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The valley is open. There are rocks I can hide behind but I don't know if it'll help. That girl is in the dog's mouth, but her demon is out here. The demon is between you and I, but he said you'll live. I hope he isn't lying.

He's probably lying.

The sky is getting darker. The clouds are coming in. That won't help me.

I only have my mace. If my left wasn't broken I could go for my sword or try to weave, but it is. A flash might be able to stall him, but my mend weave can only seal flesh. I can't do any thing for myself but I might be able to stop your bleeding if I get closer.

I need to think.

>What do I do?

>>33113609
Start scuffing up the dirt around you. It might hit the demon and reveal its location.

Rolled 7

>>33113609
Did the main character teach Anlak some weaves?

If he did then >>33113713 followed by a cut weave. Or maybe throw our weapon at it..

Rolled 6

If we seal the main characters wound wouldn't that make it so that the heart demon wont be able to go back into MC's chest?

Rolled 9

>>33113713
Kicking up dust is probably a good step one, but it's not going to do much to actually deter him.

We're way outmatched, so we're pretty much stuck hoping for lucky hits or trying to leverage what we know about the demon against him. Primarily that he's big on gloating and playing with his food. So far he's got no reason to believe that we've got reinforcements inbound from nearby (they know that a couple people were fighting by the canyon mouth, but nobody knows where the somewhat-off-her-rocker Poisoner is, which means she's bound to be the first one on the scene.), so he'll be more inclined to mess with us rather than just going right for the jugular.

Our primary goal is to make sure he doesn't catch on and move up the timetable.

>[Cunning 8]
I take a step towards the demon, and press a foot to the dirt. Forming a pivot, I kick dust onto the invisible beast. The specks hold against its body.

"Hahahahah! Cchild, already you resort to throwing dirt!?" It doesn't move, it doesn't sound threatened. "I will ggive you another try. You may ccontinue your resistance, I hate to bbreak you so quickly."

A clump of black wriggles on the ground beside you. It is clawing its way under your body. Hopeful-

"Shouldn't you be ppaying more attention?" A swipe from the demon cuts across my cheek. Thin enough not to gauge it, deep enough to draw blood. I need to focus.

My sword is still embedded in the demons hand, if I move fast I might be able to tear it loose. Your sword has rolled out of your grip onto the ground beside you, it'll be an easier task to grab that but I won't be in any good position.

Still, I have my mace. It isn't an ideal weapon here but it works. And there must be other things I can use. I can vaguely see the demon with the dirt stained on him.

"Sstill thinking? Time is running out! Come now cchild; MAKE YOUR MOVE!" The demon laughs.

I need to move.

>What do I do?

Rolled 10

>>33114162
Flash weave then hit it in the face.

Rolled 10

>>33114162

Go for our sword, but don't pull it out towards us, pull it up or down through his hand or arm.

Not sure if I need to roll, but I assume this will be alacrity if so.

>>33114162
>>33114394

Unclear on something, is our mace in our hands or on our belt? Would we have to drop it to weave or grab our sword?

>>33114509
Belt.

>>33114531

Okay thanks.

>>33114435 is me, I want to retrieve our sword but it might be better if we do a flash weave first.

>>33114394
Meh I could change this to go for the sword.

>[Alacrity 16]
My weaves, not great. My fingers are thick and not reading well makes it difficult to practice on my own time. Still, I can do this much.

I weave a flash in front of me. If the demon was fazed, I can't tell. No time to hesitate, I run after my sword. It hovers low above the ground, I grab the hilt in hand. My boots aren't touching the floor any more, I'm raising up.

And that suits me just fine.

I drag the sword up the hand of the demon and through his wrist. I don't know where his arm ends and where my fall begins but I can't afford to worry about that now. His body provides little resistance as I lead the blade through its flesh. Strands of black blur into vision as they leave its body.

"Ggood, good. You're sstronger than Sissel, ffaster than him as well. Carna mmight not like it but I tthink you'll suit us jjust fine!" The demon laughs, but I'm getting tired of its voice.
Following his sound, I leap from its unseen arm forward and slash my sword down, drawing dark away from it. My body begins to drop.

"FIERCE! I LLIKE IT. NOW LLET ME SEE HOW YOU DODGE." The mists waft as it seems. I can see the dirt lifting, it's dragging up its arms. The air splits, and two forces are coming at me as I fall. It's trying to smash me between it's hands, I can probably avoid it if I drag my weight down but... perhaps there's a way to gain ground here.

Footsteps. Kran will be approaching soon.

>What should I do?

>>33114850
Can't think of any strategies with a broken arm and no weaves so I'll vote dodge.

Rolled 11

>>33114973
Forgot dice. And can we throw the sword at it's face while dodging? We want to make sure all of it's attention is on Anlak to give Kran a better chance.

Rolled 8

>>33114850

Dip down to dodge, hold our sword above our head at an angle so it pierces its hand or arm as it brings them together.

Rolled 9

>>33114850
We should probably drop to the ground and try to roll away so he can't follow up with a hammer-blow.

That said, if we find an opportunity to toss our sword straight up (oriented horizontally,) it means if he's trying to pancake us like he's clashing cymbals he's going to drive our sword straight through one of his hands. And maybe even drive the hilt through the other if he's forceful with it and the pommel is pointed rather than blunt.

Rolled 5

>>33115085
>try to roll away
I wouldn't advise rolling with a broken arm, but the rest is good.

>[Alacrity 17]
I dip my body forward, pulling it into a full turn. I hold my sword up where the hands meet. I can't see them, but the fiend's force shakes into my bones when he claps against the blade. I tear the blade loose again with momentum and toss it straight up before I land, the whirling blade cuts against the flesh of the demon but I know not where on its body I marked. I pull into a quick roll as I hit the ground. My arm hurts.

"Ttenacious aren't you. I'm already wweary though. Llet's end this." I take a step back with the demon's words, but as I ready my hands for my move, my wrist is caught. A weight presses against it, and then another on each ankle, and one around my neck. "Oh so ssorry. You ccan't see that can you. No mmatter, I will ggrant you new sight ssoon..."

