Your character awakens cursed with gayness by a hag he insulted the night before when she offered herself to him.
1. What race, class, sex, and alignment are you?
2. What do?
>>6258097 (OP)>1.>What raceShapeshifter
>classCultist
>sexGenderfluid (because shapeshifting)
>alignment Dark gods
>2. What do?Seek a sacrifice for the dark gods
>>6258097 (OP)>raceFrog
>classFrog
>sexFrog
>alignmentFrog
>What do?Frog out. Then seek out the hag and apologise and take up her offer in exchange for lifting her curse.
>race
Frog
>class
Paladin
>sex
Benis
>alignment
Schizo
Seek my companion Alexsio johnias to aid my witch hunt
>Race
Gamer
>Class
Wizard
>Sex
With Big Booty Latinas
>Alignment
Wignat
Trawl the internetwebs for a way to dispell the curse & the hag's instantgrahms account.
>Race
Red dragon
>Class
Sohei from Kobold Quarterly
>Sex
Male
>Alignment
Lawful Evil with emphasis on Lawful and Lawful Neutral tendencies when I'm not on the clock doing my job as a DMV drone as slowly as possible.
>What do?
I ruin the lives of everyone else as discretely and as lawfully as possible, while kung fuing the shit out of adventurers trying to steal my hoard of beanie babies.
So the quest was obviously meant as a shitpost abandoned after the OP by the original QM, but for some reason I got interested in the barebones premise after randomly checking the thread from the catalog. Due to this I'll be taking over and making it a bit more serious and more like a proper quest. Hopefully not all players have left and you'll support me in this effort. I'll post an update today after figuring out where I want to take the story, worldbuilding a bit and other stuff.
So since there are a few different suggestions, I will pick those that seem most interesting for me to run.
>Race: Frogman
>Class: Wizard / Warrior (Frog)
>Sex: Male
>Alignment: Schizo / Frog / Neutral
You're a frogman. Many around the world - or at least near the Garrakit Swamp - consider you a dangerous and cruel race. These fears are not baseless: your brethren are infamous for killing travellers that pass through the swamp and sacrificing their corpses in honour of dark, murky gods.
You're not like them. Having been banished from your tribe for a crime you'd rather not mention, you have wandered the nearby towns a bit, a trusty staff in hand, killing goblins, dire rats and other minor monsters for money. A clay tablet recording the only two spells you know: fire arrow and freeze, - and training in the way of the spear has helped you survive the battles. You dreamt of building your own base - your own tower, castle, or city - to reign and live in, of becoming a renowned figure across the lands.
It was on a calm, hot summer evening that a hag approached you in the woods while you were on another mission. She helped you out in slaying a few giant spiders, but in return, asked that you lay with her. Naturally, you refused - her old, wrinkled face was far from appealing, and her drab body was disgusting to look at. The hag narrowed her eyes, but said nothing, disappearing into the woods from whence she came.
You thought the matter settled, but that night, as you slept in the tavern, you saw a dream. A colossal eye looking at you with malice and quiet contemplation. Out of its pupil came a ray of dark, piercing your palm, making you scream in pain. You awoke in your bed, your hand hurting. Looking at it in the light of the twin moons, you found a mark.
An eye scorched into your flesh.
The curse of the Big Gay was upon you.
You had heard of this deity back in the swamp, when frogs like you gathered around the bonfire to listen to the shamans' tales. Anyone bearing its mark that didn't turn to darkness was doomed not only with bad luck, but with the attention of whatever demonic entities were nearby. You knew that anyone with it, should they get noticed, were a prime target for banishment, or even execution, not only among frogs, but among other races as well.
You needed to get rid of it as soon as possible. But things were not that simple.
You bandaged your hand with whatever cloth you could find, and searched the woods for the hag's house. A few days of meticulous search later, you found her hut. Inside, illuminated by fireflies caught in a glass jar hanging from the ceiling, was a cluttered, messy space. Dried herbs hung from walls, greasy blotches stained the frayed pages of a few books on a table, concoctions of unknown purpose stood on the shelves. And the hag herself, looking at you with apprehension and unveiled hatred.
(cont.)
"I know it is you who is behind the curse." You say, pointing the spear at her throat. The hag staggers back, but you step forward, keeping her at the tip. The old woman starts sweating and doesn't dare move anymore. "Remove it."
The hag swallows nervously, but a crooked smile dances on her lips.
"It was not one I created. Another witch gifted me a... scroll. Upon it, the curse was recorded. I know only that it draws the ire of the Big Gay, but I have no information about how to dispel it, or even if it's possible to do so."
"And you inflicted it upon a stranger who merely rejected your perverted lust."
"Y-yes." the hag eyes the tip of your spear and tries retreating a bit again, but you are relentless.
You frown, considering her words. What a petty woman... but her fate doesn't concern you. It seems you will have to find how to dispel it yourself.
But you've got something to do before that.
"Even if you don't help me... don't expect I will leave you your life." you say.
"DARK TENDRILS!" the hag screams, and out of the floor, tentacles of darkness wrap around your legs and creep to your arms.
You find yourself unable to move, but you manage to grip the staff on your back. Your powerful arms remain free - the tendrils are not strong enough to hold them back along with legs.
Your arms light up with power.
The hag screams something again, pointing her palm at you, and out of it, and blast of black energy strikes you, shaking the entirety of the hut. Your vision darkens as you experience pain, like daggers piercing your entire body. You groan, but manage to retain your consciousness.
The dark blast weakened you. But you remain standing. And out of the focus of your staff, a blast of flame blazes a hole through the hag's chest. She wheezes as her eyes bulge out from pain, and falls down on the floor, dead. The tendrils dissipate into inky, dark mist.
The hut is on fire. You stumble out of it, battered, but alive.
You have had your revenge. Now, you must find a cure for your curse.
>Return to the nearby town of Dogend and search the local library. You don't know how to read, so you will have to ask for the help of librarians or someone that can read. Perhaps it would be worth it to learn it yourself? [specify which path]
>Return to Dogend and look for work again. You need money for your investigation into curses and their dispelling. It'd also be nice to be ready to move at a moment's notice or build a base somewhere.
>Return to Dogend and search for rumours. [specify what kind]
>Write-in
"Another witch gifted me a... scroll" so there is more of theme, more to kill. Time to start the witch hunt.
>Return to Dogend and search for rumours. [specify what kind]
Look for rumours, about local witches and their covens.
>GRAB EVERYTHING YOU CAN FROM THE HUT, INCLUDING THE HAG'S HAIR, PARCHMENTS, & TOMES
We can potentially find the scroll in question if we move fast enough before the fire eats away at everything. If not, her grimoires may help find some means of dispelling curses. Most importantly, with a bit of the witch herself, perhaps another spellcaster or deity can return the curse to its origin through the conduit of the sender. If her hair is already burnt up, just cut off her feet or something. Teeth even might do.
>>6259265>>6259466>search for rumours [witches + covens]>grab everything from the burning hutFor the anon looking for the scroll in question: scrolls are generally usable one time. They're essentially spells recorded on parchment / paper that burn up after 1 use. Think scrolls from roguelikes.
=====
As you walk from the porch of the hut, a realisation strikes you. Even if the witch didn't know a way to dispel the curse herself, the books may provide clues! Not only that, you think you heard from the shamans of your tribe that curses may be called back with the help of a body part of the one cursing!
You go back, your moist frog skin evidently not prepared for being so close to a raging flame. You hastily cut off the witch's toe with your hunting knife, grab two books and 3 scrolls from the study table, and escape before the fire can reach the exit.
As you walk through the woods back to the town of Dogend, you inspect the items you looted as you set up camp.
Obviously, you don't know how to write in or read the language of the locals - you were only taught to speak it by a travelling paladin back when you were a curious kid. You hope he's well - your tribesmen didn't take kindly to him, unlike you, and tried to kill him, so he had to leave soon.
The only script you can read properly is frogman, which you learned back in your tribe.
You think it may be prudent not to display these books and scrolls in full view of humans. Witch magic is frowned upon and may bring you unneeded trouble.
It is with these thoughts that you bury the loot deeper in your spacious backpack and begin gathering rumours just as you reach Dogend.
