>>36805440

If you’re interpreting that right, the shadows can’t (or won’t) tell you more. Maybe they don’t know all the answers? Which makes sense if you think about it. They’ve been stuck in this warehouse for however many years. Although you bet if you prodded, they could give you a pretty thorough rundown of cargo manifests and wacky late-night conversations. But seeing as Sattler was only here for like, ten minutes tops, that’s probably all you’re getting on that subject.

Light pierces the darkness, blinding you and sending the voices scattering. The flood lights are back on, and that’s your cue to hoof it. You flee.

Once you’re in the clear, you use Monster to locate Moriah, and meet up back by the fence where you came in.

Moriah slides over, your imp floating on the wind above her. “What did you find out?” she asks.

“Who’s saying I found anything out?” you ask.

“The imp’s excited,” she says, pointing to Monster. The little bat lizard flies in excited circles overhead.

>I think I need to have a chat with Satt.
>Shadows don’t make very good conversationalists.
>Sattler got tipped that I’d be where I was when I was where I was.
>Well, Monster’s just impressed with your electrician skills. Nicely done.
>I’ll tell you on the road. Let’s get out of here.
>Make Monster cut it out. He’s giving you away. Or you’re giving yourself away. Whatever.
>Other (?)

FUCK YEAH! HELLBORN QUEST!

>>36805458
>I think I need to have a chat with Satt.

>>36805458
>I’ll tell you on the road. Let’s get out of here.
>Sattler got tipped that I’d be where I was when I was where I was.

We should get word out that Satt is doing more than just kicking about the place on this visit to anyone who might need to take cover, and we should very definitely let our family know, since they're probably the only ones who have any hope of talking her down if it comes to that.

Let's not take any needless risks.

>>36805458
> Need a chat with Satt
>Satler for tipped

>>36805545
So talk to Issac?

>>36805566

Seems like a good idea. If we don't have the Hallows backing us up before we have a chat with Satt, we're just asking to be accused of malicious infiltration/brain fuckery to MURDER THEM ALL, especially given the family history with Verwelken.

>>36805458
>I’ll tell you on the road. Let’s get out of here.
>Sattler got tipped that I’d be where I was when I was where I was.

>>36805458
>I’ll tell you on the road. Let’s get out of here.
>Make Monster cut it out. He’s giving you away. Or you’re giving yourself away. Whatever.

>>36805458
>I’ll tell you on the road. Let’s get out of here.
>Sattler got tipped that I’d be where I was when I was where I was.

>>36805593
I'd be down for that.

>>36805458
I'd like to change >>36805493 to >Talk to the family about this.

>>36805440
>T͝hese ͝ones speák o̵f ͟their̡ domain. ̕T̷h͢e clarity so͘u̕gh͞t͝ lies in̸ the ot͡h͏er.
Ok, I guess we gotta talk to the shadows around Waldo's hangouts and then it'd probably help to talk to the ones that are around Sattler.

That should be fun...

>>36805458
>Shadows don’t make very good conversationalists.
>I’ll tell you on the road. Let’s get out of here.
Then once we get in the car I guess tell her that the shadows said the mystery slayer was Satt, and that she was arrived "on the promise of the greater". Also that we're pretty sure they called Waldo "the lesser". So that's not ominous or anything.

>>36805545
Yeah, I'll second it later.

>>36805665
I want to talk to the shadows in Crowther's house. I have a suspicion that crowdaddy is the greater that the shadows were referring to.

>>36805458
>Sattler got tipped that there'd be a Verwelken at the warehouse when I was where I was.
Well, probably. She might have just raided the warehouse and heard all the dudes screaming "SERWEKEN!!!" and then decided that finding the shadow monster is the new priority.

>>36805647
Their ability to explain that they discovered our nature after we used said powers to save Ro at risk to ourselves, despite knowing how much they hate Verwelken and that they might turn on us.

>>36805684
It's probably us, as the pseudo-Imperiate AND a Verwelken, since she was actively hunting a Verwelken according to the shadow intel.

>>36805749
>It's probably us, as the pseudo-Imperiate AND a Verwelken, since she was actively hunting a Verwelken according to the shadow intel.
And now it makes sense. "The greater" wasn't the person who sent her, it was the thing she went there to find.

>>36805749
.....Why are you linking me?

>>36805749
>>36805774
Fanfuckingtastic. It could still be Waldric that sent her, then.

>>36805779
A sentence got killed when I quoted something else with selected text by mistake. The story about saving Ro is just speculating on how they might defend us, backing up your point.

>>36805802
Satt doesn't really seem the type to not cut Waldo in half at the first chance, greater target or not. After all, can't trust a filthy demon etc. etc. so they're useless for intel.

>>36805845
>Satt doesn't really seem the type to not cut Waldo in half at the first chance, greater target or not. After all, can't trust a filthy demon etc. etc. so they're useless for intel.
That's assuming that she knows he's a demon. And he didn't just give a kid $20 to go tell her for him.

>>36805845
Oh.

>>36805852
hue hue I wonder what he paid that kid to say to get Satt to act on it.

>>36805852
All the same, I can't see him trying this stunt. He most likely wants her gone as soon as possible, and any contact no matter how removed is a potential path back to him.

It's Zote. I'm calling it now, this is all fucking Zote's doing.

>>36805960
who?

>>36806069
The clocker from Etenrhine. You know, the asshole robot dude we met in the goblin flag mission and then again when we went to go deal with the stygian hellborn bankrobbers.

>>36806096
OHHHHHH.

File: 1348763333537.gif (167 KB, 160x120)

167 KB GIF

>>36805802
If only someone had warned us that he couldn't be trusted. Too bad he didn't have any warning signs like a history of betrayal.

