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You start from the dark with a jolt. You lie sat flat on your ass, your breeches sodden with dungeon damp and the waft of mildew so thick it coats your throat. You came to this oubliette in search of DUNGEON RESIDUE, a potent magical synovial fluid to sustain the power of a TRANSPECIATION POTION, but..

You wound up in a delicate situation with a ghost stuck in the body of your master. You were to play the part of a fantasy party in hopes of a chance exorcism for the lost spirit, but fell victim to one of the traps along the way with him–and now, split from your party, you’ve just come to from a very long bout of unconsciousness in the dark.

You look about the dark of the room around you and attempt to take stock of your situation. You can’t make out a thing. Your wands–both your DYADIC and THURIBLE (from the assassin)–are gone. Your hood is still a slipshod mess of thread, fallen down to reveal your elven face for all the world to see. You curse beneath your breath–just how long have you been out? 5 minutes, 12 hours, 6 months..?

>Call out for the green knight. Or, anyone. Even Bredbeddle.
>Grasp around the ground for your wand. You won’t manage a thing without it.
>Try to mend your hood, quick. No one can be allowed to see your face.
>[Write-In.]

>Grasp around the ground for your wand. You won’t manage a thing without it.

>>5704112
>Call out for the green knight. Or, anyone. Even Bredbeddle.

>>5704112
>Grasp around the ground for your wand. You won’t manage a thing without it.
Did we bring matches to the dungeon?

>>5704112
>Grasp around the ground for your wand. You won’t manage a thing without it.

>>5704112
>Try to mend your hood, quick. No one can be allowed to see your face.
We're back, nice.

>>5704112
>Try to mend your hood, quick. No one can be allowed to see your face.
Welcome back, QM

>>5704112
>Call out for the green knight. Or, anyone. Even Bredbeddle.

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>>5704114
>>5704121
>>5704132
>>5704134
>>5704139
>>5704148
>>5704161

>Grasp around the ground for your wand. You won’t manage a thing without it.

You pull yourself up from the ground with a grunt, your head like a hammer as you wander into the dark. You need to find your wands, first–if a monster or some lowborne fiend were to alight upon you now, you’d be torn to shreds. You were never much one for raw physicality. You’re built more like a butterfly wet with milk, or perhaps a large silkie chicken.

You drag the toe of your sabots along the ground in a blind attempt to catch a rod along your foot, each step a gamble the dungeon will offer purchase beneath it, the dark ready to subsume your vision whole–until, at last, you feel something catch your boot and roll along the ground. You scramble after it in a duck and dive, clutching the rod tight to your chest before raising it to your eyes. Your wand..! It’s–..

Wait. This isn’t your wand. This is some piece-of-shit generic brand willow wand they sell en masse in guild halls. This is the kind of wand they pawn off to junior wizards and witches too stupid to realize the scam. You aren’t some crazy wand prig (some of your classmates at the conservatory would count the very threads of their wand with magnascopes) but this thing is legitimate, grade-A dogshit. Ugh.

A bit of loot from a long fallen adventurer, maybe..? You might imagine a wand would be better than none, but with your powers, maybe not.. You keep your hands tight on it nonetheless.

>Risk attempting to cast a spell. Maybe you can get some light in here.
>Your hood! You need to mend it! This is embarrassing.
>Call out for the green knight. Or maybe Bredbeddle. You can apologize for that weird thing you said about her thighs.
>[Write-In.]

>>5704112
>Try to mend your hood, quick. No one can be allowed to see your face.

>>5704162
>Call out for the green knight. Or maybe Bredbeddle. You can apologize for that weird thing you said about her thighs.

>>5704162
>Risk attempting to cast a spell. Maybe you can get some light in here.

>>5704162
>Your hood! You need to mend it! This is embarrassing
The Duckworth family name is at stake!

>>5704162
>Risk attempting to cast a spell. Maybe you can get some light in here.

>>5704162
>Risk attempting to cast a spell. Maybe you can get some light in here.

>>5704162
>>Your hood! You need to mend it! This is embarrassing.
Our hood! We can't be seen without our hood!

>>5704162
>Risk attempting to cast a spell. Maybe you can get some light in here.
If the green knight - and more importantly Lady Sigrid - is alright, we can mend our hood.

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>>5704165
>>5704166
>>5704169
>>5704220
>>5704247
>>5704254
>>5704274

>Risk attempting to cast a spell. Maybe you can get some light in here.

Your knightly companion–and, more importantly, your fair lady’s body–could be in danger. You can’t waste time over such meager concerns as arcane blowback or magical radiators–you need to get a light! You raise the thin, spindle-like wand up in the air, the WILD CARD MAGIC flowing from your heart and crawling into this piece-of-shit-wand.

The horrible stick lets loose a few eerie cracks and whines as the fount of magical power threatens to splinter it. You keep your grip on the rod white-knuckle tight, but.. something’s wrong here–... where your dyadic wand would focus the fluvial of magical power into a deck of cards drawn from the wild of your heart, this is like a game of 52 pickup. Your mind reels as the wand begins to branch and fractalize.

U-uh. Shit.

>h„QX$«Ë/ë©T‚ä@ûS9M ÀŠ•âSÛ–aŒçŒ#ª;çL$ tS,ìÄ2åg!K8(<ëí:ÎØ*dX`¥‚N
>‰3‡‚I6WÆeÊæs¢âQzˆ.qs—;¦píÎA˜úâ±Qͺ~Dõhê1›w”{ê£(cL!Aåth>(16åÌÚ“~1–NúT
>")µõ.﬇N€F¢òè’ ~Ì2“0dLiÔ„@ž»þwªâš‚öR©¨
>ö8û4`û-°ýÀ„=úT°ýS >x«8öø ìñÿ × þø/Xé›P㎓Y?4õñõ÷ßAF-(GG¡|Ngª•fÕñ¡zn/¢'
>[Write-In.]

>>5704314
>")µõ.﬇N€F¢òè’ ~Ì2“0dLiÔ„@ž»þwªâš‚öR©¨

>>5704314
>Write-in
Throw the stick! Duck and cover!

>>5704314
>>")µõ.﬇N€F¢òè’ ~Ì2“0dLiÔ„@ž»þwªâš‚öR©¨

>>5704314
>>‰3‡‚I6WÆeÊæs¢âQzˆ.qs—;¦píÎA˜úâ±Qͺ~Dõhê1›w”{ê£(cL!Aåth>(16åÌÚ“~1–NúT

>>5704314
>>‰3‡‚I6WÆeÊæs¢âQzˆ.qs—;¦píÎA˜úâ±Qͺ~Dõhê1›w”{ê£(cL!Aåth>(16åÌÚ“~1–NúT
I belive in NúT

>>5704314
>ö8û4`û-°ýÀ„=úT°ýS >x«8öø ìñÿ × þø/Xé›P㎓Y?4õñõ÷ßAF-(GG¡|Ngª•fÕñ¡zn/¢'

>>5704314
>‰3‡‚I6WÆeÊæs¢âQzˆ.qs—;¦píÎA˜úâ±Qͺ~Dõhê1›w”{ê£(cL!Aåth>(16åÌÚ“~1–NúT
NUTNUTNUTNUTNUTNUTNUT

>>5704314
>‰3‡‚I6WÆeÊæs¢âQzˆ.qs—;¦píÎA˜úâ±Qͺ~Dõhê1›w”{ê£(cL!Aåth>(16åÌÚ“~1–NúT
NUT

>>5704314
>[Write-In.]
>Flho, dl mbjrlk bw

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>>5704322
>>5704324
>>5704327
>>5704336
>>5704339
>>5704375
>>5704377
>>5704461
>>5704554

>‰3‡‚I6WÆeÊæs¢âQzˆ.qs—;¦píÎA˜úâ±Qͺ~Dõhê1›w”{ê£(cL!Aåth>(16åÌÚ“~1–NúT

The glyphs that dominate your mind are given form as they slip from your tongue like oil. “PhantasmalKillerScryingWeatherControl–” The words escape your mouth unconsciously as the piece-of-shit wand’s end fragments into 2 points, 4 points, 8 points, 16, 32, 64, 128, 216..

The wand’s end bursts with thick plumes of black, a roiling tempest crackling with red sparks. The gust of wind and cold of rain that shunt from the wand’s end near blow you back onto your rear side. You just manage to grind your heels into the ground as the storm consumes the room–red lightning traveling the squall, nightmares and dark faces screaming into the haze.

You grimace at the nightmare storm above–a dangerously unstable mix of a few spells.. The true nature of WILD CARD MAGIC is CHAOS.

You now, however, can see the room you’ve fallen down into thanks to the glowing blood-red nightmares screeching in the storm above. The space is dark and dim, so low the storm threatens to spill right down onto you. It’s sparse save for a single table to the south and an opening out of the room to the south-east.

