Your most pressing order of business is an appointment with the head of the Brothel Keeper's Guild, Seamus Columbo. He is arranging the opening of a new brothel in the capital of Nova Leon based on a holy order fetish, and has organised for the purchase of slave girls from every well known trader in Narleen. You have yet to make a name as a trader of pleasure slaves, and this is shaping up to be your first big deal. As a result, you have acquired five girls from the local debtor's jail and are looking to negotiate an expansion of that order.

Aside from that, you are also trying to ferret out the boy-whore Fio from the city. He is your main pawn against your business partner Jean Paravel, and you had planned to send him north to stay with a business acquaintance in the city of New-Port.

I am also a gigantic nigger who doesn't realize that it's a good idea to use a trip when I'm running a quest.

>>20655038
Thats okay, just be sure to make your fucking cunting slaver not such a nice sack of sunshine this time around.

seriously, leave the moral shit out this time.

>>20655055
That was the plan, but he won't be raping anyone if you were the guy spamming that suggestion last thread.

anyway, go meet the guy i guess. what do we know about him?

>>20655091
Seamus is a middle aged man noted for his canny business sense and less than wholesome reputation. He very much enjoys his work. You have only made his acquaintance in passing, in social events and the like, most of what you know is built on reputation.

His offices are in the heart of the pleasure district, half brothel and half fortress. Many other young traders have come to cut their deals, some with wares, others without.

You've opted to come without, and are admitted to see the Guild Leader before your contemporaries.

Seamus is dilligent at work, pouring over manuscripts and making nottations as he went. Not the wild figure you had met at social gatherings, he had a business like demeanour, his balding head barely lifting to meet you.

"What do you bring son, that makes cutting you in worth while?" straight to the point, he sets aside his books and looks up at you, his wrinkled apple face an expression of thoughtful consideration.

>>20655170
"And what price do you consider 'negotiable'?" he leans over the table with a grin that made your skin crawl. "I've got an excess of young traders looking to sell me damaged goods. Old dried up street walkers and chattel slaves. Give me something good or don't waste my time."

You tell him what you have, listing the qualities of the girls. He leans back and nods.

"I'll give you twenty gold lions for each." Its a pathetically low figure, an obvious low ball.

"How about 70 gold lions apiece."

don't know if the value is correct, Im trying for somewhere a bit over the real value so we can work to an agreeable price

whats a rough value for them? counter with 90% of that.

>>20655194
What about those pretty young things you were kissing last thread?

>>20655238
Seamus frowns but nods. "Not a terrible counter-offer, if a little high. But I must insist on twenty. We are buying a lot, and frankly your reputation is untested. Who can vouch the quality of your merchandise? Your brother had a good head for these things, but one brother is not necessarily like the other. Twenty is as high as I'll go on your reputation."

> roll a d100, get over 90 to seal it for seventy, over sixty to open him up to selling for thirty-five. First three rolls only.

>>20655258
Not a bad idea. They are already trained, but mentally damaged. You wouldn't get full price, but as added incentive they might tip the balance.

File: 1347175546262.png-(162 KB, 482x600, Capitalism.png)

>>20655254
Are you nuts? Look at pic related. 110%, always.

>>20655287
If you want to throw Silti and hildi into the bargain, over sixty will net you fifty apiece.

>>20655297
That ho in Capitalism, ho! might be more literal than you think in this case.

>>20655306
>>20655287
Pretty sure the lead character's redeeming feature (as a slaver) is that he wasn't a total scumbag. Absolute veto.

>>20655254
A rough value would be twenty five-thirty, for the average slave.

>>20655306
Make it 55 and only Hildi. We keep Silti.

>>20655312
There's no veto, only consensus. 1 against trading the girls.

>>20655326
Im for trading them.

>>20655318
You are asking more for less. Roll over 80 but less than 90 and that will work. Over 90 still nets you the full 70. Trading the girls would be entirely optional on that roll. Good for a boost to relations with Seamus and an upgrade to your reputation.

>>20655344
1 for selling the girls, 1 for keeping them.

rolled 42 = 42

>>20655350
Lets try this then.

rolled 98 = 98

i don't really care whether we trade them or not but keep in mind that our sister will probably care.

>>20655374
Keep one, sell one. That way, everyone is happy! And by everyone, I mean no one. If not that, just sell em both.

>>20655388
Okay, do you want to give the girls to Seamus as a gift? You've just netted seventy for each girl with no need for incentive.

State your choice and roll off, only the first three will be counted, highest wins.

rolled 27 = 27

>>20655406
Roll what exactly?

Guessing 1d100 and rolling for sale

>>20655414
Yeah, sorry. d100.

rolled 30 = 30

>>20655406
Voting no.

rolled 21 = 21

>>20655406
Going yes as well

>>20655428
Okay, it was a close call but the slave girls will not be put in the deal.

>>20655432
>>20655414
I'm just going to sit here and laugh.

File: 1347176410274.gif-(1.63 MB, 296x248, Fuck it, I'm out.gif)

>>20655414
>>20655432
Fuck it, looks like dicegods want another waifu quest

>>20655414
>>20655428
>>20655432
Well that sucked.

>>20655453
they arent waifus, they are just OUR fucktoys

>>20655478
If you read the last thread, they're waifu as fuck.

>>20655478
Pretty sure we've never touched them. Given the, you know, brain damage and mental trauma.

>>20655453
>>20655457
The dice gods have spoken. Who are you to deny their will by done, on /tg/ as it is in tabletop?

>>20655312
Actually, his sole redeeming value is everyone else is an irredeemable bastard so terrible that him being even slightly human makes him a living fucking saint among men.

>>20655488
>Who are you to deny their will by done
Did I ever deny it? Do you hear me demanding a reroll? No, I'm just saying that it fucking sucked.

You argue for a time over the price and over his mild disrespect concerning your reputation. Though your tones grow hot at times he never once calls for a guard to drag you out. Its an hour of sweating argument before you get him to agree to your full price. Frankly you aren't quite sure how you pulled it off, and neither did he.

"Seventy gold lions each," he grumbled, signing the order, "Not a piece more."

You shake hands and he gives you a cagey look. "If these girls are the real deal, you bring more business my way. If they turn out to be duds, you best look to your betters for protection because you are done dealing with my guild."

you nod, and hope they are satisfactory. You briefly consider throwing in the two girls living at your residence for free. They had yet to provide anything of value and were an expense you could afford to do without. you discard the thought, there's no telling how a man like Columbo could take such an offer, he might see it as an insult.

On your departure you are greeted by the hostile expression of rival traders. Ilsa Wolfsburg gives a friendly nod as you pass, a tall girl chained in her wake. You hadn't heard your one time lover had acquired a license, but it wouldn't surprise you. The Saimhann Ring could afford to buy up licenses, and they had lost a number of employees just the other day to Jericho raiders.

>>20655514
Your next order of business was dealing with the boy Fio. Dawnstar had him out in her old master's hut, in the heart of the swamplands that border Narleen. You had organised for Captain Brighton to take him up coast on her next mission, but the location had yet to be soldified. Emmanuel Sanders was a choice, up in New-Port, but there was also your younger brother Emilio in the royal capital. He would be coming to town soon for Esteban's funeral along with the rest of the family.

we need to figure out which place is safer, both from random threats and from assassins. we should also take how far away it is into consideration.

>>20655550
how traceable would Emmanuel be? Our brother will be one of the first places the guy we are blackmailing will look once we make our move, so he is out.

>>20655568
New Port is quite far, all the way in the Northern Federation. A loose alliance of city-states, they banded together to fight off Leonine exppansion into their territories and have recently come under fire from native warbands. Not the most stable right now, but far from any influence the Paravels might have.

Nova Leon is closer by a stretch, and the Paravel family has connections that run deep there. But your brother Emilio is a loyal and honest man, and an officer in the royal lancers. They say he has grown close with several Royal Princes.

>>20655601
Go with Emilio.

>>20655577
Emmanuel is a client of the Zahak-Paravel Foundry, working as an agent of his homeland. He is not impossible to find, but distance and lack of connection with the City-States would make him hard to pressure. Still, Jean could use the still incomplete commission as blackmail material

>>20655606
Tucking the idea away, in the mean time you arrange for the transportation of your merchandise. Returning to your home office you spot Joe Ashigaru running your men through marching drills, while Bart Hooper kept discipline with his iron fists.

Ashanti Bast oiled her sword on the step, dressed in her leopard skin and watching the procession with a bored eye.

The Jericho liberators had grown more bold lately, it would be wise to post a guard on all your merchandise in-transit. The last thing you needed was a repeat of the other day, where assassins struck boldly in day light.

>>20655660
Ancient Desmond meets you with the caged wagon, ready to transport your merchandise. The women were an image of despair, you had been told they had gone off their food. It didn't matter now, they were Columbo's problem.

You handed your forms to Desmond who gave a delighted cackle.

