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The first order of business the Emperor handled was his trade with Zar'kov. Spears, arrows and bows traded for containers of blood and pieces of meat.

He then moved on to thanking you for bringing back Pex. He had written the entire hunting party off for dead and apologizes profusely to you for their decision to attack you. For your willingness to return your prisoners and smooth over your first impressions, Ungblot will divulge all the information he possesses on the surrounding cave dwellers and the local flora/fauna.

While he accepts your offer of an alliance, he informs you he must keep such an agreement secret at this time. If your behavior in the hills angers General Agus or any of the other nearby powers in the area they may decide to go to war with the Firegem Nation, something that Ungblot is committed to avoiding.

The rubies are a much more complicated affair. While Ungblot is very willing to trade the rubies for supplies from Seaside or your Cerilian Mainland, he does not think it wise for you to bring human miners to the interconnected tunnels that make up Firegem village's. Again, this is because he fears the other cave dwelling nations might see these foreigners as some sort of plot by Ungblot. He is willing to set his own people to mining the rubies to sell to you, of course because of other duties, you'll be getting a lot less than if you had a dedicated mining crew.

>That's fine, kobolds mine the rubies themselves
>That's unacceptable, ask Ungblot how to make it work

wow you beat the mis-archiver, nice

>>44754971
Yeah, had almost everything ready before I even started the thread. I will admit, the guy is pretty funny. Skele Quest is my new favorite Quest.

>>44755037
dudes an ass who's just making a lot of shit harder for everyone involved, including Lord Licorice the archive guy

>>44754951
>That's fine, kobolds mine the rubies themselves
Better than the nothing we were getting before. Maybe if we can deal with the other nearby powers, either diplomacy or putting the boot to them, we can expand on this further.

But that's for much later.

>>44754951
>That's fine, kobolds mine the rubies themselves
If we end up doing something to the other nations we can renegotiate

>>44754951
Would you be willing to act as an intermediary between us and other cave dwelling nations? We would be more than happy to trade for the right to mine these gems with the other nations as well.

Writing!

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>>44754913
God dammit i'm late for the first reply!!!
Great to see you Trick.

You decide that is perfectly acceptable for now. You inquire as to whether any of the other nearby cave systems have precious gems or metals. The emperor isn't sure about most of them, but he knows that General Agus's tunnels possess much iron that he conscripts the goblins into mining for him. As for precious gems, Ungblot's never had his runners check the other caves because you're the first group of people that's had a use for them outside of sentiment.

When you suggest some sort of negotiation with the other groups around the hills of the Island, Ungblot quickly dissuades you. Negotiating with them for the rubies would presume they have control over Ungblot's territory, which is an idea he doesn't wish to enter their heads. If they come to believe the kobolds have something important, there may very well be conflict. He also recommends you avoid running into General Agus and his goblinoid 'army' or Ish'rak, chieftain of The Hobgoblin Fuckers.

Eve laughs. “Hobgoblin fuckers? Is that really their tribe name?”

Ungblot nods with an annoyed grimace. “Yes, he renames his tribe after every new rival. They used to be called The Goblin Fuckers. Before that The Gnoll Fuckers. And before that The Troglodyte Fuckers. Although, as Ish'rak himself found out quite quickly, it's not worth it to fuck a troglodyte. I am loath to have him discover your species' existence. I would not wish to change all our documents again to The Human Fuckers if I can help it.”

With your diplomatic dealings adjourned and Gilda's desire to see the village and map the tunnels, you find yourself with some free time to spend in this area.

>Learn from the Kobold Wizard (Eve)
>Scout out the nearby area (Pex, Rowe)
>Escort Gilda through the tunnels (Gilda, Gabby)
>Visit The Mountain Riders tribe (Zar'kov)
>Something else? (Write-in)

>>44755827
>>Visit The Mountain Riders tribe (Zar'kov)
Let's hang out with the nig- I mean orc.

>>44755827
>Escort Gilda through the tunnels (Gilda, Gabby)

>>44755827
>This fuckin' tribe!

>Visit The Mountain Riders tribe (Zar'kov)

>>44755827
>Escort Gilda through the tunnels (Gilda, Gabby)

>>44755827
>Learn from the Kobold Wizard (Eve)
Magic Ho!

>>44755827
>>Visit The Mountain Riders tribe (Zar'kov)
I guess having some knowledge from other settlement will be great. We will even get another reward if we manage another alliance with Zar'kov's people.

Writing!

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Well, since you seem to be the closest thing in your group to a diplomat other than Eve. And since Eve's more suited –

“Dragon my balls on your face!” Eve finishes regaling Vort, who snorts smoke in mirth.

– to that, you're the best bet for negotiating with Zar'kov's tribe. You tell Gabby to keep Gilda safe and head out with the elf-orc and the elf-human hybrids. Zar'kov says his tribe usually resides in the mountains, but packs up camp and comes down to the plains and hills of the nearby area around this time of year. His people would not be more than a day's ride away if it was just the two of you.

