>>21734917
Lol forgot my name.

>Give me a minute, there's something I need to take care of first... [Apologize to Chihaya]

>>21734917
HERE WE GO.

>Sure, what is it?

Fuck Chihaya and her no fun allowed self

>>21734917
>>21734929
And the subject. Herp mah derp.

This is, of course, iM@S Fantasy Quest.

>>21734917
Give me a minute, there's something I need to take care of first... [Apologize to Chihaya]

We should probably take care of this before it can fester and become worse.

>Give me a minute, there's something I need to take care of first... [Apologize to Chihaya]

If she doesn't accept it, she can cry about it.

>>21734957
I know it's hard to resist Haruka's smile, but you gotta pass on taking her caramels.

>Give me a minute, there's something I need to take care of first... [Apologize to Chihaya]
Let's avoid the downward spiral.

I feel bad for last time, so:
>Give me a minute, there's something I need to take care of first... [Apologize to Chihaya]

File: 1353806206858.jpg-(167 KB, 1920x1080, 1339878403780.jpg)

"Give me a minute, there's something I need to take care of first."

You stride over to where Chihaya is seated. She pointedly ignores your approach.

"Hey, Chihaya --"

The words catch in your throat as she fixes you with a withering glare. You're pretty sure you can feel the temperature drop a few degrees.

You clear your throat to buy yourself a second to consider your plan of attack. How to go about this...

>Simple and straightforward. Just man the fuck up and do it.
>Try to break the ice with a joke.

>>21735124
Break the ice with a joke

>>21735124
>Simple and straightforward. Just man the fuck up and do it.

Nigger, it would be smarter to slit your wrists than joke with Chihaya.

>>21735124
>>Try to break the ice with a joke.
This Chihaya's pretty bitchy, but maybe she'd enjoy a bad pun.

>Simple and straightforward. Just man the fuck up and do it.

>>21735124
>Simple and straightforward. Just man the fuck up and do it.

>>21735124
Man the fuck up. If she still doesn't want to play ball, then fuck her.

>>21735124
>Simple and straightforward

>>21735124
Simple and straightforward is the way to go.

Massugu, motherfucker.

Oh wow I actually made it in time. I thought I was going to miss this one as well.

If I may ask a question to OP... or GM? Did you have anything in mind in terms of designs and such for the girls? Or are folks free to interpret. Because i'd like to have a go at illustrating this maybe.

>>21735124
>Simple and straightforward. Just man the fuck up and do it.

If we know Chihaya by now is that she doesn't like beating around the bush. So just tell it to her straight.

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>>21735124
No sense in beating around the bush, in times like this you just gotta do what needs done.

"Look, I'm sorry for what I pulled out there in the yard. We need to be able to trust each other if we're going to be questing together, and I shouldn't have put so much strain on that trust right off the bat. I hope you won't hold it against me."

She gives an exasperated sigh, but looks a little bit less irritated. "Apology accepted, I guess."

Right, so now that that's taken care of...

>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.
>It's around lunchtime, and you've worked up a pretty good appetite sparring. Let's see about getting some grub.

>>21735216
>Because i'd like to have a go at illustrating this maybe.
Go ahead.
I'd really like to see the spars drawn in some form.

>>21735311
>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.
Probably best not to keep her waiting.

>>21735311
>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.

>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.
It'd be rude to leave her waiting for you.

>>21735311
>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.

Time for no fun.

>>21735311
Phew, crisis averted.
>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.

>>21735311
Go for glasses bitch, there's time to rub a dub for the grub later.

>>21735311
>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.

Put our serious face on, this is likely to be serious talk time.

>>21735311
>Go see what the bespectacled brunette wanted.

>>21735323
Starting off with character designs for the time being I suppose. That's why I wanted to ask if there were already any ideas in mind or if i'm free to interpret.

>>21735445
There is none in mind as I believe OP said they just wanted a general medieval theme instead of sticking with a specific game.

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>>21735216
I've got some ideas as far as the general sort of equipment they use, but beyond that nothing too specific.

>>21735311
It's probably best not to keep the glasses girl waiting. You head back over to her.

"Sorry about that. You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes, well, I was going to ask about what you did to tick Chihaya off so badly, but it looks like you already worked that out yourself. So, good job with that, I guess. I'm Ritsuko Akizuki, by the way, a Producer here like yourself."

"A pleasure to meet you, Ritsuko."

From your position in the back of the guildhall, it looks like you can see the other girls with whom you didn't spar. Over by the lounge area with Chihaya and Haruka, there's also an older-looking girl with long dark hair as well as a blonde sleeping on another couch. Ahead and to your left, there looks to be a dining area, where Makoto is talking to a girl sitting at a table with a cup of tea, and Hibiki is chatting with a girl with long, flowing silver hair. Over by the front door you see Yayoi watching with a small girl holding a stuffed rabbit as the twins pester the clerk.

>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit
>Chat with someone else [specify an area/individual]
>Lunchtime

>>21735515
Eh, might as well.
>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit

>Chat with someone else [girl with long, flowing silver hair]

>>21735515
>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit

Chat with her over lunch. See if we can get a rundown on the girls we haven't met yet, anything pressing we should be aware of. We need a sitrep and she seems like the one to do it. Also see who she's in charge of.

>>21735515
Let's chat with the silver-haired maiden.

>>21735515
And classes too, right? That should matter, like with Chihaya being a bard. And we don't know everyone's classes yet.
>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit
We should find out some tips on being a producer, and find out she's overseeing. Then, talk to the other girls.

>>21735515
>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit
Information gathering time.

>>21735515
>>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit
Getting some info about the others before actually talking to them could spare us some trouble.

>>21735515
I got the vibe this will turn to the battle of the waifus at some point.

>>21735515
I'd like to hear a bit of what you had in mind for each of them, then. When you end the session of course, if that isn't any trouble. I got most of it down weapon wise from what i've read but if you had more in mind. I'll wait for the rest to be written down as well, with the other girls.

