You untie Al Gasreed from his post and mount up, Chryssa follows suit. “Yeah, lets get out of here. Is there anywhere you'd like to go?” She looks at you, and you shrug. “It's only fair, I've been leading the way so far.” She nods, and spurs her guar into a gentle trot towards the front gate of the Academy.

You catch up to her and as you ride along side she seems to come to a decision. “I would like to go to a tannery. My bow is a good bow. It was a gift from my father and it has served me well over the years. I lack armor and worry that if cornered I would be vulnerable.”

Well, there you have it. It shouldn't be hard to track down a tannery by smell alone, the places often reek of all the various materials used to tan hides. Still you've got plenty of time on the long trek back down the mountain the upper portion of the city seems to reside on. You use that to your advantage, deciding to gently address what seems to be frustrating Chryssa. “You know, I could teach you the basics of magic.” She glances at you, warily you think but it's hard to tell. “If you'd like, that is. Just so you can push through the jargon, understand what you're reading. There might be a few cultural differences in what's called what but the gist should be the same.”

(1/2)

She stares at you for a while before facing forward again, guiding her mount through the thinning late-afternoon crowds. You'd guess there were about two hours left of daylight, and then it'd be about time to start looking for an inn to stay in, or to hit the road again. Eventually, Chryssa turns to you and speaks up. “I would like that. Thank you.” There is a brief pause followed by. “I apologize for acting out... earlier.” She doesn't expound upon why exactly she reacted the way she did, and the conversation dies off after that. You'll assume for now she was simply frustrated because she couldn't understand it.

Not long after the conclusion of that slightly awkward conversation you catch whiff of a truly awful smell. Bad enough that you're glad you haven't eaten in the last few hours, hungry though you are. If you had you'd be throwing it up now. Following your nose you find a small shop near the edge of the sea with vats of various sizes arrayed around the property, animal hides of all sorts soaking in stewed intestines and brain matter, as well as less savory things. An elderly samja woman (easily two hundred, from your rough estimate) sits outside on a rocking chair, knitting peacefully and seemingly unaffected by the smell.

She looks to you with glassy eyes and ask in a shaking voice. “Are you my son?”

>Yes, mother! I've finally returned from abroad!
>I'm afraid not miss, just here to buy some leather goods.
>No, you crazy ancient. Who runs this store?
>Write-in

>>30526755
>>I'm afraid not miss, just here to buy some leather goods.

>>30526755
>I'm afraid not miss, just here to buy some leather goods.

Writin' for
>Afraid not.

You look at the elderly woman for a moment before slowly shaking your head. “No, no I'm afraid not miss. We're just here to buy some leather armor.” You really hope this lady doesn't own the store. Surely someone who's still sane is just inside toiling away, too busy to attend to the customers. You hate dealing with these crazy old folk.

The older woman stares at you uncomprehendingly for a moment before nodding. “Good, my son's a damned sodomite is what he is.” Well that was a rather more vehement reaction than you were expecting. “Spends all day worshiping that Pani god of water. Not a proper god if you ask me! Won't even incinerate you for angering him! Back in my day we sacrificed people like you-” Oh by the gods she's really going on about this, isn't she?

It isn't long after she gets on her rant about burning all that do not obey Surya that a young man pokes his head out from inside the shop, shouting something. “Damn it, grandmother! You'll scare the customers away if you don't shut up!” The old woman, for her part, doesn't seem to notice her grandson's admonishment. He sighs, wiping his hands off on a rag stuffed into the waistband of his pants. “Ignore the woman, she's not long for this world. What can I get for you?”

>Ask what he could make custom ordered
>Ask to see what he has in stock.
>Let Chryssa get what she likes, you're just the bank.
>Write-in

>>30527075
>>Ask what he could make custom ordered
>>Ask to see what he has in stock.
>>Let Chryssa get what she likes, you're just the bank.
all three.

>>30527075
>Ask what he could make custom ordered
>Ask to see what he has in stock.
>Let Chryssa get what she likes, you're just the bank.
These are not mutually exclusive.

>>30527133
>>30527184

Pretty much this

Writin'

>>30527075
>Let Chryssa get what she likes, you're just the bank.

>>30527075
Ask Chrysalis what she would like
It seems women in her culture don't shop, so we shouldn't put her on the spot

You decide to start off with just asking to see what he has in stock, then you can talk about custom orders and let Chryssa decide what she'd like. “Well, why don't you show us what you have in stock and we'll go from there, yes?” The young man nods as you and Chryssa dismount your guar, tying them to a near-by post before heading into the small shack the tannery seems to operate out of.

The air inside is thick and humid. You can taste the fresh leather and it's not pleasant. Still, the goods he has on display are quite well made. He has a large saddle propped against the corner you think might be for a guar, though it seems a bit large to be for a guar. He also has a number of satchels, backpacks, waterskins, saddlebags, and various other leather goods like leather chaps and vest and the like. Nothing that especially catches your eye. No armor on display either.

“This is all quite nice, but we're specifically looking for armor.” The young man nods understandingly and launches into an explanation. “All our armor is custom made to fit the dimensions of the person who orders it. It takes a little longer, but I'm sure you understand how important a well made suit of armor is in a fight.”
(1/2)

You suppose you do understand that. You sort of lucked out with your armor, it adjust itself to fit you without the need for costly adjustments at a smith's workshop. “Very well then, what kind of options do you offer on custom work?”

He starts listing things off, you sort of tune it out since you're not really here to buy anything, just let Chryssa pick out something she likes. The gist of it is he could sew metal plates into pouches in the armor to make it more protective, incorporate hidden compartments to store small weapons, make it more or less conductive to spells cast on it, or various other aesthetic options like dye it or incorporate camouflage. After he finishes his explanation you look to your companion. “Well, what do you think?”

