>>1477237
>So, where're we going?

>>1477237
>So, where're we going?

>>1477237
>>So, where're we going?

>>1477333
>>1477512
>>1477533
"So... where are we going, exactly?"

"Mana well up near Mt. Hood. I need some hodag spines for a fever-cure I'm working on, and the critters live near mana wells."

"Alright... what's a mana well?"

Diana looks over at you. "Wow, you really are new to this. Well, mana wells are places were mana... bubbles out of the ground, or accumulates from the air, or however it gets from the Supernal to the Material. Us mages tend to track them down and harvest the mana for use in our magic, but there are still plenty of free ones, and if there's one that's active and not being harvested... you'll get magical beasts. Like cockatrices, basilisks, chimeras, phoenixes, hodags..."

>They're drawn to these places?

>How are we going to bag this hodag? And what's it look like, for that matter?

>Hold on, Mt. Hood's state property. How has the government not found this place?

>Write-In

>>1478023
>>Hold on, Mt. Hood's state property. How has the government not found this place?

shiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeet we gonna fight Terry's buddies, aren't we?

>>1478023
>How are we going to bag this hodag? And what's it look like, for that matter?

>>1478023
>>How are we going to bag this hodag? And what's it look like, for that matter?

>>1478023
>How are we going to bag this hodag? And what's it look like, for that matter?

>>1478023
>How are we going to bag this hodag? And what's it look like, for that matter?

>>1478293
>>1478360
>>1478558
>>1479313
"So how are we going to bag this hodag? And for that matter, what the hell's a hodag?"

"Think... like a crocodile, but with spikes, and bigger. And we're going to catch it in the cage in the back, and some bait."

You become acutely aware of Diana looking at you.

>...No, no, no way in Hell.

>Pull over, I'm not going to be the bait for your fucking trap.

>Well, this is going to be interesting.

>Write-In

>>1479950
>Well, this is going to be interesting.
We've been through worse

>>1479950
>Well, this is going to be interesting.

>>1479950
>...No, no, no way in Hell.

>>1479950
>Well, this is going to be interesting.

>>1479950
>Well, this is going to be interesting.
[takes sip from flask]

>>1479950
>>Well, this is going to be interesting.
>>Write-In
"Can't we just get a possum or something?"

>>1480008
>>1480080
>>1480204
>>1480285
"Well, this is going to be interesting. I don't suppose you have barbeque sauce back there to lure it?"

You hear Diana sort through her nose. "No, you'll just need to make a lot of noise as you're going through the woods."

"Can't we just... I don't know, get an opossum or something instead?"

"I'd prefer that, but hodags... they're anthropophages. You'll get a better reaction out of it than a woodland animal."

"Great. A man-eating giant alligator. With spikes. For once couldn't magic make an animal that isn't death on four legs?"
Diana laughs again as you turn onto a side road.


The Mt. Hood wilderness area is cool and shady, with high redwoods forming an imposing canopy above. As you drive through, your sideroad goes from pavement to gravel to dirt, and finally terminates in a dinky dirt lot. Diana gets out of the van and goes around back, opening the trunk. You get out.

"Let me get it out, you can get the other end once I work it out a bit-"

Diana shakes her head. "Don't worry about the cage. Go on ahead: you should get a look at the well before we get down to business. It's just over the ridge here: look for a gnarled-looking tree."

>No, I'll help, I insist.

>There's no way you can carry that yourself.

>Does the cage float or something?

>Okay.

>Write-In

>>1480629
>Does the cage float or something?

>>1480629
>Does the cage float or something?

>>1480629
>>No, I'll help, I insist.
Unless...
>>Does the cage float or something?

>>1480629
>Does the cage float or something?

>>1480639
>>1480661
>>1480734
"So, does the cage float or something?"

"Nope. Telekinesis isn't my kind of magic." You see her casually pull the cage out with one hand and fling it over her shoulder. "It's just light."

"How's that work?"

"Matter magic. It can alter the weight of objects... among other things."

The two of you start heading over the ridge.

>So, there's different kinds of magic?

>Tell me more about this "Council" you answer to.

>How'd you and Rain end up together?

>What's so special about these hodag spines?