You give Monster an accusing glare. “Long story short,” you say, “Satt’s the one that crashed the party, and she was working off a tip that there’d be a Verwelken where I was when I was where I was.”

Moriah’s eyes widen. “That’s bad news.”

You head through the fence, and Moriah follows. Before long you get back to the car, and get back on the road.

“So what is it you found?” she asks, as you speed away from the waterfront.

“Well, nothing, really. I just kind of… uh.” You screw up your face. “Talked to the darkness.”

“That was easier than I thought it’d be,” she says. “Do you have any idea who told her?”

“Not really,” you say. “Although I’m pretty sure it’s not Waldric, because the shadows were all like, he is the lesser. But the bad news is that then there’s the greater, and that’s the one that told Satt.”

“What was the exact wording?” she asks.

“That I came because the lesser beseeched it, and then Satt came on the promise of the greater.”

Moriah frowns. “That could mean anything,” she says. “The lesser could be the same thing that promised the greater – the greater thing being killing the Imperiate. Or it’s principles. The lesser is your motivation for bringing Iptaph to justice, and the greater being what Sattler aspires to?”

“Or,” you say, “there’s like, a really big thing that wanted to kill me in a really round-about, really sneaky way.”

“Or that,” Moriah agrees flatly.

You sigh at the concern wafting from her. “Yeah yeah, I’m going to talk to Isaac about it,” you mutter.

She accepts this, and you drive on.

---

A few days later, you find yourself fiddling with your house key to get in. Usually the door’s never locked, but you guess absolutely nobody’s home? That’d be a first. Harvey always beats you home.

Anyway, after telling Isaac and Cass the results of your late-night investigations, you have been told in careful terms not to go looking around for Sattler. You’re also not supposed to talk to Waldric about any of it, because there’s a chance that he’s the one who tried to sick her on you. Ugh. Secrets. Isaac hasn’t been able to get any useful data out of Satt as to who her informant was.

This semester is off to a rocky start, too. You have to take a bunch of required classes that you flunked out of earlier so you can graduate, and let’s just say there’s a reason you flunked out. They’re boring as hell.

At least you passed the driver’s test. That’s the thing that’s good. The bike thing with Baron’s friends wasn’t bad either, after Rowan dragged you along.

Finally, you find the key and unlock the door. If it were dark out, you’d just step around and inside. As it stands, you can’t risk getting spotted doing any Verwelken stuff. You don’t know who might be watching.

You walk in toward the living room. Stupid school. Stupid Sattler. Stupid secrets. Stupid -

“Happy birthday!” the mob choruses as you step in. There’s a loud pop, and then you’re showered in confetti, as well as the gunpowder smoke.

The Hallows, Moriah, Vik, Baron, Nathan, as well as Alecia and some other of your less-close-but-still-friend friends. There’s red streamers and everything, as well as a sickening overpressure of feel-good vibes.

>Uh.
>Turn around and leave.
>Isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?
>I don’t recall inviting any of you losers to my party.
>All right, where’s the cake?
>Slow clap.
>Other (?)

>>36806698
>Stress out
>Go hulk

>>36806698
>Uh.
>Isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?
Is it supposed to happen tomorrow? I have no idea what day it is and I don't know what day Sierra's birthday is either.

>>36806698
>>Uh.
>>Turn around and leave.

>>36806698
>Uh.
>Isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?
>All right, where’s the cake?

>>36806698
>Uh.
>Isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?

>>36806698
>Slow clap.
>All right, where’s the cake?

Alternatively, turn on your heal and moonwalk into the party.

>>36806698
>Boggle vacantly.
>Turn around and leave.
>Re-enter and react like a normal person who is used to having happy surprises.

>>36806698
I'll back >>36806777

>>36806698
>All right, where’s the cake?
>I don’t recall inviting any of you losers to my party.

>>36806698
>Uh.
>You're all lucky I have total control over my ninja-like reflexes and definitely saw this coming a mile away. Otherwise I would have been all "wa-TAH!" and started dishing out roundhouse kicks. So, like, be warned and stuff.
>All right, where's the cake?

>>36806698
>Uh.
>Isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?

>>36806698
>Uh.
>Isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?

Entering this house has gone completely off the rails. I'm gonna go outside and try it again.

isn't implying it should be tomorrow a bit too much of a dick move than a funny joke?

>>36806742
I think that's Sierra yanking their chains, but it seems a bit mean spirited. It sucks when you think you just fucked up trying to do something nice for someone.

>>36806942
Sierra seems like the kind of person who might not actually remember when her birthday is.

I doubt there were too many surprise birthday parties in Sierra's foster homes.

>>36806986
In that case, why not just go with it rather than undermine people trying to throw you a party?

>>36806698
>>All right, where’s the cake?

>>36806698
>Uh.
>How of you asshats planned this?

>>36807084
Who* not how

>>36806698
>All right, where’s the cake?

You manage not to flinch at the surprise, but now everybody’s looking at you, and it’s kind of unsettling. (+5 Stress: 34/100) You fight down the urge to turn around and walk back out the door. “So…” you say, more to yourself than anybody present. This is not what you planned on today.

“How’s life now that you can buy cigarettes and chewing Tabaco?” Baron asks. There’s a general ruffle of laughter from everybody.

“I uh. What?” you ask, not really hearing.

“It looks like we got the surprise part right,” Ro comments.

“This was all her idea,” Vikrama says, smiling brightly.

You frown. “Not that I’m like, I don’t know, but isn’t this supposed to happen tomorrow?” you ask.

Isaac chuckles. “Your birthday’s not the fifteenth?”

“Well yeah, but today’s the four… teenth….” You check your phone, and find that yes, it is the fifteenth. You grab your head. “Aghh!” (+2 Stress: 36/100)

This one’s a real hit with the crowd, much to your chagrin. (+3 stress: 39/100)

“Good thing somebody remembered,” Cassandra laughs.

