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>>48665391
You decide to save the innocent soul for now; you leave it in Brigette's care, explaining to her what it is and why it's important.

"Like, don't lose it," you tell the Poet, "but if an accident happens or someone tries to steal it and it's smash it or let it go? The worst fate that befalls this is it goes back where it belongs."

"No exploding, no ethical complications until you actually /use/ it?" Brigette arches an eyebrow with an amused expression. "I'm shocked."

"Try not to die from it, I need you alive."

Vim and Vigor take well to the spider parts. You lose a lot of the corpse in fashioning the plating you graft onto them, but each receives a pair of eyes on the back of their palm and gently curving, venomous stingers that retract into their fingertips. Despite their newly sinister look, the hands remain as playful as ever. Fetch spends quite a bit of time bringing them to heel; they're excited to have gotten your attention and what is, to them, praise.

Kat is patient as you weave the essence of the ice into her. Your shadow pales, as though the light casting her is weaker, and exudes a faint, icy mist. You crouch down to look at her, and for once she mimics the motion, until she flexes her fingers and sinister claws extend from them, razor-thin and so cold they distort the air around them.

You catch her nestling with Nathan's shadow a lot. She leaves little murals of carefully sculpted frost on the walls for it, which it caresses gently. Nate himself can't stop blushing whenever he catches them at it.

Silence's remains are enough for quite a few talismans. You give one each to Nathan, Amy, River, Emily, Hatchet, Catherine, and Brigette. The rest you intend on handing out at Silence's wake. You did have one other thing made, a flute whose notes are cut from quiet that floats through the air. You haven't played a flute in a long time, but somehow, you keep finding excuses to practice.

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>>48665471
Of Tatters' murder, Nine, Dirge, and Fourteen want to train as healers. Fourteen is sent up to Glen for it, protesting the whole way; Diving Shadow is having none of the young man's lip and only the threat of her carrying him up there like an errant chick finally persuades him. Nine and Dirge, being older, apprentice to a pair of healers from the Warehouse. Diving Shadow takes the others under her wing and keeps them close, just as she does the hatchlings.

> Ask what her intentions are for the hatchlings
> Leave it be; those mothers need to learn this lesson

* * * *

It's clear that the liberated levels of the Dungeon are by no means safe. At the same time, the upper levels are of lower priority to the Chain-Bearers...in theory. The further down you go, the longer and more difficult the journey up or down gets. It's already a matter of several days to get to the surface unless you have Amy nearly kill herself carrying you.

Glen can't volunteer forces, but they do volunteer to help coordinate the defenses and spare what weapons and ammunition they can.

> Defend all levels equally; you can't risk the people on the upper levels on cold tactics
> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what

* * * *

> Check in on Natalia
> Leave it be. Nate will tell you if you're needed.

>>48665471
> You catch her nestling with Nathan's shadow a lot. She leaves little murals of carefully sculpted frost on the walls for it, which it caresses gently. Nate himself can't stop blushing whenever he catches them at it.

HOW CAN YOU WANT TO DENY SOMETHING AS CUTE AS THIS.

>>48665529
> Leave it be; those mothers need to learn this lesson

> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what. Ensure that we are also keeping a rapid reaction force in the Roost to support any other parts of the dungeon that come under attack.

Ideally the other parts should focus on fortifying. Once we attack the Cornucopia this will be significantly less of a concern though.

> Leave it be. Nate will tell you if you're needed.

We aren't made of time here.

>>48665529
>Ask what her intentions are for the hatchlings

>> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what

Can we go into more detail with this? I have some ideas about setting up a messaging system

>Check on Natalia

>>48665529
>> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what
> Leave it be; those mothers need to learn this lesson
> Leave it be. Nate will tell you if you're needed.

>>48665529
>Ask her what her intentions are for the hatchlings.
Like, make it clear that while she's a friend and she did good protecting the kids, they..well, they aren't /hers/. The ones that still have parents, at least. If there's others that were orphaned, she can adopt them, but the others go back to their families. I think Lawrence will back us up on this.

Y'know, Diving Shadow should consider opening a daycare center/elementary school. Maybe she could talk to the awesome knife-fighting teacher in Glen?

>Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are the most at rist and the Roost is a priority no matter what.
Lets be honest; the only threats to the people (not the Hero Squad, just the populations) of the higher levels is the Lush and the Librarian. And between the Labyrinth Tribe, the Keepers of Arcadia, the Rose Cultists, the Miners, and whatever assistance can be called from Glen, they should be able to take care of themselves.

>Check in on Natalia.
Straight up? We need to make sure she's not going to do anything..well, crazy. Especially considering her feelings over what she did, and now that Jack is an angry, overprotective specter.

>>48665591
Now if only Amy had a Shadow of her own..

Think of the possibilities!

>>48665529
Are we going to hold another meeting of the Parliament? Or is that happening off-screen?

>>48665529

> Ask what her intentions are for the hatchlings

The last thing wen eed is a bunch of angry harpy parents trying to kill our prospective mother in law

> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what


> Check in on Natalia

>>48665778
can we hold an organized meeting of all the dungeon's leaders? Just so we can all get on the same page and start sharing information about potential weaknesses

>>48665591
Y'know what's going to happen, right? We're going to decapitate that Giant fucker, clean his skull, and turn it into a spirit bottle for Kat to live in.
>Brianna and Nate go looking for their respective shadows, and hear faint lewd sounds from the bottle.

That actually opens up a new line of thought; what would the benefits be of using a Woundseeker Giant as parts for our minions, after we finish the next arc?
>Additional muscle for the Boar, and creepy eyes for better perception.
>Skull Bottle for Kat?

>>48665848
Good question.

>>48665529

> Hey Vox, wanna toss us a "Word of God" as to which levels the Boar is able to access?

>>48665987
I think he already answered this when we made the Boar. Broken Jaw (check), the Cornucopia (coming up), and the Redoubt (the final fortress before the Sanctum). It'll probably come in handy against the Librarian's Gear-Grinders, if we can find a way for it to fit.

Should we invest in witchlight bats, and a few other undead animal minions? It might be necessary, just because of the numbers that the Lush and Librarian can field. And what''s more, these guys have loads more brains than the last enemies, and are likely going to work together.

>>48665529
> Leave it be; those mothers need to learn this lesson

> Defend all levels equally; you can't risk the people on the upper levels on cold tactics
teleportation is possible between any levels. If they get some spies up to a secured floor and setup a circle (as with the Mine), they can drop troops anywhere. A minor priority on the lower levels though, as a brute force attack is more likely there.

> Leave it be. Nate will tell you if you're needed.
Is there some reason we should be checking on her?

>>48665529
>> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what
> Leave it be. Nate will tell you if you're needed.

>>48665529

> Ask what her intentions are for the hatchlings

> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what
>Also make sure that the Atheneum is prepared against teleporting attackers/assasins/thieves/spies.

> Check in on Natalia

>>48665529
> Leave it be; those mothers need to learn this lesson

> Prioritize the Roost and its connecting levels; these are most at risk and the Roost is a priority no matter what

> Check in on Natalia
We should ask Nate about her condition to get a better idea, also.

>>48666345
See, you're suggesting a Zombie Army.

Please rethink that.

Far better for us to use our magic for supporting a living army.

Also it's not like we have the time to build up a zombie army anyways. *Sounds of Laura getting a train run on her go on in the background*

So please move past your desire for zombie armies and resurrecting dead friends against their will and re-read the Quest every time you consider something like that.

>>48666700
Not him, but wanting to, as a /necromancer/, create some minions from non-sentients in preparation for the upcoming fight is /not/ zombie armies. Zombie armies would be "he has an army, I'll /make/ one!"

>>48665790
Yeah. If Glen can't spare fighting men, we have to ask the labyrinth clan.

>>48665529
> Ask what her intentions are for the hatchlings
> Defend all levels equally; you can't risk the people on the upper levels on cold tactics
teleportation is a thing
> Check in on Natalia

Fell asleep at my desk. Awake just long enough to tell you that. Will call and write when I get up.

Bedtime bump.

Who wants to bet that Lush or the Librarian have an Athenaeum book that would allow a strike force to enter from there?

>>48669060
So let's mcfucken trap the Athenaeum. And besides, their firearm advantage won't save them there, since there's no fire allowed in the Athenaeum.
How fast can we build trapdoors and hidden hidey-holes for the goblins from the Labyrinth to wage guerilla war on the Athenaeum?

>>48665529
>> Defend all levels equally; you can't risk the people on the upper levels on cold tactics

Also, less points of failure. If the breakthrough the first line there's a bunch more to get through, they don't break all your eggs in one basket.
... which, considering the kind of forces they can amass, it a good idea.

>>48665529

> Leave it be; those mothers need to learn this lesson

I think Diving Shadow's got this covered.

> Defend all levels equally; you can't risk the people on the upper levels on cold tactics
> But maybe look into putting some nasty traps at the boundaries between cleared and un-cleared levels?

> Check in on Natalia

It occurs to me we have tons - literally tons - of cannon and shot that was reduced to component parts. We have New Hell's forges.

We can literally makes portcullises and maze-gates at entrances. Within reason, we don't want to trap ourselves in, either.

>>48669894
We could also start equipping the Goblins and our other soldiers.

Or the Harpies who have lost their wings. Give them oversized weapons like giant halberds and claymores and armor that they can lighten and then tell them here's their chance to get revenge.

Also that we can make wraithsteel prosthetics, so afterwards they can hunt down wraithsteel beasts.

>>48670954
>>48669894
I imagine the rose cultists could also be asked to help as long as they get the chance to Proselytize

>>48671034
Get them to train the wingless harpies?

Up. Coffee. Then will call and write. I don't suppose anyone has a count?

