Diarca shows up just as my game ends. Awesome. Let me get some food and let's totemist.

"Sounds fine. Know anything about the area where our visitors are?"

You are Osyki, newly promoted Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. Now, with the improvements to your village's defenses and infrastructure coming along smoothly, another group of humans has been spotted to the south, past the swamp. It's time to find out what these people want.

----------
[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem

The Cast Thus Far: http://pastebin.com/uwRsEHcX ]]

"You needn't feel obligated, though I would be glad to have both your guidance and company."

YEA TOTEMIST QUEST

"I gladly accept your help, anything to make the journey more safe"

>>21394783
This sums it up better than I can.

>>21394783
I like this.

>>21394783

You smile and shrug. "You needn't feel obligated, though I would be glad to have both your guidance and company," you say with an easy smile. "You know the swamps better than I do, though I'd understand if you'd prefer not to cross them."

He looks as though he's struggling with that for a moment, then shakes his head. "I'll be alright. I don't live in the swamp anymore. It doesn't have any power over me. Come on, let's go."

You walk (and slither) beside one another up to the border of the swamp in silence. Sipercro looks over to you, yellow irises like golden coins in the onyx field of his gaze.

"Here goes nothing."

>Roll 2d100

Rolled 61, 9 = 70

>>21394972
Here I go, ruining it for everyone.

Rolled 79, 70 = 149

>>21394972

Rolled 10, 73 = 83

>>21394972

+sniffs+

Ah, Totemist Quest....
YOU'RE BACK, DIARCA!

+coughs+

Actually I just got back as well, about a week ago, and just caught up with TQ from suptg. Imagine my happiness.
Though, I don't have a scanner now so can't drawfag for Osyki.

Notes:
- An Amal-Map/Book, he's a knowledge/advisor spirit, imagine what boon he could be when immersed in a knowledge repository
- A Tryd-Accessory, might grant light or sparks or soot for distraction or utilitarian purposes
- Try and upgrade those two spirits like how we are upgrading Boa
- Confirm with Sylvia whether or not the Village (Girsoch I think?) has some manner of protector spirit or if it falls under Sylv's own rule
- Does promoting Boa (pond to river) interfere with her position with Sylv?
- I am saddened by the probable revelation that Crystal Rock Turtle might not be intelligent enough to hold a conversation, his Focus is our first Feral Bind and a great one so far

Did you ever get to the 'How I Met Amal' flashback you promised?

Since Totems are lo-Focus, make some Injury/Endurance/Defense-related ones to carry around and share with Slayers.
Make one that is totally vegan (heh) for Walther.

>>21395004
>79, 70

The journey is a smooth one. Siperco leads you through back-paths and hidden trails through the swamp that are deceptively shallow. You would have mistaken them for any other flooded patch of murky water if he hadn't slithered right over them, his dark scaled tail sweeping the water behind him to reveal the path to you. You have one close call in which you nearly stumble into a hive of dog-sized hornets, but you catch yourself before you lose your balance and the two of you continue on.

As you pass one area of the swamp, a sudden chill runs down your spine. The plants here are twisted and dead, very unlike the vibrant domain of the Mother, and a low fog clings to the ground. The air itself seems dead here. You raise an eyebrow to Siperco, and he mutters in a low voice.

"This was the hunting ground of the Basilisk Wyrm before your master slew it." he explains.

>>21395156
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll have to visit its cave some time, but I'm busy right now and woefully unprepared as I have no idea what's in there.

I wonder how long it will take for the swamp to recover from the Basilisk's former presence."

You purse your lips, and you can feel your throat tighten. "I'll keep that in mind," you say quietly. "I'll have to visit its cave some time, but I'm busy right now and woefully unprepared as I have no idea what's in there. I wonder how long it will take for the swamp to recover from the Basilisk's former presence.

Siperco shakes his head. "If it ever recovers, I'll be surprised. I'm shocked your master managed to take it down. I don't think the world's ever seen a beast so viciously antithetical to mortal life."

The color slowly ebbs back into being as you make your way out of the late Wyrm's territory. As you approach the southern edge of the swamp, Siperco signals you to get ready to sneak.

>Roll 1d100 for stealth, and 1d100 for perception.

Rolled 89, 11 = 100

>>21395379
Sneaking!

Thankfully we have our awesome cloak of sneakiness, that should help.

Rolled 17, 95 = 112

>>21395379
We do have that shadow cloak active don't we?
Ah well, time to invoke the heart of the dice.

>>21395405
>>21395412
...Huh.

>>21395405
>>21395412
>dulyimpressed.jpg

My body is ready. Welcome back, Diarca.

Something I thought of during the break, on our buddy Thane. We were trying to figure out how in the hell he ended up being not only sapient, but incredibly competent. I came up with something else about the circumstances of how we bound him: Stalkers were supposed to be asleep during the day. There may have been more to that swarm of predators than simple bloodlust.

File: 1351833995234.jpg-(853 KB, 1000x708, Secret.jpg)

Guy planning offshoot here.

Things seem ready, but I need to get my writing ability and style harshly critiqued - if I'm not good, no point in ruining Totem quest with subpar writing.

Also, could use a couple of dudes for a private playtest to check that the world is complex enough for player choice to matter, and the system is simple enough that players won't get bogged down by numbers.

>>21395576
Another possibility: Ever read Lois McMaster Bujold's The Hallowed Hunt? Some magicians get their power by binding specially sacrificed animals to their souls. But if you sacrifice one animal to another you can strengthen the recipient, so that when you finally bind it to yourself you're that much more powerful. Could Thane be something like that? Or hell, maybe he's a paragon animal...

Rolled 28, 83 = 111

>>21395379
Gonna get a 3rd roll, just in case

>>21395576
Didn't we work out that the spirit we were talking to - about hiding, pacts, and blood costs - was what we ended up binding?

>>21395405 >>21395412
>89, 95

You step forward into the shadows of the canopy and become one with them. Nocturne's Embrace clings to your form, sublimating soft strands of inky darkness that only your eyes perceive. Siperco's eyes widen as you vanish from the earth before him, no more than a wisp in the breeze.

You stalk forward in this manner, reappearing once every few minutes for the briefest instant that it takes you to cross an arrow-thin patch of sunlight into the next shaded ground.

