>>27417538
"A fugitive from what, may I ask?"

Quietly of course.

>>27417538
"Why is he an outlaw, Marcus?"

>>27417538

"what would you do if you your mission didn't take priority?"

>>27417538
"Can you read Kystaran, Marcus?"

You look out the window, and speak softly. "A fugitive from what, may I ask?"
"Treason and kidnapping." He responds. "I don't know the story behind it. I just recall seeing a wanted poster."
"What would you do if your mission didn't take priority?"
He thinks about it for a moment. "Capture him. Take him to the Lelan republic. Inform them that I've captured a foriegn fugitive, and then inform the Second Hand Eye. They'll collect him for me. If that fails or I can't capture him, I would collect his head."
He turns to you. "There's a rather sizable bounty if you wish to take it, sir."

"Can you read Kystaran, Marcus?" You ask, abruptly changing the subject.
"Not fluently, sir. I have some knowledge, though. Kystaran is a very difficult language to read, especially with no living natives to learn from."

>>27417659
"I see. Well, Marcus, we're all friends in this town. I'm sure it wouldn't go down well with a lot of the other inhabitants if you detached his head."

>>27417659

"I don't know the details of what he did but I would advice you not to act against him."

>>27417659
"As far as I know, he's just the village blacksmith. Perhaps it would be best if he stayed that way. Although that brings up an interesting question of who he kidnapped and what form this treason takes."

>>27417659
>His daughter is actually a princess or equivalent, kidnapped at a young age.
That would get him a treason charge for sure.

>>27417659
"Do you have any idea where you'll be starting with your mission? It's pretty dangerous out there. Remnants, ghosts, giant hearts."

"I see." You say, and look to Dalton. Leroy has him in a headlock, and both of them are laughing. "Well, Marcus, we're all friends in this town. I don't know the details, but I'm sure it wouldn't go down well with a lot of the other inhabitants if you detached his head."
"I'm aware." He says. "That'd make my mission harder, and I have no need of the bounty."

<What are the two of you even talking about?> Mal asks. <You're trying way too hard to be casual, bro.>
"Do you have any idea where you'll be starting with your mission? It's pretty dangerous out there. Remnants, ghosts, giant hearts."
"I have a charm that should protect me from ghosts or undead." He says. "As for remnants, they can be killed. But I'm assuming I'll start with the city. If I find the town hall, I can look through records."
Then he blinks.
"Giant hearts? I'm, um, not sure how that could be a risk. It seems more like a vulnerability, to me."

>>27417786
"Something new tries to kill us every week, it seems."

>>27417786
"Not when the heart is responsible for creating murderous freaks of nature."

To Mal: <Apparently, Dalton is a fugitive.>

>>27417786
"You'd think so. Not so much the case."

<He's here for...more or less the same reason I am. But apparently focused on Delurian military supremacy. Also, apparently the Delurians consider Dalton a fugitive.>

>>27417786

<Apparently Dalton in a fugitive, not sure what the reason is but I'm not letting him get caught if I can help it.>

"Not when the heart is responsible for creating murderous freaks of nature."
"Ah. I see." He says.
You turn to Mal. <He's here for... more or less the same reason I am. But apparently focused on Delurian military supremacy. And apparently, Dalton is a fugitive.>
<That might be a problem.> Mal says. <What'd he do?>
<Treason and kidnapping, apparently.>
<Kidnapping?> Mal asks, eyebrows high. He spared Ann a look. <... You think Sis might not be his kid?>
You shrug. <Not sure.>

"Can you tell me more about these risks?" Marcus asks, cutting into your conversation. He fiddles with his knife some more. "It'll be better if I know as much as possible."

>>27417882
"Stay away from the open portions of the city, or you'll get swarmed by small remnants. Stay away from the central district as well, there's lots of Golems and remnants, so it's a royal rumble there pretty much all the time."

Yeah I don't want this kid stumbling on the wizard book.

>>27417882
"Lots of different dangers exist in the ruins. Flying remnants, giant tentacle remnants, armored remnants, golems, the list goes on and on."