"Very good master, very good!" he tucked the contract awa. "But keep in mind that a profit today could spell a loss tomorrow. Do not be so keen to take a man for all he has at once. Fleece him slow, piece by piece, until all the wool is yours and he is happy to give it."

"I've arranged for your appointment with Lord Artur to take place this evening, why wait? Do try to iron out your difference, he could be a valuable friend to have."

>>20655693
I'm sorry, it's been so long since I've last had the opportunity to play Slaver Quest I've forgotten half the names.
Is Lord Artur the obviously evil overlord dude who transforms women into monsters and sent a zombie horde after us?
Because if so, fuck that guy. With a rake.

I absolutely fucking ADORE this quest by the way. Glad to see you running it again.

>>20655724
Artur Stonesnake, yes. You had arranged the appointment previously, but Desmond has caught wind of your hostility and has asked you to try and make a peace with the royal representative. He fears backlash against the family, and says that if you don't make peace, he will take measures to see you distanced from the business for the good of the family.

better bring lots of swords to this meeting, and watch for puppet zombies. also, we should see about finding Jericho.

fuck flash, keeps freezing firefox.

>>20655693
Lovely, dinner with Stonesnake.

Make sure it's at a public place, that we have guards distributed throughout the area and that we eat and drink nothing as he could have had it tampered with.

>>20655752
Keep in mind your new personal slave is one Gabriel Juno, a past enemy of the Stonesnake and former crusader. He no doubt has a wealth of experience dealing with this man.

>>20655763
Yeah, ask for Juno's advice on this matter.

Also I just found this thread again, didn't we have 7 slaves to sell to Seamus? We got the 5 from the debtor's prison and 2 from the pimp.

>>20655746
Confide to Desmond that, while we are unable to prove anything, we are past convinced that the man is practicing witchcraft and that he has it out for us, and that we'd quite prefer meeting with a dozen rabid lions over that man.

>>20655774
Shit, your right. Ah well, let's just say you sold them too.7 for 70 is 240, a nice little bit of spending money. No where near the grotesque profits of your new foundry, but a very tidy profit for a day's work. You only get to keep fifty percent of that, the rest goes to the family treasury, so that's 120 gold lions.

what? 7 times 70 is 490 not 240

>>20655792
You mean 490 and 245?
>>20655779
I'd keep that information quiet until we're more prepared to act against him and we have more solid evidence. He's loyal to the family, not us, and if this gets spread around the family without proof bad shit might happen.

>>20655779
The mention of witchcraft causes Desmond to burst into laughter. "Children's tales master. Children's tales. You are a mite old for such things are you not?" he chuckled, "Oh but the laughter was welcome. Now please, see it done." He calls over some guards to escort the wagon and returns indoors.

You decide some extra protection might be necessary when you get to the Mockingjay. you had a number of skilled hirelings you could bring. Stag-Horn, Joe, Bart and Ashanti could all be brought to bear and Dawnstar could cover you on the spiritual front.

The matter of information was important, you resolve to discuss stonesnake with Gabriel at your earliest convenience.

You had left him at home, not wanting to draw the eye of anyone that might recognise him. Trotting back you find him sprawled across the couch, reciting poetry to an enraptured audience.

The man was ancient, but the famous beauty of his youth still shone through. Even with the dome of his head bald and the only hair tied back in a tail, you noted the lustful looks the women of your household shot him.

He was not unaware of this.

"Master," he sits up at the sight of you and adjusts his shirt, "How can I help you?"

>>20655823
>>20655801
Fuck, yes, that's what I meant. I'm not at all a moron, no sir.

>>20655833
Ask to speak with him in private.

After we get there lay out the situation, the dinner, the family, how we need to keep our family happy with us to maintain a powerbase here because without a powerbase we're UTTERLY fucked. Ask if he has advice in dealing with Stonesnake, insights into his personality, that sort of thing.

>>20655850
You call Stonesnake into your private quarters for a private conversation.

"I need advice dealing with a tricky bit of business," you begin.

"Artur?" he asked raising his brow, "Yes, I'd heard a bit from that charming girl Dawnstar. You have found yourself matched against a real viper."

"Indeed, and its a viper my family forbids me to fight. You see he acts as the royal representative, and has considerable power to fuck me up the arse without having to call on any magical mumbo-jumbo."

Gabriel hummed. "Yes, well then you have two options. Kill him at your earliest convenience and deal with the considerable backlash. Or make a truce.

The man is one of the most dangerous I have ever known. A real zealot. He believes himself to be ordained by a higher power, to fight the World-Killer in all its forms. He's not of course, he's just a mad man who has picked up a few tricks. We clashed a number of times and I'm ashamed to say I was not always the victor.

If he believes you to be an agent of the World-Killer, he will kill you, no question. Many good people have met a bad end as a result of that man's paranoia. Entire cities have burned. No doubt he is in Narleen to see if it has been corrupted by those forces. It is not, as a crusader you would know instinctively if it were.

The man is insane but not unreasonable. If you can convince him this city has no taint, he will most likely leave peacefully. But convincing him is the chore. I've no idea how you could do it, outside a very stunning example of rhetoric."

>>20655909
I can occasionally pull out such rhetoric.

Could you tell me more about the World-Killer and signs of corruption so I can perhaps point to those and express how they aren't here?

>>20655929
Gabriel lets out a long, slow breath. "This is going to take a bit of explaining.

The World-Killer is a man born every generation. A figure of great social upheaval and chaos. The word 'evil' doesn't quite factor in, but a number of World-Killers have committed heinous deeds. The destruction of Old Uropa, and the final days of the southern empires are all testaments to the cataclysms such a person can unleash. Whether working directly or indirectly, the result is the same, mass social upheaval and the collapse of old orders.

The World-Killer gives off a similar effect to a crusader but magnified a hundred times. He can influence people's thinking, turn a crowd into a riot with a whispered word. He can draw spirits to his command and set them out into the material plane.

It has long been the goal of our holy order to find the World-Killer or those under his thrall, and end that threat. But it is a crusade without end. We do not know why it is so, but the World-Killer always returns in some form, sometimes not even as a physical entity but as a parasitic idea or even an object.

Proving where he isn't is as hard as proving where he is, since his tendrils spread out unending until he is killed or his cause is fulfilled.

If I had to weather a guess, I'd investigate this Jericho business. Or possibly the recently united Natives in the north. He is not always readily destructive, he can be a great uniting force. The one World-Killer I met was a great idealist, a kind and warm man that just happened to trigger a brutal civil war in his drive to do the right thing for all. Poor fool."

>>20656003
So if I convince him that Jericho is where the World-Killer lies, that Narleen is not a place of social upheaval but one of continued tradition I can have a god starting point to get him to bugger off.

Are there anyways to circumvent his necromancy? Because that is a powerful tool in his arsenal.

>>20656024
"Necromancy? Such a thing is impossible, there is no necromancy involved. the man has experimented with the ether and possession, and has managed to invite spirits into hosts. He is hardly the first such man, it is an ancient tradition of the swamp folk to invite possession during religious ceremonies, but he has perverted the art by forcing the possession on the unwilling. Both the spirit and the mortal are shoved together against their will, and the battle that wages in the host leaves a bitter, twisted creature. A spirit of rage and murder, easily led by the bokor that hold's its leash. He is not the first to develop such perversions, but his ready use of it and continued experimentation with the form can almost be admired from a scientific standpoint.

Do not confuse it with the art of resurrecting the dead. Such is impossible, and even if it were possible beyond the abilities of a man like the Stonesnake."

>>20656061
"I should say the only cure for such possession is a thorough exorcism or a well executed murder. Certainly not something done casually, and the chances of the host surviving are slim to none. I noticed the girls you have, its a miracle they survived even in their demented state."

>>20656061
Okay, forced spirit possession, necromancy was the closest term I could think of.

Are there any particular arguments you can think of that would be especially effective. You know the Stonesnake far better than I.

>>20656070
It was Dawnstar who managed that, they may be somewhat demented but they are kind and functional. More than could be expected.

>>20656087
"I would suggest you appeal to his demented self-image as a holy crusader. Certainly he likes to be treated as a superior, so a bit of fawning wouldn't hurt. Admit that he has bested you, that you came before him beaten. Swallow your pride and make an ass out of yourself, in other words. Then share with him your fears that the World-Killer maybe out in where-ever-you-think-best. He does not particularly like crusaders, but he knows we have an edge in such things. Be aware however, that whether you like it or not your oaths will draw you into conflict with the World-Killer eventually, and you will run against Stonesnake again. A truce is only a temporary solution, and I fear Stonesnake will return with fury if you lead him down a false trail. Be prepared for that, all you would be buying is time to prepare for a future confrontation."

>>20656121
"Jericho is a good enough guess, and honestly I'm tired of terrorists shooting at me in broad daylight and sending him there might just fuck that up. Though being shot at does make excellent evidence for my case. World-Killers and Crusaders don't like each other and if I can convince him that they were gunning for me in particular I think he'll go for it.

Thank you for the advice, I think I'll be able to pull it off.

