Male human. In good shape, but not delta force level.

>>21419696
Observing yourself, you carefully make sure everything is in the same place. Lately, you've been getting nightmares almost every night. It's started to bug you, but so far they've all been fairly mild. Last night's nightmare was the most vivid yet; you could feel the flesh on your wrist sizzle, and smell the burns. The laughter shook you to your very core.

Despite all this psychological feedback, you've managed to stay in shape. You may not be the world's strongest man, but you can certainly hold your own in a fight. Unfortunately, it comes to that far too often.

Looking around your disheveled apartment, you see something that wasn't there before you fell asleep. A package, with nothing but three vertical lines drawn upon it.

What's inside, you wonder?

Average height and looks. Thick lenses glasses with short, tidy hair. Blue eyes and thick eyebrows.

>>21419777
open it.

Open the package.

You're a pretty average, run of the mill sort of guy. Not many people send you packages these days.

You instinctively look at your wrist to see if the mark is still there, but it's gone. Wait, it was never there to begin with. It was a dream, remember?

You cautiously approach the package that somehow made it onto your desk. How did it get there? Nobody comes into your apartment anymore.

>>21419648
A gecko. You are a male gold dust day gecko in the Naples Zoo Reptile House.

The mirror is something your keepers added to the cage to personalize it.

The package almost calls out to you. If you didn't know better, you could have sworn it was actually calling.

Your hands tear open the flap, and out falls two small objects.

One, a compass.

Two, a handgun.

On the bottom of the package is a letter, written in a deep red ink.

>>21419818
Goddammit, this would have been much more interesting.

10 minutes is not enough time to lock in decisions as important as what you look like.

You just got one entry in that time.

I would recommend revoting or something now that there's more than one actual suggestion, but whatever.

>>21419891
how would gecko quest even work anon?

You're too exhausted for this shit. You stuff the gun and the compass in the drawer, and the letter in your pocket. You've got to get to work.

---

Working as a zookeeper isn't as great as kids imagine it to be. You've got to clean shit out of cages constantly, and last week a tiger almost took your arm off.

Time to clean the reptile exhibits.

As you begin to wash the glass that separates you from the lizards and snakes housed within their cages, one in particular catches your eye.

A certain gecko seems to be staring directly at you. After an odd staring contest, you hear a voice.

"You never opened your letter."

stop hallucinating and open your letter.

>>21419943

That gecko gave us the lottery numbers last week, it might not have been the big prize but the money was nice. So we better listen to him.

Was that gecko fucking talking?

No, of course not. Snap yourself out of it, it's just stress getting to you.

You open the letter. It says,

"Accept these gifts. They may save your life very soon. More will be explained later. I will keep in touch.

Oh, and trust the gecko.

- A friend"

At the bottom of the letter is a list of roman numerals, from one to twelve. The number three is circled.

Okay we're probably going nuts but lets at least hedge our bets and make sure the gecko is comfy.

>>21419991

Check the compass. Is it a normal compass?

We keep seeing the III but what about the ♋? Is that actually our star sign?

>>21419914
>>21419943
Yesss.
OP you are forgiven. Rolling with shit like that is a virtue.

Anyway, we probably should check to make sure we're not crazy, and that the gecko is actually talking.

After that, we should explain that we were late for work.

>>21420008
You open the gecko case and attempt to feed it. It crawls up onto your arm and hides itself in your jacket pocket.

"Much better. Head home. This place has nothing left to offer you. You are destined for much more. I will explain on the way."

A fucking gecko just told you to skip work and help it escape.

>>21420010
The compass and handgun are at home.

>>21420043

It wasn't a great job anyway. Now run back home to check that shit out. And kept the little guy safe.

>>21420043
Stealing a gecko and skipping work will probably get us fired. No way.

well it's official either we're actully destined for greatness or we're clinically insane.

Trust the gecko unless it's edicts include things like "kill yourself" or "Stick it in the crazy."

>>21420043
Well, either we're insane or something more important is going on. Either way, we probably shouldn't be at work.

Head home, maybe after feeding any animals you didn't yet.

You finish feeding the animals really quickly and sneak out of work 15 minutes later. You may be insane, but you're not heartless.

As you get in your car, the gecko crawls into the passenger seat.

"Alright, I imagine you would like that explanation about now."

>>21420108
"Yeah, no shut. Spill the beans, I need insurance that this isn't me going insane, and I've always had a thing for GEICO.."

"You are one of twelve, chosen to to participate in a game which will decide which god or goddess is worthy of ruling your world for the next millenia. Every one thousand years, the counil of twelve deities comes together and begins a game. Each deity chooses a human subject to be their Player, and bestows them with a Guide and an Artifact. The guide is there to provide advice to the player, and the artifact is to assist the player in their goal. I am your guide, and that handgun you left at home is your artifact. Whichever player collects all twelve artifacts wins their deity the throne for the next thousand years. So it is, and so it has been."

Welp.

"I'm willing to answer any questions I am permitted to under the rules of my contract."

>>21420140
Which Deity chose us?

Why us?

Why a gecko?

How many Players die in this game?

Is there any punishment for losing without dying?

Is there any reward for winning?