I'm not too keen on helping Marcus out. He's effectively competition.

>>27417915
I'd be more worried about him stumbling across a wizard and getting manipulated.
>"Bring me this book and I'll teach you all about magic!"

>>27417882

"but half the fun is finding out for yourself."

"besides the different remnants there are dangerous animals and golems around these parts."

"Lots of different dangers exist. Flying remnants, giant tentacle remnants, armored remnants... Stay away from the open portions of the city, or you'll get swarmed by small remnants. Stay away from the central district as well." You say.
"Seems like there's primarily remnants." He says.
"Besides them, there are also dangerous animals and golems around these parts."
"Golems are the real risk for me." He says, thinking. " Especially in close quarters..."

He starts mumbling to himself, staring down at his empty plate. Miriam comes over- and he twitches, looking up at her.
Marcus quite suddenly went silent.
"You three okay?" Miriam asks, and nods down to the suddenly quiet Marcus. "Sorry today is so busy. It gets like this when the rain comes. How's he doing?"

>>27418078
"Better. He still seems to think you're a witch though, and you've got zombies hidden somewhere."

>>27418078

"well, he's talking, doctors in his country are a little different, you don't have any undead monsters running around somewhere do you?"

>>27418106
He thinks she's a witch OR she's got zombies hidden away somewhere. Zombies are a 'doctor' thing, remember?

>>27418078
"Apparently health care professionals where he comes from are pretty scary. They're either witches or they have a bunch of zombies hanging around."

>>27418078
"He seems fine. What about you? Do you want some help with carrying beer or something?"

"He seems fine." You say. "He still seems to think you're a witch though, and you've got zombies hidden somewhere."
Miriam giggles. "If you know much about Delurian witches, that's almost a compliment. Almost."
"U-um. You're welcome." He says, quietly. Miriam pats his cheek.
"I'm just an innkeeper who knows a little bit about injuries." She says. "No need to be scared of me. What's your name?"
"I'm Neophyte Marcus, of the Third Hand Talon."
Miriam's eyebrows shot up. Her next words were rather stilted. "Ah. I see."
"What about you? Do you want some help with carrying beer or something?" You ask.
"No, I'll be fine." She says, and eyes Marcus uncomfortably. "The rain's cleared up, so I'll be kicking all of them out in a little bit. You could definitely help me clean up afterwards, though."

>>27418273
"Sure. Gotta make myself useful somehow."

>>27418273
"I guess I could help out a bit. Exhausting yourself too much isn't good for you."

>>27418273

"sure thing."

Either she knows about Dalton or she herself has had trouble with Marcus's faction.

"I guess I could help out a bit." You say. "Exhausting yourself too much isn't good for you."
"I take perfect care of myself." She says. "Unlike a certain half-kystaran man I could name."
The rain clears up more, and through quite a bit of ranting and the help of a broom, Miriam finally clears the tavern of everyone save you, Mal, and Marcus.
"Are you going to help us?" Miriam asks Marcus.
"Um, I think I'll go outside." He says. "Survey the landscape... a-and stuff."
"Good luck!" She says, much too peppy for how she normally acts.
As soon as he leaves, Miriam closes the door behind him and slumps over.
<... She seems terrified.> Mal says.
"Alright, let's get cleaning." Miriam says.

You take a rag and get to work, scrubbing the pans and dishes she'd used. Eventually, while you do so, Miriam joins you in the kitchen.
"What should we do about him?" Miriam asks. "Having the Third Hand here isn't a good thing. Do you know what mission he's here on?"

>>27418454
"What's wrong with the Third Hand? I know next to nothing about Deluria."

>>27418454
"The Third Hand? Care to fill me in?"

"He says he's trying to find out about how the runes were made."

>>27418454
"He's here to secure military supremacy for Deluria, by figuring out how the runes work. Who are the Third Hand?

>>27418454

"Same thing I'm here for, knowledge on Rune use and Rune crafting, probably to make the Delurian military more powerful."

"He also mentioned something else which bothers me a bit."

