Your supplies of note are as follows:

1951 International Shortbox pickup with full tank of gas, full gas can, spare tire
Glock-20 10mm pistol (9 rounds remaining in magazine) [only basic proficiency in its use]
Break action .38 caliber sporting rifle (10 rounds)
Set of large kitchen knives wrapped in a towel
Large duffel bag containing:
-Small amount of disinfectant, several bandaids, several oversized bandaidsd
-One spare police duty uniform
-1 bloodstained tactical (not bulletproof) vest
-One half of a two-way radio set and its holster
-1 pair of thick cut resistant gloves
-4 LED traffic batons (lights, not weapons)
-Seatbelt cutter/window puncher
-2 packs of cigarettes

Garden hose
Variety of spice bottles
Jug of water
Small amount of cooking staples
3 boxes various home canned foods
3 shovels
Cane
Carpetbag suitcase
2 Mechanics' Coveralls
Boots
4 Matchbooks
3 High proof whiskey bottles
Basic toolkit
Pickup bed tarp

Bump.

FUCK YES RIGHT ON TIME!


------

Hand trembling... make sure Alicia is ready for shifting duties on the truck and keep a wary eye out.

How are our surroundings outside the truck?

Make sure we have our seatbelts on.... trembling hand means a wild ride incoming.

fuck yes. dream quest.
drawfag reporting in to draw just about any scene i have a clear mental image of.

what supplies are in the cab with us? is the world sepia coloured right now? what about inside, is that sepia?

>>7021591
>>7021644

Please define "shifting duties." In the meantime, you alert Alicia to the possibility of danger, and fasten your seatbelts. They're old and sturdy, and buckle with a very satisfying click.

Your truck is sitting still in the yard of the bed and breakfast you stayed at before. You were reaching for the glove box, remembering how you'd left the Thunderbird trunk unexamined and not wanting to repeat that, when your hand started quivering.

Scanning around the truck, you don't see anything. Until you look up, and notice something starkly obvious against the sepia sky. Those ranks of clouds tearing across the heavens... they aren't sepia. And they don't look like harbingers of hope.

>>7021665
Awesome, glad to have you aboard.

In the cab are the firearms, a single knife in a kitchen sheathe, and a jug of water. Everything else is in the back, underneath the tarp.

Kill Alicia. There are no allies. Only enemies.

>>7021673

"Shifting duties" - she is ready to shift gears while driving for us in case our left hand [shifting hand] goes wacky and we can't shift gears.

Have Alicia tear up the spare uniform and start making molotovs with the whiskey bottles.

Check glove box.

Light up cigarette

Deliver witty one-liner.

Put truck into gear and head down the highway.

>>7021704

Right hand I mean. The one working the shifter.

>>7021704
seconding cocktails. should get out a pen and pad of paper from the back too, if we're going back there for uniforms before we take off. duct taping the paper pad to the dashboard if possible.

>>7021701
I've got a pretty good hunch the majority of people will be raging if I follow this.

>>7021704
>>7021825

Alicia darts out to the back and begins grabbing up the whiskey bottles, paper pad/pencil, cigs/lighter, and uniform. While she's doing that, you pop open the glove box. Well now, there's a nice surprise. A brief glimmer of color moves down the length of the blade of a very hefty knife as you pull it out. You're not sure why those stones are there, though.

"No tape back here, I can nail it to the dashboard if you want..."

FUCK YES, I knew you'd return! This is truly the best quest thread series ever, and I've lurked in TONNES.


We don't have a map do we? Let's continue traveling in the direction we were going before we cam here.

oh, almost forgot these

>>7021866

I don't like the looks of the rainbow stone knife and rainbow stones. Our hand didn't go off, but our power may be off again.

wrap them in something, the coveralls maybe? Keep it in sight, we'll see what happens with it.

Put the truck into gear, light up and lets motor.

>>7021866
>>lighter

Er, matches. And there's no map in the glove box either. Old people these days...

>>7021889
>>7021890
>>7021902

I'm glad to see people are enjoying this, you're really too kind. The last picture really made me laugh.

>>7021933
>>7021704

Your hand is still shaking slightly. You stick the knife in the towel with the others. Alicia gets back in, and gets to work making some of the simplest of improvised explosives as you get the antique truck onto the highway. You take a long drag on a cig as you go. Quitting smoking feels pretty overrated right now.

>>7021968

We should also be getting some stubble after a couple days of this.

If we lose an eye Paul is going to be Big Boss.

-------

How's the scenery looking aside from the dark ominous cloud overhead? A sepia dustbowl with a highway in it?

We are full on gas IIRC.

You head out at a respectable speed the way you'd gone before. The gas meter is all the way to the right. After few dozen miles, the scenery, which had been flat with a decent number of trees, starts slowly rising up into rocky hills. The clouds are still barreling across the sky in your direction, though a ways off for now. Your hand abruptly stops shaking.

"Cocktails done."

so, what's the next thing we see as we drive down the highway? also, just what the fuck is that thing in the sky? where's it look like it's travelling?

>>7022073
i suppose this means everything isn't sepia anymore?

>>7022106
In the sky behind you is a truly massive formation of clouds. They're... well, they look angry. Roiling and churning, with no set color. They reach across the horizon, coming from the direction of the town (well, before the area cracked and dropped, leaving a massive emptiness there).

If no other actions are desired, writing up next major object seen now.

>>7022180
Everything but the clouds is still sepia.

>>7022198
go ahead.

You approach the first sign seen on the highway in a long time. Alicia reads it off.

"There's going to be a fork in the road ahead. It says that to the right is New Suareekh City, and to the left is the Ancient and Illustrious Library of Mekteba. I haven't heard of either of those places..."

Which way do you want to go?

>>7022411
Library of Mektebah.

We have a decent amount of supplies. Perhaps we can find useful info/documents pertaining to our situation in the library?

Also our hand 'abruptly' stopped shaking... I think that is our power turning off, not danger going away.

Keep a keen eye out and head for the 'brary.

um, ask Alicia if she can discern anything about the culture of either city based on how the names sound?

>>7022480

Good idea. Vaguely Middle-Eastern/Egyptian?

With me on the Library? Or you want to head to the city for possible supplies/communication opprotunities etc.?