You’re not used to birthday stuff happening that you didn’t plan yourself, if you even bothered. It’s not that big of a deal, but everybody making a big deal about it is just… weird.

You shake yourself out of your shock. You’ve got this. This is your party, and that means you’re in charge. “All right all right,” you say, placating the masses, “I’m going to need some cake.”

Baron and Nate give a cheer, and Cassandra guides you to your just desserts.

--

You thought there’d be more cake.

“Don’t look so sad,” says Rowan, sniggering to herself. “We’re going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner.”

You make a show of wiping your brow. “That’s a relief,” you say, scraping the fudge chocolate off your mouth with a crimson napkin. It’s decorated with flaming guitars and skulls – not a bad choice. You toss your plate in the trash, have a sip of your Cherry Coke, and look around. Everybody’s chatting and generally having a good time – and kind of getting on your nerves.

Cassandra wanders over, somehow without seeming like she’s coming over with the express purpose of talking to you. You look up at her.

“I know we kind of sprung this on you,” she says, hooking Rowan around the neck with an arm, “so we’ll really celebrate on Saturday, over the weekend. You can go anywhere you want – Six-Flags or the movies or wherever – it’s covered by the Hallow 18th birthday tradition. Just let me know what you decide, okay?”

>Will do.
>Anywhere I want? That’s a bold claim.
>That’s a no brainer. (?)
>Thanks for the party and stuff. I’m surprised. Which is the point, I guess?
>Hey Ro. Not to sound like a jerk, but don’t try to surprise me with everybody in the world again.
>Are there surprise presents with this surprise party and surprise cake?
>Enjoy party (roll dice).
>Other (?)

>>36807718
>>Will do.
>Thanks for the party and stuff. I’m surprised. Which is the point, I guess?

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>36807718
enjoy party

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>36807718
>Thanks for the party and stuff. I’m surprised. Which is the point, I guess?
>Enjoy party (roll dice).

>>36807718
>Anywhere I want? That’s a bold claim.

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>36807718
>Will do.
>Enjoy party (roll dice).

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>36807718
>Enjoyment
>Anywhere I want? That's a bold claim.

>>36807718
>Hey Ro. Not to sound like a jerk, but don’t try to surprise me with everybody in the world again.
>That’s a no brainer. (Hunting in the woods)
>Enjoy party

>>36807757
>>36807780
>>36807799
Man, we suck at enjoying parties.

>>36807718
>That’s a no brainer. (?)
Anywhere that speaks a different language. I'm thinking Japan.

I want to watch Sierra freaking out about all the Japs pretending to not stare at her and Ro's freakish tallness. Also the language shit should be funny.

>>36807853
I hope we don't suck at remembering to thank them.

>>36807718
>Thanks for the party and stuff. I’m surprised. Which is the point, I guess?
>Enjoy party

Sierra has to be getting better at the whole "people" and "caring" thing by now. One day, she will not need to roll at all to enjoy friends. Say by mid to late twenties.

>>36807718
>Anywhere I want? That’s a bold claim.

As much as I can Sierra wanting to visit Halth, taking a pile of Demonbane there might be an iffy proposition.

>Thanks for the party and stuff. I’m surprised. Which is the point, I guess?
>Enjoy party (roll dice).

Hang out with Reeber some during the party, he deserves attention, helps with stress, and might form a good buffer to all the happiness around us.

Can you guys think of any cool places to go? I don't live in California and I've never been there. I don't really want to google "shit to do in CA" because it will invariably give me tourist shit that would be weird for Sierra to want to do on her birthday.

>>36808033
I'm not sure we've ever been to Six Flags. It's like this amazing mythological zone of entertainment until you actually go there and realize it's just an amusement park.

Oh shit, lets go to Santa Monica pier!

>>36808086
Marketing can brainwash you pretty efficiently.

>>36808086
Nothing killed my desire to go to "fun places" than getting a season pass to Big Kahuna's back in middleschool and being forced to go every single day "to get the money's worth". It was fun at first, but shit gets old FAST.

>>36808033
We could go visit Alcatraz.

We'd probably end up walking through walls to get away from the tour group, exploring, and chatting with the shadows.

>>36807826
Maybe we could bring Baron and Vik. Finally do our big reveal.

>>36808169
I'd be down for it, but Idunno if that's be a good idea.

>>36807853
rolls aren't counted until we've settled on an option to avoid us backing out

>>36807718
>>36808169
Speaking of, what have we discussed with Rowan during any timeskips? Reveal itself might not be a great idea, but an update on our plans with Ro would be helpful, it seems like something they would have discussed.

>>36808164
I like this too.

>>36808164
This sounds pretty fun. I bet those shadows have some cool stories to tell.

>>36808164
>Where do you want to go for your birthday? Anywhere you want, Six-Flags, movie, you name it!
>I want to go to an abandoned hell-hole so that I can have the shadows screech recordings of prison rape at me.
>....ok Sierra...

>>36808263
Probably correct, but lets avoid stress/SAN damage birthday trips maybe.

“Anywhere I want? That’s a bold claim,” you joke.

“Okay well maybe not anywhere. Anywhere within reason,” Cassandra amends.

“Well either way, thanks for the party and stuff,” you say, taking in the admittedly stuffy atmosphere of having so many people you know packed in one room. “I’m surprised. Which is the point, I guess?” Maybe it’s just because you didn’t know what you were getting into beforehand. No time for mental prep.

Rowan smiles. “We wanted to do something special, you know? I don’t know. It’s just your first birthday with us. I wanted to make a memory, for later.”

You laugh. “Well, mission accomplished. Thanks, Ro. I mean. It’s cool, right?”

“Cool,” she says. “You know who else wants to wish you a happy birthday? Reeber, come get Sierra!”