>>27418454
"Can we delay him as much as possible?"

>>27418454
"He said something about runes and stuff but I know there's something else behind it"

"He's here for knowledge on Rune use and Rune crafting. Probably to make the Delurian military more powerful."
"Well, that's not as bad as I thought." She says.
"What's the Third Hand? Care to fill me in?"
"... I was told you traveled the world." She says.
"I've never been to Deluria." You say. "I know next to nothing about it."
"Fair enough." She says. "Well, the Delurian military is organized roughly into three groups. The first hand deals with evaluating and combating external threats. The second hand is a police, disciplinary, and defense force, while the third is... A supporting hand. In theory; Medics, couriers, and messengers. In practice, they serve more like... agents. Eliminating leaders, acting alone behind enemy lines, sabotaging any threats. And beyond that, a Talon..."
"I'm not sure what that means either." You say.
"There are different schools of training for each 'hand'. One might be called Eye, and specialize in high level tactics and scouting. Another might be Shield And Spear, and be trained in partnerships with another soldier. Talon is rather famous for being, well, full of special cases. Some of them can hypnotize themselves into acting like a wild beast, others are utterly emotionless and without remorse, and the one I met was, well, a nystaran mutant. He could recover in minutes what would normally take weeks to heal."

>>27418609

"what did you think he was here for?"

>>27418609
"Think we should kill him and dump the body?"

"Think we should kill him and dump the body?"
"... *Can* you?" She asks. "Until you find out what he can do, there's no way to know if he can even die. The one I knew couldn't. That's where I learned my trade, actually."
"What did you think he was here for?"
"I don't know. Assassination, or collecting one of us. For example, Cromwell's sister is a powerful noble lady. He could've been captured as a hostage." She says. "But this is a lot better. He's after the same thing you are, so you can work together."

>>27418609
"What do you think we should do with him? He seems like a nice guy but he's obviously that kind of guy that is focused on carrying out his order to the last word

>>27418734
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. If we find anything he wants it wouldn't surprise me if he'd betray us."

>>27418734
<Mal, let's go get that book.>

>>27418734

"seems like a useful guy to have on your side... wait, Cromwell is nobility?"

I have no objections in bringing him along but we need to make sure to teach him to loosen up a little.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. If we find anything he wants, it wouldn't surprise me if he'd betray us."
"Well... It's important to ask him if he's supposed to keep his findings hidden from others." She says. "Because if not, there's no reason not to copy anything you find."
"Maybe... Seems like a useful guy to have on your side." You say. "Wait, Cromwell is nobility?"
"He's Lady Cromwell's sister." She says. "You'll want to ask him more about that, but he's not exiled or anything."
You scratch your head.
"But anyway, you can decide if you want to take him later." Miriam says. "And, well, if you don't, he seems rather gullible."

You sigh, and just go back to scrubbing. You're not sure if you want to avoid him, kill him, or bring him along... And you're not sure you'll figure it out any time soon.
<Mal, you want to go get that book?> You ask, washing your hands.
Mal got up from where he was napping. <The one Tarda asked for?>
You nod.
<If we leave now, it'll be late by the time we get there. It could be dangerous. You sure we should go?>

>[] Yes. (To City, central district.)
>[] No, let's do something else. (Other)

>>27418944
>[] Yes. (To City, central district.)
Ready to get this plothook off our back.

>>27418944
<I could try tweaking Steve more, then he could carry both of us in from the air.>
[x] Yes

>>27418944

>[] Yes. (To City, central district.)

we still need to off load some of our loot to the caravan, we can leave the loot with Miriam and take the cart with us, you never know when we need to carry a lot of something.

also we need to discuss the finer points of our cooperation with Marcus.

>>27419009

I doubt that will be possible.

