>>21994809
"Wha...?"

"I'm okay now." Take a deep breath. "I think I...'remember', everything about that weapon he used. It...shouldn't be here. It shouldn't exist in this world."

Let's take the gun and go throw it down a well.

>>21994861
Sounds like a good idea, but not before taking our sword out of his chest.

"I...what..." Collect thoughts. "I'm back with you. Where did Tannis go?"
(We sent Astora outside, so we know where she is.)

Assess the room quickly.

"Scylla, what are we looking for, and how long ago did Gabriel hide your skin?"

"I... What..." You ask, shaking your head. You understood, intuitively, exactly what Gabriel had done. He'd... made something that shouldn't exist. "I'm back with you. Where did Tannis go?"
"She's watching over Astora." Cass said. "But that... thing was very loud, and someone will investigate if we don't go now."

You quickly assess the room, and take back your blade, sheathing it again, and after looking about for the revolver, you don't find a thing- it'd vanished, you recall.
"Scylla, what are you looking for, and how long ago did Gabriel hide your skin?"
"Weeks." She said, starting to hyperventilate. "I can't find it, I can't find it I can't find it why can't I find it."

>>21994809

"I need a paper and a pen" write down the information and scematics before we forget it.

>>21994861
The gun "decompiled" when Gabriel died, Exabyte's word.

>>21994907
"Is Astora still...distracted? Maybe she can use her Gift of Sight to help find the skin or something?"

"Is Astora still... distracted?" You ask, and Cass nodded.
"You were only like that for a minute or so." She said. "But we have to go now, before the guards check things out. He might have been trying to kill us, but he's dead. We'll look like murderers, and I still have my tail!"

Ariana shook her head, trying to pry her eyes away from the body.
"Cassandra's right." She said. "And without her Gift of Flame, Astora's hand is still all... weird. We can't let them see that either."

>>21994907
"It's probably not right here then. Is there someplace he told you not to go? Or maybe another building?"

>>21994975
"Alright, alright."

"Hey, Scylla, come with us for now, we'll help you get your skin back in the morning when the guards are gone."

>>21994975
Search the body of Argent for any clues where THE SKIN might be.

>>21994987
Could be worded better, but I essentially agree. Also include, "If you're still here when the guards get here, they'll probably assume you killed him, and that isn't likely to end well. Especially if you're still searching for your skin."

"Alright, alright." You say, as Ariana and Cass make their way out of the cabin.
"Hey, Scylla, come with us for now. We'll help you get your skin back in the morning when the guards are gone."
"-whycan'tifinditIcan'tBREATHEineedtofindit-" She said, frantically rummaging around, before shoving an entire table over, the objects atop it tumbling and smashing off- including one of the lanterns, which shattered.
"If you're still here when the guards get here, they'll assume you killed him." You say, examining Argent's body. You find a set of keys, and quickly pocket them "And that's not likely to end well."
Scylla met your eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and nodded.
That's when the smashed lantern's oil reservoir spilled out to the lit flame, and it started to spread.

>>21995064
"For a moment I actually thought this couldn't get worse."

>>21995064
"Well, at least the fire will take care of the body."

>>21995064
"Crap. Scylla. Before we get the hell out of here because the place is burning, is there anywhere in the house he kept locked?"

This is unwise, yes, but if her skin's in there and it's in the house, it's probably our only chance to retrieve it.

>>21995064
OK, this is bad. At the moment I don't know how bad, but certainly we're three horse rudes, a long march, and eight kilometres on a boat from good.

now let's try and stop the fire

>>21995064
Rip some of the damn curtains off the wall and pat the fire out

>>21995064
"Cass, take Ariana and go, I'll try to help our friend find her skin before the fire gets too out of hand."

"Crap." You say, and tear off a curtain, trying to smother the flame. "Scylla. Before we get the hell out of here because the place is burning, is there anywhere in the house he kept locked?"
"Not... not in the house." She said. "There... there was the storage shed."
The curtain itself started burning as well- apparently the lantern oil was *too* flammable.

>>21995154
"Shit, let's just get out of here now and look in the storage shed, I've got the keys."

Grab Ariana, goto shed, get skin, leave town.

>>21995162
Ariana and Cass already left.

>>21995154
"Lets get to the shed then, and quit tearing shit up!"

Tell me again why we give so much fuck about this crazy woman that we are risking our lives and freedom?

anyway, let the fucking building burn, we tried to help and got into a huge mess. We can check out the shed for that skin

>>21995154
"All right. We've got his keys, let's get out of here. We'll check the shed, but then we need to get some distance, before someone connects the dots."

"Shit, let's just get out of here now and look in the storage shed, I've got the keys."

You take Scylla's hand and open the door, sprawling out, coughing from the smoke. Cass, Ariana, and Astora were nowhere to be seen, as Tannis sat in some bushes, her eyes gleaming. The sun was properly down, and the stars were just starting to peek out of the sky. Next to you, Scylla started coughing.
"Closer to the beach." She said.

