>>5330698

This time, you’re ready when the warrior-bird tries another foolhardy charge.

By ducking and weaving up a storm, you’re able to lure it into a corner and lay the foundation for your trap.

With a grunt of effort, you use Abyssal Shield to create a jet-black wall of heavy rock that pins the warrior-bird against the wall, keeping it nice and busy for the next stage of your plan.

Thankfully, the opening you leave open is just large enough for someone of your size and build to fit through with a few inches to spare.

To ensure that you have enough momentum, you fall back and get a running start, before bull-rushing the damn thing with all your might, flinging it over the balcony like a children’s toy; squawking and screeching all the way down.

Y’know it’s kinda funny that you’ve yet to use this “defensive” spell for anything other than clobbering someone.

Guess it says something about the way you think, when you see a shield and view it as just an improved way of funneling someone into another hit.

Now that you’ve got a chance to breathe, you notice that the golden portal which originally summoned the birdbrain is still open, albeit slowly vanishing. It’s incredibly risky, but you might be better off served by hauling ass to it and seeing if it’ll transport you out of this mess.

Hopefully, it’ll lead you someplace where the Squad and their killswitch can’t get to you. However, there’s no telling where you’ll end up.

Alternatively, you could just try to salvage this wreck of a mission and avoid tipping your hand too early. Which won’t be easy, especially since you just used magic in plain view of Warrant.

If he sells you down the river, you’re as good as dead.

Neither option is great, but that’s life for you.

It’s ironic in a way; much like your feathery friend, you’re also trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Either way, you need to make a decision fast before it closes altogether.

You decide to…

> Make a run for the portal. If Warrant’s still watching, he probably won’t take kindly to it, but you can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to escape.

> Let the portal dissipate. You’ll take the devil you know over a dive in a random portal any day.

> Other?

>>5330699
> Make a run for the portal. If Warrant’s still watching, he probably won’t take kindly to it, but you can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to escape.

This is our out, the Squad probably can't detonate their bombs while we're in there, and now they know that we've broken past their anti-magic stuff. It's now or never

>>5330699
> Make a run for the portal. If Warrant’s still watching, he probably won’t take kindly to it, but you can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to escape.

>>5330699
> Let the portal dissipate. You’ll take the devil you know over a dive in a random portal any day.
we already have hackman, hairy detective holmes, and ghost man planning on getting us out, we're groovin without this.

I'll go ahead and leave the vote open until 8:00, that way people can hopefully trickle over and I'll have time to grab something to eat.

Apologies for the interruption anons, but I had been hoping to get this all done and dusted in the previous thread.

>>5330699
> Let the portal dissipate. You’ll take the devil you know over a dive in a random portal any day.
As much as I'd like to leave we do still have a bomb in our neck.

>>5330699
>> Let the portal dissipate. You’ll take the devil you know over a dive in a random portal any day.
One day we'll actually enter the magical portals, I promise

>>5330699
> Make a run for the portal. If Warrant’s still watching, he probably won’t take kindly to it, but you can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to escape.

>>5330699
>> Make a run for the portal. If Warrant’s still watching, he probably won’t take kindly to it, but you can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to escape.

>>5330699
>> Let the portal dissipate. You’ll take the devil you know over a dive in a random portal any day.

>>5330699
> Make a run for the portal. If Warrant’s still watching, he probably won’t take kindly to it, but you can’t afford to pass up an opportunity to escape.

Rolled 65 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5330716
>>5330742
>>5330762
>>5330763
>>5330786

Alright, looks like racing to the portal wins.

> Roll me some 1d100+35

Rolled 100 + 35 (1d100 + 35)

>>5330797

>>5330799

Moments like these no longer surprise me.

Rolled 50 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5330797

File: 1532817606303.gif (1.62 MB, 336x167)

1.62 MB GIF

>>5330799
Today I drink like a god

>>5330802
They should
nat 1 incoming

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>5330799
starting off strong
>>5330797
>>5330802
I'm sorry, we don't mean to do it

>>5330799
>>5330803
>>5330805

That's a critical success, writing.

I hope Warrant doesn't get disemboweled by a birdman or anything while we're out. He wasn't a weirdo or a dick.

>>5330809
We didn't really knew him that long. But if he lives we'll break him out of Belle Reve alongside Shade and anyone else who wants to come along.

>>5330809
He did leave us hanging

>>5330799
O YEA BOI

File: Warrant.jpg (71 KB, 480x480)

71 KB JPG

>>5330808

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RlSgnpLbro

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

You’re as unsupervised as you could ever hope to be, and there’s a shining path to freedom beckoning you forward.

It’s risky and one hell of a gamble, but you’re out of options at this stage. Wherever you end up, it’s better than being in the clutches of Task Force X and being their junkyard dog.

You’ve got your own responsibilities and duties to attend to, and playing shocktrooper for a bunch of stuffed-shirt REMFs isn’t high on your list of priorities.

Hell, you’re already in deep shit anyhow. To survive that last fight, you needed to break out the magic; magic that the Suicide Squad believes is still sealed away.

If / when they find out you’ve managed to break those shackles, they’re definitely not going to give you an attaboy and a pat on the head. No, you’re already in for a penny; might as well go in for a pound.

You take a step forwards, interrupted by the crack of sniper rifle fired off in the distance.

The sniper shot hits directly in front of your feet, and you instinctively move into cover.

Your earpiece comes crackling back to life and you’re greeted to a familiar voice.

Warrant.

“Don’t even think about it. That was a warning shot; you take another step forward and the next one takes your head off.”

> “You want to bet? I’m not an easy target when I put my mind to it.”

Externally, you’re talking tough but internally, you’re cursing.

Fuck. Warrant wasn’t assigned as your partner, he was assigned as a goddamn observer, somebody to ensure that you toed the parting line. As soon as he can call in your betrayal, it’s only a matter of time until your bomb is triggered.

Just need to keep him talking while you plot out the fastest route to the portal that doesn’t get you shot.

He ignores your attempt at mocking humor and continues.

“We were all briefed on you, and your abilities. That you might attempt to escape in the field. Did you really think nobody suspected you?

Even if you manage to defuse your collar, there’s nowhere on this planet where you can hide.”

> “Guess it’s a good thing that I’m not planning on hiding then. Tell Lok that I’ll be seeing him soon enough.”

After tossing out something sufficiently cryptic, you make a run for it.

The sheer gall of it’s enough to surprise Warrant for a second, but he quickly recovers and begins taking potshots as you sprint towards the steadily disappearing portal.

Warrant’s a damn fine shot, but you’re running on pure nitro. Every step is enhanced with the knowledge that you’re closer to finally tasting freedom, and it practically gives you wings.

He doesn’t even come close to landing a direct shot, and you reach the portal with time to spare.

> Roll me some 1d10 until we get 3 different rolls.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>5330837
Here we go

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>5330837
Sweet vengeance here we come.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>5330837

>>5330839
>>5330840
>>5330842
Bruh

third roll anyone?

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>5330837

>>5330839
>>5330840
>>5330842
>>5330851

Alright, last post of the night coming up.

>>5330837
Poor guy. Just doing his job and now he's on the shitlist too. And I was feeling bad for the guy. Egg's on my face I suppose. Gonna have to break his trigger finger to teach him about manners.

>>5330853

Without pausing to think, you leap through the portal at full speed, eager to escape Kahndaq and the yoke of the Suicide Squad.

When you reach the other side, you make an interesting discovery.

You weren’t quite sure what you were expecting, but this certainly isn’t it.

The portal abruptly deposits you in a featureless, all-encompassing void of utter darkness, before vanishing faster than you can even consider trying to retreat.

When you can start to really panic, a trio of doors quietly materialize from the aether, directly in front of you.

