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>>45931189
"There's too many contingencies that might go off if we let either of these caravans hit the surface," you decide. "We need to split up and take out both. Which means we need some decisions made on how we can split our forces."

"If I can make the surface, I could try to watch for emerging caravans and take them out," Amy offers. "It'd be messy, but it's sorta the...you know, the last-hope plan. The trouble is all the /space/ between here and the surface. I can move through the Mine pretty easily, and the Lichyard and the Basement are no problem, but the Atheneum will slow me up something fierce."

River sets her pack down and takes out a book. "What if you could teleport there?"

You pull River into a crushing hug. "You are best sister-in-law."

"Don't...choke me...while...proposing...by...proxy.."

You let the elf go and turn your attention to the Sultan.

"My illusions work best if I am present to adapt and modify them. It is possibly best for all involved if I stay near Miss River as well," he adds, humbly.

"I want him on a tight leash," River agrees. She tugs her hood up and tucks her ears through their holes. "We've got the Steel Market to consider as well."

"We may be able to help with that," Opal offers. "If you're willing to owe us a favor, we can assail the weakened position there and permit you passage. Additionally, how familiar are you with teleportation in the Dungeon?"

"Not at all," you admit.

"Natalia will need a fairly large room, possibly already pre-prepared, containing a circle of forged glyphs to channel enough of the Dungeon's magic to pull this off. If you can get to the rooms ahead of her men, you can break the circle and force them to find another route. That alone tilts the odds in your favor."

"Shall I inform my queen?" Fetch asks.

"Yes, but keep Bri on standby. I'm not sure what I want her to do just yet, aside from get men posted at all known entrances to New Hell and the Roost."

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>>45931469
"Of course, Sir Bookchild," Fetch answers, obediently.

Sir, he calls you. It's hard not to smile.

"Alright. So we need a distraction or assault in the Steel Market. That'll let us cross into Natalia's territory?" you direct the last question to Opal.

"That side of New Hell is thoroughly controlled by the Traitor and her allies. Expect minotaurs, armed laborers, and enslaved Forge Beasts. Forge Regicide is situated around the main passage to the Cornucopia, though there is of course the river, which irrigates its fields. That means reinforcements from the Lush could be a problem too."

"Fuck me," River sighs.

"As you co-"

"Touch me, demon, and I'll have your guts for garters."

The Sultan sighs wistfully.

> Split into two or more teams (who goes where?)

AND

> Accept Opal's offer
> Refuse Opal's offer

AND

> Send Amy to the surface
> Put Amy on a team

AND

> Plan around finding the circles
> Plan around intercepting the caravans
> Plan to storm Forge Regicide in the hopes of catching the shipments before they leave

Write-ins welcome. This vote will be potentially long.

Alright folks, driving. This vote is likely to be extended; I'll see ya when I see ya.

Fuck. What do??

>>45931813
And here we see a classic case of player paralysis, where a high number of available options lead to an inability to decide on a vote.

Kinda surprised the guy complaining of railroading hasn't voted yet, given this is the kind of freedom he was bitching in favour of.

>>45931578
>Split into two or more teams- River and Sultan, Amy and Nate

>Accept Opal's offer.

>Put Amy on a team

>Plan around intercepting the caravans

>>45931578
>Split into two or more teams (who goes where?)
what are the people we can split up?
who do we have currently?

>>45931578
I don't suppose the target locations need their own circles?

Even if we grabbed the earthshapers, they'd at best just randomize certain areas of the Basement further rather than actually stop the caravans. A stalling tactic. Might be better to bring them DOWN instead, to seal off tele circles as we find them.

We could have Amy set up explosives from Glen here and there and make enough of a ruckus that the people loaded up with arms passing through will suddenly be very Suspicious, but that's a long shot too.

....both of these methods are like betting on Fate.

The path that the Gorger took might be worth investigating, if Traitor was the one who summoned it. Be easy to smuggle ritual implements through while everyone is noping the fuck out of the way.

These are caravans, right? And the basement has cave sections? If we secure the well-maintained roads, the bumpy ones should be slow and hopefully noisy. gee, i wonder what cave animal would be good at sound detection.

Which members are we allowed to allocate, and to which places?

>>45932085
Sultan, River, the minions, Nathan and shankbird

I'll address questions soon.

>>45932664
You don't sound bitter at all.

It's okay though. I'd love a undead bat familiar for River squeaking "I AM THE NIGHT!"

>>45931578
>Split into two teams.
Nate, Amy and Sir Fetch should attempt to disrupt things at the Fort while River pairs up with Opal and her clanfolk to attack the Steel Market. The Rakshasa can muddy things further for Natalia's men.

>Accept Opal's offer.
We need the extra muscle on this one. I'm not disregarding the skills and tricks our party have up their sleeves, but there's too much going on for them to handle it alone. And owing a couple favors to some Dorfs is no where near as bad as the alternatives.

>Plan around finding the circles.
I just feel we have a better chance of finding these than intercepting the caravans.

I've been pondering something; could River or Darshan be able to track an accumulation of magic? Maybe not laser-point accurate, but in the ballpark.

>>45931578
Could we flat out ask Lora if she knows anything about what The Traitor has done? Which caravan has people/guns, which one went where, etc.? Can we ask for her assistance and, if need be and she wants to, an order to make it happen?

>>45934469
Better question.

We know the target destination. Now, Lora can't be everywhere... but what she can do, is probably sense all the places they could teleport /to/, and fuck those up. Or read the incoming flow of magic and decide 'Hey... go here', and lock their destination to a single point.

>>45934937
>Lora can't be everywhere
BULLSHIT! How do you know what our lord and savior Lora can do?

>>45931578
> Split into two or more teams (who goes where?)
Amy and Nate; then River, Sultan, and Fetch.

> Accept Opal's offer

> Put Amy on a team

> Plan around finding the circles
However, if the caravan is found first in the process, it would be better to attack it before it gets to the (likely guarded) circle.

>>45932085
You have Nate, River, the Sultan, Zachary, and Fetch & the minions. You also have the opportunity to ask Bri to help set something up, or to condemn the hostages by bringing her down here.

>>45934469
Chances are she's on orders not to talk about it. Bri can't make her manifest physically either; she's bound to her room unless called by a chain or given the opportunity to claim a Chain-Bearer.

>>45935356
>Chances are she's on orders not to talk about it. Bri can't make her manifest physically either;
Bri is currently sitting outside on call with worry probably trying to figure out a way to help out and we can talk to her through Fetch. Our previous plan of 'Knock Bri the Fuck Out' could still work here as we don't necessarily need Lora herself just any info she could give us. If she can't tell us anything have her wake us up and we lose basically nothing but a bump on Bri's head.

Alright folks, I need to head to bed. I'm gonna update in the morning when I get up, and in the meantime welcome additional votes, discussion, and/or questions.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>45931578
>> Split into two or more teams (who goes where?)
Nate + Zachary +Sultan, River + Fetch
If this is unpopular I'll waive my vote for something else but, Zachary can relay between teams and allows for orders to pass from River>Sultan. I'm goin with this as it's 'not expected' but still can work because I hate the Seer Powers.
>AND
>> Accept Opal's offer
>AND
>> Send Amy to the surface
There is a chance she's totally messing with us and things are already at the top. Teleporting Amy out would help cover that end.
>AND
>> Plan around intercepting the caravans
Rushing in fast is a hit or miss chance of success. The circles is a decent choice but I feel this gives the best leeway in terms of how to react to things.

>>45934174
nah, it's fine. Rather than objectively worse, this is just riskier. Assuming we DO find a caravan, the boar should be able to disable the wheels no problem, needing support only to make sure it comes out alive....ish.

>>45931578
>Nate+other minions
>River+Sultan+Fetch

>Accept

>Send Amy to the surface
she's got waaaaay too many things to do up there.

>go for the circles
Bri, Amy, and whoever else can be mustered can handle things further up the chain.
>Accept

So. Fuck. What do we do with Natalia once we have her? I'm confused now...

>>45937094
This only ends one way.

With a dance off!

