WOOO!

I... I'm here for the beginning... I'm so happy.

Looks like I'm not doing anything today!

Lamiathon! I've been waiting for you!

Oh no, we are planning to do really stupid things today. We should probably give our findings to Balles before we go do suicidal dragon business.

Your interrogation of Overseer Trivalon, AKA Passion, wasn't as fruitful as you would have liked it to be. The man refused to comment at all on the Dramatae or the nature of their plans. He was, however, happy to provide testimony to try and help Helen, the vampire that attacked you up on the Snow Peaks. Also, you got a surge of vindictive glee when you revealed how you foiled the Dramatae's plans to convert Jeremy Sandover, mostly thanks to his bragging.

Your efforts to save Helen were also not as fruitful as you would have liked. The law is excessively harsh against people who choose to become vampires voluntarily. The cure for vampirisim being very expensive and very time consuming to make. There's an asylum with victims who are still waiting for cures to be developed. Helen's only saving grace is that, from what you can tell, is that she's possibly bipolar/manic-depressive and wasn't totally in her right mind when she agreed to Trivalon's offer. Of course, that only would serve to lock her up inside an asylum for the rest of her life, as she'd be classified as a danger to herself and others.

The problem is that Helen currently claims that she did it willingly, which contradicts Trivalon's claim that he forced her. You're pretty sure that the Vampire Madness is making her say those things, but it's a Catch 22, the only way for her to get the vampire cure and regain her sanity, is for her to regain her sanity. In two days, Paladin Balles will either behead her, or send her to Purple Sands to be locked up within the asylum, most likely forever.

The ultimate panacea of Dragon Blood seems to be the only solution. The Old One's lair being a week away at least. So...that seemed to be that...

Until you discovered that Ted hadn't been entirely truthful with you. The Dragon Servant had actually come up with a clever plan involving forged keys, stolen dogsleds, a giant boar, and a Teleportation Spell Circle.

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I have to go to work now but hot DAMN am I glad to see you back, Echo. Will be back for rest of thread tonight.

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>browse /tg/
>lamia quest is on
mfw

Fuck yes, it's finally here.
Fuck no, I have to sleep in 2 hours.

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>>24243094
that is NOT THE APPROPRIATE FACE. We have to talk to a dragon this session.

>>24243018
I have an idea.

Is the mask trivalon used still a thing? We could give it to him and have him order the vampire to cooperate truthfully with our investigation.

It would bypass RUSHING SUPER FAST to the dragon. I think we should really prepare for the dragon. Bring a whole herd of cattle.

>>24243018
Apparently it IS possible to get there within two days and then simply teleport back. It's crazy dangerous, but it's possible.

Also, you were able to free Rachel, sister to the Quicksilver Smith Quentin, from Citadel's mind control. Mostly by bringing Quentin and Jeremy together (finally) and causing years of agitation at being forced to listen to the argument of Artistry vs. Business, and dealing with Quentin's pride and Sadover's need to be liked to form into an erupting volcano of rage, and aggravation. Rachel was been saved, and seems to be intent on helping the two men, whether they want it or not.
- - - -

"Okay," Mage says going over the list. "I think we've got everything, all we need to do is convince Balles to give us the sleds."

"We could just take them." Peri says.

"BORROW them." Mari corrects.

"Fine." Peri sighs. "Oh, remember that story that Barney and the others told us about Sandover? The Statue kissing story?"

"Yeah," Tricia says. Most of Jeremy's bad press has been cleared up due to your new perspective. His interest in Barney's designs were his desire to make money. His love for Citadel was a result of believing the Citadel's lie. His advice to Gregory was just him trying to help Gregory's business and be liked by the man...etc. The statue thing's the only one that stands out. "That's the really weird one."

"Turns out that statue is part of a fountain that leads into the 'paper lantern district' of Citadel, or one of them anyway, and it's always been a dead ringer for his mother." Peri says. "So, he's coming home drunk one night and..."

"I get it. I get it." Tricia says.

"Poor man." Lea sighs.

You enter the Paladin occupied part of the mansion and see the perfect order and functionality of Paladin Balles' little world. He's behind his desk, writing something, and he looks up at you and nods.

"Paladin Ssen Patrick and company." He motions for his assistant to begin dictating. He motions for you to go ahead and speak.

>>24243239
Have we, at this point, talked to him about any part of our investigation? Or being attacked by the dramatae?

If not, this is gonna be a long one

>>24243239
"I would like to borrow some sleds, Paladin Balles. It is of the utmost importance."

>>24243239
"Good morning, Balles. Would you like the long story or the short one?

Short one is that we need to borrow some sleds. The long one, well, is pretty long."

>>24243316
>Have we, at this point, talked to him about any part of our investigation? Or being attacked by the dramatae?

No. You haven't. He's been processing reports about the sighting of the Dramatae, and the assault in the Bear Shrine Library, and the half-dozen other things that have came up since you showed up.

He's sent you a request to come in for an interview, at your own time. As professional courtesy, also because he knows you're also crazy busy as well from what he can tell.
---

"Good morning, Balles. Would you like the long story or the short one?

Short one is that we need to borrow some sleds. The long one, well, is pretty long."

Ballles sighs and motions for his assistant to sit down and get out some more paper. "I do not believe that the truncating of events or records holds any merit or value to the understanding of this world or our place it in."

A pause.

"The long one, please."

>>24243453
I would prefer this to be confidential, if you do not mind, paladin bayless

>>24243453
"Well, you asked for it."
Fill him in on the pertinent info.

>>24243402
Imma just get started on a long one anyway

"Well, in no particular order, here are my findings of importance:

One, the vampire girl's actions were controlled by the mask worn by Trivalon during the incident.
Two, Trivalon revealed to me that the "set up" for this city was done by a colluder of his, referred to as "peace".
Three, colluders were sighted, along with thesuspect matching the "peace" description, in public threatening a paladin, and were capable of sorcery including but not limited to the manipulation of the blood and the manipulation of time.
Four, the metal tomb I have taken into my possession has proven to be an item on innumerable value. The remaining books should be guarded more heavily.
And Five, we will need to borrow some sleds for the next stage of the investigation.

That's the most of it."

>>24243524
>metal tomb
I mean metal book. Holy fuck how did I make that typo.

>>24243524
this isn't at all a thorough explanation, so I hope some people help me tack things on. I am already noting things I forgot. Shit.

>>24243453
"We've discovered a lead that could help both in understanding the events that transpired re. Trivalon and his actions, as well as provide a chance to save Helen from her fate. However, the individual we need to see to accomplish this lives quite a ways away, so we did not think there'd be enough time to investigate the lead, and return, before her sentencing. Earlier, however, I discovered Crazy Ted, who also has vested interest, had hidden some extensive preparations for covering the ground required in record time, which could provide us with the opportunity to accomplish our goal within the limited time available. Seeing as he's only one person, he had not prepared transportation suitable for multiple people, however, and we'd prefer to leave as a group. So, here we are."

>>24243524
this and due to ongoing investigation we will tell the rest when we are sure about what is going on. Just to make sure we are right and know the whole truth about this

>>24243453
"Our investigation has been quite eventful. From the start, since last we met. We went directly to Mister Sandover's establishment, as he was a person of great interest to the investigation. He explained that the woman may have been mentally infirm, even before the vampirism, a claim I am still searching for corroborating evidence for. When we actually had him see Helen, he was greatly disturbed, and needed to be escorted home by my companion Lea. As they were leaving, Trivalon requested my presence so he could volunteer information for interrogation. He gloated to me that sandover was the actual target of whatever his scheme was, and I interrupted him there to sprint after sandover and my companion. When I arrived, we were accosted by a trio of what appeared to be sorcerers wearing the masks of the dramatae. They took my companions hostage, and after a few heated words, I managed to knock them away, breaking whatever spell the sorcerors were using to conceal us. The crowd then noticed us, and the assailants fled. I rested the night after that, and the next morning went to interrogate trivalon once more. He revealed that his mask had been the thing controlling the actions of Helen, post vampirism. He claims not to have much knowledge of her pre-vampirism, but also provides information that a colluder by the name of "peace" was in charge of preparing this town for their operations. The description given matched one of the sorcerors I previously mentioned. It was then that we visited the cups guild on personal business only tangenitally related to the case. It is now that I mention that dragon book recovered from the library- it contains a great wealth of information, and should be considered a treasure. One important piece of information was a lead on a potential cure for vampirism, a fair distance away from where we are." (Continued)

>>24243524
"Well, in no particular order, here are my findings of importance:

"One, the vampire girl's actions were controlled by the mask worn by Trivalon during the incident.

