>>30354900
>Go get Patience to help
No point pretending Iltani is a good investment anymore.

>>30354900
>Go get Patience to help

>>30354900
>> Go get Patience to help
Seem like the only sensible choice

>>30354900
who said "why"? Give that guy a firm unpleasant glare.
Then tell the slingers to go inform the temple and giant about the blight demon going berserk and running off, and that you've gone in pursuit. They should come help us as soon as they get the message.

After that, make haste in chasing it down.

File: 1392851590224.jpg-(138 KB, 392x500, fcc524af95492d8c8d835e349(...).jpg)

138 KB JPG

>>30354900
The Slinger who asked why the monster should be chased down is an older-man, gaunt, scarred, and leather-faced. You give him a sour look. You can't tell if he returns it. His face is a mask of thick wrinkles and crow's feet.

"I'll catch it! I'll be right back!" You announce to the small contingent of Slingers and Archers gathered around the spot where the demon used to be. With all the haste you can muster, you cross the city's broadest streets and make for the opposite gate. You experiment with different gaits and find that keeping your legs together in pairs and galloping like a horse is fast but dangerously clumsy. You slam into the city walls, rattling the old bricks, before steering yourself toward the south gate.

Patience is sitting on an upturned riverboat, chewing on a fish. She's trying to offer some to the head growing out of her chest, but it politely refused.

"Patience! The demon's running away. It's okay to kill it now, if you can catch it!"

Patience grins and shows all her bestial teeth. "I was beginning to wonder if you were just giving me the run-around! Good to know you keep your word, flesh-eater..." She immediately rises and lopes around the city's eastern wall, looking for the demon.

> Follow her
> Split up to cover more ground
> Ask her not to kill Iltani if she can help it.

>>30355118
>follow her
>Ask her not to kill Iltani if she can help it.
I really don't want to set the precedent that our monsters kill our people. Even the crazy ones.

>>30355118
>> Ask her not to kill Iltani if she can help it.

> Follow her

>>30355118
>Follow her

>>30355118
>Follow her
>tell her to do whatever she has to

File: 1392852273002.jpg-(661 KB, 1500x1187, scorpion_woman_by_siakim-(...).jpg)

661 KB JPG

>>30355118
You follow behind her and call out to her loudly enough that you're sure she can hear you over her own heavy footsteps. "There'll be a girl riding the demon. Please get her down safe, okay? Don't kill her."

"I'll do what I have to..." Though she seems to mean well, Patience seems like a bit of a grouch. She pauses to pick up a boulder in one hand to use as a weapon.

The head adds, "And try not to kill me, too! I'm feeling... vulnerable. Like, if something were coming at me, I couldn't dodge it. Now I want a helmet..."

You show patience the spot where the blight demon used to recline. It's been several minutes, and it's out of sight. Patience grunts impatiently and starts following a trail of trampled grass and cracked earth. You follow behind. The sets of pawprints are huge distances apart - the demon must have been running when it made them. The path turns away from the river until the earth gets more barren and rocky. The trail becomes harder to follow.

> Roll 2d6 to find the trail again
> Just wait for Patience to sniff the thing out
> "So, uh, can we be friends? I could always use more friends to go on adventures with."

Rolled 5, 5 = 10

>>30355320
>> Roll 2d6 to find the trail again

Rolled 1, 1 = 2

>>30355320
let's find that trail. Simultaneously,
> "So, uh, can we be friends? I could always use more friends to go on adventures with."
>You too, head-chest man.

Rolled 4, 5 = 9

>>30355320
find the trail

File: 1392853138949.jpg-(26 KB, 400x266, clash-of-the-titans-giant(...).jpg)

26 KB JPG

>>30355320
Patience's first instinct is to close her eyes and try to sense the blight demon's repulsive aura, but you find the next set of tracks while her eyes are still closed. "Over here!" Now she's the one who has to keep up with you, and you make very good time.

You pass a small trading village near the north road. There are absolutely no signs of life. Maybe everyone saw the creature pass by and ran into hiding. You hear a faint roar resound further to the north.

> Check on the villagers
> Keep chasing it without delay

>>30355528
how fast can we check on them? I say do a quick
> Check on the villagers
If we don't see smashed houses and blood, they're fine. No need to actually go knocking on doors.

>>30355528
>Keep chasing it without delay
If they are all dead they won't get any deader if we wait a few hours.

>>30355528
>keep chasing

>>30355528
Are the slingers still with us? Have them check on the villagers, while we chase.

