>>30400566
You hear a sickening crunch as the figure chokes up on the corpse's neck, the head popping off like it was a cork. It slowly raises the stump of a neck up to its open mouth. You only see it for a moment, but you are certain of what you see. Coming out of the figure's mouth you see a small skeletal arm dart out and latch onto the exposed nub of spine and pull. The spine is wrenched free and disappears down the figures throat, the figure tossing aside the corpse like spent wrapping.

It takes a single step towards you, disappearing and reappearing right in front of you. The figure towers over you, your head barely at the base of its neck. With its free hand it grabs you by the throat and picks you up. Despite the best of your struggles, you are unable to make the figure loosen its grip on you. Your master leaps towards you and the figure with the intent to fend it off, but is stopped short by a single swing of the massive greatsword, the flat striking her and knocking her away. It turns your head this way and that, examining you.

[1/2]

>>30400597
It opens its mouth and laughs deeply before looking you in the eyes with its single glowing coal of an eye, its right eye socket unlit.

“You may be unaware of it, but I can see it. In your bones, clear as the mid day's sun” it says with a voice of fire and gravel.

“See what?” Your response is difficult to muster through the being's firm grip on your neck.

“Potential.” It roars with laughter once again. It continues speaking, “although it seems you have been squandering it. I have a...proposition for you, if you will hear it.”

“What kind of proposition?”

“Myself and others in a similar position to myself have grown quite bored over the years, you see. So we have taken to making a bit of sport. The short of it is this: I give you my crest and mark you as my prey and mine alone, and when you are at the peak of your skill, or whenever I deem you worthy, we engage in combat. So long as you bare my crest none of the others will harm you.”

“And if I refuse?” You continue to struggle in the being's grasp, the world beginning to go black at the corners of your vision.

“Well, I let you go and we part ways, neither of us worse for wear. In doing so, though, if you should encounter any of my brethren, you may not get a deal quite so sweet.”

Do you accept the skeleton man's terms?
>Yes
>No
>Questions (write in)
[2/2]

>>30400619
>>Questions (write in)
How many others are there?

>>30400619
>>30400644
and how likely are they to find me?

>>30400644
I second that question

>>30400566

Heyyy, welcome back OP! I was wondering when you'd come back!

>>30400619
I'd say we take it.

I want to be like this guy. Huge, made of bones. Maybe arm guns. And a giant chest cannon.

>>30400671
>>30400644
>>30400681
The figure pauses for a moment, trying to remember specific information.

"I believe there's...13 of us? No, wait, Enroth passed on 8 years ago...12 others? Yes. There are 13 total." It seems happy with itself for remembering.

>>30400619
>Yes

Why not.

>>30400748
What do you mean by peak of my skill?
Also I vote yes

>>30400619
>>No

>>30400748
Then yeah, let's take it.

Though we should ask what it would take for us to be worthy.

>>30400748

Will you fight in an honorable fashion, or come upon me when I least expect it?

>>30400696
I wanted to run yesterday, but I was having issues trying to access 4chan, something about cloudflare fucking up. By the time the issue was resolved it was a bit too late for my liking to start.

>>30400619
Yes

>>30400786
>>30400786
"Well, I will be checking up on you periodically to see how you are maturing, and when you are at what I think is your peak ripeness, I will 'harvest' you, so to speak."

Also, I take it you are agreeing to the terms of this deal since the majority seem to agree.

>>30400895

How long have you been alive? Will this be a fght I could possibly win?

>>30400895
Did we get a friendly monster after our life?
I approve of this, maybe we can get him to train us so as to provide more of a challenge at some point

>>30400928

Yeah, more level heads want more information but the majority just say "Go for it."

>>30400931
The being pauses again, before speaking.

"My flesh passed on...89 years ago this year."

Anyway, final vote time, take the deal or no?

>>30401000
"Could I ever become something like you?"

>>30400895
Why not fight our Master instead? Isn't she much more worthy?

>>30401056
Sure.

>>30401086
I would like to vote no to this. I rather not piss off our teacher

>>30401056

Unable to decide without information on whether we'd have a shot at killing it or not.

So I'll leave this up to other people.

>>30401056
no

>>30401056
I am ok with it

>>30401056

....No.

>>30401056
I'd say no.