She looks to you confused for a moment before slowly speaking. “Well... I like the idea of having it reinforced like he mentioned. The hidden pockets would be useful for my daggers.”

You nod your head. “Alright then, how much would that run me?” You ask the young tanner. He does some quick mental arithmetic before naming his price. “Two hundred fifty silver.” That would be sixteen gold and ten silver. Not a bad price, a little on the expensive side really...

>Deal, pay half up front.
>No deal, negotiate the price down.
>No deal, take your business elsewhere.

>>30527658
>>>No deal, negotiate the price down.

>No deal, negotiate the price down.
If we've learned anything, it's always negotiate.

>>30527658
>No deal, negotiate the price down.

>>30527658
>Deal, pay half up front.

we need to pay for good craftsmen, well probably come back anyway and not jepping the tanner for our friend may be a good idea

Rolled 6, 1, 4 = 11

Alright, roll 3d10 to negotiate.

Rolled 1, 4, 4 = 9

>>30527760

Rolled 3, 2, 6 = 11

>>30527760

Rolled 1, 5, 1 = 7

>>30527760
>11
We got this.

Rolled 2, 4, 9 = 15

>>30527760
lets see what we get.

>>30527786
>>30527769
>>30527771

Just pay the man the money he ask for.

>>30527769
>>30527771
>>30527786
>9,11,7 vs 11
>Regular Failure
Writin'

Rolled 1, 9, 2 = 12

>>30527760

Rolled 6, 4, 5 = 15

>>30527831
Can we pay some Vys to improve it.

>>30527831
use Vys nigga

>>30527831
We can't augment the roll?

>>30527859
>>30527874
>>30527879
You could spend the Vys if you wanted, though it's not a particularly bad failure.
>Vys Pool: (10/12)
It'd take 2 vys to turn it into a success.

>>30527909
Sure use the 2 Vys.

>>30527909
do it

You try to haggle the price down, asking him how he expects you to pay such a steep price when we've yet to even see any examples of his work. He remains firm though, two hundred fifty silver or nothing. You channel some vys and try to speak a little more commandingly. “While I'm sure the craftsmanship will be of fine quality it's still the principal of the matter. I can't just throw hundreds of silver away on faith.” Eventually you manage to get the man to relent and give you a lower price, two hundred silver instead of two hundred fifty.
>Vys Pool: (8/12)

Well, it's not a huge discount but every little bit counts. You dig six gold and ten silver out of your coin purse and hand it over, you'll pay the rest after he delivers the armor. “It should be done in about four days time. You can pick it up then.” Well, that's one more delay you'll have to wait through before setting off for Licae, well maybe. You could probably leave now and get there by dawn, but you'd have to use your current weapon and Chryssa would be unarmored.
(1/2)

As you leave the tanner's shack you find the old woman seems to have fallen asleep, you're spared her fiery speech about the immorality of Pani worshipers. Chryssa looks to you as you walk to where the animals are tied. “Thank you, you can consider your debt to me paid.” She uses that same somber tone she always uses, though you think you can see the implication of a smile at the corners of her lips.

Where to next?
>Continue shopping, you have an hour more of daylight
>Find an inn
>Find a pub
>Set off for Licae, there's no time to waste!

>>30528129
>>Continue shopping, you have an hour more of daylight

>>30528129
>Set off for Licae, there's no time to waste!
Now or never. We spend anymore time we may as well not go.

Rolled 5, 5, 8 = 18

>>30528129
>>Continue shopping, you have an hour more of daylight

maybe we can find another store that may have relics like our armor/ring or another bow or arrows for our friend/companian

>Set off for Licae, there's no time to waste!
We've delayed long enough, we'll probably have to compete with a swarm of other adventurers now.

>>30528129
>Set off for Licae, there's no time to waste!

>>30528129
>Set off for Licae, there's no time to waste!

Writing for
>To Licae!

You decide to head off for Licae, you've delayed long enough and you're worried if you waste much more time all the good finds will have already been made. You set off for the bridge you entered the city through and Chryssa follows. As you're crossing the bridge she looks to you curiously. “We're not staying the night? Are you not tired?”

Well, you are tired but it's not that bad. You're expertise in water would make going without sleep a pretty trivial task if you wanted to and you've got a serviceable amount of vys left, you think. “I am, but I've been putting this off for a long time. I want to hurry to Licae and start exploring that ruin.” Fortunately it shouldn't take long, as you finally reach the other side of the bridge a convenient stone stele indicates that simply following the road you're on will get you to Licae.

The journey is quiet. About an hour after you set off, night descends on the grassy plains you've found yourself in ever since exiting the pass. The night is actually quite chilly but not unmanageably so. You pass a number of other travelers on the road but none that seem very predisposed to conversation. You do manage to learn that some sort of festival is coming up soon, though you couldn't grasp what they were celebrating.
(1/2)

File: 1393540874745.jpg-(122 KB, 1500x639, Licae.jpg)

122 KB JPG

You'd like to say that around midnight you spotted the city on the horizon, but in the wide, grassy plains that still meant you had hours more atop Al Gasreed before you reached the city. By the time you did finally reach its outskirts the sun was just starting to peak its way over the horizon.

From what you could tell it was a rather widely dispersed city. You could see a quarry in the hills behind it and some kind of temple mount at the center. Torches glittered in the little vale, especially around what you think is a theater of some sort. It's a very peaceful looking little village, especially considering there are no walls erected to guard it. How this place has survived the wars ravaging the rest of the former Rhynian Empire you've no idea.

>Don't gawk, push through and try to reach the ruin.
>Find an inn here, meditate or sleep to restore your Vys.
>Write-in

>>30528559
>>Find an inn here, meditate or sleep to restore your Vys.

>>30528559
>Find an inn here, meditate or sleep to restore your Vys.

Better go in ready.

