Woohoo!

Nxisa is safe.
Yeah.
I found some other survivors. Two other warriors who had only suffered minor injuries.
I managed to close her and the other guy's most life-threatening wounds. Then we carried them back to the city. Nxisa lost consciousness half-way through. It was a long trip.
She was still injured ( her right leg looked terrible! ), so we decided to bring her to the church of sun ( the one inside the city, not the one outside ) with the other guy. They told me to get some rest and come few hours later.

Sitrep. What's the most pressing thing right now?

>>18299713
Bummer. Did we ever find out if Nxisa still has family in the city? They might want to know about her current state.

I've only been vaguely following this quest, but OP, the art is amazing. Keep up the good work.

>>18299713
Sounds like a sensible idea right there. Rest, then come back in a few hours.

Nxisa doesn't have a family here. Her parents are dead and her sister is somewhere in the Joros.

Well, I guess I should go rest for a while. Take a nap. Calm down!

>>18299804
Wait a minute, do Daniel's two friends back home know at all how to read? While resting, write to them, and hope the letter makes it.

>>18299851
I've been asking for this a few times in our past threads. Never got a response to it, hope you'll have more luck.

>>18299847
It might not be easy, but that's probably the most sensible thing we can do right now.

I did write one letter! Never got an answer tho. Understandable. They cannot read or write. Our caretaker however can.
Oh well. I wrote another letter. I will send it after this whole mess is cleared.

... Well, I guess this is resting. Probably won't nap...

>"Oh but now you are!"
... Miracle Lord?
>" Ja. I heard this wild rumor about your lady friend's having some leg-trouble."
"From who?"
>"Hah, from you! So I thought -I-, the mighty lord of miracles, might offer tiny bit of help. Fix her leg for a tiny price!"

>>18299993
"I'm all ears. Although I have no clue if the church can help or not, I guess you wouldn't offer your aid if they could. You know you've already got a few followers around here, right?"

>>18299993
Depends, what is this price?

"You are Edel, right? You know you have followers around here?"
>"Hah! Smart kid. Yes, I guess they are my followers and I guess I am Edel. But I like my title."
"Can church help her in any way?"
>"Pfft, church. Their gods are too busy playing with themselves and messing with mortals. Their healers are not powerful enough to mend injury that big and old."
"I guess I'm all ears."
>"The price is your soul."
...
>"Bwahaha! You should have seen your face. Really. Maybe something more concrete. 3 years of your lifespan?"
"That's... maybe too much."
>"I guess. Why don't you offer me something then?"

>>18300021
Maybe we should ask him if there is anything we can do, or maybe our sword interests him?

Wait...does this mean that he needs life to restore life? Did someone become blind for us!?!

>>18300274

Offer our ability to see for her ability to walk.

>>18300274
"Well, I'd think you might need somebody with me talents around here. Don't get me wrong, your followers are quite nice and they seem to be very devout but I think I can offer some skills they don't. I'm not asking for another freebie but there must be something I can do for you that would be a bit less... drastic? You can read my mind anyway, so it's not like I have to tell you what I can offer."

This "god" sounds very mortal in his reasoning. Some task might appease him, but we should try for some manipulation. His ego seems to be a good potential target. Also, our lifespan is too important to give up. The loner we're alive, the longer we have a chance to sing his praises.

>>18300299
If that happens this quest is effectively over. And I think Daniel would at least think twice before parting with his gift.

But really, can't we preform a service, go on a mission, do something for this guy instead of selling our life essence?

>>18300324
>The loner we're alive, the longer we have a chance to sing his praises.

Or become immortal ourselves.

>>18300299
That is a fucking terrible offer. What about something ephemeral that we'll only realize how much we miss later? Our skin and hair colour, perhaps. Or maybe all of the memories of seeing that we've gained up to this point - start fresh with every sight being a marvel.

>>18300274
Offer him our mortality.

"All I really have are my possessions, which I kinda doubt you want, and my ability to do things. I think I'm good at getting things done, y'know? I'm always exceeding Nxisa's expectations when it comes to jobs.
So maybe you have something you need done? ...Or if not, maybe I can owe you a favor to be decided on at a later date?"