>>48671800
hatchlings
>>48665722
>>48665763
>>48665785
>>48666576
>>48666591
>>48668193

leave 'em be
>>48665631
>>48665729
>>48666352
>>48669546


Defend all
>>48666352
>>48668193
>>48669348
>>48669546

Defend Roost
>>48665631
>>48665722
>>48665729
>>48665763
>>48665785
>>48666376
>>48666576
>>48666591

Note: several requests for trapping various places

Natalia
>>48665722
>>48665763
>>48665785
>>48666576
>>48666591
>>48668193
>>48669546

Nope
>>48665631
>>48665729
>>48666352
>>48666376

>>48672346
Huh. I had five votes counted for leaving the hatchling situation be, but that still means our winners are:

> ASK Diving Shadow
> PRIORITIZE the Roost & its connecting levels
> CHECK IN on Natalia

Called, writing.

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>>48665529
The war meetings to arrange for the defense of the Dungeon take a few days - not counting the travel time for everyone to get to the Athenaeum by normal routes because /some people/ seem to think stealing from a library on the surface is wrong - but eventually everyone hits on a plan they feel is sound.

"Lakehallow can defend itself, especially if Glen's willing to reinforce us," Slaughter says firmly. "The Eastern Dwellers send their regrets that you haven't spent much time with them and hope you'll reconsider it at a future point. The orc girl I brought with me is a healer, and the others her assistants. They've volunteered to help."

You wince and grin, guiltily. "...They do run a good tavern on the east side of the Basement..."

The Labyrinth Tribe commits the soldiers it has to the cause. Mrs. Applegrove is heartbroken to see her students go, and you can't help but notice that the goblins have a new fashion for short knives with an apple-shaped crest on the crossguard. They bring a /lot/ of books with them - every soldier of the Labyrinth seems to have four or five they refuse to do without - and as they settle in you notice them reading aloud a lot. The harpies of the Roost listen in with fascinated expressions.

The Warehouse posts scouts in the Broken Jaw to keep an eye out for attacks from below, aided by the proliferation of communication bells from Glen. Isoldt's been working on them in her spare time; you won't be caught by surprise again. New Hell, "can defend herself, thankee," but provides quite a few engineers and smiths to the Roost, bitter men and women who are often missing hands or eyes. They all seem to have suffered greatly at Natalia's hands, and set to work installing traps and fail-safes in the Roost.

You're there for the demonstration of explosively-launched, barbed nets, so simple to use that they have a hatchling do it. You hadn't been drinking at the war council before, but that's when you start.

>>48673054
>Mrs. Applegrove is heartbroken to see her students go, and you can't help but notice that the goblins have a new fashion for short knives with an apple-shaped crest on the crossguard.

That is just cute.

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>>48673054
Your cousins in the Rose Cult take up fortified positions at the Roost and New Hell entrances of the Mine; with them are militia from Split and soldiers from a few other shrines, as well as the most nervous little demonologist you've ever seen. The small halfling keeps insisting he's mainly responsible for maintaining the altar to Hell in the Lichyard and that he was instructed, firmly, to see to your assistance. Amy grins at him a lot.

On the balance, it's agreed that this plan is the most tactically sound. The remaining levels still put themselves on higher alert, and what sorcerers are available keep a weather eye out for the magical surges and distortions associated with teleportation.

You've done all you can, including turning over information on the enemies you're fighting and their capabilities, and Brigette and Natalia fill in more details as they can. You'll have to hope it's enough, but you know one thing for sure - the citizens of the Dungeon are with you on this. It's a little flattering, and a little terrifying, but they're looking to /you/ now. Even Aria, the little shit.

* * * *

"Hey Amy, Korl's reading a book of fairy tales here in about five minutes. Think you could take the kids to go listen?"

Amy takes your innocent question for what it is and ushers the hatchlings away from her mother while Diving Shadow gives you a piercing look. The harpy woman ruffles her wings from where she's perched and holds them half-folded, looking decidedly irritated.

"Out with it," she says, flatly.

"I want to know what you intend on doing with those hatchlings, Diving Shadow," you tell her. "They're not yours."

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>>48673260
"/Spare/ me," Amy's mother spits, venomously. "Their mothers left them for Death to adopt. I dare say that Larry and I are better parents than the Arcadian. You still don't know what it's like. You think you do, and you're wrong." Diving Shadow's voice dips low, pain coloring her anger. "When my husband told me about his family, about /human/ families, I wept like a babe. I went to the Raven Shrine to curse the gods for making us such faithless scum. I went to Amy in her crib and I begged her to forgive me for ever giving her a number instead of a name, and let Larry name her that night. Never again. Do you hear me? Their so-called /mothers/ lost any right to them, any right at all. I am never going to let someone treat a child as...as /replaceable/, not while I draw breath. I've kept track of who was hatched by whom. There will be no worry of blood siblings mating, if that's your concern. But they are mine now. I will raise them as my own, and love them, and they will know what it's like to raise and love children in their turn."

Diving Shadow looks on the verge of angry tears.

> Support her claim
> Argue against it

>>48673337
>> Support her claim

>>48673337
>> Support her claim
>>"Don't be afraid to ask for help when things start becoming too hectic."

>>48673337
>Support her claim
>Couldn't it be a joint effort though? Tell them of human families, make them understand.

>>48673337
>> Support her claim

Why did we get involved in this anyway? We don't need to meddle in every little thing.

>>48673411
That will happen on its own now, with the harpies on the surface and eventually the whole roost when their roof comes crashing down.

I need to get ready for work. Had a fucked sleep schedule last night, I'm sure you noticed. Votes remain open. I'm very sorry anons please don't hurt me.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>48673440
We got involved because we know about how Diving Shadow's previous attempts at being a mom ended. With hungry snakes.

>>48673337
>Support her claim.
I had just thought that she took over as Momma Bird while the other harpies fought back the invaders. If they /abandoned/ their kids, their have no say in how they should be raised.

>>48673558
Bah, you're good Vox. I'mma be leaving for Gainful Employment in like five minutes too.

Seriously, fuck night shifts. I am NOT the goddamn Batman. I would like to see my friends and family, dammit.

>>48673558
>>48673600
I'll be available via phone once I get there, incidentally.

>>48673337
When were these hatchlings abandoned? The warehouse took the hit, not the roost.

>>48674218
The roost was also attacked.

>>48674218
During the battle for the Roost, where Silence died. Flitter mentioned it when you talked to her.

We're so slow here that I'm seriously considering phone updates. Thread's open for Q&A in the meantime.

>>48675107
Is the Sunless Sea freshwater or saltwater?

>>48675107
How do boats navigate in the Sunless Sea? Normal boats follow the stars or hug the coast.
Actually, what the means of propulsion there? Magic wind?

>>48675337
Yes. Port Atrium is on the saltwater side; the Bar divides the two.

>>48675405
They use the witchlights over the water as their reference points, and the waters are, by now, well-charted.

As for propulsion, you may recall that Bri saw a storm down there. Lora wanted her model sea to be authentic.

Yeah, fuck it. Called, writing shortly.

>SUPPORT BUT

>I'm all for you taking care of these children but...you said it yourself. You didn't know there was any other way to be a mother until your husband told you about how humans raised their children

>Give the other mothers a chance to learn. Give them a chance to be the mothers their children deserve. Don't punish them, teach them to be better

>>48676651
>>48676385
Aw crap I'm too late...

>>48676667
Also forgot to link to the original post, but it's okay, anon. We all crit fail our actions eventually.

>>48676651
They can learn to be better on the next clutch.

>>48673337
You look at the hurt and anger on Diving Shadow's face and nod, solemnly, to her. "I can't say fairer than that," you agree. "Just... remember that you had to learn too. If those mothers come looking for your wisdom..."

"They'll get it," Shadow says curtly. "I watch them when they think I'm not looking. I have my eye on the ones that grieve. I may go to them, if they don't come to me. I may not. Cowards have no place here."

You open your mouth to protest and think better of it. One problem at a time.

* * * *

You meet Natalia at the edge of the Mine, overlooking the Roost. The two of you sit, your legs dangling over the edge, and are quiet for awhile. She brought coffee; you've provided a small meal. She has a distant, lost expression.

> I'm sorry about Jack
> I heard you helped, in the battle
> How're you holding up? You're moving better.
> Write-in?

>>48673054
>You're there for the demonstration of explosively-launched, barbed nets, so simple to use that they have a hatchling do it. You hadn't been drinking at the war council before, but that's when you start.
ah, almost-war-crimes. Classy.

>>48677895
>Have you had a chance to talk to Flitter?

>>48677895
>How are you holding up? You're moving better.

>>48678104
>Have you had a chance to talk to Flitter?

>>48677895
> I heard you helped, in the battle
Doesn't need the sight to protect her people, now does she?

I'll be home to call and write at about midnight.

>>48677895
>> How're you holding up? You're moving better.
> I heard you helped, in the battle

I wonder what the quest's epilogue will be like.

>>48677895
>> How're you holding up? You're moving better.
Draw her out; she's an introvert.

Home, called, tallying, writing.

>>48680527
Kat and Fetch finally achieve sentience/freedom and go about years after everyone else has passed on, solving crimes and fighting villains as the royal investigators Cock and Puss.

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>>48677895
You keep the silence for a bit before you raise your mug in her peripheral to get Natalia's attention. She turns her gaze to you. Her shadow quivers and flickers, trying to unmoor itself from her will.

She's nervous. But, then, she often is.

"I've noticed you've been moving around more, going more places," you tell her. "It's nice to see. How're you holding up?"

"The Caretaker's servants spit in my shadow whenever I pass by. I dare not show my face near New Hell for fear of their vengeance upon me. The home I expected to be my tomb is filled with the reek of death and grief and the accusing stares of everyone I didn't save in that forsaken battle. Your friend is dead and I yet live, with this little piece of her you gave me as though I am worthy to even speak her name, and when none of these things trouble me I must endure the shame and disgrace of Victoria's kindness and my son's forgiveness." Natalia throws the roll she's eating out into the Roost. "You?"

