>>27625658
Do we know anything else about it?

Because I'm down for a Lightning rune Alpha strike.

>>27625658

The heat can't be good for the Naga's ability to sense prey, let's try to sneak past it.

the slime on it's scales might prevent electrocution too.

You've never fought a naga before. It's much taller than you- as if she had been a person made of clay, and stretched beyond all reason. But despite how thin her limbs were, you had a feeling that some impressive power hid within.

The blind, eyeless head suddenly twitches, her shoulders twisting toward the door. Though everything from her tail up resemble a human, her hands certainly do not- they ae taloned, clawed monstrosities, covered in hooks and barbs.
Poisonous, you think you recall.

It continues to grin around at everything; the way its mouth is shaped, curved sharply upward with its inhuman jaw, you can't help but think it's constantly grinning like a madwoman. It looks out to the fire outside.
"Shashak. Shashak." It says, in an eerily human voice. "Shashak."

It's head twists upside-down, its neck stretching inhumanly. The scales on the sides of her neck flare, reminding you of a cobra- or perhaps they're gills. But whatever those flaps are, you don't think it can sense you with all the fire and heat outside. At least, unless you let it know you're there through sound or vibration. You consider using more Lightning, but its slime might serve as insulation. Worst case, you simply reveal that you're there.

Your eyes scan the ground- it's covered in glass from the broken windows above. Sneaking won't be easy. You do notice a rope, reaching past a hole in the ceiling to a grappling hook- Mal's, you know, from when he complained a few days ago about losing it.

>>27625658
Use Earth Self to stop heat radiation.

>>27625872
Whoops, this is me!

>>27625872
Let's just avoid it and climb the rope.

Let's kill it. What does Time Blast do? That might be interesting.
Also, where is Steve?

>>27625872
Let's try climbing rope.

>>27625872

if we use Earth self the Naga will have more than enough noise and vibrations to pinpoint our location.

I suggest having our time rune ready in case we need to leg it and then just slowly try to navigate the glass or climb the rope.

You spring from the ground, and catch ahold of the rope, pulling yourself up into the air. You climb to the very top, and look out across the mansion's rooftop.
Nothing up here, either. Though you do see Steve carrying Mal toward the village, still, to get treated.

Below you, the Naga suddenly cries out- happily- another 'Sashak!' and uncoils her tail. It whips its tail across the ground, sweeping away the glass across the floor. Lucky thing you weren't standing in the room- the tail went *fast*. Your spine isn't tingling, so it isn't supernatural strength, but the creature reminds you of the feral mutants further north.
Except this thing isn't mutated. It's this strong naturally.

You hear the sound of the naga snorting, a noise from deep within its throat- and it lowers its head down to where you were standing before. The flaps on its neck flare again.

Smelling.

It knows you're near through its sense of smell.
You hang from the rope, and take a deep breath.
You'll have to do *something*, and soon.

>You'll also likely need to roll for what you do. Rune usage will need votes behind them, as well.

>>27626033
I vote Lightning+Lance

Where is Mal's leg?
Earth+Blast the Naga. Worried it will have a natural resistance to lightning.
>>27626094
Don't think we have Lance.

Rolled 79

>>27626033

We could use Earth Blast on the Naga or ground near the Naga, it will disrupt the scents in the area

>and maybe drop down to spear the bitch in the neck.

>>27626124
Shape that we add.

>GM Rolled dice: 57, 77
>Survival DC: 40. Success!
>Damage DC: 70. Success!

"Shashak. Shashak." Below you, the naga croons, head low to the ground. It's slithering across the ground, now, looking much less human than she did before. She's nearly thirty feet long, tail included, now that you look at her from a distance. She has six shoulders on her back, from where her arms and claws come...

And then, finally, still sniffing, she reaches below you.

<Earth.> You say, holding down your palm. The naga's head twists straight around to look up at you. <Blast.>

A roiling sphere of energy slams down out of your palm, and collides with the naga.
It doesn't even flinch. It just grins up at you. Then it howls, and its scales crack.

The cracks spread across the floor, up the walls... and around the ceiling above you. With a loud thrum, everything starts to collapse, and the grappling hook comes loose above you.
The naga howls louder, unintelligably. It sounds less human as it starts to panic, growing to sound more like a screech.

You fall on it- and you draw your spear in time. You land on the naga, spear first.

This time, it's a woman screaming in pain and anguish, for help. You remind yourself it's not human, and twist the spear.
The main hall is now nothing but rubble, open to the ceiling and the sky. Below you, amongst the rubble, is the naga, your spear in her back. She howls again, and her tail twists unnaturally, whipping toward you and the spear in her back. You spring backward, and the tail whips where you once were.

