>I’ve never seen any of them think, far less strategize
Obviously, the smart ones would hide their infection, plan out an infection strategy and build their power base by kidnapping uninfected and turning them in specific conditions to make them attuned pack slaves. i.e., you haven't met any smart ones because all the dumb ones went out and bum rushed an army of plague doctors.

The real question is, how intelligent ARE they? Do they have escape routes? Alliances? Pack training? Do they still think about their objectives or are they driven by instinct to hide and infect?

>No ear amputation
It's black and swarming with the disease. Even if the disease has spread, you can buy her some time by cutting off the tumors supplying more infected cells to her bloodstream. Something to think about.

>Doors
Through the wooden door first. If necessary, drill through the wall instead of the secured door.

Kassadin 2018/07/30(Mon)13:49 No. 895065 ID: 209e03
File 153298374131.jpg - (18.62KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 18.jpg )

>Plague Evolving, Magic Control, Underground Infected Conspiracy
If we could find and capture another specimen like the one earlier, we may be able to experiment on it with magic nullification to see if it has an effect on their actions. A single, isolated case doesn’t necessarily mean anything, and there could always be some detail we overlooked. Besides, this is assuming the kid was telling the truth. And to be honest, the whole thing seems a little far-fetched.

Alright, left door it is. Oh, this must be a guest room. Seems awfully tidy. A chest in the back left, a wardrobe, a single bed in the corner, and a nightstand. There’s a note and a lit candle on the nightstand.

Grab the note but be aware of ambushes or traps. It's the first thing an investigator would go towards.

>>895065
Careful, someone could be hiding in the wardrobe.

Check the room for possible hostile, then read the note. See if you can find a key for that girl's chain. Try to be quick though, i don't like the idea of that little girl all alone down there.

1/2 Kassadin 2018/07/30(Mon)15:41 No. 895100 ID: 209e03
File 153299048777.jpg - (15.35KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 19.jpg )

>Check the wardrobe for any hiding infected
Right, the wardrobe would be the perfect place to hide for an ambush. Alright, let’s see what’s in-

2/2 Kassadin 2018/07/30(Mon)15:41 No. 895101 ID: 209e03
File 153299050052.jpg - (21.66KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 20.jpg )

SHIT

>>895101
DODGE ROLL AVOID AVOID AVOID

Kassadin 2018/07/30(Mon)15:57 No. 895104 ID: 209e03
File 153299142740.jpg - (19.97KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 21.jpg )

I feel like there’s a joke to be made here, but I just can’t see it. Probably because of the bra.

Read note.

>>895104
On the bright side, you aren't infected, So there's that, Read note, search for signs of...well anything important

You don't have cardiac problems, do you?

Sheesh, ok stop fooling around and check that note, time is of the essence. We still need to find that key.

>>895104
This is why you don’t stand directly in front of something when you open it!

1/2 Kassadin 2018/07/30(Mon)21:41 No. 895218 ID: 209e03
File 153301208166.jpg - (22.99KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 22.jpg )

Right, right, time’s a luxury I wish we had. Okay, enough fooling around.

>Read Note
I read note.

2/2 Kassadin 2018/07/30(Mon)21:41 No. 895220 ID: 209e03
File 153301210460.jpg - (22.46KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 23.jpg )

>”The target has been captured and detained. She caused us a lot of trouble, but we got her. She’s currently in the other room, but she definitely hasn’t made it easy for us. We even had to use that fancy sigil of yours, just to keep her from knocking down the door. We found her in the Tavern after hours. She took down three of our five mercenaries and almost took out R’omakh. Of course, we killed the remaining mercenaries with us as soon as we successfully captured her. We can’t have them yapping. I swear that bear guy you sent us is crazy. No matter what got thrown at him, he wouldn’t stay down. He may not be the smartest, but he was definitely thorough with the “cleanup”. I swear that guy has a bottomless stomach. By the time we were finished, the clothes were the only things left. We stuffed it all in the wardrobe upstairs

>The kid was also with her. But thanks to that fucking tavern keeper, things got a little out of hand. During all the confusion, she somehow managed to sneak off, but I’m sure we’ll find her before long. I’ve got some chains to keep her still, and a file hidden with the target’s room’s key in a chest to get them out when we finish the transfer.

>Speaking of which, I’m very much looking forward to our negotiations. It’s gonna take quite a bit extra to keep suspicions low with those plague doctors and the “sudden disappearance” of a certain tavern keeper. We wouldn’t want those clerics to catch wind about this little exchange, would we?

>If R’omakh successfully gets this letter to you, rather than eating it as soon as he gets his grubby teddy bear paws on it, we’ll be waiting for you in the Tavern tavern. Yeah I know, it’s a dumb name for a tavern.”

Well, shit. This complicated a few things.

>>895220
That is now evidence, take it with you.

Make sure you check the chest and the drawers on the nightstand before you leave the room.

Not sure if the girl’s mother is behind the door with the seal on it or if something else is behind that door. Should you risk opening the door?