>>45937094
>>45937563
>I'll show you that Fate is meaningless!
>What, what are these moves!? This rhythm, that constant switching between joining the flow and going against it....
>Now you're playing music? But you were supposed to be the dancer!
>There is no structure to the Beat, only Freedom!

Hellow everybody, sorry to interrupt you, but I'm here to pester you (yet again) about the DLQ fic I wrote which is in dire need of criticism.
Here's the link of the fic:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NULh7L-RIQj07Ss_VtoovuAkWh2G_qfY61MkiO8GK80/edit?usp=sharing

Bump for the lich

I'm awake. I need caffeine, then I'll update. Thanks for your patience.

>>45931942
Shit I was gone for some time, but now that I'm back let me just say you're a faggot.

Called, writing.

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Am so glad i checked this thread.

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>>45931578
"We'll split into two teams," you decide. "Amy, you and Zachary are with me so we can keep in touch with River. River, can you lead the Sultan and Sir Fetch?"

"Yessir," River agrees.

"We're going to attempt to seek and disrupt the circles. Opal, how long will you and your men need to prepare?"

"Not long," Opal tells you. "It's more in the way of an ambush than a proper assault, to tell the truth. But we know our business. Maybe an hour?"

You nod - it's better than you were expecting. "Fetch, can Brianna make the surface?"

Fetch is silent for a moment. Then: "She believes that she can, with the Caretaker's help."

"Ask her to try to cover the surface routes. If she can track the guns, she and the boar might be able to intercept them."

"She will do the best she can," Sir Fetch tells you, after a moment. "She sends her love."

You smile, warmly. "Send mine to her."

"Me too!" Amy chirps.

Everyone breaks off to do their own preparations. You check over your revolver and blades, tighten the straps on your shield, and try to find your calm.

You hear Amy's faint chirp from behind you. "Is now a bad time for that talk?"

> Get it off your chest
> Not now, Amy (proceed to the action)

>>45943805
> Not now, Amy (proceed to the action)
Better to focus on the coming battle.

>>45943805
>Get it off your chest
Less worry makes for better work.

>>45943805
> Get it off your chest

>>45943805
>Get it off your chest.
Better that Nate lets it out here with someone he loves and trusts rather than be distracted in the middle of an important mission.

>>45943805
>Not now, Amy (proceed to the action)
Let's let it fester a bit, take it out later when we have time to be weak

>>45943805
>> Get it off your chest

And can we still do plan "Knock Bri the Fuck Out" and ask Lora if she knows anything? Maybe when Bri hits the surface for a minute or something?>>45935356

>>45943805
> Get it off your chest

Called, writing. Next vote likely to be extended due to Pathfinder.

>>45945063
What do you play in pathfinder?

>>45943805
>> Get it off your chest
And what I want to get off my chest is my shirt so I can proceed to get you and me off. ;)

>>45945653
He's the GM.

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>>45943805
You take a deep, steadying breath, and nod quietly. Amy cuddles into you from behind and rests her chin on your shoulder.

"I figured it'd be rough on you," she murmurs. "What was she like?"

You sigh and put your hand on Amy's, enjoying the reassurance of her presence. "Lost," you murmur. "Confused and angry. She reminds me of River, a little. I'm more than a little pissed at her."

"Why?" Amy asks. She's not confused, you think, just trying to help you sort your own thoughts.

"...She could have stayed," you murmur. "I don't understand why she walked this path. Why she chose to go deeper instead of turning back, why...why any of this happened. Why she had to turn us both into /this/."

"People do strange things for what they believe in," Amy's voice gets a wistful, amused edge. "Like feeding their legs to metal snakes."

"That's not the same," you protest, though there's no real steel to it.

"I know, Nate. You want to tell me why you were so hurt?"

You are silent, for a long moment.

"She called me her son," you say at last. "She said she was proud of me. She said she was sorry."

"Do you think she meant it?"

"...I do," you murmur, your voice tight. "I'm just not sure what she expects."

"I'm not sure she expects anything, Nate," Amy tells you. "I think she's sorry and knows it's too late to be the mother you never had. And that's gotta be hard to hear for you, but..."

"It's fine," you whisper. "I'll...I'll burn that bridge when I cross it."

> You are River la Croix
> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker
> You are Nathan Bookchild

>>45946612
>You are sir Fetch the Nightfeather

Never not fetch

>>45946612
>> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker

Let's be the glue that ties this weird relationship together.

>>45946612
>> You are River la Croix

I Like River.

>>45946612
>> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker

>>45946612
>> You are River la Croix

>>45946612
>> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker

Shankbird is Best Bird.

>>45946949
>Implying fetch isn't the best bird

Pathfinder beginning.

>>45946612
> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker
Time to be best bird!

>>45946612
>> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker
ECHO ACROSS THE NIGHT

>>45948027
....?

>>45948355
We are on a race against time. Speed. Sound because of Amy's wings.

>>45946612
> You are River la Croix

Bump for the lich.

>>45946612


> You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker

>>45946612
>> You are River la Croix

Because its not votefagging if my first vote was a troll vote, right?

Also captcha thinks Pine Sol is a drink

>>45946612
> You are Cherry

Light hearted adventures in undeath!

>>45951672
did you delete it, because I don't see it.

>>45951672
> Claiming Sir Fetch is a troll vote

Anon, go fuck yourself. THIS >>45952515
Is actually a serious vote. I would love a light hearted interlude with the ghost of an abused child and a teenaged amnesiac assassin who isn't quite a mature as she remembers (or really was in the first place) trying to figure out how to deal with every day life that the ghost is optimistic about and the assassin tries to resolve with applied violence and the ghost girl doesn't quite know enough about it to convince the assassin to not use said techniques.

Pathfinder's wrapped up. I'm gonna go greentext the story Elsewhere and then drive home and update. Thank you all for your patience.

>>45953274
Greentext the story here or at least link the greentext.

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>>45953875
>>45953995
And you can find the Wayward Path here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/martial-traditions/the-wayward-path

Just a thought but the term 'Graveyard Shift' would have an entirely different meaning to a necromancer.

Home at last. Called, writing shortly.

>>45952725
And while I'm writing, I'd like to note that this idea is fucking adorable and I need to do something with it.

>>45956295
google drive it when you have time

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>>45946612
You are Amy the Dungeonbreaker, paired up with your lover on the hunt for one of the teleportation circles, and you're not entirely sure how to tell him that you don't like the gun you took back in the Baron's escape room.

It's not that you have an objection to the idea of guns, as such. Sure, your mother got shot right out of the air but it's not like bows or crossbows can't do that. Hell, it's not like that's the first time you've seen her get shot and faceplant into the rock!

It's just...

You don't know how to say to him, or Brianna, that you dislike the idea of killing from a distance, of not feeling the tremor of impact and the crack of brittle bone. You don't know how to tell Nate that you love the thick of the fight and pulse of adrenaline, which is stupid because you /know/ for a /fact/ that he loves it too.

You've seen it in his eyes, but you're still scared to tell him. Maybe because he'd expect you to tell Brianna, and you know /she/ knows, but it's one thing to let her understand, and another to actually admit it.

Bri's not like you. She hates having to hurt people, even when she wants to hurt them. You don't understand it, but you know, in the silence of your soul, that it's something that makes her who she is.

You get more thoughtful before big battles. Maybe because they make you /wait/, when normally you're /doing things/. You're planning something or moving about, or cuddling, or singing, or dragging Nate and Bri off for fun, or - well, /or/. Your whole life is full of very wonderful /or/ moments, but just before a big fight isn't one of those. You need to be ready, which means waiting, and waiting means thinking for long periods of time.

It's not uncomfortable, exactly, but the sound of your own calm thoughts in your head is certainly an infrequent visitor.

Fuck. Are you thinking thoughts about your thoughts now?

Is this what it's like in Brianna's head /all the time/?

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>>45957273
A series of small explosions rocks the Steel Market, ahead of you and Nathan, and the two of you spring into action immediately. River and her group are entering from another passage into the Market.

