>>34817746
Well, safe-ish bet first.
Let's see about sending a letter to that gambling man and getting ourselves a horse sold. That's a start at least.

Then, after the letter, I have no real idea how to beat 20 guys. Am I correct on remembering that if we catch all the smugglers, the diamonds come out of hoc as the case is closed?

In that case, it seems like it would be best for us to trap them in somewhere with cover fire, and call for support from the law.

>>34817746
I guess we'll send letters to all 3(?) potential buyers and see who can offer us the most money.

As for the diamonds we'll ask Veles to help us out first. His magic will help a ton for taking on a whole gang.
We can hash out a plan later.

>>34817909
Actually, yeah. Triple horse letter might be the thing to do.

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"Well, I'll have to get on that." You say, "But I've also got to figure out what to do about these 20 or so smugglers standing between me and my diamonds."

You hear the phoenix man whistle, "That's a lot of people Miss Sasha, better off talking to someone like Marie or Mister McCain about that. They're the fighters."

"Point"

You finish before Tai has completed washing the dishes, slipping your silverware and plate into the water and heading back upstairs. Sitting down at the desk, you compose three separate but similar letters to the three buyers, taking the time to address Mr Vance and inform him that you sent the first letter to give him a chance to have first dibs. You then take them down and place them so Marie can take it into town.

Looking outside, the rain has become a steady drizzle and you grimace as you go up to get your rain gear. Clad in the heavy duster, you move out onto the porch and off the side into the grass, not wanting to have to deal with the mud that the middle of the ranch compound is rapidly becoming. Weaving your way around the corral and the pasture, you slink into the barn to find McCain sitting on a stool, keeping watch safe from the elements. Outside you can see Marie and Tatiana, the harpy clad in a heavy duster and the other in some really heavy furs talking, or at least trying, amongst themselves. Out behind the house, you see the are where you set up Veles' gateway.

>Talk to McCain about the smugglers
>Go see Veles
>Other?

>>34819033
>Talk to McCain about the smugglers
Never pass up an opportunity for info.

>>34819033
>Talk to McCain about the smugglers
Let's ask how he would go about taking on a bigger force like that. Then mention we might have spell support, and ask how he would change his plans in mind of that. Then tell him you've got to go see veles, because that's what you are doing immediately after.

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You sidle up besides McCain, noting that he seems to be sans rain gear.

"That old duster of yours finally wear out?" You say as means of greeting.

He huffs through his moustache and gestures out toward the harpy and centaur. "Marie doesn't have anythin' approachin' rain wear and she's the only one who can converse with the horse gal other than you. So I'm watchin' the livestock and they are mindin' the cattle. What's on your mind?"

"The 20 smugglers that we need to take care of. How would you go about it?"

"Can't say, I don't know their disposition or anythin' other than raw numbers. I'd likely hit them a little at a time, wear their numbers while keepin' me and mine away from reprisal. With outlaws their more likely to just pack up and move on if that happens though."

"And if you had spell support?"

He raises an eyebrow, "You mean the big old snake friend of yours? Then it becomes a conventional fight. Though I dunno how well it would go. That fella seems off."

"What do you mean? He seemed effective enough."

"Oh he's powerful, no doubt about that. Moreso than any Nitor battlecaster for sure, but he's self taught. You can see it in how he moves, its more... primal I suppose. All built off instinct, not principles of combat. A really good trained fighter could prolly bait him into making a fatal mistake. Provided they don't get set on fire before gettin' close."

>So he's a liability?
>He did pretty well last time we ran into smugglers.
>Other?

>>34820460
>He did pretty well last time we ran into smugglers.
Fire to catch a large number of them at once or flush some out of cover. I don't see how he could muck that up unless they get the drop on us.

>>34820460
>He did pretty well last time we ran into smugglers.
Though I do feel those concerns about him being a liability. Let's plan on maybe using him at more of a distance, if push comes to shove.

>>34820696
I don't see how that'd work when guns out range him. I'd prefer to keep him hidden somehow until we need him since all he has to fight is his magic and knife.

>>34820863
Eh, I figured he could just asplode things from a distance.
If that's not the case, then I suppose we might have to worry about him being a wildcard in melee.

>>34820954
Oh, well maybe he could do that. I don't think we ever learned what exactly he can do.

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"He did pretty well last time we ran into smugglers."

"How much of the fighting did he do?"