And then you are being attacked by Reeber, who’s been hiding beneath the table this whole time. “Oh geeze. I just realized I don’t know when your birthday is, boy,” you say, taking his fat head in your hands and shaking it about. He seems so dainty when he’s not in hellhound mode, and if you didn’t know better, you’d almost be afraid of breaking him.

Reeber gives a happy bark, then takes off to do a lap of the party. Eventually you do the same. Got people to greet.

Unfortunately, there’s something weird about birthday party parties. Like. It’s all formal and ceremonial. Like, it’s supposed to mean all this stuff. You feel like you’re not really being you. Like you’re being paraded in front of people or whatever. You know it’s all in your head, but at the same time, you can’t just shrug it off. You manage to play it chill, for the most part, and Reeber’s constant presence goes some way in keeping you from feeling hemmed in. (+8 Stress: 47/100)

As time closes in on leaving for the restaurant, you’re informed that yes, indeed there are surprise presents to accompany your surprise birthday party. You’re seated on the couch and a modest pile of junk is placed beside you, and everybody gathers around to spectate.

“Presents, presents,” Alecia chants. Nathan joins in.

“Be a dear and open mine first,” Vikrama says with a big yawn.

Harvey sits with his hands neatly folded in his lap and gazes up at the ceiling.

>You’re being suspicious.
>Let’s see what you’ve got, Vik.
>This is no time for favorites. You’ve got a system. Biggest to smallest, let’s go.
>Other (?)

>>36808435
>This is no time for favorites. You’ve got a system. smallest to largest.

>>36808435
>You’re being suspicious.
>Inspect box like a suspicious person.
>It's full of springy snakes or something, isn't it.

>>36808435
>>Let’s see what you’ve got, Vik.

>>36808435
>Let’s see what you’ve got, Vik.
Followed by preempting further demands of your present opening schema:
>This is no time for favorites. You’ve got a system. Biggest to smallest, let’s go.
>>36808464
This is also good. Squint at Harvey being suspicious as we proceed.

>>36808435
>Let’s see what you’ve got, Vik.

>>36808435
>>Let’s see what you’ve got, Vik.

>>36808435
>Let’s see what you’ve got, Vik.
Harvey's next.

Maybe it's just me, but after reading Sierra's reaction to the surprise party, I'm left with the impression that feel good vibes are almost painful for her.

>>36809244
Birthday parties suck.

>>36809244
We do feed on negative emotions... I like that if it wouldn't make us drop our spaghetti, we would be shouting "STOP. STOP HAVING FUN THIS INSTANT." It makes me wonder if watching horror movies in groups is more enjoyable for us because dem tasty fear vibes.

>>36809309
I don't think Sierra's gone full-blown feeding on suffering yet. She just really likes it when people get pissed off or sad.

>>36809244
It just makes us uncomfortable that we're at the center of it. We dealt with the beach party pretty well.

>>36809244
I thought she just didn't trust them or the attention as part of her whole intimacy issues because everyone we love dies.

“I’ll allow one exception from the rule of biggest to smallest,” you say, rifling through the pile on the search for Vikrama’s present. It’s small, flat, and neatly wrapped in reflective white paper. Shiny. You like this one already.

Normally you’d just rip it open with your claws, but there are witnesses – that’s why you’ve got a backup. You flip out your switchblade from your back pocket, startling your less-close acquaintances, and cut open the package.

Out comes a little moleskin notebook thing, with a threatening spiral patterned landscape on the front. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket - your pocket.

Vikrama gives you a prompting look.

“It’s pretty cool, I guess,” you say, feigning indifference.

“Now you can express yourself wherever you are, even when you’re not supposed to,” she says, perfectly happy with your reaction. She knows too much.

You snort, pocket the little notebook guy, and make Reeber stop shoving his face into your lap. “Five out of five thumbs up, would doodle with,” you say with a smirk, continuing with presents.

You’re at Rowan’s present. It’s a really, really long box. Like. Three feet long at least. “What the hell is this?” you ask, twirling your knife about and setting to work.

“You’ll see,” Rowan says, smiling broadly.

Everybody else leans in, curious.

It’s heavy, and wrapped in tons of little tissue paper things. You cast them aside, uncovering your prize.

It’s a scabbard made of dark, hardened leather. Iron studs run down the side, strengthening the frame. You whistle. You settle it across your legs, finding that yes, Zelathis the Lightning Sword is secured inside. You stand, draw the weapon, and find most of the weight in the scabbard was just from the blade. “Wow.”

“You’re just always leaving it out, so I thought… you know. You could use somewhere to put it,” Ro says.

“Holy crap. You seriously got her a sword?” says Nathan.

“Actually, it’s just the scabbard,” you say. “Already had the sword.” You spin Zelathis around just for kicks, before expertly sliding it back into its new home. It makes a satisfying swish sound. “Yesss. This is sweet. Thanks, Ro.”

Alecia is somewhere between horror and awe. “I didn’t know you were into that kind of stuff.”

“It’s just one of those things,” you demur.

“Sierra’s always been into knives,” Baron supplies. “Swords are like big knives.”

“No,” Rowan says, almost growling, “swords are like swords.”

Vikrama smiles lazily. “For shame, Baron. You know better than to insult the art of fencing around our Rowan.”

“I’m not… fine, I rescind my big knives comment,” Baron says, tactfully choosing to forgo this particular battle.

“Wise choice,” you comment, moving onto your next target. You set Zelathis aside for the time being, and turn your sights on Harvey’s gift. While not as unwieldy as Rowan’s, it’s a fairly big fare, and setting it on the ground before you takes some actual muscle. Thing’s heavy.

You give Harvey a suspicious look, but all he does is scratch his chin and fold his hands even neater than before.