>>7022492
>>Vaguely Middle-Eastern/Egyptian?

Seems that you've got a good head for languages.

bivrary sounds like a swell idea. let's make haste

>>7022547

Paul took a Middle-Eastern studies class in college to try and get with a couple of liberal bohemian-type girls.

library

>>7022411

The library-- it is illustrious after all.

>>7022560
wow.. maga typo there, i meant to say "library"

>>7022592
Now canon.

"We'll go to the library. It is illustrious after all," you announce. At the turn, you take a left. A few miles that direction, and you see a solid black band going across the road, curving onto the ground on either side. It's probably 50 yards wide, and DARK.

On a hunch, you look up. Yep, it's in the sky above too, in a great big circle.

You'll pass over it shortly. Proceed toward the library?

>>7022743
Test it with a rock. If immaterial go around it.

The library is a must, that bohemian girl was a Lovecraft fan.

>>7022743

Looks like a portal or Stargate...

Could either lead to the library or to somewhere more.... unsavory.

I say we stop the truck in front of it and get out to inspect the 'Stargate' [if i'm seeing this right in my head'


*Also Paul struck out with all those liberal chicks in his class. they didn't like his clean-cut style and mainstream taste in music. But he did go on a few dates with the TA.

>>7021866
Bismuth knife, fuck year.

>>7022743
Do we have any large source of fire? Try lighting the dark area, see what happens

>>7022839

The knife is carnival glass produced using the powders of multiple metals and oxides sputtered onto the molten material.

turn on traffic baton and throw it into darkness

>>7022906

Waste of a traffic baton.
Perhaps shine it into the darkness, or onto a rock being thrown in. (Provided there is a rock or even some soil handy.)

>>7022821
>>if i'm seeing this right in my head
Sort of like the pic, but much thicker and smooth edged.

>>7022879
>>7022839
>>knife
Or is it?

>>large source of fire
You do have 3 brand-new Molotov cocktails.

>>7022792
>>rock
You heft a rock and chuck it over the line. It clatters to the ground on the other side.

>>7022906
>>baton
The baton hits the line and remains sitting on it. You don't think that throwing it was good for it. You don't see any light against the line.

>>7022990
It's a knife that opens envelopes.

Is there anything nearby that can be used to bridge the seemingly solid gap to allow the truck to pass without touching it?

what happens if you open up pickup bed tarp over the shadowed area?

Looks like the rock went through.

First try metal. Maybe this thing is magnetized or something. Hyper-conductive.

If metal is non-reactive....
Lets stick a pinky through the threshold.

See if we lose it.

>>7022990
So. No light exists there, but objects can pass through.
stick in some metal, roll a Molotov (not throw, just roll it) through to see if it's an extremely hot, extremely cold, or electric type area.
If not, shouldn't be too much harm to walk through it.

>>7023133

Not walk man.

Try out pinky finger or something first. We go walking through a magic-blade could kill us... or it could eb a giant mouth.

pinky first. then we go.

Perhaps it reacts to living things only... be prepared to sacrifice Paul's little pinky.

>>7023061
>>7023096
You could put the tarp over it to cover a chunk, and there's plentiful tall grass to pull and toss on top. Note: 50 yards was a typo, it should be 50 feet.

>>7023098
You take a knife at from the towel and move it toward the line. It snaps out of your loose grip and floats in the air just above the edge of the black line.

>>7023187


Hmmmmm....

Knife is some kind of glass.... how does it react to actual metal? Is is plain black and smooth? nor marking etc?

Any noise? Humming or anything?

I don't like the idea of an uncontrollable floating knife.

>>7023209
I was referring to one of the kitchen knives that were in the towel originally, definitely metal. My apologies for the lack of specification.

>>7023187

It likes metal... or sharp objects... or tools for directing kinetic force.

Drive around it at a safe distance-- at least twice as far away from it as the knife started responding.
Make note of where it is... just in case.

Oh, and maybe try to get the knife back by heating it to it's curie point.

>>7023234

I'm going to take a leap of faith and assume it is magnetized.

Lets try to drive the truck around off-road. Slow speed at a decent distance. We don't know howstrong/where the mag field is.

If not, we may have to go to the library without metallic objects. :/

>>7023187
>get knife

>>7023187
Is Knife obtainable in any way? Perhaps we can get Knife back!

>>7023284

We have other knives.... And we don't want to get close to floating sharp object in magnetized death ring.

>>7023209
No humming.

>>7023256
You grab the knife. There's some resistance, but you can get it back into your hand with a decent pull.

>>7023255
>>7023234
If the band continues to parallel the one in the sky, the size means there's a really good chance that your destination is inside it. Driving the truck on those rocky hills and not breaking something will prove to be quite the feat, but you're pretty confident in your driving.

>>7023295

Did you see it materilize death yet?

Psh. Prematurely condemning an innocent metal-loving ring.

>>7023300

Let's not waste time going around.

Take supplies and such out of truck, put it in Neutral and push it and let it roll across across the threshhold.

>>7023300

Well, if we can get the knife back, driving through with sufficient energy should allow the truck through.
Hopefully without warping the metal.

One wonders-- does it still attract the knife if the knife is wrapped in something non-matallic. (The tarp.)

>>7023325

We'll see just how much these black bands love metal

Uh, what about our pinky test again?

>>7023353

>>7023353

Yeah forgot about it.

Get knife.

Pinky Test. If OK.

Unload truck and set to N. Push through.

Was waiting on the pinky test since it had a condition of no result on metal first. You stick in your pinky. It feels a little tingly.

>>7023375
I know an electric field when I see one.

Better not roll the truck through if you want its battery to stay alive.

>>7023375

Aright, we can conclude its a mag/static field of some kind.

You guys cool with the unload -> push truck in Neutral test?

>>7023353
Fake getting an electric shock just to tease Alicia a bit, if nothing happens.

>>7023388

HA! didn't think of that

Aright... so we gather our stuff and go on foot?

Anything else that we have that the field will fuck with?

>>7023392
>>7023368
>>7023325
Take out all supplies? Or select ones?

>>7023392
I dunno about this you guys. Is there any way to get the truck OVER the thing, or around it?

