>>32573616
> Look for settlements. Find water and follow it.

it's time for more claw-holding

Oh shit, scorpion girl.
I sort of wish we had more advisors for this kind of shit. And wish we brought the snake folk, we're getting kind of towards their land.

Let's
> Look for settlements. Find water and follow it.
If we find destroyed settlements, keep going. If we find intact settlements, maybe say hello and ask for information updates, then act according to that (probably heading towards the mountain.)

>>32573753
I really like how he takes the time to bury folks he fights.

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>her mother looks like this

what does the future hold for her?

>>32573616
> Look for settlements. Find water and follow it.

>>32573616
> Look for settlements. Find water and follow it.

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>>32573616
The Zagrosi archers are clearly on edge and suspicious that the jackal-thing will return from the north, but you lead them on eastward. You send the scouts from the Charioteers' School out further afield again, ordering them to report back if they find settlements or bodies of water. The next evening the scouts return as you're making camp, with one of them reporting a clear stream to the northeast of you. Another claims to have been harried by a band of strange-looking humans. They threw javelins at him as he fled back to you.

> Humans? Too easy. Return in force and make mincemeat of them.

> They're a distraction. Head for that stream.

>>32574029
> They're a distraction. Head for that stream.

>>32574029
Strange humans? They don't seem to be the type we normally go after. Probably unrelated to all this.
Do a headcount to make sure all your scouts came back, then
> They're a distraction. Head for that stream.
Also, we're getting real damn far afield here. Maybe stop and ask some high ranking zargosi their take on our chances of finding the missing heroes. And finding the guys who keep leaving destroyed villages.

>>32574029
> They're a distraction. Head for that stream.

>>32574029
> They're a distraction. Head for that stream.

>>32574029
>> They're a distraction. Head for that stream.

I feel bad about letting the jackal go so far, but he wasn't part of the group we're looking for. Don't even know if they resupply at the same places.
He could lead us damn well anywhere. I don't feel good risking troops on that, but as a player, plot hooooks.

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>>32574029
"The enemy don't have many humans. I'm guessing these were just locals. And they won't be fool enough to follow us this far. Right?" You look back at Mannuqappu, as you sometimes come to him for advice. As a hero of Zagros, he's the highest-ranking person here who didn't get that way by virtue of being a giant scorpion.

He nods. "Yes, I would say the same."

"And how likely do you think we are to find the monsters we're chasing at this point? This feels really far away. The land is so... green..."

"They're doing the same thing we are - looking for snake cities. I would bet on it. Our chances are good."

You hope it's soon, Your supplies are running low. Your men move quickly for the stream just to refill their supply of fresh water. From there, you follow downstream until the water joins a slow, winding river. The first sign of civilization you come to is a small but notably non-ruined fishing village.

> Roll 2d6 to do your best to communicate to the locals with your spotty knowledge of the naga tongue
> Unseal the letter that Jaya wrote for her people and show it to the locals. Maybe some of them can read and point you the right way.
> Keep the letter sealed.
> You may also specify anything you'd like to do with Hillallum, Mannuqappu, or the Band of Eight along the way

Rolled 2, 2 = 4

>>32574349
>> Roll 2d6 to do your best to communicate to the locals with your spotty knowledge of the naga tongue
NICE SCORPION NEED FOOD

Rolled 3, 2 = 5

>>32574349
> Roll 2d6 to do your best to communicate to the locals with your spotty knowledge of the naga tongue
I have no fitting music, but maybe I can roll well

>>32574349
>> Roll 2d6 to do your best to communicate to the locals with your spotty knowledge of the naga tongue. Ask them where cities, and other monsters, are.
Keep the letter sealed for now, to prevent wear and tear.

As for the others, well, maybe ask if they have any experience in mountainous areas. And brief them on the snake people, and how they may be our allies soon.

Maybe let slip that we like how honorable hillallum acts on the field. He's like a real hero! So dreamy!

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Rolled 4, 5 = 9

>>32574349
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3K1l3_W7TA&feature=kp

>>32574464
>that music
MAN we don't make a good impression.

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>>32574349
The thought occurs to you to open the letter early, but you know it's not for these people, and it's uncertain whether any of them can even read. You order your men to halt outside the village as you go in with claws and hands raised to try and explain yourself.

Most of the locals are horrified, fleeing for small canoes or throwing barbed spears at you. None of them harm you, though, so you simply weather the assault as you address them. "Hello! Peace, please? I am Hunzuu. We are good. Men and I want naga seeing now, yes? Also food please, yes? Good?"
The young but thickly-bearded man who threw the most spears at you answers, but you don't catch much of what he's saying. "Hrrmbl brrmbl no Naga brbn. Naga schlrmbrm gmmnmmblmmm hmmbn! No hmm." He points downstream, to the southeast."

"And naga is there?"

"Yes. Gmmhlmmnmnm."

> Beg for food.
> Begging is beneath you. Thank him and be on your way.
> They can't stop you. Just take whatever food you can carry and leave.

