>>2253259
> A renegade wizard

>>2253259
> A witch hunter

>>2253259
>> A renegade wizard
> A renegade wizard

>>2253259

> A renegade wizard

>>2253259
> A peasant leader

>>2253268
>>2253309
>>2253323
>>2253328
>>2253333


You're a renegade wizard, in times past your mighty spells would have made you pretty much unassailable by the common rabble but right now magic in the world seems to be fading.

Your grimoire was long lost while you fled from witch hunters but you know by heart the following spells
-Magic missile
-Healing elixir
-Alter self
-Suggestion
-Fireball

Your own theory is that the connection with whichever plane our own plane was draining energy from was severed and now we need to find alternative sources of mana if we are to cast any spells at all. Which alternative source of mana do you use for your spells?

> The heads of fallen enemies
> Magic crystals harvested in deserts
> Mana from the environment itself
> Your own life force
> Write in

Also name wizard

>>2253259
> A witch hunter

>>2253338
> Your own life force and the life forces of others
So my idea is that the MC is kind of like a psychic vampire with some reserves of mana which he has figured out how to magically steal from others either ritualistically or physically somehow, and if this reserve runs low he must either draw from his own life force possibly killing him or draw from others again

>>2253338
> Your own life force
Time to be edgy.
>>2253350
Will support this if its viable

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>>2253350
I second this. Blood mage.

>>2253338
> Mana from the environment itself
Name: Aethin

Right we need a name.

I vote for Molesto.

>>2253406
i swear to god if this wins

>>2253350
>>2253364
>>2253367
>>2253369
>>2253406
>>2253411

Before the cataclysm you happened to be researching a way to increase the amount of spells a wizard could cast daily by storing life force unto himself by magically stealing it from others ritualistically. Every living being, even non casters, has a mana pool, small as it may be, and through ritual their lifeforce can be converted into mana and drained into the wizard so that he can use it to cast spells. At first you limited your research to farm animals but when the cataclysm struck and you were faced with dire circumstances you were forced to try your new mana gathering methods into humans and it worked to great effect.

You now have a pool of mana that can be replenished by ritually draining life force of other creatures. If it gets too low it starts to drain your own life force so you must be careful when managing it.

-Magic missile takes 1LP to cast
-Healing elixir takes 1LP to cast
-Alter self takes 2LP to cast
-Suggestion takes 2LP to cast
-Fireball takes 3LP to cast

You currently have 15 Lifeforce Points and if it drops lower than 10 it starts draining your own life force.

LP (10)/15

Name wizard.

You're hiding in a small cave at a forest near a small village. There's a stream that goes through the woods then close to the village. You caught sight of some poachers earlier but you believe they didn't see you. You take a deep gulp of water from your canteen and eat the last of your smoked meat. Looks like you'll need to hunt again. Small animals like rabbits have too little life force to be useful for charging your mana, but larger animals like deers have some. A shame that they don't have nearly enough to make it worthwhile in terms of how much magic you'd have to spend in order to kill them. Perhaps you could acquire a bow and arrow at the local village. Or perhaps you could find some more juicy target to drain. Although you're quite sure this frayed robe you're wearing would denounce you as a wizard in a heartbeat.
What do you do next?
> Go hunting small game
> Go hunting large game
> Go towards the village
> Try to sneak into one of those poachers
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2253419
> Try to sneak into one of those poachers

>>2253419
Sneak on poachers.

Cast suggestion on one of them to wander alone in the wood to go take a shit.

Knock him out with a rock. Take clothes. Drain LP.

>>2253440
Also, still voting for Molesto as name.>>2253419

>>2253419
How bout Aslelius as a name.
http://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/wizard-names.php#.WmfWR6inHD4
Anyway I think we need new clothes instead of these tattered robes
>>2253440
I'll second this.

>>2253419
ill gave another opinion of Azriel for a name

Rolled 10 (1d20)

You decide to sneak into the poachers to catch a suggestion spell on one of them. They're hunting looking for prey and thus on high alert, sneaking on them won't be easy. Roll a d20 against my roll, poachers have +2 from being alert, I'll pick the best of three.

Also vote on wizard name, pick one or I'll roll dice
>Molesto
>Aslelius
>Azriel

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2253448

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2253448

>>2253451

In the future I'll just go with the first linked roll post so that we don't need to wait for several rolls, but since this time I said I'd go with the best of three I'll wait a little longer for more rolls before proceeding.

>>2253461
>>2253451
SHIT SON, WE DUN GOOFED

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2253448
>>2253451
>>2253461
kek
>Azriel

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>>2253461
>>2253469

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>>2253467
>>2253473

Rolled 2, 4 = 6 (2d6)

>>2253451
>>2253461
>>2253469

Azriel manages to sneak into the poachers getting a few feet from them without being noticed. He them mutters the enchantment to place a suggestion into the minds of one of the poachers to wander alone in the woods to go take a shit.

LP(10)/13

Promptly enough he tells his fellow poacher

"Ay, imma be heading into the bushes, gotta take a dump, ya can go back town without me, see you later."

The poacher then wanders off away from his friends. Azriel follows him and once he's busy taking a shit he finds a heavy stone, knocks him out with it, takes off his clothes. He then takes his ritual dagger and draws a pentagram of blood into the chest of the poacher, draining him of all his life force. You gain 2d6 LP. His corpse shrinks into a lifeless husk, the darkened skin tightening around the bones.

You also loot the bow and arrows of the poacher.

What do you do next?
> Bury poacher remains
> Wear poacher clothes
> Go hunting small game
> Go hunting large game
> Go towards the village
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2253490
> Go towards the village

>>2253490
>>2253494
>wear poacher's clothes
then
>go towards village

>>2253490
> Wear poacher clothes
Then lets go in the village and order a meal at the inn or something. Do we have any money?

>>2253494
>>2253496
>>2253497

Azriel decides to get rid of his tattered wizard robes and wear the poacher's clothes. He then goes towards the village and order a meal at the in. Luckily he still had his purse of coins and manages to pay the folks at the inn with a silver coin.

A young wench seems to take interest in you. She says to you after taking your orders and bringing your food
"We don't get many travellers around these lands. Where do you come from?"

What do you say?
> I come from the village on the other side of the forest, got too far from home while tracking deer and ended up here
> My village was razed by wizards and I'm a drifter now, looking for a job, do you know of anything around here
> I'm heading towards the capital to try for a better life in there
> Write in

>>2253524
> My village was razed by wizards and I'm a drifter now, looking for a job, do you know of anything around here
"anything physical? hunting maybe?"

>>2253524
> My village was razed by wizards and I'm a drifter now, looking for a job, do you know of anything around here

>>2253524
>> I come from the village on the other side of the forest, got too far from home while tracking deer and ended up here

>>2253527
>>2253531

>>2253527
>>2253531
>>2253533

LP(10)/19

You answer the wench saying

"My village was razed by wizards and I'm a drifter now, looking for a job, do you know of anything around here?"

"Oh I'm so sorry about your village! The fields always need a strong hand ready to plow, you could pledge your allegiance to the local lord sir Thamond and become a serf. Or you could talk to mister Erard, the chief of the local hunters, perhaps he could get you a job as a poacher. But it's a rather dangerous ocupation, we never know when a witch can come out of the woods and attack you."

"Sounds dangerous indeed. But I'd rather hunt than become a serf. Guess I'll go talk to mister Erard. The meal was very good. Thanks for the nice conversation.

