>>38115120

“THERE IS A PROBLEM,” he shouts in your ear.

“What kind of problem?” you ask.

You hold the phone away at arm’s length before Ranthix shouts his reply. “THE COUSIN OF THE COURT RAT IS PESTERING AND BADGERING ME WHEN HE SHOULD BE PESTERING AND BADGERING YOU,” he says.

Cousin of the… oh yeah. Orias. “So why’s he pestering you?”

“BECAUSE HIS BELEROTHIAN IDIOSYNCRACIES RENDER HIM INEFFECTUAL IN CARRYING OUT THE OBJECTIVES WHICH HE HAS PLANNED.”

You head a sharp word in the background on Ranthix’s end.

“AND YES, HE COMPLAINS OF MY SOLUTION WHILE OFFERING NO SOLUTION OF HIS OWN – OBSTRUCTIVE WEAKNESS INDICATIVE OF ALL COURT RATS AND THEIR KIND.”

You still have no idea what’s going on. “So what am I supposed to do about it?” you ask.

“HERE IS ANOTHER SOLUTION WHEREWITH I WILL SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS, COURT RAT. SPAWNLING, ORIAS THE COURT RAT ASKS TO MEET YOU AT THAT PARK – YOU KNOW, THE ONE YOU GO TO WHEN YOU RUN AROUND AT NIGHT – IN ONE HOUR’S TIME.”

You don’t even question Ranthix knowing your exercise habits. He keeps close tabs on you, and you guess there’s nobody safer in the whole city because of it.

“THE REASON FOR THIS MEETING IS THAT HE IS STUPID. THE END,” Ranthix explains. “I RECOMMEND NOT GOING, BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO LEARN THAT HE IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO INCONVENIENCE THE IMPERIATE.”

Without further explanation, Ranthix hangs up.

Huh. What?

>Well, if Ranthix says Orias needs to learn his unimportance, who are you to argue?
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.
>You’re busy. You still need to pack everything for tomorrow’s departure.
>Other (?)

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.

We've got plenty of time to pack, and going for a run is never a bad thing.

>>38115144
>You’re busy. You still need to pack everything for tomorrow’s departure.

>>38115144
>Go, but show up late. Make him wait.

>>38115144
>>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.


We need to set Ranthix number to low volume on our phone

>>38115144
>You’re busy. You still need to pack everything for tomorrow’s departure.

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.

Take Reeber with, and let someone know before we leave.

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.

>>38115144
Goddammit Ranthix is the fucking man.

>Well, if Ranthix says Orias needs to learn his unimportance, who are you to argue?

>>38115144
>Well, if Ranthix says Orias needs to learn his unimportance, who are you to argue?
>You’re busy. You still need to pack everything for tomorrow’s departure.

>>38115144
>Well, if Ranthix says Orias needs to learn his unimportance, who are you to argue?
>You’re busy. You still need to pack everything for tomorrow’s departure.

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.
FUCK YEAH! HELLBORN QUEST!

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.

I want to know more about Orias.

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.

You look over to the foot of your bed at Reeber, who pops up at the attention. “What do you think?” you ask.

Reeber does not provide useful input.

Well, you could do as Ranthix suggests and get started packing instead. But you’re not sure if missing on this face-to-face is a good idea. He was being really vague and angry, and sometimes Ranthix’s priorities aren’t the same as your priorities.

You suppose you’ll do your night running a little early tonight and pop in to the park.

You continue neglecting your schoolwork in favor of practicing guitar for a few more minutes before you decide it’s time to leave.

You change into your running gear and call Reeber to your side. Before you leave, you stop by Cassandra, who’s watching some documentary on Netflix – it’s showing the mind-numbing boredom of Chinese factory workers right now. She pauses it to look at you. “What’s up?”

“Just so you know,” you say, “I’m going out to meet Orias at the park for whatever. Ranthix says its okay.”

Cassandra nods. “Need me to tag along?”

“Nah, shouldn’t be dangerous,” you say.

“All right. Well send me a text before you meet him and another two minutes later just in case,” she says. “Remember you can just run home if anything happens. Nothing can catch you.”

“Will do,” you say. “See you later.”

“Keep your eyes open,” Cass replies.

You leave her, and she goes back to her documentary.

The cold weather makes running a little uncomfortable and kind of nice at the same time. On one hand you’re cold, but on the other hand you’re not overheating from running around. You don’t even build up a sweat as you vault people’s fences, scamper up the sides of walls, and leap from rooftop to rooftop. With nobody watching you, you careen along at implausible speeds on the straightaways, wind swishing rapidly past your ears as you go.

Hmm. Baron has an early lead, since we've known him longer and even had a date. But Orias can teach us Heltic...

Didn't we offer to show him SF and answer questions about Earth? He can be a better source for info on Hell that Ranthix since he's all cultured and stuff.

>>38116233

You’re definitely going to be early, so you wind up circling around the entire neighborhood a second time to slow yourself down.

As you jog aroudn the corner of a quiet urban street, a shift of movement beside a group of bushes on the opposite side of the road catches your eye. You’re not wearing your glasses, and the place is too well lit for you to get a good view with your shadow sight, but you can make out two people struggling.

The bigger one quickly gains the upper hand, twisting his opponents arm and shoving them to the ground. “Breathe not a word, scum,” he hisses at his prey in a gruff tone. You recognize the voice as belonging to Xathix.

You get near enough to see Xathix, dressed in black fatigues, his red skin and horns are dull in the orange glow of the streetlight above. He has a short blade drawn and pressed to the back of his captive’s neck. He keeps the other secured in place with a solid boot planted between their shoulder blades.

The person below struggles to look up at you, her cheek smashed against the ground.

>I’m… going to keep going where I was going.
>What the hell is this?
>Hey lady, nobody sneaks up on me.
>On a scale of one to paranoid, how concerned should I be right now?
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?
>Other (?)

>>38116275
>>On a scale of one to paranoid, how concerned should I be right now?

>>38116275
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?

>>38116275
>On a scale of one to paranoid, how concerned should I be right now?
>I’m… going to keep going where I was going.

>>38116275
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?
>Hey lady, nobody sneaks up on me.

>>38116275
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?
>What the hell is this?

>>38115144
>You’re not exactly sure what this is about. You should probably go meet Waldric’s cousin at the park just to be safe.

>>38116275
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?