>>30528559
>Find an inn here, meditate or sleep to restore your Vys.

Writing for
>Find an inn.

>>30528559
>>>Find an inn here, meditate or sleep to restore your Vys.

You decide it'd be best to try and find a place to rest and recover briefly. Now that you're in Licae, it's only a short trip north into the hills to find that old mine Sadik mentioned. You can sort of relax.

It isn't hard to find an inn. Apparently, there's only one in the whole town. It's got a crudely drawn sign out front that you think depicts a bed and has a word, well you think it's a word, written under it. 'πανδοχείο', whatever that means. It sounds like it's packed inside, people shouting and talking amongst one another. You count at least ten or twelve guar milling about outside, grazing or drinking water from a vat.

You and Chryssa tie your guar to the provided post by the door and make your way inside. Why nobody else decided to use the post, you're not sure. Aren't they worried the animals might run off? Well, regardless you step inside to find a wide variety of men and women decked out in armor and armed to the teeth, drinking and playing games of various sorts. You can pick out ten or twenty distinct languages, none of which are ones you understand. They mostly seem grouped together in bands of five or six. If you had to guess, this would be your competition.

>Try to find something out about the ruin.
>Just find the innkeeper and get rooms for you and Chryssa.
>Have a few drinks at the bar.
>Write-in

>>30528930
>>Try to find something out about the ruin.
>>Have a few drinks at the bar.

>>30528930
>Try to find something out about the ruin.
>find the innkeeper and get rooms for you and Chryssa.

>>30528930
>>Just find the innkeeper and get rooms for you and Chryssa.
we can ask about the ruins tomorrow

>>30528930
>Just find the innkeeper and get rooms for you and Chryssa.

Rolled 8, 4, 4 = 16

>>30528930
>Write-in
Lets try to get some of the groups to fight the other groups and kill them off now

>Get rooms
>Investigate
Writin'

You opt to get rooms for the two of you before doing some quick investigation. It's not hard to find the inn keeper, he's behind the bar filling cups with cheap, watered down wine and trying to get heaping plates of what you're pretty sure is some form of especially thick stew to his customers. You rap your knuckles against the counter top loudly, as is the custom in your homeland to get a barman's attention, and he cast you an annoyed look.

He ask you something in a language you don't really recognize, you think it might be the same thing you heard that merchant speaking when he so rudely woke you after that night you spent in the ruined fortress at the mouth of the pass. When you clearly don't understand he switches to Rhynian. “What? What are of your wants?” You avoid pointing out that he just butchered the grammar and instead hold up two fingers. “Two rooms, meals.” He holds out his hand. “Ten silver, no negotiating! Food up in short of time!”

You pass him a gold coin and he digs through his pocket, handing you five silver back. You drop it into your coin purse and he nods, scurrying about his business. Rooms taken care of, you survey the inn's bottom floor. You have a few options it seems.
(Options in next post)

>A crowded table, at least ten people packed around it as best they can, talking loudly and drinking.
>A less crowded table populated by three people glancing around themselves suspiciously and talking amongst themselves.
>A man sitting quietly in the corner starring off into space and eating a plate of that thick stew.

>>30529364
>A less crowded table populated by three people glancing around themselves suspiciously and talking amongst themselves.

We can take them in a fight if our silver tongue isn't enough and it looks like they're up to something we might want in on.

>>30529364
>>A less crowded table populated by three people glancing around themselves suspiciously and talking amongst themselves.
If we have time then.
>>A man sitting quietly in the corner starring off into space and eating a plate of that thick stew.

>>30529364
>>A man sitting quietly in the corner starring off into space and eating a plate of that thick stew.

>>30529364
>A man sitting quietly in the corner starring off into space and eating a plate of that thick stew.
Just to ruin his mysterious vibe.

>>30529332
>>30529364

We should make sure the guars are take care of, or at-least remove any valuables in their packs I don't like this place.

>>30529364
>A man sitting quietly in the corner starring off into space and eating a plate of that thick stew.

Writing for
>Talk to the loner.

File: 1393544399045.jpg-(131 KB, 462x587, Bumbling squire.jpg)

131 KB JPG

You decide to talk to the loner, as you set off towards his table Chryssa lightly taps you on the arm to get your attention. “I will take care of the animals and our bags, then pick my room. Meet me down here in the morning.” You nod in response and she makes for the door. You don't think she likes crowded spaces.

There are more pressing matters to attend to though! You have someone to talk to. You slide into the seat across from the man eating alone and he doesn't quite seem to realize you're there at first. Almost mechanically, he spoons thick muck from his plate into his mouth. He's dressed in simple plate armor with a red standard covering his chest plate, depicting the insignia of some local lord you're sure. His helmet rest next to him on the table, revealing him to be a rather young human. Couldn't be more than twenty two, by your estimate.

Finally, he seems to realize you're there and he nearly jumps out of his skin. “Gods! How long have you been sitting there?!” You laugh and wave a hand dismissively. “Not long, friend, not long! You're not completely unaware.” He has the good grace to speak proper Rhynian at least.

He clears his throat, and straightens out the standard over his chest. “Well, absentminded I may be but it's rude to sneak up on people like that! Nearly put me in an early grave...” He grumbles, mostly to himself you think. “Well... anyway, what do you want samja?”

(1/2)

>>30529459
I thought we had all our money in a under our robes

Rolled 8, 5, 8 = 21

You raise your hands placatingly. “You're right, you're right. Walking up to someone openly in a well lit inn is sneaking.” He seems to bristle a bit, drawing himself up. You laugh and wave him off. “I kid, I kid! More seriously, I'm new to the area. Heard there was a ruin near-by that might be worth investigating. Figured it would be useful to talk to somebody more knowledgeable before I go diving in.”

