>>33040688
Then Isaac launches into a long winded speech about something, and you can’t follow any of it. Borislav talks to Isaac for a short time, and there’s a back and forth. When they finish, Borislav hangs a left off the next street, clearly diverting from your initial drag-pattern attack on the city.

“What’s going on?” you ask. “Did we find Meckor?”

Isaac comes back over the radio. “Sierra, there’s some Marshal business that’s come up,” he says. “I’m neck-deep in skeletons right now, so you and Borislav will have to take care of it.”

Borya hands you the microphone to reply.

>Skeletons?
>Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? I would’ve like, made a thank-you card or something.
>I hear that I’m immortal. That’s cool.
>So why didn’t you tell me I’m going to live forever? Because that ranks up there in the importance department.
>What’s so important that it trumps landwell hunting?
>Other (?)

>>33040694
>Skeletons?
>Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? I would’ve like, made a thank-you card or something.
>I hear that I’m immortal. That’s cool.
>What’s so important that it trumps landwell hunting?
Languid, why is every question section like this? I want everything.

>>33040694
>Yeah sure but you're explaining 'neck deep in skeletons' and this 'apparently immortal thing' when we all get home tonight.

>>33040725
Because it's all stuff that Sierra would say. This quest seems to have more of an opt-out vote style; eg you're more likely to have to pick what you DON'T want to say than what you do want.

Also write-ins are encouraged.

>>33040694
>What's so important that it trumps landwell hunting?

>>33040694
>>Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? I would’ve like, made a thank-you card or something.
>What’s so important that it trumps landwell hunting?

>>33040694
>Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? I would’ve like, made a thank-you card or something.
>So why didn’t you tell me I’m going to live forever? Because that ranks up there in the importance department.
We'll probably get the other questions answered when we get to Isaac.

>>33040694
>Skeletons?

>>33040694
>Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? I would’ve like, made a thank-you card or something.
>So why didn’t you tell me I’m going to live forever? Because that ranks up there in the importance department.

>>33040830
Yes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2rwxs1gH9w

>>33040694
>Skeletons?
>Other: How spooky are they?

>>33040890
this

>>33040890
Just in time for Halloween!

>>33040694
>Suddenly realize that we're going to be even worse than Isaac when it comes to getting stuff in a couple hundred years
>Become horrified internally

>>33040890
Voting this

>>33040694

>people thinking that Sierra's going to live forever
>forgetting the freakout over the fact we're an unstable mix of demonic types and may explode at any point

freakingoutsierra.jpeg

Isaac obviously didn't tell us because he expects us to die violently at a young age.

Or Borya might have meant that it's more some kind of metaphorical immortality. Like, we'll live on in the land or some bullshit. I wouldn't be surprised if Landmasters turned into new landwells upon death.

>>33040694
>>Skeletons?
>>Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? I would’ve like, made a thank-you card or something.
>So why didn’t you tell me I’m going to live forever? Because that ranks up there in the importance department.
>What’s so important that it trumps landwell hunting?

>>33041079
Isaac didn't tell us because he plans to sacrifice us and it is thus irrelevant.

>>33041079
Could be that a landwell could reincarnate their landmaster on death, or something to that effect. Think a giant natural phylactery

You can’t contain your curiosity. “Skeletons?” you ask into the radio. “How uh… how spooky are they?” you ask. You also can’t contain your amusement. You kind of give a choked chuckle in trying to sound not-amused. (-2 Stress: 29/100)

Isaac’s reply is flat. “They’re quite spooky,” he says. “Halloween-themed trouble is popular around Halloween.”

“Okay,” you say, trying to resume a serious face. “Skeletons aside, why didn’t you tell me you were one of the Greatest Generation? Because, like, I could’ve made you a thank-you card or something cute I guess,” you say drily.

You can almost hear the shrug in his voice. “It’s not a secret. It just never came up,” he says.

Well. You never really did ask him how old he was. Wouldn’t that be rude though? Or is that one of those rules that only applies to middle-aged womens? “Speaking of living to be really old,” you say, annoyance creeping into your voice, “why didn’t you tell me I’m going to live forever? That’s like, really important.”

There’s a pause. “Borislav told you, didn’t he,” he says. He says this in a way that hints that maybe Borislav wasn’t supposed to tell you.

“What,” you say, your grip on the microphone tightening, “you told him to keep it a secret?” you ask. (+3 Stress: 32/100)

“You’re a teenager. You already think you’re going to live forever,” says Isaac, sounding exasperated. “The last thing you need right now is confirmation that you will.”

“Well that’s not your decision to make,” you argue.

>>33041172

“Scream at me later. You need a level head for what’s ahead.”

“And what’s so important that it trumps looking for the doomsday landwell?” you ask.

“The Magister will explain,” Isaac replies. “He’s going to meet with you.

“Mr. Crowther’s meeting us?” you ask.