(cont.)
Dogend isn't the smallest town. Guarding the western approach to the Garrakit swamp, it thrives on its lumber industry and is a minor hub of monster hunters that kill forest beasts for leather, meat, fur, and dire monster blood - used in some alchemical potions.
You go through the usual taverns, asking the keeps if any rumours about nearby witches are present. Most say no. The one of Spear's Wine, however...
"Haven't heard much about local ones - it's monsters here, sometimes your kin, but no witches. But a few travellers passing from the north, from Talant, said there's been problems with a coven back there. I asked 'em why it hasn't been hunted down - they said they're really good at hiding, and powerful to boot - king's men from the crownlands tried to find them and deal with them, ended up missing. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend going there - covens are usually dangerous even for experienced adventurers, much less one of your level."
"That's for me to decide." you say.
"Well, I'm not your mom to tell you what to do." the keep chuckles. "Good luck, ..."
>Nola
>Reppu
>Crok
>Write-in your name
You leave a denar as a tip for the info and walk out of the tavern.
You've still got money to last you a few days with shelter and food. What will you do now?
>Search for work.
>Ask the local temple priest about the books and curse. They may not be too friendly to a frogman with a curse, but by their occupation they should provide help to wayward souls.
>Start travelling north. You'll probably be out of money by the time you reach Talant, but there will be fresh contracts to pick up for a few denarii there.
>Write-in
>Write-in your name
Glugee
>Search for work.
"It looks like witch hunting won't be that easy. I will have to earn money for equipment, informants, and potential henchmen" Glugee said to himself.
>>6259862>Crok>Ask the local temple priest about the books and curse. They may not be too friendly to a frogman with a curse, but by their occupation they should provide help to wayward souls.
>Kermilyon
(like Kermit + the Kybalion)
>Look for a Scholar to teach you the written word of dry-skinned folk, all the better if they too are traveling North
>>6259862>Write-in your nameHetro, or I guess Kermilyon if its a tie
>Ask the local temple priest about the books and curse. They may not be too friendly to a frogman with a curse, but by their occupation they should provide help to wayward souls.
>>6259866>>6259881>>6259959>>6260456>>6260573Calling the vote now and beginning work on the post.
Meant to do one in the morning, but only got around to writing now, sorry. Glad to see 5 anons. I'll combine all choices and the scholar write-in since they can be done in succession. Kermilyon sounds cool, so that's what our hero's name will be. Update in an hour or a few.
>Look for a Scholar to teach you the written word of dry-skinned folk, all the better if they too are traveling North
>Ask the local temple priest about the books and curse.
>Search for work.
The first thing you do is head to the temple.
It is a tall and spacious building. As you enter it, you are assaulted by a hot, dry wind. You feel parched as you stand under its gusts, your skin becoming dryer than what's comfortable for you, but at the same time there is a feeling of rejuvenation in your body.
After all, these gusts are the holy air of Neram, Lord of the Four Winds and Stormbringer. The chief deity of these lands' dry-skins.
Once the purification ritual is over, you step deeper into the temple. On the water reservoirs, the winds cause small waves. They mean nothing now, but from what you remember during your last visit, they sometimes convey visions of the future to their observer.
A pleasant, faint fruity smell drifts through the air, the incense smouldering in burners on long legs. It is bright here, and the winds blow softly upon you, unlike the harsh gusts of the entrance. It's also easy to breathe.
A priest approaches you.
"Hello..." he pauses, as if trying to remember something.
"Kermilyon." you continue for him. "I come seeking advice, holy Trilasche." you make a small bow as a greeting as you say the priest's rank.
"Tell me of your worries, wayward wind, and, Neram willing, I will aid you."
You hesitate for a bit. Is it really a good idea to tell him of the mark? Would this bring about trouble?
A few seconds later, you make your decision.
"A witch has placed a powerful curse upon me." you say. "I am cursed to bear the mark of the Big Gay."
You pull loose the cloth on your hand, displaying the eye scorched upon your skin. As you look at it, you feel cold running through your body, and the feeling of being watched occupies your mind. The priest looks briefly upon the mark, then nods. You conceal it once more.
"It is a good thing you have come to me with this, but..." trilasche's face is troubled. "I am afraid it is not our god that will bring you salvation from such a powerful curse." he pauses. "However, I know of a god who may. It is an old cult, and rarely found in these lands. Lux, the Blinding Light, could aid you. Their god is the greatest opponent of the Big Gay, the blinding force that shuts the 'eyes' of this dark deity. I know of single temple from my time in the south. In the Wildlands city of Circea, seek it, and they may know of a ritual to dispel it."
"Thank you." you say, bowing again.
"Is there anything else?"
(cont.)
"I want to learn how to read." you say. "The books taunt me with their knowledge. I wish I could use it."
"There is a big school in this town, but to my knowledge, it's mostly children of rich parents going there. Towards the crownlands, to the southwest, you may find schools with tutors that may educate you for a more affordable price."
"I fear they'll reject me, holy Trilasche." you say, casting your gaze down. "Dry-skins do not take kindly to frogmen."
The priest frowns.
"It is true. I know from your time here that you're a hard worker, hunting those monsters, but they may have different ideas... I know of something that may help. Wait here a while. Pray while I'm gone, I'll return soon."
You spend a few minutes in silent prayer, bowing before the statue of the god. It brings about calmness of mind and fortitude of spirit. Not enough to be a great boon, but noticeable even to you.
Trilasche returns and hands you a scroll of parchment as you get up from your prayer.
"Take this. It is a personal recommendation from me. If you show this to any adherent of Neram, they shall be kinder to you."
You take the scroll, nodding.
"Thank you." you say. "I will be going now."
"May the winds carry you where you wish to be."
"May the winds protect you."
You exit the temple and head to the main square of the town. If you are to head south or southwest, be it to become literate or remove the curse, or go north to kill those witches, you need money to keep yourself fed and rested. It is one thing to make a trip from the Garrakit swamp to Dogend lasting two or three days - another to venture into lands unknown to you, with who knows how many miles before another settlement. It may be a good idea to buy a map, actually...
(cont.)
As you reach the bulletin board, you see there are a few offers posted.
>[Easy Contracts] Just some minor stuff to be done: clearing out dire rats from someone's basement is the most dangerous there is, most are just helping out craftsmen and hunting regular animals for pelts. (Doesn't require a roll, brings in medium amount of money over a week. It's enough to begin travelling whichever way you may go without trouble, or buy yourself a comfy place in a caravan for a week or two.)
>[Medium Contract] A pair of dire wolves have been sighted in the south. They need to be dealt with. These beasts may be quite dangerous to you in a pair - they're human-height animals of bad temper and strong body. You may find a companion to split the earnings with, or try to deal with them yourself. (Roll to battle dire wolves, high amount of money over 3 days or so of tracking them and fighting. Enough for a medium journey (a month). If split with a companion, medium amount of money.)
>[??? Contract] A guard is needed to escort a caravan through lands south of the Garrakit swamp and into a dwarven hold of Ganthurian mountains, lying to the west of the swamp. You have heard from tavern keeps there are bandits to the south of the swamp, so there will probably be an attack attempt. You don't know how strong they are, though. (high pay, enough for a long journey (1.5 months))
(QM note on wolves and guard: I'll warn this is a lethal kind of quest, so you may die! The curse of Big Gay lowers the amount of dice rolled to 1 instead of Bo3 as usual in other quests. This is not to say to evade all risks, but be ready for an abrupt end. I hope high stakes will bring more joy to victories.)
>>6260659>can't read>read contracts on a bulletin board>consider purchasing a map with NAMESHoly shit, why am I mentally retarded? How did I miss it? fml. Let's just say you heard all this from the town crier. Sorry for this, anons.
Also can't believe I forgot to mention that IN ADDITION to the money you get from contracts for dire wolves and caravan escort, you can also practice new combat tactics and general skill against enemies that are dangerous to you. Basically by fighting dangerous enemies, you level up and can fight tougher enemies on even ground later.
>>6260659>>[Easy Contracts] Just some minor stuff to be done: clearing out dire rats from someone's basement is the most dangerous there is, most are just helping out craftsmen and hunting regular animals for pelts. (Doesn't require a roll, brings in medium amount of money over a week. It's enough to begin travelling whichever way you may go without trouble, or buy yourself a comfy place in a caravan for a week or two.)