He glares at you for a moment. "Go through all the trouble of pulling me out of my daydream just to ask about the ruin. Rude, rude, rude. Well, whatever." Okay, the talking to himself is pretty weird. Most people don't do that out loud in public. "Why should I tell you anything?"

(Rooll 3d10)

>>30529869
Meant to say inside our robes

Rolled 1, 7, 5 = 13

>>30529903
Communing with the dice gods

Rolled 6, 8, 9 = 23

>>30529903

Rolled 7, 4, 1 = 12

>>30529903

>>30529946
>>30529952
>>30529955
>13,23,12 vs 21
Fortunately for you, this wasn't a strict pass/fail roll.

Writing.

Rolled 2, 5, 7 = 14

>>30529903
"tch" And I'm the rude one? You can't even be hospitable to a stranger, now tell me what was so interesting about this daydream of yours that you're staring through have a tavern and eating like it's a chore.

You scoff. “I'm the rude one? Would you really be so cruel as to refuse a stranger hospitality? What was even so interesting about your daydream in the first place?” It's not like you were asking him for an arm and a leg, just a little information. What kind of stuff can you expect to see down there?

He nods his head brusquely. “Yes, yes I am so cruel. If you simply must know I was thinking about how I wanted to go about getting past the trap that surrounds the generator tomorrow. Your interruption might have cost me a mental breakthrough! Day dreaming is half how I get anything done after all...”

This is good, you can use this. “Trap you say? Well maybe I can help out! I'm quite knowledgeable about many things, trained by the best in Pidjata!” At the very least if you get him talking about it you'll be better prepared to face the same challenges. You note that out of the corner of your eye a few people from the surrounding tables have started to learn towards you to catch the conversation.
(1/2)

The young man sighs and leans back in his chair, head tossed back to stair up at the ceiling in exasperation. “The problem is, anyone who gets too close to the generator gets sucked in by the generator's pull. It creates this field that traps anything that gets too close, and then once they touch the generator they're converted to energy.” Well that sounds gruesome. “The only way to get by would be to turn off the generator, or counter the pull somehow. Nobody is sure how to do either of those though.”

You rub your chin contemplatively. “Well, what's the generator room look like? Maybe you should focus on getting around it instead of trying to get near it?” He shrugs his shoulders. “It's pretty cavernous. A lot of the floor has collapsed into a big pit. Thick metal cords hang off the ceiling. The generator is this giant globe in the center of the room...” He shrugs again. “I'd say the pull extends about forty feet in any one direction from the generator. The room itself is probably about a hundred foot wide circle. Like I said though there aren't many ways to get across it with so much of the floor gone.”

>Any ideas?
>Roll 3d10, you'll get a bonus for good insights.

>Alternatively, you can say screw it, you got what you wanted, and head up to your room.

Rolled 1, 5, 4 = 10

>>30530332
"I don't suppose you know how to turn off this generator?

Have you tried a makeshift bridge?"

Rolled 6, 9, 1 = 16

>>30530332

>>30530332
I say, if people are listening in we should try to lead them astray by giving false ideas.

Rolled 1, 3, 8 = 12

>>30530316
some terrible rolls in this thread

Rolled 8, 7, 5 = 20

>>30530332
I suggest we whisper to him so nobody hears us
Whisper this to him "Hmm have you tried following the wires out of the room"

>>30530403
That would be a perfectly valid tactic, if y'all wanted to go with it.

>>30530332
What about tying a rope to yourself so you don't get sucked in?

Rolled 4, 10, 5 = 19

>>30530332
have you tried to sending different forms of magic at it. one of them may short it out or turn it off

Rolled 10, 8, 8 = 26

>>30530403
False Idea #1: We claim to be a master of Earth vys and say that this is an easy one, and that *certain metal* has natural properties to actually nullify magical pulls.

Actual Idea:The metal cords could be powering the generator, if we disconnect them we'll just have to wait until it runs out of energy

Rolled 9, 8, 7 = 24

>>30530445
I was just thinking the same thing, but it guess it depends where we are trying to get to, if the goal is right behind the generator the rope wont help

Rolled 1, 3, 8 = 12

>>30530431
Let's try this

"Oh, I've heard of those contraptions before. Old remnants from some empire or another. They actually just transport you to another chamber in the complex, not kill you. Charging into it should do the trick."

>>30530332
WAIT, I GOT IT!
Metal magic is all about fortifying yourself and manipulating metal, right?
And there are metal wires everywhere?
Maybe a metal mage could tie people with the wires and fortify them so they aren't as affected by the spell?

>>30530518
Too bad we gave away our beginner Metal Guides.

Rolled 8, 7, 10 = 25

>>30530501
Plus we get converted to energy if we enter the generators field

>>30530384
>>30530390
>>30530424
>10,16,12
>w/ bonuses from ideas tossed around

Writing.

Rolled 10, 2, 9 = 21

>>30530512
This might be an actual good idea to say, if we sit and wait for enough people to run in and overload the generator, we can just waltz on by.

>>30530548
>once they touch the generator they're converted to energy

we can enter the field just cant touch the generator

>>30530738
my understanding is that the field is pulling you to the generator

You rub your chin, thinking. “Well, have you tried tying a rope to yourself before entering the field?” The young man nods somberly. “Yup, first thing we tried. Worked for a little bit, sorta. He didn't get immediately sucked in. He was just left flapping there like a doll until the rope snapped.”

Well that sounds unpleasant. “What about some sort of make-shift bridge? I mean the entirety of the floor isn't collapsed, right?” The man shakes his head. “No, there's probably about... thirty feet between the entrance we can get too and the next platform over. We might be able to make some sorta wooden bridge but it'd be awful rickety if we can't put a support beam all the way down to the floor.”