The naga stands again, its shoulders cracking unnaturally. It turns toward you again.
"Shashak." It says, its gills flapping.
It sounds even *happier*, now. Slime oozes off of it, being rubbed away by the stone, and its scales are all cracked and weak. The Earth rune seems to work really well against a being's defenses.

>Woo, time to roll again!
>[] Fight offensively.
>[] Fight defensively.
>[] Use runes X and X.
>[] Other?

Rolled 56

>>27626285
[x] Use runes Earth and Lightning and Lance.

Hoping for an earth bullet that acts like a penetrator round then electrocutes it.

Rolled 74

>>27626285

those cracks might have made her more susceptible to our lightning.

>[X] Use Lightning.
>[X] be ready to dodge like a mofo.

Rolled 80

>>27626285
[x] Fight defensively

We don't want to get our shit wrecked by getting poisoned by a small scrape.

>DC: 55. Success!

Your spear drips with greenish ichor- Naga blood, you assume.
It's claws orient itself forward, and the naga cries again, pouncing toward you.
You hold out your palm.
<Lightning.> You say. You take a deep breath, and focus, hard, on the next word. <Lance.>

Instead of wildly dancing electricity, going every which way, this time the rune slams directly forward, coiling around a single point- almost dragged along with that single point.
Which slams directly into the naga's head. It continues springing for you, claws bared- and then it shrieks. It shrieks as loudly as anything you'd ever heard, making the world swim. It howls, making noise endlessly. You hear glass crack, somewhere else in the mansion, and finally, the naga collapses, twitching uncontrollably.

Then, it gurgles, and its torso swells for a moment- before expelling chunks of flesh, blood, jackolope antler, dragonscale, fishbone, and finally Mal's leg through her mouth. All of it is covered in that same, dark-and-light green ichor.
The naga twitches some more, trying to get to its tail again, but its muscles, all uncoordinated and clumsy, just serve to make it writhe on the ground.

You give it a very certain jab in the neck with your spear, and it goes still, finally, the tail coiling up like the legs of a spider.
You let go of the breath you've been holding, and dizziness starts to overtake you. The walls and ceiling are crumbling, and it seems like the mansion will collapse.
Oh well- you're already standing in the rubble. You pick up Mal's leg, and exhausted from your usage of Lance, you walk back toward the village, a human limb on your shoulder.

"You're back!" Miriam says, eyes wide. You're in the tavern, as Miriam works on Mal's stump. He's pale, with bags under his eyes, but he still looks up at you and gives you a weak grin and thumbs up.
"Wait..." Miriam says. "What's that?"
She points to the ichor-covered limb on your shoulder.

>>27626507
>>27626285
>Oh, also, here are your current rune counts.
>Earth: 2 uses left.
>Blast: 3 uses left.
>Lightning: 11 uses left.

>>27626507
Casually
"Mal forgot this in the mansion, so I went and picked it up for him."

>>27626507

"Mal forgot something back at the mansion, can you re attach it?"

<Hang in there bro, we'll get you get you back on both your feet in no time.>

>can I ask if the Naga slime was indeed an insulator?

>>27626507
"Mal's Leg. Naga ate it. Do you think you can reattach it?"

>>27626600
Second.

>>27626582
>It was, but the Lance rune tends to pierce defenses like that. Lightning alone would have done next to nothing, but lightning and lance would've hurt her.

"Mal forgot something back at the mansion, so I went and picked it back up for him." You say, and hold it out. "Naga ate it. Do you think you can reattach it?"
Miriam looks at the leg.
Mal mumbles something in galdian.
<Hang in there, bro.> You respond. <We'll get you back on both your feet in no time.>

"I'll... uh, need magical help." Miriam says, finally. "We need to clean it, and there's a possibility something can go wrong. Especially if the monster Mal was mumbling about is poisonous like he said. Can you go get Tarda for me? She's on top of the temple right now, with Ann."

You look out the window. The sky is orange, and Tarda's currently making something out of all the enchanted silver Marcus brought her. Ann is sitting on the corner with a spyglass, looking to the ocean.

>>27626707

"On it!"
<I'll be back soon bro!>

Time is of the essence, head over to the temple and climb it quickly.

>>27626707
"Sure, sure."