>>21735515
>Chat with Ritsuko for a bit

>>21735640
You mean general favoritism in choices?

No doubt that's going to happen.

>>21735640

I'm hoping this goes the animu broducer danketsu route.

>>21735515
Chat with Ritsuko

>>21735640
>>21735674
Favoritism seems unavoidable. However, since so many of us chose to talk to Ritsuko, I think we're more likely to prioritize making the best decisions as producer over clinging to our favorite idol.

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>>21735515
Ritsuko seems like a good source of info on the other girls and how things are run here in general. Let's see what she can tell you.

"Mind if I ask you a few questions about the guild? Maybe over lunch? I worked up a bit of an appetite in the yard just now, and it's getting to be about that time."

"That sounds like a good idea. Go ahead and leave your things here, there's a pretty good tavern just down the way."

>Before you go, would you like to invite anyone else along? You did get a pretty tidy bonus from that escort job coming here, and this'd be a good chance to ingratiate yourself to the locals.
>Yes [everyone]
>Yes [just the ones you haven't gotten a chance to meet yet]
>Yes [just certain ones -- specify]
>Nah, just Ritsuko

>Nah, just Ritsuko

>>21735744
>Yes [just the ones you haven't gotten a chance to meet yet]

Gotta get acquainted with all mah idols.

>>21735744
>Nah, just Ritsuko

We're heading to a tavern and we might be slinging back some ale with her, don't want to set a bad example for our girls.

>>21735744
>>Before you go, would you like to invite anyone else along? You did get a pretty tidy bonus from that escort job coming here, and this'd be a good chance to ingratiate yourself to the locals.
If we bring everyone, we might not be able to afford it. If we bring only specific people along, the others might view it as favoritism. Better put the ball in Ritsuko's court.

>>21735744
>Yes [just the ones you haven't gotten a chance to meet yet]

Hopefully the other girls won't kill us over this.

>>21735744
>Nah, just Ritsuko

Take it slow.

>>21735744
>Yes [just the ones you haven't gotten a chance to meet yet]

>>21735744
>Yes [everyone]

>>21735744
>Nah, just Ritsuko

>>21735640
I have no doubt there will be some of that, but rest assured I've no intention of taking this quest in that route. I might entertain the prospect of romance subplots if it makes sense and would enhance the story, but that's not the point of the quest.

>>21735662
Sure, I'd be happy to fill in any details left wanting after we're done here today.

>>21735765
>Implying that's an issue in a medieval setting
Even the twins and Yayoi could easily get a weak ale without the barkeep batting an eye. Though principled ones might be a bit more reserved about the strong stuff, but basic working man's ale is practically a staple.

>>21735744
>Yes [everyone]

>>21735744
>Nah, just Ritsuko
Hard to talk to lots of girls at once.

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>>21735843
>Even the twins and Yayoi could easily get a weak ale without the barkeep batting an ey

Time to turn this quest into a party quest.

>>21735744
>Yes [just the ones you haven't gotten a chance to meet yet]

>Nah, just Ritsuko

File: 1353810473083.jpg-(142 KB, 800x600, 130813602812816205098_fufua.jpg)

Setting down your pack, you follow Ritsuko out into the busy street.

"So, what's the deal with this whole 'producer' stuff anyway? We didn't really have anything like that in the Defenders of Nirzal."

"Oh, it's really just a silly word Kotori insists on using, and it just kind of caught on after awhile."

"But, I mean, what exactly do you do?"

"Pretty much just guiding the less experienced adventurers, really. Even if you didn't call them 'producers', I'm sure your old guild always tried to put at least one veteran in any given party, right?"

"Ah, I see. So do you have a particular group that's assigned to you or do you pick your own or what?"

"Well, the way we handle things at 765Pro is usually that the Producers go see Kotori -- ah, that's our clerk -- to see what quest petitions we've received and pick out one that looks good. Then you select a party from the rookies to work with you on that quest. I usually take three others with me, but sometimes up to five for really big jobs."

"So since you're a Producer too, I guess that means we probably won't be working together very much?"

"Probably not, at least not for typical quests. The goal in bringing you in was so that we could take more quests on at once without sending the rookies to work on their own devices."

You enter the tavern and have a seat. A somewhat tall barmaid with poofy brown hair comes to take your order.

"Oh, just the usual, Ryou." It seems Ritsuko comes here often.

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"So, Ritsuko, would you mind telling me a bit about these rookies I'll be working with?"

"Sure, anyone in particular you had in mind?"

>The one with the silver hair
>The sleepy blonde
>The one with the stuffed rabbit
>The mature-looking one [in more ways than one]
>One of the ones you sparred with [specify]

>>21736175
>The one with the silver hair

Let's try to unravel this mysterious possibly alien woman.

>>21736175
>>The mature-looking one [in more ways than one]

>>21736188
Stop that. No metagaming. Bad anon.

>>21736175
Silver hair is high priority, second priority is sleepy blonde.

>>21736188
>implying we'd ever learn anything useful
>>21736175
>The one with the stuffed rabbit

>>21736175

>The mature-looking one [in more ways than one]

>The one with the silver hair

>>21736175
>The mature-looking one [in more ways than one]

>>21736203

I apologize. I was only trying to explain myself.

>One of the ones you sparred with [Chihaya]
Could be useful for getting along with her later on, also to know how her spellsinging works.

>>21736175
>>The mature-looking one [in more ways than one]
Her age might mean she's got more experience than the others, possibly easier to work with.

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"Tell me about the older-looking one with the long, dark hair."

"That's Azusa Miura. She and I go way back. She's got a heart of gold, but her head's always in the clouds. She's always getting herself lost. Kind of a hopeless romantic, too -- she once told me she decided to become an adventurer because she thought it'd help her meet her soul mate!"

"Sounds...less than reliable."