>>32574620
>> Begging is beneath you. Thank him and be on your way.
Ask him if they'd mind if we hunted around here.
If we have words for that.

Tell the men that if they don't want to raid villages for food or beg, we'll be nabbing fish from the water and meat from the land. Hopefully monster hunter training covers this.

>>32574620
> Begging is beneath you. Thank him and be on your way.

>>32574647
>>32574674
And to think, we used to beg all the time.
Not fitting for our station any more, though. Or our hero friends.

>>32574620
> Begging is beneath you. Thank him and be on your way.

>>32574721
We've come a long way from then.

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>>32574620
"Thank you." You bow to them a little. This show of humility surprises and flatters everyone who can see. Though they can't let their guard down, their eyes are smiling.

When you are within earshot of your men, you announce to them, "We're not taking supplies from these needy people. This land is green and warm. We will hunt and fish for what we need."

"We're good at that!" Hillallum says.

"Well, I'd still like some help from every experienced hunter."

A few men who grew up in the open country between cities volunteer their services. Even more men direct you to the Band of Eight, though of course the masked men to not boast of their skill openly. They simply wait for commands as they lean on their two-handed maces.

> Roll 3d6 to represent your efforts to gather food in this strange land
> Hunt with Hillallum
> Hunt with the Band of Eight
> Keep everyone together in one big hunting party.

Rolled 2, 3, 6 = 11

>>32574785
Alone time.
With the shota.

Rolled 5, 5, 6 = 16

>>32574785
>> Hunt with Hillallum
Have the band of 8 and the volunteers go on their own hunting party.
We'll see how much they bring back.
That, and we won't have to drag along small-legged humans while we rove far and wide scorpion style.

>>32574785
> Hunt with Hillallum

Rolled 6, 4 = 10

>>32574785
>> Hunt with Hillallum

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>>32574785
While the men are scouring the river bank and venturing in groups into a nearby mangrove forest, you and Hillallum stick to the open fields and hills where you can cover a lot of ground in little time on your scorpion legs.

Hillallum makes conversation with you as you search for game. "It's neat to be so far away from Zagros. A little scary, but it really makes you eel like a hero on an adventure. And the men have been nicer to me since... since that first time I lost to you."

"Of course they have."

"That doesn't mean... you didn't tell them to go easy on me, did you?"

> "Not at all. They just know everything you can do now."
> "I told them that if they have any problems with you, they can take it up with me."
> "Why would I want that? You're so cute when you're embarrassed."

>>32574829
Looks like we hunt good.

>>32574994
> "Why would I want that? You're so cute when you're embarrassed."

>>32574994
>> "I told them that if they have any problems with you, they can take it up with me."
Ruffle his hair

>>32574994
>> "Why would I want that? You're so cute when you're embarrassed."

>>32574994
I don't think we actually told them anything like that. I can't remember it. I don't think we did it.

So, either

> "Not at all. They just know everything you can do now."
or
> "Why would I want that? You're so cute when you're embarrassed."
Also, perhaps a
"Maybe they are just impressed with your spearwork? Or how you fought against the centaurs? I liked that, at least."

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>>32574994
You giggle. "Why would I do that? You're so cute when you're embarrassed!"

That gets him flustered and speechless, of course, which is exactly what you wanted. "I... but... I dunno why you tease me sometimes, Hunzuu. I never tease you..."

"Shh!" You hold Hillallum back with your claw. "Stay low!" In the distance you see an enormous creature. It might even be strong enough to hurt you."

> Coordinate your assault and bring it down
> What the hell is that? You don't even know if its meat is good. Better leave it alone
> Try making friends with it

>>32575299
>>What the hell is that?
>Coordinate your assault and bring it down
First, ask the thing loudly if it talks.
Then, if it doesn't talk, we're free to eat it. Hillallum can cover for us when we start fighting and/or if it charges us.

>>32575299
> Coordinate your assault and bring it down
No tail.
But still.
Look at aww dat meat

>>32575299
>Assault , watch out for the tusks and you should be good.

>>32575299
Aww kid, we don't mean to tease you.
Well, we sort of do, but we don't mean any harm by it.

Be sure to not use your stingers.
That shit poisons the meat. This is for the men, too. I don't think we can eat a whole elephant, even with the kid's help.

>>32575299
>> Coordinate your assault and bring it down
Lets be the tactical scorpion

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>>32575299
With moves that the two of you have bean practicing together in between your claw and weapons drills, you signal to each other and circle the beast in opposite directions. It notices Hillallum first and lowers its tusks threateningly, and that gives you ample time to charge the thing and tear into its flank with your mighty claws. Hillallum joins you as the beast trumpets in pain. It's heavier than any human, of course, but bringing it down is comparable to the walls you've torn down in your time. After a brief but tense struggle, you and Hillallum raise your heads and look at each other from opposite ends of the hulking carcass. You smile. Hillallum smiles even wider. "G-good job, Hunzuu. We can feed a lot of people with this."