I'll be back in an hour or something like that.

>>38116468
That's the Languid I've come to know! Always running off to save us from some vicious lawn.

>>38116275
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?

>>38116275
>On a scale of one to paranoid, how concerned should I be right now?
>Uh. Hey Xathix. How’re you doing?

>>38116275
>Uh. Hey Xathix and captive of Xathix. How’re you doing?

>>38116501
He's the hero we need...But don't deserve....

>>38116698
He's the hero we need, but wish would stay at home.

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>>38116726
Well we could force him to stay home...

>>38116726
>>38116893
No human would ever suggest hamering Languids ability to mow.

Nice try lawns, but don't think you can pull the grass over our eyes so easily.

>>38116893
God that movie still freaks me out.

>>38116275
Calling it now. It's Vikrama.

>>38117103
That doesn't even make sense

>>38117166
Don't care. I want it to be Vik.

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>>38117103

File: 1384272677998.gif (2.45 MB, 400x209)

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>>38117103
If it is, what do you think her reaction to finding out we're technically a princess and this is one of our sorta-bodyguards would be?

>>38117838
Probably a rapidfire barrage of questions.....

>>38117838
>Seirra get's even more Mary Sue

>>38118019
I think of Sierra as more of a "powergamer with a fuckload of potentially crippling flaws" than "Mary Sue"

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>>38118019

>>38118019
http://www.springhole.net/writing/marysue.htm

Here take the test to let us know if she's actually a Sue. I don't know enough about her to take it.

>>38118060
So... A power gamer who didn't actually READ any of those "useless" social flaws and just took them to rack up combat power?

>>38116275
>>On a scale of one to paranoid, how concerned should I be right now?

>>38118148
Her player probably didn't think Major Phobias of Scissors and Water would ever come up in play, and probably gambled on finishing a lot of enemies with stuff like Bloodlust, Frenzy and Rampage.

>>38118293
You forgot the problems with touching people and minor eyesight issues.

>>38118293
I had a player who took a fear of ducks, water, and confined spaces.

I trapped him in a petting zoo during a hurricane it was glorious.

>>38118378
Not forgetting; simply refraining from mentioning.

>>38118401
>Spoiler
Glorious

>>38118086
I did this test with Sierra in mind and I got a 13, which, according to this test's particular metric, means that Sierra has a low chance of being a Mary Sue.

>>38118401
Well done.

>>38118485
Too many actual issues and not enough things going her way for the sake of going her way to be a sue

>>38118469
He's the problem child.

Played a Chinese national and for points took mute. Further to save on points he took spoken English. He couldn't read or write it.

At one point he got fed up waiting for the other players to catch a flight. He bitched at them for 15 minutes and then went off to find the terminal.

Alright I go to my departure!
How?
Well I look at my ticket an-oh fuck.

The other players reported him as a lost person with special needs and he was collected by airport security.

>>38118586
And the fact that she doesn't seem to be too much of a self-insert

>>38118653
She doesn't fight enough plant demons for that.

>>38118653
And then come to find out, the lawn gets mowed by languids self insert.

>>38118086
Got 77.

Good to see that i haven't missed that much

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Allow me to illustrate why Ranthix is our only real option.

>>38119118
Agreed.

I'm back. Things took longer than expected.

>>38115120
What did Sierra think about guns of the south? (The book she bought when she first met Waldric)

>>38119166
It's fine we understand that you fight the good fight to save us all from the dastardly lawn!

>>38119166
Did you beat that lawn into submission?

>>38119166
If Languid is a professional lawn battler, does that make him a hedge knight?

>>38118485
>>38118951
I got 30.

She got a lot of points from being a royal multi-breed (of incompatable bloodlines) with magical animal companions and unusual abilities even for other demons. Not to mention being orphaned in the attack that killed the rest of her family.

She lost lots of sue-points by horrifying everyone who isn't a demon with her true form, having phobias that have fucked her over at important moments, suffering lingering effects from trauma, having non-human quirks that are most certainly NOT cute or endearing to normal people, and making bad decisions that have consequenses.

>>38119246
I can't recall why Languid became the battler of lawns anymore. Just that its been going on for a while.

>>38119300
I thought her father survived then disappeared? Might need to reread that part if I'm wrong.

>>38119355
>I can't recall why Languid became the battler of lawns anymore. Just that its been going on for a while.
Because he'd always leave mid-thread to mow his lawn early on.

>>38119413
Seriously, it was better than twice a week and more than an hour a go. In retrospect, I hope that "mow the lawn" was used euphemistically, otherwise he has got to have the most aggressive lawn in existence.

You’re not sure what you’re looking at here. “Uh. Hey Xath. What’s… how’re you doing?”

“Thy servant is well, Your Terror,” Xathix growls in reply. He presses the blade harder against the back of the woman’s neck. “This one positioned herself to accost thee at the next bend. What willest thou be done with her?”

You look back at the woman. She seems normal enough – jeans and jacket, with hair curled up in some kind of braid. There’s nothing around that you can see, but that doesn’t mean much. “Is it safe for me to be out here, or does are there more where she came from?” you ask.

“I know not but what may be more,” answers the Thul’tal acolyte. “Quaver not - nothing will penetrate my vigilance for thee, my Queen.”

“Oh. Cool,” you reply.

The woman in Xathix’s custody struggles under his grip. “I seek audience with the Imperiate!” she shouts. “Your Terror, I mean you no harm. Call off your lackey.”

For the first time, you notice there’s no feeling coming from the woman. Her emotions are subdued somehow. You think maybe they’re there, but you can’t get any specifics on them.

>Ask questions (?)
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.
>Yeah, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.
>Xathix, you’ve got everything under control, right? I’m running late.
>Other (?)

>>38119700
"What is your name, and what is your quest?"

>>38119700
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.
>You have 30 seconds, make your case.

>>38119700
>>Other (?)
"You have five minutes and you will be given it from your current position. You have not introduced yourself and have hidden your aura, so you will remain underfoot until the audience is concluded."

>>38119700
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

>>38119700
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

>>38119700
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

>>38119700
>>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.
>Ask questions (?)
"Let's start with who you are, what you are, what you want. and how you know who I am."

>>38119782
Second

>>38119700
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.
First my internet stops working and now my tv just died for no reason

>>38119196

Ask.fm is the place for this question.

>>38119836
The lawn is coming.