Just an aside question, how many times did you flirting with every woman that moved nearly get you killed? I don't mind at all I'm just curious at this point.

So I'm reading over the archives like you asked before I jump into this and I have to ask, at any point do you start acting like an actual slaver or is the whole thing whiteknighting from start to finish? I mean, shit, the first thing you do is establish how everyone else is either a pedophile or a sadistic pedophilic murderer and it only goes downhill from there.

I'm asking this because right now I'm about midway through thread 2 and I feel seriously bait and switched right now.

>>20656141
"Oh once every Thursday at least. But I find nothing keeps you spry quite like bedding a woman and having a jealous husband looking to collect your head afterwards. You learn to appreciate the exercise as you get older, if nothing else."

>>20656153
Since when is being a complete asshat a prerequisite for selling slaves?

>>20656178
Ask op, since he made everyone BUT the MC one. And then made the MC a glowing ball of rainbows.

>>20656153
> everyone is a paedophile

There's only one. I don't know where you are getting things from. And slave trading did kind of take a back seat pretty quickly. I'm not going to railroad people, though. If they want to focus on things other than the slave trading, or factor in a certain way of looking at things, I'm not going to tell them to stop. I try to continually add slavery as a theme or as a thing to do when not busy with the plot.

I had intended for the plot to be more focused on fucking up Jericho originally, but we got derailed.

Its funny that you are complaining about white knighting. A lot of folks would come in on earlier threads to complain about how morally disgusting the whole thing was. I guess its all a bit subjective. For some its too fucked up, for others it isn't fucked up enough.

>>20656167
I'll keep that in mind if I get older.

So we've got some advice on that.

About how much longer in the day until the dinner with Artur?

>>20656214
Time enough to do some things. I wouldn't suggest trying to blackmail Jean or anything too heavy, but you've meant to review the slave pens for a while and you've got other business ventures you could work on both involving the slave trade and your foundry.

>>20656209
For me, it's just right. Indulge yourself where you can, and fight to make things better where you cannot.

>>20656209
>The family had once sold Kingsley a young boy as his 'cup-bearer' and that boy had grown older until he had become a handsome young man. He still stood beside his master dutifully, dressed as well as any aristocrat present.
>You spot Lord Paravel, a tall man of a similar cast to his son Rikard. A greying lion compared to his son, he had a full mane of silver-streaked blond hair. He had a charisma to him that had won him many admirers. Grand-papa had sold him a number of children that had later turned up dead, corpses mutilated.
Two sentences right next to each other. Two nobles. Two pedos. And skimming this thread, there's apparently another whose boytoy we have absconded with.
>>20656209
>For some its too fucked up, for others it isn't fucked up enough.
All Im saying is for a quest called SLAVER Quest, the very first slave transaction you complete you only do so with every intention of defaulting on it and that sets a horrible precedent that has apparently carried through all the threads. And everyone really seems to talk the MC up when he does jack shit in regards to slaving.

>>20656238
Go ahead and review the slave pens, see if we can't at least go about making conditions more bearable for them.

>>20656238
Let's deal with the slave pens, see how everything in going there. Make sure the order to sell them to the tropics is going fine.

>>20656243
>You spot Lord Paravel, a tall man of a similar cast to his son Rikard. A greying lion compared to his son, he had a full mane of silver-streaked blond hair. He had a charisma to him that had won him many admirers. Grand-papa had sold him a number of children that had later turned up dead, corpses mutilated.

This is the guy we've been talking about all thread, and I actually forgot I made Kingsley bi. 'Boy' with him is a bit suggestive, but he was around fourteen when sold and now he's a young man. Fucked up for us but morally acceptable for the society. A bit of retro-continuity here, I'd make the boy at fourteen when sold and only started having sex at around seventeen.

A lot of the early threads were very loose and fluid, I was making up a lot of it as I went along. like ilsa, originally stated to be around fourteen or some such, but when she appeared she was older. Put it down to bad ideas discarded, or just plain forgotten. It was a while ago now.

>>20656275
I don't know, I guess I was just expecting a compelling mental drama where we have to walk that moral tightrope between humanity and inhumanity for the sake of our livelihood and instead I'm getting waifus, whiteknighting, and YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE and oh btw I guess there's some slaves too, but eh lets not worry about that, instead lets get to the ZOMBIES, OH NOOOO.

The name still feels misleading as fuck to me. Just look at this thread, the extent of our slave trade was glossed over in one line. One fucking line and that was it. And now the rest is all about this whole World-Killer business.

>>20656275
So what's the status of the Pens again?

>>20656267
>>20656252
You decide to review the slave pens in your afternoon.

With Stag-Horn as escort you return to the dilapidated, over crowded building. You arrive without fanfare to see your men herding a crowd out. Whip cracks kept feet moving, and staves kept them in line.

The group being sent out to the Turtle Islands, and in time too. You were expecting a new bulk of chattel in the coming weeks, and you badly needed the room to keep them. You had heard sugar plantations were a cruel place, a slave was bound to die young and miserable from accident or disease.

Bad for them, very good for you.

All that mattered was keeping disease out of your pens from depleting your stock. You had a group of men assigned to seperate the sick from the healthy. Those who could recover and be sold were brought back to health. Those who couldn't, well, public health was important. A swim in the swamp waters or a trip to the arena bear pits, either way room was made for healthy stock.

It all moved with an efficiency your grandfather had invested time into cultivating. The sold stock was herded out, most of them happy for a chance to leave their cramped conditions even momentarily.

One boy tried to break from the pack and run. A stave shattered his knee. A second blow to the head ended his squealing. Not a pleasant sight, but it kept the rest from causing trouble.

>>20656296
Like I said last thread, I had thought about changing the name since it got derailed very quickly off slave trading as the priority, but I decided not too. I'm sorry you don't like the direction it took, but that's what happens. And frankly you are exaggerating the lack of slave trading in this thread and others.

>>20656318
Have the body cleaned up. Examine it as it is, attempt to estimate the boy's age.

>>20656318
Good, business as usual. Everything running smoothly. We keep the sick separated, all that jazz.

Talk to the foreman about more comprehensive disease prevention methods and do a Cost/Benefit analysis of whether slightly better living conditions will pay for themselves by having less slaves die and thus more to sell.

>>20656352
We should at least consider cleaning out the empty pens before they get refilled, maybe give the slaves some "On the Job training" cleaning up after themselves.

>>20656318
The sale of chattel was the bread and butter of the zahak family, and there was always demand for more workers. Rumours of a mountain of silver in the far south had pricked ears at the prospect of selling cheap labour for such dangerous work. The short life cycle of most slaves meant there was also a reliable source of repeat customers. The farmers out west had less demanding, lossing less and building families from the slaves they held, but island work was more fraught with peril. They had no renewable source for slaves, life was too brutish and short for a family to grow, so the Zahak pens were constantly flowing as a result.

It was only with Ramon, your father, that more specialised trading had been possible. Gladiators and pleasure slaves sold as much to the individual as an entire order of chattel if the deal was well made.

>>20656345
>>20656352
>>20656365
The boy couldn't have been older than Fio, it was hard to tell. They weren't well fed on the boats that brought them or in the pens. You call the foreman over and ask about the pens.

"Oh yes sir, we'll have the ones left over clean 'em out nice and proper. The lash is a great motivator," he nodded enthusiastically. "Disease is always a problem being so close to the swamps, but we do what we can. Can't let the whole lot die, and they are quick to point out any that are sick fer fear of dying themselves."

"We could use a bit more solid walls. Some of the small ones have been slipping through out into the city. Just a once over would save us lost stock. Your brother weren't too concerned with maintaining the buildings proper, or much of anything. Shouldn't cost much, put it at fifty to get the walls in order. Maybe another twenty to replace the mouldy old pallets we been using for em to sleep on."

>>20656296
Is there anything you actually -like- about it? I'm glad your at least giving it an honest chance, and I'm not going to demand you get out of my thread since negative feed back can be as important as positive, but throw me a bone here!

>>20656400
Seventy total? We're not building a prison here. Tell him to do what he can with Fifty Five.

>>20656400
We just made multiple times that earlier today. Moldy pallets means disease sticks around and mold fucks their lungs up enough that people don't want to buy them, escaped stock is both lost money and gives us a bad rep.

We can pay for that. Make it so. Fix them both.

>>20656425
His jolly demeanour fell and a scowl crossed his face, but he kept his thoughts to himself. "As you say sir, we should be able to shore up some of it with that amount. Not quite the full renovation I thought you had in mind."

He dofs his feathered cap and you pass him a purse of money.

"As the Zahak family wishes, we are compelled to obey," he limped off muttering under his breath, to low to make out.

The hour was stretching late, and your dinner appointment was fast approaching. The Mockingjay Lounge was near the Arena and the streets would be crowded soon. If you wanted to make it on time you would have to leave now, and collect any assistance you wanted along the way.

>>20656451
Okay ignore this.

>>20656440
>>20656425
You two roll off or come to an agreement.

