Go "Are you two really going to fight over a minute of conversation?"

>>364960
This.

Elden 2011/11/10(Thu)21:22 No. 364967 ID: b4adaa
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“Are you two really going to fight over a minute of conversation?”

Holn speaks.
>”I don’t intend on fighting, but I’m unsure if the same can be said of this man.”

>”It can’t”
He pulls a knife. We’re in trouble!

AW SHIT. Let's make like a tree!

Elden 2011/11/10(Thu)22:34 No. 364972 ID: b4adaa
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>>364969
I’m with you!
“Holn, let’s get out of here!”
I turn around and begin running.

I don’t get far before I realize that Holn isn’t coming…

Elden 2011/11/10(Thu)22:37 No. 364973 ID: b4adaa
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Why isn't he-

>>364973
Probably because he's gonna kick that guy's ass. He's wearing a black robe like the woman you're trying to uncorrupt, isn't he? Why do you think that is, hmm?

...makes him more easily identifiable as a character?

Elden 2011/11/10(Thu)23:40 No. 364982 ID: b4adaa
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Wha-

UM GOOD JOB

Go over and find out what your dad did to the guy.

No no no. Obviously the guy just tripped and fell on his own knife. Right? Right??

...mayyyybe it's best if you, uh, don't go up to him right away.

Say something to the effect of "WHAT THE HE'LL WAS THAT?"

Elden 2011/11/15(Tue)19:33 No. 365974 ID: b4adaa
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“I… wh…”
I can’t seem to get any words out. All I can do is stare with a shocked expression.
Holn turns around and looks at me. It’s the same face as before, but I can’t look at it the same.
What the hell is this man? You can’t simply kill like that! It’s just not possible. I don’t understand.
Some very strange and disturbing thoughts shoot through my head as I wear a worried expression. When Holn see’s my face, his becomes depressed.

Elden 2011/11/15(Tue)19:36 No. 365976 ID: b4adaa
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I finally manage some choice words.
‘WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!”
>”I’m sorry, Elden. I really hoped you would never have to see me do something like that, but he attacked us. I had to.”
“Had to… ugh.”
I guess he’s right about that.
“How did you do it so quickly? That took mere seconds.”
“I have a lot of experience.”
A lot of experience? What the hell?!
“WHAT THE HELL?! I’M SICK OF ALL THESE SECRE-"

>”Hey, did you jus’ kill that guy?”
A kind sounding woman’s voice interrupts.

try not to kill her

Elden 2011/11/15(Tue)20:34 No. 365995 ID: b4adaa
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It’s a young looking goblin woman. She seems awfully… cheery for being only a few feet away from a corpse.
Holn answers her question.
>”Please understand that it was only self-defense, miss.”

>”No, no, I actually was gonna thank you for dealing with that asshole.”
…what a special place this is.

maybe it's just goblins?

elaborate. what kind of points have we earned / lost with this stunt ?

>>365974

He actually can kill like that. I don't know about you. Are those horn thingies sharp enough to poke someone to death? You got kind of a baby face.

>>365995

PURSE SNATCHER AT 12 O CLOCK

Elden 2011/11/15(Tue)23:10 No. 366014 ID: b4adaa
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>>366003
>horn thingies
My ears?


>”Thank me? What has this man done to you?”
>”Oh, all kindsa stuff. Well, mostly not to me, but to everybody, ya know? A big jerk that guy was. He attacked ya, right?
>”Yes.”
>”See? Just a big jerk. He deserved it.”
>”Well um… you’re welcome, I suppose.”

>>366014
Well we could ask this more friendly person where the guy we're looking for is.

>>366014

It's not a secret anyway. He must have just picked up murderous ninja priest skills from travelling all around searching for that witch lady. And I still say the guy fell on his own knife. At any rate ask her if she knows where to find Akor.

Elden 2011/11/25(Fri)18:36 No. 368162 ID: be1879
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Good idea!
I walk forward to ask her.
“Excuse me, miss, but we came to this town looking for a man named Akor. He does a lot of business around here. Do you know where we can find him, by chance?”