>>30355528
>Keep chasing it without delay
We'll check on them on the way back. Rampaging monster is the bigger issue right now.

>>30355623
can we also befriend patience and head man on the way back?

Rolled 3, 1 = 4

>>30355528
>> Check on the villagers
Life is important!

File: 1392853785542.jpg-(129 KB, 1024x794, DSCI0005.jpg)

129 KB JPG

>>30355528
You stay on the trail, which crosses the road a few times before turning back toward the river. Occasionally you see deep gouges in the ground. It looks like the demon would occasionally stop to begin digging a hole, but then change its mind and move on.

You come up over the ridge of a small hill to see Iltani and the great beast, right between you and the river. The muddy river is broad enough that you don't think the demon could jump over it in one bound. Do you have it cornered?

> Work together with Patience to make a plan
> Roll 3d6 to sneak up behind it
> Charge it immediately

>>30355638
Of course!

>>30355638
Hunzuu is a friendly scorpion. She always tries to make new friends.

Except, y'know, when she's killing people.

>>30355704
>Work together with Patience to make a plan
Why is it digging?
What is it doing?
Patience, fill me in.

Rolled 3, 5, 4 = 12

>>30355704
>Work together with Patience to make a plan
>Roll 3d6 to sneak up behind it

"I'll sneak up and pin it. When it can't run away or dodge, you charge in and cave its skull in.

Try not to smash the girl if you can, but be careful, she's nearly as strong as me and she's a bit crazy"

>>30355755
seconded

Rolled 1, 1, 2 = 4

>>30355704
>> Work together with Patience to make a plan
> Roll 3d6 to sneak up behind it

Patience takes the front while we sneak in the back!

>>30355755
I don't think we can pin it, it's too big.

Let's change "pin" to "hamstring".

File: 1392854436262.jpg-(207 KB, 900x810, Giant_Scorpion_by_loztvampir3.jpg)

207 KB JPG

>>30355704

You stay low and nudge Patience's leg with your claw to get her attention. "I'll sneak up and pin it. When it can't run away or dodge, you charge in and cave its skull in. Try not to smash the girl if you can, but be careful, she's nearly as strong as me and she's a bit crazy."

Patience takes a knee and looks over at you, laying down her boulder to stretch her arms for a moment. She just nods along with your plan. She must approve. "As strong as you? How can that be?"

"I... I don't know for sure. But I think it has to do with the crazy. She sees Pazuzu a lot in her sleep."

Patience lowers her brow. "She sounds like bad news. Are we sparing her just because she's an innocent girl? Or do you two have some connection?"

> "We're friends."
> "I wanted to be friends with her. But she's not right in the head. She can't be held responsible for what she's done."
> "She's not innocent. She's murdered, and done other crimes. But I think we can use her strength to defend the city."
> "It's a long story. I'd just really appreciate if we took her alive."

>>30355836
>hamstring
That's pretty much what I was thinking.

I was thinking of a repeat of our first meeting. Clamp onto one of its rear legs.

>>30355892
> "I wanted to be friends with her. But she's not right in the head. She's done... bad things. But promised not to do them again."

Rolled 6, 5, 4 = 15

>>30355892
>> "She's not innocent. She's murdered, and done other crimes. But I think we can use her strength to defend the city."
> "We're friends."

>>30355892
>"She's not really innocent. But she has information about Pazuzu that could save a lot of lives. Also, she's strong, if we can.... Help her be less crazy, she could really help defending the city."

>>30355892
> "I wanted to be friends with her. But she's not right in the head. She can't be held responsible for what she's done."

>>30355908
yeah, clamping a leg would work well. Maybe cutting it, if we can get enough horsepower to our claws.

File: 1392855690400.jpg-(105 KB, 636x469, Untitled-1.jpg)

105 KB JPG

Rolled 2, 6 = 8

>>30355892
"She's not really innocent. But she has information about Pazuzu that could save a lot of lives. Also, she's strong, if we can.... Help her be less crazy, she could really help defending the city."

Patience cracks her knuckles as she watches the huge blight demon scratch and dig near the river bank. "I don't remember much, but I remember where that line of thinking leads. My father learned that you can give a sane man power, but you can't make a powerful man sane."

"Just... please?"

"I'll judge her for myself. And I'll o that by taking her alive if I can. There, are you happy?"

"Yes," you say. "I'm going in. Don't show yourself too soon."

>Roll 3d6 to be the sneaky scorpion. Try to meet or exceed the above number.

Rolled 2, 1, 6 = 9

>>30356212
Let's try to be sneaky. If we fail, well, we're a giant scorpion, so sue us.