You wish Rowe luck with her scouting. She assures you her and the kobold will be smart. She wants to get a heads-up on this General Agus due to the large 'KILLME' signs he seems to be leaving around the place. And of course, she's quite enthusiastic to scope out another tribe of hyper-rapists. She warns you to be careful yourself. Zar'kov seems alright, but maybe it's the orcesses of his tribe that do the raping schtick. She wouldn't want to see your purity tarnished.

With the friendly banter over, you and Zar'kov saddle up and ride south-east. You ride at a good clip, but find both of your steeds are rather sturdy and that you're both accomplished enough horsemen to keep your wits and comforts about you.

You feel like you might be able to talk with him a bit. Ask a question or two.

>Ask him about his elven lineage
>Ask him about his skill at the bow
>Ask him about who runs his tribe
>Ask him about what the rest of his tribe is like
>Ask him about the details to the blood trading
>Something else (write-in)
>Ride in silence

>>44756539
>Ask him about his elven lineage
>Ask him about his skill at the bow
Since these are probably connected. Yes I am stereotyping

Then
>Ask him about what the rest of his tribe is like
>Ask him about who runs his tribe
These are also connected.

>>44756539
>>Ask him about his skill at the bow
>>Ask him about who runs his tribe
>>Ask him about what the rest of his tribe is like
>>Ask him about the details to the blood trading

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>>44756539
>Ask him about what the rest of his tribe is like
>Ask him about who runs his tribe
>Something else (write-in)
What is the usual you or your tribe lider deal with this General Angus guy?

Writing!

Wow this is gonna be a good one.

>>44757332
Infodumps can take a bit.

>>44757360
Not complaning. I like this quest a lot.

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>>44757360
exCITEEMENT

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“What is the rest of your tribe like?” you ask him as your horses pick their way through the rockier terrain, Zar'kov's horse much more suited to it than Tornado. Although Tornado is facing the challenge head-on to impress Zar'kov's mare.

“Like yours, only orc instead of human.” That gets you looking at him quizzically. “Many of us are part-orc, but have the blood of other species flowing through us. We have a few full-blood goblins. We are led by a council of elders, all of which are part tree-walker. We are peaceful as best we can manage, but nearby tribes of orcs do not respect us. We follow Gaea's Warden as opposed to The Relentless Surge. They claim we betray our orcish side, but we disagree.” Gaea's Warden? Some other god?

“Where'd you learn to shoot so fast.” you ask him.

He grins at you. “Taught to me by my father: Zog. A member of the council and The Mountain Riders' best warrior.

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You make the rest of the journey in silence. You see Zar'kov's tribe as you approach. It is comprised of a series of white tents distributed seemingly at random across the plains, with horses, donkeys and livestock milling about in pens and tied to posts.

He leads you through the huts, the eyes of green children and adults resting on you curiously as you move through them. Some quite clearly have non-orcish influence, but some others look as orc as you can imagine.

You finally reach one tent that is identical to all the others. Zar'kov dismounts and hitches his horse while you do the same. The two of you enter the wide tent to the sight of an older-looking orc wood-carving. Upon seeing Zar'kov he stands and hugs him. The two quickly chat in Elvish, leaving you awkwardly standing there as their conversation continues on for a minute until finally ending in what seems to be a heated mess. The older orc turns to you and shakes your hand gruffly.

“Zog.” He tells you in Orcish.

“Alan Rodain, of Seaside.” you respond.

He nods. “If your blood works, we'd be happy to trade. I'll speak with the council about it, but that's a trivial matter. Is there anything else you require?”

Huh, that was rather curt. Zar'kov looks slightly sterner than usual.

>I'll need Zar'kov to come back with me to my settlement
>I'll need one of the elders to come back with me to my settlement
>I'll give you instructions on how to find us

AND

>Could I take a look at some of your horses?
>Could I take a look at some of your bows?
>Could I meet with your elders personally?

AND

>Return to Firegem Village tonight
>Return tomorrow

>>44757531
>I'll need one of the elders to come back with me to my settlement
It's probably better someone that actually can make decisions.
>Could I take a look at some of your bows?
>Return tomorrow

>>44757452
>Tornado is facing the challenge head-on to impress Zar'kov's mare.

Have i ever told you guys, how much i love our horse?

>>44757531
>I would like you to appoint an ambassador who will come with me to officiate the trade agreement with our city
>Could I take a look at some of your bows?
>Return tomorrow

>>44757531
>I'll need one of the elders to come back with me to my settlement
>Could I take a look at some of your horses?
We natural Cavalier
>Return tomorrow

>>44757531
>I'll give you instructions on how to find us

>Could I take a look at some of your horses?
>Return tomorrow

>>44757613
Tornado is based.