>>20656400
"Well by all means! Sleeping on mold, no wonder they keep getting sick. I'd be sick too if I put mold on my face and breathed deeply for several hours. And if they go and catch a chill wind from having no proper walls - to say nothing of the reputation of escaped slaves, gods it's a wonder they aren't all dead already!"

Give him (or whoever we can trust to get it done) the money for some half decent walls and some bedding. Might also consider looking into the quality of the food, and if we can increase it without spending much. Even just adding some salt to the gruel can do wonders for both mood and health.

rolled 82 = 82

>>20656451
Head there, grab out men on the way, have them get there space reasonably evenly before and after us and spread themselves in the building, have Staghorn right with us as well as one of the new hires, maybe the jungle chick.

Rollan
>>20656440

rolled 58 = 58

>>20656457
Rolling to pay 55.

And if a single piece is spent on we'll have his ass in the sling.

>>20656458
In case it's not clear, I'm a third person voting for spending the full amount.

>>20656459
>>20656463
The dice have spoken. Full price it is, but heaven help him if he doesn't use every last piece building those walls.

>>20656459
No need to roll.
>>20656458
You decide you have made more than enough profits to waste a bit on maintaing the lifeblood of your family's wealth. You pgive him the money in full and insist he changes the pallets at least once a month. You add also that a certain amount of salt should be bought to add to the gruel Nothing too expensive, just enough to bolster their constitution. You weren't running a hospice after all, but one bad season could leave a trading family in ruins.

You arrange for your men to be brought to you immediately as you head off for the lounge. The sun was sinking and you were in a rush to beat the evening crowds.

With you when you reach the lounge in Ben Cohen, Bart Cooper, Ashanti Bast, Stag-Horn and Dawnstar. Joe had other business to attend to and Captain brighton said some such about not being your dogsbody. A number of the rank and file came with Bart, viewing a chance to drink at the Mockingjay as a classier form of pub crawl. You arranged for Juno to stay behind to avoid needlessly antagonising the Stonesnake.

You are admitted without worry, Stag-Horn at one shoulder and Ashanti at the other. She still wore her armour and leopard skin, causing quite the stir in the upper class crowd.

You spotted Artur Stonesnake immediately, outside a private booth. He waved at you over the heads of the eating nobles, a smile slashed across his face.

>>20656526
How are you going to play this meeting? What's the plan?

>>20656526
I have a sinking feeling about the psychotic paranoid zealot smiling as he meets us. Okay lets exchange some pleasant greetings, introduce any new faces and pray he doesn't get too crazy with the cheezwiz.

>>20656546
Remember Juno's advice. Play it respectful, humble, don't stride in all cocky, be pleasant and courteous. If he rants don't smartass him, we're trying to appease him right now.

One greetings are out of the way we can move on to discussing a truce, that we're not actually enemies we just happened to rub each other the wrong way. We don't want any more fighting, we've lost too much already. Then transition into talking about Jericho how likely it is to be the place of the World Killer instead of good ol' traditional Narleen. Mention the terrorists, the social upset it's causing, how we ourself were attacked by gun wielding fanatics from there.

>>20656546
Politely, and humbly. Act as if we're only meeting a man of his political station rather than his spiritual one, but don't ignore the latter either. Try to let the topic of the world-killer come up naturally, try and see if he really thinks it's us or something.
Be honest, but not disrespectful about our opinion of his possession magic. That opinion being that it's about as distasteful and repugnant as a plague.
Tell him that we don't believe that we need to be on opposing sides, at least for the time being. That to struggle against each other as we have been can only weaken and distract the both of us.

Explain that because of both that and because our family has asked us to make peace with him, we'll offer up the location of where both ourselves and the other Crusaders we've met feel the most chaos as Jericho.
Also spell out we're not making any promises if he seeks out that location, and that if it were quite so easy to find a world-killer he'd already be gone, but that we think it a strong lead.

>>20656547
>>20656574
You decide to follow your advisor's sage advice. Keeping a forced smile on your face, you dip the man a courteous bow.

"Ah, yes, now you are polite," Stonesnake dips one back and together you enter the booth. He gave your escorts an amused smile. "I would have brought my own, but Tauro is currently killing some poor boy in the Arena. Never much cared for bloodsport, but I'll not deprive my friend of his hobby. Now, we have things to discuss."

"Indeed my lord. It has come to my attention that we are at war over a misunderstanding. We've both bled, we've both suffered. We should take measures to end it."

"Agreed. Let this be my first term, I want my property back. Those two girls your brother gave me. Please, return them to me."

>>20656617
Snowballs chance in hell.

>>20656617
Explain that, although we sell people for a living, we do so with the understanding that they will still be people at the end of it.
What he did to them was beyond what our own conscience can bare, but offer him full monetary recompense with 50% extra for his troubles. (assuming we can actually afford that anyway.)

>>20656617
My good man, it would simply not do for a member of the Zahak family to sell damaged goods to a customer. Would a potter give a customer broken porcelain? I think not.

I insist that I keep them, I've grown somewhat fond of them anyways, they are in a state where they won't be of use to you, and I will find replacements of some sort without charge. If I did otherwise how could I call myself a Zahak?

>>20656632
Don't put it like that.

>>20656617
Slavery is one thing, but the binding this fucker is putting people through is just plain fucked up. I agree with >>20656647 and the idea of monetary compensation but I don't like the idea of dealing flesh with someone like him.

>>20656665
Agreed, sending more people to him is just fucking wrong on several levels.
I mean, I know a lot of the slaves we sell are going into some pretty messed up lives, but there's a line between that and perverting the essence of their being.
We have to take a stand against perverting the natural order like that, if not as a Crusader, then at least as a man.

>>20656682
>>20656665
>>20656649
>>20656647
>>20656632
You phrase it as tactfully as you can.

"I'm afraid those terms are unacceptable. While I do not dispute the deal you made with my brother I would like to say that what you do falls a little outside my moral framework. While I make no bones of the morality of the trade, what you do is both a step above and below. I sell people into a life of misery and pain, but they are still people. I will not be party to the perversion of the natural world itself.

The girls have become something of a fixture in my household, and mentally they are too fragile to be of use to you anyway.

If you wish I will provide monetary compensation, at above market value. If you wish. But the Zahak family will be selling you no more slaves. There is a precedent amongst my kin for drawing a moral line about who we do business with. It will not change, even for the royal representative."

Stonesnake's expression was very still, but slowly he smiled. "A 'moral' stand from a slave trader. How delightfully absurd.." Tea was brought for you both and you drank in silence.

He sighed. "For legalities sake, sixty gold lions and we have a deal. It is pennies to me however, so I will extract one other thing. A favour."

>>20656734
It does not take a shrewd businessman to request the terms, size and details of the favor before they acquiesce to any favors.

>>20656734
Smile, as if what we're saying is a joke, "Keeping in mind of course that I just objected to something on moral grounds," and then more seriously, "Name it and I'll do what I can."

>>20656734
All right lets hear the favor before we start planning his murder.

>>20656765
>>20656764
He smiles back. "Of course."

Leaning forward over steepled fingers his expression grows grave. "I fear the World-Killer has highly placed agents in the walls. The assassin that tried to kill you outside the bath house was not sent from me. I believe I've located the man. Dustin Half-Crow, a native witch of some standing in the low quarters. Kill him for me, and bring me his tongue."

>>20656811
Give the sicko his sixty crowns.
Let us look into this Dustin Half-Crow.

>>20656811
"That's quite agreeable. I'll look into the matter first thing tomorrow."

>>20656811
Do you really need the tongue that badly?

I can get him killed, but doing it in a way where an agent of mine is seen taking his tongue might be annoying or have people take notice.

>>20656852
"THE TONGUE IS THE KEY OBJECTIVE!" he madly declares, all but rising out of his chair.

>>20656852
Ask him what he wants the tongue for. I've a devious plan in mind.

>>20656858
"Okay, I'll get you your tongue. I was simply confirming whether it was for identification or something different. Calm down.

I share your sentiments that the World-Killer has agents here, there was the assassin, there are terrorists from Jericho running about, I have a feeling that these are related. Jericho is a place that is bringing much change, turmoil, violence, perhaps even war and death. I can't confirm anything but I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that the World-Killer set it up and my perhaps be operating out of there."

>>20656858
Peace sir, just a question. Though it is a curious request to make. What precisely do you intend to do with this man's tongue?

>>20656832
>>20656839
Despite his wild exclamation, you agree to see the job done, and tell him you will look into it tomorrow. He slides you a piece of parchment with an address scrawled on it. The name of a herbal shop, you recognise it as one Theresa frequents. you are even vaguely aware of the shop-keeper, an elderly half-breed man with a kindly demeanour.

You give him a note to draw the coin from a Zahak account and turn the conversation in another direction.

"I have heard inklings of a figure in Jericho banding together slaves, trying to upset the balance of the slave trade. If they were successful, the entire Empire could collapse."

Artur slowly nods.

"Perhaps it could benefit from a royal investigation."

