"Oh, you know. People getting attacked and eaten, figured we'd come by and see if we could save a few. Same ol' same ol." You say to Mage's sister. Your pinkie wiggles just a little, and you see Tricia start to wag her big toe. "We intend to give it to the Lizard Folk residing below the city, once it is retaken."

"No shit? Huh...helping out the family, huh?" She nods. "I can respect that." She reached down and plucks one of your scales off and then starts to chew it.

"I thought you wanted to escape from the Ghouls as well? What has made you embrace them and their foul ways." Peri and Mari are going back and forth, and their mouth is starting to move.

"What, brother tell you that?" She sighs. "Kid dreams, he got lucky. I didn't. You get beaten enough times you do something, you tend to stop doing it. Then you adapt, and before long...you find you like it." She sighs. "Any other questions for me? It'll cost you another one of your scales...honestly, they're like fried eyelids...I can't eat just one!"

Haha! I knew obsessively checking /tg/ every 15 minutes for word of this quest was a good idea! Welcome back!

now to barely post any suggestions at all unless I feel strongly about an issue because I generally like ssen's direction

Anyways, I suppose I'll start us off since there's nobody here but me yet.

What made her dad change his entire ghoul lifestyle and come out here? It's unlike the description we got of him.

>>23748498
"What caused the Ghouls to band together and march on Stone Hall?" You ask.

She carefully pulls off another scale. This one she sucks on slowly. "Mmm, you really are a prize. I've had naga and lamia before, but you are something else. There's...an aroma to it. Like the aftertaste of an excellent tea." She sighs. "One day, I wake up and walk out of my sleeping quarters to see that Father is talking to this guy in this angry looking mask. The guy makes a lot of promises about food and power, and the old man eats it up. He says okay, and the mask guy raises his hands and there's this flash of light, like what happened when you stabbed him." She points at the Fell King. "Dad's turned into that, and now the Ghouls follow his commands and listen to him. We go collecting other groups. Then we raid Stone Hall. Everything's going great, then we get a hold of this place and Dad goes all weird. Same with the ghouls around here." She shrugs. "I felt fine, so I went out and had fun. Figured out how to make people hungry, wasn't hard. Also, I know how to befoul supplies, and you wouldn't imagine how reliant people get on healing potions or medical supplies." She pats her stomach. "It's been good. I'm going to pay for a little bingeing, but I have ways to keep my figure.

"Any more questions, or are we done?" You ask.

Roll 1d20 to try and escape from the hold person spell.

>>23748584
Should I keep posting suggestions on my lonesome, or do you want to wait a while for people to arrive? The time is kinda odd

>>23748610
Your call. As long as one person wants to play, I'm game. I don't mind waiting 5-10 minutes either.

Rolled 11

>>23748584
Freedom! I don't know what to do with it but I want it.

>>23748622
allright, let's give it 10 or so minutes. If nobody arrives, I guess I'll have to do plot critical things on my own.

Rolled 16

>>23748584
FREEDOM!

>>23748643
fuck, nevermind. Ignore me here >>23748645

Allright, if we're struggling to escape, we should have a distraction question. Why doesn't she leave? Pack up and go? There's paladins bearing down, and if that doesn't work, artillery.

>>23748643
11 is not enough to escape.

"Why didn't you just leave? Pack up and go, since your father and most of the ghoul leaders are like...this."

She plucks off another scale and nibbles it down. "At first it was because there was easy prey everywhere, plus whenever Father spoke or I thought about leaving, my head would feel funny and I'd get sick. It got better once I routed the first wave of attackers. After that, it was just nice to have a week where I didn't have to worry about the endless hunger, or where my next meal was. Then it was to see if I could get some lizardman, never had it before. But now, what with the armies, and the Paladins, and the shelling...and since I have Brother's wand now...you're right. There is no reason for me to stay."

"Which is why you five are going to stay here while I take off, then do whatever your tasty little heart desires." She shrugs. "Live and let live, you know."

>>23748720
You can clearly see everyone has a little bit of give on the spell. You just need that little push over the edge...

Roll 1d20 +2

Rolled 6 + 2

Welcome back Echo

>>23748724

>>23748731
Still not enough. You have to stall her some more, or she's going to take off and disappear with Mage's staff.

>>23748738
"Did you know that I just... shed these scales every so often? Plucking them is, obviously, not exactly pleasant."

Is this a good enough distraction, or is it too transparent?

Rolled 6

>>23748724

>>23748738
"How where you able to break the chain spell? I thought only his father could do that."

>>23748764
"How where you able to break the chain spell? I thought only his father could do that." You ask.

She plucks another scale. "Yeah, well now that the old man's gone off his head all of his stuff was mine to search through. I've got everything I need to know about the Ghoul life from the Old Skins. The fleshshaper spells, the hideaways, everything. That included how the Horns of the Hind worked. Thanks again brother, for bringing it to me. Hope you find a new staff or a wand or something." She says. She honestly sounds sincere about that.

Roll 1d20 +5

Rolled 1 + 5

>>23748826
for the dice gods

>>23748836
Okay, I'll be nice Archivist, you're getting your one 'Regular Poster' re-roll.

Rolled 17 + 5

>>23748836
sonovabitch. fucking dice gods...

>>23748826
"What is it you plan to do after you escape the city? Wander around simply eating anyone you come across?"

>>23748843
if it fails use above to try and stall more

>>23748836

Dude. Seriously.

>>23748853
You're free.

It's a called shot with your tail if you want to try and get Mage's staff back. A 1d20 straight. Sword is 1d20+2, regular tail is 1d20+1

Rolled 8

>>23748873
Wrap her.

>>23748873
first, is everyone else still frozen?