Take the kid and this note to the clerics.

>I swear that bear guy you sent us is crazy. No matter what got thrown at him, he wouldn’t stay down
Oh no.

Go straight back down and cut off the bear guy's limbs and head. Take the note and crowbar the girl's chain off, then retreat and get an army to help you. If that woman is a badass, she'll be even more badass when she's infected, so you need the backup.

This is all sorts of problems. Take the note. Go downstears ASAP, that thing need's to be put down some other way. The girl is in danger, but she probably was also lying and needs futher questioning. And this woman is either infected or is a badass witch, but still dangerous. And this guys are probably are the cause of the "plage" altogether, or at least they have something to do with it.

1/3 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)12:43 No. 895370 ID: 209e03
File 153306623485.jpg - (21.63KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 24.jpg )

I pocket the note. This’ll probably be important for later.

>Get to the girl!
Relax, there’s no possible way for an infected to survive a direct injury to the head. They rely on working bodily functions for the disease to do anything besides exist and slowly die in a corpse.

2/3 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)12:44 No. 895371 ID: 209e03
File 153306626997.jpg - (20.19KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 25.jpg )

...But just in case…

3/3 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)12:44 No. 895372 ID: 209e03
File 153306629616.jpg - (30.84KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 27.jpg )

Okay, something is definitely wrong here.

“Evellyn, did you see where the bear went?”
>”U-um no Mister Kassadin. I heard him start to move, so I closed my eyes and tried to hide behind around the stove and tried to stay quiet. I don’t know where he went.”

>Crowbar the chains
I don’t have anything on me to do that. I guess I could try with my cane, but I’m not sure I want to risk breaking my only form of self defense. The note said something about a file in the chest upstairs, but I don’t know if I want to leave Evellyn alone with the bear possibly hiding around here.

Is it getting darker in here? Oh, the furnaces are starting to run out of fuel.

>>895372
I don’t think that door on the far wall was there before. That’s probably where the bear went.

Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)15:03 No. 895417 ID: 209e03
File 153307463768.jpg - (27.48KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 28.jpg )

Artist Error: Forgot to decrease the furnace and stove lights

>Door in pantry
Thock
Nope, there’s a wall there. That would just be too convenient, wouldn’t it?

>Is it getting darker in here? Oh, the furnaces are starting to run out of fuel.

Why where those even on to begin with, to light the place?

Check the new open door.

There's only one way for the bear to have gone. Check outside.

>>895417
Check the spot where the bear’s body was. There’s something there.

1/2 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)18:16 No. 895488 ID: 209e03
File 153308617948.jpg - (19.13KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 29.jpg )

Taking a closer look at where our Care-Bear friend moved from, there’s a pool of dry blood and some bile. As for the stoves, well, it was early morning when I arrived here, so they were probably setting everything up for the day.

Well if that’s all, I give Evellyn a quick hug, speak some hopefully comforting and encouraging words, and I move out.

2/2 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)18:16 No. 895489 ID: 209e03
File 153308620883.jpg - (30.76KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 30.jpg )

Ah, fresh air. I don’t know what I was expecting to see out here. Y’know, I could just leave. I could leave Evellyn and that woman upstairs, and rush off to the clerics. Who knows, I might be able to get some of them to come back with me. I mean, I’m just one guy, and this R’omakh seems pretty capable of surviving anything short of magic nullification or maybe burning. Besides, if I get the other clerics involved, the increase in numbers would make it safer to take him down.

But that could take a lot of time. We’re a pretty fair distance away from home-base. And leaving Evellyn behind knowing that R’omakh could be lurking in the shadows leaves a pretty shitty lump in my chest. And what if the clerics don’t believe me? After all, this is a pretty unbelievable story, note or not. What am I just gonna say, “Hey there’s a super infected that is intelligent, nearly unkillable, and can survive without vital organs in the Tavern tavern. Oh, also there’s this super crazy witch-lady who got trapped in a sealed glowing room in the second floor. Oh AND I have definitive undeniable proof that there’s an underground organization terrorizing us with strategic infections. Just read this note, and you’ll believe me.” I would have trekked all that way for possibly nothing, and I’d be leaving Evellyn and the woman upstairs alone and in danger. All I’d have to do is go upstairs, get that door key and the file, and somehow make it out with everyone. Then I can bring them with me to see the clerics, and who knows, a few witness testimonies could make the story more believable. Just in and out. What’s the worst that could happen?

What will I do?

Just recruit some roaming Plague Doctors nearby. They might be fake, but their combat skills aren't; you try passing yourself as a fake doctor in a plague area without impalement by angry diseased mobs. I doubt that the majority of the fakes are working for the conspiracy, but take care as to who you recruit. Go for anyone with more combat expertise than medical expertise - the conspiracy is constantly handling the plague, and anyone who doesn't have a lick of plague handling experience would be screwed by the infection-saturated hideouts.

Well, you can't see the bear so call for the guards and tell them what's going on. They need to be alerted to the threat, meanwhile you can go back in and search the chest for that file to get the girl out.