Well that's true, but something to think about. “Just how do you turn the generator off?” You decide to ask, more information might be helpful. “Well, the only way we know of is that there is a control panel at the base of the generator. Nobody's been able to reach it for obvious reasons. Might be another way to turn it off somewhere though.”
(1/3)

“Maybe you can overload the generator with magic?” He wrinkles his nose. “Maybe, but it'd have to be really powerful magic. You've sort of got to see this thing to believe it. It's like something built by gods.” Well, you'll take his word for it but the magic thing is definitely something to keep on the back burner. “Do you have anyone trained to manipulate metal? They would probably be a huge help.” He shakes his head. “Maybe, but none that I know of. Adventurers aren't the most open bunch.”

You honestly think a metal mage might be your best bet of getting past through the field, or getting to the controls to turn it off. Still, people are listening rather intently so you decide it'd be best to spread a little disinformation. “Well, I can tell you as a Vatis that there are certain metals that should negate that sort of magic.” You recall an old legend told by your people. “You need to find mithril, it should be in the mountains and cliffs to the south, somewhere. In old mines. My people once mined it before infighting became so rampant. It looks like silver, but has a greenish tint.” Of course, that's a blatant lie. It was confirmed decades ago mithril is just tarnished silver from old mines. Still, that definitely gets some interest. You see an adjacent table suddenly get up and make for the stairs to the rooms.
(2/3)

You think you've gotten all you can from this guy, and you've got some ideas stirring in your head now that you know what to expect, so you gently excuse yourself and wish the young man the best of luck before heading upstairs. You find an empty room on the third floor and quickly scrawl your name on the simple paper card nailed to the door with the pen and ink sitting on a near-by table. Your food should be up momentarily, but you've got some time before then.

>Read a book while you wait.
>Just wait peacefully.
>Meditate, you can eat in the morning.
>Just get some sleep.
>Write-in

>>30531011
>>Read a book while you wait.
Im hungry dont want to miss diner

Rolled 10, 3, 7 = 20

>>30531011
>>Meditate, you can eat in the morning.

>>30531011
>>Write-in
Wolf down our food then meditate, or if we can no longer meditate then read.

Speaking of dinner. OP departs to grab some for himself.
Back momentarily.

>Read a book while you wait.

Let's browse that journal.

Then eat and go to sleep.

>>30531011
>>Meditate, you can eat in the morning.

>>30531011
>Read a book while you wait.

learn the knowledge

>>30531011
Check up on Chryssa

>>30531053
Why talk about yourself in third person?
This one is displeased.

>>30531041
>>30531104
>>30531077
>Read a book

>>30531093
>>30531046
>Meditate

Writin'

You decide to read a book while you wait. First though you strip off your armor and your outer robes. That armor is great, but damn if it isn't stuffy. You probably smell terrible but there's nothing for it right now. You then kick off your boots fall back onto the first real bed you've been in since you were banished. Even if the room is pretty bare bones, just a bed, a small table, and a lamp, it's nice to not be sleeping outside for once.

Once you've finished luxuriating in the somewhat lumpy mattress and old sheets, you start digging through your courier's bag for something to read. You have quite a few options in that regard after your latest purchases.

>Select one from the list below
Ritual Book of Surya (3/16 Chapters Read)
Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)
Metamagic Instructions: Leaping (Unread)
Metamagic Instructions: Blast (Unread)
Five Effects Every Vatis Should Know (UNread)
Grandmaster's Journal (Unread)

>>30531552
>Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)
might be useful for the controls

>>30531552
>Grandmaster's Journal (Unread)

>>30531552
>Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)

>>30531552
>Grandmaster's Journal (Unread)

worth a shot

>>30531552
>Grandmaster's Journal (Unread)
We payed a hefty price for this, we should at least find out what it is.

Rolled 5, 7, 6 = 18

>>30531575
This

>>30531552
>Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)
Best Meta magic there is. gonna need it eventually

But what about

>A Treatise on Advanced Water Magic by Master Yusef.

We picked it as a free book

>>30531666
Damn, knew I was forgetting something! Good catch Anon.

>>30531610
Changing rolled dice to grandmaster since people don't want to read fire book.

>>30531687
Can we do a revote then?

I really wanna work towards Master Water.

>>30531711
Seconding

I'll do a final destination style vote just quickly here.

Vote 1 for
>Metamagic: Ranged

Vote 2 for
>Grandmaster's Journal

Vote 3 for
>Treatise on Advanced Water Magic
(Since I forgot to include it in the initial vote)

Remember! Quote and the number only!

>>30531711
We have to meditate to advance, not just read and if we do that we won't get any sleep.

>>30531753
3

>>30531753
3

>>30531753
3

>>30531753
>2

>>30531753
3

>>30531764
But we still should start on it.

>>30531764
we can go with out sleep, it has been confirmed.
It will only cost us 1 Vys.

Seems pretty unanimous for 3. Writin'.

You pull out the Treatise on Advanced Water Magic by Master Yusef. Before you go delving into anything else you want to at least try and attain mastery of water. Well, you at least want to be headed in the right direction to be more exact. You get comfortable on the bed and crack the book open to get started.

Master Yusef seems refreshingly sane in his writing. He must have started off with water magic early in his career, instead of trying to get a grasp of it late in life to extend his time in this world. The earliest chapters talk about how a water mage needs to have an innate sense of what the right and wrong paths are. Using water magic should flow naturally from the core of one's being into the palms, and then out into the world around you. There should be no rigid formula or strict meditation.

He then goes on to talk about methods of meditation he found useful on his way towards master rank. He talks about sitting in public baths trying to manipulate the rhythms and flows of the entire pool at once, carving a maze into the ground in front of him and then trying to guide a small amount of water through the maze as a cohesive unit, freezing a large block of water solid and then trying to carve a sculpture without either hammer or chisel.