<Drinks are on me today, bro.>

"On it!" You say, and clap a hand on Mal's shoulder. <I'll be back soon, Bro.>

You make your way outside, and find that vine rope Mal had put up a few days ago, when you'd gone drining with him. You climb up it, still rather exhausted from earlier, and find yourself on the roof. Tarda is working on a strange lattice of silver, and Ann looks out after sparing you a single glance.
"Find anything?" Tarda asks, her voice heavily accented.
"No, nothing." Ann responds.
"What are you looking for?" You ask.
"Some kind of ambassador." Ann says.
"Emmissary." Tarda corrects. "The Emmissary of Kraken might attack us for tapping into its leyline."

>>27626832
"Tarda, can you reattach Mal's leg? A naga bit it off."

>>27626832
"Emissary of Kraken? Would a Naga count?"

>>27626832

"That doesn't sound good, not at all."

"I hate to put even more pressure on you but would you be able to help Miriam clean and attach a severed limb?"

>>27626832
"What would that be?"

"Emissary of Kraken?" You ask.
"Monsters, usually." She says. "Most temples like this are built on wellsprings of power, and enchanted so that only their adherents can draw energy. We're drawing energy, and since I'm an atheist, it might send a monster toward us." She says.
"Would a naga count?" You ask.
"... Yes, a naga would." She says. "That's what I've been expecting. A naga's capable of killing almost everyone in the village, which is why we need to catch it before it gets close and put it on the defensive."
"... Sorry to put even more pressure on you but would you be able to help Miriam clean and attach Mal's severed leg?" You ask. "A naga bit it off."
Tarda's eyes widen. "It's here? *already*?!"
"It's dead." You say. "I killed it."

Tarda blinks.
"... I'll help." She says, finally. "Ann, no need to keep an eye out. It's already come and gone."
"Yes, ma'am." Ann says. Tarda springs from her lattice, and slides down the vine again, making her way toward the tavern.

Ann just sits back, and relaxes. The sun slowly sets behind her.

You're still exhausted from earlier, pushing that lance.

>>27626969

we need to catch out breath for a moment.

to Ann: "impressive work keeping those Remnants away from everyone, how is Bruno doing?"

why would that Naga appear all the way at the mansion if Tarda was messing with the temple?

>>27626969
"Busy day, huh."

>>27627007
It was probably passing by the mansion on its way to the village.

Where is Steve? Not dialogue. Just asking.

"Busy day, huh." You say. You lounge back as well, taking time to breathe and relax.
"Very." She says. "That lady's just been ordering me around all day."
"Impressive work keeping those remnants at bay." You say.
"She said that that black sphere thing would keep the remnants away, after she changed it." Ann says. "So I haven't had to do any fighting since you got back with it."

You look around for Steve and find him just outside the tavern. He sits there patiently, waiting for orders. You sit back and relax.

>>27627150

"So I probably told you a few things about myself when we got a little drunk, but I don't really know anything about you or your dad, would you mind telling me some?"

>>27627150
Let's just chill out and enjoy the evening.

"How's Bruno?"

"So I probably told you a few things about myself when we got a little drunk, but I don't really know anything about you or your dad. Would you mind telling me some?"
"I'm not sure what there is to say." She responds. "I don't remember a lot from when I was little, but I know it was really warm and sunny. A lot of people talked to me back then, but then one day we left. Took a really, really long boat ride. I remember seeing snow, and this big black cloud off the side... But eventually we were here. And we've been here since."
Snow and a big black cloud... The cloud is most likely the Shroud, in nystara. So they sailed here from the far west.

You sit back, and watch the sun slowly set.
"How's Bruno?"
"Miriam said that he should be okay. Dragons can survive some really ridiculous things. He just needs to rest."

>>27627348
"Did I tell you about the Dragon I found inthe ruins?"

>>27627348

"that's good news." she didn't disagree with us when we called him Bruno. Small victories! to tired to celebrate though.

scan the horizon for a moment, you never know, might spot something.

>I do think we should speak to Dalton, once Marcus returns home there is no doubt he'll report his whereabouts to his order.

>>27627348
"Did you ever ask him why you'd moved somewhere like this?"

"That's good news." You say, and after surveying the land, you close your eyes. "Did you ever ask him why you'd moved somewhere like this?"
"He said it was because we weren't welcome anymore." She said. "I remember crying because I missed someone, but... I don't remember who."
You nod, still lying back. "Did I tell you about the dragon I found under the town hall?"
"You found another dragon?" Ann asks. She sounds just as tired as you, but her voice perked up for that. "Where is he? Or is it a she? Or did you leave them where they were?"

>>27627529
"Well, t he best way I can describe it is if I took Bruno, aged him, made him the size of a hohse and gave him claws wings and scales to match."