>>38119782
I like this one. But also include the second sentence of >>38119792. We are not to be fucked with.

>>38119700
>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

>>38119867
Another strange thing is that someone have been touching my pc and moved it, haven't been to my apartment for one week so i dunno

>>38119700
>>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

>>38119792
>>38119700
This is really good

>>38120117
They've found you, run

>>38119700
>>If you wanted to talk to me, there’s better ways than sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

>>38120117
I'm sure its nothing RUN RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN

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>>38120596
It's to late.They got him while he was trying to drive away......

>>38120254
2nding

>>38120841
dat vote nesting

>>38120596
Someone has eaten a my pan pizzas as well so i'm kinda freaking out now

So....Languid pass out or something?

>>38121094
Miiiiight be time to change your locks on your door and windows. And sweep under your bed next time. It's kinda dusty under there.

>>38121094
Verwelkan get hungry, its probably nothing

>>38121094
Call the cops? Lock your shit. Do you know anyone who has a key to your place? My brother showed up once when I was out of town and ate all my damn ramen.

>>38121094
Relax, it's probably just a homeless guy living in your crawlspace. Don't worry about it

>>38121259
This actually happened dude >>38121094

Story/Video
http://boingboing.net/2009/12/09/woman-whod-been-secr.html

“Actually no, you’re not going anywhere,” you tell the unidentified woman. “You sneak up on me in the middle of the night and you’re hiding your aura or whatever. This conversation happens from where you are.”

The woman scowls at this, but then takes a deep breath and assumes an image of calm. “Whatever you say,” she says.

“Tell me who you are, what you are, why you’re here, and how the hell you know who I am,” you demand. “I’m only going to give you like, thirty seconds, so make it quick. If she tries anything, cut her neck Xath.”

“Aye,” he says, a fierce expression on his face.

The woman grunts in acknowledgement, and Xathix takes a little pressure off her so she can speak. “I’m Sariah Jaegerstroud,” she says. You catch a strange accent, almost implacable, except that you’ve heard the same accent before. “I’m an Idiomancer and Senior Storm Knight of the Order Eclipse, and I’m here because of a rogue interplanar criminal and revolutionary mage, Frederick DuDauss.”

She gives you a serious but level look before she continues. “The Order’s been keeping tabs on you for a long time. We make a point of knowing potentially important people,” she states. “There. You have the truth. Now may I speak with you on equal terms?”

>Say stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>38121404
"Xathix, do you you believe she is who she says she is? And any of those names ring a bell?"

Fuuuck I have to sleep. Languid you're awesome. Night man.

>>38121404
Sure, I'll support >>38121455

>>38121404
Let her off the ground and tell her to keep talking, but keep Xathix close. We should probably also send our familiar up to gesture wildly at Orias, maybe pin a note to him saying we'll be late.

>>38121455
Interplanar criminal is probably Mr. Freedom Fighter that wanted the flag.

>>38121530
I believe he is implying we play dumb

>>38121404
You know, of course, that you have absolutely no authority here, equal terms is a little presumptuous.
And the fact that you've been keeping tabs on me, believe it or not, doesn't actually make me want to trust you any more.
So, what is it you want with me exactly?

>>38121603
Second

>>38121404
seconding >>38121455

>>38121603
>>38121404
Supporting this.

>>38121603
boom, perfect

>>38121603
Seconding

>>38121603
I'm tempted to be a little more courteous, but they need to know the whole "ambush from a back alley" shit isn't okay, if they want a respectful sit down, they go through the proper channels.

lawnzord

Unhand our QM you villainous Lawn Golems, its not yet his time

You look to Xathix. He gives you an uncertain glance. He doesn’t know anything more than you do.

You make an annoyed sound. “I don’t know how it works where you’re from, but on my planet, people spying on you and trying to ambush you out of alleyways aren’t really trustable people. So, pretty much nothing of what you said makes me want to order Xathix off your back,” you say angrily. “And now I’m probably going to be late, so that sucks too. You could just like, call me or whatever, you know?”

You summon Monster out of thin air. The imp alights on your forearm and looks curiously at you. “Go find Orias – you know Orias, yeah? Go tell him I’m going to be late.”

Monster makes a small growling sound and flies off into the night.

You turn your attention back to the so-called knight. “Also, this is my place, so you wanting to be on equal terms with me is pretty damn rude. You’re a guest, act like it.”

“I apologize if I’ve given offense,” says the knight, a displeased expression on her face. She definitely doesn’t look comfortable with her face smashed into the sidewalk, but you like the idea of her not being comfortable.

“Hell yeah you apologize,” you say, smirking vindictively. “So what exactly do you want from me? Because I’m guessing you’re not here to be friends.”

Jaegerstroud closes her eyes for a brief moment to compose herself. “I didn’t mean our meeting to go like this, but if this is how you want it, then that’s how it will be,” she says. “I know what Frederick is planning, and I know the part you’re supposed to play in it. I need you to know that if you help him, a lot of people are going to die. Rebels, soldiers, civilians, knights and squires – it’s not going to be pretty.”

>>38123054

“Funny, I’m pretty sure he’d say the same thing about me not helping,” you reply.

“This isn’t funny, and it isn’t a joke,” says Jaegerstroud, trying to adjust her posture against Xathix’s grip. “The issues in Ettenrhine mean nothing to you. You might think you owe Frederick something, but you don’t. Just don’t open the landwell. Please.”

You laugh. “You know if I don’t go, somebody else is just going to go instead,” you answer.

“I know. That’s why I have an alternative offer for you.”

You raise an eyebrow.

“Go with Frederick to Cerra,” she says, “but when you get to the landwell, don’t open it. Seal it.”

>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.
>Too late. I’m already on the clock, lady. I’m not walking away from 20k.
>Is this a threat if I don’t do what you want?
>I’m not agreeing to anything right now. Maybe I’ll think about it, maybe I won’t.
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>Exactly how many people would you guesstimate on the dying schedule assuming all this works out like Frederick wants?
>Okay, I admit I might not have really thought this through. What kind of deal are you offering? I don’t run charity.
>Other (?)

>>38123078
>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.
>Too late. I’m already on the clock, lady. I’m not walking away from 20k.
OUR WORD IS OUR BOND!

>>38123078
>>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>>Exactly how many people would you guesstimate on the dying schedule assuming all this works out like Frederick wants?