Just as quickly as I am caught, I am freed. A familiar oversized blade cuts through the air in front of me, leaving its mark against the rock beneath it. Carried on far by a long demonic arm, it pulls back again onto the shoulder of its owner.

"It's always you two isn't it?" Kran sighs, switching her claymore into her real hand. As I recall, this has happened before hasn't it. When you came for Sheryl and I that once.

"Oh ddear. I'd fforgotten about the rest of our company." The demon sighs, it begins to slink away, leaving a trail behind it.

"I didn't think there'd be two big ones here." From the wind, Dusty forms behind me. Henry just catches up with Kran, he stands behind her looking left and right confused. I don't like him very much. He's loud.

That Oprey is unaccounted for, but she can't be far now...

"Henry, pick him up-" Kran says, gesturing to you, "-And lead Anlak out of here!"

"Y-yes mam!" Henry runs over to your body, lifting it over his shoulder. Your wounds are still pretty bad...

"Oh ddear. You two are already ccontractors, I hate used goods..." The demon grumbles.

I should listen to Kran but... I don't feel safe leaving her here.

>What should I do?

Rolled 12

>>33115555

Follow Henry at first, convince him to set MC down, bandage up MC and/or cast Mend Wounds on him. Then return to Kran once Henry picks MC back up (he won't try to stop us then).

>>33115555
Start healing MC, but we need to grab that tiny demon first.

>>33115710

pretty sure it crawled back inside MC

Wait so did we make a contract or begin one last thread?

So how are we doing this? Anlak knows that the demon is sorta kinda MC's heart, but there isn't much else he knows. If MC contracts, we've got nothing to bargain with to get Frangelico out of Carna. Will he even still want to contract if we heal MC without contracting and attempt to negotiate again?

>>33115817

That "deal" was a death sentence for both MC and Carna. It's unclear whether or not MC has contracted with Franny Jr. at this point.

We can't negotiate honestly with a demon (not this one, anyway). If you'd like an example of what happens when you do, just look at Carna.

We either need to have some kind of leverage ahead of time, or we need to just put her out of her misery. If we don't do it, the airless box or whatever the fuck that horrifying torture device the Seekers used to extract a demon that one time will (even if she survives I can't see her as being much more than a mute or a vegetable afterwards).

Rolled 8

>>33115789
I hope not.

Maybe Carna's demon repeated the same thing it did to save the MC the first time. The demon doesn't want his suffering to end so soon.

Rolled 3

>>33115976
>That "deal" was a death sentence for both MC and Carna.
Ya. I went to sleep half way throught that thread. I don't know who thought of that "deal" but if you're here right now I want to personally call you an idiot.

Even if Carna's demon had accepted the deal to take over MC carna would have died because the demon is the only thing keeping her alive. And then the demon would have taken over the MC's body the same way it took over Carna.

Then the demon would have used it's new body to torture all of MC friends Rein, Leona, Sheryl, Yu'yen all of them.

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For now, I'll follow along. Kran can hold out, I'm sure. I can return to her after we give you a look over. I leave Dusty and Kran to follow Henry out and into the valley.

"Shepherd's flock! What in Hound's breath is wrong with you two!?" Henry complains a lot. "We leave you two alone for a little bit and suddenly you're fighting a Rasci you can't even see!?"

I nod.

"And now this asshole is bleeding down my back! Were you trying to get yourselves killed!?"

I give some thought over this question. I'm still not entirely sure what all of this was... but I'm sure I couldn't have stopped you even if I sat back, and I certainly couldn't let you die. Judging by what happened back there though...
I nod.

"Uuuaaargh..." Henry stops, he sets you down and slumps up against a wall. "On the bright side of things, the contractor you two knocked about is in custody right now so we've got a hostage to The Little Witch." He pauses, "Yikes, should have picked a better place to rest." I look over to where his eyes draw, an armoured skeleton with shattered legs rests on the pathway. When I ran up here there was still some flesh on him, no point thinking about what that means though.

There's a hole in your chest. I'm sure I saw your heart fall out earlier but... there's something in there. You're still breathing, so I guess you're alive. I weave my fingers around the chest wound, I don't know much about magic but Rein showed me this one before we left.

She told me I might need it.

But I think she thought I might need it for you.

I did decent work. Not great, but you won't bleed out at least. I apply the tincture and the bandages, I hope I got the order right.

"You only have one roll of bandages and you're treating him first?" Henry gives me an odd look, "Your arm is going to fall off if you ignore it. From what I hear this jerk doesn't need the help."

This is probably enough first aid, I should return to Kran...

"Sure, ignore me. But let's leave already."

>What should I do?

>>33116198
>separate Carna from demon
get the Seekers off her
>Demon goes for us
so we can kill it and feed it to Franny
>Carna can't survive
She can try. Beyond that, we can't help her anymore. It's a "we owe it to her" kind of thing.

>>33116258
Treat own arm. Get MC to wake up.

>>33116258

Tell Henry to go on ahead. And "hostage," who the fuck are they kidding? What a bunch of amateurs.


>>33116198

Or, MC could've gotten down on his knees; shirt open, chest bare, and the demon could have just killed him and moved on.

I really enjoy this quest so don't take this the wrong way Librarian, but this is a fucking whopper of a Catch 22. The way I perceive it, everything is TOTALLY fucked regardless of what we choose to do.

>>33116258
>>33116310
Oh, right, we should probably mention that Sissel isn't good bargaining material. I hope MC is conscious enough to point out that he's Sheryl's brother.

Rolled 10

>>33116258
Take the bandages out of MC's pockets and bandage our own arm. Then see about helping Kran.

>>33116303

Do we even know if we'd be able to control the Rasci once the contract was done and it became more powerful after consuming its "child"? If not, what if it just killed Carna after contracting with us?

