STATUS:
Do you ever think Sadako is like "Ghost girls died after 2010 can't haunt...all they know is Subway Surfer, vine boom, remake games, be yandere, make lewd moans and lie!"
3 hrs ago
Current
Do you ever think Sadako is like "Ghost girls died after 2010 can't haunt...all they know is Subway Surfer, vine boom, remake games, be yandere, make lewd moans and lie!"
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6 days ago
"The Founders of Hogwarts could've never foreseen multi-casting wands or auto-swish-and-flick grips! Curses today are far too powerful!" "NON INFRENGIUS!" *blinding flash of light*
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12 days ago
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you give a man a rat, then you satisfy his R A T D E S I R E.
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16 days ago
Maybe people just shouldn't screech and be assmad over politics in the Status Bar in general. Nothing anyone says here wins "the great cultural war of our time." Go RP or something, shit.
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21 days ago
I AM AN ELF AND I'M PLANTING A TREE! PLANTY PLANTY TREE, PLANTY PLANTY TREE!
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Bio
On CST time, United States. Typically busy most of the week and do most posting/replying on weekends.
@Eviledd1984 Will the attempt to get into NHK happen right away after a time skip? Or are we going to do some RPG style wandering around town-type stuff, maybe recruit/fight some other demons, etc?
@Eviledd1984 As Satoshi and Lham Dearg squared off, it seemed like the other demon contractors present had managed to fend off the Cyclops and the other angelic being. Xiaolong, or Xavier Wong as Miyuki knew him from movies and TV, came charging towards the stage. He called out to Miyuki that it was time to finish this battle, before starting in on Satoshi himself.
"Ye daft--! Dinnae interfere in mah battle!" yelled Lham Dearg, shaking his shield as his normally grim face distorted with comical anger, complete with a red pulsing vein in his forehead. But just then, the diminutive Jack Frost happened to leapfrog over his shoulders with a happy "Hee ho!"
A barrage of ice shards from the other demon put Satoshi off balance, allowing Mr. Wong to deal him a rapid combination of blows! The politician hit the stage with a loud thump. He was roughly grabbed by the martial arts star, who wasted no time interrogating him.
With a choked laugh, Satoshi claimed that this was all somehow to protect the earth from "a fallen angel." He also called Xavier Wong a follower of "Fu?"
"W-what does he m-m-mean by...a fallen angel?" Miyuki asked shyly, tugging on Lham Dearg's kilt. Understanding her intent, the demon raised his own voice.
"Who be this fallen angel, mah lassie says!" barked the Scotts-fae. But it seemed Xavier was just as confused as the two of them, and stuck on the implications of Satoshi's claim.
"W-wait! Awawawah...W-Wong-san!" Miyuki cried out, her cheeks turning red with embarassment. "M-maybe we shouldn't assume it's Satanists?" She wrung her hands as she babbled--normally she would be too star struck to even speak to the man at all, but the adrenaline from the fight had strangely pushed all her other anxieties to the back. "Th-there are other kinds of "fallen beings" in m-mythology..."
Satoshi passed out before they could get any concrete answers. Xiaolong started to investigate the other cultists, and the unlucky few who were still conscious were subjected to the same manhandling as Satoshi. Meanwhile, Miyuki approached the other girl who had been wounded in the fight.
@The World "A-A-are you, um, okay?" she asked Hikari Kana with a nervous gulp. Lham Dearg stood a few steps behind her, weapons sheathed and arms crossed. He was still clearly pissed about having his duel interrupted. "I'm sorry we couldn't help you quicker--I, I just, I thought if we beat the summoner, b-both of those monsters w-would disappear..."
"Weel done, ye wee lizard!" said her contracted demon, smirking at Akane. "Ah thought ye wud git crushed easily, t'look at ye!"
While they were talking, at some point Xiaolong would approach them again. Handing them his personal info--which almost made Miyuki faint on the spot--he told them his plan: Apparently, there might be another lead within the NHK broadcasting center. If the two of them posed as his entourage while he conducted an interview, they might be able to find the cultist spy...
Akeno doesn't have anything on her that would work as a knife for those hides. Is there anything nearby she can grab?
It'd be easy enough to find another Sharp Rock or a couple of Hard Rocks she could smack together until they knap into pieces, since Shamar's yurt is in a rocky area of the camp.
"I assume you've come to bid farewell?" The tall priest, wearing a plain black cassock despite his rank, did not turn toward Alistair. Instead, he faced the young man's long shadow upon the wall. Head bowed, the youth stood behind him in the open doorway. Bright sunlight spilled around him as the draft disturbed drifting clouds of incense.