>>38123078
>I’m not agreeing to anything right now. Maybe I’ll think about it, maybe I won’t.
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>Other: I hear you're overzealous angel-worshipping demon-killing borderline lunatics.

>>38123078
>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.

>>38123078
>I’m not agreeing to anything right now. Maybe I’ll think about it, maybe I won’t.
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>Exactly how many people would you guesstimate on the dying schedule assuming all this works out like Frederick wants?

Politics! Maybe we should ask them to send over an actual historian so we get a better idea of how fucked both sides are. Sounds like the French Revolution in fantasyland.

>>38123078
>Is this a threat if I don’t do what you want?
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>I'm not in the habit of cutting and running on deals I've already made, you're going to need to come up with something better than just your word if you want my help.

>>38123078
>>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.
>>Too late. I’m already on the clock, lady. I’m not walking away from 20k.
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?

>>38123158
I was thinking that too but I'm not sure I'd want a cerran historian as they might be less than 100% trustworthy. Best thing would be to get some local multiplanar historian who knows a good deal about things, including Cerra.

Might be a bit late for that now though.

>>38123078
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible, why should I listen to you over him?
>Exactly how many people would you estimate are on the dying schedule assuming this works out like Frederick wants.

>>38123078
>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.

>>38123078
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?

"Whose side are you on? Or do you just like the status quo?

>>38123139
Those are the Knights Seraphis, not the Order Eclipse.

On a sidenote, she said she was an Idiomancer, which I think means head-fuckery magic, so keep aware of that.

>>38123344
Sorry

>>38115120
Lawnguide, please send me refrigerated seed so I can have babies with you.

>>38123078
>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>Exactly how many people would you guesstimate on the dying schedule assuming all this works out like Frederick wants?

>>38123078
>>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.

>>38123078
>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.

>>38123369
SHUT UP! HE'S MINE!

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>>38123369
>>38123500

>>38123347
>Those are the Knights Seraphis, not the Order Eclipse.

Bah! I had a hunch it was going to be wrong. Clearly I don't know my cerran orders.

>>38123078
>I’m not agreeing to anything right now. Maybe I’ll think about it, maybe I won’t.

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>>38123500

>>38123078
>>I hear you guys are pretty terrible. Why should I listen to you over him?
>>Exactly how many people would you guesstimate on the dying schedule assuming all this works out like Frederick wants?

>>38123078
>Freddy’s not the smartest guy, but he’s a friend. I’m not going to stab him in the back.
>Pull Rowan out of the job at the nearest chance

This is a whole another war on a whole another plane, and without getting a full history lesson on their shit, we're never going to really know which side would is more justified and more in line with Sierra's ideologies, or whatever the fuck. Frederick is just going to continue to give his biased input, and Sariah is just going to give us hers. We should either continue with the plan and help out Frederick, whose character we have at least a little insight into, or pull out of the deal entirely.

Also ditch Rowan if there's even the most vague chance her finding out innocents are getting butchered en mass as a result of her actions, no need for her to have a guilty conscience.

>>38121404
WHY IS NOBODY PICKING UP ON THE IDIOMANCER THING

>>38123797
What exactly is an Idiomancer?

>>38123790
I'm not sure about pulling Rowan out. She might act as a way better moral compass for Sierra - I'd wager she's likely to make the right decision when things get questionable.

>>38123832
Magically changes your mind

>>38123832
>>38123347
>which I think means head-fuckery magic

It means to prepare for hijinks as soon as she catches wind that we arn't swallowing her bullshit.

>>38121094
Seems like you are being haunted by a roommate.

>>38123862
>>38123869
We didn't end up picking up that spell bend/shield power did we?

>>38123078
>Other (?)
"Know what? Fuck this thing. I was going to bring a fri-my sister to this thing for like, a fun night out. Just give me the money that other guy promised me and I'll sit it out. Not like he's going to sue me."

>>38123889
doesn't mean she's doing it now but she will as soon as she gets the chance

>>38123905
a knife in the neck before she gets a chance would solve that, the fact she wanted to talk to us alone only cements the possibility that she was gonna mind fuck Sierra from the get go

“Okay, first off, I’m not a backstabber. Freddy’s kind of stupid sometimes, but he’s a friend.”

“DuDrauss may be a good man, but good men can do terrible things,” says Jaegerstroud.

“Yeah?” you ask. “Well I hear you Eclipse guys are pretty terrible yourselves. Why should I listen to you instead of him?”

“Your involvement in this was a coin toss, Ms. Beckhoff,” she says. “I could explain to you for hours why we’re right and they’re wrong, but would it matter? If you met an Eclipse before Frederick, you might be having the opposite conversation with him right now, with him trying to get you to go against your friends in the Order. This is a Ferran war, it has nothing to do with you.”

That gives you a moment’s pause, but you don’t let it show. “I made a deal, and I’m on the clock. I’m not walking away from 20k. You’re going to need to do better than talk if you want my help,” you say.

The knight sighs. “If that’s what it takes,” she says. “If you walk away, right now, I’ll pay you twenty-thousand dollars.”

Wow. “Wait. You’re saying you’d pay me to do nothing?” you ask.

“The least I could do is cover your potential gains,” Jaegerstroud replies. She winces suddenly and tries to glare back at Xathix. “Could you quit that? I’m trying to have a conversation.”

“You chose the guise of assassins, I choose to afford the hospitality due to assassins,” Xathix replies, grinding his knee into her back.

The knight resigns herself to her fate, and looks back at you. “If you do help us, I’m prepared to offer you double whatever Frederick is paying you. On top of that, you’ll have the favor of the Order. We look after our friends, Ms. Beckhoff.”

That’s… not a bad offer. You try not to look tempted. “Uh. So. How many people exactly do you guesstimate dying given that everything works out like Frederick wants?”

Jaegerstroud’s expression turns steely. “It depends on their target and the size of the attacking force,” she says.

You get a bad feeling. (+2 Stress: 4/100)

>>38123930
A more polite method of stopping her from performing brainfuckery would be to use Soul Drinker on her, can't cast without PP.

She continues in a clinically detached tone. “For the dead on both sides combined, it could be anywhere between three thousand and fifteen thousand. The wounded, triple that – and that’s only for the first few days of fighting.”

This sounds like a bigger deal than you thought it was. (+7 Stress: 11/100)

The knight scowls. “The operation doesn’t even accomplish an objective. One bloodbath won’t change the strategic situation,” she says.