Blinking through the forest in this manner, you hear the sound of footsteps. Heavy, clanking, these are not the light footfalls of a scouting party or the sneaking steps of a survivalist. You hear a soldier's stride in the harsh clang of iron on earth. You peer from tree to tree until, all at once, you see them.

A group of five individuals troops through a sunny clearing. They all wear polished metal armor with the insignia of a stern-faced woman within a circle painted or engraved on it. Each carries a spear and has a sword belted at his side. The leader, a man with short brown hair and a bristling mustache, does not wear a helmet. The rest are fully concealed and garbed from head to toe.

>>21395706
I still think it had something to do with the ritual.
Like we collected a bunch of blood and placed them in vials, and placed masks on the vials, and that cloaked our village.
But why?
What makes that ritual work?
I mean we made a blood sacrifice and enshrouded our village, and Thane just happens to be a spirit of obfuscation who is willing to hide things for the price of some blood?
Can coincidences like that even happen?

>>21395734
Observe them, turn on our magic sight, memorize the symbol.

>>21395734
>Leaders not wearing helmets
Note to self, find some kind of helmet.
Looking important is less important than getting your head bashed in.
In any case, while faceless armed soldiers aren't really the best news, lets lurk a bit and see what they do?
Technically that insignia might be enough information we need.

>>21395734
Keep hidden, try to listen to anything they say and see what they try to do

>>21395653
I'll do it.

>>21395653
You have my sword.

File: 1351834873260.jpg-(44 KB, 570x568, EQ_mask.jpg)

>>21395734
Interesting. So they're a war party of some kind? Let's follow for a while, try and find where they're staying.

We need a mask.

>>21395797
And my axe!

>>21394687
Shit to do:

* Provide Thane with a cup of your blood boiled and reduced to a paste at the new moon.
* Make more useful totems
* Continue the log/journal of how to Totem
* Harvest more totem materials
* Bind more creatures
* Escort Elder Mayhew to the Southwest people

Particularily useful totems for us:
Totems of efficient work
Totems of keen senses
Totems of fit body
Totems of spiritual potency

Unresolved plot threads:
1. Magus
2. Elana - power and seals
3. Irken range conflict
4. Contact with southwest humans
5. Ayren's drawers
6. Behemoth site where Ayren was mortally wounded
7. Elements such as Earth - how do they work?
8. Gotta keep training Quinn and Terra
9. That one nature spirit that harassed us for talking to Lady Boa
10. There's plenty of NPCs in the world to talk to even if we have no obligations - Swamp Mother, Sylvannis, Lady Boand, the Mountain spirits, the Air/Rain/Storm spirits, Modi Magni, and probably others. Bound to be plot threads at every corner.

Also, binding stuff to the map seems really useful.

Wait, shit. I know. We should write down a To-do list

and BIND THINGS TO THE TO DO LIST.

That'd give us plot hooks.

>>21395820
>Wait, shit. I know. We should write down a To-do list
>and BIND THINGS TO THE TO DO LIST.
YOU AM PLAY GOD

>>21395820
>* Provide Thane with a cup of your blood boiled and reduced to a paste at the new moon.

...Didn't Diarca say that the full moon was three days away before the weeklong time skip? Shit.

>>21395820
Shouldn't "Thane - what the fuck is his deal?" be on the unresolved plot thread list?

>>21395797
>>21395782
Thanks for replying.

I'll generate a relatively tiny scenario and play it with each of you - perhaps over email or IM or such.

My email's in the field too.

A word of warning: The subquest will have lots of NPC interaction, a decent amount of combat, and won't really be plot-on-railz. I've popped the world with a bunch of random areas-with-neato-stuff-to-find and NPCs-with-stories-to-tell, and there's no Central Defining Plot Thread. The player picks who/where/what he wants to get involved with and goes with it.

>>21395734
We have an insignia to check...
Call Boa and get her to contact Heward somehow?

>>21395746
I think Diarca mentioned about feeding Focus with lesser Foci/Spirits is another way to increase a Focus' strength.

You stalk alongside this party, taking pains to keep well out of their sight when you must momentarily manifest. The soldiers are well-disciplined, and speak very little. The only noises they make are grunts of exertion and studious reports to their commander when a hand signal is given. They eventually break formation as they come to another sunny clearing. The commander gives another hand-signal and the soldiers relax, scattering across the field and pulling rations from the packs they carry. Some light conversation bubbles up, and you are relieved to hear that you understand their speech, even if you don't know any of the places they refer to.

From the easy tone their voices take, you doubt that they're here to pillage. Still, can't be too careful.

>>21395840

[[My oversight. Assume that the ritual will take place tonight, in game. ]]

File: 1351835471392.jpg-(611 KB, 960x1299, 2009-09-22-caveman_scienc(...).jpg)

>>21395834
ME GO TOO FAR

>>21395909
I had assumed we did it during timeskip.
Cool! We get to talk to thane.

>>21395909
Turn on magic sight, see if they have any magical items, bound spirits, anything like that.

>>21395909
Do we have any paper to write down the places they're mentionning, draw a rough insigna that is on the captain? Because we should do it

>>21395909
Again, I want some kind of facial covering before we engage them. Maybe move some of the material from the magic gloves to cover Oyski's face, if we can't make a mask on the spot. But yeah, more overwatch, then get the drop on them.

>>21395911
Heh.
Use Amal on Master's library, tell him to give us the cliffnotes.
BAM! Faster Totemist growth.

>>21395121
Amal map:
Finds spirits?
Tyrd map:
Finds fire?
Cordia map:
Found minerals.
Ykree fin map:
Finds fish?
Raptor thigh map:
Shows territories of nearby beasts?
Turtle horn map:
Shows where lightning will strike?
Thane map:
Shows spots where things are hidden?
Modi map:
HAHA YOU REBOUND ME YOU FOOL. U A FOOL. HA HA. (do not do this)

A question: What happens if we beat a human being in combat and bind them? Can we potentially bind people if the situation arises?

>>21395909
Appear to one to chat, instead of as a group.

>>21396043
I think he said we can.
But to not really expect much from it.

Eh, I say we just lurk in the shadows until they start marching again.
In theory we're currently undetectable.

>>21396049
I thought we were planning on scoping it out and then bringing Mayhew for the actual talking and diplomacy.

File: 1351836301662.jpg-(48 KB, 251x366, OWB-Blank Book.jpg)

>>21395955
We'd be tarnishing the name of Osyki the Prepared if we didn't... but if we actually did not, then it's time we started carrying around a blank book and writing implements while out in the field.