>>21420140
Can we kill civilians?

>>21420140
Which deity am I playing for? What are their policies? What do I get in return for giving them the world?
This gecko seems pretty confident we'll play properly and not just give the gun to the first person who comes asking.

>>21420175
>>21420185
>>21420182
"You were chosen by the deity your society knows as Cancer. The little symbols and backstories your species gives to these beings is always amusing, albeit far from the truth. Cancer is a peculiar sort. Of all the deities, he is the one that most craves entertainment. As long as you keep things interesting, Cancer will remain pleased. The risks and rewards of being chosen are quite simple and quite incredible. You have earned the favor of one of the most powerful beings of the universe. However, in doing so you are also the target of eleven others. Should you win, as per the rules of the contract you have become involved in, you will be granted one single wish that will be granted without fail. Opting out of the game is...not recommended, especially with one as temperamental as Cancer watching you."

>>21420271
"You were chosen for your unpredictability, mental instability, and creativity. Cancer believes that your sort is the most entertaining to bestow with grand power. I was chosen because in this form I can only assist you so much; most of what you must do will be on your own shoulders."

>>21420307
Does that imply that other Players may have guides that are much more dangerous?

>>21420271
Wait, is our god a giant Crab or not? This is a bit of a dealbreaker.

>>21420354
"Many of the other guides are in other harmless forms, but do not doubt them. They are craftier than you can imagine."

"A giant crab? That is one myth that may not be entrenched in lies. The giant crab is Cancer's chosen form when he ascends to the throne. Those are most often times of both great suffering and great prosperity; times when much change occurs in a small amount of time."

You've almost arrived home, which is good. You need a few minutes to let this all sink in.

Your car slides into place in the parking garage and you step into the elevator. Not long until you get to your floor.

Wait.

Your door is open.

>>21420390
Who has been ruling for the past thousand years?

Which god is the strongest, or has ruled for the greatest amount of time?

>>21420420
Aaaah bloodyfuckshit.

>>21420390
Hey, before we go in, can you answer >>21420427
and also, how the fuck do we find the other Players?

>>21420462
>and also, how the fuck do we find the other Players?

We do have a compass.

>>21420420
Slide up against the wall near the door and listen.

>>21420462
(5 minute rewind)
"The previous ruler has been the bloodthirsty Maul. He is represented in your zodiac as the symbol for Taurus."

>>21420488
You press up against the doorjamb, careful not to give yourself away. You can hear someone rummaging around through your things, muttering to themselves. "You said it'd be here, goddamnit...It's gotta be...Shit!..." You hear a crash. That was probably your favorite lamp. You loved that lamp. It was a gift.

>>21420512
Sneak in and hit the nasty person on the head with the poor broken lamp. Fucking lamp-smashers.

>>21420512
Try and sneak up on them and get them in a hold. If the placement of things permits it, get the gun from where we left it and shoot them.

>>21420537
>>21420563
You carefully maneuver yourself into your apartment without making any noise. The person has made their way into your bedroom, and is searching under your bed. A perfect opportunity for a sneak attack.

"What kinda fuckin' idiot leaves his artifact at home, anyways?"

This one.

What's left of your lamp makes contact with their skull. They collapse on the ground, unconscious. A spider skitters away from the man as he groans.

>>21420621
acquire gun and compass. do we need to kill our competitors? if not, grab his artifact, beat him up a little for breaking our cherished lamp, and get the hell out of there.

>>21420621
Now get the gun. That spider could do all sorts of tricksy stuff but once he's dead he's out. Might want to drag him into an alley somewhere first, so as not to make even more of a mess on the floor.

>>21420621
capture spider in drinking glass. cover top with plastic bag, with little holes poked in it for air. secure bag with rubber band.

Tie up person.

Find out from gecko if there's any way to resolve this other than killing.

>>21420675
I suggest we kill him, possibly after questioning. If we don't, the bastards will just come after us to get their artifact back.

>>21420703
The guy I can understand being hesitant on but there's no reason not to kill the spider. It's just a spider. A cunning slippery spider which the servant of a god who wants us dead.

>>21420675
>>21420699
>>21420703
With a quick movement you slam an empty glass over the spider. You secure it with a makeshift lid. Looks like you've got your own tiny prisoner. You take the gun and the compass, and begin to search him. You find a lockpick and another compass. These will do just fine, thank you.

Now, to kill, or not to kill, that is the question. You wonder, is he worth more alive, or dead?

Rolled 71

>>21420746
just call the cops have him put in jail he did break in

>>21420746
Kill. He's gonna keep coming after us.

>>21420746
flip a coin? we are being sponsored by a god who loves unpredictability after all

Rolled 2

>>21420816
call the cops i call odd

>>21420746
Don't kill him yet. Just tie him up. We serve Cancer now, and we will entertain our god.

>>21420746
Ask Gecko if the contest only ends with death. If so, kill, preferably not at our own home.

After some careful thinking, you decide not to kill him. Yet. You drag him onto a chair and tie him up as best you can. Noticing a movement out of your peripherals, you see the gecko has maneuvered himself into the glass containing the spider. Well, formerly containing the spider. Currently containing a well fed gecko.

