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You stand before a mess of flesh and viscera, the hisses of steam pipes and whines of molten glass fading at the sight of running blood. You are here to fetch a BUSCHGROSSMUTTER DECANTER, a glass vial of fine enough make to withstand the magical pressure of a TRANSPECIATION POTION. You thought to see to the craftsman’s progress, but..

“Uh–ueeh–..” You stammer, hands above the mess that was once the craftsman.

You are no stranger to death, nor is any wizard worth the weight of their wand. You saw well enough at the conservatory: teleportation mishaps, self saponification, the crocodile incident. You are well aware that great magic demands great sacrifice. But to see such a mess up close–gore spattered about the floorboards, a man painted against the wall–you can’t help but go a bit green in the face.

Your fair lady still waits at the shop’s front, the decanter stuck in what was once the craftsman.

>What do you do?

>>5515374
>Grab the decanter and go
>>GO GO GO
It's not safe here! This is no place for magical merriment with our shapely teacher, no place at ALL!

>>5515374
>”Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. If you don’t mind, I need to use the nearest unused bucket for a moment.”
>”HUUUUUAAAAAAGGUHH”

>>5515374
>Grab the decanter and head outside
>"Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. I fear that his theory of the killer gnomes had an inkling of truth. We should leave..."
>"Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but is there any way to revive him?"

>>5515372
>>Grab the decanter and head outside
>>"Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. I fear that his theory of the killer gnomes had an inkling of truth. We should leave..."
>>"Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but is there any way to revive him?"

>>5515374
>Grab the decanter and head outside
>"Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. I fear that his theory of the killer gnomes had an inkling of truth. We should leave..."

>>5515434
+1

>>5515372
Hello again QM

>>5515374
>Grab the decanter and head outside
>"Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. I fear that his theory of the killer gnomes had an inkling of truth. We should leave..."
>"Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but is there any way to revive him?

>>5515374
>Grab the decanter and head outside
>"Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. I fear that his theory of the killer gnomes had an inkling of truth. We should leave..."

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>>5515382
>>5515413
>>5515432
>>5515434
>>5515437
>>5515460
>>5515470
>>5515472

>Grab the decanter and head outside
>"Lady Sigrid, it appears the craftsman has exploded like a poorly made blood sausage. I fear that his theory of the killer gnomes had an inkling of truth. We should leave..."
>"Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but is there any way to revive him?

“Ah–ehh–ueeh–..” You take a deep breath, shut your eyes, and grasp for the glass. Your fingers squelch as you pluck the bottle from its nest of meat. You cradle the now red vial in your arms as you make from the back of the shop and near trip over yourself as you do.
“LadySigriditappearsthecraftsmanhasexplodedlikeapoorlymadebloodsausage.” You rattle off to the witch at the front, your face hot with sweat and the bottle neat in your arms. “Ifearthathistheoryofthekillergnomeshadaninklingoftruth. We should leave–.. ah, a bucket–..”
You take a deep breath, plumb your throat, and expel an acrid green bile of peapods and chicken kiev into the craftsman’s bucket. You continue to retch for a long moment until–much to your surprise–you feel a hand on your back as your master pats you–a bit too roughly, actually.

“U-uh.. there, there, Snuff.” Sigrid attempts to ease your discomfort, a clumsy attempt to seem maternal, perhaps. “Now, repeat yourself, slowly.”

[...]

“Hmmm..” Your master ruminates, a hand on her chin. “I suppose it comes as no surprise to me that the old man was slain–he was wont to make enemies, and wizards are seldom enemies for long. But to die with us here.. he was a pain to the end.”
“Could it be that his gnome theory had merit, then..?” You hum to yourself as you dump the chicken-kiev-peapod-bile bucket out the window.
“A murder of this caliber does not suit the gnome’s modus operandi. They prefer poison. No–this seems more a wizard assassin’s work.” Your fair lady mutters. “We ought to leave sooner rather than later.. won’t be long before the wizard police arrive..”
“Ah–..well.. forgive me if this is a foolish question, my lady, but might you have the power to revive him, or..?” You posit for her.

The lady gives you a strange look. “You know well enough it’s impossible to revive someone–not in any meaningful way.” Sigrid grimaces. “Though.. even given the messiness of his death, it may be possible to channel his ghost with such a fresh corpse..”

>What do you do?

>>5515482
>Yes, it might be better to leave now before the wizard police arrive, the potion you drank will probably run out soon.

>>5515482
Carry as much of his corpse as possible and leave

>>5515491
Walking round with a bucket full of dead guy seems like it would be suspicious even in a wizard city.

>>5515482
>Summon his ghost and ask who did this, if we can
We might be seen as loose ends. We should prepare to protect ourselves.

>>5515482
>”…How much of his corpse do you think you’ll need for this spell, Lady Sigrid, and is it possible to cast it in a more secure location?”
>Put whatever wizard bits she wants into a decently sized pot with a lid, and try not to think how much the meat smells like the meatloaf you used to eat at the conservatory.

>>5515482
>>5515498
Supporting.

>>5515482
>>5515498
+1

So what do we know about the world here?

>>5515491
+1
Thinking more corpse means better ghost talking.

>>5515490
Supporting
Let's not cause any trouble for the soon-to-arrive wizard police.

>>5515482
>"Though.. even given the messiness of his death, it may be possible to channel his ghost with such a fresh corpse..”
Hope this doesn't take too long if we do it

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>>5515955

If you have any specific questions, I can answer.

>>5515490
>>5515491
>>5515498
>>5515500
>>5515509
>>5515520
>>5516006
>>5516027
>>5516113

>Yes, it might be better to leave now before the wizard police arrive, the potion you drank will probably run out soon.
>”…How much of his corpse do you think you’ll need for this spell, Lady Sigrid, and is it possible to cast it in a more secure location?”
>Put whatever wizard bits she wants into a decently sized pot with a lid, and try not to think how much the meat smells like the meatloaf you used to eat at the conservatory.

“A-ah, yes, well.. it may be better to leave before the police begin their investigation in earnest. Your transpeciation will run short soon, no?” You have to crane your neck to meet your master’s eyes. “But it may prove worthwhile to get a word in with him. How much of his corpse do you think you’ll need for this spell, Lady Sigrid? Would it be possible to cast it in a more secure location?”
“Well, as much as possible is ideal.. or as much as we can carry in a bucket. ” Sigrid grimaces. “I could channel him anywhere so long as I’ve got some of the corpse. The hitch is quality–any less than the whole of his body will diminish how intelligible he’ll be, and any longer and his spirit will fade from reach. If we wanted the most out of him, I’d have called forth his ghost with that pile of flesh in the other room right now.”

As much as you’d love to see your master work her magic, you just haven’t the time for any protracted casts. Your lady sets to work (at her insistence) to collect wizard bits into a pot and lid them up whilst you keep an eye out from the front window. Your moss-person companion stands just outside a finger in her nose. You’ll have to collect her as you leave..

“Ah.” You narrow your eyes at the alley street ahead of you. A few figures in terse, peacock blue robes have begun to gather up across the street, cloth hats tall and set low over their eyes. “Lady Sigrid! I think the police have arrived..”
“What!? Already?!” Your master barks, a pot held in her hands as she breaks from the back room. “That’s far too quick, even for wizard police. Hmph–someone must’ve seen something, or perhaps.. Well, how do they look?”

“They don’t look too eager to bust in.. they’re likely not aware of us.” You release a sigh of relief. It’s good you didn’t waste any needless time channeling up that stodgy old man in the back, lest you’d’ve been running into them in far more difficult-to-explain circumstances.

>Suggest leaving through the back. There was a window through to the back alley.
>Maybe you could leave by heading up the stairs and clambering across the rooftops.
>Try escaping downward. The wizard city’s sewer systems are famously large and complex.
>Maybe you’ll be able to cut your way through the front by bluffing.
>Write-In.

>>5516181
>Maybe you’ll be able to cut your way through the front by bluffing.
No mossperson left behind!

>>5516181
>Try escaping downward. The wizard city’s sewer systems are famously large and complex.

>>5516181
>Maybe you’ll be able to cut your way through the front by bluffing.
We almost forgot our BEEG girl.