>>7023392
Let's get that truck rolling then.
Time for them to flex their muscles.

can you use whiskey like red wine to jump a battery or is it not acid enough?

>>7023411
Scratch that, just saw this >>7023388.

>>7023405

Only way around is through rocky 'fuck up your truck' terrain.

We have to go through and the field will probably fuck our battery.

Think we're deciding if we are going to go on foot through the 'portal'

>>7023402

Take all supplies and distribute them between Alicia and ourselves. Hiking-style.

Leave truck on one side of portal and we're going to hoof it though the portal, hopefully to the library.

Is the hivemind good with this plan?

>>7023423
who KNOWS how far it is till we reach the next town or available vehicle, and we have a tonne of shit to carry, plus a gimped leg, so screw taking our chances on foot.

Let's go around, seems the safest way to go. i second this thing being a magnetic field since the baton went out.

>>7023436
Taking ALL the supplies, while doable, is going to slow you down. You've got a full toolkit, several large boxes of canned food, shovels, as the main offenders for weight and a couple other items like boots.

>>7023447
Forgot about our lame leg.

Aright man, I'm with you. We'll right for some 4x4 offroad action.

Lets try to go around this thing, keeping a good distance from it.

We DO want to come back to the road on the other side though, since [we assume] it leads to the library.

>>7023447
The baton did not go out.

okay, I looked it up. whiskey has .1 percent less acid than red wine.

think it might be possible to get the truck up to speed, then cut the engine and coast through the magnetic field? then, on the other side pour the whiskey in the battery to start it up again?

K guys we need a consensus we either:

>>7023463

or

>>7023469

My vote is for going around

>>7023447
It is helluva troublesome to drive around this black magnetic ring... but I second that. Paul's not exactly in tip top condition too hike around with his heavy list of inventory.

I have a hunch that something is going to fuck up the truck if we try to drive around.

>>7023469

sounds like a plan.. but if our car gets stuck in mid air we're fucked. however, if we roll a 1 on our dangerous terrain test, we'll be wrecked!
WHATEVER SHALL WE DO?!

it may not even be possible to drive around. it could be a circle.

Aright

THIRD OPTION

We get light supplies and walk through the Mag-Ring

We can hobble if we're unecumbered.

Course we take a chance on the truck/supplies not being here if/when we get back.

>>7023506
I have a BIGGER hunch something bad might happen if we try and go through this thing. even if not right away, this story has it's way of coming back to bite you in the arse, if you follow me.

let's offroad this thing

i don't know what i was thinking with this perspective, spent way too long trying to fix it

Try to push the vehicle over the strip-- if the knife can be pulled out, so can the truck.

>>7023518
negative. it appears to be a ring, from what i gather. and he's mentioned we can get around it.
>>7023524
and leave the things we spent the last few threads gathering, AND our main transport and protection? HERESY.
Who else is for going around this nigger-ring?

>>7023483
>>7023447
>>7023529

3 for going around.

LETS GO AROUND AND GET THIS PARTY TRAIN MOVING.

>>7023483
I'm thinking we roll through it on Neutral after securing down the fuck out of anything made out of metal.

>>7023559
Negative! Black ring is a PLOT POINT
PLOT POINT must be driven through on Neutral!

>>7023588
Well that works too. Hopefully driving around the ring hasn't robbed us of delicious sidequests.

>>7023550
A ring is a circle, last I checked. You can definitely get around to the other side.

>>7023537
>>7023553
Awesome, sir.

Looks like consensus is to around, I'll give it a couple minutes before writing the post.

Going around gives us a chance to ge the truck to the other side.

I doubt driving through/Neutral through would get us and the truck all in operating condition on the other side.

>>7023589
you have a point.. unless this guy is like my first DM, who just threw harmless but seeemingly important and menacing obstacles our way.

but hey, whatever, let's go through in neutral then. what's the worst that can happen?

>>7023620

Stop flipfloppin bro.

We've got our course. We're going around!

>>7023620
Never ask that question.

Okay, looking now at a split between rolling it across in neutral and going around.

I'm done trying the marshall the masses, OP you decide the concensus. It is your BBQ.

I'll finalize my vote with my original plan:


>>7023368

Put truck in N, push through.

>>7023640
i was being sarcastic here >>7023620

my vote is, ofcourse, to go around.

CREATE SCHROEDINGER'S TRUCK
DO BOTH

Since it seems an even split, I flipped a coin.

You turn off the truck and put it into neutral, then apply elbow grease. The engine block rolls through with no seeming consequence, but as the cab rolls through you hear several small thuds and a larger one.

The knives and firearms are stuck at various angles, by sharp and flat sides, against the dashboard.

>>7023700

Knew we should've unloaded it.

Magnet confirmed. I'm thinking we aren't getting through this thing with anything metal.

Do we go through on foot with no metal? Or drive around?

I say go through with no metal.

>>7023723
Wouldn't it have snagged the truck then?

>>7023773

Maybe it magnetized the truck?

I think we're good to walk through it.... it is jsut a matter of getting our ride and all our shit throuhg it.

What does Alicia think about it?

>>7023773
You did not feel any pull on the truck as it approached the line.

>>7023700

It clearly attracts *weaponry,* and not simply metal.

>>7023773

>The engine block rolls through with no seeming consequence

Meaning you're right... front part of truck made it through, either the truck is now a magnet or our stuff isn't getting rough.

Just confirming what is happening.

>>7023789

She doesn't really have a preference about this.

>>7023813

interesting.

lets take all the weapons out and try to roll things through again.

all's well then. full steam ahead

>>7023827
You pull the weaponry out of the cab. It sticks in the air unless you pull it away and set it down away from the line. The truck rolls through slowly but surely, until you're on the other side, without that tingly feeling any more.

god, what a lot of drama.. time to go.

>>7023862

So our knives and 3 guns are gone... should have everything else then?

Lets keep rolling.

Did we sneak our molotovs through? They aren't technically 'weapons' if we separate them.

>>7023883
Your two guns and the knives are still on the other side. Your Molotov cocktails seem to have made it through.

You get inside and keep driving. It's not long until going around a bend with some pretty high hills around you, that you see a massive stone building. This must be the library.