One part of you feels like she’s just saying stuff, but the other part feels like she might not actually be full of crap. This is kind of worrying. (+3 Stress: 14/100)

>Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing. What then?
>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>Attempt to read her emotions and get a bead on her.
>If I go through with this, am I going to go on your terrorist watch list or whatever?
>I don’t like what you’re asking me to do, lady. Get out of my sight. If I see you again, I won't be happy.
>Shove your deal and go to hell.
>So tell me why I shouldn't just kill you right now.
>Other (?)

>>38123862
That would explain why we can't read her emotions/intentions.

I think we should play up the fact that a) She tried to ambush us. For a conversation, or an assassination, either way that's not how you approach Royalty. A letter would have worked for gods sake.

and b) They know the details of the plans. That's a pretty big concern. How hackable is robo-dude? Because honestly a Robot designed to hate unconditionally and not be able to help itself betraying the cause would pretty much be the best spy ever.

And C) Freddy's a fucking asshole, and a zealot, but he is paying us. Not just in cash, but in POWER from the Landwell. So what does she have that can match that?

>>38124015
>>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>>Attempt to read her emotions and get a bead on her.

>>38124015
>Attempt to read her emotions and get a bead on her.
>So tell me why I shouldn't just kill you right now.

>>38124015
>Shove your deal and go to hell.

>>38124015
> Time to use BE magic. Soul Drinker, then we shall see what her aura has to say about her, hell.... she could actually want us to go through will the mission. She could be a reverse-psycholomancer

>>38124015
>but the other part feels like she might not actually be full of crap
idiomancer

>>38124015
>>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?
She is part of the opposing faction, is a mind-wizard, and we have her at knife point. There is no reason to trust what she says.

>>38124015
So is her entire argument when Freddy invades people die? Because that seemed kind of obvious.

>>38124015
>>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>>Attempt to read her emotions and get a bead on her.

>>38124015
> >How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.

I'm going to laugh as people try to debate the morality of getting involved in a foreign civil war. Welcome to "no good sides"

If we want to really not betray Freddy, see what kind of concessions/negotiations we can get her to make with HIM for us to close the Landwell. And then charge a fee to both sides for negotiating.

>>38124015
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing. What then?

An organized government is a better ally than some disenfranchised rabble with a thin possibility of success.

>>38124015
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?

>>38124015
>>Attempt to read her emotions and get a bead on her.

TRAP OPTION DETECTED. Lets not make a mental/emotional link with the idiomancer, guys.

>>38124076
I like this

>>38124015
>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?

>Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing. What then?
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.

>>38124076
cool
>>38124097
smart

>>38124015
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>Attempt to read her emotions and get a bead on her.

>>38124035
Pretty sure we get the power from the Landwell whether or not we choose to seal it or open it, but otherwise I agree. There might be a way we can use the landwell to send them through to somewhere else and seal it behind them, which would be a mission accomplished for the Order guys and be safer for us in the short term, but I'm not sure

>>38124015
>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>Other (?)
She better have some hard evidence on her if she absolutely HAD to do this in person.

>>38124015
>>Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing. What then?
>>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?
>>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.

These three, and tell Xathix that if we suddenly agree to anything then he is to assume she's influencing us and to kill her. We'll hear her out now, she will answer our questions, and we'll give our response once we've had some time to think about it.

>>38124136
>>38124112
Ow, shit yeah, changing my vote away from that, don't attempt to use powers on her.

>>38124128
I went to the Ferengi school of economics. There's no point stopping a war unless you're getting paid to do so, and honestly we don't really have goods to sell, just services.

So, if we can sell a service that DOESN'T have one side after us, that would be best. Something that keeps us neutral.

>>38124035
The cash she says she'll match, but is another landwell worth 40k? Also it's worth considering that Ranthix is involved in this mess.

>>38124015
>Abort
Abort, this blood money ain't worth it. Maybe let Frederick know and try to get him hooked up with his previous contact so we arn't giving him the shaft too hard, but man I don't know if having the figurative blood of even as low 1000 people on our hands is really worth it. Don't take any money from Sariah either for maximum integrity points.

>>38124112
>>38124143

These two, please. A vote against using our power on her, and letting Xathix know she might try to mind-fuck us. He's just as vulnerable, possibly.

>>38124015
>>Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing. What then?
>>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>>Plus you just to,d me you're a mind mage and you tried to get me alone. Not sure about back where your from, but here that screams "I'm going to mind fuck you as long as I get my way"

>>38124015
>>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.

>>38124167
Ranthix is our vassal. He wouldn't be happy about either a) us betraying our word, or b) ordering him to do the same, but he would do it.

Or he might be totes cool since we haven't actually taken the cash yet, and he doesn't have a moral stance on which side to help.

> If we want to really not betray Freddy, see what kind of concessions/negotiations we can get her to make with HIM for us to close the Landwell. And then charge a fee to both sides for negotiating.

Voting for this, see if /tg/ can actually diplomacy it's way out of this. Probably not though.

>>38124015
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.
>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?

>>38124169
Yeah, and what if these guys are gassing people like Nazis/Stalin/Mao? Would you accept 15,000 dead and wounded in order to prevent genocide?

Or even to simply minimize the capabilities of one side so that they're forced to renegotiate?

>>38124224
I feel like fucking her up Saktheris style. I just love to read languids demonic powers.
You make good points though

>>38124224
Agree, I want to talk with Rankthix about this before we commit to anything, get his opinion and make sure he's onboard.
Get the best offer we can get out of her, then give her a maybe until we've heard back from him.

>>38124097
This sounds like the solution to the "Paladin Problem" we have going on here.

>>38124104
Blackguard solution here.

Both sides are going to kill people, and neither one is really ideologically solid for us. So are we going to try and get the most dosh out of it for ourselves, or to reduce the number of people hurt?

Personally, I think we should have her send a formal emissary to meet with us in front of our court and make her case if they want to be serious about this, and not sketchy as all fuck.

>>38124035
C) she's offering us more money and doesn't give a shit about the landwell other than "don't use it to make a portal. Seal it instead."

>>38124265
That's the trouble with this whole thing. We don't have any unbiased info about the sides nor any way to get that, or if we did, It'd take too long to go over it all. We gotta work from what we got.