"Two, Trivalon revealed to me that the "set up" for this city was done by a colluder of his, referred to as "Peace".

"Three, colluders were sighted, along with the suspect matching the "Peace" description, in public threatening a paladin, and were capable of sorcery including but not limited to the manipulation of the blood and the manipulation of time.

"Four, the metal tome I have taken into my possession has proven to be an item on innumerable value. The remaining books should be guarded more heavily.

"And Five, we will need to borrow some sleds for the next stage of the investigation.

"That's the most of it."

Balles nods. "And the reason why you need the dog sleds? They're normally saved for the explicit need to reach Snow Peak in cases of emergency."

"We've discovered a lead that could help both in understanding the events that transpired re. Trivalon and his actions, as well as provide a chance to save Helen from her fate. However, the individual we need to see to accomplish this lives quite a ways away, so we did not think there'd be enough time to investigate the lead, and return, before her sentencing. Earlier, however, I discovered Crazy Ted, who also has vested interest, had hidden some extensive preparations for covering the ground required in record time, which could provide us with the opportunity to accomplish our goal within the limited time available. Seeing as he's only one person, he had not prepared transportation suitable for multiple people, however, and we'd prefer to leave as a group. So, here we are."

Balles drums his fingers. "Very well. The issue is that we can take the dogs out into the Snow Peaks, easily enough, but to take them into the Dark Peaks is suicide. The kennel master won't allow it."

>>24243928
"I went to consult crazy ted about this, as he was the most versed in the paths I wanted to use, and he too had sights on this location and had done much of the groundwork for the expedition. And so, I am here. Asking for sleds. And telling you to guard that sacred bear library much more heavily. Well, I think that's everything. It's everything, right guys? I forget sometimes."

>>24243943
"What dangers are we liable to run into in the Dark Peaks, exactly?"

>>24243943
"We won't need the dogs, only the sleds."

>>24243943
Is it completely impossible for us to hitch up Lightmare to one of the sleds instead? Are the peaks completely un-traversable by a Nightmare?

Failing that, we could grab King Caesar and perhaps one of his offspring.

As an aside, some time on the way there, we need to look in the dragon book for anything that directly or indirectly talks about etiquette when talking to a dragon, and how it varies based on status: how would you greet a dragon differently depending on whether you were another dragon of higher/lower status, or as a Beautiful One? I'm betting on draconic being a language with that kind of nuance about levels of respect.

>>24243943
"Not dogs.

Boars."

>>24244179

>"Not dogs. Monster boars."

Fix'd.

>>24243943
On a different note, the last time we pulled a crazy transportation stunt, Mage said that the haste spell wouldn't work on humans.

Would it work on half-dragon/half-leviathans?

All aboard the snake train.

>>24244269
Ssen goes feral and eats everyone or explodes.

>>24244286
Couldn't hurt to ask Mage.

And I was kinda thinking that a double-sized lamia might be an impressive thing next time we have a battle to charge into. So far it hasn't seemed to have any terrible side effects on those we've cast it on, just size and super-speed.

>>24244286
>Ssen goes feral and eats everyone
We don't have to worry about that as long as we keep taking vacations. And as long as nobody hits us with a blissclub.

Seriously, if that thing was tuned for "tasty snacks" and not "romantic adventures", EVERYONE WOULD BE DEAD.

>>24244316
well, those mice exploded

>>24244269

>Would it work on swarms of bugs?

fixed, and:

>>24244316

Do you remember right before we used it the first time? In the carriage? The bloody messes that used to be rats? We don't want this to become Bloody Smear That Used To Be A Lamia Quest.

>>24244105
"What dangers are we liable to run into in the Dark Peaks, exactly?"

Balles sighs. "Would you like the list alphabetically, by number of confirmed deaths, or by lethality?"

"Pass." Tricia says.

"We won't need the dogs, only the sleds." You say.

Balles' eyebrows go up. "Then what would you use if not dogs?"

"Not dogs. Boars." You say.

"Is there no way we can get Lightmare up there?" Mage asks.

"Nightmares do have extremely good footing and great jumping ability." Mari says.

"It's a size issue." Balles says. "Some of those trails are exceptionally narrow, and horse hooves aren't the best for sensing the micro-vibrations in the ground that are vital for survival. Although Boars...boars might work. They do live up there..." He sighs. "You really think you can make it to this 'contact' of yours and back before the investigation period is over?"

"Could you make an exception?" Lea asks. "Give us a day or two more?"

"Everyone asks for an exception, and everyone has a good reason. However, when you let one good reason slip by then that makes it easy for another good reason and another and another. Then you turn around and you've let countless bad reasons go by, and it's all broken down. No. I will not extend the investigation." He says. "Although I will give you permission to use the carts themselves, but not the dogs."

>>24244392
>quoting vimes to us
Oh jesus christ it all makes sense now

>>24244338
>>24244356
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-NiGp1gys#t=1m30s

But that was Mage practicing and perfecting the spell. He got better. (Though the mice didn't.)

Big hasty insects does seem like a fun idea to play with later.

>>24244392
"That will be fair enough. My greatest apologies in advance if we don't actually make it back by the assigned date- Dark peaks and all. You might have to do that paperwork yourself after all."

>>24244428
I would like to have him keep practicing for at least a few months. It's only been some weeks since we've invented that.

Oh wow, I actually made it!

Well, I guess if we can't get an extension, we should get going, right?

Captcha: act imright
>Citadel pls go

>>24244392
"That should be sufficient, my thanks."

>>24244453
I don't think he'd find that particularly funny or motivating; even though he jokes about bureaucracy, he takes his paperwork seriously.

A variation on that might work, though:
>>24244392
"Of course. We appreciate the loan of the sleds, and we'll endeavor to return on time with evidence of the truth, whatever that truth may be. And after we get back, I'm sure there will be a pile of paperwork to file to properly record the results of the investigation and the verdict before I carry out the execution, and we'll be sure to file that paperwork diligently and completely.

In any case, with time being of the essence, we won't take up any more of yours. Thank you."

>>24244534
well, it was meant to be more a joke than motivating. I don't mind the modification though.

>>24244534

"Of course. We appreciate the loan of the sleds, and we'll endeavor to return on time with evidence of the truth, whatever that truth may be. And after we get back, I'm sure there will be a pile of paperwork to file to properly record the results of the investigation and the verdict before I carry out the execution, and we'll be sure to file that paperwork diligently and completely.

In any case, with time being of the essence, we won't take up any more of yours. Thank you."

"OKAY!" Tricia says. "Our stupid plan is go-"

"Usual plan." Peri says.

"Usual plan," Tricia nods. "Is go, Mari tell us what's the next problems." She looks at the others. "Oh there's ALWAYS more problems!"

Mari sighs. "We need to bring Ted, despite what you may think. The sleds can only hold three people, and Ssen counts as two. There's three sleds we can use, but we can't use the dogs. We can maybe get King Ceasar, but...that's just one pig."

>>24244650
Because it can't hurt to at least ask: "Mage, you said you couldn't safely cast the haste spell on a human. What about a half-dragon, half-leviathan?"

We should also ask Ted about King Caesar's offspring, or any other suggestions he might have.

>>24244700
(Pointing out that this solves two problems: Ssen then wouldn't be a passenger, leaving us with enough capacity.)

>>24244650
Ok, we need Ted, Ssen has to come along to make contact with the dragon and since I do not trust Ted to not fuck up the teleportal, Mage should come too. The rest are a bonus.

Well, looks like we have to go hunting.

>>24244650
>>24244700
"Well, the easy answer is to hunt down more pigs. But we can never go the easy way, for obvious reasons. In this case, that would take too long. So how do we attract a whole group of giant boars? Do we have any method of baiting or calling them?"

>>24244650
"Well, all we need is to find two more reasonably domesticated animals, right? Let's see if we can't find any boars to pull our sled! Any one of you think of a way we can control wild boars, speak up."

Then ask the secretary where they might sell beasts of burden in the city.

>>24244650
"You know, we're getting quite good at the logistics behind doing very ill advised things. I'm impressed."

>>24244700
"Mage, you said you couldn't safely cast the haste spell on a human. What about a half-dragon, half-leviathan?"

Mage shrugs. "I have no idea." He shrugs. "I could try to start experimenting on snakes...garter snakes. But to jump straight to you...I don't think I could do that safely." He shakes his head. "Let me tool around a little with snakes and then we can try."

"So not right now."

"No."