Your cast seems to have done more than light up the room, though. You can hear something approaching from down the exit–jangling steel grinding against the stone, muttering.. The horrible screaming red nightmare storm seems to have attracted the attention of something else in the dungeon.

>Prepare for combat.
>Shout for the thing’s attention. Ascertain whether it’s foe or ally.
>Find somewhere to hide. Maybe under the table.
>Stare at the horrible nightmare storm.
>[Write-In.]

>>5704772
>Shout for the thing’s attention. Ascertain whether it’s foe or ally.
It already knows where we are so might as well call out to it. It could be the GREEN KNIGHT.

>>5704772
>stare

We don’t blink when the abyss stares at us.

>>5704772
>Prepare for combat.

>>5704772
>Find somewhere to hide. Maybe under the table.

also 2-4-8-16-32-64-128-216
128-216
we lost 40 off the end there

>>5704772
>Shout for the thing’s attention. Ascertain whether it’s foe or ally.

>>5704772
>Shout for the thing’s attention. Ascertain whether it’s foe or ally.
Don't want to roast any of our friends with an errant nightmare-bolt.

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>>5704858
>>5704860
>>5704873
>>5704874
>>5704887
>>5704935

>Shout for the thing’s attention. Ascertain whether it’s foe or ally.

“Hello..?!” You shout down the hall. “Who–.. who’s there?! Green Knight? Molly? ..even Bredbeddle?”
“Our guest is awake.” The dark greets you back.

The clamor of steel against stone only grows in volume with each rhythmic step down the hall–one clang, another, and then another–before the darkness ahead of you parts all at once. You take a few uneasy steps back.
The figure before you is immense–maybe stood a head or two above even the mossfolk–and clad in a formidable set of spikes and skulls. The black mantle that silhouettes his form does little to shroud his mass and seems to crackle with a magical fire as it trails along the ground. The gaps in the figure’s armor belie no human presence–only shifting, twisting shapes in the dark.

“You are..?” You keep the piece-of-shit wand at the ready.
“My name is BARON STREGA, BLACK MAGE of the 40th ABYSSAL BREACH.” The devil glances up at the roiling storm of nightmares coiling up above your heads. “The master of this dungeon.”

>uhhh no you’re not dude
>Has he seen a round halfling anywhere around here?
>Your wands. You need them.
>Write-In.

>>5704983
>Your wands. You need them.
>My wild card magic doesn't work well with other wands, don't want to blow up entire place by accident.

>>5704983
>uhhh no you’re not dude
this dungeon has been abandoned for 11 trillion years or whatever

>>5704983
>Your wands. You need them.
>My wild card magic doesn't work well with other wands, don't want to blow up entire place by accident.
Also, check out the rack on this skelly, DAMN SON.

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Also, here's some art of Bredbeddle.

>>5705033
MUST. WIFE.

>>5704983
>Your wands. You need them.
>My wild card magic doesn't work well with other wands, don't want to blow up entire place by accident.
>Make a bone-pun at them

>>5705033
Judging from how she looked before this idiot has clearly been sneaking into the pantry and raiding it.
Time to sew her mouth shut before she steals more food.

>>5705033
all of them are getting fatter and their asses bigger

>>5705084
Good.

>>5704983
>uhhh no you’re not dude

>>5704983
>uhhh no you’re not dude

>>5705033
>character named bred
>has not, in fact, been bred

>>5705165
How about if she becomes bread?

>>5704983
>your wands. You need them.

>>5705211
Then she would be breadbeddle

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>>5705212
>>5705155
>>5705126
>>5705074
>>5705015
>>5705011
>>5704989

>Your wands. You need them.
>My wild card magic doesn't work well with other wands, don't want to blow up entire place by accident.

“My wands. I need them.” You half-ask, half-threaten the demon baron. “You’ve seen them, no? The dyadic wand made up of yggdrasil and holy thorn and the censer wand wrought in church iron. I fell down with them on my person, and–..”
“These.” The devil raises a talon-like gauntlet–and, just as he said, he’s got both of YOUR wands held tight in one palm. You feel a twinge of annoyance at the way he handles them.
“Those. Yes.” You try to maintain an appreciable distance between yourself and the fiend, still unsure of what to make of him. “I trust you’re just holding onto those for safekeeping..? Because, you see, my WILD CARD MAGIC doesn’t work so well with other wands–don’t want to blow the place by accident, you know.”
“WILD CARD magic? Then you may prove useful yet.” The demon tightens his grip on your wands. “I’ll be keeping these for now.”

“My master’s waiting. So, sorry. I have to go.” You don’t see much use in more conversation. You ready the piece-of-shit wand in your hand to call forth another bout of chaos, but he cuts you short.
“Look at that wand, fractalized into two-hundred endpoints.. you would be lucky if your spell landed at my feet.” The wand, sure enough, has taken on more of a branch-like form. The general form-factor of wands is designed to drive a path for magic focused on one point, so trying to cast a spell on him like this–it would be like attempting to land a bulls-eye on a target with a musket from a hundred meters away.
You keep your wand up nonetheless. The demon continues.
“I’ve an offer–you might consider this a contract.” The baron wizard raises his arms beneath the dark red light from the storm above. “I’m in possession of some powerful magical materia, but I’m without the means of making full use of them. You teach me what you know of the modern magical world and of operating this wand and I let you leave this dungeon alive.”

You scowl. What’s this NERD talking about? And, for some reason, you’re still getting a strange feeling about this situation. Like, for one, this guy shouldn’t even be alive.

>you are NOT that dude
>Attempt to cast a spell anyways. Bombs away.
>Try to flee past him. Into the dark!
>Ask him about the other one you fell down with. The slightly wide halfling.
>Write-In.

>>5705310
>I admit, I've never been threatened by someone who should be a corpse by now.
>Ask him about the other one you fell down with. The slightly wide halfling.

>>5705314
+1

>>5705314
+1

>>5705314
Supporting.

>>5705310

>>5705310
>>5705314
+1

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>>5705314
>>5705322
>>5705343
>>5705353
>>5705363

>I admit, I've never been threatened by someone who should be a corpse by now.
>Ask him about the other one you fell down with. The slightly wide halfling.

“I don’t presume those wands are the only thing that fell down with me? Maybe a halfling? At about this height and breadth? A bit more wide in the hips than most of her kind?” You make some charitable gestures with your arms. “Only a curiosity, of course.”

“Who’s to say?” The demon continues to stonewall your lines of inquiry “Perhaps I’ve more than wands to trade if you were to abide by the terms of my contract.”
“Ugh.” You glare down the demon. The manner of his speech, his appearance before you, this situation–it’s all just a bit off. You can’t shake it. “I must say, I’ve never been threatened by a corpse. The demon lords were butchered one-and-all a half millennia ago. This dungeon is the grave of a different time. So, then.. what are you?”

“BARON STREGA, BLACK MAGE. The devil who set scars in the PRIMORDIAL SEA that still burn today with METEOR SWARM. Look with your eyes, boy.” Your accusation seems to irritate the devil. The whites of his eyes(?) flare beneath the helm.
He can’t be though. If any demon barons from that time were left alive, you wouldn’t be here to speak to him.

>An enchanted suit of armor imprinted with the baron’s memory?
>A ghost of the devil that’s possessed an old suit?
>An illusion wrought by the nightmare storm still ominously lurching above?
>Three goblins in a trenchcoat?
>Take advantage of his irritation to run away!
>Write-In.

>>5705513
>Three goblins in a trenchcoat?
>Peer down the chestplate to verify theory

>>5705513
>An enchanted suit of armor imprinted with the baron’s memory?
Fullmetal Alchemist moment.

>>5705513
>A ghost of the devil that’s possessed an old suit?
I think this is serious.

>>5705513
>A ghost of the devil that’s possessed an old suit?
Seems likely, a fun mirror to our master's situation too

>>5705513
>Three goblins in a trenchcoat?
FOUR goblins in a trench coat, at least! See how many sets of eyes there are peeking from the suit?
>Topple them over!

>>5705513
>>5705514
more like four

>>5705595
>four
Huh, good call!

>>5705513
>>An enchanted suit of armor imprinted with the baron’s memory?

>>5705513
>Three goblins in a trenchcoat?
or 4 goblins in weirdly shaped full plate armor

>>5705513
>A ghost of the devil that’s possessed an old suit?
I want more intimidating bastards

>>5705513
>A ghost of the devil that’s possessed an old suit?
Maybe he doesn't know he's dead

>>5705731
+1
We got rid of Dagonet or whatever way too fast

>>5705513

>>5705513
>Three goblins in a trenchcoat?
I’m for whatever might give us more shortstacks.

>>5705513
well i am seeing alot of small creatures crawling inside a armor made mostly out of plates shaped like faces with a chestplate like a shelf

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>>5705514
>>5705523
>>5705527
>>5705541
>>5705595
>>5705604
>>5705605
>>5705632
>>5705727
>>5705731
>>5705741

>Three goblins in a trenchcoat?

