>>26937968
let's find a gatehouse and look for a map.

>>26937968
<Deeper into the city.>

>>26937968
<The Gatehouse. If we can find a map we can probably find the best places to grab loot.>

<The gatehouse.> You say. <If we can find a map, we can probably find the best places to grab loot.>
<Good idea.> Mal responds.
You grab your lantern back and quench it, while Mal pulls open the tower door. The street is charred where the remnants burned, as well as your own footprints burned into the stone, but you don't see any remnants here. It seems you scared them off. You do think you see something moving around in the too-small alleyways, but it doesn't come out to confront you.
<Let's just move on.> Mal says, looking at the alleyway. Finally, he covers his head with cloth again, as he seems to do whenever in daylight, and the two of you walk.

You walk through the gate district of the city, ignoring the moving in the shadows behind you, until you reach the two large towers that sit on either side of the main gate. The gate itself stood open, and not far outside lay the golem you previously destroyed.
Mal jiggles the handle to the tower.
<Hey, it's not locked!> He says, and opens it.

A moment later, he closes it, and backs away- just as it explodes open.
Lumbering out of the gatehouse entrance, a golem stood, armored and made of thick stone. You see crystals growing out of one of its arms, carefully smoothed to shape the rest of the golem. It looks like the people who created golems did so directly from earth, without bothering to extract any minerals from them.
<Shit.> Mal says, and draws his musket, skipping back. He fires, but the bullet simply bounces off of the golem's arm, the steel spear planting itself into the wall.

>>26938250
<Distract it! I'll pull out the core!>

>>26938250
Might I suggest running?

>>26938250

make him go after one person while the other runs around and pulls out the core while it's distracted

<Distract it!> You call. <I'll pull out the core!>
<Alright!> He calls, sprinting backward as quickly as possible. He fumbles with his musket for some time... before stumbling over loose stone, falling onto his back. The golem roars out something in kystaran, bellowing as it gets closer.
You give chase, trying to get behind it. Mal rolls out of the way just as the golem slams its clublike fists into the pavement. You charge forward, reaching for the hole in its back, but just before you do, it whirls around to swing at you as well. You barely skid to a stop, stone whizzing a foot away from your face, as Mal scrambles to his feet again, planting a bullet into the golem's arm.

>Roll for pickpocket! Mediocre skill, Medium difficulty!

Rolled 42

>>26938359
pull pull pull

Rolled 60

>>26938359

Rolled 18

>>26938359

this one is quite a handful.

The golem stares down at you, its voice tinny and warbling as it said something, before it raises its arms again to attack you-
<Hey, dunghead!> Mal called, and throws a rock. The golem jerked, turning to Mal, and gave chase.
You follow it, getting closer, until you finally reach your hand into its back. The golem freezes, going perfectly still, and then you tear out the core.
With a churning, warbling noise, the golem collapses to the ground. In your hand is a crystal, ringed with carved stone.
<Bro!> Mal calls, and gives you two thumbs up. <Nice work! Is it dead?>
You look down at the golem. Its head was much differently shaped than the last one- where the last golem had nothing but a simple rounded head of earth, this one's was strangely carved into all flat angles.
<Might as well be.> You say, and hold up the crystal. <This is the real golem, or something like it.>
<Huh.> He responds, looking up at it. <Let's go search the gatehouse, now.>

So you search the gatehouse. In one room, you find bunks, mostly-empty chests at their feet, while in another room you find an empty kitchen covered in rat pellets. After going across the wall to get to the other tower, you finally find the maps- and more, beside.
On racks covering the entire wall, you find weapons and arms. Simple primitive crossbows sit on one side, complete with wooden bolts. On the other side sits something more useful.
Swords. So unlike the pushblades the lelan military used, which sprung forward from the forearm.
Most of these were curved, but long double-bladed ones say in the corner. They were steel, and twenty years wasn't nearly enough to degrade them at all. You look at a particularly large one, and lift it with both hands.
<How do you even use something like that without cutting yourself?> Mal asks, leaning on the wall.
You give the double-ended sword an experimental swing, and shrug. It was almost like two swords connected at the hilt.
>Do you plan on taking any of these?