>>895489
Ok, you don’t immediately see the bear, so it might be long gone by now.

Head back upstairs and get everything out of that chest.

When it comes time to open that door, try knocking first to see if the lady behind the door will answer you.

>>895491
The guards won’t help, they hate the plague doctors and would rather ignore us.

>>895492
I think they'd hate the infected monster a little more.

>>895494
True, but would the guards even give us a chance to explain? Or would it be one of those cliché moments where the guards are too busy interrupting us with insults to let us finish explaining the situation to them?

1/4 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)22:06 No. 895517 ID: 209e03
File 153309996659.jpg - (30.78KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 31.jpg )

>Look for a Plague Doctor/Guard nearby
Right, it would definitely be safer and faster to grab someone around here, even if just to tell them of the situation.

I just...um…

2/4 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)22:06 No. 895518 ID: 209e03
File 153309998829.jpg - (30.83KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 32.jpg )

Uhh… Where the fuck is everybody?

3/4 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)22:06 No. 895519 ID: 209e03
File 153310000277.jpg - (37.72KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 33.jpg )

Ugh, fine. I’ll get Mr. Spear-Up-His-Ass.

“Hey! Guard, you have a minute?”

4/4 Kassadin 2018/07/31(Tue)22:07 No. 895520 ID: 209e03
File 153310004899.jpg - (26.29KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 34.jpg )

>”Okay first of all, it’s Horace. Second, this better be good enough ta pull me from my post. What in the hell do ya want?”

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to get this far. What do I tell him?

Tell him about the infected that's loose in town, and warn him it didn't die when you stabbed it in the head. Ask him to tell the clerics if the guards find it, and for them to try to keep it in one place or at least keep tabs on it until the clerics alive... unless they want to try capturing it themselves. It should be possible to injure it enough so that it could be put in a cage without anyone dying.

Then go back and get the file from the chest upstairs, release the girl, and bring her to the clerics. She's important somehow and you should find out why.

>>895524
Yeah, this is pretty much what we should do.

But what about the woman that’s supposedly sealed in the upstairs room? If that’s the girl’s mother, then we’d have to free her somehow. That woman could also be important!

"Yes it is. I tried to purge an infected with a field lobotomy. Also known as a sword through the brain. Two minutes later I come back and it's GONE. The other infected said he started moving from the floor, then she hid. I need your help because there's an uninfected woman who barricaded herself upstairs, and I'm not going back to Smokey the Murder-Hobo without someone to watch my back. He's near indestructible, but we just need to paralyze him with lethal wounds and throw him into the nearest anti-magic ward"

Give him the note.

"Also, there's a cult spreading the disease."

1/2 Kassadin 2018/08/01(Wed)11:25 No. 895576 ID: 209e03
File 153314791866.jpg - (25.99KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 35.jpg )

"Yes it is. I tried to purge an infected with a field lobotomy. Also known as a sword through the brain. Two minutes later I come back and it's GONE. An infected child said he started moving from the floor, then she hid. I need your help because there's an uninfected woman who barricaded herself upstairs, and I'm not going back to Smokey the Murder-Hobo without someone to watch my back. He's near indestructible, but we just need to paralyze him with lethal wounds and throw him into a cage or an anti-magic ward or something"
>”...”
“I mean, if you can’t help, at least tell your superiors about this.”

I don’t like the stupid fucking face he’s making at me.

“Also, there’s a cult-”
>”I’m gonna stop you right there. The infected don’t survive brain trauma. It’s not possible for the body to continue functioning. Look, the only reason I’m even considering helping you is because of the trapped woman and child. However, I can’t tell anyone anything because almost the entire force in this area is busy at the eastern front. Apparently a real crazy infected showed up in the area last night. Started going on a rampage, killing a bunch of aggressive infected in the area.”
“Why would they-”
>”I know what you’re gonna ask so shut up. In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t exactly feel the most comfortable around you all. The extra guards here were sent as familiar faces to calm the citizens and keep riots from breaking out. Now, if you don’t mind, move over. I want to see this child.”

2/2 Kassadin 2018/08/01(Wed)11:26 No. 895577 ID: 209e03
File 153314796967.jpg - (30.94KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 36.jpg )

We meet up with Evellyn. After a few quick introductions, and a quick recap of our situation, we find ourselves at a crossroads. What should we do now? Should one of us stay while the other risks looking for more backup? Perhaps we should split up, one of us on each floor? Or would it be better to search together, with one of us covering the other's back? It doesn’t seem like R’omakh is interested in causing harm to Evellyn, and for all we know, he could be halfway across the city by now.

That or watching us...

Breach the door as a team. Get this done with as soon as possible.

Ask him to keep watch while you go investigate the upstairs, open that chest for the file and maybe find the woman.

>>895589
Yes, do this!

1/2 Kassadin 2018/08/02(Thu)11:35 No. 895724 ID: 209e03
File 153323492310.jpg - (21.35KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 37.jpg )

Alright, I’ll have Horace babysit for me.