> Share some raw meat with him
> No more raw meat for a while. Bring back as much as you can carry to the men.

>>32575496

> No more raw meat for a while. Bring back as much as you can carry to the men.
Work together to drag it back?

>>32575460
>I don't think we can eat a whole elephant, even with the kid's help.
Is that a challenge?

>>32575496

> Share some raw meat with him
Just a tiny nibble, bring the rest to the camp.

>>32575496

> Supplies are running low. Now is not the time for a blood feast. Bring the rations back to camp and eat cooked meat.

>>32575496
Maybe take off a leg or something to have now, so we don't absolutely RUIN the meat by digging in with our bare teeth.

The vast majority of it should go to the troops though.

>>32575496
>> No more raw meat for a while. Bring back as much as you can carry to the men.

>>32575564
any by this I mean
>eat a bit now, take rest back

>>32575496

> Look around to see if there are more about
Packiderms always travel in groups, yo.

>>32575582
>>32575518
that is just gonna lead to us eating the whole thing

>>32575496
> No more raw meat for a while. Bring back as much as you can carry to the men.

>>32575496
> Share some raw meat with him

>>32575496
> No more raw meat for a while. Bring back as much as you can carry to the men.

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>>32575496
Hillallum teaches you how to clean and gut the beast, so there's a little less that the two of you have to carry back. As he works, the smell of blood in the air and the feeling of wet gore all over him makes Hillallum pause and squirm. "Mff..."

"Is everything all right?"

"I don't want to lose control like in the last battle. I have to learn...."

"Think about your men. We're bringing this to them..."

He hisses a little, then muffles himself. "Scavengers! Wait, no... Yes, my men. My responsibility..."

"And I was telling the truth. I didn't tell them to be nice. They did that on their own. They respect you now."

"Th-that's good..."

"It sure is!" You tousle his hair. He used to flinch when you did that, but lately he's been reacting less and less defensively to it.

You have to hold him for a little while, but Hillallum does manage to finish butchering and dividing up the flesh for the two of you to carry back. The weight isn't so bad, but the bulk of it is awkward to balance in your claws and on your back. When you return, you see that the men have done well for themselves, catching fish and rabbits and even some monkeys.

> Wash off in the river and prepare to nap
> Talk to Mannuqappu
> Talk to the Band of Eight
> Talk to some of your own men

>>32575496
Compliment hillallum his own self.
He did good out there.
What the heck is this thing anyway? Think it tastes good?

>>32575850
Let's go talk to our own men. Ask if any of 'em have ever been this far out. And if any of 'em know what the thing you killed was.
Whatever we do, end it with a
> Wash off in the river and prepare to nap
because we're bloody now. And we have a river to do it in.

>>32575850

> Well, we're covered in blood and viscera from killing something bigger and more dangerous than 20 men. That said, I think we might as well go talk with the Band of Eight.

>>32575850
>> Wash off in the river and prepare to nap

>>32575850
> Wash off in the river and prepare to nap
>With Hillallum
>But first we teach him how to burrow
>And share it

>>32575899
Well, I want to ask SOMEONE about elephants.

>>32575975

They like killing things... and talking about killing things... Seems likely that someone will at least know a guy who knew a guy who killed an elephant twice the size of ours.

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>>32575850
You take the first chance you get to set down your load of meat, wade into the muddy river, and get some of this filth and gore off of you. Hillallum joins you, a respectful distance away, averting his gaze when you remove and wring out your dress.

You ask around about the beast you killed. A few boastful soldiers make claims that they've seen something like it. A masked man from the Band of Eight removes his mask to eat, revealing a surprisingly ordinary bearded man. "They have them in the west. More than an animal but less than a monster. Traders make things with their teeth. Odd. The sailors in the border posts claim the world is round. Maybe we've come all the way round to the other end."

> Tell them how good Hillallum was
> Just ask them for tips on killing monsters
> "How do you claim to know so much about monsters, anyway? Nobody's had monsters for *that* long."

>>32575850
> Wash off in the river and prepare to nap

>>32576210
> Tell them how good Hillallum was
Gotta make up for beating him in front of everyone

>>32576210
>> "How do you claim to know so much about monsters, anyway? Nobody's had monsters for *that* long."

I don't feel the need to brag for hillallum. Also, these aren't our gossip girls.

We need to get back so we can tell tabni-ninsun and illtani and nakurtum about this cool boy we're crushing on. After we find the heroes and get revenge.

>>32576210

> "You seem to know quite a lot about monsters. Tell me more about your travels."

Mention Hillalum's father once we get the chance, bringing that back to Hillalum himself.

>>32576210
> "How do you claim to know so much about monsters, anyway? Nobody's had monsters for *that* long."

>>32576294

If we encounter any backtracking for the sake of secrecy, propose a few drinks while we trade a tale for a tale.

>>32576210
> "How do you claim to know so much about monsters, anyway? Nobody's had monsters for *that* long."

Good thing we didn't have to explain why we were teasing hillallum.
We'd blush so hard if we had to try to explain it.

