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>>45561698
"You have a fine home, councilors," you compliment courteously. "I'm certain you've noticed that New Hell is not functioning as it ought."

"For such a tall man, you have a talent for understatement," the female councilor notes. Amy chokes on a giggle.

"I have the power to fix that for the Black Anvils," you continue, smoothly. "I can restore the flow of materials from the Mine. What's more, no more materials will be going to the Traitor. Her ally in the Mine is dead, his forces defeated and rightful order restored. One Brianna la Croix lead the effort, with our help and the aid of forces from all four of the upper levels."

The council peers thoughtfully at you and, one after another, decides that you are telling the truth. "Impressive, Bookchild. And what brings you to New Hell?"

"The sickness in the Dungeon has spread further than you may know," you answer solemnly. "I'm here to defeat the Traitor and destroy the artifact she's using to control this level."

"And then we're probably gonna pick a fight with the Roost," Amy adds, helpfully.

"What is it that you'd ask of /us/, to restore the flow of supplies?"

> Send someone to make it happen /now/, as a gesture of good faith, then talk
> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations
> Press for an alliance

>>45561911
>> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

>>45561911
> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

>>45561911

> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

>>45561911
>> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

>>45561911
These are dwarves. All we have to do to gain their trust and allegiance is prove that we're trustworthy and working with us will aid their clan.
>Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations.

Natalia doesn't have the manpower to cut us off from the Mine, does she? At least, not without difficulty.

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Alright folks, I need to go be Gainfully Employed. Votes will remain open until I get back home, and one of these fucking days I'll learn to time my run appropriately. One of these days.

Questions, comments, discussion, & critcisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>45561911
> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

Gotta be all business for now, no matter what our hero instincts say. Though... What if mother dearest is banking on us not being the hero we so clearly are. We'll have to make up for this momentary lapse of goodwill with MANY FEATS OF HEROICS!

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>>45562247
By which I mean get locked up by our lovers for recklessly endangering our selves as usual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ObVK7SHUVE

>>45562384
the safeword will apply.

>>45562449
Any dressed as a prison guard...

Bri dressed as a fellow prisoner...

My mind travels to dark places anon

dark necromancer places

>>45562625
you know, you just set yourself up to use necromantic as a pun. and you blew it. for shame.

Also I would imagine Bri and Amy as guards, "manhandling" the prisoner. cuffs would be involved.

>>45562672
Give the wording some... further consideration... and perhaps you'll see the other meaning.

>>45562742
I feel shame for missing that one. Spoiler tags: the door to confusing simpletons.

Three and a half hours and change to call.

>>45561911
>> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

>>45561911
>Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

>>45561911
>Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations.

Bump.

>>45561911
>> Ask for free passage & information on New Hell to start the negotiations

Two hours and change to call. Questions and discussion still welcome.

>>45565960
Do we know who each are on floors 6-8?

>>45566587
No. We know who is left, and which floors are left, but we don't know who has which floor. Dick is presumably at the bottom though.

>>45566587
Lora said that the Diviner is in the Broken Jaw.

Off work. Thirty minutes and change to call.

>>45568202
Call me maybe

Home at last. Called, writing shortly.

Okay, that was my Unexpected Evening Interruption of the day. Let's actually fucking write this time.

Bumping for the love of coffee.

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>>45561911
You rest a hand on the table, calmly. "I figure, we start this easy. My team and I would like free passage through Black Anvil territory and information on New Hell. Maps, maybe warnings, maybe politics. That'll get us sitting down at the bargaining table to maybe talk about something more, if you trust my word."

"We have no reason not to," one of the councilors begins.

"But as the saying goes, 'trust, but verify'," another finishes. "Who is your contact in the Mine?"

"On friendly terms with many of the bosses, as well as Lark - the one with the cigarettes?"

The dwarves shudder as one. "We'll offer you the information in good faith. Send the imp to bring a liason from the Mine, and we will accept that as enough for free passage. It is as much as you can promise, and as much as we can ask for; the chance to do business on our own terms once more."

"River?" you ask.

The elf murmurs a long string of orders to Zachary in what you're fairly sure is the tongue of demons. The tiny factotum bows and scurries off, leaving River's shoulder empty.

"Please, sit," the councilwoman invites, and the three of you inclined to sit gratefully squeeze into the remaining chairs.

This room is too fucking small.

"You are situated in the west wing of New Hell. We share it peaceably with the Pit Forge, named for obvious reasons. The Pit has been required by Natalia for some project and is the only place she can have her work done, so they've used her needs as leverage. They are not sworn to her, but they have profited greatly from her."

"What are they making?" you ask, curiously.

"Ship armor."

River groans and puts her head on the table; her red hair spills out around it, hiding her face.

You take a deep breath. "Okay. Then what?"

"The service hallways that surround us let out on the east to a group of communal rooms, including the baths, mess halls, and the Steel Market. The Market is the central point of New Hell and contains the river."

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>>45572251
"Let me guess - crossing to the east, or into the Traitor's territory, means going through the Market?" you ask, grimly certain of the answer.

"Crossing, he says," the oldest councilor answers with a chuckle. "The Market is manned by the Traitor's men and their Defectors."

River groans again.

> C'mon River, think positive.
> Keep going, councilor. Fuck my life up.
> There's /got/ to be some other route.

>>45572293
>> C'mon River, think positive.
>> Keep going, councilor. Fuck my life up.

>>45572293
> Keep going, councilor. Fuck my life up.

This after-late-shift posting shit just seems to not be working out in my life. I'm sorry for the disturbances lately; I'm working on it. Votes will remain open until I get up in the morning.

Questions, comments, discussion, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>45572293
>> Keep going, councilor. Fuck my life up.

It's going to get worse before it gets better.

Also, interesting. Natalia's getting armor for the Pallbearer. Well, probably. Alternatively, she's creating an ironclad. Kind of interesting that she isn't actively holding the Pit over a barrel, too.

... I wonder if she can See us coming. She didn't See Nate lose his foot, but if I recall correctly, basically the closer physically we are, the better her Sight gets. Close quarters, it's fighting someone who knows your move before you make it. Further out, it gets weaker and weaker. Ironically, a sniper might be rather good against her.

>>45572293
>> There's /got/ to be some other route.

>>45572293
>> There's /got/ to be some other route.

>>45572539
I shall invoke the voice of the gods dear Vox

|<Relax>|

Seriously, you've been at this continuously nonstop and have run into writers block and other such problems. I really implore you to for like just a day stop worrying about the quest and relax and recharge your lich coffee powered battery. We will still be here when you decide to return.

>>45572608
...Maybe I can do Q&A tomorrow, I dunno. It's been a bit since I did one of those threads anyway, and they /are/ nicely refreshing.

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>>45572293
>Keep going, councilor. Fuck my life up.
Welcome to Hero Squad, River.

Happy birthday Vox. Here's a present!

>>45572674

Glorious

>when boar zombies fly

>>45572674
>Drive me closer! I want to hit them with my Boar!

>>45572674
Sloppy, I know, but I haven't had a lot of time to work on the sketches I promised. Plus, this popped into my head and I just /had/ to share.

>>45572641
Something like that would be good. I also hope to pop out another doodle before I head out.
>inb4 all of your fanboys and girls start pumping out tribute.

>>45572545
But she see's multiples ways the future can go. A sniper will have only a couple of attack vectors, whereas close combat is usually always a confusing, hectic mess of steel and limbs. The chance of here accurately predicting our moves there should be rather slim. Hell, it could work to our advantage if she reacts to a feint before we actually start it.

...If he's doing Q&A we should maybe ask some questions.

>>45573212
OK! Vox, why is this anon such a faggot?

>>45572293
>> C'mon River, think positive.

>>45572674

This is not only kickass, but it's smart too. This really might work, and sure as hell NO ONE will see it coming.

Bumpity bump

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>>45573572
Even the /pig/ couldn't have imagined this.

Bump before sleep.

Also, if everybody in Vox's magical realm worship variations of the same gods, are there any entities or powers that a opposed by them or are just plain evil?

>>45573572

The pig's too big for New Hell's corridors.

