>>3615503
it lives!
>cheaper tavern
thrift is a virtue
good accouterments are a reward for victory

>>3616701
It does indeed. I needed some me time after the trip and human interaction, and "some" turned into "buying Rimworld and playing it for several hours straight"

I do require at least 3 votes, to prevent one ancestor from controlling the actions.

>Get a cheaper Tavern. Not as comfortable, but we'll be able to stretch the emergency fund (large as it is) for much longer.

>>3615503
welcome back
>cheaper tavern

>>3615503
>Get a cheaper Tavern. Not as comfortable, but we'll be able to stretch the emergency fund (large as it is) for much longer.

Good. I'll start the actual posting proper tomorrow, with a day ahead of us. Goodnight.

>>3615503

>>3616701
>>3616920
>>3617068
>>3617130
I'll choose the cheaper tavern. probably less comfortable, but certainly cheaper. And I may be able to learn a few things.

I walk in, and ask the rather rotund matron of the establishment for prices of rooms and daily food, and am pleasantly surprised by the price of 5 coppers per room per night, with a full meal only being 5 per meal per person. 2 silvers for a night and day's stay per person (if you don't share) is more than enough to live off of for reasonably skilled laborer. For several skilled adventurers, it's pocket change.

After paying, everyone else gets settled in. I simply drop my bag in my room and...

>Listen to some gossip.
>Ask some questions about the state of the north and the town.
>Go on a jaunt around the city.
>Write in

>>3618934
There you are, you unruly Great Great Grand nephew!
I was getting comfortably back into sleep and you WAKE ME UP AGAIN!!

Now!
Lets go ask about the faiths! HOP TO IT BOY!

3 votes needed

>>3618934
>jaunt around the city
I want to stretch our legs a bit
see how the city has changed

>>3618934
>Go on a jaunt around the city.

we need to buy Fish!

>>3618934
>do a jaunty tune around the city.

>>3618934

>>3619004
>>3619875
>>3619948
>>3620215
Roll 2d20, for the gathering of information and for RANDOM EVENTS

Rolled 6, 10 = 16 (2d20)

>>3620320

Rolled 1, 19 = 20 (2d20)

>>3620320

Rolled 9, 17 = 26 (2d20)

>>3620320

>>3620320

>>3620514
>>3620553
>>3620921
roll 1d10, 1st gets chosen.

>>3621788
I rolled and got a 3, but deleted it because It had a name on it.

It is up to you if that counts.

>>3622006
It is no longer around, so it no longer counts. If you do that again, just leave it and apologize for forgetting to remove the name.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>3622055
Rodger.

>>3621788
Again then.

>>3621788

>>3622006
>>3622059
And one, singular, d4.

Rolled 3 (1d4)

>>3622433
go.

>>3622444
The post will be up tomorrow

>>3622455
night

>>3620320

>>3620514
>>3620553
>>3620921

>>3621788
>>3622059

>>3622433
>>3622444

The news I find on my excursion is grim, very grim. Orcs and Elves at each other's throats to get control of the pass, semi-organized goblin infestations, The dwarves and giants are wanting their land back, and the largest kingdom around is minuscule. The Iron Faith seems to be shattered 6 or 7 different ways and The Queen's Church is entirely separated sects by this point. The Black Faith seems to have the ear of most all of the Midlands of the north. It seems that warlords are also rising and falling at a prodigious rate. Elves are trying, and failing as is usual with such endeavors, to make puppets of the border states. Other kingdoms of man are also trying to expand north, usually releasing their territory after a few years due to a lack of capability to keep a grip on it, but they're getting better at it.

On the way around the city, it seems rather...dull. Extremely so, just monochrome. Nothing supernatural, just a boring color scheme. I also buy some fish, as I could quite literally cook it on my armor, and there is no such thing as too much saving money.

>Roll a d20, and a d3

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3624837

Rolled 4, 9, 2 = 15 (3d10)

>>3624837

>>3624837
Can we get a map?

>>3625220
(Panics in horrible at drawing)

Rolled 10 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>3624837
Sorry what? I was distracted.

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>3624837
Well, adding a d3 sure didn't work like I thought.

One more d20, please.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3626618
hahahaahahahahahahhahahahahaha......fuck

>>3624837

>>3625216
>>3625219
>>3625762
>>3625766
>>3626618
All goes well, and I get back to the tavern and go about my day, the small remainder of it at the least. And then, in the middle of the night out of fucking nowhere, literally just rearranging the supplies in my (windowless) room, there's 6, fucking 6! Of those people I saw on the road, the one leading the procession. And a 7nth, this one clad in pure black full plate and a white, horned(with no horns I've seen on an animal), full helm, quite literally at my throat one hand and aggressively glowing dagger at my helmet's eyeslit, presumably the next rank in the Black Faith, as they seem to be the ones at this... Whatever the shit it is, obviously not an assassination, otherwise we'd be clawing ourselves out of the afterlife by now.

