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>>47101036
"Anyone have an idea on how we can find either Jack or his pixie?" you ask.

"I could find the pixie easily enough," Darshan tells you. "Fey have a distinct energy that I know the secret of tracking. The mortal..."

"I could find the mortal," Robert tells you, with a shrug. "This place is shockingly free of shades, you know. I had expected more of the unquiet dead..."

"Sultan, find the pixie," you decide. "She already likes me."

The demon bows formally and begins glowing purple while he takes a small jade pendant from his pocket, with a round hole in the center of the stone.

"This way," the demon says with confidence, and the group sets off after him.

"She talks about you a lot," Robert mentions casually to Lark.

"I'm certain she can tell me all about it when she gets back," the elf answers, tersely.

"Not curious in the least, merchant?"

"Robert, leave him alone," you growl. "I know iron hurts you."

"As you wish," the ghost answers, with a shrug.

Darshan stops, and after a moment you can tell why; marching boots. The soldiers. Around ten, if you're a judge.

> Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef
> Duck into a side room
> RUN MOTHERFUCKERS RUN
> Jump them

And now I go AFK for about two hours. Be back to call then.

>>47101126
> Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef

>>47101126
> Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef

>>47101126
>> Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef

Probable worst case scenario: Battle with ten mundane, if well-armed, soldiers.

I mean, obviously it would be better to get this done quietly, but against a Woundseeker, a Rakshasa, and Robert-possibly-the-scariest La Croix (not to mention Lark, though I doubt he hits quite as hard), I reeeeally don't think they're gonna pose a serious hazard.

>>47101126
>Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef
Be on guard though, a bright glowing elf isn't a common sight around these parts and reeks of magic.

>>47101126
>>Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef

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Huh, I was not expecting to see a reference to The Bottle Imp.

>>47101126
>Play it cool; they don't know you've got beef.
WATCH THE IMP FUCK THIS UP! I won't be surprised if we suddenly have to dodge falling pianos.

Also, was Robert /always/ such a jerk? Or is he just trying to piss River off enough to force him out? I figure its a little of column A, little of column B.

>>47101570
I think he's just giving her a little taste of how hard it'll be to banish him when times comes to do it for keeps.

>>47101126
>Imp, we're trying to set you free; don't screw this up.

>>47101811
No. qst is no mandatory.

>>47101811
/qst/ is still a trial board, a lot of the long running quests aren't moving until it's confirmed whether it'll be permanent or if it's going to go away.

First thing I needed done is now done. Gotta handle the second and then I'll be home in an hour and a half or so.

Thinking about it, lulls like this aren't a bad time for stuff like writefaggotry or those cards.

>>47101534
Woo! Here I was worried I'd gone too obscure.

>>47102949
Your version of the curse is definitely better, the story's bottle imp was too powerful to really be a curse. That story always bugged me because all the characters were too stupid to realize they could've just wished for a new currency that was worth less than a penny.

On my way home. Be about an hour.

>>47101570
Remember, he did go full zombie army.

>>47101570
Robert has been dead for so long that he has lost concepts such as time and patience. The flipside of being a lich/dead is that they can tirelessly and singlemindedly aim for one purpose, accomplishing it when a living body would fail from overexertion.

Home, called, writing shortly.

>>47103171
Or they could have just switched to Zimbabwe currency, the only country on earth which prints trillion dollar bills (which you use to buy groceries).

Nothin' but interruptions today. Writing now.

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>>47101126
You stuff the jar in your pocket and /pray/. The soldiers that come around the corner stop, and why shouldn't they? Between Robert's robe show and the rakshasa, still in his natural form, you sort of stand out.

You can see the look of appraisal in their eyes as they try to decide if this is a fight they're being paid enough to have. One, at the front, has plumes on his helmet. "Well met," he greets, formally. "You don't seem like natives."

"We are not," you answer, equally formally. "Harpies of the Roost got the door opened and we came seeking our fortune." The lie is as natural as kicking that snake in the face had been - though, admittedly, lacking in the surging thrill of it all.

The officer curses. "Couldn't be avoided, I suppose. Do we have a problem?"

"Depends. Do we?"

"My men and I are under orders to search the Inner Ring for objects of power. Seems like it might get in the way of you seeking your fortune, adventurer."

Hands tighten on their spears.

> Lie. LIIIIIIIIIEEEEE
> Jump them
> Run

>>47106671
> Lie. LIIIIIIIIIEEEEE

>Surely a place like this has to have more than enough objects of power for everybody. Its a giant warehouse for gods sake.

>>47106671
>> Lie. LIIIIIIIIIEEEEE
>We're more mercenary work rather than treasure seeking. I doubt we'll have much issue. Mind telling us what /not/ to get into so as to avoid future problems?

>>47106671
>Lie. LIIIIIIIIIEEEEE

>>47106757
Also add to this.

>Are you guys hiring then? Since this is a big place, maybe you could use a extra pair of hands?

>>47106671
> Don't worry, I've already had the talk about opening boxes. Can't spend money if you're dead.

> Hey, actually, are you guys hiring? You seem to be the most organized group here.

Why lie when you can deflect.

>>47107369
Seconding this.

>>47107369
I third this anon.
>>47106671

>>47106671
>>47107369
This Desu. + "Why fight you guys to find stuff when you can pay me to find it instead?"

It would be lovely to get paid to find the stuff we're going to break/hide from them.

>>47107369
actually I think that joining into the group of soldiers we are rather desperately trying to /AVOID/ is not a very good course of action. So I choose to:
>VETO THIS VOTE

Especially since we are carrying /2/ of the items they are looking for.

>>47107537
You never played Dark Heresy, did you anon?

>>47107735
Unfortunately I have not. Care informing me of how it relates?

>>47107537
> I choose to Veto this vote

Get wrecked Nigger. Not how this works.

>>47107537
I veto your veto.

>>47108009
>>47108024
Well then mind telling me why I'm in the wrong? If you can convince me I'll change my vote but at the moment I see this as a bad idea.

>>47108072
Voting to veto something implies you have the power/authority to override it, which you don't given you're a single anon just like the rest of us.

Also voting against something is rather rude. You could've just voted FOR something else and say why that idea was bad rather than voting directly against it.

>>47108124
>>47108072
What he said, but I also wanted to call you a summerfag Tumblr bitch that should shut his daddy's cock holster and lurk more before posting egregiously stupid shit like some kind of retard on amphetines left unsupervised with daddy's iPad while he's washing your shit off his dick.

>>47108124
>>47108124
>which you don't given you're a single anon just like the rest of us.
Indeed but I can still be outvoted/outnumbered. Its just one vote against it and not doing it. I'm not claiming the power to completely void it just a vote no for that, as opposed to a vote for another.

>Also voting against something is rather rude. You could've just voted FOR something else and say why that idea was bad rather than voting directly against it.
I will admit it rude. In that I can apologize, but I'm not overly liking the other suggestions and honestly don't have a better one than just the generic "Lie. LIIIIIIIIIEEEEE" but I dislike that one enough for a veto vote.

Also, I meant convincing to change my vote via why this course of action is better than one of the other votes.

>>47107332
>>47107369
>>47107384
>>47107453
>>47107518

Hey Mr. >>47108072, sadly your vote doesn't out weight 5 votes to do something.

So congrats on pissing into the wind there.

>>47108286
> Has no ideas of his own

> Just posts to shoot down other people's ideas

Anon, I suggest you go post your reasoning in a "that guy" thread. I feel you'll get some educational responses.

This isn't a videogame. We can just pretend to join them. Or subcontract. Or just learn where their headquarters are if that's where you join.

This isn't some sort of route lock choice like in a Vidya.

>>47108286
Let's put this slowly. There. Is. No. Veto. Vote.
What you should do is put in your own vote and quote the person you disagree with, arguing your point of view. Vetoing something implies your vote somehow "cancels" their vote. Which is stupid.

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>>47106671
> Lie. LIIIIIIIIIEEEEE

>>47108364
> You've joined the Lush's forces!

> All previous allies suddenly hostIle. Forced to rape Lora as initiation. You ram your cock down her throat to stop her asking "Why did you join those soldiers, now you can't complete your fetch quest for the Lich!"

>>47108319
>>47108368
>>47108364
Fair enough. Consider my vote void. I'll keep it up for archive reader sake. Though I will add I have seen veto votes in other quests I've read. Rather rare and generally for bad ideas but still 'a thing'.

>>47108364
>This isn't a videogame. We can just pretend to join them. Or subcontract. Or just learn where their headquarters are if that's where you join.
True, but I just see walking up to a guard looking for both 1) the amulet around our neck, and 2) an imp in a bottle that is currently stuffed in our pocket and asking to join them in finding magical artifacts in the effort to not give them the same items we currently have to be counterproductive.

