Harumda hug Grifl. Spiritually.

So... confused. For those of us who had not been around for eternity, a little information on the backstory might be helpful...

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/11/29(Sun)19:18 No. 83412 ID: 6faa8c
File 125955110662.png - (11.03KB , 640x480 , Rudeawakening.png )

>>80407
Ah... I suppose the spirits of the corporeal world may be less informed than the ones of the demon world. Let me summarize.

Once I was a grand Demon Lord. The title was taken from me, as was my great blade Durance, and I decided to take them back, as well as slay the one who took the title, the vile demon Raeve.
As it turned out, Raeve was in truth an Angel, an agent of pure and total Order. He trapped me, and sent me here. But not without seperating that world, Hell, from this one, the Domains.

Now I have managed to merge with a kobold here in the Domains. I am uncertain how to return to the Domains, nor am I certain what may occur now.

I do know that the Artifacts, great objects of demonic power, have been sent here. They are destined to always be within the Incarnate's reach unless their true owner grasped them. I suppose that is one comfort.

((Side Quest found: Find the Relics of the Lords!))

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/11/29(Sun)19:57 No. 83440 ID: 6faa8c
File 125955346833.png - (11.71KB , 640x480 , Griflbriflim.png )

>>83412
The kobold awakens and prepares to set out.

>"I should make you aware: All powers that were available to me, are available to you. However, I must expend some of my soul to manifest them. It will grow back, but should I use it all, I will be forced out of you. Abilities with a higher level cost more, and passive abilities must be maintained with a steady loss of my power."

>"I see. I will be careful..."

(2/3)

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/11/29(Sun)20:13 No. 83451 ID: 6faa8c
File 125955441013.png - (8.83KB , 640x480 , eenie meeny minie moe.png )

>>83440
>"I cannot do this alone..."

>I know that my hatch-brother will come along with me. He is... strange, for a kobold. Likes to steal and stab things. My possible mate Hrilfigl may be convinced as well, but her abilities are... lacking. Some of my elders say she will only be useful when she reaches egg age. Other than that, the cleric of the Incarnate may come if he knows what has been wrought to Hell... But other than that, I cannot imagine any more of my warren leaving the mines and their lives for such a cause.

>He is... strange, for a kobold. Likes to steal and stab things.
...how is that strange for a kobold? Sounds like a solid fellow.

What's the difference between a hatch brother and a regular brother?

Can the cleric heal? If so, bring him too. If not, forget it.

>>83459
>A hatch-brother is one who was brother to me in past life. A brother is one merely born from the same mother. A true brother, which is very rare, is both.

>A kobold theif is rare because to be a theif you must walk among the large ones. And those who steal from others in the warren are only stealing from themselves.

>>83451
Do we have to choose, or can we bring them all? Strength in numbers, after all.

Bring everyone. No matter how useless they are, they will develop unique skills and become great warriors, mages, archers, trapmasters, or useless class by the end of the adventure.

>>83451
Bring your hatch brother. Harumda, iirc, you have the passive ability to regenerate wounds, right?

>>83465
>>83467
>More people means more food means less traveling ability. The ones easiest to convince are also the ones who will travel lightest. My hatch brother can probably find food on his own but may cause trouble near towns. However, he is indispensibly good with traps. My mate will need me to find her portion of meals, and may nnot be much use aside from providing moral support. The priest has special needs for daily prayer and sacrifice, but is ver knowledgable and knows how to aid those in great pain, not to mention his ability to call on the Incarnate. I am confident in my ability to feed one other... but taking all three would prove troublesome.

>>83468
>Harumda, iirc, you have the passive ability to regenerate wounds, right?
That I do. In fact, with a vessel made of flesh, I imagine I may even be better at it than I was as a demon.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/11/29(Sun)23:19 No. 83530 ID: 6faa8c
File 125956556688.png - (10.00KB , 640x480 , eenie meeny minie moe.png )

>>83529
>imagederp

Anything preventing you from getting all of them?

>>83534
>Nothing but the inherent issues of feeding four kobolds on long roads, infested with goblins and ogres and bigguns and all sorts o-
>"Not to mention the ghosts, zombies and various wraiths that will show up,"
>[i]f monsters, and they all dislike one another somehow. And my hatch brother is sweet on my mate.
>"I thought you folk were focused on work?"
>When something comes as easily as breathing one does not think about it much.

