So the whole test-if-you-were-immortal thing didn't exactly work out as expected. Our apologies. Then again, I'm not exactly sure how what Kitty did would make provide for an accurate testing. Do amortals heal unusually quickly, as well? I suppose it'd be logical, but I don't want to assume. So you're in the town, then? What sort of features does it have? What's the population? How is it organized?

Hmm, what kind of drunk are you? The silent type, the emotional type or the looking for a fight type? Or all of them just in different stages?

And tell tits to sit down beside you and have some drinks too. Being around sober people can be damn annoying when you're drunk.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)11:23 No. 137250 ID: f11584
File 126686663084.jpg - (181.20KB , 777x777 , 03-02.jpg )

>tell tits to sit down beside you and have some drinks too

"Why don't you have something to drink?"
>"I haven't eaten or drank... (drunk?) anything in years."
"Whaa -
>"It's not like I can die from it. Hunger pangs go away, eventually."
"No?"
>"...Yes?"
"My hand is still broken."
>"Yes. It is."
"I don't think I'm immortal - amortal."
>"No, just wasting what little time you have left."

>Do amortals heal unusually quickly, as well?

"Would I heal. Really fast? If I, you know -
>"Yeah. Some heal a little faster than others, just like regular people. But generally, it doesn't take anywhere near as long."

>What sort of features does it have? What's the population? How is it organized?
Shithole. Small, covered in rust. I don't know yet, really. I just needed something for the pain. So, here we are. I was going to scout around later. That was a few minutes... hours? Hours ago.

"Oh! I fixed the map like you asked."
>"I didn't ask for -
"I'm not talking to you, Kitty."
>"Okay?"
"You can look too, though."

>Hmm, what kind of drunk are you?

I... am not drunk.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)11:26 No. 137251 ID: f11584
File 126686678543.jpg - (373.49KB , 1000x933 , 03-03.jpg )

Okay. Okay, this is the continent. And the countries. I highlighted all the cities I thought were important.

I was in that jeep for an eternity, so it's not like I had much to do instead.

I fail to understand Kitty's point of view... If one were immortal, one need only concern oneself with avoiding pain and gaining pleasure, and there can be pleasure in food and drink. Of course, by abstaining, perhaps she never has to go to the bathroom, but that hardly seems to me an adequate reason to forgo the pleasures of consumption. This one is odd.

Anyway, is there really no reason for you being here? Is it just a momentary break, allowing you to recover from your trials? Well then there need be nothing urgent for us to address, as you know the general plan.

>>137250
Sure you're not. You have just had a couple of alchoholic drinks to take away the pain in your hand. I'm sure you're good enough to drive even. Which you shouldn't try btw, let her to the driving until you have two working hands.

Anyway the best idea for now is probably to get as far away from the Western Coaliten as you can. So getting off the continent is probably a good idea. So head for a nearby large import/export harbour in a neutral country and get an ocean or two between you and pursuit.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)11:39 No. 137254 ID: f11584
File 126686756026.jpg - (380.35KB , 1000x933 , 03-03a.jpg )

I don't know. Maybe she wants to keep her girlish figure? Ha. Because she's... ah, nevermind.

>Anyway, is there really no reason for you being here?

"Okay... Kitty." I keep forgetting I don't have to talk out loud. I'll just pretend I'm talking to her. She'll be none the wiser. I find this pretty funny for some reason.

"Kitty... heh. Hey, Kitty. We're here, right now. In, uh... Tallwoods.
"Now, I want to get this damned thing out of my hands. But I can't just throw it away, or hide it. I've gotta put it somewhere safe."
>"Like... where it was?"
"Exactly!"
>"Why didn't you just leave it where it was?"
"Those weren't my orders, Kitty? Damn, don't you... understand... military? Military orders?"
>"Most of the time, only barely. Military men, even less."

I stab the map with my finger.

"We're here. Before we go anywhere, we need to know where we're going. Ha. Places like the Vault are secret. So, we need someone who knows... secrets. So, here we are."

I signal to the bar. Some people give my questioning looks. Who do they think they are? I'm too loud? Fuck them.

"So we need information. We need... to know."

Kitty doesn't seem happy. She never seems happy, though.

Your verbal eloquence is lacking, dear chap. And as to hiding us, the artifact... While it might be detrimental for me to say so, if your mission is simply to keep us from ever falling into the wrong hands, then the best thing to do would be to tie us to a rock and sink us randomly in the middle of the ocean. It's only if we may need to come out and affect the world that we would need to be placed in a safe, yet retrievable, place.

Oh but I do have a good question for our friend, here. She was familiar with the guardian beast. Ask her all about it. How she knows about it. If there are many more. How it came to be where it was. What interest it has in us.

>>137254
Ok so you need a vault but a secret one. You know that could be hard seeing how it would have to be unknown to be a secret one.

Ok an idea. Find a professor that specilizes in vault stuff. Ask him if they ever found a big ass vault as well as a list over all known vaults. Go to the big ass vault, hope that Kitty knows something about getting information out of one and that you can get a list over vaults or something. Compare to the list you already have and pick one that hasn't been discovered yet.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)11:56 No. 137263 ID: f11584
File 126686860678.jpg - (314.87KB , 777x777 , 03-04.jpg )

She seems really intent on the map for a while,

>"I take it that this entire country is filled with lost ruins?"
"Yeah."
>"You were saying earlier (when you were in your right mind) that North Poilen is in political turmoil, and wouldn't be friendly to your country's refugees. If we want to get off the continent, somewhere in Cerea is probably our best bet. Probably one of the major ports, so we can contract a vessel, or stow away without worrying about a lack of traffic. It looks like our only option there would be East Port, although treking through a whole country to get there would take weeks. We might consider heading to Gray Bay and heading down this channel into Cerean territory."
"O-okay."

>best thing to do would be to tie us to a rock and sink us randomly in the middle of the ocean

That would be bad. I need to be able to retrieve you, if I get followup orders to do so for whatever reason. Knowing where you are is a strategically sound move. Plus, I wouldn't want you anywhere where you might fly or float away, or something similar.

Kitty keeps on with her thinking, thinking, thinking.

>"But that still doesn't help us with figuring out if we even need to leave the continent. Being in Qer may have turned out more fortuitous than you had realized. Derelict ruins are often old civilizations who built up around old ones. That means lost technology, like the Vault. Someone here may know something useful, after all.
>"The barkeep may know something, in a seedy joint like this."

If the ultimate idea is to go to Cerea, it looks to me that hiking from your present locations to Gray Bay is just as much of a pain as it would be to cut out the middleman and just head south. It also allows you to explore the country a bit, perhaps see if there are any ruins that seem perfect for your plan. However, I'd advise against trusting the bartender too much, as bartenders are a CLASSIC form of knowledge, and as a result anything they know isn't that unknown. Find an old hermit or something that saw some ruin nobody knows about, then kill him so that he can't pass on the information to anyone else. Also continue to ask about the flesh beast.

>>137263
Kitty seems to have a pretty solid plan. Although I doubt seedy bar owners know much more than who you can buy smuggled booze from and who owes who money. But I guess it doesn't hurt to let her try to ask him. Just be on the look out for any trouble, act drunker than you are and if anyone approaches her with harmful intent, then break a bottle over their head and slice their throat with the broken bottle.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)12:17 No. 137268 ID: f11584
File 126686984144.jpg - (135.45KB , 777x777 , 03-05.jpg )

>find a hermit
>or professor

"Bartenders aren't going to know where -
>"I know. We need to ask for an information trafficker, or the location of a science team in the area. Maybe a crime lord. Who knows. It'd stand to reason there'd be one in a region like this."
"Sure, once I'm done -
>"I'm not waiting for you to sober up."
"I'm not drunk."
>"Just wait there."

