You step in just as the other rats are about to start hissing at them, and you skip right towards the most practical solution.
“Back away from the beautiful people, rat.” You say, pushing the rat in the suit with enough force to topple him over… right into another rat. The kobolts, meanwhile, also seem to understand the basic principle of making a fancy feast look considerably less fancy, as they quickly rush towards the food tables… and start tossing food around.

Interestingly, this actually has a positive effect on the rats, who just start trying to catch the food in mid-air, with some just eating it off the floor. Paracelsus takes a step back from the ever worsening feral horde, and then looks to you.
“You know… I once knew this viscount that would have eaten like that… Once got stuck in a bloody garden party. Lavish feasts, people stuffing themselves on the most fanciful of meats, until the most exotic was just… plain.”

She doesn’t hide her disgust.

“That viscount looked upon the food that was left to spoil, and elected he wanted to eat of it as well. He was a glutton, eating out of compulsion.”
She shudders…
“Somehow, that fat pig of a man looked worse than this lot.”

The rats are starting to turn ever more feral, some of them attacking eachother, and your kobolts are starting to get a little disturbed. Chad has already drawn his sword, just in case, though you remain calm.
They’re fighting over food, after all.

Slowly, more and more of the fancy clothes are being ripped to shreds, and the more that happens, the more the rats seem to lose even their vaguely humanoid shape. It’s an interesting sight, indeed.
…Perhaps this was what was intended, though there are still other rats avoiding the spectacle of feral rats.

Ah, right;
You move to one of the “female” rats, grab the back of her dress and…
Hesitate.
Years of extensive etiquette remind you that this is really improper, though the feeling of coarse fur does help dissuade instinct, and permits mindfulness instead.
So, you mindfully pull down, using your full strength to strip the rat near-naked instantly.

“YES! YES! YOU ALL GET IT! THIS IS WHAT THE NOBILITY TRULY IS! RATS! RATS FEASTING ON RATS! NO MORE TELLING IMPORTANT WIZARDS TO LEAVE! NOW THEY ARE ALL TRUTHFUL!” Grighty suddenly bellows, and then…

Well, it’s as if the rats were all balloons with the air let out of them. They begin to shrink, almost shrivel, as they turn from horrible rat-people to… just rats, you suppose. Squeaking, they begin to rush off… though the twins are quick to start picking up the fabric off the ground. Snikt stops them, however, saying:
“Those are magic! Don’t touch them, you’ll get the brainrot.”
“MY BRAIN DID NOT ROT, LITTLE DRAGONLING THING!” Grigty replies to that, and then… the doors atop the stairs open. What makes this strange is that there were no doors there before. The wall just kind of opened up.

“MOVE ON TO THE NEXT! THIS BALL BORES ME!”

Alright, mission accomplished, and it was really, really simple.
You suspect things will be more difficult from here.

You head up the stairs, with the gang, as the rats feast on the remains of the food. Nobody seems to be hurt or even more than mildly inconvenienced.

The next place you end up at is a huge room… with four paintings. Each painting shows off a creature of sorts, and Grighty speaks as soon as everybody entered… and the “door” you walked through just shifts into the floor and disappears.

“BEHOLD! MY PAINTINGS! I MADE THEM OUT OF GENUINE PAINT!”
You can… tell. They’re a bit amateurish, though there are signs of genuine talent.
The four paintings, in order, show off a tall-looking knight with a flail, an unarmed ogre wearing plate armor, Another knight in… what looks to be the late stages of the Crimson Curse and finally, what seems to be a… Young lady in a short black dress and a tall pointy hat?

“CHOOSE WHO YOU WISH NOT TO FIGHT! DON’T NOT TOUCH THE PAINTING THEY ARE NOT ON TO NOT FIGHT THE PEOPLE THEY AREN’T!!”

…what?

You figured out already that you’re going to have to fight everything in these paintings. So you take a closer look.

The tall-looking knight looks to be little more than that. Just a big guy, wearing plate armor, and with a large spiked ball on a chain. Quite simple, all things considered. It can’t be understated just how big he is, though, he could probably swing that ball around like it’s nothing.

The ogre, however, is bigger still. The painting is larger to match, besides. Standing nearly 12 feet tall, and a mix of muscle and fat that is backed by primitive yet undoubtedly effective metal places all over its body tells you it’s a dangerous foe. However, you also note that it’s not armed, so it’s likely to just attack you with its fists.

The Bloodsucker, which is to say the knight with the Crimson Curse, looks as though gigantic bits of insects are bursting through the armor, with huge multi-faceted eyes bulging past his open-faced helmet, which reveals his many, many teeth… and an equally huge tongue-like probiscus. The many wings on his back and the myriad of legs bursting out of his torso show him to be a horrid creature indeed.

The final one, the girl in… what you suppose is a witch’s outfit, seems almost strangely benign compared to the others. The dress really shows off her legs, though, and the big hat turns it from perhaps a little too lewd to sort of cute… in a sense. She looks tiny, especially next to the other monsters in these paintings.

…Well, there’s no exit; You’ll have to do something with those paintings. You’re not even sure how to “choose” them, though you suspect it may be pointing at them and saying you’d want that one.

Nobody wants to make a choice. They all think this wizard is being tricky. They’re probably right, too.

>Pick the witch painting

>Pick the Ogre painting

>Pick the bloodsucker painting

>Pick the Knight painting.


Hi, it's been a bit
sorry

>>5537759
>Pick the Ogre painting
The witch is a bait. Better go with something that Reynauld knows how to deal with.

>>5537759
>Pick the bloodsucker painting
Welcome back, did you remember to bring grab the milk?

>>5537759
>Pick the Ogre painting
Welcome back, OP!

>>5537759
burn it all in dragon fire

>>5537759
>>“CHOOSE WHO YOU WISH NOT TO FIGHT! DON’T NOT TOUCH THE PAINTING THEY ARE NOT ON TO NOT FIGHT THE PEOPLE THEY AREN’T!!”
Is this saying we need to pick a painting for who we wont fight, and then we have to fight all the rest?

