>>27776548
>[x] The papers from the office mentioned a load of pottery we could take back. The caravaneer said pottery's worth a lot in lelan nowadays.

Might as well give it a scout out, see if there's anything else along the way.

>>27776548
>[] The papers from the office mentioned a load of pottery we could take back. The caravaneer said pottery's worth a lot in lelan nowadays.

I wonder what Tarda's weapon will do to Kaedri, if it just makes him go poof and disappear, we'll have a huge load of 'Failure' Remnants coming after us.

<Well, we might as well try to get the last thing on this list.> You say, getting to your feet.
<That pottery you were talking about?> He asks, and you nod. <Then let's go.>

Your weapons in hand, you and Mal creep out of the warehouse. The lower streets are teeming with rats, and the topside- all of the buildings connected by wooden, ramshackle bridges- had degenerated 'failure' remnants, collecting on a nearby rooftop. The rat swarms must be crowding near so that they have more to feed on.

You and Mal move onward, but you see something reflective come arcing down through the sky, and slam into a nearby rooftop. The entire ground shakes, and the buildings' walls crack. The thing that fell... isn't a meteor. It's a roughly diamond-shaped, reflective shape. As you watch, the shape cracks, and pulls itself apart, and behind it, you see- A charging minion. One of Kaederi's. As you watch, it leaps to its feet, and barrels across one of the bridges, knocking degenerate remnants aside and off of the building.

The rats start to feast on the fallen creatures, teeth tearing into remnantflesh.

<C'mon, Bro!> Mal calls, as more of those shapes start tearing from the sky.
The two of you rush through the streets, and eventually reach what might be the warehouse with the pottery shipment- but as you get close, a larger, strangely shaped thing slams out of the sky, landing in front of you. You back away, stumbling as the ground shakes, and then it starts to split.

Your spine tingles, and stepping out of the shell is a perfectly normal humanoid remnant. Almost weedy, or weak.
Silver cables are wrapped around its entire body, and its eyes glitter blue. This... is not a normal remnant.

>What's the plan? If you intend on fighting it, you'll need to roll.

Rolled 85

>>27776679
Shoot it with Naga teeth for now.

<I think we need to make a hasty retreat!>

Rolled 23

>>27776679

>Magic Remnant?

Shooting retreat, maybe Naga tooth.

Rolled 79

>>27776679

Rolled 60

>>27776679

>>27776679
<I just want some pottery, no trouble.>

File: 1381947752855.jpg-(88 KB, 468x599, 468px-Jackie_chan_warhamm(...).jpg)

88 KB JPG

>>27776810
hehe

>DC: 60. Success!
<I just want some pottery, no trouble.> You say.
<Son of Palla. You have allied yourself with the Third Wizard Tarda.> It says, its voice utterly emotionless and tinny. <You must be eliminated.>

You and Mal back away. You raise your badly-repaired steamsling and fire- but a hexagonal, transparent wall appears in the air in front of it. Your naga teeth collide against it, shattering uselessly. The venom smears across the wall, dripping to the ground.

The same thing happens to Mal's bullet- the steel, foot-long rod slams into the wall and flattens it's end against a similarly shaped wall.

And then the remnant takes a step forward- and stomps. Your spine buzzes powerfully.
Everything presses down on you, like you weighed ten times as much. You stagger, and Mal collapses to the ground. Light lenses around you, making your vision strange. You shift your suddenly-incredible weight, and try to stand up straight.
That's when your eyes catch it- a hexagonal shape in the air above you. You stumble out from underneath the shape, and gravity returns to normal the moment you do.

It clenches its fist, and you feel power funnel away from it, toward the hexagon above Mal.

He lets out a strangled cry. So you fire your steamsling again.
With all the power being funneled into that strange glyph in the air, it doesn't seem to be able to raise a shield to defend itself against you. The bolt tears into his chest, letting out a plume of black smoke, roiling electricity dancing within. You feel something discharge from the remnant, and the glyph above Mal falls. Groaning, Mal gets to his feet.
<Soulforce low. Retreating.> It buzzes, falling to one knee. You fire again, and a third time- but a few hours ago, your steamsling had burst from the stresses of firing too much. Your weak repair falls off of the burst pipe, and it hisses, unable to get the pressure to fire another blast at it.

>>27776874
Ok, let's just get what we came for.

>>27776874
Oh. So our steamsling broke? I don't remember that.

Eh, continue on I guess. Or maybe leave, I don't care.

Rolled 28

>>27776874

it's weak now, run up and stab it to death with out spear or new blade, which ever is best suited for it.

Rolled 17

>>27776874
Lightning + Lance

Rolled 82

>>27776874
<Allied? More like, uh, non-aggression pact with Tarda.>

Rolled 7

>>27776874

rolling for third.

DC: 70.
You charge, slinging your pushblade out of your sleeve. You leap toward it, pushblade ready, and jab straight at the remnant.
You weren't fast enough.
The silver-cabled remnant bursts into light, evaporating from the crater it had made by landing.
A moment later, it's entirely gone, and your pushblade touches nothing but air.
You and Mal meet eyes.
<... That thing wasn't good.> He says.
<Let's just go get what we came for.> You say. Mal stretches, shaking off the after-effects, and the two of you make your way into the warehouse. You do have to twist the rusted chain off of the door, but it's easy enough to do with your spear.

The two of you walk in, and there sits a large crate, waiting for you. You and Mal pry it open, and inside are a bunch of vases, art, and carvings, all waiting for you. It's an entire shipment of supplies.
<Wait.> Mal says. <How do we plan on getting it out?>
<We have the wagon on the beach, but it can't float.> You say. <We can't find Steve anywhere... Maybe make some kind of raft and swim it out?>
<Or we could take it to the docks, then swim what we can carry to the wagon.> Mal says. <Or even try to get it through the entrance district without putting it in the water at all. The water could damage the canvas, if it falls in.>

>>27777003
Go for the Entrance district

>>27777003

Take what we can through the water, stash the paintings in a place we can find it again easily. we can't carry it all through the battle going on and expect to get out unharmed.

we already made a sweet amount of money.