>Write-In

>>1480887
>Tell me more about this "Council" you answer to.

>>1480887
>Tell me more about this "Council" you answer to.

>>1480887
>Tell me more about this "Council" you answer to.

>>1480887
>Tell me more about this "Council" you answer to.

>>1480923
>>1480944
>>1481214
>>1481215
"So, what's this 'Council' you answer to, anyways?"

"It's... well, it's mage government. A senior mage from a local group in good standing acts as the organizer of our society, which is called a Hierarch. He appoints various other roles, like Sentinels- they're like our police- and advisers. Really, their most important job is to make sure all mages in the area are compliant with magical law, which is like... don't kill people with magic, don't control other people's minds or alter their memories- unless you have to to keep magic a secret- don't create undead, don't truck with the Abyss, don't frivolously abuse your magic for personal gain, don't make life needlessly..."

>Wait- you can make living things with magic?

>You can bring the dead back to life?

>Sounds really restrictive.

>What's 'The Abyss'? Don't tell me Hell's real on top of everything else.

>Write-In

>>1481357
What do you know about the fae?

>>1481388
this, im curious as to what an outsider thinks of it

>>1481388
Interesting, I'll go with this.

>>1481357
>>What's 'The Abyss'? Don't tell me Hell's real on top of everything else.

>>1481388
>>1481453
>>1481459

"So, what do you know about the Gentry?"

"Oh! I thought... you would be more of an expert on that, since you.. you know... are one."

>Take that back.

>You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?

>No, no, I'm not one of the Gentry. I used to be human.

>Write-In

>>1481604
>You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?
>A bit of advice, never ever call one of the Lost a Gentry, its kinda like calling a holocaust survivor a nazi.

>>1481604
>Take that back
>You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?
>A bit of advice, never ever call one of the Lost a Gentry, its kinda like calling a holocaust survivor a nazi.

>>1481604
>You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?
>A bit of advice, never ever call one of the Lost a Gentry, its kinda like calling a holocaust survivor a nazi.

>>1481604
>>You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?

>>1481625
this

>>1481604
this>>1481609

>>1481647
This

>>1481609
This, so much.

>>1481609

this is good

I want to flirt with the mage for some reason, is this wrong? Jerry never did it

>>1482363
She's married and we don't want to screw up Mary's friendship with Moonbeam

>>1482373
I know, I was thinking that kind of flirting you do with the cashier at the grocery store but never actually act on it

>>1482473

I would want to hold off until we have a better grip on both of them as people, who knows, they might still be hold overs to the whole free love deal

>>1481609
>>1481647
>>1481852
>>1481886
>>1482241
"...You have no idea what you're talking about. Let me make this really clear: calling a changeling one of the Gentry is like calling a Holocaust survivor a Nazi."

"Wait... so it's true? You- I mean, they- take people?"

"Yeah. I was on a road trip with friends and got caught and sold off. I had to do some things I never want to have to do again."

"Oh... oh, God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to insult you!"

"...Let's just catch this alligator, okay?"


Diana sets the cage down beneath a gnarled tree in the middle of a clearing. There's... something about this place, you're sure. You wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't know beforehand that this was a place of power, but now that you're looking out for it... the trees look old here, the grasses grow strong and green, and a small stream nearby seems to rush along faster. There's a sense of immanence in this place.

Diana pulls a small cylinder out of her pocket and flicks it, causing it to blur and unfurl into a 5-foot pole with carvings all over it and a green gem at one end. She starts poking around at the roots of the tree with the other end.

"Seems like the mana levels are nice and healthy; more than enough to support a hodag. Jerry, can you pick up any tracks around here? You seem like an outdoorsy sort."

Roll Intelligence + Survival + Forest bonus (total 6 dice). You have 8-again on this roll.

Rolled 8, 3, 4, 3, 5, 8 = 31 (6d10)

>>1483686

Rolled 8, 8, 7, 10, 3, 8 = 44 (6d10)

>>1483686

Time to see how well we hold up, still want to be able to maybe exchange knowledge about our respective cultures at some point, maybe be able to put together a primer so that we can present it as a resources to agents in the Autumn Court, start a horde of knowledge based out of our journals

Rolled 10, 1 = 11 (2d10)

>>1483698

Rolled 7, 6, 8, 4 = 25 (4d10)

>>1483705

Boom

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1483709

Secondary boom

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1483706

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1483713

Tertiary

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1483714

>>1483705
>>1483709
>>1483713
>>1483718
You take a look around at the forest floor.