>>32576240
>>32576294
>>32576315
>>32576347
>>32576210

Be nice about it though. Don't want to make it seem like we are accusing him of talking out of his ass or something.

>>32576372
Oh, yeah.
I'm just curious.
Like, what did they fight when there weren't monsters around? Or, if they fought monsters, where did they find them?

Was it just blight demons? Those things are monstery.

>>32576210
>> "How do you claim to know so much about monsters, anyway? Nobody's had monsters for *that* long."

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>>32576210
"How do you claim to know so much about monsters, anyway? Nobody's had monsters for *that* long."

The man laughs and takes a long drink from a wineskin. "That's what everyone told us after the monsters reemerged and we lost our first battle against a lammasu. We've always been elite soldiers, killing barbarians in the Godless Lands and clearing the fields of demons at planting time, but legend says that our founder fought man-spiders in the southern wastes and slew sea monsters on the sunset coast. They even say he met Utnapishtim, the survivor of the flood. So we called ourselves monster slayers for long years without it meaning anything. We're making it mean something again, one bloody lesson at a time."

"And what have you learned?"

He lifts the round head of his mace. "Crushing blows. Rattle straight through the hides of giants and lammasus. We're experimenting with throwing clubs, but they're not ready yet. And don't count on being able to retreat or hide behind walls. Fight to the end, because nowhere you run is far enough and nowhere you hide is strong enough. The only walls that mean anything anymore are made of brave men."

"Oh. And any advice for me to fight against men?"

"Sure. Fight anyone other than us."

You stay on the move, southward along the river toward what you have been told is a naga city. You cross several irrigation ditches and quiet farmsteads. Some people see you, but none dare draw close. Until you see a large contingent of spearmen and nagas coming toward you, with their telltale fireballs catching your eye in the distance.

> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.
> Hold your position and say nothing.

Rolled 6, 1 = 7

>>32576562
>> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.
We don't have to say things, but wave.

Rolled 5, 3 = 8

>>32576562
> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.
What could go wrong?

Rolled 5, 5 = 10

>>32576562
> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.

Rolled 4, 5 = 9

>>32576562
> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.

Shit is that pic from MGQ? I don't recall that particular lamia but it looks like frfr's stuff.

Rolled 1, 4 = 5

>>32576562
>> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.
Get the letter ready

>>32576817
Yes, the letter might be more handy here.

Rolled 6, 5 = 11

>>32576562
> Roll 2d6 to make friendly.

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>>32576562
You keep it simple, because your experience with the fisher-folk has shown how bad your grasp of the naga language is. "Peace!" After gesturing for your men to stay back, you move up ahead of them, lay down the sealed letter, and back away. "Peace. That is words of Jaya and Kiresh. Friends. I am Hunzuu. Peace please."

A naga woman in scale armor of brilliant silver shouts an order to the front line of naga, and all their fireballs flare up in a variety of colors, ready to strike. She retrieves the letter, with her troops covering her while her head is lowered. She inspects it, but her expression is hard to tell under her helmet. "Hrmrmmm.. You and your men Hrrmbl brmbl king gfmnmmm. Your men outside, and mmmbmmnmmm you mmgmm king."

"You want me to come with you. Yes, I will."
"May my friend come, too?" Bring Hillallum.
Try to ask her is she's seen any centaurs or giant lizard-men. Roll 2d6.

I kinda want Huuzuu to be more /u/. Just a little bit. Please?

>>32576869
>"You want me to come with you. Yes, I will."
Let's not bring Hillalum, he doesn't know the language at all. He'll just be uncomfortable.

>>32576879
No.

Rolled 4, 3 = 7

>>32576869
>Try to ask her is she's seen any centaurs or giant lizard-men. Roll 2d6.
Because someone has to.

And>>32576879
No. You'll take your scorpionboy and you'll like it.

Rolled 4, 1 = 5

>>32576869
Are those the three prompts?
If so,
>Try to ask her is she's seen any centaurs or giant lizard-men. Roll 2d6.
I'm neutral on whether or not to take hillallum. Actually, leave him, we want some monster support with our men.

Rolled 5, 5 = 10

>>32576869
"You want me to come with you. Yes, I will."

Rolled 4, 6 = 10

>>32576869
>Try to ask her is she's seen any centaurs or giant lizard-men. Roll 2d6.

>"May my friend come, too?" Bring Hillallum.

Rolled 1, 4 = 5

>>32576869
"May my friend come, too?" Bring Hillallum.
Try to ask her is she's seen any centaurs or giant lizard-men. Roll 2d6.

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>>32576869
Hillallum comes forward when it's clear that there will be talking rather than fighting. "Don't go alone! Or, if you have to... be careful, Hunzuu..."

"Has you..." You curse yourself as you try to think of the right words. "Do you saw men with four foots?" You trace a stick-figure centaur in the ground with a claw, though it's vague enough that it might be a lizard-taur instead.

"Yes. The king and mmmbngmm hmmlrmmb court keep them. Are they of you?"