Rolled 7

>>33116303
>>33116310
It's obviously a bad situation. But Carna's best chance at survival was being captured by the seekers. Still not a high chance at survival but it's better than the demon eating her til there's nothing left.

Instead of cutting his own chest open as part of a plan that was never going to work. MC could have just kept fighting until back up arrived the way Anlak did.

>>33116198
>the demon is the only thing keeping her alive
When we discussed it with the Dust Cat, he said that it'd be lethal to try and separate it manually, but it would be plausible for even a long-term contractor to survive if the contract is broken mutually.

>"Defending onf the thort of contract anf how faa alon it isth..." He swallows, "A new contractor might be dazed if the demon is separated but they'll probably revert sooner or later... in a case like mine, my demon is so lodged in there that I don't think it could be separated without killing me first..." Dusty mumbles the last part sleepily.

>"So there's no way to save a long-time contractor if they lose their demon?"

>"Well you're talking about forcing it out, aren't you? If a demon agrees to leave on its own accord, maybe..."

Doubling down and cutting our chest open after it became clear that Frangelico wasn't going to bite on our initial offer was stupid, but up until that point things were still justifiable. Cutting ourselves open after not convincing Frangelico was borderline actual suicide, and we only survived it because he's capricious and decided that he liked watching Carna squirm over it enough to leave us be.

That said, there's a bunch of knowledge that we didn't have set in stone that probably means it wouldn't have gone smoothly even if he did agree. (Our heart demon genuinely being an inert lump of goo rather than just being depowered by virtue of being stuck inside of us without a contract, us inexplicably never telling our own demon that our plan WASN'T actually to throw him under the bus, and the Black Cat we cared most about having as backup if Carna's Demon left her body still being AWOL even despite leaving at the same time and running into no apparent enemies between point A and point B.)

>>33116258
Say that Sissel is probably worth keeping around for other reasons, but as a bargaining chip isn't one of them. Frangelico was just as happy to throw him out and get a replacement.

>>33116427
Assuming MC still had his medical shit with him.

>>33116635
>Doubling down and cutting our chest open
This is what I'm actually calling stupid. When I got to that part where the deal was originally offered, I thought:

"Great plan, we'll pretend to make a deal and fire sword the shit out of it when it comes out of Carna." But then I got to the next part with the sword through the chest. I realized that the people voting for the "deal" weren't trying to trick the demon so that MC could kill it, they actually wanted to contract with it. Which is stupid.

>>33116635
>>33116835

100% agree that cutting ourselves open was pants-on-head retarded

>>33116835
>>33116877
Alright, alright, I get it, it was a terrible idea. I got caught up in the moment with assumptions, even though the plan really was to kill/capture the demon after it leaves Carna.

Spare clothes, a few books... why do you have bird seed in here? Medical supplies. I'll pay you back for them later. From your bag I fetch your healing kit and set to treat myself. I doubt my arm will be good to fight with but it's better than nothing.

"Lend me a sword." I tell Henry, pulling bandages around my arm.

"Huh? Sure?" He passes me a short sword, Raschan-make like yours; not exactly my preference. I cut the end of the wrapping off before setting it down. I put the remainder of the healing kit back in your bag... what's this?

"Rein..." The words barely escape me. You wrote a letter to her did you; I wonder what it's about. I don't recognize most of these words... but it's not my place to read this even if I could. I put it back where it belongs.

Yeah. I definitely hate you.

"You won't be able to hostage that contractor." I stand up and start to make my way back to Kran. I have to make sure she's safe.

"Hey! Wait, where're you going!?"

"Wake him up." You'll probably be fine if I leave you alone now. The fates must favour you, they're always helping you out.
For me though...

When I return, the scene that welcomes me isn't a pleasant one. Dusty is split in two against the rocks. He seems to be alive still, the strands of his demon are reaching for each other where each half of him is open. He's struggling desperately. The demon-hound just lays lazily on the ground, uninvolved in the conflict. How could the Rasci alone do so much to him in so short a time?

"Ccome on contractor, you nneed to try harder than tthat!" The invisible demon laughs. Kran is up nearby him swinging her blade left and right. But something's strange. A black blur is deflecting each attack, and I can see it...

"Milady..." The blur speaks in a pitiful tone.

>What do I do?

Sorry about the speed. It's a lot harder working with Anlak than with the protagonist.

>>33117026
Kran's demon is being controlled? dang.

Throw the book?

Rolled 4

>>33117026

Attack the Rasci to distract him from controlling Graps.

Also, this is pretty bullshit Librarian. Didn't he kill the last contractors the Seekers sent for him? Was that the "C" Team so they've sent the "B" Team now? Also, I'm guessing that MC and Anlak did better against him because they weren't contractors so their own demons couldn't be used against them. So why would the Seekers send more contractors?

>>33117154

"We're off to apprehend Magneto!"

"Make sure everyone wears metal armor and brings weapons that are made entirely out of metal!"

>>33117026
So he's got Graps controlled, then? Guess we need to break his concentration somehow. The other option is to try and kite more lesser demons into the area to try and overload Frangelico's ability to control demons within the area, but I think we probably cleared out all the ones nearby, so that's not likely to be plausible.

Fuckin' Oprey, I just know you're out there doing something unsavory. Get in here and do your thing already.

>>33117154
It wasnt a plan to turn into a drawn out battle. Tge naga dragon snake lady was supposed to incapacitate Carna and or the demon and make things easy also notice how she hasnt come yet

Rolled 4

>>33117026
>The demon-hound just lays lazily on the ground, uninvolved in the conflict.
This could possibly be evidence for him not being able to control Dog and Graps simultaneously, but it's probably too risky to try and get close enough to Dog to try and make him switch control over.

Especially so if he actually CAN control both at the same time, and Dog's just lazing about because he feels like it.

Rolled 3

>>33117026
Try and sneak up behind the demon.

>>33117154
>Anlak did better against him because they weren't contractors
That may have changed. Kran might have gotten there too late.