The goal isn't to get stuck into a fight. It's to cross as fast as possible and vanish into the turf on the far side. Get in, find the circles, get the fuck back out. You and Nathan both have maps of New Hell with areas potentially large enough for a mass teleport marked out. You're taking one half, and River's taking another.

Disliking your revolver - plus not using one before the ones in the Mine got turned back into raw materials - means you're a terrible shot with it, but thankfully Nathan's a really good one. One of Natalia's soldiers leaps from one of the open store fronts, takes a shot to the neck, and slumps to the ground like a puppet with no strings.

One of your wings twitches involuntarily, throwing off your balance, but when you hear the gunshot and feel a bullet flatten against it, you silently thank whatever god created wraithsteel. You turn mid-stride and hurl a knife on reflex, and smile in grim satisfaction when you see it bite into the marksman's elbow, unleashing a gush of blood and making them drop their lever-action. Opal had called the odd, rifle-like guns Fratricides.

"God damn but Natalia knows how to throw a party," you call to Nathan; your strides eat up the ground, and you have to remember not to leave him in the dust. "Didn't we kill a bunch of these people?"

"And Opal's engaging more," Nathan agrees. "It's hard to rule with an iron fist if you can't close your hand to make one, Amy. She's been ready for war for awhile. Probably the first thing she did."

"How do you know?"

"Because that's what I'd do in her place," Nathan admits. "There's the river!"

You grab the back of Nathan's shirt and /leap/, beating your metallic wings to launch yourself over the flow of water.

>>45957273
>Is this what it's like in Brianna's head /all the time/?

If only you knew Ames, if only you knew.

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>>45957428
On one of the roofs below, on the other side of the water, four riflemen throw off stone-colored cloaks and raise their weapons to point at you.

Fuck.

> Throw Nathan at them
> Dive! Dive!
> Tuck your knees and fold your wings
> Screech
> Write-in?

>>45957446
>> Tuck your knees and fold your wings

>>45957446
>Tuck your knees and fold your wings
there is a good chance that they have screech protection.

>>45946682
> Let's be the glue that ties this weird relationship together.

Can I get you to expand on this statement, anon?

I need to go to bed. Thank you for your patience with my slow run today, folks. Voting will remain open while I'm resting up and, hopefully, defeating this stuffiness before it becomes an actual infection.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated. You folks help me improve, more than you might know or expect.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>45957446
Could tucking and folding end with us taking a swim in the river? I really don't want that.
>Write-in?
>Aerial acrobatics all fucking day.
Let's see these assholes nail a moving target with bulletproof pinions.

>>45957489
Amy is literally the glue that holds the whole thing together. Whenever Bri or Nate need a shoulder to cry on, Amy's there. Whenever they just need to relax or focus on anything else, Amy's there. She makes it all possible, without her there'd be no relationship.

She's the center, the whole, the heart.

>>45957615
She is an essential part of this relationship and we need to pamper the shit out of her sometime soon.

>>45957446
>tuck knees fold wings
harpy magic is seriously cheating when you can do stuff like this AND STILL BE MOVING FORWARD

Bump.

>>45957446
> Tuck your knees and fold your wings

WE CAME IN LIKE A WREEEEECKING BALL...

>>45957446
>> Tuck your knees and fold your wings
Wing sheild activate

I'm alive and sick. Will update when able.

>>45962236
Sempai has a cold!

>>45962236
Can a lich even get sick? Dear god VOX WAS CURSED

Alright folks, here's my battle plan. I'm gonna wake up a bit further and go secure some chai, some medicine, and some ginger ale. After consuming those things in various amounts and waking up more, I will call and write. In the meantime, I'm gonna open the thread up to some Q&A.

Thank you for your patience. I apologize for my indisposition.

>>45963000
chug some dayquil and abuse leftover painkillers

>>45963000
Yo vox, I just did a bum's rush of the whole archive yesterday before I went to sleep and caught up. Hadn't been paying attention to this quest until just now, but it's some good work man.

>>45963387
Welcome to the quest, anon! I'm sorry you had to catch it live while I'm all fucked up; I'm at the store now, getting my shit. I'll update shortly, and in the meantime your feedback is welcome.

>>45964074
Uh, well, mostly the feedback is this is enjoyable, it's nice to read characters that actually talk over their problems with each other. And Sir Fetch is the best chicken.

I've been invited to a film. Votes remain open, discussion welcome.

>>45965047
what movie
can i spoil it for you?

>>45965736
Zootopia, and you're too late. Heading home, will update.

>>45965736
You monster.

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>>45957446
You tuck your knees up and fold your wings tightly. Nathan lets out a surprised sound, but stays tightly in your grip while you tip into a roll.

Harpy flight magic drives humans insane, trying to figure it out. They never want to accept the explanation that harpies themselves give: that it takes all the things that should make them /not/ fly, and makes them irrelevant.

Their loss.

You open your wings right before you hit the roof. You feel the tips of your feathers connect with soft flesh, helping to slow your momentum, and you let Nathan go directly into one of the riflemen. He either guessed what you were doing or has reflexes that are just that good, because the man he hits lets out the breathless grunt of someone who's just had sharp objects jammed into their lungs.

Your thrown knife catches a second rifleman in the throat, sending him staggering back while his life's blood gushes from the wound.

You look at the men your wings cut, but they've got other concerns. Your feathers scored deep into their chests - survivable, but painful wounds. They choke back sobs as they mix potions with shaky hands - the heal shock will get them.

"Amy, look." Nathan points to where you can see River and her group trying to move through on the ground level. "Should we help?"

"We, you say," you chide. "That'd be /me/. I don't like leaving you without support."

"What if there's more gunmen?"

> River's a big girl. She can handle herself.
> Send Nate on ahead and provide support
> Take Nate with you and provide support

>>45969224
>Send Nate on ahead and provide support
keep changing tricks

>>45969224
>> Send Nate on ahead and provide support

>>45969224
>> Send Nate on ahead and provide support

Vote may be...slightly extended.

I hate being sick.

I really hate doing this, but the Rakshasa is about the best anti-gun defense you can get short of a force field. Don't want Nate alone, even for the transition to helping River, since seers are lethally good at setting ambushes.

>River is a big girl, she can handle herself.

>>45970772
Actually, displacement would be a great illusion against gun users, you can't hit center of mass if center of mass isn't really center of mass.

>>45969224
>River is a big girl, she can handle herself
Thay demon is going to protect her because he wants a new toy, I think river will be fine with herself and the demon.

>>45969224
> River's a big girl. She can handle herself.

> Go to call the vote
> It's tied

Well fuck me. I'll close it out at 9:35; if the tie isn't broken by then, or there's a new tie, I'll make the decisive vote myself.

>>45969224
> River's a big girl. She can handle herself.

>>45972104
I gotchu mate, just woke up from a nap

Called, writing.

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>>45969224
You shake your head. "Nate, River knew what she was in for. Do you trust her or not?"

"I -"

"I know it's easy to forget, Nate, but the girl's a trained soldier. Hell, he's not even a /girl/. She's a /woman/, and she can take care of herself. We need to hit those circles."

Nathan sighs and nods, and you grab him so you can leap across the high ground. The jumps eat up the space in the Steel Market, bringing you closer to the exit on the far side. Nathan pulls ahead of you - you're still not used to sprinting with your wings on again - but as you plunge into the passageway out of the Market something twiggers your instincts, and you yank your lover back from an intersection.

Good timing. A volley of cannon fire splits the air where he just was. You round the corner yourself and spread your wings wide as you start to /screech/. The piercing sound makes the crews clutch at their ears and stagger away from the cannon. Nathan, plugs in his ears, takes aim from behind you and to the left and fires off four rounds.

You lower your voice and give your lover a savage grin. "Thoughts?"

"There's three targets on our half. Two of them are going to be traps," he adds. "Which, aside from potentially leading to our deaths, is bad because they'll waste our time."

"Okay, so what's the thoughtline? The closest one to Forge Regicide reduces the chance that we intercept the caravan. It's got a lot to suggest to it."

"It's got a lot to suggest to it as a bluff too," Nathan points out. "This one here, the middle chamber, is a good compromise between the distance and the mind games."