"You're welcome."


What should you do next?
> Go talk to sir Thamond
> Go talk to mister Erard
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2253564
> Cast a spell suggestion
"i dont reeeally need to pay now do i? im not that rich on cash"

>>2253569
Seconding

>>2253569
That's blood money. The soul of that man was used to get us out of like 3 copper worth of food kek.

>>2253564
to be honest, the hunter guy will probably recognize the clothes we're wearing as being from the poacher we just mummified in the woods.

I vote for
>Go talk to sir Thamond

>>2253581
yea, but assuming we go hunting, its way easier to get back hunting, especially if we take a tiny detour and use that money to buy clothes. not clothes AND food

>>2253584
Yeah alright. Let's hope the guy we just rekt isn't from this village and just some poacher from some other part.

I'll stick with you

>>2253569
>>2253573
>>2253581


You cast a suggestion spell
"I dont reeeally need to pay now do I? I'm not that rich on cash"
"Of course not my friend! This one is on the house! Come back again any time!."

You save some of your precious few silver coins.

LP(10)/17

You leave the inn and walk into the village at large. Where should you head next?

> The clothes shop
> The church
> The blacksmith
> The hunter's cabin
> The barracks
> The local lord's keep
> The inn
> Write in

>>2253564
> Go talk to sir Thamond.
Not gonna plow fields like a serf. Ask the lord if he needs the services of a wizard hunter.

>>2253595
> The clothes shop
and
> The barracks
> The hunter's cabin
wherever the hell the hunter guy is

>>2253598
Second.

>>2253595
Is there a bounty board? We could make a lot of gold and the goodwill of the lord if we used our wizard abilities to take down some bandit or beast which has been troubling the village.

>>2253598
aye

>>2253598
>>2253602
>>2253604
>>2253605


Azriel decides to go to the clothes shop to get a new set of clothes before going to talk to mister Erard, as he fears he would recognize the garments he stole from the poacher he stole life force from a few hours ago. The seamstress takes on his measurements and in a few hours Azriel has brand new tailor made clothing.

He then goes after Erard at the barracks at first. The local guards are sparring with swords when he arrives. There are about twenty of them. He asks one of the guards on duty who is not training about the whereabouts of Erard and is redirected to the hunter's cabin on the outskirts of the village.

Upon arriving at the cabin he finds a middle aged man managing the flow of meat from the poachers to the local market and the flow of money on the opposite way. He takes his cut of course.

"So you wanna be a hunter, huh? Do you know how to use that bow you're carrying? Show me your skills. Shoot at that dummy over there."

Roll 1d20 to shoot an arrow. You're aiming at rolling 12 or more. Get 17 or more and you'll impress him. I'll take best of three rolls, or first linked roll if it takes too long.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2253626

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2253626

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2253626
here we go
>nat 1

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>>2253636
Pinky fucking saves the day once more. 2 20s in a row.

>>2253636
>>2253469
who did you sacrifice for this?

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>>2253469
>>2253636
>>2253640
>>2253641
my soul and social life and sleep routine

>>2253630
>>2253633
>>2253636

Azriel shoots at the dummy and hits the bullseye.
"Very impressive! Very well then, you're in. I was going to put you as a rookie learning under another more experienced hunter but that shot of yours really made me confident on your abilities as a hunter. Hell, I might even put a rookie under you later. Now get out there and bring back some meat!"

Looks like you got the job as a poacher!

What will you do next?
>Go hunt small game
>Go hunt large game
>Go back to the village
>Write in

>>2253650
>Go back to the village
quickly visit blacksmith and browse shop
>Go hunt large game

>>2253650
>Go hunt large game

>>2253650
>go hunt large game
and maybe now or later
>go get a shave & haircut

>>2253653
>>2253659
>>2253666

We quickly go back to the village to visit the blacksmith and browse their wares. They have plenty of swords and spears on sale, also a number of crossbows reasonably affordable. You could probably buy a sword or a crossbow, but not both.

You also decide to get a shave and a haircut. After leaving the barber shop you feel refreshed, a new man, ready to take on the challenges of your new life as a poacher.

Your then go hunt large game. Arriving at the forest you find yourself following the trails of the deers throughout the woods. It rained recently so there's lots of semi solid mud making the tracking somewhat easier. Roll 1d20 for tracking the deer, aiming for 13 or more. Best of three, or first linked if takes too long.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2253683

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2253683

>>2253685

Azriel manages to track the deer and sneak into it successfully but can he really hit it with his bow?

Roll me a d20 aiming for 16 or more.

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Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2253699
>plz

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>2253699
TIME TO SHINE

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2253699

>>2253700
>>2253704
>>2253705


Azriel shoots at the deer but his arrow only grazes at the deer skin, startling it and sending it on the run.

Azriel feels like he's being watched

What should Azriel do next?
> Investigate his surroundings (roll for 17)
> Keep tracking the deer (roll for 13)
> Go back to the village empty handed
> Switch to hunting small game
> Write in

> Keep tracking the deer (roll for 13)
fuck that deer he's earned it now

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Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2253710
investigate his surroundings

>>2253710
>Keep tracking the deer (roll for 13)

>>2253718
>>2253719
>>2253721

Azriel decides to keep tracking the deer. After a few more hours he manage to sneak in on it again. Give it another shot, roll for 16 again.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2253724

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>2253724

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2253724

>>2253725
>>2253729
>>2253732


Azriel shoots at the deer and this time his arrow pierces through the deer's skull, killing it almost instantly. What should we do with it?

> Drain its life force
> Drag it back to town and sell it to Erard
> Cook some venison yourself
> Write in

>>2253740
> Drag it back to town and sell it to Erard

I got a feeling now's not the moment to leech some LP

>>2253740
>> Drag it back to town and sell it to Erard

>>2253744
>>2253746

Azriel then drags his kill back to town.

"You got a deer on your first day hunting? That's quite impressive."

Erard them pays you for the venison you brough to town. The pay is actually good, you could get used to this

Night falls.

What should you do next?
> Go sleep in a hot bed at the inn
> Go sleep in a cave at the forest
> Look for someone else to drain for LP
> Write in

>>2253760
>cast alter self
>go look for LP

>>2253760
> Go sleep in a hot bed at the inn
I think in the morning we should ask the Lord if he has any work or bounties.

>>2253767
I dunno if now is the time with that weird presence in the forest. Our reserves aren't too bad for now.

>>2253790
Yeah that's why I proposed to cast alter self. But you might be right. My first hunch was to go sleep in the cave, full-paranoid style.

But that might just raise even more suspicions.

I'll agree to just act normal and rent a bed at the inn

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>2253767
>>2253778

tie breaker

>>2253778
>>2253800

Azriel decides to go against his paranoid instincts and just act normal. He rents a bed at the inn and get a decent night's sleep. He hadn't sleeped soundly like this in a long time.

All this persecution of wizards has really messed up with his mind. He used to be a scholar and now he's a poacher, having to resort to killing people to get a fraction of his former powers. For how long can he live like this he doesn't know. In his dreams he sees a beautiful pale woman who tells him to follow her. As he does just that the whole dreamscape becomes a nightmarish craziness of random colors. He wakes up in the middle of the night panting. A nightmare. Of course. Not even in his sleep he finds peace.

After tumbling and rolling around a little he still manages to sleep a few more hours before dawn cracks and he gets up.