>>33117235
It's possible that all combat oriented seekers are contractors. Kran is more useful than Henry even if her demon's being controlled.

So what would've happened if they'd brought her and the demon back intact? Suddenly all the demons at the Library turn on their contractors and the Cats are wiped out?

>>33117514
Most likely unless she somehow woke up or resisted any sedatives or poison before being sealed then maybe

>>33117514
>Suddenly all the demons at the Library turn on their contractors and the Cats are wiped out?
If they somehow slipped out of sedation, maybe? Masoch probably holds his own just by virtue of sheer volume. I'd wager it'd be next to impossible for Frangelico to figure out how to isolate and flip a useful fraction of Masoch's contracts while still being able to focus on a combat situation.

How the others would fare, I couldn't guess.

>>33117392

Henry is a Black Cat and he's not a contractor. I concede that he might not be one YET. I also concede that I'm Monday-morning-quarterbacking, but now that we've seen the results this entire plan was bound to fail from the get-go. Based on the empirical evidence, the Rasci could just take a second and have the poisoner incapacitate themselves, then go back to making Kran dodge Graps.

Also, how can a demon control another demon that is bound to someone else's will? I can see having control over unaligned demons, but contracted ones? Kran and these others have the will-power to keep their own demons in check, but the Rasci just rides rough-shod over their entire psyches? He would kill Masoch instantly.

Rolled 6

>>33117563
I think you mean.

Only if she somehow woke up or resisted any sedatives or poison before being sealed then maybe

>>33117514
The seekers where never going to take her back conscious. Plus what >>33117324 said might be true. I doubt this think could take control of Masach.

>>33117631
>>33117685

Then why not send Masoch to capture it?

>[Alacrity 10]

It's controlling Graps. This isn't good. I need to break its concentration somehow.

I run towards the Rasci. It seems to be in control here but the battle has left marks of dirt and dust on it, I can make out some parts of its body if I focus. As Kran swings overhead, arms sprout out from Graps' shape and catch the blade, shoving it backwards. I dash past underneath him and smash my mace into the Rasci's ankle.

"Ooooh? Ccome back for mmore? Fantastic!" It shifts its gaze down to me. My attack didn't move it, but I continue to swing away at it. As long as I draw its attention away from Kran...
A black fist flies at me from the side, I step back and narrowly avoid Graps but the Rasci follows it up with a slap from above. I try to keep my momentum-it's not enough. The blow knocks me up against the dirt. It hurts.

Still, that was enough. Kran swings her sword sideways, I see the steel swipe overhead as it cuts into the demon. He lets out a howl as black streams loose of his body.

Kran steps forward, and brings her blade back, forcing the demon further away. She kneels down beside me. "Are you okay...? Anlak?" Her tone is soft. I wish she talked sounded like that more often.

I put myself back on my feet. It hurts to stand but I don't want her worried. "Where is Oprey?"

"We didn't expect the The Little Witch to be hiding in the maw of that dog, and it's dangerous to approach the Rasci..." Kran bites her lips. "Oprey is trying to find an opening to enter, but her demon is melded into her and we're dead if we lose her."

Kran and Dusty can't approach the demon safely, and Oprey can't do anything unless I release the contractor or find a way to distract the Rasci...

"You need to run Anlak. We failed, I need you to get away." Kran hefts her blade over her shoulder again.

"Run? Rrunning isn't an option here." The Rasci cackles, I can hear him approaching.

>What should I do?

Rolled 8

>>33117743
I'll keep the Raci busy while you take care of the dog.

Rolled 12

>>33117743

Pants-on-head retarded. I vote for death with honor.

Disregard Kran and attack the Rasci. Our hatred for MC and how he has irrevocably fucked this whole thing up will guide our sword.

>>33117684
>Based on the empirical evidence, the Rasci could just take a second and have the poisoner incapacitate themselves, then go back to making Kran dodge Graps.
She WAS gloating upon her introduction that the others were just the distraction and she was going to do the heavy lifting. She's probably lurking around somewhere hoping for an opportunity when Frangelico is sufficiently distracted.

>>33117743
Trying to outfight the Rasci is probably a losing proposition, but getting Dog to let go so Frangelico has to drop his guard to come back and defend Carna is probably more doable.

>>33117743
We didn't get MC's wolfsbane, did we?

We could lure them back to MC, but that will probably make things worse.

>>33117872
nice roll, but Anlak is kinda lacking in the hatred department.

>>33118047

>I hate you so much, but I guess my life is yours if it comes to it.

>Yeah. I definitely hate you.

You could argue that's not true hatred, but it's certainly enough to power a sword-stroke.

>>33118047
>nice roll, but Anlak is kinda lacking in the hatred department.

I mean
>Yeah. I definitely hate you.

That said, it looks more like the "I can't reconcile the way you choose to act with my own experiences" kind of hate rather than actual malice, but still.

>>33118146
So does he hate us becuase we're an obsessive idiot?
or
Because he cares about Rein in a sisterly way or something and us being here increases the chances she ends up hurt?

>>33118134
>>33118146
damnit , i think i should just sit this out before i fuck up anymore

>>33118189

Both! Probably a few other reasons as well.

>>33118202
I am because im pretty damn tired and can't think coherent battle tactics or grammer right

Usually I'd be well in writing by now even if I just had one vote but I don't think this tie is reconcilable. I'll give it a few more minutes.

>>33118189

Also, he cares about Rein in more than a sisterly way. If there weren't any feelings riding on his gift of earrings he would've given them to her before we all left.

>>33118284

I'll switch to having Kran go for the dog and Anlak distract the Rasci, but I want to keep my 12. Also you pretty much just confirmed that an all-out attack would have been a fatal move for Anlak, Kran, or both of them.

>>33118284
Wait, what? I just looked at the posts that were actually linked to you post and they all pretty much lead to keep the Raci busy while Kran goes after dog.

Which is what I vote for.