Rolled 5

>>23748873
Get that staff

>>23748882
I say we slap before we wrap. Don't want to push two opposite aligned wands together and then crush them as hard as we can. It sounds like a really, really dumb thing to do.

>>23748884
Yes, but you get first action then we go into regular combat with order rolls.

>>23748882
>>23748885
You last out with your tail and you just slightly start to wrap around the staff when Ester putt it out of your grip. "Ah!" She yells and dodges away from you. She bumps into the Fell King.

"Hello, welcome to my home..."

"Oh get out of the way!" She yells as she blasts the Fell King to the side with her staves, he lands against the wall, still spouting his lines.

"Fine...a meal to go sounds good anyway." She smiles and bangs the staves, let me show you my favorite dinner gown."

Her entire body starts to writhe and churn, you're shaking off the last lingering effect of the hold spell as you watch.

Her legs fuse together and hard black scales cover them, her body stretches and twists, growing both longer and larger. Her mouth opens showing her canines growing longer. At the tip of her tail, a black barb bursts out. From the backs of each of her palms, a long blade sprouts out over her hands. Ester the Ghoul Naga/Lamia laughs, the Horns of the Fell Hind wrapped in her tendrils. She's 18 feet long and twice as big as you are. "I can't wait to add you to my collection." She says, her serpent tongue flicking out. Her tail lashing around, not minding it it smashes into or crushes the other mindless ghouls. "Come, little snake. Let me show you how to be a monster properly!"

Roll 1d10 for initiative

Rolled 6, 2, 4, 10, 6 = 28

>>23748973

Rolled 3

>>23748973
Joy

>>23748973
"You know, it would have been nice to live and let live. But you continue to threaten the people, and must be stopped."

>>23748977
Lea goes for a kick. "Damn it...Ssen where are those spots?" She yells.

Tricia tries to summon the roaches that are infesting this place.

Ester gets two attacks a turn. She tries to bite Lea, and the staves in her coils start to glow.

Peri goes in swiping.

Rolled 11, 1, 4, 16, 6, 12 = 50

>>23749010

Rolled 9, 9, 7, 7, 13, 12 = 57

>>23749017
Everyone misses, bu the staves glow, and set off a flash of blue light. Ester grows another foot longer. (Gain 1 hp)

Your turn

>>23749025
Okay, let's indicate to lea the weak points. The best way to do this is to go right for some, and hope they join in. See if you can get a slash across the small of her back- even if it doesn't break it, it'll mark it.

Rolled 12, 17 = 29

>>23749025
slash with the sword at a weak point and tail whip her.

consider trying to bite.

>>23749038
It's a tricky blow to make, even with father's blade. Thankfully, Ester being bigger makes the sweet spots bigger targets.

1d20 +1

>>23749045
You'll have to forgo the tail whip if you want to try for a sweet spot.

Rolled 11

>>23749025
I'm going to guess it's going to be all but impossible to get those staves away from her.

And try to tell Lea where those spots are ...

As for attack ... ah hell shoot one the weak spots ...

Rolled 3 + 18

>>23749045
I say we go for a bite to a sweet spot. It's one of our few effective weapons against her.

>>23749063
Er. dunno where that 18 came from. Also, fuck me, I should not roll.

>>23749052
thats fine.

>>23749056
No, to get those staves out from her will take a called shot with your tail and a successful hold.

Now that's all explained, the next linked post to this will be your move.

Rolled 14 + 1

>>23749073
slash the sweet spot

I think we might want to consider at least going for the staves every other round. That healing (or hp growth) is going to annoying as hell in time.

>>23749091
I'm hoping a quick spine blow might knock them out anyway.

>>23749103
Knowing our luck ... not a chance in hell. We'll most likely have to pull those damn things away from her.

Rolled 19, 7, 9, 14 = 49

>>23749079
Bingo! You slide around the pretender, and jab Father's blade right in the perfect place. "THERE!" You yell. "HIT THERE!"

Ester screams in pain and rage. (Every hit on the sweet spot will cause Ester to lose 1 attack for her next turn. If two hits happen at once, she takes double damage from the second shot.)

Mage gestures with...the staff he no longer has. ineffectual wisps of colored light come off of his hands. "Oh hell." He says. "Uhh, uhh, Ssen? Not sure what to do!"

Lea actually jumps onto Ester's back and tries to go for the sweet spot.

Ester tries to wrap her tail around you.

Peri does a double slash.

>>23749103
Remember the Naga Eldest who handed us our ass on a platter? Yeah. I honestly see three ways for us to survive this encounter - get the staves early on, use our venom, or sacrifice a small city to the Dice Gods for enough luck to take her out via massive damage.

>>23749139
oh, I'm not actually OPPOSED to using our venom in this specific instance. It might be a fair idea. I'm more worried about her using venom on us, since if we both poison each other, we BOTH have heart attacks.

>>23749128
>>23749139
Think we could put mage on staffsnatch duty?

>>23749173
No way he's strong enough for that.

>>23749130
Lea nails her right in the spot, you see Ester spasm as pain goes through every single part of your body. Thank you Uncle Julian.

Tricia has recovered from her fumble with the roaches earlier.

Ester misses trying to snag you as you slip out of her pathetic attempt. Amateur.

Peri can't cut through the bitch's scales.

Your go.

Rolled 15

>>23749184
Try to grab the staves.

>>23749155
Actually, we both have our skeletons liquefy. Us first, since we have less skeleton to go around (assuming she can hold her morph)

And while I understand the various regulars' (I will never be a regular; the quest usually runs while I'm at night school) concerns vis a vis giving in to darkness, I also understand that no wise warrior discards a weapon entirely simply because it's distasteful.

>>23749173
That's a good way to get Mage killed.