"Well, all we need is to find two more reasonably domesticated animals, right? Let's see if we can't find any boars to pull our sled! Any one of you think of a way we can control wild boars, speak up. Do we have any method of baiting or calling them?"

"There's a butcher." Mari says. "He keeps pigs and boars. They're breeding animals and raised for slaughter but we can get them easily enough."

"Yeah, but we have no idea if they'd be suitable for the Dark Peaks." Mage says. "One boar is not like another boar."

"There's also Ted. The man is a boar hunter, he could try and get us some of Ceasar's offspring. They'd be a bit more hearty." Tricia volunteers.

"But more wild." Peri says. "Harder to control."

An Occuli Page comes up to you and hands you a small purse. "As promised before, your stipend, minus the expenses and tithes that you requested be made to Stone Hall, and plus a fe delivered debts from a family that said that they owed you. Most of it are marker notes, good in any shop as they will be honored by the Amber." The page departs.

It's got about 1700 gold in there. 700 in loose gold coins, and 1000 worth gold in letters of mark, in denominations of 50.

>>24244996
"Looks like the bureaucracy came through for us."

>plus a fe delivered debts from a family that said that they owed you

Nice to see they kept their promises.

Goats might be another alternative, if there are any locally at the moment (we probably don't have time to get to the goat sanctuary).

>>24244996
If we haste one of the boars, will it have more pulling capacity? Can we hook two sleds, one behind another, to one boar?

>>24244996
"Ah, marvelous, thank you."

So, want to split some up with the teammates? I'm up for giving the team up to 20% of our stipend income so that they can have personal spending accounts. That would be 340 gold total, with 85 gold each person, excluding us, assuming meri/peri count as one person. This would leave us a 1360 gold budget. Is this acceptable to the other members of the thread?

>>24245051
Could we harness together a TEAM of goats, like dogs?

This is going to become a legend in the future, by the way.

>>24245071
I'm thinking we don't worry about it while we have a dragon to find. Let's talk about it with the other party members when we get back. In the meantime, let's just make sure everyone has their needs met. Ssen just spent a pile on Beacon and Clang; after the last few battles I don't think anyone would say it wasn't worth it, but let's make sure the others get what they need.

>>24245078

Legends always have the craziest stunts in them.

>>24245111
sure, okay. When we get back we discuss payscales.

>>24245121
>scales
Heh.

>>24244996
first things first, pay everyone back for the borrowed gold.

>>24244996
"So, I'm thinking of maybe using a team of goats like dogs. Mari, tricia, as my scholar and druid respectively, how bad is this idea?"

>>24245192
We borrowed gold? Shit, we gotta pay 'em back.

From who?

>>24245219
from everyone in the party, to pay for Clang and Beacon being forged.

>>24245219

We took the funds to pay for Beacon and Clang from the team's money pool. So we need to pay them back.

I think it was around 1000 gold, maybe 1200, in total?

>>24245233
>>24245229

oh, I didn't know the team actually forked out for clang, I thought that was just part of our general savings.

I have no idea how much we borrowed, so they have better remembered.

>>24245066
>If we haste one of the boars, will it have more pulling capacity? Can we hook two sleds, one behind another, to one boar?

Short answer: No.

>>24245051
>Goats might be another alternative,

There are goats available, but they're more domestic, you can try to have Ted help catch you a couple.

>>24245078
>Could we harness together a TEAM of goats, like dogs?

Yes, same with boars. It'll make for a safer ride, not a faster one. Speed will be the same, only thing that effects speed is Mage's haste.

"So, I'm thinking of maybe using a team of goats like dogs. Mari, tricia, as my scholar and druid respectively, how bad is this idea?"

"Pretty bad." Mari says.

"But for us, genius." Tricia say.

>>24245121
Sure, though we should find out what the other party members think about it before we propose something. No need to introduce more complexity if the rest of the party is OK with the situation as it stands.

But if we do go that route, we should make it clear that equipment, meals, quest expenses, and similar things help the whole team and come out of the team's funds, and personal funds are just so that people don't feel like they have to ask every time they want some incidentals or something shiny.

>>24245233
>>24245229
>>24245192
We didn't borrow the money from anyone personally; it came out the team funds, and they didn't say they wanted paying back for it, they just said:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24080955/#p24084069
>"If you're taking this out of our funds Ssen." Lea says. "Next time we want personal stuff, you don't get to say no when we leech from your Paladin stipend."
>"Also, it means YOU get hunting duty for the next road trip." Tricia says.

So that's exactly what we should do. The rest of the team shouldn't have to pay for all their own equipment out of some kind of personal allowance. We're all responsible for keeping everyone safe and fighting at their peak. So, for instance, the next equipment upgrade is likely to go to Mari and Peri since they haven't had a chance to pick up anything great from past battles, and I don't see why we shouldn't spend the teams' funds on that. And conversely, whoever picked up the latest shiny magical object doesn't necessarily need to buy a new one in town. Let's just keep winging it unless it becomes necessary to do otherwise. We'll just take care to keep it fair in the future.

>>24245316
>There are goats available, but they're more domestic, you can try to have Ted help catch you a couple.

"more domestic" seems like a feature, but if they're not used to pulling loads, or they're particularly stubborn...well, we know boars work.

>>24245328
yeah. Only reason personal funds are there is so that they don't have to ask us for every little thing. Imagine asking a paladin for liquor money. Imagine it.

>>24245352
We certainly haven't been hesitant to pay the tab when we all go out, and I don't see that changing; fortunately nobody on the team seems like a particularly profligate spender. But making sure everyone has a bit of spending money for incidentals and optional shinies might be a good idea. (Just remember the scale here: a room at an inn is a few gold, and likewise with food; equipment and quests are the huge expenses, and they come from team funds. They don't need hundreds of gold.) In any case, I still say we don't need to do anything until we get back, and then either we or the team can bring it up if anyone cares about it after dealing with a dragon.

>>24245316
"Well, we'll get an estimation from ted on the boars. If it would take too long to get them, we might have to go with goats, and hope Mage's speed spell can make up for the quality of the animal in question. If we can even wrangle the goat sanctuary to give us any, they did just have some vampires kill some of their flock."

>>24245316
Let's snag Ted and get his advice here. He'll be riding on these things too, and he'll want a safe trip.

>>24245465
Sounds good.

>>24245316

I *almost* suggested goats myself, but nixed it internally. Dang.

>>24245352

Haven't we been the worst for alcohol? Nobody else tried to marry anyone else off while drunk, after all.

>>24245438
yep. Those are basically my sentiments. And definitely after the dragon, I feel silly for bringing it up now in retrospect.

Let's talk about boars and goats and the best methods of gaining boars and goats. Does Ssen know about boar baiting?

>>24245316
>>24245476
How warm is our mantle? How warm is our crew?

We were FREEZING last time, we need thicker gear this time.

And also if you want to decide a costume for this legend we are making, now is the time. A snake who rides a team of goats to bring a cure to a prisoner? Man.

>>24245476
>Haven't we been the worst for alcohol? Nobody else tried to marry anyone else off while drunk, after all.

If not for Isen probably wanting to keep that story quiet (or at least his part in it), I'd imagine he tells that one as "got drunk and tried to marry two people". Yay for double meanings!

>>24245507
To go OOC for a moment: this is one of those things in a quest that kinda magically gets along in the background until someone brings it up.

>>24245551
>And also if you want to decide a costume for this legend we are making, now is the time. A snake who rides a team of goats to bring a cure to a prisoner? Man.

It occurs to me that if we actually own the goats, rather than just renting them for the day...well, the dragon might be hungry.

> We were FREEZING last time, we need thicker gear this time.

Good call, I suspect everyone in the party would like some cold-weather gear if we can get some in a hurry.

>>24245316
"Oh, and let's find some cold weather gear before we leave. I'm sure it will be worse than what we've already faced, which was pretty bad."

>>24245628
"Oh! And let's be down to the cups guild too. We're finally going to purchase a health potion. Preparedness for once."

>>24245722
It wouldn't be the first time we had healing supplies in stock, but heck yes, let's get one. Or five.

>>24245741
(And we check every one of them for poison, because Citadel loves irony, and it wouldn't mind us facing the same fate as its Lightbringers.)

>>24245628
"First, let's find some cold weather gear before we leave. I'm sure it will be worse than what we've already faced, which was pretty bad."

"Agreed," They nod.