If so less magic please.
>>Pick the witch painting

>>5539722
>Touch the painting they are not on to fight the people they are
Removing the double negatives doesn't make it any clearer. I strongly suspect we'll have to fight all four no matter what we choose. Though I wonder what would happen if we chose all four.

>>5537759
>>Pick the Knight painting.
I can see this guy pulling some shit and summoning we once knew

Well, considering everything, you figure you might as well pick something relatively slow and stupid to fight. You tell everybody to get ready, and then you touch the ogre painting, quickly.
Instantly, the ogre in the painting comes to life, and a hand reaches out of the painting, while Grighty yells again:
"YOU HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO FIGHT THE BIG OGRE! HE'LL HELP YOU AGAINST THE OTHER THREE!"

...did you get confused by the double negatives? Either way, the other paintings are already moving as well, though the Ogre finishes climbing out of the painting without much issue. It looks to you, and quickly says:
"I SERVE YOU, SAH. WILL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY... SAH!"
He's calling you "sir", while barely knowing what sir is. You've seen this kind of thing on the crusades, actually. A loyal Ogre isn't easy to make, but raise them in the right circumstances, and you often have a dumb servant for life. A "wild" ogre tends to be a lot smarter, as well, and people think it's kind of like pigs. They only turn huge and hairy in the wild, and if domesticated, thinking is just kind of... optional.
A strange evolutionary quirk, to be sure.

Oh, anyway, the others are stepping out of their paintings, and you suppose you should think of a battle strategy. Because of the way the paintings are set up, you're surrounded from the left, right and front. To the left you have the knight, the front has the bloodsucker and on the right... the witch.
You could just ask the ogre to grab a target and rip their arms off, at least.

>Send the ogre after the knight, send your kobolts after the bloodsucker, and immolate the witch with your dragonfire.
That should be fine.

>A different, more thought-out plan.
Injuries would be a problem, obviously, as you still have to climb yet more of the tower...

>>5540632
>Send the ogre after the bloodsucker, face down the knight and see if he's the talking type (or can at least be goaded into an honorable duel), and have the kobolts and Paracelsus use distraction and magic to handle the witch (nonlethally if possible)
These could be real people, trapped, right? Or sapient magical constructs, at least...

>>5540632
>Shoot the witch, send the ogre after the bloodsucker and deal with the knight personally
Now's not the time to play diplomat, we can't afford to get injured halfway through the dungeon. The witch is the biggest threat here and needs to be dealt with immediately, the other two should be manageable.

>>5540652
support

>>5540689
+1

>>5540689
Agreed. Guns beat magic.

>>5540632
>Send the ogre after the knight, send your kobolts after the bloodsucker, and immolate the witch with your dragonfire.
BURN THE WITCH!

>>5537756
oh shit we're back

"Alright! OGRE! RIP HIS ARMS OFF!" You scream, pointing towards the knight, which was already preparing his weapon to be swung. The Ogre just barks out "YES SAH!", before barreling past you and slamming his full weight against the knight, who let himself get flung away to create some distance. Considering the armor on the ogre, you suspect that the knight will not win, but you'll look into that as soon as you're dealt with the other issues.
"EVERYBODY! FOCUS ON THE BUG, I'VE GOT THE WITCH!"

The kobolts, and Paracelsus, don't need much time to figure out a battle plan.
They all just took out their guns and fired as soon as the dumb creature stuck its head out of the painting. Unfortunately, the thick armor and... superfluous parts, means that it didn't kill it on the spot. You'll also have to focus on that at a later point, considering the main threat is officially out of its painting. You take a similar approach, taking out one of your pistols and taking only a split second to aim. The girl, to her credit, had fast reflexes, instantly rolling to the side, but you've hit more than enough moving targets over the years. You're fairly certain you struck her, but alas, the roll did prevent you from getting a fatal headshot on the magic-infused young woman.

With some sparkles, you can see the bullet being pulled out of her before she even finished her roll, and you prepare your second pistol... this time, taking aim.
This was a mistake.
The witch raises her arms, and a partially visible flat shield appears before her. Her eyes begin to glow, but you did notice one thing: The shield isn't very large. With another second passing, you instead aim down at her foot, and fire.

Screaming, she hops up, quickly applying more magic to herself to try and heal her before the pain would fully registed, but thats a mistake on her part. You don't hesitate, contrary to your enemy, and tackle her to the ground as you unsheathe your blade. Flinching, she launches a fireball at you. Nowhere near as powerful as Ogg's fireball was, as it was just a flash of pure *heat*.
Your armor is red hot, your skin sizzles... But you are fine.
Heat is not an issue for you. Not from amateur simulacrums of a witch;
You swing your sword at her, and when she adjusts her shield, you halt your swing for a moment... and then turn your attack into a stab.

The feint was successful. The witch is stabbed in the throat, after which you twist, popping the vertebrae apart, and killing her on the spot.
The body flops to the ground... and turns to mist, only leaving the outfit behind.

Turning around, you see that the bloodsucker has been essentially reduced to chunks, as William and Chad stand over it, still stabbing the twitching remains.

The Ogre and the Knight, however... they're still fighting. It seems the knight was smart enough to aim for the knees, disabling the ogre. Most likely, the big guy will bleed out.

>Good. Attack the knight when the Ogre dies.

>Try to save the ogre

>Other

>>5543901
>>Try to save the ogre
I like Ogryns, so let's try to save the big guy.

>>5544000
Apparently he's just a hollow simulacrum. If negotiations weren't possible with the enemies, compassion is wasted on this illusory ally.

>>5543901
>Breathe fire on them both

>>5543901

>Thank you for your service.
>Breathe fire on them both


box

>>5543901
>Try to save the ogre
There are virtues a knight should strive to follow, and compassion for one's allies, however imaginary they may be, seems like one of them. Plus, it can only be beneficial to attack the other knight while he's still distracted by the ogre.

>>5544014
>>5544042
ok yeah supporting a TYFYS and a PTHOOOOM if he's already crippled, but I'll feel bad for losing our big, lovable simulcrum.