Rolled 6

If ever there was a time to go for the bite, this is it. Against anything else it has a bone-dissolving effect that might be considered cruel, but against a Lamia (even a Ghoulish one, hopefully) it just means we need to survive for two minutes until a painless (re)death. Ssen, move off to the side and behind, wait for Mage and Mari to take shots, and go in for a bite. Concentrate on getting the bite in, even if it means you take some damage.

>>23749130
Don't let her get a good bind on you, if you need to tangle her with your own wrapping to spread out the squeeze and deny her leverage. Also, tell mage to find some kind of way to shoot or drop things on her.
>>23749192
I'm not OPPOSED to venom in this fight, but do remember: lamia-on-lamia bites cause heart failure, not bone melting.

Rolled 13, 8, 12 = 33

>>23749191
You snag em! Now you just have to hope Ester doesn't shake you off as you pull.

Mage heads over to his father. "Come on, old man...what kind of trick were you supposed to have?"

Lea attacks the sweet spot.

Tricia tries the roaches ONE. LAST. TIME. (She means it, is they don't behave, then she's never using these things again...bastards)

Setting question that I don't think has come up before: do holy symbols have any physical effect in the world, such as, say, causing pain to ghouls with their touch?

If so, shove the holy symbol around your neck in the ghoul's face, that ought to provide a decent distraction.

Rolled 2

>>23749260
Sorry, should have made that a reply to:
>>23749244
and gotten the dice right, sigh.

File: 1363596285365.jpg-(14 KB, 500x375, qte.jpg)

14 KB JPG

>>23749244
>you grab the staves
MASH THE A BUTTON
MASH IT SO HARD

Rolled 16, 16, 15, 7 = 54

>>23749244
Mage pulls out three vials from his father's corpse. "Okay, this'll do." He says.

The roaches finally do what Tricia tells them to do and start to craw over and bite Ester. It's not much more than an annoyance, but it keeps her slightly distracted. (-2 to checks as long as Tricia keeps control)

Lea gets jostled by Ester's undulations and misses the spot, her hand hits hard scales.

Ester tries to shake you free, or at the least, wrap you up.

Peri keeps trying to find some soft flesh with her blades.

>>23749260
>>23749244
Who cares if the holy symbol burns ghouls or not? It's a sturdy, spiked ring. JAM IT RIGHT IN HER MOUF! Vertically! Less chance she bites that way! This will earn us an indignant moment to steal the staves, if all is according to plan.

Rolled 14, 7, 16, 11 = 48

>>23749292
Thank GOD for Tricia's roaches. She fails, just barely, as you doge and have yourself whipped around in the air. You're reminded of when this happened with Granny, but then she had all the control, now...you do. The staves come loose with a pop and you land on the ground with them clattering beside you.

Peri also finally hit some softer tissue

"I'll get it!" Mage yells as he heads for the staves. (He'll get them on his turn, which is right after yours.)

>>23749320
Ester's not looking too hot. Blood is pouring freely out of the sweet spot, and there's some heavy gashes on her. Her scales are starting to flake away and her face is starting to distort and shrink.

And by the way, your turn.

>>23749320
allright, now that the staves are gone, see if you can get a TAIL LOCK on the join between her human and snake halves. We're long and thin enough, in comparison to her, to focus our force. Also, will make it harder to get the wands.

>>23749340
1d20 +1

Rolled 5

>>23749328
Sword sweet spot round 2.

Rolled 17 + 1

>>23749346
do we want her alive for the paladins?

>>23749350
Welp, that's what I get for pushing my luck after the staves.

Rolled 17 + 1

>>23749346
I don't know if you want to take my wrap or his sword, so I'll roll anyway.

>>23749354
We don't NOT want her alive for paladins. I mean, it would be of benefit, and we wouldn't have to kill mage's sister and all. Good secondary objective, if we can get her out.

Rolled 3, 18, 1 = 22

>>23749350
You miss sadly.

Mage grabs his own Horn and shoots a fireball at her.

Lea tries for the sweet spot once more.

Tricia tries to keep control of the roaches.

>>23749366
Then why would we want her alive at all, if not for the paladins. She's just going to go start this little cult up again somewhere else. It's either alive for paladins or dead.

What happened to thread 8?

Rolled 20 + 1

>>23749368
Try to bind her arms and waist- she seems to be de-mutating as she injures, so it's the place we'll have a solid hold regardless.

Rolled 9, 5, 19 = 33

>>23749368
Mage misses.

Lea doesn't.

Tricia starts to zone out again. You see a part of her eyebrow twitch. That's it, never again with roaches.

Ester tries to wrap Lea up.

Peri keeps doing what she does best.

>>23749368
Tricia, just call it quits on those roaches ...

>>23749382
Check sup

>>23749382
I archived it on suptg, it was mistitled as 7 in the thread.

theres even a note in the description.

>>23749382
Always check sup first ...

Rolled 6, 17, 16 = 39

>>23749382
I mis labeled it, it's in the archives.
>>23749387
Ester is a joke at this kind of stuff. Never go for a knock-off with fancy add ons when you can get the real thing. Lea dodges easily.

Peri gets in another slash.

Your go.

>>23749379
that's what I said. We have no reason NOT to take her to the paladins. If we can capture, not kill her, it would only be of benefit both to our group, and to the populace. Not to mention another captive would add to our resume. Right?

Rolled 7

>>23749419
Constrict, try to keep it nonlethal for a capture

Rolled 4, 10 = 14

>>23749428
You miss, Ester's body is as hard to nail down as your own.

Mage shoots a fireball at her.

Lea goes for the sweet spot.

Tricia comes back to normal, with a couple of curses about roaches.