(1/2)

After that he starts to delve into the underlying concepts behind magic and why water is one of the elements Vatis can control, but at that same time there is a knock on the door. You presume it to be your food, so you crease the corner of the book to mark your place and get up to answer the knock.
>3/12 Chapters Read

At the door is a small boy, probably no more than six or seven, with short, pointed ears. You'd guess he's half elf, or maybe just an elf with highly diluted blood. He carries with him a plate of that thick stew and a tall mug of almost golden colored beer. You take both and tip him a silver coin for his trouble before closing the door.

What will you do after you eat?
>Sleep
>Meditate on an element
>Meditate on metamagic using one of your scrolls
>Read more from Advanced Water Magic.

Rolled 7, 3, 1 = 11

>Meditate on an element

Water of course

rolling just in case

>>30532108
>Read more from Advanced Water Magic.

let us learn about the flow of the universe, or water at least, man

>>30532108
>you crease the corner of the book to mark your place

fuck it, we are going back to the city to buy a book mark.
>sleep

>>30532108
>Meditate on metamagic using one of your scrolls
This maybe start practicing some ranged magic
Soon we shall be hurling ice spears made from the water in the air

>>30532108
>Meditate on metamagic using one of your scrolls

>Meditate on metamagic
Which scroll do you use? Last tier of voting before timeskip to the next day and ruin exploration.
>Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)
>Metamagic Instructions: Leaping (Unread)
>Metamagic Instructions: Blast (Unread)

>>30532304
>Ranged

>>30532304
>>Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)
We've put it off too long.

>>30532304
>Metamagic Instructions: Leaping (Unread)

we may be able to use this to get to the control panel on the generator or across the gorge

>>30532304
>Metamagic Instructions: Ranged (Unread)

>Ranged
Writing.

Is 4chan slow for anyone else today/

>>30532373
leaping is not enhancing our jumping abilities

>>30532411
i know, was more thinking warping.

>>30532373
If your thinking on the lines of jumping it's not that
This magic is basically hit the guy then leap to hit the next guy like a chain lighting type spell

You decide to meditate. Really, it's just as good as sleeping as long as you don't strain yourself too far. The matter remains what exactly you want to meditate with, though.

You dig through your bag and pick out the metamagic scroll describing the ranged effect. Unfurling it, you find a rather lengthy opening explanation about what exactly the ranged effect does. It's all about externalizing your vys but forcing yourself to keep a connection to it. To keep a spell cohesive until it burst against a target. It launches into a lengthy metaphysical explanation about Vys being the natural byproduct of a living creature's soul, and Vatis being able to manipulate that energy and turn it into their own. After that it sort of goes off on a tangent about Vatis being the only being truly worthy of life and that the rest of society should merely be slaves to the Vatis, but you stop reading at that point.

The rest of it is valid though! Carefully, you carve a number of spell circles around the room at varying distances from yourself. The scroll says to think of these as targets, and to will Vys towards them while trying to keep it connected to you. After you finish carving everything with your knife you sit down on the bed and center yourself.
>Vys Pool: (12/12)

(1/2)

>>30532468
ahh. ok.

You lose track of time, and the world around you, as you collect energy from your surroundings. Vys hovers like a hazy fog throughout the inn, and it is a simple task to channel it towards yourself. Slowly, you're filled with vitality and power and after a time you think you're ready to begin.

The sigils you carved around the room sit like faint after-images in your mind's eye. You begin to push some of the power within yourself towards those seemingly distant marks.

>Roll 3d10

>You get a modifier for already being a rather experienced Vatis and ranged being a rather basic metamagic effect.

Rolled 4, 3, 3 = 10

>>30532630
lets do this

Rolled 6, 1, 10 = 17

>>30532630
Hopefully our dice luck changes...

Rolled 9, 7, 1 = 17

>>30532630

lady luck be with us

Rolled 10, 2, 10 = 22

>>30532630

>>30532661
>>30532692
>>30532698
>10,17,17
Becomes
>14,21,21
Regular success!

Writing.

>>30532737
what was the DC?
If it was low enough can we make that into a great success?

Ethereal tendrils creep out of your chest slowly, almost painfully so. They throb and pulse in time with your heartbeat, and you can feel your vitality drained the further these six tendrils extend towards the faint images of the sigils you carved into the walls and floor.

You decide to focus on just getting them to each symbol one after the other. With a great surge of willpower, you push one of the tendrils to the nearest faint sigil, and it lights up in the hazy view of the world meditation leaves you with. Then you work towards the next closest, and the one after that. Each one lights up as the tendril of vys touches it and seems to anchor the ethereal link to your chest so you can focus on the others.

As the fourth tendril extends towards its symbol, the third suddenly flickers and dies. You feel that energy dissipate into the air, leaving you just slightly more drained as a replacement tendril extends itself from your chest. You reroute the fourth to take the place of the third. Then the fifth takes the fourth's place. As the seventh tendril is just about to make contact with its symbol on the opposite end of the room it flickers and dies.

(1/2)

Your frustration is almost enough to pull you out of your meditative trance, but you calm yourself and another tendril extends itself from you. It reaches its way slowly, ever so slowly, through the darkness to that hazy, shifting image in your head.
>Vys Pool: (4/12)

When it finally makes contact and all the sigils are lit, you feel something click.

Violently, you are pushed out of your meditative trance and into the real world. You gasp for air as your eyes snap open. You feel like you can barely breath at all. Binding you to the walls and floors are six, inky black, cords. They pulse and throb with power, the symbols you carved into the walls smolder like hot coals as they're flooded with energy. It seems your wakefulness breaks whatever force was holding them there, because they snap themselves free and slide themselves back into your chest. You're left shaking on the bed dry heaving, but triumphant.

>Learned Effect: Ranged! Vys pool increased by 2!
>Vys Pool: (6/14) You feel slightly drained, but you did it!