Kitty gets up and heads off to the bar. I think I'll just sit here, a while longer. Hope you guys can get an eyefull of what she's doing from here, with your crazy magic eyes.

Again, any knowledge you get could be just as easily retrieved by anyone else willing to put forth the same amount of effort. Unless you're willing to erase the source of that knowledge after it is passed on to you. Anyway, time to use MAGIC EYES...

>>137268
Yes we can see her, but it's still good if you keep an eye on her yourself as well. And pour another drink. Don't drink it though. If shit goes down then toss said drink at an attacker and light him or her on fire. Then use operation broken bottle, which is break a bottle and stab someone.

You know she might get something if she is willing to break a few fingers. Which we know she is. This could get intersting.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)12:27 No. 137272 ID: f11584
File 126687045199.jpg - (178.52KB , 777x777 , 03-06.jpg )

>And pour another drink.

Now you're making sense.

>Don't drink it though.

Sorry, voices are gettin' kinda hazy.

I down another shot. Kitty is doing something over there. Can't hear her, though. Maybe you guys can.

>"Hey, barkeep."

>"What'll it be?"

>"Just wanted to ask a few questions. About where to find someone in the know?"

>"Don't get paid to socialize, miss."

'scuse me, do you not realize that you are being addressed by a singularly large breast?

Still, I'm not sure what to do. I mean she can't hear us, so what are we supposed to be doing? I mean, if she could hear us, the perfect line would be "and if you were?"

>>137272
She is trying to get information and the bar keeper is not cooperating. She will either have to bribe him or threaten with violence. Do you know if she has any money? Because if not I'm thinking violence will happen in the near future.

Pour another drink for operation burn-the-face-of-a-motherfucker. And look over the bar customers, check for anyone among them that's armed or looks like hired muscles or anything similar.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)12:46 No. 137278 ID: f11584
File 126687157584.jpg - (266.12KB , 777x777 , 03-07.jpg )

>Do you know if she has any money?

No idea. Something tells me she doesn't use it that often.

>Pour another drink

Haaaa

>check for anyone among them that's armed or looks like hired muscles or anything similar.

All I see are my good friends - ah, hell, you don't know the drink names here. That joke was hilarious, too.

Looks like the barkeep just turned around and went wide-eyed for some reason. He almost seems repulsed, though. Wonder what Kitty's doin' to him?

>"You sure about that? I like to keep abreast of current knowledge."

>"Ugh. What're you wanting to know, anyway?"

>"Just where to find any information traffickers, local eyes and ears. Also, any rumors about any researchers around here?"

>"Researchers? Of course, there's always Doctor Tannon's team at Broken Towers. They cause more trouble than they make finds, from what I hear.
>"Eyes and ears, I wouldn't know a thing about."

>"Sure?"

>"As sure as I could be for any foreigner, yes."

>>137278
Damn, doesn't look like there are any chances of a drunken brawl. Since when did people start getting so cooperative?

Take one for the road and go visit the good doctor Tannon. Maybe you can work out some frustration there if they won't cooperate.

Pretend to have fallen asleep from drinking too much, just to see what she'll do. Though be careful as she might just kick you in the head to wake you up.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)12:54 No. 137285 ID: f11584
File 126687205419.jpg - (245.36KB , 777x777 , 03-08.jpg )

>Since when did people start getting so cooperative?

To be honest, I was almost hoping for a drunken brawl. Or maybe just... drunken. No brawl.

>"Maybe we just got off on the wrong foot. I can be very persuasive when -

>"Ma'am, I'm as gay as springtime."

>"Ah. That would explain a great deal. And you're sure you can't -

>"Look. If you want another option, head down to the tallest ruin in the city. It's a half-fallen skyscraper. The Malan family runs most of this town. But don't tell 'em I said so. You'll find someone there to help you out, if you really want to get involved in that sort of thing."

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)12:57 No. 137287 ID: f11584
File 126687225282.jpg - (244.76KB , 777x777 , 03-09.jpg )

>"Thanks. You've been uncharacteristically cooperative for a barkeep."

>"I'm not your average barkeep."

>"I can't help but feel a little spurned, though. How gay are we talking here?"

>"Lady, I could suck the chrome of a trailer hitch."

>"Okayyy... Thanks for the info."

[minor cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)12:59 No. 137288 ID: f11584
File 126687237253.jpg - (148.96KB , 777x777 , 03-10.jpg )

I've gotta be honest with you guys. I've barely been listening to you. I'm sorry. It's just... I've been going through a lot of shit, you know? I don't feel so helpful right now.

My wife and kids. Oh, man. And that weird thing from the Vault. Who the hell's been screwing around with my life?

>>137285
Well let's go find the doctor. He is likely easier to convince than mobsters. Take a last shoot for the road and then tell Kitty tits to drive to the doctors place.

[minor cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)13:01 No. 137290 ID: f11584
File 126687247824.jpg - (154.60KB , 777x777 , 03-11.jpg )

>"The barkeep said he'd like a word with you."

"All right! I've had enough! I'm going to get some answers out of one of these shits!"

>"Lady, I could suck the chrome of a trailer hitch."

Yeah, that rates pretty high on the Gaydar.

[minor cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)13:08 No. 137292 ID: f11584
File 126687288088.jpg - (95.18KB , 777x777 , 03-12.jpg )

>"Hey, I've got a beer - a bone! A bone to pick with you!"

>"Who the hell - Oh, honey, you can pick my bone any day."

Look at this. I can't believe he left this lying around.

As soon as he gets sober I'll go over our options. Either the unreliable scientist or a mobster who's sure to have information. I shouldn't have any problem with either.

It's hard to believe that drunk fended off a Piaculum for as long as he did.

>>137292
He is a bit more competent when he's not suffering from crushing depression and alcohol intake.

I think you should go for the doctor, atleast first. You need an unknown vault, not just one that isn't known to the public but one that isn't known to anyone but you and Burns. Finding that might be tricky but the doc probably knows more about stuff like that than the mobsters.

A Piaculum, hm? So there are more than one. Doesn't seem like the type of thing to really breed, so were they made, perhaps?

Oh and hello, you probably don't know about us, do you?

[paused] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)13:13 No. 137296 ID: f11584
File 126687320756.jpg - (88.13KB , 777x777 , 03-12-p.jpg )

>You now have a direct link with Kitty, who is not drunk and confused.

>>137296

Hi Kitty! You have an awesome rack, by the way.

>>137296
YOU'RE A KITTY!

...Had to say it.

>>137296
By the way I wouldn't discount Burns being an amortal just yet. He was dying pretty hard before you found him. And unless you know another way for him to get better in such a short time I would like to hear it.

Take your top off!

Yes, inundate the lady with plenty of annoyances that will confuse and startle her.

I, for one, would like to explain a few things. We are the voices of the Second Tear. We provide guidance to those who hold us, some of which is probably not very good guidance.

And now, we can read your thoughts. But only the ones you're explicitly thinking about, so it's not like we can rip information out of your brain such as memories and the like. Or if we can, we just haven't tried it yet.

So, explain to us some things. Primarily, if we're going into some more ruins, there's a chance we'll encounter another one of those rampaging fleshbeasts that massacres everything in it's sight. What are those, and do they have any weaknesses?

