2/2 Fen 2016/12/29(Thu)16:17 No. 768859 ID: bfb318
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A girl comes up behind me.

>"Zizi's brother, right?"

I was wrong. This has gotten worse.

"You are?"
>"Holly."
"Any relation to Jolly?"
>"... huh? No. I'm as common as dirt on a peasant. Anyway, if I'm not bugging you, mind if I hear some stories? I'll grab you an ale when we're in Dragon's, my treat."

Is she on a crutch?

>>768859
Do you even have any stories about Zizi?

Anyone you know around? Cheese, Moss, Croc, etc? Or are you on your own?

You're being sent to Erja Nokol to fight for the army as your sentence for killing Rasyan- are you being watched or escorted in any way?

Will you have an opportunity to bank any of your goods? I remember Cheese saying something about the army not letting you keep your own equipment.

You'll want to keep the poison and antidote well hidden. Especially the later- lots of poison stuff where you're headed.

>if I'm not bugging you, mind if I hear some stories? I'll grab you an ale when we're in Dragon's, my treat.
Last time Fen wasn't good with beer, and the ale was stronger. Might need to talk her down or accept a lesser offer.

If she's really a peasant, that's saying something that she's willing to throw coin away on you. They don't get much.

Compromise? Return her interest (assuming we don't have anything better to do) but turn down the public meeting place?

"I appreciate the sentiment, but making more of a spectacle of myself in a public venue was something I hoped to avoid. What would you like to know?"

No harm answering questions, so long as we avoid the secret stuff (not that there's much of that left, the truth about most stuff came out during Fence and the aftermath). You've been in the position asking and hoping people would answer often enough before.

>>768861
Maybe not surprising there are hurt people around after Fence got wrecked.

While my first reaction is to avoid talking much so that info about you does not spread its to late for that.

So you are probably better off being seen and heard and making friends. Even the best warrior needs allies and if you avoid everyone you might get a reputation as "the proud brother of Zizi who is to arrogant to talk to us normal people"

Of course avoid any incriminating stories that have not been made public yet. And watch for people trying to fuck with you to prove something. Having a famous brother is both annoying and helpful.

Just be yourself and keep on watch for backstabbing.

Fen 2016/12/29(Thu)17:49 No. 768902 ID: bfb318
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>Are you on your own?
Yes. Everyone has gone their seperate ways at this point, as everyone I know aside from myself only has business inside of the Turtle.

>Are you being watched or escorted in any way?
Oddly, no, not even for show.

>Will you have an opportunity to bank any of your goods?
Yes. I have been told there are banks in the Dragon.

"I don't have any interesting stories about Zizi, unless you want to know about his quarry hunting habits."
>"Er... really?"
"Also, is beer in the Dragon better than here?"
>"Oh, if anything, it's a little better, but it depends on taste. Did you like the taste of it, here?"
"It was inedible. I hated it."
>"R... really."
"I am willing to try again, but I dislike public spaces when I'm apparently so recognizeable."
>"Oh, good. Well whatever you can share. I didn't know Zizi directly, but I knew someone that talked about him, and I don't want to pass up this chance."

...

...

"What is that thing you're holding onto called?"
>"A crutch?"
"Thank you. I've never seen one before."
>"What, you've never seen someone with a missing limb before?"
"I have not. Were you hurt in the battle in the Fence?"
>"Oh, no, my leg and I went our seperate ways a long time ago.

...

>"Wait, are you Fen, or just a brother of Zizi's that was born yesterday?"
"I am Fen. I was not born yesterday, but my knowledge is limited to a narrow life in what you call the barbarian lands?"
>"Well what do you call it?"
"Home."
>"... oh yeah I guess that makes sense. Okay you're way different than Zizi, but that's cool. Good, even. You're joining the military, right? Dragon army, right?"
"How does word travel so fast? Yes, I am."
>"What branch?"
"What?"
>"Like... there's the generic dragon army if you want to be just thrown about wherever, but there's different units and specialties and stuff if you have a kind of goal in mind. Like if you wanted to be a scout, or just be put in big fights, or an assassin, that kinda stuff. You should decide in advance."
"I may want more information. I will ask them."
>"Hah, that's like asking one bread merchant why his bread is better than the other. They'll just try to sign you up on the spot, speak highly of themselves, and poorly of the others."

>>768902
Assassin would give you the best experience towards stealing the cloth back. Also, one on one fights will be important for the arena. So that sounds like the best option.

Well what direction would you suggest?

As for stories I have few of Zizi due to the fact he never told me well anything of his times in the army.

But have seen a few of my own since coming north.

How much can she tell us of the different branches? We could also consider asking if she knows which branch Zizi served in too.

>>768902
I'm best at one-on-one fighting, so I dunno, maybe vanguard? Wouldn't mind commanding a squad either, I am knowledgeable of tactics and improvised thinking.

Then I suppose my time should be spent asking those without a vested interest in the different branches about my options. Military service does not seem uncommon, so this shouldn't be terribly difficult.

While we're on the subject, do you have any opinions on the different military branches?

(We probably don't want to go hardcore Polo scout mode, but we don't want something that always puts us in the middle of a bunch of guys. Fen needs to see a lot of action, and get even better, if he's gonna get the fame he needs, and to be good enough for the Colosseum. Some kind of tip of the spear role or unit?)

I guess it'd be pretty blunt to just say "whichever gets the most fame and prestige". Assassin seems like the biggest chance of taking down important targets. And as said, best practice for the arena. You'll also incidentally learn how to fend off assassins!

Assassin may be more likely to be tasked with... objectionable missions, though. It'd be easier to let innocent bystanders escape the blade in other branches of the army, and less likely you'd personally be tasked with making sure they don't, whereas assassin jobs might come with "murder this guy and also all his adorable baby heirs" conditions. I don't know, maybe the Empire doesn't go in for that sort of thing. Maybe it does.

Really Fen, you should come up with something to tell her. If you don't have any good stories about Zizi of your own, how about you recount some things he's told you? I know he didn't talk much about his adventures, but he did try tell you things for your journey. Maybe she'd get a kick out of hearing how he described things to you? Or any other stories he might have told you. Or maybe she'd like to hear you just generally reminisce about him. It's been a while now, you must miss your home a bit, including your brother.

Fen 2016/12/29(Thu)19:17 No. 768948 ID: bfb318
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"Do you have any suggestions? Zizi didn't tell me of his times in the army."
>"Oh, pick yourself. Things are probably different from when Zizi was around, too. That is, don't just think what branch is best, they'll all treat you the same and everything. Instead, ask yourself what kind of fights you're aching to do. Then choose based off that."
"Are assassins the kind that are trained for one on one fights, or is it purely underhanded techniques?"
>"Oh, yeah. That branch, heh, the thing is... it was founded on the idea that there are some really tough fighters that are best taken out with a bit of poison in the food or while they're asleep, rather than on the battlefield where they're most dangerous. Cept, the empire hates that crap. They were seen as cowards. So even though they're called 'assassins', there's a lot of training to just one on one combat. Course, only idiots think they don't slit a sleeping warrior's throat now and then, but if you want to get a big name by taking down a big name, that's a good path. But that's what makes that a dangerous thing - you're sent, often alone or just with a few others, to take down names that are big for a reason."
"Are there any opportunities to commanding a group?"
>"Oh, sure, every branch has their own. If you join the general fighter's branch, you could probably take command of a group just for surviving a couple fights. If you report a ton of good info as a scout, they'll give you a little network of scouts. Assassin squads are way more elite though, so you could come to command that, but it'd take longer."
"I hear that they just tend to send barbarians in and see how they do. Would assassins do that?"
>"Sure. I hope you have a damn good eye though, because that means they send in the barbarians on point to activate any traps or spring any ambushes first, depending on territory."
"And what of the vanguard? Zizi mentioned that those are the ones sent to the front battle lines."
>"Yeah, the instead of being sent to take out big names, you'd have to take out a lot of small names to get anywhere. It's safest, but I'd be a little disappointed if that's what you wanted."

>assassinations
Honestly, not directly useful to us. You're not going to be able to pick your battles carefully, and you're going to need fame and glory to be a noble, which means acting openly.

Not that you shouldn't be prepared to defend against assassins, or employ them when you need to, but I sort of think that's something you can lean on Cheese's spy contacts and the other mutants for? That's their bailiwick.

Then again, taking down big names is exactly the kind of thing you need.

I think you need to be more the special forces guy they send in to storm a compound than the assassin they send to sneak in and poison the guy. Some overlapping skills, but different philosophy.

>>768948
So which one is special forces, elite troops or whatever, and how do you get in?

>>768948
I'm still favoring assassin branch, but I have one reservation. They might send you to do truly terrible things. Ask about that; how likely is it for you to have innocent blood on your hands if you take that path?

Assassin seems the most helpful for your goals. Focusing on one-on-one combat will be good for the arena. And you might get a chance to face high profile targets, which will help your reputation.

Plus it most likely fits your existing skillset the best. I assume you're pretty good at sneaking and avoiding traps already.

Fen isn't the honorable type, so I'd say assassin class should do nicely. Since he's more of a hands-on fighter, he could take an Insurgent sub-class and horribly mutilate / torture his targets with his survival training, so that the subordinates of the targets will turn and run instead of reorganizing their unit around new leaders.

Am I misreading this, or is she hitting on you cause you are famous now?

Fen 2016/12/29(Thu)21:57 No. 768997 ID: bfb318
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"I'll try to come up with stories if you won't, but don't set your expectations high. I still want to know more of the army. Is there one that are comprised of more elite troops?"
>"Eh, uh... all of them have their inner circle of elites, but there isn't just one 'elite branch' of the army, you know."
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking."
>"... yeah, I get you. Anyway, any army branch will send you right in if you want. Just don't join the support workers or anything like that. Real quick, describe what you want out of this."
"Fame, glory, prestige. I would like the chance, as much as possible, to be able to pick my battles as well, as I'm in a hurry."
>"I think I get you. Assassins are a good pick!"
"Hold it. Would they let me fight openly, and would I need to kill innocents?"
>"Where are you being sent to, do you know?"
"Erja Nokol."
>"No shit? I'm going there. I always wanted to visit. Oh, yeah. No, there's no innocents in the mausoleum, so don't worry your golden heart. For fighting openly, that's no problem! There's subdivisions in each branch. I recommend the Lower Knights, a little division of the Assassins that gets sent in pretty hard for the smaller mission. The good thing about smaller missions is that they're still tough, but if you succeed, you won't have any glory hunters trying to take your credit. Then later on, maybe the Ram Knights or Nightfangs, but by then you'll probably have a better clue."
"Lower Knights are assassins?"

A nearby horn is blown.

>"Heh. It does sound a little weird, I know. Uh, before we get thrown to the Dragon, low level soldiers don't get to keep their stuff, you putting it all in a bank, I hope? This hood feels high quality."
"Yes."
>"Got anyone to fetch it for you when you get to a high enough rank to reclaim it? In fact, got any family in the empire at all? You should write a will. And not just any will-writer's shop either, you've got to know the real ones from the fake ones. And when you join the Lower Knights or whoever you do, make sure you say hi to whoever's in charge, you'll thank me later."

>No shit? I'm going there. I always wanted to visit.
As a soldier, or a civilian? From what I've heard of Erja Nokol, from people who have lived there, it doesn't sound like a visitor friendly place.

>more helpful than usual peasant
>up-selling assassins pretty hard
>admitted a given branch will try and point you in their own direction first
>apparently not worried at the prospect of wandering mutant tar pit land with one leg
I'm.... wondering pretty hard if this girl is more than she claims to be. You might be being scouted by an assassin / recruiter, I think.

And you let her place her hand right next to your face. If she were gonna do something underhanded or with poison, you've given her opportunity.

>Got anyone to fetch it for you when you get to a high enough rank to reclaim it? In fact, got any family in the empire at all? You should write a will.
You've met a few people you could trust to claim your belongings, although you don't know if any of them will be easily reached or in a position to do so when that time comes. (Easiest people to contact might be the crows, until Cheese reaches out to you via an extended spy network, or you make inroads with the other mutants).

So far as you're aware, you have no living family in the empire.

(Not sure how much a will actually matters. What you're carrying isn't valuable enough to really factor into Cheese's plans if you die, and not much of it would make a difference to your family back home. I mean, the clothes are nice, and the weapon is useful, but what use have they for coin?)

>>768997
She asked if you have family in the empire. Shouldn't she already know? Zizi.

I guess you can will everything to him if you die. Or Lily? Both?

>>768997
...you know, I'm not sure I like how she's getting so close to you. You may have pissed off some people so be careful she doesn't steal your stuff or stab you.

>>768997
>Write a will.
Who is Will and why do I need to write on him? That seems like such a strange thing for you to recommend me to do.

Why are you letting a stranger fondle your hood Fen? Just because she is on a crutch does not mean she is helpless or a nice person.

Not saying you should shove her away from you or anything but maybe avoid letting strangers get within a inch of your face next time. Especially ones that came out of nowhere and know who you are.

Maybe she is a nice person or maybe she is quietly rubbing a contact poison/scent marker on your for some reason. Some of the best actual assassins do in fact look harmless you know. And you do have enemies both from what you have done and just from being Zizi's brother.

So far she has seemed nice so continue your conversation but for gods sake be careful you idiot.

This lady is totally one of the assassins going on this campaign. She heard about you and is talking up her team subtly before any of the other recruiters get to you.

Also she is testing you. Thus the getting close and touching your hood. She probably is going to tell you just how many times she could have killed you if she had wanted to.