Azriel then decides to go check if the local lord has any work or bounties.

He walks towards the keep but once he reaches the doorway he's stopped by an armed guard.

"Halt! State your business in the keep."

"I'm looking for work or bounties that the Lord might have."

"So you're looking for mercenary work huh? What are your skill?"

"I'm pretty good with a bow and arrow."

"A marksman huh? Very well, come in."

You're then admitted entrance into the keep. On the main hall sit Thamond is sitting into a small silver throne.

"So you're the marksman who's looking for a job as a bounty hunter? Very well, I might have the sort of job you're looking for."

"Just yesterday one of my poachers was found dead, ressicated, drained of all his bodily fluids. It's certainly some sort of witchcraft, so we have a witch wandering around our village. If you manage to catch this witch I'll reward you handsomely."

You then take your leave from the keep.
What should you do next?
> Go investigate the forest
> Go hunt big game
> Go hunt small game
> The hunter's cabin
> The church
> The barracks
> The local lord's keep
> The inn
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2253835
> Go investigate the forest
Let's see if we can find that presence.

>>2253835
> Cast a spell suggestion
"Are you sure this was a witch of some kind? Or maybe even a traitor? if he was with someone they are the most likely suspect"

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>>2253835
Lets get ourselves a sword from the blacksmith with that pay from the deer

then

Let's go investigate the forest, maybe we will find something interesting (also, I guess the lord told us that's where the murder happened, so we're still acting normal!)

>>2253849
k i'll second

>>2253843
>>2253847
>>2253849

Azriel buys himself a sword from the blacksmith with the pay from the deer he sold.

He then decides to go investigate the forest to see if he can find whatever it is that was stalking him yesterday.

Roll a 1d20 aiming for 17 or more

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>2253854
LLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2253854

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>2253854

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Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2253854

Fuck my Wi-Fi connection is shit right now. You bail on this quest OP, and I'm posting gore, this shit is cash.

> pic related, batshit insane witch hunter

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>>2253859
>>2253860
>>2253864
>>2253868

4+15+12+16, that's clearly over 17!

ayyyy

>>2253859
>>2253860
>>2253864
>>2253868


After searching all day through the forest Azriel finds no signal of whatever it is that was stalking him the other day. Perhaps it went away already?

But he finds a scrap from his old robe that he left abandoned at the cave in the forest hanging from a tree. Once he heads to the cave to check it the old robe is gone. There are no footprints coming in or out of the cave except for his own, but there are clear signs that his robe was dragged through the floor of the cave.

What should Azriel do next?
> Keep looking for the weird presence in the forest (roll for 17)
> Go hunt big game
> Go hunt small game
> The hunter's cabin
> The church
> The barracks
> The local lord's keep
> The inn
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2253874
> Keep looking for the weird presence in the forest (roll for 17)

>>2253874
> Keep looking for the weird presence in the forest (roll for 17)

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2253874
Cast Suggestion on self to mentally jumpstart us and make us a super-detective. Little magic-induced self-motivation goes a long way!

Then

>>2253877
Keep looking)

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>>2253882

>>2253884
IKR, fucking hell my rolls tonight.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2253882

Fuck, looks like we've found it.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2253874

>>2253884
>>2253879
I guess you should roll a d20 if you choose an option that says roll for 17 btw

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Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2253906
oof

>>2253877
>>2253879
>>2253882
>>2253894
>>2253913
Azriel decides to keep looking for the weird presence in the forest. He follows the trail left by the dragged robe for awhile until he trips and falls, rolling down a hill. He injures himself pretty badly and his clothes get torn a little. He then hears a muffled laughter that then erupts into a maniac cackle. It's coming from a tree right on top of you.

You see your robe torn to shreds fashioned into some sort of nest. In it a small humanoid creature with butterfly wings is pointing at you and laughing. You can barely believe your eyes. A faery?

Those were the first to be gone when the cataclysm struck. Faeries can't live without magic, they are intrinsically magical beings. You wonder how this little faery managed to survive.

"Can you speak my language?"

"I can speak many languages."

"How the hell are you still alive now that the magic is gone?"

"How the hell can you still cast magic now that the magic is gone?"

"I asked first."

"I drain mana from the environment. So long as I don't cast any spells everything around me starts to rot slowly. If I cast spells everything rots really fast. It's pretty sad. You?"

"Well I drain the life force of living creatures and turn it into mana."

"Also pretty sad. Magic used to be a fun thing."

"Yeah. You're pretty good at hiding."

"That's what we fey do. We hide from the prying eyes of humans and the like."

"Well it was a pleasure getting to know you, I need to go on my merry way now. Stay safe."

"Hey hey hey hold on. We freaks should stick together."

"What do you mean with "we freaks"? "

"Casters. The normals would kill us if they knew about our powers."

"Well I can't be seem with a tiny humanoid creature with wings."

"Well, that I can fix!"

She flies out of the tree into the ground and turns into what looks like a thirteen years old girl with long black hair wearing a purple dress. The trees around us all rot and their leaves fall.

"Tada, what do you think?"

What should we do next?
> "I'm not taking you with me, you're on your own"
> "Come with me, I'll tell people you're my niece."
> "Purple is not a good color for a dress, make it more normal"
> Write in

>>2253949
Cast magic missile and attack her with the sword. We can turn her corpse in to the Lord and get a nice reward.

>>2253949
> "Come with me, I'll tell people you're my niece."

>>2253955
Was gonna say that, but screw magic missile.

Cast fireball instead. If someone asks about the burns, tell them we tried to burn her body because witches.

>>2253959
Alright I'll back that.

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>>2253958
Sorry Pink :(

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>>2253963

wtf my ID changed

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>>2253964

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inb4 its a tooth fairy

>>2253955
>>2253958
>>2253959

Azriel decides to kill it with fire and casts a Fireball at the fairy. A large fiery explosion ensues. The fairy is caught completely off guard and receives the full blast in her face.

LP(10)/14

The fairy dies. What should Azriel do next?
> Drain her for LP
> Drag her burnt body back town to claim the lord's reward for capturing a witch
> Bury her
> Write in

>>2253955
>>2253959

BURN THE WITCH, WE NEED NO SISTERFU AND BESIDES THAT, SHE'S PROBABLY LOADED WITH MAGIC ESSENCE!

>>2253974
> Drag her burnt body back town to claim the lord's reward for capturing a witch

>>2253974
Lol... it got BTFO. Sorry we killed a potential companion OP.
> Drag her burnt body back town to claim the lord's reward for capturing a witch

>>2253974
Drain & Drag.

We can always explain the state of the body (mummified) with some mumbo-jumbo.

>>2253974

> Cut off the giant buttetfly wings for proof, drain the rest of her body for LP, then burn the corpse until it's impossible to tell it's been drained of bodily fluids.

>>2253987
I'll support this if it is possible.

Inb4 we get a job as a witch hunter despite being a witch

>>2253996
The perfect cover.

Also, we can leech some dank witch ultra LP and make ourselves a huge mana pool. Might actually develop some skills out of it, like a manaphage, starting to feed off of it, and magical beings in general.

Always a possibility for RP

Rolled 4, 1, 5 = 10 (3d6)

>>2253980
>>2253981
>>2253986
>>2253987

Azriel drains the fairy for LP, cuts off its wings and drags the body of the burnt fairy back town to claim the lord's reward for capturing a witch. He's all roughed up from falling down the hill so nobody doubts a horrible fight to the death took place. Everybody in the village now praises Azriel as the witch hunter who got rid of the witch who's been menacing their town. He claims that after the fight he burned the body of the witch fearing that otherwise it would come back from the dead.