>>5544065
Is negotiating with little girls before you gun them down a knightly virtue? I assume that we only violated that one because she wasn't real and thus deserved no consideration... Just like the ogre.

>>5546077
Regular little girls, sure, you could easily make the case for not killing those weaker than you. The same way we did when we first met William, for instance.
This was a witch, though. Magic users are extremely dangerous in ways normal people can merely dream of, and I'd fully support killing her even if she was real, unless we could reasonably expect to not be hostile. The last time Reynauld was too slow to shoot one in the face, he spent the next few weeks coughing up his lungs.

"Thank you for your service!" You shout, before you rear back and take in a deep, deep breath.
They both seem to realize what is about to happen, seconds before you unleash hell upon them both. Your bright blue flames light up the whole room, and you swear you can hear a faint roar that wasn't there before as you exhale. The flames incinerate the both of them, with the knight flopping to the ground, his red-hot armor scaling him alive for the short, unfortunate moments that his body refuses to die. Mercifully, he dies shortly afterwards, the black iron on his body having turned soft from the intense heat. The ogre is less fortunate, his giant body preventing you from killing him on the spot with your flames, though you don't hesitate to finish the already grounded giant off, with a quick swing from your sword. The creature was still alive, and knowing how hardy an ogre can be, you suspect it would have survived for quite a long time, despite it's third degree burns. But, decapitation still kills, and it kills fast.


With that, you have finished the four paintings. Grighty is impressed.
"WOW! MOST PEOPLE DON'T SHOOT THE CUTE WITCH! YOU DIDN'T HESITATE FOR EVEN A SECOND! THAT'S BASED!!"
Huh?
Based? You know that word, but you get the feeling he doesn't. Nobody uses it in that context. Unless... he doesn't know what to compare you to? You'd ask him based on what, but you don't want to start dialogue with him. At any rate, a staircase appears in one of the paintings, mixed in with some flickering lights.
"GO ON! AND YOUR PUNISHMENT FOR KILLING YOUR FRIEND IS NOT HAVING HIM WITH YOU ANYMORE!"
Alright, that's... about what you'd expect if you kill something, sure.

Anyway, you all step through the painting, and up the stairs. The stairs continue for some time, and eventually, you reach a door. Pushing it open, with great effort, you enter... a gigantic room, with one wall, the one directly opposite yours, apparently being a gigantic mirror. Everybody steps inside, and it's only when one of the twins trips that you notice what's off.
The "mirror" isn't actually a mirror.

There's just a completely identical copy of your party opposite you.

"THE NEXT PART IS SIMPLE. YOU NEED TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. THE CLONES WILL PROBABLY TRY TO KILL YOU. FIGURE OUT WHO IS THE CLONE AND KILL THEM FIRST BEFORE THEY KILL YOU! GOOD LUCK."

...Both sides of the room look up at the origin of the echoing, noisy voice... and then look back down at eachother.
The tension is...
Uncomfortable.
As you both just stare. Man... Does your hair really look like that?

>CHARGE FIRST!
No time to waste, you need to kill these things.

>Figure out who's real and who's fake.
Surely, your other side will be reasonable enough for that;

>Some other thing to try.

>>5546997
>Adopt defensive stances and start slowly searching for an exit if they don't attack
If these illusions mirror us, maybe they'll only attack us if we attack them?

Man, I wish we didn't bring all our little friends.

>>5546997
>Surely, your other side will be reasonable enough for that;
Everybody should climb onto Reynauld's back or hold hands or something. do we have a pen? we can make a mark on their scales that only we know.

>>5546997
>Some other thing to try.
We just need to get to the other side, right? Who cares who's a clone, we just need to trade places. Hopefully they're willing to cooperate.
>Let the other Reyunauld choose a direction, then have everybody walk along the wall in that direction to the opposite side
Also check if the other guys are mirrored, if their right is the same as ours. Ask the other Reynauld to raise his right arm or something like that.

>>5546997
>Adopt defensive stances and start slowly searching for an exit if they don't attack.
>Give everyone in your group a mark of some sort, be it a rag or a charcoaled cross.

If they're mirrors of us, then they will likely act as we do. If they don't, then we will focus on killing our own clone before helping others with theirs.

"Okay, okay... let's stay calm. We just need to get to the door."
"But they're going to try and kill us!" William says between his teeth, as if it makes him quieter. You shush him, and you see that your mirror image does the same... except he says it to Pink. There are a few differences, you suppose, though you can't understand a word they're saying. All the same, if he has the same idea as you... Only you make a minor adjustment.
"Hold on, everybody hold hands, lets not get lost amongst eachother here, that'd be a nightmare."
All your kobolts do so, and the mirror version of you explicitely don't. You do hear the mirrored Paracelsus mutter something, though you still can't understand a word of it. You think it's actually your language, just kind of... reversed? You can recognize it in the tone, she ends her sentences in the same way Paracelsus tends to start them when she's being suspicious.
She starts off quick, and then starts grumbling about halfway through. This one grumbled, and then sped up again.

Both groups put their back against the wall, staring eachother down as you shuffle past, and after a little more time, it's starting to look like you might be able to pass without much incident. Step by step, you stare eachother down, hoping the other side doesn't do anything stupid.
"That's right. Keeeep moving." Chad says, obviously nervous about this potential fight. It's not a fight that will end well, obviously, if you're evenly matched. Hell, if you or the enemy breath fire, the small room will be turned into an oven, likely killing many members of your klan.
You'd never be able to forgive yourself.

Then... You reach the doors. Pushing against them, you breathe a sigh of relief when it turns out that you can just open them. No need for violence, thank god. You step through, and you give a quick nod to your mirror counterpart... he returns the nod.
For a moment, you were as brothers.
The klan goes through the door, and then, it closes. The room is pitch black, completely shrouded in darkness. Then, slowly, the lights turn on.
It's the inside of a single-room house. A little kitchen to the side, a couch in front of a fire, a window to the side... though that inexplicably reveals a forest.
Just as you're about to ask questions, you hear Grighty.
"WELCOME TO MY CHILDHOOD HOME... IT IS A SAD PLACE."
You look around, and try to figure out what's so sad about it... Though it doesn't take long to figure out.
It's empty.