You stare out into the Roost for awhile before you decide to tell the truth. "I think I might still be fucked up from the Broken Jaw, Natalia. I haven't talked to Nate or Amy about it. I don't even know what to say. The Diviner found every awful thing I've ever done, everything I'm ashamed of, every moment of disgrace and hypocrisy and she ground my face into it. And she wasn't completely wrong, and that's what hurts the most. I defied her, in the end. I know I'm a better person today than I ever have been before. But it hurts."

"Gabrielle was good at that," Natalia murmurs. "Jack defended me to her. To everyone. It's hard, with him gone."

"He's still here," you point out.

"No. His echo is here, but it does not belong here. Jack should have remained in death, and that pixie is being selfish."

> Agree
> Disagree
> Change the topic (to what?)

>>48683272
> Agree

> Change the topic (to what?)

"You know, you weren't saved so you could continue to wallow in misery. Not to say there aren't miserable things to be dealt with, but I came here to thank you. Maybe you could try to focus a little more on the positive things instead of falling back into old habits?"

Seriously fuck this whiny bitch.

>>48683272
>> Agree
Life is for the living, death is for the dead.

>>48683272
> Change the topic (to what?)

The Cornucopia and the Lush. This is war, something that Natalia has a fair bit of experience in. I'd like her take on what we're about to dive in to.

>>48683272
> Agree
> It's understandable. Flitter was (is?) very close to Jack and wants him to still be around. Jack wouldn't have stayed if he didn't want to; he must feel that he needs to protect her, or that he left on bad terms with her and would like to make it up.

I don't know if this is metagaming or not. How much do we know about Flitter and Jack?

>>48683272
>agree
BUT
>It wasn't the pixie, it was Jack. And eventually he'll have to move on, you're right.

>Change the topic
>you're still helping, still fighting. that's as much as anyone can ask of you, and thanks or it. Have you talked to Nate much?

>>48683272
>>48683481
this
assuming we've talked to him about his death

Rolled 83, 47, 15 = 145 (3d100)

Rolling for a thing elsewhere, don't mind me.

>>48683512
When we first saw his ghost we noticed he was angry, defiant, and everything that turns into a specter down the line.

>>48683676
Glad we didn't repeat that mistake with Silence.

>>48683272
>> Disagree

>Sometimes the dead have their own reasons for coming back. There's a saying 'We may be through with the past, but the past is never through with us.'
>Sometimes that means ghosts and the undead, rising to correct a wrong or finish business they've left undone. Sometimes it means old hate and crimes lingering over people, turning generations towards goals and causes even when they can't remember what they are
>Flicker is what keeps Jack here, but it's not her fault Jack came back. Jack came back because...that's who he is.

>>48683712
Nah, man, Jack just couldn't stop running away even at the end. And once again it's just making shit worse.

>>48683761
Hey, anon chose that doom for him. Because they just can't let go of a character they're in control of.

When he fucks shit up and forces Brianna to banish him, that's on us. And by us, i mean the fucktards that can't accept a character dying.

Is it possible to just, I don't know, talk with Jack and maybe possibly try to stop him from turning into a wraith/specter/malevolent-dead-thing?

>>48683851
True. True.

You did this, Anon. You made this bed of "angry fucking spectre bullshit" for us to deal with.

I hope it was worth it.

You failures.

>>48683901
Nigga we're going to have to send Cherry on pretty fucking quick if we don't want Jewel messed up for life. Dead people move on. That's what they do. Our own family with their special relation to being dead and aware of how it fuck people up, are still all fucked up from it.

Remember, you can only bring back the very freshly dead and even then it's a risk if they'll appreciate it or not. It's not something to be done lightly or "at all costs" because those costs run pretty fucking high and you aren't necessarily the one who pays them.

Seriously, I was disappointed in the player base for just want to keep Jack around and not even framing it in character.

Now he's something worse.

>>48683901
exorcisms take time. At least, the ones that don't involve extreme violence.

Why do y'all keep calling her Flicker?

>>48684056
it's 3 am and names are hard to remember

>>48684056
Which timezone are you in?

>>48684136
EST.

>>48684170
It's 3:47 AM. Please get some sleep.

>>48684214
Eh, maybe I should, at that. Votes remain open.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>48682134
>Sir Fetch goes on to achieve international fame as a Demon Slayer and Knight of impeccable honour, attended by his squires Vim & Vigor.
>After decades of high adventure, he retires to a humble estate, where he could enjoy the accolades of his many fans (mortal or otherwise) and write his autobiography.

>>48683272
>Disagree
now isn't the time to send him back. Besides, just as we still lack understanding of the Fae, Flitter needs to learn the part about firstborn after death.

>>48683272
>Agree.
Eh, she's Fae. Even if she was (what did you call it, bean sidhe?) a 'friend of death', she might not /quite/ understand the finality of what's happened. It takes time to say goodbye (plus, I'm pretty sure that Natalia's own feelings are coloring her response - Is she jealous that Jack came /back/ for Flitter, and not her? Or something like that).

She'll learn, but we can take some time to ease them through it. Hell, if we make some kind of Pact with Jack (no matter how hypocritical to get out of one deal only to make another), such as telling him about Henrietta's School of Sorcery & Magic idea, we could possibly sign on Flitter as a teacher or Fae consultant.

>>48684763
that rests on the assumption that Flitter is actively keeping jack here

>>48684837
Well, it's a little bit of both, I think. Jack loves - or at least /loved while he was still alive/ - Flitter, and the little qt loves him. It's not surprising they wouldn't want to let go.

>>48684455
Two things, O Lich;

Would it be possible for one of the Dead, or relatively recent dead, like Jack, to return to Life, if the damage to their body were repaired/healed with Wraithsteel? Or maybe a Lich could create an artificial shell, similar to a inactive Geargrinder, that they could possess as a means of enjoying true life while not actually being alive.

This might lean towards the 'Zombie Army' end of the spectrum, but then again, we never expected Jewel to learn how to reverse possess Cherry, or to actually treat with Royalty. So, fuck it, why not?

Also, I had the weirdest thought at work. I was picturing the Caretaker and the Lich of the Warehouse like a couple of old grumpy men, throwing insults and waving their canes at each other from across the street, then smiling while the other isn't looking.

>>48684909
it's been said before:

Putting a soul back into a body doesn't......work. Not quite completely. Not everything makes it back in, so to speak.

>>48684909
Necromancy+wraithsteel=bad end. Elemental materials, maybe, but it's still horrible. And no one is going to like it except Jack, who is already running headlong down the path of angry ghost.

>>48685500
>>48685265
Hmm, I wasn't sure if a ghost possession qualified for 'Death energies', since they were essentially taking charge of a living body, not killing something. But I can wait on Word of Lich.

>>48685628
>But I can wait on Word of Lich.
You already have it. Vox already said that sticking a soul back into a body so long after death is a terrible idea.

>>48685650
Well, not a /real human body/, more like a puppet made out of Magic Metal. I mean, fuck, how the hell do you think the Geargrinders operate? There's /something/ in there that gives them sentience, and the ability to think and feel both physically and emotionally. Maybe anon's >>48685500 Elemental idea would work though.

>>48685691
the problem isn't the body(actually it IS, but that's a separate issue). Even assuming you can get the soul to recognize the puppet as a body, there isn't an entire soul left to stick into it.

>>48683272
>Agree
But Jack is also selfish, he /chose/ to stay behind.(well we did but you get the idea.) Flitter just isn't in a whole hurry to tell him to cross over.

>>48683272
>> Change the topic (to what?)
Ask why she thinks that's being selfish - we know our own answers, but getting into her head is helpful.
And then; ask her what she's gonna do when this is all over. Get her thinking about way past this; not the right now.

When did Fetch become a meme?

Up. Somewhat hard to tally given the various topic proposals so I may end up taking more than one depending on the flow of the writing.

Will call and write after coffee.

And called, writing.

>>48687984
Around the time he first yelled "ENVENOMED WITH JUSTICE!"

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>>48683272
You nod, a little reluctantly, and set your mug down. "Flitter doesn't want to lose Jack again, but you're right. He's dead, and he belongs in the Sunless Lands. They're both going to need to make peace with that. Just...keep in mind that Flitter's not responsible for Jack coming back. That's something the dead do to and for themselves."

"I suppose." Natalia looks out over the Roost and sighs.

"You did everything you could," you tell her softly. "More than most /would/. What about everyone you /did/ save?"

She says nothing, but she's still listening.

"You've been talking to Nate?" you ask. She nods, silently. "What's that been like?"

"We don't really know how to talk to each other. I suppose after all these years it isn't right of me to expect differently. He looks at me like he's looking for something. Or someone."

"He learned to be a Hero from you, Natalia," you tell her. "It wasn't the songs and stories, not as such. He learned those songs and those stories because people told him that his mother was a great warrior. That she saved people, that she had never been defeated. He wanted to join the army so he could be like /you/."

A tear rolls down Natalia's cheek, and you put your arm around her shoulder. She shakes, her shadow twisting wildly between shackled and free. You catch it in glimpses, snapshots of her shadow holding its head and screaming soundlessly.

"You can't bottle up your feelings forever, Natalia," you murmur. "Nate does that too."

Natalia shakes her head and takes a steadying breath. "Can we talk about something else?"

"Well...since I've got you right here I may as well ask about the Cornucopia and the Lush."

"You're in for a special kind of hell."

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>>48689891
Natalia holds up a piece of cheese. "The Lush considers himself a scholar of vice and desire," she tells you. "His pleasure is to watch what people will do for the things they want. Not because they are threatened or terrified, you understand, but for pleasure, or to feel powerful, or revenge. He is a beast that makes beasts in his own image. And in the Cornucopia, in his domain, he is playing a game as he has never played before. To eat or drink of the food and water there is deadly. A full belly will kill you, while starvation sustains your life - but his slaves still feel hunger. So do the soldiers that displease him. Amidst plenty, they dare not take more than a mouthful, and at that they feel pain almost as bad as the hunger."