Listen, saying "I veto this vote" is about as meaningless a post as saying "take it to /qst/"

Like, seriously, actually fucking voice your reasoning for why someone's write-in is bad. Then vote the way you think you should vote.

Saying you're vetoing something is like saying you're kicking someone out of the thread. It's a retarded and filled with unwarranted self importance when what you're actually trying to say is

"wait, guys, don't do this it's retarded"

In fact I'm so pissed off at veto faggot that I'm voting for >>47107369 just to make sure it wins.

>>47108575
> Checks poster count

And it's gone up, we're good!

Man why are there always so many Newfags in DLQ that don't know /tg/ or 4chan etiquette

Called, writing.

I am confused. I've voted against other votes before, admittedly with my own alternative.

This is the first time in years I've heard someone say you "can't" do a veto vote.

>>47108800
>with my own alternative.
Key words, anon.
You can't really do a negative vote, you have to suggest something for the character to do.
You can't just say "Let's not do this," without following with "Do this instead."

>>47108800
>I've voted against other votes before

Great, you were retarded before.

>admittedly with my own alternative.

You can offer an alternative without pretending or grasping for more power than you actually have

Listen, by outright saying you VETO a vote rather than voting for an alternative you are subconsciously trying to get the QM to see the votes differently.

See, for example, if Vox sees four votes

>Do A
>Do A

and

>Do B
>Do B

he knows it's a tie.


If instead you're being a faggot and saying VETO what Vox would see is

>Do A
>Do A

and

>Do B
>Do B. I veto Do A.


So instead of counting it as 2 v 2 there is a slim possibility that Vox might actually count your attempt at getting a -1 in there as a -1, leaving the vote at 2 v 1.

Obviously on such a small scale no one is going to miss the actual count, but if a QM is getting twenty votes for a set of options and sees a bunch of faggots accompanying VETO with their votes, if he is not careful and is just skimming he may actually get a different view of things then how they actually are meant to be in the democratic process that is voting in a quest.

You are inadvertently fucking with the democratic process. Or at least you're trying to and your attempt is annoying.

That's the long explanation.

The short explanation is you have UNWARRANTED SELF IMPORTANCE

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>>47108977
I veto this opinion.

>>47108977
what about nonbinary cases?

>A
>A
>A
>A
>B
>B
>B
>C
>C, but for the love of god, not A
>not A, wishy washy poorly justified D
>One of the Bs here, can we please not take A seriously?

I'm not saying all the above are right, I purposely left in some bad reasonings. But I want your opinion on where the grey area divides.

>>47108977
>>Do A, Do B
What of a case like
>Do A
>Do B
>Do C
>Do D
>1 vote veto D, no vote for others

This would cancel out a 4 way tie into a 3 way tie with the 'unliked' option taken out. Or simply devalue 1 option without 'doubling' another options value.

>>47109072
>>C, but for the love of god, not A
Vote for C, nothing more.

>not A, wishy washy poorly justified D
Vote for D, nothing more.

>One of the Bs here, can we please not take A seriously?
Means nothing when it comes to the vote tally.

That said the QM can look at the complaints and hold a FD or revised vote.

>>47109072
honestly, I hate people that do shit like

>C,but for the love of god, not A

Because it's trying to be every vote that isn't A without committing.

If you're going to bandwagon, spend two seconds sizing up your best chance of dethroning A and bandwagon.

Like, y'know, choosing B.

In all honesty, in a big clusterfuck of multiple options you should have two rounds of voting where the two most voted for options go toe-to-toe but that would take a lot of time.

As for

>not A, wishy washy poorly justified D

HAHAHAHA, enjoy having no impact on the actual election. Essentially people that vote 3rd party candidates in American politics enshrined via quest voting.

And

>One of the Bs here, can we please not take A seriously?

totally fine as long as it isn't worded in a way to make it sound like a vote then it's SAMEFAGGING.

But the thing is at least all of those people are actually offering discussion. They are saying shit and not just throwing out the word VETO like it actually fucking matters. Anything you type that isn't an actual vote should be treated by the voter in question to potentially have no impact on the upcoming contribution from the QM

>>47109072
The general rule is you don't vote directly against other options.

If the "not A" votes were saying they didn't want A and were explaining why they opposed it, that's fine.

If they were actually voting against A and expected THOSE votes to affect whether A was the winning option (rather than the votes for whichever actual option they chose) then there's a problem.

>>47109121
Honestly, as a QM, I would tell the one voter who vetoed to grow a pair and choose A, B, or C so I wouldn't need to hold a re-vote for my shitty three way tie.

>>47109121
double down
>A, B, and C are not mutually exclusive
>Someone votes ABC
>The one who voted for just A is doesn't want it, but the other two are okay with it.

what the fuck is going on?

>>47109938
Intense discussion on the topic of interpreting alternate voting methods while preserving the equality inherent in the system of questing on /tg/

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>>47106671
You give the soldiers a sheepish grin. "Don't worry, I've already gotten the talk about what happens when you open the scary doors," you tell them. "...Actually. You're part of a larger force?"

"Aye," the officer agrees, cautiously.

"You hiring?"

To her eternal credit, Amy manages to make no sounds of shock, though you can hear her feathers stiffen at the unexpected tactic. The officer looks puzzled too.

"Boss is kinda far off," one of his subordinates mentions.

"Jack's close by," another reasons.

"He /is/ close by," the officer agrees. "Listen - we can always use skilled men, but we're on assignment here. So if you're looking to get hired, I'll have Carl and Triss here take you to Jack, and he can decide if he wants to pay out of pocket for you. Do good work and a rec from him can get you a distance with the Lush."

"Sounds workable," you agree. Carl and Triss - both human and professional, though Carl's hair is an odd shade of blue - step out of formation and beckon for you.

"Let's go," you tell your companions, before setting off with your enemies in the lead.

This whole affair is giving you a skeezy feeling in your soul. Harry and Applegrove both taught you to be honest. Captain Miller encouraged it too. But - well, but there's not time for that, right now.

Heh. Bri'll probably laugh like hell when you explain it to her. It sounds stupid thinking about, it, but...

"Jack," Carl says, professionally. You startle out of your reverie and look up to see a lean man turning away from the door he's contemplating. Jack isn't precisely handsome, but there's an angular, blade-like quality to the man that suggests motion. He wears a coat much like Brianna's, all dusty grey and bulging pockets, and a large sack hangs from his left hip, bulging full enough that you have to wonder why his belt hasn't snapped.

"Is the rest of your squad okay?" is the first question you hear from the man; he sounds concerned.

>>47108800
>This is the first time in years I've heard someone say you "can't" do a veto vote.
They don't tell you, but most of the time nega-votes are simply ignores.

If you have a write-in, sure, cool. It gets votes.
But it doesn't count as -1 to other votes.

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>>47109989
"Yessir," Carl answers. "Triss and I were detailed to bring you these adventurers, sir. They're looking for employment."

"I could always use battle-ready help," Jack admits, looking all of you up and down. "...Not sure how much I like the look of that rakshasa or the cheval, though."

"How did you know?" Robert asks, shocked.

"I've had a very long time to get to know things," Jack answers, evenly. "You wanna tell me what that poor girl did to deserve you infecting her soul, shade?"

"That girl is my student," Robert sniffs. "...A rather talented one, at that. I'd had my doubts at first, but..."

"Mmhm. I'll believe it when I hear it from her mouth," Jack says flatly. His gaze goes back to you. "I'm going to make this simple: if you're the sort that kills for money and doesn't ask questions, get the fuck out of the Warehouse. I don't tolerate your kind. These people, they've done nothing to deserve that."

> What do you say?

>>47110039
"I was about to ask the same question, honestly."

>>47110065
Hmm, sounds about right. Supporting this.

Also, I love how Jack /immediately/ called out Robert.

>>47110039
So let's say, hypothetically, you wanted to fuck a pixie. How would you go about it in an ethical but also pleasurable manner?

>>47110065
I also like this. Very hero like.

>>47110039
>Not sure how much I like the look of that rakshasa or the cheval, though

Huh. For self-proclaimed idiot, he's rather well-read.

For all that Jack's made some serious mistakes in the past, I can't help but like him. Of course, this just makes me wonder what he's hiding, what guilt drives him, what debt binds him.

And it makes me wonder if he knows everything about the Lush, given their amicable relationship.


>*Grin* You know, I was pretty worried when I heard about armed soldiers charging around the Warehouse, but if you're the guy in charge of them, then I think that I can rest easier. Mind if we have a private conversation though?

Making a chain play when he's got guards standing by around him probably isn't smart. Let's see if we can a private word about what he's after, and if we can find a way to nullify that debt. Eliminate the debt, and he has no reason to be the Debtor. It's still not a story with a happy ending for him, but at least he doesn't have to keep answering to Richard. He can be his own man.

