Your name is Sean Clayton, aka Gunsmoke, aka Adjutant Tango. Last time, you finished exploring the Parisian catacombs, parted ways with Gaius, won a handful of bloody brawls in the Colosseum, and spent some quality time with Jack.Now, you’ve begun your journey to the top of Mount Olympus alongside Pandion, and have stumbled into a fight along the way.> Hello everyone, and welcome back to another issue of DC: Henchman Quest! As always, I’m AxisQM. Rules are simple but flexible: 20-30 minutes to vote / roll what I say, rolls count even if you (or I) mess up the modifier, crit successes override, write-ins encouraged. If rolls / votes are slow to come in, I’ll do my best to adjust for it.Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/RwY7nc3SLink to Previous Thread: http://thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5457786/Link to Archive: http://thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Henchman
>>5518581https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee6Ua6jQEjwBoth you and Pandion emerge from the underbrush and square off against the pair of warriors blocking the path forward. They show no signs of surprise at your abrupt appearance, merely regarding you with a curious indifference.Pandion approaches the one on the left, and you find yourself facing the one on the right. This’ll be a one-on-one deal.You’re not quite sure which of the pair that you’re matched up with, but it really doesn’t matter. Both are wearing the same heavy armor and wielding an oversized club. Doubt that their technique varies all that much.Pandion seems to be certain that they’re both direct descendants of Hercules, which means that you should categorically avoid pussyfooting around. Might be a tad unsporting to hit him with both barrels from the get-go, but you’re always in it to win it.You don’t bother with a verbal challenge, instead summoning the Claw of Horus and beelining for your chosen dance partner.The sudden burst of speed allows you to land a vicious uppercut before he can react. You dance back, narrowly dodging the reach of his glorified tree trunk of a club.There’s a big grin on your face as you start launching probing attacks and picking holes in his defense.Goddamn, this feels right.It’s been a long while since you’ve had an opportunity to really cut loose and pulverize something or someone with the Claw of Horus.Sure, you’ve had fights and all, but the big guns had to be kept in reserve.But now, you’re free to wail on an opponent that won’t fold like paper if you give him something harsher than a love tap.Never though you’d actually think fondly of the General, but at least he gave you a square fight.In your books, there’s not much more you can ask of an enemy.A furious flurry of blows to the midsection is enough to stagger him, giving you ample opportunity to get in close for something with a bit more kick.As you go for a clinch, he abruptly swings his club in a deceptively fast arc that’d probably crack your skull like a frying pan meeting an egg.Thankfully, you manage to duck and follow-through with your attack.You give him a straight jab in the chops courtesy of a Clawed fist as a stinging reminder that wild swings carry an implicit price. While he’s still regaining his balance, he makes a tactical mistake by throwing another heavy blow your way.
>>5518582With the added strength and mobility afforded to you by the Claw, it’s a simple enough to turn his own momentum against him. Courtesy of some fancy footwork, you’re able to unbalance him, slip behind, wrap your arms around his chest, and suplex him facefirst into the dirt.Haven’t nailed somebody with that move since you wiped with floor with some of Bane’s boys. Ah, the memories.To his credit, he manages to maintain an unceasing grip on his club, despite the jarring impact of your bodyslam.A tough customer. You can respect that, but it’s not gonna stop you from kicking seven shades of shit out of him.You’ve still got the hold locked in, and he’s not going anywhere fast.While your opponent is busy dealing with a likely conclusion, you take a moment to rubberneck and see how things are going for your pal.As it stands, Pandion and the other twin are furiously grappling and attempting to wrestle the other to the ground. Looks like Pandion managed to knock the club out of opponent’s hands, at the cost of being disarmed himself. You watch, a little surprised at seeing Pandion being steadily overwhelmed by the son of Hercules’ raw strength. Part of you begins debating the merits of jumping to his aid; an idea that is swiftly quashed when the tide turns in Pandion’s favor.His opponent stumbles just slightly as a result of the inherent rockiness of the terrain, a fatal mistake against a warrior of Pandion’s caliber. Your partner’s well-honed experience allows him to immediately notice the opportunity and capitalize on it; allowing him to break the stalemate and piledrive his opposition onto the rough ground.From there, he begins raining down a hail of blows that show no signs of stopping anytime soon.Well, it seems like Pandion has things well in hand. As for your opponent, you decide to capitalize on your successes thus far by…> Pivot into a chokehold and apply a copious amount of pressure to his neck. A pankration classic.> Draw your KABAR with your off-hand and look for a chink in his armor. It’s dirty as hell, but that’s the name of the game.> Wrestle his club away and bash him upside the head with it. He’s got an iron grip, but you can marshal the necessary leverage.> Haul him back up and slam him bodily onto the edge of your knee. If you can land a backbreaker, he’ll be seriously feeling the pain.> Hit him with a spell. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5518585> Pivot into a chokehold and apply a copious amount of pressure to his neck. A pankration classic.Hooray its back
>>5518585>> Pivot into a chokehold and apply a copious amount of pressure to his neck. A pankration classic.
>>5518585> Pivot into a chokehold and apply a copious amount of pressure to his neck. A pankration classic
Rolled 78, 80 + 75 = 233 (2d100 + 75)>>5518591>>5518600>>5518601Looks like you're going for something a little more technical.Go ahead and roll me some 1d100+70(As a reminder, Luck Drain is still set to 7)> DC to be determined.>>5518591Glad to be back, anon. Just needed a little break for the holidays.
Rolled 29 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518609
Rolled 58 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518609Holiday break is always good
Rolled 35 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518609Good to be back Axis
>>5518610>>5518612>>5518620That's a failure; would you like to use Roll the Die for another attempt?> Yes. (Specify if you want the anons to re-roll, or for me to re-roll.)> No.
>>5518625>> No.
Rolled 97, 41 + 70 = 208 (2d100 + 70)>>5518628Alright, looks like the nays have it.Go ahead and give me another round of 1d100+70> DC to be determined.
Rolled 32 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518640
Rolled 40 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518640Big numbers
Rolled 67 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518640Shit.
We need to win the next roll no or we may be out of this fight.
>>5518642>>5518643>>5518647Some decent rolls, yet not quite enough.That's a failure; would you like to use Roll the Die for another attempt?> Yes. (Specify if you want the anons to re-roll, or for me to re-roll.)> No.
>>5518651>> No.
>>5518651> No.
Rolled 61, 11 + 60 = 132 (2d100 + 60)>>5518653>>5518654Fair enough, give me another set of 1d100+70> DC to be determined.
Rolled 55 + 60 (1d100 + 60)>>5518655small numbers
>>5518651>NoWe gonna take it like a champ and try again
Rolled 5 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518655
Rolled 26 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518655 This is bad
By the skin of our teeth.>>5518656
Rolled 84, 82, 51, 6 = 223 (4d100)>>5518656>>5518658>>5518662That's a success, writing.While I do so, just some quick rolls for how Pandion is handling things.The first pair are for Pandion (+60), second pair are for his opponent (+75)
>>5518665damn, he's showing off
He's making us look like a scrub. >>5518665
>>5518665why do we keep him in the gauntlet again
>>5518666>>5518668That's just how these things go sometimes.Nice trips by the way.
>>5518665With a quick roll and some wrangling, you manage to force him into a picture-perfect Pankration chokehold.Once your position is properly secured, you begin applying pressure.Won’t take too long for him to lose consciousness, or suffocate if you’re feeling particularly vindictive.But in the blink of an eye, you’re lying flat on your back with blood idly tricking from of your nose; utterly confused as to how you were dislodged.As you try to stagger back to your feet, the answer hits you like a ton of bricks; his club.He must’ve positioned it just right to twist and crack you right in the face once. A risky move, but it paid dividends for him.Speaking of which…Yep, your nose is definitely broken; the cocksucker.You’ll make him pay for that.While you try to regain your bearings after such a terrific blow, he nails you right in your already busted schnoz with an off-hand punch that probably would’ve put you in the hospital if you were a normal man.As it stands, it just serves to rattle your cage a bit more.Hurts like a motherfucker, but the pain just helps you focus.Need to turn this shit around before he gets another clean hit with his weapon, otherwise you’ll be in serious trouble.You grit your teeth and take the next hit straight on, weaving under his guard at the last possible moment and putting your heart and soul into a slobberknocker of an uppercut that connects solidly with his chin; sending him tottering away.Now that a bit of breathing room has been established, you snap your nose back into place as best as you can. It’s do for now, until you can dig in the medical kit for something that might help.But now, it’s time to go back on the warpath. You nearly had him earlier; he’s not gonna slip away from you again.To that end, you…> Focus on getting that club out of his hands. Fucker’s nearly brained you a couple times already. > Trigger Volcanic Rage and commit fully to cleaning his clock. It’s a mark of honor that he’s managed to push you this far. > Draw your KABAR and throw it his way. At worst, you’ll distract him long enough to regain some momentum.> Quickdraw your 1911 and put a few holes in him. If it works, it works.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5518694> Draw your KABAR and throw it his way. At worst, you’ll distract him long enough to regain some momentum.
>>5518670It's less of a choice and more of a requirement. He's pretty much confined in there perpetually, Set pulled a bit of hoodoo to give him a bit of time in the real world.
>>5518696Fair enough, anyway to free him or does that fuck with the talon of horus
>>5518694>> Draw your KABAR and throw it his way. At worst, you’ll distract him long enough to regain some momentum.
>>5518699He's basically the power source; even if you could get him out, it'd basically depower the Claw.Something that you can't really afford, seeing as it is one of the designated artifacts for Jack's banishment.Afterwards may be another story.
>>5518694>Focus on getting that club out of his hands. Fucker’s nearly brained you a couple times already.
Rolled 25, 99 + 45 = 169 (2d100 + 45)>>5518695>>5518700Alright, time for some precision knifework; give me some 1d100+25> DC to be determined
Rolled 62 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5518711god damn
Rolled 95 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5518711Fuck you demi-god. We cant beat that.
Rolled 38 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5518711small numbers>5518716God damn
>>5518714>>5518716>>5518717A valiant attempt, but no such luck; that's a failure.Would you like to use Roll the Die for another attempt? (This isn't the end of your attack, you'll just be making the next roll with any extra bonuses.)> Yes. (Specify if you want the anons to re-roll, or for me to re-roll.)> No.
Does this get us anything?>>5518716>>5518711
>>5518718>> No.
>>5518718> Yes. (you re-roll.)
>>5518719Unfortunately, even your Luck Drain bonus won't be enough to eke out a win in this instance.What can I say, I'm rolling well tonight.
>>5518718>Yes. (Qm re-roll.)It's a 1 on a 100 for Axis to crit and go above his roll
I feel based on rolls we have the tougher fight. And I like to think the higher the rolls the better each side fights so even though we lose this round we push the enemy to fight even harder and reveal more tricks.
>>5518726Oh, you meant in terms of narrative?Sorry, I was assuming you were asking about stats / mechanics.I generally try to give a nod to how well / poorly the rolls were conducted; like if you both roll high, it was a battle of skill that somebody lost by a slim margin.Whereas if you both roll low, you both make mistakes, the victor just made a less important one.Good question, anon.
Rolled 52, 89 + 5 = 146 (2d100 + 5)>>5518721>>5518725Seems like I'm giving it another go with a hefty malus. Unless I roll a crit or something, your success is probably assured.Here we go.
Rolled 45, 67 + 50 = 162 (2d100 + 50)>>5518730Alright, you've flipped it to a success.Now, give me some 1d100+70 to engage him in close quarters.> DC to be determined, he takes a hit and a penalty.
Rolled 70 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518732
Rolled 12 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518732
Rolled 38 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518732
>>5518733>>5518735>>5518736That's a success, writing.
Rolled 61 + 70 (1d100 + 70)Lets try that again. >>5518735
Rolled 66 + 70 (1d100 + 70)Lets try that again. >>5518735
>>5518738>>5518739You okay bud?
captcha probably had a seizure. That or I pressed post to many times.>>5518740
>>5518737>5518737With one fluid motion, you unsheathe your KABAR and rotate it dexterously so that you’re carefully holding the blade. It’s not an easy maneuver with the Claw encompassing your dominant hand, but you’re nothing if not adaptable.This may not be the most tactically sound idea, but it’s all you’ve got.After all, the KABAR is a solid fighting and utility knife; not exactly built for aerodynamics.Still, that doesn’t concern you overmuch.Even if you miss or only manage a glancing blow, you’ll hopefully be able to manufacture a distraction that’ll enable you to get in close.Your arm flicks, and the KABAR springs toward the demigod like an arrow loosed from its quiver. Must be the Claw’s influence giving you a little extra kick.Your foe tries to sidestep, but you were anticipating something like that.In the end, your aim is true, and the knife finds purchase solidly in a gap of his armor, striking home in the meat of his shoulder.As soon as the knife left your hand, you began rushing towards him, intent on exploiting any gap in his defenses.And the shock and pain of your knife digging in deeply gives you ample time to slip in close and…> Headbutt him at full speed. Once he’s stunned, you’ll batter him with his own club.> Nail him with an eye gouge before driving your knee directly into his crotch. Dirty fighting at its finest.> Tackle him to the ground. If you can manhandle him into another hold, you’ll not let him loose again.> Pull the KABAR from his wounded shoulder. From there, you’ll go for the throat or another vulnerable spot.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5518757>> Headbutt him at full speed. Once he’s stunned, you’ll batter him with his own club.
Rolled 79 + 55 (1d100 + 55)>>5518763>>5518767Alright. Since you passed the previous roll, the headbutt goes off without a hitch.Give me some 1d100+70 to swing for the fences.
Rolled 88 + 55 (1d100 + 55)>>5518771My bad, he's supposed to get another roll.
Rolled 89 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518773>>5518771
Still need two more rolls in case of crits.
Rolled 33 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518771
Rolled 4 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518771
Rolled 21 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5518771
>>5518774>>5518785>>5518790That's a success.I need to break and fix some dinner, so I'll go ahead and end our session for tonight.We'll pick up from here on Friday at 5:00 PM EST, same as usual.I'll still be hanging around for a bit to work on interlude stuff, shoot the shit, and answer questions.As always, thanks for playing! Hope to see you all again next time.
>>5518795Good stuff Axiswhats the next interlude gonna be about?
>>5518797Still working on the JLA / Batman stuff. Between the Holiday Special and a bit of writer's block, I had to shelve them for a while.Back in the saddle now though, so I'll hopefully get it done this thread.
>>5518800Nice and Good luck.
>>5518795You steamroll towards the demigod, quickly closing the gap and building up speed.Charging like this is a bit reckless, but nobody ever won a tough fight by passing up opportunities to turn the tables.With a combination of charge and leaping dive, you slam into him like a torpedo; bringing your full force to bear on the bridge of his nose.It fractures irreparably on impact, causing a savage sense of satisfaction to well up inside you. Hey, turnabout is the fairest play there is.That pain, coupled with the knife jammed into his shoulder gives you an opening for your next gambit.While he’s reeling backwards, you manage to wrestle his club away, intent on taking a few practice swings of your own.It’s heavy and cumbersome, even after you’ve been strengthened by the Claw; requiring a few precious moments to adjust and properly moderate its movement.He tries to backpedal away out of danger, but you manage to snag one of his legs on the backswing, forcing him down onto one knee.Sweat rolls down your face from exertion as you line up a shot that’s liable to crack his skull.This is it; if you’re going to win this fight, it has to be now.> Roll me some 1d100 + 70 to finish him off.(DC to be determined)
Rolled 24 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5521281Let's get rolling!
Rolled 24 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5521281
Rolled 15 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5521281
Rolled 94, 93 + 45 = 232 (2d100 + 45)>>5521281An auspicious start, messing up my pair of rolls. Let's try this again.
>>5521289>>5521290>>5521294Going to be one of those sessions eh?
Rolled 34, 15 + 55 = 104 (2d100 + 55)>>5521289>>5521290>>5521294Seems that there's still quite a bit of fight in your opposition; that's a failure.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+65
Apparently we cant handle this club.
Rolled 44 + 65 (1d100 + 65)>>5521300
Rolled 50 + 65 (1d100 + 65)>>5521300Actual demigod rolls from Axis, goddamn
Rolled 26 + 65 (1d100 + 65)>>5521300
Rolled 59, 42, 44, 75 = 220 (4d100)>>5521304>>5521308>>5521310That's a success, writing.As I do so, let's see if Pandion is able to finish off his opponent.First pair of rolls are for Pandion (+60), second pair are for his opponent (+70)
Rolled 69, 8 + 55 = 132 (2d100 + 55)>>5521311Looks like Pandion is having a slight bit of trouble closing the deal; give me some 1d100+70 to give him a little aid.> DC to be determined, opponent suffers a penalty from being double-teamed.
Rolled 21 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5521311>>5521314
Rolled 93 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5521314
Still need one more roll in case of crits.
Rolled 29 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5521314
>>5521320>>5521323>>5521332Looks like you're able to help Pandion finish his opponent; a success.Feel free to posit ideas for a cooperative takedown, otherwise I'll just go with one of my own.
>>5521335Pandion or we suplex him, then one of us stomps his head in.