The way this suit seems to shamble with unseemly abandon, plates interlocking and overlapping impossible anatomy, the strange, ungainly cadence and tone of voice–you’ve a sneaking suspicion that this devil isn’t quite what he claims. You begin slowly approaching the figure, easy on your step.
“What are you–” The baron begins his remand, but you pay him no heed. You just rest a single flat palm atop his plackart and gently shove him.
The illusion dissipates all at once–armor lurching back like a tree in the wind, sabatons grinding into the ground and gauntlets clawing at the air, the “baron” can’t quite maintain his precarious position at such a sudden onset force. “G-gah..!”

The claw slips from his forearm and a swathe of small green arms lunge out to pick back up at it. The gaps in the greaves, too, reveal bits of olive green flesh, and flashes of white eyes and yellow fangs catch your gaze through the canals in his cuirass. The helmet slips to face his reverse as more green arms shoot out to right it.
“You can’t be serious.” You struggle to stifle your laughter, a palm over your mouth.
The “demon baron” appears to be no more than an assemblage of goblins that have stuck themselves into an old set of armor–a few set to operate the arms and legs, a handful in the chestpiece for stability, and one at the top as the mouthpiece. BARON STREGA rights himself as his armor refits into place, but the damage is done to his image.

“...” The devil (or more accurately, the goblins) eye you up silently.

>Grab the wands and leave this fraud behind. Gotta find your master.
>Try to cut a deal with the goblins. Maybe you can convince (strongarm) them into leading you out to find your party.
>Maybe try to reappropriate the armor for yourself? Though, you don’t think it’ll fit you.
>Cast a spell on him. No playing around with goblins.
>Write-In.

>>5705764
>Try to cut a deal with the goblins. Maybe you can convince (strongarm) them into leading you out to find your party.
>"One of the people in my group wants to have an adventure in this old dungeon. So just continue faking being the demon lord, our party reaches you, have a fake, climatic showdown and you fake your death."
>"You get to live, we get what we wanted, everyone is happy. The alternative is that we kill you for real."

>>5705764
>Ask why they're bothering to do this. If they want to know about the modern magical world, why are they hiding out in an abandoned dungeon?

>>5705772
Support.

>>5705770
Also support this general attitude of smug superiority and the deal.

>>5705764

>>5705764
Supporting both >>5705772 and >>5705770

>>5705770
Support

>>5705764

>>5705772
Supporting

>>5705770
+1

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>>5705770
>>5705772
>>5705792
>>5705806
>>5705810
>>5705881

>"One of the people in my group wants to have an adventure in this old dungeon. So just continue faking being the demon lord, our party reaches you, have a fake, climatic showdown and you fake your death."
>"You get to live, we get what we wanted, everyone is happy. The alternative is that we kill you for real."

“Nyohohoho!” You snicker, a smug grin on your face. You don’t mind a chance to flex your power every now and then. “Well, how about this for a contract–one of the members of my group yearns for an adventure in this dungeon. I will allow you to continue on with this little charade of yours, but you have to play along with our game.”
The palisade of goblins stares you down in quiet. You approach them again, ready confidence in your step.

“You may continue to prance around in that demon lord getup until our party reaches you, whereupon you will engage in a nice spectacle of a fight with our friend and fake your death.” You continue to step closer and closer to the “baron.” “You get to live, we get what we want, and everyone is happy. The alternative is that we slay the lot of you here. So, what will it–”

“Silence.” The goblin’s voice echoes–or, more aptly, a chorus echoes. The cast is spoken aloud by multiple voices at once as they point your DYADIC WAND at you.

You find your voice dying in your throat. You go clawing for your neck first–but then, coming to your senses, your hands go shooting for your wand. The cold end of a sabaton finds purchase in your chest and knocks you to the ground before you can tear it from his hands. You gasp as air breaks from your lungs, but no sound leaves your lips.
“You seem to have misunderstood the situation.” The goblins speak in lockstep with one another. “Our offer was for you to become part of something greater.”

“Hghk–” You squeak. This isn’t right. A goblin’s magical capacity is near nil, even less so than that of halflings. And yet to make use of your wand like this–..
“This dyadic wand of yours is difficult to use, true–but this is enough to draw more information out of your companions. We’re sure one of them will know how to make proper use of it. Maybe we’ll start with that halfling. And in time, these poor, weak-minded goblins may prove a worthy opponent of such a strong wizard as yourself. And maybe even those on the surface.” He leans into your crumpled form. "Like the real BARON STREGA."

“Khck–..” The air slowly starts to return to your lungs, but you can still just barely manage a squeak. You don’t know if you’ll be able to cast a spell like this.

>Flee!
>Try to cast a spell.
>Shout for help. Perhaps someone will hear you.
>Try to muster up the strength to attack him physically (though, you’re not quite a prime example of physicality yourself).
>Write-In.

[Sorry for the repost, animation failed to export properly first time around.]

>>5706010
>Flee!
Those aren't goblins in an armor! That's an armor wearing goblins!

>>5706010
>Try to muster up the strength to attack him physically (though, you’re not quite a prime example of physicality yourself).
>Flee!
Barrel through!

>>5706010
>Flee!

>>5706010
>Try to muster up the strength to attack him physically (though, you’re not quite a prime example of physicality yourself).
A simple shove had him falling to pieces last time

also, oh god, the real answer to what he was turned out to be all of the above

>>5706010
>Try to muster up the strength to attack him physically (though, you’re not quite a prime example of physicality yourself).
Curses, our elvish smugness has come to bit us in the ass.

>>5706010
>Try to muster up the strength to attack him physically (though, you’re not quite a prime example of physicality yourself).
>Flee!
Kick the suit of armor in its center to topple it over, grab the wands, then G. T. F. O!

>>5706081
+1

>>5706010
>Flee!

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>>5706026
>>5706028
>>5706032
>>5706052
>>5706072
>>5706081
>>5706094
>>5706412

>Try to muster up the strength to attack him physically (though, you’re not quite a prime example of physicality yourself).
>Flee!

You feel your face blanche. You need to get out now or you’re going to die.

You manage–with what little air you can draw from the musk of the dungeon around you–to fling your head up into the devil’s cuirass. Your scalp meets metal with a solid clang (in no small part thanks to your sheer density) and sends an ugly resonance down about the baron’s armor. The sudden force knocks the suit back a pace and gives you some room to breathe.
You take advantage of the shock to lunge for his gauntlet–clumsily, you just barely manage to wrench your CENSER WAND from his iron grip. You go for your DYADIC WAND just as well, but a claw from his left grabs you by the scruff of your hood.

“Disappointing.” The baron presses his wand into your chest, a cacophonous order from the throng of monsters inside. “Disintegrate.”

You wrench your hood free from the baron’s grip with a loud tear (another terrible loss for your favorite outfit) as green light courses from your wand and sends your heart cold. You only just manage to squirm from his grip with that chance, arms thrashing and legs kicking as you break into a sprint down the hall.
“Oh? You’re running now? I thought you wanted to play adventurer.” The demon lord’s voice echoes from behind you. You move more on adrenaline than thought as you tear down the corridor. You’ve no clue anymore what this thing even is–you just know you need to get out of here.

You come to the end of the hall soon enough–down one corridor, you can hear some kind of rattling, thumping noise, and down the other you can hear the crackle of fire and catch a few whiffs of smoke.

>Follow the scent of fire.
>Follow the sound of thumping.
>Write-In.

>>5706543
>Follow the sound of thumping.

>>5706543
>Follow the scent of fire
If there are other non-hive minded Gobbos they might go for a wide Halfling roast..

>>5706543
>Follow the scent of fire.
Where there's fire, there's civilization - or the closest to one.

>>5706543
>Follow the sound of thumping.
Play with fire, get burned.

>>5706543
>Follow the sound of thumping.

>>5706543
>Follow the scent of fire.


mmm, fire
our clothes are mad poofy
try and repurpose some poof to hide our elf face if possible

>>5706543
>Write-In.
>Cast spell with censer wand
We can’t run forever.

>>5706730
+1

>>5706543

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>>5706544
>>5706616
>>5706636
>>5706680
>>5706693
>>5706730
>>5706774
>>5706789

>Follow the scent of fire.

You decide to follow the crackle of fire–where there's fire, there's civilization, or at least some close approximation of one. You edge down the hall (careful to glance over your shoulder every now and then) until, at least, the crackle of fire turns to a dance of light down the floor. You peer over the edge of the corner with your censer at the ready, some spare cloth over your mouth to guise what elven features you can.
You see.. your master!–or, at least, the spirit stuck in her body. The green knight is sat over a makeshift fire, his flamberge stuck from a mound of tinder and a slime run down its edge. You shuffle just a little more close and his eyes dart up to meet yours.
“Ah! Snuff! You’re here!” He greets you. He pokes at his blade. “You want some roast slime?”