You think back to the fight, him rocketing out of the water, spines and claws extended, and landing on one of the smugglers the other one that was left alive after the firefight diving into the water and being detained. All told he really honestly didn't do much

"Well... he kind of ambushed the smugglers and landed on one of them but... well I'd already killed most of them by the time he got there."

"So you don't know."

You sigh, "Well I figured he could use fire to catch a large number of them at once or flush some out of cover. I don't see how he could muck that up unless they get the drop on us."

"Burnin' is a damned awful way to go out Miss. That and like you said, you'd killed most of the smugglers already, so bullets might just have him beat."

"I'd still prefer all the backup we can get on this, maybe keep him hidden until we need him. What about Nitor backup?"

"If'n their anything like they were back when I was about, they'd be seizing everything the smugglers got if they helped us. Sure'd help, but it depends on how big a score your goin' after an if'n they got anythin' good at wherever they are."

>Are the Nitor okay with vigilantism like this?
>I should probably go see what Veles can do.
>Other?

>>34821344
>Are the Nitor okay with vigilantism like this?
May as well ask before moving on.

>>34821344
>>Are the Nitor okay with vigilantism like this?
I mean, before it was self defense, this is different.
And then,
>I should probably go see what Veles can do.
Because we probably should.

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"Are the Nitor okay with vigilantism like this?"

"Officially no. Lynch mob, and mob justice of any kind are not something Nitor mandate tolerates. That said, there are bounties, and I wouldn't be surprised that there is an open one on the smugglers. You bring them in and prove its them, and they won't ask to many questions. Really depends on who these people deal with."

You flip the hood of your coat back up over your head, "Well, we'll find out one way or another. I ought to check what Veles is up to and see what he's capable of."

The rain has intensified some, and you are definitely feeling the chill as late the late summer rain heralds the approach of fall. Shaking off the chill, you head to the gateway and focus inwardly, opening it and speeding inside. In the gateway room you note that not much has changed since your last visit, but you shiver involuntarily as you enter the rookery. In your attempt to avoid the chill of your rain soaked form hitting open air you almost don't notice the increase in weight on your shoulder. Ducking down into the tunnel you look to the side to see Daisy happily crowing to herself perched upon your coat.

You enter the main antechamber and immediately relish in the heat and humidity from the geothermal spring. Looking over to the benches, you're surprised to find Veles not present, until you look over to the spring itself, and see at least the back of his head resting against the ledge of the heated pool of water.

>Action?

>>34822196
Oh, hey daisy. How's it going.

Rest a bit of tail in the water, and say hello to Veles. Ask him how he's doing and all that, and then get down to brass tacks.
We'd like him to help us out in taking about 20 smugglers with rifles down for the purposes of financial gain.

>>34822196
Ask if he'd like a doorbell for when we visit.

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"Am I interrupting anything?" You call out from the tunnel, and watch as he lazily turns back to look at you.

"Oh, hello there Sasha." Veles calls, spinning and resting his elbows on the smooth rock ledge surrounding his pool.

"Do you want me to get a doorbell or a gong or something, I didn't want to intrude." You say, trying not to be drawn in by the heat of the pool as you approach.

"Oh you're not intruding anything. Just unwinding."

"Unwinding?"

He nods his head toward another corner, and piled up in there you see a snake shed larger than any you've ever seen.

<You caught me at a good time. Just finished dealing with that. It never gets easier you know, just less annoying. Humidity helps.> He says, slipping into Snake Cant

You feel your own scales itch as you commiserate. That business is always a hassle. <Everything all right then?> You say, petting Dahz as she comes bounding toward you in greating.

<No reason why it should not be. What can I help you with today?>

>Well, I was hoping to see if you'd be willing to help deal with the rest of those smugglers
>I need you to help me work on a Casimiran language translation.
>Any other questions for the ancient lamia while you're here?

>>34823487
>Well, I was hoping to see if you'd be willing to help deal with the rest of those smugglers

Has he ever dealt with big groups like this before? How did that go?

>>34823487
>Well, I was hoping to see if you'd be willing to help deal with the rest of those smugglers
A rundown of what exactly he can do and the furthest range on his magic would be helpful.

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<Well, I was hoping to see if you'd be willing to help deal with the rest of those smugglers.>

<Are they giving you more trouble? I thought we drove them off.> He says, pulling himself up and onto the stone.

<Oh no, not the bandits, the smugglers, the ones on the boat.>

<Are they attacking you now?> He asks, gliding out towards his bed of furs and putting on one of his Casimiran silk undershirts.