>>21420911
Well that takes care of that nicely. Shame geckos don't eat people.
Lets ask him what our artifacts do. Presumably it is not a normal gun.

>>21420911
please tell me you got some kind of power or info from eating that before we had a chance to interrogate it

also what can you do
and how best would one use it to get the other artifacts

>>21420911
Ask the gecko about what the items do, if they do anything out of the ordinary.

I'd guess our captive used the lockpicks to get in, but maybe they're super-picks that can open anything.

>>21420932
The gecko slinks back into your pocket and gets settled. "That gun of yours is certainly out of the ordinary. The more you use it, the more powerful it becomes. After a while, it will become capable of hitting extremely distant targets with near perfect accuracy and incredible stopping power. The sort of magic energy that enables this tends to have a euphoric and potentially addictive effect on mortals, as your kind is not quite ready for that sort of thing. However, as this is a high stakes contest, there is little choice. That lockpick you have can open near any lock, and with enough power, even those within people's minds."

>>21421014
Holy tits. What about the compasses?

What counts as "using" the gun? Do we only have to fire it, or do we have to be aiming at a specific target?

>>21421014
"That's extremely useful. So if I blow this guy's head off I get to keep his lockpicks right?

Hey gecko, do you have any good suggestions for disposing of the body?"

>>21421014
Wait wait wait.

Do we have to use the gun on people for it to count, or can we just do use target practice?

Same question for the lockpick.

Also answer the question about whether or not we have to kill people.

>>21421044
>>21421048
>>21421056

"Perhaps I should clarify. I know this is quite a lot for mortals to take in, especially on their first day of being a player. The lockpick is yours, you have taken it from your enemy. You don't have to end his life, but you certainly do not have to keep them alive either. It is up to the player. I personally would recommend using him to set a trap for another player, but that is just me. In order for your artifacts to increase in power, they must be used in servitude of your god. Every player has a compass, which points to the nearest artifact in possession of another player. With two artifacts, you're going to be attracting a lot more attention fairly soon. However, I must commend you. This early and you've already beaten one of the contestants, it has been quite some time since something as exciting as this has happened. But then again, that is why I tend to follow Cancer's players."

>>21421124
Check the compass.

>>21421198
The compass twitches in your hand and points north, shakily. So that means the next nearest player is up towards the international district of the city. Luckily, that isn't too far away. A good 15 minute drive should get you close enough to get your hands on another artifact, as long as you don't get your head chopped off along the way or anything like that. Gotta remember that they've got compasses too.

>>21421232
Drag the captive into the bathroom. If we have any Nyquil or another drowsy medication, force him to swallow it. Then gag him, place cotton balls in his ears, and tape them up, along with his mouth and eyes. If possible, tie the chair securely to the sink and toilet so he can't bounce around.

Then close the bathroom door. We'll take all four items with us.

>>21421232
lets get our selves way in the lead and use our artifacts wake the other guy up and open up his mind get every dealt possible idk if it causes damage the more the better when we done set him tied up in our bed get under neath it with the gun shoot the next guy to break in have the gecko keep look out for us

You subdue the other player and lock him in your bathroom. From what the gecko tells you, he was an agent of Splin, a deity of deception and stealth. Looks like Splin made a bad decision picking that guy. You collect your artifacts and make your way into your car. Time to pay a visit to a friend in Chinatown.

File: 1352000139318.png-(28 KB, 666x647, inventory.png)

Two artifacts on the first day, hopefully soon to be three. Not a bad start.

>>21421411
Just to be clear, with the spider dead, Splin can't interfere directly with this game anymore, right?

>>21421411
Hey, Gecko-fella, can I ask what you are? You implied you did not serve the gods entirely at their whim, as I had assumed.

>>21421446
we need supplies lets create a maze of traps in alt exits in an abandon are house we need to go to home-depot and max our credit cards and hire some Mexicans to make barricades fences and other things in our maze

use it till we get board then hunt the rest we MUST WIN!

>>21421531
We live in an apartment.

>>21421495
>>21421509
"We Guides work on contract. As part of assisting with the game, we are permitted to temporarily obtain mortal form. Of course, the guide for the winning player will be granted much more that simply that. With Splin's little agent dispatched, you should have nothing to worry about from that oaf locked in your bathroom."

>>21421559
On we go, then.

>>21421559
"And another thing: When there are but two player left participating, the players will have a counsel with their respective gods in order to better prepare them for the final battle. So if you do well enough, you may end up getting to meet Cancer yourself."

Meeting a god, huh? Not exactly what you had on your agenda, but you think you can pencil it in.

>>21421559
"Can he not win now then? Even if he manages to escape and steal his lockpick back?"

>>21421605
"Oh, he CAN win. It's possible. But without an artifact, guide, OR compass, he is as good as dead as far as the game is concerned. Players tend to have a habit of not exactly going easy on each other. Although already this millenia's contest is looking to be quite different from previous ones."

>>21421634
We probably should dump him somewhere other than our house. If only because explaining why a guy is locked in your bathroom to the police would be hard.

Actually, yeah. Why don't we just give him to the cops and let them hold him?

