OK, so they're offering us a rock-rat "scout" in exchange for the emerald, with the idea that we're going to look for more gems so that the rock rats can eat them.

The way I see it, we'll just trade the gem for the scout and then we'll see whether this "find more shiny things" idea pans out. I don't know where we would even begin looking for more gems, though the idea is that we can sense magical influence from a distance, and magic = shiny things.

It's Giant Rat Quest! Get in here!

Also, we have an unidentified magical amulet that we're wearing and a knife (basically a rat sword now).

Well, I like your threads OP. Looks like none of the other regulars are on now.

>>17146257
Thread hasn't even existed for 15 minutes as of your post.

>>17146158
Seconded

>>17146158
Let's accept their offer. I can't imagine what better thing a rat could trade an emerald for anyway, and we could use some muscle. Those skeletons a few threads back nearly killed us.

>>17146300
Maybe we can barter them up to two scouts

I just want to see more of OP's art. The past threads have been great.

>>17146158
You give the leader the emerald, he nibbles it a bit salivation on the ground as he does. The other rockrats try to get a taste, but the leader hisses, and raises his back, asserting his dominance.

He notices that your still here, and after scowling ,calls over a rockrat.

The rock-rat looks weak, malnourished and quite beaten. You think hes less of a scout and more of an outcast of the group

>you give away (1) emerald

>>17146412
He could still be useful if fed.

>>17146412
>The rock-rat looks weak, malnourished and quite beaten. >You think hes less of a scout and more of an outcast of the group
THAT FUCKER

No matter. We're going to take our new rockbro and become great heroes of rat-kind. Now I won't feel bad if we don't end up doing them any big favors as far as gem-finding.

At least he's likely to be loyal.

>>17146469
Agreed. Let's take this little guy under our wing!

>>17146469
>>17146444
We're going to become badass gods of ratkind, and they'll all wish they had been "chosen" to accompany you. Soon. Soon.

Besides, rats are too few and our enemies too numerous for us to waste our attention on petty grievances. Rats have to look out for each other, even if it's made these guys really clannish and distrusting even of other rats.

I think we're furdone here. Ask them what's beyond their territory further on, if it's not a dead end. They should know the area, and they should at least be willing to give us some helpful information.

>>17146511
*done here
Maybe I was going to write "finished" instead and changed my mind mid-word without really thinking much?

Our new friend looks like he might need a good meal if he's malnourished and the leader has a thing for hoarding the good food. Too bad we don't have any on us.

I say he gets well-fed in the next meal, even if it means he gets more than we do. He needs it, and leadership is about sacrifice and leading by example, not just beating everyone else and stealing with impunity.

Instant recipe for undying loyalty and devotion right there.

Rockrats surely eat more than rocks, right? I mean, there's no nutrition there - it would just be for the minerals to incorporate into their hides.

What am I saying. Rats will eat whatever they can find.

>>17146444
>>17146469
>>17146496
The leader Rockrat speaks...
"Deeper is withen is the relm of the worms, pure suicide. Why do you think were so close the the overground? chit-chit. Forced to eat coal like peasents?!"

"Leave, our history is no business of yours, I believe you have a deal to make good on, chit-chit"

he walks into the darkness, while the rest of the clan resumes eating.

>>17146715
>the realm of the worms
I bet they wouldn't react well to Chaotic Regeneration.

Well, he's kicking us out, and we'll return when it suits us and not before. It's not like our new ally is going to return willingly, as long as we take care of him.

I wonder if this "worms" business has anything to do with the necromancer. I mean, since when do worms pose a threat to rats?

Also, I'm a little spatially lost. Unless we ignore their warning and head for worm-territory, we've hit another dead end, haven't we?

>>17146760
(Well there's the necromancers tower, you tried getting into before, there's exploring the world outside the town. and there's the worms cavern, there is no right direction. But be warned, you can die.)

>>17146836
The world outside the town might be safer than the worms if we're trying to avoid death, but if we could hack it in the worms' cavern it would impress the fuck out of the rockrat clan. I mean, seriously, what kind of fucking worms do they have down there? Man. And our only spell IS pretty well-suited to dealing with them... I'm torn.