>>26938569
Let's take one of each.

Do we know how to bring up the golem core interface glyphs? Might be handy if we set it to friendly now, then we'd have a killbot.

>>26938569

might be nice to take one or two of the better quality ones and present them to the blacksmith, might be worth something.

we shouldn't let it weigh us down though, those Remnants are still waiting for us to weaken.

>>26938569
can we take all of them?

You tie up the double-bladed sword on your back next to your spear, and take a look at the others. The smaller ones aren't anything special, from what you can tell. There are too many to carry, even with Mal's help, so you pick up one that catches your attention- a leaf-bladed sword; It looks almost like an overlarge, glorified knife, but it might come in handy.
<Oh, and here's the map!> Mal adds, picking up a piece of parchment.
<Looks like there are five districts or so, all split by walls and gates. We're at the gates district right now. This one in the east is a port district. This one in the north is all high towers and walkways, so I guess it's for nobles. Or high class. And from what I saw from outside, this one in the west is mostly slums. By process of elimination, that means the center one is the heart of the city. Either that one or the northern district.>
Then he shrugs.
<Now the only problem is getting there. Most of the gates are closed. I think we can find a way to open them from the gatehouses, but if there are more of those golems, we might run into trouble. We could probably walk around to get to the port district, but we'd probably have to swim. I don't like swimming.>

You look down at the golem core, but you're still not sure how to use it. You can always try fussing with it, but if you damage it...

>>26938731
<There'll be treasure in the northern district. Let's head there.>

>>26938731

leave it alone and save it for Cromwell, I doubt he'll have one of these upgraded beauties.

nobles generally have expensive stuff, I vote for the north.

>>26938731
I was about to suggest that we take the sewers but then I realized that'd be the worst idea.

So, let's stick with moving through the streets.

You pocket the golem core again, and strap the leaf-bladed sword to your hip.

<There'll be treasure in the northern district.> You say. <They generally have expensive stuff.>
<Right.> Mal says, and takes an extra copy of the map for you. <Looks like we have to go through two gates at the least. Should we go through the port district, the slums, or the center district? Then again, if I planned this city, I'd put more guards between the high district and the slums, so it might be best to go through the port.>

The two of you make your way out into the streets again. The remnants are still hiding in the alleyways as you walk. The clouds get thicker, the sun soaring toward the horizon- you most likely won't have the time to make your way all the way to the northern district today, unless you want to be out here at night.

And then you bump into Mal. He'd stopped walking suddenly.
<I have a bad feeling.> He says, uncovering his face. He looked around, almost frantically.
Then you notice that he's searching the skies, his hands on his musket.

And then you recognize him. You recognize who he is- or was.
Malchak wasn't his name back then... But he'd tried to kill you. Mostly since you stole a large shipment if ivory for your then-employers. You never knew his name- just that he'd attacked with the butt of his musket. You faintly recall pushing him out of a window...

A screech brings you out of your reverie, and standing on a rooftop is a Remnant.
This one... isn't a mutated, twisted thing. It's tall, strong, and alien, almost too thin to be healthy. Its hands were human, but its feet were not- they were taloned, clawed things, made for slashing prey.

And then two sets of wings sprawl from its back, and you realize why it's so thin- So that it can fly.
It screeches at you two again, and two similar creatures land next to it, their wings spread as well.
Three pairs of enormous red eyes stare at you and Mal.
>What do? You'll likely need to roll.

Rolled 26

>>26938989

do not stay in the open!

duck in to a building.

Rolled 5

>>26938989
steamshot it

>>26938250
>Finally, he covers his head with cloth again, as he seems to do whenever in daylight
He's totally a vampire.

Rolled 40

>>26938989
I'd like to duck into cover behind a house, or bust down a door and make it inside.

Rolled 13

>>26938989
Ask them for directions.

>DC: 40. Failure!