>>27777003
>can't find Steve anywhere
Last thread ended with Steve being just outside our starting point
>steamsling broken
Wasn't mentioned in the previous thread???

Anyway, let's take the ceramics and things that can't be damaged easily by water.

>>27777089

steamsling broke when we fought the Golem-like-Remnant I think.

someone rolled a Nat 1.

>>27777096
Oh, yeah, I missed that.

<Let's stash the paintings nearby.> You say. <Then we can carry the ceramics the rest of the way.>
<Alright.> He says. <Let's do this.>

The two of you work together to carry the crate outside, and take it through the streets. While the two of you work, you worry about Steve- Mal said he was 'outside somewhere' when you asked him, but when the two of you left that warehouse, he wasn't anywhere to be seen. You couldn't find any evidence that he was caught in the explosion like the golem-inspired remnants were, but he didn't come when you called.

You sigh, and set down the crate on the docks. You peer out onto the coastline, south of the city, and there you see the speck of your wagon in the distance.
<Just the ceramics?> Mal asks, and you nod. The two of you start lashing the ceramics together, making it so that both of you could carry a lot of it without breaking any of it or drowning, and then you stash the paintings nearby- inside of a large, empty barrel that's been there for who knows how long.

The two of you end up having to make two trips, swimming through the water, to get *all* of the ceramics and carvings, but eventually you've loaded up the wagon. The sun is high in the sky- it's a few hours past noon, it looks.

<So.> Mal says, panting and drenched in seawater. <That it? The place is pretty dangerous. We could go back and try to find Steve, maybe. But he can fly, so he might not even be in the district at all.>

>>27777199
<Yeah I have no clue where he is, so let's just head back and get some rest.>

>>27777199
<Lets go back and just real quickly look around, but its getting late. If we can't find him then we'll just have to hope he makes it back okay.>

>>27777199
"I think it might be a wise idea to just leg it back to the town and go searching for Steve tomorrow or even later tonight. He can take care of himself and right now, we aren't in such a good fighting state to help him, if he is in trouble. Asides, the city is a big place. A damn big place. Full of Remenants."

>>27777199

stay at the edge of the city and see if he'll pop up but this area is way to dangerous to stay around.

if that doesn't get chosen, at least wait a bit longer.

The danger exists that Kaedri/'Failure' is able to implant something in Steve that will force him to betray us at the most inopportune moment.

<Yeah, I have no clue where he is.> You say. <Let's just wait here a bit, and if he doesn't show, head back and get some rest. We'll just have to hope he makes it back okay.>
<Alright.> Mal says, and starts to dry himself off. The two of you wait there a time, relaxing and waiting. You see various flying figures swarm in formation through the city, and even more shapes come barreling out of the sky from places unknown- more of those rhino-like charging minions... Or even things like that silver cabled thing you fought into retreating.

You think you see one flying remnant fight another, but it's so far off you're not sure...
Finally, after a meal and a short conversation about Mal's family - you had no idea he had so many halfsisters, female cousins, and sisters. He must have grown up in a hell made of estrogen, before he started training for the bashiki.
But as an hour passes, Steve doesn't return. Finally, you sigh.
<Let's head back.> You say, finally.

The two of you grab some straps, and start to pull the wagon the long way home.
You re-enter the village about an hour before sundown. Marcus is sitting in a nearby tree, watching the horizon, while Ann is hiding in the bushes, Bruno pacing around and looking for him. Miriam is cooking as usual, and Leroy, surprisingly, is awake, pacing back and forth within the tavern.

Tarda is on the rooftop of the temple again, working on her project, and Dalton is at the smithy. You may want to talk to him about repairing your armor or steamsling, if you have time.
Finally, something occurs to you.
You haven't seen Cromwell in days.

>You're back in the village! Anything you guys want to do?

>>27777382
let's go talk to Tarda

>>27777382

take our armor and Sling to Dalton first, tell him the armor saved our life today.

Tarda is still busy with her weapon and I'm curious about Cromwell's progress.

>>27777382
Talk to Dalton about repairing the Steamsling.

See if Tarda can magic our armor back together.

Check Cromwell's abode.

<I'm going to go talk to Dalton to see if he can fix up my steamsling.> You say. <And then to Tarda if she can fix my armor.>
<Good luck.> Mal says, panting. <You're like a machine, man. I need to sit down and rest a bit.>
You chuckle, and head up the hill to the smithy.
"No, I haven't told her yet." He says. "I'm going to, but-"
"I'm actually here to see if you could fix this." You say, and hold up your steamsling. "I fired it too much, and one of the pipes burst."
He takes a quick look at it, and nods.
"Yes, I have a replacement part for it. Give me a second and two coins, I'll have it done."
He unbolts the pipe, pulls it out, and with dextrous hands, puts another, intact one in. He continues to make sure that all of them are sealed, and pumps some steam through it to make sure there isn't any leaks.
"Is that it?" He asks.
"Depends." You say, and reach into your bag. "Can you fix this?"

He gives your shattered, utterly wrecked breastplate a glance.
Then he gives you a look as if to ask if you're serious.
"No, I can't. How in the hell did you do *that* to it? Let a golem give you a friendly hug?"
"Something like that." You say. "It saved my life, though."
He sighs. "I can reforge it into something smaller, but guardsman armor is specially made in their pressure smithies. I don't have the machines here to repair it. I'm sorry. I don't think my contact can get me any more armor without arousing suspicion, either."

"Then I'll go see if Tarda can. Thanks for your help." You say.
"Sure thing." He says. "Take care."

You climb up the vine to the top of the temple, and wave Tarda down.
That's funny- you were assuming she was working on her project, but right now it seems she's doodling something- a strange humanoid thing, with a visor for eyes. Her tongue pokes from her lips, and she's completely, utterly focused on it.

>What do you say?

>>27777539
"Hello. I have news."

>>27777539
Just hang back for a bit and wait for her to finish because when people are that focused, it's annoying to be pulled outta it.
Or, actually, just leave her to it for the moment and go check on Cromwell's place. Gotta make sure our lanky bro's okay.

>>27777539

we should try not to sneak up on her, it might be important, wait a moment and when she isn't doodling, announce our presence.

"what are you drawing?"