>>30401116
I mean I'm sure she'd like to get revenge for getting whacked by the thing.
>>30401056
Yes

>>30401056
Ask him if he will fight fairly or sneak attack, if the former yes if the latter no

>>30401056
Yes.

It'll probably give us a few months or years of preperation.

>>30401092
>>30401137
>>30401176
>>30401259
Consensus achieved.

Roll 3d10, best of 3

Rolled 8, 7, 7 = 22

>>30401308

Rolled 2, 3, 7 = 12

>>30401308

Rolled 4, 4, 3 = 11

>>30401308

>>30401362
>>30401339
>>30401332
Very good, writing.

Rolled 1, 6, 3 = 10

>>30401308

>>30401373
mine was good
the rest though....

>>30401387
Well, this is partially why I use best of.

>>30401308

Mulling it over for as long as you can afford at your current state of air deprivation, you nod to signal agreement to the terms of the agreement.

“Excellent. Brace yourself, this may sting a bit.” The being plants its sword in the ground and places its massive hand against your chest. You feel an intense burning sensation where its palm is for a brief moment before it subsides. Removing its hand from your chest and neck, you fall to the ground. Over your heart you can see an intricate design encircling an ornate 'B' and 'A'. Pulling its sword from the ground, the being gives you a deep bow.

“I look forward to the day you and I will fight, and may it be the filled with the valor I once knew as an enfleshed.” It says in an eager tone. It turns, and with a single step is gone, the only sign of it having been there in the first place the rapidly fading crest on your chest and the bloodied plaza it left behind.

Standing up, you feel a bit stronger, as if the being left behind a bit more power in you than originally intended.

(Perk gained: Slayer's Blessing! You now gain a small boost to experience gained in the slayer tree, but no roll bonus for it.)

Scanning the area, you find your master struggling to stand back up. Rushing over to aid her, she takes a moment to focus and regain her composure, cursing under her breath.

Looking back at the jail, the figure appears to have not actually made it inside, if the intact exterior is anything to judge by. The front has a set of heavy double doors, and in the back you can see a smaller entrance, which you assume is used primarily by servants. The structure has guard towers at each of the four corners, which you no doubt could use to access the rest of the building. The building is two floors tall, with a chest high wall going along the perimeter of the roof.

What is your plan of action?
>write in

>>30401812
Go around the back.

>>30401812
Ask Master if she's ever heard of a being like that before.

>>30401812

>Filled with the valor I once knew as an enfleshed

Well I suppose we might've lucked out here.

Seconding this >>30401871

>>30401812
Breach through an upstairs window, murderfy everyone in the room.

>>30401901
>>30401871
Your master thinks hard about your question before speaking.

"You know how we've only known about magic for just over a hundred years? Well, tales of things like...that have been around forever, just never though I'd see one myself, always thought they were just stories mothers told their kids to make them behave."

>>30401812
Servant entrance.

>>30402026

Second.

>>30402026
>>30401863
>>30402044
Servant's entrance selected.

Thinking the servant's entrance would be the safest means of gaining entrance into the building, you and your master circle around to the back. You try the door and find it locked. You are about to blow apart the lock with your gun before your master stops you and takes a hold of the door knob with her normal arm. With just a small tug she rips the door clean off its hinges. As soon as the way is clear, you rush into the building with your pistol in hand, dagger in the other. Perched on a stool directly behind the door and against the wall is a guard. He stares at you and your master with a combination of shock and surprise.

What do you do?

>>30402224
That should read "shock and disbelief," not shock and surprise.

>>30402224
Is he armed?

>>30402258
He is armed with a flintlock pistol and a knife, although neither is drawn.

>>30402224
Disarm him, threaten to kneecap him if he doesn't give us the layout of the building and wherever the big boss is hiding.

Kneecap him if he doesn't comply, shoot him in the head if he does. Harvest spine.

>>30402294

We should probably try to keep quiet until we know the disposition of the enemy here.

So I'm voting (basically this) except don't shoot him, use our knife.

>>30402281
Tell him to disarm himself and ask where the prisoners are.

>>30402339
>>30402333
>>30402294

We could, perhaps, cast a mild disjunction on him? Not sure what that'd do, but it seems to be pretty nasty and would likely silence him non-lethally.

>>30402379
>>30402339
>>30402294
>>30402333
So a non-lethal take down with interrogation. Writing.

Rushing forward you slam your forearm into the guard's throat and pin him against the wall with your dagger wielding arm while you press the muzzle of your pistol into his forehead.