>>137510
>What are those, and do they have any weaknesses?

It seems apparent to me that their weakness is high-caliber armor-piercing incendiary rounds.

>>137512
I was hoping for something that Burns could use. You know, without enough recoil to shatter every bone in his arm? It's bad enough he's got one useless arm.

...Which reminds me, Kitty. That was a real dick move back there. The guy's all concerned about his wife and kid and how he was just dead, and then you go and break his hand? Seriously, what the hell?

Actually he didn't fend it off. There were about half a dozen guys who died throwing themselves in the way of the monster just to save the life of their comrade and the objective of their mission, which was to get us out of there. Good friends of his, compatriots, and he watched that thing tear them apart and eat them, and all he could do was run away.

Go ahead, complain about his drinking habits again I dare you.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)22:49 No. 137633 ID: 65a023
File 126690776697.jpg - (95.79KB , 777x777 , 03-13.jpg )

>"I need a drink!"
>"I'll get you one on the house."

Well, glad that worked out.

>Hi Kitty!

"Hm? Who...? Oh, wait. You're the Tear, aren't you?"

Hello. You can probably hear me without me needing to talk. That right?

>we can read your thoughts

All right, then.

>breasts
>Take your top off!

Not right now. Maybe later. And yes, they are nice. But we've been bred to look this way. Almost all of my line have big breasts, thin waists and wide hips.

>there's a chance we'll encounter another one of those rampaging fleshbeasts

Unlikely. Piaculum are incredibly rare. They only show up at a world's end, or are left as guardians within the Expanse. Seeing one in a world is unprecedented.

I'm only aware of them because Piaculum destroyed one of the worlds I was on a few decades ago. Almost no one knows much about it, in reality, and you can go several lifetimes without ever seeing it. All I know is that Piaculum are all one entity, a part of some ancient god, or something. I'm not sure how true that is, though.

This artifact is probably one of the top ten most valuable things in all of Nahala. There's no reason there would be a Piaculum guardian watching over a bunch of junk in some other Vault. Although it seems strange that there was only one. I doubt it could have fended off a stronger military presence. Maybe it was just there to serve as an alarm for something else. A disturbing thought.

>weaknesses

Not many. They draw their mass out of thin air, you could say. They do have limits, though. You just have to keep pouring fire into them until they go down, and stay down. Even then, they can sometimes get back up later. I used to burn them. I'd expect acids would work as well. I was lucky to have incendiary ammo at the time.

>That was a real dick move back there.

It was kind of funny, though. He'll be fine. I thought he'd be healing by now, though. I guess he'll just have to have broken fingers for a few weeks.

So, what about you guys? What are you? Got any ideas on where to head to? You've apparently been watching me, at least since the Vault. Personally, I don't really care.

>>137633
>Almost all of my line have big breasts, thin waists and wide hips.

Awesome.

Anyways, I don't really know where to go. There are a ton of cities to choose from... any recommendations?

>>137633

Questions! ❥~❥~❥~

>> What are you?

We are a number of very itinerant individuals who seem to be communicating to you through a blue stone. The stone itself might contain us, by some spatial warping properties, or it might be some kind of gateway or connection to wherever we are. It could be a time portal, in which case we would likely be in your distant past, or it could be a fully 5 dimensional portal, in which case we could be from any conceivable time or reality relative to your own.

>> Got any ideas on where to head to?

The only idea we've had so far is to return to the place the military man got his orders from. Apparantly the orders came from a very ancient source, which may provide clues to our own nature, and the nature of the crystal you perceive us as.

That or you know, dick around in the Expanse, just to try to break the universe.

>> You've apparently been watching me, at least since the Vault.

We only caught a glimpse of you in the Vault. After that the man carrying us was driven off the road by a man (?) who apologized, claimed he was only religious, and then stood there smoking while this guy you're with bled to death. Yes, to death. Multiple organ failure.

Once our bearer woke up alive, hale and whole and 20 years younger at least, we saw you for the second time, when you saw him for the second time.

So no we haven't been watching you since the Vault. We just discovered we could watch people away from the crystal a few minutes ago actually, though our range of vision seemed rather fixated on your tits. It might be possible for us to watch something or someone elsewhere, then report to you later what we saw, but only if you ask for it.

>>137633
We... don't really know what we are. It's a long story. Involving cats, princes, and squirrels. MAYBE.

As for thoughts as to where to head next... well, I personally would like to see Burns complete his mission. And it would be nice to see him meet his family again, but just knowing her does that might be enough. After that... well, what in the hell were you looking for us anyway?

Also, only at a worlds end? That sounds troubling. I mean, if he's not amortal now, he probably won't have much to worry about in the future, but it's still a troubling thought.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/22(Mon)23:22 No. 137657 ID: 8c0e33
File 126690972224.jpg - (115.30KB , 777x777 , 03-14.jpg )

>don't really know

So you guys really don't know what you are, either. Sounds about right. There are a lot of so-called "magic items" in Nahala. In my opinion, there's no such thing. Your existence would seem to dispute that, although judging from prior experience, just because I can't explain something doesn't make it magical. Not going to worry about it.

>bled to death. Yes, to death. Multiple organ failure.

That sounds a lot like you'd expect from an Amortal. Still, I don't want to discount something else supernatural. A lot of strange things happen when Piaculum or Digens get involved. If that man in the suit was really Caiphas or Gath, they could have done any number of things to him. I hope for Burns' case, it isn't what I'm cursed with. Neverending life is a terrible curse.

>not sure where to go

Well, we can either hit up this scientist or the gang. Believe me, attacking a bunch of thugs poses no danger to me at all. I could take on a small army.

If I'm going to help this poor kid with getting you somewhere safe, we really do need to find out where to go. Even listening to us discuss it, I'm sure you must find it confusing. Just listening to you reiterate it makes me realize how little Burns knows what to do. It must be very confusing for him right now. Poor kid.

Local traffickers likely have information on something like a Vault, in a place like Qer. But, being as it's a Vault, they're sure to not be able to get inside. So, I'm not overly worried about them knowing where it is. Burns may be. You may be, for all I know.

As for the scientist, it stands to reason he would know something that's seen fewer ears to be spread around, although whether it's anything useful or not, I couldn't say.

We don't have time to do both. I don't really mind, so I'll leave this up to you and go over it with Burns once he's not being stupid. You know the pros and cons. Consider this very carefully, because the line we take now will determine a lot of future events.

1) Try to pry information from the Malans about local ruins they're certain to be hoarding, in hopes of looting them later.

2) Head to Doctor Tannon and pray he knows something about anything, regarding the lost ruins, and anything similar to the Vault.

Either way, if we do find another Vault-like building, we'll later need to figure out how to get inside, amidst other difficulties. Consider wisely.

>>137657

Hmmmmm.

It seems to me that the best course of action would be to get info from the Malans. It seems to be more promising than risking our time talking to a scientist who might know something about these ruins and artifacts.

Besides, bandits usually have better loot.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/23(Tue)00:11 No. 137681 ID: aa5284
File 12669127186.jpg - (158.53KB , 777x777 , 03-15.jpg )

While you guys decide, I'm going to drag Burns back to the jeep.

If we visit the scientist, we'll have to leave the city and head to Broken Towers. If we wrestle some information out of the local traffickers, we'll head downtown on foot to the tallest ruin skyscraper in the city.

>>137685

Tee hee hee hee! Silly Pause bars.

