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>>45795672

“I count thirty nine civilians dead,” Tawn tells you bluntly, “Most of those due to being trampled or caught in the panic. Some, a few, were shot. Lastly, a number of them died due to some unknown gas – we thought it was smoke inhalation at first, but it a little more serious than that. We're not sure where this poison gas came from yet.”

Thirty nine dead civilians, you repeat numbly, and how many of his soldiers?

“Eight,” Tawn frowns as he says this, “All shot multiple times. These bastards fought like devils – and they vanished like ghosts afterwards!”

It's hard to blame him for the bitterness creeping into his voice. Save for a few bloodstains, and even those might have come from wounded civilians, the nameless attackers left nothing behind that they didn't want you to see. No bodies, no discarded weapons, not even a scattering of bullet casings. Just as Tawn said – they vanished like ghosts.

“I've studied war, rebellions, all kinds of conflict,” Tawn continues, “But these tactics are like nothing I've studied. How can we fight an enemy like this, when we can't even tell them apart from the civilians we're supposed to be protecting?”

Focus, you tell him wearily, you both need to focus on what little information you've managed to gather. Your next job is to track down Miura and rescue her, there has to be some lead to get you started on her trail. Where, though, should you start?

>Let's talk about the note they left...
>Tawn, did you get a look at any of the attackers?
>I want to see if Holm knows anything about this
>I've got another lead that might prove useful... (Write in)
>Other

>>45795675
>I hope Miura channeled some spark of her God's power, as little good as it would do directly, I might be able to track it.
air spell, right?

>Let's talk about the note they left...
and their cheeky Death to the Emperor lanterns

>I want to see if Holm knows anything about this
however he may feel about the railroad, his god's visage was just used to murder soldiers and cause the death of innocent civilians. Might even want the god's opinion.

>>45795712
>air spell, right?

>That would let you detect any magic that was used, yes, as well as tracking its source. There's no guarantee of it working though.

>>45795675
The note says her God which strikes me as odd. Also check those candles for the gas.

>>45795675
>>Let's talk about the note they left...
We should probably tell him about how they'd sacrifice her.
>>I want to see if Holm knows anything about this
>>I've got another lead that might prove useful... (Write in)
Mention the poison candles.

You want to talk about the note they left, you begin, and any clues that it might hold.

“I've got it here,” Tawn pulls out the crumpled parchment and smooths it out on the table. The message - “We have the priestess. Build this railroad and she will be sacrificed to her god” - is as clear as day. “Something struck me, when I was reading it,” Tawn mentions, “I don't think this was meant for the Emperor.”

No, you ask, then who? A second later, you realise his point. The Emperor has never even met Miura – he might not even know she exists. Keeping her hostage would offer her captors no leverage over the Emperor. However...

“It was meant for us – your Mentor, and the Emperor's advisor. The people, in other words, that are trying to stabilise the situation,” Tawn frowns down at the note, “Whoever these people are, they don't want us working together. Another thing that struck me is that there's no mention of releasing her. They want to keep hold of her for as long as possible, as insurance. In a way, that's an advantage – they won't throw away their leverage by killing her.”

So, you deduce, they either get what they want by shutting down the railroad or they get what they want by derailing any cooperation. They've certainly thought this through. Here, you point out, they use a particular wording. “Her” god, they wrote, and not “our god”. Whoever these people are, they don't worship Selene. Or... they don't want it to look that way. It's almost certainly a deliberate choice of wording, no matter what the intention was.

“Maybe we should speak with the priestesses of Selene,” Tawn muses, “And see if they know anything about this.”

Later. You've got other concerns.

[1/3]

>>45795913

“Right,” Tawn nods, “We need to take care of everything we can here first. We can worry about moving on later.”

You've got another lead you wanted to mention, you begin as you pull out one of the luxurious candles and place it before Tawn. These, you point out bitterly, were drugged. When they were burning in large numbers, they seemed to fill the temple with a kind of gas that left you dizzy and unsteady. If they had been burning in an even larger number, you couldn't guess what the result might have been. You need to study these in some way, to bring them to an expert. Howa might be able to research them, but it's not her speciality.

“There is a college of alchemists based out of Garuna, the temple city,” Tawn suggests, “If anyone was able to get a result, it would be them. I've had dealings with them before – they know every chemical, herb and drug in the land. Garuna... the priestesses of Selene have their main temple there as well. Very convenient, wouldn't you say?”

Perhaps it is, you think aloud, but that's not your only lead. You want to speak with Holm first, and see if he has any information to make – or anything to confess. These killings were carried out by men wearing the image of his god, that's got to get a reaction out of him. You might even be able to speak with Lapis directly, see what the azure dragon himself has to say about things.

“Holm has retreated into seclusion,” Tawn warns you, “Supposedly meditating and praying to his god for guidance. He might not see you easily – but I wouldn't let that stop you. He needs to be questioned, and it be better if you do it. The people here... they see me as an enemy, as much to blame for this as the killers themselves. I fear the Emperor might lose control over this town.”

[2/3]

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>>45796000

All you can do, before you leave, is offer Tawn an attempt at a smile. He shouldn't take it too personally – he's handled the situation well, and many lives have been saved because of his troops. Rise above it, you tell him, and persevere.

“Thank you, Ira,” Tawn nods, “You speak to Holm – if you can. I'll be questioning my troops, seeing if any of them have any helpful information.”

Parting company, you stroll out into the town. It's understandably quiet here, with nobody walking the streets if they can help it. The Dragon River, flowing sluggishly through the town, has a faint oily sheen to it, as if the gas still lingers in the water. Slipping a vial from your pocket, you skim off some of the tainted water – you never know what might come in handy. As you're kneeling by the river, you close your eyes and let your senses expand, seeking out any trace of magic that Miura might have left. If she tried to contact her god, there might be some trail leading you to her.

...Nothing. There is a faint resonance of magic coming from the temple itself, but that could easily be Lapis himself, his divine radiance drowning out anything else. Still, you were going to check that way already – something might show up. Sighing, you had been hoping for an easy break, you rise to your feet and march off.

A nervous temple aide directs you to the Holm's private chambers, his warning that the priest is in a bad mood faltering halfway through as you walk past him. It's only the barest hint of politeness that leads you to knock at the door. A moment passes, and it creaks open. Holm, glaring out from within, looks much older now.

“You,” he croaks, “What do YOU want?”

>I'll be blunt. Did you have anything to do with this?
>I need your help. Calm the people, so they don't turn to anger
>I wished to speak with Lapis himself. Can it be done?
>Other

>>45796021
>>I need your help. Calm the people, so they don't turn to anger
Someone masqueraded as followers of Lapis and set this up. They want discord death and distraction. They want another war where thousands die and gods go mad on the blood of men. Don't let them have it.
>>I wished to speak with Lapis himself. Can it be done?

>>45796021
>>I need your help. Calm the people, so they don't turn to anger
>>I wished to speak with Lapis himself. Can it be done?
If we're going to need his help we shouldn't offend him. Play it cool for now.