Rolled 2, 5, 3 = 10

>>30356212
Stealth Scorpion.

Rolled 2, 2, 4 = 8

>>30356212
>>Roll 3d6 to be the sneaky scorpion. Try to meet or exceed the above number.
sneak sneak sneak

File: 1392856059795.jpg-(154 KB, 1024x576, 1388832874882.jpg)

154 KB JPG

>>30356212
The beast is busy scratching and growling to itself in its thunderously deep voice, and Iltani is distracted by muttering to herself, or to Pazuzu, or maybe both, clinging onto the monster's shaggy hide and railing about how something or other isn't fair. The earth here is softer, less noisy. Luckily for you, neither of them turns around. Soon you get close enough to leap onto the beast's leg, if you so choose.

> roll 4d6 to latch onto a leg with your claws and just do damage
> roll 3d6 to climb up its leg and reach its back
> roll 4d6 to see if stinging it does any good

Rolled 2, 2, 1, 4 = 9

>>30356320
> roll 4d6 to latch onto a leg with your claws and just do damage
we'll get to stinging if plan LOCK'N'ROCK doesn't work. Latch onto the leg and paralyze the joint.

Rolled 4, 2, 2, 5 = 13

>>30356320
> roll 4d6 to latch onto a leg with your claws and just do damage
We just need hold/distract it for a few moments.

Rolled 6, 4, 1, 6 = 17

>>30356320
>see if stinging works

Rolled 2, 6, 1 = 9

>>30356320
>> roll 3d6 to climb up its leg and reach its back

File: 1392856907851.jpg-(7 KB, 200x177, 17-maggot.jpg)

7 KB JPG

>>30356320
You leap forward, lunge with both claws, and dig them into the demon's hind leg as deep as you can. The demon roars in pain and throws back its locust-like head. It kicks the leg you wounded, and unfortunately your hold on it does not prove secure enough. You are knocked backward and right yourself in time to see the beast trotting away, but beginning to turn itself around to charge you. Patience has risen from her hiding place and runs toward the demon with her boulder in hand.

> Yell something to Iltani
> Roll 4d6 to counter the beast's charge
> Run away
> Yell new orders to Patience without looking at her. Maybe the demon won't understand.

Rolled 6, 6, 2, 5 = 19

>>30356575
>> Roll 4d6 to counter the beast's charge

Rolled 5, 6, 4, 4 = 19

>>30356575
>> Roll 4d6 to counter the beast's charge
maybe yell at Iltani to get down there too while we're TOROing

Rolled 5, 5, 2, 6 = 18

>>30356575
>counter the charge

Rolled 5, 3, 1, 5 = 14

>>30356575
> Roll 4d6 to counter the beast's charge
We can still restrain/distract it.

File: 1392857450051.jpg-(329 KB, 1400x990, mole_monster_by_mattkatz-(...).jpg)

329 KB JPG

Rolled 6, 4, 1, 6, 5 = 22

>>30356575
The monster lowers its head to catch you in its jaws on impact. Iltani clings onto it while screaming various half-heard oaths and curses. One word you hear her say clearly is "Pazuzu!"

You do not shy away from the chitinous mandibles coming at you. Timing your approach perfectly, you run at it and strike one mandible with your claws just as it comes at you. The stony chitin material cracks and splinters! It still has enough mouth parts to chew and swallow you, but you've injured and certainly enraged it. You even roll out of the way after you strike so you're not caught in its jaws.

> Roll 4d6 to grab onto its head
> Roll 4d6 to strike it again when it comes around for another pass at you
> Stay close to it and roll 4d6 to claw at its legs

Rolled 5, 2, 2, 4 = 13

>>30356747
>> Roll 4d6 to grab onto its head

>>30356747
> Roll 4d6 to grab onto its head
maybe it's like an alligator, and it's easy to hold its mouth shut.

Also,
>be flailed around wildly
Scale concerns are, as ever, a problem.

Rolled 10, 7, 6, 18 = 41

>>30356747
> Roll 4d6 to grab onto its head

Rolled 2, 6, 5, 4 = 17

>>30356747
>Go for the legs

Rolled 2, 6, 6, 4 = 18

>>30356779
>>30356747
er, I fucked that up.

Rolled 5, 1, 3, 4 = 13

>>30356783
whoops wrong dice

Rolled 6, 5, 1, 1 = 13

>>30356747
> Roll 4d6 to grab onto its head

>>30356779
>maybe it's like an alligator, and it's easy to hold its mouth shut.