Rolled 13, 1 = 14

>>23749442
They both miss.

Ester tries to slash at Lea and once more, wrap you up in her tail.

Peri keeps cutting.

Rolled 1, 9 = 10

>>23749448
Ester misses both you and Lea.

>>23749452
No dice. It's your turn.

Ester looks horrible, her head's gone back to normal, save fangs, and blood is dripping out of her mouth.

Rolled 18

>>23749464
Constrict.

>>23749464
(Just so you know, I wrote down all of Ester's attacks and I had them to my own rl dice, so that's whats been guiding her.)

>>23749464
>>23749474
constrict, offer quarter/capture.

Rolled 11, 19 = 30

>>23749474
NOW you got her.

Mage, Lea, and Tricia then do something clever. They see you've got a hold on Ester, and they tackle her. They're trying to hold her tight so she can't break free of your grip.

Ester tries anyway.

Rolled 15

>>23749493
Sadly, Ester puts in one massive grunt and pushes you, and the others off of her.

Mari tries for a kill shot.

Rolled 14

>>23749504
BIngo! Right in her left cheek at an upward angle that it rips out of her left eye.

Ester collapses to the ground, and after a very painful sounding transformation back into her human form, she lies there on the ground. Twitiching and sobbing in pain and shame.

Mage looks at you and sighs. "I'm supposed to carve out her heart now and eat it...I think part of me wants to too..." He shudders. "Does it ever go away? Our natures?"

>>23749529
"I kind of want to eat her too. Let's not though."

>>23749529
"No, i dont think they ever will, we just have to keep resisting them."

Tie Ester up and have Tricia stop the bleeding.

File: 1363598236641.png-(617 KB, 720x480, 1362905201205.png)

617 KB PNG

just look at him for a second and

"... sometimes squeezing people makes me hungry."

>>23749529
"I don't believe so .. but it's one's will, one's ability to chose, to have a conscious choice to act upon those instincts or not that keeps us from crossing the line like her ... "

Or something like that ...

> Mage looks at you and sighs. "I'm supposed to carve out her heart now and eat it...I think part of me wants to too..." He shudders. "Does it ever go away? Our natures?"

That would make life too easy, wouldn't it? You'll always have to live with that hunger, but the more you resist the easier it'll get. What separates you from the mindless ones is that you still have a mind and a will; make the choice to keep it that way.

>>23749529
"If we're giving guilty facts about our heritage, I often get hungry after all of the crushing in battle. Now, onto business- we should keep her from bleeding out here if we can. Captured is better than dead, if possible."

get a good look at the grievous injury
"If possible.

Rolled 18

>>23749554
>>23749562
"No, i dont think they ever will, we just have to keep resisting them. I kind of want to eat her too. Let's not though." You say.

"Heh, agreed. I did promise her that I'd get her away from the ghouls. Maybe there's still a chance for her." He sighs and strokes her hair.

Tricia stops the bleeding and Peri ties her up.

"We will make a great empire! Curse you Lightbringers! No this cannot be! Then enough of this talk, see me as I am. What you call civilization, I call soft, weak and corrupted. Hello Lightbringers, welcome to my new home."

Mage shakes his head. "Whatever that thing is...it's not my father." He looks at the other Horn. "Okay, I have a stupid idea on how to stop this insanity."

>>23749602
"Am I going to like it?"

>>23749602
We live on stupid ideas. Go for it.

>>23749602
Oh god, this is going to be like the Woods, isn't it? Please tell me this isn't going to be like the Woods.

>>23749602
"Just how stupid are we talking here?"

>>23749602
"If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid. What kind of long shot are we talking about?"

Rolled 6

>>23749602
>>23749612

"Am I going to like it?"

"No." Mage says. "I don't want anyone else to have a chance at that horrid thing...and I think a big pulse of raw magic should break the spell, or whatever it is, that's controlling the ghouls. The only thing that can break the Horn...is the other Horn."

>>23749627
"We'll have to deal with him, then, the moment you break a staff? Do you think just tying him up beforehand will do it?"

>>23749627
"Fine, but I'm not going to be happy if we have to buy you a new staff. Those things aren't cheap."

>>23749627
"And what happens when this 'big pulse of raw magic' goes off? No property ... err ... more property damage?"

>>23749655
This, with a giant grin on your face.

>>23749655
"And what happens when this 'big pulse of raw magic' goes off? No property ... err ... more property damage?" You ask.

"No. If you've got anything magical on you, it'll probably stop working, and any enchantments she made with that thing will stop as well...he pauses. It might fry people who have an excess of ghoul fleshshaper magic in them." He looks at you. "Like extra limbs and teeth excess, not a quick swig of troll blood."

"Fine, but I'm not going to be happy if we have to buy you a new staff. Those things aren't cheap." You say with a smile.

He smiles. "Deal...okay...you guys might want to take cover anyway."

"Will we have to deal with him then?" You ask looking at Mage's father, still spouting gibberish.

"No...there's no one here with more ghoul magic in them than him, despite his new appearance." Mage says. "Uhh, you guys might want to take cover, just to make sure."

He walks over to the other horn. "Just one last thing..." He touches the other horn to his shackle. There's a flash and the chain is there again...on this time it's silver, and you see clasps on the shackle to open it. "Just doesn't feel right, you know? Okay...tell me when you're ready."

>>23749389
>>23749395
Oh it was just mislabeled? Never mind then. I'm actually almost done reading it in another tab. I didn't think to check suptg because I've had the catalog open since thread "7" was made and it shows all new threads as they are posted.

>>23749655
I'm still a little confused on the staff. Mage just had a stick chained to him when we first met, then he ate a bit of us and it changed suddenly. This has apparently happened before because he was able to look it up in a history textbook. What happened there? I can't recall if it was ever explained.

