>>29257905
We should put a relatively easy hunt into an old item and trade it with that gem. To anyone but a shardkeeper that is all but a pretty gem, but a shard-imbued item is useful and precious to anyone. The trade should be beneficial for both sides.

>>29257905
>Practice some Soul ritual.
Put swamp viper into our bow.

>>29257905
>Practice some Soul ritual.
Lets try putting the snake in our quiver.

>>29258095
>>29258124

(( One for the quiver, and one for the bow. Without a tiebreaker, I'll be deciding randomly in just a moment here. ))

>>29258230
one more for the bow

File: 1388785983866.gif-(941 KB, 398x223, both.gif)

941 KB GIF

>>29258230
Not like we have somewhere else to be.

>>29258230
>bow

>>29258230
Both, i would also like to see the venom spirit in the quiver,and the boots.

>>29258230
Can we put crystals in containers and jewlery?this is a bit meta from the other quest that has a similar system and i'm checking if its possible here as well.

>>29258271
>>29258095

Attempting to clear today's business from your head, you take a seat in one of the building's more secluded exterior corners and remove your boots. Quite frankly, this particular infusion isn't terribly useful to you at the moment; seated still with the footwear in your lap and your hands hanging motionlessly a few inches above them, it takes you several minutes to collect yourself enough to begin the Shard recrystallization. Despite your weary body and mind, the process is familiar to you, and the pair of boots return to their normal form as the Shard comes together in your hands.

You don't spare much time in deciding what to do with it. The image of the Viper appears in your mind as you allow your spiritual presence to make contact with the Soul within, and you recall your battle in the swamp, leaping skyward toward the airborne creature with an arm extended, intent on finishing the fight and capturing its essence. Power surges forth from beneath the crystalline surface as the Shard breaks apart in your hand, and you apply it to your bow, watching as the “cosmetic damage” is almost instantly reversed. The splintered wood surrounding the grip folds perfectly back into the weapon's surface, and the weapon's curve grows deeper and more savage-looking. A layer of snakeskin, reminiscent of the swamp viper's, grows toward either of the weapon's ends from the center; three fangs grow on either side of the grip, evenly spaced apart.

>Shard Infusion – Viper Strike: The predatory instincts of the Soul within impress themselves upon the weapon's wielder; arrows loosed from this bow the form of poisonous projectiles that, given appropriate distance, will snake toward the vital points of the target.

What will you do?
>Might as well give it a shot.
>We're just experimenting, for now—try another Infusion. (Description)
>Other

>>29258625
>>Might as well give it a shot.

>>29258625
That's a great one. Let's keep it. I wonder though, will the poison spoil the game hit by it for consuming?

>>29258697
>>29258625
I want to check out its other forms before settling on it, but yeah it is a good fusion.
>>29258625
>>We're just experimenting, for now—try another Infusion. (Description)
Lets try out the other shards on the bow.

>>29258625
>give it a shot

>>29258696
>>29259012

You stand, circling around to get a good shot at the archery target with your new weapon. You ready an arrow, leveling the bow at your target; you take aim at the center, and your vision unexpectedly focuses. Despite the darkening sky overhead, the grass lot between you and the archery target becomes clearer. You prepare to loose the arrow, and all except the center of the target fades away for a moment.

A soft, green glow emerges from the head of the arrow, and grows across each inch of the shaft as it passes the bow; by the time it's fully left the string, it's a glowing projectile that leaves a streak through the air behind it, illuminating the ground below. It reaches the target, dead center, faster than you expect, and you jog forward to inspect the damage. Upon contact, the projectile seems to have returned to its original form; a radius of an inch or two around the point of impact appears to be burned black, and as you reach to retrieve the arrow, it falls to the ground in a shower of wood splinters, bits of the canvas target disintegrating to dust.

“Well, I guess I was due to replace that sooner or later...” There's footsteps from behind you, and you turn to see Daeron, who approaches with a sigh.

“Ah, sorry.” You shake your head. “I didn't mean to...”

“Nah, it's alright.” He responds, making his way past you and kneeling next to the target. “After that whole dragon incident, I don't think I can expect 'normal' with you around here—no offense, that is. Nice shot, by the way. The, uh, Shard-stuff is definitely more impressive in person than Sonia made it sound. She says you're going to teach her how to do it?”

>Continued

>>29259230

“It was just a thought.” Recalling Skeith's words, you grow a bit nervous. “She might have the potential, is all. I'm not even sure if I'm ready to take on an apprentice.”

“I see you. That's responsibility, right?” The bowman chuckles, standing up and beginning to walk towards Callestria proper. “I'm sure you'll figure it out. Enjoyed your first day in the big city?”

“More or less.” You respond, then pause. “Where are you headed?”

“I'm off to have a drink.” He responds. “Care to join me? Seems like there's a lot on your mind.”

What will you say?
>”Why not?”
>”I've got work to do. Maybe some other time?”
>Other

>>29259260
>>”Why not?”

Let's hang out with someone who isn't a girl for once.

>>29259260
>why not

>>29259260
Eh i reserve my judgement for the majority.

Rolled 19

>>29259260
>>”Why not?”
Lets get smashed

>>29259260
>Why not?”
we dont have anything else to do anyways.

>>29259374
>>29259368
>>29259287

“So, where are we going?” You ask, following Daeron through the streets. The city looks almost completely different now; with the sun setting soon, the lanterns have been lit. It seems many of the stalls from earlier have closed up shop, and many of the people that walked the city's streets have retired to their homes.

“Little place 'round Ash Street. I'm sure you've got a rough idea of where that is.” Daeron responds. “Sonia did give you the full tour, right?”

“...Yeah, mostly.” You shrug.

“Right. Well, s'called the Squire's Lodge. Apparently, it's an old place they used to quarter soldiers back in the day.” The two of you round a corner; almost instantly, the buildings around you look a bit more worse for wear, the streets becoming darker as the placement of streetlights becomes less frequent. You recall your tour guide's words regarding this being a 'bad part of town', and begin instinctively checking your corners. “Whatever the case, now it's an inn and tavern.”

The walk isn't a whole lot longer, and you look both ways as you make your way down the Ash Street sidewalk until you arrive at the tavern, with Daeron escorting you inside. You take a look at the setup of the building. The bartender, wearing a black cloth vest, moves back and forth behind the wide counter, perpetually serving and cleaning mugs. Though you can't say anything you've experienced thus far feels like home, place itself isn't too bad-looking, all things considered. The bar counter isn't the only seating; smaller table-and-chairs setups are situated in front of the windows around the outside of the room. In the corner of the place, you see the beginning of a stair-rail that likely leads to rooms upstairs.

>Continued

“Oy.” Daeron waves the barkeep over as the two of you are seated at the counter.

“Ah, there he is.” The young man behind the counter grins, approaching the two of you. “Was wondering if I'd see you in here again. What, fallen on hard times?”

“Yeah, yeah. Something like that.” The bowman responds.

“Who's your friend? Haven't seen him around.” The barkeep asks, turning to face you. “You new in town?”

“Met him out hunting.” Daeron interjects. “He's staying with the crew and I for a while.”

“Right, then. What'll it be?”

“Something for a pair of weary travelers? Surprise me.”

The barkeep returns to his work for a moment before passing the two of you a pair of mugs. Daeron drinks eagerly, raising an eyebrow at your hesitation from behind his drink. As you raise yours to your lips, you note the heady scent and pronounced bitterness—there's far too many things here to get used to. The sound here is a pleasant contrast from the quiet of your workshop, though; the combined conversations of the bar patrons surrounding you suitably fills the air, and you look around a bit.