4 of the lesser 6 are holding me down, a 5th looking over me for weapons (other than the sword that They've already removed)

"Who are you really?" Comes that flat, emotionless whisper from the 6th. The 7th remains eerily silent "Our Brother could see through your half-truths, see that more was underneath. Who Are You? Our deeper... Compatirot could hold you here until dawn."

>What do I say? Do I stall? Because that obviously magical dagger WILL hit, and can most likely go through the 1/2 inch of iron that my eyelids are equivalent to. I can survive that once, not having vital organs, but a second hit or jiggling it about a bit will do me in for a while.

>>3627650
I don't get it. How did we get like this?

Did we black out then these guys walking in the room and say "welp there he is grab and and point knives at his face"?

Do a big blast of wind or force and shout I am your king! And start killing them.

>>3627757
Support. Sneekri beekris get the rope.

>>3627650
HALF TRUTHS?! I WILL SHOW YOU HALF TRUTHS!

GREAT GREAT GRANDNEPHEW, I COMMAND THAT YOU ENCASE THEM IN ICE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR SINS FOR ALL TIME!

.....I forget you can't cast spells you disappointment.

Fine, Keep calm, keep steady. And then, of course list off all out titles and deeds and sit the fuck up. If they cause trouble, break the fuckers wrist, and stand, calling in our allies.

We will not be splayed on our back!

>>3627757
Nope, they just appeared out of nowhere, soundlessly, while I was rearranging the bags.

Also, that is beyond my purview, I can make them heavier(much heavier) and emanate heat roughly as strong as an elemental forge fire's

If I focus and direct it, I can crush someone under their own weight and boil them alive.

Also, Please remember, the big one literally has the dagger in the eyeslit of my helmet and they've taken my sword, so it'll be a brawl. Albeit, I can tear a knight in half and break a lesser golem over my knee, but I'll still be somewhat disadvantaged.

>>3628873
>it'll be a brawl
>I'll be disadvantaged
Take control of the situation. Headbutt the knife into your own head and tackle the big one while generating as much heat as possible. Cowardice never got a king anywhere, and the time for diplomacy is long past if they are making such threats

>>3629180
Do you want me to direct it or just spread it?

Also, you'll need to roll to actually convince the guy here, the Holard that You're seeing from the perspective of, to actually Impale himself on a dagger, as he does have a self-preservation instinct.

>>3629206
If the knife is at our eye, jut our head up to move the blade to out armour and headbutt.

Simple as.

If it is within our eye....Ehh...shit.

I still support my actions>>3628446

>>3629221
It is in the helm's eyeslit, but not in the eye itself, meaning that if I were to move it would go directly into my head.

>>3627650

>>3628030
>>3628446
>>3629180
I need a d20. This is to determine if The Ancestors in Holard Breakspear Smith's head can convince him to ram a fucking knife into his skull. More will be asked for if this roll is passed.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

I, uh... I'm sorry dude, but
>>3630270
needs to be linked to
>>3630263
for it to count.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>3630263

>>3630278
He won't do it again my lord, he's just a kid. Mercy my lord.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>3630263

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3630263

>>3630263

>>3630399
>>3630684
>>3631070

Also, we've got 2 valid options for fighting,

>Break the fuckers wrist, and stand, calling in our allies

>Tackle the big one while generating as much heat as possible (tell me whether to direct it or not and where to aim it if we do)


As we physically can't do
>>3627757

>>3631589
>Break the fuckers wrist

I think we could do that faster than he could push the knife in, if we diguised our movements, Calm and casual putting them behind our head in a "I don't give a fuck position" as we talk and list off our titles. then when our hand is close enough, we grab the wrist, break it and get up.

I do need at least 3 votes.

>>3631589
>heat
BURN THEM WITH THE STRENGTH OF YOUR PASSION
IT IS THE BURNING HEART THAT STOKES THE FORGE AND IGNITES THE NATION

>>3631589
>Tackle the big one while generating as much heat as possible
Direct at the heat at the person in charge, he probably has the teleporting ability.

>>3632584
The guy who was speaking or the big guy? Both could be in charge, but he was almost being referred to contemptuously.

>>3632707
The speaker, hard to do magic when you're ON FIRE.

