>>27678162

We need to go pick up that Naga corpse and pawn off that loot we have.

Naga first.

>>27678162
<Well, the evil wizard said she moved your soul around to heal up your leg. Made everyone in the Tavern feel weird when she did it, though. Probably clear up after a few days.>

>>27678162

>>27678201
double posting because i forgot dialogue

<If it persists I'll ask Tarda about it. Take Miriam's advice and rest.>

>if he mentions that we don't do that often enough
><Don't give me that look, bro, it hurts.>

<Well, the 'evil wizard' said she moved your soul around to heal up your leg. Made everyone in the Tavern feel weird when she did it, though. It'll probably clear up after a few days. If it persists, I'll ask Tarda about it. Take Miriam's advice and rest.>
<Oho, take her advice? Is this a case of 'do what I say, not what I do' I'm hearing?>
<... Don't give me that look, bro. It hurts.>
<Hypocrite.> He says, and chuckles.

<Anyway, I'm off to go grab the naga's body.> You say.
His eyebrows raise.
<You killed it?> He asks. You nod. <Nice one! I owe you one for taking revenge so completely.>
<See you.> You say. He just waves you off.

Some time later, you return to the tavern, an enormous body on your back. It wasn't as hard to drag here as you'd thought- the scales on its tail make it rather simple to drag, if you can hold up its torso. You're exceedingly careful not to get scratched by its claws, even to the point of wrapping them in cloth, and eventually your job is done.

The caravaneer's eyes widen in alarm when he sees you.
"That's some creature." He says, and reaches into his bags. "And I have this for you. Nathan, right?"
You nod, and he pulls out a satchel. You look at the letter in front.
It's mostly scolding you for having almost nothing to show for your mission, but they are aquiescing to your demand- and have a rune for you, like you'd asked. You unwrap it, and your eyes widen.
This was in the 'rare' category of your employers' handbook. To your knowledge, there have only been a few of them ever found, and the ones that have been found are in horrible quality.
In the back of the rune, you can feel a gem. Very abnormal- and made out of the same material as the golem cores. It crackles with power as you touch it, your spine tingly.
Written on the front are the words for destruction, nothingness, and entirety.
>Obliteration Rune: 1+1 uses. Cannot be used with other runes.

"Is there anything else you need?" The caravaneer asks.

>>27678339
Didn't Tarda want chocolate or something like that? See if he's selling any.

Did that guardsman armor come through? Was sending back the remnant rune not enough?

>>27678339
>Damnit, I'm starting to lose my trip again. This is me.
>>27678368
>Technically, Dalton's the one that's buying the guardsman armor. You'll need to purchase it from him later.

>>27678339

"Well, my friend and I found some stuff which might be worth something."

show him some of the loot, also stash the Naga somewhere out of reach of vermin.

an idea, maybe that Obliteration Rune can be 'recharged', Tarda said something about adjusting the shard to do that. We should ask her.

>>27678339
"Yes. Come and see the finest assorted goods from the deserted Kystaran heartland, my friend. How much for all of this valuable loot?"

I'm assuming we haven't sold that big bag of stuff we grabbed with Mal.

>>27678339
Make sure to ask Tarda about the rune, we need to find out what it does exactly and what that gem is for.

"Well, my friend and I found some stuff which might be worth something." You say. "Come and see the finest assorted goods from the deserted kystaran coast, my friend. How much for all of this valuable loot?"
"Let me take a good look, and I'll give you a ballpark number." He says. You worry a little about vermin eating the naga, but you do notice a few rats giving it a very, very wide berth. Seems even they can sense the naga's poison- anything that tried to eat it would be killed themselves.

You show the caravaneer all of your loot. While he disregards most of the statues, he takes a peculiar interest in the things you hadn't expected him to- old vases, paintings, works of art and similar. He has a small book in his hands, and scrawls numbers out, mumbling his arithmetic.
"Well." He says. "I can take a lot of this, and I'm sure I'll be able to find buyers. The nobility has been on a kick of using kystaran objects to show off, and this is a motherlode, if you could transport it all."
The man gives you a shrewd grin. "I think we could become great friends. What do you say to... three thousand coins?"
Your eyebrow twitches. You're not very good at appraising, but you're sure this could be worth a bit more, if it's in latest fashion for the nobility.

>>27678528
Do we have any idea how much more it's worth?

"I'd have trouble accepting that if we hadn't risked our lives, you know. It's horribly dangerous to even reach the outskirts of the city. Beasts like this Naga? They're commonplace in the areas I found these collectibles."

>>27678528
"its worth 8, could get nine thousand if it is priced well. You will give me forty five hundred."

>>27678528

"Surely a fine business man such as yourself can see the true value of these item and not to mention the countless nobility standing in line, waiting to throw their money at you for a chance at one of these beauties."

>>27678528
How much is "a bit more" OP? in the area of 3300 or something?

"I'd have trouble accepting that if we hadn't risked our lives, you know." You say. "It's horribly dangerous to reach even the outskirts of the city."
You look down at the body, not far from here. "Beasts like this naga? They're *commonplace* in the areas I found those collectibles."
He pauses, and looks down at the naga's body. He shivers, and you realize that it's probably a good thing you had a monster's body so close.
"You're right, of course." He says.
"It's worth eight, maybe nine thousand." You say. "You'll give me forty-five hundred."
He looks at the piles of things you've gathered.
"I do have to cart it all the way back to the capital." He says. "And I'm not sure it's worth quite so much. It's worth around six thousand to the nobles, by my estimate. But I *could* take it for four thousand."
You look at the pile again. You're really not very good at appraising things, but this man is. Honestly, four thousand is more than you'd thought you'd get. For a moment, you wish you could do better than just play 'hot or cold' with appraising, but it's one of your few weaknesses.
"Alright." You say, finally. It's a nice, round number, too- easily split into two thousand for you and Mal.
He hands you the coins, and you give him a nod.