At two of the nearby bar stools, you note a clearly-intoxicated man making pass after pass at a personable-looking woman—looking about Rebecca's age—who's doing all she can to ignore him. In one corner, there's a red-haired woman, dressed in studded leather, writing some sort of document. Propped against the wall near her table, you see a large sword of glinting steel. There's a sound, like music, from the opposite corner, and you look over your shoulder to see a shaggy-haired pauper picking out absorbed melodies on a long-bellied lute, with a few individuals at his table, listening intently as he begins to play a lullaby you remember from home.

“A bit overwhelmed, Erick?” Your vision snaps back to Daeron, who laughs, goading you into another sip. “How's Callestria treating you? Seems like there's something big on your mind.”

>What will you do?

>>29260343
So much is new, it's a lot to get used to.

>>29260343
"A lot to take in and there are a lot on my mind too. What do you do when you are not out hunting with the team?"

>>29260343
"Just thinking about things my weapon told me."

>>29260343
"just thinkeng bout spirit stuff"

>>29260673
>>29260463

“A lot to take in, and there's a lot on my mind too. Spirit stuff.” You nod. Back with Nicholas and Mathilde, it seemed best, in regards to helping others and sending the right message, to be open about your capabilities as a Shardkeeper, even if no one south of your home knows what a Shardkeeper is. If there really is someone out to get you, though, perhaps you'll have to rethink your attitude to keep things on the down-low.

“Right, that's your profession, isn't it? You've got to communicate with them, huh?” The bowman nods. “I don't know much about that kind of stuff. Sometimes Sonia won't shut up about some goddamn bird of hers... That'd be the extent of my knowledge.”

“Yeah, she's... energetic.” You roll your eyes, taking another sip of your drink as if you're expected to. “What do you do when you're not out hunting with the team?”

“This, mostly.” Daeron shrugs. “To be quite honest, there isn't a whole lot else for me to do. Hunting is the path I chose, and I get everything I need from my work. For anything my income can't solve, though, I come here. Seems reasonable, right?”

“I guess.” As you begin to speak, you feel an odd, spiritual pulse—a strange presence, from somewhere neither terribly close, nor terribly far away—that swells up and fades away almost immediately. You cock an eyebrow and turn to one side, but look back at the bowman to avoid seeming suspicious.

>Continued

>>29261018

“I'm a little bit estranged from my family, actually.” He chuckles. “Our men have always been with the guard, and with the government. Generations before that, they were in the military. Got a brother who's a prison warden, or something, but we don't talk much.”

“If that's the case, why are you a hunter?” You ask.

“Eh, all that business takes discipline. You've got to be an upright kind of guy.” He takes a long drink, then clears his throat. “Unfortunately, I'm not one of those. I prefer things this way, anyway. Get to do what I want. Is there anything better?”

What will you do?
>Other

>>29261050
"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."

>>29261050
>It's a matter of preference, I guess.

>>29261106
>but
>>29261114

>>29261050
If we detect that spiritual presence again, try to determine if it's closer or further away than it was before.

Also, ask Daeron if the town has a library.

>>29261106
Can we please not make this reference? They won't understand it and I doubt our character would either.

>>29261106
No, it is completely out of character. We haven't even been to a war yet.

>>29261050
"So is it all drinking here or do you have some other way to pass time?"

>>29261050
Try to look for that spiritual pulse.

>>29261106

Hell no.

Guys, actively looking for that magical thing makes it likely for whateever it is to notice us. We should keep our senses sharp for it but not use anything spiritual.

“It's a matter of preference, I guess.”

“I think you and I are gonna get along pretty well, Erick.” The bowman chuckles. “What was it you said on the road, that you got thrown out of your village by some big-shot? See, it's those 'disciplined' types, like the ones running the city, and the ones you see in the colors with their swords and shields, that think they know what's right for everyone else, isn't it? But it's folks like us that are the ones really doing some good. I bet they wish they had you back already.”

“Yeah.” You sigh, and your fingers drift to the pouch on your belt as you recall Eisa's tearful goodbye. You follow Daeron's advice, though, casting the image aside with another sip. “So, is it all drinking here, or do you guys have some other way to pass the time?”

“Usually, it's all business. Not that I want to imply that I don't get a kick out of my work.” He shrugs. “The people that, uh, aren't completely absorbed in their jobs try to make their own fun, of course. There's plenty of ways to accomplish that, this being one of 'em. You've just got to take a look around. Sometimes we'll get new stuff in the museum, if you're the type that gets a kick out of historical junk...”

“You have a library?” You ask.

“Yeah, that too. There's one on, what's it, Crown? Can't see what you'd be interested in reading over there, though.”

What will you do?
>Attempt to locate or identify the spiritual presence.
>Ask something about one of the other group members. (Write-in)
>Ask if Daeron knows any of the other bar patrons.
>Ask something about Callestria. (Write-in)
>Finish your drink!

>>29261562
>Attempt to locate that presence

>>29261562
>>Attempt to locate or identify the spiritual presence.

>>29261562
>Ask if Daeron knows any of the other bar patrons.
That woman writing somethig seems interesting sort.

>>29261562
>>Attempt to locate or identify the spiritual presence.

>>29261604
>>29261650
>>29261905

You clear your head, elevating your own spiritual presence in an attempt to locate the one you felt before. At first, there's nothing—then, it flares up in response, and you feel a sudden change. It seems closer now than before, then dies back down.

You know you've felt it before, but it's too muddled for you to tell where from.

>>29261792

“You alright, Erick?” Daeron asks.

“Just thinking about something.” You nod. “Hey, do you know anyone else here?”

“'Course! Though, maybe not by name, but I do come by all the time.” He leans in, lowering his voice. “Who've you got in mind?”

“Her.” With your thumb, you gesture to the red-haired woman in the opposite corner.

“Oh, uh. Actually, I've had my eye on her too, to be honest.” Daeron says, giving you a nervous look. “Never seen her before in my life, actually! She's a pretty thing, isn't she?”

What will you do?
>Other

>>29261972
UUh
not that kind of interest
right?

>>29261972
>Keep looking out for the soul.

"Let's go meet her."

Rolled 5

>>29261972
"Indeed"
Join her table and see if shes up for a drink

>>29261972
Again, please stop actively looking for trouble people. Don't lead this spirit thing our way. Lets have a day off please.

>>29261972
"What do you know about her?" Learn what he know then send him her way "I'll go over if you don't." and lets go back home.

>>29262044

Well, for me anyway, considering she's about a decade older than us.

/tg/ cannot into descriptions apparently.

>>29262104
This.

>>29262242

(( This one isn't! I was describing a couple different people there, so it might have been unclear. The individual in question here seems a bit older than Erick, though by a year or two rather than a decade. ))

>>29262044
>>29262050

“I wasn't interested in her like -that-.” You sigh.

"...You'll have to forgive me, then."

“Want to go meet her, though?”

“Of course. See? You're learning fast.” Daeron chuckles; you get the feeling he's easy to please. “Just takes a bit of loosening up, is all. Come along! I'll lead the way.”

You stagger as you rise from your chair, then, regaining balance, follow him as he saunters across the room to the woman's table and slides into a chair.