>>47110327
I dunno about amicable. Look here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46882856/#p46887320

>>47110405

A fair point, but he still accepted the offer of troops and managed relative politeness with the giant. The giant also likes him, which is a rather odd concession to make for a total hedonist like him. Then again, giving troops the guy you expect to get knocked over before you to better delay Bri from coming and ripping your spine out makes an awful lot of sense.

>>47110065
Sure let's go with something like this.

That's fairly unanimous. Called, writing.

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>>47110039
You cock an almost relieved smile. "I was about to say something similar, Jack. There's a line you're supposed to draw if you expect to be a man of honor. There's no glory in killing children in their beds."

"/Red is the Glory/," Jack muses. "You were militia?"

You nod. "I wanted to get into soldiering, but circumstances prevented that. I can't handle marching the miles any more."

Jack claps your shoulder and gives you a sympathetic squeeze. "I know what it's like, living with the corpse of your dreams sleeping in your bed," he murmurs. "...But I still don't like your cheval."

"/Have it your way/," Robert snarls. River's body shudders, and the spectral robes vanish in tatters. The elf sways, woozily, but is caught by Lark.

"River?" the tobacco grower asks.

"Remind me," River mutters dizzily, "to kick his fukkin' ass."

Jack lets go of your shoulder, looks at River, then looks back at you ."That's your life /every day/, isn't it?"

You nod, and Jack nods back. "Can we negotiate now?"

"Got a job for you already, actually," Jack admits. "Probably dangerous work but if we're being honest, you folks are probably more qualified than my men are. No offense, Carl."

"None taken," the soldier answers.

Jack points, unerringly, towards the center of the Warehouse. "Some asshole is trying to open that door. That needs to not happen, at any cost. There's five components to the thing. One of 'em's in the hands of some ancient lich, that's probably safe. He used to have another, but my men say the amulet's missing. I can only hope he stashed it someplace."

> Wait, /you/ aren't trying to open the door?
> Say nothing; let him keep talking
> Come clean. This just got complicated
> Write-in?

>>47110900
>> Say nothing; let him keep talking

> Say nothing; let him keep talking

...go on. Tell us about how you're NOT trying to open that door.

>>47110900
> Say nothing; let him keep talking
Well, that's interesting.

>>47110900
>Come clean. This just got complicated.
Things are looking /very/ interesting.

And yes, I know that Jack is our 'enemy', but I doubt Flitter would be his best friend if he was a deceitful bastard.

>>47110900
> Say nothing; let him keep talking

>>47110900
>> Wait, /you/ aren't trying to open the door?

God damn it vox, I knew I should've stayed paranoid.

>>47110900
>Come clean. This just got complicated

>>47110900
>> Say nothing; let him keep talking
I feel that coming clean /right now/ would be rather difficult without running into misunderstandings. I think we could probably do so but maybe at a better time?

"Don't worry bout the lich's amulet I'm wearing it cuz I'm a woundseeker because my mother was the seer and I'm the lover to the lady who has killed all your allies."

>>47110900
> Ask him what's in the center of the Warehouse

It's Lora!

>>47111136
True. Very well, I guess I'm changing my vote here >>47110989 to;
>Say nothing; let him keep talking.

>>47111141
That's the Sanctum. You know, he private spot that Grand Master Dick hijacked.

Aight, I need to hit bed. Votes remain open.

I'm hosting a side story on /qst/ tomorrow starting at 2 PM and ending when I feel like it's goddamn finished. I'll post the link when we start. I'm gonna experiment with rolling a bit more, using a D10 and public difficulty classes. We'll see how it goes; should be an education in any event.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>47110900
> Say nothing; let him keep talking

The fact that he apparently doesn't want to open it doesn't actually make much of a difference. Anyone here could be lying about their own goals. Any of them could be lying about what is actually in the center and whether or not opening it is a good or bad idea.

Regardless of whom actually wants to or doesn't want to open it, acquiring the key items for ourselves is still a decent idea. Along the way, we can do some more investigation as to whom we should trust and what we should do regarding opening or not opening the center. But whatever the answers are, having the key items in our possession will, if nothing else, give us more power and more options.

Only problem is that stupid fucking bottle imp.

Thread archived, incidentally. Now I'm passin' out.

>>47111747
I imagine most of the objects are rather problematic. The Bottled Imp is pretty much a monkey's paw that'll actively try to fuck you over even more than usual, the pixie's heart's probably one of those things that laying hands on it will be Bad for various reasons, the medallion kills you if you put it on, the staff belongs to the lich, and...

Let's see, the other two bits are an Angel's Voice and a Demon's Soul. Getting Lora to open her mouth seems pretty easy for Jack, but unless you're a Chainholder... yeah, that's not going to work out too well for you, barring a recording enchantment down here somewhere with a piece of an Angel's voice in it. A Demon's Soul, though... Darshan's here, but I doubt he'd like to 'donate' his soul to the project. On the other hand, someone could always summon another Demon.

Anyway, it's also possible the Jack's recognized us, and is trying to play us, but... Yeah, he's the first Chainholder we've seen actively trying not to be a terrible person. Even Bridgette had an army of Demons working for her. I also can't help but worry about the artifact he sent to the Lush... Then again, if I were Jack, and I figured my time was coming due... 'Wrong Artifact, sorry. Can't be helped. Sorry that about blowing up that staff, guess we'll never use it now.'

Also... the name 'Jack', who's a self-admitted fool... And the Lush's a giant... who lives in cornucopia, where many things grow... things like vegetables... Are we in for a Jack and the Giant Beanstalk kind of thing?

>>47112155
....I hadn't realized that beanstalk reference.

I also can't see this ending well, even if Jack would be acting against Lush for some sort of golden goose.

>>47110114
Shrinking magic? Or a shapechanging one to turn you into a pixie too.

>>47112155

The Bottled Imp /is/ the Demon's Soul.

The amulet's not part of the key.

>>47110900
Sooo...what's IN the door?

>>47110989
Who is Flitter? The pixie?

On other note i just thought something. What if Flitter is a male pixie?

>>47112574
I don't see how being a male pixie changes anything.

>>47112582
Oh, don't get me wrong anon. It's not a problem to me either. But, maybe, Jack just don't like boys?

But then again. He was in the army.

>>47112629
>this is the entire reason Jack turned Flitter down
oh. ohhhhhh. NOW I get what you mean.

>>47112648
>yfw Flitter is actualy a trap shota pixie

>>47112685
>>47112648
>>47112629
>>47112582
>>47112574
Sorry to ruin your fantasy anons, but Flitter is a girl. Still a qt though. She even got head pats from Nate!

>>47112155

Remind me... what exactly did the Lush ask for, artifact-wise? A staff?

(I'm considering the possibility of the Lush trying to get the parts together himself, not trusting in the Debtor to actually do it.)

>>47110900
> Any idea who?
Part of me is wondering if he thinks we're trying to open it.

>>47112820
I wonder how stretchy she is.

When we /do/ finally kill the Lush, are we going to reanimate his corpse or use it to upgrade the other minions?

I can definitely see us using his guts and muscle to make the Chimera/Boar even more of a beast. I'm assuming we were going to tack a snake unto it as an offensive tail?

His upper skeleton could be transformed into bone armor for Kat, and his skull could be lit with witchlight so she can move independently.

Then we still have those ice shards from the elementals in the Broken Jaw.

>>47113770
why is the Lush's corpse important again? I mean, it's not like we did anything to the bodies of the other chainholders.

>>47113825
Well, he's a /giant/. There's a lot of potential work material there. There was a bit of discussion about feeding him to two hundred draug, with enough for leftovers.

It's not really important, I just felt like throwing the idea around.

>>47113770
>>47113825
Depends on how he dies.

Sometimes we feel remorse for our enemies. Sometimes we don't have enough left.

And this time, I seriously think Lora is going to WANT his body and soul....and maybe to take him alive.

He has a lot to answer for.

I'm awake. Need to make some preparations and then we start this party.

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>>47112685
>>yfw Flitter is actualy a trap shota pixie

Y'all confuse me at times.

Just about ready. Double coffee made, getting dishes done, and otherwise disposing of real life issues.

>>47115530
Yeah the pixie being a dude thing is weird as fuck, but it's 4chan. At least they weren't talking about her being a abomin-I mean futa.

There we are. Called, writing.

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>>47110900
You decide to say nothing; you still don't know Jack, and his honest expression is not the same thing as honest intentions.

"The other three are a demon's soul, an angel's voice, and a pixie's heart," Jack tells you. "Carl's squad are handling the demon soul now, in theory. There's a bottle imp somewhere on this level and I need it as far from here as possible. Figure I'll sell it to the Lush, it's the sort of thing that'll amuse his pet."