I bet she has been missing that leg long enough that she could probably kick most peoples asses just fine on that crutch.

I mean really she is filthy and legless and also somehow can afford buying you ale and teleporting? Plus she wants to "visit" the somewhat horrible place where you are going? Either she is part of the army or one of your new enemies sent her to try and kill you first.

Normally I would say take two steps back but you put yourself up against a tent. So politely step twice to the right and continue the conversation while making sure she did not just poison your hood or something. Treat her politely just in case she is a possible superior in the army.

Also ask what a will is and why you need one. Probably can leave stuff to Cheese for now. She will know where to send things if you fail.

(How much you bet when we go to meet the leader of the lower knights she is there?)

1/4 Fen 2016/12/30(Fri)17:17 No. 769207 ID: bfb318
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>She asked if you have family in the empire. Shouldn't she already know? Zizi.
I believe she meant in the empire at this particular time.

I began wondering if she was giving me attention since it seems like I'm famous, now, but the way that she's promoting the assassin's guild and then clutching my hood...

There must be a tell that I give when I realize I shouldn't allow this. As soon as I yank myself back, she snaps her own hand backwards.

>"Whoa. Kinda jumpy, there, aren't you?"
"I have enemies."
>"Don't we all, but really, look at me."
"The best assassins would look harmless. You may be dangerous even without a leg."
>"... hey, thanks. That means a lot to me. You have no idea."
"I don't have family in the empire, just in the barbarian lands."
>"Hm? Oh right, the will. Can't say wills go down there, so..."
"I do not know what wills are."
>"It's a written document that says where your belongings go when you die."
"Then I will leave it to Cheese, who currently resides in the Fence."
>"Cheese? Is that a nickname, or a mutant?"
"A mutant?"
>"Heh, uh, wills to mutants aren't illegal, but..."
"Then nevermind a will." I would leave it to Lily, but that is too overt, and my belongings are meaningless to her. "Are you going to the mausoleum as a soldier or a civilian?"
>"An army worker. I can't exactly fight right, you know, and there's no way they'd let random civilians in. I used to be a soldier, not that that's out of the norm."

2/4 Fen 2016/12/30(Fri)17:17 No. 769208 ID: bfb318
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She stops speaking when an enormous amount of magic is felt around us. It's intrusive, as though I had a set of mental magic lungs that have only taken a few breaths before, and is now getting air shoved into them to the point it feels they'll burst.

Then everything goes dark. Some torches illuminate just well enough to see, including the very edge of the drawn circle. Beyond that appears to be a black void. Sometimes I think I see something out there. Maybe there is, but this is the perfect situation for my imagination to act up.

3/4 Fen 2016/12/30(Fri)17:17 No. 769209 ID: bfb318
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It's not enough time to think on it for long. The void changes to a sheet of white instead of black. Except, this white is closing in on us.

I look around. I try not to look afraid, and no one else seems to think something went terribly wrong.

Then I realize. It's just fog.

And despite that it feels cool, it seems comforting.

>"As the draconian superiorists would say, welcome to your real home. Now let's get a beer, I've just got to alert the army where I'm going, and then head off through next week's warp to Erja Nokol, cause, heh, I'm sure not walking there. Well then, shall we?"
"Should we stop for a drink first?"
>"Nah, save a trip and drop your things off first. I know a way to a Hoard Guard, which is as good a bank as any around here."

4/4 Fen 2016/12/30(Fri)17:18 No. 769211 ID: bfb318
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She leads me on, but it seems as though the warp areas was a ways out of the town. I can't see much through the fog, but sometimes I see the outlines of buildings from far off.

There is a large amount of foot traffic. I keep my eyes off others. The poor areas in the fence had people who seemed aggressive and dangerous. In my homeland, crossing paths with an enemy tribe was tense, as we would have to physically compete for the land's resources.

This place makes those areas seem like pleasant company. Everyone here seems mad at something, and it seems like a fight could happen at any point. We attract stares, and I notice that a lot of those stares are pointed at Holly's missing leg. It's not the look I see given to people who lost something dear. It's a look that I've only seen shot at rotten carcasses and thrown to disrespectable people. I was initially cold to the idea of Holly bringing me to her choice of bank without looking into it myself, and while I still am, it's looking pleasant compared to being out here on my own.

Holly doesn't seem to notice or care about the stares, but she is huffing and shaking even if she looks like she's trying not to look tired.

"Do you want me to help?"
>"No! No. Don't you dare."

We cross by what I assume is a tavern that, like all the buildings around here, simply seem to have been built out of an endless expanse of rocks as far as the fog allows me to see.

"How much longer is it to the bank?"
>"About half of a mile."

>>769211
Ask if there's something wrong with her having lost a limb. Do most people see her as useless? Has she ever tried a peg-leg? That'd be less awkward than a crutch, surely. I'm guessing she does work that can be done sitting down.

Keep pace with her and slow down a bit if need be.

Here being a currently employed master assassin seems less likely all the time. But who knows what history she has.

"How do you get around normally if this much activity wears you down?" Sorry if that is a sore point. I have honestly never met anyone with such a injury before."

Given the empire's classic division of service rights between classes, which is basically nobles killing the poor, there may be ludicrously expensive solutions to fixing Holly's leg with a replacement or regrowth, but the nobles would pay four times as much to PREVENT her from getting the same health care as they enjoy. Crippling insecurities with sharing their hospitals with guttersnipes and self-denied envy of the renoun that warriors get for getting crippling injuries that they're too afraid to risk, and all that.

Are you on a mountain? Slow down. You might feel pumped, but that's the adrenaline talking. Don't waste too much energy until you can find some calories and a pressurized shelter.

If you were high enough on a mountain for it to matter, you'd have noticed your ears popping. You should be fine.

Ask how she learned so much about the army.

>>769216
I don't really think nobles care enough about specific peasants to do that, just peasants in general.

Perhaps, despite having been raised elsewhere, something in the atmosphere here is closer to your native environment, just as the local kobolds are closer in appearance to you. Similarly, she might be suffering the opposite effect, having traveled from somewhere she's presumably suited to (given her resemblance to the kobolds there) to somewhere she isn't.

Be circumspect, ask her what sort of work she does. There are lots of possibilities, like perhaps she's a crafter, leatherwork or something. Could be a smith, even. Or any number of other army follower jobs. There's a lot more to an army than fighters.

You could ask her if she wants to stay at the tavern while you go on to the bank yourself, but I don't think it's actually a good idea, for three reasons. First, she'll see through it and probably be unhappy anyway, second you might need her advice at the bank, and third I don't think she should be left alone anywhere around here with those stares. She might be relying on having you with her just to be able to come out here for a drink in the first place.

The longer we are around her the more questions I have.

I mean why is she traveling to the same place we are?

How does she get around with that leg if she gets this winded regularly? In this sort of society crippling injuries are usually a death sentence.

She has to have some way of supporting herself so she must have money saved up or family support or a job she can still do.

Honestly watching her get this winded traveling makes me really wonder. Walking with a crutch while tougher should be normal to her by now. But she looks like she has not had much exercise in awhile.

Could be nothing but having someone knowledgeable show up out of nowhere looking for you is suspicious.

Who knows she might be a veteran who is traveling and lives off her military pension (do those even exist?)

>There must be a tell that I give when I realize I shouldn't allow this. As soon as I yank myself back, she snaps her own hand backwards.
Fast reactions might mean we're right about her being more than she seems, but then again, being in the lower rungs of an authoritarian kobold society and/or military seems kind of like being in an abusive relationship. Learning to see the signs when someone's attitude is going south would be an important survival skill.

>"Do you want me to help?"
>>"No! No. Don't you dare."
Pride. And being weak enough to need help (or being weak enough to help someone) would probably be like blood in the water to the crowd you've described around you.

>what do
It seems odd she'd be winded so quickly if she's not new to that crutch, and she's expected to keep up as an army laborer. I wonder if this is a test or act, seeing how you'll handle this?

I'm inclined to keep going, and just adjust your pace down. Shift to a more aggressive or combat ready stance, and keep an eye ready. People might be less prepared to start something if it looks like you're damn ready to end it.

Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)00:09 No. 769284 ID: bfb318
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"Is there no such thing as a crutch you attach to the bottom of your leg?"
>"Tried that. Would work well if I had my knee at least, but nope, right at the thigh, and it was too awkward to me."
"How do you get around normally if this much wears you down?"
>"I'm still moving, aren't I?"
"I'm sorry. I haven't seen an injury like this before."
>"Oh, er." her tone quickly and deliberately softens. "No, it's fine. I just haven't moved around as much as I should. My... work just involves sitting down, and it's easy to lose the ability to move far at once, but I need to walk more like this. It's embarrasing to not be able to walk myself to the bank, you know, so don't go helping."

Now it seems like there's something else she isn't telling me, but it may just be things she doesn't want to speak of rather than keeping secrets.

I walk with her, this time keeping a full step behind her to go at her pace. If anything, that just seems to make her try and go faster.

"A wizard is too expensive, right?"
>"Oh yeah. I obviously have some coin to spare, but not the gold pieces I'd need to have a wizard stand by and spend weeks of their time to regrow my limb or however long it would take them."
"... are we on a mountain?"
>"Kinda? Yeah, I guess it is a mountain. We're high up, that's for sure. Boulders here are used like bricks, since there's a glue that works in this region that sticks them together unbelievably well. That's why all the buildings are made out of cobblestone. With glue, people can just throw rocks together, then smooth them out if they care to."
"How do you know so much about the army?"
>"I was a soldier, you know, and I did my research."
"An assassin?"

She smiles and looks like she's recollecting something. I see a large structure up ahead and many guards, and it's soon confirmed it's the bank.

>"Nope, but I worked with assassins. Then again, I worked with everyone."
"What work do you do?"
>"Tailoring, knapping, some blacksmithing, tutoring if anyone would take me seriously... I can do lots! It's tough to find a stable job. Ever deposit things before?"
"I have."
>"Then you're spared from the lecture. Go on then, the guard's waving you inside."

They will most likely ask me for how I will set up a password system. My vault can be opened from anyone who fits any description I supply, a code phrase, or any combination of both.

>>769284
Probably the easiest way to do it is to pick a unique code phase. That way if we have to send an ally to pick up our stuff later, we can give them the code. (And if the crows send someone, or Cheese sends one of her allies, we won't be able to predict their appearance in advance).

Actually if any combination works, might as well make Cheese's appearance count for access, even if she lacks the code phrase. Sames effort, and there's no one who could possibly impersonate her easily.

Not using a description slightly increases the odds the code could be intercepted and someone could rip us off, but nothing we're depositing is gonna be valuable enough for outright espionage.

>what deposit
Keep a little money on hand for room and board (some coppers and a silver or two or three?).

The nice cloak and weapons and shield have to be stored. Maybe keep the dagger just in case? I'd rather not be completely unarmed, even if it means we'll lose it to the army later.

The rope we can probably afford to lose, and in a bad situation, might come in handy getting around with how rocky this place is.

I'm really tempted to keep the poison and antidote (probably the most valuable thing you have on you), especially because we know poison is common where you're going and a hidden cure all could save you, and Tomato poison is a fantastic surprise weapon. Can you keep them hidden on you if you're searched, though?

>>769284
She's probably a sex worker. Giving sexual relief to soldiers when they're on extended duty in the field.

Just go with a passcode. At this point, the only reason anyone else would need to access your bank account without the passcode would be if you died.

Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)01:33 No. 769294 ID: bfb318
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I recall the antidote and tomato's poison, which are both things I would like to have in the army.

"Holly, is there any way I can bring in small items to the army?"
>"If you pull yourself from the bottom rung, you can keep items. Like me. Hey, if you trust me, I can hold onto small things for you while I'm in the mausoleum, too. Otherwise, just leave them in the bank and get someone you trust to deliver them to you later."

Hm. Is the inventory page up to date? It lists you still having things in the other bank, if I read it right, but some of the things I'd have assumed you'd have picked up before coming, unless you weren't allowed.

If I remember right, we were told the army would probably let you keep your armor and weapons because you're going to be using them anyway, right? I'd guess practical items like the cloak, too, and I imagine you'd be able to get rope if you needed it. I'd assume they'd let you keep some coin with you, too, but carrying too much would probably tempt your fellow recruits to some thievery if nothing else. Ask her what she thinks, keep that much plus a few coppers or one silver extra, and give her a few silvers to keep for you. If she can't be trusted with those it'd be worth the price to that find out. So really all you're depositing here is the rest of the silver?

I doubt she'd do anything with the poison and antidote unless she used them on someone herself, and she doesn't seem the type, so I'd say give them to her.

And just to be sure I have this clear, what I'm gathering is that as soon as you get to Erja the army will snatch you up and you'll have no opportunity to deposit anything there, right? And the warp comes back here and returns about once a week? But you probably won't be allowed leave for longer than that. Holly might be able to get things for you, but then you'd have to give her description... and I don't think it's wise to ask her to come back to here by herself anyway.

>>769294
A dose of universal antidote is gonna be worth more than gold in Erja Nokol. Which might make it risky leaving it with her, as she might be tempted to sell it or something (although we don't have to tell her what it is). At the very least though, the most dangerous thing Holly can do is squander it.

The poison is too dangerous to trust with someone you just met. It could be used to kill almost anyone, including yourself, and you can't trust she won't use it. Worst case, even if we can't get back to claim it until later, there are always going to be people you need ways to kill.

Unless we can rank-up while still training / doing basic in dragon, in which case we could retrieve the vials before we deploy.

