ANTON PEAS: Cult-Crusher! Mob-Masher! Lord… Licker? You’ll, uh… you’ll have to workshop that one. Whoever you are, you’ve come a long way from being a simple grill-jockey–whisked away from your dead-end job and dead-end life to Zoral: a fantasy world shrouded in everlasting darkness, your proverbial ‘dance card’ has been pretty much filled!
Sure, you’ve got a few new friends to back you up: TZAH-TZIE: a mischievous musician who just so happens to be your NEW SPECIAL LADYFRIEND, VOLKA: gentle giant and Grand Marshall of THE LAMPLIGHTERS: a volunteer group working to keep the city safe, MOROOK: a big-eyed bushman you managed to spring free of a cult base and Volka’s adopted brother, and REZALITH: a feisty fiend who, after a falling-out punctuated by her flying away to what you assumed was certain death, has returned unscathed!
Maybe. A botched spell left her unconscious at a crucial moment on her quest, so who knows what really happened? Still, you’d be lying if you said you didn’t miss the darn devil!
She couldn’t have come back at a better time, either. In your quest to reclaim your fuzzed-out memories, you and your pals have headed North to UMBERAL: a bonafide CITY OF TOMORROW run by a rogue’s gallery of SPICE CARTEL MOBSTERS and ARCHMAGE TRIER--the former having some history with your Bard beau, the latter one of four targets of the devil who currently has ‘dibs’ on your soul: RED.
THE FOUR LORDS have ruled Zoral for years… maybe it’s time for a change? In exchange for their souls, RED promises you aid in the ensuing battles AND some help restoring your missing memories. With demonic powers in hand, you might just have a fighting chance! Hey, it’s not like you’ve got 20,000 BELLS to buy you a lead on getting back to Earth, right?
Your hands are full, to say the least, but none of that can distract you from another inconvenient truth: your ex-girlfriend LIZ somehow found her way into Zoral! Why? That’s the Million-Bell Question, isn’t it? You haven’t the foggiest how she’s gonna react when you meet up… if you even run into each other, that is, but as bad as you left things, you really hope she’s okay…
She’s a tough gal, though. If anyone’s gonna need help, it’s you!
Taking your first steps into the gem of the North, THIS is where your tale continues…
https://youtu.be/1lR8VLt1Xlk
>>6283332 (OP)Check your bags before boarding, it’s DARK QUEST! Take a look at a few resources before we get this party started:
>Archive link to catch up with the last thread:https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Quest
>Pastebin for INVENTORY, SKILLS, and MORE:https://pastebin.com/xdk5kHyA
>Character and Other Info compiled by everyone’s favorite Spinner… Work in Progress (Seriously!)https://pastebin.com/YKhP6xCt
>Twitter for updates, dumb art, etc.https://x.com/DemBonez3
Rolls are handled by a 1(or more)d100--I take the BEST OF THREE ROLLS! 1’s are CRITFAILS while 100’s are CRITSUCCESSES! Certain boosts and maluses will be applied based on the situation and existing skills.
PLEASE ONLY 1 VOTE/ROLL PER PLAYER! If it’s exceptionally slow I’ll ask for people to roll again!
BEEP BEEP! NEW MECHANIC!!! Thank you to the brave anons that weighed in last thread to make it happen: BAD LUCK BALATRO: Every day you get ONE reroll on a LUCK-BASED ROLL (Bluffing, Acrobatics, Dodging... situations where BAD LUCK would make sense per the anon that suggested it! Swell idea, mac!) I will provide the prompt when appropriate!
Describing your actions, write-ins, and GENERAL CREATIVITY are all APPRECIATED AND REWARDED--we like to keep things LIGHT and CHILL here, so come on in and have some fun! FAN ART, THEORIES, AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK ARE ALL VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!
DISCLAIMER: THIS QUEST IS DARK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
>>6283333You wake up sore when a shrill whistle echoes across the train as it slows to a gentle, near-silent halt. Instinctively looking to your left, you can’t help but feel a little cheated when you remember there aren’t any windows.
Not like you could see anything through ‘em anyways, but still!
”Attention all passengers!” Chirps a cheery, if not somewhat mechanical voice through the intercom lurking in the corner of your car like a hornet’s nest, ”We have arrived in UMBERAL! Please carefully inspect your cabin for personal belongings before disembarking. TRIMBAULT ACADEMY and THE UMBERAL DEPARTMENT OF CITY WORKS welcome you to our fine city and wish you all the best in your many endeavors!”
Yea, we’ll see about that, you scoff under your breath, giving the catthing pressed against you a few scritches behind the ears.
“MmmMMmMm….” Purrs the pint-sized performer as she pries her face from your now drool-soaked chest and rubs the sleep from her eyes, “Home at last…” Tzah-Tzie makes her declaration with a sleepy scowl plastered on her face before engaging in an almost feline BIIIIIIIIIIIGGG STREEEEETTTCH!
“About damn time.” Grumbles Rezalith, the devil sitting across from you with the usual frown on her mug. “Gonna lose my mind if I have to spend another minute on this stupid train!”
You greet the demon with a weary grin. She certain she hasn’t lost it already?
“Go to Hell!”
Oh how you missed this…
It takes a little more effort to wake Volka–the poor Skog paralyzed by a deep slumber fueled by the veritable FEAST you all had in the DINING CAR before retiring for a nap. When TT’s singing and… Striiliiing? doesn’t work, a few smacks to the face from Rezzie’s tail does…
“S-STAY BACK!” Sputters the Skog, waking wide-eyed and bewildered as she nearly punches a hole in the wall next to her, “... Oh. ‘M-mornin’, everyone~”
“‘Mornin’ yourself, sleepyhead.” Smirks the Spinner as she climbs off of you and back onto her own seat, “Sweet dreams?”
“Ough,” Grumbles Volka as a bellowing yawn leaves her lips, “I wish...”
“Well, we’re here.” Rezzie states, hopping out of her chair smiling and… wow, you forgot how short she is! “Shall we start with the burning first, or the slaughter? I’m partial to both, but if I had to pick-”
All in due time, you interject diplomatically, you gotta track down your targets first… and that means we-
“Have to spend DAYS wandering aimlessly and having stupid conversations?” The hellion interrupts with a groan that’d do any teenager proud, “You’re so predictable, AnTURD. That’s another problem of yours, y’know.”
>CONTD.
>>6283335“Hey, sneaking around can be fun, y’know.” Counters Tzah-Tzie as she shoots the satan-thing a toothy smirk! “In fact, dear Rezalith, I have a gift or two for you~”
Expecting an insult, you can practically see Rezzie’s thoughts slam on the brakes when she fully digests what Tzah-Tzie says! “... G-gifts?”
“You betcha!” Chirps the Durher as she rummages around in a bag you didn’t know she had leaning on the side of her seat! “See, you probably noticed Volkie and Ant’s disguises-”
“Disguises?” Blinks the demon, clearly befuddled as she steals a few glances at you and your favorite Skog.
“Yup-yup~” TT nods, digging around in the sack like a raccoon through a dumpster, “Remember when Ant toldja’ about why we’re here?”
“Vaguely…” Frowns the fiend as she steals a glance at you for support. You filled Volka and Rezzie in during your late dinner–the former about why you’re headed to Umberal, the latter just everything you’ve been up to.
“Well if we plan on burning our foes and everything dear to them to the ground,” Continues the composer, her tail smacking against the wall as she continues to burrow into the bag, “We’ll have loads more fun if we take ‘em by surprise, right?”
Rezalith opens her mouth to protest, but the words get caught in her throat as her eyes widen in realization! “Hey…” She mutters, “You might be right, Snack…”
“Hehe… course I am!” Emerging from her burrow, TT plops a pile of… something into the demon’s lap! “So! If we’re gonna keep ‘em in the dark, YOU’RE gonna need… drumroll please!”
Volka assists without any further prompts, of course, prompting you to follow suit!
“Bum-bada-buuuum! A DISGUISE!” Announces the Durher as she twirls like a ballerina! “And you’re a lucky gal, Rez–I found a whole bunch of stuff for you to try on!”
Pause, you interject with a furrowed brow, won’t Templars or Mages be able to track Rezzie down in an instant?
“Lotta’ magic in Umberal,” Shrugs the Spinner as she leans against a very bewildered-looking Rezzie, “With luck she’ll just blend in with the rest of it! You will too, probably!”
Well gee, that puts your mind at ease… Question #2–
“Nope, no illusions!” TT answers with a wink! “I just look this good when I wake up! All natural~”
“Give me some tips, Tee…” Mutters a sheepish-looking Skog as she stares enviously at the Spinner. “Waking up’s always a process for me, y’know?”
>CONTD.
>>6283336Yea, hold that thought, you interject as you continue to lock eyes with the lutist, this stuff she found for Rezalith… where’d she get it?
“Pffft… wh-where does anyone… get anything?” Answers Tzah-Tzie with an exaggerated eyeroll and a shaking smirk! “What does it mean to own something, really?”
“Woah…” Volka mutters under her breath, “That’s… she’s got a point…”
“Makes you think, doesn’t it?” TT answers nodding furiously!
No, you groan, she doesn’t. And all it makes you think is ‘who is going to be pissed off about this stuff going missing’?
“And who among them could stand before the GODLIKE might of ANTON THE UNDYING?” answers TT with a defiant grin! “... I’ll give the stuff Rezzie doesn’t like back! Honest!”
Like she gave back that salt she took from the tavern?
“Waid a sheck… dat’ wash Inngo’sh?” Volka innocently asks before gulping down something you didn’t know she’d been crunching on! “You told me that was your family recipe!”
TT responds to both of you with a shrug. “Life hits ya’ fast! Blink and you’ll miss it!”
Quit slinging slogans and answe-
“BING-BONG! Time for a STUPID BREAK!” Growls Rezalith as she shakes a few items around in her claws! “I’m not a coward like you are, Anton… help me pick something.”
Shooting a disapproving glance at the very smug Spinner, you begrudgingly rise from your seat to give Rezalith some help…
Which disguise do you think is best for our favorite devil?
>Option A!>Option B!>Option C!>What about THIS? (Write/Draw-In Within Reason! Anton has a hat on, y'know! Use that IMAGINAAAATION!)
We're already back? With the way you were talking next thread, I'd have expected it to be a while longer until the next one...
>>6283337A is cool, but not actually an disguise. B is too stupid.
>Option C!
>>6283338talking about the next thread*
>>6283338Eh, I say a lot of things. Most of them are wrong and stupid! We're baaaaaack!
Oh, and I oughta mention that any of the disguises above are viable! Let that creativity run wiiiiillld~
GOLD
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>>6283338To be fair, Anton only has Funny Cat Thing Green Eye as his disguise.
C would probably be a better disguise BUT.
>>6283337>WRITE IN>Option A but...Didn't you hear, Rezzie? Gold goes well with Red.
>>6283342>To be fair, Anton only has Funny Cat Thing Green Eye as his disguise.Yeah, but his face is pretty normal. Rezzie is a lot more 'memorable'
>>6283342The idea is that we give her some fake golden teeth to put on.
>>6283343Fair, fair. I'm just a sucker for shades personally.
rezlooks
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>>6283343Damn right she is
>>6283338>>6283452>C!>>6283342>A BUT GOOOOOLLLLDDD!Writing!
You’re not even sure any of Tzah-Tzie’s ‘findings’ will hide Rezzie’s demonic nature. Hell, you’re not even certain Rezzie can hide her demonic nature–she’s like a kid on a perpetual sugar high… with a submachine gun! Still, you wholeheartedly join Tzah-Tzie and Volka in inspecting the proverbial ‘goods’, making sure not to stare for too long lest the demon thinks you’re ogling her.
You’re not keen on getting melted right after arriving in ‘The Gem of the North’.
“Hmmm…” Grumbles Volka as she rubs her chin in deep contemplation, “The shades look good, Rez… real good… buuuut…”
“But they’re a little derivative, right?” Frowns TT as she circles the harried hellion like a vulture! “We can both agree the Mox Smith Hood is bad, right?”