Seconding. Try this.

We just need to buy a few more moments and keep it distracted so a Giant can club it to death with a huge boulder.

File: 1392857944962.jpg-(149 KB, 400x634, 4b86d0af98f29525175eefcb1(...).jpg)

149 KB JPG

Rolled 2, 4, 1, 1, 1 = 9

>>30356747
Before it can raise its head out of reach again, you leap toward it and latch onto it. The head rises with you in tow as it growls and flails. You just barely manage to hold onto it. You hope you can hold out until Patience can come back you up.

"Hunzuu, is that you?" Iltani looks out at you from her position on its back. "You shouldn't have come..."

> "Why not?!"
> Roll 4d6 to climb toward its neck and back
> Just do as much damage as you can

>>30356877
>> "Why not?!"
Or at least as close to that as we can get while we are being flailed about.

>>30356877
> "Why not?!"

Rolled 6, 1, 5, 5 = 17

>>30356877
>> Roll 4d6 to climb toward its neck and back
While asking Iltani why did she say that.

Rolled 4, 2, 3, 2 = 11

>>30356877
>Just do as much damage as you can

"Why not? The hell are you doing with this thing?"

File: 1392858790409.jpg-(309 KB, 503x850, 1386036239291.jpg)

309 KB JPG

Rolled 5, 3, 6, 4, 5 = 23

>>30356877
You cling to it until its shaking slows down, then you climb toward the beast's neck until your claws and legs can find better purchase in soft, peat-like flesh. "Why not?!" You manage to ask Iltani in between heavy breaths through both your sets of lungs.

"Because things are just beginning to make sense! I don't need you anymore! This thing and I, we're pieces of something, something connected to Pazuzu. We'll find the others, and then we can make the world the way it ought to be!"

Suddenly, the monster shakes and lurches forward. You're tipped backward, which makes you a little dizzy as you hold on for dear life. Patience must have joined the battle, hammering at the monster's legs with her boulder. It's turning around to snap at her.

>See how deep you can burrow into its neck. Roll 4d6.
> Wait until it lowers its head again, then hold out a claw to catch her and help her up. Roll 3d6.
> Climb until you're in a more stable position on its back.

Rolled 5, 6, 1, 2 = 14

>>30357143
Iltani, you're getting more crazy.
That aint good.
>See how deep you can burrow into its neck. Roll 4d6.
If we distract it, it might not eat patience.

Rolled 2, 2, 6, 1 = 11

>>30357143
>Burrow into its neck.
was there ever any real other option?

Rolled 5, 6, 1, 3 = 15

>>30357143
>See how deep you can burrow into its neck.

SEVER THE NECK.

Also, sting it. I don't know if our poison will do anything. But at least we'll give it a good stabbing. It has eyes, right? If possible, sting it in the eyes.

>>30357206
Well, helping her up on the claw is a pretty good one.

Rolled 5, 3, 1, 4 = 13

>>30357143
>>See how deep you can burrow into its neck. Roll 4d6.

File: 1392859435228.jpg-(33 KB, 312x417, bbb6ct.jpg)

33 KB JPG

Rolled 2, 6, 4, 2, 5 = 19

>>30357143
You have to keep one claw holding on at all times, but you manage to make some deep wounds with your other claw, legs, and stinger in the strange alien flesh. It gets denser the deeper in you go, and soon you start digging out rocks and pockets of putrid water. Your effort gives the thing pause and makes it hesitate from counterattacking Patience. It turns in circles and snaps at empty air trying to reach you.

You hear a loud crack, and the monster starts to fall. Patience must have made one of its legs give way.

> Climb toward Iltani while there's still time
> Dig deeper and deeper to do the most damage

>>30357391
Iltani, I don't know what to do with you.
Though, regardless, I want to get out of the neck before this thing falls. So

> Climb toward Iltani while there's still time

>>30357391
> Dig deeper and deeper to do the most damage

Rolled 4, 3, 6, 5 = 18

They see me rollin

Rolled 2, 6, 2, 2 = 12

>>30357391
>> Climb toward Iltani while there's still time
We must save her!

File: 1392860082299.jpg-(164 KB, 450x600, 54eab7e94201bd5bfad619bfe(...).jpg)

164 KB JPG

>>30357391
You quit digging inward and start climbing upward. In a moment that feels like ages, you find footholds for your eight legs and frantically skitter toward Iltani. By the time you catch her in your claws, you're both in free-fall. You try to take the fall for her when you slam into the beast's hide again and bounce off of it onto the hard ground far below.