"Are you suggesting the World-Killer is behind the Jericho legend?"

> roll a d100, get it over eighty, I'll give you four shots this time.

>>20656892
>>20656868
"you wouldn't understand," he said with an indulgent smile, "You've not been inducted into the Great Mystery."

rolled 89 = 89

>>20656898
"I believe it's the best lead I have on the World-Killer."

rolled 26 = 26

>>20656906
lets see if I can top that

>>20656905
Then dumb it down for me sir, if you please.

rolled 76 = 76

>>20656898
I'm suggesting it's possible. I'm not guaranteeing anything, but it fits what I've heard about him. Social upset, mass amounts of people flocking to an idea, all of that.

rolled 41 = 41

>>20656898
You're better trained and equipped to make that call. But it certainly sounds that way to this layman.

>>20656906
>>20656876
"A crusader's intuition is not to be ignored," he plays with the lace of his doublet. "Yes, that does sound likely. The Jericho bandits grow worse every year. I had heard they are moving towards assassinating public figures. You'd do well to keep your head down."

Dinner was brought and you ate mostly in silence. It was long, and extremely uncomfortable.

"When I have my tongue I will be on my way. But I will be back for Narleen. I smell something here, a rot that needs to be cut from our great Empire. You will do well to take care of such problems boy, because next time I will not be fencing with you."

He rose to leave and doffed an outrageously feathered hat.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a gladiator match to attend." And with that he was gone.

Leaving you with the hefty bill.

>>20656943
>Leaving you with the hefty bill.


Son of a...

>>20656943
Tell ourselves it's better than eating our sister's cooking and eat the bill.

>>20656943
Meh, we're not bad on money. We can take it.

Okay once we get Dustin dealt with we'll have this fuck out of our hair for a while. Life is good.

Business is running smoothly, we'll take care of this tomorrow, all is well.

After paying for this we should make sure Joe and Brighton get acquainted, tonight if possible, we may as well.

>>20656981
Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. Lets find out what he wants with this guy's tongue, and why he wants him dead.

He won't even pay his own damned bill, I'm not trusting him to shoot straight with us.

You arrange for the payment and depart.

Bart and his boys are forced out with you. They drunkenly stumble off, an air of hostility emanating from them. They'd be looking for a fight, and god help whoever they found.

With only Stag-Horn, Dawnstar and Ashanti Bast for company you proceed to the apartments kept for your employees. Something of a barracks for the thugs that wore the Zahak badge, you decide its time to live up to your promise to introduce Joe to Captain Brighton.

Joe, as commander of your forces, had been given Orion's old apartment. The old gladiator had kept it spartan, almost without decoration and completely neat.

Ashigaru was not so conscientious.

Already wine bottles were starting to litter the floor, and dirty robes were thrown around in piles.

Ashanti turned up her nose at the sight of the mess.

You didn't spot Joe at first, but you did spot the barrel of his rifle. He lay beneath a pile of the clothes, camouflaged and aiming that long barrelled devil.

"Announce yourself next time, I almost blew your head off," he said, climbing out from under the pile.

"You want to meet the gorgeous captain?" you asked.

His sour expression lifted. You took that for a yes.

The introduction was made at the Cunny. Brighton was knocking back drinks with her crew and Joe eased in seamlessly. They laughed at one another's jokes, and seemed to be hitting it off.

You return home, leaving them to their revelry.

You had a murder to organise, and in three days your family was expected to return, the funeral just two days after. And you still had Paravel to blackmail. A headache was building behind your eyes.

You needed a rest from all this nonsense.

>>20657043
He's gone, but you do have a witch on staff who could possibly answer that question.

>>20657045
No rest for the righteous, or for that matter us. Lets not put off tomorrow what we can take care of tonight, How about we case his workplace before we head off to bed.

>>20657048
And, have a word with our witch.

>>20657045
Well first thing to do is ask our resident magic expert Dawnstar what he could want with a man's tongue.

After that go to bed with Hildi and Silti and lock the door so that we're not interrupted by our sister this time.

I'm going to take a short break to recharge and we'll get back to it in about an hour or so.

I'm glad some people are still enjoying it, and I welcome the critics even if I get a bit defensive. Thanks for giving it a shot even if you didn't enjoy the overall experience.

>>20657108
My only complaint is that you don't run the game often enough. It's honestly one of the more intriguing settings I've seen in a quest thread. That combined with the fact that you don't squick easily and are willing to write out full scenes rather than fading to black make for a very entertaining read.

Hey OP, I'm the guy who asked you to continue the quest. So fucking glad you did!
Wish I checked Twitter yesterday, I though you said you were going to do the next thread in a week or two.

File: 1347193670405.png-(234 KB, 840x708, 1345689845230.png)

>>20657108

Just finished reading the archived threads. You are... pretty good. Especially enjoy how you've built the world, incorporating recognizable "real" cultures in a sensible way. "Old World Uropa" and such - it's still a pseudo-fantasy world, but in unspoken fashion, it's similar enough to our own world that you can "feel" like you know it without actually knowing all the details, or having a map.

Good writing, too.

He'll be going to Jericho?


Why, we might just get to hit two birds with one stone, getting rid of him permanently and conquering all those runaway slaves.

But first we need to get our gunfactory to majority stakes if not full property, and increase our fleet and army.

Seriously, if he can find it, we can follow, and simply have him die in the crossfire, if it is possible, making us one of the largest slave traders in Narleen with access to such a large slave pool and getting rid of that thorn in our side.

We have what, 40% of a gunfoundry and some one or two hundred armed men plus one ship?

That is a farcry needed to conquer what is most likely a city.

Most likely we will need at least four or six ships and one and a half or two if not three thousand armed men.

We can increase their effectiveness by organizing them into a pseudo tercio with the elements being orbiting horsemen groups, pike and shot, and outsourcing order and policing to slave hunters and slave drivers, by simply converting the entirety of Jericho into one massive slave pen.

>>20657344
We might get a fair share more than 40%, we have Paravel by the short hairs now and he doesn't know it yet. We might be able to get the full thing, though more realistically we'll hopefully get 60-80% of it.

War profiteering off of the conflict by slaving POWs, injured, citizens of Jericho if it gets taken out, that could make some money. But for something like that we'll want to ally ourself with the other major trading houses around here to avoid too much bickering and to actually get the manpower. Considering we're on good terms with the Wolfsburgs and the Branaghs we're in a good position to do that.

Right, I'm back.

Give me one second more.

>>20657092
>>20657087
You decide it is in your best interest to quiz Dawnstar about the whole 'tongue' business.

She is taken aback by the question. "You would be thinking me knowing what the dark half is?" her anger was thick, bringing out a touch of pidgin. "The Stone-Snake be the one who murdered my master. That hougan-bokor, the only tongue you need is his!"

It was as furious as you had ever seen her. Her chest heaved with fury, her face was flushed, and her eyes were cast in shadow. Slowly she took calming breaths, composed herself. "This one may use tongues to know secrets. Nail a tongue to a wall, or put it in the skull for a spirit to find. Secrets maybe shared. Or perhaps stranger still. I do not know much about that side of things."

She took another breath. "Promise me you will kill this one when he returns."

>>20657424
I'll be dropping in from time to time. I am again playing Gothic 2 with some new german mods, and id rather have it finished before start of workday tomorrow.

Still if there will be need for economic advice i will suspend that.

>>20657108
It's a great quest, very interesting and different. Don't let the critics get you down.

>>20657451
If all goes well I might be the one to greet him before he enters on the return trip. A lot of things can happen far away from civilization.

>>20657451
"I was thinking that you would know far more than I. I'm more or less ignorant as far as this goes. I'm sorry that I insulted you, it was out of ignorance rather than malice.

Dawnstar, he will die, preferably by my hands. But I can't deal with him just yet and if I want to succeed at what needs to be done I can't be wasting my strength on him just yet. So I need him out of the way, and this is how I can do it.

But eventually his head will be on a pike for all to see what happens to men like him."

Give her a hug.

>>20657451
Dawny, I will do what I think is best for my family, my staff and my associates as only I can.

Based on your reaction, I assume it'd be impertinent to ask if you could find out the secrets from the tongue, right? Unfortunate.

>>20657466
>>20657480
You confess you did not mean to insult her, your lack of knowledge concerning this stuff more apparent than ever. You swear he will die however, by your hand or otherwise. He had killed too many friends for his life to ever be more than forfeit.

You wrap her in a tight embrace and she hesitantly hugs you back. She looks up at you, leans up on the balls of her feet and kisses you lightly on the chin.

"You are not a good person, Estavo," she said, "But a good person would not be able to do what you need to." She slips from your arms and over to the door.

"Ayoo aniinish'ni."

>>20657526
With Dawnstar's departure you are left to your own devices. Do you search for Half-Crow, or turn your attention to other pursuits?

>>20657526
>"Ayoo aniinish'ni."

"Gesundheit"

>>20657526
...

Right, lets get us some rest and wake up early tomorrow and investigate this Mister Half-Crow.