“Hello, there! First of all, might I say that's an excellent blade you've got there.” He's right; the greatsword looks well-kept, and you imagine takes significant training to wield properly. “My companion and I are new in town, and we were just wondering what a lady like you'd be doing in a place like this?”

Your eye twitches. Alright, so that wasn't the approach you had in mind.

“Uh.” The woman looks up from her work, setting her pen down and gritting her teeth for a moment before speaking. “I work with the city guard. Currently, I'm writing up some insurance reports from an incident in the merchant district a couple of days ago, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother me.”

Daeron stalls. You don't speak, but you notice that she's not wearing anything that even bears resemblance to a uniform or city colors. She's thumbed ahead of her work to hide it, but what she's writing in appears to be a personal journal, if anything.

What will you do?
>Daeron's done enough damage. Let's grab him and go home.
>Join the conversation. Can't get any worse than this, right? (Write-in)
>Other

>>29262402
>>Other

Let Daeron drop his spaghetti while you try to find the soul presence.

>>29262402
>>Join the conversation. Can't get any worse than this, right? (Write-in)
Ask her more about her blade.

>>29262402
>You stagger as you rise from your chair, then, regaining balance,
What? We haven't even finished one mug yet.

>>29262402
>>Daeron's done enough damage. Let's grab him and go home.

>>29262443
Yeah this. Apologize for butting into her business and take the conversation away from what she was writing.

>>29262402
>Join the conversation. Can't get any worse than this, right? (Write-in)

"Sorry for disturbing you while you're busy writing up reports. I'm Erick.

What happened in the merchant district anyways?"

“Sorry for intruding on you while you're writing reports.” You nod. “You said something happened in the merchant district, right? What was it?”

“Oh, uh.” She starts a bit, and begins to recite a story that doesn't sound terribly legitimate. “A robbery, actually. Huge smash-and-grab. You didn't hear about it? People were smashed, things were grabbed, it was terrible. That's all?”

“And you're the one handling the insurance reports? What a pain. Certainly seems like serious business to be doing in a place of pleasure, though.” Daeron continues. Alright, not a bad recovery. “Why've you got your blade with you, then?”

“I've got it because... none of your business.” The woman appears exasperated. “Now, if you're quite done harassing me, I'm about overdue on these reports, and would like to get them done before the night's over with.”

“Sorry about that.” You chime in, first prodding Daeron, then beginning to pull him away from the table. “My friend doesn't know when to stop. We'll let you get right back to it. It was nice to meet you, by the by. The name's Erick—and my friend here's called Daeron.”

“Ah, right. Elizabeth.” She responds, immediately returning to her work. “Nice meeting you too, whatever.”

“Come on, Erick! We were just getting started!” The two of you make it halfway across the room before he stops and rolls his eyes at you. “I had her right where I wanted her.”

“She was about to punch you in the face.”

“Right where I wanted her, Erick!”

>Continued

>>29262968

There's a strange feeling, suddenly, like a displacement of energy. As you begin toward the bar counter, you feel the power of Soul impressed upon you. The bar's conversation gives way to brief sounds of surprise and silence, as the ground shakes for a moment, filling the air with the sounds of shifting tables and dishes.

”Shardkeeper? For your own safety, I believe it important to inform you that the entity nearby has followed you home.”

What will you do?
>Other

>>29262998
Do we have our bow on us? Ready our weapons.

>>29262998
How can it follow us home? Aren't we still at the bar? Is it near home when we are at the bar? Or is it closing on in the bar?

>>29262998
Get our weapon ready and stay on the lookout for anything following us.

>>29262998
Thanks Skeith.

Mildly freak out.
Ready weapons.
>Skeith is still in dagger right?

>>29262998
Make a quick exit, get to somewhere less crowded, and where it's easier to see anyone coming at us.

Get our weapons ready, be prepared for something nasty.

>>29263118
>>29263049

(( Pastebin updated. ))

>>29262998
Time to leave the bar.

“What was that?” Daeron looks at you, panicked.

“Daeron, we've got to get out of here, now.” You ready the Viper Strike, attempting to locate the nearby entity. “Skeith, what do you mean it followed us home? Is it at the lodge, or is it closing in on us now?”

No response.

The earth is shaken again, but this time it's accompanied by the sound of an explosion. The bar patrons are roused into a panic as light floods through the windows; even from here, you can feel the building being bathed in heat. You rush outside; down the street the way you came, you see the red drake from the forest. The glossy black spines on its body are illuminated by the streetlights and stars overhead, but moreso, by the building adjacent, consumed completely in flames, with a wall of smoke billowing skyward.

Atop the drake's head stands a humanoid form, obscured by a robe and mask; you can't make out any particular detail from here. You skid to a stop, barely clearing the sidewalk, and the drake and rider stop in their tracks as well, vision fixated on you.

What will you do?
>Other

>>29263537
>turn around
>run very fast
>live

>>29263537
Bounce. Out a window preferably.

>>29263537
Run.

>>29263537
Tell Daeron to run and not go home till he is sure he is in the clear.
Split with him and try to shake the dragon adn its rider. At least drive them away.

>>29263537
Shoot at the figure.

>>29263537

Shoot the figure and fucking run to somewhere that'll result in less collateral casualties.

>>29263537
We have a bow, and I don't think this guy is here to negotiate.

Time to shoot some poisonous arrows as we can at him, tell Skeith to keep his presence quiet until we need him. We want him to be as big a surprise as possible, if we catch him off guard with Venom Fang, especially since it's someone that Skeith ought to hate, we might just be able to gut the fucker.

As we're shooting him with arrows try to head somewhere less inhabited.

>>29263537
Say Hi. Obviously.

>>29263537
Draw our bow and shoot him. Feel free to say hi while doing this, ask what brings him here.

Then get moving, take tight corners as dragons might not be the best at quickly changing direction.

>>29263875
>implying it will bother to change directions

>>29263537
Take a closer look at the figure. Is it female?

>>29263939
I am sure it is.

>>29263952
Maybe our master's other apprentice has a strange way of saying hello.

>>29263615
>>29263595
>>29263736

“Is that...” Daeron joins you on the sidewalk, the two of you waiting to fight or run. Around you, bar patrons flood out of the doors and scatter, terrified of the spectacle unfolding down the street.

“Daeron. Run, and don't go home until you're sure you're in the clear.” You begin backing away. “We'll split up and try to shake this thing.”

The drake roars, lifting itself on its hind legs and beating its wings. Immediately, you turn and sprint in the opposite direction as fast as your legs can carry you. Daeron disappears into the crowd, and you hang right on the sidewalk, cutting into an alleyway. Behind you, the creature flies several feet off the ground. It lands skids through the street to turn, tearing apart the cobblestone beneath it, then vaults forward towards you; you hear screaming from all sides and the dragon's roar behind you, as its wings tear into the wooden buildings on either side of the alleyway.

Ahead, you see a fence, and you leap, vaulting over it with one hand to clear it; panicked people run past, through the street, while a pair of city guards immediately ahead of you prepare to face the problem head-on. They turn to face the dragon as it crashes feet first into the street, and can barely draw their swords before one is consumed in its flames. It's going to be tough finding an area that isn't populated; as you run down the street, you turn and loose an arrow at the figure atop the dragon. Watching your shot, they leap from the drake's back to dodge, but give a surprised turn as the arrow curves to follow their path through the air. Contorting mid-air, they manage to avoid the poisonous bolt, which cuts into the surface of another nearby building, before crashing heavily into the cobble-street and pushing itself to its feet.