>>5516181
>If you have any specific questions, I can answer.
NTA but what is actually going on with our characters weird magic that was briefly established last thread? Whats it got to do with his half-elf heritage? And how does magic usually work anyways?
If these question are to be established more naturally through the story please ignore.

>>5516181
>Maybe you’ll be able to cut your way through the front by bluffing.
Would they really hold such a great witch as SIGRID DE HAUTDESERT susicious of murdering some random schmuck? Especially one shes known and been a customer to for many years.

>>5516270
Well, we are carrying a bucket of his guts

>>5516181
>Try escaping downward. The wizard city’s sewer systems are famously large and complex.
Sounds like a good time. What could possibly go wrong here?

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>>5516270
I'll be expanding on this a little more later, but basically you were born with extreme natural talent and potential for magic but difficulty with controlling it, basically the exact opposite of Sigrid.

Also, I'm not sure I'll be able to update again until around afternoon tomorrow, so in the meantime you can post some drawing requests or ask a question about magical merriment and/or shapeliness. Thanks for reading!

>>5516278
For magic purposes which, as wizard police, they will surely understand.

>>5516316
Draw a member of the gnome conspiracy.

>>5516316
What do we look like without the hat?

>>5516181
>Try escaping downward. The wizard city’s sewer systems are famously large and complex

>>5516316
>>5516319
Forgot to say please.
Utterly unforgivable.

>>5516181
>Suggest leaving through the back. There was a window through to the back alley.

Play it cool.

>>5516181
>Suggest leaving through the back. There was a window through to the back alley.
Sneaky time.

>>5516181
>Maybe you’ll be able to cut your way through the front by bluffing.

>>5516316
What is the technological advancement in this world?
I know there are guns (or blunderbusses at least), but what about cars or other machines?

>>5516316
Is this some kind of fantasy biopunk? What is this genre-wise?

>>5516595
They also seem to have modern apartments and citites and stuff.

>>5516316
Also another question, whats actually up with the primordial sea? Is it just what seperates pockets of forest and other elevated land in this world like an actual ocean would? Is it actually endless? What would a map look like?

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>>5516183
>>5516185
>>5516205
>>5516320
>>5516453
>>5516466
>>5516578

>Maybe you’ll be able to cut your way through the front by bluffing.
Would they really hold such a great witch as SIGRID DE HAUTDESERT susicious of murdering some random schmuck? Especially one shes known and been a customer to for many years.

“I’ve got it, my lady!” You snap your fingers, abreast with pride. You move for the door. “These meager constables daren’t question the sworn word of a great witch! If you’d spell out our intentions here, we can leave them to their work and make for the chapel before sundown.”
“Snuff, wait–” Your master barks, but it’s too late. You shunt open the door and step outside, the thick scent of magic-broil porcine heavy in the smoky air. Your great big moss-woman companion glances at you. You motion for the police, who’ve taken to your abrupt appearance with less-than-kind glares.
“Your attention, pigs.” You enunciate clearly and loudly. “You needn’t waste your time with the insipid rigamarole of questioning and interrogating and other constabulary nonsense. This is all a great big misunderstanding. My master can explain this whole situation!”

You motion for her with a twirl of your hands. Your master does not step forth. You perform another perfunctory twirl. And your master yet remains.

“..I don’t mean to question you, my lady, but–..” You look back to your lady and realize it all at once–gone is the master you’ve come to know and worship, and back in her place is the half-pint. Her face is red hot, her once form-fit dress now slunk about her body like drapery. You look back to the police, who perceive no great witch but some slutty hobbit.

>What do you do?

>>5517295
I said this would happen

>>5517295
Oh. Right.
Kek.
>Grab Molly Mossdottir and cheese it down into the sewers

I wish I could say I didn't expect something like this.

>>5517295
>Tell these gents that we are traveling, and that despite what they might think our lady is honorable and good. Explain to them we were merely here to get an ingredient from the late craftsman.
>Answer any questions they might have, but try not to cause more embarrassment for lady Sigrid (make sure not to mention who she really is) then excuse ourselves.
Just running away will definitely make us look suspect, and will make them trail us. Don't want to be on the run forever just because of something dumb.

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>>5516595
>>5516627
>>5517009
>>5516320

>What do we look like without the hat?

A secret for only those you’re most intimate with. Your wizard’s cap is wear you hold more dear to you than anything, perhaps even your wand. But the few who have seen your face say you bear a great resemblance to your elven mother.

>What is the technological advancement in this world?

The capital runs riot with motorized carriages, electrical lights, wet-plate photographs, great machinery put on exhibition stages for all the world to ogle at–now, they say, is an era of innovation for the human world. You don’t see much of that in the frontier towns in the sea, though.

>Is this some kind of fantasy biopunk? What is this genre-wise?

I mostly think of this as fantasy with magical merriment and shapeliness.

>Also another question, whats actually up with the primordial sea? Is it just what seperates pockets of forest and other elevated land in this world like an actual ocean would? Is it actually endless? What would a map look like?

The sea is as yet an insurmountable mystery in spite of hundreds of years of researching and mapping and exploring and studying. The lot of sentient life–elves, humans, dwarves, all manner of fantasy beast and hide–teem about one ocean, the PHORCYS SEA, whilst all around it endless plains of grass stretch out beyond the known world. The chthonic, untamed wilderness hangs heavy over civilization.

>>5517295
Can we check our magic options? If one of them presents an easy solution we wont need to think of some elaborate excuse or risky escape.

Otherwise
>>5517316 +1
I don't really want to become a fugitive when we're actually entirely innocent.

>>5517295
what comedic timing
backing >>5517316

>>5517316
And the bucket of his remains? Pass it off as the reagents?

>>5517306
I'll support this

>>5517488
>>5517490
My ID changed
>>5517304
I'm this anon. I had no idea what to do back then.
I still don't

>>5517488
Why not just tell them the truth? We were trying to channel his ghost in order to figure out what might've killed him.
In fact, actually channeling his ghost will probably prove us innocent pretty quickly.

>>5517498
>>5517322
>>5517316
I fear we will embarrass our beloved master, to expose her in her identity in her current state.

>>5517488
We could, though that's risky. How about just telling the cops we were trying to find someone that could channel his ghost to find out what happened (not our lady, but someone else)?

>>5517498
She doesn't have as much magical capabilities as a halfling. I'm not sure if she'll be able to do it in her current state.

>>5517523
That's also a possibility, but I'm trying to avoid that one with my write-in.

>>5517316
supporting

>>5517523
But as >>5517316 said we don't actually need to expose her identity (not that we could actually prove it to begin with, given that Sigrid is known to be a human and not a halfling). We will just have to pretend we're someone else.

>>5517581
+1 to the channeling suggestion, it probably makes sense to try to find a channeler yourself to figure out who killed your glassware supplier rather than rely on the police in a city like this, so that adds extra credibility to our lie.

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>>5517306
>>5517316
>>5517322
>>5517471
>>5517490
>>5517601
>>5517605
>>5517581

>Tell these gents that we are traveling, and that despite what they might think our lady is honorable and good. Explain to them we were merely here to get an ingredient from the late craftsman.
>Answer any questions they might have, but try not to cause more embarrassment for lady Sigrid (make sure not to mention who she really is) then excuse ourselves.
>How about just telling the cops we were trying to find someone that could channel his ghost to find out what happened (not our lady, but someone else)?

“Aha–.. ahem–.. excuse me, gentlemen.” You clear your throat and position yourself before your scantily-clad lady. “We are just humble patrons who came by to fetch a custom order glass! We’re happy to answer any question. I-it’s just–ah.. see, the craftsman just sort of, ah.. And we had to get his body in a pot, see, to channel a ghost–”
“That’s enough chattin’ shit, boy.” An officer that towers over both you and your master approaches you, the thick, pug black wand of a policeman at your chest–his face is stuck so close you can count the hairs of his stache. He angles his neck toward your mossperson companion, who seems indifferent to his reproach. “You and big bird here are comin' in for questionin'.”

“Ah-wha–..?!” Your master protests behind you. “On what grounds? What is this nonsense?”

