>>420255

This. Let's think of something else to beat the skeleton. The purple potion probably isn't the best thing to use to defeat anything organic. I think it's like "organic-safe" or something.

>>420261
Sorry for the double post.... but maybe the black one, now that I think of it?

1/4 Ellire 2012/06/10(Sun)11:38 No. 420414 ID: c460ad
File 133935352075.png - (159.85KB , 512x512 , 21.png )

>>420255
I misspoke. The potion is a safety acid, for dissolving substances without worrying about accidentally dissolving your own hands. I won't work on that thing.

Skeleton:"EAAAGH! INTRUDERS!"

>>420263
However...

2/4 Ellire 2012/06/10(Sun)11:39 No. 420415 ID: c460ad
File 133935355803.png - (176.81KB , 512x512 , 22.png )

Skeleton: RETURN THE-

3/4 Ellire 2012/06/10(Sun)11:39 No. 420416 ID: c460ad
File 133935359712.png - (161.69KB , 512x512 , 23.png )

Skeleton: ...Staff...

make sure to shatter any whole bones.

>>420417
Is it destroyed?

Poor thing. Let's pray for its soul.

Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)12:11 No. 420424 ID: c460ad
File 133935546538.png - (199.39KB , 512x512 , 25.png )

>>420419
Looks like there's nothing left...

now check out the pedestal. looks like it had a marking.

Now that's suspicious. I would expect some fragments somewhere... or is the potion that powerful? Maybe it went invisible. Is there any way to verify if it's gone or invisible?

Walk out of here with the staff across your shoulder like a boss.

Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)12:45 No. 420444 ID: c460ad
File 133935752193.jpg - (9.18KB , 512x512 , 26.jpg )

>>420426
There's something carved in it!

Ellie: "It says 'return to the roots'".

it's a staff of devolution? sounds like it.

Mysterious. I think it's about time we brought everything back.

Oh, I suppose we could see if anything was in the casket aside from the skeleton!

Ancient magic? Surely not! Why all this is still here, anyway? These objects are cursed?

I think you should avoid using the staff on anyone as it might turn them to a dumb beast... but its better left in people's hands who can gaurd it better then a single trap and a single skeleton.

Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)13:52 No. 420476 ID: c460ad
File 133936153231.png - (271.21KB , 789x365 , 27.png )

Ellie and me head for the the exit.

Lizardknight: "You two wussy mages made it out alive? Huh. Gimme the staff before I lop your heads off."

...She looks mean! And we worked hard for this staff!

She's a melee fighter who isn't in arm's reach. You're two mages.

Murderlize her.

Now it is time for the purple potion. Throw it at her and if she blocks with her sword no more sword and you can threaten her with the staff.

If you don't want to use the potion, Ellie should use blinding flash then you should do rush to flame touch on her.

This lady really doesn't seem to be familiar with how ambushes work...

Ask what she wants with the staff, but if she moves any closer do the attacking things.
Actually, if she starts monologueing attacking while she does that is likely a good idea anyway.

the safety acid would tots melt dat armor. then say "oh this staff?" are you saying it's really powerful?"

>>420481

She might dodge the thrown potion. Better plan: blinding flash followed by throwing the flesh-safe universal solvent. After that, the main trouble will be if she resorts to fisticuffs. Do your best to flame touch her if that happens. Or pull out the dagger.

Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)14:37 No. 420502 ID: c460ad
File 133936427572.png - (274.08KB , 832x384 , 28.png )

Phira:"Why do you want it? Is it really powerful? It's really powerful isn't it!"
Ellie:"Phira..."
Lizardknight:"I dunno and I don't care. My bosses want it and they're payin' me three times my normal rate to get it! You've got until the count of three to give it up! One..."

burn his face wıth a majhygle pimpslap. I'm sure someone smarter is about to come up with a way for you not to get stabbed while doing so, anyway.

Blinding flash, purple potion, flame touch should do the trick. She`ll probably survive. If she is still in a fighting mood try to use the staff, channel magic through it while pointing at her.

Invite her to your group! She gets free hugs! FREE HUGS! Oh! And give her the shiny! EVERYONE loves shiny things!

She's an Enos. Strength and magic, and you two have nowhere to flee. You need a distraction, and we are an excellent distraction!

1/4 Ellire 2012/06/10(Sun)16:55 No. 420580 ID: c460ad
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>>420507

3/4 Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)16:58 No. 420584 ID: c460ad
File 133937271479.png - (234.48KB , 512x512 , 31.png )

Lizardknight:"AAAAH!"

4/4 Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)16:59 No. 420585 ID: c460ad
File 133937278619.png - (210.64KB , 512x512 , 32.png )

Lizardknight:W-well! What are you waiting for! F-finish me off!