>I'm feeling a lot more remorse about possibly losing Steve forever.

>>27777539
"Cute doodlin'."

You wait there a while, rather patiently, until she finishes doodling and looks up, and starts muttering to herself.
"What are you drawing?" You ask. She jumps, and turns toward you, getting to her feet.
"It's a surprise." She responds, and squints at you. "You're finally back, too. I was waiting forever for you to get back. I need you to go to the caves below the temple. I found some components I really want from one of the monsters down there. You ready for a fight?"
"Uh..." You say, and scratch your head. "My armor's kind of trashed."
You pull the breastplate out from your bag, shards missing from the most important part of it.
Tarda sighs. "Why does everything you fight try to go for your heart?" She asks. "You never wear a helmet, so going for your head would be the smarter option."

>>27777683
"Personally, I think they're just jealous they don't have a heart as big as mine."

>>27777683

"and now you just jinxed it (It's an expression Tarda). 'Failure' and Kaedri turned the city in to a war zone, I lost sight of Steve in the chaos."
"I need to recover a bit before diving headfirst in to monster caves. Would it be possible for you to fix up my armor?"

>>27777683
"My skull is too thick for something like that to kill me."

>>27777683
"Kaedri has some new remnants knockin about. They're all wrapped in silver and can do a bunch of cool shit."

"oh yeah, some office paper referred to some galdian top secret project. Any idea what it could be?"

"Personally, I think they're just jelous they don't have a heart as big as mine." You say.
"Or they pity you for having a brain smaller than theirs." She adds.
"Anyway, 'Failure' and Kaederi turned the city into a war zone. I lost sight of Steve in the chaos." You say, changing the subject. "Would it be possible for you to fix up my armor? I need to recover a bit before diving headfirst into monster caves."
She considers it for a few moments, tilting her head... And then she shook it.
"That armor's a lot more complex than you'd think." She says. "It's made of layers and layers of shaped metal, all pressed together. I could fix it up, but it'd take a lot out of me. I'm not even recovered from my time in the domain. It's just not something I can afford to do. I don't even know what Kaederi's cooking up."
"He has some new remnants knocking about." You say. "They're all wrapped in silver and can do a bunch of cool shit."
"What kind of cool shit?" She asks.

So you tell her.

"Some kind of gravity control, and shields... You sure it said soulforce?" She asks.
You nod.
"Then he has a power source, somewhere. A living one." She says. "Most likely multiple living ones. I can't see Kaederi externalizing his own power."
Her eyebrows meet.
"I have more to tell you." You say. "Some office paper referred to some galdian top secret project. It was made here by a wizard, sent to a 'Norn' in Delura, and then brought back here to be finished."
"I've never heard of it." She says. "Did it say which wizard was working on it?"
"Seventh High Wizard, was all that I saw." You say.
"Sharnal." She responds. "That guy's pretty harmless. He doesn't have a specialty, but he's pretty smart. I doubt he's still around somewhere."

>>27777914
"Cool, I'll keep an eye open for whatever it is then."

>>27777914
"When you say fix it, do you mean like piecing it all back together? Or something exotic like creating a pocket domain that flows in reverse and physically undoing the damage?"

>>27777964
*time flows in reverse

>>27777914
"Any idea where he'd be? I've got a bomb to give him."

>>27777914

"I also found something destined for a Chief back in Mal's homeland, I get a strange feeling something will happen if I touch it, it looks quite different from anything I've ever seen."

"did Kystaran city guards have anything special in the way of armor?"
>that armor is still bugging me a bit.

"Cool. I'll keep an eye open for whatever it is, then."
"If you find it, do you mind if I take a look at it? It probably won't teach me anything since I don't have any of his notes, but it might be interesting."
"When you say fix it, do you mean like, piecing it all back together? Or something exotic like creating a pocket domain where time flows in reverse and physically undoing the damage?"
"I mean piecing it all back together again, and seamlessly repairing it." She says. "It'd be easier if I had more of it, but you're missing miniscule flecks of metal. Makes it rather difficult if it's shattered like that."
"Did kystaran city guards have anything special in the way of armor?"
"Big sets of armor, for the most part." She says. "Complete body plate armor. Chainmail for trainees. I have a set downstairs, in my lab. I'll loan it to you if you go into the caves for me."

You consider the 'secret project', destined for a galdian chieftan. Apparently Tarda's interested in seeing it- and she might even be able to tell you what it does.

Rolled 20

>>27778053
LLets go touch it with our bare hands and bring it to her.

>>27778053

show the weird thing to Tarda but make sure she doesn't touch it.

>>27778053
"I found this by the way, not sure what it is. Magic maybe? Looks like a bunch of bones tied together with hair. Voodoo shit, girl, voodoo."

>>27778053
Fuck let's go get Cromwell to beef up our steamsling. Bigger pressure tanks, reinforced barrel, actual sights, improved pressure release system. The works.

>>27778194

does Cromwell even work with those kinds of things?

"I do have something to show you, actually." You say. You pull the satchel out of your bag, and hold it out. "I have a feeling something will happen if someone touches it, but I don't know what."
"Alright, lemme take a look." She says. She mumbles something under her breath, and a flare of blue flame appears in front of her forehead. "Oooh, magic warding cloth. You normally have that kinda stuff to hide magic. Open it up so I can take a look."
You pull it open, and immediately, that oppressive, overpowering sense fills your spine, making you tremble uncontrollably. Your heart pounds. Peeking out is the strange totem- a cross of bones, tied together with hair.
"... Oh my." She says, a moment later. "I had no clue Sharnal was this good. He should've been fifth or fourth, at the least."
"I have no clue what it is."
"It's... a seed." She says. "Of magic. Touch it, and it awakens... something or other. I'm not sure what. It's designed for galdians, but I suppose anyone could use it."
She tilts her head. "I've no clue how to use something like this, though, and it won't work on me... But it is full of a *lot* of power. With this much power, I'm sure we could finish the Indomitable Project in nearly half the time."

>>27778228
Fuck I mean Dalton

>>27778236
"Ah, maybe we should save it for a rainy day."

>>27778236

"What would a Galdian chief even need this for?"

stash I for now.