If you meant for the areas the Caretaker mentioned that we CAN use it, then absofuckinglutely yes.

>>45574999
Given the focus is on granting it flight capability, I suspect they meant Roost.
(Certainly, no one will expect it there.)

>>45575470

Dude, it's a flying pig.

Nobody expects those /anywhere/.

>>45575779
But see, in the Roost it's a DOUBLE surprise.

Nobody expects a giant boar.
But once they are accustomed to idea that we have a boar, we surprise them again with FLYING BONE BOAR

>>45575779
>>45575915
that, and I'm not sure if we want Roast Flying Pig

>No Amy, cooked necro boar still counts as spoiled meat, even ignoring the necromantic energies.

>>45573572
This should come really handy when we've reached the see. 'cause fuck boats.

>>45576012
We gotta get Kells down there somehow.

>>45576424
Would be kinda unfair to him. He kinda swore to keep the lake safe, didn't he?
But he'd be usefull, yeah.

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Yeah, I'ma do Q&A today. Take the day to relax, get my head back on straight. Maybe play some of these games on my damn system. Thank you for your patience, folks.

>>45573227
I dunno, seems like he's trying to be helpful to me.

>>45572674
>>45574297
These are hilarious.

>>45574857
Eh. Elemental evil/justice isn't really a thing in the setting. There's certainly /assholes/ (see: gorger demons) and monsters of various kinds, but in general as far as everyone's aware, the gods made every species and aspect of creation, and are generally held to have done so with good intentions (whether or not they're all-wise, or fucked up somewhere down the line, is a matter of theology).

>>45576424
>>45576518
He did, aye. He also literally cannot leave the water; that in mind, helping in the Sunless Sea would be good for the long-term care of Lakehallow.

Open for questions.

>>45577553
>the Sunless Sea
Imo you should check out that game and the fluff surrounding it.

>>45577553

Since we're going to be allowed to choose the order for floors 6-8, is there any benefit we'd get from going in a certain order?

I'd imagine that taking floor 8 would serve to "cut off" floors 6 and 7 from supplies that they might not be able to produce themselves, for example. But would we then have to hold it against assaults from above and/or below (given the apparent isolationism and independence between the Chainbearers)?

Also, about how large are each of the floors? I know the Basement was large enough to have a whole eastern section we never dealt with beyond meeting with representatives 'from the loosely defined Eastern Dwellers'.

>>45577818
I've been kinda avoiding it. Which is easy since I'm broke, but...like, I'm unsure that I'd like the game? I don't tend to go in for survival games/roguelikes/whatever the hell Faster Than Light is, and from what I can tell Sunless Sea sorta exists in that space. I've got nothing against the genre or folks that play it, but like my dislike of BBQ sauce, my issue is rooted in the bit where the things considered selling points in the genre are things I dislike as a player.

I can maybe interrogate some friends about the worldbuilding, though. That part sounds up my alley.

>>45578646
If you want worldbuilding, Fallen London is a Free to play.
It shares the lore with Sunless Sea, being made by the same company, but happens in a city rather than in the sea.
Just don't go North, it's a bad idea.

>>45578637
Each floor is fairly large, though their /functional/ size varies. The Atheneum, for instance, is defined by tight room-to-room design with few actual passages, making it smaller than its space might indicate. Conversely, the Basement sprawls purposefully, giving plenty of space for enterprising adventurers to kill themselves.

The "largest" floor you've been in thus far is the Lichyard, which has miles of sprawling forest and space for multiple communities. The biggest in terms of useable space are the Sunless Sea and the Mire.

Presuming you clean up the Roost and keep it clean, taking over a given floor re-establishes Lora's power there, gives you access to that floor's resources, and potentially offers allies and opportunities. Additionally, you gain access to whatever information that particular Chain Bearer was forbidding Lora from divulging.

A random thought occurred to me while reading the Google doc about the la Croix with a werewolf boyfriend.

Is lycanthropy (and by extension all other shape-changers) a disease, a magical or divine curse, or all of the above?

Also, would alchemy be a useful branch of study for Brianna to learn? Are there any other sciences (aside from medicine) that she could start studying to augment her necromancy?

Are there any rare and valuable resources (plants, animals, or minerals) that can only be found in the Dungeon?

If dragons /are/ a thing in your magical realm, are there other species related to them? Things like linnorms, drakes, wyverns, hydras, lung dragons (y'know, oriental style).

>>45578755
So, for example, whoever is controlling the Cornucopia might hold the key to solving world hunger?

Or maybe something more exotic, like a spring or fountain of rejuvenation and youth that allows the crops and livestock that drink from its waters to grow to maturity almost instantaneously?

>>45578646
yea, understandable, this >>45578736 is also a good idea if the crew eating simulator doesn't appeal to you

>>45578853
I think lycanthropy is basically the magical equivalent of catching herpes.

bump of curiosity? Is the tread dead or alive? Shrodingers thread. On that note, Vox, what effects does necromancy have on dead organs? If someone has say, a damaged kidney, can the dead tissue be revived? How would necromancy react to someone with say, a gangrenous arm having flesh grafted in its place? would the surrounding dead tissue accept the graft if revived?

can something be both dead and alive?

>>45579784
I do believe this has been answered in previous threads, but I think Vox stated that the 'deathly energies' or whatever will slowly kill the host. It's why Nate's leg couldn't be enchanted with necromancy, because it's literally a body part and the magic would kill him faster than Hollywood butchers innocence.

>>45578853
Some shape changers just /are/. Werewolves in particular are the result of someone pissing off the wrong Chosen back in the day, and aforementioned Chosen forgetting to install an off switch on her curse. Over time they've changed, subtly, and it's quite possible with treatment for a werewolf to live an essentially normal life, or even benefit from their condition. Certain cults disapprove of voluntary lycantheropy, and there's quite a bit of suspicion attached to the idea of hiding being a werewolf - it makes people think you're guilty of something, usually something awful.

> Also, would alchemy be a useful branch of study for Brianna to learn? Are there any other sciences (aside from medicine) that she could start studying to augment her necromancy?

Alchemy would be great for enhancing and creating toxins and poisons with necromancy. It's also fairly useful for helping folks /resist/ necromantic power, which Bri could use to protect her friends and then unload with stuff that's not, y'know, crowd-safe. It was an option earlier in the quest, which anon turned down. At this point in Bri's medical training she's on the cusp of learning healing as a formal sorcerous discipline.

> Are there any rare and valuable resources (plants, animals, or minerals) that can only be found in the Dungeon?

Yes.

> If dragons /are/ a thing in your magical realm, are there other species related to them? Things like linnorms, drakes, wyverns, hydras, lung dragons (y'know, oriental style).

As discussed earlier, dragons have strong relations to elementals and are less a species than they are a phenomenon.

>>45578912
The Dungeon is large enough that for sheer space concerns - not to mention some floors being specialized - a food source was required. The Cornucopia is that food source, servicing, primarily, levels 1-8 when it's in full normal operation. Obviously, at the moment, it isn't.

>>45580122
I think Brianna could spend some time studying with Meadows to be a legitimate healer, in addition to her necromantic studies. Plus, now that she's become more efficient in spending her life force, fixing wounds will be less of a problem.

Are there any skilled alchemists in the currently freed Dungeon levels, or in Glen? It seems like a legitimate way to boost her effectiveness in combat.
>I'm totally imagining Brianna coating her cane sword in hallucinogenic compounds or paralytic toxins.

I know that Brianna gave our Hero and Best Bird charms to protect them from necromantic toxins, but are there other kinds she could craft? Protection from illusory effects on the senses like blindness, or a rechargeable talisman that could give them ghost-breath (in case anybody tries a fast one with poison smoke or some such).

Are you going to be updating the Google document, by any chance? Some of the info in there is pretty old and out-dated, like Nate still wearing that stupid peg-leg or Amy not having her wings yet.

>>45580455
I've been noticing that too. I'll try to get on it sometime today.

>>45579784
What >>45579784 said. 'm using this thread as Q&A for today, to take a step back from the quest and refresh my brain some.