"Don't worry about helping me load it." He says. "I can do that while Dalton repairs my steamwheel. Take care, friend."
That done, you make your way up to your room. Tarda's still there, having stolen your bed. She's also stolen Bruno, it looks, holding the squeaking dragon tight as he tries to get free. When you walk close, though, one of her eyes open.
"I actually got to sleep, for once." She says. A peculiar, satisfied fire hides in her eyes. It's almost a mad glee. "Good morning."

>>27678693
"Good morn! Pleasant dreams?"

"Naga's in town, if you want it."

>>27678693

"good morning, I picked up the Naga corpse, not having to worry about vermin eating it is pretty great! would you look at this for me?"

show her the Obliterate Rune.

that dream(?) we had is probably also something we should ask her about, and Mal's weirdness.

>>27678693
"Good morning yourself, yes sleep is nice until the weird dreams come along. Oh and I believe a certain dragon wants to escape, also what can you tell me about this rune? *Show her the Obliteration rune*

>>27678693
"Oh. Hey. You should try sleeping in the chair one night as well. That's pretty great too."

"Good morning." You say. "Pleasant dreams?"
"Not really. It was more of a nightmare. I dreamed of being in the domain again, except all of you were there... But you were really servants. It turns out that, in the context of the dream, I'd gone insane and all of you were my hallucinations." She rolls her eyes. "And I normally have such a strong sense of reality, too."
"You should try sleeping in the chair one night as well." You say, your voice dry. "That's pretty great too."


"I picked up the naga corpse. Not having to worry about the vermin eating it is pretty great."
<Good assistant!> She says, and pats you on the head and gives you an approving grin.
"Would you look at this for me?" You ask, and hold up the rune.
"Sure thing." She says, and takes it in hand.
Then her eyebrows meet, and her smile falls.
"This... isn't my work." She says. "It isn't connected to the runic project at all."
"Do you know what it does?" You ask.
She shrugs. "I don't. That's the strange part. It's enchanted in an entirely different way than *my* runes. It's like it's only supposed to look like them."
She turns the rune around, showing you the gem.
"This is the source. It's strange, though. Someone went into all this effort to enchant it, but it only has enough energy left for one use. Or two, if you were able to parcel energy carefully."
Then she sighs.
"It's almost like a counterfeit."

>>27678817
"It's an 'Obliteration' rune, only a few of them have ever been found and they're all in horrible condition. It probably IS a counterfeit."

>>27678817
"Well, that /is/ interesting. I'll have to mention that in the letter back."

>>27678817

"they are really rare and worn out, if the name is anything to go by, I better be very careful with it."

"I can assure you that you are outside of any domain and that we are all very human and alive."

>>27678817
"Any bets on what it'll do? I was told it was Obliteration. Does that mean it'll wreck everything?"

>>27678817
We should probably ask her for those old notes now, if she has them. Gotta send something back to keep the people happy.

>>27678817
"Know anyone named Kyssd?"

"Any bets on what it'll do?" You ask. "I was told it was Obliteration. Does that mean it'll wreck everything?"
"I don't think so." She says. "It's most likely the biggest waste of power I've seen. I don't know a lot about domains, but it's almost like it tries to make a domain... in this reality, rather than making its own. Which is stupid, because Kaederi's research suggested that anything like that would collapse almost immediately."

You pull open your book to the 'Obliteration Rune' entry. According to this, it will... erase everything within an area in front of you.
"Well, that /is/ interesting." You say. "I'll have to mention that in the letter back."
She nods, but she looks nowhere as happy as she did when she'd just woken up.
"Know anyone named Kyssd?" You ask, suddenly.
"Never heard the name." She says. "Not right offhand, at least. It's kind of familiar, though."

>>27678924
"Cool beans. Good chat, Tarda."

Let's go for a wander.

>>27678924
"I had a dream last night about a girl named Kyssd. The dragon I saw in the time dome was in it as well. Apparently, the dragon's name is Bruun."

>>27678924
"I met her in a dream last night, along with a 'dragon' identical to the one I found that energy field when getting you those domain notes. She also spoke as if the dragon was talking to her even though I didn't hear anything."

>>27678924

"I had a strange dream, about a huge forest, there was a girl there named Kyssd there, then, when she noticed me, a very large, slightly upset dragon swooped in and kept me from getting closer to her. I think it may have something to do with the place i found that book for you."

>>27678924
"All this magic shit can't be good for my mental health. Weird ass dreams, ghosts, giant hearts. You lot really were busy."

"I had a strange dream last night about a girl named Kyssd." You say. "In a huge jungle. When she noticed me, a very large, upset dragon swooped in and kept me from getting closer. She also spoke as if the dragon was talking to her, even though I didn't hear anything. I think it may have something to do with the place I found that book for you."
Tarda thought about it for a few moments.
"I don't think it's worth dwelling on." She says. "Everyone who's touched that dome, except you and perhaps Kaederi, have gone maddeningly insane. I don't know what causes it, but if you dwell, it could bring madness."
"All this magic shit can't be good for my mental health." You say. "Weird-ass dreams, ghosts, giant hearts... you lot really were busy."
Tarda hmphed. "It's all for the sake of progress." She says, and pulls on her cloak again. "Ooh, there's the caravan fellow you talked to me about. I'll go get clothes from him right after I dissect the naga."
She turns to you. "Want a trophy? Which bit do you want to keep?"

>>27679103
What bit would most likely prove useful to me in some way?

>>27679103
"Eh, I'll pass on that offer. Unless there's a part of a Naga that's considered a good luck charm."

"Ehm, do you want me to get you clothes if you're busy cutting up that monster?"