<I could try tweaking Steve more, then he could carry both of us in the air.>
<I'm not sure that's possible.> Mal says. <He didn't get any bigger when you gave him wings, and I'm not sure he'd be strong enough even if he was all wing.>
<Fair point.> You say, scratching your chin. <Let's go, then.>
<Alright.> He says. <I'll be back with my musket.>

The two of you leave the tavern. The sun is high in the sky, and there's still a sparse layer of clouds, slowly thinning. You see Marcus standing atop the temple, hand shielding his eyes from the sun. He's simply standing perfectly still, watching the nearby landscape.
<Weird kid.> Mal says.
<Yeah.> You respond, and walk.

You spend a few hours walking, stopping once or twice for a short rest. By the time you reach the city's entrance district, the sun is getting low in the sky. Hardly any remnants walk around- the only ones left being ones that weren't lured into the heart district.
Speaking of which... The gate to the heart district is shut again, you see. Beneath it sat what looked like an empty skin of a remnant, like a pelt lying on the pavement. It's the skin of the remnant you'd killed last time you were here.
<Should you do that magic again to raise the gate?> Mal asks. He looks back to Steve, who's been following you unerringly. <Or you could fly over while I climb over.>

>>27419144

let's go with climbing and flying, our Earth rune is running a little low.

>>27419144
<It was pretty noisy the first time. If you don't mind climbing, let's keep it quiet for now.>

<You'll have to teach me how to climb some time.>

>>27419207

what we need is a pair of those fancy gloves he uses, to bad we lost the ones we had during a past mission.

<It was pretty noisy the first time.> You say. <If you don't mind climbing, let's keep it quiet for now.>
<Good point.> He says, and places his palms against the wall. His setae-palm gloves- harvested from some rare monster, you recall- cling to the wall, and he starts to climb.

<Steve, lift me into the air.> You say. Steve does so, grabbing your shoulders. His four wings start flapping and he tugs you into the air.

A few minutes later, you're standing atop the wall, looking down below at the heart district in front of you.
It's... filled. Absolutely filled with wretched remnants swarming each and every way, gibbering and jeering up at you. One or two of the mutated, twisted things start trying to climb, but fall back into the throng, unable to get up to you.
<It's a literal sea of them.> Mal says, eyes wide. <How the hell are we going to get past them?>

You look around. The streets are too wide to jump from rooftop to rooftop to another city block, but you do see a door at the top of the town hall. If you can get there, you should be fine...

A rock tears through the air toward you, and you bat it away by reflex. The remnants below gibber happily, and they all start reaching for their own rocks.

>>27419275
Is there any flying remnants around?

<Maybe we can get Steve to carry us one by one to the roof door?>

>>27419275

those little shits...

duck out of sight of the remnants, we've had enough rocks thrown at us by those flying rats at Leroy's farm, maybe we can move from roof to roof.

>is the wall built to let soldiers patrol the top?

>>27419275
<We would need sky itself to start raining fire to get through this. How about we go out of sight and try to sneak through the buildings?>

You look around, seeking out the flying remnants- two of them are perched on a nearby tower, looking out at you, but neither of them have come out to attack- they're not gibbering, not jeering. Simply watching.

Another rock tears by, so you and Mal both duck behind the parapet.
<We'd need the sky itself to start raining fire to get through this.> You say.
<And I don't have enough gunpowder to make enough firebombs.> He says.
<How about we try going around, getting out of sight, and trying to sneak through the buildings?>
<We'd still need to go out onto the open street.> Mal says.
<Maybe we can get steve to carry us one by one to the roof door.>
<That might work, but what if they throw rocks at Steve and hurt him? Then whoever he's carrying will fall... We need someone to serve as a distraction, I think.>

>>27419430
Can't Steve just fly high enough to avoid the rocks?

>>27419430

how about one person draws the remnants attention away while Steve flies the other one across.

repeat until we reach the town hall.