Pet, huh?

Jack sighs. "The other two...there's a pixie down here, a friend of mine. I tried to get her to leave but some fucking Hero told her to stick with me. Instinct says to send you to guard her but honestly she'd just be insulted, so that's a no-go."

"What is it you want /me/ to do?" you ask.

Jack sighs. "Pick your poison. Not a lot of people know that the Warehouse is three-dimensional. There's smaller rooms buried beneath our feet, you know, passages that hold more people, more storage, more objects. It'd be brutal to move through if people don't want you down there. If you think you're up for that, there's a chunk of ice, down beneath the Center Ring, with an angel's voice frozen inside." The man gets an almost wistful look on his face. "...They say it was his last words before he chose to accept the gift of death and join his mortal lover in the Sunless Lands."

Amy chirps, sadly. You nod. "What's option two?"

"Find whoever this asshole is and break their limbs until they consider a new career choice."

"What should we do if we find another component?" Darshan asks.

"Separate. Don't put them anywhere near each other, don't let them get stolen. Destroy them, if you think you can. Except the pixie. Touch Flitter and I'll kill you so dead your ancestors will roll in their graves. That in mind, you'll get some pay up front, more after the job's done. What do you say?"

> Go after the ice
> Go after the third party
> Come clean
> Turn down his offer
> Write-in?

>>47116434
>> Go after the third party

>>47116434
>> Go after the third party
In particular, get info about said third party. Who are they, why do they want to open the center, etc.

I will say, the fact that he told us to destroy the keys does lead credibility to his story. He either honestly doesn't want to get in there, or he's very confident that an adventuring party can't destroy something, which is just never a good bet.

>>47116434
> Go after the third party

See if we can find the lich and get him to destroy the Imp jar while we're at it.

>>47116434
> Go after the ice
I wonder, if we could get word to Bri to get Lora to give us some voice, we could retrieve the angel voice and use it as our way to get close to the Lush and kill him.

>>47116434
>> Go after the third party

Worst case scenario: we track down the third party right after they've finished obtaining the other items, so they can smack us down and take the ones we've got. But that's hopelessly contrived and clichéd, so I seriously doubt Vox would take us there.

Best case scenario, we find who it is and give them some strong encouragement /not/ to open the door.

>>47116434
> Go after the third party

Shit is no longer adding up, either hes lying to EVERYBODY or hes being manipulated by the lush. I'm very tempted to go for the ice but if hes a chain bearer he wouldn't need it, and its likely its a trap.

And here we go folks, our one-shot is up.

JACK'S LIFE QUEST: >>>/qst/73746

>>47116434
Huh.

... So, remind me. What's stopping us from just tossing the Bottled Imp into that Destruct-o-box we encountered when first showed up in the Warehouse?

>>47116434
>Come Clean

I suspect the "third party" he heard about is us, since we already nabbed multiple components

>>47117045
Absolutely nothing. The question at that point is if you think the box will also destroy the imp's spirit or if you've just made your problem harder to contain by releasing it.

>>47117057
Without the bottle though, doesn't it sort of angrily disperse over a matter of incredibly terrible hours?

>>47117110
No, it dies the way ghosts die normally, over the course of long years that can be shortened significantly by resolving its unfinished business - in this case, revenge on whoever made the bottle.

>>47117134
Huh, must've mis-remembered. Thanks for the clarification!


Anyway, we have no idea who made the bottle, other than they're probably long dead. So, revenge's kind of a moot point.

>>47117049
... This anon brings up a salient point.

>Come Clean

Let's not fucking chase our own tails here. We're a Hero. Spy bullshit isn't exactly our forte anyway. Of course, there's always the possibility of another party here to fuck around anyway.

Called, writing.

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>>47116434
You have a sneaking suspicion that you might be the third party. Might as well ask, though.

"If I go after the person looking to open the door, who or what am I looking for?" you ask.

"He went after Flitter about three days ago," Jack tells you. "Big guy, part demon. She suspects oni blood and I'm inclined to believe her. He's got this iron club with spikes on, not that it'll help since he shifts shape and so does it."

"Why should this be easy," River complains, with a sigh.

"I can find the halfblood," Darshan states, with confidence.

"Good. I don't necessarily want him dead but if it comes down to it, that door staying shut takes priority over everything else. /Everything/," Jack emphasizes. "I don't think I can express to you how much destruction you'd unleash by letting that door open."

"What the hell is /in/ it?" Amy asks.

"How badly do you want to know?" Jack asks, softly.

> Find out
> Get to work
> Write-in?

>>47117556
>> Get to work

...Didn't we already decide we didn't need to know at this point?

>>47117556
>> Get to work

We've heard rumors varying from our hearts desire to the death and destruction of everyone and everything we ever loved.

Chances are more towards the latter than the former. Especially seeing it requires a fucking imp soul.

>>47117556
>Get to work
Nope, not enough gold in the world.

> Write-in?
> So... that Fucking Hero? That was me. Listen, mate, what're you trying to acomplish here? It looks like you and your soldiers are working at cross-purpose here.

A way to Come Clean, I suppose. This has taken a pretty damn weird path so far.

The bottle imp can likely be taken care of by Robert in a quiet moment, so I'm not TOO worried on that front for now.

>>47117693

Ffff~ late again. No matter.

> Get to work

Not interested in that particular detail, thank you.

>>47117693
I'd like to come clean about the hero but at least although maybe less accusatory?
> "So, that fucking hero? That was me, sorry about that. Couldn't stand watching her cry."
I would like to try and talk to him without the lush's guards eavesdropping.

>>47118104
*Hero bit

Also
>Get to work
Afterwords.

>>47117556
>> Get to work

Called, writing.

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>>47117556
"We don't need to know," you tell him softly. You offer your hand out. "You've got a deal, Jack."

Jack shakes your hand with a firm but not painful grip and gives you a relieved sigh. The man digs out a small pouch from one of his pockets and hands it to you; when you open it, it is full of tiny sapphires and rubies.

"That's the good faith payment," Jack tells you. "The good stuff is after the job's done."

"This is half a pound of precious gems," you say in flat amazement.

Jack shrugs, dismissively. "Money isn't worth a lot to me. I need to continue my own search. If you need to find me, ask one of my men, or Flitter if you see her. There'll be at least a squad in the Bazaar, handling things. Last request - if you see my lizards under attack, lend a hand? There'll be more in it for you, since it's not what I hired you for, but I've got a million things to do down here and I need that caravan moving."

"I understand," you tell him. On instinct, you offer a salute, which Jack returns.

"May the Red God be with you, friend," the blade-thin man tells you. He hands you a small wooden coin marked with the crossed spear and wine bottle - "To identify your status" - and you set off to get a bit of space and privacy.

"Are we actually doing this?" Amy asks, once you're out of earshot.

"Yeah. That door is bad business, and I want it to stay shut," you explain. "Sultan?"

The demon begins sniffing, audibly, and starts to prowl through the halls.

"He's turning out to be really useful," you note to River.

"It's almost like demon summoning is practiced because it's handy," the elf snarks. "...Sorry. I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that."

"Everything okay?" you ask, quietly.

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>>47118776
"Robert...he. I. The thing is, my training never actually /stops/. He teaches me in my head all the time. Techniques, spells, information, in this unending barrage. I write it down to fix it in my mind too, but even now I'm listening to him. Learning from him. I don't dream any more, it's just more lessons. More tests. More experiments. I'm tired, all the time..."

"River, are you /okay/?" you press.

"I'll be fine, I'm just. The possession took a lot out of me, trying to fight him off. I've never had a mental battle like that. Kinda woozy, and. Drained, I guess?" Her ears flatten against her head. "I'll be fine."

> Call a rest; you know this behavior, you and Bri are guilty of it
> Keep going; this is urgent

>>47118817
>> Call a rest; you know this behavior, you and Bri are guilty of it

So what, is it just some curse lain upon the La Croix family name to always push yourself half way to death? Because its certainly not genetic.

Are the two jacks in your two simultaneously running games coincidentally possessing the same name or are they the same character and you're trying to do some weird meta-story weaving here Vox which would be fucking awesome keep doing it

>>47118879
They are separate Jacks entirely. The Jack in the other thread is the guy you would have played if you'd chosen him at the start of /this/ quest; what you're seeing there is his life without the events that would have lead him to the Dungeon (that is, it's happening at the same time as DLQ, in an entirely separate location).

>>47118817
>Call a rest; you know this behavior, you and Bri are guilty of it.
Yeah, the lass won't be of any use if she can barely think straight.

>>47118836
Part of the 'You're the Someone that saves the day' mentality, even if most people might try to chase them out of town with torches and pitchforks.