The first door is blood-red, and emblazoned with a helmet and a spear. From inside, you can hear the clash of swords and battle ringing in the distance.

The second door is blue, and emblazoned with a pair of scales and a scroll. From inside, you hear little apart from an occasional cough and rustling.

The third door is grey, and emblazoned with a bow and a crescent moon. From it, you hear the sounds of birds chirping and brooks babbling.

Curiously, the scorpion tattoo Set gave you when you first formed your pact begins to glow when you get near the second door.

And likewise, your right arm manifests the Claw of Horus without your urging whenever you get near the first or third doors.

Hey, at least the Squad isn’t liable to find you here anytime soon.

After pondering your options, you decide to…

> Open the blood-red door.

> Open the blue door.

> Open the grey door.

>>5330865

That's all for tonight, anons! Thanks for playing, next session is Friday at 5:00 PM, vote closes then.

Have a good one.

>>5330853
Wait, can't we use Roll the Die?

>>5330865
>> Open the grey door.
>>5330868
for what?

>>5330865
>Open the blue door.
Well Set has been a bro to us so far so I say we go with the second door.

>>5330868

Already got burned at the start of the mission, anon.

But I did forget to include one thing; the bonus for the crit.

> Skill Improved! - Spring-Heeled Jack: +40 to any dodge or agility roll.

>>5330865
> Open the blood-red door.

>>5330865
>> Open the grey door.

>>5330871
Aw shit hold on, I thought the 1d10 roll was a d100 for something

Ok so can we think a little about what door to choose? The red surely has something more personal with Pandion, maybe it's that pocket dimension when we talk an awful greek.

The second might be a huge magical archive of library, trying to go with the logic of scales = dragons and the scrolls

And the third might have another relation with Pandion, my guess is that it's some kind of dimension for some greek-roman Moon Goddess that is going to give us some trouble. If we can talk to Pandion right know it might help to get some extra information

>>5330865
> Open the grey door.

>>5330882
Yeah, that's about what I guessed too. The blue one is probably the safest but the first one got my curiosity.

>>5330865
> Open the blood-red door
Kinda wish we'd stuck with the Squad a little longer, but oh well.

>>5330902
Don't worry, there'll be a reunion tour later.

>>5330865
Blood-red is Ares, or maybe Athena but probably Ares. blue is... Thoth, or maybe Anubis? Grey is Artemis, I think. Or Diana.

I'm inclined to go with the blue one.

>>5330932
It's probably Thoth. Anubis' association with scales is a bit more direct and literal than Thoth's. But one of Thoth's domains is judgement. Thoth is fucking excellent though. Big smartypants and self made man.

>>5330865
> Open the blue door.
Might be a good idea should we want to increase our magic spell book, also he would most likely notice that we have gotten hold of some of his books, so could lead to some interesting conversations

>Open the blue door. As much as I want to meet mars/ares and fight Sparta style we need more magic. We are a novice and have spent the last arc building non-magic skills. Also, its time we pay back some of out debt to set.

Also, what did that nat 100 actually get us? These doors?

>>5331311
a boost to our dodge bonus?

>>5330865
>> Open the grey door.

> Open the blue door
I want to learn more magic

>>5330865
>> Open the grey door.

We owe it to a real one

>>5330873
Hey, I just realized you didn't give us our Second Skin bonus last thread, that narrow failure with the bird should have been a pass.

>>5331450

Damn, you are absolutely correct.

Sorry for not noticing sooner, but that particular bonus completely slipped my mind.

As an aside, never worry about calling me out on my various blunders; if somebody had pointed it out at that time, I would've adjusted for it.

As penance, feel free to pitch interlude concepts at me. I've already got a rough outline for one that I've been working on, but I've got no problems with taking requests.

Good catch, anon. You've been without the armor for so long that I completely deleted Second Skin from my memory.

>>5331620
For an interlude, seeing what the bats are up to is always fun.

>>5331626
+1

>>5331620
Something from the POV of someone in the squad, maybe Eiling or Lok? I wanna laugh at them finding out we've escaped

>>5331628
+1

>>5331620
It might be a bit of a spoiler but I'd really fucking love a SET POV.
>>5330865
> Open the blue door

>>5331620
For a interlude from most to least would be

>>5331628
And then
>>5331626

>>5331620
If it doesn't spoil anything, how about what Jack's been thinking during this whole thing. I miss our ghost bro.

>>5330865
> Open the blood-red door.
We owe or greek friend two solids at least.

>>5331620
Interrogation of shade and our previous teammates by the brass in light of our startling sucessful escape.

>>5331626
I'd like to make a random appearance in a distant city on camera just walking about as gunsmoke just to mess with the bats. Or they mistake somone else as us.

>>5331620
Interlude on our boys in South america

Hello, I have come to your writing and I find it very wonderful! In most cases I do not speak, although this is due to some other restrictions xaxa)) I still find out through the services of translation into English Russian. I'm a bit confused on REMF, I looked at the session before I can't find an explanation for it?

>>5331978
According to Google, it's US Military lingo, along the lines of FUBAR or Blue Falcon. Rear-echelon motherfucker, if Google is to be believed.

>>5330865
> Open the blue door.
Very curious what's behind it.

>>5331978

I toss a bit of jargon into the mix to try and keep true to Sean's infantry background, so no worry about asking for clarification.

This anon has it right:
>>5332055

Rear
Echelon
Mother
Fucker

They're usually rocking some flavor of ineptness or nepotism, make decisions that impact actual soldiers, and will never see so much as 10 minutes of actual combat in their lives.

I think the US military started using it during Korea or Vietnam, can't quite remember.

Anyhow, session starts in about an hour and a half, so get your votes in before we go live.

>>5331620
I know that you said that you were already working on it but I am curious how the Batman profile on our occult detective persona is going? other then that seeing how the Bat family is doing is always fun especially with us having seemingly gone to ground as far as operating ing in/around Gotham goes!

>>5332510

Progress isn't going as fast as I'd like, but I'll keep plugging away at it.

I'll hopefully have it done within a week or so, but don't quote me on it.

Alright, closing the vote.

Give me a bit of time to get everything tallied up and we'll take it from there.

>>5332552

Looks like opening the blue door wins, writing.

Feel free to double-check my math, since it got pretty close.

File: Stranger.jpg (167 KB, 1272x2000)

167 KB JPG

>>5332556

After some deliberation, you decide to open the blue door.

The red door is obviously going to dump you in the middle of a battle or something similarly dangerous, and the silver door gives you a weird vibe.

Before you can reach for the handle, the door flings itself open all on its own (almost like it’s able to sense the finality of your decision) and a sudden, powerful force pulls you inside.

You lose all sense of direction and nearly black out like a pilot pulling a reckless loop. This bout of unexpected inertia makes you incredibly dizzy and nearly causes you to lose your lunch.

Thankfully, your wild ride ends before you blow chunks inside of your helmet.

When you manage to regain your bearings, you find yourself tucked amongst the stacks of a dusty old library. The stacks are organized eclectically; in some kind of bizarre pattern that you can’t make heads or tails of.

You scout around a little, but you can’t find an exit door or any other way out. Looks like you're stuck in here, unless you feel like trying to blow a way out.

A bit more recon reveals that the library is entirely deserted, aside from one other occupant; an older man who checks all your boxes for “old-school university professor.”

It wouldn’t shock you in the slightest to find out that his specialty subject something is something like philosophy or history.

He’s situated in a comfy looking armchair surrounded by a mountain of books encompassing every subject imaginable.

Despite the abruptness of your entrance, he doesn’t bother glancing up from the book that he’s currently reading.

The filigreed title on its spine identifies it as Logerquist’s Lament.