"You need life to restore her legs? Did someon-"
>"No. It's just taxing to perform miracles from here."
"Well then, how about my mortality?"
>""Hah, funny. No, what would I do with two mortalities?
"Well uh, can I do a task for you or something?"
>"... I guess you could!"
>"This Dark Archmage-fellow seems pretty cool. However, he is doing something that I don't approve. I need you to make sure he won't get one of the things I left behind."
"One of the things?"
>"My machine."
>"Back when Zere was still a great empire, I built a machine of amazing potential. After I ended up here, it got locked up in Xjaal. From what I have gathered, my machine interests Ingram immensely. I want you to recover that machine and bring it to Jania to the guild."
"That sounds awfully difficult."
>"Locating Xjaal might be bit difficult. Flying, invisible... However, the eyes I granted you can see through such veils! The Dark Archmage is awfully powerful, but even he cannot see through the veil of Xjaal. The Xjaal is guarded, so bring some backup."
"Uh, where is Xjaal?"
>"Beats me. Probably flying around ancient Zere. I will give you plenty of time to find it. However, I will snap your lady friend's leg again if you just forget your task. So, are you okay with this pact?"

>>18300981
"This is something that could get me killed and you're offering to pay me with someone you originally charged three years for. How about making fixing her leg a down payment, and we'll work out one other moderate favor at a later date? Nothing more significant than fixing someone's legs or eyes, but also something I can save for when I need it."

>>18300981
Let's agree to it.

Perhaps we could get Edel's cultis- I mean followers to help us. Probably get some of the suvivors of that raid to assist us as well.

Oh, and let's tell him we'll do nothing else until we get to Xjaal and get his machine.

I just hope our teacher believes us when we tell her this story.

>>18301005
>turning down an epic quest from a god
>2012

>>18301005
Shit, son, that takes some BALLS. Let's do that. It seems fair and it shows that, even though he's an awesome, divine-tier mage, we don't back down. If anything, it should make him more enthused about sending us to Xjaal and agree wholeheartedly. People respect you more when you haggle instead of taking the first offer.

>>18301005
This, but let's also add the condition that if we renege on this deal, he breaks OUR leg instead of hers.

>>18301035
How was that turning down a quest? Did you even read it?

>>18301059
I would still be more inclined to show moxie here. It's not weaseling, it's having the balls to say that you think your deal is fairer than his. I think that shows we have sufficient strength of character to actually pull off his mission to Xjaal.

"Sounds like the kind of thing I was going to wind up doing eventually anyway. Sure."

>>18301005
The other reward is getting to live in a world where the dark mage lord doesn't fuck everyone constantly.

>>18301236
Or we could get an IOU so that if, say, we're half-way through Xjaal and we get stabbed we don't die. It seems like a terribly reasonable thing to ask, by my reckoning.

>>18301277
I'd be okay with that.

"I agree on condition of getting some life-protection in Xjaal."
>"Maybe. Probably, we'll see."
"And instead of breaking Nxisa's leg break mine."
>"Haha, how nice of you. Sure, can do. Don't worry. You don't have to find it right now. Take your time, I mean, it's a flying invisible fortress."
"I will agree."
>"Heh. This pact is sealed."

>>18301438
Huh, his forehead eye looks like our eyes. Well, let's go check up on Nxisa. I have a feeling she's going to be really mad at us instead of grateful. We'll be really satisfied in spite of that.

>"Your friend's leg shall be fixed."

Agh! My head hurts a bit!

... I am awake again. How much did I sleep? I guess I'll go to see Nxisa again. Maybe I should get her something while at it...

>>18301617
Maybe a good fruit wine?

>>18301669
Isn't all wine made of fruit?

>>18301732
Yeah I realized how redundant that sounded as soon as I posted it. I just meant a non-grape wine.

>>18301669
Not a bad idea, but I'm thinking something a bit more like a memento. Let's go see what kind of trinkets they have, maybe we'll find something apt. Then if we've got leftover money we'll go with wine.

What kind of things has Daniel observed Nxisa liking?

>>18301881
Now there's a good question. All we've really seen her do is training, drinking, and having a life-affirming fuck.

Ah, she does enjoy alcohol from time to time. She's bit of outdoors-person and appreciates great food. Likes fighting.
I got some wine for 10 piens for Nxisa. Anyway, I got in. People are celebrating the miracle and are assuming one of their gods did it.