>>420585
Have your way with him. Indulge your basest and most carnal desires.


Then deliver your anus unto Satan.

We're not murderers, to strike soemone down while they're disabled however if you try this again we won't go for non-lethal blows.

tie her up and drag her to town. ellie can give her our other shiny and we can ask her questions the whole trip.

naw bro.

but do punish her. spank her ass woth burnong touch until she can't even follow you at walking pace.

>>420586
Her! And now she's naked and sticky. Offer some cover.

Anyway, only someone really sad or stupid would ask for death. Try talking to her, you two at least need to know who is her boss.

>>420593
I second this idea! But 'cover' her by molding some rock into restraints with shape-stone spell.

...Maybe leave her bum exposed for some flaming-touch spanking for trying to ambush you.

Then take her with you back to deliver the sphere!

I see no reason to kill the lizard. Just be sure to restrain them properly. You have rope, right? I hope you didn't go dungeon delving without rope.

Phira 2012/06/10(Sun)19:06 No. 420645 ID: c460ad
File 133938039244.png - (258.39KB , 512x512 , 33.png )

Phira: "I-I won't kill you. I'm n-no murderer!"

>>420593
>Try talking to her, you two at least need to know who is her boss.
"Uh... Who d-do you-"
Lizardknight: "SHIT! By the Cosmic Mandate of Zarthis, a am your servant! I am eternally grateful for being spared and will follow your every command!"

>Offer some cover.
Wh-what cover? Neither me or Ellie brought any spare clothes!

Spoiler'd for naked Lizardknight

>>420645
Wow, that potion's effective. Hrm. Uh.

Ellire: You are wearing clothes under that robe, correct? For the speech capabilities of Phira, would you mind letting her new slave wear it for a while? Make sure the purple potion's worn off first of course.

uhhh... hmm... aha! use scarf as makeshift loincloth. now spit it out after it "who hired you?"

If you have some other way to carry your stuff (pockets, or perhaps Ellire has some spare space in her bag), you could loan her your bag and scarf. The bag could be used as a rather improvised loincloth and the scarf wrapped around her chest.

Getting proper clothing for her will be a priority, though.

So now we can ask her how anyone thought it was a good idea to send a single fighter with a non-magic sword and full plate after a pair of mages who have at least one special magic staff.

>>420645
Deliver her anus unto Satan.

After the interrogation, of course.

>>420667
Yes

> Wh-what cover? Neither me or Ellie brought any spare clothes!
The invisibility spell works with others? This will require a good deal of confidence. Oh! You two can hold hands with her!

This will be awkward, though.

> SHIT! By the Cosmic Mandate of Zarthis, a am your servant! I am eternally grateful for being spared and will follow your every command!
Huh, honor before reason. How archaic. We can talk about that later. The most important thing now is to know about her boss.

>>420667
Hey, you got it right for once! Now I can agree with you!

>>420645
Have you ever heard of Zarthis before? Is this the kind of oath that you can trust, or could she still be planning on stealing that staff and escaping?

If either of you has an extra layer of clothing, I suppose you might as well relinquish it...though it'd be a shame, that lizard girl is pretty cute.

And I bet after a nice bath her scales would be quite shiny.

>>420691
We could find out by having her hold one of our amulets when the remaining acid is gone. If you do, remember not to actually mention the issue of her trustworthiness, which would offend her if she is honest or make her more cautious if she is not honest.

Ellire 2012/06/13(Wed)19:09 No. 421723 ID: c460ad
File 133963976099.png - (199.26KB , 512x512 , 34.png )

>Give her your robes
Fine. I've got some... clothes under them.

>>420691
Zarthis is the Enos god of mercy. I can't say much else about it; haven't studied eastern religion much.

Phira: "Wh-who do y-"
Ellire: "Who do you work for, mercenary.

Lizardknight:"I... I dunno. Some Rohic in a fox mask snuck up on me in town. Guy slipped me my normal rate, told me to expect double if I got'im some staff. Told me I'd hear from one of "his associates" and get paid once I got it. Looked shady, but I like money. ...Can I have some clothes now?"

okay. let's get back to the master quickly. holding on to this staff will invite loads more trouble.

Hmm. We'll probably run into those associates if we hold onto the staff. The trip back will likely be dangerous- what do you think? Is the extra credit on your exam worth it?

Also please do give her the robes so Phira can talk properly.

How did she know we had the staff? Did the guy actually have a description of Phira and Ellie, or did he provide the location of the ruin?

She knew you were here. What else does she know about you two and this place?