Now let’s see what’s in the chest.

2/2 Kassadin 2018/08/02(Thu)11:35 No. 895725 ID: 209e03
File 153323493517.jpg - (27.20KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 38.jpg )

Well, there’s the file. Where’s the key?

>>895725
Did this bastards even got a key?
What does that note say?

Also, there a language barrier and I can't translate that thing that is on the left. I know what that is, but i don't know what's it called. But we can use it in the chains anyway, right?

>>895731
That's a Nail File. It's for dulling your fingernails so they don't deal scratch damage. And no, that doesn't work like in the movies.

Read the document on the right.

>>895734
Oh alright then, thanks mate.

>>895734
No it isn't. That is a file meant for use on metal. Nail files are much smaller and shaped differently. We can, in fact, use it on the chains. It'll just take a long time.

>>895725
Read that note, then search the room a bit further. Perhaps there's something under the bed or behind the dresser?

1/2 Kassadin 2018/08/02(Thu)20:05 No. 895769 ID: 209e03
File 153326554622.jpg - (21.59KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 39.jpg )

Upon closer inspection, it is indeed a metal file. Although, I suppose you could file your nails on this if you were desperate enough. And yeah, this’ll probably get through the chains, but at an agonizingly slow rate.

A quick once-over reveals the rest of the room to be devoid of any other secrets.

>Look At Note
Sure. Most of it looks scribbled over, but there’s a readable part in the middle.

2/2 Kassadin 2018/08/02(Thu)20:06 No. 895770 ID: 209e03
File 153326561717.jpg - (22.49KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 40.jpg )

“...And so the great father poured of the tainted elixir of life into the veins of the earth. And from the earth he molded a temple of life. And he lit a fiery passion into it and breathed it to life with a name. And so the great father created the sixth and final child. And he named her ‘Lelahel’.”

This “key” fucking sucks. Also it looks more like a page ripped from a religious book than a note.

Oh great, they have their own scripture.

Well, go to the door and just say "Lelahel".

Okay, the pantry went dark or whatever when the bear escaped. I'm thinking there's a secret passage in there.

Well, it is still better than nothing. Give the metal file to teh guard so he can free the girl.
I think we need more people here before we free that woman. Lots of more people. Let's keep searching the place for more clues.

1/3 Kassadin 2018/08/03(Fri)12:09 No. 895886 ID: 209e03
File 153332337258.jpg - (25.04KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 41.jpg )

A closer look at the sealed door doesn’t reveal anything new. I’ve never seen a seal like this one before.

>Lelahel
Well, I suppose it’s worth a try. I’ve worked with seals and barrier magic before. They’ll typically unlock with a “key” in the form of a word or phrase with a little magic to give it some power.

”Lelahel”

…

Nothing.

Maybe I’m missing something? Oh well, I’d better get back to Horace and the kid.

2/3 Kassadin 2018/08/03(Fri)12:09 No. 895887 ID: 209e03
File 153332338564.jpg - (21.41KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 42.jpg )

I already checked the pantry. As far as I can tell, there’s no way that bear could have escaped concrete.

Holy shit it’s even darker than before. And where the hell is Horace? Evellyn doesn’t seem in too much discomfort at least.

CRASH
CRASH
>”OW! Dammit.”

“Horace, you there?”
>”Yeah, I’m over here,” yells Horace from near the entrance, “Doc, you’re gonna want to see this.”

3/3 Kassadin 2018/08/03(Fri)12:10 No. 895888 ID: 209e03
File 153332340228.jpg - (17.15KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 43.jpg )

“Horace what are you doing the door’s locked.”
>”Well no shit doc, that’s the problem.”
“Have you tried running into it multiple times?”
>”...”
“...”
>”Please tell me you have some good news.”

Ok let's follow the note a bit more thoroughly.
Tainted elixir of life into the earth, mold earth into a temple, light it with fire then breathe life into it with a name.
Sounds like you need to take the blood from the infected, mix it with dirt, mold it into some kind of shape and cook it in the oven, then use the name to finish making your key.

Relighting the oven is a high priority right now though, it's the only light source.

>>895888
Tell him that you found a metal file that can be used to saw through the girl’s chains, but it’s going to take forever to do that.

Ask him what happened?

>>895892
>Relighting the oven is a high priority right now though, it's the only light source.
Luckily there’s still a candle upstairs and we’ve got plenty of wooden furniture down here.

Kassadin 2018/08/05(Sun)20:34 No. 896173 ID: 209e03
File 153352645084.jpg - (27.13KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 44.jpg )

I can’t help but agree that this has got to be some strange form of directions for unlocking that door. However, I’m not sure if it’s meant to be taken as a literal recipe for a key, or if it's supposed to be representative as some kind of hint for something else. I have no idea how I would even find dirt in here. Either way, my previous statement still stands: this key fucking sucks.