>>5521335We go for the legs, Padion make him see stars
>>5521335https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzBEpdfCRqwYou put the full strength into a wide swing that crashes into the back of the demigod’s head, making a visceral crunching noise as you do so.To your astonishment, that noise isn’t his skull buckling under from the traumatic impact; it came from the club fracturing on impact!Your hastily purloined weapon snaps and splinters into pieces after your strike rings home, leaving you momentarily stunned.Worse, it appears that your opponent has mustered some kind of second-wind and managed to weather the damage you just exacted upon him.From his kneeling position, he springs forward with murder in his eyes; a hail-mary attempt to defeat you. As he does so, your reflexes and mind kick into overdrive, desperately attempting to deduce his idea so that you can better pre-empt it. Time seems to slow down as you examine and disregard possibilities in the blink of an eye.Judging from the way he’s angling himself and his previous posture, he must be trying to take your legs out from under you. If he can get you pinned or worse, you’ll be neck deep in trouble.Still, now that you have a fair idea of what he’s planning, you can prepare your response accordingly.Plus, his previous wounds allow you to mobilize a counterstrike that’ll put him down for a count.As he attempts to deliver a bonecrushing tackle to your center of mass, you end his last-ditch assault by driving your knee into his face; utterly crushing his hopes of an equalizer.Before he can think of mounting another attack, you wind up and nail him directly in his now-exposed throat with a vicious haymaker from your Clawed fist.And so he falls like a mighty redwood onto the uncaring terrain, out like a light but probably still breathing.There’s a lesson in here somewhere about the importance of taking all opponents seriously, no matter how strong you think that you may be. If he had been more prepared, you never would’ve gotten the early hits that contributed significantly to your ability to win later.The sounds of struggle remind you that Pandion is still engaged in martial combat of his own, and you shelve the AAR navelgazing for later.While his opponent has definitely been bruised and bloodied, he’s managed to get back on his feet and is in the process of forcing Pandion into some kind of hold.Before he can lock it in, you force him to relinquish his grip by stomping on the back of his calf. When he wheels around to face you, Pandion ensnares him from behind.He gives you the nod and you rapidly reposition yourself for what’s about to happen.Pandion flips the demigod over his head and drives him with a rolling suplex that lands directly in your path.As soon as he hits the dirt, you start giving him a taste of your boot with a vicious series of stomps and kicks.Pandion joins in on the fun until you’re both satisfied that your foe isn't getting up anytime soon.> Give me some 1d100; DC:85
Rolled 31 (1d100)>>5521365
Rolled 40 (1d100)>>5521365
Rolled 38 (1d100)>>5521365
>>5521366>>5521367>>5521370Gotcha, thanks for the rolls.Writing.
>>5521373Before you can figure out what to do with the newly vanquished demigods, you’re suddenly blinded by an intense crack of lightning that leaves you rubbing at your eyes for a few minutes until the spots clear.When your vision fully returns, you discover that both of your foes have abruptly vanished without a trace. No tracks, no blood trail, no nothing.If there wasn't a bit of debris left from the fight, it’d be impossible to guess that anyone was ever here.Pandion is willing to chalk it up to divine interference, but you’re a little worried by the potential implications of that.Here’s hoping Zeus doesn’t hold a grudge for beating his grandkids like they owed you money.Still, what’s done is done.Both you and Pandion are exhausted after the exertions of the day, and agree to set up camp after patching your wounds. Aside from a few scrapes and bruises, he’s perfectly fine.You had to use a makeshift splint to ensure that your nose sets properly, but it should be fine soon. To speed your recovery, you gather a bit of kindling, start a small fire, and use your Fire nature to absorb a bit of its flame to jumpstart the process.Then, after a meal of trail rations, you call it a night; quickly falling asleep as you enjoy the cool mountain air and watch the stars dance on distant horizons.
Rolled 12 (1d12)>>5521387(Pay no attention to this roll)
>>5521388Alright, give me some 1d100+40 to see if you notice anything out of the ordinary.DC: 90
Rolled 13 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5521394
Rolled 43 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5521394Sure
Rolled 51 (1d100)>>5521394
Rolled 78 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5521388you say that but im pretty sure the first time you rolled a d12 all of our squad got killed>>5521394dice please
Rolled 52 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5521394
With luck drain that counts as a pass. >>5521394>>5521397
>>5521396>>5521397>>5521399That's a success, narrow as it may be; writing.
>>5521406In the morning, you and Pandion set out for another leg of your trek after “enjoying” a “hearty” breakfast of survival rations.Thankfully, you busted nose isn’t smarting too badly anymore, and you’re optimistic that it’ll set properly.The hike goes just as planned, with you and Pandion spending the entirety of the morning getting farther up the mountain.But about noon, you notice something odd just off in the distance; a dull gleam of brown metal that catches the noon sun.You call for a quick break and head towards it, digging it out after a couple minutes of effort.Turns out it’s some kind of small bronze box. Whatever’s inside can’t be too heavy, since the box barely weighs a thing.And it doesn’t look like there’s any kind of keyhole or external way to open it, which immediately arouses your suspicions.A cursory examination with Magesight reveals that there’s definitely some kind of magic inside, but it’s somehow being obscured by the container.You try examining it for any messages in Greek or similar languages, but there’s none to be found. It looks like there were pictographs of some sort etched on the side, but the elements have worn them away over centuries.Pandion isn’t able to identify it either, but agrees with your assessment of its magical nature.In the end, you decide to…> Force it open and see what it contains. Not the most elegant approach, but it’ll get the job done.> Leave the container alone. You’re not overeager for another magical misfire, especially the ancient variety.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5521451> Force it open and see what it contains. Not the most elegant approach, but it’ll get the job done.
>Use enhanced perception. (Its a thing we have in the paste bin). It allows us to see greater details.>>5521451
>>5521451>>5521458Support
>>5521458I generally factor that in automatically for perception rolls, but I'm willing to let you examine it even further if you'd like.
Like taking chalk to a piece of paper over a gravestone, we will know what is in this box. For all, we know this box belonged to Pandora.>>5521451
>>5521464Sure, I'm willing to use that as an option.
Thanks, Axis.>>5521470
>>5521458>supportif we still don't see anything then >>5521464for the chalk or charcoal
>>5521451>> Force it open and see what it contains. Not the most elegant approach, but it’ll get the job done.
>>5521459>>5521464>>5521475Alright, looks like you'll be giving it a more thorough once over / doing some tracing.> Roll me some 1d100+40; DC: 100
Rolled 80 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5521486big numbers
Rolled 67 (1d100)>>5521486
Rolled 85 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5521486Fun. Dice don't fail me now!
>>5521487>>5521488>>5521489That's a success, writing.
>>5521491https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpLN2cGBrQUPart of you just wants to try and bust the damned thing wide open, but you’ve plundered enough magical artifacts to know that it’s a risky proposition.Knowing your luck, it could even be Pandora’s Box or something.No, the wiser course of action would be to examine it a bit more strictly and establish its provenance. Might even give you some clues as to opening it.A deeper investigation of the box's casing doesn’t reveal much, but it does confirm that there are no mechanical triggers or similar mechanisms securing it. By all accounts, there isn’t anything keeping this container sealed, and yet it has remained unopened for uncounted decades.Suddenly, you have a flash of inspiration and being fishing in your pack for a wooden pencil and a notebook.After ripping out a few pages from the notebook, you festoon them to the various edges of the box and start attempting to make a tracing.You did the same thing when you were younger with leaves and gravestones, the principle is probably still the same.Once your scribblings are complete, you examine each of the papers. Most of them are jumbled randomness, but you manage to get a clear imprint of some bonafide symbology; some kind of fire over a bowl.You’ve got no clue what it stands for, but Pandion comes in clutch; identifying it as a symbol of power for Hestia.You rack your brains for what you know about Hestia.- Goddess of the hearth, home, family, and state.- No husband or children.- There’s a bit of dissension about whether or not she’s part of the major Olympian pantheon, but finding a symbol of hers up here is probably a point in her favor.As far the box itself, it still taunts you with its maddening mysteries; you decide to…> Force it open via brute force. Not the most elegant approach, but it’ll get the job done.> Tuck it away for later. You can have Thoth poke at it once you’re back in Athens.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5521513>> Cast a spell. (Fireball)
>>5521513> Cast a spell. (Fireball)
>>5521518>>5521521Go ahead and give me some 1d100 to channel fire magic into the box.> DC: 70
Rolled 100 (1d100)>>5521526
>>5521527That tracks, it really does.
>>5521527WHOA, this is like the only quest I get crits in
Rolled 55 (1d100)>>5521526
>>5521527WELL SHIT
Rolled 87 (1d100)>>5521526
Rolled 86 (1d100)>>5521526
>>5521527>We critHello mommy. Sorry, mommy. Sorry, mommy. Sorry! Hestia
>>5521527>>5521537>>5521542That's a critical success!I'm going to need some time to figure out a proper reward and need to break for dinner anyhow, so I’m going to call it for tonight.We’ll pick up from here on Monday at 5:00 PM EST. As always, I hope to see you all there. Have a good weekend, anons!(Gotta tell ya, there was a lot of things that had to line up just right for such a sequence of events to play out. There was the initial perception roll to find the box, the idea of doing a tracing to identify additional clues, and the crit itself. I always enjoy seeing things work out like so. I swear, you guys have extreme hot or cold luck when it comes to anything arcane.)
Oh damn. First, we crit on the Claw. Then we almost crit and unlock fire magic. Now we crit a fire artifact. It's almost like our rage fuels our fire magic and attunes us to fire artifacts.>>5521527>>5521557
>>5521527Of course the War Vet Anti Hero that wants to make a home would be patronized by the Lady of the Hearth. Based news.
No I will tell you what is based. Check out the DC wiki. Hestia is the Patreon deity of virgins, helped create the amazons, and created the first city of the amazons Themyscira. She could totally help us with our base and our journey to become a wizard.
>>5521527BEHOLD, MAN CREATES FIRE!>>5521583One step closer to our own version of SHAZAM.
>>5521527Lord of Fire and Lighting here we go!
At this point after dabbling with The Claw, The Spectre, some important Demon Lord, and Egyptian and Greek Gods, shit like Task Force X, The Justice League and such are just below our League.
>>5521527Remember how Wonder Girl dismissed the possibility of Gunsmoke having backing from Olympus?Look at her, look at her and LAUGH
>>5521958>Remember how Wonder Girl dismissed the possibility of Gunsmoke having backing from Olympus?>Look at her, look at her and LAUGHHow mad would be her if we act all Awkward but Gentle Stepdad with her?>"Hi there, little grasshopper. Can we have a chaty-chaty? Hestia was worried about you fighting all around- We don't judge you for that, and we will always support you, but how about you get some rest? Sleep is important to grow strong and smart, after all">"So why don't we play, I even get one of these new toys for you!"> Give her a cowgirl Barbie doll, with her lasso tied around it.Make sure you have something with fire nearby to heal yourself when she explodes in anger, like a conveniently placed bonfire behind us.
>I missed the SessionsDamn! Also, seems like we've crit with another divine being. Sean takes the cake for luckiest man alive. Did you guys know that Hestia empowers the Lasso of Truth? Something to think about, especially since we'll probably meet Wonder Woman.
Religion isn't free. The gods do not deserve worship for they are static and flawed things. Gods are for competing with, making pacts with, and for fucking with. People don't need gods, gods need people. Prayers are not for free and faith is for yourself. Praise capitalism.
>>5522283All I'm saying is we might find Aurelian up here since he was deified and the guy was so fucking based even the gods would have to admit he was totally badass. Maybe he's chilling with Helios.
>>5522283You are right /1/, and so I ask you to remember how is Sean's relationship with gods. Set acts more like the class clown you befriended in highschool and now he's a millionaire adrenaline junkie than our patron deity.Which leads me to think that we could include Hestia in our vacation if we play our cards right. From what I know, she doesn't have a stick up her ass like Hera, and probably doesn't enjoy the endless talks on Olympus that much.We really were very lucky that was her, can you imagine if it had been Aphrodite? Or Artemis?
One would get the Bane treatment and the other have no affect on us because we are clearly a veteran gay wizard virgin larping as a historian (aka a Jojo Bizarre Adventure character). >>5522309
>>5522322>the Bane treatmentDon't know what you mean. You talk about Artemis?
We lift her up, break her over our knee, then toss her aside like trash. >>5522326
I think this can be very beneficial for our mental health.Also, after GhostDad leaves to visit St. Peter's, we'll need someone we can trust with the little "The devil wants to take me to hell" thing while we deal with the more mundane stuff.Set is a great friend, but he doesn't have much power, and Thoth is a hermit.
Howdy, anons.Unfortunately, I've got to push back our session tonight to Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST.It's taking me a bit longer than I had hoped to get the update in a state I'm happy with, and I'd prefer to spend another day or polishing it up.Your patience is greatly appreciated.
>>5525084Hi Axie
>>5525084Sup Axis, do your thing m8
>>5522267>Sean gets lasso'd"This statement is false.">lasso explodes
>>5527364>Wonder Woman join the fight too>"Tell me the truth!">Sean pic relate
>>5527364>>5527377>Sean is once again lassoed "I'm Batman.">After he escapes, Batman incapacitates himself as a security risk, and later attempts to interrogate himself to no avail
>>5527422I can't fucking wait to see what the event that blows all our covers, like, if we are in front of the library talking up Barbra for whatever reason and we try to protect her from something going wrong.
>>5527447Personally I can't wait for Sean vs. Young Justice, purely so we can school Superboy. It's pretty much guaranteed he'll try to 1v1 us without the rest of his team to back him upThe fact that Superboy will never be allowed a round two in most circumstances will be icing on the cake.
>>5527447If someone tries to fuck around with Jack's ritual they're going to find out in the worst possible way.
>>5527469I just wanna see a fight between Sean and Hawkman... And I just hope there's a moment like>Sean and Hawkman fight scene>They trash everything in the place>Sean get angry and invoke the glove>Hawkman looks in disbelief and ask "Where the fuck you got that?">Sean behind the apokalipse armor mask says "Who?">Hawkman: "The gauntlet!!">Sean: "Cares" and give Hawkman the biggest haymaker in this incarnation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IUS4xWr6ikA thought enters your mind.If Hestia holds dominion over the hearth and its flames, perhaps an application of your own Fire magic would hold the key to unlocking the box?It’d certainly be a far more elegant solution than just trying to crack it open with raw force or explosives. You reach deep inside, grabbing hold of a veritable maelstrom of bitter rage.With practiced ease, you begin to gently crack open the floodgates holding your emotions back, channelling them into primal might of a raging inferno.While still holding the bronze box, you subject it to a punishing barrage of fire bolts, attempting to exact your will over whatever ancient protection dares deny you of your spoils.Just as you begin to lose patience, something miraculous happens.The flames generated by your Fire Bolts gently lap at the enigmatic puzzle-box and inexplicably merge with the latent energies defending it from intrusion, fusing into something entirely new.You watch, utterly transfixed by the complex interplay of this unknown magic and your own, and how it seems to strip decades of wear away from the box with each second that passes. The sensation is akin to witnessing the birth of a new color, and you commit every second of it to memory.The long-faded etchings that so stymied you earlier are returned to full prominence, and you eagerly take the opportunity to glean further insight.Spellbound, you begin inspecting the protective messages expertly etched into the ancient copper of the box.Your Greek is good enough to interpret the majority of it with a little elbow grease, but you defer to Pandion’s expertise when he offers the occasional alternative translation.The first, proudly emblazoned on the front, is accompanied with a small pictograph of a young man kneeling before some kind of shrine. A translation of the text reads as follows:The ancestral oath of the ephebes.I shall not disgrace the sacred weapons, nor shall I desert the man beside me, wherever I stand in the line. I shall defend the sacred and the divinely sanctioned.I shall not leave the fatherland diminished, but greater and better, as far as I am able.I shall obey those in authority at any time mindfully and the laws established and those established in future mindfully. If anyone seeks to destroy them, I shall not permit him as far as I am able.I will honour the ancestral sacred things. I swear this oath before the gods Aglauros, Hestia, Enyo, Enyalios, Ares, Athena Areia,, Zeus, Thallo, Auxo, Hegemone, Herakles, and the boundaries of my fatherland
>>5527567On the other side of the box is a similar pledge next to a pictograph of an army marching to war. A rough-and-tumble translation reads as follows:The oath of the Athenian warrior.I shall fight while I live, and I shall not reckon living of more account than being free.I shall not desert the taxiarch nor the enomotarch, whether living or dead, and I shall not retreat unless the commanders lead the way.I shall do whatever the generals order, and shall bury the dead of those who were allies on the spot, and shall leave no-one unburied.Having been victorious fighting the barbarians, I shall tithe the city of the Thebans, and I shall not destroy Athens or Sparta or Plataia or any of the other cities that were allied.I shall not overlook those who are oppressed by hunger, nor shall I bar them from running water, whether they are friends or enemies.If I adhere to what has been written in the oath may my city be free from disease, if not, diseased.May my city be unsacked, but if not, may it be sacked.May my land be fruitful, but if not, may it be barren.May the women bear children like their parents, but if not, monsters.May the animals bear young like the animals, but if not, monsters. They swore these oaths, covered the sacrificial victims with their shields, and at the sound of the trumpet they made a curse: if they transgressed anything that they had sworn and did not adhere to what was written in the oath, those who had sworn would be accursed.Some heavy stuff.If you know anything about the Greek mythos, they weren’t the biggest fan of oathbreakers and cowards; a sentiment that you can heartily endorse.The moment you finish reading these ancient words of duty, the top of the box abruptly loosens, as if approvingly granting you entry.You carefully remove the cover and peer inside, on guard for any potential trickery.The inside of the box is initially more underwhelming than you had anticipated. Regardless, you handle the examination with a level of grace and care that would make a veteran archaeologist proud of your technique.The style is of simple, spartan decoration; but something about it sets you profoundly at ease, like you were going through your childhood possessions and discovered a long-lost favorite toy.Instead of the fabulous riches or forbidden knowledge that you were secretly anticipating, the contents are but a simple dagger and some kind of wax tablet.The dagger (which Pandion helpfully identifies as a ‘parazonium’) draws your attention first. Despite the advanced age of its container, it lacks a single speck of rust or grime anywhere along its blade.If you didn’t know better, you would swear that it had just been freshly polished and sharpened with extreme care.