>>45796021
>>I need your help. Calm the people, so they don't turn to anger
>>I wished to speak with Lapis himself. Can it be done?

so any bets that Lapis is going crazy?

>>45796188
I don't know. Things don't seem as bad as when Titanos was in a mood but it could be that Lapis is more subtle than that. The river looking tainted might be a sign of something though.

You need his help, you begin with as much humility as you can scrape together, you need him to keep his people calm. In such troubled times, they're going to run the risk of lashing out and making the situation worse. If he was to urge peace, that would go a long way to stopping them from turning to anger.

“And what if I think their anger is justified?” Holm asks nastily, “This only happened because of you and your Emperor. If they just wanted the girl, they could have taken her any time – but no, they needed to make a scene, to leave as many bodies behind as they could. This was a warning, Wanderer, and a hint at what is to come. If my people wish to rise up in anger, who am I to stand in their way?”

Because they are being manipulated, you tell him coldly, set up by those masquerading as followers of Lapis. All this was done with the goal of spreading death, discord and distraction – all leading towards war. Thousands could die, you warn him, and the gods will go mad from drinking the blood of men. He could stop that – if he wanted. Surely, you add as you smooth out your voice, he wouldn't put petty spite above the people of Tenngaru?

“Know this, Wanderer,” Holm decides after a long moment, “I blame the Emperor for this. He is treading on sacred ground, and inviting retribution because of that. However, I do not wish to see his soldiers massacre my people. For now, I shall preach peace. Not forgiveness, though, and not passive acceptance. If the Emperor should move against us, we will not lie down and die.”

That's the best you're going to get out of the vile old man. Too much of his pride is at stake here for him to offer anything less. At least he's not going to preach open rebellion – you don't need to worry about that. Next up, you had a request. You wish to speak with Lapis himself – is that possible?

[1/2]

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>>45796268

“You wish to speak with the lord of the Dragon River?” Holm scoffs, “An unclean Wanderer, still encrusted with the filth of the road? Perhaps if you fasted for a month, washing yourself clean of the Emperor's stench, and made the proper offerings, I might-”

-STOP-

The voice, howling in your mind, is loud enough that you wince. Holm, though, suffers far worse. He flinches, stumbling back and bracing himself against the wall. He shakes like a man in the grip of a palsy and fall silent, fainting soon after. As you watch him in amazement, smoke from a nearby incense burning begins to thicken and coil, taking on the vague suggestion of a dragon's form.

“My priest is an arrogant fool,” the voice, a more acceptable volume now, echoes in your mind, “But he loves this land with every fibre of his being. Excuse his pride, Wanderer, and trust that his intentions are noble. You wish to speak with me, do you not? Follow the river until you find a cavern – I shall be there.”

Then, as soon as it took form, the smoke dissipates. Holm, sprawled out upon the floor, rests on. You leave him there – he looked like he needed a nap, after all. Taking a moment to get your bearings, you track the river back to the centre of the temple, where the water flows out from beneath a great statue of Lapis. Ducking below the winding tail, you spy a cave entrance and, wading into the river itself, you proceed to stride through the slowly flowing waters. The tunnel grows dark, but soon it opens out into a wider cavern. There, slowly twisting and gliding through the air, is Lapis himself.

“Face to face,” the dragon growls, “At last, we can speak.”

>Has last night's battle harmed you any? You seem sane enough
>This act was carried out in your image. Can you tell me anything about it?
>I suggest getting a new priest. Holm is too erratic
>Other

>>45796321
>>Has last night's battle harmed you any? You seem sane enough
>>This act was carried out in your image. Can you tell me anything about it?

>>45796321
>>Has last night's battle harmed you any? You seem sane enough
>>This act was carried out in your image. Can you tell me anything about it?
>an attempt was made against Titanos, I am worried someone may try to drive you to madness as well.

>>45796321
>Has last night's battle harmed you any? You seem sane enough
>>This act was carried out in your image. Can you tell me anything about it?
Also, can we ask Lapis about Selene? God's perspective on another God?

>Is there a way to identify these dissidents from the masses?
>What would be the appropriate justice to mete out in your name?
Of course, we'll be dealing MULTIPLE kinds of justice, appropriate to each authority, but we gotta go through the list one by one.

>Holm is a good man. An angry one, but that is something to be respected.
Being petty is pretty damn unproductive, though.

>>45796321
>>Has last night's battle harmed you any? You seem sane enough
>>This act was carried out in your image. Can you tell me anything about it?
Good questions here though >>45796398

>>45796321
>Has last night's battle harmed you any? You seem sane enough
Titanos was forced to regress to an older incarnation and almost went on a rampage
>This act was carried out in your image. Can you tell me anything about it?
Sup Loch

Has he been harmed at all, you ask, by last night's battle? He doesn't seem to have been driven wild with bloodlust, but not all gods are likely to react the same way. You think of Melancholia when you say that, and her terrible plague of despair. What curse might a god of the river impose upon his subjects?

“I am... wearied,” Lapis admits slowly, “The waters of my river have been tainted, poisoned by the wicked potions your enemies used. I fear I will be lethargic for some time to come. Fear not, human – I shall not fly into rage nor wrath. In time, the waters will run clean again and my strength will return soon enough.”

Good, you reply with a humble nod, you're glad. Mainly glad because you want to ask him some questions, and you'd rather not have to worry about him trying to kill you while you do so. This attack, you tell Lapis, was carried out in his image. Is there anything he can tell you about what happened?

“Many pilgrims choose to wear masks made in my image,” Lapis breathes out slowly, a thin steam slipping from his muzzle, “A mask can hide many sins, and discard them when the deed is done. Yet, I am worried by this – men who commit crimes in my name reflect badly upon me. In time, the azure dragon may become known as a violent god. What then, if my followers believe that violence is the true path?”

So, you muse, maybe this was an attempt at stirring up trouble after all. Could it be, then, that taking Miura was just a small part of some greater plan? This is something you were worried about, you warn Lapis, a similar attempt was made to return Titanos to a more primal form. The same seems to be occurring here.

[1/2]

>>45796490

>Hello, and welcome!

>>45796554

“The course of a river is not so easily changed,” Lapis growls, with a kind of stubborn pride, “But... your warning has value. I will examine myself for a growing corruption. If I should be in danger of losing my senses, I would rather leave this world entirely. I will not become a barbarian god.”

There's something respectable about that, you decide, a willingness to choose the embrace of sleep over a perverted existence. What, you ask then, about the culprits? Is there a way to identify them, to pick the dissidents out from the masses?

“If they wear my image as little more than a mask to hide their shame, they would have little knowledge of my faith. They would have no knowledge of scripture or my lessons. Beware, though – such knowledge can easily be found and learned. A committed liar would learn their lines well, and many of those who have grown lax in their faith would be just as ignorant.” Snarling softly in discontent, Lapis glides around the room, “They have picked their disguise well, Wanderer.”

That's what you were worried about. What justice, then, would Lapis deem appropriate for those who have perverted his name?

“Reveal them for who they are,” the dragon advises you, “Strip them bare of any falsehoods and deception, so that their petty ways are revealed to both men and the gods. That is my command – let human justice, whatever it may be, follow from there.”