We walk and talk back to the kitchen.
“I do. I found a file, so we’ll eventually be able to get Evelyn out. It’ll just… take a while.”
>”Any solution is better than none I guess.”
“So… what happened”
>”No idea. Evelyn and I were just waiting here, when all of a sudden the door closed. By the time I realized what happened, it was way too dark to see if there was anyone closeby that could have touched it.”
“Unkillable infected starting to sound more likely?”
>”More like you just did it wrong.”
“Are you questioning my ability to execute an unconscious infected host?”
>”Well you must’ve done something wrong. Cuz like I said, it’s impossible for any of them to survive vital organ damage, especially the brain.”
“I’ll be sure to consult you the next time. In the meantime, we should try working on heating up those ovens then.”
>”What, are you gonna bake us a meal?”
“Hilarious. No, but we could use the light in here.”
>”Alright, while I work on the chain, why don’t you figure out how to increase the flames?”
“Why me?”
>”Because you. Quit complaining and just do it, will ya?”

I give Horace the file and walk back out of the kitchen. Scattered around the area down here, I can count:
2x Pantry Doors
5x Tables
12x Chairs

Of course, I’ll have to break these things down into smaller pieces, not only so they can fit, but for some extra fuel in the near future. How should I go about doing that?

You must me in such a bad humor, so smashing things up might help. Start with the chairs, those break faster and you only have to smack them around. Hell, you can smash them into the exit door, might work.

Yeah, bashing stuff against the locked doors until they break and using the wood scrap for fuel sounds about right.

>>896173
Smash chairs against the door and tables.

drag them up stairs and drop them.

Kassadin 2018/08/08(Wed)21:43 No. 896484 ID: 209e03
File 153378983606.jpg - (15.48KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 46.jpg )

Got a drawing tablet, so illustrations from now on may appear different (and hopefully improved) from previous updates.

CRACK

Okay, I’ll admit, I’m having a little bit of fun.

The door, however, seems to be a huge asshole and doesn’t look like it’s gonna budge. However, I’ve made a few notable marks and what looks like a few dents. At least now I know it’s not magically enchanted or anything. 8/12 chairs in and I’m exhausted. I just lug what I can back into a pile in the kitchen. I don’t really feel like running up the stairs just to toss a chair down, so I just lob one up to the second floor. I’m sure I’ll find a use for it.

>”Hey, thanks. That should last us a while. I’m maybe a quarter of the way done over here. You weren’t kidding about this taking an eternity. Oh yeah, I know you found that file and all, but how’s that whole barricaded woman upstairs situation going? You figure out a way to reach her yet?”

Tell him you have no idea where she's barricaded since there's a single room upstairs.

Or is there more than one room? Heck let's just assume we have no way of seeing whatever it is, and go up there and call out. She should be able to answer.

>>896484
Go ahead and throw some wood into the fire before it gets completely dark.

>Oh yeah, I know you found that file and all, but how’s that whole barricaded woman upstairs situation going? You figure out a way to reach her yet?
Explain the situation with the door to him and the magic rune that’s keeping that woman from knocking down the door. Also tell him about the note you found on the desk that talks about that woman’s strength.

Then show him the page you found in a chest with that file and explain that’s supposed to be the key to releasing the magic on the door trapping the woman, but you can’t figure it out. Ask him if he can probably figure it out? And while he’s looking at that page, you take your turn at trying to free the girl from her chains.

>>896486
There’s 2 rooms upstairs: >>894821 . The one on the left that we could go into and the one on the right the we can’t get into.

The woman is in the one on the right, according to the note we found: >>895220 .

"It's no good! Whatever sorcery they're using to barricade the door, I can't get it open! Apparently, this stupid story on the paper I found has the password to unlock it, but the name of the heroine isn't it! I'll fuel the fire with these scraps, and then you get to work on reading the password hint!

Tell him what you have found until now, ask him what he makes of the riddle of the door.

Also, the drawing is looking good.

>>896488
Oh. Let's just knock on the glowy door then.

1/2 Kassadin 2018/08/09(Thu)13:47 No. 896575 ID: 209e03
File 153384765322.jpg - (48.48KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 47.jpg )

I toss a few broken chair legs into the furnaces as we speak. The embers spark back to life and gradually catch. Ah, the sweet relief of being able to see three feet in front of me.

“It’s no good. She’s locked behind a huge metal door that also has a magic rune sealing it shut. I did, however find a note in the room adjacent to hers,” at which I show Horace the note. “I’m not exactly sure who she is, but she’s important somehow. And who knows, we’re stuck here so we could use any help.”
>”And how do you know she’s still alive?” I can hear whimpering from around the stoves.
“Because the note makes it sound like they were trying to capture her. So I’m sure she’s fine.” I glance quickly at Evelyn as I speak the last part.
>”Okay… so what’s the plan to get her out?”
“Well according to the note, a key to the door is supposed to be in a chest upstairs along with the file. I found the file, but instead of a key for the door, I found this weird riddle.
>”A key in the form of a riddle?”
“Yes.”
>”For the magically sealed metal door?”
“Yes.”
>”Did the door have any visible locks?”
“No.”
>Horace smirks, ”And you expected a physical key?”
“...Shut up and read.”
Horace takes the paper, and begins reading it out loud.