>>47118906
I'm liking things so far. That Gear-Grinder gall is pretty nice, like a War-Forged but cooler.

>>47118817
>> Call a rest; you know this behavior, you and Bri are guilty of it

As long as we have the imp, /probably/ no one's going to be able to open the door.

As long as we have the amulet, /hopefully/ no one's dumb enough to try.

Vote extended while I go get some dinner.

>>47118926
> Part of the 'You're the Someone that saves the day' mentality, even if most people might try to chase them out of town with torches and pitchforks.

This. Even the non-necromancer la Croix tend to be like that. Mind you, many of them are in professions that tend to naturally attract people who over-work; healing, alchemy, firefighting, all that kind of thing. That the family encourages this natural tendency leads to, well, this.

Called, writing.

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>>47118817
You shake your head. "You're not fine. Especially not when we need you at fighting fit, River. Would you go into battle exhausted like this?"

"Have before," River mutters. "Killing's easy."

You resist the urge to snap at her. Instead, you whistle for the Sultan to stop. "We're gonna take some time to rest. Call it four hours."

"Are you certain?" Darshan asks. "The trail will grow colder."

"He needs to go after us to finish the key," you point out. "I'd rather fight him at full fit."

"I'm /fine/," River protests, but she catches a look at your face and relents. "...Okay."

It doesn't take much to find a pillaged room with a door. A quick check confirms an absence of traps. You prop a chair up against its far door, then shut the one that leads into the main part of the Inner Ring.

River props herself up against her backpack and nods off. You take the bottle imp from your pocket and frown.

> Volunteer for watch; you're mostly fine, right?
> Split the watch; you need rest too
> Ask someone else to take the watch (who?)

>>47120436
>> Split the watch; you need rest too

>>47120436
>> Split the watch; you need rest too

>>47120436
>Split the watch. You need rest too.
I /really/ hope the Bottle Imp can't pull some telepathic mind-fuckery while we're trying to get some shut eye. Especially if it tries to get the Sultan to betray us.

>>47120436
>> Split the watch; you need rest too

But, yeah, don't put Sultan on one of the watches alone.

>>47120436
I'm almost tempted to get the bottle imp to take watch.

Almost.
>Split the Watch

>>47120436
>> Ask someone else to take the watch (who?)

Darshan, followed by the bottle imp, followed by the Lush, followed by Talon, Followed by Dick

Vote extended while I acquire booze.

>>47121740
YYYEEESSS. It begins!!

Called, writing.

So if we set up demon ritual circles AND exorcism implements, could we instantly banish the bottle imp as soon as we break the bottle?

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>>47120436
"I'll take the second watch. Lark, Sultan, do you have the first?" you ask.

Both agree readily enough. You prop yourself up against the wall and nod off.

You dream of the jungle. The heat is wet and oppressive, squeezing in from all sides. You tear through the trees, fleeing desperately from something, something awful.

Your wings, broken and ragged, snag on every branch you pass, making you cry out in agony. You close your eyes against it and miss the trap hidden in the underbrush. Spikes of iron, hateful, accursed iron, clamp down on your leg. You trip, falling forward onto your face, and cry out in agony.

Your pursuer, walking casually, enters the clearing where you are trapped by the iron, the tool of the Firstborn. His skin is so black it's almost lustrous, and the skull paint on his face runs from the sweat and humidity.

"Please," you whisper, trying to shield yourself behind your brown feathers.

"You will serve me," comes the remorseless reply.

You wake with your heart pounding in your chest. Lark nods his head towards River; the elf is awake, green eyes wide and staring at the floor. Then the tobacco seller props himself up against the wall to try to get some sleep.

> Talk to River
> Leave her alone

>>47122693
Nigger, what? Was that Nate dreaming?

> Talk to River

How ya feeeeeling? Wanna get this Ghost asshole out of your head sooner rather than later?

>>47122693
>> Talk to River

>>47122693
>> Talk to River

Was that... from the imp? And am I racist for thinking a black dude with skull facepaint sounds suspiciously like a certain family we know?

>>47122693
>> Talk to River
fucking ass of an Imp

>>47122693
>Talk to River
SO, want to talk to this imp about the dreams its giving me?

>>47122693
I know EXACTLY what this was. Nate's a Hero, out to do good, and the Imp wants to be freed. It won't catastrophically ruin our fortunes if we hunt down the bastard that imprisoned it in a damn pickle jar for eternity.

>Talk to River.
>"Can demons influence the dreams of others? Maybe, share memories?"
Robert's not teaching her demonology for nothing.

Called, writing.

>>47113989
Revenge just taints you. Obliterate the bastard and move on.

>>47123238
Whoever did that is probably the same person who made the central vault, given the Imp's role in the key. And is therefore probably a.) long dead or b.) long dead and a catastrophically powerful lich.

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>>47122693
You move to sit next to River. The elf spares you a look and shakes her head to settle her hair in front of her face.

"Penny for your thoughts?" you murmur.

"I dunno," River answers. "...You were moaning in your sleep."

"I had a dream. I was...different. Taller. Feathered wings. Injured. Someone was hunting me, someone like Bri but darker of skin, with that skull mask she does for her formal outfits. He caught me with an iron trap and said he was going to force me to serve him."

River looks up, at the door. "...Robert told me something, after the situation with Lora was explained to me. He said, no matter the temptation, no matter the circumstance, that I was never to raise an angel from death or into undeath. Not ever."

"Did he say why?" you ask.

"He only said that the Harrow was not always a desert."

You shiver. "River...do you need to talk about /you/?"

"No. Yes. Maybe, I dunno," she finishes, miserably.

"I think you managed to cover all of your options," you point out, helpfully.

"Heh. I...Nathan, what the hell am I even doing? I'm a murderer. I wasn't any better than the people we're fighting and now I'm being mentored by someone who is /much worse/. And the things he's teaching me...some of them are wondrous. Little things, that are just fun. Talking skulls and witchflame and the forge-fire of Hell. And then a lot of them are awful. Things I regret knowing. Things no one ought to know. And I'm just being /trusted/ with them. Who's fucking idea was that?"

"The dead," you answer, calmly.

"The fuck do the dead know about the living? Robert wore my body like a godsdamn /suit/. Like it was /NOTHING/."

> What do you say?

>>47123985
>"No. Yes. Maybe, I dunno,"

CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION


YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME NOW

YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME NOW

YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME NOW

AND YOU'RE NOT SO BIG!

>>47124033
life is unfair

>>47123985

>I thought we'd established that Robert's not exactly normal. You said yourself he was an evil prick in life; he might've lost the 'evil' part, but if he wasn't a prick you might not have enough encouragement to get him out of your head. He's trying to bait you into fighting him out - into graduating from your apprenticeship.
>And sure, you might not have been better than the people we're fighting. Emphasis on HAVE BEEN. Do you think Brianna would just let you keep going if she thought you weren't becoming a better person?

>>47123985
>Sometimes it's not about who can be trusted with it, but about who cares enough to know.
>And you can't NOT care: you're a La Croix, right?
>It could end up worse than not trying at all, but that doesn't mean you just give up. If the dead won't try and figure out by what standards should someone be entrusted with this, maybe you should?

>>47124112
>>47124217

Supporting these.

>>47123985
>> What do you say?

You bring up a fantastic point River. I'm certain there are a few people we've condemned to death without a chance of redemption, like that woman you killed for your very own shadow. What was she guilty of? Working for the enemy?

You worked for the enemy. You've probably killed innocent people. And yet you get to live a fairly pleasant life, barring some nasty side effects like possession which you will eventually dump and a sense of duty.

Are we hypocrites for condemning some while punishing others? Perhaps.

But I think the best lesson we can learn from all this is that we should all be a bit more forgiving of others.

>>47124112
>>47124217
This.

>>47123985

Called, writing. I'm trying to alternate updates between the two stories so votes can come in for one while I'm writing for the other but I'm not sure how well that's been going.

>>47124677
It's looking good, and it hasn't been swarmed by shitposters so that must mean the plague has nearly passed.

>>47124759
It hasn't been swarmed by much of anyone, really. Getting votes has been a hassle.

>>47125188
That's /qst/ for you.

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>>47123985
"River," you begin softly. "You're starting to sound like Bri."

"Thanks."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Sorry."

"River, you said yourself that Robert was an evil bastard in life," you continue. "He might have stopped being evil, but do you really think he was just gonna drop the 'bastard' part? And do you believe he's doing it for no reason? Robert's trying to give you a reason to fight back, to graduate from your apprenticeship. As much as I hate to say it, if he's being harsh it's because he cares."