Human justice. If the Emperor decides that, these criminals would hang. It's nothing less than they deserve. Biting your lip, you decide to move on and get his opinion on Selene. Who better to ask about a god, you figure, than another god? What's his perspective on the mistress of the moon, then?

[2/3]

>>45796633

“Selene, my sister, is distant to me,” Lapis' voice is almost fond, “She is a mystery, closer to human than most of the divines. I do not believe she would call for blood to be spilled in her name, though, and neither would she call for war. Her priestesses are noble, yet cunning – weigh their words carefully, Wanderer, and watch your own around them.”

That matches much of what you already know. Selene values truth, and yet ironically her priestesses have cultivated an air of secrecy around their temple. You've got to wonder if that might have altered the goddess herself. But that's a matter for another time, you decide as you bow to Lapis. You've got to get back to work.

“Once again,” Lapis says as you're leaving, “I regret the actions of my head priest. He has earned his place here, but his temperament is... unsubtle.”

Holm is a good man, you admit, but one given to anger. There's something to be respected in that, but pettiness is a far greater sin. In either case, you assure the dragon, you will give his priest the benefit of the doubt.

Now, you think as you're getting back to work, where should you begin? Koa has been sleeping, resting after the battle, and he should know what's going on. If you leave, though, you'd be able to explain things as you ride. You just need a destination...

>Consult with Tawn once more
>Get Koa's opinion on the situation before deciding anything
>Return to the Nameless Temple
>Head directly to Selene's temple in Garuna
>Head directly to the college of alchemists in Garuna
>Other

>>45796713
>Consult with Tawn once more
Update him on things, then
>>Head directly to the college of alchemists in Garuna

>>45796731
I'll back this anon but add on
>Get Koa's opinion on the situation as we ride

>>45796713
>>45796731
>>45796803
These work. Go with these

These poisonous candles, you think to yourself as you're wading back out into the main temple, are key. You're hardly an expert in such matters, but you've never heard of that kind of drug. If it's some kind of rare herb or extract, identifying it might narrow down the area you'd need to search. Any leads that might direct you to Miura's captors would be excellent. You'll start with the college of alchemists, then.

You do, however, stop to keep Tawn up to date on the situation and to wake Koa up. With the apprentice following sleepily behind you, you return to where the Emperor's man had been waiting. He's still here, thankfully, looking over a thick stack of papers. Glancing up at the sound of your arrival, he drops the pile with a look approaching gratitude.

“Reports from my men,” he explains, “There's nothing useful here. Our enemies hit hard, disguised as pilgrims, and vanished behind their smokescreen. We did identify the source of the explosion though – an ale barrel, stored behind an inn. The innkeeper claims he doesn't know anything, but we've had him arrested for now. Honestly, I don't think it will lead us anywhere – you see a barrel marked “ale” outside an inn, what else are you going to think? He'll be released by nightfall, I imagine.”

You might have an idea of where to go next, you tell Tawn before relaying everything you've learned. Not a whole lot, but it's given you something to think about. Garuna, then, is your next stop.

“I'm coming with you,” Tawn says simply, “This is my job as well, and the Emperor's seal will open many doors for you. Best that we work together on this, wouldn't you say?”

And if you said “no”, you ask with a smile, he'd just follow you anyway right?

“Right,” Tawn nods, “So when do we leave?”

[1/2]

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>>45796932

After Tawn tracked down his second and gave the man a thorough set of instructions – the man is competent enough, Tawn claims, but unimaginative – you set off on the road to the temple city. It's been a while, you recall, since you were last at Garuna. In all the times you've been there, in fact, you've never visited the college of alchemists. You never even know that the thing existed, to be honest.

“It isn't very well known,” Tawn tells you, “I only know about it because I was asked to look into the previous Emperor's death. There was talk, you know, of poisoned medicine. I couldn't find any proof of it though – baseless speculation, like always.”

Like always. With that, you let Tawn's horse take the lead and slow your own until you've drawn level with Koa. Now that he's had a chance to wake up a little, the boy looks tense and angry, shifting in his saddle with a vague and pointless energy. Hoping to settle him a little, you explain the situation you can. Starting with what happened to you inside the temple, you move onto the information you were able to gather with Tawn and then what Holm told you. Finishing with an account of your meeting with Lapis, you fall silent and watch for his reaction.

“It's just awful!” Koa protests, “Who would do such a thing? And why? I just don't get it... why would anyone do such terrible things?”

>It's given the Emperor a perfect excuse to crack down on the faithful. That's very convenient
>The faithful are rising up. The Emperor needs to step in before it gets out of hand
>Someone doesn't want us bringing peace to the land. We just need to find out who
>It's too early to say. We don't have enough information
>Other

>>45796988
>It's too early to say. We don't have enough information
But from the looks of things
>Someone doesn't want us bringing peace to the land. We just need to find out who

>>45796988
>>It's given the Emperor a perfect excuse to crack down on the faithful. That's very convenient
>>Someone doesn't want us bringing peace to the land. We just need to find out who

>>45796988
>>Someone doesn't want us bringing peace to the land. We just need to find out who
That's why we're going to keep digging.

>>45796988
>Someone doesn't want us bringing peace to the land. We just need to find out who.

I'm not gonna pick one of the first two, as it's pretty clear that whoever's behind this wants both.

>>45797031
Yeah though I doubt the emperor could be behind this, it would be pretty dumb to send thrawn, one of his most competent men if he just wanted an excuse

It's 1am and I have an exam in the morning, but here's an idea:

If everyone's panties are in such a twist about the rail going OVER the river, what about UNDER?

Sure, it'll take longer, be more expensive, and require a great deal of knowledge and infrastructure so as not to disturb the river, but then, then we can put the rail under the temple.

Why would we do this? So that the temple can EXPAND downwards to meet it, implementing more intricate waterworks along the way, until it reaches the rail where water falls upon passing trains to BLESS them.

It's given the Emperor a perfect excuse to crack down on the faithful, you say carefully, and that's very convenient.

“Sir,” Koa has the good sense to keep his voice low, “Just what are you suggesting? You're not saying that the Emperor was-”

It's too early to say for sure, you warn Koa, especially when you don't have all the facts. However, it's starting to look like someone doesn't want you bringing peace to the land. That means driving a wedge between the faithful and the Emperor. Blaming one or the other would be a mistake right now, playing right into their hands – that's why you're not going to stop digging until you've uncovered the truth.

“Right,” Koa nods, “If the Emperor starts to hit back, that'll only make people more angry. It's a cycle, isn't it? One atrocity leads to another.”

Exactly, you nod, if word spread that the Emperor was out to crush the faithful there might be riots. Then, suddenly, a thought strikes. Solitude, you think, was almost burned to the ground. A peaceful religious community, destroyed by the Emperor's troops – is that what was supposed to happen? Is that what you were supposed to witness? Perhaps some small part of your fevered speculations happens to show upon your face, because Koa recoils slightly.

“Hey,” he says with forced levity, “We're going to fix this, right? I mean, we're on the right track, so it's just a matter of following the clues.”