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>>44757531
>I'll need one of the elders to come back with me to my settlement. Adding (As a diplomat our leader would love to talk and so we can stabilish a good deal.)
If said no ask if Zar'kov can come or would like to come, with you.

>Could I meet with your elders personally?
Or are you one of the elders?

>Return tomorrow
SOCIALIZE!!! MAKE ALLIANCES IS FUN!

>>44757702
Fuck yeah he is!!

Writing!

Actually, bows and horses tie. So, one last vote.

>Muffin thinks you should look at the bows
>Tornado thinks you should look at the mares, uh, horses

>>44757826
Can't we do both?

>>44757826
>Muffin thinks you should look at the bows
Alright I'm trusting you on this one Muffin. Show me something more interesting than mar... Horses

>>44757841
Spoiler alert.

You're getting one as a gift. You can get the other if you trade for it. Which will be a bitch considering most of the stuff on you is either useless or something you use.

>>44757912
>trade tornado.

Fuck that.

>>44757826

>Muffin thinks you should look at the bows

I'm going with muffin's option because this squirrel knows to much. If he tells anyone what happend in the forest when we tried to fly, we will never stop hearing about it from the group.

>>44757826
>Muffin thinks you should look at the bows

>>44757982
Pay a squirrel in treats once and he keeps his mouth shut until the treats run out.

Pay a squirrel in steel and his mouth stays closed forever.

Does our friends even know that we can understand what Tornado is thinking?

>>44757826
Tornado.

Because we got that magic goblin bow already.

>>44758167
>not wanting to buy a bow to best girl

Also we kinda need to say sorry and a gift will be a good 'forgive me' gift.

>>44758314
>Implying whatever these guys got is going to trump her lightning bow.

As for the other matter, we do need to talk, but its not like either of them were at fault. There is no 'forgiving' needed, just a chat.

>>44758360
I think if it's a good bow she can keep it just as "part of hercollection" maybe ask to scribe something cool in elvish on it? Also girls like gifts...

“I'll need one of your elders to come back with me to my settlement.”

Zog grimaces at you. “No.”

Zar'kov makes a huff and begins to speak from back in the tent. “Father, they're –”

Zog answers his son in the the harshest way you could imagine Elvish sounding, which, despite its baritone Orcish source, is not as harsh as befits the situation. He turns back to you.

“I don't know your settlement. I don't know your species. I don't know your god. I will not entrust one of our elders in your care.” Its blunt, but not filled with malice. Although, the orcs having the trust issue with you is an odd, new feeling.

“Well, if you would like to appoint an ambassador –”

“No. It will take some time for my tribe to make it's decision. My son will give us all the information we need about his meeting you and we will find you when we have come to a conclusion.” He doesn't look like he'll budge.

“Fine, then I'll give you instructions on how to reach us.” Zog nods. “May I stay the night here? I don't wish to ride back during the dark.” Zog nods again. “Alright and I was wondering if I could look at your bows. Your son praised your people's craftsmanship.”

Zog turns back to Zar'kov and spits more words at him in Elvish. Zar'kov walks forward and guides you out of the tent. As you follow him he begins to apologize.

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“I'm sorry. My father is very cautious.” He leads you to a makeshift work area surrounded by arrows, spears and bows. He speaks to a nearby bowyer, stringing up a beautiful piece. The orcess nods before heading into a tent and coming back with an even finer looking one. She hands it to Zharkov who gives it to you. “A gift from my father for saving my life. He does not wish to seem ungrateful.”

You hold the thing in your hands and test it a bit. Its strong and pliable, the string made of rawhide. You're proficient now with longbows, so you should be able to use it. It also seems to be fashioned to be used on horseback. That's good. But it feels like it was designed for someone a bit stronger. Someone with an orcish physique, perhaps. You'd need to build up some proper muscle to use it to its full potential. Still, the craftsmanship is excellent and it's worth hundreds of gold at the least. If this tribe is armed like this their enemies should be scared.

>This will make a great gift for Rowe
>This will make a great weapon once you get stronger

AND

>Mingle with the tribesmen of The Mountain Riders
>Ask Zharkov a boatload of questions
>Request for Zharkov to show you some archery techniques

>>44758679
>>This will make a great weapon once you get stronger
>Ask Zharkov a boatload of questions
>Request for Zharkov to show you some archery techniques

>>44758679
>This will make a great weapon once you get stronger
>Request for Zharkov to show you some archery techniques

>>44758679
>This will make a great weapon once you get stronger
>Request for Zharkov to show you some archery techniques
1. Learning!
2. Find out more about the tribes warriors.

>>44758679
>This will make a great gift for Rowe
>Request for Zharkov to show you some archery techniques

Alright, writing!

