The Rules:
The official QM Twitter is @CitizenCFKane. Watch there for when a new thread starts.

Generally, the most popular option suggested by the people of /tg/ will win for the action taken or words spoken. However, occasionally dice rolls may be used.

Please be respectful of your fellow players and the GM. Don't be that guy.

Pop culture references are allowed, but an over-abundance of them will likely result in a lackluster experience.

The dice rolls will use the AD&D method. If attacking, roll high. If rolling percentage or a skill, roll low. The majority of rolls will be made with d20.

The highest of three rolls made after the deciding post is the roll taken.

>>37472441
Take our time getting to the logging town. Maybe Delmirev will hear us playing and catch up, if he's still alive that is.

>>37472441

Gather some herbs. We took that survival class, maybe we can find something useful in case one of us is hurt.

>>37472837
>>37472846

On the way to the town, you spend some time gathering herbs along the path. You find enough to make a basic healing tonic and enough to make something to heal burns and rashes, but not much else. It goes in your backpack.
You continue playing rather upbeat folk songs on your way. In the time you've had this mandolin, you've figured out just about as many chords as you'll ever need -- but you still only know very basic scales and tricks to keep an audience interested. And, Roz's vocal performance is lackluster; it's clear she plays some other instrument, though you don't know which.
Still no sign of Delmirev. Strangely, there's no sign of any animal life out here at all. You haven't seen so much as a rabbit. Strange, you're not that close to the logging town -- you wonder why there hasn't been any animal life here.
As you continue along the road, you see a man in yellow walking along. He doesn't have anything with him. Do you approach this man or ignore him?

>>37472983
Approach.

>>37473021

"Hail, traveler!" You call out. The man in yellow turns around. He holds a large staff; it is ornate, with many faces and symbols carved into it that you don't recognize, and a brown-yellow stone fixed into its tip.
The man is obviously old, with wrinkled skin and white hair, a short beard and a crooked nose. He still seems to be in fine physical condition, leading you to believe that his staff is not just a walking stick.
"Aye?" He says, looking over you. "What is it?" His attention turns to Roz for a moment and then he looks back to you. "Looking to rob an old man in the woods?"

>>37473100
"No, no. Nothing like that. I just wanted to warn you that there's a band of orcs back that way. We ran into them yesterday, fought them off at first but they came back with more. One of our friends led them away so we could escape, haven't seen him since. So be careful. And if you see a man with a leather armor and a bow, could you let him know we'll be waiting for him at the logging town up ahead for a couple of days?"

>>37473335
"Leather armor and a bow?" He looks at his staff. "I suppose I could relay the message if I come across him."
"We thank you, stranger."
"Oh, and Buddy Holly, there is danger ahead. Not everything in this world is as it seems." He begins walking away. "If I were you, I would abandon this quest and go East to find your companion!" Didn't he just call you by name?
"Wait," you call out to him, "How did you know my name? Why East? Who are you?"
The old man taps his staff on the ground and suddenly disappears completely. No trace of him is left behind.
"He said to go East to find Delmirev," the monk says. "We should change direction and go to find him."
"Who knows if we can trust that old man?" Roz asks. "He seems like nothing more than a crazy old sorcerer."
"What do you want to do, Buddy?" Maccabeus asks.

>>37473731

I say we go East.
Anyone else here?

>>37473731
I say we continie north. Even if Delmirev is where the old man said he is, too many people are depending on us succeeding in this to give up now.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>37474128
>>37474157

I'll leave this up to fate, then.
We usually have at least one more guy, don't we?

1: East
2: North

>>37474157
Not to mention we're on a time limit. We only have a month to heal Miranda before she leaves the college.

>>37474207
Well, hopefully he's not far then.

File: DragonMap.png (76 KB, 1600x1200)

76 KB PNG

>>37474207

"If we head East, we shouldn't go too far out of the way. Plus, Delmirev was useful. He could help us a lot."
"Alright."
The five of you begin to head East. Being only two days into your travel, you have plenty of time to complete this task.
It soon becomes night and you elect to be the first watch while setting up camp. So far, there has been no sign of Delmirev.
After half an hour passes, you hear a voice calling out to you from the darkness.
"Buddy, come to me." The voice comes from further East. The rest of your companions are asleep.
What do you do?

