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>>2882219

[2/2]

Goo Hwi, the nice, blind, Eastern old man that you've seen pulp monstrosities with nothing more than a pair of gauntlets, is walking out of the Dragon's Lair Inn with his bag of belongings strung over his shoulder.

"John," He calls out to you as he approaches, that usual, kindly smile spreading across his face, "What a pleasant surprise; haven't seen you in well over a month at this point."

You return the smile as best you can, though his odd body language and tone of voice prevents it from being genuine, "Yeah, things got a bit hectic for a while. I'm hoping to keep it that way for as long as I can."

The old man nods, not saying anything directly in response. There's an awkward few seconds, as you, and neither he apparently, know what exactly to say.

Eventually, you decide to break the silence, "Goo Hwi, is something going on?"

"I'm leaving Shirahoro, John," The peaceful look on his face contradicts your one of confusion, "It's been wonderful to spend so much time with you, but, seeing as my journey is not yet over, it's about time I continued on my way."

Your response?
> "Well, good luck to you then"
> "Have you talked to Sierra?"
> "Are you sure, Goo Hwi?"
> Other

>>2882250
"Where are you heading? and have you talked to Sierra?"

Im going to miss the old geezer

>>2882250
>Have you talked to Sierra?"

>>2882250
> "Have you talked to Sierra?"

>>2882250
>> "Have you talked to Sierra?"
Come visit some time, okay?

>>2882250
> "Have you talked to Sierra?"

>Are you sure, Goo Hwi?

>>2882250
>> "Have you talked to Sierra?"

>>2882250
>> "Have you talked to Sierra?"

>>2882264
>>2882276
>>2882279
>>2882518
>>2882550
>>2883176
>>2883597
>>2883893

Sierra it is.

Writin'

>>2882250

There's a few seconds where all you can do is stand there in silence. You won't kid yourself by thinking you were close to the old man, but still.

He helped train you in sword fighting, refining your rubbish technique into something approaching such and that alone has probably kept you alive on more than one occasion.

He helped ensure you and Sierra survived the Fall of Bo Shan.

And you don't know what exactly to say to that.

Eventually, you force yourself to speak, "Have... have you spoken to Sierra about this?"

The smile across Goo Hwi's face doesn't falter, "Yes. We talked while you were away on some kind of 'business trip'. I'll admit, she wasn't exactly pleased about it either, but that's alright."

You nod, because there's not much else to say.

"We likely won't ever meet again, John, but I'm glad to have met you."

As the old man goes to walk past you, you step in front of him. There's the barest hint of confusion that grace his features before you offer your hand to him one last time. He accepts it, though even if he crushed your hand during it you didn't feel it.

And with that, he strides past you and disappears into the crowd.

Gone, just like that.

Standing in front of the Dragon's Lair, you're broken out of your thoughts by a drop of something cold hitting your face. Looking up, you watch the first flakes of snow fall out of the sky.

Now what?
> Head into the Inn and see if Gang Ryong is around.
> Head over to the Main Bastion and see if Sun is around.
> Head over to Eden Hall; you need a drink.
> Head back to the shop; you need to continue your work.
> Other

>>2892976
>> Head into the Inn and see if Gang Ryong is around.

>>2892976
>> Head into the Inn and see if Gang Ryong is around.

>>2892976
>> Head over to Eden Hall; you need a drink.

>>2892976
>Take a look to see if gang is here

the guy won't like us, but we should round out all our acquaintances if we can. see how they are

>>2892976
>> Head over to Eden Hall; you need a drink.

> Head into the Inn and see if Gang Ryong is around.
Soon after we should focus on our core job: artificing. Maybe we should also think about getting us an apprentice / ordinary worker to do the small jobs and preparations for us.

>>2892976
Shit. I wanted to offer him another gadget for the way.

>>2893504
Don’t we have Sarah as apprentice?

>>2893504
we have one, dutch banged her

>>2893546
>>2893545

Both correct.

>>2893504

Archmage's job offer is currently the only one on John's table right now. You could always do some self-study, but there's not much in the way of money to be made in that field at the money.

>>2893504
>>2893018
>>2893000
>>2892988

Gang Ryong it is.

Writin'

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>>2892976

Brushing a few errant flakes out of your eyes, you look over at the quiet visage of the Dragon's Lair Inn. Now that you're thinking about it, it's been a while since you've stopped by.

Considering that you didn't get another midnight visit from a pissed off Eastern teen, Gang Ryong must have taken the old man's injuries at the hands of that vampire better than you anticipated.

Either way, since you're here you might as well enter.

The interior is just as quiet as the exterior, with not a single customer in the place. Instead, the quiet sounds of work being done come from small opening leading into the kitchen. You imagine Yerin is the source of it, but that's not where your attention is drawn to.