>Continued

>>29264152

The figure's gaze is fixated on you, briefly, before they turn toward the additional group of city guards charging the scene from further down the street, weapons drawn. Between the two of you, the dragon thrashes about, swiping up the second of the two swordsmen and slamming him into a nearby structure. It's definitely having some trouble moving about in these city streets, and you think you can use that to your advantage. Readying another arrow, you duck into the nearest alleyway.

“Skeith, are you there?” In your mind, you hear incoherent chanting and gurgling. You begin to call out to the Spirit again, but are interrupted; your head throbs, and the sound of the dragon's roar and the earth shaking beneath your feet are drowned out by a screaming in your mind—one that only barely sounds like the voice you're used to hearing.

SHARDKEEPER
YOU'VE KEPT ME SO STILL SINCE THE TWO OF US FORGED OUR PACT
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME I STRETCHED MY LEGS?

What will you do?
>Take the shot if you can, and keep fighting until the area clears out.
>Summon Skeith
>Other

>>29264188
>>Summon Skeith

Fighting a dragon with a knife? No problem.

>>29264188
"HARM NO ONE BUT HE WHO STANDS UPON THAT DRAKE!"

>Summon Skieth

>>29264188
>>Summon Skeith
I'M RIGHT HERE
oh god i'm so sorry

>>29264188
>Summon Skeith

Let's do this, Skeith will do his thing, and we can send volleys of tracking poison arrows at the rider.

Make sure he knows that the only acceptable targets are the Drake and its rider.

>>29264188
>Summon Skieth

Harm nobody but the figure and its drake.

>>29264152

(( Fuck, that was bad. Don't want to bother deleting it:

The drake roars, lifting itself on its hind legs and beating its wings. Immediately, you turn and sprint in the opposite direction as fast as your legs can carry you. Daeron disappears into the crowd, and you hang right on the sidewalk, cutting into an alleyway. Behind you, the creature flies several feet off the ground; it lands, skids through the street to turn, tearing apart the cobblestone beneath it, then vaults forward towards you.

You hear the dragon's roar from behind you, then, screaming from all sides, as its wings tear into the wooden buildings on either side of the alleyway.

Ahead, you see a fence, and you leap, vaulting over it with one hand to clear it; panicked people run through the street ahead while a pair of city guards immediately in front of you prepare to face the problem head-on. They turn to face the dragon as it crashes feet first into the street, but can barely draw their swords before one is consumed in its flames. It's going to be tough finding an area that isn't populated; as you run down the street, you turn and loose an arrow at the figure atop the dragon. Watching your shot, they leap from the drake's back to dodge, but give a surprised turn as the arrow curves to follow their path through the air. Contorting mid-air, they manage to avoid the poisonous bolt—which cuts into the surface of another nearby building—before crashing heavily into the cobble-street and pushing themselves to their feet. ** ))

>>29264188
>>Summon Skeith

DO IT! SHARDKEEPER POKEMON BATTLE GO!

>>29264224
>>29264221
>>29264249
>>29264310

>2d20

Rolled 17, 16 = 33

>>29264351
1

Rolled 19, 8 = 27

>>29264351

Rolled 18, 4 = 22

>>29264351

Rolled 16, 16 = 32

>>29264351

>>29264188
>Take the shot if you can, and keep fighting until the area clears out.
We do NOT want to summon Skeith in the middle of a populated city. At least first get to an area without people if we are gonna do that.
Seriously people, think before you suggest.

>>29264438
na, go fuck yourself.

>>29264362

You return your arrow to its quiver. Past the mouth of the alleyway, you see a city guard fly past and roll through the street like a rag-doll. The dragon lunges into view not a moment later, turning to face you; its body won't quite fit, but it doesn't seem to care. It opens its mouth, a ball of fire beginning to form behind rows of savage teeth, and charges at you, massive body ravaging the sides of the two buildings flanking your hiding place.

>17

The jet of fire hits before the dragon even comes within proximity, and you stand your ground, throwing your hands forward. You feel vibrations through your body as your cloak rumbles; the air quivers, first by account of the massive heat building around you, then by that of the sudden displacement. There's a single, massive pulse of Soul power that sends reticulated cracks through the cobblestone beneath you, shatters the windows of the buildings on either side, and bends the blast of fire around you, splashing the immense heat back into the creature's face.

“SKEITH!” You leap backwards, drawing the Venom Fang with your free hand. “I CALL YOUR NAME! AID ME IN BATTLE, BUT HARM ONLY THIS DRAKE AND THE ONE WHO RIDES IT!”

As you land, the dragon draws near, claw extended, and you swing the curved blade forward to meet its charge.

>Continued

>>29264757

>16

There's a brief lull.

In front of you, the surface of Skeith's spindly humanoid form roils, green markings traveling along his body in unusual patterns and shifting constantly. The drake appears to have been stopped in its tracks; its claw quivers, attempting to close around you, but the Venom Spirit holds it open, still chanting incoherently.

He pauses, then throws his arms to his sides, breaking two of the creature's chitinous talons away from its body. Screeching fills the air, from both Skeith and the drake, as a venomous gale swirls forward from the venom spirit's body.

The wind picks up a bitter scent.

The walls of the buildings adjacent almost immediately take on a dehydrated black color; their surfaces bubble, and begin to spill an inky black liquid to the ground that floods gaps in the cobblestone and pools around your feet. Instinctively, the dragon retreats back into the street beyond, leaving you a spare moment.

What will you do?
>Order Skeith to deal with the dragon, and go after the Shardkeeper.
>Order Skeith to take down the Shardkeeper, while you handle the dragon.

>>29264797
>>Order Skeith to deal with the dragon, and go after the Shardkeeper.
Don't want that filthy shardkeeper to get it's hand on Skeith

>>29264797
>Skeith on dragon
>Us on shardkeeper

>>29264797
>Order Skeith to deal with the dragon, and go after the Shardkeeper.

Use our shiny new bow, don't approach too closely, eventually they ought to slip up and one of the tracking arrows ought to catch them.

>>29264797
>Order Skeith to deal with the dragon, and go after the Shardkeeper.

>>29264797
>Order Skeith to take down the Shardkeeper, while you handle the dragon.

>>29264821

They can't, because we control his spirit. Like how we couldn't get the drake.

>>29264797
>Order Skeith to deal with the dragon, and go after the Shardkeeper.

>>29264797
>>Order Skeith to deal with the dragon, and go after the Shardkeeper.

>>29265090
>>29264957
>>29264864
>>29264825

“Skeith. I need you to keep that dragon away from me and the rest of the people while I go after the summoner.” You nod.

“How selfish of you, Shardkeeper.” Skeith does not turn to face you, but his twisted face pushes through to the opposite side of his form. “Do you wish to preserve the enjoyment of fighting such an opponent for yourself—or do you desire the company of a like-minded individual? Whatever the case, I will honor this agreement, so long as it suits me.”

The Spirit charges ahead, leaping out of the alley, and you dart forward in time to catch him pushing the drake back with a flurry of attacks. Massive explosions of flame and great blasts of swirling venom wreck the street ahead of you, before the battle takes the two back through the alley towards the tavern, and into the next street over.

A distance ahead, the dragon's rider watches the spectacle briefly before turning to face you, the ground littered with city guards that appear unconscious—or worse. A longsword is sheathed at the figure's hip, and you can discern multiple unique presences of Soul without even a need to focus.

