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>>44367911
"Cherry, helping you means you've got to use ghost powers. And that means talking about you being dead. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

The little gap-toothed ghost flits in a misty jolt to a chair; she rests her chin in her hand, dejectedly. "I don't wanna be dead."

You sit down and set your book on the table. "Sweetie, nobody wants to be dead. But you are dead and no one can bring you back. Honestly...honestly, Cherry, you don't even really want to persist as a ghost."

"It's not /fair/!" the little girl yells.

> Welcome to existence, Cherry
> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.
> Comfort her

AND

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding
> Vox leaks background information on an MC not chosen

>>44368052
>> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

>> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding
>I can't imagine it was very fair for the demons, either

>>44368052
> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.
> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44368052

> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

The world is full of injustice and inequality, this dungeon is one of the greatest examples of it currently. There are people devoted to righting those wrongs, and then the idiots like us who are devoted to cleaning up the giant mess left behind by those causing the wrongs fighting the people righting those wrongs.

>>44368052
>> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

Okay folks. I'm not going to try fighting the sleep demons with more drugs. I'm heading to bed; hopefully votes, discussion, keeps the quest bumped. I'll start running again the moment I get up.

As always, discussion, comment, critique, and questions are both welcome and appreciated.

Sorry for the short, disjointed run today. Thanks for reading and participating, folks!

I'll see ya'll when I wake up.

>>44368052
> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44368052
> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

>Vox leaks background information on an MC not chosen

I figure we hang out around enough demons to get that info at some point

>>44368284
I can safely say that all of those demons would literally face oblivion down to the soul level before ever breathing a word of it.

>>44368191
Memento Mori, Lord Voxwagon.

>No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

>Vox leaks demon world-building.
Since we're already waist deep in his magical realm, let's dive in and see what's waiting for us in the deep end.

>>44368052
>VOX LEAKS BACKGROUND INFO ON MC NOT CHOSEN

>Comfort her

>>44368052
>No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.
>Vox leaks background information on an MC not chosen

>>44368296
Yeah, these are things nobody knows after CENTURIES, if not millennia, of demon-binding.They're hard to find out.

>>44368052
> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.
> Vox leaks background information on an MC not chosen

>>44368052
>> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

I'd rather learn about things that *are,* that we wouldn't learn otherwise, than about things that *might have been*.

And I'm always interested in worldbuilding and alternative cosmologies.

>>44368052
>No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

Just, you know, kindly. Rather than tough luck.

>Vox leaks background information on an MC not chosen

So, like that other anon asks, will we ever see them? What happened to them?

> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44368973
> Just, you know, kindly. Rather than tough luck.
You really think Brianna would say it any other way? Her entirely philosophy is basically "tough luck", but she hasn't been a jerk about it yet.

So we've decided that Vox is some sort of lich-prostitute the is addicted to caffeine, alcohol, and pain killers.
How does he consume coffee/drinks/sexual essense?
Magic?
Summoned succubi who do it for him?
Magic?

>>44370263
He siphons it psychically from us through the use of arcane runes woven into his writing. As the quest takes root in your mind you become as one of Vox's own sensory organs.

>>44370263
he explained it in the third thread, lemme go get a direct quote.

"That can't be right. Lemme go check the arch - JESUS FUCK.

Um. Well. It's been fun so far? I dunno.

I may or may not have a medical-grade caffeine addiction. Or be eating souls to sustain my unholy power."

>>44368052
>> Comfort her
>> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44368052
> Comfort her
> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44370576
That reminds me, this thread chain has yet to end, doesn't it? Every thread has been linked to the next since time immemorial/the first thread.

Probably set a record by this point, even if we aren't sure what that record is.

>>44368052
Also,
> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.
Because we'll need to get the mother thing out of the way eventually, and I drink in suffering.

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding
I have no strong opinions on this, but it is my democratic duty to vote regardless.

>>44367911
>19 - Finally Numbering the Threads Edition
Yay

>>44368052
>> No, it's not. It's not fair to babies that die when they're born, either. Or to your mother.
>> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44370333
I've been here since thread 1, don't spread evil rumors about our lord and master, praised be his name, I'mtypingthisoutofmyfreewill.

>>44371919
It does indeed.

> Comfort her
> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

>>44368052
> Welcome to existence, Cherry
YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.

> Vox leaks demon worldbuilding

Merry Christmas, DLQ readers. God, but sleep did me some good. I've got pop to cut the scum out of my mouth, coffee brewing, and nothing to do for the next four days. Let's do this.

Votes called, writing.

>>44373450
...about that, is all the stuff you're putting in your mouth, particularly the acidic coffee, doing anything to the hole in your teeth?

>>44373460
Probably horrible things, honestly, but it's not like I can possibly make anything worse at the moment, and the extraction is on the 8th.

>>44373503
Well, you could deepen the hole until it reaches close enough to your bloodstream that you just die when it gets infected.

Turns out having holes in your teeth is pretty damn fatal after a point.

>>44373503
there are children who drink soda as if it were water. Their teeth are not pretty things, even if they brush everyday. Acid does crazy shit to your teeth.

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>>44368052
You reach across the table and take Cherry's hand. Another mortal would pass through it, but you're a necromancer, and you can feel her almost as if she was alive.

No wonder she wants you to be her mother.

"No, it's not fair," you say gently. "It's not fair to the babies that die in childbirth either. Or to people like your mother. Life isn't fair, Cherry - but death is. It is absolutely, indifferently, fair. It treats everyone the same, regardless of their circumstances or their station."

You rub the back of her hand with your thumb. "The scythe didn't hate you when it came down, little one. But it came down anyway, and now you've got to play the cards you're dealt."

Cherry sniffs, miserably, and looks up at you like she took something from the cookie jar. "You're not gonna yell at me for complaining?"

"No, Cherry," you say gently.

"...Or beat me for whining?"

You can feel the vein throb in your temple, but your voice remains calm. "Little one, even if I wanted to, and I don't, you're a ghost. It'd be a little bit of a hollow exercise." It's not strictly true; if she hated it enough in life, if she /remembers/ it, it'd be just like hitting a little girl.

Gods, you hope Marsh makes her father suffer.

Cherry looks confused, the poor thing, but she nods weakly and gives you a little smile. "So...so why do I have to know I'm dead to turn the pages?"

"Most ghosts aren't as together as you are. They have different priorities, like revenge, or protecting a loved one," you explain. "Those priorities naturally lead them to influence the world around them, but...all you really wanted was to not die, wasn't it?"

Cherry bites her lip and nods.

"So to do ghost stuff, I'm gonna have to teach you to be a ghost. Are you sure you want that?"

"Yes mommy," comes her answer, and you give her a reassuring smile.

"Okay. So I need you to envision your - that means close your eyes and imagine, dear - your hand..."

>>44373656
Newer studies have found that you should brush your teeth before eating and drinking since some can weaken the enamel of your teeth. Brushing at that point just wears them away further and increases their sensitivity/susceptibility to damage.