Phira 2012/06/13(Wed)22:12 No. 421842 ID: c460ad
File 133965074468.png - (302.56KB , 621x460 , 35.png )

We start walking back.

*sigh* We've been walking for hours and nobody's said anything and this is taking FOREVER! We're going to be on the road for three DAYS. I'm so bored!

>>421725
>>421763
>Hmm. We'll probably run into those associates if we hold onto the staff. The trip back will likely be dangerous- what do you think? Is the extra credit on your exam worth it?

The associates... you're probably right, but the headmaster might be mad if we left a super-powerful ancient artifact out in the open for any bad guy to just pick up and do bad stuff with!

>>421778
>>421795
Phira: "Wait! Uh, Lizard girl! How did you know we were in those ruins."
Lizardknight: "...I didn't... Boss. I saw you go in... so I thought maybe you'd come out with the staff. Maybe save me a lotta work. Did me a lotta good, huh?"

...Boss?

Well, she does owe you her life. Got any teleportation/moving faster spells you forgot about? Or maybe lizardknight does somehow?

she swore to you, you are the boss now.

>>421842
Ask if the Enos can do any magic.

Oh, and ask what her name is. We can't just keep calling her lizardknight.

"Lizard girl"? You didn't ask her name?

Good time as any to talk a little about yourself with the person who swore eternal fidelity. Break the ice, she can call you by your name. You can even risk saying that you prefer she staying with you if she really wants that, not because of the "Cosmic Mandate of Zarthis". However, for her own safety it's better if she accompany you to the university, since those associates may go after her too.

are those things on her nose scars, or is it an Enos skin mark thing?

Phira 2012/06/17(Sun)12:45 No. 423550 ID: c460ad
File 133996233942.png - (267.21KB , 621x460 , 36.png )

>are those things on her nose scars, or is it an Enos skin mark thing?
Looks like it's just her scale pattern!


>Name
Oh! I feel like such an airhead!

Phira:"Hey... Uh, what's your name, anyway? Mine's Phira, and she's Ellie-

Ellire: "Ellire."

Tai:"Name's Tai."

Phira:"Uh, anyway, Tai? You should stay with me because because you want to, not cause' of some dumb cosmic mandate or whatever!"

Tai:"You don't get it. And it's not dumb. It doesn't matter if I want to serve you. Zarthis' Mandate says I have to serve you now. You gave me the ultimate gift, so I'm bound to you as a servant. Whether you like it or not, the sacred law is that the only way out of my duties as a devotee is death."

Oh...

>Magic
Phira: “Uh so anyway, do you know any magic?”
Tai: “...Nope. I was never one for spells. Like to get in close and really put steel to flesh. Never any good at it anyway. I have a light spell. It goes out sometimes.”

Ask if she's any good in hand-to-hand, until we can get a sword to replace the one we melted.

well, guess we don't have much choice. only other way to break it that she would accept is if she saves your life. but for now don't worry about it. anyway, explain that it was simple lack of preparation that undid her, she failed to assume the worst possible scenario could of happened.

well, there's another way out. switch to another religion- or to none.

> It doesn't matter if I want to serve you.
This is really sad. Maybe the Headmaster can help you with this. Anyway, even if Tai and you can't choose to be together or not, you two can still choose how to treat each other. What she needs and what she doesn't like, Tai can be sincere about these things. Hey, maybe this is a not-so-good beginning of a good friendship, or even something more!

>>423550
Well that sucks. I think you should at least make it clear you won't be taking advantage of the situation. Hey, maybe we can teach her how to be better at magic?

>>423563
If she were casual enough about religion to change it for practicality's sake she wouldn't be in this situation.

1/3 Phira 2012/06/17(Sun)16:09 No. 423631 ID: c460ad
File 133997458225.png - (273.64KB , 621x460 , 37-1.png )

>>423559
Tai:"Been in a brawl or two, but one the swords come out, I'm outmatched."

We walk for a few more hours. Ellie says we should be nearing the town of Ustifale soon! I can't wait! We could get a nice comfy room at the inn, a hot meal, maybe even a bath! She said that we'll be there soon, once we cross the-

Phira 2012/06/17(Sun)16:10 No. 423632 ID: c460ad
File 133997462242.png - (275.95KB , 621x460 , 37-2.png )

...bridge...

Phira 2012/06/17(Sun)16:10 No. 423633 ID: c460ad
File 133997464404.png - (243.67KB , 512x512 , 37-b.png )

...

>>423612

fuck being logical.

go to the next bridge.

Can you drink that magic-boosting potion and use the levitation and telekinesis to fly across and carry your buddies across? Or use the rock shaping spell to make a bridge, even temporarily? With or without the potion?