>>137681
Go for the scientist. If you fight the mobsters it will attract unwanted attention and the less people who know about the vault you go to the better. People can after all get into them, Burns and his team mates managed.

And I'm really intrigued by the puzzle of his miracoulus recovery. I guess we can't know for sure unless he gets mortally wounded again, but we kinda like him so it would really suck if he died.

The scientist seems like a much safer idea. The local mobsters might not be able to hurt you, but I don't think it's especially wise for them to know where you're hiding the tear at all.

>>137753
They wouldn't know unless someone told them. Right now nobody knows we have it, or that it even exists. I imagine all we'll do is ask if there are any secure locations like the Vault, or some abandoned, secure military installation or something.

>>137756
And they would wonder what we wanted it for. And them being mobsters it's not likely they would respect our wishes and not check up on it.

Honestly if you're going to hide something it should be done in a place nobody knows about. Every vault that has been found is not really an ideal hiding place. What we should be looking for is a directory of vaults in one of the vaults, then compare it to a list of all known vaults. Then we pick one that is in the vaults list but not on the other list.

>>137757
>And they would wonder what we wanted it for.
For the same reason as anyone else. Looting and treasure hunting.

"I don't buy it! You're trying to hide a mystical amulet, aren't you!"

Not gonna happen. While I agree it'd be best to stash it somewhere where no one would want to go looking for it, having people know where we were going wouldn't be that big a deal in a place like this. Plus, we could always just kill them all afterwards.

>>137761
And they wouldn't already have looted the shit out of the place? If they haven't it's because they can't get in. If they see that we got in then they will try to see what was in there and might find anything we left.

And killing everyone is such a messy and imprecise solution. And it takes time. And it arouses suspiscion on why they were all killed and then people might start drawing conclusion we don't like them drawing.

Go the the scientist for sure. As you said, the information he possesses is less likely to have been spread around to any significant degree. Of course, depending on what kind of backing he has, he may eventually have to share his information with others, which may prompt us to kill him after getting the information we need. Cruel but prudent. When Burns wakes up, make sure to ask him what city his wife and kids are in... In order to plan a good route, I'd like to set it up so that's either the last stop or along the way.

Also agree on the scientist. I'd really rather we deal with him than with a gang.

You know, something is bothering me.

This world is very different from the world we think in the context of. By all definitions of our physics and geometry, this place should not exist.

Piaculum show up when a world's about to end, you said? Maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but something about this whole thing seems off. Burns, ordered to take us out of the country with no real objective after that? Something like that guarding us in the first place, but we're not sure how we even got there? The fact that we seem to be a collective of entities that think in terms that don't even suit this world to begin with?

I've got a bad feeling about all this. Hopefully it's just nerves.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)03:16 No. 138529 ID: 212869
File 126709657942.jpg - (176.60KB , 777x777 , 03-16.jpg )

Scientist, huh? Well, seems more boring to me, but whatever.

We're finally back at - oh, hey. What do we have here?

It looks like a couple of goons have found where we stashed it away. They don't know what they've gotten themselves into.

All right, voices, let's see what kind of fun we can get into. I know how I'd usually handle this kind of situation, but I'll leave it up to you. What should I do?

...That doesn't involve me flashing my tits, or something similar? Because I can already tell what "kind" of voices you are.

>>138529
Beat them to death with their own arms.

Oh wait no, break one's legs first so that he gets to WATCH you beat the other to death with his own arm.

Then interrogate him.

Or if you don't actually want to kill them, I guess you could just see how many fingers you can break individually before they wise up and run away.

Maybe you could catch one and interrogate him.

Beat them up, knock them out, get in the car, and run over their legs.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)03:43 No. 138533 ID: 212869
File 126709821172.jpg - (208.91KB , 777x777 , 03-17.jpg )

Whoa, whoa. Seriously? You guys?

I mean, yeah, that's what I was going to do. Violence. But seriously?

You seem to have the character of either a battle-hardened 80 year old lech or a 14 year old with a hormone imbalance.

That said, I have no problem with killing either of them. Should I play with them a bit first, or just take care of them right away?

Incapacitate and interrogate. If they're not useful, dispose of them.

>>138533
Shoot one in the head. Shoot the other one in the knee. Ask the guy with a busted knee if they were just looking for easy pickings or if they were hired. In either case cut off all of his fingers on his right hand, bandage up his wounds to make sure he survives and tell him to tell his mates something. You and the people you're with are off limits, anyone tries to fuck around with you and they will regret it.

>>138533
Heheh. Yeah, I was half serious, half checking to see how eager you were to inflict grievous bodily harm upon people. I've never seen someone beat a man to death with his own arm before. Thought it might be amusing.

Well it doesn't look like they have guns or anything, so yeah, play around with them. The lookout has a police baton but I doubt that will be of much trouble for you. So long as it's a low risk encounter we may as well get some entertainment value out of it. On the other hand, you're leaving Burns lying there on the ground. If they have anyone else helping out, he could get in trouble.

I'd say... take one out quick, then play with the other one while keeping an eye out for anyone else. Just dodge his attacks and keep slapping him.

>>138533
smart killing.

Take out the first one fast and brutally (make it gorey and scarey. You wanna look like a monster)

The second (if it was done right) should run, or be incapicated long enough to interrogate.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)05:03 No. 138551 ID: 65a023
File 126710298391.jpg - (171.00KB , 777x777 , 03-18.jpg )

>On the other hand, you're leaving Burns lying there on the ground.

Actually, I'm bringing him with me. None of this "while I was taking care of two guys a third took someone hostage" crap. I was making those kind of mistakes when Burns' great grandfather was learning to walk.

Your suggestions seem to be all over the place, aside from an agreement to be violent. So, I'll wing it, then hurt them, I guess.

They see me approaching, but don't seem too concerned. The one rummaging in the vehicle keeps on doing what he's doing, while the other one turns to greet me.

>"Club yourself a husband, Miss?"

"Yeah. I thought we'd share a memory or two in the backseat of my jeep here."

>"Your jeep? Sorry, I haven't seen it. This here's our jeep."

"A shame. I need a jeep, and yours is the only one here."

>"What's a pretty thing like you doing out here in the woods, anyway? Maybe you'd like to share a memory or two with me."

Oh, he plans to rape me. Well, that would be interesting for him, but I'm not in the mood to humor delusions.

"Sorry, I prefer my memories long and filling. Not short and balding."

He doesn't seem too happy about that. I hear his friend laugh from the inside of the jeep.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)05:03 No. 138553 ID: 65a023
File 126710303317.jpg - (109.01KB , 777x777 , 03-19.jpg )

>"Smug bitch!"

And here he comes. Didn't take much.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)05:06 No. 138554 ID: 65a023
File 126710316234.jpg - (250.65KB , 777x777 , 03-20.jpg )

His scream echoes for what's probably miles.

He loses consciousness fairly quickly.

Strange. Usually the arms come off at the wrists, or the upper forearm.

His friend hits his head on the jeep's ceiling on his way out of it.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)05:10 No. 138556 ID: 65a023
File 126710342317.jpg - (225.78KB , 777x777 , 03-21.jpg )

To be honest, I don't really like doing things like this. Now my white fur coat is covered in blood. Getting hands on always puts me in a bad mood.

I grab the other one by the throat. His eyes dart from me and his dying friend. The short one is going to die, no matter what. Guess he realizes this. He doesn't seem sure of what I did, since he wasn't watching what happened, but he's still panicking.

So, what do you want to ask him? If anything?