>>27627529

"he or she was asleep and looked nothing like Bruno, bigger, stronger, hard to believe one could look like an actual threat, without that weird black parasite thing."

We'll have to escort Ann back to her home, sounds like she'll fall asleep any moment now.

>>27627529
"He was in a time-dome. I think. I'm not really sure, but he was big!"

"He or she was asleep, and looked nothing like Bruno. He was in a time dome, I think." You say. "But he was big! Bigger, stronger... Larger than a horse. Hard to believe a dragon could look like an actual threat, but it had the claws the size of a dagger, and scales to match."
"So that one wasn't cute." Ann pouted. She sounded more tired. "And his name isn't bruno. It's Gareth."

You sit back, and watch the horizon for a little while longer.
Then you near Ann snoozing. You look over, and she's curled up, eyes closed.
You sigh, pick her up, and slowly rappel down the rope again, glad that it's so firmly attached. You make your way up to Dalton's house, and knock twice.
Dalton opens the door.

"She fell asleep, did she?" He asks. "Come on in. You can set her down in her bed."
You do so, and on your way back out, Dalton raises a hand.
"Thanks for bringing her here." He says. "You want anything? Miriam and that little witch all but chased me out of the tavern when I tried to come in, so I don't think they'll have food ready."

>>27627722
"Whatever you've got available is fine for me."

>>27627722
"I don't mean to intrude or anything, but Marcus said something about you being a fugitive..."

>>27627722

"Just something to tide me over till the next proper meal, I wouldn't want to impose to much."

"I don't mean to pry in to your business, but Marcus told me you were a fugitive, I'm not trying to make something of it but you seem like a decent guy and I just wanted you to know about it."

>>27627722
"I won't refuse a snack. Afterall I just killed a horrible monster. But anyway would you mind if we talked about your past?"

"Just whatever you've got is fine for me." You say. "I wouldn't want to impose too much."
"Alright." He says, and next thing you know, you have rice, with bits of meat and greens mixed in. The two of you start to eat.

"I don't mean to pry in your business, but..." You say. "Marcus said something about you being a fugitive. I'm not trying to make something of it, but..."
"Yeah." He says, quietly. His expression is unreadable beneath his bushy beard. "I'm aware of that. I can't enter Deluran lands again, else I'll be imprisoned."
He doesn't offer anything else- he just eats. It seems that if you want answers, you'll have to ask.

>>27627892
"You might want to stay away from him. He said something about bringing your head back."

"Do you mind if I ask what happened?"

>>27627892
"Do you mind if I ask what is the charge and usual sentence?"

>>27627892
"So, what's Delura like? I've never been there and I've heard strange things about it."

>>27627922
Marcus said nothing about that.

>>27627948
Technically he did. He said he was considering it, until we told him that the village would react badly and that he shouldn't.

>>27627892

"He said there is a bounty out for you, his current mission is more important to him, but there might be a chance he'll talk when he returns home."

"Do you mind telling me about it?"

>>27627957

This is what he said: >>27627960

"He said there is a bounty out for you." You say. "His current mission is more important to him, but there might be a chance he'll talk when he returns home."
"I suppose I'll have to leave soon after he does." Dalton says, quietly.
"So, what's Delura like? I've never been there, and I've heard strange things about it."
"It's my homeland." He says. "It's a proper kingdom, though- with a king, queen, crown prince, etcetra." Dalton says. "Witches hide in the mountains and took the island Shadowfell as their own, trading away their magic for whatever they value. It's easy to find someone who has made a deal with a witch- harder to find people who haven't. Our technology is rather limited compared to Nystar or the Lellwind Republic, and we don't have the useful creatures like in Gardia."
He shrugs. "I haven't been there in ten years."

You continue to eat.
"Do you mind if I ask what happened?"
Dalton's dark eyes twinkle.
"They tried to take my daughter from me." He says. "The witches. Some fool of a prince decided he wanted an enchanted blade, and promised the daughter of one of his vassals for it. Simple as that."

>>27628110
"Oh dear. That isn't what I expected at all."

>>27628110
"I figured it would be something like that."

>>27628110

"... That prince is a dick."
"What was Ann's mother like?"


>I'm not sure if we can do anything for him but I'm fine with giving him aid if he ever needs it.

>>27628110
I'm not sure what to say, but something like we'll keep an eye open for them in future if they ever need help with things?

>>27628110
"That's terrible. Going into exile just because of arrogance of a royalty.

Did you have a wife? If you're okay to talk about it I mean."

