>>26879047
We'll pay in exchange for the book.

>>26879047
<What sort of strange?>

>>26879047
<Yeah, alright.>
Dude did save us.

>>26879047

<That certainly is strange.>

we should probably take the trade, i bet he can't even read it anyway.

<What sort of strange?> You ask.
He reached into his bag, and pulled it up. In the darkness, you can barely make out the shape of the book alone.
<The cover has silver around the trim, and there's all sorts of carvings on its sides.> He says. <And it wasn't rotted like the rest. I can't even read it, though. I think it's kystaran.>
<That certainly is strange.> You say. <Yeah, alright.>
You give him a small pile of coin, and take the book. It's a rather heavy book, with incredibly thin pages, but you can't properly examine it in the dark.

"Ah, you're back!" Miriam says, as you walk into the tavern.
<What'd she say?> Mal asks, stepping in behind you.
Miriam squints at him. "What'd he say?"

You sigh, and start translating. Coin changes hands once again, and Mal made his way upstairs to the second room.

But then Miriam put a plate of meat in front of you, and you find yourself cheering up immensely.
"And what happened to your arm?" She asks.

>>26879223
<It was injured.>

>>26879223
<Isn't it obvious? It was damaged.>

>>26879254
lol.

Second.

>>26879223

o you know mad old wizards and huge monsters.

>>26879223

"I found an actual alive Skytaran, he hit me with a fire sword though and I had to kill him... him and his creepy Remnant harem..."

"Isn't it obvious?" You respond, once again in lelan. "It was injured."
"... You're right, it is rather obvious." She says, and shot you a smile. "I'm sorry for worrying."
Behind you, Bruno whined at Miriam until she gave him his own dinner, and you slowly filled your stomach.
"At least you seem like you found something while you were off." Miriam adds, taking your empty plate. "If you got injured, it might be best to get some rest. It looks like you were treated fine, though."

You look out the window; the smithy was still lit, as was Cromwell's tower. They're probably still awake, so you can go to either place, or possibly even stay and talk with Miriam or Mal for a while. Or you can even rest, like the ex-doctor says you should.

>>26879419
Go to Cromwell. Show him book.

>>26879419

rest would probably be best, but Cromwell knows Skytaran so we can show him the book real quick.

>>26879419
Hit up Cromwell, see what he thinks of the book. Then head back and get some sleep.

>>26879419
Let's go tell Cromwell what we think happened to the Kystarans.

"Rest would probably be best." You say, and get to your feet.
"It would." Miriam says, as you make your way toward the door. "Hey!'

You make your way back out into the night, and up the road to Cromwell's tower. As usual, you knock on it and the man opens the door almost instantly.
"Come in, come in." He says, and sits down in his seat, as usual. You sit down in your own, and pull out the book. Here in the light, you can see Mal was right- it's trimmed with silver, runes carved into it. They don't prickle your spine like proper runes or that strange portal from earlier today, so you doubt it's directly magical.
"Hm." is the only thing he says, turning it over. "Do you mind if I open it?"
"Go ahead." You respond, and the artificer pulls open the book. The inside was covered in kystaran glyphs, the writing unintelligable to you for the most part. He started reading, and finally set it aside.
"It's a book of notes." The artificer says. "Rather interesting notes about experimenting with somehow modulating the power draw from a rune. I'm much more interested in golem cores, though."

>>26879552
"Is there anything of worth in it, though? Anything I can actually use?"

>>26879552
"How's the progress with the core, by the way?"

>>26879552
"I have those as well, but I'm interested in the information contained in this book. Is there anything useful?"

>>26879552
you aren't at all interested in how some one was probable using this to make remenatens ?

tell him about the as in the pocket realm

>>26879552
"Don't you want to know where I got it from?"

Show him the gauntlet as well.

>>26879632
Right. I forgot about that.

