You are Alejandro Castillano, the bookish son of a minor Spanish noble. While studying at the University of Salamanca, you received a letter from your older brother, Vicente.

Little brother,

I know this will appear ridiculous to you, but you must come to the Kingdom of Nueva Grenada at once. Soon, I will begin an expedition deep into the jungle seeking the mythic lang of Cipango! I need a man I can trust who is young and literate to write down the events of this glorious journey. Not to worry, I would never only give you a servant's role! You will also be my second-in-command! I suggest that when you get this letter, you get off your ass and sail here at once!

Vicente

Alongside the letter, you see instructions on how to travel to where the expedition will start.

Your brother contacting you was no doubt a shock. After he left Spain for the Americas, you thought he would be too dead or busy for any messages. Your tenure at the university was nearing its end, anyhow. What better way to start your academic career than by documenting the journey of a company of conquistadors?

After a long journey across the ocean and through Nueva Granada, you reach the backwater town of Cartagrono. Waiting near the riverside dock, you see your brother. It's always been easy to tell where Vicente is. He's always been abnormally tall and muscular, especially now, compared to the locals nearby. The heavy armor he was donning now certainly didn't assist in concealing him either. You tap him on the shoulder and brace for the long-awaited reunion.

Vicente turns around, unveiling his scarred face and elegant van Dyke.

"Ah, Alejandro! I knew you would grow some balls!" he exclaims, letting out a hearty laugh.

You sigh. Nothing has fundamentally changed.

"Nice to see you too Vicente..."
You stop for a moment, thinking of what to say. You would like to know some more about this expedition, but you also haven't seen your brother in a long time.

Will you:

>Ask Vicente what he's done to prepare for this adventure.
>Question why he recruited you despite being an ocean apart.
>Catch up with your brother. It's been a long time.

Current Inventory
--------------------------
160 Real
Fine Toledan Rapier
Spanish-style clothing
Notebook, Ink, & Quill

I'll write the next part around 2:30 PM EST after some votes come in.

>>5289755
>>Ask Vicente what he's done to prepare for this adventure.

>>5289755
>>Catch up with your brother. It's been a long time.
We're gonna coom on aztec girls!

>>5289755
>Question why he recruited you despite being an ocean apart.

>>5289755
>Ask Vicente what he's done to prepare for this adventure.

>>5289755
>Catch up with your brother. It's been a long time.

>>5289755
>>Catch up with your brother. It's been a long time.
>>Tug his beard and embarrass him in front of the locals

>>5289761
>>5289775
>>5289789
>>5289804
>>5289831
>>5289838

Looks like we're catching up with Vicente. I'll write for a little bit. I'll be back soon.

"...it's been a long time, hasn't it?" you responded, "You should tell me about your adventures, especially how you grew this thing!"

As you were speaking, you covertly brought your hand up to Vicente's beard, suddenly yanking it, much to his disdain.

"Damn it, Alejandro," Vicente shouted, returning your underhanded move with a swift punch to the gut, crumpling you to the ground. "I just got that done this morning!"

Some of the local fishermen nearby were looking at the two of you, chuckling at your misfortunes. While you were getting back up, Vicente regained his composure and started talking again.

"Well, I'll have you know that while you were sitting on your ass in Spain, I was busy becoming a famous conquistador," he proclaimed. "I've got it all now! Gold, glory, women, you name it!"

With his boisterous declaration over, Vicente looked around at our surroundings for a short moment before speaking calmly to me.

"I'm glad you came, brother. We don't have much longer before the start of our expedition. I prepared you a set of armor, but I suggest you prepare yourself in other ways as well."

"What?" you remarked, "What time are we leaving? I need to know more about the expedition before we begin!"

"There's no time for that, Alejandro," Vicente returned, slowly walking away. "We leave at sundown here at the docks. You should be ready by then."

You see your brother walk into what looked like a marketplace, leaving you with numerous other questions unanswered. The suddenness of this entire affair was suspicious, to say the least. Why would it begin just as you got there?

Brushing off these thoughts, you look up to the sky, guessing that you have a couple of hours until sundown. You have scant time to prepare and need to utilize it quickly.
Perhaps the best course of action would be to buy a few items for the expedition, but maybe it would be better to find someone who's knowledgeable about it instead.

Should you:
>Go into the marketplace to search for any items that may help eventually.
>Look around for anybody who may know something about this expedition.
>Write-in.

>>5289906
Forgot to mention, but I'll give you an hour to vote this time.

>>5289906
>Go into the marketplace to search for any items that may help eventually.
There's bound to be someone in the market who also knows more

>>5289906
>Go into the marketplace to search for any items that may help eventually.

>>5289906
>>Go into the marketplace to search for any items that may help eventually.