Or maybe it's time we took out those scrolls to see what they have on them.

>>423637
It's an ambush. They will be an easy target if they do that. There must be another way.

If it's an ambush, wouldn't they be targeting us like, RIGHT NOW?

>>423648
You want to try your luck? Go on.

We can make it harder to ambush us by going off to through the woods along the river and doing whatever somewhere that isn't the bridge's normal location.

Is it evening or is that red light in the sky not natural?

>>423633
WARNING! DANGER! Be very careful, it's probably an ambush of some sort - get off the road and be quick about it!

Why this sudden concern over an ambush?

>>424400
Someone has already sent a sellsword after us, and what was a perfectly serviceable bridge not long ago is now mysteriously gone with its ropes appearing to have been cut.

If it's not an ambush, we'll end up looking silly with no other ill effects. If it is an ambush and we ignore it, we're in serious trouble.

>>424406
Alright, you make a good point. A bit of excessive paranoia is better than insufficient caution in this situation.

>>424406
The good old paranoid's wager.

Get off the road. If there is someone in your way, fight for your life, because you can be sure someone else is on the other side behind you.

Just bumping this thread to the top to buy time.

I don't think there are any rules against this, and I don't want to give up on this quest just yet.

Phira 2012/10/28(Sun)17:15 No. 466939 ID: c460ad
File 135146975747.png - (220.46KB , 512x512 , 38.png )

We start off the pa-

Ohno.

Masked Rohic: "Why, hello hello hello. How much did they offer you to betray me, peasant? No matter. I get it. No honor and all that. Just give me the staff and pretend you've never seen it, and I won't kill every last one of you."

AAAAAHHHH! All I wanted was to get the stupid ball and take a stupid bath!

hold up the staff, jerks like this are one of the few acceptable targets. "oh? you mean this staff? i wonder what would happen if i used it right now"

This guys sounds like the sort to rant revealingly if given half a chance, and will likely be a long-term problem one way or another. We should see what information we can get out of him before the fight starts. Tell him how it is funny how he talks about honor in the same breath as literally attempting highway robbery.

Would your mold-rocks-like-wet-clay spell also work on actual clay (assuming I am right in thinking that is a clay golem)?

We may have to use the blue potion here. Either on you or your friend, depending on if we want to fight, or turn invisible and run away.

>> it is funny how he talks about honor in the same breath as literally attempting highway robbery.

"This staff...it's magic must be very great, or you wouldn't want it so badly."

Phira 2012/10/29(Mon)11:45 No. 467074 ID: c460ad
File 135153634756.png - (313.01KB , 612x512 , 39.png )

>Would your mold-rocks-like-wet-clay spell also work on actual clay (assuming I am right in thinking that is a clay golem)?
...I think so.

Phira:"You're really funny, talking about honor and robbing us. You have n-no honor! And if you want this so bad it must be really powerful! I wonder wh-what would happen if I used it on you right now! I'll... I'll do it!"

Masked Rohic: "Ha! Cute. Your turncoat friend over there broke her contract, and that's the only law that really matters. And no you won't. That staff could make me explode for all you know. You're not a killer. I can hear it in your voice."

Tai: "I am, and I would! Just say the word Boss, and I'll tear that arrogant prick and his toy to shreds!"

Masked Rohic: "And what do you think you're going to do, you filthy Enos oathbreaker. Give me a black eye? Just give me the staff and make this easier on yourselves."

Melt the golem and let her loose on him.

If you have the fine control, meld the golem's joints. If she knows it's out of action, she may try something desperate, but if she has a false sense of security you can get the drop on her.

If you feel up to it, point the staff at her and say that actually you know perfectly well that it is a transfiguration staff*, and as such is highly unlikely to be lethal. If you are till uncomfortable with pointing the staff at her, say that you will just cast it at her expensive-looking golem instead.

Depending on how the stone-molding spell works, we might have to touch the golem to use it, so that plan is still viable but should be kept as plan B.

And Phira, for future reference you shouldn't explain an insult for the same reason you shouldn't explain a joke.

*Red glow, remember?

You're not a killer, so use the staff on the golem instead.

Tai needs a weapon. We gave that shiny dagger to Ellie, but does she have an extra now?

"the staff came with a name and that is hint enough about what it does, it will not kill you, but i doubt you would like the result"

>>467192
Oh, that's right, it's a transfiguration magic staff. It must be a harmful magic though in order for this guy to not want us to use it on him.

So do it! Let's find out what it does!

She broke her oath to stop from breaking another more important oath! She had no choice! You're just getting us riled up while your partner sneaks up from behind, aren't you!