>>5527570A cursory glance with Magesight confirms that it is absolutely stuffed to the gills with magic.The wax tablet is home to an ancient message scrawled in an unsteady but experienced hand, likely some flavor of elder scribe. The handwriting is difficult to make out, but you muddle through it.“Hail, chosen of Hestia!If you are reading my final message, then you have been judged and found worthy of her eternal blessings.Stay true to your path and always remember those for whom you fight.For there is a patriotism in peace just as there is a heroism in war.Merely place your hand upon the Blade of Flame to embrace your destiny.And may the battles to come grant you peace.”Upon reading the scribe’s message, you steel yourself to make a decision.You will…> Reach into the box and pick up the dagger. Fortune favors the bold.> Seal the box back up for now. You’ll figure out what to do with it at a later time.> Other?
>>5527571> Reach into the box and pick up the dagger. Fortune favors the boldLet's fucking GOOOOO!
>>5527571>> Reach into the box and pick up the dagger. Fortune favors the bold.gimme
>>5527571>Reach in and place your elbow on the dagger, just to be a witty little shit.
>>5527571>> Reach into the box and pick up the dagger. Fortune favors the bold.>"Tomboy Goddness are the best, fuck the hoes!"This is like a greek myt, if you dont make one god mad you aren't doing right.
>>5527575>>5527582>>5527584>>5527593I figured as much, writing.
>>5527571Lets do this>>5527584We are Shean, convenient is never allowed near our name.
>>5527571> Reach into the box and pick up the dagger. Fortune favors the bold.Is this gonna burn our hand like kratos blades of chaos?Still worth
>>5527597>Is this gonna burn our hand like kratos blades of chaos?>Still worthWe gonna run out space in our arm with all the marks, pacts and magic shit we put there
>>5527601>Sean in the future, revealing his massive collection of powerfwul artifacts strapped to his arm:>"Forefathers, one and all... BEAR WITNESS!"
>>5527606>"Demonshit again? Fuck...">"Now were I left the Seal of Solomon?">"No, that is the budda part, I remember that it was close to the celtic simbols."
>>5527601There is still the other parts of the body as well anon. Don't worry there is still much more canvas for us to get more.
>>5527613>We have to fight Satan with our dick because we dont have space in our arms or legs for the Holy Smite bleesing.>"This hurt me more to me that you, motherfucker!"
>>5527595QM we are already chosen by set how will this play out with Hestia as well, unlike the other anons I'm not favoring this as the box opened when we read the words out loud to it so should we accept the dagger we are now beholden to them and by proxy now serve Olympus as our masters along with now having to fallow every thing on the box at the bare minimum to keep whatever new power we would get unlike with set once he gave us his blessing our power is our own to wield not at the commands and dictates of another as set himself only ever asked us to bring chaos and that's it, never forcing a decision on us, though that may be from our silver tongue but I with the legendary pompous and egotistical nature of any Olympian god as history has given evidence of they may not take our silver tongue very well should we not want to do something they commanded us to do as they will with there again egotistical nature though cant say no now as the anons where to power hunger to see the fed flags all over this hopefully we only have to ever deal with Hestia as from my quick history search she seems "chile" compared to the other Olympians
>>5527619>The Aphrodite's Blessing is just one of those womb tattoos Succubus have in erotic mangas
>>5527622holy shit this prose, breathe anon. Look, we've had ties to both Set and Horus, fucking lifelong enemies, since the first thread. What the gods don't know won't hurt them.
>>5527595nice
>>5527622All these rules are more or less what we decide that Sean wanted to be, the noble soldier who care about his brothers. Minus the greek citys part everything is there.>though cant say no now as the anons where to power hunger to see the fed flags all over thisThat is why you have to speak and vote before the choice is set stone, that is your fault.
>>5527619Would screaming "YAWEH GUIDE MY COCK!" count as blasphemy?>>5527625IMAGINE the sheer amount of SHIT Set would have to give Sean over that, holy shit>>5527628>>5527622This is the Dragonborn situation all over again>Sean dies>cannot pass on because the various gods and supernatural beings with a claim on him cannot agree on who Sean's soul goes to>TFW we'll have to follow Jack's footsteps and repeat his ritual to gain peace
>>5527622I do not see anything wrong with the decision to accept the dagger. Horus hasnt come down to smite us for fuckin around with set so I doubt the olympians will bother with us except maybe Ares but that might not be to bad for Sean.
>>5527628Hasn't Horus tried to kill us like three times now?
>>5527628anon we don't have the blessing of Horus and Pandion is the one who initiated and willing the gantlets bond, Horus has nothing to do with it and when we had that suicide squad mission to be body guards at black Adam party Horus's followers tried to get us along with a golem of sort's to single
>>5527625>>The Aphrodite's Blessing is just one of those womb tattoos Succubus have in erotic mangasNow that I think about it she is one of these gods that must got a isekai tier power up in the modern world, like Hermes.
>>5527645lots of people try to kill us anon and only his followers not the man himself
>>5527638just got home from work and showered before getting on the computer so couldn't have knownand not complaining about it as even with the red flags I would've voted to take it after talking to two gods about it
>>5527642Horus has repeatedly sent an avenger after us because of our terrible greek(and also our inadvertant insults), yet not when we have done stuff with set. I really do not think he cares about what we do with set, so long as he doesn't have to hear about it, so i think we should be good to go around and fuck around with other gods.
>>5527652fair enough
>>5527650>just got home from work and showered before getting on the computer so couldn't have known and not complaining about it as even with the red flags I would've voted to take it after talking to two gods about it.That sound like your problem. Also...>and not complaining about it as even with the red flags I would've voted to take it>I would've voted to take it>>5527622QM we are already chosen by set how will this play out with Hestia as well, unlike the other anons I'm not favoring this>unlike the other anons I'm not favoring this
>>5527652I'm only worried because we are dealing with Olympian's have a notoriously bad reputation that is well deserved for what history shows us what they have done at the smallest of slits to there name hoping we only have to deal with Hestia as again she seems to be the only Chile one besides Hephaestus who is cool and would like to interact with him should the opportunity arise
>>5527659Funnily enough Nemesis is also pretty chill and only acts when people behave like asshols, so we could probably have fun being with her.
>>5527658ahh when I said that I meant being forced to change or make a choice about who to work with should've made it more separated as that and the talk about the gods are different lines of dialog my fault for not explaining myself on that part but thought I wrote enough
>>5527665You’ve done too much damned work on this box to just let this opportunity slip through your fingers.It’s not like this’ll be the first time you’ve fiddled around with arcane objects of great power; it’s practically one of your hobbies at this point.And besides, just because there are a bunch of oaths stenciled on the side of the box doesn’t mean that you’re tacitly accepting any of them, right?You’ll go with that.Pandion watches silently, offering no opinion as you reach into the box and firmly grasp your new weapon. He’s made his opinion of the gods clear in the past, but clearly respects you enough to let you make your own choices.When your bare skin makes contact with the hilt of the Blade, you’re immediately aware of the potent magic flowing through every square inch of the dagger.Its blade comes alight with a patterning of runes and characters that flow too fast for you to make sense of, before the magic of the Blade finally realizes your presence. That magic, trapped for centuries, yearns for a conduit; immediately flooding you with all the power you can stand plus some extra.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u8oAMhl8VcIts general aura is scarily similar to your own perception of Fire magic, but with a strange twist. While your own fire burns red-hot from hate and anger, this fire is borne of a quiet sense of dutiful humility and sacrifice.And yet, it somehow carries a greater intensity than your own.The molten core that keeps your furnace of rage is carefully coaxed to a slow simmer as you frantically jot down mental notes of every sensation. This experience could be invaluable fodder to fuel further mastery of the arcane arts and the nature of your emotional connection to it.When the absorption is complete, you can tell that your Fire nature has been tangibly impacted by the experience.Tamed, but not shackled.Balanced, but not reduced.It is not an unwelcome feeling, just not one that you’re overly accustomed to.The best analogy you can make is that it has evolved from an unstoppable forest fire, into a controlled burn.As it stands, the sensation quickly subsides as your body gradually comes to term with the bonding.You give yourself a quick once-over, but it doesn’t look like there were any major physical changes. There might be some subtle byplay you’re missing, but you’re not really getting the vibe.However, there is something curious that you’ve noticed. Whenever you hold the Blade of Flame, it fits comfortably in your hand; like it was forged for you and that you were born to carry it.
>>5527666In fact, you share some kind of invisible connection; something that you share with only one other item.On a hunch, you walk to a nearby tree and hide the Blade snugly within its hollow. You then turn on your heel and stride several paces away, before coming to a complete stop.Now that your little experiment is ready, you close your eyes and attempt to summon it; just like you would with the Claw. Sure enough, you can feel a familiar weight settle into your hand seconds after crafting the mental command.Well, that’ll certainly come in handy if you’re ever in the clink or need a holdout to cut your way free.Especially if you’re handcuffed and stuck in a room with that asshole interrogator from Belle Reve again. It’s not something that can really be found during your average frisk.Christ, this whole experience is starting to give you a mild headache.Every time you feel that you have a better idea of how magic is structured and organized, something comes up that throws you for an unexplainable loop.Perhaps trying to examine such things through an analytical lens is simply doomed to failure? Regardless, you can’t wait to see how this new knowledge can be folded into your existing theories.> Skill Improved! Magical Theory: Knowledge is power: +45 to rolls when attempting to read magical texts, +40 when rolling to unlock new spells.> Soulbound Weapon Acquired! Blade of Flame: Divine dagger that carries the blessings of Hestia. Bound eternally to its wielder and can be returned at will.You’ll have to put the Blade through its paces at some point, but that’s an experiment for another day.After all, how you can properly form assault plans and battle tactics if you aren’t 110% certain of every trick in your sleeve?On the bright side, you can tell that the sudden influx of magic has definitely strengthened your ability to manipulate Fire Bolt.How would you like to leverage this opportunity?> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.> Improve the precision of Fire Bolt, giving it an increased chance to strike its target. (+15)> Improve the focus of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to sluggishly weave around obstacles.
>>5527671> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.big damage
>>5527671>> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.
>>5527671> Improve the precision of Fire Bolt, giving it an increased chance to strike its target. (+15)if you can't hit it, then you have already missed it
>>5527671> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortificationsNext Soviet piece of junk Sean runs into is going to get clapped by magic HEAT
>>5527671> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.CAST FIRE BALL, NOTHING BUT FIRE BALL, IF YOU STILL HAVE A PROBLEM USE MORE FIREBALL
>>5527671> Improve the precision of Fire Bolt, giving it an increased chance to strike its target. (+15)
Fun fact: Besides a couple grammatical changes, both of those oath are translations from actual military oaths from ancient Athens.Couldn't have asked for a better coincidence, eh?
>>5527671>> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.Big Hot>>5527639>Would screaming "YAWEH GUIDE MY COCK!" count as blasphemy?If it brings reinforcements in the form of angels to hell, is blasphemy a viable strategy?>Bind together tablets of the Ten Commandments to create a giant hammer like picrel.>ALL heaven and god himself obliterate layer after layer of hell trying to stop Sean from use it.
>>5527681*wink*>>5527671>Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.
>>5527671> Improve the strength of Fire Bolt, giving it the ability to burn through conventional armor and solid fortifications.
>>5527681that's pretty neat
>>5527683blasphemy is always an option to bring a nuke on us if we call the gladiator gatekeeper open fast enough.
>>5527672>>5527673>>5527677>>5527679>>5527683>>5527684>>5527685The strength bonus wins, writing.
I for one can't wait for Horus' goons to show up to throw down just for some hot spectral hoplite backup from Hestia to warp in and tell them to fuck off.
>>5527696With the matter of your new abilities settled, you and Pandion continue your sojourn into the mountains.As the afternoon progresses, the plummeting temperatures, thinning air, and stronger gusts of wind make it abundantly clear that you’ve reached the highlands proper. Shouldn’t be too far until you reach the nominal summit, guess it really was a wise decision to take the road less traveled.The terrain grows steadily rockier as well, turning the experience from nature walk to something a little more strenuous. Not that you mind overmuch. At least you’re not lugging a rucksack and keeping your head on a swivel so that some goatherder with a grudge doesn’t blow you away with his Cold War issue hardware.Plus, you’re enjoying the exercise and the fresh air. It’s always nice to experience a breeze that isn’t flavored with gunpowder, sulfur, ash, or any of the myriad smells you’ve had the joy of experiencing during your misadventures.However, that cheer doesn’t stop you from swearing under your breath when you reach the next major obstacle in your path; a jagged cliff face with no obvious winding paths around.Unfortunately, the only around this particular issue is up; and here you are without a climbing harness.In the end, your solution is to…> Summon the Claw and use it forcibly make your own handholds in the stone. Might risk a bit of ecological damage, but you can live with that. > Call it quits and turn back. You like a good trek as much as the next guy, but scaling a cliff without a harness isn’t worth the risk.> Carefully examine the cliff face for the most efficient route. The shorter and easier the path, the better your odds.> Rely on your natural agility. This can’t be too different from climbing a building.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell.)> Other?
>>5527709> Carefully examine the cliff face for the most efficient route. The shorter and easier the path, the better your odds.
>>5527709(Forgot my pic)
>>5527709> Rely on your natural agility. This can’t be too different from climbing a building
>>5527709>> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell.)Can't we use that shadow wall spell thing to just make some stairs?
>>5527709>> Cast a spell. (Abyssal Shield)
>>5527709>> Carefully examine the cliff face for the most efficient route. The shorter and easier the path, the better your odds.
>>5527709>Cast Spell (Abyssal Shield)We can use this to get a decent ways up, no?
>>5527709>Cast Abyssal Shield The time honored tradition of using this as anything but a shield
>>5527709>Carefully examine the cliff face for the most efficient route. The shorter and easier the path, the better your odds.>> Cast a spell. (Abyssal Shield)
>>5527719>>5527720>>5527724>>5527728>>5527729Well spotted, anons.Go ahead and roll me some 1d100DC: 70
Rolled 2 (1d100)>>5527734
Rolled 83 (1d100)>>5527734
Rolled 86 (1d100)>>5527734
>>5527737whew, my luck just rubberbanded
Rolled 19, 93 + 65 = 177 (2d100 + 65)>>5527737>>5527738>>5527739That's a success.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+40.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 60 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5527741
Rolled 29 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5527741oh for fuck sake
Rolled 33 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5527741Fuck you, wind.
>>5527740Is a 2. At least it is a guarantee that you will get everything but 1 in your next roll
>>5527742>>5527744>>5527745That's a failure, writing.
Rolled 13 + 40 (1d100 + 40)Testing luck. Thats no wind this is to more god bullshit. >>5527741
Rolled 2 (1d100)>>5527749
Rolled 47 (1d100)>>5527746>>5527767>>5527749Oh the shame. You played yourself.
Rolled 21 (1d100)>>5527770>Still sub50
Rolled 11 (1d100)>>5527774You as well.
Rolled 97 (1d100)Watch and learn nerds
Rolled 40, 21, 15, 35, 80, 61, 42, 84, 92, 64 = 534 (10d100)>>5527775Wow. I guess we are burning all the bad rolls out.
Rolled 31 (1d100)>>5527775We are doomed
Rolled 30 (1d100)>>5527778It keeps happening.
>>55277775 and 5, that's seems fairAlso nice trip, damn
Rolled 34 (1d100)>>5527776You are our only hope.ALL HAIL xdAUIfRq!
Rolled 54 (1d100)>>5527780This is getting spooky now. What is this now a roll under quest?
Rolled 79 (1d100)I will roll until I get one not shit roll.
Rolled 28 (1d100)>>5527784Nice>Axie come back>What the fuck
>>5527747Instead of trying to scale the mountain normally, you have an ingenious idea.By carefully positioning and arranging a series of Abyssal Shields, you’re able to craft a makeshift staircase that leads to the apex of the cliff.No muss, no fuss, no death-defying feats of athletics required.Just a bit of creativity and a casual disregard for the laws of nature.After traversing the cliff, you and Pandion make quick time up the mountain and eventually reach the snow-capped plateau that signals the summit of Mount Olympus.It almost feels anticlimactic in a way. You were expecting to feel some grand rush of accomplishment, but all you feel is the cold wind biting into your face and an abstract appreciation for the view.Still, sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination. You got to skirmish with demigods, discover an ancient artifact, and enjoy the beauty of nature.Overall, this has been a great time. You just wish that..
>>5527792Your idyllic musings are abruptly interrupted when you catch a flash of movement on the periphery of your vision, managing a half-step towards Pandion before he drives his fist deeply into your gut.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTDQmbkKGZ0The blow takes you totally by surprise, and you go ass over teakettle when he shoves you away.> “What the fuck do you think you’re doing!?” You yell, the fury in your voice echoing out over the picturesque mountain range.“Have you forgotten that you owe me a Pankration spar? Now seems as good a time as any to collect. Now, get up.”> “A little warning would’ve been nice!” You spit, steadily regaining your breath.“Pankration is the domain of warriors and kings, of ancient battle and spilled blood. If you are not prepared for any situation, then you are preparing for defeat. Now. Get. Up.”Pandion smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.The realization hits home that he’s genuinely serious about this.> “You really want to do this now!?”“Of course! What better arena can there be than the home of the Gods themselves!?” He sounds genuinely excited about the prospect of putting on a show.You climb back to your feet, a little sore, but ready to exact some payback.It’s a tad hypocritical, but you’ve never taken cheap shots well. Rankles your pride.> “Any other rules I should know of?”“Only one. Melee combat only, else the spar is pointless. Unless of course, you feel that you would be better served by relying on your borrowed strength?”You know that he’s just trying to rile you up, but it irritates the fuck out of you regardless.> “Fine. I’m gonna kick your goddamn teeth in, and then you can apologize once you regain consciousness.”“Perhaps. I’m hearing plenty of whining, but very little fighting.”Alright, that does it. He wants a no-holds barred Pankration match?You’ll put his ass in a sling.To that end, you…> Go on the offensive and lock him into a clinch. The classic opener for a Pankration match.> Keep him at arms length and start throwing jabs. If you can outpace his ability to block, he’ll be black and blue in no time.> Kick some dust in his eyes and go for a haymaker. If he wants to play dirty, you’ll play dirtier.> Come up with something nasty, a statement that’s sure to make him lose his cool. You know enough about his life to craft a real zinger (Include insult / subject)> Bring out the Claw. Pandion probably won’t like that you’re bending the odds in your favor, but he’s the one who opened with a cheap shot.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell.)> Other?