>>5289906
>>Look around for anybody who may know something about this expedition.

>>5289924
>>5289928
>>5289938
>>5289962

I'll just call the vote now unless in the next 10 minutes 5 people vote for another option.

Alejandro will search the marketplace not just for valuable items but also for helpful people.

I'll be back in a little bit with the next part.

>>5289906
>>Go into the marketplace to search for any items that may help eventually.

>>5289906
>>Go into the marketplace to search for any items that may help eventually.

Well, you reason to yourself, if there were any place to go for preparations, it would be the marketplace. Possibly there you might be able to pick up some items and information. You trail Vicente's path, but rather than catch up with him, you split off to explore the area.

For half an hour, you search the marketplace, but none of the items you've seen interest you. While walking, a woman's voice from behind you yells, "Spaniard! Come over here, I may have what you need!"

Turning around, you see an old indigenous woman beckoning you closer. Confused as to how she knew you were a Spaniard in the first place, you decide to follow her. As you stroll up to the lady, she grabs your hand and brings you into her house. Without skipping a beat, she sits you down and places three baubles before you.

“Wait one second,” you interject, interrupting her setup, “Who are you, exactly? How did you know I was a Spaniard? What are these things?”

She leaves you answerless for a few moments before sitting down herself. “I simply keep a watchful eye on all foreigners who come to our small village. Your Conquistador friends have been causing a disturbance for some months now,” she answered. “My name is Elder Zyanya. I know that your company will leave soon. I’ll admit that I am interested in what will become of it, so I offer you this deal.”

She gestures at the 3 items between you. Laying there are wooden necklaces carved into the rough shape of different animals local to the region: A jaguar, a caiman, and an Anaconda.

“The other Spaniards I’ve talked to have declined my deal, but perhaps you are enlightened enough to know the worth of these items.” she croaked, “The part of the jungle you seek is different than may be expected. There are dangers there even more deadly than the Jaguar. But with these charms, you will be protected from certain doom.”

She then grasps your hand suddenly, placing some real in your palm. “I offer you one of these only for the chance to save this expedition in the future. If it’s not enough, I will even give you these coins just to take it!”

You thought about the old woman’s words for a moment. How could a venture into the jungle be more dangerous than it already is? Well, there’s no harm in taking one of these necklaces if you’re being paid for it. It might just be the only profit you make if this expedition is fruitless. Plus, it might be advantageous to be in the good graces of this woman. Although the question is, which one do you take?

You take:
>The Jaguar charm
> The Caiman charm
> The Anaconda charm

This is getting somewhere, I promise. You have another hour to vote. (The expedition starts next.)

>>5290041
"I accept your kindness woman, do not give me your coins use them for your family instead, Christ would prefer it."
Tie the chosen amulet to one of our arms. Our neck already has something, a wooden cross of the lord.

>The Jaguar charm
>Look at the charm more closely. If it is well crafted or made from an exotic wood, it might be worthed more than the few coins of the woman.

>>5290041
>>The Jaguar charm
>>5290089
Gold and glory come before god amigo

>>5290110
Some coins from an old lady are hardly the first taste of gold i want us to have. Now getting a great treasure from a temple that sounds better for a first taste, and certainly not the last.

>>5290089
>>5290110

The Jaguar charm looks alluring to Alejandro. Writing the next part now.

Instead of taking the coins now, you leave them in her hand. “I don’t need these just yet, but once I return, I’ll be willing to take them then.”

Now left with the three choices, you find yourself drawn to the Jaguar charm. Inspecting closely, it looks like Zyanya crafted it with care, but you can’t entirely tell what materials she used past it simply being wood. You grab the charm, place it in your pocket, and prepare to leave, but the old woman spoke up once more.

“The jungle is a dangerous place, Spaniard.” she warns, “ Not many Conquistadors make it back safely. I wish you well.”

You take her final words with you to heart. Despite the rewards, you still have to face the treacherous jungle. The rest of your time spent in the market didn’t offer any other opportunities, excluding some free mangos.

It’s nearing dusk now, almost time for the expedition to leave. What an odd time to begin, you contemplate. Wouldn’t it be a better time to start when you still have daylight? You think over this until you reach the dock, spotting Vicente Watching nineteen men carrying boats to the water, talking to the young native man standing next to him, who cautiously observing the sun’s position.

You stroll casually up next to Vicente. Regardless of how prepared you are now, the expedition was about to start.

“Well, Vicente,” you began, “I’m ready for the expedition. Could I have my armor now?”

Vicente turned towards you with a wide grin. His beard was much more scruffy now, and bags now appeared under his eyes.

“Ah, brother!” he answered. “Good to see you, even if you are slightly late, I was just having a conversation with Chetanzi, our guide. Your armor is by those boats over there.”