>>37474309
Stay right where we are.

>>37474309
And cast light in that direction.

>>37472846
>>37474128
Are these you OP? I'm only seeing two IPs.

>>37474446
No big deal if it is. I'm not sure why you're doing it but whatever.

>>37474446

Ah, you caught me bumping. Sorry if that's dishonest, I didn't want a sudden wave of activity to kill the bread.
But shame on you for digging into my internets. Stop putting your hands in the cookie jar!

>>37474332
>>37474367

You cast light in the direction of the voice, propping yourself against a tree. The old man in yellow is standing there. Instinctively, you grab the hilt of your longsword.
"Buddy, come with me." He holds his hand out. The voice doesn't seem to come from his mouth; it appears in your mind. He doesn't move his lips at all. You draw your longsword.
"It would be unwise to kill me," he says. "Now come with me, and come alone."
You remain in your spot. It doesn't seem like a good idea to go with him.
"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already."
Do you go with him, run, wake up your companions? What is your action?

Rolled 3 (1d4)

>>37474720
I guess go with him. What the hell?

There's an IP counter down at the bottom right of the page now. That's how I knew. I don't really care this time but could you please stop doing it?

>>37474869


I'll stop doing that, then. Also I totally didn't know about the IP thing so thanks for that.

You walk up to the man in yellow and he leads you to a clearing not so far away. The moon is out tonight; it is full and lights the area clearly.
"What is it? Where is Delmirev?"
"Your companion is long since dead."
"What? How do you know?"
"Nothing happens in this forest without my knowledge."
You walk around the old man. "What is it that you want? Who are you?"
"I will tell you three things."
"Three things?"
"First, the woman is not what she seems."
"What woman?"
"Second, there is something missing from your plan."
"Something missing?"
"Third, your sword is only a piece."
"A piece of what?"
"When these things come true, you will find me."
"You haven't told me anything at all! Why are you here? Who are you?"

The light in the area goes dark for a few seconds and then returns to normal. The old man is gone.
You return to your party. Anything you want to do before switching the watch over?

>>37475160
I'm gonna wait about 20 minutes to see if someone else comes up with anything. I'm terrible at shadowruns.

>>37475160
damn i was late ohh well

look at the runes on the short sword.

>>37475304

You take out your short sword and look at the runes on it. Given your knowledge of runes, you clearly recognize a variation of the word "Heart", but the rest of it is in a strange dialect you wouldn't know. Perhaps someone back at the college would know.

>>37475304
So, any ideas on what's missing from our plan?

>>37475498
a way to get back home i think?

what has me stumped is who the woman he was talking about.

>>37475524
That could be it. I would think our passage over the sea would be covered but we don't have another way back to the college so far other than over-land travel.

Could it be Roz? We've never met her before and we don't know much about her. I don't think it's Miranda. It might be Assandra but that doesn't seem likely. Or it could even be someone we haven't met yet. We don't have much info to go on.

>>37475643
Covered both ways*

>>37475376
>>37475376

You switch the watch over after a little while and go to sleep.
In the morning, the party is all ready to travel again. "We'll go Northwest today," you say to them.
"Aren't we looking for Delmirev?" The monk asks.
"It won't do any good to continue until we're out of the forest. We're heading to the logging town and we'll rest for a couple of days."
"Sounds good to me," Roz says.
So the five of you continue to head towards the logging village. You begin to wonder what's missing from your plan. There shouldn't be any issue.
After a long day of travel, you reach the edge of the forest and find a small walled town.
As far as the town goes, it's nothing very impressive. Lots of equipment to deal with lumber, but not too much else. There appears to be quite a few homes, a small tavern with a second story, probably an inn, and a small market district. You estimate the town has less than 200 people in it -- far from where you live, where there are over a thousand.
Anything you want to check out?

>>37475643
Roz makes the most sense to me maybe she is the dragon were looking for.
>>37475697
check out the tavern

I'm thinking we should get the monk alone at some point and tell him what the old man said. He might be able to help us figure out what he meant with some of those clues. At the very least he has a right to know his friend is probably dead.