"I... HOPED TO MAKE FRIENDS. BEING MAGIC. IT JUST MADE PEOPLE RUN AWAY FROM ME!! LIKE I WAS CRAZY! BUT I'M NOT CRAZY. OR AT LEAST..."
For a moment, his screaming stops. And you hear his true voice, his real voice.
"I wasn't. Not back then."

There is a pause, and you hear some of the kobolts sighing. Lonelyness must be scary to them, too.
"You made it this far. I'm... coming down there. Make yourself comfortable."

You've made it, then... if you're willing to trust his word.

>Wait.
See what he says.

>Prepare for something.

>>5551871
>Prepare for something.
Just shoot Grighty the moment he appears. The list of his crimes is long enough to justify swift justice, and his life story is frankly not worth the risk of a lengthy encounter with a wizard.

>>5552308
Wait, what crimes has he actually committed?

>>5552347
Blockading a sea route, melting a ship, being a wizard, asking shitty riddles... Take your pick.

>>5552360
Most of those don't seem like offenses worth executing someone over.

>>5551871
>Wait

>>5551871
>Wait.

One problem with waiting: wizards don't know right from wrong.
On the other hand, maybe he can help us with William and Anna?

>>5552308
Based schizo lawful stupid anon. I appreciate you. I really do. You’re that voice which teaches reason by the absence of it.
>>5551871
Don’t prepare but instead rifle through his shit. Are the drawers empty? Any Legos?

You decide to wait. He seemed calmer than before, so it would only be right to at least hear the wizard out. More than likely, this is still going to end in blood, but...
Well, sometimes, things don't have to be like that.
Some more couches and chairs start appearing, as well, permitting everybody to have a seat, though nobody here seems to trust the circumstances enough to try it. Just as you're about to get testy about the wait, however, the door is opened and you see your wizard. He looks...
Well, it's not comfortable to say, but he looks like a man in his fourties that would convince most that he's in his sixties. The bloated face of a drunk, stuck in a singular, haunting expression. A smile, though grimace would be more appropriate, has invaded his face, though his eyes still look as though he is about to cry at any moment. Perhaps he was crying before, and now... the tank is simply empty, leaving him with little more than forcefully trying to get through the next minute.

It's an expression you've seen before.
The person that was cursed with it had begged you to kill him, on one quiet night during the crusades. He was a man that laughed often, but was never exactly mirthful. You had refused his request, obviously, but one day you found him in his tent, having hung himself from his bed. He had to very deliberately lower himself to ground level, but once the bloodflow had stopped...
The worst part is that the expression was still on his face.

Together with Grighty's scraggly, unkempt beard and wild hair, it all adds up to a man that you wouldn't expect to be able to speak, let alone give political commentary, simplistic as it is to show the nobility as rats. His eyes look unfocused, though you still expect that you have his full, undivided attention.
"...Knight. Dragon... Kobolts... Hrmm."
A chair begins to move, at the dance of his fingers. The wizard was lowering his posterior already, though the chair was able to catch him. Quickly, he is moved before the fire, which he had lit with just a snap of his fingers. The other chairs and couches were moved in front of the fire as well.
"Sit. Come." His voice said, much calmer than before, though still hoarse. Calm as he is, it's clear he's... bothered.
"I'd rather stand." You say, and Grighty just... shrugs.
"Very well... Why have you come here? Not to enjoy my games, I bet. I know they aren't very fun to anybody but myself."
"I am here to free up the harbor once more. Your tower or, more accurately, your tendency to melt ships, has ruffled many feathers."

Grighty sighs, and leans forward, staring into the fire.
"I really messed things up this time, didn't I?"
You step closer. Nostalgia for horrific times tempering your compassion.
"Suppose that you did, yes."
"I'm... i used to be a peasant boy. I just wanted a little more. I becamse a servant, then... I needed a little more. I became a wizard. Archmage. Archmage..."
He coughs.
"I don't recall."

Amnesia? Common symptom of mana poisoning.

The man stares ahead, sadly.
You could investigate him a little further, if you wish.

>No. He's distracted. Shoot him in the back of the head.

>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.
You should certainly think of what you'll ask him, though. Carefully.

>>5555908
>>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.
Ask him about what he wants. Not like, a list of demands, but what he'd actually like to do. Hopes, dreams, aspirations.

>>5555908
>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.
Why was he melting ships, and playing games? What is the purpose of the tower?

>>5555908
>>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.
I wish to understand.

>>5555908
>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.

Your description of him was really kind of too real man. The mania, the rage, and pain, and then at the end of a long day is an abject emptiness, staring at the desk for hours doing nothing. You want to cry some more but you ran out of tears. I just want someone to talk to and it seems like everyone is so far away... Talking to people even in the same room feels like sending a message in a bottle

Hope dies last

>>5556305
That's a cruel fate, anon. I hope that you may you find the help you need, or a kindred soul, and be relieved of it.

I find QMing can help.

>>5556315
T. QM of 2 dead quests and one i plan to pick up again

It can, it's not a sure thing it will sadly.
Therapy and medication has helped me a lot though, me now, and 5 years ago are night and day.

>>5557023
Right on, anon!

>>5555908
>>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.

should have picked the knight like I said man.

>>5555908
>No. He's distracted. Shoot him in the back of the head.
Hes a wizard. There is only redemption in death.

>>5555908
>Sit down, and pick at his brain. You want to know more about him, maybe even find a peaceful solution.
>Sit down.
>Ask him about what he wants. Not like, a list of demands, but what he'd actually like to do. Hopes, dreams, aspirations.

>>5555908
>No. He's distracted. Shoot him in the back of the head.
I know this won't win, but let me be that nagging thought in the back of Reynauld's mind: "Talking to a wizard. This is a bad idea."

>>5559475
It sounds like Greely isn't exactly a wizard yet, and might be an Archmage in rapid decline. Conceivably we could try alleviating his mana poisoning somehow. Maybe Celsie can make a copy of Ogg's mana bath.