You and her both make your way to the shed, which was built out of thick wood and stone. It didn't take long to use the keys on the door, and it opened- inside were great numbers of smoked fish, knives for cleaning, and bottles of ale. It was dark and dingy, and you couldn't see much of anything without any light.

>Use Lantern?
>Roll 1d100 for searching! Skilled if you use the lantern, unskilled if not.

>>21995173
Cause we're a nice person and its the right thing to do?

Rolled 20

>>21995205
Use the lantern, don't let Scylla anywhere near it.

Rolled 79

>>21995205
Of course, use the lantern.

Rolled 98

>>21995205
Use lantern.

Rolled 13

>>21995205
I don't see why we shouldn't use the lantern.

>>21995229
Having used it was a good idea. Yep.

>>21995229
the lantern of never-ending light.

You quickly light the lantern, and make your way into the shed, pushing aside fish, tables, and stools- and almost trip over something. In the dimness, lit only by the flame of your lantern, you see a glint of gold- a sturdy, heavy chest. Inserting the set of keys into it, you twist, and the entire thing pops open- and you hear Scylla make a low, breathless cry, her lips parting. She reached down and pulled up a strange, long sheet of scales, holding them close to her chest.
"You found it, you found it." She said, breathlessly, and then started to tear off her clothing.
Beneath the scales, you see a small pile of coins- some copper, some silver, and a single gold coin, and hear the rustling of chainmail somewhere outside, next to the sound of a fire crackling.

>>21995285
Lantern out, cover Scylla's mouth, hide in the darkness

>>21995285
Fuck. That's probably a guard.

>>21995285
Chainmail = Bad. Do we see a bucket? Grab bucket, run outside, confront chainmail guy: "GRAB A BUCKET, THE WHOLE HUT IS BURNING DOWN"

>>21995285
Go on, take the money and run. Into the river if need be.

>>21995321
This

You quickly put out the lantern, scoop up the coins, and then look back to Scylla- but she's already gone, nude, running out of the shed.
"Scylla, what-" You hear a gruff man say, and you hear the jingling of chainmail. You whirl around, and see Scylla shove the guard over, running toward the beach, laughing.
"Scylla?!" The guard asked, pushing himself to his feet and following her. You grab a bucket, and run out- but the guard seems rather distracted. The coat of scales whirl around the woman, standing with her ankles in the water, still giggling to herself. The cabin was slowly burning, and Tannis was sitting near the bushes, staring back at you.
"... I don't understand." The guard said, somewhat lost. Scylla grinned at him, and leapt into the water, everything below her hips made of scales and fins. A few moments later, her head popped back up, and her eyes met yours for a fraction of a moment.
"Ariana's hiding them in the shadows." Tannis whispered to you. "We should get as far away as we can- they'll join us once we're out of town."

>>21995384
"Let's go."

>>21995384
"Thanks, Tannis. Do you know which route out of town is safest?"

>>21995384
"Right."

Let's get moving while he's distracted by Scylla.

"Let's go." You say.

While you were leaving, you realize that it must have been quite a sight- Retreating soon past sundown, with the last edges of daylight at your back, with the remnants of a flaming cabin, a small cat following you.

Soon after you left Kefford proper, you feel a set of tight talons clasp your shoulder. Expecting a bird or something similar, you look over- to find Astora's arm slung over your shoulder, as she leaned on you, Cass and Ariana following her. Everything was silent as you left the town, and nobody seemed like they felt like talking.
"... What was that loud thing?" Tannis asked, finally. "Back there, when Argent used it. I smelled brimstone."

>>21995467
"It was a firearm. Something which should not exist."

>>21995467
"Something that shouldn't exist."

>>21995467
"Something that shouldn't exist in this world. I don't know why, but as soon as he used it I knew everything about it. Think of it as a very complex an advanced crossbow and you start to get an idea."

>>21995467
"...That was a gun. It could have killed any of us with one hit."

>>21995467
And now we can attempt to make primitive versions as well.

"Something that shouldn't exist." You say. "Think of it as... a very complex and advanced crossbow, and you start to get the idea. That was a gun. A firearm."
"Hehehe, I have a firearm." Astora said, and started giggling. "Except not right now. I wonder why. Is it broken?"
"I couldn't even see the bolt." Cass said, disregarding the giggling witch.
"It could have killed any of us with one hit." You say, and there was another moment of silence.

>>21995561
"It's weird, when he pulled it out, I understood everything about it. I knew what it was, how it worked and...how it was made."

"It's weird." You say. "When he pulled it out, I understood everything about it. I knew what it was, how it worked, and.... how it was made."
Alien, strange words come to your lips. Pyrotechnic, propellant, propulsion, cartridge, magazine, bullet. The mix was in your head, as you knew it always would be- Fifteen parts saltpeter, Three parts charcoal, and two parts sulfur.
Your head pounded.
"... We should get some sleep." Cass said, as you walked. "I have a feeling we'll run into dryer ground soon. We should go there, and then camp for the night."
"Y-yeah." Ariana said.