You stare in horror. Natalia looks away.

"I found him for the Master," she murmurs. "Richard unlocked his potential, but it was my visions that led to his recruitment."

> ...You were someone else, then
> No wonder Brigette fucking hates you
> Stick to business; how do you fight him, how do you fight his men?

>>48690271
>> No wonder Brigette fucking hates you

lol

>>48690271
> ...You were someone else, then
> Stick to business; how do you fight him, how do you fight his men?

>>48690271
> Stick to business; how do you fight him, how do you fight his men?
We can talk about her sins later. What we need is information. Do we need to bring in provisions? Should we go for a scorched earth policy? A zombie platoon might be useful here.

>>48690271
>Stick to business; how do you fight him, how do you fight his men?
It's done, it's a damn shame, but it's done. Now, how do we kill it?

>>48690271

> ...You were someone else, then

>>48690271
>Stick to business; how do you fight him, how do you fight his men?

She's probably the best source we will ever get for this

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>>48690271
> ...You were someone else, then
> Stick to business; how do you fight him, how do you fight his men?

... OK, so I got the point of Cornucopia was to be a breadbasket for the Dungeon. But what the hell is going on that it kills you when you eat it? What's the point? Unless it's the Lush who arranged that, because it seems like the kind of dickish thing he would do and it seems he controls it.

Also, very interesting that Dick apparently 'unlocked his potential'. I wonder what that means? He seems to have had rather profound effects on everyone he's encountered. Natalia explains how he's found some of these people, but what is it that he's doing to make them follow him? How did he sway the Baron's loyalty, get a very greedy dwarf to fund his work, and get Natalia, who could see the fucking future and KNOW he was up to no good, to follow him and help?

Like, at this point I doubt whatever he does is entirely natural. Either he's using some kind assist to crawl inside people heads better, or uses something to give him more insight in what buttons to push.

Also, we may want to figure out a good counter to that Taster demon. Take it down, and his control over the entire floor drops an order of magnitude. It seems like he has reasonable people under his employ, who might not approve of what he does. The floor's going to need to be quick, because I'm willing to bet we won't be able to trust our own food down their either. So, it's essentially a one, maybe two, day operation. Catch the Taster, find allies, and push. HARD.

>>48690782
You remember how the Chain-Bearers alter the laws of death in their floor?

The Lush didn't do that to the food. He did that to the /people/. The /food/ is fine, in theory, and it's definitely fine the moment it crosses his borders.

>>48690880
So are the people fine once they cross his borders?

>>48690880
Neat.

And even with supernatural assistance, he's going to need a lot of farmers to operate this, since it's pre-industrial. Possibly more, given that food is constantly being harvested. I bet he got the chains he's using to hold them from New Hell as well.

Let's hope someone remembered how to make the keys. That just solves the people issue, though. Mass uprising is still difficult, because they'll probably be weak and in pain. Equally unfortunate at this point is that he has whatever he came for in the form of that staff he wanted. No idea what that does, but it's probably not good.

If Jack had lived, I'd be expecting commentary about Jack the Giantslayer. Alas, he did not. So, we're down to a supremely angry ghost that's probably limited to the Warehouse. His grudge is probably leveled at the Librarian for now, so it becomes a question of whether or not we keep him around long enough to deal with that.

>>48691103
Fine, but probably starving at that point.

>>48691116
True, if we can manage, we need to try and get people on standby for running around, stuffing food in people's mouths. When we break his chain, a lot of people may start suffering from malnutrition.

>>48691372
No! No rushing with the food. Remember when we first saved Amy?

Won't the Lush use the workers as hostages?

>>48691616
Not, like, stuff them full of food. I just meant force-feed them a mouthful or so, so they don't immediately keel over from starvation. We'll at least need a ton of medical help to help them re-acclimated to eating again.

Called, writing.

>>48692222
Fuck, after the Warehouse and the Roost...

Jewel, Meadows and Brooks are going to have their hands full. Maybe when we kill that sonuvabitch, we can ask Lora's boon to be to heal the slaves.

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>>48690271
You decide to keep yourself focused on business. You're not in a good place to walk Natalia through this - and maybe you're not the person to either. Nathan, or maybe even Brigette - actually, /likely/ Brigette - would be able to guide her better.

"I need to know more about how he thinks, how he fights," you tell her. "Anything you can tell me."

"The good news is that aside from being gigantic and a woundseeker, he's mortal," Natalia tells you, a little distantly. "He'll take a lot of killing, but he'll die eventually...once you can reach him. The Lush is an accomplished summoner, commander, and manipulator. You can expect no aid and no succor in his domain."

"Alright. Why not?" you ask.

"The people will be weak and, likely, terrified of his soldiers. The soldiers themselves live in fear of having their ability to eat and drink stripped from them. Trusted officers keep the pack in line, backed up by hidden demons and watched over by his harpies from above. You've been told of the murder he hired already. He can't scorch the fields - they just grow back regardless - so his men prowl through them, hiding amidst the crops and within the orchards. Once he knows you are there, he will lay his curse upon your allies and force the issue, using your pain and desperation to lure you into his traps."

"Gods," you mutter. "I can't storm the Cornucopia on my own."

"I do not suggest that you do," Natalia agrees. "His pet is bloated with the power of his Drink. I have no idea what that demon will be capable of but he feeds it lovingly and well. The last time I saw it in person it dragged a house under like a great wave, burning and feasting on all inside. It will take quite a bit of killing."

You let out a long breath. "That's...pleasant."

Natalia puts a hand on your shoulder and, without a further word, gets to her feet and walks away.

* * * *

> Silence's Wake
> One Helluva Party
> War Council

>>48693296
>> Silence's Wake
>> One Helluva Party
And why cant these be the same? Unless the second is for a visit to Lush'es victory party, then my vote is on > Silence's Wake

>>48693544
All three scenes will be done. This is just deciding on the order.

>>48693561
the second part of >>48693544 is still my vote

>>48693296
>> Silence's Wake

>>48693296
> Silence's Wake
Honor the dead.

>>48693296
>Silence Wake

>>48690782
http://strongfemaleprotagonist.com/issue-3/page-16-2/

>>48693296
>> One Helluva Party
Shake off all the damned spooky stuff; need to be in a good headspace for the rest of this.

>>48694189
A surprisingly good comic given the shitty tumblr tier name. It helps if you read it in a sardonic voice in your head, gives a better feel for what the comic is actually like.

On my way to work. I'll see you at about 1 AM.

Hrm. General anti-Lush thoughts.
We know that there will be a certain celebration. In which Lora will be.... predisposed.
This is for his top officers. We have a when and a where; and it may make a good quick, hit to destabilize his control some.

>>48694769
I say fuck it, nothing stopping US from burning down these fields hiding his troops.

Or, especially since only those loyal to him eat, necromantically poisoning said crops.

>>48694802
If we can secure 'safe' food, too, that'll go a long way to earnign the floors locals help.

Is there like, the equivalent of elfen loaf?

>>48694857
Kinda wondering the nature of this starvation curse, too. Is it on the person or on the food, or is it delivered by the food and his favored have the antitode?

>>48694884
>Is it on the person
Vox just said that it's on the /people/. And that our party is going to be hit by it once he knows we're there.

>>48695073
And he has prepared for the possibility of us just crashing his party.

>>48694884
It's pain-based, yeah? It hurts to eat? If there's pain suppressors or, say, magical food or sustenance spells?

Sorry I haven't been available, work is busy tonight.

Two and a half hours to call. Votes remain open.

>>48693296
> Silence's Wake
Hello, Darkness my old friend...

>>48693296
>> Silence's Wake

>>48693296
Alright fellas; what's the battle plan? I was going to suggest that we flood the Cornucopia, but then I remembered there's still citizens there.
So, do we blitzkrieg to Lush and the chain, or do we sneeki breeki to the chain, or do we siege the fucker?

>>48693296
> Silence's Wake

>>48699365
I was thinking that we'd be as quick and quiet about it as possible; If we send in a ton of people they'll be noticed and cursed, and the Lush has his own soldiers.

>>48699365
>>48699690
wait is the curse the curse of starvation or something different?

>>48699365
Siege is worthless here; they don't need food, even if they have plenty of it. If we can scout things out sneaky-like, we can get a better idea of what needs to be done. Army is the most straightforward plan, but also the most costly.

>>48695450
The really short version, ignoring a whole lot of the supplementary information, is this:

The people of the Cornucopia that labor under the curse live as long as they DO NOT eat or drink. They remain healthy, rested, etc, so forth - sustained, in other words. But eating or drinking anything, even a little, is like accelerated starvation. They wither, dehydrate, suffer all the usual effects thereof.

They still get hungry and thirsty, though. And they dare not eat or drink.

>>48699956
I meant the starvation curse.

Called, writing.

>>48701160
We just need to get it done fast then. People can go a few days without food or drink

>>48701228
Or just get someone or something that needs no nourishment to go sneak about.
Hire some clockwork mercs?

>>48701318
Why not go the direct way? Zombie armies.

>>48701379
A shame those Draugr are gone.
But wait, the prerequisites are:
>small force
>stealthy
>need no food

We Solid Fetch now, people. Or do we use the innocent soul and make Fetch's brother, LIQUID FETCH?

>>48701428
If we ever made Fetch's 'brother' sentient, he'd probably exemplify the hard-choice making, practical and sometimes grim side of Brianna. A darker reflection of the La Croix.

>>48693296
I think that our best bet will be to go in quickly and quietly, then when we locate that Giant Bastard, have the minions create a distraction to draw away his pet so we can surprise him.