>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!
>Ask him what happened after the trapdoor swallowed you both. Has he seen Molly or Bredbeddle?
>Actually, you DO want some roast slime.
>[Write-In.]

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Also, last update for the day, so I'm up for a lore inquiry and/or drawing request in the meantime until the next update.

>>5706829
>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!

we gotta hoof it guys, bad baddie on our tail

>>5706829
>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!
Master will know what to do! She's the best!

>>5706839
Thanks for running it, QM! As for lore...
>If any demon barons from that time were left alive, you wouldn’t be here to speak to him.
...Can you please albeoate on this line? Is it meant to mean that the demon barins were all destroyed, and that their survival would have doomed the world utterly?

>>5706829
>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!

>>5706829
>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!
No time to waste while running from the demon lord goblin ghost armor

>>5706839
Is there a stigma or something against gingers in this world?

>>5706829
>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!

>>5706839
Whats the difference between our OG wand and the censer wand?

>>5706839
oh yeah the lore question

What is Bredbeddle's body fat percentage?

>>5706829
>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!

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>>5706865
>>5706868
>>5706870
>>5706875
>>5706926
>>5707101

>Shake him. You need to speak with your master! Quickly!

“MASTERMASTERMASTER–” You snatch the poor spirit up by the shoulders and begin to shake and shout in his face. “THERE’S A DEMON LORD HERE WITH A BUNCH OF GOBLINS INSIDE OF HIM AND HE WANTS TO KILL US AND HE DESCRIBED YOU AS A WIDE HALFLING AND–”
“Wai–, wai–, wai–, wait, Snuff–” The ghost chokes out as you near fling him upside down. “I can’t just.. call her out whenever! She just shows up sometimes..! If you give me a second, I might be able to try to sink back out for a little, but..”

“We don’t have a minute!” You glance back over your shoulder at the hallway.

>Pick the knight up and haul it out of here. You’ll just have to find somewhere safe and link back up with your companions elsewhere.
>Wait for your master. You can spare a few moments. Maybe?
>Perhaps you could somehow set a trap for this baron in this very room? While he’s got some magical prowess, he seems physically weak enough.
>Ok, you really do want some roast slime.
>Write-In.

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I lied, one last update.

>>5706868
>>5706918
>>5706926
>>5706942

>...Can you please albeoate on this line? Is it meant to mean that the demon barins were all destroyed, and that their survival would have doomed the world utterly?

The demon barons were said to match the gods in power–the only real distinction was their intense, burning enmity for the chthonic. That humans were able to defeat them is a wonder still today. In fact, the basis of most modern magic systems were taken wholesale from the magic tomes of the demon lords. The exchange is a point of concern for some: wizard scholars theorize that if a demon lord were to somehow return, it could learn from the way modern wizards and witches have expanded on their magic to wreak destruction in terrible new ways.

>Is there a stigma or something against gingers in this world?

About as much as the real world.

>Whats the difference between our OG wand and the censer wand?

The censer wand makes for potent spells that spread quick, but only the most adept of magi can put it to proper use. The medium of incense smoke is extremely difficult to control for even veteran wizards and witches. You are not that adept a wizard, and on top of your wild god blood, you can expect more obfuscation than usual in your card selection (though, not near as bad as the piece-of-shit willow wand). You may find it has unique boons from the dyadic, though.

>What is Bredbeddle's body fat percentage?

sigrid > bredbeddle > molly

>>5707124
>Perhaps you could somehow set a trap for this baron in this very room? While he’s got some magical prowess, he seems physically weak enough.
>Pick the knight up and haul it out of here. You’ll just have to find somewhere safe and link back up with your companions elsewhere.
Set a trap and GTFO

>>5707124
>Pick the knight up and haul it out of here. You’ll just have to find somewhere safe and link back up with your companions elsewhere.

>>5707129
Is there any way to make the willow wand not a piece of shit?

Is the willow wand secretly this quest's Unlabored Flawlessness?

>>5707144
Smart play! Set a delay trap, make headway, hopefully, find Bredbeddle.

>>5707124
Supporting the above.

>>5707129
Thanks for the lore, the art, and for deciphering my mobile butchering of "elaborate".

>>5707124
>>5707144
+1

>>5707124
>>5707144
+1

We cant afford a fair fight

>>5707144
+1
Maybe we could use the censer wand for a trap. Stinking Cloud, Cloud kill, the works. Mentally and magically he's a demon baron but physically just some goblins.
>>5707124

>>5707144
supporting, no time to play fair

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>>5707144
>>5707149
>>5707181
>>5707190
>>5707208
>>5707386
>>5707474

>Perhaps you could somehow set a trap for this baron in this very room? While he’s got some magical prowess, he seems physically weak enough.
>Pick the knight up and haul it out of here. You’ll just have to find somewhere safe and link back up with your companions elsewhere.

You take a moment to cease your mile-a-minute shaking and take a breath, letting your master’s shoulders free. “We don’t have time to talk, knight. There’s a powerful assemblage of goblins in a trenchcoat after me and I can’t have you hurt. We’ll set a trap and talk when we’ve got a moment to breathe.”
You take a moment to reassess your surroundings and lot–plain gray stone in a rectangular room. You just came in from the north passageway (with halls out to the east and west from here). The dungeon master should come after you from there, so you’ll set a trap in that doorway. You’ve got enough material with the green knight’s belongings to design a trap that could hurt him physically or magically.
The demon/monsters/thing seems to have some serious magical prowess, but he’s still got the material form of some low-level fiends stuck in a suit of armor. You suppose a physical trap would work best (maybe you could destroy a piece of his armor), but if you were to somehow set up a magical trap, you might be able to harm whatever latent spirit is stuck rattling around that thing.

>Set a physical trap.
>Set a magical trap.
>[Write-In.]

>>5707565
>Set a physical trap.
I'm going to bet on what has worked so far until we find our other companions.
Maybe a tripwire, or something that barrel through and pushes it over? Got to buy time.

>>5707565
>Set a physical trap.

We don't have enough time to set up a good magic trap with how random our magic is.

>>5707565
>Set a magical trap.
My theory is that he's using the goblins to fuel his magic, like batteries. A magical trap wouldn't slow him down, but using a spell to get past the trap would exhaust power from the goblins. The suit would grow sluggish as more goblins are used to get past the traps, buying us more time.

>>5707565
>Set a magical trap.
Goblins probably have low magic resistance and I would wager he needs them to move.

>>5707565
>Set a physical trap.
I'm doubtfully we'll actually incapacitate them with a trap but I think a physical one would be more delaying

>>5707565
>Set a magical trap.
Placing my bets on the exhaust

>>5707565
>Set a physical trap.
A powerful spirit, housed in weak flesh.

just stick your leg out as they walk through the hallway no problem

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>>5707572
>>5707609
>>5707611
>>5707625
>>5707758
>>5707765
>>5707773

>Set a physical trap.

"Hmph.. let's set a physical trap." You decide–all the magic in the world won’t make up for a half-made body of goblins. “Here, knight. Lend a hand with this. But, not too much of your hand. Don’t wanna mess up my lady’s shoulders..”

[...]

You examine your handiwork, a large chunk of rubble hung above the doorway with a few rolls of twine. The nigh-translucent threads lace the doorway, so when one of his armor’s decorative spikes catches on one.. well, it’s sure to make for at least one green stain on the dungeon floor. “This would definitely work on me. Right. Come along, then.”
With the knight at your side and your gear in tow, you begin out back into the dungeon.

“I wound up in a room down the east hall, though there’s not much more down there except for some dead slimes.” The green knight huffs with a bit of pride in his voice. “If you came from the north, we should follow the south way. And–this is just a hunch, but I think this might be the last floor before the dungeon master’s chamber. I hear you can tell by the light how close you are to the boss, and this place is near pitch-black.”
“Right. Figures we’d be close to the dungeon master..” You place a hand on your chin. A shallow dungeon usually means a weaker demon baron, thankfully..

“So, are you going to tell me what’s happening now?” The knight bumps your shoulder.
“Let me catch a second to breathe.” You continue along the corridor, the jangle of your thurible’s chains the only sound in the hallway. The path, again, splits down the middle–east and west. You hear the sound of rushing wind and creaking stone down one path and an eerie silence down the other.

“Lots of path splits. Dungeon designers sure love this stuff..” The knight whistles.

>Follow the loud path.
>Follow the silent path.
>[Write-In.]

>>5707907
>Follow the silent path.
maybe we'll find our missing rogue?

>>5707907
>Follow the silent path.

>>5707907
>Follow the silent path.
Cover our face better now that we have some time. No one can ever know.