>>37475737
Maybe it was even Roz that killed Delmirev.

>>37475697
Go to the tavern.

>>37475737

You walk into the tavern. It is a small building without a name. However, it is clearly lit on the inside; despite its humble appearance, the town keeps itself clean and orderly. A bartender, human and old, sits behind the counter, polishing a glass. There are only five tables and seven stools at the bar.
Sitting at the bar is a strong looking man with a scar going down his bare back. He's drinking and talking with the bartender.
"Ah dinnae wha' ye'd call i', Tomas, bu' i' were mass'v! A' leass ten feet tall, big harns, an' teeth th' size o' yer 'and!"
"Oi, tha's enuff o' yer tall tales Jarrey, we'ff go' cust'mars 'ere."
You and the party enter completely into the tavern.
"Aye, laddeh, whut can ah do ye fer?"

>>37475876
any thing is possible.
>>37475879
just a few rooms for the night.

>>37475879
"Something to eat, something to drink, some beds for the night and a little information, please."

Ask him about the old man. Has he or anyone he's met seen that guy?

Ask if there are any wizards, bards,, , or scholars nearby.

>>37475999
>>37475980

"Something to eat, something to drink, a few rooms for the night and a little information, please."
"Aye, I go' tha' fer ye!" He pours you and your companions each a pint of ale. "As fer inf'rmation, I dinnae knoe what I can tell ye. An' yer payment?"
"I have some gold coins here. How much do you charge?"
"Aye, two coin'll be enuff fer a coup'l o' nights."
You pass him the coins. "Now as fer inf'rmation, what d'ye wanna knoe?"
"Are there any wizards, bards or scholars nearby?"
"Oi, if ye want bards, they be in th' college to th' South. As fer wizards... well, there be Tith in th' fores', bu' we don' go t' him. Dangerous, they say he is."

You take a sip of your ale. It's good, with hints of maple. Obviously home brewed in the tavern. Anything else?

>>37476143
"Dangerous how? What can you tell me about him? Is there someone else that could tell me more?"

>>37476199

"Well, deals with 'im usually go... sour. 'E usually as's a hef'y price. Us'ally some'in diff'cult an' dea'ly."
"Is there someone else who could tell me more?"
"As' Jarry o'er thar, how 'e go' 'is scar."

You turn to the scarred man in the tavern.
"So, how did it happen?"
"Aye, it were a lon' time agoh, bu' ah rem'mber i' well. I wen' t' tha' damn wiz'rd wi' hopes o' ge'in a healin spell fer my wife. Th' wiz'rd ha' me go North t' fight a drag'n, an' I bar'ly escap'd wi' me life. Th' beas' scratched me ba', an' th' w'zzard dinnae help me. So me wife were ill an' she died. T'was a hard win'er tha' year."

Anything more?

>>37476358
"What does this wizard look like? Did he dress in yellow or did he have a staff with brown-yellow stone on top?"

>>37476358
if its not to rude what was your wife's name.

>>37476444
"Aye, tha' is 'is staff. Th' damn stone, I rem'mber it well."
The man stares down into his drink. "Ay, I nee' a refill."
His mug gets filled. It appears he doesn't want to say much more about the man they call Tith.

Anything else you want to do or ask before heading to your room? It's not yet sundown.

>>37476458

"'er name were Rosaline. She were only 24 when she died."

>>37476480
talk to our party about what they want to do while in town.

>>37476480
Ask Roz if she knows what the runes on the sword mean.

>>37476540

"I'd like to see the marketplace," says Assandra. "Maybe they've got something I'd like."
"I guess I'll join her," says Roz.
"I'm fine with sitting here and drinking," says Father Maccabeus.
"I think I'll go to my room," says the monk.

Now might be a good time to talk with the monk, or maybe you could also check out the marketplace. What's your choice, adventurer?

>>37476554

"Before you go, could you look at this, Roz?" You ask, taking out the shortsword.
"Sure." She looks at it. "Some runes. I could figure it out if you left it with me overnight."
"Yeah, hold on to it for me, I guess." You've got three other weapons, anyway.

>>37476593
go and talk to the monk then when assandra and roz comeback have roz look at the Short sword.

