Status report:

You are a young-adult male Red Dragon.
You are polymorphed into the form of a male elf.
You have no hoard, but are making progress in assembling one.
You have 2 Minions, neither of which are currently with you.:
Scinnari, An Erinyes that seems halfway loyal and interested in helping you. Also very... pleasant company.
Jarrik, a kobold, who seems very loyal.

You have spells memorized:
[5 slots]
1 Light
1 Arcane Mark
1 Prestidigitation
1 Mage hand
1 Read magic

Unpolymorphed, we look like this, but younger and smaller. [unsubtle bump]

Oh, come on, /tg/. Dragons.
[Pure bump, 1/3]

Well, better to be safe than dead. Head to the Docks.

>you bructake
Very well captcha, I bructake.

Man, /tg/ blows today. I guess everyone worthwhile is out doing stuff on Saturday night.

ALSO... I PILE ALL THE GOLDS ONTO THE BED IN THE INN AND SLEEP ON DAT SHIT! Clinking noises... soooo soothing...

>>12304567
Escape from the alley is easy. You pull your cloak over your head, and proceed down the street; the crossbow man on the roof is left probably still wondering what's going on. The rest of your journey is completely uneventful, in comparison.

Moving through the thinning evening crowds, you find a stack of crates near where Scinnari and you parted, and sit down on them to wait. After maybe twenty minutes, Scinnari arrives, walking onto the pier to meet you. "Any luck in the temple?" Scinnari calls, approaching and sitting down besides you.

"Nothing significant." you caution, then fill her in. She nods, and comments occasionally, once again exhibiting her natural contempt of priests.

"So, they don't care that she's missing, even considering what happened to her?" she asks at one point, incredulous, "Don't they realize what that could mean?".

Mildly curious, you counter with, "And what could it mean, exactly?"

"Well, I will concede I have no prior experience with such a matter, but... something possessed her for years at a time, something certainly not from the lower plains. Now she's starting to, if her dreams and fractured sleep were any indication, recall fragments of it. It could, for instance, be possible to learn of what possessed her, or how they did it."

"And how likely is that?" you ask, pursuing the point.

"...Not very, I will concede, but they aren't even... Carry on, I am sorry for the interruption."


After you finish, and relate the tale of your encounter on the way here, she, like you, seems to suspect a lead. "And you haven't been to the address?"

"No, I thought it most prudent to rejoin you, and perhaps pursue the chest first." you finish, nodding at the choppy harbor water. A westerly wind has been picking up throughout the day, and it looks like it may even rain tonight.

[Choose course of action, if it wasn't apparent.]

Well, the weather looks bad, so grabbing the chest before it's lost is probably a good call.

>>12304841
"Wind 's picking up. Might be good to retrieve the chest before it's lost. Did you acquire some potions?" you ask, gazing at the dark towering clouds on the horizon.

"But of course. Have I failed you yet?" Scinnari asks, with a smile. Opening the satchel she was carrying, she pulls out three vials, filled with a viscous deep blue liquid. "Perhaps you want to run your plan past me, before putting it to the test? Where are you going to get the chest out, and what are we going to do with it once it happens?"

Pure bump, 2/3

Uh... Can we attempt to open the chest underwater?

Check that, probably a bad idea. How about moving it under a pier, or something where it wouldn't be knocked around so much, or we could retrieve it later?

>>12305051
Feel vaguely guilty running this for only one person. Do you think we should just do it tomorrow?

Just got here, seems slow tonight.

>>12305051
>>12305181
Well, willing to keep trying, if there's more than one.

What do you intend/want/plan to do?

Meh, two now at least.

Why not get in the water, go invisible, transform, grab the chest, surface, and fly it somewhere we can look at it without interference? Like outside the city? Can we do that?

>>12305201
Never mind, three I guess.

Just slow on the pickup.

>>12305216
>>12305201
Awesome.

"If you insist," you respond, "I intent to use the emerald, retrieve it, and fly outside the city, to a place where I can investigate it without interruption."

"Should I follow?" she asks, what might be a hint of annoyance.

"If you are capable." you respond. Activating the emerald, you hang it around your neck, making sure you are truly invisible. Glancing around in the gathering dark, you sit down on the edge of the dock, removing your clothes, lets your planned transformation shred them. "If you do so, please bring these. I may not be able to."

The water is still lukewarm, not as warm as it was under the afternoon sun, though. Using the pier support to pull yourself down through the water, you remove the emerald from around your neck, before reverting to your natural form.

As before, a swell rises above your expanding form, and you think you see Scinnari standing on the dock.

The deeper water of the bay is still fairly still, though, and you are able to locate the chest relatively easily. It seems to have sunk some, but is easy to remove. Gripping the chest in one large claw, you rise, and break the surface. The cover of night makes it no trouble at all to climb onto an unoccupied pier, and take wing.

It has been so long since you've actually flown. Below you, the sprawled sea-town spreads below. Beyond it, you spy some decaying ruins, possibly old portions of the city, or otherwise. Beyond that, the jungle covers the island. You can feel warm breezes behind you as you rise, wings pounding.

[Where are you going? If looking for something, roll 1d100]

rolled 50 = 50

>>12305378
How big is the island? If it's tiny enough that we could fly across it in a day it's probably volcanic, so there should be an excellent possible lair in the middle. Best go there after we figure out what is in the chest.