“We’ve got an eyewitness account of a murder here–a witch near too broad to fit through a door and her evergreen apprentice settin’ a man to blow over a pay dispute. And here we have the witch, the boy, and the body.” He shoots a glance to the pot of intestines. “So, if you’d be makin' this quick and comin' with us easy-like..”
“This is ridiculous. You can’t seriously expect us to acquiesce to this, do you? What proof? What eyewitnesses–” Your master begins to speak up for you, but a handful of officers blow past her. She near tumbles over in her dress.

“The halfling can scamper off. But someone’s gotta take responsibility for what took place here.” He tilts his head. “Do we have an understandin'?”

>What do you do?

Oh, they think Molly did it.

>>5517734
Just run away already for the love of god.

>>5517734
>how could they possibly have an eyewitness? this all happened 5 minutes ago! clearly we've been set up to take the blame

>>5517734

As >>5517758 said...
>how could they possibly have an eyewitness? this all happened 5 minutes ago! clearly we've been set up to take the blame
Make this protest, then...
>Grab Molly Mossdottir and cheese it down into the sewers
Come on, anons. These wizpigs are crooked! Let's vamoose!

>>5517734
>Have Molly barrel through them, and try to use any magic you have to help.
>Escape with Sigrid and Molly, take the bucket if you can. Go down the sewers and try to lose them.
This might be very risky and will definitely get us on the run, but I don't have any better ideas.

>>5517771
+1

We shouldve took the backdoor

>>5517734
>>5517771
+1

>>5517771
Support.

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>>5517751
>>5517758
>>5517767
>>5517771
>>5517783
>>5517789
>>5518040

>Grab Molly Mossdottir and cheese it down into the sewers
>Have Molly barrel through them, and try to use any magic you have to help.
>Escape with Sigrid and Molly, take the bucket if you can. Go down the sewers and try to lose them.

“Aha–.. yes, well..” You look to your lichen companion, who seems uneasy with the growing number of wizard police closing in all about you. You take a few slow steps back into her side, your hands up. “I would say we do understand the situation, captain.”
Your master and yourself are all at once swept up by the mossfolk, her arms so rough about your sides and neck you feel as if you’ve been taken up by a bear. The wild woman barrels through the litter of officers with ease as she tucks into another alley across the road. You’d attempt to lend magical aid, but your purchase on her is so loose you wouldn’t dare reach for your wand lest you slip.
The blur of concrete and wizard folk around you seems to fade amidst her sprint, the shouts of the police behind you now faint. You’re flung against her arms like a ragdoll as she makes another sharp turn down an alley and a set of stairs..

[...]

“Are you done changing, master..?” You peek between the fingers over your eyes.

“I’m done.” She sighs. You loose your hands to see your master stood before you, a familiar, far more modest green gambeson slung atop her. “..Ugh. What a mess of things. We need to get out of this foul city as soon as possible.”
You stand in a low concrete tunnel, just about tall enough to fit the mossperson. The scent of rank, wet sewer air hangs thick about your party. The wizard city sewers, a complex network of tunnels and pipes and tributaries that runs beneath the mess of a city above. Your master sits on the ground, a hand on her chin.
“We could try to cut through the sewers to get out.. though, the lot that hangs about down here are far more dangerous than the police up there..” Your master seems to ruminate to herself. “But if we go up, we’ve got to contend with wizard police.. but, maybe a disguise.. no, that’s foolish.”

You’ve still got the pot of the GLASSBLOWER (though, far less of him than before after that wild run) and the BUSCHGROSSMUTTER DECANTER in your robes.

>What do you do?

>>5518323
>Cut through the sewers
The sewer people are more dangerous than the police FOR NOW, I'm sure if we keep running afoul of the law things will escalate

>>5518323
>cut through the sewers to get out

Problem with the police is that we might become more recognizable the longer we are in public view

>>5518323
Sewers.
I guess we could use the clothes magic to get three fitting ducksworth's traditional clothing™, but our builds are still recognizable

>>5518323
Let's not get lost into some dangerous labyrinthean sewers we have no clue about whatsoever.
Let's disguise ourselves best we can and find a somewhat hidden route back to the green chapel. The quicker the better, before they can get a full search party on us.
I'm sure lots of murders happen in this city and the police force is probably stretched quite thin.

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>>5518345
>>5518357
>>5518358
>>5518393

>Cut through the sewers

“I think the sewers our best bet, my lady.” You cast a reluctant glance to the world above. “If our only concern is a hasty escape, then it’s best we avoid tight crowds–very much so now given your current form. We ought to find a way out and back through to the chapel from here.”
“Hmm.. perhaps you’re right, but still–the wizard scum that run amuck here will be their own kind of troublesome.” Your master prevaricates, her hands tight. Your half-pint fair lady takes a deep breath. “Fine. Fine. Let’s go. And be quick about it. I’d like to be home in time for dinner.”

[...]

You manage your way through the tributary free of trouble for the most part, save for the occasional rat and your master’s (kind of cute) squeals of terror. You can’t quite muster up a sigh of relief, though– there’s an uneasiness that hangs about the quiet that makes it difficult for you to breathe.
“Ah. Wait. The path splits.” Sigrid observes, her voice low. She approaches the split along the stone sewer causeway–each path looks identical save for a stamp in black paint above each path. The left path features a grimy black hand. The right path features a knife.

“Symbols, hm..?” You squint. “Looks like they’re.. a hand and a knife!”
“They’re familiar.” Sigrid mutters. “I swear I’ve seen them around the city proper before. Though, I don’t know what they mean..”

>What do you do?

>>5518828
Take the path of the hand

>>5518828
The knife looks like a kitchen knife.
Maybe there will be people we can talk about the culinary arts!

>>5518828
>the knife path

>>5518828

It does look rather kitcheny.

> Knife

>>5518828
>path of the knife

>>5518828
I'm guessing... Thieves (sneaky fingers for picking pockets) and assassins (self-explanatory)?

>Hand-path, please

>>5518828
>Draw a turkey over the hand, and then take the turkey path

>>5518828
>ZA HANDO (the hand path)
>place your hand on the marking, see how big it is compared to yours, Molly and master can try too

>>5518828
>Knife

>>5518828

obviously its to show they produce hand-made knifes down here, no magical craftsmanship, all sweat and muscle for these bad boys

>>5518828
>Knife path
Hopefully we don't have to square up against a KNIFE GIRL and her MEATMAN compatriot.

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>>5519395
>>5519376
>>5519329
>>5519283
>>5519035
>>5519011
>>5518964
>>5518879
>>5518866
>>5518852
>>5518841

>The knife path.

“The knife path, perhaps, my lady?” You examine the mark–a clean cut emblem, to be sure. “It looks to be a knife of fine make, does it not? They may be craftsmen, or perhaps even culinary enthusiasts! I have been in need of a new cookbook, so..”
“I somehow doubt there are many culinary enthusiasts in a sewer.” Your master mutters. The causeway down the knife’s way leads far, far down into the dank depths ahead. “But fine, fine enough. I will lead, lest we get a knife in the back.”

[...]

The path continues in quiet–your master, yourself, and your mossfolk, a procession of three in green as you walk the length of the concrete catwalk. You find no assassins in wait with knives in hand, nor do you find any culinary enthusiasts. Your mind begins to wander to strange places (like how your master’s hat seems to change size with her size) until..

“Ah. Stop.” Your lady comes to a sudden stop and you near trip over her. Her halfling’s ears twitch. “You hear that, Snuff? It’s.. men speaking, clinking glass, steel, merriment. Sounds like the city streets.”

“Not at all, my lady.” You respond, your ears nowhere near as lewdly large as hers.
“Hmm.. then, come on. But tread light. The mossperson, especially.” Sigrid a glance at Molly, who tilts her head.

[...]