[paused] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/25(Thu)05:12 No. 138557 ID: 65a023
File 126710356427.jpg - (198.71KB , 777x777 , 03-21-p.jpg )

Think away.

>>138556
Ask him if he was hired to do this or if this is their usual mode of operation. Then cripple his ass, shoot him in the knee, cut off all of his fingers on his right hand. Give first aid to make sure he lives and then he's to tell everyone that you and whoever is with you are not to be fucked with. If anyone makes that mistake then they will find out how you deal with people who actually piss you off rather than merely annoy you.

Btw nice move there with pulling his arm off. And it really is a bit odd that it came off at the shoulder. A damn pity really that it's so hard to beat someone to death with their own arm, they tend to bleed out before the blunt trauma gets them.

What's the point of torture? This is a thugish town, and these are a couple of thugs. Do you really think these guys are hired professionals? They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. No need to be uncivilized about it. Simply say "Tell me something that would make me not kill you." Discourage I-Have-A-Wife-And-Family. I doubt they really have anything useful to say, but it doesn't hurt to try, and it won't be a lengthy conversation. Once he's run out of useful information (if he had any to begin with), just kill him.

>>138572
It's about setting an example. Teach them that the lady with the big tits and fur coat is not someone you fuck around with if you desire to have all your limbs attached.

If we leave him alive and crippled he can tell that. If we just kill him they will not know how it happened and who they should stay away from.

bitch slap him like you don't give a damn, you pimp of a whore what with your flashy fur coats and shit. you need a goddamn fedora, a leopard skin undershirt and a shotgun cane.

>>138599
"Where's my money, bitch!?"

>>138557
IN CASE OF MIXUP:

Now then... where did you find the jeep.

Try not to kill too many people. I'm all for violence when you need it...

Now... this guy can stay alive (he's no threat in anyway... why would he steal a car when he's in threat of death). The best thing you can do is take him as an extra gunner (you are amortal... right?).

You know, make him yours and use him. He's expendible.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)03:46 No. 139022 ID: 17fc61
File 126718480653.jpg - (228.27KB , 777x777 , 03-22.jpg )

"Where's my money, bitch!?"

>"W-what! I-I-I-"

"I'm just kidding. But seriously, unless you want to end up like your friend, tell me something I'd like to hear."

>"W-what did you d-do to him!?"

"I don't like being ignored, kid."

I grab his left arm and tug enough for him to feel it want to come out of its socket.

"Are you ambidextrous?"

He pants exclamations of pain for a few seconds before blurting out a confession.

>"N-no! I-I-I'll talk! Mister Malan got a tip that a TGC vehicle was heading here, so he sent a bunch of guys out here to look around, see if we can't find something, you know?"

"Why?"

>"I-I-I'm not sure."

I tighten my grip to let him know I'm in no mood.

>"N-n-no! No! I'm not sure, but I think... I think it has something to do with this meeting, a week back."

"Go on."

>"Some big shot from the Coalition's been hitting up all the major players in Qer and Poilen. And ever since last week, Mister Malan's been hunting down Confederate refugees."

I wish Burns was awake. He's the one that would care about this.

But it looks like these Coalition people that have taken over Burns' country are interested in finding someone.

"Who else knows about this vehicle?"

>"One other guy. We sent a runner about fifteen minutes ago."

Great. That means even if we leave, they'll probably be able to track us, whether it's by our tracks or by asking around town about where we may be going.

Any other questions? And should I let him go or kill him?

>>139022
killing is not worth it here. Plus, leaving him alive might score us a few good points (maybe he'll make people fear us, but respect us for not going on a killing spree. Make people see we are deliberate.)

let him go

but kick him in the butt as he leaves

I think it would be better to kill him. It would be an advantage for no one to know how powerful we are. They will likely send 4 thugs next time instead of something sufficient to give us trouble.

I really like your outfit. Try stopping off at a cleaners to get it washed. On the other hand blood spatter gives an intimidate skill bonus. On the other other hand it gives a diplomacy skill check penalty. But you don't seem to be much the diplomatic type.

>>139022
Time to restate my previous suggestion for the third time.

Ask him if he is right handed or left handed. Cut off all fingers on the hand he prefers. Then cut off his achilles tendons. Make sure he will survive and leave him with a message for his friends. What you did to him is what happens when you're annoyed. They really don't want to find out what happens when you get angry.

They might not get the message at first, but if you kill a couple of more and leave a few of them crippled to tell the tale they should learn eventually.

Oh and you might want to dump the jeep soon. For now you don't really have another vehicle to use. But the good doctor might be persuaded to give up one of his in exchange for the jeep.

>>139042
You have some sort of weird fetish?

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)06:29 No. 139044 ID: f11584
File 126719458599.jpg - (261.03KB , 777x777 , 03-23.jpg )

All right, I guess I'll let him go. Personally, I would have just killed him. There's no sense giving any enemy more information than they already have.

But with a warning.

"All right, pal. I need you to carry back a message to your people."

His eyes light up with fear. He's heard that line before.

>"Oh god no please! Please don't! I have a family! Don't take my arm!"

"Gotta take something, buddy."

I reach out my left arm, my right still around his neck, and begin to tear. He screams shrilly, almost insanely as I continue.

If you can't see what I'm doing, it's probably best I don't describe it.

He'll live.

I push him back out into the woods. He's not walking. Just writhing around, bleeding everywhere. Their patrols probably are on their way, having heard all the racket we've been making. They'll find him.

I throw Burns into the jeep, and head back out onto the open road.

>>139044
You bastard. You didn't have to do that. You should have taking his arm instead.

>>139044

Well that's cool. Let's just get the fuck. They're gonna track us no matter what.

>>139043
Only when it comes to roleplaying games. If I can't be the evil bastard that kills and maims to make a statement then it's no fun.

>>139044
I guess he won't have the balls to try anything like that in the future. Nice work. Onwards to science guy for information gathering and vehicle trading.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)07:00 No. 139049 ID: f11584
File 126719645118.jpg - (138.67KB , 777x777 , 03-24.jpg )

Burns finally starts to stir an hour into the drive.

>"Ugh. What. Where am I?"

"Morning, sweetie. I got the information you wanted, and we're on our way to see a scientist named Tannon at Broken Towers.
"Sorry I didn't consult you, but you were pretty much gone."

>"What... what did I do?"

"Well, you tried picking up a gay bartender. I figured you'd regret it, so I dragged you out of there. You were still pretty horny, though, so I had to fuck you a few times."

>"What - Damn it, Kitty!"

He's recovered pretty quickly. Not much of a hangover. Best not to bring that up, though. It'll only worry him.

He begins palming at his chest, apparently already aware enough to realize he's missing you guys.

>"Where -

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)07:02 No. 139050 ID: f11584
File 126719654723.jpg - (138.14KB , 777x777 , 03-25.jpg )

I hold you up to his face.

"Here. You nearly left it at the bar. Try to be more careful in the future.
"Oh, and I killed a couple of guys.
"Technically, one."

So long for now, lewd voices.

>>139050
Hey I'm not lewd... ok that's a lie but I'm not as bad as the others. I mainly just urge people on to use violence to solve stuff and make needlessly complex plans that all end in alot of violence and possibly ending the world.

Well so long Kitty. I shall miss your ability to tear people limb from limb. By the way is that something that's normal for your species or is it an amortal thing?