The five of you continued walking, Tannis eventually going into human form, as the ground softened and then hardened again, as Cass stopped walking.
"Here." She said, and started setting up camp.
"What's here?" Astora asked, leaning on you, her eyes still glazed over.
"... How come rosemary is messing with her a lot worse than it did with me?" Ariana asked.

>>21995711
"Did it get stuck up her nose?"

>>21995711
"Don't ask me, I'm not the sorcerer."

>>21995561
It basically uses the explosion of a certain powder to propell a sphere of lead to incredible speeds. No wonder you couldn't see it. It was too fast. I just don't get where he got it from...

>>21995711
"Her coming of age was really short, right? Maybe she's never smelled rosemary before."

Rolled 25

>>21995711
Might be sticking to her, the two of you should probably bathe, clean out your eyes and nose.

>>21995711
"You only ever caught remnants of a whiff, I think. She got it right in her face."

>>21995711
"Sticking the bottle in your face and taking a big 'ol whiff will do that to a person with magic."

>>21995711
Should make sure our bottle isn't broken.

>>21995711
"Maybe it's more potent the more powerful a witch is, or maybe she's just never smelled it before."

Astora confirmed for stoner witch.

"Her coming of age was really short, right? Maybe she's never smelled rosemary before."
"My coming of age was two whole days!" Astora said, confidently, clenching her fist. "Me and Eldin were sent out together, because the crones wanted a lot of little witch babies. But he was silly and ran away when I got into trouble."
"And it might be sticking to her." You say.
"If it was I would've smelled it." Ariana said. "And I couldn't have pulled her into my Gift."
"You only ever caught remnants or a whiff, I think. She got it right in the face. Or maybe it's more potent the more powerful a witch is." You say, checking to make sure your rosemary bottle hadn't broken- and it hadn't. Neither has your other bottles, luckily.
"Maybe." Ariana said. "Just... Astora, just, um, get some sleep."
Astora blinked, and then nodded.
"That's probably a good idea." Astora said, getting to her feet, and then grabbing your shoulder again, digging the talons of her strange, demonic claw into your shoulder. "But first... first, uh... first, I need to talk to Abu. A blue. Abel. This mundane person, whatever his name is. In private."
She shook her head, and hauled you to your feet, much stronger than you'd thought she'd be, and tugged you away from the camp.
"So. You." She said, suddenly glaring at you. "I need to know if you'll pertoc- protect- Ari."

>>21995947
"We've been through this before. I agreed to protect her."

>>21995947
"It's what I've been doing."

>>21995947
"Of course. That's what I've been doing, that's what I'll keep doing to the best of my ability."

File: 1355258231157.jpg-(46 KB, 600x449, 1353842252001.jpg)

ew

anti-gun quest?

pass

>>21996029
We're probably going to make one ourselves.
Why else would exa have given us the knowledge of gunpowder manufacturing?

>>21995947
"Of course I will."

>>21996029
What? It's a medieval fantasy setting, of course a frickin' revolver is out of place.

>>21996029
What? We haven't had the chance to even make any yet, which, when we do, I am voting for wholeheartedly.

>>21995947
"Is something wrong with your speaking? Is it the rosemary?"

>>21996041
Our super power seems to be meta knowledge, so it's only logical we know about guns.

"... We've been through this before." You say. "I agreed to protect her."
"You promise?" She asked. "She's the last... The last good thing I have left."
"Of course." You say.
"Good!" She said, and leaned against you for a moment, closing her eyes, and then shook herself awake again, talking much more slowly and carefully. "Because I'll be trusting you, because she does. And I don't do that very easy."
"Is something wrong with your speaking? Is it the rosemary?"
"This is important." She said, shaking her head. "Rosemary doesn't matter. I also need to promise you'll protect me. Because if something happens, Ari will be alone, and I don't want that."

>>21996105
"I'll be honest with you, Astora, I'm just a guy who's good with a bow and sword, but...I'll do everything I can.

>>21996105
"I'll... do my best but, uh... I'm pretty sure I'm taken. In that way. Just saying in case... yeah."

>>21996105
There's me and you and Cass and tannis, don't worry.

>>21996105
"I'll do my best."
>>21996135
But that's a lie.
>>21996146
That's probably just going to make her mad.

>>21996159
Sometimes you need a little bad for the purpose of dramatic tension, or comedic relief. In this case a little bit of both.

>>21996105
What's happening astora? Telle what's wrong?

>>21996159
Come on dude, we have no special powers, we *might* be some sort of outsider but other than that we ARE just a normal dude with bow and sword experience.

>>21996205
It's pretty clear that we're an outsider.
We might not have any special powers, but being from another plane of existence means that we aren't "just a guy"

"I'll do my best." You say.
She was silent for a few seconds, then blinked, looming closer to you, only a few inches from you. She parted her lips, and started whispering. "Your best isn't good enough. You need to do better. We all do. I do."
She took a deep breath, and leaned inward... then closed her eyes.
"I'm not good enough either." She said. And then she was asleep.