Where are the results of Diarca's Q&A session stored? People here are talking about things I've never heard of in-game.

>>21396123
Mostly at the beginning or end of a few threads. Check the last one, and there was one in September I think.

>>21396123
It's stored on suptg. Just do the usual lookup for totem.

Silently, you reach into your pack and withdraw a small notebook your keep for just such an occasion. You array the inkwell and book in front of you, scribbling down rough approximations of the names and titles they use to look up later. You waffle back and forth internally as you write on whether to reveal yourself just yet. On the one hand, you're burning with questions to pose to these people. On the other, you told Haine that you'd let him make first contact with these people once you ascertained that they weren't dangerous.

And you haven't precisely figured that out yet. Though they're relaxed now, that could change very quickly.

You switch over to second sight and do a sweep of the clearing. Though there's nothing overtly magical about the men, a soft lavender hue is overlaid across their entire body. It pulses with their movement, just faint enough to fade out of view when not actively lighting up. It doesn't seem to be anything conscious on their part, and you're not convinced that it's even something they're aware of. It's a magic radiance that clings to them like a mist.

>>21396152
I've never heard of a "heward", I dunno where the "can you bind humans?" was answered, and I dunno when Diarca mentioned you can feed foci/spirits to other spirits.

I missed something. Do you know which thread that was covered in?

>>21396221
Huh. Weird.
Tryd seemed to be okay at magical auras with the kids, but summoning him might attract attention.

>>21396221
I vote if one of them seperates from the group we corner them and talk before disapearing. Otherwise we just stalk them copying down what they say before heading back

>>21396223
I know he atleast said most humans had shit all spirit energy, and that spirit energy determined the strength of the Foci

>>21396221
It's... clinging to them? Could be some kind of blessing...

Best follow them until they set up camp. Once we get a look at how they're establishing themselves we can decide whether to speak to them or bring Haine.

>>21396246
Cornering someone covered in armor and weapons?
...No.
Instead of us appearing directly, how about we send one of our spirits.
Like maybe Amal.
It would take someone really evil to attack someone as harmless looking as him.
But I don't think we should try talking with anyone.

>>21396221
Freaky. Check out the sigil of the lady on their armor, see if that seems to have any connection to the magic.

Don't talk to them, even if one separates. I can't think of anything that'll freak them out more than a shadowy figure coming out of nowhere, asking some questions and then disappearing.

If one does separate follow them, maybe see how they react to cracking noises in the underbrush, how tense, prepared and trained they are. Stay out of sight.

>>21396285
Seconding.

>>21396223
. . . I can't remember the name of the Elders clearly, my bad.

Anyway, binding humans had been a topic once, on a Q&A thread, I think. You could potentially bind a human's spirit, but aside from being spiritually weak on average, a human's physical abilities aren't that great either. On the other hand, you might be able to get the repository of knowledge or skills that the human had been learning all his/her life and use them.

The con of doing this is of course the fact that you are holding a human's soul hostage and barring the soul's journey to whatever afterlife exists in this setting, as Diarca mentioned it. And you will be basically a necromancer, as Walther had once practically accused Osyki as.

Also to put to consideration, spirits like Cordia, who could actually be either a lingering soul from a victim of her village's massacre, or a tragic vengeful Spirit born out of the traumatic event. We helped her turn into a different kind of Spirit, with the elemental Earth.

Would perhaps ancient or dying human be willing to be ritually slain to become protector Spirits for a period of time before being released for whatever afterlife that had been voluntarily withheld from them?

>>21396472
...Yeah I don't really want to get into that.
Maybe some other village can have that going on.

>>21396472
Sorry grampa, you're old. Time to become some furniture."
"NO! I worked my whole life a-"
IN THE NAME OF JOSAWN, LINK TO THE WORLD WITHOUT
"Goddamn it you whippersnappers have no respect"
SUBMIT. Woohoo! Gramps was captured. Now to see whether to make him into silverware or a doorframe or a stone table.

I could get into it. No harm in reusing the dead. Though, people do get into the whole ceremonial burial and souls and stuff. You know, sentimental ritualistic bs that provides less tangible benefit than a cooking pot that warns you if you're doing the recipe wrong.

>>21396472
I've actually been thinking on how we could do the village protector spirit thing. Granted, this will probably be a case of bullshit/talking out of my ass but here goes.

It'd involve some kind of "reliquary", for lack of a better term, at the center of town. Preferably in the form of a stone statue or large fountain. From there, we'd have to figure out how to spiritually connect the reliquary to each end of the village walls. Something like making an artificial set of leylines with a central terminus. Then, bind Cordia's foci to the reliquary as hard as we possibly can.

You peer closer at this sigil emblazoned atop the armor of the soldiers nearest you. The woman stares eyelessly back out at you. Her brows are pinched, her lips quirking in a way that suggests an expectation of quiet obendience. There's no arcanery to be found on it, at least none that your second sight can pick up, but you can tell from the polish and shine of their breastplates that she is a woman who inspires respect, if not adoration. What you thought to be symbols resolve themselves into script as you stare, and though you can understand their words, their writing is different (or sloppy) enough that you cannot discern its meaning.

You trail them further as they form up once more, skirting the southern rim of the swamp to head further west. Lunch seems to have calmed their disclipline somewhat, and though their eyes are sharp you can afford a little more slack in your shadowing technique.

>How long will you follow these people?

>>21396520
>1000 years in the future
>Archaeologists dig up a ruin
>Find a cooking pot mysteriously intact
>Constantly complains about all these newfangled ingredients and all these crazy appliances

>>21396537
I think we've learned about what we can, follow them for maybe half an hour more, maybe make some quiet disturbance to evaluate how tense and ready they are for action.

Then get back to Mayhew.

>>21396537
Maybe an hour or two more, hopefully they'll slip up and say what their purpose is.

>>21396530
To me, I think the village protector spirit is already taken care of.
When the snow melts and the rains fall, there will be a river right through our village leading to Boa's pond.
Boa said this would boost her power.
Voila, instant guardian spirit, just add water.

>>21396537
Eh, not more than an hour.
I suppose it was naive to hope that they would feel the inexplicable urge to explain their purpose in a conversational manner.
This isn't a child's tale.

>>21396537
I say follow them until evening. We haven't seen anything that indicates one way or another what their intentions are. Once they set up camp we should drop in and see how they react.

