And now, report.”

It seems that of the three scouting parties—the Infiltrators down in this ‘Redwell’ place, and the Thief and Cartographer’s mission to spy upon the dwarves deeper in the mountains being the other two—you are the first to return. Everything has been well here, though the kobolds were apparently quite agitated last night.

“We saw a bright red light, down at the village,” the bastard says, “as if you had burned the entire place in a great fire.”

“I did,” you confirm.

“…Ah.”
>>
>>5318728
“What?” you ask.

The kobolds… How did they respond?”

You hesitate a moment, then say: “Not entirely enthusiastically, but they did not object or defy me.”

“I suppose they would not dare,” the Bastard says carefully, “but, if you were not so powerful a presence… Let us just say that I heard concerns voiced among them. I had to mete out some punishments. One was heard saying that, while the Pretender, or Dragonwrought, EXPANDED their holdings, you were leading them back to poverty, misery, and stagnation. That kobolds who oppose you lose and die, but that so do kobolds who follow you.”

You consider these rumblings of disloyalty and discontent.

“All your forces returned alive, tough!” the Bastard hastily adds. “And you brought back prisoners, and loot! This will put a stop to such mutterings!”

“…Or further fuel them, with fresh complaints and concerns.”

Concerns such as ‘your female’ having unnatural, unreptilian blood, perhaps. They did not dare speak up in your presence, and Glowie hardly seems to mind their avoidance if she notices it at all, but her injuries revealed something ‘off’ about her. If the kobolds are privately wavering in their respect and loyalty for you… Well, this, and the tales of your destruction of a place they saw as rightfully theirs by conquest… It could all compromise your reputation and the integrity of command structure.

“Glo—the Serpent Priestess who joined me in my mission, she was wounded,” you tell the Bastard, changing topics and keeping your anxieties to yourself. “Where is the Novice Fleshweaver? I administered some healing magic which seems to have remedied the situation, but I wish to ensure there is no lasting damage.”

“Where else?” he snorts. “Does that female even eat, or sleep, or clean herself? One would never know. She does not leave her researches, since coming to this place.”

You nod, summon Glowie to your side, and the two of you go to see the Novice.

Confirming the Bastard’s words, the scent of alchemical reagents and old blood is thick in the Novice’s work-chamber, which has also clearly served as her sleeping-quarters when (or IF) she has taken torpor since your last meeting. You are told she has been having kobolds leave food at her door, and denying anyone entry; you can see why, for in addition to the dissected remains of the dragon hatchling, one of the eggs has been broken apart. Its brownish, half-dried yolk, webbed with once-red blood-vessels which now show as strings of darker brown amidst it, have been partly scooped out into several bowls, beakers, and vials. The embryonic chick which must have been inside is nowhere in sight.
>>
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>>5318733
What you do see is the not-kobold, the creature you jestingly call ‘The Junior Novice’, is not in its cage. Rather, the Novice Fleshweaver is leaned over its sedated form, injecting a syringe of some unknown concoction into it when you enter. To your discomfort, she is faintly vibrating with rattling laughter. It’s… A little creepy.

You clear your throat, and she stands immediately, setting down her syringe and whirling about: “I said NONE were to— Ah. You lived.

“I did,” you confirm. “Did YOU survive the last day, though? You look terrible.”

“Yes, well, rest won’t make me appear to be a dark elf with swollen mammary glands, so I suppose I will never appeal to your sensibilities,” she sniffs, quick with a retort. “Not that you’d know it, by how frequently I catch you ogling my—”

“Glowie was injured,” you interject.

You reach for the disguised female who has shyly hidden behind you, away from the manic alchemical prodigy’s mad laughter. You gently shove her toward the Novice, who looks her over.

“What is she wearing?” she asks “Why is her midriff exposed? That is a modification of MY midriff, you know. You ought to ask a female before you expose her to such public indignity.”

“Only we three know whose midriff that is,” you sigh. “And anyway, her old cloak was soaked through with blood.”

The Novice looks at you with surprising concern—enough that you’d almost think she LIKES the insect-princess, or at least values her continued existence.

“Take off the clothing,” she orders Glowie, and the amulet.

She does so, exposing first the beautiful, squeezable curves of her egg-laying hips and thick tail, and then the… Unique charm… Of her natural for. You look away, trying not to remember the last time she was thus exposed to you, and what came of it.

“She seems perfectly fine,” the Novice eventually concludes. “You say it was one of the beads on your magic necklace which did this?”

“Yes,” you say, “though it was… Used up in the process. It shattered.”

“Well, none of the other charms on that necklace feel to me as if they have restorative properties. It must be some sort of magic multi-tool, a collection of stored spells. It’s a good thing that you got lucky and used the correct one, or who KNOWS what would have happened to the worm?”

“It wasn’t luck,” you say. “I am no fool.”

“All evidence to the contrary,” the Novice says.

You sigh.
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>>5318735
“There is… Another thing,” the Novice says, lowering her voice so that Glowie does not overhear, from where she is replacing her amulet and putting her clothing back on over her transfigured form.

“Speak,” you say.

“Glowie is… I suppose the word might be ‘pregnant’?”

You feel your heart seize in panic, and say nothing.

“Well, it’s an imprecise term. There are other lives, other souls, gestating within her, half-formed in a sort of internal egg-sack.”

You nod, glad your helm hides your expression.

“They remain are in some sort of stasis—a holding pattern, not developing beyond a certain point. A delayed pregnancy, or waiting for some external factor… Fertilization, perhaps, or a hormonal trigger when she is ready to brood.”

You breathe a sigh of relief. No insult, or accusation, despite talk of ‘fertilization’. The Novice does not know—there is NO way she would let such a secret lie.

“But, well, it seems the battle must have… Terminated some of them, rupturing a section of the sack and bursting several eggs in the process. Your restoration of her did not correct this. Unaddressed, this MAY lead to the loss of the entire brood.”

“Why do you tell this to ME?” you ask, trying not to sound paranoid or defensive as your fears return.

The Novice looks at you strangely, and says: “Because you are pretending to eb LEADER here, yes? You BROUGHT this creature with us, did you not? This whole… ALLIANCE with the worms is your gambit? So, how would you see this gambit better served? Do we wish for her to lay these eggs, or to lose them?”

What will you do about the kobolds’ morale, and rumour-spreading?
>Enact harsh discipline, publicly executing the kobold who the Bastard says openly questioned you and promising more of the same for any who foment rebellion
>Promise them that they will soon see growth and wealth to put their previous victories and scant village holdings to shame
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors
>Write-in

And what of… The other matter?
>Keep silent—perhaps it is best that Glowie’s fertilized brood perishes in the womb
>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that
>Admit to being the ‘trigger’ for this new development to the Novice, and seek her advice on what to do
>Write-in

Do you speak to Glowie, the Bastard, the Novice, or the kobolds about anything else of importance?
>Write-in
>>
>>5318740
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below
>Keep silent—perhaps it is best that Glowie’s fertilized brood perishes in the womb
>>
Sorry for the sort of slower/longer update. I wanted to wrap up some loose ends, get the MC back to base, and give you guys time to address stuff. I know the last few updates have been pretty fast-paced, but also slow in terms of actual in-universe time-passage, with all the courtship/sex, divine intrigue, and then the battle. I hope the pacing is to people's liking?
>>
>>5318740
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors

Kobolds are naturally inclined to serve dragons, they must be really pissed to be speaking out against us. It's an easy fix, though, because of their natural inclination we just need to show that we're aware of their concerns and show favor to a few loyal kobolds.

>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that

I've argued about this so many times. This is basically the third vote over this, if we terminate the egg sacks we'll basically have fucked Glowie but without any of the benefits.
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>>5318740
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors
>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that
Papa love you guys :)
>>
>>5318740
Don’t mean to bring up politics but was this inspired by Roe v Wade kek
>>
>>5318754
>but without any of the benefits
[We-eeelll...Not to give too much away, but there are distinct benefits present in the series of choices you've made, such as Glowie's feelings of loyalty, indebtedness and love which would carry over even if she does not have your children, especially if she doesn't learn you knowingly permitted their miscarriage. You could THEORETICALLY have your alliance and avoid the hybrid offspring too.]

And there are other plotlines at play behind the scenes that I can't reveal yet
>>
Also you cucks better not be pussies and backtrack on the kids after we already fucked her knowing it will make a brood
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>>5318769
It's not like I voted for fucking her in the first place.
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>>5318761
>Roe v Wade
[Nah, just timing. This is more of... A funhouse mirror reflection similar situation and series of votes in events in Reptilian Infiltrator Quest which actually resulted in our current main character existing]
>>
>>5318772
I know but don’t make the character a wishy washy cuck he should stand by his dick/decisions
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>>5318776
>I know but don’t make the character a wishy washy cuck he should stand by his dick/decisions
No.
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>>5318777
:( ok
>>
>>5318740
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors
Nip this shit in the bud. Make it to the Prosecutor, to appease him and remind the kobold of the natural order here.
>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that
The Novice may fail anyway, but at least Grandma would appreciate the attempt. I’m ambivalent on the brood thing in all honesty.
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>>5318775
Should’ve went for the Dragon DNA originally, it’s one of my biggest regrets after learning we couldn’t make a second son.
>>
Rolled 44 (1d100)

Just a little background probability roll for an upcoming update, don't mind me
>>
>>5318785
[Oh, and I REALLY don't want to spoil the surprises ahead, but if that's something you wish you'd done differently last time... Consider the implications of the Novice Fleshweaver knowing, or NOT knowing the nature of the brood, considering the focus on her current experiments. This isn't necessarily a "baby or no baby" vote. It's, at least in part, a "What kind of baby?" vote
>>
>>5318820
Mmmm….
Consider me tentatively switching my Order vote to
>Admit to being the ‘trigger’ for this new development to the Novice, and seek her advice on what to do
then. Best make this an informed decision then.
>>
>>5318820
I'm glad we didn't choose Dragon because there's no way we would be able to hide that they're our children if they had that dragon blood in them. Though, I do suspect they'll come out vaguely draconic but we could just shrug our shoulders to divine intervention or something for that.

I'm guessing if we DO tell the novice they're our kids she'll want to perform experiments on the already dead eggs because they're related to you know... a dragonborn.

It would probably close out the romance route, though, unless we can convince her the Mother of Dragons was our main motivation.
>>
>>5318740
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors

>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that

We’re full outcast dragon why not
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>>5318852
I don’t think it would close out the romance route, and I think this has more to do with what kind of offspring Glowie has (as genetically fit or the offspring’s looks) than anything to do with romance.
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>>5318856
oh and could we possibly pledge aborted to egg to death to get rid out debt? Might be worth
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>>5318863
[You could ask him, I suppose... But inaction and action hold different weight with the gods]
>>
Honestly the Novice's fleshweaving open up A LOT of possibilities for what to do with these eggs, since they're in stasis the Novice could in theory take some out to do her dragonification experiments with, and instead of ending up with GlowWyrms, we end up with actual full blown Wyrm kids. We still have those actual dragon-egg dna too, she could meld those in too make the eggs even more draconic. Actually let's suggest that, it would make it much easier to suggest away their heritage not being from us.
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>>5318740
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors
>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that
>Suggest melding the eggs with the Dragon DNA from the eggs.
>>
>>5318873
>*Suggest melding Glowie’s eggs with the dragon egg DNA
>>
>>5318740
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below
The Gods will love it.
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors
Make sure we get the thiccest female with the best ass as our cultural liaison.
>Admit to being the ‘trigger’ for this new development to the Novice, and seek her advice on what to do
Fuck it, we need this bitch’s advice on how best to proceed.
>Ask the Novice what she managed to accomplish in our absence, besides transforming into a NEET
>>
>>5318880
>>5318873
+1 why not she’ll be like “wow they take to dragon jizzums easy” hehehe sneaky
>>
>>5318873
Sorry for correcting your grammar hehehe I’m a nazi
>>
>>5318904
Lmao how are you a grammer nazi and not use periods? And that wasn't grammer it was just confusing wording since I didn't clarify which egg was which.

>>5318860
I don't know, the Novice has been pretty territorial about us honestly. She wasn't necessarily pissed about us flirting with the Dark Elf, but it certainly became a sore subject for her. If she knows we fucked a literal worm before her I don't think she'll be very happy.
>>
>>5318740
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below
>Meet with the kobold ‘leadership’, such as it is, and hear their grievances—even accept one or two into your retinue proper, perhaps, to serve as cultural advisors

>Suggest melding Glowie’s eggs with the dragon egg DNA
>>
>>5318914
I think that she’d be more flustered than anything, and this wouldn’t torpedo any relationship with the Novice, this would be just to get the kids the best possible genetic outcomes as possible, instead of being a uncontrolled horror show.
>>
>>5318740
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below

>Order the Novice to save the brood—YOUR children as well, after all, though you cannot tell her that
>>
>>5318914
Hell, the Novice might even be flattered by such a revelation. It was technically her body after all.
>>
>>5318740
>Hold a sacrificial ceremony, a distraction and a demonstration of your piety and power, and sacrifice the berserker in the kobolds’ honour to the Gods Beyond and Below

We do not bow or scamper to lesser life forms

>Keep silent—perhaps it is best that Glowie’s fertilized brood perishes in the womb

Alliance without spawning a brood of monsters which will replace our race - how is this not the best option?
>>
>>5318839
>>5318839
>>5318839
Just reposting this here.
>>
>>5319106
I have no idea how we were intended not to take this literally. There's zero indication of any deeper meaning in either the update or the options.
>>
>>5318885
Support, especially the bit with the cultural advisor.
>>
>>5319120
I believe >>5318820 was the indication, but I get that there wasn’t a nudge to make us think of the implications or the indirect side effects beyond the immediate and direct. Same thing almost happened in the Glowie/Half-elf vote (before anons started using their noggin to not utilize the Divine Favor), and to the lesser degree the Prosecutor (I honestly figured it was a lost cause trying to court his favor, considering the implication in other Gods’ conversations). Maybe we just need to be smarter in how we interpret things.
>>
>>5319120
[Agreed, I probably went too subtle on my clue-dropping. Like I said in the prompt, I didn't thread that particular needle insofar as making it clear initially that it wasn't just a "brood or no brood?" binary choice with a 1-to-1 relationship between your choice and the outcome. I knew this immediately when one of the first votes had someone expressing frustration about a third vote on the same question, which wasn't precisely what I had in mind. That's why I eventually clarified with minor (?) spoilers for my plans. I'll try to do better next time! the /qtg/ provided some helpful advice.Anyway, post incoming, vote locked.]
>>
>>5319061
>>5318987
>>5318934
>>5318886
>>5318885
>>5318873
>>5318856
>>5318856
>>5318825
>>5318756
>>5318754
>>5318742
“…I have had a thought,” you eventually reply.

“Among the surfacers, I have heard there is an aphorism: there is a first time for everything.”

“Dragon-blood.”

“I thought,” the Novice replies with a sigh, “you meant a NEW thought. What else do you EVER think of, oh Singleminded One, than dragons?”

“No,” you clarify, speaking haltingly. “I mean to say… Modifying the eggs… Inside of Glowie… With dragon-blood.”

The Novice stares, saying nothing for a time. Then, unable to help herself, she exclaims:

“WHAT??”

Glowie looks over at the two of you from across the room, startled by the outburst. You wave to her, reassuringly; she cheerfully waves back.

“I remind you,” the Novice hisses, “that we have a finite amount of this material to work with. My experiments with the Jun—with the kobold-esque creature—they’ve scarcely begun! I do not know what will happen, or if I will need to attempt subsequent experiments to make it safe for YOUR Amulet, or…”

“These eggs MUST be saved,” you interrupt her, “for the sake of our alliance.”

Your heart is pounding, hurting your bruised and battered (broken?) ribs. You are surprisingly alarmed at the thought of the brood perishing in utero—far more than you thought you would be. To your own alarm, you have genuinely begun to think of them as, if not your heirs, at least a vital part of the future—a unique opportunity to help build a better age for both your races. The Novice notices your alarm, your obvious discomfort, however.

“And I suppose I’ll have to set aside time to apply a poultice to you, as well,” she says, prodding your ribs sadistically. You hiss in discomfort, and she laughs. “Very well. But there’s something you’re not telling me… And I WILL find out.”

You open your mouth, but say nothing. The Novice waits a moment, then sighs and turns around, and goes to inform Glowie of her pregnancy’s ‘complications’, and her proposed procedure. You sit down upon a rock and look to the unconscious Junior Novice, twitching and whining upon the slab, and you contemplate your life choices… And what to do about the kobolds. Finally, exhausted from battle, from your journey, from the weight of leadership, you fall into a deep, black torpor.

There is peace, and quiet, and…
>>
>>5319175
“Wake up, Degenerateborn!”

Your eyes slide open, then your inner eyelids. The Novice is standing there, arms crossed, tail lashing. You look past her, to where Glowie is laying upon a stone. She is in her natural form once more, seemingly unconscious as the dogbold was. The other ‘test subject’, you note, has been returned to its cage, and the cage covered.

“Lay down on the floor,” the Novice instructs. “Strip.”

You blink, and wonder for a moment if you are still asleep—experiencing another vision outside of normal reality. Then, the Novice produces a bundle of cloth to serve as knee-padding, and a jar of liniment—her alchemical poultice, to help with your injuries.

“Ah.”

“What were you thinking?” she asks.

You lay down, and remove your armour, wisely saying nothing. She kneels beside you, and begins applying the tingly, cool admixture with thoroughness and startling care.

“You knew,” she says eventually, continuing to massage the ointment into your scales.

“Knew what?” you ask.

The Novice glares a you.

“You knew that Glowie was partially Reptilian in design! That she had a Reptilian reproductive tract, that her offspring would take to the draconic infusion easily! How?!”

“…A divine vision, before my journey,” you admit. It is a half-truth.

The Novice stares daggers at you.

“Did it work? Are they going to survive?”

“Our replacements, now strengthened with the blood of a dragon king? Why, yes, I think they will.”

You breathe a sigh of relief.

“Why were they vital to our alliance?” the Novice asks.

“I… Promised the Mother of Dragons a brood, to be protected, strengthened, reared. You recall, Glowie is along with us to find a place for her hive to flourish. And they will be useful allies, especially now.”

The Novice’s tenderness gives with to a hard squeeze on your ribs, making you nearly cry out in pain.

“Is that divine mandate why her eggs are swimming in VERY familiar genetic material, DRAGONDICK?”

You clear your throat to cover your embarrassment. You are found-out. The Novice stares, expression slowly shifting from icy anger to disgust, to fascination.

“You mated… With an insect. There really IS no limit to what ape-brained abominations will fuck, is there?”

“In fairness,” you say, rising slightly both physically and to your own defence, “she was wearing the amulet.”

The Novice makes a choking sound.

“You… MATED with an ISNECT… Wearing MY form?”

There is a long pause.

“…I have other matters to attend to now,” you say standing with a slight twinge of pain. “I must be going. Continue to monitor Glowie, and keep me apprised of her condition, and the results with the Junior Novice.”

“You are an absolute FREAK!” the Novice shouts after you, though you sense less anger than utter, bewildered mortification.
>>
>>5319176
You don your cloak and breeches, leaving your armour to be worked upon by some kobold smiths in their crude forge. It is in dire need of cleaning, and the chestplate needs to be hammered out. While they are attending to that, you summon the Bastard, and have HIM collect a small collection of elder kobolds, and those who seem to have authority or respect in their community.

When they are brought before you, you can see that these assembled reptiloids are nervous. They keep their heads low, eyes averted from you, and fidget ceaselessly. They expect punishment, admonishment, maybe execution. Among them, after all, is the one who the Bastard tells you spoke out against you in your absence. However, that is not what they get:

“I understand there has been… Some discomfort, with my coming here.”

The kobolds prostrate themselves, one after another, murmuring apologies.

“Stand,” you command with a sigh, and they do.

“I am here to usher in a new era,” you explain. “An Age of Scales. An age of the Dark Gods. DO you understand?”

The Kobolds looks to one another, then all speak up in the affirmative. You don’t know that you believe them; their confusion is palpable.

“You are scaly-folk, too… Even if you are kobolds, it does not mean that you are not a part of this coming vision of glory. Your concerns are our concerns; your ambitions, our ambitions.”

The kobolds look up at you, too mystified to be afraid or deferential. They cannot entirely comprehend what you re saying, you sense.

“I want to hold a ceremony, in honour of our SHARED victories, and in honour of the Dark Gods Below and Beyond,” you say, “and I want your input on this matter, and on other matters moving forward. To that end, I will be holding consultations. I ALSO desire nominees for kobolds to join my retinue.”

It’s the Bastard’s turn to look incredulous… But he shrugs, and does not question you. It is such policy that got HIM his vaunted place, among your expeditionary forces, after all.
>>
>>5319192
The kobolds, once they finally come to grips with what you are offering, scramble to begin the plans. You make your own voice heard, too, of course—they are consultants, but NOT masters. To that end, you plan to commemorate the ceremony to…

>The Serpent Ascendant, who respects strength of body, mind, and will more than he cares about bloodline or body-size, and who guides military conquest
>The Persecutor of the Weak, who asserts the natural order of the reptilian races over mammals, and who tortures and executes prisoners of war
>The Mother of Dragons, beloved by kobolds (and a certain glowworm princess, who is in recovery), and who encourages growth, fertility, and protection of the home and community
>The Dark Pantheon as a whole—no need to play favourites or attract undue attention from further Gods just now
>Write-in

The kobold leadership also eagerly presents four candidates for your consideration as members of your retinue. You can choose one without much push-back, as a token representative of the race; two, to give the kobolds a sense of real commitment (but also the consternation of the more elitist members of your retinue); or three (though this will raise eyebrows and objections). You COULD take all four, you suppose, but then your retinue is going to be disproportionately kobold.

Who do you choose?
>Ivno, veteran of two of your missions now, who has proven himself an astute scout, albeit one unwilling to speak up much in contradiction of you
>Agno, a brave young warrior who can be reckless, but also is more honest and open in his discourse around you than some others
>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
>>
>>5319194
>The Serpent Ascendant, who respects strength of body, mind, and will more than he cares about bloodline or body-size, and who guides military conquest
Best god.
>Ivno, veteran of two of your missions now, who has proven himself an astute scout, albeit one unwilling to speak up much in contradiction of you
>Agno, a brave young warrior who can be reckless, but also is more honest and open in his discourse around you than some others
No more, no less than two. Willing to trade Agno for Sikdo.
>>
>>5319194
>The Dark Pantheon as a whole—no need to play favourites or attract undue attention from further Gods just now

>Ivno, veteran of two of your missions now, who has proven himself an astute scout, albeit one unwilling to speak up much in contradiction of you
>Agno, a brave young warrior who can be reckless, but also is more honest and open in his discourse around you than some others
>>
>>5319210
+1
>>
>>5319210
+1
>>
>>5319210
+1. Based Serpent Ascendant will help us corral the insect-reptile hybrids into true Dragondom.
>>
>>5319210
+1 Offerings for the based god
>>
>>5319210
+1
>>
>>5319194
>The Mother of Dragons, beloved by kobolds (and a certain glowworm princess, who is in recovery), and who encourages growth, fertility, and protection of the home and community

oh god
novice found out
nooooooo

>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Ivno, veteran of two of your missions now, who has proven himself an astute scout, albeit one unwilling to speak up much in contradiction of you
>>
>>5319310
she don’t seem angry we only need to talk probably
>>
>>5319315
Yeah, using the argument "Mother of dragons god explicitly asked us to" might hold some weight.
>>
>>5319317
She seems to understand we’re doing a big gambit on the whole worm alliance thing too
>>
>>5319315
>>5319317
can't believe she recognized our cum
magic is bullshit
eradicate magic
>>
>>5319194
>The Serpent Ascendant, who respects strength of body, mind, and will more than he cares about bloodline or body-size, and who guides military conquest

>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
THAT ASS DONT QUIT
>>
>>5319194
>The Persecutor of the Weak, who asserts the natural order of the reptilian races over mammals, and who tortures and executes prisoners of war
>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
>>
>>5319210
+1
>>
>>5319194
>The Dark Pantheon as a whole—no need to play favourites or attract undue attention from further Gods just now
>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
Can we not play favorites just yet, or try to regain favor with another God? I do not want to be involved in their pissing contest, I want them to all support us as a capable Pantheon instead of turning this into a Greek shitfest.
>>
>>5319194
>The Mother of Dragons, beloved by kobolds (and a certain glowworm princess, who is in recovery), and who encourages growth, fertility, and protection of the home and community
>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
>>
>>5319213
Supporting this

Best god indeed
>>
>>5319194
>The Dark Pantheon as a whole—no need to play favourites or attract undue attention from further Gods just now
What happened to getting input from the Beholder? And would a fiery sacrifice appease the Prosecutor more, considering he came to us engulfed in flame?
>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
Lootgoblin rouge is a go!
>>
>>5319194
>The Serpent Ascendant, who respects strength of body, mind, and will more than he cares about bloodline or body-size, and who guides military conquest
>Sikdo, an older kobold, not well-suited to combat or travel, but very well-informed on their cultural traditions and history
>Tessu, a greedy but cunning female with a more wilful streak (and a reasonably plump rump, you suppose)
>>
>>5319210
+1
>>
>>5319778
[The Beholder and Death were both viable write-in options, but I couldn't think of a way to spin rituals to them as motivational for the kobolds, so I didn't include them by default.]
>>
[Also, expect a delay -- Herogasm's out and I got me a nice beer with the bud.]
>>
>>5319893
It's a good ep. Enjoy, RQM, you deserve it.
>>
>>5319778
+1
>>
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Rolled 9, 1, 7, 3, 10 = 30 (5d20)

You choose to hold your ceremony in honour of the Dark God who has most closely aligned with your beliefs and ambitions: The Serpent Ascendent, Swallower-of-the-Sun, Feathered Serpent and Lord of the Night Sky. The kobolds are less familiar with him than with the Mother of Dragons, granted, but you know just how to make the appeal.

On the evening of the festival, you have each of your captives brought before you, one at a time, by the kobolds who accompanies you in their capture. The assembled throng behold as the thrashing, snarling berserker, the forlon and silent half-elf ranger, and the weeping warrior are brought up to the raised rock-shelf where you stand, beneath a crude altar to the Dark God you honour tonight.

“Kobolds of Bloodrise!” you cry.

All eyes turn to you. This includes the Bastard’s, standing at the head of this uneasy vassal-army; it includes the Novice, lurking at the back of the festivities only begrudgingly, eager to return to her work. It includes the Translator, eyes narrowed, expression scrunched, unhappy with this whole populist event. It sadly doesn’t include Glowie—she is busy recovering from the surgical and magical procedures which have secured your shared offspring their future.

“You have long been lost in the darkness, in the lingering past of this place,” you begin. “You have been left alone, forsaken for your perceived weakness, servility, uselessness…”

The kobolds rumble and squawk with displeasure, but you put up a hand.

“PERCEIVED,” you say, “but not REAL. You ARE strong. You ARE capable. Y our are skill hunters. Scouts. Asssassins. WARRIORS.”

A hush falls over the crowd.

“I have seen in! You are slaves by birth, weaklings, pitiful by nature… But in the absence of your masters, in your isolation and desperation, you have found strength. You have grown! You have become TERRORS! Miniature DRAGONS!”

You gesture to the humans, forced to their knees before you.

“TOGETHER, we have defeated these foolish mammalian adventurers. Together, we have become MIGHTY. WORTHY. That is what tonight is about. THAT is what the Serpent Ascending values, he who is called Lord of Strength, Father of Victories! Not strength of blood—strength of WILL. Will to POWER. Strength of SPIRIT!”
>>
>>5319962
>>5319902
>>5319800
>>5319792
>>5319778
>>5319750
>>5319703
>>5319646
>>5319615
>>5319576
>>5319385
>>5319310
>>5319257
>>5319249
>>5319243
>>5319238
>>5319219
>>5319213
>>5319210
It’s a good speech. You KNOW it is. You’ve rehearsed it in your head a dozen times. But when you speak it aloud…

>1

Silence. Deafening silence.

“T-to that end,” you continue, feeling your stomach drop a little, “I have… I have accepted TWO kobolds into my official retinue—two of YORU people! Ivno, Agno, you have proven yourselves! Rise, and join me.”

Both kobolds freeze in place, as if struck by instantaneous rigor mortis. Ivno gradually rises, and shuffles to your side…

But Agno does not.

“Can’t believe you,” he hisses.

“What?!” you growl.

“Not you,” he replies, but whirls on Ivno. “You! Draggonborn LEFT Ohle! He KILLED Hako! Sent Hapo to die! Collapsed mine! Stole treasures! Burned village WE took!”

“Enough,” you pronounce. “ENOUGH.”

“No!” comes a cry from the crowd. “It’s true! No true Dragon! You take the dragons eggs into a chamber, to feed to mate—a monster!”

Gasps and chattering ring out from the crowd, even as the wise and cautious elders of the clan try to calm the young.

“She bleeds blue! She chatter-chitters like… Like… Freak!”

You spy the Bastard pushing and shoving the crowd, barking instructions and orders, applying his weaker Presence as best he can to maintain order. It isn’t enough. The Translator is backing away from the increasingly-agitated mass of kobolds—some loyal others not, all startled by this outburst. The Novice is already gone, no doubt retreating to her laboratory to protect her research (and Glowie, by proxy) against what is beginning to feel like an impending riot.

“We toil-toil, fight-fight, DIE, for LONG, DEEP time, while these ‘Masters’ hide away… And now they come, take what WE earned-kept?!” Agno spits.

Sikdo watches in silence, neither speaking against nor advocating for the young, hot-blooded male. Tessu edges away—not necessarily out of moral disagreement, you feel, but out of fear for the retribution and conflict to come. Ivno, alone of the four on your raised pedestal, remains loyal—but not out of love, but greater fear and respect for your power.
>>
>>5319972
Agno meets your eyes, defiance in his gaze. Your mammalian captives, uncomprehending of the words but very aware of the mood, seem poised to make a desperate bid for escape—only waiting to see what happens next.

“Serpent Ascendant values will-strength? Then let Him see this!”

He raises his head, straightens his spine, and demands of you:

“Kobolds strong-strong. YOU are weak ones. We NOT to be your slaves. NOT ANYMORE.”

You stare back at this tiny, defiant whelp, and you…
>Burn him to cinders with your breath, right then and there
>Challenge him to a ritual duel—fisticuffs only, no magic, no firebreath
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND him, and the crowd, to stand down
>Offer concessions—you promised to collaborate with the kobolds, and they have legitimate grievance
>Attempt to invoke the <Divine Favour> of the Serpent Ascendant, offering your soul to him as his Antipaladin in exchange for his direct blessing and a demonstration of his power
>Write-in
>>
>>5319977
>Tell the kobolds the truth: you were sent here to slay them and still can if they do not submit. You are superior and have them ALL right here.
>>
>>5319977
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND him, and the crowd, to stand down
>Burn him to cinders with your breath, right then and there, as a sacrifice to the Prosecutor
We need to reassure our authority here, and that of the Master Race. Invoking a divine mandate will only help us.
>>
>>5319977
>Offer concessions—you promised to collaborate with the kobolds, and they have legitimate grievance
>Challenge him to a ritual duel—fisticuffs only, no magic, no firebreath

Well... they're not wrong. We were absolute giant dicks to them without really explaining the reasons for our decisions. At every decision involving the kobolds we kind of slighted them lmao. These Kobolds are seem to be very community-oriented and so they probably won't take well to extreme draconic measures- at least long term. We should make some concessions here while also showing our strength.
>>
>>5319962
FUCK THESE DICE why are they so terrible lately
>>
>>5319985
We are not offering concessions for their public defiance. We need to reassert order, publicly and brutally, and keep them in line. I know the Prosecutor isn’t the most favored god here, but in this instance he is the best to invoke and offer Agno as a sacrifice to, as a warning to other dissidents. Revolt will not be tolerated.
>>
>>5319977
>Offer concessions—you promised to collaborate with the kobolds, and they have legitimate grievance
>Challenge him to a ritual duel—fisticuffs only, no magic, no firebreath

Eh they’re not incredibly sociopathic like the reptoids and out only for own survival best to combine carrot and stick and not have another death to add to grudges
>>
>>5319990
The problem is that we’re going to be leaving pretty soon. How are we going to keep an entire tribe of unhappy kobolds in line with draconic(heh) measures when we’re going to be leaving. Ruling by strength lasts about as long as there is strength to rule by, and we can’t babysit these kobolds forever.
>>
>>5319977
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND him, and the crowd, to stand down

Then
>Burn him to cinders with your breath, right then and there

Then
>Commend Ivno for displaying true martial might and loyalty and have him kill the human as a sacrifice
>>
>>5319983
Support, fuck this nigger up.
>>
>>5319999
No, the problem is that we’d be looking weak to everyone involved here. The kobolds, our retinue, the Master Race, the Serpent Ascendant and the other Dark Gods. You think anyone would approve of concessions as a show of our weakness? You think that if kobolds get it into their head that they could bully the Dragonborn and demand shit from the Master Race, that capitulating would be the end of it? No, it is better to show strength when defied, then to capitulate on demand. Don’t look like a weakling in front of the fucking Dark Gods themselves, for Christ’s sake.
>>
Here's what's going to happen if we kill that little bastard.
1. It works out! The Kobolds are scared! Yay! We did it! We stopped the riot!
2. Sacrifice to a god they don't even really care about, maybe get a few brownie points.
3. Stay here for a little while longer and do other shit that'll likely silently piss them off again.
4. We leave to report back on mission maybe leaving The Bastard behind.
5. Oh shid! They revolt because the strong Dragonborn that was the only thing keeping them line is gone and they hated every aspect of his rule!
6. Hapo takes over again (maybe)
>>
>>5320007
Just beat the fuck out of Hapo and maybe do an improved dragonshape+fearsomepresence roar after to show strength. Killing the messenger without solving the underlying shit solves nothing long-term.
>>
>>5320010
>>5320014
Offering concessions after a single kobold’s show of force makes as look weak, and will only exasperate the problem, not solve it. I’m fine with hyping up the Fearsome Presence with Improved Dragonshape (hell, considering we’re out of our armor, we can go full transformation and Earth Tremor as well), but offering concessions right after being challenged directly is a foolish move. We can address their grievances after order is reasserted, not before.
>>
>>5320019
I mean, we can do the concession after we beat his ass and roar. That was my intent. Beat his ass to show them we don't take blatant disobedience well and then offer up a few concessions to show that we're listening.
>>
>>5320020
That’s fine, I don’t mind addressing their grievances after, we just have to make it clear that we’re top dog. Agno will have to die, but inviting three kobolds into our retinue will prove that we are taking their concerns seriously.
>>
>>5320024
Nah, I'm not cool with Agno dying. We just did an entire speech about how these kobolds are mini-dragons and more than slaves. WORTH WARRIORS in fact. One the main concerns the kobolds brought up was our flippant disregard for their lives. Showing restraint and not killing him shows we're taking their concern seriously and doesn't blatantly go against the whole speech we made two seconds ago.
>>
>>5320029
You mean that nat 1 speech that caused this mess in the first place? Fuck it, it was clearly a shit speech no one took to heart.

Rewarding his disrespect with a retinue position is just retarded at this point, and letting him rebel-rouse the kobolds is equally retarded. He’s better off dead.
>>
>>5320038
I think we can just agree to disagree now lol.But I really don't think ignoring the speech we made two seconds ago is good leadership.
>>
>Dragonborn LEFT Ohle!
The demon spiky fucks would have looted all the things there, including the dragon stuff, if we didn't make it in time. We had to leave that injured kobold from earlier because they'd slow us down and we were pressed for time, but we helped them before we left them. We risked our lives for that guy fighting that tongue monster AND we did it with one of them by our side. We have witnesses that were there for all of that.
>He KILLED Hako!
He tried to kill us when we tried to save him from the ring demon after we found out what happened. Self-defense.
>Sent Hapo to die!
He was possesed and mentally corrupted by the fucker in the ring. He openly said this to us, and there were surely others there at the time. He was with us the entire time during the trip to the mines, aftee we LET HIS STUPID ASS LIVE even after he tried to kill us, and we showed him mercy. And he betrayed us and went for the demon books the SECOND he had the chance, and the others in the expedition KNOW IT
>Collapsed mine!
Bitch there were fucktons of baddies there, and they would have looted everything else if we didn't collapse it. And the kobolds know where it is, so it can be UNcollapsed at a future time.
>Stole treasures!
Wtf
>Burned village WE took!
Nothing stopping them from making their current living arrangements better. There's nothing stopping them from getting some fresh air and going out of the mountain occasionally.

Man these kobolds are asking for it. We could have murdered them all for their rebellion going along with the Pretender. We didn't. I fucking hate these ungrateful shitters.

>>5319977
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND him, and the crowd, to stand down
>Refute this impudent moron (see above) and call on the witnesses there to speak up.
>Challenge him to a ritual duel—fisticuffs only, no magic, no firebreath
>>
>>5320049
Neither is rewarding dissent and disloyalty good leadership.

But at least we can agree that we clearly pissed off the Dice Gods with the rolls we’ve been getting. Fucking hell.
>>
>>5320052
I agree, these kobolds really are ungrateful shitters.
>>
>>5320029
>flippant disregard for their lives
Did we NOT fight those demon spiny guys in the mines, and come out with 0 casualties? Did we not rescue the kobolds from the tongue monster? Did we not show mercy to one of them? Does them living where they live now not give them safety from shitty humans and other scum, like the ones we just killed and captured and are right fucking there?
>>
>>5320060
I'm starting to see the pattern here. Whenever we make ANY sort of speech, ANY sort of expression of goodwill or congratulatory sentiment or recognizing others for their helpfulness, EVERY SINGLE FUCKING LIZARD FUCK unequivocally distrusts us and views us with suspicion. It NEVER goes over well. I think our main character should notice this too, and address it in-story.
>>
>>5319977
>Offer concessions—you promised to collaborate with the kobolds, and they have legitimate grievance
>Attempt to invoke the <Divine Favour> of the Serpent Ascendant, offering your soul to him as his Antipaladin in exchange for his direct blessing and a demonstration of his power
>>
You guys do realize the Kobold's don't have access to the same internal logic and even general information that we do, right?

The Kobold's did not know that Hako and Hapo were possessed by a demon. In their point of view the Dragonwrought champion that led them to TREASURE and LAND was killed by a random dickhead sent by the Reptillian leadership who ignored them for literal centuries. Even if we told them after the fact that they were demons, why would they believe us when we killed him behind closed doors? And who would they trust more?

As for Ohle of course they're going to salty that we left him, the kobolds have been shown time and time again to have strong social bonds. It doesn't matter that we fought a tongue monster for him if he ends up dying later because of a decision we made 5 minutes later in their point of view. In fact, they would've probably viewed it better if Ohle died in the fight with the tongue monster since it wouldn't have been a direct result of one of our decisions. To them it shows we just see them slaves, something which hey were not for generation until we came stomping in.

As for the collapsed mine and village, what do you expect? You think they're going to like that we destroyed two things that they spent tons of lives and time on within a day of taking over.

We had reasons that we did what we did but why would the kobold's care at all? In their perspective we killed their champion, left one of their community members to die, and then destroyed almost all their infrastructure. To them we probably seem like that worst shit ever.

Why, in their point of view, would they want to serve us for any reason besides fear? Fear that will quickly dissipate the farther we get from Bloodrise.
>>
>>5320080
>>5320052
I'll add on the dress down to my vote.
>>
>>5319977
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND him, and the crowd, to stand down
damn
shoulda dedicated the ritual to bug mommy
>>
>>5320069
It is quite a pattern. Maybe we should just embrace being a bastard and just reinforce the Master Race’s hierarchy ruthlessly.

>>5320084
We let them live after their rebellion, which should outweigh all other grievances. Clearly a mistake, if they’re just going to rebel at every opportunity.
>>
>>5320096
But we cant fuck the kobolds if they hate us
>>
>>5320084
Bloodrise is like two weeks away even if you take farther underground route from our clans base.

If the kobalds revolt again we can just come back and crush them, since they no longer have the false dragonwrought or means to command the basilisk.

Ruling them by fear is absolutely a strategy since kobalds only show bravery when fighting collectively. In fact we should go further than just punishing ango and should punish the kobalds collectively, too remind of the gap in power and stature between us.
>>
>>5320100
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND him, and the crowd, to stand down
>Challenge him to a ritual duel—fisticuffs only, no magic, no firebreath
>Offer concessions—you promised to collaborate with the kobolds, and they have legitimate grievance

I voted against fat rears but I want it later no meanness or never get fat assholes
>>
>>5319977
>Use the Fearsome Presence to COMMAND the crowd, to stand down
>Challenge him to a ritual duel—fisticuffs only, no magic, no firebreath
>Offer concessions—you promised to collaborate with the kobolds, and they have legitimate grievance

In that order
>>
>>5320109
I know you're voting for concessions which I like, but you do realize that we don't need to be nice to fuck kobolds? We could just take one if we want or wait till they're in breeding season where all they care about it getting the strongest mate lol.
>>
>>5320100
Actually, you can. I believe it’s called hatefucking.

>>5320105
Yea, whatever happened to that basilisk anyway? I’d love to keep it as a pet.

You want to go full Roman and decimate them? I’d always up to larp the Romans
>>
>>5320113
+1
And temind these chucklefucks that they are alive because we took pity on them
>>
>>5320052
+1
>>
>>5320052
You also gotta love the leaps in logic here. Like, they haven’t seen the Master Race in centuries, and probably come up with all sorts of wacky and weird rumors, myths, and legends surrounding their Dragon and Reptilian masters, and they find the chittering and blue blood to be out of the ordinary for these subspecies? You’d think the weirdness of the Novice being a crazy NEET shut-in would’ve tipped them off that this particular sub race was a bit wacky and freaky (and that doesn’t consider that fleshweaving is a magical discipline of this sub-race).

Also, the cannibalizing of the dragon eggs should be quickly disproven, given that the Novice would’ve been idiotic to have broken numerous more dragon eggs when everyone clearly knew we had them and that they were important culture artifacts for our people. I get the one egg, and we could simply explain it away as a kobold broke it during travel, but multiple eggs would’ve been ludicrous, right? Just show them a clutch of dragon eggs and be done with it. (We should clear this with the Novice before we bring it as an option, just in case).
>>
>>5320052
+1
>>
>>5320285
In addition, if we really wanted to explain Glowie’s blood, we could simply say that the Novice has been using her fellow Sister for live fleshweaving experimentation. Simple as.
>>
[Incoming post, voting is locked.]
>>
Rolled 14, 3, 8, 8, 19 = 52 (5d20)

>>5320296
>>5320255
>>5320189
>>5320113
>>5320109
>>5320088
>>5320085
>>5320080
>>5320052
>>5320000
>>5319995
>>5319985
>>5319983
>>5319980
>>5320001
“You…”

You feel fire rising up within you as Agno—the young male you offered the HONOUR of serving on your retinue to!—dies you like this. After you showered his race in compliments, risked your life to save and protect them, went out of your way to incorporate them and to put on this entire festivity for the sake of THEIR morale. Every time, every SINGLE time, you try to be... BENEVOLENT... This happens. Why? How DARE he does this to you? How dare THEY?!