“Oh yea, definitely!” Nods the Skog! “Even I can tell that one isn’t fashionable!”
“Quiet, you. You’re a princess.” Snaps the Durher, sending the Skog into near tears!
“Y-you… you really thiiiink sooo?”
“AnTARD. You’re being insultingly quiet.” Hisses the hellspawn through clenched teeth. “My… ‘Gal Pals’... speak true, but I demand your input as well.”
She… she really values your input that much?
“Nope! I just wanna laugh at your choice!” She snickers with a wry grin! This girl… well if you had to choose-
“You DO. Don’t even think of wriggling outta’ this one!”
It’s an expre–ugh… you’ll… you like the VEIL, actually! It makes her look really mysterious!
“Ooh, I see what you mean, Anton…” The Durher nods in approval as she watches Rez try it on again. “Alluring… exotic… like the Mzz’goe’virr dancers of ages past–gales on the dunes!”
“Yea, what she said!” Grins Volka as Rezalith tries and fails to hide a sheepish smile behind the disguise! “You’re a gale and stuff, Rezzie!”
“The Covenant is SEALED…” Rezalith announces with a flap of her wings! “At the advice of my friends I shall wear this disguise as if it were my own skin…”
“Don’t get too attached…” Tzah-Tzie giggles, “It’s just another piece of clothing, Rez-”
“There is but ONE garment I’ve worn in my brief, but songworthy existence:” Explains the devil as her tail cracks behind her like a whip! “Leather tanned from the flesh of those two weak to best me as we writhed and slithered out of our spawning pits!”
“... So… you’re wearing your, erm… brothers and sisters?” Asks Volka in as innocent a tone she can muster. Rezzie scoffs.
“In the weakest sense, yes… but mourn them not–they would do the same to me had I given them the chance! Were they so lucky…”
Yea, this girl’s gonna need more than a veil…
>CONTD.
>>6283556Rubbing your temples to fend off the headache already growing beneath, you nearly slap yourself upside the head as your in-cabin Teksoul sputters to life!
“ASSASSIN!”
“It’s just a helper, Rez-Rez,” TT purrs as she deftly grabs the devil’s hand before she can sling a fireball at the ghostly projection flickering to life in the center of the cabin! “Here… come hug my tail, okay?”
”Thank you for your patience. We have arrived in Umberal.” Coos the magical construct as its ‘eyes’ flit around like gnats under a patio light. ”We appreciate your patronage and live to serve… will you be requiring TELEPORTATION services today?”
“Hah! No WAY!” Volka gushes, her big yellow eyes widened in disbelief! “Are you sayin’ that’s included with the trip?!”
”To a degree, yes… our services extend to assisting our customers in reaching their final destination…” The hologram hangs. ”Disclaimer: we are unable to provide teleportation to private addresses without the complete address. Incomplete information may result in unintended consequences.”
Like what? The Teksoul-gram pauses even longer.
”We are unable to provide teleportation to priva-”
Nevermind, you shrug, guess that means we’re sticking to public places, right? TT nods with a look of utter bliss on her foxlike face as Rezalith gently strokes her tail. “MmmMmhmm~ or we just… walk~”
”A TELEFONT can be located outside of every major landmark, including the Skyrail Station. If you are unsure of your destination now, you may use them at your convenience once you know where you’re headed.”
Does she have a list of, like, common places for people to teleport to? You’re uh… you’re not from around here, you add with a sheepish smile!
”Certainly. Please listen carefully as our options tend to change depending on the season. Say a destination if you would like to learn more.”
The Teksoul’s apparition reshapes itself into what appears to be some kind of MAP! Peering over the shimmering streets and buildings, your eyes can’t help but sting a little bit–you never thought you’d miss looking at a map!
”In no particular order:”
CHOOSE 1 OR MORE IF YOU WANT INFO!
>UMBERAL HISTORY MUSEUM>CRYSTALMELT LODGE>SPLITSPRING TEMPLE TO THE EARTHMOTHER>TRIMBAULT ACADEMY: INFORMATION CENTER>THE NIGHT MARKET>SPICE N’ SUNDRIES NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS>THE CASK DISTRICTTT shudders. Something to say? “The Cask District is… where the wealthy families are.”
>SMITH STREET>TRINE TOWER: GOVERNMENT WELCOME CENTER>Does she know of any good inns nearby?>You’ll walk, actually!>Write-In!
>>6283558>CRYSTALMELT LODGE>SPLITSPRING TEMPLE TO THE EARTHMOTHER>THE NIGHT MARKETThese seem like the ones that need some clearing up. And after that,
>Does she know of any good inns nearby?
>>6283558>THE NIGHT MARKET>SPICE N’ SUNDRIES NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS>SPLITSPRING TEMPLE TO THE EARTHMOTHER>Does she know of any good inns nearby?
>>6283558>Does she know of any good inns nearby?Get our bearings and secure a home base. Then...
>UMBERAL HISTORY MUSEUMLet's learn us about the local locale!
>>6283558>THE NIGHT MARKET>SPICE N’ SUNDRIES NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS>THE CASK DISTRICT
>>6283561>>6283573>>6283574>>6283600THE TALLY:
>CRYSTALMELT: 1>SPLITSPRING TEMPLE: 2>NIGHT MARKET: 3>INNS: 3>SPICE: 2>CASK: 1Inns and Nightmarket seem to win it! Fret not, you'll learn more! Probably! Might take a while to write some of this out--apologies in advance! Got like, zero sleep last night and plans in the afternoon.
A few tidbits since we have a new thread that you know of already:
>Crystalmelt, as you recall, is the hoity-toity lodge nestled up by the mountains surrounding Umberal known for its natural hotsprings! You also recall that Lutza, TT's archnemesis and fellow Spinner, is also staying there. You were talking about having a 'duel concert' of sorts between her and TT to settle things, but she also mentioned helping you if you wanted to take down a certain Spice Cartel member she isn't fond of. Said to call on her if you wanted to brainstorm ideas. Also has TT's original Striilii and won't give it back until TT 'wins' it.>Spice N' Sundries is the company behind The Spice Cartel. You're unsure how much of it is actual production, but your pals assure you that Istaa Spice is used in pretty much every meal. TT says she and her family toured the place a few times around when she was... 'engaged'. It's a factory, alright, but there are places even her rich family weren't allowed to peek inside. VHALE NESSURMOS is the owner of the company. The name sends TT into quaking chills.>The Cask District is, based off of what TT said, where the old money in Umberal lives. Named after the casks used in Ruuppaa Brewing, which is how many of the families made their fortunes. You don't ask, but you can surmise TT's old family is there somewhere... and she was really clear about not wanting to see them.Anywho, I'll write up the other stuff in a bit! Stay tuned!
Clicking your tongue at your available options, you shoot Tzah-Tzie a sidelong glance and get a reassuring grin for your trouble. Cool as this all is, you’ll probably get a lot more information from the locals… and what better place to find locals than…
Actually, you blink as if remembering something important, are there any taverns nearby?
“Oho, THAT’S my Anton right there!” Volka exclaims, her sudden, bellowing laugh nearly causing the cart to rumble! “Drink-O-Clock!”
The spectral city map flickers a bit at your question. ”There are a number of fine establishments here in Umberal–being the Ruuppaa Capitol of Zoral, it would be difficult NOT to find a tavern! I happen to recall frequenting THE BUSTED CASK quite oft-”
A metallic SHRIEK pierces your room as the map display flickers in and out like a strobe light at a rave! Before you or your flummoxed friends can say anything, the din ends as quickly as it began!
”Was there anything else I could assist you with?”
Taking a moment to exchange a quiet and rather concerned glance, you move on to a hopefully safer topic… you’re not sure if this incorporeal concierge can punch you, but you move a little further away just in case. Erm, the NIGHT MARKET, you stammer… what’s that?
“Ooh! I’ve been th-”
The Spinner is swiftly shushed by the Teksoul’s soothing, yet stern tone!
”THE NIGHT MARKET is a historic street in Northern Umberal named for its historic relevance: working late into the evening on Ruuppaa plantations, many workers were unable to make it to market in time before it closed.”
“Used to be a big issue, apparently.” Tzah-Tzie remarks with a reverent expression. “Always been some friction between the plantation owners and vineyard workers. Doubt it’s gotten much better since I left…”
”Seeing this issue as an opportunity, a group of enterprising merchants formed THE NIGHT MARKET!” Chirps the Teksoul as if remembering a fond memory. ”When the day merchants departed, they merely set up in their stead! Humble beginnings to be sure… but today the street is one of Umberal’s busiest tourist attractions and home to nearly everything and ANYTHING you wish to purchase! ”
The concierge’s ‘eyes’ darken.
”Please note that THE NIGHT MARKET and its vendors do not, and will not deal in any commodity or trade deemed illegal according to Umberal’s laws. Slaves, narcotics, organs, historical relics, and unlawfully-recorded Speakstones are just a few examples of illegal commodities. Please shop responsibly!”
“We went there a few times… as a family.” Adds TT, her lime-green eyes going a little darker as she reminisces. “Stalls are stacked now–used to be you’d levitate to the ones you wanted, but that got a lot of flack-”
Levitate? What, can everyone do that in Umberal or something? The Durher shrugs.
>CONTD.
>>6283838“Lotsa mages up North, Ant. Stay on your toes.”
“She ain’t kidding, Rook!” Smirks Volka! “Might as well be the mage capital of Zoral, really! Spooky!”
Think her dad would know a thing or two about Umberal? The Skog answers with a derisive scoff that puts a smile on Rezzie’s face!
“Hells, don’t get him STARTED!” Volka groans with a grin! “It’s getting him ta’ shut up about it that’s the real trick… man hates it up here.”
Why? The simple question seems to throw the poor Skog for a loop.
“W-well, um…” She mutters, her tail flicking the floor beneath her, “I think he has some history with the academy. And the government. And the Spicys. And the Rich. And the Middle-Class. And the Poor. And most of the mages living here.” She blinks. “... You met dad. He can be, uh… hard to get along with?”
Yea, you nod as your mind wanders back to the stunted, even by Durher terms, old man you met when you first arrived in Crossroads, you uh… you remember.
“Seems easy to me!” Snorts Rezalith! “He can’t be all bad if he hates everything I hate!”
You haven’t met half of those things Volka mentioned, though.
“And I don’t INTEND to!” The devil concludes by crossing her arms! That settles that, you guess.
“Anyways,” Sighs the Spinner as her tail flops against your side, “Market’s open during the day now too. Oh, and it’s true: you can find almost anything there.”
Anything?
“Probably!” The Durher replies with a bewildered look on her face! “Ain’t gonna be cheap though. Nothing in Umberal is.”
“Tch. Money.” Rezzie hisses through clenched teeth. “Why bother when we intend to burn this place to ashe-”
NNNGH! IX-NAY ON THE ALKING-TAY ABOUT BURNING THINGS IN FRONT OF THE OLOGRAM…HAY!
“... Do you try to make me want to hit you?”
”Can I be of any other service? If not, I must politely ask you to disembark soon.”
Is there?
>Tell me about another place!>Just take us out of the monorail, please!>Any news bulletins we should know about?>Can I get another snack or something?>Teleport us somewhere, please!>Mind blasting us with those PHEROMONES one last time?>Nope! We’ll leave!>Write-In!
>>6283839>Nope! We’ll leave!Yep, let's go.
>>6283839>We’ll leave!>Mind giving us a snack before we head out, though?
4dark
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>>6283841>LEEEEAAAVE!>>6283915>LEEAAAAAAVVEEEE!>BUT SNACKS?Fuck it, we snack-attackin' too. Writing! Also check out this wacky pic
Reminder to ask for an extra room on the way back to Crossroads so we can finally test that Pheromone thing for real with TT.
That’s okay, you reply as you look to your companions for confirmation, you’re just gonna leave the ole’ fashioned way! Your concierge flickers as you rise from your chair and stretch your arms high above your head with a satisfying crack!