"Is there anything of worth in it, though? Anything I can actually use?"
"I'll get to work translating it in my off time. It seems these are personal notes for whoever was experimenting with them, so they take a bit of extra work to figure what, exactly, they were doing. It might be useful, though. Wearing down a rune more quickly in exchange for more power... Actually, now that I say it like that, it does seem more interesting."
"How goes the progress with the core, by the way?"
"Slow." He says. "The glyphs are all tangled with one another, and it's a real problem figuring out which engravings are part of which glyphs. It doesn't look like the creators wanted them to be user-friendly."
"Don't you want to know where I got it from?"
"From either the city or the mansion, I suppose. The wyverns have the temple key, so I doubt you got it from there." He says- he doesn't seem very enthused.
You hold up the gauntlet, and he takes a quick look at it as well.
"This seems to be some kind of key." He says. "See the way the glyph sprawls outward? It's seeking for connections to other glyphs. And since the glyph in the palm isn't a proper rune, it's likely some kind of password."

>>26879689
"Hmm. I found it in the mansion of some Lord. Maybe we'll have better luck controlling the golems with it? Worth a test?"

>>26879764
nah, its a portal opener. probably only good for that one portal since it has a password.

>>26879689
tell him of what we experianced with the portal and the kystarian.

>>26879794
Let's keep the portal knowledge to ourselves for now.

>>26879689

"It shrunk to fit my hand when i tried it on."

>>26879822
Why? Just tell him.

"Hmm, I found it in the mansion of some lord. Maybe we'll have better luck controlling the golems with it? Worth a test?"
"I strongly doubt it." The artificer says. "The golem core isn't designed for having a new glyph connected so suddenly. In the worst case, you'd damage both that glove and the golem core. In the best case, it just wouldn't do anything."
"It shrunk to fit my hand when I tried it on." You say. He takes your hand, twisting it over so he can look at the underside, and finally shrugs.
"I can only work on one, maybe two things at a time." He says. "Runes are simple enough, but if you ask me to try to decipher each artifact you find, you'll be here for a long time."

>>26879886
"A very good point. I think I'll take some rest now."

>>26879886
"I did find some runes."

>>26879886

"you're right, I guess hoping for a golem manual was a bit much."

i guess it's time for rest.

>>26879933
Also tell him about the portal

>>26879950
This is pretty lazy, why not suggest some dialogue?

"I did find some runes, too."
"Just show them to me in the morning. I'll figure out how many uses they have and what they'll do for you." He says, and rubs at his eyes. He looks like he hadn't gotten enough sleep.
"You're right. I guess hoping for a golem manual was a bit much."
He chuckles. "Well, if you do find one, that'd be very helpful."
"I think I'll take some rest now." You say.
"Sleep well." He says.
"Oh, and I have something else to tell you." You say. He blinks at you, and you continue.

A few minutes later, he refused to move a muscle, thinking. His steely eyes are locked on yours for the first time, his mind turning and twisting over the ramifications.
"This, this circle. Did you keep record of the glyphs it was made out of?" He asks.
"No. And the glyphs were gone when I returned," You say.
He turned to his piles of paper, and snatched a blank one, before writing down the symbol on your gauntlet.
"It'll be useless for me to try and figure this out, but I'm interested. Very, very interested. If you find anything else like that, don't hesitate to come back and bring me to it. Promise me."
You hesitate a moment, and he locks eyes with you again.
"Promise."

>>26880001
pinky swear

>>26880001
"Don't worry, I will. I think it'll be easier to just collapse them from the outside than deal with whoever resides within."

>>26880001

"If I find more and if the situation is favorable, I'll be sure to try and bring it back."

"Don't worry, I will." You say. "I think it'll be easier to just collapse them from the outside than deal with whoever resides within. And if the situation is favorable, I'll try to bring it back."
"Alright!" He says, and chuckles. "Now I'm really interested. Get some sleep, you."
"Sure." You respond, and wave as you make your way back outside.

You make your way back to the tavern, and upstairs to your own room. Bruno is already there, curled on one of your pillows, so you push it aside. The useless creature didn't even seem to notice as you dumped his pillow on the floor. Then you lie down, and go to sleep.

===

The field again- the endless desert, with the coal grey sky, and the howling winds. This dream again...
And, as usual, far off in the distance, the fallen pillars and ruins sit in the distance.
She stands on the lowest step, as close to you as she can go...
And she holds out a hand, beckoning for you to come closer.
She's beautiful.

===

You open your eyes again as someone raps on the door.
<Yo, bro!> Mal said, knocking. <I think that redhead downstairs asked me to wake you. Or something like that.>
It's morning, you judge by looking at the window. Your arm still hurts.