Make sure we've got general sketches of what their armor looks like, and if we can get it down good enough, a scribble of their leader's likeness.

>>21396610
If we wait that long we'll be spending more time travelling through the swamp at night. They aren't a raiding party, they don't have any big magic going on, if need be we can probably take them.

We should get Mayhew over here as soon as possible as we have a blood ritual to take care of tonight.

>>21396530
Combine/connect her main relic/Focus/Totem with the Totems that creates the stone wall defense and the one that redirects damage to the surrounding area instead of protected area/subject/target.

. . . Actually, carry one of the deflect Totem yourself. That's a good defensive Totem for a solo fighter type like Osyki.

>>21396537
Consider their actions. Are they patrolling? Actively searching for something? Try to see if they have a main encampment or if this is their only band.

Spend half a day on this task?

PS: I once wanted to use the Cordia's Fruit... To plant it and see what grows out of it.
. . . Can we try planting a Focus bound Fruit? :D

>>21396625
We can do the ritual wherever we can make a fire. Doing it in the swamp might be even better, given the traditional association of swamps with death (and thus blood) and secrets.

>>21396537
Follow them for an hour or until we botch stealth.
After one hour, deliberately make a noise or something to see how they react.

A soldier might say "Noise" or "Movement", or wordlessly signal "I heard a thing" or "I saw a thing" to his commander via gestures.

A less trained dude will look at the area and either shout, or forget to signal.

>>21396640
Technically shouldn't there already be movement and noise?
If the swamp is completely silent and still, that would strike me as kind of worrisome.

>>21396690
Swamps typically are. If you a prey, you don't want to alert shit to your presence - lest you get eaten. If you a predator, you don't want to alert shit to your presence - it'll be harder to catch. If you a tree then shit you don't move or make sound.

>>21396713
If you a bug, you rub yourself a lot and make some really loud noises.

>>21396860
fuckin bugs and birds, constantly saying "I am {species}, here I am, have sex with me.".

Rolled 30

Summon: Diarca

>>21396537
Asleep?

>>21397153
Yeah, I failed the summoning. Time to go home.

Rolled 66

Dispel Sleep on Diarca

Rolled 88

>>21397171
Rolling to resist dispel, using Drugs' ability to resist spells and spell-like.

>>21397187
'The diarca beast appears unaffected by the Dispel Sleep'

File: 1351842192981.jpg-(14 KB, 460x276, drugs.jpg)

Rolled 9

>>21397204
Nothing can beat drugs.

Except maybe more drugs.

But that just starts a vicious cycle.

Wait I know. I'll post a picture of some Drugs. That might attract Diarca.

bumping incase Diarca wants to pick up later

THERE WAS NO EMAIL D:

Afternoon bump.

[[Quest begins again in ~30 minutes.]]

>>21402933
Goood. Goood.

[[>Before we begin, roll me 1d100. Taking the best of the first three.]]

Rolled 15

rollan

>>21403425
Oh for fuck's sake!

Rolled 37

>>21403411

Rolled 22

Making dat roll.

Rolled 14

>>21403425
>>21403433
Welp.

File: 1351891506688.png-(22 KB, 249x322, TG DICE.png)

>>21403425
>>21403433
>>21403439
WELP.

Rolled 90

>>21403433

You stalk alongside the soldiers, watching as they begin to veer northward. On their current trajectory they won't encounter your village, but they may be attempting to find a route through the swamp. They do not chatter or stray from their purpose, and eventually you turn to go.
(cont.)

Rolled 100

>>21403531

As you do the branches of a tree overhead ripple in a passing breeze, sending shafts of sunlight raining down on you. You leap away, but two of the soldiers who were glancing in your direction freeze, letting out a low, sharp whistle to alert the rest of the squad. They all instantly snap to attention, spears in hand, and begin to sweep outward toward your position. Their commander takes point, and your second sight reveals a shimmer of blue-green energy around his head as he does so.

>>21403557
Ahhhh shit.

>>21403531
>>21403557
>these rolls
We're fucked aren't we?

This can't be good.

>>21403557
Also vote for running the hell away, hopefully managing to lose them with Nocturne's Embrace

Rolled 58

>>21403557
book it run away

>90, 100.

You were expecting soldiers. You were certainly expecting training.

You were not expecting what comes next.

The two frontmost armor-clad soldiers clasp their hands over the sigil emblazoned on their chests. A wide beam of bright light emits from each, and they sweep the area with these beams until they can track your fleeing form.

Two more soldiers let fly with spears. One plants itself into the ground immediately in front of you, and one just to your right. It's clear that they intended to miss by the scraps of Nocturne's Embrace planted to the ground by their points.

Finally, the commanders steps forward. He plants his spear, draws his sword, and points the blade at you. Your hand tightens around the shaft of your spear, and the spirit of the raptor hums in protest at the lack of movement.

"Spirit!" the commander calls. "Identify yourself."

"Last time I checked, I was flesh and blood. Totemist is my trade, is my title."

>>21403717
"I am Osyki, Totemist and emissary to the world without. I am NOT a spirit."

>>21403747
I don't think we should be giving our name out to unknowns at this point.
>>21403743
is good enough for me.

>>21403717
Lower the spear, maybe plant it to the ground for good measure, as a way to demonstrate we're not hostile... yet.
Maybe give a flourish/bow for good measure.
"Spirit? You flatter me. I am but a humble Totemist."

Hey guys, I think Diarca's stuck on a loading screen again.

>>21404324
It keeps happening

You chuckle, pointing your spear toward the ground and giving a flourishing bow, doing your best not to squint into the twin floodlights trained at your face.

"Spirit? Last I checked, I was flesh and blood. Totemist is my trade and my title, thank you, though I can see how you might be confused."

The soldiers start, clearly surprised that you speak a language they all understand. The captain (or so you assume him to be) nods, signaling the others to lower their weapons, though you note that they do not sheath them.

"What's your purpose in being here, Totemist? You seem to be following us." he says, his voice deeper than you might expect.

>>21404744
"My purpose is discovering your purpose, you are not from around here are you?"

>>21404744
"Is it not normal for one to protect his territory? However, I wasn't sure if you were friend or foe, and such didn't do anything right away

>>21404744
"Well, my purpose is more obvious to myself, I suppose. There's not been any sign of people passing through this swamp from the direction you came in a VERY long time. It had been so long, some spirits believed whatever civilization you came from had been lost to war or such."