Survey the ruins and see if there is any movement down there, like hobos or squatters. If there is try to land unseen in the jungle. If not, find a large ruined structure that could act as a base of operations and temporary lair.

rolled 76 = 76

>>12305378
Ruins? Sound good, but a bit too close to the city. Any big... cavern-like ones? Preferably only accessible from above?

>>12305450
>50
You see very little movement, at least, relative to how much there is. A few squatters, or similar camps, but they seem to be concentrated near or just near the edge of the city. The outer ruins seem dead silent, except for the animals.

>>12305468
>76
You see a collapsed dome, possibly some ancient temple. That might be sufficient.

>>12305558
Well, land at the huge dome and peer around. We're still invisible right?

>>12305558
Let's go towards the dome. Aerial survey first, then sniff around it to make sure it's not occupied.
If it's safe, then we can begin to examine the chest.

>>12305558
Has Scinnari followed us.

Also: just got access to a computer. I kind of lurk, seeing as my decisions don't really make any damn sense.

Keep on trucking Writer-dude. This anon appreciates your Quest.

>>12305588
Indeed.

Circling lower, you brake, approaching it. There seems to be no motion in the dome, but you can't tell for certain. You dive sharply, entering the dome. A Column holds up each corner.

You are startled by the squawking of birds, but they fly out without any further incident.

Juding by the blocked or collapsed passageways, this could make a reasonable lair, for the moment, though you feel you will need to address the lack of height eventually.

>>12305628
Alright, thanks.

>>12305666
Well, we're not going to make it permanent.

How big is the island? Volcanic? How far from the mainland? How many cities on it? All these questions have significant impact on future plans.

>>12305666
Open the chest!

>>12305712
Non-volcanic, and about five days' sail from the Continent, if you recall correctly. There is a small chain of islands, but Freeport is the only city, according to what you know, a pirate city gone mostly legit. There are probably inhabitants on the rest of the island chain, but no actual symposium.

>>12305757
Tsk. We need to make finding maps a priority. A high place is needed so we can survey our domain from above. Hot too, ideally. Unfortunately non-volcanic islands are pretty flat.

I agree, let's crack open the chest now.

>>12305796
Seconded. We don't necessarily need a lair now since we don't really have a hoard to speak of. Crack open the chest.

>>12305748
Locked, but not an issue. You could, if you wanted, rend the chest apart, you are certain, but instead, you settle for punching your claws through the top and bottom, and pulling until the lock breaks. Money gleams in the moonlight, your excellent eyesight picks out a few hundred copper pieces, several hundred silver, and gold scattered throughout. Salt water seems present, the chest obviously leaked. Lying on the coins, a staff, of which you can quite literally smell the magic.

Lying the other way, a long sword of unparalleled craftsmanship gleams in the dim light. Thoughts of avarice and greed fill your mind.

>>12305757
>symposium
Whatthefuck. People watching tv in the room I'm in, change that to 'settlement'. Oh god.

>>12305796
You can probably find maps in the city, you believe the Captain's council has an official archive of maritime information.

>>12305851
Any way of learning exactly what said items do?
Also: might want to take care of the salt water somehow.

>>12305878
2d100, feel free to nominate which first.

>>12305851
Score!

Close the chest again, it's lead-lined for a reason. We don't want no diviners scrying on us.

Next find or make a depression in the temple floor, put the chest in, and move an extremely heavy block of stone over it. Something nothing less than a dragon could move. If Scinnari managed to follow us get her to try and identify the items beforehand, and take a whirl at it ourselves while we're at it.

We'll have to come back with a bag later for the copper and silver. Overall a decent start at a horde.

rolled 2, 59 = 61

Check out sword first, then staff.

>>12305878
I doubt we're likely to figure it out ourselves, but the standard is A, research it, B, cast identify, or C, ask someone who would know.

Has Scinnari followed?

>>12305927
goddamit

the sword is the one we could have used too

>>12305937
It's okay, as was previously stated, we can just have Scinnari try to find out what it is or, at the cost of some gold and time, find someone else to identify it.

Also, we might as well make use of the spells we have...

If we ARE going to identify our items, we might want to Arcane Mark the some of them so we may, at a later date, track down a future thief.

>>12305927
From what you can tell of the enchantments, the sword does not seem magical, though it's exquisite craftsmanship leaves you enjoying it none the less. However, the staff, if you are not mistaken, is a mage's staff, one empowered for defensive purposes. Something seems odd about it, though. Perhaps the enchantment has been tampered with?

>>12305974
I'm pretty sure we can identify these two highly valuable and unique weapons without an arcane mark. The gold would be tedious to mark.

Gold! GOLD AND SILVER! Hundreds of them!

Gentlemen, we have a hoard.

>>12305974
Wouldn't it be dangerous to ask some random wizard to identify items we stole from a powerful pirate? Word could get around.

Then again, we can polymorph....

We should polymorph back into our elf form before Scinnari gets here. Keep her guessing about our age.

>>12306061
If she followed us, can't she tell? And... I feel like we're a little kid worried she'll think less of us. Fuck her. WE are not worried about that.

>Action?

>>12306150
Good point, erinyes have true seeing. She would have seen us anyway.