Lord Thamond commends his wit in dealing with the witches and gives Azriel a hefty sum of gold pieces as reward, enough to buy a homestead or one of those fancy repeating crossbows that the witch hunters love so much.

Azriel is praise as a local hero now.

What should Azriel do next?
> Buy a horse
> Buy a repeating crossbow
> Go hunt big game
> Go hunt small game
> The hunter's cabin
> The church
> The barracks
> The local lord's keep
> The inn
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2254010

LP(10)/24

>>2254010
> Write in
try making a spell to drain mana with touched objects

Cool.
I dunno if our guy just wants to be a poacher. Are there any other places around the village to travel to and get more prestigious work?
> The inn
Let's ask if there are any rumors. Maybe some dungeons or something to delve into.

>>2254015
Damn, so many ideas.

Okay, so I think research is a great idea. But we need intimacy to do that, notes, experimentation, etc. We should probably get a cabin near town, something steady, but not so close as to arouse suspicion. We're technically a poacher and everything, so it's fine.

Then, I think if we're planing to spend some time here, we should research some way to leech LP with less consequence. Either something like half the LP but the target survives, or full LP but without any obvious signs to the corpse (maybe a bit of dehydration or skinny, not something that looks so unnatural as we are doing right now)

Then, we should probably go to church to see how it is, and to further reinforce our cover.

So, tl;dr, I suggest we plan for the long run, and get ourselves a secluded place to live and eventually do research in the goal of making our LP drain more subtle. Meanwhile, we should go to church/mingle and look like a decent citizen.

>>2254035
thats why i want to leech mana with items, like if we used a bow or cross bow, anything hit with the arrow or bolt will be leeched

>>2254040
Yeah, but if mummified bodies start turning out, people will think there's another witch.

>>2254045
doesnt need to be instant, nor full force, we can always try and give it more effects, like burning, or sleep effect with light leeching so we can grab them

>>2254048
I'm okay with that.
As long as we cover our tracks because if we're gonna research it's gonna take some time, so that means staying in one place for a while, and that's dangerous in itself.

>>2254048
I feel like making mana leeching weapons would require a real wizards lair with gear to enchant shit and could be too big of an investment for now, not to mention hard to hide.

>>2254055
perhaps, but its something to work towards

>>2254055
>>2254058
So I guess, for now, let's get ourselves a cabin or some homestead (since we got a reward that can buy such a thing) and plan for research later.

And, as I said, maybe mingle in town. Either to the inn for rumours/info or to church just to get to know/look good.

We'll probably get a couple free rounds of beer at the inn for slaying a witch too

>>2254015
>>2254029
>>2254035

Azriel considers acquiring a homestead near town with the money he got from the bounty. He wants a cabin near town, something steady but not so close as to arouse suspicion where he can have the privacy he needs to store notes and conduct experiments for his arcane research. His main concern is to either making the target survive the experience or minimize the signs to the corpse so as to not look so unnatural as what he's currently doing right now. Should Azriel build a homestead?
What should he focus his research on?
> Making the target survive the experience
> Minimizing the signs on the corpses

Azriel also thinks about creating mana leeching weapons but that would require lots of equipment to enchant magical items that he currently lacks; even in the hayday of magic creating magical items was a very expensive and taxing process, it's doubtful whether he'd be able to secure all the materials necessary for such a task with the scant resources he's currently able to mobilize.

Azriel starts frequenting the inn for rumours and information and the church to get to look good in the eyes of the local community. He hears rumours about a coven of witches terrorizing a neighbouring village in the west and rumours about cultists attempting to summon demons to make pacts for demonic powers in the east. You also hear talk about a community of wizards being formed in an oasis at the desert in the south and dragon sighting in the mountains north.

What should Azriel do next?
> Focus on his research
> Investigate the rumour about the witches west
> Investigate the rumour about the cultists east
> Go check out the community of wizards south
> Go check the dragon sightings in the north
> Write in

>>2254096
What should he focus his research on?
> Minimizing the signs on the corpses

What should Azriel do next?
> Investigate the rumour about the cultists east

File: aYxbqo2_700b.jpg (89 KB, 700x933)

89 KB JPG

>>2254102
Aye

Gonna call it a night, probably be back tomorrow.

>>2254112
aight. You have an ETA?

>>2254102

This.

>>2254102
>>2254672

Azriel decides to buy a homestead at the village of Badum to have enough privacy to conduct his arcane research on how to minimize the signs of wizard activity on the corpses he drains of lifeforce. Should you hire some peasants to plow your fields and make the place economically viable?
> Hire just enough farmhands to keep the place afloat
> Buy a couple oxen and hire plenty of farmhands
> Don't hire anyone leave the fields unatended
> Write in


As he asks around about the cultists he learns that close to twenty people from Badum and nearby villages have disappeared misteriously during the night in the past few weeks and a lumberjack from the nearby village of Paham in the west named Gare swears that he saw three cloaked men carrying a limp body towards the swamps during the night. News come from Stiford in the east that the local townsguard started training a militia of spearmen to deal with the witch crisis.

What should Azriel do next?
> Buy a horse
> Focus on his research at his homestead in Badum
> Travel to Paham in the west
> Travel to Stiford in the east
> Investigate the swamp in the west
> Write in

>>2255589
> Hire just enough farmhands to keep the place afloat
and
> Investigate the swamp in the west
look for any signs of human activity

>>2255623
Azriel hire just enough farmhands to keep the place afloat.

Azriel then decides to investigate the swamp in the west for any signs of human activity. He travels west on foot for a few days through the wilderness looking for any signs of strange activity going on. After about a week treking through the wilderness he finds the swamp. Should he enter the swamp?

Roll 1d20 for tracking, aiming for 15 or more to find a dry trail.

Or decide to go visit the village of Paham that can be seem in the distance instead.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2255637

>>2255670

Progressing through the swamp proves very challenging as the watery terrain doesn't always have dry land so you fashion a large stick out of a tree branch to check the terrain ahead for places where you can have a more sure footing. After moving through the swamp all day you figure out that it will take longer than a day to cross the swamp or to fully investigate it. The prospect of sleeping in here is not very enticing, but marching through the swamp in the darkness would be extremelly difficult.
> Soldier on in the dark
> Sleep in the swamp
> You're not properly equipped for this, turn back and go check Paham village
> Write in

>>2255696

> Soldier on in the dark

Years ago, our peasant serfs didn't call us Azriel "The Obstinate" for nothing!

>>2255696
>> Sleep in the swamp

>>2255707
>>2255713

Against all odds Azriel decides to soldier on in the dark, feeling for dry land and slowly advancing through the swamp. Years ago our peasant serfs didn't call us Azriel "The Obstinate" for nothing! The dawn finds us still advancing through the swamp. Completely exhausted and drenched in mud Azriel keeps marching all day long. In the afternoon of the second day he catches sight of a ruined building in the swamp, some sort of temple.

Upon entering the ruined temple the stench of death assaults your nostrils. Gutted human corpses with their organs scattered and blood spilled all over the place on top and around an altar with a hole in it. The room has a side door to your left and a small spiral staircase going down behind the altar.