What will you do?
>Other

>>29265173
Christ, Skieth must have been right about his story. We're just two fucking Shardkeepers and look at the hell we've unleashed already.

BOWBOWBOWBOWBOW

>>29265173
>Shoot him

>>29265173
Anyway, shoot the fucker and keep our distance, this would be a lot easier if we had our earthquake boots (I hate you guys).

>>29265173
Shoot it with the bow. Keep your distance, we don't have a melee weapon at the moment.

>>29265260
Hey, the cloak was useful. At least we know how powerful the air vibrations are now.

>>29265173
Shoot it, keep distance, use cloak for defence in case it gets close.

>>29265260
Actually right now having cloak might be better, boots are generally better i agree but seeing as that we do not have a melee weapon we need the cloaks protection if the enemy ever gets close.

>>29265260
>>29265301
>>29265347

>1d20

Rolled 3

>>29265379
Hopefully we'll nail a shot and injure and poison him/her.

Rolled 16

>>29265379

Rolled 12

>>29265379

>>29265376

We wouldn't even need the cloak's protection if we had the mobility afforded to us by the boots.

>>29265478
Man just be stop. They are both as good as each other.

>>29265549

Yeah? Prove it instead of saying some vague blanket statement.

>>29265603
Same can be said for you. Also, cloak's protection is much needed in this situation.

>>29265603
We could have dodged the fire blast with the boots
We reflected the fireblast with the cloak.
They both would have achieved the same thing.

>>29265686
>>29265681
>>29265603
>>29265549
>>29265478
You only need two for a spergoff, it seems.

>>29265414

The lull in the fighting ends abruptly as you level your bow, readying an arrow and aiming at the figure. Your first shot took them by surprise, which you doubt will work again; now, it's up to your archery and the power of your weapon. They react by beginning to sprint towards you, and as you prepare to loose your shot, you're forced to immediately adjust your aim; a burst of energy from beneath the dragon rider's feet—accompanied by a small splash of... magma?—sends them toward the face of an adjacent building with an aerial flourish.

Backpedaling quickly, you loose your first shot, but miss; the Shardkeeper lands feet-first on the side of the building and stays attached, continuing the run and leaving burning footprints in their path. The poisonous projectile curves to try and reach them, but is too far off center.

>16

You don't hesitate to prepare another shot, and fire it as they continue to run. They leap from the building's facade to attempt to avoid it, but it hits home as they reach for their weapon, striking the figure in the shoulder. There's a green burst of energy, and their flight path is disrupted; you note that the arrow, or most of it, is now spinning through the air in a different direction.

They recover mid-air, and land closer than before. The robe, a shroud of brilliant red and black scales, is stained and smoking where your shot hit, and you detect a sudden imbalance in Soul energy. Before you can loose another arrow, they jump towards you at an unexpected speed, a wave of molten cobblestone splashing from beneath their feet in the opposite direction.

What will you do?
>Even without Skeith's power, you can use the Venom Fang to parry the strike.
>Use the Seismic Cloak to deflect the charge.
>You can't let up. Avoid it on your own merit and keep firing.
>Other

>>29265681
Or we could retain the advantage of ranged firepower by using the boots' mobility numbnuts.

>>29265686
And right now, in this situation where our opponent has the advantage in CQC?

What the fuck do you think is going to help us more? A cloak that'll make us slightly harder to kill while we have nothing to counter that longsword or the boots' where we can keep away and shoot her to death? Jesus fucking Christ people, tactical thinking is not that hard.

>>29265742
Thats at least three people though. You can never know which anon is which it seems, which is kinda the point of the whole anonymous system...

>>29265788
>>Use the Seismic Cloak to deflect the charge.

And then,

>Stab his shit in the neck.

>>29265788
>Use the Seismic Cloak to deflect the charge.

>>29265788
Okay, sweet, we still have Venom Fang, and I don't think they know about it.

>Use the Seismic Cloak to deflect the charge.

Try to deflect the charge, knock him off target a bit, and use the brief window we get from that to stab the motherfucker in the neck with Venom Fang. It strikes fast and he won't expect it.

>>29265809
Look, just leave if you're going to be so fucking analpained. At least fucking suggest.

>>29265788
>Use the Seismic Cloak to deflect the charge.
Its tremor will hopefully throw the enemy off and gain us some distance to shoot again.

>>29265809
>tactical thinking
The cloak is strong enough to blow dragon fire back into a dragons face and shatter windows on both sides of the street and break cobbles under us.
What do you think will happen if they get close when we use it? We have the perfect tactical layout, we shoot them with the bow and if they get close we use the cloak to knock them back.

>>29265914
I am suggesting something, I'm suggesting that we put Tregalis back into the boots.

But apparently read comprehension isn't one of your strong suits.

>>29265946
Right now? You're suggesting that right now?

And you're calling us retarded?

>>29265946
We're a bit busy right now, you know with the person trying to kill us. We can mess with our loadout later.

>>29265921
Fat lot of good it did against the dragon.

This is based on the presumption that the cloak is going the last forever. Considering what we did to our enemy's cloak, I rather doubt that, and once that happens we'll have no avenue of retreat because the enemy can outpace us with ease.

>>29265946
Maybe you should suggest it when we're playing with the souls and not in combat.

>>29265988
>Fat lot of good it did against the dragon.
YES, IT KNOCKED HIM AWAY, STUNNED HIM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACT.

I WOULD CALL THAT GOOD.

>>29265970
I've been suggesting this for the last three fucking threads, but every single time I was ignored. Bullshit I'm only suggesting this now.

>>29265946
Great suggestion. Superb tactical thinking. We should totally do it. Lets ask for a break.

>>29266036
So just another case of 'why nobody like my suggestion' ? Lurk more and get used to it. You are not playing alone.

>>29265988
It stopped us burning to death. The whole point was to stop the fire not the dragon you mongoloid.
And we have been given no indication that our gear runs out of charge. Seeing as there is shit running around that are hundreds of years old I think we are safe.

>>29266029

Before it went back to causing havoc.

We could've bought ourself time with the boots, with the added benefit of us being able to distance ourselves and regroup, not to mention retain a mobility advantage with our main weapon being a bow and all.

>>29266036
You were ignored because we didn't expect to get into a fight in the city. We were going to change around the load out when we went hunting.

>>29266078
And perhaps you should stop thinking yourself as fucking invincible?

That's a one way ticket to getting us killed.

(( QM's back. ))

>>29265919
>>29265892
>>29265881

>1d20

>>29266103

God knows why we thought we were safe in a city with an enemy that summons goddamn dragons too.

Rolled 9

>>29266149

Rolled 10

>>29266149


>>29266154
Likely because we were in a city.

>>29266130
I don't think we are invincible you dick head, I think both are equally good and we should save this discussion for when we aren't in the middle of a fight.

Rolled 16

>>29266149
Welcome back.

>>29266183
And what does a city have to do anything as a defense against an enemy that can summon spirit dragons to hunt us down?

>>29266207
And I think you should stop being a moron and get through your head that different abilities have different applications useful in different situations. I'd rather not get hit by the giant monster instead of just tanking it for instance, or mobility to get us to the place where we most need it, or even as an avenue of retreat.

>>29266285
Just shut up already man. Everyone else is too busy thinking of ways to beat the enemy we are fighting right now.

>>29266285
That's nice.

>>29266441

Nice to know the debating quality here on tg.