You come upon the source of the revelry soon enough–the causeway’s walk widens, an assemblage of wood stalls and stone shop fronts built along the tributary before your party. The road runs riot with shady wizards and their ilk plying their trade and hocking their ill-gotten goods. It appears you’ve come across a MAGICAL BLACK MARKET, all too common in the wizard world.
“Hmph. It figures..” Sigrid frowns. These sorts of black markets pop up everywhere–in frontier villages, in capitol townships, and as one might expect, wizard cities. They hock potion ingredients and magical goods impossible to come by within the bounds of the law–even your master has a few parts in her ledgers that you’ve no doubt came from one such market. But you’ve never seen one of this size before..

“Come on, Snuff. Stay close.” Sigrid grabs your hand. “And try not to make eye contact with these lot. Your head might explode.”
Your eyes can’t help but wander as you follow the road down–the shopfronts here feature no legible text, but simple symbols like the ones that led here.

>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.
>Look to the shop with a ghost mark.
>Look to the shop with a knife mark.
>Look to the shop with a dog mark.
>Write-In.

>>5519556
>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.
Trust master

>>5519556
>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.


>“your ears nowhere near as lewdly large as hers.”

Are her ears squishy qm

>>5519556
>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.

>>5519564
I bet the elf half of us thought that.

>>5519556
>Look to the shop with a knife mark.
Let's get some wacky illegal magical gadgets.

>>5519556
>Look to the shop with a dog mark.
A heckin' good boy coukd be a useful companion to listen for danger and sniff out clues.

>>5519556
>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.
Protecc

>>5519556
>>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.
>Climb on something high.
>Warn everyone that the gnomes are out for blood, no one is safe.

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>>5519558
>>5519564
>>5519565
>>5519571
>>5519590
>>5519606
>>5519654

>Stick to your master. You had better be careful.

You figure it best to stick to your squishy-eared master--even at a fourth of her height and a tenth her power, you can’t help but feel safe alongside her. You clasp her hand, grab for your moss person’s, and follow along after her through the black market.
You look the long corridor of stalls up and down, each and every item the kind of magical contraband that could earn you an expulsion from the academy–oni’s toes, goblin femur wands, smoked elf ears. You find it distasteful, true, but it’s all the same tempting to know these ingredients lend themselves to such powerful magicks.

“‘Scuse me, bub.” A short young woman mutters as she bumps into you, a swarm of rats trailing along past her. Your master near shrieks as her horde cut ahead of your party.

“Ah, no..-- problem..--” You feel a strange squirming about your cloak. You grasp for your left pocket, then your right pocket, then your breast pocket, then your crotch pocket–the BUSCHGROSSMUTTER DECANTER on your person is gone, and in it’s place is a FAT RAT.
You look ahead to see the short woman waving you goodbye and sticking out her tongue, herself and her rat horde now slipping into the black market crowd. You can make out a shiny glass bottle atop one of the many rats in her flock.

>What do you do?

>>5519689
After the thief!
Shout that we need the decanter, we can pay for it.

>>5519695
Also be sure to firmly grasp the rat.
It is one of her accomplices

>>5519689
>use Magic?

Otherwise
>>5519695
Also, what a weird thing to steal.

>>5519689
>AFTER THE THIEF!
>Firmly grasp the rat
>Try to use magic on her and sic Molly on her

If this doesn't work do >>5519699

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>>5519689
>Send Molly ahead after her
>pic related the fat fuck

>>5519701
>>AFTER THE THIEF!
>>Firmly grasp the rat
>>Try to use magic on her and sic Molly on her
>Transforms the rat into a dove with glow-in-the-dark feathers.
>Call her Chi-Cho.

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>>5519689
>firmly grasp the rat and show it for Molly to smell and track it
>go after the rat girl
This fat fuck can help us trail the rat girl.

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>>5519695
>>5519696
>>5519699
>>5519701
>>5519803
>>5519814
>>5519832

>AFTER THE THIEF!
>Firmly grasp the rat
>Try to use magic on her and sic Molly on her
>firmly grasp the rat and show it for Molly to smell and track it
>go after the rat girl

“Ah–thief..!” You start with a shout. You look about the crowds of the market as if for reassurance, but, as one might expect, the throng of ne’er-do-wells do not leap to your aid.
“Well?! What are you waiting for?!” Sigrid snaps. “Go get it back!”

“A-ah! Right!” You begin to bound after the rat girl, the crowd about the market such a thick mass of cloth and cap you might lose yourself were it not for the moss woman. You let her take point, the FAT RAT held tight in her hands as a source of smell.

You trust the wild woman’s nose, but you’ve no small worry that the girl might shake you off her trail or lead you into an even worse situation. You might cast a spell, but that would certainly attract more attention from the unsavory wizards around you than a meager chase.

>Use your magic.
>Just run her down on foot.
>Write-In.

>>5519985
> Magic!

When in doubt, escelation is always the best choice

>>5519985
>Use magic

>>5519985
>Just run her down on foot.

>>5519985
>Use your magic.
She's probably faster than us, and finding another decanter might not be in the cards anymore.

>>5519985
>Use your magic.
No way we're legitimately catching up to her.
And depending on our cards we won't have to use any too flashy magic to get the flask back anyways.

>>5519985
>>Use your magic.
Moving our body faster is inefficient and dangerous, BUT if we move the universe around us we only have to take a couple of steps.

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>>5519993
>>5519994
>>5520000
>>5520001
>>5520008
>>5520014

>Use your magic.

The crowd is thick, the air heavy, the work hard. You instead prepare your WILD CARD MAGIC–as a child born of the wild gods, your magical capacity is UNLIMITED and UNBOUND. You can call forth any spell you can to bring to mind with the mastery of a great wizard–albeit, with little control of what you actually cast. You can only do as much as to call forth a random three-card hand and pick out one.

>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.
>Glibness: A spell that lends your words an aura of truthfulness and charisma (that lasts until the spell ends).
>Resilient Sphere: A spell that can calls forth a sphere of shimmering force that can encloses a creature or object–upon a successful roll, you can trap it.

>>5519985
>Use your magic.

Her life is now disposable.
Use any means necessary to get the wallet back.

>>5520058
>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.
>grab the pickpocket’s throat — do not let go under any circumstances

>>5520058
>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.
…just grab the flask from the rat horde and bring it back, no need to choke a halfling or gnome if we don’t even know if she controls the rats.

>>5520058
>Glibness: A spell that lends your words an aura of truthfulness and charisma (that lasts until the spell ends).
>"If you don't give it back to us, you will die! And not necessarily by our own hands."
Helps that this might be true, since the cops and/or whoever set us up probably want the decanter.
I'll admit that the servant is more certain, but I want to see how she'll react.

>>5520058
>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.

> Molly! Throw me at the pickpocket!

> Snatch the glass with our servant

>>5520058
>>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.
Grab the decanter

>>5520058
>Resilient Sphere: A spell that can calls forth a sphere of shimmering force that can encloses a creature or object–upon a successful roll, you can trap it.

>>5520058
>Resilient Sphere

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>>5520075
>>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.

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Hey QM!
I think I know which Sigrid this is (pic rel) but am curious if I'm supposed to know of any other quests besides Butcher Block? It's been a few years and to be honest I found it pretty hard to go search up that old thread over the years because I forgot the name, and you don't post with a trip so it's hard to track down your work besides the drawthread tag on the archive (and your art style, which I must say has improved over the years! Nice linework!)
Is there any other lore to know or series to read that takes place in this world? are our parents Scruffy and Gaia? Is that why we got the apprenticeship job in the first place It's always fun to read through your threads and your characters are great, so if there's any more context to check out let me know.
Are there any socials you have to keep up with your work?
Also it was really cool to see the blunderbuss in the first thread.

>>5520464
Damn I didn't know there was more to this. Quite a lot too. Is there anything more? Also I hate the archival system for this board, it feels bad that so many stories and ideas just get lost forever. The weird search system just makes it worse. The butcher block quest mentioned some kind of shitpost quest that was vaguely related to it, but I couldn't find it so I presume it wasnt archived and is lost forever.

>>5520732
I also didn't know there were previous quests, but I did find them on suptg
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=butcher+block

>>5520738
Oh nevermind, you are talking about another quest mentioned on the butcher block, not butcher block itself.