Flossing/mouthwash is recommended for after eating.

>>44373689
CHOOSE A SCENE

> In Vino Veritas
> Study Break

Demon worldbuilding incoming shortly.

>>44373699
>Study break

And hopefully we will find out more about the other mcs another time

>>44373699
>> In Vino Veritas
fuckit, was trying to avoid it, but study break sounds boring

Man i wanna catch up but you run so frequently man.

>>44373750
Study break is actually us giving scritches to Amy, then Nathan asks for some, then Cherry does, the the Caretaker does, then Bridgette does, then Fetch does, and we scritch them all as River scritches Fetch for us, wondering what happened to our life.

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>>44373769
UNTIL AT LEAST JANUARY!

>>44373750
Your lack of faith is hurtful to me, anon.

>>44373788
>Cocaine

NOW WE GET IT

> Study Break

Let's take it easy for a bit there. "Study" here is a series of nausea moments with lots of dry heaving. Slow that roll.

>>44373750
So I was torn, but now I'm contrary:
> Study break

>>44373699
>Study Break

>>44373876
Mission accomplished Or was it?

>>44373699
>> In Vino Veritas

>>44373699
> In Vino Veritas
Still voting for this one, because it still sounds like fun.

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Votes called, writing.

Also presenting, SECRETS OF THE SECONDBORN: https://docs.google.com/document/d/116YbA7nVxJAqs8uBdRDA1o6UrovTTbJEOZJjHr2BeKc/edit?usp=sharing

>>44374024
got something in my eye...

>>44374024
Niiiiice. I love seeing interesting versions of demons, and this seems like something I'd love to play with in a game, tabletop or video.

(Also, kind of a fun sibling vibe, "_completely insufferable_" indeed...)

>>44374024
Better to be seen as evil than inferior. I get that.

>>44374024
Vox, can you be my GM?
...Your magical realm, it's just so pretty and fun and interesting and I love you.

>>44374024
Vox how much do you charge a night
I don't even want to bone, I just want to go bowling and drink turkish coffee while keeping you away from the world of retail. Merry Christmas, buddy.

>>44374024
I think that was quite lovely.

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>>44373689
Nathan and Amy had come back later that night, limping but mostly okay. There is a definition of 'injured' that applies during day to day life that doesn't apply during field work - they see to their wounds and tell you they'll hold up.

Thankfully, you've moved beyond the battery of tests that make your gut churn with vertigo and sickness, and now only attempt a test to check a new version of the spell. The Caretaker says you're getting closer, though you're not so sure. Then again, you've never invented your own technique, and the lich is an old (bony) hand at it. Still, the last few days have been draining, and you're pretty sure you're thinking in four languages at the same time, all of which hate you.

You feel a bony hand on your shoulder. "I have made tea," the Caretaker intones. "You are living, with living needs. A small break, I think, is appropriate."

"But we're so /close/," you complain. You stop, as you hear Brigette's voice in your memories, saying those same words to you. "...Okay."

The tea awaits at a small table that had been, about five minutes ago, covered in books. You wince as you realize that you were so absorbed in your reading and writing that you hadn't heard him working not ten feet behind you. You stir the tea - more habit than anything, since there's no sugar or honey - and take a long sip. It's surprisingly comforting.

> Let him bring up a subject. Maybe he meant to talk.
> Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.
> Ask what it's like to be the Caretaker.
> Write-in.

>>44374376
If you can find me real kaveh in Michigan of all places, I'd go out for /free/ and throw the sex in as a bonus.

Not kidding.

>>44374386
>Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.
>Ask what he thinks of the Poet's actions

>>44374405
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ayses-turkish-cafe-ann-arbor

>>44374386
>> Write-in.
>what was Lora like before all this?

>>44374386
> Let him bring up a subject. Maybe he meant to talk.

I'm curious. To the point that it's good I'm not a cat.

>>44374428
Hnnnnnnnnng I know where my next paycheck is going.

>>44374443
marum crambo, vox.

>>44374386
>Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.
Lay the groundwork, if we can.

>>44374428
>http://www.yelp.com/biz/ayses-turkish-cafe-ann-arbor
O_o I'm so jealous. I haven't had good turkish coffee since I came back from iraq v_v

>>44374470
You could probably find a place at least within-state/near you. I searched 'turkish coffee shop michigan' and found that.

>>44374489
the only "place" in shreveport is Athena's, which isn't real turkish coffee, it's just Community with a lot of sugar in it. These heathens in louisiana don't know what good coffee is.

Vote extended while I scrub down the bathroom.

I'll be back Soon(tm).

>>44374519
http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2008/03/mona-cafe-shreveport-felafel-baba.html
http://indigoindianshreveport.com/
Maybe?

> Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.

>>44374651
>while I scrub down the bathroom
a Lich....who scrubs!?

it's official: the Caretaker is just Vox self-inserting. Damn overpowered QMCs....

>>44374386
>Let him bring up a subject. Maybe he meant to talk.
Then;
>Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.

I feel like the Caretaker might be /exactly/ what Brianna is looking for, not only as a mentor but as a role model (treating knowledge with the caution and respect it deserves).

>>44374680
He's the undead Mr. Clean, midnighting as a corner girl. He get's his regular dose of soul juice from all of the necrophiliac's he entertains. The coffee is just to get the taste out of his mouth.

merry Christmas vox

> Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.

>>44374666
>http://indigoindianshreveport.com/
Haven't been here. It's new.

Mona's is out of business though.

Thanks though.

>>44374386
>> Let him bring up a subject. Maybe he meant to talk.
It's polite, but if he's going to do a weird, timeless being thing and just sit silently we should eventually > Admit your musings about asking to be trained by him.

> Ask him about his previous assistants. Did they make for good company?

Then lead into

> Ask what it's like to be the Caretaker.

Some socialising, away from work.

At last, it is fucking clean.

Votes called, tallying, writing.

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>>44374386
"So...I've been thinking about something," you admit.

"I dare say," the lich opines. "I believe I just encouraged you to stop thinking about something, in fact. You've been falling asleep at your desk and muttering passages from the books."

You bounce your spoon off of his head and catch it in one of those moments of raw dumb luck that'd normally have you pointing and exclaiming. "No shit, dead man. Something /else/."

The Caretaker chuckles. "Please, enlighten me."

You set the spoon down so you don't stir your cup on accident - just, ew - and take a sip. "Been considering whether I want to ask to become your student," you admit. "I'm...I've been tapped by Lora to do a job that I'm not entirely sure I'm the equal of, so I can't really devote all my time to a teacher, but." You sigh. "My mentor died, before she released me formally. Her ghost declared me fit, but..."

"There's always that doubt if it's a last-act gesture, yes," the Caretaker agrees. "And your reasons for /not/ considering it?"

"Aside from the imposition?" You set your tea down and gesture vaguely. "...I don't like /how/ I've come to work alone, but I've enjoyed the independance. I've done good work, and needful work, and I've done it well. I'm not sure if I want to be subordinate to a teacher again."