>>5707922
This.
>Follow the silent path
but cover up! Demons aren't people and the knight is technically already dead but no living person should see our face
>>5707907

>>5707910
+1

>>5707907
>>5707922
Supporting the covering of our ginger shame.

>>5707922
+1. no one else must know the our true face.

>>5707927
>cover up
Agreed, I'll support that in addition to my vote at >>5707910

>>5707907

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>>5707910
>>5707911
>>5707922
>>5707927
>>5707934
>>5707962
>>5707983
>>5707987

>Follow the silent path
>but cover up! Demons aren't people and the knight is technically already dead but no living person should see our face

You adjust some spare cloth to cover as much of your face as you can–it’s threadbare and makes for poor cover, but it’s better than nothing. The thought of someone seeing your face–and more, your hair–is mortifying.

You settle on the silent path–though ominous, sure, it’s also preferable to the thought of a hazard set by the dungeon master that you could find yourself at the business end of. You proceed down the corridor–long, it seems to wind in on top of itself as you descend into the guts of the floor. The occasional spot of torchlight from the sconces that line the passage are your only guide forward.
It’s dusty, neither hide nor hair of monster nor trap for you to find–were you meant to even travel this passage? You occasionally catch glimpses of gaps in the brick into the dark of the dungeon’s guts.

The hall thins out soon enough, and forces you to hold your breath edge your way through it–and after several long and agonizing minutes spent reassuring the knight that he is just slim enough to get through, you both
plumb through to the next room.
“Oh.. my.” The green knight observes, his eyes alight with the room’s gold glint.

The antechamber is rife with all sorts of dungeoneer’s refuse–broken weapons, armor, books and chests litter the ground—and lots and lots of money, piles of gold coins that litter the room and scrape the ceiling. The room seems to have been kept well in spite of the dungeon’s age. And, in one dim corner, stuck halfway out from one such “chest”..
“Ah–..! Is that..?” The green knight nudges you. “Oh, no.. it ooks like she got caught in a mimic. Poor Bredbeddle..”

“Uh, no. I think she’s still alive.” You recall DR. GANT’S TREATISE ON COMMON MAGICAL VARMINTS AND WHATNOT–this mimic’s got no visible incisors in its lips, a fat and loose tongue a bit too big for its shell, the lazy eye set in the latch–this is a JUVENILE MIMIC. It poses little threat to people at this stage–really, all it can do is hope to trap you with its lockjaw and wait for you to die of thirst or starvation so it can digest you.
“H-..hello?! Who’s there? The big one? Pineneedle? I’ll even take the fat halfling..” A muffled voice cries out with a kick. “Hellloooo..?!”

You could leave her in a little longer while you take stock of the room. She’ll be fine.

>Examine the room. Look closer at the artifacts and books kept here.
>Look for an exit. This seems to be a dead-end, but dungeons are always rife with secret passages, right?
>Take this time to mend your hood and explain things to the knight. Maybe you can even get a chat in with your master.
>Ok, fine, pull out the gnome.
>Write-In.

>>5708061
>Take this time to mend your hood and explain things to the knight. Maybe you can even get a chat in with your master.

real quick, so we can get all the things bredbeddle doesn't need to hear out of the way

>>5708061
>Use Willow Wand to poke gnome butt to let her know we're here.

>>5708074
>>5708083
Supporting both of these.

>>5708061

>>5708061
>Ok, fine, pull out the gnome.

>>5708061
>Ok, fine, pull out the gnome.

No time for chitchat - we’re being hunted

>>5708074
>>5708083
Also supporting both of these

>>5708061

>>5708074
>>5708083
+1

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>>5708074
>>5708083
>>5708100
>>5708103
>>5708195
>>5708272
>>5708277

>Take this time to mend your hood and explain things to the knight. Maybe you can even get a chat in with your master.
>Use Willow Wand to poke gnome butt to let her know we're here.

You remove the piece-of-shit willow wand (more of a broom now, really) from your frock and poke her backside. “G–ah.!! What was that?” Bredbeddle shrieks, flailing her legs back and kicking her boots into the air. “Who’s there?! I’ll kill you, I swear on the gods..”
She seems fine. You can leave her in there for a little longer while you attend to your business. You take out your sewing needle and darning needle..

[...]

“Really..? A demon baron made of goblins..?” The green knight leans in from his perch atop a chest, eyes like plates. “So kind of a situation like mine?”
“I don’t know what his deal was–thought he was some gang of goblins playing dress-up, but goblins don’t have that kind of capacity for magic.” You flip your green hood up and out a few times: no visible stitches. “It’s like some weirdo zombie-ghost-armor situation. I’ll have to ask Lady Sigrid.. ah, here we are. I think this is done!”

You turn back out to your traveling companion, tucking bundles of scarlet braids into your frock’s hood. “You ready for the grand reveal?” You (with a very unnecessary amount of flourish and panache) flip your grassblade hood over your head and strike a cool pose. Your hood looks good as new, guising your hair and elven features from the world AND being easier to draw!
The green knight claps. It’s always good when someone recognizes the innate coolness of your pose.

“U-uh.. ah. Hold on.” He pauses. “I think your lady’s built up enough to resurface. Just one sec, Snuff..”
The green knight places a hand over his mouth and shuts his eyes.. and with a high-pitched hiccup, the spectral gaze fades from his eyes and his smile curls into a tight-lipped frown. Your master slowly casts her gaze about the room as she orients herself.

“Well, Snuff.. either you kept me alive, or we’re both in hell now.” Sigrid stares at the legs stuck out from the chest. “Did you finally get rid of the gnome?”

>Catch her up on the situation. Postulate your own theories. Ask for her thoughts.
>Hug her. She’s back!
>Okay, pull the gnome’s legs out for real now.
>Ask your master what she’d think about you if you were a ginger.
>Write-In.

>>5708409
>Hug her. She’s back!
>As an answer, pull out the gnome's legs out for real this time.
>Also catch her up on the situation, that sounds important. Postulate your own theories. Ask for her thoughts.

>>5708409
>Okay, pull the gnome’s legs out for real now.
>Catch her up on the situation. Postulate your own theories. Ask for her thoughts.

>>5708409
>Catch her up on the situation. Postulate your own theories. Ask for her thoughts.
we're not in hell!
YET

>>5708409
>Hug her. She’s back!
Then
>Catch her up on the situation. Postulate your own theories. Ask for her thoughts.

>>5708409
>Hug her. She’s back!
>Okay, pull the gnome’s legs out for real now.

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>>5708415
>>5708419
>>5708428
>>5708459
>>5708492

>Hug her. She’s back!
>Catch her up on the situation. Postulate your own theories. Ask for her thoughts.

You near bowl your master over you as you snatch her up in a hug. “Lady Sigrid! You’re back..!” You exclaim, eyes alight.
“Ugh–..! Snuff. Snuff! Let go of me!” The halfling hacks as you squeeze the air from her lungs. “If you grab me like that again I’ll use you as chicken feed. Now.. what’s happened since the knight took me for a ride? I don’t presume you’ve gotten everyone else killed in the meantime, have you?”

[...]

“A demon lord made up of.. goblins? And you said he has your wand? That’s troublesome..” Your lady looks deep in thought as you close your recount of the events that led you here. “Hmm–.. let me think.. STREGA, STREGA.. I wrote a capstone paper at the conservatory on BARON VYNMARK, so I’ve some familiarity with the demon barons..”
“The demon said he ravaged the primordial sea with METEOR SWARM, if that helps?” You offer.

“Ah, that’s it–! The BLACK MAGE BARON STREGA of the 40th LEGION, the ETERNAL FLAME. His specialty was fire magic.” Your master rests her chin on her palm. “He wasn’t the strongest of the barons, all told–there were better spellcasters and stronger warriors among his contemporaries–but what set him apart was his impressive vitality. He was capable of returning full-force from the brink of death like a fire roaring back to life from cinders. Hence, the ETERNAL FLAME. In the end, that title was just a moniker. The adventurers eventually took his head all the same as the rest of his ilk.”
“But.. I saw him. That was definitely him, or at least his spirit.” You frown. “Could it be that his spirit has stuck around here after all this time..?”

“Like I’ve told you before, no mage of any kind has ever been able to cheat death and attain true immortality: that’s the first law of magic, not unlike thermodynamics. Are you even reading the textbooks?” Your master snorts. “There have been solid attempts, of course–phylactery, mediums, spirit-bound armor–but they all result in a permanent alteration of form and degrade with time. Our baron here seems to have come up with his own such medium–figures that he, of all the demon lords, would stick around this long..“
“The goblins in a suit of armor are how he cheats death?” You raise a brow.

“I only know as much as you do, so this is just a theory. But it seems our dungeon master is using both binding armor and spirit channeling to preserve his spirit.” Your master observes. “While armor is a good binding agent for spirits, it’s a poor magical conductor, so he was left unable to use his powers. That’s where monsters come in–while they have poor magical capacity on their own, when put together, they could theoretically match a human in magical ability. He’s gathered them all up in his “body” to act as a medium for spells. In a sense, they're all just fuel for his fire. Of course, this theory could pose another problem..”
“And that is..?” You get a bad feeling.