"... That prince is a dick." You say. Dalton nods. "Did you have a wife?"
"No, never a wife. A fiancee, once upon a time, but she preferred another."

"What was Ann's mother like?"
"She's still alive." He says. "She's smart. Clever. Wicked sense of humor, beautiful..." He shakes his head. "She understands what I did and why. She could have stopped me, but..."
He shrugs. But you have a feeling he's smiling, behind that beard.

>>27628294
"Good talk. Thanks for the drink."

Let's go see ow Mal is doing.

>>27628294
"I know what you mean."

>>27628294

"I'm glad you told me your side of things Dalton, Ann is a good kid and lucky to have such loving parents."

I hope Mal's leg can be fixed.

>god, Ann's mother must miss her.
>if we ever have to head out that way we could bring along a message,

>>27628294
>Hey Exa, if they fail to reattach Mal's leg, can he get a Remnant one?

"I'm glad you told me your side of things, Dalton." You say. "Ann's a good kid, and lucky to have such loving parents."
He nods.
"Good talk. Thanks for the drink."
"Not a problem." He says. "Take care."
"You too." You respond, and get to your feet. Your food finished, you make your way outside.
But as you do, you hear Ann say something.

"Can you tell me about her?" Ann asks, quietly.

You decide to leave those two to their privacy, and head back toward the tavern. The moment you get close, your spine tingles with power. Carefully, you peek in, and see Mal on his back, his leg stump bleeding.
Sitting on the other end of the table, a good three feet away, his leg sits.
Between the two, blood starts funneling back and forth, ignoring gravity entirely. Tarda hands are in the air, while Miriam looks on. She notices you, and waves you in.
You enter, and Tarda's cackling. "It's alive! It's aliiiive!"
"He was already alive." Miriam mentions.
"The leg was dead." She says. "But I've fixed that! Now to fix the severing, and supercharge the healing!"
You look down at the unconscious Mal.

>>27628525
>That was always a possibility, but limbs attach much worse than organs. Mostly because of 'lifeblood'.

>>27628549
"Is this safe, Doctor Miriam."

>>27628549
"Well at least he is not awake for this."

>>27628549
"Sometimes I stop and wonder if I've made the right choices with my life."

>>27628549
"I hate to think what it was like when my heart was gone."

"Is this safe, Doctor Miriam?" You ask, as the leg starts getting closer to Mal's stump.
"Don't call me that." Miriam says. "And I've no clue."
"It's perfectly safe." Tarda says. "Well... maybe. Naga venom is a nasty thing. Speaking of which, you should get that naga's body tomorrow before it starts decaying. I can use it. Something that toxic to living beings should be helpful for my experiments."
"Sometimes I stop and wonder if I've made the right choices with my life." You say, watching the unnatural spectacle in front of you.
"Of course you have." Tarda says, her grin too wide. "Else you wouldn't be an assistant for little old me."
Eventually, the leg attaches itself to the stump.
"Now!" Tarda says, and Miriam leans over his leg, a silver needle and cable in hand. She started sewing.
"You are an assistant, right?" Tarda asks, looking back at you.

>>27628706
"I've been a lot of things. I suppose I can add assistant to the list. By the by, where'd Marcus go?"

>>27628706
"Of course. What do you need me to do?"

>>27628706
"Don't let me distract you, Tarda, but do you think it's possible that Kaedri is controlling Failure? When I retrieved that core, one of it's minions arrived, and he might have sabotaged the project to produce it."

>>27628706
Ann said you changed the orb. Is it still Rebel?

"I've been a lot of things." You say. "I suppose I can add assistant to the list. By the way, where'd Marcus go?"
"I sent him out." Tarda says. "He kept wheedling me about the Runic Project. Reminds me of those spell kiddies who'd beg people for their research notes."
"I'm done stitching." Miriam says. "But the bone and nerves-"
"Shh for a second." Tarda says. "The veins are in place, and that's all we need."

She closes her eyes, and puts her hands over Mal's chest. Then, slowly, she pulls it down toward his leg. Your spine aches, like something is... doing something twisted, terrible. Mal growls uncomfortably, unconsciously. Even Miriam took a step back, eyes wide.
"You all can feel that, huh." Tarda says. "Feels... *wrong*, kinda? Evil?"
Miriam nods.
"Oh well." Tarda says. "Side-effect."

A moment later, she lets go, and that strange tension releases. Then she stretches back, and wipes her head. "That was tiring." She says. "His healing should go pretty quick, now. Let's take a break."

The two sit down at a table, and you join them.