"Well, there's been a herd of six elk through this area in the past two days, a couple bear, something that leaves a BUNCH of little dots, like a giant centipede or something, and... I'm going to guess that these are the hodag. They're less than a day old, heading northwest, slightly blood-stained; it just killed something and is probably heading back to its lair to feed."

You look back at Diana's incredulous expression. "What? You asked me what I saw."

"You barely looked at the ground for a minute!"

"I'm good at this. Now, let's go get that damn alligator."


The tracks lead the two of you up the opposing ridge and to the mouth of a cave. The opening is maybe 3 meters tall, but 5 meters wide: the resulting formation looks like someone stole the intervening layers of rock and dirt clean out from the hillside.

"Should be in here..."

>Let's just wait for it to come out.

>I'll try and rile it up: you go back to the cage and get ready.

>I'll try to slip in there and get you those spines while it's resting.

>Write-In

>>1484160
>I'll try and rile it up: you go back to the cage and get ready.

>>1484160
>I'll try and rile it up: you go back to the cage and get ready.

>>1484160
>I'll try and rile it up: you go back to the cage and get ready.

>>1484160
>I'll try and rile it up: you go back to the cage and get ready.

>>1484220
>>1484238
>>1484256
>>1484305
"I'll go in and try to rile it up. You go back to the cage and get ready."

Diana nods and heads back down the slope.

The cave is dark, dry, and cold; you can feel faint traces of dust falling down from the ceiling as you walk into it. In the half-light filtering in from the cave mouth, you can see the walls narrowing as you head towards the back, driving you to the point of a wedge of air as you head in. Then, as you almost reach the apex, you see it.
The thing's coiled up on itself, easily as tall as a grizzly, but three times as long at the very least. Mottled patches of fur and scale dance together on its hide, accentuated by growths of spines, like porcupine quills the length of javelins. Six legs flop out from beneath its tail, each one ending in wicked claws. The head is vaguely alligator-like, and crowned with a pair of bull's horns. Its mouth seems to be without lips, and with a bent that almost makes the beast look like it's grinning. Altogether, it looks like something that was made by a very drunk Creator out of spare parts. Most disturbingly to you, it seems REAL in a way that the creatures of the Hedge aren't: it seems to breathe in its sleep out of a genuine need for oxygen, not out of narrative convenience.

>Throw rocks at it and run.

>Try and pull some quills from its back.

>Write-In

>>1484449
>Throw rocks at it and run.

>>1484449
>Throw rocks at it and run.

>>1484449
>Throw rocks at it and run.
This is some hillbilly level shit here.
I love it

>>1484449
>Throw rocks at it and run.

Rolled 4, 2, 8, 10, 5 = 29 (5d10)

>>1484460
>>1484465
>>1484535
You grab some loose rocks off of the ground, back up about halfway to the mouth, and start whipping them at the hodag. You get to three before you see the giant thing stirring, hear a bellow like a steam train falling down a deep well, and feel a blast of hot, rancid air across your face. You run. You run hard.

Roll Dexterity + Athletics (3 dice). Must beat above roll. Remember that you can spend Willpower to add three dice, and a point of glamour to get 9-again on Dexterity rolls.

Rolled 2, 8, 4 = 14 (3d10)

>>1484660
I'll spend the glamour

Rolled 3, 10, 10, 2, 6, 6 = 37 (6d10)

>>1484660
spend spend spend

Rolled 3, 1, 7, 10, 2, 10 = 33 (6d10)

>>1484660

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d10)

>>1484678
pop

Rolled 3, 6 = 9 (2d10)

>>1484681

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1484660
Exploding.

Rolled 7, 4, 10, 8, 7 = 36 (5d10)

>>1484678
>>1484683
You get halfway down the hill before the hodag catches up with you. You can hear its thundering steps behind you, feel its breath on your neck- and then a claw comes arcing towards your spine.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1484748
You feel claws shredding into your back.