>>26880154

<I'll be out in a second, do these bandages need to get changed often?>

>>26880154
<Thanks. You feel like going into the city today, see what we can recover?>

I don't think we've actually looked at our arm yet, so let's make sure it isn't permanently damaged.

<I'll be out in a second.> You say. <Do these bandages need to get changed often?>
<Not particularly.> He responds. <They're made out of Juval skin, so they'll last quite a while. I keep my bandages soaked in medicinal herb, too.>
You stretch your arm, and wiggle your fingers. They seem to be moving fine... But you don't want to pull off your bandage to look at the wound properly.

You pull open the door and walk out, Bruno still snoring inside.
<You feel like going into the city today, see what we can recover?> You ask, as the two of you made your way downstairs.
<Sure thing.> He says.
"What language is that?" Miriam asks, and gives both of you plates.
"Galdian." You respond.
<Then again, if we go together, we'll need to talk about how to split the loot.> Mal continues, not quite paying attention to you or Miriam. <I want some magic of my own.>

>>26880312
<That's fair. More chance of us making it out if we're together as well.>

>>26880312

<I don't mind sharing the magic runes, I'm after information about them mostly.>

"Mal said you needed me?"

<That's fair. More chance of us making it out if we're together as well.>
<Yep. It'd be a smart move.> He says, and removes the cloth wrapped around his head so he can eat. Miriam stared at him for a short while. <Maybe we can split the loot half and half.>
"Mal said you needed me?" You ask.
"It looks like it's been well taken care of, despite the strange bandages, but I want to take a look at your arm, just in case." She says. "Your ribs, as well. It isn't that important, though."

>>26880445
"Let me just finish this breakfast and I'll be right with you for my daily examination, doctor."

>>26880445
We should probably go and visit that blacksmith fellow for some armor. Running around unprotected is going to cost us in the long run.

>>26880445

"can i have some food first?"

>>26880445
"You're ever so kind Miriam. Thank you for your care, but can I have something to eat first? We'll have a busy day today."

oh i just figured why those remnants went after Miriam. Some wizard ordered them to. Now did we just kill him or are we going to see more?

>>26880638

figures he'd want something/someone more responsive to add to his harem.

I feel really good about killing him off.

"Just let me finish this breakfast and I'll be right with you, doctor."
"I'm technically not a doctor anymore." She giggles, covering her mouth with a hand.

As the two of you eat, Bruno ambles down the stairs and outside to meet with the blacksmith's daughter, who starts feeding him dragonmeal.
<Have fun with the redhead, bro.> Malchak says, clapping you on the shoulder. He wrapped his face again. <I'll be off buying some more gunpowder, and some lantern oil. Meet you later.>
You give him a wave, and finish your meal. Soon after, Miriam removed your bandage, marveling at it, before taking a look at your arm proper. It was a deep, deep slash, the edges charred by fire. It'd been sewn together by thread, and held taut.
"This is going to scar." She said, almost immediately. "It looks treated well, but I don't have anything to kill the pain. I'm sorry." She pokes and prods carefully, causing you to hiss in pain, before re-wrapping it. "And the bandages are pretty useful."

After she examined your arm, she lifts up your shirt and gives you a few important pokes, feeling your ribs, before pulling off the wrapping.
"It looks like your side is fine, now." She says. "You heal pretty quickly."

>>26880686
"I get it from my mother."

>>26880686
"Yeah it's pretty great, healing fast and all that."

>>26880686
"So, you used to be a doctor, eh?"

>>26880686

"I have a healthy bloodline and Mal has some very interesting first aid skills. I'll try not to add more injuries on my next trip or at least try to keep them minor."

>>26880686
"I'll make sure to stay away from flaming swords in future then."

>>26880686
"At least it's the first scar I can say was caused by a blazing rapier."

>>26880686
"People like me have to be made of tough material. I live a dangerous life after all. Sometimes I wish I could just open a tavern and have peaceful work. But that'd lack the excitement."

"I get it from my mother." You say, and chuckle. "And Mal has some very interesting first aid skills."
Then again, you aren't sure what you didn't get from your mother,
You've never met your father, after all.