”Thank you for your patronage. We hope to have you aboard again very so–!”
Oh uh, one more thing, you interrupt with a sheepish grin… any chance we could get a few snacks for the road?
You and the gals leave the train a few ICE CAKES richer… well, except for Rezzie who tears through her supply like a rabid coyote in a beef jerky factory. A few conductors bid you cordial farewells and try not to laugh as you step onto a moving ramp and nearly tumble to the base–luckily Volka was ready to catch you by the collar!
“Stick close, yea?” She giggles, ushering you, TT, and Rezzie close to her as you’re joined on the rampscalator by several other brave souls who chose to walk! It only takes a moment before you can feel it tickling your teeth: magic. Lots! While the occasional spell being cast before left your mouth feeling a little itchy, your descent into the Umberal Skyrail Station is akin to standing on top of a JACKHAMMER!
If anyone else notices, they don’t make a show of it–several commuters step past you in a rush to get where they need to go, while others stand and mingle interspersed along the ramp like kids waiting for class to start. The station air is crisp, but not unpleasant, and a strange mixture of juniper, syrup, and yogurt caresses your nostrils as your ears struggle to adjust to the sudden burst of activity!
You don’t have to see the station to know it’s PACKED. While Crossroads had its moments, like when that Chairman Fellick guy was pronounced dead, Umberal appears to be standing room only! Wrapped in a thick swathe of communal body heat, you feel warmer here than you did for the entirety of the train ride!
“WELCOME TO UMBERAL!” Chirps a cheery, scratchy voice suspended far above your head! “PLEASE DISEMBARK THE INCLINEWAY CAREFULLY! THE UMBERAL STATION TELEFONT IS JUST AHEAD! BAGGAGE CLAIM AND THE COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT IS TO YOUR LEFT. GIFTS, SUNDRIES, AND WASHROOMS ARE ON YOUR RIGHT! WELCOME TO UMBERAL! PLEASE DISEM-”
A couple next to you POOFS out of existence and sends your teeth into CRITICAL ITCHINESS as a family of Mox float just above your head–their kid flicking something sticky on your face with a giggle as they fade into one of the many crowds above you.
This is her hometown, you ask, shooting TT and incredulous glance! The catthing shrugs as she takes your hand in hers.
“Well I wouldn’t call it home,” She answers with a forced grin, “But… y’know.” Her brow furrows as she spots something above. “Those are new though.”
>CONTD.
>>6284417Following the furball’s gaze, you manage to spot not one, not two, but at least EIGHT Teksouls scuttling along the walls like spiders–their spectral eyes glittering in the darkness like fireflies on a Summer night.
In true Anton fashion, you’re far too distracted to notice when the ramp ends, and Volka’s not quick enough this time around! Flopping to the polished floor like a fish, you quietly thank whatever deity is looking out for you when you realize no one noticed!
“HAHAHA! AnTWERP! You FELL! Clumsy BEAST!”
Well, almost no one… Picking yourself up off the ground, you and the others continue towards the aforementioned ‘TELEFONT’. Hey Volk, you remark as you exit the station and are immediately exposed to…
… surprisingly warm and pleasant weather!
Err, about Morook meeting up with us-
“H-huh? Wha?”
The Skog appears to be too busy gawking at the surroundings to hear your question… or notice all the scornful eyes glued to her large form. Mostly Durhers, you notice, and they don’t look like they wanna take the Skog out for a dinner and a show.
Morook, you repeat, he said he was gonna meet up with us, right? Any clue how he plans on doing that?
“Oh! Well, you know Mor!” She laughs, her thick tail slapping the smooth pavement-like path beneath, “He’ll probably just pop outta’ nowhere and say ‘lovely breeze today’ or something!”
You’re about to respond when you feel a sharp tug on your hand and find Tzah-Tzie with a grave look on her face! You get your answer long before you can ask it–kicking the almost Christmassy aroma out of the air is the unmistakable scent… of spice.
It’s not just near you–it’s all around. A few pairs of eyes avert their gaze from yours as you turn to meet them, while others continue their idle conversations. Even with your disguises on you still can’t afford to slack off here…
You’re on THEIR turf now.
A pair of Teksouls amble through the crowd ahead of you–their flickering eyes dwarfing even Volka as they pass! A few crowdgoers watch in awe as they pass, but others seem to give the constructs a wide berth.
Does this ‘Telefont’ thing belong to the station too? Those things seem to have quite a long leash…
”LoITERing iS NOt PERmitTED.” Drones a booming, droning voice behind you! Whipping around to face its owner, you only have to crane your neck back for a little bit before the construct stoops low to meet your eyes!
”PlEAsE MOvE ALoNG. PUblIC SAFetY IS EVeRYBOdy’S RESpONSIBIlITY.”
R-right, you stammer as you force out a quick nod, you’re going! Gripping TT’s claw extra tight, you lead your merry entourage away from the Teksoul and towards what sounds like a giant ASMR Video!
>CONTD.
>>6284418You can’t see it, but you know it’s there–waves of unseen energy tug at your innards as you draw closer to a sound akin to someone playing crystal glasses–the low, thrumming tones eerily persisting over the din of the crowds around you! As you draw closer the tugging sensation becomes even stronger… so much so that even Volka seems a bit flummoxed!
“Ough… not gonna get used ta’ that...” She mutters with discomfort written across her face! “This that TELEFONT, y’think?”
“This is it, yep!” TT announces with a nod! “Just gotta think hard about a specific place you wanna warp to! Oh, and don’t mind the ‘tugs’. They’re there to keep you from splitting off into two places.”
T-two… places? The Spinner nods.
“Yep. Gotta think fast here in Umberal, slick. Lost a brother because of a teleport mishap once.”
“He… died?” Asks Volka, worry creeping into her tone.
“Nah, we just, y’know. Lost him.” The Durher replies as if recounting what she had for breakfast. “Heh, maybe he went to your plane, Ant!”
“Heheh. Or mine!” Snickers Rezzie!
“Hope not…”
Well you’ve just arrived, but if you had to pick a spot to visit…
WHERE TO?
>UMBERAL HISTORY MUSEUM>CRYSTALMELT LODGE>THE BUSTED CASK INN>SPLITSPRING TEMPLE TO THE EARTHMOTHER>TRIMBAULT ACADEMY: INFORMATION CENTER>THE NIGHT MARKET>SPICE N’ SUNDRIES NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS>THE CASK DISTRICT>SMITH STREET>TRINE TOWER: GOVERNMENT WELCOME CENTER>Just keep walking around! Could be fun!Also holy SHIT I'm so sorry for the delay, all! Thought I was getting sick yesterday and spent most of it lying in bed... I think I'm cool now, but apologies for the radio silence! If you're just starting the quest I assure you it doesn't happen a lot! Honest!
>>6284150>implying the perfidious catthing needs pheromones to 'get down'
>>6284419>UMBERAL HISTORY MUSEUMTime for an educational trip!
>>6284421Ah, but if she's already like that without them, imagine how she'll be with it. It would be a shame not to try it at least once.
>>6284419>UMBERAL HISTORY MUSEUM
>>6284425>>6284512>FIELD TRIIIIIIP!Writing!
>>6284426Hubris
The freaky concierge mentioned a museum, you remark as if trying to decide where to go for lunch, wanna start there?
“Gathering intel on the enemy, are we?” Replies Tzah-Tzie with a bemused grin. “Only if we can make a stop in the gift shop~”
“Hey, yea, that sounds fun!” Volka adds, bouncing on her heels! “Don’t know much about Umberal, actually! Ooh, and we can get souvenirs for the other Lamplighters!”
Rezalith tosses her frown into the pile of responses. “Whats’a museum?”
That settles it, you declare as you slap your fist into your palm! Field Trip time! All aboooaaaaaarrrdd!
Your pals have already teleported away by the time a quiet ‘choo choo…’ leaves your lips. Well then. Focusing hard on your destination, you start to feel the invisible hands wrapped around you tighten the minute the museum comes to mind! Moments later you feel your consciousness FLING across space and time like a ball out of a pitching machine at the boardwalk… and when you open your eyes once more, you find yourself…
… well, in the dark. Whatja expect?
”BOARD THIS INCLINEWAY FOR THE UMBERAL HISTORY MUSEUM!”
The scratchy voice high above your head takes you by surprise, as do most things, but what’s even more surprising is the crowds… or lack thereof! For a History Museum the outside seems pretty quiet… must be a workday?
“Up here, Rook!”
Volka and Rezzie are already halfway up the incline-thingy by the time you regain your senses–the former looking like a dog about to go to the park, the latter about to go to the Vet…
“C’mere, you!”
A small claw snatches your hand as your favorite fuzzball gives you a wink and tugs you onto the moving ramp! “Gotta’ stick with a buddy when you’re at the museum! Wouldn’t want you running off and getting lost, now would we?”
What, you say with a scoff and a smile as you give TT’s claw a squeeze, is the Museum Monster gonna get you?
“Mom used to a Skog would,” The Durher answers with a hushed tone and an embarrassed look on her face, “But looking back I realize how rotten that sounds...”
You sneak a glance at Volka–the tall terror gleefully filling Rezalith in on what a museum is, much to the latter’s amusement. Did her parents take her to the museum a lot when she was young?
“Not enough,” TT shrugs as she presses her cheek against your hip, making it a little hard for you to walk, “But we went on a lot of little trips. Outings. Errands. Hells, you’d hardly believe it… a pack of Durher kits scrabbling down the street after mom, shouting and screaming…”
A long, almost nostalgic sigh leaves the girl’s lips as the image settles in your skulls. “Just one of her little slivers of freedom, I guess. And ours.”
She almost sounds like she misses it. Tzah-Tzie bristles.
>CONTD.
>>6284634“Sometimes I do,” she shrugs as her fuzzy tail smacks the back of your calves, “But if I compare the good and bad memories with my family, well…” The Durher hangs on the last word as she ponders the right response. “... a cage is a cage, Ant. No matter how many fancy decorations it has.”
True that, you nod, giving her claw another gentle squeeze. True that…
A whole family of dust moves into your vacant nostrils the minute you enter the Museum–you knew the places could be stuffy, of course, but this one?
It feels more like a crypt than anything else! Making your way across a wide, empty foyer, you can’t help but tense up a bit as you spot the increasingly-familiar cool glow of a Teksoul’s gaze locking with yours from the other side of the chamber!
”WElCOme TO-”
“IGOTITIGOTIT!”
You gotta hand it to Rezalith–she shows amazing and uncharacteristic restraint as the owner of the frantic voice seemingly appears smack dab in the middle of your little group… if you had a medal, you’d give her one!
“Sorry! Sorry!” Sputters the bright-eyed Chytree as she frantically brushes the soot off of whatever it is she’s wearing! “W-welcome! Welcome to The Umberal History Museum! Admission is completely free as this fine establishment is run and sustained by Archmage Trier himself and we’ve got SO many amazing exhibits for you to see! Really nice, truly! Oh, and we do employ Teksoul docents and utilize Speakstone narrators, but we also have a wealth of highly-trained curators on-staff, one of which just so happens to be me! I’m here! Mhm!”
And… who is she, exactly? Chytrees always seem one scare away from their eyes popping out, but this girl takes the cake.
“OH! Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, where in Zoral have my manners gone, hahah!” Straightening her posture, your anxious ambusher gives your group a genial bow!
“I am CURATOR CHEESTI! A-and while I haven’t had the Meister title bestowed upon me yet, I can still gladly and effectively assist you in your quest for knowledge here in our humble establishment today!”
“What about that thing?” Grumbles Rezzie from behind her fancy veil as her eyes drift over to the Teksoul.
“Oh… th-the Teksoul, yes…” Cheesti murmurs like a child realizing there’s not enough snow to cancel school, “V-very impressive, yes, and if you wish it can certainly guide you around the exhibits…”
What exhibits do they have here anyways?