> You now have 1 wound.

The beast looks to be entirely preoccupied with Patience now. She's swatting at its pointy mouth parts with her boulder whenever it gets close.

> Let go of Iltani and rejoin the fight
> Use the mysterious clay ball like the strange mystic told you to
> Carry Iltani away from the beast

>>30357630
> Use the mysterious clay ball like the strange mystic told you to
The thing is hurt, but it's huge and a single bite will kill us.

Also I THINK this is the thing the mystic was talking about.

>>30357630
>use the clay ball
it's been long enough
I'm curious
sue me

>>30357630
>Let go of Iltani and rejoin the fight

>>30357655
>>30357700
From Anus description, I don't feel like we're on the ropes or anything. This doesn't seem like the time to gamble on a risky trump card.

We can finish it off fine.

>>30357781
well, you think so?

Augh, I don't want this to be the item we put off using until the end of hte game, and then it turns out not great

Rolled 2, 1, 4, 5 = 12

>>30357630
> Carry Iltani away from the beast
Lets put distance between both of them

>>30357630
>Use the clay ball

I'm curious what it does

>>30357806
We don't actually know what it does. It might not be helpful at all, or it might be harmful.

We were advised to just keep it and try it if we had nothing left to lose.

This thing's got a broken leg and had it's head and neck mauled. We don't need a trump card right now.

>>30357909
well, I'm willing to change my vote from here, then, to holding off some more.
>>30357655
if that changes anything. If I'm not too late.

I hope we can recognize when we actually need it.

>>30357630
>> Carry Iltani away from the beast

File: 1392861327023.jpg-(66 KB, 570x428, Elven Claws Armor - bronz(...).jpg)

66 KB JPG

>>30357630
You check under your sash to make sure the clay ball didn't break during your fall. You think you might have broken a leg or two, but the gods are good, and the ball remains intact.

You decide that now's as good a time as any. You knock hard on the clay ball until it cracks, and you hold it just over your head to catch the clear, tasteless liquid pouring out of it.

At first it makes your tongue numb. Then the stinging pain in your legs passes away. Then Iltani disappears into smoke, and you're on a mountain overlooking a cedar forest that definitely wasn't there before. There are no roads or buildings in sight. You've never seen a forest before. In its own way, it's more breathtaking than the underworld itself.

You hear a deep but feminine voice. "You're not my... Oh, wait... I remember you. Yes, I found you amusing once. And now you come looking for a vision from me. Very amusing. Sometimes I laugh at my brother for his two scorpions, but now it seems I have one of my own..."

> Turn around
> Kneel, or some eight-legged approximation of kneeling
> Warn Iltani not to run too far away from you, in case she can still hear you.

>>30358093
>general confusion
>kneeling
Uh, I didn't ACTUALLY mean to come here, but hello!

Rolled 4, 5, 1, 6 = 16

>>30358093
>> Turn around

>>30358093
> Turn around
if it's who I think it is
> Kneel, or some eight-legged approximation of kneeling
Thank her for the help with the ghost army thing.

Ask what's going on. Be the Polite Scorpion.

>>30358224
oh yes, if she's the same voice who helped us with the ghost army, say thank you.

>>30358093
>> Turn around

so, apparently the gods really are still in the forest.

I just wish I had a better idea of which this one was.

File: 1392862108098.jpg-(163 KB, 1236x1600, 1386037816213.jpg)

163 KB JPG

>>30358093
You torn around and bow your head. "Oh! I didn't mean to... But... thank you for your help back in the catacombs. You saved me!"

"Indeed I did. And I had to threaten my second least favorite sibling to do it." You see a woman, or some alien being in the general shape of a woman, who stands about as tall as you. Her skin is like red cedar wood with gold freckles. She wears a long silk glove on one hand and a plated bronze gauntlet on the other. "I thought all of the water I gave my servants had been used up long ago. You found some of it lying around, then? So you don't actually need guidance from me. Or you think you don't."

> "A holy man told me to use that water now. I actually could use some guidance..."
> "Well, I wouldn't presume to ask you for anything..."
> "I'm sorry, but I'm still not completely certain who you are..."

>>30358419
>"A holy man told me to use that water now. I actually could use some guidance..."

Rolled 2, 5, 5, 3 = 15

>>30358419
>> "A holy man told me to use that water now. I actually could use some guidance..."

>>30358419
>> "A holy man told me to use that water now, when I saw the great worm. What should I do about pazuzu coming back?"