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)07:29 No. 139052 ID: f11584
File 126719814955.jpg - (192.48KB , 777x777 , 03-26.jpg )

Hello again, voices. My head is throbbing a little. I can't remember much. It must have not been much, because the hangover isn't that bad.

I'm surprised Kitty didn't run off with you. Irresponsible on my part. Won't happen again.

Can't say I trust her to completely explain everything that's happened. Can you fill me in?

>>139052

She ripped some dude's nuts off.

But, to be more helpful, Kitty jumped some dudes and got some info. To make things easier, I will now quote verbatim.

>"Mister Malan got a tip that a TGC vehicle was heading here, so he sent a bunch of guys out here to look around, see if we can't find something, you know? You know what, those are just fantastic tits by the way. Anyhow, I.... I think it has to do with this meeting a week back. Some big shot from the Coalition's been hitting up all the major players in Qer and Poilen. And ever since last week, Mister Malan's been hunting down Confederate refugees."

>>139052
Well she got information on who to talk to about vaults. One was mob boss and the other was a somewhat iffy scientist. You're currently en route to the scientist.

Other than that not much happened. She came back to the jeep, someone was trying to steal it and rape her. She ripped his arm off, then ripped the balls of the guys accomplice, then she left him there as a warning to other pursuers, he should make it. Apparently there are also standing orders to hunt down cofederate refuges. It's gone out to the criminal circles in Qer and Poilen.

And that's about it. So unless you're really an amortal I would suggest avoiding to piss her off. She has no greater problems with maiming people with her bare hands aside from getting blood on her coat.

Well. She's right in that she only surely killed one man, but she neglected to say that she killed scores of potential ones.

Oh. And some dudes are out there killing confederate guys. Sorry.

How's your hand?

You can clearly trust Kitty insofar as stealing us goes. She seems to sincerely be motivated by curiosity and/or avoiding boredom, so as long as you keep things interesting for her, she'll probably stick around.

I'm not sure who these Coalition guys are... they're not listed on your country map. But if they're putting their feelers into Qer and Poilen, I'd say after you hit up Broken Towers that you continue to head south, into Cerea.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)09:19 No. 139064 ID: f11584
File 126720477244.jpg - (178.38KB , 777x777 , 03-27.jpg )

>mob boss
>scientist
>Confederate refugees
>castration

I... see.

>"Would you like to know -

"No."

>"You didn't even know what -

"I don't," I assure her. It seems like I keep getting more in over my head. Why did they ever assign me this op? I'm just an old man. Or, I thought I was.

>your hand

I'd rather not think about it. I can still feel a twinge of pain beneath the bandages. I guess... the alcohol is still numbing me. That's most likely.

>"You do a lot of that."

I have no interest in exploring whatever she's accusing me of. She continues, regardless.

>"Do you always run from your problems?"

"I'm not running from anything."

>"Do you have an alcohol problem?"

"That's not your concern. Just keep your eyes on the damned road."

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)09:20 No. 139065 ID: f11584
File 126720484998.jpg - (188.27KB , 777x777 , 03-28.jpg )

>"You can't keep running away, forever. Life doesn't -

"And what about you? I'm not that young and gullible. You honestly expect me to believe you're not in this for anything?"

>"I'm not. Just because you can't trust -

"Bullshit. Don't throw that in my face. I know philandering when I hear it. You're here for a reason, and I want to know why."

>"I don't have any reasons."

"What are you running from?"

She says nothing.

You know what, the only things I see to do here are either stay quiet the whole way until she talks, which I prefer, or to perhaps admit you do have an alcohol problem. Opening up to her might means she admits something back.

I care about Burns' alchoholism :C

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)09:56 No. 139074 ID: f11584
File 126720700431.jpg - (183.69KB , 777x777 , 03-29.jpg )

Nothing much is said for the rest of the journey, even though it takes more than another half hour.

We arrive at Broken Towers. How it got its name should be obvious. This is one of the more well-preserved ancient cities.

I'm not sure how many live here, but it can't be many. Although, if no one did, it wouldn't have a name. The capital in Newspire is practically the only civilized area, and it is mainly a port for minor intercontinental trading.

This scientist... Tannon. Shit. I'm not even sure if he exists. I haven't even stopped to think about it. Well, it's as good a move as any at this point. At least we're moving further south. We need to find this guy, if he even exists. Maybe he knows something about the Vaults.

But where to start? Wouldn't he likely be at a dig site, or... maybe in one of the towers? He could be nearly anywhere.

Kitty seems content to let me give out commands. She's still totally silent, and is prepping her equipment.

[paused] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/02/26(Fri)10:11 No. 139079 ID: f11584
File 126720786381.jpg - (153.99KB , 777x777 , 03-29-p.jpg )

>[[Past chapters may be found at http://www1.tgchan.org/wiki/Nahala:_The_Dead_Age ]]

>>139074

We should try getting to the top of one of those towers to get a better lay of the land.

Find the tallest, most ominous looking tower, and that'll be where your scientist it. They always go for the tall ominous towers. Shouting things from the window, like "It's aliiiiiiive!"

Yeah good luck convincing him to throw us up onto a tower.

>>139074
Find someone living there and ask them where you can find Tannon.

>>139110

We have a couple advantages to occupying a tall building:
-Line of sight
-Sniper cover

Both of these would be very useful in this bandit-riddled place.

Yes, find the tallest building and check the entrance.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)11:15 No. 140585 ID: 65a023
File 126747093041.jpg - (112.73KB , 777x777 , 03-30.jpg )

>get a better lay of the land

It doesn't take long to ascend to the top of one of the buildings. Many have collapsed to the point that you can get up them pretty easily. They're delicate, though. One false step and you can fall right through a crumbling ceiling.

>Find the tallest, most ominous looking tower

Somehow I doubt that logic is going to work. The tallest tower will likely be the one most dangerous to live in or even be around. No one is likely to live in it.

Regardless, I see it in the distance. Sun's setting just enough to blind us. I can't tell how badly damaged it is, but I can't imagine climbing anything in this city.

>bandit-riddled place

We haven't seen a soul yet. There's not a sound but the wind, or something, somewhere, rarely crumbling or collapsing. I wouldn't be surprised if we weren't the only life for miles and miles.

This'll be more difficult than I thought. Or maybe Kitty just got bad info. Maybe one of the buildings has some city layouts, or local maps? Or maybe there's a camp around here. But where would we find something like that?

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)11:37 No. 140590 ID: 65a023
File 126747224592.jpg - (113.88KB , 777x777 , 03-31.jpg )

Guess I expect too much from you guys.

Maybe if we follow what's left of the electrical lines we can get to a utility that would have some blueprints or city layouts.

Kitty's been quiet. I wonder if she's still upset. She may have some ideas.

"Kitty? Any idea where to start? You're the one who's in the know about this Tannon guy."

>"There's a museum west of here. It stands to reason anyone investigating a ruined city for scientific goals wouldn't be as interested in the same kind of buildings he'd find anywhere else in this country. It's probably something unique."

"Every major city has museums, though."

>"All I can think of given how much I know about this place. Sorry."

She seems way too... nice. Guess something is bothering her.

>"There's also what looks like an overgrown Botanical Garden a couple miles Southwest. And... a treatment plant a bit further than that."

I can't see much of anything from my position, because I'm staring right into the sun.

"Anything else?"

>"Churches. A couple of old banks? Not much that I'd think he'd be interested in. I really just don't know. What about that stone? The voices have any ideas?"

"They haven't been very useful so far. Just suggested the tallest skyscraper."

>"Maybe they're trying to get you killed?"