>>21404744
"The Swamp told me of your appearance, and I decided to investigate. After all, it's been quite some time since I've met new faces."

>>21404744
My purpose is to discover your purpose so i can determine whether or not our it is safe and reasonable for our village elder to make contact with you. What purpose do you have in the swamp?

>>21405199
We can't trust these guys yet, so we shouldn't even mention a village of any sort. For now, just lead them to believe we're some lone nut living in the wilderness.

Man. Those rolls. Those fucking rolls. Maybe when we speak to Thane later to seal our name hiding contract, we should see what he'd like in exchange for sneaking lessons.

>>21404785 >>21404833

"Is it unusual for one to protect his territory?" you ask, leaning against your spear. "My purpose is more obvious to myself, I suppose. There hasn't been any sign of people passing through this swamp in the direction you came from in a long time. Some spirits around here believe whatever civilization you've come from had been lost to war or some such."

The commander lets out a chuckle at that. "It's been a long time since anyone was brave enough to venture into this neck of the woods, not with that terrible onyx beast living in the swamp. We heard rumors of its death, so we've come to investigate. Our records show that there were some colonies in this region before contact was cut off by the Wyrm. Can you confirm that the rumors of its demise are true? You seem to have a good handle on activity in the area."

It's less a request and more a politely phrased demand, but he delivers it with good nature.

>>21405492
"The Behemoth Wyrm has indeed been slain, though not without cost. Earlier today I passed by the site of its death, the landscape still lifeless as a testament to its power."

>>21405492
"That is likely the village I protect. My master was the one that killed the beast, but it cost him his life."

>>21405492
"Oh, the Basilisk Wyrm, yes it's dead.

As for colonies, as far as I know there aren't any colonies. There is the independent village that I live in.

If you wait here I can bring a representative of the village here to speak with you."

>>21405532
Still a bit to explicit.
It is times like these that it might be wise to emulate our cryptic master.

>>21405556
Are you trying to start a war?
The last things empires want to hear is colonies being independent.
God.

>>21405556
Not this.

>>21405492
"Indeed, it is quite dead, though at a price my predecessor was unfortunate enough to bear the full brunt of. I hear something else has taken over it's lair, likely feeding off of the damned beast's festering corpse and essences. You lot seem fairly capable yourselves. Would you be willing to accompany me to it's lair so we can flush out what remains? You wouldn't have to do any fighting if you felt it too dangerous."

>>21405532
Maybe knock off the bit about costing him his life?

>>21405492
These guys don't need to inow we were Ayren's apprentice or that we're still a rookie.

"Oh, yes. It is quite dead, along with a large patch of the swamp. My first apprentice lost his life in the fighting before we could put it down. Terrible tragedy. I could guide you to its former hunting grounds and laur, if you'd like, but I'd strongly suggest against it. Even now the land is still blighted by its death throws, and the Guardian of the swamp says that area may never recover."

We can move with them for a time and judge whether or not to let them know about the village. If they seem peacable, we tellthem to wait here and we return with the Elder.

>>21405532
>>21405583
We should be a bit more cagey about our Master's death.

>>21405583
I like this, but let's change "it is quite dead, though at a price my predecessor was unfortunate enough to bear the full brunt of"
to
"it is quite dead, though at a price too high to even speak of."

>>21405589
Flat out lying might not also be good.
Just be vague, like "it did not die easy" or something like that.

>>21405492
"The beast is indeed slain, but there is another creature that consumed its corpse, though I do not know exactly where this monster nests"

>>21405661
You're right, keep it vague.

>>21405651
Hmm, alright, I'd be fine with that change.

"Indeed, it is quite dead," you say with a cautious nod, "Though at a too high to speak aloud. I hear something else has taken over it's lair, likely feeding off of the damned beast's festering corpse and essences. Earlier today I passed by the site of its death, the landscape still lifeless as a testament to its power. You lot seem fairly capable yourselves. Would you be willing to accompany me to it's lair so we can flush out what remains? You wouldn't have to do any fighting if you felt it too dangerous."

The Captain considers this carefully. "A bold offer, Totemist. While my men and I would love dearly to purge sun-blighted corruption from the land, I cannot help but think this sounds a little too trap-like for my tastes. We know nothing of you, and you could just as easily be feeding us to the beast as escorting us to its corpse. I mean no offense when I say that I have no reason to trust you, especially with the knowledge that you have been following us through the forest for an indeterminate amount of time."

He scratches the stubble at his chin.

"Do you reside here, within the swamp?" he asks.

>>21405759
I reside nearby...

>>21405759
"Alas, that would be a secret that is not mine to give. For it is just as you said, I have no special reason to trust you, save that you did not kill me on sight. Which I am quite grateful towards by the way."
"My goal was to return to my home, and bring someone who CAN answer your questions. Though I admit asking you to stay here in unfamiliar territory while I go who knows where and bring who knows what... really doesn't sound any less trap-like."

>>21405759
Please understand my caution, i no nothing about you and i am responsible for others safety as well as my own. I was not even supposed to talk to you in the first place, only determine what your purpose is.

>>21405759
"Only an hour or so.

As for myself, I reside nearby. If you wish to talk to a member of a nearby village I could bring them here."

We're going to have to reveal there's a village in the general area eventually as they don't seem hostile and Mayhew wanted to talk to them.

>>21405759
Give a good hearty laugh. "No, only a true madman would live here, in this place where it seems at times that even the very ground wishes you dead. I have a much safer, more friendly home. The women are more pleasant as well."

>>21405838
>no nothing
know nothing*

>>21405834
"Tell you what, is there any place you can suggest for a rendezvous? Seeing as I -was- the one spying on you, it only seems fair."

>>21405847
This, be mature and diplomatic as possible. Also, be curt and vague as fuck.

>>21405759
Here we can be a little more truthful wihout revealin much.

"In the forest further ______, but the Forest Guardian has had me running diplomatic errands to the Swamp Mother on her behalf, trying to avert hostilities between their respective realms. The Mountain, likewise, has been tense as of late. Politics politics politics. Every compromise leaves all parties equally unhappy."

'Sun blighted'---remember that phrase and ask the religious elder about it. That seems like a big clue to their religious and cultural leanings.

>>21405847
The Mother of the Swamp and the rest of the spirits in her little palace are not that bad. In fact they're pretty nice.