>>5527795>> Go on the offensive and lock him into a clinch. The classic opener for a Pankration match.
>>5527795> Kick some dust in his eyes and go for a haymaker. If he wants to play dirty, you’ll play dirtierPocket sand!
>>5527795>> Go on the offensive and lock him into a clinch. The classic opener for a Pankration match.Lets do it right.
>>5527795>> Keep him at arms length and start throwing jabs. If you can outpace his ability to block, he’ll be black and blue in no time.
>>5527795>> Keep him at arms length and start throwing jabs. If you can outpace his ability to block, he’ll be black and blue in no time.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WwgtWIxxHoteacher vs pupil lets fucking go
>>5527795> Go on the offensive and lock him into a clinch. The classic opener for a Pankration match.No tricks. We do this old school.
>>5527795> Kick some dust in his eyes and go for a haymaker. If he wants to play dirty, you’ll play dirtier.you can't see me!
>>5527800>>5527802>>5527808Looks like going on the offensive wins.I need to break for dinner, so let's go ahead and call it here for tonight. We'll open Friday's session at 5:00 PM EST with some rolling.As always, thanks for playing and I hope to see you all there!Have a good night, anons.
>>5527824Bye Axie
>>5527824Good night Axis. Can't wait for the little friendly spar with Papa Pandion
>>5527824Thanks for running
We just got a new divine weapon, nice! Hopefully Hestia's gentle flame can genuinely help Sean with his anger issues.I've been MIA from this quest since we fed ducks in the park with Thoth, what did I miss?
Rolled 6, 41 + 55 = 102 (2d100 + 55)>>5527824Alright, let's get this train rolling.Give me some 1d100+35> DC to be determined
Rolled 13 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530513
Rolled 72 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530513100 let's go!
>>5529592You've been on a cross-continental tour of Europe with Set, Pandion (who has been temporarily released from the Claw), Thoth, Jack, and Bobo. The vessel of choice is an souped-up van of Set’s, lovingly dubbed the ‘Set-Mobile’Highlights of your journey thus far include:- Ruining an Intergang attempt to steal the Royal Jewels in London.- Meeting and dragging the Loch Ness monster along as a pet / mascot.- Befriending the spirit of a Roman legionary and returning his lost aquila.- Getting into street brawls in Paris before exploring the Catacombs and recovering a cache of Vichy-era gold.- Being thrown back in time and experiencing gladiatorial bloodsports in Rome.- Revisiting the scribe ghost in Ercolano and get him a decent Internet connection.- Infiltrating an Intergang regional HQ and discovered the location of a high-level facility in Siberia.
>>5530516>>5530525>>5530531That's a success, writing.
>>5530516>>5530531>rolling 2 13>It's friday the 13thIT IS A SIGN!
>>5530532If Pandion wants an old-school beatdown, then that’s what he’s going to get.That sucker punch he gave you earlier still smarts, but he’ll have to do a lot better than that if he expects to win.You crack your fists and advance towards your trainer turned opponent, intent on locking him into a standard Pankration clinch.It’s a classic stratagem for a reason; offering a lot of flexibility once performed and allowing you to lay the groundwork for more devastating blows.Pandion’s ready for you, fully intent on reversing your momentum and nailing you with another blow.The battle begins in earnest as you lock-up; struggling and straining to maintain footing while wearing down the other.The tide begins to shift in your favor.While he may have technique, skill alone is not enough to overpower your ferocity.Your muscles burn from exertion as you manage to slowly yet steadily push him out of position and render him vulnerable.This is an excellent opportunity to deal some damage, how would you like to execute it?> Focus entirely on raining strikes on his exposed form. It might leave you open for a counter, but it’s the simplest method to dealing damage.> Leverage all the strength you’ve got to put him in a crushing bear hug. It’ll be a hell of a challenge to pull off, but you just might be able to end this in one fell swoop.> Give him a couple of quick jabs to the throat. While he’s stunned, you’ll adjust your grip on his dominant arm and twist it out its socket. A surgical dislocation is sure to neuter his offensive capabilities.> Draw upon some of your military training and attempt to slide him into a headlock. If you can lock it in, he’ll be unconscious in moments.> Stomp on one of his knees, and try to manhandle him into a low stance. If you can get your setup just right, you should be able to drive a flying knee directly into his face.> Other?
>>5530548>> Focus entirely on raining strikes on his exposed form. It might leave you open for a counter, but it’s the simplest method to dealing damage.
>>5530548> Focus entirely on raining strikes on his exposed form. It might leave you open for a counter, but it’s the simplest method to dealing damage.We're in for a good fight
Rolled 55, 53, 84 + 50 = 242 (3d100 + 50)>>5530551>>5530553>>5530554Alright, roll me some 1d100+35> DC to be determined.
Rolled 57 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530560
Rolled 77 (1d100)>>5530560
Rolled 13 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530560Big Damage time
Rolled 45, 35, 85 + 55 = 220 (3d100 + 55)>>5530561>>5530562>>5530563If my math is correct, that's a failure by a pretty small margin.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+40 to avoid the follow-up.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 68 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5530566
Rolled 33 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5530566
Rolled 96 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530566This is how it goes usually.
Fuck yeah. I have not roll this well in a while.>>5530571
>>5530567>>5530569>>5530571Clutch roll, anon.Looks like the ball is back in your court, how would you like to proceed?> Analyze the terrain for any pitfalls or unsteady ground that be harnessed to your advantage. It’d mean giving him a free shot at you, but that knowledge is sure to reveal something of value.> Fall back and present a false opening. When Pandion moves in to engage, nail him in the jaw with a heavy kick; nothing injures the pride more than being baited into a trap.> Nail him between the legs with a low blow and follow with an uppercut. The most common dirty fighting tactic in the world, and for good reason.> Throw some straight jabs to establish a pattern, then crack him in the breadbasket with a lightning-quick haymaker. You’ll have to be fast on your feet to pull it off, but you’ve got it covered.> Other?
>>5530581> Nail him between the legs with a low blow and follow with an uppercut. The most common dirty fighting tactic in the world, and for good reason.For the lulz and because dirty fighting is the most in character.
>>5530581> Other?>Pin him down in a chokehold (Pankration) and then beat the shit out of his face. We may even joke that we are making him prettier to look at (just some friendly banter)
>>5530581>> Fall back and present a false opening. When Pandion moves in to engage, nail him in the jaw with a heavy kick; nothing injures the pride more than being baited into a trap.
>>5530581>> Nail him between the legs with a low blow and follow with an uppercut. The most common dirty fighting tactic in the world, and for good reason.
Rolled 70, 99, 12 + 50 = 231 (3d100 + 50)>>5530584>>5530587Alright, give me some 1d100+35 for some dirty deeds.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 79 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530595yeah, we are fucked
Rolled 76 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530595Fuck. Well apparently he knows us well enough to wear a cup.
Rolled 7 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530595
Rolled 50, 32 + 60 = 142 (2d100 + 60)>>5530597>>5530598>>5530599Good rolls, but that's just how luck turns sometimes. Failure, go ahead and give me some 1d100+35 to dodge his retribution.> DC to be determined.nat 1 incoming
Rolled 24 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530601nat 1 incoming
Rolled 66, 50, 100 + 60 = 276 (3d100 + 60)>>5530601Shit, dropped Pandion's third roll.
>>5530605Fuck me sideways, I cannot type tonight.Bet I gave somebody a heart-attack there; luckily for you, only that 66 applies.
Rolled 51 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530605>>5530601thanks for wasting that crit
>>5530601Now you're just fucking with us. Oh the irony.
Rolled 76 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530601
>>5530617>off by one
Rolled 71 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530601AND DOWN COMES ZEUS FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE
Rolled 48, 73, 21 + 50 = 192 (3d100 + 50)>>5530602>>5530611>>5530617Feel free to double-check my math on this one, but it looks like you're down by one.66 + 60 - 7 = 119 (Pandion)76 + 35 + 7 = 118 (You)Looks like he gets some damage in, give me another round of 1d100+35 to weather the storm.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 100 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530626
Rolled 14 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530626Narratively this is going to be a great fight.
>>5530628you are welcome guys
>>5530628Man, somehow I never see it coming.You would've thought I'd learn by now.
>>5530626>>5530628Like I said. Excellent narrative.
Anyhow, still need one more roll as a formality.
Rolled 29 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530626>>5530628You love to see it
>>5530628>>5530630>>5530649That's a critical success, writing!Might take me a while to roll everything up, but you all know the drill by now.
>>5530655You win the clinch and start pounding on Pandion whenever you see an opening. Unfortunately, he’s experienced enough to minimize the amount of free shots you get, and he bears the few that slip through with unbroken ease.Worse, the wily bastard manages to counter one of your strikes and push you away when the effort of throwing consecutive strikes starts making you sloppy.Something’s not right about this.He’s moving faster and hitting harder than you’ve ever seen from him.It's almost like he's...The realization cuts you like a knife; he’s been sandbagging you, testing the waters and hiding his true prowess.Guess he didn't want you to be aware of just how strong he could be in a pinch.And now that you’re both taking this seriously, he’s treating you like a real threat.You’re not afraid to admit that the idea of him going easy on you gets you monstrously angry.So, you decide to channel your emotions into a more productive endeavor; engaging in the low-blow that every soldier worth his salt has parlayed at one point or another.It’s been the de facto staple of down-and-dirty brawling since man was bashing each other over the head with sticks and stones; the kick in the balls.A hit like that is certain to double him over and render him vulnerable for a tap on the chin.But when you go for your attempt at further damning Pandion’s bloodline, things do not go as planned.In a stunning display of technique and reflexes, Pandion manages to dart forward mid-kick to sweep your other leg out from under you.You hit the dirt hard, frantically trying to scrabble back to your feet.Your panic serves to dull your senses and you don’t see the first kick coming; an almost backhanded strike that splits your lip and causes a steady trail of crimson to redden the previously virgin snows.The kick in your ribs though, that one you had been expecting.After a few more blows of that nature, Pandion wrestles you to the ground and begins raining down blows upon you.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7R_xQUiZvgSo, this is what it must feel like from the other side.You kick and scratch and bite at every inch of exposed skin, but he refuses to dismount his position of advantage.Eventually, he manages to pin your arms and readies a knockout punch, winding up a mighty hit that’s sure to ring your bell something fierce.Part of you just wants to admit defeat and let it happen. You’ve given it a good run, but you’re losing pretty comprehensively.There’s no shame in losing to a master, especially during a spar of all things.The point of practice and training is to get your ass kicked and grow from the experience.After all, maybe you’d learn more from your loss?But fuck that.If you’re in the game then you’re playing to win, goddamn it!If Pandion wants to crown himself the victor, he’s going to have to pay dearly for the luxury.
>>5530726With nanoseconds on the clock before his fist smashes into your delicate facial features, you wrench yourself awry, just enough to send his aim off-balance. This sudden shift occurs far too late in Pandion’s swing for him check its momentum, forcing him to drive his fist full-force into rocky ground.There’s a slight cracking noise, the sound of something breaking from a heavy impact. And thankfully, it wasn’t the rock.Pandion recoils slightly and gets a little too close, so you take the initiative of slamming your forehead into his face.His grip on you loosens from the impact and you wriggle away before forcing yourself back on your feet.Not the cleanest hit you’ve ever pulled off, but you’re back on your feet and ready to kick ass.And as a bonus, your desperate shot actually managed to do some good.He doesn’t curse or give any declamation of injury, but you can tell from his body language that his hand is hurting more than he’d like to admit.You can smell blood in the water, time to dive in and exact some payback. To that end, you…(Since you hit the crit, the setup for this attack is guaranteed to succeed.)> Make a grab for his injured hand and start putting a copious amount of pressure on it. Weaknesses exist to be exploited.> Crack him in the face with an elbow strike and start whaling on him with a barrage of short-range punches. He’ll be tenderized hamburger when you’re through.> Get behind his guard and put him in a chokehold. From the jaws of defeat comes victory.> Charge up a hellacious side-kick and bust his jaw up. If you can give him a concussion, that’ll leave him open for further hits.> Other?
>>5530729> Get behind his guard and put him in a chokehold. From the jaws of defeat comes victory.With a fucked up hand he's going to be a a major handfighting disadvantage once we take his back
>>5530729>> Charge up a hellacious side-kick and bust his jaw up. If you can give him a concussion, that’ll leave him open for further hits.
>>5530729> Get behind his guard and put him in a chokehold. From the jaws of defeat comes victory.
>>5530729>> Crack him in the face with an elbow strike and start whaling on him with a barrage of short-range punches. He’ll be tenderized hamburger when you’re through.
Rolled 63, 96, 3 + 40 = 202 (3d100 + 40)>>5530734>>5530737Alright, looks like you're going for the throat.Roll me some 1d100+35 to ensure that he can't wriggle out.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 58 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530754
Rolled 27 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530754Oh boy we aren't beating this one.
Rolled 29 (1d100)>>5530754
Rolled 61, 9, 27 + 35 = 132 (3d100 + 35)>>5530755>>5530757>>5530758It would appear that Pandion still has some bit left.> Skill Improved! Spring-Heeled Jack: +45 to any dodge or agility roll.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+40 (You're taking a slight hit due to your injuries)> DC to be determined.
Rolled 52 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5530762
>>5530762> Skill Improved! Spring-Heeled Jack: +45 to any dodge or agility roll.Axis, we've done this before, we had gotten to 45 already last thread. Update the pastebin one of these days.
Rolled 99 (1d100)>>5530762also wheres my roll
>>5530770You are correct, anon.Apologies for the discrepancy.
>>5530772nice one
Rolled 88 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5530762
Rolled 76, 11, 19 + 45 = 151 (3d100 + 45)>>5530767>>5530772>>5530776For brevity's sake, I'm going to assume that you try to force him back into the chokehold.If an alternative course of action is preferred, just let me know.Give me some 1d100+35 to make it stick this time.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 89 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530784
Rolled 80 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530784
Rolled 63 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5530762
Rolled 25 (1d100)>>5530784Big money, Big Money
Rolled 8 + 35 (1d100 + 35)>>5530784We got this.
Rolled 16 (1d100)>>5530786>>5530787>>5530788Success!But there may be one last gasp of hope; let's see what fate has to say.DC: 95
Rolled 22 (1d100)>>5530794
>>5530794you gave us a good fight Pandion, but no one fucks with us and gets away with it
Rolled 80 (1d100)>>5530794DC 95? What?
Rolled 71 (1d100)>>5530794
>>5530796>>5530803>>5530804guys, you don't have to roll
>>5530796>>5530803>>5530804Apologies for the confusion anons, that particular DC was intended for me only.Since Pandion didn't make the cut, no last-ditch escape attempt.Tried to keep it a little ambiguous so it wouldn't spoil the surprise if I got a lucky roll.Anyhow, I’m beginning to run out of steam and this feels like a good stopping point, so let’s call it here for tonight.Have a good weekend, anons!Next session is Monday at 5:00 PM EST with the aftermath of your duel and whatever Set has cooked up.As always, thanks for playing and I hope to see you all there!(Since I haven’t asked for a while, are there any grievances to be had with grammar, structure, etc? I've been trying to weed out the errors where I can, but sometimes I miss things. Your feedback is appreciated nonetheless.Also, how'd you like the fight? Been a while since I've written one where it could've easily gone either way.)
>>5530807The writing and the fight were pretty good, it's nice to know that Pandion's seen fit to go all-out, especially since that means we've improved ourselves in hand-to-hand up to his standards. This quest is my favorite on the board for a good reason, see you Monday Axis
>>5530530Wow, that's a lot more than I thought. Props on a quest written on time and on schedule (as well as being cool as fuck), Axis.
What you think that Set have for us this time? A cat? Bomb? Superhero? A recording of Thot first date in a liftime with a girl?
With your footwork and his distracted state, it’s a simple enough matter to circle behind his guard.Before he can respond, you’ve got your arm wrapped tightly around his throat. From there, all you need to do is wait for him to run out of oxygen.But even then, Pandion refuses to let your plans come to fruition.He manages to wrench his head downwards, a move which fails to break the hold but gives him the angle necessary to bite your arm.You’re forced to relax your grip so that you can force him back into place, an opening that he takes full advantage of.He drives his elbow into your stomach and desperately tries to get away, but you clip him in the back of the head and drag him back into your clutches for another attempt.This time though, you’re ready for his tricks; unflinchingly locking in the hold.He buckles and twists, doing everything in his power to escape.But you stand firm, maintaining your iron grip.Eventually, his struggles begin to slow, before ceasing entirely.After a moment to verify that Pandion isn’t playing possum, you gently lower him to the ground and prop him up against a rock.Once that’s taken care of, you find a “comfortable” spot to settle in so that you may rest your weary body and stare at the skyline.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2USzBFARsIComfort is a relative term this high up the mountain, but you’re not complaining when you’ve got views like this.As it turns out, the peak is so high that you’re actually above the clouds.In between the wispy tufts of white cloud cover, you can see the jagged vistas and snowy outcroppings dotting the mountain range.You dig around in your shirt pockets and produce a pack of cigarettes.It was a little surprising that you could find your homestyle smokes halfway across the world, but that’s the modern world for you.Convenience over all.You fish one out, jam it in your mouth, and project an incredibly weak Fire Bolt from your thumb to light it up.It’s slightly wasteful to use your magic in such a way, especially when you’ve got a perfectly good lighter tucked away in your pack; but it doesn’t bother you overmuch. After the day you’ve had, you can’t be assed to move from this spot for a while.You take long, slow drags of your coffin nail as an indeterminate amount of time passes.You’re not quite sure what sparks it, but an uncontrollable urge to bust out laughing seizes you.Christ, how did it ever come to this?There used to be a time in your life where the grandest accomplishments you could imagine were getting into college and landing a 9-to-5 that wouldn’t break your back or crush your spirit.You’d parley that into a decent living where you could be your own man someplace else.For a backwoods blockhead with few prospects and fewer resources, those seemed like the loftiest of insurmountable goals.But now?The idea that you could ever work a mundane job or anything of the sort is laughable.