>>33118337

I forgot to add, or it would've been fatal for Carna if our 12 meant we somehow killed the Rasci.

>>33118189
>So does he hate us because we're an obsessive idiot?
Sort of.

The way I see it, it feels like he's still half stuck in the slave mentality even though Kran broke him out. He had nothing, and then Kran saved him. Somewhere inside he probably feels like this is more than he deserves, so he contents himself with what he has.

When we went back and visited our mother benefactor, he confronted us about this, and more or less went "The fuck? You have a good life the way things are now, why do you want to change things?" because he's way stunted when it comes to ambition.

The MC was in the same sort of depressive state after his village was leveled, but he dug out of his rut because he had a thing to focus on and did so single-mindedly. Anlak started out in a rut, and then ended up in a slightly more comfortable rut, but it never bothered him because he could always view it as an improvement.

MC had something he loved dearly and lost it, so he's willing to try and gain it back at all costs. Anlak had nothing, but gained something to care about, so he's not willing to do anything to jeopardize that. They've both got fundamentally opposed outlooks, so they're bound to bump heads on these sorts of matters.

>>33118403
More or less. I could go either way on who goes after Dog and who holds off the Rasci, since both seem equally outmatched in their own ways, but trading blows with Frangelico as Anlak probably seems better than having an everlasting standstill as Kran.

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On a completely unrelated note:

Assuming MC didn't make a contract and went back to being... whatever he was. If he had a kid would it be an elf?

>>33118563

Good question. If MC was a girl would the demon inhabit the fetus?

>>33118600
>If MC was a girl would the demon inhabit the fetus?
No, the demon can't leave the spot where the heart goes so I don't think it would be able to get down to the uterus.

>>33118563
I'd like to think no because I think it's a sort of "taint" that contracters develop yet being whatever the fuck we are we never manifested said taint because us and the demon are two seprate entities that have no real bond or link besides the fact that it's keeping us alive?

>>33118634
I'd like to think no because it has slightly more potential for a fairy tale ending. Gets married has kids and grow old. Not that I think is going to have a fairy tale ending, but a man can hope.

Nothing wrong with elf kids but they said that the kid is less human the longer the parent had the demon. 10-15 years = a baby that looks like something out of a horror film.

"You go for the dog. I'll handle the demon." I can't have Kran fighting this thing.

>[Alacrity 18]

"What? Little brat like you is going to give me orders? You're going to die!"

"My life was yours to begin with." Kran saved me years ago, when she rescued me from the cages. I don't intend to throw it away, but if it happens... doesn't matter.

"Ahahahahah... that's hhow I like it. The mmartyr walks to hhis demise to save the ppeople he lloves! Any wwitty lines to open up the ttragedy about to befall you!?"

I wonder what you would say. I bet you'd play along wouldn't you. I'm no good with words though.

"Nnothing? SO BE IT! CCURTAINS UP! LET'S GO!" It comes at me. It takes every bit of concentration I have to just make out the beast's shape. I step between its legs, and make a guess at its angle. My mace smashes through its body. But I don't hear it fall. Its own power betrays it, as its claw rends the air in a scratching noise. I swing fiercely upward as it approaches, and its claws crack loudly as I smash through them.
Acting on instinct, I bring my weapon overhead and swing down behind me. It was nothing but a guess but I manage to catch its other arm as well, my third strike. The beast is defanged, and I can hear its frustration in its murmuring voice.

I hope Kran is doing fine, but I can't waste time looking for her.

"Yyou are qquite something. I rreally would love to hhave you alive but I ssuppose a corpse would serve nnearly as well... I shall be ttaking your heart now."

Is it growing weary? It seems to want to end this. One more attack should take it out...

>What should I do?

>>33118794
Start running away?

Rolled 2

>>33118794
Go on the defense it might be aiming to unleash it's theoretical ultimate attack

Rolled 4

>>33118794
If it really is going to rip our Anlaks heart it will go for a forward jab to the chest from straight on. Anlak can't see it well but he can hear.

Close his eyes and wait until the last second to dodge and counter attack.

Rolled 9

>>33118794
It's probably going to serious the fuck up for this next bit. If we really think we can disable him with one more good hit, it might be worth letting him catch us on the already-broken arm in order to make sure he doesn't hit us somewhere actually lethal in order to trade a potentially disabling blow ourselves.

If we can even disable it slightly, that means Oprey gets her opening, and we're going to be able to get the hell out of here to proper medical care, so it might not even have terrible long-term consequences.

Rolled 2

>>33118928
I change My vote to defense. We could really use some defense.

Rolled 5

>>33118794

Knock its fucking block off.

>>33118947
>already-broken arm
He'll probably lose that arm, if he can even move it in a position to protect his heart.

>>33119022
Thinking about it again, if doing that does end up losing him his arm, it means he's going to share that in common with Kran.

Not necessarily a point for/against, but amusing nonetheless.

>[Alacrity 10]

Its claws are broken, or at least clipped. Its legs are bashed and its hands are cut. Just one more hit should create the opening we need.

I keep my defences up as I make my way forward. Slow steps. Careful steps. My eyes won't do anything for me now, I keep them closed and I keep my senses focused. At the slightest sound I'm ready to move.

I hear it. The sharp sound of its threads slicing through the air, it's coming for my heart. I step to the side, avoiding it as I close in.

A second strike. I can tell, they're thin. It's not using its arms, I can deflect it. I smash it to the side with my mace.

A third strike. I step forward and I hear the demon's chuckle, knowing I can't dodge it. But I force my broken arm up, as its needle-point attack digs into my flesh. It tears straight to the bone. I flex my arm and catch it in there. The laughter fades, I pull all my weight together and drag the demon's mass forward. He's heavy but I have the momentum. Pulling my mace with me I prepare for the final blow.

"What!? WWHAT!? HOW!? HOW COULD YOU DEFEAT MME? HOW CCOULD FRANGELICO, TRAGEDY'S TYRANT FALL HERE!?" It screams out-loud as I bring my force forward...