>>6260695+1
>once complete check equipment and stores for any possible improvements
>>6260695>>6260753+1 to both of these
Have we noticed the eye expanding or changing over time in any way when we've looked at it? (Is the curse on a timer that increases mali?)
Wtf, how did you already attract samefags? Truly, the Curse of the Big Gay is a blight.
doomer
md5: 22d81ab9dc91d9851bb240735b189e4b
🔍
>wake up>check thread>oh cool, a lot of votes!>look inside>samefagsThis is my punishment for the reading oversight. This is my divine scourge.
>>6260766No, you didn't notice the eye changing.
>>6260987I don't even know what to do now. picrel
Ok, I'll just ignore the potential samefags for now, 5WD8KA36 mentioned in the qtg that he forgot he already voted, idk about D+GHYAI+, but it's not a significant vote, so it doesn't really matter. Just please do not do this again or I will be very disappointed.
Writing for
>[Easy Contracts]
>once complete check equipment and stores for any possible improvements
Probably going to be a short update.
Dire rats in someone's basement. Cleaning out slimes from the sewers on request from the mayor. Helping out craftsmen while their regular workers are ill. Hunting some animals in the forest.
Before long, 10 days have passed since the start of your preparation, and you've saved up enough for a week or two of travel. You neither learned much nor had enough time for a proper rest, but this is the kind of menial work you'd do if you wanted some safe coin.
As you prepare for departure, you consider improving your equipment.
Your spear is still the one you have from back in your tribe. It's kinda crooked, and the tip is dull, but it has served you well and hasn't broken yet. You've seen plenty of people with spears that are of higher quality, however. A new one, with a straight hardwood shaft and possibly a tip with a hook, or just a sharper one, would be an improvement.
Your focus staff is also of frogman craft. It's fine for now, and magical items are quite pricy, so upgrading it will have to wait.
Your moist skin requires specific clothing, but you could use some armour on yourself. A breast piece of leather wouldn't save you from a direct hit by a proper weapon, but may save your life against glancing ones, which are more common in combat.
There is, of course, plenty of other equipment, from weaponry and armour for combat to utilities like sturdy rope, lanterns, oils, tools, camping gear and whatnot.
You think you can afford one piece of equipment with what you've earned. This would leave you with enough denarii for a week of travel, probably enough to take you to the next town, but once there, you'll have to get to work on whatever contracts are available there immediately. What do you have in mind?
>A better spear. (specify: tip with a hook for catching enemy weaponry or just a sharper and longer one? or something else?)
>A piece of leather armour (specify body part(s))
>Some non-combat supplies? (specify)
>Write-in?
>Do not buy anything, you'd rather travel further for now.
(cont.)
Finally, which direction do you wish to travel in?
To the south, you'll eventually reach the Wildlands, where the priest told you is the temple of Lux, which may aid you with the curse. You'll also pass not far from these "crownlands" of the "kingdom of Malnesse" in the territory of which you apparently are. This may allow you to learn to read. From what you've heard, though, these are safer lands, with not much in the way of work for an adventurer.
To the north lies the town of Talant. It's a more dangerous land, near the northern frontier, so you should be able to easily find contracts there, but those witches... you'd rather not get in their hands.
To the east is the Garrakit swamp. It is where you came from to Dogend. You'd imagine your kin there haven't forgotten you yet. If you circumvent it through the southern route, you'll reach the mountains, where dwarven holds dig deep into the cold rock. You should be able to reach either the first hold, if you don't buy anything, or the town of Erid halfway there. You remember from another contract that there are bandits on the way, though.
To the west, you've heard there are some magical places scattered between towns. It is not exactly a frontier land in the sense of population, but conflicts occur often there since it's on the border between two kingdoms, Malnesse and Hildar.
>Southeast, then east, towards the mountains.
>North.
>West.
>East.
>Write-in.
Finally, which direction do you wish to travel in?
To the south, you'll eventually reach the Wildlands, where the priest told you is the temple of Lux, which may aid you with the curse. You'll also pass not far from these "crownlands" of the "kingdom of Malnesse" in the territory of which you apparently are. This may allow you to learn to read. From what you've heard, though, these are safer lands, with not much in the way of work for an adventurer.
To the north lies the town of Talant. It's a more dangerous land, near the northern frontier, so you should be able to easily find contracts there, but those witches... you'd rather not get in their hands.
To the east is the Garrakit swamp. It is where you came from to Dogend. You'd imagine your kin there haven't forgotten you yet. If you circumvent it through the southern route, you'll reach the mountains, where dwarven holds dig deep into the cold rock. You should be able to reach either the first hold, if you don't buy anything, or the town of Erid halfway there. You remember from another contract that there are bandits on the way, though.
To the west, you've heard there are some magical places scattered between towns. It is not exactly a frontier land in the sense of population, but conflicts occur often there since it's on the border between two "kingdoms", Malnesse and Hildar.
>Southeast, then east, towards the mountains.
>North.
>West.
>South.
>Write-in.
>>6261411>>6261415>Write-in?Buy:
Simple rucksack, some food for travel, canteen, blanket. Knife and axe for camp work (can be used as a weapon if needed)
Travel:
>South.
>Steel Spear with a Hooked Head
We can't accomplish anything if our weapon breaks. Keep the old one as a backup & have it sharpened if possible.
>South
We don't have the means to take on a whole coven right now, & this God of Lumens may be able to help us dispell the curse.
>>6261415Head south with good supplies and sharpen old spear for cheap?
Rolled 3 (1d3)
>>6261451>>6261454>>6261613Calling the vote now, doing a morning update for once! Maybe another one later today if votes come in quickly.
There is an agreement about going south and a 3-way tie between travelling equipment, steel spear and sharpening the spear for cheap + longer-lasting supplies. I will roll for it and begin writing.
1 - travelling equipment (mainly the axe, but also a new knife, blanket, canteen, additional rucksack)
2 - steel spear with hooked head
3 - sharpen old spear + longer-lasting supplies
You pay a smith to sharpen your spear. A few minutes later, he's done, handing you the weapon, now razor sharp. It's not a new one, but it'll have to do.
With this done, you buy travelling supplies, consult the map maker's workshop for advice about which paths to take, and depart south.
The kingdom's roads slowly get better as you go, the stones going from misshapen to regular, rectangular. Something bothers you, though... a few times, you feel like you're being watched, and once, see a shadow bolting deeper into the woods at the edge of your vision, but when you turn around, there is nothing there.
A week later, you reach another town, Lichte, this one larger than Dogend. You marvel at the 4-storey stone buildings near the centre, and a lot of smithies seem to be scattered on the streets, but there's surprisingly little fumes, as you'd expect of such an amount of workshops. There are a few schools here, as opposed to a single central one in Dogend. You notice not every student looks as neat as those of the previous town. Perhaps with some denarii, you may learn to read here.
You enter a tavern in the evening to find the customers looking at you weirdly. It is not the first time you face such a reaction, and you go to the counter, ignoring it. The keep takes your coin and pours you a mug of ale.
"I'm new here." you say. "What can you tell me about this town? Any news? Any rumours? Any work that needs to be done?"
"Well... If you need to hear everything, settle in, it's gonna be a long one." the keep says as the patrons lose interest in you and return to their chatter and drinks. "Lichte is a smith-town, you've probably seen all the workshops around. There's been some wars with Latinia to the east, but we're trading with them and the dwarves now. That's where the iron comes from. There's some folks even worshipping one of Latinian gods, Fluxen.
We're not some backwater, but we're not a crownland city either. Just a town making do, and doing alright in that.
Work? From what the visitors tell me, there's been a shadow hare or something in the woods nearby. Said the hunters have bitten off more than they can chew, so nature got angry and let it loose upon us. Ask the town criers - they'll tell you all about the details.
There's also been an accident with a daughter of a noble house. Neia, of, I think, Scepis house. She just... disappeared with her guards when she was out of town, visiting some neighbouring villages. Searched all the nearby ones, every peasant's house - didn't find her. Mayor's started an investigation, but it's going slowly. Truth be told, I don't think they'll find her at this point. Poor girl. If you wanna try your hand at it, head of the house has posted a call for any adventurer to find her. Paying a hefty sum, whether you return her dead or alive.