<Don't stay in the open!> You call, and Mal nodded, the two of you darting toward the nearest open doorway. As soon as the two of you bolt, the three remnants leap into the air, all four wings flapping to keep them aloft. Two of them dart down at you, and you quickly fire a bolt toward them with your sling. You miss miserably, and follow Mal.

The two remnants get closer, ever closer. Mal fires his own gun, and the sound makes one of them recoil, but the second slams into your back, bowling you over. It howls, holding itself aloft with it's hands and wings, before using its feet to start rending at you. Sharp talons tear open your bag, and you hiss with pain as it scratched your back.
<Bro!> Mal calls, and fires again. The bullet slams into the remnant's wing. It fell back, off of you, and started writhing and wailing. You quickly scramble toward Mal; he's currently in a small building, leaning out of the doorway. Another remnant charges him, but he fires his musket at it- it recoils back, almost... afraid of the noise.
<They're like bats! Or something!> He calls, coming to the same realization as you.
You scramble closer, and don't notice until too late that most of the treasure you've found so far had spilled from your torn bag. Your back burns with pain, but you do your best to ignore it, getting inside.

The building itself is little more than a shed, or hovel, with just a few rusted carving tools and small holes in the wall to serve as windows. It only has that one open doorway, with no door.
And outside, swarming, are two flying remnants and one limping one, unable to fly properly with a bullet lodged in one of its four wings.

Rolled 81

>>26939286
Get another bolt in and shoot them!

Rolled 19

>>26939286

need to check the wound.

shoot the downed remnant first though.

>our treasure!
>rolling because I panicked.

Rolled 60

>>26939339
It was worthless treasure anyway. The bag was probably more important. How will we cope without our awesome bag?

>DC: 45. Success!

Ignoring the pain from your wound, you load another bolt into your sling and lean out of the same doorway as Mal. The downed remnant charges toward you, walking on its wings. Mal fires at the remnants in the sky, and catches one, the long spiked bullet slamming through its shoulder. It crumples, collapsing to the ground.

Then you turn to the downed remnant, your blood still on its talons, and you pull the trigger. The bolt whizzes through the air and catches it in the eye. A plume of smoke drifts from the entrance wound, and the remnant collapses, twitching. He reloads quickly with practiced ease, and points it at the last remaining remnant.
<One more...> Malchak says, focusing- then he froze. <Wait. I'm a fool.>

You stare at him for a moment before he removes the long slim rod from his musket... and replaced it with a handful of bearings.
When the remnant charges down toward the doorway, screeching so loud it sounds like your ears might burst, Mal pulls the trigger.
With the crack of a gunshot, the pellets shot out every which direction, peppering the remnant's entire body and tearing the membranes of its wings apart. The creature collapsed, smoke drifting from each hole in its body. It writhes and moans in pain, as if asking for death- and you respond with another bolt to the head.

<Well.> You say, sardonically. <That was fun.>
And then your back flares into pain again.

Rolled 74

>>26939454

shit, was it venomous? I was afraid that would be the case.

have Mal check it out, quick!

Rolled 29

>>26939454
<Yeah. So much so that I hope we don't run into any more fun things again.>

<Shit, was it venomous?> You ask, trying to twist back to look at your own wound- something rather impossible without clever usage of mirrors.
<I don't think so.> Mal says. <Let me get all this crap off of you so I can see it.>

He took off your shirt, and took a quick look at your back.
<... Ouch.> He says. <You have to be pretty damn tough. Hold still, bro.>

The next few minutes are very uncomfortable, and you're glad that you were unconscious when Mal treated your arm- because one thing's for sure; he isn't a gentle medic. He isn't gentle at all. He ends up stuffing your mouth with the remains of your bag so that you have something to bite down on as he essentially sews your back together, using a needle made of bone.
It's agonizing, almost like he's making it more painful on purpose. Eventually the endorphins kick in, and you're able to relax as he binds your back with bandages.
<There was no poison or venom.> He says, finally. His hands are covered in your blood, you note, but he hardly seems to care. <How are you doing?>

Rolled 44

>>26939593
<It hurts a lot. Might be wise if we found a safe place to hold up for a rest. Maybe find another bag, too. Let's go grab the stuff I dropped.>

>>26939593

"Miriam is going to be upset that I got hurt again." jokingly.
"but seriously, that hurt like all hell."

if we went alone we would probably have died because of this wound.
the opportunist Remnants are probably going to try something soon.