>>23749720
"Everyone good?"

"Do it!"

Curl up into a ball or something.

>>23749734
its explained in thread 2 or 3, whichever we meet the Conclave Overseer in.

>>23749734
The staff never changed. The shackle did. The staves themselves are famous, but the shackle and the chain are separate items from the Horns of the Fell Hind.

>>23749720
Take cover, then tell Mage to hit it.

>>23749720
"Mage, are you sure *you'll* be OK when that thing goes off?"

>>23749752
You grab the girls, and Ester, as you crouch behind the pile of piled up desk you curl yourself into a ball around your friends.

"Everyone good?" You ask. You hear an affirmative.

"Do it!"

Mage swings his staff onto the other one as hard as he can.

The one one splits in two like a dry twig. There's a pause as you all wait.

Then WHOOMP! You see a wave of color that's Not-Violet pass over you. When a human (Or lamia) sees a color that their eyes can't perceive, the brain colors it violet. You feel a shudder and then a large wretching noise and screams of disgust as your coils feel wet. Ester apparently just vomited. Lovely...at least you get your scales back.

Mage's Father, the Fell King, has his body write and spasm, his arms ripping open from the inside as his skeleton warps without the rest of his body changing in the same dirction. You are sure what an apex ghoul predator looks like...but your betting that their organs are not on the outside.

You uncoil, check Ester to make sure she's still alive, and flick your tail as clean as it could be.

"Well...that was not as bad as I thought." Mage says. He doesn't realize that his hair is all sticking up on end.

Peri/Mari and Tricia giggle.

"What?"

"Nothing." Tricia says.

>>23749852
Ester starts to heave again and you turn her away in time for her to empty her stomach onto the floor. "Oh God, are we going to have to see every meal that she's ever eaten?" Peri says.

"I'm more worried if this thing is happening to the other ghouls, can you imagine the clean up?" Mari asks.

Mage then suddenly goes into a bout of dry heaves, then he stops and catches his breath. He looks fine...Ester looks like she's going to be going for round three soon enough.

"Mage," Lea asks. "Was this all of the Ghouls? I mean...everywhere?"

Mage shrugs. "Probably, I mean there might be a few holdouts, and one or two fleshshapers out there, but...yeah."

"Then you just ended one of Citadel's greatest threats with one blow." Lea says smiling as she picks up the pieces of the broken horn. "Well done."

Mage blushes. "Thanks Lea."

BOOM BOOM BOOM.

The doors to the Great Lecture Hall rumble. Someone is trying to force their way in.

>>23749861
go answer the door.

>>23749870
You look at the others, they raise their weapons and take stances.

You go and open the door.

"Oh! Hey Ssen." You look into Tara's smiling face. "Did you win?"

>>23749882
"Yep, I see you did, and i can assume Isen did also?"

>>23749882
>"Oh! Hey Ssen." You look into Tara's smiling face. "Did you win?"
I'm far too alive for the alternative, so I'd have to say yes.

>>23749882
"Nope, bad guys won. We're all ghost. Boo~"

>>23749882
"We won so hard that most ghouls in a city-wide area are vomiting at the prospect. Also, got a captive! We think. Assuming that vomit wasn't any of her own organs."

>>23749882
"Your timing is hilarious."

>>23749895
bah to tired to post right

change to "Yep, I see you survived, I assume Isen did also?"

actually >>23749899
just for laughs

>>23749895
"Yep, I see you did, and I can assume Isen did also?"

She nods. "Yeah...well he hurt his arm pretty badly, but we won." She looks up. "Uhhh, if they're victorious, tell them to come outside, and to be ready to give me another kiss." Tara says. "That's, um, what he said to do." Tara blushes. "Though I think HE wants the kiss."

>>23749925
Walk outside with Tara and give her the kiss, on the cheek. Then stick our tongue out at Isen.

>>23749945
This, for the laugh.

>>23749945
this for laughs, but give Isen one anyways.

>>23749945
Heh, I like it, let's do this.

>>23749925
The ghouls that were in the Conclave are all dead, a few of them are on their side, twitching as they choke on their own vomit. The Converted are either curled up into a fetal position shivering, or holding each other. They're never going to be the same.

"Maybe we can say that Ester's a converted." Mage whispers.

You go outside and the buffoon in royal blue and gold is standing there. Behind him is the Occuli army, and the regular soldiers. His shield arm is hanging limp by his side, and there's a lot of dried blood on it, there's a lot of bruises and small cuts on him, but that giant aggravating grin is still on his face.

"Hey Sexy Scales!" He says. "So, we won?"

You nod.

"Awesome, now, how about that second kiss?"

"Sure!" You say and peck Tara on the cheek.

Tara blushes and punches you in the shoulder lightly, for her...ow.

Isen looks disappointed, but he grins. "Told you she'd be okay with it Tara, we'll talk about a night to try it later." He turns around to face the crowd.

"THE FELL KING IS DEAD! SLAIN BY THE DAWNCHASERS! STONE HALL IS OURS ONCE MORE! WE ARE VICTORIOUS!" He shouts.

And the air is filled with cheers.

>>23749977
Weapon aloft! All the cool warriors are doing it! Then we can get to the messy work of cleaning up, clearing out, and processing the city.

>>23749977
Wave to the crowd.

>>23749977
You raise your blade and wave. There's applause and cheering. You can see the Paladins as well. They're all clapping. Avery is impressed. Julian is actually tearing up. Bobbi Odette is smiling kindly.

Unlike the reconstruction of Purple Sands, which was more of a patch job, the rebuilding of Stone Hall is a complete overhaul.