“YOU INGRATES!”

Your roar the words, flames licking at the sides of your mouth, smoke pouring forth, hands flexed to claws. You every muscle is tensed, your mana in wild flux. You’re too furious to even summon forth your <Improved Dragonshape>…
>>
>>5320387
>19

The kobolds quail and cry out in terror as they feel your Fearsome Presence pour from you, submerging them in ancestral terror and veneration. Dozens of small reptiloids fall to their knees, loyalist and burgeoning rebel alike. Ivno, beside you, begins to murmur a prayer. Sikdo bows as best his old knees will allow him. Tessu falls over. In the crowd, even the Bastard stares in anxious awe. The mammalian captives stop their furtive activity, unaffected by the presence but not by the spectacle.

You are shaking, you realize. Losing your usual cool. You remember the Chaplain, in his Chamber of Confession back home—how angry he was at your defiance. How he hissed, snapped, bellowed… And then quickly turned it off. You take a deep breath, and force yourself to do the same.

“How dare you listen to this NONSENSE, and forget what you ALREADY KNOW?!” you demand of the assembled kobodls. “You, there! Rise!”

You point with your drawn ceremonial sword at Regne, who had accompanied you in the tunnels below.

“Tell me, who was it who chased down the tongue-beast who kidnapped and wounded Ohle?”

He stares, barely able to rise, mouth moving but only a queak emerging.

“WHO?!” you demand.

“Y-you, Dragon!”

You nod, and then say: “And who was it who EXPOSED Hako and Hapo as pretenders? Who GENEROUSLY spared Hapo, even after Hako attacked me? Who spared ALL OF YOU, though I didn’t need to?”

A small chorus of “Dragonborn” goes up from the crowd, in scattered utterances. Closer, you can hear Ivno, Sikdo, and Tessu join in.

“I destroyed your stolen village, yes,” you say, a bit quieter, “And collapsed your tunnels. But Nothing and nobody is topping you from improving your living quarters HERE, in the MOUNTAINS, or from re-excavating those tunnels… Under MY protection from the horrors below. Nor, by the way, is anyone preventing you from going back down into the forests to hunt and forage. By the contrary, I REMOEVD a reason for the humans to return to this place, ELIMINATED a threat to you…”

You gesture to the adventurers, giving the berserker a boot in the back of the head. This provokes a gagged shout of rage, and sends him thrashing about menacingly, adding weight to your argument.

“You do not need to love the rule of the Master Race,” you conclude, “but you are RIGHT to fear their Champion… Me. The Dragonborn. And MORE than fear… You should remember to RESPECT what I represent. It is no idle boast, Kobolds of Bloodrise. An Age of Darkness is coming, for all of us…”
>>
>>5320406
You settle your gaze upon Agno, his eyes bugged out, his breathing ragged, his talons flexed for battle but his legs jelly.

“MOST of us. Some of us… Have clearly gotten IDEAS that need to be addressed. And this being a ceremony to the God of Glory, we will settle it by ritual…”

You turn back to the crowd. “BY TRIAL OF COMBAT!”

A scattered cheer goes up, while other kobolds lower their heads in shame and deference. None objects or defies you.

A short while later, the two of you are stripped of your clothing by female kobolds—or, in your case, tissue and the Novice, once more emerged from her work-space.

“You’re going to BRAWL with a KOBOLD?” she asks, incredulously.

“Yes,” you reply solemnly. “An example must be made.”

“We could just show the kobolds the eggs which remain intact,” she says.

“And Glowie?” you ask.

The Novice shrugs, but you actually had an idea of your own. Once Tessu has left the two of you, you voice it aloud:

“You’ve been experimenting on her, Fleshweaving. The blue blood and venomous bite… Those are the result. And one egg… Was damaged, returning from the tunnels below.”

The Novice blinks, and rattles quietly.

“Clever, for a heat-addled ape-hybrid,” she says, the highest praise you can expect. “Will you be so clever after the head trauma?”

“Please,” you scoff. “Agno, he is a KOBOLD. This is a formality.”
>>
>>5320417
You suddenly bite your tongue to avoid crying out at a bolt of pain.

“Your ribs are still badly bruised,” the Novice reminds you, withdrawing her hand from the affected area. “You may not even realize it, but since returning, you have been favouring one side—your bad side. You are right-handed, Degenerateborn, and you step forward with your left foot, always. That has reversed, because your knee is tender, and your ribs prevent movement of that arm.”

“I am still six times his weight and thrice his height,” you say.

“You are still slow and clumsy, and genuinely less practiced than he is,” the Novice snaps back, smacking you with her tail. “Be smart, or at least as intelligent as one such as your glorious and noble self can manage.”

“I did not know you cared so much,” you note.

“You have great research value,” she asserts.

Then, after a long pause, she adds: “And… Glowie would miss you, certainly.”

The Novice squeezes your arm, perhaps unconsciously, before she leaves your side. You and Agno, naked as the day of your hatching, step out onto a hastily-constructed raised platform of metal and wood. It is big enough for the two of you to manoeuvre, but not to flee or dodge overmuch. This prevents you advantage and disadvantage: you hope it will negate the benefit of your defiant subordinate’s agility and speed; but also, it means he can easily dive under your reach and, if he exploits a weak point, it will be harder for you to deny him access to it for a second blow. You have seen how kobolds fight big folk: they get underfoot, or climb atop them.

And below you… Is the basilisk, in its pit. The battle is to take place above its enclosure, where the no-longer tame beast paced and squawks hungrily. To fall into that pit is to invite immediate petrification and death.

For his part, Agno has clearly managed to find some steel in his spine. His tail lashes slowly. His quaking has ceased. His teeth are bared, a mouth full of tiny razors. He assumes a fighting stance. You see scars all over his body, a monument to a hard life. You realize, with a start that this male is likely older than you—and, indeed, more seasoned in battles and brawls.

What do you do?
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
>Shock and awe! Intimidate him with force, and defeat him swiftly and with lethal finality
>Attempt to cheat, using magic subtly to throw him off his game
>Write-in
>>
>>5320406
>critfailed the speech
>all but crit succeeded the fiery tirade
Are... are the dice trying tell us something?
>>
>>5320420
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
We are more visibly injured and crippled than he is. He can see that. We can use that... as BAIT
>>
>>5320420
>>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
Novice talled us to use our head
[i]proceed to headbutt into submission[/i]
>>
>>5320420
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
We have the reach advantage and cqc/wrestling would only make us clumsy and vulnerable in our injured ribs. Don't get provoked and if he gets a knack for dodgey/false charges, we catch a limb and trash him like a chicken for slaughter
>>
>>5320420
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
>>
>>5320381
>>5320420
I guess we’re conceding after?

>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
>>
>>5320478
It’ll probably come up for vote again after the fight since it was controversial. So, the answer to that question is maybe.
>>
>>5320420
>Shock and awe! Intimidate him with force, and defeat him swiftly and with lethal finality

I'm surprised we're only six times his weight at thrice his height, I was expecting closer to a dozen times.
>>
>>5320420
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
>>
>>5320420
>Shock and awe! Intimidate him with force, and defeat him swiftly and with lethal finality
BLITZKRIEEEEG
>>
>>5320420
>Shock and awe! Intimidate him with force, and defeat him swiftly and with lethal finality
>>
>>5320420
Hey wait a minute. Couldn't we have asked Novice to heal some of our wounds? I know she has a Cure Wounds spell in her. Is it not too late to retroactively ask that?
>>
>>5320575
[Her applied poultice was accompanied by spellcraft, but your deep wounds (you broke ribs and vomited blood) will still take a day or two to completely mend.]
>>
>>5320478
[What >>5320502 said. Less than 50% of people chose concession in the last vote. When/if you win, there will be a vote on how to handle Agno, the kobolds in general, and then the prisoners. Then, the scouts and Infiltrators will return, and you will get some more command decisions, experiment results, and the chance for some downtime.]
>>
>>5320587
I hope we can keep Agno alive after this.
Would Dragon Ascent be disappointed if we didnt kill him? A dead kobold isnt a very useful one.
>>
>>5320420
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
>>
Mam I'm regretting not voting to improve the unarmed skilled. Would had been real useful here.
>>
If we beat him up really bad spare him as an example of mercy and how we care about them.
>>
>>5320615
>spare a traitor to prove you're closer to a weak, emotional ape than a dragon
>>
>>5320634
It's not emotional to spar someone with a good amount of combat experience, its pragmatism.
>>
>>5320634
Why kill him after hopefully a public embarrassment? Aren’t the Kobold’s really pissed off because of the death’s of other kobolds anyways.
>>
>>5320420
>>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly;
But I'm fine with a lethal victory lol
>>
>>5320649
>spare
>spar
>>5320653
To make an example, to frighten and make other potential traitors rethink their choices, to not make kobs think they can just get away with public slander and to eliminate a likely future conspirator.
>really pissed off
No, they're currently too busy being scared shitless.
>>
>>5320420
>Shock and awe! Intimidate him with force, and defeat him swiftly and with lethal finality
A dragon does not soften his blows.
>>
>>5320420
>Shock and awe! Intimidate him with force, and defeat him swiftly and with lethal finality
Show them what a Dragon can do
>>
>>5320420
>Fight defensively, cautiously, and smartly; go for non-lethal victory
>>
What was a dragon actually like according to the lore? Anons seem to throw around acting like a dragon with being ultra aggressive and harsh.
>>
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Rolled 13, 15, 7, 20 = 55 (4d20)

>>5320835
>>5320833
>>5320779
>>5320731
>>5320593
>>5320562
>>5320554
>>5320526
>>5320515
>>5320478
>>5320452
>>5320434
>>5320433
>>5320432
A part of you wishes you’d dedicated more time to training in matters of grappling and pugilism. You KNOW, even wounded as you are, that Agno would be no match for you if you were honed in this pursuit. As it is… Well, it’s best to play it safe, as the Novice said. You’ll avoid over-extending yourself, protect your vulnerable areas. It will hardly be the fearsome display of physical dominance you had HOPED to put on , but you hope that the Serpent Ascendant (if he’s even watching) will appreciate your strategic abilities.

As for whether Agno will live or die… Well, you’ll play that by ear. You have no intention to pull your punches for the sake of preserving this rebellious kobold’s life.

Sikdo and the Translator raise banners high, marked with sigils symbolizing the draconic history of Bloodrise, and the God of Glory’s cult. This signal the start of the combat. Neither of you rushes the other, instead circling the platform. You hearing a squawking sound and a low hiss down below, and feel the urge to look downward at the basilisk imprisoned below… But you don’t. It’s a trap—its gaze can stiffen muscles, as its breath and saliva can turn flesh to stone. You keep your eyes on your adversary, and he (with great apparent effort) does likewise. To lose concentration could mean the difference between life and death.

“You have lost the crowd,” you point out. “You will lose this fight. Surrender.”
Agno spits, and shakes his head.

“Then I guess you’ll join the other traitors and weaklings who you so mourn.”

Your provocation works. Agno strikes first, charging in. He risks your superior reach to close distance and to get in close.. You swing an open palm, aiming to catch him n a blind spot and to disorient him. Form there, it should be a simple thing to grab hold of him, to restrain him at arm’s reach… Or to simple hurl him off of the platform and to his death.

[3d20 Fisticuffs, 1d20 variable dice]
>>
Rolled 16, 4, 7, 20 = 47 (4d20)

>>5321073
>15
Your strategy pays off, albeit just barely. You remember the Novice’s words and, when the time comes, you make the conscious effort to step back onto your bad foot to dodge his charge, and to swing FORWARD with your dominant hand. This sends a shockwave of pain through you as you force your way through the stiffness, and you suspect you’ll be calling upon the Fleshweaver’s healing arts once again when this is done…

But your blow lands like the berserker’s maul. Agno the kobold tumbles, skids, and barely catches himself with his scrambling claws before the sheer force of the impact throws him from the platform. He hauls himself back up and leaps forwards… Right into a twirling slap of your much-longer tail, the space of it catching his face and gouging it. He cries out and sinks claws into your scales, drawing a quiet and involuntary hiss.

>20

Below, the basilisk watches this all happen with, you gather, mounting hunger and frustration. As you lash your tail back and forth, trying to dislodge the shrieking, desperately-clinging Agno, the six-legged, rooster combed lizard-creature has enough. It haul itself up on along the mostly-sheer wall of the pit which has long been its prison and, with concerted effort, it hurls itself at your platform. You had not even thought thing could jump, but apparently it can—and DOES. Its verticality isn’t terribly impressive but, coupled with its great size, it’s enough to smash into the platform, the impact of its snapping jaws with the side of the platform failing to secure it purchase, but rocking the impromptu arena’s structure.

[3d20 athleticism, 1d20 for Agno]
>>
>>5321102
>16
You and Agno both manage to cling on for dear life—you to the platform he to your tail. However, you are forced to drop nearly flat, too clasp the roughshod surface of the battleground with hands and feet alike. And Agno…

>20

He takes advantage. He hauls himself forward and launches himself to alight upon your back. There, he begins raining blow after blow upon your head. True to the difference in size, these are more an annoyance than a real threat at first. Alas, he seems to realize this, too, and he brings a stringing slap down on your ear-drums on either side of your head. This sets your head to ringing, so that you cannot even hear your roar of pain. You struggle to your fear and attempt to shake him free, but he clasps to your horns, wraps scrawny-but-muscular legs around your thick neck.

“Submit!” he demands.

DEMANDS! For you, YOU, to submit to HIM! Imagine!

>Never! Continue to thrash—you can outlast him, wear him out, shake him loose
>Use your head! Smash your head into the platform to dislodge him, at the risk of further disorientation
>You’ll die before you suffer such dishonour! Use <Earth tremor> to destroy the platform, and pitch the both of you down into the basilisk’s pit
>Fine! This was dumb anyway, you submit
>Use your head, but less literally! Write-in a clever strategy
>>
>>5321119
>Never! Continue to thrash—you can outlast him, wear him out, shake him loose
>Roar- Fearsome Presence the motherfucker off
I knew getting into a duel was retarded. Now we’re going to lose to a fucking kobold.
>>
>>5321119
>>Never! Continue to thrash—you can outlast him, wear him out, shake him loose
>>Roar- Fearsome Presence the motherfucker off

Sigh, seems as good a plan as any.
>>
>>5321119
>Use your head! Smash your head into the platform to dislodge him, at the risk of further disorientation
How much more disoriented can we get?
>>
>>5321244
Enough to accidentally look at the basilisk
>>
>>5321262
Impossible
our skull is 9 inches thick
>>
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>>5321262
>>5321366
[In both the first round and this second round of combat, the more cautious the choice is, the higher the DC for success, but the lesser the repercussions of failure. Those two 20s against you would have ended up with you down in the basilisk pit WITH an injury, if you'd gone for the aggressive charge at the start and had failed... But The 15 to hit with the charge would have brought Agno down with you, rather than merely stunning/hurting him.]

[I hope this helps better guide decisions in the direction you wish to go.]
>>
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>>5320843
[Also, seems a good time to address a lore question!]

[Dragons were regarded as natural tyrants. There's a reason the mammals of the world have ancestral nightmares of them, and why even the worshipful reptilian races regard their Presence as "Fearsome". They weren't necessarily unthinkingly aggressive, since many were ancient, and said to be nigh-immortal, and patient in their age... But, to your culture's knowledge AND to the knowledge of the enemies of your people, no dragon was ever regarded as anything less than domineering and cruel, albeit in different manners and different ways.]

[Mammalian races regard this as a grave sin of their kind, which justified their extinction. Reptilian ones regard it as their right by way of kingship: the strong dominate the weak, and that is good if the source of their strength is righteous, their goals are logical and 'just', and their violence and is applied with direction and purpose.]
>>
>>5321137
+1
I am open to firebreathing this mofo if he keeps pushing his luck.
>>
>>5321102
>>5321244
+1
Fuck's sake, grab a foot and crush the fuck out of it.
If this guy gets another 20 serpent ascendant is fucking with us
>>
>>5321119
>Use your head! Smash your head into the platform to dislodge him, at the risk of further disorientation
>>
>>5321119
>>5321473 +1
>>
>>5321244
>>5321473
>>5321477
>>5321480
I’d like for you all to consider that we’d need a 15 to pull this off. You really think we’ll get it with a 2d20 with the shit RNG we’ve been getting lately?
>>
>>5321490
Isn't it a 3d20 from either ath or fist?
>>
>>5321119
>Use your head, but less literally! Write-in a clever strategy
>-Grab one of the kobalds legs, and use your fangs to chomp down on Agno's thigh.
>>
>>5321119
>Use your head! Smash your head into the platform to dislodge him, at the risk of further disorientation
>>
>>5321495
Considering it’s just bashing our head against the bridge? Unlikely. We’ll be lucky if we don’t fall into the pit from this retardation.
>>
>>5321473
>>5321520
I am retarded, was supposed to +1 this one
>>5321137

>Why is this dude questioning it if Im supporting his
>>
>>5321119
You know roaring within goal probably won’t do much we should give a more direct command
>COMMAND Agno to look down at the Basilisk
>>
>>5321523
*Without
Basilisk will stiffen his muscles better than roaring like a sped kid
>>
>>5321523
I’m fine with attempting this as well
>>
>>5321522
Also, thanks for clarifying. It just that I know smashing our head against a literal wall will end badly for us.
>>
>>5321523
+1
Though we should just tell him to look down. Specifying the basilisk might make him fight back harder against it.
>>
>>5321523
+1
Finally a good idea. Please do this instead of bashing our head against the fucking ground.
>>
>>5321523
I like this - supporting
>>
>>5321523
+1, but wouldn't this be dishonorable?
>>
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Rolled 9, 3, 3, 1, 11, 8, 20, 2 = 57 (8d20)

>>5321718
>>5321578
>>5321576
>>5321539
>>5321523
>>5321522
>>5321504
>>5321497
>>5321480
>>5321477
>>5321473
>>5321443
>>5321244
>>5321145
>>5321137
This duel was a bad idea. You have no idea what to do with a small opponent like this,. Reaching up to dislodge him is impossible, with your ribs screaming in pain every time to try to lift your arm that high. Thrashing about does nothing—his grip is iron. You try to take a chomp out of his leg, but your jaws—pronounced though they are—are still too short… or, perhaps, too long? He’s wedged a leg right up under your chin, and threatens to choke you into delirium or unconsciousness.

You should have called it off the first time the basilisk attacked the platform, moved it somewhere safer. You sway, your balance off-kilter from the double-ear slap and the air loss. The kobold atop your shoulders gets ready to jump, loosening his grip just slightly, as you very nearly stumble right off of the platform before you catch yourself. You force yourself not to look down, not to meet the eyes of the basilisk…

Which is when inspiration strikes.

“BEHOLD!” you bellow, putting every ounce of command into the word that you can, wielding the Fearsome Presence like a psychic knife.

4d20 Reptilian Empathy, 3d20 Fisticuffs, 1d20 variable/Agno die.
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>>5321803
>1
Agno shuts his eyes, too clever to be thus fooled… But no so for your assembled audience, who are unprepared for the sudden mental push. You hear groans and cries of startled pain and stiffness as every kobold in the audience—and the Novice Fleshweaver and Translator—stare down into the pit. The basilisk casts its gaze about, sputtering and spitting at the sudden attention, demanding food, and dozens of observers double over or go stiff, grimacing in pain as their muscles seize.

You cringe. This is… Less than ideal for your reputation here. There will also be no denying that you tried to win this duel by arguably-dishonourable means? Does your natural presence count as magic? It certainly doesn’t count as noble strength-of-arms.

On the other hand, the dozens of agonized reptiloids DOES provide a perfect distraction, which Agno CAN’T ignore. He opens his eyes, looking around in confusion…

>20

And you swing your head down towards the platform, hard. His grip loosens and he tumbles over your head, only to be sandwiched between your thick, horned skull and the rusted metal and splintered wood of the makeshift arena. You feel his ribs crack, and he lets out a truncated squeak as the air is forced from his tiny lungs. The impact is such that it shakes the platform, and for a moment you are afraid that you will both tumble down into the pit, buried by wreckage and beset by the basilisk…

>2
But you are not. You rise once more to your full height, head still spinning and ears still ringing, and survey your vanquish foe. Well… Not vanquished, but also not conscious. His eyes are rolled up, leg twitching amusingly. You look around at the crowd, too gripped with pain to even notice who won and who lost. Your victory: hard-won and unnoticed! But, well… That is your won doing, you suppose.

With a sigh, you heft the beaten kobold high, holding him aloft so all can see. It takes them a few moments, but the crowd eventually takes in what has happened. Still, there is no cheering; the Translator and Novice are not the sorts for such jubilation, and the kobolds take in your victory with a grave solemnity. You can sense something of their mood: your victory came through trickery, and Agno put up an impressive fight against such a powerful foe; how can they condemn him? But, well… They are reptilian of mind and spirit, and whatever the nature of your victory, it WAS a victory; if Agno could not best you, nor the Dragonwrought before him, then how can they hope to rebel, even if they wanted to?

(You kind of wish Glowie was here. SHE’D cheer you on.)
>>
>>5321826

The Kobolds of Bloodrise have had their rebel spirit broken, at least for now. What comes next…

For Agno?
>He is a traitor, and he embarrassed you publicly—throw him to the basilisk
>He fought well, and has a dragon’s spirit—have the Novice heal him, and pardon him
>He doesn’t deserve death, but nor can he be trusted with freedom—imprison him
>Write-in

For the Kobolds of Bloodrise?
>There will yet be concessions and consultations, and you will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned [Ivno alone? Sikdo, Tessu? AGNO? Please specify.]
>These wretched slaves had their chance to ascend; now, having squandered it, they will have to settle for the status quo and hope for your benevolence
>Mete out communal punishment—tax their hunt, take their personal ‘shinies’, and beat or execute those who disobey, so that this lesson lasts
>Write-in

For the mammalian prisoners, still bound for the conclusion of the ceremony?
>Put them under watch, and enslave them in the re—opening and expansion of the kobolds’ tunnel-system and mine
>Further interrogate them, now that they’re all awake [what do you want to know?]
>Sacrifice one or more of them to the Serpent Ascendant [specify which ones you spare, and which ones you sacrifice]
>Write-in
>>
>>5321831
>>He fought well, and has a dragon’s spirit—have the Novice heal him, and pardon him
>There will yet be concessions and consultations, and you will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned [Ivno alone? Sikdo, Tessu? AGNO? Please specify.]
Ivno and Agno, we can't leave him because he'll plot against us.
>Further interrogate them, now that they’re all awake [what do you want to know?] Ask about nearby settlements, adventurer's guilds, and political/economic info
>Sacrifice one or more of them to the Serpent Ascendant [specify which ones you spare, and which ones you sacrifice] Sac the Barbarian
>>
>>5321843
Who are you, so wise in the way of what I'm thinking?
+1.

Maybe we'll get daddy Serpent grant us Paladinship now?
>>
>>5321831
>your victory came through trickery
I am leaning to spare, but this shit I find offensive, we had the upper hand and only by chance did he get on top. Lets do a little test here
>Have the novice heal him back to wakefulness, grant him the option to serve as our soldier.
This is to test if he has it in him to admit our superiority, if/when he refuses we feed him to the basilisk for spitting on our mercy and recognition of valor.

As for the wider chucklefucks
>These wretched slaves had their chance to ascend; now, having squandered it, they will have to settle for the status quo and hope for your benevolence
I didn't hear no disagreement when Agno started throwing shit, they can all go fuck themselves; if Anons want maybe Ivno and the ass.

>Sacrifice the maul-man to serpent ascendant.
Clearly their grandest champion
>Sacrifice the fucking rogue to the Pursuer
Murdering a skulking chucklefuck in his name should calm him down, also don't want any locks getting picked
>Whatever is left goes to the mines
Fighter was alive right? Ranger?
>>
>>5321831
>He fought well, and has a dragon’s spirit—have the Novice heal him, and pardon him. Warn him that your mercy is stretched EXTREMELY thin and that any more transgressions will have him feeding the basilisk or worse.

>There will yet be concessions and consultations, and you will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned. Ivno and Agno will join you- strength is respected, NO MATTER its source, as you just proved.

>Sacrifice the Barbarian and interrogate the half-elf and warrior

>From where were you sent, and how far did you have to travel to get here?
>What was your mission?
>Who sent you?
>Will there be other parties following yours?
>>
>>5321855
[Point of order: your prisoners are the warrior, the berserker, and the half-elf ranger. The others died in your battle.]
>>
>>5321859
>>5321855

Oh then I'll change that bit to just sacrificing the barbarian, the others can be enslaved
>>
>>5321831
>He fought well, and has a dragon’s spirit—have the Novice heal him, and pardon him. Warn him that your mercy is stretched EXTREMELY thin and that any more transgressions will have him feeding the basilisk or worse, GUARANTEED
Backing the status quo in >>5321855, BUT recruit Ivno and Agno anyway. I hope these fuckers remember us telling them they can improve the situation earlier WITHOUT being bitches about it
>Sacrifice barbarian berserker to Ascendant
Easy
>Interrogate both half-elf and warrior
See >>5321857
>>
>>5321843
+1
>>
>>5321831
>He fought well, and has a dragon’s spirit—have the Novice heal him, and pardon him
he did too good to kill

backing >>5321843
in fact
>>
>>5321843
+1
>>
>>5321831
>Have the novice heal him back to wakefulness, grant him the option to serve as our soldier.
>There will yet be concessions and consultations, and you will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned
>Further interrogate them, now that they’re all awake [what do you want to know?] Ask about nearby settlements, adventurer's guilds, and political/economic info
>Sacrifice one or more of them to the Serpent Ascendant [specify which ones you spare, and which ones you sacrifice] Sac the Barbarian
>>
>>5321935
I meant to include Ivno and Agno, we can't leave him because he'll plot against us.
>>
>>5321831
>He doesn’t deserve death, but nor can he be trusted with freedom—imprison him
>Mete out communal punishment—tax their hunt, take their personal ‘shinies’, and beat or execute those who disobey, so that this lesson lasts
>Put them under watch, and enslave them in the re—opening and expansion of the kobolds’ tunnel-system and mine
>>
>>5321831
>He is a traitor—throw him to the basilisk
Make a nice statue out of him.
>Mete out communal punishment—tax their hunt, take their personal ‘shinies’, and beat or execute those who disobey, so that this lesson lasts
Just temporarily.
>Sacrifice one or more of them to the Serpent Ascendant
All. They will be a hindrance.
>>
>>5321831
>Kill or imprison him
Agno didn’t do well, we simply did shit. And if we can’t leave him by himself, we certainly can’t trust him to protect our back. Fuck him.
>There will yet be concessions and consultations, and you will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned [Ivno, Sikdo, Tessu]
>Mete out communal punishment—tax their hunt, take their personal ‘shinies’, and beat or execute those who disobey, so that this lesson lasts
I’m done playing nice guy, it’s lead us to being humiliated by a fucking kobold. They’ll get their concessions at a price.
>Put them under watch, and enslave them in the re—opening and expansion of the kobolds’ tunnel-system and mine
>>
>>5321855
+1
>>
>>5321855
+1
>Get Ivno and Tessu instead
>>
>>5321855
Support, get Ivno and the ass instead of that traitorous fuck
>>
>>5321843
+1
>>5320109
last vote at work
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>>5321852
After such a pathetic performance on our part? Really?

>>5321857
>strength is respected, NO MATTER its source, as you just proved.
For a kobold who decided to duel a cripple? That isn’t strength, that’s respecting weakness.

>>5321925
He was literally beating on a crippled and not!magic shaman, Agno did not do well.
>>
>>5322157
An injured, not crippled, shaman WARRIOR who was 3 times his height and six times his weight. He did well.
>>
>>5322157
cope hehe agno-chads stay winning
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>>5321855
Support, would rather kill this nigga but I’d settle for loyalty test. I’d rather have Ivno and Tessu in our posse protecting our ass, this reeks of the Hepo shit all over again.
>>
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>>5321831
>He is a traitor, and he embarrassed you publicly—throw him to the basilisk
>You will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned [Ivno and Tessu]
>Mete out communal punishment—tax their hunt, take their personal ‘shinies’, and beat or execute those who disobey, so that this lesson lasts
>Put them under watch, and enslave them in the re—opening and expansion of the kobolds’ tunnel-system and mine
>>
>>5322168
No, we simply did shit. This is Zivic all over again, we can’t trust him.
>>
Man if Agno also tries to betray us, I'm all for being way harsher to these kobolds from then on. They betray us not once with Hapo, not twice with Agno here, but THREE times with Agno pulling shit again OR some other kobold pulling shit, then I want to nuclear option them all
>>
>>5322157
[While I'm sure whatever judgement you settle upon will be well-deserved, it was the Dragonborn who (per a previous vite) challenged Agno to a duel, not the other way around.]
>>
>>5322237
What incentive does he have for not pulling this shit again? He shit talks us to our face, spits on our generosity, humiliates the Dragonborn in combat… and then he gets pardoned and rewarded with a retinue position. We’re rewarding disloyalty and betrayal at this point, and even the anons who agree to pardon him thinks it’s he’ll cause trouble if left to his own devices. I don’t know why we’re tolerating such an obvious risk here.
>>
>>5322230
he's just a kobold, not an incubus
if anything Hapo and his demon ring are the zivic
but we ended up taming zivic anyway so what is the right move really

whatever it is I'm going to try to vote in this quest with a clean slate and not let my knowledge of the last quest affect my choices

>>5322257
we're rewarding his battle prowess and loyalty to his tribe
>>
>>5322256
Which was retarded on our part, and I expect us to (rightly) be punished for it. There was no reason for us to entertain this farce of a duel, if we win and it’s expected, if we lose and get humiliated. We can only lose in such a situation, we don’t gain shit for this.

>>5322259
You’re rewarding his disloyalty to the Master Race and letting his example be permissible for the other kobolds to follow. It’s idiotic, and will bite us in the ass.
>>
>>5322270
If/when it does, I am 100% on board with nuking them in dragonfire
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>>5322273
Going by Hapo’s example, it’ll probably be relatively soon.
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>>5321831
>Loyalty test, throw him to the basilisk when he fails
>You will accept some kobolds into your retinue as planned [Ivno and Tessu]
>Mete out communal punishment—tax their hunt, take their personal ‘shinies’, and beat or execute those who disobey, so that this lesson lasts
>Sacrifice one or more of them to the Serpent Ascendant [the one we defeated personally]
I think anons have the wrong guy to sacrifice to the Serpent, we didn’t defeat the Berserker on our own merits, we got our ass handed to us by him and was saved by a brutalized Glowie. I think the Berserker sacrifice is gonna backfire hard on us.
>>
>>5322342
>Make sure that there are other Kobolds there to witness him spitting on our mercy when he wakes up
THIS
>>
The status quo is the worst fucking possibility, we don’t get any benefits from it. Concessions do something mechanically and make the Kobolds like us, punishment does something mechanically and makes kobolds fear us.

Status quo does status quo… which makes kobolds fear us a little and hate us much more, the current situation.
>>
>>5322340
This anon raises a very good point about the sacrifice

Backing him

Also make sure that there are other Kobolds there to witness him spitting on our mercy when he wakes up

If he does accept the soldier position, make him the one to announce the punishments for disloyalty

We should sacrifice the Berserker to the Mother then - he is too dangerous to leave alive
>>
>>5322348
Agno chads need to stay winning hehe
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>>5322349
Shit nigga, you make some DAMN fine sense. I especially like making that shithead announce their punishments. Support this instead.
>>
I'm a little confused on how the "loyalty test" is a loyalty test. We're asking him if he wants to be a soldier when he already was one for us. Why would he deny being made one when he already de-facto was that?

>>5321855
This vote seems to do a whole lot of nothing in general, the only thing it actually does is sacrifice the captives. The reaction to Agno is a "loyalty test" that doesn't test anything and status quo for some reason.
>>
someone tally the votes what the fuck is winning
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>>5321857
+1 I guess this I need to see tally
>>
It would be funny if we never fucked a reptoid we should fuck a fungoid next instead logical next step after work
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>>5322471
I want to fuck a frog person. Been watching a lot of MHA.
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>>5322471
>>5322539
We’re well on our way to fucking Agno with the amount of love anons keep showing him.
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>>5322554
RepQM how fat is Agno's ass? This is something that needs to be considered very seriously.
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>>5322577
You really considering Buck Breaking Ango?
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>>5322577
>>5322583
[None of the kobolds are especially thicc. They are mostly lean and musucular. You're dealing with twinks and tomboys, if anything. The Novice and Glowie are the ones with fat on 'em.]

[ANYWAY, I'm watching Dirty Grandpa, because I guess my roommate is trolling me. I'll post later!]
>>
>>5322340
>>5322349
+1

But if Ango does survive, let’s at least have both Ango AND Tessu as a half-way decent compromise.
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>>5322593
You destroyed my dream I don’t want bother anymore
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>>5322611
>>5322408
>>5322340
>>5322210
>>5322141
>>5322122
>>5322109
>>5322108
>>5322085
>>5321940
>>5321935
>>5321933
>>5321925
>>5321919
>>5321896
>>5321863
>>5321857
>>5321855
>>5321852
>>5321843

[What a terrible movie. But, hey post incoming!]

>>5322615
Sorry. It's a pretty firm butt, and proportionally large? Not that it's in your retinue. Sorry.
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>>5322647
I think thiccanon would’ve voted Tessu if he knew that she was the thicc option.
>rip thiccanon’s dreams
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>>5322647
You take a few moment to steady yourself, to collect your composure and regulate your breathing. When your energy and equilibrium are in balance once again, you stride (rather than stagger, a you might have done) back to the side of the arena where the Novice waits. She is rubbing her sore, stiffened muscles, looking nearly as bad as you feel.

“You are an absolute—”

“Champion of our Master Race, yes, I know,” you finish her sentence.

You narrows her eyes and hisses, but you interrupt her again, this time by handing her the limp kobold, Agno.

“Fix this one,” you tell her. “I need him strong, to serve his penance.”

The Novice is so startled by this declaration that she actually forgets about her planned barrage of invective.

“You’re SPARING him?” she asks. “And… Still taking him into our forces? WHY?”

You shrug, conflicted yourself.

“He was brave,” you admit. “Even injured, only my lack of luck, and his abundance of skill and resilience, prevented my initial blow form besting him. He was clever. He resisted my Presence, even when the rest of you could not, and he put up more of a fight than I expected.”

The Novice stares at you.

“You think me soft,” you note.

“I don’t know WHAT to make of you,” she sighs.

She leaves, but she leaves carrying the kobold. You sense… You’re not sure what. Disappointment? Confusion? Amazement? Ultimately, an utter lack of understanding. It’s… And unfamiliar feeling for you, when interacting with your people, and you often feel as if the gulf is only growing as you mature. Is it because you’re a dragon-in-the-making, or because you’re a mammal-in-part?
>>
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>>5322667

You put such angst aside, summoning Ivno to you and reiterating your plans to him—as the one full-fledged kobold who will join your retinue. Sikdo is too old, and you sense a fondness for their people’s old way of doing things—fee, independent. Like it or not, they will have to adjust to the new way—a adjustment Ivno is more capable and willing to facilitate, you believe. You let him spread the good news to the rest of his kin: concessions and consultations WILL proceed, so long as they remember their place in the scheme of things.

“An Age of Darkness,” you promised them, “for all of us.”

To cap this announcement off, you haul up the barbarous berserker, the human who nearly slew you AND Glowie. The others you have plans for, but this one… This one is too dangerous to let live. Instead, you return to the central platform, and command the kobolds to march him to you at spearpoint. He permits this, hobbling for his mutilated legs, but even WITH this disability he lunegs for youw hen he reaches you. You catch him by the throat, and force him to his knees. Only then do you remove his gag.

“Lassst wordsss?” you ask.

He spits on you, and says: “Coward. Weakling. Saved by female. Nearly bested by baby-lizard.”

You thrash him with your tail. He falls. The basilisk is fed, and its agitation tempered, and then returns to the ‘den’ of roughshod wood which has been constructed for it, for torpor. You wish you could do likewise… But your other prisoners have answers to provide you, and you mean to extract them.
>>
>>5322668
>sspel
>Ask about nearby settlements, adventurer's guilds, and political/economic info
The warrior holds his tongue for a while, even after witnessing the berserker’s fate. This lasts until you threaten to cut it out, after having kobolds likewise remove his genitals with their rustiest traps.

“Cooperate,” the half-elf mutters, sounding broken. “There is nothing we know that is worth our lives.”

He glares at you, furious but not as angry as he is dejected. The half-elf is broken, too broken now to be properly defiant.

“Tell me about nearby ssettlementsss,” you say. “Adventurer’ss guildssss… Local politicsss and economicssss.”

The range laughs, while his armoured warrior-friend stares at him like he’s goen mad. Maybe he has.

“We aren’t anybody important. Guilds? You think we’re GUILDED? We don’t know about politics, or economics… Redwell’s nearby. The dwarves ‘own’ the mountain on paper, but none of their corporations has established anything more than a company town or two, last I heard. There’s a few other baronies nearby—Blackpine, Sunset Lake, Undershadow. All small potatoes—only Redwell has a decent army. They’re all under the alliance of the Paladin King of the Silver Order, though.”

“Basssed out of Hawksssong,” you note. You’ve HEARD of this Paladin King.

“Yeah, that’s right,” the half-elf acknowledges. “But they’re too focused on internal problems, from what I hear, to properly watch the roads, let alone crusade on you.”

He shrugs.

“As far as anyone like me knows. This information could all be nothing, rumours.”

“You just wait,” the warrior interjects. “The Paladins WILL come, when they hear there’s some freak playing dragon-king-of-the-mountain up here. IF the dwarves don’t kick your scaly arse first!”

You loom over him.

“If they don’t,” he continues, “an actual GUILDED adventuring party, with PROPER mercenaries… They’ll make you WISH Armod had bashed your fucking head in.”

“Armod isss basssilissk-food.”

“Better fate than you’ll get, lizard-lips.”

It seems the warrior will need further breaking. Very well. You have some frustrations to take out. The half-elf is dragged away, throwing one last sad look back at his fellow, and then you get to work.
>>
>>5322690
>From where were you sent, and how far did you have to travel to get here?
>What was your mission?
>Who sent you?
>Will there be other parties following yours?

The human, Nigel, is from the farming villages to the east of the Paladin King’s realm, close to the so-called ‘Silverwood’ of the elves. There, he met the half-elf range, Alhomin, and the late Armod, a warrior fresh from campaign in the Goblin Wastes and Orcwilds.

Their mission? Well… Get rich, or die trying, a you understand it. They really are nobodies—a small, independent band of soldiers-of-fortune an treasure-seekers, itinerants and chasers of fame and fortune. They came seeking abandoned human and dwarf riches, maybe some of the old, fabled dragon-gold, and a story of derring-do that they could tell again and again to impress bar-wenches all over this spottily-populated patch of surface. Suffice it to say, nobody ‘sent’ them, though in his pleading for his life, Nigel laments ever having allowed the words of Redwell’s criers to penetrate his heart and lure him here, with tales of savage-but-simple kobolds to slay.

As with Alhomin before him, this Nigel confirms that more parties are likely to heed those same criers, and come to do the baron’s dirty-work for nary a penny of his purse—just the promise of taking which you and your new vassals have amassed here.

Finally, the dirty work of interrogating the warrior is gone. He is sent to join his fellow in their too-small kobold-cages, to think about their failures and foolishness. In the days to come, you may yet call upon them again. Failing that, they’ll serve your will in the mines or in the hills, as you see fit. They’ve seen twice now what happens to any—even fellow reptiles—who rebel.
>>
>>5322704
You, for your part, have one final task: you visit the Novice’s chamber. Well, chamberS, you note; plural. She has commandeered the hallways directly outside of her quarters, which she has cordoned off to hide some of her more controversial works—including Glowie, still recovering from the invasive procedures performed upon her insectoid-reptilian ‘womb’, and the offspring forming therein. You wonder how she’s doing…

“Agno,” you say, addressing the matter at hand.

The matter at hand twitches as if shocked, and stares down at the floor. His claws grip the wooden slab where he sits, having recently been treated with the Novice’s less-than-tender mercies, mended as she mended you

“You have heard my offer,” you say. “You are NOT a part of my retinue—you, unique among your people here, is TRULY a slave. This is your punishment for challenging me and failing. DO you understand?”

He says nothing, but nods slowly.

“You have heard what I offer your race, also, yes?” you ask. “Concessions, and continued understanding, in SPITE of your failed rebellion?”

He nods again.

“Do you think this just?” you ask.

You listen intently to his heart, watch the twitchings of his tail, observe the very essence of him. When you focus, really FOCUS, it is hard for any reptile to hide their inner truth from you.

“Yes, Dragon,” he says, and you sense he means it.

“Good,” you say. “Go.”

He bows, and scampers away.

“I still think it is a mistake,” the Novice huffs. “He could have killed you, and of the two of you, I NARROWLY prefer your stupidity to his.”

“You are going soft, yourself,” you smugly note. “That is almost friendly.”

She hisses. You laugh. She tends to your own injuries next—the second time today.

Finally torpor calls out to you again. You spend it…
>Alone—you need to retreat from all this exhausting INTERACTING for a few hours, and meditate
>With Glowie and the Novice in their chamber—Glowie will appreciate a hand to hold while she recovers, and you will appreciate the company and consultation
>With Tessu—you sensed the burgeoning of a heat cycle in her, and you have some other ‘frustrations’ to take out
>Talking strategy with the Bastard and the Translator, in preparation for your scouts’ return tomorrow
>Write-in

Tried to cover it all; I hope the jumbo-sized update wasn't tl;dr, and that it makes up for the lateness. Tomorrow evening and this weekend, updates may be delayed or reduced, as I am a leaf
>>
>>5322706
>Alone—you need to retreat from all this exhausting INTERACTING for a few hours, and meditate
>>Meditate in the moonlight with the elf sword- see if it yields any interesting results

This thing was a Nat 100 it’s about time to figure out why the fuck it’s so cool.
>>
>>5322711
+1
>>
>>5322706
>With Tessu—you sensed the burgeoning of a heat cycle in her, and you have some other ‘frustrations’ to take out
It’s time to show piety to Mama D!
>>
>>5322706
>With Tessu—you sensed the burgeoning of a heat cycle in her, and you have some other ‘frustrations’ to take out
>>
>>5322706
The coomers have come.
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>>5322741
I mean, it's the QM who enables them.
>>
>>5322706
>With Tessu—you sensed the burgeoning of a heat cycle in her, and you have some other ‘frustrations’ to take out

I wonder if this is how the real Dragonwrought are created.
>>
>>5322711
+1

Her Ass IS NOT thicc… She is disgusting, a lean bodied tomboy with a frame that accentuates her curves. THAT IS NOT A FAT ASS. IT WILL NOT CLAP, IT WILL NOT JIGGLE, IT IS WORTHLESS, A MONSTROSITY MADE OUT MOSTLY MUSCLE, A FAT ASS NEEDS FAT.