"Yes. If I should not return, Master Rafael...Know that I can never repay the debt of gratitude I owe you." Stoic as ever, yet his words trembled with reverence.
"You owe nothing to me, boy. Give thanks to God." The man chuckled as he shook his wild golden mane of hair. "I, on the other hand, tried everything I know to keep you from this venture." But as his tone sobered, he adjusted a pair of tinted spectacles on the square bridge of his nose. "What you attempt is no less than a crusade, and the Church has no desire at this time for such things. Better, they feel, to do God's work among them as will receive it."
"Yet the Lord has spoken, and I must answer."
"As you've told me." Master Rafael sighed. "That the images of Gransylva, and its Red Dragon, are not mere symbols representing the disorders of your mind, nor parables as the Son taught the Apostles, but a direct order. And you will believe no other interpretation."
"It can be nothing else. Vampires I have slain, but nothing of that kingdom and its accursed history has ever burdened me." The shadow on the wall grew smaller, yet it concentrated darkness into a void that stared, resolute, back at the master. "Nonetheless it appears to me, again and again." Master Rafael did not blink as he folded his hands behind his waist.
"Then go, my son. If you truly do this out of desire to follow the Lord's will above all, then He will guide your course. My prayers go with you."
"Thank you, Master Rafael. And...goodbye." Alistair's shadow withdrew, and the dusky herbal scents clouded the chamber once more as the doors closed.
"...Young fool." sighed the priest. He looked up at the altar, and fingered the cross around his neck. "But...perhaps this is for the best, given how those old farts have been breathing down my neck." He made a gesture with his hands, and focused his mind on an unspoken prayer. "After all...what better prey for a monster to hunt, than another monster?"
Present
The priest sat silently, reading his Bible in deep concentration. Every so often, his mouth moved, perhaps in prayer or simple recitation. Yet only his vestments, with their rustling and jingling, produced any sound. As each traveler had stepped into the carriage, he'd taken stock of them as best he could. Their clothes, their weapons--if they spoke, their accents. The movement of their eyes, the way their hands gestured. How the carriage driver spoke to them.
He had only greeted each of them with a nod, perhaps the softest hint of a smile. But it was difficult to see, for he currently wore his white mantle up so as to hide his scarred visage. Two long marks--where something had scraped, or perhaps burned away the flesh--were most noticeable on the bridge of his nose and his forehead. Other smaller, faded scars--including a paper thin duelist's mark along his cheek--peppered what little exposed flesh his robes did not cover. He never made the effort to shake anyone's hands.
For the first time, as they trundled along roads that had long ago turned from civilized cobblestones to mud-rutted dirt trails, someone spoke. A woman wearing coat and breeches rather than a dress, as well armed as Alistair himself. He could sense the blessings on some of her equipment, and more than once had seen the gleam of silver. Hunter, and well prepared. She introduced herself as Valentina. Why did that name sound...somewhat familiar? Vampire hunter, or just monsters in general...and a chain whip? Yes, there was something there in his memory...
"Likewise a pleasure, Miss Valentina." Alistair said in a neutral tone, bowing his head slightly. "I am Alistair Miller." He then looked expectantly at the others. @Eviledd1984@Kazemitsu@shadowsaint007@Vlad Tepes
XD Memes aside, I feel like since Alistair's motives for making the journey were because of a vision he claims to have had and his Order within the Inquisition were kind of opposed to it ("Are you crazy? Don't you know that's the vampire king!?" "Yes." "...Yes to which one?!") he probably wouldn't be in the position to have authority over a prisoner. Also, it'd present a difficulty for Chance since I don't think the church would want his penance to be "go steal something from this other guy."
I do really like the idea of a doomed NPC though, maybe to introduce or raise the actual stakes of the danger we face. And maybe whoever hired Chance, or whatever his "target" within the castle is, presents the opportunity for more wealth than he's ever dreamed of having? Or maybe if he ran away, he'd never be able to enjoy "free" life again without looking over his shoulder? Bounty hunters, the headsman's axe, excommunication from the church, being declared an outlaw by the kingdom (thus no rights under the law), etc? His ONLY option being, "Gotta finish this last job!"
To confirm, Zeroth, does the Bufonite count as an ore of some sort?
Oh right, lemme make an edit.
EDIT: Added to post. So, Bufonite isn't a metal ore that would count for the quest, but it's a type of "magic stone" that can be used for crafting and other things. Bowbh might be able to work with it, IF he has access to other materials.
Level Up: Skill Rank Point selected. Murderous Intent selected!