>>5560285
I don't know, if he's turning rats into aristocrats and killing people over ancap memes, I fear he's already crossed that line.

>>5560381
Yeah but people do that without being a wizard. The ancap memes i mean. Turning rats into aristocrats is pretty harmless, all things considered.

Also I'm slightly worried about our doppelgangers. Not *too* worried but slightly worried.

You sit down next to him, and he just stares ahead into nothing.
"Alright. My name is Reynauld. I'm... complicated, at the moment, but I figure you understand about enough about me."
"Yes. The network of curses and magic between your Klan is... extensive." The wizard says, his voice hoarse, no doubt from all the screaming he was doing. He leans back a little bit, getting more comfortable. Trying to, at any rate.
"I'd like to ask a few things about you, Grighty. Who you are... what you want. That sort of thing."
His response is silence, but he does turn to you. His puffy eyes betray nothing... though it takes skill to show off so much *nothing* behind the eyes.
"How about your name?"
"I don't recall. I don't remember anything, Reynauld. I'm not sure how long I've... not remembered anything. I woke up just a few days ago, and remembered nothing. There was a corpse in the bed. The room I was in was covered in sand, and... I... I looked around. Trying to find something, anything, that could tell me what or who I was."

He shudders.

"There was nothing. Only... flashes came to me, when I saw something that could remind me of... something. The things you saw downstairs, it's all... Things I know. Things I hate."
He sniffs, disdainfully. He doesn't seem to be too impressed with himself.
"The mirror didn't help me. The Other Me didn't know me but..."

He sits upright, slightly more than before, at least. You just keep listening, offering an ear to the wizard.
"He told me this had happened before. That I... I was a peasant boy, then I did... something. He told me, no, asked me if I could remember the corpse. The one next to me in the bed. Who she was... But I couldn't. I couldn't recognize anything about her, she was... mummified, covered, impossible to discern from what she once was. I left her behind like it was nothing, but... she was important, I think."
He stares ahead a little more, his expression shifting a few times... and then he exhales. Then, the exhale turns into a sob.
"I... don't know... What she was to me! I don't remember my name! I don't... I'm broken. I'm a broken little husk, and all I can do is go with... I..."

He stares ahead again, and then fearfully asks:
"Did I hurt anybody... today?"
"You did." You say, knowing that you shouldn't try to spare his feelings over this. Honesty is the best policy;
He sighs. Deeply.
"I wake up with all these ideas, with all this energy. Sometimes, something brings me out of it. Something to remind me. You... you remind me of an old friend, a... The son of a duke? He was the one that brought me to court. I saw them living there as... as..."

He clenches his fists and unclenches them. He looks rail-thin, and you notice his hands are shaking almost constantly.
"I hated the court for... something. I can't remember what."

You decide to move the conversation along, now.
"What... do you intend. What do you want to do?"
The wizard sobs again... and just says:
"I don't know."

>Talk
But about what?

>Kill

>>5561339
I kind of want to talk more, to see if he has any ideas about the transformation magic

>>5561339
>>Talk
>Do you want to continue to hurt people because if not I have a solution, but it would be a permanent one

>>5561889
Support.

>>5561339
>>Talk
>Do you want to continue to hurt people because if not I have a solution, but it would be a permanent one.

Uh, Spinejuice? QM, you there?

"Look, I get it. I can't say I can truly understand, I suppose, but I understand your issues all the same. You feel... Trapped, right?"
The wizard stares for a moment, but then slowly turns to you, and... Nods. He closes his eyes, and you feel as though he is about to weep... But as you expected.

The tank is just empty. There's nothing left to cry with.

"Do you like hurting other people?" You ask, perhaps a bit more pointed than what is strictly necessary. All the same, it's a question that needed answering. The wizard cringes at the question, and then very slowly says:
"I don't... Didn't want to hurt anybody. But when I'm in my manic state, i don't think about anything. I just..."

He doesn't continue. Likely because he knows there's nothing else to say.
You take in a deep breath.

"I have a solution. But it is a permanent one."
The wizard suddenly turns fearful, and flinches away from you, standing up!
"You want to kill me!?"

>Tell him that you intend to do that
Remain calm. Perhaps he would understand

> "Not what I meant"
Though you do need something that you were supposedly about to say

> Shoot him

>Make a gesture for one of your party members to kill him while he's looking at you

>>5564658
Sorry

>>5564918
>"I don't want to... But I'm prepared to, if it's what you want. If it's not, then I have another possible solution."
>>"Come with us, on our quest to find a scroll of transformation, and turn yourself into something resistance to mana sickness."
>>"But if you hurt ANYONE who doesn't seriously have it coming, I WILL put you down."

>>5564930
Support and our band of merry misfits grows also damn good anon where were you for the last vote.

>>5565151
I was >>5562509

>>5564930
Second, but with the addendum that Celsie at least attempts to explain Ogg's mana baths and we can see if grighty understands the concept well enough to replicate it.

"I don't want to... but I am prepared to do so. If you want that to be your escape from this life."
He remains quiet, but his fearful expression clearly shows that it's not the way he'd want to go. Fortunately, framing it as his choice makes sure he remains calm... enough. Still ready to bolt, but not quite moving.
"The alternative... you follow us. We're headed to Paracelsus' home country, to find an archmage that could create a scroll of transformation. The curse I carry has many useful applications, and one of those things, I suspect, would be turning into something with a greater resistance against mana poisoning."
"Why would I... I don't understand? Why mana poisoning!?" He asks, and you just give him a look... But when he continues to look genuinely confused, you suppose you'd better tell him.
"You're... clearly suffering from mana poisoning. The memory loss, the... bipolar attitude? All of them are clear symptoms, hell... You're a wizard."