She smiles intently, hinting at my possible amortality, before catching herself.

Whatever. We need to keep moving. Sun's almost down.

Might as well give the museum a checkthrough. If nothing else you can have a better look around on your way there.

Well, depending on what kind of scientist he is, he may be interested in the botanical garden. (A botanist, perhaps?) I personally would suggest working your way from the outskirts farther in to the city. And from the looks of it, you should get to some lower ground. If your planet has no sun or stars, then that means the "sun" you were staring into may be a ship, or something similar. Keep in mind that if you could see it, then it could probably see you. That, and try to see where it's going down, if it is a ship then it may provide a location of tannon or even a military outpost from a rival nation.

>>140590
The museum seems like a pretty good bet. If you don't turn up anything there then the botanical gardens might turn up something useful. There should be some people somewhere in the city, if you can find them then they likely know where to find the scientist.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)12:08 No. 140594 ID: 65a023
File 126747412852.jpg - (186.08KB , 777x777 , 03-32.jpg )

>If your planet has no sun or stars, then that means the "sun" you were staring into may be a ship, or something similar.

Sorry, am I not saying that right? I'm trying to make it easier to understand what I'm trying to tell you. Is it the "planet" that's your light? I would normally say that the sky is darkening, or that the light was going down. Trying to relate to you guys is difficult.

Well, anyway.

>The museum seems like a pretty good bet

I suppose. I hate having no direction, no orders. This is just like my retirement. I didn't realize how much I hated not having someone to order me around. My wife accused me of using that as an excuse to come out of retirement, when the military called me up.

Kitty's ready to go.

I guess we'll just head to the museum, if that's what you want. Can't think of anything any better.

>>140594
Hey we can order you around. Just imagine it, you will get wildly conflicting orders that often makes no sense, to the point of being irrelevant or even dangerously stupid, and can be reinscinded at any second. It will be just like being in the army again.

But seriously try to find some people there. They should know about the scientist. I'm guessing the normal people here would be at the botanical gardens while the scientist might be at places of intrest to the scientific community. A museum would be one of those places.

Move out, soldier!

You should have asked your wife to order you around then. Bow chicka wow wow.

Please realize we only suggested the tower because of the "last place you'd look" phrase. I'd figure this man would try and hide from dangerous humans than architecture. So he chose the most dangerous place because no one would look for him there. Also, big foreboding towers are places for madmen in stories. Just so you know.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)12:29 No. 140611 ID: 65a023
File 126747539238.jpg - (169.92KB , 777x777 , 03-33.jpg )

>Hey we can order you around. Just imagine it, you will get wildly conflicting orders that often makes no sense, to the point of being irrelevant or even dangerously stupid, and can be reinscinded at any second.

Hey, just like -

>like being in the army again.

Ha-HAaaa! Ah. That's depressing.

After some distance traveled, the light has - the SUN... the planet? Damn, I'm just sticking to my guns. Light's darkened. Night should be here, soon.

This place is trashed. I can't imagine much of anything of value has been left here. There's a blatant hole in the wall, and the doors are falling off their hinges. Looters probably got to this place ages ago.

I guess there's not much harm in heading inside.

>>140611
Let Kitty take point. We know she can survive an acid bath and head shots, and she can rip people to shreds with her bare hands.

Also, if she takes point you can get an eyefull of that sweet ass.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)12:49 No. 140624 ID: 65a023
File 126747657613.jpg - (138.95KB , 777x777 , 03-34.jpg )

Museum is completely looted. There's no sign of any human life. The walls are bare.

We keep descending through the halls until we come to a vault door.

>>140624
Open that shit. And brace for extradimensional horrors that wants to eat your face.

If you can't get it open then go check out the botanical gardens next.

Mneme!CRITTerXzI 2010/03/01(Mon)13:07 No. 140628 ID: a85626
File 126747765132.jpg - (57.80KB , 777x777 , arrowww.jpg )

>>140594

Ah, so the light has direction. Otherwise it would be coming from this direction too, making shading your face with that clumsy mitten impossible.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)13:22 No. 140638 ID: 65a023
File 126747854324.jpg - (157.48KB , 777x777 , 03-35.jpg )

>Ah, so the light has direction.

Well, yeah. It's different every day, of course. Most days I think it's always right on top of me. Today, it seemed to settle south.

>Open that shit. And brace for extradimensional horrors that wants to eat your face.

I hope you realize that everything with a locked door isn't going to have a horrible... whatever behind it. That was the first thing like that I'd ever seen. It'll likely be the last, unless I ever decide to vacation back in the Artifactum.

This is a normal, ordinary vault. With likely nothing important behind it. Looters apparently had no luck getting in. There're scar marks on nearby walls and the ceiling, where I suppose they tried to dig through, past the door. The room on the other side likely has armored walls.

Kitty tries her hand at tearing it off its hinges, with no luck. She punches it a few times, which looks really painful. Still nothing but a few dents. She sticks her hands into her pockets, but doesn't seem to be in any real pain.

"No good?"

>"Even amortals have their limits. I can feel it budging ever so often, though."

I stare at her for a moment before I realize she's changed clothes since I woke up. I've really been out of it. I almost hope we don't run into anyone. Her tail is hanging right out.

"Can you hear anything?"

>"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"You're closer to the door."

I guess she thought I was talking about her ears.

>"Ah. Well... there's sort of a faint rumbling, I guess. Some kind of machinery in another room, probably."

"I wouldn't think it'd be running."

She shrugs.

Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2010/03/01(Mon)13:31 No. 140641 ID: 1583f3
File 126747909318.jpg - (12.03KB , 343x480 , Aragorn.jpg )

>>140638
Kitty, what do your cat-ears hear?

>>140638
If it's still running then there might be someone inside there. Hang around for a bit and see if anyone opens the door. If not then go to the botanical gardens.

And that thing you ran into earlier. We got some more information about it. It's possible that it exists in an external dimension and all the creatures are actually part of the same creature. They can also apparently reform out of thin air. So it's possible they can pretty much appear out of thin air. Which means that since you took what it was supposed to be guarding it might come after you again.

Isn't life full of joy?

[paused] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)13:33 No. 140643 ID: 65a023
File 12674792062.jpg - (109.25KB , 777x777 , 03-35-p.jpg )

[[Failure to creatively design solutions for puzzles and problems results in dire ramifications for the main characters.]]

>>140643
Oh, were we supposed to equip Kitty and use her to pry open the door?

No wait... I'm confused. What's going on?

>>140643
Ugh puzzles. They have never been a favorite of mine.

Ok lets see what we have, one very strong catgirl with big boobs, one jeep, catgirls weapons of awesome destructive potential and one old soldier who has sideburns. We need to get through a door. The door also appears to have some sort wheel dial thingy in the center. It can also be dented by furious kitty fists.

I really should be to easy to blast out way to the hinges and pull the door out of the wall. But the only other thing I can come up with right now would be blast through the roof and that seems even more ridiculous. So I say blast through the door hinges and pull it out of the wall, using the jeep if necessary.

Examine DOOR

>>140643

Damn that weird puzzle shit.

>>140643

Always with the weird puzzle shit...

I've a crazy idea. Have Kitty try and TURN THE WHEEL.

Suggestion 2010/03/01(Mon)15:13 No. 140680 ID: db20e0
File 126748520393.jpg - (93.95KB , 1022x768 , BRILLIANT!.jpg )

>>140672

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)15:15 No. 140681 ID: 65a023
File 126748532090.jpg - (129.50KB , 777x777 , 03-36.jpg )

A puzzle? More like trying to break a fucking door down.