Evelyn suddenly perks up, “Oh! I know that story.”

2/2 Kassadin 2018/08/09(Thu)13:48 No. 896576 ID: 209e03
File 153384769575.jpg - (24.29KB , 800x600 , To The Tavern 48.jpg )

“You-what?”
>”Yeah my mom used to read me that.”
“Your mother… read you scripture?”
>”Um, no. It’s an old folk story from our homeland.”
“Alright then, well do you have any idea how this could help us get your mother out?”
>”Um, when my mommy told me stories like this, she always quizzed me on my inta...intra...inter-interpretation! She says ‘sometimes things aren’t always easy to see, you need to look for the hidden meaning’ or something like that.” Gods, who is this child, and what kind of a mother does she have?
“How about you Horace?” Judging by his expression, he seems equally as surprised at Evelyn.
>“Um, yeah I guess I’d have to agree with Evelyn,” Horace begins pointing to various parts of the page, “See here? ‘Elixir of life’, ‘earthen temple of life’, ‘fiery passion’, ‘breathed to life with a name’. It sounds like the four elements water, earth, fire, and air. Perhaps a riddle in combining the four? If I were to guess, maybe the ‘elixir of life’ could be blood? Fiery passion sounds like magic, i dunno that’s your department, not mine. Maybe the ‘breathed to life with a name’ part refers to some spoken word or incantation? Again, I’m not a wizard, so I’m not certain. I don’t really know what a ‘temple of life’ is supposed to mean, though.”

>>896576
Smart woman. Unhinged, but smart.

You don't have whatever cultist tools are needed to create the key. Get Evelyn out before the infection worsens. Make it look like the door is damaged and won't open.

So it is either a key we have to make, or a frace we have to say in order to make the door open. If we take on acount what Horace said, we have most of the ingridients to make a key. If we get manage to get out, we can find the rest, and find help for Evelyn.

Should we keep smashing that door? We still have some things to hit that door with.

>>896577
>>896593
>make a key
I’m pretty sure we’re not supposed to actually make a key. There’s gotta be something else about it.

Kassadin 2018/08/11(Sat)22:40 No. 896840 ID: 209e03
File 153405241953.jpg - (29.20KB , 600x800 , To The Tavern 49.jpg )

This helps me not at all. There are way too many possibilities, way too many variables, and a fucking crazed murder-bear on the loose hiding gods-know-where. As much as I’d hate to leave the kid’s mom behind, I think our best bet is to get Evelyn out of here now, and come back later more prepared. Gods, this day just keeps getting more complicated, how the hell am I supposed to explain this when I get back?

“Alright, I’m gonna go bang some more shi-er, stuff against the door. We can always come back with more people, but I’d like to get Evelyn out of here as soon as possible first. You think you can handle some more filing in the meantime?”
>”Well, actually if you don’t mind, I think I could go for a switch. Hands are starting to ache. Up to you, though. Also, I would like to take a quick look at that door upstairs. I know it would probably be safer if we all stuck to the same floor. But now that there’s two of us, if you’re willing to stay with Evelyn, I’d like to go see that door while we’re stuck in here.”

Ah hell, that’s right. There was so much stuff on my mind, I completely forgot to show Horace the sealed door. He’s met Evelyn, but I doubt he’s gonna be content without taking a look upstairs for himself. He has a point with our numbers, but we still have no idea where R’omakh is lurking, not that horace even believes the whole “surviving deady trauma” claim. Gods, he may even try to fight him. Then again, it’s just a quick look and back, and it’s not like we can’t call out to each other if we need help. And if he sees the seal, he may be inclined to trust us more.

What should we do?

>>896840
Actually, considering the infected dude didn't bother the kid she's probably fine on her own. Why don't you both go upstairs?

>>896840
Make sure he takes a burning chair leg as a makeshift torch so he can see where he’s going.

Then get to work filing away the kid’s chains.

>>896843
I’m pretty sure the guard is going to refuse that idea.

I am fine with switching activities. This will give us the chance of talking with Evelyn, she might be able to tell us more information, and Horace can inspect the door himself. But insist that our priority is getting Evelyn out of here.

Kassadin 2018/08/17(Fri)20:01 No. 897656 ID: 209e03
File 153456130204.jpg - (25.62KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 50.jpg )

>Both go upstairs
Yeah, I’d like to get through these chains as soon as possible, and gawking at stuff I’ve already seen doesn’t seem very productive. Besides, I don’t know what our infected friend is planning for with this kid, but I don’t want to leave her alone long enough to find out.

“Hey, that’s cool with me. But our top priority right now should be getting Evelyn out of here, not exploration.”
>Horace huffs, “Fine. I’ll get the front doors open now, but as soon as that’s done I want to take a look at that door. You better not have been lying to me about this.”
“Hey, I’ve already shown you Evelyn and the note. What more do you want?”
>Horace speaks as he hands me the file, “Have you even made sure the woman was still up there yourself?”