>>27778236
"Sounds dangerous. Anyway, Kaedri. Where's he hiding?"

>>27778236
>how to use something like this
>whoops, meant to say how to *make* something like this.

>>27778236
Let's just burn it/get rid of it.

>>27778236
"Can I destroy it?"

>>27778236
"Oh, there's people in Galdia called beastmasters or something. They can control animals. Think this could be that?"

"Sounds dangerous." You say, and close the satchel again. "What would a Galdian chief even need this for?"
"Maybe he wanted to be more powerful." She says. "I do know that those barbarians have plenty of wars over territory."
"Oh, there's people in Galdia called beastmasters or something. They can control animals. Think this could be that?"
"... Yeah, I remember dissecting one of those with the First and Sixth." She says, after a moment. "Now that I think about it, it probably was designed to awaken beastmastery."
"Can I destroy it?"

Tarda gives you a horrified look.
"No! That would be a waste! If you're going to just destroy it, give it to me so that I can take all of its energy. It would be stupid to waste it like that. If I find out you destroyed it, I'll be very, very upset."

Rolled 16

>>27778236
Touch that shit!

>>27778385
"Okay, I'm going to go see if Mal wants it. If he doesn't, I don't see why we can't give it to you."

Rolled 18

>>27778385
What happens if we touch it?

>>27778396
Did you miss the part where it said it's designed to only work on Galdians.

I don't really want to touch it. Just let Mal get the powerup.

Rolled 14

>>27778407
Why are you passing up the "Become a magician free" card.

>>27778428
Because it's not become a magician?

It's to control animals.
Which is...a pretty boring power.

Rolled 19

>>27778426
Did you miss the "But anyone can use it" part?

>>27778428
Because it's designed to activate Galdian beastmaster powers.
We aren't Galdian, and we don't have latent beastmaster powers.

Rolled 14

>>27778443
>It's a seed of magic
What do seeds do? Grow. What would a seed of magic do? Grow magic. Context clues anon.

>>27778464
>"Now that I think about it, it probably was designed to awaken beastmastery."
NIGGA READ

Rolled 9

>>27778474
>Designed to awaken beastmastery
does not mean
>Will not awaken magic.

>>27778464
>"Of magic. Touch it, and it awakens... something or other. I'm not sure what. It's designed for galdians, but I suppose anyone could use it."
>awakens... something
>designed for galdians

>"Now that I think about it, it probably was designed to awaken beastmastery."

Doesn't sound like it's a "be a wizard" card to me.

"What do you think wold happen if I touch it?" You ask.
"... If it's designed for beastmastery... it might awaken other powers, if you don't have galdian blood. There's never been a non-deluran witch before, or a non-galdian beastmaster, after all." She tilts her head. "I'll give you a 50/50 chance."
"Chance?"
"If it awakens something in your blood, like the Talent or whatever ability the lelan have, or if your remnant heart takes over the rest of your body and distorts you beyond all reason. The latter probably won't be pretty. More like definitely won't be pretty. That's the risk of using something for what it isn't designed for."
"What if Mal touched it?"
"He's galdian, so he'd get beastmastery. That's almost certain." She says, sounding more confident as she speaks. "Though whatever you do do with it, I want to watch."

>[] Try to activate it yourself?
>[] Ask Mal if he wants it?
>[] Give it to Tarda?
>[] Trick Leroy into touching it?

>>27778481
You are one dumb motherfucker

Rolled 18

>>27778482
Why dont we just ask tarda what she thinks would happen if we touched it? Shes the expert here.

>>27778481
Magic has been shown to have esoteric, yet extremely strict rules.
Something designed to awaken beastmastery does not necessarily affect magic in general. It's entirely likely that it only awakens beastmastery, and literally nothing else. And since we aren't Galdian, we don't have latent beastmastery to awaken.

>>27778501
Ahahahahahah the MUH MUTATION fags doomed our magic option.

Rolled 4

>>27778504
Fucking.
told you

>>27778501
>[X] Ask Mal if he wants it.

Rolled 14

>>27778520
Its a 50/50 shot! A die roll away from magic!

>>27778531
Neither the Lelan Talent or horrible mutation are wizardry.

>>27778501
Crush it beneath the heel of our boot. We've only ourselves to rely upon from now on. No magic.

>>27778537
>No magic
>As we throw runes around left and right and rely upon our magic detection sense all the fucking time with our remnant sidekick
Suuuuuuuure

Rolled 20

>>27778533
Yes, but wizardry is wizardry and that was one of the options.

This is just like the fucking portal.

>>27778552
>"If it awakens something in your blood, like the Talent or whatever ability the lelan have, or if your remnant heart takes over the rest of your body and distorts you beyond all reason.
Where exactly, do you see wizardry in this sentence?

>>27778548
That's not actualy magic though.

That's just connecting to a battery!

I feel like im taking crazy pills here.

>>27778563
>Just for clarification, The 'Talent' is what Tarda calls the untrained form of wizardry.

>>27778569
>Being able to sense magic isn't magic, guise!

>>27778563
THE TALENT is WIZARDY. The talent FOR WIZARDRY.

>>27778572
Nope.
No way.
Not worth the 50/50 chance.

Told you fucks we should have set our heart to go human but, no, regeneration!!!!! and mutation hurr

>>27778584
Which requires years and years of study to get anywhere and is entirely based in crazily specific rituals that have crazy requirements.

>>27778589
50 50 is soo worth it. The chances of rolling over 50 on 3d100 at least once are huge.

>>27778606
It really isn't
IT REALLY ISNT

>>27778594
And your point is...?

>>27778606
You've already rolled twice below 30.
Which means the chance that the next roll is above 50 is, in fact, 1/2
And you're assuming that this is highest of three, which it might not be.

Rolled 51

>>27778619
>inb4 1

>>27778618
It's not worth an equal chance that we'll turn into something that makes Steve look beautiful in comparison.

>>27778628
Boom. See dat shit? Nailed it.