Not to mention the problems that arrive when the lizard people come up to the surface. It helps that they throw themselves into helping the rebuild of the city, but there have been incidents that the Occuli have had to deal with.

Ester was carted off to an asylum run by the Cups Guild, with the other Converted. You told them that she was a mage, and that the Ghouls were using her for her power. The extra details were unimportant.

Lea insisted that you stay, and help with the repairs, as well as help keep order. Your newest title is that you are one of the 'Liberators of Stone Hall.'

Isen and Tara have, of course, skipped town to avoid the 'boring busy work.'

You wake up a week after the battle, and for once there are no disasters, no one shouting for you, and none of your friends are pestering you to come help them with something. At last you have a day to yourself...

now what?

>>23750043
>day to yourself
FINALLY. We can start using all those ghoul puns we've been holding off on. About how GHOULISH that situation was and all that.

Anyway, the lizard men are on the surface now, yes? Maybe we should catch up with the naga, see how her and hers are doing, get a conversation in, ask her if fangs grow back, probably have her demand a wrassle, it'll be a learning experience.

>>23750043
Find Julian and make sure all of the agreements where followed on behalf of the lizard folk.

And tell him you and your companions where almost killed when some ships fired on the city.

>>23750043
Stay in bed while we can, before others drag us into the next adventure.

>>23750071
samefagging a bit:
oh, and if we can see julian too, that would be good. Checking in with the leaders of the various groups can smooth over any problems before they start.

>>23750080
Seconding staying in bed half an hour before any of the other plans get started.

Rolled 9

>>23750043
Could Julian sponsor us for the Paladin initiation?

>>23750071
Roll a 1d8 for Julian

Rolled 3

>>23750093

>>23750073
This, especially the second part.

>>23750096
Paladin Julian Graves was ordered to appear before the Council at Grand Citadel for his recent actions. He left two days ago.

On the good side, they left Paladin Avery in charge, and dwarves accept no nonsense and hold to contracts.

Paladin Odette has left too, Avery thinks she's gone to Grand Citadel to speak on Julian's behalf.

>>23748485
This party sounds like a group of well adjusted young folk with realistic origins and goals.
I lied, god damn 3rd edition monster player characters and pre-pubescent adventurers

>>23750073
>And tell him you and your companions where almost killed when some ships fired on the city.
This. A THOUSAND TIMES this.

>>23750093
Grab the holy symbol and pray a bit, asking for strength of will for Julian to help him as he does something incredibly brave and selfless on behalf of the Lamias.

>>23750112
well crap, talk to Paladin Avery, he seemed to like us last time we saw him.

Odette is probably trying to forcibly retire Julian, so we could use all the friends we get.

>>23750129
try to keep it short, he seems like an industrious type. Bit of pleasantries, hello how are you and all that, inform him of the shelling as that is our business, fond fareweel. Sound about right/

>>23750129
Possibly in more ways than one, depending on how much she hates what might happen: she might just want to end Julian's career, or she might decide to make sure Julian never makes it to Grand Citadel (not necessarily by killing him, but perhaps by waylaying him and getting there first to tell the tale unopposed).

>>23750129
Avery is looking over the plans to rebuild the Illuminated Cathedral when you come into his office. He's taken residence in the old mayor's villa...the mayor now no longer needing it or anything else.

"Lady Ssen Patrick to see you sir." The Dawrf Guard says announcing you. He nods, calmly puts away the plans, and gives you his full attention.

"Yes?" He asks.

>>23750136
We shouldn't even bother with the shelling complaints. We knew that it was a possibility going in, none of our party was harmed, and we don't actually know who was launching them. We can complain about it almost hitting us, but it would be kinda meta to automatically assume it was Paladin Odette.

>>23750152
It is, on the other hand, completely reasonable to believe that they could see to aim the shots, and there weren't any ghouls (other than Mage) anywhere near you when the shots rained down on you.

>>23750152
but isn't that why we're talking to him?

Otherwise we're wasting his precious dorftime. he uses that time for drinking. And saving babies.

>>23750167
I feel like that's still kind of meta. There were ghouls pretty much everywhere, and shelling really isn't that accurate. She could just claim that the navy miscalculated.

>>23750146
Bring up the fact that the ghouls were obvious puppets (include details of the scripted encounter with the ghoul leader). They were being directed into attacking the city by someone in a rage mask, and the lizardmen had mentioned the humors.

>>23750177
I have no idea why we're talking to him, as far as I can tell it's to explain our paranoid theories that we have no evidence for and hope he accepts them.

>>23750187
This is a good reason to talk to him, whining that Odette is out to get us will just make us sound like we're trying to cause trouble.

>>23750187
This might work.

>>23750180
Ask, then. "When shelling from a ship, can they see where they're aiming, or do they just fire roughly in the right part of the city? And how accurate are the navy marksmen who launch the shells?"

>>23750188
okay, we won't mention the shelling, I suppose. though, since we DO need a topic, we'll talk about this
>>23750187

"Between the words of the lizardmen and statements made by one of the converted, I believe that there is a group of mages styled after the humors behind the bizarre change in the ghouls' behavior that led to them attacking and taking a city."

>>23750146
"Firstly,I wished to thank you personally for your support in getting the lizard folks the rights they deserved under the Citadel."

"We have noticed something strange, Between the words of the lizardmen and statements made by one of the converted, I believe that there is a group of mages styled after the humors behind the bizarre change in the ghouls' behavior that led to them attacking and taking a city."

"I also wished to ask, how accurate are the navy's guns? We where nearly killed when a number of ships began shelling the city."

>>23750206
oh, mention we saw a man in a similar mask to the one described during the wasp attacks on shifting sands. We think they might be related

>>23750146
>>23750206
"Between the words of the lizardmen and statements made by one of the converted, I believe that there is a group of mages styled after the humors, or the dramate, behind the bizarre change in the ghouls' behavior that led to them attacking and taking a city." You say.