“Well, he could’ve easily returned to the surface at any point before now, but I think he’s waited down here for a chance to accrue more power. He likely wants something close to the magical capacity he had as a demon before he reveals himself. The goblins and slimes are just clinkers. But, if he were to get his hands on one body in particular with great magical capacity that he could use as a medium–..then, I’m sure the surface would see the return of one of the great demon lords.” Sigrid leans in. “Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

>[Write-In.]

>>5708548
>"I think so. That's bad and we should probably stop it, right?"
>"I set up a trap for him, don't know how effective it's gonna be. Should we set up an ambush gun for getting rid of one of the goblins or something?"
>Pull the gnome from the chest this time.

>>5708548
>Understood. We cannot let him get his hands on another body. He has one of my wands as well. We need to put him down now. I have set up a trap. Let’s ambush him once he triggers it.

>>5708548
>"So if he gets his hands on you, we have a big problem?"
>"He said that he could draw information using my dyadic wand, so he might even learn new magic while at it."
>"...so that's what he meant about becoming part of something greater when I refused his deal."

>Pull out the gnome already

>>5708565
+1
>>5708548

>>5708548
>"I think so. That's bad and we should probably stop it, right?"
>"I set up a trap for him, don't know how effective it's gonna be. Should we set up an ambush gun for getting rid of one of the goblins or something?"
>Pull the gnome from the chest this time.

>>5708565
He wants us, not our master. A halfling like her naturally has little magic, hence the need for her potion, while WE are the descendant of wild gods

>>5708572
I know, the first line is Snuff's first reaction, thinking that he wanted Sigrid, because obviously want his great and awesome master, but the third one after the elipses is him recognizing that the baron wanted him after thinking for a bit.

Although thinking about it right now, why didn't the baron just use the wand to extract our knowledge and get our body while we were out, offering that deal instead?
Could it be that the spell would be weaker then learning directly? Couldn't be done on someone unconscious? Was he already planning on doing that and happened to wake up too soon? Did our mention of wild card magic made him change his plan at the last minute to try and get out more of the situation?

>>5708548
>He wants to claim my nubile young body? Master, protect me!

but he fired off a disintegrate spell at us earlier, so maybe he's an idiot or unaware of our magical potential.

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Also, here's some art of Bigrid and Smallgrid done by tanq, the QM of PCQN.

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>>5708557
>>5708563
>>5708565
>>5708571
>>5708572
>>5708598

>"So if he gets his hands on you, we have a big problem?"
>"He said that he could draw information using my dyadic wand, so he might even learn new magic while at it."
>"...so that's what he meant about becoming part of something greater when I refused his deal."
>"I set up a trap for him, don't know how effective it's gonna be. Should we set up an ambush gun for getting rid of one of the goblins or something?"
>Pull the gnome from the chest this time.

“Ah..! So.. if he gets his hands on you, we have a big problem?” You look to the witch, eyes wide.
Your master stares at you.

“Oh, that’s right.” You frown. “So, then.. that must’ve been what he meant when he told me I could’ve become part of something greater! But he didn’t seem so interested in me. It seemed like he was more focused on my dyadic wand and how to use it.”
“Well, there may be gaps in his knowledge. There’ve been vast leaps and bounds in what we know about magic since the days of demons. For example–the magical capacity theorem–of different species’ magical potency–is a recent one. He may believe your wand to be the best way to strengthen himself right now, but still, if he were to find out more..” Your master grimaces. “It’s best we cut him down here.”

“I set a trap for him, though I’m not sure how effective it could be.” You think back to your awesome rock-on-a-string plan, which, in hindsight, may have been stupid. “Should we ambush him down there? Perhaps set up a magical trap to get rid of one of the goblins..?”
“If you believe that to be the best way to deal with him. Of course, I’ve no doubt he’s got more familiarity with these halls than we do, and he could turn the ambush around on us. It may be better to fight him in the dungeon master’s chamber.” The witch proposes. “Those spaces are vast and empty, built to provide plenty of space to cast and fight–but we know more about magic than he does at the moment, and may be able to best him in a one-on-one.”

“Hmmm..” You ruminate on the matter, a hand on your chin–before you realize you’ve forgotten something. “Ah!”

[...]

“Bwuh–..” The gnome coughs after you drag her out from the mimic’s jaws by the legs, her face dripping with mimic digestive spit and her eyes rolling about their sockets.

>Set about abusing the baron in the halls.
>Move to get to the dungeon master’s chamber to combat him there.
>Interrogate Bredbeddle. [Write-In.]
>[Write-In.]

>>5709342
>Move to get to the dungeon master’s chamber to combat him there.

>>5709342
>Set about abusing the baron in the halls.
wouldn't his chambers be the place he's most prepared and familiar with

>>5709342
>[Write-In.]
Search for Molly before trying to fight the Baron

>>5709342
>>Interrogate Bredbeddle. [Write-In.
Ask her if she has seen Molly!

>>5709455
+1

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>>5709398
>>5709410
>>5709438
>>5709455
>>5709790

>Search for Molly before trying to fight the Baron
>Ask her if she has seen Molly!

“Gwuh–..wuh..” The pickpocket catches her breath and steadies her feet as she looks up at you. “Woah.. Phew! Thanks, Pineneedle. I’m almost glad to see yo–”
“Bredbeddle.” You grasp the gnome by the shoulders and shake some of the digestive juice from her. “Do you know which way Molly went?”

Her face sours. “What about ME? Aren’t you glad that I wasn’t eaten by that dumbass box..?!” Bredbeddle scowls. “Whatever. I’ve got no clue where ham-hands went. I think she went dashing off to find you after you went tumbling down that trapdoor. I thought I’d just look for you myself.”

“It seems you were quite busy looking for us.” You glance over to the mimic and the hoard of treasure all about it.
“Don’t look at me like that! It’s all a buncha’ ancient currency–no one buys with dalc coins anymore. It ain’t worth anything nowadays.” Her brow furrows. “Hey. Wait. Were you the one who poked my ass?”

“We really should get thinking about confronting the demon baron..” You place a hand on your chin as you turn away from her.

>Set about abusing the baron in the halls.
>Move to get to the dungeon master’s chamber to combat him there.
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?
>[Write-In.]

>>5709905
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?
She could be in danger!

>>5709905
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?

>>5709905
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?

unsplit the party

>>5709905
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?
Besides unsplitting the party, she's also huge. Imagine if the demon replaced his goblins with a Molly

>>5709905
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?
> “were you the one that poked my ass?”
You’re goddamn right.

>>5709905
>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?

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>>5709912
>>5709917
>>5710012
>>5710076
>>5710172
>>5710239

>Maybe you should go hunt for Molly, first?

“We ought to look for Molly, first.” You settle as you turn back to Sigrid. “We’ll need all the manpower we can get if we’re to face a demon lord. And I’d imagine she could punch a hole through his head..”
“Fine. But should you run into that zombie, you need to bring it to a decisive end. He’s low on magical power and five-hundred years past his prime, so you should be an even match now.” Your master frowns. “Ugh. I’d rather you not waste time fighting him, but if it’s a means of getting dungeon residue..”

“What–..? Did you say demon lord?” Bredbeddle speaks up from behind you. “Huh?”

“I understand, Lady Sigrid. I doubt he’ll prove as bad as the assassin, at least..” You murmur.
“Alright. I think I’ve had quite enough. I’ll hand the reins over to the knight again.” Sigrid shuts her eyes and folds her arms. “By the time I come to, I expect that devil dead at my feet and this ghost out of my head. I’m placing my trust in you for this, Snuff.”

“Of course, my lady. I won’t let you down!” Your face reddens–her trust! Your master has never said anything like this aloud!
“Hey. Did the halfie say demon lord?” Bredbeddle slaps the back of your head.

[...]

You proceed back down the dungeon halls with your party–yourself at the front, the knight and his blade at the center, and the gnome at the back. You’d like to find your mossperson before you spring your ambush on the baron, so you keep a close eye out for giant, seven-foot-tall walls of meat.
“Ah. Hey–this is the room we set the trap, Snuff.” The green knight pokes your back. “Look!”

The wonderful rock trap you’ve set up near the entrance to the room appears to have been sprung, the boulder now in the way of the passage–and more importantly, beneath it, you can see a chunk of crumpled metal and smeared red-green paste. “Aha..! Looks like we got him!” You snap your fingers. “The lord’s right dead now, yeah?”
“Uh, no. I think you got a hand.” The gnome peers under the boulder. She pokes a few articulate steel fingers that stick out from under the rock.