>CONTD.
notakit
md5: 2531c8f0f34c96cc73b9f52dd623a371
🔍
>>6284638“Oh, what DON’T we have!?!” The docent exclaims, eyes lighting up like floodlamps! “Th-there’s the exhibit detailing Umberal’s founding under the ancient Khorrozeh Empire, of course… with an actual CHUNK of Khorozzeh levitating architecture, no less! Oh, a-and a separate exhibit highlighting Trimbault Academy and magic as a whole… If more contemporary history is what you’re here for then we have ANOTHER exhibit detailing The Finder War and the events leading up to it including primary sources from the Chytree Mages AND Coalition Soldiers!”
Her gaze shifts over to Tzah-Tzie’s. “Y-your great, great, great grandfather might’ve fought in that one, l-little kit! H-heheh~”
“I’m not little.” Grumbles the Spinner, evoking a sound from the docent akin to a squeaky toy being boiled alive! “And I ain’t a kit.”
“O-of course not! Sincerest apologies, m-mistress!” You count about seven frantic bows before the Chytree continues. “A-and if you’re erm, ‘On the Warpath’ for… for WAR HISTORY, well, well there’s another exhibit on The Skog Wars as well… t-truly a bloody chunk of history… unfortunately… oh noooo… heheh…”
“Oof… might be a bit too bloody for me, thanks…” Volka mutters with an apologetic laugh.
“Th-that’s fine! That’s FINE!” Yelps the docent as she makes what you assume is some kind of wild, flailing hand gesture! “Th-there’s something for everyone here! T-trust me!” Snapping her claw, Cheetsi sends a conspiratorial stare your way! Guess Chytree can’t wink?
“H-how about DEMONS? We have an exhibit on them, too! Fierce, nasty creatures, those! Oof!”
“You forgot ‘PERFECT.” Grumbles Rezzie, earning another garbled series of squeaks from the kooky curator.
“I-I’m sure they are!” She sputters, sounding close to tears. “B-but… but how will you know until… until you see the exhibit!? OoOoOh…”
Rezalith turns to you with an unamused glare. “Can I eat this one?”
No, you groan, y-
“I-If taking a bite out of me will convince you to stay, then…” Cheetsi murmurs. Is she rolling up her sleeve!?
Okay, you’d better put a plug on this, and quick. Rezzie’s definitely considering the offer!
>We’ll just walk around ourselves, thanks!>Mind if we grab the Teksoul?>Would you be willing to show us around?AND YOUR FIRST EXHIBIT:
>Umberal’s Foundation!>Trimbault Academy and Magic!>Rediscovering Umbera and The Finder War!>The Skog Wars!>Demons!>Where’s the Gift Shop?>Anything on (Write-In!)?>The Exit! Bye!
>>6284640>Would you be willing to show us around?She'll probably shrivel and die if we don't.
>Umberal’s Foundation!Sounds interesting.
>>6284640>Would you be willing to show us around?Poor lass is going to have a heart attack at this rate. Might as well humor her.
>Demons!Perfect, perfect demons...
>>6284640>Would you be willing to show us around?A favor from one desperate wagie to another.
>DemonsSo Rezzie doesn't eat her
>>6284645>UMBERAL HISTORY!>>6284647>>6284686>EL DEMONIO!Splendid choices! I'll probably write this shit up tomorrowish, so what would you guys say to me having y'all check out UMBERAL HISTORY AND DEMONS? Let me know what you think--we could always have another vote for exhibit 2 if you guys have a true thirst for knowledge!
>>6284725WE MUST LEARN EVERYTHING
Sure, that works.
You’re first-time visitors, you reply with a sheepish smile, so how about starting with Umberal’s history? Cheesti nearly jumps out of… well, whatever Chytree have. C-chitin?
“R-R-R-REAAALLLLY!?” She sputters, eyes flashing with excitement! “I-I mean… y-yes, I’d LOVE to show you the exhibits! Ooh, you’re going to have such a wonderful and educational time! Y-you won’t be sorry!”
Noticing Rezzie’s fiery eyes stealing a glance your way, you give your stubble-clad chin a few thoughtful scratches. Why not swing by the Demon exhibit too? Afterwards, that is!
“YES! An excellent idea, sir!” Cries the curator with glee! “Th-they actually go well together! E-err, not to spoil anything, of course! Hehe…”
The Chytree leans in closer with a conspiratorial tone: “Th-the demon exhibit’s my f-favorite, actually… s-such incredible beings…”
T-totally, you nod, trying and failing to avoid Rezalith’s prying stare! S-shall we?
The curator straightens up like a pole with a practiced nod! “Y-yes! At once! A-ahem… W-welcome to the Umberal History Museum! We invite you to take a j-journey with us through the vast annals of history in our proud city… a-and beyond! In the sp-spirit of Umberal ingenuity, we hope you’ll leave these halls today with a wealth of information… a-and an insatiable hunger for knowledge!”
Marching backwards with renewed purpose, Curator Cheesti leads you down a passage you weren’t aware existed–your combined footsteps muffled by a plush carpet guiding you along the path!
“To begin,” The docent squeaks, “The Umberal you currently find yourselves in isn’t the original, oh no! In truth, Umberal's iterations span far beyond those of any settlements to the South! C-care to guess which civilization Umberal first belonged t-”
“The Khorrozeh Empire.” Grunts Rezzie, earning a bewildered stare from everyone in the group!
“P-precisely!” Cheesti nods, eyes gleaming with approval! “Th-the Khorrozeh Empire… populated by a race of highly-intelligent sorcerers and shamans known as the NUGAAL! Thought the N-Nugaal aren’t around these days, their works remain scattered all across Zoral for us to study… a-and it was in this vast and powerful empire that Umberal was first established!”
Pausing to catch her breath, the museum worker stops mid-step towards you with a flicker in her bulbous eyes! “Oh, m-my apologies… I forgot to mention I can offer you all magical sensory aids to better digest exhibit information… W-would you consent to letting me sharing some with you?”
You respond with a blink. Are there actual exhibits, or…?
>CONTD.
>>6285022“Oh! Y-yes! YES! There totally are!” Cheesti exclaims as if you’d just pressed a gun against her dog’s head! “It’s just… w-well, given Zoral’s inherit, erm, ‘S-Sensory Deficits’, it’s d-difficult to see the artifacts we have… a-and touching them is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN!” Her stiff posture relaxes a bit. “Erm… u-unless the curator gives you permission, that is… th-that’s me…”
Tzah-Tzie eyes the girl warily. “You’re not gonna read our thoughts or anything, right?”
“Assault my mind, witch, and you’ll find the task far more than you bargained for…” Snarls your favorite satan-thing!
“Of c-course not!” The curator replies as she shakes her head back and forth! “I-imagine our reputation if w-we… if we violated your privacy like that! N-no… I…”
Her eyes sink a little bit.
“... I just want to ensure you enjoy yourselves…”
You and the gals exchange another glance before TT answers your questioning stare with a shrug. This… isn’t dangerous, right?
“Nope! Totally s-safe!” Cheesti chirps before her eyes droop again. “Erm… th-though I AM legally-obligated to inform you that all magic, even the simplest spell, m-may produce unexpected side-effects due to the natural entropy present in the magical exchange proc-”
Oh brother… What's the call, chief?
>Sensory Aids sound neat!>Nah, just talk at us! And let us know when we can touch stuff!>This is fishy. Let’s LEAVE!>Write-In!
>>6285024>Sensory Aids sound neat!Sure, why not. What's the worst that could happen? She'll steal our soul? Good luck, we don't have one.
>>6285025She'll have to tangle with our boy and /qst/'s sweetheart RED
>>6285024>Sensory Aids sound neat!HOOK ME UP, WEIRD GIRL.
>>6285027Our dearest boy...our dearest lad...
>>6285025>>6285028>SENSORY AIIIIIDSSSSSWell who am I to say no to you scamps, right? Writing!
>>6283838>I happen to recall frequenting THE BUSTED CASK quite oft-Oh damn, these golems have actual people's souls imprisoned in them, huh?
>>6284417>umberalconcept.png kek, gets me every time.
You’re in Umberal–the city with the biggest magic academy in Zoral, if you recall correctly. Why wouldn’t you partake in some sensory aids!? If the others are down, you reply with an eager grin, then sure! Lay it on us!
“Works for me!” Adds Volka, grinning ear to ear!
“Yea, why not?” TT shrugs.
“My warning stands. You won’t get another.” Cool, seems like Rezzie’s onboard too!
“Okay then!” Cheesti nods with renewed confidence in her voice! “Just… just relax your minds, okay? A-and please let me know if you feel any discomfort!”
As the words leave the docent’s lips, you feel space warping around you as if you were being wrapped in tinfoil! The floor disappears beneath your feet, your teeth ache as arcane energy courses through them! You feel weightless, bodiless, and even senseless for a fleeting moment.. And when your feet touch down again on solid ground, you realize you’re no longer standing on a plush carpet…
”The Khorozzeh Empire…” Cheesti’s meek voice now booms like a boxing announcer’s on fight night! “Mighty sorcerer king dynasties spanning all of Zoral!”
You’re almost too rattled to realize you’re leaning against a railing, but what tickles you to your core isn’t the warm, slightly-rough ceramic currently pressed against your hands or the fruity scent of an orchard nearby… it’s the sting of roaring winds on your cheeks daring to tug at the COOL HAT currently resting upon your head!
You don’t have to see it to realize whatever you’re standing on is flying... and it’s a long way down!
“Historians called them BELTS: city flotillas drifting across the skies like clouds–sprawling metropolises kept aloft by sheer force of will! Umberal, its FIRST iteration, at least, was but one of these cities… and home to one of the Empire’s most esteemed magical academies.”
A dull, mammoth rumbling echoes from above you as another floating fortress floats overhead–its monumental size chilling the balcony you stand on when it blocks the unseen sun!
“The Nuugal, you see, manipulated magic as easily as you or I flex a claw… gifted in intellect and the arcane, they spurned their gods in favor of their own divine endeavors… Many Chytree Loremeisters posit that we Chytree were engineered by the Nuugal… bred as a slave caste, but retaining an affinity for magic not unlike our keepers. For centuries these mages ruled the land–trading territories through magic and blood… until one day…”
Leaning on your balcony, it takes you a minute to realize just how quiet things have become…
It’s the gradual, lurching sensation in your stomach that makes you realize you’re falling!
>CONTD.
>>6285108“Calamity! Catastrophe! Khorrozeh collapses like a mighty leviathan! Cities dashed upon the land below! Others swallowed and shredded in storms of eldritch singularities!”
White-knuckling the edge of the balcony, you grit your teeth as the floating island slowly spins as it passes a huge, humming SOMETHING during its descent–the anomaly tugging at your face as you plummet to the ground below!
“A dramatic end for such a prolific civilization,” Cheesti continues as you feel your heart climb into your throat, “But what could have triggered it? How could a people so well-versed in the arcane meet such a complete and utter defe-”
“A devil.”
Ripped from your rapid descent, your trembling legs find themselves back on the museum carpet… your friends wide-eyed and similarly-terrified save for Rezalith, who looks as if she hadn’t felt a thing at all!
“Well…” Stammers your curator, her reedy, strained voice a welcome reprieve from what you just experienced, “Th-that’s… that’s certainly one of the more popular theories, yes… the few singstones we excavated from Nuugal ruins mention the summoning of a devil, b-but as you’ll see in the Demon exhibit, the Nuugal were no strangers to devil-summoning-”
“And if it was an ARCHDEVIL?” Asks Rez, cocking her head to the side. “What then?”
“W-well, erm…” Stammers the Chytree, not expecting such a forward question, “Th-that would um… certainly explain the singularities and the falling cities, w-wouldn’t it?” She posits with a nervous giggle! “Th-the Nuugal may have passed on, b-but they weren’t stupid… many recovered texts suggest they developed, um, demonic c-countermeasures…”
“And they still died. Typical.” Scoffs the fiend as she rolls her eyes in contempt! “Continue, Museum Witch. The city falling greatly amused me.”