Avery blinks and then takes out a piece of paper. He writes down the information. "Thank you. We will look into this. I also have something for you." Avery says. He has his guard give you a missive. "That is a testimony and an apology from Paladin Bobbi Odette. During the battle she ordered that shells be fired at a group of archers. She was unaware that you were in the same area at that time. She says that she was watching the rooftops for the archers, and not the streets. She has accepted the reprimand on her record, and that is her direct apology to you." Avery says pointing at the missive. "Is there any other business that you wish to discuss?"

>>23750223
first part of >>23750218
without the Firstly.

>>23750223
No that will be all Ser Avery. I think we'll probably take our leave of the city within the next couple days now that things have settled.

>>23750223
"No, that is all. Thank you for your time."
Maybe find mage to see how he is handling the destruction of his people.

>>23750223
"We've also seen a man that matches the description of this humors group in shifting sands, observing the wasp attack. These two events may be related"

>>23750223
Ah, so she's covering her ass.

Well that should tell us what was really going on, as there were no archers in the vicinity. And I think she was counting on us figuring that out.

>>23750223
Ask him about Paladin initiation

>>23750246
"We've also seen a man that matches the description of this humors group in Purple Sands, observing the wasp attack. These two events may be related"

He nods and writes that down.

"Thank you, Ser Avery. I think we'll probably take our leave of the city within the next couple days now that things have settled."

He nods and writes that down too. Then he goes back to the blueprints and his other work, there's a dwarf at you elbow. You've been dismissed.

>>23750246
This point: make it.

>>23750236
we did? i dont remember us doing it, but then again i am not fully awake.

>>23750271
make our way out and head underground in search of the Eldest Naga

>>23750271
Well, look over that there apology. It's nice to have, and a another chance to get acquainted with the various paladin forms and figures you'll need to start thinking about.

Who do we want to check in with next? I'd want to check in on isen and tara, but they're gone, so is the naga matron next on the list?

>>23750266
I like to assume ignorance over malace.

We'll know how much she has against us soon, by how badly we are screwed over by that troll blood thing.

After we square away with everything here I figure we should head back to Purple Sands. Get news on the Mari\Peri situation and Mage a new staff. We're gonna need it.

>>23750323
I think his staff survived, only one is mentioned breaking at least as far as i can tell.

>>23750294
You make your way down to the undercity. It's much easier now with the lizard people here to show you the way...although a few still bother you to see if you need fertile eggs or how their sons are of the highest ability.

Granny's home in the Undercity is covered wall to wall in framed pictures. There's a few places, and a few items, but mostly it's people. She's in a lot of them too, she's always smiling in them, an honest smile too, not that bitter one she has when she met you.

It sounds like she's talking to someone when you come in, you hang back at the door to not disturb her, you don't want her to beat your ass like she did before, so you give her NO reason to.

"No, I wasn't aware of his defection."

"I'm as surprised as you are...heh I would have liked to see your face when he came to you."

"You know what I mean."

"That does answer that question, I thought the Rules forbade you from being in the physical world."

"And then Rage gave her the note...huh. Suppose they do have souls after all, can we use him again?"

"Oh...yes...of course they did. Can they work with only three?"

A nasty laugh. "Oh, then this should be VERY interesting...yes...goodbye."

You enter the room, she's curled up in herself, she's reading a book. She glances at you and raises an eyebrow. "Eavesdropping is unbecoming worm." She says, smiling.

>>23750323
(Yes, Mage's staff is fine, Ester's staff was destroyed.)

>>23750340
I orginally came to talk to you about those lessons... but now... what can you tell me of the Humors? Why did they start this?

>>23750340
So what is it with these Humors? Since you know I overheard I might as well ask.

>>23750344
Alright, a trip to Purple Sands is still not a bad idea, but it can be a stopping point on the trip to the Citadal, a footnote hah.

>>23750366
"I orginally came to talk to you about those lessons... but now... what can you tell me of the Humors? Why did they start this?" You ask.

"Do you mean start Stone Hall, or just start in general? Because they started Stone Hall because you prevented them from using Purple Sands." Granny said.

"As for why they started at all...short version is that they're preserving the Citadel Kingdom. The longer version is much more complicated." She says.

>>23750389
okay, pull up a dozen chairs and sit in all of them, it's storytime.

>>23750389
"Preserving the Citadel? They nearly destroyed two of its cities!"

They need lightbringers so that people will believe in the Citadal then. so they ... manufacture them? The small village being burned down. That was supposed to be the Lightbringer wasn't it?

I have time for the more complicated version. I've been dreaming of them and If I'm getting caught up in their schemes I need to know why.

>>23750389
"Using" for what purpose? And give me the complicated version. Pretend I'm clever like you.

>>23750389
They really suck at their job then. That scripted encounter with the ghoul king was even worse than one of Isen's stories.

>>23750404
"Preserving the Citadel? They nearly destroyed two of its cities!" You say.

"Purple Sands and Stone Hall are just parts of Citadel, they don't see homes and lives. They see numbers. Also, Stone Hall was what happens when they screw up. As for Purple Sands, Underside Wasps cannot live in desert climates, outside of the druid's influence they would have died. The majority of the city evacuated after that very public and very loud, warning shot. The people that died were either soldiers, or desert nomads and traders who wouldn't be missed. The insects wouldn't have caused much damage to the city, and they all die when the witch is dead." Granny says. "It was an elegant play, that you stopped before the first act started.