> "Yes!"
> "No! They are bad men! I am here to kill them!" Grasp the chisel around your neck.

>>32577111
> "No! They are bad men!"

Also, hillallum's concern is touching. I'd like to bring a few guys, but they don't want to let us. I'd like to bring him, but then our guys would have no scorpions.

Rolled 6, 6 = 12

>>32577111
>> Give an evasive answer, lets try to talk with the king

>>32577159
Supporting this.

>>32577111
>Just say that they're bad, not that we're here to kill them.

>>32577111
> "No! They are bad men! I am here to kill them!" Grasp the chisel around your neck.

>>32577244
So you want to tell these people that you're going to murder the guests of the king?

Rolled 1, 1 = 2

>>32577159
This.

Rolled 2, 1 = 3

>>32577159
>>32577111

Aye. This.

Though I wonder how effectively we can be evasive with a toddler's grasp of their language.

>>32577256
Don't bother. He's a namefag.

>>32577311
You fool.

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>>32577111
You don't know enough to know which answer they want to hear. "I, ah... I see king, please? Peace. Talk. Please."

THe naga calls back to her troops. "This one mmbmm hnnbmmm." Then the addresses you again. "You and your men will come mmbmm gnnmm by the hnnmnmgh. All mnnhmm hnnfmmnmnm outside the walls. Do you Nmmnnmnm? Yes? No?"

"Yes, please. See the king, please. I am new. Want peace and friends."

The men and nagas circle around behind your forces and drive them forward for a while, until you reach a city with circular walls, with just one point of the walls touching the winding river. From what you can tell, you are being ordered to make camp a few hundred feet from the walls, in some dry, dusty, well-trodden ground.

> Ask to be taken to the king immediately
> Stay here until summoned.
> Sneak out to get a hint of how these people live. Roll 3d6.

Rolled 74

>>32577441
> Ask to be taken to the king immediately

Rolled 2, 6, 1 = 9

>>32577441
>> Sneak out to get a hint of how these people live.
Rolling for the sake of rolling. You guys better have some solid snake music if I roll 1's.

>>32577441
>> Stay here until summoned.
He is the king after all.

>>32577441
> Stay here until summoned.
plz no rolling for rolling

Rolled 6, 5, 4 = 15

>>32577441
> Sneak out to get a hint of how these people live. Roll 3d6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB0zrKd5uMs

>>32577441
> Sneak out to get a hint of how these people live. Roll 3d6.

>>32577441
I don't want to miss them calling for us. But I wouldn't mind a little sneaking. so
> Stay here until summoned.
for a few hours, then

> Sneak out to get a hint of how these people live. Roll 3d6.
as it gets dark?

>>32577256
What? I just copy and paste the options the QM gives. Is that wrong?
>>32577341
sad to see you are so closed minded.

>>32577441
> Stay here until summoned.

>>32577564
This sounds good.

>>32577568
Fluff, please use critical thinking when it comes to these kinds of decisions.

>>32577568
Weren't you the guy that ruined an AI Quest thread?

>>32577589
Can we please not bring this up in Scorpion Girl Quest?

>>32577586
I did, out of the two choices, I felt that one was more in line with her character. Still, both was not exactly want I wanted.
>>32577589
Please don't bring that up in Great Anu's thread.

>>32577691
You don't have to copy paste the exact same words. If it isn't exactly what you want, you can edit it.

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>>32577441
You stay with your men in the camp until you are called. You don't get bored. There is a whole host of new things to see, even here waiting outside a wall. You see boats on the wide, deep river in mystifying shapes and colors. Men drive carts yoked to cows with long ears and sad eyes. The walls themselves have huge likenesses of human kings set into them, some of which have been defaced. Perhaps the recent revolution of the nagas was not so kind to their memory. As it gets late in the afternoon, you are summoned by that same silver-scaled naga.

"May I come too?" Hillallum says.

She points at you. "You. Only you."

Hillallum whimpers.

> Give Hillallum clawhugs. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you."
> "I come with him or I don't come at all."
> "Send him instead of me."
> Send a human instead of me. You're not scared of a human, yes? He will speak for me."

>>32577624
Agreed. If people are going to focus on squabbling about namefags, I'm going to ask you to not use your name.

>>32577754
> Give Hillallum clawhugs. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you."

>>32577754
>> Give Hillallum clawhugs. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you."
Though, take advice from those guys in your command who are smart. They're helpful.

>>32577754
>> Give Hillallum clawhugs. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you."

>>32577754
> Give Hillallum clawhugs. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you. Keep the men in line and under control."

>>32577716
If the QM is alright with it, I'll make edits as needed then.

>>32577798
Let me just refer you to >>32577754
>If people are going to focus on squabbling about namefags, I'm going to ask you to not use your name.

Looks like you got a field that needs clearin.

>>32577754
> Give Hillallum clawhugs. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you. Watch out for trouble."