Well, whatever. I sort of want the staff and sword looked over by a professional mage but I'm worried about them being scryed so early after the theft.

>>12306166
Hide the chest so that we can get to it but not anyone else, keep the staff and sword out, and go back to elf mode to keep her guessing about our age.

>>12306166
Find or make a depression in the temple floor, put the chest in, and move an extremely heavy block of stone over it. Something nothing less than a dragon could move.

Secure our valuables then head back to town. If we are invisible we can get pretty close, if not we might have to set down a ways out and then morph and walk in.

>>12306206
>>12306213
Replacing the sword and staff in the chest, you notice approvingly that the chest is lead lined, probably attributing the weight. Moving it under a collapsed column, you replace it and take flight, as it seems Scinnari decided not to follow. The obvious action is to return to the dock you left her on, but first you make certain to circle the old temple a few times, making sure it sticks in your mind.

Scinnari is waiting back at the dock, and, once you have assumed a humanoid form, dressed, and become visible again, greets you with a nod, and asks what you intend to do next.

[Faster responses, now. I had to relocate in the middle of the previous one.]

>>12306378
Well, I suggest we split up. She can investigate the address of the people who tried to kill us, we are going to investigate what impact our theft had on the local pirates.

At least, we will do that for a few minutes, it shouldn't take long. What we do after that is a secret from her. We are going to investigate the kobold clan Jarrik told us about. We need some resources our hellish ally doesn't know about, just in case.

>>12306557

"Here is the address." you say, handing her the scrap of parchment, "Investigate, please."

"You won't be coming?" Scinnari says, surprised. "They did try to kill /you/, after all."

"Quite unsuccessfully. And while I worry about why, I'm more worried that my theft may have elicited far more capable hostile interest. And that," you whisper back, "is actually worth worrying about."

Scinnari nods, conceding your logic. "Very well, where can we meet afterwards? Or do you think you can locate me?"

"Leave a sign. I'll follow. Failing that, I can meet you back at the inn." you reply. Scinnari nods, then gives you a kiss on the cheek before sauntering off, something that reminds you vaguely of a predatory feline.


Drac's Dagger, the tavern you originally met Captain Roteye, the target of your theft, is the obvious place to begin your investigations. Among other things, you are immediately surprised to see Roteye not at the bar, and instead see the orc and Kazmiri, the wizard, sitting at the same table in the back, speaking quietly. A strange development.

>>12306687
Fantastic. Is it crowded, can we sneak over and eavesdrop without being found out?

>>12306764

It's fairly crowded, though there is a buffer of empty tables around them, you notice.

>>12306817
So we'll be found out if we try to listen in. Hmmm. He couldn't detect Scinnari when she was invisible last time, is there some alcove we can duck into to invisify ourselves then go eavesdrop? Ideally polymorph into some generic looking roguish guy before going invisible in case we are dispelled. Being sure to check for magical detection that might be present before creeping up on them, too.

Also, where did everyone go?

>>12306910
No idea. Do you think we should quit and continue it tomorrow?

>>12306910

well I'm still here, and I agree with that plan.

Hell ill even roll

ya pick up tomorrow I think. Saturday nights is game nights lol.

killer quest BTW, if this was a book I would by the shit out if it.

>>12306955
I guess leave it for tomorrow then, more minds might be chaotic but it also produces some good ideas.

>>12306960
Heh. Alright.

You strain your abilities to subtley alter your form, as you ease into the crowd. Working to make sure none see you, but most especially the pair in the corner, you breath on the emerald. You vanish, and take the opportunity to finish your polymorph.

Moving, you stand, leaning against the wall, and listen in on the conversation. You occasionally miss snatches, due to the events of the rest of the pub, but you get a fairly clear picture of it.

"... her, but she has not returned to the hells. I am certain her... escape is connected to the theft from your ship."

"- - - - too, you know." the orc responds, "But all who had any reason to see recall a giant red lizard."

"Amphibian, probably. Strange. I suppose it could be another wizard that has discovered that you had the sword. A pity that I had to lose the staff, too. Are you - - - - - - - - - - - on your feet?"

"I have plenty in this tavern, and in supplies. Bottleneck's the shipwri- - - -f course. The- - - - - - - - - - - -less. Bastards all." the orc curses, banging his tankard on the table. The wizard makes a sympathetic grimace, before responding,

"I'll summon up a few things, see what I can get. I ought to be able to fin- - - - - - - - too much trouble. Anyway, I'll see what I can do about the chest. It ought to be nearby, at the very least, I bet I can locate it, and, since it isn't directly under your ship, who's touched it recently. - - - - - - -- - - ter, then?"

"Right. You know where you can find me. Especially since I don't have a ship at the moment." the orc says.

"Cheer up, you bastard goblinoid. If you start getting me depressed, I'll have to melt you down to make myself feel better."

"Right, just keep telling yourself that, you book-headed dress-wearer." the orc laughs back.

You see Kazmiri casting a spell, and back away, just a moment before he vanishes in a thundercrack and puff of smoke.

How very... disturbing.

>>12307121
Hmmmm. Well.

I think the items are probably safe for now, but what we really need is some anti-scrying stuff of our own and to get rid of that chest.