"Maybe if you spent more time bedbound from your injuries you'd learn to be more careful." She says, giving you a wry grin.
"I'll make sure to stay away from flaming swords in the future, then."
"You do that." She says.
"So, you used to be a doctor, eh?"
"It was a lifetime ago." She says. "Though I still have the skills. They come in handy around here. Then again... A lot of us are people who have been exiled from the republic for our own reasons. It's not quite polite to ask about someone's history. Around here, at least."

You look at your arm.
"At least it's the first scar I can say was caused by a blazing rapier."
"Hopefully it's the last." She responds, and lowers your shirt again.

>>26879984
That's stupid. It shouldn't be required to give the OP dialogue. It's usually better quality if he writes it himself.

>>26880840
"Aww, I was rather enjoying the attention. Not often that I get a beautiful lady running her hands over my body."

>>26880840
"I wish it'd be that way, but it's not very probable."

>>26880840
"Are you saying you don't enjoy poking and prodding my open wounds?"

>>26880840
<Silence>
Thank her for the medical attention and head out.

>>26880840

"Yeah one is enough, I'll try not to pry in to personal history too much, I just can't help being curious sometimes, come to think of it, that's what lead up to me getting slashed in the first place."

"Are you saying that you don't enjoy poking and prodding my open wounds."
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Aww, I was rather enjoying the attention." You say, and she raised her eyebrows.
"Nice try." She says, sardonically. "I'm not sure if you'll be back for lunch, so here."
She tossed you a small wrapped lunch.
"Take care- and try not to make any more work for me, okay?"
"Thanks." You say, and make your way out.

You walk up to the smithy, where Mal is currently buying more steel rods for his musket, and more gunpowder, wrapping it into packets. Dalton gave you a wave.
"Another treasure hunter!" He says. "'S good for business. Is there anything you want?"

>>26881029
"Got any thin, light armor for my arms and legs? Had a nasty run in with something yesterday."

>>26881029

can't really think of anything besides maybe a few more bolts for our sling.

"Came to pick up Mal here, we're heading in to the city."

>we should probably go back to the mansion at some point to make sure the octopus is dead and that there is nothing else of value to loot.

>>26881029
Ask him if he has any bracers.

>>26881029
Wonder how Dalton and Mal are engaging in business

Does Dalton speak Galdian?

Or did Mal just point and grunt at what he wanted?

You connect your steamsling to the pressure engine.
"Got any thin, light armor for my arms and legs?" You ask, running the Engine enough to refill your steamsling. "I had a nasty run in with something, yesterday."
"I don't, I'm afraid." He says. "If you commission some, I can have them for you in a day. But I'm not like the smiths in the city- I don't keep tons of equipment for adventurers to buy."
<That will be all, thank you.> Mal says.
<Yes.> The blacksmith responds, in broken gardian. <Back soon?>
<Maybe.>
The blacksmith seems to know a little bit of the language, but not enough to be fluent like you are.
"Anyway, if you want to commission some armor, I'll see how I can do. I'm not suited for making things for fights, though. But I do have a friend in the capital who can get his hands on guardsman armor. That might be smarter, but it'll take longer."

>>26881185

maybe a glove for our other hand, let's see how our trip in the city pans out before ordering more.

>>26881185
"I think it'd be better to wait for a better armor."

>>26881185
Not enough money.

"I think it'd be better to wait for a better armor." You say. Then you look at your remaining money- you didn't have much funds. "But I'm not sure I have enough money."
He nodded, and thought. "I'm not sure how much my friend will ask in exchange for the armor, so I'll simply request it now and keep it on hand until you can pay me. It's one size fits none, I believe."

You finish capping off the pressure in your steamsling, and start to walk with Mal.
<So, we going to the city today?> He asks. <Or somewhere else? And didn't you mention that you needed someone to take a look at those magic runes? For some reason.>
When you don't answer, he just shrugs.
<You know, something's bugging me, bro. I'm sure I recognize you from somewhere. I just don't remember where from.>

>>26881493
"I've been around. Been to Galdia too. You might have seen me there."

>>26881493
"Really? I can't imagine where. I've been a lot of places though.
As for the runes, I already got the old man in town to look at them. Most are so worn down they're about to break - runes have a finite number of uses.
To be honest with you, I'm working for a contractor to get what he considers items of magical value. Stuff like lesser runes and golem cores are for the old man in town, just for my expenses while I'm here."

