no, it turns out there are normal deer of death, like that one. and batshit insane monstrosities that suck out peoples souls. they are both made by the same god but the monstrosities are what heppens sometimes.

Dude, they're just reapers. They guide dead spirits to the next life. They're actually created by some kind of powerful being... and sometimes the process goes wrong. All the nasty rumors about Deers of Death have likely been created because of failed converts. It appears their minds become corrupted if they're not strong enough. Mary Shaw? VERY likely a failed convert.

Before you ask, no, we're not dead spirits. We're some kind of magical entity.

Say, Arkan said something about you carrying someone on your shoulders. Who is it? The lich?

Oh yeah, and Nir pet the Deer. She decided to be called Dedea.

Just in case we meet her again. Apparently she wants to borrow Arkan for something.

>>153431
>>153432
>>153434
Fuck... Okay, but don't ever fuckin scare me like that again. And the fuckin lich is riding on me

>>153437
Really? Riding on you?

That does sound like something Nir would do. Did you try asking him about why he's named the same?

>>153439
I asked, but the fucker wouldn't fuckin tell me. He said it's some sort of fuckin secret.

>>153446
I knew it. Well, I suppose all will be revealed in time.

Well I suppose there's nothing else you could ask that wouldn't be better asked by a group. Go to the meeting place.

>>153450
Yeah, I fuckin guess so.
>>153455
Okay. I land and walk into the fuckin shrine. I set the fuckin lich down safely. After a fuckin while, Nir and Rojo enter the fuckin place.

>>153457
Ahh, we should probably go to Rojo to make sure she doesn't get too paranoid and shoot arrows all over the place.

>>153458
yeah, she will look at him and go 'omg i must kill teh eval!'

>>153458
>>153460
Man, she needs to calm the fuck down! Maybe you can fuckin help.

...

...

I see the lich. I wonder if I should get my white magic arrow ready.

>>153466
Just have it in a spot where you can quickly reach it. No need to make the first move.

So, let's get this meeting started. We're to ask the lich what his group's goal is. Also, why he became a lich in the first place.

I wonder if sending us to him would be a good idea...

>>153467
Rojo:"What is your group's goal?"
Lich:"Group's goal? My group's goal is to ensure the safety of this tribe. I've set multiple scrying points to watch over this tribe. In addition, I've sent a construct named Arkan over here to kill anyone who dares threaten the tribe, Aunt Rojo."
I think I detected some arrogance when he said that. How disgusting.
Rojo:"Why did you become a lich in the first place?"
Lich:"In the first place? I became a lich to ensure the tribe's protection. I've been living for over 4000 years in order to see this tribe safe."
>>153469
You don't know how much I'm against that idea.

>>153476
Ask why he wants to protect the tribe so badly.

Ask Nir how long the tribe has been active. Have they been around for 4000 years?

For all his planning he sure didn't let himself known to you that he was on your side. Ask him what he offered you to eat when you first met.

>>153477
Rojo:"Why do you want to protect the tribe so badly?"
Lich:"So badly? I'm a fellow kobold. If you were a kobold from this tribe, you'd do anything to keep it from being attacked."
Rojo:"Wait, how long ago did this tribe start?"
Lich:"How long ago did this tribe start? I don't exactly know, but it was a really really long time ago."
>>153478
Rojo:"What did you offer me to eat the first time we met?"
Lich:"The first time we met? Oh, that was so long ago I don't remember. And I don't see the point of that question."

>>153480
So he is claiming to be Nir.

Ask him how he can prove that he is the same kobold that stands here right now. Plus... how the hell did he get sent back in time?

Tell him he really -REALLY- sucks at this. The point of the question is to establish his identity. Tell him he's gotta prove it somehow, and calling you Auntie isn't good enough.