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>>32577754
You turn to Hillallum and hold his claws in yours as your human hands squeeze his shoulders. "You're in command. Be brave for me. I believe in you."

"O-okay. Come back soon..."

"I will." you squeeze him firmly in your claws before going alone with the naga into the city.

The city is a jumble of intact and ruined buildings. Some high towers are singed by jets of fire, and there are many wooden buildings springing from the foundations of older stone ones. You've never seen so much wood in your life. Trees are scarce in Ligish, and none dare to collect timber from the holy cedar forest. Men and nagas fill the streets, talking and doing business. Little mind is paid to you.

The palace is like the city itself - a jumble of old and new. There are pillars missing, big holes in the onion-shaped domes, and golden gem-eyed statues still stained with blood. You look through every open doorway you're led past. In one of them you can see four centaurs eating and drinking.

>Ignore them
>You knew it! Ask to stop here and have a little talk with them.
>Asking is overrated. Charge in there and kill them, maybe keep one alive just long enough for questioning. Roll 5d6.

>>32577987
I knew it!
>Ignore them
for now, though. Once they leave neutral snake-land, THEN we murdalize them.

or if we can talk an alliance with the snakes out of the king, then we can kill them on snake land.

>>32577987
>>Ignore them

>>32577987
>Ignore them

>>32577987
They might not even be the centaurs we're looking for.
>Ignore them.

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>>32577987
You have to clench your teeth and hold your claws shut tightly, but you manage to walk past the centaurs who in all likelihood were part of the Second Flood raiding party that killed Ninlil. They'll get what's coming to them.

You're led deeper into the building, through darkened hallways, until suddenly you're in a round room lit by sunbeams from above and a rainbow of fireballs. There's a broken throne on the floor, and on the dais where it used to be is a round basket-like bed where a large male naga, crowned and tattooed, lounges with several females curled up beneath him.

"I welcome you to Monghar!" He says. His accent is heavy, but he speaks the tongue of Ea with confidence. "For too long have my people lived alone in darkness. Now that we have cast the darkness out, we can see the world around us. I have met some of your people, did you know about that?"

> "Yes..." tell hi the whole truth f our mission of revenge.
> "That's good, because we're looking for some missing heroes..." Describe the missing heroes of Zagros.
> "We have much to learn from each other. I met two diplomats from your people, Jaya and Kiresh. They are very good and noble nagas, and you should totally give them promotions."

>>32578348
> "We have much to learn from each other. I met two diplomats from your people, Jaya and Kiresh. They are very good and noble nagas, and you should totally give them promotions."

Give him the letter!

>>32578348
Start with that to butter him up:
>> "We have much to learn from each other. I met two diplomats from your people, Jaya and Kiresh. They are very good and noble nagas, and you should totally give them promotions."
then

> "That's good, because we're looking for some missing heroes..." Describe the missing heroes of Zagros.

And end with

> "Yes..." tell hi the whole truth f our mission of revenge.

>>32578348
All three of these things, in reversing order.
The business with the killing last. after we get our say on the less controversial things.

>>32578348
> "That's good, because we're looking for some missing heroes..." Describe the missing heroes of Zagros.

Can we not ask him to give promotions when we already need him to let us kill the centaurs?

>>32578424
actually, yeah. let's omit the "give promotions" part when we go over that section.
Just, you know, talk them up a bit. They are very polite and helped teach us some language.

So, the king seems a bit like gold priest. At least given the amount of ladies just lying around.
Good to know.

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>>32578348
"We have much to learn from each other. I met two diplomats from your people, Jaya and Kiresh. They are very good and noble nagas..."

"Jaya! Little Jaya? She wants to be one of my women, did you know this?" He gestures to the cluster of naga-women below him.

"Yes, well... You're probably wondering why I'm here. We're looking for some missing heroes. Human men, great warriors who speak my language. They went missing."

"Hmmm... Your name is Hunzuu, yes?"

"Yes..." You never told him or the silver naga that. Maybe it was in the letter.

"My other guests say that you are fighting your neighbors. You enter a city, kill women, kidnap children. My guests say they want to meet strong being who will help them against you."

"Lies! He's the killer! The lizard man, right? He killed my friend!"

"So you did not kill his woman?"

> "He's a liar. He lies about everything!"
> "That doesn't matter. The war is over. We are at peace now, all except for him!"
> "Well... she hit me first. She was retreating when I killed her, but for the record, she did hit me first."

>>32578657
> "That doesn't matter. The war is over. We are at peace now, all except for him!"

>>32578657
>Their city declared war upon us.
>I didn't allow her to retreat during our duel.

>>32578657
I fought her, yes. On the field of battle. I didn't lose.
but
> "That doesn't matter. The war is over. We are at peace now, all except for him!"

Maybe then tell him about the pazuzu cultists who are trying to kill off everybody. And how we found countless destroyed villages on the way here.

>>32578657
>"Our cities were at war then, and I killed her fairly on the battlefield. Our cities have since made peace, but he continues to kill our people."

>>32578714
This.