Instead, you glance over to a darker part of the restaurant where the teen in question is doing his damnest to clean up but to your eye he's brooding up one hell of a storm over there. To anyone else, Ryong might have been able to pull it off, but you're well acquainted with the dark, stormy look in his eyes. Then, he notices your presence and snaps right out of it.

You know you're in for it when that steely gaze locks onto you, but it's still a damn sight better than the previous.

"John," He breaks the stalemate between the two of you, setting his broom aside as he strides forwards, "What a pleasant surprise."

That tone sets your own gaze into a light glare, not particularly happy with the implication in it.

Your response?
> "Is that how you greet a customer?"
> "I'm gonna miss the old man too, but don't give me that shit Ryong."
> "You're a smart guy, so pull your damn head out of your ass."
> Other

>>2897960
> "I'm gonna miss the old man too, but don't give me that shit Ryong."

>>2897960
>> "I'm gonna miss the old man too, but don't give me that shit Ryong."

>>2897960
>> "I'm gonna miss the old man too, but don't give me that shit Ryong."

>>2898169
>>2898120
>>2898113

Ain't taking no shit here today.

Writin'

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>>2897960

Staring down a guy who, despite being both younger and shorter than you, you know for a fact has more than a few tricks up his sleeves. The simple fact that he's some kind of protege for one of Goo Hwi's deceased friends sets off enough alarm bells, never mind your brief interaction on your first night in the city and the way he's caring himself right now, but after everything you've been through isn't even close to intimidating you.

You've stood face to face against living nightmares and walked away; some pumped up brat doesn't make you flinch.

"I'm gonna miss the old man too," Starting slowly, you step right up to the Eastern teen and don't even attempt to hide the fact that you're looking down at him, "But don't give me that shit Ryong. We don't seem to see eye to eye on a damn thing, but even I know you've got enough respect for Goo Hwi to honor his choice."

For a second, it looks as if you've finally broken through to the bastard.

Then his glare intensifies and he aims a punch right for your face.

> Roll me three 1d100+5's please

Rolled 33 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2898247

Man, fuck this guy.

Rolled 79 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2898247
Really, man? Not cool.

Rolled 16 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2898247

>>2898260

That's an 84, Bare Success.

Writin'

>>2898247

Reacting on nothing but instinct, you throw both your hands up and catch the fist with your open palms. The sheer shock of the blow's impact travels up your arms, only stopping halfway up your triceps before it fades away while you skid across the wooden floor for a second before you halt. There's several seconds where the two of you just stand there, glaring back at one another as neither of you is willing to make the first move to break away.

Fucking hell can this kid punch...

"Are the two of you going to be long? I'd like to get some sleep tonight."

Glancing over, you and Ryong look to where Yerin is pulling the cloth that she keeps her hair up with while cooking. With no intention of giving up quite yet, you are a bit surprised to feel the heavy pressure suddenly release.

"Don't worry about it, Yerin," The kid's got his usual, wide smile across his face as he speaks, "Just head on up now; once I finish cleaning up, I'll head up as well."

The doubt is clear across her face, as she no doubt heard your heated words before, but she nods either way, "Alright, see you in the morning then." Her gentle footsteps echo as she walks out of the restaurant to where, you presume, her lodgings here are.

The instant the sound dies off, Ryong rounds on you, "Listen here I-"

When he cuts himself off, you look at him quizzically. It's not like him to hold back on you; hell, just a second ago he tried to clean your clock.

But when he opens his mouth you're not expecting what he says, "John, why are your eyes black?"

[1/2]

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>>2898553

[2/2]

You pause at that, not because you don't know how it's happening but rather the why that's eluding you.

"And for that matter, why didn't..." Gang Ryong trails off, looking at his right fist before flexing it a few times. Eventually, he just growls out due to some frustration or the other, "Whatever; good night John."

With that, he turn and grab the broom, fully intending to walk off right here and now.

Now what?
> Say something (what?)
> Don't both, just leave

>>2898585
>> Don't bother, just leave

Rolled 23 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2898247

>>2898585
>why didn’t I what?

>>2898585
>>2898671

>>2898585
>Don't say anything

Okay, we can take a hint. and i think that punch should have sent us flying, not just skidding back a few feet. thanks for the help greed.]

>>2898585
>>2898671
second

>>2898585
>> Don't bother, just leave.
Bah.

>>2898598
>>2898671
>>2898835
>>2898844
>>2899132
>>2899172

Technically this is a tie, but it can be worked together.

Writin'

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>>2898585

Before the teen walks fully away, you consider calling out to see what exactly he was about to say.

Then, as you raise your hand to interject, a puff of inky, black smoke floats out from under your jacket's sleeve and just about answers any possible question you could have had.