>>5534841You’ve formed pacts with divine beings and have learned to harness their powers for your own.You’ve cultivated underworld contacts, earning their respect and a reputation for reliability.You’ve been trashing Intergang operations for fun and profit at every chance you get.Hell, you were the straw that broke the back of an entire regime! When you get finished with your vacation, you’ve got to figure out what to do with your millions.Everything you’ve done would earn you a firm condemnation from society at large, yet you’re the happiest you’ve ever been.And here you are now, resting on the top of a sacred mountain after defeating the corporeal form of an ancient Greek king in the very martial art he’s trained you in.For the first time in your life, one of your most-hated sayings may actually hold water.”You can do anything you set your mind to.”Well, at least you’ll have plenty of fodder for your memoirs if you’re ever crazy enough to write any of this down.Then again, you did already get a co-author credit on Cullen’s latest book.He’d probably get a kick out of interviewing you again, especially considering all the strides you’ve been making with your own research.Food for thought.With that unwanted moment of critical introspection over with, you’re content to idly puff away and enjoy the moment.Watching the sunset is a small thing, but it’s something you’ve always tried to make time for; it’s always had someway of setting you at ease.It helped when you were at home and the folks were having another screaming match over some inane bullshit.It helped when you were in the sandbox and passing time in some piece of shit FOB while waiting for the locals to lob mortar rounds at you.It helped when all you had to your name was an orange jumpsuit with a number on the back.It helped when you were a penniless nobody on the streets that could barely afford food and a cheap motel room. Maybe it’s a way of grounding yourself in memories of simpler and more peaceful times.Maybe it’s a way of reminding yourself that there are pure and beautiful things in this world no matter where you go.Or maybe it’s just as a reminder that despite all odds, you made it through another day.Considering some of the days you’ve had, that means something.Pandion begins to stir, finally waking up after the conclusion to your unexpected spar.You give him a gentle kick to encourage him to rouse himself faster.> “Come on, we better get moving. Still got a bit of light left, and I’d rather not make camp up here. The temperature’s going to start dropping soon, and I’d prefer to avoid freezing my balls off.”It doesn’t take long before the both of you are off, departing back down the staircase you crafted using Abyssal Shield.He doesn’t say much during the descent, and neither do you.Is there anything you’d like to speak with Pandion about?> ???
>>5534844>"What a let down, no palace of bronze and gold or a welcoming feast... Well, I had fun.">"How's your hand though?"
>>5534874Alright, I can work with this.If there are any other ideas, I'll slot them in as they come.Writing.
>>5534874nice
>>5534844So what were those gods guarding then? A few artifacts and a sacred piece of land?Did we need to use magesight at the top?
>>5534918maybe they just live here, didn't think of that?
>>5534918could be they were bored saw us and thought fighting us would be fun.
Sorry for the delay anons, this is shaping up to be another long one.No ETA on completion as of yet, but it should be done within 30-40 minutes.
>>5534941You try to break the ice with something simple.> “Boy, that was kind of a letdown. No palace of bronze and gold, no welcoming feast, no angry gods demanding a trial by combat. The view was nice though.”“That it was. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to see it with mine own eyes. The stories truly did it justice.”> “How’s your hand doing? Need me to wrap it up or anything?”“It’ll heal in time. I owe you my congratulations, and my apologies. You are possibly the most talented pupil I have had the honor to instruct, though there is always more to learn. And while I regret ambushing you in the way I did, I do not regret doing it. In all my years of training and teaching, surprise is the surest test of expertise.”> “Just don’t make a habit out of it and we’ll call it even.”There’s a brief moment of silence before Pandion chimes back in.“For a few moments there, I nearly had you.”> “Almost only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades, old man.”Laughing, Pandion claps you on the back; before hissing in pain when he realizes that he used his injured hand to do so.Which makes you laugh harder and earns you a good-natured punch from Pandion’s non-dominant hand.> “Makes you wonder why Hercules’ kids tried to pick a fight with us. I’d get it if there was some kind of grand treasure up there, but it was mostly just a whole bunch of rocks.”“They are the guardians of Olympus, perhaps they assumed that we had some kind of ill-intent. Or perhaps they were merely fighting for the sake of their own entertainment.We may never know.”Beyond a bit of idle chit-chat, the next day-and-a-half progresses sedately.The trip back passes in perfect normality, and you reach Litochoro without any events of note; just a straightforward hike back down.On the train from Thessaloniki to Athens, you mostly just sleep and recover from your previous exertions.When you’re back in Athens proper, you rendezvous with the Set-Mobile and return back to sleep, but not before threatening bloody vengeance upon anyone who dares rouse you from your slumber.And of course, you should’ve realized that such a statement would only be interpreted as a challenge.That evening, Set drags you kicking and screaming out your cot to inform you that he’s taking you out for a night on the town; no ifs, ands, or buts.He seems impishly excited about whatever he has planned, and you haven’t the heart to deny him. Even if you know that this is certain to end poorly.This is Set we’re talking about, his idea of a good time could range from petty vandalism to earth-shattering felonies. So imagine your confusion when Set throws a well-tailored ensemble of formal-wear at you, complete with dinner jacket.Even though it is an admittedly comfy getup, it’s a little unsettling that Set knows your proportions to such detail.He’s not sharing the itinerary, but the first stop of the night is some kind of fancy restaurant.
>>5534976Hence the monkey suit and the stipulation that you leave your holdout weapons at home. But what really gets your goat is that you have to wear a fucking tie as well.When you rail against the inclusion of the ostentatious noose and attempt to dispose of it quietly, Set gets back at you by casting some kind of spell on it. Now, it’s practically glued around your damned neck. You don’t even what to known where Set learned how to do the.Before you know it, he’s parking the van outside of some fancy Italian joint and ushering you inside.It’s a far cry from the kind of place you’re used to, and you can’t help but feel out of place in such ritzy surroundings.Set notices your discomfort and tries to assuage your worries.“What, I can’t treat a good pal o’ mine to a night on the town?”> “I appreciate the sentiment, but this isn’t exactly what I had in mind. I’m not exactly the most polished guy around.”“You can do with a bit of culture, kid. Besides, this’ll be worth it; you just gotta trust me.”With that, Set approaches the maître d' and requests a table for two under the alias Kole Ossman.The maître d' takes great pleasure in snootily declaring that there are no reservations under that name, before condescendingly informing you that it takes weeks to secure seating at their prestigious eatery.In response, Set asks him to check the list once again, giving you a conspiratorial wink as he does so.“Miraculously”, Set’s bullshit alias is now on the list, much to the maître d’s mortification.Set just gives you a shit-eating grin as the bowing and scraping begins now that you’ve been verified as non-rabble.Once you’re both seated and furnished with menus, Set spends a few moments paging through it before excusing himself to visit the bathroom.In the meantime, you’re left on your own and bored out of your mind.The most irritating thing about formal events and places like this is that there’s never anything interesting to do.And tugging at your shirt collar in an attempt to loosen this damnable tie doesn’t count.In the end, you decide to just…> Rest your eyes for a bit and take a brief catnap. It might be considered a bit rude, but who gives a fuck; it’s not like you’re ever going to see any of these people again.> Flag down and politely needle that maître d' from earlier. You’re not one for tormenting waiters and the like, but an asshole like him makes for good sport.> Occupy yourself by scoping out the restaurant for exfiltration zones and chokepoints. Old habits die hard, and it’s a productive way of keeping your mind busy.> Discretely practice summoning your Blade of Flame. Just because you’re off-duty doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t hone your abilities further.> Order something alcoholic that you can nurse during Set’s absence. If he’s paying, you might as well enjoy yourself. (Free free to include a specific order)> Other?
>>5534978> Order something alcoholic that you can nurse during Set’s absence. If he’s paying, you might as well enjoy yourself. (Free free to include a specific order)>give me a Death in the Afternoon 3/4ths absinthe 1/4th champagne. If you're going to act rich then you are going to drink rich.
>>5534978> Occupy yourself by scoping out the restaurant for exfiltration zones and chokepoints. Old habits die hard, and it’s a productive way of keeping your mind busy.
>>5534978>> Occupy yourself by scoping out the restaurant for exfiltration zones and chokepoints. Old habits die hard, and it’s a productive way of keeping your mind busy.
>>5534993>>5534994>>5534998Noted, writing.>>5534986I can fold this in as well. Hemingway would be proud.
>>5535008In the absence of anything better to do, you put in a drink order that’d make Hemingway's ghost proud; a Death in the Afternoon with three-quarters absinthe and one-quarter champagne.After all, if you’re going to playact as a wealthy man, you might as well drink like one.While you wait for your drink, you begin giving the premises a simple security sweep from the comfort of your table.Plenty of windows, could make for decent lines of fire or emergency exits in a pinch. Don’t seem to be reinforced, so it’d make for shit cover in a firefight.The few cameras are concentrated at the various exits and the entrance to the kitchen, probably to catch anybody trying to sidle out and slack off.In terms of alternate escapes, there has to be some kind of side door in the kitchen. Push comes to shove, you’d be well-served to bum-rush that direction for a quick escape.In between your musings, you work up a comfortable buzz courtesy of your chosen drink. As it would turn out, absinthe kicks like a damn mule.So focused are you on your mental war-games, that you barely notice that somebody is approaching your table.The bogey appears to be an Asian woman in a plain but well-fitting dress. No visible weapons, but she may be packing a knife or concealing a firearm.The other detail that quickly draws your attention is the jagged pink line of scar tissue that runs under her right eye.That blemish, coupled with her aggressive body language make her somewhat unsettling but she’s still rather pretty.To your shock, she settles into Set’s seat and gives you a smile, the kind that lets you know it doesn’t happen often.“It’s nice to finally meet you, Jonah. I’ve heard a great deal about you from a mutual friend. Given my line of work, I don’t often have time for this sort of thing, so I’m bound to be quite rusty. Here’s hoping I don’t scare you off.” Despite the self-deprecating nature of her words, you can tell that they’re delivered with the utmost self-confidence.Her English is tinted with the slightest hint of a Japanese accent.All of your thoughts are immediately replaced by the alarm klaxon blaring in your brain. How in the hell does she know the name of one of your aliases? And for that matter, how was she able to identify you?On pure instinct, you begin surreptitiously reaching for your holdout piece, only to remember that you were forced to leave it behind.Above the din of paranoia, one clear conclusion makes itself known; this was planned.And that would mean…
>>5535060That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach is confirmed when you glance out a nearby window and see Set giving you a big-thumbs up.He gestures for you to check the inside of your menu; sure enough, there's a message scrawled inside: ”Your date’s name is Marina. Have a good time, kid! I think you’ll like her if you get to know her.”That absolute bastard set you up on a blind date! Worse, he didn’t even give you the courtesy of a warning first!Christ, this is going to be a trainwreck.You know how to knock over convoys, plant explosives, field-strip rifles, and beat people up.But lovey-dovey romance shit? You’re goddamn clueless!You’re deep behind enemy lines here, Clayton, how in the fuck are you going to handle this one?She’s looking expectedly at you to respond, and you’ve gotta say or do something.Calm down, you’ll just…> Play along with this charade for now. Just let her take the lead, and try to avoid doing anything monumentally stupid.> Stay completely silent and come up with some excuse. Maybe you’re a mute, or have some kind of vocal cord damage; whatever you can make stick.> Be straight with her. You had no idea that you were being set up on a blind date, and you’d rather not waste her time with a pack of lies.> Torpedo this quickly by being a complete asshole. Shouldn’t be too hard, just embrace what comes to mind.> Make some polite small talk for a while, excuse yourself, and flee for an escape via the bathroom. If it’ll work for Set, it’ll work for you too.> Cast a spell. Perhaps magic has the answer that'll get you out of this. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5535068>> Play along with this charade for now. Just let her take the lead, and try to avoid doing anything monumentally stupid.ah shit, this is a wonder woman villain well, surely the clayton silver tongue includes rizz
>>5535068> Play along with this charade for now. Just let her take the lead, and try to avoid doing anything monumentally stupid.
>>5535068> Play along with this charade for now. Just let her take the lead, and try to avoid doing anything monumentally stupid.Set truly is the best friend one can have.
Need to take a quick break for dinner, vote is open until I return.
>>5535068> Be straight with her. You had no idea that you were being set up on a blind date, and you’d rather not waste her time with a pack of lies.God help us
>>5535068>> Play along with this charade for now. Just let her take the lead, and try to avoid doing anything monumentally stupid.
>>5535089I am sure Hestia will get us through this one
>>5535068>> Play along with this charade for now. Just let her take the lead, and try to avoid doing anything monumentally stupid.>>5535074>ah shit, this is a wonder woman villain well, surely the clayton silver tongue includes rizzNeed info on who she is. Is she wizard? On gods side? Of that crazy grup that hate man? Of that crazy that dont hate man? A lone wolf? Which one?
Rolled 7 + 5 (1d15 + 5)>>5535074>>5535079>>5535083>>5535090>>5535094I have returned, give me some 1d100+25DC: 80 / 100 / 120(Rolling for Luck Drain)
Rolled 52 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5535097Watch us roll a 1
Rolled 75 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5535094a mercenary specialized in poisonhttps://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Marina_Maru_(Prime_Earth)>>5535097roll
Rolled 55 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5535097
Rolled 65 (1d100)>>5535097
>>5535101>>5535105>>5535107That's a success, writing.I'm starting to run out of steam, so this feels like a good place to call it for tonight.We'll pick up from here on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST, same as usual.As always, thanks for playing! Hope to see you all there.Apologies for being a bit slow tonight.
>>5535105Thenks men. She seems fine
>set's fw sean doesn't bang the lady and instead they just have a pleasant evening shooting the shit
>>5535114Good stuff Axis
>>5535126Set was too late to get Sean laid, he's the champion of the greek goddess of virginity now. Truly tragic.
>>5535126>They plan a second date>On a old arcade
>>5534978You sent Sean to an Italian restaurant while in Athens? As an Athenian, I'm mortally offended. (Granted you're not gonna find a place serving Greek food that demands a monkey noose to enter though).
>>5535424>You sent Sean to an Italian restaurant while in Athens? As an Athenian, I'm mortally offended.Would you expect Set to do anything else?
>>5535068Aw. I wish I had been in time for this. It’d be fun to try and double-down on being a suave bastard while admitting we don’t know what we’re doing.>Ah, it seems our friend shared more with you than he did me. I will need to remind him later that intel is supposed to be more generous than ‘suit up’. But he does generally mean well for his friends, so I know his heart is still in the right place. So what did he say that could bring a woman like you to a place like this?”Internally, all I’d be thinking as Sean is about how much I’d ensure that Set’s heart ended up in a very different place after the date.
Ask her about her interests or work. We can try to impress her with our knowledge of medicine and poison. Lets hope we roll high.
Also, that pastebin really needs to be updated since it says our networth is only 25k.I also think with our recently gained knowledge bonus, experience with defeating Hercules's children, and gaining our teachers approval regarding our Pankration skill we can now take a look at the scrolls of Herculaneum. I feel we are now at a sufficient level to take our training to the next level.
Hey, anons.Work put me through a menagerie of torments today, and I'm sorry to say that I can't quite muster up the energy to run a session.In the meantime, I'm going to try and plug away at the interludes while maintaining a tenuous grip on my inflamed temper and rapidly fraying patience.Feel free to ask questions, post wild conspiracies, make Bat-paranoia jokes, etc. I'll be lurking as best as I can.Friday's session should proceed as planned at 5:00 PM EST, barring another attempt to shatter my psyche.>>5536706In my defense, I'm fully aware that you've got ten million in the bank, I'm just a bit slow when it comes to updating the stat sheet. Hence my appreciation for anons that remind me of such.
>>5537156>Be Sean>Panic over blind date>”At least Batman would have it worse”>Be Bruce>”Man this date is boring. I’m looking forward to when I can proofread the Gunsmoke entries Barbara made in a couple hours.”
>>5537156I'm wondering why Hestia thought it was a good idea to make a violent super-mercenary her champion. Was she eyeing up Sean after he and Pandion were done beating up her grand nephews and thought to herself "I can fix him"?>>5537188Tricking Sean into a blind date with a man in a dress is definitely something Set would do.
>>5537223Maybe she was thinking “Eh. He’s the first guy to swing by Olympus in a while and I’ve had worse. He’ll do.”I also just realized there’s nothing that would stop someone from setting up a date with Barbara. Set might not do it because she’s too “boring”, but I could see someone like Bobo arranging it if we worked as Jonah with him for a bit. He could notice her skulking around trying to investigate Jonah and figure there could be something more there.
>>5537223Sean is pretty much halfway there when it comes to fitting into her domain. Or at least he's working up towards it. She can certainly find a worse person to make an adherent out of.
I can’t wait till our house of cards come crumbling down. I like to imagine us invoking all the pacts we have made and the resulting realization that this whole time we have been holding back. If we keep this level of growth up then even if we die we will pull a scorpion and not even need our pacts to get back to earth. Pure rage is enough.
