>>42890
Look out for the mutated trunk the commander apparently just grew.
Those are tricky.

>>42897
Wave to the Rabbitguard as you pass her. Say hi!
Then continue on.

>>42896
Olber obviously made himself female.

As a perverted old man, he recruits only women and controls them with mind-control bras. It makes perfect sense.

tl;dr: Syrup is a man wearing a Belt of Reverse Gender.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)02:35 No. 42905 ID: 12bd87
File 125274810089.gif - (8.21KB , 800x600 , 425.gif )

Hm.
That other woman with the checkered cap isn't here anymore. I wonder where she could have gone.
The censer is extinguished, too.

>>42901
!

Rabbit gaurd had no bra.

>>42905
try the key on the safe.

>>42905
Use KEY on SAFE.

>>42905
Check to see if safe opens, if not, move on.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)02:49 No. 42910 ID: 12bd87
File 125274895060.gif - (14.42KB , 800x600 , 426.gif )

...how strange.
Mabel's office is empty.

I wonder where Commander Salamander went.

>>42910
Ermm.. Up?

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)02:52 No. 42912 ID: 12bd87
File 125274914030.gif - (14.38KB , 800x600 , 427.gif )

Oh, you're right, the chest! I was in such a hurry I forgot to try it.

I'll just head back down to-

>"Why'd you do it, goddammit?! You answer me or I swear to God...!"
>"The same reason anyone does anything, Cori. Money. Power. With the arcana it was child's play to rig up controlling device that filtered through soft tissue. Affecting natural brain chemistry to be subservient to certain tones. But they were given to conflict with certain hormones."

>>42912
I suppose the chest will still be there when this is all over. Should we go up and watch the chicks fight for cheap thrills? Perhaps lend a hand as needed?

Go up and get ready to burst in.

>>42913
Go watch.


And an idea for the future: If we're going to recruit female assistants, how about we fracture the orb in a controlled manner and embed each servant with a shard?

>>42912
Don't get all heroic now. Take a small peek through the floor hatch before bursting in.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)02:59 No. 42917 ID: 12bd87
File 125274955313.gif - (14.38KB , 800x600 , 428.gif )

If you think it's wise, then sure, I'll go lend the Commander a hand. But I don't see what's to be gained by just watching them fight.

>"Hormones? Is THAT why you chose only women? Because it worked better on us?"
>"No, my dear, sweet Cori. It's because -- arcana or no -- you're simply easier to control. Everyone knows women are the weaker gender."

WHOA. you have to admit this will at least be entertaining to watch muschie~

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)03:02 No. 42919 ID: 12bd87
File 125274976133.gif - (14.58KB , 800x600 , 429.gif )

Things sound like they're getting heated up there... You're right! I need to go up and see what's happening.
Because -- you know -- Cori might need my help.
I mean, the Commander.

...actually, it's pretty quiet all of a sudden.

>>42919
That's not a good sign, boss. Better check what's going on.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)03:16 No. 42923 ID: 12bd87
File 125275057221.gif - (15.74KB , 800x600 , 430.gif )

>>42921
I know.
I'd better hurry up to th--


...oh.

>>42923
Who's 'dat?

>>42924

Looks like the boss lady

>>42923
... um. She'll be fine, right? I mean, she jumped down before with no problems. Right?
... she'll be fine.

Well...
I suppose that's that. We can start rummaging through Syrup's things now.

Ms. Salamander has apparently handled that quite nicely. With Miss Syrup disposed of, looting can continue. With or without minions included in things looted.

>>42923
Uh, boss, was that Coriander or Syrup?
If it was Syrup, that's fine, though you might need to calm Cori down a bit.
...If it was Cori, she's going to need some medical assistance, and fast.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)03:30 No. 42930 ID: 12bd87
File 125275143564.gif - (16.86KB , 800x600 , 431.gif )

That was most certainly Mabel Syrup I saw falling past. The Commander returns from the roof and tells me to go to the entrance, so I oblige her.

The rooms are all empty as I pass. I can't find the Odd, which is strange. The women, likewise, have all left in a hurry. Scraps of their clothing remain.