You almost miss the times before you got involved in all this magic bullshit. At least back then, while you were usually horribly outgunned, outnumbered, and out of your depth, you didn't have to worry about going demonic halfway through a firefight.

Turning on your heel, you walk out of the dark restaurant without another word.

Outside, night has fully taken hold of the city while snow continues to come down. Letting out a shuttering breath produces a stark white plume; you were half expecting it to be pitch black as well at this point.

Navigating the quiet streets of the Earth District, with only the sound of wet snow crunching underfoot to break up the monotony. It's eerily similar to the early winters of Westmire, right down to the way that those still out and about barely make any noise as they're on their way.

Lost in your thoughts and memories, you're brought back into the present when you nearly walk face-first into your front door. Fishing around for your keys, you unlock the door and head in.

Setting most of your weaponry back in your workshop, you remember to turn on the shop's heater before doing anything else. Throwing your jacket over your chair, you consider what to do next.

Now what?
> Work on another project (what?)
> See if you can get a better grip on your mana; it's been acting up far more than it ever has before
> Just get some sleep while you still can
> Other

>>2900690
>> See if you can get a better grip on your mana; it's been acting up far more than it ever has before
Control

>>2900690
> See if you can get a better grip on your mana; it's been acting up far more than it ever has before

>>2900690
>> Work on another project (what?)
>The Advanced Exo-Suit.

I want my suit again before we go back in the shit.

>>2900703
>>2900700

Practice Control it is.

> Roll me three 1d100+2's please

Rolled 21 + 2 (1d100 + 2)

>>2900756
Beh. Fine, let's go.

Rolled 1 + 2 (1d100 + 2)

>>2900756

Let's give chaos a hug and see if it just needs a friend.

Rolled 67 + 2 (1d100 + 2)

>>2900756

>>2900766

Well, that's certainly interesting.

Burn 1 FP to negate the critfail and take the 69 instead?
> Y
> N

>>2900766
.....Why....

>>2900779
> Y

>>2900779
>> Y

>>2900787
>>2900783

You have lost: 1 Fate Point! 1 Fate Point remaining!

>>2900773

That's a 69, let's see what it gets you.

Writin'

>>2900690

Slumping into your chair, you consider just how... strange your magic has been acting lately. Normally, it's a reluctant, coy thing; a bare minimum reserve that acted as a way of keeping you alive for another precious few seconds.

But now, something has changed. Your magic is now almost eager, coming up the well containing it with nary a thought as it is right now. Sitting at your workbench, hands stretched out before you, you watch the black smoke twirl between your fingers. That's another thing that's changed; gone is the dark gray that defined your magic going active and it's, apparently, been replaced by the pitch black variant that you first commanded on that dark night over a month ago when you squared off against an ancient vamp. You know you're not in that same state, as you feel it's distinct absence now that you think about it, but your mana now bares that telltale coloring.

Closing your eyes, you focus inward; following the 'path' that leads to your pitiful reserves. You vaguely remember Sierra's lesson on meditation and how you can use it to examine yourself; like taking apart a mysterious piece of machinery in pursuit of its secrets.

It's only a few seconds before you feel your sense of self rapidly erode, flying past the point where your senses all go black.

[1/2]

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>>2900855

[2/2]

Spread out before you is the night sky in all it's vast greatness. Thousands upon thousands of lights glitter in your view, seemingly like they go on end for all of eternity.

But then you notice that it's not quite the same, as the night sky doesn't normally contain a dull red hue to it.

And that's when you can feel it in you, in your gut, that this is something else entirely.

It's...

It's...

Primordial.

Raw power incarnate.

Vast, rolling waves of carnage and fire. Well beyond the stories of gods and ancient civilizations, you wonder for a brief moment why you've spent so much of your life worrying about every insignificant piece of metal stuck in the mud and muck when this has been here, apparently right under your feet, all this time.

Then your thoughts seize up as you feel yourself being pulled in.

The temptation to let go, to let yourself be absorbed into something far, far greater than yourself, is overwhelming and for several seconds you can feel yourself descending into the churning collection of infinite fire.

Then your head slams back into something, your vision going white from the overlapping spots that cover it. Doing your best to ignore the pain now lancing through you, you glance about whatever strange area you're in now.

The majority of it is shrouded in darkness, which is a nice change of pace, but in the center of the room, surrounded by said darkness, is a single, lonely fire. It burns away steadily, showing no signs of going out anytime soon, but it only holds your attention for a brief moment as you see rents in the floor through which thick, billowing black smoke rises out of. Curiosity striking you, you come up beside the nearest one and take a peak down.

You immediately duck back as you catch sight of that same, vast red... thing. Where you would begin to even father what it is is beyond you at the moment, so you ignore it in favor of stepping back for now.

What in the world is all this?

> Roll me three 1d100's please. Just for fun.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>2900873

'ere we go!