>>26881493
<Been to many places. You might have seen me some time. City sounds good though, and yeah, I got the magic things checked.>

<The city sounds good. And I've been around.> You say, and scratch at a certain scar on your chest- where a certain galdian bullet slammed into your lung. <Been to Galdia, too. You might have seen me there.>
<Maybe.> He says.
<As for the runes, I already got the old man to look at them. Most are so worn down they're going to break. And to be honest with you, I'm working for a contractor to get what he considers items of magical value. Stuff like lesser runes and golem cores are for the old man in town; just for my expenses while I'm here.>
<Hm. So you're saying that non-magical riches, like silver, gold coins, gems... I keep those, and you keep magic artifacts?> He asks. <That'd be a pretty simple way to split things. Though one of us might end up with more than the other... Another way we could split the loot is just pool it all, and split it in half directly when we get back to town.>

>>26881813
<I'm more than happy to split it but this place is such a blasted hell-hole there's no telling what we're going to end up with, you know? I like the pool idea, though, and we could just take what we need as we need it.>

>>26881813
The second idea is better. We can negotiate once we are back in town.

Think a half and half sort of thing.

<I like the second idea.> You say. <We can negotiate once we're back in town.>
<Alright!> He responds, and sticks a fist up into the air. <A pact is made.>

The two of you walked through the fields, toward the city. It seems that Bruno- or Gareth- didn't follow you today, but the weather was fine.

<Shh.> Mal said, suddenly. He grabbed your shoulder, and crouched. You do the same, and look where he's pointing. Off of the worn path, you can see a ridge not far to the west, and a small cave only a few minutes away. <In there. Some of those monsters.>

You squint, and can see white fur in the darkness. You jump back when one of the creatures stick its head out of the cave- a white, bearlike head, wreathed in a crown of bone, antlers, and tusks. Another jackalope. Behind it, squealing in the darkness, are several smaller ones, with little but nubs where they should have horns.
<They're monster pups!> Mal said. <They're cute. Should we steal one?>

>>26881813
<Decent plan. I guess we can just trade for stuff between us, and I can teach you the magic things.>

>>26882104
<Haha, let's do it. We'll need to take care of the bigger one first. Double team it with our guns from afar?>

>>26882104
<Can't be a worse pet than Bruno.>

<Haha, let's do it. Can't be a worse pet than Bruno.> You say. <We'll need to take care of the bigger one first. Double-team it with our guns from afar?>
The jackalope pups squirmed, crawling over eachother, while the mother started stripping the meat off of its latest kill, giving slabs of the stuff to her pups.
<If we kill it, then it won't be able to take care of the other pups.> Mal says, frowning. <Which would just be mean. It might be better to have one of us lure it out, and another one steals a pup. How fast of a runner are you?>

>>26882272
<I am a pretty good runner when it comes to choose between a clawed up face and a little bit of sweat.>

>>26882272
<That sets us up for all kinds of trouble though. It track the pup's scent and come after us.>

>>26882272
<not fast enough to trust being bait. I'll sneak.>

>>26882360
lets trust the guy who goes around in bare feet.

<That sets us up for all kinds of trouble, though. It could track the pup's scent and come after us.>
<That's a good point...> He says. <I guess we could try crossing a river a few times, but I don't know exactly where one is.>
He taps his chin for a few moments, and finally sighs.
<It'd probably be smarter not to, in this case. It's not like a monster pup counts as treasure. And the adult monsters are tough. I think one could've even killed that ball of arms creature we burned yesterday.>

>>26882426
<Nah. I watched the ball of arms fight one. It won rather decisively.>

>>26882426
<Armbro won out against one yesterday. Let's just make a note of this den and make sure to stay far away.>
Continue on to the city I guess

<Nah, I watched the ball of arms fight one.> You say. <It won. Rather decisively.>
<Lucky thing we used fire, then.> He responds.
<Let's just make a note of this den and make sure to stay far, far away.>
<Probably a good idea.> Mal says, and the two of you continue on.