>>153481
>>153482
Rojo:"You really suck at this."
Carg:"Please refrain from insulting my master, please."
Rojo:"The point of that question was to establish your identity. How can you prove your the same kobold standing right beside me? Calling me Auntie isn't enough!"
Lich:"Isn't enough. Very well, Aunt Rojo."
He reaches into his black robe. He pulls out a small shovel. It looks exactly like the one I gave Nir...
Nir:"That looks like the same shovel Rojo gave me."
Carg must've stolen it for the lich somehow.

>>153484
...Carg wouldn't. Surely not. Our Nir probably still HAS it. Heck, you could go ahead and ask him to check.

Uh, how is that thing 4000 years old though? Wouldn't a shovel just disintegrate after that long?

Ask him... if he can remember anything from this far back. Anything at all. Like, something that happened in Magun's tower.

>>153486
Rojo:"How can you still have it if it was over 4000 years old?"
Lich:"Over 4000 years old? I had Xom enchant it. It means a lot to me."
Rojo:"Nir, go check to see if you still have your shovel."
Nir:"Okay."
Nir leaves the shrine.
>>153488
Rojo:"Can you remember what happened this far back? Like what happened at Magun's tower?"
Lich:"At Magun's tower? Um, let's see... I recall someone attacking someone else there."
Nir returns.
Nir:"It wasn't in my hut."
I KNEW IT!
Nir:"It was in my sister's hut all dirtied up."
Oh, gods damnit.

Well ask Nir if he trusts him. He's a good judge of character.

>>153494
Well, there you go. Carefully inspect the two shovels.

You know, after cleaning young Nir's.

Oh, I have another idea. Ask old Nir if the guidance spirits still assist him.

>>153497
Rojo:"Nir, you should clean your shovel."
Nir starts rubbing his shovel on his robe.
>>153496
Rojo:"Nir, do you trust this lich?"
Nir:"I really don't know, Aunt Rojo."
>>153498
Rojo:"Do the guidance spirits still assist you?"
Lich:"Still assist you? No they don't. I created the guidance spirits about 4000 years ago. I left them here at this shrine about 40 years ago while everyone was asleep. they're rather forgetful. I had to re-introduce myself a bunch of times. I guess my guidance spirits were a failure."

>>153504
What? but... We're not! We don't forget things! I'm certain that there is some kind of fragmented segment of us that does things, and retains memories by itself.

Ask him when the scrying points were set up. And who Mary Shaw and Kasparov are.

>>153507
Rojo:"Where are the scrying points you set up?"
Lich:"Set up? I have 2 in this shrine, 4 outside the huts, and 1 each in all the huts."
Rojo:"Who are Mary Shaw and Kasparov?"
Lich:"Mary Shaw and Kasparov? Mary Shaw was my finest. Kasparov was an illusionist. He hasn't turned up in a long time. I wonder where he is..."
Carg:"I have absolutely no idea, master. He really shouldn't be wandering around without your permission."
Lich:"Well, I'll have to punish him for goofing off when I see him again."

tell him that mary shaw has been kinda trying to kill Nir with her dream scream soul stealing.

>>153515
Rojo:"Mary Shaw tried to kill Nir by dream soul stealing."
Lich:"So that's who she chose first. It's terrible, isn't it?"

>>153529
Yeah. So why is she apparently his finest? She's trying to kill him via time paradox.

Now, I repeat: Ask him WHEN the scrying points were made. We really do need to know...

Ask him what the hell is going on? How is he condoning dream rape? And why was he using a failed deer of death?