Though, considering his level of cunning, he'd probably see that coming. Maybe we can pull his forces in a dozen directions; Fetch, Vim & Vigor kill a few lead officers here, while the Boar distracts the Taster over there. Meanwhile, Amy, Nate and Brianna are hidden by the perfected Poltergeist transformation until they shank the Lush in his fat ugly mug.

Wasn't there talk of skeletal lions or wolves or such, like the zombie dogs the Money-Changer had, but done right? I think a couple of those would be a happy medium between the brute force of the Boar and Sir Fetch's agility. We could probably give them sapience, or nearly so, which means they could operate fairly independently.

Also, River should totally join in on the Farmyard Familiars Club. A Fox or Dog perhaps, or maybe a Boar of her own?

Fuck me, I can't focus. Work was hell. I'm gonna re-open the votes and see y'all in the morning.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>48702683
River's been having Thoughts on the subject of a familiar.

>>48701035
So, hopefully our magical half of the party will be able to tell when the curse is applied to them and switch to no eating on time?

>>48702968
Oh also, for the victory plans: can we ask Lora to not /fully/ reinstate the rules in the place immediately?
Can we keep "no dying of hunger" and only remove the inverse portion?
So that nobody will immediately die from having been under Lush's regime and can switch to eating food gradually.

>>48702968
It could be as simple as 'Hey, I got stomach cramps from sipping my canteen. Let's start the fast now.'

And if the Ghost/Shade (whatever you want to call it) form nullifies certain things, it could help us dodge the curse. Though, we should probably figure out how long the spell can last without harming Brianna, Amy, Nate or River.

>>48702982
The curse /should/ end with the Lush's death; if not, Lora can dispel it. It's probably going to be similar to how we had her treat the survivors in the Lichyard, as opposed to destroying the zombies and ghosts.

The one thing worrying /me/ right now is just what the hell the Lush's 'Drink' is, and why his pet demon is so addicted to the stuff. I hope is not babies or some grimdark bullshit. Fae blood might be possible, but that'd be crazy, and Flitter would have known just from having seen the fucker.

>>48703091
>The curse /should/ end with the Lush's death
It's not automatic as far as I figure, Lora fixes shit when she manifests. So we can ask her to change a bit still.

>The one thing worrying /me/ right now is just what the hell the Lush's 'Drink' is, and why his pet demon is so addicted to the stuff.
IIRC concentrated misery and suffering of all the eternally hungry serfs.

Really, all we need to do is capture a serf, understand the curse, and then tangle the lush in it, and wait a week.

He'll go insane, or remove it. and if we tangle it so he hs to remove everyone's curse in order to remove his own, suddenly his most powerful ability is useless.

>>48703486
>He is a beast that makes beasts in his own image.
sounds like he's well prepared to handle the curse longer than anyone else in the Dungeon.

and if he can recruit people with the promise of being able to eat, I don't think removing it is going to be trappable.

You know something, I was wondering why didn't the Lush's troops just desert when raiding? Surely some of them did right?

>>48703841
His overseers and officers are apparently competent enough to deserve Lora as a treat.

Disgusting and outrage inducing, but nonetheless, true.

Up. Will call and write after coffee.

I have been burning through the archives for the last few days, and am finally ready to lurk in a live thread! Joy!

>>48705057
Welcome to the quest my friend!

Called, writing.

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>>48693296
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlfUcnSbKDA

Silence asked for a drunken wake, and you give her one. Her burial had been an appropriately quiet thing - a thin box, the earth of the Mine, and what was left of her mortal remains - but the wake itself has been anything but. There is music, by Miners that are getting progressively worse at it as they get more and more drunk, and a spread of food and drink - shockingly comprehensive - provided by Vik.

"Silence!" Vik calls, raising his cup. The entire party goes absolutely quiet and still. The Mine Boss looks around, then pinches the bridge of his nose. "That was a toast."

"Silence!" comes the return cry, as everyone gets it.

"I've been working for Miss Silence most of my life," Vik tells the party. His eyes linger on each of his guests in turn. "I hired on with her when I was a little stripling, wanted to get into mining instead of running a store like Ma and Dad. She never told me I was too small or too weak, she just found me the jobs I could do until I was bigger and stronger to do the rest. And that was Silence, you know? She never treated anyone unfair, or with disrespect they hadn't earned. Most of us thought she'd just last forever."

Vik sighs, deeply, and takes a slug of his drink. "But she didn't," he continues, his voice softer now. "And her friends, her enemies, her rivals, we all need to figure out what the world's like without her now. So let's share, yeah? You tell me about the Silence you knew. Our friend over here -" he nods to Scribbles, who is writing with furious speed off to the side - "is gonna make a book, so the Dungeon don't forget her. And maybe that way she really will be here forever."

> The Reverend's speech
> Natalia's speech
> The Miner's speech

Yours is coming up later.

>>48707813
> The Miner's speech
They were with her the whole way so they should have the final say.

>>48707813
>Natalia's speech
Sounds like a good one.

>>48707813
>> Natalia's speech

I'ma go secure More Caffeine and be back. Will call and write after.

>>48707813
> Natalia's speech

>>48707813
>> The Miner's speech
They knew her the longest

>>48707813
>The Miner's Speech.
I was tempted to hear the Reverend speak, but it was the people of the Mine that knew her best.

Throwing a die. 1 is Miners, 2 is Natalia.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>48709941
FORGOT MY FUCKING DIE

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>>48707813
A man clears his throat and takes a step forward from a sizeable knot of Miners. He has his hat in his hands, respectfully.

"For those've you who don't know me, they call me Paul," he says humbly. "There's a lotta big folk here for this. Mine Bosses an' adventurers, and that chicken that called us out before."

Fetch preens, proudly.

"I didn't work for Silence. In point o' fact I work for Mister Gamble, her largest competitor. That gentleman there," he adds, pointing out a short human man in somewhat finer - /somewhat/ - clothes than his crew. "But Silence was a part o' the Mine. The Mine, it loved her, and we respected her. I remember awhile back, this big cave-in happened, when I was a stripling boy. Silence showed up, no question, no word o' payment, dug those men out like it weren't nothin'. My Da was in that cave-in. He got to raise me right 'cause o' her, and there ain't a man Jack of us without a story like that. Silence, she played fair, she did others right. Sure, she could be a hardass, an' every fifth word outta her was some kinda insult but I'd rather be arguin' to her face than drinkin' to her memory, an' that's the truth."

Paul raises his glass. "Drink hail!"

"Wassail!" comes the return cry, as all of you drink the toast.

Mister Gamble steps forward, but he doesn't quite get the chance to speak. A sound interrupts the quiet of the wake's attendants.

Clockwork.

It's amazing how quickly everyone finds the weapons they promised not to bring. You're not even surprised (especially since you're holding your sword), but only one geargrinder comes out of the tunnel. The thing is tall and lanky, as its kind are, with long legs and arms. It bears a crisp, white flag, which it waves once before planting it in the dirt a good distance away from the wake.

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>>48710204
"My name is Oak," the mechanical man says, his muffled voice issuing from beneath his chest armor. "I serve the Librarian, Lord of the Gauntlet Below. I have come to pay respects to my enemy."

You stare. Most of the Miners stare. Vik trembles with fury and slowly sets his cup down. He walks to the edge of the group and glares coldly at Oak. "What makes you think you've got a right?"

"I lead the assault in which she died," Oak answers, solemnly. "My orders killed Mistress Silence. She fought with valor and fury. I would pay my respects to her."

"Someone better give me a reason not to take you to pieces," Vik snarls.

> Let it happen. Fuck this guy.
> "Silence wouldn't want it, Vik. This is supposed to be a celebration."
> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."
> Write-in?

I gotta hit work folks. After work I'm driving to a friend's house; expect me roundabouts 1 AM or so.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>48710240
A Combo of options 1 and 2?
>"Seriously, fuck this guy. It isn't worth ruining the celebration."

Maybe Brianna can talk to him without revealing herself? I dunno. Though, I have to say, that third option is pretty tempting. What would a false, artificially created facsimile of a man have to say about someone who wasn't even mortal, let alone human?

>>48710303
You should just save yourself the suffering of retail (full body shudders right there), and become a full-time prostitute.

>>48710240
>> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."

>>48710240
>> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."

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>>48710204
>>48710240
>mfw

> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."

>>48710240
It's from the Library, so you could say it's educated.
Perhaps, even, a professor, say, of war?

>>48710240
> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."
>Check geargrinder for things like explosives, toxic gas canisters, teleportation devices, etc.

Just saying, nobody said we have to let this Oak fucker leave after he speaks.

>>48710240
>"Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."
It was true. Before Nate and Amy, there was no one who would be leaving flowers at our grave.

>>48710240
> "Silence wouldn't want it, Vik. This is supposed to be a celebration."

>>48710240
>Vik, this guy has basically surrendered himself to pay respects to silence
>Quick check with the gear grinder, you know this means that you either surrender willingly or you leave this place in pieces right?

wait, how did he get here from the library in the first place?

The roost is supposed to be on lock down

>>48712261
Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. That said...

>>48710240
>"Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."

God we're slow at work today. Questions and discussion are welcome.

About four hours and change to call.

>>48713554
>>48714869
alright, uh discussion point.

How much do we know about the other unliberated levels? Any contacts who would know more?

>>48710240
> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."

Loathe though I am to bring it up, this is an opportunity in disguise. We lack knowledge of the geargrinders and their leader. What role do they play in the dungeon? How long have they been around for? etc.

We should take every opportunity to learn more and, if possible, turn them against their fellows.

I daresay they would make for very troublesome enemies if they helped the Lush. We should be certain that we have no alternative before we treat them as enemies.

They seem to have a sense of honor and justice, why not explore that? What is their cause? What is their endgame with Richard? How do they feel about The Lush?

Even if all we learn is that they are heartless killing machines, at least we know for certain now.

>>48715274
Not much. The levels beneath the Sunless Sea are almost entirely uncharted from the perspective of the surface. Emily may be of some help; the Sea has more traffic with lower levels than with upper.