>>27679103

A dagger made from the sharpest Naga bits?

which parts of a Naga can be used for what?

>>27679103
"Depends, what will you not need and what will not rot? A tooth maybe?"

<<-Steam Sling->>
A finely crafted copper steam sling. It is decorated with naga tooth. It menaces with spikes of naga tooth.

"Ehm, do you want me to get you clothes if you're busy cutting up that monster?"
"Perfect idea, assistant mine." She says. "I'm fine wearing anything. Anyway, what *do* you want from the naga?"

"What bit would most likely prove useful to me in some way?"
She thinks about it for a while.
"You want useful things? Well, their scales are pretty tough, so maybe you could get armor..."
"Its scales are destroyed." You say. You'd used Earth to shatter them, you recall.
"Pity. The claws and poison are the only useful bits I can think of. Maybe the teeth..." She says. Then her eyes widen. "That's perfect. I can make you bolts for your hissing gun thing. Poisoned ones. That stuff's corrosive to almost everything but naga flesh, so I can make them out of its teeth. When it hits something, the teeth will shatter, and the venom will spill and get embedded in what you hit. How's that sound?"

>>27679225
"Sounds like...magic."

"You should probably get breakfast as well, by the way. Gotta eat, now that you're free of the seventh dimension."

>>27679225

"I can see that being extremely helpful, I also suggest that you get some breakfast either before or after you butcher the Naga. The eggs and mushrooms are pretty good."

>>27679225
"That sounds great, although... When you say 'corrosive', does that mean I will need something special to store them in?"

>>27679291
She just said that she'll keep the poison in its teeth, which will shatter on impact.

>>27679225
"Fully excellent."

"Sounds like... magic." You say. "Fully excellent."
"Then I'll get to that."
"You should probably get breakfast as well, by the way. Gotta eat, now that you're free of the seventh dimension."
"Stupid bodily needs." She grumbles. The two of you head downstairs as Miriam arrives, with eggs and mushrooms for both of you. She starts to eat- and instantly bites her tongue.
You're treated to a rare sight of watching Tarda covering her mouth, cussing in kystaran. She's cursing up a storm in words you don't know, but you figure out what most of them mean from context.

A few minutes later, she's sitting down and eating properly, still grumbling to herself. Mal snickered- but Tarda shot him a look.
<Hey, bro.> He says. <Any chance you could thank her for me? For my leg, I mean.>
You do, and Tarda's response is to roll her eyes.
<I don't want my assistant's lover to just hobble around and annoy me.> She responds.

>>27679399
hahahahahahahaha

No, tarda, we're just bros

>>27679399
Spray whatever we're drinking all over her in shock.

<Lover?!>

>>27679399
<Hahaha, you joker.>

>>27679399
"If that was a joke then it's not funny, we both have similar business here so we're just helping each other out."

>>27679399

do not choke on our food.

<who's what now?>

<We're bros but I'm pretty sure neither of us fancy each other.>

>Dongme may
>No, Bad captcha.

>>27679399
Just laugh.

Can we do something interesting?

>>27679447
>Spray whatever we're drinking all over her in shock.
yeah, let's not do that.

relay it all to Mal though

>>27679399
I support spraying then laughter.

>>27679399
<Ah, I think your understand of 'bro' is flawed, Tarda.>

<Did I sign a contract agreeing to be your assistant by the way?>

You cough, and spend a few moments trying not to choke on your food.
<Who's what now?> You ask.
<I could have sworn the two of you were...> She says, trailing off.
<No, Tarda, we're just Friends. Allies. Partners?> You say, stretching your linguistic skills to the maximum to translate the galdian term properly. Then you laugh, and relay it all to Mal. He almost chokes on his own food just as you did.
<And did I sign a contract agreeing to be your assistant, by the way?>
<A verbal one.> She responds. <If you don't want to be, though, then I'll just go work on my project on my lonesome.>

>>27679561
<No, it's fine. I thought you might like to keep notes of all the people in your employ.>

>>27679561
Well as long as I get paid. It's probably better then most other jobs I've had.

Speaking of which, we've got to start sending junk back to EE or we're going to get in trouble.

>>27679561
<So, did you figure out a way to recharge runes?>

>>27679599
Yeah, send some stuff back.

Even a crayon drawing with how the runes work might be enough. Illustrate the central crystal is the power bank, and tell them that's what we're looking for.

>>27679599
I don't really recall but I don't think she was paying us. I agree with the second sentence though, we should ask her about those notes.

>>27679561

<I don't mind being an assistant. by the way, could you help me with sending info and Runes back to my employer? they're starting to get a bit agitated.>

we also need to recharge our earth rune, if she changed that already.
>I forgot if she did.

>>27679561
<I've done a lot of jobs throughout my life, but wizarding assistant is probably one of the better ones.>

>>27679630
I'd prefer that we just mention that we know they are being powered by an external source, and that they care not for alignment of the user. Don't draw the thing or they'll know we've found it.

Say that we have hints that anyone can make more runes, if they know the right ritual, but we don't yet know the ritual. We are currently investigating that.

<No, it's fine. I thought you might like to keep notes of all the people in your employ.>
<I couldn't really care about things like that. I just like having an extra pair of hands.>
<Well, as long as I get paid, it's probably better than most other jobs I've had.> You say.
<... Oh! Right!> She says. <I forgot to pay you. I'll get you some money by the end of the day.>
<So, did you figure out a way to recharge runes?>
<Oh, yeah, I already planned out the changes I need to make.> She says. <I just need to head down there.>

<By the way, could you help me with sending info and runes back to my employer? They're starting to get a bit agitated.>
<Oh, right!> She says. <I forgot about those too. I already scribbled these down.>
She reaches into her cloak, and pulls out some wrinkled notes. They're covered in scribbles, but you do see the runes pointing arrows to the crystal, and arrows point from the crystal to a drawing of flame.
<I put a bit of lies in here with the truth, of course, but this should please your other employers. How's this?>
You take a look at it, and nod. It seems to be good enough. You spend a short time writing a letter to them, saying that there *might* be a ritual to make more runes or recharge them, but you're still investigating that. Tarda peers over your shoulder, and nods approvingly.
"So." She says, once you seal it and the notes into the envelope. "You have any plans today?"