You make your way back to camp, the sleeping Astora in your arms, and find her blanket already set out, as well as a simple fire started. Tannis was sleeping on Cass's bag, and Astora was silently stoking the fire, thoughtful. Cass was nowhere to be found.
"... Did she fall asleep?" Ari asked. "What did she talk to you about?"

>>21996302
"She just wanted to be sure of a few things."

Do we ask the sword if we give it to Ariana again?

>>21996302
"Yeah. Mostly the same thing she asked before. Where's Cass?"

"Yeah." You say, and set her down on her blanket. "And she just wanted to be sure of a few things. Where's Cass?"
"She wanted to find breakfast and patrol for ghouls." Ariana said. "Just in case."

Silently, she made her way to her older sister, as if to make sure she wasn't hurt.
"She's been acting really weird lately." Ariana said. "For the past few months. I'm worried about her."

>>21996425
"Eh? What do you mean?"

Calling it now, she's dying of cancerrr

>>21996425
She was acting rather wietd today

>>21996436
Magical cancer, oh the horror.

>>21996425
"Maybe she's just upset over seeing her little sister grow?"

"Eh? What do you mean?" You ask.
"... She's always been kind of mean to people, but..." Ariana said, taking her sister's hand. "There's this look in her eyes sometimes."
"Maybe she's just upset over seeing her little sister grow?"
"Maybe." She said. "But it seems like more than that."
She sighed, and then Cass stepped out of the swamp, her feet bare and covered in mud.
"Found some water snake." She said. "And a lot of bulrush roots. Not enough for a real meal, but enough to spice up tomorrow's breakfast."

>>21996425
I'm pretty sure shes worried about you.

>>21996567
"Better than nothing."

>>21996567
Excellent!

"Better than nothing." You say, and Cass grinned.
"That's what I figured." She said, soaking a rag in the brook and wiping down her feet, tossing aside her collected food. She took a deep breath. "I'll be glad to sleep out under the stars again."
"Sleeping under the stars is okay, but I prefer having a bed." Ariana said.
"But if you have a bed, that means you can hear everyone in the entire town bustling around outside your window." Cass said. "I can't sleep like that. I prefer being able to see if anyone is near."

>>21996681
"Either's fine with me."

>>21996681
Either works for I. I've done enough hunting to sleep well in the open, but it is always nice to have people around as well.

"Either works for me." You say. "I've done enough hunting to sleep well in the open, but it's always nice to have people around as well."
"I don't like people. Persons individually is fine, but not as... as a collective." Cass said. "But I guess that comes from living in a big cabin with only a dozen other people."
She hugged her legs, and went silent.
"... I wish I could go back. But without the others, the ghouls would just eat me."

>>21996833
Sit next to her.

>>21996833
[x] Touch Scaly Tail.

>>21996880
how lewd.

>>21996833
Sit next to her, put our arm around her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do about that.

Losing your home is painful, it happened to me but not in as bad a fashion. I just don't have anywhere to go back to. But I've got you, I've got Ariana, I've got people who need me and value me so it's not all that bad. You've got us Cass, no matter what."

If we're going to go for the kiss soon, we should probably ask her to do an acid check first.

>>21996833
We should totally hold hands and say something comforting.

>>21996919
We should wait for Ariana to go to sleep before going for the kiss.

>>21996928
I agree with you, but only because I don't want her to taunt Abel for the next 4 days straight.

You get to your feet and sit down next to Cassandra, staring toward the fire, slinging an arm around her. For once, she doesn't elbow you away.
"I'm sorry." You say. "I wish there was something I could do about that."
"It wasn't your fault." She said, absentmindedly.
"Losing your home is painful." You say. "It happened to me, but not in as bad a fashion. I just don't have anywhere to go back to. But I've got you, I've got Ariana, I've got people who need and value me, so it's not all that bad. You've got us, Cass, no matter what."
She was silent for a bit, then started to lean on you, her eyes drifting closed.
"Thanks, Abel." She said, and kissed you on the cheek. You feel her tail wrap around your side, keeping you sitting there next to her.

For the longest time, the two of you just sat there, basking in one another's presence, and Cass gave you a hug, and another kiss on the cheek.
"I think I'm heading to bed." She said.

>>21997049
"Alright, sleep tight!"

>>21996919
Preform acid test by sticking our pinky into her mouth abruptly and without explanation. If it doesn't burn, say "Nope, no acid this time."

>>21997062
this.

>>21997049
"Hey."

"Your acid mode isn't on tonight.

>>21997049
"You aren't aciding right now, want to finish what we started?"

Touch scaly tail.

>>21997063
>>21997104
>>21997076
We're camping out with everyone else, that would be incredibly weird. Save it for next time we're in an inn.

"Alright, sleep tight." You say, and she lays back on her bedding. You make your way to your own, and before you consider if you should give your sword to Ariana, you were asleep.

When you wake up, you can feel claws punching into your chest, as Tannis stares down, staring at you, her claws dug into you.
"... Morning." She said, and you look up- the sun hasn't even risen yet. "It's so boring when everyone is asleep. You just happened to wake up. I'm so glad."

>>21997132
"I'm going back to bed unless this is important."