Roll me 1d100, + 28! Best of 3. This is to learn stuff from Zharkov.

Rolled 98 + 28 (1d100 + 28)

>>44758896
Watch me crit this

Rolled 87 + 28 (1d100 + 28)

>>44758896
Ez

Rolled 47 + 28 (1d100 + 28)

>>44758896

Rolled 93 + 28 (1d100 + 28)

>>44758896
Watch me critfail this since we rolled so damn well.

>>44758940
So close.

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>>44758940
>>44758945

This will make an amazing weapon once you get stronger!

Muffin approves.
Tornado disapproves.

Afterwards you ask Zar'kov if he would give you shooting tips. He seems to still feel really bad about how his father treated you and leaps at the chance to give you some pointers.

And holy hell, you must admit. You can't believe you never thought of it before. Its ingenious and an amazing synthesis of the skills you already possess, but something you never thought you could just do.

Zar'kov actually practices a type of meditation much similar to Gabby's. He focuses himself and lets his calmed state guide his body. The only caveat is he treats the bow as an extension of himself, something that he has grown up with since he was a child. It is as dear to him as his own arm.

It's a lot like punching. Okay, it isn't, but it requires a strength of hands to pull back the drawstring of a bow and release. Tension, power and precision. And your experience with Gabby has given you a great basis for doing that really fast. You can now extend your ability to unleash a flurry of blows to your archery skills.

You call it: Flurry of Bows!

Muffin disapproves.
Tornado approves.

You master it so fast that Zar'kov decides to show you how to do it from horseback as well. You ride around the camp utilizing your technique. All it requires is letting the horse do all the work to focus completely on your shooting. And, hell, Tornado is a horse you can trust. By the time Zar'kov goes to sleep you're a natural. He claims you must have been a member of The Mountain Riders in a past life to take to it that quickly.

The next morning you return to Firegem Village after giving a parting goodbye to Zar'kov. The ride is quick and by the time you return, most of your compatriots have completed their own tasks.

>Tease Rowe about being faster than her now
>Figure out what Gabby has in the sack
>Dare you enter Eve's magical realm?
>Alright, let's go

>>44759496
>Tease Rowe about being faster than her now
>Figure out what Gabby has in the sack
Is it moving?

>>44759496
>Figure out what Gabby has in the sack

>>44759496
>>Tease Rowe about being faster than her now
>>Figure out what Gabby has in the sack

>inb4 Rowe's "yeah, you are "quick"" retort

A low-blow

>>44759496
ask all the things.
>tfw Eve gets no love

Writing!

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“Alright Gabby. What's in the sack?” You walk over to her as she carries the burlap sack over her shoulder. When she spots you she holds up a finger before digging into the sack. She quickly turns around and shoves the giant monstrous insect-looking thing in your face. It proceeds to wriggle and hiss as it lunges for you.

Gabby then brings it back to her chest and keeps a tight hold on the thing to keep it from escaping.

“The fuck is that thing?” you ask her, having recoiled from the monstrosity.

“This is Rusty, Al. The newest member of the team!” Gabby shouts to you. Gilda walks over to where Gabby is wrestling down the giant bug, sighing. You look to Gilda for salvation, but she offers none.

“That is a rust monster, according to the kobolds. We caught two. I only require one and Gabby wants to keep this one since its of a more manageable size. Its a creature whose entire diet consists of eating metals.”

Gabby has finally gotten the thing back in the sack and ties it closed. She stands up strong and looks at you. “Alright, so here's the plan, Al. Let's say I'm in a fight with some fucker with a sword and plate mail. 'HAHAHA, you can't kill my ass. I'm surrounded by super-steel, stronger than regular steel' or whatever. I just chuck Rusty here at his ass and while he deals with the shell, I get at that juicy juicy flesh. So, whattaya think?”

>. . . Gabby, no.
>I'll get you a puppy.
>Sure, keep it.

>>44759982
>. . . Gabby, no.
"What's stopping it from eating our gear when it gets hungry? You can't watch it all the time."
>I'll get you a puppy.

>>44759982
>I'll get you a puppy.
While adorable(?) the rust monster is bad for everyone that uses metal. That includes us.

Writing!

Gabby just needs someone to fist her.

Always does when she gets weird like this.

“. . .Gabby, no.” She looks at you like you just crushed all her hopes and dreams.

Her mouth goes agape. “But why?”

“Because it's bad for everyone that uses metal. What's stopping it from eating our gear when it gets hungry?”

“I'd watch it.”

“You can't watch it all the time.”

“Well, you get two pets, Quissonce got an owl and Rowe got a wolf. What's to stop Sif from eating Quissonce or Tornado from stepping on Eve or Chester from pooping on Kyra's head?”

“We're bonded to those animals.”