>Do you? There are a few places you could go, though you may be in danger if you do.

>>27679758
"Well, me and Mal would normally go raid some old ass buildings full of horrible monsters, but he's out of action, so I might take the opportunity to take a day off and heal up. You said you wanted to go swimming, right? Could do that, I suppose."

>>27679758
"Same plan as every day: Try not to die."

"Is there anything else in the catacombs beneath the temple?"
Maybe there's something nearby we can dungeoneer into.

>>27679758
Maybe go check out those weird figures we saw on the horizon when we took to the skies upon Steve?

>>27679758
<Mal! Bro! I sold the loot. We both made two thousand big ones.>

>>27679758

"Well, If I can help you change the crystal so it can recharge that would be great, I'm running low on a few of them."

>Earth and Time being the more important ones to recharge.

We should make sure Marcus doesn't follow Tarda around when she goes to her lab or make sure to let her know he might try to do that.

>>27679815
>Those were actually the ruins of the building you retrieved Rebel's Core from.

"Well, me and Mal would normally go raid some old-ass buildings full of horrible monsters, but he's out of action. I might take the opportunity to take a day off and heal up. You said you wanted to go swimming, right? Could do that, I suppose."
"Too busy." She says. "Today, at least. Have a naga to dissect, the Runic Project to calibrate, and a superweapon to complete."
"Well, if I can help you change the crystal so it can recharge, that would be great. I'm running low on a few of them."
"No need. Should be simple enough." She says, and looks above her. <I just need you to distract Marcus so that he doesn't follow me. I don't trust that kid.>
"Hey, is there anything else in the catacombs beneath the temple?" You ask.
"Yeah." She says. "There's quite a lot, actually. Beneath the catacombs are these caves that span every which way. There are some monsters, down there. Mostly trogs, and a few feral mutants moved in sometime in the last sixteen years. Might be some hidden passages or secret treasure caches, though."

You nod, and turn to Mal.
<Hey, Mal.> You say. <I sold the loot. We both made two thousand big ones, bro.>
<That's awesome.> He responds, shooting you a grin.

"Wait, if you actually don't have much to do today, I do have something you could do." Tarda says. You look up.
"Help me with my superweapon. That girl was handy last time, with her Talent, but I mostly need brute strength now."

>>27679923
No summarily conscripting Ann.

>>27679923

"I can be a brute if I try hard enough."

caves to investigate later!

>>27679923
"Sure, let's do it. What does it do? Kill everyone and drain their souls?"

>>27679923
If I do something like that I won't have enough energy for anything else today. I won't even be able to snuggle with Mal or anything!

"Sure, let's do it." You say. "I can be a brute if I try hard enough."
"Good." She says. "You'll mostly be holding silver bars in place while I inscribe them and start chanting. Really, I could do it myself if I had four hands."
"What does it do? Kill everyone and drain their souls?"
"Not quite." She says. "I want it to be a surprise when I finish it. So much of a surprise that I'm making it as abstractly as possible, and enchanting it to take its true form when it's ready... But first, I dissect the naga and you buy me some clothes. I'll reimburse you whenever I find my money."

You nod, finish up your meal, and make your way out to the caravan.
"Do you mind if I had a bit more business?" You ask.
"Hm?" He responds.
"I'm looking to buy some clothes." You say, and jerk your head towards Tarda behind you- who was doing a rather good job of dragging the Naga toward the temple.
"What kind?" He asks, and reveals that he's almost got an entire crate full of various clothes- most of them mediocre-quality- that you think would fit her. You could probably find anything you'd want...

While you decide, Dalton puts a hand on your shoulder.
"Oh, I got that guardsman armor." He says. "As well as a pushblade, from my friend in the capital. If you have the money to buy it, I'll be happy if you take it off my hands. The pushblade, too. I've no need of either of them."

>Do you want to buy Guardsman armor? You have more than enough.
>Also, Anything specific you want to get for Tarda? This isn't actually that important, unless you wanted to dress her in something rediculous or expensive, or you could just grab the most mundane things you can.

>>27680118

get the armor, the blade and find some soft clothes, Tarda doesn't need expensive stuff as long as it is comfortable and not totally hideous.

>>27680118
Get clothes that will last. I doubt Tarda will ever consider getting replacements anyway.

Get the armor and the blade, and make sure it fits.

>>27680118
Get the guardsman armor and just get Tarda some decent clothes, no need for anything expensive. Also, do we have a secondary melee weapon like a dagger in case we lose our spear in combat? If no then I say we get the pushblade too.

>>27680118
Grab her something rugged and something flattering. Buy the armor and the pushblade.

You find Tarda some basic clothes her size, putting priority in making sure it's comfortable and hardy. Simple woolen blouses and skirts, mostly. After paying the caravaneer, you turn to Dalton.
"I'll take both the blade and the armor." You say. "Do you know if it'll fit?"
"It's one size fits none." He reminds you, and brings it out. The guardsman armor is a simple plate over your chest, slanted forward, with a thick longcoat over that, small plates woven into the tough black leather. A few moments later, notice that the overcoat smells like it's been recently dyed. Probably out of lelan colors.
"There." He says. "And pushblade."
You take a look at the pushblade, and pull it onto one hand. You have to remove some of the glove part so that it can fit over your enchanted gauntlet, but it seems fine to you. With your other hand you extend the blade proper, and bolt it in place. Waving it around, you nod- this thing is almost better quality than your last blade. You sheathe it again, up your new coat's sleeve.