>go on the side room
>go down the spiral staircase
>write in

>>2255721

> Call out: "I, AZRIEL THE OBSTINATE, WIZARD OF THE EAST, HAVE HEARD OF YOUR EXPLOITS, AND SEEK TO SPEAK WITH YOUR LEADER, THAT WE MIGHT FIND COMMON GROUND!"

They're demon-worshiping cultists, I doubt they have the peasantry's hangups about witchcraft.

>>2255846
seconding

>>2255846
This

>>2255846
>>2255918
>>2255939


Doubting that the demon worshipping cultists have any peasantry's hangups about witchcraft, Azriel decides to announce his presence by screaming with a booming voice:

"I, AZRIEL THE OBSTINATE, WIZARD OF THE EAST, HAVE HEARD OF YOUR EXPLOITS, AND SEEK TO SPEAK WITH YOUR LEADER, THAT WE MIGHT FIND COMMON GROUND!"

At first you're met with an eerie silence but after a few minutes you hear footsteps coming from the spiral staircase. Seven hooded figures, one of them carrying a crossbow emerge from the depths of the ruined temple and quickly surround you. One of them steps forth and says

"I'm Dreder the leader of the cultists. It was a very bold move to announce your presence like that, we were about to summon a demon to do our bidding and grant us the boon of demonic magical powers. Since you now know of our activities I offer you the opportunity to join us. Otherwise we'd have to kill you to preserve our secret."

What do Azriel do?
> Accept to join the cult
> Attack Dreder with your sword (roll for 12)
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2257032
Attack Dreder with your sword

>>2257052

Roll 1d20 aiming for 12 or more

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2257056

Rolled 2, 5 = 7 (2d6)

>>2257062

Azriel draws his sword to attack Dreder but before he can hit him Dreder extends both his hand and touches Azriels face. Azriel feels his life force being drained and drops his sword on the ground before him. The other cultists quickly grab him, bind his hands and moth and then they carry the struggling Azriel down the spiral staircase, through a corridor and through a wooden door leading into a chamber with a large circle draw in the ground with silver powder with a large pentagram draw in blood within it, five heads with runes carved in their foreheads and candles lit on top of them. They take Azriel behing a pulpit, draw a lever that revels a secret passage and carry him through a small corridor into the catacombs of the temple. Azriel sees two cells with a number of prisoners in them. They open a third cell, throw Azriel inside and lock the cell.

"I'm surprised you're not dead after having your life force drained. We'll deal with you later."

What do Azriel do?
> Attempt to get rid of the ropes binding him (roll for 15)
> Attempt to cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2257071

LP(10)/17

File: 1516055870431.jpg (41 KB, 735x624)

41 KB JPG

>>2257052
>>2257062

Shit nigga what are you doing? There's no reason not to have joined the cult to try and get demon powers, with our wizardry, we would've been on top in a month, tops. Shit, there goes a major opportunity, and you didn't even go for a fireball, we're a fucking wizard, fireballs are our specialty, not trying to shank a demagogue infront of his cult. Fucking shit nigga you've almost pissed me off, desu

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2257071
I roll to blow cultists up

>Attempt to cast fireball

>>2257071
Attempt to free himself from the ropes.
If we can cast fireball at a much smaller size and lp cost just burn it off otherwise the roll

>>2257084
Just caught up, i definitely would have voted to go full cultist, then ditch them when they aren't useful.

, and you didn't even go for a fireball, we're a fucking wizard,

I got you man.

>>2257084
I don't trust demons I don't trust cults and I most certainly don't trust a demon who doesn't have access to all of his magic when a way to get magic is to kill people most specifically perhaps a cult that is summoning you because we already know that the fae losing their magic

>>2257085
>>2257087
>>2257089

Once the cultists drop you at the cell you quickly disentangle yourself from the ropes binding your wrists and cast a fireball towards them taking cover on the corner of the cell. The blast probably caught the prisoners in the other cells too, but most of the cultists are now charred remains of their former selves.

Only Dreder surviver, having duck down behind a sarcophagus in the nick of time.

"You killed my followers! You'll pay for it with your life!"

Dreder advances towards you attempting to grab you, but you simply step away from the bars of the cell. He bends down to grab the keys to the cell from the hands of one of the dead cultists.

LP(10)/14

What do you do?
> Tell him we could summon the demon just the two of us
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2257098
We are a life stealing bloodmage. I'm not concerned about what is legal or moral at this point because we've crossed the line. And nobody trusts demons, not even demons trust demons. The whole point of the cultist game is to glean power and knowledge from the demon without giving too much back, on purpose or by accident. We should have learned as much as we could from them, but now we have a whole bunch of illegals to murder loot drain and grab a bounty from. I'm fine with this outcome honestly.

>This whole quest is essentially the 'Wizards have with no sense of right and wrong meme' and i love it.

>>2257109
If we are fighting we are fighting cast magic missile so he can't duck out of the way

>>2257109
>> Tell him we could summon the demon just the two of us

Oh yes, do we roll for diplomacy?

>Prepare Magic missile to quickfire if he doesn't accept

>>2257111
I'm okay with what's going on now I just don't trust the cultist would have had enough Magic even with our magic to contain a demon but after what happened maybe they would have I kind of figured they were just shitty cultists not actually maybe a mage

>>2257112
>>2257113

Azriel says to Dreder
"We could summon the demon just the two of us"
"You just killed all the humans we were going to sacrifice you damn fool."

Dreder approaches the door of the cells and starts opening it.

Azriel then casts magic missile on him. He by reflex casts magic missile back, both spells colliding in the air and fizzling in a flash of light.

Dreder steps into your cell and approaches you menacingly.

LP(10)/13

What do you do next?
> Attempt to run past Dreder (roll for 15)
> Attack Dreder with your dagger (roll for 12)
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2257125
Prepare counter-magic like he just did and if he isn't visually armed attacking with your dagger otherwise run

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2257125
> Attack Dreder with your dagger (roll for 12)
We need to get some martial training to complement our mage capabilities.

>>2257132
Supporting this too, if he goes to cast another spell counter it out, and then slice his throat.

>>2257132
>>2257133
>>2257135

As Dresden touches Azriel to start draining his life force he quickly draws his dagger and slits his throat. Dresden gurgles in his own blood for a moment then falls down.

A quick inspection of the remaining two cells indicates that there are a total of twelve bodies in this place.

What do you do next?
> Drain the bodies for life force
> Get out the catacombs
> Write in

>>2257148
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEmbOL3AAEs

>> Drain the bodies for life force
>Loot the bodies for spell tomes, gold, and useful equipment.

>>2257148
They are all dead drain them but if Dreder is in cultist robes and could be passed off for a wizard perhaps we take him back to the Lord and try and get more money

>>2257151
>>2257148
Support the looting as well

>>2257152
I half agree, take back some sort of cultist symbol and maybe a robe for proof, but not the body, too heavy and will have our life drain mark.

Let's burn the bodies to burn the evidence of our life drain afterward. I'm sure there is a lantern and lantern oil around that could be used in tandem with a fireball to clean house after looting.