Maybe. You've just got a feeling that it isn't going to be as easy as that. It never is.

“You two,” Tawn calls from up ahead, “At this rate, we won't make it to Garuna until nightfall. We should hurry, the trail is getting colder with each passing moment.”

>Tawn's right. You need to ride harder
>You should be cautious. The road can be dangerous at night
>Other

>>45796988
What it seems like is
>Someone doesn't want us bringing peace to the land. We just need to find out who
But
>It's too early to say. We don't have enough information
To strike at the source. Don't try to be a hero and keep a calm mind. With this mess going on I don't want you vanish like the other apprentices.

>>45797238
Let Tawn ride harder if he wants, we'll be behind to act as rear guard in case people spring a trap

>>45797238
>>Tawn's right. You need to ride harder
Gotta go fast

>>45797238
>Tawn's right. You need to ride harder

>>45797238
>Tawn's right. You need to ride harder

Tawn's right, you shout to Koa, you're both going to have to ride harder. The sooner you get to the temple city, the sooner you can pick up Miura's trail – or at least the next clue leading to her trail. Koa nods simply in response, and Tawn spurs his horse on. Kicking your heels into the beast's side, you take off after him. Still, you allow a certain distance to open between you and the Emperor's agent, letting him take the lead.

Hurrying on ahead is all well and good, but not if it gets all three of you caught in an ambush. Lingering back slightly, you can act as the rear guard in case of a trap. With that thought in mind, you let Tawn ride ahead of you for a moment before plunging on ahead, entering the dust cloud cast up by his rapid pace. The trees rush past, blurring into meaningless streaks of green and gold as you race along the gently winding path. There's only one way to go here, one route to follow, so you can afford to rush. You can even let your mind wander a little, roaming to the usual places it goes when you're travelling.

A scream, then, dragging you back to reality. Not a human scream either, but the wild bellowing of a wounded animal. Pulling back as hard as you can on your horse's reins, you slow the charging beast as best you can as it races around the corner. Ahead of you Tawn's horse is sprawled out, legs kicking feebly as the rider drags himself into the cover of a large boulder.

“Get down!” he shouts, “There's-”

Before he can finish that sentence, the crack of a rifle shatters the air and kicks up a plume of dirt beneath your steed. Shrieking, the animal rears up in panic and you scrabble for a stable grip.

>Please roll 1D100, aiming to beat 60 or 80. I'll take the highest of the first three.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>45797506

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>45797506

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>>45797506

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>45797543
>>45797506
Whoops forgot roll.

Grunting, you feel yourself slipping as the horse throws you from the saddle. It's not a total disaster – you're able to twist in the air and land with only light bruises – but your horse gets away from you and flees into the trees. As you're rising to your feet, another shot rings out and explodes into the soil by your body. Crawling, sticking close to the ground, you drag yourself over to Tawn and the cover he found.

“There was a rope strung across the road,” he snaps, nodding towards the path ahead, “Ran right into it, probably broke both my horse's legs. Damn them!”

Slipping your pistol from your holster, you peek your head up above the boulder and scan the trees. You can't see anyone, but the cover is dense and offers countless places for a clever man to hide. Bushes, ferns, even the tree branches themselves all fan out enough to shield any number of lurking enemies. Throwing a glance behind you, you spy Koa struggling to keep his horse calm. A little further back, he seems to be getting things back under his control. At least you've got reinforcements if you need them, a third man ready to fight.

As another shot cracks into the boulder, sending a wave of sharp rock fragments grazing across your skin you spy the flash of igniting powder. There – a sniper sitting up in the branches of a tall tree. Before he can reload and fire again, you bring your own pistol to bear and squeeze the trigger.

>Please roll a 1D100, aiming to beat 50, 60 or 80. Again, I'll take the highest of the first three

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>45797742

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>45797742
Sublime Strike

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>45797742
Yeah Sublime Strike to counter snipe the sniper. With a pistol.

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>45797742
I wonder, know I'm late

>>45797831
I knew it

Hey Moloch, you ever play Magical Burst?

>>45797869

>The magical girl RPG? I have, yes.

The proper application of force, you whisper to yourself as your finger tightens around the trigger, can do anything. Applying the last tiny amount of pressure, the gun barks in your hand and looses the bullet towards your target. Flying straighter than any kind of mundane shot – the gods have blessed this shot, apparently – the bullet punches clean through the canopy of the tree and knocks the sniper off his perch. You hear a desperate cry as the attacker drops, followed by a crash of disturbed foliage as he lands badly.

Ducking back down behind the rock, already anticipating another attack, you wait. Silently, save for the sound of Koa wrestling with the reins and the soft groaning of the wounded sniper, you wait. When it becomes clear that the sniper was alone – or that his partner is more patient than you would have thought – you rise up from behind the boulder.

You don't get shot. That's something.

Cautiously, loading a new slug into your pistol as you approach, you stalk towards the fallen enemy. Absently stooping to pick up his abandoned rifle as you draw near, you watch the sniper crawl backwards for a few moments – his blood leaving a dark trail in the tall grass. A lot of blood, you observe calmly, that's a bad wound.

“Please,” he pleads as he tries to escape, “I didn't... I never...”

Really, you ask as you kick him over and look him in the eye, he never what? He never took a shot at you?

“Urgh...” the young bandit clutches a hand to his gut, blood seeping through his fingers. He doesn't say much else, merely grunting with pain as you study him.

>Did someone send you to ambush us?
>You're dying, you know
>I've got a question for you (Write in)
>Other

>>45797971
>Did someone send you to ambush us?

>>45797971
>Did someone send you to ambush us?

>>45797971
>>Did someone send you to ambush us?
>I've got a question for you (Write in)
Any friends waiting for us on the road ahead?

>>45797971
>Did someone send you to ambush us?
Use one of the healing cards to stabilize him. Buy us time for questioning so we get a full answer from him.

>>45798060
>He uses Mandy's +10 hit to deck us.
It probably won't happen but I'd laugh.

Talk, you bark, did someone send him to ambush you? Were you targeted specially, or is he just an opportunistic bandit?

“This guy, he said there'd be some people riding through here,” the sniper gasps, “He said they were rich, loaded down with the Emperor's coin. Plan was, you'd be easy pickings. I never knew you were armed.” And then, with an absurd whine in his voice, “I never knew you'd shoot back!”

“You're scum,” Tawn, reaching your side, sneers, “I checked the area. He was alone.”

Is that right, you ask the dying sniper, does he have any friends waiting ahead? When the man only moans and writhes in his spreading blood, you sigh and kneel by his side. You're only doing this, you mutter darkly, so you can get the full story out of him. Summoning Mandragora's image in your mind, you let the soil's primal strength flow down your arm and into his weak frame. He gasps as the wound in his stomach pulses, the blood slowing to a trickle. Strong enough to talk, you decide, but still weak enough that he won't be running anywhere.

“I have a partner,” he mutters, “A lookout, back on the road. They saw you pass and gave the signal. Bird cries, we use bird cries. I heard it, and I got the rope ready. Please, you have to believe me, I was only trying to...”