(cont.)
There's been some good news, too. Pomme merchants are doing vastly better somehow. Their scribe is our man - goes to drink in town, charms another lass every time. Gonna be in trouble for it one day, I'm sure, but it's his deal." the keep chuckles at that. "Anyway, he's told Pomme have received a donation from some great patron in the crownlands, which they reinvested, so business is booming. Good for them, I say, maybe this'll make the town prosper, get me some more clients, haha.
Back to nobles, another daughter of local house, Julia Dendala, has recovered from her illness. But... well, she's been disfigured by it. Wearing a mask all the time now to hide her face. Poor girl, was the beauty of the town, all the guys have been head over heels for her. Well, at least she's alive. Last I heard, her illness was fatal. Best be living with a ruined face than not living at all.
The last bit is about the Avrin house. Their estate has been haunted for some months now, they posted a contract to remove the ghosts as well. Seems like someone was up to the task - they're all good now. Good riddance - they have always been a shadowy bunch, offering counsel to the mayor and doing some business with their main dynasty from the capital, but never in the public eye. At least now they're not dealing with actual ghosts at home!
Well, that's about it for the town-wide news. Wouldn't imagine you'd want to hear about who slept with who in our little corner of the world."
"Thank you." you nod.
"Come anytime. They say you frogmen are a slimy bunch, but you're the second one I've met and you both have been decent clients." the keep smiles.
You consider what to do next. The noble girl search contract is tempting... but where do you begin with it? Maybe it'd be better to just hunt down the shadow hare for faster, more certain, if more dangerous coin. Or just work on some small tasks, like you already did, earning enough coin to last until the next town and leave Lichte without bothering with the big stuff altogether.
>Search for the noble girl, Neia. But how? (specify where to begin)
>Take up the contract to kill the shadow hare. (going to require roll, is dangerous)
>Do some small tasks and depart further south.
>Write-in
(QM note: put some effort into the noble girl mystery, hope it'll be entertaining if you decide to take that plot hook!)
>>6261860>Take up the contract to kill the shadow hare. (going to require roll, is dangerous)Noble girl ? Looking for her is a waste of time, she probably had reasons to disappear and doesn't want to be found. Doing small tasks again ? Mehh, how many times can you do the same thing ? It's time to hunt.
>>6261860>Ask about the other Frogman>Search for the Noble Lady, start by investigating along the route she was travelling to find where exactly she disappeared
No additional update today after all. Leaving the vote up for the night.
>>6261889>>6261899>>6261958Kinda bad day so writing only now for
>Ask about the other Frogman>Search for the Noble Lady, start by investigating along the route she was travelling to find where exactly she disappearedIt's probably going to be a small update.
"Can you tell me about the other frogman you've seen?" you ask the tavern keep.
"Ah, there's not much I can say. It's been a couple years ago, I think, that he passed through here. Said he was heading south, rented a room in my little tavern for a night and was gone the next day. I wasn't too excited about letting one of your kind sleep in here, but we talked a bit about our pasts, and I learned he was an exile and traveller writing down notes for a book - a bestiary of various monsters from around the lands. He was a calm fellow, some drunkards tried to start trouble with him, but I stopped them. That's about all I can say."
"I see. Thanks for the information. I'll be going now."
"Come any time."
You ask around the streets where the mayor's office may be. If his staff were the ones leading the investigation, it makes sense to ask them about the route that Neia was travelling along.
However, once you get there, stating your request, the clerks seem to glance between themselves and say that the investigation is being carried out under tight control, and they "can't just tell random people, much less FROGMEN, about the details". You leave without further questions.
You think where else you may get this information, and decide to visit the palace of the Scepis family. It is a spacious, tasteful manor of stonework, with large windows, a tiled roof, and a small garden occupying the area near the entrance. The guardsmen frown at you, but see no reason not to accept your request and let you into the waiting hall. Servants come and go, and soon, an old, full lady introducing herself as the head maid - the one responsible for all the servants in the house - enters the room.
At your questions, she brings a map of the town and neighbouring lands, and explains the route. You commit it to memory by repeating it a few times and thank her.
"Why was the princess travelling through these lands, anyway?" you ask.
"She wanted to see how the peasants were doing." the maid answers. A shadow comes over her face, initially when you were discussing the route, but now all the more apparent. "She was a kind soul, worrying even about these villagers... It may seem hopeless at this point, but I hope they find her."
"Was she alone or with someone?" you decide to question further while you have the opportunity.
"There was an entourage! 8 guardsmen, best of the house, and two servants for assistance. All the more strange that they vanished."
"I see. Thank you."
(cont.)
Having learned more from the nobles' servant than from the entirety of the "official investigators", you start your way along the route the next day.
You find... nothing interesting. The peasants confirm the words of the maid about an entourage passing through their villages a month or so ago. Of Neia asking them about their well-being and a scribe accompanying her writing down their complaints. They don't remember much else.
You reach the point where she was said to have vanished and find stains of blood on the paved road and a few patches of black cloth caught on the branches of nearby bushes. You inspect the evidence, looking perhaps for crests or signs that may help you identify the perpetrators, but there is nothing. There are no tracks leading deeper into the woods either, and those few that occupy the paved road are evidently more recent than whenever the noble girl disappeared.
As you stand here, thinking of where to go now, you hear bush branches snapping behind you. Spinning around, you see... a being of darkness stepping from the woods, eyes glued to you. It is fairly tall, reaching your height in scruff. The entity walks on 4 slender legs, each tipped with long, sharp claws. Its eyes are a burning white, and its snout resembles a bird's in shape, with a stout beak and sharp features otherwise.
Your hand with the sign of the Big Gay hurts under the cloth wraps.
With battle imminent, what tactic do you employ to deal with it?
>Use your newly-sharpened spear! Keep it at a distance and impale its maw or chest once opportunity presents itself.
>Cast fire bolt with your staff! Beings of darkness should be afraid of flame.
>Run! You have strong frogman legs and can make leaps that regular humans find impossible. Use this advantage in mobility to escape the entity.
>Write-in
>>6262646>Cast fire bolt with your staff! Beings of darkness should be afraid of flame.
If possible to do both at once,
>Conjure a Gout of Flame, & leap backwards with your hippity-hoppers whilst casting to get some distance
>>6262714>>6263070It is very much possible!
It will, in fact, lower the DC a bit.
>Conjure a Gout of Flame, & leap backwards with your hippity-hoppers whilst casting to get some distanceOne anon please roll 1d100.
DC: 30
Rolled 57 (1d100)
>>6263275FIREEEEEBOLLLLTTTT WZIUUUUUUUUBZIUUUUUU (Some magic sounds)
>>6263328>57 - Success!Hopping back, you put some distance between yourself and the shadow beast - and just in time, too, as it leaps to where you were standing a second ago!
You pull your staff from your back just in time, as the entity prepares to make another leap, and cast "FIREBOLT!". The demon is caught mid-leap by a stream of flame. The spell pierces the entirety of its body and throws it back like a ragdoll.
The shadowling doesn't move again. The pain in your cursed palm subsides.
As you inspect the corpse to make sure it is dead, you see it disintegrating into inky mist.
You feel like you've started to learn something from this encounter! Pressed on time, you...
>Feel like you've started grasping how to cast firebolt without your staff, while making it as powerful as with the magical focus. (1/2)>Feel like you can better channel the energy through your staff. This should make your firebolt stronger while you use it. (1/2)>Write-in upgrade?You think you need one more dangerous encounter that you solve by using the firebolt for the knowledge to finally settle and integrate into your mind.
Either way, now that you know that the curse is not just a feeling of wrongness, but also actual demons following you, you decide to be more careful about where you go. Perhaps obtaining a companion would help?
Where do you go from here? Evidently, there was a battle in this place, so the noble girl's disappearance was, in fact, an abduction. A well-planned one as well, since the abductors needed to be quite strong to deal with the warriors of the entourage.