>>21997132
Grab Tannis into a deep hug, roll over and go back to sleep.

>>21997132
"Yeah I woke up because there's someone stabbing me in the chest."

>>21997132
"I woke up because there are eight claws puncturing tiny holes into my chest."

>>21997157
As a cat owner, I know this feeling. All too well.

What's worse, I'm moderately allergic to cats. So then the puncture points get all red and puffy for an hour afterwards.

"I'm going back to bed unless this is important." You say, and close your eyes again.
"It is important!" She said. "I'm bored, and there's nothing to hunt, and there's no pack nearby."
You grumble, and then pull her into a tight hug, roll over, pinning her underneath your arm, and go back to sleep.

When you wake up again, you have a very, very foreboding feeling. Tannis, in human form, lay there in your embrace, purring, and you can see Cass glaring at you, her eyes shimmering green- and you can swear you can feel a second glare from behind you, boring holes into the back of your head- a glare that is noticeably turning up the heat.

>>21997207
Separate ourself from Tannis, preferably in a way that shows them that we're still wearing pants
"...Shit."

>>21997207
Now before you do anything rash, I would just like to say that this was the only way to get her to stop clawing me.

Rolled 38

>>21997228
And she was a cat when I did it.

>>21997228
Oh god no. That's worse.
Let's just feign ignorance and hope we aren't set on fire/stabbed with a spear.

>>21997207
"It was either that or be stabbed in the chest with her claws. I can't regenerate wounds quickly or set people on fire, so it was an easy decision."

>>21997207
"...In my own defense, she was in cat form when I fell asleep."

>>21997207
"She was lying on top of me, as a cat, with her claws in my chest.

If either of you had any better ways of getting her to stop bothering me so I could rest I'd like to hear them.

Seriously, you've traveled with me for this long and your first assumption is something that gets me glared at. Where's the trust?"

>>21997223
I would not be at all surprised if Tannis had stolen our pants.

>>21997272
Seconding this.

>>21997281
That's no fun.

>>21997272
Third'd

Very, very carefully, you let go of Tannis and sit up, yawning as if you didn't notice. Ariana was grinning widely, preparing breakfast, and you turn to Astora, just for the older witch to act as if she hadn't been glaring at you, her hand aflame again.
"You're very warm." Tannis said, hugging you, with a mischevious grin. "I want to thank you for last night."

You hear an audible clink as something made of steel in Cass's hands break, and claws shoot out of her fingertips. Ari coughed out the water she'd taken from her waterskin at the wrong moment, and the air around Astora started wavering visibly.
"She was lying on top of me, as a cat, with her claws in my chest," You say. "If either of you had better ways of getting her to stop bothering me so I could rest, I'd like to hear them."

"I think cat fur burns." Astora said.
Ariana just kept coughing, and sniffled- apparently she'd gotten some in her nose.
"I'm not a cat!" Tannis said, glaring at Astora. "I'm maenad. Cat-shapeshifters are completely different."
"You're both weak to silver." Cass said, with a glance to her spear.

>>21997345
"Okaaaaaaaaaaay, i don't like that atmosphere? Could we all like, cool down a little?"

>>21997345
"I'll make sure to wear silver jewelry when I sleep in that case."

>>21997345
"You're pretty warm too."

"Maybe we shouldn't have cat for dinner until after we've delivered the message?"

>>21997345
"Would all of you stop threatening each other, especially over me. Seriously, nothing happened aside from me being warm and her cuddling up to me. And Tannis, stop trying to incite something.

Cass, if you want to be the one there than just let me know, Astora, don't set anything on fire, it's rude to set friends on fire."

"Tannis, stop instigating. You two, stop being jealous. Nothing funny happened. You wanna hop in my bed for cuddles? The metaphorical door is open. I'll leave it at that."

>>21997345
"Laaaaaadies, please."

"... Okay, I don't like this atmosphere." You say. "Could we all like, cool down a little?"
"What Abel said." Ariana said. "Soup's done, anyway."
"But I don't like soup..." Tannis said.
"That's what you get for trying to cause problems." The little witch said.
"Tannis, stop instigating." You say, and she pouted, her ears flattening. "You two, stop being-"
"I'm not jealous." Astora said, with a glare. "You have too big an ego, Abel."
Ariana giggled, and served out the soup, and everyone started eating.

>>21997490
"I was going to say malevolent."

Sit down and eat soup and keep our mouth shut.

>>21997490
Exabyte, why are you still calling it Vale quest?
It's blatantly just Waifu quest by now
I'm not saying that its bad and that people should stop liking what I dont like, but its misleading is all

>>21997490
Sputter, then say in a tone that suggests exasperation, "Then what are you getting mad over?!"

>>21997490
So, you wouldn't know where i could get salpeter, sulfur and charcoal? I don't think that stuff is sold in markets...

>>21997490
Get some soup, soup's awesome.

"Right, then either stop glaring at me or tell me why you're glaring.

Ariana, a little help would have been nice instead of you just giggling over my predicament."