While chasing fleeing noncombatants is against the war rules, chasing fleeing combatants isn't mentioned.

So, it was kind of a dick move to chase and kill, but not against the war crime laws.
Still makes me feel bad.

>>32578813
I don't like it much. Too much.

>>32578832

Then do better.

>>32578813
Yeah I'd rather just go with >>32578714

>>32578747
Stretches the truth too much, and just sounds way over the top

>>32578854
I prefer the non-composites.

>>32578657
>>"Our cities were at war then, and I killed her fairly on the battlefield. Our cities have since made peace, but he continues to kill our people."

>>32578897
>>32578886
>>32578832

I have fixed the problem

>>32578962
Aw, you didn't need to go do all that.

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>>32578657
"Our cities were at war then, and I killed her fairly on the battlefield. Our cities have since made peace, but he continues to kill our people. He wants to summon a godlike monster called Pazuzu that will kill everyone!"

The king brushes back his long hair as he thinks on your words. "War is not always bad. War can purify the soul of a people. He tells me one thing and you tell me another. But some of the things you say are the same. There was a war. You did kill his woman."

"Yes."

"You cut her as she ran and then you ate her?"

"Just a little..."

The naga closes his eyes and nods as though meditating on a sad truth. "This I know. The world can change while one's back is turned." He makes a sly little spinning-around gesture with his hand. You wonder if he means for you to actually turn around.

You glance over your shoulder. The lizard is there, giving you a look that could curdle milk.

> I'll break here for the night. Thanks for playing, and for being nice.

>>32578973
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>>32578973
Oooooooh shit.

Thanks for the thread!

>>32578973
Oh man.

Are you going to make us fight it out, king guy? Or are you going to make us talk it out?

Either way, shit's gonna get intense.

>>32579027
Well if we fight it out we can at least send his to be with his wife.

Cold Comfort of course.

>>32579043
Yeah. I wish this whole thing went another way.
But now we're honorbound to kill him and he us, even though the dead on both parties would probably not want us getting into such a dangerous fight.

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>>32579059
We're in the court of a distant king on a mission of revenge that will probably be decided in a duel.

>>32579105
Yep.
Shit is not going how I would have liked it. Friend dead, killed a man's wife (legit combat or not), killed WAY more people than thirteen year olds should have, lingering promises made to hungering ghosts, a god we've been putting off calling because we're scared of her.

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>>32579105
We just have to remember not to demand a confession.

>>32579195
Hey, we gave him just as bad personal grievances as he gave us.
The contexts differ, but they were both low blows in one way or another.
Only moral superiority we have on this guy is his village killing buddies.

>>32579141
Ishtar would be proud of how we're messing with our pet shota. We should totally quaff a ball and tell her.

>>32579238
>Implying this isnt a petty quest for vengeance after HIS petty quest for vengeance.
>Implying that if we kill him another of our friends wont die.
>Implying the cycle of violence ever ends. EVER.

>>32579304
And this is how Hunzuu loses faith in humanity.

>>32579304
Well, a lot of it is personal vengeance, though another lot of it is that in his petty quest for personal vengeance, he joined a crazy world ending cult.
Which we then found out about.
And, you know, think something should be done about. World ending cults aint good.

>>32579324
Maybe he was promised his wife back if he helped release Pazuzu?

>>32579352
Who knows. Could be. Either that, or he's just super fucking mad his wife died. understandable.

>>32579313
So we go full flesh eater?
>>32579324
Well no the reason we came along was to kill this guy cuz he killed Ninlin, out of vengeance for killing his wife. So no we are just repeating the cycle unless we murder everyone in his party, PLUS any of the other monsters that he is associated with.

>>32579382
It started as vengeance, and moved on to busting a cult.

It'll not be about vengeance any more once we kill him. Then it'll just be about cultbusting.

>>32579382
>tfw we save the world, only to destroy it in our own special way

>>32579568
I'm still leery about those dead scorpions.
I don't WANNA destroy the world by unleashing hordes of hungering dead.
At the same time, I don't want the hungering dead to starve in a land of darkness and clay for all eternity until they fade into nothingness.

>>32579631
We have to figure out how to move massive herds of elephants into the underworld without killing the elephants.

>>32579631
they want to kill and eat everything let them rot

>>32579660
We need to break the gate of the dead and then enforce STRICT BORDER GUARDS.

Passports for those leaving and entering, food shipments, smuggler checking, armed guards, the works.

>>32579678
Most of 'em just want to be in the living world again. Or not fade away into nothingness.
Though this requires they eat living meat.

>>32579681
that would not work they would charge out and kill anyone that tried to hold them back
>>32579703
they already died they must stay in the underworld and they like to kill and eat people

>>32579721
Not many of 'em like to kill and eat people, I think. That's pretty much just the flesh eaters.
The rest would do it reluctantly at best.

>>32579762
They all like to hunt and kill and eat. They even refer to the prospect of resurrection as the New Hunt. I just think that most of them are indifferent as to whether what they're eating is people.