<We can have Steve fly high enough to avoid them.> You say. <We can go there one by one.>
<... Well, now I feel rather dumb.> Mal says, and chuckles. <That didn't even occur to me.>

<Steve, lift me above the rocks.> You order him, in kystaran. The remnant grabs your shoulders, and takes you high into the air. A few minutes later, he sets you down at the town hall's roof- and then you order him to take Mal back as well. You wait another few minutes, and Mal lands at your side.
<That's always uncomfortable.> Mal says. <Steve's pretty creepy.>
<Yeah, I see what you mean.> You say, and get to your feet. <Let's go find that book.>

The two of you take the stairs down into the main hall, where you'd been before. Through the front door, you could hear fighting going on- the remnants are fighting both eachother and the golems, it seems, trying to break their way inside. But the mutated wretches are too dumb and weak to take out a golem, even if all of them attack one. The fighting slows, and quickly stop, as the remnants learn not to try fighting the stone warriors.
<Well, we're here now. Think that book is through that secret door we found before?>
<Maybe.> You say. <Tarda did mention traps, and those were indeed traps down those stairs.>

>>27419605
<I've got an idea this time, though.>

Chuck some of the bolts we use in the steamsling in front of us as we walk down the trap hallway. Might set a few off.

Also, leave the remnant gauntlet gauntlet at the hallway entrance, just incase.

>>27419641
What would be the point about leaving the remnant gauntlet?

Also, the bolts...might work, but probably wouldn't.

>>27419605
Let's go ahead and head down the stairs, then. Carefully. Very, very carefully.

>>27419674
The Gauntlet is full of unknown runes, and potentially connected to the wizard who didn't want us to get the book. Could be a risk if it's transmitting what we're doing.

<I might have an idea this time, though.> You say. The two of you head down into the basement. You pull off your gauntlet and leave it there, before heading toward the open doorway. Last time you were here, there was a magical trap right ahead of you, on the next step. You focus on that strange magic sense in your spine, feeling the tingle grow stronger as you near the trap.

Carefully, you draw your steamsling and fire. The bolt hisses out, and slams into the step. It depresses slightly, and a blast of roiling, writhing energy slams out of the wall to your right, splashing against the wall to your left. You reload the bolt, rewind the pressure, and try again.
This time, the energy is just a small spark, which falls apart only a second after it appears. It seems the trap needs time before it can grow strong enough to be dangerous.

If the rest of the traps are this simple, it should be easy...
<Think we can get through?> Mal asks.
<Maybe...> You say.

>[] Use this method to deactivate the traps before you move on. [Roll for trap disarming!]
>[] Let's use another method. [Detail it! You'll likely need to roll then, as well.]
>[] No, let's make OP sad and come back later.

Rolled 98

>>27419801
>[] No, let's make OP sad and come back later.

Just Kidding.

>[] Use this method to deactivate the traps before you move on. [Roll for trap disarming!]

Rolled 31

>>27419801
>>[] No, let's make OP sad and go kill Marcus and hide the body.
Actually,
>[] Use this method to deactivate the traps before you move on. [Roll for trap disarming!]

Don't just go charging in, though. There might be traps that aren't affected by it.
Did we leave the access gauntlet or the remnant identification gauntlet behind by the way?

>>27419801
Do we need another roll for this?

Rolled 88

>>27419801
Since we already have a good roll let's screw it up!

>You normally need three, but when I get impatient, I'll roll instead.
>DC: 85. Success!

Carefully, you make your way down the stairs, marking the trapped step with spare rags. You simply step over it and continue onward.
You descend slowly, focusing on that feeling in your spine. Each step, it gets stronger, until you can feel another trap very near... And you fire a bolt at one of the steps.

The bolt bounces off. Nothing happens. So you fire at the next step. It depresses, slightly, and a long plume of flame crosses in front of you, a wave of heat hitting you. You ignore it, and wait for it to pass before you put a light rag across it as well, marking it for the future.

And then you move onward. Step by step, you surpass other traps- one where a long slab of stone crushes down on the victim, one where lightning criss-crosses along the step, and the third- and most dangerous- where steel pellets blasted across the wall. You almost got an eye taken out from the richochet.

Eventually, you and Mal make your way to the bottom stair... And in front of you is an enormous dome, glistening with light. Humming. Murmuring, like a sleeper about to awaken.
And sitting in front of the dome, on a pedestal, is a small, locked book.