>>45580621
... I'll assume that you meant what >>45580115
said. Sorry, I missed a few of the previous Q&As / questions in general. I'm an idiot and I'm sorry

>>45580783
One day I'll link the correct post the first time. One of these days.

And you're fine anon, stuff happens.

>>45580383
The ghost breath thing is quite workable. An alchemy teacher could theoretically be found as well.

As usual, you'll have the chance to train more during the interlude(s).

...I am sensing that either today is a slow day or there's not a lot of questions this time around.

>>45581911
I can't think of anything I want to ask, crashing hard and need sleep.

>>45581911
Not particularly. It's a case of where you paused, I think. We don't know that much about the defenses against us, so we ( or I at least) aren't scheming and plotting. I mean... Really what I'm craving is story-time. Is there any folk-tales you want to share? I would like to mention that story time with Brianna is the most enjoyable way I've seen a world fleshed out in any quest or... well story in general.

>>45581911
>...I am sensing that either today is a slow day or there's not a lot of questions this time around.
Is that necessarily a bad thing?

What does/did the Duchess think of the dungeon/dungeon life?
What are the Caretaker's thoughts on current events?
What are some interesting things about dwarfs and dwarf life?
What is your favorite color?

>>45581911
Now, with New Hell I'm curious if anyone else seriously thought about the impact of these new weapons. I highly doubt Bri is the only one who put some thought into it, specially with a floor dedicated to engineering. Will we see some other views on the bootlegged firearms that could be for our against?

[Spoiler]I couldn't think of a better question than this obvious one[/Spoiler]

>>45582631
I'll think of some while I'm at work.

>>45582648
These I'll address after work as well; gonna be gone from 6:30 until midnight or so.

>>45583340
She's far from the only person who's thought of it. The smiths down here see a lot of potential. Some of them can even tell that there's a lot of really needless things happening in the design, but with Natalia having the level sewn up it's been difficult for any of them to act on their thoughts or beliefs on the matter.

>>45583931
>Some of them can even tell that there's a lot of really needless things happening in the design

Ooh, that'll be /fun/ to deal with.

Is there gonna be any chance of keeping guns from spreading out of the dungeon (if not from spreading at all) without murdering the lot of them?

Would this maybe be a good time, while Bri's stuck in the Mine on standby, but doesn't have anything immediate to actually do, for her to have another chat with Silence? Maybe ask her some things, like why she chose to live in a place where her kriptonite is more ubiquitous than pretty much anywhere else in the dungeon, with the possible exception of the next floor down?

>>45583931
How does sunlight, or the lack of it work in the dungeon? I'm guessing there has to be some form of ambient light for forests to grow in the Lichyard.

>>45583931
What kind of parlor tricks have necromancers come up with?

>>45586032
Witchlights

Bump

>>45583931

Are there any major factions / large murders in the Roost, or is it just an anarchist clusterfuck of hundreds of tiny murders constantly roiling over each other?

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>>45581911

Alright, here's one I asked earlier.

This is more meta than anything else, but you mentioned that Bri ended being very different then what you expecting. Again, when I first started read, I was kind of expecting a more Dark Souls kind of experience, with lots of dying and what.

So, was the whole Heritor goes in to Save the Dungeon thing a planned factor, or was working actively towards Saving the Dungeon kind of a surprise deal? I get that the thirteen floors were planned out at least a little in advance, but given how drastically different each route could have gone, and how much greyer Bri started off as, I find myself curious.

Second question is kind of harder to answer, but Lora's comments on it have been weird. She said that after this she's going to go face the Judgement of the Gods for her Failures (so to speak), but there's also the implication in some conversations that she'll still be here, working for us. I was wondering how that was going to work. It's a longer term question, and one I'm betting could be irrelevant. After we take out Dick and Inherit the Dungeon, we might just say the Dungeon doesn't need a Master (hah) and abandon the title or something. But Lora's a friend, and I'm wondering where exactly she's going to end up. One possible guess is Reforged, and that's not really something I want to happen to her.

>>45587971
Answering the second half would be massive fucking spoilers. I'll address the first when I get home in an hour and a half plus change.

>>45581911

>>45547451

>>45590513
I'm working on some of these. I...need to interrogate some folks about the prosthetic thing. I've also been trying to show more of his thoughts but the trouble I keep running into is that after all this time showing the private, kinda quiet Nate from the outside, I'm having difficulty showing him from the /inside/.

>>45586032
Witchlights are used to sustain plant growth in almost all parts of the Dungeon. A very rare few places have actual sunlight, brought down from shafts to the surface with mirrors.

>>45585300
I'm considering it, honestly. I may stop for breaks during the main run to swap towards Bri and do some story time and/or conversations. I'm fucked up from work and not even gonna try tonight.

>>45586100
Talking skulls are a favorite.

>>45587505
The Roost is highly chaotic but charismatic warlords or cunning tacticians do sometimes get large murders or gangs together. Some remain long-term or, at least, haven't fallen apart yet; most descend into chaos after the death of their leader, leading to a frenzy of slaughter as the group factionalizes and fights for control.

>>45587971
Getting to you in the next post.

>>45587971
Okay I'm gonna get to you in the morning. Not because it's late but because I've had an emergency come up with a close friend of mine and I'm gonna attend to them for a bit.

I'll see folks when I wake up.

Is it possible to get a telepathic link similar to the one Bri has with Fetch, outside of the context of a familiar and their master? I think there was some mention of some magic items, little bells or something, that the Chainholders were using to communicate. What disciplines of magic are capable of generating such links? So far, we have precedent for necromancy to create them in the context of a familiar, but ambiguous outside of that context, and no word yet on what was used to create the Chainholders' comms.

>>45591355
I think that we simply haven't had the opportunity to see the other side of Nate. The next few levels are going to be great for that; in my mind, I see him /reveling/ in combat and being able to push his skills to the limit, while still remaining noble and compassionate. And he was a smith's apprentice, so I can picture him hammering some steel at one of New Hell's forges to help ease his stress after dealing with Natalia.

Are there any traditions or customs that the various harpy murders hold sacred? Like, for example, swearing on the Lady of Ravens is like a blood oath, and is of extreme importance?

Also, would it be possible to see things like those tube worms that build colonies around hydro-thermal vents at the bottom of ocean trenches? Creatures evolved to survive an environment completely untouched by the sun? If they do, they'd probably show up in the Sunless Sea.

>>45592395
>I see him /reveling/ in combat

>Aren't you supposed to be scared? You feel /alive/!
>You can see hate in its eyes as it charges from the surface.
>You pull the hatchet from your belt and plant your feet on the deck, knife in your other hand.
>"Ho la, sons of sorrow!" you scream, in glorious defiance.

Something like reveling might have been ...indicated in the past.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe one of us should help Vox maintain the Gdoc.

>>45593110
If we did, it would be better as highlights only to indicate which characters got updated, or just the boring bullet points that aren't hard to fuck up.

>>45592449
We tend to play things safe, since the other two /won't/ come back from the dead. Not that this has been a bad thing, but our decisions of perspective and action have limited the amount of action the main characters have seen. Most of the enemies have been nowhere near a challenge (even the demons) except for when they have numbers on their side.

So, what can we expect from the other levels? Not a lengthy overview, but a brief synopsis. The Cornucopia, Sunless Sea and The Mire are kind of obvious, at least on the surface.

ba-bump-tss

>>45591355
It is honestly very difficult to explain to anybody the sensation of having ones calf sown to their shin if they have never gone through it themselves.

>>45596277
That happen to you? Must've been ugly. Hope the sewing it back in part worked out in the long term.

Also: seems to vary much depending on the person. I've seen people saw their thumb of and slap a bandaid on it without giving a fuck. Came the next day because his daughter drove him to the ER (which is a good think, because joints are usually very sterile, and he'd probably caught himself a nice, solid sepsis). Others tote their scars around, though I don't know if that might be some kind of compensation or shock/"I'm still alive despite it"-reaction.
And others... well, others are greatly disturbed. Which is not surprising, considering that losing a limb /ought/ to be drastic, but the changes some of them seem to undergo are crass.

>>45597323
Had to have my right leg lobbed off due to muscular damage from compartment syndrome as a side effect to being put on an ECMO machine from a pulmonary embolism that was caused from a blood clot that released from the tumor caused by my ALL. I had a rather shitty 2015.