>Aquired: Pushblade. It's essentially an extendable wristblade, made for stabbing, but can slash in a pinch.
>Aquired: Guardsman Armor. Should make it significantly harder to injure you, without unduly slowing you down.

"That looks good on you, friend." The caravaneer says. "Suits you."

>>27680384
"Thanks, maybe now Miriam won't talk my ear off about getting injured so much."

>>27680384
"Injury reduction management suits me too."

"Thanks, Dalton."

"Thanks." You say. "Maybe now Miriam won't talk my ear off about getting injured so much."
"If she talks your ear off, she'll talk your other ear off about how you lost your first." Dalton grumbles. He gives you a chuckle. You pay him, and he makes his way back to his forge.

From there, you see Ann, sitting atop her own house, She looked deep, deep in thought...
"Injury reduction management suits me too." You tell the Caravaneer. You thank him, carrying a small crate of Tarda's new clothes...

And then Tarda returns, utterly covered in black/green ichor.
"Hey." She says, and holds out a pouch made of something sinuous and scaled- like soft snakeskin. You take it, and inside are three dozen teeth, all giving off a pungent, unnatural smell. "I was going to make you new boots to go with that ammopurse, but I had an... idea with the rest of the body. You get my stuff?"

>Naga teeth gained: Not as effective on armored targets.

>>27680643
"Here you go, lord wizard."

"Feel like detailing the idea to little old me?"

>>27680643
"Yeah, I got it right here. Are you done cutting up the naga or should I find something else to do in the meantime?"

"Here you go, lord wizard." You say, and hold out the crate. She looks down at it, and nods. "Feel like detailing the idea to little old me?"
"Turning it into a minion!" She says. "Took out its organs and bones and inscribed them, put them all back in, and set the body in stasis for now. I need to wait for a few weeks until the fourth moon is waxing before I can finish the spell, though."
She rubs her nose, covering it in ichor. She twitches, and suddenly remembers her state.
"... Before I get to work on the crystal, want to go swimming?" She asks, sheepishly. "I need to get all this gunk off of me. It might actually be poisonous."

>>27680799
"Sure, I've never been one for cold waters but I'll join you."

"Minion-ising it won't invoke the wrath of some monster lord will it?"

>>27680799
"Yo Tards is there a way to turn the energy, like the pressure in my steamsling, into energy the runes can use?"

>>27680799
Sure!

How many moons does this world have, anyway?

This is the perfect opportunity to reveal the string bikini we got her. Not that we actually got her one. And not that they exist in setting either.
In fact, that's a terrible idea, forget the whole thing.

>>27680865
Obviously we just all go skinny dipping, because this is clearly a fetish quest.

>>27680865
She's 70 years old. You really want to see all that aged flesh?

>>27680907
She cast a spell to stop/slow aging. She's a little younger then us, I believe.
The real question is why you think that's bad. You call yourself an adventurer?

>>27680865
>String bikinis, as well as other incredibly skimpy clothes, are pretty popular in pureblood nystar. It's a way of showing off how not-mutated you are. If you cover yourself up, you invite questions as to 'is she *really* pureblooded?'
>That said, though, the caravaneer didn't bring anything like that this far. Because there's only two real women in the village. Miriam would murder him if he tried selling to her, and Dalton would murder him if he tried selling to *ann*. and you really don't want to see Leroy in a string bikini.
>Also, there are only four moons.

"Sure." You say. "I've never been one for cold waters, but I'll join you."
The two of you walk toward the beach. You pull off your new armor, your torn up tunic, and set your weapons aside.
"Minion-ising it won't invoke the wrath of some monster lord, will it?"
"There's no such thing." She says. "At least, around here. The temple just called one monster when I tapped into its energy."
You take off your shoes, and start to roll up your pant legs.
"Is there a way to turn energy, like the pressure in my steamsling, into energy the runes can use?"
"Nope." She says. "Magic energy is made up of three things. Leylines, Lifeblood and Soulforce." She says. "Those three can be turned into eachother, but you can't turn any kind of energy into magic."

Then she steps into the ocean, slowly, and cast off her cloak. You follow her. It's actually rather sunny, this early in the morning, but the water's still freezing. Tarda doesn't even seem to notice how cold it is, scrubbing at her hands and shoulders to get the ichor off.

>>27680975
"So, Leylines are just a constant source of energy then? The others seem pretty straightforward."

>>27680975
"Do you not feel cold at all?"

>>27680975
Lay down in the water and enjoy quiet-time.

>>27680975
What happens when you knot leylines together?

Can you make new laylines by using a lot of lifeblood?

"So, leylines are just a constant source of energy, then? The others seem pretty straightforward."
"Not quite." She says, submerging herself up to her shoulders. Magic is a pollution." She says. "Whenever you cast a spell, you can never use *all* of your energy on it. Some of it goes haywire and fades into the atmosphere. That haywire energy builds up. It was a long, long time before leylines started to appear. They're like currents of that... pollution. They aren't easy to tap into and purify, and even harder to use for anything. The other two are easier."

You gently drift into the water as she rambles on about magic, almost babbling.
Then you sit up. "Do you not feel cold at all?"
"Not until you mentioned it." She says, and shivers.

"Hey, what happens when you knot leylines together?"
"Boom." she responds. "If you could, at least. Leylines are almost impossible to control. That's why you need an... anchor. An enchanted location that keeps the leyline from drifting, and serves as a good spot to channel and purify that energy. That's what the temple is. I inherited it from my master."

>>27681153
That's pretty awesome.
I also like it as a setting idea.