You collect some samples of black clothing from around the battle site in case you may need them, and scoop up some of what little dried blood is left. Perhaps they can be used in rituals of clairvoyance.
>Do you want to do anything else here? (write-in)>No, your business here is finished.Having inspected the abduction site, you return to Lichte. The tavern keep somehow notices your serious mood, asking how's it been. You tell him that you investigated the disappearance today without mentioning what exactly you were doing.
"If you're working on it, you'll soon have some additional help." the keep says. "Heard there's a royal inspector arriving from the crownlands tomorrow. The Scepis requested one since the mayor's investigation was going so slowly. Maybe he can assist you - or you assist him - in figuring out this deal."
It is evening now. What will you do on the next day? Or perhaps there is something that you can still try today?
>Write-in what to do now about the investigation.
>>6263338>Feel like you've started grasping how to cast firebolt without your staff, while making it as powerful as with the magical focus. (1/2)>Do you want to do anything else here? (write-in)Kermilyon make wider and wider circles, starting from the place of the fight, He look for additional traces, tracks. Make 5-6 such circles.
>Write-in what to do now about the investigation.Kermilyon plan:
Go back to Head Maid and talk to her again. If this is a kidnapping, what's the purpose? For ransom? Probably not, no one is sending a demand for money. Blackmail? Maybe an attack on the family? Find out if the Scepis family has enemies within, enemies without.
Or Is this just a coincidence? Does other people have recently disappeared under similar circumstances?
There will be a lot to do.
>>6263372+1, but instead of channeling with no focus,
>You feel like you've gained understanding on how to cast with any focus, not just those enchanted for it. (1/2)Oblivion casting, so our spear can serve as a focus & we can react/attack more quickly by not switching gear.
Was the demon an overgrown HIV virus since we have the curse? KEK
Exactly
md5: f1b62fb2b657c14169df4e06e69fb74f
🔍
>>6263390>HIV virus demon>from the curse of the Big GAYHoly shit this is genius. I lol'd
The creature did seem vaguely reminiscent of those viral structure depictions, Kek
Just a heads-up, no update today.
>>6263372>>6263388>Search in a circular pattern around the fighting site>questions for the Head Maid>Feel like you've started grasping how to cast firebolt without your staff, while making it as powerful as with the magical focus. (1/2)Glad to see Pontifex's write-in, but I don't think it's possible to do makeshift foci. So it'll be focus-less casting, as suggested by the first anon.
Anyway...
-----
You make a few circles around the battle area, wider and wider, until you're a few dozen metres into the woods. There is... not really anything of significance. No particular traces or trails, and no hidden outposts either. Disappointed, you return to Lichte.
...
On the next day, you go to the Scepis house again in the morning. The guardsmen nod, recognizing you from before, and arrange a meeting with the maid again.
You tell her of what you've found and ask some questions. Do Scepis have enemies within or outside the town? Perhaps this is all a coincidence, and there have been other kidnappings and disappearances in the town similar to this one?
"Well, I don't know much about gossip or news from the streets - if you didn't notice, I'm a busy woman, got to keep things in order in the manor." The head maid says. "But from what I've heard from the lasses and lads going outside on their days off, murders, kidnappings and whatnot didn't occur recently.
As for the enemies of the family... I think my lady will know more about this politicking. And you're in luck - she's having a meeting with the royal inspector in one of the rooms. I'll go ask if she'd like to see you."
The head maid soon returns to call for you. She guides you through wide corridors to a hall where several people reside.
There is a guard here, in armour but not bearing any weapon, a big man with a calm face. Another man is a scribe, a scroll and pen at the ready to record whatever details his superior deems necessary. Said superior, whom you assume is the royal inspector, is seated at an ornate table, still in his rough travel clothes, bearing an inconspicuous badge. He is as calm as the guard, with a slightly haughty, dignified look about him.
Across the table from him sits a woman, just old enough for the first wrinkles to appear on her face, in a silken red and gold dress.
"So this is what frogmen look like. Hmph." She says upon scanning you with her eyes. "I am Serena Scepis, lady of the Scepis house."
"I'm Krei Medion, investigator of this accident." The inspector introduces himself. "These are my assistants, Zigmund and Laplace." He gestures to the guard and scribe. "I was told you may enlighten us about the battle site."
(cont.)
You describe succinctly what you saw while there - the black clothing caught on the bushes and the dried blood. There... isn't really much for you to explain.
"Well, I can't say this was new, but it matches what we've heard from the mayor's team." Krei says. "Either way, we're welcome to receive any help we can, if you would join us."
"I will." you say. "I've been meaning to ask something - if this is an abduction, there must be a reason behind it. Do the Scepis family have any enemies? Someone who might want to harm you? Within or without."
"We're on good terms with all the major powers of the town. Avrin, Dandala, Pomme - I see no reason for any of them to oppose us in such a way." Serena says with a dismissive look. "There are some families closer to the capital with whom our other branches and scions are competing for a place at court, but that's not something to warrant a kidnapping so brazen as this."
"Still." The inspector says. "It must have been someone wealthy or influential enough to hire mercenaries." He pauses, seemingly lost in thought, as silence reigns in the room. "I say we begin by performing a divination ritual to picture the day of the incident better. You said you had a mage that was capable of that, yes?"
"Yes. I'll send word for him immediately." The lady nods.
"The frogman's... What is your name, again?" Krei addresses you.
"Kermilyon."
"The blood and cloth collected by Kermilyon will help immensely."
A couple hours pass by in waiting as you visit the tavern for a late breakfast. The keep, Machtur, asks you about what you've learnt, but you evade the questions. Some time later, you return to the Scepis manor to check whether the mage has arrived yet. He has.
The mage is a middle-aged man in leather armour. He sets to work immediately, drawing a few runes around him in the courtyard, setting your ingredients and descending into a trance-like state. A half-hour passes before he regains awareness of his surroundings. The nervously waiting lady Serena is upon him the moment he gets up. Krei prefers to watch.
The mage explains that in his visions, he saw men in black attacking the entourage. The Scepis warriors fought bravely, but were overwhelmed, some dying, some captured. Some of the attackers, upon receiving fatal wounds, bled smoke instead of blood - a sign of their otherworldly nature. Other men in black were regular humans, with bloody wounds.
In the end, once they had taken the princess and some knights, they carried the corpses with them, erasing tracks with magic, but leaving the clues you found: bits of clothing and dried blood. That's where the mage's vision ends.
It wasn't much in terms of the general flow of battle - you imagined something like this must have happened. But there is one detail that captured your, and, without doubt, others' attention.
(cont.)
"So we're dealing with someone employing magic warriors." The inspector muses. "Perhaps someone versed in black magic."
Serena, her face white since the mention of smoke brigands, buries her face in her hands.
"Oh, my poor Neia!.. If these are dark mages kidnapping her... What will happen to her? What will they do?!"
"Remain calm." Zigmund says. You think it's the first thing you've heard from this warrior. "She may yet be alive. If not - all good, devout worshippers of Neram get their souls carried to his land, regardless of the way in which they died."
The lady of Scepis keeps sobbing without showing her face.
"What do you think about this all, Kermilyon?" Krei asks you.
Indeed...
>Write-in your guesses about who may have done this and where they may hide? How should the investigation continue?
>Say that you trust the inspector with directing the investigation himself.
>>6264559Kermilion asked the wizard a few questions
Does the magician know anything about this dark magic?
Are there any spells or rituals known that can summon "Smoke Bleeders" or change such a living being?
Does he know who can use such magic?
Did he see anything characteristic, on the attackers? For example, some mark, tattoo.
Then he said
It looks like we have some kind of cult, coven or sect to work out. It will require a lot of resources. We need to send trusted people to the surrounding villages, towns, places where different people gather. Let them lend their ears and catch information on topics related to dark magic, cultist sects, etc. Whoever has informants, let them use them.
>>6264565>write-in"Did you see any mark on the attackers? Or a tattoo?" you ask the mage before answering the inspector's question.
"No. Just plain, black clothing, obscuring most of their bodies and face."
"What can you tell me about the kind of magic they used? Do you know anyone who may use it? Are there rituals and spells that can create these smoke bleeders?"