>>3631589

>>3631596
>>3632505
>>3632584
>>3632952

Roll 2d20, one for the tackle(and not letting him remove and reuse the dagger) and the other to boil the speaker in their hide.

Rolled 6, 18 = 24 (2d20)

>>3633097

Rolled 1, 8 = 9 (2d20)

>>3633097

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>3633097

I PUSH MA FINGER INTO MY EYES

>>3633120
2d20 Greatest Grandfather, 2d20

>>3633143
that means I still need one more set.

Rolled 2, 8 = 10 (2d20)

>>3633143

>>3633143
oh i see
I was rolling one to let another person roll another
my bad

>>3634723
That's okay.

Rolled 7 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3633097

>>3633106
>>3633116
>>3634035
Due to a natural one, I need another d20 roll, DC<roll of post here>, every person gets to roll once.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3634743

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>3634743
Roll fuckers.

>>3627650

>>3627757
>>3628030
>>3628446
>>3629180

>>3630263

>>3630399
>>3630684
>>3631070

>>3631589

>>3631596
>>3632505
>>3632584

>>3633097

>>3633106
>>3633116
>>3634035

>>3634743

>>3634754
>>3636039

Are you sure Ancestors?!?! Normally I wouldn't go along with a plan so suicidal, but if it's the only one you can see...

"Again. Who. Are. You."

"The King"

*SHNK*

AHHH FUCK, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR A GHOST TO FEEL PAIN BUT YOU JACKASSES PROVE ME WRONG ONCE AGAIN.

>>Trait Gained: Survival Instinct. Any obviously and directly suicidal plans will now be automatically ignored by Holard's sense of self-preservation.<<

>0/25 Vitality

Everything goes black, then a hazy, purple landscape comes into view. Almost like... Shit, it's the Underworld. I don't care, It might be Hazy and going back out of focus, but now I have to drag my ass out of here! This is the last time I'm following one of your harebrained... Schemes. The World is hazy again, and comes back into focus with trees and snow. It seems we're back, and being dragged in the middle of the night, if the scenery doesn't deceive my eyes. I feel even stronger than before, somehow.

>25/25 Vitality

"How do you think he's still around? He's obviously a ghost, and those usually dissolve after being banished"

"The real question is how he killed Karl. No magic, no motions, just heat and his brain melting out his ears."

"Although his gauntlets are some sort of magic, most of his strength is inherent it seems. They threw our compatriot off of him before dying, a near impossible feat."

As I move my head, I notice something. A ghostly blue collar around the big lad's neck, the links fading off toward each of the lesser followers, and this makes me wonder, what would happen if I broke it?

I certainly could, one of my Blessings is the ability to dampen magic or rend It if I focus.

Upon another look, it appears one of those chains is around my left wrist, and is linked to the big fellow's left, the dagger and a long sword being at their belt.

>Break the cuff (However, I might be able to use it to my advantage if I leave it, as I would be able to effectively always have them grappled)
>Break the big one's collar (This will either result in nothing, or a highly entertaining shitshow)

>>3636081
>Break the big one's collar (This will either result in nothing, or a highly entertaining shitshow)

>>3636081
....It really says a lot that only now you are learning a survival instinct. And I told you to jut yoru head up, but nooooooooo.

>Break the collar, sit up and make a creepy voice. "Hellllloooooooo"

>>3636081
>Break the big one's collar (This will either result in nothing, or a highly entertaining shitshow)

The scenes are weird, how do we get from one to another? Its never really explained.

>>3636258
To be fair, Being dead for any length of time usually strips that from you.

>>3636271
In this case, we almost got kicked into the underworld. Last time, there was presumably short ranged teleportation involved. Totally was involved, you just don't know that

Also, I am... Quite bad at writing properly. This is the first quest I've run that hasn't been drowning in dice and panic, mainly because I've decided to dial it way back at the speed and make as to be able to improve the quality.

>>3636294
I hate to break it too you sonny jim. But Hair brained schemes are what we do best.

This could have all been avoided if you had just learned magic like a good Cold-Iron!

>>3636081
>mortally wounded from putting a little old dagger in the eye
>only killed one edgelord in the process

What happened to this bloodline. Any one of us could have done better butt-naked and human, let alone a powerful wraith in a full suit of armor.

>Break the big one's collar (This will either result in nothing, or a highly entertaining shitshow)

>>3636973
IT WAS GLOWING OMINOUSLY

>>3636987
Excuses excuses.