Also, that bit in the first sewer where we didn't get past the skeletons lead to the tower, eh?

>>17146877
(yea right into the basement, I guess i accidentally revealed, well that's a freebie for you guys)

>>17146915
It's not a huge reveal. I mean, there were skeletons, and you kept talking about the tower's influence.

>>17146915
>>17146877
No wonder we didn't make it past them near the beginning.

>>17146933
(true, anyway for now i just waiting for a decision so i know what to draw next.)

I say...we go to the surface and explore the wilderness.\
NO WAIT
Go scout out the worms first. Just scout them and try to stay unnoticed.

>>17147187
You venture down deeper with you new companion, he trails farther and farther behind you as you go deeper into the cavern. you hear a low rumble, but no movement.

(sorry i take so long, setting up scenes are a bit time consuming)

>>17147500
Pause and back up closer to our ally, stay guarded in case something comes bursting from the ground/walls/ceiling.

In honor of our new ratbro, scientific proof that rats have empathy for other rats.

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/12/rats-show-empathy-will-come-to-the-aid-of-other-rats.ars

>>17147551

You guard your new found ally, as you go down deeper into the cave.He looks he looks as though he is unsure of how to take this new action, but he seems to appreciate it as he is still following you.

The walk way gets thinner as you go deeper, as you peer to the side you see glimmers of either bones, or maybe something else.

The rumbling has stopped, but the absence of noise puts you more on edge then before.

>>17147841
Keep an eye out for movement beneath the earth. If something tries to grab us from underneath, jump back and cast Chaotic Regeneration. If it grabs us or our partner, eat it.

>>17147841
Do we need our paws free to cast spells? If not, get the knife out. Also, no going further until this area is scouted and shown to be safe. We're not walking into an ambush any further than we can help it.

So go check out those "bones".
Also seconding
>>17147868

>>17147868
you ready your spell as you go farther down, but a misstep cracks the floor!

>>17148178
FLOORS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO CRACK

>>17148178
"Rattato! Stand behind me! This vile floor wants our blood!"

>>17148189
the ground you were standing on suddenly BURSTS UPWARDS as you are pushed back!

something has come up from the depths!

>>17148215
~RANDOM ENCOUNTER PIXEL RPG SCREEN~

>>17148215
"Rattato! We must flee! Fleeeee~"

>>17148227
You encounter a (?) WORM!

>>17148227
>>17148235

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adOMZ_PFy10

...aaaand it's time to run.

>Run away

Welp, we're fucked. Feed it Rattato, and get the fuck out of there.

>>17148248
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE A RAT BEHIND

rolled 57 = 57

Cast Chaotic Regeneration on it, and tell our ally to run. Then we both GTFO while it's reacting.

Just turning and running would get us eaten.

rolled 18 = 18

I would love to use our daily "flip the fuck out"... if I thought it would end in victory after the dust settles. We're still the same level we were when those skeletons nearly killed us.

Please don't let ratbro die please don't let ratbro die

>>17148244
your scarf of striding kicks in as you run, boosting your stride speed.

But the Worm is after you, destroying the pathway you came down on!

Whats even worse is that your Rockrat ally (Rattato?) cant keep up with your speed!

rolled 52 = 52

>>17148428
Turn like a badass and cast Chaotic Regeneration! We need to stun it to buy time for our ally! (Is his name Rattato now? We didn't ever ask him his name..)

>>17148442
This; we must buy Rattato time to flee!

>>17148442
You turn mid-stride while citing your incantation....

(part 1 of 3)

>>17148743
let the magic build in your hands...

>>17148755
Then let the worm have it! it blasts apart some of its side plating, stunning it for a second. You take that time to save your rocky friend.

You grab his hand and run...

To be continued (gotta go eat)

(ill continue tomorrow at around 3:30)

>>17148743
Ka~

>>17148755
Me-ha-me~

>>17148803
HAAAA-oh shit that actually worked.

Alright OP, see you around.