"Oh, no, don't get me wrong -- as long as you keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't wander off, she's a great help to have around. She's not much for melee combat, but she's an excellent healer and is pretty good at barriers and defensive magic too."

"What sort of magic does she use?"

"Elemental, water specifically. She also can manipulate raw aether a bit, countermagic and force barriers and the like. And she dabbles in omen-reading and fortune-telling, but I can't say I trust that stuff, especially not coming from someone as scatterbrained as Azusa."

"Well, you never know, some say that a personality like that is the sign of a true oracle. They're 'distracted by the song of fate', or something like that."

"Eh...maybe. I can't say I'd put money on it, though."

>Who do you ask about next? [See previous options]

>>21736479
Sleepy girl. We need to know if she's awake when it counts.

>>21736479
Let's ask about the narcoleptic chick.

>>21736479
Oh fuck me, you really made Azusa a healer!
>The one with the stuffed rabbit
Where is my little tea-drinker, OP?

>>21736479
The one with the stuffed rabbit.

>>21736479

>>21736266

>>21736479
>The one with the stuffed rabbit

>>21736522
Ohshi--

I can't believe I forgot that in the last round of options. Shame on me.

Also consider asking about
>The girl with the shoulder-length brown hair and a taste for tea.

>>21736479
I don't believe you wrote her down but the one who Makoto was speaking to and drinking tea.

>>21736317

u wot m8

Suggestion: Add "quest" somewhere in the Subject or Name field so that the thread won't pass by people's filters. More a courtesy than anything.

>>21736479
Well, then.
>The girl with the shoulder-length brown hair and a taste for tea.

>>21736570
Yeah, my bad -- I completely forgot both the subject line and my name for the first post today.

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>>21736553
She's a nice girl who would understand.
And it's not like it's the first time. ;_;

>>21736479
>The sleepy blonde

Let's see what nano's potential is.

FYI, the vote is currently tied between rabbit girl and tea girl. Though that's counting >>21736522 as a Schroedinger's vote...

>>21736692
Then I choose tea girl.

>>21736692
In that case
>The girl with the shoulder-length brown hair and a taste for tea.

>>21736692

>>21736522 here and I'd like to choose tea girl.

>>21736803
>Next

>>21736803
>The one with the stuffed rabbit

Also, wait, a shovel?

>>21736820
As in, who to ask about next?

There's still the silver-haired one, the sleepy blonde, and the one with the rabbit. Or you could ask about one of the ones you sparred with (Makoto the martial artist, Chihaya the spellsinger, Yayoi the little hammer-wielder that could, Haruka the mace-slinging healer, Hibiki the summoner, and Ami & Mami, the twin tricksters).

>>21736803
still
>>21736266

>>21736840
Yes. A shovel.

>>21736803
Bunny girl you FUCK.

>>21736803
>the one with the rabbit
Also, why the sudden Miki interjection? That kinda looks like it's not supposed to be there somehow.

>>21736803
I think you accidentally mixed two different posts together here.

>>21736844
Okay, we'll go with that.
>Ask about the one with the rabbit

>>21736867
>>21736878
Now how did I...
That's what I get for preparing everything in the same notepad file..

Hang on a sec.

>>21736803
Huh, So...Miki is the meleer with the shovel? I don't know how I feel about that.
>stuffed rabbit etc.

>>21736895
Miki hijack goes meta.
Polite sage.

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>>21736911
Goddamn it, Miki even hijacking /tg/.

>>21736920
>The sleepy blonde
Let's finish what we started.

>>21736920
Okay, now that makes sense.
Still Bunny Girl.

Though since you already had a bit of Miki's, you could start with her.

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>How Yukiho's post SHOULD have been; old post deleted so I could reuse the pic. Take 3.

"What about the one I saw having tea in the kitchen area? The one with the shoulder-length brown hair?"

"That's Yukiho Hagiwara. She's...well, honestly, I'm kind of baffled as to why she insists on being an adventurer."

"Why's that?"

"Well, she's just really timid. No self-confidence, easily frightened...not really adventuring material, you know? But at least she recognizes that and works hard to overcome it."

"Hopefully enough that she doesn't cut and run in a pinch..."

"So far we've found that she's able to do what needs done when it really comes down to it, but she requires careful handling and a bit of a push now and then."

"So...when she does come through, what does she bring to the team?"

"Well, she's mainly an earth mage. A really strong one, too -- she can practically reshape whole battlefields in a matter of seconds. And she knows how to use it both offensively and defensively, which is nice."

"How is she in a melee?"

"Well, she'd never rush into the thick of things on her own initiative, but if the fight's brought to her than she can really ruin someone's day with that shovel of hers."

"Shovel?"

Ritsuko shrugs and sips her ale.

>Next?
>Sorry about that. This is what happens when the votes are so close that I'm trying to prepare multiple tracks at once to anticipate.

>>21736949
Next, little miss narcoleptic.

>>21736949
Posted >>21736909, vote still the same.

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"How about that younger-looking girl with the long hair? I think I saw her carrying around a stuffed rabbit..."

"That's Iori Minase."

"Minase? As in the Minase Group merchant company?"

"That's the one. Her dad owns the company."

"What's a girl like her doing as an adventurer?"

"Trying to prove some kind of point to her father, I think. I'm not really too sure on the details."

"Huh. So, those were arcanist's robes she was wearing, right?"

"Yep, she studied at the local arcane academy. She's not *exceptionally* skilled, but she's competent. And since most of our girls are elemental mages, even as a merely average arcanist she still has a good deal more versatility than most of our members. Absolutely terrible in a melee, though. She carries a dagger, but I don't think she ever really learned to use it."

At this point, Ritsuko leans in conspiratorially.
"Now, don't tell her this, because she'll probably get offended, but Iori's main strength is really not her magic at all, but the connections and resources she has as a daughter of the Minase Group. Even if she can't call in any favors, she still knows all the ins and outs of high society and etiquette and stuff, so she's great to have along if you're going to be dealing with that sort of thing."