Let's depart to the sewers where Jarrik said the kobold gangs were. We are going to need some guards.

>>12307121
Clearly we need to look into this sword more if the wizard is saddened at the loss of it more than the staff. And it seems like he might know about the person we are after... After all we've done to him, I don't see an easy way of getting information out of him.

AlchemyQuest AND Dragon Quest?

And we had Death Quest earlier?

Yaaaaaaay, today is awesome!

>>12307193
Guess it's picking back up. Yay.

What do we know about magical concealment? Lead helps apparently, but do we know anything else?

definatly check out the kobolds, between them and a ruined temple we might have instant cult!

>>12307198
More people? Hooray! Glad to have you.

>>12307182
I don't think Jarrik mentioned sewers at all. And how do you intend to contact him? Though it would be prudent to get something to prevent scrying, I would think.

>>12307269
OOoooh... I don't know. For one, the gods might take offense to impersonation. Second, unless we can keep the impressed with our sheer presence, how do we prevent them from stealing from our hoard? How do we keep them suitably in awe of our 'divine' presence? Sheer presence and power might work initially, but they tend to wear thin.

I like the idea, though.

>>12307288
Though it may set us back at our attempt at getting a hoard started, we should invest in some anti-scrying equipment.

We should hold off identifying the items, seeing as they're connected to Kazmiri and might be recognized as one of his though either scrying or otherwise.

If lead stops scrying, then we might be safe for the time being, but Kazmiri might be a pretty powerful wizard.

>>12307240
Sorry, missed you.

-It can be done
-We don't know how to do it
-some wizards specialize in it
-it may be difficult to prevent a more powerful wizard's scrying with a less powerful enchantment, though that may be just rumor.

>>12307355
Hmm... rewarding faithful followers might work if we're cool with loosing a few trinkets for the loyalty of some minions...

If necessary, enlist the aide of our demonic cohort to charm the disgusting little buggers if she would be willing to...

>>12307193
Hmmm. This is disturbing. We don't know where to find Jarrik but we need to.

For now I suppose we can look for some roofers. They roofed with lead in the middle ages, you see. Big sheets of it.

Kobolds are naturally awed by dragons. It's why you so often see them serving as guards or retainers.

>>12307410
Do we have to worry about brain damage if we have too much lead lying around in our house?

>>12307442
What? As humans in real life? It's toxic.

As a dragon we can eat lead to survive if we want, it just tastes bad.

>>12307442
No.

>>12307410
>steal roofing
Confirmation? And if so, what's the plan for it?

>>12306188
>>Good point, erinyes have true seeing. She would have seen us anyway.
She didn't know earlier what we were when polymorphed. She had to guess, and guessed wrong. Unless it was an act, but I don't think so.

>>12307462
Well we can't make a plan until we find the roofers and see what the layout is like. But lead is inherently not very valuable, I imagine once we break in it will just be lying around. We could get several sheets together, turn invisible, and fly off with it while invisible.

Man that gem comes in handy.

>>12307486
Oh, it's nighttime right? We shouldn't break in if it's still evening. Obviously.

>>12307486
We're too big, we'll bust open the building, or fail to get the sheets outside as weak humanoid.

I say that we figure out how the hell he's been tracking Scinnari, at least well enough to know she hasn't returned to the hells. This could be a major Problem for us.

Okay, with the items that we took from the wizard--the ones that he wouldn't assume burned up, like the book--drop them in the chest. It's lead lined, so barring them actually searching for the chest itself they've no way to find them (and by extension, us). Then we need to find a way to keep Sinnari from being tracked down easily.

Meanwhile, transform into dragon less, we're going to get SEEN at some point. Prematurely.

Negative on roofing steal. Mind you, IIRC we need a solid inch of it (apparently divinations work like gamma rays).

I say we call Jarrik and see if he thinks the time is right to get the city kobolds working for us.

>>12307569
The whole reason we need lead sheets is he is about to look for the chest. I guess we could try tearing the lead out of the chest and using that.

>>12307638
Or just rip the outside of the chest away from the lead lining and dump it into the ocean away from the ruins. Then he'll assume it somehow was destroyed, rather than stolen.

>>12307665
empty chest, strip lead lining out, and lose the chest. Then we're good. Bury the rest surrounded by lead.

Alternately, commission a lead footlocker at some point?

I'm not sure whether people are agreeing here. Verdict?

>>12307442
Yeah, we need to empty the chest, cannibalize the lead, and throw the rest away. Then use the lead to shield the loot. With fire breath we can even sorta form it.

>>12307759
To either tear off the outside of the chest leaving only the lead and the interior (not scryable), dumping the rest into the ocean.

Or completely tearing apart the chest and getting rid of everything not a lead sheet or treasure. I think this would take longer, have time the treasure isn't covered, and let the lead sheets risk having gaps in them. Still doable though.

>>12307805
Whichever of these we as a character would think is best, knowing what we do of magic. Let's press, we're just pottering about in the thread.

(OP, this might be a good moment for GM-induced plot driving. Sorry.)

>>12307805
>>12307785
If you recall, the chest was lined with lead ingots, with a sheet on top. I might be possible to burn/tear away the wood, as suggested, and rebuild the 'container' as a sort of cairn.

>>12307878
Oh hell yes, just yank out the sword and staff, then FIRE IT UP. We should be fine.