"You go talk to Ted." Peri/Mari say. "We'll do the shopping. THankfully, Ted's supplies and list of supplies for his little jaunt tell us exactly what we need to know, and we'll find something nice for you Ssen." They take the promissory notes. "We'll get you the change. Promise"

"I'll put together some of those anti-hypothermia charms Ted gave us." Mage says. "Wont take long.

"I'll start loading up the sleds for the moment we get ready." Lea says.

"Okay, Tricia and I will get an estimation from ted on the boars. If it would take too long to get them, we might have to go with goats, and hope Mage's speed spell can make up for the quality of the animal in question. If we can even wrangle the goat sanctuary to give us any, they did just have some vampires kill some of their flock."

Ted is where you left him. Tied up in a chair in his house with a stuffed squirrel as a gag in his mouth. You take out the gag.

"How long would it take us to catch two more boars?" Tricia asked.

"And why in the Infinite Skies would I EVER want to help YOU?" Ted snaps. He takes a deep breath. "Sorry, sorry...yes. I know the answer. You're my only way to get to my Master." He sighs. "If I'm lucky, two hours. Tops. Five at most. I assume you want King Ceasar as well?"

"Yeah." Tricia nods.

"Fine. Swear to me upon your inner fire that you'll take me to my Master, safely, AND let me make my OWN introduction...and I'll get you your boars and use my teleport ring." He sighs. "You know THAT"s actually how I get most explorers away from finding my master. The ones I like anyway. I just zap them back here and splash them with alcohol."

"You're all heart Ted." Tricia says.

>>24245798
"Of course you get to come with us. I don't see the harm to allowing you an introduction as well. Heck, maybe you can teach me some about proper manners with dragons.

And you should have really told us about the zapping people back with the circle thing earlier, I'm relieved."

>>24245798

"Sure." What we think, but not say, is that he didn't say anything about making his introduction /first/. We just introduce ourselves, and then let him talk to his 'Master' last.

>>24245889
Ding. Pretty much what I was about to type. He's more than welcome to do his own introduction but he can wait until we did ours first.

>>24245798
>"Fine. Swear to me upon your inner fire that you'll take me to my Master, safely, AND let me make my OWN introduction...and I'll get you your boars and use my teleport ring."

"You may make your own introduction, but not until after we make ours. No badmouthing us to the Old One or any other dragon, and we'll do the same. After all, you'll be sticking around here longer than we will, and the Old One might well have use for a servant."

This next part with the best disapproving look we can manage as both a Paladin and half of what Ted reveres: "Just remember this: if you'd come to us and talked, rather than hoping to doublecross us, we'd have loved to get you to the Old One double-time, and we'd have had a lot more trust for you. That wasn't honorable, and it wasn't the act of a good Dragon Servant."

>>24245973
"You may make your own introduction, but not until after we make ours. No badmouthing us to the Old One or any other dragon, and we'll do the same. After all, you'll be sticking around here longer than we will, and the Old One might well have use for a servant."

You then give him your best best Father-Paladin-Dragon Look Of Disappointment. "Just remember this: if you'd come to us and talked, rather than hoping to double-cross us, we'd have loved to get you to the Old One double-time, and we'd have had a lot more trust for you. That wasn't honorable, and it wasn't the act of a good Dragon Servant."

Ted looks away from the glare, but still looks defiant. "Yes, of course, Beautiful One." Once more, that title is an insult in his mouth. "Now, untie me, and I'll go get you your boars. Then you can go try to get me killed with your fool plans of yours again." He says.

>>24246075
Untie him. See if he needs help rustling up some boar; Ssen still has an advantage he doesn't.

That'll also give her the opportunity to see if Ted wants to say anything else after he's cooled down a bit.

>>24246129
Concrete wording: "Need a hand? Or a nose and tongue?"

>>24246129
>>24246217
I see no problem with this. and also: "Oh no Ted, this one was your fool plan. we're just modifying it a bit."

>>24246251
Good point! Ought to lighten the mood, at least.

>>24246251
"Oh no Ted, this one was your fool plan. we're just modifying it a bit."

"Yeah, from foolish to suicidal." Ted says as he gets up and stretches.

"That's kind of what we do." Tricia says.

"Will you need a hand or a nose and tongue?"

"No, it'll be quicker solo." Ted says. "Go get ready and I'll meet you by the gates with the pigs." He grabs a pack of hunting equipment and a thick cloak and heads off.

"Such a wonderful man...I hope he gets eaten." Tricia says. "You know, a little."

>>24246331
"Now now, he's most likely to be eaten by a dragon. And if the dragon's of the people eating variety, it would be bad for pretty much everybody.

Man, I sincerely didn't expect ted to be able to get the boars so quickly. Any ideas on what to do with our sudden spare time?"

I haven't planned anything during this time slot, it was supposed to be goat tower o clock.

>>24246331
Well, backstabber or not, I don't think Ted would just leave us stranded by the gates; it doesn't fit with his own goals.

Things to track down before we leave:

Actually picking up the sleds we have permission to borrow, and getting them to the gate.

Cold-weather gear, and Mage's cold-weather charms.

Ted's "offering" (which we shouldn't offer to the dragon right away, especially if it turns out that the Old One is not necessarily the stereotypical dragon, and it sounds like he isn't).

Healing supplies (potions or otherwise).

Incidentals for a journey of this length.

Reviewing the dragon book for anything on the etiquette of meeting a dragon. I'd like to know the proper forms of greeting and modes of speech to use (though I'm tempted to address him however a young dragon would address a more venerated dragon, rather than how a "lesser" being would address a dragon), and anything else that'll help us have a productive conversation with the Old One.

Anything else?

>>24246455
did we ever figure out if the blissmace was a Citadel/Shadow gift, or just an ordinary magical weapon?

if its a normal magical weapon we may want to bring it as a bargaining item, should the need arise.

>>24246500
I think it's still under custody/examination.

>>24246500
True, though I still hope we can get Mage taking it apart piece by piece to see how it ticks and how to stop effects like that in the future.

And given what we're asking the Old One for, I really don't think any ordinary tokens will suffice. If he doesn't find our fight against Citadel compelling, I doubt we'll get much out of him by offering trinkets. I don't think he's necessarily motivated by the same set of priorities as other dragons; remember how he was described:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24158237/#p24162348
> he was NEVER tempted, EVER, and will NEVER fall. He's credited as being the reason most of the other Dragons even bothered looking at the Bear Scribes

>>24246540
No, the other magical device that the Sister held was, but I'm pretty sure we hung onto the mace.

>>24246558
>>24246500
If anyone finds out how it works, they'll find out what happened when Ssen was hit by it.

We must destroy it.

>>24246567
I thought we held onto the staff, and gave away the mace?

>>24246500
>did we ever figure out if the blissmace was a Citadel/Shadow gift, or just an ordinary magical weapon?

It's a magical weapon that's got Dramatae magic boosting it. (Which is NOT Citadel Magic)

Also, Mage is holding onto the scepter that he got from the Sister. He's hoping to give it to Sophie.
- - -

>>24246453
"Now now, he's most likely to be eaten by a dragon. And if the dragon's of the people eating variety, it would be bad for pretty much everybody.

Man, I sincerely didn't expect Ted to be able to get the boars so quickly. Any ideas on what to do with our sudden spare time?"

Tricia shrugs. "Well, he was supposedly getting ready to take off of here at a moment's notice, so it makes sense that he'd be able to get a boar or two at a moment's notice." Tricia sighs as you head back to Lea's position with all of the stuff you could load into a wagon that Ted kept.

Tricia sighs. "I don't know if I should live for a long long time...especially if we should be bonded. I mean, I love you Ssen...but...it's one thing for twenty, thirty, or even fifty years. But...will we still be in love after a hundred? Two hundred?" She rubs the welts on her arms. "I don't want to break up because we got bored with each other, or woke up one day and found out that we weren't in love with each other any more." She sighs. "I'm still not sure if we're ready for a life that isn't suicidal plans, near-death experiences, and generic insanity." She smiles at you. "I mean, you've seen my parent's life. I don't see us threshing wheat or milling flour for days on end." She shakes her head. "I shouldn't worry about this stuff, should I? Am I making it true by worrying about it?"

>>24246776
"No need to worry about threshing wheat Tricia- If we mess this up, the best case scenario is we're all in hiding for the rest of our lives."

>>24246776
"I think we can put off worrying about settling down until we're a bit closer to completing our massive impossible quest."

>>24246776
And, if I'm allowed to give two suggestions:

"It's fine to be uncertain about things Tricia, I've not been certain about much since around white tree. You can take your time and think about this one, though. I just figured I'd tell you, since I found out."