When you approach him, you decide to maintain an aura of…

> Aggression. You’re here to find a way home as quickly and efficiently as possible; anything else is just window dressing.

> Charm. There’s no sense in alienating the man right from the get-go; might as well try to open things up on a cheerful footing.

> Suspicion. You’ve just been sucked through a doorway that materialized in a magical rift you accidentally tore open; there has to be a catch somewhere.

> Curiosity. You’d like to learn more about this library and what it may contain; this could be an excellent opportunity to further refine your understanding of the magical arts.

> Other?

>>5332582
> Charm. There’s no sense in alienating the man right from the get-go; might as well try to open things up on a cheerful footing.
>Hey, I think I helped write that book!

>>5332582
>Curiosity.
Hey, isn't that the book we helped make happen? Did it get published already, or is this one of those fancy libraries that that has the books before they get written?

>>5332582
>> Charm. There’s no sense in alienating the man right from the get-go; might as well try to open things up on a cheerful footing.

>>5332582
>Suspicion. You’ve just been sucked through a doorway that materialized in a magical rift you accidentally tore open; there has to be a catch somewhere.
And a little bit of
> Curiosity. You’d like to learn more about this library and what it may contain; this could be an excellent opportunity to further refine your understanding of the magical arts.

>>5332582
>Curiosity. You’d like to learn more about this library and what it may contain; this could be an excellent opportunity to further refine your understanding of the magical arts.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5332588
>>5332596

>>5332589
>>5332599

I'll go ahead and roll a d2 to settle the tie.

1 = Charm
2 = Curiosity

>>5332607

Alright, roll me some 1d100+25

DC: 85 / 105

Rolled 29 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5332608

Rolled 24 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5332608

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>5332608

>>5332609
>>5332614
>>5332616

That's a regular success, writing.

File: Library.jpg (161 KB, 1024x768)

161 KB JPG

>>5332619

You decide to whip out your silver tongue and give it a whirl.

After all, you’ve always been good at making friends and influencing people, how hard could it be?

When you reach an appropriate distance for conversation, you gently clear your throat and address the lone figure.

> “Hey, buddy. You happen to know a way out of this place? I hate to interrupt your studies, but I’ve got a lot of stuff to catch up on, and I’d rather get it done sooner than later. Y’know what I mean?”

He just keeps flipping through the pages, totally giving you the cold shoulder.

Damn. It was worth a shot, but he doesn’t seem to be one for small talk.

Maybe if you try tailoring the conversation to something that interests him, you’ll be able to garner more than polite disinterest.

Wait a second, is he reading…?

A burst of inspiration hits you, and you know exactly how to grab his attention.

> “That a good book? I only ask because I’ve been helping write it; bit of a side project of mine, but it’s been pretty interesting so far.”

That perks him up immediately, and he studies you with an unfeeling gaze.

Judging from the minute stiffening of his body language, he evidently doesn’t like what he sees.

“It is…of passable quality so far. Especially considering that it’s supposedly the work of one of Set’s pawns.”

Given the way he practically spits the last part of the sentence, something tells you that he’s not exactly the biggest fan of the aforementioned deity.

In response, you quickly decide to…

> Make up some kind of lie and see if you can make it stick. It’ll be hard, but you’ll make it work somehow.

> Offer up a rationalization of your actions. You’ll make no apologies for ensuring your own survival.

> Counter with an insult of your own. If he feels like damning you with faint praise, then you’re more than happy to dish it right back. (Feel free to include a general subject / insult)

> Boldly proclaim your independence and that you’re nobody’s pawn. Who’s this guy to think that he can talk down to you, anyhow?

> Other?

Rolled 71 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5332608
>inb4 nat 1

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5332643
> Offer up a rationalization of your actions. You’ll make no apologies for ensuring your own survival.

>>5332643
>> Counter with an insult of your own. If he feels like damning you with faint praise, then you’re more than happy to dish it right back. (Feel free to include a general subject / insult)
>I pride myself on not writing migraine-triggers, contrary to YOUR books.
I know it's you Thoth

>>5332643
>Offer up a rationalization of your actions. You’ll make no apologies for ensuring your own survival.

>>5332643
>I don't think of myself as a pawn, but pawns rarely do. You sound like you've got your own take. Care to share it?

Being a bit meta here, but I'd really like to know more about Set's fall from grace. From one of the slayers of Apep alongside Ra to betrayer of Osiris.

>>5332643
> Offer up a rationalization of your actions. You’ll make no apologies for ensuring your own survival.
+
> Boldly proclaim your independence and that you’re nobody’s pawn. Who’s this guy to think that he can talk down to you, anyhow?

We’ve worked with Set, but we are hardly his pawn

>>5332643
>> Offer up a rationalization of your actions. You’ll make no apologies for ensuring your own survival.
Bold of him to imply Set thinks far enough ahead to have a need for pawns. And if he's going to act like our loyalty and grudging respect for the guy who did help us out is a bad thing then he has been reading some really shitty philosophy lately.

Must be nice being able to sit in a cloister all day reading instead of having bodily functions and a life.

>>5332643
> Offer up a rationalization of your actions. You’ll make no apologies for ensuring your own survival.

Rolled 85, 15, 27 + 30 = 157 (3d100 + 30)

>>5332647
>>5332649
>>5332654
>>5332655
>>5332658

Looks like this option wins, but I'll fold in some of the other written-in stuff as best I can.

> Go ahead and roll me some 1d100+25

Rolled 47 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5332665

Rolled 67 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5332665

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5332665

>>5332667
>>5332671
>>5332675

That's a success, writing.

Nice roll, anon.

>>5332675
you fucking god. Sean's silver tongue is still unmatched

>>5332676
>>5332677
Thanks guys

…You know I have to wonder if we happen to be in a realm that is similar to the Library that Dream of the Endless has which contains works both published and not, as well as those only ever written in the thoughts and minds of other beings?

>>5332676

Your easygoing mood evaporates instantly at his venomous tone and the implied insult flavored with a healthy dose of condescension.

And your initial attempts at trying to keep things civil doesn’t mean that you’re not willing to start throwing verbal jabs of your own when challenged.

> “Only ‘passable?’ That’s an interesting way of putting it. Have you ever written anything of note, or do you just specialize in bland critiques?”

His face reddens and you can tell that you’ve hit a sore spot.

As he opens his mouth to retort, you cut him off and continue speaking.

> “And if you really think that Set thinks far enough into the future to have some kind of master plan for a ‘pawn’ like me, then you obviously aren’t as smart as you like to think you are. And for the record, I work with Set; not for Set. I make my own decisions and set my own goals, so don’t talk down to me like you’re above it all somehow.”

He scoffs at you, and you can feel the last vestiges of your patience beginning to ebb away.

“Your ignorance will be your undoing. Set is a manipulator, a liar, and a cheat. I wonder how your so-called “partnership” reflects your own twisted and misguided values.”

This fucking guy.

> “I’m going to make this easy for you, since you don’t seem to get it. Set’s done me a couple solids, and where I’m from, a favor given is a favor returned. Is that really so difficult to grasp something as fundamentally simple as loyalty? Set’s helped me out of a couple jams, and I’m willing to back him up when he needs it. Especially considering that the power he’s granted me is a big part of why I’m still alive to have pointless arguments about morality.”

“And is survival the only thing that matters? If so, you’re little better than the beasts in the fields, blindly toiling under their master’s yoke.”

You take a deep breath and go for the most cutting remark you can think of.

> “You’re one to talk. When was the last time you left your little cloister and actually did something useful or put yourself on the line for something? I’ll do you one better, when was the last time you interacted with something capable of holding a conversation back? I might not always do the right thing, but at least I’m doing something. What’s your excuse?”