Otherwise my opinions on what store from >>769288 are unchanged.

>>769289
A sex worker is a classic assassin's cover, too. (At least paranoia is pretty justified for Fen).

>>769324

Is it universal antidote? I thought it was an antidote to Tomato's poison specifically. Which, for a mutant's poison, could make for a very niche antidote.

>>769338
It's not a manufactured antidote or antivenom of Cabbage's poison specifically, they have a mutant who produces it naturally.

>>/questarch/721781
>Peaches. That one is our antidote maker. While a lot of mutants, especially abominations, get poison, Peaches got an anti-poison. At first it felt like a rip off, but we realized how useful that was.
I mean I suppose it might only reverse Tomato's poison (she didn't say specifically) but the implication was the reason it was so useful was because poison mutations are pretty common. And either way, there's probably something it doesn't fix.

1/2 Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)12:36 No. 769362 ID: bfb318
File 148321661730.png - (153.10KB , 800x800 , 617.png )

I gained the impression that all poisons generated from mutants and abominations had similarities if not precisely identical, and so the antidote may work effectively on all of them. If it is a poison from a non-mutant, however, then I'm uncertain how effective the antidote would be.

Croc is the one who had a full antidote against, supposedly, all poisons, or that's what I believe he said. That is how he survived tomato's poison.

I don't think there is a way, short of magic perhaps, to know what the antidote is without saying, so I believe it's safe.

"Would they let me keep my coins?"
>"For them, up to 5 copper I think."
"Then I would like to keep some coins with you, and also a vial."
>"Oh? What is this?"
"I don't want to say?"
>"Eh? Is it dangerous at all?"
"No."
>"Okay."
"Are you a sex worker, by the way?"
>"Y... yh wh'ts'y?"

It takes me a second to understand her, before I realize her accent just transformed into the same accent I've been hearing from the locals around here. The accent lands heavily on the consonants, and barely seems to acknowledge vowels. Once my head fills the vowels in, I believe 'you whatsay' is what she said, which is still odd. Her sudden change in voice startles me, as well, as even the tone seems to change.

"You hesitated at saying your... 'work'. Is a sex worker something shameful, here?"
>"... hhh, I sh'ld sm'ck yh..." she takes a breath, and returns to a more neutral accent with some effort. "Damn blunt, aren't you? I'm no whore, barbarian, I hesitated saying 'work' because right now I've got... yeah, I've got no work. I'm not employed anyplace or anything, right now."
"Then how do you get your money?"
>"Well, I don't anymore! But I got a good enough rank in the army to have a salary, so I saved up. It won't last my whole life. So I should work in the army more before my health really goes south."

2/2 Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)12:37 No. 769363 ID: bfb318
File 148321662415.png - (83.29KB , 800x800 , 618.png )

We both go through a door. The guard follows us and shuts it, locking both of us into a dimly lit center with smoother, but otherwise featureless, rocks and a slit in them to allow the passing of items.

I set up a cheap account and pay it through the end of the year, using up 11 copper. I then set the code phrase to 'hollowed barren shroomtrunk', along with describing Cheese.

Inventory Update with proposed changes: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest_Statistics#Inventory[/aa]
The contents of the Fence's bank have retroactively been moved with Fen, as well.

>>769362
I apologize if I have given offense, it comes from ignorance, not malice. But yes, I suppose I am blunter and more straightforward than most natives of the empire. Sometimes this seems to be an advantage, other times a hindrance.

Do you still wish to get that drink?

>"Well, I don't anymore! But I got a good enough rank in the army to have a salary, so I saved up. It won't last my whole life. So I should work in the army more before my health really goes south."
Well, then for both our sakes, may we find good fortune when we are deployed. (If she really does prove a help to us, and not actually better off than she appears when we're undercover, I have no issue seeing the good fortune of military successes spread around a little).

Well if she seems knowledgeable and proves trustworthy maybe we can send her in Cheese's direction for a job. We will need a trusted group to work with us when Fen becomes a noble so might as well start finding people now.

Bank changes look good. As long as we leave anything that would get confiscated upon joining the army we should be fine. And anything we leave with Holly will be a good test of her character.

Apologize for being blunt but you honestly don't know what the social norms are here. You don't see anything wrong with being a sex worker or crippled. Barbarians don't really deal much in the concept of shame.

>>769363
Seems fine. If Holly decides to just keep what we gave her, it won't matter.

...please tell me you didn't say the passcode right in front of Holly. The stuff here isn't especially valuable but it'd be a pain to lose it.

Maybe you should make the code something Cheese could guess, like "I Love Porcupine Hugs".

Ok, when you get a moment again, maybe when you're in the tavern, ask her if sex work is looked down on, and say sorry if you offended her. Maybe tell her that back where you come from, it's common for tribe members who've made some great achievement to be rewarded with sexual favors from certain individuals willing to provide, in just the same way that they would be rewarded with a special piece of craftwork or with better food; and you assumed that something similar was the case up here, just with the addition of more formality, job specialization and currency to the process, like with other professions.

I'm assuming here but I think that might be what was going down in your head. Maybe not. You should try make it clear to her that there was no negative connotation to that question on your part, anyway.

And tell her that if she needs work, you might want someone to maintain your gear or look for special items for you, or tip you off to goings-on, or other similar small tasks now and then, to give you more time for training or similar. In fact, she could probably teach you a few things about weapons that you're not familiar with yet, or how to operate in environments you're not used to, that sort of thing.

Anyway, from the inventory there I'm guessing you aren't actually allowed to keep your own weapons. Or you just want to make sure you'll have them again when you come out, which might be a good idea since they'll surely give you some when you join and not be too keen on letting you keep them when you leave. So it seems ok. Remember to get some copper coins to keep on yourself, you might need to convert to do that. And maybe keep one silver that you can hide on your body somewhere? You could hide a coin under your tongue or something like that. It's always handy to have a little more buying power than people think. If you want to get in with the mutants' Family, for example, you might need to make a little display of your friendship to them.

Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)16:23 No. 769407 ID: bfb318
File 148323020151.png - (85.21KB , 1200x700 , 619.png )

>Did you say the password in front of Holly?
No.

Aside from exchanging some silver for copper, and hiding one silver under my tongue, I put the rest of the times away as intended. I take my time, just so that Holly is given the chance to catch her breath without having to ask for it. She also has an account here, and fetches a small bag out of it. She also gets a dagger for herself and a small sword that she gives to me.

>"It's not a good sword, but it'll hold. I'll still want it back before you enlist. They'll lend you their own standard sword there."

After the bank, we also stop by a simple clothing shop. I buy aged but clean clothes for a single copper.

"I apologize for my bluntness. In my tribe, sex is not a shameful thing. It's even given to those who accomplished a great deed as a prize."
>"That just sounds like getting cozy with someone worth getting cozy with. That's a fair lot different than someone who sleeps with another just for some coins."
"It may not be emotionally satisfying, but I do not see the shame in it."
>"Heh, yeah, that's why I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's not the sex though. It's being so down on one's luck that all you can do for a living is sex."
"So it's just sex working that's complicated?"
>"Look, it's complicated. All you've got to know is that I'm not one."
"Okay. If the army doesn't give you work, I could use someone. Would you like to go to a tavern, now?"
>"Yeah. Follow me."

I'm glad I took my time in the bank, as it's a long ways off to the bar. Night is falling quickly, here. We enter the one of her choosing, but no one is inside. There are no valuables, but there are stains from drinks and blood here. Holly looks lost for a moment, then swears under her breath.

"Is this not the place?"
>"Oh, it's the place, but it's closed down, I guess. By choice or by force, I don't know."
"We passed a few tavers on the way over. We can go to one of those."
>"Yeah, that's... look, I knew the people here. They were cool with me. Let's just.... forget it. You'd better go enlist before it gets completely dark out there."
"I have a couple of stories of Zizi after all."
>"I'm not in a good mood for stories right. Share them for another time."

That is unfortunate. Am guessing you had some old army buddies here?

Well lets head over and sign up with the army with her.

Before you part tell her if she is unlucky finding work with the army that she can always check in with a mutant named Cheese who is currently working with Lord Gauche. She is your/his spymaster and could probably find good work for a knowledgeable veteran. Plus she won't care at all about the leg.

>>769407
Alright, bye.

>If the army doesn't give you work, I could use someone.
You do realize how that sounds considering what you were just discussing, right?

>look, I knew the people here. They were cool with me. Let's just.... forget it.
Hard to tell if the problem is she doesn't have a place to go where she'll be accepted, or if she's upset about what happened to her friends here.

"Do you want to ask around about what happened?"

Say you noticed how the locals looked at her. Ask if that's something particular to here, or widespread. Maybe say that, with army service seemingly so common across the empire, you'd have assumed people would be accustomed to such things; and that you had the impression the empire's ideals of strength would focus on soul more than body, given the variation between kobold races.

Maybe pat her on the shoulder?

>>769410
>Before you part tell her if she is unlucky finding work with the army that she can always check in with a mutant named Cheese who is currently working with Lord Gauche. She is your/his spymaster and could probably find good work for a knowledgeable veteran. Plus she won't care at all about the leg.
Is that something we really need to tell her? We barley know her and you want to tell her information like that? We can't just be throwing names around like that, especially the name of someone like Gauche. He probably doesn't want Fen to be using his name like that.

Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)21:28 No. 769475 ID: bfb318
File 148324849465.png - (308.12KB , 1200x750 , 620.png )

>Saying 'If the army doesn't give you work, I could use someone' sounds bad
I don't see why, but on reflection, she shot me an odd glance. It didn't appear to offend her significantly, anyway.

"Okay. Will you be coming with?"
>"Hm... yeah, yeah may as well. No, not 'may as well', I'm not going to take your sword and send you off alone to find a place you don't know the location of. Come on, let's go."

We walk back out after Holly lingers a moment, looking back over the sight of the old bar.

The paths are rocks. Sometimes there are patches of dirt, but for the most part, the roads are all flattened rocks, and the parts of the road that a wagon's wheels roll over are distinctly smoothed over.

The fog isn't so overwhelming that we can't see far, but much of the time, we wander through a dark expanse of rocks with dim, far off lights as windows are lit up.

"Are torches not expensive?" I find myself whispering.
>"Not in Dragon's Fall, they aren't." she whispers back.
"The locals have looked at you rudely. Is there a reason? From what I have heard of the army, people who lose limbs don't seem like they may be uncommon."
>"It's common to lose a limb, you bet right, but unless people can find a wizard to regenerate it, they don't often live for long."
"Why not?"
>"... kind of tough enough to live with all your limbs, in my own opinion."

It's quiet until I hear a booming voice going through the streets. Once I can make out the words, I realize it's someone shouting out the news of the world. There isn't much news of the mausoleum, but he briefly speaks of a blasphemous kingdom that is trying to conquer the deadlands, a gnoll overlord rising in poluputus, remnants of the conquered in, well, the conquered lands, and the gold noble slaughter within the turtle.

>"And tarnished golden Rasyan, no longer a blessed name nor soul, was slain by a lone barbarian wanderer! His name? A point of discussion and rumor that none can agree, but by the tale told by a Turtle's blood wizard, we have come to call the barbarian the Red Maw. Rasyan's merchant empire is being reorganized, but those who wish to keep his empire unified call for blood. Red Maw walks free, with a bounty of 80 gold!"
>"Heh, damn, maybe keep your mouth shut." Holly whispers to me. "Wouldn't want people thinking you're Red Maw just because you speak like a barbarian, heh."

Tell her that a 80 gold bounty sounds rather large.

If someone was interested in that sort of work how would one go about proving that they killed this Red Maw. There is no description and there are plenty of barbarians wandering around.

Nod. Seems odd she's acting like she isn't interested in 80 gold given her circumstances. You sure that's a recruiter she's taking you to?

>I don't see why, but on reflection, she shot me an odd glance.
Because, given what you were just talking about, it sounds like you were offering to pay her for sex if she can't find any better work.

Although, if we are shooting to be a noble some day, we'll eventually need people working for us. People who prove trustworthy when we're on the lower rungs of things would be a good place to start, and in the long run, the price of fixing one limb is cheap.

>bad looks for not getting killed when you lose a limb
Isn't it more impressive to survive if you've lost one? Deserves impressed looks, not bad ones.

>"Wouldn't want people thinking you're Red Maw just because you speak like a barbarian, heh."
Wryly, "Yes, that would be bad."

"Perhaps we should move on from the mob, just in case?"

Too soon to tell her the truth. And even if she's been trustworthy so far, no reason to temp her with the gold.

Say absolutely nothing.

So lets say I was a crippled veteran down on her luck who needed some money.

And lets say I just got word of a 80 gold bounty on a barbarian and I know exactly who it is cause I was at the courthouse when things went down.

I can't take him in normally (cause of the crippled thing) but I bet if I give him the info he wants and help him out I could lead him to some old friends who would help me subdue him to get the bounty.

But woops my old friends have moved. Dang now what do I do?

Now not saying Holly has any ideas like this. And with her actions she probably does not know you are the Red Maw. I mean she lent you a sword to get you safely to the recruiters. But be careful and watch out just in case. 80 gold is a fortune and who knows if being in the army will keep you safe.

80 gold's a lot. I wonder what idiot approved of this bounty; there's going to be a LOT of fake turn-ins for a bounty that basically says "go adventuring in the wildlands, find a random backwater barbarian with exceptionally poor dental hygene, and kill or capture them for a gold profit". Not that the guild will accept any of these fakers but you can expect a higher turnout of dungeon crawlers patroling the local woods and murdering your neighbors because of your actions. Would they even pay if someone brought in your head, or would they just murder the hunter on the spot and post a 30 gold bounty for "the psycho who walked right through the door, somehow stole the guildmaster's prized knife, and stabbed a random hunter with it"?