"Hahah. No. If I was about tto be defeated I'd have had a mmonologue prepared." My arm is caught. Gripped from behind by an invisible force. His second attack must've slinked around me. I wasn't fast enough.

The fourth strike buries itself into my chest. Unceremonious. Merciless. I can feel it prodding around my body. I can feel it searching for my heart.

"Sso close! But the ffates don't hhave you!" The world is starting to fade. I can make out its body. Black, big, skinny. It stares at me with glowing eyes, a giant maw in its gut sits wide open, the four tendrils that attacked me wiggle about out from it. "You're ddeeeeeead."

No I'm not.

>What do I do?

>>33119376
tentative plan:
>flash
>mend his arm(?) stuck in our body
will that buy enough time/be a big enough distraction?

>>33119376
Scream for the MC Lets call him Ryner

Rolled 1

>>33119376
We need to stop his tentacles, but can't move freely because we're restrained?

>>33113609
>A flash might be able to stall him, but my mend weave can only seal flesh.

Sew his gutmouth shut.

Rolled 1

>>33119376
Dice pls

>>33119443
>>33119465
Well then.

Rolled 12

>>33119376

I'm up for trying this >>33119443

Or we can drop our mace, grab ahold of one of his tentacles, and prolapse his maw like an anime girl's pussy.

>>33119443
>>33119465
Anlak actually is unlucky.

Rolled 1

Well this is inconvenient.

>>33119443
>>33119465
>>33119472
>>33119522
Anlak's last words are going to be I hate you right?

>>33119490
Librarian pls let us get this one

Rolled 5

>>33119427
>>33119443
>>33119465
>>33119490
dice gods a feeling pretty extreme today. The plan is more or less set, though

>>33119550
...goddamnit

>>33119490
>>33119550
Dice have STRONG OPINIONS about Anlak.

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>>33119443
>>33119465
>>33119490
>>33119550
What the hell is going on? Did we seriously kill two main characters in a row?

>>33119443
>>33119465
>>33119490
>>33119550
The 12 surrounded by 1 only makes it hurt more

Also >Anlak = Thirteen and 12+1=13 conspiracy

>>33119599

Yes, it's first two rolls. Bye Anlak, was nice knowing you.

i rolled the 12

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Lib pls

After a quick scan of past threads, it looks like there's been 6 double-1s and zero double-12s over the course of the quest.

Assuming it's still just highest of 2d12, a double-12 wouldn't actually be any different mechanically from a single 12, but it's still kind of surprising.

>>33119626

And that was my third 12 in this thread too. Going to sleep now. Good luck everyone!

>>33119599
I voted to run, but nothing could have saved Anlak from a 1.

I remember, when Annan died; Ratti apologized as he carried the body out. I never understood that. They always brought us food better than some kings would eat, but Annan just sat there staring at it until it went cold.

There were a few like that in the pools. Nanna called them the unluckys. The ones who got adopted were the luckys. Nanna wanted to be one of the luckys but she was born without legs. I never understood what made them so lucky, I always thought that anywhere I went it'd be the same.

But now I'm thinking. There're a lot of places I'd rather be than here.

I guess I'm an unlucky.

The world is gray. The Valkyrie sits across from me on the Rasci's head. I guess he can't see her. Dark skin and white hair. I wonder if I have a sister that looks like that.

No time to think. I'm dying, but that doesn't matter.

I hate you so much right now. I drop my mace and I force my arm against the tendril wrapped around it over my wound, and with a weave I seal it shut. The demon is saying something, but I can't hear him right now. I guess he's angry.

Why are people always angry at me? He can't pull my heart loose--he can't pull himself free. If we're to be stuck here, then he will be stuck with me, not I with him.

I hope you made it out alive. He's pulling me inward. He wants to devour me whole now that he can't have my heart. That suits me just fine.

I wonder if Kran's fine. The insides of his maw are another world, it's dark. Far wider than it should be. I can't see anything in here. But I can handle that.

I never got to send those letters. Countless hands are grabbing at me. Tiny evils lurking inside the monstrous demon. They don't need to rush, I'll come at them. With just my one hand I start to tear at them. The light has already vanished, but I'm sure I can do something here.

I never gave Rein those earrings. I tear away at the darkness. The demon's realm is shaking. He can't be happy about what I'm doing inside him.

I hope Rein doesn't cry.

>CONT

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>>33119993
Fucking shit man

>>33119993
Goddammit don't kill off Anlak, he's the he's such a bro/dick.

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You awaken into darkness.

There's nothing here but you. You and him.

"Hey buddy, I see you come to. I swear, it took everything I had and then some to get you out of there." Frangelico's voice. Yours, not Carna's.

"Where am I?" You ask the obvious question.

"You're inside of me, basically. Well, I'm inside of you too. It's real complicated, I won't explain it."

"You can't explain it."

"Yeah well fuck you." Frangelico coughs. "Let me catch you up. You died, the Valkyrie came for you, I told her to fuck off. Yeah, Frangelico, best in the world! See, Valkyries won't come if a demon eats you."

"So you ate me."

"Basically. My body is in your body but your soul is in my soul. See, I can explain it. Anyways, I don't care to see what comes sooner between a demon eating my useless essense; your body rotting and the world rejecting me; or The Seekers transporting your body back and murdering me in pursuit of their goals."

Your body is here as you remember it. Minus the gaping hole.

"Let me sell you on this. Control over demons, regenerative abilities, and a general increase in your physical capacity and magical potency. Contract? Yes or yes?"

"We can't keep doing what we're already doing?" It was working so well.

"No it wasn't. But look, I'm getting desperate. If you insist, I can spit your soul back up and we can return to the previous deal... barring you trying to sell me out again. I'll eat you, I really will."

"But then you're dead."

"Exactly. Now let's hurry up and make some castings. What kind of contract do you want? A subcontract is out the window here but we can talk symbiotic or synthesized."

>What kind of contract do you want?