When you finish your diatribe, you’re rewarded with a surprising sight.

Instead of the expected anger or a similarly hostile emotion, the look on face is one of interest mixed with just the slightest hint of shame.

>>5332723

“You make a fair, if ill-mannered point. Perhaps my seclusion hasn’t sharpened my knowledge as I hoped it would. Regardless of my own opinions, I cannot deny that you truly believe in the meaning of your words.”

He lets out a defeated sigh.

“I’ve been a poor host and must offer penance to atone for my lack of hospitality. Your passion and rhetoric has proven you a worthy petitioner of Thoth, and I shall grant you a boon to recognize that status.”

Wait, Thoth?

Did you just successfully shit-talk an actual Egyptian god?

Set’s gonna have a field day with this one.

“What can I interest you in? I have a rather large collection, and I’m sure I can find something to suit your particular tastes.”

You decide to request…

> Details about Set’s fall from grace and imprisonment. He used to be a big shot in the Egyptian pantheon, and has always been pretty cagey about what got him put there.

> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

> A tome from his private collection on a specific subject. Might as well help yourself, since he’s offering. (Include subject / book)

> Other?

>>5332725
> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

>>5332725
>> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

>>5332725

(That's all for tonight, anons! As always, thanks for playing. Next session is Monday at 5:00 PM EST, hope to see you all then. I'll leave the vote open until that time, as is tradition.

I really appreciate all the feedback for interlude ideas, and I'll see what I can cobble together.

Have a good weekend, anons.)

>>5332725
>A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.
MAGIC NIGGAS

>>5332725
> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

>>5332725
>> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.
A 1-1 with an OG magic man? bruh

I wonder if we'll see Thoth in a bar somewhere chatting in the background later.

>>5332735
Scratch this
>Help with the bomb in our head

>>5332725
> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

>>5332725
>> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

>>5332723
>> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.

Enjoy your weekend Axis hope you have a good one!

>>5332725
>A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.
And also
>A little help with the bomb in our head

We don't know it, but if Thoth is like the Spirit we found when searching for the Tome we could give him some information about what's actually out there in the streets that what he could know from the books

Or maybe another favor, because if Thoth can truly help us with the bomb this is a big win.

>>5332738
We can invite him to a drink at the oblivion bar maybe?

>>5332792
While I doubt he'd come for us, telling him about all the wacky people with all their wacky stories would probably intrigue him. Baby steps to the wider world.

>>5332725
>Details about Set's fall from grace and imprisonment. Also, this bomb out of my fucking head.

>>5332725
> Details about Set’s fall from grace and imprisonment. He used to be a big shot in the Egyptian pantheon, and has always been pretty cagey about what got him put there.
Also ask him what the hell he's been doing here all this time. Set's out there making chaos and this guy's in his library reading books? Not even teaching?

>>5332725
> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.
>Preferably something that could remove the bomb in our head

>>5332725
adding this to my vote >>5332727
>Help with the bomb in our head

>>5332725
> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.
That exchange has to be hilarious to Set, but not nearly as much as Osiris getting his dick replaced with a golden dildo because a fish ate it.

>>5332725
this>>5332769

>>5332769
>Support

>>5332827
Switching from this to
> A lecture on arcane theory. Chances are, you’ll never get a chance like this again.
I still want to ask him what the hell he's been doing with himself though. I doubt he'll be able to help with the bomb either, since magic doesn't have much to do with explosives.

>>5330698
Spent the last few days reading through the archive, Good shit Axis. And I have to say that your writing has improved leaps and bounds from the earliest threads.
I should have picked this quest up way earlier, I got good laughs out of the Batman paranoia-posting.

>>5332725
>Details about Set’s fall from grace and imprisonment. He used to be a big shot in the Egyptian pantheon, and has always been pretty cagey about what got him put there.
Doubt Set's going to spill the beans easily. Also no guarantee he won't be an unreliable narrator.

Alright, it looks like learning from Thoth and requesting aid with the bomb wins.

Go ahead and roll me some 1d100 to determine how well you absorb your new-found knowledge.

(You get an automatic +10 to Magical Theory stacked on top of however this goes.)

DC: 50 / 70 / 90

Rolled 59 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5335736

Rolled 82 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5335736

Rolled 10, 4, 5, 10, 2, 10, 8, 8, 2, 2, 8, 1, 8, 7, 4, 9, 9, 3, 9, 5, 3, 2, 4, 8, 10 = 151 (25d10)

>>5335736

Rolled 28 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5335736
HIGH NUMBERS BABY COME ON

>>5335741
what the fuck
I KNOW for a fucking FACT I typed 1d100

>>5335740
Woooo, high numbers!
>>5335741
....wrong numbers bud

>>5335740
damn, no nat 100 or double nat 100 or triple nat 100. We are falling off guys

>>5335737
>>5335740
>>5335742

That's a regular success. Think there might've been a bit of confusion, the +10 I referenced was an automatic stat gain regardless of success or failure.

Therefore...

> Skill Improved! Magical Theory +40 to rolls when attempting to read magical texts, +35 when rolling to unlock new spells.

Now, go ahead and select any 2 spells to receive a buff.

(They're listed in the Pastebin if you need a reference)

> ???

>>5335749
That's an excellent success, the pluss 10 put us over 90

>>5335749
>Roll the Die
>Spirit Detector
Holy fuck that's huge

>>5335753
he just said there was no +10, we got tricked

>>5335749
>Twister
We don't have other multitarget spells at the moment, let's beef this one up
>Fire Bolt

>>5335749
Well, whatever.
Lets see.
Luck Drain
Roll the Dice
Fuck everybody's shit down to our level.

>>5335749
>Roll the Die
>Luck Drain

>>5335760
>+1

>>5335759
>tfw you're a superhuman killing machine but some clown left a bunch of banana peels on the floor

>>5335764
Who needs traditional magic spells when you can just make everyone around you unlucky

>>5335769
My thought is, if we're going to be cursed, everyone gets to experience it too.

>>5335749
>Luck
>Roll the die

>>5335749
> Luck Drain
> Roll the Die

>>5335759
>>5335760
>>5335763
>>5335778
>>5335779

Looks like Luck Drain and Roll the Die win, what improvement would you like?

Luck Drain:

> I roll a 1d25 to determine how much luck you siphon. It still impacts both friend and foe.

> I roll a 1d15+5 to determine how much luck you siphon. It still impacts both friend and foe.

> I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.

—————————————————

Roll the Die:

> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check with a +10 bonus.

> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was against an enemy roll, you may opt to have them re-roll as well.

> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was a critical failure (1), you may re-attempt the check with a +20 bonus.

>>5335784
> I roll a 1d25 to determine how much luck you siphon. It still impacts both friend and foe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was a critical failure (1), you may re-attempt the check with a +20 bonus.

>>5335784
>> I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.
> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was against an enemy roll, you may opt to have them re-roll as well.

>>5335784
>> I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.

>Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check with a +10 bonus.

>>5335784
> I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.
Makes it better to fuck our enemies over.
> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was a critical failure (1), you may re-attempt the check with a +20 bonus.
Fuck the ones we have been getting.

>>5335784
> I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.
> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was against an enemy roll, you may opt to have them re-roll as well.

>>5335784
>I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.
>Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was against an enemy roll, you may opt to have them re-roll as well.

>>5335787
>>5335792
>>5335794
>>5335797
>>5335798

It looks like the winners are:
> I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.
> Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was against an enemy roll, you may opt to have them re-roll as well.

Go ahead and roll me some 1d100+40 to see if you can puzzle out a viable solution for the bomb jammed in your head.