So we have no guns?
God damn metroid syndrome.
Fine, enter building.

>>7023918

wait wait wait WAIT. We left our gunz and knives back there?!

i'm totally fine with going back, shoving them in the car and having them magnet to the dashboard, who gives a fuck it's not our car and we can retrieve them later.

WE MUST HAVE OUR PRECIOUS DAKKA

>>7023964
What if we could combine our dakka?
And have a PistolRifle that shoots knives?

>>7023949
That's correct.

>>7023981
A rifle with attached knife that shoots pistols with attached knives, and when the pistol shoots it shoots knives, and when you stab with the knife it also shoots every pistol in the rifle's clip, and every knife in the pistol's clip

>>7023964

Don't worry, we're approching a Library.
Soon Paul will become a Wizard, of the highest order.

>>7023997
You'd need more weaponry than what you've collected so far for that to be viable.

You enter the library. One moment while I write the description.

>>7024012

Best be finding something useful in this library because we just ditched 3 sessions worth of weapons.

What the hell do you hope to find in a library anyway? a book explaining all the wierd shit around us or where we are? good if that actually exists but if not what worth is there?

>>7024015
Always need more weaponry.

>>7024053
Lovecraftian area + Library = Cool shit.
Didn't you learn anything from DM school?

You enter the library, and the sepia surroundings suddenly switch to black and white.

The building looked large on the outside, but its size was deceptive. From the inside this building could probably house a small city. There must be millions upon millions of books here.

At the oak front desk is what initially looks like a girl, but as you get closer you see it's an automaton. It looks just like the picture, but with several thick cables running out the back. It looks up at you with disapproval before pointing toward an official-looking sign.

But you can't read it.

>>7024053
Nothing says we can't go get them back when we're done here.

>>7024114
ask Alicia what that shit says!

>>7024114
ask alicia if she can read it. if neither of us can, ask the librarian if she..it.. knows what it says

>>7024129
>>7024142

"It's all garbled. What's it say?"

The automaton begins rising from behind the desk. Alicia points at the sign and makes a motion like drawing a zipper across her lips. Glancing at the automaton, she looks a little concerned.

I bet that sign says, "Be Quiet, Upon Pain of Death"

Or something similar, NOTHING so far has been remotely bloody friendly, I say, we be incredibly quiet.

hrm

nod at the automaton, and motion to alicia to walk back outside right quick so she can tell us what's with this.

she probably knows something about how libraries work in this world, even if she's never been in this one particularly.

also, letting her know we can't seem to read here might be helpful. i can't remember if we've ever told her, or if she's picked up on that by now.

>>7024195
You hush up immediately. The automaton seems to hesitate for a moment, then glares while remaining where it is. It holds out the pen it was using toward you, and makes a motion for you to take it.

>>7024259
You pull Alicia outside and let the automaton wait.

"Sorry, I should have acted sooner. I forgot how you said you can't read things here. That sign said: Silence is MANDATORY and ENFORCED."

"If this library is like the ones where I'm from, we might be able to find just about anything here. The trouble is actually finding it. That can take dedicated teams years in some cases. Or something can just show up right away."

You head back inside. The automaton hasn't moved.

Before going inside, do you grab any items from the truck?

>>7024310

A flashlight would probably be helpful, just incase.

Perhaps the radio for creepy whispers and accidental silence breaking.

>>7024310
Molotovs.
Definitely Motolovs.

>>7024310
Library?
Fire!

>>7024343
>>7024351

Oh pretty please don't burn it down.
Or bring anything that can burn it down, becauce if you do, it *will* burn.
Things just work that way.

It's innocent.

>>7024363
What if we fight a book golem?
Or a words golem?
WHAT IF THE IMMORTAL GHOST OF TIM BUCKLEY APPEARS AND TRIES TO CONSTRUCT AN ETERNAL PRISON MADE OF DISEMBODIED WORDS THAT GROWS FASTER THAN YOU CAN HACK IT DOWN?

>>7024338
>>7024343
>>7024351
>>7024363

2-1 on the Molotovs. You empty out the duffel bag except for them, wrapped in the towel so they won't clink, the matches, and a couple of the light batons. The radio is only one half of the pair. Maybe it's useful for something, but it won't be communication.

The automaton is still holding the pen out for you when you reenter the building, not having moved an inch since you left. At least... you don't think it moved.

>>7024411

Oh I know it's only one half the pair.
Creepy whispers.

>>7024412
As always, I appreciate your contributions.

>>7024427
You bring along the radio and its holster then. It's not like they weigh much.

>>7024411
>Take pen
>Sign name where Automaton seems to be gesturing, figuring it wants an address book or something

>>7024411

Sign in, go to find the index, look up *magic.*
Perhaps spoken spells and written talismans. Visualizations too.

Being able to create one of those clever black rings may be useful.

>>7024473

You reach out to take the pen and sign in. As your hand gets an inch away, the automaton's other arm suddenly blurs and grabs your wrist, slapping your hand against the visitor book. And then it rams the pen through it, and sits back down with a slight smile.

>>7024513
Pen goes through hand (ow) or visitor's book (not ow)?

>>7024526
Both. It's pinning your hand against the thick pages.

with every fibre of our being, resist the urge to scream. cover alicia's mouth too just incase.

proceed to computer to search for books.

>>7024530
mrrrrrrffffhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrggg!!!!!!!!!
Frantically motion for Alice to help me pull out the fucking pen while trying to stifle my screams.

>>7024513
God damn it why does everything in this world try to kill us?

>>7024530
Let out a big throaty scream and light every molotov, throwing them wildly about the room.

Automaton won't be hurt by fire! We'll have to be more stealthy, by like ... sneaking up behind her and pulling her cords out.

>>7024624
:|
Jam pen into automaton

>>7024624

Did Paul forget to sign his full entire name?
Silly.

Okay that was weird. Reposting the whole thing with the post below it added.

>>7024553
>>7024535

You motion and Alice rushes over, yanking the pen out of your hand. It hurts just as much exiting as it did entering. You manage not to let out any noise, somehow.

Then before you can yank your hand away the automaton grabs Alicia's wrist and slams her hand onto yours. The pen goes through both your hands and firmly into the book.