"And for formalities sake... I'm Frangelico and you are..."

"You already know my name."

"Just tell me."

>Tell Frangelico your name, or tell him to stop fucking around

>>33120179
Can you go over the types of contracts again before anything else?

>>33120179
No contract

>>33120179
"We were planning on killing the other Frangelico once it separated from Carna, but I guess you don't care."

No contract until after Carna is safe.

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>>33119993
>I hate you so much right now.
>I hope you made it out alive.

>I hope Rein doesn't cry.
;_;7

>>33120179
>barring you trying to sell me out again.
I'm still frustrated with this misunderstanding, and I'd like to at least address this before moving forward with him.

>>33120206
symbiotic = Frangelico lives in MC's body. Frangelico give MC his power in exchange for slowly devouring MC's body from the inside out. Just like Carna and Sheryl's dad.

synthesized = MC and Frangelico fuse together. They both die but a new hybrid MC/Frangelico is born

>>33120179
>Name?
Gabriel

>Contract?
No

>>33120206
>"The most common contractors are like Kran and Masoch, symbiotic contractors. The demon, or demons in the latter's case sit within the host's body, their powers seep into the host slowly."
> "By working with the host, the demon can hide itself in society to further it's means. Devouring one too fast leaves them in a place where the world will again try to banish them, but with gradual efforts they can trick the fates that be to accepting them when they consume the host fully." Silvest puts on a devilish smile, "Thus letting the demon walk about Rascha freely. As you can see, some demons come to like their arrangement enough to serve their host faithfully, while others are borrowed from thinly to the point where the host becomes dominant."

>"My demon... or my host... my partner and I have already long since overlapped each other, it's known as a synchronization. At this point, I and my partner are interchangeable. Just think of me as Silvest. There are a few more complicated relationships between man and demon but we'll just deal with these simple ones for now. Take a moment to think to yourself, what sort of agreement would suit you?"

Synchronization probably isn't the right way to go, and Symbiotic is risky while we're still at odds with one another. They range from Kran/Graps' cooperative relationship to Sheryl's father being consumed from the inside out because his demon got his hooks in too deep. Kind of a thin line to walk down while we're still not sure where we stand with each other.

>>33120312
So if we social link we Franny boy he won't eat or soul inside out?
>>33120179
Still prefer the name
>Ryner

Only two votes for name. We need a tie breaker.
>Gabriel
>Ryner

>>33120420
My only feeling is that Ryner doesn't seem like a given name to me.

I really don't care one way or the other about a name, though.

>>33120436
Could be a last name.
>Gabriel Ryner

"Stop messing around and spit me up." You don't feel like playing along with him at the moment.

"Come on, you know you want to. We'll be the best of buds, assuming you don't betray me." Frangelico says the last bit spitefully.

"For all it's worth I wasn't trying to betray you, I was trying to lure him out so you could eat him." You really ought to make things a bit smoother before committing to a relationship with this thing. "Anyways, aren't you famous for your betrayals?"

"I always give them everything they want. The downfalls come after. Well, I suppose I'll spit you up right now. Sooner or later I'm sure you'll need me--and I'm just a knife's cut away."

And so the dream ends...

>[CONT]

I'll try the name thing again later. I don't need unanimity but a little bit of consensus would be nice since I think a name that bothers people will pull them out of things. We'll continue the narrative gymnastics for now.

You awaken to the sound of rolling wheels. A blanket is pulled over your chest, the moonlit sky rolls behind you. Kran sits at the edge of the caravan staring out into the night, there's someone else with that habit isn't there?

Henry sits beside you, his knees pulled to his chest hold a roll of bandages between them, keeping them from slipping loose. He's reading a book, his position looks a bit uncomfortable. "Oh, you're awake..." He says, finally noticing your opened eyes, "Geez, you slept for two days."

"Two days?" Where are you now?

"We're on our way back to Deneb..."

"It took awhile for your soul to settle. Your body isn't in a hot state so don't ruin it for me." Frangelico's voice pops up in your head.

"What happened to the mission?" You ask Henry.

"...we failed." He sets his book down and pinches his hair with two fingers, playing around with his bangs. "The conditions were different from what we expected. We planned to catch that witch off-guard but it seems she was more than well-prepared for us."

"...and Anlak?" You take another peek around, "Is he driving?"

"Anlak's gone." Kran speaks up from her seat on the edge, "Demon ate him."
They don't say more than that.

>What do you do?

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>>33120246
Its those 3 lines that got me
99999999.9999999/10
Would resist the urge to cry like a bitch again again

>>33120708
>Apologize.

He's not dead. Carna's demon used him to replace Seissel. Would we have been able to save him if we made that contract? If so I'd feel a little guilty.

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>>33120708
We do pic related

Apologizing to Kran is a dumb idea right

>>33120722
>>33120739
goddamnit this is all my fault.

>>33120708
seconding >>33120754

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>>33120739
>He's pulling me inward. He wants to devour me whole now that he can't have my heart.

I think he's dead anon

>>33120764
I rolled the second 1

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>>33120771
>I think he's dead anon
Let me believe.

>>33120788
I rolled the third 1

>>33120708
>>What do you do?
Don't push the issue, but ask Kran if she would mind if you sat with her.

She might be blaming us, she might be blaming herself, she might just genuinely not want to talk about it, or she might just be bottling it all up rather than acknowledging it.

But the least we can do is be there if she does feel like letting some of it out. We know how Ianc would be feeling if something had happened to us, after all.

I'd also like to know what ended up happening with Sissel, but we don't know in-character that he was captured alive, IIRC, nor do we know what Henry did once Anlak mentioned he wouldn't make for a good bargaining chip.

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>>33120804
Come here anon
I wanna believe too

>>33120824
This then we cry like a bitch due to guilt

A part of me thinks Anlak's death is what MAYNpossibly make the MC want to kill Carna. That and guilt

Don't worry Anlak you weren't unlucky. You met Kran and Rein.

It takes some time before the words click through your mind.