Carefully, you inspect the box. It doesn’t look like there’s any surprises for you in the packaging. It’s not wrapped in duct tape or anything, so you get cutting. You eventually get down to the lid. Wary of springing snakes or spiders, you ever so gently tilt it up. Nothing happens, so you continue. And then more.

Metal glistens out at you from within. “Sweet mercy,” you say, discovering the contents.

“Hold it up for everybody,” suggests Cassandra, standing at the back with a camera.

>>36809609
Oh shit is it the chainmail?

Without knowing whether you need to be gentle or not, you reach in the box and get a grip on its contents. It’s cold, heavy, and smooth – the rings flex beneath your fingers as you lift the chainmail shirt from within. You display it for your friends.

Harvey gets an incredibly smug look on his face. “That should help,” he says vaguely. You know exactly what he’s talking about, though. The chainmail looks like it’d be long on you, and the sleeves are really short, but that’s probably how it’s supposed to be. You don’t really know much about this kind of thing.

“I definitely feel like I’m missing something here,” says Alecia.

“The Hallows do renaissance fairs,” Vikrama explains.

Nathan nods sagely. “It’s their way of making their kids as weird as they are,” he explains to Alecia.

Rowan rolls her eyes.

Harvey informs you as to the best feature of the mail. “It’s maaaagic.”

With that on your mind, you try to focus on your other presents. There’s the standard fare – gift cards and annoying singing birthday cards – and a eentsy teeny little paper from Baron. It’s an envelope smaller than the sticker reading 'To Sierra, From Baron' stuck on the back. The whole thing fits easily in the palm of your hand. You open it up and dump an even littler piece of paper into your palm.

File: [happiness continues to c(...).gif (185 KB, 300x300)

185 KB GIF

>>36809641
>You open it up and dump an even littler piece of paper into your palm.
The suspense!

>>36809244
Remember when Waldric told us the flowers in Crowthers house were called Maviels? And the feelings coming off of him when he said her name made us slightly sick?

Seirra spent most of her life believing she was mentally and emotionally unsable, to the point of being made to take mediction. After finding out what she really is, she began to think that she wasn't unstable after all. She's a demon and that's normal behavior for demons.

Except that we're beginning to learn that it isn't. Her violent outbursts and anger issues are extreme even for demons. So it turns out that yes, she really is fucked in the head AND IS ALSO A DEMON.

You scowl at the handmade coupon. “Free swim lessons?” you growl, glaring up at Baron.

“It requires a minimum five dollar purchase, but I didn’t have room to write that on there,” he says, peering around at it. “Sorry.”

Cass hides her face in a hand, presumably embarrassed. Isaac manages to leave the room before bursting into laughter.

"Real cool, Baron," Rowan says, angrily.

He shrugs. "It's a real value," he says.

Grumbling, you continue to look around for Moriah’s thing, but you don’t find anything from her.

She gives you a mysterious look. “I fixed your jacket,” Moriah says cryptically. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

After some picture taking and general gift-envy, there’s a hoopla about getting ready to go and people filing out the door to cars. You’re a little overwhelmed with everything, and aren’t exactly sure of what you should be doing.

>GO GO GO
>Go track down Harvey about the chainmail. That's like. A+ present.
>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?
>Go get mad at Baron about his joke gift.
>Other (?)

>>36809705
>>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?

>>36809705
Baron, you're a dork.

>>36809705
How in the fuck did she get our awesome jacket?

>>36809705
>>Go track down Harvey about the chainmail. That's like. A+ present.
>>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?

>>36809705
>Go get mad at Baron about his joke gift.

>>36809705
>>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?
Can be angry at baron another time.

>>36809705
>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?

Hey at least it wasn't a pair of scissors

>>36809705
>>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?


Man, can you imagine the look on Baron's face when we tell him the reason we don't like water is because we almost died in the same boating 'accident' that killed our family?

>>36809705
>Go track down Harvey about the chainmail. That's like. A+ present.
I thought that was, like, for Alecia or something.I really hope Alecia is the elf girl because if not then I have no idea who she is.

>>36809806
If I remember right she's the ditsy but friendly girl from school

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>>36809793

>>36809806
She's one of our more minor acquaintances. She's come up two or three times maybe.

>>36809806
We (the players, that is) meet her briefly when we firt went to school. We had the option of hanging out with her, but spent time with some goth chick in art class instead.

>>36809705
>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?
His friend almost drowns so he gives her a card for swimming lessons on her birthday. Smooth.

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>>36809868
>Realizing that this is the kind of shit I would have done

>>36809705
>Rope Baron into having to take lessons with us

>>36809868
The idea of offering swimming lessons was actually pretty nice.
Making a joke of it in front of her friends and family on the other hand.

>>36809868
That's the sort of shit I would pull with my best friend.

Baron probably thought we would appreciate it, and I'm starting to see his logic. If it weren't for our history with water, it IS the kind of thing Seirra would find hilarious. It's certainly the kind of joke she would make about someone elses near-death.

>>36809973
You mean the lessons that he'd be the teacher in?

The coupon was hand-written.

>>36810012
OHHH I missed that.

>>36810011
Right. Out of context and with the amount that Baron knows, it should be hilarious. In context, it's in hilariously bad taste. I love it

>Deliberate tasteless gag present

I suspect he might have something else as well, since he's never given an indication of being THAT big of an insensate dork.

>>36809856
What's her summary?

Then who was the elf girl?

>>36810134
Sydney.

>>36809705
>Make Moriah tell you about your jacket. You need that jacket. How'd she even...?
In Baron's defense he dosnt know about our water based childhood mental scars.

>>36810306
This

Anyone got any odds on Ro lecturing Baron out of sight while we ask about our sweet duds?

>>36810338
He's going to come back a bit paler than usual.