“He’s still the Magister last time I checked,” says Isaac. “Good luck. Like I said, I’m preoccupied with skeletons. Over and out.”

You hang the radio back up, and watch the road. A couple minutes later, Borislav parks the truck, and the two of you get out at a kind of plaza place with people going every which way. You follow Borya for a while until you see a familiar face seated on a bench. You approach Mr. Crowther, who is waiting for you.

He’s wearing a black suit and coat, and in one hand holds a vanilla ice cream cone wrapped in a napkin. He gives you and Borislav a flat look as you walk up, and then gives his ice cream cone a lick. “Greetings, Mr. Zerevskii. Sierra,” he says. He turns his attention to you, specifically. “I heard about the incident. A spell of terrible luck, I’m sure. May I inquire as to your health?”

>Hey Big Daddy Crowther.
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>No thanks.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.
>Health’s doing good, but he never calls.
>How the heck do you know about what happened?
>Other (?)

>>33041172
Unless someone kills us first. Like a pool.

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.

>>33041179
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.

>>33041179
>>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>Health’s doing good, but he never calls.
>How the heck do you know about what happened?
>Did Moriah get her sketchbook back?

>>33041179
>Hey Big Daddy Crowther.
>How the heck do you know about what happened?

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.
>How is Moriah doing?

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>Health’s doing good, but he never calls.
Gotta get those dad jokes.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.
Might as well ask if Moriah is alright before getting down to business

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.
Also: "I was just a little unfortunate about where i fought. Large pools of water is my weakness"

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.

>>33041179
>Hi, Mr. Crowther.
>I'm fine so... thanks for asking.
Ask if Moriah got her book back because our "spell of terrible luck" prevented us from returning it to her

>>33041289
This. Make sure 'our' Mori got her book back.

You resist the urge to be snarky. “Hi, Mr. Crowther,” you say. “I’m fine so uh… thanks for asking.”

“Excellent,” he says. He gestures to the empty bench beside him. “Please, have a seat.”

You and Borislav sit down by the Magister because why not. He attends to his dessert to keep it from dripping. “I must apologize,” he says, indicating the cone. “I did not expect so prompt an arrival.”

You don’t really care about manners or propriety or whatever. “Not a problem Did Moriah get her book back?” you ask.

“A stranger approached her and returned it after school,” says Mr. Crowther. “Perhaps there was a misunderstanding.”

Yeah. There really was nothing to misunderstand about that situation. You wonder who returned it, though. Maybe one of Beatrice’s friends took the sketchbook with them and realized they were being stupid later.

>Do you know who returned it?
>Does Moriah know you’re lawyer by day, Magister by night?
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>So if you’re not a vampire, what are you then? You’ve got to be something, right?
>What’s the thing you want us to do?
>You know, we were doing something important before you called.
>Other (?)

>>33041398
>So if you’re not a vampire, what are you then? You’ve got to be something, right?

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>What’s the thing you want us to do?

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>What's the thing you want us to do?

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>What's the thing you want us to do?

>>33041398
>Do you know who returned it?
>Does Moriah know you’re lawyer by day, Magister by night?

Let's not ask about his nature until we know him better. It would be gauche.

>>33041689
I don't know what that means

>>33041727
He means it would be rude.

>>33041727
This is the first time we've seen Mr. Crowther outside of the "my house, my rules" stern affectation. We don't need any more officials thinking we're incompetent.

>>33041798
Too late for that.

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.

>>33041398
>Do you know who returned it?
>Does Moriah know you’re lawyer by day, Magister by night?
>How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>What’s the thing you want us to do?

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.

>>33041398
>Do you know who returned it?
>Does Moriah know you’re lawyer by day, Magister by night?
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>So if you’re not a vampire, what are you then? You’ve got to be something, right?
>What’s the thing you want us to do?

>>33041398
>Hey, one question. How long have you known about me? In general, I mean.
>What's the thing you want us to do?

You decide to change the topic, a little. There is stuff to do after all, apparently, and you don’t have all day to shoot the breeze. “Hey Mr. Crowther,” you say, “how long have you known about me? You know, being like, me.”

Mr. Crowther laughs drily. “I always knew of you,” he says. “I make a point of keeping tabs on anything from Halth that makes its way into this city, hellborn included.”

“So you always knew,” you say.

“I had suspicions,” replies Crowther, “though it was not until I met you face to face that I comprehended what it is that you are.”

This topic makes you nervous. “So, for future reference, are you like, okay with Moriah being my friend?” you say. “I mean, I’m kind of dangerous sometimes.”

“My primary concern is the welfare of my family,” says Mr. Crowther. “And there is far more to that than physical safety. As long as Moriah considers you a friend, you are welcome in my home. As for what you are, that factors in to as to why I have called for you.”

“Yeah, like, marshal business, right?” you ask.