How do you anchor leylines? I don't suppose you can just nail them to the wall or anything.

Is that how all permanent magic is powered? So that dragon sphere in the city is anchoring and powered by its own leyline?

>>27681153
"That's handy."

I almost want to waifu her, but I don't really know where to begin.

>I have more about a setting where this is the main point of everything, involving magic mutants and 'static' that makes using magic harder, but that's for a TRPG and not really relevant here. Pop into the IRC sometime and I can talk more about that kind of stuff. Digression aside...

"That's handy. How do you anchor leylines?" You ask.
"Magic." She responds, entirely serious.
You stare at her for a moment. Then sigh.
"Is that how all permenant magic is powered?" You ask. "So that dragon sphere in the city is anchoring and powered by it's own leyline?"
"It's not, actually." She says. "Permenant magic usually needs a sacrifice of lifeblood. Lifeblood is a ... force that keeps on going. If you have enough tamed, you create more energy through that. The taming is... difficult, to say the least. I can hardly deal in it at all."
She rolls her eyes again, and floats back in the water. The ichor floats on top of the water, and you watch it slowly hiss and turn into steam.
"As for the dragon sphere, you're talking about an Anomaly." She continues. "They're called anomalies because they shouldn't exist. We don't know how they work, for the most part."
Then, quite suddenly, she starts giggling to herself. You sit up in the water to give her a look.
"For a second there, I forgot you didn't have the talent. Something about you makes me want to teach you. Even though it'd be useless."

>>27681417
"Hah, you could always teach me, but don't expect any homework on time. Or completed."

>>27681417
"Maybe you just need a friend you can talk to about magic."

>>27681417
Can the talent be learned or gained?

So the water critter's poisonous ichor is made harmless by water? Haha.

>>27681417
"Well, are there other aspects of magic that doesn't require the talent? Maybe making things that do the magic for you?"

>>27681513
>No, no, the ichor's still there. The water is what's steaming.

"Hah, you could always teach me, but don't expect any homework on time. Or completed."
"Your first homework is to cast a simple scry." She says, sardonically. "Tell me when you finish it."
"Well, are there other aspects of magic that doesn't require the talent? Maybe making things that do the magic for you?"
"It's the spell doing all the work, then, not the person." She says.

"Can the talent be learned or gained?"
"Learned, no." She says. "The talent is an aspect of your spirit and body, not your mind." She says. "... As for gained... I'll need more research. Dissection research. Though I doubt anybody would let me take that kind of look at that girl. It might be possible to transplant the talent, but I haven't done much study that way. It'd also likely kill the subject. I'm... not too good with lifeblood research, like I've said."
"Maybe you just need a friend you can talk to about magic." You say.
"Maybe." She says. "But wizards are a paranoid lot, so we don't talk to one another much. The rest of you are under my sight, so none of you could ever be a friend... Maybe that naga, if I can give it a mind. Or rebel! Hm. Maybe I could fuse the two. Give Rebel a body of its own. But that'd mean I'd have to take apart my superweapon to get the core."

>>27681626
I'm not going to let you dissect Ann.

But maybe you could teach her? You said she has the talent, and she seems very skilled with the runes.

Why are wizards paranoid anyway?

What sort of magic do you specialize in, if you aren't good at lifeblood or leylines?

Rolled 46

>>27681626
Cast a simple scry

Can't think of anything else to do.

>>27681626
Can we kill her? I think we should kill her.

She sounds off her rocker.

Rolled 68

>>27681626
I'll do like >>27681714 and try to scry.

>>27681626
"What would happen if I went and exploded the dragon dome?"

>>27681748
I'd rather we not, she's the only wizard around.

>>27681626
"Not even going to hint at your superweapon?"

>>27681860
*at what it is?

"I'm not going to let you dissect Ann."
"I know. Didn't plan to. I don't like killing kids."
A few moments later, she starts to swim back toward the beach. You follow her.

"But maybe you could teach her? You said she has the talent, and she seems very skilled with the runes."
"... I have to think about that." She says. Her voice has taken an entire other tone, through her accent. "You're talking about me taking an apprentice. That's not something you decide quickly."
"What sort of magic do you specialize in, if you aren't good at lifeblood?"
Without any care as to your eyes on her, she strips and changes into some of the clothes you've bought her.
"I specialize in leylines." She says. "Which is why I can do what I can with that temple."
"Why are wizards paranoid anyway?"
"Knowledge." She says, raising a finger. "We're all putting all our lives into our craft. Accruing thousands of years of rituals, inventing our own, putting all our thought and talent and minds into our art. Magic is an illogical, eerie thing that obeys no known law of reality, and it's our duty to learn it. Most of us are insane from this process. But getting your knowledge stolen... it would pervert all this work, with all this effort and with all this passion. But every wizard steals from another, in their own ways. That's why an apprentice is such a big deal. I'd be giving away my knowledge."

You nod, and pull on your gear again.
"What would happen if I went and exploded the dragon dome?" You ask.
"You'd probably just explode the room that it's in. Dragon dome would still be there." She says. "That anomaly isn't very permeable to pretty much anything you can do."
"Aaand are you not even going to hint at your superweapon?"
She gives you a mischevious grin. "Make sure you don't grow any taller before I'm done. Else you won't be able to take it for a ride."
You blink.
"Hey, could you distract the kid who's been stalking me? I'm going to go set the runes to be able to recharge."

>>27681911
"he is pretty bashful, I bet I know one way to keep him from bothering us, "
stroke her cheek, lean in for a kiss.

>>27681911
<Where is he now? Any ideas?>

>>27681957
Jesus christ I can't stop laughing

>>27681911
Is he here now?

Maybe we can go hunting.

>>27681957
Really?
Please no.