I'm alive. I'm gonna get some caffeine, address remaining questions, maybe write some worldbuilding stuff, and resume the actual plot today.

Thank you for your patience during my day off.

>>45597801
then you get to be nathan in the upcoming play

hurray.

for serious tho, I'm sorry guy.

>>45599152
If it means three ways with a hot Necromancer and half-harpie i'd do it again.

>>45594650
It's a bit difficult for me to answer this without spoilers.

>>45596277
>>45597801
Damn, friend. Unfortunately that makes it hard to talk about the leg thing from Nate's perspective too...oi. I may have gone out of my depth on this one.

>>45593260
I wouldn't mind taking on a dedicated aide for that, honestly.

>>45592395
Harpies place a big emphasis on someone's dying wish, often because in their experience people don't die in a circumstance that leaves them able to make one (talons in your lungs make it hard to talk, after all). Harpies can, and have, gone to extraordinary lengths to fulfill those wishes, and it is not unknown for a harpy to enter lands in which they are otherwise unwelcome, bearing some mission that the corpse they went to scavenge couldn't complete.

It's nice to see that folks are excited about the Sunless Sea.

>>45592156
Much like teleportation, such devices work best in areas of high magic. You may have the chance to study the silver bells in New Hell and possibly make your own system.

>>45587971
Getting to you next post for real this time.

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That delay brought to you by my need for caffeine.

>>45587971
I'd initially planned for a few ways to characterize Brianna. At first I honestly thought anon was going to go for the bitter, angry option and resent Lora for dragging her into this.

I was very surprised.

The main plot, with the thirteen chain bearers, was always planned. I'd been prepped to handle anon doing so reluctantly, anon seeking a way out, and even anon joining the villains. This direction was the one I /had not/ planned on, not that I'm complaining in any way. I just...I dunno, I kinda expected anon to feel more angry about Lora press-ganging Brianna into her problems?

>>45601614
>bitter, angry option
tg is terrible at being bitter. Hatred is often short-lived and/or swift in execution.

>>45601614

its always fun to play as a knight in sour armor. Watching Amy drag a grudging confession of heroism out of Bri was one of my favorite parts of the quest so far.

>>45601990
Ditto my compatriot of swarthy complexion.

>>45601614
the first rule of QMing is the same as first rule of GMing. No plan survives contact with the players.

>>45601614
I'd known from the moment we made a chicken our familiar that this wasn't going to be a /normal/ dungeon crawl, and I prefer it this way. We've had plenty of fun, emotion, and action along the way. None of the stagnating that seems to happen in a lot of other quests.

Alright folks let's fuckin' do this.

Gonna ease back into writing with a brief sideswipe to Brianna, taking a brief break from her studies.

> Talk to Silence; you wanna know more about her
> Tell Jewel that story you've been promising to tell her.
> Seek the advice of the dead and possibly Aria on the Duchess's school proposal.

>>45603584
>Tell Jewel that story you've been promising to tell her.

>>45603584
> Talk to Silence; you wanna know more about her

>>45603584
>> Talk to Silence; you wanna know more about her

>>45601990
Success!

>>45602845
God, don't I fucking knowit.

>>45603325
At some point I need to actually read more other quests so I get a better idea of these problems that folks keep telling me about.

>>45603584
> Tell Jewel that story you've been promising to tell her.

>>45603729

>At some point I need to actually read more other quests so I get a better idea of these problems that folks keep telling me about.

Most of the complaints I typically see are about a lot of stuff happening without anything actually getting done.

Imagine an interactive version of Crossroads of Twilight.

>>45603839
...What is Crossroads of Twilight?

>>45603584

> Talk to Silence; you wanna know more about her

>>45603857

The tenth book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. It consists almost entirely of people reacting to an event that occurred at the end of the previous book; you can quite literally skip straight from book 9 to book 11 and not miss any significant plot advancement.

It's pretty much "All This Shit Could Have Happened Offscreen: The Book".

>>45603584
While I /do/ want to hear more about Silence, as she is my waifu, and we all love storytime with the necromancer, I want to hear more about the possibility of a magic school.
>Seek the advice of the dead (fuck Aria) on 'Ettie's' proposal.

I'm off to work the night shift. See you all in seven hours.

>>45603584
> Seek the advice of the dead and possibly Aria on the Duchess's school proposal.

>>45603584
>> Talk to Silence; you wanna know more about her
While storytime is always fun, and I do want to ask about the school, I wanna know more about Silence just a bit more than the other options.

>>45603584
> Tell Jewel that story you've been promising to tell her.

Called, writing.

That delay was brought to you by dinner.

>>45603584
Start with
>Talk to Silence; you wanna know more about her

If we get a chance, follow up with
>Seek the advice of the dead and possibly Aria on the Duchess's school proposal.

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You are Brianna la Croix, and you're starting to feel cooped up in this fucking Mine.

You haven't gone back to the Atheneum. How could you? Your lovers are a level below, maddeningly close while being out of reach, and you can't help.

When you start thinking that maybe the hostages dying is worth being down there, you leave the Baron's mansion to go do /anything/ else, because those are bad thoughts and leaving yourself to stew in worry won't be good for when Nathan and Amy get back.

And they /will/ come back.

You light one of Lark's sins against common decency and puff on it while you walk towards the Company Store. You're not sure where you're going but you have this sneaking suspicion that inspiration will hit you at some point and, right now, moving is better than sitting still.

When you spot Silence squatting on her heels at the end of a pier, spitting thoughtfully into the water, you decide she's as good a choice as any to get your mind off of things.

"La Croix," the fairy greets, when you get within earshot.

"Silence," you answer. You take a seat at the end of the pier and dangle your booted feet over the water. "...Feel like talking?"

"I could converse," she says, with a shrug.

> "Anything off-limits?"
> "I've been wondering about...well, you. Why the Mine?"
> "How're you holding up?"

>>45606409
I got this image in my head that Bri was walking in a circle to the point where it was beginning to create a circular indent in the floor ala Scrooge McDuck
> "How're you holding up?"

>>45606409
> "How're you holding up?"

>>45606409
> "How're you holding up?"

>>45606409
>> "I've been wondering about...well, you. Why the Mine?"

Called, writing.

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>>45606409
"How have you been feeling since the battle?" you ask. "Aside from, y'know, the several pounds of gold."

"Mortal, do you have any idea what that feels like to me?" Silence asks.

"...Like you can't stand without leaning to one side any more?"

"Damn straight. It's fucking annoying." The fey woman spits a line of black liquid into the water. "...It's nice to have folks coming and going again. The Mine never had /many/ visitors, but you'd be amazed at the things you miss when they're gone, even if you didn't notice them when they were there."

"Ghosts talk about that," you murmur. "Things like their heartbeat."

"Aye. The Mine was dead, and now it's alive again. You did that."

"We all did that."

Silence gives you a steady look. "Don't fucking correct me, necromancer. You did that. Your minions and allies may have helped, but /you/ did that. Your plans, your leadership, your orders."

"...Alright, I did that," you tell her, though you turn your gaze away. "So what happens now?"

"Now we wait for your friends to kick over the anthill in New Hell. I suspect things will get busy here, then. There's been a lack of interest in moving goods up to Glen; Glen can only absorb so much, after all. But New Hell...well, those forges are always hungry."

"Can I ask a personal question?"

"You may ask /a/ personal question."

> "Why the Mine?"
> "What's it like in the Mistlands?"
> Write-in?

>>45608654
>"Why the Mine?"


Mistlands is the fey "homeland"?

>>45608804
Correct.

>>45608654
> "What's it like in the Mistlands?"

>>45608654
>> "What's it like in the Mistlands?"

>>45608654
>>"Why the Mine?"

As interesting as finding out about the fey homeland would be, I think I'd rather ask a personal question of her. Asking why she left tells us things about herself and the Mine, and reflects a personal interest in her as a person, rather than just interest because she's a fey.

And as interesting as the setting is, it's the characters that draw me in.

>>45608654
> "Why the Mine?"