WE CANNOT FUCK HER.

I would have used her asshole as a lovely wormhole away from our problem before, but now… now… now my dream is crushed.
>>
>>5322743
[The MC has <appetite>, and I'm fine with writing such an MC.]

But I am amused to see that, where the coom is concerned, many forget the idea of 'implications and consequences' anew.
>>
Please don't fuck the Kobold until we have a talk with the Novice. She was already shocked and slightly angry about Glowie with whom she has a good relationship with, imagine her after we fuck a random kobold that for all she she cares is a slave. At least let her know about our <appetite> and that we have very very low impulse control.

Tessu was also explicitly written as "greedy but cunning" so I see some complications happening after we fuck her.
>>
>>5322711
Supporting
>>
>>5322706
>With Tessu or Glowie and Novice

>>5322759
[In the mind of an 18 year old] Consequences? What are those?

>>5322762
I’m alright with a consultation with the Novice on this, but I do like the homebrew Dragonwrought idea, and I think the Mother of Dragons would be as well.
>>
>>5322706
>With Glowie and the Novice in their chamber—Glowie will appreciate a hand to hold while she recovers, and you will appreciate the company and consultation
I’d actually like to know what Armod’s enchanted belt is desu.

>>5322751
I think you broke him RQM.

>>5322759
Still have a theory on that, but I’ll keep my lips sealed tight.

>>5322762
Why not actually have a talk with her now then, while we’re getting bandaged?

Also, Tessu reminds of Zi, who was a literal lootgoblin who still fell hopelessly in love with the Infiltrator. I bet if we spend enough time charming her, we wouldn’t have to worry about the complications so much.
>>
>>5322706
>With Glowie and the Novice in their chamber—Glowie will appreciate a hand to hold while she recovers, and you will appreciate the company and consultation
>Priority on the Novice.

Eyes on the prize, guys. Glowie was good enough to feed <appetite>. Once. Now, I'd prefer to only put our double dragon in the thick Novice.
>>
>>5322790
Can I convince you to approval vote the moon-sword meditating?I really don't want to fuck the kobold before having a talk with the Novice before anything else. I'll approval vote for the Glowie and Novice visit. I just want to make sure no cooming happens without our cuckqueens approval.

>Alone—you need to retreat from all this exhausting INTERACTING for a few hours, and meditate
>With Glowie and the Novice in their chamber—Glowie will appreciate a hand to hold while she recovers, and you will appreciate the company and consultation
>>
>>5322706
>Alone or with Novice and Glowie
Or any option but with the kobold
>>
>>5322792
Sure, I don’t mind so much. Maybe we’ll actually learn something from this.

>>5322706
Adding
>Meditate in the moonlight with the elf sword- see if it yields any interesting results
to >>5322790, and if it doesn’t, maybe focus on dragon aspects? Becoming a ghost-white Moondragon would be wicked.
>>
>>5322706
>>5322711
I am fucking tired of all the drama and strife we get from coomers leading a vote.
I want to expand dragon power, maybe get some insight, make a fucking plan.
AND GET OUT OF THIS STUPID FUCKING MOUNTAIN, we have drow favors to collect, muscles to flex, glorious victories to report; but most importantly, our green bro misses us
>>
>>5322825
Its a +1 to meditating alone, I believe by now its established I post like an idiot when I wake up
>>
>>5322706
>>5322711 +1
>>
>>5322711
+1
>>
>>5322706
>>5322711
+1 to learning the path of the sword (not abandoning thw way of bow, ofc)
>>5322825
>>5322840
>now they wake up to coomers being a problem
lol, LMAO
>>
Rolled 11, 10, 1 = 22 (3d20)

>>5323138
>>5323095
>>5322864
>>5322840
>>5322802
>>5322797
>>5322792
>>5322791
>>5322790
>>5322781
>>5322767
>>5322751
>>5322745
>>5322741
>>5322734
>>5322723
>>5322711

You strategically retreat to your chambers to rest your weary body and mind. Not even the idle fantasies of sampling a thick-hipped local female, or curiosity about the berserker’s belt, can bring you to spend any more time explaining or justifying yourself to others—you crave recuperative solitude.

Despite this, when you return to your chamber, you find yourself restless. You toss and turn, wincing slightly whenever you roll onto a bruised muscle-group or overtaxed limb. Unable to find torpor, you find your mind wandering. Your thoughts drift from the political situation here in the mountain, to the journey ahead, and finally seem to coalesce on a lingering focus of your fascination: your moon-blade.

The single-edged elven sword—retrieved from the gut of the enormous rust monster called the Devourer, hewn of unblemished white stone, engraved or imprinted in some way with the phases of the moon, and prone to luminescence—was said to be a symbol of ancient elven kings, handed down from one of their false ‘gods’ in their legends. But what IS it, actually? What does it DO?

You ascend the mountain while night still remains, passing kobolds who avert their eyes or scurry away to avoid your wrath. You hold in a sigh. At least you are feared, somewhat, if not exactly beloved. And anyway, you’ve had enough of kobolds for today… Even when, in passing, you meet eyes with Tessu in passing, whose tail is hanging low and curled in the manner characteristic of a female in the early stages of estrus.

Another time, maybe. Reject the mammalian breeding-urge! Embrace GREATNESS!

You step out into the crisp mountain night, shivering slightly against the cold and pulling your cloak (also magical, also with properties yet unknown) tighter around yourself. You hold your sword aloft, up to the moon. As before when you thus held it, the sword glows; with the half-moon now visible to you, the half-moon symbol along the bale ALSO glows, faintly bluish against the smooth and pure white of the blade. The two are tied—moon and moon-sword. But how? What does it DO?
>>
>>5323171
>1
NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN
FUCK OFF
>>
>>5323171
>>5323172
You focus, focus, FOCUS your will upon the blade. Your Fearsome Presence, of course, does nothing, but even your burgeoning mage-sense struggle sto recognize anything but the presence of magic—you cannot understand or recognize its nature. It’s foreign to you, alien, obscure. You swing the blade, in the hopes that this can perhaps produce some effect. You mime combat, practice your forms. You shout words of command—in True Speech, in the derived tongue of the Drow below…

>1

But by the time the sun rises in the sky and threatens to blind your cave-adjusted eyes, all you have is a headache and renewed muscle soreness. The Novice’s work to mind your injuries completely has been delayed in its effect by your exertions and lack of rest; you’re going to get an earful about this, no doubt.

Defeated, you re-wrap the sword and shove it frustratedly into your belt, slumping back to your chambers to get some by-now much-needed torpor. No sooner have you laid down against the wall, though, than you hear a rapping and clearing of a kobold throat at the entrance. You groan and, unrested, stand and return to your duties.

“What is it?!” you snap at Ivno, exhausted and irritated.

“Apologies, Dragon,” he says, all but flattening himself against the stone. “Apologies!”

You sigh.

“Scouts have returned,” he says.

“Which ones?” you ask.

“Both—scouts to dwarves, scouts to humans. Both!”

You rub your eyes, yawn, and follow the kobold to where your troops await your debriefing.
>>
Rolled 10, 3, 6 = 19 (3d20)

>>5323176
Paeris is there, and the North-Merchant and South-Merchants. Paeris looks much the same as always, a half-Silkscale half-surface elf; his only necessary measure to blend in with the surfacers is a bit of make-up and oils applied to smooth out and hide the scalier patches of his skin. Merchants North and South, two full-blooded Silkscales, both still wear their Amulets of Disguise, appearing as a pinkish and brownish human respectively.

“Report,” you command. “What have you learned of the realms of the forests?”

Paeris and the Merchants largely confirm what your own interrogations already told you, though their particular skills as tradesmen and Reptilian Infiltrators glean greater insight into the actual workings of the local politics and economy.

“The local territories are run by barons,” the North-Merchant tells you. “Most of their realms are depleted of any great culture, or of any imported wealth. The lower-class is self-sufficient, mostly woodsmen, subsistence farmers, or pastoralists. Their major exports are raw resources—iron and copper, lumber, wool, and belts of the beasts they slay. They have small garrisons, except Redwell, which seems to have a more stable population base, a greater size, and has a favourable position in relation to trade routes and river; this one dominates its neighbours when there is disagreement, and is subsequently relied upon AND resented by the humans in other such baronies.”

“Redwell and the lands beyond are home to mostly humans,” the South-Merchant continues. “They are connected politically—not as formal subjects, but as allies-by-default, to the Paladin King’s realms. Paladins are permitted to march these roads and explore these woods but, in practice, do not ever seem to have done so. The people prefer it this way, it seems, even as they lament being so ignored. The majority of demihumans—other such mammals—are elves and halflings, though we saw many dwarf traders also; these were negotiators and diplomats for the dwarven merchant-states, which they call ‘corporations’, which were exchanging a strange black ore for food and fabrics primarily…”
>>
>>5323190

The South-Merchant produces a lump of such ore, purchased with a fragment of your treasure. You turn it over in your hands.

“Is it valuable?” you ask. “Does it have special properties?”

“It seems to be an iron with a magical impurity,” the South-Merchant answers. “Adventurers and noblemen seem to value it for its lustre, when used to make steel. It is also said to hold and store magic in small amounts, though I was unable to test this… And, in its raw form, this ability is apparently quite limited.”

“I saw one spellcaster attempt this,” Paeris volunteers. “It was at any inn where I was performing music, and listening to rumours. He was attempting to show off his strength of magic. Either his black-iron charm was too brittle or weak, or his magic genuinely strong, because it exploded and quite startled the others present. He was thrown out. Others, though, seemed to have such items of greater size and craftsmanship—I am not sure what would have happened had he attempted with one of those.”“Did you learn anything else?” you ask Paeris.

“The local woodlands are home to a variety of creatures—wolves, some of which are called ‘dire’ for their size and primitive atavism. Bears, great stags prized for antlers… Nothing overtly magical, though, perhaps save a few beastfolk rumoured to roam. Satyrs, mostly—goat-men, essentially. A few spoke of mysterious fairie-lights, and of moving trees, but they were… Quite intoxicated. It is difficult to affirm their accuracy. I roamed by night, and saw no such thing…. But also, no beastfolk, and these were apparently considered more credible, as some has raided a farm in recent history and had left behind their dead when repelled.”

You’ll consider this… But there is one more party to hear from. Next, you turn to the scouting party which was led by the Thief, and the Cartographer, accompanied by kobolds. You find it… Much reduced.

“What happened?” you demand.


[To be continued... But work beckons.]
>>
>>5323192

The Thief holds an injured arm, is bruised and cut in several places. He’s been bandaged, as has the Cartographer (albeit more lightly, in the latter’s case). They returned shy a kobold as well, from what you were told.

“The dwarves’ company towns are deep-drilled holes, capped by high-rising watchtower,” the Thief glumly reports. “Their eyes are as dark-adapted as ours, and traveling by night to avoid them proved pointless. We were spotted, avoided conflict, and sheltered for the night…”

He pauses, clears his throat, conscious of his comparative failure relative to the other scouting party. The Cartographer is content to allow this social lesser to take the blame, you notice—he does not speak up, but waits for the Thief to start again.

“However, by day they ALSO patrol, and wearing strange glasses with smoked lenses to shield their eyes. They set upon us, believing we were a kobold raiding party. We were fairly deep into their territory when they finally caught us, and while we fought our way free and slew any direct witnesses to myself or the Cartographer… We were never able to get close to their operations.”

“They guard something valuable—I’m certain of it!” the Cartographer finally speaks up. “I marked down each tower we spotted, each patrol route. They align with old records from the library below, of gemstone deposits and of veins of ‘orichalcum’. I believe this is the magical contribution to the ‘black iron’ the others report—an orichalcuk impurity!”

“What worth is this orichalcum?” you ask.

The Cartographer hesitates, silent again.

“You don’t know,” you conclude.

“Not YET, but given time to research, and samples, and the Translator’s aid…”

You get the picture. You gave your reports. What is your plan for this place?
>Send word home that this place, Bloodrise, is of high value and requires a permanent Master Race forward base to secure
>Return to the underdark, and to the Drow, to retrieve your retinue and discuss the future of these lands with your allies
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>Further infiltrate and subvert the local humans, to create fear of the mountains and distrust of the Redwell government’s tales of the Bloodrise as a place of profitable adventurism
>Leave these damned mountains—you have done what you set out to do and then slme, and once Glowie is recovered and the Novice’s experiments are complete, you’ll waste no more time and energy here
>Write-in
>>
>>5323212
What the fuck are wrong with the dice lately? Also I thought the meditation roll would be a 4d20 using reptilian empathy?

I guess for now let’s try to expand underground since we’ve basically given up on the outside already. Let’s not do it alone though, it’s worth a try to see if the Spiky dudes can be convinced to settle differences with us to get that sweet sweet dwarven loot.

>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>Meet and ally with the Spiked Men for a joint raid/war on the dwarves.
>>
>>5323212
>Send word home that this place, Bloodrise, is of high value and requires a permanent Master Race forward base to secure
>Pray to Serpent Ascendant to get his aid
gotta boost those rolls
>>
>>5323217
[Reptilian Empathy is useful for understanding, commanding, and influencing reptiles.]
>>
>>5323217
Reptilian Empathy on a fugging legendary elven moonsword?
>>
>>5323212
>Meet and ally with the Spiked Men for a joint raid/war on the dwarves.
>Return to the underdark, and to the Drow, to retrieve your retinue and discuss the future of these lands with your allies

go ally with both first then do a war midget men won’t know what hit ‘em. An unexpected blitzkrieg is best when fighting entrenched little midget
>>
>>5323224
To be fair that’s what dice meditation usually uses.

>>5323220
Do we get EXP from failed rolls too? We’ve been failing a lot so just curious.
>>
>>5323238
Wait it does? Can you show me where cause I missed it somehow.
>>
>>5323249
>>5312781
>>
>>5323212
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>>
If the kobolds traded orichalum to the humans they would definitely turn a blind eye to the other stuff and be friendly. of course that would only be to buy time to get monies and build up to betray them. Something to consider
>>
>>5323238
>>5323249
[This is because you're usually meditating in being more dragonly.]

[As for EXP/leveling up, that will be happening mroe slowly than in Thread 1 now, as you are no longer at Level 0 in everything.]
>>
>>5323212
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>>
>>5323300
I’m guessing it was using sword dice.
>>
>>5323252
Hm, it never directly mentioned where the dice were from, so no wonder I didn't notice it.
>>5323300
Clarification on >>5323317?
>>
Can I convince anyone to consider trying to ally with the Spiky Dwarves? From what the Half-Elf said they're the most prominent power in this area aside from Redwell, we were barely able to deal with the adventuring party so I think fighting them without extra help will be biting off more than we can chew. It'd also be a good chance to negotiate them out of our ruins, they're going to be a headache sooner or later once we expand our mining operations.
>>
>>5323323
It was 3d20 we have 3d20 sword skill and we were meditating on the sword
>>
>>5323324
I also have a sneaking suspicion that If we leave the ruins alone Hapo is going to get involved with the somehow. We left them down there together.
>>
>>5323327
not to be rude, but I was asking the qm
>>
>>5323212
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>>
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>>5323334
...oh nononono
>>
I want to ally mainly for conversion efforts but yeah Hapo is a wildcard. Should have killed him
>>
>>5323212
>Further infiltrate and subvert the local humans, to create fear of the mountains and distrust of the Redwell government’s tales of the Bloodrise as a place of profitable adventurism
Looks like the consultation was the best play. Hell, sleeping with Tessu would’ve had more success than this.

>>5323219
>Pray to Serpent Ascendant to get his aid
That’s not how this works with this god anon.
>>
>>5323380
It’s the dice. They hate us.
>>
>>5323317
>>5323323
>>5323327
>>5323337
[Spellcraft, actually! Swordsmanship is useful for wielding swords; Spellcraft is better for identifying spells. If it was specifically dragon-related magic, you would end up at 5d20: 4 dice for R. Empthay, 1 bonus for Spellcraft.]
>>
>>5323415
Hmm… so the eventual talk with the chaplain over Glowie will be a 5d20 then. We should really focus on doing diplomacy and reptilian empathy actions before we go back then. We cannot take no for an answer about the Glowworms since the Goddess will abandon our people. A 5d20 is good but not great for that since I’m guessing the DC will be high.
>>
>>5323424
>metagaming
dishonourable
>We cannot take no for an answer about the Glowworms
fcourse we can
>since the Goddess will abandon our people
maybe, and?
>>
>>5323458
I mean we don’t have to do anything, but it would make half of our actions completely pointless and a waste of time.
>>
>>5323395
With rolls like these, who needs enemies?
>>
>>5323475
fucking the bug and becoming a kobold coomer made our entire good start pointless, what kind of argument even is this
>>
>>5323494
?
>>
>>5323475
>it would make half of our actions completely pointless and a waste of time.
Good.
>>
We’re past the coom part with Glowie? We legitimately are never going to fuck her again? Were you anons so ass blasted about us giving our virginity to her that you’re going to try to avoid getting a literal goddess back on our people’s side.
>>
>>5323212
>Further infiltrate and subvert the local humans, to create fear of the mountains and distrust of the Redwell government’s tales of the Bloodrise as a place of profitable adventurism
I’d rather we not get our shit kicked in a third time, these dice bust a motherfucker up.
>>
>>5323509
>getting a literal goddess back on our people’s side.
The goddess sucks and I do not want her on our side.
>>
>>5323530
Our very very population depleted race probably does though
>>
>>5323533
So?
>>
>>5323212
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>Further infiltrate and subvert the local humans, to create fear of the mountains and distrust of the Redwell government’s tales of the Bloodrise as a place of profitable adventurism
>>
>>5323212

Further infiltrate and subvert the local humans, to create fear of the mountains and distrust of the Redwell government’s tales of the Bloodrise as a place of profitable adventurism
Then

>Meet and ally with the Spiked Men for a joint raid/war on the dwarves.
Then
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>>
>>5323573
*
>Further infiltrate and subvert the local humans, to create fear of the mountains and distrust of the Redwell government’s tales of the Bloodrise as a place of profitable adventurism
Then
>Meet and ally with the Spiked Men for a joint raid/war on the dwarves.
Then
>Raid a dwarven company town with your forces, in an effort to acquire more information on the mineral resources here, and their operations
>>
What’s worse the coomers and or anti-coomers? both have been annoying.
>>
>>5323212
>>Return to the underdark, and to the Drow, to retrieve your retinue and discuss the future of these lands with your allies
We'll need our fighters.
I'm scared of the plot-hook kobold though
>>
>>5323574
+1
>>5322751
My ID is a horny plump cheeked bitch it’s been changing
>>
>>5323212
>Return to the underdark, and to the Drow, to retrieve your retinue and discuss the future of these lands with your allies

>Sacrifice the warrior we defeated to the Serpent Ascendent. Set the others to work in the tunnels

@QM, before we do anything though, can we time skip a few days to allow us to heal? Our sole focus will be on resting after the sacrifice and our retinue should focus on instilling loyalty amongst the kobolds

>>5323255
We are wounded and our forces depleted - a raid now is a horrible idea
>>
>>5323728
[Probably not a time skip, but a small.speed-up while you attend to some general downtime duties and get the results of the Novice's experiments.]
>>
>>5323695
No, my ID is a THICC bitch, yours is one of those small lithe muscular tomboys, it exercises so much.

>>5323728
>it’s our wounds/depleted forces and not the shit rolls we’ve been getting
We should focus on infiltration, if we leave now all that’ll happen is us getting ridiculed for getting bested by a mammal and a kobold. We need a serious success so we can gloss over our ignoble weaknesses.
>>
>>5323742
The Junior Novice is going to be a dragon
>>
>>5323746
My ID is a femboy elf
>>
>>5323728
That's actually a pretty good point, I wasn't thinking about the wounded warriors we have. We should really pick them up and possbily get some Elvish help (along with hopefully the Spiky guys) for the war.

>>5323228
>Support. Switching.
>>
>>5323832
kek
>>
>>5323228
+1
>>
Updating late tonight, or tomorrow
>>
>>5323228
Support

I’ll join the bandwagon too.

>>5323695
Old vote. I wanted to try being gay with my new ID but I didn’t like it. Fuck femboys and lean kobolds I want Jiggly elf asshole that will wink at us while we hit it from the back.
>>
>>5323868
Jiggly fat elf asshole is going to be tighter anyways and we can get a better grip using their ears while we hit it from the back and slap the thicc rear with a tail leaving a red mark.
>>
>>5323868
No offense, but do you read this quest whilst high? I love your schizoposting don't get me wrong just curious.
>>
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>>5323868
>>5323850
>>5323826
>>5323728
>>5323605
>>5323574
>>5323538
>>5323516
>>5323380
>>5323351
>>5323312
>>5323255
>>5323228
>>5323219
You gather those of your retinue whoa re present here in the Bloodrise—The Novice, The Translator, the Cartographer, the Bastard, the Thief, both Merchants… And Ivno, who shuffles about and keeps his eyes low, aware of his odd-male-out status. Only Glowie is absent, still resting up… Well, and Agno, due to his rebellion and subsequent demotion from the retinue proper.

“We will raid the dwarves,” you announce.

The Thief is trepidatious, made wary by his last encounter. The Cartographer, despite similar experiences, seems excited. The rest have mixed or ambivalent responses: the Novice is exasperated but resigned to your bravado; the Translator accepts your decision, but quietly voices the opinion that your resources would be better focused on studying and further uncovering your own people’s history and treasures; the Merchants do not grow giddy at the thought of combat, but certainly do at the notion of gemstones and rare earth metals; Ivno and the Bastard both show enthusiasm (Ivno’s more muted) at the thought of expanding your holdings here.

“We’re already weakened, stretched thin,” the Novice sighs. “Can we not report back and await reinforcements?”

“We will seize victory, or be deemed failures,” you explain. “Do you think your father, the Chaplain of the Northern Forward Base, will deem our mission a success if the kobolds revolt or rebel anew? If the dwarves sweep in, or Redwell’s humans rise up, and we lose the territory we just retook to MAMMALS? We have to leave them with a lasting victory—one to frighten off contenders.”

“And what of the barbed devils?” the Novice asks, uniquely willing to challenge you.

You grin, as much a grimace as a smile.

“I have a plan for them,” you say, “and for the Drow, too.”

Her eyes widen, as you explain your gambit: a three-way alliance, of reptiloid races, outcast elves, and the strange, spiky men from the deep-earth.
>>
>>5324139
“Madness,” your childhood tormentor whispers, though not without a trace of admiration for your ambition.

“Do we have any reason to believe they are interested?” asks the Translator, more diplomatically.

“We should pound them into submission, as with the kobolds,” the bastard notes.

Ivno flinches, and shuffles, saying: “Kobolds not happy to give winnings, even winnings won together, to monsters who kill-kill them in big Dragon-battle.”

You look at him questioningly, and he immediately relents.

“Kobolds will do as Dragonborn commands,” he murmurs. “Will make sure.”

“The Drow will be stalwart allies, at least!” the North-Merchant says cheerily.

“Jazkarmel’s forces will, maybe,” his Southern equivalent corrects. “We do not yet know what the dark elves’ higher offices think of us, if they have heard tell of us at all.”

You smiles slightly, remembering fondly your time spent speaking, with the Drow leader Jazkarmel, learning the dark elf military leader’s language, and engaging on friendly—even flirtatious—terms. You sent some of your men back—those injured in the defeat of the so-called Devourer. You can only imagine what the Drow must have thought, to see your men parading the head of the eons-old great beast who had terrorized their people.

“And they’ve not even seen my sword yet,” you boast, holding aloft the (still-mysterious) moon-sword. “They will join us.”

“So certain that waggling around your weapon will win the elf-maids to your side,” the Novice quietly mocks, swatting you with her tail so that the others will not notice. “Put it away.”

You shoot her a look, but she does not relent. You do instead, wrapping up the sword and placing it in your belt.

“We understand the goal, Dragonborn,” the Translator acknowledges. “We will prepare to depart, to rally these allies… But there are matters to consider, yet.”

Who will you leave to monitor and marshal the kobolds in your absence?
>The Bastard
>Ivno
>Someone else [who?]
>Nobody—let them manage themselves, knowing you will return and rain retribution on any pretender to your throne

Which of your would-be allies will you recruit first?
>The Drow—you have an existing rapport with them, and you wish to check in on your injured allies
>The spiky-men, or barbed devils, or dark creepers—whatever you would call them, they are more imminent and dangerous, and must be won over before they attempt another assault on your holdings
>>
>>5324141
>The Bastard
>The Drow—you have an existing rapport with them, and you wish to check in on your injured allies
Let's pick up our fighting fit and maybe grab some drow reinforcements. Numbers will help "encourage" the barbed devils to join us.
>>
>>5324141
>The Bastard
Perfect tool for the job and it will improve his dragonside
>The Drow—you have an existing rapport with them, and you wish to check in on your injured allies
I want Pitguards back
>>
>>5324157
Supporting
>>
>>5324141
>The Bastard
>The Drow—you have an existing rapport with them, and you wish to check in on your injured allies
>>
>>5324141
>Someone else
Glowie
>>The spiky-men, or barbed devils, or dark creepers—whatever you would call them, they are more imminent and dangerous, and must be won over before they attempt another assault on your holdings
>>
>>5324141
>The Bastard
>The Drow—you have an existing rapport with them, and you wish to check in on your injured allies
>>
>>5324146
+1
>>
>>5324141
>The Bastard
>The spiky-men, or barbed devils, or dark creepers—whatever you would call them, they are more imminent and dangerous, and must be won over before they attempt another assault on your holdings
>>
>>5324141
>The Bastard
>The Drow—you have an existing rapport with them, and you wish to check in on your injured allies
>>
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>>5324358
>>5324356
>>5324352
>>5324322
>>5324278
>>5324261
>>5324217
>>5324157
>>5324146
You are consider the logistics of your upcoming alliance and raid, as well as the management of your people’s new holdings at Bloodrise. The kobolds can’t watch themselves after all. The Bastard emerges as an obvious choice, for in his time here, he has really seemed to thrive in a leadership role. As for who to ally with first… Well, the force you have left with he Drow, once mustered, can only help to ‘convince’ the strange and spiny man-things of the deep darkness of your value as allies, and danger as enemies.

You are still planning your return to Jazkarmel’s outpost when the Novice calls upon you, summoning her to her laboratory. There, she reveals several important results of her ongoing investigations and experiments.

“Firstly, behold!” she announces, with a dramatic flourish as she pulls the blanket from the cage which houses the so-called ‘Junior Novice’.

You do so, with as much disgust and horror as wonder.

“So THAT is where the dragon embryo went,” you note.

The maybe-mammalian not-kobold is not merely changed in terms of a certain scaliness, but transfigure din more fundamental ways. You can see stitching—not of fabric or wire but of flesh and veins, by means of magic—at several junctures between limbs. This includes new limbs: the wings of an embryonic dragon. They have been tied into tumorous muscle-groups upon the back and ribs, woven under the skin and fat, and strengthened with meals of distilled and transplanted blood. The creature is a warped, half-draconic abomination of its already-displeasing former self. It is cramped in its cage, now grown, and sputters and whimpers with impotent rage, pain, and misery.

It reminds you, perversely, of what you learned of the genesis of your early genesis and life of your ‘brother’, the Great Green Dragonborn.

“It’s abominable,” you comment.

“No moreso than you yourself,” the Novice shoots back defensively. “And anyway, it suffers so you will not. Between he and my second experiment, I have learned MUCH which can be applied to your own improvement and perfection.”

“The second experiment being… Glowie’s brood?”
>>
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>>5324403
The Novice nods eagerly, and grabs hold of your belt, pulling you along, unresisting, to where, Glowie waits for you. There, you find her in her natural form, undisguised: a great worm, with vaguely serpent-like head but for her four eyes and twisted mandible-mouth. In place of her thick tail and squeezable, bounceable rump, there is only the many-legged trunk of the serpentine form of this glow-worm princess. Despite this, and a distinct… Bloating… She bobs towards you and leans into your body, pressing her forehead lightly to your chest and quietly, softly humming; the psychic resonance reverberates off of your own presence, ‘royal’ greeting ‘royal’.

“You are… Well, I trust?” you ask her.

Glowie, unable to speak as you know it in this form, merely nods.

“Better than ‘well’—she is IMPROVED, and her brood especially.”

You turn to the Novice, gloating once more, and bid her to explain.

“By my estimation, Glowie is entering a new stage of her life-cycle—preparing to cocoon herself, and to molt into something more akin to her mother, the ‘worm queen’ you described.”

You look to Glowie in surprise, and she merely nods again.

“It seems to be necessary for her to lay the eggs,” the Novice explains. “And these eggs… I anticipate between five and as many as a DOZEN viable offspring, EACH of them approximately a third dragon by genetic composition. These will be the MOST draconic beings since the Great Green Dragonborn, and they will hatch not soon after the first hatchlings of my father’s—and your mother’s—project.”

“How will they compare?” you ask, morbidly curious.

The Novice rattles with terrible glee.

“Not as pure, not as completely ‘dragon’,” she says, “but if I’m right… What we’ve accomplished… They will be JUST as terrible in their own way. Venomous and poisonous, psionically-potent, and capable of growing FAR faster than the traditional Dragonborn. Your doubly-degenerate monster-spawn might even beat the first wave of Dragonborn to adulthood!”

“I thought you were wary of our ‘replacements’?” you ask the Novice, patting Glowie reassuringly when she looks up at you inquisitively, perhaps a touch concerned at this phrasing.

The Novice scoffs.

“You cannot blame a great craftswoman for taking pride in her work,” she asserts “And anyway… These advances can be applied in reverse, as well, to advance our Reptilian Master Race.”
>>
>>5324406
It is then that the Novice reveals the final piece of her trifecta: an amulet.

“It is not yet perfect,” she admits, a touch bitterly. “I have had… limited time and resources. Once we return home, I will have access to proper facilities sand assistants. But donning this—an amulet made from the dead eggs of your bastard bug-offspring who did not survive the human’s maul or my procedures, as well as material from the eggs you retrieved—you will benefit from the moulting and transfiguration capabilities inherent in the insectoid bloodline, but used to transform you more fully and completely into something properly DRACONIC. It will shed or suppress your human blood, help to make you more and more ‘dragon’. Coupled with further direct injections… You may grow to nearly rival your ‘brother’.”

You stare at the amulet, holding I with great unease. It is a dark and twisted thing, for all its roughshod beauty, set with a carefully drill-hollowed gem and infused with the swirling ichor of Glowie’s offspring—of YOURS—and that of the unborn children of your legendary dragon ancestor. But you authorized this… You encouraged it. The risks to your health, the Novice tells you, are minimal.

With it, you could grow mighty.

With it, you could SOAR—not <Jump>, but <Fly>.

What do you do?
>Wear the amulet
>Return the amulet to the Novice for now
>Smash the amulet—it was a mistake, and you cannot bare the sight of it
>Give it as a gift to Glowie—let it be a gift for the first of your sons to hatch
>Write-in

[Please note: this will replace your current many-beaded mystery-necklace in your "neck" slot, and only one can be attuned at a time.]

What do you do about the Junior Novice?
>Put it down, before it becomes a threat
>Order that it be made more comfortable in its captivity
>Attempt to reach out to it with Reptilian Empathy, now that it…Maybe?... Falls under its purview
>Keep it caged, an experimental subject and secret weapon
>Write-in
>>
>>5324408
>Meditate and pray to the Serpent Ascendant before making a decision on the amulet. It seems too easy a path to true dragonhood..

>Attempt to reach out to it with Reptilian Empathy, now that it…Maybe?... Falls under its purview
>>
>>5324408
>Return the amulet to the Novice for now
>Keep it caged, an experimental subject and secret weapon
>>
>>5324408
>Wear the amulet
>Put it down, before it becomes a threat
>>
>>5324408
>Wear the amulet
>Keep it caged, an experimental subject and secret weapon
>>
>>5324413
+1
Let's not piss off the best god.
>>
>>5324413
Supporting
Maybe we'll get our paladinship?
>>
>>5324408
>Give it as a gift to Glowie—let it be a gift for the first of your sons to hatch
>Attempt to reach out to it with Reptilian Empathy, now that it…Maybe?... Falls under its purview

Damn maybe Glowie’s ass will be able to jiggle after the cocooning.
>>
>>5324547
Nah still have to prove ourself
>>
>>5324703
[As noted, it already does.]
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>>5324740
Her base form? I thought it was only the amulet form. We’re going to have to give form jiggles to that later.
>>
>>5324750
[Ah, I misunderstood the nature of your concern. Apologies.]

Don't get your hopes up.
>>
>>5324408
>Return the amulet to the Novice for now
>Attempt to reach out to it with Reptilian Empathy, now that it…Maybe?... Falls under its purview
>>
>>5324413
Support
>>
>>5324408
>>5324413
+1
Eh screw it, not looking for godly handholding but chad god would tell us if we are ruining our shot at dragonhood
>>
>>5324413
+1
>>
>>5324424
>>5324703
>>5324787
For those of you voting to turn the amulet why???

As it stands right now we are only a few steps more draconic than our bastard companion is.

Even our half bug worm sons will mog us in terms of dragonic blood. Let alone the chaplain's own dragonborn.

And considering the fact that our character implies that he intends too become a leader amongst our race.(otherwise the whole glowie plan looks foolish, how are we supposed to convince the Reptillains too accept glowie as a queen. If we intentionally make it harder for ourselves to become a king??) We'll need all the draconic essence we can get, if we intend to wrestle for scalykind leadership.

And on top of that, it costed dragonblood (which we have a limited amount of.) To make said amulet, not using it would be a waste of said material.
>>
>>5324858
I thought you were being serious for a moment trying to browbeat people despite their vote losing and rile up others to vote in the same manner, but you didn't even vote. It's not a bad tactic, but comes off in poor taste.

I sincerely hope you have been dissuaded from further use of this method.
>>
>>5324408
>Return the amulet to the Novice for now
>Attempt to reach out to it with Reptilian Empathy, now that it…Maybe?... Falls under its purview
>>
>>5324413
Supporting this

I don’t understand the ‘give it back’ votes - for what reason?
>>
>>5324858
Intuition. I’ll explain more later, maybe.
>>
>>5324408
>Wear the amulet
Or.
>Meditate and pray to the Serpent Ascendant before making a decision on the amulet. It seems too easy a path to true dragonhood

>Put it down, before it becomes a threat.
>-Put down the pseudo draconic dogbold by eating it. It would be or waste of dragonic material otherwise.
>>
>>5324914
I don’t want to completely lose the human side. Add character to our decisions.
>>
>>5325107
Goes against the whole anyone can be a dragon it’s a mindset and achievement ethos too.
>>
Less important but we CAN’T FUCK THE NOVICE if we’re too huge. We’ll be like our brother.
>>
>>5325114
It will take awhile, multiple shedings and repeat infusions of dragon material before we can get close to out brother's size.

Also we have a shrink potion, and unlike our brother who is mentally crippled. We can use magic specifically shape changing magic. (If we can dragonshape ourselves bigger. Than im pretty sure we can manage making ourselves smaller once we get more powerful. After all the red dragon was able to breed and he was even larger than our brother.)

>>5325107
The chaplain declared that once something exists within a creature, simple flesh shaping can't get rid of it.

Maybe novices novel metamorphosis version of flesh changing can bypass that rule. But i doubt it since our mind is already developed.

The persecutor offered us as a potential boon a removal of our human nature, so i would be surprised if novices amulet can equal an act of divine intervention.

>>5325108
But we did achieve this, We are the ones who helped novice come up with the idea of combining fleash warping and metamorphosis in the first place.

We're the one who bested hako and beat the location of the red dragons egg clutch out of hapo.

We're the one who was critical in defeating the dwarf/bone devils and thus securing the eggs.

And as embarrassing as it may be we'er the ones who combined our dna alongside the red dragons with glowies.

This amulet doesn't go against or cheapen our efforts, rather its a culmination of what we managed to achieve so far.
>>
>>5325149
Good points but I’ll stick with waiting until Serpent Ascendant gives his say so and sampling different pussies in case we get to big for smaller things like goblins and kobolds.
>>
>>5324413
+1
>>
>>5325149
>This amulet doesn't go against or cheapen our efforts, rather its a culmination of what we managed to achieve so far.
I like this analysis. Very nice.
>>
>>5324413
+1
>>
Rolled 6, 15, 19, 9 = 49 (4d20)

>>5325376
>>5324914
>>5324991
>>5324900
>>5324827
>>5325196
>>5324819
>>5324804
>>5324787
>>5324703
>>5324547
>>5324534
>>5324468
>>5324464
>>5324424
>>5324413
[Posting soon, but first: Reptilian Empathy roll!]
>>
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>>5325419
You take the amulet from the Novice, but to her palpable irritation, you do not don it immediately.

“What are you doing?” she demands.

“It is a tempting offer,” you tell her, “but I must meditate on it.”

“Youa re so WEIRD,” she laments.

You pass Glowie to her, in order to distract them both and to give you some space to think. The notion of becoming a dragon through continued modification… It’s tempting. But does it conflict with the Serpent Ascendant’s ethos of self-improvement through effort and will? Or is the amulet—created only thanks to your expeditions, your retrieval of the eggs, your decision to breed with Glowie, to be augmented with a fleshweaving regimen to which you will subject your own body—the CULMINATION of such determined effort of will?

Who can say but the Serpent Himself?

Or now, you turn to a more immediate, personally-solvable matter: that of the Junior Novice. It snarls and violently fidgets in the confines of the cage as you approach, hand outstretched in what you intend as a soothing gesture. To your astonishment, you feel the psychic pressure of a rudimentary Presence—more even than the basilisk in its pit has, or the tamed fire-lizards which lay sunning themselves on the mountainside near your chamber. Has this… THING… Become truly reptilian in some fashion? Maybe even DRACONIC? There’s only one way to find out.

>19

You close your eyes and open your mind and spirit, and you reach out. Your presences enmesh, wills conflicting even as they bleed into one another. You sense fear, and loathing—an understanding, on some level, that this being’s pain and confusion is your doing. You soothe it as best you can, conveying a benevolence and, when that ails, a command. ‘I am king here,’ you say without words, ‘and what I command is law, just and righteous.’

You open your eyes and find the Junior Novice seething, but silently, glaring at you through teary eyes and clutching at itself. It does not move, snarl, or thrash, however. And you sense… Intelligence. A more rudimentary intelligence than your own, t be sure, r that of the kobolds or even the enslaved adventurers, but there is understanding there. Is this a product of the experimentation, you wonder? Or was it always there, with the only change being the connection which allowed you to recognize it?

“Give it—him—a bigger cage,” you command the Novice.

“Soft,” she hisses, “and strange.”

But she sets to it, as you return to your chamber with her amulet to meditate for guidance.
>>
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>>5325471
In your chamber, you again attempt the ritual which brought you Persecutor and Mother. You light a candle, and place the amulet before it, reciting the word:

“Oh Lords and Ladies of Eternity and Infinity, oh Lords of the Endless Black, oh Ladies of the Deep Flame. It is I, your prince! It is I, your servant! Your first among sons and daughters beseeches you, and I offer up this great tribute, in hopes you will hear me, and guide me, and make me a part of your Grand Design!”

The smoke begins to billow out into a widening column, almost like a spiraling serpent rising—ascending?—to the ceiling. However, then it does something that feels… Wrong, to your intuitive understanding of the Dark God which you hoped to summon here: it splits asunder, so that thin streamers of smoke billow upwards, sideways, downwards. The reach out, encircling the room, and you, in a tentacles embrace. At their centre is the flame of the candle, which is no larger than before, but shines brighter, and is a queer blue-green-purple. It carries the aspect of an eye—an all-seeing, all-knowing eye, masterful and insightful.

You recognize not the Serpent Ascendant, god of glorious victory, but instead the Dark God of magic and secrets, patron of mages and scholars. The Master of the Insightful Eye. The Baleful Beholder.

“I am not who you expected, or sought,” the God ‘speaks’ directly rom the back of your own mind, as his eye fixes upon you.

“No,” you admit.

There is no use in lying or flattering an entity like this, already dwelling deep in your own mind with all the comfort of a welcomed guest—or a confident burglar.

“Why not?” the Beholder asks.

“It is not meant as an insult,” you speak truthfully. “It is just…”

“A matter of preference, and of affinity, yes,” the Master notes. “But why?”
>>
>>5325475
>>5325475
You hesitate, unsure how to answer.

“Your mother was cunning, insightful, wise to the motivations of others and mistrustful of them. This was intelligent. She was clever, and magically-inclined… As you are, for a mortal. More importantly, though, she was hungry for knowledge. She had <appetite> for secrets, for truth.”

Another Dark God, speaking of your shameful, Degenerate parent with… Almost RESPECT.

“Do you know why she failed, in many ways which mattered most?” the Master of the Insightful Eye asks you.

“I did not know the female who laid my egg. I know only what the Chaplain, and your fellow Dark Divinities, have told me, oh Master,” you say, head bowed. “I gather that she failed a test, and then died.”

“Her death was a victory for some, a loss for others. But in my estimation, she failed long, long before then.”

You aren’t sure you understand what the Dark God is getting atm, and consequently he senses your confusion.

“THINK,” he commands, a touch testily, the billow smoke-tendrils turning to a jagged cage of heat, the eye growing. “Use your MIND.”

“…She failed to understand something, then?” you wager.

You attempt to piece together the seemingly tangential points being made, and in the context of seeking advice about the amulet, about your future… And the Beholder’s own question about your preferences, your expectations and hopes for which Dark God would arrive.

“Good, good,” the Dark God of Wisdom says, voice once more an even, smooth texture to the air, like velvet… Like slow-roiling smoke, in one ear and out the otehr, sampling your thoughts,.

“My mother… Did not understand her own desires, her own preferences?” you guess.

“An animal, or a fool, acts on instinct and impulse,” the Beholder lectures. “Most beings which walk this earth, even many scholars, are in truth little better than beasts. They act, they seek, they hunger-even for knowledge—without truly analyzing or mastering their own drives. Your mother… She had potential to be more and, perhaps, in her final year she even achieved a small measure of that awareness… But too late, and in the end her regrets were a testament to that disorganization of thought.”

The phrase, ‘disorganization of thought’, carries the tone of profanity—of fundamental disgust.

“The Serpent Ascendant, you admire him, yes? Worship him?

The question interrupts your thoughts.

“I… Worship you all, Dark One, dutifully and—”

“But he holds a special place, yes? He is an ideal to which you strive?”

You slowly nod.

“Why? And why, then, after he praised you so, did you make overtures to the Lady, and consent to breed her prize insect?”

“I…”

You cringe a little. You’ve wondered that yourself, more than once.
>>
>>5325480

“Why do you seek his advice, when you have already gone against it? Why, having dismissed his advice on other occasions, do you now seek it again? What is it about the Lord of Dark Skies, which continues to speak to you?”

Your mind whirls with the questions, and you open your mouth to answer even one, only to be interrupted again.