"He doesn't respect me," River mutters. "Would it kill the man...okay, you know what I mean. Is asking for an 'attagirl' going to consign his soul to Hell?" The elf pauses. "...That sounds childish now that I say it out loud."

"Nah," you disagree. "Just, I dunno, frustrated. Which I can understand. Why haven't you talked to Bri about any of this?"

"I don't want her to think less of me," River says in a small voice.

"River," you murmur. "She lives with this every day. Of course she'll understand. You say you weren't better than the people we're fighting but that's /past tense/. Do you really think Bri would just be letting you run amok if she thought you weren't becoming a better person? I've seen what she does to folks she feels aren't going to improve. It tends to be a bit final."

River's ears twitch, worriedly. "...What if she's just too close to the problem?"

"What if it's not about who can be trusted with this knowledge, but about who cares enough to preserve it against the day it's needed?" you reply. "You're a la Croix, River. You got elected to be there when others need help. If you don't think the dead can be trusted to figure out who needs to know this, maybe /you/ should."

"You make it sound so simple," the elf murmurs.

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>>47125997

"Bri made it look simple when she went down into that trench to treat you," you answer. "Being a good person doesn't have to be hard. The thing that saddens me most about Brianna is that I know she sees herself as a bad person trying to be good. And I love her, but in the name of all the gods, don't let that be you. She's made her own mistakes, you need to make new and exciting mistakes of your own."

"Like reforging my blade in balefire?" River asks.

"Yeah, like - what?"

"Robert didn't know what it'd do," River admits. "And I couldn't find any records of it in the family shrine /or/ the Atheneum. So I decided to contribute to the, ah, the continuation of the family's knowledge. The thing about demonology is you learn a lot of metallurgy along the way. Split has forges, and I've been learning, augmenting what I already knew from my mercenary work. Sorta like you've been practicing in your off time."

"You reforged your sword in /balefire/?" you repeat, staring.

River grins guiltily and ducks her head to hide behind her hair. "Yeah."

> River. River pls.
> So...what'd it do?
> Think you can do that for Bri's cane?
> Just let it go

>>47126050
>> So...what'd it do?
>> Think you can do that for Bri's cane?
>>[Nerdy Smith noises]

>>47126050
>> So...what'd it do?
was it.....efficient? Like, less life force used in the long run?

>>47126050
>> River. River pls.
>> So...what'd it do?

>>47125997
Wait. Robert was singing River's praises to Jack.

Is he doing that asshole mentor thing where he doesn't compliment his student to her face?

>>47126050
>So... what did it do?
I am a Signal Corp soldier, and lord knows I get like this when I hear something new in my field. Nate would probably be drooling for PRECISE specifications of the process m, results, and planned future trials

>>47126050
>So...what'd it do?
Sounds legit. Nathan has a shield made of demon.

>>47126050
>> So...what'd it do?
We just told her to make her own mistakes and this is one of em. It's hers and not Bri's so I'd rather she keep her own branch of the La Croix tree.

>>47126050
>> So...what'd it do?
We have PROFESSIONAL SMITHING INTEREST.

>>47126146
Let's point this out.

>>47126050
> So...what'd it do?

>>47126050
> So...what'd it do?
>Tell River what Robert said about her - or tell him through her ears that unless he tells her you'll tell her an extremely exaggerated version

Okay. I'm gonna leave this open in the interests of finishing off the one-shot in a reasonable span of time, and also because I wanna be able to come to this fresh in the morning before heading in to work. I've taken the precaution of archiving it here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dungeon%20Life%20Quest

Again, I'll be gone between about 10 AM EST to 6:30 PM EST, but I'll be in a position to use my phone without anyone bitching about it, so I'll be on deck to do Q&A. If it's /very fucking slow/, I may even succumb to my madness and attempt to update via phone but no. Fuckin'. Promises on that one.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

Aight, I'm gonna be crawling into bed here shortly. Thank'ee, again, for reading and participating. I'll likely have to finish up the one-shot tomorrow so, y'know, check into that if you feel up to it, maybe even vote. You'll find it here: >>>/qst/73746

>>47126050
>So...What'd it do?
Remember, he's not just a Hero, he's a hero with a trade.

I'm thinking it may have imbued the blade with death, similarly to what Brianna wanted to do with her cane sword but stronger.

>>47127413
If the other quest is happening in the same world as DLQ, is there a chance of running into Geargrinders for Necrofowl Inc.?

>>47126229
Ex-signal here; new stuff is awesome. :D

Overslept my alarm like a jackass and now I'm an hour late for work. I'll update when I get home.

>>47131804
Oh fug rip, run lich man

Also bump

>>47131804
At least you ain't ill, slutty lich-bro. Stomach viruses suck major ass.

By the way, we heard anything about how the Basement dwellers are doing? The alliance between the Goblin tribe, Lakehallow and Glen was looking good.

>>47130161
There is indeed. Geargrinders turned out better than was feared and their creation, while infrequent, is not unheard of. Their legal status varies from nation to nation.

>>47132242
Basement is doing well off its renewed involvement with Glen. The Labyrinth Tribe is undergoing a time of great change. Literacy is a new trick for them, and in it they see the potential to leave a lasting legacy.

Five hours and change to call. Still available for Q&A.

Alright folks, circumstances have suggested to me that a forced migration is imminent. Once we wrap this thread out, I'm going to bounce to the new board and archive the first thread immediately so I can post the various links. It's my hope that this will make things as easy as possible on my archive readers, as well as avoid other difficulties associated with a sudden move.

I'm still in it for the long haul.

>>47134133
really, I find it surprising that the mods would force that. But I guess I don't really know anything about the post-moot mods.

>>47134133
What makes you think that? The janitors are still deleting posts telling quests to go to the shit board.

>>47134133
I have not seen any evidence of that. I don't know why you would think that.

>>47134246
The unsticking of the feedback thread, correspondence with ancient oldfags, experience with similar situations on other forums.

I'd /like/ to be wrong, but the good news here is if I am overreacting there'll be a minimum of fuss. If I'm not, I've gotten out ahead of the trouble.

>>47134133
Watch it be the opposite and they get rid of /qst/ which makes you lose thread 71 mid session.

>>47134133
Did Planefag tell you that?

Remember that he tried running on /qst/ and got such a negative reaction (and so buttblasted over said reaction) that he decided to stop the thread early, have a six-hour pissing match with his own fanbase, and then bitch out and refuse to run since then?

Not saying he is your source on this, but if he is I'd take his claims with a few barrels of salt, mate.

>>47134705
He is not.

>>47134674
>minimum of fuss

Except that you'd be moving to the shit board that's still effectively unusable for a good number of people.

>>47134705
>but if he is I'd take his claims with a few barrels of salt, mate
More like a warehouse of the stuff for bad he got thrashed.

>>47134772
not to mention losing a large portion of his readers, if this were not my favorite quest I would likely bail. Unless of course /qst/ became the only game in town but still what are the chances of that, it's pretty obvious the thing is failing.

>>47134772
>>47134674

Basically this.

Moving to /qst/'ll lose you at least one active player simply through the fact that the board just does not fucking work for me, either because of my internet connection or the board's general fuckery or whatever. And then you'll have the players who'll refuse to follow to /qst/ on principle.

Please stay here for as long as you can, Vox.

>>47134674
You're jumping at shadows vox, stay here until they force it.

Move if you want, don't if you don't want.

/qst/ is fine but so is /tg/.

You'll get players either way.

I doubt a forced exodus is happening anytime soon.

>>47135016
the difference Vox has to consider is the quality of players, by the vast majority he has one of the better player bases I think; if he moves to /qst/ it will be largely supplemented by new players, and by a quick look at them I would not take them for very quality players.

>>47134880
What happens to my archive readers when they force it? Do you really think I'll get a warning? I don't, and it'd be a damn shame to miss out on the folks still catching up.

Believe me, I share the concerns. I'm not happy with the new board or with the idea of losing readers to it. I just feel that moving without warning or prep will be much worse.

>>47135106
>Do you really think I'll get a warning?
Actually yes. I'd imagine they'd give you 24 hours to close your current session out.

>>47135106
They'd probably give us a warning with a sticky and let people finish up...

Man you're paranoid today

>>47135106
Problem is that you're favouring potential future readers over known current readers over something thst isn't even guaranteed to happen.

Given the amount of discussion we've had over it in the past threads I doubt archive readers will be immediately lost should you suddenly stop posting on /tg/. Any of them with a brain will just move over and check the /qst/ archives. It's not like the archive readers are dependent on the NEW THREAD links you post at the end of every dying one.

>>47135136
this

there is almost always an announcement in these sorts of situations

that said it's a difficult situation you're in, you either remove all risk from your archive readers or you risk alienating your player base. If I were you I would stay, but there is no right answer really.