>>30358419
>"I wasn't really sure what the water would do. I was fighting a monster that's got.... the essence of Pazuzu or something. And I thought using the magic water was worth the risk."

>>30358613
this

File: 1392863119635.png-(611 KB, 700x750, 27faccd96611ee1c375376c40(...).png)

611 KB PNG

>>30358419
"A holy man told me to use that water now. I actually could use some guidance. There's a giant blight demon that has part of Pazuzu in it, I think? And this girl I know does, too, or at least he talks to her."

The goddess nods knowingly. "We've tried a few different methods of keeping Pazuzu dead over the years. It's been one of our most persistent problems. This most recent method was Aruru's idea. I knew it wouldn't work for long. Basically, she's been cutting loose whatever pieces of Pazuzu can be cut loose and hiding them in living things. Small enough pieces wouldn't have any effect on the host, she said. She's not as smart as she thinks she is."

"Then... what should I do?"

"Hmm... I've half a mind to just let it happen. Let Pazuzu have his fun for a while. He never kills *everything.* Just most things. So do whatever you like. I have no orders for you."

> "Then can you help me keep my friends safe, at least?"
> "But I want to kill him. And if it doesn't stick, I'll kill him again!"
> "These host bodies - can we do anything to help them?"

>>30358826
>> "But I want to kill him. And if it doesn't stick, I'll kill him again!"
> "These host bodies - can we do anything to help them?"
>"Maybe kick the pazuzu part out so I can kill it?"

>>30358826
> "These host bodies - can we do anything to help them?"

Rolled 3, 1, 4, 1 = 9

>>30358826
>> "These host bodies - can we do anything to help them?"

File: 1392864110653.jpg-(399 KB, 800x1200, d89b27da8323adc3671951354(...).jpg)

399 KB JPG

>>30358826
"These host bodies - can we do anything to help them?"

The goddess smiles knowingly at you and lays a hand on your back. "You fancy one of them, don't you? I know how you feel. You could just keep him alive. Keep him away from other hosts, enjoy him, and hope for the best. Killing him will just make Pazuzu stronger, but that should be fine as long as not too many hosts die at the same time. I don't think you can cut it out of them. It's all tangled up inside them. I could ask Aruru, but we're not really on speaking terms right now. You don't want to talk to her anyway, little scorpion. She's a bore. You want to be my scorpion, yes?"

> "Sure."
> "I honor all the gods in their turns. A mortal pretty much has to."
> "I like Tiamat, too. She sounds pretty cool."
> "It's a she, actually... but wait, no, we're just friends!"

>>30359145
>"It's a she, actually... but wait, no, we're just friends!"

>>30359145
> "I honor all the gods in their turns. A mortal pretty much has to."
>"But, well, you did save me, and you talk to me. I'd gladly do what you command. Or at least sacrifice more on holy days."

And maybe toss in a
"We're just friends!"

Rolled 2, 5, 3, 1 = 11

>>30359145
> "It's a she, actually... but wait, no, we're just friends!"
>> "I honor all the gods in their turns. A mortal pretty much has to."

File: 1392864835455.jpg-(391 KB, 1000x1200, 1386042262229.jpg)

391 KB JPG

>>30359145
"I honor all the gods in their turns. A mortal pretty much has to. But, well, you did save me, and you talk to me. I'd gladly do what you command. Or at least sacrifice more on holy days."

The goddess strokes your hair as if to console you for being such a weak, piteous mortal. "Your heart is in the right place, little scorpion. Oddly enough, many of my devotees think they can please me by being like me. But that's the last thing I want! Nobody gets to be like me but me!"

You're not sure how to respond to that. "All right..."

"I'll tell you what. If you do me a little favor, I'll tell you where some nice old things are buried. During the feast of Sin, my father, I want you to play a little prank. Something funny. Something vulgar. Something spectacular. He's been just awful lately, and I'd really appreciate it. Kill those hosts, or don't, just as long as you don't kill too many at once. That's settled."

Rolled 2, 6, 3, 6 = 17

>>30359366
Of course, anything for you.

>>30359366
D-d-disrespect a god?
Come up with a -FUNNY PRANK-?
Oh jeez this is a hard one.

>>30359366
>Kill those hosts? I'd rather not kill anyone...

>>30359467
>Kill those hosts, Or don't

She doesn't care if we do or not. She only cares that we don't kill a LOT at the same time. Because pazuzu

>>30359480
we're still a little scorpigirl though

>>30359439
this, I want ancient artifacts.