Rolled 1, 4, 9 = 14 (3d10)

>>1484752
And then you're falling, head over heels, down the hill, bouncing and thudding along.

Rolled 10, 4, 9, 4, 3 = 30 (5d10)

>>1484756
You roll as you hit bottom, throwing most of the force off, but you still ACHE everywhere, and your back's screaming mercy. You can feel something slick and wet running down your back. (You've taken 2 points of lethal damage and 1 point of bashing damage).

"KEEP RUNNING JERRY! KEEP RUNNING, FOR GOD'S SAKE! IT'S GAINING ON YOU!"

You pick yourself up and sprint towards the tree.

Roll Dexterity + Athletics again, with the same opportunities to add dice/roll benefits. Once again, must beat above roll.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1484767
Exploding.

Rolled 5, 3, 6, 8, 3, 3 = 28 (6d10)

>>1484767
Spending it all this time.

>>1484772
(Going to bed now, BTW. Have to get a functional sleep schedule before SUMMER CLASSES. HAHAHAHAHHAHAA kill me )

Rolled 9, 1, 6, 1, 10, 1 = 28 (6d10)

>>1484767

Rolled 3, 1 = 4 (2d10)

>>1484788

Rolled 10, 9, 8, 7, 9, 6 = 49 (6d10)

>>1484767

Definitely spending

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1484887

Boom

>>1484892

Smaller boom

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1484895

Shit

>>1484887
>>1484892
>>1484895
>>1484898
THANK YOU

>>1484892
>>1484887

Thank you anon, you're a life saver!

>>1484887
>>1484892
You barrel towards the cage, hodag hot on your heels. At the very last second, you twist out of the way, ignoring the complaints of your injured back. The hodag tries to put on the brakes, but only ends up sliding forward mostly into the cage, with the exception of its tail. Diana brings her hands together. "Αλυσίδα το θηρίο στο σίδερο!"
The rust suddenly flakes off of the cage as its bars twist like snakes, flattening and twisting down into the earth. Within seconds, the beast is pinned flat to the ground.

"Ah... Good work, Jerry!" Diana reaches back into her pockets and pulls out two pair of gloves. She tosses a set to you. "Mind helping me pull the spines? Might as well build up a stockpile of these things while I can."

You put on the gloves and start pulling. The spines are deeply rooted in the flesh: you can hear the beast groan in discomfort with every one you pull, and a few have wet blood on the root when you pull it out.

>Isn't this a bit cruel?

>So, what's so special about these spines?

>That was a neat trick you did with the cage.

>So, earlier, when you were talking about the laws of magic. Bringing the dead back to life? Making life? Your magic can really do that?

>Write-In

>>1486212
>>Isn't this a bit cruel?

>>1486212
>Isn't this a bit cruel?

>>1486212
>Isn't this a bit cruel?
>So, what's so special about these spines?

>>1486212
>So, what's so special about these spines?

>>1486217
>>1486222
>>1486243
"Isn't this a bit cruel?"

"As opposed to what, killing it? Hodags don't need their spines to hunt, and they'll grow back in about six months."

"Why aren't we killing it, anyways? You said these things eat people!"

"Preferentially, yes, but this area's marked as a DOD training area, off-limits to the public and forest service. Unless someone's a REALLY stupid poacher, they aren't ending up back here, and the hodag will just eat wild game and other magical beasts that might form around here."

>Form?

>Can't we just knock it out?

>Well, you're the expert.

>Write-In

>>1486422
>>Form?

>>1486422
> Form?

>>1486422
>Form?

>>1486422
>Form?

>>1486428
>>1486429
>>1486435
>>1486438

"Wait- you said 'form'? These things, what, just fall out of the sky?"

Diana smirks and chokes back a giggle. "No... it's more... these creatures require magic to come into being. Put enough unharnessed magic in one place and they start to turn up. Take them away from it, and... well, sometimes they turn into normal animals, but a lot of the time, they just... fall apart. But it's not like they come out of thin air! They originate in the Supernal, which is... well, it's the place where magic comes from."

>What's it like?

>Hate to see what it's like if things like this come out of there.