>>27778628
I feel like the dice gods are mocking me.
But even so, there are three possibilities here, four if you count it not doing anything at all as one.
>Horrible mutation
>Lelan power
>untrained wizardry
>Nothing

>>27778606
>In the interest of you guys having a completely informed choice, I'll warn you that you'll need to pass a Medium (50) DC Affinity roll, which means only the *median* roll will count.
>I really would like more votes, though, as the two only votes are 'Give it to Mal' and 'Crush it'.

>>27778628
You're not convincing me at all.

For all we know, 51 could be jack shit. For something actually useful like wizard powers I'd bet we'd need to roll a 90+

>>27778647
[x] CRUSH

>>27778647
Touch it.

>>27778665
You already voted.
But since we're apparently restarting the vote.
[X] Give it to Mal

>>27778654
>for something actually useful we'd need 90+
>>27778647
>Pass a 50 affinity roll
#rekt

>>27778647
Touch.

>>27778647
[x] Give it to Mal

I am laughing. All the fags that kept demanding Mutation brought this on themselves. Not worth it in the slightest.

>>27778678
He didn't say what for.
It could be pass 50 for Lelan ability.
It could be pass 50 to not become a remnant.
There's more than two possibilities here.

>>27778647
Touch dat shit nigga.

>>27778647
>[x] Give it to Mal

My samefag sense is tingling.

This is like some sort of weird Bizarro /tg/ where we don't want to be the wizard for once.

>>27778647
{x} Give Malchak the beast(master)

>Alright, it's been 20 minutes. I'm calling the votes here.
>The winning choice is 'Give it to Mal'. And now, I write.

File: 1381958097429.jpg-(5 KB, 281x200, Jesus Christ.jpg)

5 KB JPG

>>27778723

>>27778717
1/2 chance to be horribly mutated for no gain
1/4 chance of wizardry assuming it's got the same chance as the Lelan ability to awaken.
Too dangerous

>>27778717
I want to be the wizard for sure.

But it's not worth it. People went fucking retarded over the heart choice with 'hurrr i want claws'. Look where that's got us. A 50% chance to turn us into a terrorfuck monster.

>>27778737
More like 1/2 chance to become a wizard
1/4th chance to unlock lelan talent
1/4th chance of horrible mutation.

Tarda said she gave us a 50/50 shot of unlocking the talent.

>>27778734
"Let's stop being so cautious" does not mean >Lick the candy
There's a difference between taking risks and rolling around in zesty sauce before jumping naked into the lion pit.

>>27778734
>#rekt
>lol@u
scrub.

>>27778742
Take a fucking gamble in life man. Why are you on /tg/ if you don't like a little uncertainty in your dice?

>>27778752
>Lick the candy
Y'see, back during Exabutt's best quest we handled shit like this the only reasonable way. Jumping into danger head first with no serious forethought. You should all take a page out of Dave Davis Davidson's book.

>>27778772
Yes, I'm well aware.
Except, consider, so far, every time in this quest we've rolled poorly we've been utterly annihilated. Death is a much larger prospect here.

>>27778772
The Wanderer isn't Dave.

>>27778758
I gamble, but not on fucktarded unprofitable odds that are more likely to fuck us up than to do anything useful.

>>27778801
75% chance of something good happening are pretty damn good odds to me.

"... Not worth it." You say, finally. "I'll give it to Mal."
"Good choice." She says. "Not as good as giving it to me, but using it for what it's designed for is always good. Let's go check it out."
Still with that pale blue flame floating in front of her forehead, Tarda climbs down the vine, and you follow.
The two of you make your way toward the wagon, where Mal is sleeping.
It feels almost like he's claimed the wagon as his own place.
"Hey, we're going to experiment on you!" Tarda says.
Mal blinks at her.
<Translation?> He asks.
<The item we found- the one destined for the chieftan- is made to unlock beastmastery.>
<... What, really?> He asked. <Hmmm...>
<Since you're the only one with galdian blood, it could have some... bad side effects if anyone else uses it. So here.> You hold out the satchel.
Mal looks down at it. Then back up at you. Then he holds out a hand.
<Well, then wish me luck.> He says. He pulls open the satchel, and with some amount of hesitation, grabs it in one hand.

The next moment, he's recoiling back, brilliant red light lancing into him. He tears himself away, light streaming into his eyes. He twitches, and howls.
"He's fine." Tarda calls, over the yelling. "It's gotta be painful, all that lifeblood energy pouring into him, but it won't hurt him. Might even speed up his healing."

A moment later, Mal's lying on his back, staring up at the sky.
The item in the satchel crumbles, a moment later, into nothing but dust.
<Ow.> He says, finally, staring up at the sky.
His eyes are a brilliant, almost reflective grey- for a moment, before it fades back into his normal yellow/orange.

>>27778803
Now I've lost it.
I know I can lol.
You're just making these percentages up now.

>>27778803
It's a 50/50 chance that it awakens "something in your blood"
That means there's an equal chance of us getting one of the two good powers and that it does NOTHING GOOD.

>>27778814
<Congrats, bro!>

>>27778815
>>27778501
>"I'll give you a 50/50 chance."
Referring to wizardry.
>like the Talent or whatever ability the lelan have, or if your remnant heart takes over the rest of your body and distorts you beyond all reason
Three options.

Since the talent takes up 50 percent of the spectrum, logically the lelan ability and the remnant mutation take up 25% each. Therefore, we have a 75% chance of getting either the lelan ability or the talent.

>>27778814
>The item in the satchel crumbles, a moment later, into nothing but dust.
HA HA HA.
The end.

>>27778838
>you a 50/50 chance."
>"Chance?"
>"If it awakens something in your blood, like the Talent or whatever ability the lelan have, or if your remnant heart takes over the rest of your body and distorts you beyond all reason.
Read it again.
That's explicitly a 50/50 chance of "It awakens something in your blood, like the Talent or whatever ability the Lelan have" OR "your remnant heart takes over the rest of your body and distorts you beyond all reason."
1/4 wizard
1/4 Lelan ability
1/2 mutation
And that's assuming that there isn't any other latent abilities in the Wanderer's blood AND that the percentage between wizardry and the lelan ability are equal.

>>27778893
>like the talent OR whatever ability the lelan have OR if your remnant heart et cetera

>>27778838
You're forgetting the fact that people chose Mutation instead of bringing back our heart to full 100% human. And because of that we lost our affinity ie the Kystaran side of our blood.