<Miriam is going to be upset that I got hurt again.> You say.
<I'd loan you my armor, but it's my armor.> He responds, chuckling.
<But seriously, that hurt like all hell.>
<Looked like it.> He says, and wipes off his hands, pulling you to your feet. <Can you walk, bro?>
You nod, and take his hand. Your back still burns, but you do your best to put it out of mind- at least it's not as painful as the time you accidentally entered that mutant den in Nystara.

<Might be wise if we found a safe place to hold up for a rest.> you say. <Maybe find another bag, too.>
<It's a good thing it was only the treasure bag I gave you, and not your fancy leather one.> He responds. He tossed you his musket. <Cover me if something else shows up. I'll go get what you dropped.>

There you stand, leaning in the doorway, as Mal grabbed the treasure, putting it all into his own bag. You keep an eye out, and see some of the wretched small remnants in the shadows peer out at him, but they don't make any movements. Seems they're planning to wait until one of you are alone...
Eventually, Mal returned.
<Something about the city is making me feel off.> He says. It's dark enough that he's removed the cloth around his head, his eyes reflecting light at you. <Unsafe. I'm not sure I want to be here when night falls properly.>

>>26939749

"I might have objected if I wasn't just ripped up by that flying thing. Yeah let's get out of the city before night falls, it's not like it won't be here tomorrow."

>>26939749
hightail it to miriam's place.

Rolled 33

>>26939749
<Think we can make it back in time?>

<I might have objected if I wasn't just ripped up by that flying thing.> You say. <Yeah, let's get out of the city before night falls; it's not like it won't be here tomorrow.>
<Alright.> He says.
<Think we can make it back in time?>
<We can hope.> He says.

As the two of you head back toward the gates, the clouds finally decide to start raining.

And night fell. The rain just grows stronger as you walk, and the wind starts to howl by the time you pass the Jackalope den. The mother doesn't notice you this time, but a pup peers out at you and snarls angrily. For a moment, you see sharp pointed teeth- you're suddenly glad you didn't try stealing one.

Finally, the storm itself passes you by, and you reenter the village, tromping through the damp grass. Eventually, Bruno arrives, sniffing at your heels, before begging you for food.
You give him a weary glance.
The dragon pouts, and ambles off to the blacksmith's house.

When you finally arrive at the tavern, Miriam gives you an appraising look.
"You look wet. And tired. And hurt." She says, cooking a late, late dinner. "How'd you get grievously injured today?"
<Hehe, you're getting nagged.> Mal responds.

>>26939959
"Golems. Fucking Golems. Well, I'm going to take a long nap." Make sure to keep loot in safe location and/or change containers.

>>26939959

<very funny.>

"It uh. It flew."

>>26939959
<This isn't fun bro, don't leave me.>

>>26939959
"Is multiple giant bats a believable excuse?"

>>26939959
"You know, the usual. Talons."

<Very funny.> You say, and sit down. "It was, you know, the usual. Talons."
"Good for it." Miriam says, and gives the two of you plates.
<Let's split the loot tomorrow.> Mal says between bites. <It's too late, tonight.>
You nod, and just continue eating.

===
That night, your dream isn't normal- it isn't the beautiful girl, or her ruins, or the desert for miles around.
This time, your dream is of the past.
You cling to the wall with your gloves, looking down at the patrolling guards below. Carefully you work your way across the side of the castle to the window, and finally find your way in.
You kneel down, checking through the crates in the storage room, and you find it.
Your paycheck.
A blur enters, his skin red and eyes like a cat's.
You fight.
A musket butt catches you in the head.
A thrown crate knocks him back.
You grapple.
Finally, you break his grip, and you push him out of the window.