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>>5520062
>>5520071
>>5520073
>>5520075
>>5520106
>>5520134
>>5520175
>>5520210

>Unseen Servant: A spell that calls forth an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends within a range of fifteen feet.

“Unseen Servant.” You draw from the power of the WILD GODS. The font of magical power flows from your wand–ethereal, electric, abstruse–and begins to take shape. The servant’s form, though imperceptible to you and all others, ripples with a latent magical radiation that draws some attention from those around you.
There is just one small hitch, though: the thief, from what occasional glimpses of rats you can see in the crowd ahead, is well more than fifteen feet ahead of you (perhaps twenty-five or thirty). The servant has a short effective range that necessitates you close the gap before you can use it to its utmost.

>Ask Molly to fling you.
>Use the servant to throw something at her.
>Attempt to shove through the crowd with the servant.
>Write-In.

>>5520852
>Ask Molly to fling you.
Half-elf torpedo

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>>5520464

I'm surprised someone actually remembers that lol. I wouldn't worry too much about it--the settings are the same, but this quest's story and characters are largely unrelated (and focused on magical merriment and/or shapeliness). I'm writing this quest around the assumption that no one's reading the old one.

>>5520852
>Ask Molly to fling you.

>>5520852
>Ask Molly to fling you.
>command the servant to pull the pickpocket’s head back if within range

She’s hit the ground just like us.

>>5520852
>Ask Molly to fling you.
We're already basically bullet shaped, it'll make for great aerodynamics.

>>5520464
Could you refresh my memory as to what other quests the qm has made

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>>5520855
>>5520865
>>5520866
>>5520873

>Ask Molly to fling you.

"Uhh--Miss Mossdottir, if you would--" You grasp for her to pick you up.
The wild woman does not hesitate--tugging back her sleeves and rolling her shoulders back, she lifts you up onto her haunches and prepares to toss you over the crowd, UNSEEN SERVANT in tow.

>Roll a 1d20, Bo3.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5520892
Lets go!

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5520892
Decent roll so far

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5520892
>>5520886
Haremvania 1+2, CSM Quest, Hedge Quest: Summer of Sake (not the OG quest), Small Titty Tomboy GF, Hikkikomori, Psychokinetic Chuunibyou, maybe some other stuff I'm forgetting.

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>>5520897
Goddamn

>>5520897
Woo!

>>5520900
I still dream of a conclusion to Small Titty Tomboy GF.

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>>5520897
>Rolled 17 (1d20)

You did well to place your trust in her strength. The mossfolk angles back, grunts, and heaves you over the crowd of thieves in the black market. Her aim holds true. You feel weightless for all but a moment as the thief comes into view, her horde of rats with ill-gotten goods on their backs close at her side.

>Grab for the decanter.
>Grab for the thief.
>Grab for one of the stolen goods.
>Write-In.

>>5520933
>Grab for the thief.

If we just grab the decanter then she could deploy countermeasures — we can grab it later

>>5520933
>Grab for one of the stolen goods.
Decanter is probably not worth that much. So grabbing an actual valuable might work as a kind of hostage in order to trade the decanter back?

I feel if we grab the decanter directly we may break it or something, and if we grab the girl the rats will just run off with the loot.

>>5520941
And now you have a hostage

>>5520933
>Grab for the decanter.

>>5520933
>Grab for the thief.
The decanter might be damaged at this speed, but if we grab the thief we should be able to make her give it back to us without harming it. If she notices one of the stolen goods being swiped there might be a chance she'll just cut her losses and run away.

All that would be left is getting her to comply, which might be difficult.

>>5520933
>Grab for the thief.

>>5520859
Fair enough, was still funny to see the glassblower reference the leather eating. Nobody got the reference either! Maybe if we ask Sigrid a bit more about it she'll spill.
If you want to include a few friends of old here or there I certainly wouldn't mind.

>>5520933
>Grab for the thief
And do >>5519985 again

>>5521018
lmao nevermind changing my vote to this.

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>5521018
>>5520933
This

>>5520933
>Grab for the thief.


>>5520900
Pretty sure qm did the MGIBTGGF: Sidestory Oneshot Super Deluxe Edition, and Small Titty Tomboy GF was done by the person who did Hedge quest, Mystery investigation, and the most recent Barovian threads.

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>>5520938
>>5520941
>>5520948
>>5520956
>>5520989
>>5521018
>>5521026
>>5521205

>Grab for the thief.

“Servant! Apprehend that thief!” You command the spirit. You feel a rush of magical tension, an electrical hum in the air, and a sudden current as the force moves ahead of you. You manage to perform a (somewhat) even tuck-and-roll into the ground as the rat pickpocket jolts to a halt up ahead.
“Hey..! What the hell–?!” The thief snaps, now afloat a foot high in the air as the force raises her by the crook of her hood. The rats mill about the ground beneath her in confusion as she reaches for the knife. “You! The green asshole! Lemme go! You know who I run with?!”
“Hmmm..” You take a few steps to observe the thief, mossperson close in tow behind. The crook’s hood has slipped back to reveal an ear–tall and pointed, but fat. The thieves’ stature is small–she’s a bit too round to be a halfling, but nowhere close to as stocky as a dwarf..–yes, indeed, this is a GNOME.

“Let me go!” She nearly swipes you in the face with her knife. “You’re in big trouble now, idiot. I report to the Thousand Cut Family! You’re dead!”

>Interrogate her using your masterful interrogation skills.
>Drop her, as she requested.
>Write-In.

>>5521259
>Take the decanter
>Interrogate her using your masterful interrogation skills.

>>5521259
>Take the knife
>Take the decanter
>"Tell your gnome conspiracy that they may have gotten mister Cornwall, but they will never get me!"

>>5521259
>take the decanter
>Interrogate her using your masterful interrogation skills.
>grab her by one leg and shakey shake her upside down, cartoonishly dropping a whole ocean of stolen items

>>5521259
>>Take the knife
>>Take the decanter
>>"Tell your gnome conspiracy that they may have gotten mister Cornwall, but they will never get me!"
>Get all info about the gnome conspirasy, by the force if needed.
>By the force I mean tickles.

>>5521316
Supporting. I am >>5520910 and >>5520865, btw.

>>5521259

>>5521259
>Take the Decanter
>Give her a good shake, as punishment
>Interrogate her using your masterful interrogation skills.

>>5521316
Supporting

>>5521316
Support.

>>5521259
>take the decanter
>command the mossfolk to cut her hand

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>>5521269
>>5521280
>>5521316
>>5521327
>>5521331
>>5521343
>>5521357
>>5521381
>>5521472

>take the decanter
>Interrogate her using your masterful interrogation skills.
>"Tell your gnome conspiracy that they may have gotten mister Cornwall, but they will never get me!"
>grab her by one leg and shakey shake her upside down, cartoonishly dropping a whole ocean of stolen items

You need only pluck your glass from one of the rats, who seem to have grown lackadaisical without their pied piper. You have come back into hold of the BUSCHGROSSMUTTER DECANTER–with this taken care of, you may instead turn your attention toward GNOMELY PURSUITS.
“Now.. onto the rogue.” You point a finger at the gnome, who takes another swipe at you. “You go and tell your gnomish higher-ups that they may have gotten their hands on glassblower, but they’ll never lay a hand on my master!”

“What the hell are you talking about?!” She barks back at you. “Let me go, you pine need–”

You pick the gnome up by her leg, whereupon you have good purchase, and begin to shake her–one of your FOURTEEN DUCKWORTH INTERROGATION TACTICS. The gnome begins to make weird noises as you bob her up and down, her robe clinking as ill-gotten goods come tumbling down onto the black market floor.
“Wuh-wuh-woah..” The gnome groans, looking just as green as her hood. She takes a few more woozy swipes at your hand. “Ah, you.. idiot..! You think you can get away with attacking a Thousand Cut agent in Thousand Cut territory? That ghost magic trick was real fancy, but it got people lookin’. And they’ll be comin’ after you to take me back!”

>What do you do?

>>5521599
>I'm a DUCKWORTH, I fear no blade! NOW ANWSER MY QUESTION!
>More shake.
>Take the sword, the cused dage, the hat and mask as a gift to our master for fail at protect the decanter.
>Keep the rat.