>>30359521
well, it's not like she's ordering us to kill them.

so, sin is the moon god, and has something to do with cattle, easy births, and dictating laws with the sun.

File: 1392866061721.jpg-(550 KB, 850x1124, sample_af3aae421c8fd367db(...).jpg)

550 KB JPG

>>30359366
"Of course! Anything for you."

She chuckles warmly and pats you on the shoulder with a heavy silken hand by way of a reward. "Good! I'm going to give you this one on credit, because you've been a good little scorpion. Sin's feast is right after Enlil's feast, or at least it was last time I checked. Do it then. And if you'd like to find treasure, go east until you find a gray mountain range. The southernmost pass north of the sea should still have an old temple of mine tucked into it, dedicated to me. Some nice things under there, a stockpile for my mole-girls before they started to bore me."

> "Am I... going to bore you, too?
> "Oh... right. I'm afraid killed one of those. She's where I got the water from. But it was only in self-defense!"

>>30359648
Basically this. Sin is big on wisdom and watching for evil, too. In this world, he has his work cut out for him.

>>30359758
>"Oh... right. I'm afraid killed one of those. She's where I got the water from. But it was only in self-defense!"

>>30359758
> "Am I... going to bore you, too?

>>30359758
> "Oh... right. I'm afraid killed one of those. She's where I got the water from. But it was only in self-defense!"

Rolled 2, 4, 4, 2 = 12

>>30359758
>> "Oh... right. I'm afraid killed one of those. She's where I got the water from. But it was only in self-defense!"

As for prank, how about spiking the drinks of the priests and once they pass out, we change their robes around so every priest has some other priest's robe on.

When they wake up in somebody else's robes, they'll go demand answers from that priest who normally wears the robes of that colour only to find that he's also wearing somebody else's robes, confusion ensues and they'll have to work together in order to figure out who is responsible.

>>30359897
okay, that IS pretty funny.
I don't know about vulgar or spectacular, but certainly funny.

File: 1392866649601.jpg-(190 KB, 950x1098, 6e3df966126fb8915d5f2e2b0(...).jpg)

190 KB JPG

>>30359758
"Oh... right. I'm afraid killed one of those. She's where I got the water from. But it was only in self-defense!"

The goddess laughs and covers her mouth coquettishly with her taloned gauntlet. "You don't need to worry about that, dear. I used them, for a time. There was a war on, and they were delightfully loyal. But they were a little too serious for my taste. And the males among them were no good as lovers. I do not mourn any of them. You are the one with my attention now. So live. Serve me. Make the world a more interesting place. And be sure to play a trick on my father that will make everyone laughs who hears the story! For centuries to come, preferably! He's been asking for it!"

> Ask Ishtar for additional knowledge
> Ask her to be sent back to the battle

>>30359958
> Ask her to be sent back to the battle

>>30359958
>I'm 12, maam. I'll try, but my pranks haven't been centuries-to-come material.
>Ask her to be sent back to the battle

Rolled 3, 5, 1, 2 = 11

>>30359958
>> Ask her to be sent back to the battle

>>30359928
We could also take their undergarments and add hints to the robes, which reveal the location of the undergarments if all the hints are gathered together.

>>30360078
okay, if we force all the priests to go on a pilgrimege all across the city investigating all the statues of sin for the next clue, that might be a bit better.

>>30360078
except all the hints are fake
top lel

File: 1392867265123.jpg-(142 KB, 600x750, 667e7ff40a0c10c20a4e6c993(...).jpg)

142 KB JPG

>>30359958
"I'm only 12, er, I mean 13, ma'am, but I'll do my best for you. I think I'm ready to go back now..."

"You've been there the whole time. This is just a vision. Open your eyes now, girl."

"Am I... but my eyes are..."

You regain your senses all at once, and dull aches flood back to your body from your bruises and broken legs. You see the blight demon, critically maimed but still thrashing with one or two remaining legs, as Patience tears into it with her bare hands and uses its own splintered bones as weapons against it, completely covered in black gore. Iltani is nowhere to be seen.

> Look for Iltani first
> If she was going to run, she's long gone. You want some of that demon-killing action!

Rolled 6, 1, 4, 3 = 14

>>30360158
>> If she was going to run, she's long gone. You want some of that demon-killing action!

>>30360158
Yeah, Iltani would be long gone if she was going to run. just make sure she isn't in the immediate vicinity of the fight before rushing in with claws and stomping.

>>30360158
>kill kill kill

>>30360158
>> If she was going to run, she's long gone. You want some of that demon-killing action!