Much simpler than dumping his body in a ditch or smuggling him onto a cargo ship headed to China.

>>21421700
You make a mental note that you should probably just get that guy locked up. No sense in putting up with all the bullshit associated in kidnapping.

You arrive in the International District, and your nose is bombarded with a thousand scents of different teriyaki stands and other restaurants. Chinese food, anime stores, and pawn shops as far as the eye can see.

The compass points towards one of the larger hobby stores. Seems as good a place as any to find a magical artifact wielding psycho.

>>21421785
Just go in. Act natural.

>>21421937
You step into the shop. Gundams and manga line the walls. You're almost embarrassed to be here, but then you remember that your best friend is a talking gecko and you're hunting for magic items that make their owners go crazy. Yeah. You inch through the place, trying to act natural. You come across a section all for knives and swords; your kind of place. The attendant there is a little awkward, and fairly nervous. He looks out of place in this strange world. It is then that he asks you about the gun that you have neglected to conceal.

Buy some knives and hide this dammned gun

>>21421994
I assume there's no one else in here. Nonchalantly check the compass while asking the attendant if he sells parts for airsoft guns.

>>21421994
check the compass, the guy may be our target
captcha suggests mercy, not treats

>>21421994
"Ah, this thing? Relax, it's for a costume, I guess that idiot Greg made it look a bit too real, eh? Glad the cops didn't see it."

>>21421994
Swords and knives? Time to become the Dark Flame Master.

You tell the shopkeep that it's just an airsoft pistol. He says, "Y-Yeah, sure, whatever you say. I just don't want any trouble." He hesitantly shows you some of the knives and swords they have. Mostly old Japanese style stuff, but there's some European swords and a few more modern knives. You glance at the compass. Wouldn't you know it, he's your man.

While he's talking about his merchandise, he notices your compass. "O-oh shit...You're one of them, aren't you?...P-Please don't hurt me, hear me out first! I can help you out!"

What kind of deity would pick a guy like this, you wonder.

>>21422103
"Lay your artifact on the counter. Keep your hands where I can see them. And bring your guide out too. I don't have any quarrel with you; I know you didn't choose this."

>>21422103
shoot him in the face right now
any one smart enough to beg is too smart to live

>>21422103
"You don't want any trouble, eh? Me neither, after all, we didn't ask for this, right? Listen, I'm gonna be straight with you, I don't want to hurt anyone, but I intend on winning. You hand over your guide and artifact, you're out of the game, I'm out of this store, and we never see each other again."

"Unless..you plan on helping another way?"

Buy knives
Tons of them
And rope if you can

>>21422131
This. Shoot him before he pulls anything.

>>21422172
Agreed.

>>21422120
>>21422131
>>21422140
The temptation to end this right here and now is pretty strong. However, you're fairly interested in what he has to say. You give him ten seconds to spit it out, then to hand over his artifact.

"W-well my artifact is in my apartment...b-but anyways, I'm a computer programmer in my spare time, if you were to give me a spare compass I might be able to put together a triangulation program! That way you could find other players easier! Oh god, what did I do to deserve getting into this mess..."

From the look on his face he fully expects you to shoot him right now. Honestly, you consider it.

>>21422120
This.

I'd rather not go murderhobo.

>>21422172
>>21422187
>>21422131
Lets not forget that we're SHOOTING A MAN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED CITY.

Consequences are for people who don't have magical powers. We don't have magical powers. (yet, and even then they are in the hands of a very capricious god.)

>>21422190
"Care to explain why we don't just use your compass? You're clearly not planning on using it."

>>21422190
"What about your guide?"

>>21422190
He's a lying sack of shit, the compasses point to artifacts. Shoot him.

>>21422190
Ask him where his familiar is.

>>21422208
>We don't have magical powers.
We need some ballsiness.

>>21422228
>the compasses point to artifacts.
OH FUCK I DIDNT CATCH THIS.

Swapping my vote back to shooting the motherfucker.

>>21422190
He must have the artifact with him or the compass wouldn't have led us here. Tell him this is his last chance to hand it over.

>>21422228
Specifically:
>Every player has a compass, which points to the nearest artifact in possession of another player
From >>21421124

Get his artifact, hands where you can see them, guide out, etc. If he does not comply, shoot him.

Let's not shoot him, we're in the middle of a god-damn market. Just take his artifact and compass and run.

>>21422228
>>21422239
This is one of the worst things we could do in this situation.

>>21422229
Ballsiness doesn't make bullets less deadly when the cops decide to open fire on the psycho murderer waving the gun around.

>>21422239
>>21422228
...Yes. Artifacts. Which are carried..waitforit....BY PLAYERS.

>>21422254
It doesn't matter. We have the gun. The more we use it in our quest the more powerful it becomes. Its fucking magic.

Best case scenario we shoot it thousands of times and it becomes an unstoppable unmissible instant kill machine.

We also have the lockpick and whatever he is holding, probably something good for being a coward.

>>21422266
Worst case (and most likely) scenario, we get shot by the dozens of cops and SWAT helicopters that will come to put us down.

>>21422266
>It doesn't matter. We have the gun.

It does matter, because if we murder this man we will have the law on us, and the gun does not make us invulnerable to bullets.