"I'm afraid I can't be of use here." The mage shakes his head. "I'm not that strong of a mage - I make my living by expertise in divination and sometimes battle magic. I have no knowledge of dark magic or its spells. And if I knew someone used it to ill ends, I would do my best to stop them and bring them to justice."
"Very well." you say, then turn to Krei. "This looks like a coven, sect or cult to me. It will require a lot of resources to figure it out. We need to send trusted people to surrounding towns, villages and other places where people live and gather. Through this, we will slowly learn their location and power. Only then can we strike at the heart and rip the cult from this soil where it has rooted itself."
Krei listens attentively to your suggestions, then leans back on the bench. He seems to be in thought for a while, but finally speaks.
"A cult is possible, yes. But I think if it were big enough for this, we would've learned about its operations sooner. His Majesty Gwindar has cut back on the witch hunters, it is true, but such a large operation wouldn't have passed under their noses - these sects usually grow in depravity and scale of sacrifice as they continue living and spreading. Besides, for all their inefficiency, as I witnessed firsthand, the mayor's men have been doing a good job searching the surrounding villages and poor folks' homes for signs of dark influence this past month."
The inspector pauses, tapping his chin in thought.
"I think we may be dealing with something smaller here. Perhaps someone just stepping on the path of dark magic, but possessing enough resources to make up for their inexperience with force - these brigands are not cheap to hire or train, especially enough in numbers and technique to defeat 8 knights. This does leave the question of how the perpetrator could summon these smoke people. Perhaps we will learn it as we investigate this.
For now, I think we need to look for someone who could gain something from such an abduction. Those worshipping dark deities are usually tempted to go on the path by despair, loss or greed. After all, if they wouldn't stand to gain something in exchange, who would want to turn to evil? Perhaps they didn't want to harm the Scepis family in particular. Capturing the girl could have been a means to another end."
The scribe, Laplace, is noting down things furiously.
(cont.)
"Thus," Krei continues. "I think the first people we should consider are those who have gained or resolved something recently, those who have grown secretive, and those that already have the power necessary to send a good number of men on such an operation. Do you have someone in mind that matches these qualities?"
>Write-in if you know anyone like that?
>Other reply (write-in)
>>6265100>Other reply (write-in)Kermilion said
- Despite searching for the past month, nothing related to dark magic has happened ? But when I showed up at the scene of the attack, this dark creature appeared out of nowhere........ Does the princess have some kind of curse ? For example the curse of the Big Gay ? What if our enemy is from beyond this world ? Dark god or deamon ?
>>6265122>write-in"It's... not really believable that nothing related to black magic happened in the past month of searching."
"Maybe we were searching in the wrong places." Krei says. "As I said, the mayor's men have been checking the peasants', labourers' and some of the less affluent artisans' houses. We should probably look for someone of greater standing." The inspector pauses. "Maybe the kidnappers have decided to lay low until the investigators give up as well." He shrugs.
You think of mentioning the monster you saw while searching the scene, but stop yourself. Judging by your mark hurting during the encounter, it must've been connected to the Big Gay. And exposing your curse now... would likely not be wise.
"Did Neia have some kind of curse? Perhaps the curse of some dark deity?" you ask.
"How DARE you even suggest that?!" Serena has calmed down by now, but now lapses into anger instead of sorrow. "She was pure in mind, soul and body. I wouldn't have allowed her to be corrupted in such a way."
The inspector nods to Lady Scepis' words.
"We may be dealing with a dark god or demon here. Its power could be what caused these men to attack - they were doing its bidding." you say.
"Dark magic and worship of demons and dark gods are closely intertwined." Krei agrees. "They may very well stand behind the power of the perpetrator. The question is who their servant in our world is."
>Say something else? (write-in)>Your suggestions end here. Tell him that you will be available should he need your assistance later, which tavern you're staying at, and leave. (write-in what to do for now?)
>>6265133>>Your suggestions end here. Tell him that you will be available should he need your assistance later, which tavern you're staying at, and leave. (write-in what to do for now?)Find some simple work to earn some money, and start planning the next stage of the journey. After all, we have a curse to lift. If nothing happens with the princess and the dark magic, we will have to continue our journey. After all, the hero is just a simple frog.
>>6265156>Your suggestions end here.>Find some simple work to earn some money, and start planning the next stage of the journey.You say that you don't have any other suggestions, mention what tavern you're staying at, and leave.
A few days pass as you do menial labour, one time dealing with some dire rats, but mostly helping out craftsmen. Just as you think of giving up on the noble girl business, you hear a knock on the door of your room.
It's Laplace, the scribe.
"Inspector Krei has need of you." he says. "We've likely figured out the location of the dark mage. We need your assistance, since you're a battle mage and all. Some additional power would be useful to have. Gather your stuff. I'll fill you in as we go."
On the street, the scribe tells you that after you left, Krei and the others covertly asked around the streets about any powerful men in the city whose situation improved recently. The tavern keeps answered much like what you've already heard the first time you arrived in the city: the Avrin dealing with ghosts, the Pomme trade boom, the recovery of the Dandala girl. Krei considered these events suspect enough to investigate what was behind them.
Two searches through their manors later, inspector found out that the Pomme were tax evading and the Avrin hired a professional exorcist to clear the ghosts, but both were in the clear about dark deities.
That left the Dandala. The investigators have learned from neighbours and servants that they rarely left their manor now. Most ascribed it to grief for Julia, their noble daughter, getting disfigured, but servants also mentioned more conflicts and the removal of the little shrine to Neram they had in their house. This put Krei on alert.
Now, he calls for the adventurers he worked with to gather in case fighting breaks out.
"We're here." the scribe says.
Before you, at the gates of the manor, a group of people is gathered. The guards at the gate glance between themselves nervously as a bunch of wizards, rangers and warriors before them quietly talk to one another. Among them is inspector Krei and Zigmund as well.
"Kermilyon. Good to see you." Krei says.
"Hello." you say awkwardly as you notice a few of the adventurers stare at you.
"Well, with the arrival of our frogman, I think we're ready." Krei says, looking at the face of the manor. The light sort of wood illuminated by the morning sun doesn't look like it conceals dark magic. You notice a curtain getting drawn quickly as you look at the windows.
What will the manor have in store for your group?..
Please roll 1d100.
No DC, but higher is better.
Rolled 38 (1d100)
>>6265676Ok lets roll
>>6265717>38The inspector presents his badge, and the guards, be it due to the sheer power of the group they're facing or due to the authority of the royal sign, let you enter uninhibited.
Opening the front door of the manor, you find what few servants there are freeze in place, then scatter. A minute of polite waiting later, the head of the family hurries down the steps to the main hall. He seems... tomato-red with tension, for whatever reason. His daughter, her face concealed by a silver mask, looks hesitantly from above the stairs.
"Good morning, sir Dandala, milady." Krei says, addressing the 'hosts'. "I trust you know what I'm here for."
"Yes, good morning, inspector. I- uh," The house head seems to stumble over his words. "I don't think we're quite ready to receive you yet, there are still things to prepare and get in order and-"
"I think preparation would defeat the purpose of my visit. My search." The inspector says with a tinge of cold in his voice. "If you would provide us with keys for all rooms and step aside, we can get this over with quickly."
"Yes, of course." The man seems deflated a bit, and calls for servants to satisfy Krei's request.
The next hour, you spend barging into rooms, living and utility, common and opulent, and turning them upside down, checking drawers, floors, beds, tables and whatnot in search of signs of dark magic. The house head, Edward, as he introduces himself mid-search, keeps following your group, now with a somewhat angry expression, as if anticipating something.
Finally, the room of Julia Dandala, the disfigured daughter, is next. At this point, Edward steps forward.
"Ah, my daughter's room is, you see, it is still full of miasma, it should only be accessed by doctors-"
"Do not worry. The best physicians and healer mages of Malnesse are at the service of royal inspectors. I will be safe. Also, I believe it has been several weeks since her recovery." Krei says. "It should have dissipated by now."
It is only now that you notice your hand hurting.
(cont.)
"Ah, wait-" The house head is cut off by the inspector pushing him away and opening the door.
Inside, magical circles of charcoal mark the walls and floor. While it may be just marks, you are assaulted by a sense of wrongness, of an influence beyond this world.