>jeep

As crazy as it sounds, I may be able to get the jeep up here. And I think I have a chain in the back. The extra power may be what it takes to yank the door off. But before I drive a jeep onto rotting floors, let's exhaust a few other options.

>blast out way to the hinges and pull the door out of the wall

Unfortunately the hinges to these kind of doors are on the inside, exactly for this reason.

"Kitty, do you have any explosives?"

>"I've got a little bit of CT9 left over."

No idea what that is, but I guess it's what we need.

>"You think that might help?"

"No clue. Voices are saying we might get the jeep up here, yank this damned thing off."

>"Could help. I can nearly feel something about to break. Me and you together - the jeep, I mean... that could do it. Wouldn't want it getting stuck in here. Not even sure it'd get through the front door."

>Examine DOOR
>I've a crazy idea. Have Kitty try and TURN THE WHEEL.

She tried just opening it first thing, of course. Judging from the looks of it, the door is old and worn down. There's some explosive scarring, and what looks like tearing near the edges. Plenty have tried before us. They didn't have Kitty, though.

Judging from the damage, we may be able to jar this thing enough to damage something on the other side, although probably not the way it is, now. We'd just be scraping the exterior.

Hm. How about we get the jeep up here with Kitty and try to tear this thing out, and if that loosens it up, we can fit some explosives in its seams? These are your ideas, voices.

>>140681
Yes that seems like it could work. But try weakening the wall around the door a bit before you bring in the jeep, have Kitty punch them some or shoot at them.

Just make sure Kitty knows what she is working with, we don't want to use too much explosives and bring down the entire fucking building. I'm fairly sure you would both survive but it would suck pretty hard.

And examine the path before you bring in the jeep, we don't want it to get stuck in the floor or fall through the floor.

Speak the Qer-ish word for 'Friend' Failing that, as long as it you won't be putting your mode of transportation at significant risk, go ahead and see if you can pull it open with that. I don't like the idea of Kitty using her explosives, both because they could be useful in the future and because it might damage whatever's behind the door. If the car-kitty combo doesn't work or seems impractical, i'd suggest just fuckin' it. There's no real proof that there's anything you desire beyond here.

>>140681
Why don't you just focus your strength on yanking the bars? Break that mechanism, not the door.

>>140681

Not in all the seams. The door will only have one set of hinges-and possibly additional lock-on clamps mounting it to the wall-you need to find those first.

If you had a sufficiently long and strong lever (Such as a metal i-beam) attempting that might work as well.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)16:40 No. 140713 ID: 65a023
File 12674904599.jpg - (172.26KB , 777x777 , 03-37.jpg )

Kitty continues trying to soften up the door while I get the jeep. Getting through the front door isn't a problem, with a giant hole to drive through.

I checked the floor beforehand to make sure of where to drive. I manage to get across the museum all right.

We won't use the explosives unless it's necessary. This is a lot to go through for possibly nothing, but if nothing else, we can use what's in there to barter with later. There's a reason why looters infest places like this. It's extremely profitable.

[cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)16:44 No. 140716 ID: 65a023
File 126749064451.jpg - (114.93KB , 777x777 , 03-38.jpg )

Kitty's had no luck while I was gone, so we chain the door. She signals ready.

[cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)16:47 No. 140717 ID: 65a023
File 126749086557.jpg - (113.29KB , 777x777 , 03-39.jpg )

After a few minutes, we manage to pull the door free a bit. Something finally broke. The opening isn't big enough to get through, and we still can't pull it completely free.

Oddly, the air on the other side isn't stagnant. It's fresh. And the rumbling on the other side isn't mechanical. It's muffled enough to still be ambiguous.

Looks like we don't have much of an option. Kitty plants the explosives in the small opening we've created.

[cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)16:53 No. 140720 ID: 65a023
File 126749122154.jpg - (113.70KB , 777x777 , 03-40.jpg )

"Listen, Kitty. I'm sorry if I bit your head off earlier."

>"Bit my...? Oh, you mean made me mad?"

"Yeah."

>"You didn't. Just giving you some space. Figured you need some time."

I'm not sure what she means, but I'll let it go.

>"I am running away from something. To be honest, Burns."

"Yeah?"

>"Guess we all are, in a way."

She continues working. I'm not going to press her. She's been surprisingly cooperative. I'd forgotten she'd taken me hostage.

[cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)16:57 No. 140723 ID: 65a023
File 126749143690.jpg - (186.99KB , 777x777 , 03-41.jpg )

We set off the explosives as we huddle behind the jeep. They make an odd sound, like I've not heard before. More off-world technology. I'm glad Kitty's the one using them, and not me. The whole museum would be rubble.

[end cutscene] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)16:59 No. 140724 ID: 65a023
File 12674915878.jpg - (152.48KB , 777x777 , 03-42.jpg )

Shit. Looks like that did the trick. The hinges on the other side were blown off just enough for the whole door to erupt out.

>>140724
Cautiously go up to the opening. Check it out for any traps or odd things. If there isn't any then send in Kitty first. She has more experiance in dealing with odd shit and she is more capable of taking care of herself.

Well better hope that you don't run into a situation soon that's all "gee I wish I had some of that magic explosive stuff." Personally I would've seen if you could shout into the vault once it had been partially opened... if there's someone in there they'd probably realize it'd be better to NOT piss off the guests that'll inevitably get in.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)17:12 No. 140730 ID: 65a023
File 126749235664.jpg - (105.64KB , 777x777 , 03-43.jpg )

All right. Kitty takes point.

It doesn't take much time to see that there's no traps, no sentries or any other hostiles.

So that's where the wind and fresh air was coming from. I can finally make out the sound coming from the winding tunnel. It's a combination of sounds. One is indeed a machine of some kind. It winds up and dies down ever so often. The other, drowning it out, is water, rumbling somewhere far away.

>>140730

It looks like your gray hairs disappeared.

Try checking your fingers.

Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)18:11 No. 140756 ID: 65a023
File 126749591168.jpg - (226.54KB , 777x777 , 03-44.jpg )

We head down the stairwell, until we come to the source.

Looks like your orders weren't a complete waste of time, voices.

>>140756

Nice shades, by the way.

[end of chapter 3] Plague!!NkAwOzZ2H0 2010/03/01(Mon)18:14 No. 140760 ID: 65a023
File 126749605183.jpg - (297.67KB , 777x777 , 03-45.jpg )

Although I can't help but wonder, if I should have just stayed home.

Call shotgun, quickly.

>>140773
If she calls shotgun first, call shotgun's lap.

>>140760

Keep your distance and make sure none of this craft's defenses are active.

We didn't come all this way to get blasted to tiny pieces by an auto-turret or something.

Why would he call shotgun? There are only two of them, so that means one of them drives and the other gets shotgun. And if you call shotgun, then, you're merely stating your unwillingness to drive.

>>140810
Does he really wanna try his hand at driving that thing?

Fucking called it, it's a ship.

>>140818
At this point, Burns can't try much of a hand at anything!

Because... you know... hand... broken...

....Yeah, that wasn't too funny.

>>140936

I'll give you a B+ for effort.

>>140936
That's sort of funny. Made me smirk.

>>140760
Ask her if she recognizes what it is and if she can drive it. Because I'm guessing you don't have any experiance with flying artifacts.

And that thing should make it easier to locate the scientist or any other people living in this city. Air recon is a wonderful tool.