Tell Holly that you'd like to build a small network of contacts in this region. Nothing serious, a few anonymous connections that will go stale in two months.

>>769475
>a gnoll overlord rising in poluputus
Clamp? Ha ha ha! Imagine if he got that position by complete accident and he hates it! XD

>"Heh, damn, maybe keep your mouth shut." Holly whispers to me. "Wouldn't want people thinking you're Red Maw just because you speak like a barbarian, heh."
Time to play dumb.

"But why would they think I'm Red Maw? It is very obvious that my maw is green, not red."

>>769485
If that's what she's doing, then the sword she gave Fen is broken somehow. He should probably test it to be sure.

>>769486
>who did this
Obviously, someone who doesn't care about the collateral damage or the hassle of turning down incorrect claimants issued the bounty. Why should anyone who cared about Rasyan care about what happens to barbarians who may or may not have had anything to do with his death?

>>769488
Not now. Drawing a blade will just draw attention from that crowd.

Fen 2016/12/31(Sat)23:49 No. 769497 ID: bfb318
File 148325696228.png - (250.84KB , 900x800 , 621.png )

>Random barbarians will be murdered
Most likely. However, the very first people I saw upon stepping foot inside of the empire were two barbarians killed and hung for taking food. I do not believe that barbarians are will respected within the empire, and I doubt that the people who made this bounty would care about the false turn-ins.

>Test the sword
I initially looked at it when Holly handed it to me. Although it was not a proper test, it felt solid and appeared intact. If it is broken, it is an excellent sabotage.

"Maybe. There was no description though. How would they know, even if they turned it in?"
>"I guess the people paying the fortune knows what the Red Maw looks like. I'm just saying. Eh, whatever, I'll be blunt. Word's gotten around that Zizi's brother is in the empire. You have white eyes. You speak like a barbarian. Coincidentally, the next word is that L- Rasyan got killed by a barbarian. I'm not saying I think you're the Red Maw. And to be even more blunt, I don't want to know you're the Red Maw. I'm just saying, maybe the blood wizard knows more, but after everything went through the rumor route, 'Zizi's brother' is sure to be suspect number one as far as anyone's concerned. I'm going to keep on leading now, and you'll see my back the whole way if that's the way you want it. Oh, I'll even speak for you when you enlist, how's that? You can pretend to be mute."
"Does the empire somehow see that as less shameful than a missing limb?"
>"Yeah, because it's invisible. Shit, it means you can't talk if you get captured, so sometimes spies are made mute."
"Hm. Still, I would think it's more impressive to see someone who lived through a loss of limb."
>"Wouldn't that be a dream! But no, they say you're no good, it'd be better to just have died than to keep eating food."
"But if you can work, y-"
>"I'm not the one you've got to convince, barbarian. We're almost to the enlistment station."
"Do you recommend acting mute?"
>"I would, but then you might need to keep up the act. The Dragon army won't remove or suspend a Turtle. based bounty.

Is it my accent that shows me as a barbarian or just my blunt speech? Could I get away with just staying quite and grunting a bit?

And would staying mute help or hurt my plan to rise in the ranks as quick as I can. I don't mind hiding my identity so that people do not realize I am Zizi's brother at first. I don't know enough about the empires ways or my brothers reputation to know what would be best.

I can hold my own in a fight easily enough if bounty hunters mistook me for the Red maw but would I have to deal with people in the army going for the bounty?

(I am wondering what name she was about to use before changing to Rasyan.)

Just act like you have a speech impediment, that way they know you can talk but would rather you shut your mouth most of the time.

>>769497
So long as the dragon army doesn't try to collect the turtle bounty, you can live with that.

Honestly not speaking might serve you well in the short term, but it's going to grow to be a massive inconvenience in the long term.

News of the bounty is just breaking now, so I'm not sure if the recruiter would have heard, anyways.

She can introduce you if she wishes, and you can limit the extent you speak with others, but starting a long game of pretending to be mute is more trouble than killing anyone who decides to take a bounty out of your hide. You're joining the army- people are going to be trying to kill you anyways.

Oh and it goes without saying if she were trying something here, getting us to agree to let her do all the talking is a pretty good opportunity for that.

>I am wondering what name she was about to use before changing to Rasyan
Dropped the "Lord" in front of his name, maybe. Which is kind of interesting. He doesn't merit the title anymore? Or she's trying to play less respectful than she actually is?

>>769497
>you'll see my back the whole way if that's the way you want it.
"It is a nice backside, so I don't mind seeing it the whole way."

>>769497
If you see any guards, ask one where the army recruitment office is. Just to double check that you're going the right way and aren't being led into an ambush.

I think pretending to be mute would be more trouble than it's worth. Holly here spotted you and figured you were Zizi's brother just by looking, and there have to be more people like her. Only takes one being talkative for people to know who you are, and to be frank, you're probably going to give away that you're a barbarian some other way, anyway. The dragon army might not take the bounty away, but I was under the impression that there could be quite a few people with a bounty in the army, given that forced recruitment is used as a punishment for criminals. At the very least, they probably don't let bounty hunters just walk into camp to pick off their soldiers.

Being under a bounty is really bad, but on the path you're on, you're probably going to end up with a much higher one eventually. And probably higher still when you do actually become a noble, though probably with assassins instead of bounty hunters. As the price goes up the people who come after you are only going to get more skilled, so you might as well get used to living carefully now, because this is probably as low as the price and your hunters' skills are going to be.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/02(Mon)22:00 No. 770089 ID: bfb318
File 148342321722.png - (170.93KB , 800x800 , 622.png )

"Pretending to be mute sounds like it's more trouble than its worth, especially long term."
>"Suit yourself"
"As long as the dragon army doesn't try to cash in on the bounty themselves."
>"Not officially or anything, but the army isn't made up of heroes, you know."
"Do I have an accent, or is it the words I choose?"
>"Your accent. You speak a bit... sharply? You'd have to ask someone who knows better than me. Oh, here's the right place. We're almost there. Oh, and if they ask if you have anything stored in the bank, just say no. It's not like they check."

I see a guard as we walk by.

"Excuse me. Is this the way to an army station?"
>"A few nearby. Keep moving along."

2/2 Fen 2017/01/02(Mon)22:00 No. 770090 ID: bfb318
File 148342322681.png - (136.65KB , 1606x893 , 623.png )

I do so, following Holly into a building. The outside appears smoothed over, and the inside even moreso. Rocks are as flat as could be, and there are barely even visible seams where one rock meets the next. Various emblems and banners I don't know the significance of make this hall less dreary than the rest of the region, and the first map I've seen since coming here lies at the back. A few people pass through the area, and conversations are through the halls. Despite being a quiet, dreary place, there were many guards outside.

I'm closely watched by the draconian behind the desk.

"State your business." he says.

>"I intend on joining the army to fight in Erja Nokol."
"Oh? Welcome, then. And... she?"
>"Just to show me the way."
"Then she may leave. No loitering."

Holly looks towards the exit. It's small, but she appears slightly worried.

>"No." Holly says. "That is, I wasn't just here to show him the way. I'm here to join, as well."

The desk worker raises one eyebrow.

>"As a worker. I'd like to speak with your local quartermaster, or an equal."
>"Go through that door, there." he says, gesturing away. "As for you, who speaks like a barbarian, what is your name?"
"Fen."
>"Do you own any belongings?"
"Only my clothes. The sword is this girl's, which I only b - "
>"Right. Give it back to her, then. I am assigning you to Sir Orjin. Here is his badge." he says, handing me a simple wooden seal."
"Is he a noble?"
>"Absolutely not, but he is a recognized knight in our order, and you will address him as Sir."
"I understand. Where do I find him?"
>"Deep in the catacombs of old-town." he says, pointing to a spot on the nearby map for me. "He is hunting a marauding faction of bottomfeeders. Locate his camp, and pledge your allegiance to him to join."
>"Hold it." says Holly. "Is that normal? Just sending him to a place like that-"
>"We have enough barbarians seeking the safety of the army over the turmoil of living in the Dragon as civilians. If you want charity, join the standard dragon army. Don't believe that the word 'lower' in Lower Knights means we have use for the useless. Find his camp, or be gone."

Better prove to Sir Orjin you're no useless barbarian then and hop to it Fen.

>He is hunting a marauding faction of bottomfeeders
Am I to be given a weapon to hunt bottom feeders, or are you expecting me to pretend I am the Red Maw?

>what do
Hand Holly her sword, and thank her for her help. You hope to meet again.

Then go.

>>770090
Tell Holly it's fine. You came here to learn.

Ask if that is all. Will you be heading there unarmed and unarmored?

>>770100
>Hand Holly her sword, and thank her for her help. You hope to meet again.
This.

>>770103
>Ask if that is all. Will you be heading there unarmed and unarmored?
And this.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/02(Mon)23:38 No. 770145 ID: bfb318
File 148342912672.png - (96.92KB , 800x800 , 624.png )

"It's fine, Holly, I am here to learn. Am I expected to go in unarmored and unarmed?"
>"Yes." the man says.
"Fine. Holly, here is your sword."

She eyes me like she's testing if either of us are serious.

"Take it. I hope to meet again."
>"Er, yeah, same division worker and all, I'll be around, Fen!"

She says it in a pleasant tone, but her face tells of displeasure over taking the sword back.

2/2 Fen 2017/01/02(Mon)23:38 No. 770146 ID: bfb318
File 148342913301.png - (39.78KB , 1000x700 , 625.png )

We go our seperate ways. Mine leads me to nearby passage downwards. This is the last point that the map in the building showed. Everything beyond is apparently part of 'old town', which is below what the map represented.

I look down into the passage. As always, the floor is stone, but there is a thick layer of dirt and dust over it that, with difficulty, I can make out the footprints of many kobolds heading into the passage.

There is only one torch at the top of the stairs, then darkness. Too much darkness to make out anything visually, and so the only thing I can sense downwards is a smell of old blood and rot.

>>770146
Check for traps and hidden doors.

>>770146
I see a glimmer of light further in. Go partially down the stairs and let your eyes adjust to the darkness.

Also watch out for traps, you're probably already being tested. Does the slope look strange? What about the vertical seams in the walls where the slope starts?

>>770145
Pretty sure she doesn't approve of the way we're being treated, and that this isn't what she thinks her old unit should be.

Honestly, you've probably been treated worse already.

>what do
Well, approaching a group of armed soldiers who aren't expecting you in the dark, in the middle of a combat mission, can't possibly go wrong and lead to friendly fire. Also we're under armed and our retreat could be easily cut off. Charming.

There's... something faint down there. Can't make it out.

And now comes the tricky part. Should Fen go without a torch or should Fen take a torch?

Going without a torch will make him harder to be seen, but it'll also be harder to avoid any traps and/or big holes in the floor.

Going with a torch will let him see and avoid any traps and/or big holes in the floor, but he also gives away his position and makes it easier for him to be seen by that marauding faction of bottomfeeders.

Bottom feeders are more used to the dark than us anyway, so I'd say bring some light.

I'd say go without light, if I were to guess what that torch was there for, it'd probably be so the group your looking for could find the way out. So taking it might make things difficult later.

Trab the Gorch. Then limb CUpstairs.

And learn the local dialect or you'll sound like the previous sentence.

I don't even think the torch is something that can be picked up. It looks like a burning recess in the floor.

Well that torch looks like the fire has spread to the handle so probably can't take that.

But be on the lookout for a weapon. Even a good bashing rock.

If you can't go in with light then it might be for the best because you will be seen a mile off. Make sure to have that emblem you got handy so some of your fellow army guys don't try to kill you.

Go slow and let your eyes adjust before you get to far in. And keep your ears open above all else. If you learned something from Croc its that no one listens enough.

Well this is a mess. Sent to find a military group that would kill you just as fast as there enemies if you don't identify yourself with a visual symbol in the dark.

And with no gear or light.

Well fuck that. You are going to show up after having killed 10 of the guys they are hunting. If you report for duty covered in your enemies blood and using there weapons it should improve how your new commander thinks of you.

Check the torch but it looks to be a bit far gone to take with us. Judging by the faint outline deeper in they have been dropping them as trail markers.

He said this place was a catacombs. So be on the lookout for traps. While you probably won't see ridiculous tomb traps there could be pitfalls or deadfall's or just pointed spikes on the ground to mess up your feet. Specially if these bottomfeeders set up shop in a important tomb and reinforced there base.

Before anything else let your eyes adjust to the dark and find a makeshift weapon. Any rock or stick or whatever will do. If you find the army camp first then they might be nice enough to give you a weapon once you join them. But maybe not due to this being a nasty test.

If you find a bottomfeeder first you bash them to death and take there stuff.

Find a stick, use the torch to light it.

Proceed slowly and warily.

Fen 2017/01/03(Tue)09:20 No. 770219 ID: bfb318
File 148346400442.png - (72.82KB , 1430x375 , 626.png )

The nearby 'torch' that almost looks like the stone itself is on fire appears to be a slot inside of the rock. At the bottom is the fuel for the fire, and so it seems more like a miniature bonfire as much as a torch. It is not propped up by a stick, so it isn't something I can use as a torch.

I locate some wood. There does not appear to be much wood in this region, and I wonder if trees grow here at all, or if it is all imported. Given the rot, I think it's imported. I break it up into 4 sticks. I am also thankful he simply took my word that I had no belongings, and did not find the rations I have tied to my leg with my length of rope. I make sure that the wooden seal is secured, as well.