"Okay, but that's all easy logic. Say she trapped those two and is gunning for the third?"

"Say she trapped all three and both destinations are on the other side," Nathan says, cynically.

> Go for the near one
> Investigate the middle one
> Sprint for the far one

AND

> Keep together
> Split up

>>45974363
Wait, have the boats already gone through?

I thought we were heading here fast and tearing up the circles so she couldn't even send them.

>>45974644
They have not already gone through. The idea is to attempt to pick the target where the circle will be set up so that you can take it out without wandering into a trap instead.

>>45974363
>Go for the near one
>Split up

>>45974363
>Keep together
> Investigate the middle one
we can split off from there if we want to

>>45974363
> Go for the near one

> Keep together
This gives the best chance of intercepting the caravan if we choose a trapped one, since we won't waste as much time.

>>45974363
> Investigate the middle one
> Keep together

Overthinking things when you're fighting a person that predicts the future is pointless, I'd rather go for something that gives us options

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So, folks! The Mourners Kickstarter has concluded as of a few hours ago, at a final backing total of $2,320, which means I get to write the Shatterdown Setting Primer as well.

I wanted to thank you all for your support. You've made a lifelong dream possible for me, and opened the doors to get published again in the future.

I couldn't have done this without all of you. So thanks.

>>45976266
YOU'RE GOING PLACES VOX, I CAN FEEL IT

>>45976266
Shame I'm broke as fuck, or I'd have pitched in

>>45974363
>> Investigate the middle one
> Keep together

>>45974363
>> Investigate the middle one
>AND
>> Keep together

Followed by a completely blind future vote for after they get to the wrong one.
>Nate takes the one on the left
>AND
>Amy takes the one on the right

Called, writing shortly.

Also: chai is love, chai is life.

Okay, I'm too fucked up to update. I'm gonna re-open the vote, with my apologies.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>45978884
Good night for now then, get some rest if you're still feeling shitty

Bump for the lich.

>>45976266
WE LOVE YOU SENPAI!

Also, I wouldn't mind being arrested for aggravated assault on your bony behind.

>>45974363
>Go for the near one
>Stick together

It will let us rapid react if the guess is wrong. We can split up then, when catching one is nearly guaranteed

>>45974363
>Go for the middle one.
It's actually proven easy so far to avoid getting ganked by her men, since they have no way of knowing what our strengths and weaknesses are. For example? Nathan could just toss Verve at somebody and let her while he gets groovy with his machete and pistol.

Yes, I have assigned a sex to his magic sword. No, she is not my waifu, no matter how shiny or amazing she is.

>Stay together.
If the middle choice is a hit-and-miss, we can still split up to attack the other two.

>>45974363
>> Go for the near one
> Split up
Cover more ground, honestly both of them are good fighters, they'll live
>>45976266
Got the email from kickstarter earlier, Grats vox, can't wait to read it when it's released :)

>>45980502
I mean, anything's a dildo if you're brave enough...

I have no idea which to choose.

>>45984306
Light a fire under your ass and CHOOSE

>>45982065
I do believe we've already made the 'polishing his sword' joke earlier in the quest.

Maybe if we stab a demon in the ass, we can crack one about Verve liking anal or some bullshit.
>"I like smell of newly bloomed roses, the opera, long strolls in the park under a full moon, being hog-tied and spanked while being told I'm a bad girl who needs to be punished, and shanking bitches in their bitch-ass faces."

>>45976266
I honestly can't wait. I used to be a goddamn bibliophile, reading all the time, but stopped because I couldn't find anything new to peak my interest. You, sir, are my dealer, and I /need/ that next hit.

I'm up. Gonna shower and take my medicine, then call and write.

Called, writing shortly. I just need to get some caffeine going.

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>>45974363
"Let's hit the middle one," you suggest. "At some point we have to assume she's capable of rational competence. You don't over-complicate your plan on the bet that your enemies will drive themselves insane trying to comprehend you."

"You're sure?" Nathan asks.

You shrug. "Could she have set up those traps and ambushes that the Anvils are talking about if she wasn't capable of proper strategy? The thing about being a professional is that it encourages behavior that is...predictable? Professionals have standards, which are a lot like habits. Right?"

Nathan rubs his chin thoughtfully, then nods. "Yeah...yeah, that sounds right. And if it does turn out to be a trap we'll be near the other two. Let's move."

Nathan reloads and checks his firearm while the two of you move. Your eyes and ears are peeled for traps in the halls, and more than once you take a different route than the planned one because you do not have /time/ to go dancing with death traps right now.

The double doors standing before you are locked, as you expected them to be. Nathan takes a step back, and you heft Blame and begin to hack at them. Demonfire blows into every shallow cut, slagging steel and sending fissures through the doors.

When they fall in on their hinges, you see it: the circle, arranged all through the large chamber.

And in its center is a woman, half-elven if you're any guess, leaning on a massive war maul. A red hood hides her face, though you can see blonde hair spilling from it, and she grins savagely.

"Good job," she coos softly. "Who will meet my challenge?"

"What challenge?" Nathan asks.

"Single combat."

> Volunteer
> Let Nate do it (switch to Nate)
> Fuck that
> Who are you?

>>45989058
>FUCK THAT

Vote may be extended by my quest for food.

>>45989058
>> Fuck that
We don't have time for games, shoot her (if Nate's honor allows it)

>>45989058
>> Let Nate do it (switch to Nate)

This IS nates specialty.

Also @>>45989521
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YyBtMxZgQs

>>45989058
Volunteer

>>45989759
Yes, the video is exactly what I had in mind.

Called, writing shortly.

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>>45989058
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9JDwCCimA

You and Nathan share a glance.

"Nope," you decide, hurling one of your hatchets. Nathan takes a shot at the same time.

The bullet and the axe stop, inches from her, as though embedded in glass.

"I don't know what I expected," the young woman says with a sigh. She hefts her maul and swats the bullet and your hatchet out of the air, sending them skidding to the floor. "I rescind my challenge, honorless curs. May battle sanctify this place in the name of my lord."

"She's Chosen," Nathan mutters.

/Fuck/.

You and he split off in opposite directions, trying to find a flank. She casually dodges away from Nathan's second shot, with all the grace of a ballet dancer, and holds out a clenched fist. Thin needles of steel manifest in the air around her and fly towards you with lethal intent. You yell in surprise and fold your wings to protect yourself, only to be driven back by a massive blow that sends you flying into the wall. The air leaves your lungs in a painful whoosh, and stars of pain blossom in your eyes.

"Worthless," the Chosen mutters, turning to face Nate.

> Oh it's on now
> See if you can get away with breaking the circle
> Focus on protecting Nathan

>>45991400
Should I know what a Chosen is? I don't remember.

>>45991400
>See if you can get away with breaking the circle
NEVER take your eyes off a downed foe.

What the heck is a chosen?

>>45991522
>>45991523
Someone empowered as the personal servant of a god. Instead of learning magic, they just /get/ some. They're somewhat rare in the Dungeon, since they can't get instructions down here.

In this case, she's a Chosen of Red Troth, god of valor.

>>45991549
How could someone like that serve Natalia without falling harder than all of 3.5 Paladins?

>>45991615
Simple: her god literally can't see her down here. Can't see, can't hear, has no idea that she's here or what she's doing, and thus cannot rescind the power with which she's been invested.

If you want to know more, I suggest you ask her.

>>45991646
Wish I could, need sleep. Goodnight!

>>45991646
Sounds like a neat idea.
>Ask: Does Red Troth know what you are doing with his power? Have you considered what it will do to you after your death?

>>45991400
>> See if you can get away with breaking the circle

Use that Bird brain to get her god to pay attention to her, she's working for a mass-murderer that's some anti valor shit.

>>45991400
> See if you can get away with breaking the circle

>>45991400
>Oh it's on now.
Let's see how useful these wings are as weapons instead of shields.

Oh, and I think I'd like to support this; >>45991995 to distract and frustrate her.

>>45991400
>>oh now it's on.
Make fun of her. Tell her Red Troth loves us more. Tell her there are innocent lives on the line and she knows nothing of honor.