<Not exactly. The diamonds that they had are technically mine, but I can't get them unless the smugglers are taken out. And I need something to pay for the development of the trade route to the casimiran.>

<So you are seizing what is rightfully yours? To create a way to acquire more things? How fittingly draconic.>

<So you'll help?>

<Only if I get a cut.> He grins, <Properly draconic, yes?>

<How big of one?>

<Oh that depends, mostly the ones suited for focusing. Diamonds are a very hard, and very hard to replicated. They are useful tools. Maybe 5% of any will be of use for that.>

>Deal
>Tell me what you can do first, I saw that trick with the trolls, but there are 20 of these guys and they have rifles.
>Other

>>34824534
Deal, BUT, ask if he realized how withering 20 gunmen of fire can be. And how he intends to deal with such things.

>>34824534
>Tell me what you can do first, I saw that trick with the trolls, but there are 20 of these guys and they have rifles.
So far all we've seen him do is make water and throw fire.

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<Deal, but you are aware that these are men with rifles, yes? Are you going to be able to handle that? 20 of them at that if my information is correct.>

<A score of men is no matter if there is a sound plan. You do have a plan yes?>

<Not quite yet, I only know that they exist, and where I might find them. You seem confident though, have you fought such odds before?>

<Not for my sire no, but I've dealt with Bandyta. I imagine these are more of the same.>

<How did you deal with them?>

<Venom.>

<Well, I don't think it would be wise to get up close in this case, might be better to rely on magic. What all can you do?> You say, skirting the subject.

He smiles, <I believe a better question would be what can't I do, and that would be Roc derived casting, the talismans are hard to master. But if I were to take something into combat, draconic would be ideal. Given it is merely an extension of our natural talents, and its purview is all within the range of our senses.>

"What all do you mean?" You ask, slipping out of the the language.

"Well, to put it in your words, it is the elements. Heat, cold, water, earth, the like. Our heritage gives us dominion over that, controlled by our very force of will. Though application in combat like you suggest would be an interesting application of my theories. Are you seeking to eradicate these people completely?"

>?

>>34825666
Not if we can help it, bounties pay better for alive then dead I think.

>>34825666
No, not quite looking for lethalities. Bounty rules and all that.
Though it might turn out to be unavoidable that we kill a few, given how outnumbered we are.

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"Not exactly looking to kill them if possible. The bounty is likely higher for one, and besides, they're just smugglers." You say, feeling a bit awkward discussing it in those terms.

"Then it looks like some research is in order." He says,

"What?"

"Looking into them, finding something you can exploit to achieve that goal."

"You mean scout?"

"Yes, I think, I'm no soldier. Find this place and learn what they do. Plan what needs to be done. I will be waiting."

"Waiting for what."

"For you to tell me what you need done. I will try and think of way to do it if it is more than just setting something on fire."

You laugh, even discussing hunting bounties the old snake acts like a curious tinker. "Ok, I'll see what needs to happen in order to do this."

He pulls the last bit of himself out of the pool, and then heads over towards the benches. "Was there anything else you needed Sasha?"

>?

>>34826413
Can't think of anything particularly pressing we need from him right now. We've already got the good bits, now we need to put in footwork finding the exact location and mapping it out and whatnot. We'll come back and visit him as need for magic curios increase.

Thank him for his time, maybe enjoy hanging around a little, and get going.

>>34826413

>>34826491 Sounds good to me.

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You shake your head, but enjoy his company for a while, looking over his latest obsession, that suspended magnet business. He figures if he can set it up properly, he can lock a compass to a specific location, rather than north, making navigation relative to that, rather than to magnetic poles. However, he claims that the problem is that resetting it usually results in the destruction of the compass, so outside of a novelty, there is not much use. Its an interesting premise, but you find yourself getting tired, and bid your farewells, promising to be back as soon as you get a working plan going.

Leaving daisy in the rookery, you once again slither through the portal, only to see that the rain has passed, only the drenched earth and red evening sky peaking through the breaks in the clouds. There was some sailors superstition about that, but you can never remember if it was morning or evening skies being red that was the good one. Either way, the sounding of the dinner bell has you bearing with the cold water on the ground as head back into your home.


>Pausing for now, same deal as per usual, if the thread is alive tomorrow I'll continue, if not no biggie. Also as an aside, towards the end of this month I'll be down in Georgia for AWA and as such there will be no thread that week. Thanks again for reading.

>>34826994
Thanks for running.

>>34826994
oh, good then. Thanks for running, I was kind of flagging by the end there.

Bump