>>30533088
did this take all night?
If not then lets meditate.

Oy vey, forgot to actually type up the options. Un momento por favor.

Once you've recovered, you survey the room. Smoke curls gently from the scorched sigils carved into the floorboards and the walls. The whole room smells like burning wood. Judging from the light streaming in from outside it's a few hours before noon. You've only been meditating for a few hours.

>Meditate simply to recover Vys, then set off in the afternoon with everyone else.
>Find Chryssa and rush out to get a head start on the ruin.
>Sleep, you'll get to the ruin when you get to the ruin. Not like they'll solve the generator problem in a day.

>>30533088
So it costs 2 Vys to use a ranged spell, 1 for the spell, 1 for the metamagic, right?
Or was it 3?
Either way, wooh! We gots distance magic. We don't have to risk getting stabbed every time we want to paralyze someone.

>>30533272
>>Meditate simply to recover Vys, then set off in the afternoon with everyone else.

>>30533272
>>Meditate simply to recover Vys, then set off in the afternoon with everyone else.

>>30533272
>Sleep.
We should be fighting fit. I'm sure Chryssa will wake us to make sure we don't seleep the entire day away.

Rolled 6, 4, 6 = 16

>>30533272
>>Meditate simply to recover Vys, then set off in the afternoon with everyone else.

>>30533272
>Meditate simply to recover Vys, then set off in the afternoon with everyone else.

let's recharge our batteries

>>30533284
I want to try the leaping metamagic+ranged+paralylze, also this makes ranged secondary weapons more viable.

>>30533284
Correct, it cost 2 vys to used ranged magic with a spell. Ranged doesn't work with every effect, but it works with most.

>>30533272
>>Meditate simply to recover Vys, then set off in the afternoon with everyone else.
But be a little less then hasteful.

>Meditate
Seems the clear winner. Writing.

>>30533316
we don't really need sleep, we an just use 1 Vys to not need it.(we can sleep when we have free time though.)
>>30533329
So if we had a cross bolt, how much magic would it cost?

Rolled 3, 7, 1 = 11

>>30533272
>Sleep, you'll get to the ruin when you get to the ruin. Not like they'll solve the generator problem in a day.

short of them finding a way to fry the generator we wont need to worry

>>30533359
To use a spell channeled through a crossbow would be Weapon Channeling+Ranged+Spell so it'd cost 3 vys. For certain effects that's the only way to make them work at range.

>>30533359
I know we have the magic to fulfill our need to sleep but it always seems weird to me how we sleep like once a week
Captcha : cocorn convenient
Yes captcha corn is convenient now go away

>>30533388
Weird, dropped my trip.

>>30533388
ah so its 1 Vys more, i remember last thread some people were saying it would cost 4 or 5 Vys.
Its still a good power, and we really can't be using ranged that much either since we have 6 safe shots before it starts becoming dangerous to use ranged spells.plus having a reliable ranged weapon is good.
>>30533405
Eh not really it coincide with our people going crazy.

>>30533412
>>30533388
what happens if we just channeled range by itself?(maybe we can reach the controls)

>>30533542
Nothing happens with just metamagic by itself. You would want to used Ranged Manipulate to mess with the controls from a safe distance, but you don't know manipulate.

File: 1393555193181.jpg-(197 KB, 700x1165, Chryssa Avci.jpg)

197 KB JPG

You calm your racing heart and curl back up into your meditation position. It takes some doing, but eventually you slip once more into the calming embrace of a meditation trance. This time you ignore the hazy symbols in your mind's eye, instead just focusing on gathering vys from your surroundings. Eventually you feel fully revitalized, in fact you feel better than you have in a long time, even more powerful than before. It gives you a very real sense of confidence, of being able to do anything and overcome any challenge. A sense of confidence.
>Vys Pool (14/14)

You're snapped out of your meditation by a loud knocking on your door. Pushing yourself up, you shake off the stiffness inherent in sitting for hours on end in the same position. You'd guess it was the afternoon, judging by the light outside and the sound of people stirring above and below you. Another insistent knock on the door to your room goads you into hurrying along. When you pull it open, you're met by the impassive face of Chryssa.

“I see you've finally awoken. Get dressed quickly so that we can leave before the rest of the explorers are awake.”

>Insist on sticking around for breakfast at least.
>Consent, rush inside to pull on your armor and robes.
>Write-in

>>30533572
Manipulate lets us do what exactly?

>>30533597
>>Consent, rush inside to pull on your armor and robes.
>>Write-in
ask her if she knows of the generator and her ideas about it.(wait she has a bow, maybe she can shoot the controls)

>>30533604
Control something. For instance, Manipulate Vys would let you control an animal or person like a puppet. Manipulate Paralysis would let you unparalyze someone's face so you could interrogate them.

File: 1393555397623.jpg-(118 KB, 577x646, image.jpg)

118 KB JPG

>>30533572
Guys guess what we're learning next.
Also through manipulate and earth magic could we in theory create golems?
Would it require something else? Can we use different elements or mix with the original golem like fire + earth = Lava golem?
Pic Related

>>30533597
>>Consent, rush inside to pull on your armor and robes.

>>30533676
Manipulate with elemental magic is sort of redundant. Elemental magic already lets you manipulate that element.
You'd want to use Animate+Earth+Permanency to create golems.

Rolled 6, 8, 3 = 17

>>30533597
>>Consent, rush inside to pull on your armor and robes.
>>Write-in
grab a road soda on the way out

>>30533597
>Consent

>>30533597
>Consent, rush inside to pull on your armor and robes.
As the strong prey lady command
ITS ADVENTURE TIME!!!
inb4 dice kill us

>>30533713
>Permanency
>Animate
?