Oh.

I rub the back of my head, “Well…”
>”Have you spoken to her?”
“Uh…”
>”Have you even knocked?”
“Well the thought did occur to me.” I don’t like that stupid fucking face he’s making at me. “Alright, fine. Go check for yourself. But AFTER we get Evelyn out.”

Horace turns and makes his way back through the kitchen doorway, and I turn to Evelyn and start working on the chains. She fidgets every so often, and keeps looking around. I suspect she’s just anxious, I can’t blame her.

Aside from the crashing of furniture echoing from the front, and the slow scraping of the file, it’s dead quiet in here. Gods, I’m so bored.

>Talk with Evelyn
Wonderful Idea, that should ease the air. I suck at topics, though.

>What should we talk about?

- What was life like, for her and her mother?
- Any more folk stories she could tell us?
- Ask how she and her mother were... captured.

That last one - make sure it lines up with the note.

Horace Goddamn it, we can't check the door because is magically locked. Sure, we could have knocked or call her, but that door is abnormal, we didn't wanted to deal with it until we know how it works. You can't just use comon sense with magic, this fucking "plague" isn't normal. Sheesh, this guy is way too casual about all this.

1/4 Kassadin 2018/08/21(Tue)00:01 No. 898294 ID: 209e03
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“So Evelyn. You, uh, alright there?”
>”Um, yeah.”
“Well, this is gonna take a while. You think you’d be up to talk a bit while I work on the chain?”
>”Oh, uhm, sure Mr. Kassadin.”

“So what exactly happened here?”
>”Uhm okay. So my mommy and I came in here really early ‘cuz mommy knew the owner. Uhm, Mr. Taver… Tazer-Tazewhich! She wanted to talk with him alone so we came before the tavern opened. Then a bunch of people started banging on the door. Mr. Tazewhich hid me in the pantry while he and mommy went to go talk with them. Then I heard a lot of crashing and screaming. Then, a Formorian pulled me out of the locker.” Ah, that would be the bear. “He was with someone else, a human. Then he chained me here and they both went upstairs. I don’t know what happened to the human, though. I thought I heard yelling upstairs, but they never came back. Uhm, then you came.”

I can’t really find anything off with her story.

2/4 Kassadin 2018/08/21(Tue)00:01 No. 898295 ID: 209e03
File 153483489856.jpg - (22.55KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 52.jpg )

>”Mr. Kassadin?”
“Hm?”
>”Is… is my mommy gonna be okay?”
I slow my filing speed as I think aloud, “Well to be honest, things aren’t looking too good. Horace was right, it probably wouldn’t have hurt to check up on her while I was up there. But I made quite a ruckus while I was searching on my own, so for her to not hear me, or if she did, to not even try to get my attention somehow-” do I hear whimpering?
“-Uhh, but hey! I’m sure she’ll be fine. She could’ve just been sleeping, or maybe she didn’t hear me. It is a magically sealed door. It could be sound-proof.”

Holy fuck, I should’ve let Horace handle the kid.

3/4 Kassadin 2018/08/21(Tue)00:02 No. 898296 ID: 209e03
File 153483492271.jpg - (25.00KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 53.jpg )

“Why don’t we talk about your mother? You seem to really look up to her.”
>Evelyn breaks into a big smile, “Oh yeah. Mommy’s the best! She’s super strong and smart and really pretty and teaches me a lot about the new places we go to and people and stuff.”
“Oh, so you’re not from here?”
>Evelyn shakes her head, “Nope! We’re Lumerians. Er, Rabbitfolk? Most of us come from the plains in Lumeria. We, uhm, travel a lot, my mommy and me.”
“Oh wow, sounds like a pretty exciting life. Don’t you think it’s a little dangerous to be traveling at such a young age, even with your mother?”
>”Nope! Mommy’s super strong, no one can beat her!” Recent developments urge me to disagree. “And I’m not weak either. I’m gonna be super strong just like her and have super cool magic too!” She jumps up and puffs out her cheeks and chest.
I hold up a hand, “Right, right, of course. Now come on, sit back down. I can’t work on this chain with you jumping all over the place.”
>”Eheheh, right, sorry” A real warrior princess, this one. At least she’s seems in a better mood now.

4/4 Kassadin 2018/08/21(Tue)00:02 No. 898298 ID: 209e03
File 153483495192.jpg - (30.51KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 54.jpg )

Nice, almost through the chains. Take that Horace, you pansy-ass.

“You wouldn’t mind telling me more about some of your folk stories, would you? Just to pass the time.”
>Evelyn smiles, “Oh sure thing. Hmm, let’s see. I don’t really know too much about the Great Father, though. Mommy never really talked about it with me. Ooh okay, so this one is called “The Lumerian who called Gnoll…” Evelyn continues to share a bunch of children's stories, and doing her best to voice act when a character spoke. It would probably be cuter if we were anywhere else but here.