>>2257156
what if we just don't drain him cuz they not sure we would get anything if we just prove that hey we made it into a cult if anything he might start to distrust us I just don't think if we can't bring the body back we don't even tell him. 2nd burning bodies to hide evidince

Rolled 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 6, 1, 1 = 32 (12d6)

>>2257151
>>2257152
>>2257153
>>2257156


Azriel quickly drains the lifeforce of the deceased bodies before it fades. Then he gathers the mummified remains of the fallen and starts looking around for a lantern and some oil. In the first floor the lateral room has a series of bunk beds with chests under them and in one of the chests he finds a lantern and some lantern oil. He also finds several robes, six silver symbols of the dark gods and a few gold and silver coins. Should Azriel carry the robes and symbols of the dark gods back with him?

He also finds two grimoires, one inside one of the chests in the bedroom and another open on the summoning room. It would take some study to figure out what spells are inscribed on these tomes. Should Azriel carry the two grimoires back with him?

Azriel also retrieves his sword and loots a crossbow with some bolts.

After looting the bodies Azriel piles them up and sets them on fire with a fireball.

What should Azriel do next?
> Head back towards Paham (roll for 15 for a dry path)
> Head back towards Badum (roll for 15 for a dry path)
> Get some sleep
> Write in

>>2257185

LP(10)/42

>>2257185
Start studying the books and spend the night in the temple. Hold on to the robes and symbols

>>2257199

Azriel decides to spend the night in the temple and hold on to the robes and profane symbols.

He also starts studying the grimoires he looted. One of the grimoires has the spells Detect Magic and Sleep inscribed in it. The other one has a ritual version of the spell Summon Greater Demon inscribed in it. The ritual requires five human sacrifices to be performed.

The following morning feeling well rested Azriel decides what to do next
> Head back towards Paham (roll for 15 for a dry path)
> Head back towards Badum (roll for 15 for a dry path)
> Write in

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2257202
Head back towards Badum

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>2257202
>>2257209

>>2257209
>>2257211

Azriel decides to head back to Badum. He doesn't find any dry path so he moves through the swamp most of the time half submerged into goey mud. The relentless blood sucking flying insects of this damn bog also don't help. After going through the swamp all day and most of the night he finally finds himself out of the boggy waters, but half of his body is covered in leeches and everything he's carrying is covered in mud. He stops for awhile to remove the leeches then resumes the week long trip back to Badum.

When he finally arrives he sees that the peasants he hired did a pretty decent job at plowing and sowing the fields. It won't be anything special but you'll have a small harvest this year, enough to pay the peasants you hired and to pocket some small change.

What do you want to do next?
> Buy a horse
> Focus on his research
> Try to memorize new spells (sleep, detect magic)
> Investigate the rumour about the witches east
> Go check out the community of wizards south
> Go check the dragon sightings in the north
> Write in

>>2257214
Try to memorize new spells and work on research

>>2257221

I'll back this, even if I don't agree with your methodology. At some point, we need to summon a Greater Demon and see if we can't somehow haggle with it for a tap to an extraplanar source of mana.

>>2257221
>>2257242

After several weeks trying to memorize a new spell and after a little practice Azriel successfully memorizes the Detect Magic spell. It costs 1LP to cast.

LP(10)/37

In the mean time every time you weren't busy supervising your hired peasants nor out hunting you were busy perfecting your life forced draining abilities to not leave as such clear signals on your victims. You haven't had anyone to practice the spell on but you believe that now you managed to come up with a way to leave the corpses in a better state instead of the glaringly obvious way that they were left before. But there's only one way to know for sure, trying draining someone.

News come that the citizen militia of Stiford is planning a raid on the wizard's settlement in the desert south. An emissary arrived from there asking sir Thamond if he could send in reinforcements when the time for the attack comes. Sir Thamond been trying to keep the people of Badum out of trouble for now but he's feeling hard pressed to start forming a citizen militia too.

What do you want to do next?
> Buy a horse
> Focus on his research
> Try to memorize new spells (sleep)
> Investigate the rumour about the witches east
> Go check out the community of wizards south
> Go check the dragon sightings in the north
> Write in

>>2257262
Go check out the community of wizards south

>>2257272

Azriel decides to go check the community of wizards in the south. He fills his backpack with provisions and starts his journey. It takes him about a week to walk towards the desert in the south.

Before he can reach the wizards though he's approached by three thugs armed with clubs, their leader demands that he surrenders his goods.

What do Azriel do about it?
> Surrender goods to the thugs
> Attack one of the thugs with his crossbow (roll 12+)
> Attack one of the thugs with his sword (roll 12+)
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, detect magic, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2257301
Pretend to start surrendering our stuff but using suggestion to start infighting

>>2257324

Azriel pretend to start surrending his goods but then uses suggestion on the leader of the bandits attempting to start infighting.

"So you want to keep all this loot for yourself."

"Yes, I'll keep all this loot for myself."
"Screw that we're going to divide it evenly."
"No way, I'm keeping it all for myself."
"You greedy piece of shit I'll give you a lesson."

The bandits start arguing and bickering amongst each other. What do Azriel do next?

LP(10)/35

> Attack one of the thugs with his crossbow (roll 10+)
> Attack one of the thugs with his sword (roll 10+)
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, detect magic, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Write in

>>2257341
Cast fireball

Rolled 5, 10, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>>2257341
> Attack one of the thugs with his crossbow (roll 10+)

>>2257444

These trips demand support.

>>2257448

Why the hell would a wizard who's just gained a huge amount of power risk death by using a crossbow against three armed thugs?

>>2257444
>>2257448

When I ask for a roll please roll 1d20.

You step away from the thugs and cast a fireball behind them, the explosion leaving a hole in the road and throwing the thugs towards you. The leader of the thugs survives the explosion and starts running away screaming "Aaah! A wizard! Run, run for your lives!"

LP(10)/32

What do you do next?
> Drain the fallen thugs life force
> Shoot the fleeing thug with your crossbow (roll 14+)
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, detect magic, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Keep moving towards the wizard's community
> Write in

>>2257472
Shoot the fleeing thug with a magic missile.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2257476

This, no reason to waste energy on a fireball when a magic missile does every bit as well.

>>2257476
>>2257481


Azriel shoots the fleeing thug with a magic missile. Three bolts of bright light burst forth from his hands and fly toward the fleeing thug, slaying it instantly.

LP(10)/31

What do you do next?
> Drain the fallen thugs life force
> Cast a spell (magic missile, healing elixir, detect magic, alter self, suggestion, fireball)
> Keep moving towards the wizard's community
> Write in

>>2257487

> tfw contributed
> Drain the fallen thug's life force, of course.

Let's see if all that hard work paid off.

>>2257487
Drain, loot, keep on moving.

>>2257487
We should cast detect magic to see if the yelling thug attracted any unwanted attention.Everyone has a little pool of magic in them so if anyone else is around we should know right?

Rolled 2, 4, 1 = 7 (3d4)

>>2257493
>>2257507
>>2257516 detect magic doesn't work like that

Azriel decides to drain the fallen thugs life force. He applies his new techniques to not leave obvious marks of the draining but realizes that using this technique reduced the amount of lifeforce he can effectively drain from the corpses. The corpses are left showing signs of dehidration but nothing like the mummified state the lifeforce drain previously left them. So it's now a choice whether you want to drain without leaving obvious marks or drain every drop of life force they have left in them.

Azriel then continues marching towards the south. The road ends abruptly but he keeps going. On the sixth day of his travel he reaches the desert. He checks his water reserves; he can only hope to find the wizards in less than a week or risk running out of water in the middle of the desert.

Azriel then starts his march south, using the sun during the day and the stars during the night as a compass to make sure he's not just walking in circles in the shifting dunes.