“Not such as the Marshal is equipped to deal with,” says Mr. Crowther. “And knowing of how he is otherwise indisposed at the moment, I was rather counting on your specific assistance.”

“Uh. Okay?”

>>33042479

“There is an item of interest to the US government which has recently fallen into the possession of a goblin named Boneskin,” says Crowther. “He has refused reasonable offers for its purchase, having received ample warning beforehand that doing so invalidates his warren’s terms of residency in this city.”

“So what, you want us to kick them out or something?” you ask.

“No,” says Crowther. “Marshal Hallow would be perfectly capable of evicting the warren. What I require you for is much more complex.”

“You want me to get the thing,” you say.

Crowther tips his head to you in answer. “The item in question is valuable, and must be retrieved. However, it is no light matter to steal from a goblin warren. It is impossible to discover the layout of a warren from without, making a planned approach impossible. A forceful approach would only result in the goblins vanishing along with their hoard.”

>>33042500

“So… you want a sneaky approach?” you ask.

“I want a sneaky approach,” says Mr. Crowther. “Goblins are creatures of secrecy and guile by nature. Escaping their perception requires unique abilities, such as the ones you enjoy. Now, I have arranged an unreasonable deal with Boneskin for his treasure. This will get you inside the warren. After that, you are to retrieve the object and return to San Fransisco.”

>This sounds kind of dangerous. What am I getting out of this?
>This doesn’t sound like something Isaac would agree with me doing.
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’
>You should probably explain this to Borislav.
>What is this thing we’re talking about, exactly?
>Other (?)

>>33042520
>This sounds kind of dangerous. What am I getting out of this?
>This doesn’t sound like something Isaac would agree with me doing.
>Other: Not that I won't do it.
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’
>What is this thing we’re talking about, exactly?

This is questionable at best.

>>33042520
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>You should probably explain this to Borislav.

>>33042520
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>This doesn’t sound like something Isaac would agree with me doing.
>You should probably explain this to Borislav.

>>33042520
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’
>You should probably explain this to Borislav.
>What is this thing we’re talking about, exactly?
If he wont tell us what the item is, he should tell us if it's fragile, weither it reacts to fire, or other important things.

Get him talking. While I think this item certainly could be powerful, how much he wants to talk to us about it may certainly show weither this is shady.

>>33042520
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’
>You should probably explain this to Borislav.

>>33041110
>Could be that a landwell could reincarnate their landmaster on death, or something to that effect. Think a giant natural phylactery
Consider that stolen for something else entirely.

>>33042520
>What is this thing we're talking about, exactly?
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we're talking about, right?
>What do you mean 'return to San Francisco?'

>>33042520
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?

>What is this thing we’re talking about, exactly?

>You should probably also explain this to Borislav.

>>33042520
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’
>You should probably explain this to Borislav.

You’ve got a lot of questions, but you start with the obvious one. “What should I know about goblins before I go digging around a goblin warren or whatever?” you ask.

“They are a quick and cunning people,” says Mr. Crowther. “For the most part, they are scavengers, thieves, and hunters. They thrive in the cracks between nations. While goblins are not be on even footing with humans in physical terms, they coordinate and move in numbers. The more goblins there are, the more dangerous they become, though even one can prove treacherous,” he tells you. “Where you will be concerned, goblins have keen eyes and good night vision; though, they are blind in absolute darkness.”

If they run around with most the lights off, you should be okay if they keep their place all dark and stuff. You’d have plenty to work with. “You said after I got the thing I should come back to San Fransisco,” you say. “Is their hole or whatever somewhere else?”

Mr. Crowther nods. “Suffice to say, Boneskin’s warren is in a place between places. Getting out, though, is not as much a task as getting in. Even if there is one entrance, there will be several exits.”

“Wait,” you say. “Should I be translating? Because I really don’t know Russian, like, at all.”

“I shall explain everything to Borislav after I have finished explaining to you,” Mr. Crowther says. “You are the one upon whom the plot hinges, after all.”

>>33042520
>What should I know about goblins? I mean, these are like, Lord of the Rings goblins we’re talking about, right?
>What do you mean ‘return to San Fransisco?’

>>33043316

You close your eyes for a moment to try to make sense of all of this stuff. “Okay, this is all like, way dangerous and stuff,” you say. “I get that. What’s the thing Boneskin took that’s so important?”

“Nothing complicated,” says Mr. Crowther. “The item is a flag.”

He can't be telling you you're playing capture the flag. “Like. An American flag?” you ask.

“Yes,” Mr. Crowther answers.

Yep. That's exactly what he's telling you. “Well, why’s it so valuable?”

“It is a very old flag,” he says.

“So it belongs in a museum,” you say.

Mr. Crowther gives a thin smile. “Symbols accrue power proportionate to the thing they represent, and proportionate to how long they represent them,” he explains, taking a second to lick his ice cream cone. “The flag in Boneskin’s possession is the first of its kind. The federal government would rather it be in a vault.”