File: 1388806346690.gif-(1.48 MB, 301x250, 1368107076624.gif)

1.48 MB GIF

>>29266285
Your desperate mindless namecalling and repetitive arguements are amusing to me.
Thanks for the laugh anon

>>29266464
That's nice.

>>29266464
Go somewhere else to debate. We're playing a quest here.

>>29266464
Theres no reason to debate this.
Personally I'd rather have the boots for this fight too, but It's not like bitching and moaning like a preschooler is going to magically make us have the boots rather than the cloak.
Next time we get a chance, vote to swap them back.
For now, shut the fuck up.

>>29266471
>>29266493
>>29266502
Real nice debating boys.

>>29266566
That's nice.

>>29266582
See what I mean?

Real nice.

>>29266639
That's nice.

>>29265850
>>29265881
>>29265892

>16

The air around you ripples, the Seismic Cloak's power prepared to deflect your attacker's charge. The Shardkeeper's hand rests on the handle of their blade as they fly into proximity, and the familiar concussive burst kicks in as they begin to draw their weapon. The ground beneath you shatters, but this time, the cracks beneath you spit molten stone into the air, and you shift your footwork to avoid it.

You reach for the Venom Fang; your opponent's momentum has been overridden, and they sail backwards through the air. Your body begins to move at an unfamiliar speed as you lunge for their side, contorting your body, and gritting your teeth from the feeling of particles of burning earth on your neck and face.

Your enhanced speed gives out as you begin your swing—somehow, you can detect your opponent's surprise from behind their mask as they turn to face you, still mid-way through the motion of drawing their weapon. They raise a robed arm in defense, and your strike hits it, grinding against the scales for a short distance before lodging between them; you push harder against the obstruction, cutting through to slash the target beneath as you finish the swing, pulling it free with immense force.

You see flecks of blood in the air, though your opponent does not react.

>Continued

>>29266779

As the Shardkeeper finishes drawing their sword, what little light the remaining streetlamps and burning buildings in the distance provide seems to be siphoned away. They land with both hands on the handle of the weapon, the smoking violet blade casting tendrils of darkness beyond its surface. You leap clear of the incoming swing, and the blade intersects with the space your body occupied a moment ago—then, the weapon's uneven surface surges towards you, screaming through the air like a black bolt of lightning.

As you land, the bolt grinds across your chest, shaving chunks of stone off of your cloak for a short distance before burning into the skin beneath, forcing you to throw yourself out of the way. You stumble backwards, suddenly stricken with worry, or a strange feeling you can't place—of weakness, or loss.

The figure charges toward you, swinging the blade wildly. With your back to a wall of buildings, you begin to lose ground, dodging each strike as thunder cracks in time with the swings. Over the buildings beyond, you see a great plume of fire surge skyward; you hear Skeith's screeching, then, a wall of toxic mist bursts out from between alleyways, punctuated by a dragon's roar.

What will you do?
>Other

>>29266831
God, there's going to be sooo much collateral damage. It'll be ridiculous. We're getting banished after this, I can feel it.
>Try to put some distance between us and the other shardkeeper, an ordered retreat, if you will.

>>29266831
>Use the cloak to knock him about again.

>>29266831
>You stumble backwards, suddenly stricken with worry, or a strange feeling you can't place—of weakness, or loss.

Don't count on Tregalis anymore.

Flee as fast as you can, turn to shoot ASAP.

>Cloak+Boots allowed us to score a hit
>idiots gonna complain anyway

>>29266831
This is bad, we got him with the poisoned blade, but we honestly aren't a match for him. Hopefully if we last longer it'll have time to slow him down.

Are we immune to Skeith's toxins or will that stuff still kill us if we breathe it?

>>29266884
Are we just going to get kicked out of every city we travel to because some chump always decides to pick a fight.

>>29266831
Try to put distance between the enemy and ourselves. Shoot arrows if we get the chance but focus on avoiding damage.
Even if we cant get away, Sheith seems to be winning, we can at least earn some time till we have Skeith's support.

>>29266906
It doesn't matter, he will attribute every single failing ever to the loadout because we didn't pick his perfect one.

>>29266831
use shockwaves to knock this fucker back. Fuck collateral damage.

>>29266906
>You stumble backwards, suddenly stricken with worry, or a strange feeling you can't place—of weakness, or loss.

guys I think we lost Tregalis

>>29267039
Or the sword ate a bit of our soul.

>>29267068
That blade did manage to break skin, so that's a reasonable assumption.

>>29267068
Humies don't have Souls.

>>29267129
Shardkeepers do, though.

>>29267135
What.

>>29267171
That's the whole reason shardkeepers are special. Have you been paying attention?

>>29267193
Since when was that stated? I'm pretty sure humans can't be bound into souls, and I'm pretty sure Shardkeepers are no exception.

>>29267193
Sharkeepers can interact with souls.

>>29266889
>>29267005

You leap backwards to avoid another strike from the aphotic blade, stumbling up a short set of stairs leading to a building entrance, with the individual refusing to let up. Though you're having sudden difficulty gathering your spiritual presence, your focus on the battle is keen as ever.

You're starting to run out of breath, but you continue dodging up the stairs. You're getting a feel for the Shardkeeper's swordsmanship, as well; among the rapid, incessant flurry of swings, you note several favored combinations, ones that somehow feel familiar, and begin moving out of the way of each attack with unusual skill. Then, they change it up, surprising you by lunging forward with a wide, horizontal swing.

The air around you ripples, but you suddenly feel off-balance. The Seismic Cloak's vibrations suddenly go awry, jet-black arcs of energy leaping across the stone surface. The concussive burst, then, is off-center, and it throws you backwards with a burst of rippling air, beams of violet light, and immense force, sending you rolling to the top of the stairs. You recover quickly, jumping to one side as a vertical slash from the darksword cleaves into the stone landing.

Now, you're running out of room.

What will you do?
>Use the Venom Fang for a high-speed fading strike.
>Collect yourself and go for another concussive blast.
>Run like hell.
>Other.

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>>29267602
>ones that somehow feel familiar

>>29267602
>Collect yourself and go for another concussive blast.

>>29267602
>Collect yourself and go for another concussive blast.

Also, yell at the person "Who the fuck are you?"

>>29267039
>>29266906

>Guys we lost tregalis
>Guys we can't count on it

>>29267602
>Get blasted by our own cloak

Told you.

>Run like hell

>>29267602
>Put distance between your enemy and yourself. Shoot if possible. Gain time till Skeith come to help (we probably cant outrun)

>>29267649
God damnit, is that our fellow apprentice from way back?

>>29267649
>>29267703
It is what we suspected ever since skeith told us the drake was a summon.

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>>29267679
>>29267650
You fucking idiots, he damaged our cloak and it backfired

Why the hell are you pissing on the electric fence.

>Run like hell

>>29267693
It just saved us from getting our gut cut open. Chill.

>>29267602
>>Use the Venom Fang for a high-speed fading strike.
Use the forgetful superspeed knife.

>>29267602
Do not use cloak if you can help it. It is only going to get worse as we keep fighting. Run. Distance ourselves.

>>29267728
It is damaged, unpredictable, and wild.

If your shotgun starts developing a crack and burning your fingers, do you a) keep shooting with it or b) pull out another gun or c) Run away?

Because you dumbasses are picking a.

>>29267762
>>29267693
>>29267697
>>29267720

>1d20

>>29267602
>Use the Venom Fang for a high-speed fading strike.

Try to look like we're out of options. Talk to whoever it is, ask who they how and how we know them.

