>>5446598
Fortunately, it’s not too long before you see just what might be the consequence of it, at least- a massive sinkhole being filled in with what appears to be cement. Large, bony golem creatures are the ones filling this in, massive bags chucked over their shoulders. Seems like this place wasn’t on the best ground. At least it seems like a mostly harmless operation, for once. From the looks of it as you peer around a column, the rumbling was their steps and the sound of all the cement being mixed and poured in. There’s around 5 of them, but only 2 are active now, the other three marching off elsewhere down a hall on the other side of the room. These things are BIG, too. They’re taking up the entirety of the hallway’s width with just three of them, while you feel like at least ten of you could line up side by side and there would still be space to maneuver.

Above the boney boys there’s another floor, still. There’s also a stairwell leading down- but notably that one has caution tape around it, marking it off limits with ‘Danger!’ written on a sign next to it. Hm…

From what you recall of that conversation, those two workers, whoever and ‘Softy’, will be staying in here for the duration of the contest, if what she said is accurate: “no one else should see unless they’re cheating anyway”. That implies there’s a chance to BE seen. That means…

>You need to bail and contact your client to let them know there’s foul play happening. She’ll give the next orders for how to deal with these other interlopers.
>She doesn’t much care so long as it’s not traced back to her, and her child wins (and breaks some records). You’ll camp out yourself and catch whoever these two are at night.
>You’re honestly kinda curious about what else in this place is getting renovated. Might be worth milking this opportunity for all its worth. (Where next?)
>Other

>>5446599
>She doesn’t much care so long as it’s not traced back to her, and her child wins (and breaks some records). You’ll camp out yourself and catch whoever these two are at night.
If we bail we can't interfere. If she's any experienced (and she highly is) she should be expecting foul play anyway.

>>5446599
>>5446615
We still have our invisibility sigil plate

>>5446598
>She doesn’t much care so long as it’s not traced back to her, and her child wins (and breaks some records). You’ll camp out yourself and catch whoever these two are at night.
Why didnt you make a new thread last week
I had to camp the catalog

>>5446599
>>5446615
>>5446623
>>5446653

You’ve more or less got free reign to handle this as you see fit so long as she wins and looks good doing it. So no sense in letting it go to waste.

The golems are nearly done, and they’re all headed to the same place after the quick drying cement is smoothed and set- out, from the looks of it. Good. Now, you just need to find a quiet place. Somewhere away from wherever the field of play is going to be…ah, speaking of, you’re going to need to see how far along they are now. Let’s see if the FutureSight can catch a signa- of course it can.

“-that’s right! For the first time, starting tomorrow, our contestants will be forced to live together for the next two days and nights underneath the watch of the great, the terrifying, the indomitable Lord Grue!” Lady Halovia motions to the castle, large and looming right behind her. “Long revered as one of our most impactful leaders, he and his three daughters and lovely wife lived here for centuries. It is under his watch that our contestants will be judged worthy or not for the title of Scare Master! So pack your bags, people!” she grins back at them. “You all meet back here in the morning, where the sun will shine on a new day of frightening challenges!”

Well, there it is. The broadcast ends, going to the next show, and you realize you’ve got the night to, virtually, yourself in this massive castle.

Excellent. You’ve got some pest control to finish up, hopefully. And that means hunting down whoever these two are. They’ll be around here somewhere…

However, you’re only just beginning your search when you hear a pair of doors slam open in the distance. It sounded like it came from the front of the building. Straining your ears, you can just make out some faint grumbling.

Great. Seems like regardless of where or who they are, you'll have to make sure to step a bit more carefully...

>Roll 1d20, best of three.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5446681

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5446681

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>5446681

File: 1663380639242526.jpg (35 KB, 720x565)

35 KB JPG

>>5446686
Wew

>>5446686
...huh. Okay then.

That was quick.

>>5446681
>>5446684
>>5446685
>>5446686
You quickly hide on the top of an outcropping, behind a large gargoyle statue in the corner. It’s at an angle they can’t easily see you from, plus they’d have to look up, and it doesn’t seem like the newcome is apt to do that; especially considering that it’s Lady Helovia. She power-walks through the area, and you can see she’s making a beeline for the area cordoned off with ‘Danger!’

Suppose that makes sense. However, you’re a bit surprised when you hear a door open around that area… “Miss?!” a somewhat thick voice comes out. “What’re you doing here?”

“What does it look like I’m doing, Softy?” she says heatedly. “I’m making sure you two haven’t fouled anything up.”

“Aw, c’mon, miss,” another voice comes up, this one more slimy and reedy. “We’s got the reactor up an’ runnin’ fine, so everything’s jus’ about set. We make sure the preppy wins, gets the digs, and once ‘e finds the old thing, bob’s your uncle! You’ll ‘ave it all under yer thumb again.”