>Thanks for the lesson, professor. Now let's bundle these spines up and get out of here.

>So... how did you and Rain meet? I mean, he's a human.

>Write-In

>>1486530
> Hate to see what it's like if things like this come out of there.

>>1486530
>Hate to see what it's like if things like this come out of there.
>What's it like?

>>1486608
this

>>1486608
Seconding this.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>1486536
>>1486608
>>1486674
"I hate to see what this Supernal place is like if this thing's from there. What's it like?"

"...Actually... no one really knows. The Supernal's cut off from the world. You see, in the past, they were connected, and magic was everywhere. Everyone could use it, and humanity had a golden age! But then, a rift called the Abyss formed between the Supernal and the world. Now, only a few people can use magic, and mana only occurs at mana wells, instead of being everywhere. And magic is dangerous to use frivolously, because it can be corrupted."

"Oh..."

"It's fine, it's fine. The Golden Age of Magic was hundreds of thousands of years ago."

The two of you finish pulling the spines off the hodag and Diana smears something around the eyes of the hodag. You watch its twitching against its bonds slow and its eyes close slowly. "There, that should be good."
You start heading back towards the car...

>>1486737
You spot a pickup in the dirt lot as you crest the ridge. A trio of people are standing around the back, unloading equipment of some kind from the bed. It looks like two women and one man.

"Oh, drat. Hey, Jerry, listen. Let's just... hide behind that tree for a few minutes, okay? Just until those three are off to do... whatever they're doing."

>Why? You owe them money or something?

>You know them?

>Let me guess: enemy witches or something.

>Write-In

>>1486754
>Let me guess: enemy witches or something.

Follow instructions

>>1486754
>I can listen in on them if you tell me who i'm spying on later; i'm pretty sneaky.

>>1486754
>Let me guess: enemy witches or something.

>>1486754
>Let me guess: enemy witches or something.

>>1486763
>>1486796
>>1486851
"Let me guess: enemy witches or something."

"Oh, no, nothing like that, it's just..." Diana blushes like a schoolgirl. "Rebecca makes my skin crawl."

>Fine, we'll hide.

>For Christ's sake, Diana, you're an adult! Just deal with her!

>Write-In

>>1487132
>For Christ's sake, Diana, you're an adult! Just deal with her!

>>1487132
>For Christ's sake, Diana, you're an adult! Just deal with her!

>>1487132
>Fine, we'll hide.

We're still unpracticed on the relations Mages have with each other, no sense in pushing something that might backfire

>>1487132
>>Fine, we'll hide.

but i'm going to listen in on them

>>1487132
>>1487367
This works. Let's see why she's so afraid of Rebecca from a safe distance

>>1487304
>>1487367

I'll switch to trying to listen in on them so it's got 3 votes

>>1487132
>Fine, we'll hide.
"In a 'You know what she does way' or just in a 'weird soccermom' way?"

>>1487367
>>1487409
>>1488221
>>1488224
"Fine, we'll hide. ...How does she creep you out? Are we talking about a grocery clerk who makes too much eye contact, or a handsy uncle here?"

"...I'll tell you later."
The pair of you squat in some bushes nearby. You perk up your ears to listen in on the distant trio...

Roll Wits + Composure (4 dice). Must get 2 successes.

Rolled 10, 1, 10, 3 = 24 (4d10)

>>1488305

Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d10)

>>1488305

Rolled 2, 10, 2, 5 = 19 (4d10)

>>1488305

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1488335

Rolled 6, 7, 8, 4 = 25 (4d10)

>>1488305

Rolled 4, 9, 9, 7 = 29 (4d10)

>>1488315
>>1488319
"...thing broke, fortunately, so we should be able to set up quickly." (This is coming from one of the women: a demure, red-haired girl wearing a single braid, glasses, and a loose, floppy dress.)

"Thank gods for that, at least we won't spend half the day twiddling our thumbs, eh 'Becca?" (This comes from the man: a short Asian fella dressed in a tank-top and ratty jeans).

"Good, good. More time for me to collect... samples for my studies...." (This is coming from the other woman: tall, gangly, with a maggoty-pale complexion, brown, straw-like hair that seems to hang down wherever, deep, dark bags under her eyes, and AWFUL dental hygiene, dressed in a plain white one-piece suit with thick gloves, an apron with many handles sticking out of the pouch, and an honest-to-God widebrim pointy hat).