If they look like they're still going in for an attack then try to surprise them with Venom Fang.

Rolled 6

>>29267784

Rolled 13

>>29267784

Rolled 8

>>29267784
Here it goes

Rolled 11

>>29267784

>>29267817

>13

With mere feet between your back and the wall, you jump to one side, then attempt to leap clear of the stairs toward the sidewalk in front of the adjacent building. You feel the tailwind of the next sword swing against your face as it passes within inches. There's the crack of thunder, and the ground shakes as you hit the sidewalk; another screaming bolt crosses the distance between the two of you before you can even realize what's happened, striking you in the back and lancing up toward your shoulder.

It's a strange feeling, one that clouds your mind, and seems to drain you of the will to continue fighting. You don't feel any heat, but you feel the burn, as it singes deep through your armored cloak. You land prone on the ground, the sounds of Skeith's battle with the dragon raging on over the adjacent block. Behind you, you hear footsteps approaching, drawing closer until the figure stops, standing over you with the darksword leveled.

What will you do?
>Try to use the Seismic Cloak.
>Go for a surprise attack at high-speed with the Venom Fang.
>Other.

>>29268009
>>Go for a surprise attack at high-speed with the Venom Fang.

HERE WE GO

>>29268009
"Who are you? Why are you trying to kill me?"

Try talking, and hey, this might distract her. If we see a good opening then

>Go for a surprise attack at high-speed with the Venom Fang.

>>29268009
>>Go for a surprise attack at high-speed with the Venom Fang.
The knife that enemy's forget about.

>>29268009
>Go for a surprise attack at high-speed with the Venom Fang.
SURPRISE

>>29268052
>>29268105
>>29268143
>>29268259

“Who are you?” Clutched beneath your body, close to your chest, you hold the Venom Fang. You struggle to move, quivering a bit as you attempt to push yourself into a more favorable position.

The Shardkeeper adjusts their stance, and you focus on the sounds. In your mind, you picture a brief hesitation, before the figure's grip on the longsword's hilt tightens. You feel the weapon, pointed at your head, prepared to strike.

“Why are you trying to kill me?”

You take a deep breath, still lying prone.

A moment passes, and you force yourself to roll to one side in an instant motion, barely making it clear as the sword pierces the ground where your head rested a moment ago. The city block, as well as the one adjacent, are devastated, with fires beginning to spread through Callestria. Nearby, two immensely powerful spirits continue their duel, spreading destructive fires and deadly toxins into the territory of innocent civilians. Above you, an individual of apparently-great power and Shardkeeping skill pulls a dark sword from the earth, aiming to skewer you for reasons unknown.

The Venom Fang growing cold in your grip, you grin. “Got you.”

Continuing the motion, you spin to your feet at imperceptible speed, swinging the wicked blade horizontally at your agressor, who recoils in shock. You hear their voice—her voice—speak from beneath the mask. “Where did—what!?”

What will you do?
>Go for the mask. (1d20)
>Go for the kill. (1d20)

Rolled 15

>>29268378
>>Go for the mask. (1d20)

Rolled 19

>>29268378
>>Go for the kill. (1d20)

Rolled 8

>>29268378
>Go for the mask

Rolled 15

>>29268378
kill

Rolled 18

>>29268378
>Go for the mask. (1d20)

And get the blade right next to either her eye or her throat. Make it very clear that if she moves she will die.

Rolled 14

>>29268378
>Go for the mask. (1d20)
Much as I'd like her dead, corpses don't give answers

Rolled 1

>>29268378
>>Go for the mask. (1d20)

Rolled 2

>>29268378
>Go for the kill

Rolled 17

>>29268456
corpses also don't escape and/or kill us
>kill her

Rolled 10

>>29268378
>>Go for the mask. (1d20)


it's going to be our former co apprentice

Rolled 8

>>29268378
Go for the kill.

>>29268378
>Go for the mask.

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>>29268420
WE DID IT!

Rolled 1

>>29268378
>Go for the mask. (1d20)

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Rolled 1

>>29268420
>>29268441
>yfw you don't care either way, you're just happy to be alive

>>29268619
>>29268609
>>29268459
3 ones and no twenties
typical /tg/ dice

>>29268378
>Go for the mask. (1d20)
totally the other apprentice

>>29268662
Unless we're working with 7 rolls, none of them counted.

>>29268378

Shoulda gotten that Sylvan shard so that this bitch couldn't have found us.

>>29268378

Killlllll

>>29268509
>We open the mask
>It's some random dude

>>29268378

This bitch has no respect for human life, and that makes her undeserving of her own.

Kill.

>>29268420
All them soul shards.

We are gonna be rich! Or badass! Or a rich badass!

OP is contemplating whether to take the crit fails for mask or not, when everyone voted for kill before any of them occurred.

>>29268739
I know that I was just making an observation.

>>29269229

(( OP is writing, having based his decision on consensus and counted only the first three rolls as usual. ))

>19

You change the course of your surprise attack mid-strike, turning the blade in your hand to free up space in your palm. You make a heavy-handed strike to her head with the weapon's handle, pulling the mask free of her face and shoving it into her chest to force her forward, sending the hood of her robe falling off of her head. The possibility crossed your mind that it was her, though you'd doubted it—golden brown hair spills from beneath her hood, and you recognize her deep tan skin. She stumbles backwards and falls, but is only able to make it to her feet by the time you reach her.

“Anise.” You point the knife at her throat, and she remains motionless, staring silently at you. The two of you learned your art from the same Master, though she was the first to receive his tutelage, with him only happening upon your affinity later. In the past, her skill was greater than yours, in combat as well as in your shared practice. Though you've bested her in this moment, it's clear the Infusions she possesses are of frightening power.

“Erick.” An explosion of flame from beyond the buildings at the end of the street briefly casts her in shadow. Her face is bruised, nose bleeding, and she stares intently at you as she speaks; she holds her cracked mask in one hand, and your vision snaps back and forth between her face and the darksword, still smoking in her other hand. “Your hand is shaking.”

You grit your teeth, beginning to thrust your weapon forward at her and finish this; a light emanates from beneath the two of you, and you're forced to jump backward before you can strike, as a tower of molten stone erupts from the ground beneath you, bathing you in immense heat. It spills out over the street, quickly turning black and hardening.

>Continued

>>29269295

Sorry for killing her, OP...she just caused too much destruction so fast and wanted to kill us so bad...

>>29269537

Another explosion rocks the street, and this time, the two of you turn, to see a pair of buildings give way to the summoned drake's body crashing through them and landing a distance away in a rising storm of smoke and rubble. One of its claws presses into the ground, and it begins to lift itself up—then, as a whole, its scales, flesh, and muscle slough off of its beaten body, forming a mound of reddish-brown slurry around a faintly-glowing skeleton, that slowly begins to fade out of sight.

”Shardkeeper. I have defeated my opponent and can lend my strength no longer.” The Venom Fang vibrates faintly. ”Be wary of the power contained within that sword. It fills me with... fear.”

Anise paces backwards, the darksword still pointed at you, and you're limited in your potential angles of approach, fearing the possibility of another of her projectile attacks. You reach for your bow and arrows, preparing to fire, and she takes another few steps before turning and running; you pursue her until another molten leap launches her to the lip of a nearby building's roof.

Huh. That's probably going to be an issue.

She returns her blade to its sheath, then stares down at you, standing at the building's edge.

>What will you say?