"Ann said you changed Rebel's Core. Is it still Rebel?"
"Certainly." She says. "I don't quite know how Rebel works, so I couldn't change most of it, but we'd used it's power to contain Failure inside of it every time it died. I just turned that containment inside-out, into a barrier. Now no minions can enter, except for yours and mine."
"Do you think it's possible that Kaedri is controlling Failure? When I retrieved that core, one of it's minions arrived."
"I doubt it." She says. "Nobody can control Failure. And Failure hates Rebel anyway, for containing him for so long."

>>27628995
"Could you explain what exactly Failure and Rebel are?"

>>27628995
"How tiring is something like that anyway?"

>>27629048
She's already told us about Failure if I recall correctly. It's in the pastebin I think.
>>27628995
"So, what now?"

>>27628995
>>27629048
Yeah, this.

"Tell me more about Rebel."
"It seemed more sad then scary, now that it actually talked to me."

"Does Mal have to worry about any side effects?"

>>27628995
"Will Mal have a sick-ass scar to tell stories about? That always excites the ladies."

>>27628995
"By the way, what is Kaedri exactly? Because he sure didn't look human."

"Will Mal have a sick-ass scar to tell stories about? That always excites the ladies."
Miriam bopped a fist against the back of your head. "If that's the reason you've been getting injured so much, I'm going to be angry."
Tarda just shrugs.
"How tiring is something like that anyway?"
"Really damn tiring." She says. "I'm not a dark wizard, so I don't have the tools to steal souls like that."
You blink.
"I mean, I didn't keep it." She says. "I just moved it into the crease between his leg and body for a while. It'll slowly move back into place eventually."
"Does Mal have to worry about any side effects?"
"Shouldn't." She says. "I actually just used some complex Force runes. Most of that wasn't even proper magic."

You yawn, and sit back. "Tell me more about Rebel." You say. "It seemed more sad than scary, now that it actually talked to me."
"The Mind Project *is* sad." Tarda says. "It reads minds. When it's creator found that out, the creator tried to destroy it. Nobody liked the idea of a thing that can steal knowledge from people's heads, especially wizards."
You raise your eyebrows.
"It was hated. It does more than just scanning people's memories and thoughts, but it was hated." She frowns. "I feel bad for it. It's very... human."

"By the way, what is Kaederi exactly? Because he sure didn't look human."
"He's a wizard. Like myself, I suppose." She says. "And he's human. Where did you meet him, even?"

>>27629273
On the tallest tower in the city. It gave me this gauntlet. I think it was trying to buy my help.

>>27629273
"Oh, yeah. He grabbed me with a remnant and told me not to let you out. Something about killing everyone again, trying to be a god, you know, evil wizard stuff."

>>27629273
"Does that mean the ghosts I was seeing were actually Rebel?"

>>27629273
"Miriam, please, that's the only reason I get injured so much."

>>27629273
"I had a cool idea for a rune related piece of research if you're interested."

>>27629273
"I guess doctor women don't dig the scars. What about sorceresses?

"Oh, yeah." You say. "He grabbed me with a remnant and told me not to let you out. Something about killing everyone again, trying to be a god, you know, evil wizard stuff."
"That explains why you wanted to test me." She says. "Lucky thing for me that you didn't believe him."

You nod... And think.
"Does that mean the ghosts I was seeing was actually Rebel?"
"It's almost certain, actually. Rebel was likely trying to be someone you liked. It didn't know how to act like them, though, so it just gets confused." She says. "Though I'm surprised Rebel hasn't shown up for this conversation. It can likely hear us from here. Hey, Rebel, aren't you going to say hi?"
It doesn't respond. Tarda frowns and grumbles under her breath.

You turn to Miriam and give her a grin, as she serves all three of you some food. "Miriam, please. That's the only reason I get injured so much."
"Then I guess I won't treat you anymore. I don't want to reward you with attention."
"I guess doctor women don't dig the scars." You say. "What about sorceresses?"
Tarda gives you a level stare.
"I hope you're not calling me a sorcerer. I don't react well to insults like that."

>>27629446
What is it?

>>27629273
"It's not just about the scars. It's about the stories they tell. For example, I can say I had my heart ripped out over a woman. See? I'll be the toast of the town, my friend."

>>27629456
Say Wizards. And when she says "I'm old enough to be your grandmother." Respond with, "So you have plenty of experience."

>>27629498
Smaller runes, in the shape of bolts that we can fire from our Steamsling. We don't have to expose ourself, there'd be extra punch behind the bolts, with the runes acting like a secondary charge when they hit, and we wouldn't have to announce to (intelligent) opponents what runes we're going to hit them with.