===

You open your eyes again, and see nothing but pillows.
Oh, yeah, you're sleeping on your stomach. Rubbing at your eyes, you sit up and look out the window- You woke up rather late today, it seems. Good thing for your healing injuries, at least.
Downstairs, you hear Miriam and someone else talking- someone you haven't met.
You peer down, and see someone with dark blue skin, his skull strangely shaped. He's wearing a hood, so he's hard to see, but he does have a tail. It's not hard to realize what kind of person he is.
A mutant. Most likely from Nystara, of course- they're the only ones who have the Shroud.
Then again, your favorite smuggler is a mutant, so you try not to look down on them like most else do.

>>26940256

does it look like a very private conversation?

wouldn't want to seem like we're eavesdropping, no helping if we catch parts of it while we make our way down.

how bad is our reputation with the Mutants of Nystara?

>>26940256
Eavesdrop, then head downstairs.

>>26940256
Go get some breakfast in us.

>>26940256
Walk down there like we own the place.

Kindly request breakfast.

You listen in, and it looks just like they're making pleasantries.
"Well, the wyverns keep coming by and stealing half my crop." The mutant was saying. "I mean, they are taking the poisonous caps, at least, but they're also taking the really good ones."
"Maybe when the treasurehunter staying here recovers, you can pay him for finding the nest and taking care of it." Miriam says, cooking something on a skillet. "I happen to know he does jobs like that now and then."
"What was his name again?"
You step down onto the first floor proper, and Miriam gave you a wave.
"Speak of the devil. This is Leroy. Leroy, this is... Nathan was your name, right?"
You shrug. "May I have breakfast?"
"It might be closer to lunch soon, but sure." Miriam says.

You take a seat, as does the mutant, and the two of you meet eyes. He has dark blue skin, almost rubbery in nature, with what looked like darker spots covering his skin. His hands and feet looked normal, but his head was shaped strangely- almost pushed forward- and his jaw looked rather strange, like he had a massive underbite. When he spoke, you saw why- his lower teeth were all spiked, and the two sides of his lower jaw seemed to be able to move independently at times. He didn't have any hair, either, and his ears were strangely cupped.
"Hello." He says, all-black eyes meeting yours. "It's actually about time for me to sleep, to be honest. So your breakfast is my dinner. Funny how that works, no?"

>>26940521

"It's like we're having all our meals at the same time."
"What's this i hear about Wyverns?"

some extra money would be nice.

>>26940521
Be pleasant to the guy. "I heard something about wyverns?"

"It's like we're having all our meals at the same time." You say, and shoot him a smile.
"Leroy was actually here to give me some of his latest batch of mushrooms." Miriam says. "So I make him meals now and then. Get along, you two."
"Will do!" Leroy responds. He sounds somewhat pleased, but you have a feeling he isn't smiling for a reason.
"I heard something about wyverns?"
"Yeah, wyverns. Annoying buggers." Leroy says, and rolls his eyes. "First they steal that one key to that temple, and now they're hiding somewhere near my farm. During midday, when it's too bright for me to go out, they swarm in, pick whatever they can, and fly away. They're too clever for their own good, but they do have a nest somewhere near. If you break that apart, I'll scrounge up some coin for you. Or maybe even an old tool from my homeland. I do have a battery-powered lantern somewhere, but I might have a few other bits of junk you might want."

>>26940521
"Yeah. Sure."

"So, what'd you need help with?"

>>26940672
>key to the temple
Yup. We need to get that.

Don't mention the key. Tell him we'll take the job.

"I'll take the job." You say.
"Glad to hear it." He responds, giving you a thumbs up. The two of you continue eating.
"Oh, and I forgot to tell you earlier." Miriam says. "That gardian man, with all the cloth? He left this for you when he headed out today. I don't know what it says, but he kept gesturing at your room."
She hands you a note, and you take a look at it.
<Hey bro, I'm heading into the forest today to see if I can scrounge up some more herbs and stuff- you're going through most of it, with all your injuries. The loot's all in my room, but we haven't split it yet. Just make a note of what you borrow if you need some of it for whatever you need. If you sell that golem heart thingy, make sure to get some magic for me! I want to try it out. - Malchak>

Lets go sell that golem heart first. Maybe we can convince the scholar to give us three runes instead of just two.