>>21997490
Don't make me throw rosemary at you!

>>21997509
oh dear, how terrible, we are doing character interaction with women.

>>21997525
The most difficult thing I think we'll have trouble finding is the saltpeter, we're best off looking in caves and if we still can't find it then we'll have to make it.

>>21997509
>You're not in the vale anymore, either. The title's always been misleading, but I can't exactly change the quest's name every other thread- especially when you learn what you really are.

"I was going to say malevolent." You say.
"I'm not malevolent, either." Astora said. "I'm proud, as befits my station."
You turn to Ariana, after a spoonful of soup. "A little help would have been nice, instead of you just giggling over my predicament."
Ariana just continued giggling, while Cass focused, trying to calm herself down, her claws slowly shrinking, and her massively powerful, spiked tail slimming down, the spikes in it vanishing, as it returned to it's normal size.
"Oh, also." Ariana said, holding up the folktale book. "I finished this. The other night. I forgot to tell you, since I was distracted with the whole sword thing."

>>21997613
"And? Was it a good purchase?"

"And?" You ask. "Was it a good purchase?"
"I think so." She said. "It talked a bit about shapechangers, witch gifts, warlocks, fey like elves and trolls, and near the end, a little bit about angels. I've never heard of angels before."

>>21997648
"What'd it say about them?"

>>21997648
Oh, what did it say?

>>21997648
"That reminds me of something that Gabriel said.

Could you tell me what it said about angels? It might be important."

"That reminds me of something that Gabriel said." You say. "Could you tell me what it said about angels? It might be important."
"Yeah, I can." She said. "Though the ink was really faded. Something about 'A great, powerful soul, shattered into shards, making up all the world'. But two of the shards were bigger then the rest. One good, one evil. The good one always wins, I think."

>>21997704
Flip through the book quickly, see if anything catches our eye. Check the angel page for any pictures or anything useful.

>>21997704
"That was it? pffff. That's boring!"

>>21997704
"That's pretty convenient for the good angel. Did it have any more details on Angels?

Mind if I take a look?"

>>21997704
Well, I guess we should start collecting those 'shards', whatever they are.

>>21997704
"Shit... Creepy,that could... Nah. Can't be."

Guys, think outside the box. We aren't the angel persay, the sword is.

>>21997807
But then where's Gabe's sword?

>>21997807
The sword is something else. Gabe even said we're an angel.
It's possible that the book is describing the voices and has the wrong label on that type of being though.

>>21997807
but it's been stated we are, basically.

"That's pretty convenient for the good angel." You say. "Did it have any more details on angels?"
"Not really." She said. "There were a bunch of poems and stuff, but it was all faded."
"Mind if I take a look?"
She handed you the book. "You bought it, so it's yours." She said.

You flip open the book, skipping toward the end, keeping an eye out for anything of note. The back must have gotten damp or something, since most of it is faded and you can only pick out a word here or there, but you do run into a picture that shows you the 'shards that made up the world', whatever that meant, but it doesn't seem to make much sense. You flip through another few pages, eventually reaching the back, and your blood ran cold.

You see the mural, of the three beings- the same mural you'd seen far below ground, after banging your head and falling through the vale.

The words below the picture were entirely faded, and you couldn't read a single word of it, save for some hand-written scribbles at the very bottom.

<Don't worry, 42/1.> The words said. <I'm done killing your friends. My plans are now very, very different. I will have my name back, even if I need to shatter this world. - Sincerely, 1/42.>

"... Those weren't there before." Ariana said, eyes wide.

>>21997807
Could be. But what Gabriel said when we first met would very much fit. He was talking to us when he asked if we weren't tired of the struggle. He called us an angel. Not the sword. I guess that the sword is something like a game console. It enables greater control of "reality"

>>21997862
"Gabriel. He called me 42/1. It fits with the dream i had when i gave you the sword."

>>21997862
"Looks like a magic book then."

"Gabriel called me fourty two over one. Maybe it's related?"

>>21997862
"I've seen that mural before."

>>21997862
"holy FUCK explain this BULLSHIT, sword."

>>21997862
"It's from Gabriel, or whatever's behind Gabriel.

He and I might be the big shard angels."

>>21997862
I've seen this picture before, when I found the sword.

>>21997862
I would really prefer not telling anyone what Gabriel told us just yet.

>>21997924
Well i'd prefer if we did.

>>21997924
Yeah

>>21997948
i second this.

>>21997924
This is quite reasonable

"Holy FUCK explain this BULLSHIT, sword." You say, while Astora panics and covers Ari's ears, shooting you another glare.
<... We can't.> The voice you recognize as the 'first' said.
<Because we don't know.> The second said. <We're very unused to whatever this 'shard' business is, but at a guess, perhaps you could be the good angel, and Gabriel could be the evil one.>
<Or vice-versa.>
"They're just words, Astora, and I've heard them before." Ari said, glaring back, before turning to you. "What's wrong? You can understand it?"