"And...what's the deal with the rabbit?"

"She claims it's some sort of arcane focus or something, but as far as I can tell it's just a toy she hasn't outgrown yet."

>Am I to assume sleepy is next?

>>21737073
Yes, nano us.

>>21737073
Sleepy it is hombre.

>>21737073
Yup. Sleepy.

>>21737073
You got it.

"So, what about that blonde girl? Does she always sleep so much? I'm pretty sure she was snoozing the whole time I was sparring with the other girls."

"Ah, yes, Miki Hoshii... She's... well, she can be a bit of a hassle sometimes, but she does tend to come through when it counts. Truth be told, she's probably the most talented member of the group...she's just really lazy and stubborn."

"What kind of talents are we talking here?"

"Just about anything and everything, honestly. If you can get her motivated, she can do just about anything you set her to, whether it's fighting or sneaky stuff or talking people into things. She's even good with pretty much any weapon you care to give her, though she prefers a poleaxe."

"How about magic?"

"She's an air mage. Pretty good at that too, can use most any application of the element you can think of. Blasts of wind and lightning, pushing enemies around or holding them at bay with air currents, even the fiddly metaphysical aspects of the element like enhancing quickness and cheerfulness and stuff."

"Sounds pretty impressive."

>Only silver-hair left -- unless you want to ask about one of the ones you sparred with first?

>>21737073
So, educate a guy who doesn't really understand this kind of thing.
What's the difference between an arcanist and a mage?

>>21737160
Sure.

>>21737160
Silver hair.

>>21737160
Let's cover silver-hair, no reason to leave her out.

>>21737160
I've given up on learning about spell singing so sure why not.

>>21737169
Seconded.

>>21737160
Is she gonna be the glass cannon of the team?

Anyways, ask about silver-hair next.

>>21737169
>>21737200
I believe Arcane means a combination of all the elements. Where as a mage only controls a particular one.

>>21737229
So, jack of all, master of none then.
Makes sense.

>>21737160
Hm, I would like to ask more about the twins but i'll go with finishing up the rest of the group and choosing silver hair.

>>21737264
Yeah.

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>>21737169
Arcanists are basically D&D wizards -- magic learned by study, can do all kinds of weird esoteric shit with it if you bother to put forth the effort. Works by using special rituals, and requires the use of ritual implements like special vestments (robes), a wand (generic term for any suitable cylindrical object, ranging from Harry Potter style wands to scepter-like rods to full-size staffs), and a spellbook to keep track of all that shit.

Elemental mages, on the other hand, generally only have command of one of the six elements (earth, air, water, fire, light, and darkness/shadow), and thus have somewhat limited scope. Their magic is natural and intuitive, drawing on personal mana reserves, and doesn't require any sort of special tools or incantations or anything. It's worth noting that the elements entail more than just matter and energy -- as Ritsuko mentioned, they're also associated with certain metaphysical concepts. Light and darkness are actually more concerned with metaphysical associations than material ones (eg, light is hope, truth, and blessing, while darkness is despair, deception, and misfortune).

There's also shamanic magic (like Hibiki has) which involves communing with spirits to borrow their help, and spellsinging (like Chihaya) which involves using music to channel magical effects, usually involving emotional/mental and environmental manipulation.

>>21737296
I see.
I guess that about sums up the magic system then.

>>21737229
>>21737264
That's a decent summary. There are also some things arcanists can do that you simply can't do as an elementalist -- for instance, it'd be extremely difficult for an elementalist to magically open a lock, since that would require very precise manipulation of forces. Arcane magic works more on the basis of concepts and principles, though, and so can do that sort of thing relatively easily.

I also forgot to mention, some elementalists (Azusa being one of them) can also manipulate raw aether -- basically the most fundamental building block of reality and the basic fabric of existence. This basically involves stuff like telekinesis, telepathy/ESP, and mucking with the flow of magic.

Also worth noting: as I use it in this quest, "mage" is a generic term for a magic-user of any type, whether arcanist, elemental, or the more unusual types like Hibiki's shamanic magic or Chihaya's spellsong. If someone is referred to as, say, an "air mage", that implies an elemental mage of that element.

Takane post incoming soon, sorry I got sidetracked with the magic explanations.

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>>21737160
"So I guess that just leaves the one with the long silver hair."

"Ah, that'd be Takane. She's...a bit of an odd one, really. Nobody really knows what her background is, and it's not for lack of trying.
Everything's "top secret" with her. Even her adventuring skills are fairly unusual."

"How so?"

"Well, for one thing, she doesn't use a weapon. I don't know if she even carries one. She just uses magic, all the time. If an enemy gets close, she just blasts them with a short-range or touch-based spell. And she never seems to run out of juice."

"Sounds to me like she's just an elemental mage with prodigious mana reserves."

"No, she's not elemental. She does all sorts of weird stuff, the sort of things you only see from arcanists. But arcanists run out of spells, and need to prepare them, and nobody's ever seen Takane do either of those. She doesn't carry a spellbook or any of the usual ritual implements either, though she does use incantations. But her incantations are in Common, not the usual arcane gibberish arcanists use."

"Very strange..."

"Yep. About the only thing we know for sure about her is that she's one hell of a mage."

>So, now you've had at least a cursory introduction to everyone at 765Pro. If you'd like, you could ask Ritsuko for some info on some of the girls you sparred with, or about herself. Or, hell, if you want to, maybe Kotori.
>Alternatively, we could put all this infodumping behind us and move on to some actual adventuring.

>>21737433
Ask why we seem to be the only person here who isn't a woman.

And then get to ADVENTURING.

>>21737433
Well, now that you've mentioned her... ask about Kotori.

>>21737433
>move on to some actual adventuring.
What better way to learn about someone than on an actual quest?

>>21737433
Kotori, then ADVENTURE.