>>26940871
So, cash in that golem core?

"Well, I'll be heading out, then." You say, finishing your food.
"My farm is downhill, next to the river." Leroy says, with a wave. "Feel free to come in and wake me up if you have any questions. Just try not to light a candle inside or anything like that, since that hurts my eyes."
"Good luck. And don't get injured again." Miriam says.

You knock on Cromwell's door again, and just as instantly, he opens it.
"Hello?" He asks, and you hold up the golem core. His eyes widen. "Splendid! Another one. Which runes did you want this time? Or do you have other ones you want me to identify?"

>>26940984
IDENTIFY: Unknown Rune
CORE: Sell, but tell him we'll be back later with Mal, then he can pick what Magic he wants.

>>26940984
Light and Lance, please! Lazer time!

>>26940984
Fire Blast

>>26940999
actually we know what that rune is its <Time>

>>26940984
"First, can you take a look at these for me?" You ask, showing him the new runes you'd gotten.
>Fire: 1 use left.
>Self: 4+0 uses left.
>Time: 2+1 uses left

Then, when you hand him the final one, he blinks.
"... I have no idea." He says, finally. "There's more than one glyph here- almost like two or three, melded together. I mean, it's not like Time, which means both acceleration and deceleration, but like it's... Both a shaping type and an element type at once. Whatever it is, it's about to crumble. You might only be able to use it once."
Then he shrugged. "But as for runes I have now, I have the ones from before, as well as a new element rune. Apparently Leroy found it while looking for wyvern nests."

>Whoops, forgot the list.
>Fire - Element
>Light - Element
>Force - Element
>Lance - Shape
>Blast - Shape

>>26941100
>>Light - Element
>>Lance - Shape

>>26941100
Fire Blast

We need a purely offensive rune.

>>26941127
Seconding.

"I'll take the second fire and the blast." You say, picking from Cromwell's lineup of runes. "Thank you."
>Fire: 3+1 uses.
>Blast: 6+2 uses.

"It's only worth it." Cromwell says. "Mostly because this second core is much less worn. Not to mention there are glyphs here that the first one doesn't have." He says- then he turns to the unknown rune, taking a long, long look at it. Then he started scrawling.
"As far as I can tell." He says, finally, sitting up straight. "This rune has various kystaran words mixed together. Something about creation, smoke, and manifestation. As far as I can tell, I've written the word down here. You should be able to pronounce it, but I'm not sure what it'll do. If you want to test it, uh, try doing it outside. So you don't blow up my house. It does look like you can use element runes with it, though. So there's that."

>>26941322
Ok, fine. we'll test it outside.

>>26941322
... oh its the remant rune. prepare a torch in case you can't control it.

>>26941322
Summoning a Djinn? I think it's some sort of conjuration spell.

>>26941322
Let's test it outside. Use an Earth Rune. We have lots of those.

>>26941322
We should also ask if he has a freebie or two for Mal

>>26941391
Prepare your dick in case it summons that guy's harem.

>>26941449
i figure we can give him fire surround or earth self

>>26941450
which guy?

>>26941497
we've only faced one guy with a harem.

"Okay, fine. I'll test it outside."

It's overcast, but not quite raining, as you stand out in the grass behind Cromwell's house. The golem body has moved since you saw it last, so apparently Cromwell's been putting the core in and out of it again.
You look down at the translation paper cromwell scribbled down, and touch the rune.

It gives you a familiar tingle in your spine, so you say the word, and pair it with Earth.