>>38124266
Well, if we can take the Landwell, then we will have a position in which to FORCE them to negotiate. And we can see if Freddy is willing to be reasonable as well, or if he's willing to kill any and everyone for his goals.

Essentially see whoever is willing to save lives.

They both say if we join the other side lots of people die, if we're gonna kill people through action/inaction lets just take whoever pays best, unless we just wanna get out altogether

>>38124224
Either way, we should fuck both of them over by gouging the prices. Let Freddy know we're getting paid by the Empire to raise his price, let the Empire know Freddy knows we're being paid off in order to raise their price, and so on. Bonus points if we somehow stab them all in the back so we're the only winner.

>>38124323
Great point. I'm all for betrayal now. Let's call up Ranbro.

>>38124265
What if, yeah. But I highly doubt we're ever going to get concrete evidence that one side is more justified than the other in this war, just biased and unreliable information from everyone, since they all want to manipulate us to their side. I think we should either completely disregard everything Sariah's telling us right now and not even give her the benefit of the doubt and stick it out with Frederick, or just pull out entirely, not even taking Sariah's bribe. I just prefer the option where we're guaranteed to not be directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocents.

Nothing good ever happened without good men and women killing other good men and women.

Welcome to real life.

>>38124370
All we're doing is providing a service. It's up to them what they do with it. Do you also blame gun manufacturers for murder?

>>38124365
Meh, I dislike flip floppers, how we gonna look to our demon bros, or Ranthrix, if we go back on the deal we're already working, those fuckers are all about honor and shit.

>>38124356
That kinda thing will discourage people from working with us in the future. Like taking a bribe. Sure, you're $200 richer, but now you are out of a job.

>>38124370
I prefer the option where we don't betray an agreement we've made, especially when a MIND FUCKER tries to get us alone to make it.

People die in war. No guarantee that this won't lead to the Empire exterminating the rebels and their civilian portion either.

>>38124401
True, but it's a bit redundant if they are lying to us anyways, or even not giving the full truth. They were dishonest first.

>>38124224
>Ranthix
>Not cutting the throat of a defenseless foe
>Not fully supporting any action the Imperiate takes to further her own ends
The Imperiate is beholden to no higher power, least of all friendship.

>>38124416
There's equally no guarantee that the rebels won't execute all officials and their supporters. Someone's going to be cleaning house, and we'd be better off if it's the people who don't have to reestablish their entire government before they can help us.

>>38124390
That comparison doesn't correlate because we, the gunsmith, are being told directly by our customer that he is going to shoot up his neighbor and his family because their dog was pissing in his yard or some shit.

We're opening a portal so that one army can explicitly get the jump on another and slaughter them all.

Belphegoran magic

>>38124460
Which is why, if that's our concern, we should use our position to force some sort of concessions from one side or the other.

Power isn't the basis of diplomacy, control is. We are in a position where we can grab the Landwell, and then either agree to open a portal to a place agreed on by both sides, or to close it in exchange for some sort of cease-fire or concessions towards reconciling the two groups.

If one group decides to act unreasonable, we can simply side with the other.

Or we can stick with the deal we've made and not be traitors, if we aren't actually concerned with saving lives and only with being able to wash our hands.

Regardless, we have the ability to influence the situation, and even deciding to do nothing could kill a bunch of people.

>>38124461
To continue to stretch the analogy, The smith is being told by guy 1 that guy 2 is going to do bad things, and guy 2 is saying the same about guy 1. And it is known that guy 1&2 hate each other.

>>38124513
Act an Imperator

>>38124524
Guy 2 also mentions that Guy 1 isn't a bad guy but what he is planning on doing IS bad.

This makes me want to have a thorough conversation with Freddy about things. I want to see more than just broad strokes here.

I like Freddy. He's a pretty cool guy but hiring demons (Imperiate now included, she's beyond such things) doesn't speak well for him, and either indicates desperation or preparedness to use any means neccessary. It's a bit ironic of me to say this - us being pretty much a demon - but seems to me that Freddy's taking a pretty dark path here.

>Mfw Sariah looks into Sierra's head....She just gets the feedback of all of us arguing and discussing this shit....Sariah just has a "Wat?" face

>>38124576
Well, lets get back on track. Before this got all vague moral discussion, we were voting to I believe go with

>Look I… I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?
>Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing. What then?
>How do I know you’re not just lying to me? You’re hiding your emotions. Or… something.

Plus I was the guy who would like us to let Xathix know she can mindfuck people and be prepared to go full Islam on her neck is she tries anything.

>>38124576
'Course if we follow that line of thought we'll never work for anyone 'cause they were willing to hire a demon.

>>38124607
I guess we can tell him but she wouldn't have told us if she was planning on making use of it surely?

>>38124623
Maybe she's a bit flustered from the position she is in? Besides, if she doesn't use it then there isn't a problem, if she does then he's prepared.

It's still paranoia if they're actually out to get you, but at least you're harder to kill.

Regardless, lets get this ball rolling. Or at least to the point where we vote to

a) Betray

b) Stay

c) Negotiate.

>>38124607
I'm not too keen on killing her here. Trial by combat and all that honor stuff is more to my tastes.

>>38124610
I was thinking more along the lines of Jaegerstroud being less wrong about this whole thing than Freddy on the grounds of him willing to work with demons. Then again, this whole argument of mine is a bit hollow since I really don't know an unbiased opinion on this whole civil conflict. Also Sierra's Imperiate so...


Man, dis is too morally questionable, guys. I was happier when Sierra's greatest concern was Wolfgang.

“Whatever you say, I can’t be sure you’re not just lying out your ass,” you say, scowling at her. “You tried to corner me, you just told me you know all kinds of mind magic, and you’re hiding your emotions. What if you were just trying to get me alone so you could make me agree?”

“Idiomancy deals with the self and the emotions that come with it,” says Jaegerstroud, grimacing. “I’m no cognimancer. I can’t make you do anything. If I could, I would probably be standing right now. You have no idea how Ferran magic works.”

“If you want me to trust you, why hide your emotions?” you ask.

“You’re part Belphegoran, your idiomancy doesn’t work like human magic. I don’t know what training you’ve had, and allowing you to poke around could end in psychological trauma,” she explains.

“That’s convenient,” you say, giving her a suspicious look.

“It’s also true,” she replies. “I read your profile. Emotional trauma is the last thing you need.”