>>36810338
Probably not.

You’re momentarily distracted by the piece of paper in your hand. Stupid Baron and his stupid gag gift. While going and being mad at him holds a certain appeal, you’re too mad to talk to him right now.

You spot Moriah heading out to her car. You replace the little thing in its little envelope, add it to the pile of gifts, then hurry to catch up. You pass Harvey on the way, thanking him again. You’ll have to talk to him later. You’ll want to know all kinds of stuff about the chainmail that’ll be kind of hard to talk about with other people around.

“Hey,” you say, catching up to Moriah as she gets to her car. “What do you mean you fixed my jacket?” You look down at the jacket in question, which you are currently wearing.

Rowan comes hurrying out behind you. “Hey Moriah, mind if I ride with you?”

“Not at all,” she says.

Everyone gets in, and you streak out following the Hallow party minivan, as well as Alecia’s car.

“Jacket,” you remind Moriah.

“As we all know,” she begins slowly, “the red feather wing jacket is your favorite jacket.”

“Seriously,” Ro chips in.

“Hey. I’ll be the judge of that,” you say, zipping up said jacket. “And how’d you… I mean, I’m pretty sure I’ve never misplaced this jacket.”

Rowan confesses. “I helped her kidnap it.”

You shoot both Moriah and Rowan a mock dirty look. “Aren’t you full of surprises? So out with it already. What’d you do with it?”

“It should be more resistant to stains, among other things,” says Moriah, speaking carefully.

>>36810360
Have you never had to lead someone away and explain why what they just did was really off color because of certain circumstances to prevent them putting their foot in it further?

Like "Lay off the relationship jokes, they've just had a bad breakup" or "No old people comments, their gran died last week"

“What are these other things?” you ask, narrowing your eyes and grabbing the shoulders of your jacket protectively.

“Things that your clothes go through,” she answers. “Like heat. And ripping. And um… other things. It’s still just a jacket, but hopefully now it’s going to last you as long the average jacket.”

Huh. Well, you do like your jacket. “I guess thanks then. I mean. For saving my jacket in the future. From myself. Yeah….”

“You’re welcome,” Moriah replies, smiling slightly.

---

You cannot eat anymore ribs, and yet there are more ribs, barely cooked and bloody. So good. Everybody else is sticking mostly to their cheesecake, which makes sense. Ultra rare meats are not everybody’s forte.

The view from the balcony seating of the restaurant offers a great sight of San Fransisco’s downtown. Sky scrapers tower above and traffic hurries along below. A cold breeze tries and fails to get past the gas heaters standing guard over the Cheesecake Factory’s patrons.

You give up on the ribs. You’re going to have to transition to dessert mode, which requires a trip to the bathroom to clean up. Excusing yourself from the party, you find your way to the bathroom and wash up. As you’re there, your phone rings. You take it out to check the caller.

It’s Derek. As in, Frederick the freedom fighter, Derek. Frederick. Whatever.

>You’ll call him back. You have cheesecake to get to.
>Make it short, I’ve got cheesecake to get to.
>What’s up?
>Don’t tell me. You need to steal the declaration of independence again.
>Other (?)

>>36810475
>Make it short, I’ve got cheesecake to get to.

>>36810475
>>Don’t tell me. You need to steal the declaration of independence again.

>>36810475
>What’s up?

>>36810475
>Make it short, I've got cheesecake to get to.
>What is it this time, stealing the liberty bell or the Washington monument or something?

>>36810475
>>What’s up?

>>36810475
Oh boy...

What do y'all think it is this time? The battlemages about to rain hell on the city? He needs us to get him in contact with our 'friend' to help him with the landwell stuff? Something something ancient artifacts?

>>36810475
>Don't tell me. You need to steal the declaration of independence again.

>>36810527
"...Happy birthday."

>>36810475
>What’s up?
>Make it short, I’ve got cheesecake to get to.
It MIGHT be important, so we should probably take it quickly.

Put on a dumb voice to illustrate our displeasure because it's totally Satt having siezed the phone and dialled "Irritating Hellborn chick" to acquire her next target

>>36810475
backing this
>>36810517

>>36810475
>Make it short. its my birthday and I have cheesecake to get to.

You snicker to yourself as an array of Nicholas Cage based jokes flash through your head. You answer the call. “Make it short, it’s my birthday and I’ve cheesecake to get to. What’s it this time, stealing the Washington Monument or George Washington’s wooden teeth?”

There’s a weak laugh on the other end of the line. “Very amusing. Don’t worry, it’s not your help I need. I was hoping you could put me into contact with the landmaster you told me about. I’d like to discuss something with her. And happy birthday, by the way.”

>Yeah, kind of crept up on me. Honestly kind surprised I made it this far.
>Oh what’s that, static? Ckhrrr. Yep. Breaking up. Chshhhh-sorr-shhhh.
>Just one sec, let me go get her.
>Yeah, actually I was just BSing you. I’m the landmaster.
>May I inquire as to the topic of this discussion?
>She’s kind of elusive. Just talk to me, I’ll tell her everything.
>Other (?)

>>36810695
>>Just one sec, let me go get her.
It's her birthday too

>>36810695
>>Just one sec, let me go get her.

We better start talking in an unconvincing accent.

>>36810695
>Sure, when and where do you want to meet her. I'll make sure she's there.

>>36810695
>Yeah, actually I was just BSing you. I’m the landmaster.

>>36810695
>She's kind of... not a people person. Just tell me what you want to let her know.
[cue Derek being cagy]
>Fine, be mysterious. Tell me where you want to meet her and I'll make sure she's there.

>>36810695
>Other (?)
Yalready are, m80

>>36810695
I was just fucking with you, I'm the land master

>>36810695
>Oh what’s that, static? Ckhrrr. Yep. Breaking up. Chshhhh-sorr-shhhh.