“Why did your favoured god not come to you? Why did I? Why do the Gods show an interest in you? Why did they show an interest in your mother before you? What does the worm-princess want with you? What of the Novice Fleshweaver? What do you want with them? What are you? Is your mammalian aspect valuable? What does it really mean to become, or be, a dragon?”

The questions come like a flood, a hurricane. The God does not ask one at a time, or wait for an answer. You hear, and feel, the inquiries buffet you from all sides, from within and without, threatening to tear your brain apart. You fall to your knees in agony, in prayer, praying for it to stop. The uncertainties pull you under, drowning your ego and leaving only a single, perfect moment of clarity… A single string of questions and answers:

Why did the Serpent Ascendant not appear?

Because, as God of Will, he respects only those with he strength to make their own decisions.

Why did the Lord of Mysteries and Enigmas appear, speaking of the importance of self-knowledge?

Because you hold a mystery, which he wants to reveal and resolve, related to your true self.

Why were the Dark Gods so interested in your mother, and now in you?

Something about your true self, about your destiny and your desires, is important not just to your won future, but to theirs.

What is this inner truth, the core of your being which guided your conflicting actions and instinctive drives? What is it you hoped the Serpent would tell you, and why?
>>
>>5325482

What is your fundamental truth?

>You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.

>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.

>You crave self-actualization. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution… And you want that for your people, also. You have remained loyal in your heart, even as you reject and defy traditional beliefs and ways of thinking and transgress boundaries, but this is because you have recognized them as false and limited. You were hoping for a logical argument to justify rejecting the amulet’s power because it feels wrong.

[This is one of the most consequential votes of the quest, lending a permanent element to how the main character will be framed and characterized, and putting certain rails on what decisions he may make, as well as determining the future of his physical development and more. As such, I will leave it up until tonight or tomorrow.]

Plus, I'm still busy with Canada Day weekend.

[Write-ins or modifications ARE allowed, but no clever metagaing to have your cake and eat it too. Your answer, if a write-in, should both make sense in the context of your past decisions. Absolute reptilian supremacy or total control/dominance CAN'T really be the answer, because your past votes haven't reflect that -- you showed mercy repeatedly, were diplomatic with mammals, had sex with a bug, and gave the kobolds multiple chances. Likewise, peace and harmony among all races is off the table -- you have tortured and killed humanoids, and have put down a save revolt.]

[There is no wrong answer, but choose wisely!]
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>>5325487
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect- though it provides a way to have the strength you need to protect those you care about.

This plays into our choice of Copper earlier. We desire the strength to protect those we love, but not at the cost of being a monster. The character has a hard time with his identity stuck between Reptillian and mammal, and maybe it's too "magical friendship" for some anons but I think we can walk the line.
>>
>>5325487
>Sex. To want it, to have been denied it, these two burdens placed upon you by fate both shaped you into who you are now. You will do whatever it takes to make a brood for yourself with a harem of women. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has new meaning to you. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution. Degenerateborn? You shall show the world the true meaning of this.
>>
>>5325508
[A-acceptable rationale, but I wouldn't count on it winning.]
>>
>>5325487

>You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.
>>
>>5325508
[Also, you've actually rejected sex and flirtation a few times... And prioritized other things. May want to choose a back-up, anon. I'm not sure ai can okay it.]
>>
>>5325487
>You crave self-actualization. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution… And you want that for your people, also. You have remained loyal in your heart, even as you reject and defy traditional beliefs and ways of thinking and transgress boundaries, but this is because you have recognized them as false and limited. You were hoping for a logical argument to justify rejecting the amulet’s power because it feels wrong.
>>
>>5325541
we’re a free thinker no matter what i almost voted for sex write in because it would lead us to more puffy pussies and assholes that wink at us while we hit it from the back and make the bouncy buttocks clap by fucking the shit out of them with dragon dick. this one makes more sense that that.
>>
>>5325487
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.

A little gay, but it’s the path mom kind of laid out for us and it’s pretty consistent with the decisions we’ve made.
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>>5325487
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.
>>
>>5325487
>>You crave self-actualization. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution… And you want that for your people, also. You have remained loyal in your heart, even as you reject and defy traditional beliefs and ways of thinking and transgress boundaries, but this is because you have recognized them as false and limited. You were hoping for a logical argument to justify rejecting the amulet’s power because it feels wrong.
I will also support love if this doesn't get enough backing.
>>
>>5325545
>>5325508
I won't be writing any actual porn, but none of these paths is incompatible with a harem.

Also, reptilian females just have a single general-purpose cloaca, sorry.
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>>5325487
>You crave self-actualization. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution… And you want that for your people, also. You have remained loyal in your heart, even as you reject and defy traditional beliefs and ways of thinking and transgress boundaries, but this is because you have recognized them as false and limited.
will also support
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you.
over fucking bugs
>>
>>5325487
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.

Our people want a dragon, they NEED a dragon. We want to be a dragon our people can rally upon, to retake what was ours; not for the past glories, but for their future
>>
I’m curious to what the physical changes could be. I’m guessing power would make us more red, self-actualization make us the color of whatever color dragon was the wisest (blue?), and love will continue us on the path of brown.
>>
>>5325727
inb4 love is pink dragon
and >>5325508 is bad dragon path lol
>>
>>5325727
>>5325755
[It isn't tied to colouration.]
>>
>>5325487
>You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.
I honestly want to be a bit more evil, and I like the freedom aspect this gives us. I also like
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you.
But only in the context of power and freedom, because I think community is important, and because I do want all the Dark Gods to cherish us like they did with the Infiltrator.
>>
>>5325487
>You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.
We wuz kangz!
>>
>>5325755
kek would be funny to be a slightly evil love dragon
>>
>>5325487
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect- though it provides a way to have the strength you need to protect those you care about.

also speaking of love thinking about it I like this more fits our “kind” personality better. have to have cuddle sessions after anally destroying a fat-tushed mammal/reptoid. Gotta get free access to community breeding pits.

>>5325541
Old vote
>>
>>5325487
>You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.
If we embrace the freedom aspect do we become an American Dragon?
>>
>>5325487


>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.

2nd choice:

>You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.
>>
>>5325884
>Gotta get free access to community breeding pits.
You’d think power and freedom would be more your thing, especially since
>whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect
would actually cuck you outta the free access to the breeding pits, compared to
>Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others.
>>
>>5325487
>You crave self-actualization. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution… And you want that for your people, also. You have remained loyal in your heart, even as you reject and defy traditional beliefs and ways of thinking and transgress boundaries, but this is because you have recognized them as false and limited
I wonder if we can also go with the Love route too.
>>
>>5325952
[You won't be royte-lpcked out of love or piwer for naking such a choice... But it won't have the same focus (mechnically or narratively) as it would otherwise. You'll sacrifice some of that potential.]
>>
>>5325508
+1
But if that doesn’t get anywhere
>You crave personal power and freedom
I’d rather this not turn into Friendship is Magic Spiro Edition.

Also hoping for us to turn royal purple if colors are involved.
>>
>>5325487
1.
You crave personal power and freedom, by any means. This is why you are willing to embrace outcasts, fuck bugs, desecrate dragon-eggs, ally with mammals, and defy expectations. Taboos mean nothing. True power is freedom from others. You wish to wear the amulet, because it will make you powerful.

If that doesn’t succeed, then:

2.
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.

Though I think ‘love’ is the wrong angle.

Respect, yes. Admiration, yes.

Maybe our base human and draconic desire is to be worshipped as a god on the mortal plane…
>>
>>5325937
I just don’t like power choice at all makes the least sense for our personality.
>>
>>5325487
>You crave self-actualization. You want to be truly yourself, on your own terms, and without dilution… And you want that for your people, also. You have remained loyal in your heart, even as you reject and defy traditional beliefs and ways of thinking and transgress boundaries, but this is because you have recognized them as false and limited

>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.

Either or
>>
>>5325957
*route-locked
*power

>>5325997
see >>5325765

>>5326038
>>5326011
>>5325927
>>5325659
[When I tally votes tonight, I will probably inly count the first. Instant-runoff voting feels like a bit much for a quest.]
>>
>>5326203
Could you show us the preliminary tally so we can make strategic choices, then?
>>
>>5326038
>>5326203
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.
Ok just love then.
>>
>>5326298
I think it’s all close
>>
>>5326298
All is know is that sex isn’t winning.
>>
>>5325487
>You desire belonging, importance to a community… ‘Love’, as your mother’s ghost put it once, though the term has little meaning to you. You are ‘soft’ by the standards of Reptilians because you wish to be respected, admired, and embraced by others—including the Gods. You would wear or not wear the amulet, whatever was deemed best, but not at the cost of others’ respect.
>>
>>5326460
>>5326479

“I want power,” you declare. “I want to achieve my full potential, by my own will!”

There is silence, except the quiet crackle of the candle, and the pounding of your heart. The Dark God of Hidden Truths says nothing. But… Why? You gave the right answer!

That’s when you realize why: you gave the ‘right’ answer, the answer you would expect a Dark God to want to hear—the proper answer for a member of the Master race, or a Dragon King of yore…

But not the truth.

“I… Came seeking answers as to whether the amulet should be worn or not because I did not wish to lose face, or support.”

“Why not?”

“…I desire to belong,” you admit, a touch ashamed to speak to such a n ignoble desire. “To be… Admired, respected… To be worthy of such, and to live up to expectations.”

It’s the truth, you realize: you have ever been an outcast, ever felt alone among most of your race. They way they express themselves, relate to one another… You have always felt isolated, and shameful in that feeling. You’ve desired connection, community, all your life. It’s why you hung about the breeding pits, wishing to enter: not just your <appetite>, but your wish to BELONG there, to have a mate who could be a match to you and thus affirm your own place in the natural order, and in Reptilian society.

Your fixation of becoming a dragon… yes, it’s or power, freedom, self-actualization, but it’s more than anything because your sole bond of any depth was long with your ’brother’, the Great Green Dragonborn. More than that, it’s because a dragon has a place in the community—IS the very Foundation of a community. Where a Dragon King exists, his presence draws the reptilian races, binds them together as one.

That’s what you want: to be the thread at the heart o the tapestry which is the so-called Great Design.

“Then so be it,” the Insightful One says.

The arms of smoke and fire withdraw towards the candle, as the Dark God leave you presence.

“Instruct the Chaplain’s Daughter to imbue the amulet with the Potion of Diminution,” he advises you. “Then, you may wear it, and even as it transforms and transfigures you, you will have what you want. This is my gift to you.”

“…Thank you,” you say, and you believe you mean it.

“Your truth is… Unexpected, unusual, but appropriate. You are your mother’s son. You have realized what she did not, until it was too late, and may yet achieve what she never could. Wield this truth wisely, mortal. It defines not only YOUR future, but may yet draw the shape of the age to come.”
>>
>>5326505

The flame is almost dead now, the candle burnt down. The deeper darkness of communion is fading away, revealing the cavern walls and their mundane murk once again.

This may be your last chance, at least for a long while, to make an appeal to this particular divinity. Do you ask anything else of the Baleful Beholder?
[Choose one]
>Ask what his plans for the Reptilian Race are—his version of the Grand Design
>Ask him about your mother’s fate
>Ask him advice on how to accomplish your objective of a tripartite alliance with the Drow and barbed devils
>Ask him about how to create a lasting peace between your race and Glowie’s
>Ask him to teach you a sell
>Request his patronage as a Antipaladin
>Part company with the Dark God, and continue your preparations for the journey ahead
>>
>>5326509
Damn this guy is based as well.
>Ask him advice on how to accomplish your objective of a tripartite alliance with the Drow and barbed devils
I would also be willing to go in for an Antipaladinship w. him if enough others are interested.
>>
>>5326509
>Request for him to mend your brother’s mind

Big bro… love you
>>
>>5326513
Oh fug this is a good one. Switching +1
>>
>>5326513
>Request for him to mend your brother's mind, or at least give you a path to do so yourself

Good idea anon. Adding my bit here in case the Beholder thinks that's too much of a favor without recompense.
>>
>>5326509
>Ask him about your mother’s fate
>>
>>5326513
>>5326520
Best option; +1.
I'm not against Antipaladinship for him if this is the price to pay; solid patron, similar to Serpent Daddy
>>
>>5326531
I'd consider this a win-win, frankly.
>>
>>5326513
>>5326509
Take all my +1, not only does this one go well with our past decision, but I'm all for helping our bro.
If its too much of a favor to ask, a tip on the tripartite pact would be second best
>>
>>5326509
>Ask him about your mother’s fate
otherwise I support mending dragonborn
>>
>>5326509
>Ask him about your mother’s fate
>>
>>5326509
>Request for him to mend your brother's mind, or at least give you a path to do so yourself
>>
>>5326505
>That’s what you want: to be the thread at the heart o the tapestry which is the so-called Great Design.

I didn’t vote for this option…but I actually love this characterisation of our desires and goals.

We want to BE the champion of our people and the gods AND be recognised for this role.

As for the vote:
>Request for him to mend your brother's mind, or at least give you a path to do so yourself
>>
>>5326509
>Ask him advice on how to accomplish your objective of a tripartite alliance with the Drow and barbed devils
>>
>>5326513
>>5326516
>>5326520
>>5326526
>>5326531
>>5326612
>>5326640
>>5326705
>>5326763
>>5326772
>>5326794
“Wait, please, I have one more request!”.

The Master of the Insightful Eye continues to subside, but the process slows.

“Favours do not come freely,” he reminds you.

“I will pay the price!”

“Then ask it, mortal.”

You think back to your childhood, to your only deep and lasting connection—to your brother, the Great One, and his sadly-addled mind. Be it by dint of his own imperfect genesis, or isolation and abuse in the first century of his life, he has never been… All there. Though you care for him, you know his mind is not as properly formed as it ought to have been. Maybe… Maybe you can remedy this?

“An intriguingly altruistic request to make of a Dark God,” the Beholder notes.

“It is my truth,” you reply levelly, bowing your head.

“Very well,” the Insightful One agrees. “But we Dark Gods help those who help themselves. I will tell you how to do this thing, but you must accomplish it yourself.”

You bow your head lower, and murmur gratitude.

The smoke begins to flow like a river from the candle, pouring out across the floor and pooling like water at your feet. It ripples, flows, and swirls together until it forms a surface which you half-expect to reflect your own features. Instead you see something other: a human knight, in full armour.

The armour is green plate, its surface etched and moulded to resemble scales, and to bare depictions on dragons: dragons roaring, dragons soaring…

“An ally among the humans?” you ask, startled.

“Observe more closely,” the Master commands.

You do, and see… Dragons falling, dragons skewered by sword and spear, dragons pinned by human boots.

“A slayer,” you hiss. “A dragonslayer. But none remain—they died out with the dragons! Who can be called dragonslayer, without a dragon to slay?”

“He claims the title by right of blood,” the Beholder answers. “His armour is old, old as the empire he serves. He is the last true heir to the House of Yosef.”

You have heard that name: the Yosefs were a human household of note, so-called nobility whose scheming and financing helped facilitate the rise of the Paladin King of the northern humans, and the defeat of the Great Green Dragon—your brother’s genetic progenitor—and his armies. But…

“Are they not all dead?” you ask, confused.

“Not… Quite,” the Master of the Insightful Eye answers, and you sense something unspoken in the brief pause. “This one remains, for one. While he has slain no dragon, he HAS drawn Reptilian blood… And he bares the spoils on his brow.”

You see the man-in-green remove his visored helm now, and reveal a somewhat-typical human face. Upon his brow, though, glimmers a diadem of peculiar glimmer.
>>
>>5326942
“Your mother’s diadem,” the Beholder tells you, “was called <CLARITY>, meant to safeguard the senses and the mind. Bring me this, and I can make a crown for your ‘brother’. He can be freed from his ailment.”

“I will do this thing,” you agree instantly. “And in exchange… I am prepared to be your Antipaladin.”

The Beholder pauses, and then laughs. The smoke explodes in rippling waves in all directions with the laughter.

“No, no, I think not.”

You are… Admittedly a little confused by this turn of events. Every other Dark God, except maybe Death, has seemed to desire such a pledge.

“You ALREADY serve my design,” the Baleful Beholder says, transfixing you with his burning gaze. “You, your brother the Green Knight Yosef, my fellow Dark Divinities…”

The smoke recedes once more, back towards the candle. Its light flickers, dims.

“You just do not know it,” the Dark God of Mysteries whispers.

The fire goes out, and you are alone with your thoughts once more.

You return to the Novice Fleshweaver, and hand her the amulet once more, as well as the still-corked Potion of Diminution. She peers into it strangely as you explain your request: to have these two artefacts incorporated.

“You did something to this,” she accuses you. “The potion’s colour, its viscosity… It is changed.”

You squint at the bottle as well, as the Novice holds it up to the dim light of her laboratory’s burning sigil-stones, and you think you can see what she means: there is a faint, golden sparkle to the liquid within.

“It was not I,” you say, wondering what plans the Baleful One advances for you.

“Are you sure of this?” the Novice asks seriously.
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye
>Maybe—allow the Novice to modify the amulet, but do not wear it yet
>No—the Novice should not modify the amulet

[Cont.]
>>
>>5326945
You deem it wise to recuperate completely before your journey, which (even with the pleasing and healing poultice-massages of the Novice) necessitates another two days in the Bloodrise Mountains. During this time you attend to a few remaining matters. First and foremost among these is the promised consultation with the seniormost and highest-status kobolds. You will show them that you will stand by your word. You will earn their respect, their loyalty. Hapo, if he yet lives, will find no harbour here!

Ivno and the Bastard accompany you—one your sole kobold retinue-member, the other the most well-known and respected lieutenant among the kobolds here.

“I still fear that to give them more status may prove a mistake,” the Bastard notes, albeit gently, and with an addendum: “But I trust your judgement, Dragonborn.”

Ivno says nothing.

The kobolds file in, and stand before you, heads bowed. Of them, you recognize only Sikdo by name. Most are rather old, though like your own race they show limited senescence. Even with their shorter lifespans, each of these elders is at least thrice your own age… And yet you stand in judgement of them. It is an unusual feeling: like being the Chaplain (or Dragon King) of your own court!

“Speak,” you command, “and be heard.”

Hesitantly, as if fearing your response or expecting some retribution, they do so. The kobold elders speak of three principal concerns among their people:

“Fear for the future of hatchlings,” Sikdo says. “Maybe… Have no space, no holdings for own-own. Chattel-servants.”

“Which is okay!” another hastens to add, frantically trying to appease you. “But stay here? In home, where generations have lived? Not be… Sent away? This would be good.”

There are a few chirps of agreement, with one quiet voice noting:

“GOOD-good to know kobolds get to own place, OWN-own, have… Respect, for safekeeping mountains for thousand years.”
>>
>>5326946
You hear a yelp of pain as one of their fellows stomps the tail of the outspoken kobold to silence his possible overreach.

“And… Young ones, warriors and hunters… They pleased with battles, but… Not pleased-PLEASED.”

You narrow your eyes, and ask the kobold who spoke up to elaborate. With all eyes on him, he freezes up, but eventually does as you require.

“We… Understand why was done, but lost holdings, homes, shinies… Some worry that kobolds will only lose-not-gain.”

The kobold’s eyes settle on your necklace—taken from Hapo and Hako. They hoarded away the best ‘shinies’ as well, but then… They were kobolds. They lived here, and would not eventually leave and take such treasures with them. Perhaps, in some way, the treasures of the ‘Dragonwrought’ still felt like they belonged to the kobold clan in a way you, a temporary administrator, cannot duplicate? Or maybe the expansion of territory simply made up for it…

What do you do for the kobolds of Bloodrise?
>Offer the necklace to the kobolds, and promise them a (unspecified, probably small) portion of loot taken in future raids which they play a major role in
>Promise them limited autonomy and special status in the Bloodrise, and that they will not be forced to leave this place against their will
>Pledge that the lands and holdings you conquer here, such as the dwarves, will be given over in large part to KOBOLD administration
>Roar at them to be grateful you are even listening to them, and to cease with their petty, greedy demands—they will be treated well for the underclass they are, they will be allowed to voice concerns, and you will consider them, but you will not be granting any entitlements or making promises to SLAVES
>Write-in
>>
>>5326947
>Offer the necklace to the kobolds, and promise them a (unspecified, probably small) portion of loot taken in future raids which they play a major role in
>Promise them limited autonomy and special status in the Bloodrise, and that they will not be forced to leave this place against their will
>>
>>5326945
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye
>>
>>5326947
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye
I see no reason not to.
>Offer the necklace to the kobolds, and promise them a (unspecified, probably small) portion of loot taken in future raids which they play a major role in
We're going to have to discard the necklace anyhow in order to wear the amulet.
>>
>>5326947
>>Offer the necklace to the kobolds, and promise them a (unspecified, probably small) portion of loot taken in future raids which they play a major role in
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye


>Mention some of the lands and holding you conquer here, such as the outer parts of the dwarven ones, will be given to Kobold administration proportionally to their contribution
>>
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>>5326945
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye
Begone, narcissistic thot. If Beholder wishes us harm, your meddling will not stop him.
>>5326947
>Offer the necklace to the kobolds, and promise them a (unspecified, probably small) portion of loot taken in future raids which they play a major role in

“Your mother’s diadem”
>>
>>5326945
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye
He does us dirty, we'll know
>>5326947
>Offer the necklace to the kobolds, and promise them a (unspecified, probably small) portion of loot taken in future raids which they play a major role in
>Promise them limited autonomy and special status in the Bloodrise, and that they will not be forced to leave this place against their will
If they want cool dragon mountain, why not let them have it? Problem is we might excavate the sealed ruins sometime, but that can be handled when the time comes.
>>
>>5326966
+1 to giving a little land to kobold add to my vote
>>
>>5326945
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye

>Promise them limited autonomy and special status in the Bloodrise, and that they will not be forced to leave this place against their will

>Promise them a portion of the shinies from the re-excavated mountain, but we'll take the dusty boring scrolls and documents off their hands as well as items of significance.

>tfw moms body got looted
>>
>>5326945
>No—the Novice should not modify the amulet
>Roar at them to be grateful you are even listening to them, and to cease with their petty, greedy demands—they will be treated well for the underclass they are, they will be allowed to voice concerns, and you will consider them, but you will not be granting any entitlements or making promises to SLAVES
>>
>>5327064
I like that exchange of "you keep these shinies, we get the boring stuff you guys don't need or want"
>>
>>5326947
How old was Ismena when she was killed?
>>
Rolled 15, 12, 9, 17, 13 = 66 (5d20)

>>5327225
[She was never 100% sure how old she was, but Just shy of 30]

>>5327137
>>5327095
>>5327064
>>5327021
>>5327002
>>5326995
>>5326966
>>5326965
>>5326964
>>5326961
[Locking vote, rolling and writing!]
>>
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>>5327231
“Very well,” you say.

You reach up to remove your necklace, and you hand it to Sikdo, who holds it before him with wondering eyes. The other kobolds gather around, in many ways simple creatures despite their advanced age and superior, Reptilian genealogy.

“I will not be needing this any longer,” you explain. “I am receiving a new amulet, of considerable power… But you may have this, rather than my masters. Each bead contains a different spell, I am told. Use them wisely.”

The kobolds look up at you in a mxi of suspicion and admiration. You sigh. After your discussion with the Master of the Insightful Eye, you better understand this peculiarity, which always led you to feel so uneasy and ill-appreciated, and likely led to the misunderstandings and bullying which characterized your pubescence. The mind of a full-blooded Reptilian just does not work as… As YOURS does.

“This is no gift,” you elaborate, affecting sternness. “This is a deposit, to buy your loyalty. So, too, will be the many additional such ‘shinies’ which you will acquire, in serving me. You have all heard of my plans to form an alliance, and to raid the wealthy holds of the dwarves. Well, this is no idle fancy—it is HAPPENING. The loot will be TREMENDOUS, and you and yours will receive a share of it—a portion of the shinies to ‘own-own’, as you say. This a promise, and I will live up to it… So, should any other rabble start rousing dissent, remember what you stand to lose.”

The kobolds gulp, and squeak rapid assent of your plans, and in praise of your generosity, as well as your judicious use of brutality. You think they even MEAN it.

“We will of course keep the bulk of it, and have first right of refusal on any magical items,” you add, broaching no argument. “Artefacts of importance, in the dwarf-mines or the reopened excavations of this mountain will be presented to myself or your other masters for our inspection and approval before you are given the right to keep them… But we will be fair in our approach, and keep your performance in mind. Most of what we want will be of little interest, regardless—dusty scrolls, cultural relics, books, maps…”
>>
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>>5327261

>17, 15

The kobolds chatter excitedly, bowing repeatedly and then bickering (good-naturedly, for the most part) over which elder shall get which bead, and who shall receive credit for this diplomatic ‘victory'.

Ivno watches them go, and finally breathes a sigh of relief. He seems pleased, too. The Bastard, for his part, still looks utterly confused—as he did all through the proceedings.

“You gave them little,” he mutters. “Most of it was theirs, as they saw it prior to our arriving. Yet they are grateful. Why?”

“Kobolds remember what it was to have NOTHING-nothing,” Ivno volunteers. “Generations ago, kobolds were things to own, not people to own things. Dragonborn heard them, listened, and showed with action that kobolds COULD own things... Be people. Worth bargaining with, not just hit-beating, starve-punishing, rob-taking, kill-killing.”

Ivno looks at you a little wonderingly. “BUYING kobold loyalty…”

Key to this, you sense, is your transparency about your own place in the hierarchy relative to them, and the profit you plan to extract. Without this, they would have carried a natural suspicion, drawing dark conclusions about your true intentions.

“Well, it should make running things here in your absence a little easier, Superior One,” the Bastard acknowledges, bowing his head in gratitude.

You leave the consultation, and your two advisors, feeling accomplished. You THINK you’re starting to understand how to really rule like a dragon would… But to your own ends, towards the fundamental truth which the God of Secrets bid you reveal and embrace. A community, centred on you and your ideals.
>>
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>>5327266
The other unavoidable matter which must be addressed is a more personal one: that of Glowie, and her—YOUR—brood.

With the greatworm female recovered, she can once more wear her own amulet, appearing as a darker, faintly purplish variation on the Novice as she usually does—as she did when the fateful deed was done. To your relief—you think—her own <appetite> seems sated by the one instance of coitus… Though as the two of you walk to halls of the kobolds’ mountain lair in search of privacy, she takes every opportunity to hold fast to your arm, or to coil her tail around you. You are careful to command her to maintain distance when others are watching… But otherwise, you permit it, for it seems to bring her comfort.

“You have done so much,” Glowie notes softly, leaning against you as you find an occupied chamber.

She breathes of you, sighs happily, and looks up at you with her green eyes—the only commonality between this form and her natural one which is plainly visible, though in THIS guise she has only the two rather than four.

“Well… You have been an invaluable ally as well,” you acknowledge. “I may well have been slain by the berserk human in the horned helm, had you not paralyzed him.”

Glowie just hums happily in acknowledgement of your praise, pressing herself to you—not lewdly, though you cannot help but stir somewhat, but in chaste appreciation of your closeness.

“I have to ask,” you say eventually, gently pushing her back to regain some emotional distance, “why are you so… Physical?”

It is quiet foreign to your Reptilian upbringing, after all. While you have learned that many mammals are quiet ‘social’ in this way, that bugs should be such as well is a surprise.

“At home, we are all… Connected. By the vibrations—by Mother’s mind, by Grandmother’s gifts.”

“A hivemind?” you ask, surprised and a little concerned. What does this mean for your sons? It hardly seems becoming of a dragon.

Glowie shakes her head. “No, each thinks alone, but the vibration makes us all… Aware of each other. We sing, we sway, we understand. Your race is so… Closed. Each lizard is… Island. Guarded. Closed. And so…”

She reaches out, and takes your hand, and hums happily, swaying slightly.

“My Dragonborn’s heartbeat and breathing, his pulse, his voice rumbling through the air… It is your song. When you speak to your lesser, it is your mind-voice, your soul-vibration. It is… Connection.”

It’s… odd, foreign, but you think you conceptually grasp it. But it was idle curiosity, a delay. It isn’t why you brought her here, and you both know it.
>>
>>5327267
“Will be brooding soon… Laying my eggs.”

“Yes,” you reply.

Glowie looks away, and tightens her grip slightly.

“Will be cocooned for some time… Then changed. Helpless during the transformation. Amulet may not work for me anymore when emerge. And when the eggs hatch…”

Now, with dragonblood in them, their hybrid nature will eb immediately evidence. And if they should be born with your bronzey colouration, your accursed ginger HAIR? The truth will come out.

The two of you sit and discuss the matter of this at some length. It seems to you that you and your… Mate… Have a few options, having committed to this brood.

>1. Leave Glowie here, to be guarded and waited-on by the kobolds of Bloodrise, where she will be safest and not have to travel… But where your secret will surely be revealed, unless you can lie your way out of it
>2. Bring Glowie with you, and negotiate her residence with the Drow during her metamorphosis and brooding—they have no care for blood purity, and seem fond of arthropods
>3. Send her to the former territory of the Devourer [perhaps with a trusted honour-guard? Please specify] to undergo her transformation and to lay her brood in secrecy
>4. Ask the Novice to help suppress the hormones related to this process, delaying the metamorphosis and laying of eggs so that Glowie can stay with you until the matter of the tripartite alliance and dwarf-raid is concluded; she IS a very useful combatant
>5. ??? [Write-in]
>>
>>5327268
>2. Bring Glowie with you, and negotiate her residence with the Drow during her metamorphosis and brooding—they have no care for blood purity, and seem fond of arthropods
>>
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>>5327268
>will eb immediately evidence
*will be immediately evident
>>
>>5327268
>3. Send her to the former territory of the Devourer to undergo her transformation and to lay her brood in secrecy [Send Agno a few other (female) kobolds as guards]

We cleared the devourer with great effort we should use the space it cleared. Send a few kobolds as guards, I want them female because I guess our sons will have an <appetite>. They are not thicc enough for us to use, but our sons can have them. The kobolds will be inclined to follow them because they are dragon.
>>
>>5327276
we’ll give our sons the fattest of asshole to clap later as an apology
>>
>>5326947
>Yes—trust in the Master of the Insightful Eye.

>Promise them limited autonomy and special status in the Bloodrise, and that they will not be forced to leave this place against their will.

>Give the necklace of spells as a present for the novice, maybe she can find out it's secrets or how to duplicate it. In any case she is more worthy of it than any of the kobalds.

>>5326961
>>5326965
>>5326966
>>5326995
>>5327002
>>5327021
Fuck the Kobalds, they have done NOTHING to earn or deserve our respect.

In fact during our last raid on the human adventures, the Kobalds prioritized looting the adventures valuables over helping us against the barbarian or cutting off the ranger's exit. (In fact we still don't know what valuables or gold the adventurers had stored since the kobalds absconded with it.)

Their greed especially after agno's last outburst should not be encouraged. Until the kobalds become disciplined enough to understand only success and loyalty to the master race can bring reward's, not complaining.

We shouldn't give them the necklace regardless of the fact they believe it belongs to Hako.(In fact it was a part of the red dragons horde and thus is rightful property of the master race.)
>>
>>5327279
Never mind i did not refresh the page fast enough.
>>
>>5327261
>>5327266
The character development, as our guy realizes not to be so nice or whatever because reptile brain always expects betrayal and plotting and whatnot
>>
>>5327268
>2. Bring Glowie with you, and negotiate her residence with the Drow during her metamorphosis and brooding—they have no care for blood purity, and seem fond of arthropods

They should not care and we need our warriors for the raid
>>
>>5327268
>2. Bring Glowie with you, and negotiate her residence with the Drow during her metamorphosis and brooding—they have no care for blood purity, and seem fond of arthropods

hope drow mommy doesn't think we're weird
>>
>>5327268
>2. Bring Glowie with you, and negotiate her residence with the Drow during her metamorphosis and brooding—they have no care for blood purity, and seem fond of arthropods
I bet they rear those giant bugs they use too. They're definitely not unfamiliar with this sort of thing
>>
>>5327268
>4. Ask the Novice to help suppress the hormones related to this process, delaying the metamorphosis and laying of eggs so that Glowie can stay with you until the matter of the tripartite alliance and dwarf-raid is concluded; she IS a very useful combatant
>>
>>5327268
>3. Send her to the former territory of the Devourer [Novice Junior and a gaggle of kobolds handpicked by the Bastard] to undergo her transformation and to lay her brood in secrecy
Can’t trust them, even to keep the secret. Better to keep this in-house. Besides, there’s probably more wealth the kobolds could find in the Devourer’s territory.
>>
we should bend glowie over and give her a parting fuck to have something to remember us by. clap those cheeks and make it tremor without magic
>>
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>>5327451
>make it tremor without magic
>>
>>5327268
>1. Leave Glowie here, to be guarded and waited-on by the kobolds of Bloodrise, where she will be safest and not have to travel… But where your secret will surely be revealed, unless you can lie your way out of it
>>
>>5327455
Trogdor when
>>
>>5327496
[Perhaps when you are a wingaling dragon]
>>
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>>5327477
>>5327421
>>5327374
>>5327358
>>5327320
>>5327317
>>5327276
>>5327269
You reason that the Drow would be perfect guardians for Glowie and her hybrid offspring. You plan to ally with them anyway, and they have little reason to be vested in Reptilian politics or conceptions of blood-purity. Besides, who better than those who keep giant centipedes and spiders as companion-animals to help care for your… Rather unconventional offspring?

“And can feed on them without angering lizardmen, if they are no help!” Glowie adds cheerfully.

You pat her gently, and request that she do nothing to jeopardize your alliance. She leans into the patting, and readily consents to this condition, provided that you hold her for a time. You oblige… For political purposes, naturally.

Between these activities, and two short spells of much-needed torpor, you feel your remaining maladies mend. The Novice administers healing massage to speed this healing process along, seasoned with her usual criticism and invective, and finally a proffered amulet.

“Here,” she says, shoving it into your talons unceremoniously.

It looks… Much the same. Your mystic senses are too unpracticed to make out much of a difference, either. The Novice assures you that the miraculously-modified medallion is complete, though, and you have no reason to doubt her. You don it, and feel… Unsatisfyingly unchanged. You suppose you must await your first use of <Improved Dragonshape> to see what changes have resulted.

You also replace your breastplate, by now shaped and touched up to all but erase evidence the berserker’s maul. You give the Bastard his final instructions, and collect your forces: The Novice and Glowie; The Translator and Cartographer; The Merchants, North and South; The Thief; the kobolds, loyal Ivno and cowed Agno; two fire-lizards. Only a few questions remain…

Do you bring the Junior Novice?
>Yes—it is too dangerous to leave him here without proper supervision, even if he is caged
>No—on a leash this now-mutated beast is too conspicuous and too great a liability

What field do you feel you have most improved in, over this week-or-so among the kobolds? [Pick one]
>Swordsmanship
>Archery
>Fisticuffs
>Intimidation
>Leadership
>Religion

Do you attend to any other matters before leaving Bloodrise?
>No
>Yes [write-in]
>>
>>5327625
>Yes—it is too dangerous to leave him here without proper supervision, even if he is caged
Maybe the Drow will think it's cool.
>Religion
>No
>>
>>5327625
>Yes—it is too dangerous to leave him here without proper supervision, even if he is caged
Friend him with meditation
>Swordsmanship
Ass gets kicked instead of us fucking big booties needs remedy
>Yes [Sacrifice rebellious Fighter to The Beholder as thanks for their help and take along the Half-Elf as a gift for the dark elves]
Prisoners are plot hooks let’s deal with them. Kill fighter, and dark elves will like surface elf to bully.
>>
>>5327625
>No—on a leash this now-mutated beast is too conspicuous and too great a liability
>Religion
>No
>>
>>5327625
>Yes—it is too dangerous to leave him here without proper supervision, even if he is caged
>Religion
>Yes [write-in]
Did we already figure out that enchanted belt?

I say we read/study some tomes in service to the Beholder, touch base with the Bastard about his dragon meditations, touch base with the Novice on what she learned (and how we can improve our Fleshweaving abilities for a better unaugmented Improved Dragonshape).
>>
>>5327641
>Did we already figure out that enchanted belt?
[Alas, no. You only have one wualified member of your party who could MAYBE do that, and you've been keeoing her busy with amulets, animal testing, and obstetrician work for your bug waifu.]
>>
>>5327625
>No—on a leash this now-mutated beast is too conspicuous and too great a liability
>Religion

>>5327651
Not a waifu; just a baby mama
>>
>>5327625
>No—on a leash this now-mutated beast is too conspicuous and too great a liability

We’re going to form allies - we don’t need some weird creature tagging along as a liability.

>Religion

>Yes [Sacrifice rebellious Fighter to The Beholder as thanks for their help and take along the Half-Elf as a gift for the dark elves]
>>
>>5327625
>Yes—it is too dangerous to leave him here without proper supervision, even if he is caged
>Religion
>No
>>
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>>5327759
>>5327705
>>5327658
>>5327641
>>5327637
>>5327629
You deem the Junior Novice too dangerous to leave behind, supervised only by the nonmagical Bastard and a gaggle of kobolds. Of course, bringing him with you raises questions all their own.

“What is that?!”

“S-sacrilege…”

“Is that what the Novice Fleshweaver has been doing in that cave all this time?”

“But… Why?”

The Junior Novice jerks at the end of his chain, chattering agitatedly. You can’t tell whether he is making to flee or to fight, but you can allow neither. You clear your throat and project your Presence to stifle both the chained creature’s escape attempt AND the banter. Your pet-project crawls back a step and stares at you in fearful obedience. Your retinue responds… Not dissimilarly.

The intelligentsia of your group have the biggest problem with what the Novice has wrought, under your instruction. Well they might, you suppose. None of any intelligence can fail to draw the obvious conclusions between the dragon eggs and mammal-like not-kobold entering the cave and this… Degenerate hybrid dragon-thing emerging, baring hallmarks of both.

“It was a necessary test, to advance the Dragonborn Project,” you say.

There is no need to specify that it is an unauthorized one as well. The half-truth seems to put your fellow Reptilians at ease, or close enough… But it makes for a grim preview of what reaction awaits you back home, at the northernmost forward base. Regardless, there’s little time to dwell upon so distant a dilemma when you have much more pressing concerns in your IMMEDIATE future, such as your tripartite alliance. The sooner you’re done here, the sooner Glowie will be able to lay and hatch your brood, the sooner you can clear up any potential problems with the Serpent Priesthood, and the sooner you will be able to hunt down the human scum who slew your mother and bears upon his brow the secret of your brother’s salvation!

(Okay, so maybe it IS quite a lot to dwell on.)
>>
Rolled 28, 38 = 66 (2d100)

>>
>>5327891
>>5327890
>28 for random encounters: none of note
>38 for barbed devils: no crossed-paths

The trek back towards the Drow encampment is largely uneventful. You are briefly harassed by cave-bats, which you make quick work of frightening off for a puff of firebreath, but otherwise you face no trouble. The Devourer is dead, but something of its presence yet lingers, perhaps, frightening away other predators…

Or perhaps it is YOUR presence which does this?

The thought warms your heart, and the next few days’ march are an easier journey for it. It also helps that much of this return trip is a descent, rather than the arduous climb UP to the kobolds’ realm on the way there. You are well-stocked from mountain-stream, and take your meals in the form of kobold-hunted venison and cave-newt.

Each time you set down for rest, you do so in shifts. You stagger your own, so that you may confer with your expert advisors on the route, scout the surroundings, and more.

You check in on the Novice’s researches: “slower going for this travel,” she laments, though she both acknowledges the alliance is a smart plan AND is adamant in accompanying you, citing “your utter helplessness without my aid, should you get into another meatheaded melee again.” Not for the first time, you get the distinct feeling of intellectual and emotional dishonesty from this outward hostility, but you merely tease her that such a “prodigious intellect” should be able to devise a way to walk AND perform alchemical researches, which seems to set her to thinking.

Glowie, for her part, seems to be traveling without issue. You have seen females heavy with a single developing egg, their gut heavy and legs protruding to induce a waddle, and were prepared to offer aid if needed… But Glowie seems utterly unchanged. She moves as easily as ever. You suppose the Novice DID say her eggs were in a sort of stasis until her cocooning and transformation…
>>
>>5327900
The Junior Novice, you could swear, has grown slightly even since you began this journey. You opt to…
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
>Feed him less, to stifle this troubling development, though it may weaken you burgeoning bond

Each evening, you feel an odd compulsion, not just to contemplative meditation, but to… Prayer. You suppose multiple divine visitations has the effect of awakening religiosity in a young male.
>+1 Religion

To which deity do you most often pray?
>The Mother of Dragons, for the health of your mate and her monstrous brood
>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead
>The Master of the Insightful Eye, for divine guidance and in thanks
>The Persecutor of the Weak, for forgiveness and in an attempt to work out an alliance
>Death, in the hopes that he can tell you more of your mother’s ultimate fate, and of the human who slew her

Do you ask any advice of your retinue, or make any preparations, in advance of your return to the Drow?
>Yes [Write-in]
>No
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
>Death, in the hopes that he can tell you more of your mother’s ultimate fate, and of the human who slew her

>No
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier

>The Mother of Dragons, for the health of your mate and her monstrous brood

>Ask Novice how her dad would react to the Junior Novice
>>
>>5327906
Avenging mommy should be priority after mission.
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
let's see where this goes
>The Mother of Dragons, for the health of your mate and her monstrous brood
We do NOT like our race replaced, but Glowie did get injured once and we already lost a bit from that. This is only so Glowie is okay, otherwise I dislike having to deal with this bitch trying to Great Replacement the master race for any longer than is necessary
>Ask Novice how her dad would react to the Junior Novice
The dark elf queen saw the moon sword, right? Or did we hide it from them?
>>
>>5327901
>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead

Chadaddy god best god.

>Yes [Write-in]
Spend time with the novice.
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him less, to stifle this troubling development, though it may weaken you burgeoning bond
We should just kill this abomination tbqh.
>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead
>>5327279
L
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead
>>
>>5327959
+1
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead
>>
>>5327959
[You haven't met their queen, but rather Jazkarmel, the commander of an outpost closer to the surface. You didn't have the sword at tha time, and haven't been back since, though you sent the Pit Guards and Oluwadamilare the Degenerate (less pejoratively, The Archer) with the head of the Devourer to prove you killed it.]
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him less, to stifle this troubling development, though it may weaken you burgeoning bond
>The Mother of Dragons, for the health of your mate and her monstrous brood
>No
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
>The Persecutor of the Weak, for forgiveness and in an attempt to work out an alliance
>Yes [Novice, not making an amulet of disguise for the former dogbold? Tut tut, your slipping.]
We do need to make amends with the Prosecutor.
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier.
>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead.