>>21997982
Why? I mean it is pretty obvious whats going on. And keeping stuff to ourselves gains us nothing. (besides maybe not alienating our waifus, but i dont give a shit about that)

>>21998015
"You mean you can't? It...it's a message to me from Gabriel."

>>21998015
Look, sword, unless you give me a straight answer I'm just going to throw you in a ditch. Or maybe just give you to Gabriel.

>>21998015
"What happens if I give you to him, Sword, what happens?"

>>21998015
You can't? Its a message from Gabriel. To me. Also, i've seen that mural before, when i picked up the sword. See, its the sword that pointy eared fellow is wielding.

>>21998059
The sword literally can't tell us, it's bound by rules and restrictions. Don't get mad at the sword.

>>21998015
"The message at the end, you can't read it? It's from Gabriel. I might be the good angel, he might be the bad angel, or possibly the other way around."

>>21998015
"I've killed him three times now and he's come back even more deadly than the last. Give me a good reason not to just give you to him."

"You mean you can't?" You ask. "It's... It's a message from me to Gabriel."
"It's just a bunch of dots and dashes." Ariana said. "Except for the numbers. I can't understand it."
"Also, I've seen that mural before, when I picked up the sword. See, it's the sword that pointy eared fellow is wielding."
"Oooh, you're right." Ariana said. "I knew it was familiar!"
Everyone started crowding around, to peer at the picture, and you step away to speak to your sword.
"I've killed him three times now and he's come back even more deadly than the last." You say. "Give me a good reason not to just give you to him."
<Because.> The second voice said. <We know what happens if you give the blade to Ariana, or to Astora, or to Cass, or to Tannis.>
<Or to Crios, or to Eldin, or to any stranger you meet on the street.> The first sword said. <They become real, the same way you are, and they get written the same way you have been.>
<But...>
<But we don't know what happens if Gabriel gets ahold of it.>
<It could mean the end.>
<The end of everything. Not just this world, but, by extension... all of them.>
<Every last one.>

>>21998156
"That's probably a bad thing, I guess."

>>21998015
"You can't? It's from Gabriel. Or at least, I assume "One over forty-two" is Gabriel. "Forty-two over one" is what he called me at the fisherman's."

>>21998156
"Won't your peers be a little more lenient with what you tell me when *that* much is at stake then?"

>>21998156
Do I stop being 'real' when I give away the sword?

"Maybe we can get the spear for Cass."

>>21998156
Damn. Okay, so there are other worlds? Can't you just tell me who - what you are?

>>21998202
This isn't a bad idea you know.

"Is the spear still out there somewhere? Can we get it for Cass?"

>>21998202
You know that the sword told us that the spear is basically just it in another form?

>>21998232
Well what happens if multiple people 'possess' the sword, do they all become real? Could we make everyone real if we declared that the sword is now public property?

"That's probably a bad thing, I guess."
<Yes, it is.> The second said.
"Damn, Okay, so there are other worlds?"
<Many of them.>
<Ones impossible to count.>
"Do I stop being 'real' when I give away the sword?"
<... Yes and no.>
<You do, and you don't.>
"Can't you just... tell me who- or what- you are?"
There was a pause.
<We can tell you our names. Our natures are... something very different, and that we cannot.> The second said. <Although it's... normally against my own personality.>
<My name is Ares. Or Mars. The same as a god of war, very far away. Athena, even, if you wished.>
<And my own name... Well, I think I've changed my mind->
<... This one's name is The Rogue.> Ares said, finally. <He's scared of giving his name away, for whatever reason.>

>>21998283
"Do you know someone by the name of Ishelda?"

>>21998283
"Well, pleased to meet you two finally."

>>21998283
Could you at least talk to one of the others here so they think I'm slightly less insane?

>>21998283
That doesn't help me at all, sadly.

>>21998283
(fuck exabyte, this is by far one of the best stories ive ever read. youre def up there with my top fav authors lolz)

do you guys know how he had the ability to manifest a gun?
can he travel through the worlds and bring back dangerous things like this?
and also has this all happened before? i feel like this isnt the first time ive fought gabriel, the fact he has my eyes i think we might be a part of the same one person with the whole angel thing seconding it.

"Do you know how he had the ability to manifest a gun?"
<We do not.> Rogue said.
<Though it's very, very worrying.> Ares responded.
"Can he travel through the worlds and bring back dangerous things like this?"
<No.> Ares responded.
<It's impossible. Entirely- even if he can do things that normally seem impossible, this is one barrier he cannot break. It is something we are entirely certain of.>
"And also, has all this happened before?"
<... We don't know. Possibly.>
<This is the first time we've been here to speak to you.>

>>21998406
"I need to go for a walk."

Maybe leave the sword in care of the girls.

>>21998406
"Any ideas on how to kill him, permanently?"

>>21998406
"I don't suppose you two can get that answer from your fellows?"

>>21998406
been here to speak to me.....have yo spoken to anyone else?

>>21998468
bad idea. I think we need to explain everything we just found out to the girls. They deserve to know.