With that, I put one of the sticks into the fire to light it up and head into the dark to at least investigate the dim light inside. I see no traps or hidden doors, even considering the odd seam on the lower set of stairs.

The light turns out to be some burning embers. I believe the object used to be a wooden dagger, but it's just a messy husk on the ground, now.

>>770219
Well, then look at the corpse as closely as you can without touching or getting too close. Any idea how it died?

Well, this certainly looks like a good place for an ambush. Check the passages and the hole in the ground before approaching the body.

Wow this is terrible territory. You could be attacked from any side.

Check how fresh the bodies are, and if they're armed. Can you tell which way their killers went?

There's a weird ridge thing on the wall behind you and to your right. Something mounted there? Someone peeking?

>>770219
There's a trail of blood coming from the passage to your right. That's where the dead guy came from.

Use one of your unlit sticks and poke the body to see of he's actually dead.

>>770219
Investigate the body to see if he's alive. If not, check to see how he died.

Fen 2017/01/03(Tue)11:34 No. 770243 ID: bfb318
File 148347204013.png - (140.40KB , 1513x871 , 627.png )

There's a ridge to my right, on the same wall from where I came down the stairs from. It looks like an open slot where someone could be looking. I don't like the idea of walking out in its line of sight, as it's only darkness inside, but I've lit my position up.

I poke the corpse with a stick. It doesn't move, and seems like it's a couple of days dead. He appears to have nothing on him other than his shorts. A pool of blood under him implies he has a wound on his front.

The hole in the ground almost appears as such, but as I get closer, I realize the slope going away from me is tilted. I would need to get closer to check.

I can't tell where anyone went. The ground here has been stamped coming and going in every direction. As I look around, I see various blood stains all over the place, indication there were more wounds inflicted here than just the one person.

It almost looks like the trail of blood was from this person, but I don't think so. There's a significant puddle of blood where the trail ends or starts, and it's just a couple paces from this body.

That body looks like it'd been posed, since I doubt they died with their arm and hand pointing in a direction like that. Guessing it's a sort of navigation sign? Follow that direction maybe? The lower knights might be expecting random kobolds to show up since they're recruiting here, so I guess they used the bodies as signs.

There's also something shiny on the ground, looks kinda knife shaped? Might be worth picking up.

Also on the wall to the right on the direction the body is pointing, there's a slot at around head height in a alcove. Dunno what that's about.

>>770243
Go in the pointed direction.

Looks like you might be at risk of being mistaken for one of these "bottomfeeders". Can you wear that badge you've been given? Might be a good idea to have it on display. On the other hand, it might mark you as an enemy for the bottomfeeders, but if I were them I'd have cleared out of this area, and they're less likely to be a competent threat to you than members of the actual army.

The corpse kind of looks like you.

Frame it as Red Maw.

>It looks like an open slot where someone could be looking.
Fortifications. Places defenders could we watching from, or firing arrows or spears or the like in relative safety against intruders.

Lucky for you they don't appear to be manned right now.

>corpse
Not very spikey, so probably not a native of dragon. Another barbarian? (Not really worth checking the eyes).

>what do
I think the forces you're looking for left this body as a sign. (This isn't even the first time you've seen a corpse used as one). There's a blood trail, and he's pointing. They knew the recruitment office would send people after them.

Fen 2017/01/03(Tue)14:30 No. 770277 ID: bfb318
File 148348264701.png - (43.46KB , 1474x344 , 628.png )

>Something shiny
That's just the burned wooden knife.

>Wear the badge
It's somewhat obstructed, but I tie the wooden seal around the rope I have on me. That's the best I can do given the situation.

>Frame it as Red Maw
I would most likely have to go all the way back to the turtle to have them look at it.

I move in the direction the body was pointing to. Behind the wall, where the slot was, I hear the sound of footsteps running out. The hall itself seems short before it opens up to another intersection, and I hear murmured voices.

>"There's someone coming through."
>"More soldiers?"
>"No, he looked like a wanderer."
>"Worth looting?"
>"No, but we shouldn't just let him wander, right?"
>"... I guess not."

>>770277
Nope, not this way. This is where the targets are, you need to get recruited first so you have a weapon. Get the hell out of there, ditch the torch and scram. Hide in the darkness and see if you can ambush one of them if they chase you. If the wooden dagger is in any condition to be used as a weapon, you could grab it and hide its glow somehow.

Crap, your eyes shine in the darkness too don't they.

>>770277
Well, their discussion makes it pretty clear they're not soldiers themselves. And the "no dragins" graffiti would be consistent with forces opposed to the army.

I see what looks like a stone door they can probably shut behind themselves so they can use those weapon slits.

Bad place for a fight, environment favors your enemies.

I suggest falling back carefully. Fighting right behind a doorway might be good, since it forces them to come to you, and a choke point limits any advantage of numbers. And fighting next to these weapon slits where they can attack you with impunity is just dumb.

Welp you found the enemy. Time to pretend to not notice there whispering so you can counter ambush them.

So keep moving like you did not hear them. Try to get in a spot where they can "sneak" up on you. If they think you have not seen them then they will be sloppy.

Maybe drop down to "loot" the corpse and when one comes up from behind you spin and bash his face with your torch. Or maybe jam that stick into his neck if its sturdy enough.

Then take his weapon and finish off the other one.

If you do manage to take out anyone it would be nice to have proof of your kills to present to your new commander.

Taking on multiple opponents that are likely armed and armored is a really bad idea. Fall back and hope they don't care enough to chase down a non-soldier.

Toss your torch down one of the other passages as a diversion, in case they do follow. You can then sneak away while they investigate the light, or strike then from behind if they do look weak.

>>770277
Just act like you didn't hear them and turn around. Act like you took a wrong turn and you meant to turn a different way.

Try to memorize where this place is, so that you can tell the guy you're looking for about it.

Quickly flip your emblem so they don't know you are a recruit.

They saw you so even if you retreat they will follow to finish you off.

Are they behind the wall to your right? Might want to go forward a bit and survey the dead body before casually walking back the way you came.

Then quickly toss the torch down one of the side passages and wait next to the door to this room. Once they come out and head for the passage with your torch you can either attack them or silently sneak off.

>More soldiers

I think that confirms the army did come this way, which means you need to go this way, too.

Reverse their ambush on them. Maybe you'll get a weapon off them.

How good are your hand to hand combat skills again Fen?

Also might want to hide that emblem.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/04(Wed)14:03 No. 770506 ID: bfb318
File 148356738028.png - (91.73KB , 1474x850 , 629.png )

I take my emblem off for now, and run up to the corpse while ducking low enough underneath the slits such that they can't see me. The body seems as barren as the last one, with no valuables, although with clear wounds.

I toss the torch down what I believe is the northern path, while I see another torchlight coming from the southern direction.

>How good are your hand to hand combat skills again Fen?
Not as good as my swordsmanship, but still practiced.

2/2 Fen 2017/01/04(Wed)14:03 No. 770507 ID: bfb318
File 148356739837.png - (50.60KB , 932x800 , 630.png )

Quietly, and again lowering myself underneath the slot's vision, I move west to return to the first room and hide behind a jut in the wall that might be for support. During this, I open my eyes wider and stare at the darkest parts I can find, as this helps expel the most amount of light that's been stored in my eyes.

Two draconians enter view, illuminating themselves with a lantern. They gesture to each other, pointing in the direction of where I tossed my torch.

>>770507
Other barbarians, and not friendly ones at that. I'd rather not risk getting injured or even beaten 2v1 this early, and the current situation doesn't give you much room to be sneaky. Don't move or make noise, let them head down that corridor and sneak after them until you can manage a decent ambush.

Yeah you need a weapon better than a stick that will break on the first hit.

We need to kill them but don't rush in when you currently have a advantage in stealth. Which will unfortunately be somewhat ruined when they find your dropped torch without you.

So I see 2 options for now.

1. Silently as possibles sneak rush the one in back and bash his head with a rock and steal his sword while the other one is surprised and still getting his weapon out. Then finish them both off.

2. Continue to sneakily follow them until a better chance to ambush one of them alone pops up. But could be risky as they will soon realize that you noticed them.

As for which plan to choose it depends on if you think you can get to one and disable him and then steal his weapon before the other guy got his free of the scabbard. If you can't move that fast and quiet then keep sneaking.

>>770507
Alright, wait for them to move into the corridor so they have no chance of seeing you coming, then sneak up on them and ambush the one in the rear, stealing his weapon and using it to kill both.

You could cover your ears and scream REALLY loud. The sound would stun them just long enough for you to charge up and execute one of them.

Bone club, and... a stone or wood sword I think? That or the worst sheath ever. Either way, they don't appear well armed.

Options are to either quickly and quietly double back the way they came (get behind them, keep following the trail) or to try and ambush and kill them.

The one in back has a bone club and the one in front has what looks to be a horrible old rusted sword. Which if they are living in these crypts makes sense.

Both are probably better than the old sticks you have but don't count on stealing a great weapon from them.

Most of your fighting practice has been with a sword. Until you learn some more unarmed skills I would wait until you can get one alone or find a makeshift weapon that will not explode when you hit someone with it.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/05(Thu)11:01 No. 770696 ID: bfb318
File 148364290186.png - (94.07KB , 900x750 , 631.png )

I wait. I do not think much of their weapons, but I have nothing. Despite my surroundings I can't find a suitable rock, and even if I did the kobold in the back has thick horns on the back of his head, making an easy knockout more difficult.

They move forward, and either do not or can not hide their noise. It seems easy here, as I just need to tilt my toes up such that my claws don't tap the ground. The non-clawed parts of my feet make no noise on a floor like this. I follow them up to the intercection where the body was.

>"... that fucker!"
>"Made a fool of you, huh?"
>"... you were here too. If I'm a fool, you're a retard! He couldn't have gotten far. A wanderer you said. Armed?"
>"Didn't look like it. A concealed dagger at most."
>"Then go get him!"
>"What makes you think he went this way?"
>"Fine, you go this way, I'll look back at the entrance." one says, lowering his volume. "Give me the lantern, you grab that torch."
>"That's just a stick. It's completely inflamed now and is burning out. You grab it if you want."
>"No, you've had it long enough, give it here."
>"I'm leaving, gra - "
>"Give me the damn lantern!"
>"You go right t-"

2/2 Fen 2017/01/05(Thu)11:01 No. 770697 ID: bfb318
File 148364291431.png - (27.48KB , 900x750 , 632.png )

I hear a crack, and everything goes dark. There's ambient noise left over, but there's no noise in close proximity until one speaks.

>"You've done it, now."
>"That was you you soggy stalk!"
>"Forget the wanderer, he's not worth it."
>"Let's go back then!"
>"I can't see."
>"Then feel your own way back, 'cause I'm not helping you you bricked chicken!"

>>770697
Time to be the Monster in the Dark. As the first one passes, trip him and then stomp on his head. Then steal his weapon and take out his not-friend.

Since it's dark enough, you could probably punch one of them in the face and then sneak away. Then the guy you punched will blame the other guy and start attacking him and then they'll start beating the shit out of each other. All you'd have to do is finish them off when they finally stop fighting.

Honestly, they look and sound dumb enough to do that.

Or if you want to play it safe, you could just back away from the corner a little and keep quiet so that they pass by you.

These clumsy oafs shouldn't be much of a problem as long as you can take them one at a time.

Wait a bit to see if they separate. Then trip the one that's lagging behind, wrestle his weapon away from him, and bash his head in with it.

>>770697
Advantage: Fen
Provided they split up, this should be quite easy for you to handle.
Just make sure there's some distance between them when you go to take one out.

Wait for them to argue again, then the moment they stop arguing nonlethal takedown on the nearest one with a chokehold. If the second guy spots you, aim for the lantern next and try to break it on him so he burns.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/06(Fri)12:58 No. 770893 ID: bfb318
File 148373628336.png - (177.67KB , 800x800 , 633.png )

The one who seems to know where to go in the dark begins walking past me. The one left behind speaks.

>"Don't be a brat all the time."

I whack the back of the other person's head and pull myself back quickly but quietly.

2/2 Fen 2017/01/06(Fri)12:58 No. 770894 ID: bfb318
File 148373628975.png - (27.73KB , 800x800 , 634.png )

>"Oh now you're the one who's done it you little shit!"
"What, did you seriously lose it at me calling you a br-"

The sound of a fist meeting a face cuts off his message, and the both of them start throwing strikes and curses at one another.

Join in right away. It will take them a few seconds to figure out they are each getting hit by 4 fists.

Wait a little bit and listen for a weapon dropping sound. If one of them does drop a weapon pick it up and use it on them.

And wait a bit until they are worn out and confused before attacking. No need to rush in just yet.

>>770898
Yes. We are not pressed for time. Yet.

Woo! My idea worked! And I was right, they were dumb enough to start beating each other up! XD

>>770898
This.

These guys aren't our mission. Avoid and move on.

>>770918
No can do, we need a weapon.

One more hit-and-run should increase the aggro to lethal levels.

>>770927
We are expected to get to the camp without weapon.
If we get a weapon, we might get mixed up with the marauding bottom feeders...

>>770935
That's what the emblem is for.

Plus the guy said not to take a weapon, he never said we couldn't pick one up on the way over where Sir Orjin's camp is.

This is a test of surviving by using what Fen can find. Finding and taking a marauder's weapon is fair game.

>>770940
Agreed.