>>83530
I say bring the priest and the thief. The priest has the most useful abilities, and your hatch brother can feed himself so he winds up being a free helping hand. I'm afraid it's probably best to leave your sweety behind at least for a while; you wouldn't want to expose her to danger, would you? Taking your bro along but not Hrilfigl also means you won't have to worry about silly love triangle stuff.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/11/30(Mon)00:54 No. 83565 ID: 6faa8c
File 125957126676.png - (11.00KB , 640x480 , NifldifblinDIPLOMACY.png )

>>83557
And now we must convince the priest to follow us.

>"Great lord of Stability, lend fortune to this mine. Give us the strength to dig ever deeper, give us the luck to find the ore, and give us the intellect to make it all worthwile."

And then the codger tosses a pile of cards into the air. He waves his staff, lets out a shout, and the cards land in a deck, seemingly by complete accident. he puts them away into a satchel and turns to me.

>"Eh, Grifl. What 'ave yer come ter talk wiff me fer?"

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)16:42 No. 86968 ID: 6faa8c
File 126014654765.png - (7.26KB , 640x480 , Griflnervous.png )

>>83565
>"..."

I could really use some help here! I am not good at the talky-talky!

>"Well, yer gonna say summat, hatchlin', or didja jus' come to bother me? 'Cause Incarnate knows you could use some... advice."

DID I MENTION THIS IS A VERY VIOLENT OLD MAN?!
>"Don't look at me. I just slash things until they stop screaming."

>>86968
Let him talk first, ask what he thinks you need advice on?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)16:54 No. 86978 ID: 6faa8c
File 126014728023.png - (9.41KB , 640x480 , thatsapaddling.png )

>>86971
"What do you think I need advice about?"

>"Aaah, life and living. Bein' respectful. Knowin' how to take a beatin'. Things like dat."


Oh, he's getting out the tails, not the tails, anything but the tail sticks...

>>86978
Ask him what he knows about death, specifically hell. If he tries to hit you, tell him there are more important things than you right now.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)17:01 No. 86986 ID: 6faa8c
File 126014769074.png - (7.51KB , 640x480 , Angryoldmanstare.png )

>>86979
"What do you know about death? Or hell, rather?"

>"Yer talking to a kobold who's in 'is twilit yars, boyo. I seen dis tribe nigh wiped out more times than you could possibly imagine. I done seen more death than any human or orc."

>"An' I lived, an' survived, so I'd make dis quick unless yer want a beatin'. Get ter da point."

>>86986
Tell him that something fundamental has changed, and that hell and the domains have been split from each other.

>>86986
He's gonna need to trust you on this. You've been "chosen", in a sense.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)17:15 No. 87000 ID: 6faa8c
File 126014850792.png - (10.08KB , 640x480 , whoyougonnacall.png )

>>86994
"Something dire has occured. Hell and the Domains have been torn from one another."

>"You best be jokin' boy. If dat happened, then dere'd be a lot more gho-"
SLAM
>"st activity."

The door to the stick rach slammed shut, nearly taking Nifl's hand with it.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)17:16 No. 87002 ID: 6faa8c
File 126014861395.png - (4.93KB , 640x480 , whutidun\'tdoit.png )

>>87000

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)17:38 No. 87018 ID: 6faa8c
File 126014990255.png - (9.33KB , 640x480 , ohrly.png )

>>87000
"I have been chosen in this matter, Nifldifblin."

>"Izzat so? Prove it!"
Well?

"Which power would be best for impressing a Kobold?"

>>87018
Let's see there's Flight, regeneration, fire immunity, earth elemental, and commanding aura.

Earth elemental is probably the best bet.

Isn't the whole point of Commanding Aura to be impressive?

Seems that'd be a good way to impress someone.

>>87021
Make a "hand chair" for him to sit on.

>>87023
On second thought, Harumda, become visible. Grifl, introduce Harumda.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)17:53 No. 87033 ID: 6faa8c
File 126015082510.png - (26.05KB , 1000x1000 , Harumdarevealed.png )

>>87022
>>87029
>Commanding Aura (possessed) used!<

"Very well, Nifldifblin."
I feel part of my face change, and a prescence, great and powerful, rise above me.
"Veiw the one who chose me. See who has escaped Hell to warn us. Would you deny this warning? Would you deny this mission?"

>>87033
That better damn well do it.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)18:03 No. 87046 ID: 6faa8c
File 126015143087.png - (7.94KB , 640x480 , bow.png )

>>87033
>"N-no. I wouldn't dare."

"Good."
The power I felt vanishes, then Nifl shakes his head.
>"I will be ready tommorow evening."
"Very well."