>>30360158
> If she was going to run, she's long gone. You want some of that demon-killing action!
This!

Hey I actually caught this before it ended for once.

File: 1392867934271.png-(460 KB, 600x750, d9c563705e55f665acb40a2da(...).png)

460 KB PNG

>>30360158
You survey the immediate area for Iltani. Not seeing her, you charge toward the dying beast, your claws twitching with bloodlust. As you burrow into an open wound, you find that blight demon fluids don't taste much like blood, more like mud. Fuck, you really want some good raw meat. Or maybe just some good meat. You take out your frustration on the walls of earthy flesh all around you. You hear a death rattle that is more like a gurgle.

You burrow until you feel like you've hit bedrock. You have to hold your breath, even with your book lungs, so completely are you surrounded in muddy ichor. You feel around with your claws, and you feel that you've found a very hard pod at the thing's heart, harder than stone, about as large as a human bed.

> Pull it out and inspect it
> Bury this thing as best you can, pod and all. Nobody must know.

>>30360362
>> Pull it out and inspect it

>>30360362

> Pull it out and inspect it

Rolled 2, 4, 4, 1 = 11

>>30360362
>> Pull it out and inspect it

>>30360362
Try to use a cloth to act as an intermediary between yourself and the giant rock, so it doesn't seep into us.

Then figure out what the heck it is.

I'd much prefer to bring it home by dragging it on a rope than carrying it.

>>30360362
stupid giant blight golem.
I'm hungry.
We should have brought snacks.
On an entirely unrelated note, where's Iltani?

File: 1392868708392.jpg-(58 KB, 724x900, 1390968906860.jpg)

58 KB JPG

>>30360362
You seize the hard pod in your claws and heave and tug until it is wrenched free. It is very dense, but your monstrous strength allows you to carry it out of the cavernous corpse.

You see the light of day again, and you take a deep breath of sweet air. Patience is sitting on the remains of the thing's head, trying to make a makeshift weapon out of bits of bone, chitin, and sticky black sinew. "Oh, there you are! It still feels wrong, but I'm hoping that will pass as it decomposes. Hey, what do you have there?"

Another voice calls out. "Is it safe?" Iltani has come back out from behind the grassy hill and comes toward you. "I saw him this time, really close. I couldn't tell if he loved or hated me. But then it started feeling bad..."

The black pod starts to shake and twitch in your grasp.

> Drop it
> Crush it, if you can. Roll 4d6.
> Order Iltani to run

Rolled 1, 3, 4, 4 = 12

>>30360632
> Order Iltani to run
>IT'S NOT SAFE YET
> Crush it, if you can. Roll 4d6.

Kill the pazuzu pod before it merges with Iltani

Rolled 6, 3, 3, 5 = 17

>>30360632
>> Order Iltani to run
> Crush it, if you can. Roll 4d6.

Rolled 6, 5, 1, 3 = 15

>>30360632
>> Crush it, if you can. Roll 4d6.

File: 1392869154168.jpg-(152 KB, 600x899, b1281b958b085da184b51e9da(...).jpg)

152 KB JPG

>>30360632
"It's not safe yet! Run!" You squeeze the pod in your claws. It's hard to make its shell even flex a little. You drop it on the ground and try pounding on it with one claw. Finally, it splits open - in between strikes. Something is coming out on its own.

> Now's a good time to break, I think.
> Archived: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/30354900/

>>30360782
Argh, cliffhangers!
See you next time, anu.
Also, argh, super tough pazuzu chunks.

>>30360782
Also, because it's germane, here's some verse about Ishtar and her many unfortunate lovers:

See here now, I will recite the list of your lovers.
Tammuz, the lover of your earliest youth,
for him you have ordained lamentations year upon year!
You loved the colorful 'Little Shepherd' bird
and then hit him, breaking his wing, so
now he stands in the forest crying 'My Wing'!
You loved the supremely mighty lion,
yet you dug for him seven and again seven pits.
You loved the stallion, famed in battle,
yet you ordained for him the whip, the goad, and the lash,
ordained for him to gallop for seven and seven hours,
ordained for him drinking from muddled waters,'
you ordained far his mother Silili to wail continually.
You loved the Shepherd, the Master Herder,
who continually presented you with bread baked in embers,
and who daily slaughtered for you a kid.
Yet you struck him, and turned him into a wolf,
so his own shepherds now chase him
and his own dogs snap at his shins.

>>30360946
Ishtar, you're a bit of a capricious one.

Rolled 2, 2, 1, 4 = 9

>>30360782
Thank you for running!