>>12307859
Seems a good idea. Nevermind >>12307878, just assume it happened.

That leaves it about eleven at night, and, unless you have other ideas, the chest is left in the harbor.

>>12307922
Well handled, sir. Eleven at night means it's time for a bit of magic with the demon lady (ohoho double entendre) followed by sleep.

>>12307922
That's fine. Hmmm. Well we should head back to the Inn now I guess.

>>12307954
Indeed. If you recall, though, you were either meeting her at the inn, or at the address you sent her to investigate.

>>12307979
Let's check the address. We've still some time.

>>12307979
I figured she would be done investigating that by now, but it can't hurt. Check the address.

>>12308019
Sure. If we see her there, fine, otherwise get thee to the Inn.

rolled 6, 1 = 7

Writer Dude - I've bee following this quest with immense interest. Please keep it coming ^^

>>12307996
The address, as it turns out, is a rough looking dock-bar, serving sailors and the like. Glancing around as you approach, you notice nothing that suggests itself as a sign you told her to leave.

Entering, you quickly locate her. She is at a side table with a small, nervous looking man; a sharp contrast to the heavy-set sailors using the rest of the tables. Considering her looks, you wonder how Scinnari has kept her table to the two of them, but think you'd probably be better off not asking.

As you sit down nearby, Scinnari flashes a dazzling smile, and says to the man, "See, Lenzo? This is the friend I mentioned. Who, I'm certain, is /most/ upset with the attempt on his life. Now," she suggests, and you can feel her using her powers, "Perhaps you'd like to show us this 'Brotherhood' you mentioned?"

"I-I- I'm sorry, Yes, of course!" the man says, sounding both worthless and despicable at once. "I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen! I-"

"Naturally not. When you arrange an attempt on someone's life, you'd best hope it succeeds. Particularly when you arrange it in such a witless manner." you interject. To Scinnari, you ask, "What's this 'brotherhood'?"

"It sounds like a cult or gang of some sort. Cult I would think; my understanding is that Lenzo here isn't all that high up in it, are you?", she says, smiling sweetly at him. He backs away, obviously terrified of her, "He was given this as his first assignment by one of the inner circle. A pity he had to fuck it up so badly, isn't it?". Lenzo does not respond, but shifts uneasily, edging away from her. " Shall we go?" Scinnari asks.

>>12308118
Happy that you like it.

>>12308143
Excellent work. Lean close and whisper that her former employer knows she has not visited home yet, and we should discuss it after this matter is resolved.

>>12308143
"Only if you're finished. I'm in absolutely no. Rush."

>>12308193
A bit on my thought process for saying this: It rewards her with a reciprocal information exchange for doing good work, alerts her that she might be noticed or watched (thus possibly saving us some headaches if she knows anything about avoiding detection), and saying we will finish discussing it after this gives her a personal interest in tying this matter up quickly and not holding back any facts she might otherwise to test us.

>>12308226
I'm all for using it. Nice multi-pronged plan of attack. The best chess players never move a piece for a single obvious reason, after all...

>>12308143
Maybe we should also ask what exactly this Brotherhood does. Were we a random mark or did they pick us for a reason?

>>12308205
>>12308193
Beckoning Scinnari a little closer, you whisper, "It turns out that the orc and Kazmiri are friends. Further, he's aware you aren't home, and we might need to discuss that. Later, of course.". Scinnari plays it off excellently, expressions of surprise, delight, then hunger flicker across her face, and she latches her eyes onto Lenzo with the last. Lenzo, for his part, looks on the verge of trying to run, or shout for help.

"Aww, so eager to leave, Lenzo? I told you what might happen if you leave without us..." Scinnari taunts, feigning sympathy.

Picking up where she left off, you answer, "Well, I'm not in a huge hurry, whenever you're ready would work. Take your time." you finish, butting a slightly longer gap between the last three words.

You enjoy the sight of Lenzo trying to shrink in upon himself, and, in the middle of your last sentence, breaking down. "I'll show you! I'll show you! Just don't let her... Don't let her /take/ me!" he sobs.

>>12308298
Oh my, quietly now. We don't want people to think we're coercing you or anything. How about on the way you tell us what exactly the Brotherhood does, and anything you know regarding my planned death... including who told you to do it, when, where, and if there were any specific instructions.

>>12308298
Well, she's very good with people. Handy to have around, also dangerous. I like her.

>>12308337
"I don't know anything!" he whines, "I just did what the speaker ordered!"

"Speaker? Who is this individual?" you prompt. You're rapidly disappointed, as Lenzo seems truly ignorant and incompetent. "I.. I don't know! I.. He just said that you needed... He needed you... he gave me some gold and told me to take care of it! I'm sorry! I- There's- no reason to kill me for it!" he begs.

>>12308426
He needed us eh? I wonder if this guy knows more about us than we realize or at least has an inkling that we're more than we appear. Maybe he expected us to survive this and come to him. I don't see how someone this incompetent would get such a task from the inner circle otherwise.

rolled 8, 5 = 13

>>12308426

This chap is a bit pathetic.

>>12308469
I think he was just trying to avoid mentioning that he tried to get us killed.