>No
>>
>>5327959
+1
Pretty sure the main god we’re converting the elves to is the mother of dragons. Best to get on her good side in order to conjure up a divine sign or something later.
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier
>The Master of the Insightful Eye, for divine guidance and in thanks
>No
>>
>>5328166
[In order to best appeal to the elves complicated cultural understandings of gender as they relate to theology and politics, you pitched the Serpent Ascendant and the Mother of Dragons as principle male and female deities.]
>>
>>5328262
Is it possible to fuck the mother of dragons
>>
>>5328262
Just curious and the current ruler is a female so I think it’s best to choose her anyways
>>
>>5328298
Post a picture of haughty goddess cloaca to steer thing that way kek
>>
>>5328300
in the whatever the fuck divination crit when it happens again
>>
>>5328298
[Theoretically nothing is off the table, but that'd be a Herculean effort, probably requiring you focus almost entirely on that to the exclusion of other major goals... And unlike certain other options, probably is less compatible with multiple other paramours or mates.]
>>
>>5327901
>Feed him more, to help earn his goodwill and make controlling him easier

>The Serpent Ascendant, for strength for the trials ahead

>Talk to the Novice and ask her advice on our next steps
>>
>>5327625
[Just realized I forgot to.mention Paeris when relisting your retinue. Rest assured: he is with you also. Post coming soonish!]
>>
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>>5328385
>>5328209
>>5328166
>>5328112
>>5328110
>>5328077
>>5328046
>>5328035
>>5328003
>>5327993
>>5327969
>>5327959
>>5327913
>>5327906
It is on the third day, when you are saying your prayers, seeking guidance on the journey ahead, that you have your epiphany of how to deal with the Junior Novice. You are whispering alms to the Serpent Ascendant at the time—you have been alternating between he and the Mother-Goddess, for these two are principal in your attempts to convert the dark elves—when the realization strikes. Why keep the abominable wretch weak? If the Junior Novice appreciates your kindness, he will grow strong, becoming a useful pawn. If he does not, he will become one more mighty beast for you to best, and thus further test and prove yourself. Only a fearful weakling would starve out a foe to avoid true confrontation.

“You make no sense,” the Novice says testily, when you explain this theory to her.

You continue feeding the novice anyway, making a game of setting morsels of dried venison before him and holding him at bay with your presence until you release him to consume the food.

“It wouldn’t be an issue is you had crafted an amulet for your Junior here, Oh Brilliant and Logical One,” you note.

You click your tongue in admonishment.

“You are slipping in your diligence,” you tease.

The Novice hisses furiously, and rakes the ground with a slap of her tail.

“Yes, foolish am I!” she mock-laments. “If only I had forgone MORE torpor, perhaps I could have made the time. Or perhaps if I had not wasted so much time laying hands upon a certain MEATHEADED MAMMAL-BORN MORON and his FAT BUG—”

You hold up a hand, gesturing for her to quiet. The others are not SO far away, after all. With a frustrated rumble, she obliges, crossing her arms and hunching in an almost comical sulk.

“I loathe you,” she sneers.

You tilt your head, allowing your empathetic sense to expand. It isn’t entirely psychic—it’s a matter of acute understanding of subtle tones, shifts in body-language, subcutaneous heat an patterns and subtle colour-shifts.

“You do not,” you note, matter-of-factly.

She looks away, more sullen than ever. You say nothing, watching her for a time and then looking away, finishing your own meal. Eventually, you both turn your attention to the ‘dogbold’… Or perhaps ‘dog-dragon’, now? ‘Drogon’, maybe?

The Junior Novice looks up, registering the attention upon it, and snarls half-heartedly as it scoots back, clutching its food protectively. It has grown more assertive and aggressive, as the dragonblood take should upon it and its form sells and contorts to more and more resemble something royal and reptilian—albeit a perverse parody of such, like an overlarge jester in kingly clothes.
>>
>>5328537
“What do you think the Chaplain will think of this thing?” you ask.

“Who cares?” the Novice asks. “Why do you worry so much about that fool’s approval?”

“He was mentor and caregiver to me,” you note. “Practically parental.”

The Novice scoffs.

“You are thinking like a mammal again,” she admonishes. “He was treating you like a valued asset. I well know—I am much the same.”

“Because you are an accomplished Novice among the Fleshweavers? Yes, I suppose despite your REGRETTABLE oversight with the not-kobold, I can see how you might SEEM useful in such a capacity.”

The Novice rattles with laughter, and you turn to look at her in confusion.

“You cannot imagine his irritation when I proved my merit in that field,” she says, leaning back and looking up to the distant, upside-down spires of the ceiling—stalactites, hovering like divine daggers waiting to plunge.

“Why?” you ask, befuddled.

“Our family’s bloodline is valuable,” she says. “A female’s main use, when she has such blood, is to be broodmare. I would have been traded by now, laying a clutch of eggs for some more highly-placed member of the Priesthood, and bought my father an alliance. Maybe then, he would have been more than a forward base Chaplain, trading off of the endeavours of a dead Degenerate and forced to raise her False Dragonborn spawn.”

She looks back to you, and you sense no malice—at least none directed at YOU—as she speaks again.

“I do not care what the Chaplain thinks of my work,” she says. “I know my own value.”

How do you reply?
>Say nothing—you know not what to say to that
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment
>Tease her further—she has left herself open, and it will be funny
>Shift closer, and attempt physical affection
>Write-in
>>
>>5328538
>>Tease her further—she has left herself open, and it will be funny
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment
>>
>>5328552
i can’t wait to use those fat bubble cheeks as a clapping machine but she is sensitive must be nice before making thunder
>>
>>5328538
>Tease her further—she has left herself open, and it will be funny
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment

We value her for her advice, skill and companionship
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment

Your skill is most appreciated, oh medical one, blasphemous shaper of flesh
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment
>>
>>5328538
>Acknowledge her worth as well, and give her an earnest compliment
>>
>>5328622
>>5328621
>>5328615
>>5328613
>>5328606
>>5328595
>>5328556
>>5328552
>>5328547
“Agreed.”

“Wait… What?”

The Novice seems taken aback, but you simply shrug, and gesture to ‘Junior’.

“Look what you can accomplish in a cave, with scrap-equipment and long-dried blood and yolk. Your skill is undeniable. The Chaplain is… Unwise to not value that ingenuity. I certainly do.”

The Novice opens her mouth, then shuts it with a click, simply looking at you with utter bewilderment.

“And your advice, and material aid,” you add. “Your care and companionship is most appreciated, oh Healing One.”

“What ridiculous flattery is this?” she scoffs, looking away, tail flitting with… Not annoyance. Embarrassment? “H-healing One… What is your game, Degenerate?”

“Would you prefer ‘Blasphemous Shaper and Restorer of Flesh?’” you ask, with a shade of your usual banter.

The Novice shoots you a glare.

“You are aware I am not in-season, yes?” she snaps. “And the Chaplain would never permit you to take advantage even if I were.”

“The thought never crossed my mind,” you lie, unconvincingly.

She scoffs.

“The offspring would be fascinating test subjects, though…”

The Novice Fleshweaver gives you a sidelong glance, as if considering something. Her tail’s motions grow more fluid, more languid, and then it lifts, raising her cloak a little with it. Your eyes flit downward, and you feel a twinge of the <appetite>… But the spell is broken when she once more rattles with laughter.

“As if!” she cackles, curling her tail tight around her. “I may be a ‘blasphemer’, but even -I- wouldn’t go that far.”

“Who asked you to?” you bite back.

The two of you bicker and snipe for a while longer, as you so often have, before eventually slipping into a comfortable silence and a deepened mutual understanding.

We seemed to have a pretty obvious lean, so might as well move on to the next vote.
>>
>>5328644
It isn’t much longer before you arrive at the dark elves’ forward encampment. As before, the Drow see you before you see them, but this time they spring no trap. Instead, you are greeted warmly in their strange and derived elf-tongue, and beckoned to follow the elf scout to his people’s closest encampment.

When you arrive, you find it much as you left it in some regards—sparsely-populated, roughshod and primitive in its architecture, and crawling with strange, overlarge arthropods (though none so large as Glowie or her kin, nor do any of the spiders, centipede, or beetles evince any sort of advanced intellect). The elves here are bluish-black of skin, short of stature, and wear scant clothing—primarily leather armour and silk underclothes, when underclothes are present at all.

The biggest change is the atmosphere. It is still oppressive and spartan, but there is a relief here—a release of tension. You see the reason for it, and you feel a swell of well-warranted pride when you do: deeper into the encampment, the head of the Devourer—the great rust monster who you and your allies slew en route to Bloodrise—has been stuck atop a spike and had its eyes replaced with many small gems and polished stones, like a trophy. Around it, Drow warriors toast to its defeat with chitin-cups and ancient goblets, drinking that pungent and earthy mushroom-wine which you were served on your last visit here.

When they see you and your forces marching in, the toast—and a great and rowdy cheer—is raised to you—al of your reptilians, but to YOU in particular. You know enough elf-speak to recognize the words being chanted:

“Savior!” “Monster-Killer!” “Champion!” “Hero!”

You deign to bask in it a little, unconsciously falling into a strut as you approach the centre of the encampment. Once there, you take a strong stance, cloak spread wide and armour gleaming in the faint light of dim and smoky torches. As expected, it isn’t long before the camp-leader, the imposing and illustrious female called ‘Jazkarmel’, approaches. Oluwadamilare, the Degenerate Archer of a southernly human extraction, is at her side, looking much mended... And with body-language and proximity to the elf-leader which cause you to do a second take.

Likewise do the other wounded warriors whom you sent here to recuperate gather, at the head of the trailing dark elves: The Pit Guard, a large and sturdy Steeltalon who once guarded the breeding pits you enviously eyed in your youth; his younger Apprentice; and the Elf-Specialist, who you sent to serve as diplomat, advisor, and cultural liaison, and tasked with instructing Jazkarmel (and any interested followers) in your people’s faith.
>>
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>>5328653
“You return,” Jazkarmel notes, a small smile on her deep red lips—coloured by some tincture to match her eyes, too old for the smoothness and outward youth of the uncannily-symmetrical face which frames them.

“You are surprised?” you counter.

She shakes her head, and gestures widely to the impaled head of your conquered foe.

“Not after lizardmen brought us this!”

Another raucous cheer goes up.

You and Jazkarmel part company from the throng then, to take station in her quarters and speak as one war-chief to another. This time, you cannot help but feel more her equal on that front than last, when your only battle of note had been a skirmish with predatory plant-life.

“Your war went well?” she asks, surprising you with a somewhat halting and guttural attempt at your silken True Speech.

“We won,” you acknowledge. “You speak the True Language.”

She laughs.

“That is what you call it, yes,” she says, reverting to elf-speak. “Such pride! But it is not ugly language. I not know much, but would like know more. Learn small amount from Oluwadamlire… Oh, and ‘Elf-Specialist’.”

She wrinkles her nose at that last demonym, and stifles a laugh. You get the feelings she has imbibed a little, as with her subordinates, though she maintains her composure well. You can hardly judge her tolerance: your race cannot process alcohol well in the slightest, and gets quite rapidly drunk to the point of disorientation and sickness.

You have much to speak with her about, however. Specifically…
>>
>>5328656
The sword—fabled moon-blade, prize plucked from the Devourer’s gut! What is your plan for it?
>Show it to her, and asks what she knows of it
>Offer it up to her—it is her people’s ancestral treasure, after all
>Keep it wrapped and hidden, lest she (or her subordinates or superiors) covet it from themselves

An alliance—the reason you came here. How will you broach the subject?
>Tell her of the dwarven wealth in Bloodrise, appeal to greed and bloodlust
>Call in a favour—you defeated the Devourer, and you reckon that she and her people owe you
>Call upon her to keep her word—you have come back a hero, and wish to meet with the Drow Queen

Your mate and brood—the plan was, after all, for Glowie to undergo her metamorphosis to a queen here, and to lay her eggs. How will you broach the subject?
>Bring Glowie with you, a third ‘leader’ in this conference, and let her explain and make her appeal
>Ask the elven leader for advice on rearing giant insects, and attempt to casually steer her into ‘taking care of a small matter’ for you while avoiding directly admitting to paternity
>Frankly and forthrightly admit what has occurred: you have impregnated a giant caterpillar and want someone to keep her and her eggs safe


[The more you ask of them, the harder the roll; the more you offer in exchange, the easier the roll. Clever write-ins are to be rewarded.]
>>
>>5328660
>Show it to her, and asks what she knows of it
>Tell her of the dwarven wealth in Bloodrise, appeal to greed and bloodlust
>Bring Glowie with you, a third ‘leader’ in this conference, and let her explain and make her appeal

I would go and meet the Drow queen, but it'd probably take really long and I want to get on with the raid. I'm sure shinies and shared battles can only endear us to the Queen when it's time to meet. As for the sword, might as well show it, we can promise to give it to the Queen when it's time for the meeting. Let's also not call in the favor, we're here to form an alliance, not make a short-term deal or trade favors. The people we've left with the Drow seemed to have drummed up a lot of goodwill so I'm not too worried about her declining outright.
>>
>>5328660
>Show it to her, and asks what she knows of it
>Tell her of the dwarven wealth in Bloodrise, appeal to greed and bloodlust
Think about how much more security for your people; no risk of dwarfs
>Bring Glowie with you, a third ‘leader’ in this conference, and let her explain and make her appeal

I like the fact we're really getting somewhere with Novice
>>
>>5328668
Oh yeah and for how to convince them to take in Glowie interject at the end to let them know her capabilities. As for the actual terms of the alliance just stick with the basic stuff that comes with war spoils, partial share of loots and partial division of territory based on proximity (obviously the mountain will mostly be ours and the undergrounds theirs). Make more emphasis on the territory, though, the Dark Elves don't seem very materialistic, especially compared to the dark scavengers, and so I want to save a lot of looting rights for the scavengers.

>Glowie has Arthopod Empathy which will be of great use for your insect rearing. Her Silk and Venom could also be harvested with her consent.
>Offer a lesser share of the war spoils, but a moderate amount of territory from the dwarves.
>>
>>5328686
Honestly we could even offer the land the devourer took up in exchange too. We technically own it by right of conquest and so we could offer that up in exchange for diminished return of spoils and territory to the elves.
>>
>>5328684
+1
>>
>>5328660
>Keep it wrapped and hidden, lest she (or her subordinates or superiors) covet it from themselves
It's our hoard, fuck their national treasure.
>Tell her of the dwarven wealth in Bloodrise, appeal to greed and bloodlust
>Ask the elven leader for advice on rearing giant insects, and attempt to casually steer her into ‘taking care of a small matter’ for you while avoiding directly admitting to paternity
>>
>>5328660
>Show it to her, and asks what she knows of it

>Tell her of the dwarven wealth in Bloodrise, appeal to greed and bloodlust

>Tell her of the dwarven wealth in Bloodrise, appeal to greed and bloodlust
>>
>>5328684
Supporting
>>
>>5328660
>Keep it wrapped and hidden, lest she (or her subordinates or superiors) covet it from themselves
>Call in a favour—you defeated the Devourer, and you reckon that she and her people owe you
>Ask the elven leader for advice on rearing giant insects, and attempt to casually steer her into ‘taking care of a small matter’ for you while avoiding directly admitting to paternity
>>
>>5328660
>Keep it wrapped and hidden, lest she (or her subordinates or superiors) covet it from themselves
>Call upon her to keep her word—you have come back a hero, and wish to meet with the Drow Queen
>Ask the elven leader for advice on rearing giant insects, and attempt to casually steer her into ‘taking care of a small matter’ for you while avoiding directly admitting to paternity
We’re keeping the sword. Any articulate anon want to attempt a cleaver write in?
>>
>>5328660
Backing >>5328668 as well as >>5328696

>>5328686
But what of the kobolds? What do THEY get?
>>
>>5328686
>>5328696
>>5328668
+1
>>
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>>5328870
>>5328849
>>5328844
>>5328805
>>5328802
>>5328800
>>5328768
>>5328712
>>5328684
>>5328668
You turn to Glowie, up until this point silent—the third member of this ‘leadership conference’ of three races. She has been shy and quiet, as she nearly always is around others, besides yourself (and, increasingly, the Novice). Jazkarmel arches an eyebrow and sips at her red-brown mushroom-wine, which Glowie has abstained from and which you have had only a polite sip of, and awaits the explanation of her presence.

“…Am not a lizardwoman,” Glowie says. “Am pregnant.”

The statement as simple as it is enigmatic to anyone not already in the know. Jazkarmel certainly seems confused, though she leans forward.

Glowie takes a deep breath, squeezes her eyes shut, and reaches up to remove the Amulet of Disguise… And a moment later, Jazkarmel’s eyes widen and she leaps back, her crystal-topped ancestral staff at the ready. You are surprised—it had been leaned against the wall, and you did not think she could arm herself so quickly in her intoxication.

“By bloody gods!” the elf cries out, the stone atop her ancient sceptre of office aglow with massing mana.

Glowie quivers, but you raise a hand, drawing Jazkarmel’s attention and mollifying her. The initial shock dies down, and Jazkarmel calms, and sinks back into her seat. Glowie replaces her amulet, to facilitate communication, and she explaisn her situation.

“Am pregnant with eggs of…”

The worm-woman’s eyes flit to you.

“…divine command. Mother of Dragons blessed me with. Need a place to lay them, to raise sons. And… Will undergo changes of self.”

She looks hopefully to Jazkarmel, who stares, thumbing the side of her staff—now nt far from her hands.

“Hoped that could be here?” Glowie whispers.
>>
Rolled 5, 16, 1, 12 = 34 (4d20)

[DC 10/13/16]
>>
>>5328876
>>5328873
Jazkarmel’s eyes now shift to you, narrowing slightly, before turning back to Glowie.

“Elves do not have many of space, or items. You have seen. If you make babies like our insects, Lady Glowie, do not think it possible to house and feed all.”

Diplomatically, Glowie does not mention the possibility of the dark elves as a food resource in and of themselves. You breathe a sigh of relief for that, but it’s there that you step in.

You clear your throat to get the females’ attention, and then unwrap your blade and lay it forth upon the stone slab which serves as a table to the three of you. You see Jazkarmel tense up ever-so-slightly at the taking-out of a weapon at a negotiation, as if she is used to more ‘aggressive’ negotiation tactics at such events, but you think her expression is more shocked at the truth than it would have been at an attack. She stares at the moon-sabre in rapt silence.

“You know this blade?” you ask.

Jazkarmel nods, and answers: “The sword of King Endymion, first king of Drow separatists.”

“I found it in the stomach of the Devourer,” you tell her. “And I found other wealth, too, and lands ripe for plunder… Home to dwarves, and to surfacers.”

Jazkarmel sneers at the word ‘dwarves’, once it is properly translated and explained to her through pantomime and roundabout description.

“Hairy little people, come down and take what is not theirs. Think whole earth is theirs! Have trouble with them, sometimes.”

“And with the spiky scavenger-men who occupy the Devourer’s territory, no doubt?” you ask.

Jazkarmel look at you in surprise, but nods.

“We seek to solve one problem with another<” you tell her. “Keep Glowie safe, and join us in taking back that territory. We will ally with the spiked men—we call them ‘barbed devils’ sometimes, but I think they may be outcast dwarves or the like—and join together to raid the dwarves, Then, you will have all the space you need—you, and Glowie’s children.”

“And you will have hoard fit for dragon,” Jazkarmel notes wryly, reaching out to playfully tap her fingernail upon your breastplate.

Glowie stares a little at the familiarity, and fidgets, false-face inscrutable.

“And,” Jazkarmel continues, “you have my people’s legendary blade-of-king.”

“The spoils mean less than the land,” you suggest, “to a people who presently have little of either. As for the blade…”

You stare at it and feel a different sort of <appetite>, the dragon’s greed, swell inside you. You tamp it down.

“We can discuss tehs word when I meet with your queen, after you and I have BOTH secured our positions and fortunes with this victory. What say you?”

Jazkarmel finishes her drink, looks between you and Glowie—who makes a quiet chittering squeal and sits upright, as formal as she can manage.
>>
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>>5328876
>1
STOP IT
STOP IT NOW
>>
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>>5328895
16

“Alright,” she says, grinning from ear to pointed ear. “Sounds… Fun. And profitable. I am in.”

You look to Glowie, who hums and wiggles happily. She reaches out with her tail beneath the table, wrapping it around your leg and squeezing you affectionately, in thanks.


With formal negotiations ended (for now), the atmosphere turns more casual once more. You discuss your victories and challenges, your adventures and significant discoveries (in such fashion as to reveal no Reptilian secrets of course). You also discuss with the elven leader…

>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>Oluwadamilare—he and she seem closer than expected, what’s up with that?
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>Dark elf politics and security—has their situation changed since you were last here, many weeks prior?
>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>Write-in


>>5328896
It's only a crit failure when you roll no successes.
>>
>>5328899
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>Dark elf politics and security—has their situation changed since you were last here, many weeks prior?
>>
>>5328899
>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>Oluwadamilare—he and she seem closer than expected, what’s up with that?
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>>
>>5328899
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>>
>>5328899
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>>
>>5328899
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>Dark elf politics and security—has their situation changed since you were last here, many weeks prior?
>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?
>>
>>5328899
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>Dark elf politics and security—has their situation changed since you were last here, many weeks prior?
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?

Olu can Eiffel Tower her with us as long as we get to jiggle those dark ass cheeks
>>
>>5328899
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>>
>>5328899
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>Suggest she eat more to make her hips sufficiently large enough to birth many children
>High five Oluwid for a job well done on hitting that
>>
>>5329103
Waifu swap with em he can hit glowie while we hit the elf
>>
>>5329104
You know she’s kind of a whore flirting with whatever degenerate born lizard in her view. Might as well let the entire retinue hit too.
>>
>>5329136
[None of the pure Reptilian males in your retinue are in season, and they're quite unlikely to find her attractive. Not that I consider this a serious proposal]
>>
>>5329142
I’ll stop shitposting now.
>>
>>5328899
>Dark elf politics and security—has their situation changed since you were last here, many weeks prior?

Since were going to be negotiating with the drow higher ups later after this raid. Gaining information would be useful.

>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?

We should learn what our cloak and ring do. And maybe some one even knows how to teach us how to use of the mage book we grabbed from the adventurers.

>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>>
>>5328899
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?

>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?

>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>>
>>5328899
>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>Dark elf politics and security—has their situation changed since you were last here, many weeks prior?
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>>
>>5328899
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>Oluwadamilare—he and she seem closer than expected, what’s up with that?
>>
>>5328899
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?
>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>>
>>5328899
>Arthropod life cycles—what should you expect from Glowie and her sons?
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>How has she been? She’s, uh, looking good… [flirtation]
What’s cooking, good lookin’? Oh shit! Is that steak?
>>
>>5328906
Supporting this
>>
>>5328899
>Her conversion and faith—has she kept up her prayers? Have her people begun to convert?
>Your allies who you sent here—were they well-behaved? How have your races been getting along? What is her opinion of your people?
>Your hoard—can she, or anyone she knows, identify magic items? Help mend and alchemically treat the wilting leafweave of your sword-sheathe and your splintering darkwood arrows?
>>
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>>5329360
>>5329346
>>5329342
>>5329310
>>5329280
>>5329265
>>5329178
>>5329159
>>5329103
>>5329005
>>5328959
>>5328938
>>5328935
>>5328906
>>5328902
>>5328900
[Vote locked, post incoming!]
>>
>>5329527
“You have been most hospitable to my warriors,” you acknowledge. “Have they proved… Worthy of such, would you say?”

You are most interested to know how they have been behaving themselves, but also the dark elf’s general impression of your retinue—and your race. It could prove vitally important to future diplomacy.

Jazkarmel strokes her chin idly, eyes angled slightly upwards in deep consideration.

“Strange people, not like elves,” she admits. “But they behaved well, and at games of bluff, they are difficult to beat.”

It makes sense: your body language and facial expression are far less fluid than those of a mammals, even elves.

“Oluwadamilare, though… Is like you. Different. Warmer…”

She traces a finger along the edge of her cup wistfully, pausing a moment, then continues:

“The Elf-Specialist is full of questions, more than answers. But the answers he provides told much about traitors on the surface, and how they have come live since they drove us away.”

She grins a little darkly, and asks: “Is it true they now fall before HUMANS, crumbing away to weakness?”

“The… Specialist may overstate things, somewhat,” you admit. “They are in decline compared to their—your—heyday, but… They remain more powerful and numerous than either of our races, or even the two combined.”

Jazkarmel sighs sadly, and takes another sip of wine.

“And what of our faith?” you ask. “Have you found value there as well.”

“I have… Been diligent in prayers,” she says, noncommittally. “To Dragon-Mother, most of all. She has not answered yet, but then I think: ‘I am warrior, before elfmaid.’ So I prayed to Serpent, ah, Ascedant is it? He was more responsive.”

She leans forward, and whispers to you—and to Glowie, for she is only stage-whispering—a ‘secret’:

“I think he gives premonition that you are coming, because I dreamt that I would see you soon, this last sleep. He told me you would carry battle-standard. And here we are!”

She pouts, very slightly, as she adds: “But in skirmishes with these… Spike-men… No powers. No ‘dragonshape’.”

“Yes, well… My relationship to the Dark Gods is a bit special.”

She sniffs, and shrugs.

“Perhaps I must prove worth, as you did in slaying Devourer. This is sensible.”

“Have any of your race converted, as you have?” you ask.

She cringes, and shakes her head, then seems to think better of it.

“One or two are interested,” she says, “but I do not wish to be known as heretic leader, removed from position. The Elf-Specialist requested to hold some private meeting with some of elfmen and elfmaids. I allowed, called ‘cross-cultural diplomacy’. A few asked me about my thoughts on Dark Gods afterwards. I told them honest opinion—that they could be useful allies, that I have seen them give you strength. I think some are interest, but we need see Queen before any will openly convert and risk retribution.”
>>
>>5329581
Well, you have little time to go into the deep earth and to politic with distant elves just now, so you suppose that may have to do. Instead, you produce your other sword—still sheathed—and your quiver of arrows, and lay them before Jazkarmel.

“My sword-sheathe and arrows are wilting, splintering. They are elven technology—‘leafwoven’, I ma told, or hewn from still-living darkwood. I had alchemical reagents to treat them with nightly, but my supplies of it run low. Can you help?”

The dark elf, looks to you apologetically, as if sad to deliver more bad news.

“We have very little plant down here, and what is here is… Twisted. We make our arrows from bone and stone, rarely even a metal head. Our ‘leafweaving’ is… Not good. We have some ability with crafting from mushrooms, though… Could make you new?”

Something to consider, certainly. You broach the subject of your magic items as well, then, and at this she brightens.

“I can identify, if you are to leave with me for a time! The sword… It is OLD magic, beyond me. Tied to moon, and difficult to tarnish, chip, or break… Maybe impossible. Produces glow, and scours enemy magic. Beyond that… Not sure, cannot decode. But the cloak… I sense resilience, protection in it. The belt, I sense invigoration, strength. I can determine greater details and activate, if you wish?”

You leave your cloak and belt with Jazkarmel, trusting the elven leader with these items for now. With only a twinge of regret, you leave her quarters to take your own torpor. Glowie hovers close to you, almost protectively so, and clings to you when the door is shut. You look to her questioning, but she says nothing. You think you sense… Jealousy?

You take your rest that night…
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while
>In quiet contemplation and prayer
>With Glowie, permitting her a measure of chaste cuddling to soothe whatever is bothering her

The next day, you set about preparing for the journey ahead, to meet with the dark creepers, spiky-men, or barbed devils. This entails…
>Purchasing bone-arrows and fungus-cut sheathes for your blades, however primitive they may be; maybe you will even find some other valuable equipment?
>Learning more about the dark elves’ military and magical capabilities in a joint exercise
>Trying out the new and improved Amulet of Dragonshape
>Training the Junior Novice for combat-readiness
>Reading your stolen spellbook, taken from the dead adventurer-mage at Bloodrise, to try to learn another spell
>Write-in
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while

>Trying out the new and improved Amulet of Dragonshape
>Training the Junior Novice for combat-readiness
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while

>Learning more about the dark elves’ military and magical capabilities in a joint exercised
>Reading your stolen spellbook, taken from the dead adventurer-mage at Bloodrise, to try to learn another spell
I would like the Dragon Amulet to be a pleasant surprise during the Raid.
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while

>Reading your stolen spellbook, taken from the dead adventurer-mage at Bloodrise, to try to learn another spell
>Training the Junior Novice for combat-readiness
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while
Glowie's just jealous, she'll get over it once she's seen that we're not romantically involved with the dark elf. I'm guessing most of it's brought on by anxiety due to the fact we're going to be separated from her soon.

>Training the Junior Novice for combat-readiness
He is/was a dog. Training him should be pretty easy if he's retained some of his doglike traits and gained reptilian empathy susceptibility.

>Practicing your Swordsmanship with the Moon-Sword
We've been getting our ass kicked in melee combat lately. I'd rather do some training to hopefully remedy that than anything else.
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while
>Reading your stolen spellbook, taken from the dead adventurer-mage at Bloodrise, to try to learn another spell

>Practicing your Swordsmanship with the Moon-Sword
We certainly need more macaronni and perhaps more cheese
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while

>Training the Junior Novice for combat-readiness
>>
>>5329583
>After some revelry with the Drow and catching-up with those in your retinue who you have not seen for a while
How are Pit guard and Pit apprentice?

>Trying out the new and improved Amulet of Dragonshape
>Learning more about the dark elves’ military and magical capabilities in a joint exercise
>>
>>5329845
>>5329829
>>5329819
>>5329710
>>5329634
>>5329622
>>5329591
You opt to postpone torpor for a spell longer, instead joining your warriors in some much-needed catching up. Though your race is not given to frivolous revelry, this in an elven community, and so revelry is necessarily involved. Granted, the outcast elves of this dark dungeon celebrate somewhat… Differently… Than their surface kin. They are more subdued and somber, not given to singing poetic sonnets or dancing gaily. Rather, they trade war-stories, reciting carefully-rhythmic or boldly-evocative accounts of battels against aberrant horrors from the deep or hated surface-scum come crawling down in naïve greed. When they dance, it is a blade-dance, a combat demonstration.

At each display which passes muster, they toast, and drink. Among your males, only you and Oluwadamilare the Archer join them in this; your warm blood inoculates you against IMEMDIATE intoxication, and you credit your size and mystically-augmented physiology for some of this as well.

The Degenerate is the first of those you left with whom you catch up. He landed the decisive blow against the Devourer, after all… And seems to have scored another victory.

“So… The leader of the elven garrison, then?” you ask, settling in next to him to clink chitin-cups and quaff—well, insofar as either of you can ‘quaff’ this deliberately-toxic mushroom-muck.

He chuckles, a human sound despite himself.

“She was eager to hear tales of our—your—victory. To tell them properly, she needed to learn some of our True Speech, and I some of her Dark Elvish. We made it work, and…”

“Yes,” you acknowledge, filling in the gaps. “The elves, and the leader here inn particular, seem a… Sensuous people. Easily taken in passion.”

“Warm blood,” the Degenerate Archer says, an explanation which sounds almost like an apology. “I apologize for… Fraternizing. But I suppose it proves my back and legs are healing well?”

How to you reply?
>Scold Oluwadamilare for his unprofessionalism and degeneracy
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means’
>Assert your claim to the Drow leader—‘dibs’, as a surfacer might say
>Confide your own mating-related dilemmas [specify if you speak of Glowie or the Novice, or both, or neither]

[Cont.]
>>
>>5329865
You next visit with the Pit Guard and his Apprentice. The Steeltalons hover further back than Oluwadamilare, though the Pit Guard has taken to accepting (and besting) many an elf of uncertain gender but distinctly male bravado and aggression in a contest of arm-strength. The Apprentice, while nearly a physical match to his senior, has for some reason decided to test his skill in games of chance and deceit; he, too, is holding his own, if less decisively. Eventually, the elven crowd thins out, and you take their place.

“Your shoulder mends well,” you comment upon the Pit Guard’s recovery and performance.

“I am using my weak arm,” he boasts. “These mammals are small, thin, weak. I can crush them even injured. But… Yes, my situation improves. I am once more ready to rejoin you.”

“And your Apprentice?” you ask.

The Pit Guard is quiet for a time, then shakes his head slightly.

“His injuries were the most severe,” he says. “The Degenerate is not so swift as he was, but will recover. My soreness is all but gone. Elf-healings aw to that. But the Apprentice… he can fight, but I suspect he will die if faced with a challenge which is the equal of that ‘Devourer’.”

You both watch the subject of your conversation playing another game. It involves a small pill-shaped crustacean, tucked under cups and moved about; he guesses its location, and fails, hissing and demanding another turn. Only after this game does he spot the two fo you speaking, and rush—with notable hobble—to your location.

“Superior One! The retinue tells me we are soon to leave these smelly, sweaty beasts and journey forth to glory and conquest! Is this true?”

How do you reply?
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>No, sadly, the Apprentice must remain here for now while the rest of you carry on

[Cont.]
>>
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>>5329866
Lastly, you visit with the Elf-Specialist, who seems almost despondent in his lethargy. He is utterly removed from the festivities, such as they are… But then, such activities are beneath a Serpent Priest like him, even WITHOUT the involvement of mammals.

“You know,” he begins as you approach, not waiting for you to speak first, “I admire elves, after a fashion. I know they are an inferior clade of creature, a lesser race, but of all the mammalian scum, they have the most majesty. Culture, legacy, long lives with which to refine these arts, magical ability…”

He sighs, and looks up at you briefly.

“These dark ones are all wrong,” he laments. “They have been separated so long, turned into shades of their former selves by isolation, degraded by circumstance… Their tongue does not flow like proper Elvish. Their beliefs are alien, even to me—and crude! They are obsessed with gender-concepts beyond rational, biological comprehension… With seasons utterly REMOVED from the surface-season they originally alluded to. And their CUISINE!”

He hisses lowly, tail flitting, head bowed and shoulders slumped.

“I hate it here,” he admits. “I wish to leave.”

How do you reply?
>Encourage him to make them BETTER< more like the elves he knows… Through the lens of the Dark Gods and Reptilian culture, of course
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
>Agree to bring him with you on your expedition to recruit the spiky-men, and thereafter to send him home—he is no longer needed here

[Cont., sort of]
>>
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>>5329868
[Locking for revelry, but leaving the other vote open, for tomorrow's activities as seen at >>5329583. Current tally attached.]

[I may not get a chance to post tomorrow morning, due to an early staff-meeting, so I hope this very character-heavy, robust update will suffice. I hope these character beats are at least sort of landing and not boring folks. Let me know if they aren't what you're here for, and I'll do less of them; likewise, if you want me to focus more on a specific character let me know.]
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means’
Based
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
your the fucking elf cuck do your ducking job
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means’
>Confide your own mating-related dilemmas [Novice]

>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him

>Encourage him to make them BETTER< more like the elves he knows… Through the lens of the Dark Gods and Reptilian culture, of course
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means’
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
But tell him frankly that we may have to leave him out of fights while he continues to heal. Frame it as pragmatism.
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
>>
>>5329865
>Assert your claim to the Drow leader—‘dibs’, as a surfacer might say
Dude…. dibs.

>>5329866
>Have the Novice look him over, see if she can fix him up
Sorry bud, your gonna need a medical checkup.
>>5329868
>Encourage him to make them BETTER< more like the elves he knows… Through the lens of the Dark Gods and Reptilian culture, of course
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
Mesh their cultures together, though the lens of the Darks Gods and Reptilian Supremacy, of course.
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means’
>Confide your own mating-related dilemmas [Both]

I want to do both because I think it’d be REALLY funny.

>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him

He’ll probably be fine as long as we don’t put him in the thick of it

>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
>>
>>5329865
I forgt to talk about the erctile dysfunction
>Confide your own mating-related dilemmas [Both… After heavy drinking]
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means’
>>5329866
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>>5329868
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
>>
>>5329868
>Assert your claim to the Drow leader—‘dibs’, as a surfacer might say
>Confide your own mating-related dilemmas [Both]
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>Encourage him to make them BETTER< more like the elves he knows… Through the lens of the Dark Gods and Reptilian culture, of course

>>5329869
>Purchasing bone-arrows and fungus-cut sheathes for your blades, however primitive they may be; maybe you will even find some other valuable equipment?
>Reading your stolen spellbook, taken from the dead adventurer-mage at Bloodrise, to try to learn another spell
>>
>>5329868
>Assert your claim to the Drow leader—‘dibs’, as a surfacer might say
>No, sadly, the Apprentice must remain here for now while the rest of you carry on
>Encourage him to make them BETTER< more like the elves he knows… Through the lens of the Dark Gods and Reptilian culture, of course
>>
>>5329865
>Assert your claim to the Drow leader—‘dibs’, as a surfacer might say
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, but assert your claim to the Drow leader—‘dibs’, as a surfacer might say
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>Agree to bring him with you on your expedition to recruit the spiky-men, and thereafter to send him home—he is no longer needed here

>>5329869
>Junior and spellbook
>>
Can i respectfully request why you all want to call dibs on the drow despite a majority of non-flirt votes? What's your plan, piss off a useful team member where we can score some free points with him just by patting his back and say "congratulations"? Do you plan to hoard females?
>>
>>5330006
>gets knocked out in his first real fight
>‘useful’
Somehow, I don’t think he’ll mind even if he does.
>>
>>5330006
>Do you plan to hoard females?
>>
>>5330006
>wants to be a true dragon
>is anti-hoarding
Honestly? I’ve got nothing against Oly here, I just see this as a test run before we meet the Drow Queen. Way I figure, what with the fuckin surface elves being more populated that both our races combined, we’re probably gonna need to unify this alliance into a proper polity, one unified kingdom of sorts if we want any chance of getting the Age of Scales back.
>"congratulations"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oyFQVZ2h0V8
>>
>>5330006
I just want to feel a bit evil for once. We’ve been playing goodie-two-shoes altruist for the majority of this ‘anti-Paladin’ quest, and while I don’t disagree with the majority of the choices we’ve made, I expected us to be more evil, or at least to have more active character flaws that lean in that direction. Izzy was such a morally dubious character, and her flirting with questionable moral decisions was part of what made the quest exciting.
>>
>>5329865
>Compliment his taste, and authorize his continued ‘diplomacy by other means
>>5329866
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
Still gotta recover and not be in the middle of a fight, but that doesn't mean he can't help even then
>>5329868
>Point out the virtues of their culture—pragmatism, warfare, utilitarian ideals, adaptability—and encourage him to emphasize these in his teachings
Should we send him home once we're done with the dark elves on this mission? I hate losing party members, but even then he'll be done with his job by that point.
>>5329869
Check that spellbook!
>>
>>5329865
>Scold Oluwadamilare for his unprofessionalism and degeneracy
He should keep his dick tales to himself.
>>5329866
>Yes… You shall all be leaving soon, including him
>>5329868
>Ask about the cursed cuisine
>Agree to bring him with you on your expedition to recruit the spiky-men, and thereafter to send him home—he is no longer needed here
>>5330006
Coomers. Don't believe their lies or you'll feel silly the second they fu- well they already lost our virginity to a human-sized worm. Do you need any further proof?
>>
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>>5329873
>>5329874
>>5329875
>>5329878
>>5329879
>>5329882
>>5329942
>>5329987
>>5329995
>>5330001
>>5330004
>>5330040
>>5329845
>>5329829
>>5329819
>>5329710
>>5329634
>>5329622
>>5329591
[Votes are in and locked, tally attached, post incoming! The next actual VOTE may not be up until after work, though, sorry!]
>>
>>5330041
>>5330074
You reach out tentatively, uncertain of yourself and of the gesture… And clap Oluwadamilare on the shoulder. He looks a little confused, even alarmed, until her realizes what you are doing.

“I compliment you on your taste, Archer,” you tell him. “Your diplomatic inroads are appreciated, and formally approved. Is such diplomacy not part of why the Serpent Priests permit, even occasionally command, the creation of the Degenerates?”

“I… Suppose so. You have my gratitude, Superior One.”

He looks about, and notes: “I see no sign of her, however.”

You nod towards Jazkarmel’s quarters, where you and Glowie left her.

“Just do not distract her TOO much,” you order him. “She is attending to an important magical matter on my behalf.”

A smile slowly spreads across the half-human’s face, and he bows his head low in respect and thankfulness, then stands and departs the party to visit his… Mate? Lover? WIFE? You aren’t really clear on these matters. ‘Wife’ seems wrong.

You remain seated for a time, watching the Drow at play, and ruminating on your own such female-related troubles.
>>
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>>5330076
>>5330074
As for the other members of your retinue, you opt to bring one, but not yet the other.

You tell the Pit Guard’s Apprentice that he must visit the Novice immediately, to receive medical attention.

“IF she authorizes it,” you tell him, “you will be allowed to accompany us.”

You can sense the relief wash over him. When you’d first told the Apprentice that a medical examination and further healing as necessary, he’d thought he was to be left behind. A part of you still wodners if that should not have been the case…

“BE aware,” you thus add, “that I am NOT authorizing you to charge into the thick of battle or to take unnecessary risks. Be pragmatic, sensible. DO not put yourself or our expedition at risk. You still have recovering to do.”

The Apprentice bows low, and mumbles solemn thanks.

This conversation, in turn, informs your approach to the Elf-Specialist.

“The Drow are not necessarily a lesser elf,” you tell him. “Think of this, Holy One: in being driven down into the dark, reduced in number, forced to cling together, our OWN race was in some ways made ‘lesser’, yes? But in other ways, we grow stronger for it.”

The older, wlite male scoffs at this notion, before remembering his place and lowering his eyes, whispering hissed apologies.

“Pragmatism,” you note. “Aggression to their foes, utilitarianism in their dealings, adaptability to difficult conditions… All of these are virtues that these ‘dark elves’ may evince over and above those of their surface-cousins, as I see it. Do you not agree?”

The Elf-Specialist seems unconvinced, but has no logical counterargument—or is unwilling to present it, perhaps, when you are so clearly building to a point.

“Continue to proselytize them,” you say, “but do so with THESE virtues in mind, not those of their hated enemies. Perhaps you will find them more receptive… And find value in the, in the end.”

“…As you command, Dragonborn.”
>>
Rolled 20, 1, 20 = 41 (3d20)

>>5330089
>>5330074
The next day, you wake with a slight ringing in your head, and a strange ache to accompany it. You drink deeply from your water-skin—or, well, as deeply as you dare, now that you are once more in a region where water is a precious commodity. It helps, a little. Mushroom wine has its dangerous after-effects, apparently, even in such small quantities as you consumed!

you set about preparing for the journey ahead, to meet with the dark creepers, spiky-men, or barbed devils. This entails two things, for you, above all else. The first: study of the spellbook which you confiscated from the human mage in the village below the Bloodrise. The second: further training of the Junior Novice, to make the strange chimera battle-ready.

The first is slow going, until you recruit Translator and Novice to aid you. The former helps to make heads-or-tails of the contents, converting the human glyphs surrounding the magical diagrams into something more intelligible to a right-minded Reptilian. The latter… Well, as you told her, you appreciate the Serpent priestess’ intellect and ability, and this includes her grasp of novel magical theory.

“Bah!” she hisses, tail slapping the stone irritably. “This magic is all… Elementalism. Crude, human magic. But… Outside my aptitude.”