DC: 80 / 120

Rolled 97 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5335800

Rolled 44 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5335800

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>5335800
>>5335803
Nice

>>5335803
>>5335804
>>5335806

Nice, that's an excellent success.

For our last bit of rolling, go ahead and give me some 1d100+25 to see if you get Thoth to open up about his whole "hiding in a library between realms" schtick.

DC: 95

Rolled 27 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5335808

Rolled 43 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5335808

Rolled 11 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5335808

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5335808

>>5335810
>>5335812
>>5335814

That's a failure.

Writing, this'll probably take me a while.

>>5335816
>>5335814
>>5335815
Bugger

>>5335816
the silver tongue's good streak is finally ending

>>5335808
Well he'll keep being a baby bookworm. We'll see him again someday, I'm sure. Then we can drag him out to touch grass.

>>5335816

The decision is an easy one; there’s no way on earth that you’re going to turn down the opportunity for personalized instruction from a literal god of magic / knowledge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LgUXs0yiA

When you deliver your answer to Thoth, he seems a tad surprised that someone would choose to study under him instead of raiding his vast collection of knowledge.

To his credit, he rapidly shakes off that hint of shock and begins by asking to explain everything you’ve come to understand about magic and how it can be harnessed.

And when you do so, he calmly and politely proceeds to tear hole after hole in your theories, assumptions, and beliefs; neatly solving the puzzle as to why so few people willingly speak with Thoth.

At first, you can’t help but be annoyed at him, but you quickly shake off your pride when you realize that Thoth is trying his absolute best to be gentle in his critique. Either the tongue-lashing you gave him earlier is still fresh in his mind, or you’ve managed to earn a modicum of respect as a petitioner of wisdom.

Maybe a bit of both.

Besides, for someone who’s been seemingly alone for who-knows how long, he’s doing a good job. He’s just a bit rusty, is all. And more importantly, when you carefully examine his arguments and dismissal of your previous knowledge, you are forced to concede the validity of his points.

And once you shed your damnable pride, your mind is like a sponge, absorbing every scrap of cryptic lore that Thoth imparts upon you. Much of it still flies over your head, but you’re starting to understand that you’ll never be able to truly understand everything related to magic.

That’s the funny thing about learning; the more willing you are to push the boundaries and risk looking stupid, the quicker and more efficiently you learn.

> Skill Improved! Magical Theory +40 to rolls when attempting to read magical texts, +35 when rolling to unlock new spells.

The most you can accomplish is carving out your own little niche of specialities and refining it as best you can. The process is highly subjective and requires in-depth experimentation, which you’re more than happy to carry out under Thoth’s watchful eye.

Utilizing your newly-acquired tutelage, you begin subtly tweaking your Chaos magic in attempt to better utilize the spells governed by that Nature.

Thoth is visibly uncomfortable at your casual usage of Chaos magic, but lets the matter lie.

As previous experience has taught you, Chaos is surprisingly malleable.

The hard part is forcing it to maintain a specific form or shape once directed, but your understanding of its nuances allow you to further strengthen your ability to bend it further to your will.

After all, the best kind of luck is the kind that you make yourself. And the runner-up is being able to swipe it from anyone looking to get in your way.

>>5335848

> Spell Improved! Luck Drain: At any time, you can choose to activate or deactivate Luck Drain. When active, I roll a 1d15 to determine how much luck you siphon, and you can avoid impacting allies.

> Spell Improved! Roll the Die: Once every mission, you have the option to re-attempt a skill check. If the failure was against an enemy roll, you may opt to have them re-roll as well.

Finally, you have but one final question for Thoth; does he know of any way to remove the explosive device implanted in your head?

As it would turn out, yes. But it won’t be as easy as all that.

While Thoth isn’t willing to just give you the answers, (viewing it as a final test of his teachings) he directs you to a section of the library and encourages you to begin searching for the solution on your own.

With grim resignation, you consign yourself to your fate, poring through stacks stuffed to the gills with esoteric writings in an attempt to find the panacea for your troubles.

It doesn’t help that the bookcases have a nasty habit of shuffling books around whenever you aren’t looking, but you eventually find the exact guide that you’ve been hoping for; a treatise on medical magic.

According to the author; some Victorian adventurer with a long and pompous name, a procedure exists that’s capable of removing all foreign objects from the body, entirely without pain. Supposedly, he pioneered it to remove an old bullet that he took during a duel that was causing him constant grief.

Regrettably, the spell only works once, with the listed reason being something about “brain death” and “internal calcification” being potential side effects of attempting repeated usages. The words “brain” and “death” placed in close proximity is more than enough to kill your interest in trying to experiment further.

When you speak the words and channel your magic, nothing to seems to happen until you notice a sudden warmth in your hand. Somehow, without your notice, an incredibly tiny device materializes within your grasp.

With a mailed fist, you crush it into a thousand pieces and savor the knowledge that you are once again a free man.

When you report your success back to Thoth, he quietly congratulates you on your success and opens a portal similar to the one you emerged from.

Before you leave, you thank Thoth for his aid, apologize for your harsh words earlier, and extend an offer to pay you a visit in the mortal world sometime.

He hems and haws about it, before promising to give it some thought. That’s a polite way of saying no, but hey, at least you tried.

When you step through the portal, you visualize yourself emerging in…

> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.

> Venezuela. You’ve got men out in the wire, and it’s time to bring in the cavalry.

> Belle Reve. You’ve shattered your bonds, and it’s time to pay Lok the visit that you promised.

> Other?

>>5335849
>> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.
FREEDOM

>>5335849
> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.

Let’s reconvene and re-up our communication sigil

>>5335849
>> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.
Our boy

>>5335849
> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.

>>5335851
>>5335852
>>5335873
>>5335875

Alright, I'm going to go ahead and call it here for your long-awaited reunion with Jack (The Ghost with the Most) Craddock.

Going to have to call it earlier than I'd like today, need to work on interlude stuff and decompress a little.

We'll pick it up from here on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST, hope to see you all there!

Feel free to shoot the shit or let me know if you have any questions. I'll be lurking for a while, and will attempt to give a coherent response if possible.

>>5335876
How’s the Squad taking our departure?

>>5335876
Has Thoth ever read "Socializing for dummies" or do we have to gift him a copy? Actually does his library also get notes or is it explicitly published works? Does he have a section that is just a giant wall of all the sticky notes ever posted?

That'd be a fun way to say hi to him and tell him to get some sun.

>>5335892

Saying that they're not taking it well would be an understatement, especially now that you're well and truly out of their control.

Feel free to peruse the following link for an accurate depiction of Lok's emotional state:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8MZBUoQt68


>>5335896
He read "How to Make Friends and Influence People" and concluded that it wasn't worth the effort.

As for the library, the exact rules and regulations of what appears are currently unknown. There's a fair chance that explicitly writing him a note might garner a reaction, though.

inb4 somebody commissions Cullen to write a book about Thoth's lack of social skills

>>5335849
> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.

>>5335901
We must write Thoth a message telling him to come to our Broke Out Of Superjail Party and tell him Set bet he can't get laid with one of our strippers because all he does is read all day.

>>5335901
>"THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN THAT LITTLE SHIT HAD MAGIC THE ENTIRE TIME?!"
>"HE DID WHAT AND THEN LEFT, IN FRONT OF YOU?! WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOOT HIM, THE ENTIRE OPERATION IS AT RISK AND HE KNOWS MY FACE YOU COCK GOBBLING SHIT PACKER?!"
General Serano from Bulletstorm was a treasure trove of crude and delectable insults.

>>5335901
>concluded that it wasn't worth the effort.
Oh man what a goober. Think of all the knowledge that is passed down orally he's missing out on. Entire histories lost because he doesn't see the value in just getting to know people. All of the anecdotal information that is never recorded and only kept for a single lifetime. Some of the wildest and most forward-leaping theories that will never be tested just because someone is too scared to voice them and he just lets them all go to waste because he won't just smile.