Aren't we trying to join the Assassins? We aren't supposed to just kill everyone we come across, it's supposed to be a test of stealth and wit. I'm betting they know these guys are killing recruits and let it happen to weed out the weak. That's why the sent you in.

Now I doubt they'll care if you kill a couple of these guys, but if you are good at the job you'd kill no one and not be seen.

Theoretically, these guys might not even have intended to kill you. All they talked about was "looting" you (which admittedly doesn't sound good, since looting is what you do from corpses), but might just be a way of talking, and "not letting you wander around". So I'm not sure they deserve death.

If you can see a way towards knocking them out and taking their stuff, or just taking it from them without their noticing, then do that. It'd be nice to get that guy's sword-like thing, and their lantern might still be usable if you can find a way to light it. Having a lantern would make you look more competent when you meet up with your recruiter.

Don't be silly, of course they want to kill Fen, you think these fresh corpses are just fakes? They are murderers and no one would miss them, but it doesn't matter, we have somewhere to be and these guys are an obstacle that if handled correctly has taken care of itself.

Fen 2017/01/07(Sat)19:54 No. 771212 ID: bfb318
File 148384766540.png - (62.17KB , 800x800 , 635.png )

Attacking them may not be stealthy, but I was only told to find their camp.

From what Holly told me, the name 'assassin' was founded on the normal sense of the term, but over time the assassin's branch has expanded to include professions that hardly count as assassins at all. If I understand right, it's more simply the branch focused on killing single, high profile targets, instead of fighting on a battleground.

I don't do anything yet. They scuffle in the dark. It sounds more like a slapfight to get the other to back down, rather than them trying to seriously one one another. As far as slapfights go, though, it's intensive and could easily escalate.

I hear a loud thud in between me and them. I get low and chance a peek to find that the one who held a club has tossed it to the side, presumable to use both hands against his allied opponent.

It looks heavy. Not so heavy that I can't lift it, but it would be difficult to use in a real fight. I have not yet gotten a good enough look at the other kobold's sword to tell if it's any more helpful.

>>771212
This won't be a real fight. Grab it and take out the one with the sword, then the unarmed one. After they're both dealt with, take the sword. Should be more serviceable.

All you are going to use it for is to bash them over the head while they roll around fighting. Is not a long term weapon. Just need it to trade up once you find something better.

Yeah you could not kill them but honestly that is what the army is doing down here. If you don't kill them now you will have to kill them later. Taking them out now will get you there stuff and maybe impress your new boss.

>>771212
You don't have to kill them if you don't have reason to. Knocking them out is sufficient for your purposes, if we assume they can't catch up to you before you meet up with the army.

And yeah, a weapon usable in ambush has different requirements than a weapon usable in a real fight. If this turns into a real fight, you can drop the awkward club, but it should be good for a surprise whack.

Grab the club and move it away from the brawl so they can't use it against you. Hold it until one guy neutralizes the other, and then charge up a diagonal strike. Finish up with a weapon chokehold.

Fen 2017/01/07(Sat)21:00 No. 771226 ID: bfb318
File 148385164755.png - (322.75KB , 900x800 , 636.png )

To diminish the light, I squint my eyes again.

Once I make my move, I get into position so that I can swing at the kobold who owns the sword. Although it may be dangerous, I have been told there is a generous margin between a strike that knocks a kobold out and a strike that kills a kobold.

My swing is slow and somewhat pulled to keep him alive. Even if his skull is tougher than anticipated and he isn't knocked out, I doubt he'll be able to defend himself or see straight for a moment.

The club connects, making an audible thump.

If both of them are using both hands did they drop the lantern? If you could grab the lantern without being seen and head off towards you goal without engaging them at all that'd be perfect.

Why are we saving these guys you will have to kill in half a hour? You know they will just have you finish them off once they hear you knocked these two out.

Whatever carefully knock out the other one and steal there stuff then.

>Why are we saving these guys you will have to kill in half a hour?
Because we haven't been ordered to kill them, and Fen is good enough to get past them without killing?

Like, Fen doesn't have a problem killing people if he has to, but why do it if he doesn't?

>what do
Shove the falling one towards his buddy so he has to catch him / move out of the way / dodge and follow up with an attack on him. If the club is too unwieldy, drop / toss it and press the attack with hand to hand.

>>771226
Drop the club, punch the other guy in the throat, then give him a clean asswhooping. Grab the sword and finish them both off. Seriously.

We were told "deep in the catacombs" so maybe the correct route is down that ramp in the big crossroads.

Kill them, they will only kill more unarmed people in the future so you are preventing other deaths.

This is an authoritarian society, there's a big difference between killing someone you've been ordered/sanctioned to and assuming the right to decide who lives and dies yourself, in terms of what your superiors will approve of. Besides, someone's going to figure out Fen is Fen sooner or later and his reputation as a noble-killer will follow him, so it'd be good to make it clear he's not someone who just likes killing whenever he has a chance to. Since he's joining the assassins, that reputation might also enter consideration of his assignments and he'll be sent on the "don't kill anyone but the target" missions rather than the "slaughter everyone and their dogs" missions, which is what we want.

Remember, the ultimate goal is to be with Lily. It will all be for nothing if Fen becomes the kind of person Lily doesn't want to be with, so he will have to keep his reputation, honor and morals in mind to some extent.

Anyway, I don't think that guy looks totally knocked out. Either way, though, shove him into his friend to get them tangled up with each other, and reach around to take the other guy's sword. Remember it's on his left hip, to your right if you're facing him.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/08(Sun)11:39 No. 771307 ID: bfb318
File 148390435222.png - (240.12KB , 800x800 , 637.png )

>Why are we saving these guys you will have to kill in half a hour?
I don't know for certain that I'll just have to kill these people later.

>Get lantern
I heard a crack noise as it went out, and I figure it's broken. I'll check on it if I have the opportunity, but I just can't see it at the moment. Luck favored me as I went this way, as I could easily have stepped on it.

With an immediate disposal of the club, I throw the struck kobold into the sword wielding one, and then punch him in the throat as he catches his ally. He makes a noise like he's trying to scream something, but his voice sputters.

2/2 Fen 2017/01/08(Sun)11:39 No. 771308 ID: bfb318
File 148390436015.png - (121.14KB , 800x800 , 638.png )

The kobold I hit with the club seemed to stagger for a moment, but then loses conciousness. I throw the sword to the side and put its user into a stranglehold. He struggles, but now that I'm so close and on him, I realize he seems malnourished and weak. It turns out I was cautious for nothing, but I suppose that's better than being overconfidence in the face of the unknown.

The sword turns out to be wooden. It is solid, but seems to be showing early signs of rotting. For now, it is more like a weaker but more useable club.

Once I confirm that both kobolds have been knocked out, a better look at the lantern reveals a barely glowing, hollow rock that's been smashed open. I have no idea how to repair it even if it's possible.

Huh. They both have tongue studs. Some kind of tribal or gang affiliation marker, maybe?

>a better look at the lantern reveals a barely glowing, hollow rock that's been smashed open. I have no idea how to repair it even if it's possible.
...poke it with a torch? Probably does nothing, but maybe you can get a spark to relight one.

>For now, [the sword] is more like a weaker but more [usable] club.
Well, I guess that's the one you should take, for now.

Take the club too, and dump it somewhere. No point leaving it right next to them when they wake up.

>>771308
The club dude had something in his mouth, might just be a piercing but it's worth quickly checking alongside the rest of them for useful stuff.

Anyway favour taking sword over club, it's possible you'll be tight on space in here and can't get a decent swing in, other than that you should look for a way downwards.

Is it hot? if it is, maybe you can try to light another of your sticks with it.

>>771308
Bah. I guess grab one of the pieces so you have something to see with, along with the shitty "sword", then make your way back to the big crossroads room. Maybe go light another stick, depends on how well you can see with the glowrock fragment.

It seems like these guys weren't the ones who killed the kobolds you found, since their weapons are blunt. Either their friends have sharp weapons, or the kobolds we found were killed by soldiers and these are just part of a surviving group.

Yeah a lot of the people the army goes after are rabble and barbarians trying to live in places or ways that the empire would not like.

So thus a mission to clear out the scavengers in the catacombs. Yeah its not pretty but you will most likely see far worse later.

Search them over and check why both had a tongue piercing maybe. As for the lantern if the casing is somewhat intact it might be useful for carrying another glow rock if we find one. Might be some minor magic thing or a mineral that glows.

Then lets get back to following the trail to the army.

Wooden sword and club? Didn't those corpses have stab wounds? Keep alert, there may be more about. No reason to stay here though, move on.

Break their arms, legs, and jaws while they are knocked out. Don't want them coming after you when they come to or being able to call for help if there's anyone else. If they didn't want you to kill anyone without orders then good job, you technically did that, if you were meant to kill any scum you see then you also did a good job because they will be trapped here with no water and will die from dehydration if nothing happens to them so in that case you also kinda do well with my suggestion, and most importantly if you are ordered to kill them after meeting up with that knight then it will be like taking candy from a baby... or taking lives from two crippled starving scavengers at least

Fen 2017/01/10(Tue)13:38 No. 771599 ID: bfb318
File 148408433321.png - (165.61KB , 800x800 , 639.png )

Although the source of the lantern's glow is broken and coolish to the touch, the lantern frame around it appears solid. I will take that, since it's light enough, and has a metal loop I can easily put my rope through. I also swap the club with this sword.

I check the bodies. Their tongues each have one rock, which appears blueish, that have been smoothed out in an oval shape. Out of curiosity, I check the previous corpses as well. They do not have the stones, but there are cuts on their tongues that show they did have the stones. Considering that these corpses have stabbed wounds, they were killed by people with proper weaponry.

Lastly, I break an ankle of each of the ones I knocked out. Breaking all of their limbs may just be leaving them to die, but with just an ankle, they will likely be able to survive, yet not be able to come back and hunt me while I'm in this region.

I have 3 remaining sticks, 4 if I include this sword. There's just enough flame left in my previous torch to ignite a new one. I can continue on, but if I get too far, these sticks will burn out and I may have a difficult time finding my way back if the passages continue forking in such convoluted directions.

Maybe the tongue stones are some mark of there group?

We should take them as proof you dealt with these two.

As for more torch material try bones. Dry ones burn just fine.

>>771599
I bet those stones are like a gang insignia. It would really help make a good first impression if you kill them and take the stones as proof.

After you do that (or not, considering so many people want to avoid killing bandits for some reason???) let's head back to the main room and go down the ramp.

How sharp are your claws? Could you cut off their tongues with them? that way if their allies show up they wont be able to talk either and it will give a good first impression.

Nah, no acts of cruelty until we meet up with the knight. Then we'll be as cruel as we're ordered to be, no more, no less.

Set the bodies on fire, use them as flares.

No murdering or permanent maiming without orders to do so. Maybe not then either if you can get away with it. I get the feeling the army will not be that impressed with a barbarian taking trophies to show off how hard he is, even if they're essentially doing the same themselves.

Popping two tongue studs out should not maim or even hurt them. Unless the stones are fused to there tongues. But if they are you know its some magic thing.

If they are some odd jewelry take them and if they are fused leave them. These two will be out for awhile and not going anywhere fast with there legs broke. You can come back and finish them if you are ordered to easily enough.

Stealing their tongue studs just seems petty, as does maiming them any further.

All you need to do is find your unit. Bonus evidence of fights is not necessary.

>>771633
This.

Fen 2017/01/10(Tue)22:13 No. 771703 ID: bfb318
File 148411518632.png - (30.96KB , 800x800 , 640.png )

I take a closer look at the studs. As my eyes adjust, there's a flatter stone at the bottom, and a single spike of stone that connects them, with a seam inbetween. One stone may have just been spiked through, somehow, and I should be able to just pull it off enough pressure.

Bracing the tongue, I manage to do so without needing to pull too hard. Their tongues may ache when they wake up, but the hole left behind is small and is of no significant harm.

The spike, which protrudes from the bottom flat stone, appears to have a discoloration on its spike. When I try to put the top stone on the top of the spike, a force seems to snap it down right back onto the spike, where it remains. I can pull it off again, but it requires as much force as the first did. To make carrying them easier, I leave them intact.

I start to get a stick to set it on fire, as it will take a while to harvest or use the dead bodies for anything that could be lit, such as having to dry bones. Before my stick is lit, I hear two screams from down the hall. They sound like battle cries. Then another third scream, and a fourth, the both of which sound like death cries.

>>771703
Sounds like the soldiers took another pass at this area. Let's go meet up with them and maybe help out if any bandits are still alive when you get there. Make sure you have the insignia out to show them.

>>771703
Ok, now you can wear the wooden seal.

Hopefully those are the soldiers you're looking for and they're the ones that are winning that fight.

>>771707
...well I guess we can be cautious and sneak over there to see what's happening without being seen first.

Yeah get your seal out and displayed openly. And carefully check on the fight.

Dang it Fen you don't go around harvesting bones and drying them from people you killed. This is a catacombs. That means there should be bodies buried in tombs in the walls. I am assuming that's where that guy got his bone club.

So if you do run across any loose bones they might be old and dry enough to burn. Fresh bones would take forever to dry out and would only be good for clubs or well eating.

Wear the wooden seal openly and approach the sounds of battle cautiously. We want to help if you found your unit, but charging right into someone else's fight is a good way to suffer a friendly fire incident.

Fen 2017/01/11(Wed)20:04 No. 771871 ID: bfb318
File 148419385138.png - (158.81KB , 1106x599 , 641.png )

>These are supposed to be catacombs, with old dry bones
It hasn't looked like it, so far. There aren't even any bones lying around, and the club the other kobold had was made of stone.