"I can appreciate such a thing," the Caretaker says with a nod. "I take it you are asking to see if I would be even willing to do such a thing?"

> Yeah. I want to know my options.
> Honestly, I hadn't even considered it.
> Sort of. I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor.

>>44375925
> Sort of. I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor.

>>44375925
>Yeah. I want to know my options.

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>>44375925
>> Sort of. I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor.
It gives us insight on our potential new party member

Or just gives Vox an excuse to flesh out his characters. I'm fine either way.

>>44375925
>> Sort of. I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor.

>>44375989
> potential new party member
Really? I'm not getting that vibe at all. I'd been assuming he'd be pretty devoted to the whole caretaker role.

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>>44375925
>Sort of. I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor.

>Sort of. I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor.

> Yeah. I want to know my options.

>>44376030
Once I had thought about it a little more, I realized that myself. If we decided to learn from him, we'd be learning from a distance, and that would put him at secondary party member status like River: there as a resource and background help, but not directly involved with our quest like Nathan and Amy are.

Votes called, writing.

Sorry about delays here, had the chance to script out webcomic with the artist I work with so I took it while we both had time and energy.

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>>44376392
Would that be the same artist who's been doing fan-art for the quest?

>>44376425
Aye, though I didn't ask him to do the fanart; that's been his own idea.

>>44376571
Faaaaaaascinating. I'll be interested to see what comes out of that.

>>44376392
Wait you do a webcomic?

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>>44375925
"Sort of," you admit. "I also wanted to know more about why you taught my ancestor."

"Ha. He came to me, once upon a time, looking to learn," the Caretaker answers. "He thought I'd offer him power. And I did, but he got so much more than that. He and I used to have the longest arguments, about what it meant to have power and to weild it. Three years he spent with me, and he left a different man."

"So how'd /you/ get so calm?" you ask.

"Age. Time. A worthy cause." The Caretaker shrugs. "I had done all I wished to do in life and in death and had nothing to lust for and nothing to stoke my fury, and in my boredom I grew thoughtful. Caring for the Library gave me time to interact with mortals, and I grew curious once more about the living beings I'd abandoned so long ago. They remain fascinating."

"You speak like you're not mortal," you point out.

"Can you really say I am?" the Caretaker replies. "Let me ask you - what is it you want out of greater necromantic power?"

> It's my job. I want to do it well.
> I need to be stronger
> I don't know

> I don't know

>>44376990
Well, I did. For various reasons the one we /were/ doing has been canceled, though the archive's available to be read if you want the link.

So we're starting a new one, drawing on the lessons learned in the old one.

>>44377108

> It's my job. I want to do it well.

Sounds a bit dispassionate. Maybe add

> I want to help people, living and dead

>>44377108
>> It's my job. I want to do it well.

I mean, we're currently fighting people who seem to have exploited magical fields as far as they physically could, we might as well learn a bit more about how to best clean up the mess those assholes made.

> It's my job. I want to do it well.

Pretty much. We can't exactly sit back and just let it happen.

>>44377108
I'll agree with this guy>>44377241

> It's my job. I want to do it well.

>Sounds a bit dispassionate. Maybe add

> I want to help people, living and dead

>> It's my job. I want to do it well.

>>44377108
> It's my job. I want to do it well.

>>44377140
>if you want the link
Of course we do. If we weren't interested we wouldn't have asked.

>>44377108
>It's my job. I want to do it well.

>>44377140
I'd like to see the archives.

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>>44377797
Alright. I'll warn ya, this was my first webcomic and, again, we just deliberately killed it. I wasn't writing at first; I didn't start doing character work until after the first MC death and because of bad experiences on the part of the artist I wasn't trusted fully to handle the plot and writing for some time after that.

http://wildwestscifi.net/gencrawlgaiden/10117-gencrawl-gaiden-start

The comic almost had a quest format, except all choices were completely open-ended. This was a terrible fucking idea and we're never doing it again. You'll want to read the comments to see reader votes and discussion.

Votes called, writing.

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>>44377869
>>44377900
TFW I forget the actual archive link too.

http://wildwestscifi.net/gencrawl-gaiden-archive

>>44377900
Wait, I've actually read that. Sorry to hear you killed it, I was enjoying it.

>>44377900
Y'all got too many noms de plume. Gencrawl was a hell of a lot more fun than most peoples' first attempts at comics, I hope your next comic together is happier behind the scenes.

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>>44377108
"Necromancy is my job, teacher," you tell him. "I mean, yes, it's also a means to an end, but I'm expected to know things and be able to perform duties that non-necromancers can't. That kinda got driven home for me earlier, with Cherry. Someone else wouldn't be able to hug her, or take her hand."

"Or understand her," the lich muses. "My suggestion to you is to continue to think on your duties and decide how you want to execute them. I think you have an object lesson in what happens when someone gets lost in the pursuit of power, don't you?"

"Yeah," you agree, adjusting your hat on your head. "Yeah, I do. Thanks for...you know, for the study break."

"Of course. But I believe it's time to get back to work."

You look at the book and sigh. The Caretaker is, at least, nice enough to leave the teapot.

* * * *

It's been four days and you've become so familiar with a chamber pot that you're pretty sure you want it to be the maid of honor at your wedding. But you have it, adjusted to not give you a case of Horrible Puking Disease, and it's time to make some decisions.

> Try to capture a more pliant demon and get Brigette's location
> Hunt for a map of the Atheneum
> Ask the Caretaker his opinion

> Hunt for a map of the Atheneum

> Ask the Caretaker his opinion

he's lived here /how/ long?

>>44378634
> Try to capture a more pliant demon and get Brigette's location

>>44377900
Wait that was you? Oh wow, It's like finding out that PlagueofGripes and Gannadene was the same person all over again.

>>44378634
>Ask the Caretaker his opinion
He's been here forever. Can probably give us more good sage advice.

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This vote may be extended by Christmas Dinner.

>>44378702
>>44378539
>>44377945
Sweet zombie fuck, I thought we were a small and obscure webcomic. When did this happen?

In any event, the script for the opener of the new one's written. I'll post the link when it's up, if ya'll want it. Still gonna be reader-input, but handled more sanely and without the videogame mechanics.

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>>44378846
>I'll post the link when it's up, if ya'll want it.
Do you really need to ask?

>>44378634
>> Ask the Caretaker his opinion
Both of the other options seem...subpar...in an area filled with traps and people who want to kill us. I'm not _thrilled_ about asking the Caretaker to do everything for us, but we don't honestly know if there any maps on the level. (Unless they're handily filed by dewey decimal system?)
>>44378846
To be fair, I'm sure I'm not the only person who found this quest because of Gencrawl, so the sampling is biased.

Also, as interesting a concept as the gengames are, I was honestly pretty flumoxed by them? I'm bad at grokking how to vote in character, and the comment threads off your site/blog are a little difficult to spin into full-fledged discussion.