“Errr… y-yes! Of course!” Cheesti answers with an uncomfortable laugh! “Well the next section relates to th-the discovery of Umberal the First… A-and The Finder War…”
Her disco ball-sized eyes glow as they fall upon you. “A-any questions before we continue?”
>Nope! Next!>What spell did you just cast on us?>Any Nuugals left?>Does she know what Archdevil was summoned?>What other theories are there for the Khorrozeh Collapse?>How did the Nuugal ‘engineer’ Chytree?>Can we do the falling thing again? That was neat!>Do they have any examples of these ‘countermeasures’ here in the museum?>Write-In!
>>6285109>Does she know what Archdevil was summoned?>Do they have any examples of these ‘countermeasures’ here in the museum?Suspiciously Cowboy-Shaped Singstone
>>6285109>Does she know what Archdevil was summoned?>Do they have any examples of these ‘countermeasures’ here in the museum?>What spell did you just cast on us?
>>6285110>>6285131>WHICH DEVIL>COUNTERMEASURES /:3>>6285114>THE ABOVE BUT ALSO WHAT SPELL WAS THAT HOLY CRAPWritiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnng
The mention of the ‘D’ Word gets your curiosity pumping… and yea, you meant DEVILS! Pause, you mutter as you raise your hand in front of you like a crossing guard, you’ve got a few questions!
“YES!” Cheers the Chytree under a hushed tone, “Errr, I mean… o-of course! Ask away a-and I’ll… I’ll try to answer it! Ch-challenge… accepted…”
She said they have, uh… singstones… that talk about an Archdevil? And Countermeasures? Something stirs within your soul.
“I’m a bit curious myself, actually! Wonder if I knew the guy?
Oh good, RED’S still listening in… anyways, you groan, did those stones mention, like, a name or anything?
“W-well…” Mutters the Museum Staff as her claw makes a rough scratching noise against her cheek, “The th-thing about singstones is that they grow fainter each time they share their message… s-so the ones studied here in Umberal were very faint when they were discovered…”
“Yes or no, relic wench. SPEAK!” You really can’t express enough how proud you are of your girl Rezalith–rather than attacking your guide outright the fiend simply strides over and pokes her with a claw instead! If you only had a camera…
“ACK! I-I think the devil’s name was AZBAAL!” Squeaks the curator! “Th-that’s what the meister said in the lecture I a-attended, at least…”
”Hmmm… nope. Never heard of ‘em.” Grunts your demonic roommate’s disembodied voice. You don’t say it out loud, but you recall RED’S true name being… KALAMAAX?
Just thinking it sends a shiver down your spine.
“Well there ain’t no Archdevils in Zoral anymore,” Volka remarks with a laugh, “So it sounds like those Khorrozehs did a good job getting rid of it, didn’t they?”
“Seems so,” TT sniffs, “But how? Must’ve been some wild magic!”
“Th-the Nuugal were gifted when it c-came to magic…” Repeats the guide, her gaze wandering down towards the floor. “Th-the stones mentioned spells, but… but no records remain of what they were…” Her eyes drift back your way. “Th-that was their way, really… the Nuugal tended to, well, improvise a lot when it came to spells, so…”
So they didn’t write ‘em down, huh? The Chytree nods.
“E-even nowadays mages can be so c-competitive…” Cheesti sighs. “B-before the Teksouls there were duels on the street l-left and right… a-and now…”
And now? She sends a sidelong glance back where the Teksoul was in the foyer. “I… I miss the W-Watchman th-that used to w-work here… h-he would walk me back to, um, the s-staff dorm…”
A distant slither sends the girl jerking straight up! “B-but th-things are so much safer now! Mhm! S-so convenient, th-those Teksouls!”
>CONTD.
>>6285168An uncomfortable silence falls upon the room before the curator dispels it with a meek giggle! “A-anyways, l-let’s continue, shall we? Onward… t-to KNOWLEDGE!”
The silence persists as you delve deeper into the beast… and after pausing to feel a chunk of masonry similar to the ones you scrambled across when escaping the Shyppas back on your ‘River Cruise’, you feel a faint breeze as you enter another section of the museum!
“F-for a time, the great c-cities of Khorrazeh were lost…” Cheesti continues in an almost reverent tone. “Many sunk to the bottom of the seas… others cracked apart like dropped plates… b-but some remained more intact than others…”
Her words fade into the aether as you feel yourself be whisked away again… and this time you’re somewhere colder… more rugged. Mud cakes your thick, itchy trousers as you carefully descend into a rough-hewn pit–the air brisk with approaching snow and the sound of workers chattering as they work to erect something around the perimeter!
“Centuries after the fall of The Empire during the reign of Telassi Far-Reach, the Chytree Hierarchy funded and organized research expeditions all across Zoral…”
A worker places something smooth and round in your gloved claw–its surface tickling your palm with the familiar tingle of magic… but it’s unlike any Chytree enchantment you’ve ever examined.
“It was through one of these expeditions that the ruins of Umberal were discovered… not that there was much left to unearth. Aside from TRINE TOWER, much of the flying city was lost… though whether it was due to time and weathering or something else is difficult to say.”
The clap of thunder in the distance rouses you from your inspection of the artifact… and it’s only after you feel slush patter across your face that you realize you’re in another time… and in another body.
The air is musty with smoke, ozone, and rain… you stand quivering in a hastily-dug trench as your head quakes with residual magic.
You’ve never experienced it as a human, but you know where you are almost immediately:
A battlefield. You’re at war. What are you?
>A Chytree Adept–trained in steel and sorcery, robes burnt and battered from battle!>A Mox Sapper–thick, banded mail chafing your scales with every step as you prepare to blow open the enemy defenses!>A Gnok Man-At-Arms–mud and blood caking your armor as you wade into battle with a heavy blade and mace jingling at your side!>A Durher Sniper–small and light, taking shots at the enemy as you and your partner dart from cover to cover!
>>6285172>A Mox Sapper–thick, banded mail chafing your scales with every step as you prepare to blow open the enemy defenses!THIS MOX IS TRAINED TO SMASH YOUR ASS.
>>6285172>A Mox Sapper–thick, banded mail chafing your scales with every step as you prepare to blow open the enemy defenses!Sure!
>>6285172>A Durher Sniper–small and light, taking shots at the enemy as you and your partner dart from cover to cover!
>>6285176>>6285217>MOX SAPPER>>6285304>DURHER SNIPERCatcucks fear the Mox MAHARAJAS. Hope you're ready to blow shit up. Writing, but it'll take a bit--starting new job stuff this week AND we've got people staying at the house, so apologies in advance for the delays!
“TUZ!” The word jerks your mind away from the thick, metal carapace encasing you like a coffin and the thick raindrops rattling against your helmet.
”The Finder War occurred long before the light disappeared,” Cheesti begins, her words bouncing through your head like an echo in a cave, “And we can only imagine the horrors those brave souls witnessed among the ruins of old Umberal….”
The simple act of swiveling your head in the direction of the voice is enough to elicit a dull creak from your armor. We moving, you ask, the words crawling out of your dry, cracked throat muffled and weary.
“All in due time,” Grunts your counterpart who addressed you–MODD was his name. Clanking into your hastily-dug trench swearing under his heavy breath, your fellow Mox studies you through goggle-encased eyes. “We wait for the giants to pass. Then we go.”
”The Chytree Hierarchy. The Coalition. When neither was willing to share the spoils buried beneath the ground, there was but one solution.”
Zaan, you croak as you and Modd both turn to stare at the third Mox standing on the trench’s corner like a grim statue, hear that?
“Hells…”
The curse comes out of Zaan’s lips like a prayer as you feel the earth quake beneath your feet. Joining your companion at his side, you feel your scales quiver and a clawing sensation in your gut when you spot the source: long, confident strides carry them across the battlefield–each step clearing several groups of trenches.
Magi’bahs. Elementals. Constructs of Magic and Energy. You’d seen some before in the traveling circuses that had passed through your village as a fledge, but these were no carnival attractions:
These were giants.
You watch with a mixture of terror and reverence as your brothers in the defensive lines scatter like Zitzers, limbs thick as towers crashing through their ranks like waves crashing against the sea cliffs. A few brave souls stand their ground only to evaporate like puddles in the heat upon making contact with the colossi.
Flocks of those big-eyed bastards flank the giant’s heads–Chytree Maguses. Cocky shits. One is humbled for good when an arc of energy springs from a hill across the battlefield and vaporizes a hole straight through his chest. His comrades don’t even watch him drop to the ground.
“Nice of the snipers to do their job…” Muses Modd as the remaining mages set the offending hill ablaze with arcane explosions, “Just like we practiced, ey, Tuz?”
You bend as low as you can in your armor and square your stance as your fellow sappers chain a large, metal sphere to your back before handing the chains over to you.
“It’s armed,” Modd continues as you finish locking everything into place, “So don’t go taking any spills until you’re on their side of the battlefield.”
>CONTD.
>>6285560You test the weight. Heavy. Unwieldy. Of course it is. You thought this thing dispels magic!
“It does,” Modd nods with a few dull creaks, “But it goes ‘boom’ too.” Slapping your shoulder with his mud-covered gauntlet, you can tell the Mox is grinning at you beneath his mask. “Tuz-”
You know, you groan as you tap your forehead against his, if you can’t make it back, you’ll make it count. Another slap on the shoulder.
“They’ll be spinnin’ ballads about us, brother,” He states with a muffled laugh, “We’ll never go to bed alone again after this!”
Quit thinking about bedfellows and start thinking about covering my ass, you retort with a wry grin! Zaan, you grunt, we clear?
Your quiet comrade stands silently for a moment. “... Aye, now or never, brothers.”
Falling in behind Zaan, you and Modd descend the hill battered by wind, rain, and the quaking footsteps of the elemental giants lumbering across the battlefield.
“Conjurer’s Camp can’t be too far from the front,” Zaan mutters, calculating every step he takes, “Set off the bomb there, ta-ta to the titans.”
“We should hug this ridge,” Modd suggests, swearing as he stumbles, “Won’t see much resistance if we’re cautious.”
“Or we cross to the other side,” Zaan grunts. “Get some footmen to cover us.”
It’s risky, you add, but what about the trenches? Both of your comrades answer your question with stares.
“That ain’t risky,” Modd scoffs, “It’s stupid. Even without the giants those trenches’ll be stuffed to the brim with constructs.”
So you’ll have cover, you shrug. Not to mention sniper support from the opposite hill.
“There’ll be resistance every path we take,” Sighs Zaan, “You’re the deliveryman, Tuz. Make the call.”
Where to?
>Hug your hill and stay out of sight!>Grab some footmen across the way!>Straight down the middle–trust the snipers!>Write-In!
>>6285562>Write-inGet some footmen to make a distraction and then try to sneak in while staying out of sight.
>>6285562>WRITE IN - FOOTMEN, MAKE A DISTRACTION. HUG THE HELL AND STAY OUT OF SIGHT.
>>6285570>>6285574>>6285747>GET A DISTRACTION AND SNEAK!Ooh, that's using the ole' noodle! Sorry for the wait--today got pretty busy. Rest of the week will be busy too, most likely.
>Roll me 1d100-2 (+4 Distraction, +2 Hill Coverage, +3 Coalition Training, -2 Slippery terrain, -4 Magical Senses, -2 Heavy Armor, -3 Many Constructs) to slip through undetected! Best of 3!
Rolled 96 - 2 (1d100 - 2)
>>6285884
>>6285887Okay take it easy
>>6285889Nah, Tuz is our new protagonist now.
>>6285891That settles that, I suppose... guess I can hand Volka over to him
Rolled 32 - 2 (1d100 - 2)
>>6285884
Rolled 54 - 2 (1d100 - 2)
>>6285884AIE AIE AIE AIE
CRIT FAIL!!!
>>6285892Noooo! What about Jhairo?