>>21422266
>we shoot him
>shoot anyone nearby
>police sniper gets on nearby rooftop
>we fail perception check, he shoots us
>our quest is brought to an early end

>>21422256
>W-well my artifact is in my apartment
It specifically points to artifacts in the possession of players, and it pointed right at him. He's got his artifact with him.

>>21422290
Oh. To be perfectly honest, that went right over my head.

Shit. I'm an idiot.

>>21422281
We can easily take out helicopters and cops.

The only danger are snipers, which aren't a real issue as long as we don't get pinned down anywhere, which we won't because we have the lockpick. We really should be focusing on grinding these items up until we can unlock people's minds and 1 shot helicopter pilots.

>>21422281
>>21422283
>>21422284
So what, you'd prefer letting him use his artifact of whatever on us?

I'm voting for giving him another chance to surrender his artifact and guide, with no sudden moves. If he can't do that then shoot him.

You pull your gun out of your holster and level it at him. It's a good thing the store is almost empty, or this might have mattered. You tell him you know his artifact is here. You give him five seconds or else he becomes a curry stain on the sword rack.

"F-Fuck, I'm sorry! My guide told me to lie, I swear! I won't lie anymore! Here! Take it! I just want all this bullshit to stop!" He reaches under the cashier's desk and pulls out a nice looking sword. It feels nice in your hands. Warm, almost. "Please forgive me, please!"

>>21422190
i guess we can shoot him at his place

" we should get it soon make m a bigger target means your less likely to get hit

tell me what you got garden and artifact

>>21422329
Tell him to give up his compass too, and then he'll never have to see us or deal with this game ever again.

>>21422329
Have your gecko verify that its the item.

>>21422329
Tell him to give us his compass and his guide, and that will be the end of this.

>>21422329
>check compass
"Fair enough. I've got no reason to want you dead at the moment. Seriously dude, despite this bullshit I really do hope you make it out of this safe. Gotta warn you though, you're still 'in' the race while you have your compass and guide. Or at least the compass. I'd appreciate if you give me the compass, but I'm not gonna smash your guide unless you let me."

>>21422329
well rap it up like a gift rap do you got gift rap here?

also were is the guide ?

>>21422320
>We really should be focusing on grinding these items up until we can unlock people's minds and 1 shot helicopter pilots.

Yes. Let's grind the gun at the range and buy some locks to practice on.

>>21422376
I'm pretty sure OP said we have to use them to the benefit of our god, like during the quest, for it to count. If we don't actually shoot people during the adventure the gun is never going to be any more useful.

I assume the lockpick is the same sort of deal. Its probably just an unbreakable lockpick without any special properties since we haven't used it once.

>>21422329
Ask him what the sword does and check with gecko if matches the domains of a god.

Get his compass too. If the guides stand a reasonable chance of being a threat later on, capture it as well. If he complains, point out it obviously doesn't give a shit about his safety.

>>21422376
I doubt we even have a concealed weapon licence (or any gun permit for that matter), it's best we don't try to let anyone know we have the revolver. Sitting around unlocking things is a great way to get killed by some guy who has boots of silence or some shit.

>>21422320
I'm sorry, what?

We cannot easily take out helicopters or cops. The gun is:
A: only mildly better than an average handgun at the moment
B: addicting
C: only capable of leveling up after an unknown amount of time under variable circumstances.

>>21422398
>In order for your artifacts to increase in power, they must be used in servitude of your god.

We must either use the gun to advance through the game or to entertain Cancer. I don't know if becoming a serial killer would entertain Cancer. Fortunately, we can ask our guide that.

Once the other player has been relieved of his artifact, compass, and guide, he is no longer a threat, so killing him with the gun is unlikely to do much for it. If you're dead-set on killing him, though, we should take him to a remote area before offing him.

The compass points at the sword as you move it. It's real, alright. You put your gun back in your jacket. The attendant sighs in so much relief it's palpable. He hands over the compass as well. "I don't want to hang on to this. Too much trouble. My guide really is at my apartment, I couldn't stand listening to him anymore. If you want to deal with him, I'll give you the address. I'm just...I'm fucking done with this. I'm leaving town." With that, he writes down his address on a piece of paper, empties the cash register into his wallet, and hops the counter. "You can fucking have all these swords, if you want. It isn't my problem anymore." Jogging towards the door, he stops and turns. "Thanks for not killing me. Anyone else would have." He runs out the door and dives into the nearest taxi. With a little bit of luck maybe he won't die.

>>21422329
Check compass to verify that the sword is the artifact. if it is, get his compass as well. If not, level up gun.

Probably should secure his guide too, depending on how much of a threat they can be on their own.

>>21422456
>We must either use the gun to advance through the game or to entertain Cancer

Short of russian roulette, you're probably not going to find an easy way out of this. If we want the gun to be useful at all in the future we need to be trigger happy at some point.

Even if we don't choose to level the gun, we should still be going significantly out of our way to level the lockpick or the sword now. If we're really going to pansy our way through this we might as well throw out the gun now and just start leveling the sword. Because as far as we know, MC here doesn't even know how the safety works, much less proper aim.