What a goober. We gotta get him outta that stuffy hellhole.

>we co-author a satirical piece about how smart people are sticks in the mud and get no bitches, the protagonist's name is Otthoh the legal librarian
Wonder how long it would take him to read it and realize we're ripping his ass out in prose.

>>5335901
Lmao can’t wait to go back and stage that prison break

>>5335849
>> Jack’s Mansion. You need to regroup and get your bearings before all else.

Anons, we still need to get back to Venezuela to get that rifle for Jack. And I'd feel bad if we just left all our boys in the lurch against what's left of the Suicide Squad. Hell, we can dunk on them some more on National TV!

>>5336004
We should attack Belle Reve first, we already put Gremlin and Bobo on track to find it, strike them when they least expect us. Once the Squad is gone for good taking Venezuela will be ez pz.

>>5335849
>With a mailed fist, you crush it into a thousand pieces and savor the knowledge that you are once again a free man.
Damn it feels good. eat shit Lok (and by extension Waller)
I'd like to thin our tenure in the Squad is the shortest in it's history... buuut all those poor bastards that decided that the "bomb in your head" threat is bullshit and try to leave probably have us beat.

>>5336009
Well, once *this* particular branch on the Squad is gone at least. Didn't Lok tell us that there are other facilities all over? We can absolutely expect a team breathing down our neck later down the line.
Still, taking Belle Reve out will buy us time.

>>5335876
While i do agree we need to get our bearings, we have to go back to our soldiers as soon as possible.

>>5336009
>>5336004
Crippling the Squad enough to get them off our back is probably a priority, considering they've put a lot of assets into keeping the status quo in Venezuela

And not to mention that it's existence has to break some type of war crime law, right?

>>5336444
Wait... From what I can remember, the Squad busted the roof with dropping the General in National TV and more bullshit like that, right? We should call our boys in Venezuela to give us some update and let us know if there are images in internet and the National TV about the SQ

If so we can ask them to go for that footage and any information or images about that, while we try to find a way to give the information to the Media. We already know about Cadmus and that sups death-virus, we don't have physical evidence but we have a lead.

I say that they should Focus into going for the footage, maybe make some "major attack" to some place while we actually go for the Rifle, like a decoy.

We give the rifle to Jack, by then the boys should have got the info, we deliver to the Media in Gotham or maybe give it to that boy Clark Kent to make a big history about the SQ affairs. While Belle Reave starts crashing down, maybe they'll try and move everything, which could be a nice timing for us to crash in the place with some help of Bane, free the people, and at the end, if we're in troubles we could make a little trade

Either we leak more info about Belle Reave and the boss of that division, Lok, or we're all cool

What do you think anons? I say that once we talk with Gremlin and Bobo we could see if they found anything juicy to add to our SQ files. Who knows? Maybe arrange some meeting with Batman and give it so the JL can dig in. But that could be dangerous because it's far to close to our identity

>>5336468
Honestly getting knowledge of the Squad out there would help in taking it down, but getting Bane to help mixes Gunsmoke and Defcon a bit too much

We could do what we do best and take out some high-priority targets, steal some info; really throw a wrench into their command system

>>5336487
>but getting Bane to help mixes Gunsmoke and Defcon a bit too much
That, and we most likely don't have enough pull with Bane to get help from him.
He's focused on conquering Gotham from the other gang leaders, splitting off forces for a regional takeover would put him at a disadvantage.
It'd be a tough sell to put it lightly.

I am reading trough the archives, just reached thread 13, i must say this quest is really but have finally scaped the prision or at least gotten in contact with set or our men in venezuela? i am really worried about them there

>>5336695
*great
i meant to sat great quest

>>5336695
you are two threads away from finding out, don't give up yet

>>5336695
Read nigga, read!

>>5336695
Go back into your goblin hole anon and find out.

Okay finally catched up. One word is amazing quest. Btw i dont know if anons nothed this but Gentleman Ghost seems to have a father son relashionship, so i was wondering if anybody wanted to name our enterprice after him in some way

>>5337882
Try again with english.

File: Home.jpg (327 KB, 960x960)

327 KB JPG

>>5335876

When you step out of the portal and see the mansion again, you don’t even bother trying to contain the dumb grin that stretches across your face.

Even though it’s only been a couple months at most since you’ve been gone, it feels like an eternity.

Sucks that you had to leave your shiny new sword and shield back at Belle Reve, but it’s a small price to pay given your newly acquired freedom.

When you stride into the mansion, you’re immediately put on your guard. The mansion’s always been a bit dirty and dusty, but that’s part of its charm. However, the place looks utterly trashed; there are scattered holes in the floor, spills all over the carpet, and scribbled writing all over the wall.

> “Jack! You in here!?”

You receive no response, and being to feel a sense of looming dread as you begin following a trail of destruction upstairs.

Following the twisting corridors of the mansion, you find that the trail ends at Jack’s room, where the door is loosely hanging from its hinges.

Concerned, you quietly enter, only to discover that his study is an absolute mess. Empty liquor bottles are discarded everywhere, the wastebasket is filled to bursting with shredded pieces of paper, and it reeks like the spittoon in a biker bar.

Judging from the rank odor, Jack’s been on a truly legendary bender. Currently, he’s slumped over in a large armchair, surrounded by a pile of empty whiskey bottles and discarded notebooks.

Now that your worries about an immediate danger has passed, you intend on unobtrusively slipping out to avoid embarrassing him.

“I had hoped that you wouldn’t see me like this, Sean. Should’ve known you’d find your way home despite the odds; that’s what I get for having doubts.”

Never mind, guess you woke him up.

When it comes to things like smoking and drinking, you don’t have much room to lecture, but you still feel compelled to intervene.

> “Jack, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

When he goes to take a swig from a half-empty tumbler, you move to stop him.

> “C’mon, Jack. It’s me. Just put that down for a while and let me know what’s going on.”

Jack pulled you out from between the cracks in the sidewalk when nobody else would give you the time of the day. You’re not really good at dealing with feelings, but seeing him in this state this spurs you to action.

You gently but firmly pry the glass from his grip. He doesn’t struggle, instead beginning to sag into the armchair, as if physically weighed down.

File: Jack.png (376 KB, 414x578)

376 KB PNG

>>5337998

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgCRdAzizxY

“I am sorry for spoiling your homecoming, Sean, but I’m afraid that I’ve let things go a bit slack lately.”

You sit patiently, letting him work his way through it.

“I won’t lie. When I heard the news of your supposed death, I took it... rather poorly, as you may have noticed. To keep my mind from being consumed by grief, I turned to the oldest and most favored of my distractions; study, and the bottle.

When I heard the news of your miraculous survival, I began working to refurbish the mansion before you returned, but it appears that you managed to stymie my timetable.”

You take a seat nearby one of the cleaner chairs, intent on letting Jack vent.

“I know that we’ve already had this conversation, but I feel the need to extend my deepest apologies once more. Once again, I’ve sent you into the breach on a wing and a prayer. And for what?

The mad hope that I may one day find a peace that I no longer deserve.”

Jack gives a short and bitter chuckle.

“It’s amusing, when you really think about it.

I have relentlessly pursued this goal, my truest and most passionate desire, for decades, and now that I am the closest I have ever been to reaching it; I find myself paralyzed.

By fear. By doubt. By my own selfish weaknesses.”

The dam bursts and Jack lets the torrent fly free.

“I am so very afraid. I know that it must be done, but I cannot stop myself from worrying about what awaits when I pass. The next great adventure and all that.” Jack says, weakly grasping one of the empty bottles.