Rolled 2, 4, 2 = 8

>>32579703
This method that requires them eating live meat to live comes from them having to escape the underworld through bashing through the front gates.
If we can find a way to invoke them in the flesh then we circumvent the whole NEED to eat flesh to continue existing problem. Not saying that some won't do it out of liking to kill and eat prey, but I think there was a great idea somewhere in the past threads about an undercity? That might work.

>>32579821
anon, that's scorpionfolk specifically. You're confusing flesh eater culture with generalized dead folk.

>>32579828
This is another avenue. We've SEEN folk get invoked.
We've also seen that it costs some pretty hefty sacrifice.
Maybe figure out how to do it for cheaper.

I actually feel pretty optimistic about freeing the hungry dead. We already got them to agree to leave our city alone if we ever did it. And as long as Ligish is fine, we're fine.

We might have to add Zagros to the do not eat list for Hillallum though.

>>32579992
That just makes me feel worse!

>>32579992
they will eat everyone and even if they do not do you understand the numbers we are working with here it is everyone ever that has died so far

>>32579851
That might only work for centaurs.

Ishtar brought Tammuz back from the dead in her myth by going into the underworld and stripping naked according to an ancient deal with Ereshkigal. Maybe she can hook us up.

>>32580020
Everyone but our city, which is kinda the point. We'd have no enemies left!

>>32580037
yeah, maybe we should figure out what exactly ishtar did there.

>>32580055
and then the human race dies

>>32580055
And then what would the dead do, stop eating the living and peacefully go back to being dead?

No. Once they get desperate for living flesh, they're going to eat our city, and then they're all going to re-die anyway because there's no living flesh left. The only thing left will be sand.

>>32580088
???
Where do you get that? There'd be plenty of humans in Ligish and maybe even Zargos.

>>32580107
You're underestimating the amount of living things in the world.

>>32580020
An important point of scale:
They DO fade out eventually. There's a finite amount, which is MUCH smaller than anyone who's ever died.

We do have the scorpion's offer of helping to hold the gate if we let them out. We could have a small population of extra-gate undead.

The real problem is being able to maintain a position in godlands for any duration of time. They might not like that.

>>32580132
You're underestimating the amount of flesh an army of scorpion-people can eat. I'm pretty sure they can kill living things faster than living things can breed, and then it's just a matter of time.

>>32580140
They definitely do not. That's what caused the flood last time. Well, that and Pazuzu giving humans no choice but to go to the godlands for shelter.

Rolled 5, 3, 5 = 13

Let's look at what was needed to make us
>Buttloade of Blood (fresh) for the Blood Ritual
>A person to turn into a scorpy-scorpy
>A strange crystal with a scorpion embedded in it
What we got: A person turned into a scorpy-person

What was needed for centaurs
>Bath of Blood for the Blood Ritual
>Horse to sacrifice on the spot
>(Presumably) Centaur bones
Bring back a Centaur from the dead

Why are the rituals different? Because in the first we are creating an entirely new being from something else (Little-girl => Scorp-girl)
In the second we are bringing back someone from the dead using the flesh of a current being form them to help them inhabit (Horse => Centaur completely unrelated to the horse)

The centaur say that they are able to come back due to the fact that "they are too fast for dead-god to catch".
So, if we were able to remove the dead scorpys from the dead-gods reach we could possibly use a variation of the second ritual to bring them all back. Possibly. Maybe. If anyone actually wants to do it.

Still sounds better than my other idea.

>>32580176
Meh
We'd be dead by then
not our problem

>>32580176
They don't know how to into herding. It could revolutionize feeding the dead.

>>32580181
Do you not remember how the scorpions were all mourning the ancient that finally faded?

Dead folk fade in the land of the dead. It's a thing.

>>32580184
uh, we sacrificed a horse AND A DUDE to get centaurs.

We should figure out how the other city got so many centaurs.
If they just sacrificed THAT MANY dudes, well, yeesh. That's not good.

>>32580193
I mean that the gods don't like it when people go into the cedar forest, which is where the outside of the seven gates is.

>>32580187
That kind of thinking is exactly why global warming exists. I hope you live on the coast, and are among the first to drown.

>>32580214
Oh, yes.
That's why I said it was the most difficult part of the whole plan.
The gods don't like mortals in godlands.

>>32580225
I do live on the coast. If the sea rises too much I'll just relocate though lol. Not gonna stay still and drown, that'd be silly.

>>32580213
Not to mention the horses. And where in the hades did they get that many centaur bones?

>>32580344
Yeah. We need to figure out how they got SO MANY centaurs.
Either they're pulling some really shady shit, or they've got a cheaper centaur formula.

>>32580373
Maybe the pervert centipede had something to do with it.

>>32580765
Who knows.
I don't even know if he's that much of a pervert. I think we're just imagining the worst in the absence of evidence.

>>32580344
The bones are the easy part. They controlled that archaeological dig for longer than we did. They had it first, then we took it, then they took it back I think, and now Zagros has it.