“ME AND RUSTY SHARE A BOND!” As she says this your hear a rumbling from the sack as Rusty tries his damnedest to escape captivity. Gabby kicks the sack before pouting. “This is no fair. You get to go on your gay adventure with your orc butt-buddy. Eve gets to shlick to dragons. Rowe gets to continue her successful peeping tom career. What do I get? Stuck babysitting. And all I ask for is one, tiny, little magical monster.”

“I'll get you a puppy.”

“Five puppies! Different breeds too.” You shake hands. Five puppies it is. Gabby hands the sack of metal-eating monster to Gilda, who promptly brings it to lay near a similar, larger bag.

As you prepare to set off for home, Emperor Ungblot, The Mightily Witted comes to you one last time. He is preparing to send Pex back with you to establish the specifics of the trade agreement with Blackburn. He also gives each of you a much larger ruby, mined from the Firegem nation's very own cave system. He tells you its a souvenir, but you could sell it for a nice chunk of money. He waves you off and you begin your journey home.

>Apologize to Gabby?
>Talk to Rowe
>Talk to Eve
>Talk to Gilda
>Talk to Pex

>>44760636
>He tells you its a souvenir,

Yo, nigga, we gon enchant that shit

>Apologize to Gabby?

Headlock.

>>44760636
>Talk to Eve
Gabby is fine, she is getting 5 puppies. Rowe and us should probably talk privately. PTSD mind merger discussion shouldn't be discussed in front of others.

>>44760733
This sounds good..
>Talk to Eve

>>44760636
>Talk to Eve
"How about them Kobolds?"

Writing!

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You trot your horse over to where Eve is riding her pony, humming to herself.

“So, Eve, how about those ko–” she turns to look at you as you begin speaking. Her eyes are completely changed. They look like a reptile's eyeballs. It is also at this moment that you notice the scales going up her forearms.

“They were pretty swell, Alan! Vort told me all about dragon stuff. And I might have done a ritual or two. Hehe~!”

“Y-y-your eyes, Eve. They look so –”

“Awesome, right? Its the deepening of my Draconic heritage even further. And have you noticed the scales?” She gestures to her arms. You nod. “Yep, my skin is thickening, Alan. I'm approaching the appearance of my ancestry even more rapidly than before. I'm starting to look [hot].”

>You sure are, Eve!
>Eve, this is gross and disgusting.
>Ride away Alan
>Say something else? (write-in)

>>44761137
>hot
"I get it."

"This isn't something you can turn off and on is it? You really are becoming a dragon?"

>>44761189
>>44761137
+1

>>44761137
>Ride away Alan
lest eve munches on us

>>44761189
seconded.

Writing!

>loli sized
>scally and turning into a dragon

God dammit Eve is /tg/ true waifu.

>>44761461
Not even close, you ingrate.

“I get it.” you chuckle to yourself.

Eve clicks her tongue and points at you. “You're sharp Alan. That one was pretty subtle.”

You sigh out. “This isn't something you can turn off and on is it? You really are becoming a dragon?”

She chuckles a bit. “God, I hope so. Sometimes, I, uh –” she stops talking and pauses for a moment, contemplating something deeply. “I have nightmares. That this is all a dream and I'm still back in Ceril on the docks. Dozed off watching the ships sail by. And every time I wake up back in the Circle I feel like my stomach has sunk into my feet. And I have to touch my scales to remind myself it's all real. I'm actually here and this amazing metamorphosis is happening.” She sighs wistfully. “How about you, Alan? I realized I haven't been talking to you about your copying bloodline thing. How do you feel about it?”

>Honestly, I love it
>It's weird and freaky. I don't know how to feel.
>It disturbs me. I wish I had something different most of the time.
>Something else? (write-in)

>>44761654
>>Honestly, I love it

>>44761654
>>It's weird and freaky, but honestly, I love it. All of things I can do now, its extraordinary.

>>44761654
Some good, some bad.
I've done some damage with these abilities but they're necessary for my goals. Or maybe my goals are what they are because of my heritage.

>>44761654
>Honestly, I love it

>>44761715
?

Writing!

>>44761858
I can't really remember which thread but we decided that we want to unlock the potential in this world by expanding the influence of the island to encompass the whole world.

“Honestly. I love it. It's weird and its freaky, but I love it. I see someone do something and decide, hey, I want to do that too. And I do. Or I think about what I want to be and I will myself to be that type of person. It's liberating. Nothing feels out of my reach or unattainable. And the fact that I can give a bit back, even if I'm not too good at doing it currently, is . . .” you look over and notice that Eve is looking up at you, beaming. “What?”