What, you ask with a bitter smile, he was only trying to murder you and loot the corpse?

The bandit, wisely, makes no attempt at an excuse and merely hangs his head in despair.

Describe him, you order, this man he mentioned. The informant.

“What?” the bandit looks up at you, his jaw hanging slack, “He was just a guy! Normal, I mean, I don't even remember really. No, wait... I should be able to remember... I should be able to! All I can remember is that damn ring he had, it was... iron or something.”

Steel. A steel ring.

[1/2]

>>45798227

“Yeah, that's it!” the bandit nods eagerly, “He had a steel ring. I don't know but... but that's all I can remember. Not his face or his voice, just that thing on his finger.”

This is starting to feel familiar. Somewhere out there, you've got a careful and capable enemy scurrying about to make your life more difficult. Never directly, never fighting in the open, but putting pawns and obstacles in your path. Hiding, all the while, behind a veil of anonymity and false identities.

“Ira,” Tawn says quietly, “Bringing him with us would just slow us down. My horse is finished, but I could share with Koa. Taking a prisoner along, though, would be too much of a risk. If he's lying about having friends on the road ahead, he could call for help. Even if he doesn't, we'd need to keep an eye on him all the while. That's an unacceptable delay.”

What, you ask, is he suggesting you do instead?

“I'm authorised to act as an executioner,” Tawn tells you, his voice grave, “In pursuit of the Emperor's will, I have the right to pass sentence. Even if we took him to the proper authorities, they'd do the same thing – they'd have him killed.”

“No!” Koa shouts, crashing through the undergrowth as he joins you, “That's murder, I don't care what you're authorised to do!”

Damn it. Damn it all.

>Tawn, do what you need to do, but make it quick
>Koa's right, this is murder. We're taking him to the nearest outpost
>Why not just let him go? He's no danger to us right now
>Other

>>45798306
>cut off a hand and leave.

>>45798306
>Tawn, do what you need to do, but make it quick

>>45798306
>>Tawn, do what you need to do, but make it quick
He did shoot at us. He's hardly innocent.

When pragmatism and morality collide. Always the tough decisions.

>>45798306
>Why not just let him go? He's no danger to us right now
Yeah he is getting off scot free, but we have a more important situation to be dealing with than the fate of some paid bandit. Knock him out and his friend can come find him.

>>45798306
>Tawn, do what you need to do, but make it quick

Let's not kid ourselves - he's probably going to die regardless.

>>45798421
Yeah, lets go with this. Bigger fish, and all that.

>>45798421
Yeah, this.

>So it looks like we have a tie, three votes for killing him and three for leaving him. I'll put this to a sudden death vote. First reply to this post will secure it.

>Kill him
>Spare him

>>45798542
>>Spare him

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>45798542
1 for kill, 2 for spare.

>>45798551

>Looks like mercy wins the day. Writing the next post now

>setting him free to kill more people
fucking moralfags

Even with your magic holding him together, it's pretty unlikely that the poor fool would last very long out in the wilds. Maybe long enough to find a healer who wouldn't ask any questions, but even then that's no guarantee of survival. All that he's got to look forwards to is a slow, lingering death. Although, considering he has a partner waiting somewhere out in the woods, it might not be the death sentence you first though...

Moving quickly, before Tawn can do anything more than lower his hand to the pistol at his hip, you sweep the sniper up and hit him across the head. With a grunt, the wounded man grows limp in your grip – unconscious, but very much alive. Leaving him at the foot of the tree he was using as a nest, you dust off your hands. There, you tell Tawn, he's not going to be causing any more problems for a while.

“Fine,” Tawn says after a moment, shrugging heavily, “We need to keep moving either way. Maybe he'll learn a lesson from all of this – but, frankly, I don't care. We've wasted enough time on this farce already.”

It's not been a complete waste, you remind Tawn as you're returning to the road, you've learned a little. At least, you've learned that your unknown enemy suspected you would be following them – meaning that you're on the right track. Whistling sharply, you wait for your horse to trot out from the undergrowth, looking somehow shamefaced. Tawn's horse, lying in the dirt, is still. True enough, its front legs are bent and crooked, uselessly broken. As he climbs up behind Koa, sharing the saddle, a flash of embarrassment crossed Tawn's face.

“Needs must,” he says, to nobody in particular.

[1/2]

>>45798745

Evening finds you riding into Garuna, guiding your horses beneath a grand arch of carved stone. As ever, the city – built on several wide levels, like a squat pyramid – is a stunning sight. At each of the four corners, lofty fortresses rise up to loom over the surrounding streets. Academies, once open to anyone willing to learn, the passing years saw those institutes withdraw, demanding an ever increasing price for the knowledge they possessed. Now, only the wealthy – those with land or influence – can send their children to those locked bastions of wisdom.

No great loss, from what you've heard. Time has done much to degrade the knowledge within, and secrecy had led to a culture of incestuous ritual. Many of the teachings are fashionable nonsense, or so the stories go, but the demand for them goes undiminished. Sad really, but not your immediate concern.

“Our destination is less illustrious,” Tawn remarks, glancing at one of the academies as you're entering the city. “The college of alchemists isn't much to look at, but it is said to extend deep beneath the city. The explosions do less damage that way.”

The explosions?

“That's what I've heard,” Tawn shrugs, “Tampering with unstable chemicals can be a risky business, after all.”

Grunting a non-committal answer, you glance up towards the heights of the city. A tower rises up there, the home of Selene's priestesses. Easy to find, even in a city where every corner has a temple or shrine.

“The Emperor's seal will open many doors,” Tawn warns you, “But it might attract attention. How do you want to play this?”

>We don't have time to be subtle. Show your seal as much as you need
>Keep the Emperor out of this. I'll take the lead
>We'll keep the seal as a last resort, but it might be necessary
>Other

>>45798915
>We'll keep the seal as a last resort, but it might be necessary

>>45798915
>We'll keep the seal as a last resort, but it might be necessary

>>45798915
>>We'll keep the seal as a last resort, but it might be necessary

Keep the seal hidden for now, you suggest, but there might come a time when you'll have no choice but to use it. Call it an ace in the hole, a weapon of last resort.

“Good choice,” Tawn nods, patting a cord around his neck – whatever lies at the end of it is hidden, safe beneath layers of clothing. “You should be safe enough mentioning the Nameless Temple here – this is, after all, your territory. Agents of the Emperor are less welcome here, I imagine, now more than ever. Never mind that though, it's this way.”

Tawn's hand, you notice, never strays too far from his pistol as you walk through the streets. At first, Koa pauses and bows at every shrine he passes but that soon becomes too much effort and he settles for nodding respectfully instead. Even so, his head barely has a chance to remain still. “These shrines,” he says at last after a particularly intense spot of exercise, “Do they actually have gods inside?”

No, you tell him, they're here to represent the various shrines spread throughout the land. If you search long enough, you could probably find a shrine to any god you've come across – from Mandragora to Titanos. Multiple shrines for Titanos, you add, since he's a pretty influential god. They say that leaving a suitable offering can summon a fragment of the gods power, but you've never seen that in person. You'd say more, but then Tawn ducks down a blank, featureless alleyway and you're forced to turn mid-step to follow him. The college of alchemists awaits.