“But not unlike my use of flame magic,” you note, blowing a small smoke ring for emphasis.

She huffs, but nods, and acknowledges: “I cannot cast it, but I may be able to help YOU to utilize some of this. Human magic for a part-human.”

You are glad the Translator has left to attend to other matters by this time, but you still glower at her. She rattles quietly, delighting in raising your ire. You sigh, and turn your attention back to your studies, as your enemy-turned-tutor instructs you in the gestures and strange chanting necessary to help summon, channel, and manipulate the raw forces of the elements.
>>
>>5330096
Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit

Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit

Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit

Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit

Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit

Double Crit
>Double Crit
Double Crit
>Double Crit
>>
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>>5330100
>>5330096
>20, 20
>+1 Elementalism
To your amazement, the magic comes… NATURALLY to you, almost without effort. The Novice Fleshweaver plainly is shocked by this as well, and openly resentful.

“W-well, it’s the monkey brain matching the monkey magic,” she seethes. “You know, it’s not as useful as it at first appears! Any amount of mentalism can easily distract a so-called ‘blaster-caster’ from—”

“Jealousssss,” you hiss quietly, with no small smugnesss.

She crosses her arms and glares at you… But you sense her quiet admiration as you master the basics—and even some of the intermediate theory—in the course of your long study. Eventually, you can cast…

[Choose two spells to learn them at a basic level, or one to master more completely]
>Burning Hands
>Wall of Flame
>Cone of Cold
>Lightning Bolt
>Wall of Stone
>Moonbeam
>Chromatic Orb [requires you learn no other spell]
>>
>>5330102
>Wall of Stone
>Moonbeam

Although I can get behind
>Chromatic Orb

the versatility of tremor, coupled with wall of stone ability to prepare terrain will be useful. And moonbeam is radiant, which complement nicely our fire breath.
>>
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>>5330102
>Cone of Cold
>Master
This is my favorite spell ever. And being a dual elementalist is underrated.
>>
>>5330102
>Wall of Stone
>Moonbeam
>>
>>5330110
+1 to Wall of stone and moon beam, I am also impartial to chromatic orb just so we have all those different elemental attacks, very dragon and very shaman to hoard the elements imo
>>
Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d3)

>>5330102
>Wall of Stone
Goes well with Earth Tremor!
>Moonbeam
Goes well with magic moonsword!
>Lightning Bolt
Goes well with copper!

I'll let my dice decide.
>>
>>5330201
So no Lightning Bolt then, ah well
>>
>>5330113
>Cone of Cold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayLOmEgPQt8
>>
>>5330102
>Moonbeam
>Moonbeam

MOON DRAGOOOOOOON!
>>
>>5330102
>Wall of Stone
>Moonbeam
>>
>>5330102
based
>>
>>5330102
>Wall of stone
>Cone of cold
We have SO MANY APPLICATIONS FOR ALL THOSE SPELLS
>>
>>5330102
>Moonbeam
>Lightning Bolt
>>
>>5330102
>Chromatic Orb [requires you learn no other spell]
But since that’ll never happen.

>Wall of Flame
>Moonbeam
I wanted to meme Firebending since the beginning of the quest.
>>
>>5330102
>Cone of Cold
>Moonbeam
>>
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>>5330795
>>5330484
>>5330371
>>5330347
>>5330338
>>5330204
>>5330202
>>5330201
>>5330200
>>5330121
>>5330113
>>5330110
The first spell you gain control of is almost more of an augmentation to an existing one: whereas before you could channel mana to set the earth to <tremoring> with a stomp and an invocation, now the same gesture—couples with a few flourishes of your hands, can erect a spire or block of stone—even a full <Wall of Stone>, with focus. The strength of the material seems at least partly dependent on the nature of the rock beneath your feet, but the text suggest—and the Novice confirms—that it should be possible to form stone even from loose loam or fine sand with focus and effort. The strategic opportunities abound, delighting your inner tactician!

The second spell, however, is entirely novel. You were drawn immediately to the name, which seemed so serendipitous to your legendary elven blade: the <Moonbeam>. You struggle but briefly with the gestures necessary to cast it, and the idiosyncrasies of aiming it. The spell is not a projected beam of force from none’s hands, but rather involves calling a radiant ray DOWN, as if from the sky above; it works even in these dark caverns, requiring no actual moon light to speak of, but the distances and trajectories involved mean you miss the rocks you are using as target practice more often than not… Until an idea strikes.

You focus the magic, and at the same time take a deep breath, filling your fire-lung with oxygen. You make the gestures, tilted ninety degrees, and aim you hands forward rather than down, and you exhale at the same time. A strange, unsettling tingling follows the flow of mana from your mana-rich organ, out of your mouth and in the direction you point. The Novice yelps as you BREATHE a ray of concentrated white light, which sets a targeted rock to shimmering… And then, a moment later, explodes it into glittering shrapnel.

You both just stare at the result.

“You are a freak of alchemy, Dragonborn,” the Novice says. “Too weird to live.”

“Much too rare to die, though,” you note. “And too powerful to slay.”

“Thanks to my tutelage,” she sniffs.

“Yes,” you readily acknowledge.

She freezes, taken off-guard again.

“Let us have some food,” you propose, taking a seat. “I am exhausted.”

She joins you, as does Glowie—back from being shown her ‘quarters’ for the weeks ahead by a cadre of trusted dark elves.
>>
Rolled 7, 11, 16, 15, 9 = 58 (5d20)

>>5330885
Missed your vote, but I'm afraid Moonbeam and Wall of Stone still had the lead anyway.

>>5330896
You tell her of your magical exploits, and the bug-woman applauds you softly, and expresses her delight at your new ability to ‘glow’ just as she does.

“My king is… Magnificent,” she says, leaning against you as you eat.

The Novice scoffs, saying: “You give him too much credit. It’s the hormones—encouraging cooperation with a male invested in your offspring. When your pregnancy is done, your eggs laid, you’ll see he’s not SO great.”

Glowie hums happily, and shakes her head, content in your self-evident greatness. The Novice sighs, and shakes her own head in disappointment and surrender to Glowie’s unquestioning affection.

When the meal is done, and your energy is refreshed—albeit not to the level of being able to cast further spells just yet, you set about the business of training the Junior Novice. The creature is more obedient and loyal than he has been since being magically augmented, but his aggression thus far seems limited to attempts to drive away threats—it does not extend to disciplined combat-readiness. That will need to change.

“Unchain him,” you command.

“This is stupid,” the Novice says frankly.

“Careful!” Glowie cautions, shying away and assuming a crouched stance, as if readying to bolt away—or closer, to aid you.

You insist, and the Novice frees the creature. You draw no baled, but you assume your own battle-stance, as if for sparring or wrestling, and beckon the beastly thing forwards. Junior hesitates to charge you, not quite understanding what you are doing and perhaps fearful to aggravate or challenge you. Determined to test the creature’s mettle, you reach out with your Presence…
>>
Rolled 12, 11, 14 = 37 (3d20)

>>5330899
>16
…And Junior understands your game, your challenge: prove worthiness as a hunter, and loyalty as a subordinate, and he may remain unchained. It might strike the females as a risky gamble, but you have seen his rate of growth—he is nearly the size of a Dragonblooded One now and, if his continues to grow, may exceed a Steeltalon in size before long. The chain will be useless, then, at least when not held in the claws of a handler much larger and stronger than the Novice. You MUST establish a rapport beyond it, to keep this thing in check.

The two of you circle for a while longer, and then the Junior Novice leaps, lunging and screeching.
>>
>>5330900
>14
This being’s strength is… Prodigious, unexpected. Unable or unwilling to hold back, Junior throws himself at you with all the savagery of actual battle. You are pounced upon and, despite attempting to maintain your footing and force your opponent into a hold, you find yourself driven onto your back. You are slashed and gouged by claws at the creature shrieks and whoops above you, and you shield your face. You force the Junior Novice back as you stand by repeatedly sending small sparks of mana to the Ring of Protection on your hand to force it back with the protective bubble thus manifested.

“Not bad…” you note, rubbing your face. You sort of wish you’d brought your helm.

The Junior Novice chatters and shrieks, but you sense the defiant roar of a dragon somewhere inside it—challenge in the tone. It sinks low, and circles again, and you see a desperate need to please and prove in the Junior Novice’s eyes turn to a realization (however mistaken) that if he could BEST you, HE would be top-of-the-food-chain.

Ah, the draconic need to dominate. You recognize some of yourself in those eyes.

What do you do?
>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
>Commend the mutated being; throw it some meat, and attempt to soothe and clam it
>Call upon the Novice and Glowie for aid, and reshackle the thing before it can escape or hurt anyone—or get any more big ideas [lowest DC, will lessen your relationship with the Junior Novice]
>Use the very last of your mana to cast a spell [which one?]
>Write in
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]

Yeah, I don't trust us beating this thing through fisticuffs. It would be badass if we did, but if we lost we would lose all the progress we made with the Junior Novice and embarrass ourselves.
>>
>>5330910
>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]

Fuck you we dragon
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
>>
>>5330910
>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]
Dat fisticuffs buff is mighty tasty.
>>
>>5330910
>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength, augmented by Fearsome Presence [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]
If that fails
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
God, why do we always get cucked on the combat rolls?
>>
>>5330910
>>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]
Let us see who pounds hardest.
>>
>>5330910
>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]
>>
>>5330910
>use amulet
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
We are still healing, by the by.
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]

Life isn’t fair, and neither is this contest
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]

"They expect me to play fairly. We aren't even playing the same game."
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
>>
>>5330910
>Attempt to best it fairly, through skill and strength [victory will boost Fisticuffs; highest DC]
>>
>>5330910
>Activate your amulet, and defeat it through intimidation and augmented physiology [lower DC]
Fuck fairness, we are THE Dragon here!
>>
Rolled 13, 17, 3, 14, 10, 20, 11, 10 = 98 (8d20)

>>5331257
>>5331234
>>5331174
>>5331132
>>5331120
>>5331028
>>5331019
>>5331010
>>5330992
>>5330950
You ARE the Dragon here—this creature is a mere peon, a mutant side-project intended to test out alchemical approaches that will ultimately serve to better YOUR physiology. You’re not sure what game this Junior Novice thinks he is playing, but he’s wrong—this is YOUR game, and he is but a piece in it. Besides, you are only freshly healed.

All this is to say: you channel the last of your mana into activating your amulet, and transforming into your <Improved Dragonshape>.

[DC 10 for intimidate (5d20) DC 10 for combat (3d20)]
>>
>>5331333
>4 success out of 5 for intimidate
>3 success including a crit out of 3 for combat

The dice god agreed with our decisions boys. This is the time we swear paladinship to Snake Daddy
>>
>>5331337
>>5331333
You clench your talons in to fists, spread your legs to brace yourself, and let loose a roar of rage and exertion as the magic overtakes and transforms you. Your amulet glows blood red as your skin bubbles and boils, liquefying and rehardening in an instant. You are plated in bronze scales and scutes, where once there was brassy, pinkish skin with only fine scales. Your horns lengthen, your jaw extends, your muscles densify and expand. Your tail slams against the ground, and it cracks beneath you. It is lucky you thought tor remove your armour beforehand—you must stand nearly twelve feet tall now.

>17

Almost instantaneously, the Junior Novice is aware of his error. He turns tail and begins to run…

>20

But he is too slow for your heightened physicality. You are upon him in an instant, with what feels to you like almost no effort. You lift and throw him as if he was a dummy, filled with feathers or some other stuffing; he lands with far harder impact. Befroe he an even orient himself, you are atop him again, legs to either side of him, claws, upon his throat, pinning him to the ground.

“YIELD,” you command, with the full force of the Fearsome Presence behind you.

Junior yelps. You slam him into the stone.

He urinates, wetting himself.

He yields.

You release him at last, turning to face the others as you begin to come down from the unexpected adrenaline-high of the initial <Augmented Dragonshape>. The Novice Fleshweaver is looking at you in a disturbed awe, and as soon as it registers what has happened, she scrambles to her nearby pack to extract a small tome and a piece of charcoal, to take notes.

Glowie is looking at you as if beholding a miracle—no, a GOD.

You take a slow breath, and allow the intoxicating power of this transformation to leave you. The molting process which follows is prolonged, but you have both of your companions to help. They peel away the shedding skin, which dissolves almost as soon as the armoured epidermis is stripped away. The Novice frantically picks and pries at it, taking further notations; Glowie's hands linger on you. Throughout it all, the Junior Novice neither flees nor takes the opportunity to strike; he is cowed, dominated, subordinated. Better yet, he showed he can fight, and be controlled without chains.
>>
>>5331349
The day has been a taxing one, however. This last exertion utilized the very last of your energy. Torpor calls to you, and you follow its missive. While the Novice attends to healing the Junior Novice’s wounds and re-chaining him (on general principal, you suppose), Glowie guide you through the Drow encampment and too an adjacent cavern where you have never been.

You gestures to herself, and explains: “Staying here. This is my place, for while you are away.”

It’s rather bare in and of itself, but most caverns are. She has ‘decorated’ it with a sort of hammock of spun silk, slightly sticky to the touch and faintly luminescent in the gloom, strung between two pillars. It is this to which she guides you and, overexerted and feeling an instinctive pull towards the finer things in that particular moment, you accept.

Then, to your surprise, she joins you. She shucks aside her cltohign and clambers atop you.

“Glowie,” you say firmly, “I said thatw e wouldn’t—”

She shakes her head frantically, and says: “Don’t want to mate. Just… Be with you. Hold you. SLEEP with you.”

The augmented Fearsome Presence must have had quiet an effect! Or… Was it your time spent with Jazkarmel and the Novice, and apart from Glowie, coupled with your imminent departure? The worm princess HAS been acting rather odd.

She curls her tail around you before you can respond, pressed her body to you, even wraps her thick thighs around one of your legs as she buries herself into your chest. The hammock sways back and forth, only settling when she is done. You shift and extract yourself, but she just clinsg tighter, and the hammock’s mvoements disorient you.

You begin to admonish her: “Glowie—”

“I love you,” she says quietly.

You stop short of what you intended to say, not sure you heard her right.

How do you respond?
>As a right-minded Reptilian, you do not feel this weak and irrational emotion called ‘love’ [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>Gods damn it… You love her, too [soft route-locks Glowie rejection and betrayal options]
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
>Write-in
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]

I appeal the lurkers. We need to fight bugsquashing degeneracy.
>>
>>5331363
[I don't know how many lurkers I have here, but a surge of 1post IDs without backlinks will throw up red flags.]
>>
>>5331367
Its thrown up red flags way back when people were deciding to fuck her or not. Some people are just stupid ya know?
"Oh her feelings are hurt let's fuck her."
"Oh no she said I love you what do we so?"
Pretty shameful really. Some anons cant commit to their spaghetti.
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>Offer to cuddle with her for the night at least.
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>Offer to cuddle with her for the night at least.
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]

Euroanon here, finally around to vote while not having just woken up.
Glowie is good anons but think about the OG tsundere cheeks.
Might want to keep this vote open for a while chief
>>
>>5331404
>>5330371
>>5329819
This is me, I'm outside right now (shocking, I know)
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>Offer to cuddle with her for the night at least.
>Fuck her and jiggle the fuck out of that fat ass one last time.

>>5330920
Last vote and I’m thicc anon
>>
>>5331351
We dragon dickmatized her
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
>>
>>5331351
>As a right-minded Reptilian, you do not feel this weak and irrational emotion called ‘love’ [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
>>
>>5331460
>>5331367
I'm your resident autist, that everyone hates.
>>
>>5331386
[That's fine. People can embrace or reject any alliance, romance option, etcetera. I'm not one to get chapped about such things, and I don't olan to judge their rationale for the chocie they make. My inly concern is people trying to tilt the vote by fraudulently inflating their side's count.

The only big influx of 1post IDs we've seen WAS on the Glowie sex vote. The side with all the 1post IDs lost, so it didn't end up being a huge issue, but I just want it noyed that I am keeping a close eye on this one.]
>>
>>5331351
>>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]
Novice is cute, not gonna lie. I'm staunchly anti-Glowie but I'd go in for this.
>GTFO

Also for the record I was one of the 1-post-by-this-IDs during the sex vote because I was on vacation and constantly switching IPs.
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
>>
Glowie deserves a cuddle after getting rejected. As long as she doesn’t try to rape us at night it’s fine.
>>
>>5331351
>value glowie luv novice
>>
>>5331574
She deserves cock after. pregnant women are the freakiest because of the hormones she’ll be screaming to the mother of dragon while we jiggle that ass
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti
>Gods damn it… You love her, too [soft route-locks Glowie rejection and betrayal options]
I still remember the Mother of Dragon’s words, about making the Reptilians accept Glowie as our Queen in order to bring her back to the Master Race.
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]
>Offer to cuddle with her for the night at least.
I hate to break her heart but weve been very clear about our stance
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
I’ll come out of lurking for this vote.
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
I’d support giving her a parting fuck if the non-romance options win.
>>
>>5331351
>Fuck her and jiggle the fuck out of that fat ass one last time.

Know what seeing the reactions to the parting fuck would be too funny add it
>>
>>5331351
>Write-in
I love you Glowie.
>>
her pussy was literally made for us let’s jiggle it atleast one more time and fill the cave with clapping sounds
>>
>>5331775
[That's already a default option, but noted!]
>>
>>5331351
>Fuck her and jiggle the fuck out of that fat ass
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this
Frankly if the love option had more support I would go for it.
>>
>>5331351
>>5331634
You can consider me supporting the spaghetti vote, but if that fails
>Offer to cuddle with her for the night at least.
>Fuck her and jiggle the fuck out of that fat ass one last time
>>
>>5331351
>Spill spaghetti and get the fuck out of here, you were NOT prepared for this

OR

>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options.

Fucking coomer degenerates, glowie is not a person she is some horrific mutant flesh crafted bug monster. And very soon unless novice finds a way too adjust it. Her form won't even look normal after her cocooning and metamorphosis. At that point any further fraternizing will be seen as down right bizarre.

Also we don't want to be giving our retinue the same wrong idea that we gave the kobalds. About glowie being our mate, by being seen too close together.
>>
>>5331351
>You value Glowie as a FRIEND, but you think you LOVE the Novice Fleshweaver [route-locks Glowie romance options]

It’s the truth anons - you all know it!
>>
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>>5331896
>>5331894

Your heart is hammering, your mind seized. You’d almost think Glowie had bitten you, injected you with her venom, for the variety of unexpected physiological and psychological phenomena now besetting you.

“I… What?”

“I love you,” she repeats, softly. “When you come back, will be in cocoon… Or changed, grown. When I do not look like this… We may not be able to be like this.”

She squeezes you a little tighter, for emphasis, and hums.

“Your Glowie wants to enjoy every moment with her Dragonborn… To hold you, feel you. And… To let you know how I feel, before you go, just… Just in case you do not like me anymore when you come back.”

She nuzzles into your chest, taking deep wafts of you, rubbing her hands over you, and sighs happily… And then begins that soft, evocative hum.

“Recognize that smell, when you want to mate,” she murmurs. “I do not need any more sperm, but if you want to…. For you… Glowie is ready, to serve her king.”

She takes your hand, guiding it down her body, to feel that she is, indeed… ‘Ready’. You, in turn, panic, pulling away from her so swiftly that you both topple painfully out of the hammock and to the stone floor. Glowie looks at you questioningly as you pry yourself out of her coiling tail and stumble backwards.

“The… That is… I already… The journey tomorrow will be taxing and I… Rest is important in any military or diplomatic…”

You both just stare at each other in silence for a moment.

“I’m going to… Leave now.”

Glowie tilts her head slightly, but doesn’t say anything. Her body language, all wrong for a Reptilian is difficult to read. Her face, a purplish mirror of the Novice’s, is unreadable. You aren’t sure if she’s sad, or shocked, or angry. You don’t wait around to find out, but turn on heel and leave to recuperate where the rest of your forces are taking their own torpor.

The Novice is still awake when you return, writing still more notes on the discoveries and ongoing experiments of the expedition. She looks up as you approach, alerted by your almost jogging gate.

“I thought you were staying with the worm?” she asks.

You say nothing, simply laying down next to your pack and closing your eyes. The Novice does not press, either out of respect for your privacy or (more likely) being too deep in her own project even to mock you. It takes a while, but eventually, you find your rest, though it is troubled by certain frustrations. At least it is blissfully dreamless, as it should be.
>>
>>5331914
When you wake, you gather your retinue—sans Glowie and the Elf-Specialist, who are to remain here, with the Drow. The Elf-Specialist nevertheless turns up to see you off… But Glowie does not. You are, however, joined by both the Pit Guards AND his Apprentice, whom the Novice clears for duty.

“Though he is suboptimal, he can fight,” she explains. “His death could serve important tactical functions, such as a distraction, or delaying a pursuer.”

You decide it is probably best not to put him on your front line.

A small cadre of drow have joined you, as well, including Jazkarmel herself, who arrives with Oluwadamilare. Both look… Relaxed. After your troubled slumber, you cannot help but envy them a little. You focus on matters of greater import, however.

“Are you joining us on our expedition?” you ask the Drow leader.

She laughs, a pretty sound, and shakes her head.

“No, not coming. Would if could, but elves need me here—protecting home. But bring back your magic things!”

She presents your cloak and your belt.

“The cloak is protective spell—”

The Degenerate whispers something to her.

“Ah, the cloak HAS a protective spell. Serves almost like armour! Very useful, but cannot really replace HEAVY armour, like you have… And does not add much additional protection if already wearing armour. And protects against magic a little, MORE than big metal suit.”

You eye it with interest. Something that offers the protection of light or medium armour without the weight of it… That is still quite interesting.
>>
>>5331916
“And the belt?”

“Belt is for power of body. Wear it, become linked to it, and it will make you faster, stronger…”

THAT is just unequivocally useful. You immediately put the belt back on. You can only imagine what that will mean for your <Amulet-Augmented Dragonshape>, already immensely more powerful than your natural form.

“Careful!” she cautions. “Use it and can affect mind, too. Maybe drive you into… Frenzy.”

Ah, yes. It WAS worn by the berserk one in the horned helmet, wasn’t it? That explains his odd behaviour… And the ferocity and effectiveness with which he fought.

What do you do with the cloak?
>Wear it instead of your armour
>Wear it AND your armour
>Gift it to someone [who?]

What do you do with the belt?
>Wear it, and use it freely
>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only
>Do not wear it
>Gift it to someone [who?]

As you consider the matter of your equipment, the dark elf leader continues, explaining: “Will send few scouts, five, to show support and aid if things are bad. When alliance is made, we will discuss how many you need for BIG battle against dwarves.”

“It is appreciated,” you reply.

Do you have any other matters to attend to before you leave the Drow camp?
>Give a speech to the crowd of Drow, touting the greatness of this alliance and preaching the value of the Dark Gods
>Spend some of your hoard to trade for weapons and armour for your retinue
>Go find Glowie, to clear the air
>Take some mushroom-wine for the road—or to trade, perhaps
>Something else [what?]
>No, let’s just go
>>
>>5331916
>“His death could serve important tactical functions, such as a distraction, or delaying a pursuer.”
Kek, based Novice.

>Gift it to someone [who?]
The Archer.
>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only

>Give a speech to the crowd of Drow, touting the greatness of this alliance and preaching the value of the Dark Gods
>Take some mushroom-wine for the road—or to trade, perhaps
>>
>>5331917

>Gift it to someone [Paeris]
He's been doing well. I like that guy.
>Gift it to someone [Junior Novice]
He's going to be a fucking monster of the battlefield with this. Just gotta make sure to show him who's boss every once in a while.
>Go find Glowie, to clear the air
It's really funny how we always spill our spaghetti first when making a Glowie decision but we should really settle this before we leave. Don't want her to hold a grudge when we get back.
>>
>>5331919
>Junior Novice
You mean the feral monster who just challenged our authority? That's who we should give the "become really strong and insane" belt to? Also, can it even wear belts?
>>
>>5331917
>Gift it to someone [Paeris]

>Gift it to someone [Junior Novice]

>Go find Glowie, to clear the air

>Give a speech to the crowd of Drow, touting the greatness of this alliance and preaching the value of the Dark Gods

WHY ARE WE SUCH A VIRIGN WE ALREADY JIGGLED SOME FAT ASSSSSSSSSSS. REJECT HER THEN PUT HER INTO A DICK COMA TO MAKE HER HAPPY AGAIN THAT WAS THE IDEAL ACTION YOU KEKS.
>>
>>5331923
>Also, can it even wear belts?
[Yes, he is roughly humanoid in body-plan.]
>>
>>5331923
Yes. Him. Make him into an unstoppable fucking berserker on the battlefield. As long as we occasionally show dominance shouldn’t be a problem.
>>
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>>5331927
>REJECT HER THEN PUT HER INTO A DICK COMA TO MAKE HER HAPPY AGAIN THAT WAS THE IDEAL ACTION YOU KEKS.
May or may not work, but her own sex drive, having been impregnated, is directly tied to yours. More hornyposting makes for horny Dragonborn and thus horny bug, IF I think it will be funny or emotionally-satisfying.
>>
>>5331932
Jesus Christ our Dragonborn is going to have a perpetual boner. Thiccanon is probably responsible for at least half of them
>>
>>5331932
So you're literally letting the 3 horny Akun players dictate the whims of the quest? What about everybody who doesn't want the MC to have a perpetual boner?
>>
>>5331932
based
>>
>>5331938
To be fair QM did say it was only if they thought it was funny or emotionally interesting. Pretty sure he’s mostly memeing.
>>
>>5331935
[Don't worry, see >>5331938. That's about right. I don't have it in me to describe dumptruck asses in every post, so I won't be. Though a possible solution might be to either meditate it away, keep voting against sexual options, or find an outlet.]
>>
>>5331956
[Rather, >>5331938 see >>5331943. This is what I get for tryi g to address a concern by phone while watching The Boys' finale.]
>>
>>5331999
Do you like ass?
>>
>>5332019
[Not enough to dedicate a quest to ogling and pursuing it. I brought up dumptruck asses because it's our resident horndog's favourite fixation]
>>
>>5331927
I'm sorry anon, but did you ever bang someone post-nut yourself wasn't thrilled about? Getting the "I love you from such a person" makes you nope really hard and smacking it again only makes it worse
>>
>>5332030
I don’t think that far
>>
>>5331917

>Wear it AND your armour


What do you do with the belt?

>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only


>mushroom wine
>>
>>5331917
Cloak :
>Gift it to someone [Novice]

Belt :
>Gift it to someone [Junior Novice]

>Go find Glowie, to clear the air
What won the vote? Spaghetti or Novice love?
>>
>>5332039
If it had been Novice love, I'd have included it in the MC's internal monologue. The spaghetti plate was a deliberate choice. Sorry, I will be more clear in the future!
>>
>>5331938
how common is it for people really do this shit
>>
>>5331917
>Wear it instead of your armour
>Do not wear it
>No, let’s just go
>>
>>5331917
>Gift it to someone
Novice. She's the weakest on our team.
Oor armor is too royal to replace it.
>Do not wear it
I don't want us or any of our companions to get brain damage.
>Spend some of your hoard to trade for weapons and armour for your retinue
Did we get those bone arrows?
>>
>>5331938
It's sad, but RQM just doesn't give a fuck about coomers.
>>5332044
Every quest, unironically.
>>
>>5331917
>Wear it AND your armour
>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only
>Give a speech to the crowd of Drow, touting the greatness of this alliance and preaching the value of the Dark Gods
>Take some mushroom-wine for the road—or to trade, perhaps
You all know Junior is just gonna get unmanageable with the belt. Stronger AND frenzied outta his mind? It’ll backfire HARD on us.
>>
>>5331917
>Wear it instead of your armour
Just imagine using our Augmented Dragonshape without tearing apart our armor.
>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only
Literally Hulk mode. We can recreate the Avengers!
>Give a speech to the crowd of Drow, touting the greatness of this alliance and preaching the value of the Dark Gods
>Go find Glowie, to clear the air
>Take some mushroom-wine for the road—or to trade, perhaps
I’d like to apologize to Glowie for ruining her night. We should handled it better.
>>
>>5332178
A team to Avenge the Dark Gods and the Master Race? That sounds ballin’ as fuck my nigga, take my +1!
>>
>>5331917
>Wear it AND your armour

>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only

>Give a speech to the crowd of Drow, touting the greatness of this alliance and preaching the value of the Dark Gods
>Take some mushroom-wine for the road—or to trade, perhaps
I do feel sorry for Glowie. A princess solely created to bear hybrid offspring of a love unreciprocated. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
>>
>>5331917
>Gift it to someone [who?]
The Thief
>Wear it, and use it sparingly, for emergencies only
After the first time, we decide if we keep it or gift it
>Take some mushroom-wine for the road—or to trade, perhaps
Alcohol... always a useful bartering tool...
>Go find Glowie, to clear the air
NO GRUDGES DAMNIT
>Spend some of your hoard to trade for weapons and armour for your retinue
How well equipped are we, really? Those dwarves must be serious if they fucked up that scouting party before
>>
>>5332044
It's very uncommon if the QM puts a hard stop to it and very frequent if the QM doesn't.
>>
>>5332212
>>5332196
>>5332178
>>5332143
>>5332136
>>5332062
>>5332039
>>5332038
>>5331927
>>5331919
>>5331918
There are a lot of things you’d LIKE to do before you leave, but actually DOING them… Well, that is where the difficulty lies. A speech for the Drow—to commemorate this grand alliance, to build excitement for the coming conflict against the dwarves, to further preach the virtuous True Faith of the Dark Gods—that would be a grand thing, yes. But do you understand enough of their tongue? DO most of these warriors understand YOURS? Would it carry the same impact with the Translator or Elf-Specialist serving as intermediary?

And Glowie… Wherever she is… Well, you don’t wish to engender any troublesome grudges. You honestly feel a little odd—‘supoptimal’, as the Novice would say—about how you left things between the two of you. But what would you even say? What does a pregnant bug-monster want to HEAR from the Reptilian she… ‘Loves’? No, maybe some space and solitude would be best for the both of you… At least until after this great conflict is attended to, and she is done her own ‘work’ of transformation and egg-laying.

You trade a fraction of your accumulated hoard for that deep, blood-red mushroom-wine, instead. It is a heady cocktail, and a unique export. While you cannot stomach much, it DOES produce an interesting effect… And more importantly, you know well the effects of such soporific beverages upon mammals, and how the liquid can serve as a social and diplomatic lubricant. This could prove useful for winning over those mysterious spiky scavengers!

The Drow, more in need of actual goods than precious metals, drive a hard bargain in the exchange for their wine. You part with more of your hoard than you would have expected, and more than you’d like, but your holdings remain tremendous to such a degree that you are able to tamp down your instinctive greed. You instead rationalize it as another cost of diplomacy—a way to demonstrate the tangible rewards of cooperation with your race.
>>
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>>5332246
And on the subject of the rewards… there is the matter of the belt and the cloak. The Berseker’s Belt, you keep. However, you deem it best to save it for emergency use only. In this regard, it is better that you have it than anyone else—you are confident in your ability to master yourself more than any other, if a mad rage does indeed take hold of the user. You briefly entertain the notion of outfitting the Junior Novice with it and turning him loose upon your enemies like a living weapon… But after the difficulty in wrangling him the previous day, you decide that may be more hassle than it is worth.

The cloak, well, it is a fine thing… But your armour is shinier, more imposing, and more your style. Its protections would better suit another than you—someone with less armour to begin with. Most of your warriors and advisors wear only light armour to begin with—it is more favoured in tunnel-combat, and heavy armour is expensive, so you had not seen fit to acquire them any. The cloak, for this purpose, is ideal. But who to give it to?

>The Novice Fleshweaver—she is important to you, and you wish to keep her safe
>Paeris the Degenerate Bard—he seems a little off since you returned to the Drow, and you wish to discuss this with him and perhaps improve his morale
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>Oluwadamilare the Archer—you bonded a little during the dark elf festivities, and you wish to reward his performance in matters military and diplomatic
>The Junior Novice—it will look funny on him, and he IS still a useful living weapon
>Write-in
>>
>>5332249
>>The Novice Fleshweaver—she is important to you, and you wish to keep her safe
>>
>>5332249
>The Novice Fleshweaver—she is important to you, and you wish to keep her safe
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines

>>5332264
>>5332305
The Novice is never expected to fight in direct combat, so she wont need it.
>>
>>5332249
>Paeris the Degenerate Bard—he seems a little off since you returned to the Drow, and you wish to discuss this with him and perhaps improve his morale
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332249
>The Junior Novice—it will look funny on him, and he IS still a useful living weapon
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332334
Nobody asked. I just want to provide her with protection when something dangerous inevitably happens to her.
>>
>>5332249
>The Novice Fleshweaver—she is important to you, and you wish to keep her safe
>>
>>5332249
>>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332249
>The Thief—it is an ideal protection for one meant to scout and move silently, behind enemy lines
>>
>>5332774
>>5332691
>>5332688
>>5332587
>>5332577
>>5332512
>>5332374
>>5332367
>>5332351
>>5332335
>>5332334
>>5332305
>>5332264
As you advance through the marching order of your scouts, approaching the Thief, you sense the Silkscale’s tension grow. He doesn’t even look back at you, not that you notice—he recognizes your approach by breathing, footfalls. It’s a testament to his skill… Though you suppose you ARE the only one in your retinue wearing metal boots, which probably makes it a little easier.

“Thief.”

The Thief flinches, and turns his face toward you—a face branded and marred by the symbol for dishonour, meted out by officiants of The Judge of the unworthy, he who is called Persecutor of the Weak. It denotes betrayal of one’s own kind, moral weakness, and a lack of discipline. The Thief was named such not for his admittedly-impressive aptitude for stealth and subterfuge against your foes, but for sealing from the Master Race. It is a lowly status to hold, and in addition to this old wound, he bares several lingering bruises and scrapes from his recent encounter with the dwarves.

“…Dragonborn,” he says, bowing his head low and slowing. “How may I serve?”

You extend your arm, holding the Cloak of Protection out to him. He stares, confounded, but when you shake it at him with some impatience, he takes it and quickly sheds his existing cloak to don it. All the while, he is confused.

“…Why?” he eventually asks.

“You are our forward scout against these hirstute mole-apes,” you explain. “You’ve done well in the past.”

He hesitates, as if uncertain how to reply—or whether he should. Eventually, perhaps thinking this a test, he speaks up:

“We were spotted. A kobold was lost. We were nearly all slain, or captured.”

“You made it away,” you reply, “and with this, your next attempt should fare better, yes?”

“…I am unworthy,” he mumbles.

It’s a bit of a surprise—not his suspicion in the face of benevolence, which you’ve come to recognize as natural to the full-bloods of the Master Race, but his self-loathing. You see it in his body language, feel it like a pit in his tone. He has taken his name, his judgement, his status among your people deeply to heart.

What do you do?
>Agree—he is unworthy, but you encourage him to CLAIM his worth, through redemptive deeds in service of you and the Priesthood
>Disagree—you have seen his efforts, and would see them rewarded and acknowledged
>Ask what he did to earn his brand of shame
>Request that he join you in prayerful meditation when next your forces rest
>Leave the matter be—he has the cloak, he remains loyal, and his angst is his own concern
>Write-in
>>
>>5332798
>Ask what he did to earn his brand of shame
Then
>Disagree—you have seen his efforts, and would see them rewarded and acknowledged
I wouldn't go as far as to say we should tell people *we're* Degenerateborn, but I think this is what's consistent with what we've done in the past.
>Request that he join you in prayerful meditation when next your forces rest
>>
>>5332798
>Request that he join you in prayerful meditation when next your forces rest
>Ask what he did to earn his brand of shame

Maybe he'll take to the meditation more than The Bastard did. If we're good at one thing, it's meditating.
>>
>>5332798
>Ask what he did to earn his brand of shame
better to get the deets than taking guesses
>>
>>5332800
Supporting
>>
>>5332799
+1
>>
>>5332881
>>5332844
>>5332810
>>5332800
>>5332799
A question has been nagging at you for some time now, and this seems like as good a time as any to ask:

“Thief, I know you acquired your disfigurement for crimes against our race… Theft from your fellow Reptilians. But… Why?”

The Thief cringes.

“You say you are unworthy,” you say, speaking in hushed tones and falling back a little. “Why?”

“I was a Reptilian Infiltrator,” he explains. “On the surface, part of a cadre operating in the Eastern Lands, beyond the forests of the elves and the Goblin Wastes. There, the humans live densely, even moreso than in the North or South. Their societies are more entrenched, organized, orderly. There is… Bureaucracy. It is not enough to overthrow a king or a dynasty—you must undermine society as a whole, from the bottom up. Upset the very notion of authority, throw it all into chaos—remove the mandate of the Gods, as they say.”

You motion to the others to make camp. It seems this will be a long story and, by this point, you can see fatigue starting to take hold in some of the less physically-fit members of your retinue---such as the Novice, to your amusement.

“Continue,’ you instruct, when you and the Thief are once more alone—well, as alone as anyone gets in these temporary camps.

“I and my fellow Infiltrators were tasked with entering into local trades-guilds and professional associations, and turning them gradually against the central authorities. To this end, we also sought to enrich them. They grew fat with food, and replete with silks, and spices, and rarities from all over that quarter of the surface and beyond! Enough wealth to, forgive me Superior One, put even your new holdings to shame.”

You hold back a hiss of displeasure at that. It is humbling, and upsetting, to be reminded of the dim and sad perspective from which you and yours have come to view material wealth. This entire treasury which you tote fills the packs of your warriors and advisors… But it CAN be transported on your backs. Even with platinum coins and legendary weapons, the vast holdings of trade goods available to even moderately-sized surface kingdoms puts you to shame… And thus, any of your race.

“I saw this wealth pour through me, wash OVER me…. But none fell to me. To ANY of us! It all was simply funneled from one rich, fat ape to another, gathering sweat and grease… When even a small amount of it could change my life, all our lives! And so… I made a proposal.”

“To siphon some of this wealth for yourself,” you surmise. “Why was it disallowed?”
>>
>>5332924
“The mission’s leader, an old female of my clan… She felt that the ‘disappearance’ of any notable amount of wealth to subterranean coffers would draw bureaucratic attention, investigation. But we could have covered it up!... This is what I felt. She was always over-cautious, fearful of discovery. An over-abundance of concern is ever the domain of the egg-warmer, as they say.”

“It IS the conventional wisdom,” you acknowledge, though you can’t help but think of that reckless, fearless spark in the Novice’s eyes several rests prior.

“When I and a few likeminded males set out to do so anyway… In contravention of orders…”

He looks away, the shame gripping him.

“We were discovered. A fight broke out. I… Slew one of my fellow Infiltrators. In the battle, my Amulet of Disguise was broken. His… Was incompatible, and of course, our Serpent Priests were no longer available to repair mine. So… I donned a cloak, took what wealth I could, and hid. I traveled, took what I needed to survive. Made my way home, to our realm below-ground, hoping to plead my case. But…”

He sighs, a low hiss that is almost a growl.

“…My superior’s reports arrived first. I was not offered a chance to defend my actions. I was beaten, humiliated, branded, stripped of my wealth…”

You survey him coolly, considering his case. How would YOU have ruled? Though you respect ambition have violated or undermined the authority of YORU superiors… This DOEs seem an act of selfish disloyalty.

“When the pain died down, my face began to heal, and the bitter venom subsided,” the Thief concludes. “I saw in time that the punishment as just. Not just because I had acted alone, violated orders, slain a comrade, risked the conspiracy for personal gain… But because I FAILED.”

“What do you mean?” you ask.

“Do you not see, Dragonborn?” he laments. “If I had SUCCEEDED, perhaps I would have been vindicated—I would have proven my superiority, my ability to lead, my aptitude necessary to execute my design! But… I was too clumsy, too slow. If I had been allowed to do as I desired, I WOULD have failed, exposed us. My capture and branding PROVED my unworthiness.”

You consider the Theif’s words further. Your silent consideration—you impeding judgement—adds to the weigh of recollection and recital. The Thief falls to his knees, bows his head low, trembles.

“You wish the cloak back, now that you know who you have gifted it to?” he asks. “Please, just… Do not slay me, or banish me. Allow me this chance to prove I am not COMPLETELY without value.”
>>
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>>5332925
Instead of answering him straight away, you kneel beside him, and then slip into your usual cross-legged meditation. The Thief looks up, and you motion for him to join you.

“Let us pray on the matter,” you say, “and let the Dark Gods judge.”

Which God do you invoke the judgement of?
>The Serpent Ascendant
>The Persecutor of the Weak
>The Baleful Beholder
>The Mother of Dragons
>Death
>None—you will meditate, and pronounce judgement yourself, on their behalf

Do you have any particular feeling as to the Thief’s crimes, and worthiness, now that you have heard his tale of betrayal and woe?
>He is right to be ashamed; you regret giving him the cloak, and will take it back
>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
>He is right to be ashamed, BUT this is in the past and you feel he should forgive himself—and be forgiven—for his crimes
>Write-in
>>
>>5332927
>The Serpent Ascendant

>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
>>
>>5332927
>The Serpent Ascendant
Although i can get behind
>The Baleful Beholder

>He is right to be ashamed, BUT this is in the past and you feel he should forgive himself—and be forgiven—for his crimes
>>
>>5332927
>The Serpent Ascendant
He was ambitious and won a fight, all good Serpent Ascendant stuff. Not his fault his cucky supervisor got there first.

>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
>>
>>5332927
>The Serpent Ascendant
or
>The Baleful Beholder
Whichever will be better
>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
He might've been found out only because he tipped off the leader first. Still, he survived the fight, was resourceful enough to make it back home on his own and would've gotten away, if it wasn't for the bureaucracy. He had the whole group and an unobjective Serpent Priest against him.
Is there a way to remove his scars?
>>
>>5332927
>None—you will meditate, and pronounce judgement yourself, on their behalf
>He is right to be ashamed, BUT this is in the past and you feel he should forgive himself—and be forgiven—for his crimes
Redemption is a virtue, not a vice.
>>
>>5332927
>the Baleful Beholder
>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
>He is right to be ashamed, BUT this is in the past and you feel he should forgive himself—and be forgiven—for his crimes
I am deliberately picking both because it feels in-character for this moment to be at a standstill too. You can make the case for either, but Thief still needs to overcome this somehow
>>
>>5332927
>The Persecutor of the Weak
Just because we should legitimately patch up our relationship with him if we ever want to complete our One Piece goal of gaining our community and Dark Gods’ respect and admiration.
>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
>He is right to be ashamed, BUT this is in the past and you feel he should forgive himself—and be forgiven—for his crimes
I like >>5333053’s interpretation, having mixed feelings about his past is alright if he’s trying to atone now.
>>
>>5332927
>The Serpent Ascendant
>He is wrong to be ashamed; his ambition was impressive in scope, his ability to survive under the subsequent conditions meritorious
>>
Rolled 7, 18, 14 = 39 (3d20)

>>5333066
>>5333053
>>5333031
>>5332971
>>5332946
>>5332936
>>5332935
>>5333170

Your own heart remains conflicted, as the two of you sit there in silence. His shame is rightly-placed—he acted selfishly, at the possible expense of your race, and he could well have done untold damage to centuries-old schemes. But on the other hand… Well, some would say the same of you. You respect his ambition, the raw skill needed to pull off even as much as he did. You wish to free him from this burden, if you can… And so, respecting ambition, youturn to the Dark God whose purview that is.