Above, the clouds swept in as you walked, stopping for a quick meal at noon. Eventually, you reached the city again, overlooking it from a bluff. As before, it was a thing of various towers of disparate heights, worn and overgrown. The streets were abnormally wide, and the corpse of a golem sat near the gates, where you disabled it two days ago.
<The first step we should take is figure out how to search it. If we go house by house, things will take forever.> Mal says, standing next to you. <Or we could go directly for the tallest towers... Or maybe even wander aimlessly, let the fates decide?>
He scratched his chin, and removed the cloth covering his eyes. Then, with his unnatural eyes, he focused.
<There are a few obviously different districts. They're split apart by walls. Looks like the gates are closed for most of them. The entrance district is open, at least. I'm pretty good at climbing, but I'm not sure if you could make your way over the walls.>

>>26882694
<Let's try some of the towers first. Maybe we'll get lucky and get another access gauntlet for the other districts?>

>>26882694
We did climb the walls of the mansion, might as well try.

>>26882810
We had to make hand holds for that though.

Although if we still have the Earth Rune, we could probably just make a hole in the wall next to the gate.

<Let's try some of the towers first.> You say. <Maybe we'll get lucky and get another access gauntlet for the other districts?>
<I doubt they have gauntlets like that. The citizens had to use the gates too, didn't they? It'd be a lot easier if they just made normal keys. Then again, I don't know how magic works, so...>
He shrugged, and loaded his musket, slinging it onto his back.
<Let's go.>

The streets are uncomfortable. They're much too wide, and the gaps between the buildings are too small and dark, giving you the impression that things could come out at any time. The clouds continued coalescing, growing darker and darker as time passed. Seemed the weather wouldn't stay very good.
<That tower looks rather tall.> Mal says, pointing. The tower itself has a sign in front of it, written in Kystaran, and the door itself is both made of thick iron, and locked. The tower itself is thick walled, and goes up rather high- the only windows at the very top.
<I could try climbing it. and getting inside through there.> He says, grabbing ahold of the wall proper. That's when you notice his gloves. Bristled, dark green... No wonder he was able to climb into the mansion without handholds. You could climb up a sheer, smooth wall with gloves like that.
They're the setae-palm gloves of a Gardian Bashiki, their military's version of assassins. You had a pair for a few months, before you ended up having to flee the country, but they're definitely not easy to come by.

>>26883002
oh dear. I hope thats not where he recognized us from.

>>26883002
<Hang on. I'll use the earth rune to make it easier for you to climb. I doubt we'll make it back before it's dark, so we might end up sleeping in there.>

>>26883002
"Not meaning to pry but where did you get those gloves?"

>>26883002
If we come across any gates that open from the inside, you can scale up and let me in. But let's start with the easy way in, because it's also an easy way out if we need to run away fast.

<Hang on, I'll use the earth rune to make it easier for you to climb.> You say. <I doubt we'll make it back before it's dark, so we might end up sleeping in there.>
<No need.> He says, and holding up his hands. <I have these. I can climb something like this pretty easily.>
<I'm not meaning to pry, but where did you get those gloves?>
<These? I, um.> He says, pausing. <I'll just get to climbing now. Be careful down here alone.>

Then, before you can say anything, he put his palms on the tower and started to climb, his bare feet scrabbling up the side.
You chuckle, and lean back against the tower's door.
This isn't the first time you've seen a bashiki climb like that. No wonder he has medical training- he probably has more poisons on his person than he has medicines, but it's part of training, you know.

At least this time you don't have any of them working *against* you.
That way, eyes closed, you think, reminiscing about the past, when the scrape of talons against brick makes you open them.

Crawling out of the alleyways, dull, almost dark red eyes stare out at you. Piles of creatures crawl out, all mutated, weak things.
Remnants are pouring out of the alleyways, crawling, limping, or scrambling toward you.
Even their gibbering seems broken- they're repeating, stuttering, mumbling...

And then the first springs from the group and pounces. You jab it in the throat with your spear, and it collapses, coughing black smoke.
The others slow down, but they continue to circle you...
>What's the plan? You'll most likely have to roll for it.

Rolled 65

>>26883299
Fire+Self

Rolled 11

>>26883299
Just try to buy time for our buddy to get back. Try to take them one at a time, and keep our distance with the polearm.

Rolled 65

>>26883299
Fire Self

What could go wrong?

Rolled 72

>>26883299
Use Time Self and try to kill as many as possible with spear while dodging their attacks.

>>26883344
>>26883502
How strange. Exact doubles!

>DC: 25 with Fire Self. Special Success!