>>45991400
>See if you can get away with breaking the circle
Do what we came for

>>45991400
Can we tell her who Nate is? What Natalia would do if he gets severely hurt or killed?

>>45993504
>>45993399
Why not both? Piss her off (maybe not the /best/ course of action when dealing with the Chosen of War) and keep her distracted while Nate or Amy disrupts the circle.

>>45992010

As I understand it, the Gods can't see into the Dungeon *at all*. So it doesn't really matter what we do here, we won't get Red Troth to "pay attention."

>>45991400
Can I just ask where in the actual fuck Natalia found a Chosen?

Don't tell me they're lovers too.

>>45993734
They're not. That's still somethign you should probably ask her if you can get her alive, though.

>>45993687
*A* Chosen. While there's never exactly /many/, there can be, and has been, more than one Chosen per being that can invest one.

Called, will write after more caffeine.

Remember folks, all those warriors worthy of song and legend had to die first. Its the still living ones you want to follow the example of.

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>>45991400
Well fuck her too then. You'll teach her to turn her back on an enemy. You stand and hop, flapping your wings to get some lift. It's easy enough to grab onto one of the massive brass runes set into the wall. Now all you have to do it -

"Amy!" Nathan calls, in a panic. You turn and see him sailing directly at you. You roll away on the rune and touch your lover, negating his weight before he hits the wall.

You're in time. The only thing that breaks is his dignity.

"Your enemy is here, coward of the Roost," the half-elf calls. "Come and face me."

"Make me!" you yell. Nathan gets to the ground foot-and-prosthetic-first. You take off when you see her raise her hand again, outrunning a hail of metal needles. Below, she faces Nathan with cool grace, dancing away from his slashes and responding with airy sweeps of her weapon that make it seem so much lighter than it actually is.

"Do you have /any/ idea how bad you fucked up?" you call. You latch onto another rune, only to be forced to drop ten feet straight down when the metallic shards scythe towards you. "You're working for the /Traitor/, for the Raven's sake! How did this become a good idea in your head?"

"Natalia promised me glorious battle to honor my god. If he were displeased with me, he'd rescind his blessing, or inform me to turn from my path."

"...Do you seriously not fucking know?" Nathan asks, incredulously. He eats a haft strike to the face for his distraction, and you wince when you see a tooth skitter across the floor.

"You talk too much, coward," the Chosen chides icily. Her gaze meets yours, red as blood in the summer air, and she beckons for you to do battle with her.

"I choose life," you mutter.

"You surrender?" she asks, pointedly.

> "...Sure." [Bluff]
> Try to persuade her to stand down
> Keep going for the circle
> Fight her
> Get Nate and get the fuck out
> Write-in?

>>45995585
>Scream
>But pay attention to those steel spikes because this is probably going to hurt.

>>45995585
> Try to persuade her to stand down

The kind of war that she's helping to create is purely industrial. It's more than just war fought at a distance, it's war decided by the output of one economy over another. It's a battle between workers in steel mills and assembly lines who will never see the enemy, let alone entertain ideas like "single combat." Why the hell would her god want that?

>>45995585
>> Try to persuade her to stand down
If that doesn't work

>>Harpy magic scream.

>>45995585
>talk her down

"YOUR GOD CANNOT SEE YOU HERE! HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON BUT IF HE DID HE WOULD MOST PROBABLY DISAPPROVE. COME ON USE YOUR HEAD."

>>45995585
>> Try to persuade her to stand down

>The kind of war that she's helping to create is purely industrial. It's more than just war fought at a distance, it's war decided by the output of one economy over another. It's a battle between workers in steel mills and assembly lines who will never see the enemy, let alone entertain ideas like "single combat." Why the hell would her god want that?

Seconded.

>>45995585
> Try to persuade her to stand down
Tell her that gods can't see down in the dungeon or speak to people there. Tell her that the "glorious battle" that Natalia is promising her consists entirely of people mindlessly gunning each other down like a farmer harvesting crops. None of this single combat or honor or any of that. Just totally impersonal, mechanical, repetitive, and insignificant death.

>>45995585
She fell for the same con twice, she got offered no moral quandries and everything she could dream if she swore absolute unquestionable loyalty to her god, and then immediately took the same deal when it was offered to her by the traitor. She can't be persuaded shes an idiot by this route as a result.

So instead we should point out her god can't see shit and she should actually use her own damn head for a moment to realize that if word of ANY of what shes doing reaches her god shes in for a world of hurt, because I can't imagine chosen betraying there own pact, regardless of the reason, can't end catastrophically. I mean hell, woundseekers occur from people who DIDN'T swear any sort of oath causing something horrible.

>>45995585
>> Try to persuade her to stand down

Called, writing.

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>>45995585
"No," you say firmly. "I'd just prefer to talk instead of fight."

"Multitask," the Chosen says simply. She drops her maul and reaches into her cloak, taking out a long spear that clearly does not fit inside of it. Its tip gleams sharp and red, as though droplets of blood have been frozen into the steel.

You pull Shame and Blame and hold Shame in a reverse grip, stalking slowly around the Chosen. She moves with you, and the two of you circle warily.

"You wanted to talk. /Talk/." The Chosen emphasizes the last word with a testing thrust; you sidestep and swat it aside with a wing, keeping your eyes on hers.

"You've been had," you tell her. "Natalia's not going to give you glorious battle, she's planning a /massacre/."

"Why should I believe you, coward?" the Chosen answers, haughtily.

"For the love of -" you /leap/ suddenly, a flap of your wings taking you over the spear and into her reach. She whips the haft at your head, but you saw /that/ coming a mile off; you drop into a crouch and drive Shame into her kneecap, wringing a scream from the Chosen as she hits the floor. She drops her spear and seizes your face in her open palm, snarling, "Bleed," through gritted teeth.

It's your turn to scream as lines of slashes open up all over your body, staining your clothes and armor witih red blood. Your demonic mail sizzles and scorches, burning the blood that soaks into it, even as you seize her hand and wrench her wrist hard enough to snap it. She raises her other hand, but you hit her with a backhanded blow that makes her slump against the stone.

Those red eyes glare defiantly at you, but she's not making a move.

> Kill her
> /Now/ are you ready to listen?
> I really don't like being called a coward.

>>45999244
> /Now/ are you ready to listen?

>>45999244
hmmm. it's a tough choice. Now I feel like her first choice IC would probably be a kill

on the other I think that Nate would prefer that we take her prisoner

I guess...

>Now are you ready to listen?

>>45999244
>>Now are you ready to listen?

Does the roost even have a word for coward? Other than as person who doesn't die horrifically?

>>45999244
>/Now/ are you ready to listen?
>When was the last time you heard ANYTHING from Red Thoth? PSA, GODS GET NO RECEPTION IN THE DUNGEON.

>>45999244
>> /Now/ are you ready to listen?
>> I really don't like being called a coward.

Hold back the murderchicken Amy. Or try at least.

>>45999391
Seconding this, although 'psa' and 'get no reception' are both a bit more modern terms.

>>45999244
>> Kill her

Get fukt.

>>45999244
> I really don't like being called a coward.

> Especially by a fucking traitor

Then kill her already we are on a fucking clock oh my god why can't you guys shankbird

>>45999244
>/Now/ are you ready to listen ?
If we can convince her that there is no glorious battle to be had, maybe we can turn her against Natalia and screw up her plans.
To >>45999996

>>46000581
Yeah, and if she draws out our time talking to us she gets a mission win even if we kill her after.

Fuck this bitch.

>>45999244
just blurt out

"the dungeon stops your god from talking to you, you utter twat. now we've got a massacre to stop."

then just run past her.

>>45999244
> Kill her

>>45999244
>> I really don't like being called a coward.
with a statement like these that states a known fact in the dungeon.
>>45999391
>>46001207
Perhaps we could ask/get her to ask her god if 'something' is righteous and when she gets a response get her to ask her god if that 'something' is /not/ righteous.

It can't be both right?

>>46001359
>she gets a response
she */DOESN'T/* get a response

forgot an important word. sorry.

Called, writing.