>>27629487
"I don't even know what a sorcerer is, haha"'

Try not to pass out due to tiredness.
Poke Mal.

>>27629487
"Forgive me, I didn't know there was a distinction. Say, how many different types of magic-users are there?"

>>27629487
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. I'm just tired and mixing up words."

>>27629487
since i missed post-time i'll just repeat >>27629502 haha

>>27629487
"Okay oh great and powerful wizard. Do you like scars?"

>>27629487
"Rebel! Oh, Rebel! Come out and play!"

>>27629487
>Hey Exabyte, if we're half-Kystaran, what's the other half?

>>27629697
Lelan

>>27629487
"what is even the difference"

>>27629697
>The other half is lelan, as far as you can tell. You've never met your father, though.

"Forgive me, I don't even know what a sorcerer is." You say, and chuckle. "Sorry, I'm tired."
"Sorcerers are self-trained klutzes." She says. "They coil up leylines, miscast spells, try using geo magic with worked metal near, blow themselves up... They're generally terrible. It's a derogative term nowadays. Like calling someone clumsy or an idiot."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to insult you."
"Now you know." She says.

You turn to Miriam. "It's not just about the scars. It's about the stories they tell."
Miriam just frowns at you. She isn't taking your joke in good humor, it seems.

"I had a cool idea for a rune-related piece of research if you're interested." You say.
"What kind of idea?"
"Smaller runes, that sort of... target things when they hit them. You could put them on bolts or arrows."
"That's on the to-do list already." Tarda says. She shoots you a grin. "I've been putting it off mostly since it has nothing but military uses. But I have more projects to do first." She says. "And I'm tired too. I might be Third High Wizard, but that doesn't mean I'm always a genius."

You reach out to poke Mal, but Miriam knocks your hand away.
"Well, oh great and powerful wizard." You say. She shoots you a pleased grin, her cheeks going pink. "Do you like scars?"
"Not really." She responds, still grinning. "That's why I don't have any, after all."

>>27629757
"When will Mal wake up?"
"I might sleep until then."

What are our current injuries like? Do we need to get anything looked at by Miriam?
Not that she'd be inclined to help us at the moment.

>>27629757
"Good thing you can magic them away, then."

>>27629757
See if we can summon Rebel with mental thoughts.
Of dragons and other cute (and harmless) things. Preferably without daggers aimed at our chest.

>>27629757
OP, wasn't it UNworked metal that screwed up that kind of magic? Or am I just remembering wrong?

>>27629757
"Do you happen to like younger men who go out of their way to help beautiful trapped wizards?"

>>27629757
"Ah, but sadly, not all of us can be evil wizards."

>>27629858
No waifus please. There are plenty of other quests you can go to for that.

>>27629885
It's a joke. She's pretty obviously not into us.

>>27629757
To Miriam
"Maybe one day, I will tell you of all my scars and you could write an adventure novel. Or a medical record."

>>27629757
"A different question, then. Do you like stories?"

>>27629757
"Oh by the way Failure had some abomination that has shields that can block magic."

>>27629843
>You're actually right, there.
>I'd planned on writing out proper rules for spells if you guys had chosen Scholar. Since you didn't, I don't have a notepad for them anywhere.

"Ah, but sadly, not all of us can be evil wizards."
"Sadly." She says. "I can't help but wonder what the world would be like if that was true. Nothing but backstabbing, over and over."
"Another question, then. do you like stories?"
"I don't dislike them." She says.

"When will Mal wake up?"
"Put him to sleep until dawn." Tarda says.
"I might sleep until then."
"I plan to, too." Tarda says. "It's been a long day."
"Sleep well." Miriam says, as Tarda gets to her feet.

Tarda grins. "I will." She says. "After all, I have to make an artifact tomorrow."
"Oh by the way. Failure had some abomination that has shields that can block magic."
"Runes, you mean?" She asks. You nod. "That's worrying, but not impassable. Those kinds of things would take a lot of energy."

She makes her way upstairs. You turn to Miriam.
"Maybe one day, I'll tell you of all my scars and you could write an adventure novel. Or a medical record."
"Or a list of What Not To Do." Miriam says, her voice dry. "You look exhausted. Get some sleep."

>>27630021
"But sleep is time that could be spent adventuring!"

Go to bed.

>>27630021
Do what the ladies say.

>>27630021
"Yeah. Don't worry, I'll take better care of myself. But I can't stop horrific creatures from taking a swing at me."

>>27630021
"Not going to sleep as well, Miriam?"