As Evelyn talks, I finish up cutting through her chains, and we sit together near the stovetop.
>”Then the Big Bad Gnoll said to Little Red Bunny Hood ‘Better to-‘“

CRASH

>Horace yells from the front, “Got the door open! Doc get out here, bring Evelyn. Once I get you two out to the town square, I’m coming back here.”

Good work Horace, i am done with Evelyn's chains as well. I will bring her with me to see what we can do with her. When i am done, i will come back to give you a hand. I have the suspicion that this whole ordeal is deeper than we think and we need al the help we can get. Be careful, i think we are not dealing with the usual plague anymore. I am not sure, but being extra careful never hurts.

I just realized that "Little Red Rabbit Hood" sounds a lot better than "Little Red Bunny Hood".

I'm sorry for letting you all down.

1/5 Kassadin 2018/08/22(Wed)16:20 No. 898645 ID: 209e03
File 153498004281.jpg - (33.98KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 55.jpg )

Evelyn and I dash through the tavern and out the front door. We continue running with Horace. Finally, we reach the clearing of the town square and we stop to catch our breath near a fountain. Looking back, it doesn’t look like we’ve been followed.

“Well that was an experience. Hey Horace, good work back there.” Horace grunts in response. Turning to examine Evelyn, she appears relatively unharmed.
>Horace stands straight and turns back towards the direction Tavern, “ Well Doc, it looks like you can handle the rest of this here on your own. I’ll…try to contact you again if I can find out anything.”
“Be careful back there Horace. I’ll get Evelyn checked in from here. You gonna be okay on your own back there? You want me to go get some help? We could probably use all the help we could get.”
>Horace doesn’t even turn around as he walks off, “Don’t worry about me Doc, just take care of Evelyn until I get back to ya. Besides, most of the guards and clerics are gonna be at the eastern side of town. Like I said, we’re just the skeleton crew. This likely won’t take long. Have at least a little faith in us guards. Oh, and do try not to fuck up with the whole ‘killing infected’ at the purge tonight. We’ve already had enough casualties as is. We don’t need more because someone forgot to check up on one of ‘em playin’ dead.”
“Hey wait, why not report to the higher ranking clerics?” I call out to him.
>Horace waves back, “I don’t like dealin’ with your shitty hierarchy. Also, you’re less annoying than most of the doctors I’ve had to deal with.” I think that was a compliment?

>”Bye Mr. Horace!” Evelyn cries out beside me.
>”Later Evelyn, keep the doc outta trouble willya?”
Oh, okay.

>This goes deeper than we think
I dunno about that. I don’t think we need to be so dramatic about this, but it’s definitely a strange time for a kidnapping attempt.

>Not normal plague
Yeah, I’d like to send a report about that bear as soon as possible. If I can convince the others that the infection may be evolving, we may be able to come up with a solution before it’s too late. But maybe Horace was right? It could’ve been some huge fluke that I messed up the angle or something back at the tavern and the brain wasn’t as damaged as I thought. No, but I stabbed right through to the top of his skull. Man, just thinking about it is giving me a headache.

>Go back and give Horace a hand.
heh

2/5 Kassadin 2018/08/22(Wed)16:21 No. 898646 ID: 209e03
File 153498006092.jpg - (19.63KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 56.jpg )

hehehahah

hahahaha

3/5 Kassadin 2018/08/22(Wed)16:21 No. 898647 ID: 209e03
File 153498007817.jpg - (22.50KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 57.jpg )

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

4/5 Kassadin 2018/08/22(Wed)16:21 No. 898648 ID: 209e03
File 153498009834.jpg - (24.39KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 58.jpg )

No.

Perhaps you‘re mistaking me for someone like Horace. I’ve risked my life more than enough today, and as much as I’d love to go fighting a possible invincibear, and partake in some grand quest uncovering a hidden, lizard illuminati conspiracy, I’d much rather leave this situation to the other clerics and guards who: have anti-magic, are more willing to blindly run into their deaths, and most importantly of all, don’t have a little girl they need to babysit.

Besides, I still need to:
>Get Evelyn checked in and examined at the medical center in the south side of town.
>Report this recent situation to my superiors
>Help prepare for tonight’s infected purge
>Take a nap

grumble

5/5 Kassadin 2018/08/22(Wed)16:22 No. 898649 ID: 209e03
File 153498013574.jpg - (64.04KB , 800x800 , To The Tavern 59.jpg )

>And apparently grab a bite to eat.

>Get Evelyn checked in and examined at the medical center in the south side of town.
>Report this recent situation to my superiors
>Help prepare for tonight’s infected purge
>Take a nap
>And apparently grab a bite to eat.
Sounds good to me, let's get to it! Chop chop!

>>898650
Yes, this is a good priority list.

Wait, are you seriously bringing an infected to a public restaurant? Really?

Get her to the anti-magic center, THEN get her take-out.