“Now, in a moment I'm going to take my arm off your throat, and in return for my kindness you will answer some questions of mine.” Your words come out with as much menace as you can muster, but inside you are nearly as nervous as the guard you have captive. If he manages to alert the other guards it could endanger the prisoners you have come to release. The guard nods in agreement, eyes full of panic. You slowly pull your arm back and allow the man to breath. As soon as you pull back enough to let him breath he enters a coughing fit while massaging his throat. You nudge his head with your pistol again to make sure he understands the situation.

“Where are the prisoners?”

“Some are down in the dungeons, others are being held on the second floor,” the guard says between coughs.

“What about the layout of this building?”

“It's a big rectangular ring with a central courtyard, complete with gallows. The big doors at the front have a second set behind them on the opposite wall that opens out to the courtyard. All stairs leading up and down are at the corners and are part of the guard tower.” The man's breathing has calmed down a bit, but his eyes still display his nervousness.

“Alright, last question,” you say pressing the muzzle hard into the man's forehead, “who's in charge here?”

“Vice Captain Tanskel is in command here.” The man's nerves seem to be at an end and you back off from him, allowing enough space for your master to dart in and cast disjunction on him. His jaw locks shut as he spasms violently and collapses on the ground, unable to move.

What do you do?

>>30402379
or make him scream so much that everyone knows we're here.

>>30402852
Go to the second floor first. It's probably where they're keeping the more important prisoners.

>>30402852
Tie him up and gag him, take whatever he has of value.

>>30402854

Well the OP is nice enough to go with our intent rather than the letter of our posts.

>>30402852

Let's head to the basement first. Stealthily.

>>30402913

Perhaps we should gather forces first so that we have more tactical options available to us? More prisoners=more guards.

>>30402852
Check out the second floor. We know the basement is probably a generic dungeon, but what on secon floor?

>>30402957
>>30402913
Alright, second floor it is.

You get to work binding the guard with some pieces of cloth torn from his uniform, taking the opportunity to loot a couple pieces of silver as well as some lead balls for his pistol (gain 2 silver, 4 lead balls).

Making your way over to the stairways, you ascend to the second floor and peek out from the shadow of the doorway. The hall is lined with cells, a good number of them with occupants. You can see a single guard down each hallway from your position, each patrolling back and forth along the length of the hall. Due to the construction of the building neither one is in the other's field of vision, except for when they are standing directly at the corners of the halls.

What do you do?

>>30403199

Do the guards walk at rates such that they can see each other regularly?

>>30403199
How loud is our pistol? If we fire it will others in the building hear?

We may want to let our master handle this one.

>>30403199
Murder them in sequence.

Silly guards, you don't keep your pattern predictable!

>>30403223
Not loud enough that the entire building will hear, but loud enough that most people on the same floor will hear it, as well as some people on the floor below.

>>30403219
Yes.

Also, I'll need some kind of consensus for a course of action.

>>30403309
Let our master sneak up and tear their spines out. Or disjunction, whatever.

>>30403309
>>30403339
This basically

>>30403309
Murderkill

>>30403371
>>30403339
I guess I'll call it here, then.

>>30403409

We'll need more detailed descriptions of the environment or faster updates in response to minor queries if you'd like more complex actions. You also haven't had any enemies smack us down yet to teach us to be careful.

>>30403470
It's funny you should talk about big enemies this thread.

HUEHUEHUEHUE.

You gesture out towards the hall to your master and whisper.

“Ladies first.”

“How gentlemanly,” she replies with a smile, and out she heads in direction. Her footsteps fast and light, she quickly reaches one of the guards, and with as much grace as possible for the action, tears his head off his neck with her boneforge arm. She may be fast, and she may be silent, but there is one thing your master isn't.

And that thing is being subtle.

The display causes the captives in the cells against the walls to cry out in surprise, quickly alerting the other guards nearby that something is wrong. Rushing past your hiding spot, they find your master standing over the corpse of the downed guard, causing them to shout and raise an alarm.

You will not have very long before other guards come up the stairway you are hiding in, so you must act fast. You could stay near your master and help her defend herself, or you could try to find the vice-captain during the ruckus and deal with him, hopefully one on one.

What do you do?

>>30403692
>Go for the vice captain
Our master is a monster, she needs no help.