>>44378846
There was a thread about webcomics and yours came up and I followed the links, because Homestuck is among many things I like, and this looked like it had some (possibly temporal) mindfuckery which was what interested me in the first place.

>>44378634
>> Try to capture a more pliant demon and get Brigette's location
Don't forget the Caretaker /IS/ bound to not tell us stuff while I think demons are /only/ loyal or somesuch.

>>44379247
>the Caretaker /IS/ bound to not tell us stuff
I don't remember this being mentioned. He's bound to not act directly against the Poet, but he's allowed to give us advice and information, hence why he taught us this spell.

>>44379369
I was just trying to say he's limited in how he can help. Depending on how you interpret his binding determines what he can do to help.

Like I think right now he's 'teaching a necromancer' not 'revealing information to an enemy' or something.

Votes called, writing.

>>44379427
Yea, I'm just saying, giving us advice on which course would be the most productive for us seems vague enough that it'd slip through one of those loopholes Lora's always exploiting.

>>44379561
It kinda skirts the teritory of sending minions to do his work.

>>44378634
>Hunt for a map of the Atheneum

>>44379729
eh, I'd say sending minions is an active action, while answering questions is passive. It'd depend on the interpretation of the rules. And we know the Poet at least partly wants us to succeed, so she'd probably lean towards the interpretation that favors us.

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>>44378634
You usher Cherry into her lantern and hang it from your belt. Everyone gets into their armor and shrugs on their packs, feeling a bit grim at the end of your admittedly brief break.

The Caretaker observes as you work your spell over your companions and Kat, and then yourself. He nods, approvingly, when you look at him.

"You've been down here awhile," you mention. "Do you have an idea of where she might be?"

"She could be anywhere," the Caretaker admits. "But I believe she will be waiting for you. She does not want to run and hide, but to fight and resolve this."

"I can agree with that," you muse. "But why not issue a direct challenge to me?"

"Because she also wants to live. If her forces can kill you, she'll let them."

"But -" Amy begins, and you shush her.

"He's right, Ames," you murmur. "She doesn't want to do this, but she's going to anyway, and if she's going to she'll do it right. Okay. So where would she wait?"

"If I were a gambling man, I'd say the Auditorium," the Caretaker reasons. "She's an artist at heart. She'll want to put on a show. Let me draw you a map."

> Take the direct route
> Circle around
> Disregard theory, acquire alternate course of action

>>44380411
>Circle around
We ninja now.

> Circle around

>>44380411
> Circle around

>>44380411
> Take the direct route

>>44380411
> Circle around
Also, Merry Christmas! It's been a fun 19 threads so far, and I don't plan on missing a single one!

>>44380411
>Take the direct route

Votes called. Writing.

Remember folks, our goal is that chain. Chances are she will do something dumb with it and whip it out when we get close. Once we grab it its game over

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>>44380411
"Alright. She'll have an idea of where we're coming from," you reason, "since Amy and Nate tried scouting around earlier. Which I'm not complaining about, I just figure we'll circle this way, towards the east, and enter from the stage entrance here."

The Caretaker puts a bony hand on your shoulder. "Do as you feel is right, Brianna la Croix. I believe you have a good heart, which is a rare quality in our profession. When this is finished, come find me. I will tell you of the Mine."

Amy frowns worriedly and spares the Caretaker a glance before the group sets off, shrouded in your concealing spell and doing your mutual absolute best to remain silent. This is proving disturbingly easy, and the errant thought that runs through your head ("We could pants /everyone/") almost makes you break your cover with the need to giggle.

You're not stressing out. Nooooot at allllllll.

The first two rooms you move through are fine. Silent. Trapped some, but mostly alarms, easily dealt with. Everything's going to be fine.

You go to open a door, only to find it opened for you from the other side. You meet the eyes of a tall, bat-winged man in comfortable, scholarly wear; behind him is a pair of hovering imps and /something/ that you're going to bet is probably supposed to be on fire because its skin is blackened with burns and all four of its arms end in sharpened bony fingers where flesh ought to be.

"The intruders?" the winged man asks.

"Yes sir," Cherry answers politely.

"...Cherry, that was a no-talking moment."

"Sorry Mommy."

> Amy?
> Kat.
> Nate, if you would?
> Cherry, remember our ghost lessons?

In other news, thread archived.

I must say, I'm a little surprised that you've chosen to let Cherry make you her mother; it'll complicate attempts to leave her elsewhere, you know. The last time the girl got left somewhere she died.

>>44381567
I've been worried about that. Shit. We do at sone point need to get the little girl to cross the veil and be with her actual family.

>>44381617
...Anon, could you not have voted as well?

>>44381567
Wasn't the plan to gradually introduce her into the idea that death isn't that terrible that we can break her phylarchy and get her to move on without becoming a wailing angry spirit that attempts to latch onto anything living for warmth to avoid its inevitable demise into the void?

In other words, shadowrunning intensifies

god dammit cherry

> Nate, if you would?

>>44381423
> Cherry
Y'know what, if there are going to be consequences to keeping the ghost girl, let's at least use her to deal with our lack of crowd control.
>>44381567
For me at least the problem is saying "I'm not your mommy, honey" always felt like it was at the expense of otherwise advancing the scene.

Maybe we can just tell her there's candy on the other side of the veil.

>>44381423
> Kat.
Havent seen to much of her.

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>>44381423
>Tap the ash out of our pipe.
>Nate, if you would? Try not to hurt them too bad.

>>44381671
I was mostly referring to anon's repeated plans to leave her with River as you continue going into the Dungeon.

>>44381681
Your lack of faith is hurtful to me, anon. I'm not normally a fan of spinning my wheels.

>>44378634
>Ask the Caretaker his opinion
>>44381423
>Nate, if you would?
>>44381567
Hey, we can always stay with her until she fades away.
We can, right?

>>44381649
I wasn't available for the majority of them and the few I was the votes were already decidedly the other way. It's ok though because even if my option doesn't win interesting things keep happening and the quest continues to be fun. I believe we'll get the litte girl ghost across the veil and into the loving arms of her ancestors in due time. If we have to play mommy in the interim, so be it.

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Called, making coffee, then writing.

>>44381567
>>44381617
>>44381671
>>44381681

Honestly, I thought the plan was to ask our dead ancestors in the lichyard to take her to the other side of the veil. She's not going to go on her own, cause she doesn't have unresolved issues, just fear of the other side. So some of our more compassionate family ghosts can help her.

>>44381835
By assuaging her fear of death, wouldn't that let her go peacefully?

>>44381743
Thats because kat literally doesn't have a personality other than servitude at all times.

>>44381877
Right, that's what i'm saying, it'd be like someone holding her hand while she crossed the street sort of thing...