>>5537223Not a lot of martially skilled virgins out there anon
>>5537291>he says knowing full well there are millions of anons who've spent years mastering the blade whilst others were out having parties
>>5537303>While you went to parties, I was touching myself in a sand dune So true
>>5536706>also think with our recently gained knowledge bonus, experience with defeating Hercules's children, and gaining our teachers approval regarding our Pankration skill we can now take a look at the scrolls of Herculaneum. I feel we are now at a sufficient level to take our training to the next level.>the secret Herculaneum technique is a recipe to make dynamite
>>5537422
>>5537291>Now that Hestia get a champion, Artemis want one too.>"Please Batman, please!">"No.">"Come on, Batman! Surely you want more powers?">"No.">"I... Virgins, priestess. Whenever you want, as many as you want, if you accept! >"A night with Aphrodite too!">"No.">"I... Nng... A night. With me. Only one!">"I pass. I'm working in a case right now."
I just want to say that I'm very surprised how nobody has made a Maxie Zeus joke yet.
>>5537483>I just want to say that I'm very surprised how nobody has made a Maxie Zeus joke yet.We dont want to fuck with Zeus.He could fuck with us
>>5537494Knowing the god, he could decide to literally fuck us.
>>5537495Greeks, man.
>>5537495>Brother, You have not left your room in years, not even when your wife is here! What is happening?>I find it Brother... I find it...>What?>Perfection!>That's a drawing.>It is more than a drawing, it is the idea! The Athenians were always right, but their contempt for women blinded them to the truth...>You're scaring me.>The beauty of the woman, without any of her defects! I have to pack, my enlightenment journey is just beginning.
>>5537495>>5537502>>5537511>Greeks, the first trash taste pushers
>>5537511I for one, welcome our femboy god of lightning
>>5537511Its found by the way you fucking idiot, don't make a faggot joke and write like one too.
>>5538166
Now that I think about it, why batman dont clone himself so he can work 24/7? Aside of paranoia?Can we do it? We only need a highscool nerd, copper and old lab.
>>5539246>clonesJust get a Martian and MKUltra the shit out of it
Now that I think about it, why batman dont clone himself so he can work 24/7? Aside of paranoia?Can we do it? We only need a highscool nerd, copper and a old lab.
>>5539246>>5539251Fuck
>>5539254Now you see why batman doesn't clone himself lol
>>5535114You calm down and think this through logically. Marina is under the impression that you’re here of your own volition, and it won’t be easy to arrange the truth in a way that won’t greatly offend her. Plus, that might goad Set into interfering further, something that is almost certain to end poorly for you.Therefore, the best way to handle this is to avoid rocking the boat. And that means you need to play along with Set’s carefully arranged charade, at least for now.Just think of it as a debriefing; let her steer the majority of the conversation while maintaining a veneer of interest. Offer a few token topics of your own to feign interest, without exposing yourself to too much risk. Speaking of which…> “It’s nice to meet you too, Marina. Trust me, I don’t scare easily. Besides, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you; I’m glad to see that nothing’s been exaggerated.”Her obviously forced smile fades a bit, and you immediately start to worry that you’ve blown it already.Damn it, this is why you prefer to keep to yourself. It’s not like you were a ladykiller before you enlisted, and the Sandbox served only to further strengthen your bad habits.Can’t even make it five minutes before you do something stupid to ruin the mood.About halfway into your mental self-flagellation, you notice something that gives you pause. The reason her smiled dimmed wasn’t because you inadvertently offended her or said something thoughtlessly rude. Instead, her superficial smile is replaced by something a little more discreet and genuine.Maybe you give yourself too little credit. Besides, you’ve always been good at talking yourself into and out of trouble, hopefully that talent’ll come in handy tonight.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKYmisws_rwWhile waiting the waiter, you both make attempts at small talk. It’s a bit awkward and fumbling at first, but you eventually find a comfortable rhythm.In doing so, you get the sense that she’s trying to get a surreptitious feel for your personality and ethos, which isn’t something you can fault her for. You’re doing the exact same thing as well, only hopefully better.Despite her easy confidence, you can catch a hint of tension under the surface. Not directed towards you, just a kind of general stress. You know the feeling well enough, given the number of near-miss ops you’ve gone on.And she didn’t seem to be bluffing about being a little rusty, you get a gut feeling that she’s probably as unused to all of this as you are.Lastly, her body language also seems to indicate a degree of approval for your polite evasiveness.Most people would regard your taciturn nature as a sign of disinterest or hostility, but Marina seems to appreciate that you prefer to play your cards close to the vest.After all, no word is more powerful than the one that goes unspoken.
>>5539452The ingrained paranoia helps, you’ve been through enough double-dealing to know that deception is a critical component of survival.Like in all matters relating to information, the one who gathers the most while revealing the least is generally the victor.So long as you keep your composure and let the one asking questions set the pace, it becomes substantially easier to dodge topics and avoid stumbling into any pitfalls.Shit, it’s probably a bad sign that framing a date as an intel shakedown actually helps calm you down.To be fair, you have been in more interrogation rooms than you have been on dates. A fact that you will decidedly keep to yourself, regardless of this night goes.Y’know, maybe Set actually has a point in setting all this up? As you can recall, your previous interactions with the ladies have been neutral at best and violently combative at worst.Like that time you fragged Scandal Savage. And Killer Frost. And Knockout. Although, you only got her 90% of the way there, Unknown Soldier was the one to drag her over the finish line.You were getting on well enough with Plastique before you blew her to kingdom come. Wasn’t your intention, but you won’t apologize for a single thing that happened in Venezuela.There’s also that time you trussed up that one Wonder Woman knockoff like a Thanksgiving turkey, with her own lasso no less. Bet she’s still fuming about that one.And let’s not forget the time you put Batgirl in the hospital the first time you met.In your defense, they largely had it coming. And you kept it non-lethal, like a gentleman. Task Force X assets don’t count.So perhaps a bit of positive exposure to the opposite sex would do you some good. Still doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to put your foot up Set’s ass later for not clearing it with you first.In the middle of your light course of small talk, Marina orders a Sazerac off the drink menu, potentially a nod to your own absinthe-powered cocktail.You take controlled sips of your potent brew, enough to slake your thirst and get a nice buzz going.The tolerance you’ve acquired over the years makes it easy enough for you to handle your liquor, but it’d be an awful idea to get blitzed in front of your “date.”Still, this isn’t going half-badly. Haven’t said anything to warrant a drink being flung in your face at least.Marina makes for good company, and seems genuinely engaged in your conversation. Could be far worse, that’s for sure. Assuming you can keep your nerves in check, you may actually be in for an enjoyable evening.
>>5539457It’s nearly time to order something off the menu, but the well of idle chatter has gone dry. You need to come up with something to fill the void, otherwise things are going to grind to a screeching halt.Too much dead air will lead to an awkward silence, something that you want to avoid at all costs.Therefore, you decide to focus the conversation on…> Work. It might not be the most orthodox of first date topics, but somebody’s job can reveal a lot about them. Especially if Marina channels her passions into it like you do.> Hobbies. It’s a natural jumping-off point that doesn’t overplay your hand. Might be considered a little basic, but there’s nothing wrong with taking things slow and steady.> Goals. Don’t have to go too deep into anything specific, but it’s an important part of someone’s character. Your aspirations have been the driving force in your recent endeavors, and is information worth knowing.> Home. She doesn’t seem to be a native, and you can’t help but be a little curious about it. Of course, that’d likely require some tit-for-tat unless you come up with a suitable fabrication.> Other?
>>5539460>> Goals. Don’t have to go too deep into anything specific, but it’s an important part of someone’s character. Your aspirations have been the driving force in your recent endeavors, and is information worth knowing.Start it off with how we really want to help a friend, no specifics, nothing to tip off too hard.
>>5539460> Goals. Don’t have to go too deep into anything specific, but it’s an important part of someone’s character. Your aspirations have been the driving force in your recent endeavors, and is information worth knowing.
>>5539460> Hobbies. It’s a natural jumping-off point that doesn’t overplay your hand. Might be considered a little basic, but there’s nothing wrong with taking things slow and steady.
>>5539460> Goals. Don’t have to go too deep into anything specific, but it’s an important part of someone’s character. Your aspirations have been the driving force in your recent endeavors, and is information worth knowing.What that Anon said about helping a friend, with some stuff about helping people who've had a bad run out
>>5539460> Goals. Don’t have to go too deep into anything specific, but it’s an important part of someone’s character. Your aspirations have been the driving force in your recent endeavors, and is information worth knowing.My dream is to destroy Task Force X. How about you?
>>5539462>>5539464>>5539471>>5539497>>5539503>>5539506Alright, how would you like to go about your conversational gambit?> Be vague, but honest. No need to bare your innermost thoughts, but a hint of the truth would serve you well.> Play it off as a joke. Especially the mercenary angle, that ought to be good for an easy laugh.> Lie through your teeth. Honesty is a weakness when it comes to virtual strangers. (Include a synopsis of your lie)> Bend the truth and imply that you have no grand ambitions to note. It has the potential to come off as disingenuous, but not if you sell it properly.> Other?
>>5539507> Be vague, but honest. No need to bare your innermost thoughts, but a hint of the truth would serve you well
>>5539507> Be vague, but honest. No need to bare your innermost thoughts, but a hint of the truth would serve you well.
>>5539507>> Be vague, but honest. No need to bare your innermost thoughts, but a hint of the truth would serve you well.
>>5539507>"I want to set aside a slice of the universe to ensure people have a haven and a community to turn to and support them should they ever find themselves getting fucked over by their homelands' inevitable betrayal."
>>5539507> Bend the truth and imply that you have no grand ambitions to note. It has the potential to come off as disingenuous, but not if you sell it properly.All we want to do is help out a friend and help out some other people, we've made good investments into foreign startup companies, and have done plenty of volunteer work in South America. This is 'Obi Wan saying Vader killed anakin' levels of bending, but it's technically true
Rolled 5, 57 + 35 = 97 (2d100 + 35)>>5539511>>5539513>>5539515>>5539531This option wins, but I'll see if I can find some wiggle room for: >>5539523 and >>5539524Roll me some 1d100+25> DC to be determined.
Rolled 40 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539534
Rolled 13 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539534The most dangerous game... woman
Rolled 22 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539534God help our spaghetti
Rolled 9 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539534
Rolled 40, 44 + 30 = 114 (2d100 + 30)>>5539536>>5539537>>5539539Feel free to double-check my math, but it seems to be a failure.40 + 25 + 12 = 7757 + 35 - 12 = 80Go ahead and give me some 1d100+40> DC to be determined.
Rolled 5 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5539550
Rolled 49 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5539550
Rolled 97 (1d100)>>5539550
Rolled 35 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5539550
>>5539553>>5539554>>5539555That's a success, writing.While I do so, feel free to discuss amongst yourselves what you'd like to order.Obviously, this is the most consequential decision made in the quest thus far and I demand that it be treated with the gravitas it so richly deserves.
>>5539560How about Polpo in Umido? That's ritzy enough for the place, I think
>>5539560Hey Axis can we use luck drain?
>>5539571That was with your Luck Drain bonus, hence the 12 I referenced in the math.
>>5539569I support cephalopod consumption
>>5539560Order a pizza. :^)
>>5539569+1
>>5539560When you inquire about her future goals, Marina good-naturedly requests that you go first.Can’t really afford to back down now, so you humor her.> “Fair enough. Not to drag down the mood or anything, but I grew up a pretty rough situation. If it weren’t for some good friends of mine, I probably wouldn’t be here today. So, that’s kinda what I want to do; to set something up that’ll help them and other guys like me who found themselves backed into a corner. To ensure that they have a community and the support they need when nobody else cares. It might not be particularly ambitious, but it’s enough for me.”Marina doesn’t have much of a poker face, which makes it easy for you to tell that she isn’t buying what you’re selling.Which is a shame, since you weren’t too far off the mark.Some would argue that an omission of fact is tantamount to a lie, but you consider it an exercise in ensuring security.Given her suspicions, you’re not surprised in the least when she tells you a cluster of barefaced lies about her own goals and motivations.“If I’m being honest, I’ve never spent much time considering it. My work takes up the majority of my time, but I suppose that I’ve always wanted to settle down someplace quiet and just enjoy nature for a while. Compared to yours, mine seems a little silly.”You assure her that her dreams have equal merit to your own, casually sidestepping that you know she’s full of shit.After that, you’re not quite sure how to proceed given that the mistruths are now flying full force.Luckily, the waiter finally arrives to take your orders. You take a moment to study the menu, only to run headfirst into a new obstacle.
>>5539611As it turns out, this is one of those pretentious restaurants where everything on the menu is labeled in their mother tongue.And you don’t speak a damned lick of Italian. And the only Greek you know tends be of the variety found scrawled on the walls of ancient tombs, definitely not something suitable for a bilingual translation.Marina orders something in a staccato of rapid-fire Italian, at least she can speak the language. But you’d rather avoid embarrassing yourself by asking her to order for you.In the end, you decide to let Jesus take the wheel and pick something blindly off the menu, eventually setting on something called “Polpo in Umido”. It’s probably some kind of noodle dish, it’s not like Italian food can be that weird, right?Unfortunately, it would appear that the mood has soured a bit. Copious amount of mistrust tends to have that effect.You’ve made a misstep, but there’s time to salvage this.You just need to think creatively and get this date back on track.> Try to lighten the mood with a few jokes. You’re a funny guy, what’s the worst that could happen? (Include humorous ideas)> Challenge Marina to an impromptu drinking game. Perhaps a bit more booze would serve to loosen her tongue?> Take the plunge and mention your military service. Maybe if you’re willing to mention something deeply personal, she’ll reciprocate.> Talk about how you’re a published author. That’s gotta earn you at least a little credibility, right?> Send Set a telepathic message requesting advice. You’re floundering out here and desperately need a life jacket; but he’s sure to hold it over your head forever. > Mentally declare this a lost cause. You’ll stick around for dinner, before covering your half of the bill and making a covert exfiltration.> Other?
>>5539612> Take the plunge and mention your military service. Maybe if you’re willing to mention something deeply personal, she’ll reciprocate.
>>5539612>Call Jack. "Jack I need your help please, I'm in a blind date and I'm completely useless when it comes to women. The only flirting examples I know of came from the jarheads at the FOB. The only woman I've felt attraction to was a despot who drugged me. Save me, please."
Need to take a quick break to grab dinner, vote is open until my return.
>>5539612> Send Set a telepathic message requesting advice. You’re floundering out here and desperately need a life jacket; but he’s sure to hold it over your head forever.>>5539636QM didn't Sean get a perk that lets him read any language from Thoth when they paid a visit to the geek goddess's of magic library where he got the scrolls and Thoth god a 100 roll and gave Sean a boon for taking him to the library
>>5539612>> Take the plunge and mention your military service. Maybe if you’re willing to mention something deeply personal, she’ll reciprocate.>> Talk about how you’re a published author. That’s gotta earn you at least a little credibility, right?>>5539628>>Call Jack. "Jack I need your help please, I'm in a blind date and I'm completely useless when it comes to women. The only flirting examples I know of came from the jarheads at the FOB. The only woman I've felt attraction to was a despot who drugged me. Save me, please."Lol this
>>5539641+1
>>5539640it was thread 18 and never mind it only let us never fail learning a new languageonly me misremembering
>>5539612>Call Jack. "Jack I need your help please, I'm in a blind date and I'm completely useless when it comes to women. The only flirting examples I know of came from the jarheads at the FOB. The only woman I've felt attraction to was a despot who drugged me. Save me, please."this too>>5539641
>>5539640>QM didn't Sean get a perk that lets him read any language from Thoth when they paid a visit to the geek goddess's of magic library where he got the scrolls and Thoth god a 100 roll and gave Sean a boon for taking him to the library> Magical Ability Unlocked! Polyglot: It is now impossible to fail language training rolls (aside from critfails)
I have returned, give me a moment to tally everything up.
Rolled 82, 67 + 20 = 169 (2d100 + 20)Alright, it looks like taking the plunge is victorious.And since the write-in option is also quite popular, I'm fine with tacking it on as well.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+25 to see how Marina responds.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 1 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539678
Rolled 58 (1d100)>>5539678>69
>>5539679It really does come full circle, doesn't it?
>>5539679yeeaah, this one I had it coming
>>5539679Woman are our weakness.And not in a good way.
>>5539679We're better at fighting women
Rolled 70 (1d100)
>>5539689I appreciate the enthusiasm anon, but I still need one more unique roll in case of crits.
Rolled 91 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539678I'll toss in mine I guess
This will be amazing. I would love for us to have just outed ourselves rather than her to get upset. Axis could right this like she was playing us the whole time while we thought we were playing her. Hell, this could not even have been our date but rather a spy that took her place.
Rolled 15, 1, 3, 2, 5, 12, 6 = 44 (7d20)>>5539691A bad date is bad, but atleast this is not boring.Rolling
We could also have gotten drunk and told her all our secrets and she just thinks we are lying because they are too crazy
>>5539678Can we get a reroll?
>>5539679>>5539689>>5539692Thanks for the rolls, anons.That's a critfail, writing. I hate to leave things on a cliffhanger, but I can already tell that the next update is going to take me a long while to get just right.We'll pick up from here on Monday at 5:00 PM EST.As always, thanks for playing! Never a dull moment, that's for sure.Interludes are going well, I'll hopefully have the Venezuela JLA debrief done in the next week or two.>>5539698Your re-roll was burnt back on Mount Olympus, I believe.
Rolled 33 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5539678What do you mean your folks lived in Fallujah?
>>5539696>And that dork is... what? A wizard?>He is Thot, the egypt god.>Right~
As soon as we're done with this shit show, we're going to kick Seth in the balls.
>>5539714I just want to know why he'd up and tell some rando merc from elseways that Jonah was gonna be here. I get his MO is just causing shenanigans but man, why get that alias all mixed up in normie-not-magic-land instead of getting some crazy cult descendant of Rasputin chick to show up or something.Hope he's happy at least, we're about to get into a fistfight in a classy Italian restaurant in Greece with a Japanese woman.
>>5539732>why get that alias all mixed up in normie-not-magic-land instead of getting some crazy cult descendant of Rasputin chick>Don't want Mid-Tit Big-Ass Magic Tomboy GF.