>>24246776
"I can't imagine our lives ever getting boring, though that'd be a novelty all its own. I certainly can't imagine ever not being in love with you. But in any case, it's not something we have to decide in a hurry. We haven't even talked about getting married the old-fashioned way, which we might want to do before we decide to get married the *very* old-fashioned way."

>>24246839
>>24246951
"It's fine to be uncertain about things Tricia, I've not been certain about much since around white tree. You can take your time and think about this one, though. I just figured I'd tell you, since I found out.

"Anyway, there's probably no need to worry about threshing wheat Tricia. If we mess this up, the best case scenario is we're all in hiding for the rest of our lives."

Tricia rolls her eyes. "Be serious about this." She sighs. "Sorry. I just...I don't know."

"I think we can put off worrying about settling down until we're a bit closer to completing our massive impossible quest."

She rubs her arms again. "Ssen...I umm...you know there's another reason why I always feel safe around you and don't mind us being us. It's cause..." She swallows. "You know how the Underside queen looked? I mean all bug eyes, twitching little bigs, vestigal wings and crap?" She sighs. "That's...not a result of the Royal Jelly...well it was but more like she just accelerated what will happen. If I live for that long...humans aren't supposed to talk to insects you know." She chuckles. "You're going to end up being married to something that looks more strange than you." She sighed. "Although, I've been lucky...or it's like another monster thing, maybe. Same with Mage, too." She shrugs. "No one's seen what a sane wasp witch will turn into after so many years." She sighs. "I remember Mom crying for a week when I showed her how I could talk to fireflies. Maybe there's something in River Crossing's water. Gives things like us a chance...or something. I don't know. I'm babbling."

>>24247026
Adding on to that: "All I can say is that I'm not sure a hundred years would be enough time with you."

>>24247032
"Right, and a lamia paladin is the poster-child for normality over here. If we've learned anything from fighting Citadel, it's that we'd prefer our stories, and our 'monsters', not follow the normal, predictable pattern."

>>24247032
I promise not to keep a giant flyswatter around if you promise not to keep a large cloth bag.

>>24247032
"Huh. I didn't know that. Will your future conditions... harm you? I've seen the tusks of boars grow in horrible ways. If it's at all similar.
I guess I'm gonna have to learn about bugs now, aren't I?

>>24247103
I second this a lot. A lot.

>>24247103
>>24247143
Come on now she did ask us to be serious. As much as I love cracking jokes even I know the time and place for them.

>>24247163
Okay fine.

but bags are no laughing matter

>>24247032
That's fine I'm willing to stick with you and find out

Then smile at her

>>24247133
Now I'm wishing we had a Big Red Book about druids and wasp witches.

>>24247221
I do sort of want to know what the heck a wasp wich is, and how it is different from a druid.

>>24247221
Clearly, a new side quest just appeared.

>>24247032
"I am not exactly sure what I will look like 100 years from now either, I am the only fully aware Lamia that anyone knows about."

"We should probably ask the Old One if there are any other benefits or risks to bonding, as the book is rather lacking in details."

"Whatever the answer, I'm willing to stick by you and find out."

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>>24247032
To be honest, no way that doesn't have to not be hot.

>>24247288
Shh, Tricia will notice we're thinking about dem wings.

>>24247100
"Right, and a lamia paladin is the poster-child for normality over here. If we've learned anything from fighting Citadel, it's that we'd prefer our stories, and our 'monsters', not follow the normal, predictable pattern."

Tricia nods.

"Will your future conditions... harm you? I've seen the tusks of boars grow in horrible ways. If it's at all similar."

Tricia shakes her head.

"I guess I'm gonna have to learn about bugs now, aren't I?"

She punches you in the shoulder. "Quit it."

"And I promise no fly swatters if you promise no bags." You say.

Tricia blinks and then shakes her head. "Don't joke about stuff like that."

"Anyway," You say. "There's no rush, we could get regularly married first before we go really REALLY old school."

"Fair enough."

Lea is there with the sleds. She's already got a lot of stuff ready. "I saw Ted go by, I take it he's getting the boars, or goats, or whatever fool thing that we're going to be taking on this mad rush?"

>>24247032
With Ssen likely to get as long as Granny is large, they'll definitely make for a strange couple. I can definitely see where Tricia's babbling is coming from, though; around Ssen, Tricia feels more comfortable being far from normal. And Ssen seems the same way. They're definitely good for each other.

Echo, don't read this next part: Really hoping this isn't a pre-battle "three days from retirement" conversation.

>>24247032

Say >>24247100, then:

Anyway, if Mage tries hard, he can work up a spell that influences that sort of thing to a more... enjoyable form.

>>24247250

Find an ancient and powerful mage that can manipulate genotype/phenotype to such an expert degree that it's practically like playing with Legos (which is most certainly is not)?

>>24247326
If, some point down the road, it turns out a major plot point is that Ssen gets trapped in a bag?

I will probably die from laughter.

>>24247326
"The mad rush will be facilitated by boars this time, Lea. How did you do on the shopping? Oh, and by any stroke of luck, did you correct our habit of going out into dangerous areas with barely any healing supplies? I've heard good things about potions."

>>24247326
It sounds like we have all our supplies together.

We should still review the dragon book again, and we should go over what we need to get out of this meeting with the dragon:

First and foremost, an ally.

At least one, and preferably three, doses of dragon's blood.

Any information the Dragon has that we'd find valuable, especially about the Lantern coins, their "corruption", the Dramatae, Citadel, and the Dragon who Was of Shadow.

Any actual Lantern coins we can get from him.

>>24247443
This.

>>24247455
Didn't Passion lead us down the Lantern Coins route? The *corrupt* Lantern Coins.

>>24247499
Tallow did, if I remember correctly

>>24247499
No, the Fifth steered us in that direction. Peace seemed remarkably nonchalant about the coins, but Peace knows that they were corrupted, and thus failed in the last several attempts. We know that now, and can perhaps un-corrupt them or find some other source of whatever force of good was behind them in the first place.

>>24247443
"The mad rush will be facilitated by boars this time, Lea. How did you do on the shopping? Oh, and by any stroke of luck, did you correct our habit of going out into dangerous areas with barely any healing supplies? I've heard good things about potions."

Lea takes out a small rolled up leather pouch and unrolls it, eight lovely glass vials with a dark dark red liquid inside each of them. "Fresh from Cups." She sighs. "Turns out that Troll Blood is an ingredient in it...along with a bunch of other things that make it effective and safer than just quaffing it straight."

"So Mage's Ghoul magic isn't as vile as you think it is?" Tricia says.

"I'll apologize to him. Magic is just magic, it depends on the user. Although I'm not too positive on the Fleshshaping."

Mage show up a few minutes later, with Peri/Mari right behind them. THey have their supplies. "Okay, we think we have a good shawl for your shoulders, Ssen." They say. "Although we don't really have anything for your tail. Nothing that wont constrict your constriction." Mari says.

Peri rolls her eyes. "She's been waiting to use that one. I told you it wasn't funny."

Mage passes out the core heat charms. "Easy as pie with these things. Just had to cite Paladin privilege a bit." He shrugs. "Throw a little gold too, but these should do the trick."

"Is there anything you can do to boost that haste spell of yours, Mage?" Lea asks.

"You know, you guys should just make a list of the stuff you want me to do with Magic, cause I'm probably going to keep telling you the same answer. I am not capable of just snapping my fingers and making everything work! If you want me to do stuff that DOESN'T have a high risk of very bad things happening to us all, give me some time to tinker with it, and then I can drop mountains on people left and right!" He pants a little. And then pushes back his hair. "Sorry...that was building up for a bit."

>>24247629
"Oh don't worry mage, it's our way of telling you we're confident in your abilities. Also, I can't speak for Lea, but personally I'm still shooting to get you some kind of magic trophy. Just has to be a spectacular enough display!"

>>24247629
>shawl
Oh, echo, I wanted to ask. What's our paladin mantle look like? A little ceremonial thing that only covers the shoulders? A think, warm piece of material? Mantles vary.

>>24247629
"So basically, Mage. You're a wizard not a miracle worker, damn it!"

>>24247629
"All good Mage. Better to let it out every now and again instead of letting it build up like that.

"Sooo ... how big of list do you want?"

>>24247711
"Oh don't worry Mage, it's our way of telling you we're confident in your abilities. Also, I can't speak for Lea, but personally I'm still shooting to get you some kind of magic trophy. Just has to be a spectacular enough display!"

"Knowing us, that probably means I'll get a giant crater named after me." Mage says.