I leave. Is there anything else I should do?

Nah. Just get your equipment together and get some sleep.

Go talk with your bro.

>>87046
If you're grabbing anyone else, go do so now.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)19:37 No. 87154 ID: 6faa8c
File 126015704330.png - (5.87KB , 640x480 , Iknewit.png )

>>87059
>>87061
He's easy enough to fi-

...

That's Hrif.
Under him. They're laughing.

It's dark, and they can't see me... but... I've been blessed with some form of nightvision, clearly.

On second thought, Harumda counts, you've got three people, why don't you just go.

>>87154
Use Flight to approach silently. The closer you are the more shame you will inflict when you confront them.

Kick him in the back of the knee to make him fall down and then beat the hell out of him.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)19:50 No. 87181 ID: 6faa8c
File 126015785860.png - (14.45KB , 640x480 , KoboldRAEG.png )

>>87169
I do so, wings spreading from my back, ghostly yet solid.

He's touching her in places she hasn't even let me see.

Should I kill him?

Killing and maiming isn't the answer, but scaring him immensely is.

>>87181
Are they both laughing? Or is he laughing and she screaming in terror?

If it's the former, then just sneak up behind them and go "SUP GAIZ?" and just generally scare the bejeebus out of them. If it's the latter, yeah. Rip maim burn tear.

>>87181
Don't kill him.

Are you sure she was into you? Maybe you were just reading too much into her actions. She may have just thought of you as a friend.

Yell at them about it.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)20:21 No. 87234 ID: 6faa8c
File 126015967531.png - (7.38KB , 640x480 , Stillprettyangryhere.png )

>>87194
>>87186
They're both laughing, but not for long.

I move close. Hrifl sees me first, and her eyes widen.
But she isn't fast enough to warn my brother, whom I lift from the earth, to hold in front of me while I float high in the air.
"So now you drop to stealing mates." I growl lowly.

The ceiling is quite high, and his head is touching it.
>"Please, brother, do not hurt me! I've done nothing to you!"
"Nothing?"
>"Okay, okay, sure, she was supposed to be your mate, but, but, she came on to me, I swear it!"

>>87234
Have nothing more to do with either of them.

>>87234
Speak with the female now. It is obvious she knew what she was doing. Ask her if she ever intended to be your mate.

>>87234
Not cool. He is no bro. He ain't coming with us.

>>87266
Yes, tell him you came to bring him on an adventure filled with action, but you're sure as hell (or not, considering) not going to do it now!

Rape him. Take off his pants, then your pants, then fade to black.

Beat him up but don't kill him.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)21:55 No. 87398 ID: 6faa8c
File 126016532041.png - (5.25KB , 640x480 , simmeringdown.png )

"I am going to leave. I am never going to come back. As far as I am concerned, you are not my brother, and she is not my mate."

I snap the new spear in half and toss the remains to the ground. They clatter near Hrifl, who whimpers quietly.

"I wish you both long lives and many children. But if I ever see you again after I leave, I will murder you."

There is a pause.

"Are we clear?"
>"Ohgodyespleasejustputmedown!PLEASE!"
My last chance...

>>87398
Put him down.

>>87399
By dropping him.

You've got an evil demon living in you and your friend is fucking your bitch. You should do something evil, like rape.

>>87401
Angels and Demons are not really Good and Evil. It's more Order vs Chaos. Besides, Harumda's definitely not evil.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)22:17 No. 87406 ID: 6faa8c
File 126016664371.png - (5.69KB , 640x480 , insertinsidemeanlaughter.png )

>>87399
>>87400

I release him, and he manages to barely grab onto a convenient piece of the cave ceiling.

"Goodbye, Hrifl."
>"I'm sorry..."
"Don't bother."

Is there anything else I should do before I move to packing my belongings?

Melt something.

>>87406
Find a new weapon, for starters.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)22:32 No. 87422 ID: 6faa8c
File 126016755583.png - (6.55KB , 640x480 , current supplies.png )

>>87408
Not to worry. I've made myself five more spears. Alright, I'm going to go and see what I can pack. Here's my original plan:

Two spears with five spearheads and rootglue.
Enough rations to last us a little more than two weeks.
A single telescope.
A map of the Domains, as they were roughly two months ago.
A suit of leather armor (wearing) and some leather polish.
A container of bitterleaf oil that will last maybe four weeks.
Four ditherbombs

Any objections or additions? I can carry maybe another ten pounds.