As you both attempt to stifle your screams, the automaton begins to shake and silently laugh, rocking back and forth in its place.

>>7024624
It hurt Alicia? IT'S ON NOW, MOTHERFUCKER.

I'm just putting this out there, but maybe if we had a GUN we could kill that prick where he stands. But instead, perhaps we should just molotov him..

anyone gonna second this? I think pullling it out may cause Alicia to scream, if she already hasn't.

>>7024654
Stab Automaton with pen

>>7024654

Pull the pen out, casually walk away keeping the pen.
Smile at automaton.

>>7024664

In the hand while screaming ' JUSTICE BE SERVED'

>>7024685
This is a test, you are failing the test.

>>7024659
Would fire even work? Might destroy library :x

>>7024680
seconded.

>>7024634
Somehow this pic fits even better for the visualization of the automaton than the pic I posted. And no, it's not just because this one has cords going out the back.

Two for stab with pen, two for steal pen, two for Molotov.

>>7024569
I shall change my Throaty Molotov to a Steal Pen.

>>7024680
Thirded.

>>7024745

Stab in the hand with pen, remove pen after and watch the results.

>>7024745
What if the Automaton has ... ANOTHER PEN?!
D=!

>>7024768
>>7024765
>>7024732
>>7024680

You wrench out the pen with your other hand, Alicia giving a shudder of pain and noticeably bites her lip to keep from screaming. You're barely able to keep silent yourself.

You walk off, still holding the pen and hooking your wounded hand's arm around Alicia's to pull her along. As you leave, you turn and send the automaton's smile back at it. It stops laughing at this and glares daggers back at you.

>>7024833
Bandage hand
Investigate hand injury

I wonder if we can disable the automaton by distracting it with one of us while the other one walks up behind it?
Then again it can force a BLUNT PEN through our hands with brute force. It can probably crush our skulls.
So I dunno. get Rifle! ^_^

>>7024833

Excellent.
Perhaps a bit of wound bandaging, then off to the index!

>>7024833

Leave the library and throw in a molotov. The Automaton is obviously sadistic and is probably waiting for you to be calm.

>>7024876
but the books! D=

>>7024876
They could have 4th edition rulebooks in there!
Or copies of Twilight!
And you're just going to burn it?!

>>7024865
>>7024848

You head out to the truck and your scant medical supplies. Disinfectant, then some strips of cloth from what remains of the police uniform that was used for the cocktails to stop the bleeding. You're almost out of disinfectant.

>>Get rifle!
Your rifle is a ways away, outside the black band. If Alicia held the door open or you jammed it that way, you should be able to get a shot inside the building with a few tries, but past that you can't be sure of hitting anything.
>>BLUNT PEN
Sharp pen.

When you go back inside, you can see from the entryway that the automaton is no longer behind the desk.

>>7024921

I concur, we could use the copies of Twilight to learn how to romance Alicia.
No molotoving.

>>7024833

paul, you're a cruel cruel man.

let's not burn the place down.... yet.. let's look for an index to find anything to do with magic or the supernatural. if we need to converse with alicia, we have a handy pen to write on now.

>>7024942

She moved, interesting.
If the automaton made noise, would she have to arrest herself?

We should try that if she comes after us.

>>7024942
Would it be possible to walk around black band to get rifle + knives, or not?

>>7024942

> automaton
> Moved

Don't go back in. Just don't. Burn the place down and get the fuck out of there. I have watched enough horror films and games to know this shit means while you are reading a book , the automaton will sneak from a vent/ceiling to rape your arse.

I stick with my molotov the fucking library and go look for a supermarket or hunting store or some shit and geet some flavour of defense tool.

>>7024944

haha

>>7024979

Psh. It's a librarian automaton, maybe a little sadistic, but who isn't?
Besides, someone had to hire her--it's a public library, complete with anti-weapon field.
I say we've won her respect with the smile.

In any case, sit back to back with Alicia and have the molotovs ready for hostage-manuvers.

>>7024979
now now, let's not piss off a magical cyborg thing that is a FUCKTONNE faster than us to the point where it's just a blur.
It impaled our hand for talking in its library, imagine what it'll do if we try and burn the thing down.

ALSO, the author did mention the place is big enough to house a small city. A molotov will do little to fuck-all to a place of that magnitude.

let's just look for some books.

>>7025013
That nver works in Horror films or novels man. It's a wire powered Automaton, chances are you will sit down back to back and she will descend silently by her wires and grab you or Alicia by the head so fast that you won't make any noise.

>>7025017

You want to risk going back in when it is blur speed?

>>7025028
We didn't come here for nothing other than to recieve our best stigmata impersonation. we're going to glean something useful from this place, horror story or not.

chances are paul can't read the books, which means we won't have anything to do BUT be on guard duty while alicia looks through the books.

we may as well get something better than a hole in the hand for the trip down here.

>>7025028

At least she won't die of gunshot wounds in a telephone booth, like her father.

>>7025039

One figures that it could have put that pen through his throat, but didn't.
At least if she tortures him for sadism, he'll still be alive, and have a more jaded badass personality.

And magic books.

We still have the tool box though right? Ok can we see what is IN the box? Maybe a wrench of some description or a screwdriver.

God damn, let's just go inside already. If the Autofaggot tries to attack us, then we'll deal with that then. And that's IF. Chances are we might run into something completely different, something a wrench might not do anything to.

>>7024944
I'm glad you're doing this.

>>7024975
You can go out and get them, but bringing them through to where you are now is the issue.

>>7025054
I must be missing a reference.

>>7025073
You put a bunch of basic tools inside, and tried to emphasize ones that wouldn't be limited by size. You've got the essentials like a hammer, a few screwdrivers, pliers, allen wrench, some nails.

Main consensus is to go back in. You poke around several rooms until you find the index. It's a room larger than most mainstream hotel lobbies. There's no computers inside--all books are catalogued on a ridiculous number of notecards.

And they are scattered all over the floor, their filing cabinet drawers left carelessly open.

>>7025132
So is the black ring too big to go around?
Or is the library INSIDE the black ring?

Oh well. It might be a good idea to unload the guns and carry them through gripped tightly; an unloaded gun at least can't hurt is.