>>44381762
Sorry, I think I phrased that wrong. From the most recent example: if the apparent nature of the scene is "get the ghost girl ghost powers", the option that _isn't_ "teach the ghost girl ghost powers" a) breaks my power-gamer instinct (sorry) and b) seems...I dunno, weird? Even if the scene advances either way (and at this point I'm regretting putting off the conversation, because now I'm curious what you would have written). Does that make sense?

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>>44381423
"Nate, if you would?"

You step aside smartly as the succubus snarls a spell. Nathan catches its reaching hand in his glove; you see the spell bunch up against the adamant plating, then rebound against the its caster. The demon staggers away screaming, its skin peeling off in ribbons that reach down to choke and constrict its body.

You drop the hood over Cherry's lantern.

"Amy," you command, tapping your cane against the floor. The bird girl lunges forward, seizing an imp out of the air and hurling it against its partner. She and Nate stomp on an imp apiece, and then Verve is coming down to slash their throats.

"Kat," you drawl, with the larger demon lunging forward. The shadow streaks at it, ripping its legs out from under it. There is a wet slicing sound, like ripe melon, and the four-armed /thing/ wails as its organs are ripped from its stomach and brutally savaged.

The blood hits invisible fields near the books and slides down, like water off clear glass.

"Mommy?" Cherry whispers, terrified.

"It's alright, little one," you soothe. Nate seizes the choking succubus and runs him through, ending his misery.

"That," Amy says, wiping blood from her front, "is how an ambush is /supposed/ to go."

"Ames, you scare me sometimes," you note.

> Search the bodies
> Press forward before another patrol can find you

> Search the bodies

>>44382085
>Nate seizes the choking succubus and runs him through, ending his misery.

>Succubus

>His life

Vox??

>>44382170
Anon. We went over this /this thread/. Work with me here anon.

>>44382170
Probably a typo. No need to fret, nervous anon.

>>44382085
>Search the bodies.
I wonder if Bridgette has a means of communicating with her various followers? We might be able to listen in.

>>44382170
We've established that succubi and incubi are divided not by gender, but attitude in this world.

>>44382222
>>44382170

Thats a retarded and unnecessary subversion. Feel shame

>>44382085
> Search the bodies
>>44382245
I mean...eh? It's not really a subversion, for one, they're both seducers it's just one of them is better with their hands. For two even if it was a deal, if it means Vox doesn't need to make up some unpronounceable fake demon name that I then have to remember...

>>44382085
> search the bodies

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>>44382245
You can take that shit up with Gygax's ghost, guy established succubi of both genders as a thing before I was born. I took the seducer/rapist divide a different direction than along gender lines, not sure where or how I did anything wrong.

>>44382085
> Press forward before another patrol can find you
The poet might already know we dropped this patrol and is taking measures.

>>44382245
>>44382245

The version you like is a subversion. Traditionally the incubus and succubus are the different form of the same being, which steals the sees of men to use on women.

It's a reinforcement of societal expectations of women as temptresses and men as rapists, and a way to explain bastard children that look just like Steve the miller.

>>44382330
Enhance your calm John Spartan. You did nothing wrong.

>>44382330
>>44382325
>>44382356


You niggers are either lying or stupid, incubi are traced back to the bible as the male/female counterparts of seduction dream demons Gygax can suck my cock in hell

>>44382427
You. Yes, you. Either act like a fucking mature and sane adult or get the fuck out of our quest thread.

>>44382427
That's nice, dear.

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>>44382427
Anon, to the absolute best of my knowledge, the only difference between succubus/incubus is if the demons is harvesting seed by seducing men in their dreams (succubus) or raping women with the corrupt seed, again in their dreams (incubus); the actual demon had no physical form and no true gender of its own.

Which means at step 'has a body' and 'has a gender' we're already subverting the original. At this point I've got a slight riff going on modern interpretations that are fairly removed from the being that was believed in by Europeans, god forbid the /actual/ original, the lilitu, that Christians ripped off without even the grace of an apologetic handjob.

>>44382479
While I appreciate the thought, I can handle myself.

Votes called, writing.

>>44382479
wouldn't want to add immaturity to your game of make believe

>>44382518
Nah, that switching form bullshit comes from Aquinas in the 1200s. The bible, which beats him by a whole thousand fucking years supports them being two distinctly different demons. U are the subversion

>>44382560
Y'know, purely from the perspective of a mythology buff, I'd love to see you cite your source on this one. Point me to the section (and version) in question?

Still writing I swear.

OK, guys, the troll is sufficiently fed and ready for release back into the wild.

>>44382591
Alright. Easy. Lilith, Adam's first wife before Eve. She became a succubus. She didn't magically grow a dick and start fucking women with it or whatever fanfiction Aquinas came up with.

>>44382658
Where in the bible does it say that?

>>44382520
REALITY! HISSSS!!! *flees back to his dungeon*

But really, this quest has really seen very little shitstorming, and I'd like to keep it that way. If someone has an opinion, go ahead and share. Just don't be an obnoxious dick about it.

>>44382600
I don't think PETA will mind letting this one go the way of the dodo.

>>44382591
Vox, you have the patience of a Saint, and I love you for it. Merry Christmas you coffee-snorting undead slut.

>>44382560
Wait, does the bible specifically state incubi and succubi? Where?

>>44382658
You mean in Isaiah 34:14, which is the only bible verse that references Lilith? Which doesn't mention a damn thing about her, except her name, which is very possibly a mistranslation anyway? Look, you want to reference the Alphabet of of ben Sirach, go for it, but don't reference something from the 8th-11th centuries and then claim it's a thousand years before something from the 13th century. And, for that matter, don't claim it's the bible.

>>44382658
>>44382750
Lilith is mentioned only once in the Bible, in the Book of Isaiah, and there it is only an item in a list of unclean animals with demonic associations.

The story of a wife of Adam's before Eve by the name Lilith is a very old part of Jewish lore, but it is not in the Bible.

Guys can we get back to the quest at hand? If you'd like to continue the conversation about what is and is not a succubus/incubus guess what? Thats a /tg/ related topic and you can make a thread about it.

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>>44382085
"Check 'em. They might have a clue on them," you order briskly.

"Did you just kill some of my friends?" your pocket asks.

"Well, not permanently dead," you remind her. "There was a succubus, two imps, and a four-armed -"

"Oh. Fuck those guys. Good job."

Amy laughs and shakes her head. You kneel to rifle through the pockets of the succubus's clothing, patting them down bris-

/Crrk/.

"...Welp," you note mildly. "That appears to have been a booby trap in his robes."

Freezing fog billows through the room, soaking your clothes through. You stand and draw your sword from your cane, whistling sharply for Kat.

"Mommy?" Cherry asks in a muffled voice.

"Mommy might be dying here in a minute, sweetie," you say calmly. "And I need you to not panic, because I'm a little hard to keep dead but if you panic my friends might die and they can only be killed the one time."

"...Okay."

You're hearing something, distantly. It's...is it...

It's fucking cheering.