>>48715645
No one ever comes up or goes down?

How do they keep the population stable and avoid inbreeding on the lower levels?

>>48715847
Presumably Lora is responsible for arranging that; the Gauntlet Below and the Redoubt were made to defend her Sanctum.

>>48710240
> "Vik, I'd kill to have enemies who care enough to leave roses for my grave. Let him talk."
Besides, if we don't like what we hear, we can take him down then.

Off work, long drive ahead. I'll be back at 1 AM or so.

Bump for the lich.

Called, writing.

>>48665391
Yo what ever happened to that necromancer thing you were doing?

>>48718990
Refresh me?

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>>48710240
You cough to get Vik's attention. The Miner glares at you, and you shake your head softly.

"I'd pay dearly to have an enemy who cares enough to leave roses, Vik," you tell him solemnly. "War'd be a different thing, if we all saw each other as worthy of respect. Let him speak."

Vik grapples with that idea for a minute, and then nods. Oak has everyone's /undivided/ attention.

"I met Mistress Silence only briefly," he begins, in respectful tones. "But I was told much of her by my commander and by my creator. They told me of her cunning and fury. They said that she had uncommon valor and power, that her death would be my most difficult mission. Nothing they said prepared me for the woman I met in the Roost. Mistress Silence fought like a god of war, like an earthquake with a grudge. She cut down eight of my men before we could fire our first volleys, buried us in stone that moved to her will, and I pray to never face her like again on the field of war."

Oak pauses, gathering his thoughts. "That is not what stood out to me about her, though," he says, his mechanical voice softer. "Understand, Mistress Silence did not have to die. She could have retreated, taken cover, sunk into the stone itself. She did not, because doing so would mean abandoning the innocent. Silence took each and every one of her wounds in the place of one, five, a dozen others, men and women to whom she owed nothing. She covered the retreat of the harpies and wingless races of the Roost and, ultimately, laid down her life so that others would retain theirs. When she finally crawled away from the field of battle it was only to choose the place of her death, having bowed her head to the method. I regret removing such valor from this world. I hope, in my life, to be able to live up to such an example."

In the silence that follows, awkward and full of mixed feelings, Vik asks the question on everyone's lips: "If you're so sorry, why'd you kill her?"

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>>48719748
Oak bows his head. "She was my enemy, sir, just as Lady la Croix there is my enemy, and, I suspect, you are my enemy. You are coming to drag my father from his seat and end his life. You will kill my commander and scatter his gears across the Dungeon, if you can, and you will do this for reasons you feel are good. They are my family, and I will do what I can to prevent that. I regret the death of Mistress Silence, but given the choice, I would kill her again. Wouldn't you?"

Vik gives Oak a long, hard look, before tucking his knife into his belt and walking away without a further word.

"Lady la Croix, I would speak with you after the wake," Oak tells you. "I will not disturb it further." He makes a sound that you think might be a sigh. "...I truly am sorry for your loss."

"You know, I think I even believe you," you murmur. "You stay over there."

Oak bows, picks up his flag, and steps a good thirty paces away from the wake before re-planting it and waiting patiently.

Someone's clearing their throat to talk.

> Natalia's speech
> Reverend's speech

AND

> Talk with Oak after
> Send Oak away
> Plan to kill Oak after

>>48719786
> Natalia's speech
> Talk with Oak after

>>48719786
> Natalia's speech

> Talk with Oak after
> Plan to kill Oak after
Do I not kill my enemies when I make them my friends? A bunch of clockwork soldiers would be good against the cornucopia but one can't have just one option. I mean if such an important soldier tries to 'assassinate' the leader of the alliance against his masters, well it can't be helped if he is killed in self defence

>>48719786
Fuuuuuuck, just fuuuuuuck. If the Librarian taught these gear heads his level of respect we might have problems. Silver lining is he may at the least ignore the Lush's call for help, or assist if we can beat him to kill the Lush. In any case.
>Natalia's speech
>Talk with Oak later, but with back up.
we don't want a surprise bombing and Oak might not be personally aware or responsible for it.

>>48719985
Lets just make sure there isn't a recording and streaming device on him first before we try our recruitment drive of deathbots. After that maybe we can hire them to fight the Lush's forces seeing as robots cant get hungry.

I gotta hit bed folks. Votes remain open.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>48719786
>Natalia's speech.
She's trying to be better. Let's see what she's learned. Plus, I bet Nate will be very proud to see how far she's come.
...That is, if he and Amy are actually here. I /hope/ so.

AND

>Talk with Oak after, with sword in hand and backup at the ready.
Offer one hand, but arm the other.

>>48719998
>>48719985
Allies against the Lush? I doubt it. And we still have to free the Cornucopia, or the rest of the Dungeon will see some serious famine problems.

Who else is waiting for Nate to pop the question? I mean, he already asked for permission a while ago. Maybe he still wants to ask Diving Shadow and Lawrence, so he can just surprise both of the girls at the same time?

>>48719786
>> Talk with Oak after
Mainly this. This is just as much a war for the hearts of the people; the people are our soldiers and forces and allies. We have to be an example worth following.
Also mind-game opportunity. We can tell him what dear ole dad is up to.

>> HAVE A Plan to kill Oak after
Don't carry through unless forced, but have the plan ready just-in-case. Don't be stupid and drop our guard.

>>48719786
> Talk with Oak after
>Check Oak for traps

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>>48719786
>You are coming to drag my father from his seat and end his life. You will kill my commander and scatter his gears across the Dungeon, if you can, and you will do this for reasons you feel are good

I kind of wonder just how much Oak really knows about the Dungeon and what his father has done and condoned to make it like this.

Like, does he know we spared Bridgette, Jack, and Natalia? What sin does he think his father has done that's worse than theirs and will warrant his death even in surrender? Moreover, if the Librarian has sinned in such a way, why does Oak condone it?

Really, we need more information and I think Oak and the rest of the Geargrinders need more perspective.

>> Natalia's speech
>> Talk with Oak after

>>48719786
>Natalia's speech
>Talk with Oak after. Have a plan for if it gets out of hand.

>>48719786
>>Natalia's speech
And
>>Talk with Oak after. Have a plan for if it gets out of hand.
Seconding

I'm up. Will call and write after coffee, grocery shopping.

>>48722881
If he actually is the reasonable sort then maybe for once in our lives we can attempt diplomacy. We haven't had a lot of chances to have a chat with our real enemies before we are face to face and one must die.

>>48705057

>>48723800

Same thread, still haven't slept yet!
I feed off your sleep, Vox. I will be more powerful than you can deal with soon.

>>48723934
the problem is the chains and Lora. We don't know what the Librarian has done to Lora. We need to find out before we can truly attempt any diplomacy, because there are some things that are unforgivable (LUSH!).

>>48723963
>You will kill my commander and scatter his gears across the Dungeon, if you can, and you will do this for reasons you feel are good.
... betcha that the chain is incorporated into their design.

Called, writing.

>>48724503
The Librarian is probably trying to give them true life.

You remember the one-shot thread about Jack the Lesser, with Cuckoo? She had to ask the boon of a God in order to become human.

I'm thinking that, when the Master was finished making his brand new world, the Librarian's 'children' would have been the new 'humans' populating it.

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>>48719786
Natalia's voice is quiet but, for once, sure. That vaguely lost expression on her face is marred by a genuine grief; she has to stop to wipe tears from her eyes that you hadn't realized she was crying.

"I only knew Silence for a short time," she begins softly. "I did not think about her much; she did not dare intrude upon my domain in New Hell, and the Mine was not my business. Some of you know me, many do not. I have been an oathbreaker and a traitor in my life. In the time I knew her, Miss Silence offered me my second chance."

* * * *

You were Natalia, known as the Traitor, former Chain-Bearer and now blind to the Sight, and a voice spoke to you, full of the harsh snap of adrenaline.

It said, "Do you want your honor back?"

"Yes," you'd answered, desperate hope in your breast. You remember the chair clattering to the ground as you stood, the pound of your pulse.

"Get weapons, step into the fog."

The mist billowed into your room in the Athenaeum, and you opened your hands to be attended upon by your weapons - "Viceroy! Majordomo!"

You stepped into the fog, and out into hell.

You knew Miss Silence by sight. She yanked you away from a pair of crossbow bolts, and shoved you towards a group of harpy hatchlings. "Get them out of here!" she'd ordered, and you moved to obey without a second thought, leaping over a patch of rubble and sprinting for them. You could hear the shriek of harpies going into battle, the twang and ratchet of crossbows firing and being cocked, the tick-tick-tick of the geargrinders scaling the walls on ropes with grapples.

The Thirdborn did not advance unopposed.

A ring of stone blasted from the walls of the Roost, sharply edged to slice through ropes and knock free ladders. The geargrinders that couldn't get to the walls in time fell, flailing, to their deaths on the pitiless stone floor of the Roost.

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>>48726591
Silence rang her bell, swallowing the sound in a challenging quiet more defiant than any roar, and flung shards of sharp rock at her enemies with a gesture from her golden spear.

Then your attention was on your charges. There are geargrinders in the tunnels, and they are coming on without pity.

"Stay behind me," you told them. "Get to higher ground."

Viceroy, your rapier, felt natural in your hand, as did its younger brother. The rapier and main gauche - a style well-suited to prophetic combat.

But you don't need to be a prophet to predict these half-trained pups. You fight like it's a memory; you know every motion that leads up to an attack, the little signs that telegraph 'I will step here, I will swing there', and move to counter before they start. Viceroy's burning blade pierces through delicate gears, leaving your victims to stagger away and thrash helplessly as the catastrophic failures begin in their systems.

Silence's bell tolls over the battlefield, swallowing war in quiet and muffling the rage of battle, and between its rings you hear the break of stone, the sheeting of bolts, the screams of pain and fury that come from the Roosters. Over the sound and silence, a desperate shriek - "Tatters!"