"But sleep is time that could be spent adventuring!" You say.
Miriam gives you a stern look.
You sigh, and make your way upstairs.
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll take better care of myself." You say, from the bottom step. "But I can't stop horrific monsters from taking a swing at me."
"I know." She says.
"Not going to sleep as well, Miriam?"
She looks away.
"Yeah, I have... some things to do." She says.
You nod, and make your way to your bedroom. Tarda snores on the foot of your bed, so you ignore her, settling down in a seat to sleep.

===
The jungle, hot and humid.
You've never seen this place before- not in all your days. The trees are huge, larger than you'd ever seen. They rumbled under the steps of giants.
Ashen-haired and grey-skinned, the girl knew this place. She had warm, kind eyes, both bright green. She hopped from foot to foot, over brooks and stones with a peculiar grace. She sang a song in a language that hadn't been spoken in millenia.
You didn't recognize her. Your remnant heart throbs, making your dream painful. Yes, this is a dream. A lucid one, almost.

And then she met your eyes.
"Who are you?!" She asked. That carefree look in her eyes went wary. She took two steps back.
>How do you respond, in this strange place?

>>27630308
"I don't know."

>>27630308
I'm an adventurer, lost in this place.
Can you lead me out?

>>27630308
"I am me. Well, mostly. There's a bit of not me in here somewhere."

>>27630308
"Who am I? That's irrelevant. The real question is, who are you?"

"Also, where the hell is this?"

>>27630308
Try to look non-threatening and say "I'm Nathan, who are you?"

>>27630308
"Franklin Rockwell."

>>27630349
>>27630352

I'll support these two.

"I am me." You say, using the name that you'd been using in Kystara. "Who are you?"
You realize you've been speaking that same, ancient language as the one she'd been singing.
She took two steps back.
"You *talk*." She gasps. After a few moments staring at your scar, her eyes widen. "I- I'm Kyssd."

At that moment, the trees shook and something slammed into the ground between the two of you.
An enormous, powerful dragon. Claws the size of swords, scales as thick and as heavy as plate armor, and a burning fury in his eyes.
"Bruun doesn't like you." The girl says. She's climbed up the monster, onto his shoulder. "I don't know why you look like... like me, but it's time you leave this place. Or he'll eat you."
You recognize the dragon. From that strange dome, down below the town hall.
They look precisely the same.

>>27630308
"I'm Johnny Cage"

>>27630442
"Bruun can go fuck himself."

>>27630442
"I'll go. But can you tell Bruun to not hurt Strelok when he wakes from his long sleep?"

>>27630442
"Bruno?"

I'll leave if you show me the way out.

>>27630442
"I'm not really afraid of being eaten. I think I'm asleep and this is a dream."

>>27630466
SILENCE, WORM.

>>27630442
"Where am I? When is this? Why am I here? Do I have Alzheimers?"

"... Bruno?" You ask.
She sets her jaw, and the dragon she's standing on rumbles.
"No, no, it isn't being rude... I think." She tells the dragon. Then she looks up at you. "Try not to insult him. He's very proud and might eat you."
"I'm not really afraid of being eaten." You say. "I think I'm asleep and this is a dream."
"Then try waking up." She asks.

A moment later, you do.
And recoil when you see the wide open jaws of a dragon in your face. You jump-
Just to find that it's Bruno, sitting on your chest and yawning.

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

>>27630600
Does Bruno have bad breath?

>>27630623
Surprisingly, no. He smells like flowers. But that's probably because he nibbles on them.

>>27630694
What would Bruun think of Bruno?

What would Bruno think of Bruun?

>>27630600
Thanks for running.

>>27630600
who the fuck is this crazy broad

>>27630788
Bruun would think that Bruno is a silly hatchling and bring it to Kyssd to meet.
Bruno would squeak and run away.

>>27630811
She's Kyssd! She looks Kystaran at first glance, because of her pale, colorless skin, but there's something subtly wrong with her- her features are too thin, too dainty.

>>27630868
Where do baby dragons come from?

>>27630926
When a mommy dragon and a daddy dragon both love eachother, they press their cloacas together and snuggle. A year and a half to two years later, a baby dragon is born, wearing a tough silken film they eventually peel off of themselves and eat.

Then, the baby dragon squeaks for help. Daddy dragon is already gone by this point, so mommy dragon feeds the baby dragon until they're older. Then mommy dragon gets irritated by the constant squeaking, and leaves the baby dragon all on their lonesome.

>>27630868
What do we do with kyssd

can we burn her as fuel for a fire?

>>27630987
Is there a Hatchling Services number I can call?