>>12308511
While I thought that as well, it seems odd for us to be singled out specifically and for someone this incompetent to get a mission like this done. Maybe I'm just over thinking it...

>>12308509
In his defense, he has been scared out of his mind by a devil. But yeah, he's the kind who would hop the fence for the Dark Side the moment they mentioned it was easier.

>>12308298
Well, you are now going to lead us to the Speaker, or if you don't know where he is you are going to take us somewhere that has information about the Brotherhood. If you don't, I will give you to my lady friend here to do with as she pleases.

>>12308469
Do remember, unless they were using magic, it's unlikely they would have figured out what we are. In which case, we're just an obnoxious, arrogant, and lightly-armored elf. By ourself, most of the time.

Action?

>>12308593
...Ooooor should we be wrapping this up about now, and continuing tomorrow?

>>12308593
Right, but now we're an obnoxious elf who just had an attempt made on his life by a cult while investigating a priestess.

He will take us to his masters.

>>12308625
Well there's not a lot of responses because we're just waiting to leave like Scinnari said earlier.

If you're getting sleepy you should probably head to bed, man. Sleep deprivation and storytelling do not good bedfellows make.

>>12308632
>>12308654


"Well... I have more I would like to do, but I don't think I could do it here..." Scinnari says, in a manner that suggests she's thinking about the possibilities, "Perhaps we could leave now? We could get right to it, even, if you aren't interested in showing us this brotherhood..."

"I'll show you! I'll show! It's in the-" Lenzo clamors. To cut off the noise, and prevent him from inadvertently drawing attention, you interrupt him.

"Well, in that case, why don't we? Scinnari?" you say, standing, half-bowing, and offering her your hand.

"But of course, lord." she says, and you feel deep pleasure as the fear in Lenzo's face focus on -you- when he hears Scinnari address you as 'lord'.


The trip is winding, and, if you had any higher estimation of Lenzo, you might actually think he was leading you on runaround, but you shortly notice you've somehow entered the Old City without passing through any of the gates.

The path ends halfway down a culdesac, mostly empty, with Lenzo indicating a large boarded up building towards the side.

"It's in there! Through the basement! I've seen the entrance, that's where Brother Devlin said it was! Please don't kill me! I've done nothing wrong..." Lenzo sobs.

>>12308792
Brother Devlin? I can't recall off the top of my head, but was he from the church or is the first time we've heard that name?

"Nothing wrong? Hiring someone to commit murder isn't wrong in this city? Excellent information to know." Then give the man to Scinnari I suppose.

>>12308724
I agree, but I'm not too tired myself, I was wondering if all of you lot had gone to sleep.

OP, sorry, I lost the thread and couldn't find it to save my life!

Still here?

Respond with, "You've done well."

Then when he turns thinking he's safe, let him see we're talking to Scinnari. "He's all yours."

>>12308814
Haven't heard it before. Or if we have, it was unintentional, though I don't think we have.

"Hiring murder isn't illegal, huh..." you muse aloud, watching the almost comical change of expressions as he realizes the error of his words, "In that case... Scinnari?"

Almost before you finished it, Scinnari reaches over his shoulder, and what have usually been graceful elven hands are suddenly demonic claws. With a casual grasp-and-rip motion, she tears his throat out, and you step back from the spray of blood. She immediately knocks him down, and catches him half way long enough to whisper, "Your mine..." in his ear before dropping him. The light quickly drains from his eyes, movement and focus even quicker.

Scinnari wipes her bloody claw on his clothing before asking, "Shall we proceed?", nodding at the abandoned house.

>>12308876
Typographical error. I believe, relative to the setting, 'demonic' should be replaced with 'infernal'.
>>12308832
If I'm not, I'm VERY confused.

I will do nothing to you. I'm afraid I can't speak for the lady here, however.

If there is anything you forgot to mention, however, I might be able to persuade her to go easier on you.

>>12308876
Rather than run in head first, mayhaps we should scope it out using the emerald. Have Scinnari wait for 10-15 minutes while we scout out the entrance and then come back for her once we have an idea on what lies ahead. If we don't come back in that time, we could tell her to come in after us cautiously.

>>12308876
We're still in a shape different from our main one since we never shifted after the tavern where we overheard Kazimiri and Roteye, right? So I would suggest looking around. They'll never know it was us even if we are seen.

Look through the windows to see if there are any traps first, if possible.

>>12308923
Never mind
>>12308911
is smarter. Though I would still look carefully for traps.

>>12308923
My bad, I've been assuming we 'morphed back.
>>12308911
>>12308923
"It was nice of you to let me do it." Scinnari adds, conversationally, "While fun terrifying him, he is not quality company of any sort."

"And that," you reply, pulling the emerald out from around your neck, "will not be identified as murder. More likely he got attacked by wild dogs, or something. After all, what kind of weapon would do such a thing?" you say as you softly exhale on the emerald. Pressing it into the palm of your hands, you open the door. Unexpectedly, for a building with such a semblance of abandonment, it opens silently and easily, not locked.

The interior is a wreck. The floorboards have mostly been torn up, and part of the foundation is visible in some places. Part of the cellar has collapsed, too, and you can see the shape of several massive wine casks against each wall.

Travelling down, you find that some are empty, while a few are filled with wine the smells like it went bad before you hatched.