Murderous Intent - Rank I - Focus hatred and the desire to kill through the subtle senses. A creature that is weaker than you must exert its willpower or be Intimidated (Intimidated creatures suffer reduced speed). A creature that is already Intimidated, Shocked, or Unaware may instead become Fearful and be unable to act for 5 seconds. Creatures that are stronger than you can only be Intimidated by this Skill if they are already Shocked or Unaware, but their willpower threshold is higher.
At Rank II, creatures weaker than you will be made Fearful instead of Intimidated. If they are already Intimidated, Shocked, or Unaware, the effect of Fearful will be extended to 10 seconds. Creatures that are equal to you will suffer Rank I effects.
Skewered Tatzelwurm has been dismantled! Partially Frozen Harpy has been dismantled! Some components have been damaged or are unusable.
Harpy Tooth x1 Harpy Talon x3 Broken Harpy Talon x1 Harpy Wing Membrane x2 Harpy Screech Valve x1 Harpy Skin Strips x2 Raw Harpy Meat 9 lbs (14 lbs w/blood, bones, organs, etc)
You've Cooked a Meal: Roasted Tatzelwurm Meat! Consumed: 1 Serving, Roasted Tatzelwurm Meat Activate [Ingestion: Tatzelwurm] (Y/N)? Approximate Ingestion: 0 > 35% Warning: This will ERASE current Ingestion! Current Ingestion: [Pimpleshroom 10%] Ingestible Skills [Pimpleshroom]: Further Progress Required. Detected Ingestible Skills from [Tatzelwurm]!
[Slash]
[Poison Attack]
[???] - Further Progress Required.
The huge orc blacksmith, the one the other adults called Bowbh, worked under a simple wooden shed. Several tall wooden posts had been planted into the earth, and thinner branches formed a frame for a sloping straw roof on one side. Underneath this shed, a furnace of fired clay bricks had been built along with bellows made from animal skins. Crude tables of both wood and stone held various tools and a few works in progress, although for a "blacksmith" it seemed like he worked as much with tree branches and knapped blades as much as he did with any actual metal. In place of an anvil he simply had a huge, square slab of stone. Its upper half had been blackened over time by the heat of objects laid upon it, and a fine layer of ash and soot.
He looked up with his one bright eye as Esfir approached. One of his hands rhythmically tugged a rope to work the bellows, which in return pushed the fire up through the top of the kiln. Its bright yellow glow cast shadows over the workshop even in the afternoon light.
"Use 'em...tools?" The big orc's voice sounded a rumbling thundercloud. Much like the orc Esfir had run into near the northern caves, Bowbh was probably one of the "Brute" variants of the species. "F'r wot?"
Esfir stated that she also wanted him to look at the ore chunks she'd found. She gave her bag a shake, but didn't actually show the blacksmith what was inside--but, when that distinct clickity clack rang out, the blacksmith stopped working the bellows.
"Rock-forming metallic ore?!" said the Orc with oddly perfect enunciation. He took one booming step towards Esfir and held his hand out--not for the cooked bird monster, but for her bag. Assuming she at least let him see the pieces of ore inside, if not give him a piece to examine, he would suck a sharp breath through his nose and blow it out with a satisfied "Oooooh!"
"Chalco...pyrite. Copper-iron-sulfide!" The fingers of one broad, gloved hand wiggled and twitched in excitement. "And...Bufonite? Not metal, but magic!" He would return whatever Esfir had presented, then his voice rumbled again.
"Whur 'um...got dis?" After hearing her answer, he rubbed his chin, looked back at his tools, and then back at the Runt. "F'r meat...giv'um one tool'r'weapon--small, mind." Then he pointed at her bag again. "If'um git mores..." He held up five fingers, "Letcha use m'pick." He gestured to his kiln. "And...will forge f'r 'um."
A new Optional Quest is available! Quest: Get Ore for Bowbh Quest Giver: Bowbh the Blacksmith Quest Details: Bowbh needs more ore to make various things for the tribe. If you bring him at least 5 Ore Pieces, he will forge you one item of your choice (so long as the needed materials are available). No time limit. Other Options:
Bring an Ore of High Quality
Bring more than 5 Ore Pieces
Bring a Rare Ore
Do you Accept? Y/N
@King Cosmos "Hm?" Shamar looked at Akeno with a tilt of her head and a raised eyebrow. "Anudda Runt, huh? Interestin'." She then looked at the hanging animals she'd been about to select, and over at some of the other hides she'd been working on. Nodding to herself, she gestured for Akeno to follow her and walked around the side of the yurt.