“Nothing, just . . . you're a lot different.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah.” She gives herself a second before continuing. “When you almost died that day on the boat I was scared out of my mind. Here I went and got some human to give himself a heart attack or something to learn a simple coin trick. Couldn't really move you much, either. I had to get Dolah's help to just get you into your room. I sat there thinking I was the dumbest person on the planet, getting some innocent person killed for being wrapped up in my fantasies. I listened to you muttering in your sleep. It sounded like you were being tortured." She gives you a look like while she doesn't know the full story, she has some amount of understanding. "And yet, here you are. Stronger for it. Ten times the man who got on that boat. I'm glad to have met you, Alan. And thanks for bringing me on this outing.”

“You're welcome.”

The rest of your journey back is rather uneventful. You spend your nights bunking with Gabby, every night her making you renew your puppy promise. When you finally find yourself back in Seaside, sitting in front of Blackburn you feel some nervous jitters overcome you a bit. Your report is a lot of promises lacking in much concrete results right now. You hope this will be enough.

Blackburn slides the paper over to you.

Potential Alliance 5000 gold
Potential Alliance 5000 gold
Live Rust Monster 3000 gold
Regional Information 2000 gold
Cave System Mapped 2000 gold
Confirmation of Elves 200 gold
Extra Rust Monster 300 gold
TOTAl 17,500 gold

Split four ways is 4,375 gold each plus the 250 you'll get from hawking the big ruby.

You have the money. Eve and Gabby high five each other and the four of you exit Blackburn's office as he pours the blood out of his wine glass.

You're outside, facing Rowe. The two of you are alone.

(Well.) She thinks to you.
(Yeah.) You think back.

>We should go through with it
>Let's think about that shared dream
>I think we can handle this
>I want to think about our relationship
>Think something else? (write-in)

>>44762438
>We should go through with it
>Let's think about that shared dream.
"Look I'm sorry about snapping at you that night and that you had to see...that. Or that I saw yours. ...Do you want to talk about it?"

>>44762521
>>44762438
+1

When you think about it. Both of them could never talk about those moments cause no one could empathize with them. No one else was there. No one would understand. Now in a kind of warped way someone else witnessed their worst moments and now they have someone to talk to about it.

>>44762438
>Let's think about that shared dream. Preferrably somewhere private.
We've been skirting this issue for a while.

Writing!

Last post of the night, by the way.

>>44762779
Will you QM on friday ot will it. e saturday?

>>44762826
Friday, most like.

This was the last post by the way.

J/K

>>44762878
Oh you.

(Let's think about that shared dream we had. Preferably somewhere private.)

(Sure. My room in The Circle then. I'm still roommate free.)

(Yeah, that would be a good place.)

The two of you make your way back to The Circle and grab yourselves a few coffees. You head up to Rowe's room and sit down on opposite beds. You sip your hot drinks in quiet for a few minutes, gathering your courage to think. When you both finally feel willing to look each other in the eyes, you begin.

(Who's Tobias, Alan?)

You sigh out. (He was my best friend. We grew up in the same city. We were both sons of merchants who weren't firstborns. We played together. We fought together. We decided to go to war together. My idea. I told him it was the only way we would ever become persons of renown. We'd be war heroes for sure. We joined the cavalry together and did excellently in basic training. We were assigned to the same unit and went off to the Muller Mountains to repel the Kardas forces. It was to be glorious. My first battle I ended up killing more young boys running for their lives, shitting their breeches then evil Kardas marauders. Our only casualty the first battle was old Alig, our sergeant. He died when a boy no older than 13 shot his horse with a musket. Alig broke his neck in the fall. The horse survived. The boy didn't.) You drink of your coffee deeply.

(Apparently I was considered the best of the privates in our unit and was promoted to sergeant. I had hope after that. Maybe this was the start of my path to glory. I would lead my men and my friends to victory. I led them into an ambush. Skullcracker Pass. You've probably heard of it. The captain in charge was an idiot, but still, I trusted him and the life of my dearest friend to some stranger in a fancy coat. It was a bloodbath. The only Kardas victory with no casualties on their side. Hundreds dead in seconds. We weren't prepared. A bullet grazed my skull. Tobias was shot in the gut. Both our horses were killed and mine had the grace to fall on top of me, pinning me. I was stupid then. I would have stood up and pulled my saber to be shot down among the rest of them if it weren't for that horse. But while my empty head was filled with glory, Tobias's was always filled with the true smarts to survive a battle. I'd open my mouth as wide as I could and nothing but hot air would come out. Tobias could purse his lips together and still spit venom. He crawled to where I was under my horse and threw himself on top of me. He clamped his hand over my mouth and when I struggled merely whispered in my ear. “Be quiet for once in your fucking life”. It changed me. I saw him bleeding out and knew what he was doing. Ensuring his death to save my own. Sacrificing himself for a stupid kid who deserved to die for leading his friend into hell. I told The Great Will right then and there that if he was really there and was really a maker of fair judgment and mercy he would take me and spare Tobias. It took him minutes to die on top of me. Maybe hours. The Kardas forces searched the field and shot the few dying survivors. They missed me. Tobias's plans always worked. That was the birth of The Red Rider.)