>>45608654
> "Why the Mine?"

>>45608654
> "Why the Mine?"

>>45608654
>You know I bet we could make you something to wear on your otherside, that way you aren't always off balance.

> "Why the Mine?
But definitely include
>>45609182

>>45600778
>It's a bit difficult for me to answer this without spoilers.
We have access to rough overview information IC, don't we? Brigette ought to at least know the basics from her research, Caretaker and Silence have been here forever, etc.

>>45608654
>> "What's it like in the Mistlands?"
Feed. Me. LOOORE!!!

>>45608654
>> "Why the Mine?"

>>45608654
> "What's it like in the Mistlands?"

Called, writing. Sorry, been on a tear with professional stuff, getting Actual Shit Done today for once. 's been a nice feeling.

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>>45608654
You flick the butt of your cigarette into the water. "One question, huh? Well...alright. Why the Mine? Of all the places in the world - hell, in the Dungeon - why this one, which is full up of iron?"

Silence chuckles. "Seems odd, doesn't it? But there's so much more than iron down here. There's stone and water, and the breath of the wind. There's a community, and silver and gold, and other metals besides. The Mine is much more than iron, and if it can accept the things it doesn't like about me, I can accept the things I don't like about it."

"It's aware?" you ask, curiously.

"...Yes? No?" Silence frowns, thoughtfully. "Follow with me here. This world, the Iron Lands, envision it as a glass of water. Water behaves certain ways, yes?"

"Sure," you agree; you pack your pipe, somewhat distractedly, while Silence talks.

"Envision the Mistlands as a glass of wine. Wine, while similar to water, is distinct. It behaves differently, has a different flavor, different effects when drunk. It looks different when mixed with other liquids; it pours differently, even."

You nod, while you light your pipe.

"Around me, some of the water in your glass is wine instead. The Mine, from my perspective, is as it would be in the Mistlands. It is not precisely aware, but its interests are...represented, shall we say? It is aware /for me/, and /around me/, and /because of me/. Mortals do it too, in sufficient numbers."

You take a puff and give the fairy a look. "Uh...no we don't?"

"Really?" she asks. "Then why is it that within minutes of walking into a new city, you get a feeling from it? Why do nations have personalities that are distinct from the sum of their citizens?"

"...Huh. But you didn't answer my question."

"I'm getting there."

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>>45611883
Silence spits a thin line of coal-laced saliva into the water. "I came to the Mine awhile ago. I was curious, and not otherwise busy. It was...different, then. People say the Mine doesn't change, but the thing is, everything changes. Entropy wears away at the edges of anything, and if it cannot force that thing to be destroyed, it can still command it to heal new flesh where the old no longer is. It intrigued me. I hadn't seen something eternal made for beings that were fleeting before. I couldn't understand why anyone, or anything, would put effort into making something for mortals knowing not just that they would never understand, but would die and leave it behind, never to return."

"That's a bit depressing," you point out.

"You'll notice that I swore my service to the Mine, dipshit? Two guesses why I might have done that."

".../Oh/."

"You need to get out more," Silence chides, popping a fresh coal into her mouth. "My turn. Why do you want to know about me?"

> You're a mystery
> You're my friend
> I'll have to manage this Dungeon one day
> Write-in?

>>45612041
>> You're my friend
>> I'll have to manage this Dungeon one day

>>45612041
> You're my friend

Lets be honest, 9/10 chance we die horribly or get betrayed before we end up managing this dungeon.

>>45612041
>"You'll notice that I swore my service to the Mine, dipshit? Two guesses why I might have done that."
>".../Oh/."

Can someone explain this to me? It's late and it's not making sense to my caveman brain.

Alright folks, I'm heading to bed. I'll update and continue the main story tomorrow.

Questions, comments, discussion, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

Extended voting may be a thing tomorrow, if this whole having-the-ability-to-write trend continues.

>>45612041
>> You're my friend

Maybe a bit much, but really. She's interesting, was willing to risk her life to help, and has turned out to be a decent person.

>>45612041
>As terribly corny as this sounds, you're my friend.

Wait, does this mean that Silence is 'married' to the Mine, in a sense?

>>45612041
>>> You're my friend

>>45612041
>You put your life in my hands.
>So I guess I felt obligated to get to know you better?

> You're a mystery

It begins with curiosity, then blossoms into friendship. Right now you're a casual aquaintance, Silence. I want to improve upon that.

>>45612286
Y'know, taking a week long break would not be a bad idea. Distance and time away from a story adds perspective. You know this Vox. No one would begrudge you a break.

>>45612080
From Silence's perspective, the Mine /feels/.
The Mine is also eternal while everybody else in it isn't.
So it had the usual "all your friends die" problem of immortals.

Silence is /also immortal/.

>>45612041
> You're my friend
Fire forged and tested and if everything goes well, for a long long time.

>>45613011
While the essence of what you're saying is good, the way it is worded makes it sound kind of flirty.

>>45613478
Yes, and . . .?

>>45613563
Well, we should at least talk it through with Nate and Ames.
And make sure that Wraithsteel doesn't hurt her

>>45613478

Hm, not entirely intended. How can we rephrase this without the flirtatious implications?

>>45613742
Ay wanna fuck?

>>45613247
I'm rather afraid that if I take such a break, folks will lose track of the quest. I don't have a way to meaningfully communicate that it's resuming.

I'm not up-up; noise woke me up and I'm going right back to sleep.

>>45614816

> Gets woken up by a noise in the night
> First thing to do:
> Make sure house isn't being burgled?
> Check that nothing's on fire?
> Take a quick piss?
> Just go straight back to sleep?
> NOPE gotta check mah quest!

>>45614816
Honestly? Give an ETA when you'll be back, and most people will be there. Especially if they expect a QM in a good mood with a couple updates.

Or set up a twitter.

Because, frankly, much as I like you and your quest, it seems more of a waste to have threads around without anything happening.

Might just be me, though.

>>45614844
Writing is a curse anon. Trust me, it's perfectly normal for writers to do that.

>>45614816
Necromacing thread

>>45617301
Oooooooh~ OOOOOOOOOOOH~ Spoooky anon.

>>45614816
They won't lose track of your quest. All you need to do is post something in the wqdt if you really are that averse to getting at twitter which, y'know, stop being retarded and get one

>>45618555
Some of us would. What is wqdt? Another thread here on 4chan? Not everyone here found this place by being someone who spends all their time surfing 4chan. Some of us have no interest in the entire rest of the site, and are only here for this specific story.

>>45618614
weekend quest discussion thread.

>Some of us have no interest in the entire rest of the site, and are only here for this specific story.

If that ain't fuckin' apparent. Hopefully you can keep up that whole fan sperg long enough to allow Vox to take a break, yes?

That sweet feeling of ten hours of fucking sleep. Goddamn.

>>45614844
Well...yeah. Why wouldn't I?

>>45615302
Eh...maybe.

>>45618696
We're allll friends here, anon.

Taking care of Morning Shit, securing my supply of coffee, then writing.

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>>45619125
>We're allll friends here, anon.

>>45619197
I've always hated the look of that dude's artstyle. Can't exactly place it but it just bugs me.

>>45619774
I can kind of understand that. Might be the nose looking kind like a dick. Or the Torso loocking licke a pillow. Or the second chin as part of the shirt.

Called, writing.

Damn that took too long.

>>45618696
I have no problem waiting for Vox to return from a break, my objection is only to the idea that "All you need to do is post something in the wqdt", and all of us waiting for his return are automatically guaranteed to see it there. I suppose Twitter's probably a better option for most, though in my case I don't have that, either. (This is the first thing I've ever seen anyone suggest putting there that's of interest to me. I don't need a play-by-play of the lives of people I barely know or a constant stream of virtual coupons for places I don't shop.) If he does take a break, I'll probably just hear about his return and get the link from the same sources that allowed me to discover this quest in the first place, and will then simply have to catch up in the archives from whatever I missed by not being back promptly when he is.