"The Fifth Humor has me up to speed. I do not know his name, but he cares for the land and the people more than he does for Citadel. He also can't be here, unlike the humors. Just so you know, the Humors aren't gods or monsters or wizards. They are humans who know an extra trick."

"You've been fucking up, and cleaning up after, a ritual human sacrifice."

>>23750429
"They really suck at their job then. That scripted encounter with the ghoul king was even worse than one of Isen's stories."

Granny laughs. "Trust me, the loudmouth' stories are epic poetry compared to the drivel the humors pour out every age. You are aware of the Lightbringer stories, yes?"

>>23750452
"An elegant play? I saw their writing when I went against the ghoul king. They are atrocious."

"But if the humors are human, then can't we kill them and end this?"

>>23750474
"Very aware, its almost a running joke for us, as its mentioned so many times when people hear our story."

>>23750480
I guess just go with the second bit now that the first has been said.

>>23750480
>>23750452
Important question:
"Does the citadel predate the sacrifices? Why were they started? "

>>23750474
The ones people keep throwing in my face when they talk about how my hometown's gonna get destroyed? Yeah, they've been brought to mind recently.

Why?

>>23750474
Yes. I take it they're the ones who make sure that all the lightbringers lose their home town?

>>23750480
>>23750497
"Yes. I take it they're the ones who make sure that all the lightbringers lose their home town?"

Granny nods. "Picking up on that, aren't you? Yes, it's the same story, a chosen one loses his hometown, travels, gains compainions, finds true love, experiences victory, experiences betrayal, learns to put revenge aside, defeats a Shaper of Darkness...by giving his life up for it." She drops her hands. "A stale old tale, told over and over...but Citadel thrives on it, and lives it, as long as it is done."

"But if the humors are human, then can't we kill them and end this?"

"That's the problem. There is no 'End of this.' Just an end to the humors and the sacrifices. Citadel has felt the sacrifice change, it isn't getting what it wants and like a spoiled child, it's throwing a temper tantrum.

"Tell me, you've always known that Paladins were good, if stern, people. Those who at their core are good people, and the bad paladins are cape swirling bastards who drip evil from every pore. Now...tell me...has that changed recently? Remember how easily the elves were accepted into Citadel society after a twenty year long war? But no, any racism was stomped out by good and honorable Occuli or soliders...but tell me, have you seen different now?"

>>23750540
The humors are trying to foment hatred and resentment among the Occuli and the army because it makes for a "better story."

>>23750540
well, marvelous. We have to ween a massively overexpanded citystate off of the blood sacrifices that keep its' logistics flowing and its peoples friendly.

break out the economics books

>>23750580
no I don't think so. I think Granny is alluding to the fact that the Paladin's themselves are letting racism cloud their judgement like with Paladin Bobbi. They are becoming less paragons of Light, and more human simply because the sacrifice's power is waning

File: 1363606772148.jpg-(49 KB, 225x333, Victory through Economics.jpg)

49 KB JPG

>>23750583
Let's do this shit!

You know, I feel kind of bad for the chosen one and his bunch. They are stuck with the world's worst DM.

>>23750605
hah!

>>23750605
The humours railroad like a bitch.

>>23750580
"The humors are trying to foment hatred and resentment among the Occuli and the army because it makes for a "better story." Is that it?"

Granny shakes her head.

"Nope. The humors are trying to do the exact opposite." Granny says. "They want things to be good, and happy, and fair. Of course bad things are going to happen, but they'll happen to bad people, or monsters." She sighs. "Citadel has never had a plague, famine, or drought. Our winters are cold, but never too cold, and end promptly. Our leaders are wise and understanding, and their heirs are the same...a kingdom keeping it's integral values for over Seven Ages? It's easy for a clergy to accept change, when every change has been tailor made to be the best thing for everyone. Citadel fews its conquest and towns as just...things. Things it owns, and things it can use however it wants. Thus they are the ones that suffer when CItadel wishes to be appeased...but Citadel remains, and grows."

>>23750540
I think the best answer would be simply "Yes I have" Bobbi and the Rebels. The fact that Donovan was most likely tortured for that confession. The fact that Julius almost let himself be talked into abandoning his word.

>>23750624
You talk about Citadel as if it was a living thing. Is it?

>>23750624
Well, buddy, it's almost 5am, I just finished a lab report, and I need to be up in about three hours. As much as I'd like to stay on, I'm dead tired.

Don't you get tired? You're on the best coast too, right?

>>23750675
he was asleep all day, from the mid-thread passout evidence there was last thread.

>>23750624
>>23750635
"You talk about Citadel as if it was a living thing. Is it?" You ask.

Granny sighs and waves her hand back and forth. "I think it's like one of those venus flytrap plants. Don't expect it to talk to you, or get threatening messages written in cobblestones. But it has desires, and one of it is to grow."

"Let it grow, feed it the Lightbringer story sacrifice, and it will grow beauty and reward everyone."

"Of course, things sometimes slip through, bad things, good things, complicated things that have both sides slightly right." She sighs. "Or a child plays hide and seek with their parents, just in the right moment to avoid being kissed to sleep." She looks at you. "Or falls down a well and is rescued by the Cimmerii in my case...it was hidden by some sand, don't laugh." She clucks her tongue. "Although the symmetry of our tales makes me think that the Fifth is playing his own long game...so I don't trust him either."

>>23750687
Shit it is five...okay, night. I need sleep and fingers are starting to go numb. Night. Please make sure this is archived.

>>23750693
It is. Good night.

>>23750693
>>23750700
oh thank god. Not that I have anything against the story, but I SO TIRED

>>23750693
>>23750705
oh, and when should I look for this again? Is it just daily?

>>23750687
Ive been dreaming of the humors and it's always his mask I see last.... so you are probably right.

Oh and goodnight!