Rolled 13, 16, 4, 3, 4 = 40 (5d20)

>>3636081

>>3636139
>>3636258
>>3636271
>>3636973
Roll a d20, for your new "friend"'s performance

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>3638763
Lets go fuckers.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>3638763
dice don't fail me now!

one more, remember that I need at least 3.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>3639872
I'll just...

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>3639872
SORRY I FELL ASLEEP

Rolled 3, 4, 1, 17 = 25 (4d20)

>>3638763

>>3638794
>>3639656
>>3640090
I rend the collar, the act of which doesn't seem to be noticed by the lessers, but certainly is noticed by the greater. They look over their shoulder at me, and through the helm, see the glint of an eye, that of a madman.

A low chuckle issues from a long unused throat, and it builds into mad laughter before cutting off into a banshee's screeching wail.

The lessers look around in alarm before finding that their compatriot is theirs no more, shock and horror dawning on their faces at the uncollared beast they are now facing down.

The Greater one, almost certainly he by their voice, haven't pulled their sword, making me wonder what he's goi-

*Woosh*

I hear (and feel) a thunderous *CRACK* and ear wrenching scream, and then a bone-shattering *crunch*. After clearing my head, it's because he used my 175lbs armored self as a weapon. He used me like a fucking flail.

>More d20's please, first one is taken.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3640246
HA HA HA
THIS BRINGS ME BACK

>>3640246
>Also state if you would like to Rend our cuffs so we can get in on the fight.

>>3640254
Greatest, when were you used as a mace? I do believe I would like to hear that story.

Rolled 19, 5, 4 = 28 (3d20)

>>3640246
>>3640255 (I'll take it as no)

>>3640254
Another swing, and, for a first, a miss, as all the Lessers dodge away. Or rather, all except one, who jumps directly into the swing, getting creamed (almost literally),. and another almost hits the Greater, but fails.

>Another d20, as this is combat time I'm picking up the pace.

>>3640339
just after my kingdom was founded the other gods got angry about my favoritism of the iron warrior, and they made the iron warrior promise that he would not use his strength to stop them, so the iron warrior used me as a weapon so that technically it was my strength stopping them

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>forgot dice

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>3640431

Rolled 9, 16 = 25 (2d20)

>>3640431

>>3640450
As I'm swung by the arm once again, I hear an unearthly shriek and feel another smash as another Lesser goes down. As I have a moment of not being swung, I see that the Greater's elbow is gushing...something black, presumably blood.

>"Greater's" Vitality 22/30

>Your Vitality 50/50 (I reworked some things, there was no miraculous improvement.)

>Another d20, at this rate the Lessers are dropping like flies.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>3640560

>>3641130
It would be extremely painful... 4u

>>3640560

>>3641130

The Greater does something that I didn't think I would ever see, namely impaling 2 men at once with a sword. To clarify, one of the Lessers took a swing, missed, the Greater sidestepped, lined up the 2 of them, and then threw his longsword (to a normal man it's a longsword, to him it was closer to a bastard sword), and impaled one, the spitted corpse flying into the next, killing them via a strike to the jugular from the sword in their deathgrip.

The Greater retrieves their sword and looks over his shoulder at me expectantly, at which I deduce he's asking me to break the cuffs, which I do.

>Uhhh... What do I say? I'm kind of speechless here.

>>3642293
give us an idea of where we are, what the place looks like, and maybe an idea on how to get out and back to the tavern and whipping those religious dick wads who should not have come back for us.

>>3642293
"Can you speak?"

Short and simple.

>>3642307
+1
After that we proceed with slapping their shit

>>3642293
>>3642307

>>3642293

>>3642305
>>3642307
>>3642406
"Can You Speak?"

"Normal is hard. Hurts" Comes a voice raspy with disuse and neglect. "Collar stopped it."

He pulls a roll of parchment and quill out of... somewhere, taking a seat on the ground.

Name's Andins.
he writes on the parchment
What's Yours? Your claim of kingship and ghostliness had them in quite a tizzy.

>Well, do I give him the whole schpiel or do I just give him my name?

>>3642729
give him an abbreviated version
he doesn't need the WHOLE schpiel right now

>>3642729

>>3642823
"I am THE King of the North, of these frozen tundras and Icy forests, returned from the grip of death to rule once more."

He golf claps and holds up the piece of paper which reads:
Ah, That explains the tizzy and you leaving that ruin over the Pit, must have been the capital. Since there's been no king of All the North in living memory, you might have some questions, one that only... well not only I but that few can answer.

>What do we ask, ancestors? (I'll be answering in real time for a bit until I get 3 votes for ending the questioning.)