“Oh Serpent Ascendant, he who rises to Heaven and eats the sun whole,” you murmur. “Oh Dark God of Golden Glory, of War-Command and Battle-Glory… Judge the ambition, the achievement of we lowly mortals who slither and skitter before you as snakes and lizards… And guide us to the might of dragons… Show us the path to true merit!"

[Religion/leadership roll]
>>
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>>5333172
>18

You aren’t sure if it is truly the Serpent taking notice, but you feel inspiration take hold of you a you finish your chanting. You rise to your feet, and the Thief looks to you questioningly a you stand over him, as a Serpent Priest might in a Room of Confession.

“I have heard your tale,” you say, “and so too, I think, have the Gods. They who weave the Great Design… Do you really think they would weave it in such a way as to permit your survival, if they did not see value in your continuation? Why, do you think, did they put you here—in this place, in my company, on this mission—if not to take advantage of the very skills which nearly won out against the ENTRIE Reptilian Conspiracy? Yes, your goal was wrong, but not the effort and force of will which drove you to nearly achieve it. And now, striving on THEIR behalf, with me, and wearing that cloak which providence gifted us… You and I, TOGETHER, will succeed.”

You offer a talon to him and, haltingly, he takes it. You guide him up to his feet. His eyes never leave you. You feel as if your voice carries… Weight. Power, power that is not wholly your own. You exert a form of Presence without effort, less Fearsome and more… Invigorating. Inspiring. Even… Comforting.

“Ambition, like redemption, is virtue… Not sin.”

“…Yes, Dragonborn,” the Thief whispers, faintly awed.

You send him on his way. He moves slowly, but you can see it in his change of posture, could hear it in his voice. He is changed for this experience. So, you suspect, are you.
>>
>>5333200
our forces rest, and in a few hours’ time, you continue. In time, and with a great deal of climbing up wall and down through crags, your party winds its way back to the realm which was once home to the Devourer. It was here where you first encountered the so-called ‘barbed devils’, after all, when one set upon you and Glowie and was captured for its troubles.

However… You have never actually seen any signs of where they live, or HOW they live. Are they nomads? Scouts for a more sedentary populace? Do they sprout from the earth itself like some horrid plant or fungus? Frankly, anything is possible.

“Don’t be absurd,” the Novice mocks you when you wax this poetic notion with her. “They are mammals, without a doubt. Without a body to properly examine, I cannot say what sort, but those ‘spikes’ are keratinous structures, akin to your hair or nails. They’re certainly not ‘sprouting up’. It’s a good thing you grew into such an IMPOSING creature, Degnerateborn, for you will not be making your way into the intelligentsia anytime soon.”

“I was using hyperbole purposefully, to—”

“I hope,” she interrupts you in deliberately-irksome fashion, “you are more intelligent in your TACTICS than in your understanding of biology.”

You sigh, shaking your head, and the Novice quietly delights in your irritation. She raises ONE good point, though: what IS your plan for how to locate the spiky-men?

>Send the Thief, and your other especially stealthy allies, to scout for a settlement
>Lay an ambush, instructing most of your retinue to hide while you and your treasure are conspicuously visible… And ‘alone’
>Set up a longer-term camp in a place where you know they have passed before, and have the Translator leave scrawled chalk messages in the dwarf-tongue they seem to speak
>Attempt to use <Guidance> to find them, and then go straight to them with a message of peace
>Write-in
>>
>>5333201
>Set up a longer-term camp in a place where you know they have passed before, and have the Translator leave scrawled chalk messages in the dwarf-tongue they seem to speak

Anything else could seem hostile.
>>
>>5333201
>Set up a longer-term camp in a place where you know they have passed before, and have the Translator leave scrawled chalk messages in the dwarf-tongue they seem to speak
>Use divination for funsies

Fat Jiggly Asshole.
>>
>>5333247
Improved divination didnt even use it after. Now use it to see fat jiggly asshole.
>>
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>>5333254
>>5333247
>>
>>5333262
Ok. :[
>>
>>5333254
>>5333247
You need to a chill out a little lol. Coomer posting is fine and funny occasionally but not every post.
>>
>>5333201
>Set up a longer-term camp in a place where you know they have passed before, and have the Translator leave scrawled chalk messages in the dwarf-tongue they seem to speak
>>5333247
>>5333254
lmao get fucked shitter
>>
>>5333201
>Set up a longer-term camp in a place where you know they have passed before, and have the Translator leave scrawled chalk messages in the dwarf-tongue they seem to speak

>>5333247
>>5333254
This is downright cringe at this point.
>>
>>5333201
>Attempt to use <Guidance> to find them, and then go straight to them with a message of peace

Peace backed with overwhelming firepower
>>
>>5333201
>Set up a longer-term camp in a place where you know they have passed before, and have the Translator leave scrawled chalk messages in the dwarf-tongue they seem to speak
>>
>>5333201
>Send the Thief, and your other especially stealthy allies, to scout for a settlement
>>
>>5333201
>Send the Thief, and your other especially stealthy allies, to scout for a settlement
>>
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Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5333697
>>5333592
>>5333582
>>5333461
>>5333385
>>5333354
>>5333247
>>5333236
You decide it is best to camp out in the known neighbourhood of your erstwhile enemies (and hopefully future allies). Anything more direct could be perceived as aggression, after all. Cognizant that they may perceive even this occupation of their range as hostility, given your recent violent altercation below Bloodrise, you send the Translator with some forces to scrawl chalk messages of friendship and diplomacy on various conspicuous rock-features. You don’t’ know for certain that these creatures are literate, admittedly, but you know that they SPEAK some permutation of the dwarf-tongue. It is worth an attempt.

You station guards around the camp, though you instruct them not to display outward hostility, and to attack only if they are attacked first.
>>
>>5333763
>93
To your surprise, and mild discomfort, this strategy bears fruit almost immediately. In fact, two of the drow scouts, the Thief, and the Translator are still out doing their rounds, leaving their messages, when the darkness parts like curtains to reveal three of the damned spike-men in your very midst. Each carries a cruel and wicked blade, though none leaps to strike. Their posture suggests nervousness, but not hostility.

Several of your retinue hiss or balk at the sudden appearance of these grim and grisly figures, bundled in their cloaks and jutting with quill-like spikes. The Novice backs up a step, clucking in such a manner as to signal the reticent Junior Novice to advance before her, like a guardian. You motion for them to stand down, however, and they do.

With no Translator here, communication is difficult. However, their non-verbal cues and gestures are unmistakable: they point to you, chop their hands in the air at the rest of your retinue, and beckon for you to come with them.

They offer you—and you alone—an audience. With whom… Well, you cannot KNOW, but you have a good idea. You recall, even now, that icy feeling, and that dark vision: a powerfully-built creature of this variety, equipped with a weaponized chain, with a chilling magic, and astride a giant bat-creature. A chieftain among these devils.

What do you do?
>Accept the invitation
>Refuse—you will try to communicate that any meeting will be HERE, on YORU terms
>Attempt to negotiate a delay, so the Translator maya company you
>You will go… But you will bring some of your forces [who?]
>Attack—these fools will be captured and used as leverage, to negotiate from a position of strength
>Write-in
>>
>>5333788
>Accept the invitation

Fuck it.
>>
>>5333788
>Attempt to negotiate a delay, so the Translator maya company you
>Accept the invitation

Negotiate but go if fail
>>
>>5333840
+1
>>
>>5333840
+1
>>
>>5333840
+1
>>
>>5333840
+1
>>
>>5333840
Support
>>
>>5333788
>Attempt to negotiate a delay, so the Translator may accompany you

meeting won't do much good if we can't communicate
>>
Rolled 9, 17, 11 = 37 (3d20)

>>5333951
>>5333922
>>5333913
>>5333885
>>5333867
>>5333850
>>5333840
>>5333818
You hold up a hand to the spikey interlopers who have entered your camp, and then the other when they seem to react poorly to this. Again, you wave away the concerns of your allies—you won’t have them attack ‘unprovoked’, whatever they might think of the invasion of your camp’s privacy by three armed brigands. You have no idea what constitutes polite greetings in the barbarous culture of these hairy savages, after all. Instead, you muster what little dwarf-speak you recall, and attempt to communicate a pragmatic appeal:

“No speak dwarf,” you hazard. “Can’t speak if no speak dwarf. Have one who speak dwarf. Wait for him?”

At least... You HOPE that's what you said.

DC 18 for language barrier
>>
>>5334011
>1 off
Now the dice are trolling us.
>>
>>5334013
>>5334011
>17, near miss

The spike-men look at each other furtively… And, you realize, in confusion. You aren’t sure if you said anything intelligible, or if the sentence was simply so broken—or polluted by a single key mispronunciation—but they clearly understand only that you wish tow ait. Unwilling o comply, or obeying their unseen overseer’s instruction, they make to leave.

“Wait!”

They do not understand you exclamation, as it was in the True Speech, but they understand the intent. They halt.

“You cannot be serious,” The Novice hisses. “At least let me come with you, if you’re determined to be a damned fool. You will need someone with a working brain.”

“Your concern is noted,” you whisper back, “but the intent is clear. They want me, alone. They shall have me. Besides, with your amulet and my new spells… I can handle myself.”

“So once spoke every foolish and over-confident young male who failed to handle himself,” the Novice notes.

You say nothing, striding forward. You feel her gaze on your back, anxious… Anxious for YOU. It makes you feel… Something.

As you travel with the barbed devils, two of these strange and creeping creatures stay beside you. One, however, slips away when you aren’t looking. You imagine you can hear it—him?—behind you, sometimes, but when you steal a glance the stalking scavenger is nowhere to be found. You suppose he could just as easily have gone ahead to alert to your coming. It’s not as if you can ask.

These cloaked figures make no aggressive action—in fact, they maintain a careful distance from you and barely even chatter amongst themselves. They guide you silently, like spectres, down into the deeper regions, and further beyond the known, mapped areas of this region of the Underdark—into a place that is dry, and cold beyond even the sunless chill which you have known often in your life. It is as if there is a magic at work… OR some unknown alchemical reaction, natural and native to this area of the deep earth.

Their pace slows. You hear faint rustling, spot movement among the jagged and spiky terrain which now matches your guides’ hides. More barbed devils are watching you—maybe a half-dozen. Your guides gesture for you to hold your place, to wait.

What do you do?
>Wait patiently, albeit guardedly—no sudden moves, lest you provoke your ‘hosts’
>Stake a defensible position, to guard your back and make a defence; retreat at the first sign of treachery
>Assume <Augmented Dragonshape>, demonstrating your power and majesty and allowing your Fearsome Presence to affect these mammals for purposes of negotiation and forestalling attack
>Ready a spell of magic item to defend yourself [which one?]
>Write-in
>>
>>5334020
>Meditate. These barbed devils seem elusive to the eye. Perhaps our other senses need to channeled to understand them better.

There’s gotta be some magical bullshit going on here.
>>
>>5334020
>>5334029
+1 if we can do this without having to sit down like a weirdo, otherwise

>Wait patiently, albeit guardedly—no sudden moves, lest you provoke your ‘hosts’
>Ready the shield ring
>>
>>5334039
+1
>>
>>5334029
+1
>Invite spiky guys over to join

connect through spiritual bullshit not words!
>>
>>5334029
>>5334042
Support
>>
>>5334020
>Wait patiently, albeit guardedly—no sudden moves, lest you provoke your ‘hosts’

we're deep enough in their territory that if they want us dead they don't need to bother with an ambush
>>
>>5334042
+1 to inviting them

They're unlikely to accept but might as well try. Any understanding we can reach with them now will help us later.
>>
>>5334042
>>5334117
[You can make the attempt but, reminder, you are really bad at speaking dwarf ad none of these guys seem to speak your native tongue (what your culture calls 'True Speech'), the northern common-tongue of the surface-dwellers, or dark-elven... Which are the only languages you're somewhat fluent in. The DC will reflect this.]
>>
>>5334135
Ok just meditate then.
>>
>>5334020
>Assume <Augmented Dragonshape>, demonstrating your power and majesty and allowing your Fearsome Presence to affect these mammals for purposes of negotiation and forestalling attack
>>
>>5334020
>>5334029
Supporting
>>
>>5334020
>Assume <Augmented Dragonshape>, demonstrating your power and majesty and allowing your Fearsome Presence to affect these mammals for purposes of negotiation and forestalling attack
>Ready a spell of magic item to defend yourself [Protection and Fireball]
>>
>>5334029
Supporting
>>
>>5334020
>Wait patiently, albeit guardedly—no sudden moves, lest you provoke your ‘hosts’
>>
>>5334020
>>5334029
+1
>>
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>>5334341
>>5334280
>>5334273
>>5334255
>>5334242
>>5334219
>>5334151
>>5334117
>>5334067
>>5334052
>>5334042
>>5334041
>>5334039
>>5334029
Even as you accept their invitation, wait in their cavern SURROUNDED by them… Your inability to pinpoint these prickly, liveborn sons-of-bitches. In fact, how DO their females birth them, with no egg to protect them and such spiky—No, no, there are more immediate questions. How do they evade your senses, evince SUCH stealth? You need to know, in case things take a hostile turn.

“Keeper of Secrets, Master of the Insightful Eye… I bid of you, Give me sight beyond sight.”

You whisper the prayer, and shut your eyes, attempting to focus upon your divination abilities – toemulate the tuatara, or the nagas of the ancient Eastern Empire of the Dragon Kings of the Sea, to see with your so-called ‘third eye’. It is different than the applications to which you have applied your <Guidance> in the past…
>>
Rolled 11, 19, 5 = 35 (3d20)

>>5334547
(woops, forgot my roll)
>>
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>>5334550
>>5334547
…But it is not beyond you!

You open your eyes and… <See> them, in truth! Several of them, hidden by some natural or learned psionic ability and by their camouflaging cloaks and unconventional silhouettes, are now outline din your vision with an ethereal, bluish glow.

>Gained spell: <See Invisibility>

There are ten of the spike-men in this chamber with you, several holding slings or throwing-knives perched behind rocks. This includes your three guides, who look at your strangely as they notice the change in your demeanour—or perhaps some physical tell of your magical exertion. None of them seem to be making a move to attack immediately, but you can see how quickly you will be swarmed if negotiations go purely. Your talons flex, almost instinctively, and your tail slaps the ground with its spade-tip.

“Yes, go, I wait,” you attempt to communicate in dwarf-speak. They look at each other, and two of the three who led you here indeed advance into the next chamber or tunnel… To fetch their leader, you presume. Or to prepare for your capture. You guess you’ll see.

With your magically-enhanced vision, you witness the devils move into position behind you… To cut off escape, should you make a break for it. The tension grows. You consider readying a blast of flame, be it from your mouth or a fireball from your Ring of Elemental Command, or assuming your <Augmented Dragonshape> just to keep them in-check…

But then, you hear deliberately-conspicuous footsteps, and turn back to see your two guides returning… And behind them, a leaner, taller example of their kind—nearly as tall as you. His spikes are pronounced, almost look deliberately cut away or styled to create an asymmetrical grown pattern, and thus to accommodate a pauldron and chestplate. He wears the robes of his fellows, but with his sneering, long-nosed, wide-mouthed face exposed—this, too, is framed by spikes, albeit smaller and thinner ones more resembling hair such as the ape-men of the surface can grow. Around one arm, he has repeatedly wrapped a spiked chain. In his other… He holds no weapon, unlike any other of his kind in this assembly. Is the chain weapon enough? Or is he… Yes, right, your vision implied something magical about him. A spellcaster?

“You, killer,” he says, in… By the Dark Gods, is that ACTUALLY a form of elf-tongue? “You understand me?”
>>
>>5334576
Elvish, even the dark-elven spoken down here, is a smooth and flowing language, almost as elegant in its sounds as the smoky hiss of the True Speech as spoken by the Master Race. You did not think it was POSSIBLY to form the syllables roughly, and yet… This creature, he gargles the tongue, spits it out. It is deeply unpleasant.

“I understand you,” you acknowledge, hiding your distaste for his voice. “You call me killer because your, ah… Warriors, yes?”

He grunts, and grins.

“Because you kill,” he says. “Kill my ‘bogbarri’ brothers, kill king of this place…”

“King of this place?” you ask, startled by this accusation, until you realize what he must mean. “The Devourer… Giant bug, eats metal?”

His grin widens, revealing—that is FAR too many teeth, and so uneven, so many missing, and ALL sharp. He does not reply, otherwise.

“Bogbarri… You are bogbarri, then? This is your name, for your race?”

He nods. “Called many things. Call selves bogbarri. Little babies on surface call us ‘bugbear’.”

“What do you want me to call you?”

“’Boss’,” the barbed devil—no, rather BOGBARRI, you suppose—leader taunts. “Means master.”

You sense the atmosphere grow tense. Your casting of <See Invisibility> is wearing off. But… Nobody has yet moved to attack you. What do you do?
>Agree to call him ‘Boss’, as he requests, and propose your alliance
>Assume your <Augmented Dragonshape> now, and attempt to intimidate him into deferring openly and publicly to YOU, instead
>Let loose your firebreath upon these impudent fools, and flee this place
>Ignore his taunts, and ask this ‘Boss’ something [what?]
>>
>>5334578
>Ignore his taunts, and ask this ‘Boss’ something
Get to the point. What's he want and why are his ten puppies hiding from us?
>>
>>5334578
>Ignore his taunts, and ask this ‘Boss’ something
Are they interested in the dwarves and their wealth or share any problems with them?
>>
>>5334600
>>5334607
+1
>>
>>5334578
>Ignore his taunts, and ask this ‘Boss’ something [what?]
his opinions on dwarves and phat loot
>>
>>5334578
Supportin>>5334607
>>
>>5334578
>>5334607

Lets refer to him as "Boss of the bogbarri" if its in Elf we can surely manage that
>>
>>5334607
+1
>>
>>5334578
This guy honestly is more reptilian minded than us. He’s good at being a giant dick.
>>
>>5334578
>Assume your <Augmented Dragonshape> now, and attempt to intimidate him into deferring openly and publicly to YOU, instead
K, lil’ Boss.
>>
>>5334677
Bogboss is shorter, and intentionally blending the name sort of breaks the unspoken submission inherent in calling him Boss.
>>
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>>5335035
>>5334706
>>5334677
>>5334658
>>5334639
>>5334621
>>5334607
>>5334600
“Boss to the Bogbarri, perhaps, but not to me.”

The Bugbear Boss huffs softly in annoyance. You resist the to display your smugness. Did he expect you to rise to such bait? You grew up with the constant provocations of The Novice Fleshweaver. This mammal is a rank AMATEUT at aggravation, compared to the likes of her.

“Why do your dogs surround me, Bogbarri-Boss?” you ask.

This seems to surprise him slightly, but this male is almost Reptilian in his coolness; he only squints his eyes slightly, leaning forward.

“How do you know that?” he asks shrewdly, scratching noisily at his spiny chin.

Your casting of <See Invisibility> is almost worn off, but you nod towards them while you can see them, saying:

“I know many things, and have strong magic. I know you have four of your ‘bugbears’ positioned to cut off my leaving. I came here freely, without violence. This is not necessary.”

He laughs once, a short sound almost like a hacking cough.

“Not want you to hit and run again, collapse cave and flee. Like last time.”

“You bugbears invaded OUR territory,” you defend yourself.

“Abandoned for hundreds and hundreds of years,” the Bugbear Boss counters. “OURS as much as yours. We get there first.”

“At the same time, I think you’ll find,” you say, “and WE won the day.”

“That time, maybe,” he says. “This time… You think so?”

His smile is wicked, a terrible leer. You consider assuming your <Augmented Dragonshape> after all, but… No, no. This is more bluster. Bravado. He has no NEED to provoke or ambush you now… And if he did, you can’t say for certain that you’d survive.

“You speak the dwarf-language,” you note, ignoring his threats once more. “Have you had… Encounters with the,? Troubles, perhaps?”

The Bugbear Boss laughs, and shakes his head, holding up his paw-like hands in a massive shrug.

“Bogbarri have no problems with anyone,” he says amicably. “But yes, we sometimes kill them, eat them, take their things… When they are stragglers, when they go to deep, when we get hungry enough to climb to the surface some nights. Sometimes, they kill back.”

His grin returns, and he adds: “Not often they get a chance, to do the killing instead of being killed.”

“And yet,” you note, “the dwarves have established a large mining presence in the Bloodrise, and are taking treasure from the earth in great amounts. They have strong defences—towers, defenders. Fortresses. Do you know this?”

“Of course,” he says, seemingly almost offended. “Nothing that big happens that I do not know, lizard.”

“Then why are they still there?” you ask. “Do you not want their treasure?”

“Yes, yes,” he agrees. “But it is hard to get. YOUR treasure… Much easier.”
>>
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>>5335161

You feel hot breath on your neck and back, and feel the faint endothermic warmth of bodies pressed in close. You don’t dignify these bugbears by flinching, or turning to face them.

“I am proposing an alliance, to take on the dwarves, to take all their wealth. You said yourself: it is too hard to do alone. Together, though… Would that interest you?”

The Bugbear Boss dares to turn his back to you—you suppose he has his defenders at the ready. He paces the chamber once, then twice, then comes back and gets right in your face. You elan back from his foul breath as he pushes a thick, rough-nailed digit into your chest-plate.

“You want alliance, after making war, killing bogbarri brothers?” he asks, then smiles. “yes! Of course! But you pay up. “Devourer’ had many things hidden away in den. Used to pick at it, when we could. You took it ALL. I want half.”

“Half?” you blanch. “That’s—”

“And half of what we take from dwarves. And half of dwarf-meat.”

This savage is dictating terms to you—and what ABSURD terms! Who does he think he is, to demand a dragon’s treasure? But then… You are surrounded, alone, and it is YOU petitioning HIM for aid, in this bandit baron’s like fiefdom.

How do you respond?
>Accept this proposal—you are in a weak spot to negotiate from, and if your attack on the dwarves goes well, you could make back all this wealth and THEN some
>Haggle with him, making a counter-proposal [specify terms, diplomacy roll will follow with variable DC based on terms]
>Absolutely fucking not—he will get a share of spoils from the raid and NOTHING else [intimidation roll, DC 18]
>Challenge him to a contest of strength—you and him, winner sets the terms of the alliance and holds authority over the loser for the duration of the war against the dwarves
>Sucker-punch him, and take him down—establish dominance the old-fashioned way, by conquest and overthrow
>Write-in
>>
>>5335162
This guy is a dickhead but he clearly has something up his sleeve if he’s trying to provoke us so hard. It’s gay but no combat here I think
>>
>>5335162
>Sucker-punch him, and take him down—establish dominance the old-fashioned way, by conquest and overthrow
Just fucking kill this bastard already, he’s clearly taking the piss on us and if he isn’t going to give this serious consideration, we have no need to treat his demands with any respect.
>>
>>5335169
Then challenge or intimidate him, but we are NOT accepting his bullshit terms. Fuck this Zivic-lite.
>>
>>5335161
>AMATEUT
*amateur
>>
>>5335179
I’m not accepting the terms I’m waiting for anon to make a diplo plan
>>
>>5335162
>Haggle with him, making a counter-proposal [specify terms, diplomacy roll will follow with variable DC based on terms]

Half the dwarven loot and meat I can grudgingly accept, but he didn't do shit to the Devourer. He's not getting any of that.
>>
>>5335162
>Haggle with him, making a counter-proposal
>Offer half of the dwarves' treasure and 90% of the dwarven meat. Make a big show of how much of a concession it is to give away ALL THAT MEAT.

This guy probably thinks we eat sentient race meat on account of being a reptilian monster looking race but from what I've seen that's not really a thing for our race, therefore, making it an easy concession. Just gotta play it right and make it seem like we actually care about that shit. Shouldn't be too hard seems like they have food troubles he should be salivating at the thought. Don't offer 100%, though, that would be too suspicious.
>>
>>5335202
>>5335210
You forget that we have the Drow to keep happy as well. They can keep a third of the treasure, and get two thirds of the meat, more meat if need be. We still need slaves to work the mines after all.
>>
>>5335216
I doubt we could keep that many dwarven slaves they would probably beat the shit out of the kobolds as soon as we left. As for the Drow we negotiated a deal mainly contingent on them acquiring territory in preparation for the bogbarri negotiations. We have a lot of leeway to offer good looting terms for them.
>>
>>5335216
+1
But haggling over the meat is okay. Start at 2/3rds, maybe end at 70-80% so we're putting up a "fight" here.
>>
>>5335182
Honestly? I’m of the opinion that we should simply kill him and take control of the spiked devils for ourselves. We can accomplish it with the berserk belt, and Dragonshape if the belt doesn’t finish him off, we don’t need to deal with someone unreasonable and prone to saber-rattling.
>>
>>5335216
>>5335210
+1
1/3-2/5 of loot haggle up
2/3 - 3/3 of meat haggle up HARD

Make them work for lots of meat to make them forget about gold
>>
>>5335216
I didn't forget, but the drow are already onboard
This is a one time signup bonus for them
>>
>>5335218
A third of a company town should be manageable portion of slaves, but I’m less worried about the slaves and more worried about the loot. Any unreasonable concessions we cuck on now will inevitably try to worm their way into future agreements, we need to set the precedent on reasonable limits and expectations in this alliance, or simply take control of these bears if the alliance costs more than we get. We are not selling the lives of our men or our Drow allies for a quarter of the loot and 5% of the meat respectively, that’s just insulting.
>>
>>5335225
Then it needed to be explicitly stated, because it sounded like the basis of the alliance agreement going forward, not a one-time bonus. Even then, they’d need to pull their weight on at-least 3-5 raids/settlement conquests to make sure they don’t bug out at the first opportunity.
>>
>>5335216
Supporting haggling

We can try the intimidation route if this fails
>>
>>5335162
>Absolutely fucking not—he will get a share of spoils from the raid and NOTHING else [intimidation roll, DC 18]
>>
>>5335216
Support, if that fails
>Absolutely fucking not—he will get a share of spoils from the raid and NOTHING else [intimidation roll, DC 18]
>>
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Rolled 12, 2, 9 = 23 (3d20)

>>5335312
>>5335309
>>5335251
>>5335224
>>5335220
>>5335216
>>5335210
>>5335202
>>5335182
>>5335174

You hiss in displeasure, drawing a wary look from your opposite number here, as if the Bugbear Boss suspects you are taking some action. He takes a step back, which you take some small measure of pleasure in. He is not SO confident, then, that he does not fear your power. A fantasy of simply setting upon him—activating the Berserker Belt and demolishing this foolish creature AND his authority over his inferior race—flashes through your mind. Perhaps you could even do it… But what then?

No, this will take a subtler touch. Luckily, you think you’ve got just the plan.

“You can have the gold, the jewels, whatever else… Not all, but much of it… But not the meat.”

The Bugbear Boss sneers a little. “What is wrong with half?”

“My people are hungry, too,” you say. “And dwarf… Dwarf is delicious. Seasoned with… With their malts, hops, their alcoholic spirits. We have been hungry ever since we left our home, came all this way DREAMING of that delicacy… I cannot deny my people this meat.”

Of course, it’s nonsense. You’ve never even gotten to taste human meat or blood—something reserved for the Serpent Priesthood, and the elites of each clan, at special ritual feasts. To supply all your race with the flesh of the intelligent mammals would be an absurdly-difficult undertaking. Acquiring them in great numbers would risk exposure. Farming a race which can scheme, make tools, use magic would be incredibly dangerous and foolish… And all of that, as an enterprise at any scale, would be a total waste of slaves and test subjects.

…But these bogbarri, the bugbears… They do not know that. You can see it in their faces, their dentition, their carriage: they are a hungry and desperate people, without stable food resources. Their ‘Boss’ all but admitted such—they prey on lone travelers and feast on them out of desperation. They are an isolated people, hunters—coins may glimmer and glitter to amuse them, but you seriously doubt they deal much in trade.

And you, you can use all that against them, with a bit of clever reverse psychology.

DC 12/14/16
>>
>>5335339
The leader of these devils slavers visibly, and wipes some drool from his slack-jawed maw as you elaborate upon your description of the dwarven flesh you absolutely, for sure, TOTALLY want more than precious gem or mineral rights.

“Nnnn, no, I think the opposite,” he says. “Meat for us! MOST of meat! You lizards are already fat enough.”

You hide a rattle of amusement behind a clearing of your throat, and shake your head. “We WANT that meat, Bugbear. It is OURS.”

He growls, and pushes his chest against yours, bravado resurgent with his gluttonous hunger for the flesh of fallen foes. You do not flinch, and when he sees you will not be cowed—and seems to understand that only through an alliance is this bacchanal feast even a POSSIBILITY—he relents.

>12

It is a difficult and lengthy negotiation, for the Boss of the Bogbarri still very much desires a share of the treasure as well… But you are able to haggle him down. Conveniently, his nomad raiders seem to have little understanding of, or interest in, territorial claims. The bugbears are content to let your Reptilians and the Drow split the lands above and below between one another, seeking only freedom to hunt and roam, and a third of all loot from raids… As well as two-thirds of all the dead or captured dwarves from those same raids.

They aren’t PERFECT terms, as you see them, but in time a deal is struck.

“Who do I make a deal with?” the Boss asks you then. “Who and what are you, to your lizards?”

How do you answer?
>A Dragonborn, merely a servant of the Master Race and the Seprent Priesthood
>The Dragonborn Champion, The Chosen of the Dark Gods
>The Copper Dragon of Bloodrise, the new lord of this realm come to reclaim your ancestors' holdings
>Write-in
>>
>>5335347
>>The Copper Dragon of Bloodrise, the new lord of this realm come to reclaim your ancestors' holdings
>>
>>5335347
>The Copper Dragon of Bloodrise, the Chosen of the Dark Gods, the new lord of this realm come to reclaim your ancestors' holdings
Hell yea brother!
>>
>>5335347
>A Dragonborn, merely a servant of the Master Race and the Seprent Priesthood
>>
>>5335347
>The Copper Dragon of Bloodrise, the Chosen of the Dark Gods, the new lord of this realm come to reclaim your ancestors' holdings
We’ll renegotiate the deal when we have a secured presence in the region. I’d argue about splitting land with the Drow, but if our intention is to create a kingdom with the other Underground races with us as the king, then land rights are ultimately a nonissue.

Also, fucking hell dice, you just like rolling low on us this thread.
>>
>>5335347
>Boss
>>
>>5335347
>The Copper Dragon of Bloodrise, the new lord of this realm come to reclaim your ancestors' holdings
>Chosen of the Dark Gods
>Champion of the Master Race
>>
>>5335347
>A Dragonborn, merely a servant of the Master Race and the Seprent Priesthood
>>
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>>5335406
>>5335400
>>5335384
>>5335370
>>5335357
>>5335355
>>5335353
You consider the question. Technically, you are merely an expeditionary leader—a modified and false ‘Dragonborn’ leading an expedition to crush some seditious kobolds before they could draw untoward attention from surface-scum and expose your people’s ancient secrets. Your mission ahs evolved beyond that, though. YOU have evolved beyond that.

“I am The Copper Dragon of Bloodrise,” you pronounce, “the Chosen of the Dark Gods, the new lord of this realm, come to reclaim my ancestors' holdings!”

The Bugbear Boss makes that awful, raspy laughing sound again.

“That is a lot of words,” he said. “I am not to call you that.”

You tilt your head, and suggest instead: “I will settle for ‘Boss’, then.”

The bugbear leader scowls, then shrugs.

“Copper it is,” he says. “Somehow expected dragon to be… Bigger.”

You return to your retinue under the escort of the Bogbarri, including their ‘Boss’. The two camps are wary of one another in a way that even the Drow were not, for there is blood between your two factions. Agno and Ivno in particular steer far away from these strange, spined creatures, and Ivno tells you of the terror that beings like this have wrought over the centuries upon kobolds as well. You see several of the bugbears eying your two smallest allies ravenously, but their leader cuffs them and barks orders in a harsh tongue—not dwarf-tongue, or dark-elven, but something else—and they keep their hands and teeth to themselves.
>>
>>5335484
“His elven is… Almost enough to make me vomit,” the Translator hisses quietly, nodding to the presently-occupied Boss. “His dwarf is scarcely better. The third tongue… I do not know.”

“How are our two groups of mammals acclimatizing to one another?” you ask.

Paeris tells you that they are openly hostile to one another, brandishing weapons and remaining apart from the camp in their own cloister, though these elven scouts DO at one point approach to (seemingly sincerely) congratulate you on the diplomatic success. When pressed, the Drow agree readily to work with the Bogbarri—just not CLOSELY.

You acknowledge their feelings on the matter noncommittally, and consult with your other advisors.


“The Drow are more refined,” Oluwadamilare volunteers his estimation, “but the bugbears, especially that leader of theirs… They are more dangerous. Better fighters. Just… Disorganized. Used to fighting alone or in small squads.”

“They cannot be trusted,” the Thief says. “Not without constant incentives. Rewards.”

“Or punishment when they step out of line,” the Pit-Guard suggests. “Or pre-emptively… To put some fear into them.”

“A shame they’ll get the share of usable slaves,” the North-Merchant notes. “Dwarves are excellent workers, and don’t need light belowground.”

“But a very fine deal it is, that keeps for us the first choice of treasure and especially of LAND,” the South-Merchant notes greedily.

“Novice Fleshweaver, your thoughts?” you finally ask the sole Serpent Priest in attendance.


“Disgusting,” the Novice says, watching the Bogbarri from afar, turning over a syringe in his talons. “Fascinating. Could you get them to let me examine one of their number? Preferably living, but dead is also fine.”

What do you do?
>Attempt to broker better relations between the Bogbarri and the Drow in your company
>Negotiate to secure the Novice a Bogbarri test subject
>Attempt to establish discipline over the Bogbarri
>Begin planning your assault on the dwarves, using the forces now at your disposal
>Return to Bloodrise, now that your tripartite alliance is in place, and begin planning a larger-scale assault on the dwarves—not a simple raid, but a full-on war
>Write-in
>>
>>5335485
>>Begin planning your assault on the dwarves, using the forces now at your disposal
Time for cunning.
Let's put the bogbarri frontline. The goal is to make them suffer casualties. Lots of them. Bonus if we get to kill their leader in the conflict.
Their leader pissed me off.
>>
>>5335485

>Attempt to broker better relations between the Bogbarri and the Drow in your company
>Return to Bloodrise, now that your tripartite alliance is in place, and begin planning a larger-scale assault on the dwarves—not a simple raid, but a full-on war

This is a war not just an alliance we need better relations. Maybe use some of the wine to help broker relations.
>>
>>5335485
>Begin planning your assault on the dwarves, using the forces now at your disposal

bad relations between drow and bogbarri is risky, but if they start getting too friendly they might start thinking they don't need us
>>
>>5335485
>Return to Bloodrise, now that your tripartite alliance is in place, and begin planning a larger-scale assault on the dwarves—not a simple raid, but a full-on war
They’ll sort it out after fighting together
>>
>>5335485
>Attempt to broker better relations between the Bogbarri and the Drow in your company
>Return to Bloodrise, now that your tripartite alliance is in place, and begin planning a larger-scale assault on the dwarves—not a simple raid, but a full-on war

Bond over fine wine and thick butted women. Are there spiky men women?
>>
>>5335485
>Return to Bloodrise, now that your tripartite alliance is in place, and begin planning a larger-scale assault on the dwarves—not a simple raid, but a full-on war
what >>5335526 said
bond through BATTLE
>>
>>5335485
>Negotiate to secure the Novice a Bogbarri test subject
>Attempt to establish discipline over the Bogbarri
>>
>>5335485
>Attempt to broker better relations between the Bogbarri and the Drow in your company
>Attempt to establish discipline over the Bogbarri
>>
>>5335485
>Attempt to establish discipline over the Bogbarri
>Negotiate to secure the Novice a Bogbarri test subject
I’m sure the Novice would appreciate the gift. We can probably convince a couple to come over by sharing some of our provisions.
>>
>>5335766
Supporting
>>
>>5335485
>Attempt to broker better relations between the Bogbarri and the Drow in your company

Know what we’ve been flexing our diplomatic muscles lately let’s keep going with it
>>
>>5335845
Support. Probably can accomplish both with food.
>>
[Watching Chernobyl with my bud, will post later tonight!]
>>
>>5335979
>>5335943
>>5335915
>>5335845
>>5335766
>>5335729
>>5335546
>>5335530
>>5335526
>>5335525
>>5335501
>>5335489
You are yet uncertain as to what scale you wish to hit the dwarves. The fantasy of negotiating a massive swell of dark elven support, added t o the individual might of the bugbears… It is certainly more appealing than a small raid on a single outpost. But is it realistic? You know so little about the inner workings of these so-called ‘company towns’ of the bearded apes.

On thing you DO know is, for all the asset they might be, at present the Bogbarri are a liability.

They are utterly undisciplined. They bark and shout in their horrid tongue, occasionally ‘singing horrid’ ballads while playacting as Reptilians or Drow—waving a hand behind their rears as a false tail or pointing fat fingers up beside their head to mimic the elves’ pointed ears, and mincing or slithering a bout to the amusement of their cohort. This rowdy and belligerent activity, half-understood with just enough nuance for your forces to feel insulted, at first seems like immature, primitive bluster… But then you realize it goes deeper. When the Drow and Reptilians leave their sight, disgusted or annoyed, the Bogbarri grow restless, and fall into mockery and of one another, and then into brawling; only their ‘Boss’, whom the other males all fear, seems to be able to beat or coerce the into a measure of solidarity.

“They are no social creatures,” you speculate aloud to the Novice and the Translator.

“What do you mean?” the Translator asks. “No intelligent mammal of their sort can be asocial. They have a leadership structure, don’t they? And they must have… Females, spawn, somewhere. These are a soldier-caste, a dedicated warband. That is a hallmark of society, albeit a primitive sort.”

The Novice narrows her eyes, understanding what you are attempting to communicate. She, unlike you, ahs the formal education in these matters to voice it more eloquently:

“They aren’t They are individual hunters and foragers. The one who attacked the Dragonborn and… The other Serpent Priestess… he was alone. They have no ‘warband’, no ‘soldiers’. They have a bunch of solitary hunters, forced by circumstance to cooperate.”

The three of you watch them over the next day. The bugbears resent one another’s presence—bristle at it, are plainly uncomfortable even turning their backs on one another. They can only unite by mocking and hating a common foe… or fearing a shared threat. Their… ‘Boss’, their leader, he is FORCING them to be here. You can see his own frustration growing—not at being here with others of his kind, but at essentially having to constantly bluster and bully a gaggle of unruly animals. It almost reminds you a little of your own frustrations with the kobolds—your inability to make your fellow reptiles see things as you do.

Something needs to be done about this.
>>
>>5336105
In addition, the dark elves present a particular issue as well. Your Reptilian race (and even the kobolds) are mostly dispassionate. They dislike the Bogbarri, and make no qualms about expressing such to you and to one another, but your social and military doctrine is centred around the usage of unpleasant, mammalian assets—through infiltration, subversion, manipulation, even interbreeding when absolutely necessary. You can swallow a bitter pill. The Drow are different elves than the Elf-specialist knew, but they ARE elves—passionate individualists, warrior-poets, flighty and haughty and prideful. The mockery of the Bogbarri, the boasts and threats, the grating voices of these enormous bugbears… It sets them on edge such as you have never seen.

Even Paeris, only half an elf and no favourite of the Drow, is nearly provokes to violence when they interrupt his attempts to tune his lute and practice his craft of elven bard-song. He’s seemed… Quiet, reserved, almost dejected for a while now, but this worsens it. You are shocked to see Oluwadamilare actually step in to physically pull his fellow Degenerate away from launching himself at a bugbear twice his weight with dagger in hand. The bright side is that it seems to garner the half-elf a modicum of respect from the Drow; the downside is that is founded on a hatred of one race of your alliance by the other.

This, too, needs to be addressed.

How do you plan to bridge the divide and tame the bugbears?
>Share some meat and mushroom-wine, and attempt a cultural exchange of revelry and bread-breaking
>A joint exercise—take a force mainly composed of these two factions into a test-battle against a dwarven company-town, and bond them through battle
>Hold a strictly-regulated competition, to get out some aggression and set up a hierarchy
>Throttle and coerce the bugbears into compliance like the barbarians they are; ply the elves with honeyed words, as worthy allies
>Write-in
>>
>>5336106
>Throttle and coerce the bugbears into compliance like the barbarians they are; ply the elves with honeyed words, as worthy allies
>Ask their "boss" to throttle them with us.
>Hold a strictly-regulated competition, to get out some aggression and set up a hierarchy

Throttle them first THEN do the strictly-regulated competition. There is no way they're following the rules without that. The competition will hopefully make the bogbarri realize that there are some elves and reptilians that are just as strong as them and could throttle them just as easily as their boss.
>>
>>5336112
Asking the boss to throttle them with us is so that we don't step on his toes too much.
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>>5336112
+1
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>>5336112
>>5336113
+1
>>
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>>5336112
Supporting.
Damn I hate the bogbarri. Let's apply the good ol' south park strategy
>>
The bogbarri aside from being giant assholes do have a lot of potential as a race that makes it sort of worth it to invest in staying allies with them. Their natural stealth, size, and spines make them excellent fighters, if they ever moved away from their lone stalker social structure and got their population up they would be a force to be reckoned with. They're like Orcs but with stealth magic and spines.
>>
>>5336112
Support

>>5336193
They’re fantasy Predators taken to it’s logical conclusion. They shouldn’t be invested in as allies, but assimilated into our Grand Design, the overarching hierarchy with us as their king. Fuck their solitary hunter-gatherer bullshit.
>>
>>5336112
>>5336113
+1
>>
>>5336113
Maybe their Boss is like us, but for them. Could be interesting bonding over that. Bringing up kobolds would suck since we have a few here with us and they WILL hear. I think if the dark elves and our group see us and the Boss lambasting the other bugbears and showing them what's what, that could help. Hell, we could even get Pit Guard in on this, he's got experience keeping unruly shits in line
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Rolled 2, 8, 8, 18 = 36 (4d20)

>>5336279
>>5336227
>>5336154
>>5336140
>>5336137
>>5336112
You meditate on it for a time: how to tame the Bogbarri, to make them useful members of an organized fighting-force. In time, a course of action reveals itself. You open your eyes, stand, and stride across the great cavern where you currently make camp, to the Bogbarri’s brooding Boss.

Naturally, with his race’s keen senses, he hears you coming. He does not stand, certainly does not bow. If he doesn’t regard you as lesser, he at least sees you as co-equal. That’s galling enough.

“Copper,” he greets you with a grin, adjusting his posture from his sulking slouch to a straight-backed, chest-puffing stance. His nails drum the rock. “Are we finally leaving this place, to go do something? My bogbarri grow restless.”