>>27778914
Those are some hot assumptions you've got there Anon.

<Congrats, bro!> You call.
<My eyes hurt.> He responds, and presses his hands into them.
"Ask him what he knows about beastmastery. It might give you a hint on how he can use it." Tarda says. You translate for her.
<Well, I've seen a guy do it before to one of his tarrasques.> Mal says. <He just kinda... stared at the creature, and focused. And it did what he wanted.>
The assassin pushes himself to his feet. <You know where lil' Mal is? That dragon should be easy enough to test this out with.>

You spy the dragon still pacing about, looking for Ann. She's still hiding in the bushes, peering out at the dragon.
... Apparently she's taught Bruno how to play hide and seek. He doesn't seem very good at it.

>>27778906
>If it awakens something in your blood [comma] explanation of what "something in your blood" might be [comma] OR your remnant heart takes over the rest of your body and distorts you beyond all reason"

Is English not your native language? Do you not understand commas (These things ,,,,,,,)?
(Note: There are at least two powers that count as "something in your blood". Only one of those powers is Wizardry.)

>>27778928
<Try directing the Dragon bro!>

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>>27778928
Point out the dragon to him, I guess.

Rolled 37

>>27778928
<See if you can help the little guy out, Mal. Ann's in the bushes over there.>

>>27778950
Don't be such a passive aggressive loser.

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>>27778973

>>27778977
I am literally lol'ing right now.

Too bad ur shitty choice didn't get chosen. Deal w/ it turbonerd.

>>27778993
Don't respond to him anymore.
Let him sulk.

>>27778928
<Try communicating with him? Form a psy link? Pilot him like a wagon? Give him orderrs? I dunno, bro.>

<Over there.> You say, and point at Bruno. Mal looks down at him. <See if you can help the little guy out. Ann's in the bushes over there.>
<Oh, right!> He says. He stares at the dragon, and his eyes fade into a brilliant, steely grey.
Then, a moment later, Bruno shakes himself off.
<Fuck, this is dizzying.> Mal says, shaking his head. He doesn't look away from the dragon, staring directly at it.

Bruno looks down at his own paws, and then looks around, and meets your eyes. In a very un-dragonlike way, he trots toward Ann, almost *gracefully*, as much as such a pudgy thing could. You hear Ann talk to him, coming out of the bushes. She looks worried.
Mal finally breaks eye contact, his eyes fading back into that yellow-orange. Bruno squeaks, and waddles closer to Ann.
"Ask him how that was." Tarda asks.
You ask him, and Mal shrugs.
<It was almost like... I had two bodies. Two sets of eyes, two heads... Confusing, but not difficult. I could feel his desire to find his pet human, though. What was more confusing was that he understood some of the words she was saying. So I understood it, or something.>
<You going to mess with it more?> You ask. Mal nods.
<I'm thinking I'm going to go practice on birds and animals and stuff. Might try a jackolope, too.>

>>27779055
<Maybe you've got to overwhelm the animal's desire with your own? Like, subsume them to your iron will.>

Rolled 56

>>27779055
It's like you don't like being adorable and petable.

Maybe you can get Marcus to catch you a jackalope cub.

>>27779055
<Have fun, bro!>

<Well, that was fun, Tarda.>

Let's go see if Cromwell is around.

>>27779055
Did you get your delicious data, Tarda?

<Maybe you've got to overwhelm the animal's desire with your own? Like, subsume them to your iron will.>
<Didn't feel like that.> He says. <Felt more like my desires were stronger than his naturally. I didn't even need to put any effort into it.>
He looks at the empty satchel.
<I have a feeling that it did more than just give me beastmastery, but gave me a boost to it, too. I know that people normally need to practice when they're just starting out. Or maybe dragons are just *that* weak-willed.>
He shrugs. <Anyway, I owe you. You could have sold it and gained... well, more coin than I've seen in my life, with that. After I get back from testing things out, I'll come up with a way to make it up to you. See you, comrade.>
<Have fun, Bro.> You say.

Mal pulls on his veil, gives you a wave, and makes his way into the forest.

You turn to Tarda, and slip into Kystaran. <Well, that was fun.> You say. <Did you get your delicious data, Tarda?>
<It was! I think I'm going to run my own experiments on things like that. After my current Project, at least> Tarda says. She looks like she's trying not to pout. She kicks the dirt below her feet. <Well... I'm going to look over my notes. After you're ready to go down to the caves, come by and I'll fit you in that armor I talked about.>
<Alright. I'm going to go see if Cromwell is around.> You say.

You make your way up the hill to Cromwell's tower, and knock.

Cromwell opens the door. Very slowly.
He looks tired.
"Ah, it's you. Morning." He says.
You look up at the sky. It's coming to be sundown, soon.
He yawns. "What do you need?"

>>27779202
Where've you been, bro? I haven't seen you for ages, even during the rain.

>>27779202
"Just making sure you're alive. It's been... like a week. Did you know we found a living wizard?"

>>27779202
"Haven't seen you for a couple days. How's life? How are your studies? Those tools working okay still?"

See if he's got any spare golem parts lying around that we can use to upgrade our steamsling.

>>27779202
>She looks like she's trying not to pout
Oh no. How did we anger her?

>>27779289
She wanted to teach us wizardry. Or she wanted all that DELICIOUS MAGIC POWWA for her super weapon.

"Just making sure you're alive. It's been... like a week. I haven't seen you for ages. Did you know we found a living wizard?"
"Yes!" He says. "She came by and we discussed things. Plenty of things. a *lot* of things."
He opens the door the rest of the way.
And now you see what he's been doing this entire time- papers completely covered the walls, every available surface covered. Notes of all kinds, half in kystaran, with wizardly rituals written on most of them, instructions to other things, and summary explanations of how certain energies are used in magic.
"How are your studies?" You ask, looking around. "Those tools working okay still?"
"I haven't touched those tools." He says. "Golems aren't as important as what I'm doing now."
"Which is..." You say, looking around.
"I'm deciphering the laws of magic." He says. "The wizardess set me on it. I'm her assistant now. She's willing to make me as many tools as I want, as long as I figure out these laws and how they work. She has me trying to figure out why different constellations have different effects on ley magic, and if it's possible to internalize them in some kind of ritual circle.