>>3643387
>what the fuck happened to my kingdom
> what the fuck happened to the iron faith
> what is the current status of the area that was once my kingdom
>what was that collar

>>3643414
This

>>3643414
I can only assume that it shattered, and the broken pieces were cracked further.

As far as I know, they used to be in power, but their leadership was shattered, many slain and the remainders in hiding. No leadership means that such a militant organization ends up breaking apart and attritioning members at high speed as differing ideals contest each other.


Much unclaimed land, many independent city-states with satellite towns, very few proper kingdoms. It gets far more feudal castles and villages in the south, where the Iron Faith and external threats abound.

Those who hold sway in the Black Faith, but not with the Shadelord below fear those deeper adherents disagreeing with them, and so the chains allow the corrupt to hold power where they shouldn't.
This is written with him audibly growling, it seems to be a sore point.

>>3643539
Where are we?

>>3643608
He pulls a map out of... Wherever he's keeping the papers, they don't have any bags on them that I can see and points to a place that puts them and me somewhere between the Capital ruins and the Riverside Fort.

>>3643725
Are we in like a prison or something?

>>3643750
He was just fucking dragging us through the wilderness, we broke a glowy, magical collar on his neck(we removed the magic holding it together at least), he used us as a flail as we were handcuffed to him in the same way, we broke the cuffs, and are currently "chatting".

>>3643779
"I should head back, but you're free to come with if you like."

Are we all ready to go? No more Questions? If so, I need 2 more votes for it.

>>3645267
So can you give a timeline and a travel from when we were at the tavern, to describing from point a to b to here on how we got to this point?

>>3645267
Aye, I think we can take him with us. He seems useful.

I wonder why few others can answer our questions. No, lets go back to the tavern and find our compatriots! That great great grand son of that wine stealing scoundrel won't evade us!

>>3645309
>Rearranging luggage

>Andins and co. appear

>Get stabbed due to attempted escape

>Drag ourselves out of the underworld and back to where the crown is, our armor

>Wake up in the wilderness outside of the riverside fort and being dragged by Andins back to the capital.

>Break his collar and get used as an impromptu weapon

>Is currently having a nice chat

Anything unexplained?

>>3645463
idk, but lets move on.

>>3643387

>>3643806
>>3645384
>>3645515
"I'm leaving, but come with me if you like."

He thinks for several minutes and writes something on the parchment.
So long as you are truly king, I will swear fealty to you before the Shadelord if you free my brothers and sisters of the black, and allow me to purge those corrupting the faith with all the prejudice I can muster.

>Do we accept?

>>3646102
>Do we accept?

If you speak truly with no deception or malice, and will serve faithfully and with distinction. Then I accept you oath.

>>3646102

>>3646128
What oath should he swear? This will imply the level of trust we have for him, for to ask someone to swear an oath is to trust them to keep it.

>The weakest oaths, usually used for barons to knights or even peasants.

>The usual oaths of fealty, the average oaths for either trusted knights or vassals to kings.

>The strongest oaths of Old Arcturia, Usually sworn between a king and trusted advisor, guard, or friend, for those are the only people willing to take up the massive demands, a secondary oath is sworn by the ruler in turn to not abuse said oath.

>>3646953
>The usual oaths of fealty, the average oaths for either trusted knights or vassals to kings.

>>3646953
>The usual oaths of fealty, the average oaths for either trusted knights or vassals to kings.

>>3646953

>>3647123
>>3647497

"I expect you'll simply be writing it out and signing your name?"

He clears his throat
"I will speak, for that is only proper for an oath."
they say, surprising me.

"Repeat after me, I Holard Smith..."

"I Andins Shadeknight..."

And so he swears the oath, to serve you till the end of his days.

He holds up a new parchment, upon it is an askance of whether we're going back for the party that I was staying with or not.

to be fair, I could simply ditch them and take over a town to the south by proclaiming myself last of the Iron Men and lifting up a large enough boulder or making a good enough weapon, but having a party of experienced adventurers on my side may well help me do such a thing.

>>3648326
>Go back and get em

Damn it guys, you had ONE JOB!

>>3648442
Are you referring to the Anons or the characters?

>>3648459
BOTH!

I leave you chucklefucks alone for FIVE DAYS and you somehow manage to Lose the Hired help!
Honestly you chucklefucks are about as useful in keeping the help around as king Odemerin the Bloody was at baking!

>>3648326
>Go back and get em
>>3648473
To be fair, I never wanted to headbutt the knife. I just knew that if I didn't roll, someone else would.

Ok, seeing as this thread is on the last page, I am now open to any questions that may or may not be had about the state of the world at large and setting in general, as well as archiving this thread.