>”Um, is that his shop?”

Elden 2011/11/25(Fri)18:37 No. 368164 ID: be1879
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Of course...
How did we not see that before?
>”Oh yeah, now I remember.”
Ugh. At least we found him.

“Thank you, miss.”
>”Oh, it’s the least I can do!”

>>368164
Why did that guy say he was dead then? How pointless.

Let's go on in, then.

Elden 2011/11/26(Sat)15:28 No. 368276 ID: be1879
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>>368212
Well, to be fair, Akor doesn’t necessarily have to be alive for that shop to still have his name on it. That guy was a moron, though. Nobody seems to be concerned with his body lying where it is, so neither will I.

We bid the goblin farewell and head into the shop.
It looks like Akor is dealing with a customer.

>“Sorry, but this gem don’t like it’s worth as much as ya say it does.”
>“What? Listen ‘ere, Akor, this gem’s been in ma best friend’s family for years, but he up and disappeared and left it behind. It’s worth lots, ya know. His great grandfather found this gem at the peak of Greg’s Mountain, and ya know nobody goes up there, these days. A rare find I got 'ere.”
>“I understand that you don’t have much money, but if ya didn’t always try and rip me off when ya come in here, I might be willin’ to pay what ya asked for.”
>“I don’t ever try to rip ya off! Everything I bring in ‘ere is always top o’ the line, but ya never believe me. Why do ya ‘ave it out for me?”
>“Either take what I offered or get out. I have other customers.”
>“Alright, jus’ take the damn thing and give me the money!”

After an exchange, the disgruntled customer stomps his way out of the shop.
Akor speaks to us once he is gone.
>“Hey there, what can I-”

Elden 2011/11/26(Sat)15:28 No. 368277 ID: be1879
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>"Hah! I'll be damned! If it aint my old friend Holn!"

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

wait never mind this isn't partiularly astonishing at all.

Ask him who makes that stunning potion!

Elden 2011/11/26(Sat)19:31 No. 368330 ID: be1879
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>“Hello Akor, it’s been a while.”
>“Indeed, it has! Is that Elden there?”
>“Yes, it is.”
“Hm? How do you know me?”
Akor lets out a friendly chuckle.
>“I saw ya when you were just a baby. It was when I first met yer dad here. Looks like ya did a good job of raisin’ him, Holn.”
>“I did what I could for him. Thank you.”
Hmm, I didn’t know that I had been outside my hometown before. Holn told me I was abandoned on his doorstep as an infant. Although, I guess anything could’ve happened during my infancy.

>“So what brings the two of ya into this mess of a town?”
Ah, yes. Time to get down to business.
>“Holn bought a stunning potion from you a long time ago and now we have questions about it. Do you know who made the potion?”
>“A stunning potion?” I don’t sell those.”
As he says this, he walks over and closes the shop door.
>“Okay, sorry. Incase ya didn’t know, Elden, It’s illegal to sell potions that have anythin’ but restorative properties. The court appoints inspectors to label legal potions and check anythin’ unlabeled. They only show up every once and while, but if somebody heard about my illegal potions, they could rat me out and I’d get locked up. I only do illegal business with those I trust so this won’t happen. Anyway, my long-time potion maker’s here somewhere, I’m sure. I’ll get her for ya.”
“Thank you.”

Akor walks off into a back room.

Elden 2011/11/26(Sat)19:53 No. 368333 ID: be1879
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Akor returns shortly.
>“Wait, didn’t ya say that ya had questions for her?”
“I did.”
>“Uh, well… That actually might be kind of a problem. Rolia doesn’t talk anymore.”
“Oh. She is mute?”
>‘Not exactly. At least I don’t think so. Hey, where is she?
Akor calls her name and footsteps can be heard

The woman I can assume is Rolia the potion maker walks into the doorway of the backroom.
She seems to be wearing… some kind of mask?