The fog fades away, and your find yourself on a stage, with your companions at your flank. Brigette stands across the stage from you, her arms folded over her chest and her chain worn around her waist as a belt.

The seats of the Auditorium are full of jeering, cheering demons.

"You might have guessed that I'm not interested in a fight," Brigette notes, mildly.

"No shit," you answer, with a sigh.

>>44382921
This is about to turn into a poetry slam or a drinking contest, I just know it.

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>>44382921
Brigette grins and rests her arms on the back of the chair in front of her. "But let it not be said that I'm unfair, Brigette la Croix. I've got a proposal for you. Something that should satisfy both of our /obligations/, as it were?"

You narrow your eyes in suspicion. "What proposal?"

"Two contests. You engage me in a game of will and force, and at the same time, we engage in a game of your choosing. Chess? Cards? Drinking? Whatever floats your boat, as long as we can both play it fairly. I'll wager my chain as the stake. You're betting your life."

"...This is how you permanently kill me, isn't it?" you murmur.

"Aye," Brigette answers, sadly. "But if you refuse I'll be forced to sic the demons on you, and you'll have to contend with them /and/ me. Think you can take the chain, break it, /and/ rely on the angel to save you?"

You give Nathan and Amy a brief look, then turn your brown eyes to Brigette.

> I accept (name your game)
> I refuse (attack)

>>44382982
>Brigette la Croix

> I accept (name your game)

>>44382982
I refuse (attack)

Brigette la Croix.

....

vox? is this another family member or did you mess up because alcohol?

> I accept (poker)

>>44382961
OH SHIT! IT'S VLADOK!!

>>44382982
Y'know, I'm not surprised by this turn of events. Bridgette, despite being a reluctant villain, is a hell of a lot more competent than Lisa or the Vintner.

>I accept (Drinking).
Just for the shits and giggles that will invariably ensue.

>>44383005
Well fuck.

I feel smart.

You do still need to propose or vote for a game, anon.

>>44382982

> I accept (Terrible Puns)

>>44382982
>> I accept (caber toss, contest by champion)
Our champion is Amy.

>>44383072
then she'd just summon a demon

>>44383072
> as long as we can both play it fairly.

>>44383061
She's the Poet!
She'd destroy us.

>>44382982
>I accept (chess)

Drinking feels like a bad idea, since we know she was killing herself with booze. I'm blanking on games that involve giving each other things (like the chain), except...
> I accept ((strip) poker)

>>44383005
It took me a second to realize you weren't trying to name the game "Brigette la Croix".

>>44383086
This occurred to me. I am unconcerned.

>>44383072
As hilarious as that idea is, it's probably cheating AND its a contest between Brianna and Bridgette.

>>44382982
>I accept CHESS

Games of chance and skill being traditional

Either that or

>Sewing

We have the advantage in both

>>44383109
I'm sure she'd recognize Lisa the Greedy Cunt in the special chess set Amy made for us.

Vote extended while I do about 45 minutes of night driving, plus or minus some food acquisition. I wanna get out of the house and a friend is being kind enough to let me use his PC to keep running.

See you Soon(tm).

>>44382982
>I accept (name your game)
Poker, but don't let the demons deal.

>>44383228
is he cute

>>44382982
>> I accept (name your game)
"A simple game of chance. I flip a coin and if it's heads I win but if it's tails you lose."

>>44382982
>I accept (Drinking)

We've made it clear we'll do anything we can to not kill her if we win. Also it fulfills her contract.

I really think we should avoid the things she explicitly listed as well as anything literary, seeing as she's The Poet.

Don't have any ideas though.

>>44382982
>> I accept (name your game)

Challenge her to a game of updog

>>44383503
50/100 meter Dash?

>>44383538
What's updog?

I have no shame.

>>44383228
Just tossing out ideas that come to mind that have no guarantee of being smart

>Jump rope
>Some necromancer game that Bri knows
>Weightlifting competition
>Checkers
>War(Cards)
>Rock Paper Scissors
>Guess what I've got in my pocket

What if the game is Strip Poker?

>>44383707
Technically since she is currently wearing the chain as a belt she would have to take it off and toss it into the pot to legitimately play the game right?

>>44383818
yuuuup

A shame we don't have a fireball of some sort

>>44382982
Changing vote from >>44383458
>I accept (Drinking)
To
>I accept (Chess)

We have an awesome board and also she used to drink

>>44382982
> I accept (Cock Fight)
pretty sure fetch can take out any chicken they care to throw at us.

>>44384208
what if they summon this guy?

http://funnyjunk.com/comment/anonymous/content/4520601/-5/1/parent_id/20/2/desc

>>44384208
>>44384232

Plus Fetch is with River...

>>44384232
EL POLLO DIABLO! Fetch would have a hard time but in the end would emerge victorious!

>>44384294
oh yeah...

Votes called.

Writing.

So, a thought has occurred to me.

When a chain is broken, does that release a portion of the binding on Lora?

Or does it spread that portion of the binding out between the remaining chains?

This could be important to figure out before we end up in a situation where the final boss individually has the same degree of control over Lora that all the Chainholders combined once had.

Also hoping strip poker won, because the "she has to remove the chain during the game" part seems like a great opportunity for us to cheat.

>>44384696
Uh, yea, I didn't make it in time to get my vote in, but I am amazed to no end that anything but strip poker even remained under discussion once that was proposed. It's just such a perfect convergence of tactical optimization and 4chan's proclivities.

>>44383666
>Let us play... WARGAMES
>What a strange game.
>The only winning move is not to play.

>>44384915
because nobody is sure enough of themselves to defend their position, and from there attack those of others.

Okay folks. I cannot focus at the moment and I also need more food and caffeine than I can safely consume.

The winner, chosen by tiebreaker vote on my end, is POKER. I will be updating in the morning, so as to do this boss fight justice.

Please feel free to offer discussion, comments, critique, and questions. I'll address 'em in the morning.

As always, thank you for reading and participating!

>>44385086
I want you to get at least 12 hours of sleep.
And drink some water, without coffee.

>>44385086
is that POKER or STRIP POKER?

>>44385138
>Comic Strip Poker
>4-Koma Poker
Dare ye enter my magical realm?

>>44385086
Is that strip POKER? Cause it totally should be for the reason >>44384696 pointed out.

>>44385086
I honestly just want strip poker for the potential lewd

> Definitely want strip poker. Best chance we have of getting that chain from her without killing her.

>>44385822
...As odd as I find this to say:
>Strip poker is the tactical decision.

>Definitely strip poker

>>44386595
Yeah, that's a sentence most people wouldn't expect to say.

Need to be sure she can't just remove the chain last, though.

>>44387511

Wouldn't that be the ultimate victory, though?

>>44387723
Only if we actually win. The later she can remove the chain the more chances we have to lose.

Challenging other people to strip poker while in a committed relationship is infidelity. I do not want strip poker.