>>45620855
>my objection is only to the idea that "All you need to do is post something in the wqdt"

your objection is shit since nobody cares about you. In a quest that runs 24/7 anyway, one voter is inconsequential, seeing as you're going to miss votes anyway

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>>45612041
You puff on your pipe and blow a ring of smoke. "You're my friend, Silence. You've had my back, I've had yours. I suspect you like me. I /know/ I like you. Of course I'm interested in learning more about you."

Silence gives you a little laugh. "...You know, fair enough. So lemme finish answering your question - you wanna know why I left the Unseelie, and joined with the Mine?"

"Of course," you tell her.

"Because I wanted to create something better than midnight at noon, and the Mine gave me that chance. Illusion doesn't satisfy me any more, and I've had my fill of the sickle moon. Maybe one day I'll have my fill of the Mine, but I know that if I choose to leave, it'll be bittersweet. And I like that idea."

"...You're good folks, Silence."

"Heh. Tell that to my customers."

* * * *

You are Nathan Bookchild, currently negotiating with dwarves, and you're lookin' to get hit by bad news the way a man in a drinking contest wants to get hit by bad cocktails.

"Keep going, councilor," you say with a grin. "Just mess my whole life up."

"You're adopted," the dwarf answers immediately.

"You've fallen into my trap, councilor. I was /already/ adopted."

"...Well played," the councilor admits. "Many of the service hallways have become hunting grounds for forge beasts and fire elementals. There's also a demon on the loose."

River raises her head. "What kind of demon?"

"I'm not an expect," the councilor admits. "It appears as a tall, nude thing of indeterminate gender. When it attacks, it unhinges its jaws and swallows victims whole, growing armor and weapons with each consumed."

"Gorger," River whispers. "She unleashed a fucking gorger. how many victims?"

"...Four that we can confirm."

"/Fuck me/," River swears. "Fucking fucking fuckity fuck /fuck/!"

"River?"

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>>45621993
"Nate, that thing needs to be taken care of, sooner rather than later. The longer it stays here, the hungrier it's going to get. Pretty soon it won't even need to eat people any more, it'll just suck their lfie out from a distance. Gorgers are bad fucking business and they don't /stop/."

"What's keeping it here?" you ask.

"Hell if I know. Chances are she gave it some broad task and unleashed it to do exactly what it's doing. Even if we bring food down here, it'll go after it and eat it all. I wouldn't be surprised if it's waiting to be able to teleport so it can start taking out forges."

"Wow," Amy says in a small voice.

> "Councilor, what would it take to get your /alliance/?"
> "Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."
> "My companions and I are going to go investigate the Pit."
> Write-in?

>>45622042
> "Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."
This feels like something we should get out of the way right now.

>>45622042
Probably going to be
>"Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."

But first, we need more information. So,

> Write-in: "Councilor, dealing with this can't wait, can we pick up from here once the gorger's dealt with?" [dwarf nods or whatever he does] "Good. River, I need every detail you and Robert have on this thing, what to expect, how to fight it, everything, and quickly."

>>45622042
>> "Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."

Remember, Bri gave us a spending limit of one limb maximum. Let's try to be thrifty about this.

>>45622042
>> "Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."

>>45622042
>> "Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."
>Write-in: "Would any of you care to join me?"

>>45622042
>>"Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."

... This doesn't seem like it fits Nat's style. Sure, she's been kind of nasty. But it's been directed. Carefully aimed.

The Gorger is indiscriminate and will mess up everyone. Including her people, who she has to hold at least a little bit of a interest in keeping alive, since she needs them to make the stuff.

Another Chain Holder? Or maybe another team got desperate and lost control?

>>45622237
It's helping make her predictions more accurate. She could see the scenerios that occurred in the off chance a bunch of demons started murdering people and made it come to pass so she could forsee the rest of the series of events

I'm getting some odd glitches in my browser. Vote may be extended while I fight with it.

>>45622042
>>>"Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."

>>45622042
>"Excuse me councilor, I need to go kill a demon."

So what in the sweet merciful fuck is the purpose being a Gorger?

>>45623110
I would imagine it would be to gorge.

>>45623110
"Purpose" is a strong term to apply to the Secondborn.

Called, writing.

>>45623807
Is "why do gorgers exist?" a better question?

>>45624070
because you touch yourself at night.

>>45624188
I didn't realize my masturbatory habits created demons that eat people.

Clearly I need to experiment and see if it makes other kinds.

>>45624268
>I didn't realize my masturbatory habits created demons that eat people.

I thought that was fairly common knowledge. I mean rape demons are more common but masturbation makes all sorts of demons

>>45624268
My grandfather would always say it would give me hairy palms.

My grandmother said it would make my penis bigger.

I'm not sure what my grandmother was thinking

>>45624345
Lewd grandmas are hilarious.

>>45624345
...What that a small dick joke? It was wasn't it.

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This update delay has not been brought to you by real life, I'm writing something to go with it and it's taking longer than I expected.

LOOOOOOORE

>>45625230
Feed Meee Vox!! Feed meee!

>>45625230
I'll pass the time with more shit my grandmother said.

"If you're not gonna wear pants, at least wear underwear that's too tight"

>>45624345
>>45625358
What was your grandma on?

>>45625724

"It's not an addiction, if a doctor told you to start it"

>>45626117
I'm gonna guess morphine?

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>>45626117
i chuckled.

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>>45622042
You stand. "Excuse me, councilor, but I have a demon to kill."

"Understood. Please, retrieve your weaponry while we get what information we can on it from our sentries."

You're escorted back to the large box, where everyone gets their weaponry around. "River what're we lookin' at?"

In answer, the elf shoves an open book into your hands, on a bookmarked page.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kt_8m1pJejjjANeNdv5x5kNuWjemRlOMgTOUKc0RGzk/edit?usp=sharing

"This isn't entirely helpful," you protest. "What can we expect from this gorger?"

"That's not a helpful question," River explains, patiently. "The Secondborn are individuals; even two from the same general species embody the idea differently, or have different personalities and preferences. Gorgers are defined by consumption and refinement. How they refine is different from gorger to gorger, just as one succubus might have different sexual preferences or study different fields."

You blush as Isoldt's voice, moaning from Brianna's sword in her butt, floats through your mind. "Did you /have/ to use that example?"

"Sorry, came to mind," River apologizes. "I might be able to track it with my death sense but I don't want to make promises. I'm not as refined as Brianna is with that."

"Other options?" you inquire; you check your revolver to ensure that it's clean and loaded.

"Could summon a hellhound to track it. Not much help in the ensuing fight but it'll get us there," River offers. "Amy might be able to lure it with music. Gorgers love sensation."

Amy perks up brightly at being mentioned, icy eyes wide and eager. Her wings vibrate gently, feather-against-feather, in a hum of anticipation.

Gods, you love that girl.

"And then there's taking the information the dwarves give us and just trying to get the jump on it," you muse. "...Alright, let's -"

> Track it with River's death sense
> Summon the hellhound
> Use Amy as bait
> Try to find it based on the dwaves' intel
> Write-in?

>>45626427
> Summon the hellhound

Whatcouldgowrong.png

>>45626427
> Try to find it based on the dwaves' intel
> Use Amy as bait
Basically by using the dwarves intel we can get the general location. Then we draw it to us with Amy's singing.

>>45626427
>> Use Amy as bait
>> Try to find it based on the dwaves' intel
We need to bring it to a choke point, a pit or dead end where there's neither food nor escape aside from Amy acting as bait.

did they mention what KIND of armor, if it's the kind that would be significantly weighed down by water?

>>45626427
Is the hellhound not much use in combat because it's weak, or because River needs to bind it heavily so that it won't run off and kill people?

>>45626880
Because it needs to get into being-eaten-alive range to fight the gorger and would thus be eaten alive.

>>45626427
>>45626976
That sounds not-catastrophically-dangerous if something goes wrong, then.
> Summon the hellhound

>>45626427
>> Use Amy as bait

>>45626427
>> Summon the hellhound
I wanna use the hellhound even though its probably more beneficial to use Amy + intel.

>>45626628
>>> Use Amy as bait
>>> Try to find it based on the dwaves' intel

This guy has the right of it. Cast the lure where it's close to the fish you want, and you'll catch that instead of reeling in something extra. There's also the appeal of setting up a killzone, and suckering the son of a bitch into it.