Vicente pointed to the large stack of plank canoes currently being moved by his men into the river. Leaning one the leftmost one was your equipment: A Conquistador’s heavy armor and morion, fitted for you.

“You should put those somewhere safe. We won’t need them in the river,” he continued, “And once you’re done with that, grab a boat and put it in the water. You’ll be deciding who’ll be riding with you.”

You assist one of the other conquistadors in taking the last of the canoes to the river, placing your items in one before you consider your decision. The canoe trip will undoubtedly be long, so it might lead to your learning more information. Although looking at the canoes, it looks like they only fit 2 people each. Who would be the best option to gather more information from?
You decide that:

>Chetanzi is the best choice. A guide would know the local area and might expand on what the old woman already explained.
> Vicente will ride with you. You still have some unanswered questions for him.
> One of the conquistadors. You can gather a general sense of what the party is like, aside from Vicente.

Sorry for the longer wait. 1 hour voting time again.

>>5290206
>> One of the conquistadors. You can gather a general sense of what the party is like, aside from Vicente

We're going to have to depend on them, may as well get what measure we can of them as well as make a friend perhaps.

>>5290206
>> One of the conquistadors. You can gather a general sense of what the party is like, aside from Vicente.

>>5290206
>>Chetanzi is the best choice. A guide would know the local area and might expand on what the old woman already explained.

>>5290206
>One of the conquistadors. You can gather a general sense of what the party is like, aside from Vicente.
Get friendly with the conquistador and tell him about the amulet and the old lady, see what he thinks. If he thinks its ridiculous, laugh with him

>>5290206
>> One of the conquistadors. You can gather a general sense of what the party is like, aside from Vicente.

>>5290219
>>5290252
>>5290257
>>5290263
>>5290275

Alejandro decides to pick out a conquistador to accompany him on his canoe. Writing now.

You decide that one of the Conquistadors will share a canoe with you. It’s better to make friends with the men you’ll be relying on, anyhow. From the large group transferring supplies, you arbitrarily pick one out. The one you chose is a short, stocky, young-looking man. You grab his shoulder to get his attention.

“You’ll be riding with me,” you disclosed, “I’ll need to know your name.”

The conquistador stares back at you wide-eyed. It looked like he wasn’t expecting to be directly asked by someone else to sit with them.

“Y-yes, sir! M-my name is Federico,” he stuttered, “I’d be h-honored to sit with you.”

You settled in your plank canoe with Federico, patiently waiting with him for your brother to announce the beginning of the expedition. Finally, when the sun disappeared below the tree line, Vicente began speaking.

“My compatriots, I have gathered you here tonight on the most consequential expedition of your lives!” he declared. “Not only are we venturing where no man has gone, but we will also assuredly discover the mystical land of Cipango! By our return, I guarantee that we will be wealthier than kings and be famous throughout all of the Empire!”

With his last words, the men cheered, invigorated by the promises given by their leader. With that, the fleet of canoes would begin moving down the river.

The journey would begin littered with the chatter of the respective pairs of men in canoes conversing with each other, yours and Federico’s included. You learn that the expedition mostly consisted of young men struck with wanderlust, though a few veterans were there too. It wasn’t hard to assume that they were all motivated in part by the prospect of gold too. Thankfully though, Federico assured you that the men wouldn’t go as far as kill you and your brother because of their greed. A while into the journey though, you decide to break away from the idle discussion and share some information with Federico.

“So Federico, while you were in Cartagrono, did an old woman offer you some sort of necklace in a deal?” you inquired.

“Y-yes, sir.”, he replied, chuckling softly. “Some native elder c-came up to me, offering me a choice of four wooden necklaces. Thought i-it was the strangest thing, who would take that deal?”

You thought it best not to show him your necklace now, instead letting him continue. Although it’s odd he mentioned four necklaces instead of three.

“M-my mother always told me stories of w-witches offering i-innocent deals, only to for them t-to be traps. I-I didn’t trust that lady.”

It was getting late at night now, and surely the expedition will be stopping to rest soon. You thought it would be best to ask Federico one last question for the night.

Will you ask him:
> If we will find Cipango or leave empty-handed.
> Find some previously unknown beasts.
> Write-in.

1 hour to vote.

Actually, how about 45 minutes instead. This one doesn't matter as much.

File: hh3t2hf5.png (235 KB, 375x498)

235 KB PNG

>>5290330
>Write-in
Why are you so nervous, conquistador-chan?

>>5290330
>not a man of action huh? neither am i. does this expedition unnerves you?

>>5290330
>so how many darkies have you killed?

>>5290345
>>5290348
>>5290366

Well, these are all different, but the first two are similar enough since it's about his apparent nervousness. I'll write that down.