“Hey–something new over here, too.” The ghost calls over to you. “Looks like.. an axe..?”
You look to the ghost–by a pile of bones, stuck half-cleaved into the ground, is an ornate steel battle-axe. You glare at it. “Hey, isn’t this Molly’s..?” You approach it–but as you do, the bones all about the ground near it spring up, twisting into form and rattling along top each other like a xylophone.

A pair of skeletons take form before you, blades in hand and ready to battle.

>To arms! Prepare to cast a spell with your censer wand.
>Flee! You don’t have a moment to waste.
>DATING START
>Write-In.

>>5710395
>To arms! Prepare to cast a spell with your censer wand.

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>>5710395
>To arms! Prepare to cast a spell with your censer wand.

>>5710395
>To arms! Prepare to cast a spell with your censer wand.
Good practice.

>>5710395
>DATING START
Victory through diplomacy

>>5710395
>DATING START
I gotta get my monster dating sim fix somewhere, man, my old dealer hasn’t been returning my calls for months.

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>>5710634
>>5710424
>>5710406
>>5710400

>To arms! Prepare to cast a spell with your censer wand.

You ready your new censer wand, the steel's weight and grip distinct from dyadic wand's grooves. The wand hisses, snake-like, as clouds spew from the thurible. You feel your WILD CARD MAGIC flow from your heart and into your wand, more untamed and untethered than before.

Pick a hand of two, but one will be taken for LESHY's side of the game.

>Conjure Fey: A spell that affords you communication with the fairy wilds--call forth a fairy that will follow your orders and grant your wishes(?).
>Phantom Steed: A spell that summons a quasi-real phantom horse with a saddle, bit, and bridle. You can ride and command the horse.
>Shapechange: A spell that reforms your body in accordance with that of a new creature. You must have seen the creature at least once before.
>Magic Weapon: A spell that engenders brands with magical power for the duration of the spell, increasing their strength and applying new effects.

Your offhand:

>Wall of Fire: A spell that ignites a wall of fire on a solid surface within range.

>>5710656
>Conjure Fey: A spell that affords you communication with the fairy wilds--call forth a fairy that will follow your orders and grant your wishes(?).
>Shapechange: A spell that reforms your body in accordance with that of a new creature. You must have seen the creature at least once before.

>>5710656
Wait, who ir what is LESHY again? The cthonic god, wasn't it? He's here??

>Phantom Steed: A spell that summons a quasi-real phantom horse with a saddle, bit, and bridle. You can ride and command the horse.
>Magic Weapon: A spell that engenders brands with magical power for the duration of the spell, increasing their strength and applying new effects.
If the skeletons get the other card, either they get a magic weapon and we get to trample them, OR they get a hotse they're likely not amart or dextrous enough to ride and we get to smite them.

>>5710656
>Phantom Steed: A spell that summons a quasi-real phantom horse with a saddle, bit, and bridle. You can ride and command the horse.
>Magic Weapon: A spell that engenders brands with magical power for the duration of the spell, increasing their strength and applying new effects.

>>5710656
We can pick the offhand too right? If so

>Wall of Fire: A spell that ignites a wall of fire on a solid surface within range.
Cast diagonally to hit both skellingtons

>Magic Weapon: A spell that engenders brands with magical power for the duration of the spell, increasing their strength and applying new effects.
On the Knights sword maybe?

>>5710743
+1
I want to see a fairy
What should shapechange be used for though?

>>5710656
>Shapechange: A spell that reforms your body in accordance with that of a new creature. You must have seen the creature at least once before.

Become mossfolk

>Magic Weapon: A spell that engenders brands with magical power for the duration of the spell, increasing their strength and applying new effects.

>>5710955
We could change into that boar killed in the first thread or a mossfolk if they count as a different species

>>5710656
>>5710743

>>5710956
>>5711054
On the one hand, if our master is right then Molly isn't actually "mossfolk", just a beefy human woman. On the other hand, we're not 100% human, and so that might still work!

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>>5710743
>>5710764
>>5710770
>>5710888
>>5710955
>>5710956
>>5711129
>>5710956

>Shapechange: A spell that reforms your body in accordance with that of a new creature. You must have seen the creature at least once before.
>Magic Weapon: A spell that engenders brands with magical power for the duration of the spell, increasing their strength and applying new effects.

>Then I’ll take this one.

You feel the cards slip from your head, one-by-one, until just two remain–SHAPECHANGE and MAGIC WEAPON. The MAGIC WEAPON card, however, tears itself from your mind, dealt instead to someone on high. You suppose the wild gods will claim that spell as theirs in this game.

You, in the meantime, are dealt the hand of SHAPECHANGE. You can reform your body in the shape of any creature you’ve seen before–and, luckily, you’ve been to zoos out in the capitol before! You need only bring one to mind. Your mind races as incense licks at your fingertips..

>A CHIMERA. A beast with a serpent’s venom at its back and a lion’s maw at its front, it's basically the coolest thing you’ve ever seen.
>A GIANT FROG. Their tongues coated in acid and with guts full of poison, it’s said they can melt through stone.
>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.
>A CHICKEN. Really cool animals.
>[Write-In.]

>>5711236
>A SKELETON
It worked so well in the wizard tower quest after all.

>>5711236
>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.
We need blunt impact for skeletons!

>>5711236
>WRITE-IN: A GIANT ROCK HYRAX!

>>5711236
>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.
Honor the hunt

>>5711236
>A MOLLY: You’ve seen mossfolk power up close.

>>5711236
>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.

I'd pick chimera if only these weren't skeletons, which are extremely difficult to poison.

>>5711236
>A CHICKEN. Really cool animals.

>>5711236
>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.

>>5711236
>A CHICKEN. Really cool animals.
Worth it.

>>5711236
>>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.

>>5711236
>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.

Gore them.

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>>5711238
>>5711244
>>5711246
>>5711247
>>5711253
>>5711280
>>5711283
>>5711292
>>5711402
>>5711714
>>5711717

>A BOLSHAYAN BOAR. You’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these beasts can wreak.

You furrow your brow, your mind alight with beasts of fangs and fur alike–.. a GIANT ROCK HYRAX? You doubt you’d even fit. A CHICKEN, simply because they’re such cool animals? A MOLLY? You’re not sure you’d be able to handle that strength. Ah! You snap your fingers–though maybe not the mossperson, there was another dangerous beast in those woods..

“Shapechange.” You rattle the thurible and jets of incense begin to peel from the steel. You feel it first in your boots–the ebb of magic through your veins, the thrust of new fur and flesh, the crackle of bones and sinew. You thank the gods the process isn’t too painful. The incense clouds about your form as newfound strength ripples through you.

SHAPECHANGE is a bit of a superficial spell–whereas TRANSPECIATION is long-term alteration at the cellular form, SHAPECHANGE is a short-term reformation of the physical form. You’ve all the bite and bark of a beast, sure, but you’re still human beneath it. That won’t make an ounce of difference for these skeletons, though.

The incense clears from the room, where you stand amidst your party as a BOLSHAYAN BOAR. Your brow lowered, back hunched, tusks bared, you feel ready to gore these monsters.
“Oh, he got uglier.” Bredbeddle muses.

But something’s not quite right–though the only spell you cast was SHAPECHANGE, the skeletons’ appear to have cast some sort of spell themselves(?). The weapons of each are enveloped in a castigation of fire and ice respectively, freshly enchanted and far more dangerous than before. You’d rather not get turnt into a porkchop, but..

>Attempt to gore the fire skeleton.
>Attempt to run through the ice skeleton.
>Go for bowling over both.
>Get Bredbeddle and the Green Knight on your back and flee.
>[Write-In.]

>>5711889
>Go for bowling over both.

>>5711889
>Attempt to gore the fire skeleton.

>>5711889
>Go for bowling over both.

>>5711889
>Go for bowling over both.

do injuries to shapechange carry over to normal form? I guess we'll find out

>>5711890
>>5711923
>>5711957
>>5712013

>Go for bowling over both.

If you're in for a pound, you're in for a penny (of boar flesh). You careen toward the pair of boneheads, a train of pig and hoof not quite able to handle yourself with the same grace you did as a half-elf.

>Roll a 1d20, Bo3.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5712020

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5712020

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>5712020

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>>5712026
>Rolled 18 (1d20)

You barrel forward, a rolling wall of meat and gnashing teeth as you charge head-on into the skeletons. The pair set their blades forth in a valiant attempt to skewer you into a nice pork BBQ, but they catch on the thick of your coarse hide and tangle into your mane. You barrel through the skeletons like a corkscrew through a cask. The fight is over before it's had a chance to begin.

You slam, hard, into the wall, whereupon a cloud of dust billows up all about you. You turn your head just in time to catch sight of the FLAMING SWORD and FROSTING SWORD twirl in the air, free of the skeleton's grip toward you!

>Roll a 1d20, Bo3.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5712100

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5712100
Oh egads!