>>21422473
Leave the store and get in the car. Try to conceal the sword. Ask the gecko what it does. Also ask if the guide has (or wants) a name.

>>21422473
gecko with us? ask him bout the sword. also, take anything that looks useful/fun. not those piece of shit replicas though

>>21422481
Would you quit trying to get us killed?

No shooting people unless we -have- to. At least the sword is a melee weapon, but >implying we know how to use a sword.

Cops exist, people.

>>21422501
Using the gun to kill as many people as possible won't necessarily increase its power. We need to serve our god with it to level it.

>>21422473
Wish him good luck. Loot a scabbard and holster for the gun/sword, preferably concealable.

Ask Gecko what the sword does. If it has drawbacks, grab a vanilla knife as well.

You make your way to the car. You plan on paying Mister Shopkeep's apartment a visit. Stashing the sword in the backseat, you ask the gecko what it's deal is. "Ah, yes. That sword can cut through lies and deceit as easily as it can men. A bit ironic, considering the circumstances you obtained it from. In any case, I may wish to have a few words with this other guide."

>>21422536
But if we kill as many people as possible during the active quest, or put ourselves in a position where its necessary to shoot as many people as possible during the quest, it will naturally be considered serving our god.

You're right. Cancer is fickle and we don't know of any other way to serve him, but our entire purpose in this quest is to win for him, thus it must be considered serving him.

From a meta standpoint the reason OP established that rule is so we can't go to a gun range and instantly become powerful. The drawback of these items is that we have to do evil/bad things to increase their power.

>>21422501
You're right, leveling at least the lockpick is a good idea. May as well check if there's anything interesting in the back room.

>>21422572
Do this a bit of extra cash etc is always useful anyway. I realise he just emptied the register but maybe there is a safe.

>>21422565
Ask him what the best way to level the gun is. I want this argument to end.

>>21422565
Ask if that guy is out of the game now that we have his artifact, and also ask if we level up the other artifacts through service to Cancer, or through the other gods they represent.

>>21422501
Maybe we'll run into somebody that isnt a pansy, like that Taurus guy, his chosen is probably a serial killer or something.

>>21422584
The clerk doesn't have access to the safe, if convenience stores don't let them do it I doubt a sword shop would either.
>>21422587
I'd say that using it to help us win would work.
>>21422594
We're the champion of Cancer, serving other gods is way out of line and would probably result in a divine kick in the balls.

>>21422565
Ask what is likely to happen to the other guy since he basically gave up and opted out. Who was his god? How pissed will he likely be? Really we should have taken him to the back room and shot at all his limbs just to appease our own god considering what will probably happen to him.

>>21422565
by words do you mean eat?

also any idea what it is the guy wanted us to come here its probable some kind of trap

>>21422613
>The clerk doesn't have access to the safe, if convenience stores don't let them do it I doubt a sword shop would either.
Your point being? We don't need a key, we have a magical lockpick. Even if it doesnt work it will be made stronger which is the point.

>>21422565
Wait a tick! How'd his guide tell him to lie if it was back at his apartment? get back in there, and maybe wave the sword around. Also grab scabbard/holster, unless we already have those.

>>21422618
I'm agreeing with this guy. Fuck going back to his apartment. It reeks of a trap, we don't know if all the guides are harmless. Just go home and rest.

>>21422623
He said that he had left his guide at home, maybe the guide knew he was a pussy and told him to lie before he left.

>>21422617
We're still in a fucking market, gunshots will have the police crawling out of everywhere to arrest us.
>>21422623
The guide could have just given him general advice like "if some dude comes by for the sword, try and lead him back here for a trap"
Which is why we should forget about the guide and move on to the next dude.

>>21422623
It told him to lie earlier, I'd guess.

"Cancer is a strange deity, but that is why I adore him so. Mindless killing becomes repetitive and boring to him. A kill is truly worth it if there is true emotion and vitriol behind the trigger. Vengeance is his most favored of kills. Also, he enjoys certain variable shifts. Why kill one man with one bullet when you can kill ten by activating a trap? Ah, yes, Cancer loves it when a plan comes together."

Before rushing to get into what could be a trap, you pull into a little teriyaki shack. No sense fighting on an empty stomach, and you can't remember the last time you'd eaten.

You step in, and look around. Just a few fuckers eating cheap chinese food and pretending they matter. When did you get so jaded, you wonder. Not that it matters, really. You're on a mission from god. And you're fucking hungry.

>>21422637
Assuming we escape I think cancer would have got a pretty good kick out of it.

>>21422661
Check the compass and move to the left and right of where it's pointing to see if any artifact guys are nearby, if not we eat. If so, we confront him.

>>21422661
and paranoid as fuck. check the compass

>>21422661
Thirding compass

>>21422567
>>21422567
This bring up an interesting question.

If we use the artifacts in ways related to our god's domain(in this case, in an entertaining way), but not towards the end of winning, does it still count as serving your god?

The meta-problem of free power could be offset by the fact that we have to put effort into thinking up funny shit to do (and also waste time doing it).

>>21422661
Go into bathroom, check compass.