>>21405759
"Within the swamp? No. Though I have an understanding of sorts with the spirit that governs it, the swamp is as hostile to human life as it ever has been. This place is one of several lands under my protection. One of these in particular may be of some interest to you. It is a human village of some hundred souls. One of their elders has expressed an interest in establishing relations with other human settlements."

>>21405998
Nigga please, do you not understand diplomacy?

>>21405998
Meinem gott man! We do not just give them the whole cake!

>>21405998
We promised our elder that he would be the one to speak to them! We cant just spill all the information we have at once!

>>21406071
Quite well. Right now we're not negotiating, we're trying to convince the other side that they want to go through us to get what they want. They're looking for lost colonies, probably to reassert control over them. If we present ourselves as the guardian of the area and as an individual of some power it might convince them to not walk in and annex everything in the name of their god and country.

>>21406108
So why would we tell them our numbers?
That makes no sense.
And there's a possibility that the empire might not be evil.
Admittedly it's unlikely, but joining with them could mean like... trade and shit.

>>21406154
I'd rather not be annexed, trade agreements could be nice, but I'd like to be independent.

But really it's not our decision to make, it's up to Mayhew and the other Elders.

We keep our cards close to our chest, let Mayhew decide how much he wants them to know.

>>21406108
No, you're throwing your cards on the table. You don't even know that they are telling the truth, you swallow it whole because it sounds plausible.

>>21406108
IT IS NOT OUR ROLE TO DO THIS! We promised the elder!

>>21402933
Oh hey, Totem is up.
Right, guy running offshoot here. All seems well. Got 3 respondants on email for private playtest, that's enough and I don't need any more.
I now participate in the thread.

>>21406086
>>21406103
Look again: They're looking for lost colonies. If given the chance they'll exert the right of founding to reclaim them. To be honest, that probably wouldn't be so bad in the long run, since they'd sent more colonists and wealth to the town immediately. But it would lead to conflicts between natives residents and newcomers, push out the established leadership and the state that founded these lost colonies probably has its own ideas about how to be a totemist, meaning they're going to expect us to do our job a certain way or try to replace us outright. By claiming to be an outside authority of power we convince them to deal with the village on a more even basis out of caution.

>>21406154
There are more benefits in joining than not. We just need to make sure that we do it on our terms. Giving away the numbers is an empty gesture since they have to know that they'll outnumber us. We make ourselves the real wild card instead of the village's numbers.

>>21406193
Not our role to what, introduce the parties to the negotiation?

Given the outcry, I'll withdraw the part of my suggestion where we offer population.

>>21406247
We don't know that they are telling the truth and we do NOT have the authority to negotiate with them. We are a totemist, not one of the village elders. Village elders whom we agreed with should conduct negotiations and first contact.

>>21405834
>>21405847
>>21405882
My vote is to combine these, but reveal as little as possible.

>>21406247
HOW do you know there are more advantages to joining someone we know NOTHING about! For all we know they could be run by the nazi party!

>>21406247
Negotiation is like poker. Never let the other side know anything you don't want them to know. We're not even sure this force is from the same nation that founded the village, they may be from rivals, or an outside force that conquered the founding nation, or a political/religious revolution that completely displaced the original founders.

Play this subtle, and give them the impression that we're a neutral powerhouse that keeps the peace in the area.

>>21406320
First contact's already happening I'm afraid. The absolute last thing we want to do now is vanish mysteriously and show up later with the elder in tow. If we did that they'd probably take him prisoner as insurance against us.

>>21406362
Basic economics. Trade is good for everyone, because everyone has different resources and specialties.

>>21406320
>>21405847
>>21405876
I'll second this decision.

My opinion:

Don't talk about the village.
Don't talk about Aryen being dead.

"I suppose it does sound like a trap. Then again, I don't know anything about your group here - which is why I was following you."
"I don't live in the swamp, I mostly roam through a forest nearby. Keep in contact with the Swamp Mother though - good relations between the spirits of the forest and the spirits of the swamp are important to me."
"I know damn near nothing about you. What those spells you cast were, what it means to be sun-blighted, who the lady on your emblem is. If I knew more about who you are, I could tell you more about who I am."

>>21406320
Meant to only link this post.

>>21406428
Sooo, you're suggesting a quid pro quo, then, eh?

>>21406362
I agree withthis anon. While things are rough right now, barring any major disaster, the village is primed to grow stronger on its own. Taxes, fees, and foreign oversight may well hinder that. The village has lived on its own for long enough to develop its own distinct culture. Let the elders decide if its worth throwin away.

>>21406399
I don't think we're in any position to vanish mysteriously.
Seeing as our cloak is still pinned and there's a bunch of armed soldiers in front of us.
But kind of... sauntering away mysteriously is still something we should aim for.

>>21406399
They find out about our village, raid everything and takes the population captive. Much easier having them work the fields in chains closer to the main population than trading with them from afar...

>>21406464
Honestly it seems sensible. Better than just outright saying "VILLAGE THATAWAY, SEND SOLDIERS THX".

These dudes have info we want. We have info they want. I dunno if that's how negotiations normally go, but I figure trading info for info is useful.

>>21406399
Exactly, we have already flubbed our mission, so your idea is to simply go the whole mile and throw caution to the wind? You're thinking like an upset kid caught lying.

>>21406320

You let out a hearty chuckle. "No, only a true madman would reside here, where it seems the very ground wishes you dead. I live a ways further out, though where precisely is not my secret to tell."

You sigh, tugging your hood a little lower to obscure your nose. " The Forest Guardian has had me running diplomatic errands to the Swamp Mother on her behalf, trying to avert hostilities between their respective realms. The Mountain, likewise, has been tense as of late. Politics politics politics. Every compromise leaves all parties equally unhappy."

The captain chuckles at this.

"My goal," you explain, "was to return home and bring you someone who can answer your questions. Though, I will admit, asking you to stay here in unfamiliar territory while I blink off to who knows where and bring who knows what... well, it doesn't really sound any less trap-like."

The captain shakes his head, though the solider to his right lets out a hearty laugh. "No, I'm afraid it doesn't."

You ruminate on this conundrum for a moment longer before shrugging. "Tell you what, is there any place you can suggest for a rendezvous? Seeing as I -was- the one spying on you, it only seems fair."

The captain nods. "Two miles south of here, there's a small canyon. We'll meet you there."
(Cont.)