>>5539738What in the actual fuck are you talking about?
>>5539746>What in the actual fuck are you talking about?>what is a waifufag
>>5539852No seriously what the fuck are you trying to say?
Still a barbfag and proud
>>5539865Is a joke>You dont want that Sean's identities be compromised>I imply that risking Sean's life and those of his friends is worth it if we get some
>>5539875Oh.
>>5538166Hey. You. Fuck you.
>>5540211You got no chance, don't flatter yourself.
>>5540211
Hey anons, just popping in for a quick status update.I've got about 7000 characters written for the next update, but I've still got a fair amount of work to do.Once I get off work I'll do my best to have it done by our scheduled start time, but be prepared in case I'm an hour or so late.
>>5542203Thenks Axie.Can we post REEEEEEEE anyways?
>>5539699You’re trying to think up a way to regain the ground you’ve lost and banish the increasingly thick aura of awkwardness, but you just can’t come up with anything actionable.With no better options available, you make a desperate call and nudge Jack with a sigil ping. Set was an option, but you’ll die before you dare to ask him for dating advice,> “Jack, I really need your help here. Set tricked me into a blind date and I’m completely out of my depth when it comes to women. The only experience I’ve got to work with is FOB nightwatch bullshitting and that one time I got kinda brainwashed. Save me, please.”The response you get back is sympathetic; yet firm and to the point.“Relationships are all about trust. If you really want to connect with this woman, then you need to make the first move. Tell her something of great import to you and see where it takes you. I know it can be scary, but I’m afraid that it’s the nature of the beast. Whatever happens, just know that you have nothing to embarrassed about. Go get her, Sean.”The only thing you can think of is your time in the Corps.You’re still puzzling over the right thing to say when your food gets delivered, saving you temporarily from having to take a precarious social plunge.As it turns out, you managed to order some kind of stewed octopus instead of something more conventional. Still, it’s not half-bad; a little salty, but you’ve had far worse.In between bites, you gradually build up the courage to bring up your military service. Given the disastrous nature of its conclusion, you decide to sanitize it a bit.> “So, here’s a fun fact about me; I actually did a few combat tours in the Marines. I don’t generally talk about it a whole lot, but I figured that it’d be best to be upfront.”“Wow! You must have plenty of stories; mind giving me some highlights?” Marina says, a little too flippantly for your liking.You can tell that she doesn’t mean anything by it, but her offhand comment inadvertently rips the bandage off your deepest wound, the kind that’s liable to never fully mend.In that moment, a crack forms in the carefully curated compartment where you shove everything you don’t like thinking about.Especially the memories.They dig themselves out of their forgotten sepulchers and demand your attention immediately, at potentially the worst possible time.The mood is instantly ruined when your mouth moves faster than your common sense.
>>5542892https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7Uu6Bz_wM> “You’re probably expecting to hear about something inspirational, that we did shit like dig wells, build schools, or make life better over there. And yeah, that happened sometimes. But most of the time it was just long stretches of boredom until the shooting started. And more often than not, it didn’t go the way I hoped.”Your voice begins to audibly crack at points, a by-product resulting from the sheer strength of your long-repressed emotions.In a manner that indicates you’re a thousand miles away, you give Marina a terse synopsis of the worst day of your life; your ill-fated excursion into the Devil’s Corridor.> “That was the day that my life changed forever; where my men were the sacrificial lambs at the altar of politics.”You spit the word like it it were the vilest of swears.You can tell without a doubt that this has stopped being cathartic and has instead morphed into something more dangerous, but you can’t bring yourself to care about anything besides the swirling vortex of loss and hate bubbling deep within.> “Sometimes I wonder, y’know? Maybe I didn’t make it out of that valley. Maybe I got crushed by a boulder, or I caught a stray round. And everything after is just the fleeting gasps of a fevered mind kicked into overdrive by its imminent demise.”A more rational part of you is practically screaming that you need to shut up and bury these feelings back in their hole.Those frantic pleas do nothing to stem the flood of angry vitriol spewing from the bitterest recesses of your psyche.> “But’s how it’s always been. Guys like me get fed the party line before getting shuffled into the meatgrinder. And for what? So that some warhawk shitheel that sat in the rear with the gear can improve his chances of re-election? They make the executive decision to send me thousands of miles away from home, and then tie my hands behind my back so that nothing actually gets done. In one breath, they’ll wax poetic about how important the war is to our national security. And in the next, they’ll justify raking us over the coals to even-out the bottom line.”The bone-deep weariness ignites and becomes a righteous inferno. The sheer injustice of it all burns through your veins like lava as your voice begins to change. Before, your voice was packed tightly with emotion, the words of a man barely capable of forcing them out.But now, there’s a chilling detachment between the ironclad force of your words and the unnatural tranquility of your delivery.> “Win or lose, they don’t care. It’s not their son getting shipped back home in a pine box, it’s not their family that gets torn into pieces, it’s not their children who cry themselves to sleep because they’ll never see their father again. If you’re lucky, they’ll erect a memorial or two and then move on to the next conflict.”
>>5542896Marina looks particularly unsettled at your ferocity; something that shows no sign of abating any time soon.> “The politicians get a nice bump in the polls and the opportunity to glad-hand like they were the ones who got their fucking hands dirty. After all, that’s just the nature of the game, right? Doesn’t matter how many grunts like me go in the pile so long as they can advance their position.> The brass gets some nice talking points to stick in their promotion packet about how their bullshit initiatives were instrumental in securing victory. After all, what do the joes on the firing line know when compared to the nepotistic cowards that govern from six time zones away? If a dozen men need to die so that you can fill out the paperwork for your medal, well that’s just the cost of doing business.> The defense companies get to line their pockets by charging insane prices for dogshit gear that we’re forced to adopt. After all, it’s not like anybody slapping their John Hancock on the purchase order is paying for it out of pocket. And it’s not like the lives of anyone they care about will ever hinge on the quality of what they peddle.> The folks at home get to cheer and jeer about the catch of the week while bitching about they would’ve done it better if they had the chance. After all, even though they probably couldn’t spell the name of the country or pick it out on the map, that doesn’t stop them from playing armchair soldier. And as soon as something equally interesting rolls around, they’ll drop it and move on like it never happened.> It’s a neat win-win for everyone except the stupid fuckers that get saddled with the ramifications of an incompetent bureaucracy, an apathetic public, a delusional command structure, and a corrupt logistics chain.”Your voices reaches a fever pitch, an unholy mixture of longing, barely-suppressed rage, and quiet sadness.> “And you know what the worst thing is? Even with all that shit, sometimes I still wish that I was out there. Every single day, I would think about all the things that’d I accomplish after I did my bit; all the places I’d see, all the things I would do. And now that I’m back, all I can think about are the things I lost over there that I’ll never really get back.> My brothers.> My hopes.> My damned life.”Your rant reaches a shattering climax as you continue to unload the bleakest of your buried musings.> “Y’know, I used to think that the lucky ones were the ones who made it home in one piece. But maybe I was wrong; maybe the fortunate ones were the ones who bought it in the line of duty. They had the luxury of dying with certainty, that they were doing the right things for the right reasons. They never had to learn the truth, that the cause they fought and bled for viewed them as disposable.”
Rolled 77, 73 + 75 = 225 (2d100 + 75)>>5542903Your breath catches in your lungs but you refuse to cease for even a moment.> Can you imagine what it’s like? To see the country that you gave everything for toss you aside like a kid finished playing with his toy? It tears you up inside. A hard fact that nobody likes to discuss is how the value of your service dissipates when faced when even the slightest of inconveniences. It’s almost funny when you think about it. They funnel us into training meant to break you down and build you back harder and stronger, into something capable of living the soldier’s lot.> Somebody gives the order, and you pull the trigger. Rinse and repeat. If you’re good at it, they tack a bit of colored ribbon to your chest, give a bit more autonomy, and encourage you to keep going. But the second you rotate back home, they expect you to just fit right back in with the crowd. Like you can just snap your fingers and ignore every instinct that kept you from becoming another statistic on the nightly news.> Back into a world where killing is anathema, where everything that made you strong is now suddenly undesirable. And why should they care? You’re just damaged goods, they already got their pound out of flesh out of you. At that point, it’s easier and cheaper to pay for your funeral rather than get you actual care.”Your tirade peters out as you finally wrestle back control of your emotions and realize the full implications of the floodgates that just sprung a leak.Marina is staring at you in the way someone might at a ticking time bomb.Unsurprisingly, she abruptly excuses herself from the table and storms out of the restaurant.God fucking damn it.This is why you don’t like talking about personal shit.No matter what, it always has a way of coming back to bite you in the ass.(Roll me some 1d100+40)> DC to be determined.
>>5542905(Apologies for the wall of text, this one got away from me rather quickly. Bit of a bummer, but a critfail deserves as much)
Rolled 2 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5542905damn
Rolled 86 + 40 (1d100 + 40)>>5542905Holy shit, a full PTSD explosion. And now anybody listening knows Jonah was a marine in the Devil's Corridor. FUCK
Rolled 12 (1d100)>>5542905
>>5542920>>5542924>>5542926The math is close, but Luck Drain isn't quite enough to put you over the top.Go ahead and give me a round of 1d100-10DC: 80
Rolled 44 - 10 (1d100 - 10)>>5542931
Rolled 93 + 10 (1d100 + 10)>>5542931
Rolled 78 - 10 (1d100 - 10)>>5542931Our spaghetti suicide bombed
Rolled 19 - 10 (1d100 - 10)>>5542931Thanks, Set. Maybe you should stop doing "nice things" for people without telling them first. Now everyone is having a bad time. reee
Rolled 11 + 10 (1d100 + 10)>>5542931Set ruined the trip. Time to go back home and shoot jack in the ghost head I guess
>>5542932>>5542934>>5542935That's a success, writing.If I'm being frank, there really couldn't have been a worse time for that critfail outside of a combat situation.
>>5542940>the entire justice league is sitting at the other table, hidden by large newspapers
>>5542940that just makes things more interesting!
>>5542947>The Suicide Squad director with a fake mustache comes to the table asking if we want something else.
>>5542947>yfw Lok was the waiter in disguise and he planted listening devices
>>5542940>Be Batman>Have planted microphones all over the restaurant after hearing that a certain someone was going to be there>It's a date>"Oh well, probably not going to get a lot of info out of this, but better be sure to record it anyway">Leaves and let's the entire conversation be recorded>Comes back and listens to it later>Seems normal.... interesting drea- HOLY SHIT!>HE DID FUCKING WHAT WITH WHO!?>THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!>He must be connected to that guy who set up a mercenary heaven! How does he know him; is it personal or do they jsut share the same worldview?>Must investigate this further
>>5542940Tfw Set got us set up with someone, but someone set a setup at the restaurant in order to set us up.
>>5542962Setception!
>>5542962So the date set set up was a set up set by someone other than set, who didn't set the set up but set up the date
>>5542951Mfw lok was the woman in disguise
>>5542940You morosely poke at the remainder of your octopus, having lost your appetite in its totality.Great going, asshole.All you needed to do was keep your damned trap shut and get out of your own way.And not only did you have some kind of breakdown, you dumped all that shit on Marina.She didn’t deserve that, few people do. Wish there was some way to make it up to her, but you won’t fault her for not wanting to be in a room with you again.As you stew at your table, you notice something that gets your hackles up.It’s not just one thing, more like a culmination of little details.A wayward sniff of propellant.A slight ticking.A sound of a safety being switched off.On pure paranoid instinct, you dive from your table into the comparative safety of a nearby booth.Seconds later, an explosion tears through the wall directly facing your table, ripping open a gaping entrance to the street.In the aftermath of the blast, you keep having thoughts of Iraq and how you’ve managed to get pinned down once again.When you regain your bearings, you become acutely aware of several guns pointed in your face by a contingent of olive-drab mercenaries. Must be at least a dozen, potentially more. Double vision might be fucking with your ability to analyze.At least, you assume that they’re mercenaries. Not like they’re handing out business cards.One of the mercs studies your face, and speaks into his helmet mic.“Package secured. Securing for exfiltration.”
>>5542980He pulls out a black bag, presumably hoping to shove it over your head and drag you off.Before you can work on a battleplan, you’re distracted by the brief glint of metal that buries itself in his throat.The culprit and a host of his buddies drop down from the ceiling, all dressed and armed exactly like the cultists you fought in Kahndaq.“The servant of Chaos is not yours to claim, hound. Leave, and you may be spared our wrath.”You immediately try to send Jack an emergency ping, but discover that some kind of interference is blocking it from transmitting. Fucking magic bullshit.There’s a grim standoff as both sides try to gauge their odds, only broken when an unexpected participant makes themselves known.Marina, dressed in the same uniform as the mercenaries and packing some serious hardware.The volatile cocktail of emotions coursing through your mind only intensifies when one of the mercs goes for a quickshot and shatters the fragile peace.Fuck, was this all a setup? Something to maneuver you into the right place? Or was it just sheer bad luck?Either way, you’re in a hell of a pickle.The civvies flee outside while both parties fight to the death, and you’re stuck right in the middle.It takes a great amount of will to force down your urge to trigger Volcanic Rage, but you manage to regain control of your emotions and think rationally.Your priority is to..> Neutralize Marina and her mercenaries. You don’t appreciate being played like a lovestruck fool.> Focus on dealing with the pack of cultists. If they want you badly, then why don’t you go and introduce yourself.> Focus on both groups of hostiles equally. It won’t be easy without your gear, but you’ve always had a knack for creativity.> Make a run for an exit. This is why you plan for emergencies, let them tear each other apart.> Other?
>>5542982> Neutralize Marina and her mercenaries. You don’t appreciate being played like a lovestruck fool.
>>5542982>Cast Kinetic FrenzyThen> Make a run for an exit. This is why you plan for emergencies, let them tear each other apart.
>>5542982> Focus on both groups of hostiles equally. It won’t be easy without your gear, but you’ve always had a knack for creativity.>Try to incapacitate instead of kill, when both of the groups are lying on the ground moaning, ask them what the hell they think they are doing!
>>5542987+1
>>5542982>> Focus on both groups of hostiles equally. It won’t be easy without your gear, but you’ve always had a knack for creativity.
>>5542982>> Focus on dealing with the pack of cultists. If they want you badly, then why don’t you go and introduce yourself.Hell cultist are the worst that can happen, they must die. We can deal with the rest later
>>5542988+1
>>5542992>>5542988>>5542982I change my vote
>>5542987This is supposed to be a silly little moment, We are unarmed we dont need to be here
>>5542987+1RUUUUN
>>5542992those are horus cultist, marginally less dangerous.>>5542998need I remind you we are magic and that we carry two superpowerful artifacts in our soul?
>>5542982changing my vote >>5542985 to >>5542988
>>5542998Unarmed? My sweet summer child. An ancient egyptian gauntlet, arcane magic and the comforting heat of a greek dagger tells otherwise
Alright, calling it here; give me a moment to tally it all up.
>>5543005We dont have a mask, we are in public. Think about the bigger picture
>>5543005We got Mommy Hestia on our side and our bro SetNothing can beat us!
>>5543000>those are horus cultist>Sean kill them.>The mercs aim at him.>Marina "Thenks for the help, but you come with us.">"Nah">Use golden eye to teleport again.>"Get fucked bitch, your aren't cute anyways">We end up with Bastet.>"I feel in good mood today, what about if we have a date? If you do it nice, I will let you go.">"Fuck"
- Avatar of Disorder: Self-propelled energy projection capable of taking and dealing massive amounts of damage, at a steep power and difficulty cost.don't forget about this bad boy
>>5543010you read my fucking mind
>>5543008We have already spilled the spaghetti about our situation, any fool who listens to our conversation or interogates Marina will know who we are. Letting them know we can do magic is the least of our problems and we all knew that our house of cards (Different identities) was going to collapse at some point.
>>5542982> Focus on both groups of hostiles equally. It won’t be easy without your gear, but you’ve always had a knack for creativity.This is the only in-character option. We just were betrayed after opening up for the first time in years. Everything in this room dies—even the table plants and seafood.
>>5542982> Focus on both groups of hostiles equally. It won’t be easy without your gear, but you’ve always had a knack for creativity.Doom slayer time
>>5543015Bullshit. Every option Axis gives is another permutation on Sean's character.
>>5543007Alright, looks like you'll be focusing on both groups indiscriminately, with a token attempt to leave at least a few survivors to interrogate as to what the fuck is going on here.You've got the strategy, now you just need the tactics. How do you plan on going about this?> Wrestle a weapon away from one of the mercs and start picking people off. If you can leverage the confusion to your advantage, you might just have a shot.> Bring out the Claw and stomp these bastards into the dirt. No muss, no fuss; just some good old-fashioned brawling.> Summon the Blade of Flame and pick off anyone on the periphery. Nothing like a bit of knifework to get the point across.> Cast a spell. (Designate the desired spell)> Other?
>>5543024> Bring out the Claw and stomp these bastards into the dirt. No muss, no fuss; just some good old-fashioned brawling.
>>5543024>Kinetic rush with the greek dagger. Focus on killing the leaders.
>>5543024>> Cast a spell. (Lightning Bolt)
>>5543024>> Wrestle a weapon away from one of the mercs and start picking people off. If you can leverage the confusion to your advantage, you might just have a shot.Headshot!
>>5543024On second thought? No. >>5543028to > Bring out the Claw and stomp these bastards into the dirt. No muss, no fuss; just some good old-fashioned brawling.
>>5543024> Bring out the Claw and stomp these bastards into the dirt. No muss, no fuss; just some good old-fashioned brawling.These hands are rated E, 'cause they're for Everyone here!
>>5543024> Wrestle a weapon away from one of the mercs and start picking people off. If you can leverage the confusion to your advantage, you might just have a shot.Special glove is a plan B, remember guys?