At first, you're convinced that Tawn has led you to the wrong door. It's utterly blank, without so much a a sign, but he enters through it without slowing. Inside, a staircase – leading down into a gloomy expanse. Light at the bottom, but still so far away.

[1/2]

“Welcome to the college of alchemists!” a wizened old man, slumped across a dusty desk, announces as you arrive. There is an unmistakable contrast between his lively voice and his defeated posture, but you don't have the chance to linger on that irregularity. “What can I help you with?” he asks, his gaze never falling upon a single member of your group. Blind?

“Uh, yes,” Tawn sound uncertain, “We're looking for-”

“Poisons, potions, explosives or...” the old man pauses, a grin flickering across his face, “Recreational?”

The silence that follows that suggestive comment is an awkward one. “Poisons, I suppose,” Tawn suggests, “We're not sure what we're dealing with, but we need something identified. Poison is probably the best place to start.”

“Poisons, eh?” the old man chuckles, “Through to your left, down a flight of stairs, and then on your left again. Just don't go buying me a drink when you're finished, alright?”

The thought never crossed your mind, you assure the lunatic as you take the lead and hurry away. As soon as you're out of earshot, you hiss out a question to Tawn – what's wrong with these people?

“No sense of right or wrong,” the man explains with a shrug, “It must be all the chemicals they play with. Some are noxious, just being around them for too long can do strange things to the mind. Geniuses, the lot of them, but... odd. Dangerous to be around, even.”

No kidding. You let the rest of the short journey pass in silence as you follow the gloomy, dusty corridors to a heavy wooden door – marked, you notice, with a skull. Inside, you see another desk with another withered scholar. Behind him stretches out vast shelves of book and other things – flasks, vials and jars.

“Yes?” the scholar asks, his eyes wide with some nameless stimulant, “Help you?”

>I need to know what these candles are made with
>Can you tell me anything about this water? It's tainted with something
>Other

>>45799310
>>I need to know what these candles are made with
>>Can you tell me anything about this water? It's tainted with something

>>45799310
>I need to know what these candles are made with
>Can you tell me anything about this water? It's tainted with something.
Wizards. We are dealing with science wizards. Gods have mercy on us.

>>45799310
>I need to know what these candles are made with
>Can you tell me anything about this water? It's tainted with something

>>45799393
If you've ever been in Snakecatcher quest these guys are about the same as those alchemists.

>>45799310
>I need to know what these candles are made with
>Can you tell me anything about this water? It's tainted with something

Taking one of the fat candles out of your pocket – it's a wonder that they're still safe, after everything that's happened – you place it down before the twitchy scholar. You need to know what this candle was made with, you explain, it might be some kind of drug. Exposure to it left you dizzy and light-headed, with your muscles slow to act. You need to know everything he can tell you about it.

“Hmm, I see,” the walking health hazard takes the candle and sniffs it deeply, “That might take some time. There are tests I can do, burning it under certain conditions and the like, but there's quite a list of them. That's before I test it out on the rats, of course... you want me to be sure, of course?”

Of course, you nod cautiously, as certain as he can be.

“Then it will take time,” he nods eagerly to himself, “A great deal of it, I'm afraid.”

“Damn,” Tawn hisses under his breath, “Ah, can't be helped I suppose.”

You've got something else he could look at as well, you say as you hand over the vial of tainted water. Is there anything he can tell you about this?

[1/2]

>>45799546

“Water,” he deduces, “But... a gas of some kind? Dissolved into the water, yes. Let me see...” Uncorking the vial, he sniffs deeply at the contents before – and you have to stop yourself from crying out in revulsion at this – taking a deep sip of it. Lapsing into a fit of coughing, the scholar nearly vomits up his lungs before straightening up. “Some kind of irritant, I think. The eyes water and itch, yes? Breathing is difficult and the senses burn. Not fatal, but not pleasant. Diluted, goes nice with red meat. It's too dilute for me to give you a precise name though. Would you like me to work on the candle now?”

Please, you tell him, but... don't take a bite out of it. Please.

“I've never heard of that test before,” the scholar eyes up the candle, “Are you a researcher as well?”

“We should probably leave,” Tawn yelps, “Let you get to work...” Taking you by the arm, he practically steers you out of the door, Koa trailing behind. “These people...” shaking his head, Tawn lets you go, “Listen, we've got quite a wait. I'm going to stay here and keep an eye on things. Make sure our friend here doesn't get distracted. What are you going to do?”

>I'll secure lodgings for the night
>I'm going to check in with Selene's priestesses
>I think I'll take a stroll. It's a nice night
>Other

>>45799566
>>I'll secure lodgings for the night
then
>I'm going to check in with Selene's priestesses
Remember keep an eye out for a man with a shiny steel ring.

>>45799566
>>I'm going to check in with Selene's priestesses

>>45799566
>I'm going to check in with Selene's priestesses
Then
>I'll secure lodgings for the night

>>45799566
>>I'm going to check in with Selene's priestesses

>>45799566
>>I'll secure lodgings for the night
Then
>>I'm going to check in with Selene's priestesses

You're going to secure lodgings for the night, you tell Tawn, and then you'll see about checking in with Selene's priestesses. It should be easy enough to find a safe place to sleep – you could claim a bed in one of the larger shrines, but you've often found taverns to be more welcoming – but you want to make sure you've got a bed to come back to. Once you've made the arrangements, you'll see about visiting the moon goddess. Her temple, at least.

“Good plan,” Tawn nods, “I'd rather not go myself – my, ah, allegiance could make things difficult. You'd have more luck, I imagine. There is one thing though, the Emperor has...” Trailing off, he steps a little closer and lowers his voice to a whisper, “Ira, what I'm about to tell you MUST remain a secret. You can't tell this to anyone – lives may be lost.”

Alright, you whisper back, you'll keep it close to your chest.

“The Emperor has a man inside Selene's temple,” Tawn admits, “Well, a woman. You know what I mean – a spy. I don't know all the details, but I know that she is referred to as “Crescent Moon” in the reports. I've never met her myself, so that's all I can tell you. Meeting with her might be a risk, but she could have secrets to share. If you think it would blow her cover, though, don't try it – she's too valuable.”

The fact that he's trusting you with this information, you realise, is a sign of just how closely you're willing to work together. A little touched by the gesture, you nod your thanks to Tawn and lead Koa away. Stick close, you warn the boy as you emerge into the streets, and try to remember where he's going. All these streets look the same to you.

[1/2]

>>45799821

The first tavern you stop at has rooms available – a lucky break – and you waste little time in buying them for the night. Since taking care of that task was quicker than you had been expecting, you waste a little time on a brief meal before taking, once more, to the streets. Keeping the gleaming white needle of Selene's temple in sight at all times, you work your way up through the various levels until you reach a flat expanse. Grass grows here, and the wind stirs that green carpet with a slow grace.