One thing has been bugging you since you started talking to Federico. When he talked, you noticed that he had a slight stutter, but you couldn’t tell if it was the expedition or something else.

“Hey, Federico,” you asked, “are you nervous at all?”

The young conquistador gives you a worried look.

“I-is it that obvious? While w-we were staying in town, t-the locals told us l-legends about the creatures that live h-here.” He stammered. “B-but I’ve always h-had a stutter, i-it’s just been coming o-out more.”

You nod silently, understanding his plight. Honestly, deep down, this expedition scared you too. It was your first one, after all. You both sat quietly until your brother called out the last command for this stretch of the trip.

“Everyone, moor your boats here!” Vicente commanded, “We’ll rest until morning!”

Soon enough the boats were all lined up along the river bank, and the tents were set up in a circle. You and Federico shared one as well. The voyage was tiring, not to mention being in a barely-visible state.

You drift off to sleep, wondering about the different unanswered questions you had. One pervaded your mind the most though. There was a distinct lack of noises coming from the surrounding wilderness right now. Odd. You close your eyes.

You are jolted awake by the screams and clamoring of the rest of the camp. Hastily getting dressed, you leave the tent, only to be greeted by a dreadful scene. One of the conquistadors, who you hadn’t even gotten the chance to know was lying dead, his guts and entrails spewing out of a large, gaping hole in the tent. His companion was luckier, having only been covered by the blood of his companion. The rest of the expedition was in a panic except, curiously, the guide, Chetanzi…

I'm getting pretty tired, so I'll continue this around 3 PM EST on Saturday.

Thanks for reading.

>>5290409
thanks questmaster
i hope you return, i was invested

>>5290409
g'nite

>>5290409
It was nice

>>5290409
Awaiting your triumphant return

... and it's deadededed

File: The Crimson Penance.jpg (1.26 MB, 1920x1500)

1.26 MB JPG

Welcome to Golden quest, a mainly text-based quest, punctuated from time to time with shitty pics I made! The expedition just began, but it’s already wrought with death.

I'm a terrible writer, so I'd appreciate any constructive criticism. Feel free to write down more detail when choosing an option too, It helps me out. This one will be different from last time.
Basic Rules
1. The option with the most votes after a certain time interval will be chosen.
2. Write-ins are accepted whenever the option is given.
2a. Within reason. Blatantly stupid ones will be shot down.
3. d20 rolls for skill checks.
4. Items in the inventory are usable at any point.
5. Survive.

Each vote time will be around 1 hour. I may shorten or lengthen though.

Blood and viscera covered the scene of the camp. Forcing its way into your nose, the scent of the dead Conquistador overwhelmed you. Dropping to the ground, you hurl, only adding to your distress. Whoever-- no, whatever killed this poor man did so brutally and with impunity. Although killing only one man was bizarre, given there being plenty of opportunities to butcher his tentmate, let alone the entire expedition.

Respite for the scene would come, but not how you expected. Vicente forced his way through the crowd gathering around the body, directly towards the guide, Chetanzi. You could see him firmly grasp his Rapier, aiding your growing anxiety. Whatever his intentions were, you sensed no good would come of them. The guide, however, stared calmly at the corpse, ignoring the furious Conquistador approaching him.

"Chetanzi!" Vicente roared, drawing his blade, "You assured me that our opening night would be safe!"

Vicente set his Rapier on the guide's neck, drawing a sliver of blood.

"I want answers, now, Indígena," he snarled, "your life is on the line."

Chetanzi still sat there expressionless, staring at the corpse. The group around it was now focusing on this confrontation, though. Silence washed over the camp. Every man was unmoving for what seemed like an eternity. Suddenly, the guide spoke.

"Ao Ao." he asserted, "An Ao Ao killed that man."

Everyone stared bewildered at Chetanzi. What had he said? That didn't sound like any beast you've heard before. Vicente finally released his blade from the guide's neck, let out a heavy sigh, and looked towards you.

"Alejandro, you'll be leading the expedition into the jungle for now. We no longer have a use for the boats." he imparted, "I need to stay back and talk with Chetanzi."

You tensed up. You scarcely knew anything about navigation, especially in a jungle. Your brother handed you his compass.

"This will help you orient yourself." he directed, "You need to get us safely out of this 'Ao Ao's' territory."

You nodded.

"I'll get us to safety, Vicente." you respond.

cont.

He gives you a weak smile. "One more thing, choose a route, but be consistent." he commented, "We don't want to be here longer than we should."

Vicente towed Chetanzi off to the side by his arm. To you, it seemed like they'll discuss something important. You shake off the thought, now's not the time. You have to lead the expedition to safety.

You look at your compass and the four cardinal directions surrounding you. It may seem like a dense jungle, but there are noticeable differences in each way you look.