“I don’t need reminding of what MY plan is, Dredge,” she snarks back. “Now let me see it for myself.”

“Sure, sure,” he grants. “Right this way, miss…”

She steps over the cordon tape, and the sound of footsteps fades away as they go deeper and deeper. Well, that was enlightening. Seems like this game has even higher stakes than expected.

>Follow them. You want to see this for yourself, despite the risks. Whatever it is, it sounds like it could end up bad for everyone here.
>Reactor or no, it doesn't matter if 'preppy' doesn't win. Focus on that- generally messing with anything called a reactor is...dangerous, to say the least.
>Other

>>5446739
>>Follow them. You want to see this for yourself, despite the risks. Whatever it is, it sounds like it could end up bad for everyone here.

>>5446739
>Other
Deploy the Mana Spyder. They aren't moving at a rushed pace, so it ought to be able to follow them.

>>5446739
how fast is mana spyder? can it keep up with them?
I wonder if it's a mana reactor, we haven't fed our birb today yet.

>>5446739

>Follow them. You want to see this for yourself, despite the risks. Whatever it is, it sounds like it could end up bad for everyone here.
Use the spyder

>>5446757
It can, and you can use it.

However, that's it for today because I pulled a muscle in my arm lifting stuff and this shit stings. Will post tomorrow.

>>5446739
>Deploy the Mana Spyder.

>>5446681
>our contestants will be forced to live together for the next two days and nights underneath the watch of the great, the terrifying, the indomitable Lord Grue!
>he and his three daughters and lovely wife

Time to steal their underwear and film then in the shower to frame Redwall as a creep.

Either that, or have Mrs. Grue seduce him à la The Graduate.

>>5446739
>Follow them.

Okay, so here's the breaks.

As you might've guessed, I've been slacking a LOT on running lately. There's no nefarious reason for it, however; I've just come to the conclusion that there's a bunch more stuff I keep wanting to do during the weekends. Y'know, go see movies, go to concerts, wrestling shows, all that sorta stuff. So I keep putting it off and putting it off...it's annoying, I know. But if I'm being honest, I'd been trying to force this whole thing for a while, and it's just...not working. Especially with my job now.

Now hold your horses there, it doesn't mean that I want nothing to do with the setting anymore. I can promise you it sure as hell isn't dead. But what DOES it mean?

I don't know yet. And therein lies the problem. There's still a spark that wants to do runs. But I also am kinda...tired of it? I hate the idea of saying 'I'm going on indefinite hiatus!' because that's mealy-mouthed. Nor do I want to just quit mid-mission, that just seems gross. But that's kinda what things are looking like.

So right now, I guess I'm hitting pause on it while I figure out what the fuck to do. I don't really use Twitter a ton, if it wasn't obvious- never have, doubt I ever will, so I'll set it here. If I don't start a new thread by the new year, assume that's a wrap, if anyone's willing to wait that long. Miranda finished it up and went home in preparation for a lot more mystery in her future. If I don't make it back, that is.

...really, it's been a hell of a ride, and I'm just sorry I couldn't see it through. Enjoy life, folks, you only get to experience it once.

>>5456445
...I gotta admit, I was thinking this would be the case. Hoping it wasn't, of course, but at least I know that you've stopped because life got in the way, and not COVID or the curse.

Been voting in this story around the second thread, six years ago. Think I was still in college at the time.

If you decide to put a pin in this, I just want to let you know that I had a good time reading this story with you, and that I'm glad you've made this in the first place. It meant a lot to me, and I don't regret a moment.

Thank you.

>>5456445
It's been a hell of a ride boss, been here since the pilot episode all those years ago and am surprised you've managed to keep it up as long as you have!
Obviously we'll miss Miranda & co. but it's been great fun, so hats off you ya' and whatever happens in the future.

>>5456445
aww boss these are sad news, but hey, it was 6 year of great content!
i truly hope that you'll return at the end of the year either with a new quest of a continuation of this one, but if not, well it was still a great run and i'll miss it; the world became a little bit better thanks to this in some way or form.

>>5456445
Man, you ran 121 threads, that's insane.

>>5456445
Damn I just saw this, I’ve been needing to catch up with this quest for awhile now but hadn’t gotten around to it. This was a pretty great quest QM and I hope I get to see it continue next year and actually participate again in it but even if it doesn’t and this the end, goodluck to you with life man and thanks for running this quest for so long, it’s been real
Also I noticed that the thread isn’t archived yet, someone who knows how should probably do that before the thread goes

Howdy, Lord Licorice here. This thread was misarchived as a 40k thread, so I've updated the description and reset the score. Let me know on IRC or Discord or semaphore or whatever if you'd like it updated more specifically than this:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Magical%20Girl%20For%20Hire%20Quest