File: DispleasedIsAnUnderstatement.jpg (42 KB, 376x304)

42 KB JPG

>>35457185
"You sure?" you ask incredulously.

"Sure as ever, same crest on his robes. Its like a signature for them. Besides, I remember the face. He's not aged well. Yes I'm aware of the irony." your foreman says.

Looking into the compound, you begin to see the group peter off, the Phoenix and his retinue heading back toward the the boats. Now bereft of its cargo, the

"You want me to see where he's headed?" McCain asks, looking at you intently.

>Send McCain to follow the phoenix boats
>Go yourself
>Its not important, stay here.
>Other

>>35457201
oh hey, thread today.
And sure, let's follow them boats. See where he's going.
We're better at swimming, so we really should go, while mccain stays here and watches.

We will follow and track ALL their loot!

>Go yourself

Been away for a bit so I thought I'd check out Story Thus Far pastebin but its saying its been removed.

>>35457201
>Go yourself

>>35458075
we're tracking those bandits from a long while ago in hopes for getting some loot from them in order to build profitable buildings to get the road to the new lands started right.

File: MeanwhileTryingToUpdate.jpg (48 KB, 525x700)

48 KB JPG

>>35458075
Blast, I'll re-up it here in a bit once I get the update out.

File: YouHopeTheLagoonWillRemoveMud.jpg (51 KB, 425x306)

51 KB JPG

"No, need you to keep watch over the camp. I'll be able to follow them easier I think. Need to see where the loot goes after all." You say, taking your rifle and handing it off to him.

"But Miss-" He protests

"No buts about it, I'm a far better swimmer and besides, I'm not going to miss a chance to get out of this swamp. even for a second." You hiss back, and slither off down the way you came.

Cutting a wide circle around the came and through the swamp, you ignore the nettles and reeds, focusing on getting to the shores of the eastern lagoon. Poking your head through the underbrush on the shore, you can see the few guards and that dignitary loading the briefcase into the lead boat, and some hasty orders being dispatched. Shortly after they push off, moving past your position as you glide into the water following them.

Keeping your distance from the guards punting the crafts through the lagoon, you note that you only see blades on their person and no firearms. So you've got the range advantage. Then you remember you left yours with McCain. Regardless, they don't even bother to look backwards as you continue your predatory pursuit.

>Give me a 1d20 roll here, stealth.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>35458303
Time to find out if there's some hidden pirate treasure. Bandit treasure. whatever.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>35458303
I'm late!

File: IPutThemUpForAMonthSoAsTo(...).jpg (148 KB, 650x805)

148 KB JPG

http://pastebin.com/t8cdgFMB

Story thus far reupped.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>35458303

File: AccurateSizeComparionsOfH(...).png (753 KB, 646x749)

753 KB PNG

>18

Tailing the procession, you take care to move from the patches of lily pads and reeds and keeping your movement to a minimum. If the group did detect you, they never showed any indication. A half hour later, you find yourself at the mouth of the lagoon and the three boats are still headed out to sea. You don't get it, these ships aren't even remotely safe for a long voyage, but given you're sure you haven't been seen, you opt to follow them out to the drop off. The heat of the day has warmed the top layer of the water to comfortable level so it isn't much effort to keep the group in sight. You reach the sand bar that marks the edge of the shallows, and watch as the boats continue on. Then the dignitary raises a chime and rings it.

Like a veil being torn away, you see a massive ship come into focus less than a mile to the west. At first you think that its a trick of your eyes, but the wide bottomed craft has its sails unfurl, and it begins to move with a slow certainty towards the three boats. Hastily tailing after them, keeping the reefs between you and your mark you follow them. You see the three boats getting hauled up, and can see phoenix sailors throwing bundles off the side of the ship that immediately sink. Then by whatever means they had disguised it before, the ship begins to fade from focus, until the only indication of it existing is the wake heading toward open water.

>Try and find what they were throwing off.
>Go back to McCain
>Other

>>35459043
>Try and find what they were throwing off.
It's probably worth the risk of investigating.

>>35459043
>>Try and find what they were throwing off.
Though, you might have to figure out some way to stay as far below the water as possible.

Can we hold our breath very long, or do we have any airtight leather bags on us?

File: NotTheMostPleasantOfNews.gif (1.56 MB, 320x180)

1.56 MB GIF

You head toward where the ship was, the wake that indicated its travel long since dispersed among the waves. Once in place, you begin scanning the waters for whatever it was they tossed overboard. It takes some doing, but you manage to pick out one of the sailcloth bundles on the edge of the drop off. Taking a deep breath, you dive down into the water, ignoring the biting cold beneath the sun warmed layer you press on reaching the bundle.

Its heavy, so much so that you can't do much more than pull it further from the depths before you have to come back up for air. Gathering another lungful of air, you head back down and extend your claws, the sharp bone tips slicing through the canvas. You recoil and lose a bit of oxygen as the pale and lifeless eyes of a dead phoenix man greets your inspection. Hurrying back up to the surface, take a second to compose yourself before down to the body.