(I killed plenty after that. Didn't pay much attention to who was fleeing and who wasn't. Burned down entire encampments and parked my spare troops near the rivers to run down the flaming idiots who rushed for a respite from their burning torture. By the time Renault found me I was a husk of a man. I wouldn't listen to the stories he was spinning or what he was saying or offering me until he said something I thought I'd never hear again. “Boy, listen to reason for once in your fucking life.” That was where I began to come back, I think.) You finish your coffee.

(And that's the tale of The Red Rider.)

Alright, now I have to write Rowe's war story.

Rowe grabs a rag and wipes the tears from her face. When she comes back to sit across from you she smooths her clothes out and sits cross-legged on the bed.

(So, um, me then, I guess. I grew up in Kardas. In the Sfar forest, really. It was like its own little world to me. I lived with my da and my ma as I called them when I was a little girl. I learned the ins and outs of my special, little world and grew to love the forest. My mother introduced me to the beauty of animals by letting me help tend the horses in the stable. My father introduced me to killing for survival and the harshness of the wilderness. Duality. Our life was simple and I was spared most of the prejudice half-elves receive. I was neither a mongrel in the eyes of haughty elves or a novelty in the eyes of exploitative humans. It was just the three of us together. In perfect harmony. And then the war came and Kardas was beating its chest about the need for reunification. Mom and Dad agreed the right thing to do was flee to Ceril. The Sfar forest was bound to become the sight of many battles and they thought it was not fit to leave their young, teenage daughter in a place where so much savagery was bound to occur. So we left our home. My special little world. We abandoned it all to save our skins. And that's when I realized how much of a freak show we were. Sure, better than being raped and killed by an orc soldier, but it wasn't fun. Dad was spit on. Mom was called a filthy whore. People looked at me with either pity or scorn. It was not fun. And then we started to hear about what was going on in that forest. Trees being cut down and animals being butchered for sport. My special, little world raped and killed while I hid among people who thought I was less than dirt. Other refugees flowed in. Other people fleeing. Soldiers on the front speaking about how they were just sitting on their side of the Cerilian border hoping no orc army would come through. We were a region of cowards.)

(I decided to make a change. I joined up. A half-elf and a girl no less. Barely worth considering. And they were right. I was good, but sorely lacking in a lot of areas. I could aim well, but didn't have the strength to shoot as far as the other soldiers. I could move quickly and dexterously, but had less stamina than the other soldiers. I was decent and that was it. After being allowed to join I sat there on that border for a month shaking in anticipation. When I realized there was no way I would be ordered to go forward, I took it upon myself to make that first sortie. I moved in, ended up killing a patrol of five orcs who had gotten lost and came right back afterwards. My commander was ready to hang me for treason. He might have too, I had acted rashly and stupidly. But then someone came to my defense. His name was Etriarch. He was a scout like me. He had been ordered to follow my stupid move and found the orcs I had slain. He vouched for me and I was let off the hook.) Rowe dangles her feet over the bed and takes a deep breath in.

(There's something you need to know Alan. The Orc Hunter – the story you've heard – is in large parts a lie. After that first sortie, yes, I did a few more all by my lonesome. But more often than not I was accompanied by Etriarch and a few times he was the one going in by himself, making the legend continue. We hunted and killed up and down the Sfar forest multiple times for many months. He was a good friend. More than a friend some nights. He was the first person since my parents to treat me like I was regular. And we worked wonderfully together. We knew that forest like it was written on the inside of our eyelids. Of course, even with a two man team there's only so much you can do.)

(We saw a lot of things happen and just had to sit back and bide our time. Innocent people tortured. Countless raped and slaughtered. We could have intervened, but the risk of being caught was too great. We could lose a chance at killing a commander or wiping out a whole platoon if we wasted our shot by killing a simple, lecherous patrol. We would sit there in the trees with white knuckles and one game to pass the time. Look for the happiest looking motherfucker of the bunch and see if we could kill that one the slowest. It was all we could really do. Hope that we could repay pain with pain.)

(For a long while this worked perfectly. It was getting harder and harder all the time, but we were getting better ourselves. Unfortunately . . . The General arrived. He was the cruelest orc leader I've ever had the misfortune of encountering. He was Kardas's ace in the hole when they realized what seemed to be one Cerilian soldier was ruining an entire theater of their war effort. He brought with him the grandest horde Kardas could muster. They were going to scour the Sfar forest and then invade Ceril. It was all going to go badly.) Rowe starts to shake.