Koa stares out, breathless, at the city as you take a moment to pat down your clothes, trying to get the worst of the dirt out of them. You're hardly dressed for making a formal presentation, but it'll have to do. You're not covered in blood, at least – that's something.

“Excuse me,” a girlish voice calls out to you, “Can I help you?” The speaker is, as you guessed, a young woman dressed in modest robes. Not a full priestess, but a novice in the middle of her training. No doubt spending much of her time greeting guests or steering away the wrong kind of pilgrim.

She might be able to help, you begin, you'd like to speak with someone in charge. The head priestess, if possible. It's a matter of some importance, you stress.

“Hmm,” the novice pauses, “At this time of night... Priestess Maab should be able to take your questions. She is, as you requested, the head priestess. However... you would need to see her alone. There are certain rules here, you see. Your apprentice will need to wait outside, or...”

“That's fine,” Koa says quickly, “Ira, I can wait at the tavern. Don't be too long!”

It's far from ideal, you think to yourself, but what choice do you have? This is their territory – they make the rules.

[2/3]

File: Maab.jpg (137 KB, 600x847)

137 KB JPG

>>45799956

Silently, with only the quietest rustle of her robes swishing against the polished floor, the novice leads you into the tower and urges you to sit. As you settle down to wait, she vanishes off into some unseen corridor. Summoning, you must assume, Maab. The name sounds vaguely familiar, actually – someone you knew once, perhaps? Or maybe you've heard some rumour about them, some of the endless gossip that passes from apprentice to Wanderer.

As you're searching your memory, a cool voice draws your attention. “Ira Furyo,” the newly arrived woman says smoothly, “It's been a while. In fact, you probably don't remember me.”

Looking up, you examine the mature woman standing before you. She favours traditional dress, as do most people in Garuna, but of a more flashy variety than you're used to. True enough, you admit, you can't quite place her.

“I am Maab,” the woman bows slightly, “I was a Wanderer once, but the life didn't suit me. I settled down here, instead, and rose up the ranks. Look at me now – head priestess of Selene herself!”

Very impressive, you tell her, but this isn't a social call. In fact, you've got important questions for her.

>A priestess of Selene, Miura, has been kidnapped. Is there anything you can tell me?
>I wanted to know about sacrifices made to Selene. Do you know about those?
>There was a rule, one that barred my apprentice from entry. What was it?
>Has Selene been acting normally lately?
>Other

>>45800040
>A priestess of Selene, Miura, has been kidnapped. Is there anything you can tell me?
>I wanted to know about sacrifices made to Selene. Do you know about those?

>>45800040
>>A priestess of Selene, Miura, has been kidnapped. Is there anything you can tell me?
>>I wanted to know about sacrifices made to Selene. Do you know about those?
>>Has Selene been acting normally lately?

>>45800040
>A priestess of Selene, Miura, has been kidnapped. Is there anything you can tell me?
>Has Selene been acting normally lately?
>I wanted to know about sacrifices made to Selene. Do you know about those?
In that order.

A priestess of Selene, you begin cautiously, has been kidnapped. Her name is-

“Miura,” Maab says mildly, “Is it not? In truth, I had feared this might happen.”

That's a good guess, you reply slowly, too good to be a guess in fact. Maybe she should start talking.

“Miura was to be promised to the Emperor, as you know. I was one of the first people to suggest the idea, even though I knew there would be protests. Some see it as using the girl as a political tool, others see it as forcing her to discard her faith,” Maab sighs, “I won't make excuses, Ira. When I put Miura forwards as a possible bride, I didn't do it out of any desire for stability – although, I should add, I do not wish for instability either.”

So, you ask, why did she put Miura's name forwards?

“For personal gain,” Maab shrugs, “It would bring great importance to Selene's temple. An Emperor is easily swayed, Ira, and we would benefit greatly from having him under our influence – and I would benefit more than most. Miura and I, you see, share blood. She is my child. So, you can see why I would not wish for her to come to any harm.”

Maybe, you agree cautiously, but familial bonds are no guarantee of loyalty. Does she have any idea, though, about who might have taken Miura?

“Fanatical members of my faith,” Maab suggests, “Or, in fact, any faith. Just as Wanderers take no god above the others, so too do some of the most devout members of society. Of course, I could not say who exactly they would be...”

Never mind, you sigh, that's about what you were expecting to hear. Next question, you ask, has Selene been acting normally lately? No outbursts or odd behaviour?

“Walk with me,” Maab asks, steering you gently out of the temple. As you enter the cool air, she sighs slowly.

[1/2]

>>45800414

“Selene has been quiet,” Maab admits, “She speaks little, and keeps her secrets close. It's not what I'd consider “normal” behaviour, but I wouldn't say she was having outbursts. The growing conflict may be wearing on her, driving her to weariness and despair. That is what I hope, at least. I fear what it might be, if not that.”

Alright, you say after you've walked in silence for a while, time for a serious question. You wanted to know about sacrifices offered to Selene, you ask, can she tell you anything about that?

“Traditionally, we offer items of silver. Coins, mostly, but sometimes jewellery or other valuables,” Maab guides you around the temple and towards a secluded garden. Walls shield you both from any wandering eyes, and the air has a tranquil feel to it. “But that's not the kind of sacrifice you wanted to know about,” Maab asks, her voice light, “Is it?”

Human sacrifice. The words drop like heavy stones from your mouth, souring the mood in an instant.

“I thought as much,” Maab sighs, “In the olden times, they would tie rocks around the feet of a priestess condemned to death and throw her into a deep pool. A pool, in fact, like this one...” Pointing ahead of her, you spy a still disc of water – the moon a smaller disc glinting upon the surface. “I cannot say how many bones lie at the bottom of that deathly pit, buried under countless coins. Perhaps it's best that I never find out. You think that Miura's captors want to sacrifice her in this way?”

Maybe, you admit, but you doubt they'd do it here. They wouldn't be that audacious.

“Hmm...” Maab lapses into silence, “Wait here, please – I have something that might help you.”

Before you've had a chance to do much more than nod, Maab has hurried back into the temple, leaving you alone in the calm night.

[2/3]

>>45800572

Sitting by the reflecting pool, you look at that disc of silver moonlight until you can no longer bear it. Just as you're reaching out to disturb the water, even just to sent the slightest ripple dancing across the surface, you hear the muffled sound of approaching footsteps. Maab returns, with a small scroll tucked under one arm.

“This is a map,” she begins, “A copy of a much older map that is said to show the location of every reflecting pool in Tenngaru. They are sacred sites, so we have a duty to record their locations. You can have this, I give it to you freely if it will keep Miura safe. I can only hope that you have some way of narrowing down the correct location – there are, unfortunately, quite a few of these sites across the land.”

Thanking the head priestess, you accept the tightly rolled scroll. If you can get a source of that mysterious drug, it might just offer the key you need...

“Are you leaving, then?” Maab asks, her voice as unconcerned as always.

>Yes. I've got vital work to do
>I've got a question before I leave... (Write in)
>You should know, the Emperor has a spy within your temple
>Other

>>45800660
>>Other
>Be vary of those who wear a steel ring.