>>5521599
>How about I send YOU back to the people — in a bodybag
>Command mossfolk to take everything

>>5521623
>>5521599
Oh and give the cat ears to the mossgal.

>>5521599
>Keep the fat rat
>Take the knife she is holding
>"Talk gnome! How did your conspiracy explode Cornwall and alert the police so quickly! I know you are a member because you took the decanter!"

>>5521599
>>5521632
Supporting.

>>5521632
Maybe we will have to kidnap the gnome for her to answer the questions

>>5521599
>"Talk gnome! How did your conspiracy explode Cornwall and alert the police so quickly! I know you are a member because you took the decanter!"
>More shake
>Take the cat ears as a toll and gift them to Molly
And let's NOT shout our identity in this spooky criminal market, please, >>5521623?

>>5521635
That could be a good idea. Especially if we take her to Sigrid/Molly first.
It might even dissuade her from telling her higher-ups to go after us.

>>5521599
>Take the egg(?) and the fat rat
>drag her over to the ladies
>continue the interrogation

>>5521632
This, and ask her…
>”Not that I care all that much, but why in the world are you using a kitchen knife as a weapon if you have an actual dagger that burns with green flames?”

>>5521675
Because is cursed. If you try to cut with it it's edge will be dull. Unless you get a 20 of 20, then it will take the head off whatever you wanted to kill.

>>5521599
>Keep the fat rat
>take the knife
>wear the cat ears
>continue our masterful interrogation

>>5521675
>>5522180
The dagger is a reference to a previous quest this qm did, which was mentioned earlier in the thread; butcher bank. The hat is also a reference to a different quest. These two are the ones I recognize, but all of the items are probably references.

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>>5521623
>>5521628
>>5521631
>>5521632
>>5521634
>>5521638
>>5521651
>>5521675
>>5522184

>Keep the fat rat
>Take the knife she is holding
>"Talk gnome! How did your conspiracy explode Cornwall and alert the police so quickly! I know you are a member because you took the decanter!"

You would go for her knife–the mossfolk or unseen servant could wrest it from her–but you fear the ensuing struggle might end up sending it flying into the crowd, or worse, your party. You feel comfortable enough with it in the gnome’s stubby arms. You do, however, tuck the fat rat into your pocket as a new companion.
“Now talk, gnome!” You shout her down, your voice firm. “How did your conspiracy explode our glassblower and alert the police so quickly?! It’s no use denying it–I know you’re a part of this mess since you stole our decanter!”
“I told you before, I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I don’t care about that stupid bottle.” She spits at you. “But, if it’s valuable enough to come after me for.. maybe when the Thousand Cut Family’s done with you, I’ll keep it for myself!”

“That’s enough, Snuff.” Sigrid pushes from behind you, eyes on the gnome. “This is our thief, hm? A gnome.”

“She’s part of the royal gnome spies, isn’t she?” You whisper to your master, one eye on the cutpurse. “She exploded the craftsman, reported us to the police, and then followed us into the sewers to steal our decanter. And.. just look at her!”
“No, obviously not. I thought I told you the ZWERGEN SPY RING wasn’t involved in this?” The witch treats you to an exasperated sigh. “ This is just some second-rate pickpocket who plays with rats. She clearly robs from everyone down here. Just drop her.”
“Aha–.. you can’t be serious? Your master is a halfling?” The gnome sneers as she dangles upside down. “What does she teach you? How to scoff down a second breakfast in five minutes? How to pluck potatoes from the ground without getting your knees dirty?”

“Lady Sigrid.. she mentioned something about the THOUSAND CUT FAMILY–that she ran with them and would tell on us. Do you know anything about that?” You continue to whisper.

“Oh. Hmmmm.” The halfling observes, her eyes now narrow. “Yes, that could prove troublesome. They’re one of the leading crime families in the wizarding world, along with the BLACK HAND FAMILY. They specialize in assassinations. Maybe we should just drown this rat.”

“Uh–what?” The gnome blinks.

>What do you do?

>>5522238
>Continue intimidating her, maybe list some potential gruesome magical murder methods until she stops lying.

>>5522238
>>5522262
Supporting.

>>5522238
>>What do you do?
Quid pro quo. She helps us out this sewer and she will NOT TATTLE to guys she works with and we not kill her, we let her go and mayyyybe if she behaves nicely give back her rat.

>>5522262
>>Continue intimidating her, maybe list some potential gruesome magical murder methods until she stops lying.
>The gruesome magical murder methods are a list of the most common magic accidents.

So the hand is the BLACK HAND?

Give the cat ears to Molly. Or the dhampir hat.

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>>5522332
>mayyyybe if she behaves nicely give back her rat.

>>5522262
+1, really play up the theatrics

>>5522341
Supporting, though let's also dangle the return of Fat Rat as a carrot. And absolutely, Molly gets the cat ears.

>>5522238

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>>5522262
>>5522268
>>5522332
>>5522341
>>5522363
>>5522454

>Continue intimidating her, maybe list some potential gruesome magical murder methods until she stops lying.
>The gruesome magical murder methods are a list of the most common magic accidents.
>Give the cat ears to Molly.

You consider handing the cat ears over to the wild woman, but for some reason, you feel as if putting them on her would be extremely painful–..for you. You instead turn back to the thief to attempt another one of your FOURTEEN DUCKWORTH INTERROGATION TACTICS–intimidation.

“Hmmm.. I fear drowning may not be thorough enough, my lady. I hear rats can swim in times of duress.” You examine the gnome with new interest. “I think transmuting her dermal flesh into lye will do–her subcutaneous tissue will mix with the lye to become soap and deliquesce her muscles until she’s a mess of bones and oil. The process is twice as long and three times more painful than a little water.”
“Aha–.. yes. Very funny.” The gnome scoffs, her laugh a little more unsure. “Uh–.. just so you know, the THOUSAND CUT FAMILY will come for me if you don’t leave me alone right now, so..”
“I don’t think we need to waste any time on complex alchemical transmutation. I’ll just bite my tongue as I cast a teleportation spell. I’m sure she won’t squeal when her jaw and half her brain fuses with that wall.“ Your lady’s eyes grow dark. “But anything would be preferable to letting her mix us up with the THOUSAND CUT FAMILY, would it not..?”

“Relax! Relax.” The gnome snaps at you, some tears in her eyes now. “Okay, maybe I sell some info to the THOUSAND CUT FAMILY. But it’s not like I’m really.. like.. with them, or anything. I’m lower than the lowest rung to them. So.. it’s not like you have to worry about me squealing on you if you just let me go, right? We can all look over this little mishap?”

>What do you do?

>>5522544
Oh ffs we bullied her too hard
>Turn her right side up
>Why did you steal from us? It's clear you're talented what with your ability to control rats, you could make some good money that way. Why resort to stealing things from strangers that you don't even know the value of?
>By the way, whose cat ears are these anyway?

>>5522560
This.

Ask her if she would like a life out this shit hole.
>B-but i cant i have debt and my pile of trash, i just have to make 7 billon in gold-
Yes or not.

>>5522584
You guys really wanna pick this girl up?
We dont even know her name and shes a thief. I say we make that call a little later, after a few more questions.

>>5522544
Let's be on our way, I don't think she will try anything, but let's keep the fat rats.

>>5522622
This, at the bare minimum she can guide us outside now that we've scared her shitless. If she isn't just a cretin we'll work from there.

>>5522622
I also think we should make the call later, but that's why I'm asking these questions
If QM draws her cute and sad while she spills her story, or otherwise makes her backstory cool and interesting, I'm totally down for picking them up.
The rat thing is already pretty funny so more shenanigans with that is compelling enough to bring them with.

>>5522622
>You guys really wanna pick this girl up?

We pick up a wild woman that could break us with one hand. Our party need a thief or a dexfag anyways

Also congratulate Molly on her aim.

>>5522544
>Ask why she sells information to the Thousand Cut Family, and if she can prove she isn't with them.
>Is it normal for people to sell information to them?

>>5522659
>Also congratulate Molly on her aim.
This.