(The General was smart too. Cunning. He baited us with a double. We thought maybe if we cut the head off the snake we could stop the whole thing. We went after the double and were surrounded. There was no chance to escape. I was ready to end it there, die together. What is it, Alan, with people like Tobias and Etriarch? He told it to me plainly, like he realized he had forgot to put out the campfire. “They think there's only one of us.” Before I registered what he meant, he leaped from the trees and made a run for it. They caught him. They brought him back to The General's main encampment. I followed and watched. The General decided he would make a game of it, to help keep up the morale of his troops.) Tears begin to flow down Rowe's face.

(He wasn't going to make it quick for THE Orc Hunter. No, Etriarch was going to suffer a long time for what we had done. The General had a list of all those orcs we had slain. He was going to prolong Etriarch's life for as many days as orcs we had personally killed. I lost count of how many it was a long while back. The General said it was 123. 123 days. Four months. The General was going to torture Etriarch for four months to show his men who "The Orc Hunter really was".) Rowe's hands clench the sheets.

(They had asked for it. They asked to see who The Orc Hunter really was, even if they were too stupid to realize it. There was nothing I could do. I didn't have a clear shot for The General or Etriarch. I wasn't strong enough to shoot that deep into their camp. I couldn't go back and inform the troops, they wouldn't risk their lives to save Etriarch. They'd wait to weather out the storm. They would just minimize casualties. I had no back up. I had no partner. I had nothing. Except my special little world. The ins and outs I knew like the inside of my eye lids. The place I had used to fight them for the better part of a year. And here they were. An entire army's worth of them, deep inside my special little world, thinking they were the masters of it. That weapon was mine and mine only.)

(And I used it.)

“I burned down the Sfar forest.”

>End of Thread
I will most likely run this next time on Friday. https://twitter.com/TrickQM

>>44764909
Thanks for running.

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>>44764909
The feels Trick, the feels. Thanks for the excellent run. Y'know it occurs to me that despite all the horrible situations our companions may or may not have come from (Gabby at least definitely had a rough go of it, Kyra too. Dolah, while a warrior for the faith was not involved in any front, or at least I'm guessing so.) and any fights they may have been in only Alan and Rowe have experienced war firsthand. Or at least that's an assumption I'm making. Its an interesting thought, that while they're all fighters in a way that the two of them are the only soldiers.

>>44765067
Yeah, none of the others were involved in the war directly.

>>44765118
On a lighter note I love how with a max relationship level how Muffins thoughts on Alan are "The guy who feeds me". Really shows an animals priorities hahaha. Also with sharing a mental bond with Rowe make it easier for her to teach us elvish? Given that you can literally give context and emphasis mentally as you say the words physically. Also will she be jelly of our bow?

>>44765217
Also with sharing a mental bond with Rowe make it easier for her to teach us elvish?
Yes, if you decide to have Alan learn it that would be immensely helpful.

Also will she be jelly of our bow?
Hers does the lightning and it has a new enchantment you've yet to see. In truth, you are the one who should be strawberry preservatives of her bow.

>>44765326
It occurs to me that a bow with a lightning enchantment is technically a taser.

>>44765377
Less stun and more being electrocuted to death though.

>>44765400
Upon further reflection I think I'll go with flying sub-dermal defibrillator.

Thanks for the thread, Trick.

>>44765326
>Yes, if you decide to have Alan learn it that would be immensely helpful.
I decide that yes, we want to learn elvish. We must learn everything. EVERYTHING!

>Also will she be jelly of our bow?
I don't know. She has a magical bow and we have a mundane but masterfully crafted bow. It's like apples and oranges.

>>44762438
Trick, I feel that Blackburn is handing out too much money. Sure, it's divided between all of us, but we still earn a shitton of money by more or less riding around the island and talking to people. Like the 1000 gold fee for the magic circle: We expected it would take us months to get enough, but just for the first expedition we got twice as much. It's like saving $10/week in a college savings fund for admittance to Harvard, then suddenly your uncle giving you a monthly allowance of $100000. The only thing we can do with that much gold is buy the best and most expensive magical equipment around, and that feels a bit boring. Just my personal opinion.

Stupid captcha, a caffe latte is not a milkshake.

>>44766968
Superduper late reply but here goes.
You should notice that we're not really decked out on purely magic items. Trick is currently handling the money-to-power ratio by restricting available items and it feels like it fits well enough considering the amazing work we do by their standards. Remember that before we got on the island they had failed to make peaceful contact with ONE nation and we're up to 4 at this point. We're probably the greatest diplomat on this island at this point.

>>44766968
I'll admit, 5000 gold just for getting a group on the Island to work with you seems like a lot of money. But that is a limited supply. The Island is not infinite and there are not too many groups that will willingly work with you.

>>44770968
So we earn a lot of money now and won't get much later. That means we should put the money in a savings account. Good to know, thanks.

>>44770968
On the flip side they are about to burn 4k of it on a ring.

>>44771024
Or invest it in real estate.

>>44771024
There is still a lot of Island left. Don't start gimping yourself to save a pretty penny.

Or do >>44771036 that.