>>153530
Rojo:"When were the scrying points created?"
Lich:"Created? About 30 years ago, when I first set up my place."
>>153531
Wait, this is the person who's responsible for Mary Shaw? Should I attack him?
Rojo:"What the hell is going on? Why are you condoning dream rape? Why are you using a failed Deer of Death?"
GAAH! I... I can't breathe... He has... a black tentacle around my neck...
Lich:"Of Death? Aunt Rojo... Do not piss me off. Do you have any proof I'm using any Deer of Death? Have you even heard the stories of them? You insult me very much... And after all this time away from you, I would think you would still trust me, but I can see you've only turned into a paranoid bitch."
The lich releases what I think is a black magic tentacle from my neck. I can breathe now.
Lich:"I never said I condoned dream Rape at all. What I did just now hurt me more than it hurt you. I will not say I'm sorry. You deserved it. Apologize right now, or I'll forever tear you apart from this tribe."
The lich sighs.
Lich:"If I was able to cry, I would."
Is... Is this lich really Nir?

Nir would never do that to you. And he knows deer of death aren't bad, evident from when he FREAKIN' PETTED ONE. But you can't take him out now, play along.

>>153544
But... he sounds so hurt...
Rojo:"Nir... I'm so sorry... I didn't know. I'll try to be more accepting from now on."
Oh gods... I was thinking of attacking my adopted niece... My best friend... My first friend... How could I be so fucking stupid?
Carg:"Hey, fucker! You made Rojo cry! Fuck you!"
Lich Nir:"Well, you got rude all of a sudden."
Carg:"I may be fuckin rude, but if you fuck with my friends, I'll fuck you up!"
I... I... I don't know what to do...

Simple answer: Do nothing. Just let Carg speak.

>>153556
Lich Nir:"And what will you do if you attack your own friend?"
Carg:"What do you fuckin mean?"
Lich Nir:"I'm Nirblilm. Nir. Your friend. From an alternate timeline."
Carg:"F... Fuck you..."
Lich Nir:"Even if I wasn't your friend, and you attacked and destroyed me successfully, I can still come back."
He raises his hand. A ring is on it.
Lich Nir:"This can bring me back. It's my phylactery. If I'm destroyed, this phylactery becomes indestructable. Absolutely no one can steal it right off my finger, so destroying it is also out of the question. I no longer need your services. Your out of the group, Carg. I'm leaving."
The lich Nir walks out of the shrine.
Carg:"YOU CAN'T FUCKIN KICK ME OUT! I FUCKIN QUIT! FUCK YOU!"
Carg walks up to me.
Carg:"Do you need a fuckin hug?"
I... I don't know if I do or not...

Tell him you'll be alright. Ask lich Nir what happened to HIS tribe.

>>153574
Rojo:"Ah... I'll be... I'll be alright..."
I get up and rush out toward lich Nir.
Rojo:"Wait! What happened to YOUR tribe?"
He stops. There's a very long pause.
Lich Nir:"I was the only one left."
He sprouts a couple black magic tentacles and uses them to rush out into the forest. He's gone. I see Dedea and Arkan come out of the forest.
Arkan:"I heard someone scream."
Dedea:"I insist we have no reason to continue our involvement with this tribe."

man, all this time-travel bullshit is confusing as hell.

>>153601
It's beginning to irritate me a little as well. I just don't know what to do anymore. Who should I trust? Was becoming a white mage really the right thing to do? I really don't know anymore.
Carg:"Get the fuck up, Rojo! Let me fuckin hug you. You need it."

Yeah... let Carg hug you, you DO need it. Send us to Dedea, alright?

>>153603
O- okay... I'll let him hug me... And I'll send y- you to Dedea...

...

...

Arkan is really trying my patience. There is no possible justification in returning to this kobold settlement. I surmised we would depart here to uncover the motives of Him.

Well, a lot of people here are definitely looking into it as well, so if you go sojourning you should come back intermittently. Maybe we'll have something more to talk about?

>>153614
Oh! Guidance spirits! I am most sorry. It was unknown to me that you were currently present. ...You state everybody is currently investigating the aforementioned piece of information?

Dedea 2010/03/28(Sun)07:14 No. 153620 ID: 34470e
File 126978565511.png - (75.40KB , 500x353 , chapter 4 end.png )

Perhaps we can come to an agreement. Let us all try to fulfill the same obligation concurrently?