It takes some effort, but you manage to free the corpse from the sack, and drag the rag covered body to the shore. Its deathly pale, even moreso than you'd expect from someone that had died. The cause of death is obvious, a slit throat, but there is a definitive lack of blood or stains on the body itself. You recall them throwing at least eleven more of those bundles overboard.

>Action?

>>35459990
Go back to Mccain, tell him what you found, and get the heck back to town.

We'll tell the nitor about the invisible ship and bodies, (probably a vampire?) send them out where we found the corpses, and use that as a distraction to get the smugglers out of their hideout so we can loot it.

>>35459990
Can't do much for them. It's kind of callous but we need to get back, we'll tell the Nitor about this once we're done with the diamonds.

>>35460136
>>35460130
now that I think about it, maybe we should bury the body we dug up.

Both to be respectful AND to have a corpse evidence on hand in case the other corpses up and leave for some reason.

>>35460130
I would think the smugglers would bunker down and go on alert or even try to discretely leave with their loot if they know the Nitor are nearby.

I believe we can take them all by surprise, I don't want to make our job more difficult then it is.

>>35460304
well, either way, we get out of here now that this new information is apparent.
And we've found out they're not burying loot.

File: You'veGotSwampMuckInYourHair.jpg (263 KB, 650x856)

263 KB JPG

You debate on burying the body, but you can't manage more than a shallow grave on the beach. Hopefully that will keep the animals away long enough for the Nitor to retrieve the poor sod. Diving back into the lagoon, you make for the camp with all haste, keeping watch for any signs of a patrol, of which you see none. Bolting into the woods just shy of the camp, you take a moment to collect yourself before taking a more cautious approach bakcup to the hill, where you see McCain waiting.

"What kept you?" He says by way of greeting.

"Phoenix warships and their dead. I'll explain later." You say back, shutting him up, "What happened here?"

"Well, I've worked out that the main building there is a mineshaft, they've had the slaves of theirs go in there, and there is most assuredly not enough room in it for them to all be on the same floor."

"And your pretender?"

"The young fool comes up out of there every quarter hour. I've had more than a few shots, but if the bugger had access to the same stuff I had..."

He looks at you expectantly.

>The situation has changed, we need to get those prisoners out of there now.
>Head back to the nitor. This is well beyond us.
>other

>>35461150
Ah jeez. We should at leave have veles with us if we go for a full attack.

Can we go back to town, grab him, and come back to do an actual strike? Maybe actually come up with a plan from all this scouting, too.

Maybe attack when they're exchanging patrols, or when a few head out to exchange goods.

>>35461150
>The situation has changed, we need to get those prisoners out of there now.
I think we're in over our heads but I really want those diamonds.

>>35461370
I thought Veles was back at his home and we only left with McCain?

>>35461509
Veles is back at town. We came out just the two of us while he stayed behind to watch the carriage.

Though, if I am COMPLETELY misunderstanding, then we can go in now. But I think we have veles like just a couple miles away.

>>35461370
>>35461550
If getting him is a feasible option, it might be a good idea.

>>35461370
>>35461550
Veles is back at his place. You originally just intended to follow up on the lead. Your carriage is currently being watched in Snake's Landing in one of the hotel's personal stables that was not in use due to the tourist season. It would be you and McCain versus the smuggler/bandit/slavers and the Faux McCain if you went in now.

Apologies if that was unclear.

>>35462470
ah, okay. Then nevermind, we'll have to do something on our own.

I don't know if we can take 20 guys though.

Can we move faster than pursuers if things go awry? If so, sniping and retreating if things go hairy is a good plan, and we can go in.

Unless someone else has a better idea on how to dither down that many smugglers.

>>35462621
>sniping and retreating if things go hairy is a good plan, and we can go in.
That's not a good idea. At most we can shoot down a few before they figure out where we are and take appropriate cover, meaning attacking them accomplishes very little and alerts them to us for when we or the Nitor come back.

The only way I can see this working is if we can blow up a part of their camp or light it on fire then steal the diamonds from under their noses only taking on the few that get in our way; OR if we can somehow spring the miners and liberate the camp with their help.

Both are pretty unlikely, especially without Veles's help.

>>35462817
Well, admittedly the sniping idea only works if we have time to lay siege to the place, and is quite risky in itself.

Maybe we actually SHOULD fall back and get the nitor? That could act as the fire/explosion for us to get loot with. maybe?

>>35462946
Can we do that? It seems pretty underhanded and might not fly with the Nitor.

Will we get our cash just stealing the diamonds before they confiscate them?

>>35463063
I dunno man.
These are our options. Some kind of fire/explosion based distraction, if we're allowed, otherwise we'll have to sniper or get the nitor.

So just a sounding on the consensus, you guys are in agreement that you are going to make the move now? Or are you going to head back.

Its a little unclear.

>>35463407
We're making a move, I think, but we have no idea what kind.
It really depends on the situation- if there's anything we can actually catch on fire, if they have stores of explosives, if we can outmaneuver them and siege them.

>>35463407
I vote for heading back, we can't do anything productive right now.

>>35463470
>>35463454
welp.
we're conflicted.

I can cede to moving back, since we don't really have a good plan to work on.