>>24247723
The official mantle, given to you by Her Illuminated self, is a ceremonial thing that covers your shoulders, and has a plate of metal right below your collar that the MEdallion fits into. Your actual mantle is whatever you want it to be, as Paladins often change it to better suit their duties. Julian's is a full piece of armor, Balles is cloth, Odettes was the ceremonial one with excess gilt, and Avery's is kept in his footlocker and he wore thick as hell armor.

>>24247629
"Mage, you personally work miracles on a regular basis, and you've saved more lives than I can count. Judging by what I've seen about how magic works and how people tinker with it, you're one of the foremost magic researchers in the world, and that's in the time you can spare between saving all of our tails and helping us to save the world. If we expect much of you, it's because you never fail to live up to it. We understand that these things take time; they're always worth the wait."

>>24247756
"It's fine, Mage. Better to let it out every now and again instead of letting it build up like that.

"Sooo ... how big of list do you want?"

Mage glares at you, and opens his mouth to retort, when there's a howling and a squealing. Ted has arrived with the pigs. That was quick, on;y took him about three hours. (You spent the majority of the time loading up Ted's things.)

You all hitch up the pigs. King Ceasar is as placid and calm as ever. There's one you call Twitchy, because he keeps on kicking out his legs. He looks ready to run and run and run. The other one you call Greysides, cause his hair is grey on both sides of him, yet dark brown along the top. He's not as raring to go as Twitchy or Ceasar, but he looks like he could be hit by an avalance and not flinch. The beast has clear old scars that have shaken off hunter's arrows and bolts before, and he looks as fit as ever.

"So," Ted says as he hitches up the pigs. "Who's going with who, on what pig?"

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>>24247801
>alterable mantle
Nice, we have to get a place for our medallion worked into our armor later on. Also, I'm really glad we got a shawl.

Incoming billowing. Billowing really drives home the legend.

>>24247874
Groupings: Ssen and Tricia, Lea and Ted, Peri/Mari and Mage.

Get Ted to handle Twitchy, because he might be the hardest to handle. No clear preference on the other two groups and their boars.

>>24247874
(Oh, you said before that a team of goats could be safer; does that apply to boars, or can they not really work in groups?)

>>24247915
It might seem a bit greedy, but I suggest big caesar for ssen.

She's huge.

>>24247915
i agree with this lineup

>>24247940
doesn't matter, 2 sleds only have 6 spaces, we need 7 to carry everyone(2 for Ssen, 1 for each Ted/Tricia/Lea/Peri-Mari/Mage)

>>24247951
And now:

Imagine the yo' momma jokes our kids will have to put up with

>>24247874
"I'll load up with Tricia with Caesar- we'll need the extra pulling power. Ted, you and Lea ride together on twitchy, ted can help control him. And Peri, Meri, and Mage can take the last cart. With any luck, we'll all arrive in one piece."

>>24247740
Does Mage speak with a pseudo scots accent by any chance?

>>24247984
It'd stop the same day they learn about snake. "and after delivering a venomous bite they wrap around their prey unhinging their jaws to-"

>>24248102
>Does Mage speak with a pseudo scots accent by any chance?

Eh, I always saw Tricia with a little irish brogue, Mage with a little Southie, Lea has middle eastern, and Meri's proper brit and Peri's common brit. Ssen's heroic standard.

>>24248210
And I mean Southie as in Boston. I have extended family from the area, and I find an entire cannibal bandit group with that accent both hilarious and (If you've seen their diet) fitting.

>>24248210
I'm going to keep imagining Ssen has a problem with her Ses.

>>24248237
So, heroic ssstandard then.

>>24248251
Yesss.

Rolled 5, 15, 10 = 30

>>24248085
"I'll load up with Tricia with Caesar- we'll need the extra pulling power. Ted, you and Lea ride together on Twitchy, Ted can help control him. And Peri/Mari, and Mage can take the last cart. With any luck, we'll all arrive in one piece."

"Here's hoping." Mage says. "Okay, everyone stand back...I'm going to haste these porkers. Shouldn't be too hard, done this before..."

>>24248275
A nice variance of successes and failures!

Also, echo, your quest has convinced me to switch to a 2d20 system for the majority of my games, so as to add bellcurves.

Rolled 9

>>24248275
"Come ON your Majesty..." Mage grumbles as he tries to boost King Ceasar once more.

"Mage, take it easy."

"I've got one more in me." He says. "He's almost there."

>>24248275
Oh, no good can come of this.

We know the drill: hold on tight, and hold onto others. And Ssen should curl behind Tricia.

And if we have time before we take off, everybody should strap in. Perhaps loop some rope behind our backs.

>>24248316
I keep wanting to tie things onto or strap things to our tail. Maybe our inventor friend will come up with something.

>>24248305
It's juuuust enough to push him over the top, since his body has been used to the transformation before.

"Okay! Dragon ho!" Ted says. "Please be ready for me Master!"

Your sleds take off, rushing through the simple drifts of the Snow Peaks down into the dark crags, tunnels, crevices, and valleys of the Dark Peaks. You learned that the snow's not actually black here, rather that there's a combination of dust, minerals in the mountain, and a little innate magic that turns the snow black when it lands. It falls white.

Also, you can feel it, in your spine, as your sled first makes contact with the black snow. This place hates you. It's like when Citadel was when you were within the True Cathedral, and you saw its true face. This isn't that kind of hate though. This is a rabid animal, lashing out at anything that DARES try to think it's better than it is.

Thankfully, Ted's maps, and the Coin Compass are keeping you on a decent trail. Up until you get to a fork. The compass points at both paths and the map says that they both eventually rejoin later...but it's either through a very narrow crevice that then opens up along a narrow ledge, or through a network of ice caves.

"Which way?" Lea shouts at you.

>>24248383
I think interesting items would be a thorny armor and some kind of pointed tip. Not sure how practical either are though. Kinda like tacticool rifles but for snake tails.

>>24248383
"Cast aside the stereotypes of slippery snakes like a shed skin, with snake velcro! New, from Barneyco!"

>>24248404
"May the Light guide our journey and bring us safely to our destination."

Ice caves; I'd prefer that over a narrow ledge.

>>24248404
Oh jeez the hard decisions already.

I am up for the ice caves. We may get lost in them, but the recovery time on that is a few hours, wheras if we fall on the ravine, the recovery time is days. Is my logic sound?

>>24248413
>>24248425
I'm more thinking of strapping backpacks onto us. We certainly have the mass to deal with that, just not the grasp. Unless snakes can wear belts in actuality.

>>24248455
Not to mention, while ice caves can certainly have fragile areas and dangers, ravines and narrow ledges seem more likely to produce injury rather than merely getting lost.

>>24248404
Gotta say Ice Caves. None of us can fly, we can figure our way out of a maze though.

>>24248404
Question before we make the decision: can we smell/taste anything in particular in the air in either direction? Because critters like caves.

>>24248455

Ice caves may have ravines and such of their own, depending on how large they are. If it's just a series of tunnels, the group may have to deal with narrow spaces and possibly any creatures that have made the caves their home. Crashing real hard could be pretty bad, too.

On the other hand, falling off of a Ravine may be real bad as well.

>>24248404
Ice Caves, would rather get lost then fall off a ledge.

>>24248404
Ice caves, just don't make any loud noises; icicles on ceiling.

>>24248518
>can we smell/taste anything in particular in the air in either direction?

Roll 1d20

Rolled 10

>>24248562

>>24248562
we can smell forever

Rolled 3

>>24248562

>>24248570

You smell caves!

And a ravine!

One or more of them might have rocks!

Rolled 8

>>24248562

Rolling

Rolled 13

>>24248562
>mfw everyone rolled d10's
>have no face

>>24248570
Nothing you can pick up. Too much wind and snow.

So ice caves it is!

It's like sliding through a tunnel of obsidian, or going inside a long dead volcano. The walls are pitch black, and any light that shines through the more translucent parts seems purplish or greyish. You feel like your waiting for something to happen. You aren't being hunted...but something is watching you...or you're going crazy, and that you might have passed that funny looking piece of ice three times.

Roll 1d20

>>24248586
I'm hoping it might be barely enough for sensing something in one direction or another that triggers ancestral fear, or some such vague warning.

Rolled 11

>>24248622

Rolled 8

>>24248622
!

Rolled 10

>>24248622

>>24248622
Light up Beacon. If we're being followed, that won't make it any easier, and it might drive away the malicious misleading mountain-mind of Dark Peak.

And still saying we should say a prayer.