He holds up a small eyeglass, and puts it to his eye. It makes your spine tingle when he looks through it. "She also made this for me. Seems it allows people to see magic. Since feeling it isn't as accurate as I need."

He gives you an eerie grin.

No wonder he'd forgotten what time of day it is. He probably hadn't slept in days, until he was forced to sleep by his own body.

>>27779335
"When did you last eat or drink water? Want me to tell Miriam to just leave some food outside your door every few hours?

>>27779335
Cromwell! She's got you working yourself blind!
Calm down man. You need to stop and sleep. And probably eat too!

She's got you doing her work, can't you see? If the wizards don't know why magic works like it does, what hope do you have of understanding it? And if you can, it's worth far more then little magic trinkets.

>>27779335
"Eating and drinking is a required function of the human body, my friend. Also sleep. Did you know your mind is still working as you sleep? So it's not unproductive!"

"When did you last eat or drink?" You ask.
"... I ate sometime before the last time I slept." He says. "I emptied my waterskin a few hours ago, though."
"Want me to tell Miriam to just leave some food outside your door every few hours?"
"That would be splendid." He says. He's sounding more giddy as he looks across at the notes.
"Calm down, man. Sleep is a required function of the human body. Did you know that your mind is still working as you sleep? So it's not unproductive!"
"I know. I've just woken up." He says. "I feel entirely rejuvenated. Thank you for waking me up! I have more work to do."

You sigh. "She's got you doing her work, can't you see? If the wizards don't know why magic works like it does, what hope do you have of understanding it?"
"Because wizards aren't taught to look at things through a scientific outlook." He says. "For example, Tarda didn't know that this-" He holds up a small crystal, and it starts glowing. "-externalized brightness spell uses less energy on days with clear skies. I suspect that it gains something from outside the atmosphere. She simply doesn't have the time to experiment."
"If you can, it's worth far more than little magic trinkets."
"No." He says. "I'm not doing this for trinkets. I'm doing it for knowledge. If I were able to combine it and our own technology, the wonders that could be made... But first, we need a ruleset for how the most esoteric 'magic laws' work."

You sigh.

>>27779508
Well if you promise to get regular food and water, and make yourself a device to remind you, then I'll give you... This piece of magic shielding cloth!

I think we should have a few words with Tarda.

>>27779508
"It sounds like you've got everything well in hand, friend. I bid you adieu, and good luck!"

>>27779508
Wish him good luck and then go tell Miriam she'll need to feed him and water him every few hours.

"Well, it sounds like you've got everything well in hand, friend. Good luck."
"Thank you." He says. "Oh, also, since I have no need of these anymore..."
He grabs two crystals, and drops them in your palms.
"Golems." He says, and pushes a booklet in your hands. "Touch this rune to make them follow, this rune to set them to attack all nonhumans, this rune to attack nonfriendly humans... It's all in the book. Their shells are outside."
You take it, and the crystals. These might be useful.

You make your way outside. The sky is a pink orange, and the day is slowly ending. You're not that tired, despite almost dying earlier today.

>[] Let's go talk to ___ about ___
>[] Mal might be out in the woods somewhere, still. Let's see if he's okay.
>[] Tarda wanted us to check out some caves, so we might as well go.
>[] Other?

>>27779698
>>[] Mal might be out in the woods somewhere, still. Let's see if he's okay.

>>27779698
>[X] Tarda wanted us to check out some caves, so we might as well go.

But get that armor from her first.

>>27779698
[x] Mal. See how he's getting on, tell him we're heading into the caves soon.

>>27779698
>[] Tarda wanted us to check out some caves, so we might as well go.

>>27779698
>>[] Mal might be out in the woods somewhere, still. Let's see if he's okay.
Malbro!

>>27779698
>[X] Tarda wanted us to check out some caves, so we might as well go.

>>27779794
>>27779749
>>27779723
We just spoke to him guys, he's fine.

>>27779856
Yeah, but he's said he felt dizzy from trying it out didn't he? Might want to make sure he hasn't collapsed/exhausted himself.

>>27779856
Mal's a cool guy, and I've had quite enough dying for one day. I'd rather chill with Mal and talk about beastmastery then strap on another armored plate and get stabbed again.

After having a short talk with Miriam about making sure Cromwell gets food now and then, you head into the woods, going the same way he'd wandered. You wander north, into the trees.

The sky gets darker as you wander deeper into the forest, hills and ridges making it harder to traverse as you get closer to the mountains.
But then, with a loud bellow, you hear trees crack and blow away, being uprooted.

You don't have much time before the jackolope tears through the trees, straight toward you. The multi-ton monstrosity is coming at you at high speed- and then screeches to a stop.

With an unnatural 'harrumph', it shakes its antlered head from side to side. Then it harrumphs again.
You pause, and look closer at it. <Mal?> You ask.

It trembles- as if resisting the urge to murder you. Then it shakes its head up and down.

>>27779897
Can I ride it?

>>27779877
And his sisters. Let's talk about his many sisters.

I'm p sure we've locked out grandma wizard route now as well. Gotta find out about Mal's family.

>>27779897
<Das coo' bro. Where are you at? I mean, the human you?>

>>27779897
You're going to give your half sister a run for her money, that's for sure.

>>27779897
<You almost surprised me.>

<Now that's cool, bro.> You say, looking up at the jackolope. Fury-filled eyes stare down at you. <Where are you at? I mean, the human you.>
The jackolope turns to face somewhere behind it, like it was pointing.
You pause a moment.
<Can I ride it?>
The jackolope thinks about it for a time, and then nods. He kicks out a leg, and you carefully climb up its shoulders, and onto its back.

The jackolope's fur is the fuzziest thing you've ever felt, you realize, as you run your hands through it. It harrumphs again, its cottonball tail wiggling, and then, beneath you, it becomes a weapon of destruction, tearing through trees. A moment later, it screeches to a stop, and you find yourself in a clearing. Mal's sitting on a rock, his eyes gleaming silver.