Lunge. Pierce. Fall back. Parry. The crossbow bolt goes scattering aside before the one who fired it is cut down.

You remember this. Killing is easy, once you're in the habit of it, and you've done it all your life.

You advance into an open section of tunnel, with the geargrinders falling back to try and circle around you. You spare a glance for Silence, and your breath catches in your throat. A dozen or more bolts stick out of her body; her veins are alive with rust, her breath ragged with pain and the blue blood that pools from her ravaged body.

She tolls her bell again and raises a wall to cut off a group of crossbowmen before she sinks to her knees. She looks up and smiles when she sees that the noncombatants have found cover.

>>48726813
"She's down!" a voice calls, mechanical and muffled. "Fall back! /Fall back/!"

* * * *

You are Brianna la Croix, and you aren't the only one wiping your eyes. Natalia told her story as frankly as she could. Vik shares a hug with her, which she returns awkwardly. The former Traitor takes a shuddering breath and raises her cup.

"Drink hail," she manages.

"Wassail!" comes the return call, and you all share in the toast. You spare a glance for Oak, but the geargrinder is behaving. Thus far.

>>48726591
>>48726813
THAT was what I was waiting for. Nobody fucks with the Fey.

There's going to be some Harpy chicks named after her.

>>48726872
Best Fae hands down, the tears are painful.

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>>48726852
Reverend Crashes Often (/why/?) is the next to speak. His tone is respectful, comforting. He has wept with the others, without shame.

"Miss Silence has been instrumental in helping to prepare the Roost for its new future," the old priest says. "I am told by the dwarves that the structures she summoned in the heat of battle were still designed for long-term use and defense, with a minimum of modifications from our engineers. In her last moments, Miss Silence continued to serve others, and leave a legacy in the name of the promises she made to us."

The harpy man folds his wings and stands straight; he looks surprisingly regal. "Silence's concern was always the Mine, and after the Mine, the Dungeon. I was struck by her wisdom and foresight. I will miss our conversations, our debates, and working with her for the betterment of our home. The Roost owes a great debt to her, and it will not go unpaid. Drink hail!"

"Wassail!"

You take a drink of your rum and decide that you're quite drunk enough to talk, at last. You clear your throat and take a step forward.

> "The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse."
> "Miss Silence was there at my side when it was time to liberate the Mine. Like many of you, I knew a great warrior."
> "I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said, save this: I will avenge her loss."
> Write-in?

Someone tell this gear oaf that we don't kill anyone we don't have to.

We WANT reasons to let the chainholders live. Just ask Natalia, or the rest of em.

Also, someone should really start gathering evidence and preparing a strong case and a formal plea to the effect that Richard is actually doing something that has a non-zero probability of ending the world and that freaking everyone should be fighting to stop him. Would be nice to have that option.

>>48728128
>"The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse."

I mean, really, how can we not?

>>48728128
>> "The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse."

>>48728128
> "The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse."

I like where this is going.

>>48728128
> "The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse." as an opening statement, then follow up with
> "Miss Silence was there at my side when it was time to liberate the Mine. Like many of you, I knew a great warrior."
And then maybe something to the effect of she will be avenged.

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>>48728128
>> "The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse."

>>48728213
I cant do a write in now but maybe we should tailor our speech to make him feel we're agreeable and worth listening to.

>>48728128
>>> "The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse."

Called, writing.

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

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>>48728128
"The day I met Silence, I offered to fuck her corpse," you open up, with a wistful grin. "It sort of set the tone for our brief relationship. Miss Silence challenged my assumptions. She worked with me without ever working /for/ me, and kept her people, and her home, first in her mind. She never asked for anything for her help, but she was also always there to talk about what makes the Dungeon special, about what makes it people's /home/. Silence had a lot of respect for the Dungeon, and for the people who live here."

You gesture, vaguely, with your cup. "We had a deal, Silence and I. She said she'd try things my way, and we'd talk it over again later and see if I could respect her home. I'm sorry she won't be here for it, but I'm going to honor my end of things. I'm not going to liberate the Dungeon just to turn around and try to turn it into something it's not. I've seen a lot of the things she loves here, and I think...I think I love 'em too. I wish I'd stopped to tell her that."

A lot of faces in the crowd nod, and you nod back, quietly, before you raise your glass. "Drink hail!"

"Wassail!"

You finish your rum, and set the cup down. It's time to talk to Oak. He wanted to talk at the end, but fuck that, you can't have a good time knowing he's just /waiting/ there. You nod your head for Vik to join you, along with Nathan and Amy, and stand a good distance away from the geargrinder.

"Speak your piece," you say quietly.

Oak bows his head in acknowledgement. "I will be blunt," he tells you. "My father, the Librarian, wishes to know what wergild you will accept for peace."

> What do you say?

>>48731310
O shit

Where are the write in guys at? It's their hour of need.

Also bump

>>48731310 #
> The chain, the level (I forgot which one), and exile from the dungeon. You'll have to ask the others what they would take for peace, including Lora. I don't speak for them.

I can't think of much else to add; maybe vengance, but I don't know if he would accept anything that would kill him.

>>48731310
>...you know, it wasn't too long ago that the money lender offered Lake Hollow wergild for the deaths of people we had sent to investigate what was going on in her level of the dungeon
>She delivered that offer with the reanimated corpses of those people, tortured and bound to their mortal forms in unrelenting, silent agony.
>We turned her down.

>Money and material items aren't going to make me look the other way. The only thing the librarian can offer me that would be the chain he holds and his vow to make right the things that he has helped set wrong

>>48731310
Lora's chain, at a bare, bare minimum.
Their leader, exiled from the Dungeon and from the nation than the Dungeon is housed in.
And one demand of Lora's met, unconditionally, to be determined after the chain has been given to Bri.
(It's relatively light, yes, but it's also a chance to avoid fighting that floor.)

>>48731310
Free passage through his level and Lora's chain upon the death of the Master.

of course we'd require some way of making this contract binding.

>>48731310
The chain, The entirety of the geargrinders moving against the lush and his forces, The librarian exiled, Whatever lora wants, my father back you son of a bitch.

>>48731721
Offer, counteroffer - this has to be acceptable. If it's too much this is a giant spit in the face; and should be met with the same bluntness of a 'nope'.
If it's too extreme they won't consider it and we've got another floor to fight through. There has to be at least a little compromise so they'll accept and keep their side.

>>48731766
yeah, we'll lead in with the big stuff- chain, aid against the lush, etc. - and see how well he responds

>>48731310
"there a reason he waited until after he had spilled so much blood to try and sue for peace?"

>>48732342
>there a reason he waited until after he had spilled so much blood to try and sue for peace?
Don't forget to make your vote a greentext man.

>>48731310
>First off, clarify whether you're asking for peace with the Librarian himself, or with the remaining chain holders as a group, because the latter is unacceptable under any circumstances
>secondly, give me a minute to consult with someone
>walk back into the wake and have somebody hit us in the head, ask Lora what the Librarian's deal is

>>48731310
>firstly, why is he asking for peace after launching an unprovoked attack where his forces slew children and noncombatants? Secondly, speaking only for myself as the commander I only need him to stand down his forces and leave. Lora may be of a different mind, he will have to accept what retribution she deems to be fit. I'll remind you that we have spared brigette, seraphina, jack, Natalia and everyone else who surrendered to us. The baron, unfortunately, took his own life when it was time to choose.

>>48733548
I forgot to mention the chain, just pretend that it is in there somewhere.

>>48733548
>>48733671
Of course, forgot to demand information on Dick, his goal and info on the other bearers and levels.

>I didn't enter the dungeon to fight this battle, tell your father that. I came here as punishment for the inexcusable crime is saving a person's life- I am here and I'm tire enemy because I am loras friend. I have no desire to kill or destroy everyone in my path, I only want to help her get her freedom back

>>48731310
> The chain that binds Lora, and to stay out of the fight between me and the rest of the remaining chain bearers. He does know that Dick plans on destroying the universe yes? And that as we speak the Lush is torturing and raping my friend,and there's nothing I can do about it?

Let's toss some urgency/fuck you in to the mix.

Minimal.

Quite frankly,

>>48731310
> Are you even capable of missing those on your side who died? What ever makes you think I'll accept money in exchange for the lives of people I care about, people who are now gone forever. Believe me, I of anyone know there's no bringing them back.

> Why even attack if you wanted to sue for peace?

>>48731310
>His chain, broken. Aid against the Lush. One stipuation from Lora.

>>48734352
>The chain that binds Lora, and to stay out of the fight between me and the rest of the remaining chain bearers. He does know that Dick plans on destroying the universe yes? And that as we speak the Lush is torturing and raping my friend,and there's nothing I can do about it?
Sounds about right. voted.

>>48731310
I'm thinking a combo of these; >>48731465 >>48734352

Brianna is not opposed to peace, but there must be justice for all of the death and suffering.

Also, I'm pretty sure Vik will be /super pissed/ if we open negotiations with the man who ordered Silence's death. Tread carefully and all that.

>>48734376
It's /possible/ that Dick is holding something over the Librarian, like how he's holding Captain Reeve over the Pallbearer.

Maybe the power necessary for creating and giving 'life' to his Geargrinders came from Lora, and Dick threatened to destroy his 'children'?

>>48732730
>>48732675
these.

Aight folks, life drew me away from this and now I need to hit bed. Will update and make new thread whenever I wake up; votes remain open.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

If I'm reading this right the current sentiment is along the lines of 'the chain, GTFO my Dungeon, you still owe Lora', yes?

>>48735689
Seems to be

>>48735689
Pretty much, though I'm sure Brianna knows a few creative curse words/phrases and physical gestures that can be thrown in.

Honestly, if any of this phases Oak, he came woefully prepared. Also, I have the nagging thought that /he/ is the commander of the Geargrinders, and not Cobalt. I mean, who else would the Librarian trust with this, but for his favorite son?