Nxisa seems to do pretty great.
>Nxisa: "So weird..."
"Hi Nxisa! I brought some wine."
>Nxisa: "O Daniel! Good to see you again! And no thanks, just give it to him. He is still in bit of pain."
Damn. I give the Caowe the wine. Got smile on his face too. That's still pretty cool. Nxisa is very confused about her leg.
I wonder if I should tell her about Miracle Lord?
>Nxisa: "I am terribly sorry Daniel. For all that happened."
"No problem."
>Nxisa: "Yeah. I probably should slap you for your idiocy. Getting into fight with that... thing. You are getting too good. Soon you are ready to be a full-fledged Counter-Mage."
Hu?

>>18302050
"Full-fledged? I don't think so. I just got lucky. There's no way I would have been able to take that thing on head to head. Your leg got fixed, right? Everything's bad to normal?"

We're going to end up spilling the beans. She'll be mad, but she'll be able to deal with it.

>>18302007
"You're giving me too much credit. It's not like I beat him in a stand up fight or something."

>>18302050
I'm not even sure that he died. He just fell of the cliff, you see.

"You are giving me way too much credit. It wasn't a fair victory. How's your leg? It's back to normal?"
>"It's still a victory. And I am going to stress the word soon here. Because the progress you are making is astonishing."
...
>"And what do you mean by that? It sounds like you know something."
"I uh, made a pact with Miracle L-"
>SLAP
She slapped me!
>"You. made a pact. With a demon."
"No, not a demon!"
>"If not a demon then what?!"
"Lord of Miracles."
>"And what the hell did you trade this leg for?"
I explain the whole deal about Xjaal, the machine and leg-snapping business.
She's really mad.
>"Damn it Daniel. How much time do you have?"
"I have to get it before Dark Archmage finds it. That's how I understood it."
>"So, what's your plan then? Are you leaving at dawn, going to wander around deserts of Zere in hopes of just finding it?"

>>18302459
"No, that'd be stupid. I have to figure out how to fly first, then I can find it. I think I might be the only one who CAN." while pointing at eyes.

>>18302459
"Well, I was going to get a telescope and look up any rumors or myths about Xjaal I could first. Since my eyes are, uh... Well, I figured I could spot it from pretty far away with a telescope. Especially if I know a general area to cover. Do you want me to grab you some new clothes? Those are kind of... Burnt. And shredded. And, hey, if I fail, better my leg than yours. You're an experienced counter mage, and I'm still learning. Having to get a cane and learn how to be some other kind of mage wouldn't be as bad as you being forced into retirement. Right?"

Give her a sad smile. The kind that makes it clear that we're pleased, in spite of nagging regrets. She'll get more angry because it really upsets her when we put ourselves in harm's way. I don't think she can deal with the idea of getting ourselves hurt.

She looks tired.

"He said Xjall was a flying, invisible city. That means I have a better shot than anyone at finding it - maybe he knew that. I think he always expected me to do this. If I could help you while doing it, then I didn't really lose anything."

[ OP here, encountered problems. Continuing tomorrow, same thread, feel free to suggest. ]

>>18303131
Okay. What kind of problems, OP? If it's a posting issue, you could send the picture and text to one of our dummy addresses and we could post it for you.

>>18302459
We should have probably asked him to heal her eye as well....

bump

>>18307255
Don't bump unless you have something to say or something to post.

"Hah.. Maybe I look up for some rumors about Xjaal. But I have to learn to fly first! I'll get myself a dragon, an airship or learn a spell that could allow me to do that! I am the only one who can actually see the Xjaal! Dark Archmage cannot see it, so I have a tremendous advantage."
>"I... guess that's a plan. Getting a private airship or a dragon is... uh. Difficult."
"I probably should try to locate it first."
>"Yea. I'll get back to training you in few days. I still feel bit sick."

Nxisa seem's to be doing relatively fine. She will rest for two days and then we will get back to our training schedule. She will start teaching me some more advanced stuff.
We also got our rewards for that raid ( the camp was destroyed, and that's all what matters ). 360 pien! Amazing.

I guess I could wait or try to find information about Xjaal's whereabouts.

Oh yeah, and send that letter...