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>>21737433
You know what, scratch that. Let's just get on with the adventure.

>>21737433
I want to know about Haruka. Is she a cleric or a white mage?

>Alternatively, we could put all this infodumping behind us and move on to some actual adventuring.

>>21737470
Eh never mind. I'll go with adventuring and find out about baka ribbons on the way.

>>21737470
That I might be able to answer without using Ritsuko as a mouthpiece, since you did spar with her (albeit off-panel, so to speak).

I just need to know what you're getting at by those terms.

>>21737503
I'm thinking of when making a balanced party, you need a good healer. So far, we only know Azusa for sure is one. Haruka's shown some abilities, but we don't know to what extent. Is she good or a dabbler?

>>21737529
She's pretty good. Based on your sparring, you know she has pretty good magical capability, and her magic is primarily healing and defensive, with offensive applications as a distant second.

>>21737673
OK, thanks. I'm ready to adventure.

Did we ever get the info about what this producer guy can do?

He seems kind of flaky.

>>21737773
He fights with a sword and shield, and got his ass kicked by girls.

>>21737786
>>21737773
I kinda assumed that was because we kept messing up the rolls.

>>21737796
We had a decent roll of I think it was 15 with Makoto. But Makoto is manlier than P, so that was understandable. Then shit roll with Chihaya who kicked our butt and a decent roll with Yayoi who we beat.

File: 1353817390287.jpg-(225 KB, 600x480, 1353025710397.jpg)

As you finish your meal and head back to the guildhall, one last question crosses your mind:

"So, Ritsuko...I'm used to seeing a fair number of lady adventurers, given how women tend to be good at magic and all...but seriously, what's up with 765Pro? You've got, what, 13 girls and not one man in sight til I showed up?"

"I've wondered about that myself, really. It is a bit odd. I mean, it's not all girls -- the Chief's a man. But then again, he's retired, just handles the organizational side of things."

"This chief of yours wouldn't happen to be some kind of closet pervert trying to use the guild to build his own personal harem or something, would he?"

Ritsuko laughs at that. "No way, no way. The Chief doesn't have that heavy a hand in our membership. Honestly, the truth is, for some reason we've just never had so much as a single male try to join before you."

"Weird."

File: 1353817426476.jpg-(536 KB, 826x1262, 1318537489123.jpg)

>>21737841
As you enter the guildhall and see the clerk at her desk, you remember what Ritsuko said about going to her to find work. You did just technically wrap up one quest coming here this morning, but that was rather uneventful and you find yourself itching for some action. Maybe she'll have something simple you can do before the day is out.

"Hey, Kotori, right? I'm looking to get out and do something. Got any quests I could do yet this afternoon?"

"Hm, well, we haven't gotten too many requests lately, but let's see..." (She pulls out a folder and flips through the handful of pages inside it.) "We've got a fellow with some kind of monsters in his root cellar, and an old wizard asking for help 'retrieving an item of much importance hidden in a treacherous realm fraught with danger' -- he's come to us before, and knowing him he probably just misplaced his socks or something -- and a report of a goblin encampment not too far from the outskirts that could stand to be dealt with."

>Which do you choose?
>Monsters in the basement!
>Item retrieval for the possibly-senile old wizard!
>Gobbins!

>>21737851
Let's murderize the fuck out of some Gobbos. Trial by fire and all that. Start off on something that'll get the respect of the girls.

>Gobbins!

>>21737851
Be a man.
>Monsters in the basement!

>>21737851
>Goblins

Grab your socks and pull out your jocks guys.

It's about to go down.

>>21737851
The basement sounds interesting.

>>21737851
Those goblins gon' be hobblin' once we're through with 'em.

>>21737851
Goblins. Why not.

>>21737773
>>21737786
>>21737796
>>21737834
Producer is generally a pretty solid sword-and-board fighter. Makoto's just an even better fighter, and the dice gods saw fit to let Chihaya kick your ass.

>>21737851
>Item retrieval for the possibly-senile old wizard!
Can't refuse free loot.

>>21737953
I dunno man, what if he turns out to be... senile?

>>21737851

I hate 'Gobbins' so I'm going to have to beat the shit out of some.

>>21737959
>item retrieval for the possibly-senile old wizard
>item retrieval
>senile
>old
Come on, man.

>>21737990
I'm just saying, is all.

>>21737851
>>Item retrieval for the possibly-senile old wizard!
Just because he's possibly senile doesn't mean what we'll find won't be potentially useful.

File: 1353818397811.jpg-(265 KB, 665x838, the idolf@ntasy.jpg)

"I think I'll take the goblins. Those other options sound kind of dull."

"You might want to pack dinner -- we only have a vague idea of the general location, so tracking down the camp itself could take awhile."

Kotori fills you in on what's known of the goblin encampment. It seems to be in the woods somewhere northeast of town. So far they haven't mounted any major attacks, but with goblins it's only ever a matter of time. For whatever reason, the bastards just have it in for humans.

They're also cunning little buggers, with a penchant for tricks and ambush. Best be on your guard.

>Gather your party! Name up to three adventurers to bring with you; total votes from all posts determine the final party makeup.
As a reminder, the roster here at 765Pro is:
>Makoto, the brawler
>Chihaya, the spellsinger
>Yayoi, the spunky little hammer girl
>Haruka, the mace-wielding light mage
>Hibiki, the wilderness-savvy summoner
>Ami and/or Mami, the rambunctious rogues
>Azusa, the fortune-telling healer
>Yukiho, the timid shovel-wielding earth mage
>Iori, the high-class arcanist
>Miki, the sleepy jack-of-all-trades
>Takane, the mysterious master mage

>>21738099

Hibiki
Iori
Miki

>>21738099
Hibiki (on the assumption wildnerness-savvy means she's a semi-competent tracker), Yayoi, and Haruka

>>21738099
>Makoto, Chihaya, and Hibiki

>>21738099
Okay, let's get Hibiki, we're in the wilderness so we may as well use her in her best environment. And let's also take Miki and Makoto. This seems like a pretty balanced team that can handle this easily enough.

