>>301334
I wish I could, but your post is huge. And stupid.

Contrived 2011/05/04(Wed)18:05 No. 301521 ID: 6bf918
File 130455750565.jpg - (87.38KB , 800x600 , OriQuest092.jpg )

>Wait for her to stop

By the time she’s done with her… thing, I don’t feel all that much better, but at least I can see straight. I call her over, telling her to bring the flask along.

“I found some bandages, so we can get your wounds covered up,” I explain. “However, we first have to clean them, and all we have for that, is alcohol strong enough to strip paint.”

“It’s going to hurt. A lot,” I continue, after she doesn’t respond. “So I’d appreciate you not stabbing me in retaliation. I’m doing this to prevent infection, alright?”
“Alright.”
“Good. Try not to breathe,” I pull out the stopper and soak a piece of bandage in the contents, half-expecting to see it dissolve. “The hand, please.”

She flinches when the alcohol comes in contact with exposed flesh, then holds still.

>>300110
Ask if she knows anything about the layout of the fortress

“I don’t suppose you know what’s the fastest way to the exit?” I try to distract her from the pain. “Or where we could find food and water and, preferably, no dwarves?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you at least know where this place is? Under the plains, or in the mountains?”
“Yes,” she frowns, “mountains…”

That’s something, I suppose.

Well, at least now you can feel better about drinking the water yourself.

meaning this middle area would have the front door but you don't want the front door. ask about eating the dwarf. you need SOMETHING to eat or you may pass out.

Bandage her hand. Ask how long she's been here. If she has any family. How old she is.

Then... reflect briefly that a man just died, and you were partly responsible for his death. You're a doctor, and you killed someone.

>>301526
it was him or us. and he wouldn't listen to reason.

>>301526

briefly reflect that a man just died, and realise it was an unavoidable act of self defence

Contrived 2011/05/05(Thu)16:19 No. 301715 ID: 6bf918
File 130463756318.jpg - (86.30KB , 800x600 , OriQuest093.jpg )

>>301523
For the last time, I will not engage in cannibalism. Not until my only other choice is gnawing off my own foot.

>>301522
However, water remains a primary concern. I need it to keep Kira’s wounds clean, and I need it for myself – far more than I need food, I suspect.

>>301526
I’d say she’s a couple years older than me – about forty, or so.

“Any idea how long you’ve been a prisoner here?”
“I don’t know. Long.”

Not an unexpected answer. Even a healthy person could easily lose track of time in captivity.

“Any family out there? Or in here, I suppose,” I add. “Should we check every cage we run into for your husband?”
“No husband… I… I don’t know.”
“Let’s just focus on finding an exit then. And done,” I tie off the bandage on her arm. I still have half of the original roll left. “Keep this away from dirt, fluids, or anything at all, really, alright?”
“Alright.”
“And now we really have to get going."

So the plan is to gather up everything useful I can carry, release the drake, hope it decides not to maul me, and take the elevator. Am I missing something?

> You're a doctor, and you killed someone.
>it was him or us

It was him, or my patient.

>>301715
well in that case wonder around endlessly till you stumble upon a food stockpile or something

>>301715
He was intending to butcher and eat you both. That implies that the kitchen may be somewhere on this level.

...Hmm. If you let the drake loose and it ate the corpse, that could disguise the fact that you yourself are loose.

>>301717
good point, also means that the drake was on the butcher list. just unlock the darke cage but don't open it. then look around for the food stocks, be on the lookout for more dwarves.

>>301715
Are drakes hunters only or are they opportunistic scavengers?

>>301715
Optimally you would unlock the door to the drake's cage, open it, and then hide in one of the other cages until it's left. Following it at a far enough distance so you can hear when it encounters a dwarf may work out...

Another option is to unlock and open the cage, then get to the elevator and leave, going your separate ways.

Contrived 2011/05/06(Fri)15:04 No. 301888 ID: 6bf918
File 130471946698.jpg - (117.91KB , 800x600 , OriQuest094.jpg )

>>301012
>Put everything you can manage into the pouch, thread the belt through it, then sling it over your shoulder

It’s a bit of a struggle, mostly because of the flask, but a traveler like me does eventually pick up a thing or two about efficient packing. Even so, I’ll have to carry the bolt around in my hand for now.

I also discarded the used keys, the cleaver, the pipe, and the sock.

Contrived 2011/05/06(Fri)15:05 No. 301889 ID: 6bf918
File 130471952411.jpg - (123.75KB , 800x600 , OriQuest095.jpg )

The drake isn’t acting any friendlier the second time around. If anything, its hissing is louder.

>Are drakes hunters only or are they opportunistic scavengers?
>If you let the drake loose and it ate the corpse

I don’t think they’d turn their nose up at a free meal, but they’re also about the size of a cat. I doubt this one could manage an entire dwarf just on its own.

>unlock and open the cage, then get to the elevator and leave

Huh. Looks like this cage is held closed with a sliding bolt instead of a lock. I was sure that the last key wa-

SHIT!

Contrived 2011/05/06(Fri)15:05 No. 301890 ID: 6bf918
File 130471955707.jpg - (70.40KB , 800x600 , OriQuest096.jpg )

“Kira, stay there. Don’t move.”
“Alri-“
“And keep quiet!”

He was just hauling a block. Also watch out that the drake doesn't bite you through the cage now.

yeah, looked like he was hualing a block.

Contrived 2011/05/06(Fri)17:02 No. 301969 ID: 6bf918
File 130472652161.jpg - (70.68KB , 800x600 , OriQuest097.jpg )

Wait, I think there's more.