>>368333
Explain the situation; even if she won't speak surely she can nod or shake her head when we ask her if she can make some sort of cure.

Elden 2011/11/26(Sat)22:52 No. 368355 ID: be1879
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I’ll try.
“Rolia, can you hear me?”
She walks over to us, but doesn’t answer.
“Can you hear me?”
She stands there a bit but eventually nods her head slowly.

>“I don’t think yer gonna have any luck. It seems like she just can’t comprehend anythin’ complex anymore. She… It’s kinda hard to explain. She started practicin’ dark magic at some point a long time ago, and it has… kinda taken her over. It corrupted her, ya could say.”

Oh no.
Holn and I both give disturbed looks that seem to throw off Akor.

>“Uh… She won’t hurt ya or anything… She can’t do much anymore. The only thing I can get her to do are menial tasks and things that she knows well, like making potions. Other than that, though…”

I… is this really a bad thing?
Having someone corrupt...

What do I say?

I see blood under that mask. What's going on?

think the mask needs to come off, be ready for a shock though.

Don't disturb the poor lady. Ask if you can watch her make the potions. Whatever she's doing, it's connected to the witch, which is connected to your curse, so if you can find out, you might be able to break it!

Or you might get your soul sucked out by the dark corruption. Good times.

Elden 2011/12/07(Wed)15:01 No. 370447 ID: b4adaa
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>>368360
>>368361
I see the blood.
“Should we uh… take her mask off? It looks like she’s bleeding.”
>“What? Oh, um… It’s fine. The mask doesn’t need to come off.”
“Yes it does! You need to help her!”
Akor lets out a worried sigh.
“Okay, yer right. Ya might not want to look, though.”
Akor walks over to Rolia to remover her mask.

Elden 2011/12/07(Wed)15:03 No. 370448 ID: b4adaa
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Oh my…
I… Is it starring at me?!

Visene, stat!!

No seriously what did you expect. Now put the mask back on and let the lady do her work. I wonder how she got that way...

Oh jeez. Can a healing potion or something fix that?

At the very least first aid should be used to keep the wounds from being infected.

Elden 2011/12/07(Wed)17:06 No. 370482 ID: b4adaa
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Why was she staring at me?

Akor retrieves a wet cloth.
“Is she going to be alright? Should we get a healing potion or something?”
>“A potion won’t do anything. She’ll be alright, for now.”
Akor cleans Rolia’s face and puts the mask back on.
“How did she get this way?”
>“It’s all because of the dark magic, every bit of it.”
Holn speaks with a nervous voice.
>“This will happen to Elena.”
>“What did ya say?”
>“I don’t think we’ve told you yet, but we’re here because we are also dealing with a corrupt person.”
>“Really? Elena?
>“Yes.”
>“I’m so sorry.”

“Listen, I’m kind of in the dark here about this dark magic business. Would somebody explain something, please?”
>“Okay, but I don’t know much. Ya see, Rolia has only been making the noticeable changes recently. It was only until then that she couldn’t keep her practice of dark magic a secret from me. Basically, dark magic like necromancy is illegal for a reason. The stuff is dangerous. Ya let it into yer soul and it starts to devour ya. It takes over the mind, making ya a bitter person, then it takes the body and warps it in unimaginable ways. This magic is very hard to learn, so the process of corruption takes a long time. I imagine it’s taken Rolia several years to get this far. I’m just glad I caught her when I did.”
“I guess that helps a little bit, thanks. So the stun potions she makes, are they supposed to set things on fire?”
>“They can catch clothing on fire.”

what about light magic? these things come in pairs, very powerful light magic may be able to help.

>>370482
She may have been staring at you because she can see the curse on you. We could mention that...

>>370482

What did you do when you discovered what she was doing?