>>21422661
splurge have a nice meal

You pop into the bathroom and take a look at yourself. Kidnapping one guy and robbing another really takes a lot out of you, you realize. You bust out the compass. It points off in the distance, but it seems fairly weak. From the looks of it, you're safe for the time being. You step out and order a plate of some teriyaki chicken and rice. A few bites in, and already you're in heaven. It's far from the best you've ever had, but after today's stress it is more than welcome. Not too long until some gal-o-sengen looking motherfuckers come in. They're loud, rude, and getting on your nerves.

>>21422730
Ignore them, keep checking the compass every once in a while until we finish eating.

>>21422730
Check the compass in our pocket to see if they're one of us, if not just ignore them and finish our meal in peace.

>>21422730
YO YO YO YO YO
YEAH GALOSENGAN

>>21422730
With our hand on the sword (it works like that right? With the lies etc) but it still being wrapped up walk up to whichever one seems like the leader and ask "so what makes you feel the need to come in here acting like assholes....what are you compensating for?". Shit will inevitably go down but I figure we will embarress this guy and his friends, start a ruckus and hopefully entertain a god.

The compass stays dead. They're not magic, they're just assholes. You're almost done with your food anyways. They aren't worth it. A few minutes pass, and someone else walks in the door. An older businessman, balding slightly, with dead eyes. He sits down not too far away. Silently, not moving. He's starting to weird you out a little. Nothing too out of the ordinary for this part of town, though. It's not known for its normal people.

>>21422798
Calling it now, this is gonna turn into a gang shootout.

Let's skedaddle.

>>21422798
Check ye olde compass yet again, even if he isn't a magic dude let's get the fuck outta there and make sure we aren't followed.
paranoia is a hell of a drug

>>21422803
Maybe thats a good thing

>>21422803
Counter voting to go sit in a corner near a door or window and watch and wait. Lets see what happens.

>>21422776
Its also possible that the sword actually cuts lies, so the person actually speaks the truth that everyone can hear. In which case, our use of the sword will have led to a gang shootout, which we can then participate in. That will probably please cancer.

>>21422836
So much this. Lets not throw away an opportunity

>>21422836
You know, we're no faster or less vulnerable to bullets than any jackoff with a gun and a sword, despite their magics.

And do we even know how to use a gun with any skill?

>>21422821
We should try to avoid attention so we don't end up with that dude from the sword shop figuring out who we are and showing up at our house with a katana and a kimono
>>21422836
That's a terrible idea, Cancer likes it when we execute complicated plans and do the unexpected, not help some dumbasses fight each other. Besides, getting shot is a very easy way to die.
Plus there's the fact that if we won we'd get in newspapers and shit, which would lead to the situation I described in the first paragraph.

One of the guidos walks towards the old man and shakes him. "Hey old man, we don't recognize your ass around here. Don't you know we're the welcoming committee? You should at least have the manners to say hello," He says with a sneer. The old man slowly turns to him, with those same dead eyes. He says nothing. Gal-o becomes visibly angered by this. "Listen, I don't know who the fuck you are, but we run this place. So you'd better start showing some respect to us."

The old man stands up. He is extremely physically unimposing, but his voice cuts through the air like a knife.

"Respect? It is you who should be showing respect. Bow before an agent of the dark god Kornic."

The guido backs up, slightly shaken but still keeping his tough-guy persona up. "What are you, some kind of Hot Topic shopping old fuck? We're gonna mess you up!" The rest of the guidos step up and get out brass knuckles. The man is not shaken.

And here you thought you could eat some fucking teriyaki in peace.

>>21422874
Manipulating people into murdering each other is fucking perfect and hilarious. This is a god who gave you a gun and wants you to create funny situations with it. He obviously has the sense of humor different from yours.

>>21422861
So what. We don't need to hit anybody with the fucking gun. Just hide. Seriously, if you have any plans to level the gun or the sword you're gonna need to get some people killed.

We didn't get chosen by the sword of truth, we got chosen by the douchebag psycho clown. Appeal to the edginess of a 14 year old if you want any power.

>>21422897

shoot him in the face then every one else there

get into the other dudes apartment and chat with his guide

but Fucking Shoot first like as soon as we herd
"Bow before an agent of the dark gBANG!!!!!! bang bang mother fucker!!!"

>>21422897
Let's stay in out seat, they don't have guns. Watch the combat closely, if he tries to attack us we hit him with our sword. If he goes down, pick his pockets.
>>21422916
He's not a psycho clown, he's more a guy who really really loves jokes and likes to be entertained. If we get in a gunfight he's not going to think 'cool, i love blood' he's going to think 'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS I MEAN TRAPS ARE GOOD AND ALL BUT THIS IS JUST RETARDED GGHGHGG I'M SO FUCKING MAD'
>>21422924
Why can't you people understand the gravity of law enforcement, we're not outside of the law.
Plus the fact that the guy tried to fool us into getting into his apartment means it's obviously a trap.

>>21422897
"I AM THE AGENT OF THE DARK GOD!"

Fuck, run.

>>21422964
>He's not a psycho clown, he's more a guy who really really loves jokes and likes to be entertained.

And the best tool for that was a gun. If we start a gunfight with the sword of truth hes going to enjoy the shit out of it. Thats manipulative as fuck.