Paracelsus then taps you on the back. She leans in close, whispering in your ear.
"Reynauld... i know what you intend, but I'm not sure this could help him. Resistance won't help him if he's already poisoned... We saw it with Ogg. Once she was over the threshold, she was... She didn't turn back to normal."
"We have to at least try... What about Ogg's mana baths? The way-"
"It drains overflow. Same principle, it doesn't undo the damage. I'm not sure if-"

Grighty, then, suddenly interrupts you.
"I understand... you wish for me to be a KOBOLT! Like your little friends! They're resistant... But how will this help me!? Will I... will I remember her?"
He looks at you, full of expectations. Unfortunately, you don't have anything to truly offer him. And taking a wizard with you is just asking for trouble.
"I... I am a mage. I could transform myself! I could turn into anything I wish! I just need some time... the ability to learn the curse, and apply it!"

You suppose that's also an option. You're just not sure it'd be a good idea.

...

>Trust Grighty to learn the spell, so he can transform into... something?
He'll turn into a kobolt, most likely, but who knows...

>No. This isn't an option. Make a motion for somebody to shoot him.

>Some other option.

>>5567871
>Trust Grighty to learn the spell, so he can transform into... something?

Wizard Kobolt?

>>5567871
>Some other option.
>Distract him with the curse, then shoot him
Grighty is agitated and clearly unstable. We're here to stop the wizard, giving him the means to turn into anything he wants is the exact opposite of that.

>>5567972
>Wizard Kobolt?
Please, anything but that. If he turns into a wizard lizard, you know Esme will never shut up about it.

>Trust Grighty to learn the spell, so he can transform into... something?
Do it

>>5567871
>>Trust Grighty to learn the spell, so he can transform into... something?
Trust but verify. We'll watch him until he's done it and maybe assist him.

>>5567871
>Trust Grighty to learn the spell, so he can transform into... something?
>If he can truly learn the spell... Can he transform Anna and/or William?
>>That is, if William still wants to be turned back?

>>5567871
>Distract him with the curse, then shoot him
Sorry buddy, we gave you the option of doing this consensually.

>>5567871
>>No. This isn't an option. Make a motion for somebody to shoot him.

anons, I understand your desire comes from a place of compassion, but we can not allow a second Ogg to come to pass, she was sane, strong, and in the end, still lost herself. Imagine the immeasurable damage this broken man could do. Think of all the innocent people we will kill. I beg you, please reconsider, it is a tragedy what this man has done to himself but it is his own fault. we can't risk it, the last kindness we can offer him is a clean death. please anons don't make the same mistake twice not after all it has cost us, think of poor William, think of how we almost lost our adopted daughter. He has to die.

>>5568001
>It would delight our aspiring writer friend/admirer
More's the better.

>>5567871
Backing >>5571114

I get wanting to be nice, but it's too risky in this case.

You stand up.
"Very well. You'll need some time to do so, I assume?"
"Yes! But not long. I've been investigating you since you entered, now that you are here... I just need to look inside of you. I will be... Hmm. I shall be a CAT! Yes. YOU SHALL CALL ME MISTER SMERPLES!!"
He's turning manic again. Unfortunate, but... you weren't going to let him do this.
One Ogg was enough.

You make a quick gesture, making a pistol with your hand behind your back, in the direction of the twins. Then, you nod your head towards Grighty. The twins quickly start to move around a little bit, indicating they know what to do. You stand still, and let Grighty do his thing. He pulls out a little tablet of sorts, and starts tapping a pen on it as he investigates you. The twins keep moving, both of them preparing their guns... And then they aim.
"NOPE!" Grighty suddenly screams, twisting his head 180° degrees and raising his hands. The twins are instantly lifted up into the air floating.
"YOU CAN'T KILL ME! I'M GRIGHTY! I CANNOT BE SURPRISED! TRICKED! BAMBOOZ-"

You wrap your arms around his neck, and with a great heave, you squeeze and *pull*. Once, it would have been impossible to do this, but with your freakishly enhanced strength, and with an added twist...
You hear a soft *crack*, and his body goes limp. It was fast enough that he couldn't cast anything... or perhaps he did not expect your betrayal.
Instantly, the forest and shack begins to disappear... And turns into sand. It seems you're back into the sand tower that Grighty had made... and you have a feeling that you'd better make your way out of here before it starts collapsing. Magic is a stubborn force, but it's not that stubborn. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to figure out where to head, this time, and you reach the bottom floor as the sand is starting to fall from the ceiling. Then, one you're outside, you quickly pile into the boat you came in with, and head back to the city. The trip back is... quiet.
"Ruby, Sapphire? Did you get hurt when he lifted you?"
"No... It's like... he just kinda picked us up by the tail."
"Yeah. We're fine!"

Good... good.
That's another wizard on the tally, you suppose. Sheesh. You arrive at the city in short order, to some fanfare. Seeing the tower collapse was enough proof to see that the wizard is gone, you suppose, and it's just a day to go before the ships will leave once more.
You have some time to kill, you suppose, and a reward to pick up. Considering your destination, they're offering you a free ride, which includes food, for your whole gang, but you're free to try and get a different reward.

Anything you want to do before you say goodbye to your country of origin and head to Oileana?

>Nope. Get us on that boat and begin the BOAT ARC.
I'll get the Idolmaster save started.

>We should do something else that's fun, while we're still here.

>>5571691
>We should do something else that's fun, while we're still here.

Have one last good meal with our clan before an unkown length of Hardtack, saltpork, grog and whatever brids and fish we can catch on the voyage

>>5571854
Support.

Poor, mad old bastard. Pour one out for Mister Smerples.

And let's check in with William, shall we?

>>5571854
>>5572048
supporting, and also say a silent prayer for the fallen and lost wizard, and build makeshift grave marker for him even if it is as simple as a pile or stones in the shade of a tree, he deserves at least that. it breaks my heart it had to end this way, but I couldn't risk it, and I think most anons can understand that. If there is an afterlife, then I hope he is at peace.

>"Yes! But not long. I've been investigating you since you entered, now that you are here... I just need to look inside of you. I will be... Hmm. I shall be a CAT! Yes. YOU SHALL CALL ME MISTER SMERPLES!!"
>You hear a soft *crack*, and his body goes limp. It was fast enough that he couldn't cast anything... or perhaps he did not expect your betrayal.

these two lines, these two lines, broke me...I wish I could have trusted him, I wish he didn't have to die, but as I said, I, I couldn't risk it.