>>47135091
I'd disagree. I think a lot of you are not quality players. I think you're feeling pretty fucking superior based upon no evidence. It'll be the same fanbase, shifted to /qst/ for the most part. Any new players have just as much a chance of being shit or not shit.

>>47135241
Like the idiots that keep demanding a vagina for Cuckoo?

>>47135106
Look here's the permutations.

>Stay on /tg/ for as long as possible -> /qst/ dies
Status Quo, archives all in one place, nothing changes

>Stay on /tg/ for as long as possible -> /qst/ stays, quests are moved there.
Start running on /qst/ after the move, archives have a clean transition to /qst/, archive readers will get the hint with some directions.

>Move to /qst/ -> /qst/ stays, quests are moved there
Same as above, clean transition.

Here is the risk
>Move to /qst/ -> /qst/ dies
You now have a couple of threads on the /qst/ archive (which could disappear) while the rest (past and future) of the threads are on the /tg/ archive, confusing people.


Just stay on /tg/. No real point in moving to /qst/ early.

>>47135326
Idiot, singular. The only nice thing about /qst/ is you can see it's the same moron spamming the same thing over and over again.

>>47135106
>>47135354

Signal boosting this

>>47135326
>Idiots

That was one guy. It's great because due to poster IDs it's easy to tell when it's just one shitposter.

And that was nothing compared to the spergy rage of that one guy who had a transgender friend.

Or the spergy guy who threatened to burn Dungeon Life Quest to the ground if Vox gave another re-vote for the Crescendo option.

Or the entire shitstorm that was the Crescendo/Soaring Song debate.

Honestly, I prefer "Vagoo for Cuckoo" to any of those especially since I think it's rather light-hearted

>>47135241
I looked at /qst/, there may be some poor quality players here but over there is like looking into the abyss of shitty storytelling.

>>47135421
You're looking at shitty threads.

Soma ran on /qst/ and it was the same level of thread he usually has.

it will be the same for Dungeon Life Quest.

Unless you want to try to conflate DLQ with all the "Elf raep, wat do?" threads on /tg/ that are filled with the abysmal shitty posters on this board

>>47135441
>the same level of thread he usually has

So exactly as shitty as most of the quests on the shit board, then?

Seriously, if you're trying to argue in favour of /qst/ers citing fucking Banished Quest is not the way to go.

>>47135493
Exaltedfag ran and his thread went fine.

Or is that quest also super fucking shitty according to you?

>>47135493
>This still butthurt Chryssafag

>>47135411
And yet, for all this, folks have still been very courteous for 4chan. Calm, y'know?

>>47135738
>folks have still been very courteous for 4chan.

The fuck do you know about 4chan?

>>47135738
because that is generally what /tg/'s community is like I find.

/qst/ is not /tg/ Vox; it is a board on 4chan with posters from every board, not just this one. That's the main reason it is doomed to failure I think.

>>47135769
What I've experienced, mostly, with some info from aforementioned oldfags.

And now for an unrelated question due for down the line: how does one use Snuff/chewing tobacco and what is the difference between them?

>>47136062
Snuff is inhaled by taking a pinch of it and breathing it in like cocaine. Chewing is just chewing and spitting.

>>47135895
Vox, if you want to move over to /qst/, fine. I'll still be here even though I disagree with it.

But don't try to claim you're only moving because you're worried about the archiving and getting moved without warning and shit. The mod making that kind of lie is what put a fuckton of people off /qst/ in the first place.

>>47136128
I. What? Why else would I go through the hassle?

>>47136609
Because you found yourself liking the mechanics of the board while running the sidestory? Because you want to draw some heat off of Planefag? Some other bizarre reason?

There's no reason to assume the mods'll initiate a move without warning, and shifting over there willingly will just give them more encouragement to forcibly segregate every quest there. The "I have a bad feeling" excuse is flimsy at best.

>>47136750
I have to agree with this anon, they're probably looking for any excuse to justify this boards existence.

>>47136750
Anon, if you're thinking I can't possibly be stupid enough to act on a bad feeling, I need you to know that I spent several years in the honest belief that Rolos were so sticky because they got over produced and aged in warehouses.

The mechanics of the board don't interest me. Real italics are nice but not enough for me to care.

Planefag can mine his own salt. I have no interest in saving him from himself. Rode that train with the ex wife.

>>47136887
So you acknowledge that moving to /qst/ is stupid then? Good.

So don't.

>>47136887
Yep, so don't move.

>>47136115
Thank you anon.

>>47137448
Don't know much about Snuff, but chewing tobacco will stain you're teeth and make your breath smell like shit, on top of having to carry a nasty cup full of spit around when your not outside so you don't ruin someones floors. It's not very popular anymore, as you can imagine

>>47138030
Indeed. I sell a lot of snuff at work but never knew what the hell it was.

>>47138096
I was about to ask what kind of fucking nutjobs you're dealing with, but then I remembered you live in Michigan.

>>47138598
Heh, my great grandmother did snuff because cigarettes were un-ladylike.

>>47138598
I had a lab partner in an engineering course who did chew. Actually, he was fucking obsessed with it; spent an inordinate amount of time talking about how he wanted to get out of class so he could do more.

As you might imagine, he was not the most useful of lab partners (though I have had worse).

But I think the worst thing about it is that this was in fucking Long Island. This was not some tough guy from a rough neighborhood, this was a punk kid from an upper-upper-middle class white-bread-as-shit town.

Home. Gonna call and write shortly.

Called, writing. Just updated the one-shot, let's put the sword in this thing.

>>47140751
Oh, go suck a futa's dick anon.

>>47141047
>Implying he wouldn't want to

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>>47126050
"Well, you can't just throw that down on the table," you tell her. "What'd it do to the blade? Can I see it?"

River's grin spreads, and she settles her sheathed blade across her knees. She draws a few inches from the sheath, revealing metal the color of fine ash, reflecting almost no light. "I'm not a real smith yet," she tells you. "I don't think I'll ever be as good as you either, especially if you keep up with it. This is more of an...implied secondary skill, you know? But I can forge a blade, and the balefire, kindled in the forge, made something a lot like what Lora's armor is made from. Death-in-steel."

"Hers is black," you point out.

"I'd bet my last coin that hers started as silver," River explains. "I've tested it, some. Zombies hate the damn thing, and I'm pretty sure ghosts will too. Drives them towards the Veil. Catches balefire like it's soaked in oil. And when I channel through it, it...it /stills/ things. Colors go to grey, sounds muffle, air stops moving, hope drains away..."

"Wow," you murmur. "Does she have a name?"

"Sleep," River tells you. "...Assuming I survive, I intend on passing her down to my own apprentice. Banishment and hunting undead are hard work. I'm sure they'll appreciate the help."

You ruffle River's hair. "There you go. Are you going to keep experimenting with balefire?"

"I might," River admits. "If it doesn't kill me, anyway. The stuff's hard to contain, even with a forge. And you /know/ how forges are."

"Yep."

River sheaths the blade fully again and sighs thoughtfully. "...What do we do with this Debtor guy when we find him?"

"If he's the asshole trying to open this door, we stab him until he stops doing that."

"Let's say he's not," River asks.

>>47141988
> I...I dunno. This place seems mostly untouched, but his guilt is a lot like Brigette's. He signed on for this. He /helped/.
> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.
> Gut him. Was there a question?
> Write-in?

>>47142003
>> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

>>47142003
> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

>>47142003
>> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

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>>47141988
> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

Not our call River.

>>47142003
> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

>>47142003
> I...I dunno. This place seems mostly untouched, but his guilt is a lot like Brigette's. He signed on for this. He /helped/.

I'm for Nate having at least some sympathy for the guy. Dudes-with-flying-waifus solidarity.

>>47142527
> Dudes-with-flying-waifus solidarity.
You could make a club.
Nate, Bri (though she's got a semi-functional set of wings now), Jack, Larry, and maybe Hatchet? He seemed a little taken with Lora.

>>47142643
>Dudes
>Bri

Choose one

>>47142003
>> I...I dunno. This place seems mostly untouched, but his guilt is a lot like Brigette's. He signed on for this. He /helped/.

from what we know in character he seems to be going out of his way to minimize the damage.

I mean if was willing to just throw doors open willy nilly using lora to protect himself from the fallout he could do some serious damage while building up a giant pile of powerful shit.

If we were willing to give the traitor a shot at redemption we should at least offer it to the debtor, for all we know he's not even here of his own will, richard might have just bought his debt.

>>47141988
> I...I dunno. This place seems mostly untouched, but his guilt is a lot like Brigette's. He signed on for this. He /helped/.

>>47142003
>> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

We've pushed it with Brige and Nat already. Lora deserves to make her own judgements on these people.