>>6285933Hmmm... well if you insist, anon. I thought he wasn't a very popular option based on the interactions in the last thread, but far be it below me to refuse a request from one of my players! Jhairo it is! <3
Also we got three rolls! I'll update tomorrow when I'm not busy. Apologies again--genuinely had no clue this week would get so busy! AIIIEEEE!
Zaan has a point, not that you liked to admit it. You’re a sapper, not a strategist… if someone asked you where to place a dozen blastcaps to topple a curtain wall, you’d have an answer before they were done asking the question! But deciding how to make or break this battle?
History would remember you one way or another… and the thought terrifies you.
The Chytree don’t make mistakes, you grunt as a spear of ice crashes further down the hill and showers your armor with dozens of tiny little ‘tink’s, so you need to be cautious…
You know the trenches like the back of your claw by now–not even a column of giant Magi’bah and the world collapsing around you could hope to defeat the days you spent digging, reinforcing, and pacing from one end of the trenches to the other.
Monotony is one hell of a teacher.
Spurred onward by the ground shaking beneath your feet with each step the giants take, you and the others nearly catch a few blades to the face when you run smack-dab into the middle of a squad of Gnok swordsmen–their tall, armored forms making them resemble scarecrows wobbling in the middle of a storm.
“Gentlemen,” Remarks their sharptoothed leader with a weary grin, “Care to join the charge?”
You never liked Gnoks. Always scheming. Always hiding behind backhanded jokes. No, you growl with a frown, you’re here to ask a favor.
The footmen creak in their armor. “Oh?” Replies the captain, “Well ask away, comrade,” He adds, stealing an amused glance at the rest of his troops, “We aim to please…”
You’re headed for the Conjuring Camp, you croak as you give the payload on your back a good shake. And we’ll need some footmen to cover us.
“Then they’ll paint a nice, big clanking target on us!” Scoffs Modd with a derisive shake of his head. “Come now, Tuz-”
“Shorty’s right,” Nods the Gnok Captain, “That thing on your back won’t make it past the outer trenches if-”
Which is why they’ll be heading in the opposite direction, you continue, earning a pair of stares from your comrades.
“A distraction, ey?” The Gnok asks, his armor creaking as his head cocks to the side. “We were ordered to cover the snipers, Mox.”
An explosion rocks the trenches just ahead of you, showering your helmet with a fresh layer of dirt, mud, and something… warmer. They’ll cover everyone by covering your approach, you argue! Without their constructs and conjurings, the Chytree are dead in the water!
The Gnok leans in closer to meet your hard stare with one of his own. “And if your plan doesn’t work, we’ll be dead here. No snipers, no bombs. That sit right with you?”
It doesn’t, but you don’t bother sharing that. You’re a sapper, not a strategist, after all, but if you only have a dozen blastcaps and you need to topple a curtain wall, well…
It’s not about force... It’s about placement.
>CONTD.
You answer the Gnok with a resolute nod. It’ll have to. The response earns a long, hard stare, followed by a laugh!
“Ha! I like you, crazy, big-eyed bastard!” Clasping his claw on your armored shoulder, he gives it a firm shake. “Aizee, by the way. Reckon we oughta’ know each other before we charge off to our deaths.”
Tuz, you respond, slapping your breastplate in a salute, and if this works, no one else is gonna die. Returning your salute, Aizee turns to his men and ushers them forward. “C’mon, men–we’re gonna make things nice and loud for our Mox mates here!” Being the first to mount the edge of the trench, he glances down at you as the rest of his soldiers follow suit.
“Listen for the whistle, Brother Tuz, and move fast when you do–Mox aren’t known for their speed.”
“Aye, we’re known for blowing things ta’ smithereens.” Snickers Modd from behind you. “Shall we?”
We shall.
Doubling back costs you precious time, but what choice do you have? The giants Zaan noticed before are now well past your outer defenses–sniper blasts whizzing through their bodies like a claw trying to catch a sunbeam.
You make it to the foot of the hill when you hear it–a shrill, grating whistle rising above the trenches followed by the report of several magical blasts.
“Don’t think about them,” Zaan warns as your gaze drifts down to the trenches, “Just move.”
Sound advice. Scrambling along the hill takes energy you didn’t know you still had: each step along the slope threatening to send you tumbling down to the trenches. Each footfall nearly buckling beneath your heavy boots.
Whatever Aizee and his men are doing, it works–a few Chytree Soldier Constructs march by, each squad moving in perfect lockstep with their three eyes glowing like grim lanterns in the mist.
You tug your helmet tighter as you continue on.
“Breathe easy…” Grunts Modd as he follows the same target you do, “Armor’s rated ta’ muffle magic, remember?”
You do, but it doesn’t make you feel any safer. You know all too well what one Construct can do to a fully-plated soldier. Horrible things can sling spell and sword as long as their creators have energy to share… theirs was probably spread out in a recliner somewhere far, far ahead being fanned by a servant and sipping a warm drink.
One bomb isn’t nearly enough for those big-eyed fops.
>CONTD.
>>6286170Even with your armor, Zaan leads you across the hill like a trio of ghosts using the distant rumble of spells and stomps to mask your approach. You follow the hill as far as it’ll take you before it starts to level out, leaving you with two options: cross the flat, unforgiving No Man’s Land sprawling ahead of you…
Or slip into the enemy trenches.
With luck, Aizee’s distraction should have them occupied, but a trench is never not dangerous–the divots and scratches on your armor are evidence enough of that. Before you can really weigh your options, you and the lads are rocked free of your footing by a spell blowing a tree into splinters just a few paces away!
“Think they’ve spotted us!?” Sputters Modd as you both slide into the nearest hole you can find!
“If they did, they wouldn’t have missed…” Zaan hisses through his mask. “Stay close, brothers.”
Ash and dust clings to your mask filter as you delve into the trenches–your breath shallow as you listen close for the sound of marching Constructs. Giant footfalls rock the ground in the distance. Spells soar across the ash-choked skies above.
But here? Quiet as the grave. You tread lightly anyways… as best you can given what you’re carrying. Constructs are loud when they move, sure, but Constructs don’t need to move from their post to stretch their legs. Constructs don’t need to breathe, eat, or sleep.
Constructs can wait as long as it takes.
>Roll me 1d100-3 (+4 Distraction, +3 Coalition Training, -3 Enemy Trenches, -4 Magical Senses, -2 Heavy Armor, -1 Not As Many Constructs) for the final push! Best of 3!
Rolled 2 - 3 (1d100 - 3)
>>6286172Let's do it, lads.
>>6286174Ouch, that's horrible. BUT. It's not a critfail!
Rolled 58 - 3 (1d100 - 3)
>>6286172
Rolled 81 - 3 (1d100 - 3)
>>6286172
>>6286174>>6286197>>6286210>HIGHEST ROLL: 78!That'll do it! Writing!
The mammoth steps of the conjured colossi fade behind you as you dive deeper into the belly of the beast. Your heart pounds against your metal-encased chest as you strain to listen for any ambushers waiting around the corner. Zaan moves like a shadow–an impressive feat for someone up to their frills in metal–but his patience pays off, as does yours: the Chytree might have the numbers advantage, but their soldiers are stupid. Brainless.
Command warned you of Mzz’goe’virr mercenaries and poisoners on Hierarchy payroll–with luck they were engaging the Gnoks. Wherever they were, all the Chytree had were their precious Constructs: Metal husks driven by simple directions from their glowy-eyed masters. A Mox would have filled random trenches with traps. A Durher could pick up your metal moving a mile away. A Gnok, well…
They probably would have been able to cheat their way into owning this land. Mzz’goe’virr? They’d be too busy skulking into the villages at night and snatching away all the fledges and kits.
You offer a quick and quiet prayer to OAD thanking them that there aren’t any Skogs around.
Advance. Creep up. Mace to the head. Advance. The process almost becomes rote until you spot runes glowing on the side of the trench hidden behind a pile of containers! Guess these Chytree CAN think like a Mox now and then.
Too little, too late.
You hear the Conjuration Camp long before you see it–clanking footsteps… dull, droning chants… you’d seen one before a few months back–circles upon circles of Chytree-woven mats to kneel on, warm vats of Suu Juice to pour on the mages to keep from keeling over of thirst.
Even with the wards placed on your armor your scales tingle as a wave of magical energy washes over them! Leaving you and Modd to scout ahead, Zaan returns a few moments later with heavier breathing, but looking no worse for wear.
“Y’okay?”
“Sentry.” Zaan pants, prompting Modd to steal a glance behind you. “We’re not getting in there. There’s a barrier, an-”
Won’t be a problem, you reply with a wink. Bomb’ll tear through the barrier too. Magic, remember? Your fellow Mox freezes like a statue before nearly keeling over with hushed laughter!
“Godsdamned idiots, the lot of ‘em..” He mutters through his mask, “Them and their precious magic…”
>CONTD.
>>6286323“What the Hells are we waiting for, then?” Modd groans! “Let’s set it up while we’re still unnotice-”
Can’t, you reply with a shake of your head, gotta be higher up. Above the trenches. Both of your comrades balk at the news.
“But… what if they see it?”
Bomb’ll blow up no matter what, you reply with a weary shrug. Just have to hope they don’t teleport it away…
Your conversation is cut short by a low, rumbling roar–one that rattles you to your very core!
“What… the HELLS was that?” Hisses Modd, his fear palpable even through the mask!
Doesn’t matter, you growl as you begin to ascend the side of the trench, bomb’s gotta be armed. You steal a glance at your fellow Mox. And they’ve got to get going.
Zaan reacts as if you’d just slapped his sister. “Save it for the ballads, you stupid bastard–we’re not leaving without-”
You’ll catch up, you groan, the chains holding the bomb beginning to dig into your shoulders, secure a way out–you won’t have time to sneak!
Modd answers by digging his boots into the side of the trench next to you. “Stuff it up your arse, you stubborn, wart-covered prick. We arm it together, we run like Hell together.”
“And if need be,” Zaan adds as he too starts to climb the side of the trench, “Then we all go out together.”
“Whaddaya’ say to that, you stupid bastard?”
What DID you say to that?
>All together now…>I say start running, you idiots. (Go alone)>Write-In
>>6286167>>6286170>>6286172Wow, that is a FASCINATING picture of a magic war. Kudos, QM. Good damn job.
>>6286323The Chytree are like a whole race of only ant QUEENS, huh? They just use constructs for drones and soldiers.
>>6286324>All together now…What a band of brothers.
>>6286324>All together now…LISTEN, BROTHERS
WE WILL KILL
WE WILL NOT BE KILLED
LET'S DO THIS!!!!
>>6286389It was a difficult choice to decide whether I wanted to depict the horrors of war... it truly is Hell.
>>6286389>ChytreeThey have a natural affinity for magic, yep! Ask Morook or Oti though... they definitely ain't QUEENS!
>>6286389>>6286393>ALL TOGETHER NOWGonna write this one up some time tomorrow--still got a lot of stuff going on on my end. Thanks for being patient and apologies if the interlude's going a little too slowly! Seeya tomorrow!
>>6286439I like the downtime for lore, and it might reveal something to give us casus belli to kill Trier. The pacing is good.
What more is there to say? Arguing any more would cause a brawl, and you don’t plan on getting caught and killed because you pissed Modd off. Pausing mid-climb, you answer your fellow assholes with a weary groan. You weren’t planning on any heroic sacrifices, you just wanted to make sure your escape route was cl-
“Yea, yea… Go to Hell, you idiot.”
Two pairs of claws boost you over the edge of the trench and onto the dried-out scrub above. No time to dilly-dally–scrambling for the nearest cover you can find, the best you can do is a chunk of vine-covered masonry: a chunk of ruins those bug-eyed bastards were drooling over.
Wonder what the previous tenants would think of you now… ready to blow each other to Hell and back over their old patio?
Modd and Zaan are up and over before you know it–no big feat considering they aren’t carrying a bomb big enough to send the whole mountain ridge back to Mitaar.
“Hells…” Grunts Modd as he squeezes in next to you behind your flimsy cover, “They’ve got more than just Constructs down in that camp, Zaan, you godsdamned moron.”