>>20657535

Okay, finally caught up.

I'm not really certain how we are going to blackmail whatshisname.
We just have a young boy with an outrageous tale. We are going against a powerful judge. It is our word against his ..... especially now that we blew up that place (which was a bad idea imo, now we don't have any evidence against him).

So..... lets get Juno, our personal slave, and ask him for advice on this matter. Of course, share all the relevant information first.

>>20657535
It's late, we've had a long ass day, we'll deal with him on the morrow.

Perhaps tell some people to stake the place out, or have someone send a message to do so.

I'm thinking we go to bed with Silti and Hildi and sleep with them sexually, and remember to lock the door this time so our sister doesn't interrupt.

>>20657558
"The trick," Juno set around a mouthful of apple, "Is to make him believe you have more than you do. Paranoia works wonders. Tell him you not only have the boy, you have the one who pimped him. you have the names of men connected to the trade. You have everything you need to pin him to the wall. If you are as good as I think you are, it should be enough.

If not, tell Cooper to beat the man to death next time he is alone. You are on much better terms with the son as opposed to the father."

>>20657563
>>20657551
So go straight to bed, or go straight to bed with the girls?

>>20657591
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vem__5si6Us

>>20657594
Bed with the girls, lock the door, kiss them, see where it goes from there.

>>20657625
No protests? Incoming sex scene.

>>20657594
>>20657625

I would advise to have a good, relaxing, sensual massage and then see where it goes.
We are tired and stressed after all

>>20657591
Well, I hope we will have some good anons who can manage that....

>>20657687
Is our sister in the apartment?

>>20657716
That's what locking the door is for. And maybe earplugs.

>>20657727
Can't believe we must deal with that shit, come on.

Isn't the mansion that our brother used to live ours now?


Btw, how much dosh do we have?

> NSFW text dump incoming, sorry for being tasteless in advance.

You had slept many a night with the girls, but never 'with' them. Ever since you first glanced upon them in your brother's company you had been taken by their looks, their grace and unconscious sensuality. Taking the time to lock the door before stripping down, your intense manner drew them toward you.

They helped you unfastened your trousers. They slipped off your under shirt. Their fingers worked down your muscles, Hildi down your back, Silty down your chest.

Silti was down to your knees, her hand cupping you through your small clothes, she looked up at you with an intense, hungry expression.

Long nights you had spent between them, feeling them. But something had kept you from acting on your urges. Your sister's disapproval? Their damaged mental state?

But they were recovering now, and your sister you dismissed as a prude. There was nothing innocent in their eyes as they loosed you out of your under garments, as they took your length in hand.

>>20657687
I'd say lets not indulge. I'd rather we courted the girl we were at the bathhouse with...

That and we are tired and need to get up early next morning so we are more in a all work no play mood...

>>20657760
Their quick pink tongues worked over you, brought you up and harder still. It was too much to bear. You grabbed Silti by the hand and dragged her up. Your mouth found hers, your mouths met and your tongues writhed. You drew Hildi up and made the same with her. You tried forcefully, clumsily, to kiss them both at once.

All three of you collapsed backwards into a heap on the bed, your hands finding one another. Twisting, pinching, slapping, drawing out pleasure. You drew one onto your lap and the other onto your chest. They worked in tandem, they worked each other as your tongue made a mess of Hildi. Her cries were high pitched little notes. Silti gave deeper, hard groans.

You brought them either side of you and worked them with your large thick fingers while they pumped you with mouths and hands. They competed, the first spark of individuality you had seen, trying to draw the deeper groan from your chest. And then they bickered even as they came, trying to push the other aside as they attempted to mount you. They became frenzied, biting one another hungrily. Hildi's soft white bosom was soon covered in red bite marks and Silti had blood on her cheeks. Hildi licked the wound with her tongue, and Silti returned the affection with a lick of Hildi's neck.

It became almost as if you weren't there, your ministrations peripheral to the pleasure and comfort they gave one another. But soon their attention returned to the pulsation between your legs.

It was a long night, and not at all restful. It ended on their backside, set side by side for your viewing pleasure. They enjoyed cleaning each other up while you finally slept, satisfied for the first time in nights.

> not quite so tasteful this time

>>20657768
Too late! Sorry dude.

It has been some time since you last called in one Ilsa Wolfsburg.

>>20657768
We're not courting these girls, we can still pursue Ilsa. Hell given Ilsa's proclivities it's possible we'll be able to do her, Hildi and Silti at the same time.

We should see if we can join her for a poetry reading some time soon.

You awake a tired mess. The day was high, you had slept through the morning between the two buxom girls. A hammering was coming on your door, shouts muffled from outside. It seemed urgent.

>>20657831
well shit, lets see whats up

>>20657831

Wedge your foot behind the door before you crack it open, lest somebody fling it open in agitation and alarm and reveal the tableau behind you.

Don't want our darling sister getting overexcited, after all.

>>20657831
Get up, cover oursleves with a robe and see whats going on. Also this >>20657843

>>20657840
>>20657843
>>20657846
You get up, cover yourself with a robe, and crack the door open to get a look at just what was bringing Doom to your doorstep.

Your sister's nostrils flared, her eyes were wide with rage, but a carefully wedged foot kept her from bursting through the doorway.

"I heard you fucking them last night. You woke up half the street," she spat with burning venom, "They are not in their right minds, they can't even think for themselves. How could you?"

File: 1347199061479.jpg-(16 KB, 312x400, young robert e lee.jpg)

>>20657874
"You mad, abolitionist?"

>>20657909
Errmm, don't say this please.

>>20657874
We need to get our own place.

"We were fucking each other, it was not simply me fucking them. All three of us did it because we enjoyed it, they are recovering well, they initiated it just as much as I did. I can say quite easily that they can think for themselves.

Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

File: 1347199278108.jpg-(21 KB, 400x500, 132257164520.jpg)

>>20657909

This fucking post

is glorious

>>20657874
Actually, my dear sister, they were more sane then ever last night. They finally showed independent thought and intentions.

If you honestly care, i can go into detail about it, but somehow i think your decorum prevents it from taking it in a purely analytical standpoint.

>>20657874

"To be honest, they kind of jumped me. I don't know I could've held them off if I wanted. The Nord especially. Look at her. I think she could kick my ass, come to think of it."

Actually, it was the other way around. It would have been impossible to keep them of me.
In fact, I think I saw the first spark of individuality in them since I saved their lives.

Anyway, was there anything else?

>>20657933
"I-I'm leaving Estavo. You've lied to me for too long. About the slavery, about the girls. I can't live with you while you continue to live a lifestyle that is just so wrong to me. I thought we could change. I thought we could find a compromise.

Lord Paravel has offered to let me stay with him, their family, until I can arrange for a place of my own. I had been planning this for some time, but last night pushed it over the edge.

I can sell you my share of the business, or maybe sell it to Lord Jean. The money should get me through the year. I can find my way from there.

I'm sorry Estavo, you've just broken my heart one time too many."

She draws away from the door, her fury gone, tears spilling down her cheeks.

>>20657974
Shit. We need that foundry business. Someone write something good, fast. Maybe tell her about how fucked up Paravel is? I don't know

>>20657974
...

?

...

Right, ok How about we get her, apologize, and tell her that since it is her house, we are the ones to be leaving, since we cannot bear the guilt of having run our sister away.

We will be sleeping in the Zahak offices, if it gets down to it, or a hotel. And if she does intend to sell her shares in the gun foundry We would very much like to get the first option on them before it gets public or known to anyone else, jet urge her not to do such a thing since she would be better in buisness.

Still, we really are sorry for having abused of her hospitality, and we shall make ourselves scare until she can speak to us again.

>seriously we cant have our sister as a hostage to Paravel, no fucking way. let that silver tongue work its moneys worth.

>>20657993
Our business partner wasn't Paravel, was it?
I keep forgetting and mixing their names.

>>20657974
Well fuck.

"Tessa, please sit down. I'm not going to stop you from leaving if that's what you really want, though I will miss you dearly.

But I can not have you stay with Jean Paravel. I have my reasons, damn goods ones, and if you ever trusted me you will accept that. But if you don't I will tell you them. But I'd prefer not, I'd hate to burden you with any of this, it'd break my heart to have to assault your innocence with truths, but if it's needed to keep you safe I will.

Tessa, talk to me, please."

>>20657993
I dont think telling her about Paravels intent now would be well received beyond looking like a cheap jab at her would be saviour.

>>20658016
It wasn't her apartment, was it? We were just sharing it.

Anyway, we have that big-ass mansion our dear brother, bless his soul, left us.

>>20658018
Yes it was.

>>20658016
Seconding this while we still have time.

>>20658032
You have a point, I was grabbing at straws.

>>20658041
Thirded and lets hope to god it works.

>>20658039
Well dang,
okay lets do this then >>20658016 if we can't salvage situation.

>>20658018
Jean Paravel was indeed your business partner.