"Uh, great... do you mind helping Kaminari and I unload this stuff, maybe?..."

"Yes. I do."

"Oh. Well, I guess it's just the two of us, huh?"

"This is bullshit, 'Becca! You never help us set up for these geomantic measurements! We're a cabal, we're supposed to be a TEAM."

"I never wanted to be in a cabal."

"Then why are you?"

"Because Lacrymosa asked, since you have to have three members to register with the Council. And because it's funny when you get worked up~"

The group starts to pass near to your hiding spot: roll a Dexterity + Stealth check. Must beat above roll.

Rolled 3, 2, 7, 9, 4 = 25 (5d10)

>>1488571

Do we get a bonus for Stealthing in forests or a penalty when stealthing outside of forests?

>>1488587
Oh, yeah. +1 Bonus in forests. My bad.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1488587
>>1488601

Thanks

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1488657

Boom

Rolled 1, 3, 9, 8, 1, 9 = 31 (6d10)

>>1488571
Rolling!!

Rolled 3, 3, 6, 7, 2, 8 = 29 (6d10)

>>1488571

>>1488735
The group passes you by without comment. After waiting a minute, Diana clears the bushes. "Okay, let's leave, before Rebecca tries to find me."

The two of you get into the car and start driving away.

>Why would she be looking for you?

>Seems like a lovely trio.

>Do you have a cabal, Diana?

>Write-In

>>1489037
>Seems like a lovely trio.
>Do you have a cabal, Diana?

>>1489037
>Seems like a lovely trio.
>Why would she be looking for you?

>>1489037
>Why would she be looking for you?

>>1489127

>>1490178
>>1489127

I meant, this

>>1489127
>>1490181
"Seems like a lovely trio. Why would they be looking for you?"

"Well... Rebecca's an alchemist, too, so she's always trying to talk shop with me, but her work... god, it's just awful! If you think I'm being cruel, you don't want to know about what [i]she[/i] does to animals. And the SMELLS! It's like she's never heard the phrase 'ventilation' in her life. Glad I'm clear of her. Plus, she dresses like a hag."

>Maybe you should introduce her to the concept.

>Don't knock hags: I've met plenty of perfectly nice hags.

>Yeah, she reminds me of someone...

>Doesn't sound like you've given her an honest chance.

>Write-In

>>1491887
>Don't knock hags: I've met plenty of perfectly nice hags.

>Lean in and whisper "And their ears are everywhere."

Playing off the whole don't insult the Good Folk, even if they're not there

>>1491887
>Don't knock hags: I've met plenty of perfectly nice hags.
>Maybe you should introduce her to the concept.

>>1491970
this

>>1491970
this

>>1491970
>>1491975
>>1492010
"Maybe you should introduce her to the concept."

"Yeah, sure. That'd go well."

"It might, you never know. And don't be so quick to knock hags: I know one that's perfectly nice."

"You- oh, yeah. Fairy."

"Yeah. Fairy."

"So... what's she like?"

"The hag? Well..."


>Unstable.

>Smart. Really smart.

>A pain in the ass.

>Dangerous.

>Write-In

>>1492322
>Write-In

All of the above

>>1492391
this

>>1492391
That's about right.

>>1492391
>>1492396
>>1492416
"Unstable. Dangerous. A pain in my ass. But the smartest person I know."

"So... not someone you'd invite for lunch?"

"She invites herself to lunch. At 6 AM. And you're expected to pay."

You roll out of the forest and start winding down the roads that lead back to Portland. The summer sun shines through a thin cloud, and a light drizzle starts to fall, casting crystal rainbows over the dash...

"...eat her."

"What?"

"Mary. How did you meet her? I mean, she calls you dad, there has to be some kind of story there."


>I'd rather not get into it.

>I needed someone in my life besides me. She was it.

>We came back around the same time, she needed someone. I couldn't just let her be.

>I helped her get all the way back, mentally. She barely even spoke when we first met.

>Write-In

>>1492796
>I needed someone in my life besides me. She was it.
>And she needed someone too, I suppose.