"I don't suppose you two can get that answer from your fellows?"
<... None of our peers have ever stepped into this world, before we.> Rogue said. <We cannot.>
"Have you spoken to anyone else?"
<We can speak to anyone who carries this sword.> Ares said.
<Though we prefer just to speak to you. It's... simpler, that way.> Rogue added.
<Then they don't freak out about the magic talking sword.>
"Any ideas on how to kill Gabriel permanently?"
<... No weapon will.> Ares said. <Destruction isn't the answer.>
"Abel, where did you go?" You hear Cass calling from behind you.

>>21998633
I'm right here.

>>21998633
Who are your peers?

"I'm right here." You say, and Cass gave you a smile, coming out of the brush.
"Talking to your sword again?" She asked, and you nod.
"Anyway, we were going to set off once you came back. Camp is all packed up."

You look down to your sword one last time. "Who are your peers?"
<That's an answer we cannot give.> Ares said. You shrug, and sheathe the blade.

>>21998825
"Any idea how much longer till' Amberway?"

>>21998825
Excellent. And thankyou again for the stuff you found last night. They made the soup delicious.

>>21998825
Hm. I think i owe you some explanations, hu?

"Excellent." You say. "Any idea how much longer til' Amberway?"
"Ariana said it'd just be a day." Cass said, as the two of you approach camp.
"... I think I owe you some explanations." You say.
"You don't owe me anything." Cass said. "We all have our own issues. You only need to tell us about it if you want to."

>>21999006
at least inform cass of whats going on, the others need not be bothered. besides, i like cass.
help with the packing of stuff and walk out to our destination, not much more to be said i dont think

>>21999006
Grab her and give her a kiss before we get back to camp. On the cheek or whatever.

"Thanks for being understanding."

>>21999006
If i only understood it myself... Anyways, it seems likely that Gabriel and me are the two Angels of the book. The problem is, he is somehow breaking the rules, and i don't even remember the rules...

"Thanks for being understanding." You say, before stopping and pulling her close.
"It seems likely that Gabriel and me are the two angels of the book." You say. "The problem is, he's somehow breaking the rules, and I don't even remember the rules..."
"Don't worry. You'll remember eventually. And, well... you won't have to fight alone." Cass said, and then grinned, twisting your own words from last night against you. "You've got us, Abel, no matter what."

>>21999134
"Thanks, Cass."

>>21999134
"Aww, thanks Cass, that...really means a lot."

"Thanks, Cass." You say. "That... really means a lot."
"No problem." She said, and the two of you made your way to camp proper. Tannis was carrying the blankets, while Ariana and Astora were quickly picking everything else up, and scooping the rest of the soup into a large flask, which Astora lashed to her flaming hand, in order to keep warm.
"How are you feeling?" Ariana asked, as you came into view. "You just read that and... kind of stormed off."
She bit her lip, and you could tell she was trying hard not to ask what the 'dots and dashes' meant.

>>21999367
Just trying to get some answers. It looks like Gabriel has decided to up his game.

>>21999367
we should ready ourselfs and maybe train up a bit for gabriel. a fear we will run into him again at our next destination and he will be more prepared than last time. but the sword said killing him wont end the fighting, we need to find some other way to stop him...maybe trap him

>>21999367
"Yeah, just needed some thinking room. It's as sorted as it'll ever be though I think."

>>21999367
"It said that he wasn't going to be targeting my friends anymore, but that he would 'get back my name at any cost', whatever that means."

"Yeah, just needed some thinking room and trying to get some answers." You say. "It looks like Gabriel has decided to up his game. It said that he wasn't going to be targeting my friends anymore, but that he would 'get back my name at any cost', whatever that means."
"Whatever happens with Gabriel, I'll help." Ariana said. "It wouldn't be a coming of age if I didn't- I'd just be running away."
Astora glanced at her- and from her, to you, and then nodded. You weren't sure who she was nodding to- You, Ariana, or herself.
Tannis looked enviously at the rations, but thought better of it.
Cass, meanwhile, absentmindedly stuck a small carved stick in her mouth, as if it were a pipe.
"Let's move on, shall we?" She asked, and once again, you set off toward Amberway.

>End of thread!
>I'll stick around to answer questions, as usual- although I'll only answer things that Abel should already know.
>My twitter is @futureexabyte and I hang around on the IRC pretty much every moment of every day (#Exabyte on Rizon).

>>21999593
I shall praise you. Compared to the lackluster beginning this quest has come a long way. I'm glad you didn't drop it.

>>21999593
What's with the stick?

>>21999593
How much do we know of modern chemistry now? I'm assuming a good portion based on our newfound gun and gun related knowledge?

What century is it, in-game?

>>21999706
Actually, your knowledge is rather narrow in scope- you know enough to *try* to make/extract the ingredients for black powder, but very little otherwise.

>>21999729
It's 109, the year of the Sun, you believe. You're not sure where your newfound knowledge of all those centuries of gunpowder is in reference to.

>>21999633
You don't know- she's never done such a thing before.

>>21999611
I'm glad I didn't either. I have grand things planned. Very grand things. I hope I don't fuck it up.

>>21999788
I hope so too, good luck!