You’re a little disturbed by how much this woman seems to know about you. You wonder what else is in their little profile thing. You consider sapping her power until she has nothing left and reading her emotions that way, but you’re not quite sure if that would mitigate the risks she’s described. You don’t like risks where your brain is concerned.

“Let’s suppose I’m not totally opposed to the idea of stopping this thing,” you say. “What then?”

>>38124673

Jaegerstroud works her mouth to get some gravel off her lips. “You go home or you go with Frederick,” she says. “If you don’t go, we’ll know, and I’ll make sure you’re paid. If you do go and nothing happens, I’ll take care of everything. And I promise I’ll give you a call next time,” she says. “Mercy knows it was hard enough to get you somewhere without prying ears, not that it’s done me any good.”

You consider this. “Well I’m not agreeing to anything right now, got it?”

“I came to tell you knew there’s more than one way to see things,” she replies, sounding defeated. “You have from now until Frederick’s men reach the landwell to make up your mind.”

Seems like she’s done with her piece.

>Xath, you can let her up now.
>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.
>Before you leave, I kind of had something to ask. (?)
>I heard you out, now out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again, got it?
>You don't trust her. Sap her power and see what her real feelings are.
>So… what if I’m all for freedom and independence and stuff? Why shouldn’t I just tell Xathix to cut your throat?
>Other (?)

>>38124685
>You don't trust her. Sap her power and see what her real feelings are.

>>38124685
>Xath, you can let her up now.
>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.

>>38124685
>>Xath, you can let her up now.
>>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.

>>38124685
>Xath, you can let her up now.
>Before you leave, I kind of had something to ask. (?)

"What sorta concessions would you lot give the rebels for there to be, uh, not a massacre? Like a truce or something?"

>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.

>>38124685
>You will give me a means to contact you. I will take your initial bargain into consideration.

>>38124685
>Xath, you can let her up now.
>Before you leave, I kind of had something to ask: Since when and how thoroughly have you been gathering information on me?

>>38124685
>Xath, you can let her up now
>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.

>>38124685
>You don't trust her. Sap her power and see what her real feelings are.
Well, if nothing else, Freddy was lying to us when he said we wouldn't be pissing anyone off if the plan worked out. We've already got someone gunning for us.

But I'm tired of getting jerked around, so she's going to pay the price.

>>38124685
>>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.
>Other (?)
"Seriously, next time you ambush me, my dog eats you"

Test

>>38124685
>>You don't trust her. Sap her power and see what her real feelings are.

>>38124685
>>38124749
seconding

>>38124685
>You don't trust her. Sap her power and see what her real feelings are.

>>38124685
>>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.
>I heard you out, now out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again, got it?
>Xath, you can let her up now.

I'm a little rusty on our power set. Sapping her power does not kill her, right? If so,
>You don't trust her. Sap her power and see what her real feelings are.

>>38124685
>>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.
>Before you leave, I kind of had something to ask. (?)

How willing is your side to sit down and negotiate something with Frederick?

> Sap her power regardless so that she can't try anything tricky before we leave.

>>38124763
Second

>>38124685
>“Mercy knows it was hard enough to get you somewhere without prying ears, not that it’s done me any good.”


WHO ELSE IS WATCHING US? Seriously disappointed if we let her leave without clearing this up.

>>38124669
>I'm not too keen on killing her here. Trial by combat and all that honor stuff is more to my tastes.

Honour? For someone who approaches like an assassin? And trial by combat, that's like the worst plan ever, for anything, unless it's to see how killy someone is.

I mean, I'm all for keeping our word, but I'm also a fan of keeping our head. Nobody is saying to kill her here, just to be prepared so that if she tries anything we're ready.

>Before you leave, I kind of had something to ask: Since when and how thoroughly have you been gathering information on me?
> Who's prying eyes are you trying to avoid by meeting me like this?

>>38124685
>Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever.>Before you leave, I kind of had something to ask. (?)
Who else is watching me?

“This isn’t anything personal. Just to be careful,” you say, walking over to the knight.

Reeber growls behind you, not happy with your approaching the woman.

You kneel down by her and lay a hand on her shoulder. You close your eyes and siphon all her power from her, letting it dissipate into the air – she shivers uncomfortably as you do so. After a few moments she doesn’t have enough magic to do a card trick. (Jaegerstroud: 0/19 PP)

“Are you finished?” she asks, sounding fatigued. She still has her emotions blockaded somehow, but you don’t press to take advantage of her weakened state.

“Xath, you can go ahead and let her up now,” you say.

With a final growl, Xathix pushes off the woman and takes a step back, still keeping his blade at the ready just in case.

Sariah Jaegerstroud quickly pushes to her feet and rubs her face in her sleeve. “Egck,” she says, making a face.

“Before you vanish into the wild, I’ve got a question for you,” you say, trying to size up the woman – she’s a few inches shorter than you when you’re in your human feet, and while fit, probably wouldn’t be much of a fight one on one. (Jaegerstroud: 10/10 HP) “Since when have you people been watching me, and what exactly gets into that file of yours?”

“Since the foundation of the Eclipse,” she answers. “Imperiates have a history of setting Halth inter-planar policy. The Eclipse Order watched Corithis and her family carefully. After her assassination, we started watching those that might be the next Imperiate. You are technically entitled to the position, so that was probably when it started. I can’t say anything about the details, I don’t run intelligence.”

That’s something to consider. “And what about these prying ears you’re talking about?”

Jaegerstroud jerks a thumb toward Xathix. “You have a lot of friends.”

Xathix grins broadly at the designation, but he catches you looking at him and immediately resumes a menacing visage.

>>38125126

That’s about everything you wanted to know, so you decide to let the Eclipse Knight go. “That’s right, I do have a lot of friends,” you say. “Listen. Next time you want to chat, seriously, just like, I don’t know, email me or whatever. You show up again in the middle of the night, I’ll feed you to my dog.”

You let Reeber know that’s his cue. He growls ferociously in response.

Jaegerstroud looks down her nose at the hound. “I’ll take that into consideration,” she says. Without especial flourish, she produces a business card from her back pocket and hands it to you. “In case you need to contact me.”

The thing’s designed to look like any normal boring business card, but it does have Sariah Jaegerstroud printed on it along with an email address and phone number.