>>5522659
Definitely congratulate Molly
For what it's worth on her though, we just showed them a simple act of kindness and they're now following us around like a stray dog. A really strong kind of hot stray dog.

>>5522544
>>5522661

+1 but let's also keep the fat rat and name him Ciccone

>>5522661
+1

>>5522663
I want to be a white woman rn

>>5522544
>Let her go woth a stern warning
>Ask Master if we would benefit from hiring such a... Person... For our mission
>Congratulate Molly on her throw and compliment her aim

>>5522767
Consulting Sigrid about her is also a good idea.

>>5522544
>>5522661
Also
>Ask what her name is.

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>>5522584
>>5522622
>>5522628
>>5522647
>>5522656
>>5522659
>>5522661
>>5522663
>>5522665
>>5522736
>>5522767
>>5522791

>Also congratulate Molly on her aim.
>Ask why she sells information to the Thousand Cut Family, and if she can prove she isn't with them.
>Is it normal for people to sell information to them?
>Ask what her name is.

“Good aim by the way, Molly.” You look to the wild woman, who rubs her nose at your compliment. You had really ought to try teach her how to speak–maybe back at the chapel.

“You sell information to them, hm..? Why’s that?” You pull back the stick and offer the carrot. “Is that common among thieves of your ilk?”
“Hmph. It’s good money, that’s why–for assassins, information is half the job.” She points a thumb at herself. “And it’s common to sell secrets, sure, but no one metes it out like I can. GNOMISH MAGIC works in tandem with nature, so I can borrow the ears of plants and pests to get a leg up on any other rat in this hole. I’m definitely their favorite!”
“Their favorite? Is that so?” You lean in. “I thought you said you weren’t with them. Can you prove that?”

“Uh–ahh–well—” The gnome seems to realize what she just said and begins to sweat. “Well, a-ah.. Not like that. And whaddya mean ‘prove it?!’ How the hell am I meant to prove I don’t run with them like that? Why don’t you prove you’re not working with the BLACK HAND FAMILY?!”

“I think she’s told the truth.” Your master leans in to whisper to you. “The THOUSAND CUT FAMILY is a major crime syndicate. I doubt they’d actually bring on some half-pint gnome pickpocket who we can cow with a few threats–she probably really is just an info broker. Though, I still don’t know whether to trust her not to tell on us..”
“Hmm, hmm. Then.. you have a name, gnome?” You ask her.
“Ah.. you want to keep me in mind for my services, hmm..?” She observes with a grin. The gnome points a thumb at herself in a show of pride. “My name is BREDBEDDLE. Don’t forget it!”

>What do you do?

>>5522922
>we might need your services right now, Bredbeddle.
>find somewhere remote and explain our current situation to her

>>5522922
>>we might need your services right now, Bredbeddle.
>>find somewhere remote and explain our current situation to her

>>5522922
>Hi BREDBEDDLE.
>Do you know this place like the back of your hand, right?
>We want to get out the city, where we have to go?
>Do you want to do more that sell info in this hole for the rest of your life? You could learn magic with me. Not from Master thought. Master teach me, but you can study with me all I know. Master haven't teach me anything, so it will be easy.

>>5522922
Still want answers to
>Why did you steal from us?
>Were you hired

>>5522922
>"Miss Bredbeddle, can you show us the fastest way to leave the city?"
>"Ah, and Bredbeddle? If we find out the Thousand Cut Family has our information, we will find you."
>Whisper to Sigrid if it would be wise to keep an eye on her for a while? Or at least make sure she doesn't cause trouble for us in the future.

>>5522922
>we might need your services right now,.
>"Miss Bredbeddle, can you show us the fastest way to leave the city?"
>"Ah, and Bredbeddle? If we find out the Thousand Cut Family has our information, we will find you."

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>>5522922
rrat

>>5522922
>we might need your services right now, Bredbeddle.
>"Can you show us the fastest way to leave the city?"
>"Ah, and Bredbeddle? If we find out the Thousand Cut Family has our information, we will find you."

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>>5522973
>>5522996
>>5522997
>>5523001
>>5523110
>>5523138
>>5523500

>we might need your services right now,.
>"Miss Bredbeddle, can you show us the fastest way to leave the city?"
>"Ah, and Bredbeddle? If we find out the Thousand Cut Family has our information, we will find you."

“Well actually, Miss Bredbeddle, we may be in need of your services right at this very moment.” You snap your fingers. “You specialize in information, right? So you would know the most direct route out of the city?”

“Well, anyone with half a brain knows the best way of the city is through the sewers. If you don’t mind wading through a little sewer water–or swimming, for some of us.” The gnome looks to the halfling with a smirk. “I can’t stomach those streets above for long–too hot, too loud, too many vendors smoking rats on skewers, you know?”
“Then we can overlook a little thievery if you lead us out of this hole.” Your master cuts in with a glare. “I trust you’ll cooperate?”
“Woah, woah, woah, woah. My services are premium. I’m not just some fink wizard you can squeeze for a free job.” Bredbeddle puts her hands up. “If you want me to lead you out of this city, it’ll cost you for my time and for my troubles. And with fees on top of that for harassment, so..”
“We’re paying you by not turning your brains into mush.” Sigrid gnarls. “And if we find out you went to the Thousand Cut Family about us, we’re coming back for reimbursement.”

[...]

“Does this black market never end..?” You release a sigh of exasperation, the ne'er do-wells and stalls still rife all about you. You’d like a quiet moment to speak with the gnome, but it seems to stretch beyond the limits of the tunnels. “I can’t help but feel like there’s eyes on us at all times..”
“Probably because there are. Your big lady’s head is scraping against the ceiling there.” Bredbeddle scoffs. “And this black market’s a city in of itself. Don’t expect a break.”
“..Lady Sigrid. Do you think we can really trust this gnome to lead us out of here..?” You lower your voice as you lean into the witch. “Maybe she plans to lead us in circles, so that her criminal associates or gnomish spy ring can jump us to tie up any loose ends with Mister Cornwall..”
“Cornwall?” Bredbeddle cuts in, her gnomish ears too strong for your meager whispers to defend against. “You actually know him? That’s funny. THOUSAND CUTS FAMILY was just askin’ for some info about him.”

>What do you do?

>>5523521
>Ask her what she knows about Mr. Cornwall.
Also, stay wary, I really wouldnt trust her.
Though if she does lead us into some kind of trap we'll probably do decently well with Molly and our magic.

>>5523521
>He’s a dead man walking. Fucked up big time.

It is the truth. Technically.

>>5523521
>"Oh him? He seemed to be quite the... interesting fellow. Was always going on about gnome conspiracies and the like."
>"Do you know about him much?"
Let's not tell her what we know unless we can't avoid it.

>>5523521
>>5523550

>>"Oh him? He seemed to be quite the... interesting fellow. Was always going on about gnome conspiracies and the like."
>>"Do you know about him much?"

>>5523544
>>He’s a dead man walking. Fucked up big time. It is the truth. Technically.
He is not walking. Maybe it would be better other synonymous? "On the running?" "On hiding (on the afterlife)?"

>>5523584
We’re walking him

>>5523521
>Ask her what she knows about Mr. Cornwall

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>>5523532
>>5523544
>>5523550
>>5523584
>>5523597
>>5523644

>"Oh him? He seemed to be quite the... interesting fellow. Was always going on about gnome conspiracies and the like."
>"Do you know about him much?"
>Ask her what she knows about Mr. Cornwall.

“Oh, him? He seemed to be quite the.. Interesting fellow.” You look to the chamber pot of “interesting fellow” you’ve slung beneath your hood. “Was always going on about gnome conspiracies and the like. Did you know much about him, or..?”
“Feh–not a thing, ‘sides he was an old, crazy glassblower that THOUSAND CUTS wanted information on. And racist against gnomes!” Bredbeddle shrugs with a sigh. “The man only wanted to know where he hunkered down with his shop and when he opened it for business.”
“..The man?” You echo.
“Yeah. Said he was with the THOUSAND CUTS FAMILY–big, big guy, even more big than your lady over there. And he wore this helmet.. a little too tall, with slats in the neck for eyes and a fake head at the top out of steel.” She recounts, seemingly unaware of her own big mouth. “He was real scary–..”
Your guide falters as the darkness ahead of the black market seems to break. A figure steps out from a quiet corner of the sewer causeway.. a big, big guy with a helmet that’s a little too tall, slats in the neck for eyes and a fake head at the top out of steel. The people in the black market seem to shrink from sight at his appearance–lowering their heads, walking away, tucking behind stalls.