You take a step forward- and your spine flashes with the sense of magic. It's strong- stronger than almost anything you've sensed, save the one time Tarda showed you 'true' magic.
<You feel that?> Mal asks.

>>27420014
<Yeah. Grab that book and the whole place goes on lockdown I reckon.>

Examine around the room for any switches and stuff.

>>27420014
INSPECT DOME

Can we see inside it?

>>27420014
<Maybe there's some kind of activation device that causes a horde of remnants to spawn in the dome upon entering. Or maybe it's just the book>

<Yeah, grab that book and the whole place goes on lockdown, I reckon.> You say. You circle the dome, examining the walls and the dome itself. Everything is featureless, almost too clean. The air is stale, but no dust rests on anything. Finally, you lean close to the dome itself, and try to peer through the shimmering light...

And inside, lying on its belly, is a dragon.
Not any normal dragon, no. Not a pudgy, useless thing of horns and pleading hunger, but something large, powerful. Instead of scales, it wears a coat of red plate, carefully forged. Instead of useless, paddling paws, it has long, plated limbs, talons the size of your spear's blade. Teeth made for ripping and tearing. Instead of useless flaps of skin, it has powerfully muscled wings, the membranes fluttering as the dragon breathes.

For a moment, you think you see something hiding under the wing, slumbering as well... But the light is starting to hurt your eyes.
Something unknown tells you that whatever is inside that dome is old- ancient beyond belief.

>>27420217
TAP THE DOME.

>>27420217
<That looks like Bruno's much more dangerous older brother. I get the feeling that we shouldn't mess with it. But we need that book.>

>>27420217
<I want to ride on this.>

<That looks like Bruno's much more dangerous older brother.> You say.
<It does.> Mal says, squinting down at it. <It reminds me of the tarrasques back home, for some reason.>
<... I want to ride on it.> You say, and lean forward.
<... Yeah, people who say that about tarrasques don't live long.> Mal says.

You touch the dome- and something SCREECHES into your mind, howling and ancient, speaking a tongue you've never heard. The howl continues throughout your head, echoing. Images, thoughts, fever dreams burrow into your consciousness.


Slowly falling snow.
The howl of an ancient beast, older than belief.
A wordless cry. And then another.
An entire people, lost and trapped.
Bound and broken.
The titan consumes its own tail.

You recoil, covering your ears. A sweat breaks out on your forehead. It's cold in here- freezing, even. You shiver.
<Bro, you okay?> Mal asks, grabbing your shoulder. He jumps. <You're cold as ice, man. What happened?>

>>27420506
<L-Let's just get the book and go see the wizard woman, okay?>

>>27420506
<I've just seen.... infinity...>

>>27420506
<I'm not too certain.>

<I-I'm not too certain.> You say, and step away from the dome. <L-let's just get the book.>

It wasn't solid. The dome wasn't solid at all. It looks like glass from here, but your hand went... right through. If you could have pushed your hand further, you could have touched that dragon. And could have taken apart the lynchpin of the world.

Whatever this is, it's way above your pay grade.

<Right.> Mal says, and pushes something into your hand. A flask. <Drink this, it should warm you up.>
You start to drink, and the drink burns your tongue. Soon enough, you can feel your fingers again. You reach for the book, but that sense of magic doesn't grow any stronger. You pull it away, focusing on that sense... And there's nothing out of the ordinary. The book isn't enchanted, or magic at all, which is surprising.

Experimentally, you pick it up, off of the pedestal.

Nothing happens.

That's when you notice something. The book and the pedestal is worn, old, with dust settling on it... But the walls and floor of the room aren't. They're pristine, as if brand new. Featureless, clean... But the air's so stale that it feels like this place hasn't been opened in thousands of years.
<You okay?> Mal asks again.

>>27420873
<Why is there dust on this book but nowhere else?>

>>27420873
What does the first/title page of the book say?