>>5571691
>Check the twins with our magic-seeing ability, just to be extra sure
This is just like how William got cursed without even knowing it.

>>5572452
that makes sense, i support.
>>5571854
I also support food.
>>5572205
i understand. at least we had the drop on him.

also maybe we should ask around and make sure nobody's seen a bunch of people that look exactly like us but talk backwards. given that the boat was still there chances are they disappeared with the castle, but you never know.

then again if we find out later that they have been wandering around the kingdom, it's not our problem as long as we can get to oileana in a timely manner.

>>5572695
>i understand. at least we had the drop on him.

indeed, it just hurts that this was one of those times when the correct thing to do and the right thing to do are not the same thing, and god help me, we choose the correct thing to do. And I can live with that, god help me I can.

>>5571854
Support

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2.75 MB PNG

The request was simple, and easily accepted... even if it's not exactly cheap in the harbor town. At least not if you want the *really* good stuff, which you do. Especially with the sheer amount of hungry mouths you've got, you're more than getting your money's worth on this one. Fortunately, your kobolts all have a major preference for something that doesn't actually cost that much here, as it's considered accidental catches. They still offer it on the menu, as some people like to have a cheap meal.
Crabs.
Somehow, the kobolts adore eating the crustaceans, even though they're free to choose whatever they desire. You don't mind it, as it makes you feel considerably less guilty about asking for so much food for "free".
You killed a wizard for it, of course, so it's not like you're stealing, but still...
Also, Paracelsus actually requested a dish from her homeland called a "Tweed Kettle". It's really just salmon stewed into a pot with veggies, though you have to admit it smells heavenly. She does also go for some other parts that were available here, though, and you...
Well, to put it bluntly, you feel as though you're bloody starving. You've been living off careful rationing and whatever you could hunt for quite some time, with little regard for your body changing the way it does. Magic does a bit of work for you, sure... but it doesn't do everything.
Today.

You feast.

You get the Everything Platter, which means it's a big plate with just about a bit of everything. At first, you were told it actually serves eight people, but you just look at the man and take off your helmet.
"I'm about to embark on a week-long journey of hard-tack, and I just got off two months of dried rations and rabbits. I'm currently about six inches taller than I was, and I've grown strong enough to use this sword on my back one-handed. In other words... I know what I'm about to embark on, son."
There is a pause... And then you sigh:
"I'll pay for it if I can't finish it."
That gets them moving again. You curiously ask Pink why everybody else got crab, and she happily explains that crabs and oysters, for some reason, taste exceptionally good to kobolts. Crabs require a bit of extra work, though, which is why she requested the chefs to make some changes. Anna is the one that made sure they'd actually listen to a kobolt, of course, but Pink's directions weren't so tough to follow. Mostly, it's the addition of more butter and how to cook it. Using a broth instead of plain water, for instance, and some leaf for taste.
Wild to put so much effort into bottom of the barrel food like crab, but you're sure she knows what she's talking about. Imagine that... crab as a luxury food.

The meal brought before you is everything you had hoped for, as is the ale and water that was provided to help wash it down. You wait for the others to have their food ready, and then you raise a toast.
"To Grighty! May he be in a better place!" You declare, before taking a drink and... *digging in*.

Before long, people were starting to enter the restaurant just to see you eat. Apparently, it was really impressive even after only the first few minutes, and you're still going strong. You did not lie, you were going to finish this meal all by yourself. Paracelsus, meanwhile, was already asking for thirds on her own meal. Seems she's hungry too, though not to the same extent as you. It's quite a bit of extra effort to keep using utensils, you have to admit, though your voracious appetite remains readily apparent. Your kobolts also stare in awe, though they don't stop enjoying their crab... which is actually getting ordered all over, now.
Seems the new "Kobolt Krab" as they're calling it is a real hit. And all it took was broth and butter! Fancy that...
People cheered when you decided to char the outside of a scampi with your fire breath, which you found actually enhanced the flavor considerably, though you suspect that's more because of your dragon breath than the actual charring. Piece after piece of food disappears into your gullet, and it's only towards the end that you really started feeling full, once more. You finish it to the last, getting one more ale refill, though the restaurant seems to be more than happy with the arrangement.
You brought people and a popular new dish in. Mixed in with that they're probably getting paid by the city, at least somewhat, and this has been very profitable for them indeed. When you reach the final slab of meat, you savor it, making sure to use all your teeth as you chew on it for a bit longer, really enjoying the meat.
The final piece is another one you breathe fire on, though a bit longer, this time, causing it to actually be set on fire. The faint blue glow of your flames makes it even more impressive as you finish your meal, to the cheers of everybody still watching.

You raise your hand... Finally full.

You lean back, breathing a sigh of contentment... before you squeeze Paracelsus' butt, while you're at it. She had stopped after her third helping, but elected to start drinking for enjoyment. Yes... this is proving to be a good night.
With all the kobolts ready to fall asleep, you all head over to your room for the night. At the insistence of Pink (and others) you still share the room, though you got the Kingly Suite as a result. The amount of money you saved the town by not having them pay to use the huge cannon on the wizard must be titanic.
There's some serious taxes attached to it.

Anyway, It's a damned good day to end your stay in your home country on. Tomorrow... it's time to live on a ship for a while.

========================================

As it turns out, you are fairly resistant to sea sickness, as is your darling, Paracelsus.
Literally everybody else?
Not so much. They had to spend the first day below deck, trying (and fortunately succeeding) not to barf. Starting from the second day, they started helping out more, and on the third day, you could see a big ship with a black flag raised in the distance.
The captain didn't even seem shocked, the man just sighed.
"Alright... I guess we'll have to make do with a quarter of the cargo gone."
"Exactly a quarter? They don't get more?"
"They only want what they can carry... and they take less if you don't put up a fight. They're more numerous than us, ser, and that ship they got is a war vessel. Can't run, either, is what I mean."
...Hmm.