“A-ah.. there he is..! The THOUSAND CUTS wizard..!” Her voice is caught somewhere between terrified and relieved. “Ahaha–.. it’s.. good you caught up to me! You’re here to save me, right..?”

>What do you do?

>>5523672
>Bullshit time.
>"This fine lady is me, just as my heart is hers! You will never see us again!
>Make a explosion of dust that cover us.
>Make the everyone invisible.
>Dont move.
>Wait that he fuck off.

>>5523672
Play it cool. Play it cool. Play it...
>Pick up Master and leg it!

>>5523672
>"Cool head hat, as you can see I am a fellow fan of extraordinary hats."

>>5523672
>Comment disparagingly upon his fashion sense

>>5523672
>perform magic

>>5523672
>"Erm, can we help you?"
>Prepare your fight or flight response.

>>5523822
+1

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>>5523688
>>5523689
>>5523693
>>5523740
>>5523773
>>5523822
>>5523918

>"Erm, can we help you?"
>"Cool head hat, as you can see I am a fellow fan of extraordinary hats."
>Prepare your fight or flight response.

"Ahem--erm.." You clear your throat and attempt to maintain the appreciable distance between yourself and the strange wizard. "That's wonderful headwear--as you can see, I purvey extraordinary hats as well! Can we help you, or--..?"
"Cause Fear." The wizard's voice is like a rock thrown into a very deep, very dark, very wet well. He waves his strange thurible wand about in the air before you get the chance to reach for yours, and smoke spews from its pulpit.

A bevy of strange images begins to fill your and everyone else's minds.

>Roll a 1d20, Bo3.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>5523940

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>5523940

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5523940
Double 14 is ominous

>>5523947
That's worse, though. Eesh.

>>5523947
I just had to tempt fate… please be like your other quests where critfails aren’t a thing

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>>5523944
>>5523945
>>5523947

>Rolled 14 (1d20)

You manage–by virtue of either of your magical education or your extraordinary willpower–to resist the blunt coils of the spell. You grit your teeth and grind your heels in despite the mortal fear that pools up about your boots. Your master fares even better, her face cool, her hands steady. But you can’t say the same of the wild woman nor the pickpocket.
The mossperson has fallen to her knees and sunken her head into her chest, both hands over her ears as if to block out a horrible racket. The gnome keeps to her feet, her legs quaking like jelly such that you doubt she’ll be standing for long. The wizard glides like a ghost to the thief, steps imperceptible.
Your would-be assassin stands over the fear-stricken gnome, a hand out to grab at her. Your master stands over the mossfolk in an attempt to sling a massive arm over her shoulder. “Snuff!” Sigrid snaps. “Help me out with the big one! We’re getting out of here.”
You find yourself reaching for your wand, but you find your hands shaking and teeth clattering so hard you doubt you’d be able to cast very well.

>What do you do?

>>5523975
>I cast rat.

>>5523985
Sure, why not If it works, peak kek.

>>5523975
>Throw the fat rat.

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>>5523985
I completely forgot the pic.

>>5523975
>splash the wizard with the bucket’s contents

>>5523985
Supporting. Goodbye dear friend, we only ye for a small moment

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>>5523985
>>5523975
>>I cast rat.

>>5524060
And maybe cast a spell to make it bigger?

>>5523985
RRAT

>>5524063
We cant choose our spells freely though

>>5523975
>Prepare a magical spell.

>>5524254
>You cast Rat on Evil Wizard.
>It's super effective!
>Evil Wizard is confused, and lost focus!
>Evil Wizard lost his turn!
>You use WILD MAGIC move again!

>>5523975
>throw the fat rat at the guy
>cast GIGANTIFY

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>>5524586
>>5524373
>>5524307
>>5524254
>>5524084
>>5524063
>>5524060
>>5524011
>>5524009
>>5523991
>>5523985

>I cast rat.

You reach into your pocket and fling a fat rat at the wizard. CICCONE lands with a plump whump against the wizard’s steel helm and bounces back onto the ground, whereupon he begins to roll back to you. You deal 1 RP (RAT POINT) to the evil wizard.
Your rodential gambit appears to have worked. You’ve drawn the assassin’s attention away from the gnome and the short-term fear spell has dissipated from your party, the mossfolk and gnome now merely dazed. You now, however, have to contend with the SCARY WIZARD, who has again begun to shake his thurible toward you..

>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.
>Attempt to cast wild magic against him.
>Write-In.

>>5524625
>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.
Mission accomplished, now lets GTFO
How hard were you laughing when you saw what won?

>>5524625
>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.

>>5524625
>Attempt to cast wild magic against him.
He‘ll just catch up to us like this.

>>5524625
>Attempt to cast wild magic against him.

He saw our faces.
He saw the reaction of the mossfolk.
We must go lethal.

>>5524625
>>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.
The rat is too powerful

>>5524625
>>Attempt to cast wild magic against him.
>cast GIGANTIFY on his wand.

>>5524625
>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.
Retrieve Fat Rat, too.

>>5524734
>Retrieve Fat Rat, too.
>>5524625

I thoght that we did it already, but better be sure.

>>5524625
>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.

>>5524630
>Flee
>DON'T FORGET THE GNOME

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>>5524625
>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.
>ScoobyDooRun.exe

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>>5524630
>>5524631
>>5524633
>>5524651
>>5524673
>>5524688
>>5524734
>>5524743
>>5524749
>>5524790
>>5524829

>Flee with the mossfolk and gnome as your lady instructed.

You decide it best to re-group, re-assess, and re-rat.

You sweep the rat (and the gnome, you suppose) up in your arms, their forms near indiscernible in the smog that blankets the area and stings your eyes. You can only just breathe in the haze of incense fumes from the thurible. You need only drag them out to the mossfolk, and–..
“Chaos Bolt.” The wizard’s voice seems to come from the very air around you. You can hear the sound of crackling lightning, rushing water, roaring fire and twisting flesh somewhere in the haze, but you can’t quite orient yourself to face it–it takes all your effort to squint through to see your feet. You feel a presence at your back.
It is the wild woman, now out of her daze and, with a swing of her trunk-like arms, scooping you up in her arms (near breaking a few of your ribs). The witch and yourself in her arms, the rat and gnome at her back, she bolts from the market hall and down into the sewers ahead. You can just make out the tall, belfry-like figure of the wizard through the haze as you make from the scene.

[...]

“Hm.. Even more useful than a dog, perhaps.” Sigrid glances at the now resting wild woman, wiping the incense-like haze from the robe. You’ve found shelter in a small, faraway room in the black market, out of use and relatively quiet–it’s a tight fit and pipes cut through the half of it, but it affords your party some brief modicum of respite from the outside.
“Ackh..! Stupid THOUSAND CUTS ASSHOLE..!” Bredbeddle kicks a pipe, a handful of rats watching her.

>Propose traveling through the city streets instead of the sewer markets.
>Question Bredbeddle as to how much she knows about that assassin.
>Check in with Molly and Bredbeddle to see if they’re alright after that fear spell.
>Write-In.

>>5524869
>>Check in with Molly and Bredbeddle to see if they’re alright after that fear spell
Molly's been a big help in this sewers, give either a headpat or a pat in the back and maybe treat her to something nice like an Omelet or something we do to Sigrid in our home.

>>5524869
>Check in with Molly and Bredbeddle to see if they’re alright after that fear spell.

>>5524869
>Check in with Molly and Bredbeddle to see if they’re alright after that fear spell
>Question Bredbeddle as to how much she knows about that assassin.

>>5524869
>>5524883
>>Question Bredbeddle as to how much she knows about that assassin.
>>Check in with Molly and Bredbeddle to see if they’re alright after that fear spell