And no matter what, remember to bring rope.

>>21738108
Takane
Iori
Hibiki

>>21738099

>Hibiki

For the woods.

>Makoto

Basic tank and melee

>Haruka

Maybe some minor healing.

>>21738099
Hibiki
Haruka
Makoto

Let's do this.

>>21738099
Takane
Haruka
Hibiki

>>21738099
Mami
Iori
Yukiho

>>21738099
Hibiki, Makoto, Haruka (let's not let Azusa loose in the woods).

>>21738099
Hibiki
Haruka
Chihaya

Iori
Chihaya
Azusa

Healers are important

>>21738099
Hibiki
Azusa
Takane

>>21738169
>(let's not let Azusa loose in the woods)
We might never find her again? Sounds like a terrible thing to happen on your first day on the job.

>>21738099
Hibiki. She can always ask the spirits to help locate the camp, provided she didn't piss them off.

Mami. The goblin camp probably has a few chests full of loot, and they'd most likely be locked.

Haruka. She seems to be a competent healer, and for this quest, weighty blunt objects used for bludgeoning purposes > fortune-telling.

>>21738244
Yeah, she'd be fine in a basement but those woods could be pretty big.

File: 1353819168757.jpg-(180 KB, 800x600, 127202107266816425962_sha(...).jpg)

Scanning the room, you see that the girls you'd most want to bring for this quest are all there. Excellent.

"Hibiki, Haruka, Makoto! You rested up enough from our sparring match this morning? Whaddaya say we go wrangle some goblins?"

After gathering your gear (making sure you have plenty of rope), you head out with party in tow, following the directions Kotori gave you to the area where the goblins were reported to have set up camp.

It takes about half an hour to get to the edge of the woods from the guildhall.

"Alright girls, here's the plan..."

What is the plan?
>Full frontal assault! Once we find those gobbos, we'll just storm in their and rout their ugly green asses, easy-peasy!
>We want to try to get the drop on them.

>>21738275
>>We want to try to get the drop on them.
We don't know how many there are, so surprise sounds like the best approach.

>>21738275
Get the drop on them.

Shit could get hairy if we move to fast.

>>21738275
>We want to try to get the drop on them.
That's what Hibiki is for.

>>21738275

>get the drop

First time out at probably low levels. Let's be careful.

>>21738275
>We want to try to get the drop on them.

Maybe on the next quest, Mami.

>>21738275
>We want to try to get the drop on them.
Why surrender a big advantage if it's there?

>>21738275
>Full frontal assault
We can deal with problems as they occur rather than cowering in fear of them before they even exist.

File: 1353819297426.png-(41 KB, 300x300, 1315174952001.png)

>>21738099
So uh... since Producer seems more ofa title in this Setting than a Name, how about giving ourselves an actual name?
Yes, yes, I am aware that this Quest is based on some Fanservice-Schlock but we can at least have a proper name, right?
I mean "Producer" throws any suspension of disbelief right out of the window and if this is supposed to be proper quest/adventure/story we might do it the right way?

>>21738275
>>We want to try to get the drop on them.
Let's do this the smart way.

>We want to try to get the drop on them.

>>21738308
Nope.

>>21738275
We want to try to get the drop on them.

Always take the element of surprise when you can. String some rope at a low height concealed by underbrush at the most likely escape routes they might take to slow down any runners so we can hunt them down easier.

File: 1353819564937.png-(45 KB, 306x204, 1334925014141.png)

>>21738308
But it doesn´t make any sense to call someone such an outlandish title like "Producer" in a fantasysetting ? What does a Producer to in this setting? Are there more? Are an organization and officially acknowledged by the population?
Do they give up their names when the become Producers?

>>21738378

Producer is kinda core to this series. It's like saying we should rename the girls because they're too Japanese to the setting.

File: 1353819946390.jpg-(159 KB, 800x600, 129475104018616129303_hib(...).jpg)

"We want to try to get the drop on them. Goblins are weak, but they're remarkably clever, and we don't want to give them a chance to prepare any nasty surprises. Hibiki, you're good at wilderness tracking and stuff, right?"

"Yep! I did a lot of hunting back home, so I should be able to track them down easy!"

"Excellent, we'll follow your lead then."

"Alright, let's go! Inumi, I'm counting on you, okay?"

You briefly think you can faintly smell the scent of a dog, and hear the swoosh-swoosh of a wagging tail, but then it passes. Hibiki crouches down, sniffing the air, then moves into the forest, beckoning for you to follow.

After about an hour of hiking, moving mostly in silence to avoid giving yourselves away to any scouts that may be about, Hibiki puts her hand up to call for a halt.

"I'm pretty sure the goblins are right over that hill, Producer!"

>It begins! Roll 1d20, third one counts.

Rolled 10

>>21738451
Murderize the buggers.

Rolled 18

>>21738451
Here we go.

Rolled 9

>>21738451

>>21738378
>What does a Producer to in this setting? Are there more? Are an organization and officially acknowledged by the population?
This has all been addressed previously both in this thread and the last one. It's a title used by the 765 Professionals adventurers' guild to refer to the experienced adventurers who help guide the rookies.
>Do they give up their names when the become Producers?
No, but in this quest you'll only hear characters refer to you by your title, pronouns, or other such workarounds. It wouldn't be the first time a quest MC has gone nameless.

File: 1353820106992.png-(54 KB, 227x223, 1334868967418.png)

>>21738392
But it seems that its a title or a Profession. So that means that "we" have an actual name, too?

And no, too japanese is not the problem, even if the whole Fanservice-Stuff is not my kind of beer and JRPGs usually make me roll my eyes.. I kind of enjoy it so far.