File: 1351904976360.jpg-(41 KB, 360x480, Ackbar.jpg)

>>21406590
Scout out the Canyon before sending Mayhew into it.

>>21406638
Nonono, send out invisible spirit to scout out the canyon. Or just Amal, being flying and small and stuff.

>>21406468
Not true I'm afraid. The village is reasonably well educated, reasonably safe and reasonably prosperous. Left to its own devices it's more likely to remain where it is than to grow. If our family is any judge parents have two children on average, which will serve to replace population but not expand it. Some kind of major stimulus would be necessary to start real growth, and even then additional resources would be needed to keep that population and growth. Immigration and emigration are both excellent for this purpose.

>>21406507
I have no idea where this and other, similar ideas comes from. I admit that giving even broad population numbers won't help anything, but any state willing to use non-Totemist agents to scout out ultra hostile territory probably has enough people that losing these three won't hurt it. Would our village be willing to send three of our Slayers to check the area around the Behemoth lair?

>>21406691
These are no mere soldiers, given how they caught us.

>>21406721
They're probably the equivalent of US army rangers.

>>21406590

"It will take me quite a while to return home, and I'd rather not brave the swamp by night." you say. Your eyes flicker over the faces of the soldiers, noting their guarded but not overtly suspicious expressions. "What's say we meet tomorrow at midday instead?"

The captain frowns, but nods his head. "Mid-day will be fine, Totemist. I don't think you're fool enough to bring an ambush to meet us, but I'll warn you against it just the same."

"Noted." you say with a broad smile. "Then I'll be off. Before I go, though, I didn't get your name."

The captain raises an eyebrow. "Nor I yours. Call me Grimald."

>>21406691
And then it turns out our lost frontier is the final piece they need to go to war on another empire on the other side of Ikrin, turning the village into a staging area for military campaigns? Or maybe they just march in, plant some soldiers to collect exorbitant taxes and impose imperial law?

>>21406779
"You've given me that much, which is more than I had hoped. I am Osyki, and we shall meet again soon."

>>21406779
"Well met Grimald. You can call me... Thane."

>>21406691
We don't know if our family is typical or not, but given that all the kids in the raising house are the same age (roughly) and are about to be apprenticed simultaneously, I'm guessing the village elders designate approved-fertility cycles so that the raising house doesn't get over-full. We're likely due for a new batch of young-ins in about a year. Staggered creche cycles means maximum population growth with minimum support needed. Or did you not notice?

With the plentiful harvests, recent introduction of easy water-power to the village, and Osyki constructig advanced conveniences for the populace, I'd say the village is primed for expansion, not holding steady like you suggest.

>>21406784
How exactly would you go about stopping that? If that's their goal they'd do it whether or not we negotiated with them.

>>21406846
...Genius.

>>21406865
I should have said slow growth rather than quick growth. As it stands there will soon be reasons for the village to grow further, but over decades rather than years. And yes, I did notice the raising system in place, but I was thinking more on the child-generating side rather than the child rearing side, stressed systems tend to produce more children than unstressed.

I think we're arguing over the means by which to produce demand shocks in population. I favor immigration and you favor childbirth.

>>21406841
>>21406846
If we lie about our name, someone will eventually slip up and call us Osyki at an inappropriate time.

I'm wondering if we have a good reason to hide our real name. We are only an apprentice-turned-master-because-our-mentor-died totemist from nowhere.

>>21406691
You're automatically assuming these guys are representatives of a kind, caring, benevolent society who will respect our cultural differences and let us prosper in a mutually beneficial relationship. Question: when has that EVER happened in all of human history?

I'll give you a hint: never.

Even the best trade deals with them will be weighted in their favor. You think these guys are like Captain Picard. They're probably more like The conquistadors or Ponce deLeon. We need to negotiate from a position of strength, or they'll just roll ove us.

>>21406945
If we can figure out their real intentions, not simply the ones they tell us about, we can prepare. We are strong, we have strong allies and we are Osyki the Prepared. What happens when you are caught unprepared?

Your suggestions feel out of character to me, In my mind Osyki wouldn't throw his hands up in the air dramatically and run his mouth. Every time we have dealt with a new person or entity we have been overly cautious.

>>21407013
Unless they were Lady Boand, of course. But then again, that's Lady Boand.

These people are clearly not Lady Boand.

Now, I agree with being cautious and not revealing much. We brought a diplomat, use the diplomat.

>>21406959
Technically, I never implied Thane was Osyki's name, merely that they can call us that.
But yeah you have a point.
I mean unless they can rig up a spell by midnight, it won't really make a difference.

>>21407013
This is pretty much my gripe, too. We've always made an attempt to gain information before getting to the meat of the matter, wether in politicking with spirits or making totems.

>>21407111
(offtopic) This is Inf, where the hell did Pax disappear to after that brief visit all those weeks ago?

>>21407013
The village's location is what really matters. If they can't find us we're safe even if they know our numbers. They already know that people live in our neighborhood, so the trick is to keep them from ever reaching our neighborhood if they're hostile or ill-intentioned.
>Osyki wouldn't throw his hands up in the air dramatically and run his mouth
Negotiating with the Mother, with the Mole Under the Mountain, the Magus, Modi Magni, (wow, lots of 'M' names), the elders... Oyski's title could be changed to "the Dramatic" and it would be equally apropos.

>>21406997
I have no idea where you're reading half the statements you seem to be attributing to me. I even say that if given the chance they'll want to claim our village as their colony, regardless of whether or not it is. And the fact is the village as a whole COULD potentially prosper from that. What needs to be protected is our people, and that includes the spirits. I don't know about you but I'm willing to hope that these guys aren't interested in conquest. Better to be an ally than a vassal.

>>21407179
I'd say knowing that a village exists is pretty much the first step towards finding it.

Regarding conquest: I dunno, but gotta assume it's on the table. For now? cards close to chest.

>>21407144
Not a clue. I see him on Steam every now and then, but we haven't talked much at all.

>>21407179
We already mentioned the guardians of the Swamp, Forest and Mountain. That's enough to triangulate the village's location for a skilled scout.
Going on the offense after it is obvious that a mutual agreement cannot be reached is nothing like what you are proposing here.

>>21407251
NGoD seems to have given up, he's not idling anymore. Be a dear and ask what's up next time you see him?