Do you lead the expedition:
> East. In that direction, you see some dense brush.
>South. In that direction, you notice a faint bloody trail leading deeper into the jungle.
>West. In that direction, you see a clear path, but it's damp and muddy.
>Wait for a moment first. Listen closely to the surrounding jungle.

Current Inventory
----------------------------
Jaguar Talisman
Heavy Conquistador Armour & Morion
160 Real
Fine Toledan Rapier
Spanish-style clothing
Notebook, Ink, & Quill
Compass

Moving from other thread. The vote there was to move south.

>>5293572
>>South. In that direction, you notice a faint bloody trail leading deeper into the jungle.

>>5293572
>south

Everyone knows blood leads to gold

>>5293572
>Wait for a moment first. Listen closely to the surrounding jungle.

The blood was foreboding, but given that your brother told you to take the most direct path, this is your quickest option. You spring into action, leading the men southward, much to their dismay.

An hour into your trek, you noticed that the trees surrounding you were more damaged than before. Straight, foot-long grooves scarred the bark at about chest height. Many appeared as if they weren't more than a week old either. Although the blood trail had subsided, for now, you still felt insecure in your position.

The path you had been following was somewhat linear and, thankfully, clear of debris. But as you walk up to a large boulder, you notice that the path forks. You're left with the choice between directions.

Do you:

>Follow the eastern fork. Upon closer inspection, you see what appears to be an old footprint in the dirt.
>Follow the southwestern fork. The dirt here is dotted lightly with bone and bone fragments.
>Wait for a moment. Listen closely to your surroundings.

another hour to vote. I'll shorten it though if need be.

>>5293619
>>Follow the eastern fork. Upon closer inspection, you see what appears to be an old footprint in the dirt.

>>5293619
>>Follow the eastern fork. Upon closer inspection, you see what appears to be an old footprint in the dirt.
Have to move fast, 'something' might be watching us

>>5293619
>Follow the southwestern fork. The dirt here is dotted lightly with bone and bone fragments.
Sweet Bones

>>5293619
>>Follow the eastern fork. Upon closer inspection, you see what appears to be an old footprint in the dirt.

>>5293628
>>5293641
>>5293670
>>5293697
You follow the eastern fork, much to the relief of the others.

Following the bones would be the worse choice here. The men are already on edge due to following the blood trail; There's no need to push them further. Truthfully though, you're curious about the footprint as well.

You lead the expedition east, the direction the footprint was pointing. For another hour, you follow the eastern path. Around mid-afternoon, you come across something unexpected.

A partial human skeleton is leaning face-first into a tree in front of you. Its torso was upright, almost pressed into the wood, but its hips and singular leg jut 90 degrees backward, pointing towards you. Its ribs were intact in the back, except for the noticeable shattering of the ones in the upper right.

You could take a closer look at the skeleton, possibly revealing some more of its story, but if it created the footprints, perhaps something more intriguing could be further ahead.

You decide to:
>Examine the skeleton more closely. Some Conquistadors will help.
>Move forward. Although interesting, the skeleton took too much of your time already.
>Wait for a moment. Listen closely to your surroundings.

How about 45 minutes this time?

>>5293726
>Examine the skeleton more closely. Some Conquistadors will help.

>>5293726
>Wait for a moment. Listen closely to your surroundings.
This looks old, yes? But maybe the perpetrator is the Ao Ao, in which case... Maybe we are deeper into its territory. Maybe it is near. We should be careful.

>>5293726
>Examine the skeleton more closely. Some Conquistadors will help.
It's too interesting to ignore it, maybe a previous expedition or the remains of a local tribesman?

>>5293726
>Move forward. Although interesting, the skeleton took too much of your time already.

>>5293726
>>Examine the skeleton more closely. Some Conquistadors will help.

>>5293742
>>5293745
>>5293762
>>5293774
>>5293777

The skeleton proved too intriguing for you. You'll examine it more closely.

The skeleton, you thought, would be the key to learning more information about that Ao Ao. You stop looking at it and turn around to your men.

"We'll take a break here for a moment. I need some volunteers to help me investigate this skeleton." The majority started resting, but Federico and a couple of others joined you.

For about half an hour, you and the volunteers investigated the surrounding area for any more clues. Although you didn't find the missing leg, you did find some other information.

The lower thigh bone of the right leg was pulverized. Whatever had done that would have to be seriously weighty. The men you had helped searched the surrounding area and brought back a few items.

Federico had found a pair of arrows, completely intact. Although Spaniards did use bows, Conquistadors carried crossbows and bolts. This was much more characteristic of a native hunter. The others had found a fabric pouch with some gold coins. These had no markings, causing you to believe they couldn't be Real (Spanish Coin).