Rolled 56

>>30403752

Second.

>>30403692
Find the vice-captain.

>>30403776
>>30403770
>>30403752
You have elected to hunt the vice-captain.

>>30403752
But tell her first so that she causes a ruckus and draws his forces to her leaving him for us

Thinking that your master can look after herself, you dart down the hall. If the vice-captain is in charge, he is most likely going to be in the warden's office, you think to yourself. And the warden's office is most likely on the second floor. It isn't long before you see a room situated in the center of the ring, over where the double doors are located. You crack open the door a bit and peek in. Inside you see a man in uniform, similar to the standard guard's raiment but far more ornate. He's staring out the windows of the office, his back turned towards you. Slowly raising your pistol and taking aim at the man, you prepare to fire.

“That won't work.”

The words startle you as the man turns and looks at you, dead in the eyes. He has a scarred face, with a heavy stubble and a solid jaw, with a bushy mustache covering his mouth. He continues speaking.

“Why don't you come in here and fight me like a man?” He appears to be armed with only a saber.

What do you do?

>>30404203
>Shoot

>>30404203
"Worth a try"

Shoot him, see if he's bluffing.

>>30404203

fire at him anyway, if it does not work draw our saber.

>>30404203
Do as Indiana Jones does and shoot the bastard

>>30404232
>>30404238
>>30404241
>>30404252
Unity through practicality. I like it

>>30404238
seconding. No reason not to.

>>30404252
>>30404241
>>30404238
>>30404232
I'm thinking I can call this one early. Roll 3d10, best of 3.

Rolled 4, 2, 9 = 15

>>30404293

Rolled 9, 5, 3 = 17

>>30404293

Rolled 8, 9, 4 = 21

>>30404293

>>30404321
>>30404308
>>30404304
Not bad. Writing.

>>30404338

You might want to consider instituting something where good/bad crits override normal rolls, that way there's a bit of suspense in rolling dice and a way for it to backfire on us.

>>30404357
I'll consider taking crits up to the first 10 rolls, but only absolute crits, meaning 3 or 30 flat.

>>30404357
At the same time, crits can ruin a system if the DM doesn't know probability.

The words cause you to falter a bit.

But not enough to stop you.

You pull the trigger of your pistol, the boneburst mechanism creating its signature crack as it rapidly accelerates the lead ball. The vice-captain deflects the projectile with his sheathed saber unflinchingly.

“It was worth a try,” you say, more surprised than anything. Drawing the saber that you pilfered earlier you enter the room, keeping a firm grasp on your dagger in your off hand. The vice-captain smiles for the first time as you approach him.

“Much better,” he says, drawing his own saber, as equally ornate as his uniform, complete with an ivory imbedded hilt.

He takes up a stance and thrusts his saber at you, fast enough that you have trouble keeping up with his movements. You duck out of the way of his blade in time to avoid getting skewered outright. The dim glow of the blade as it passes by you is enough to tell you that the blade is an artifact. Jumping back out of his striking range, you question him.

“Are you a mage?”

“Not quite,” is the response he offers you.

This is both good and bad, you think. Bad because he has an artifact, a rather powerful looking one at that. Good because as a non-mage using an artifact, its power usage is both increased as well as unchecked, which makes using it a dangerous proposition for him.

What is your plan of action? There are various pieces of furniture around the room, as well as windows overlooking both the plaza outside as well as the inner courtyard.

>>30404726
get him talking, ask why he joined the revolution and such, stall for time until our master shows up or an opportunity presents itself.

>>30404726
Get a piece of furniture between you and him. Throw things at him to distract him.

>>30404824


We require ladders and rope to make this plan successful.

>>30404870
Since when were we Jackie Chan?
I don't want no trouble

>>30404903
>Keep repeating "I don't want no trouble."

Haha, yes.

>>30404824
>>30404818
Stall for time it is. Roll 3d10.

Rolled 4, 1, 4 = 9

>>30404942
let's hope he is in the mood for a monologue.

Rolled 2, 7, 5 = 14

>>30404942

Rolled 9, 6, 2 = 17

>>30404942

>>30404986
>>30404984
>>30404966
Decent enough, writing.

This is both good and bad, you think. Bad because he has an artifact, a rather powerful looking one at that. Good because as a non-mage using an artifact, its power usage is both increased as well as unchecked, which makes using it a dangerous proposition for him.