Edward stumbles back, then runs through the corridor. His daughter remains in place, sobbing beneath her mask.
You hear rapid footsteps from all directions.
Men in black clothes, like those described by the divinator mage, run down the halls towards your group, weapons bare. You're at the forefront of it, facing their immediate charge.
Adventurers that have been following Krei around step up on both sides of you - two of their warriors prepare to face the charge. With their strength at your side, you grip your staff and cast fire bolt a couple seconds later, the flame blazing through two of the smoke bleeders at once, making them fall apart into smoke.
With your most destructive spell cast, you reserve the Freeze for later and retreat behind your allies backs. From between them, arrows fly, peppering the smoke men, as the rangers fire their bows, evidently uncomfortable in this cramped space.
The smoke men fight the adventurers for some time, and you seize the moment to freeze one, saving one of your allies, but as you turn around, you notice another one, broken through the warriors' wall, upon you, and everything goes black.
You come to with a pain in your head and leg in what seems like the evening. There are maids hurrying about and several other injured men and women laying on bedrolls not far from you. The stench of pus and blood fills the air.
Looking over yourself, you see a bandaged wound on your leg. One of the maids notices you awakening and asks some questions about how you're feeling. You say you're fine. You feel your hand has been bound tighter than usual.
A couple hours later, as you rest and contemplate what you've seen and experienced, a mage visits... whatever place you're in. He is an old man, with a great beard and tired, grey eyes. The mage goes through several of the ill and wounded, healing whoever he can, including you. You say a brief thanks and unbind your wounds, mended good as new.
A late night supper later, you wander out of what you learn is an infirmary and return to the tavern through almost-empty streets.
The night is colder than weeks ago, signifying the end of summer. The twin moons are full.
(cont.)
A day passes before Krei contacts you again, sending Laplace, as previously. You all gather at the mayor's administration, the various adventurers milling about in the waiting room.
The inspector comes soon, checking up on all those you've seen wounded, then those that came out of the battle unscathed through skill or luck.
He fills you in on what has been happening about Edward Dandala's... crime. The head of the Dandala house has been caught by riders of the mayor's militia and Avrin house. Edward's daughter, Julia, didn't try to escape at all, surrendering herself to the adventurers on the spot. A mark akin to yours was found on her cheek - the true reason for the concealment of her face.
There is an ongoing investigation with scribes requested from the capital about the mayor's lack of speed and ineptitude in dealing with this situation. Some letters have been found that suggest he was in an agreement with Edward Dandala about diverting the attention from their house.
Krei explains that the Dandala family's nobility will be stripped from them, and the nearest family of Edward executed. He will reward all participants in the raid that morning handsomely. The dark signs drawn in Julia's room will be erased with the help of mages of light and priests.
An hour or so later, the clerks of the mayor's administration have given out the rewards. Counting the denarii, you see there is enough for you to last a month. You could continue travelling... but it may also be enough to pay for tutelage in Common, the lingua franca of most parts of the world, at one of the local schools.
Either way, you think of Julia Dandala's fate. She nost likely faces an execution, as Krei said... but perhaps if you, one of the participants of the raid, and early supporters of the investigation, asked, she could be spared, her sentence perhaps exchanged for exile. You feel a certain sympathy for her, having fallen under the influence of dark powers without any particular choice - you from the witch, her from her desperate father... but should you do this?
>Ask for her to be spared and let her travel with you to the Wildlands. She may not be useful, but your sympathy prevails. Perhaps you can teach her something of your skill as you go south.
>She would only be a liability. A noble daughter, worth nothing in your travels and not used to the realities of traveller life, and with a dark sign on her face to boot. You'd rather not have her company.
(cont.)
You have also learned a lot from this encounter with smoke men! You have completed your practice with Firebolt and can cast the spell without your staff's focus with the same power as when using it!
What will you do now?
>Spend your money on learning the writing of these lands. It will leave you with almost no coin to spare, but if you work while learning, or take up that shadow hare contract, you should accumulate enough for travelling further.
>Begin travelling immediately. You should cover a lot of the way with what you've been paid.
>Write-in?
>Ask that the Lady be Spared
Even though I'm sure that TWO curse-bearers will attract twice the trouble
>Pay for Tutelage in the Common Tongue's Written Word while seeking the Shadow Hare
Seems like something we may need a Holy Hand Grenade for...
>Ask the Investigator which dark deity they were found to be in league with, & how exactly the lady came to be cursed
>>6266063>Ask that the Lady be Spared>Pay for Tutelage in the Common Tongue's Written Word while seeking the Shadow Hare>Ask the Investigator which dark deity they were found to be in league with, & how exactly the lady came to be cursedYou approach the inspector.
"Inspector." you say, and Krei turns to you, nodding in acknowledgement. "I wanted to ask which dark deity the Dandala were in league with."
"I'm not sure, but from one of the mages who were more experienced with dark magic, I heard it's Sundr, Composer of Strands. Khalel, the mage, also said this deity presides over both healing and corruption of the living into horrors."
"How did the lady come to be cursed?" you ask.
"If what she told us is true, she was heavily ill with a plague that resisted treatment by both conventional and magical means. Her father grew desperate, searched for a solution, and found it in Sundr. If it can be called a solution at all. Either way, Neia was abducted and sacrificed, along with her guards, at the hands of Julia's father, and the Dandala girl recovered, but a mark appeared upon her cheek. A month later, we entered the scene. The rest you've seen... Julia mentioned she was in fever and delusion while the ritual was carried out. She didn't take part in it and was horrified when she learnt what was used to heal her. Fear of punishment prevented her from exposing the crime. Well, she didn't evade it in the end, I suppose."
You hesitate for a moment as you think again whether to request her to be spared the execution.
"I didn't want to mention it, but I am cursed, too. The mark of the Big Gay is upon me." You say, letting loose the cloth on your hand for a few seconds, showing the mark to Krei. He seems unperturbed.
"I know. We took off the cloth when we treated you... What matters is you helped us defeat evil. Bearing a curse is a bad sign, but... sometimes we can understand those with that burden." Krei says seriously.
"I wanted to ask that Julia be spared from the execution in favour of exile." You say, fastening the cloth again. "I feel a sort of sympathy for her situation. I'm travelling to the temple of a god that removes curses - at least the one I bear. Perhaps she will find salvation there, too, if she joins me."
Krei remains silent for several seconds, looking you in the eye.
"I will need to consider your... request. Give me some time to talk it over with Zigmund and Laplace."
Half an hour later, when most of the hired adventurers have departed with their rewards, Krei leaves the council room and talks to you again.
(cont.)
"I'll satisfy your plea." He says. "It is within my authority as inspector to dispense punishment and change it... I trust you know what you're doing, and won't step on the dark path. I will send her with travelling clothes and a wooden mask to the tavern you're staying at." The inspector pauses. "Good luck. You'll need it, if you're travelling in the company of a curse-bearer, and are one yourself."
You nod and bid farewell.
A few hours later, as you rest in the tavern, you hear a knock on the door.
Opening it, you see a slight woman standing before you. Her clothes, silken and expensive the last time you saw her at the Dandala manor, have been exchanged for coarse, tough ones now, and there are wooden sandals upon her slender feet. She wears a mask of wood upon her face, a far cry from the elaborate design of silver, with slits for eyes and breathing.
"Hello." Julia says timidly. "I... um, was told to go to the frogman."
"Hello. Come in. Make yourself comfortable." You say, gesturing towards the interior.
As the door closes, and you proceed to the single stool near the bed stand, the former noble girl prostrates herself before you.
"Thank you for... for saving me." She says, sobbing. "I thought I was doomed to die from this sign, from my father's deeds. Thank you..."
"Get up." You respond, a bit surprised by this display of gratitude. "We're partners now. My name is Kermilyon." You pause as she rises. "I am travelling to the temple of Lux in the Wildlands, in the city of Circea. I'm cursed myself, you see," You say as you show her your hand for a few moments. "and I have heard that its priests may remove it. Perhaps they will help you, too. Now, you should be of use on our journey. Tell me what craft or work you know, if any. You'll have to work as much as myself - I can teach you the crafts and battle, but it's best if you can do something or other in the mean time."