>How do you respond?

>>33043339
So are like, the redcoats going to try and steal this flag when I bring it back? Uh, down with King George!

>>33043339
so we are masscuring a entire goblin den just for a hunk of fabric oh joy

>>33043339
Lethal or non-lethal?

>>33043357
>>33043339
I like this response

>>33043339
>What kind of power would the first flag have? Inspiration?

>>33043389
Oh right I forgot Sierra was retarded. I'll back this instead, don't wanna break character.

>>33043389
No, we are infiltrating a goblin warren to steal a powerful magical focus, which just happens to be a piece of dyed and stitched cloth.

Can't wait to crit fail a stealth roll and be forced to bust out the fire/claws/whip/sword/all these killy things.
Has tg ever once succeeded a stealth mission in a quest?

>First American flag
>Symbol of patriotism for millions of people
>Has supernatural powers of AMERICA
>Sierra touches flag, gains ability to transform into bald eagle

>>33043429
Sierra is not retarded. She's not knowledgeable about certain things, but that doesn't mean she's incapable of being smart

>>33043339
Ok. Got it. Operation saving Old Glory it is, then. Last question, if things get hostile, am I allowed to kill them or is that something I should totally not do for some reason?

>>33043357
Lets go with this

>>33043339
This is some FBI secret service shit. Do we get a black suit?

>>33043389
I'd rather not say this.

>>33043460
Being uneducated has nothing to do with it. Retarded may be a bit of an exaggeration, but she must be pretty close if the choices she makes are any indication.

>>33043389
Please God no

>>33043492
If Crowther knows us at all, his response will be "But you already have a bitchin' black jacket."

Though I'm fairly sure we're not wearing it right now.

>>33043339
"What if I fuck up and require back up?"

>>33043501
The choices she made being...? You can't make a statement like that without some examples

>>33043501
Such as? You can't imply that without at least following up with examples, man

>>33043520
I'm not the anon you're talking to, but I think that "Joining the Bloods" would be one of them.

>>33043593
That's debatable, considering she could fend for herself and was likely doing very well until the gang raid, but I'unno. We don't really know why she joined the Bloods

>>33043640
Place to belong to?

Sounds like her foster families didn't really like a girl who rages out every now and then and trashes the place.

The gang might have been the people who liked the fact that she could fight, and didn't care that she had a temper

>>33043339
>Beam with patriotic pride

>>33043520
>>33043557
Have we been following the same quest? Fighting people on the edge of a pool when we don't know how to swim, not knowing what Waldric was talking about when he called after that first time at the Crowthers, deciding that telling him we were good friends with Moriah weakened our position less than revealing Crowther was a magistrate..... The list goes on. Sierra is very lacking in the critical thinking department.

>>33043593
Don't know the reasons fro that one, but probably not.

>>33043659
Don't forget that the Bloods also had Benjamin/Monster, which is the actual reason why she was there. She's been looking for a family for ages, and he was the closest thing she found until the Hallows. Her joining a gang to be with him made perfect sense.

>>33043680
Still not dumb enough to insult her boss's boss by mocking the government she's working for and reports to.

>>33043460
Sierra is impulsive as fuck. She may not be completely dumb but she doesn't think a lot about her situation a lot.

Did everyone forget that during panicking about the fate of the world we decided to play in oncoming traffic?

>>33043763
This, we probably don't like the system for a various number of reasons but that doesn't mean we'll talk shit in front of the guy that's paying us loadsamone

>>33043680
For the fight in the pool, Sierra a) didn't exactly choose where the encounter was set up, and had initially tried to talk down Beatrice, and b) wasn't intending to go into the pool. That's a lack of foresight, but it doesn't mean she's stupid. It's reasonable for her to believe she could have taken them, given her abilities and what she can do. As for Waldric, Sierra wasn't trying to manipulate him in the first place, dude! She didn't care about having leverage or position on Waldric, because that wasn't what she was after!

>>33043389
I don't care what we say, as long as it isn't this.
Also
>Massacre
>During a stealthy b&e
No. Massacre is the opposite of stealth, especially when the only thing we'll be able to hide is ourself, remember, blind only in pitch black?

>>33043770
I will agree with that, Sierra is impulsive as fuck, and she has made some dumb decisions. But as Ms. Song said, 'you can be clever when you want to.'

>>33043763
I dunno about that. She doesn't really think about her actions. She could say it and later realize it was a bad idea.

>>33043770
Like I said, the list goes on.

>>33043795
She could have also fought in a way that didn't put her on the edge of the pool with those abilities, or realized that a friends sketchbook wasn't worth risking her life over. And from the discussion in these threads, you bet she cares about leverage and position on Wally. Those were the reasons she never told him Crowther was the Magistrate. She cares a lot about manipulating him.