Rolled 10

>>24248562

>>24248622
Can we clang the beacon against something to get it going? It's quite dark.

>>24248676
I have the impression activating it gives at least a basline level of light to guide our way, and I'm hoping that it'll consent to being a light in the oppressive darkness here.

>>24248693
Well, I sort of want to drag it along like those bike gangs in akira.

But that would be disrespectful to the weapon, wouldn't it?

>>24248635
No...no you only passed it twice. This is a new one...you hope.

The group comes to a stop though when you reach a clear obstacle. The cave exits a little way ahead. You can see the sky from here. Unfortunatley, between here and the exit path, there's about a 40ft gap that drops down into nothingness. It's a chasm that bisects the entire cave tunnel you're in, walls, and all. You guess that the seismic activity here split two mountains apart, causing this. You cannot see the bottom.

"Well, shit." Peri says. "Now what?"

>>24248768
How stupid are we?

If we're really, really stupid we could say something about "when pigs fly" and try to jump it.

But we might just have to bite the bullet and go back out and around the ravine. Shit. Unless you guys have a good idea to get past.

Rolled 19

>>24248664
I also vote for light and prayer

>>24248768
Well, we can turn back and try for the crevice and the ledge, do some kind of ludicrous ice-ski-jump with sleds (because the dice would *love* that plan), or try to find a way past that we didn't immediately see.

Walls and all? No sign of any kind of connecting bridge or similar? No obvious path around? Compass pointing straight towards the exit?

>>24248768
Any obvious way around or across that we see from here?

>>24248816
I really hope we can use that roll...

>>24248816
At this point I'm wondering if Dark Peaks is directly screwing with us, so yeah.

>>24248824
>I'm guessing no.
That was supposed to be there also.

>>24248768

Perhaps Tricia can talk to any nearby cave bugs to see if they've found fairly large tunnels that wind around the pit?

>>24248812
>try to jump it

I think that's just a little too stupid even for us. And yes I remember the mountain.

>>24248768
"We can either try and find another route through the caves, or turn back and go on the other path."

>>24248812
(nowhere near that supid, and we physically cannot jump.)

>>24248768
Examine the edges of the cravass. It may be something scalable.

>>24248901
Doesn't help much if we can't even see the bottom, and we're sure not going to get the sleds down and back, which we need because we're not near our destination yet.

>>24248818
The ceiling actually still connects. Looks like the ice and snow from above melted and refroze. It's 20 ft up from where you are.

"Ssen?" Mari asks. "It think I can shoot a bolt across the gap. Can you put an arrow there?"

Yeah, easily enough. You nod.

"How many ropes do we have?"

"Eight or so." Tricia says. "So, what, you're suggesting we make a bridge?"

"Send enough ropes over, and send water over by Mage and then freeze it." Mari shrugs. "I've read that's it's been done before."

"Where?" Lea asks.

"In...a Lightbringer story." Mari says with much shame.

"Right, no." Tricia says. "We back up and try to find another way out."

"This place is a maze, and we're on the clock." Peri says. "I like Mari's idea. She's got it mapped out pretty clearly in her head."

"I quadrupled the ropes used...for Ssen. I think it'll work." Mari says.

"Or we fall and die." Tricia says.

>>24248768
Look to the opposite side. Are there any stalagmites to toss a rope around? Are we roman enough to construct a bridge?

if either of those ideas is rediculous, I am out of ideas.

>>24248971
How much time would we lose at this point if we double back and take the other route, assuming we don't hit another obstacle there?

If it wouldn't put us in serious danger of missing our deadline, let's go back.

>>24248971
"I think we're going have to take the chance. We're tight on time as is. Going back could eat up a lot of it.

"Plus, if Mari says it be done. Well, I trust her. So lets do it."

>>24249023
>it be done.
>it can be done.

Forgetting whole words and all.

>>24248971
"I think it would be wise to see how many ropes it takes to support me as is. If we have enough, then it will most likely be safe if we all go over one at a time. As for how to do the test, well, other than all of you grabbing a rope, wrapping it around me, and hefting, I can't think of one."

>>24248768
Examine crevasse for Hidden Bridge optical illusion re: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

>>24249013
>assuming we don't hit another obstacle

I suspect the likelihood of this is about 0

>>24248971
"I think it could work, but we should cross one at a time, and everyone else before me."

>>24249151
>everyone else before me
Oh god it sounds so unheroic.

We could do first, but it would weaken the bridge for everyone else.

>>24248971
How far could Ssen pull off a fastball special?

>>24249044
"I think it would be wise to see how many ropes it takes to support me as is. If we have enough, then it will most likely be safe if we all go over one at a time. As for how to do the test, well, other than all of you grabbing a rope, wrapping it around me, and hefting, I can't think of one."

"No no no." Mari says. "Look, let me show you." She shoots two ropes across the gap, and then points at Mage to melt some ice and then force it across the ropes and freezes it. "Okay...now...do it again Mage. If you keep doing that, we can form an ice bridge."

"There is NO way an ice bridge can support the sleds." Ted says. "Not to mention there's the pigs, and then Ssen, I'm not even sure about US."

"If we go over, one at a time, very slowly, with it as thick as possible, and Mage using some magic to keep it as frozen as possible...it'll work. Also we unload the sleds and send them over with a few supplies at a time." She nods. "This can work. I swear."

"It'll take hours." Tricia says. "We'll be better off finding another way out."

"Which could be shorter, or just as much time, or have us waste then entire day down here." Peri says. "This way gets us across."

"Or kills us." Lea says.

>>24249242
I'll repeat this.

>>24249023
>>24249043

>>24249126

It might not hurt to toss a few rocks across to see if this is true.

>>24249242
I assume neither of these two paths were on Ted's map?

Still suggesting prayer and Beacon before we go further; for all we know there's something clouding our minds and preventing us from seeing a better way.

>>24249277
Also this.

>>24249277
You take out the Medallion. "May our Path and our vision be guided by His Light, and may we arrive in time to save those who can be saved. Amen."

"Amen."

You throw a rock.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 2

>>24249317

Rolled 4

>>24249317
!

Rolled 18

>>24249317

>>24249335
Sigh. Cue avalanche. Maybe it'll get us across, at least.

File: 1365989633558.gif-(1014 KB, 640x526, bwwwaaaahhh.gif)

1014 KB GIF

>>24249335
>>24249336

>>24249335
"click...clack...clik...clak...clk...clk...ck....ck.....k.....k.............." The rock bounces off into darkness.

Rolled 20

>>24249317

>>24249370
Yep. It's a pit.

>>24249417
Also, you're slow.

>>24249370
"Whooo, that's a long way down. Well, do you guys want me to go first or last? I'm not sure if staying behind to go behind is more dangerous than going in front, given bridge wear."

>>24249370
Rather than throwing a rock, could we crumple up some snow and throw a spray of it out over the pit, on the theory that any solid surface would be easily visible that way?

>>24249317
My question is this. Why are we throwing one rock and not a handful?

Well, it would seem that Mari's plan is the other viable option. Unless we want to explore the caves to see if there is another way out, but that could take a real long time.

>>24249485
We could start on the bridge, and scout around a bit.

Also couldn't hurt to ask Tricia for some help, though I doubt any bugs are around in this cold.

>>24249317
"It seems like we've got few other options. It's either this or go along the ravine at insane speeds. Get to work, ladies and gentleman, I'm going to be over here wishing I had maybe skipped a few more breakfasts. And praying."

Rolled 12, 14 = 26

>>24249516
"Alright, start the bridge." You say. "Tricia, if you can call some friends to look around and find a new way out. Then that's great and we'll do that. Everyone else, get stuff off the sleds and into small bundles."

There's a chorus of agreement and everyone gets to work.

>>24249568
"Well, the good news is that I found a bunch of snow moths to work with." Tricia says. She patting her hat. "They're happy to be warm. The bad news is that they only exit they found is about the size of a snow moth." She shrugs. "Maybe Mage could blow it open."

"And bring the mountain on top of us. You know his track record." Peri says.

"Once! I did it, ONCE!" Mage says. "Anyway, the bridge is finished...and I'm pretty happy with it."

It actually looks pretty good. Nice and thick, glistening clear and bluish in the little light, for some reason the ice didn't turn that blackish color again when the bridge got made. It looks like it could hold...maybe...but it's still a bridge made out of ice and ropes.

"Ssen, do you want to be the one who goes first?" Mari asks. "I mean, it's not going to get MORE stable."