“Dregs, I know.” Zaan hisses as he steals a quick peek out from behind the rubble. “Magicless Chytree… guess they found a use for ‘em after all.”
Better than how they usually treat ‘em, you reply with a callous shrug. Won’t have to worry about class differences where they’re headed. With no more quips in your collective repertoire, the three of you get to work unpacking and arming the bomb–Modd’s on anchor duty, Zaan checks the primer, and you, well… you prepare the trigger enchantment.
Useful bit of magic, that.
Before you can finish, the hill overlooking the Conjuring Camp is rocked by something big–bigger than the giants, Hells, bigger than Modd’s little sister! You and Zaan exchange a few nonverbals before switching off as the air above the camp grows thick with the scent of ozone, ash…
… and blood. Stale blood.
That’s when you feel it: an uncanny, almost primal fear grips your bones as a rush of magical energy ripples across the battlefield that chills you to your very core! Sensing something amiss, your comrades join you to investigate!
“Oad’s Waves…” Sputters Modd under his heavy breath, “What in the Hells are they conjuring!?”
Jagged fissures spread across the trenches with the Conjuring Camp acting as an epicenter! A rain squall beats down upon your helmet with renewed fervor as you see something forming in the center of the camp like a fetus in an egg:
Something big.
Modd and Zaan stand in silent horror as you reach down to the DISRUPTER BOMB at your side…
And activate the countdown.
>CONTD.
>>6286668Welcome to Zoral, you mutter as you grab your dumbfounded ‘helpers’ by their collars and hop back into the trenches!
The three of you knew exactly what you saw that day, but from the moment you took to the trenches like a pack of Tottas to the day you quietly passed away in your bed in the house next to that little vineyard you ended up owning, you never once ventured a guess as to what might’ve happened had you not blown that camp to smithereens.
You did what you had to do. That’s all that matters.
”The Chytree Empire collapsed shortly after,” Cheesti drones, her voice startling you after such a vivid memory, ”Though it wasn’t solely due to the advent of Counter-Magical Combat… Amid the chaos of The Finder War, The Skogs lead by Utzo Carved-Tusk cut a bloody swathe through both Coalition and Chytree territories… Neither governing body survived the ensuing chaos.”
You find yourself back in the museum once again–a little rattled, but intact. You think!
“B-but fr-from that chaos came n-NEW communities!” Chirps the Chytree as she tries to avoid staring at a somewhat sullen-looking Volka. “Umberal was one of them… a-after the abrupt end to The Finder War, it became a st-stronghold in the wake of the Skog Hordes… d-defended by Chytree and Coalition alike… a-and, of course, a-ARCHMAGE TRIER…”
A peculiar sensation tickles you like a spider crawling on your neck. Dude must be pretty old then, you remark, earning another nervous laugh from your curator!
“W-well extending one’s l-life isn’t, um… unheard of… i-in the magical community…” She weakly replies. “In fact, it’s almost a pr-prerequisite these days… d-dangerous times…”
So he’s been running the show in Umberal this whole time then?
“Mhm! I-in fact, his Mage Tower… in which w-we find ourselves now… was one of the biggest findings amidst the rubble of old Umberal after The Finder War…” Her glowing eyes take on what you assume is a Chytree smile. “Th-though back then it was only T- TRINE TOWER... th-the other parts didn’t emerge until after The Concord of Umberal was finalized… a-and he was declared Archmage and Arbiter.”
“Sounds more like a king ta’ me…” Remarks Volka, the girl still a little sore at hearing about her race’s historical contributions.
“W-well it’s easy to say from an outsider’s p-perspective…” Mutters the Museum worker as she scans the ceiling warily, “But l-look at the alternatives! The East is an untamed w-wilderness… The Skogs-erm…”
The girl wisely cuts herself off, but not before earning a pointed stare from your favorite Skog.
“Erm, a-and Cr-Crossroads is in turmoil over the de-death of their Guild Chairman… a-and they don’t even have a replacement set, d-do they..?”
>CONTD.
>>6286671“Well nah, but-”
“It’s a bit weird looking in from the outside,” TT shrugs as she gives Volka a reassuring pat on the leg, “But Umberal’s pretty stable, if nothing else.”
“E-exactly! EXACTLY RIGHT!” Cheesti agrees with a series of frantic nods! “J-just wait… all of Zoral will be l-like Umberal one day… s-so exciting…”
Eyes flickering like strobe lights, the girl addresses you all with baited breath! “Say… w-would you like to see Archmage Trier’s exhibit? I-it’s really neat a-and it even answers questions!”
To your surprise, Rezalith is the first to speak in response! “Nature, as they say, calls. Where may I ‘do my business’, witch?”
You shoot her a perplexed glance, but she doesn’t respond.
“Well, um,” Giggles the docent, “A Teksoul can dire-”
“No.”
“Eep! W-well then, um…” Sputters the Chytree, “Th-then if you follow the spiral-patterned carpet-”
The devil’s long-gone before Cheesti can finish. Turning back to you with silent panic in her eyes, she cocks her head to the side with a genial chirp! “W-well then… a-any questions, or…?”
Well?
>You had a question about those soldiers in the memory, actually!>The Finder War… you had a few questions about that!>Those bombs… any of those around this museum?>Did you say this museum’s a part of Trier’s Tower?>Let’s go to the demon exhibit, actually!>Yea, you wanna see this Trier exhibit…>We should probably track down our friend… (Go after Rezzie!)>Actually we should probably go…>Write-In!
>>6286673>Those bombs… any of those around this museum?I don't think they'd survive for so long, but you know, never hurts to asks. We sure could use one to murder that Spicy Lord, anyway.
>>6286676Just to avoid later confusion: Archmage Trier's the LORD RED was talking about taking down... and you've heard Trier has a deal with the Spice Cartel, but he ain't running it...
>>6286677No, I was talking about the spice cartel boss we were going to murder. I probably wouldn't try to use magic to kill a magic dude.
>>6286673>Those bombs… any of those around this museum?BLOW US UP LAD
>>6286680>>Yea, you wanna see this Trier exhibit…An anti-magic bomb seems ideal for that purpose to me, actually.
>>6286673>Yea, you wanna see this Trier exhibit…
>>6286673>Those bombs… any of those around this museum?>>6286941Which is exactly why he probably has several ways of dealing with one.
>>6286673>>We should probably track down our friend… (Go after Rezzie!)We need to use the "bathroom" too.
>>6286676>>6286725>>6286967>BOMBS AWAY?>>6286941>TRIER PRESSURE!>>6287061>REZZIE!?Writing! Got a big meeting today so expect the update later.
You wouldn’t mind picking the big man’s brain a bit… but that flashback-memory… err… that FLASHBEMORY left your head rattling… especially that explosive finish! And it gives you a few ideas…
Actually, you pipe up with a genial grin, you had a question about THE FINDER WAR! Seeing a way out of chasing down your fiend friend, the Chytree shifts her glowing gaze onto you with a cheerful click! “Certainly! A-ask away… it’s one of my f-favorite subjects, actually!”
The docent deflates a bit.
“Err… a-aside from all the killing, that is… I don’t really l-like violence…”
“Heh. Get a load of this broad, Ant.”
Ignoring TT and her nudging, you move forward with your question: those bombs… any of ‘em still lying around the museum? The resulting giggle from your guide sounds sweet, but you can’t help but be a little offended.
“Oh no no NO!” She snickers with a shake of her head! “Errr, t-that is to say there aren’t any ARMED ones! Imagine how dangerous that would be!”
“So there are bombs still lying around?” Tzah-Tzie retorts as she gives her chin a good scratch!
“Mhm!” Cheesti nods! “Th-they’re in the DEMON EXHIBIT, actually! D-deactivated, but still the r-real d-d-DEAL! D-demon hunting is primarily left to the Templars th-these days… but as some of you might’ve noticed in the Sensory Aid, they were quite the breakthrough in magical deterrence, es-especially when facing demons!”
Volka frowns. “I just got ta’ carve up a lotta’ Constructs… what’s that about bombs?”
“Neat!” Tzah-Tzie grins! “I blasted a wizard out of the air! Say, let’s do it again!”
She leans towards you with a conspiratorial glance. “D-devils are beings of almost pure magic, y’know… s-so if you can dispel them, well..”
Her explanation is cut short by a faint slithering sound on the ceiling far above! Joining her in a despairing glance upward, you spot the telltale glow of a Teksoul’s face looming above like a spider!
”PlEAsE COnTInuE TO ENJoy THe TOUrRrR…”
“Yes! YES! G-good idea!” Cheesti sputters, the girl a few minutes away from forming a lake with the amount of sweating she’s doing! “Errr, L-let’s continue? Please? If.. if you’re okay with… pl-please?”
So Trier keeps deactivated ANTIMAGIC BOMBS in his pad… makes you wonder if Rezzie didn’t run off to do some REZconaissance on her own!
What do?
>One more question!
>Trier Exhibit!
>Demon Exhibit!
>What about the Skogs!?
>Track down Rezzie!
>Actually we should probably go…
>Write-In!
>>6287257>Track down Rezzie!See, I was gonna say that we should tell her we want to grab Rez for the exhibit so so she doesn't start crying after thinking we're bored and want to leave or something, but then I realized that would be pretty funny.
>>6287257>Track down Rezzie!
>>6287259>>6287281>FOLLOW THAT FIEND!Ooh, daring, aren't we?
>Roll me 1d100-5 (+2 Loose Footwork, +2 Not a busy day, -1 Rezzie head start, -3 Teksoul Security, -5 Trier's Tower) to track down the devil! Best of 3!
Rolled 44 - 5 (1d100 - 5)
>>6287319WATCH AND LEARN
Rolled 82 - 5 (1d100 - 5)
>>6287320NO U
>>6287319Rolling.
Rolled 10 (1d100)
>>6287319Lets gow
>>6287320>>6287352>>6287372>HIGHEST ROLL: 77!Writinnnnggggg!
Rereading the last post sends a shiver of doubt down your spine… You’re probably just overthinking it, you overthink to yourself as your companions study your blank expression with a mixture of doting adoration and mild concern, after all, you had that whole talk on the train! Rezalith’s smarter now! More cautious! And your pals had a point earlier: since when has anyone used the restroom in this DARK QUEST of yours?
Surely she’s… just taking a little break?
…
…
Yea, RIGHT. Clutching your stomach in slightly mock discomfort (you’ve always had a weak tummy), you shoot your tour guide a pleading glance! B-bathroom, you whine through clenched teeth, wh-where…?!
“Ah… th-the BATHROOM EXHIBIT...” The Chytree answers with a sagely nod, “O-one of our more popular exhibits, if you can believe i-”
No, you groan, where’s… you wanna go where the other person in your group went!
“... I’m still here, Ant.” Chirps TT down at your side with a reassuring smile! “Don’t worry!”
“Heheh… hey Rook, where’d… where’d I go?” Snickers Volka, her eyes closed, but her mouth open wide with childlike glee.
NO, NO, NO! You want… D’oh, where’d REZZIE go!? The one in the veil!? You wanna track her down! The curator lights up in recognition… and then subsequently deflates a bit.
“... Oh… you… want a break too, huh…?”
YES, you answer with an emphatic nod! She’s dang-err, you just… wanna keep an eye on her, is all! Cheesti studies your expression and relents with a resigned nod.
“... I understand… My little sister can be a handful too…”
The word SISTER drives a cold, hard spike through your head. She’s… she’s not your little sister, you mumble as you stumble through the sudden burst of mind fog! Thank God she isn’t…
When your explanation doesn’t cut it, you add a little more argument to the pile: Look, it’s not that she’s weird or her exhibits are boring, you reply with a placating smile, it’s just-
“YOUTHINKI’MWEIRDAND/ORMYEXHIBITSAREBOOOOORRIIIIING!?!?”
Your hands find their way onto your face as you realize you’re dealing with the living, breathing equivalent of a house of cards… made of broken glass. You feel a tug at your robe and lock eyes with your favorite fuzzball. Yes?