On the fifth day walking though the desert he finally finds an encampment. A small tent city around an oasis; a large hole in the ground partially closed by a wooden door can be seem farther away. As Azriel gets closer he's approached by two men wielding crossbows. They say
"Halt. State your business in here."

> Is this the wizard's community? I've come to join.
> I've been wandering in the desert for days, need water and supplies
> Who's the leader of this place, I'd like to talk to him
> Write in

>>2257547
LP(10)/38

>>2257516

Thinking more about it using detect magic to find people now that people are a source of mana sort of make sense. You could research a modified version of detect magic that work like that.

>>2257547

> I've been wandering in the desert for days, need water and supplies

As much as Azriel would love to meet up with the wizards and get his hands on some of those magical crystals, I doubt he'd want to risk getting perforated, bludgeoned, lynched, burned, salted, burned again, and scattered into the desert winds by peasant vigilantes.

>>2257981

Wary of letting others know about being a wizard seeking other wizards
Azriel chooses not to tell the armed men much

"I've been wandering in the desert for days, need water and supplies."

"So long as you have a way to pay for them you can probably find someone willing to sell you whatever supplies you do need. As for water, take your fill, this oasis is a nascent from an underground reservoir, there's plenty of water to go around."

"Thank you."

The guards then let Azriel be.

What should Azriel do next?
> Go refill his waterskins at the oasis
> Ask around about the giant hole near the oasis
> Trade for food for your travels
> Buy a tent
> Write in

>>2258049

> Find a secluded area and cast a spell: Detect Magic

Let's hope it pings on something.

>>2258072

Azriel finds a secluded area and casts Detect Magic spell

LP(10)/37

After concentrating for awhile several tents show a small glow coming from inside them. Concentrating further a stronger magical presence can be sensed underground coming from the general direction of the giant hole in the ground. Seems like they are mining something with magical properties in this oasis.

What should Azriel do next?
> Go refill his waterskins at the oasis
> Ask around about the giant hole near the oasis
> Trade for food for your travels
> Buy a tent
> Write in

>>2258095
>Go refill waterskins
>Go buy food
>Ask about the giant hole

>>2258095

> They're mining magic crystals, and presumably have magic crystals in their tents.

Yep, this is the wizard settlement alright. Wonder how they'd feel about our blood-fueled magic and grimoire of summon Greater Demon.

> Walk back to the guards, politely announce wizard status, and ask how one can become a member of their community.

>>2258122
>>2258132 you're not carrying the grimoires, robes and symbols around with you, you left them all at your homestead in Badum


Azriel refills his waterskins at the local oasis then go buy some overpriced smoked meat for his travels. He then wanders towards the giant hole and asks a passerby about it.

"The wizards dug this hole, there's some sort of crystal that let's them cast spells and they're mining it. They're hiring miners if you're interested, go talk to Gerey Foxe, he's in charge of the mining operations."

"Where can I find this Gerey Foxe?"

"He's down the hole on the first level. Go down the stairs and you'll find him."

"You said the wizards are in charge of digging this mine."

"Yes, they dug right through an aquifer, an outstanding feat of engineering if I might say myself."

"And you folks are okay with living amongst wizards."

"Desert people learn not to spit on the plate that once fed them. The wizards did alot for our people and we gladly allow them to continue pursueing their research in their time of need."

"I see. Most folks out there are hunting witches like there's no tomorrow."

"But not here in this oasis sir. Here wizards are treated as friends, so long as their actions make them deserve this treatment."

"Thanks for all the information."

What should Azriel do next?
> Go talk to this Gerey Foxe
> Write in

>>2258162
>> Go talk to this Gerey Foxe

>>2258162
>> Go talk to this Gerey Foxe
> Go talk to this Gerey Foxe

>>2258170

Azriel decides to go talk to this Gerey Foxe.

As he descends a flight of stairs he kicks a small pebble down the shaft and it takes a few seconds before hitting the floor - the mine seems to be really deep. You find a partially opened door and once you step in front of it you hear a voice from inside saying

"Come on in, the door is unlocked."

You come in and you see a small studio filled to the brim with books in a huge bookcase on the wall opposite to the entrance. Right in front of this bookcase behind a cluttered desk is a bald old man with a long grey beard wearing a red robe. Next to him there's a bucket full of a blue-ish crystal. He is penning down something in a large book and doesn't stop as you come in. He barely lifts his eye to look at you at first but then he stops doing what he's doing lifts an eyebrow and look at you closely.

"Well well well, what do we have here. You're not your common desert dweller looking for a quick buck as a miner. What brings you here young man?"

> I really just want a job as a miner
> I'm a wizard, I want to become a member of this community
> I'm interested in buying some crystals
> I have information about an incoming raid
> Write in

>>2258162
Remember that an army is coming to destroy this village. We should buy a horse and tent wait till night and steal all the crystals we can. Then ride out of here before the army catches us with a group of wizards

>>2258200
>I'm a wizard, and I have information about an incoming raid

>>2258200
>> I have information about an incoming raid

>>2258226
I feel like we should actually defend this community. We would be able to benefit more if we allow them to keep mining and we help them do research. There is only so much one man can do, plus it would be good for there to be at least 1 still strong community of wizards.

>>2258200
I have some info you might be interested in exchange for some of those crystals you have here.

>>2258200

> "I have information about an incoming raid, and will divulge said information, for a reasonable quantity of your crystals. Under ordinary circumstances, I would tell you outright, as you are my intellectual colleague. However, I do not have that luxury, as I have been starving for mana since the catastrophe struck. I'm sure you understand, and would do the same in my position."

>>2258226

No, theft comes later, through embezzlement, once we've taken control of the settlement.

>>2258228
>>2258234
>>2258235

We're better off haggling for cystals than giving them valuable information for free.

>>2258226
>>2258228
>>2258234
>>2258235
>>2258236
>>2258238

Azriel tells Gerey Foxe
"I have information about an incoming raid, and will divulge said information, for a reasonable quantity of your crystals. Under ordinary circumstances, I would tell you outright, as you are my intellectual colleague. However, I do not have that luxury, as I have been starving for mana since the catastrophe struck. I'm sure you understand, and would do the same in my position."

Roll 1d20 for diplomacy aiming for 13 or more

>>2258238

I'll back blatant extortion, 'cause mana crystals be dope.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2258266

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2258266

Shiiieeeet.

>>2258271

FUCK, SECOND TWENTY TONIGHT, YEAH, FUCK BITCHES, GET PAID, FUCK YEAH, FUCKING SUCK IT NIGGAS, UUUUMPH! PELVIC THRUST, OH FUCK YEAH!

Rolled 4, 4, 5 = 13 (3d6)

>>2258268
>>2258271

"A raid is a serious matter and I understand your predicament. Here's the day's supply of quork crystals that we've mined, it should be enough to cast a number of spells. Just hold the crystals and cast the spell as you would normally and the crystal will be consumed."

Gerey Foxe pushes the bucket of blue crystals your way.

You get enough crystals to cast 3d6 levels of magic.
"Now tell me everything you know about that raid."

"The village of Stiford is training a militia and plans to launch a raid against this settlement very soon. They might as well be marching towards us as we speak."

"Stiford you say. Let me check my maps."

He pulls out a map of the region.