You twirl your spear in your hands, and give the swarm a wry smile. They waited until you're alone. Maybe the remnants are smarter than you thought.
<Fire.> You say, in Kystaran. <Self.>

The Fire rune cracks audibly, in your bag, barely holding together. You have a feeling that it'll shatter if you use it one more time... But the moment you have that thought, your body burns.
>Fire: 1 use left.

Flame wreathed around you, a tangible suit of armor made of heat and plasma, writhing around your external form. It stuck to you like a glove... But it didn't hurt you. You don't catch fire, your steamsling refuses to melt, and your belongings stay intact.
But the remnants aren't so lucky. At first, one by one leaps toward you, being knocked away by your flaming spear, before entire groups pounce angrily, vaporizing into ash when they collide with you. Being assaulted in every direction, your whirling spear and fist fend them off. It isn't even hard- it's most likely the easiest fight you've been in. They're built like children, and can't even come into contact with you without bursting into flame. Eventually, the flames lick their last, and fall apart.
But by then, you're surrounded with burned or burning remnants, the others retreating.

Behind you, the door clicked, and opened. Mal looked out.
<Hey, br-.. What happened here?> He asks, looking at the remnants around you. The last one, squealing and holding it's flaming arm, ran off back into the alleyway.
You shrug, and enter the tower.

>End of session!
>My twitter is at @futureexabyte
>The IRC is #Exabyte on Rizon.
>And I'll stick around for a bit to answer questions!

>>26883661
Thanks for running!

>>26883661
Is that one use left even with our Kystaran heritage bonus?

>>26883760
Yes. If you'd gotten the runes appraised by the artificer, you'd have learned that it had 1+1 uses left. It would've broken by now if anybody else had used it.

>>26883661
If we choose to rest to heal up, is it timeskipped or do we play through it? Those injuries are beginning to stack up, and that seems really bad, but I don't want to throw away threads getting rid of them.

>>26883781
A combination of both. You might talk to a person or two each day, but the days will go by a lot faster when you're not going on adventures. Your ribs are already okay, though, but that wasn't a very severe injury. The arm might take a lot longer.

>>26883836
Was capturing a baby jackalope possible or just a terrible idea?
Who are we sending magical artifacts back to anyway?
Do we get any benefit from sending away things we could still use here, like rare but powerful runes?

>>26883836
Just caught up on all the threads! Glad you're back Exa!
I loved Psion Quest.

>>26883867
>Was capturing a baby jackalope possible or just a terrible idea?
Yes. It's a terrible idea, but it's also possible.
Mothers get much, much angrier than it should be possible to get.

>Who are we sending magical artifacts back to anyway?
Your employers!

>Do we get any benefit from sending away things we could still use here, like rare but powerful runes?
You do. You get money for them, mostly, but they'll also give you equipment you ask for, or more common runes.

>>26883894
I'm glad I'm back too! Except my sleep schedule is fucked up, and I keep oversleeping.

>>26883949
Why not just take the schedule and push it all forward?

>>26883779
>It would've broken by now if anybody else had used it.
Except the guy we stole it from, presumably. Would a full Kystaran get double the bonus of a half-Kystaran?

>>26883661
How big are the runes? Color? What are they made out of? Basically what makes a rune, a rune?

>>26883991
No, they'd get just the standard bonus.

>>26884023
A rune is a small rounded slab of strange, bluish grey stone. One side is flattened, and there's where a glyph is inscribed. They also give you a particular buzz in your spine when you touch one. They dwindle and wear down each time you use one, almost eroding away the glyph on the front.

>>26884074
>>26884023
Oh, and they're also three to four inches diameter. Though they're made of stone, the stone itself is abnormally light.

>>26884162
I see, thank you.

>>26884162
What makes a Kystaran different from Lelans?

>>26884455
Primarily the grey skin. People from the Lelwind republic (Lelan) tend to be lankier and slimmer than kystarans, and have pink to brown tinted skin. But they're also an entirely different culture, too, with different languages, folk tales, art forms, government, etc.

Gardians have red or brown tinted skin, and tend to be smaller and slimmer than most. Nystare have green or brown skin, abnormal hair colors, and tend to have common mutations, like slitted eyes, digitigrade legs, and fangs.

>>26884620
>Nystare have green or brown
Sorry, that's greenish or bluish skin. Sometimes even both.