He staggers to his feet, heads toward one of the many bookshelves, and pulls a well-thumbed book of poetry out.

“Do you mind if I…..?”

> “Of course not.”

He clears his voice and begins to read, his voice audibly cracking at some parts.

"Have you news of my boy Jack?”
Not this tide.
"When d'you think that he'll come back?"
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

"Has any one else had word of him?"
Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

"Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?"
None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind—
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

>>5337999

After he finishes, he snaps the book shut and lays it onto a nearby end-table.

“I have enjoyed that poem for many, many years. It helps me to remember a life that seems more dream than memory.” He says, staring into the fireplace, deep in recollection.

“I had a family when I died. A wife and a son. It’s been so long that I can no longer remember their names or faces.”

He keeps staring into the fireplace, shoulders hunched as if they were carrying the weight of the world.

“I’m so very tired, Sean.”

Back when you were a Marine, being well-read, especially when it came to poetry, wasn’t exactly the most treasured skill among your fellow warfighters.

But after your “transition into the civilian sector,” you’ve become a lot more familiar with the classics. A fringe benefit of poring through loads of dusty old books.

Maybe he’d appreciate it if you reciprocated and read something that equally moves you?

You reach over and grab it, taking care not to damage the well-worn spine, and flip to a poem of particular significance, namely…

> Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

> Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

> The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Tennyson

> Do Not go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas

> In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

> Other?

>>5338001
Good selection, Axis
> Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

I feel like this would resound with Sean the most. Young men sent to die, the author decrying the 'old lie' of the title. Hits hard

Now I'm gonna go cry till the next update

>>5338001
> Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

>>5338001
>> Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

>>5338008
>>5338013

Looks like giving a rendition of Dulce Et Decorum Est wins, writing.

>>5338029

You gently flip through the book, searching for something suited to your ideals that may help you empathize with Jack.

During the search, you find the entry for the poem that Jack recited, in a section dedicated to the fallen of the First World War.

One of the entries in particular catches your eye, Dulce Et Decorum Est, by Wilfred Owen.

It’s about the horrors of war, and how people are consumed in their search for honor and glory on the field of battle. Sounds like something that’s right up your alley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rV9RDS1AzM

After taking a deep breath, you work your way through the poem, doing your best to maintain a sense of decorum.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer,
Bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie:

Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.”

>>5338051

Your recent experiences with Task Force X have only solidified your knowledge that fighting for any cause other than your own is one-way ticket to nowhere.

You were an honorable soldier who loyally led good men once, and what did it buy you?

A dishonorable discharge, a cell, and a death sentence.

And your men?

The reward for their service?

A nice sendoff, a fancy hole in hallowed ground, and a quick shunt out of view once the next sob story came rolling in.

But you’ll never forget, and you’ll never forgive.

No matter how far your journeys take you, you'll always be carrying a piece of them with you.

Just as a piece of you departed with them.

Overall, the poem made you feel…

(You can choose more than one)

> Angry. Men like you have been pawns on a greater board for centuries, and the time is overdue for a change. Even if that requires upending the game board entirely.

> Sad. Maybe Jack has the right idea, that the best thing we can hope for in this world is a graceful exit. But unlike his, yours won’t be coming anytime soon.

> Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.

> Disgusted. You’ve seen firsthand the consequences of allowing people to just trample all over you. Never again, no matter the opposition, no matter the cost.

> Other?

>>5338058
>Angry. Men like you have been pawns on a greater board for centuries, and the time is overdue for a change. Even if that requires upending the game board entirely.
REVOLUTION!

>>5338058
> Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.

>>5338058
>Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.
"The Devil himself won't stop me."

>>5338058
> Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.

>>5338058

> Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.

BECOME CHAOS LORD

>>5338058
>> Sad. Maybe Jack has the right idea, that the best thing we can hope for in this world is a graceful exit. But unlike his, yours won’t be coming anytime soon.

>>5338058
> Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.

Cold, hard determination is scary good

>>5338058
>> Determined. You can and will do better than anyone that stands in your way. As long as you keep pushing forward, it doesn’t matter what gets thrown in your way; you’ll just deal with it as it comes.

>>5338063
>>5338064
>>5338065
>>5338066
>>5338069
>>5338074

Calling it here, writing.

>>5338075

Despite the grim bleakness of the poem, it inspires a strangely calming, yet icy determination in you.

A reminder that no matter the hardship of the times or of the situation, that nothing is ever truly hopeless so long as you dig in deep and keep pushing through it.

This rhetoric bleeds into your recitation of the poem, and you can tell that Jack is touched by your obvious effort.

“You’re a good soul, Sean. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.”

> “Just so long as you get it through your thick skull that I’m not going anywhere, got that? We made a deal, and I’m sticking to it.”

“You drive a hard bargain, but it’s one that I’m happy to accept. Now that you’re back home, what do you plan to do next?”

And that’s truly the million-dollar question.

Speaking of a million dollars, you’ve managed to blow through almost all of your proceeds from the Keystone heist.

Turns out that real estate and high-quality military gear doesn’t come cheap.

You’ll need to check in on that laundromat front of yours soon and see how it’s been doing in terms of cash flow. It’d be higher if you ran some kind of illegal operations through it, but you’ve been a bit busy with everything else to worry overmuch about your business holdings.

Should be a nice little boost to your finances either way.

>>5338106

As it stand, you’ve got three battleplans cooking.

The first, is that you stay in Gotham for a while and try to round up some support for a later excursion. And you know just the guy to call.

According to Jack, the gang war between Bane and Penguin has been cooling down, but that doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Hostilities could flare back up at any moment, and you made a hell of an impression when you torched the Iceberg Lounge on your last job for Bane.

if you were to pitch in ad help consolidate Bane’s position, you might be able to leverage that favor into something more tangible; like a well-armed detachment of mercenaries.

Alternatively, you could jump straight into the fight and clean-up the mess you left behind in Venezuela. While tempting, it’s definitely not going to be easy.

You’ll have to deal with Pedraza’s goons, as well as any Squad remnants that you missed on your first go-round. Plus, that’s assuming that they haven’t been reinforced in the wake of your breakout; the political situation down there could be radically different from the time of your failed assault on the Assembly. Hopefully Darius or Isaac can paint you a clearer picture when you reestablish contact.

But if you pull it off, the sky’s the limit. There’s no telling how a victory of that magnitude might catapult your operational ability, but it’ll definitely be well worth the effort.

On the other hand, maybe you’re better off checking in with Bobo and Gremlin and lining up your shot on Belle Reve?

The Squad’s going to be after your head for the foreseeable future; nailing them with a pre-emptive strike could be the way to go.

It’s definitely not something that they’d be expecting, and you’d be able to keep Task Force X in check. At the very least, you’d deliver a stark warning that you aren’t to be trifled with. As a bonus, you’d also be keeping your promise to Shade and depending upon Gremlin’s progress with finding a countermeasure for their bombs, you might even be able to pick up some grateful new recruits.

In the end, you decide that your main priority is…

(This one’s very important, so I’ll leave the vote open for about an hour.)

> Helping Bane consolidate his position in Gotham. Once you’ve earned some goodwill and some breathing room, you should be able to borrow a contingent of his men for a campaign.

> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.

> Other?

>>5338107
>> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

Cause we should see the job through and also it would free up our guys in Venezuela and also potentially free Set to aid us in wrecking Belle Reve!

>>5338107
> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

Ooooh man, tough choices. We'll be dealing with Metas - lots of them - no matter what and we'd basically be dealing with them by ourselves.
Sure the Liberators are in Venezuela but I'm not quite sure how much they'd help against Metas.
>>5338107
>Helping Bane consolidate his position in Gotham. Once you’ve earned some goodwill and some breathing room, you should be able to borrow a contingent of his men for a campaign.
Going with this for the extra firepower. Gotta have faith in our boys down south, they'll make do.