But the fact that we don`t have a name and our character seems to any personality at all - even though we get choices - and not even his own name, kind of..like I said, breaks any suspension of disbelief one might have while reading it.

>>21738465
WE ARE FUCKED. Slightly.

Rolled 13

>>21738451
Take a peak, see what we are up against.

>>21738465
Haruka is going to trip and ruin our surprise attack, isn't she?

>>21738491
Sorry, guess no trips to Vegas for me.

>>21738481
>This has all been addressed previously both in this thread and the last one. It's a title used by the 765 Professionals adventurers' guild to refer to the experienced adventurers who help guide the rookies.

Thats the part that kind of left me hanging. But.. Fair enough, I guess.

>No, but in this quest you'll only hear characters refer to you by your title, pronouns, or other such workarounds. It wouldn't be the first time a quest MC has gone nameless.

Actually thats not true, usually even if they start nameless, that do have an actual name that is hinted or refered to at some point. Or the name itself is part of a plotpoint.

File: 1353820779497.jpg-(203 KB, 800x600, 127012215413516119598_smi(...).jpg)

As you creep up to the top of the ridge, you can see that there is indeed a goblin camp just ahead. There are a couple of guards patrolling the perimeter, but mostly it seems pretty quiet.

"Alright, let's try to take out that guard next time he passes this way. If we're quick and quiet, we can probably take him out without the others noticing. Haruka and Makoto, circle around behind him. Hibiki, you'll be with me getting him from the front."

As you move into position, you see Haruka suddenly pitch forward, followed by a rustling crash as she faceplants into the undergrowth.

To her credit, she managed not to squeal *too* loudly as she fell.

The guards have clearly heard, and are moving quickly toward Haruka's position. So much for the element of surprise.

>Try to salvage the ambush
>Screw it, they know we're here, charge!

>>21738660
They know we are here.

It's time to hustle up and give it all that we got.

>>21738660
>>Screw it, they know we're here, charge!
Well, no point in hiding now, is there?

>>21738660
Oh Haruka.

>Try to salvage the ambush
Maybe take out the guards before the rest of them can be alerted.

>>21738660
Is it even salvageable?
>Screw it, they know we're here, charge!

Rolled 11

>>21738660
Charge that shit.

>>21738660
>Screw it

Fuck it we have Makoto and healing.

>>21738660
>Try to salvage the ambush

We murder the guards quickly enough we'll make it work.

File: 1353821397966.png-(3.52 MB, 2124x3036, page10.png)

With the ambush ruined, there's only one thing left to do: Charge!

"Dammit! Alright, let's do this!"

The first guard takes an arrow courtesy of Hibiki before you even get to him, and a quick thrust from your sword finishes the job. They might've known about Haruka, but they weren't expecting an assault from your direction.

The second guard charges your way, screaming gibberish but is intercepted by a kick to the head as Makoto joins the fray.

So far so good. But by now the camp is mobilized. Here's where the real fight begins.

>Roll 'em.

File: 1353821412114.png-(29 KB, 203x182, 1335999797254.png)

>>21738660
[x] Charge, clash Sword on your Shield and try to get all the Enemy`s Attention.

Hopefully our Spellweavers will catch our drift and try to do some serious casting.

Rolled 11

>>21738805

Rolled 7

>>21738805

Rolled 13

>>21738805
AGGRESSIVE, NOT RECKLESS.

Rolled 14

>>21738805

Tank & Spank!

>>21738833
FUCK.

Goblin arrows pelt your shield as you advance on the camp. Makoto dives into the fray in a whirlwind of fisticuffs, and Haruka raises her mace to the sky, producing a shimmering glow that settles on your group. A defensive ward, judging by the way the arrows seem to veer slightly now.

You smash into the goblins' front line, hurling a few aside with your shield. More advance to take their place, jabbing at you with crude spears, but a few slashing cuts drive them back. Haruka enters the fray, beating down goblins with her mace.

The four of you together make good progress through the goblin ranks, but they just keep coming. There seem to be an awful lot of them for the scant number of tents around -- they must have a tunnel concealed around here. You're doing fine for the time being, but if their numbers keep coming like this you're going to be in some trouble. For every glancing blow they land on one of you, you beat back an even dozen, but there seems to be no end to them.

Suddenly, you lurch sideways as your leg is pulled into the ground. Out of the corner of your eye, you spy a wizened-looking goblin with a feathered staff, pointing and jibbering in your direction.

Great. A mage.

With your leg pinned, you can't fight very effectively, if you don't get some help, you're going to be overwhelmed in no time.

>Haruka!
>Makoto!
>Hibiki!

>Also, roll 'em.

Rolled 15

>>21739030
Hibiki...what's she doing? Haruka and Makoto seem busy.
>tunnel
Damn, our little tea drinker would have come in handy here.

Rolled 9

>>21739030
We don't take any shit from mages. If we're at all sane we have throwing daggers on us, plant it right in that mage's throat.

Rolled 17

>>21739030
Hibiki!

Hope she's a good shot.

Rolled 6

>>21739030
Makoto!

>>21739090
Looks like we live to fight another day.

>>21739090
Phew, good thing I was slow to the roll.

File: 1353823144599.jpg-(116 KB, 800x600, 128100465676416129586_kha(...).jpg)

>>21739030
>>21739090
"Hibiki! A little help here would be nice!"

"Right! Nekokichi! I need your help, ok?"

An agonizingly long beat passes in which nothing seems to change. The goblins keep advancing, and your leg is still stuck. Then you hear Hibiki's voice over the melee again:

"What do you mean you won't help? What? The offering? Okay, I admit I may have nibbled on a bit of it, but it just looked so tasty, and -- ah, fine, I'll do it myself!"

You see the goblin mage flinch as an arrow pierces his thigh, and the ground around your foot loosens.

But not enough for you to pull it out before a goblin manages to get a good stab into your sword arm.

As you cry out in pain, Haruka and Makoto finally break through the crowd surrounding you, pushing back the goblins.