Vox, you absolute madman, stop trying to write into the wee hours and go to bed at a proper time. You know you're bad when faceless anons have to lecture you like we're your mom or something.

>>48735689
Pretty much.

>>48731310
>>48735689
We all seem to have the same general plan, it's just a matter of wording
>"I assume you speak only for the Librarian. As part of squaring with me, it would be best if your kind left the Dungeon. Depending on what assistance you offer, I can work with my contacts outside the dungeon to arrange another place for your kind to live. Those arrangements are beyond our wergild discussion, however."
>"That is not a necessity, though. In truth, what IS necessary is breaking Lora's chain, and paying the wergild necessary for peace with her. She is trying the 'mercy' thing given my insistence at it, and she may accept offers beyond the Librarian's death. Explain our discussion to her to show you are dealing with us both in full faith - it will likely help."
>"If you cannot leave the Dungeon for your own reasons, then you must reach an accord with Lora to support the Dungeon. It will satisfy your debt with me, and I will facilitate the payment of wergild you owe the rest of the Dungeon, especially the Mine."

>>48736375
In all honesty, the problem isn't the Geargrinders; they were /made/ by the Librarian, and it makes sense that they'd be devoted to protecting him and serving his interests. It's the atrocities committed by the Master and his partners, like Gabrielle's genocide of the Broken Jaw and the Lush's /many, many/ crimes.

If he actually wanted to distance himself from that box of horrors, he should have come forward a long time ago. At the very least, he could have sent word via an anonymous agent such as a summoned demon or a Geargrinder equipped for stealth.

It's Lora and the people of the Dungeon (not the Mine, not the Roost, not the Warehouse, the WHOLE Dungeon) he needs to atone to.

>>48736457
True, hence the last line. We can make peace, but if the Librarian is in the Dungeon then the Librarian needs to pay off their debt to the Dungeon.

Ultimately, though, I view the debts to Lora (as creator of the Dungeon and the ur-Death) to be greater. If she is willing to accept the Librarian remaining in the Dungeon as part of her wergild, I believe we should help the Librarian pay off the debt to the Dungeon as a mutual negotiator while respecting Lora's other wishes.

We have good arguments for choosing Lora's wishes over vengeance for Silence.

>>48735689
Also information on the Master and asking why they asked for peace /after/ attacking, and asking if he wants peace for only himself or all of the chain-holders.

>>48731310
>Among things we want is what the Librarian has done to aid the Master. Does he have innocent blood on his, or his children's hands?
>If the librarian genuinely wants peace, have him pull Lora away from the Lush sporadically to make Lora suffer less. Call it a gesture of good will.

I wonder if Silence still had friends in the Mistlands? I mean, I know that the Mine was her home, but that doesn't mean she didn't know a few folks who could find some information for us. Like HOW IN THE HOLY FUCK DO YOU BIND AN ARCHANGEL JESUS CHRIST.

Sorry, that's been bothering me for a while.

Then there's the Cook. We NEED him to talk with River or Brianna on how to deal with that Taster. Maybe if we can exploit it's voracious appetite, we can lure it into a trap? And if it comes down to it, we have a songbird with wings of magic metal.

Also, it'll be cool to see what kind of character the Wyrm is. According to Vox, Dragons are akin to elementals, and are at least in part defined by their homes. And this one was born and raised in the depths of the Dungeon.

It's going to be fun.

Bump for the lich.

>>48731310
Anything short of the real actual no bull shit chain and an oath not to puss out and backstab us the moment Dick tells him to backstab us is unexceptable

>>48739346
Once the chain is gone, Richard presumably has no influence. Otherwise, we're in DEEP trouble from a couple of allies.

>>48737977
> HOW IN THE HOLY FUCK DO YOU BIND AN ARCHANGEL JESUS CHRIST.

You get her to agree to it using the language of creation? We covered this way, waaaaay back when we rescued Brigette yo.

But good call on talking to Cook. We should get him and Bobby O Deaddick to knock heads and help River out.

>>48739629
Richard has the "leash" as it were. The chains are physical representations of his subcontracting Lora and her dominion over areas of the dungeon out to the various holders.

Called, writing.

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>>48731310
You don't waste people's time with questions like 'are you fucking serious'; not having facial expressions at all means that Oak has the universe's greatest and most mysterious poker face.

"At a bare minimum," you tell him evenly, "and I do mean the barest, most meager minimum, I'd want his chain. I'd want his immediate and unconditional surrender and exodus from the Dungeon, and I'm not saving him from Lora. What's between him and the angel is on her and him, not me. And I want to know why he thinks he can sue for peace now after what you did in the Roost and the Warehouse."

Oak bows his head. "He suspected such would be your answer, Lady la Croix. Those terms are not permissible. As for why...understand that we are at war, Lady la Croix. I offer no apologies for working to cut off your line of support, resources, and succor."

"Children?" you ask, harshly.

"...I was told their injuries would keep Mistress Silence in the fight," Oak says quietly. "My orders were clear."

For once, it's not you holding Amy back. You're dimly aware that someone's hands are on your shoulders but you're a bit busy with holding Oak up against the wall by whatever passes for his neck, the hate pounding in your veins.

"/Orders/?" you snarl. "You had /orders/? That's your fucking excuse?"

"I am unarmed, Lady la Croix," Oak says calmly.

"How convenient," you spit, before dropping him. "If he already knew he'd say know, what the /fuck/ does the Librarian want?"

"A future for his children," Oak says solemnly. "I have a second offer."

"Oh, /do tell/," you growl.

"Six hundred geargrinders rest, needing only minor finishing touches and hearts in order to live," Oak tells you, frankly. "My brothers. My sisters. What payment will you accept to leave them out of the battle and, further, to bring them into this world in the event of your victory? You would need to find them a place where they can live and be accepted, and, if need be, argue their survival to the angel."

>>48740659
Hoo boy. I wonder who gave /that/ order.

Because I can't help but have a sneaking suspicion that the Librarian might not have made that order.

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>>48740659
You take a deep breath. "What is it the Librarian thinks he can pay me with?" you ask. "What is it he thinks he has that I won't be able to take from his broken corpse?"

"Four names," Oak answers. "The names of the men and women who broke the Salted Dam, the evidence that links them to that deed, the motive that drove them to it, and the precise location of their homes and families."

You take a step back, in horrified disbelief.

> Deal
> No deal
> How /dare/ you?
> Write-in?

>>48740659
He'd say no*

Typos.

>>48740659
>>48740700
This was a LOT less diplomatic than what I expected. Like, I thought we were actually going to haggle a little and not stonewall any chance of making this end without more bloodshed.

Seriously.

> Deal. He's a right fucking bastard for making this personal. We also don't murder children, which is essentially what these geargrinders will be.
(Anyone else here supports the idea to write-in that we'll discuss with Lora what punishment, or lack thereof, she has in mind for The Librarian if he willingly gives up his chain? I think that outburst we just had was too emotional and antagonistic.)

>>48740700

> How /dare/ you?

>>48740700
>How dare you?

>>48740700
> Write-in?

I say we agree, then backstab him and hold his "children" hostage. Set something up with Henrietta. This guy kills children, fuck him.

Or at the least we take Oak apart and send back his gears melted down to scrap with a message that the Librarian has very much misunderstood how the second born think and feel about their children.

Shit, these 400 aren't even alive yet. But better they are sent out than sent against us.

Is this just the Librarian trying to hedge his bets against us winning, anyways? I mean Dick is going to kill everyone outside the dungeon anyways yeah?

>>48740700
>> Write-in
"For a moment, you had me there. I do not want to destroy what is essentially children. But no. I am not accepting /that/ offer."

>>48740700
> How /dare/ you?
We can find out more of the dam when this whole adventure is over. Trying to play to our feelings and desire for revenge AFTER killing so many is just plain illogical for the Librarian.

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>>48740700
> Deal. He's a right fucking bastard for making this personal. We also don't murder children, which is essentially what these geargrinders will be.

I really want to wax very, very cold for a moment.

>Unlike you people, I don't really feel the need to aim for the innocent. Because that's what these geargrinders are, aren't they? They're not even born yet. Maybe if they weren't ticking yet, I wouldn't normally try to bring them to life, but... six hundred souls, just waiting to be born, that've never done anything to anyone, and you think I'd cut them down. I'm very mad right now though, so I can forgive you thinking that I'd stoop to your level.
>I don't like that you're manipulating me. I don't like that it's working, or any of the implications of that last statement of yours. Especially the families bit.
>Do you or your father understand, Oak, just what meaning of the name La Croix is these days?

Like, I want to write Bri just sort of very quietly talking to Oak. About a lot of things, really. About orders, about how he has the option to make choices, about how for the longest time she had made her peace with what had happened. About her aunt, and her own decisions and what was and was not acceptable behavior for La Croix.

And then, after accepting the deal and getting the information... She tells him to run very, very fast, before she loses her temper.

This is where the meltdown happens.

>>48740973
Edit: Apparently I can't read. Never mind that post.

>>48740700
Changing my vote to

> I want you.

Oak and the other officers involved in the attack have to be surrendered and to stand trial for murdering the children.

If they want to be treated like people, they will have to consent to being judged like people.

And he's never to try to bribe us with personal vengeance ever again.

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>>48741027
> Posting anime reaction face with long winded rant.

Glad you're really identifying with the character. Kind of wish you were less of a Faggot about it though.

>>48740700
>>48741027 gets my support

>>48741027
I like this.

Where are all you people coming from who wants to bring down hellfire and meteors over this? It's so fucking out of character I don't really know what to say.

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>>48740700
>"Four names," Oak answers. "The names of the men and women who broke the Salted Dam, the evidence that links them to that deed, the motive that drove them to it, and the precise location of their homes and families."
Already voted but also want to add a reaction pic to this and its implications