>>27420873
lets start reading

<Why is there dust on this book but nowhere else?> You ask, flipping over the book. It's locked and bound tightly, so you can't open it. After fiddling with the clasp, it soon becomes clear that you'd have to break it to get it open. The book looks like a homemade thing, almost in tatters. It smells of ink, and it doesn't seem to have a title. It almost reminds you of a journal than anything.
<What do you mean?> Mal asks.
<The walls and ceiling and floor is all clean.> You say. <Like they've been polished. But the pedestal and book are worn and covered in dust.>
<Maybe they just ignored the book? Or maybe they put the book and pedestal after they put in everything else.> He says.
<But that's backwards.> You say. <Why would the room seem new but the contents not?>
Mal went quiet.
<It sounds rediculous to say that they built the room around the book.> He says. <... I very suddenly dislike this place. We should leave.>

>>27421098
Let's burn the book.

>>27421098
<Yeah, good idea.>

>>27421098
<Well since we don't have to do anything else in here and there's a horde of remnants outside waiting to tear us up, we shouldn't stay here for too long>

>>27421125
Vetoed. Bad Anon.

>>27421098
Let's make like a tree.

>Captcha: Careful Enyma
Indeed Captcha, before something tries to stick a syringe up our butt

>>27421098
<Indeed. Let us abscond before this place becomes lollipops and porkchops.>

<Yeah, good idea.> You say. <Since we don't have anything else to do in here, and there's a horde of remnants outside, we shouldn't stay here for long.>
The two of you carefully make your way up the stairs, skipping the trapped steps, and you find your self back at the top of the steps, at the basement.
<I'm also going to close the door.> Mal says, and presses the key against the stone. Like it had opened before, bricks slide out and become, once again, a flat wall. You pull on your gauntlet, and consider burning the book- but that's something that can't be reversed. You'd prefer to be certain before doing something that drastic.

You rub your hands together, trying to get them warm, and then you hear a smash from outside. And then a second.
Then the gibbering reaches you.
<Oh, crap.> Mal says. <I think they're trying to smash their way in. We should hurry.>
Mal tosses the key to you, which you pocket, and then you head up another set of stairs.

You find yourself in the main hall of the town hall, and the entrance is dented inward, the thick doorframe bent out of place. There's another smash, and the door dents again.
Those aren't the normal remnants. The normal ones are small and twisted, weak. Whatever is on the other side of the door is bigger, more powerful...

>[] Let's hurry back to the roof.
>[] Something isn't right here... We need to see what's on the other side of the door.
>[] Other?

>>27421303
<Roof, now, quickly.>

>>27421303
Let's run to the roof. It will chase us to the top anyways.

>>27421303
<I don't want to find out what that is to be honest>

<I don't want to find out what that is.> You say. <To the roof.>
<Right, of course.> Mal says. The two of you bolt up the stairs, and there you find Steve, waiting for you.

He's also standing on top of two remnant corpses- other winged remnants, both battered and broken, smoke rising from their bodies. Steve himself has a deep scratch in one of his wings, but he looks otherwise intact.
Steve glances at you... And then crouches, as if to start consuming the corpses.
Behind you, down the stairs, you hear another loud smash.

>>27421411
Earth + whatever shaping rune we have, to delay anything coming up the stairs.

<Mal, you go first. Steve, carry him to the wall from before.>

>>27421411
<Mal, take the book and book it with steve. I'll run around in circles and try not to die.>

<Mal, take the book and book it with steve.> You say. <I'll run around in circles and try not to die.>
<Take care.> He says, and claps a hand on your shoulder.
You turn to Steve- as Steve starts chomping into remnant flesh, the wound in his wing healing up. He gets bulkier, and stronger. His wings surge with strength.
<Steve. Carry Mal to the wall from before.>

Mal nods, and draws his musket. Steve grabs onto his shoulders, and takes to the air.

You turn back to the stairs... And watch as something starts to climb up.
It's... not a regular remnant. It's twisted, and mutated- but it's not deformed. It's similar, very similar to one of the 'powerhouse' remnants you fought before... But one of its arms are larger and bulkier, long talons, hooks, claws, and blades sticking out of every available surface. The other arm is just as bulky, but it has no hand. Instead, long steel tubes stick out of the wrist, smoke drifting from the disarray of pipes.
Now you just have to survive until Steve gets back.