>>7025132

How could you forget Lieutenant Col-- excuse me, *Brigadier General* Maes Hughes?
This is a sad day for Amestris.

>>7025160
It's inside.

>>7025160

Have you ever been bludgeoned to death by an unloaded gun suspended in the air by tingly-wizardry?
If no, you should be able to see how the lack of that event in your life has lead to the continuation of your life.

>>7025176
Well fuck that then, lol
We gotta get ourselves some anti-automaton thingydoobies! Do we know of any place to get anti-automaton thingydoobies?

>>7025176
OOoOoOOooooOOoohh
..
well, time to start searching for anything of interest. naturally, that means alicia since paul is dyslexic.

>>7025132

Sift through the By Subject section of the index for Magic/Sorcery/Science.

If there is no subject index, cry deep down inside, then concentrate particularly hard on finding the above subjects. (Hoping of course that dream-logic will deliver you the appropriate index card by mystical resonance.)

>>7025236
second

>>7025236
Thirded, but adding History to the list.

Alicia looks hopelessly at the piles of scattered cards. "This is going to take a while. And yes, that is the understatement of the year." She takes a seat on the floor and starts sifting through piles of cards. "Magic, science and history? I'll see what I can do, but even if we find it in this messed up index we've got to find it on the shelves. That's where the real trouble was always said to be, and they at least were able to get an index reference beforehand."

>>7025198
You make a mental note to keep your eyes peeled for anything that would qualify.

>>7025236

Totally with this but also look up Automatons/librarians to see if we can give commands or something to the hand hating robobint.

>>7025334

Ask her who "they" is, and where she heard that.
Be ready to kill her with the pen.

hmm. try picking up one of the cards at random and asking alicia what's on it.

if this is a library of your mind, it may want to work with you?

>>7025349
At this point it seems like our mind, or part of it, is actively trying to kill us.

In the process, you found an ally--a young woman named Alicia.
yep everybody falls for that.

>>7025355
things, maybe. places, maybe not. worth a try anyway

>>7025341
"Will do."

>>7025346
"The teams that go into libraries to try and find specific knowledge. Like I said, where I'm from it can take them years sometimes. And sometimes, the find what they're looking for right away."

You focus on these subjects while keeping watch at the door.

A crash from somewhere in the library echoes through the corridor outside the room.

>>7025384

Don't go to check it out.
You'll only get blamed for it. And silence is *enforced.*

*giggle*

>>7025394
Stay with Alicia and don't go investigating the noise. We don't need Automaton stealing her. Ask Alicia to speed it up a bit.

>>7025362
I dunno man, shes been with us since the beginning and only been helping us. If she wanted us to die she didnt have to ram the car into that thing that was about to kill us.

>>7025427

She wants you to suffer such emotional pain when she betrays you after hours of happysex that her demon master will reward her greatly for providing the meal.

>>7025420

Also ask if th teams ever came back or if they found a way to get equipment/weapons through the field since they obviously had Robo Librarian to deal with.

>>7025427

or we could be her sacrifice that she is herding towards her 'altar'. She wouldn't want the one being she knows worthy of being burnt /disembowled alive by her to be done elsewhere

>>7025420
>>7025404
You stay at your post and stay alert. "Can you speed it up a bit?"

"You DO realize just how many cards there are here, right? I could be going through these things like a machine and still be here for days."

>>7025349
"English Grammar: An In-Depth Study."

>>7025446
"They came back most of the time. I don't think they had that thing to deal with at the other libraries, but there may have been other bad things in them. I wasn't on the teams myself though."

>>7025463

Hmmm, is the book *actually* about English grammar--or could it be something to help Paul read here?

Clarification-- if Paul writes something down in his own handwriting, can he read *that*?

>>7025444
>>7025446
God damnit, if you bothered to read the threads you'd know that Alicia can be trusted, probably the only person in our dreams we can.
We've saved her life a fair few times and she's saved ours. She's also cooked us food, watched for danger while we slept and found us a Glock.

Please, stop suggesting shit like killing her, since it would piss off a few people who have been following this from the start. If she happens to die and Paul can do nothing about it, then fine. She's just a construct of our nightmares anyway, but chances are she can't die since this is a dream anyway.. just like everything else.

>>7025463

Try and read the book. Chances are it will be in moonspeak because a GRAMMAR book is how to use the words, not how they are spelt but you never know. Also check the roof from where you are .

>>7025492

Yes. Trusted. Because she cooked for us.
*glares* (Mumble: Roman History)

Not that we suggested killing her... only that we should *watch* her. And be ready to kill her, with the pen.

>>7025492

Did I mention killing her? No? Great, stop jumping to conclusions, being wary is the best defence against the unknown. in a world where EVERYTHING wants to harm/kill you, why would the only being who happens to be nice be near you? Could there be an alternative motive? Could it be she is trapped her and wants to help you so you can free her? Theres a million reasons why she could be helping you and since everything else is homicidal, there is no reason to expect her to be any different.

>>7025482
Paul has always been able to read the warnings that his hand writes on its own. Writing himself a note works sometimes, other times he just watches the moonspeak flow from his pen. Transcribing something that he sees doesn't seem to make it legible.

He normally isn't able to read other things, but there have been a few exceptions.

>>7025498
"You want to go find THAT book? Well, we can try." You check the roof. It's clear.

>>7025509
It's alright. We already know you're THAT GUY in this gaming session.
Don't need to repeat that stab her with pen thing again.

I am against such a monstrous idea.

>>7025529
>>7025515
>>7025492

Now if I had to choose one of you to be a praetorian guard, who do you think it would be?

Ever Vigilant.

>>7025528
Let's hold off on book hunting until we have a few likely candidates.

I want to leave. Those noises scare the piss out of me. The only weapon we've got is the molotovs, and they'll likely just piss off whatever's making the noise. Please, let's grab the books that look important and go.

so... What do whe do now?

>>7025570

I concur-- have paul pick up a few more cards that he feels have the best 'Psychic Resonance,' hand them to Alicia to read,
Then if they sound good, they can go to the stacks.

>>7025591

This sounds like a more feasibly plan than lollookthroughmillionsofbooks.

>>7025591

seconded.