>>20658016
You slip out of your room and find her weeping on the sofa. You lightly touch her bare shoulder ad bring her face around.

"I'm sorry, Terra," you say, "I'm sorry for being how I am. You'll not have to run. This is your home. I'll leave. The offices have enough room to keep me. The barracks are never completely full. Do not cash out of the business yet. It needs you, it only exists because of you. Give it until after Esteban's funeral. If you still want to be rid of me, the family by then, sell the shares to me. In trust I'll keep them, waiting for you, or your children."

You kiss her lightly on the brow.

"Estavo," her eyes welled up again, and she poured out the last of her grief against your chest.

>>20658053
>>20658041
well then write something. i am not very good beyond making bullet points and underpinnings.

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>>20657974

Tell her she's right.

Tell her that I doubt the sincerity of her opposition to the slave trade, that it seems more like high-minded rhetoric (much like popular religion, actually) then conviction born deep of her soul. She grew up around the family business, watching little boys have their knees smashed before their skulls in quick order, but I don't recall her voicing much complaint till after that preacher got in her head.

What we don't doubt is how she jumped into my lap and wept with joy when she thought she'd "saved" me. Or how she revealed, in that moment, that she'd been living with me as part of a crusade to bring me around to the "right" path. There's no rhetoric in that. There's just love.

And that's why we want her to flee - to Emilio, our noble and forthright brother, whom we love also. As far from that snake Paravel as possible. Tell her to go to Emilio and to take the two girls with him, and to live a good life, free and upstanding, because if they don't, anything and everything I do here is without meaning. Tell her that high ideals can only be realized through low deeds, and I'm the kind of low man that can do it. If she doubts, tell her to ask Dawnstar of it.

I love her. I want her safe. Even from me.

>>20658070
Hug her, hug her like we've never hugged before. Make her feel mother fucking secure. This will be fixed, or we will get the shares to that foundry. Something positive will become of this damn it

>>20658071
Implying I am

>>20658070
Hug her close, stroke her hair and lightly sing some old song we both loved as kids.

"I'm sorry Terra, I can't be the man you want me to be."

>>20658070
All right, let get packing. And assuming she doesn't want us to leave, from now on we fuck the slaves at the mansion and not here.

>>20658177
Hey, Hilty and Sildy are not our slaves!

>>20658196
Fine, but no more fucking the mentally incompetent women at our goddamned sister's apartment ya damned horndogs.

>>20658177
>>20658097
>>20658088
>>20658074

You hold her close for a time, until finally she pulls away. no longer upset but still a mess, you can see on her face she hasn't forgiven you, but she managed a smile.

You are about to talk further but she stops you.

"There's nothing left to say," she said, drawing up her dignity like a mantle. She withdrew to her private chambers, leaving you alone in the parlour.

But the day's deeds will not wait on family drama. You had a man to kill, and a tongue to collect.

>>20658177
Technically they aren't our slaves. We sold them, kinda sorta rescued and fixed them, and their actual legal status is rather vague.

But in practice they pretty much are. Not that we'd really abuse that fact.

>>20658213
So much this.

>>20658213

In our defence, they really, really wanted it. I mean, how many times can a man wake up between two gorgeous women before giving in?

>>20658219
Okay, okay first. Lets grab up the mot physically strong associates we can trust, that'd be Ashanti and..who?

Next, we case the joint, find out when it opens and when it closes. We'll meet up with him at closing time. And let's not get too ahead of ourselves with this killing business.

>>20658219
Right then, let's get this done.

First we arrange a stake-out of the location, we want to hit him when he's alone.

Second we arrange a good way of disposing of the body. Whatever the standard method of dealing with it in this city is, whether it be river and stones, pig farm, just finding an ally and dumping them.

Last we have him killed, his tongue removed and wash our hands of the matter.

>>20658213
You're no fun at all.

>>20658252
Bart Cooper and Stag-Horn are physically powerful. Joe Ashigaru might be as well, but he seems to have a low opinion of his actual close quarter skills.

>>20658257
Not ally, I meant alleyway.

I'm sure a city like Narleen has plenty of rather nasty alleyways around. I'd prefer river or something like that as dead dudes with missing tongues is suspicious, also we should probably make sure that he isn't immediately recognizable.

>>20658257
I'LL SHOW YOU FUN ASSHOLE!

I still don't think we should plan too far ahead on killing Dustin, any enemy of Stonesnake is a potential ally of ours right?
We should at least ask Half-Crow why he'd want him dead before we go ahead with it.

>>20658278
> We should at least ask Half-Crow why he'd want him dead before we go ahead with it.

Then we will get attached to the character and feel bad killing him.

In handling this matter we may want the input of our loyal and paid hirelings. We should only ask their aid in "tracking" said individual; leave the final dirty work our own secret. They are NEW hirlings, after all. They are no Orion.

While we're at it, we should ask Desmond to see to having Orion interred in the family mausoleum - or having a suitable sepulcher built for him, if it has not been attended to already. We pay our debts; all of them.

And lastly, we should set some men on Theresa as a bodyguard. Paravel might decide to push back - hard.

>>20658278

Apparently, this guy did try to waste us.

>>20658278

I second this. Let's find out a thing or too first.

As you mull over whether or not you will actually kill the man, you arrange for some of your men to scope out his work place. Like most tradesmen he lives above the shop.
At your offices you talk to one of your employee's about digging up some information on Mr Dustin Half-Crow. Bart Cooper claims he can manage it 'no problem', mentioning again his previous experience working for both the city constables and the cartel.

He slinks off with a couple of his rough lads.

>>20658287
Or not kill him at all and use him to betray Stonesnake in a hilarious manner.

I'm willing to risk feeling bad for a chance like that.

>>20658317

Shit. Just remembered that Theresa frequents the herbal shop he's at. We should ask her about him.

>>20658290
You talk to Desmond about interring Orion's remains in the family crypt. He tells you this was always the intention. He was a sworn brother of both your father and grandfather, swearing fealty by an old world custom after being granted his freedom.

A wake is arranged for the night, a small affair down at the Cunny, where a posting for his funeral would be made. The man had friends in every rough quarter.

Good help was hard to come by, you hoped at least one of your new hirelings would make a suitably trustworthy replacement.

Desmond informs you that the day's business was proceeding well, and when you planned to arrange your meeting with Master Paravel. The mention brought Fio to mind, squirreled out in the swamp hut. You seem set on putting him in Emilio's care, but Emilio would not arrive for at least another day yet.

This reminds you of the potential danger to your sister. You arrange for Ashanti to be her shadow for the day, to protect her from danger.

>>20658365
I'd rather not. If we start asking about him and within 24 hours he disappears I think even our dear sister will notice something is up. I mean that isn't exactly a Holmesian task of deduction.

>>20658365
Wouldn't that be a mite suspicious if he later 'disappeared'?

Your sister is an unreliable source of information, she is completely unaware of Jean Paravel's indiscretions for one.

>>20658409
Agreed, dont ask her

Speaking about Fio. We should at least get more information out of him. Names, people, places that he might now.
We need to pressure Paravel, don't we? It would be better if we had more information.

>>20658385
I think the swamp hut will be safe for the time being. But not for that long.

We need somewhere safe and not connected to us. Does anyone have any clever ideas?

We will have a hard time once Paravel knows we have him. He'll be looking and Fio won't be safe until he's out of the city.

>>20658396
>>20658409

I'm on the fence about killing him. I have a mighty bad feeling that Stonesnake is setting this guy up.

>>20658454
But we already agreed to do it.

>>20658454
Oh he's almost certainly being set up. Or Stonesnake wants something he knows but won't tell.

He could be an evil bugger who Jean is perfectly right in killing, but forgive me if I don't put any money on that possibility.

The question isn't whether keeping him alive is more important than getting Stonesnake the FUCK OUT of Narleen so we have some breathing room to work with. Because him sticking around here is VERY bad for us.

>>20658454
>Stonesnake is setting this guy up

Setting HIM up? Hah. As soon as we waste him the town watch will kick down the door and scream BLOODY MURDER at us, if we're not very, very careful. Stonesnake already has what he wants from us - information. He has no reason NOT to fuck us over right now.

>>20658483
I agree, although this guys death probably isn't a good thing for anyone, for now it needs to happen.

>>20658493
Also agreed

>>20658483
So building a consensus, is the best course of action breaking into his house, questioning him about a number of things (why did you try to off me? What does Stoney want with you? To start with) and decide from there what to do from that point?

>>20658493
Unlikely, he wants that tongue. I don't think his outburst was a lie meant to make us think he wanted it, there are too many supernatural uses for tongues and if he just wanted to frame us he wouldn't have us go after a witch like that. If he wastes us he won't get the tongue, which probably will inform him of all sorts of things.

>>20658522

Lets take this one step at a time. First we need to find him - that entails stakeouts, shadows, working our underground contacts, the whole nine yards. That gives us ample oppertunity to observe the situation and learn what we can before loosing the quarrel.