>>44387861
...Uhhhh. You're gonna have to elaborate on when 'we've been on a few dates and kissed some' turned into 'a committed relationship'. Not that we don't want one but we don't have one. And also, I'm pretty sure that they'll be understanding if it's a choice between strip poker to end this quickly or possibly fighting a demon swarm.

As entertained as I am at the idea of strip poker, we're gonna go ahead and not do that, for reasons you're about to understand. You'll thank me here in a minute.

Rest acquired. Writing.

>>44383092
> Angel puns, maybe! But being a la croix we've got a bunch fo terrible undead puns, too.

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>>44382982
You take out your pipe and point at Brigette with it. "You're gonna let me light this."

You feel a faint ripple in the air, a tickle at the back of your sense of magic. "Done."

You pack the bowl and light it before taking a soft puff. "I accept. Poker, hold 'em."

"Stakes?" Brigette asks.

You walk up to the table and set a knife in the center. "Cuts. You said your other contest is one of will and force, right? Let's see you focus through the pain."

Brigette raises her eyebrows, but she takes out one of those horrific war crime cigars and lights it rather than answering straight away. "You sure?"

"Serious as death," you tell her.

"Alright." She clears her throat and speaks in the echoing, unstoppable words of the gods; you can see her lips blister with the power.

|<[Duel/Will/Deal/Stakes]>|

A glimmering white sliver appears in the air, one end leveled at you, the other at her. She tosses her chain into the air next to her, where it hovers; the sliver shifts slightly, to point at it and you.

"Game's simple. Our will moves the sliver. If your will breaks, it'll pierce your soul and blow you directly into the afterlife. If mine breaks, it'll shatter the chain."

"Holy fucking shit," you say flatly.

Brigette shrugs and sets her hand down on the table.

|<Game>|

The deck of cards that appears, as if it's always been there, begins to rapidly shuffle itself; the deck cuts, bridges, and goes card-over-card while you watch.

"Let's play," the Poet says grimly, and the two of you take your seats.

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>>44388466
You look over to your friends. "Nathan, will you count us off?"

Nathan blinks, but at Brigette's nod he approaches the table and sets his fingertips on it.

"This was never personal," Brigette murmurs, apologetically. "I never wanted any of this to happen."

"I know," you say back, softly.

"Three," Nathan counts, in a firm voice.

"What happens if we try to cheat, incidentally?" you ask.

"Two," Nathan counts back.

"Game's forfeit and your soul is consigned to oblivion. Did you think you could cheat the /gods/?" the Poet asks, pointedly.

"One," the Hero calls.

"Not the craziest idea I've heard of," you admit.

"BEGIN!"

The pressure on your mind is like getting punched in the face. The sliver leaps a foot towards you before you get your will on it and halt the motion in its tracks. You can feel Brigette's mind on the other side, and for a moment it wrings your heart; the weight pressing down against you is years of sorrow, and desperation, and the white-hot need to /live/.

"Deal," Brigette growls at the cards; two are slipped face-down to each of you. You look at yours, carefully, with a neutral expression on your face - an eight of clubs and the Jack of Diamonds.

Brigette taps the knife. "Three cuts."

> Check
> Raise (how much?)

>>44388466
I don't know enough about poker to play.

>Things that define/strengthen our will/resolve:
We are a La Croix. We are on the side of Good. We are the defender of the innocent that life in the dungeon. We are working out of love/compassion (for people, for the right thing, even for Brigette, not for personal love) and "omnia vincit amor".
And: Divine/angelic Justice, we are here by angelic mandate to right the wrongs that are done in the dungeon, the transgressions against the laws of nature/life/death/humanity+speciety+demonhood. There is no alternative to winning. And we know that.

>>44388581
>>44388608
Quoted wrong post because of pretyping.

>>44388581
>Check

>>44388581
> Check

>>44388581
> Check
What are we using for an ante? What's to keep us from folding on a given hand?

Also please forgive me if I get some poker terms wrong; it's been a long time since I played and while I'm refreshing myself I was never entirely firm on the betting terminology.

Folding/losing a hand doesn't mean losing the overall game, it just means you eat the knife. Passing out from blood loss is the loss condition on the poker.

>>44388581
> Time for the mind games. General banter to weaken her will. Brigette's got some power, but she's got holes in her mental armor. Lisa is an angle to work in, but carefully, that we don't increase her resolve.
Other maybes : romantic subjects? Ask about her family? Ask if the Brigette from 10 years ago would be okay with this?

>>44388675
Sure, but generally when you don't want to check, you can fold, for a lesser penalty, because you don't lose any money (or blood) you haven't put in yet. But typically there's an ante that you have to put in the pot every round to stay in the game /at all/, so that if you fold before ever betting anything on the hand, you still lose something (albeit something fairly small). It's what keeps you from just folding and losing nothing until you get a good hand. So what's the ante in this game?

>>44388768
Mrr. Call it two cuts, though I'll note that folding in the opener means you're giving up on your chance to potentially make Brigette bleed (and thus lose concentration).

Votes called, writing.

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>>44388581
You reach for the knife and tap it. "Three sounds good. Let's do this."

The flop comes down - the Jack of Hearts, the two of spades, and the seven of clubs. You breathe smoke from your nose and observe the sliver slip an inch towards the chain.

"You picked the wrong stakes," you tell Brigette, feeling an absolute calm in your breast. "Did you really think I'd be scared of death? With my profession and vocation?"

"Then you won't mind conceding," the Poet drawls back, her deep turquoise eyes on yours.

"Afraid not," you answer, with a shrug. "You've got the chain, and right now that's all I care about. I'd do anything to get the job done."

> Check
> Raise
> WITNESS ME

>>44389037
>"...Like raise ten cuts."
>Raise.

>>44389037
>Check
Let's NOT cheat, when there is no indication of what our plan is.

>>44389062
I gotta ask: is there anyone here who is ACTUALLY good at Poker?

>>44389037
>Raise

>>44389078
err, not trying to be mean. It's just that I know the rules, but not the....intricacies.

>>44387945
We ruffled Amy's feathers and saw her "special place"
In general, if you want a committed relationship, you should act as though you're in one. Commit to what you desire.

>>44389092
3 cuts

>>44389037
Check

We don't have THAT strong of a hand. You gibbering retards.

Raising high would be a dumb fucking move as it'd make her bail early.>>44389112

>>44389037
>Raise

>>44389093
Short version:

Each player has two hidden cards. 5 public cards will be revealed total, 3-1-1. After the deal, and after each reveal, players can choose to increase their bet. Anyone not willing to match or exceed it forfeits.

We have two Jacks, which is towards the bottom of decent.

>raise 3 cuts

>>44389093
A straight or flush is unlikely this round. two jacks are accounted for, which means unless she has a jack with a high card, pocket queens, pocket kings, or pocket aces, we probably have the upper hand. Raise 3 cuts.

>>44389078
>>44389093
I suppose in my zeal for "LOOK 'OW 'ARD I AM" headgames against Bri I sort of forgot the whole "evaluate the strength of your hand first" thing.