"I see. It's a very serious matter indeed. I'll put a couple wizards on patrol duty and get everybody together for some scrying rituals. Thanks to you we might just survive this raid. What made you come out of your way to save a bunch of old wizards in the desert?"

> I want a job as a miner
> I want to become a member of this community
> I'm interested in buying some crystals
> Write in

>>2258297
LP(10)/37
C13

>>2258297
> I want to become a member of this community

>"I won't be living here, mind you, having made a home further north, but would like to collaborate. I can share information I learn in my travels, and you can share your knowledge of what you learn in this mining endeavor. Maybe I'll even help you fight against this militia before I make my way North."

>>2258297
>> I want to become a member of this community
"I plan to travel some to see what I can learn about the various ways to perform magic and hopefully find a combination that works best. Your community is the only one that I have found that does not care if the have magic or not."

OP. can we get a map or something?

>>2258297
> I want to become a member of this community
"And besides, wizards help each other, right?"

>>2258297

Hey, that went well. Later on, we should research a spell to refill expended crystal using the life force from the environment around us.

>>2258317

I'll back this.

>>2258317
>>2258322
>>2258332
>>2258337


"I want to become a member of this community. I won't be living here, mind you, having made a home further north, but would like to collaborate. I can share information I learn in my travels, and you can share your knowledge of what you learn in this mining endeavor. Maybe I'll even help you fight against this militia before I make my way north. I plan to travel some to see what I can learn about the various ways to perform magic and hopefully find a combination that works best. Your community is the only one that I have found that does not care if the people in it have magic or not. And besides, wizards help each other, right?"

Gerey Foxe then says

"You're welcome to come and go as you please friend. We've conducted extensive arcane research on the properties of the quork crystals and we can tell you that they are... imperfect. They accumulate naturally as the teluric energies get trapped on their way out from the center of the planet so there's plenty of those crystals to go around, at least for now. They tend to grow on deserts, in fact we're yet to find any mine of quork anywhere but on a desert. Perhaps the continuous incidence of energy from the spheres above reacts with the teluric energies to trap the mana inside the crystals. We're conducting research on trying to grow crystals artificially but we always spend more mana augmenting the crystal than it ends up storing. I can only dream about what kind of power Symes might have unlocked with his crysx mine."

"Symes? I heard about him before."

"You sure did. He's the one who started the whole mess of wizards interfering with worldly affairs decades ago. His siege of the principality of Faleroth is lendary. In the ranks of academia some say that he had information about the impending cataclysm and so went ahead and secured for himself the largest chunk of mana available. Crysx crystals are like quork crystals but better. They store mana more efficiently and growing them artificially is not as wasteful as it is with quork crystals. But they're exceedingly rare. In fact the only large scale crysx deposit in the known world was on the principality of Faleroth."

"And where exactly is this place?"

"Many miles south of here. It was a small province the king traditionally gifted their heir so that he could exercise their ruling capacity for when they became in charge of the kingdom. Now it's a fortress guarded by all sorts of magical beasts summoned by Symes to protect his precious crysx."

"Is he still alive after all this time?"

"Probably. A wizard of his power only dies if he really wants to. He's an archmage after all, there's very little an archmage can't do."

"This talk was very enlightening."

What should Azriel do next?
> Get a job as a miner
> Ask to participate in the scry rituals
> Buy some crystals
> Travel north to Badum
> Write in

>>2258375
> Ask to participate in the scry rituals
new ambition acquired: become archmage

Our skillset is great for delving into Faleroth. As long as we can absorb those magical beasts we won't run out of mana. That is far off, though.

>>2258375
>> Ask to participate in the scry rituals

>>2258375

> Ask to participate in the scry rituals

Best to earn their trust, and subsequently, get our hands on more of their quork crystals. Besides, I'm curious and I'm sure Azriel is as well, he didn't come all this way for nothing, after all.

>>2258375
>> Ask to participate in the scry rituals

>>2258386
>>2258395
>>2258416
>>2258429


"Can I take part in the scrying rituals?"

"Sure, but we'll have to wait until tomorrow as I've just spent the whole day's worth of crystals securing the information about the incoming raid. Do you have a place to sleep?"

"I'm sure I can find someone willing to sell me a tent."

"You could sleep underground, we have a bunch of bunk beds down here. You see the construction of this mine was overseen by mister Thorin from the dwarven lands."

"A dwarf sharing his construction secrets? This community of yours is really atypical."

"Mister Thorin is an outcast from the dwarven lands. He was thrown out once the dwarves figured out he was a wizard. He travelled alot and ended up in here. We hadn't the slightest idea on how we were going to dig through an aquifer until he showed us the way."

What should Azriel do next?
> Go buy a tent and sleep outside
> Find a bunk bed in the lower levels of the mine
> Ask to be assigned to patrol duty for the night
> Write in

>>2258436
Ask him if he know anything about greater demons how would one go about binding them?

>>2258436
>> Ask to be assigned to patrol duty for the night
isnt thorin one of the dwarves from the hobbit?

>>2258441
>>2258538

"Do you know anything about greater demons and how would one go about binding them?"

"Well back in the day we would do binding rituals in the advanced abjuration classes, but we never tried to bind anything nearly as dangerous as a greater demon. The entities from the abyss planes are not to be triffled with, specially in these times when mana is so scarce. You must be very sure of what you're doing if you want to deal with such evil creatures. Have you wandered into someone wanting to summon demons?"

> Tell him about the cultists you killed
> Tell him about the grimoire you looted
> I was just curious about it
> Write in

"And by the way I can't sleep tonight, could you arrange for me to be assign to patrol duty for the night?"

"Sure, tell the guards I sent you. I'll send another wizard to guard duty with you soon."

Azriel then leaves Gerey Foxe's office and climb the stairs to outside the mine.

He walks to the guards and says

"I'm a wizard, Gerey Foxe sent me to reinforce guard duty for the night."

"You don't look like a wizard."

"Trust me, I'm a wizard. I won't waste mana proving that I'm one. "

"Very well. The nights in the desert are tranquil enough... until they aren't. Trouble can start and escalate very quickly so you better stay alert."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

The cold breeze of the desert whips your face as you stand gazing into the ever shifting horizon under the light of the crescent moon and the stars.

Not long after a guy wearing a brown robe shows up.

"So you're the new guy Gerey Foxe told us about. The name is Vyncent."

"I'm Azriel."

"Nice to get to know you Azriel. Hey what is that thing coming our way?"

You all turn your attention to a small dust cloud in the horizon.

"I have no idea" says Azriel

"You have a good pair of eyes kid. Those are desert elves. They must be hunting something, they don't normally wander this close to us."

"Don't elves live in forests?"

"Well they used to, but without their magic they're being wiped out. Many tribes of elves choose to live on deserts instead. They sometimes trade with the wizards for crystals."

"And what do they bring to the table in those transactions?"

"Information, food, military aid. Stuff that keeps us alive. We desert people are forced by our environment to keep things simple."

"I see. So what do we do about them? "

"We just watch. They'll probably leave soon."

After some minutes the small dust cloud disappears in the horizon.

The rest of the night goes on uneventfully. By dawn two other wizards come to take your places on patrol duty, a redheaded girl in a green robe called Brilda and one tall guy in a black robe called Ewis.

What should Azriel do next?
> Get some sleep in the bunk beds underground
> Buy a tent and go get some sleep
> Travel north to Badum
> Go participate in the scry rituals
> Get a job as a miner
> Write in