>You'll take care of those pirates your damned self.
While you're confident in your ability, you should probably still have a plan ready.

>It's unfortunate, but sometimes getting robbed is a better idea.

I've completely forgotten how we and Para look.

>>5576038
>>You'll take care of those pirates your damned self.
They should know how easily ships burn. It's all wood, cloth, and pitch.
But just to be sure, what's the distance on the dragonfire? We don't want it to spread too our vessel. Or we can do a little boarding action, as a treat.

>>5576038
>>It's unfortunate, but sometimes getting robbed is a better idea.

no cannon defense, and unless they get close and that would be bad, it is a bad idea to fight them.

>>5576127
They have to come right up against us to offload the cargo, anyway. If we can cross their T and wash their bow with dragonfire, they might not be able to get a shot off.

>>5576038
>It's unfortunate, but sometimes getting robbed is a better idea
Better than lighting both ships on fire

>>5576038
>It's unfortunate, but sometimes getting robbed is a better idea
Let's not get cocky. If something goes wrong, w can't keep everyone safe at sea.

>>5576038
>It's unfortunate, but sometimes getting robbed is a better idea.

Not much recourse here. Not our ship, not our cargo. If they start messing with our group we'll show them whats what tho.

You sigh, and just accept it.
"Fine. But if they try to harm anybody I'm ripping their heads off." You say, to make sure that there's no doubt about that. The captain nods.
"If they attack people, we still aughta defend ourselves. But the cargo? Well, that's not our problem. One of these days, the navy will catch the bastards, but until then..."

The ship hoists up the masts, to permit the pirate ship to approach more easily, and before long, boarding hooks are tossed over. None of the ship workers help the pirates, of course, making the process of bringing the ships together a slow and laborious process.
They come on board and attach the ropes to the central mast and other sturdy locations, after which they use a winch to pull the ships together. You see that the captain of the pirate ship has elected to join his crew. He's easy to tell apart, considering he's the only one in an officer's uniform, grimy and torn as it is. The man has a fiery red beard, and an expression that shows he really likes his job. You made sure you and your klan are all together, and you catch quite a few eyes as the pirate crew heads into the hold and starts rolling out whatever they can carry. Mostly, it's whatever they could easily carry and store themselves, though they do roll out a barrel of drinking water, as well. It takes a lot of effort to get it over the ship's railings, but they're more than happy to do it.
Food, also, is taken in great supply. They left you with just enough to get to where you are headed, but it's going to be a miserable time, to say the least.

Watching these scumbags walk away with their ill gotten goods is making you grind your teeth, something that's gotten increasingly difficult now that they're sharp rather than flat.
Then... the pirate captain walks towards you, and starts talking in a language you plain don't understand... though you do recognize it. Paracelsus has to take over, and you can tell from her tone that she's not hiding even an ounce of the disgust she feels towards the pirates. She occasionally turns to you, to translate:
"They're saying that they've had enough of your glowing stinkeye... and also ask if you're as much of a freak as I am, under the clothes. I've gone ahead and said yes."
You huff, a bit of smoke coming from your nostrils. You didn't intend it. Paracelsus keeps listening, and then she suddenly yells something at the pirates, which just makes them laugh, after which two more of the men walk closer. You clench your fists.
"They want one of the kobolts!" Paracelsus says, urgently. "As slaves!"

It doesn't take long before they clearly had their pick... Esmeralda.
...Well. Cargo, you won't risk it for, but one of your kobolts?

You step towards the captain, while Paracelsus does the same.

The whole place is a powderkeg, and you can tell several people are starting to draw for their guns. The people on your ship are also nervously watching, everybody getting ready for a potential fight.

You can't talk to the man, but Paracelsus can. Do you still try to de-escalate the situation, or are you about to immolate a man.

>Nobody touches your klan. Burn them.

>Try to intimidate your way out of this.

>Agree to let Esmeralda be taken... and once the pirates have boarded their ship, you'll board as well and murder them all your god damned self. No backup from the crew of this ship, but less chance of casualties.

>>5579191
>Nobody touches your klan. Burn them.

Bottom option sounds logical enough but no. Not one dirty hand of theirs touches ours.

Thanks for the fucking ship.

>>5579191
>Nobody touches your klan. Burn them.
Burn both ships to cinders if you have to. NOBODY lays a hand on the family and lives.

>>5579217
If we strand our family in the middle of the ocean and skmeone drowns or is eaten by sharks, WE'RE the one who hurt our family.

>>5579191
>Try to intimidate your way out of this
If that fails, we can fight them, but no fire!

>>5579217
See this makes me not want to pick that option. Not sure if I want to change now.

>>5579238
Can we at least go for stabbing or shooting them instead of wielding fire on a very flammable vessel, far from shore?

>>5579215
I agree in principle but we do not want to use fire on them if we are also on a wooden ship.
>>5579189
>Try to intimidate your way out of this
If we can politely remind them that we don't need to use fire to kill them all, then let's. If intimidation doesn't work, rip and tear the old fashioned way.

QM I just I just found out who you modeled your mad wizard off of and got the cat's name you've broken my heart And ripped my soul In 2. And on we made the correct choice but it wasn't the right choice And now my heart is breaking because of it damn you QM for giving us this impossible choice.

>>5579191
>Try to intimidate your way out of this.
>Start Puffing fire into the air, grab your sword.
>Have paracelus make it clear that if they touch one of our own, we will burn them, and their ship to a crisp if we have to.
>Have the bolds and anna ready their guns.
>Try using magic to summon a kobold sprite to show that to add to that, we know magic.

I'd go for burning if we were ANYWHERE near shore. But alas.

>>5579191
>Nobody touches your klan. Pick him up by his head and throw him overboard
Fire bad

>>5579247
>>5579348
Yeah okay this is doable.

>>5579348
This. If they don't listen kill them all.

>>5579191
>>Nobody touches your klan. Burn them.

Nobody fucks with family

>>5580233
>>5579219
>>5579217
>Vin Diesel intensifies

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