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>>45999244
You've got this feeling like if you don't attend to your wounds sooner instead of later you're gonna have a bad time, but you can't show weakness right now, not in front of a Chosen of Red Troth. They tend to be a bit - okay, a /lot/ - more intense than His priests, lay members, or in fact almost anyone else.

"You ready to listen now or do I need to break your other wrist?" you ask, more tired than angry.

"Speak your peace," the Chosen agrees.

"Gods. Can't. See. The. Dungeon," you say, slowly. "Or, rather, they deliberately don't. They don't see down here, they don't hear down here, they don't pay attention to a damn thing down here until someone dies, and even then it's just to collect the soul."

"That's absurd. Why would the gods turn their gaze from this place?" the Chosen scoffs. "It's hardly accursed."

"They do it as a favor to the person who built it," you tell her. "Tell me, if you needed the guidance of your god, how fast would he answer?"

"Immediately," the Chosen says with confidence.

"Why don't you go ahead and try that? I'll wait."

The half-elf rolls her eyes and concentrates. You can see a flicker of doubt across her eyes, then full-blown panic. She looks up at you, rage warring with fear.

"You've been had," you repeat to her. "Natalia lied to you and is using you in her plans for mass murder. Now what's gonna happen when I let you go? You gonna stay down?"

"...Yes. I've been bested," the Chosen sighs, heavily.

You stand and hurl Blame at one of the runes; the fiery explosion from the handaxe slags it and sends it bouncing back to you. You repeat the exercise a few more times, leaving scorch marks and dripping metal from Blame's demonfire, and nod with satisfaction. This circle's been broken.

You limp away from the Chosen, keeping an eye on her, and set your pack down heavily against the floor. You mix a potion for Nate and force it down his throat.

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>>46002503
She must've hit him pretty good to knock him out when he's being spooky like this, but at least the potion works. Nathan coughs and sits up with a miserable groan, but he's okay.

You mix up your last one from your own pack and down it, knowing it's gonna hurt. You clench your teeth against the heal shock, but it doesn't stop your feathers from janglingling discordantly.

Faintly, you hear the Chosen pull your knife from her leg and drop it onto the floor. The steel makes more noise than she does.

"Are you okay?" Nathan asks you.

"Mostly," you admit. You /itch/, all over. "What now?"

* * * *

You are Nathan Bookchild, and your jaw fucking /hurts/. Getting hafted by that maul was like getting slapped around by Lora. You'd almost go another round with the snake instead.

Almost.

"What happened with her?" you ask.

"I, um. I may have caused her a major crisis of faith," Amy admits, a little shyly. "...She didn't know about the silence down here. I still don't know what she was doing down here to begin with, but I'm pretty sure Natalia promised her something other than what she's delivering."

You sigh and bite your lip. "We can't just stay here."

> Treat the Chosen
> Leave her

AND

> Make double sure; intercept the caravan
> Stick to the plan; go to the meetup point
> Find River

>>46002624
>> Treat the Chosen
> Stick to the plan; go to the meetup point

>>46002624
>> Treat the Chosen
>AND
>> Make double sure; intercept the caravan
Let's not immediately forget what our lovely shankbird has just told us about our military sister in law.


This does not mean we shouldn't worry or get there as soon as we should.

>>46002624
> Treat the Chosen
> Stick to the plan; go to the meetup point

While we're at it, tell her why we blitzed the area, and ask her to intercept the caravan for us. She might not go for it, but maybe we can throw in a mention that Bri knows the owner of the Dungeon, and can try to get in touch with her god for her if she'd like to seek repentance for being a damned idiot.

I have no idea if Lora can actually do that, bound as she is.
I should have been in bed hours ago.

>>46002624
Oh yeah, don't we have Zachary? Could we do a quick status check on River?

>>46002790
Indeed you could.

>>46002624
> Treat the Chosen

> Find River
Seconding this: >>46002790
as well.

I need to crawl into bed and die folks. I'll call and update in the morning.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>46002624
It's funny, I can't imagine our lovely murderbird sparing someone at the beginning of the quest. Brianna really must be rubbing off on her.

>Treat the Chosen.
She's not really our enemy, even though her gullibility and foolishness has likely cost many lives. The half-elf is going to need to perform some serious penance for what she's helped unleash.

I kind of want to check up on River with Zachary, but the hope is that she can handle herself. Not to mention she's got a demon illusionist, a chivalrous cockerel and hardass dorfs at her back.
>Stick to the plan; go to the meet-up point.

Could we do a POV switch to see how River, Sir Fetch and Darshan are doing? It might be interesting to see a real illusionist (the Vintner was a fucking ponce) at work. That, and I will be heartily entertained to read some witty banter between the cat and chicken.

>>46003666
You can't die! You're already dead!

Chosen?

Mo' like

Chosen to be our newest party member.

Oh!

Nah, but seriously we should carry somebody really fucking stupid around with us in our fourth slot just as a contrast to all the intelligent characters.

>>46003742
> Nah, but seriously we should carry somebody really fucking stupid around with us in our fourth slot just as a contrast to all the intelligent characters.

Oh man.

> "But what if I hit it REALLY hard?"
> "Lady of Ravens, what part of 'load-bearing' do you not comprehend?"

>>46002624
>> Treat the Chosen
> Find River
Using Zachary is a good idea, if we have him

>>46003817
>"Okay, the good news? There's no cannons or riflemen guarding the main gate. Bad news?Opal says the front door of Fort Regicide is forged from elemental iron and brass, and enchanted to reflect /any/ attack back at the offender tenfold."
>"I gon hit it wif ma hamma!"
>"Sweet merciful fuck, what did I just say?"

>>46005515
>Obviously we just need a really huge mirror to reflect the reflection!
>....that's so dumb it's almost smart

>>46003817
>>46005515
>>46005549

I want to say that she's not /that/ stupid, and then I remember that she literally didn't bother checking in with her god even once whilst in the Traitor's employ.

>>46005709
>Man this person I'm working for is all kinds of cool and trustworthy
>What's their name? Oh, the Traitor? I see nothing wrong with this situation

>>46005709
>How long has it been since you checked up with your god?
>....2 years.
>2. YEARS!?
>We're not really touchy-feely, okay? I-it's.....lame.

>>46005709
The best I could give her is that she takes things at face value, or maybe she has a simple way of looking at things.

The alternative is to think she's just that *ignorant*, and that's a hard pill to swallow when talking about a Chosen.

Though since we're bashing...
>>46005753
>What have you been doing in the meantime?
>Stuff. Fighting.
>Thinking?
>Red Thoth does that for me.
>...but you haven't been in contact for 2 years with him?
>Yeah.
>...

>>46005799
>Red Thoth

As amusing as the idea of a red, martial version of the ibis-headed Egyptian God of Wisdom is, I'm fairly sure she's actually

>>45991549
> a Chosen of Red T*r*oth, god of valor.

>>46002624
>> Treat the Chosen
> Stick to the plan; go to the meetup point
> But check in with River via Zachary

>>46002624
>> Leave her
Give her some measure of honor. If she wishes to help, let her, but don't let her be a burden.

> Make double sure; intercept the caravan

>>46002624
> Treat the Chosen

And
> Stick to the plan; go to the meetup point

Because changing plans fuck things up unless you have a good reason for it.

Probably best to get Intel from the Chosen first.

I'm up. Will call and write after caffeine.

>>46002624
>Treat the Chosen
>She's the biggest, gullible, fucking idiot but if she has ANY remorse she will help us.
>Stick to the plan; go to the meetup point

Called, tallying, writing.

>>46005892
I find it way more amusing than I should. I'm now picturing Thoth in a red luchador outfit, rippling pecs bare as he alternates flexing them for an audience.

This is what I get for one hour of sleep after spending time to blitz through this and other quest threads.

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>>46002624
You limp towards the Chosen, wincing with every step - you /still/ hurt - and kneel next to her.

"My name is Nathan Bookchild," you tell her, gently. "You're Chosen of Red Troth, yes? What's your name?"

"...Catherine," she sighs.