>>18299686
First off, we need to go back to the camp. Boots of silence and sword of who the fuck knows? Plus anything our allies left? Primo looting opportunity.

>>18308289
Also, talk to Kalim. Kalim is a red dragon rumored to be small and weakwilled.

My only concern about trying to hard to find Xjaal, is it makes US the main way to find it. If news about us trying gets out, sure, mild harmless at best. If rumor about someone so much as thinking they have a way to do it, AND know which region to focus on? The Dark Archmage will be on us in ways our clothes could never be.

>>18308289
>Oh yeah, and send that letter...

Yeah send that letter. Also, there must be secure services through which one can send money. We could send 50 pien or so to our friends at orphanage (if they are still there)

>>18308289
We should gather some information about the Lord of Miracles. If there's no library in town, simply ask his follwers.

Wish Nxisa well, go send that letter and maybe some Pien, then get to info hunting.

>>18309210
Well, we could combine this with the fact that we owe one of the members of the religion some cash money. So, we return the money and ask about info on Edel.

Speaking of money, have we got our share of the bounty for taking out the dragonoids camp?

Yeah, I got 360 pien as I said! The Caowe who had lost his leg/arm gave me 80 pien out of gratitude ( and for the wine ). And Nxisa did not bother to take the lion's share of our reward.
Okay, I sent the letter with 50 pien. It will take some time to reach them, but whatever.
I also went to pay my dept. So, I guess I should have... 345 pien. Nice!

>"Nice scarf."

I asked her about Edel.
According to her Edel was a extremely talented Zerenian mage who found and gained divine powers. He began to create a better world by using his miraculous powers, but gods interfered with his plan and killed him. He returned few days after. This occurred several times, until he was sealed in hell. I also asked about Xjaal and the machine. She does not know about Xjaal's location ( "I don't know, probably still in deserts Zere" ) or what exactly is it like. Machine's purpose is unknown as well. She speculates that it granted immortality to the user.
She tells me that she would like to know more too, but the library here is limited. Most of books relating to Zere, fall of Zere and Edel are in Guild's Grand Library in Jania.
I also asked about Kalim. He was sighted few days ago, so she guesses that he can be found from his lair in the mountains.

>>18310853
Let's see. We'll need a telescope and a camel if we're going to try to tour the desert finding Xjaal. We might also want to send a letter to the Guild to see if they can find any passages that would narrow the search even slightly. First, though, let's see if she wants to grab a drink or something with us. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

>>18310905
Haha, yes, seconding this. Scarf buddies time.

>>18310853
Into the mountains to loot and find Kalim.

>>18310853
The poor guy lost a leg as well? Awwww, I feel sorry for him.

Seconding the scarf buddies idea.

We should also buy some medicine to help Nxisa with her remaining sickness. Or perhaps so nice tea.

Going back to the mountain is time sensitive. Someone else might get there first. Let's go search the draconic camp.

I am leaving scarf-buddying for the evening. I'll go fetch those boots and look for Kalim.

-------

Well, found boots. They are too big for me. I am still going to take them with me, I probably can fetch them a good price at somewhere. Camp is in complete ruins and it seems someone already has taken everything remotely precious.
Some bad news: I couldn't find the body of huge draconian. I guess he survived the fall. He probably is not here though.

I found entrance Kalim's lair. It is not particular menacing, but might be quite deep. I am not very experienced with dragons. I know they collect hoards because they like shiny objects and take great pleasure in owning things. They also breath fire and some other shit.

Should I enter?

>>18312364
Let's try something completely different and knock before entering.
We need the dragon alive and willing to help us to find Xjaal.
So let's try to work out some agreement instead of just attacking him.

>>18312364
Yes. Even if the boots are way too big for you, put them on.Fit them over your own boots if possible. We need to see this dragon ourselves.

>>18312383
Good call. Let's just kinda call in. "Uh, Kalim? I'm, uh, here to talk to you. About stuff."

Boots inside boots. That's crazy... And it works actually quite well! Bit too heavy I guess.
Found the dragon. It is small! Much smaller than Gaia! His hoards seems to consist of small amounts of gold and some looted equipment ( some of them are enchanted. I guess dragons can identify enchanted items ). Terribly small hoard. I thought their hoards would be huge! Then again, Kalim is tiny. And tense.
"Hey. Kalim. I need to talk to you."
>"Shuuh? Whho arre you?"
"I am Daniel, and I need your help. Flying and stuff."
>"Ohhh. Oh. I thought you werre here to take my wealth. But...flying what? Pleasse tell me yourr rrequesst. And offerr."