"Haruka, can you do something about my arm?"

"Right, hang in there, Producer!"

>A roll, please.

Rolled 18

>>21739222

Rolled 18

>>21739222
You fucks are waiting for someone to roll aren't you?

Rolled 14

>>21739222

>>21739252
>>21739272
...Dammit.

>>21739290
It's just not meant to be.
We dead.

>>21739310
I regret not bringing Takane along now.

>>21739222
Well, that sucks. I thought we were safe with 17.

File: 1353824048492.jpg-(131 KB, 900x1000, when you see it.jpg)

Haruka crouches by your side as Makoto tries to hold off the encroaching goblins. Light pours from her hands as she places them over your wound, and you can feel the pain dissipate and your strength return as it and the other, more minor hits you've sustained thus far start to heal.

The good feelings stop abruptly as Haruka cries out and lurches forward, a goblin clinging to her back and beating at her helm with a cudgel.

Spitting curses, you scramble to your feet and run the goblin through. Your sword arm's not quite fully healed yet, but it'll have to do.

"Haruka, are you alright?"

She stands, wincing. "Yeah, just give me a minute."

>Alright Makoto, times like this call for muscle and guts!
>Hibiki, still waiting on that help!

>Once more, roll them bones!

Rolled 6

>>21739439
C'mon, you can do it!

Rolled 16

>>21739439
Come on, Makoto. No one kicks ass better.

Rolled 14

>>21739439
>Alright Makoto, times like this call for muscle and guts!

Let's rock their shit.

>>21739474
This will either go good or very bad.

File: 1353824438308.jpg-(160 KB, 600x800, 31245386.jpg)

>>21739500
I have faith in the manliest of idols.

>>21739474
We're all going to die, aren't we?

File: 1353825504284.jpg-(55 KB, 600x464, 1316224853247.jpg)

"Makoto, with me! Looks like our casters are having an off day, so how about us strong warrior types show them how it's done, alright?"

Makoto takes a position on your flank, beating away goblins with fist and foot as you hack away at your side as well as your injured arm will allow.

"Why are there so many, Producer? There's no way this camp's big enough for all these!"

You grunt as a goblin hurls itself against your shield, scrabbling madly to reach around it with a crude knife. "There's gotta be a tunnel concealed around here that they're coming from. See if you can find it!"

After a few seconds of wordless combat, you hear Makoto yell, "I think I see it! There, by the hillside!"

Looking back toward the hill you came over to get here, you see a large tent set against it, goblins pouring out of it.

"Excellent! Let's try to bottleneck them there!"

As you advance toward the tent, you can see through the front flap that there is indeed a tunnel concealed within it, going back into the hillside.

"If only we could collapse that tunnel..."

"Leave it to me, Producer!"

Breaking from your side, Makoto plows through the advancing wave of goblins and strikes one of the wooden support beams in the side of the tunnel with a mighty crack. Tearing the now-fractured support beam from the wall, she spins around and hurls it down the tunnel, knocking out the roof beam of the next set of supports.

File: 1353825544980.jpg-(122 KB, 1280x720, 1340585813056.jpg)

Having dealt with the remaining goblins outside, you simply gape in astonishment as Makoto dashes out of the tunnel, the roof collapsing behind her.

Makoto beams at you with a satisfied grin. "Well?"

>"That...was really something. I've worked with grown men twice your size who probably couldn't have pulled that off."
>Tousle hair. "You did a damn good job."

>>21739781
>Tousle hair. "You did a damn good job."

>>21739781
Brofist her with one arm, tousle hair with the other.

>>21739781
>Tousle hair. "You did a damn good job."

>>21739781
>Tousle hair. "You did a damn good job."

She does that with a FUCKING 14 and Hibiki can't do shit with a 17?

I call shenanigans.

File: 1353825916299.png-(985 KB, 1230x1800, Makoto Aniki.png)

>>21739773
>>Tousle hair. "You did a damn good job."
FUCK YES, Makoto. I knew you were the man.

>>21739781
>>Tousle hair. "You did a damn good job."
Well, she did.

>>21739798
>>21739802
>>21739805
>>21739811
>>21739842
>>21739849
Let's face it. This wasn't a fair choice.

File: 1353826065998.png-(232 KB, 483x584, 1343833830637.png)

>>21739781
>Makoto confirmed for best Fighter
>Hibiki and Haruka confirmed for not being able to cast Magic for shit.

I guess this is what you get for taking along two shitty, Multiclassed-Casters.

>>21739811
I guess it's time to draw back the curtain: I'm actually taking low rolls as better. During the sparring matches last thread, you were actually rolling for the girls, not MC.

Now, technically speaking she probably shouldn't have gotten quite THAT spectacular a result with a roll of 14, but it's late and I can feel my brain starting to shut down, so I figured it'd be best to just end it. Plus you kinda could've used a break after Hibiki's poor roll and Haruka's mediocre one.

And, y'know, it's just a loose freeform kind of deal in the first place.

>>21739880
Oh really, I wouldn't have guessed that. With my 9 and Haruka tripping to ruin the ambush, I figured low was bad.

>>21739880
I hate Questm@ster.
I hate you.

Go sleep you glorious bastard.

>>21739880
Hey, when is the continuation of this adventure gonna come about?

>>21739880
That's what I thought. Good show. I'm certain you might want to wrap this quest up soon and get some much needed rest. Really enjoying this so far.

I'm wondering if I could arrange a time to bring up my equipment inquiries for those drawings. Or if you could find a time sometime to just write it all down. Suppose I don't need a lot: Besides choice of weapon, if you had any ideas as to the clothing style or type you'd like them to be wearing and if they have other special accessories and such. Again nothing specific, maybe a quick mention if it's light, heavy, maneuverable... that sort of thing. Just something for me to go on a bit if you have things in mind.

Don't need to do this especially soon, so no rush on that.