>>21407298
>spittake
Go on the offense? That's suicide. Where on Earth did you get that idea from? No, use wards to keep strangers out, convince spirits to make travel uncomfortable, and if need be move the village.

>>21407298
I would if I could remember which one was him. I have most of the CQ regulars in one group on my steam friends list, but the only ones I can figure are Pax, Panda, and Furi.

Can we just give this guy our name and be done with this part? All the arguing is getting lame.

>>21407343
I meant the negotiations you used as examples, sorry I wasn't clear. I noticed the mistake after I submitted. Go back and re-read those and you'll see how we prepare and tread carefully for as long as possible when we interact with those characters.


>>21407365
I am obviously losing my grip on the english language by now, it's getting far too late for me. I meant ask pax, not ngod.

>>21407298
I wouldn't say that it's enough to triangulate with. It's a big forest and, if we leave via cloudwalker's stride, we can make it clear to them that we can travel very far very fast. They know it is present by now. But they don't know where. When we leave, leave deeper into the swamp, away from the village, then we can change course later. 5-minutes of out if the way leaping should throw off any attempt to ascertain our destination.

Well at least we have all the time in the world to argue since Diarca's asleep.

>>21407427
Le sigh. Be back in an hour. Anyone want some snacks?

>>21407424
Good idea, bid them farewell and show them that we aren't silly little country bumpkins. They already know we can turn invisible so we won't really be able to play the part of "hey I'm just a kid who lives near this crazy dangerous swamp" anymore. They will do what they can to be ready for all the totem shenanigans they are aware of.

You nod. "Osyki." you say. The captain nods, and as you turn to leave you look over your shoulder.

"See you tomorrow," you say, and then you power up Cloudwalker's Stride and erupt out of the clearing in a shower of sparks. Your lips curl into a slight smile when you hear the gasps of surprise from the soldiers behind you. A few minutes of jumping later, you touch down and wait for Siperco to catch up. When he does, he gives you an impressed nod.

"That was some smooth negotiating, Osyki," he says with a deferential nod. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you had the snake's tongue, not me."

You laugh, and the two of you make your way back through the swamp, onward toward home.

Mayhew and Haine are both waiting for you at the forest's edge, Quinn watching over them from a nearby tree. Haine gives you a small wave, while Mayhew is characteristically stock-still.

"How did it go?" he asks, his voice weary from a few hours of worry.

>>21407600
We've arranged a meeting spot with them for a diplomatic parley - it's in a Canyon at {x,y}.
They know my name, but they don't know anything about a village.
The soldiers are very well trained.
They were using Light magic, and mentioned something about the Behemoth being sun-blighted.
Also, they have an emblem - looks like {show drawing of emblem}.
I was able to talk to them - they don't seem immediately hostile.
Their intentions were to confirm the Behemoth is dead.

>>21407600
"I made a mistake, and they saw me. But they didn't kill me on sight. They didn't trust me for a while, but I managed to get a name from their captain. I recorded everything I've observed about them in this book, as well, they've agreed to meet with us mid-day at a place of their choosing: a canyon, (x direction) past the swamp."

>>21407600
"It went well, they noticed me, we talked for a short time, I gave them very little information and learned a fair bit. There is a planned meeting tomorrow, midday, at a canyon.

For now let's go over what I've learned. They're well trained soldiers, have some level of magic but they don't use it consciously. I don't think they're inherently magic so I'm guessing they've been blessed or enhanced in some way by a magic user. Professional, disciplined, some connection to the sun, not immediately hostile, had an emblem of a stern lady on them, they knew about the Basilisk Wyrm but not about our presence."

>>21407600
"Better than I expected, I suppose. They don't seem overly hostile, wanted to know if the Basilisk Wyrm was dead, and also talked about colonies being cut off by it.

You settle down between a pair of massive roots before you answer Haine, tired from your day's journey. Siperco gives the two elders a bow, which they return (Mayhew never taking his eyes off of the snake spirit), and slithers away without another word.

"I made a mistake, and they saw me," you begin. You hold up a hand to stem any comment that might follow. "But they didn't try to kill me on sight. They were soldiers, and very well trained at that. They revealed me with some manner of light magic and we talked. I set up a meeting with them in a canyon a few hours south of the swamp tomorrow."

"They speak our language?" Mayhew asks. You nod.

"They do. They wore armor with this insignia on it," you tell them, tossing your sketch to Haine with a casual gesture, "And their intentions seemed to be to confirm the death of the Basilisk Wyrm. I told them that it was in fact deceased. I don't think they're inherently magic so I'm guessing they've been blessed or enhanced in some way by a ritualist of some sort. Professional, disciplined, some connection to the sun."

"The moon," Haine corrects you. "Their emblem is a religious one. This is the symbol of the goddess of the moon."

>>21407765
Ask HAINE about GODDESS
Ask HAINE about SOLDIERS

>>21407765
"Well, you probably know better than I. I figured sun as they said something about sun-blighted corruption in reference to the Wyrm.

Haine, what do you know about this goddess and these people? On that note are there gods? Is there any way to tell them apart from very powerful spirits or Avatars?"

>>21407765
Tell them about "colonies being cut off by the Basilisk Wyrm"

>>21407765
"They used the symbols to cast beams of light, and have some sort of switchable enchantment on their helmets. I assume to improve sight."

File: 1351911704126.jpg-(119 KB, 731x1000, Osyki.jpg)

"What do you know about this goddess, Elder?" you ask, looking up at him from your reclined position. You've never heard of people worshiping celestial bodies. The concept seems strange to you.

"She's said to rule the night and all who dwell within it. Legends say that once, an avatar of her power descended to the earth below to guide the mortal populace toward prosperity."

Mayhew glances over at Haine, his eyes narrowed. "Hogwash, of course." he says in his gravelly voice. "As if a spirit powerful enough to embody the moon would have any truck with mortal affairs."

Haine shrugs. "Nevertheless, it was a very popular religion when I was a boy. I'm surprised to see it's still around."

You're about to ask Haine any number of questions that his speech has provoked when he shrugs, smiling at you. "Well, I suppose I ought to go make myself ready for the journey. I'll meet you at the village gate in the morning, Osyki. Get some rest."

And without another word, he and Mayhew wander into the forest.
---

[[That's the end for this evening. Next thread will pick up that morning.]]

>>21408075
Roger that.

Thanks again, Diarca. This is easily one of my favorite quests.

>>21408075
That morning?
What about Thane?