>>33043879
The discussion was not the same as the decision that came from it, and from what it sounds like Sierra gave fuck all about manipulating Wally as much as she wanted to know his intentions for Moira's family, and I seem to recall a couple of spergs pissed that we came to that decision

>>33043879
>I dunno about that. She doesn't really think about her actions. She could say it and later realize it was a bad idea.

Example of Sierra NOT being impulsive: after making fun of Moriah's sister, she stopped when Mr. Crowthers made it very clear that, by god, we're gonna have a nice goddamn dinner tonight or shit gets real.

And she didn't know he was a Magistrate at the time.

She'll be less impulsive in this situation.

“This is like, Nicholas Cage in National Treasure,” you say, trying to wrap your mind around what the heck’s going on. “I’m not going to have to solve any riddles, am I?”

“I am confident you will be able to circumnavigate any riddles that challenge your progress,” Mr. Crowther replies flatly. You can’t tell if he’s joking or not.

“Isn’t this like, a job for the FBI or CIA or, I don’t know, the IRS or something?”

“Not if you do it first,” says Mr. Crowther. “Situations like this call for subtlety. The more people that know Boneskin has this flag, the more likely someone will fail in seizing it, and the more likely his warren will disappear forever. But this is beside the point. You work for the land of the free and home of the brave, now. It can ask you to do things like this. Though, it remains your purview as to whether or not you will accept. Hallow is the Marshal. You are merely one of his associates.”

You think about it for a second. “Well maybe I’m not being paid enough to do things like this,” you say. Even part time work with ridiculous pay isn’t worth it if those couple hours a week are spent in mortal peril. “I mean. As a patriot, I guess I’d do it anyway, maybe? But like, twenty grand a year isn’t really screaming appropriate compensation for services rendered.”

>>33043339
Why do the goblins hate our freedom?

>>33043998

“You will be compensated appropriately for your services in this matter,” Mr. Crowther states, his voice firm. “I will see to it personally.”

“Uh. Like. How much?” you ask.

“Does ten thousand dollars sound fair to you?”

You find it difficult to swallow.

>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.
>I was thinking like, five hundred bucks, but you know, ten thousand works too.
>I don’t have to use this money on college tuition or anything, right?
>I don’t know, man. I only have one life, and it seems kind of shaky to risk it for ten thousand things that aren’t other lives.
>Other (?)

>>33043998
>IRS

RIP

>>33044023
>I was thinking like, five hundred bucks, but you know, ten thousand works too.

>>33044023
>>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33043960
I was under the impression that we were Sierra's mind.

>>33043995
One time where she didn't do it doesn't mean she'll never do it. The atmosphere helped her out there as well. There are many examples of her being stupidly impulsive, like >>33043770

>>33044023
>>I don’t have to use this money on college tuition or anything, right?
>>I don’t know, man. I only have one life, and it seems kind of shaky to risk it for ten thousand things that aren’t other lives.
Aw shit, she wants to paid in souls.

>>33044023
>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33044023
>>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure

>>33044023
>Sounds... fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33044023
>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33044023
>>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

Do NOT mention the $500 dollars thing, that's not how negotiations work

>>33044023
>I don’t know, man. I only have one life, and it seems kind of shaky to risk it for ten thousand things that aren’t other lives.

>Implying doing a service for your country is not pay itself already

I'm disappointed in all of this unAmerican behavior

>>33044023
>I was thinking like, five hundred bucks, but you know, ten thousand works too.
>I don’t have to use this money on college tuition or anything, right?

>>33044023
You drive a hard bargain, but I'll do it. For America.

>>33044023
>Damn. Y'all really want this flag, huh?
>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33044086
I'm Australian.

Why am I still up at 4:50 am when I have to get up in 2 hours?

Damn you Languid, I hope your lawn eats you.

>>33044023
>"Sure, but what if i fail? I am not exactly experienced"

>>33044109
Be careful what you wish for.

>>33044050
Languid hasn't confirmed one way or another, and in Hellborn Quest 21 stated:
>Also, for the voices thing. I never said whether or not you were the voices. Even so, this does not mean Sierra doesn't have a voice of her own, and can't get along just fine on her own.

>>33044023
>>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.
>>I mean, it is for America

>>33044156
It was quite obvious in the first threads that we were voices in her mind. Perhaps Languid decided to quietly retcon it or maybe we will have more presence if Sierra loses more sanity

>>33044023
>>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33044116
This question should be asked. And thought over. We can not plan, we probably have to take it with us when we go in, and there's no knowing what happens to us if the warren 'vanishes'.

>>33044182
Whatever man, the point stands that we are separate from Sierra's consciousness and she has her own intentions and can act on them, meaning as I said the discussion was not the same as the decision that come from it

>>33044023
>>Sounds… fair, I guess? Sure.

>>33044023
>I was thinking like, five hundred bucks, but you know, ten thousand works too.