>gravity of law enforcement

Is this how you run your games. Law enforcement is inept as fuck. Do you expect guards to appear out of every corner. Cops aren't going to give a shit about a gang shootout anyway, its a gang shootout, do you even live in a city.

>>21422897
Just wait or leave. Don't do anything now that the old man has decided to fuck shit up.

>>21422971
But if we run, he'll know we have an artifact and try to kill us instead. He probably thinks the thugs have one and will try to kill them.

>>21422964
we haven't had time to build any traps
and murders go unsolved every day dozens of them we will be fine you need to chill

>>21422924
agree

>>21422916
we don't hid we lure into traps we jut gotta get to the home depot first

The leader guido (leado?) throws a metal fist into the face of the old man. He crumples to the ground, but immediately rights himself, as if he didn't quite feel the pain. This repeats a few times, until the old man decides he is bored of this. His hand rests upon the guido's head, and a flash of light occurs. The old man collapses, and the guido turns and walks out the door. His friends, all incredibly confused, follow him out.

You check the old man, and find he doesn't have any artifacts. He does however have a scar on the back of his neck in the shape of a Gemini symbol. You're getting too old for this shit.

>>21423027
Wow, Kornic's guide is a cheating faggot.

Anyway, just finish eating and go home in a timely manner. This guy is final or mid boss material. We're not ready for that.

>>21423027
Leave, secure car, find the other guide, have gecko eat guide.
Don't let that guy steal your skin.

>>21422995
>>21423007
I'll calm down, but I still think we should try not to kill people unless if actually necessary. I don't live in a city, but I was under the assumption that this is going to be more or less a slippery slope, which means that we will need to shoot more people to not get killed and it'll just keep escalating until we become infamous.

the compass points to an artifact not another compass. They could be out back looting your car with the artifacts safely stashed away. GET back to the car!

>>21423063
Well we're going to have to kill Kornic's guide as some point most likely, and thats not something we can do without a powerful magical weapon, and weapons aren't going to get more powerful without use, which usually entails hurting someone.

>>21423079
Wait, did we seriously leave a tiny fucking lockpick and our gun in the car. Fucking why.

You finish your food, get in your car, and decide you can't leave that teriyaki shop fast enough. You ask that damn gecko what the hell was up with that back there. "Hm, Kornic. He is a slippery one, I will say that. Filled with tricks and schemes. Used to be on good terms with Cancer, but their friendship soon gave birth to a powerful rivalry. Watch your back around Geminis, I recommend. They won't be on friendly terms."

Cool, a rival with fucking evil bodyswtiching magic. This is not how you imagined the rest of your life. You imagined something more along the lines of a house that didn't suck and something more than top ramen to eat every day.

cool, now we have some guy tied up in the bathroom, if he hasn't pissed/shit himself, escaped, or manage to make enough noise for someone to call police. Try explaining why you have a guy tied up in the house. Also when they see your sword or the FUCKING GUN? If they aren't already at the apartment.. Play it safe on the way home.

>>21423182
I second this

You make it back to your house without much incident. You slip into your bathroom, and check on the guy from earlier. He's conscious, but he hasn't managed to escape. Luckily you had the good sense to gag him before you left as well.

Now, what to do with this sad sack.

>>21423231
Stash our shit (put gun in a closet under clothes with the lockpick) call the cops, tell them he broke into our house earlier.

First pack a bag. Grab some change/cash anything light or valuable, jewelry etc. Change of dark clothes, sweatshirt, toiletries, food. We can keep the gun safe in police custody. Make the apartment look ransacked ( not hard)
>ask gecko how sword works
> ask gecko if gun needs ammunition to fire. If disassembled will it resemble a regular gun?

You point the gun at him, tear off the gag, and lay it out flat with him. "You be a good boy and tell the cops what they want to hear. You do that and I just might not redecorate this room to a nice shade of pink, got me?" He nervously grumbles and agrees. He takes the fall in exchange for his life. Sounds like a plan. You call up 911 and give them the sitrep. According to the dispatch you've got half an hour to kill. Better hide the sword and gun, the cops might not take too kindly to that sort of thing laying out.

>>21423345
Put the gag back on, refer to >>21423258 where we stash the gun, and put the sword with it. Now that I think about it, we don't need to really hide the lockpick. Make sure that he doesn't see us hide these.
Then do >>21423336 sans giving police the gun, and change our clothes.

File: 1352012404380.png-(29 KB, 666x647, inventory.png)

***
The police leave, burglar in custody. That's the story they're going to hear, and that's the story they're going to believe. You've gotten rid of one player, scared off another, and there's a third gunning for you out there somewhere, with some kind of body stealing magic. You almost died how many times today? And that number is only going to go up tomorrow.

Well, it beats shoveling shit out of zoo cages.

Probably as good a time as any to call it a night. I'm hoping everyone who participated at least garnered some form of entertainment from it. Not exactly sure when the next time I'll quest will be, but it might be fairly soon.

>>21423592
Please be sure to archive the thread and post the link here. When do you intend to run again? I am really enjoying this setting.

>>21423823
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21419648/