>>27681911
<Wait, make yourself invisible, and make me look like you, then I'll go back to town whilst you go do all your magic shit.>

>I'd normally end session around now, but I'll go longer because I want to.

<Wait, make yourself invisible, and make me look like you. Then I'll go back to town whilst you go do all your magic shit.>
<The only invisibility spells I can think of means I need to spend twenty four hours fasting and purified by rosepetals and water.> She says. <Which I'm definitely not going to do. The fasting, I mean.>
<Where is he now? Any ideas?>
<Show him those notes I gave you. There's enough lies in there that he won't be able to figure out what's what.> She says. <And I think he's still in the tavern. Just make sure he doesn't leave toward the temple for now.>

The two of you walk back from the beach. Tarda waves and makes her way into the temple, while you make your way to the tavern.
There you see Marcus eating breakfast. Mal's just grumbling to himself, in another seat, looking at his pouch of coins. There's a blank paper in front of him, as well as an inkwell, but he hasn't touched either of them. You make your way toward Marcus.
"Good morning, sir." He says. "You look like you're better armed and armored than before."

>>27682011
This sounds good, but maybe she could make an illusion of herself instead? The guy would probably wonder why we suddenly disappeared.

>>27682050
"Yeah. I suffer less grievous bodily harm this way as well."

>>27682050
I grew tired of nearly dying to horrible beasties.

You did quite a number on that Jackalope. Where did you learn those tricks?

>>27682050
"Yes, I deemed it necessary to increase the chances of my survival, especially considering the creatures around here. I won't complete my job if I'm dead." The kid seems like he appreciates logic more than anything else.

"I deemed it necessary to increase my chances of survival, especially considering the creatures around me." You say, and take a seat. "Speaking of which, you did quite a number on that jackalope. Where did you learn those tricks?"
"From the Talon School." He responds. "The instructors didn't quite know how to deal with me, so they all tried their hands at training me. I think I did rather well."
Then, almost imperceptibly, the boy twitches.
"I almost wished I'd been able to fight that naga." He says. His tone is quiet, almost casual compared to everything else he's said. "That would have been an interesting challenge."

Behind you, Miriam takes a letter outside to the caravaneer.

"This meteor knife might not have worked on it, though." Marcus says, in that same strange tone. "Corrosive blood and venom would melt through the cable, I think..."

>>27682185
"Yeah don't worry, it wasn't too tough. You didn't miss out on a lot."

>>27682185
"Probably. Killing something without touching it in any way is pretty tough. I had to use runes to do it."

>>27682185
"Meteor knife? What is that?"

>>27682185
I shattered its armour with magic, then fell spear first on its heart. If you could get past its scales you probably could have managed to end it without too much trouble.
I think it is best not to attract the attention of more of them, though. One leg is a rather large price to pay.

We'll have to talk to Miriam and Mal about various things later. Namely EE and such.

Have you had any more luck with the runes, Marcus?

"I shattered it's scales with magic, then fell spearfirst on it. Then finished it off with more magic." You say. "If you could get past its scales, you could probably have managed to end it without too much trouble. But what's a Meteor Knife?"
"This." He says, and sets his knife on the table. It's a simple, exotically curved knife. Out of the hilt, a steel cable sat, coiling quite a long distance to the other end, where a thick iron weight sat. From what you can see, it's been through a lot of action. "The weight of the heavy end can shatter trees or punch through armor, if I can get momentum going. The cable can stop enemy weapons, and the knife has its own uses. It's the reason I ended up in the Talon school."

You look at Mal, and he's simply staring at the coinpuse, mumbling under his breath. He seems restless, but when he finally starts to get to his feet, Miriam comes by to make sure he sits again.
"Have you had any more luck with the runes, Marcus?"
"None, sir." He says. "Though I suspect that woman knows quite a few things. She is kystaran... perhaps she's even a wizard."
He's testing you. You can tell that he's *certain* she's a wizard, and knows something about the runes.

>>27682358
"Saved my life and reattached Mal's leg, without asking anything in return. That's a queer sort of evil."

>>27682358
I thought the same. I got some limited information out of her, but it is to my understanding that the wizards were incredibly secretive. They rarely wrote down their work or taught others.

Show him the book.

This is what I know so far. See if you can make sense of it.

>>27682358
"I'm pretty sure she is. Strange monsters turn up when she arrives, and she knows a bit about runes. I grabbed some of these papers from the town hall, by the way. Looks like it's to do with the runes or something."

"I thought the same." You say. "I got some limited information out of her, but it's to my understanding that the wizards were incredibly secretive. They rarely wrote down their work or taught others."
You hold out the notes she'd given you.
"This is what I have so far. See if you can make sense of it." You say.
His eyes widen. Hook, line, and sinker.
"Something about forging a heart for the runes to... breathe from?" He asks. "This is really helpful. It's alluding to a bunch of rituals... or something..."
He looks up to you. "May I copy what you have? I'm not good with the language, but this is a very good head start."

>>27682459
Be careful about who you give the information to, Marcus. These are dangerous secrets.

>>27682459
"Yeah, I got the same impression. Guess we'll just have to raid the town hall a few more times, see if it turns up anything useful."

>>27682459
While he's studying, go poke Mal.
But keep an eye on Marcus, of course.

"Yeah, I got the same impression." You say. "But be careful who you give the information to, Marcus. These are dangerous secrets."
"I'm simply copying it for now, and I'll code it later." He says. "There's no need to worry, sir."
You tap your chin. "I suppose we'll have to raid the town hall a few more times. See if it turns up anything useful."
"I guess, sir." He says, and starts scrawling. Time passes as he does so.

<Hey, bro.> Mal says, finally. <You mind writing that letter to EE for me? The one asking him to come here so I can negotiate. Caravan's here at last, after all.>
He reaches down to scratch at the sutures that connected his leg to his thigh, but Miriam appeared out of nowhere to slap at his hand, before vanishing just as quickly as she'd arrived.