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5712100

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>5712100

>>5712100
oh fug, animate weapon too?

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>>5712102
>>5712105
>>5712128

>Rolled 13 (1d20)

You attempt to worm your way free of the swords' path--and while you're flexible enough to swing your hide out of the way of the frost sword's fall, which clatters to the ground at your hooves, you're not so lucky with the fire sword. The blade twirls in the air in a fiery ring before it plunks right into your side.

You'd curse in pain had you the vocal cords to enunciate it. You instead wince back into the wall. You smell pork.

>Turn back into a human. Will that get it out? Probably, right?
>Panic!
>Try to hold still. Get your party to rip it free. [Roll a 1d20.]
>[Write-In.]

>>5712176
>Try to hold still. Get your party to rip it free. [Roll a 1d20.]

>>5712176
>>Try to hold still. Get your party to rip it free. [Roll a 1d20.]

>>5712176
>Turn back into a human. Will that get it out? Probably, right?

>>5712176
>Try to hold still. Get your party to rip it free. [Roll a 1d20.]

do we roll now or after this vote?

>>5712178
>>5712214
>>5712222
>>5712229

>Try to hold still. Get your party to rip it free. [Roll a 1d20.]

You decide against turning back now--though it's more like a splinter in this form (a very painful flaming steel splinter), the blade would no doubt melt a hole through your ribs if you were small. You do your best to hold still as you waggle the magical sword at your party.

"Wuh--what? You want US to tear it out?" The gnome gawps at you. "I dunno. You look kind of dirty in this form.."
"Here. Lend me a hand." The knight grunts as he wraps a hand about the hilt. The sword is so big it looks to be about the height of the halfling and gnome if they were on top of one another.

>Roll a 1d20, Bo3.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5712241

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5712241

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>5712241
please god don't make this a 1

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5712241
oh geez
our party is even less competent than we are
rolling to see what could have been

>>5712255
its joever man

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>>5712250

>Rolled 4 (1d20)

“Okay! On the count of three–..” The knight huffs as he wraps his fingers around the blade’s hilt. The gnome, too, has her hands about its crossguards. “Three.. Two.. On–”
The rat pulls just a little too early, and their pulls come disjoint. You feel the blade wrench its way about your insides as the two wrestle with the sword.

“You idiot! You pulled too late..!” The pickpocket hisses as she wrenches the blade left. You could swear it was about to touch a rib.
“No..? I said on three!” The knight grunts back in weak protest as he pulls the blade back. The contest continues for about twenty more seconds than it should’ve until, finally, the blade shlicks out of your side..

A burst of incense billows up from around you as your form changes shape again–hair receding, fangs sinking, you feel your familiar human-elven form taking center stage. Your head comes to first, then your arms, and finally your legs, whereupon you manage to stand for just a few moments before you collapse back onto the ground. Your hand flies to your side and comes away wet.

Where did that cut land? Just under your armpit? Somewhere along your ribs? Wherever it did, it was a deep one. Your insides feel hot and cold all at once.

“Ah! Pineneedle?!” The gnome approaches as she places a ginger hand on your back. “Is it a mortal wound? It was this stupid dead pipsqueak, he–”
“By chance–..do either of you know how to mend a wound?” You manage weakly.

The pickpocket, as you expected, shrugs. The knight gives you an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I’ve no doubt your master knew the right spells, but..”
“I thought so. It’s alright. I’ll be fine.” You stow the pain away as you pull yourself up to your feet, unsteady. “Shall we bring this to a quick finish? We ought to treat this back at the chapel.”

You will definitely NOT be fine. You’ve taken enough anatomical courses at the conservatory to know that this wound is grievous and you doubt you’ll last long if you let it fester. But you can’t risk gambling on a healing spell now–who knows how long it’ll take to draw one with wild card magic? And with how your magic is so unstable and seems to even work against you now..

You’ll just have to slay that demon lord down fast and get your master back in the hot seat–she’ll take care of you.

>Check the wall behind you. It appears to have knocked some things loose when you slammed into it as a boar.
>Continue to haunt the halls. Perhaps you’ll find MOLLY–or, even the BARON–in your wanderings.
>[Write-In.]

>>5712298
>Check the wall behind you. It appears to have knocked some things loose when you slammed into it as a boar.

>>5712298
>Check the wall behind you. It appears to have knocked some things loose when you slammed into it as a boar.
Oh jeez.

>>5712298
>Continue to haunt the halls. Perhaps you’ll find MOLLY–or, even the BARON–in your wanderings.

>>5712298
>write in
>cast magic

we dont need a healing spell - anything to cauterize the wound is good enough for now

>>5712298
>Check the wall behind you. It appears to have knocked some things loose when you slammed into it as a boar.
Molly's axe was around here, maybe its a hidden path or something

>>5712298
>Continue to haunt the halls. Perhaps you’ll find MOLLY–or, even the BARON–in your wanderings.

gotta go fast
sanic

>>5712298
>Check the wall behind you. It appears to have knocked some things loose when you slammed into it as a boar.
>>5712356
Since the sword we got hit with was the fire one, I think we don't have to worry about cauterization and instead internal burns.

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>>5712303
>>5712312
>>5712322
>>5712356
>>5712367
>>5712940
>>5713004

>Check the wall behind you. It appears to have knocked some things loose when you slammed into it as a boar.

You turn your attention to the wall you ran head-first into as a boar--your collision appears to have let free a thick layer of dust to reveal the more intricate features set into the stone. The wall is done up in all manner of letters. The decoration is common script, though you don't know what the words mean for sure--well, except for one name..

Your eyes run the full length of the wall as you take a few steps back to absorb it, letters in equidistant positions like a grid. You suppose this must be some kind of ancient magical lock set by the demon hundreds of years past. The words hum with a very small, latent magical power--some kind of mathematical game, or an ancient language riddle, maybe, or..?

"Hey, isn't this a puzzle for four-year-olds?" Bredbeddle breaks your concentration. "Yeah. It's a word search. Look, they even gave you a word bank."

>Solve the word search. [Post].
>You aren't gonna mess around with any puzzles. You hate puzzles! Leave to go hunt the halls.
>[Write-In.]

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>>5713029
BZZZAM

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>>5713029
>>5713055
M-mine's cooler...

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>>5713055
>>5713075

"Oh, yeah." Your brow furrows.. that's right. You recall your lady mentioned that dungeon puzzles from centuries past were recycled into the common core at the capitol. You did plenty of these in your first year. "Okay, one second.."

You begin to trace your finger along the letters, and like scrolls, each word character in a pale green glow as you circle them one after another. You pull back in just a few short minutes’ time to a constellation of glowing characters, starlight sinking into the stone facade. You always were good with basic pattern recognition!

A great rumble begins to shake the room as the light–and even the letters drawn into the stone--seem to sink into the wall. You take a few steps back as the tremor crawls up along your boots and into your stomach. The mechanisms of the dungeon turns with a great, tumultuous growl, as the magical clockwork drags stone from stone and opens a new hole in the wall.

You peer into the dark. The opening reveals a low, stone staircase that crawls into the dark below. You feel a GREAT and DEEP magical power from deep within, and you know it in just a moment’s time–this must be the pathway to the heart of the dungeon–..

“Ah! This is it.. the DUNGEON MASTER’S CHAMBER. You feel it too, right?” The knight looks down into the pit. You place a hand on his back to prevent an unfortunate trip. “The domicile of the demon lord.”
“Okay, team. I’ll keep watch up here.” Bredbeddle peers over your shoulder. "Good luck."

>Tread down the stairs. You suppose there’s no better time than now.
>Pull back. You daren’t tread down there. You’ll have to look elsewhere.
>Wait. You should concoct a plan, first. Maybe you can cheat, or figure out a way to beat him without even going down there.
>[Write-In.]

>>5713184
>Pull back. You daren’t tread down there. You’ll have to look elsewhere.

we kinda have a gaping wound in our side, and no combat worthy party members

>>5713184
>Pull back. You daren’t tread down there. You’ll have to look elsewhere.

>>5713184
>Wait. You should concoct a plan, first. Maybe you can cheat, or figure out a way to beat him without even going down there.

>>5713184
>Tread down the stairs. You suppose there’s no better time than now.
We aren't going to Get HEALTHIER if we wait, and there's no sign of Molly.
I hope she's okay.

>>5713229
>No sign of Molly
Her axe is in this room at least.

>>5713184

>Wait. You should concoct a plan, first. Maybe you can cheat, or figure out a way to beat him without even going down there

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Some art of Sigrid in loungewear.

Also, as a fun fact, I don't pick out the spell cards for wild card magic, I decide on them with a random online spell generator. I'll sometimes let myself reroll one if I think it's totally useless/unfun, but otherwise I stick to the first picks as much as possible.

>>5713309
Neat! And cute art.