>>37476593
Ask the monk to stay. Tell them everything about what happened last night and ask them to not mention this to the girls.

>>37476631
>>37476647

The two girls head to the marketplace, leaving the monk and Father Maccabeus in the tavern with you.
"Could you stay here a moment?"
"Alright." The monk takes a seat next to you and Maccabeus. "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"
"The other night, I came across the man in yellow during my watch. He told me some strange things..." you tell him the three things that the man told you. "More importantly, he told me that Delmirev is dead. He didn't say how he knew or who killed him, but he said the man is dead. I thought you might want to know."
"That is... grave news, Buddy." The monk orders a drink. "Delmirev is a good friend of mine, and the best marksman I've ever known. If he has passed away, it greatly saddens me. But I am a monk of Obad-Hai, and it is my firm belief that all things come full circle. If Delmirev is dead, his spirit will remain and come again into a new life someday. And hopefully I will see my friend again."
He downs the entire mug in one go. "Now, I have much to think about. I will go to my room."
Maccabeus waits for the monk to leave to talk to you.
"How are you doing?" He seems relaxed.

>>37476782
im a little overwhelmed to be honest

>>37476782

>>37476782
"Lost. Afraid. Confused. Overwhelmed. Not good at all really. It seems like everyday brings some new obstacle."

These damn pictured captchas are a real pain in the ass.

>>37476826
>>37476969

"I'm a little overwhelmed, to be honest."
"Ah, it's no trouble, boy. I'm a priest! Though slightly buzzed, I am still open to anything you want to say!"
"Over these past few months my girlfriend nearly succumbed to drug addiction, I had to put an end to a league of assassins, go through the usual struggles of collegiate training, and now I'm on a quest to find a dragon in the off-chance that she'll bless me and I'll be able to use draconic healing to return my girlfriend's voice -- otherwise she's going to get kicked out of college and I'll likely not see her for years at least."
"Well, that's a hefty load. It reminds me of when I was your age, before I found the light of Boccob. In my years, I think I've found one piece of wisdom which is greater than all others."
"What's that?"
"Plans are what we make, and life is what happens. So you're going to find this dragon, then what? It tells you to do some task for it before it blesses you? You'll be put into an endless chain of tasks. And your girlfriend, she's important to you, but you are young and it's possible that she's not the one for you. How long have you known her?"
"Only one semester. But we are in love, and I am doing this for her. I've done all of this for her."
"Then perhaps she's not someone you need in your life right now. Listen, Buddy, you've already got responsibilities with the college. I'm not telling you to quit now -- you've already come this far -- but once you finish with this dragon, perhaps you should let her go, for your own sake."

Any reactions, bard in training?

>>37477002
Huh thats thought not one i personally agree with but one that has merit ill give you that.

>>37477197
it should be that's a thought

>>37477002
"Well I'll give you one more piece of wisdom, priest. The heart wants what the heart wants. I'll do this thing for her, and the next, and the next after that. As long as she holds a place in my heart I'll do whatever is necessary to see that she is well and taken care of. Thanks for listening, I'm going to go check on the girls."

>>37477197
"That's a thought. Not one I'd personally agree with, but that has merit."
"Well, of course, that's your decision. What's she like?"
"She's shy. Kind. Really, a pure soul."
"And you would sacrifice yourself for her?"
"I have and I would continue to do so."
"If it makes you happy, then do that! In any case, I've had a few too many. I think I'm going to go to my room now." Father Maccabeus gets up and heads to the stairs.

It's almost sundown. Do you want to do anything before heading to your room?

>>37477301
Go see what the girls are up to.

>>37477301
wait for the girls to return then go to bed.

>>37477269
"Well I'll give you one more piece of wisdom, priest. The heart wants what the heart wants. I'll do this thing for her, and the next, and the next after that. As long as she holds a place in my heart I'll do whatever is necessary to see that she is well and taken care of. Thanks for listening, I'm going to go check on the girls."
The priest nods to you before heading up the stairs.

You head out of the tavern. The streets are getting dark and people are walking about. It takes a moment, but you see Roz and Assandra standing by a jewelry stand.