>>45622488
No, this seems like it'd do the opposite. If you want to manipulate your enemies via the Sight, you leverage it in predictable ways. Hence the traps, binding deals, and so on. The Gorger's a wandering mob causing chaos that could go after people she has working for her.

Ironically, if she /didn't/ have the power to look into the future, it'd make more sense. Send out a roving unit to make trouble and cause chaos, and make sure there's a timer on it. After so much time running around, or after so many bodies eaten, the contract is fulfilled and the thing desummons itself.

But it lacks control and precision.

>>45627225
Of course, there is always the possibility that she sent out the gorger because she invited us in but we haven't shown yet and she can't see us because the tunnel was hidden from her and this is just a way for her to flush us out.

>>45626427
>Find out what the dwarves' intel IS before we decide how to proceed.

hue... I just thought of something silly.

Natalia is a seer right? She need to see things in order to see the future right? Well what if we ordered Lora to "ALWAYS" be in her sight?

Like literally 6 inches from her face and any time Nat looks around, there's Lora always being in her sight like a good death angel.

>>45627882
I don't /think/ that's how it works, and ordering Lora around is probably a bad idea, but I love the mental image so much I almost want to do it anyway.

>>45627882
Oh, speaking of Lora, remember our sleep strategy that we discussed with the Baron? Would this chapter be a better chance to use it?

Bri is completely out of the fight save for Fetch as her eyes/ears so it wouldn't put anyone but Natalia at a disadvantage right? Thoughts?

>>45626427
> Summon the hellhound

>>45628044
Unsure if Natalia would even call on Lora? I mean, she seems pretty set on her climactic duel with Nathan. Still, I don't see a lot of downsides to doing it. If Natalia doesn't try to summon Lora, we won't even tip our hand.

The trick is gonna be getting the timing right, though.

>>45628102
we would probably need drugs or magic to get Bri to sleep as well.

>>45628044
>>45628102
Imagine explaining this to people too.

> "Bri, you've been drinking a lot."
> "I need it to help sleep."
> "Bri -"
> "No, I mean literally, I need to go to sleep right the fuck now. Actually, since you're here, will you punch me just, right in the face?"

>>45628102
We have Fetch. He's got the mind meld with Bri and as long as he's around to see if/when she's going to do it Bri can act on it on her end.

>>45628149
Does this mean we have the GM's approval?

>>45628199
I'll keep it in consideration, yeah. It should be noted that Fetch's link may not stay steady through New Hell; it has that distance issue.

Called, writing.

>>45626518
>> Try to find it based on the dwaves' intel
>> Use Amy as bait

Seconded.

>>45629232
RIP in pepperonis

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>>45626427
"...Alright, let's go with the bait plan. We'll get near where we think it's gonna be, and Ames can attract it with her song. Then we hit it hard and fast."

River looks at the closest dwarf. "You got iron rounds?"

"We ain't got the iron to spare," the guard answers, sadly. "Haven't for awhile now."

"We'll be fine. I've got Verve, you've got Shame and Blame, Fetch is envenomed with justice -" the undead bird preens, proudly - "and River's got...actually, what do you got?"

"I'm envenomed with justice too," the elf says with a shy smile. "...You'll find I'm a bit more, um. Capable of ceasing life, than Brianna. Robert's old school."

"Define old school," you ask, a little worriedly.

"He was killed in the midst of his zombie army and it still took more than a hundred men to cut their way back through them to his corpse."

"Gods. Damn," you breathe. "Okay. Let's get the intel and then move out."

You're given guidance through the service halls, which is a blessing - you don't want to end up in the Pit by accident. You eventually settle on a small, circular room that is notable for its protruding pipes and only having two ways in or out.

Amy stretches her wings, a little nervously, while the rest of you get into position. You poke your head around the pipes that (sort of) hide you and see her smoothing down her metal feathers. Her wings chime and chatter, shaking out a song that sounds like teeth made of bells shaking in fear.

"Ames," you murmur. "Are you sure you're up to this?"

"I can do it," the half-harpy answers.

"We're right here. We've got you."

You and River put plugs into your ears; you see, rather than hear, Amy tilt her head back and start to sing. Soaring Song's feathers move together, harmonizing with her voice and carrying it further than it ought to go.

Quietly, you draw Verve, and wait.

>>45631209
Even you weren't prepared for what was to come. In the blink of an eye you were sailing through the air, as Amy struggled in the gaping maw of the gorger. You hear a scream and a crunch before it is upon you as well. The last thing you see is its gaping maw and its bloodshot yellow eyes.

>Game Over: Reload from last Checkpoint?

[Y] [N]

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>>45631312

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>>45631209
You know it's here when Amy stops singing. You pull the plugs from your ears and hear heavy footsteps, and the scrape of something thick against stone.

Amy takes a step /back/, and you look at her in shock. You've never seen Amy scared of a fight.

The thing that lumbers into view is inhuman. Somewhere in the center of its mass of layered, armoring bone and metal is a humanoid figure, but the armor that grows from its bloody skin obscures it almost entirely. Writhing chains of linked bone and steel whip the air around it, and you can see the gleam of metal hooks at their ends.

The gorger roars, and its jaw unhinges to half the size of its body.

> HO LA, SONS OF SORROW!
> Have Fetch distract it
> Let River take the lead
> Throw Verve into the fray, fire pistol from cover.
> Write-in?

>>45631341
So, does >more Capable of ceasing life
mean knowledge of slaying spells? That could work against this thing?

>>45631341
>> HO LA, COMO ESTASSONS OF SORROW!

> Write-in?
Distract it by tactically shoving another limb into its mouth. Again.

>>45631341
> HO LA, SONS OF SORROW!
We all know Nate a hero.

Also, get Fetch to deal with the chains. Make the loop around each other until they become like everyone's computer wiring.

>>45631341
Are you telling me we DON'T have a water pit to drown it in?
> HO LA, SONS OF SORROW!
>>Don't actually try to attack, though, just circle around him and divide his attention
> Have Fetch distract it

> Throw Verve into the fray, fire pistol from cover.
The whole plan was "don't engage in close range where it can eat you whole", HO LA'ing is just a little too suicidal.

>>45631425
>Verve gets eaten

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>>45631425
I don't know, pic related was successfully able to do similarly.

>>45631341
> Have Fetch distract it

>>45631445
well, it could cut it's way out, so I suppose that's not a bad thing.

>>45631477
I'm not willing to test a Secondborn's ability to incorporate Wraithsteel into its armaments.

>>45631341
> Call out to it and negotiate.

It's an individual, right? Besides, Ames knows another demon yah.

>>45631506
he has a contract. We could talk it out, but maybe we should leave that to the people not within melee range.

Alright folks, I'm hitting bed.

I'm gonna take your advice and take a break soon. I'll give more full details on Friday, when I have my work schedule.

Questions, comments, discussion, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>45631425
> Suicidal

> Fighting a Seer who wants Nate to win

Dude, I think being recklessly suicidal is actually the best option here.

>>45631672
And all of the peasants cheered for lich would be returning to his sleep of the dead.

No longer would they slave under the burning sun in the coffee bean fields.

No longer would the work with out rest to sate the foul creatures thirst for stimulants.

But lo did they fear, for who knew when the Lich would return, and how much coffee he would need after such a long sleep

>>45631341
>Have Sir Fetch and the chickens distract it.
As much as I love the Nightfeather, he's already dead. Ames, Nate and River are still very much alive. Let's keep them that way.

How big is the room? If Amy can take to the air and maneuver around the big bad beasty, she can try to gank it from behind, maybe hamstring it while River and Nate try to avoid being eaten. Are there any new tricks that Amy got from her wings, aside from good acoustics?

Speaking of which, would firing off some necromancy directly into its maw kill or sicken the sonuvabitch? It's an option, at least, that doesn't involve getting within munching distance.

>>45631500
I think the only think that can incorporate wraithsteel into itself is another wraithsteel creature. Like how Nate used only his machete and hatchet against the serpent from the Mine, because it would only absorb Verve.