When you last saw Anlak he was standing before Frangelico and now... there's no doubt about it. Frangelico must've devoured him.

"And it's all your faaaaaault." The demon inside of you says in a sing-song voice.

"Could I sit with you?" You ask Kran. She pats the space beside her twice, and you make your way over. The sky is clear, it's too beautiful a night to get news like this.

"Anlak really liked the sky." Kran says. She places her hand on her cheek and faces the other way, hiding her face from you. "It was the only thing he ever really liked. He'd sneak out at night to watch it for hours and then he'd be tired the next morning. Couldn't even keep him inside without his eyes looking the other way."

"He won't be seeing any stars where he is." Frangelico snickers. Only you can hear his words, but you it'll be hard to retaliate here.

"And I used to wonder how to get rid of him. What a stupid kid, he was always such a stupid kid. Didn't speak for the longest time, barely spoke after he started." She shakes her head, "Going out there and dying stupidly."

"Not stupidly." From Kran's sleeve, Graps emerges, "He bought the time Oprey needed to catch that Rasci. He freed me and rescued the lives of everyone there. That Anlak is a gentleman."

"But I failed to capture the demon. I failed us." Kran's voice cracks, "I forgot to do my job to capture the contractor and I came after the Rasci... I struck him again and again but still he slinked away."

"A crying shame. We could've been done with this." Frangelico says.

"Carna huh..." Kran peeks over to you, her eyes are red but they're devoid of tears, "I guess we both lost someone today."

Her words dig into you.

"She knoooows." Frangelico whispers.

"Don't worry, I don't blame you. You have it harder than any of us." She places her hand on your head, and ruffles your hair. You're having trouble holding your emotions.

>What do you do?

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>>33121065
Its a myth o /tg/ that hugs are an overused cliche but goddamit even I know when two people desperately need a hug
FUCKING HUG DO IT FAGGET
Also
Fuck you Franny I wanted to try to be cool with you

>>33121065
>"He bought the time Oprey needed to catch that Rasci. He freed me and rescued the lives of everyone there.
The Oprey succeeded in getting to Carna, but...
>"I forgot to do my job to capture the contractor and I came after the Rasci... I struck him again and again but still he slinked away."
Frangelico still got away. I think Frangelico left Carna after Oprey poisoned her. Then went into Anlak.

>>33121110
Definitely not a full on hug. An arm around the shoulder maybe.

>>33121236
Eh im just saying we lost a friend and we may have lost the one person who was our main focus throughout life and Kran pretty much just lost her son.

The tears start to slide down along your cheeks. If you hadn't dragged him along, if you hadn't fallen apart, if you hadn't done this--if you hadn't done that. If something had changed this might have been avoided.

"There there, don't go doing that now." Kran sighs, she slides her hand off of your head and over your back, pulling you into a hug. It's a bit of an odd one with her as she is but still, you feel at least a little comforted. You return her compassion.

"I uuh... I don't know if this will make you two feel any better. But we did catch that contractor, the one protecting the witch?" Henry says sheepishly, "Anlak said he wouldn't make for a good hostage but we're transporting him back in another caravan."

"...Thank you Henry." Kran lets go of you, and takes a breath, "Alright. You two boys rest up now, I'm going to do a little work on reports before I retire."
You take her advice, and head back to the space where you woke up. You don't really need to sleep right now but you can't turn down her words right now. Henry ends up closing his eyes on the spot where he's seated, he must've spent some time watching over you...

Kran never cries throughout the night, but from your bedroll you can't see her doing any work. Instead, the woman just sits against the starlight through the passing night...

And so, life goes on.

Sweet dear Anlak, our very special star-crossed waifu. A love to pure for it to be in this rugged world.

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>>33121363
Goddamn Lib 10-out of motherfucking/10 thread

I can't wait for the next thread.
thanks for running

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I tried to archive but an error came up. I have no idea what happened...

sorry

>>33121521
Shit, never mind. The link's working now.

Still don't know what happened.

It's oveeeeer. Perspective switching was both harder and easier than I expected. Harder to write on a technical level since I was trying to keep the prose feeling different from Anlak's perspective by breaking sentences up into smaller more concise chunks while maintaining information and easier in that I was expecting people to get angry at it or apply out of character information. I suppose the acceptance is in thanks to you guys being a great player base and the in-character focus since there... really isn't any thing I can think of that could be used to meta-game.

I think in general dice rolls in this campaign tend towards the poor. The system I usually use is...
>Set a threshold for all three stats
>Try to find a compromise between the votes and apply the appropriate stat
>Add or decrease the roll based on how smart and how cool the idea seems
>In conflicts, first to three wins. Really high rolls attributing to two wins and really bad rolls attributing to two losses.
In general there're very few situations where rolling 6 or higher won't be a success, but uuh... guess Anlak is an unlucky guy. With no plot shield to protect him unlike Mr Demonhearted.

I think I got closer to the balance between available options and direction to go this session, but I still think I need to do a lot of work on giving you guys more viable choices. Next session should have a lot of cooldown in it and we'll be back to Deneb so if all else fails you can always flirt with your Yu'yen.

>>33121521
Really I'm just happy I didn't have to archive it. I personally hate suptg and would rather just rely on 4plebbing.

danke schön

>>33121607
It's allll my faaaauuult

I assumed so many things:
>If we stabbed ourselves, we'd be able to cauterize the wound to stop the blood loss
>We'd have minutes, not seconds, to talk things out.
but hell, if I just thought of something better to say, like "What kind of contract do you want?" Or "Carna, you deserve a chance at happiness." Just feed Frangelico with those classic tragedy lines until backup arrived.

>>33121711
When you assume...

Nicely wrapped up at the end. Sorry to see Anlak go, but that's the way of it. Poor Rein. Poor Sheryl.

I hope the rest of you take this opportunity to reconsider this shoot-the-moon-and-save-Carna tack. From here on out I will only be voting to follow orders from the Seekers or to kill her.