"What about this one?" Assandra asks, holding up a necklace. It's a plain chord with amber at the bottom, tied in.
"It looks fine."
"You're not much fun to shop with, Roz. Maybe we should buy you some weights -- you're all skin and bone!"
"I'll pass."
"Aw, come on. Do you even use a sword?"
"I prefer daggers, to be honest."
"Then why don't you find some daggers?"
"I've already got some."
"Where? I haven't seen them!"
"Then I've done well hiding them."
"Is that a joke? You're capable of joking?"
"Whatever."
"Oh, hey, Buddy! What's up?" Assandra waves at you. "You like the necklace?"

>>37477384
it looks nice; just came to see whats going on with you two before going to bead.

>>37477471
"It looks nice. Just came to see what you two were up to before going to bed."
"Just nice?" Assandra groans and puts the necklace back.
"Well, I'll be off, then." You head back to the tavern and enter your room. You decided against rooming with the other men, since the monk is probably still upset and you were, after all, the messenger.
You fall asleep.

>>37477521

You wake up startled when Roz runs into the room.
"Buddy, wake up!"
"What? What is it?"
"It's Assandra. She's gone missing."
"What do you mean?" You immediately sit up.
"I was shopping with her and then she went to a stall and said she would meet me in the tavern. I waited for her for three hours and then went out to look around. No one is at any of the stalls, nobody is walking around -- she's just gone, and everything else is closed."
"Shit," you say, strapping on your armor.

What do you do?

>>37477629
wake the others and inform them whats happened and start looking around for her.

>>37477629
Wake the gys up, go get the tavern keeper,ask Roz to tell him which stall they were at, ask him who runs it and where they live, ask that person about the last time they saw her.

i swear to god if she is just fucking some random dude are one of the other party member im gonna face palm so hard.

>>37477745
I hope that's all it is.

>>37477767
dont get me wrong i would prefer that.

>>37477673
>>37477708
>>37477745
>>37477767
>>37477792

You quickly wake the monk and Maccabeus and inform them about what happened. You head down to the main floor of the tavern and get ready to head out when you hear a woman scream outside. Running outside, you see a woman running away from a cart. You immediately run to the cart. In front of it, there is blood.
You see Assandra on the ground, making quick, pain-filled sounds. She has her sword drawn, but there is a clear broadword wound in her ribcage. You can tell the weapon, because it's still stuck through her and into the ground.
"Out of the way!" Father Maccabeus yells, running to her. "By Boccob's might -- let this girl heal!" A light springs from his hands and her wound begins to seal. "Draw the sword out, now!" You draw out the sword as Maccabeus continues to seal her wound.
"B-buddy, I --" Assandra screams, the wound still closing. "I wasn't good enough, I couldn't --"
"Assandra, we're going to fix you up and you'll be on your feet."
"N-no, you don't understand, I thought I could -- thought I could stop --" she begins coughing up blood.
"Maccabeus, do something!"
"I'm doing everything I can!"

What do you do?

>>37477809
Do we have that healing tonic or didn't we make it? If not, just ask her who did this. Tell the monk to ransack the stalls for anything that might be able to help.

>>37477809
this>>37477902

i cant think of any thing.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>37477902
>>37477926

You run into the tavern and grab a glass of water, then mix the healing tonic, rush it back to her and give it to her.
"Go check the stalls!" You yell at the monk, who runs to do so. "Come on, Assandra, who did this to you?"

Rolling Assandra save.

>>37477926
She's probably fucked no matter what. And here I thought we were doing pretty well so far.

>>37477980
so did she live.

>>37477988
ya so did i.

Come on. I don't to have to go to bed sad after this.

>>37477980

If we weren't playing AD&D stat rules, that would've been a great roll.

"I can't -- Buddy, I --" Assandra gasps for air.
"Maccabeus!"
"I know, I'm trying! I've dispelled curses, illnesses, used all of the healing spells I know!"
"Assandra, stay with me! Stay alive!"
"Buddy, you know, I always thought --" She continues coughing up blood.
"No, don't give me that, Assandra!"
"-- I always thought you'd lose against me in that duel we were supposed to have, but I -- I guess that --"

Rolling second save.