>>1492796
>I needed someone in my life besides me. She was it.
>We came back around the same time, she needed someone. I couldn't just let her be.
It's kind of the same with terry as well

>>1492796
>We came back around the same time, she needed someone. I couldn't just let her be.

>>1492796
>I needed someone in my life besides me. She was it.
>We came back around the same time, she needed someone. I couldn't just let her be.

>>1492853
>>1493053
"I needed someone in my life besides me when I came back. She was it. I was alone, but she was alone and a child. She needed someone. I couldn't just leave her to fend for herself."

"...God, she was taken too?"

"You don't get kid fairies naturally, Diana."

"I didn't... You're doing the right thing, Jerry."

"God, I hope I am. Drop me off here, I'll walk the rest of the way. See you."

You walk the last three blocks back to your apartment in thoughtful silence.

The apartment's still threadbare, with a bed barely slept-in (you've been sleeping in a dumpster out back you emptied out and converted into a crude shelter: you aren't sure you want to give up the benefits of the outdoors life yet). You throw your coat on the hook on the back of the door and sit down in the recliner.

>(Sloth) Getting mauled left you tired: maybe you should take a nap.

>(Sloth) You don't feel like doing much after the events of this morning: maybe you should watch some TV?

>The Nook Man probably needs his groceries delivered for this week: doing that should get some more information out of him.

>You've gotten out of touch with the day-to-day happenings on the street: something occult could be going down. Maybe it's time to check in.

>Wonder how Terry's doing: maybe you should give him a ring.

>That Easterner still wants his duel: maybe you can arrange a neutral meeting with his bosses and stop this before it gets dangerous.

>Maybe today's the day I finally hitch a ride out to Boring, see what's really up with that town.

>Write-In

>>1493115
>(Sloth) Getting mauled left you tired: maybe you should take a nap.

>>1493115
>(Sloth) Getting mauled left you tired: maybe you should take a nap.

>>1493115
>(Sloth) Getting mauled left you tired: maybe you should take a nap.

Rolled 4, 5, 5, 7 = 21 (4d10)

>>1493129
>>1493134
>>1493150
You climb into bed (the one in the apartment, not your real one outside) and fall asleep before your head hits the pillow...

>>1493179
You wake up a couple hours later feeling bleary and faintly unsettled. You can't quite remember what you dreamed about.
>(You've recovered 1 Willpower)
>(Sloth) You still don't feel like doing much after the events of this morning: maybe you should watch some TV?

>The Nook Man probably needs his groceries delivered for this week: doing that should get some more information out of him.

>You've gotten out of touch with the day-to-day happenings on the street: something occult could be going down. Maybe it's time to check in.

>Wonder how Terry's doing: maybe you should give him a ring.

>That Easterner still wants his duel: maybe you can arrange a neutral meeting with his bosses and stop this before it gets dangerous.

>Maybe today's the day you finally hitch a ride out to Boring, see what's really up with that town.

>Write-In

>>1493185
Can we just do the duel with this dude? If so thats my vote.

>>1493185
>>The Nook Man probably needs his groceries delivered for this week: doing that should get some more information out of him.

>>1493192
Yeah, you can skip ahead if you want.

>>1493185
>The Nook Man probably needs his groceries delivered for this week: doing that should get some more information out of him.
>You've gotten out of touch with the day-to-day happenings on the street: something occult could be going down. Maybe it's time to check in.

Let's try to get info

>>1493185
>The Nook Man probably needs his groceries delivered for this week: doing that should get some more information out of him.
>You've gotten out of touch with the day-to-day happenings on the street: something occult could be going down. Maybe it's time to check in.

>>1493185
>>Maybe today's the day you finally hitch a ride out to Boring, see what's really up with that town.

>>1493185
>The Nook Man probably needs his groceries delivered for this week: doing that should get some more information out of him.
>You've gotten out of touch with the day-to-day happenings on the street: something occult could be going down. Maybe it's time to check in.

>>1494062
ill switch to this, but i do want that duel to go down at some point

>>1494062
>>1494377
>>1494620
>>1494775
You take the groceries up to the slot on the door...