Time was running thin. The sun was below the tree line now. When you take in your surroundings, you realize something strange. The jungle is strangely quiet, like last night. You need to take action.

You:
>Command the men to form a defensive formation, calling your brother and Chetanzi for a meeting.
>Move quickly towards a safer location.
>Write-in.

I'll extend it to an hour and a half this time, sorry.

>>5293847
>Move quickly towards a safer location.

>>5293847
>Command the men to form a defensive formation, calling your brother and Chetanzi for a meeting.

>>5293847
>Command the men to form a defensive location, calling your brother Chetanzi for a meeting
We stand and fight

>>5293847
>>Move quickly towards a safer location.

>>5293847
>>Move quickly towards a safer location.

>>5293847
>Move quickly towards a safer location.
Run like a bitch, that Ao Ao thing is too strong and I want to live long enough to see the treasures.

>>5293854
>>5293855
>>5293948
>>5293954
>>5293970
>>5293985

You run. I'll begin writing.
Again sorry for the longer vote time.

>>5293989
Most quests only update once every day or two. It's fine, bud.

This position was not secure. The Ao Ao could come at any point, crushing one of the men just like the skeleton nearby. Raising your fist, you begin to call out your orders. "Everyone, we'll be heading further east with due haste!"

You thought that if you made it far enough, you would be safer than where you stand right now. There you could talk to Vicente and Chetanzi without worrying about an attack. Although, you had to get there first.

The expedition started with a light jog in your chosen direction. The armor was heavy, but the fatigue seemed nonexistent for the men. It was like they had newfound vigor, even after hours of marching.

Gradually, the stillness of the jungle gave way to life once again. The evening calls of birds and the chirps of insects filled your ears. Up ahead was a clearing containing what looked like a stilted house. Years of disuse left it with broken walls and a patchy thatch roof.

It was good enough, though. Occupying that would be a good chance for some rest. You could see that the light in the sky was dwindling. Darkness would come soon enough. You hoped that another incident like earlier wouldn't happen this night.

All the conquistadors funneled into the building. You could finally talk to your brother and Chetanzi without fear of being ambushed. Walking up to the pair, you prepare to ask your question.

You ask them:
>What the hell an Ao Ao is & how to fight it.
>The prospective future of expedition.
>Write in.

45 minutes for voting.

>>5294039
>What the hell an Ao Ao is & how to fight it.

First things first.

>>5294039
>What the hell an Ao Ao is & how to fight it.
Also, if possible, ask some of the veteran Conquistadors to take turns and set up watch duty for the night.

>>5294039
>>What the hell an Ao Ao is & how to fight it.

>>5294053
>>5294067
>>5294092

The Ao Ao takes priority here. I'll get to writing.

"So," you began, looking at Chetanzi, "This isn't what any of us had anticipated happening in our journey. Please kindly tell me what in God's name an 'Ao Ao' is."

The guide nodded, beginning his long-awaited explanation. "The Ao Ao is one of the cursed children of Cipango, a remnant from worlds long past. This beast is fiercely intelligent, territorial, and has a taste for man."

He sits down, motioning for you to do so as well. "I know it lives deep in the jungle, but I did not expect to encounter one here. I was talking with your brother on strategies to fight it."

"I assume you know what a boar is, Alejandro?" Vicente queried, jokingly. "Well, this is like none we've faced before."

Chetanzi spoke up, breaking the returning stillness in the air. "Although not many of my people that have encountered it survived, I did, once. This colossal beast is a man's height at the shoulders and sports gigantic tusks."

Vicente interjected once again. "We disccused strategies to fight this foe while you led the group. The one fact we do know is that our heavy armor is our key to victory."

He tapped the breastplate he was wearing. "Goring is not as likely with these. We should be safe from certain death that way."

Your brother took a deep breath and sighed. "We may to face it head on, though. Normally we would kill it with a boar spear, but as you can see..." he gestured at the equipment of the other conquistadors, a menagerie of crossbows, longswords, and rapiers, "... we have none."

"The issue," Vicente continued, "is that our weaponry is not suited to fighting this 'Ao Ao.'"

With his last breath, you took some time to think. This information was helpful, but it was a shame that equipment you carried was not effective. You took a deep breath. This situation wasn't ideal, but at least you were safe. With Vicente going over to choose guards for the night, you felt comfortable getting some rest. You close your eyes. The ambient silence lofted you to sleep.

Wait. Silence? You grab your weapon as quickly as you can as a guttural roar pierces the quiet jungle. You needed to do something, and quickly.

You:
>Gather the startled disorganized conquistadors around you to prepare for battle.
>Order everyone to stay in the house, as silent as possible.
>Write-in.

1 hour to vote.