>>18313182
"Well, I'm trying to find Xjaal, but even if I find it, I think it's, like, flying or something? So, once I find it, I'll need help getting up to it. So, my offer is that if you help me and anyone else working with me get up there, you'll get an equal cut of whatever treasure we can find. And, um, it's a really fair offer and also the only offer I'm going to make. You don't even need to risk your life or fight or anything, and you'll still get an equal cut. Sound good?"

Offer him half of your loot from Xjaal, and protection from whoever put price on his head (there was that job in town).

You let him keep what he stole. All that stuff from the draconian camp is yours by right of conquest.

"Well, I'm trying to find Xjaal. It's a flying fortress, so I need to borrow some wings. So, once I find it, I'll need help getting up to it. My offer is equal share of the loot and riches we find. It's a really fair offer and also the only offer I'm going to make. You don't even need to risk your life or fight or anything, and you'll still get an equal cut. Sound good?"
He gets really excited when I spelled words 'loot and riches'.
>"Gold? Lotss of trreassurre?"
"Yes, I guess so. It has been hidden for so long, so I am pretty sure there are some riches inside. It's like a law."
>"Oh, I like! When can we go?"
"I need to find it first. I will come back!"
>"Find it quick! Hoarrdss make uss sstrrong. Need big hoarrd. Jabr!"
"Uh. Yeah. Bye!"

That was... painless and quick! I guess I have some time before I go scarf-buddying with Jako. Is there anything I should do?

>>18313990
Let's send a letter to the guild to see if they have any information about the location of Xjaal that's less general than an entire desert. Like landmarks it's within 50 miles of, or something. Anything to narrow the search.

>>18313990
He's not coming with us? Doesn't it seem kind of pointless to find an invisible flying fortress by foot, walk all the way back to get your wings, and hope it's still in the same place when you come back?

Besides scarf buddies would be a much better sitcom if we had a tiny dragon avarist.

[ Couldn't post, super-tired, continuing whenever. This thread can be a discussion thread for Daniel's Quest now. I am terribly sorry for my slow speed ]

>>18314350
It's fine, it was 4chan's posting server's problem.

>>18314384
Yo, bro, don't be ripping on your quest. I really enjoy it - it's slow, but good, not bad.

>>18314146

I agree with this Anon. This quest is really good, it being slow doesn't take much away from it. Art takes time.

>>18314430
I think you meant this anon:
>>18314393

Yeah, everyone across 4chan has been having trouble posting for the past few hours.

>>18314384
Hey, you're awesome. Or, if you don't want to hear that - the quest's highly enjoyable.

The artist's name is Rand, and I think everyone should check out his other works. There are just as good.

http://tgchan.org/wiki/Rand

>>18319754
>http://tgchan.org/wiki/Rand
I'm glad he's on 4chan now instead of tgchan. He's really talented and I'm enjoying his quest.

>>18319789
So here I am, looking through his art because I like it, and what do I see? http://tgchan.org/kusaba/draw/res/4068.html#10353

Clearly this is completely unrelated to this quest.

Clearly.

>>18320308
Ohoho, good find.

>>18319789
I've been following him since Tory's Tower, and he was way slower, with better image quality. He would draw entire mechs and detailed characters and badass scenes.

I am glad to see that he is focusing more on regular updates here. Good art with at least quadrupled update speed. And still a very interesting story.

>>18322222
>22222
Oh ffffffff

The slow update-speed here is mostly because I get distracted by GOING FAST and CRYING IN BASEMENTS.
Also sometimes it takes a while to get suggestions ( I try to get over 3 suggestions before an update ).
But cool to know people are liking it. I need to get my shit straight tho.
I don't know when I will start next thread. I need to focus on important IRL-stuff now.

Rand seems Finnish, judging by the first drunko quest. In that light, the art style also makes double-sense.

Internet stalking ho!

>>18323756
Awesome, scarf-buddy time. Time to try to be flirty.