I really thought we had veles, I don't know HOW we're going to get those diamonds this way.

>>35463535
We could tip off the Nitor, get to the smuggler's camp without their knowing, and steal the diamonds without anybody realizing while everyone fights it out on the other side of the camp.

It might be a crime though.

>>35463695
Yeah, it might be a little bit of a crime. With big rewards, though.

We could establish an alabi for why we're there by offering to guide them to location? From there, we can either "leave" or get "lost in the combat", get the stuff, and leave with a good excuse.

Though with this plan we would need to leave SOME of the loot behind, so as to make it seem like we didn't take it.

>>35463772
I guess we could try it, but only if we talk to McCain about this first. If he's fine with it then I am. If he isn't, I'll push to find money some other way and leave this to the Nitor.

File: snakehat.jpg (61 KB, 600x600)

61 KB JPG

"Lets head back. There's nothing more we can reasonably do. Especially against 20 people. We'll just have to get the Nitor on this and liberate some of the diamond in the firefight. That and get Veles."

"Understood." Is all that McCain says as you begin to make the journey back. You wait until you are well out of earshot of the camp before you start filling him in on what you saw.

"A Phoenix warship on our waters? That's not good. We might be in for a bit of trouble if they move their sabre rattling to our shores."

"How do you mean?" You ask.

"UFK proper has placed an embargo on any trade with the Phoenix after they tried to claim some of the relics up north. The damn jackdaw nobles try and and get their claws into anything shiny or ancient. Prolly why they are doing business with these smugglers."

You gape, "You're awfully well informed on current social events."

"Never cancelled that newspaper subscription, Miss, Marie picks it up along with your mail."

Its late evening by the time you've successfully navigated back to your campsite the day before, and while you could press on, the days events have been taxing. You opt to take second watch.

>1d20 Travel roll please.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

Just checking something as well. Don't mind this.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>35464079
Sad dice roll. Camping in bandit swamps is unfun.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>35464079

File: Ohgodwhathelp.gif (1.9 MB, 294x180)

1.9 MB GIF

Rolled 13 (1d20)

9 vs 10

McCain wakes you from your rest with a shake. You go to yawn but he clamps a hand over your mouth. Wide eyed, you watch him gesture back the way you came. In the moonlight, two of you steal away from camp, and a light of a torch coming from the swamp catches your eye.

Moving closer, you hear someone trampling about in the underbrush. Then a rough voice calls out. "Its been miles two hands, whoever it was is prolly long gone by now."

"Shut up maggot. You know what will happen if the nitor catch wind of us."

"Yes boss."

You can see at least 5 figures moving near the torch.

They are at least 200 yards from your campsite, and if they keep going at the current heading, may possibly hit it.

McCain whispers to you, "Looks like they've got at least one person with an eye for detail. I hid our tracks pretty damn well."

>Action?

>>35465491
FIVE people, eh?

Separate from McCain, move to another firing position, and wait. If they discover us or get too close to one of our positions, open fire. Otherwise let them go on- no need to make them all suspicious right before the nitor thing.

>>35465681
This is good.

File: NoteHowTheArmorDoesn'tMes(...).jpg (294 KB, 645x900)

294 KB JPG

You motion to McCain, suggesting you split up and to not attack until you do. He nods and vanishes off into the swamp. You busy yourself with moving ahead of the search party to an ancient willow, a veritable king of the bog. Scaling it, you position yourself up high amongst the boughs. You've just settled into place when the torch bearer and his followers move close.

"I'm tellin' you Two Hands, it was a big animal. A deer or somethin'"

The other figure grabs the first by the collar "Listen, it wasn't a deer. Sure is my name is Two Hands McCain."

Funny assertion to make given he's a pretender. Regardless, the first man is cowed, and they follow the front man in silence, almost treading underneath your willow.

You keep your rifle trained on what you think is the faux McCain, but as they pass you get the shadowy figure mixed up with the shadows of the swamp, and place your focus on the one with the torch.

They are approaching the beach now, and from your vantage point, you can see YOUR McCain stalking them from the right flank. You pray you don't have to open fire.

"Hey guys, I found someone's cam-

You pull the trigger.

>Calling the thread here, next thread will open up with combat. Apologies on the delays but I don't want to leave you hanging mid combat. Thanks again for reading.

>>35466216
Thank you for the thread Chemlab! I'm pretty hyped for next the next one.

How do you like writing combat versus other parts of the quest?

>>35466216
Allright, see you next time then. Thanks for running as always.

>>35466404
I've got a bit of Abnett syndrome where I have a tendency to go a bit heavy on the prose during combat, case in point McCain dealing with those drunks hassling Marie in the bar back early in the quest.That said, planning things out and executing those are fun too, even if it does result in a bit of "Harvest Moon: A Western Lamia" sort of flow to it.

I'm just debating on doing timeskips once you've got affairs in order since building the road and such. Not to mention a certain few serious things on the horizon.

Just wish I had some more bodies so participants didn't end up at impasse's so often. That said, good on you for discussing your plans and such this thread. Even if I was debating playing 'Ode to Greed' if you had went into the camp tonight.

>>35466590
Fucking always forget my name.