>>5294173
>Write-in.
Send a decoy to draw it, then attack it from sides and back, like boar-dogs would. We have no boar-spear, so a head-on confrontation is folly, and hunkering down is silly if it has a truffle-pig's nose.

>>5294173

>>Gather the startled disorganized conquistadors around you to prepare for battle.

>>5294179
Seconding, I was thinking of a more defensive approach but if we send the quickest fellow we have he might just make it back in time.

>>5294179
>>5294187
>>5294222

Now, this is interesting. I'll write this.

Thinking back on the few hunting trips you went on with your father, you realized that the best option for you wasn't head-on confrontation or hiding; it was to act like a boarhound. You needed a fast man to pull this off, though, quickly.

"Is anyone here a fast runner?" you shouted. "I have a plan to deal with this beast!"

Luckily, one Conquistador raised his hand. "Name's Carlitos, sir. I was the fastest man in my hometown."

The linchpin of your plan was available. Good. Huddling up in a circle with the expedition, you explained your experience hunting boars in Spain. The strategy you proposed was to send Carlitos out as a lure to distract the Ao Ao like a boarhound, so everyone else could strike it from behind. The young Conquistador let out an audible gulp, understandably.

"I'll do it," he sighed, "it might be our best chance to survive."

The plan was set into motion. Carlitos began the initial charge, running past the Ao Ao. The beast pivoted to pursue him. Success. The opportunity to leave presented itself soon afterward, with the rest of the Conquistadors leaving the building, armed with their longswords and rapiers.

Carlitos, however, was not having the same level of progress. The beast was quickly cornering him between some trees and it. The party was not far behind, though.

There was no longer any room for a continued chase. Weapons primed, you and the others had to strike now, or face another dead comrade. The only question for you was where the best place to strike was. Maybe a conjoined effort could take the beast down, if you all aimed for the weak points.

You strike:
> At the rear.
> At its ribs.
> At its back.

I'll just wait until the 3 of you vote. I don't think anyone else will join atm.

>>5294296
> At the rear.
A sword up the anus will kill most things.

>>5294296
don't know if write in are allowed in this instance but I think the only way we can really hurt this thing is stabbing it in the lungs/heart if we can't go for the head

>>5294296
>> At its ribs.

>>5294321
I think that'd be ribs.

>>5294301
>>5294321
>>5294336

Alright, I'll take that as 2 votes for ribs and 1 for rear. I'll start writing.

>>5294296
> At its back.

You launch your blade towards the Ao Ao's right ribs. If you could pierce it between the bone, you could potentially get to its vital organs. The Expedition's weapons strode through the air in unison, aiming to slice and puncture the beast.

The strikes that hit the fur were largely ineffective, save for a few that hit some weak points. Yours pierced the rib, but you couldn't go any further because of the Ao Ao's reaction. It let out a primal howl, swinging its head to the left in a gambit to its attackers. It caught three men in its path, flinging them far from the battle.

It swung its swiftly head to the right, catching another four, including you, off guard. The strike flung you 20 feet from the battle, knocking you unconscious.

You could feel a growing heat emanating from your leg. The burning sensation grew fiercely, waking you from the brief lull. Reaching into your pocket, you pull out your Jaguar Talisman. It was glowing red, almost begging you to put it back on your person.

Placing it around your neck this time, you feel unnaturally energized. Looking toward the Ao Ao, the situation was getting increasingly desperate. The Conquistadors had resorted to surrounding it to try and hit its back, but fewer and fewer were there to oppose it as time went on.

Jumping to your feet, you prepare to attempt your strike on its ribs once more. Leaping forward with abnormal agility, you focused on getting your blade through the hide.

The scene was almost over in an instant. Your rapier pierced past its tough hide and bone straight to its heart.
The Ao Ao let out a wretched groan of pain. It was not long for the world. The beast slumped to the ground and let out its last breath.

That's all I have for y'all. I need a few days to come up with the next adversary, so maybe this Tuesday at 2 PM EST?

Thanks for reading this part, I enjoyed writing this one much more than the last.

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>>5294393
Good shit OP, I always liked this kind of setting, hopefully we'll find some indigenous booty we can claim next time.

>>5294403
In due time, my good man. The jungle is named after the Amazons, after all.

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>>5294416
>the Amazons
Then I guess we'll be the ones getting claimed

>>5294393
It was pretty good

>>5294393
Thanks for running, OP! Excited for the return of this quest. Love me a cozy colonial adventure tale.

Sorry y'all, I've got a bit of writer's block trying to think of the next part. I'm delaying this to Wednesday at 2 PM EST.

>>5294429
My loins are braced and...

>5. No sex, only the pursuit of gold and knowledge.

...Girded against sin.

>>5296350
No worries. We stand at the ready.