And when you do, swirling out of the air, it forms up into the shape of a... powerhouse. Of a remnant, heavily clawed, with a powerfully muscled tail. It's a seven foot tall pile of stacked muscle and flesh. Its claws are steel, surprisingly, as are its teeth, and a hook on the end of its tail.
Brilliant and red, its eyes meet yours.
And then it kneels, bowing its head to you.
<Uh... Sit.> You say, using your sparse knowledge of kystaran.
The remnant sat on the grass, crossing it's legs. Its tail whipped from side to side.

>Remnant rune: 1 use left.

"Amazing!" Cromwell called, grinning down at the remnant. It met his eyes, uncomprehending. "You created this with that rune?"
"I guess." You say.

>>26941513
I think I'll call you... Steve.

>>26941513
That's useful.

I think we should learn Kystaran. All of it.

>>26941513
"How long do you think it'll last?"

"Well at least we now know where the Remnants came from. I wonder why the ones in the city are still around."

>>26941534
Second.

Don't suppose Cromwell has 'Kystaran for Dummies'.

Wait wait wait wait wait

does this mean that there's a "shape: waifu" rune?

>>26941513
"Yeah that's pretty creepy."

"I think I'll call you... Steve." You say.
Steve stared up at you.
"... I think I should learn kystaran." You say. "All of it."
"A good idea." Cromwell says. "I'm not fluent except in the written form, but I think I can get a primer together for you."
"How long do you think it'll last?" You ask.
Cromwell shrugs. "Normally, runes like Surround or Self have limits inscribed in them. This one doesn't."
"Well, at least we know now where the remnants came from. I wonder why the ones in the city are still around."
"Maybe when their masters left, they just hang around until they went insane."
Steve still sat there, tail still waving from side to side.
"Try saying something like this..." Cromwell asks.

<...And then hop on one foot.> You finish. As soon as you do, Steve got to its feet again, and started doing what Cromwell told you to ask- chopping firewood, in this case, doing a lap around Cromwell's house, and various athletics. Finally, still staring, the remnant hopped on one foot.
"... Whatever it is, it probably understands more words than the golems seem to." Cromwell says. "I'm not sure why- the golem cores are much more complex than that rune is."

>>26941669
Golems are probably engineered for a specific purpose. Remnants are meant to serve their masters.

>>26941669
"Ask it. It's worth a try."

"Ask it. It's worth a try." You say.
Cromwell thought for a moment, and then asked a question in kystaran.
Steve doesn't respond.
"You try saying it." Cromwell says. "He's listening to you, after all."
You repeat what cromwell said, and Steve simply stares at you, an uncomprehending look in his eyes.
"Looks like they don't make for good conversation." Cromwell says.
The remnant suddenly turned to look at someone behind you.
<Woah, what's going on?> You hear someone ask. You turn back to see Mal, a bag on his shoulder. He has his musket leveled toward the remnant.
"Wait, don't shoot it!" Cromwell says. "This thing was created by a rune, and it's in this fellow's control!"
<... I don't speak lelan.> Mal says. A moment later, he tilts his head. "No Lelan."
"... Oh."

>>26941794
Tell Mal not to shoot.

<"Turns out you can make these things with runes. This one has actually been following my orders.">

>>26941794
"Play dead, Steve."

>>26941794
<I used one of the runes we found to see what it does and it made this thing. He does whatever I tell him.>

<This was created with one of the runes we found. It appears to listen to me since I cast the spell. Anyway I managed to get some more runes. Take your pick of two and I'll teach you how to use them.>

I'm not sure what we should give him honestly. They are kinda rare to us as well. Maybe earth, surround or self?

<Don't shoot. I used one of the runes we found to see what it does, and it made this thing. He does whatever I tell him.>
<Oooh, really? That's cool.> Mal says, and lowers the musket.
"Play dead, Steve."
Steve doesn't do anything.
<As long as I say it in Kystaran.> You add.
<Of course. It only makes sense that a magical creature created by supernatural forces that we don't understand would only speak one language.>
<Anyway, I managed to get some more runes. Take your pick of two, and I'll teach you how to use them.>

<... Wait, did you call him Steve?> Mal asks, suddenly. <Steve's a good name for him.>
<Yeah, yeah, let's get to the runes.> You say.
Cromwell just watches as you try to explain things to Mal.