"I'm sorry we had to meet like this, but we're on a time limit here. Will you permit me to treat your wounds?"

Those red eyes meet yours, searching your gaze for something. After a moment, she nods. You set her wrist as best you can and mix a potion for her. She grits her teeth against the pain but doesn't cry out, not even when her kneecap shifts and heals over.

Catherine pants heavily, but accepts your hand to stand up with.

"...You have honor," the half-elf says, in the hesitant tones of one not used to apologizing. "I did not conduct myself as a courteous foe."

"Don't worry about it," you tell her. "Most of our enemies are much more rude. With this circle broken -"

"It is not yet broke," Catherine interrupts. "Almost, but not quite. Permit me."

The Chosen kicks her spear up into her hand and tucks it back into her cloak - where the fuck is it going? - before repeating the exercise with her maul. She bows her head for a moment before raising her hand, as if to recieve a weapon. The metallic runes through the room quiver and shake, then rip free of their moorings, melting as they move. The liquid metal flows into Catherine's outstretched hand and shapes itself into a long, double-edged glaive, heavy and sharp. She inspects the weapon, then tucks it into her cloak, where it vanishes.

"I would know more of what you have said to me," she asks, demurely, while you and Amy stare at her.

"...In a bit," you answer. "We need to meet up with our allies."

Catherine nods, and falls in line with you and Amy. You spare a glance for the imp on your shoulder. "Zachary, can I get a status update on River?"

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>>46008885
"Yes sir," the imp answers, primly. He is silent for a long moment, and then: "Miss River reports success in her primary objective. She and her group intend on moving on the caravan heading towards their own circle."

"Casualties?"

"One of the chickens is destroyed. Miss River has taken and recovered from wounds, but is at her tolerance for field potions. The rakshasa is unwounded but tired from sorceries. Do you have orders, sir?"

> Order River to meet back up
> Order River to wait for you to come help
> Let River exercise her best judgement

AND

> Remain Nathan Bookchild
> You are River la Croix
> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather

>>46008925
> Order River to wait for you to come help

> You are River la Croix

>>46008925
>Order River to wait for you to come help
>You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather

Catherine, make yourself useful.

>>46008925
So in the best case scenario of having Natalia not lie to us, we still have one caravan untouched and one circle unbroken.

> Let River exercise her best judgement
> Remain Nathan Bookchild

>>46008925
>> Let River exercise her best judgement
>AND
>> Remain Nathan Bookchild

Sounds like things are going well. Let's not mess with that.

>>46008925
>> Order River to wait for you to come help

NOOOO! Not the chicken!

>>46008925
>> Let River exercise her best judgement
>> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather

>>46009035
Success in her primary objective, anon. She got the circle.

>>46008925
>> Let River exercise her best judgement
>AND
>> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather
I kinda wanna vote to be River but then the first and second vote would kinda cancel each other out/ be redundant.

>>46009201
Aparently, I went blind there for a second. All's well. Provided there weren't 6 circles.

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>>46008925
>one of the chickens is destroyed
Pic related.

> Let River exercise her best judgement
> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather

>>46008925
Just a curiosity towards you Vox but, how are you enjoying this current arc from your perspective so far?

Vote extended for dishes.

>>46008925
>> Let River exercise her best judgement
>AND
>> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather
Best cock.

>>46008925
>> Let River exercise her best judgement
Although it might be best to advise her to hold back the rakshasa to cover her retreat, if necessary.

>> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather
We must avenge our fallen brother! And, if we get the chance, show this Catherine woman that there's more to valor than duels.

>>46008925
> Order River to wait for you to come help
> You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather
I wanna hear fetchs inner thoughts about his destroyed brother.

Called, tallying, writing.

>>46009574
I'm enjoying it. It's been fun, characterizing Natalia, even if the level is moving a bit faster than I expected. There's gonna be quite a bit of post-event cleanup on this level, what with the bad blood left over from the people who chose to serve her vs. the ones that refused.

>>46012383
>even if the level is moving a bit faster than I expected.
Fucking seers man, messing up all the plans.

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>>46008925
You are Sir Fetch the Nightfeather, and you feel odd.

You know, objectively, that your brother was little more than an animal. Clever, to be sure, but not possessed of any true willpower; even his personality was essentially just leftovers of life. But at the same time, he was there when you gained awareness and has been an obedient and valorous servant. You cannot help but feel saddened at his passing.

There will be time to grieve the freshly dead later, however. Now you must play your part in a heinous deception.

"Nathan's advising best judgement," River announces. "We're going to proceed as planned. Everyone know your parts?"

You nod, as does the demon in elf shape. You can hear the caravan approaching your position, and you steel yourself for what is to come.

You leap around the corner with the group, just as your body - and all of theirs - lights with a sickly green flame that casts long shadows over the halls. The guards on the caravan stagger back in shock and horror.

River, her hood up, takes a step forward and raises a fistful of the sickly fire. "Behold," the elf murmurs. "I shall be a blight upon the land, and all that I touch shall wither and die."

"Have them!" the lead guard calls out. He throws down his gun and sprints down the hall, away from the group, and his men follow suit.

When they're well and truly gone, River turns her head to the Sultan. "You may dismiss the illusion."

The flames snuff out, just as if they never existed.

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>>46014272
There are six carts in all, containing a total of thirty humanoids, all of them chained to the bars of cages. They look in confusion at the group, until you clear your throat.

"Good people!" you call out. "We have come to liberate you from durance vile! Fear not!"

"The guard had the keys, cock for brains," one of them drawls, sarcastically.

"/Fuck me/," River swears. "It'll take ages to get these bars filed through..."

"We could take them to the meetup point," the Sultan points out.

"It may be safer to free them here," River worries. "They can't dodge shots like that..."

> Volunteer to keep a watch while River frees them
> Endorse the demon's plan; play rear guard
> Suggest taking them back to the broken circle; it's more defensible

>>46014381
>> Volunteer to keep a watch while River frees them

Amy could probably pick this pretty quickly if she's not too indisposed.

>>46014381
Ask if this is all of the hostages. If so we can bring in Bri cant we?

Alright folks, that's gonna be the last update before work. I'll be back just after midnight EST.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>46014381
>Volunteer to keep a watch while River frees them

>Couldn't we just rot through the locks?

>>46014381
>Endorse the demon's plan; play rear guard
Amy has the lockpicks, and this Catherine person has the raw power.

>>46014381
> Endorse the demon's plan; play rear guard
Amy could be able to release them once we meet up.

So... Do we want Cat as a fourth for good?

>>46016687
nah.

>>46014381
>Volunteer to keep watch while River frees them.

Wow, poor Fetch. He and Brianna are gonna have to talk later.

>>46016687
Personally I'd like River as our 4th. Her attack necromancy and demonic knowledge are quite useful.

And besides she's family.

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>>46014272
> "I shall be a blight upon the land, and all that I touch shall wither and die."
Heh

>>46020274
Success!

Three hours and change to call.

Bump for the lich.

About an hour to call. Questions and discussion are still welcome.

Finally off work, a little late. Thirty minutes or so; thank you for your patience.

Bumpin' yeah~

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>>46014381
"My brothers...my companions and I can keep a watch while you handle the locks," you volunteer, resolutely. "Be swift, Lady la Croix, and we may yet get these people to safety."

"On it," River agrees. She stoops to examine the locks, trying to find a weak point. The young necromancer fishes out a stone with a hole in it and narrows her eyes in concentration.

"Ha!" a familiar voice calls, from the end of the hall. "She was right!"

You look up, in surprise.

Miles found his weapons and armor, it seems. The incubus is clad in dark mail and holds a pair of handaxes that smoke grimly from eye-like runes carved into their heads. He points one at you, with a wild smile. "I came for a rematch, Sir Fetch!"

"You know this demon?" River asks, incredulously.

"We have met on the field of battle before, when he was enslaved to the Vintner," you explain. "He was the first foe that I bested. Did the Traitor summon you, Miles?"

"Aye, that's the right of it," the incubus agrees. "She promised me another fight with you, on the condition that I recover the caravan if I win."