“Thank you for your time Ms. Beckhoff.” She bows slightly. “Good evening.” And with that, she walks past you down the road, presumably toward where she’s parked her car or whatever.

Once she’s gone, Xathix steps beside you and sends a glare after her. “An odd woman,” he observes, scowling intensely. The intensity of his feeling doesn’t quite match with his expression though. He seems to be more happy than angry or anything else.

You snort. What you have to deal with is really weird sometimes.

>So… how long exactly have you been stalking me?
>Hey, nice catch back there. I mean, I know I said I didn’t need guards, but that was kind of cool.
>Xath, can you and your sister keep an eye on her for me? You know, just in case.
>Take the night off and go get ice cream or something. You deserve it.
>Hey. What exactly have you been doing since you got to the mortal plane?
>What are you so happy about?
>Other (?)

>>38124996
I'm not saying it's a GOOD idea. I just don't want Sierra to be that kind of person, I guess.

>>38125132
Thanks Languid

>>38125132
>Hey. What exactly have you been doing since you got to the mortal plane?
>What are you so happy about?
>So… how long exactly have you been stalking me?

>>38125132
>>What are you so happy about?
>>Hey, nice catch back there. I mean, I know I said I didn’t need guards, but that was kind of cool.
>>Hey. What exactly have you been doing since you got to the mortal plane?

>>38125132
>Hey. What exactly have you been doing since you got to the mortal plane?
>Besides stalk me.

>>38125178
good

>>38125132
>What are you so happy about?
>So… how long exactly have you been stalking me?

> Initiative is good, but let me know when you're doing this sort of thing. Otherwise I'll tell Ranthix that you aren't letting me face my own challenges.

> Tell him to keep an eye out for other spies from the Eclipse Order.

> Smack his butt playfully as he leaves.

Our ass slaps will be the most coveted of rewards.

>>38125132
>What are you so happy about?
>So… how long exactly have you been stalking me?
>Hey, nice catch back there. I mean, I know I said I didn’t need guards, but that was kind of cool.
>Other: Give him the card and tell him to give it to Ranthix.

Who knows what spellery that card has.

>>38125132

I'm tired. Next thread (maybe) on Saturday. I'll try to let you know ahead of time if that's not the case. Thanks for playing.

>>38125196
Thanks, man. As good as ever.

Actually, better than ever. This civil war morality issue is killing me.

>>38125196
Sleep well languid, thanks for running.

What happened to the anon who had someone in his house?

>>38125224
The same thing that'll happen to you if you don't stop asking questions.

>>38125196
Thanks for running. I'm going to have SO MANY arguments for forcing the two groups to negotiate for our services.

>>38125196
Thankyou

>>38125224
He's finely ground up into shadow chow

>>38125132
>>Hey, nice catch back there. I mean, I know I said I didn’t need guards, but that was kind of cool.
>>38125196
Thanks for running lawnguy.

>>38125236
Same. We don't have the power or resources to force two warring factions to do anything really.

>>38125286
Oh wait, not same. Eh, whatever. Next time we'll hash it out.

>>38125294
It's not about power, it's about control. They want us to shut down the landwell? We need to have them make some concessions to the Rebels. Some sort of Amnesty, and reparations/independence at lower levels of government or something.

Otherwise we'll be morally obliged to get them out of there, since they've already hired us.

I'd prefer to go that route, since it shows us using our power wisely and having an effect long past our reach, and gets our name out there as someone who gets stuff done.

It also puts two people in our debt, instead of one, and hopefully it means we can get paid twice!

Also,

> Imperiates have a history of setting Halth inter-planar policy.

So I seriously think you're underestimating our influence, even if we don't have a shit-ton of direct power here.

GAH! ALL these politics and power struggles! Why is this quest so difficult!?

>>38125405
That's what being the Princess is all about, bro.

's cool, we gonna Imperiate the SHIT out of this little rebellion problem. Eat a Landwell, close it down for some cash and concessions, and raw dog anyone who disagrees.

But obviously Languid played the original Witcher game.

>>38125441
I'm fine as long as sierra comes out without any permenant injury or death. But since the beguinning of the quest the scale of the board increased from some city blocks to OTHER WORLDS. Obviously this increases the chance for her to encounter even stronger hostiles than she can manage. But again, we still promised to the guy, and kinda know him better than this women...
TLDR: the increased difficulty makes me suffer headaches. But is leaning towards the guy.
I remember that someone said that we should accompany the guy but not do something to win favor from both sides, but I have difficulties in understanding how that's supposed to work.

>>38125554
Both sides want us to go there, but one wants us to make it into a portal and the other wants us to seal it.

Personally, I would like to get some sort of communication device, and then when we get there force them to negotiate after we've claimed it. At the end, we can either decide to open it, or seal it, or go mad with bloodlust and start a slaughter right then and there.

>>38125597
That's a nice plan.
Wait, doesn't this mean that the woman's faction is aware of the plan? They would have stationed defensive forces there...

I don't know if this has been suggested already, but what if we told Freddy that we've been approached by the Order, and that if we did as they told us we'd gain their trust. That might allow us an in on their politics and possibly allow greater gains for Freddy's side on the long term.

Of course this will make us more involved in the conflict while our discussion with Isaac suggested that we should not involve ourselves in other peoples wars.

Guys
The Eclipse guys have information about our mother, this could include stuff about her assassination and where daddy-o went afterwards that we don't already know, we should work this angle into the reward scheme.

>>38126227
That'd actually be wort ditching Freddy over

I say to fuck with all this crisis of conscience shit. Just go in, acquire the landwell, get paid and fuck off back home. What the Eclipse mob and the rebels do to each other afterwards really isn't our concern.

Plus I don't buy Jaegerstroud's whole "But if you help the rebels, tens of thousands of people will die! Abloo, bloo, bloo!" spiel. I bet she'd be willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to get the job done, just like Derek.

And here I was, totally uninterested in this whole war thing, just wanting more Sierra & friends shenanigans. Man, Lawnguide, you're pretty good, you know that?

>>38125196
This was a neat thread.

>>38125196
Fucklanguid your gone sorryman im too late to tellyoure a coolguy langud lets get toeghertogetherand have some food man food is cool
You like music languid,its nice wwe can have musc too

>>38128776
Hard to tell on this site if someone is literally retarded, high as hell, or pretending to be either.

>>38128776
>>38129672
I'm just gonna go with 'Yes.'