>>44389185
Establishing early that 10 isn't going to be a "big" raise for us might be worthwhile. Bridgette chose 3, but we probably shouldn't let her dictate the relative value of cuts. Devalue each cut, make her play with more, throw her out of her comfort zone.

But do we have a sense of what Bri can handle?

>>44389373
Well, she did literally open the suicide vein for a spell earlier in the quest.

>>44389388
Point.

Yeah then I'm voting for
> Raise 10, and mock her for her tiny bet.

>>44388581
>> Raise (how much?)

I'm not sure we need to raise quite that much at once: rather than jolting the Poet out of her comfort zone, it might just make her feel that we're desperate, and give her extra confidence.

I say
> Raise 5 cuts.

>>44389373
Yeah, remember how we're the patron saint of self-destructive job-doing? and remember how we win if we can out-will her, regardless of how we're doing in the game? yeah, let's do this thing.

> raise 10 cuts

Votes called, writing.

>>44389474
Honestly, I do feel like even if we lose the first hand, we can turn it into a mindgames win.

>Not so smug having to pay your own bet, huh?
>Casual "Enh, it was only the first hand" as we slice slice slice without breaking eye contact, let her know how far over her head she's in

>>44389037
> You breathe smoke from your nose and observe the sliver slip an inch towards the chain.

I am bad at poker but either her draw is bad or she thinks it's bad.

>>44389037

Vox, out of curiosity, are you actually dealing out the hands while you write this?

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>>44389037
You tap your pipe away from the table. "Like raise ten cuts." You tap the knife in the center of the table, that indifferent expression still on your face.

You were taught to play poker by dead men. You've got a hell of a face for it.

Brigette sucks her cigar and lets the smoke trickle out of the corners of her mouth. "I'll raise to twelve."

"Done," you answer. You bend your will on the sliver.

It's grinding, ever-so-faintly, away from you.

The next card flops down - an eight of diamonds. You very, very carefully, do not react to this.

Brigette moves her cigar into the corner of her mouth; the motion of the sliver still slips closer and closer to her. "I'll raise eight."

Out in the crowd, the demons roar and jeer.

> Check
> Raise a small amount
> Raise a large amount

And

> Neutral face
> Give her more shit

>>44389620
Ha ha

Yes.

>>44389671
Do you have someone playing the Poet's hands, or are you just trying not to metagame knowing Bri's hands?

If she's around, I vote your weapons expert. I bet she's good at poker.

>>44389661
>Give her more shit
>Check

At this point we'd just be raising to raise.

>>44389661

We've got the high pair. Unless she's got pocket twos, sevens, eights, Queens, Kings, or Aces, we're in the lead.

> Check

> Give her more shit.

If we mention victoria, do you think that will make her waver, or strengthen her resolve?

>>44389690
My weapons' expert is in Ohio, sadly, so that's not a thing. I'm just doing my best to be fair.

>>44389690

Vox can see both hands, because we're the ones deciding Bri's actions.

He's seeing both, and describing the table.

>>44389661
>Check
>Just smirk

>>44389661
By the way, currently we have:

Bri: 8 J
river: J 2 7 8

>>44389661
> Raise a small amount
> Neutral face

Keep her in suspense until we lay our cards down. Then blast her with everything all at once.

>>44389729
Way to strip out card suits, 4chan. Smooth.

Bri: 8 clubs, J diamonds
river: J hearts, 2 spades, 7 clubs, 8 diamonds

>>44389729

I thought the river was the last card? Twist, flop, river?

(Admittedly, I'm fair-to-middlin' at best at poker...)

>>44389749
Blegh, I've been getting that wrong for ages then. Yes, you are correct.

>>44389710
Let's keep her out of it, both because 1: it could backfire, and 2: it's not exactly classy.

Also, >>44389709
This was me, adding to this:
>Ask if we could get some coffee going in here.

>>44389661

Wondering if she has some God Language stuff going on; or if she's just being Resolved.

In any case:
> Relate a story about paying dues and making promises you can't keep; promising to take a large amount of cuts isn't something she's thought through, and when it comes time to take them, the reality will sink in.

>>44389710
>>44389780
Plus, even if it worked, it might give Bridgette's partners a reason to have a problem with Victoria. The more petty and vindictive of them might target her just as "the reason we lost the Atheneum"

Votes called. Writing.

Wait, Vox like Beau and Vox?

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>>44389661
"Sounds good to me," you answer, mildly. "Can we get some coffee for this?"

Brigette can't quite hide the look of surprise and faint outrage at your casual disrespect - and the sliver slides half a foot towards her. She glares at it and bends her will while the final card flops down.

Thank the gods she's not looking at your face. It's an eight of hearts.

Your expression is composed around your steadily puffing pipe again when she looks down at the table. Brigette's fingers twitch towards the knife, then settle.

"Final round of bets," the Poet says quietly.

"I could eat every cut and deal the deck without so much as staining it," you tell her.

> Check
> Try to bluff her into over-raising [Hidden roll]
> Raise

>>44389973
>Raise

Play it "safe." We have 3 of a kind, she's almost guaranteed to be eating the cuts. A whole lot of them.

>>44390007
Anon, you have eights full of jacks. Full house.

25 cuts on the table, incidentally.

>>44390007
Correction: We have a full house, even.

>>44389973
>Raise
10?
impossible for a four of a kind(which, incidentally, is how I lost when I once got a full house)

>>44389973

We've won, unless she has pocket jacks. If Vox is trying to give us the clues, I think she either has the fourth eight or a two or seven, which is a solid three of a kind or two-pair. Alternatively, she could have an identical hand to ours, in which case...

Would we both take half the cuts, Vox?

If so,

>Raise

>>44389973
>Raise

>>44389973
> Get her to raise; if we raise a lot and show off our amazing hand and guaranteed victory; she's more likely to fold.

>>44390081
If both parties have identical hands I think everyone just gets there bet back. Usually pokers more than a 2 player game so I'm a bit hazy on that.

Raise by a small amount, like we're trying to get her to fold but we don't want to make her think we're bluffing a great hand.

>>44390306
In poker, yes, but I'm wondering about what happens when playing for pain.

>>44390306
Continuing to think of ways to make Brigitte think she picked the wrong fuckin' game, if we do come to a draw, we should casually suggest going halfsies each. Or keeping the pot for the next hand.

>Raise

Votes called, writing new thread.

>>44390621
We're only on page three, you probably have 1.5-2 hours until the thread falls off the board.

>>44390786

We're near the reply cap though.

>>44390810
There is a bump limit (autosage) and there is an image limit, but if there is a reply cap it's at least 500.

NEW THREAD

>>44390878
>>44390878
>>44390878
>>44390878

>>44390981
There's no reply limit, I've seen threads get over a thousand before.

>>44390996

There's bump-limit/autosage though.

And this is a very decompressed quest, so once the limit's hit there's prolly not going to be time for another story post.