>>87422
What about money?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)22:40 No. 87433 ID: 6faa8c
File 126016803497.png - (5.99KB , 640x480 , current supplies.png )

>>87427
I can bring at most 2 gold.
(10 copper = 1 silver, 10 silver = 1 gold, 2 copper = a solid meal, 1 silver = a good bed.)

>>87422
What about a tent or something to keep out the rain when you're camping?

Do you have any way to light fires?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/06(Sun)22:44 No. 87439 ID: 6faa8c
File 126016825012.png - (7.70KB , 640x480 , current supplies.png )

>>87434
Tinderbox, bedroll, and large sheet added, will use spears as tentpoles.

I can't think of anything else.

>>87468
Oh wait. Medical supplies? Or can the priest heal himself?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/07(Mon)14:08 No. 87700 ID: 6faa8c
File 126022373832.png - (6.48KB , 640x480 , Rollinghillsarehardtodraw.png )

>>87469
The priest will be carrying his medical gear. He knows how to dress wounds and treat most ailments. Magical healing is the domain of the arcane, and incredibly risky in any case.

Unless there is further requirements, this will be our loadout. I take it with me to the warren entrance, and overlook the rolling plains before me. The winter is ending now, moving into warmer temperatures. Winds whisper over the hills, beckoning to travel.
I can see the mountain of the Dragon Lord and the the edge of a grand forest. I'm both excited and nervous about the journey ahead.

>>87700
I'm thinking we could go to the mountain of the Dragon Lord. Sounds pretty important.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/07(Mon)17:15 No. 87927 ID: 6faa8c
File 126023493779.png - (6.42KB , 640x480 , Endcard.png )

>>87702
Yes, it will be. The Dragon Lord deserves to know, and might even be able to help us.

For now, though, I wait. For my priest, and for... Adventure.

Chapter 2: Elementary How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)20:14 No. 88785 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033209217.png - (9.86KB , 640x480 , Chapter2startitle.png )

>>87927
The priest arrived, and we set out the following morn. It was a mostly boring trip. We know our way around these caverns, since we bring tribute to Vizzex roughly twice a year. But this time a collapse (shame on the tunnel-makers! Shame!) forced us to take a different route than usual. And thus... We found a very strange individual.

Oh my. That is a very strange individual.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)20:23 No. 88789 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033263171.png - (7.64KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

He wheezes and hacks and coughs occasionally. He sits in the center of the cell, unmoving. His eyes, like twin slots into a furnace, glare at us, smoke sliding from them to a rather large vent in the ceiling. Neither of us speaks. He seems surprised we are here. We are surprised to find him.

Silence reigns.

>>88789
Somebody ask him who he is, and what he's doing here.

>>88789
A cell? Where is our current location?

Also, ask him who and what he is.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)20:32 No. 88803 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033315478.png - (8.40KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>88795
>>88796

We are in the mountain home of Vizzex, our dragon patron.
We never knew about his cells before.

"Who are you?"
>"Call me Megrim the Steelhearted." he says, smog pouring thickly from between his lips as he speaks, and he coughs so incessantly it is hard to keep track of his sentences.
"What are you?"
>"I am what your folk call a Mountain-Heart. I am an elemental force of steel, fire, and earth. A strong force of nature that no creature could bend to its will... that is, before several years ago."
"What are you doing here?"
>"Being an insult to the pride of my people." he replies, his tone sullen and angry.

Ask what he was before his current state?

>>88803
Ask why he was imprisoned.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)20:46 No. 88823 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033401031.png - (8.49KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>88807
His expression turns... wistful. Nostalgic.

>"Before the Treachery? Before the lies? I was a great smithy. Red, White, and Black, all kinds. My touch can heat metal to softness, and my hands can shape it like clay. I can create works of steel, bronze, silver, gold, any metal, that no mortal being could hope to match! My swords cut like no other, my armor, impenetrable, my jewellery was worthy of a god!" he says, his wide hands opening to show that, like the rest of him, they are square and rough, as if created from steel. His eyes take on a look of sadness as he finishes. "But all good things end. I made a bet. A stupid, stupid bet."

I remain quiet as the stout being tells his tale.

Ask him who he made the bet to.

>>88828
And what the bet was.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)21:01 No. 88836 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033487043.png - (11.37KB , 640x480 , ohnoes.png )

>>88828
>"I made the bet to the dragon. You know who I speak of, dracoling. Vizzex. Great big furnace with wings and a body. I bet my eternal services to him... that I could craft as well with stone as I could with steel. That I could make a perfect likeness of him. He even allowed me to take a set o' calipers on him. But these hands... these same hands that shape steel like clay... shape clay like cold steel." He looks at his feet. "The clay hardened under my touch rather than soften. It rebelled against me. I managed to barely create a statue... but it was not worthy. He gave it to.... to your folk. And now I create his armor. His weapons. His trade-art."