<Well, while fire would be cool, I'm just kind of playing around here, right? I'm tempted to try Surround and Time. I want to see what that does.> He says. <I mean, I don't want to keep the runes, I just want to use them once or twice. I'm not sure I could trust them in a crisis.>

>>26941961
<Let's do a small test with fire then. Time only has one use, and I want to save it until we truly need it.>

>>26941961
<I got a new fire rune. Take fire and surround, see what it does. You've just gotta have the runes and say the two words.>

>>26941961
Let him use Time. It's a once in a lifetime (heh) experience.

<I got a new fire rune. Take Fire and Surround, see what it does. You've just gotta have the runes and say the two words. Just... back up. There's no saying how big it'll be.>
<Right!> He says. You give him the flame in better shape, and your own surround. Then, once he's rather far away, you explain how to say the words.

And then he says them. A shimmering globe of bright red plasma sprung into existence around him, flame licking at the edges. Experimentally, you throw a small chunk of wood into it- and the wood disintegrated. You note that the sphere is flameless, for the most part... And then the rune fell.

Mal is standing in the center of a crater, the edges of the grater charred away. Small fires in the form of burning grass sat around the edges of the circle. Cromwell started stomping on the grass, putting it out, while you pulled Mal out of the crater.
<SO. AWESOME.> Mal says, grinning like a loon. He held out both runes. <Magic is awesome. Totally worth almost getting smushed by a golem.>

>>26942210
<"By the way, I finally remembered where we've met before. And uh, I wanted to apologize for it actually.">

>>26942210
<Shit yeah!>

"Yo, Cromwell, any idea what Time and Lance would do together?"

>>26942237
What? No. Don't tell him you goober.

>>26942210
Isn't it just?

Anyway, bro, I owe you one rune but they're better mixed. What say we give you a second, and you can pay me back in loot later?

>>26942240
my ooc guess is a targeted time stop/slow effect.

>>26942210
Let's split the loot and then go clear out that wyvern nest and hide the key.

>>26942299
find*

>>26942271
And if he remembers on his own and decides he wants revenge for ruining his life? Better we be open and honest about it.

>>26942365
>ruining his life
What? All we know is that we threw him out a window.

Let's not be hasty here. Telling him is unwise.

>>26942416
I'll second not mentioning it.

I'm not sure we're healed enough for another try at the city, but the more mundane wyverns might be easy to take care of today.

<Shit yeah!> You say. <Anyway, I owe you one rune, but they're better mixed.>
<No need. Keep them.> He says. <You know how to use 'em better. I just expect you to save my life one of these days.>

"Yo, Cromwell, any idea what time and Lance would do together?" You ask.
"If you hit something alive, it would most likely slow the target down. Or speed it up. If you hit something else, it corrodes things. Rusting metal, eroding stone, things similar to that." Cromwell says.

<Well, let's go split the loot.> You say.
<Sure.> Mal responds. the two of you start to walk, when Cromwell speaks up.
"Wait. I should give this to you." He says, and pushes some paper into your hands.

You look down- and it's a list of words in kystaran, alongside what they mean. It's all simple commands. 'Follow me', 'attack that/them', 'protect me', 'this is a friend'...
"Thanks." You say, pocketing the paper for now. <Follow me, Steve.>

Some time later, the two of you are sitting on Mal's bed, sorting things into different piles. Steve is sitting in the corner, dutifully holding your equipment. He barely moves, and doesn't even breathe... But he seems handy, once you know how to talk to him.

<I'm not sure what use these papers are, so you can have 'em.> Mal says.
<And there's only seven of these coins left, so we can't split it evenly...>
<I'll take this candlestick, then, and you can have the rest of the coins.>
<Deal.>

And on the two of you worked, splitting the meagre loot into two groups.

>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!

>>26942473
Did we get the carving tool? I imagine our employers would be very interested in that.

>>26942499
It's actually little but a nondescript stone-carving tool for building things with stone. They're pretty common.