"If i'm unable to retrieve the flag, would you rather it be destroyed or for the goblins to disappear with it?"

>>33044219
Not really, when we're in a thread we make decisions for her. The discussions we have are not the same, but they're closely related.

You were just giving Mr. Crowther a hard time. You always intended to go save America or whatever, but now he’s thrown this fish at your feet, the fish which he’s thrown, of course, being worth ten thousand dollars cash money. Well, if people want to give you money for doing stuff you would have done anyway, why the hell stop them.

“Sounds…. fair, I guess?” you say, your voice wavering. “But, you know, what if it doesn’t work out? I mean, I’m not exactly like, ace thief woman or anything.” (+3 Stress: 35/100)

“I am not speaking to you because of what you are not: am speaking to you because of what you are,” Mr. Crowther tells you. “I believe you are capable of this.”

Well. Coming from Mr. Crowther, that actually sounds reassuring. You doubt he’s the type to ever speak an idle word. (-5 Stress: 30/100) “So these goblins,” you say, shifting topics, “if I have to, should I kill them?”

“If you need to,” says Mr. Crowther, “you certainly should not hesitate to do so. The only reason this warren has been allowed to remain where it is, is because the crimes they commit are done outside of this country’s region of concern.” He finishes his cone and throws the napkin into the garbage can beside the bench.

“So what’s the plan, if there is a plan?” you ask.

>>33044574

Crowther then reaches under the seat and pulls out a briefcase. He places it on his lap, and turns to you again. “I have prepared an object that will appear to Boneskin, at least under cursory glance, as the payment for the flag. As the terms of this sale were that you conduct it in his warren however, I suspect he has no intention of going through on the deal. He will attempt to steal the payment and keep the flag.”

He glances over at Borislav, who is patiently watching a cluster of pigeons pecking crumbs by the side of the fountain before you. “Borislav will conduct the transaction and delay for as long as possible, while you find the item. Goblins enjoy boasting, so if he can get Boneskin in a conversation, that will give you the time you need.”

“I have a question,” you say. “What’s makes this flag so special? I mean, if it’s way powerful and stuff, what’s it do?”

Mr. Crowther gives you a blank look. “I haven’t the faintest idea. Do you consider yourself a true American?”

“Well, duh,” you say.

“Good. To be on the safe side, you should make sure you are the only one with whom it comes into contact,” he says. “Do you have any other questions?”

>Everything makes sense.
>But what about (?)
>Other (?)

>>33044590
>>Everything makes sense.

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense.

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense.
W-would Borya corrupt it with his filthy Russian paws?

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense
Don't lat our Russian friend touch it. He'll probably get some cold war backlash or something

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense.

>>33044590
>Flag has a negative effect on nonamericans who touch it.
God save the queen if she gets too close.

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense.

>>33044590
>mfw flag obliterates us because we consider ourselves a princess of hell or whatever.

>>33044590
>Other (?)

"Off the topic of saving America, does Moriah know? About this secret magic world thingy? I don't want to accidentally give it away if you haven't told her."

I kinda want to know if we can "let our hair down" with her, guys.

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense.

>>33044894
Couldn't hurt to ask.

>>33044590
>Everything makes sense.

>>33044894
This
It'd be nice have someone be able to appreciate our horns.

>>33044894
Yeah, I like this

“I’m sure there’s something horrible that I’m forgetting to ask about, but whatever,” you say.

Mr. Crowther nods, and then starts talking to Borislav in a language that isn’t Russian. You don’t know what the heck language it is, really. It sounds vaguely middle-eastern. Borislav responds in kind, and the two have a lengthy discussion that seems a lot more in depth than yours was. Suddenly, they stand. You hurry to follow. Mr. Crowther hands the briefcase to Borislav, and then the two shake hands. Crowther then turns to you, and you think he’s going to try to shake your hand too, but instead, he just gives you a slight bow. “I have confidence in both of you,” he says. And then he turns to leave.

“Wait,” you say. “There is something I want to ask, but it’s not about saving America or goblins or anything.”

The Magister turns.

“Does Moriah know that… does she know about all the magic world BS? Have you told her? Because I didn’t want to tell her if you didn’t tell her.”

“If you do not know, then it is not my place to say,” he answers cryptically. “You being with the Hallows complicates the situation.” Then he walks off for real. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Borislav waves goodbye, and then starts going back to the truck. “Come, Sierra,” he says, “we have business.”

---

>>33045400
Borislav drives the truck by the front of an antiques shop with a dusted ‘closed’ sign on the front, and makes sure to point you at it. One of the windows is cracked, but the iron bars beneath hold steady. This is a pretty seedy part of town, and traffic seems to rarely pass this way.