"You got a Sharp Rock or a knife? Den flesh 'em for me!" She pointed to two more freshly peeled hides. They were lying across a small piece of propped up wood that would remind Akeno of a miniature ironing board, set at a forty-five degree angle. Fur side down, they'd been stretched over the fleshing board and apparently freshly washed in a dingy bucket of water nearby. The remaining bits of fat and flesh that had once bound the hides to their owners faced the sunlight. "Try not to put any holes in them, but get the blood and gunk off while they're fresh!"
Then, Shamar pointed to another bucket near the back of the yurt. This one appeared to be filled with chunky, crystalline rock salts. "When ya finish scrapin', salt 'em down good and thick! Lay 'em on a rock with da fur underneath so's dey start dryin'." Then, the Head Hunter walked back to the front of the yurt, taking Akeno by the shoulder and turning her to look towards the large, smelly tub and a few hides hanging over a sawhorse made from lashed logs. "Dem there already been salted, so put 'em in the tannin' tub and push 'em 'round with a stick til they good and soaked!"
Finally, the orcish ranger indicated several hides that had been tied between wooden frames. "Then, ya go to them over there! They already been tanned and smoked dry--use dat wooden comb, right dere, and rub 'em down good til da fur side is soft. Then gather 'em up and bring 'em to me!"
A new Optional Quest is available! Quest: Tannery Crash Course Quest Giver: Shamar the Head Hunter Quest Details: Shamar processes various animal products for the tribe. She's given you a list of steps, each of which would normally take a day or more on its own, to complete with pre-prepared animal skins. Correctly perform each step before gathering the already finished hides and delivering them to Shamar. Time Limit: Before sunset.
Do you Accept? Y/N
"If ya get done quick, I might 'ave a li'l sumthin' for ya!" Shamar patted the runt on the head, then pulled the stone knife from her belt and started butchering one of the hanging animals.
Judging by the position of the sun, and making a rough guess at all these chores she'd been given, Akeno could probably finish this task in around two hours, if that was what she wanted to spend what was left of the afternoon doing...
South Caves
@Kazemitsu As Grunthor leaned away from the web-ball, the other Runt advanced forward waving his torch back and forth. The spider scuttled back again, dripping fluid from its two wounds. When Grunthor threw his Sharp Rock, the arachnid scuttled faster in order to dodge--but rather than go forward at the torch, it kept going back. As the ember-eyed orcling saw further ahead, he let out an "Aha!" and pointed one finger of his knife hand up at the spider's head.
"[Miasma Bolt!]"
The crackling lance of darkness once again shot through the air, but the spider could easily see it coming. It backed up once more--and now revealed that this part of the cave curved around towards another tunnel. It had hit the edge of the roof, and was now scuttling down the sloping wall at the corner. It wasn't on the ground--but, it was within reach!
"Catch!" said the dark-haired runt as he kicked Grunthor's rock (which had, of course, fallen on the ground again after being lobbed) back towards the former boxer. With both torch and knife at the ready, he closed in from one side of the spider. "See if you can crush its legs!"
In their peripheral vision, both orcs would see that the curving tunnel sloped deeper down into the earth. The drag-marks also continued down the path. But, against the side of the wall further down, where the torch's light barely illuminated, was something lumpy and green wearing animal hides, unmoving...
Obtained Items: Petrified Fragment x6 Turtleshell Mushroom x2 (2/5 For Quest!)
The stealthy Orcling was able to avoid arousing any suspicion from the Beetles. As they reached the Red Cream colony, their sharp mandibles snip-snapped the fat mushroom stalks with ease and they quickly began shredding and eating the white-and-red fungi. With them distracted, Agar was able to pick up his two primary targets, the green, shell-textured mushrooms. He was also able to get the six strange pieces of what seemed to be petrified wood.
From the look of their shapes, they had once been a singular branch. But after being petrified, they'd also been broken. While lighter than stone, they were no less hard or cold. But for wood to petrify took...well, a long time, didn't it? Yet these pieces were just here on top of the grass, as if the branch had fallen in a recent storm?
In any case, he'd accomplished what he wanted to in this particular area of the forest. He could either go north, south, or east...West would just take him back to the Hodag's hunting ground and that large red bird. Maybe he could risk that, if he thought they'd moved on in the twenty minutes or so he'd spent sneaking around?
Speaking of time, though, if he was right about the sun's position being roughly 2:00 PM when he'd gotten to this Deep Forest, then he'd probably spent about forty minutes hunting for mushrooms so far. He could afford to spend a little more time here, but the hour-long trip back to the Orc Camp probably wasn't one he wanted to make in the dark.
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Xaltwind,
Bloom,
Snowdrops,
BunniesOfDoom,
Sp00ki,
Charley,
Danyel,
Cleveraptor,
Remram