>>45631341
>> Let River take the lead
>> Throw Verve into the fray, fire pistol from cover.
>>45631425
I have to say I agree with this guy. the whole point was not going all suicidal and River knows a bit more on how to fight it than we do so I say give her the lead but don't just stand there.

>>45631697
>Implying that his 'coffee' isn't actually condensed evil, his creamer the stolen dreams of innocents, and his sugar the ravaged souls of his enemies.

>>45631756
Nah see he's a Lich and that's what everyone thinks it is, so when that tricky Cleric tries to cleanse his drink, or put the souls in the sugar to proper rest it doesn't do squat, it's just coffee suckers

>>45631773
His phylactery is either his coffee mug or the pot itself.

>>45631811
You say that like they aren't the same thing.

>>45631811
Vox did say that he cares for his coffee machine like it was a temple...

> Have Fetch distract it

VENOM! JUSTICE! BA-KAW!
(But mostly venom.)

> Let River take the lead

She'll know best what to do. All things considered it seems prudent to stay the fuck away from it. At least for the living party members.

>>45631987
"HAVE AT THEE VILE BEAST!!"
>Pecking furiously at its toes.

>>45631987
>Have Fetch distract it
and thus Fetch became the first being to slay a gorger daemon from the inside.

>>45632099
>Fetch leaps at Gorger's face, crowing about envenomed justice, and is swallowed whole. The whole party is somewhat stupefied at this development, before returning to the fray.
>Elsewhere, Brianna feels the strangest sensation, of being wet and yet dry. Like she just got slobbered on by a ghost hound.
>River and Nate dodge its chains and narrowly avoid being eaten as well, while Amy tries in vain to shank it from behind.
>Suddenly its belly starts gurgling, and the beast mewls in pain, falling to its knees. With a sickening rip, its belly is rent open from within, disgorging partially digested tools, equipment, the remains of several people and animals, and one very wet and disgusted rooster.
>The Nightfeather ruffles his coal-black plumage, flinging blood, bile and other fluids about. "Foul cretin! One should know better than to consume spoiled meat!"
>Amy, Nate and River share a Look among themselves and with the Gorger, who had been trying in vain to scoop its guts back into its belly.

At least, that's how /I/ envision this idea ending. Vox will undoubtedly give us something much more interesting (although the idea of weakening the Gorger by forcing it to vomit up what it had devoured does seem viable, if thoroughly nasty).

>>45631341
>> Have Fetch distract it

I think this is likely to be our best bet. For one thing, he's actually got some real proficiency in ranged combat.

>>45634066
By the end of our tale, he's going to have an embroidered cape depicting all the various hellspawn he has personally slain.

>>45634554
>... And or has eaten some part of his body.

>>45634554
He couldn't move anymore. Already now space would be tight.

>>45634554

Clearly, he needs to get Vim and Vigor to learn embroidery, then.

I'm up. Morning shit, then will call and update.

>>45631341
>> Let River take the lead

>>45635110
Does our living iron foot do extra damage if we shove it up the demons ass?

I mean, it fucked up Silence pretty decently.

See guys, this is why I wanted to incorporate some into Amys wings, but nobody else gave a shit about flaming anti-demon wings.

>>45636170
Not everything must be about combat, anon.

Besides, her singing wings are no laughing matter.

>>45636170
The problem there is that Wraithsteel is a /living thing/ that molds itself to serve based on purpose (such as a sword like Verve, or wings in this case), the creature it came from, and the name it is given.

Plus, Nate sacrificed his leg so that Amy could have her wings back. Telling him to use the wraithsteel to replace his missing limb would be ridiculous and insulting.

Now, adding a crossbow or pistol to the leg would be cool as fuck. Or maybe just make him immovable once he plants the foot in the ground.

>>45636170
https://docs.google.com/document/d/181fv9Rq9d0-dlDhh8Bo2ThGSmRJRGlqJZXaX3XW5meI/edit?usp=sharing

Link is to the write-up on magical materials Vox did a while back.

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Called, writing.

Posting pic related so I can link it at someone.

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>>45636883
I've actually got some more shitty fan art for you Vox.

It's terrible, but its as close to what I have in my head as MS Paint will allow. Basically just our favorite fey relaxing after nearly dying /twice/ in one week.

I would do more with it, or go back to previous stuff, but I want to get some shut eye in before shitty employment (fast food will never EVER count as 'gainful', save in pounds).

I feel stupid asking this, but which side got fucked up by iron? And what was her eye color?

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Fuck. I'm getting hit by life. I'll update when I get home, if the thread's usable, or start a new one otherwise.

I'm sorry folks.

>>45637472
My sympathies, lich. Life can be a demanding mistress.

I'll be back a bit after eight PM EST.

>>45636275
I once again do not see why we couldn't have used some elemental iron to tip the wing feathers and used just some wraith steal in the leg.

There's nothing it says against mixing the two.

Or are you somehow very confused and thought I meant switching instead?

Anyways, too late now.

Demon parts are harvestable if you can keep the demon bound BTW. Just saying, we could try using them to upgrade Fetch. Or make some unholy necromancer soul bottle that steals life from the living in the case of a glutton.

>>45638965
>unholy necromancer soul bottle that steals life from the living
Zombie armies route anon.

bump

Hour and a half plus change.

>>45640489
I may have gotten excited a bit there, yes.

Look I'm an engineer not a necro-ethicsist. Just spit balling possibilities. Maybe we could make it absorb poisons and bacteria and condense them into more powerful poisons.

What if we created an undead that removed ambient heat from he air and froze water, speeding up the heat death of the universe. These could be large and intimidating. But then again, that might lead to zamboni armies

Home, writing.

Battle plan: kill the thread, start a new one, shoop to friend's house, update when I get there and then leave it for the night. I'll run tomorrow and secure my schedule either then or Saturday, at which point I'll plan my break and inform y'all. Good?

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>>45644288
Well punned, good sir.

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>>45631341
You signal Fetch with a gentle nudge, and he clucks just once to command his undead brethren. They dash out from behind the pipes, firing quills of bone at the bits of exposed flesh they can see. The gorger turns, shattering the projectiles against its armor, and fixes its beady eyes on Fetch.

"Pah!" the giant demon snarls. "The cowardly dead are of no -"

Fetch's quill buries itself in the gorger's eye, drawing a roar of fury from the cavern of its mouth.

"The enemies of Sir Fetch the Nightfeather die with insults on their lips!" the chicken cries, leaping over a scything chain. "Have at thee, glutton!"

You and River split off in opposite directions. You bring up your backbiter and fire a round at the gorger; you see the bullet flatten against its armor, making it take a step back and cracking bone, but not otherwise visibly damaging it.

"River?" you ask.

"I didn't say this would be easy!" the elf snaps. She looks different, with her hood up and her face hidden - deadlier, somehow.

You move your prosthetic back, too late, and feel a chain wrap around it - only for the gorger's weapon to sizzle and recoil.

"Iron!" the demon yells. "YOU DIE FIRST, COWARD OF THE FIRSTBORN!"

> Bring it on!
> If you can catch me!
> Throw Vim and Vigor at him.
> Write-in?

>>45645274

> If you can catch me!

Is Fetch's constant eye-skewering a reference to Boo?

>>45645274
>> If you can catch me!

River is likely to be our Big Guns here. We and Fetch need to buy her time to do her thing.

>>45637374
Saved! And it was her right side, I'm afraid.

>>Bring it on!

>>45645274
> If you can catch me!

I...really don't wanna have to start a new thread before this one hits the limit. Questions? Comments? Gimmie somethin' to work with, folks.

>>45645274
>> If you can catch me!

>>45645274
> If you can catch me!

>>45646039
>>45645435

> Throw Vim and Vigor at him.
That sounds like a delicious steak sauce and I'm always a fan of sauces.

>>45645435
Who or what is Boo in this context?

>>45646090
hamster

>>45646090
From Baldur's Gate. Of "Go for the eye, Boo!" fame.

>>45646039
How well can you suck dick?

>>45646039

Were there any (what were the) options that would've resulted in Nate/Amy/Fetch dying in the more recent threads?

>>45646090
I believe he's referring to the Super Mario Bros. enemy, the ghost who freezes when you look at him.