>>47142003
>> That's for Lora to decide. I went up against her for my mother, but it's not my place to deny her revenge.

>>47142003
>I...I dunno. This place seems mostly untouched, but his guilt is a lot like Brigette's. He signed on for this. He /helped/.

>>47142713
But what about her glorious black cock?

>>47143657

I thought sir fetch was actually white? since he was mostly bones?

>>47143657
....Ugh

>>47143702
He got black feathers with the flesh when we upgraded him to familiar status.

>>47142643
You forgot the Lush.

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>>47143702
What art we've got depicts him with black feathers. Which makes sense considering he's Sir Fetch the Nightfeather.

My apologies here folks. I got distracted by real life, and the one-shot is on the cusp of finally being dead and done. I'll call and update Soon(tm).

Called, writing.

Comcast. Resolving.

>>47145674
god dam comcast.

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>>47142003
You sigh, and you shrug. "That's not for me to decide," you admit. "I went up against Lora for my mother's sake, and she seemed lenient for more reasons than just the bit where I'm one of Bri's lovers, but...ultimately, it's not my place to interfere with Lora's revenge. She's been terribly wronged. If she wants her vengeance, she can have it."

"It's weird," River says thoughtfully. "Bri told me. About Amy, about the cage. About why she agreed to let Amy come after the Vintner. And Robert's talked some about revenge too, how it can be important for victims to get closure in life so they don't suffer for the lack of it in death. But I don't think I could ever imagine Bri taking revenge. I...I don't think I could imagine /me/ taking revenge either."

"I think part of going into a profession where you expect to die young is not being pissy about it when it happens," you reason.

River laughs. "Yeah, I guess so," she agrees. "...Thanks for helping me feel better."

"Thanks for caring enough to feel bad."

"...You know, when you put it that way..."

"Don't mention it."

You don't have time for anything but cold rations before you set back out on the half-oni's trail. You can't shake the dream from your mind.

You catch a faint whiff of blood and have to stop for a moment. You aren't sensing any death, any pain, to go with it. You shake your head and continue.

You round the curve and hear Flitter's voice coming from another room. "Look," the pixie is saying. "I /know/ it means a lot to you. I can see that! But with the Roost open and all, I mean. You're not exactly doing well for yourselves down here. If it's not enough money I can offer more..."

"It's not for sale." An older voice. Male.

> Step in
> Not your problem

>>47146166
>> Step in

Hero, with the big H

>>47146166
>> Step in
>scuse me, any of you seen a half-oni around here?
good icebreaker, would be nice to know his loadout if ever.

>>47146166
>Step in
Friendly neighborhood hero on the scene.

>>47146166
>Step in

>>47146166
>> Not your problem

Because clearly not stepping in to help a damsel pixie in distress is in character and in line with everything we've done up to this point.

Alright, I need to go to bed. I'll kill this thread and/or start a new one in the morning.

We also finished up SIDE STORY: JACK'S LIFE QUEST here: >>>/qst/73746

I've decided on a compromise solution with regards to a potential move. I'm going to start including a link to the DLQ tag for the /qst/ archives in the OP of my threads (you'll find it here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dungeon%20Life%20Quest) so that if a move /does/ happen, there's an easy-to-access link. Should work as insurance.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated! If you've got any of that for the side story, please - head to its thread.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>47146820
I'm glad you came to a compromise. I hope we can do another sidequest like that in the future.

>>47146166
I wonder what she's trying to buy.

>>47148120
A love potion? Artifact to make Jack (not the side story hero) happy? A mixed bag of nuts?

>>47146840
We still have the halfling wizard and half-elf cleric to try out. Outta be interesting.

>>47146820
>>47135354
>Move to /qst/ -> /qst/ dies
>You now have a couple of threads on the /qst/ archive (which could disappear) while the rest (past and future) of the threads are on the /tg/ archive, confusing people.
what could be done about this: if qst dies after a move, Vox could run a catch-up thread on tg in which he reposts everything important from the qst threads while doing some light Q&A. Then drop it into suptg archive.

On the other hand, the same could be done in case of sudden forced move: scrape the interrupted thread from 4plebs, repost on qst. Make a thread on tg despite mods, with big bold announcement of the move, immediately archive on sup, let it be nuked (have a friendly anon do it if afraid of bans)

Just y'know. There's always ways to deal with the problems.

>>47135411
>>Idiots
>That was one guy.
He even namefagged for most of it!

I'm awake. Will call and write after dishes and the like.

Aaand called, writing.

>>47146801
> Because clearly not stepping in to help a damsel pixie in distress is in character and in line with everything we've done up to this point.

Anon, does having trouble with a business deal really count as 'distress'?

>>47146166
You poke your head into the side room and find, to your surprise, that it's someone's /home/. One other door leads out - probably to a bedroom - but this room has a table and chairs, a stove, a couch to sit in, even a rather nice oak coffee table.

Flitter is standing on that table, pleading with a pair of older halflings in their twilight years. All of them look up when you arrive.

"Is, ah. Is there any way I can help?" you ask. "I know the pixie."

"You may tell her to leave us in peace," the older man snaps. "Our son's sculpture is not for sale."

"I /really really/ need it to be for sale," Flitter pleads, her wings drooping. "I keep telling you, it's not a sculpture -"

"He made it with his own hands, you /horrible woman/," the halfling woman sobs. Her husband puts an arm around her shoulder and holds her close, glaring daggers at Flitter.

"Flitter, what is it that you think it /is/?" you ask, slowly, because experiences with Silence notwithstanding you're pretty sure fairies get crazy about stupid shit sometimes.

Flitter points to a porcelain cylinder, decorated with raised patterns that interlock and form paths all over the object. "That's not a sculpture," she repeats, her voice soft and guilty. "That's a map."

"To?" you ask.

"A truly innocent soul."

* * * * * * *

MEANWHILE

You are Brianna la Croix, and you're pretty sure Nathan's been a bad influence on you. This hero complex is going to get you killed.

"LA CROIX!" Trust bellows again. You limp as fast as you can, between your exhaustion and the wearing journey through the Broken Jaw.

You reach the docks. The people of Port Atrium are fleeing to shelters or to battle stations; you can feel their eyes on you.

The /Pallbearer/ rests at anchor, its side pointed at the Port and bristling with cannon. You sigh - Lora had warned you, but you're still annoyed.

"You wanted me!" you call. "Here I am!"

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>>47150313
A figure drops from the ship and lands /atop/ the water. As it approaches, you make out features; the greatcoat that seems so popular with sailors these days, the slight limp from an old wound. A heart-shaped face, crossed with an 'X' of scars that clip her nose, with short-cut hair just slightly poking out of her hat.

She stops, about five feet from the dock, with her hands in her pockets.

"Why'd you have to come down here?" she asks, sadly. You know that voice.

"I had business in the Port," you tell her, evenly. "That business is now concluded."

Trust sighs. "No. It ain't. The /Pallbearer/'s pushing me hard, la Croix. She needs a captain."

"Isn't that you?" you point out.

First Mate Rachael Trust shakes her head. "She wants it to be /you/."

> Wat
> Sounds awful faithless, Rachael.
> Just run. Run for your life and sanity.

> Wat

u wot m8

> you're pretty sure Nathan's been a bad influence on you. This hero complex is going to get you killed.

Heh. The complete lack of awareness of that statement amuses me.

>>47150345

> Wat
>Wy?
>Hao?

>>47150345
> Just run. Run for your life and sanity.
>Its too late to save your sanity.

>>47150345
>> Wat

Y'know, we've had this option a whole bunch of times, but I don't think we've ever actually taken it before...

>>47150345
> Wat

>>47150345
> Sounds awful faithless, Rachael.

>>47150345
>Wat

All these plot hooks, It's just too much!

Vote extended for BREAKFAST, SWEET GLORIOUS BREAKFAST.

>>47150345

>"A truly innocent soul."

... What the hell?

>>Wat

Shit's gettin' complicated!

I'm assuming this is a case of the Ship NEEDS a Captain, and since the last one is either Dead or incapable of being the Captain...

But then, the question becomes 'Why Us'? I'd thought of the Pallbearer as 'Alive' but not really 'Thinking'. A genius loci with set goals and desires, but not really intelligent. More akin to an animal than anything else.

This is indicative of a level of intelligence I never quite expected. But, then again, this is a ship that's been around the block for a few centuries. I'd almost think of it as a tsukumogami, rather than a conventional ship at this point. Possibly one with it's own regrets and thoughts.

... But it doesn't answer the question of why it wants us as a captain, because if it's smart enough to know enough to pick us out as it's new 'master', then it's smart enough to know about this whole Heritor business.

... Unless this is how it's trying to evade getting the hammer brought down on it. Given the First Mate's reaction seems to be regret, this might not be so far off...