"Since if you lose, you will be returned to Hell," you muse. You spare a glance for River, then step forward. "I accept!"

The demon claps his axes together, filling the hallway with billowing smoke.

> Charge!
> Scatter!
> Envenomed with justice!
> Write-in!

>>46026615
> Write-in!

Taunt. Tell him that Amy says hello, and she has new wings. Use this to distract his attention while the others scatter and get away with the caravan.

>>46026615
> Scatter!
then
> Envenomed with justice!

>>46026615
>> Scatter!
Correct me if I'm wrong but, we didn't have venomed quills when we fought Miles right? If so we should probably keep it for a surprise.

Correct me if I'm wrong but we have Vim and Vigor with us right? And the fleeing guards threw down their guns.

>>46026840
>>46026615
> Order Vim and Vigor to grab a gun together and wait for a clear shot

>>46026753
I am unsure about trying to surprise someone who got instructions from a Clairvoyant specifically about fighting us.

>>46026615
>> Scatter!

"You Now face Sir Fetch The Nightfeather, Bane of the Second Born, EN GARDE CHILD OF HELL!

>>46026615
This is just too cool for school. I love it! Also, those axes are pretty nifty. Since I figure that the smoke serves to obscure himself while not hindering his own senses (fucking demons), we shouldn't stay in one spot.
>Scatter!

>>46026683
It's not so much a taunt as telling the truth. He'll probably be glad to hear that Amy is doing better; as far as demons go, Miles is a bro. He'll probably laugh if he hears about /where/ they came from though.

>>46026887
He's a fucking chicken. Daring, bold, and envenomed with justice, but a humble cockerel none the less.

>>46026615
>Scatter, lead Miles on until Vim and Vigor prep the gun like an Itty bitty mortar squad then let Miles think he backed you into a corner only to have Thing and Majig unload on his backside.

>>46026683
I like this idea but personally would preffer it as something more akin to 'Before I best you in battle again, I'll have you know that Madame Amy has acquired new wings and armor and weapons of demon make. Now have at thee!'

>>46027045
Oh shit. The bullets are iron. Most demons (including incubi) are severely allergic to iron.

If that kind of maneuver works, we might actually end up /killing/ Miles. I'm not sure if Amy would like that.

>>46027088
He'll just go back to hell, no?

>>46027134
I thought that iron was lethal to most fae and demon-kind? I might be wrong then, but still, it would make for a surprise; Natalia's weapons aren't just a threat to humanity, but to /every/ race.

>>46026615
>>Scatter!

>>46027187
>>46027088
We don't need to shoot him in a lethal area. Shooting him in the leg or buttock will probably be enough to hamper his movement and give Fetch a chance to jump on his face.

I need to sleep. I'll call and update in the morning, hopefully getting us to a new thread in the process.

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

Additionally, I find myself torn, so lemme snag some opinions here; does anon have a preference for taking a breather soon, or for plunging directly into dealing with Natalia before she can try something else?

Thank you all for reading and participating. G'night!

>>46027719
>Deal with Natalia immediately before she tries something else.
We apparently got our battle and work ethics from Bri.

>>46027719
Breather. Cherry and Assassin quest! The search for ice cream and situational ethics of drugging caretakers.

We should remember to ask Bridget about the other chain-bearers; for example their names, abilities, allies, reasons for participating in the ritual, location, etc. We could have found out the Traitor's identity a few floors back.

>>46027811
Vox needs to update the paste bin with her name.

>>46027719
But I totally see her being upset that Cherry never got to have a childhood and using that excuse to enjoy all the things she missed out on as well but as a 14 year old/however old in a previous life, would be too embarrassed to do herself.

Like when you take your cousin who is younger to see Zootopia so you don't look like a creep.

>>46026615
>Request that Sultan "garb" you in a proper dueling attire/illusion
It's not a trap, it's just to look cool, no sweat off our wings if Miles thinks there's a catch.
> Scatter!

>>46027857
She's still bound by her oath, I think. Regardless, once Natalia's been dealt with, we'll be learning MUCH more about the Master's plans, as well as Lora's true identity.

>>46028156
Nonsense, Sir Fetch is properly attired for his station and duties at all times, and requires no illusory flimflam to appear more than he is!

>>46028702
Well, he has his appropriately flashy helmet, but he still needs a tabard featuring the La Croix family seal, since he is Brianna's devoted retainer and defender.

I wonder if she could craft some shiny talisman leggings for the Nightfeather to give him some more protection? Maybe a haste enchantment or something like Amy's harpy magic to make him even more mobile.

> Scatter
> Order Vim and Vigor to grab a gun together and wait for a clear shot

Absolutely.

Eventually, Vim and Vigor will need to learn a technique called 'The Finger'. No idea what it will do or why, but it needs to be done.

>>46030025
Necrotic energy beams?

>>46030025
Ultimate Jutsu: Ten Thousand Years of Pain. That is all.

Bumpity for the love of a certain dashing undead cock.

I'm up. Breakfast, medicine, then will call and write.

>>46030025
>When Bri sees The Finger, she starts cursing in harpy again before asking who taught Vim and Vigor that particular sign language.

>>46029438
Well, that's different you see, because those would be actual things and not illusions.

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>>46026615
You cluck, ordering your undead companions to scatter. The plan proves wise; an axe head scrapes the floor where Vim stood just a moment ago, throwing up sparks into the smoke.

"I see you have new friends," Miles comments, his form shrouded in smoke.

"I see you have clothes," you rejoin.

"How's Amy?" the incubus asks. You leap over a sweep of one of his axes and slide away from a well-placed kick.

Speed is your defense right now, at least until you have a plan.

"Most appreciative of your gifts! She has also been granted the gift of flight once more, and found love in the arms of my queen and the young Hero."

Miles lets out a low whistle. "Good on her. I -"

The incubus cries out; Vigor is in his face, digging its nails into his eyes, and he drops an axe in shock to swat at the hand. You take advantage of his distraction to leap at his leg; you sink your claws into his exposed leg, just above his greaves, and begin to peck furiously.

"GODS, NOT AGAIN!" the incubus roars. He rips the hand from his face and hurls it against the wall.

> Stay clinging
> Try to fire your quills into his face
> Dodge!

>>46032490
>> Try to fire your quills into his face
Justice

>>46032490
>> Dodge!
Preferably such that he swings his remaining axe into his thigh, if we can manage to jostle him into it.

>>46032490
>Dodge!

>>46032490
>> Try to fire your quills into his face

PREPARE TO BE FUCKED BY THE LONG DICK OF THE LAW! Also I just remembered a greentext that probably sums up fetch, I'm looking for it now

>>46032713
Don't you mean "Long Cock of the Law"?

Also voting
>Try to fire your quills into his face (or dick if we're not a knightly honorable sort of bird)

>>46032798
I was quoting superbad so I didn't want to modify it too much.

>>46032490
>Dodge!
I doubt he didn't come unprepared.
>>46032828
I for one wouldn't have minded

>>46032490
>Dodge
Mobility has always been our greatest ally. Stay mobile, the Helping Hands and remaining Squire can do the damage for now. Once he's distracted, THEN fire the horrible ENVENOMED WITH JUSTICE quills

> Dodge!

Dodge and weave, Cocky!

(Also, needs more guns wielded by the two hands.)

Alright folks. I am fucked up from being sick still; I was feelin gbetter yesterday, and now I am very much not. I'll update when I can, with my apologies. New thread won't be until after 8 PM tonight at the very soonest.

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In an unrelated story, that weird feeling when my Pandora starts throwing out tribute songs to Five Nights at Freddy's (I've never played the series) and one of them keeps reminding me of Natalia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk-aCL6eyGc

>>46034441
Weird song but it is extremely/disturbingly relevant.

>>46032490
>EVASIVE MANEUVERS!
The last time Fetch was latched onto his foe, it was a brainless skeleton of a troll, not a very wily and dangerous demon. Let's keep the Envenomed Justice (tm) card tucked safely in our back pocket until we need it.

Oddly I'm feeling better and more awake after working for a bit. Will post new thread tonight after I get home. If this hasn't fallen off the board I'll link it then.