Anyone have ideas for the laundromat? Personally I don't see what we could do with it it's a damn laundromat - can't really use it as a front for anything too big.

>>5338107
> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.

I feel like summoning an army from Bane to do it won't be as good as doing it ourselves

Getting evidence of the Squad or Assassinating/Kidnapping key individuals takes a knife, not a hammer

And the Squad still has the resources to keep the regime in Venezuela, so until then the boys can keep the standstill

>>5338114
>Anyone have ideas for the laundromat? Personally I don't see what we could do with it it's a damn laundromat - can't really use it as a front for anything too big.
I say coke

We could buy detergent, emptying the bags, find a machine or something to close them and fill them with cocaine. Or maybe that's something our provider could do and we find a way to deliver it by big quantities

>>5338107
>Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.
It might be an error but I say this with the option of Belle Reve are good. The first one I say we should go first for a solo mission for the Rifle, give it to Jack and end our business with the revolution, everything without being seen at all, nor our face or our full armor, we don't want attention to ourselves, and if the Revolution it's still hot with Darius and Isaac efforts, Pedraza and The SQ might think we we're some opportunistic asshole that saw a chance to steal it.

With raiding Belle Reve I have fear, because Shade already told us we should get stronger before doing so. Si, unless we really start doing some heavy training, get some new toys and some people, we might have troubles

>>5338107
>> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.

>>5338107
>> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

>>5338107
> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.
They'll expect us in Venezuela. Let's hit them in the jaw instead, then we can clean up Venezuela.

>>5338114
>>5338129
We could try gun-running, or smuggling in general. Get a few businesses as stopping points to hide and distribute goods to sellers, and use a couple as depots?

I don't know if Coke is a good idea, Sean doesn't seem like the type to do it, Tbh

>>5338107
>> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.

>>5338114
>Anyone have ideas for the laundromat? Personally I don't see what we could do with it it's a damn laundromat - can't really use it as a front for anything too big.

Safehouse for rent on a first come first serve basis?

Well, it looks like we have a tie for choosing our next major objective.

I'd prefer not to roll a tiebreaker on something important, so I'll go ahead and leave the vote ongoing until we pick things back up on Friday at 5:00 PM EST.

As always, thanks for playing, anons!

I know things were a little heavy tonight, feel free to let me know what you thought of it.

Anyhow, interludes are still in the works, but I'm making good progress.

>>5338168
Thanks for writing and have a goodie til then!

>>5338107
> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.

>>5338107
> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.

>>5338107
>> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

>>5338107
> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.
Head bombs are top priority even though we got ours out.
Can we just magic surgery the bombs like we did to ourselves?

>>5338168
This was a really good session, you can write emotion just as well as action, which is pretty great

Can't wait for friday

>>5338212
Using the spell more than once risks secondary effects, so no. But if we taught it to someone else they could use it once.

>>5338107
>Venezuela
Can't leave the job undone.

>>5338107
>Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.
Having a gun that can kill demons is always a good thing.

>>5338107
>> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

>>5338107
> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

Helping our boys out is a bit of a time sensitive issue I think.

>>5338107
> Heading to Belle Reve to kick Task Force X directly where it hurts. You’re #1 on their shitlist and the feeling is assuredly mutual; it’s time for a reminder of what happens when somebody fucks with you.
As much as I'd like to help our boys we've already trained them good, and it's only due to the squad that we failed in our attempts. We take out the Squad and Venezuela is ours. We get the entire (or most, let's be honest, some are going to stab us in the back) suicide squad on our side, we can shoot to the moon (or the Watchtower in all honesty).

>>5338107
>Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

>>5338168
>Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.
Finish the fight. And find out why Set bitched out.

>>5338168
> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

BELL WE GOT A JOB TO DO

>>5338444
Rather then most, I'd say we only get (and even want, honestly) a few tops. Most of them are lone wolves to begin with, either by preference or because they're too dangerous to work with others unless they've got a bomb planted in their brains. Probably just take the ones we've already got a rapport with and a few professionals and leave it at the rest of them owing us a favour.

Okey, now i have better internet connection, i was the anon who recently finished the quest a few days ago, i wanted to say to axis that its a great quest.

And i wanted to ask, if other anons find GG´s relashionship with sean kinda like father and son? it makes me wonder what is the family situation of sean? we know he had a dad but nothing more? maybe orphaned too early?
> Heading back to Venezuela to finish the job that the Squad interrupted. You’ve got troops to lead, a traitor to kill, a dictator to topple, and a rifle to steal.

Anyways voting for this, and also. after we finish our thing in venezuela and get the guns, do we plan to go after the task force X or get bane´s help by doing missions for him?

Alright, it looks like going for round 2 in Venezuela wins, writing.

>>5340137

Now, onto business.

The first item on your checklist is to get your gear ready for a protracted campaign. You’ve still got 1.5 vials of Xenothium stashed away that could come in handy when it comes to supercharging your Apokoliptian Armor. Smith provided you with a list of potential upgrades after installing the self-repair protocol last time, so at least you’ve got a rough idea of what’s open to you.

Hopefully he’ll be fine with a rush order, you don’t have time to waste.

Alternatively, you could visit that disgraced bio-chemist that Index pointed you towards; Conrad Zeiss. He might be able to make something interesting out your surplus Xenothium.

In the end, you decide to…

(Choose as many as you’d like, keeping in mind that you’ve only got 1.5 Xenothium left.)

> Upgrade your armor’s targeting suite. Never a bad idea to be more efficient at putting your foes in the dirt. (When wearing the armor, 99s are counted as crits) (Costs .5 Xenothium)

> Upgrade your armor’s plating and defensive countermeasures. That’s what it’s there for, after all. (Protect against most forms of conventional small-arms fire and provides additional EMP hardening) (Costs .5 Xenothium)

> Upgrade your armor’s internal compensators. Surviving being shot is good, avoiding being shot in the first place is even better. (Gives you a +10 bonus when Roll the Die is triggered.) (Costs .5 Xenothium)

> Upgrade your armor’s field of movement. Just because you’re well armored doesn’t mean that you can’t keep up with your opponents (Gives you a +10 bonus to agility rolls) (Costs .5 Xenothium)

> Upgrade your armor with an intrusion prevention system. That way, nobody’ll be able to just swipe it from you again without getting nasty surprise. (Costs .5 Xenothium)

> Visit Zeiss and provide him with a vial. Maybe he can synthesize it into some kind of serum or performance-enhancer. (Costs 1 Xenothium)

> Other?

>>5340138
> Visit Zeiss and provide him with a vial. Maybe he can synthesize it into some kind of serum or performance-enhancer. (Costs 1 Xenothium)
> Upgrade your armor’s plating and defensive countermeasures. That’s what it’s there for, after all. (Protect against most forms of conventional small-arms fire and provides additional EMP hardening) (Costs .5 Xenothium)

>>5340138
> Upgrade your armor’s field of movement. Just because you’re well armored doesn’t mean that you can’t keep up with your opponents (Gives you a +10 bonus to agility rolls) (Costs .5 Xenothium)
>> Visit Zeiss and provide him with a vial. Maybe he can synthesize it into some kind of serum or performance-enhancer. (Costs 1 Xenothium)

>>5340138
>> Upgrade your armor’s plating and defensive countermeasures. That’s what it’s there for, after all. (Protect against most forms of conventional small-arms fire and provides additional EMP hardening) (Costs .5 Xenothium)
>Upgrade the Carbine to pack more punch and give it extra modes, long range, shotgun blast, laser cannon...