>>30533713
Thanks I had meant to say animate but I had manipulate on the mind

>>30533713
Well you say that, but the human body is largely water. If we use manipulate could we not freeze the water in their body or some other horrifyingly fatal spell?

>>30533762
Read the pastebins.
Writing for
>Get going

>>30533752
Damn auto correct is pretty bit a word to you?

>>30533776
thats either master level or grandmaster level water vatis, maybe manipuate as well.

>>30533776
Blood Bending?
We Blood Vatis now?

>>30533776
I actually thought of this, and was trying to figure out ways to neatly and conveniently use it. Anyway, yes. At grandmaster level either through touch or with the ranged metamagic you can freeze the water in someone's cells causing the flesh to rapidly deteriorate once it thaws. It'll be really expensive though, and kinda a horribly gruesome way to die. At master level you can slow the blood in someone's limbs to make them weaker and eventually cause the death of the limb.

>>30533884
i figured it would include Manipulate as well.

>>30533844
I meant more intracellular fluid.
Blood can be used too I suppose.

>>30533884
Alright, cool. So water can be as horrifying as any other element. That's all I needed to hear to get aboard the Water Master Train.
Choo choo!

>>30533779
Metamagic Difficulty Levels
-Beginner DC 20 to learn.
-Intermediate DC 25 to learn.
-Complex DC 30 to learn.
?

>>30533964
its the main reason it and earth usually get picked first over fire in /tg/,

>>30534009
Oh I know full well how OP'd water as an element can be, but just because it can be, doesn't mean it always will be. Depends on the setting really.

You nod your head, and rush back into your room to pull on your armor and robes. Chryssa invites herself in and takes a look at the sigil scorched into the walls and the floors. She doesn't ask any questions though, and you make sure to tear the tiny piece of paper with your name on it off the door so the inn keeper doesn't kick you out for damaging his property.

You're still pulling on your Vatis robes while Chryssa drags you out the door. Eventually you're fully dressed and ready to face the day. Your guar are grazing on a hill adjacent the inn, it looks like all the grass near the inn itself has been reduced to little but nubs. You and Chryssa seem to be the first ones out the door, even the inn keeper was still willing himself to wakefulness and sipping a cup of some pleasant smelling black liquid. The two of you mount up and set off north, towards the old mine where the ruin is supposed to be.
(1/2)

File: 1393556839019.jpg-(325 KB, 1177x720, 1393037562206.jpg)

325 KB JPG

You find it without much trouble, it really was only just outside of town in the rolling hills of the grasslands. A single man sits outside on a rather comfortable looking plush chair, smoking a pipe and looking for all the world like a man bored out of his skull. As you approach he pulls the pipe out of his mouth to speak. “Looks like you're the first ones to get here today. It's five silver for entry.” He states simply in samjan.

You wrinkle your nose. They're charging to explore the ruin? “Old Man Sadik sent me.” That seems to get the guards attention, and he grins wide. “Ahh! About time you showed up! Lazy son of a bitch. Fine, fine. You and your friend get in free. I'll watch your animals.”

You and Chryssa dismount your guar and leave them with the man to take care of. The entrance to the mine is a rather elaborate affair. A great stone archway with all manner of things carved into it. Apparently the mine is owned by the Kingdom of Anthus, managed by the Township of Licae, and operated by the hers of someone named Agapios. Chryssa marches in confidently, she seems a whole different person today really. Much pushier. You follow behind after you finish reading the arch.
(2/3, I lied)

File: 1393557362852.jpg-(75 KB, 680x425, Halls of Cyrea.jpg)

75 KB JPG

Advancing through the mineshaft, you don't find much. There are a few branching pathways but the route to the ruin is clearly marked by sign post and the innumerable footsteps leading in that direction. Seems it's been quite a popular destination. Eventually you find a hole ahead of you, lit by lanterns. This seems to be where the mineshaft broke into the ruins.

You emerge from the mine into a world of steel. Everything here is made of metal. The ceilings are cavernous, the rooms expansive. How they managed to build this underground without the weight of the stone above crushing it, you're not sure. The entire facility seems to hum with energy, and the room you're in is dimly illuminated by lights in the floor. You have three options before you. You could go straight, which judging from the amount of dirt tracked over the metal seems the popular route, or you could go either left or right.

The left route seems to lead towards some platform, though you can't quite make sure what the platform stands over or where it might lead. The right platform seems to lead to hallway where the lights have failed, it's completely black. Going straight would presumably lead to the generator everyone is so fascinated with.

>Straight, to the generator
>Left, to the platform.
>Right, into the unknown.

>>30534364
>>Right, into the unknown.

>>30534364
>Right, into the unknown.

>>30534364
> Right, into the unknown.
We can leave the straight route for last since it is pretty hard for people to pass.

Rolled 4, 3, 2 = 9

>>30534364
>Right, into the unknown

>>30534364
Left then right, sounds like a better order to do it in.

Actually folks, I'm heartbroken to say it, but that will have to be the end of this thread. Not a bad stopping point, at least.

Next thread will be tomorrow.

Would you guys prefer I run it later, closer to 1900 server time after I eat dinner or at the usual time, 1500 server time?
.

>>30534364
>Right, into the unknown.
As the ancient water Vatis Jack Frost once wrote "Two roads diverged in a wood, and
I took the one less traveled by,"
INTO THE BREACH!!

>>30534461
1500, is good for me.

>>30534461
I'm fine with either even though I get home around 4 eastern U.S time
Whichever is more convent for you is great

>>30534461
spring break starts to day for me so i'm good with either.

>>30534461
How about 1900 server time?

Thread is archived here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Banished%20Quest

I'm gonna get ready for bed, but I'll be around for a bit to answer questions.

>>30534461
Whichever, honestly, you Americatski's are in such a different time zone my participation is fully random.

>>30534545
Id prefer 1500 bu really do what you want.

threads every day is really nice.