I'll keep an eye out for bones. This area I've entered just happens to be where it was no longer lit. It is possible the proper catacombs are still deeper, and I hope that those yells point me closer. It is likely, considering that I believe they came from the direction the second body is pointing in. I hurry, carefully, over, which leads to another set of stairs down.

A kobold snaps around when I get closer, but he notices my seal.

>"... open mouth" the thin male closest to me says. I do so, and he looks at my tongue. "Hm. You are fighting with us?"
"I think so. I am looking for Sir Orjin."

It's a barbarian. Now that I hear them speak, I can see how different our accent is.

>"The knight is leading his team forward to deal with the tonguestones."
"Is that the name of the kobold faction, here?"
>"It is we call them, so yes."
"What are all of you doing in this spot?"

They give each other shifty glances.

>"We are to guard this exit from any tonguestones attempting to escape. You may pass through, but you may not remain here."
"Then please point me to where Sir Orjin has gone."
>"He has gone that way down the squ-"

The girl to his side cuts him off, and starts whispering quickly to him. He then thinks, and finishes speaking to me.

>"We have been told to kill any straggling and fleeing tonguestones that Sir Orjin's team leaves behind as they make their way through. Give us five tonguestone's tongue studs, and we will tell you where he is."

>>771871
Tell them that is not your mission, and you shouldn't make unnecessary detours. However, if they give you a real weapon it won't be as inconvenient. You already have two stones, would that be enough to trade for a real weapon?

They just said they were supposed to guard the exit, not hunt tonguestones down. Probably not worth starting an argument unless there's some unexpected danger.

"I heard what you said before, you know. I'm willing to do it, but I want to know if the studs are valuable to you or the tonguestones are supposed to be more dangerous than they look."

"Why would you want trophies from the dead?" Then act like you don't have any and have no idea whats going on.

Oh also get a look at all of there tongues just in case.

(The studs are proof of the kill and these guys are also recruits. They want to trick you so they can be the one with the most and impress the army captain. They know that if you meet the head knight you will know that they are valuable. Plus as new recruits they probably got a shit job and this is a test for them. By there shifty glances I bet they are supposed to be hunting tongue studs actively and not just waiting around a exit for targets of opportunity.)

Ask to see what these tongue studs look like. If they have any they should pull out a bag and you can see roughly how many they have collected. You want to beat that number if you want to impress.

Long story short do not pay him and learn more info before going back to searching. (Also don't trust them as they would kill you at the drop of a hat if they thought it would improve there chances with the army.)

So... we have a choice.

We can go hunt down some hapless bottom dwellers kill them, and give these lazy butts credit for the kills to get past.

Or we can say fuck em and go through them the hard way.

Obvious downside of forcing through instead of taking the quest is it means we have to watch our backs in our own unit from now on. And it risks letting people escape if these guys are down.

Upside of forcing through is it's a lot more notable / impressive, and it solidly demonstrates to the other military low lifes that we're not going to pushed around.

...I say we punch through. Your orders were to follow Sir Orjin, not to make these guys look good.

>>771871
accept two
I will not be bullshitted today

>>771877

This is probably a very accurate picture of whats going on.

This lot looks like other barbarians who are going through the same test as you. They just got here earlier and were with the army when they came down here.

They want to scam you. Those studs are worth merits with the army and you look like a fat ignorant sheep they can fleece. Am not saying kill them but don't put up with there bullshit.

Tell them to fuck off and be glad that one of them already told you basically where the army went.

And if they try to hurt you then deal with them harshly.

"I will get you two no more" Don't show them you already have them until the terms of the deal have been settled and try to haggle for a weapon too.

No bribes for fellow recruits. You earned your tongue loot fair and square.

One of them said Sir Orjin headed down the Square... just look for the square hole with lots of footprints and head that way.

And keep collecting tongue stuff as it looks like you might need them to prove your combat prowess.

Recruits are being lazy and want to ride on your coattails.

Pretend ignorance and find out more about this campaign.

And dont pay them.

Sounds to me like they have to collect the stones as evidence of having taken care of escapees, and they want you to do their work for them. That's not something to encourage, so don't even haggle. Stare at them for a bit, especially the girl, then tell them thank you, you'll find him yourself. If you like, you could actually say out loud "ah, you need the stones as proof of doing your duties", then say no thanks and that you'll go on by yourself. It might antagonize them a little, but it'll also let them know you're smart. You might end up working alongside them again later, so it'd be good to start earning respect now.

You already got half a clue, and it sounds like the main force will still be leaving a trail of corpses behind them, so it shouldn't be hard. If you went "I wonder what Sir Orjin would think of this" that might intimidate them into being helpful, but I'd guess it'd be more likely for that to just anger them.

>>771871
Is the middle yellow eyed barbarian the female? I guess she doesn't feel like covering her chest.

>"He has gone that way down the squ-"
That guy already pointed in the direction Sir Orjin went, but was that last part supposed to be "down the square" or something else that's a "squ-"? With that little information and maybe following a trail of bodies, we could probably find Sir Orjin on our own.

>>771903
Draconians are sorta reptilian and don't have chests to speak of, male or female, iirc, but head shape and eyelashes suggest that you're right about the middle one being female.

>>771903
>Is the middle yellow eyed barbarian the female? I guess she doesn't feel like covering her chest.
Lizards, man.

>>771871
Well at least they're not barring your way or anything, offer to give them 'the one' that you have if they quit the bullshit and also why they want them.

>>771905
>>771906
I'm just surprised because back in Thread 1, the females in Fen's tribe at least had shirts.

I guess not all barbarians are fortunate enough to have shirts.

Do not reveal you have any tonguestones.

"That's not my mission and that is preventing me from performing my mission. I'll find him, myself."

I'm not smooth enough to imply that Fen is going to tell the dude he was slowed down by a group of teammates out to help themselves. If Fen could smooth talk that he might be able to convince them to straight answer him.

Fen 2017/01/13(Fri)16:14 No. 772172 ID: bfb318
File 148435289380.png - (56.83KB , 800x800 , 642.png )

"I do not know about these studs. What is this campaign about?"
>"That's not relevant! Just kill the people with stones in their tongues." the girl says.
"Then let me through. I take it those people are up ahead."

They make a path for me. At the end of it, there is a broken down stone wall. Above that is the engraving, 'Outer Rock Catacombs.'

I start to go down, but the same kobold grips my shoulder.

>"You are new to the army, are you not? You do not know how things work, I don't think. You are not a foot soldier nor a knight. You are a pawn like us. The knights do not protect us, and so we must be our own protection. If you do not supply us with five studs, then so be it, as to kill five kobolds may be asking for much. But to be worth protecting, you must have some offering to your fellow pawns. If you supply nothing, you will have no protection. In other words, give us at least one tongue stud, or you will not be safe even amongst anyone. Do you understand me, white-eyes?"

>>772172
Turn and punch him in the face. Don't pull it.

We don't need friends with lazy vermin, and Fen was always going to take the hard path. Friends you have to bribe to have your back won't have your back when you're down and have nothing, anyways.

"You must be new to threatening people, pawn. Do you understand me?"

Let's not forget that Fen is wanted for the death of Rasyan, and he will have to sleep at some point. Don't military men sleep in a barracks? You know, surrounded by other soldiers? Fen can't survive if he sleeps among people who consider him a target.

>>772172
Asking for too much? Killing five barely armed kobolds would be easy. If it would gain favor amongst your fellow "pawns" then that is a better deal than simply gaining directions. If you find some of the bandits before you find the camp, you'll collect the tongue-studs for them.

Hand over the two tongue-studs you have, but warn them you did not know for sure you had to kill the bearers, so you didn't. There are two unconscious bandits where you came from.

He wants tongue studs? Oh, you'll give him tongue studs.

Jam them into his throat and say "If you want to stuff your face with rocks, then HERE YOU GO". Then wait a few seconds, and say "Oh? You changed your mind and want me to take them out? Here, let me HELP OUT" and bite out his throat. Finally, threaten the others with "Listen up. If my safety is worth a single tongue stud, then your collective lives are worth half a tongue stud. In fact, your weapons are worth eight tongue studs. Perhaps you should consider dropping your gear? Then I wouldn't need to hunt you down one by one and eat your throats for a stupid scale-scratcher. Besides, the metal will only slow you down as I hunt you anyway."

If they haven't backed off by then, go for the captain and disable her. Don't kill her yet, she may be useful.

>>772180
Let's not kill other soldiers of our own department. They might not miss a babarian much, but we are also one. So, they still punish us pretty serve for going against a fellow soldier.
Also let's not reviel that we are the red maw...

>>772174
He also did not only threaten us, but also gave us the hint to not put our life on line to get 5 stones. Even outright punching him seems too harsh to me. You will still be the first to bite instead of barking.

Any idea of a verbal response? ^^

>>772172
you know what, I think less is more here, until you know more about this situation don't commit to giving too much away. give a flat
"Maybe."
and be on your way. later you might want to hand one or even 2 over, but right now it's just shady.

>>772182
It's not about proportional response. This empire, and it's military, respect strength. We don't show weakness and cave to bottom feeders. Not if we want to climb rank and reputation in the army quickly. The point is a demonstration of strength, putting ourselves higher up on the pecking order, so they won't fuck with us, and they understand we'll retaliate worse if they do.

The way you shut up barking is by going for the throat when they yap.

>>772185
Regardless friendly fire before you are even really IN the army and implicating yourself in the murder of a gold noble seems like a bad idea. there will be plenty of other chances to show your strength, and ones that don't make you seem like you can't even follow the most basic of implied orders. if we wanted to show strength at the risk of showing disloyalty to the empire then we might has well of just gone around killing minor nobles and lightly protected nobles of more significance, it would also provide plenty of a power vacuum. If you did that maybe he'd get a cool title like Zizi. he could be Fen the noble killer ...not quite as good as Zizi kingslayer but still.

>implicating yourself in the murder of a gold noble seems like a bad idea
In what way does punching do that.

Also, we're already implicated. We confessed, and were convicted, and were sentenced to military service. Granted, the grunts here don't know that, but punching him doesn't magically convey this knowledge.

And there's a heck of a line between friendly fire and brawling with a fellow soldier.

Punch him hard and then keep going on your way. If one of them still tries to stop you, beat the shit out of them until they learns the error of their ways.

>>772188
tearing out someones throat kinda will, and we still have a bounty on us.

>>772190
Technically it doesn't implicate us. More importantly, I neither suggested that or argued for killing him, if you follow the chain of responses back up.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/13(Fri)17:56 No. 772192 ID: bfb318
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"Maybe." is the verbal response I think of, and as much as I care to say.

I feel for a reaction. It's slight, but his grip tightens, and that's more than I want to allow. Between the time when his jaw opens and a word comes out, I drop my stick and use the free hand to grab his arm. I swing around and punch him in the face.

"Maybe not. You seem new at threats."

2/2 Fen 2017/01/13(Fri)17:57 No. 772194 ID: bfb318
File 148435905193.png - (115.48KB , 800x800 , 644.png )

The other two look startled, then look at each other.

>"You're getting another chip in your horn, moron." The girl says as she starts walking towards me. The other guy is following, wiping his blunt looking knife on his clothing for some reason.

Win the fight but try to not kill them. Do make them understand where they stand right now, which is under your feet and let them know if they try again then they'll be underground.

Better to have this out now that waiting for them to get us in the back.

Kick the other guy while he's down, knock the air out of him. Two on one isn't good, don't want him making it three on one.

As soon as you get a chance smack the guy's hand with your sword-stick so he drops it.

The girl you either want to hit quick before she gets a chance, or let her try something and then counter it, hard.

No killing. Give them lumps, but we're not here to kill em, or draw blood unless we need to. Murdering other soldiers probably doesn't go over well.

>The other guy is following, wiping his blunt looking knife on his clothing for some reason.
Poison? Although it would be pretty dumb to poison your clothes.

Defend yourself but don't kill or even knock them out if you can avoid it. They have a job to do, better make it clear they should do that job instead of fucking with you.
Also don't underestimate them. This is the assassin branch, and they must have been given training by now on taking down skilled fighters. Expect them to fight dirty.

Hmm the wiping the knife on his clothes could be to try and clean off the blood already on it. Or it could be to apply a healthy layer of filth. The most primitive poison is just getting muck into a wound so it festers.

Don't go light on these guys. Knock them down and make sure they stay down. If you hold back and get stabbed then its your own damn fault. Don't mention your brother or your past. Once you beat them up mention that being polite to the new guy is better than starting with threats. If you did not kill them all that is.

And don't hold back if there is any chance you could get even nicked in this fight. If he had put away his knife then this could be considered a bit of rough hazing. Which honestly even that you don't have time for. In the end 3 dead assholes is better than one Fen who ruined his life because he spent the next 6 months in bed due to being poisoned.

>wiping his blunt looking knife on his clothing for some reason.

That makes it so wounds inflicted are really likely to get infected and will be more difficult to get stitches for. Avoid getting stabbed. That guy's a douchebag. If he's pulled a weapon then feel free to use a weapon on him. Make sure you don't ignore the guy you just punched, he might not be out.

You know the tactics for fighting multiple people, right? Don't get caught in between, and take out the weakest one first to reduce the number of opponents quickly. If you can't tell which one is weakest then just try to take one out quickly.

If the knife guy is not in the process of putting it away then kill them quick as you can.

If he does put it away and they come at you with fists try to just beat some sense into them.