Rolled 16, 5, 19, 10, 9 = 59 (5d20)

>>37478091

Actually, rolling all remaining saves. Result goes in order. 3 failures or 3 successes.

>>37478110
Can we roll to see if the monk finds anything?

>>37478110
again i have no idea is she is gonna live or not.

>>37478091

"I guess you win by default."
Assandra goes limp.
A wave of depression hits you hard. You turn away from her, quickly, as pain rushes to your stomach and you vomit on the ground. Assandra was one of your only friends, the best fencer you had ever met, and also Miranda's best friend. This isn't how she should have died. She should have died as an old woman after decades of adventuring. Not in a bloody mess, backed into a corner by some unknown fighter.
"There was a break-in at the weapons shop!" The monk yells, running up to you. "A broadsword was sto--" He stops after seeing Assandra.
"I'm sorry, Buddy," Maccabeus says. "There's nothing more that can be done."

What do you do?

>>37478210
God fucking dammit.

>>37478165

Assandra had a constitution score of 15. Due to unfortunate high rolls, she met the three death saving failures before she met the successes.

>>37478210
pick up her body and carry her inside figure out what to do with her body later.

We're 2 days into our journey and our 2 best fighters are already fucking dead. What the hell do we do now?

>>37478314
hell if i know im ready to drop do to the utter bullshit of this difficultly, with no hints to what might happen and more cryptic shit then Vulcan raven can shake a fucking stick at.

>>37478363
Yeah. I think I'm at least done for tonight.

>>37478424
same i need sleep.

>>37478308

You pick up her body and carry her into the tavern. You put the rapier into the frog on her belt. She's heavier than you thought, since her muscle is so dense. You lay her on a table.
"We should give her a proper burial," the priest says, walking up next to you.
"Can't you bring her back to life?" The monk asks him.
"Such things are beyond my ability, and even if they were not, the result is not always pleasant."
"She should be buried," Roz says. "Leaving her like this is just awful."
"Who did it?" You ask the monk. "Who stole the broadsword?"
"Nobody saw," the monk says. "It was just gone, as if it disappeared."


We're going to stop here for tonight.

I guarantee you, there is an answer, players!

>>37478469
Nah. I think >>37478363 is right. I'm tired of shit always going wrong in this. I'll check out your next quest but I think I'm done with this one.

>>37478520

Eh, if the players aren't interested in continuing then I can't really continue.
I'll throw a part 10 up but if no one shows up I'll stop running it.

>>37478363
Yeah same, the fucking retarded difficulty and hyper lethality is the one reason I don't turn up to most threads and just read the archives usually, and this latest bullshit with Assandra dying is just too much, OP, you might have had a fun and interesting premise and characters, but fuck me you can't QM for shit, when all that happens is hyper lethal bullshit with everyone dying and we do nothing but constantly fail, I don't enjoy the quest and don't want to play it.

This latest complete bullshit with Assandra is just too much, you could have saved this quest, but instead you drove it into the ground with this crap, before it could even get good.

A fucking pity you had to go and kill her out of fucking no where.

>>37478560
They are interested, but not in bullshit like this where you railroad characters deaths out of fucking nowhere and have the difficulty set to 19/10

>>37478469
>I guarantee you, there is an answer, players!
If the answer isn't resurrecting her from that utter fucking horseshit, then I'm not interested in knowing it or this quest.

>>37478652

Most of the quests I run have players dying in the first part. I thought this one was relatively tame.

>>37478628

Duly noted. This is new for me and I'm used to old school games where people die left and right. I'll tone it down in the future.

>>37478818
>I thought this one was relatively tame.
Fucking seriously? We can't go a single thread without you bullshit maiming or killing someone we care about and you think its tame?

>I'll tone it down in the future.
Well its too late now because I doubt you'll have any players in the future if you don't retcon this and stop the grimderp hyper lethality.

The best thing you could do right now in order to actually have that future is to retcon from >>37478110 >>37478210 onwards and not kill her, and get a much more lenient system, this isn't a PnP RPG, this is a joint interactive narrative game, and if you just keep killing and maiming players and characters we care about, with difficulty so absurdly high that we can do nothing but fail again and again then why would we play because thats not fun at all.