"About time someone got these... oh, it's you again! Listen, I don't have much time to talk right now, I'm pretty sure the CIA's about to beat the scrambler I use to disrupt their bugs, but be careful. These streets, they aren't safe anymore. Oh, they look safe enough, sure, but they aren't! Two threats, two threats... The first one, oh, it's a baddie. Line of bodies running from Cabrini Green right to our East, and it's the same killer every time. Different methods, maybe, but the same class of victim. He's a wily one, this string killer. Probably a CIA kill-bot that wasn't deprogrammed right. Pack a gun, if you've got one.
Now the other one, that's more tricky. What is MaxMart, exactly? I'll tell you what it isn't: a company that existed ten years ago. But all of a sudden, its everywhere! A franchise even! And I don't think there's a sector of business they aren't reaching their hands into. Where did they come from? What do they want? Listen, that's all the time I have. Remember: don't use public phones, there's subliminal messages in the dial tone."

>>1496172
Well, that went about as well as you expected. You might as well see what the word on the street is...

"Oh, hey Jerry! You haven't been around in a while. I actually wanted to tell you something. Y'see, there's this rumor going around that the city's in talks to sell part of Forest Park off to a logging company, let them cut it clean. I know you love that park, man. I thought you should know."

"Oh, man, it's YOU, man! Always good to see you man? So... you got a- thanks, man. I mean, really, thanks. Not getting a lot of people stopping to listen anymore. Not since that new guy started playing. Short, skinny dude with a violin or something, I think he used to play in, like, an orchestra or something? Real old, real nice piece. Anyways, he don't say a word or anything, just plays, and the music- it's crazy, man, like, way far out. And more power to him for that, but folks like me gotta eat, and this guy's sucking all the air out of the room! It's killing me! Where's he play? Well, usually it's around sundown, on one of the big squares. Man, I need to start actually waking up in the mornings to get any change."

"Oh, Jerry. How's it going? Listen, if you're still bench-surfing like me, stay the HELL away from Cathedral Park this week. Heat's up there. Some poor kid was found cut open under one of the bridge arches. They're saying it's some murderous drifter, but they think it could have been an escapee from that riot at that nuthouse on the coast. Just watch your back."

"Jerry! JERRY! LISSEN'TA'ME! This is important! I knows you think I'm crazy, everyone does, but I ain't foolin' ya! They're looking for you! The jailers! The lighthouse badge, the man bound like a mummy, the men with nets and needles, it was all true, weren't it? I knows it is! I seed another vision las' night, when I was huffing paint! Jaws of black oil, so hungry as to swaller the world! Doctors wearing rags to drive off the corpse-eaters! The dead's persecuters gonna come after you and yer kin, and a friend who's a stranger will mend what is broken! Don't trust the ministers; ken to the thorns!... That's it. That's what I got to tell ye. Good luck, an' godblessye."


It's getting on in the day after your news round-up. What are your plans for the next few days?

>Nothing, really (skip ahead to the duel).

>Investigate a rumor (which one?)

>Go Hedge-Scavenging.

>Write-In

>>1496179
>Investigate a rumor (which one?)

Let's go check out that violin player, sounds like that should be one of our people or related. We should also put the Forest Park sale on our watchlist, that's one of our triggers

>>1496179
>>Investigate a rumor (which one?)

cathedral park, seems like a nutjob from lighthouse or we can find the lighthouse people themselves. I think they are after us

>>1496179
I'll start a new thread based on your feedback tomorrow evening. Sorry I haven't been more attentive: things have been crazy on my end. Mea culpa.

>>1497248

No worries mate, thanks for running and I will be here as always

>>1496179
>Investigate a rumor (which one?)

>>1496179
>>1497295
FUCK I'm retarded
The murders from Cabrini Green to our East

>>1497248

Thanks for running m8, I really like your thing and I'll be here next time as always too

>>1496179
>>Investigate a rumor (which one?) Check out boring

>>1497248
Need a tiebreaker:
>>1496425
>>1496568
>>1497299
>>1499612

New thread tomorrow morning.

>>1502068
Well, obviously, next afternoon instead. RL stuff came up. And will advance with body investigation.

>>1505981

>>1509111

New thread.