3d100

>>12308911
Point of curiosity: Can we turn on our dragonfear while using the emerald to be invisible? Because that would be hilarious. And potentially useful, should things turn out to be interesting.

rolled 79 = 79

>>12308967
I'll only take one so someone else can potentially doom us as well.

>>12308975
You would have to test.

[Actually, I haven't found evidence we can use it when polymorphed at all, to be honest. I just went along with it 'cause it sounded nifty.]

rolled 17 = 17

>>12308967
One more I suppose since no one else has yet.

rolled 36 = 36

>>12308997
Fail roll.

rolled 18, 57 = 75

>>12308997
>>12309007
Crap, my bad bro. Only got here now.

>>12309007
>>12308997
>>12308976
Some of the stonework you notice looks older than the rest, older and of better craftsmanship. Aside from that, though, you notice nothing of interest, including an entrance.

Returning outside to Scinnari, you wave her in, and she follows you into the winecellar.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing. I hope he hasn't lied to us. I would hate having to regret killing him."

>>12309039
Did Lenzo have anything on him? Search the body I suppose and hope there's something relevant on it. That or hope Scinnari saves our ass again since the dice hate us and won't let us succeed.

>>12309064
Returning to the body, you riffle through his clothing. While decent, (Perhaps he was a tailor?) it's been rather ruined by the blood that ran down his front.

Nine copper, two silver, a key, and a small bell.

>>12309088
Hmmm. Well we didn't spot any keyholes, although that may be due to abysmal dice rolls. Only thing I can think of is ringing the bell inside the building and see if anything opens up/someone comes.

rolled 71 = 71

>>12309088
Can we try looking for magic in there, or tapping on the walls/floor to see if any of it is hollow?

>>12309088
Oh right, take the rest of it too. The money isn't as important but the key could be useful if we can find out where this guy lived somehow.

>>12309114
>>12309111
While nothing happens when you ring the bell, while moving between the barrels to search the wall, you notice hinges tucked into the back. A-/ha/...


[dice to find mechanism/lock, otherwise you can smash it easy]

rolled 16 = 16

>>12309144
Then let us find this mechanism.

>>12308993
When a dragon changes shape into humanoid
form, the brain and heart make the polymorphic
transition and function exactly the same way, pumping
a font of magic-infused blood throughout the
humanoid form. Sages have surmised that although a
humanoid form lacks the mass of a metallic dragon,
its elemental heart maintains the density of one.
Finally, in addition to the brain, the extra lobe for
controlling the friightful presence ability also crosses
between forms, giving metallic dragons access to this
one magical power in either body.

--Page 11, Metallic Dragons

rolled 87 = 87

>>12309144
What die and how many?

>>12309162
FRIGGIN DICE!

>>12309164
That'd explain it, then, I only /rs/'d chromatic. Wasn't going to drop it, but thanks for the citation.
>>12309162
Search as you might among obvious places, you cannot find a device or keyhole. Eventually, you settle for attacking the hinges with the 'C' knife, sliding the pin out of the top one, and managing to cut through the bottom one.

With Scinnari's help, you manage to lower the front of the huge barrel to the ground, and view low and sandy stone steps descending to another door below. With nothing else to do, you proceed.

The door opens into a wide corridor, extending to your right. About fifteen feet ahead, it opens into a cross-like intersection with a door blocking further sight.

Proceeding to the intersection, you stop at the nearest edge. To the left is a dead end, the right another door.

>>12309253
Any marks on the doors to differentiate them from each other? Symbols or locks? Also, does the dead end look like it's been used and that there might be a hidden passage or something or is it covered in spider webs and such?

>>12309253
Check for signs of use on the "dead end" and put our ear to the door to see if there is anyone beyond it.

>>12309274
The door across from you seems likely to be the destination of the corridor, though both of them are of quite nice construction. Both have a strange stylized symbol inlaid upon them.

>>12309274
>>12309299
>tried to do it in order, forgot the last part.
The dead end, like the rest of the area, does not seem dusty or disused. (It's only about eight or nine feet, then dead end.)

[dice 1d100, along with our next action.]

rolled 82 = 82

>>12309323
Search the dead end for any hidden passages.

rolled 73 = 73

>>12309323
Check and see if there is a secret door or traces of magic. If not, well, go through the door to our right.

>>12309335
"Scinnari, over here." you mutter, waving her over. "What do you think of these?"

"I think.... it is only the very foolish who use the same design on all of their secret passages." she says, delighted and impressed.

"I think... yes, there." you mutter to yourself, before getting a section of the wall to grind down by some unseen mechanism. Beyond is a cave, a corridor of unworked stone. It curves sharply away to the right.

[1d100]

rolled 95 = 95

>>12309363
Dragonan.
Exploran.
Impressan devilessan.

rolled 42 = 42

>>12309363
Rolling

>>12309369
You hear strange noises coming down the corridor, dim hisses, echoes, and the sound of feet running in your direction. Several of them, in fact.

>>12309369
>impressin' devilissan
Could be 'devilassin'.

Just saying. Just saying.

>>12309369
Fuck yeah our luck is back.

EVIL CAVE EXPLORERS GO!

I remember that we let smoke trickle out of our mouth when we revealed ourself to Scinnari. Do we have our breath attack in this form?