"I... guess I know how to sew. The maids taught me that when I was little."
"Anything else?"
"I've been present while my father was talking to merchants... I know how to negotiate better deals, if you need to save denarii."
"Haggling with merchants at the market is different from official deals struck in higher society." You shake your head.
"Well, it's better than nothing." You says, getting up from the stool. "I think it's best if you don't show your face... mask around for now. They will know you're the cursed one from the rumours. Rest and practice. I'll ask around for some clothes to be mended for denarii and bring them to you. Then you can earn your share of food. We'll depart once we save up enough coin."
"Alright..."
(cont.)
You talk to the school administration about learning the written tongue. They present an exorbitant price at first, much more than what you heard they should be charging, but grow more reasonable when you show them the recommendation scroll from the trilasche of Dogend. 3 weeks' worth of denarii is what they charge you in the end. You begin your studies the same day by starting to memorize the alphabet.
Studying during the mornings, you go around merchants and labourer houses when day comes, looking for clothes to sew and tasks to be done for yourself as well. Julia works with silent resignation - she takes off the mask she wears when in your room. The mark stands stark against her fair skin, a scorched sign resembling interwoven threads. Her initial gratitude soon disappears, and she seems uncomfortable around you, looking at you with a bit of fear and apprehension.
You ask her once why she seems so fearful of you, asking her to be truthful. She hesitates for a few moments, but there is a rare spark in her eyes when she answers.
"If you must ask... I... I just think you're hideous, frankly. Frogmen... don't really look or smell good." She seems to tense up and becomes red in the face, expecting scorn or violence from you.
"Don't worry, I think humans are ugly, too." You croak.
She seems startled for a moment, then chuckles, then begins to laugh. You laugh with her, half-jokingly complaining about the dry skin, strange colour and odd faces of her kind. She responds in turn, explaining how your slimy skin is disgusting and your wide-eyed, big-mouthed face is dumb.
This little moment brings you to a better understanding of each other. She seems more at ease with you, slowly growing to accept your looks and your companionship.
It is at this time that you finally take up the shadow hare contract.
A spiritual, natural being, it is known even by frogmen of the Garrakit swamp to merge with shadows. That is its main strength, but also its main weakness. By purging shadows it inhabits with flame, victory can be claimed over it.
And you have just the spell for that.
You spot it running rapidly between the trees, disappearing and emerging again, after a couple days of trekking through the woods and surrounding villages. The only thing that's left is to evade its long claws long enough for you to deliver the killing blow.
Roll 1d100.
DC: 30
Rolled 38 (1d100)
Is hers the curse of the Little Le$bean?
We should get her a short spear or light crossbow to ward off enemies with, if we can afford it.
>>6266300>38The hare bolts between shades cast by the trees. It circles you, trying to get behind you, out of your sight, retreating when you attempt to close the distance.
Understanding you can't catch up to it, you deliberately make a feint, turning your back to it. You hear the sounds of shuffling grass behind yourself, closer, closer...
A couple seconds before it hits you, you jump forward and turn around mid-air. The shadow hare has jumped where you stood just a second ago. It makes another lunge, but you're already casting Firebolt. The spell blazes through the air from your hands, and the spirit dies with no sound but the crackling of flame and whisper of dark being dispelled.
You collect its essence as evidence of your work and return to the city.
With enough money to last you about a month now, you continue working to maintain the reserve and studying. As three weeks of intense study pass, you find yourself well-versed in Common, using it freely. Reading street signs, books and contracts on the bulletin boards is now not a dream, but reality. Writing is harder with you moist skin, but you buy some cloth gloves in order to not stain the paper.
Julia keeps sewing, growing accustomed to a commoner's life, but disappointed in her situation nevertheless. Sometimes you share stories from your pasts in the evenings before going to sleep. You tell her of how you met a paladin that taught you the spoken tongue of dry-skins, of getting saved by a swamp beast that your tribesmen killed, of your exile for blasphemy against frogmen' gods. Julia, in turn, reminisces about life in the family manor, about happy moments from her childhood, fairy tales the maids told her, of her studies and learning about both economics and arts.
With your language study done, you purchase a light crossbow for your companion. It ends up as quite an expensive investment, but Julia thanks you for it, promising to learn its use.
After this purchase, you depart south once more.
...
As you travel, your companion practices with the crossbow. It goes slowly without a teacher, but the towns you stop by have some masters in this war craft that help out for a few denarii.
A few months pass like this, the leaves on the trees growing red and the winds growing cold. At last, several contracts and towns, crossing the border to the Wildlands and evading hostile people later, you arrive at the city of Circea.
Entering it at night, you are greeted by lit magic lamps and tough stone buildings. You stop in a tavern, as you always do, and ask about the temple of Lux. The keep tells you it is operational still, and in fact the main temple of the city.
You sleep easily this night, and navigate the streets early in the next morning in search of it.
(cont.)
The temple is a strange place. Darkened glass windows through which light still spills, with naught but illumination showing within. It is tall, and at the tip of its greatest spire, an 8-pointed star glitters in the autumn sun.
As you approach the gate, you are greeted by a blindfolded man in strange, gold and white robes.
"Peace be with you, travellers. The light of Lux is blinding. Take these blindfolds, and do not take them off until you've left the temple." He says.
You do as told, even if they aren't exactly fitting for a frogman. Together with Julia, you enter the temple, carefully stepping forth and feeling around for obstacles in your path.
Inside, burning, intense light blasts even through the blindfolds. There is a hum coming from somewhere higher.
You hear footsteps approaching among dozens of others from other directions.
"Hello, little lights. What do you seek here?" A pleasant male voice asks. "Ah, I see... there is taint upon both of you. Corruption of the dark."
"We wish to purge it, if your god can grant us this wish." You bow slightly.
"Lux is merciful. I will help you. Let me guide you to the left wing. There, we will carry out the ritual in an hour."
"At what cost?" Julia asks.
"Removing another curse is a good enough reward for everyone, be it Lux or his servants." The priest says.
An hour of meditation later, the ritual begins. You cannot see what they are doing, hearing the jingle of glass and metal, footsteps and the shuffling of cloth, the crackling of flame as its burning touch upon your hand makes you croak in pain, the sound of submerging it in warm water, so welcome after the licks of fire upon your skin.
But after all is over, you feel a weight lift from your soul. You grew accustomed to it, but you can now feel just how heavy it was.
Julia goes through the same ritual alone. You hear her crying as Sundr's mark is purged. Eventually, she, too, is cleansed of dark influence.
You leave the temple after giving your thanks to the priests. Taking off the blindfold, you look at your hand first. It is clean. No scorched mark taints it now.
Your companion takes off her blindfold as well, and you see no sign of the dark upon her as well.
You return to the tavern room, contemplating your journey. You have come far, but now that your main goal is achieved, you can move on to better things. Growing your wealth and honing your skill in battle, building a home for yourself, travelling and finding sights you have not seen yet.
But that is another story entirely, perhaps better told by someone else.
END.
So this is it for the quest. It was a short one, but hopefully entertaining for the 1.5 anons that played it lol. I planned for it to be short from the start, and wrapping up the Lichte arc seemed like a good point to stop.
I was surprised you didn't figure out Neia's mystery and I had to explain it almost fully through Krei, even when I dropped hints about influential people being behind it. Basically the exposition from the tavern keep about the recent successes of Pomme, Avrin and Dandala were huge Chekhov's rifles to be investigated. Maybe I didn't drop enough hints, hmm.
If you have any questions or feedback, I'll still be monitoring the thread to answer them. idk if I should archive this, since it is so short. Maybe later.
Thanks for playing!
Thanks for running, Frogman!
Was this the first Qst you've ran/hijacked?
I'm still running mine with similar turnout.
Any plans for something else?
>>6266885>Was this the first Qst you've ran/hijacked?No, I've been running quests on and off since like 2020 I think. Flaked on many, and they mostly were pretty shit, so I won't mention their titles.
>I'm still running mine with similar turnout.I checked out your hijacked quest a few days ago, but I'm not a fan of Fallout (never even played the games) so I won't be participating, sorry.
>Any plans for something else?I'd rather not reveal them.