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>2900873
Phew

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>2900873
>Rock and roll.

Either something Very Bad happens or OP has a private life (outrageous!). Either way, I urgently want to know the current state of our magic.

>>2901208
He does like keeping us in suspense, Or possibly the internet cut out. Is there some bad weather in america? [i think thats where storyT is]

>>2901211

It's about 2AM there, he's probably in bed.

>>2901214
Sleeping? The indignity. QM's can't possibly be a regular human desire to sleep, how are we supposed to get our quests fix now?!?!

>>2901208

John's magic is a bit of a mess currently. It's an unanticipated side-effect of the events of the crossover arc; there's a few of those.

>>2901211

There was a good amount of rain yesterday, but I'm far enough north to not get anything worse than a downpour from the storm.

>>2900878

That's a 65, Failure.

Writin'

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>>2900873

With a jolt, you sit up straight as you blink blearily. Rubbing your face, you look about the dark interior of your workshop.

Huh, you must have fallen asleep at some point; weird.

The sound of the front door opening up full breaks you from your thoughts. You've got a good idea of who that is, so you stand up and flick the workshop's light on.

"John? You still awake?" Quiet footsteps come up and Sierra pokes her head in from the storefront. She's still in her work uniform, a simple white blouse with a red ribbon over a black pencil skirt. You normally don't see her in it, the grand re-opening the other day aside, so you make sure to give her a long, appreciative glance over. Naturally, she goes a bit pink once she notices, "W-What?"

"Nothing," Grinning, you walk over and pull her into a firm hug. You can feel a bit of tension leave the elf as she returns the embrace, you both enjoying it for a few more seconds before you pull away, "You have a good day at work?"

She leans against your shoulder, humming appreciatively that elicits a chuckle out of you.

Heading upstairs, you each go through your routines of getting ready for the night, mostly changing into a clean set of clothing for yourself before lying down. A few seconds later, Sierra joins you. You sigh contently at the comfortable weight against your side.

Now what?
> Ask Sierra how she feels about Goo Hwi leaving?
> Ask Sierra if she'd be interested in a return trip to Bo Shan.
> Ask Sierra something else.
> Just enjoy her company.

>>2901782
>Ask her how she is feeling, then talk about a return trip.

>>2901782
>> Ask Sierra how she feels about Goo Hwi leaving?

>>2901782
Ask her about how she’s feeling, then about Bo Shan. We are it thrilled about the prospect but we could learn more about our condition...

Also, when was last time we visited her bro?

>>2901829
when we had the girls round, getting drunk. a week or so ago i think

>>2901782
>> Just enjoy her company.

>>2901818
>>2901828
>>2901829
>>2907570

Time for a chat.

Writin'

>>2901782

Considering the mostly contained insanity that's been occurring this past year, you truly do cherish these quiet moments. There's no vamps or any other garden variety of freak knocking on your door, no pressing crisis that requires your specific skill set, and no bloody trains.

Still, thanks to your respective jobs, you also don't get a chance to talk to your girlfriend very often either, "So, Goo Hwi's left the city."

The elf murmurs something, shifting against you for a moment before replying, "Mmm... He said he wanted to talk to you before leaving but you were out on that job at the time; guess that happened then?"

"Yeah, it did. Wasn't much of a talk, but was still one I suppose. Did you two talk about anything major?"

"Kinda. The usual goodbyes and all that. Although..." Rolling over, Sierra looks you dead in the eye, "The old man said that he thought things would turn out alright."

That gets an raised eyebrow out of you, "'Things'?"

"He didn't really specify, though, oddly, he did mention he knew you'd be fine, regardless of what occurred."

Well, you're not sure how to respond to that, "... that's a lot of faith on his part."

Any other discussion is temporary cut off by a quick kiss, "Don't disrespect your elders, John."

You just snort in response, "You might want me to when I tell you whose giving me a job offer and where they want me to go: Archmage and Bo Shan."

"What?"

"Yeah. He got word that the burn teams are performing a final sweep, and he wants us to go investigate that strange Sigil I ran into all that time ago."

"Geez..." Rolling off of you, the elf sighs out heavily, "That stupid place. I don't ever want to see it again even if I could get the time off, what with the hotel just being re-opened. And you're certain that they burned it to the ground?"

"Archmage sounded pretty damn confident. I'm sure the bastard's got a hell of an information network, but I don't know any specific. Either way, he, and that alchemist lady that the vampires had hostage, was dead set on this job."

The elf rolls back over at your words, pushing herself above you for a few seconds before giving you another kiss. Pulling back, she gives you a cute attempt at a grin, "That's enough talking for now."

Your retaliation could be seen as far greater than the initial attack, but you don't exactly hear any complaints.

>>2910481
Gotta protect that smile.