“I can see that,” you agree. “Tell me… How doe syorur ace normally live?”

He narrwos his eyes, grin slipping, as if confused or troubled by the question.

“What you eman?” he asks.

“Do you normally live in groups like this?” you ask, gesturing to where two of his subordinates even now throw themselves at each other in an impromptu wrestling match over some jerky, biting and swinging at each other.

He says nothing for a time, then asks: “Why you want to know?”

It’s clear in his tone: the answer is ‘no.’

“You can’t fight alongside us like this,” you hiss. “You have no discipline. At the first sign of personal benefit, these bugbears will break rank and charge to seize the spoils. At the first sign of trouble, they will turn invisible and run.”

The Bugbear Boss shrugs and laughs, saying: “As it should be, yeah?”

You meet his eyes, and it’s clear to you that he can see the problem, but has no solution. None except…

“They fear me,” he grins, “more than enemy. They will obey.”

You shake your head, saying to him: “It is not enough. They need to be able to listen to ME, to work with the DARK ELVES and the KOBOLDS.”

The Bugbear Boss stands then, like a great bear rearing up on its hind legs… Though even now, he is a few inches short of your height. He lets some of his chain slip from his arm, falling to the ground with a bang and clatter which summons several pairs of bugbear—and Reptilian, and even elven—eyes.

“You wish to be new Boss? You TAKE title, like I did, or you <kien net>.”

You don’t understand the last two words, but you think you get the gist: he just told you to back off.

“Listen,” you say quietly, forcing politesse through gnashing teeth, trying not to rise to his challenge, “I have been where you are now… Trying to curb the self-defeating instincts of my kind… For our own good. You would not have bound this bugbears together into this group—which you all clearly hate—if you did not see the benefit in it. I am offering to HELP you, so you can help ME. Alliance, remember?”
>>
>>5336355
>18

You see the Boss’ eyes flicker, as the bugbear leader’s uncommon wisdom (for one of his vile sort, anyway) allows him to comprehend your point—even understand your attempt to empathize.

“Rrrr,” he growls, “fine. We will try it your way, Copper.”

So it is that the next day is dedicated to your organizing of a sparring competition, between bugbears, elves, and Reptilians. Your subordinates draw a chalk ring, wherein two males may enter and attempt o drive the other one out to secure a nominal reward and bragging rights. Aiding you in this is the Pit Guard; after all, he has decades of experiencing in keeping hormonal young males in line, even your OWN worthy self.

The Bugbear Boss is also ever on-hand, and inf act demands to be treated as co-organizer of this little event, to save face and maintain clear status among his warriors. You grudgingly oblige, since it seems to be necessary for his pecking order to be maintained, and because he has more success at predicting when one of his Bogbarri will snap and take a sparring match too far, attempting to draw a weapon or to jam spikes into a friendly adversary’s eyes. Several times, he and the Pit Guard together must tackle two opponents and drag them apart to prevent a fatality; when the Pit Guard does this, he drags the offender before you, so you can administer a few blows and bellows of your own. In time, you even take your space in the ring yourself—though NOT against the Boss, by mutual unspoken understanding.

By the end of the lengthy exercise, you see some signs of success. You master a few simple dwarven words—commands, warnings—and the Bogbarri heed them flinchingly. You also learn something of the Bogbarri’s fighting style and temperament: they prefer to attack indirectly, always loping sideways and striking from blind spots, targeting weaknesses and injuries, blinding or maiming if given half a chance… And, surprisingly and perhaps a little disappointingly, at any moderate suffering or risk of failure, they are quick to flee, to nurse their wounds and regroup.
>>
>>5336381
“It makes sense that they behave this way,” the Novice notes as she attends to a few of your injuries—surface scrapes, unavoidable even in a ‘friendly’ sparring match with a great ape covered in spikes of keratin.

“How so?” you ask, aggrieved by their cowardice—one more complication to plan around.

“Think about it, Oh Hyperfocused One,” she teases you quietly, and she massages some of her healing salve around your wounds with surprising gentleness, to aid in her magic. “If—and I say ‘if’ but we both know I mean ‘when’—you are injured in battle, what do you do?”

“Deal with it, unflinchingly, as is worthy of my station,” you answer drolly.

She swats you with her tail, though she has to hide a rattle of laughter at your deadpan self-aggrandizement.

“You come to me,” she corrects you. “You go to a healer, and rest, and let others do what must be done while you recover. But a solitary hunter… Not a lion, but a tiger… What does such a mammal do?”

She meets your eyes, answering: “It dies. It fails to hunt, it starves. Its kin kill and eat it. Injury means death to these beasts.”

You sigh, acknowledging her point even as it continues to frustrate you. Still, it must be said that in spite of this deficiency, a pecking order of warriors has been established… And the cowardly, pain-averse bugbears mostly gravitated to the top of that pecking order, with only a few of your Reptilian warriors above them, and NONE of the dark elves able to best a spike-man in direct, unarmed combat. The bugbears are better-integrated into your forces… But the elves now seethe.

“They feel it was a pointless exercise,” Oluwadamilare explains, averting his eyes and bowing his head in respectful apology. “Humiliating and demeaning.”

You value the Degenerate Archer’s estimation of the elves, for—moreso than Paeris, and certainly moreso than the absent Elf-Specialist—he seems to have taken to them, and vice versa.

“The bugbears are ALWAYS armed, naturally, thanks to their spines, nails, and teeth, “ he explains. “They are bigger and stronger, with better reach. Likewise, most of OUR males. To the Drow, it seemed like an exercise design for them to fail, to be thus relegated to lower status.”
>>
>>5336384
You hadn’t thought of this. Your own race, after all, has some of the same advantages—thick skin, claws, sharp teeth. Even the kobolds—who, admittedly, lost out to the Drow in spite of this—have inbuilt studded leather armour and daggers. However, to hold a second competition where only Drow can be armed would seem to favour them overmuch, and be BLATANTLY designed to undercut the others.

What do you do?
>Approach the Drow separately, to explain the purpose of the exercise: manipulating the Bogbarri, so they can better serve a social order where DROW will have privileges that the bugbears will not
>Invite the Drow to discuss the matter with you AND with The Boss, who is being considerably more amicable following your discussion and plan, to discuss the need for mutual respect
>Let the Drow sulk for now—when the time for battle comes, they will prove their worth, and earn their respect in the eyes of the others, but they will get no special privilege from you
>Hold another competition [specify if you have anything in mind] designed to showcase the abilities of the elves and kobolds
>Write-in
>>
>>5336385
>Invite the Drow to discuss the matter with you AND with The Boss, who is being considerably more amicable following your discussion and plan, to discuss the need for mutual respect
>Ask Oluwadamilare to calm the elves anxiety

I don't know if a meeting with the boss will go well but might as well try. He's been surprisingly helpful and actually knows elf-speak. As for Oluwadamilare I think it's best for him to comfort the dark elves, he knows them better than we ever can (inside and out in fact) and they respect him as the one who landed the final blow on the devourer.
>>
>>5336385
>Let the Drow sulk for now—when the time for battle comes, they will prove their worth, and earn their respect in the eyes of the others, but they will get no special privilege from you
>>
>>5336432
+1
it makes sense the dark elves respect Olu because he's also black
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>>5336432
+1

He can dick down the elf leader jiggle her a bit to make her happy
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>>5336462
It's actually more because he's tall (and bold, and banged their leader and learned their language after helping to kill their ancestral enemy), but I laughed when I realized what I'd accidentally done
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>>5336471
Jazkarmel didn't come with you and, while between their androgyny and complex concept of gender you can't be SURE, none of the dark elves with you appear obviously female
>>
>>5336385
>Approach the Drow separately, to explain the purpose of the exercise: manipulating the Bogbarri, so they can better serve a social order where DROW will have privileges that the bugbears will not

Obviously not to the drow as a group, just their leader who can be subtle and secretive. Point out our observations on their social order and why we thought this was necessary so that we didn't fall apart before even reaching the dwarves.

We really should raid them soon btw.
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>>5336385
>Approach the Drow separately, to explain the purpose of the exercise: manipulating the Bogbarri, so they can better serve a social order where DROW will have privileges that the bugbears will not
>>
>>5336385
>Approach the Drow separately, to explain the purpose of the exercise: manipulating the Bogbarri, so they can better serve a social order where DROW will have privileges that the bugbears will not
>Invite the Drow to discuss the matter with you AND with The Boss, who is being considerably more amicable following your discussion and plan, to discuss the need for mutual respect
First with the Drow alone, then the Boss. Clearly we need to pamper the fucking elves’ ego before we can have a discussion on mutual respect.
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>>5336532
>>5336500
>>5336471
>>5336462
>>5336454
>>5336432
>>5336692
It is apparent to you that a summit between your three factions is necessary, to reach an understanding. Well… Four faction, really, but the kobolds are well-in-hand. Despite earlier difficulties, compared to the bugbears and dark elves, the little Reptilians are positively EASY to understands, and to deal with. For instance, to make this summit happen, it is apparent that you must first stroke the elves’ egos a little.

With the aid if Oluwadamilare the Archer, you learn the name and station—something akin to ‘Ranger-Captain’—of the chiefmost elf in your party. The individual in question is an elfman named ‘Epharidan’. You also learn a traditional, respectful greeting and gesture, used when two highly-ranked Drow are first making acquaintance. Though you have traveled together for some time, this is your first direct dealing with the Ranger-Captain, and so it seems appropriate to use it… And, in a way, displays your respect for this Epharidan’s race.

“Dragonborn,” he acknowledges you in turn, using the True Speech term for your title-of-birth, and bowing his head in the manner of your subrodinates… Though he maintains disconcerting eye-contact with his pale, pinkish eyes.

“Are we to make for the dwarves soon?” he asks. “It will be good to do so, now that the… Performance… is over.”

You nod solemnly, acknowledging his and his subordinates’ discomfort with the recent sparring.

“A performance in truth,” you say. “But not one without purpose. I did not mean to cause any discomfort, of course. I merely needed a means to control the Bogbarri, to keep our factions functioning as one until we reach the dwarves. As you can see, they are now on best behaviour.”

“I suppose they might well be,” the Ranger-Captain replies, “now that they have new playthings, in me and my elves.”
>>
>>5336731
You note that all four show signs of scrapes and bruises—shinier, redder patches of their deep-purple skin—incurred in the recent match-ups. The other three are each conspicuously sharpening their stone-and-bone blades to a fine edge. They yet sit far from the Bogbarri.

“Playthings? No, no,” you correct him. “You are an ancient and cultured race, yes? The bugbears have only their physical strength and the fear of others’ physical strength to keep them together and in-line. You and your people have much more. Never will elves be playthings. Not in—”

“—in YOUR mountains?”

You pause, narrowing you eyes.

“Forgive me, Dragonborn…” Epharidan says, bowing his head again. “Or is it ‘Copper’, as the leader of those monsters calls you, ‘Copper, King of Bloodrise’?”

Ah, so your boast (admission? declaration?) came up in the bugbears’ boasting.

“Yes, well, that’s one more matter to discuss. Will you join me, and the Bogbarri leader, in discussing it?”

Despite his obvious misgivings and distrust, Epharidan consents to follow you to where the Bogbarri Boss is already impatient waiting, fidgeting and tapping his padded foot.

“Finally!” the Boss says, grinning and spreading his arms. “Elf is here to scknwoeldge loss and discuss how to serve, yeah?”

You and Epharidan both narrow your eyes. The Bugbear Boss has been more cooperative and helpful since you came to your ‘understanding’, but it’s still plain that even this wisest and most social of Bogbarri understands relationships as a matter of dominance and control. Not SO different from your race, but he lacks any nuance, tact, or subtlety… Let alone the politesse of the elves.

“We gather here to discuss MUTUAL respect and cooperation,” you reply, looking between them both.
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>>5336732
It is clear from the Boss’ casual stance and jutted chin—and the crossed arms and closed body-language of the Ranger-Captain of the Drow—that neither sees much cause to respect the other.

How do you plan to rectify this?
>Praise the strengths of the dark elves, such as their superior numbers, superior culture, varied magics, ranged weapons, and make it clear that YOU respect them and will reinforce their claims here; likewise, acknowledge the Bogbarri’s physical superiority
>Warn them that if they cannot cooperate, you will simply summon your own race form your homeland and, with them and the kobolds INSTEAD of the Drow and Bogbarri, you will take this entire land for yourselves and leave them nothing
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted
>Propose that you three go on a hunt together—to seek out a beast of the deep-dark, whereby you can each prove your mettle
>Write-in

Now that the elves are evidently aware of your aspirations to be Copper Dragon of Bloodrise, how will you address this?
>Make it plain: these are to be YOUR realms, first and foremost, but that the other races may live there
>Downplay it as an ancestral title, but assure them that they will be coequal partners in this realm
>Promise the Drow that, in their territory, they will have preeminent dominion, and promise the Bogbarri freedom to move within your held territories—though you cannot promise them the same in Drow-lands
>Write-in
>>
>>5336736
>Praise the strengths of the dark elves, such as their superior numbers, superior culture, varied magics, ranged weapons, and make it clear that YOU respect them and will reinforce their claims here; likewise, acknowledge the Bogbarri’s physical superiority
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted

>Promise the Drow that, in their territory, they will have preeminent dominion, and promise the Bogbarri freedom to move within your held territories—though you cannot promise them the same in Drow-lands

We're taking the lion's share of land and wealth from the dwarves here. The Elves can have their own territory here as an allied state. This also will hopefully make the Bogbarri boss realize that it is important for him to try to somewhat make nice with the Drow here. If he continues to belittle him his people's movement will be restricted in the future by a much expanded Drow realm.
>>
>>5336828
Hopefully this will be enough babysitting and we can finally get to the war proper.
>>
>>5336736
>Praise the strengths of the dark elves, such as their superior numbers, superior culture, varied magics, ranged weapons, and make it clear that YOU respect them and will reinforce their claims here; likewise, acknowledge the Bogbarri’s physical superiority
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted
>Propose that you three go on a hunt together—to seek out a beast of the deep-dark, whereby you can each prove your mettle
Some ego healing, a bit of wine, and a hunt to end it all.
>Make it plain, but make a promise; we will talk with the Drow Queen to come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement
Best not to beat around the bush, the point was alway to get the Drow within our Sphere of Influence.
>>
>>5336736
>Praise the strengths of the dark elves, such as their superior numbers, superior culture, varied magics, ranged weapons, and make it clear that YOU respect them and will reinforce their claims here; likewise, acknowledge the Bogbarri’s physical superiority
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted

>Promise the Drow that, in their territory, they will have preeminent dominion, and promise the Bogbarri freedom to move within your held territories—though you cannot promise them the same in Drow-lands

elf would be pissed if not get territory. thats why they signed up for raiding we told them you get land but not gold. when we meet and jiggle fat drow queen asshole then they’ll obey us
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>>5336736
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted
>Propose that you three go on a hunt together—to seek out a beast of the deep-dark, whereby you can each prove your mettle
>Make it plain: these are to be YOUR realms, first and foremost, but that the other races may live there
These are our lands nigga! WE WUZ KANGZ!
>>
>>5336828
Bogboss clearly doesn’t understand diplomacy or politics. It’s why we should simply subsumed them into our polity instead of relying on them to suddenly create their own society.

I’d like to do the same with the elves, but with their consent and with respect to their culture. Becoming one unified polity instead multiple conflicting ones would vastly simplify our journey to the Age of Scales and the Surface.

>>5336853
I sometimes wonder about you, thiccanon.
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>>5336926
Hehe I’ve learned a lot from ck2 and Annebennar
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>>5336926
There problem with bringing the Bogbarri in is that they would need constant attention to keep them under control. Their entire social structure is busted. It's much easier to let the Bogbarri boss deal with them until further notice, I'm hoping he'll be able to get some socialization through these talks eventually.
>>
Do the spiky men have women? Or they like beastmen in warhammar
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>>5336736
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted

>Downplay it as an ancestral title, but assure them that they will be coequal partners in this realm
>We will talk with the Drow Queen to come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement
>>
You guys do realize we already promised the elves territory as apart of the raid deal, right? They legitimately have no reason to participate without it since that was the main promise.
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>>5336736
>Praise the strengths of the dark elves, such as their superior numbers, superior culture, varied magics, ranged weapons, and make it clear that YOU respect them and will reinforce their claims here; likewise, acknowledge the Bogbarri’s physical superiority
>Open up the blood-red mushroom-wine, to be shared by you three, and discuss your shared ambitions and goals, then give a unifying speech one their spirits are lifted

>Promise the Drow that, in their territory, they will have preeminent dominion, and promise the Bogbarri freedom to move within your held territories—though you cannot promise them the same in Drow-lands

baby steps
>>
>>5336736
>Propose that you three go on a hunt together—to seek out a beast of the deep-dark, whereby you can each prove your mettle
>Make it plain: these are to be YOUR realms, first and foremost, but that the other races may live there
>>
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>>5337212
>>5337197
>>5337083
>>5336862
>>5336853
>>5336836
>>5336828
[Post in progress!]
>>
Rolled 15, 3, 12, 3 = 33 (4d20)

>>5337274
The discussion grows more and more heated, and as it does, pressure increasingly is directed at you. Both the Ranger-Captain and the Bugbear Boss made their agreements with you, and have no such pact with each other. As such, it is YOU who they expect to reconcile their differences, both in culture and objective.

“Copper, you have promised us spoils! You said nothing of forfeiting our right to travel and hunt as we see fit!” The Bugbear Boss huffs, and you see genuine concern for the first time cross his features. “My wives and cubs will starve.”

“Huh, so you have bearmaids somewhere?” the Ranger-Captain scoffs. “I was beginning to think you sprouted out of the ground like fungus.”

You do not admit that you’d been beginning to wonder the same thing, yourself.

“At any rate,” the elf continues, “our territorial sovereignty is absolute. It MUST be. Do you think thatw e Drow do not remember what has happened to OUR sposues and children, whom your race ahs seized in the dark?”

The Bugbear Boss doesn’t flinch, stating simply: “If they wander alone, without protection, they are fair game. It is a law of nature, elf.”

“You dare—!”

The elf’s outraged response is just short as you noisily unplug the waxy cap from a hollowed-out mushroom, which serves as a gourd for the queer wine of the dark elves. You proffer it to both mammals.

“Drink,” you suggest, “and calm yourselves.”

The Bugbear Boss watches you warily until, with a sigh, you take a sip, and visibly swallow it. Only then does he accept, taking several long gulps… And then, without much enthusiasm, passing it to the Ranger-Captain, who drinks just as deeply but with more grace.

“It seems to me that both your races are, frankly, invaluable in a war against the dwarves,” you state. “I wish to lose neither of your people’s support, now or in the future. Ranegr-Captain, you MUST acknowledge the physical primacy of the Bogbarri. They are larger, stronger, faster, armoured, clawed, fanged, and naturally possessed of a magical stealth.”

The Bugbear Boss grins a shit-eating grin, chortled nastily to himself, while the elf’s face clouds over.

“Dragonborn, if you brought me here to humble me before this, this… Thing…”

“Of course not,” you interrupt. “Your own culture has VASTLY superior military doctrine, a wider array of magic, superior technology, AND a greater population.”

You meet the bugbear’s eyes as you affirm the next point:

“In a full-on war,” you say levelly, “the Drow would exterminate the Bogbarri without difficulty.”
>>
>>5337308
>What does she fucking care, anyway? She, who made your childhood miserable, who mocks and belittles you constantly?!
>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.
BOTH
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>>5337296
The dark elf smirks somewhat, while the Bugbear Boss blanches.

“Luckily, that is not what I have planned for this realm,” you continue, taking another drink to steel yourself.

“So we come to the heart of it,” the Ranger-Captain says. “YOUR plan, for YOUR realm, Oh Copper Dragon. Does Princess Jakarmel know of this?”

…Princess?!

“It is… Something that will be discussed with the Queen of the Drow, when the time is right,” you respond, “to our MUTUAL agreement and assent. But these ARE my people’s lands. I doubt any race here has yet forgotten the Age of Scales… The Age of DRAGON, when The Red Dragon ruled these mountains, and the lands beneath?”

To your gratification and amusement, both the mammals shudder visibly at the invocation of your ancestor.

“I do not seek your ruination or slavery,” you assure them. “I seek ALLIANCE. I said it, and I meant it. This realm IS ours, by right, but there is a place for a Drow nation here… And for the Bogbarri, if you can corral and control your people, bugbear.”

The Bogbarri Boss grunts, suddenly less sure of himself, and takes another drink.

“I try,” he mutters.

“And for the future I envision to succeed—a future where Drow live with plenty of resources, expand outward and upward to breadths and heights unknown since ancient days, the Drow MUST commit to this effort. They MUST work with the Bogbarri. THIS, ‘Princess’ Jazkarmel knows, and approved, and sent you to see to. Do you not agree, Ranger-Captain?”

The elf is silent for a time, then snatches the mushroom-jug from the unresisting Bugbear Boss and takes a deep swig.

>15

He nods, and passes it back to you.

You smile, and lift the jug.

“A toast, then,” you say, “to the New Age of Darkness!”

The other leaders share you toast with mixed emotions, but without dissent. They might not like each other, might even be wary of you, but they have come to recognize the need you three factions have for one another.

The three of you finish the bottle. Both of them handle it well enough, eventually settling into a strange soporific stupor and exchanging old war and hunting stories. Over friends and children lost to predators, disease, starvation, they begin to actually bond. You are positively shocked when, drunk and disabused of his artificially-inflated ego by the drink, the Bugbear Boss comes to openly weep for the loss of an entire family—a female, several cubs—to the Devourer. Both the mammals toast you again with the last of the wine, for your victory over that terrible titan.

The drink affects you most of all, though. You’re proud to say that you maintain your solemnity and dignity, not letting any inner turmoil spill forth to sully your diplomatic success, but as you excuse yourself and stumble back to your camp, you lose track of the fairly short journey.
>>
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>>5337315
“Degenerateborn?” the Novice hisses. “What are you doing here?”

You stare at her, fission bleary, balance off-kilter so that the world-below seems to spin and rotate on some unknown axis. You brace against the cave-wall for balance. You only had three drinks, Gods damnit! But, well, alcohol is simply not the forte of the Reptilian Master Race, and you have come to suspect another active inebriant in this wine…

“Are you okay?” the Serpent Priestess asks, after a moment, seemingly genuinely concerned.

How do you respond?
>You are fine, but her concern is appreciated. You’re going to go now.
>What does she fucking care, anyway? She, who made your childhood miserable, who mocks and belittles you constantly?!
>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.
>Ask her something else—something you normally wouldn’t [what?]
>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail
>Vomit and pass out without further comment

>>5337310
Sorry, in splitting up the post I lost an important chunk the first time. Rectified it! Your vote is noted
>>
>>5337319
ok yeah I was wondering why tf they were talking about "your ancestor" but I just rolled with it
>>
>>5337319
>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail

Kek.
>>
>>5337319
>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.

lets not whine about the banter, it's our thing
we give as good as we get it seems like
>>
>>5337319
>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail
>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.

Rest our head between those fat cheeks and jiggle it a little.
>>
>>5337319
>>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.
>>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail
>>
>>5337337
A rather cheeky course of action, and one I wholeheartedly endorse. We need at least some mostly pureblooded offspring after all, and she is rather plump...
>>
>>5337319
>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held
Ramble a bit about how irritating the diplomacy has been as of late, first the kobolds now this. Grunble how we only had 3 drinks, silently speculate on why our Degenerate biology doesn't seem to come with more alcohol tolerance compared to pureblood Reptillians, contemplate which side of the bloodline we inherited this from.
>>
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>>5337340
>>5337337
Which head?
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5337373
I thought male reptiles had hemipenes instead of proper mammalian peckerheads. Either way, flip a coin for it. Odds big head, Evens little head(s)
>>
>>5337378
I thought of the gag and decided a poorly-photoshopped iguana lady would be amusing. I'm not actually writing anything lewd either way.
>>
>>5337385
Well thank heavens the dice landed on PG-13 then.
>>
>>5337319
>>5337337
+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1
>>
>>5337319
>What does she fucking care, anyway? She, who made your childhood miserable, who mocks and belittles you constantly?!

>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.
>>
>>5337319
>What does she fucking care, anyway? She, who made your childhood miserable, who mocks and belittles you constantly?!
>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail
>>
>>5337319
>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail
>Would she… Maybe hold you, just until you can get your head right, and sober up? You… Think you’d like to be held.

>Princess Jakarmel
Well, that changes a lot. Sorry Oluwadamilare, but we’re gonna need to butt in on this ‘alternative diplomacy’.
>>
>>5337319
>Vomit and pass out without further comment
why is everyone a coomer now
>>
>>5337608
Hey, I'm not
>>
>>5337614
*almost everyone
>>
>>5337319
>You are fine, but her concern is appreciated. You’re going to go now.
>Compliment her fat ass and thicc tail
I’d prefer to leave on that compliment, just because it’d be funny.
>>
>>5337608
If you want some advice, you should probably start shilling for the Prosecutor, who is the God of Chasity. It would probably counterbalance the coomer/MoD shit you keep harping on about. Hell, you could probably convert the Bogboss to him and Serpent, one for Masculinity (and Reptilian Supremacy as a cheeky slight of hand) and the other for Order, because the Bogbears clearly fucking need it.
>>
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>>5337622
>>5337608
>>5337598
>>5337587
>>5337461
>>5337452
>>5337343
>>5337338
>>5337337
>>5337331
>>5337330
>>5337310
“It’s just… One thing after another, you know?”

“What?” she asks. “Did the diplomatic effort go poorly, then?”

“Huh? What? No, no it went great! But it’s just been such a pain. First the ungrateful kobolds, then these… Blustering bugbears… And the elves, even the elves are so, so… Did you know the camp leader, Jazkarmel, is a princess?”

“…The daughter of the Elf Queen?” the Novice asks with interest. “Are you certain?”

“Well, I dunno’, probably? The Ranger-Captain male… He said she was a ‘Princess’. I didn’t ask for specifics… But it changes things, right?”

The Novice scoffs in annoyed amusement.

“Oh, let me guess: as with the bug ‘princess’, you’re going to use this as a pretense for why you MUST mate with her? You heat-addled, monkey-brained...”

You stare at the Novice as she goes on and on, not really listening to the words—just enjoying the sound of her voice, watching her tail sway back and forth with irritated lashes… Watching her thighs shift.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” you interrupt her. “Elves aren’t like you… Like your Amulet of Disguise version was, I mean. Even their ‘Princess’…”

“What are you on about now?” The Novice sighs.

“Your ass,” you specify, “and you tail. Thick. Got some… Jiggle to it. THAT’S what they all lack.”

The Novice’s eyes widen, in shock or outrage. She opens her mouth to rip you asunder with a fresh torrent of insults, but instead emits a small squeak at you stumble forward and very nearly topple over onto her.

“Wait… This smell… You’re INTOXICATED. You buffoon, mammalian intoxicants have unpredictable effects on our race!”

“Ah, but I’m a… A… What’s it you’re always calling me… ‘Degenerateborn’. I shouldn’t be so…. Intolerant? Is that the word? I should have more tolerance, for… For alcohol. I think there’s something else in mushroom-wine, if I’m being quite honest.”

The Novice hisses with annoyance, but helps support your much greater weight as she guide you to the ground.

“I will do an alchemical analysis of what we still have, check your blood toxicity levels, and immediately concoct an antidote to—”

“Hey,” you interrupt her again, “could you… Hold me?”

“…What?!” she asks, with alarm and confusion, more than anger.

“I think you’d make a nice pillow, with all that ‘squish’, and…”

Shamefully, a swell on inexplicable sadness and base sentimentality washes over you, welling up from somewhere deep.

“I think I’d like to be help. Just until my head is clear again.”

The Novice says nothing, and you feel consciousness fading. Your vision goes hazy, then black. Your limbs go numb, feel distant from you.
>>
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>>5337665
However, before you pass out, you hear her sigh, and you feel the softness of robe-covered Serpent Priestess thighs beneath your head, supporting your neck. You nuzzle into them, eliciting another alarmed chirp from the Novice Fleshweaver, and you sleep a dreamless sleep.

You awake an indeterminate period of time later. Your recollections are blurry, patchy, but you recall enough to be mortified. You well expect to be berated by the Novice, or mocked most mercilessly forevermore about this incident…

But you your surprise, she is still asleep. Perhaps she achieved torpor later, having attended to you after you feel asleep yourself. Most surprising of all, though, is that she seemingly slept the entire torpor while sitting upright—though she has since slumped forward—with your head in her lap… And, as you sit up, you note that she has been running her fingers idly through your hair.

…Huh.

What do you do?
>Wake her—there is work to attend to
>Mock her about this later
>Thank her for her compassion, and apologize for your boorishness last night
>Let sleeping snakes lie—if she doesn’t bring it up, neither will you
>Write-in

Forgive the more simple, personal events rather than moving forward on the raid. I'm going to post one or two more votes in this thread for 'housekeeping' and to set your main objective with the dwarves, and probably start the war plot in next thread, so it isn't broken up awkwardly bit-battle or something.
>>
>>5337668
>>Thank her for her compassion, and apologize for your boorishness last night
>>
>>5337668
>Let sleeping snakes lie—if she doesn’t bring it up, neither will you

WE'RE IN BOYS
>>
>>5337668
>Thank her for her compassion, and apologize for your boorishness last night
>>
>>5337668
>Thank her for her compassion, and apologize for your boorishness last night
>>
>>5337668
>Let sleeping snakes lie—if she doesn’t bring it up, neither will you
Let's see her reaction when she wakes up kek
>>
>>5337668
>Thank her for her compassion, and apologize for your boorishness last night
>>
>>5337668
>Mock her about this later
>>
>>5337668
>Let sleeping snakes lie—if she doesn’t bring it up, neither will you
>>
>>5337668
>Thank her for her compassion, and apologize for your boorishness last night
I wanna see a snake blush.
>>
>>5338259
>>5338207
>>5338115
>>5338011
>>5337992
>>5337740
>>5337719
>>5337718
>>5337681
You clear your throat and, when this fails to rouse the Novice Fleshweaver, you resort to lightly shaking her.

“H-wha? What? What do you—”

The Novice’s nictitating membranes spread open a moment after her eyelids do, and she finally perceives you clearly and, seemingly, remembers the situation in which you both fell asleep.

“Do not get any ideas,” she is quick to snap at you. “I was merely—”

“Thank you,” you say flatly. “Thank you for watching over me.”

That shuts her up.

“I was… Indelicate, I believe, before I rested. I apologize for my… Comments.”

“Not all of us spend all our time traipsing around getting into fistfights, you know,” she says. “A bit of weight in the rear is… A natural occurrence, for a female of a certain age, who primarily dedicates her life to intellectual pursuits.”

“Despite the indelicacy of my comments, they were accurate,” you hazard. “Your shape is not displeasing.”

After a somewhat awkward pause, she turned her face away from you and clears her throat. You get the sense she is trying to hide her expression, but her tail’s nervous, somewhat excited twitches give her embarrassment away.

“You know I am not in season, you mammalian moron,” she eventually says. “And my father would never permit a breeding.”

“Does that mean that, if he did, you would desire one?” you ask.

There is another pause, longer than the last, and then she stands up.

“Stick to impregnating insects, you… D-degenerate!”

She rushes off, muttering something about having important experiments to attend to. You watch her go, enjoying the sway and, yes, the subtle jiggle visible through her hip-hugging robe.

She’s right, though: there ARE more important matters to attend to than… Whatever this was. Though the strange interaction lingers in your mind, you are first and foremost a being of purposeful action. With the unenviable task to manipulating and coercing your tripartite alliance into a semblance of functionality seemingly completed (at least for now) it is time to set you sights on the dwarves. Having slept on the matter—and with an especially comfortable pillow, no less—you are resolved in your approach. You first strike against the Dwarves of Bloodrise shall be:
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces
>Guerilla strikes at their patrols, to put the fear of the Dark Gods into them and to cut off their communications
>Total war! It will delay your initial attack while you negotiate for greater reinforcements, but you will annihilate every company town in a single great reconquista
>An intimidating display, and a declaration of intent: you will let them know you are here, though it risks the conspiracy, and declare FORMALLY your ownership of Bloodrise
>Write-in
>>
>>5338274
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces
>>
>>5338274
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces

total war after it goes well
>>
>>5338274
>Write-in
Can we afford a little more training?
>>
>>5338304
[Nobody can tell you yay or nay to that... Except the Priesthood, who you haven't even informed of your intent to declare a war. As far as they know, you're only here to subjugate the kobolds and collect some artifacts. You have, yo make it clear, gone rogue at this point.]
>>
>>5338319
Oh.....oh shit guys maybe we should had informed the council first.
>>
>>5338274
>Total war! It will delay your initial attack while you negotiate for greater reinforcements, but you will annihilate every company town in a single great reconquista
>>
>>5338323
[The vote at >>5338326, or anything that mentions a delay, will buy you time to smooth things over with the Chaplain.]
>>
>>5338326
>>5338329
Thanks. Changing to
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces
>>
>>5338274
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces

>>5338319
based, fuck the priesthood
>>
>>5338274
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces
Big BIG ambition for the lizard Master Race

>>5338319
Once we do dwarf shit and get kobolds situated and the alliance is all fine and good, we should head back to where this all began and begin our quest to free our bro from down's syndrome
>>
We’re going to need lots of loot and firepower behind us to make the chaplain not flip out on us. Hopefully the tripirate alliance will still be fully united with us in some capacity after the war to put some weight behind us.
>>
>>5338274
>hit a town
>>
>>5338274
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces
>>5338259
Reptilians are coldblooded.
>>
>>5338274
>Guerilla strikes at their patrols, to put the fear of the Dark Gods into them and to cut off their communications
>>
>>5338274
>A rapid and invasion and takeover of a single company town, to learn what lies within and test your forces

>Use the following defense to the chaplain :
>>5326505
>That’s what you want: to be the thread at the heart o the tapestry which is the so-called Great Design.
>“Then so be it,” the Insightful One says.

Thus whatever shit we decided to do on a whim is part of the plan. Not guilty.
>>
>>5338274
>Total war! It will delay your initial attack while you negotiate for greater reinforcements, but you will annihilate every company town in a single great reconquista
RECONQUISTA! Where’s Bluey when you need him?!

>>5338319
While I don’t think knowing that we’re going off the reservation would’ve changed our choice, a footnote would’ve been appreciated.
>>
>>5338636
>monkefag in the thread
>>
>>5338639
Seem more like 3 to me, if you understand that reference.
>>
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>>5338636
>>5338512
>>5338496
>>5338462
>>5338412
>>5338341
>>5338339
>>5338334
>>5338304
>>5338290
>>5338283
There will be no more delays, you decide. It may mean a more humble beginning to your campaign against the dwarves, but this too may be a blessing in disguise: total war could risk exposure, and recruiting further allies could mean making more concessions to the Drow and Bogbarri… Or your own people. Would the Chaplain authorize such an action? Are you prepared to go home, to return to your caves and endless days of inaction, should he deny you your dreams?

No.

Shortly after waking, you summon your retinue—and the ten Bogbarri, the four Drow, and Agno—to your presence.

“Awe have dwelt in darkness, all our lives,” you begin your speech. “Ever have we suffered. We have been isolated, impoverished, denied even the wealth of the earth in which we burrow and hide. Here, in this place, we will change that. This is the Bloodrise—the realm of our ancestors, of the Red Dragon King! This is a LAND of darkness. This place BELONGS to the likes of us—to we who have struggled and suffered in such eternal night, waiting for our time!”

Your eyes settle first on the kobolds.

“…It belonsg to those stewards who have safeguarded it…”

Your eyes shift to the Drow next.

“…To those outcasts who have endured indignity, but found grace, in this depleted and miserable land-below…”

You look to the Bogbarri and their Boss next, and you flash back to last night.

“…To those who have fought, and lost, and clambered up from the depths to seize victory from that defeat…”

And finally, to the Novice, and your retinue who have served you well these last two months—longer than they ever expected to be away from home, in capacities they never expected to serve. Do any of them even realize how far you have drifted from your humble beginnings, or from your actual assignment?

“…To those who are the true heirs of these lands, and this world, and who will rule them once more.”

A cheer goes up, first from the mammals, then from the kobolds. Your own race is slow to react, uneasy with the brashness of the braggadocio perhaps, or perhaps even suspicious that you are overstepping your authority…

But then the Novice Fleshweaver steps forward, her eyes ablaze with ambition, and she lets loose a ululation of celebrations. It isn’t long before the rest join: Olu ad Paeris, then the Thief, then the Pit Guards, and then even the Translator, Merchants, and Cartographer.

You are all, truly, stumbling in the dark now… But, Dark Gods willing, you are stumbling towards glory.
>>
[I'm going to end the thread here, and maybe take a couple days off to plan and to sort out some personal stuff.

Now's a good time to voice any questions or concerns you have... But politely, ideally, and with an understanding that the thread has a variety of different players in it who clearly have different tastes, none of whom are specifically more important to me or will have this story tailored specifically to them.

If you have any lore or meta questions, I'll also do my best to answer them, as long as they don't spoil the ideas I have for the quest moving forward. In those cases, I will either not answer or lie.

Thank you all for playing!]
>>
>>5338741
thanks for running, poggers thread as always

i always pictured roth as way more buff than in that pic >>5338736

if we send uh word to the priesthood that the dwarves were encroaching upon our dragon burial sites and we needed to keep them safe with a preemptive strike how likely would we be to get retroactive approval?
>>
>>5338741
Two questions, can we outright disown a god? As in I understand we have a boon from the persecutor, but hes a dick and goes against everything weve stood for, not to say we dont support reptilians, but hes vehemently against us and a major part of our societies downfall. Maybe disown is too harsh, but if we are to start our own kingdom we should have a say in who we give praise to
Secondly, is Glowie going to get BBEG jealousy if we get in some novice cheeks, or might she understand as thats what got us to bone glowie to begin with being as she was disguised as a "relatively similar" priestess
>>
>>5338741
Thanks for running QM.
>>
>>5338741
What are some reptilian minor gods and do the bugbears have their own minor god?
>>
>>5338741
Are the spiky women thicc?
>>
>>5338736
Why are we pink, RQM?
>>5338783
>i always pictured roth as way more buff than in that pic
I think he's fine muscle-wise, but this artstyle makes him look like a 20yo.
>>
>>5338783
>i always pictured roth as way more buff than in that pic
>>5338948
>I think he's fine muscle-wise, but this artstyle makes him look like a 20yo.

I like to give my artists a lot of leeway with commissions. That said: looking young makes sense, because Reptilians have limited senescence and don't wrinkle as a human would. Roth looks more less identical at 60, as he was in IQ or 80, as he would be now a she did at 30.

>Why are we pink, RQM?
Artist leeway explains this, too. I specified a "bronzey, tan human skin colour" for the scales, and that's what I got; I guess many hear "human skin colour" and default to pink. It is what it is. I found it kind of an amusing contrast to his spooky armour later, so I rolled with it.

>>5338796
>Two questions, can we outright disown a god?
You're under no obligation to worship anyone, but making an enemy of a god through outright rejection could carry... Consequences.

>is Glowie going to get BBEG jealousy if we get in some novice cheeks, or might she understand
REDACTED
>>
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>>5339005
>artist has leeway
>makes us salmon pink
we look like gay tabaluga
>>
>>5338851
>what are some reptilian minor gods
They have a variety of lesser elemental gods associated with fire/lava/stone, wirh cold and wet places, with the deep sea and dark forest, and myriad others who are simply children of the other gods and have no specific domain of their own -- they just act as avatars of their parents' will, or as intermediaries. Many of them have specific rituals and ceremonies associated with them. At times, especialy for minor matters, it is considered more respectful (and safer) to appeal to a lesser dark god rather than to risk annoying a greater one. Of course, you're special.

>do the bugbears have their own minor god?
Goblinoids are godless creatures. They are atheists by and large. They know gods exist, but their cultures hold that the gods made them by mistake, tried to wipe them out, and then failed and gave up. How accurate this is, and which god or gods are responsible if so, is unclear.

>>5338887
>are the spiky women thicc
When well-fed, VERY. They birth litters, so they need to be. Not very spiky, though
>>
>>5338783
>if we send uh word to the priesthood that the dwarves were encroaching upon our dragon burial sites and we needed to keep them safe with a preemptive strike how likely would we be to get retroactive approval?
It's an option, to be sure!
>>
>>5338741
Thanks for running RQM! I still have that meta theory, but I’m content to still my tongue and see if it bears fruit.

This is less of a question, more of plea to the others. Can we try and be more evil? This is supposed to be anti-Paladin, not pseudo-altruist Paladin.

>>5338796
I’m heavily against disowning ANY Dark God. I understand that anons dislike the Prosecutor, but we can probably convince him to reform if appease him a bit in sacrifices and prestige, and by arguing our point effectively. He CAN improve, if we give him the chance and get some insight into the choice he made after the fall of the Master Race.
>>
>>5339143
>Can we try and be more evil?
Too late for that. Far too late.
>>
>>5339149
It’s never too late to have a character arc.
>>
>>5339143
We’re evil, just not evil to our potential allies and people. We tortured that adventuring party and are prepared to commit mass slavery and cannibalization of the dwarves.
>>
>>5338741
Was Princess Jakarmel alway in the cards, or was that improvised?
>>
>>5339284
A little from column A, a little from column B. You'll see if you explore Drow politics. It may not be as significant as you think... But then again, it might.
>>
>>5339195
Eh. It more reads as justice for past wrongs and reclaim our heritage desu, I’m hoping for more of an Assyrian vibe, for any of you history nerds out there. That does remind me though…

>>5338741
RQM, assuming you aren’t doing a Reptilian Infiltrator Redux (as rad as that would be), what would’ve been your plans for the higher level political intrigue with the Paladin King’s family and the other nobles of the realm? I think we really missed out on that in the scrabble to tie up multiple loose ends.
>>
>>5339359
>what would’ve been your plans for the higher level political intrigue with the Paladin King’s family and the other nobles of the realm?
It really depended on whether you got there by being a prostitute or being a paladin of some sort, but you would have been able to play politics with princes, put poison in the king's ear about high-level officials or organizations you wanted gone, assassinate high-level targets... All kinds of stuff. Depending how this quest goes, and for how long, some of this may yet come up in some fashion.
>>
>>5339368
Fuck, that would’ve been interesting. Would have loved to have tried the Paladin route for it.
>>
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>>5339013
I hope this takes the edge off, anon.
>>
One question. Where the fuck did the kobolds get the basilisk from and why do they even need it?
>>
>>5339620
>Where did they get it?
It's a wild animal which lives in the forests nearby, albeit in small numbers

>Why do they need it?
They don't, but Hako and Hapo tamed it to show off their powers, and used it in their raid against the humans. Now, it's sort of a village mascot/garbage disposal.
>>
>>5339610
by dannycamino

>>5324406
by vyrebek

New thread up at >>5339760



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