Elden 2011/12/07(Wed)20:32 No. 370555 ID: b4adaa
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>“What? Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
>“What, h-“
>“When I bought this potion, you didn’t tell anything about setting clothes on fire!”
>“ Well I-“
>“This was the only thing he had to go on, and now we’re back where we started!”
>“I’m truly sor-“
He grabs and pulls Akor down to him
>“You son of a bitch, Akor, I can’t believe I thought I could trust you!“
“That’s enough! What’s wrong with you?!”
Holn snaps out of it and lets go. Akor takes a few steps back.
>“I’m sorry. This is all just very frustrating. I apologize, Akor.”
>“Yeah, uh, it’s alright. I understand.”

Elden 2011/12/07(Wed)20:38 No. 370560 ID: b4adaa
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>>370485
“Let’s just get back on track. What about light magic? Couldn’t we use that to our advantage?
>“Hmm, we might be able to, but ya’d be hard pressed to find somebody that skilled in magic that don’t look at corrupted people as abominations that need to die. Also, there’s nobody like that around here. There might be in other towns, but not in Sulmn.”

>>370492
“By the way, did anybody else notice Rolia staring at me?”
Holn responds
>“I kind of noticed that. I didn’t really think anything of it, though.”
“Perhaps it’s because of my curse.”
Akor looks confused, so we clarify. I think we’ve told him everything, now.
“>If ya got cursed, then it’s possible she can tell. I'm really not sure.”

>>370522
“What did you do when you discovered what she was doing?”
>“Well, it was only a short while ago, so I haven’t done anything yet except give her that mask. I’ve been planning on leaving town to try and find somebody who’ll help. There are a few places I’ve been looking at, but I haven’t decided on where I’ll go.”

>>370560
I think your dad's been practicing dark magic too. Black robe, strong enough to kill that guy without apparent effort, this irrational reaction...

Not much we can do about it. Ask what places he was thinking of going to.

>>370560

Ask if you can help him. Both you and Holn can assuredly devote your total efforts to it. For the next 2 1/2 days at least. Remember if you and Holm die then Elena is surely doomed to such a fate.

Elden 2011/12/13(Tue)15:13 No. 372105 ID: b6f754
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>>370563
I really hope you are wrong about this.

>>370605
About helping Akor, yeah, I think that’s a really good idea. Holn agrees and Akor seems to be perfectly fine with it. We decide that we are going to travel to one of the areas he’s been looking at to try and find somebody that can help us with our dark magic problems. We also decide that we should leave as soon as we can.

He pulls out a map of the continent. There are three cities Akor is considering.

>“Number 1 on the map is Delnr’s Foot, obviously at the foot of Delnr’s Mountain. I wasn’t looking too far into that place before, but time is of the essence now, and the place is close; we’d reach it in the evening. There are rumors of people living isolated in the mountains, some of them devoting their time to the study of dark magic. Most of them probably go mad living there, but ya can imagine the advantage of finding somebody cooperative that knows a lot. The town itself might be a passage to finding somebody like that in those mountains.
>Number 2 is Fersevel. We’d probably get there sometime after nightfall. The area is known for strong mages that might be able to help us. Like I said before, though, ya’d be hard pressed to find one that’d welcome a corrupt person or anything related to dark magic in general. It could be dangerous if we tell somebody about Rolia’s condition and they aren’t happy about it.
>Number 3 is Netfir. It’s home to a well-known college for mages. Of course, they wouldn’t study dark magic, but ya know at least ONE person has to be studying it in secret. Finding somebody who knows light magic and is interested and learned in dark magic would be invaluable. Though, they don’t just let ya walk right in to the college, so there might be a challenge in that regard. The same dangers for spilling Rolia’s condition apply here, too. Now that I think about it, I guess they apply everywhere. Netfir would probably be the best place to go, but it’s pretty far away. We’d be lucky to reach it before tomorrow morning.”

Hmm… We definitely have a choice to make, here. Akor will be trying to help Rolia while we are at our destination, but we need to think of where we can go where our problems with Elena can be handled, or at least helped, as well. (Remember, if necessary, I can try to find a way to get rid of Elena on my own if nothing seems to be working. I really don’t care anything about her like Holn does.)

So, where to?