Minutes turn into hours, and the cards gone through get tossed into one of the empty cabinets. It's a considerable number, but a drop in the sea of cards.

"Boat Sailing for Beginners, nope. Bunk beds of the 1840s, nope. Roly Poly and the Red Chair, negative..."

You hear several additional crashes outside. Some of them are pretty considerable.

Alicia gives a sigh and stretches. "You mind if we get some food and a drink?"

You hand her a fresh stack of cards. "These feel good. Can you go through these first at least?"

>>7025591

I'll go with that. Last thing we want is to be here when it gets dark.

>>7025615

Read the English grammar book we picked up. After that take Alicia and go grab some food from the truck.

>>7025615

Those crashes don't sound good. Can Alicia sort and walk at the same time? Because I'm not seeing staying here as a good idea. Let's go back to the truck, quietly.

>>7025638

don't forget to take the cards with you.
I bet ya if you leave without and come back it will be messed up.

>>7025638
>>7025664

We do not yet have the book-- stack searching must be done.

>>7025664

Actually I was sort of thinking about not taking the cards because the robo librarian girl doesnt seem to appreciative of people. Let alone those that steal her cards.

Quick question. Alicia can read the language of this world, but can she write in it? Because if she can, I want to ask her to write a note to the automaton to give us a hand with what we want.

"Okay, here we go." She starts rapidly listing off titles.

"Rockets through the Ages, The World is a Cube, Hammers: the Great Menace, Building Your Own Spidermech: a Beginner's Guide, Rover and Friends, The Grand Collection of Nursery Rhymes, Fire is the Best Power, Exploring Your Inner Self, Monkeys, A Complete Naval History of World War 2, All You Ever Wanted to Know About the Big Bang and More, Illustrated Guide to Satchel Charge Use (declassified), Monkey's Play Time."

She pauses. "A lot of these don't even make sense! I mean, there's never been a World War 2."

>>7025674

Oh . I misread. Ok , lets go grab the food and leave the cards on the librarians desk.

so..... Alicia looks uo books.....and what should Paul do?

>>7025707

Ok. I vote we look for the build your own Spidermech book. it caught my eye and it would be hilarious to have a tachikoma with us.

>>7025707

Interesting. I like "The World is a Cube"--but more importantly:

Ask Alicia what she knows of history-- what year it is, if she's heard of any great wars, important countries, etc.

fire is pwer and build your own spidermech seem interesting. Take them.

>>7025704
"Couldn't really be a teacher without being able to write, now could I? I don't think she'd--it'd help us though, and frankly I don't want it around us if we can help it."

>>7025743

More interesting-- she's a teacher. Can she teach Paul to read?
And perhaps ask what she knows of science, chemistry and physics in particular.

I have a plan. Head outside. Grab the walkie talkies and turn them on. Put one in the library and make as much noise as you can while standing outside. Preuming that it is safe , what with all the noise coming from there.

You grab Build Your Own Spiderbot and Fire is the Best Power, and head outside. There's still light outside. You'd guess it's about 3 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

>>7025734
She starts talking about various places and events, most of which you haven't heard of before. (And if you really want the details, I'll post them next session.)

>>7025753
"Well, I was training to be a teacher at least. Was almost there too, but it's not like I have my certification yet or anything. Getting kidnapped kind of put a spanner into the works. I know basic science, but I was going to be teaching elementary school kids. Don't exactly need rocket science for that."

"As for teaching you to read... well, I don't know. I know all the steps for teaching literacy, but from what you've said and from what I've seen you seem to know how to read already. Something is just gumming up the works."

>>7025771
You only possess one walky talky. The other one in the pair was missing by the time you looted the police station.

>>7025798
And by that I mean you take the cards listing their location.

>>7025798

Balls. I was hoping for some devious masterplan to steal another of the Automatons pen. Search outside to see what the cause of the noise was.

and then suddenly....

>>7025855
Suddenly someone decides the next thing they want Paul to do! I'm guessing it will be going in and finding one of the books listed on the cards, but /tg/ has proven my guesses wrong time and again. It's what makes GMing this so much fun.

In the meantime, Paul and Alicia get a meal at the truck and plan their next action.

they go and grab the books.

>>7025871

Search outside for the noise thy heard while inside. ither it proves to be an evil beastie OR delicious prizes.

>>7025871

Over brunch, ask Alicia if she's ever witnessed any sorcerous occurances--like the big dark anti-weapon ring.
Also ask her if she's familiar with the periodic table of elements and Spidermechs.

Then probably off to find Fire is the Best Power.
(And hope that a big picture of Roy Mustang is on the cover.)

>>7025883
Outside the room, in the library. Being ill might be the reason I keep writing less details than I should. I'll remedy that.

You head back inside and decide to start looking for the source of the noises, and whether they're dangerous, before you start doing the book search.

>>7025919
You mean books on lucid dreaming?

>>7025905
"Yeah, things like that ring pop up all the time, depending on where you go. I remember hearing that other libraries have them too, no matter where they are. Nobody's sure why. Seems to just be natural phenomena."

"I know the periodic table, but I don't know what a Spidermech looks like. Other than, presumably, a spider. We... we weren't quite as advanced as some other places in my land, nor very magically active. I think we tended to stay independent by remaining outside of notice. Quite a few of the things I'm seeing here are new to me."

>>7025925

no. OP is ill.

>>7025952

Aside from other rings, has she seen anything fitting the description of matter or energy created out of nothing or by spoken words/symbols?

Also, what does she dream of? (Considering this is a dream land.)

>>7025925
You can do a search, but you don't know even the location of where they'd be. You never know, you might get lucky.

Wandering through some of the rows of shelves--rows that must be a tenth of a mile in length--toward where you think the noises came from, you see the ends of several rows were smashed into one giant pile of messy books, the damage to the shelves going back at least a hundred feet. That might've been the noise.

>>7025990

do an intense examine of that space. Ya might find something.

>>7026017

*nods*
Pick up the most appetizing book on the floor at the edge of the damage.