>>12309403
Hmmm. Are they running from something or running to engage us... Tell Scinnari to go back into the hallway and we go invisible so we can see what's coming.

>>12309403
Well. Balls. Since it's an unworked cave let's try to hide behind something. Are we still invisible or did prying the door off get rid of that? If it is we could hand Scinnari the gem and tell her to go invisible too.

I wonder exactly how much invisibility is in that thing.

Can we polymorph into something more capable of hand-to-hand than an elf?

>>12309459
Well we can but so far we've stuck to sneaking around rather than rip and tear.

Well, mostly.

>>12309466
Meh, since this is the enemy's base, a little more sneaking is in order.

But I wanna get to ripping and tearing soon.

>>12309416
No, but when we get particularly emotional, primarily when pissed off, we start expelling smoke.

>>12309459
Nothing specific, off the top of your head. And you CAN use a sword.

>>12309447
>>12309429
You are still invisible, the gem seems to maintain it as long as you're holding it tightly. Also, 'unworked cave' was misleading, it looks like it was a cave originally, but was leveled (somewhat) and the stalagmites/tites were knocked down.


###############
Edging down the corridor, you see several snake looking humanoids, neither yaun-ti nor lizardmen, charging down the passage with primitive weapons and undoubtedly violence on their minds. You have a few seconds to prepare. [also, another 1d100]

>>12309509
Not such a terribly long necks, but pretty accurate otherwise.

rolled 14 = 14

>>12309509
Mage Hand some rocks and toss them away, create a distraction. The enemies should go investigate the noise, allowing us to slip by.

Failing that, throw the rocks into their face and stab while they're surprised.

rolled 77 = 77

.>>12309545
Oh. Oh God.

I'm burning a fate point.

>>12309518
Does frightful presence work here? I think it does.

>>12309509
I guess it's time to spill some blood.

>>12309550
Oooh, I forgot about this. Frightful presence all up in here. General feelings of impending doom and awe shall dissuade them!

Get back against the wall, hide next to the passage. Wait for them to come out, then attack them behind it.

>>12309561
>>12309653
>>12309550
>>12309574
>>12309549
>77
The group, around six, rushes out, splitting up around the center of the intersection. They don't seem to have noticed that their secret passage was open, though they do seem to be avoiding the center of the room.

Scinnari who had backed down the hallway, is spotted quickly, and a sibillant hiss of alert goes up from the one who spotted her. As they rush around the room to get to her, you follow a hunch, and kick one into the center. Rapier drawn in your other hand, you disregard actual swordplay to decapitate one as it goes by.

The one that you kicked immediately lashes out, almost catching you, then tries to stand up, and falls through the [evidently] false floor, into the pit below.

From down the hallway, you hear Scinnari shriek with rage, hard pressed by the remainder.

Closer by, the one in the pit rights itself, and hisses violently at you, drawing your attention to the fact that you are now visible.

>>12309722
Fucking elder gods. Always ruining everything.

Frightful presence, and I think we should go to the aid of our comrade.

>>12309722
[need another role for further combat, or any suggested actions]

>>12309722
>>12309722
Engage from the rear. Rescue her.

rolled 71 = 71

>>12309760
Stab them from behind, if they split up evenly then at least one of them is unaware that we appeared behind him. Probably.

Regardless, we should really go help Scinnari out.

>>12309760
Fight with sword in one hand, pick up the dead warrior's weapons with mage hand and throw it at the others.

>>12309786
Magehand is 5 lb of force. Just sayin'.


>>12309757
>>12309761

Stopping to give the one in the pit a thrust through the eye, you leave it twitching and bleeding at the bottom, at move to assist Scinnari.

While a competent combatant, it seems the sheer numbers have her troubled; one behind her has an arm around her neck, and is holding her hair with the other, apparently trying to take a bite out of her wing. Two bleeding bodies lie on the floor, one is held at arms length by threatening claws, and the other is doing it's best to control the other arm, and getting bloodied for it's efforts.

Advancing, you skewer the free one with a lunge, and barely recover in time to parry it's claws, as it bleeds out. With that hand unoccupied, Scinnari shreds the arms restraining hers. Taking her efforts as an opportunity, you lunge, running the one behind her through the neck, less than half a foot from her head. All over but the twitching, and a few moments later, you remove the creature from Scinnari's back, and survey the carnage. Seven to two; victory.

>>12309867
Right door. Investigate.

>>12309923
Actually, I just noticed it's 02:47 here. Maybe we should conclude here for tonight, and continue tomorrow? People getting tired?

>>12309944
Might be a good idea. Good thread Writer-dude!

>>12309944
No, I'm good if you're good.

>>12309944
And by might be a good idea, I mean if you're getting tired. I for one am going to be up a good 12 hours.

>>12309969
I'm getting to the point where I beginning to think I might not be. Plus, thread V said I'd be around at twelve (15:00 /tg/ time, I think,) to continue tomorrow, and I wouldn't want to disappoint those fine, absent people.

Mostly, though, I don't want to miss breakfast. I missed dinner because I was doing this, and while I wasn't that hungry anyway, I probably will be tomorrow.

Yea/Nay?

>>12309992
Yeah, let's tie it up here then.

>>12309981
>>12310004
Alright, evening, then. See you tom- today. Later today.