I'm glad Orion is being looked after properly, and Ashanti is the best choice for guarding Theresa - a woman is more low-key then a big hulking bruiser of a man; thus more suited to watching Theresa without complaint and less suited for our clandestine work downtown.

Well, as long as she takes off that leopard skin for a little bit. Or at least hides it under a cloak.

>>20658522
when did he try to off us?

>>20658540

That is a very good point. Of course, there are others whom could use blackmail materiel on us. We will have to be... delicate in our handling of the matter.

For now you decide the best course of action is to get some more information from Fio. not being needed at the office, you throw on your half-cape, beckon over Stag-Horn and head out for the hut.

Dawnstar had said she was keeping the place preserved, to keep the swamp from 'eating it', but a girl working on her own in her off hours was having trouble. Vines were starting to find their way around the walls and you kicked a possum out of the way to get in.

You find Fio working hard on the edge of a machete, one left by Nualla what felt an age ago. He say you and nodded.

It was understandable that the boy was not the cheerful sort. Stag-Horn gave him a friendly pat on the head.

"I need you to help me Fio," you say. "I need to know names, places, dates if you know them. I need everything."

He nods and scratches out the details as best he could. They had been owned by a pair named Mister Green and Mr Bushie, low down scum of an enterprising nature. Their clients had come from a number of fields, and not all of them had been men.

One was a woman you managed to identify as a Lady Maragites, a perfumer of some fame.

Jean Paravel features heavily, and you discover the man you had killed was named Marcus. Green and Bushie were still out there, somewhere in the Pit.

You also know the constable on their payroll, a young bruiser named Angelo.

Its enough, you hope.

>>20658574
Stonesnake tells us he's the one who hired a guy to waste us. Assuming this is even remotely true, I'd like to know why.

>>20658586
Of course, but I don't think the fucking over of us is going to come from Stonesnake, this time.

We take it careful, we research it, we get him alone, we get the questions answered, we off him, we get the tongue and we dispose of the body thoroughly.

>>20658595
Paravel ought to be paranoid as fuck about someone finding out.

We have the basket of tart apples, maybe name drop one or two people, smile and don't expand on how much we really know, how we know, when we found out, all of that. If we do that he'll assume the worst.

>>20658574

Snakestone told us he didn't send the swarthy tulwar-wielding assasin that jumped us outside the bathhouse; that he thinks it was this man, a "native witch."

Remember what was said of the World-Killer - it doesn't always manifest as something evil. It seems more consistently to be something that upsets the status quo, eliminating one evil, but bringing greater and more widespread calamity by dint of that. The American Revolution spawned America, a land of unparalleled freedom, prosperity and opportunity... but the seeds of our most dreadful Civil War were already planted in fertile earth even before the Constitution's draft was complete. The French revolution, patterned on the American one, was undeniably a revolt against centuries of oppression and wrongdoing, but it led to unimaginable tragedy and bloodshed... much like the Communist revolution in Russia, which eventually brought us to the brink of nuclear Armageddon.

Long story short, as a "crusader" the agents we stand against sure as hell may be much better and wholesome men then we are. That means people trying to kill us may likely be similar.

Whether or not you plan to kill the man, by the time you return to the office a report is on your desk. Bart Cooper's hand writing was chicken scratch. Which is remarkable, you hadn't thought him capable of writing. He gives rough times for all of Half-Crow's movements, very thorough.

You had spent the day corroborating some of what Fio had told you. Testimony of Constable Angelo coming by the Apple Cart to collect payment from neighbouring urchins. Lady Maragites' carriage being spotted sometimes, to hand out bread ostensibly, and duck into the now cindered brothel.

And a few witness testimonies of a tall, hooded man who could only be Lord Paravel haunting the area on some nights.

You are reminded that you had meant to set up a network of informants as you hand tin pennies out to the urchins. It was starting to come together.

>>20658681
>You are reminded that you had meant to set up a network of informants as you hand tin pennies out to the urchins. It was starting to come together.

Orion was going to manage that. Poor sod.
Yeah, we need to keep working on this, who could take Orion's place?

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>>20658681

>>20658719

Certainly Bart - he's a local man and at home in the rough parts of town. It's why we hired him. Seems he's made some headway there, already.

>>20658681
So how wide is out window of opportunity to get Half-cow? We should confront him first then deal with Paravel after the funeral?

Night comes and Orion's wake is in full swing. Ben Cohen is roaring drunk, an uncharacteristic sight, and all the old boys gather around to swap stories about that 'old hard one eyed bastard'. Even the new recruits come to join in the festivities.

You forgo drink, you need a clear head for the night's activities, but you appreciate the loud music smashing out across the docks, and the girls that danced with the drunken grievers, and all the flowing human mess of it all.

Men cried on each other's shoulders, men drew daggers and fought amongst the piss, vomit and sawdust. Men all raised a toast to a fallen commander, comrade and friend. The one drink you have before setting out is part of that raised cheer.

You need men who are sober and capable of doing what needs to be done. Who are you bringing to this little herbal store on this dank and dreary night?

>>20658775
Stonesnake wants it done as soon as possible, and sooner done the sooner he's gone.

I've just been looking at the archive, and someone really seems to hate this Quest.

>>20658817

We go find Stag-horn and perhaps Bart. Hopefully they haven't got too carried away

>>20658909
Also, thread archived.

So, if you don't want to do the business tonight, feel free to say so. You can wait a little while longer.

>>20658918
Bart and Stag-Horn are both relatively sober, though Stag-Horn is starting to inch further into drunk oblivion. For some reason he now has a gaudy bauble hanging from one of his ears.

"Fashion," he says, flicking the cheap piece.

You fill them in on what you might need them for and they nod, drawing up out of their seats to follow you into the night.

Was there anyone else you wanted to bring?

>>20658941
As many as possible without drawing too much attention. Maybe this witch can create "zombies"t oo .

>>20658941
Where's Ashanti?

>>20658968
Bart draws some of his boys out with you. He has dubbed them his 'rough necks' and says they are dependable. If they aren't, he would happily beat them to death for you at any time.

Bart leads you through some twisting aley ways to get you over to the herbalists. You are all clad in cloaks with the hoods drawn up.

Half-Crow's shop is a modest building, and Stag-Horn points out charms hanging from the windows. Fetish idols made from bird bones, to ward out evil spirits and warn of intruders.

"Caution now, I'll get them," he said, drawing his knife and ghosting on ahead.

One by one the bone idols are snipped carefully off the window frames. A smarter man would have hung them inside, though perhaps the magic did not work that way.

Stag Horn gave the signal and you crept up beside him.

The breathing of your thugs was heavy, they all stank of stale beer. You give the nod and Bart works the frame, silently slipping it up. One, two, three, the thugs slip through like eels and you are soon behind them. Even grotesquely big Bart manages to worm through the window.

The room is adorned with herbs and spices, the air rich with powerful aromas. The man must do good business, he had every kind of herb a customer could want, and exotic plants preserved in glass jars.

Bart points up the stair well.

> roll a d100, get over seventy, first three rolls only.

>>20659005
Guarding Theresa.

Okay, so end thread for the night? no one seems to be posting. I feel suddenly abandoned.

Its not a terrible place to leave off I suppose. Glad to get a pretty good game going after a rocky start. Thanks for playing.

Here's the quest twitter for anyone interested: https://twitter.com/EstavoZahak

See either next week or the week after.

rolled 68 = 68

No-one else here?

>>20659240
Dropped my name, but the Quest-Runner here. I'm okay with leaving it at a cliff-hanger. makes for an interesting opener for the next thread.

Getting pretty tired anyway, its quite late where I am.

>>20659263
Then I'd advise to wrap it up. When is the next S'sQ ?

>>20659284
Possibly next week or the week after. depends on work, depends on a few things.

Check the twitter for updates.

>>20656420
To be honest, not much. Theres not even a real sense of danger to it since everything is decided by consensus and the only diceroll I have seen so far determined the price of slaves and nothing more. I agree on consensus being used for what gets done, but there should be more chance involved in whether or not it is successful. There should also be more negative consequences for wholly good options. Rescuing this Fio boy should come back to bite our ass hard, or fixing up the slave pens should be so costly that you have to sell off half your slaves to break even, making it comfier for the remaining slaves, but dooming the rest to short, painful life elsewhere. So far, there has been no reason for the other slavers/nobility to massive dickbags that they are and nothing to tease Estavo down that same slope, which makes the whole thing just feel saccharine and phoney as all fuck.

>>20659318
I'm not going to change everything for one dude. I tried to meet you half way, but I can't rewrite past threads to suit what you see as 'quality' and I'm not going to completely overhaul the quest now.

I'm sorry you didn't like it, but frankly I just don't care about your opinion any more.

>>20659376
I'm not asking you to rewrite all the threads or even change it. Its just such a shame and pretty damn frustrating to see all these openings for moral dilemmas available left and right being cast aside in favor of some black and white quest to kill some BBEG and win all the girls just like every other quest out there. But apparently I'm the only one who feels this way so I will stop shitting up the threads.