>>7025989
"Kind of. I know there's more than one method for magic like that, but most places are very discreet about showing how it works, even the slightest details. The ones where I live did something with carvings or tattoos, maybe both. I think that they carved in the thing they wanted the magic to do, and then had to let their blood flow over the markings for it to work. Makes them kind of a one trick pony. I only saw that a couple times though, so that's my best guess for the method. Either they wouldn't tell my father how it worked, or he wouldn't tell me."

"Wait, you mean you also imagine things when you're asleep?"

>>7026028
>>7026017
You pick up a book for Alicia to read off.

"Problems with Imperialism."

while you go there: dance yust do it.
If alicia asks you why you do it, leg humb her.

>>7026054

randomly pick a book with a nice front.

>>7026054

Ask if she's ever heard the word Rune, and if she sees that word around on any of the books.

Also, is she surprised that Paul imagines things in sleep at all, or that he imagines things *too*? (Just like her.)

>>7026054
tattoos are a magical spell eh? they require the blood of the one they are painted on to work EH?

Tell alicia to try something. Remove a blood soaked bandage from her hand, temporarily, and sqeeze some blood into that tattoo on her back.
BRACE FOR IMPACT.

>>7026083
"Imperialism's Destruction of Native Art and Culture: Why We're Better Off Without that Crap Anyways."

>>7026096
take that book with you and tell alicia to grab a book whe have no use of (information wise and it must be not big and not small) take it also with you. You can threaten the librarian you will damage it if she doesn't listen to you.

>>7026087
"Nothing that says "rune" in that pile, or this adjacent shelf."

She's surprised about the latter

>>7026095
"Wait, you think that--that what they tattooed on my back is one of THOSE kinds of tattoos? Oh I hope not, my Dad is going to -kill- me if that's true and he finds out about it... do we have to?"

>>7026120
It will be back in her hands with your hand contorted in an uncomfortable way before you even finish your sentence.

Sexan in library, GET.

>>7026131

She was not aware that other people have dreams? (Ask her.) Also-- *what* does she dream about.

As for the blood-on-tattoo experiment, best to wait until after you find the book you're looking for and are *outside* the library.

Additionally-- ask her to keep an eye open for the word rune on anything. (Or 'stave' as the icelandic term is.)

>>7026137

nvm yust take a book of no value to you with you.

You pick up a nice-looking book that isn't too big or small. It's full of cool pictures, full page and beautifully colored, if you ever get bored.

>>7026145
"But other people -don't-. I only know the word because of a book I read.

"I dream I'm in a great city where there are lots of people and cars. Usually I'm in or near this same hospital that I keep forgetting the name of, and there's always a young woman there asleep on a bed, surrounded by equipment."

"Yeah, let's wait on that."

"Rune, stave, got it."

Head foro the Spidermech book.

>>7026199

Tsukasa! Tsukasa? Wait, where am I...
*vibrating eyes*

Ask her what else was in the book about dreaming and also what other people did while sleeping.

search for the thing that caused the damage again.

>>7026211

Nein!
Go for the Fire book-- knowing how to build a spidermech doesn't mean you'll have the parts for it.

But Fire... and Power. Although, it could just be a book on the strategic use of flame weapons. *shrug*

>>7026211

seconded

>>7026238


argh! Yust go look for both books.

>>7026238
seconding this with FURY

>>7026211
>>7026243
You start heading for the location on the Spidermech card.

>>7026228
"It was a novel. And other people seem to just sleep, then wake back up, not remembering anything during the time they were sleeping."

Seeing as how we're at 288 posts and auto-saging, but I'm still awake, do people want another thread? I'm hesitant because another thread will probably mean leaving behind most of the people who follow during the late night/early morning hours. And I'm not sure how much the morning crowd will enjoy a quest that hasn't been running on their time zone. This is also a fine place to wrap up for the weekend.

So, please let me know whether I should make a new thread, and also if you've been following all night or are a recent addition.

>>7026293

I've been following from the night-- ending here for the day may be best.
But then, who needs sleep? *shrug*

>>7026199
hmm. if she dreams about a woman in a hospital bed, that COULD mean she's a real person in a coma or something, and not a construct of the dream. interesting.

i'd vote for ending for the night, since most followers are nightowls.

>>7026293
Been following this from the beginning, but it's 10:30pm here. Not that I mind, if I miss anything, I'll catchup on sup/tg/, provided it's been archived.

>>7026293

I'd like to continue if you're game for it.

Britfag who got up real early to play here.

i am new. Not night here. Its 3.30 pm here so...

After seeing the responses, and a bit of thought on how much longer I really will be awake, I'm going to end it for the weekend here. I'm hoping to have the next session Friday instead of Saturday (same time as before, beginning 10pm-2am US Central), but I will be running one of those days for sure.

Sorry for being America-centric when I was discussing the time zones, it's just a bit of a shock and very much an honor to have players from other countries.

One more post to wrap things up and get us off with a bang next session.

You leave the section with the enormously long rows of books, with only one false alarm ("There! Stave off Old Age the Old Fashioned Way... wait.") and progress to another area. This one doesn't seem very well laid out. It's almost like a labyrinth of books.

You're attempting to navigate your way through the twisting rows of books toward the location the card says the Spidermech book is at when one of the books catches your eye. You can actually read this one.

GET REAL POWER, THE QUICK AND PAINFUL WAY. You stop and look at the bright gold on black text for a moment, and then the words change. OH I KNOW YOU CAN SEE ME PAUL. The words change again. AND I WANT YOU TO READ ME.

End session 4

>>7026477
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-

Thank you everyone for making it great to GM here.

Cei, thanks for illustrating.

>>7026477
fuck YES an awesome ending!
thanks once again.. uh.. Dreamscape guy? Do you have a name, or did Ordo-writefaggotry not issue you one?
Either way, another excellent quest with some great writing. See ya next time!

>>7026515
I've got a name of course. But there's a few reasons I'm not putting it out on the internet:
• I'm not running this for attention or internet celebrity; I just want to entertain people and have fun doing it.
• Going by a name/tripcode for the quest is already more than what I would normally do.
• I don't have much other work on the web for people to read if they like this.
• It's a very distinctive name, and I value my privacy.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you really want to ask me something outside the thread, I'll check the listed email once in a blue moon.

>>7026629
Fair enough, then. I guess you must have a pretty unique first name then. Either way, thanks again. Look forward to the next session!