When we reach Miss Syrup, it becomes clear she's beyond saving.

>>42930
... TIME FOR LOOTING.

>>42930
Complement her on her efficient work.

>>42930
We'll give her a proper burial. Right after we LOOT AND PLUNDER.

>>42930
Well then.

Thank Ms. Coriander for her help, and ask her if she knows where the Odds manikin is. Since you did free her and all, she'll probably be grateful enough to hand it over without complaint.

...Probably.

>>42930
That's good, then.
Congratulate Coriander on a job well done. Maybe toss in a comment about how pleased she must be to be rid of the bitch Syrup was.

Seconding anything related to finding the Mannikin.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)03:41 No. 42937 ID: 12bd87
File 125275208688.gif - (18.58KB , 800x600 , 432.gif )

The Commander moves forward to inspect the body... and removes its wig!

The black, hollow eyes and the scars around the throat are unmistakable! In a surprise twist, it looks like Mabel Syrup was, in reality, the dark sorcerer Olber, the first occupant of this tower! Could it be that he's been here all along? That the stories of this place repeatedly changing hands was merely a front to keep people off his demonic scent? Hiding in plain sight all these decades?

...I totally called that, though! Didn't I? I could swear I did.
I know somewhere in my head I thought "it's really Olber".
NAILED that one.

Burn the body just to be sure.

>>42934
Tislomer's the dude in charge of farming, right? I bet some plants might grow better with a body for fertilizer.

>>42937
You're totally the greatest, boss! Your insight and wit knows no bounds!

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)04:07 No. 42952 ID: 12bd87
File 125275363276.gif - (10.99KB , 800x600 , 433.gif )

For the next hour, Ash, the Commander and I sort out things at the tower. There's some cleaning of blood, some tossing of the late Olber on a hastily-constructed pyre, and some demanding of Mannikins, by me.
Ash still wants to come with me, and I still want to bring her under my employ, so we'll be leaving together. But the Commander decides to stay and set up her own command in this tower. In light of our cooperation and my agency in liberating Coriander and the others, the Commander and I form an alliance, between the Vault and the newly-named Salamander Tower. She says I will always have her thanks, and her support should anything arise that needs to be taken care of.
She plans to form a militia here. I suppose she must be good at that.

Before I head out, Commander Coriander Salamander presents me with what I came for in the first place: Not one, but THREE Mannikins in the form of Odds.

With that, my saga here at the Tower is finally concluded.
And it's time to go home.

>MANNIKINS ACQUIRED: ODD (3)
>ALLIANCE CREATED!

>>42952

Hell yeah let's head home then.

>>42952
Yeah about that. Ask if you can ride Ash like a mechan- err, ride on her back while she flies you above the carp infested waters.

Fuck yeah, I'd say you should do a victory dance, but there are people watching.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)04:11 No. 42958 ID: 12bd87
File 125275389086.gif - (13.01KB , 800x600 , 434.gif )

This was a successful outing.

I think, for once, things are finally going my way.

Muschio 2009/09/12(Sat)04:12 No. 42959 ID: 12bd87
File 125275397024.gif - (5.66KB , 800x600 , 435.gif )

...FUCK.

Have fun with those fishies, Muschio.

What happened to the babe with the checkered cap?

>>"The same reason anyone does anything, Cori. Money. Power. With the arcana it was child's play to rig up controlling device that filtered through soft tissue. Affecting natural brain chemistry to be subservient to certain tones. But they were given to conflict with certain hormones."
>given to conflict with certain hormones

Smoke made the bunnygirl randy, had removed mind-control top to get bizzay, was no longer MC'd. Probably ran away after being intruded on by Muschio.

>>43047
She disappeared, like all the rest of the guards.

Wait... so we didn't use the key at all? Odd...

Suggestion 2009/09/12(Sat)13:15 No. 43119 ID: 8b14a1
File 125278652267.png - (22.90KB , 600x400 , Odd.png )

>>43089

I have a funny feeling Muschio was using it to open the trap doors.