What is your plan of action? There are various pieces of furniture around the room, as well as windows overlooking both the plaza outside as well as the inner courtyard.

Hoping to wear him down a bit, you pull a nearby chair towards you by threading the blade of your saber between the chair legs, and kick it. He slices clean through it with a single stroke and steps in aggressively while raising his blade. In an attempt to block the incoming strike you raise your dagger, preparing to use resonance on it to deflect the as yet unknown effect in the vice-captain's artifact. Except the swing never comes, as instead he strikes you with the palm of his empty hand, the blow jarring you a bit. You stagger back, maintaining your grip on your weapons.

“Why are you fighting? What's the point of this revolution?” You question him in an attempt to delay him long enough for your master to finish with the rest of the guards.

“I fight because I follow my captain,” the vice-captain answers, his body language beginning to show the faintest signs of exhaustion, although his eyes still maintain a cool intensity, focused on a single objective. “I need no other reason to fight. As for this revolution, it is because we need it.”

Outside, you can hear the ruckus from earlier has died down significantly, although it is still ongoing.

What do you do?

>>30405335
Call out for your master.

>>30405349
I get the feeling everyone else has fallen asleep, so I'll take this and end the session for the night with the next update.

>>30405335
"You need to lock up fellow guards as part of it? To pile corpses whole storeys high, this justifies the use of force here? You're not so mindless you can't see you're being used, are you - or are you just a liar?"

Use mobility, tire him more, throw more obstacles at him, and use resonance to screw with him.

I'd suggest using the dagger's resonance indirectly at first. Feint with the sabre and then get small wounds on him with the dagger, maybe even on his sword hand if you have to stay out of his guard, but definitely get inside his guard if there's an opening and go for a body blow if one becomes available.

>>30405472
It's hard coming up with complicated plans.

>>30405494

I'm down for this.

>>30405517
Indeed.

>>30405527
>>30405494
Alright, I'll switch to this.

Still gonna end the session for the night on this, though.

>>30405472
I'm still here, OP. Good thread though, ain't gonna bitch if you decide to end it.

“Really? You really think this is justified? All this loss of life?” Your voice is uncertain at first but quickly gains strength as you find something of a moral high ground to question the vice-captain's motives.

“You've imprisoned so many of your own men for this, I would wager a good many have even died because of this, and not because they were supporting it. How many citizens, citizens that YOU swore to protect, have died for this damned revolution? What could possibly be worth this?” Your words, even if they had no effect on the vice-captain, are beginning to effect you. You can feel your heart hammering away in your chest, beating with fury. Your grip on your weapons tightens, your dagger resonating subconsciously in response to your heightened emotions.

“You could have stopped this, you could have prevented all all these people from dying,” your voice rapidly approaches shouting volume, unable to contain your mounting rage. “You do all this, and you have the gall to call yourself a man?”

“I do,” the vice-captain says, although his eyes have lost that cool intensity they had earlier. “I'm sorry that this had to happen, but even if I had to do this all over again, I would.”

“So there's no more talking to you, is there?”

“There isn't.”

You take up a stance once more across from the vice-captain, although his eyes aren't looking into yours, rather, they seem to be drawn to your dagger. You look to it and see why. The dagger, instead of its usual dull glow when caused by resonation, now shines brilliantly.

>>30406078
So, no more updates? When will you be up again? I could read this stuff all night.

>>30406117

This is probably 1/2 or 1/3

As usual, I'll take Q and A for a while. Not for too long though, since I'm pretty tired.

>>30406117
>>30406125
Sorry, no more tonight. Next thread will be sunday afternoon. Specific time is TBD.

>>30406145
So tomorrow around a few hours earlier then now?

>>30406160
I'm in the EST timezone so it would be tomorrow a few hours later from now.

>>30406078
Little strange that the dude who is was literally pulling skeletons out a little while ago has suddenly gone all whiteknight, but it's fairly well written nonetheless.

>>30406126
Remember to archive the thread

>>30406204
There's a difference between pulling the skeleton out of a corpse and the needless bloodshed of hundreds.

>>30406223
Well thank you for running tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed tonights thread.

>>30406259
Well, thank you for reading. If it was only one person that enjoyed reading my work, I would be satisfied.

>>30406279
its a fun read

>>30406204

Well if you've never been taught that skeletons/bones are evil, then we're just putting them to a good use.