>>29269537
Well, that thrice damned bitch.

>>29269578
"Why, Anise?"

>>29269578
You mother fuckers. Now we are going to have to fight her again.

>>29269601
Yep, going with this.

>>29269578
"It's been a while Anise. Why did you try to kill me?"

Gesture to the smoke, rubble, and general destruction "Why did you decide to do that to this city?"

>>29269578
"Stop stalking me you crazy bitch."

>>29269617

Right? Goddamn these motherfuckers.

>>29269578

"Look at what you've done, Anise. Why?"

>>29269601
good enough

Rolled 5 + 3

>>29269698
>>29269675

Seconding.

>>29269746

Thirding (and fuck you guys for not murdering her.)

>>29269617
>>29269798
But, that would have been anticlimactic, and it would have forced QM to introduce a replacement Big Bad. I'm fine with keep this villain.

>>29269899
Fuck assholes who think like this. The bitch just demolished half the town and everyone is going to be pissed at us AND she is going to come back and probably demolish the town again now.

>>29269899

Killing her at the peak of a dragon+poison spirit duel after nearly dying at her hand several times would've been anticlimactic?

I feel like you think the OP doesn't have anything up his sleeve.

>>29269578
WHAT THE HELL OP! We said go for the KILL!

>>29269957

Yeah, wish we had our cloaking boots right now because we're going to have to G-T-FUCKING-O RIGHT NAO.

duck into a sewer or something, we just NEED to NOT be found in the middle of all this shit.

Also, if we'd kill her and were found standing over her body we'd be a city hero.

>>29270002
We did.

We didn't make it.

See: >>29268420

>>29270002
I think mask had more votes, depending on where OP stopped counting.

>>29270008
I doubt we would be seen as a hero seeing as we did half the damage but still. Fucking emotional bullshit people wasting my roll.

>>29270002
And a pile of people said to go for the mask. Actually count the votes, it's in the favor of the mask. There's no point where kill was winning.

>>29269957
All they know is we just defeated a dragon terrorizing the city. If anything they should reward us.

>>29270086
>>29270086
We better have looted that mask.

>>29270103
All they know is a horrible poison monster killed the dragon and did about as much damage as the dragon.

>>29270103
>Youhaven'tsavedanything!.png

>>29270079

Skeith and poison are rough but we didn't start any fires and those are going to be the primary problem in a city like this.

>>29270183
That is if skeiths poison doesn't linger.

>>29270224

A couple dead spots are still much less a big deal than all the damage the dragon did and also the fire.

Ever heard of the London firestorm? I imagine something similarly awful is going to happen here soon.

“Why?” Your voice echoes through the burning city. “Why would you do this to Callestria?”

“I could care less about the city.” She glares. Her eyes were telling, in those days, but now, there's something unsettling about the way she looks at you. “I came here for you.”

“You're trying to kill me?” You take aim, the green bolt at the tip of your arrow growing brighter. More than anything, it hurts—to see her disregard for human life, and to have a former friend turned against you. Again, you cry out. “Why, Anise?”

“Because,” She pauses, then begins to turn away, disappearing over the rooftop. “It's what my Master asked of me.”

You find yourself lost for a few moments, stumbling over to the slowly-vanishing mound of dragon flesh. Time passes, before the heavy footsteps of a group of people approaches from the adjacent street; a group of city guardsmen approach, swords drawn, with a wounded-looking one at the helm.

“There! There he is!” The guard shouts. “He was using some kind of relic weapon to fight the dragon and that man!”

“Where are they now?” One of them asks, then staggers at the spectacle in front of you as the group rushes over. “What is this?”

“It's dead! It's the skeleton! He defeated the dragon!” Another pipes up. “Hurry, we've got to find all the wounded!”

In the distance, you hear men crying out—probably trying to fight the fires, though you doubt they'll be able to stop this city from becoming a firestorm. You wonder if there's something you could possibly do to stop it?

You don't have much time to think before the wounded city guard rushes to your side.

“I saw what you did back there! Who are you?” You ask. “Do you know anything about that dragon rider?”

>What will you do?

>>29270482
"My name is Erick. Do you people need any help with recovering the wounded? I will do my best, just point the way. She was after me, I don't know why, and I shall settle away from town as soon as we're finished with this, and you can question me when people are not in danger!"

LET'S SAVE PEOPLE

>>29270482

"She is filth and I will kill her." then walk off dramatically and head towards the shard-store while trying to think of someway to save the city. The shard-store might have something we can use to that effect.

>>29270482
Other than that he is a dickhead? No.

>>29270552

FUCK NO! WHY WOULD WE GIVE UP OUR NAME WHEN TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT OUR CRAFT HAS GOTTEN US HALF A CITY DESTROYED AND THE OTHER HALF ABLAZE?

>>29270590
I'm sure Eric/k/ck is a really really rare name

totes

>>29270482
"I'm Erick, a newcomer to the city.

I don't know much about him, though I think he wants to kill me. Dangerous as hell, armed to the teeth with relic weapons.

We need to stop the fire from spreading."

>>29270609

Seconding but say "though I think he wants to kill me __now__."

Should we go to the shard store and see if the sylvan shard might be helpful here?

>>29270482
>Give our name (it's not a secret)
>Play ignorant (answering truthfully will lead to more questions/accusations)

>>29270552
way too wordy. Just go with
>"My name is Erick. Do you people need any help with recovering the wounded?"
Telling them it was after us is an amazingly bad idea

>>29270552
Please dont tell them it was after us.

>>29270652

Thirding.

>>29270652
>>29270609

“I'm Erick, a newcomer to the city. I don't know much about him, but I get the feeling he wants to kill me as of now.” You nod, collecting yourself. Relics—is that what they call them? “He's dangerous, and armed to the teeth with relic weaponry. Right now, though, we need to worry about the fire.”

“We've already got men on it, but things don't look good.” You nod. “If we can't turn it around, then the order will be given to begin evacuating Callestria. Whatever the case, you've saved all our lives, mine included.”

What will you do?
>See if you can make it to that antique shop.
>See if you can rendezvous with any of the hunters.
>Other

>>29270885
"Let me help if I can. Point the way."

>>29270885

Go to the antique shop.

>>29270885
>>See if you can make it to that antique shop.

Theft mode initiated.

>>29270885
>See if you can make it to that antique shop.

>>29270482
Our choices are
>A) Give our name
>B) Don't give our name
Ultimately doesn't make a difference

>A) Tell them it was after us
Get this whole thing blamed on us and get thrown in jail or more likely run out of the city
>B) Don't tell them it was after us
Become a hero
>C) Don't say anything
Become a hero

>>29270916

What exactly are we going to do to help? We have no items that help healing, or putting out fires, or pretty much anything that doesn't have to do with violence in some way.

>>29270937

No, we're just requisitioning things for the good of the city.

>>29270975
Tregalis in the Halberd might help. Use it to make tremors on the ground/foundations of a burning building and collapse it so the fire doesn't spread further.

>>29270975

Hey...Tregalis was aligned with fire slightly, right?

Think we can do something to contain the fires using him?

>>29270937
>>29270943
The fuck are we going to do at the antique shop? We still don't have money.
>See if you can rendezvous with any of the hunters.

>>29270885
>>29270956
I can't beleive we just pick the only stupid option

>>29271024
The place is burning down and everyone is evacuating. We are seeing if we can loot the shard from the shop.

>>29271024

We're going to look for anything that might help.