>>5543014Our identities haven't collapsed, not yet. We can probably still throw some minor magic around and still larp as Jonah, and if Sean is connected to that persona, then we can still make it work along with the other twoWe're still safe with our identities
Rolled 56, 50, 4, 49 = 159 (4d100)Looks like the Claw is victorious, go ahead and give me some 1d100+70> DC to be determined.(First pair of rolls are for the mercs (+45), second pair is for the cultists (+65)
Rolled 51 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543047so, how many people are here and do we even need to roll with all the luck we are draining?
Rolled 44 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543047We kill the building in our rage.
>>5543052It's about a dozen and a half mercs versus maybe six or so cultists.As for Luck Drain, it doesn't quite work like that. Think of it more like a AoE where anyone you dislike takes a malus (rolled for by me) and you get that same amount tacked onto your roll.It doesn't stack.
Rolled 90 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543047
Rolled 83 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543047
>>5543055>101 v 114 v 160TOTAL CLAW VICTORY
>>5543052>>5543053>>5543055Alright, looks like you fare the best, followed by the cultists, then lastly by the mercs.Any particular priority target amongst both parties? If so, let them be known while I start getting my dinner ready.
>>5543061DEMOLISH THE DINNER!
>>5543061whoever seems like the leader of the cultists
>>5543061Lookout for golden eyes, these are the bigshot
>tfw you go to run some errands and people pick to do as much as physically possible to be as identifiable as they canWelp. Some jackass with a smartphone just outed us as AT to anyone with half a brain and access to old Venezuelan television. Or the Squad's dossier. And with all the shenanigans we've been getting up to as Jonah in Europe it's just a matter of coloring in the lines.RIP to Bab shippers. I'm just giving y'all a hard time. But seriously, would it kill you to be a little more discreet? Of all times to GTFO, when you get blindsided by a DOUBLE ambush is a really good contender.
>>5543071>But seriously, would it kill you to be a little more discreet?Sorry I dont know that there is a way to roll 100 everytime
>>5543072You don't need to roll to cast a vote. Unless you're on that next level gamba shit in which case shine on you crazy diamond.
>>5543071dude, the squad already knew how we looked, and which civie is insane enough to start filming when a dozen armed men start bombing a restaurant?Tho I'm gonna be sad if I end up being the reason why our identities get found, at least I didn't vote to spill our beans
Rolled 87, 85, 64 + 60 = 296 (3d100 + 60)>>5543064>>5543070I'm seeing a bit of favor towards nailing the cultist leader if at all possible.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+70 to see how it goes.> DC to be determined.
Rolled 40 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543076
Tonight on National News Network of France NNNF we are providing breaking coverage of the ongoing fire raging down our country's historic district.
Rolled 57 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543076
Rolled 48 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543076Good roll Axis.
Rolled 10 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5543074>the squad already knew how we lookedI'm aware. We were always on the clock for discovery just because Batman is on the case. But Lok and Waller wouldn't out us like that. They'd be blackmailing us with it instead. So their goons wouldn't be a risk for us, either. Otherwise they'd get shitcanned and they know it. I'm not saying we could have kept it up forever, but this whole deal here makes our visibility absolutely fucking SPIKE, you know?>and which civie is insane enough to start filming when a dozen armed men start bombing a restaurant?There are people filming with their phones in actual warzones in the world today. People regularly bust out their phones when firefights break out between police and thugs. Or gang wars. People are really, really fucking dumb with that kinda shit kek.>>5543076
>>5543076>>5543079Would this be a success, what with our luck drain and all?
>>5543077>>5543079>>5543080If my math is correct, you beat this roll by a slim margin.Success, writing.Getting that bigass update done earlier wiped me out, so I'm going to call it here for tonight.We'll pick it back up on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST. As always, thanks for playing and I hope to see you all there!By the way, how did you enjoy the aforementioned update. I tried to keep it grounded, but it ended up being potentially the most cynical shit I think I've ever written.
Rolled 12 (1d100)>>5543076
>>5543085We should have taken Luck Drain out for dinner instead. Sexy ass ability. Love that thing.
>>5543085it was very well spoken for a rant but Sean also repeated himself a lot so I guess it evens out. Though the contents of the breakdown don't really make me as sad as the context
>>5543085It was pretty nice, you've still got it axis. See you Wednesday>>5543081We can try and play it off as a very once-in-a-long-time form of magic? I think that's a good route for the damage control we'd have to do.
>>5543092Its just a prank broLook at the hidden camera over thereLike comment and subscribe
>>5543095>Ba-Batman look>There's a camera, man, we're all actors>The justice league? The villains?>C'mon out back, we've got your parents right hereThen batman wakes up and cries real hard
>>5543092There's really nothing we can do to stop a canny and informed observer from piecing it together. If we're being broadcast right now we're pretty much screwed. So let's just bank on no one really recording us. And make sure to go and fry the restaurant's footage before we leave. It's not a big loss or anything it just means we potentially miss out on some fun stuff down the line. >>5543095>Ashton Kutcher walks out from around the corner with a camera crew
Oh boy time to fake our death and pull a Big Boss move going full PMC SUPREMACY
>>5543682>Oh boy time to fake our death and pull a Big Boss move going full PMC SUPREMACYThe time for our Spider Clone technique has cometh?
>inb4 this was Set's plan all alongThink about it, a date and inevitable violent chaos to follow. Isn't this exactly the kind of "gift" the old bastard would give Sean?
>>5544052It's a shame though. Now Sean's going to have to kill another woman. I wonder what his named character kill ratio is on the gender front. Gotta be somewhere around a 70-30 split.How do you think Set's going to apologize for this one? Kowtow or friendship bracelet? Not for the throwdown but for Sean having an episode. Set doesn't want to hurt him, after all.
>>5544093>How do you think Set's going to apologize for this one? Kowtow or friendship bracelet?A date.
>>5544171>"Alright kid I know the last time didn't go so great so howsabout I take you out personally? Won't even need a suit for this one, promise."Well when in Greece.
>>5544179It ain't gay if you do it with a bro!
>>5544171A date with Babs.
>>5544404Her father and batman sit on the table next to you two.Yes, batman. No Bruce Wayne, Batman. Full costume.
>>5544513>Hi, my naaa-(Oh god that’s Batman)-aame is Penny how may I take your order?>Black coffee, one order scrambled eggs, one order french toast, one order flapjack tower. Sausage links and white bread for the eggs, bacon and wheat for the french toast, pork rolls and rye bread with the tower.>Oookay. (We stopped breakfast hours ago, but I’m not telling Batman that. Also is he really eating all that?) And for you, Commissioner Gordon?>Coffee as well, though if you can add a shot of whiskey I’d appreciate it. I may need it to get through this meal. For actual food, I’d like the Carbonara.>Of course sir. I’ll be out with your drinks in a moment.In Gordon’s head:>For fuck’s sake Bruce, she’s a grown ass woman. She can date who she wants. And she’s going to think I was part of this. Me! I’m going to be getting an earful when you’re the one who picked the damn place out!In Batman’s mind:>Breakfast has been closed for several hours, so my order should cause significant disruption in the kitchen and delay all the orders. We’ll see how her date reacts to the continually increasing tensions here in the restaurant due to my presence and as the lack of meals cause more people to pay attention to what’s going on around them, including his behaviors.Sean (Jonah):>Oblivious because they came in afterward and he didn’t see them. He’s now too involved in not panicking to pay attention to the commotion elsewhere.Barbara:>FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
>>5544670Cut to kitchen. Set has stolen the head chef's uniform and started preparing the order.
>>5544676>Let’s see, shot of whiskey in the coffee. Good man, but I can do better than that. This order for the “Caped Crusader” is already chaotic. It’s a shame, it takes all the artistry out of my work when they do it for me. I’ll toss in some Carolina Reapers, I guess.>She’s a bookworm, but Sean has more to him than that. Maybe something still alive in the surf-and-turf to assert his dominance over and impress her? Bears are pretty popular over here, that can be the turf. Lobster is okay for the surf, but we’ll upsize the claws a bit since they have good meat in them. Maybe as big as my comically oversized hand. Yeah, that’ll work.>I should do this chef thing for dates more often. I’m good at it.
>>5544670>In Batman’s mind:>>Breakfast has been closed for several hours, so my order should cause significant disruption in the kitchen and delay all the orders. We’ll see how her date reacts to the continually increasing tensions here in the restaurant due to my presence and as the lack of meals cause more people to pay attention to what’s going on around them, including his behaviors.Lol Batman autism is the best.>>5544684>"Here you have sir!">"How?">"Na-nah. Familar secret.">The bread is stale and the sausage is dry
>>5544684Set can somehow burn the inside of chicken but the outside is still raw.
>>5544791>Set can somehow burn the inside of chicken but the outside is still raw.>Implying that was a chicken in first place2X2N2M
>>5544684Don't give me any ideas, I beg of you.>>5544791I'll have you know that even I can do that.
>>5544946>I'll have you know that even I can do that.>Axie was a chaos god all along.Why I don't see it coming?
>>5544946I usually don’t have time/energy to join during the hours you run, so this is the outlet I use to contribute. Feel free to outsource the idea gathering by tossing a prompt out into the wild and seeing what shitposts we cook up with it.
>>5543085As much as you hate the risk of exposing yourself to additional heat, bringing out the Claw is your best option. You’re good at cracking skulls, but taking on this many armed hostiles without your normal gear requires a certain flair that only one artifact can provide.Plus, it seems that all the civvies all made a break for it, so you’re free to cut loose without fear of collateral damage. Might need to wipe the camera footage though, that may be trouble.The mercs are packing a pretty standard small arms loadout; rifles, SMGs, shotguns, etc. Not a lot of standardization but that’s par for the course with mercs. Their gear looks well-maintained and modern, yet a bit too clean to suggest protracted use. Nothing you haven’t squared off with before, but it’s worth noting that these aren’t greenhorns.As for the cultists, they’re obviously a different breed. Despite their ancient weaponry and lack of armor, they’re practically ripping through the mercs. Besides their prowess, the truly worrying part is the fanatical glint in their eye, the kind that indicates a true believer. There’s no negotiating with men like this.Thanks to the distraction offered by them warring against each other, you’re able to summon the Claw and make your move before anyone can intervene.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2HqUFozkcYYou charge out of the booth, bulldozing straight through an unsuspecting pair of mercs and bouncing them off the walls like they were made of straw.Dumb bastards must’ve figured they had you dead to rights, but you’re not in the habit of making things easy for anyone.And thanks to the Claw, your displeasure quickly becomes evident to everyone within reach.To avoid excess chance of getting pinned or catching stray rounds, you compensate by bounding from cover to cover and clobbering anyone you can reach.
>>5545001Case in point; one of the cultists takes a swing at you with his khopesh. He’s well-trained, you’ll give him that. If you weren’t amped up by the Claw, it might’ve been difficult to intercept him with an uppercut to the throat.He staggers backward, still on his feet but heavily dazed; giving the mercs ample opportunity to light him up and finish the job you started.By then, you’ve already moved onto your next target; a big fella in ragged robes. In contrast to the other cultists, he’s entirely unarmed.One of the mercs nails him right in the gut with a close-range shotgun blast, but the big bastard soldiers right through it; grabbing the offending mercenary by the throat and snapping his neck like he would a chicken.Alright, this one could be interesting.You get in close and nail him with a cheap shot before he can notice your presence. Once he’s stunned, you pull him around to face you and treat him to a boneshattering Clawed fist to the jaw.Your haymaker sends him bodily through the double doors into the kitchen, where you hear a massive clattering as he slams into something on the way.A rapid survey of the battleground reveals that the cultists have lost a couple men, but the mercs have lost nearly half their number. Judging from the scowl on her face, Marina knows that things aren’t going her way. Worse, you can recognize that look in her eye, one that suggests she’s about to do something drastic.What’s your next move?> Locate Marina and spoil whatever she’s up to. You don’t like the looks of whatever she’s cooking up.> Head into the kitchen and finish off the cultist leader. He may be down, but something tells you he’s not out.> Focus on picking off the remaining foot soldiers. Once they’re down, you can operate without any fear of interference.> Other?
>>5545004>> Head into the kitchen and finish off the cultist leader. He may be down, but something tells you he’s not outMore gods pacts here we go
>>5545004> Locate Marina and spoil whatever she’s up to. You don’t like the looks of whatever she’s cooking up
>>5544984True, some of my better ideas have come about via random musings.
>>5545004> Head into the kitchen and finish off the cultist leader. He may be down, but something tells you he’s not out.
>>5545004>> Locate Marina and spoil whatever she’s up to. You don’t like the looks of whatever she’s cooking up.
We need more anons
>>5545004> Locate Marina and spoil whatever she’s up to. You don’t like the looks of whatever she’s cooking up.We need to kill Marina and her buddies. She knows too much.
>>5545004> Head into the kitchen and finish off the cultist leader. He may be down, but something tells you he’s not out.Do the mercs have grenades?Lets distract the rest by blowing up the dead mercs with their own grenades
>>5545004I'll switch to > Head into the kitchen and finish off the cultist leader. He may be down, but something tells you he’s not out.Confirming the kill is a fine choice
Rolled 42, 38, 21 + 55 = 156 (3d100 + 55)>>5545007>>5545011>>5545019>>5545020Alright, looks we're heading into the kitchen.Give me some 1d100+70> DC to be determined.
Rolled 75 (1d100)>>5545028
Rolled 93 + 70 (1d100 + 70)>>5545028
Rolled 80 (1d100)>>5545028
>>5545028>>5545029Ha! Suck it Horus!
>>5545029>>5545031>>5545032That's a success, writing.
>>5545036After some quick strategizing, you decide that it’d be better to focus your attention on the enemy capable of shrugging off bullets.You quickly sidle through the kitchen doors, only to find no trace of your opponent.At least until he leaps at you with a butcher’s knife, murder in his eyes. Thankfully, his slashing blow is deflected when you block with the Claw, forcing him to fall back and discard his ruined weapon.Now that you can get a good look at him, it’s obvious that there’s something going on under the surface.A cursory peek with Magesight confirms your suspicions. He’s not nearly as magically adept as you, but he’s definitely got a fair bit of mojo.Your musings are interrupted when the cultist leader launches into an angry tirade full of fire and brimstone.“The Fist of the Falcon is not afraid of jackals like you. You, and your master are but cowards and traitors! Come and face the champion of a real god if you dare! It will be your end.”Don’t mind if’n you do.To that end, you…> Go for a nearby kitchen knife and launch it his way. Worst case scenario, it occupies his attention while you move in.> Say something abominably foul about Horus to piss him off. If he’s as nuts as you think, you’ve got plenty of material to work with. (Include insult) > Improvise something non-lethal from amongst the kitchen’s trappings. Perhaps a cast-iron skillet to the noggin would do the trick?> Tackle him into the walk-in freezer and beat him unconscious. It’s heavy-handed, but effective enough.> Hit him with a spell. (Designate the desired spell.)> Other?
>>5545048>> Hit him with a spell. (Lightning Bolt)Just Indy this dumb fuck
>>5545048>> Say something abominably foul about Horus to piss him off. If he’s as nuts as you think, you’ve got plenty of material to work with. (Include insult)Your god is literaly a chicken.
>>5545048> Hit him with a spell.(Fire Bolt)Shrug this off bitch
>>5545048> Improvise something non-lethal from amongst the kitchen’s trappings. Perhaps a cast-iron skillet to the noggin would do the trick?Maybe we dont kill him
>>5545048> Say something abominably foul about Horus to piss him off. If he’s as nuts as you think, you’ve got plenty of material to work with. (Include insult)>Insult: Horus! How does it feel to have your followers be as anally fucked as you were once? Why, it is almost poetic that i should make them into my bitches, just like Set did to you!
>>5545048> Hit him with a spell.(Fire Bolt)
>>5545058>>Insult: Horus! How does it feel to have your followers be as anally fucked as you were once? Why, it is almost poetic that i should make them into my bitches, just like Set did to you!The greek is strong in this one
>>5545048> Say something abominably foul about Horus to piss him off. If he’s as nuts as you think, you’ve got plenty of material to work with. (Include insult) > “I’ve knocked on his door how many times now, three? That fucker can’t catch me even when I hang my ass out in front of him.”>”Ah right, Set is the one that patrons foreigners. Must be why he’s more relevant than your god.”>”The horsefucker Zeus has more going for him than Horus does”.
>>5545069>>5545048+1
Rolled 97, 92, 79 + 5 = 273 (3d100 + 5)>>5545052>>5545058>>5545069>>5545053>>5545062Alright, I'm willing to mix these.Therefore, your gameplan is to taunt, followed by a light charring.Go ahead and give me some 1d100+25> DC to be determined.
Rolled 6 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5545075
Rolled 7 (1d100)>>5545075Fuck he is cold
Rolled 25 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5545075
Rolled 91 + 25 (1d100 + 25)>>5545075
>>5545075The taunting was too effective.
>>5545075>>5545077>>5545078>>5545079OH NOOOOOO!!!!!!!
>>5545081>>5545079>>5545078>>5545077Horus is a dice god now?
>>5545085Still Set. But he self-sabotages by nature.For more proof of that, see how his champion did during the blind date.
>>5545077>>5545078>>5545079Looks like he knows how to take an insult, that's a failure.Up next is the Set-style BBQ, how hard would you like to hit the Horus holy roller?> Hit him with the strongest Fire Bolt you can conjure. Let's see him shrug this one off.> Try to leave him in a state where he can answer questions. Won't be as easy, but you can't extract intel from a pile of ashes.> Other?
>>5545091> Hit him with the strongest Fire Bolt you can conjure. Let's see him shrug this one off.HAH, ROASTED
>>5545091>> Hit him with the strongest Fire Bolt you can conjure. Let's see him shrug this one off.no time for infodumps
>>5545091>> Hit him with the strongest Fire Bolt you can conjure. Let's see him shrug this one off.Not point in half ass it.