Once you have them beat tell them that you will be the one doing the protection around here. And blah blah honey gets you more kobold friends than vinegar or something.

Fen 2017/01/13(Fri)20:20 No. 772226 ID: bfb318
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If it was poison on that blade, then I suppose it would be good he was wiping it off. For a variety of reasons, though, I doubt it is.

The one I punched still seems to have life in him now that I think about kicking him, so I go through with kicking him.

The girl doesn't wait for the guy behind her to catch up so they can take me together. She throws a quick strike, but I feint a bad dodge and lure out a hard strike from her that leaves her open. I counter with an intended punch to the face, but it turns into a punch in the throat, which is still acceptable. When I realize she won't topple from that, I reactively trip her.

I trip her to hit the floor as my other hand reaches to get the sword, which I use to swing at the guy. The others used their fists, but this one is using a dirty knife, and I care the least about his well being. I lunge forward, away from where the girl fell, and although I miss the hand, I do strike his wrist, successfully whacking the knife out of his hand however indirectly.

As he clutches his wrist, I get a free punch to his face. I use the chance to punch him as hard as I can.

The girl tries to stagger up, but ends up sitting with her back to the wall, not eager to get back up after seeing her friends still trying to get up.

>>772226
Ask if they're done. They should get back to guarding the passage, you don't want to hurt them enough so they can't do their duty. That would inconvenience your soon to be boss.

Lecture them on how if they had been friendly and polite you would not have minded joining with them to gather some studs.

But now they owe you any they have collected. If they know what is good for them.

"Please point me to where Sir Orjin has gone and I will let you get back to your guard duty."

Don't bother with speeches. It won't impress them, and your actions speak louder.

Just give them an intimidating look, see if anyone is gonna get up.

Then very deliberately turn around and follow the knight.

>>772226
you might feel a sudden, alien urge to toss out some parting words or one-liners or a more reasonable desire to question one of/ them.
repress these urges, you're done here and should get moving, these gits have slowed you down enough already.

I kinda want to go "Now that we understand eachother, and we have all learned an important lesson about extortion, it IS true that I'm not here to make enemies. I'll give you one of the studs I recovered if you tell me what is going on with them."

They're all down? Look like they're staying down? Good. Take that guy's knife, it might be identifiable enough to him to be some proof of your encounter if you need it. Time to try a little damage control, and to put on the hardass sergeant show because I think that's the best we're going to manage. So, you'll need to give a little speech. Maybe something like...

"I am not interested in encouraging people to be weak and lazy by doing their jobs for them. But I am not interested in causing problems, either. If this is the last I hear of this little trouble between us, then no-one else will hear anything, understand? Now... you" (glare at the first guy) "need to learn that not everyone will tremble and roll over when you threaten them, no matter how outmatched you think they are. You and you" (glare at the girl) "Need to learn to not underestimate your opponent and use the advantages you have, such as letting a companion back you up. And you" (glare at knife guy) "Need to learn not to escalate a conflict beyond what it needs to be. Drawing a weapon was encouragement to me to kill you. You also need to take better care of your weapons. We are not tribes squabbling over food and territory any more. We are joining the same army, and for all you know, I will be responsible for saving your life in the next few months. It would be a shame if I found myself unable to do that, wouldn't it? Besides, the blunt edge is less likely not to pierce scales, and that one missed strike could be your life. I will take this knife for now, and if you still want it later, you can come and ask me to return it."

You might need to rough them up a bit amidst that, if they look like getting back up too quickly. If they try get up slowly before you're done, tell them to stay down, you want to say your piece. Treating them like they're children might make them angry, but it will also shame and embarrass them, which might defuse the immediate hostility, and get them thinking of you as something other than an enemy. You could ask them if they feel like giving you directions, now, but I wouldn't trust any they did give at this point.

If you manage to catch up with your officer soon, you might want to try sharpen that knife, hide it or claim that you took it as a trophy, so that you're not judged for how poor it is yourself.

>>772236
Waaaay too many words for Fen, dude.

I'd say to just get moving.

Stay down if you know whats good for you.

Whats the story about these studs? Are you all new or have you been with the army for a bit? Are you conscripts?

And finally what can you offer ME to gain MY protection? Because I don't like the idea of leaving you alive to try and stab me in the back.

>>772238

He needs to learn to speak some time! But if he does have to skip, I'd at least give the bit about Fen being on the same side as them and maybe being in a position to save their lives later in their careers. Since he just beat them up, he'll have earned at least a little respect of his combat prowess, and an appeal based on "you want me watching your back (in a good way)" might get through, since now they'll believe he's capable.

How about you tell me what I want to know, and you get unbroken fingers in exchange?

No reason to stay any longer or humiliate them even more. Unless they have anything to say we should just move forward.

Or, actually. This branch usually has tasks that are solo or small group ones? Well here might be a chance to start one. Can't know if we ever work together later, but couldn't hurt.

Talk along lines
>What is this about with those tongue studs really? You tell me and I'll find a few for you. And if we must be our own protection, bribery and threats is not the way to do it. I don't like threats or take them lightly. Not to myself or anyone i consider my friend.

"Five tongue studs, in exchange for a fellow pawn watching your back, instead of wishing you death. I hear that's the going rate. Can you pay me, or shall we all get back to our official duties?"

I don't think any questions we ask them right now are going to get trustworthy answers.

>>772226
Are you done yet? I want to be done.
Nothing personal, just showing you three might makes right in the battlefield and who has it. It was just supposed to be your friend, but then you had to back up his stupid decisions.

>>772226
".....just so you know, if in the future you need me to watch your backs, I'll watch your backs. But next time, try asking me instead of threatening me, and I might help you out."

Fen 2017/01/14(Sat)14:53 No. 772314 ID: bfb318
File 148443439952.png - (181.75KB , 800x800 , 646.png )

I take the knife away from its owner. On closer inspection, it seems to be a sharpened bone wrapped in leather. It should be useful for stabbing. I will take it, since it seems that these kobolds are not using it for anything but getting other people to do their work for them.

I think to leave, but there is too much I don't know.

"Are you all done? Was I mistaken to think we were on the same side?" I ask, glaring at anyone who looks like they may get up. The girl looks like she's about to start, but she sinks back down. The knife user is clutching his snout, and the other guy is laying on the ground.

The girl is silent, so I continue.

"What are the studs for?"
>"Greater knight Orjin is exchanging each normal stud for either a copper piece, or half of a kill. Half, because the kobolds here are weak and hungry and not worth a whole kill."
"What is the point of confirming kills?"
>"If a kobold gets ten whole kills, then they are promoted to a lesser knight. Then they will receive small wages and food. You thought we were on the same side? We are, and that is exactly why we use our collected kills as a community, not keep them to ourselves."
"Where is Sir Orjin?"
>"... down this hall. Fifth left. Down the main stairs. Then just follow the torches."

>>772314
Point out that they can't really pull the "community" card when they tried to extort and attack you before explaining anything. Give them one stud and go on your way.

"... Fine. I understand. Not everyone wants to wage war under bigoted, apathetic generals for their personal ambitions. But you should know: if you think this makes you any different from the middle-class nobles, you're dead wrong. Sir Gauche the 'family man' was willing to sacrifice himself, and then his sister, and then himself again for a stupid Wood Noble title. Not out of arrogance or ignorance, but because having that title passed down to successors is what generates the pensions for his family and their relatives to have healthy lives, educated opportunities, and loyalty to each other, something that is worth sacrificing even his own individual family members for. I'm sure you understand, as much as you wish to deny it."

Don't give them a stud. You need those to advance. If we're going to make up for the scuffle, and persuade them to leave you alone and let you keep kill tokens from here on, we should give them money instead.

Could have explained the community thing first, saved yourselves a beating, and possibly got a stud thingy in return.

>>772314
"Perhaps you should have opened with the community speech, rather than threatening the consequences of not supplying you."

Toss them a single tongue stud and follow the directions. Hopefully the combination of strength with a modicum of magnanimity will convince them not to fuck with you in the future.

I don't think we can afford to be a big earner paying taxes to support the barbarian-bold union, not if Fen wants to elevate himself quickly. There might be people it's worth spending military capital helping / supporting, but these three don't seem like it.

>>772321
Leaving them one stud seems good, for sure. I feel like if the studs are only worth half a kill anyway, they're probably not exactly hard to come by if you're any good at fighting. Which I'm thinking these guys might not be best at if they're sitting at the door and trying to threaten them out of others.

I'd suggest something to say with regard to not really wanting to be seen as an enemy by these guys but also not wanting to take shit from them, but I can't think of anything good, and your actions are probably doing a good enough job of that.

Tell them things are easier when you aren't being kept out of the loop and asking nicely would have not gotten them beaten up. Give them a single stud and tell them you're fine with helping the group but you are there to prove something and you won't be dawdling because becoming a knight is just the first step in a long path. If they try to interfere with that they won't be getting anymore studs and they will have worse than bumps and bruises if they try to hold you back.

Give them nothing. Thank them. Continue.

"A community looks more inviting when it doesn't make threats and extortion its first greeting. From now on, I will watch, and if I see better than I have so far, perhaps I will join you after all. However, I expect to experience more than I can stomach of bullying from those placed above us, and my patience will not stretch to taking it from you as well. Thank you for the directions."

Then continue on.

>>772314
>Ten whole kills.
Since only 1 stud counts as a half a kill, 2 studs should be 1 whole kill, so 10 kills is 20 studs.

>What do?
"Here." Give them 1 stud. "This could've been avoided had you explained the community thing first. And if what you say is true, then if you ask me nicely, I'll watch your backs when you need help."

Keep the studs, tell them that the sympathy and community cards doesn't work as well after trying to extort someone and then trying to murder them.

Well then we had better start working as a team quickly then. Help him (or her) up.

How many more recruits are there other than your group? Do we have any leaders or are you it? And how many studs are up for grabs down here?

I am planning on moving up the ranks as fast as possible. If you want to be on my team then follow me. Once I get my studs any left over are yours. Get me a better weapon I can deal with anyone down here. Until then we fight carefully and avoid making stupid mistakes.

1/2 Fen 2017/01/14(Sat)19:14 No. 772349 ID: bfb318
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I pause for a moment, thinking, before I undo one assembled tongue stud and drop it to the girl.

"You should have opened with community, not threats. There would have been more tongue studs, and less beatings. You only seem different from nobles in that nobles are clean and well fed."

She looks like she wants to retort, but says nothing as she carefully takes the stud.

"How many other recruits are here?"
>"You are the only recruit. We are the pawns. There are about 40 pawns here, and we estimate 20 to 30 tongue studs."
"Are you all the leaders of the recruits?"

They look at one another like they're unsure of what I am asking, before the girl keeps speaking.

>"Of the pawns, Lasann is our eldest of the ones down here, but Sir Orjin is a greater knight who has at least 4 lesser knights accompanying him. All of them can order pawns around."

I move on.

2/2 Fen 2017/01/14(Sat)19:16 No. 772350 ID: bfb318
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The following hall opens up into a larger tunnel, with many unlit passages. I start to hear the echoes of activity and fighting, and it's difficult to tell where it's coming from or even how close it is beyond my immediate surroundings.

That is the case until I hear three pairs of footsteps rushing down a side passage, and stop in their tracks when they see me. The girl in the back has a lantern.

>"..... uh. Hey." the mountain says. "With the army, right?"
"I am on my way to join them."
>"Er... whatever. Did you see an oceanic run through here? Spot on his forehead? Had a lantern?"
"No."
>"Shit."
>"That's not bad!" says the spikier draconic. "Means he went down deeper, in the dirt path."
>"Yeah, but... wait, this guy talks like a barbarian. I bet he can track." the mountain continues.
>"Whoa, whoa! Don't make assumptions like that, you'll offend them. They're sensitive as shit."
>"Oh, like he's not going to be offended after you say that."
>"Whisper it, dumbass! They have bad hearing!"

The mountain kobold gawks, then turns to me.

>"Hey, barbarian. Know how to track? We got a catacomb defiler trying to, well, get outta here. Want to help us? We'll let you keep his tongue stud if you lead us to him."

>>772350
Sure. More studs means you advance faster.

>They have bad hearing!
I don't know who started this rumor, but it continues to amuse and we absolutely shouldn't correct then.

>what do
Well, technically our orders are still to report to the knight. But these guys actually asked for our help instead of demanding we pay them or they'd block our path.

Assuming you actually know how to track someone underground, Fen, agree.

"I can track in a forest. I cannot guarantee results here, but I can try."

It's not like you were given a deadline, a delay just means it'll take longer to catch up if the main group is still continuing to move forward.

>>772352

Technically, they didn't block Fen's path, they just threatened him with vague implied retribution.

Sarcastically say, "Gee, I'm not sure if I'll be able to help, my poor barbarian hearing might end up hindering your search." Then give the spiky draconic a dirty look.

"Yes, I can track."

Now we ask tracking questions about the guy they're after. Is he injured? Depending on how badly, he's pretty far ahead or can't be too much farther ahead. Is he bleeding? A blood trail, would he easy to track. How far have they been chasing him?

>>772362
*A blood trail would be easy to track.

>Gee, I'm not sure if I'll be able to help, my poor barbarian hearing might end up hindering your search." Then give the spiky draconic a dirty look.
The temporary satisfaction of a sarcastic remark is not worth ruining the myth that barbarians have poor hearing so idiots continue to let us overhear things.

Sure I could use some more kills.

(Don't correct them on your hearing.)

If it will get you a tongue stud and it doesn't look like they're leading you into a trap go for it. If things start getting fishy you can just tell them you lost the trail.