>>301970
Um.

must be working on a mega project. this is good, they will be distracted.

...okay let's forget the drake. Just go to the elevator again, and hit floor 3.

the good news is: they are focused in a single point on the fort, and we are likely to make a quick retreat sucessfuly.

the bad news is: either the arena is under repair because of forgotten beasts or theres a demon pit open.

>>302138
Oh god! Demon pits are too much fun for us to handle!

Contrived 2011/05/07(Sat)17:38 No. 302369 ID: 6bf918
File 130481508608.jpg - (83.32KB , 800x600 , OriQuest099.jpg )

>let's forget the drake

Maybe this is the wiser choice. If it did decide to pounce me in plain view of those dwarves...

I grab Kira and we make for the elevator.

Contrived 2011/05/07(Sat)17:40 No. 302373 ID: 6bf918
File 130481525831.jpg - (93.22KB , 800x600 , OriQuest100.jpg )

I don't think anyone noticed us. Damn, they're still going - there must really be something major going on. Hopefully this mean far less dwarves elsewhere in the fortress.


So...


Up?

Or down?

If it's a mountain the exit is probably near the base of the mountain. So go to floor 3.

>>302374
Yes.

wait, before leaving... try talking to the drake. They are supposed to be sentient and like kobolds. If it doesn't respond then leave, but if it does then you might make a very awesome ally.

Also, maybe check a few nearby rooms, releasing more prisoners, and show your friend where the femoral artery is on the dwarf corpse, as well as a few other good spots to slash.

>>302425
You're thinking of dragons. Not drakes.

think we should go top floor, in a mountain it's the smallest, and work our way down.

>>302427
Depending on story, drakes are either baby dragons or their non sentient cousins.

>>302374
Yup yup. Up is especially good if they have opened the glowing pit. :V

Contrived 2011/05/17(Tue)17:38 No. 304918 ID: 6bf918
File 130567909069.jpg - (63.05KB , 800x600 , OriQuest101.jpg )

>talk to the drake

I did mention the need to train them, didn’t I? They’re certainly very clever, as well as stubborn, mean-spirited, and vengeful to the point where one would almost need a developed brain to explain those qualities… but nevertheless, they lack true sapience.

Besides,

>check a few nearby rooms

I am not risking another trip out into the hall. There’s still dwarves crossing the intersection, and in order to reach the other rooms, I’d not only be moving closer to them, I’d also have to abandon the cover the cage gave us on the way to the elevator.

>go to floor 3
>Yes

Alright, I’ll…

…

…realize that my arm isn’t quite long enough to reach the switch.

Lift Kira up and instruct her to use her good hand to move the lever to the right position.

She'll have to stow the knife to do this.

>>304918
Hop. Hop like your life depends on it. PS, it does. If you have to go back and find something to stand upon... Release the drake!

Poke it with whatever object you have that is best suited for poking.

>>304918
Get your ladyfriend to give you a boost, since you're the brains of this operation and probably best trusted with simple mechanisms.

Contrived 2011/05/17(Tue)18:51 No. 304933 ID: 6bf918
File 130568349299.jpg - (101.60KB , 800x600 , OriQuest102.jpg )

>>304923

I... probably should've thought of that myself.


Rrrrgh.


It's stuck. I can feel the switch dip slightly under my weight, but it's like there's something blocking it from moving further.

ah, the lever is a brake then, not a engage switch. grab it.

>>304934
wait, this would take us down?

anyway once you sort things UP, have kira help you pull the brake.

Contrived 2011/05/18(Wed)09:07 No. 305018 ID: 6bf918
File 130573483664.jpg - (64.52KB , 800x600 , OriQuest103.jpg )

>the lever is a brake then
>lift Kira up

She's only about half my weight, but my legs are already starting to shake.

"...no, no. First press these bent pieces of metal against the lever, then lean down on it."
"Alright."

Fortunately, she finally understands what I'm asking. The lever gives under her weight, there's a loud clang and the entire elevator shudders violently, dropping down an inch.

The only reason I don't fall over is that I tightly grip Kira's legs, and she keeps hold of the lever.

>wait, this would take us down?

...isn't that the idea? To go to down to floor 3 and hope it's near enough the base of the mountain that we'll find our way to an exit from there?

I'm confused now. Should I go UP, to floor 25 of the first sequence? DOWN to floor 3 of the second sequence? Even further DOWN, to one of the floors of the third sequence?

It's best if I made up my mind quickly, because if the answer is UP, I'll need Kira to throw the switch, and I really don't think I can hold her up much longer.

>>305018
Descend, for now.
Stay keen for scents and sensations that may tell you if you're going the right way.

Changes in the air pressure, and the smell of the air mainly.

Unless these dwarves breathe their own recycled farts they have some way of getting air deep into their home. Possibly a way that could be traced to the surface.

down to floor 3

Down to floor 3, as we have no idea exactly how far up we are or what floors have exits.

Contrived 2011/05/19(Thu)15:08 No. 305300 ID: 6bf918
File 130584293071.jpg - (103.84KB , 800x600 , OriQuest104.jpg )

>>305022
>>305023
>>305132

Down it is.

Contrived 2011/05/19(Thu)15:09 No. 305302 ID: 6bf918
File 130584297307.jpg - (59.36KB , 800x600 , OriQuest105.jpg )

Hopefully it won't prove to have been a mistake.

>>305302
naaah it'll be fine.

>>305370
thank you.

i just realized this may be the main shaft linking to the magma forges way below ground level.