“Spiral-patterned carpet, remember?” She asks as she tugs you onto a particularly plush rug! “Don’t be too long, kay?”
What would you do without her? Giving your gal an appreciative scratch behind the ears, you scurry off after your fiery friend while Volka and TT tend to the crying curator! Yeesh, some people…
>CONTD.
whererug
md5: 5573b217b14bd109137c48f3b207177a
🔍
>>6287652Though you keep the spiral-patterned path firmly beneath each footfall, you can’t help but feel an uncanny sensation in the walls around you… one frighteningly-similar to how you felt plumbing the depths of Oti’s Mage Tower back in Crossroads. You know as much about magic as you do Nuclear Engineering, but you remember one thing: Towers don’t keep their form for very lo-
Your thoughts come to a screeching halt as something sharp rakes across your throat… not hard enough to draw blood, but-
“SSSSCCHCHHT! Dead AGAIN, MORON.”
Oh thank GOD. She didn’t break anything, did she? Retrieving her claw from your throat with a pout when she realizes you aren’t gonna react, Rezalith stretches her wings as she shoots you a sidelong and disapproving glance.
“I could ask you the same thing, AntPERVERT.”
That one doesn’t even make sense. The devil responds by wagging her finger in your face!
“I think it DOES! Why ELSE would you follow me when I left to relieve myself, hmm? Greasy degenerate.”
Hey, that’s not true! You’re not a degenerate!
”Not my battle, Tex, but I’ve been rootin’ through your head long enough ta’ know THAT ain’t true… By the way, you can watch all this stuff on an ‘Inter-Net’?”
Can it, RED. Rezalith bristles at the name of your mutual acquaintance.
“And I DEFINITELY don’t wanna talk with HIM peeking in on everything you see and hear! Run along back to your other friends, AnTWERP!”
Not until she tells you what she was doing, you deflect! The guide said this is TRIER’S TOWER! Doesn’t she remember what that means!?
A look of rare recognition falls upon the fiend’s face! “... I can take it over… like the tower of that OTHER pervert who tried to contain me! Good thinking for once, idiot!”
Not what you meant, you sigh. Look, security’s already pretty wary, so let’s just-
… Huh. Rez?
“Still here, moron. What do you want now?”
Errr, you stammer as you give the ground a few taps, where’d… does she know where the carpet went? Testing the floor with her own feet, the devil answers you with an exasperated groan!
“Nice going, AnTWIT. You scared away the rug with your incredible weakness and stupidity.”
Not good. Taking a few cautious steps back the way you came, a sinking feeling pools inside your gut as you slowly realize you aren’t in the same hallway you were on the way over… the air temperature has dropped, for starters, but the way every noise echoes off the walls gets your heart racing too. It’s only after you endure a few pokes to the chest that your hellish companion realizes the gravity of the situation.
“... Anton,” She growls, warily scanning the area around you, “Where are the others?”
>CONTD.
slappo
md5: 98da7c1ad5bbd058b1ff0e4064df348e
🔍
>>6287653That’s what you’d like to know, you answer incredulously! You just went to use the bathroom! Where ARE they!? Where are YOU!? WHAT ARE Y-
Your brief stint into the realm of Philosophy is cut short by a slap across the face! Phew, you sigh as you rub your sore cheek, thanks, Rez, you nee-OW!
Okay, you mutter, that’s en-OW! YOU’RE FINE NOW! QUIT IT WITH THE SLAPPING!
“‘Fine now’?” Blinks the demon as she cocks her head to the side in confusion, “... I was just doing that outta’ boredom.”
Well let’s channel that into a more productive endeavor, okay? Picking a direction and walking, you indulge yourself with a confident nod as you feel a faint breeze against your face–one that smells like formaldehyde, but a breeze nonetheless! Let’s move, you suggest as you turn to give your fiery companion a reassuring smile, there’s gotta be an exit if we look around!
“Fine,” She grumbles as she trots over to your side with all the enthusiasm of a gloomy teenager, “But if I get bored I’m gonna start ripping out your teeth, okay?”
… If you answer ‘no’ will sh-
“We are NOT open to negotiations, worm.”
Fair enough. Making your way down the hall, you find your surroundings changing once again…
>The air is sweltering–the sound of massive cogs clattering all around as a vast sea of sweet-scented SOMETHING bubbles below!>Clicks and clacks fill the air as the passage becomes a maze populated by the low drone of faint conversations and pens against parchment…>Silence greets you as your ears pop upon entering a vast bubble of… nothing? There’s ground beneath your feet, but everything feels almost… underwater…>You enter a hallway smelling faintly of syrup. A plush rug lies at your feet and a cheery, almost pleasant tune greets your ears as you continue down the hall…
>>6287654>The air is sweltering–the sound of massive cogs clattering all around as a vast sea of sweet-scented SOMETHING bubbles below!Cogs?
>>6287654>You enter a hallway smelling faintly of syrup. A plush rug lies at your feet and a cheery, almost pleasant tune greets your ears as you continue down the hall…Syrup? Trier does seem like the kind of person who might want to show them all
>>6287654>You enter a hallway smelling faintly of syrup. A plush rug lies at your feet and a cheery, almost pleasant tune greets your ears as you continue down the hall…
>>6287658>COGS!>>6287743>>6287789>HALLWAY!Writingggggg.
A warm curtain of sweet-scented air greets your nose as both you and Rezalith continue down a plush-carpeted hall serenaded by a faint, almost familiar tune piped in through the walls!
“Where the HELLS are we?” Remarks the Rezzie as you run your hand along the smooth, plastic-like wall. “And where’s that DAMNED music coming from?”
You’re not sure, you respond with a shrug as your hand glides over a closed, but heavy wooden door, but if you had to guess you’d say you’re in a DENTAL SURGEON’S OFFICE!
“... What’s that supposed to mean?”
You answer with a shake of your head and a sigh… she’s better off not knowing such horrors. Wherever you are, though, it’s gotta still be in the Tower, so-
“Ah! There he is! Come right in, mate!”
The sudden greeting sends you grinding to a halt, allowing Rezalith to plow into you from behind! Turning to face your greeter, you-OOOW!
Are slammed face-first into the nearest wall by an irate Rezzie.
“THAT’S for making me run into you, PERV.”
Peeling your face off the wall, y-OW!
“Two for FLINCHING!”
… Peeling your face off of the wall, you pivot in the direction the voice came from and spot a pair of eyes staring you down from within one of the rooms lining the hall! Err, h-hi?
“Hi yourself!” She chirps, leaning back in some kind of desk chair with a Gnok’s typical toothy grin! “Come come, don’t be shy!” As you file into the room–an office, you presume–your eyes produce quite little information… though you can still hear the tune in the corner of your ear. Something bubbles on the corner of the desk the Gnok rests her feet on that smells like liquid sugar…
Her gaze hops from you to Rezalith, then back! “Brought a ladyfriend too, ey? Quite alright, quite alright…”
“Ewwww, NO!” Gags your ‘ladyfriend’ as if she’d been asked to drink some sewage out of an old shoe, “Eeuuch, ‘his ladyfriend’, she says! Can you imagine!?”
A ‘no, I’m not’ would have sufficed, but you don’t know else you expected from the demonic dame. Erm, you begin as you give your throat a good clearing, do… should we know you–
“TOPPEL GRANSII at your service!” The Gnok interjects, leaping to her feet as an invisible hand clasps around yours and gives it a good shake! “Meister of Conjurations, Trimbault Academy! Graduating Cohort: The Gilded Makaar! Pleasure’s all yours, I take it! AH! Just kidding!”
You didn’t think a conjured hand could jerk your arm around enough for it to hurt, kinda, but this Toppel broad managed, somehow. Yea, you weakly reply as you massage your shoulder, you’re-
“Here about the ad, I know, I know~” The Gnok nods as she fiddles with whatever’s bubbling on the desk! “Well don’t be a stranger! Take a seat! Have some Sugar Tea! All the rage back in the East, y’know–can’t live without it!”
>CONTD.
sugartea
md5: 7ce75c879657eb7bcb6c2ace2befd68b
🔍
>>6287954A pair of cups slam in front of you and Rezzie, both positively SLOSHING to the brim with the saccharine drink! Exchanging a wary glance, both of you take a mug and sample its contents.
In another world you might’ve liked whatever it is you just imbibed… or maybe when you were a Middle Schooler when a good drink was measured by how many toppings you could fit in it from the Froyo Place down the street.
Today, though?
It’s like you lit your tongue on fire with a missile made of sugar.
N-not quite your thing!
“Figures you’d hate it.” Scoffs Rezzie as she reveals a finished mug from behind her veil! “Weak.”
Slamming her now-empty mug onto the desk with an exultant sigh, Meister Gransii shoots you an appraising and very twitchy glance.
“Huh. Thought you’d be meatier. Oh well! Big gifts come in small packages, right?” Flopping back into her chair, the mage retrieves something from a drawer in her desk–one of those tablets TT’s always tapping away at, maybe?
“So…’Ungaar Bloodshower’[/red… Think you can best my top-secret, highly-forbidden PROJECT: F, do you?” She asks, her pinprick pupils darting between you and whatever it is she’s reading!
“Who the HELLS is Un-MMFH!”
They always say to never stick anything near the mouth when a person is having a seizure… something about biting that something off? Well you probably shouldn’t stick anything near Rezalith’s mouth either, yet here you are doing it!
You doubt she’s just gonna lick your hand like Tzah-Tzie does, but you haven’t the foggiest about what’s going on… and you’re not sure if it’s the right time to let slip that you’re not actually this ’UNGAAR BLOODSHOWER’!
What do?
>Play along! Yep, that’s you!>Come clean! This has to be a mistake!>Play dumb! Whaaaa? Whoooo? Proooojecttt?>Stay Silent! She’ll think you disappeared!>Deflect! Tell us more about yourself, Toppel!>RUN!>Rezzie, you handle this!>Write-In!
sugartea
md5: 7ce75c879657eb7bcb6c2ace2befd68b
🔍
>>6287954A pair of cups slam in front of you and Rezzie, both positively SLOSHING to the brim with the saccharine drink! Exchanging a wary glance, both of you take a mug and sample its contents.
In another world you might’ve liked whatever it is you just imbibed… or maybe when you were a Middle Schooler when a good drink was measured by how many toppings you could fit in it from the Froyo Place down the street.
Today, though?
It’s like you lit your tongue on fire with a missile made of sugar.
N-not quite your thing!
“Figures you’d hate it.” Scoffs Rezzie as she reveals a finished mug from behind her veil! “Weak.”
Slamming her now-empty mug onto the desk with an exultant sigh, Meister Gransii shoots you an appraising and very twitchy glance.
“Huh. Thought you’d be meatier. Oh well! Big gifts come in small packages, right?” Flopping back into her chair, the mage retrieves something from a drawer in her desk–one of those tablets TT’s always tapping away at, maybe?
“So…’Ungaar Bloodshower’… Think you can best my top-secret, highly-forbidden PROJECT: F, do you?” She asks, her pinprick pupils darting between you and whatever it is she’s reading!
“Who the HELLS is Un-MMFH!”
They always say to never stick anything near the mouth when a person is having a seizure… something about biting that something off? Well you probably shouldn’t stick anything near Rezalith’s mouth either, yet here you are doing it!
You doubt she’s just gonna lick your hand like Tzah-Tzie does, but you haven’t the foggiest about what’s going on… and you’re not sure if it’s the right time to let slip that you’re not actually this ’UNGAAR BLOODSHOWER’!
What do?
>Play along! Yep, that’s you!>Come clean! This has to be a mistake!>Play dumb! Whaaaa? Whoooo? Proooojecttt?>Stay Silent! She’ll think you disappeared!>Deflect! Tell us more about yourself, Toppel!>RUN!>Rezzie, you handle this!>Write-In!
>>6287956>Play along! Yep, that’s you!
>>6287956>Rezzie, you handle this!Funni.