>>36810695
>Just one sec, let me go get her.

>>36810695
These
>>36810717
>>36810723

Why didn't we originally tell him that we were a landmaster?

>>36810723
>>36810695
This, so much this!

>>36810836
Because it was funny.

>>36810695
>Yeah, kind of crept up on me. Honestly kind of surprised I made it this far.
>She's kind of elusive. Just talk to me, I'll tell her everything.

>>36810695
>Yeah, actually I was just BSing you. I’m the landmaster.

“Thanks,” you say. “Now just a sec, I’ll go get her.”

“She’s there?” he asks, surprised.

“Yeah. It’s even her birthday too, so be nice,” you say. You muffle the phone momentarily. “Oh yeah, it’s the guy,” you say. “What, the Declaration of Independence guy?” you answer in a Brooklyn accent. “Yeah that’s the one. Wants a landmaster,” you say. “Well, give ‘er here,” you reply. You raise the phone again, this time Brooklyn you. “What’d’ya want?”

“Is this you being serious? I’m having trouble telling the difference,” says Derek, unamused.

“Ey, you want a landmaster, here she is,” you drawl.

“…so you are the landmaster?”

“I can’t believe my ears, we’ve got a real genius here,” you say. Then you resume real voice mode. “Yeah, actually I was just BSing the whole time.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me you were a landmaster?”

“Well. It’s kind of a trust thing, but also kind of it was fun screwing with you at the time thing.”

“I suppose that makes this easier then,” says Derek. “I want to offer you a job.”

“The landwell Cerra invasion gig thing?”

“I’d phrase it differently, but yes.”

>On a scale of one to dangerous, how threatening is this job to my life?
>Who’s coming with you? I remember you mentioning mercenaries.
>If I help you, who do I make angry?
>Jobs get paid. What are you paying?
>You’ve already got a landmaster already, don’t you?
>Thanks but no thanks. Ever since I turned eighteen, I’m seeing the world in a different way.
>Other (?)

>>36811085
>>Who’s coming with you? I remember you mentioning mercenaries.
Speaking of mercenaries,
>>Jobs get paid. What are you paying?

>>36811085
>On a scale of one to dangerous, how threatening is this job to my life?

>>36811085
>we'll need to talk to my parents about this.

>>36811085
>If I help you, who do I make angry?
>Who’s coming with you? I remember you mentioning mercenaries.

>>36811085
>If I help you, who do I make angry?

>>36811127
This.

>>36811085
>>On a scale of one to dangerous, how threatening is this job to my life?
>>Who’s coming with you? I remember you mentioning mercenaries.
>>If I help you, who do I make angry?
Risks and names would be grand.

>>36811085
>>Who’s coming with you? I remember you mentioning mercenaries.
>>If I help you, who do I make angry?
>>Jobs get paid. What are you paying?

>>36811085
>You've already got a landmaster already, don't you?

Is opening a portal with one of our landwells like even a thing we can do?

>>36811206
>Is opening a portal with one of our landwells like even a thing we can do?
We have no idea. I have a feeling we're going to be dealing with some incredibly mad people when we claim the landwell and accidentally seal it off completely.

>>36811224
Um... Wouldn't it be a bad idea to agree to do it then?

>>36811085
>On a scale of one to dangerous, how threatening is this job to my life?
>Who’s coming with you? I remember you mentioning mercenaries.

>>36811379
No, it's a bad idea to do it because it's already controlled by a landmaster and odds are that they vastly outclass us. Also because it will piss off an entire country that has giant flying murderships and is really into magic.

>>36811379
Would be good to learn to do it, but yes, it is a gamble with the amount of info we have. Also we signed up for the gig to prevent the other landmaster claiming the landwell they want to use for the invasion

>>36811085
>On a scale of one to dangerous, how threatening is this job to my life?
>If I help you, who do I make angry?
>Jobs get paid. What are you paying?

You can’t help but wonder at the people who would rather you not help Frederick. “So, if I do the job, who am I making angry?”

“If everything goes like it should, nobody,” says Derek.

You narrow your eyes at your reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Yeah, but let’s say it doesn’t go like it should.”

“Even if the Eclipse do somehow find out,” he replies, “you have plausible deniability. You were hired to do a job, which you did. You had no political motivation. Maybe you didn’t know about the purpose of the mission. Either way, they’re very particular with inter-planar relations – they’d talk to a Terran before doing anything extreme.”

“Well if they’re so great, why are you rebelling against them?”
“It’s not foreigners they’re unfair to, it’s internal – look, I know you don’t care one way or the other. You don’t have any reason to, and I’m trying to convert you to the cause,” he says.

Fair enough, you suppose. “Whatever. Anyway, I know this isn’t a one-man job. You were talking about hiring mercenaries. Who exactly do you have coming with you?”

“An expert,” he answers.

“Not good enough. I want a name,” you say. For an instant, you remember Sattler’s mercenary career, and grimace. “There’s a few people in the market right now who I don’t really want to associate with.”

“I get it. You know the hellborn I’m working with,” answers Derek. “And then there’s Zote. Not everyone’s willing to work with demons, but the security specialist I found isn't picky.”

“Security specialist?”

You can hear the satisfaction in Derek’s voice. He evidently thinks he’s found a pretty good deal. “The merc’s a demon - Inferian, specifically. Both the Gracie brothers can vouch for him – they say he’s invincible.”

You frown. This is beginning to sound suspiciously familiar. “This demon’s name doesn’t happen to be Ranthix, does it?”

“That’s the name,” says Derek. “Do you know him?”

>Say stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>36811790
>“An expert,” he answers.
Calling it now, it's fuckin' Satt

>>36811807
>Say stuff (?)
"Well, if he's the expert then I feel a hell of a lot better about this."