Ask him if he knew it was a trap.

>>88836
Sounds like he should've used sand instead of clay.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)21:09 No. 88846 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033534458.png - (8.79KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>88839
>"Of course not, ye stupid git!" Fire briefly erupts from his face as anger overtakes him. "The bastuhd placed a chemich soluhtion in the mahtehreial he gave meh, an' when it heated, it exploded! My 'ard work was ruined! I would 'ave done sommat worthy, if 'e 'adn't been a double-crossing bahstuhd!"

Well the past is the past, ask him if there's any way to get released?

>>88846
Question for the kobolds: If you were to make another bet with him and deliberately lose, would that set him free?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)21:18 No. 88865 ID: 6faa8c
File 12603359355.png - (8.42KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>88850
>"Yeh'd have to prove he cheated. I used the same material Vizzex gave me to make the second statue. There should be some of dat' chemich in dere, or summat... yeh jus' need tah implicate 'im afore a cleric of the Incarnate or an ahngel. Den nottin would stop meh from meltan outta dese 'ere bars."

>>88853
I ask Nifl.
>"Nah. Old wagers like this can only be overdone by beings of similar power. Or rendering the bet null and void."

>>88865
Well, lucky us! We have such a cleric (of the Incarnate) here with us! Ask him where the statue is.

The second statue is in the trap dungeon, where Grifl got possessed by Harumda.

Ask him how we can prove that the statue has the compound in it, aside from heating it up so much that it explodes.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/08(Tue)21:57 No. 88902 ID: 6faa8c
File 126033826071.png - (8.60KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>88878
>"Actually, yer heat up clay what's been baked, it done esplode. Testing it for chem that way is a bad idea all round." he says amiably. "Naw, all yer have to do is chipper some orf. I mixed the secondary batch as evenly as physically possible, so dat the chem wasn't all in one place, get? Then All yer 'ave ter do is bring some to an alchemist, who'll identerfy it fer yer. and den I'm free to go, no mahttah where yer are, so long as the cleric witnesses the testimony of an expert in the mattah. Savvy?"

Nifl cuts in:
>"There will be a newer set of traps in place, Grifl, and the statue will be moved there."

>>88902
Well, off to the traps again, I guess.

>>88902
Savvy. We'll do it. Nifl should wait outside the entrance so he doesn't have to dodge the traps, though.

>>88907
Well... I think maybe we should talk to the dragon before we free his ill-gotten slave, though.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/09(Wed)10:31 No. 89154 ID: 6faa8c
File 126038348839.png - (8.63KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>"I wouldna worry about dat, lad. Like I said, the lizzahd only got me cause he's a cheatin' bastuhd. Do you really think I'll let 'im get away wit' dat?"

His face takes on a mischeivious cant, so I look to Nifl and he nods.

>"I din't really care fer Vizzex either way. Too close to idolizing something beside the Incarnate."

It might still be a good idea to get some extra information out of the dragon before we piss him off. Like, the location of any Artifacts, or of any way of healing the broken connections between the planes.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/09(Wed)10:49 No. 89164 ID: 6faa8c
File 126038457062.png - (8.61KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>89162
As I speak with Nifl about the matter, the creature in the cell barks a laugh.
>"Who d'ya think MADE the Daemonic Artifacts? Fer dat mattah, I done been aroun' since before the age of Dwarves and Elves, so I'll be happy to awnser any questions yer might have about that sorta thing."

"But not until we let you out?"

>"Not until I am free."

>>89164
That is a compelling argument.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/12/09(Wed)10:59 No. 89168 ID: 6faa8c
File 126038514776.png - (8.51KB , 640x480 , MegrimtheSteelhearted.png )

>>89166
>"'M glad ye think so." he says. "Tell yer what. In addition ter bein' able ter pick me brain, I'll craft you a single item made from the iron in these here bars. Since I won't be seeing you for a while, jus' tell me what yer want now, an' I'll find yer."

Hmmm...
I'm not very well-trained in metallic armor or traditional steel weaponry...

>>89168
Not deciding anything yet, but are you any good with steel nunchucks?

>>89168
Anything specific that you'd be good with, weapon-wise? Or maybe something that isn't a weapon or armor that would come in handy, though I can't think of anything specific.