>>27682622
<You're tempting fate, bro.>

<What do you want the letter to say?>

>>27682622
You're her patient now, bro. There is no escape. You're done.

I can write that letter for you, for sure. I suppose we have the money to pay for it now.

>>27682622
<Hey, maybe if we're lucky, I'll get some time off and we can go visit Galdia.>

<You're her patient, now.> You say, your voice low. <There is no escape. You're done.>
<I'll never be free.> He grumbles.
<I can write that letter for you, for sure.> You say. <I suppose we have the money to pay for it now.>
<I have the money, specifically.> He says. <Not going to make you pay for my family's business.>

You start to write, getting into the semi-professional tones you always did with your employers.
Behind you, Marcus finishes copying it down. He clears his throat to catch your attention.
"I'm finished, sir. Your notes." He says, holding them out. You take them and check them, before pocketing them again.

You didn't have long, though, before Mal suddenly shoves the letter he's gotten in front of you.
<But hey, I got good news!> He says. <Turns out one of my half-sisters has a bit of beastmastery! And she's cute. Look at this sketch.>
Beastmastery. The rare galdian ability to command monsters, and control them- even wild ones, or the enormous ones they call Tarrasques. You don't know how they do it, but beastmasters are incredibly respected.
<She is.> You say, and shoot him a grin. <Hey, maybe if we're lucky, I'll get some time off and we can go visit galdia.>
<Psh, you just want me to set you up with my half-sister.> He says, and chuckles. <But hey, you did give me my leg back. Maybe I'll let her go. Reluctantly.>

>>27682837
<Nah, it's fine. You don't date your friend's sisters. It goes against some kind of code.>

>>27682837
Maybe. We both have to manage to not die here first, thought.

That's a lucky break for your sister. Will that help your family out?

>>27682837
<Well, if I go, maybe I can persuade Tarda to go as well. Maybe you can work your magic on her, bro.>

<Nah, it's fine.> You say. <You don't date your friends' sisters. It goes against some kind of code.>
<Maybe in Lelan.> He responds. <In Galdia, you date whoever you want. Most of my sisters and halfsisters aren't even related to me by blood, so there's that.>
He shrugs, and grins.
<Well, if I go, maybe I can persuade Tarda to go as well. Maybe you can work your magic on her, bro.>
<... Well. Speak of the evil wizard, and she shall appear.> He responds.
You turn back and see Tarda in a woolen dress, pulling open the door.

<Hey, assistant.> Tarda says, in kystaran. <I need your help, now, with my superweapon.>
Mal waves, and Tarda returns a halfhearted one.
<We don't have all day.> She adds. <I have to lay most of the spellwork at sunset. And I can teach you how to recharge runes while I get things prepared.>

In Galdian, Mal grumbles to himself <Aw man, she isn't even paying me any attention. Guess she only pays attention to other people who can use magic. I hope I have some beastmastery or something...>
<You got your leg bitten off by a naga.> You respond.
<Hey, naga are *monsters*. Even the strongest Mastery doesn't work on monsters.> He says, and sighs.

>>27682996
Maybe you just need to do something impressive with the runes to get her attention?
It looks like she'll be hard to woo. You've got your work cut out for you.

After we're out of earshot from Marcus, ask: Tarda, do you know anything about the shroud? Is it anything like a leyline?

>>27682996
<I can't use magic though brooooo!> As we walk out the door

<Your stalker copied the notes. Looks like we're clear for a while.>

<It looks like she'll be hard to woo.> You say. <You've got your work cut out for you, bro.>
He grumbles to himself, and tries to scratch at the seam again. Miriam slaps his hand again.
You get to your feet, and make your way over to Tarda. The two of you walk outside, under the noonday sun, and you follow her as she climbs up to the top of the temple.

<Hey, do you know anything about the Shroud in Nystara? Is it anything like the leyline?>
<No clue.> She says. <But I doubt it's magical. If it were, it wouldn't care if the purebloods hid in their arcologies. It'd just do what it does no matter how pure their air is.

You look around, and see Ann, just like she'd been before. She's sitting on the roof, deep in thought.
She almost looks... worried.

Then you recall last night. She'd woken up while you were talking to Dalton about why he had to leave. You have the impression that the two had an important talk after that...
"Hey, <Assistant>."She says, using the kystaran word almost like a pet name. "C'mon, help me."

You look at her arrangement of enchanted silver. It's all connected to itself, in strange shapes that remind you of a spiderweb, with the Rebel core sitting at the heart and crackling silently. Tarda slowly walks you through where to bend the silver in certain locations, and eventually, she grins.
"There. Hold it like that. We have a long day ahead of us." She says. "And now, Mudimuna, the Indomitable Project, begins."
She gives the Rebel Core a cold, cold smile.
"Kaederi won't know what hit him."

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

>>27683238
Thanks for running extra long!

>>27683238
>Kaederi won't know what hit him.
Maybe we should label it. It would have been really hard to find out what Failure or Rebel were without Tarda telling us. And that insanity-inducing time bubble didn't even have a single warning sign! Wizards are so irresponsible.

>>27683580
>You gently affix the bronze plaque on front of the completed weapon, making sure it's bright enough to pop out in front of the SPOILERS SPOILERS. It does. You step back, and give it an approving nod.
>"What's that?" Tarda asks, tilting her head.
>The plaque in front of you says 'INDOMITABLE PROJECT. DANGER TO ASSHOLE WIZARDS. RUN, KAEDERI'.
>"It's what it looks like." You say.
>Tarda nods. "Perfect." She responds.

>>27683667
Can it fly, hover, and boost?

Because it should.