>>45800660
>>Yes. I've got vital work to do
We need to get this information back to Tawn. Warn her about the steel ring as well though.

>>45800660
>Watch for bland men who carry a steel Ring.
>What were crimes that Selene condemned priestesses for?

Yes, you tell her, you've got to get moving as soon as possible. There's vital work to be done, and you need to compare notes with your companion. Before you leave, though, you had a question for her – what were these crimes that Selene condemned her priestesses for?

“The goddess has eased her doctrine over time,” Maab says slowly, “She has changed with the times, becoming more and more permissive. You must understand that-”

What crimes, you repeat, did Selene condemn her priestesses for?

“The very first priestesses were virgins,” Maab sighs, “And deviations from that were, yes, punished. Those who abandoned their faith or even mingled too much with outsiders were also condemned. These are old laws, Ira, and not ones that have been enforced for generations. It's our shame, a secret we wish to protect – and I've just told you, without falsehoods. Surely you see how seriously I'm taking this matter?”

So, if Miura was to marry the Emperor...

“Yes,” Maab confirms, “Those who bow to the old laws would seek to sacrifice her.”

That's all you wanted to know. Before you leave, you warn Maab against anyone wearing a steel ring. They might be a particularly bland looking man – but they might look like anything, or anyone. Just watch for a steel ring, you stress, that's the key.

“How curious!” Maab forces a smile, “Thank you, Ira, I'll keep that in mind. We must meet again, I'd love to speak with you some more under... better circumstances.”

Bowing to the priestess – who returns your bow with the slightest inclination of her head – you tuck the scroll under your arm and hurry off into the dark streets. First Koa, and then you need to get together with Tawn. You just hope he's got some results.

[1/2]

>>45800945

You get lost almost immediately.

Cast adrift in a maze of nearly identical streets, clustered with all manner of shrines and devotional banners, you lose your way within the first few moments. Koa, fortunately, is able to steer you back to the college of alchemists. While you were scheming and plotting, he had been memorising the route. Grateful to the clever young apprentice, you follow his lead into the back alley and down, down into the dark and morbid tunnels. Breezing past the blind lunatic at the desk, followed only by the sound of his hollow chuckle, you find your way back to the poison wing. Tawn, seated opposite the slumbering scholar, nods at your approach.

“He passed out,” Tawn explains, “But not before giving us the results. Compared with the various herbs and such they have in stock, he said the candle was infused with essence of... Smokewort, I believe. It's a root found only in a very few places. Most often in the south, in or around the bone mountains themselves.”

Excellent, you declare as you roll the map out on the table. Most of the markings, the reflecting pools, are in the northern half of Tenngaru. Across the southern border, though...

One. One single reflecting pool.

“Could it be that easy?” Koa asks, “It seems very... convenient, don't you think?”

“What choice do we have?” Tawn argues, “We need to move, as soon as we can.”

Haste might not be wise, you muse, especially when Miura might not be in any danger. A dead hostage, you remind them, offers no leverage. Best to wait until you're ready, rather than storming off unprepared.

“Ira!” Koa protests, “What if you're wrong? What if they don't care about leverage? If they just want to spread chaos...”

>You're right. We move as soon as possible
>We wait. This is a delicate situation and we need to be well rested
>Other

>>45801097
“What if you're wrong? What if they don't care about leverage? If they just want to spread chaos...”
-then she would already be dead. A victim does no good without an audience if they want to cause as much despair as possible. Likewise, tired rescuers make easy prey.

>We wait. This is a delicate situation and we need to be well rested

If they were going to sacrifice her, it would be at night during when the moon's out if it's to get at Selene. It's also when they'd be their most open. Considering how late it is already, may as well get rest.

>>45801097
>We wait. This is a delicate situation and we need to be well rested
We got ambushed once already, who's to say we won't have more on the way? They're explicitly targeting us now, because we're a threat to their plans. If we're ragged we'll die that much easier.

>>45801097
>We wait. This is a delicate situation and we need to be well rested
>Other
Cant Tawn send for scouts or something? Someone to discreetly check the area to make sure we dont ride off for nothing?
Not to mention, I feel like if they just wanted chaos, Miura would be dead already.

If these people didn't care about leverage, if they were just out to cause chaos, then Miura will be dead already. Even with the ritual aspect taken into consideration, they would have caused more chaos by killing Miura back at the Dragon's Head when they had an audience.

“But...” Koa begins, but then he bites your tongue. The logic of your words sinks in, and he merely nods for you to continue.

And you've already been ambushed once, you warn Tawn, getting attacked again won't help at all. Your enemies already know that you might be coming after them, so they might have set up more ambushes along the way. Even if they've not, running yourselves ragged will only leave you as easy prey. The situation is too delicate to risk by charging off, you tell the pair, so you're going to rest. They won't sacrifice Miura at day, anyway, they need the moonlight. You can work with that.

“I agree,” Tawn admits eventually, “But I hate not being able to do anything. I hate feeling helpless.”

He might be able to do something, you stress, can he rally any troops in the area? If there are any scouts, you could use some extra information – maybe even confirmation that you've got the right spot.

“There,” Tawn points to a spot on the map, not too far from the reflecting pool, “That's the closest outpost town. I can send out a bird and have the local troops gathered. Yes, that's perfect. I'll get right on that – should we meet back at the tavern?”

Right, you confirm, and in the morning you'll move out. There's a long road ahead of you.

You'd better be right about this. A young life hangs in the balance.

>I think I'll leave that there for tonight. Next thread on Sunday, and I'll stick around to answer any questions there might be!

>>45801424
Thanks Moloch for the run. Also,
>then he bites your tongue
Didn't know we got the frog spellcard.

>>45801470

Ah, something that slipped through the proofreading. It certainly changes the mood of the sentence though!

>>45801424
So what are Tawn's and Koa's state of mind? Howa and Mentor hear of this yet?

>>45801576

Tawn and Koa are both pretty nervous about this. Tawn is worried about his mission and the bigger picture, while Koa is worried about Miura herself.
Word of the general situation has made it back to the Nameless Temple, but Howa and the Mentor aren't aware of Ira's new discoveries. News of Miura's capture hasn't made it out yet, thankfully.

>>45801424
Thanks for the run, Moloch!
This steel ring guy sounds like he has some magic on his side. Maybe its the ring? Since it seems that that's the only thing people seem to notice or remember about him.

>>45801938

Magic items, such as enchanted rings, DO exist in this setting, although they are very rare. In other words, that sounds like a very plausible theory!

>>45801995
Got a question about foreign countries. Do any of the advance foreigners happen to have their own religions like Christianity? Hell, do they have their own spirits or gods?

>>45802069
Don't the people of Tenngaru only know of their land and nothing else beyond the water that surrounds it?

>>45802069
>>45802085

At the moment, there no other known countries. The only "other" lands would lie beyond the mountainous southern border, and nobody has ever returned from beyond there.

There are some distant islands, but those count as Tenngaru and share the same gods/faiths.

>>45802120
THE MASTERMIND IS MIURA HERSELF.