File: Golden Quest Part 3 The A(...).jpg (1.93 MB, 1500x1350)

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Welcome back to Golden Quest (Part 3), a mainly text-based adventure. You are Alejandro, a Conquistador on his first expedition searching for El Dorado. Any constructive criticism of my writing is appreciated.

The beginning of the expedition was fraught with disaster. You had disembarked in the territory of an Ao Ao, with it killing one man. Only with the mysterious boon from the Jaguar Talisman did you defeat it, saving the expedition from inevitable demise. And now we return five days later, with the party currently resting in a cavern.

You are seated on a rock, watching the sun begin shining light into the cavern. Although the early morning had departed, few men were awake. What permeated your mind at the moment was the Jaguar Talisman dangling around your neck. What had Zyanya given you?
The fact it revealed itself in an encounter with a beast out of folk tales was what perplexed you.

You previously attempted to glean some information about it with Chetanzi a few days earlier, but it was fruitless. His knowledge was perhaps too practical. While he did remember a few folk tales from his childhood, the man was predominantly there for jungle navigation. You put aside the thought and open your notebook.

Even if you couldn't know everything, you could document the journey so far. The past few days since the battle with the Ao Ao had been tough. It injured some of the Conquistadors, but luckily, their armor deterred the brutalization you had witnessed with the skeleton. The minor wounds did slow down the expedition, though, but they were healing up now.

By the time you finished logging the previous events of the expedition, many of the others were stirring. Vicente was sitting up nearby, opening his map, beginning to chart the course for the trek later. It wouldn't hurt to take a closer look at his preparations.

You move over, seating yourself next to your brother. His map looked well-worn, the edges breaking off. The contents themselves looked decades old, most likely from one of the earliest expeditions in the region. "Where are we heading today, Vicente?" you questioned.

He turned his head towards you, yawning in the process. "Well, I was just deciding that," he explained somnolently. "We're not far from where Cipango is," Vicente pointed to a Pyramid shaped marking in the southwestern corner of the map. "But Chetanzi mentioned yesterday that there may be a village in this area. We could head over there for information." He moved his finger towards the right, circling it around the portion of the map between the south and southwest.

"You know what?" he offered, "Why don't you decide where we'll head today."

cont.

You think about it for a moment. Your goal was tantalizingly close, but you had your doubts. If the map denoted its location, could something have stopped whoever made this map from claiming the riches? The village could prove advantageous too. They could have information on the gold, but you didn't know if they were receptive to Conquistadors like you. And there was the fact that either's existence was dubious as well.

You decide the destination will be:
> The village. You bank on the fact that the natives will give you information that the expedition might not have, perhaps even about your Talisman.
> Cipango. It might be better to avoid the natives altogether since they might be hostile. Plus, it might be better to confirm its existence sooner rather than later.

Current Inventory
----------------------------
Jaguar Talisman
Heavy Conquistador Armour & Morion
160 Real
Fine Toledan Rapier
Spanish-style clothing
Notebook, Ink, & Quill
Compass

1 hour to vote

>>5298227
>The village

>>5298227
>> The village. You bank on the fact that the natives will give you information that the expedition might not have, perhaps even about your Talisman.

>>5298231
>>5298241

You decide to head towards the village.

"We should go to this supposed village," you suggest, "the people there could be vital to our expedition."

Vicente nodded. "Then we'll have this be our destination. Go get the men ready." He folded up his map and put it and his compass in his rucksack.

Soon enough, the party was ready to depart. You join Vicente and Chetanzi at the head and set off for your destination. The journey would be long, so you thought it would be worthwhile to talk to the two of them to pass the time.

Chetanzi went on to describe the village. The people here shared a tongue with his, but they didn't speak Spanish. It had been a few years since he'd been there, but he assured you that they knew him and wouldn't be aggressive. As he was talking, a distinctly rotten smell wafted over the expedition. The further south you went, the stronger it got.

You covered your nose; now, the pungent scent was too much for you. The jungle had gone silent, leaving you with the smell permeating the air. You thought about checking its source, but this situation was all too similar to the encounter with the Ao Ao.

You decide to:
>Find the source of the smell.
>Continue to the village.

1 hour to vote.

1 more hour, then.

>>5298303
>Continue to the village

>>5298303
>>Continue to the village.

>>5298303
>Continue to the village

>>5298303
>Find the source of the smell.

>>5298303
>>Continue to the village.

>>5298303
>Continue to the village.

>>5298303
>continue to the vilage.
In the middle of the jungle bad smells are usually people's sweat permeating the air.

Welp. Alas, poor quest.

>>5310088
Seems like it's at a good place for another QM to pick it up, but, who wants sloppy seconds? Probably no one.

Rest in piss, quest.