>You'll need to roll!
>[] Dodge everything! [This is the easiest of all available choices.]
>[] Dodge everything, but try to touch it with your gauntlet.
>[] Time to fight it properly. Whatever this thing is, if you don't kill it now, you might have to face it again later.
>[] Other? Use a rune? Got a smart plan?

Rolled 56

>>27421692
Time rune + Self
and
>[x] Dodge everything, but try to touch it with your gauntlet.

I really don't see how we're going to kill it at this point. We have nothing to light it on fire with.

>>27421692
Time Blast! That should slow it, and then we can walk up and touch it with the gauntlet.

Then we just have to run and hide and doge until Steve gets back, or if we can kill it if we get new information, like that it's hunting us.

>>27421748
>>27421723
Actually, I have an idea. Can we use Anne's trick to make a Time Lance? That seems like the best way of doing it.

>>27421823
That could work, but the only effect we know for sure is that Time+Self speeds our body up.

>>27421839
We've got to find out somehow. And it's best to do it when we're going to use a rune anyway as people don't want to waste uses on nothing, I have found.

>>27421869
Yeah, alright. Time Lance.

>GM Rolled Dice: 94, 14.
>DC: 70. Success!

You back away from the creature, but it doesn't hesitate for a single moment. The disjointed remnant barrels toward you, powerful legs pushing it onward. It charges toward you, its talons growing longer, and gives you a swipe.
You roll to the side, out of the way. The Remnant is going too fast to stop quickly, but it doesn't seem to care. You reach up, and touch it with your remnant gauntlet as it screeches past.

>Power Remnant. Heavy modification.
>Created by 'Failure'
>Major Degredation
>Primary Orders: Find and kill Rebel.
>Secondary Orders: Find and kill the Trueblood.

You spring to your feet and sprint away. Behind you, you hear the remnant gibber madly. You turn back... And see something eerie. It's hissing, breathing in as much as possible. Taking in air. Its back swells, and it raises its arm toward you.
You have a bad feeling about this.
<Time.> You say, and that rune echoes in your mind. You focus on a spear, your spear, shooting toward the enemy like a javelin. Like a lance. Focused, intense power.
Frost crawls along the ground, and your hand grows frosty- cold. Freezing.
Like just a few minutes ago.

With a loud whistle, the smoke bellows out of the pipes a lot more quickly, almost hissing out- and something inside the arm contorts. Black remnant-stuff starts hissing out at you, screeching out like bolts. One catches your cheek, tearing the flesh- but it's only a minor scratch. You hold up your palm.
<Lance.>

>Field too long!

>>27422058
And then they freeze in the air, the bolts pausing in their progress. You can almost see the lance, sprawling out like a spear of light in front of you. The bolts stop, suspended in the air, and the lance slams into the remnant's arm.
After a moment... you see the pipes start to rust, instantly. The fired bolts decay, withering away... And then the remnant's arm falls apart into dust.
It roars at you again- and something snatches you into the air. It's Steve.
The remnant bellows at you from below, roaring anger.

You find yourself on the wall again, panting for air. You're exhausted- supplementing that with a Lance rune you didn't have was *hard*.
<What was that thing, bro?> Mal asks, hand on your shoulder. He's backlit by the orange light of the setting sun.

Then you look down at the Time rune in your bag.
That... frost, that cold, reminded you, strongly, of whatever that dome was.
You rub at your eyes, and look out at the setting sun.
<It was sent to kill me.> You say, finally.

'Time cannot be twisted by mortal souls,' Tarda once said. You have a feeling that, according to that shimmering dome underneath the town hall, she was lying.

>End of session!
>My twitter is at @futureexabyte
>The IRC is #Exabyte on Rizon.

>>27422079
thx for running

>>27422079
Fun thread, see you next time!

>>27422079
Forgive my idiocy, but does that mean we shouldn't have been able to stick our hand into the helldome, or that we shouldn't have been able to do the Lance?