>>24249670
"I think it'd be safest for everyone if I went last. I can move the fastest, and if it collapses then I probably have the best chance of jumping for the other side."

>>24249670
"I suppose it would be good to give the bridge a real good test before the rest of you cross. Maybe I'll leave all my heavier equipment here- no need for extra weight. And besides, you guys are the ones who need the light."

>>24249670
right us first, then the people, then the boars. Finally the sleds. Tie people off and attach it to a piller \ stalacite before they cross. Then throw the rope back. We can also use ropes to drag the sleds across without risking anybody.


I hope we brought enough rope.

>>24249670
"So, stop me if you've heard this one: a snake, a boar, and a human are on one side of a bridge that can only carry..."

>>24249753
this

and make sure to hug/kiss Tricia before we go across, just in case.

>>24249670
Would Mage's stealth spell help at all here? It helped us move without disturbing the ground.

>>24249753
>"I suppose it would be good to give the bridge a real good test before the rest of you cross. Maybe I'll leave all my heavier equipment here- no need for extra weight. And besides, you guys are the ones who need the light."

They nod as you take off the heavier parts of your armor and hand Beacon to Tricia.

Slowly you drop to the ground and start to slither across the ice bridge, dragging a handfull of ropes behind you, and an emergency rope around your waist, with everyone holding on tightly at the other side. By His light this is COLD...but Mage's charms are making it merely unpleasant, not life-threatening.

You've reach the middle of the bridge.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 10

>>24249857
!

Rolled 9

>>24249857

Ok, what if Mage melted all the snow and ice for miles around into the chasm and then we swam across.
Or we think really really hard about being a dragon and hope we gain the ability to fly.
Just throwing some other equally crazy plans out there that we can use as backups.

>>24249857
>we're actually using dice for htis one

Oh god no echo

>>24249862
>>24249866
It feels like we're all rolling d10s.

i was dreading dice

>>24249862
thank you for not being a 1

>>24249896
a 10 is good. This isn't a challenging check, just a lethal one. I assume.

>>24249922
thing is echo likes to use stressingly high dice =/

>>24249947
I just hope WE get across fine with our ropes. Then we can pull everyone else across, bridge or not. We're big enough. The carts, though, that needs a bridge

>>24249922
anything below a 14 is a risky roll in this quest.
especially for events/skilltests.

Rolled 14

>>24249862
You hear a soft CRACK....and pause.

You wait for a long time...but nothing seems to happen, you wriggle your way across the other side and grasp a stalagmite tightly.

"Ha!" Mari says. "Told you it would work!"

Ted hands over a coin.

Tricia is the next one to volunteer to come over. She has a safety line held by the others, and one that you've tired around the stalagmite on your side. (You're hold on as well.)

She decides to go across it on her hands and knees, very slowly.

Rolled 19, 16 = 35

>>24249998
There's another small crack sound...but Tricia gets across and gives you a giant hug.

Mage steps up. "Hold on, I'm sending over some more water. See if it helps."

He does so, and refreezes the bridge. You are sure if it helped or not...but it was worth a try.

Lea's going over next. This time she just has a rope to secure on your side of the chasm.

>>24249998
It occurs to me that in a way Ssen was safer, with weight distributed more evenly. Feet concentrate weight on a smaller surface area.

Rolled 19

>>24250047
Mage's spell seems to have done the trick, and then some. Lea gets over, with just a little cracking. She even does it standing up.

Ted crawls across next.

>>24250047
yell moderately loud across
"You can do it lea!"
and then, when she is across
"Maybe melt and re-freeze the bridge if you have to? To prevent just building more weight on cracked bridge?"

>>24250089
>Yelling loudly
>Potentially unstable cave

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooope

Rolled 8

>>24250071
Ted doesn't even cause a crack.

"We'll go at the very end." Peri/Mari say. "after the goods. We can run and jump stuff anyway."

Mage goes over. He almost imitates you, nearly squirming his way across.

we get the lowest roll. figures.


Now its time to lose the boars

>>24250104
Here's hoping Mage gets a bonus from being able to maintain the freeze up-close to where he's walking.

Rolled 13

>>24250104
There's a VERY loud CRACK, and you see part of the bridge sag. Mage starts to squirm double time, and manages to get across, but everyone can see that there's a clear crack int he bridge and it's starting to sag.

"Okay." Mage says. "Let me try this again..."

Rolled 3

>>24250134
It looks like the spell did a little help. Now Peri/Mari had tied up the boars, and you've got them secured on your side as well. Time to guid them across.

>>24250104
>Mage rolling the worst.
Oh you /tg/ dice. Mage was supposed to get a 20 and skip across like the badass he is!

well, thats not good

>>24250108
>>24250165
...

>>24250165
CRACK.

"Oh hell." Mage says.

"PULL!" Lea yells at the safe time as the ice bridge snaps in two.

>>24250165
Boars. The animal most prone to stomping for no reason in nature.

>>24250165
FFFFFFFFFF

Rolled 16

>>24250177

welp PULL!

>>24250177
Fucking boars.

>>24250194
I really hope we can use this.

Rolled 16, 6, 17, 3 = 42

>>24250177
You all yank with all your might to try and haul up the squealing flailing wildly thrashing, oversized, boars.

Roll 1d20, adding it to the others pulling trying to hit target number.

Rolled 18

>>24250208

Rolled 14

>>24250208
!

nice, 60, hopefully thats high enough

>>24250208
I hope the target goal is 60.

>>24250220
Ssen: Be super fucking huge.

That's all you need to do.

Rolled 16

>>24250220
You all pull with all your might and haul those squealing piggies up onto your side, where Ted quickly quiets them down with some snacks from his pockets.

"Okay." Peri/Mari says. "This actually isn't too bad."

"How?"

"Cause we can use the ropes to just swing over the stuff." Mari says. "Leave two and Peri and I can go hand over hand to get to the other side."

"Isn't that Risky for the sleds?" Lea asks.

"A little, but we can risk it, or fix them." She shrugs. "Let's not waste the time, and Mage looks kinda pooped."

"I could use a rest." Mage does look a little pale.

"Alright, swing them over." Tricia says.

Rolled 4

>>24250208

Rolled 10

>>24250358
It's actually not too bad, you bang things up a bit, and cause a little chipping and splintering in the sleds, but nothing serious.

Then there's just two ropes suspended over the abyss, one safety rope around Peri/Mari, and two ropes for her to go hand over hand in.

They begin the trip

>>24250358
Make sure, when Mari and Peri come across, they have several independent ropes tied to their waist.

>>24250392

Mind archiving the thread, Echo?

Rolled 12, 7, 9, 14 = 42

>>24250392
"Ah!" Peri/Mari yells. "Uhh...I'm...I don't think I can make it the rest of the way." She says. "You guys need to pull me."

Roll 1d20

Rolled 4

>>24250417
!

Rolled 19

>>24250417
SAVE THE GIRLS

>>24250427
Aaaah fuck.

Rolled 2

>>24250417
oh dear

>>24250417

(just way to many checks hah)

>>24250409
Thread has been archived.

>>24250427
You all pull, but at the very end Peri/Mari slip from the ropes. You hear a nasty SMACK sound as she bangs into the ice wall below you. Thankfully, you can pull her up the rest of the way.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." She groans as she holds her shoulder. It's been knocked out of alignment from the impact. "Fuck...Lea...do it."

"Got it." Lea says. She snaps Peri's shoulder back into place.

"GHAAAAAAAAAA!" She screams. "I'm...I'm glad that worked...but...we're going to have to take a moment...fuck that hurt." She winces.

Rolled 1

>>24250474

Thank you!

>>24250417

>>24250540

Thank fuck my roll got there late.

>>24250535
See if Tricia has some healing available for it.

>>24250535
oh thanks god she is mostly alright.

>>24250474
beat me to it by 30 seconds.

>>24250535
You help Tricia load back up the sleds while Ted and Lea prep the boars back up.

Mage and Peri/Mari rest.

It is just entering mid-day, and you are 1/6th of the way there.

Things aren't looking too bad.

Lea: Lamia Quest will be right back after these messages, so take the time to meditate with me and reach your inner peace. Mage: Or reach within your fridge for an inner piece of pie! Lea: MAGE!

>>24250535
"Honestly, I'm surprised we got everything across without anybody dying. Let me check if our stuff survived being banged up- if it did, I think you have more than earned yourselves a delicious troll blood flavored analgesic."

Check cart for intact healing potions.

>>24250601
Oh mage, you and your vegetarian gluttony. And oh Lea, you just snapped someone's arm into place, how can I not love ya.