You keep driving and park maybe a block away from the shop. You all pile out, Reeber included. Borislav goes to the duffel bag in the bed and pulls out his olive-green flak vest, and starts buckling up. Then he grabs his staff out and that AK shotgun thing, and slings it over his shoulder. He looks kind of ridiculous with the mix between his shorts and yellow jacket at the hardcore military crap, but you’re hardly one to talk with your chest holster under your black jacket and the rapier at your hip.

While you would probably look cooler with your cool jacket, you didn’t really want to risk burning it up or getting it all bloody when you went out to hunt landwells and demons.

>>33045423

Reeber pants excitedly by your side. He can tell something’s afoot.

Your group makes its way down to the antiques shop, and then stops before the face of it. Inside looks empty and dark, as far as you can tell.

Borya walks up and tries the door. In addition to being locked, it looks like there’s a padlock and chain on the other side of the door.

“You open it?” asks Borislav, looking to you.

>Maybe there’s another way in.
>Can’t you just bear it open?
>Maybe you could summon an imp and get it to deal with the chain on the other side.
>Pick the front lock.
>You have the shadow powers. Shadow power it.
>Knock out some glass and melt through the window bars.
>Other (?)

>>33045438
>>Pick the front lock.

>>33045438
>Pick the lock.

>>33045438
>Pick the front lock.
No need to tell them what we can do before it's necessary.
But before that
>knock on the door

>>33045438
>Pick the front lock.
We are doing everything from here on in stealth mode

No flashy powers unless our cover is blown

>>33045438
Pick lock.

Also, psychopomps.

>>33045438

>You have the shadow powers. Shadow power it.

There's plenty of shadow inside of the lock, just fingledangle it open.

We're picking the front lock and then shadow lock picking the inside chain lock. Roll dice.

Rolled 19

>>33045729
100!

Rolled 65

>>33045729

>>33045729

>>33045770
dice 100d?

Rolled 69

>>33045729
WE WILL ROLL TO THE HEAVENS

Rolled 32

>>33045770

Too late, but fixing dice.

>>33045782

1d100, I take best of first three. Low is good.

>>33045811
Oh right! Yey for >>33045741 then!

Well, no reason not to be polite, you think to yourself. You step up to the door and pound on it.

Nobody answers.

Well, you don’t know anything about goblins, but if they’re the kind to set up a meeting somewhere but leave the doors locked, they must suck pretty bad. You sigh and crouch by the door, popping a couple bobby pins out of your pocket once you’re in position. You start screwing around with the lock, until after a minute, it pops open. You shove on the doors, but they only budge slightly inward – the chains on the other side restrict their movement.

You close your eyes and try to focus on the darkness around you. You feel a thick knot of it right before you, probably what’s sitting inside the keyhole of the padlock. You begin twisting it around, needling resistance and shifting weight, until you hear a slight click. You get up on your tip toes and try to look down at the lock. It looks like it’s disengaged, but it’s still snagged on the chains. But that’s not really a problem either. It’s dim inside the antique shop, and the spot below the windows on the door is especially bathed in shadow.

You pull the shadow upwards and onto the chain, then over the lock, and give it a hard jolt. The lock pops off and clatters to the floor. You shove once more against the door, and after rocking it in and out a couple times, the chain comes loose and you walk in. (-1 PP: 24/25)

>>33046254

The place smells of dust. Long floorboards stretch before you, devoid of any furnishing or anything that would give away the fact that this was once an antiques shop. The counter is scratched and bare, and the slim shafts of light that shine into the place are filled with little particles of the dust that you’ve kicked up with your entry. Borislav and Reeber behind you, and you step forward. The two are quiet and cautious. You’re glad your hellhound appreciates the gravity of the situation.

After the group is a few feet in, a sudden rattling noise picks up from behind. You turn to see the door shut on its own accord, and the chain slither back up and into place. Lastly, the padlock jumps off the ground and hooks itself back through the chains and locks itself. You hear the bolt turn, locking the outer doors once again.

“That’s… not creepy or anything,” you say to yourself. (+3 Stress: 33/100)

Borislav takes point, and you follow on his flank. The whole store is empty, but there is a staircase in the back that plunges downward into darkness. Borislav produces a big mac light and goes down, while you follow behind with Reeber.

The basement is dank and black. You blink, and it all becomes clear, save for the swinging beam of confusing color and light that sometimes interrupts your vision. There’s empty shelving everywhere, in addition to the cobwebs. You wave one out of your face and move onward, taking point. There’s absolutely nothing in this place.

>>33046275

But then you do find something.

Against the back wall in a corner, leans a tall, ornate frame, dusted over with time. It has fancy wrought iron frills around the edges, and stands as tall as you.

Inside the frame, though, you don’t see the opaque flat surface of a mirror as comprehended by your shadow sight. It’s kind of like nothing you’ve seen before, actually. The surface looks like a depth of smoke or something similar, though the volume through the frame seems deeper than the wall behind it would allow.