<That's cool, bro. You're going to give your half sister a run for her money, that's for sure.>
<You have no idea how much this thing wants to slaughter both of us.> Mal responds. <It thinks it owns the entire world, and every creature is a thief by walking on its territory.>
Then a moment later, he grins.
<I was actually trying to get it far enough away that I could let go of it without, you know, dying, but then I ran across you.>

>>27780055
<Ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. I've got a prospect for you. Tarda says she needs some stuff cleared from some caves. Feel like letting it loose?>

>>27780055
"That sounds like a very very good idea, you know."

>>27780096
And that sounds even better.

>>27780055
<How hard is it to control? Is it tiring at all?>

<Tell me more about your sisters, bro. Which one is the prettiest?>

>>27780096
THIS. Actually, wait, can if fit down there?

>>27780281
>It can't. At least, it couldn't until I retconned the caves to be large enough for it. Now it can!

<Tell me more about your sisters, bro. Which one is the prettiest?>
<... I have no idea.> He says. <They're all pretty, actually. Healthy, too. I'm sure one of my sisters cater to whatever taste you could think of. Kanna is gorgeous as hell, Jandi is taller than you and made of muscle, and little Leeloo is adorable...>

The jackolope rumbles beneath you. You look down.
<How hard is it to control? Is it tiring at all?>
<It gets more tiring the more he struggles. It's not tiring at all if I'm doing what he wants to do, though...>
Suddenly, quite suddenly, an idea occurs to you.
You start laughing.
<I've got a prospect for you.> You say, with a grin. <Tarda says she needs some stuff cleared from some caves, and wanted some lost treasure for her superweapon. Feel like letting it loose?>

His eyes widen, and his grin suddenly matches yours.

===

Some time later, you're sitting atop an enormous white-furred beast of war, controlled by a galdian beastmaster and wearing a crown of bone around its skull; tusks, fangs, and antlers pointing down and forward, toward the entrance to the caverns.

You adjust the long, strong lance you'd found next to the armor. Your plate armor is uncomfortable, even after Tarda crawled over you to adjust it, but it fits fine.

<Alright, bro.> You say, and pat the jackolope you're riding. <Let's clear these caves.>
The white-furred beast- a cross of a bear, a hare, and the angriest elk you've ever seen- bellows loudly, and charges into the cavern, paws at the ready to maul anything.

In front of you, a tall, muscled creature stands- a troglodyte, easily as large as a golem.

You can't help but cackle. It's been a long time since you'd jousted.
You lean forward, and slam the lance into its chest. It bellows, and falls back.
This is going to be *fun*.

>End of session!
>My twitter is at @futureexabyte
>The IRC is #Exabyte on Rizon.

>>27780333
>Leeloo
>Loolee
>Loli

>>27780352
I see your game, Exabutt! I see it!

>>27780352
Wait.

...

Shit.

>>27780333
Why was Tarda sad when the magic worked?

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>>27780352
Ohhh my.

Anyway, thanks for running, Exa!

>>27780333
>my idea caused a retcon

nyoro~n

>>27780420
Probably because she didn't get it herself.

>>27780420
She's said previously she wanted to teach us magic. Or she wanted all that magic power for her super weapon. She seems kind of autistic, in a way.

>>27780420
It'd take all the mystery out of things if I just kinda *told* you why people do what they do. I'm fine with telling you guys things the wanderer would know, but the wanderer isn't a mind reader.
If you look back at how Tarda's acted, you might be able to figure it out.

>>27780540
>expecting us autists to have a grip on emotions and body language

step up senpai

>>27780540
Exabutt, how surprised are you that /tg/ passed up an opportunity to >lick the candy

>>27780540
what do wizards get for birthday presents?

>>27780540
what seinfeld character would tarda be?

newman?

>>27780570
Hehehehe.

>>27780586
Not very, actually, based on how people have been acting during the quest. You're all pretty cautious.

>>27780596
>Implying wizards have friends and/or family to get them birthday presents.
It's like you don't into cloistered research stations at all!
Universally, they tend to like notes stolen from other wizards, magic power- lifeblood or soulforce, usually, as ley power brings up its own hassles. Individually, they have their own personalities and jank.

>>27780643
I've never seen more than a few episodes of seinfeld. Newman's the portly one with glasses, right?

>>27780720
>>27780540
Honestly, I think Tarda just wants some wizarding friends who she can talk about wizarding with.

I'm surprised she hasn't made a nest in the middle of cromwell's mess.

>>27780720
Yeah, Newman's the one described as 'pure evil'.

On that topic, we haven't really seen much of Tarda when she's not magicing. What /does/ she like?

>>27780776
Magicing, mostly. That's why you've hardly seen much of her. There's a reason she's 'Third High Wizard'.

By the way, the 'Nth High Wizard' thing is a rating evaluated on a national scale, based on each wizards' smarts, ritual count, and how many projects they've worked on and completed. To be within the top ten, or top five, means that you *have* to magic almost constantl.

Though it was pretty universal that if a master had a high rank, their apprentice would have a high one as well, because politics. Also, the act of being a master means sharing all of your knowledge with your apprentice.

Though the biggest reason she magics so much is because it was all but impossible for her to magic inside the domain- There's no ley power there- so she's happy to be able to magic again, now that she's out.

>>27780916
> within the top ten, or top five, means that you *have* to magic almost constantly.
At least, until all of kystara vanished and the nation crumbled into a nation of ghost towns, that is. I forgot to mention that part.

>>27780916
Ah, okay.

I can see why she'd be a little sad. Having to kill the only other wizard around because he's totally out for your blood.

Ah well, them's the ropes. Too bad for her we didn't want to get mutated.

>>27781022
>Daily threads

Hooray.

>>27781605
That's the plan! I'm thinking of changing my schedule to be every day. I might take unscheduled breaks now and then, but that'll mean overall more quest.

>>27781605
>>27781640
wait,what?

>>27781640
Fully sick brah

Thursday's even more hype now.

>>27781671
Oh right, sorry. I forget that not everybody follows twitter sometimes. I'll repost here.

>You know what? I'm going to run tomorrow, too. And maybe the day after. And the day after.
>In short, I mean that I'm picking up my pace and running daily.