>>36811807
>>Say stuff (?)
His reputation is deserved.

>>36811807
I think we can work with that guy.

>>36811807
"I hope you can deal with really loud yelling."

>>36811807
>You might say that...
>How'd you even find him? Aside from following the sound of his voice I mean.

>>36811807
Both of these:
>>36811826
>>36811830

Totally got to surprise Ranthix when we meet Derek.

>>36811807
"He threw me out of a window once."
>awkward pause
"That probably sounds a lot worse than it was."

>>36811807
>Say stuff
"Yeah, I know him. He ain't invincible, but he's pretty fucking close to it."

>>36811885
If we minimize Derek's perceived risk, he might slip up and forecast his inevitable betrayal. Additionally we might try to downplay how loyal Ranthix is to us a la >>36811877 so that if shit does go down, we have a surprise advantage. If everything goes smoothly, then it's just peachy. And we get delicious earth energies.

>>36811807
Going to second
>>36811826
Maybe Ranthix will even let us observe as he works, I'm curious how he would go about taking down some huge magical empire.

>>36811807
>Say stuff
"He's not so tough. My mother kicked his ass without breaking a sweat."

>>36811951
>downplay Ranthix's loyalty

I like that - a lot. I didn't even consider it. I think it's a solid idea as long as Loudface can play along.

>>36811951
>his inevitable betrayal
What? What's with people thinking that every single person is out to betray us?

>>36811981
Sierra doesn't have friends. Only enemies who haven't revealed themselves yet. Occasionally some of those enemies give her presents.

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>>36811808

“Well if he’s the muscle, then I feel a hell of a lot better about this,” you say. “I mean. You need a bear thrown out a window, he’s the one for the job.” You decide not to mention the fact that you are the recipient of his unquestioning loyalty.

“Between you and him then, I don’t think we’ll have much to worry about,” says Derek.

“Hey hey, not so fast. I’m just saying, it’s a smart pick,” you say. You wonder what else Ranthix does on the side. Yellow hummers and M60’s don’t pay for themselves, you suppose. “If this is a job, there’s supposed to be money. What am I getting out of this?”

“If you really are a landmaster, then you get to claim the rift. Or, that is, the landwell.”

“And?”

There’s a pause from his end. “Twenty thousand. Half before, half when we’re done.”

>This being the money you stole from banks.
>I’m a busy woman. Cheesecake doesn’t eat itself.
>Hm. Reasonable.
>I’m just yanking your chain. You’re an okay guy I guess. Just don’t gyp me, got it?
>Before I agree or disagree to anything, I need more details. When’s this happening? What’s the game plan?
>Other (?)

>>36812209
>Hm. Reasonable.
>Before I agree or disagree to anything, I need more details. When’s this happening? What’s the game plan?
Tell him we'd prefer to do that part in person, so we can feel out his emotions while getting the info.

>>36812209
>Hm. Reasonable.
>I’m just yanking your chain. You’re an okay guy I guess. Just don’t gyp me, got it?
"Lets meet up later to discuss the plan"

>>36812209
>Hm. Reasonable.
>Before I agree or disagree to anything, I need more details. When’s this happening? What’s the game plan?

>>36812209
>Hm. Reasonable.
>I’m just yanking your chain. You’re an okay guy I guess. Just don’t gyp me, got it?

>>36812220
This is a good plan. Emotion reading is the shit.

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>>36812209
>Before I agree or disagree to anything, I need more details. When’s this happening? What’s the game plan?
>Other()
"You're a decent guy, but I'll only tell you this once. Don't fuck me, Derek. Don't you ever try to fuck me."

>>36812209
>>I’m just yanking your chain. You’re an okay guy I guess. Just don’t gyp me, got it?

>>36812209
Man, merc jobs pay well. We should look into picking up some more jobs later.
>Hm. Reasonable.

>>36812209
This is good
>>36812229
Tentatively agree, and if we meet up and he seems suspicious, we can discuss it with Ranthix or pull out.

You can’t see anything bad with those pricing options. “Hm. Reasonable enough,” you say. “I’m just yanking your chain, though. So long as you don’t gyp me, I’ll be happy. We’re going to have to meet face to face to seal the deal, though.” Mostly so you can get a read on him. People are easier to understand when you can sense all of their deepest, most secret feelings.

“I’ll clear a time out for it,” says Frederick.

“So when’s this happening, anyway?”

“We leave at the end of the month. From there it will be about two days out and two days back.”

“Wait. Days?”

“That’s on horseback. Or an equivalent,” he says. “I’m still arranging a few of the details. I’ll let you get back to your party. We can discuss the details when we meet in person.”

“Right.”

“Thank you again, Sierra. I’ll see you later.”

“Try not to die before then,” you tell him. You hang up, and after catching a little barbeque sauce that escaped your notice before, head back to your table. So many plans.

--

Calling it quits for the night. I’ll post on Twitter as soon as I have a time I can run.

>>36812515
Thanks for running, man. This is seriously enjoyable. I can't really being out the words how much I like this quest and your writing but be sure that both are outstanding.

>>36812515
Good thread, mate.

>>36812515
Thanks for running.

>>36812515
Thanks for the thread. Nighty night

hellborn quest is best quest because protagonist actually has a personality and cool quirks. keep it up languid.

>>36812515
ty languid

>>36812515
Ok- thanks for running Languid!

>>36812515
This was a most excellent thread.

We should remember to ask what happened to the original landmaster.

Also where the money came from, we don't want to get shafted by the authorities if it was obtained by rolling a bank, especially when it's just another thing for Satt to potentially get involved in via supernatural merc work. Plus the sudden backstab of guilt when we inevitably overhear some poor bank worker whose life is currently hell while they absorb the damages from the theft.

this better not interfere with the dance.