You blink, and examine the mirror with your light sight. Borislav shines his light on it, and all you see is a regular looking mirror that could use a good dusting.

Borislav speaks in a soft whisper, barely loud enough for you to pick up his words. “This is place,” he breathes, indicating the mirror. You make Borya turn off his light, and look at the mirror again, taking darkness to be a more faithful representation of reality here.

It looks almost like you could just… step into the frame. The idea is frightening to you, for some inexplicable reason. (+4 Stress: 37/100)

>What do you do?

>>33046289
Step into that shit girl, what else?

>>33046289
Take a deep breath and step in the frame.

>>33046289
Carefully step into it. If you are not supposed to be seen drag some shadows around you to make you less likely to be seen

>>33046289
Smell our surroundings for a little bit, try to get a better idea of what has passed through here, what gobbos smell like, if there's anything in the area we've missed.

Do another quick check of our surroundings, and step through.

>>33046289
Jump in.

>>33046289
Buck up and dive down the rabbit hole Alice

>>33046289
Tell Boris. Let's all go in into the mirror.

>>33046289
>skip into the mirror

>>33046289
>poke something through that you don't care about being damaged.
Find a piece of wood or something. If it comes back shorter or otherwise harmed, reassess.

“The mirror,” you say quietly. This isn’t… possible. But it’s magic, right? Anything’s possible. (-1 Sanity: 88/100)

You try not to think about it too much, and focus on the task at hand. Experimentally, you poke the surface of the mirror with one of your bobby pins. The smoky depths at first oppose the pin, but then suddenly gives way at applied pressure. You draw back, finding everything of it intact. So, you guess it doesn’t operate under power of belief or whatever. Good to know.

This is the way in, probably. Maybe? And if it’s the way in, then that means there could to be someone – or something – keeping watch. Your best bet, then, is to go with Borislav and Reeber all at the same time, or at least as much together as you can, and try to use them as a distraction and partial cover so that you can get somewhere unseen.

You sniff the air, trying to get a bead on something. You can’t imagine goblins don’t smell like anything, but at the same time, you certainly don’t smell anything here. Mr. Crowther said they were hunters. Maybe they always took precautions with where they left their scent? If they were aware of things like you, that would make sense.

You explain your entry plan to Borya, and he nods. He grips the briefcase under arm, grabs Reeber by the collar with the other hand, and you back him up. Then, as one, you move forward and step through the frame.

>>33047183

There’s a strange moment of staticky nothingness, and then you finish stepping out somewhere else entirely.

You’re in a roughly hewn chamber that resembles a cave. There are strangled outcroppings of black rock everywhere, some of which twist upwards in large, contorted pillars. The ceiling of the cave is perhaps thirty or forty feet above you. The sides are lost in the slopes and falls naturally forming stony projections.

The only visible light comes from a pair of iron stands placed ominously before you. The metal bars are topped off by four-pronged metal caps that look like hands. Fire licks off of the prongs like they’re flammable, and they grow white-hot with heat.

At your back are a dozen weird frames with their odd, misty depths. They’re nailed into place into the stone, each one bearing a unique style. One looks vaguely Scandinavian, and features odd curling bronze leaves and flowering plumes that flake off to the side as if in bloom. Another broad, square mirror has a heavy wood frame that looks heavy enough that it would take three men to carry.

You hear a distant echo of roaring water, though you’re not sure from where.

>>33047208

Aside from the smell of stone, stale air, and dank, unmentionable plantlife, you smell nothing alarming. Which is alarming in and of itself.

It’s been a second, tops, when you hear a voice from beyond the burning metal stands. The words sound disjointed and broken, as if the speaker learned to talk from a cheap text-to-speech program. Besides that, they’re traced with some weird, chalky accent you’ve never heard before.

“Why come thee to enter our den, traveler?” calls the eerie, inhuman voice from beyond the metal torches. Even with perfect vision of the dark rocks that lie ahead, you don’t spot any movement that might give away the speaker’s position.

The thing said traveler. Not travelers. Maybe that means it hasn’t spotted you knotted up behind Borislav yet.

>What do you do?

I am leaving. Next thread tomorrow at 5:00 PM MST. Maybe.

>>33047231
Thanks for running, Languid!

>>33047231
>What do you do?
Attempt to sneak off while Borya gets to his part of the plan?

>>33047269
Wrap ourselves in whatever shadow is available, and sneak by the goblin

>>33047231
Hide in Borya's shadow. Literally.

>>33047231
Vanish in the shadows.

>>33047231
Hide in Borya's shadow until we get to a somewhere we can peel off and look for the flag. Too bad nothing in there looks unusually flammable yet, since we're going to have to get out in a hurry probably.

>>33047702
We just ride Reeber out of there. He is HUGE in hell form.

>>33047231
>Hide behind Borya and prepare to disappear in the shadows when need be